Recap: The White Escape | Spirit of Boston [BostonFab!]

Bill Clinton to Barack Obama: ‘Kiss My Ass’ [Electronic Village]

LEADERSHIP:
Passing or Taking the Leadership Torch:
An Intergenerational Discussion about Black Leadership in Boston

The ACTION STEP Follow Up Meeting

Monday, June 30, 2008
6:00pm – 9:30pm

Hibernian Hall
184 Dudley Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Dudley Square, Roxbury

Dinner will be served. A donation is suggested of $5.00

Join us in a lively discussion as we continue the lively discussion about leadership in Boston’s Black communities. Common questions asked are “Where is it?”, “Who is it?”, “Who is stepping up to the plate to take over?”, “What forms of formal and informal mentoring are there?” “Is there a leadership pipeline, and if not , how can we create one?” Prior to this discussion, conference participants will break out into groups accordingly to their respective “generation”. in their groups, conference participants will share information about their generation and how they view leadership and what tools they need to be a successful leader in Boston.. After this discussion,we will develop action steps to bring this to reality by identifying what is needed for the “passing”m or the “taking” of the TORCH.
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From the inbox…

GREATEST MINDS

A Gathering of Black Bostonians Who Are About Getting Things Done

DATE:

Friday, June 6th, 2008 and Saturday, June 7th, 2008

TIMES:

Friday, June 6th, 2008 6:00pm - 9:00pm

FRIDAY
6:00pm - 9:00pm OPENING RECEPTION & Opening Panel

Saturday, June 7th, 2008 9:00am - 12:00midnight 9:00pm - 6:00pm CONFERENCE SATURDAY 8:00pm - 12midnight CLOSING RECEPTION & NETWORKING

A Gathering of Black Bostonians Who are About Getting Things Done

Make a difference in your community and join young people, veteran community activists, corporate leaders, college students, educators, and next generation leaders as we share information and put action steps for Black Boston.

This gathering will bring together Boston’s GREATEST MINDS who are about making things happen for Black Boston. This two day event will bring together different generations to listen, learn, network and collaborate on ways you can make the resources in the city work for you individually and collectively.

Our topics will include the following:

LEADERSHIP: Passing or Taking the Leadership Torch: An Intergenerational Discussion about Black Leadership in Boston

EDUCATION ( K-12 ): Where Will your Kids Go To School Charter, Public, Private, Religious School or Be Home Schooled; A Discussion about Education Options for Youth In Boston

POLITICS: So you are interested in Running or Supporting A Candidate For Office: The Nuts and Bolts of Political Campaigning and How To Do It Successfully

NIGHTLIFE & NETWORKING: Where Do Black People Go to Have A Good Time to Meet People and Network: A Discussion about Options and Possibilities and Challenges

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Start Your Own Business in Boston; the Do’s and Don’ts

Hibernian Hall
184 Dudley Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Dudley Square

This conference will be for the first 200 people who register and pay a registration fee. More details to follow with conference program, speakers, and agenda. Please send your information to our email at greatestminds@gmail.com.

WHY GREATEST MINDS - A GATHERING of BLACK BOSTONIANS?

For years, Boston has struggled with its image as a city unfriendly to its African-American residents. Along with the image goes the fact that Boston has very little black representation in politics and in the ranks of senior management, or civic life in general.
Historically, black professionals have come (or returned) to Boston to work, only to leave within a couple of years.

NBCA’s NEXT GENERATION is helping young black individuals who want to get civically active, roll up their sleeves and get a piece of the PIE!

Tickets are $25.00 in advance.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/35459

LIMITED SEATS to 200 people
Tickets can also be picked up the NBCA office - NBCA 2304 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119 and Nubian Notions 57 Warren Street, Roxbury MA 02119 in Dudley Square. Call 617.442.8045 or email us at greatestminds@gmail.com.

* Nubian Notion and Bron Paper Tickets Have a Small Service Charge

UMass President Asks Trustees to Revoke Mugabe’s Honor [BostonHerald.com]

Rev. Wright, What’s Going On! [Black in Business]

Seriously Mariah? [The Ghetto Fashionista]

Hundreds of black men are organizing a march and rally on May 18th as part of THE LAQUARRIE JEFFERSON MAN-UP MARCH for ACCOUNTABILITY and GANG TRUCE RALLY, in response to the violence and handgun fatalities that has plagued the black community over the years and claimed the lives of many young men, including the accidental death of 8-year-old Laquarrie Jefferson.

The march is a five mile trek beginning in Grove Hall and ending in City Hall Plaza.

“Be it directly or indirectly, all black men are responsible for the conditions of the ‘hood,” says MC Spice, rally organizer and Grove Hall’s resident-elected Minister of Information who called for the march after reporting the death of Laquarrie Jefferson via the broadcast airwaves on low-power radio station, TOUCH 106.1FM. A supporter of the SAFE HOMES INITIATIVE project, Spice began organizing the event in December. “We have to hold ourselves accountable for the death of Laquarrie Jefferson,” Spice says. “When a child’s father isn’t present, we have to MAN-UP and step our game up as men in our community. We should have been there to talk to Laquarrie’s older brother about why he feared for his life. We could have intervened and took our rightful place as positive role models to the youth in our neighborhood.”

“We know there are gang bangers all over the city. But we need to embrace these youths and show them how to resolve conflict peacefully…like men,” Spice says. “But we also need to foster, develop and maintain a working relationship with law enforcement, civic and clergy leaders, to save our youth.” The Laquarrie Jefferson Man-Up March will call on the city’s black men to pledge to take responsibility for their community and asks gang members to adhere to the truce for the rest of the summer.

Many Grove Hall residents, organizations and business owners are helping organize the rally, including the Nation Of Islam, NDC of Grove Hall, TOUCH-FM Radio, and Global Voice Media. Calloway’s Nex Graphix printing company donated thousands of flyers to the cause and women have vowed to support the men at both ends of the march from Grove Hall to City Hall, offering free rides back to the starting point of the march/rally. Businesses along the five-mile path are asked to provide drinking water and restrooms for the marchers, and Kueen of Kings and Kueens Hair Salon on Warren Street, was one of the first to offer bottled water for the passing marchers. “Anything I can do to help with this cause,” said Kueen.

Organizers have invited City Councilmen Chuck Turner, Charles Yancey, Representatives Linda Dorcena Forry, Gloria Fox and State Senator Dianne Wilkerson to speak. Scheduled speakers include Minister Don Muhammad of the Nation Of Islam, NOI’s True-See Allah, Jamal Crawford of the New Black Panther Party, and MC Spice and Jonathon Gates of The Big Morning Thing radio show. The event will also include Accountability Petitions for participants to sign as a pact to maintain peace and show accountability.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. At 11 a.m. participants will gather for a rally, prayer and words of insipration in the Grove Hall Shopping Center area. The march begins at 12 noon, with 15-minute breaks each mile, from Warren Street to Washington Street, ending at City Hall at 3 p.m. A post rally wil be held at City Hall Plaza, ending at 4 p.m.

For more information about The Laquarrie Jefferson Man-Up March for Accountability and Gang Truce, see www.touchfm.org or email  mcspice777@yahoo.com

For more event details: http://www.touchfm.org/manupmarch.htm

Reach for the sky May 24 as the Touch 106 team brings the Boston Kite Festival once again to Franklin Park. Included in this year’s program is dance performances, spoken word,  face painting, and other entertainment put on by Quintessence Edutainment. 10am-6pm.

The Playstead is located between the Franklin Park Zoo and White Stadium. By MBTA, take the Orange Line to Forest Hills and the #16 bus to the zoo. By car, the park can be reached from Blue Hill Ave., Seaver Street, or Circuit Drive. Ample free parking. Fully handicapped accessible.

In partnership with the William Monroe Trotter Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston, New England Blacks in Philanthropy, and Channel 7/WHDH TV’s Urban Update program, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) is piloting The State of Black Boston, a multi-year initiative that combines research and community assessment to bring attention to critical issues affecting Blacks in Boston.  The initial phase is to promote dialogue among some of the leading experts in the field through a series of dialogue with Channel7’s Urban Update.

New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) is an affinity member entity that unites Black philanthropists, trustees and staff of grantmaking organizations.  The purpose of NEBIP is to build a network of support that will enhance the philanthropic community’s ability to effectively address the specific needs of Black communities while increasing the influence and presence of Blacks in philanthropy.  For more info, visit http://www.agmconnect.org/nebip/aboutus.html

This Saturday Reflect and Strengthen will be having their 3rd Annual Yard Sale from 10-6pm at 2 Minton St., Jamaica Plain (at the corner of Amory St and Minton St, in between the Stonybrook and Green St Stations).

The Sean Bell Tragedy - A Response by Kevin Powell [Lola Has Something 2 Say!]

The National Black Police Association: The Sean Bell Verdict Emboldens Lack Of Confidence In Judges [Blackprof.com]

In Case of Sean Bell, Where Did the Prosecution Go Wrong? [WSJ.com Law Blog]

This Saturday, Z-Square Lounge is the place to be as J. Francois and K Pritty a Pre-Cinco De Mayo Bash complete with margaritas  and complimentary Mexican appetizers. Upscale dress is required to partake in the festivities. DJ Seye Daddy will be spinning Hip Hop, R& B, Mashups, Latin and Reggae. Fore more info, visit www.going.com/TRESDEMAYO