Marva Delores Collins, born on August 31, 1936, was an esteemed American educator renowned for her outstanding impact in the field of education. Collins' notable achievement was the establishment of Westside Preparatory School, a highly acclaimed private elementary school that opened in 1975 in the impoverished Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Her upbringing in Atmore, Alabama, amidst the segregation in the American South, greatly influenced her perspective on education. After graduating from Clark College, now known as Clark Atlanta University, Collins dedicated herself to teaching, initially in Alabama and later as a full-time substitute teacher in inner-city Chicago Public Schools for fourteen years. Her most significant contribution, Westside Preparatory School, was founded with a mere $5,000 from her teacher's retirement fund, aiming to provide quality education to low-income black children whom she felt were mislabeled as learning disabled by the Chicago Public School System. Collins' innovative teaching methods and unwavering belief in her students' potential garnered widespread recognition, leading to media coverage, including a TV movie and a featured news article on CBS's 60 Minutes. Notably, her impact extended beyond the classroom, as evident from her involvement in assisting a college student, Kevin Ross, in overcoming literacy challenges.Collins' teaching methodology, which incorporated classical education and the Socratic method, garnered both praise and criticism. Despite her remarkable success and numerous accolades, including being considered for the position of United States Secretary

Marva Whitney, born Marva Ann Manning, was an American funk singer known as Soul Sister #1. She gained fame for her raw and brassy vocal style and is best known for her response to the Isley Brothers' hit "It's Your Thing," titled "It's My Thing." This iconic track was sampled in several popular songs, including "Bring The Noise" by Public Enemy and "F**k tha Police" by N.W.A. Whitney's journey in music began at a young age, touring with her family's gospel group. She later joined the Alma Whitney Singers and ventured into R&B music in 1963. After a stint with the James Brown Revue, she embarked on a solo career, recording several singles and albums. Despite facing challenges and changes in the music industry, Whitney continued to make music, collaborating with various artists and eventually returning to her gospel roots. In 2006, she collaborated on a new single, "I Am What I Am," with Japanese funk orchestra Osaka Monaurail. Marva Whitney's legacy lives on through her timeless contributions to funk music and her influence on future generations of musicians.