Contestant Profile - Nicholas

Name: Nicholas St. Clair 

Birth City, State: Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago

What are your hobbies or talents?  I enjoy swimming, tennis, and traveling.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in?  Yes, I majored in Hospitality and Tourism/Business Management.

What kind of music do you like? I enjoy Soul, Gospel, R&b, Hip Hop and Instrumental.

What most annoys you? I am most annoyed by people with no self-respect.

What is your source of motivation? My source of motivation is my mother. She motivates me everyday.

Who do you most admire and why? My mother again. She is a strong, Independent, respectful, loving and loyal  person and I always strive to be like her.

If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? I would invest in various businesses and also donate to charity and health organizations that focus on cancer, HIV, AIDS and disabilities. I would also make sure my family is provided for.

What is your hope for the gay community of color? My hope for the gay community of color is that we better recognize the success of each other and give everyone equal opportunity and respect.

Do you have any questions for Nicholas? Ask the questions in the comments section and Nicholas will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Karim

Name: Karim Rush 

Birth City, State: Sebring, FL

What are your hobbies or talents?  I love to travel, work out, play cards, and help others. I am good at problem solving and coordinating situations.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in?  Yes, business administration.

What kind of music do you like? ALL but generally I listen to hip hop and/or R&B.

What most annoys you? What annoys me the most is disrespect, backstabbing and the lack of communication.

What is your source of motivation? My source of motivation is my family. Although extremely successful in my eyes, my job is to be better! 

Who do you most admire and why? I admire those that are in social service fields that really want to be there because there are people out there that really need assistance and not all are mentally equipped to handle issues aka problem solvers.

If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? First and foremost I would donate some back to the community I was raised in. I think we tend to forget where we come from when we get a little money and there are those in need out there. Second, I would support any initiative my family has that needs to get done. I would purchase some items for myself and whatever is left split the money (donation half and invest the other half). 

What is your hope for the gay community of color? My hope for the gay community of color is that we begin to uplift and embrace one another. I often see us tearing each other down and the sad but honest factor is that we already have enough groups tearing us down that "internal hatred and racism" isn't ideal for a growing population! 

Do you have any questions for Karim? Ask the questions in the comments section and Karim will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Colin

Name: Colin Pharaoh

Birth City, State: Brooklyn, NY


What are your hobbies or talents? Swimming and Acting.


Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? Some college.


What kind of music do you like? Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Gospel, etc.


What most annoys you? What annoys me the most is disloyalty.


What is your source of motivation? My source of motivation are my kids.


Who do you most admire and why? I most admire my mom because of the way she has overcome her struggles and use it as her motivation.


If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? If I were to win ten million I would build shelters and create outreach groups for troubled youths.


What is your hope for the gay community of color? I hope that we can unify and become one unit.


Do you have any questions for Colin? Ask the questions in the comments section and Colin will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Jason

Learn more about the contestants of the Mr. LiVelocity Competition.

Name: Jason Herbert

Birth City, State: Harlem, NY

What are your hobbies or talents? I’m a visual artist of various types. Specializing in dance, I teach, direct, sing, act, and I am an entrepreneur. I definitely look forward to new hobbies and talents.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? I attended the Boston Conservatory in Boston Massachusetts. Major in Bachelors in Fine Arts: Dance.

What kind of music do you like? I like GOOD MUSIC. That includes genres across the board. From Hip Hop, Latin, Classical, Rock, House, Jazz. The list goes on. If you asked me what’s on my iPod, I'd probably say Chris Brown, Drake, Jamie Fox, Danity Kane, Hezekiah Walker, Britney Spears, or Big Sean. J

What most annoys you? What most annoys me are restrictions. I’m free at heart. I wish people could love whomever they want in life. I wish I could bathe outside in the fresh air like people did long ago. To cast barriers around basic human rights annoys me.

What is your source of motivation? A supreme being is my source of motivation. God if you will. I was given two things that I consider gifts: my life and my talent. How art changes the world motivates me and I’m given a chance to do that with my life and my talent. Amazing!

Who do you most admire and why? I most admire Sean “Diddy” Combs. Though criticized by some, as a black man, he’s built an empire around his name in entertainment and fashion, similar to what Rockefeller did with oil. I commend him for standing up against all odds and producing high quality WORK in the entertainment world and I admire it.

If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? If I would win 10 million dollars in the lottery, I would bless my family. Create family businesses and sew into the community. Then I would probably embark on a joint business venture with up and coming popular company, similar to Jamba Juice, and invest. Donate to a charity and then upgrade myself!

What is your hope for the gay community of color? My hope for the Gay community of color is to integrate ourselves respectfully in high levels or art, business, education, and politics. Show the world that though great, Paris is Burning isn’t the only example of the lifestyle. We can be Presidents and Kings. I ask that Gay men of color work hard and be patient to transition while constantly moving forward. 100 years ago, women couldn’t vote; didn’t have a say all over the world. That’s changed. In 100 years, gay men of color will be at the fore front. Just work hard and stay strong!

Do you have any questions for Jason? Ask the questions in the comments section and Jason will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Marlon

Learn more about the contestants of the Mr. LiVelocity Competition.

Name: Marlon A. Bartholomew

Birth City, State: Brooklyn, NY


What are your hobbies or talents? In my free time I enjoy cooking and spending time with my close friends. 


Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? Some college.


What kind of music do you like? My music selection depends on my mood. I listen to artists like Celine Dion, Oh Land, Alex Winston, NeYo, The Weekend, and Frank Ocean (pop, indie pop, r&b).


What most annoys you? What annoys me the most is when people sneeze or cough without covering their face.


What is your source of motivation? My source of motivation is external. I love seeing others being happy and enjoying life. 


Who do you most admire and why? I actually admire a lot of people and by people I mean my friends. My friends all possess a quality I hope to one day see in myself.


If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? If I were to win ten million right now I'm definitely paying off the mortgage on my family's house, making sure my two younger sisters college expenses are taken care of, and then paying off my loans. 


What is your hope for the gay community of color? I hope that we continue educating ourselves and pushing forward for a better tomorrow. 


Do you have any questions for Marlon? Ask the questions in the comments section and Marlon will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Dennis

Learn more about the contestants of the Mr. LiVelocity Competition.

Name: Dennis M. Vialva

Birth City, State: Ft. Lauderdale, FL

What are your hobbies or talents? I’m an artist by nature. I love to sketch random objects and even paint them. I just recently got into poems and spoken word. My hobbies would probably consist of video games and watching & reading Japanese anime & manga. I love exercising and staying fit. Also I just love helping people out in general.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? I did go to college but I did not finish my BA in graphic design.

What kind of music do you like? All kinds from hip-hop R&B, Alternative, dance, country to rock. You name the genre and I've probably listened to it.

What most annoys you? Ignorant and just plain mean people.

What is your source of motivation? Making someone laugh and smile each day. Smiling is contagious for me!

Who do you most admire and why? My mother and father. They have been together for 38 years and have been there for me whenever I am in need. They are are my source of LOVE and compassion that I extend to everyone else. They are the mirror I look into each day and the path I wanna follow. Love you ma and pa!

If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? 1 million to a HIV/AIDS charity , 5 million for me, and the rest will go to my friends and family

What is your hope for the gay community of color? I want us as a community to be able to smile and say hello when we walk pass each other. Learn to share and use our knowledge to better the community and not belittle it. I want our community to come together like we were all apart of the same family. We went through a lot of hardships in the past, and yet we still continue these hardships on ourselves. That just doesn't make any sense. We need to stop acting like little boys and girls, and grown up, so our youth will follow suit.

Do you have any questions for Dennis? Ask the questions in the comments section and Dennis will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Chris

Learn more about the contestants of the Mr. LiVelocity Competition.

First up is Chris.

Name: Christopher Cespedes

Birth City, State: New York,NY

What are your hobbies or talents? I love anything that involves being creative and the arts.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? I did go to college; however, I did not finish. I was studying Media and Liberal Arts.

What kind of music do you like? I'm into Pop/R&B. I love music that evokes an emotion or makes me want to move.

What most annoys you? RUDE PEOPLE! 

What is your source of motivation? My upbringing keeps me motivated. I think my mom did a great job teaching me about the world around me and letting me know it was all within reach with hard work.

Who do you most admire and why? My best-friend. She is a picture of strength and of a fighter.

If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? Travel the world and learn as much as I can about what's out there. See and feel it hands on.

What is your hope for the gay community of color? To be more united. 

Do you have any questions for Chris? Ask the questions in the comments section and Chris will answer some of them.

Contestant Profile - Kevin

Learn more about the contestants of the Mr. LiVelocity Competition.

Name: Kevin Williams

Birth City, State: Waukegan, IL

What are your hobbies or talents? Some of my hobbies/talents include singing, songwriting, weight lifting, reading and expressing myself in writing.

Did you go to college? If so, what is your degree in? I graduated from Columbia University in 2005 with a degree in Sociology.


What kind of music do you like? I'm a singer so I enjoy many types but my favorites include Soul, R&B, Gospel, Alt Rock, some Country & some Pop.


What most annoys you? I'm most annoyed by close-minded people. Nobody knows everything and we all have the opportunity to better understand others if we're willing to hear the other side and find out where they're coming from. I'm drawn to people who are open to learning and attempting new things they've never done before. Closed minds don't get fed.


What is your source of motivation? God is my source of motivation and I know He blessed me with many gifts that I can use for good. Because of Him, I know my purpose on this earth is to be a light and to inspire.


Who do you most admire and why? I most admire my mother because she is a strong woman and she never underestimated the things I could do. She always encouraged me to do the things that make me happy. She saw more in me than I was able to see in myself at times. I learned to be sensitive to others because she always shows compassion and helps others whenever she can. She's been a mother and father to me since my own father was never able to show love to me even though we lived in the same house. Of all my family members, my mother understands me best.


If you were to win ten million dollars in the lottery, what would you do with the money? First, I would say goodbye to the $50,000 in college loans that I'm paying off! I would make sure my mother is set up so that she doesn't have to work another day in her life. I would help out immediate family members so that they wouldn't have to struggle anymore. I would plan a family trip for my immediate family so that we'd have a chance to reconnect. I would help out close friends who are also pursuing their dreams. I would buy myself a home to call my own. Finally, I would donate funds to organizations such as Livelocity which are seeking to bring about change in our community.


What is your hope for the gay community of color? My hope for the gay community of color is that we realize that we're much stronger united than divided and we're far stronger than we tend to give ourselves credit for. We're not weak. The world couldn't run without us and it's better because of us. I want us to learn to love and support one another more. We have enough enemies against us in the world at large; we don't need to help them by fighting amongst ourselves.


Do you have any questions for Kevin? Ask the questions in the comments section and Kevin will answer some of them.

We Must Be the Change We Seek

The past four years have certainly been one for the record books. We have seen the election and inauguration of the first black President of the United States. We have seen gay marriage legalized in six states. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has been repealed and the Executive Branch has decided that the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional and that they won’t represent the government’s interest in cases pending against it.

Even as there has been much success in gay rights, it seems that the gay community of color is headed on a downward path. The level of homelessness in the young gay community of color has increased. The number of HIV cases in our community has doubled. The number of organizations run by gay people of color has decreased and our community is even more fractured than ever before.

We, who are gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men (MSM), same gender loving, or whatever we may call ourselves, must be the change that we seek in the MSM of color community.

To that end, a few of conscious black and latino gay men have come together to create a nonprofit for us and by us. In doing so, we make this promise to ourselves and to the community…

We promise that we will shed all discrimination within the MSM community of color, whether it is towards the young or the old, the feminine or the masculine, the blacks or the latinos, the out or the dl and accept our brothers for who they are.

We promise that we will become a unified front, using our social, political, cultural and financial resources for the betterment of our own community.

We promise that we will be an organization that takes care of our own, and not pass the buck to other people.

We promise that we will serve as an information broker, educating our community on networking opportunities, youth enrichment, life skills, and relationships & love, among other topics.

We promise that our programs will promote better health and wellness.

We promise that we will help develop leadership skills, grassroots advocacy, and empower emerging leaders to make change in our communities.

We promise that we will work with other organizations and support other LGBTQ, SGL, and MSM organizations as we are all in this together and are on the same team.

We promise that we will develop ways to combat racism in the LGBTQ community and homophobia in the POC communities.

We promise that we commit ourselves to learning more about our community to answer the questions, who are we, what do we need, and where are we headed.

We promise that we will do everything in our power to help each other in our community live to a ripe old age.

We promise that we will move with a sense of velocity towards solving the problems in the MSM community of color.

We promise that we will be the change that we seek.