2011 African Goodwill Recognition Awards - Ambassadors of Goodwill

Saturday evening, April 30, 2011, in African tradition, African Focus, Inc.,
Hosted its 8th Annual African Goodwill Recognition Awards Ceremony 2011, honoring the "Ambassadors of Goodwill" at the Veterans Memorial Complex, in Culver City, CA.

The MCs for the evening were Monie Mon, Michael Coylar and Razaaq Adoti, were keeping the audience on our feet with lots of laughter and entertainment! Keith David (Voice of the character, Dr. Facilier in The Princess and The Frog) was one of the Presenters as well as Lara Okunubi.

Her Excellency Josephone Elechi - Wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State Nigeria

I sat at my friend, Dawn Sutherland - VP Finance /Controller at Xerox Corporation's table; also seated at Dawn's table, the South African Consul General Cyril S. Ndaba and guest, Jessie -Entrepreneur, Karen - A Writer for International Travel/Tourism, Darrell G. Smith - VP Marketing, The Africa Channel, Roni D. Williams of Pramount Pictures, and a gentleman from Zimbabwe.

African Focus, Inc., Uchenna Nworgu, Founder - Executive Director, gave a very compelling opening address, encouraging us all to focus on Mr. Nworgu's organization's Mission Statement:
"Our focus is to promote growth and well being of Africans all around the world through knowledge and appreciation of one another as well as building a bridge of love and understanding with other people."

Moza Mjasiri-Cooper, born in Zanzibar, Tanzania was selected as one of the Honorees for 2011. Moza is an accomplished, very intelligent, well spoken, well read woman that is a Princess and a Warrior - a woman of strength, courage and wisdom; she is remarkably kind and has a heart and a happy spirit, and I count her as my friend. Congratulations, Moza and family -

I salute you - as well as your fellow recipients and their families.

The Host African Countries:
Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Sierra Leone

The Host families : Mr. & Mrs. Damiania Kigoye, Elder Uzoma N. & Mrs. Ijeoma Nwasu , Dr. Solomon & Mrs. Henrietta Egbuho, Mr. Ikechukwu & Mrs. Chika Onyebalu, Mr. Ike and Mrs. Chika Onyebalu, Arthur & Mrs. Vanessa Ssembusi, Mr. Mboyo Djweya, Dr. Daniel & Mrs. Hope Williams, Honorable Dr. Hillary & Chief Mrs. Uloma Ihenacho, Dr. Tom Spencer-Walthers and Chinelo Udo.

The welcoming of His Royal Highness King Julius I. Osuchukwu, Obaire of Eziama Obaire, Imo, State of Nigeria, the 2011 Induction Presiding King, was something one can never forget - it was an honor to stand and cheer the entire court.

Special acknowledgment of appreciation goes to Professor Adebowale Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the USA.

Inductees - Countries:
Assemblymember Steven C. Bradford - Uganda
Betty Arnold - Nigeria
Orlando Love - Nigeria
Caroline V. Brown - Uganda
Linda Smith - Nigeria
Vincent Southerland - Nigeria
Rosalind Pennington - Nigeria
Dr. Zyra McCloud - Nigeria
Mel Hughes - Sierra Leone
Sherice Norris - Nigeria

My friend Dawn Sutherland was also the Presenter of Betty Arnold's Ambassador Award - congratulations, Betty Arnold and family!

All of the tables were full to capacity, there were hundreds of well dressed men, women and children on hand to celebrate the past, connecting it to the present and into the future lives of the 2011 African Goodwill Award Honorees.

The 2011 Honorees were:
Bishop Noel Jones - City of Refuge - The Brothers Keeper Award

Omotola J. Ekeinde - Goodwill & Achievement Award

Ambassador of Goodwill Award
Her Excellency Josephone Elechi - Wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State Nigeria
Namdi Asomugha - NFL Cornerback
Betty L. Arnold - VP, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt - Xerox Corporation
Moza Mjasiri - Cooper - CEO - Black Art Los Angeles, Non-Profit Organization

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the AFI Vision, the event was a success! Thank you, Emmily Alexander, Co-Founder & President of the Homecoming Study in Africa, Board Member, Carol Barton-Forbes - CEO and the entire Executive Working Committee of AFI - Especially Patrick Anyawoke for all of your help - Hats off to you all for a job well done!

Entertainment Line up: Marva Smith, Vivian Love, Young Wisdon, Melissa McCloud, Vivian Nwokocha, Jamorra Styles, Precission Dance Company and Akalaka Dancers Dancers.

Award Models: Daisy Noelle, Ada Azubuike and Lovelyn Alobwede

Sponsorship : The Africa Channel, in conjunction with Ethiopian Airlines, Toyota, Hansen's Natural, UnionBank, MoneyGram, OurWeekly Magazine, Avlon, The Immigrant Magazine, Clear Essence, A&A International Shipping Inc., Healthline Foundation, Africa House ,
Marine Enterprise African Gift Store - Rodney Garcia 310.874.4952

Madea's Big Happy Family - Go See It!

Last evening, Leonard and I decided that we needed a real good laugh, you know, something to take our thoughts off of other things that are currently happening in the world. We heard on KJLH Radio that Tyler Perry's "Madea's Big Happy Family" was opening up tonight. So, we jumped into our whip and headed to The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center to the 8:15pm showing of "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Family". We got there early so that we could get some good seats because the theater was packed with people rushing to see the movie. Tyler Perry's Mother wit and timing was excellent! The film makes one think about the choices that they make regarding business, family, spouses and life.

The entire cast was excellent. Tyler Perry truly gets into character as Madea, bringing home major thoughts and ideas regarding what's important and what's not. Loretta Divine's character, Aunt Shirley, is a kind, loving, caring mother that gives so much to her children and they take and take and take advantage of her. You've just fall in love with Aunt Shirley. Shad "Bow Wow" Moss plays the teenage son, Byron, who has a son and gets involved with women that seem to be concentrated on making Byron a "Bad Boy" for life. Shad "Bow Wow" Moss is one of my favorites in film and off the screen. He is one of the most respectful teenagers that I've ever met in Beverly Hills.

I wish Tyler Perry, Loretta Divine, Shad "Bow Wow" and the entire cast much continued success! You all are ON IT!!!

For theaters and showtimes, please visit: Tyler Perry's "Madea's Big Happy Family"

Love & light,
Carla

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.- From The Mountain Top

There's so much irony w/regards to American and British history.

On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his last heart wrenching speech,

" I Have Been To The Mountain Top".

On April 4, 1968, a sniper took his life, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Just thinking about how and why he was murdered still brings tears to my eyes.

If only Dr. King Jr. could see that he paid the price for Global change. If only he could see how far we have grown as a Nation in 43 years.

Dr. King Jr., if only you could see the first Black President - President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama break down barriers; yesterday they traveled across the ocean to the U.K., for the G20 Conference. During the G20 Reception at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II, of England, broke protocol to embrace the First Lady.

This is a first in British and American history.

It was truly symbolic of change.

Dr. King Jr.,The Obamas' would make you proud. They are intelligent, capable, fearful of God - and they love each other. President Obama and his wife are what you hoped and prayed for. They are what we need Globally today to help move this beautiful country forward. Why? Because they represent red, yellow, black, white and brown. They represent America.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor - February 27, 1932 - March 23, 2011

Founding International Chairman and Secretary of American Foundation for AIDS Research, one can honestly say that helping people is what English born, Classic American Hollywood Star - Dame Elizabeth Taylor did so well by spending her time and dispelling the ignorance and raising the consciousness of so many people regarding HIV/AIDS - stating,

"Well, I kept seeing all these news reports on this new disease and kept asking myself why no one was doing anything. And then I realized I was just like them. I wasn't doing anything to help."

As the late Michael Jackson, a long time friend of Dame Elizabeth Taylor said in song, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror..." Will you do the same? Why not donate your time and resources to making AIDS a thing of the past...The following people at amfAR are setting a prime example of what we can do to make a difference in this world. I call these people Warriors for a cause - making a difference every single day of their lives - hats off to you all at amfAR!

Rowena Johnston, Ph.D. - Vice President and Director, Research

Kent Cozad - Director, Grants Administration and Compliance

Marije Klep - Grants Administrator

Jordan Kramer - Grants Administrator

Russell Ramm - Grants Administrator

Lisa Chiu - Coordinator, Prevention Science

Research Program
amfAR
120 Wall St, 13th floor
New York, NY 10005
(212) 806-1600
fax (212) 806-1601

Make that change.

R.I.P. Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

We love you!
C

Disney & KaBOOM Makes Children In Inglewood's Playground Dreams Come True!

Just imagine, you are a child and you are asked to draw your Dream playground, and Disney and KaBOOM! makes it happen!

Disney partnered with the City of Inglewood's Park and Recreation Division, KaBOOM! and Home Depot to build a community playground - a Dream playground that took a few hours to create - yes, done in a day!

KaBOOM! , a national non-profit organization, works with communities to build playgrounds ideally within walking distance of every child's home.

Disney and the City of Inglewood had so many helpful volunteers from the Staff at Disney and the Inglewood community, working shoulder to shoulder, to create a new playground for children ages 2-12. KaBOOM! truly believes that children everywhere should play in a nice clean, fun neighborhood park.

Location:
Queen Park, is located at 652 Queen St., Inglewood, CA 90301, right off of Prairie St. The park is very inviting with multiple slides, swings, 2 hopscotch courts, plenty of running and space!

Guess what? The City of Inglewood Parks and Recreation, supports the Let's Move initiative, First Lady Michelle Obama's active road map to eating healthy, getting active and taking simple steps to succeed in making "America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids".
The City of Inglewood saw the need to create a garden that grows all kinds of wonderful veggies - green beans, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes and so many other yummy veggies as well - and it is lovely!

Today the children living in the Inglewood community got the surprise of their lives when they got home from school today. I have to say, working with the people in the community like Ann and her beautiful daughter, Denzel, Pat, Jenny, and the Staff at Disney that volunteer to create great playgrounds like Queen Park, - I mean really good people, like my team member Rick
(a husband and a father of 3 children under the age of 5), Caroline and Adam, were genuinely happy to make the children of Inglewood's Dream playground come true.

Land of Promise: The Story of Allensworth

I will never forget the first time that I read about Colonal Allen Allensworth, who founded the self sufficient all Black Township of Allensworth - illegally educating himself and totally believing in Self Determination. Colonal Allensworth was a man that created ways out of situations when sometimes it looked like there was no way out. Colonal Allensworth dedicated his life to creating the kind of world that was inclusive of African Americans, carving a nice slice of the American Dream out of a piece of land in California. Colonal Allensworth survived being held in captivity, escaping being enslaved, fighting for his freedom in the military, climbing the ranks and being the highest ranking African American commissioned officers in the all Black 24th Infantry Regiment commissioned by President Grover Cleaveland. Colonal Allensworth never developed an inferiority complex, never accepting that Blacks were "less than"; during his lifetime, he dealt with all kinds of adversity and rose above it, even being the second colored Chaplain in the Army.
For more information, please read Alice C. Royal's book entitled: "Allensworth, The Freedom Colony -
A California African American Township" and please get in contact with, The Friends of Allensworth - The San Diego Chapter # 12

The video is produced by Pamela Harris Productions via You Tube.

February 5, 2011 - The Kinsey Collection - What You Didn't Learn In High School History

Have you ever had a chance to sit down and talk to scholars about one of your most favorite topics - In this case American History - having thought provoking queries answered in a four part series?

Well, that is what it's like to get a moment in time to sit down in the same space/time continuum with Bernard & Shirley Kinsey as they lecture on the many accomplishments that African Americans have contributed to the unique history of America the Beautiful!
Bernard and Shirley Kinsey are sharing their knowledge - bringing multiple historical artifacts and documentation that provides invaluable information to the table - information that might be difficult to hear at times because the Kinsey's do not romanticize history, no, they state the facts.

Won't you join in celebrating the richness of our contributions to the Amercian Culture - today?

"A Celebration of Black History: A Journey In Four Parts"

~ Dates: Feb 5, 12th, 19th, 26th - 2011
~ Time: @ 8:00pm - 11:00pm
~ Location: Ebony Repertory Theatre
Nate Holden Performing Arts Center
4718 West Washington Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90016

~ 323.964.9766

(If you are seeking knowledge and truth, you and your family will be there.)

Please do yourself a favor and pick up the Book, "The Kinsey Collection" so that you can reflect on the truths that are layered within the fabric that shaped, outlined and created the Majesty that is America.

This is information that should be passed down from generation to generation regardless of what your ethnic background is.
Love & light,
C