D'Zert Club: It is Better to Build a Child than Repair an Adult

Entertainment attorney Helen McCrary Salahuddin founded the organization called the d'Zert Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992. With the help of retired international entrepreneur and husband, Philip A. Salahuddin, and "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes, an internationally known recording artist and actor serving as the organization's spokesperson, she turned the d'Zert Club into the world's largest and fastest growing African-American youth organization of its kind. Boasting over 25,000 members, the d'Zert Club's motto is "it is better to build a child than repair an adult".

The d'Zert Club specialized in producing positive entertainment and cultural events for elementary, middle and high school students. Activities produced for young people by the d'Zert Club have included birthday and graduation parties, talent showcases, and benefit concerts featuring nationally known recording artists such as LL Cool J, Dougie Fresh and D.J. Cool. In addition the d'Zert Club produced yearly cultural events celebrating Kwanzaa, Juneteenth and Black Music Month, a quarterly newsletter, political education forums and cultural field trips. The d’Zert Club turned the educational program over to The African Genesis Corrective History Institute in 2003.

The d'Zert Club now specializes in producing cultural trips for adults and children to places of interest to African Americans for the purpose of studying the peoples, culture and history of the descendants of enslaved African people dispersed throughout the Diaspora. Trips are continuously planned to places in Africa, Central and South America and Europe.

Source: http://www.dzertclub.com

Contact Info: d'Zert Club P.O. Box 682 Glenside, Pa. 19038 | dzertclub@aol.com | 888-257-5991 (phone) 215-247-2896 (fax)

Founders:

Helen McCrary Giddiens, Esquire is an entertainment attorney and businesswoman practicing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Since opening her law practice, McCrary-Giddiens has represented a wide range of clients associated with the entertainment industry, such as recording artist Gerald Levert, Rapper-producer Jazzy Jeff, WDAS-FM radio personality Gary Shepherd, Gospel great The Dixie Hummingbirds, and music organization the International Association of African American Music (IAAAM).

McCrary-Giddiens also manages and acts as legal counsel to her daughter A.B.S.olute recording artist, actress and dancer Sonni Giddiens. As Sonni's manager, McCrary-Giddiens has guided her daughter through 16 years in the entertainment industry as a commercial kid, recording artist and TV and film actress.

As a businesswoman, McCrary-Giddiens founded the d'Zert Club in 1992 and Teen Summit 1000 in 1996. McCrary-Giddiens also regularly leads workshops and participates as a panelist in seminars throughout the Delaware Valley. Currently, McCrary-Giddiens is an instructor with the Dell East Music Business Institute (DEMBI), instructing students in the areas of music business law and songwriting, publishing and copyright law. She has led workshops on the Law and Childcare for the Keystone College from 1994-1995, participated on panels for LEAP/Temple University Alternative Careers Seminars for attorneys, and from 1991 to 1994, co-produced the IAAAM Black Music Month Conference in Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bermuda and London, England. As co-producer of IAAAM, she organized the conference site, workshop panels and panelists, and additional networking activity. In 1983, McCrary-Giddiens developed a workshop series entitled "How To Get Your Children In TV Commercials" for West Mt. Airy Neighbors Educational Services.

McCrary-Giddiens' earlier experiences include publishing a weekly music newsletter paper (1980-1982), owning and operating two music retail stores (1974-1981) and serving as a speech therapist at the Philadelphia General Hospital (1969-1974). Active in many organizations, she has memberships in the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA), Sista Friends for Black Women in Entertainment and the National Association of Record Merchandisers (NARM). She served as Vice President for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) (1986-1987) and secretary for the Independent Record Retailers Protective Association (IRRPA) (1978-1981) and the Philadelphia Chapter of Black Music Association (1975-1978).

McCrary-Giddiens holds a Bachelors degree in Speech from Howard University and a JD from Temple Law School.

McCrary Giddiens has a son, Shane, and a daughter, Sonni. She is an active member and Trustee of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Germantown. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and walking. McCrary Giddiens also works as a Leader for Weight Watchers of Philadelphia teaching weight management skills.