Ten Ways to Love the Maple Sugar Child

 This month is not only Black History Month but the month we celebrate Valentine's Day, and both celebrations go together.  Black History Month should be about loving our selves, our children and our community.  I thought I would do a segment called "A Hundred Ways to Love a Maple Sugar Child" until my son dropped a dose of reality on my project. He said one hundred was too ambitious, why don't I just start with ten ways and see where it goes. Good idea! So here we go!

Digital Diaspora Family Reunion

Check those old family pictures that have been stacked away for ages, now it is time to take them out and tell our stories. Digital Diaspora Family Reunion is a touring Roadshow that travels across the African Diaspora to uncover the hidden treasures in family photographic archive. Individuals are invited to explore the rich and revealing historical narratives found within their own family photograph albums and share their stories with the world.   The show is now in New York.

Members of the community are invited to bring images, photo albums and other scannable mementos  to Harlem Stage from February 23 to 25. The project will culminate on February 27 with a special live event and multimedia presentation celebrating Harlem's hidden family history. Make a reservation to bring in your images by calling 212-281-6002 or visiting ddfr.tv.

Harlem Stage is at 150 Convent Ave.at West 135th St. Tickets on February 27 to this screening are $10 for adults, and $5 for teens. Call 212.281-9240 or visit  Harlem Stage

19th Annual African American Children's Book Fair

 Come see some of the best and brightest from the Literary Community. Creators of books that teach a child the love of READING.  Over 20 Participating Authors & Illustrators!

 On Saturday, February 5, 2011, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Gymnasium of the Community College of Philadelphia, 17th & Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA.

The Book Fair started out on a cold frosty day at John Wanamaker Department Store and is now one of the oldest and largest single day events for African American Children's Books in the country. The success of the program is due to the fact that they offer the best and the brightest from the African American Children's literary community. Parents, caregivers, and educators from the tri-state area are very supportive of the event. They all understand that children who read make more responsible decisions about their lifestyles.

Author and illustrators will make presentations from their books; also games, prizes, promotional give-aways and reading resources will be available. A wide selection of African American books to purchase will be featured at the event. Authors include

Javaka Steptoe - Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix,   Shadra Strickland, Eric Velasquez - Grandma's Gift,   Renee Watson - A Place Where Hurricanes Happen and What Momma Left Me, Derrick Barnes - Ruby Series and We Could Be Brothers, Sabrina Carter - Please Don't Yell at We!, Bryan Collier - Dave The Potter,  Kerri Conner, Floyd Cooper - Ruth and The Green Book,  R. Gregory Christie,  Jerry Craft - Mama's Boyz, L. Divine,  Kristina Evans,   Cheryl Hudson,  Dinah Johnson - Black Magic,  Sean Qualls and  Earl Sewell.

The event is free and opened to the public.

For more information about the book fair Email : vlloydsgam@aol.com or call (215) 878-BOOK.

Alvin Ailey Celebrates 50th Anniversary

What did Mr. Ailey teach his dancers about 'Revelations'? from AlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater on Vimeo.

I can't believe that the Alvin Ailey Dance Company is celebrating 50 years!   His classic, Revelations is still being performed.   Alvin Ailey was a genius and a pioneer in dance, and he seemed to have passed his vision on to his students.   Young people today need talented teachers to inspire them to greatness.  Parents and teachers can get inspiration from him to encourage and expand young people's horizon, and if you get an opportunity take them to see Revelations.  It is part of our history.

Dawoud Bey at Emory University

Dawoud Bey is one of my favorite photographers. He is also my cousin but the reason I like his work is that it is always so timely and insightful. His work is very much connected to his own personal ideas and vision. Then there is also the spiritual quality.  He has a new exhibit, The Emory Project at Emory University.

Here is how he describes this project, "The idea here was to bring together members of the Emory community who do not necessarily interact with each other in the course of a day and have them sit together to be pictured. They also wrote self reflective texts. This project was very well integrated into the University community through its five year Transforming Community Project."  http://transform.emory.edu/dawoudbey/.

To see more of his work check out his book, Dawoud Bey:Class Pictures.  This is a collection of portraits of young people and their aspiration.

Visit http://www.dawoudbey.net/


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Black History Month with Chef Jeff Henderson

Welcome to the first day of Black History Month!    I just received this press release about a new book by Chef Jeff Henderson just in time for Black History Month if you are in Washington go check him out.  I saw him at the Sister to Sister Conference, and he was such a wonderful and gracious person. This brother turned his life around and is now making a difference. The exhibit, America I am also seems very impressive. "This exhibit traces the indelible imprint African Americans have made on America. Their stories - some familiar, many surprising - are inseparable from the story of America itself." Visit one of the largest African American oral history exhibits. A great way to start February.

Press Release

America I AM
Pass It Down Cookbook
Over 130 Soul-Filled Recipes

Today February 1, kicks off the first day of Black History Month, with America I AM: The African American Imprint exhibit, and America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook. This community cookbook, edited by Chef Jeff Henderson with Ramin Ganeshram, includes over 130 recipes, personal reflections, and informative essays from everyday people coast to coast who passed down their recipes and memories. These delicious dishes underscore why soul-filled cuisine endures from generation to generation. __________________________________________________

Come out and meet Chef Jeff and pick up your copy of
America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook

Wednesday, February 2 at 1:00PM at
The National Geographic Museum
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
&
Wednesday, February 2 at 4:30PM at
The Howard University Bookstore (The Hub)
2225 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20059

Washington DC: Tune into Fox 5 Morning News on
Wednesday, February 2 at 9AM to see Chef Jeff!
Then tune into WPFW 89.3 to hear Chef Jeff on Gloria Minott's show!

For more information visit: www.americaiam.org

About the Editors: 


 Chef Jeff Henderson was the first African American to be named Chef de Cuisine at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and executive chef at Café Bellagio. He hosted The Chef Jeff Project, a docu-reality TV series, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller Cooked and Chef Jeff Cooks. Visit www.chefjeffcooked.com.

Ramin Ganeshram is a chef and award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in Saveur, O, National Geographic Traveler, and more. She is the author of Sweet Hands: Island Cooking from Trinidad & Tobago, and Stir It Up!, a culinary novel for middle grade readers.



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generationOn

 

Just received this email:

Greetings!  

Are you a young person or do you know a young person (13-18 years old) that is passionate about service and would make a great leader?

generationOn is now accepting applications for its national Youth Advisory Council! This is a unique opportunity for ten middle and high school students (13-18 years old) from diverse backgrounds across the nation to participate in a service-learning and leadership development program. Participants will contribute to and inform generationOn programming, while acting as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities. Thanks to the generous support of Hasbro Children's Fund, the Youth Advisory Council provides youth from across the country the opportunity to: 

*Engage in creative work with a thriving nonprofit organization focused on youth and service

*Partner with like-minded youth with unique perspectives from around the country

*Inform generationOn programming while learning about approaches for engaging youth in community service

*Act as a service-learning ambassador in their region by playing a leadership role in engaging youth in service and service-learning

Students interested in applying must meet the following criteria:

*Be enrolled in middle or high school (age 13-18 and grade 6-11) at time of application

*Be a resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia

*Be available to travel March 18th- 22nd 2011 for a special, expense-paid, kick-off youth leadership event in Washington, DC

*Be available via phone and internet for monthly web meetings with fellow Council members

*Be able to provide feedback and participate in program evaluations

visit www.generationOn.org to learn more about how to apply for the generationOn Youth Advisory Council!

Applications accepted through Friday, February 4th 5:00pm EST

What is generationOn?

generationOn is the global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world. generationOn has brought the nation's leading youth service organizations and programs under one umbrella including New York-based Children for Children, The League, Learning to Give, Points of Light Institute's Kids Care Clubs, HandsOn Schools and HandsOn Network's youth-driven programs. By partnering with teachers, parents, schools, community organizations and businesses, generationOn gives kids the opportunity to see firsthand the issues in their communities and the tools and resources they need to respond and become part of the solution.

http://www.generationon.org/global/big-happenings/youth-advisory-council

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