This April the John P. Holland School will be celebrating Real Men Read Day. They are in need of 20 men to participate in Real Men Read Day, scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 8:00 – 11:00AM. If you would like to help shape the lives of our students in a positive way please respond to Miss Jean-Baptiste at cbaptiste@cityyear.org.

The day starts off with breakfast with other participants and welcome from the school administrators. Roughly half an hour will be dedicated to sharing with a class your profession and a children’s book you love to read. Read more after the break on the program and the school.

Real Men Read is a program that grew out of the Chicago Public School system, which brings men into classrooms to read to students. Real Men Read has a four-fold purpose:

1. To show students who real men are, and that real men do in fact read and that real men value education.
2. To encourage and improve literacy skills of our students.
3. To provide mentoring opportunities for men with students.
4. To demonstrate the importance of student achievement and community partnerships.

The Holland School is a diverse elementary school located in Dorchester. We service over 700 students from across the city of Boston. Here at the Holland we are constantly working to strengthen the whole child.

Who can be a MENtor?
Men of all walks of life can be mentors. Doctors, janitors, bankers, firemen, educators, and postmen are all readers. We believe that you are a REAL MAN who can impact the lives of our students in a positive way.
As a member of our community you know that the success of our students directly impacts the success of our community. Therefore, we must work together to ensure that the children of Boston and of our community are successful.

The Black Community Information Center will hold a press conference on Thursday March 22, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.
at Boston Police Headquarters, One Schroeder Place, Roxbury. For More Information Contact BCIC at 617-427-2522.

Advisory:

The National Alumnae Association of Spelman College Boston Area Chapter is hosting its 6th Annual Blueprint Conference for Middle and High School Girls. If you are a girl or know of a girl in a Boston area middle school or high school that would like to participate in our two day conference on June 9th and 10th, please apply at http://www.naascboston.org by March 16, 2012. Find us on Facebook or Twitter and help spread the word. Together, we will develop positive self images for our young women. You can now access the application online and register today!

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The powerful Facing Love series returns for its 5th installment, this year’s theme being “How Does Education/Miseducation contribute to Dysfunction in Black/Latino Families and Communities”. A TV talk show- style symposium, Facing Love seeks to explore the intricacies and dynamics of the Black/Latino Male-Black/Latino Female relationship. Psychologist and educator Umar Abdullah Johnson will keynote the event. March 3rd from 1pm-6pm at Hibernian Hall (184 Dudley St.) Free buffet, free giveaways and fundraising merchandise available for purchase. Boston Offline is a proud supporter of this event.

The 35th Anniversary of Kwanzaa begins today with the theme Re-unifying the Afrikan Family. Each day in the week represents one of the Nguzo Saba ( seven principles). Today’s principle is Umoja (Unity) and will be held at the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club located at 115 Warren St. near Dudley Square. Sponsors include Origination INC., Louis Brown Peace Institute, and the Osiris Group. Event starts at 7pm, free admission and family friendly. For the full Kwanzaa schedule, visit our calendar.

Join us tonight as we co-host Coats and Cocktails: An Outerwear Drive for Cradles to Crayons with The Fab Empire, LLC, Eddie “Cue” Matthews, and Olasco Boston at Felt Ultra Lounge (533 Washington St). Bring a coat or warm clothing item for someone in need! Cash donations will also be accepted. Get there early to enjoy complimentary appetizers and a champagne reception from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. LIVE band and networking until 8:30pm. 100% of proceeds will go to Cradles to Crayons. Cradles to Crayons endeavors to provide homeless and low-income children with the essentials they require to thrive – to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued.

Get your mix and mingle on at the After Work Series Holiday Edition hosted by Boston Offline, Night Life Executives, and the Young Black Women’s Society. Enjoy complimentary appetizers (6pm-7pm) while grooving to live Jazz and R&B. Wednesday, December 14. Doors open 6pm to 9pm, Felt Ultra Lounge at 533 Washington St. (Downtown Crossing). Validated parking at La Fayette Parking Garage.

Shop till you drop at Smith Leadership Academy’s annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday December 3rd from 10am-3pm. Enjoy food, music, and raffles while you support local vendors. Call 617.474.7950 x10 for more details and vendor registration. 23 Leonard St. in Fields Corner.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 the Entrepreneurs of Color Helping Others (ECHO) group holds their final session of the year with guest speaker Mike Bruny. A certified life coach, international speaker, and author, Mike will present on “The New Art of Conference Networking: #Hashtags to Handshakes,” hitting on tips to make you feel like Norm from the T.V. show Cheers when you walk into your next conference. He will cover for 4 main areas: 1. Focus (setting goals) 2. Engagement 3. At Event 4. Follow-up. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6pm-8pm at United South End Settlements. For more information and to register, visit http://echonovember2011.eventbrite.com.

Night Life Executives along with the African American Real Estate Professionals host the return of the After Work Series, focusing on connecting professionals in Boston. Wednesday October 12th, 6pm-9pm at Felt Ultra Lounge. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and live music. For more info, visit feltafterwork.eventbrite.com.