America's Psychologist, Dr. Jeff Gardere, Essence Magazine Relationships Editor, Demetria Lucas, and Together Apart Founder, Chris "Kazi" Rolle Host Dialogue with All Male Panel Before All Female Audience

Online, February 17, 2011 (Newswire.com) - On Saturday, February 12th, nearly 100 women gathered at the Open Center for "Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep and Understand a Man" - a candid conversation engaging an all male panel and an all female audience. The event, produced by Together Apart, launched the "The Eligible Black Bachelor" Campaign in response to media coverage about African-American women's challenges in finding and marrying eligible African-American men.

The hosts for the evening were award winning journalist, Demetria Lucas, Relationships Editor, Essence Magazine and author of A Belle In Brooklyn: Advice for Living Your Single Life & Enjoying Mr. Right Now and Chris "Kazi" Rolle, Founder, Together Apart who has been featured on VH1, CNN, CBS and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
America's Psychologist, Dr. Jeff Gardere, who has served as "in-house" doctor on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show, the Ricki Lake Show, Star Jones Show, and the Montel Williams Show was the In-House Therapist for the evening.

"Together Apart is proud to provide men and women with a platform for dialogue that will get to the root of relationship problems - lack of understanding between the sexes. We want to be the change that's needed in our communities," said Chris "Kazi" Rolle, Founder Together Apart.

The panel included a diverse group of men in varying stages of life and backgrounds from married to single, ages 25 to 40 and from professions including: stay at home dad, DJ, educator, real estate and television professionals. The men spoke candidly before a group of women ages 21 to 45 with most women being 31 to 35. One audience member when asked why she attended said, that she "is married, but wanted to gain insight into how to keep [it] together." Another woman said that she attended the event, because, "There's nothing else like this out there!"

The panel discussion questions included:
1. Round 1 - What goes through a man's mind during the dating process? (Dating)
2. Round 2 - Why are some men such selfish lovers? (Sex)
3. Round 3 - Why cheat when you have everything at home? (Commitment)
4. Round 4 - What would you ask men if you knew you would get the truth? (Open to the audience)

Straight Talk, No Chaser is part of the "The Eligible Black Bachelor" Campaign which aims to highlight the untold story of single black men that is contrary to media portrayals while providing women a forum to get answers to burning questions, 'straight from the horse's mouth'. The Campaign also includes "The Bachelor Party" held on February 14th, at Gild Hall to bring successful, educated and sophisticated men and women together for a party just in time for Valentine's Day.

Panelists: Shawn Young, Eternal Bakr, DJ CEO, Shawn Blanchard, Anthony Morris and Eyan Edwards

For photos from the event, please contact, [email protected]