Stevie Wonder Love's In Need of Love Today 2008 TODAY PEACE ...

Happy Father's Day!

A father and his children showing love

Family. There is nothing more important, or more valuable then Family. Today is Father's Day, and I would like to thank all of the men out there in this world, that take the time to love/ provide / protect / and instill  wisdom and knowledge into the minds and hearts of children. Now, you know how opinionated I am, so here it goes. A father is

Andrea Bocelli Foundation - Showing love through music

a man that not only provides the seed to reproduce the child, but stays committed through the entire process of raising the child to adulthood. Riding the waves of life - ups and downs, twist and turns, but sticking to it, making sure that he has the child's best interest in mind. Now, due to so many unforeseen occurrences, life takes a spin tail turn and for whatever reason, the father is not in the picture anymore. Well, the child still needs a father figure. That's where all of you men who have stepped up to the helm and helped raise the children comes into play. Thank you. Thank you all of the brothers and uncles and cousins  and friends of the family that have stepped in and helped to lead children into safe havens. Keeping their innocence - guarding their innocence. May God continue to bless and protect you.

Love & light,
C

I'll Always Love My Mama

Every time that I hear that song by the Intruders, " I'll Always Love My Mama", it puts a smile on my face, and takes me way back. I remember as a little child, watching them sing that song on "Soul Train", and singing along as best I could. When I think of all the sacrifices that my Mother made for us, it makes me want to cry, because she made sure that we had everything we ever needed, never thinking of herself.

Mother and I in Cairo, Egypt, The Pyramids of Giza

Yes, today is Mother's Day, and I am wishing my Mother, as well as yours, a very Happy Mother's Day.
Thank you, Mother, for raising my brother, sister and I with integrity. For even having enough love in your heart to raise other people's children as well. Al, Sissy and I appreciate what you've done for us, and thank Jehovah God for you. (Grandmother, Malisa Caldwell Evans,(R.I.P.) laid down with our ancestors in 1984. Today, she would've been 100 years old. I'll always treasure her as well. I miss you, Sweetie!)

Since tomorrow is not promised, we must treasure each day that you have with your Mother, your family, your friends. #Try love.

.
Love & light,
Carla

Living Life Out Loud with Carolyn and Janice Wilbourn @ Dawn Sutherland's Estate - May 4th & 5th (Saturday & Sunday) ~ Los Angeles, CA

Caroline and Janice Wilbourn 

are Fashion Designers of Wilbourn Sisters Designs, Inc

 "Designs to Soothe the Soul"

Carolyn and Janice Wilbourn come from a strong legacy of women who use their God given talents, taught to them by their Mother, affectionately known as 

"Queen Mother "Elizabeth". 

Queen Mother "Elizabeth", of Jackson, Tennessee, encouraged her daughters (7 women) to follow in her footsteps, and learn to sew, creating their own sense of style, market and sell their designs, thus becoming entrepreneurs at a very young age. These women were taught that if they can visualize it, they can create it and the sky is the limit! 

Wilbourn Sisters Designs, Inc,
Model, DeNatalie Phillips 

Having traveled extensively, Carolyn and Janice have lived in Paris, France for many years (a decade, to be exact), designing with beautiful fabrics, texture and magnificent colors for women of all nationalities, shapes and sizes. After-all, the globe is their home. 

The Wilbourn Sisters Designs, Inc.continue to design some of the most beautiful Diva Wrap Dresses, and

Diva Wrap Blouses that you'll feel Royal in - why?

Because 50 years of Mother Queen "Elizabeth" and her gifted, talented daughters sew love into every garment, instilling knowledge, wisdom and a spirit of 

"I am beautiful!" in the garments wrapped around you!

Walk on, Diva, swaying those hips and moving in time, feeling every bit of fabulous in your own Wilbourn Sisters Designs Inc.

Janice Wilbourn - Woods, Co-President, Wilbourn Sisters Designs Inc.,

Southern Californians

Dawn Sutherland,
VP & Controller, Xerox Corporation

Dawn Sutherland welcomes Designers Carolyn and Janice Wilbourn to her lovely home in Los Angeles, CA

Dawn Sutherland is having an

Ultimate 2 Day Fashion Experience

May 4th & 5th (Saturday & Sunday)

Get prepared to shop and Support Black Businesses, Artists and the Arts

Proceeds will benefit BALA a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation

Some of Dawn's Private Art Collection will be on 

Sale as she prepares to move on to her Next Chapter!!!

In Memory of two dynamic women who made their
transition 4/24 and 4/25

Antronette (Toni) Yancey, MD, MPH and Donna Lee Andrews R.I.P.

Love & light, Carla

You can purchase your Wilbourn Sister Designs at Macy's Greenbriar Mall, SW Atlanta, GA,
or By Appointment: janicewoods11@comcast.net | 770. 634.3494 or 770.634.3496
For information regarding the 3 day event, and BALA, please contact Moza Mjasiri Cooper 323.291.2024

West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents - Third Annual Black & White Ball "Harlem Nights Revisited"

This Saturday, April 27, 2013, The West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents are having their Third Annual Black & White Ball and this year's theme is "Harlem Nights Revisited." Meet the Gentlemen of the West Coast Urban Ballroom Gent: James "Rocky" Hubbert, Gent: Charles Dean, Gent: Reggie Lewis, Gent: Roger Franklin, Gent: Eric Weaver, Gent: Curtis White, Gent: Victor Brown, Gent: Roy Dennis, Gent: Sam Elijah.

The "West Coast Urban Ball Room Gents", Inglewood, CA

Roy Dennis

ABCs "Dancing With The Stars" seems to get that much more fun and exciting each Season. Oh, but this Season - 16?  Off the charts! Did you watch it? There's so many fabulous routines, and Andrea Bocelli, and Stevie Wonder were on the show, and it was awesome! Now, what I suggest one do is to put on your tux, have your Lady dress up in her fabulous ballroom gown, put some curls in some bouncy hair, get those lovely to die for heels on, purchase a ticket to the "West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents"
Black & White Ball, Harlem Nights Revisited, and hit the floor, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Style!

Harlem Nights Revisited - Black & White Ball 4.27.2013

You've got to know that there is truly a certain style and class that goes along with what it is that the
"West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents" bring to the dance floor. There's going to be a fabulous evening, dancing the night away!

You can reach Roy Dennis on Twitter @Ballroomroy or FaceBook Roy Dennis, and West Coast Urban Ballroom Gents.

Truly,
C

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - A Legacy

I got up first thing this morning and made note of all of the things that I am grateful for:
 1. Waking up this morning 2. Having my health and strength
3. Knowing the true God Jehovah 4. Knowing thy-Self 5. Staying conscious 6. Having a great support system i.e. family and friends
7. Being capable of loving 8. Helping others
9. Being able to laugh, sing and dance and love!
10. Knowing what is real and what isn't.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Stood for something. He rocked the world with his greater since of mutual respect for all of humanity. He lived his life, making conscious choices, working towards "the greater good" of mankind. He preached the importance of judging one by the "content of their character" - not their skin type. That is deep.

Thank you, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and those that marched with you, and those that existed before you,  that paved the way so that I can try and make this place a better space for the generations that follow...

I got up this morning,  April 4, got all dressed up and listened to some Stevie Wonder and had a glow and an inner smile in my heart. Reflecting on a day, not so long ago, that my friend Debbie came by my office and we went to lunch - Italian food. Debbie is conscious of the ugliness that has plagued this nation for generations, racism, a disease that has caused the demise of so many people. So, my friend Debbie, brought me a flower, to celebrate MLK's B-Day. We, as friends, are living the  MLK Jr. Dream. She and I smiled and reflected on the fact that not so long ago, 30 years ago or so, we could not have shared the same table. Why? Because she is a blond hair blue eyed white
(Anglo-Saxon descent) American, and I am an black (West African descent) American.
Today it was not even an issue as we entered the restaurant in Beverly Hills, CA.,  and sat down to
"break bread". Now, that's progress!

Today, due to the many sacrifices of so many black, white, red, yellow and brown Americans -
we can sit down to a meal and not get arrested. We can live together as neighbors and not harm one another. You see, as fellow human beings, we have more in common then we have differences.
Let's think about how we can come together and let go of the hatred that is being stirred up like embers from a flame that burns in a low undertone here in the USA, and just when it looks like the flames have died, someone waves the flames, hoping to re-ignite the fire. Enough.
Let's reflect on the life one man, that died in the name of progress, so that you and I can live and work, shoulder to shoulder, helping one another, not trying to destroy each other.

Let's have more respect for one another, be patient with one another, feed one another kindness - shall we?

Love & light, C
(updated/edited/from a 2/ 09, 2/12 post | no intentional copyright infringement.)

UNCF - Mayor's Masked Ball - Los Angeles, 2013

The invitation to the Mayor's Masked Ball 2013

It was April 25, 1944, when  Frederick D. Patterson (President of Tuskegee University) and
Mary McLeod Bethune, UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to or nation."
"Last evening, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, in conjunction with UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball, held at
 Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City.
The Whispers were in the house - and had everyone on their feet dancing! Loretta Devine, Obba Babbatunde, Anna Maria Horsford were just a few celebrities having a blast at the ball!
Chris Schauble, Co-Anchor, KTLA 5 Morning News announcer, and Vera Jimenez, Meteorologist, Reporter, KTLA 5 News and Master of Ceremony, Jim Hill,
 Sports Anchor, CBS 2/ KCAL 9  were outstanding!

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles,
and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF welcomed everyone so warmly.

Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor of  Los Angeles, CA.

The Invocation was done by Rev. Zelda Kennedy, Senior Associate, Pastoral Care and
Spiritual Growth All Saints Church.

Chris Schauble, Anchor, KTLA 5

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel,Toyota Motor Sales

Jim Hill, Sports, Anchor, CBS2/KCAL 9

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. was so lively and entertaining.

Lisa D. Cagnolatti, Vice President, Business Customer Division of Southern California Edison was very hospitable, with the largest mask I've ever seen! She had the entire audience rolling!

Carl A. Balton, President, Union Bank

Hats off to Carl A. Balton, President,
Union Bank Foundation, for sincerely working so diligently in the community, making sure that the richness of our culture is preserved, as well as supporting HBCUs.



 Earvin "Magic" Johnson  - and Sheryl P. Underwood were the Honorees.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Honoree

Sheryl P. Underwood, Honoree

Did I tell you that the full-time Husband, Father, MBA All Star, Entrepreneur and Joseph (the Biblical character that forgave his brothers and took care of his family during a famine. How? His brothers sold him into slavery and he worked his behind off, and was eventually rewarded by being entrusted with all of all of the Pharaoh's store houses of food stuffs, during feast and famine) in the community,  Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his lovely wife, Cookie, are life/purpose driven and provide so much help within the urban communities across the United States in more ways then one can imagine.

This remarkable man (I'm talking "Magic" Johnson, ya'll), along with the late Jerry Buss (R.I.P. Jerry Buss), from day one, have made things happen in the Los Angeles area. Magic Johnson says, "For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There's winning and there's losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen. But what's never been acceptable to me is quitting." Yes, Magic Johnson, you consistently show by example that you are not a quitter. Thank you, Magic Johnson, for showing our children first hand, how to work hard, gain success and reach back and uplift others. You are your brother's keeper, and we love you for that.

Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller USCO,
XEROX Corp.

Sheryl P.Underwood is truly a brilliant woman. Her comedic timing is impeccable. Sheryl, a co-host of the show, "The Talk", on CBS International President of her beloved Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., makes it a goal to help people as often as possible. She humbly accepted her award, and spoke to the audience from her heart, stressing the importance of making sure that we continue to support our youth, ensuring that they have better opportunities. Keep letting your light shine, Sheryl!

XEROX Corporation actively supports the community and was one of the sponsors for the event.
Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller, USCO Southern California / Las Vegas Operations looked absolutely fabulous! Yes, Dawn Sutherland does fabulous quite well, wearing a gown designed by Carolyn Wilbourn, of
Wilbourn Exclusives, out of Atlanta, GA.

Dawn Sutherland is committed to making sure that our youth succeed, getting all the necessary tools needed to grasp and obtain higher education.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., Founding sponsor is an awesome corporation. See how they continue to fly!

Smooches,
Carla













(photo of listing of sponsors - Richard Nichols, All other photos are taken from each person's website - and UNCF)