Everything BIG CED

West Coast Legend Kokane Drops First Single "Twilight Zone" From "Gimme Mine" LP

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:04:00 GMT

WARNING---major industry knowledge dropped on this record!

"things ain't what they used to be/these ni**as in the game is fucking up E's legacy/cous must be flipping in his grave."

"Dr. Dre ain't worried about Detox/he sell headphones/getting big Guap."

From a long lineage of music (his Father is multiple Grammy award winner Jerry Long Sr, who produced and wrote hits for Motown Records including "I Heard It Thru The Grapevine," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "War," "Poppa Was A Rolling Stone" & "Car Wash" to name just a few) Kokane is one of the West Coast's chief architects, from his rise as a solo-artist, to his work with Above The Law and his countless guest appearances ( Kokane is the most featured artist in the world---do the research) as his voice has been featured on over 35 million record sales over the course of his career (there is a reason they call him the hook master). From Dre, Snoop, Ice Cube, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Eazy-E, Xzibit, Spice 1, Too Short, George Clinton, Boosty Collins, NWA, Young Buck etc, Kokane has lent his vocals to some of Hip-Hop's most acclaimed projects.

You know the voice, now get ready to know Kokane (again)! Armed with a new LP, Gimme Mine, which will drop on 5-25-10 (on his own Bud E Boy Records in conjunction with Bonzi/Fontana) Kokane is back and sounding better then ever!

DL link to Kokane's "Gimmie Mine" (produced by Tha Chill of Compton's Most Wanted): http://usershare.net/dfq5yx0denlk

Sadat X feat. Pete Rock - "Turn It Up"

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:43:00 GMT

Haitians Still Suffering 8 Weeks After Deadly Quake

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:12:00 GMT

Eight weeks after the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 230,000 people in Haiti, the Pan American Development Foundation and its partners renewed their call for financial support so they can help Haitians rebuild their homes and take care of their families.

"March 12 marks the eight-week anniversary of the quake. More than a million Haitians are homeless and urgently need our help," says Jimmy Jean-Louis, the actor and spokesperson for PADF's disaster relief and recovery efforts. "Please call toll free (877) 572-4484 to contribute to the relief and recovery efforts."

Jimmy Jean-Louis, who plays the "Haitian" on NBC's hit series "Heroes," is returning to his homeland on March 12 to participate in recovery efforts. It's his second trip since the devastating 7.0 quake. Immediately after Jan. 12, he spent a week in Haiti distributing relief supplies and assisting families.

To date, more than 300,000 people received food, water, shelter, medicine and other supplies from PADF and its partners thanks to individual, corporate and multilateral donations.

Although providing relief will continue for a few months, PADF and its partners Hollywood Unites for Haiti (HUFH) and the Organization of American States (OAS) have initiated recovery and reconstruction in key areas of Port-au-Prince. With additional funding, it would like to expand to the Southeast province.

Among key activities that PADF-OAS-HUFH are undertaking in Haiti:

* Employment: Working with its network of community groups, 3,000 people are clearing rubble and cleaning streets in the capital. Haitians to earn money to support their families and help to rid the city of the debris that chokes a number of streets. It would like to expand the program to the communities in the Southeast province.

* Supplies: PADF continues to distribute relief as the crisis continues.

* House "tagging" & repair: Teams of structural engineers are being deployed to evaluate homes to determine if they are safe, need repair or should be demolished. Twenty thousand homes will be evaluated during three weeks. U.S. structural engineer and earthquake expert Kit Miyamoto and his team are training Haitian engineers to conduct the field work. For homes that need repair, PADF will provide guidelines and materials to make them safe.

"The goal is to move 70,000 people from these temporary camps into safe homes before the rainy season," says John Sanbrailo, PADF's executive director.

Individual and corporate donations to PADF-OAS-HUFH's Haiti relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts are encouraged by calling toll-free in the U.S. (877) 572-4484 or visiting www.PanAmericanRelief.org. Text HEAL to 50555 in the U.S. to donate $5.

About HUFH
Hollywood Unites For Haiti is a non-profit charitable aid organization based in Los Angeles that that is lead by Jimmy Jean-Louis. www.hufh.org

About the OAS
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world's oldest regional organization and today is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. www.oas.org

About PADF
PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 5.6 million beneficiaries in 18 countries.

PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights.

Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. www.padf.org

METHOD MAN, GHOSTFACE KILLAH & RAEKWON BRING SPIRIT OF WU-TANG TO 'WU MASSACRE,' IN STORES MARCH 30th ON DEF JAM

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:04:00 GMT

Cosmic forces of destiny unite three mortals in world-shaking times, as Def Jam recording artists – and Wu-Tang Clan brothers-for-life – Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon join forces on WU MASSACRE, an historic collaboration that takes Wu science and theology to the next step on hip-hop’s evolutionary grid. (Tentative tracklist, song titles and guest artists appear below, subject to change.)

WU MASSACRE, which arrives March 30^th in the physical and digital marketplace, will be preceded by the soulful street single “Our Dreams,” starring the legendary Wu-Tang Clan’s three most dynamic MCs, Meth, Ghost, and Rae and produced by RZA for Wu-Tang Productions. For an added tug on the heart-strings, “Our Dreams” samples Michael Jackson’s mid-’70s hit as a 17-year old, “We’re Almost There.”

In addition to “Our Dreams,” Meth, Ghost and Rae take the trio spotlight on two more tracks: the thunderous opener “Criminology 2.5” and “Miranda.” Ghost and Meth take the lead on “It’s That Wu Sh*t.” On the “Smooth Sailing” Remix, Ghost and Meth are joined by Solomon Childs and Streetlife. On “Gunshowers,” Meth and Ghost are joined by fellow WTC rapper Inspectah Deck and Sun God. “Youngstown Heist” features Trife, Sheek and Bully.

In addition to RZA, WU MASSACRE features a number of guest producers, starting with Mathematics on “Mef vs. Chef,” “Dangerous,” “Miranda,” and “Made Men.” Scram Jones produced “Youngstown Heist” and “It’s That Wu Sh*t.” E Meal produced “Pimpin’ Chipp.” And Ty Fyffe produced the “Smooth Sailing” Remix.

The springtime arrival of WU MASSACRE follows a busy year of album releases and performance schedules by all three artists:

Ghostface Killah returned as The Wizard Of Poetry (released September 2009), his 6^th Def Jam album (and 10^th major label album). The Wiz focused on duets with an A-list of guests including Raheem DeVaughn (on the first single, “Baby”), Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Fabolous, Lloyd, Vaughn Anthony & Estelle, and others. Ghost spent July and August with Method Man and Redman, keeping the Wu-Tang Clan spirit alive and well on the month-long, 21-city Foot Print in Hip-Hop Tour.

Raekwon aka The Chef gave WU fans something to believe with the long-awaited Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II (also released September 2009), which spun off a pair of all-star singles: “New Wu” featuring Meth and Ghost, produced by RZA; and “House of Flying Daggers” featuring Meth, Ghost, GZA, and Inspectah Deck, produced by J. Dilla. CLII is the sequel to Rae’s groundbreaking solo debut of 1995, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, one of the very first solo albums released by a W-TC member after the group’s 36 Chambers entry back in ’93. Rae spent the summer 2009 on the massively successful Rock The Bells Tour alongside GZA, RZA, Nas, Damian Marley, the Roots, Ice Cube, Common, and others.

Always larger than life, Method Man is still basking in the glow of Blackout! 2 (released May 2009), his critically acclaimed collaboration with Redman. It was the long-awaited sequel (ten years!) to Meth and Red’s RIAA platinum Blackout, a defining hip-hop event of 1999 (with “Tear It Off,” “Y.O.U.,” and “Da Rockwilder”). Blackout! 2 blasted off with a trifecta of new single releases showing off Meth and Red at their very best: “A-Yo” featuring Saukrates, produced by Pete Rock; “Mrs. International” featuring Erick Sermon, produced by Buckwild; and “City Lights” featuring Bun B, produced by Nasty Kutt.

WU MASSACRE (tentative track listing):

1. “Criminology 2.5” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man.

2. “Mef vs. Chef” featuring Rhythm Roots Allstars, produced by Allah Mathematics.

3. “Ya Moms” skit featuring Method Man and Raekwon.

4. “Smooth Sailing” Remix featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Solomon Childs and Streetlife, produced by Ty Fyffe.

5. “Our Dreams” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by RZA.

6. “Gunshowers” featuring Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Sun God, produced by Digem Tracks Productions.

7. “Dangerous” featuring Rhythm Roots Allstars, produced by Allah Mathematics.

8. “Pimpin’ Chipp” featuring Rhythm Roots Allstars, produced by E Meal.

9. “How To Pay Rent” skit featuring Tracy Morgan.

10. “Miranda” featuring Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, produced by Allah Mathematics.

11. “Youngstown Heist” featuring Trife, Sheek and Bully, produced by Scram Jones.

12. “It’s That Wu Sh*t” featuring Ghostface Killah & Method Man, produced by Scram Jones.

School Principal Motivates Black Males In New Book

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:25:00 GMT

RENOWNED PRINCIPAL WRITES BOOK FOR MOTIVATING BLACK MALES TO ACHIEVE IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE

Bookcover

Newark, NJ (Black News.com) - As the achievement gap continues to pose one of the greatest challenges to educators at all levels, the plight of the Black male learner poses an even greater challenge as evidenced by national achievement, dropout and suspension data. Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in Life will provide educators with proven strategies toward motivating their Black male learners at all grade levels to take a greater interest in school, learning and preparing for academic excellence.

Recipient of the 2009 Milken National Educator Award, Newark, NJ based educator, Principal Baruti Kafele draws from his 20 years of experience in teaching Black males and turning around troubled urban schools to explain:

* Why the challenges of educating Black male students are frequently different from educating other student populations.
* What all Black male students need in their classroom experiences.
* How to assess your own attitudes and abilities to educate Black males.
* Which major problems outside of school could change the way you teach Black males.
* How to address the root causes of Black male self-identity.
* Why and how to develop a young men's empowerment program.

Noted educator/author, Dr. Douglas Reaves states in his book review:

"In this clarion call for personal responsibility for students, teachers, and families, Kafele offers practical advice and a demanding set of standards. He balances an emphasis on self-esteem with self-discipline, knowing that the former will not be meaningful without the latter. The appendices provide practical lists for students, aspiring leaders, and teachers. His work is consistent with the outstanding work of Carol Dweck of Stanford and Jeff Howard of the Efficacy Institute. Kafele's personal story and his extensive experience demonstrate that urban students in general and African-American males in particular benefit not from well-intentioned sympathy, but from rigor, high expectations, intensive literacy support, and pride in who they are and who they will become."

Motivating Black Males to Achieve in School and in Life will help educators to understand why lack of proficiency in reading, writing, and math among Black males is a symptom of deeper problems that are generally ignored. It will provide educators with solutions that can be put into their daily practice right away to improve the performance of their Black male students.

About The Author
Award-winning educator, "Principal Kafele," is currently the principal of Newark Tech H.S. in Newark, NJ, which has been recognized by U.S. News and World Reports Magazine as one of America's best high schools for two consecutive years. He is also the author of the best-selling books, A Black Parent's Handbook to Educating Your Children (Outside of the Classroom) and A Handbook for Teachers of African American Children. www.PrincipalKafele.com

Refa 1 Speaks: Hip Hop is about Consciousness & Freedom..It's Essence over Form

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:48:00 GMT

First Black-Owned Cigar Manufacturer Launches New Cigar

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:03:00 GMT

DON ABRAM HARRIS CIGARS, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CIGAR MANUFACTURER IN THE U.S., LAUNCHES NEW CIGAR

-- The Company Is Planning A Nationwide Tour --

Don Abram Harris

Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) -- There is a saying that "great aspirations begin with great ideas", which holds true for Don Abram Harris - the first African American Cigar Manufacturer in the United States. Born in the state of Maryland, Mr. Harris is an entrepreneur at heart who says he has always loved a great smoking cigar and wanted to create his own. He succeeded by introducing the Don Abram Harris Cigar line at the 76th Annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV, July 13-18, 2008 where they made their first impression on thousands of retailers and cigar enthusiasts of the world. All who sampled the cigars gave nothing but good reviews.

While in Puerto Rico, Don Abram met with one of Puerto Rico's seasoned cigar veterans who had been in the cigar manufacturing business since the age of 7 years old. At the age of 18, he became production manager of his father's company and eventually took over the business from his dad who had inherited the business from his father. We're talking generations of experts in the industry! A friendship began and after working with experts in the field to create the various blends, great effort was put into creating the brands exclusively blended for the Don Abram Harris Cigar line.

The Don Abram Harris Cigars come in some of the most recognizable brands born from Puerto Rico's tropical soil including the Churchill, the Maduro, the Robusto, the Torpedo & the island's favorite, the Corona (crown) - each with its own distinct aroma and flavorful taste. These premium cigars are sold by the box and every hand-packed box contains 25 first quality premium cigars made with fresh raw materials and aged tobacco. The blend of fillers, binders and wrappers determine cigar flavor which in the cigar world is considered a fine art. These cigars can definitely be considered premium cigars and can hold their own next to any of the other high quality cigars. The 15 year old, aged tobacco boasts of refined and mellow tastes that are well worth the smoke.

The CHURCHILL: The length is 7 inches by 48-ring gauge. (Named after Winston's trademark). Handmade with aged tobacco from the exclusive Utuado region of Puerto Rico with long fillers and binders from Brazil; they are draped by a natural Maduro, sun-grown seed wrapper from Africa. This rich dark cigar has a medium to full-bodied-taste with rich aroma and a smoke for cigar smokers who thrill on deep and complex flavors of leather, floral and earthy notes with mocha and licorice undertones.

The ROBUSTO: This medium to full-bodied cigar finishes with waves of baking spices while capturing the breezes of cocoa and roasted nuts. Its length is 5 inches by a 50-ring gauge.

The TORPEDO: An excellent choice, properly aged and matured, this full-bodied cigar has a stronger more robust blend. Made with a dark oily maduro wrapper that will satisfy even the most demanding palate. Covered with an oily Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper, this cigar is full of hearty earthy flavors, combined with a mix of the finest Dominican fillers resulting in a fine quality cigar.

The CORONA: Made with a golden brown, Connecticut shade wrapper, this exclusive cigar is blended with a robust combination of aged Dominican filler and a sun ripened broadleaf maduro wrapper. It's packed with complex flavors yet medium in strength. It's length is 6 inches by 42-ring gauge. The open foot (the end you light) & closed head (the end smoked) is normally the tobacco wrapper leaves are state of the art craftsmanship. No matter your choice, the Don Abram Harris line of cigars are an excellent choice for both beginner cigar smokers and seasoned smokers who like to enjoy an occasional mild to medium flavored cigar.

Don Abram Harris Cigars are handmade with the best island seeds found only in Puerto Rico's Utuado mountains by one of the most respected Puerto Rican born cigar makers. Don Abram will be starting his tour across the U.S. to start getting his product into the stores. In the very near future, his fine cigars will likely be found in the most exclusive cigar stores everywhere. So start looking out for this new brand and enjoy!

For more details, visit:
www.donabramharris.com

Web Site Boasts Black Culture and Legacy

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:54:00 GMT

AncientAfricanaMarketplace.com is a website that has a product line of African and African Diasporic cultural and historical educational items. The website has a unique inventory of books, audio books, music, educational DVD's and art prints. The content of the products focuses on Black historical events from the marvels of ancient African anthropology and archeology to present day history makers.

The website provides a central location where consumers and educators alike can shop at the same place for Classic Arts and Educational supplies that documents the experience of the African and African Diasporic peoples. It is perfect for educational and community institutions to everyday people who would like to learn about Black History, who have an appreciation for the Classic works of art that comes out of the African and Diasporic peoples of the world, be it in the form of a beautiful art print from a famous Black artist, a DVD of Classic Drama or an important historical event, a music CD of timeless musical greats to a literary work from a world renowned author from the "Classic Literature" collection.

The book collection consists of Children's books, a beautiful collection of African Art books, Ancient and Modern African History, Scholar's Works, Reference books, Audio Books, Classic Literature and African American History books.

The music CD collection is unique because it consists of great artists and timeless legends. The music library contains the works of great jazz and blues musicians, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul and traditional African music, from the early days of recorded music to today. The featured musical artists are from Africa to all around the world, focusing on the United States.

AncientAfricanaMarketplace.com is currently available to fill orders for personal collections or educational inventory. Browsing through the items on the website is like having a celebration of Black people's triumphs as well as observing a chronicle of their agonies, the acknowledgement of their journeys, discoveries and their influences left upon the world. While shopping the inventory, it becomes inspiring to discover for yourself the marvels, triumphs, struggles and, ultimately, the ensuing resiliency and legacy of African peoples in Africa and all around the world.

To see their commercial online, go to:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwz2ZLSnLtg

To visit the site, go to:
www.AncientAfricanaMarketplace.com

Diggy Simmons - Made You Look Freestyle

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:24:00 GMT

Speechless Comes to the Apache

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:31:00 GMT

For Immediate Release

Playwright gives "voice" to homeless for a cause

Atlanta, GA March 4, 2010: Giving a voice to the homeless, Randy R. Walls of Peak Visionary Theater Co., will preview his upcoming play, “SPEECHLESS” on March 18th to spread awareness of and raise funds for homeless families in Atlanta. Starting at 7pm the event will be held at the Apache Cafe located at 64 3rd Street Northwest in Atlanta.

The cast of "SPEECHLESS" will perform scenes from the play and engage the audience in a "Live Jukebox" where attendees can have cast members sing a song of their choice. The last preview show held in January packed the intimate theater with over 300 RSVPs. Cast members performing at the Apache include Mahalia Jackson, Nicole Long, Demille Cole and several others. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. All proceeds from door and raffle prize sales will benefit Nicholas House.

To purchase advance tickets, or for additional information call Yvonne Druyeh- 404-645-8014 or Randy R. Walls -678-531-1458.

Media should RSVP with Tambria Peeples of Dretam PR at 347-471-1247 or send an email to pr@dretaminc.com.

ABOUT NICHOLAS HOUSE
Nicholas House is a transitional housing shelter in Atlanta that helps homeless families get back on their feet and stay there. Through individualized case management, adult education and training, and powerful youth programs that stop the cycle of poverty, over 70% of Nicholas House families go on to remain fully self-sufficient. On any given night in Atlanta alone, there are 1200 family members without a place to call home--800 of which are children. Nicholas House is committed to helping homeless families by addressing the root causes of their homelessness so they never become homeless again. For more information, visit www.nicholashouse.org.

ABOUT “SPEECHLESS”
“SPEECHLESS” the theatrical production part of the Breaking the Silence Movement of thought provoking and social events, tells the stories of seven inner-city, poverty stricken characters. While every character is from a different background and culture, they are united in their hunger to conquer their fear of success and strive to overcome their life struggles. Through song, dance and powerful performances from artists old and new, “SPEECHLESS” will capture its audience by making them laugh, cry and most importantly think. Writer and director Randy R. Walls, uses real life situations to engage his audience inspiring them to visualize that change can only come to better our community when we see with our own eyes that hardship knows no name or status. Visit www.speechlesstheshow.com for more information.

ABOUT THE BREAKING THE SILENCE MOVEMENT -
In an effort to bring awareness and change to the Atlanta community, Breaking the Silence is a movement created to surface the issues corrupting our city such as homelessness, crime, poverty, and poor educational systems. Randy R. Walls founded Peak Visionary Theater Co. To bring change through the merging of artistic influence and community development. Walls believes these things are the key to bridging knowledge gaps within our community and breaking the silence. The Breaking the Silence series will host performing and artistic events to encourage community members, city officials and artistic leaders to join together with one voice for change.

BIG CED TEST DRIVES: 2010 Nissan Altima SR 3.5

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:36:00 GMT

Mysonne ft Jim Jones, Nore - Things That Make You Go Hmmm Remix

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:55:00 GMT

27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,00,0" width="480" height="393">

Donny Goines in conjunction with Rocksmith Presents 20X

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:33:00 GMT

Revered MC Donny Goines in conjunction with apparel company, Rocksmith Tokyo, is proud to announce the release of a six track EP. 20X, which features production from Apple Juice Kid, DJ Static, 6th Sense, Nastee, Versatile and M-Phazes is a testament to the parallels shared within the Hip-Hop and fashion spectrums.

The last twelve months have seen Donny Goines elevate his presence to higher plateaus. Headlining LiveNation shows in New York City and with appearances at SXSW, AC3, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival as well as the annual CMJ festival his continued efforts resulted in further media attention.

Securing multiple features in the Source and featuring in the coveted Show and Prove section of XXL in June, Donny secured airplay on Hot 97 and various other terrestrial stations. While appearing on BET’s ‘Certified Fresh,’ his videos were also featured on MTV Jams and Music Choice Donny continues to maintain his role as the hardest working MC in Hip-Hop.

"Partnering up with a company such as Rocksmith Toyko is an honor and I think that the merger will result in an exciting and creative campaign for not only the fans of my music, but also for the street-wear culture as a whole”- Donny Goines

Simply defined as ‘Japanese street couture blended with New York City swagger’ the combination of this international brand and the lyrical tenacity of Goines, guarantees a quality project.

“I'm very excited about 20X,” Donny goes on to explain. “I've been working hard on my craft these past couple of months and I think people will notice when they hear 20X. Working diligently with Ariel Borujow of Westward Music, the producers and staff of Stadium Red Studios I've created an EP that I believe will properly illustrate my growth and artistic capabilities.”

TO DOWNLOAD THE 20X EP CLICK ON THE LINK https://webmail.communityconnect.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.mediafire.com/?zyijxitiukn

Author Helps Girls Find The Power of Self-Love

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:41:00 GMT

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SELF MEETS ESTEEM?

Connecting Young Girls to the Power of Self-Love

Author Angela Clay

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) -- Send out the invitations, blow out the candles, and get excited! Why? Because when self meets esteem, a great celebration begins within! Self-Esteem Enthusiast, Angela Clay (www.angelaclay.com) and the author of Loving The Me I See (www.amazon.com) is on the move promoting positive self-esteem and challenging young girls from all walks of life to begin loving the me that they see and accept the amazing core of who they were created to be. Clay believes that building and maintaining positive self-esteem allows young girls to connect to the power of self-love and self-respect, which she believes creates a healthy profile of positive self-esteem.

Studies have found that one-third to one-half of adolescents struggle with low self-esteem, especially in early adolescence (Harter, 1990; Hirsch & DuBois, 1991). The results of low self-esteem can be temporary, but in serious cases can lead to various problems, including depression, anorexia nervosa, delinquency, self-inflicted injuries, and even suicide.

Inspirational writer and advocate for girls' positive self-esteem best define author Angela Clay. Her must-read book, Loving The Me I See, takes adolescent girls on a self-defining and empowering self-esteem excursion. Loving The Me I See is an easy read but full of empowering self-esteem nuggets and compelling information. Young girls and women across the country are raving about this thought-provoking book. Its positive impact on girls has transformed into an educational and enlightening girls' self-esteem workshop. The Loving The Me I See Workshop challenges young girls to address self-esteem issues in a nondiscriminatory, nonjudgmental setting. Readers and workshop participants are intrigued and entertained. But most of all, they become educated by this well-crafted book and dynamic workshop.

Cheryl Smith, Executive Editor at The Dallas Weekly, said "With all the emphasis on other images proliferating throughout the media, a book like Loving The Me I See is a refreshing and welcome change, worthy of being a bestseller." Jade Richardson, a sixth-grade student at the Whitney Institute in Warwick, Bermuda, says: "Loving The Me I See is a book that challenges young girls to express themselves and to come from behind the curtain."

Angela Clay is a vivacious self-esteem enthusiast. Her tenacious drive, full of life spirit and relentless compassion for helping young girls with their total self-concept, keeps her in popular demand delivering power-packed presentations at schools, churches, and community organizations. If you would like to purchase a copy of author Angela's inspirational book, go to www.amazon.com.

For more information about author ANGELA CLAY, visit her Web site at www.angelaclay.com. If you'd like more information about the 2010 LOVING THE ME I SEE Girls' Self-Esteem Workshop or to schedule an interview with author Angela Clay, please contact Charlotte Williams at 214.762.9725 or e-mail her at pr@angelaclay.com.

Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Expo

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:25:00 GMT

DESTINATION WEDDINGS & HONEYMOON EXPO COMING TO NYC

-- This year's first expo will be held on Sunday, March 21, 2010 from 12noon - 5pm at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, New York. Entry fee is just $15. --

-- Future expos will be in Philadelphia and Baltimore in the fall --

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) -- Worldwide Group Travel, an African-American owned and operated online based travel company, is once again coming together to produce the Destination Weddings Expo. This expo is a series of travel shows that bring together the leading wedding industry professionals, vendors, and tourism boards to present the best that the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe have to offer.

Last year brought great success with The Destination Weddings Expo. The first of the series was in New York in March followed by Philadelphia and Baltimore in October. These shows attracted major brands such as Palace Resorts, Sandals & Beaches Resorts, Air Jamaica, and Palladium Resorts. Several hundred guests consisting of brides to be, couples planning their destination weddings and honeymoon locations attended last years shows.

At the Destination Weddings Expo, guests can expect to experience what it would be like to get married at the amazing featured resorts, the live music, and the cocktail bar & appetizers. There will also be a beautiful fashion show presenting the many different bridal designs of the season. Prizes and special offers will be presented by the exhibitors. Vendors at the upcoming shows include Platinum Sponsor - Palace Resorts and Marrycaribbean.com, as well as Sandals & Beaches Resorts, The Jamaica Tourist Board, Palladium Resorts, Air Jamaica, Puerto Rico Tourism, Marrycaribbean.com and many more!

Please visit www.destinationweddingsexpo.com for more information about the upcoming shows. The website offers valuable content on the many destinations featured at the shows, a resource guide, and videos & images from the destinations and previous Destination Weddings Expos!

This season starts off on March 21st, 2010 at the Sheraton LaGuardia East in New York then returns to Philadelphia and Baltimore in the fall.

Worldwide Group Travel is an online travel agency based in New York and is known as a leader in destination wedding and group travel sales particularly to the Caribbean. Worldwide Group Travel has an award winning team of agents that are committed to excellence. The destination wedding team has planned weddings of all sizes to many different locations throughout the world. Please visit www.worldwidegrouptravel.com for more information.

Destination Weddings Expo & Worldwide Group Travel are now on Facebook & Twitter!!

Black Golf Magazine Tapped To Create Central Repository of African American Golf History

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:42:00 GMT

AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLFER'S DIGEST NAMED TO TASK FORCE OF UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION AND THE PGA OF AMERICA TO CREATE CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLF HISTORY

-- 14-Member Task Force To Assist In The Collection Of Appropriate Artifacts, Memorabilia And Documents Related To The Rich History Of African American Golf --

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) -- In recognition of the numerous contributions that African Americans have made to golf over more than a century, the United States Golf Association and The PGA of America have agreed to create a centralized repository for artifacts and documents related to the history of African Americans in golf, to be located at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J.

The USGA Museum will serve as the organization charged with collecting, documenting and preserving the artifacts, memorabilia and documents related to the rich history of African American golf. The PGA of America will be charged with creating public exhibitions and programs to present this history to diverse audiences, through the PGA Historical Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and at spectator events conducted by the USGA and The PGA. The African American Golfer's Digest has been named to participate on a 14-member task force which has been established to assist in the collection of the appropriate artifacts, memorabilia and documents. (See a complete list of task force members below.)

The African American Golfer's Digest has been proactively documenting and promoting the contributions of black golfer's and their achievements, inventions, certifications, business endeavors and more, for the last seven years. "Preserving and protecting the history of African Americans in the game is an effort which I strongly believe that we all must continue to support," said Debert Cook, publisher of the national quarterly that she independently owns. Too many of our greatest heroes artifacts are someplace deteriorating in an attic, closet, basement or other unsuitable resting place. And, it's time that their items were put on display for the world to see, enjoy and admire."

"It is important that our organizations undertake the initiative to preserve the stories of African Americans in golf now and not run the risk of those stories potentially being lost," said David Fay, USGA executive director. "This is an important project for golf's history, as well as the future of our game." Fay said that the preservation and celebration of the history of African Americans in golf is "well suited" to the USGA Museum and the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, which opened in June 2008. "The USGA Museum is the world's leading facility for the study and education of golf history," Fay said, "with the resources to document, archive, and care for a wide range of historic artifacts and materials."

PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka said the new USGA-PGA alliance will help golfers in the 21st century learn about the many hardships that black golfers were forced to endure throughout much of the 1900s.

"There are so many phenomenal stories of perseverance, persistence and faith that we will be able to convey to a large-scale audience," said Steranka. "The time is right to begin this project. We are excited about the task force members who have agreed to assist us and we look forward to working with those African American golf pioneers and their family members, to preserve and celebrate a period of time in golf history that must not be forgotten." Both Fay and Steranka said that each organization is committed to allocating both the staff and the financial resources that will be required for this important initiative.

The members of the USGA-PGA African-American golf history task force are: Debert Cook, New York, N.Y., Publisher, African-American Golfer's Digest; Kelly Elbin, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Director of Communications and Publications, The PGA of America; Earnie Ellison, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Director of Business and Community Relations, The PGA of America; Rhonda Glenn, Summerfield, Fla., Manager of Communications, United States Golf Association; Rose Harper, Washington, D.C., Entrepreneur, philanthropist, adjunct professor, author; Lawrence D. Hogan, Ph.D., Fanwood, N.J., Senior Professor of History, Union County College and recognized nationally for his research and publications on the history of African Americans in sports; Rand Jerris, Ph.D., Far Hills, N.J., Managing Director of Communications and USGA Museum, United States Golf Association; M. Mikell Johnson, Ph.D., Florence, S.C., Author of "The African American Woman Golfer: Her Legacy"; Dr. Larry Londino, West Orange, N.J., Professor and Chair, Department of Broadcasting, Montclair State University; researched, produced and directed a public broadcasting documentary "A Place For Us," which traced the history of the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., the first African-American golf and country club established in 1921; Pete McDaniel, Conyers, Ga., A senior writer for Golf Digest since 1997, author of "Uneven Lies: The Heroic Story of African-Americans in Golf;" co-author of the best-selling book "Training a Tiger;" and the 2009 Golf Channel documentary "Uneven Fairways," featuring the pioneering efforts of African-American golfers; Ramona Merriwether-Harriet, Portsmouth, Va., Producer/director of the traveling exhibition "Epochs of Courage: African Americans in Golf;" author of "A Missing Link in History: The Journey of African Americans in Golf" and "African American Golf History Activity Book"; Renee Powell, East Canton, Ohio, A PGA and LPGA Professional and the 2003 PGA First Lady of Golf; the second African-American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour (1967-1980) and a worldwide ambassador for building diversity in the game; Jeffrey Sammons, Ph.D., New York, N.Y., Department of History, New York University, Historian of American sport and society; member of USGA Museum Committee; member of editorial board of Sport and Social Issues; has written extensively on sport and race, consulted on and appeared in numerous documentaries on sport, and is currently developing multiple historical projects on African Americans and golf; Dr. Calvin Sinnette, Alexandria, Va. - Author of "Forbidden Fairways: African-Americans and the Game of Golf;" professor emeritus of pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine and credited with more than 20 medical publications.

The USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History showcases the nation's largest and most significant collection of golf artifacts and documents. The interactive multimedia exhibits tell the story of the game's development in the United States, highlighting the greatest moments in the game's history, with a particular focus on United States Golf Association champions and championships. For more information visit www.usgamuseum.com or call (908) 234-2300.

The African American Golfer's Digest is the nations leading print publication and online portal for avid black golfers. Established in 2003, the full color, 40 page, lifestyle magazine is based in New York City's financial district and operates as a minority-owned, woman-owned business and serves 80,000 readers every quarter as a PGA of America Diverse Supplier. It is registered with the National Minority Supplier Development Council and holds memberships that include the United States Golf Association (USGA), National Golf Foundation, International Network of Golf (ING) and Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. To learn more about the publication, visit www.AfricanAmericanGolfersDigest.com

AAMBC Book of the Year - "Game Recognize Game"

bigced@big-ced.com (BIG CED) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:05:00 GMT

"GAME RECOGNIZE GAME," BY AUTHOR TERRY DERON, RECOGNIZED AS BOOK OF THE YEAR BY AAMBC

-- Juicy Novel focuses on the lives of college students as they transition from campus to corporate America --

Bookcover

Houston, TX (BlackNews.com) -- Coming of age stories are plenty but none like this. In a twisted tale of romance, deceit and personal growth, first-time author Terry DeRon brings you Game Recognize Game. From the first chapter, readers are hooked on the complex characters as they move through their separate lives, unknowingly affecting each other tremendously in the process.

Game Recognize Game revolves around a star football player readying for one of the oldest rival "Classics" in HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) football; a young, ambitious, sexually curious female student who catches the star's eye and anyone else in her vicinity; an upwardly mobile executive who basks in the glow of his growing success and his sexual peak; and his disturbed love-struck colleague who is on a vacation from sanity. The unexpected twists in the story and the unique perspectives given on every situation lure readers further and further into an exciting world of erotic drama with each turn of the page.

Game Recognize Game was voted Book of the Year by the African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC). AAMBC is a national literary group created to promote black authors.

DeRon will receive the award on June 12th at the upcoming 2010 AAMBC Conference in Chicago, Illinois . "I think it says a lot to receive praise from people and organizations that cater to book lovers. As a writer you want your work to be well received, but this award was a lot more than I expected to receive from my first novel," stated DeRon in regards to his win.

DeRon, an HBCU product with a background in film and television, says he took this book to the limit because he was excited about the reaction the world would have from his work.

"I want my books to be the Jordan's of the literary world," said DeRon, who is currently working on his second effort. "I'm able to catch the dialogue I'm thinking about and describe the scene I see, which is why I think my writing style is so vivid and realistic."

Game Recognize Game (retail $17.99 USD) is available for purchase, as well as a preview of the first five chapters, at www.terryderonbooks.com. Books will also be available at all major booksellers worldwide.

For media inquiries, book signings, book club review material and speaking engagements, go to www.vmscommunications.net and click on The National Speakers Network: Terry DeRon

The National Speakers Network (NSN), a subsidiary of VMS Communications, is a speakers' bureau showcasing dynamic authors and speakers. NSN helps corporations, high schools, universities and organizations find high quality, diverse authors and speakers for all types of events.

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