Civil rights have always been a part of Anthony Bishop’s life, so it was not surprising to learn of his desire to help people succeed and protect their rights.

He joined the military in 1978 and contributed ten years of active service and has remained a reservist until today.

Before becoming President of the American Federal Government Employees Union, for the Department of State, Anthony organized black history events for several years at the Department. Three years after becoming President, Anthony has made great strides, breathed life back into an organization that was vastly declining and was very successful at representing federal employees through mediation.

Becoming President of the American Federal Government Employees Union for the Department of State gave him the opportunity to apply to his position, the principles and teachings he’s learned from past African-American history makers.

n his words, “Things are not always what they appear. You must look at the entire situation, because what you think might be right because your client says so may indeed be incorrect. You don’t want to be prejudiced against anybody when you’re trying to work things out.”

From setting world records as the fastest female talker to climbing Kilimanjaro, to doing a book signing at the bottom of the ocean at the wreckage of the Titanic, Fran Capo is one of a kind when it comes to making dreams come true. When she sets her sights on a goal she accomplishes it.

Tenacity, thinking outside the box, passion and just plain doing it, are the ingredients to her success. “With anything in life, you have to have the passion,” Capo says. She states, “My mother taught me that nothing is impossible and my father taught me to always look at the humor in life.” Her thinking is “that if someone else can do it, I can do it.”

Her advice is to “fear nothing, but if you do, do it anyway. Live everyday as it it’s your last and one day you’ll be right.”

Fran’s perception of life is that “it’s an adventure and God gave you this life to live to the absolute fullest, so that by the time you die, you should be able to say, I used up everything you gave me.”

At the age of 22, Jeanie Bryson, the daughter of the legendary and incredible Dizzie Gillespie got her first professional singing gig. While holding her one-year old son in one hand and a microphone in the other, Bryson mesmerized her audience for the first time.

To support herself while singing, Bryson worked full-time at the post office from 3:00am to 11:00am six days a week. With only a short nap in between, she would rise to prepare dinner and then from 9:00pm to 1:00am perform at local clubs. Two hours later she would return to work; all as a single woman.

Looking back on all of her experiences she explains, “I know it’s a lot easier not to have a full time job when you’re trying to sing. I know how important it is to get sleep. It’s hard to be an artist when you’re raising a child and being the bread winner. When you’re the mom, the cook and the musician, it makes it a little bit harder. I’ve learned to budget my time and be focused.”

She truly admires Etta Jones. Jeanie believes elements that make a good musician include having a generous spirit, working together and having the ability to put your ego aside. It’s important to bring something positive to the bandstand. Two important elements she’s learned from her father are camaraderie and learning to have fun on stage.

As for her advice to aspiring Jazz musicians, Bryson replied, “you can’t embrace the tradition unless you understand it. Start singing…just do it.”

From football records to setting records as a real estate agent, Emery Moorehead has carried his passion for excellence on the football field into his post-game life. He is using his winning attitude to achieve success today as a realtor.

It may have been 20 years ago that Emery Moorehead last set foot on the field to hear the cheering and screaming of football fans, but his winning style and passion for success has carried him throughout his post-football career. Three years before he retired from professional football, Emery knew what he wanted to do after retirement.

Though he enjoyed a long career in football, Emery knew that the time would come when he would be doing something else. He began preparing himself for a change by starting to sell real estate three years before retirement. Though he knew real estate was his calling, leaving the game still took some preparation. “You miss it the very first game of the year [after retirement]; the opening day, I think that’s when you miss it the most.”

Preparation, Emery says is the biggest key element to success. “You get opportunities in life and you have to be prepared for them. You can never over-prepare.”

Emery always finds time to contribute to his community and local charities. As a young kid, Emery was an Eagle Scout and he appreciates the benefits that he obtained through the organization. He serves on the North Shore Board of Directors, Northeast Illinois Council of Boy Scouts, working with urban outreach to encourage young kids to become involved in scouting.