canvas April 2010

Fighting the
Good Fight
The story of Dr. Charles Modlin
& the Minority Men’s Health Fair
Robin Thicke Concert | Ebony James | Party Pics |Health Tips
1
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Outpatient Pediatric Services
Introducing Angelique Redus-McCoy, MD

• Cleveland Clinic Physicians Huron Hospital

Women and Children’s Center
• Newborn care/well child care 13951 Terrace Rd. – 3rd Floor
East Cleveland, OH 44112
• Adolescent healthcare
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• Accepting new patients
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“Make every effort to live in peace with all men.”
-Hebrews 12:14
masthead
Publisher - AG LLC
Sales/Marketing - Ashley Taylor
Editors - Andre Cisco, Michael Wright
Photo - Herb Bias, Jay Bobo
Design - Fireside Graphix, GoodProduce
Contributors - Andre Cisco, Ashley Taylor,
Michael Wright, Jay Bobo
Call 216-624-7212 for advertising rates.
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Copyright 2010
GOODPRODUCE / ARTILLERY GROUP LLC
Reproduction without written permission of
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editors note
W e’re back! In case you didn’t notice,
we recently trimmed our yearly
output to ten total issues as opposed to our
previous goal of eleven. The big question is
why? The answer is [drum roll]...Tunnel vi-
sion.
Outside of our great advertisers, there’s
usually a total staff of no more than five
people each month that sweat and toil with
phones, cameras, and computers to create
each issue. We put in long hours and relish
the work that we do. But sometimes, when
you’re focused on one thing you can lose
sight of another.
As social entrepreneurs, we created Canvas
with community in mind and we look to fully
carry out our goal. We came to the early re-
alization that many local entrepreneurs and
organizations were in need of not just an
advertising and marketing vehicle but a 360
degree support system.
We pride ourselves in being social entrepre-
neurs that work for a cause. Our mission is
to aid and assist in the delivery of informa-
tion whether it be through print, web, events
or any other form we can imagine. Let’s go!
This issue would not be possible without
most importantly our Creator, Mom and
Dad, the Canvas Magazine staff, and our un-
believeable advertisers.
See you in May!
Jay Bobo
jbobo@canvascleveland.com
5
 contents
EXTRAS
05 editors note
16 party pictures
18 event calendar
20 the list+

PEOPLE
09 cynthia brewer-knight
- tips for young professionals

ART&MUSIC
10 listen up: ebony james

BUSINESS
11 deanna willett
- dream chaser

FEATURE
12 dr. charles modlin
- fighting the good fight

photo: jay bobo

6 CANVAS APRIL ’10

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 urban professionals | PROFILE

cynthiabrewer-knight
park east care and rehab center

Age: Tell us about yourself. Raised in Warrensville Hts, I currently reside

38 in Beachwood. My community involvement includes Beachwood Chamber
of Commerce, Senior Sales and Marketing Executives, and Minority Health
Title: Alliance. I’m also a 3rd Year Beaumont School Board member.
Administrator
Describe your typical work day? Assessment and correction of facil-
Location: ity operational challenges, teaching, training & coaching staff members on
Beachwood customer first initiatives. Analyze referral management systems and market-
ing efforts. Dialogue with families and resident as well as budget reviewal.
School:
Ursuline Why is your job important? It’s important that one is constantly
monitoring and developing strategies in order to keep pace in a volatile and
Degree: ever changing evnvironment. Ensuring that seniors receive the best care
Masters of at a time in their lives when they are most vulnerable is the driving force
Management behind my passion.

What advice do you have for people seeking a similar career

path? Nursing home administration requires a leader that is dedicated to
services. We must remember that the customers we serve would rather
not be in our centers, but while they are with us, we will provide them with
Powered by the best care possible..

What is the salary range for your position? $80,00-120,000.

What’s your favorite quote? “The definition of insanity, doing the

same thing over again and expecting a different result. Be the change you
want to see in others. ”

9
PROFILE | listenup

EBONY
JAMES
written by Andre Cisco II

E very so often an artist comes along

that breaks the cookie-cutter mold
of traditional popular music’s standard
look and sound. Cleveland native, Ebony
James, is the exception to the rules. Her
beauty may be intimidating to popular
culture, but the moving voice and talent
of this singer/songwriter cannot be de-
nied.

“People have told me many times that I’m

too chocolate or not skinny enough to
make it and many times it made me want
to quit, but I am motivated to sing by girls
like me who have their beauty taken for
granted.” Ebony’s driving force behind
her music can be heard in the soulful
raw emotion contained in her works.
Performing alongside legendary musical
icons like Jermaine Jackson has inspired
Ebony in the pursuit of her dreams.
      
Ebony James is dropping her highly antici-
pated singles “One Night Stand” and “All
I Can Say” this year and she is currently
working on a series of short compila-
tions that will feature her on original and
industry productions. She continues to
work hard in hopes to rise out of Cleve-
land’s expanding music scene to become
the voice for those who have no voice. “I
eat, sleep and breath music. I am work-
ing so hard right now because I want to
make music that people who don’t fit the
norm can relate to. There is a void in the
industry and my music is the filler.”
Find out more about Ebony James at CanvasCleveland.com

10 CANVAS APRIL ’10

 local entrepreneurs | PROFILE

written by Michael Wright

DEANNA WILLETT
heart home care, age: 31

A native of Paineville, OH with 7 years of nursing experience, this single mother of

two recently decided to step out on her own and launch her own home health
care agency, Heart Home Care. While holding down a full-time job and caring for her
12 and 8 year old kids, DeAnna’s love for entrepreneurship has resulted in a growing
certified and fully accredited business with a number of full-time and part-time staff.

She credits her faith and children with

motivating her to step out on her own
stating that research, proper planning,
and focus have been helpful in her suc- HEART HOME CARE
cess. “Pursue your dreams. If you fail the In-Home Health Care Agency
first time, go out and try it again. The first
time I tried, it didn’t work so I put it on Start-up Year: 2009
hold and came back to it.” “You can basi-
cally accomplish anything you want, just Start-up Costs: $75-100k
stay focused,” says DeAnna. Services: Skilled nursing,
social work, and differing
This dedication to business, faith, and fam- forms of therapy.
ily have aided Ms. Willett well as HHC is
steadily expanding, currently hiring LPNs,
RNs, and Home Health Aids. “Pursue your dreams. If you fail the
first time, go out and try it again.
To find out more about employment with Just stay focused!”
Heart Home Care or to inquire about
their services, contact them at 216-797-
1218. You can also find them online at Read the rest of our interview with DeAnna Willett
(Heart Home Care) at CanvasCleveland.com
hearthomecare.org.

11
 fighting the
good fight
Written by Andre Cisco II & Ashley Taylor
Few do more then their job or position entitles them, Dr.
Charles Modlin is one of those few. He has taken a stand to
fight for the underserved, unpopular, and underrepresented.

12 CANVAS APRIL ’10

 FEATURE |

T
he passing of Obama’s monumental of the profession are such that you really
Health Care Bill has caused the na- have to be devoted. One of the things you
tion to address the health needs of learn in medical school is that you have to
all individuals regardless of socio-economic put the needs of your patients before your
status, race, or creed. Dr. Charles Mod- own needs and even the needs of your fam-
lin, Urologist and Founder of the Minority ily.  Patients don’t get sick between nine and
Men’s Health Center at the Cleveland Clinic, five. You have to really be committed. It’s a
has been working to provide education and long haul of training and medical school.  It’s
treatment for members of our community not something you want to do just to make
who may not have access to healthcare or money because you won’t be successful,
knowledge of factors that may affect their you’ll be unhappy. Doctors do make a good
health and wellness since 2003. living, but it’s nothing like your professional
athletes or CEO’s.  
Canvas Magazine recently sat down with Dr.
Modlin to discuss health issues that threaten The first thing we as health care
member’s in our community, concerns that providers need to recognize is
should be addressed by our leaders, and that health care disparities exist.
what we can do to improve our health and  
quality of life. What initiated the establishment
of the Minority Men’s Health Cen-
Tell us a little about yourself.  ter? When I specifically looked at African
I’m an urologist; I’ve been here at Cleveland American patients there was a greater inci-
Clinic since 1993. I came here to do a three- dence of certain diseases. One of the prima-
year fellowship in kidney transplantation ry diseases we saw was prostate cancer and
and reno-vascular surgery. I did my six-year I noticed black men had a greater risk for
urology residency at New York University. I developing it. When they were diagnosed it
went to college and medical school in Chi- was in later stages due to the delay of com-
cago at Northwestern University. I grew up ing in and having the cancer detected at ear-
in a small town in Central Indiana. I am mar- lier stages. It wasn’t just limited to prostate
ried with four children. My wife’s an anes- cancer it was every disease state. I became
thesiologist. She works for our competitor, aware of this health care disparity crisis and
University Hospital.   I became interested in trying to develop a
program here at Cleveland Clinic that ad-
Why did you choose medicine?  dressed the elimination of health care dis-
I was influenced by how I saw my mother parities in African American males and other
take care of my grandmother. She was 85 minority patients. 
and came to live with us for a while. We  
eventually had to put her in a nursing home What more could medical/health
because we couldn’t provide the care. We leaders do to erase health dispari-
would go see her everyday and being placed ties that exist? First thing we as health
in that environment, seeing people in need care providers need to recognize is that
really influenced me.   health care disparities exist. Educate health
care providers to be able to communicate
A lot of people become doctors for better with individuals who are of different
economic reasons, what are your races and ethnic backgrounds than their
thoughts on that? I have a lot of kids ask own. If you can’t communicate well with in-
me  “Well, do doctors make a lot of mon- dividuals different from yourself that leads
ey?” This is not the kind of field that you to poor patient outcome, stereotyping pa-
want to go into because you think you’re tients and physician bias. 
going to make a lot of money. The demands

13
 | FEATURE
What are some of the screenings
that will be available at the Mi-
nority Men’s Health Fair? We have a
comprehensive screening. A lot of the men
come to be specifically screened for pros-
tate cancer. We want to make men under-
stand there are many things they need to be
screened for; high blood pressure, hyperten-
sion, diabetes, bone densitometry, osteopo-
rosis, dental, audiology, depression, Hepatitis
C, HIV, kidney disease, etc.You can get all the
screenings or select the ones you want.  often come in partnership with the men
What changes can we expect with
this years MMHF? What’s different
then last year?  We’re going to provide
the same screenings as before, but we’re
also adding a resource center within the
health fair. It’s an opportunity for additional
vendors and people who want to distribute
health information to make themselves and
their organizations available to the attend-
ees of the health fair.  care institutions emulate what we’ve start-
We’re also bringing back our physician health
talks, “Ask the Doctor”, where patients can
go ask the doctor about their particular
situation and “Ask the Pharmacist”, where
people can bring a list of their medications
and ask questions. There will be personal-
ized patient navigators for those attending
who want personal assistance and education.
We’re focusing not only on physical screen-
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14 CANVAS APRIL ’10
ings but also on providing information.  
 
Is the fair only for minority men? 
It’s not just for minority men all people
are welcome. The reason we started it as
a minority men’s health fair was to target
prostate cancer. African American males die
from prostate cancer twice as often as Cau-
casian males. The male population histori-
cally is the group that’s less likely to come
in and get preventative screenings. Women
they’re bringing. A lot of the information is
available for women to obtain, but it’s really
designed for men because some of the top-
ics we talk about, like erectile dysfunction,
may make men feel uncomfortable talking
around women.
What would you like to see in fu-
ture years to come for MMHF &
MMHC?  I would like to see other health
ed here. We want to continue to grow this
initiative, grow the health fair and minority
center and increase the number of research
projects were doing in terms of investigat-
ing the causes of these health care dispari-
ties. Here at Cleveland Clinic we’re looking
at ways to expand and brand the minority
men’s health center and take it national. 
Read the rest of our interview with Dr. Charles Modlin
at CanvasCleveland.com
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| EVENT PICTURES

Robin Thicke Concert

March 14, 2010 - Robin Thicke and friends held a exhilirating performance in front of
hundreds of local fans at the House of Blues.
photos by jbobo - canvascleveland.com
 The Gentlemen’s Social Club
February 8, 2010 - The members of the Cleveland Social Club for Gentleman held
their monthly soiree at the opening of new downtown nightclub, Allure. 17
 calendar - april 2010
Would you like to add your event to our calendar?
Email us at info@canvascleveland.com
CONCERTS//
04/04 HOB Gospel Brunch
@ House of Blues, 10am / $33
04/17 The Roots
@ Allen Theatre, 8pm / $25-$45
04/21 Frankie Beverly
Featuring Maze
@ State Theatre, 8pm
Visit playhousesquare.com for more info.
04/21 Smooth Jazz All-Stars
Featuring Brenda Russell, Phil Perry, Paul
Taylor, Richard Eliot, and more.
@ Allen Theatre, 8pm / $25-$45
Visit playhousesquare.com for more info.
05/21 Maxwell
Featuring Jill Scott
@ Quicken Loans, 730pm
Visit livenation.com for more info.
18 CANVAS APRIL ’10
EVENTS//
04/04 Sam Sylk Middle School Jam
@ House of Blues, 7pm
Contact (216) 523-BLUE for tickets.
04/08-11”Church Girl”
@ State Theatre, 8pm / $32.50
Visit ladiesfirstent.net for more info.
04/24 Philanthropy Summit
“Advancing African-American Philanthropy,
Building Tomorrow’s Legacy Today”
Sponsored by The Cleveland Foundation.
@ Corporate College East, 8am / $30
Contact (877) 554-5054 for more info.
05/09 “After the Love Has Gone”
@ State Theatre, 3:30 & 7:30pm
Visit playhousesquare.com for more info.
05/16 “What Fashion Really Is”
@ Cleveland Playhouse, 6pm / $30
Call Vernon Robinson, 216-541-0735 for more info.
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Greg’s Specialties
Fried Okra .....Small 2.29 ......Large 3.79
Chili Cheese Fries 3.29 ....................3.29
Chili Bowl 3.59 .............................3.59
Oxtails & Rice 9.99 ....................9.99
Pigs Feet & Black Eyed Peas ................9.09
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce .....................10.99
Chitterlings Only ..............................13.99
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6 pc Wing Dinner ......................6.99
4 pc Chicken Dinner ...................8.99
4 Chicken & 2 Fish Dinner ...........11.99
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4 pc Bucket ..............................4.95
10 pc Bucket .............................9.99
3 pc Wing & Fries ......................2.99
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Ribs
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4 Short or Long ..........................8.59
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DINNERS INCLUDE 2 SIDES
4 pc Fried Perch Dinner ..................9.59
3 pc Whiting Dinner .....................9.59
4 pc Catfish Dinner .......................9.59
7 pc Jumbo Shrimp Dinner ............10.99
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2 Fish & 4 Shrimp Dinner .............11.99
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852 Copley Rd.

Locations
5591 Warrensville. 18909 South Miles 3965 Lee Rd. 12626 Bellaire Ave
Akron 44326 Maple Hts 44137 (Inside the Cleveland 44128 Cleveland 44135
330.252.0910 216.475.8726 Word Church) 216.751.2796 216.889.RIBS
Warrensville Hts 44128
Mon-Thurs Sun-Thurs 216.663.RIBS (7427) Sun-Thurs Sun-Wed
11am-Midnight 1030am-1am 216.475.3623 11am-1am 11am-10pm
Fri & Sat Fri & Sat Fri & Sat Thurs & Sat
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ask about all of our various marketing & advertising services
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