Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Carmelo Anthony Charity Work, Events and Causes


Carmelo Anthony is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks. In 2005, he established the Carmelo Anthony Foundation to give back to the community through a variety of outreach programs and donations.

He was a spokesman for the Family Resource Center in Denver, and helped organize a Christmas party, entitled “A Very Melo Christmas.”

He hosts an annual 3-on-3 tournament, known as “Melo’s H.O.O.D. Movement 3 on 3 Challenge (Holding Our Own Destiny)” in Baltimore.

He opened “The Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center” in Baltimore on December 14, 2006.

He contributed $1.5 million to the Living Classrooms Foundation, a non-profit organization that “provides innovative hands-on-education, job-training and community service programs for over 35,000 children, youth and young adults in the east Baltimore community.”

After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Anthony donated $35,000 to relief efforts. He donated $1,000 per point scored against San Antonio and Houston in January, 2005.


Carmelo Anthony has supported the following charities:


Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/carmelo-anthony#ixzz2AqB1MadE

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Alonzo Mourning Charity Work, Events and Causes


7-time NBA All-Star Alonzo Mourning is also an All-Star humanitarian.

His Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. was started in 1997 as a way to help children and families living in at-risk situations.

Mourning’s campaign Zo's Fund for Life was begun after he was diagnosed with Focal Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and raises funds for research and education in the fight against the disease, as well as providing funding for those not able to afford treatment. He supports The NephCure Foundation, which also focuses on finding treatments for FSGS.

Alonzo is one of the founding members of Athletes For Hope.

The Overtown Youth Center is Alonzo’s program for underprivileged kids in Miami, founded in 2003.

Mourning helped raise awareness for a three-year-old boy in need of a liver transplant.

Alonzo Mourning has supported the following charities:






Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/alonzo-mourning#ixzz2Aq9gPUSx

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Meet Rochelle Ballantyne, One Of The Chess Experts In Brooklyn Castle



Last Tuesday night we found ourselves in a small room with about 35 other people at the SoHo House—there was an open bar, a table filled with the finest cheeses, and Jon Hamm was sitting down to play some chess with teenagers that would undoubtedly beat him game after game. We had all just watched Brooklyn Castle in one of the screening rooms, thanks to Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt, who decided to host the little shindig after they saw the documentary. They are not, as they mentioned that night, "social media people"... so without Facebook or Twitter, this is how they decided to help spread the word.
The couple introduced the film, with Hamm noting that his love of it comes partially from his former career as a teacher. But even those who have never stood in front of a blackboard will be enamored with the documentary. Brooklyn Castle gives you a look inside I.S. 318 as well as the world of chess, all through the eyes of the school's team. You will witness their journey—as a team and as individuals—to become champions, masters, and grandmasters of the game, but you'll also see from inside of the school what battling a dwindling budget is like.
The documentary opens tomorrow at the Landmark Sunshine and Lincoln Center's Elinor Bunin Theater, and the film's stars will be holding court across from the Sunshine for their own little ChessFest—be sure to drop by (details here). Below, meet Rochelle Ballantyne, one of film's stars, and well on her way to becoming the first African-American female grandmaster in the history of chess. (Tomorrow we'll have another interview, with the documentary's director Katie Dellamaggiore.)

What has changed in your life since you were filming this documentary? Nothing really has changed since the film except my age, haha. School still comes first but I'm more committed to chess since I entered high school. I want to achieve my goal so bad and one thing Brooklyn Castle depicts is that if you work hard and you're devoted then anything is possible.
When did you start playing chess, and what got you interested? I started playing chess in the third grade when my grandmother first introduced me to the game. I'm very competitive so I think that's what attracted me more to chess, and of course traveling across the country was definitely a perk.

What is the first thing you would tell someone who doesn't know how to play chess, but wants to learn how? The one thing I would tell a person who wants to learn how to play is to Never Give Up. Chess requires a lot and it's not easy but it's an amazing game that opens so many doors if you just stick with it, it"ll be very beneficial, I promise.
Do you have a favorite place in NYC to play chess? I love playing chess in general. I can't really pick a specific place because you get the same thing out of every tournament, I guess it just depends on my performance.

Have you been enjoying the attention the film, and your story, has been getting? I'm not really the kind of girl that enjoys the spotlight, I have stage fright... BUT I do love the movie and I'm really happy Katie was able to depict such inspirational stories on camera. It's motivational and the more people that see it the more help schools across the country can help get funded. It's important that kids get the opportunity to accomplish all that me, Pobo, Alexis, Justus and Patrick have accomplished. So watch the movie, help these schools, we're the children of the future—no one deserves the money more than these kids.
What's next for you? Hmm, what's next for me? College, naturally. Hopefully I've broken master level by that time. Those are the things I'm sure of.

Source: http://gothamist.com/2012/10/18/meet_rochelle_ballantyne_one_of_the.php

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Mansa Musa Of Mali Named World's Richest Man Of All Time; Gates And Buffet Also Make List


You've probably never heard of him, but Mansa Musa is the richest person ever.

The 14th century emperor from West Africa was worth a staggering $400 billion, after adjusting for inflation, as calculated by Celebrity Net Worth. To put that number into perspective -- if that's even possible -- Net Worth's calculations mean Musa's fortune far outstrips that of the current world's richest man Carlos Slim Helu and family.

According to Forbes, the Mexican telecom giant's net worth is $69 billion. Slim edges out the world's second wealthiest man, Bill Gates, who is worth $61 billion, according to Forbes.

Some of the oldest fortunes in question date back 1,000 years. No. 7 on the list, for example, is William the Conqueror. The illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, William lived between 1028-1087 and gained infamy for invading and seizing England in 1066.

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, when Musa died sometime in the 1330s, he left behind an empire filled with palaces and mosques, some of which still stand today. But the emperor really turned historic heads for the over-the-top extravagances of his 1324 pilgrimage to Mecca.

The trip, which he embarked up on during the 17th year of the monarch's glittering reign, was hosted by the leaders of both Mecca and Cairo and apparently was so brilliant, it "almost put Africa’s sun to shame."

Musa's wealth was a result of his country's vast natural resources. The West African nation was responsible for more than half of the world's salt and gold supply, according to Net Worth. Of course, the entry also notes that the fortune was also fleeting. Just two generations later, his net worth was gone -- wasted away by invaders and infighting.

As The Independent points out, while the numbers bandied about by this newest list are shocking, many aspects of the run-down aren't surprising: there are no women included, for example, and only three of the richest men are still alive today. Americans dominate the list, however, taking 14 of the 26 spots, including slots two and three.

The "poorest" man on the list is Warren Buffet, who had a peak net worth of $64 billion. Buffet, a noted philanthropist, has since given billions of his fortune away, and Forbes now lists his net worth at closer to $44 billion.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/mansa-musa-worlds-richest-man-all-time_n_1973840.html#slide=1653415

Friday, October 26, 2012

God Has Smiled On Me: A Tribute to a Black Father Who Stayed and A Tribute to All Black Fathers Who Stay



Daniel Whyte III's father, Rev. Daniel White, Jr., was not a perfect man but he loved his family dearly. And even though there were many problems in the family, Rev. White did what so many black fathers today do not do—he stayed with his family through thick and thin. This book is a tribute to him—a father who stayed. 

"If we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that what too many fathers also are, is missing—missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it."

—President Barack Obama

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Will.I.AM: Charity Work


Will.i.am created the i.am.home Fund to help prevent struggling families in the United States from losing their homes. He also created the i.am scholarship Fund to bring educational opportunities to young people in need of financial assistance.

Will.i.am teamed up with REM’s Michael Stipe for a charity single to continue aid for Hurricane Katrina victims; proceeds benefit Mercy Corps. The CD, In the Sun, is available for purchase on iTunes.

Charities & foundations supported (13)

will.i.am has supported the following charities:

Common Ground Foundation
GRAMMY Foundation
Green For All
i.am.home Fund
i.am scholarship Fund
League of Conservation Voters
MASSIVEGOOD

Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/will-i-am#ixzz29MrpfmLA

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Playd Co-Founder Anthony Fraiser Talks About Minorities in Gaming

Held at the Roger Smith Social Media Hotel in New York City, NewME Community NYC, Blacks in Technology NY and EA Games organized an intimate gathering of seasoned—and aspiring—designers, marketers, programmers and game developers, among other gaming professionals, on Monday. Attendees mixed and mingled before the scheduled panel discussion, which featured Senior Producer at Playmatics James Seetal, Playd Co-founder Anthony Fraiser and Advisor to the International Game Developers Association’s New Jersey chapter Sean R. Scott, as well as members of EA’s Diversity and Inclusion team, began. Moderated by BIT’s Mike Street, the conversation addressed various topics, from challenges faced within the gaming industry and available resources to networking tips and what investors look for in tech startups.

It’s there that BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Frasier. Many recognize the 26-year-old from CNN’s Black in America: The New Promised Land – Silicon Valley, but there’s more to his story than what viewers saw on the hour-long special. The Newark, NJ native doesn’t hide behind his rough past and the fact he dropped out of college. In fact, Fraiser remarks it only makes him work that much harder. He founded The Koalition, a gaming site for urban youth; a meetup group called BrickCity Tech and, as seen on the cable network’s fourth installment, co-founded the gamers’ app Playd.

BlackEnterprise.com spoke with the NewMe Accelerator participant about life after Black in America, the importance of mentorship, and what’s next for the young tech entrepreneur.

What have you been working on since people saw you participating in the NewMe Accelerator on CNN’s Blacks in America: Silicon Valley?

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been pretty much working on user acquisition, just building my user base. That’s all I’m concerned about is getting in front of gamers, going to every game conference I can. That’s pretty much what it’s all about.

For someone who might not be familiar with your gamers app Playd. What is it? Explain its offerings and how it compares to other apps within the same category.

It’s almost like a Foursquare for video games. It lets you check into your games, share what you’re playing with your friends across your social networks, but we’re moving into an area that hasn’t been moved into before like trying to have the first digital loyalty system for video games. So what we want to do is start rewarding players for playing games by giving them digital rewards and actual, real incentives that they can redeem with game publishers such as EA.

That would be really huge, especially when it comes to getting rid of the number of users who go out and buy second-hand games—used games—which is hurting publishers like EA—$2 billion a year almost.

Now that Playd is available for download by iPhone and Android users, how’s it performing?

So far we have over 10,000 active users and those users have, pretty much, checked into 50,000 game sessions on our app. We just want to triple that within the next few months or even the next month, if possible. That’s what we’re working on. NewMe was a big help.

How important is it to get out there, attending community-styled meetups like tonight’s event, especially for one’s personal brand?

Super important! My advice for people running startups: Be at the meetups that are in your industry and that are related to you. I’m an African-American male who has a startup, so [being at a] Blacks In Tech [event] makes sense. But what also makes sense is being at E3, PAX, GDC, Comicon, [and] all the gaming events.

Mentorship is very important. It’s something many entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders credit with their success. Who are some of your mentors?

The biggest mentor we [NewMe Accelerator participants] had altogether was Mitch Kapor. You got a taste of him in the documentary, as well. But here’s a guy who’s had his footprints all over the Valley. He’s everywhere; his fingerprints are all over so to have somebody like that kind of coach you on how you should be pitching, how you should be making sense and even reaching out to him to say: “Hey, you think this investor would be interested in this?” He’ll do introductions and all of that stuff. He’ll let you know what you’re doing wrong, why you’re not interesting. I think he’s one of the most effective.

I made good friends with Curtiss Pope of AisleFinder.com. He’s been a great mentor to me, personally, because here’s a guy who’s been in the Valley all his life. He pretty much left a six-figure job to do this stuff. He’s teaching me the way and telling me how to be. He’s somebody I call every once in awhile to get some tips from and he’s been a great resource.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I’m working on some other projects right now. Outside of Playd, there’s BrickCity Tech, which is my tech meetup. I’m also working on a music startup, as well, on the side. It’s very early, but look out for it when it comes.

Source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/2012/03/06/playd-co-founder-anthony-fraiser-talks-about-minorities-in-gaming/

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Magic Johnson opens school to give high school dropouts a helping hand


ATLANTA – Basketball legend Magic Johnson has opened an education center in downtown Atlanta for high school dropouts.

The Magic Johnson Bridgescape center helps give those who have left school, or are at risk of dropping out, the opportunity to earn a high school diploma. The program, which has just opened its doors, is free and accepts students aged 14 to 20 years old.

Unlike traditional schools, Bridgescape takes a holistic approach, with life skills counselors as well as teachers on site to provide developmental and academic support. Students get academic credits online, including one-on-one and small group classes.

“Those students who finished school [from the center in Ohio] with us at the end of the last school year, 75 percent of them returned at the beginning of the school year to continue their education,” said Jennifer Parker from Bridgescape, in a televised interview with WSB TV 2.

“You can’t get a decent job in this town so you have to get a high school diploma,” said 19-year-old student Chris Wallace in the same report. “It shows me that someone like him [Magic Johnson] cares about people like us.”

Johnson, who is well known for his philanthropic work, has over the years talked about the value of getting a good education. This program is part of the Provost Academy Georgia, a statewide virtual charter high school.

Magic Johnson Bridgescape centers are already operating in Ohio, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. More Georgia locations are planned in Augusta, Macon and Savannah.

Follow Kunbi Tinuoye on Twitter at @Kunbiti


Source: http://thegrio.com/2012/09/18/magic-johnson-opens-school-to-give-high-school-dropouts-a-helping-hand/

Monday, October 22, 2012

Positive Black Male News: Luda Day Weekend Uplifts the City of Atlanta with Three Days of Community Events!


Christopher Ludacris Bridges’ Luda Day Weekend was keynote event of a weekend with Gay Pride and various other Labor Day weekend around the city of Atlanta. On Friday Ludacris made a visit to Dobbs Elementary School in Atlanta with NBA philanthropist Josh Powell.  Ludacris said giving back is one of his proudest moments of Luda Day Weekend.

“Supporting our youth includes educating and empowering them about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle-responsible dating, greener communities, and healthy eating habits. Eating right and exercise promote good habits, both mentally and physically. We want to show young people that physical activity and eating well can be fun and a part of your everyday life.”

Project S.L.I.D.E. pumped up the students for Ludacris’s arrival by teaching them an easy dance routine and a fun two-step of the Wobble. “The teaching garden that we planted in the spring was a big hit we wanted to continue the teaching moments. Students, teachers, parents and grandparents particpated in the learning, growing and harvesting” said Roberta Shields, President of the Ludacris Foundation.”

Once the students finished getting their heart rates up, Ludacris faced his toughest media interview; the students. Two students from Dobbs Elementary had the opportunity to interview Ludacris, asking him everything from what he thinks about the U.S. Government to why he started the Ludacris Foundation. Throughout his interview he stressed the importance of following through with Michelle Obama’s plan of raising healthy and smart kids, and how his foundation strives to make a difference in the communities that have been a direct influence on his life and career.

Ludacris brought with him his personal chef Willie Box, who picked herbs and vegetables from the school’s garden, to prepare students with a yummy yet nutritious snack. Chef Box made the students aware that not only were they eating from their garden, but that snacks and food in general can taste great without all the extra sugars and toxins that some processed foods contain. His special treat–sweet potato cupcakes,which were a hit among students–and teachers!

Source: Tastmakermag.com & Blackcelebritygiving.com

Photo’s by Chanda M. Scott

theblackmancan.org wants to provide you with news stories from across the world that promote a positive black male image. Many of the stories featured here may not be on the front page of your local newspaper, but we believe that it is our job to inform you on all the positive black male news circulating the world.

Source: http://theblackmancan.org/?p=3239

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Jay-Z: Charity Work


Jay-Z sent more than $2,500 worth of designer street wear to the Spring Hill Campaign for Adolescent and University Student Empowerment (CAUSE) in appreciation of their community efforts.

His November 2006 concert in New York city raised over $250,000 for PlayPumps International.

On August 9, 2006, he met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan at the organization’s headquarters in New York. The rapper pledged to use his upcoming world tour to raise awareness of–and combat–global water shortage.

Also in 2006, he visited Africa and produced a documentary entitled Diary of Jay-Z: Water for Life.

He pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross' relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.

Please also see our 48 past articles about Jay-Z

Charities & foundations supported (7)

Jay-Z has supported the following charities:

Artists for Peace and Justice
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
GRAMMY Foundation
Music for Relief
PlayPumps
Red Cross


Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/jay-z#ixzz29MqYAKjm

Source: http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/jay-z

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012

Nelson Mandela - Quote Image: Impossible


"It always seems impossible until it's done." 
Nelson Mandela

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Eric Thomas: Greatness Is Upon You

Motivational Speaker, Educator, Preacher, Youth Activist, Entrepreneur, Father, Husband. A Leader that cares about people...



http://www.youtube.com/user/etthehiphoppreacher

bookericthomas@gmail.com Fan Mail Etc. P.O BOX 81152 Lansing, Mi 48908

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Russell Simmons - Quote Image: Good


"When you do good by the world, the world will do good by you." 
Russell Simmons

Monday, October 15, 2012

Stretch Your Wings: Famous Black Quotations for Teens



A collection of Black quotations and African proverbs, arranged in such categories as: Knowing Who I Am, Family: Joy or Nightmare, Making Better Choices, What about Racism, and Hold Fast to Dreams.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Greg Jennings Foundation


The Greg Jennings Foundation is a private family foundation organized to make impactful grants within the Michigan and Wisconsin communities that focus on youth education.

Empowering youth for improved educational awareness.
• Excellence
• Educational Achievement
• Leadership
• Advancement
• Effectiveness

A community where all educational needs for youth are met.

The Greg Jennings Foundation strives to partner with and assist other organizations in educating youth by providing the necessary resources in order for them to reach their academic potential.

For all inquiries, please contact
us at:
The Greg Jennings Foundation
141 E. Michigan Suite 401
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
email: foundation@gj85.org

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet





One of Wall Street’s most powerful and lauded women shares her strategies for long-term success in any career

While climbing the corporate ladder, Carla Harris sought career advice from her mentors and superiors but found some of the counsel too nonspecific. As Carla’s career advanced, she discovered the key survival tools to business success and vowed that when she reached senior management and people came to her for advice she would provide them with specific, play-by-play answers about what they needed to do to fulfill their career potential.

Each chapter in Expect to Win includes Carla’s “pearls”— lessons Harris has acquired during her twenty years of working on Wall Street that can help contribute to career success by aiding readers in navigating the day-to-day complexities and challenges of the workplace.

Carla Harris is a Wall Street veteran. She executed the IPOs for UPS, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and Redback, as well as the $3.2 billion common stock transaction for Immunex, one of the largest biotech common stock offerings in U.S. history. Expect to Win is a must-read for anyone seeking battle-tested tools to triumph over common career challenges and to achieve maximum success in any field.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

"Black Owned Business Directory" Launches Online


A website aimed at funneling more dollars to the nation’s Black-owned businesses has recently opened its virtual doors and hopes that making Black spending options a mere click away will encourage consumers to keep it in the community.

The Black Owned Business Directory’s new website, www.BlackOwnedBiz.com, provides consumers with listings of Black-owned enterprises from around the country and also offers support for business owners such as business tips, continuing education and general information about the Black community.

Although a recent study showed that African-Americans’ buying power reached $946.6 billion in 2010 and is projected to climb to $1.3 trillion in 2017, the average Black-owned business grosses only about $72,000 per year, according to the U.S. Census. The national average for other minority businesses is $179,000 per year and a whopping $490,000 per year for non-minority businesses.

In addition to the other features, businesses will be able to add photos of their products or work samples, information about their business, coupons for current promotions and events, and receive direct contact from potential leads. The website also plans to be a hub for the latest news on positive Black events, including information about minority scholarships.

Source: http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/05/10/online-black-owned-business-directory-launched.html

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Greg Jennings sets ambitious charity goal

New Berlin — When Greg Jennings needs to raise thousands of dollars for one of his favorite causes, Habitat for Humanity, he turns to some of his favorite people - teammates and Green Bay Packers fans.

One by one, Jennings asked his Green Bay Packers teammates to join him for his celebrity golf outing and by the time he was done, more than 40 guys were headed down I-43 to Waukesha Thursday.

"You know what, the thing about the Packers, we're very supportive of one another," said Jennings. "You put it out there and the guys just flock to it. And that's the best part. This doesn't get done if the people don't come out."

Jennings and Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity have set the ambitious goal of raising $60,000 Friday to build a low-income family a home through the third annual celebrity golf classic at the Merrill Hills Country Club, as well as enough money to build a second Habitat home in Kalamazoo, Mich. Overall, the goal is to raise $150,000.

Among the Packers expected to attend: Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews. Others include the Chicago Bears' Tommie Harris and former Packers Koren Robinson and Javon Walker.

The event requires tickets for fans; as of late Thursday, there were a limited number available at $100 per person; call Merrill Hills for information.

The Packers have several avid golfers.

"I know Aaron is playing pretty well, but so is Mason Crosby," said Jennings. "I hit recreationally. Right now, it's not looking good. I can hit a mile, but I'm not consistent enough to even try to keep a handicap. I'm all over the place, but my best round is an 88."

The golf event, which takes a year to plan, could actually raise so much money Jennings will probably take the proceeds and split them, with about half designated for Habitat for Humanity and the other half bound for his Greg Jennings Foundation.

Karen Higgins, interim executive director of Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, said the organization hopes to build 30 homes this year. She said a federal grant good for the next three year is expected to add another 100 homes.

Habitat's website states that it builds homes mostly in the Amani, Harambee and Washington Park neighborhoods of Milwaukee, while also rehabilitating condominium units in the Woodlands.

Since Habitat started building homes in Milwaukee in 1984, its group and volunteers have put up more than 400 homes for needy families in Milwaukee. In his two previous charity golf outings, Jennings raised enough money to build two Habitat homes.

"We're even getting it kicked off in Kalamazoo, Mich., now," Jennings said of his hometown. "We'll get our first home in July."

Said Higgins: "Greg and his wife believe a lot in Habitat."

Habitat looks for low-income families in which the potential new home owner has held a job for at least a year, has demonstrated good or improved credit and someone who has never owned a home before. The future occupant of the new Habitat home would also be expected to put sweat equity into the construction of the home, volunteering significant hours throughout the six to nine months it takes to build a Habitat home.

That was one of the things Jennings liked the most. "It's like a give and take," he said.

The partnership between Jennings and Habitat for Humanity began when Jennings' marketing agent, Stacy Jenson, met Greg and his wife, Nicole.

"Greg and Nicole had a great desire to help a community, not a person, but a community," said Jenson. "I instantly thought Habitat. So I cold-called Habitat three years ago and the executive director said she almost fell out of her chair; she couldn't believe she was getting a call from Greg Jennings' agent to say he wants to partner with you. It's been a dream partnership ever since."

Source: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/96113634.html

Monday, October 8, 2012

Rev Run - Quote Image: Stop worrying

"Stop worrying...WTF!!! (W)here's (T)he (F)aith ?" 
Rev Run

Sunday, October 7, 2012

What Keeps Me Standing: Letters from Black Grandmothers on Peace, Hope and Inspiration



In his previous bestsellers, Think and Grow Rich and What Makes the Great Great, Dennis Kimbro revealed the success secrets of highly touted entrepreneurs, corporate climbers, and Olympic athletes, as well as famous black Americans from George Washington Carver to Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, and Jesse Jackson. In What Keeps Me Standing, he turns to another group of sages and mentors: the grandmothers who have long been the backbone of the African American family and community.

Over a period of five years, Kimbro contacted one thousand grandmothers--women from a wide range of backgrounds and locations--asking, "If you had to write a one page letter to your children or the next generation, what would you tell them about life?" Their answers, collected here, show that success in life cannot be measured in terms of wealth and material goods alone. The lives they describe and the advice they proffer capture both a richness in spirit and a strong belief in the power of every individual to take charge of his or her own destiny. In the face of racism, both blatant and subtle, financial struggles, and personal setbacks, black grandmothers have helped their communities in thousands of tangible and intangible ways, providing support, inspiration, and love not only to their own children and grandchildren but also to neighbors, friends, and extended families.

Filled with examples of how even the smallest acts of kindness and compassion can make a difference in the world, What Keeps Me Standing is a treasure trove of the wisdom that comes with years of experience, transformation, and growth. It is the perfect gift.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Black Girls Code


BlackGirlsCode is devoted to showing the world that black girls can code, and do so much more. By reaching out to the community through workshops and after school programs, BlackGirlsCode introduces computer coding lessons to young girls from underrepresented communities in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails. BlackGirlsCode has set out to prove to the world that girls of every color have the skills to become the programmers of tomorrow. By promoting classes and programs we hope to grow the number of women of color working in technology and give underprivileged girls a chance to become the masters of their technological worlds.

BlackGirlsCode is proud to say we’ve completed our first year as an organization, during which time we had the honor of bringing technology and entertainment to many wonderful young girls of color. By teaching the girls programming and game design, we hope to have started the lifelong process of developing in them a true love for technology and the self-confidence that comes from understanding the greatest tools of the 21st century.

And though we at BlackGirlsCode cannot overstate our happiness with the results of our classes, this is just the first step in seeking to bridge the digital divide. The digital divide, or the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital technology and those without, is becoming an increasingly critical problem in society. As more and more information becomes electronic, the inability to get online can leave entire communities at an extremely dangerous disadvantage.

Sadly, San Francisco’s digital divide falls along the same racial and social fault lines that characterize so many of society’s issues. White households are twice as likely to have home Internet access as African American houses. Bayview Hunters Point, Crocker Amazon, Chinatown, Visitacion Valley, and the Tenderloin have significantly lower rates of home technology use than the rest of the city. Sixty-six percent of Latinos report having a home computer, as opposed to 88 percent of Caucasians.

Through community outreach programs such as workshops and after school programs, we introduce underprivileged girls to basic programming skills in languages like Scratch and Ruby on Rails. Introducing young black girls to these skills gives them an introduction to today’s computer technology, an essential tool for surviving in the 21st century. The skills they acquire through the programs give these young women a chance at well-paying professions with prestigious companies, as well as the ability to enter into the field as an entrepreneurs and leaders of technology.

“Imagine. Build. Create.” has always been our motto at BlackGirlsCode. The digital divide is steadily eroding, but if we want to create truly universal access to technology, San Francisco needs to come together as a community.  Imagine a world where everyone is given the tools to succeed, and then help us build ways for everyone to access information and create a new age of women of color in technology.  


Source: http://www.blackgirlscode.com

Friday, October 5, 2012

Top Black Entrepreneurs of the 2012 Inc. 500




Source: http://www.inc.com/ss/inc5000/abigail-tracy/top-black-entrepreneurs-2012-inc-5000#7

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Ben Carson - Quotes

“Do your best and let God do the rest.”

“Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”

“Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.”

“If you hear how wonderful you are often enough, you begin to believe it, no matter how you try to resist it.”

“To THINK BIG and to use our talents doesn't mean we won't have difficulties along the way. We will--we all do. If we choose to see the obstacles in our path as barriers, we stop trying. "We can't win," we moan. "They won't let us win.”

“God has given us more than fourteen billion cells and connections in our brain. Why would God give us such a complex organ system unless he expects us to use it?”

“If we recognize our talents and use them appropriately, and choose a field that uses those talents, we will rise to the top of our field.”

“Here is the treasure chest of the world - the public library, or a bookstore.”

“...I became acutely aware of an unusual ability--a divine gift, I believe--of extraordinary eye and hand coordination. It’s my belief that God gives us all gifts, special abilities that we have the privilege of developing to help us serve Him and humanity. And the gift of eye and hand coordination has been an invaluable asset in surgery. This gift goes beyond eye-hand coordination, encompassing the ability to understand physical relationships, to think in three dimensions. Good surgeons must understand the consequences of each action, for they’re often not able to see what’s happening to see on the other side of the area in which the area they’re actually working.”

“Everyone in the world worth being nice to. Because God never creates inferior human beings, each person deserves respect and dignity.”

“We get out of life what we put into it. The way we treat others is the way we ourselves get treated.”

“I'm a good neurosugeon. That's not a boast but a way of acknowledging the innate ability God has given to me. Beginning with determination and using my gifted hands, I went on for training and sharpening for my skills. ”

“If we commit ourselves to reading thus increasing our knowledge, only God limits how far we can go in this world.”

“It does not matter where we come from or what we look like. If we recognize our abilities, are willing to learn and to use what we know in helping others, we will always have a place in the world.”

“Successful people don't have fewer problems. They have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward.”

“Tell the truth. If you tell the truth all the time you don't have to worry three months down the line about what you said three months earlier. Truth is always the truth. You won't have to complicate your life by trying to cover up.”

“First, we cannot overload the human brain. This divinely created brain has fourteen billion cells. If used to the maximum, this human computer inside our heads could contain all the knowledge of humanity from the beginning of the world to the present and still have room left over. Second, not only can we not overload our brain - we also know that our brain retains everything. I often use saying that "The brain acquires everything that we encounter." The difficulty does not come with the input of information, but getting it out. Sometimes we "file" information randomly of little importance, and it confuses us.”

“The doors of the world are opened to people who can read.”

“Anyone who can't learn from other people's mistakes simply can't learn, and that;s all there is to it. There is value in the wrong way of doing things. The knowledge gained from errors contributes to our knowledge base.”

“People are simply not willing to look at their problems honestly and admit that they have problems.”

“Knowledge is the key that unlocks all the doors. You can be green-skinned with yellow polka dots and come from Mars, but if you have knowledge that people need instead of beating you, they'll beat a path to your door.”

“If we would spend on education half the amount of money that we currently lavish on sports and entertainment, we could provide complete and free education for every student in this country.”

“God cares about every area of our lives, and God wants us to ask for help.”

“If we acknowledge our need for God, he will help us.”

“…the brain can process two million bits of information per second. It remembers everything you've ever seen, everything you've ever heard…”

“When I treat other people with kindness and love, it is part of my way of paying my debt to God and the world for the privilege of living on this planet.”

“Reading activates and exercises the mind.
Reading forces the mind to discriminate. From the beginning, readers have to recognize letters printed on the page, make them into words, the words into sentences, and the sentences into concepts.
Reading pushes us to use our imagination and makes us more creatively inclined.”

“When we are confronted by failure and mistakes, we can leave them behind and go on with our lives.”

“If we develop in-depth knowledge it will enable us to give our best to others and help to make a better world.”

“I have to come to realize that God does not want to punish us, but rather, to fulfill our lives. God created us, loves us and wants to help us to realize our potential so that we can be useful to others.”

“Maybe that is the best lesson I learned in my first semester at Yale, because if I had gone to a less-demanding school and continued to sail along on the top, I am sure I would never have attained the subsequent achievements in my life.”

“One dark night the skeletons that they had carefully hidden in an obscure closet appeared, grabbed them around the throat, and strangled them.”

“Being a doctor at Johns Hopkins does not make me any better in God's sight than the individual who has not had the opportunity to gain such an education but who still works hard.”

“I am convinced that knowledge is power - to overcome the past, to change our own situations, to fight new obstacles, to make better decisions.”

“If we make every attempt to increase out knowledge in order to use it for human good, it will make a difference in us and in our world.”

“An important verity about knowledge is that the brain works most effectively with consciously retained information. We more easily remember what we want to recall later. When we feed our fourteen billion brain cells with information that will enrich us and help others, we are really learning to Think Big.”

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angles, but am note nice, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but am not nice, I am nothing. If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but am not nice, I gain nothing.”

Source: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/11100.Ben_Carson

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Bob Marley: Positively


"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
Bob Marley

Monday, October 1, 2012

Russell Simmons - Quote Image: Happiness


"The key ingredient to any kind of happiness or success is to never give less than your best." 
Russell Simmons