Ringside with Shakur Stevenson in West Orange (Monday, Dec. 10, 2018)

Join an Intimate Conversation with Co-Founder Olympic/Pro Boxer Shakur Stevenson, CEO Robyn Moses, and Hall of Fame Boxing Coach Wali Moses on
Mon 12/10/2018, 6:30 – 9:30 PM, Wilshire Grand Hotel, West Orange, NJ

Who is Shakur Stevenson?

Shakur  Stevenson the Boxer had a very successful career at the Youth Level, winning the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In 2015 he won the Senior U.S. Olympic Trials, thus qualifying for the U.S. boxing team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. In Rio, Stevenson won a silver medal, losing to Robeisy Ramirez of Cuba in the gold medal match. He was the highest-medaling male for the USA.  Photo By Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil  

It should also be noted that in the Olympics, Stevenson was dubbed "the next Mayweather" by Floyd Mayweather Jr. himself.  Stevenson turned professional on February 9, 2017 signing a promotional contract with Top Rank. Professionally Shikur has shown off his quickness, defense and punching skills as he has went on to win 9 professional fights, 5 by knockouts and 4 by decision.  (Wikipedia)

To learn more about Shakur take a listen to one of Shakur Stevenson Trainers, Wali Moses in this exclusive interview. Here, Wali Moses discusses how Shakur got started, fighting internationally and much more:

With a bright future ahead and fantastic family and community support, Shikur and family are looking at giving back to the community with the formation of Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life Group. 

Stevenson and Moses Boxing For Life

Stevenson and Moses Boxing for Life is the vision of Willie and Robyn Moses and their grandson 2016 Olympic Boxing Silver Medalist Shakur Stevenson.

“We believe all people can embrace who they are, can define their future, and can change the world.”

The Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life organization is committed to using boxing as a tool to:

•       Build endurance and perseverance training for athletes in any sport,

•       Teach camaraderie amongst the members and their peers,

•       Be a strong deterrent to gun violence in the neighborhood,

•       Build character, responsibility and respect for their community.

Moses is Stevenson’s grandfather and trainer who taught the 123-pound, oldest of nine children boxer how to fight. Moses co-founded Elite Heat Boxing Gym, which once boasted nine championships at the same time.

Inspired by Shakur’s successful boxing career Robin and Wali Moses have taken their dedicated community support to the next level by forming Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life Group.

By providing mentorship, tutoring and some basic needs support for their members, they are able to create a lasting impact that will ripple out across the community. The nonprofit’s ultimate goal is teaching boxing that can enable members to be a success in life and maybe even reach the level of being a contender for the Olympics and beyond.

Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life President CC Minton

In line with expanding their mission into the community, Stevenson Moses Founders recently appointed CC Minton as President of Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life organization. This was noted on a recent episode of the Eric Dawson Radio Show.  A great selection as CC Minton is a nationally recognized, award-winning health and lifestyle empowerment advocate, author, media contributor. CC Minton is a recipient of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Leadership Award and just recently was awarded the Michael Gray’s Save Our Nations Inc. Dream Maker Award.  

She is also a New Jersey Best Kids Book Author for her children’s book “Daddy’s Greek Potato Pie.” Invited by Michelle Obama’s Press Office, she has covered the Kids State Dinner at the White House. CC has also interviewed food notables such as Marcus Samuelsson as a health and lifestyle editor for Harlem World Magazine, and covered several New York City charity events.

Minton sits on the Board of Governance with the Junior League of Montclair-Newark and has served as a guest panelist at the Jack and Jill of America Childhood Obesity Forum in Washington, D.C. She is a former member of the Wellness Council for the West Orange School District.

Stevenson Moses Ringside for a Cause Benefit 

You are invited to enjoy an entertaining evening with local celebrities. The night’s event will include an opening mix and mingle reception. There will be a live music performance featuring Grammy Nominee, pianist Nat Adderley Jr. with bass player Darryl Clark.

Nat Adderley Jr. is known for his work with Luther Vandross. Nat wrote and arranged  Vandross' first top 20 pop hit, "Stop to Love," and other songs, including the Grammy Award-nominated "Give me the Reason.". Nat also produced tracks on the last seven Vandross studio albums. These include "The Closer I Get To You," a duet with Beyonce Knowles which also appears on Beyoncé’s album Dangerously in Love and won the Grammy Award for best R&B performance by a duo or group in 2004. At this benefit performance, Nat Adderley Jr. along with Darryl will wow the opening session as they play anything from Miles Davis to Stevie Wonder.

 Along the way guest will enjoy Primavera Ristorante ’ bits and bites while networking with attendees, the founders and community dignitaries.

The main event will be an intimate Ringside conversation with Co-Founder Olympian & Pro Boxer Shakur Stevenson, CEO Robyn Moses, and Hall of Fame Boxing Coach Wali Moses about boxing, the community and the passion behind founding Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life. This main event will be led by moderator Stephanie Hutton, President of the Junior League of Montclair Newark, Inc and immediately followed by your participation in an audience driven Q&A session. 

Rounding out the night’s activities will be a final networking hour viewing of the final art by local artist Kingdom Art and your chance to talk with the stars, photo opportunities and more. Proceeds will benefit community programs for Stevenson Moses Boxing for Life.

All are invited to join Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life Ringside at the Wilshire Grand Hotel’s Primavera Lounge 350 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052 Mon 12/10/2018 - 6:30 – 9:30 PM West Orange, NJ.  This event will raise funds for support of programs and services to continue the mission of building discipline, integrity, and camaraderie in the community. Join us to build camaraderie in the community around the sport of boxing. Learn more at Stevenson Moses Boxing For Life Ringside and RSVP below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ringside-for-a-cause-with-stevenson-moses-boxing-for-life-tickets-52510558494

About the Author and Event Co-Host 

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event developer and community partner that develops, manages, promotes and documents local community events in the Greater New Jersey and New York area.

Gregory Burrus sits on a number of local boards, committees and serves as a Board Member of Maplewood Community Music and is also Vice President of the Northern New Jersey Blues Alliance,

Gregory curates and Promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, the South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival, the SOPAC Playing Around South Orange Music Initiative, the Maplewood 4th of Music Live Music Events, Newark’s Rutgers Jazz973 at Clements Place Jazz Series, the Orange NJ Valley Arts Music Programs, Creator of the South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam, along with booking bands at many other local venues.

Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and happenings as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest. Gregory Burrus Live Music Ambassador.  http://gregoyburrus.me

Gregory Burrus Joins Nonprofit Board of Maplewood Community Music

By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2018

As some may know, I love finding musicians and helping them share their musical gifts with you, the listeners in South Orange, Maplewood, the Valley in Orange, Newark and other parts of Northern New Jersey and beyond. 

Gregory Burrus Board Member Maplewood Community Music 

Another live music gem in our towns is the Maplewood Community Music organization (MCM) and I, Gregory Burrus, am very happy and honored to announce that I have been chosen as a newly appointed Maplewood Community Music board member. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be part of such a vibrant, community-focused organization that is filled with truly dedicated musicians. This will allow me to continue to move forward my ongoing mission of supporting the arts and spreading the word of sharing their great gifts. 

This dedicated group of volunteer musicians and conductors work towards MCM's major goals of giving hobbyist musicians the opportunity to perform and bring music to Maplewood, South Orange, and other nearby communities. Along with getting involved with strategy and direction; I will also be performing social media marketing services and other publicity related activities.  

About Maplewood Community Music

Maplewood Community Music (MCM), a non-profit based in Maplewood, NJ, was founded in 2003 by Jim Buchanan and Susan Williams. Jim was the Cultural Affairs Supervisor for Maplewood and had over 34 years of experience in music education and conducting.  Susan had played in the Rutgers Band and after a number of years without playing; she approached Jim Buchanan about starting a band.  Jim suggested starting rehearsals for a concert band and a jazz band for which he became the musical director. It should be noted that the first rehearsal had only six musicians; the group now has grown to well over 50.

Maplewood Community Music Mission

Now in 2018 celebrating almost 16 years of making music, the mission has expanded to include the following:

• bring various types of music to Maplewood and the surrounding areas,

• provide local student and adult musicians with the opportunity to join a community ensemble and continue their love of playing and performing,

• perform youth outreach that supports the student musicians and inspires our youth to enjoy and possibly play an instrument,

• partner with other organizations to bring music-related events to the area,

• provide resources including private lesson teachers and musicians for hire

Maplewood Community Music Performances In the Community

MCM is proud to support community events and community/youth music enrichment programs and has a number of ensembles.

Swing Town Big Band

One of the places Maplewood Community performs is in the South Orange annual Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts. Under the direction of Trombonist Ben Williams, the band consists of a Big Band-style jazz ensemble featuring Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Rhythm Section, and Vocalists.

Over the last few years, these large ensembles have grown to consist of 19 pieces, when they perform in South Orange’s Spiotta Park. The crowds are always thoroughly entertained, and I love Jazz Big Bands that take you back in time so it’s awesome to me.

The Maplewood Concert Band

I was able to catch the Concert Band termed “Chestnuts in The Park.” They performed at the truly beautiful South Mountain Reservation Boat House this past summer. This band is a wind ensemble featuring woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

It was an absolutely wonderful performance against a gorgeous backdrop.  Just listening is magic to the ears.

Maplewood Porch Fest

Another great event supported by Maplewood Community Music is the Maplewood Porchfest. Just imagine strolling the streets of Maplewood and stopping at one porch then another and another to enjoy music and entertainment all day long. That’s Porchfest!

A fun and free event every year in the Maplewood, Hilton neighborhood on Labor Day Sunday, rain date Monday. The event kicks off at noon in front of the community center at DeHart park with music, balloons, paper event schedules with maps, a fundraiser bake sale, and a rehearsal for the "honk parade" to start the event. Everyone in the family is welcome to make music and march!

Maple wood's first Porchfest featured 30+ bands performing at more than 20 porches around the Hilton neighborhood. Last year there were 40 plus porches and bands. Folks also got to enjoy a free jitney service running through the middle of the area, so there's a little less walking and a lot more enjoying the fun all over the Hilton neighborhood. And yes, I am very happy to find bands for this voluntary event.

Teachers Turn Concert

This community is great because money for a baby grand was available from an estate. Maplewood Community Music (MCM) facilitated the purchase of the piano and helped find a home with the town in DeHart Park Community center.

The piano teachers of South Orange, Maplewood (SOMA) were thrilled about the new concert grand piano and were grateful to Maplewood Community Music for making that whole endeavor possible. They then developed a benefit concert to celebrate the new piano.  They called it "Teachers' Turn." It featured most of the piano teachers actually performing and not the students. It was an absolutely a wonderful afternoon of piano recitals to a packed house. All proceeds from the event were sent to a scholarship fund to help provide private lesson opportunities for kids in Maplewood/South Orange whose families don't have the means to do so themselves. 

In Summary

The Maplewood Community Music ensembles consist of some very dedicated volunteer musicians who wish to practice and perform challenging music in a fun, low-key setting.  They meet locally on a Wednesday evening, practice, have fun and enjoy themselves. The Maplewood Concert Band, Swing Band and various small ensembles offer free performances throughout the year.  This group also thinks up new ideas and supports other endeavors like the Teachers’ Turn Piano Concerts and the awesome Maplewood Porchfest event.

With all that, I am very happy to have been selected to join the Board of the Maplewood Community Music (MCM) nonprofit. More to come and will definitely work hard to get the word out about this fabulous organization. 

Check out calendar for upcoming events!

• http://www.maplewoodcommunitymusic.org  

• ​https://www.facebook.com/pg/maplewoodcommunitymusic/events/

About the Author

Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event developer and community partner that develops, manages, promotes and documents local community events in the Greater New Jersey and New York Area.

Gregory Burrus sits on a number of local boards and committees and serves as the Board Member Maplewood Community Music, Manages, Vice President of the North Jersey Blues Alliance, Curates and Promotes the South Orange Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts, the South Orange 24 Hours of Music Festival, the SOPAC Playing Around South Orange Music Initiative, the Maplewood 4th of Music Live Music Events, Newark's Jazz973 at Clements Place Jazz Series, NYC John Jay College Myrna Bain Scholarship Fundraiser, the Orange NJ ValleyArts Music Programs, Creator of the South Orange Farmers Market Jazz Jam, along with booking bands at many other local venues.  

Showcasing, photographing, videotaping events and happenings as they occur around town while living life every day to the fullest.