The Black Star Project's Shark Tank Interviews Are A Major Success for America

New Violence Reduction Strategy: Teach Young Black and Latino Men To Earn Jobs and Start Businesses The Black Star Project's Shark Tank Interviews Are A Major Success for America  Young Black Star mentee handles the pressure of a "Shark Tank Interview" with three top business people in Chicago. (Left to right) Orlando Ceaser, Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, standing, and Commander Ronald Holt, top business leaders in Chicago, take time out to share with mentees keys to success for young Black and Latino men to earn jobs and start businesses. Well-dressed, well-prepared Black Star Mentees wait their turn for interviews in the "Shark Tank"!  The top 8 interviewees were awarded cash prizes.  More than 30 Black Star mentees participated in "Shark Tank Interviews". Seat in front of some of the mentees are some of the 12 interviewers (left to right) James Nelson, Renard Jackson, Atty. Lawrence Kennon, Commander Ronald Holt, and Eric Knowles, Jr. We Thank Our Black Star Shark Tank Celebrity Interviewers     Row One - Rev. Leon Finney, Otis Monroe, Commander Ronald Holt, and Orlando Ceaser.  Row two - LeAlan Jones, Renard Jackson, Cecile Johnson and Eric Knowles, Jr.  Also participating were Attorney Lawrence Kennon, Garry Smith, James Nelson and Harold Davis. The Black Star "Interview Shark Tank" teaches young men of color how to "ace" an interview, get jobs anywhere in America or start their own business.  Black Star's Shark Tank teaches young men of color about confidence, skill-development, high-motivation, high-energy, effective communication and professional dress as they apply for work. Violence in Chicago is directly and inextricably related to economics and joblessness in Chicago.  A community where most of the young men of color are not working is necessarily a violent community.  A 2012 study by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Massachusetts reported that in the last decade, only 7.4% of low-income African American teens in Chicago were working.   We cannot stop violence in Chicago as long as young men of color cannot secure jobs in the companies and organizations of Chicago.   The violence in Chicago cannot be stopped by the CPD (Chicago Police Department), the ISP (Illinois State Police), the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms), the ING (Illinois National Guard) or the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).  The violence in Chicago can only be stopped by H.O.P.E. (Hope)!  The Black Star "Interview Shark Tank" delivers hope!  Please call 773.285.9600 for more information.

Women in the Audience Supporting Women Artists Now

Everyone Is Invited to Celebrate SWAN Day! Support Women Artists Now Day/SWAN Day is a grassroots "do it yourself" holiday, and everyone is invited to join us in honoring women's creativity. The official date for the 8th International SWAN Day is Saturday, March 28, 2015, but please feel free to celebrate it any time during March or April that is convenient for you. The spirit of SWAN events is far more important than the exact dates. There are no fees or application forms required to participate in SWAN Day. If you decide to create a SWAN event or if you are doing any event in March or April featuring women artists, we invite you to create a free listing on our official SWAN Calendar.   We will be featuring SWAN events in the WomenArts Blog and  newsletters during March and April 2015.  If you want us to write about you, creating a listing in the SWAN Calendar is the best way to let us know about your event. Did You Get Your Free Funding Newsletters? Free monthly Theatre Funding Newsletters are now being published by the Women in Arts and Media Coalition in collaboration with the League of Professional Theatre Women. You can see the current issue by clicking here.  To sign up for the email version of these newsletters, please click the link in the right margin of their newsletter. Free monthly Film/Video Funding Newsletters are now being published by the Women in Arts and Media Coalition. You can see the current issue by clicking here.  If you would like to sign up to receive the email version of their newsletters, please fill in the form at the bottom of their newsletter.

WomenArts 1442A Walnut Street #67 Berkeley, CA 94709 Phone: (510) 868-5096 Website: www.womenarts.org Contact Us>> (Note: WomenArts is the new name of The Fund for Women Artists, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.) If you are receiving this letter from a friend and would like to join our mailing list, please click here to subscribe. To unsubscribe, please click here to unsubscribe.

72% documentary

MOGULDOM STUDIOS RELEASES  COMPELLING DOCUMENTARY ' 72%' Film Examines the Single Mother Phenomena  in the African-American Community (NEW YORK) - August 1, 2014 - Moguldom Studios, known for their revolutionary style of documentaries called "docutainment," has released 72%, an intriguing and provocative new film about the growing cultural crisis of single mothers within the African-American community. The documentary was released on July 29, 2014 and is available for purchase on DVD, as well as digital download through online retailers including iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon.com and MoguldomStudios.com.  VIEW THE TRAILER BELOW     www.moguldomstudios.com/films/72/  Moguldom Studios is leading the way in producing non-theatrical films through digital networks by keeping at the pulse of trending topics that are relevant in today's ever-evolving world.  "Baby mamas," single mothers, deadbeat dads and absentee fathers: these polarizing terms are commonplace in today's African-American community. Nearly 72% of black children are born out of wedlock, and single mothers are raising most. Why is it that black men continue to neglect their parental responsibilities? Through the perspective of various experts, 72% looks into the reasoning behind the rise of single mothers in the African-American community. The film investigates the effects that colonization and slavery have had on the black family unit, which was once solid and intact. Today's media is inundated with stories of black single mothers, child support cases, and so-called "welfare queens." The African-American community at large has clapped back at criticism from Don Lemon, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News reporter Ben Carson, and even Black leaders like Bill Cosby and President Barack Obama. 72% provides a raw and analytical view of the media's portrayal of this phenomenon in regards to African-American households. Single black mothers chime in to tell their stories from their vantage point. Cameras follow one single mother of three as she changes hats from full-time employee to full-time caretaker in order to provide and care for her children on her own. 72% leaves no stone left unturned as it seeks to expose this issue from all perspectives and compel viewers to reconstruct the African-American family from the ground up.     "The purpose of our films is to spark debate. Here at Moguldom, we accept the challenge of initiating spirited and provocative discussion. 72% is another example of presenting an issue so culturally relevant and important, that examining it was the natural thing for us to do," says Brett Dismuke, President of Moguldom Entertainment.  72% is currently available for purchase on DVD and digital download via Amazon.com, GooglePlay, iTunes and www.moguldomstudios.com. Production credits include Jamarlin Martin, Marve Frazier and Barion L. Grant as Executive Producers, Rasheed J. Daniel as Co-Executive Producer, with Jeremy Batchelor and Janice M. Garcia as Directors.  For more information about 72% and Moguldom Studios, visit: www.moguldomstudios.com Twitter:  www.twitter.com/MoguldomStudios Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoguldomStudios Facebook: www.facebook.com/72PercentFilm  Join the conversation on Twitter: #72PercentFilm About Moguldom Studios: Moguldom Studios is a next generation film company that delivers intimate, timely and unforgettable stories about the African-American experience, creating independent documentary films that are branded as "Docutainment."  Docutainment, as Moguldom Studios calls it, is a hybrid between reality, day in the life and traditional storytelling, which takes a unique and objective look at the African-American experience, all the while offering such riveting stories which will also appeal to anyone who is interested in multicultural documentary films. Moguldom Studios' staff consists of filmmaking award-wining experts who know exactly how to capture the African-American experience with a style that is fresh, edgy and relevant. Our goal is to deliver intimate, timely and unforgettable stories that all can enjoy. The films are available for purchase or rent right here on the Moguldom Studios website as well as on platforms such as  iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon and more. See more at: www.moguldomstudios.com President Obama and the internet,  how it affects you! Dear MoveOn member, President Obama just said something huge about Net Neutrality, and it could be a gamechanger. For the first time since the FCC unveiled its disastrous plan to allow a corporate takeover of the Internet earlier this year, President Obama answered our call to speak up to save the Internet.1 This is significant progress in the fight to restore and protect Net Neutrality. If we seize this moment, it could be a turning point. Here's what President Obama said: I personally, the position of my administration... is that you don't want to start getting a differentiation in how accessible the Internet is to different users. You want to leave it open so the next Google and the next Facebook can succeed. The FCC is making decisions this year that will affect the future of the Internet. President Obama's comments could motivate the three Democrats who sit on the FCC—all of whom President Obama appointed—to reconsider the plan that they're advancing, which would turn the Internet into a two-tier system with a fast lane for the big companies that can afford to pay, and a slow lane for the rest of us. That's why today, we're teaming up with our friends at CREDO to flood the FCC with faxes of President Obama's statement. We want every commissioner and staff person in the FCC headquarters to get the message that not only did President Obama weigh in, but tens of thousands of Americans noticed too. Click here to send a free fax to the FCC right now. Our tools will send the fax for you!   Why a fax? We've called and submitted comments—faxes, though seemingly antiquated, are a great way to grab attention! And FCC chairman Tom Wheeler has a press conference this Friday—the more stir we make within the FCC, the likelier it'll be that a reporter asks him to address President Obama's comments directly. For months, MoveOn members have been calling the White House every day and signing petitions urging President Obama not to stand idly by while the people he appointed destroy the future of the Internet. Less than two weeks ago, hundreds of MoveOn members and our allies made headlines with the message "Don't Kill the Internet" as we rallied outside the president's fundraisers in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles—and we caught the attention of people traveling with the president. Our organizing is working. Yesterday, the president echoed our message. But his clear call for real Net Neutrality could get swept under the rug if we don't shout it from the rooftops. Click here to send a copy of President Obama's statement to the FCC. The Washington Post reported that the president's comments "seem to contrast with the FCC's current proposal on net neutrality, which would tacitly allow for such commercial deals." The political support is there for the FCC to abandon its dangerous plan and pursue the sensible path—treating the Internet as a public utility, like other utilities like water and telephones, to preserve the Internet as an equal playing field for all. But there's a danger that President Obama's comments will get buried—unless we flood the FCC today with copies of his influential statement. Click here to send your free fax. Thanks for all you do. –Maria, Victoria, Jo, Milan, and the rest of the team P.S. Here's the full transcript of what President Obama said—click here to send a fax of this statement to the FCC so that FCC chairman Tom Wheeler feels the full weight of the president's comments: One of the issues around net neutrality is whether you are creating different rates or charges for different content providers. That's the big controversy here. So you have big, wealthy media companies who might be willing to pay more and also charge more for spectrum, more bandwidth on the Internet so they can stream movies faster. I personally, the position of my administration, as well as a lot of the companies here, is that you don't want to start getting a differentiation in how accessible the Internet is to different users. You want to leave it open so the next Google and the next Facebook can succeed. Source: 1. "Obama strikes a populist tone on net neutrality," The Washington Post, August 5, 2014 http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=300229&id=99486-25187322-%3Dh%3DbFJx&t=7 Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 8 million member

VOLUNTEER@THE MANIFESTO the-history-making-moment I African Festival of the Arts I

WEALTH~ENERGY~PRODUCTS~HOMESTEAD~CULTURE~ORGANIZATION~EDUCATION~COMMERCE

 

VOLUNTEER FOR AFRICAN FEST! Last year was so fun! Volunteer and bring a friend.   3-hour shifts as detailed below.   Get a complimentary BIG tee-shirt, And your ticket to the Festival is free! SOME SAID "BEST OF FEST"   No two years of the Green Village Pavilion will be alike,  but we sure plan to be your Festival Hotbed & Chillzone again this year! YES we will have demonstrations, libations, celebrations  and your collaboration is invited! CALL Naomi today @ 773-678-9541 to explore. 3-HOUR VOLUNTEER SHIFTS THURSDAY August 28 FRIDAY August 29 SATURDAY August 30 SUNDAY August 31 MONDAY September 1 TUESDAY September 2 7am - 10am @ BIG Clubhouse, 6011 S. St. Lawrence Ave & Washington Park 10am - 1pm @ Green Village Pavilion, near 51st & St. Lawrence 1pm - 4pm @ Green Village Pavilion, near 51st & St. Lawrence 4pm - 7pm @ Green Village Pavilion, near 51st & St. Lawrence 7pm - 11pm [4hrs] @ Green Village Pavilion and Clubhouse Tuesday, September 2 - 9am-5pm @ Clubhouse      Call me! Nae            Naomi Davis JD  LEED GA          Founder & CEO PS    Want to share your ideas and solutions with BIG?          Questions?  Call!  773-678-9541 or naomidavis@blacksingreen.org click         click click click COPYRIGHT BIG, NFP 2013   ALL RIGHTS RESERVED   NAOMIDAVIS@BLACKSINGREEN.ORG   773-678-9541

itex biz of the week

EATURED BUSINESSES & SPOTLIGHT... 

Beautiful home in the French countryside http://www.houseinfrance.com. Airfare to Paris not included but likely about1,000.00  (please email Karen.kelly@itex.net for more information).

 AND...

Palm Springs Luxury Golf Course Getaway  Beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo on the  6th Tee of the Desert Princess Golf Course August 1 - 27 $250 ITEX per night  or only $175 per night for 3 nights or more  $100 Cash Cleaning Fee   Set on the Desert Princess PGA Golf Course, this Property is surrounded by magnificent, landscaped grounds and views!    This deluxe condominium offers two master suites with king-size beds and private custom marble baths. It was remodeled in 2012 with new paint, quality furnishings, and artwork. The living room has a queen-size pullout couch.  Outside your deluxe condominium is your own private lanai with gas grill and outdoor dining table and chairs. Minutes from Downtown Palm Springs, this retreat, with its country club and resort amenities, has it all for the desert travelers. Please note children are welcomed, but no pets allowed. Smoking permitted outside only.  Contact Trisha to make reservations for Palm Springs at  707.996.0729 or      email trishaaambrose@gmail.com We hope you enjoy this weeks featured businesses...

 

Featured Businesses of the Week Connect. Trade. Save.

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 FEATURING Marketing Services Furrier Power Washing Modular Homes Shared Office Space Auto Repair Kitchen Cabinets Florist Coupon Advertising Doggie Day Care Indiana Advertising Lasik Eye Surgery ITEX Contacts 555 Butterfield Suite 201 Lombard, IL, 60148 Douglas Dagenais 630-261-7021 doug@itex.net Jackie Billings: 630-261-7068 jackie.billings@itex.net  Mary Drews:   630-261-7059 mary.drews@itex.net Jamie Billings 630-261-7009  jamie.billings@itex.net Karen Kelly 847-755-3000 karen.kelly@itex.net  General # 630-261-7040 Fax #  630-261-7001 National Marketplace www.itex.com Local www.itexmidwest.net   Need a new look?   ThereMedia, Inc. specializes in marketing and communications for businesses of every size. We can help you to reinvent your brand or just to sharpen the focus of your advertising and other marketing communications. Logo design, copy writing, web design, video production, social media--these are some of the tools and tasks we have mastered over the course of our long history. If you want your brand and marketing to be more effective, ThereMedia offers the services and experience to make that happen! Call Tom at 312 421 0400  Winter is only 4 months away   Vollbracht Furs Pre-Season Sale -Furs, leathers shearlings and accessories all on sale items and can be purchased with ITEX! 2 locations in Beachwood and Akron. www.vollbracht.com   Contact Mark 330.867.2771 Get clean Chicago Power Clean specializes in Power/Pressure Washing all types of surfaces including but not limited to awnings, canopies, cement, sidewalks, brick buildings, decks/wood fences. We take pride in doing the job right the first time. All of our work comes with a Satisfaction Guarantee. Contact Chris at 847-963-8888  Having a party? Upper Crust Catering, Yorkville, is ready to serve your company or family event needs. Serving the far western suburbs. Contact Mitch at 630-553-9533  Need a 2nd home? "Indy Property Preservation Co."Is offering Custom made Modular Homes on ITEX! Up to 35% of home price can be purchased on ITEX!!! "From selecting the floor plans to the features and options that you want, we have made the entire process of building a custom modular home as easy as possible.  We offer capes, ranches, split-level, and two story modular homes from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet."   Please Contact - Robin Maze at 831-476-5264 www.indypropertypreservation.com Flexible and Affordable Office Space Complete with all of your Workplace Needs in the Chicagoland Area        Woodfield Preserve building at 10 N. Martingale Rd. Schaumburg, IL 60173. Workspace for businesses large and small, branch or sales offices. Regus has options to suit any budget and working style. Save money and stay agile with equipped offices. Part-time offices; keep your business cost-effective with office space only as you need it. Get this office space with all the support of a fixed location, even if it's on an occasional basis. We provide all you need for a flexible, effective, efficient workplace wherever and however you want.  You can have access to business lounges; shared or private office space; or meeting rooms. www.regus.com. NOTE: Only trading the beautiful Woodfield Preserves location in Schaumburg. IL at this time.   Contact Erin at 847.466.1100 or erin.barnau@regus.com Time for a tune up?   Superior Auto Repair, Lake Bluff, Illinois We offer full auto servicing at our auto repair shop for all major and minor repairs to your automobile. Superior Auto Repair offers the latest technology with diagnostic animation at our auto repair shop to show you exactly what your car is going through and what needs to be done to get it running smoothly again. Whether it is your brakes, your tires, alignment issues, oil changes, and more, we have you covered.  Call 224-201.6517  or your Trade Director for options near you.  Get a new kitchen by Thanksgiving   Since 1979 Best Cabinets has been offering high quality custom cabinet and custom furniture, and is one of the few companies with an in-house sawmill. Best Cabinets also manufactures our own solid wood doors and solid wood dovetail drawers in order the maintain the best quality and lead times. Each piece of custom furniture and custom cabinetry built is made to order, one at a time by our professional staff. www.thebestcabinets.com  Call Dan at 773.416.0300 When was the last time you sent flowers?  Enchanted Florist will meet every special ocassion with the flower arrangements of your choice, all on ITEX. Send them locally or across the country. Make your selection at www.gourmet-flowers.com.     Place your order by email to davidenchanted@yahoo.com. Include your ITEX number and cc for delivery.   Call David at 708.827.5843 Advertise in For Sale Local Newspaper    Neighborhood monthly newspaper and digital publication/Western, South Western and South Suburbs. This paper is distributed at thousands of locations such as local stores, restaurants, gas stations, libraries and grocery stores. Service area includes Will, Grundy, Dupage, and Southern Cook County. Cities included are; Bolingbrook, Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield, Lockport, Romeoville, Lemont, Frankfort, Mokena, Orland and Tinley Park, Lisle, Naperville, Woodridge, Peoptone, Monee, University Park and Matteson. Additional services are available: Social media consulting, basic website design, graphic Design and logo design and more.www.forsalelocal.net . Call Jackie at 847.740.2748 Give the dogs a break   Citizen Canine Doggie Day Care/ Chicago is a 100% cage-free doggie B and B and daycare facility for dogs. Since 1995, Citizen Canine has worked at innovating the healthy style of care that has become our unique hallmark. We have perfected a humane and fun way for your pet to socialize and energize. Our focus is placed on an enriched, controlled environment providing mental and physical stimulation for your pet.    Call Jolie at 773.935.3853. NW Indiana advertising PanoramaNOW is Direct Mailed to Several Doctor's Offices, Dentists, Car Repair and Hair Salons in NW Indiana. . Can you imagine how many folks attend a doctor's office a day? Deadline is July 31.   Call 219-464-9237 or your Trade Director for other options Can you see this? Doctors for Visual Freedom offers Custom Lasik and PRK using the latest technology by one of Chicago land's most experienced surgeons, Golden.  Located at Harlem and Foster in Chicago.  To learn more visit our web site www.doctorsforvisualfreedom.com. Contact: Dr. Golden @ 773-774-2102 Or to fill your eyewear prescriptions, Call Your Trade Director. (A great employee perk!)  ITEX is the leading marketplace for cashless business transactions in North America, processing more than $140 million in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) annually between thousa