KLN Publishing, LLC

BAY AREA BLACK EXPO 2012 KICK OFF MIXER at the Linen Life Gallery

2012-01-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

3rd Annual California Diversity and Leadership Conference

2012-01-17T20:08:00.000-08:00

Please visit http://cadiversityconference.com/ for more details and to register for this conference

brought to you by the California Diversity Council and the University of California, Berkeley.

2nd Annual MLK National Day of Service

2012-01-11T23:58:00.000-08:00

Via the African American Art & Culture Complex

Monday, January 16, 2012
Time
9:00am until 3:00pm

Description

Our goal is to create a beloved community and
this will require a qualitative change in our souls
as well as a quantitative change in our lives.
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The African American Art & Culture Complex is partnering with ORGANIZING FOR AMERICA, MO MAGIC, San Francisco Mayor's Office, Rec & Park, DPW, SFMTA and CITIZEN HOPE to host a rally and a one-day volunteer initiative throughout San Francisco. We will start as early as 8:45 a.m. with breakfast and registration, followed by a rally with special guest. We will then dispatch hundreds of volunteers throughout the City for various volunteer opportunities including garden projects, tree-planting, clean-up in parks and streets, food pantry/kitchen, painting, letters to the troops, reading for seniors, and many more.

Public Transportation is strongly encouraged to our site! We will provide transportation to volunteer sites for your convenience, as well as snacks and water.

Tentative Schedule:

8:45am-9:15am - Breakfast and volunteer sign-up

9:15am-9:30am - Rally featuring Brando Hughes as Dr. King

9:30am-10:00am travel to volunteer destination by shuttle bus provided by SFMTA

10:00am-12:30pm - VOLUNTEER for as long as you like

12:30pm-1:00pm - Return to AAACC

1:00pm - Barbecue sponsored by Recology and performance by Tallent Allstars

On January 16, 2012 we celebrate the 26th anniversary of the holiday recognizing one of America's greatest heroes-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At the Inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009, he reminded us all that in 1994, Congress declared Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday a "National Day of Service." The President has urged US citizens to join or start a service event every year to honor Dr. King’s legacy and the spirit of coming together to make a difference in our communities.

COFFEE, BAGELS, DONUTS, FRUIT, YOGURT will be served courtesy of Mo Magic, a program serving youth in the Western Addition community.

If you would like to donate or sign up as a volunteer OR as site to host volunteers, please visit www.aaacc.org. Go to "Complex" then to "Special Events". Photos from last year's event can be found http://aaaccspecialprojects.wordpress.com/

Demonstrate What You Are Thankful For!

2011-11-23T12:40:00.001-08:00

Sometime we take for granted how fortunate we truly are. This year in particular, many people who normally volunteer to help those less fortunate, find themselves needing the very assistance that they have provided before in the past. Whether this is your current situation or not, here is short list provided by

Keith Carson, Alameda County Supervisor, Fifth District, to help those in need this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!

ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK

1-800-870-3663 or 510-635-3663

7900 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 94621

Thanksgiving Basket registration starts Nov. 1st. Christmas Basket registration starts Dec. 1st. Please call for more details and for volunteer opportunities and to donate.

ALBANY SENIOR CENTER

Thanksgiving Dinner

Wednesday, November 23, 3:30 pm

Admission: $5

846 Masonic Avenue, Albany, CA 94706

510-524-9122

BERKELEY FOOD AND HOUSING PROJECT (BFHP)

Thanksgiving Meal

Thursday, November 24, 2pm - 5pm.

Trinity Church

2362 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-4965 (BFHP)

No preregistration required. Volunteers may contact Danielle Knutson at dknutson@bfhp.org

MCGEE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday, November 24th at 12 pm

1640 Stuart Street, Berkeley, CA 94703

510-843-1774

No preregistration required. If you would like to volunteer, please call ahead.

LAKE MERRITT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday November 24th, 1pm-3pm (Those who are eating can come as early as noon).

1330 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606

510-465-4793

If you are interested in volunteering, please call the church.

WILLIE KEYS RECREATION CENTER

Mothers of the Year Give Back: Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, November 19, 11-5 pm

3131 Union Street, Oakland, CA 94608

(510) 597-5042

For details or to help support the effort, contact Mary at 510-891-1395 or ksaveourkids@aol.com

COLLEGE AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday, November 24, 11 am—1 pm

5951 College Avenue, Oakland, CA

510-658-3487 (Mike Castner, Volunteer Coordinator)

Donations of money and food are welcome. Volunteers can help beginning Monday, November 21.

2 STAR MARKET

9^TH Annual Thanksgiving Celebration

Thursday, November 24, 1 pm-4 pm

2020 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94602

510-531-3576 (Abdo Alawdi, Owner of 2 Star Market) or alawdi@aol.com

For more information, please visit: http://www.2starmarket.com/

OAKLAND BLACK CAUCUS AND WORD ASSEMBLY

Thanksgiving Feast

Thursday, November 24, 12 pm – 2 pm

410 14^th St., Oakland, CA 94612

For more information, please call Geoffrey Pete at 510-839-4644

Please note: This is a partial list.

Kasim Reed - Mayor of Atlanta, GA - Special Guest - Bay Area Professionals Reception/Mixer - SF Chinatown Hilton Hotel - October 28, 2011

2011-10-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Bay Area Professionals

Business Reception/Mixer

Special Guest

Kasim Reed - Mayor of Atlanta, GA

Bio of Kasim Reed

October 28, 2011

San Francisco Chinatown Hitlon Hotel750 Kearney Street, San Francisco

VIP Reception w/Kasim Reed: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Event: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

HOSTS

African American Professionals Network

Glass House Communications

Black Founders (Start-Up)

Howard University Alumni Association

LinkedIn Bay Area Black Professionals Groups

National Organization for the Professional Advancement of
Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChe)

Requested Contribution - $100.00

For payment at the door, please make checks payable to: Ed Lee For Mayor 2011

No Corporate/Business Checks AcceptedFPPC# 1340520

Please visit http://africamericanprofessionalsnetwork.eventbrite.com to register. Thanks.

Kevin Brown's Discovery Kingdom Backpack Drive

2011-08-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

Please consider supporting the Kevin Brown Backpack Drive at Six Flags Discovery Kingdomthis Saturday featuring Pete Escovedo from 10am-4pm. All those who bring a backpack with schoolsupplies will get discounted admission.

Six Flags is a wonderful destination for fun and excitementfor all ages and just a hop-skip away. Please check out some of these photos below.

If you want to make a weekend, stay-cation out of it, pleaseconsider staying at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Fairfield-Napa Valley Area. It is a clean hotel with wonderfulamenities. The staff is welcoming andthe service is impeccable. Breakfast isincluded in your stay and the rooms are spacious. For more information, please visit http://www.homewoodsuitesfairfield.com

Or, you can stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites - Napa- American Canyon. It is affordable, close to the park, has a pool and gives you theimpression that you are far away staying at a resort. Breakfast is also included and the rooms areinviting. For more information, pleasevisit http://www.marriott.com/sfoac

Please support this worthy cause of providing much neededbackpacks for our youth. Many thanks!

Managing Your Stress While Building Your Business

2011-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Managing Your Stress While Building Your Business

Starts:	Saturday July 30, 2011, 09:00AM PDT
Ends:	Saturday July 30, 2011, 05:00PM PDT
Event Type:	Training/Seminar
Location:	Ramada Inn 2436 Mahogany Way Antioch, CA 94609 US
Price:	http://www.xlence.org
Website:	http://www.xlence.org
Industry:
Keywords:	Women, leadership, stress management
Intended For:	Women entrepreneurs Women business owners professional women
Organization:	Julianna Hynes & Associates

Attention Women Business Leaders! Come out and learn how to manage your stress while building your business!
You don't want to miss out on this amazing 1-day leadership workshop for women in business where you will...
-Learn about the key life stressors that affect you as a leader and business owner. ...-Discover how to use coping strategies to ensure continued success and achieve overall results in life and business. -Gain critical insight into how stress in one area impacts other areas of life. -Learn four key coping strategies to better manage your stress while successfully building your business!
YOU'LL ALSO DISCOVER HOW TO....
-Improve your coping skills during stressful situations. -Capitalize on coping strategies to better manage stress. -Identify, minimize or eliminate common daily stressors. -Be more flexible in the face of change. -Communicate more effectively in stressful circumstances. -Build strong support systems within your network.
$59 by June 30 $79 by July 29
For more information, contact us at: womeninleadership@xlence.org 925.754.6600

National Bar Association's Mid-Year Conference

2011-04-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

Kappa Health Finance Literacy Community Fair 4/9/11

2011-04-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

Guide Right Program - The National Service Program - Health Finance Literacy Community Fair, 10 am - 2 pm, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, 960 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607

* * * * * * * * * * * *Community Projects Kappa House Fund* * * * * * * * * * * *

BABP April Professional Networking Mixer

2011-03-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Please click the image above to review the details and click the link below to RSVP.

http://babp-blueoak.eventbrite.com

A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America Training II

2011-03-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

http://caresnewwayforward.eventbrite.com/

NBA Youth Empowerment Symposium and an ABA Civics & Law Academy

2011-03-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

The National Bar Association (“NBA”) is inviting all high school students to attend its Youth Empowerment Symposium on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 11:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The NBA will convene its 31st Annual Mid-Year Conference and Gertrude E. Rush Awards Dinner from April 7-10, 2011 in the San Francisco Bay Area at the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa in Berkeley, California. During that conference, the NBA, in conjunction with the American Bar Association (“ABA”), will hold a Youth Empowerment Symposium and an ABA Civics & Law Academy. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided. Transportation is also available but space is limited.

The symposium will provide an analysis of the NBA’s publication “How the Law Treats You Differently When You Turn 18.” The publication is the first installment of the NBA’s “Lifting as We Climb” series and is designed to inform young people about their rights and responsibilities once they reach the age of 18. The publication, which will be distributed at the symposium, provides a brief summary on topics such as civic responsibilities (i.e. voting, jury duty), contracts (i.e. credit, purchasing automobiles, renting apartments, etc.), and criminal responsibility. The American Bar Association’s Civics and Law Academy will build upon lessons from the NBA’s publication and focus on current legal issues by engaging the students in mini and mock trials to assist them in defining justice.

The symposium will provide a “one-of-a-kind” and unique networking opportunity for your students to interact with attorneys, judges and politicians.

The NBA is a non-profit organization founded in 1925 and is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of predominately African American lawyers and judges. The NBA has over 80 affiliate chapters throughout the United States and affiliations in Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and the Caribbean. It represents a professional network of over 40,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students.

To RSVP or for more information regarding transportation to the event, please contact Altheria Merricks at amerricks@eapdlaw.com no later than Monday, April 4, 2011.

Pick-up locations: – Berkeley City Hall, Oakland City Hall and San Francisco City Hall.
“Lifting as We Climb--Ensuring Justice & Equality”

“The Good Fight 50 Years Forward: The Civil Rights Era and Today’s Battle for Justice”

2011-03-08T14:34:00.000-08:00

Golden Gate University School of Law, the American Constitution Society,

the Bar Association of San Francisco and

the NAACP, Bay Area Chapter Proudly

Present

“The Good Fight 50 Years Forward:

The Civil Rights Era and Today’s Battle for Justice”

The 2011 Justice Jesse Carter Distinguished Lecture Program

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

5:00pm – 6:30pm

Golden Gate University School of Law

536 Mission, Room 2203

Join us for an in-depth discussion with lawyers and judges who hailed the clarion call to the South in the 1960s to support Civil Rights efforts. Our panelists will reflect on their experiences during the Civil Rights Era and offer their perspectives on the continuing struggle to protect civil rights in today’s world. Reception to follow program.

Panelists include:

Hon. Thelton Henderson, Senior Judge, Northern District of California

Marvin Stender, Partner, Law Offices of McTernan, Stender & Weingus

Hon. Edward Stern (Ret.), JAMS

Moderator:

Professor Peter Keane, Golden Gate University School of Law

RSVP to llomba@ggu.edu

Drucilla S. Ramey

Dean

GGU School of Law

536 Mission Street

San Francisco, CA 94105-2968

T: (415) 442-6679

F: (415) 442-6609

E: dramey@ggu.edu

Urban Financial Services Coalition 2011 Annual Economic Summit

2011-03-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

Update- 3/16/2011 - Seminar and dinner now being paid for you by the Federal Reserve Bank of SF- RSVP and pass it on-

Ok now...check it out... the Federal Reserve is paying your admission fee for dinner and seminar- hot location, hotter agenda...

What's next? (pass it on)...

Urban Financial Services Coalition 2011 Annual Economic Summit !
Business/Career planning. Banking.Insurance.Marketing.networking...

-Please send to your networks-

Please join us March 16, 2011 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Discussion areas:

-What are the top three items corporate leaders might be concerned with at this time?

-How does one career network in this new economy?

-How does one make sure they are delivering value added solutions to their company
or team?

-Where are the opportunity areas for impact?

Honorable Fiona Ma-CPA, MBA, Speaker Pro Tem California State Assembly-Moderator
Panelists;
Mr. Glenn S. Brown, JD- CEO- Fu-Gen, Board of Governors- California Insurance Guarantee Association
Ms. Andree Driskell-VP- Black Economic Council
Ms. Jazmine Henderson, CEO Simply Driven, National Assn of Black Accountants
Mr.David Jackson- SVP-Comerica Bank - Credit Division Manager
Mr. Robert Shoffner-SVP-Citibank, Treasurer- Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco
101 Market St.
San Francisco, CA

*Complimentary Buffet Dinner* and No Host Bar
**Attendees door admission cost paid by Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco

RSVP to ufscbayarea@gmail.com by 3/12/2011 this is required as security screening protocols apply.

Collaborating organizations:
Coalition of Black Professional Organizations
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
First Fridays of the Bay Area
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Dress code- Business attire

Website announcement url http://www.ufscnet-sf.org/media/pdf/UFSC%20-%20Annual%20Economic%20Summit%202011.pdf

Woman-to-Woman Oakland Brunch & Beyond - April 2, 2011

2011-02-26T21:16:00.000-08:00

What is W2W you may ask? Woman-to-Woman (W2W) is an amazing gathering for women seeking revival, rejuvenation and refreshment in their lives through demonstration, guidance and assistance from seasoned professionals in their field. Oakland, California will host this great event on April 2, 2011. This action-packed day will include educational sessions, open forums and a keynote speaker. The women will be treated to a continental breakfast and full luncheon. Attendees will share, receive and go away with key knowledge that will propel them to the next stage of their lives. W2W treats the “whole” woman.

BABP members will get a discounted rate and can use this link to register http://w2woakland2011.eventbrite.com/?discount=BayAreaBlackProfessionals

Looking to sponsor this event, please see below:

-“Community Investment” Sponsor - $1,000 (4 Opportunities)

– One-Eighth-page (1/8) advertisement W2W program

– Logo on W2W website

– Acknowledgment in the W2W printed materials

– Acknowledgment in event guide

– Two (2) complimentary passes to event

-Tote Bag Sponsor – This sponsorship is based on the purchase of event bags, printed with the W2W logo on one side and your company logo on the reverse side. This bag will be distributed to all event attendees and provide maximum visibility for your company during and after W2W. Your company will handle the cost and production of this item with final approval by W2W.

-Lanyard Sponsor – This sponsorship will include the W2W logo and your logo. Lanyards will be distributed to all event attendees. Your company will handle the cost and production of this item with final approval by W2W.

-In-kind/Gifts donations that will help with the operation of the W2W event are welcomed.

This event will be a great way to showcase local businesses and exemplify your/their investment into the community. Thanks again for your suggestions.
Best regards,

Karla Woods-Stephens, President

Bona Fide Events

(480) 619-9276 direct

(520) 568-1525 fax

kws@bonafideevents.com

www.bonafideevents.com

CADC, CMCP & KLN Consulting's Black History Month Celebration

2011-02-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

The California Diversity Council, California Minority Counsel Program, and KLN Consulting Group hosted its first Black History Month Celebration featuring Paul D. Henderson, Esq., Chief of Administration, San Francisco District Attorney's Office

CADC, CMCP & KLN Consulting's Black History Month Celebration!

2011-01-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Please click the image for details and visit

http://www.cmcp.org/events/2011_blackhistorylunch/regform.html

to RSVP

Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of the East Bay's Blood Drive 1/15/11 7:30am-3pm

2011-01-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

Please support my cousin Chaznee Brown's blood drive to increase the registry of blood for Sickle Cell patients. We have probably all lost loved ones to this deadly disease so please do not blood and give these patients life. Please click the picture below. Thanks!

Are You Ready to Set Your Vision in Motion in 2011?

2011-01-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

If you attend, please let them know where you heard this from! To see appropriately, please click here. Thanks.

Are You Ready to Set Your Vision in Motion in 2011?

Where:

Red Lion Inn (formally Holiday Inn)
1050 Burnett Avenue
Concord, CA 94520

Driving Directions

When:
Saturday February 5, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST
Add to my calendar

Calling all professional women (and the men who support them)! Are you ready to set your vision in motion in 2011?

It's a new year! Where are you in achieving your vision? Have you started yet? Are you stuck somewhere on your journey? Do you need a little motivation and encouragement to continue?

The Vision 2011 Seminar is the first in a series of Leadership Development Seminars for professional women in 2011. Join us for this kick off event as we explore our visions and dreams, set goals to achieve them, have fun and meet new people in the process!

Click on the link below today to take advantage of the early bird special.

$45 before Monday, 1/17

$65 between 1/18 and 2/2

$85 at the door.

See you all at Vision 2011 and bring a friend!

Get more information

Register Now!

I can't make it

Feel free to contact us with questions or more information.

Take our survey and vote for the top semiars you'd like to see in 2011:

Seminar Survey

Thank you for your attention and response. We look forward to seeing you at Vision 2011!

Sincerely,

Julianna Hynes & Beth Luke

womeninleadership@xlence.org
www.xlence.org

925 207-1578

Forward e-mail

Upcoming MLK Holiday Events in Oakland

2011-01-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of Mayor Jean Quan's Newsletter

Saturday, January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Clean Up in Beat 33: Meet at Allen Temple Church, 8501 International, at 8:30 am, and/or meet at the East Oakland Boxing Association, 816 98th Ave, at 1 pm.

Monday, January 17, 8:30-1 pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Clean-Up: Meet at Madison Middle School, 457 Capistrano Drive.

Re-establish a Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council for Beat 33 and meet your new Beat Officer, Eastmont Sub Station, 2651 73rd Avenue, Wednesday, January 26th, 6-8 pm.

Saturday, January 15 East Oakland Clean up
8:30-Noon Meet at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd.
1-4 pm Meet at East Oakland Boxing Association, 816 98th Avenue

Sunday, January 16, Family Explorations! The Art of Storytelling from Martin Luther King, Jr. to President Obama, 1-4 pm
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St.
Admission Fee for adults, Children 8 and under free. Storytellers and musicians celebrate Black History Month in this family program. www.museumca.org or 238-2200.

In the Name of Love: 9th Annual Musical Tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 7 pm
Oakland Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Dr.
Oakland's only non-denominational musical tribute to Dr. King features several of Oakland's most outstanding and internationally known vocal treasures including American soul and R&B singer/songwriter Goapele, powerful vocalist and historian Linda Tillery premiering a new vocal duet with Gospel great Terrance Kelly, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, the Oakland Children's Community Choir with the Oaktown Jazz Workshops. Mayor Jean Quan will present the 6th Annual Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award to Achebe Hoskins for his outstanding work on behalf of the Oakland community. Presented by Rhythmic Concepts, Inc. Admission Fee.
www.mlktribute.com or 800-838-3006 /287-8880.

Monday, January 17 MLK Day of Service
8:30 am-1 pm MLK Day of Service in Sobrante Park
Meet at Madison Middle School at 400 Capistrano Drive. Bring gloves and clothes that can get dirty. Contact Bill Richie at 472-8911.

9 am-1pm MLK Day of Service at Lake Merritt.
Meet at the Lakeside Garden Center and join volunteers from Volunteers for Service and Volunteers for America in a major clean up of our beloved Lake Merritt. Bring gloves and water.

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline, Doolittle Dr. & Swan Way
8:30 am to Noon, Free Admission
This East Bay Regional Park District's event continues Dr. King's vision to improve lives, bridge social barriers and move our nation closer together to the beloved community. Volunteers will assist staff in restoration work and invasive plant removal in order to support and care for wildlife and their natural habitats. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and closed-toed shoes. Please also bring your own water bottle. Heavy rain cancels. Registration is required either online or via phone. www.ebparks.org or 888-327-2757 then option 2 followed by option 3.

13th Annual Make the Dream Real 2011 featuring Marianne Williamson
Taylor Memorial Methodist Church, 1188 12th St.
10 am to Noon, Free Admission
The keynote address will be by Marianne Williamson, world renowned lecturer, peace activist, cultural change agent and New York Times multiple best-selling author. Mistress of Ceremony will be Aimee Allison of KPFA's "The Morning Show." Performers include Ishmael Combs & the Taylor Memorial Children's Unity Choir, Destiny Knuckles, China Spirit Ensemble directed by Winnie Wong, the Oakland Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir directed by Terrance Kelly, Kenya Hall, Kimberly Turner & Tyrese Johnson, ArtEsteem youth Leaders and others. Three Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards will be given to deserving community members who are doing exemplary service work. Presented by the Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc. & Taylor Memorial Methodist Church.
www.ahc-oakland.org / www.taylorchurch.org or 652-5530 /444-6162

The Dream Lives On: Multicultural Peace Celebration & Rally
ILWU Warehouse Hall #6, 99 Hegenberger Rd.
10 am-2 pm, Free Admission
Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts will speak, along with youth speakers, an address by Mayor Jean Quan, remarks by YMCA of the East Bay President Rev. Robert Wilkens and entertainment.
798-5535.

Annual Classic Film Festival
African American Museum & Library at Oakland, 659 14th St.
11 am-4 pm, Free Admission. By popluar demand, AAMLO presents its Annual Classic Film Festival that takes folks back in time. www.oaklandlibrary.org or 637-0200.
Historic mural at the AAMLO>>

Wednesday, January 19, BART Celebrates Dr. King's Legacy Through Music and the Arts
2nd Floor Auditorium, Kaiser Center, 300 Lakeside Dr.
Noon to 1:15 pm, Free Admission
This celebration of Dr. King's legacy will feature performances by the Oakland School for the Arts Instrumental Music Department. 464-7139

Vote for the Local 5 Progressive Unity Slate for the California Democratic Party - 16th Assembly District - Oakland-Alameda-Piedmont-Endorsed By Gavin Newsom

2011-01-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

From a colleague of mine and friend from elementary/high school, Chantal Reynolds:

I am running to be a delegate representing the 16th Assembly District

which includes the cities of Oakland, Alameda and Piedmont. I’m

running on the Local 5 Progressive Unity Slate. Please commit to

bringing out 2 to 3 people and spreading the word to 5. Please spread

the word so that all of your family and friends can come to support my

slate! We have to show the party our numbers and our strength, so

that our issues are at the forefront of the Democratic agenda. Please

come out, so that they know that we are here and have power in numbers!

You must be registered to vote in Assembly District 16-Oakland,

Alameda, or Piedmont.

Please vote:

Date: Saturday, January 8

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Laney Community College Theater

Address: 900 Fallon St., Oakland, CA

As a delegate I will

* Attend annual Democratic Convention

* Network with other Democrats

* Represent my constituency

* Elect Party officers

* Promote the California Democratic Party agenda

* Endorse candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office

* Vote to endorse resolutions and ballot measures

You can vote for up to 6 men and 6 women on our Progressive Unity

Slate, so I hope you’ll vote for our full slate:

Women:

* Ronnie Caplane

* Emmy Fearn

* Jennifer Pae

* Amy Thorpe Peterson

* Chantal Reynolds

* Rebecca Saltzman

Men:

* Sean Dugar

* Joel Freid

* Richard Fuentes

* Abel Guillen

* Dan Rush

* Sean Sullivan

The Best “Game” is the “Truth”

2011-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

Note: This was originally written for a column in a magazine but never got published...

Back in my single days, I was always baffled by hearing other men talk about “game,” how much they had, and how they used it to advance their objectives (exploits) in a relational context. From these conversations and discussions, I uncovered their definition of “game.” To them, “game” was their uncanny ability to attract women based on superficial characteristics, such as the appearance of how much money they had, how handsome they were, how good they appeared to be in bed, and how into their “prey” they seemed to be. Often times, this meant that they would lie, rob, steal, and cheat to get whatever they wanted whenever they could. This concept of “game” allowed these men to think that they were God’s gift to women and if successful, they could convince their women that they were special, that it was OK to let down their guards, that they were the “only ones,” to lend them money haphazardly, and to sacrifice their bodies in the name of “love.”

Ironically, these were the same men whose conversations transitioned to how some women snapped on them and pulled a “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” or a “Waiting to Exhale” on them. As their perplexity diminished, I continued to ask, “Why do you have to lie to kick it?" That’s not “game.” “Game” is being a man of integrity and telling the truth. So many men looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language where they just could not comprehend. “Game” is a reflection of maturity as well as security. If I man has it “going on,” that should speak for itself. He should not have to brag or highlight whether or not he has money, drives a nice car, lives in a big house, etc. to get a woman's attention. A women will come to know those things in due time.

If a man looks good, he should know it already. He does not have to look in the mirror all day (unless he’s a Kappa), take pictures of himself half naked and send them to you via text or on Facebook. And he does not have to constantly ask you how he looks, he should know it. Anyone who needs to be so absorbed in themselves to this magnitude, is insecure and women need to guard themselves emotionally.

Granted, there is no “Golden Rule” as to how fast two people can fall in love, but just meeting some one, talking to them on the phone several times, and going out on a date or two in a week’s time does not constitute “loving” someone. “Lusting” someone perhaps but not “loving” someone. Talking about what he’s going to do to you sexually before you have sex is a “no no” as well and you should be cautious to not have big expectations (no pun intended). Once again, if you have to talk about it, it’s not all that. “Demonstrate don’t placate.”

Finally, if you just met a man last week, chances are he’s not a hermit. He was probably dating someone else before you met. It’s OK to admit that you are seeing other people when you are single. But if a man says, “you are the only one in my life” you should run because that’s just not realistic.

In summary, I have a vested interest in helping couples stay together and avoid being part of the ever-growing 50+% of divorced couples in America. How couples begin their relationships usually determines the same vices of how they will end. I strongly believe that women play a vital role in raising the bar for successful relationships/marriages. Please take heed and know that the truth is powerful and it does set you free. So many people get caught trying to keep up facades, trying to recall what lies were told to whom in order to continue the false perceptions and make believe personas. It’s easier to be honest, broke, and real in the Bay than living a fake lifestyle in LA for a whole host of other reasons, which I will not address today. Define yourself by having integrity and security in being who you are today in your life, yet hold on to your aspirations of who you want to be. When you have achieved, then you can “be” but until then, just be “me.” Now that’s “game!”

Kevin L. Nichols is an author, President and CEO of KLN Publishing. LLC located in San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.klnpublishing.com.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-22T07:42:00.001-08:00

Southern Cal Family Fun Spots for the Holidays!

2010-12-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

As parents, we often fantasize during the holidays of creating innovative traditions that the newer nucleus of our family will enjoy and one day incorporate in their own lives. Family pot-lucks and visiting friends have been the norm for many years and feel very comfortable. Although the economy may weigh in on what a feasible way to celebrate the holidays these days actually is; it is hard to resist the nostalgia that this time of the year brings. As you reflect on the fun that you had as a kid at places like Disneyland ^® and Knott’s Berry Farm ^®, have you recently thought what it would be like to celebrate the holidays in Southern California at one of your favorite “family-fun” destinations without breaking your piggy bank? If not, here is some information about 4 major attractions: Disneyland ^®, Knott’s Berry Farm ^®, LEGOLAND ^®, and Universal Studios ^®, and what’s going on there during the holidays.

Travel Considerations

If you have not been to the Los Angeles area in a while, it is about a 5 ½ hour moderate drive from the Bay Area (which assumes, bathroom breaks, rest stops, and an occasional meal) or an hour flight. Air travel lately has been extremely affordable. TraveZoo.com ^TM has been advertising sales on Virgin Airlines ^® (one of my personal favorites) for $39 & up each way per person, which is astounding. For those of you who refuse to go over your annual 12,000 mile allotment on your family vehicle, rental car rates can be found for $30 per day to about $75 per day plus gas depending on the vehicle, however, if you stay for the entire week, you might be able get a weekly rate. I recommend going to rental car company local editions for car rentals because the airports charge additional fees per day, taxes, and other surcharges. Hotel accommodations are fairly reasonable as well, but the prices also vary due to location. If you are on a budget, staying at the Disneyland ^®Hotel ^TM may be out of your price range for the holidays, however, a Residence Inn ^TM or a hotel with suites can be found on the periphery for less than $100 per night online via Expedia.com ^TM or any other travel website. Thus, for a week long trip for a family of 4, you can probably get away with either $360 for air, or $350 for a full-sized car/small SUV plus gas, and about $450 on lodging, for a total of about $800. If you are resourceful, you can also save money on eating out every meal at a restaurant by bringing food with you and/or purchase it at a local grocery store (i.e. Whole Foods ^®) in the area, and stay in a hotel with a kitchen. These are just some ideas of how you can make a trip happen, if you really want to.

DisneyLand ^®and California Adventure Park TM

It really is “The Happiest Place on Earth.” ^TM With DisneyLand’s ^® acquisition of Pixar ^®, it has more characters and rides than ever. DisneyLand ^®is ideal for families with younger children, however, the whole entire family can enjoy roller coasters, excellent shows, and share the magic that made our own childhoods so memorable. Some of my favorite attractions are the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage Submarine ^TM, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster Voyage ^TM, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds ^TM. California Adventure Park ^TM highlights various native landmarks and attractions based here such as Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge. The parades often feature some of Pixar’s ^®signature characters from such movies as The Incredibles ^TM, Toy Story ^TM, and Cars ^TM.

This year, DisneyLand ^® is offering a free 4^th day when buying a 3night, 4 day Vacation Package. The package also includes discounted park hopper tickets, however, you must stay at one of their resorts. In addition to its regular shows, such as Star Wars ^®Jedi Training Academy ^TM there were will also be some new shows for the holiday season, such as “Worlds of Color” – a nighttime water spectacle where storytellers on a massive stage of water in California Adventure Park ^TM. Paradise Bay becomes a magical kaleidoscope of color, lights, and music. You won’t want to miss the “Tron: Legacy” dance party, the “Disney Channel Rocks” and the “Disney Dance Crew” shows as well. For more information, please visit www.disneyland.com and for discounted tickets, please visit your nearest Costco ^TM.

Knott’s Berry Farm ^®

Knott’s is celebrating the 60^th Anniversary of Charlie Brown ^TMand the Peanuts ^TM Gang this year. “Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular” is a continuous light show filled with Peanuts ^TM three-dimensional figures, themed music, sound effects, voice-overs, and colorful projections of Peanuts ^TM characters.

Knott’s is known for its “friendliness” towards smaller children, i.e. Family/milder rides, however, their water rides and high thrill roller coasters make it a full-fledged amusement park. Some of my favorite rides are the Sierra Sidewinder, La Revolucion, Timber Mountain Log Ride, and the Perilous Plunge. One thing to note, Knott’s Berry Farm ^®is closed on Christmas Day. For more information, please visit www.knotts.com.

LEGOLAND ^®San Diego

LEGOLAND ^®is an amazingly unique destination in that many of the attractions at the park are created out of miniature LEGO’s ^®. As seen in the accompanying photographs, thousands of hours and LEGO ^®pieces have been used to create replicas of San Francisco, New York City, Mount Rushmore, and the Sydney Opera House for example. It also has water rides, roller coasters, and live shows such as “The Big Test” featuring the Fun Town Fire Department volunteers. LEGOLAND has a new water park, Sea Life Aquarium, and tons of rides, roller coasters, miniature golf, and fun for the entire family.

This holiday season, LEGOLAND ^®will be featuring “Holly Jolly Holidays,” a holiday festival that includes a life sized LEGO^® brick Santa and Reindeer, miniature Santas and reindeer delivering toys throughout Miniland USA, and the “Let it Snow” musical. Moreover, every night from December 26-31, 2010, they will be lighting up the sky with fireworks at the park’s closing. For more information, please visit www.legoland.com.

Universal Studios ^®Hollywood

Many people think that Universal Studios ^® is only the place where movies and sitcoms are made and that its main attraction is its world famous studio tour. Well there is more than meets the eye here with its roller coasters, such as The Simpson’s Ride ^TM, the Revenge of the Mummy ^TM ride, and the Jurassic Park ^TM ride. You will also get to experience the amazing King Kong 360° 3-D, which is touted as the world’s largest, most intense 3-D experience. The Studio Tour, still takes you to see Jaws, The Bates Motel, and the plane wreckage from the War of the Worlds, however, it also takes you to Wisteria Lane to visit ABC’s Desperate Housewives.

For the holidays, Universal will be celebrating “Grinchmas,” a festival full of holiday cheer, while Whoville comes to life. You can have your picture taken with the Grinch and Max, and even play in a real show. Lastly, there will be a celebrity reading of Dr. Suess’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas and a tree lighting ceremony. As an exclusive online promotion, if you buy your tickets online, you get 1 week free for the price of one day. For more information, please visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com.

Thus, if you are straddling the fence and do not have any solid plans for the holidays, I strongly recommend that you consider making a Southern California fun spot your holiday destination this year. You can create your own family traditions that you and your children will never forget. If money is tight, there are ways to be resourceful. You just have to have a plan and make it happen. Happy Holidays!

BANC's Understanding & Managing Internet Services

2010-11-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

"Building Business Relationships, One Connection At A Time"

Bay Area Networking Consortium

Invites You To

Want to Know About LinkedIn, FaceBook, MySpace

Understanding & Managing Internet Services

Guest Speaker

Kevin L. Nichols

President & CEO of KLN Publishing

DATE: Thursday, November 11, 2010

TIME: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM

LOCATION: Monaghan's On The Hill

2820 Mountain Boulevard

Oakland, Ca 94602

Telephone: +1 510 482 2500

Non-Members $10

Members Free

For Each Attendee that brings 3 guests, admission is waived

(must all be accompanied in same group)

Bay Area Networking Consortium

BANC is a "boutique" networking organization, offering a structured program of an educational panel or presentation, Q&A and networking. We target serious business professional professionals, who understand the benefit of building their business-"one connection at a time." Additionally, we encourage giving back by mentorship and community service and donating goods ot local non-profits after each of our events.

Bay Area Networking Consortium

11200 Golf Links Road, Suite E

Oakland, California 94605

(925) 285-0515

City of Oakland's Meet The Candidates Forum

2010-10-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Please join CHBA for a Meet the Candidates Forum on Wednesday October 27, 2010 from 5:30 - 7:30 at Wendel Rosen Black & Dean, 1111 Broadway - 19th Floor - Wendel Conference Room, Oakland, CA 94607. Join us and be enlightened and informed from confirmed candidates: Terrance Candell, Marcie Hodge, Larry Lionel Young, Jr., Desley Brooks, Clinton Killian, Melanie Shelby and Leah Wilson.

For more information please see the attached announcement or contact CHBA Special Asst Scott Jackson at jackson.scott2010@gmail.com

Thank you so much and I'll see you there.

Nedra Shawler

CHBA President

Who: African American Candidates running for Elected Office in Alameda County

What: An Up Close and Personal Meet and Greet / Candidate – Voter Exchange

When: October 27, 2010 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, 1111 Broadway, 19^th Floor Conf. Room Oakland

Oakalnd Art & Soul Festival Celebrates 10 years

2010-09-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

I thought that nothing would be able to replace the “Festival at the Lake” in Oakland, but the 10th Annual Art & Soul Festival certainly comes close. This was a star-studded display of Bay Area talent from various genres of entertainment, enormous options of culinary cuisine, and fun-filled activities for the entire family. The area surrounding City Hall was completely shut down and transformed to a marketplace full of vendors selling hats, clothes, accessories, beauty products, holistic services, and the like.

The restaurant alley consisted of food vendors selling barbeque ribs and chicken, jambalaya, fish, crab cakes, sweet potato pie, cobbler, etc. In addition to the food vendors, Lucky’s sponsored the “Foodstyle Pavilion,” where they had exciting Lucky Grill Master cook-offs with audience participants as judges which were hosted by KTVU’s own Laura McIntosh. With Lucky’s huge mobile kitchen and the chefs sharing samples of their wonderful concoctions, this was an area not to be missed.

As a former classmate and Oakland native, Shawn Granberry, referred to it, Art & Soul’s concert was uniquely a “Giving Back to Oakland” concert. There were 3 live stages on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, they were called the Main Stage (World Class Rock presented by KFOG), the Plaza Stage (Oakland Jams presented by Khalil Shaheed, Oaktown Jazz Workshop hosted by Don Reed), and the Gospel Stage (Gospel Showcase presented by Edwin Hawkins & the Community of Unity). The Main Stage featured such artists as the Bittersweets and CAKE, while the Plaza featured the Oakland Jazz Workshop, Kev Choice, and MC Hammer, and the Gospel Stage featured Terrance Kelly & the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, the Greater Saint Paul Baptist Church, and the Bishop Walter L. Hawkins Love Center Choir.

On Sunday, the Plaza stage featured such acts as the Oakland Conservatory of Music and Pete Escovedo and Family – including Sheila E. The Oakland Blues and Heritage Stage featured such artist as Billy & the Thrillers, Filmore Slim, the Ballads, and Lenny Williams. The Main Stage showcased Club Nouveau, Toni!Tony! Toné!, and En Vogue. All performances were heartfelt and electrifying. The crowds were enormous and the cheers were far reaching.

This was a great weekend for Oakland. Former and current residents, young and old, white, black, yellow, or brown, came out in droves to support this city and the surrounding community…peacefully. Art & Soul is a great way to reflect on the many accomplishments and contributions the Bay Area has made to our country and to the world. May it continue to shine and I recommend that you mark you calendar for next year to celebrate Oakland once again.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author, President and CEO of KLN Publishing. LLC located in San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit http://www.klnpublishing.com.

Wine + Croquet + Music 2010 - Sept. 25th - Atherton

2010-09-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Please consider attending Alpha Kappa Alpha's Wine + Croquet + Music fund raiser in support of their community programs and scholarships in the beautiful setting of Atherton's Holbrook-Palmer Park on September 25th. The tickets are $60 and include live music, a fun croquet tournament, lunch, wine, a live and silent auction, dancing and table top games. Please click on the attached flyer for more details. (Note, that we requests that guest wear white.) Please email Saidah Grayson for ticket information at saidah@gmail.com and tell her where you saw this information.

To get a better feel for the event, check out the blog entry from last year's event photographer: http://saraatkinsphotography.com/blog/2009/09/alpha_kappa_alpha_sorority_inc_rho_delta_omega_chapter.html

Many thanks!

Bay Area Black Professionals takes social networking ‘offline’

2010-08-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

Social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Meetup and Twitter are making it incredibly difficult to actually meet new professionals in person. With the exception of Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook lend themselves toward people that you already know, like high school or colleague classmates, family members or co-workers. LinkedIn groups and Meetup groups allow you to network with people you do not already know; however, without an organized purpose, meeting them face to face in order to refer business to them, etc., is nearly useless … until now.

Aurice Guyton

Aurice Guyton, organizer of the East Bay Black Professionals Association (a Meetup group) and a valued member of the Bay Area Black Professionals group (a LinkedIn group — both groups consist of over 500 members), recently organized the first Summer Networking Mixer at Adagia Restaurant in Berkeley near UC Berkeley’s campus. With the assistance of the restaurant’s event manager, Aaronnette King, the event brought over 50 professionals together to network face to face.

The event consisted of happy hour — including food, appetizers and beverages and live music by a phenomenal band called DAP — and icebreaker games to help the professionals get acquainted more easily.
When asked how groups such as these are important to the Bay Area professional community, Guyton had this to say: “One common grievance among black business owners is the lack of support or patronage from the black community. We don’t support each other enough. I host networking events so black professionals can promote their business, with the hope that we will network and do business with each other. My goal is to keep black dollars in our community. It’s imperative to the future of black business that we support each other, which will promote growth and create business opportunities for our people.”

For more information, visit klnpublishingllc.blogspot.com for the LinkedIn Bay Area Black Professionals group and www.meetup.com/eastbayblackprof for the East Bay Black Professionals Association group.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the president/CEO of KLN Publishing, located in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.klnpublishing.com.

LinkedIn Bay Area Black Professionals Mixer

2010-08-18T22:38:00.000-07:00

BABJA's 7th Annual Young Journalists Scholarship Gala

2010-08-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend:

The Bay Area Black Journalists Association (BABJA) would like to invite you to join us for the Seventh Annual Young Journalists Scholarship Gala on Saturday, October 2 at 6:30 pm. Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square.

During this yearly event we recognize young journalism students and salute veterans in the field. We will award two deserving students with the Chauncey Wendell Bailey, Jr. Scholarship and the Luci S. Williams Houston Memorial Scholarship. And, we will honor Bay Area media professional and former BABJA president, Bob Butler. Mr. Butler has been in broadcast journalism for more than 30 years and has won numerous national awards for his work on the Chauncey Bailey Project, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and the 1991 East Bay Hills fire. He has touched many lives with his dedication to journalism and mentoring young and aspiring journalists.

The goal of this fundraiser is to raise awareness and money to support a variety of programs for minority journalism students. To date, we have awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to help aspiring journalists reach their dreams. Throughout the year, BABJA is involved in a variety of events to support student and professional journalists, including:

• Meet the Reporters at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
• Quarterly Panel Discussions featuring media and communication professionals
• Media Mixers to promote networking and partnership throughout the industry
• Sponsor students to the National Association of Black Journalists Convention

Help us further the educational goals of youth who aspire to be tomorrow’s journalists. Please review the various sponsorship levels listed below and let us know your interest level. If you have any questions, please contact me or Netta Conyers-Haynes at netconhay@yahoo.com or (925) 382-7808.

Sincerely,

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig
President, Bay Area Black Journalists Association
(415) 633-6327 or mfcnews@yahoo.com

How to develop a strong network

2010-08-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

By Kevin L. Nichols

Networking is a skill — better yet, an art form. Those that intuitively have a propensity to get along with others and develop strong bonds are more likely to be successful networkers. There are various intangible components that contribute to a networker’s success. It is important to identify some of these attributes and to strengthen what may not come naturally in order to develop the powerful network that you desire.

The first intangible is self-confidence. Marcus Garvey described it best when he said, “If you have no confidence in yourself, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won before you have started.” Since relationships are arguably now more of a commodity than the rise or fall of mutual funds or stock prices, confident people are more likely to network with people who they do not know. A confident person is not squeamish and is typically comfortable with striking up conversations, or introducing himself or herself to others in a crowd. This is essential for meeting new people and developing a viable network.

The second intangible is integrity. Integrity is an invaluable component because having it encourages your friends and colleagues to recommend/refer/introduce you to others whom you would like to get to know. (Sometimes you are not aware of why you need to know them, but your network does.) Essentially, having integrity is the best marketing tool because it creates opportunities for people to want to meet you and/or do business with you so that they, too, can benefit from being one of your acquaintances. How you carry yourself and how you handle your business is a direct correlation of how motivated and inspired other professionals will be to network with you.

The final component that will be discussed in this piece is nurturance. Frankly, many networkers underestimate the power of nurturance. Often, friends and colleagues are easily annoyed when someone only calls, emails, texts or sends a message via a social networking site when they “need” something. Your friends and colleagues do not want to feel taken advantage of or used. Thus, it is vital to create opportunities to reach out to your network on a periodic basis to make sure that you are connected in “peace time” just in case you need their backing to go to “war.” No matter how subtle, nurturing your network will allow you to lean on your network multiple times throughout a given time period because your network feels needed, not abused. Finessing this is similar to being in a committed relationship. If done correctly, you will develop a symbiotically respectful relationship with your network with the appropriate amount of giving and taking.

Like any relationship, developing a powerful network is not easy. It takes a lot of work and responsibility. But with confidence, integrity and nurturance, the building blocks are in place for a strong foundation. If you want to make something happen in your life, you need the courage to ask for what you want. Once you have asked, the decision that your network makes (whether or not to assist you) depends on what they know about you, your accomplishments and what type of person you are. How you have managed those relationships will determine whether or not you get the assistance that you desire.

The strength of your network rests in your hands. What will you do with it?

Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the President/CEO of KLN Publishing, located in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.klnpublishing.com.

BABP August Professional Networking Mixer

2010-08-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

The highly anticipated

LinkedIn Bay Area Black Professionals

event is here.

Join us for our first after hours “Meet and Greet Professional Networking Mixer” at the beautiful

Adagia Restaurant in Berkeley. Our mixer will be

located on the patio area which will give us ample

space for mixing and mingling.

This event was planned to encourage LinkedIn BABP members to meet and network with each other face-to-face. So come out and meet your future clients, employees, employers or friends.

Make sure to bring lots of business cards.

Also, for our listening pleasure, a live jazz band will be performing on the patio.

Hope to see you there. Feel free to bring a guest.

Cost: This is a free event,
but an RSVP is required.

Date: Wednesday, August 18th

Time: 6-9pm

Location: Adagia Restaurant,

2700 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94704. It is located at the corner of College Avenue and Bancroft Way across the street from UC Berkeley and Caffe Strada

About the venue:

Adagia Restaurant was originally the Westminster House, where the minister entertained visiting dignitaries and faculty. The building was beautifully restored and remodeled to accommodate Adagia Restaurant in 2003.

Please visit http://babp-prof-mixer.eventbrite.com to RSVP. Thanks.

Farewell Randell Bradley-Benson 6/11/69 - 7/3/10

2010-07-18T23:06:00.000-07:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

I tried to find the best way to honor one of my best friends and fraternity brother, Randell Bradley, and decided that doing what I do best would be the best way. I first met Randell during my initiation into the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., while students at the University of California, Berkeley, back in the Spring of 1994. When I heard people say that he resembled “Caine” from the movie “Menace II Society”, I thought that we would have a tough time finding things in common. Then I discovered that we actually had a lot in common, one of our favorite movies was “The Five Heartbeats” on so many levels, we loved the English language, yet we constantly found ways to destroy it metaphorically, we loved business, we loved writing, and we loved our people. He also loved his friends. One of Randell’s friends died due to violence and he practically raised that young man’s son on his behalf.

Most people knew the goofy, silly side of Randell, and trust me, we were down right ignorant sometimes. He practically created a separate language that made Ebonics look like it could be on the SAT. Some of Randell’s coined phrases were: “corn, snacky, rateefy, moof-tagem, shalaze, and brim.” Nevertheless, he had a brilliant mind and created many of our chapter’s signature events that still exist to this day, such as the Diamond Ball, the Nupe Raffle, the James E. Dickey Scholarship Fund, and “Stamps for Change” where we sold envelopes and stamps for pre-written and addressed letters to the President opposing California’s passage of Proposition 209, which ended Affirmative Action. We also held the Judy Davis Bone Marrow Drive, named after my brother-in-law’s mother who died of cancer years ago to increase the number of African Americans in the national bone marrow donor database. Randell had the ideas and I knew how to execute them. We were a great team.

(L - Kevin L. Nichols, Dr. Derrick Bell, Randell Bradley, Dr. Grace Carroll - R)

In addition to his comical side, Randell handled his business and was well respected in our fraternity. He was our “rock” and kept all of us together during individual strife, trials, and tribulations. Randell was the epitome of brotherhood. He always had his brother’s back and was his brother’s keeper. Unlike some people, Randell encouraged his friends to see what he saw in them and inspired them to achieve. Randell always wanted me to run for mayor, which I kindly reminded him that I had no interest or desire of doing so, yet just knowing that he believed in me meant the world to me. During his last year in college, he was practically my roommates. We did road-trips together and whenever I visited to Los Angeles, he would either meet me at the airport or drop by my hotel for dinner.

We talked for hours each week, including up to his death. Although I knew that he had Sickle Cell Anemia and would occasionally get sick, I had no idea that he was receiving dialysis twice a week up to his death and died of having fluid on his heart. At first, I was very angry that my friend could be in such pain and that our conversations about providing for the love of his life Essence and their 2 year old daughter Samara were merely foreshadowing his own eminent demise, I cannot fault him for who he has always been. Randell has always been more worried about others than himself. I will address how I plan to deal with this phenomenon at some future point, however, I will sadly miss my friend. I know that he is with the Lord and in a better place.

Just so that he knows, I have two boys and always wanted a little girl. Looks like I have a 2 year old to look after and her name rhymes with my wife’s.

Randell, had I known you needed a kidney and I was a match, you would have had it without hesitation. I miss you my friend and when ever I get to the part in our Kappa Hymn, I will think of you, “We’ll long for thee and toil until…we reach that Golden Shore…”

BABP's Inaugural Caramel Lattes

2010-06-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

BABP's Inaugural Caramel Lattes

2010-06-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Please join the

Bay Area

Black Professionals Group

To its Inaugural

Caramel Lattes

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 @ 9am

440 Grand Ave
(between Bellevue Ave & Staten Ave)
Oakland, CA 94610

www.grandlakecoffeehouse.com

Visit http://babp-caramel-lattes.eventbrite.com to RSVP.

Got Kidney? & Hip Hop(e) for Healing Southwest Tour Kick-Off

2010-05-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

San Francisco, CA

May 11, 2010

Contact: RasCue Rastacuetip@gmail.com

The Bay Area based foundation “Got Kidney?” and the New York based organization “Hip-Hop(e) For Healing” in association with AMR Productions and Boogie Events join forces to present The Southwest Tour Kick-Off at the Mighty Nightclub in San Francisco on Wednesday June 9, 2010.

“Got Kidney?” and “Hip-Hop(e) For Healing” have planned an opening night for their two-week Southwest Tour that promises to be an event just shy of a music festival. Featured artists include underground hip-hop legends Rasco (Cali Agents/Various Blends), Big Pooh (Little Brother), Kam Moye aka Supastition and opening acts Otayo Dubb (Co-Deez) and 7 Daize. Two rooms of deejays will showcase World I.T.F. Champion DJ Swiftrock, DJ SpazeCraft, DJ RasCue, DJ LadyLu, DJ Theory and Carey Kopp; and celebrating10 years of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack Restaurant deejays will be DJ Mophono, Sonnyphono, DJ SmallHouse, MommySound and LL Aspect. Hosting this event will be none other than Pep Love of the legendary Hieroglyphics crew. A portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting the goals of “Got Kidney?” and “Hip Hop(e) for Healing” to promote organ donor awareness and health education.

In December of 2008, DJ RasCue was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure (kidney disease). On May 20, 2009 Hip Hop(e) for Healing co-founder Aaron Lazansky (DJ SpazeCraft) successfully donated a kidney to his girlfriend of two years who had been battling chronic kidney disease. Throughout their own personal struggles with this illness, these three saw a great need to not only offer aid to those currently afflicted with kidney disease, but also to educate the general public about organ donation. Propelled into action, RasCue created the “Got Kidney?” foundation and Lazansky founded the Hip Hop(e) for Healing Project. Both organizations use their ties to the worldwide music industry, generating funds to raise awareness about the importance of organ donor registration and healthy lifestyle strategies for those living in marginalized urban communities.

All involved look forward to a memorable experience for music lovers, as well as, a unique opportunity to educate the public on health and wellness issues that affect us all. Do not miss this opportunity to indulge in an amazing evening while kicking off this important cause. Your donation could help speak to the next generation of youth on healthy living choices and disease prevention. This is truly a one of a kind “feel good” event.

FOR INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE VISIT: www.UrbanUmpires.com

*NOW AVAILABLE: www.gotkidney.bandcamp.com

RasCue has launched the exclusive "Got Kidney?" music series, helping those in need and giving back to those so generous in their donations. Volume One of this series, which features tour headliner Rasco, conceptually focuses on meaningful music drawn from profound life topics that touch us all: Love, Change, Growth, Survival, Hope, Strength, Adversity, Inspiration, and Peace.

*COMING SOON: HHFH is creating a new wellness based music compilation called Spark of Life~complete with a PDF booklet of healthy recipes, visual artwork from worldwide supporters, and links to partner organizations also doing good work throughout our communities. This will be a digital release, available only on bandcamp.com. (Check out their new eco-health tip cards at http://blog.sohnup.com)

FOR DONATION INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: www.UrbanUmpires.com

Jazmine R. Henderson
jazhenderson@gmail.com
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/is_SimplyDriven
(415) 279-5661

CHBA Fundraiser Thursday, 5/27/10 @ Chevy's

2010-05-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

Please join me, along with the members of the Charles Houston Bar Association for a fundraiser at Chevy's in Emeryville between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 27th. For every dollar you spend, Chevy's will give CHBA twenty-five percent (25%). This money will be used to provide book stipends to high school students entering college in the fall.

So, please come out, enjoy the food & friends and help support our future.

Nedra Shawler

African American Organizations Making Connections

2010-04-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

Event Registration

Information is Power!
African American Organizations Making Connections

The African American community must come together NOW. It has been far too long since the diverse members of our community have come together to find out who we are and to hear about the work being done now and opportunities for the future.

Come share your best practices and challenges. This will be an opportunity to network and identify points of collaboration to leverage scarce resources. You won�t want to miss this event!

Event information

Saturday, May 1, 2010
Merritt College
12500 Campus Drive
Oakland, CA 94619
Map

8:15 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT
* YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND *
FREE CHILDCARE AVAILABLE

Click here to register

*Every person in your organization that will be attending must register individually. Personal information will not be shared. The information regarding organizations and businesses will be compiled into a resource guide. Please be as detailed as possible.

Transportation

AC Transit: Line 54
Parking lot is $1 for the whole day (printable parking map) (PDF - 83kb) *
Additional transportation concerns call 5-1-1

If you have additional questions, call 510-272-6695 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 510-272-6695 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Young Leaders for DeWitt

2010-04-13T20:37:00.001-07:00

Date:	Thursday, April 22, 2010
Time:	7:00pm - 10:30pm
Location:	Mission Rock
Street:	817 Terry Francois Blvd.

Come by and get involved in DeWitt's campaign for D-10 Supervisor in 2010. On Thursday the 22nd we can all find out what is in store for the people of District 10, and for San Francisco, when DeWitt is elected in November of this year. This fundraiser will help DeWitt bring safer streets, increased neighborhood wealth, and cleaner communities to San Francisco.

COST: $40 @ the door or secure your space by donating online through the link below.

http://www.actblue.com/page/youngleaders

Sponsors will also be recognized at the event. Please call (415) 378-9953 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (415) 378-9953 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email witt@dewittlacyforsupervisor.com asap if you are interested in a sponsorship or being a part of the host committee.

Contributions to DeWitt Lacy for Supervisor 2010, raised to elect DeWitt Lacy to San Francisco Board of Supervisors, are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Please make all contributions payable to:
DeWitt Lacy for Supervisor 2010

If you intend on attending, we encourage you to register online now to secure your space. The Guest List will be closing on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 3:00PM.

CMCP Career & Professional Development Panel

2010-04-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

African American Leadership Weekend Moving the Urban Agenda

2010-03-31T21:52:00.000-07:00

The California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation,
NAACP,
California Legislative Black Caucus and
100 Black Men of Sacramento host...

African American Leadership Weekend
Moving the Urban Agenda
April 22-24, 2010
Sheraton Grand Hotel 1230 J Street, Sacramento, California
This is a series of workshops targeting the issues facing underserved minority communities to develop positive solutions and remove barriers to growth in the areas of education, health, crime, home ownership, building wealth.

Topics Include:
* Bank Lending to Small Businesses: Have lines of credit opened for small and minority businesses? Have banks receiving bail-out funds extended loans to small/minority businesses for start-ups and operating costs?

*Has President Obama?s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) worked for African Americans? What is the impact of ARRA on small business and commerce in communities of color?

*Redistricting commission: How do we get selected for the commission? What impact will redistricting have on legislative seats held by African Americans?

*The Achievement Gap and the Dropout Rate: How are African American students faring under No Child Left Behind?

*Higher Education: Why are there more Blacks in prison than in College

*Marijuana: Should it be legalized, taxed and regulated? What is the impact on the African American community?

*Liquor stores, smoke shops and check cashing outlets

*BET: The influence of music videos on Black culture

*Update on AIDS epidemic in African American Women

The Leadership weekend includes Evening Receptions and a Luncheon

For for information go to http://www.calbcc.org

The California Black Chamber of Commerce is the largest African American non-profit business organization representing hundreds of small and emerging businesses, affiliates and chambers of commerce throughout the state.

Cost: $100

Take a step towards your Financial Freedom

2010-03-18T09:21:00.001-07:00

People Don't Plan to Fail They Just Fail to PLAN!

■ Truths You Need to Know About Money

■ Get Your Money Working for You

■ Keep More of Your Money

■ Tax Advantages You Can Use

■ Make Retirement A Reality For You

■ Visualize Your Financial Freedom

Thursday, March 25, 2010

7:00 PM

The Washington Inn, 495 10th Street, Oakland, CA 94607

RSVP – http://financialfreedom032510.eventbrite.com/?discount=BABP

Doors close at 7:45pm. Early arrival is suggested as seating is limited.

Live Performance by: PopLyfe

Partners:

ASA Educational Services ■ Bay Area Black Professionals group ■ Charleston Pierce Presents ■ D Flowers ■ D’Wayne Wiggins ■ First Fridays ■ Glass House Communications ■ GoodLyfe ■ James Jordan "DJ Soul Profess" ■ MarquisSF ■ Taylor Made Ent.

A Night in the Fillmore - Haiti fundraiser

2010-03-18T00:41:00.001-07:00

Here is the Eventbrite link.

http://fillmoredayandnight.eventbrite.com/

Celebrating the Black Press During Black History Month

2010-02-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

As we reflect on the significance of Black History Month started by Carter G. Woodson back in 1926, the role of the Black Press is inextricably tied to its celebration. Throughout slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow segregation, the Black Press has been instrumental in publicizing the egregious acts of violence towards African Americans. It is impossible to fathom the amount of courage and conviction these individuals must have had to risk their lives for the sake of garnering the attention of the world on the racist and sexist torture that existed so visibly in our country. Heroes and sheroes such as Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells risked their lives to speak out against injustice. For their bravery, I will highlight a few of their accomplishments.

Frederick Douglass

Many of us know Frederick Douglass as an abolitionist who crossed color-lines by representing African Americans in positive light. He befriended many politicians and leaders of our nation and spoke out against African Americans’ mistreatment. What some do know is he created regular abolitionist papers called The North Star, Frederick Douglass Weekly, Frederick Douglass' Paper, Douglass' Monthly and New National Era. These writings discussed emancipation, the inequities of treatment between Black versus White soldiers, spoke out for women’s rights, and encouraged African Americans to educate themselves to improve their plight. Douglass’s leadership combated the negative stereotypes that existed during this time period and gave other African Americans hope for a brighter future.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett

Ida B. Wells was an investigative journalist who became the voice of anti-lynching. She published Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases, and A Red Record, 1892-1894. She also became part owner of a newspaper called Free Speech and Headlight by 1889. In 1984, before Rosa Parks, Ida was asked to give up her seat on a railroad car and she refused. She was physically dragged out of her seat. When she returned to Memphis, she hired an attorney and sued the railroad company and published an article about it in "The Living Way," a black church weekly.

Both of these brilliant and talented members of the press dedicated their lives to raising awareness and educating others about the racial and sexual mistreatment of African Americans in our country. They paved the way for other leaders to have the fortitude, strength, and courage to preserve and speak out against injustice. Because of their valiant effort, it allows individuals like myself to write and speak about injustices that I see with the hope of making a difference. This month, we salute you.

Photos courtesy of Wikidpedia.com

Kevin L. Nichols is an author, President and CEO of KLN Publishing. LLC located in San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.klnpublishing.com.

Must See King Tut at the DeYoung Before it Departs

2010-02-21T01:03:00.000-08:00

Coffinette for the viscera of Tutankhamun (detail), Dynasty 18, Reign of Tutankhamun 1332-1322 BCE. 39.5 cm L x 11 cm W x 10 cm H. Photo: Andreas F. Voegelin, Antikenmuseum Basel and Sammlung Ludwig - Used with Permission

By: Kevin L. Nichols

What better way to celebrate Black History Month, than to visit the “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibit currently on display at the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park located in San Francisco. Some Americans believe that Black History only celebrates the accomplishments of African Americans, however, many neglect the vast achievements made by African American ancestors who belonged to such advanced civilizations as ancient Egypt. Europeans and “westerners” marvel at the complexity of the ancient pyramids, sophisticated jewelry, artwork, mummification process, preservation, and religious practices still today. As we celebrate Black History, let us look back 3000 plus years to understand the significance of the “boy king” known as Tutankhamun or King Tut.

King Tut lived between 1304-1322 BC. He had a tumultuous reign as a young boy for 9 years. Trying to undue the religious modifications of the previous king, his father, King Tut fought to restore the traditional religious practices of his ancestors. King Tut died mysteriously at either 18 or 19 years old and was honored like no other king found in Egypt. Solid gold sarcophaguses, masks, furniture, jewelry, and other royal possessions were buried with him in a tomb located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. For centuries, archeologists sought to find this tomb and uncover its treasures. It was not until Howard Carter discovered the tomb in 1922. Since then, this exhibit has toured all over the world, however, the last time it was in the Bay Area was 30 years ago.

To see some of the artifacts that will be displayed and for more information about the exhibit, please visit http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org. This is a once in a life time opportunity to witness history. Target is sponsoring a free weekend February 20-21, 2010, so if you can, please try to visit before March 28, 2010 when it departs.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author, President and CEO of KLN Publishing. LLC located in San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.klnpublishing.com.

Burger Gourmet - Downtown Oakland

2010-02-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

I just had one of the most delightful experiences eating at a "mom and pop" type restaurant here in Downtown Oakland that I had to write about it. I had a 3:45 p.m. appointment and needed to eat a late lunch . . . really badly. I asked several bystanders where I could get a bite to eat within a tw0-three block radius but to no avail, no one could point me to a definitive location.

I stumbled upon a quaint restaurant with one of the original "open" signs in the window and decided that I wanted to grab a hamburger. I was greeted by a friendly sincere woman who was one of the owners of the restaurant. Upon exchanging pleasantries, she appeared to care whether or not I ordered the appropriate meal. I made a couple of suggestions while she bared with me but in the end I decided on a delicious bacon cheeseburger, french fries, and a Snapple Raspberry Iced Tea.

A few minutes after I started eating and logged onto my laptop computer, she came over to me and asked me how my meal was. I could not believe it. Customer service is one thing, but this visit to Burger Gourmet was remarkable and really moved me. Not only was my meal delicious, but the down home hospitality that I received was so incredible, that I had to share it with others. Please make sure you patronize this business.

When Money's Tight and You Still Want to Get Away...Choose Monterey!

2010-02-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

Despite the influx of funds from the federal stimulus, the economy still has not recovered from the financial crisis. The unemployment rate is approaching 12%, gas prices are relatively high, and families are continuing to lose their homes due to widespread foreclosures. Vacations, travel, and stressless reprieves are anomalies that many hard working families cannot afford presently. However, families will have to develop innovative ways to reincorporate necessities such as finding joy in their daily lives, alleviating stress, and spending quality time together, and what better way then taking a local “stay-cation” down the coast to the Monterey Peninsula. My family did and here is how we did it:

Maximizing Your Time Together

We left early in the morning to maximize having two full days of enjoyment in the area. We arrived at Monterey Bay Aquarium when it opened. It is wise to stay at a hotel that allows you to purchase aquarium tickets because they have two day tickets for the price of one. Given the fact that the aquarium is so massive and that there is so much to learn and explore, two full days from sun-up to sun-down is just enough time to ingest it all.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is an enormous marine science laboratory that educates thousands of parents, children, schools, educators, and scientists from all over the world. Its sister institute, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), located in Moss Landing, aids the aquarium in being one of the most technologically advanced aquariums in the world. Recently, it had the only great white shark in captivity worldwide – now the apex predator is back in the wild.

All of the sea otters and most of the birds that reside in the aquarium are in captivity because they cannot survive in the wild on their own, either because they have been injured, separated from a parent prematurely, or were washed ashore by an accident or due to pollution. The aquarium has numerous exhibits displaying these animals for visitors to observe firsthand in recreations of their natural habitat. Some of the thousands of animals at the aquarium are Southern sea otters, penguins, jelly fish, tuna, sharks, crabs, sting rays, sardines, and their latest inhabitants, the sea horse exhibit.

The Secret Lives of Seahorses exhibition is fascinating. So much can be learned about these unique creatures. I learned that when male and female sea horses mate, they dance together, beautifully and cross their tales with one another. Another interesting fact is that males carry and birth their children…something that I was not quite prepared to witness on the high-definition screen. Overall, this exhibit is definitely the highlight of the aquarium currently, and I recommend that you see it for yourself before it departs.

The aquarium also has various educational movies and interactive displays that teach visitors about sustainability, how to protect our environment, and what we can do to preserve marine life around the world. These tips range from throwing your trash away in the appropriate receptacles so that it does not end up into the ocean, refraining from pouring solvents and harmful liquids down sinks, toilets, etc., to choosing the appropriate seafood at the grocery store from regions around the globe that agree to farm/raise/fish seafood responsibly. For more information and to download your own Seafood Watch Card, please visit www.montereybayaquarium.org.

Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Company

Bubba Gump’s is always a fun family restaurant with good food and affordable prices. The restaurant is based on the movie and character “Forrest Gump” starring Tom Hanks (a Bay Area native). It features a large selection of seafood and chicken dishes with a New Orleans, Louisiana flare to it. Dining at a restaurant like this brings about a festive atmosphere with flavorful food that everyone can enjoy. We had an exceptional waiter, Chris Willis, who was amazingly attentive, which added to this excellent experience. For more information, please visit Bubba Gump Monterey.

InterContinental’s “The Clement”

The Clement is the perfect hotel to stay at in Monterey. Its location alone is the most practical for a vacation on Cannery Row because it is literally a stone’s throw from Bubba Gump’s and Monterey Bay Aquarium. This alleviates the need to move your car once you arrive due to the fact that most of your destinations are in walking distance, including the premium outlets.With the exception of a little hiccup during the valet process, this was a seamlessly delightful experience. It has superb amenities. It is upscale and inviting. The staff was warm and courteous. The rooms have iPod docking stations, fire places, complimentary bottled water, Starbuck's Coffee, HD flat screen televisions with Direct TV satellite service. The bathroom had a separate bath tub and shower. The hotel offers high speed internet, a fine dining restaurant, fitness center, spa, and a complimentary voicemail that welcomed me to my room from the concierge (I must say that this was a nice touch). The Clement also has bath robes and shoes that provide comfort and reprieve. For more information on this hotel, please visit The Clement

This recession effects us all in various ways. Although many families are acting fiscally responsibly by conserving, downsizing, and saving, it is possible to splurge intelligently. Sanity is not a luxury that we can all afford without external stimuli. That is why I recommend packing some lunches, filling up the tank, and taking a drive down to the other "peninsula" in the Bay Area. What do you think? Please leave your comments.

Black Youth Rising Book Launch and Fundraiser

2010-02-03T12:48:00.000-08:00

Host:	Black Youth Rising
Network:	Global

Date:	Friday, February 5, 2010
Time:	6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:	Kuwa Restaurant 1015 Clay Street Oakland, CA 94607

Description

Come to the Oakland book launch of Black Youth Rising & the Leadership Excellence fundraiser

An Evening with Condoleezza Rice--save the date and news release

2010-01-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

Friends of Faith to host “An Evening with the Hon. Condoleezza Rice”

For immediate release

January 20^th, 2010

Press Inquiries: Tammerlin Drummond/ 510 208-6468/ tdrummond@bayareanewsgroup.com

Oakland, CA – Join former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Friends of Faith in the fight against breast cancer.

We invite you to a rare evening with Dr. Rice in conversation with veteran KQED-TV journalist Belva Davis at the elegant Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.

Dr. Rice will discuss her amazing journey from growing up in segregated Birmingham, Ala., to becoming the first African American female Secretary of State. Dr. Rice, who lost her own mother to breast cancer, will also share her own personal experiences of caring for a loved one battling this deadly disease.

Dr. Rice’s memoir about her tenure as a top advisor in the administration of President George W. Bush is scheduled for release in 2011. As part of a three-book deal, Dr. Rice will also write a memoir about her family life, along with a young adult version—both scheduled for release in 2012.

After eight years of government service, Dr. Rice returned to the Hoover Institution where she is the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy. She also is a professor of political science at Stanford University.

Friends of Faith, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by the late television news personality Faith Fancher of KTVU, whose valiant 7-year battle against breast cancer was an inspiration to countless women battling this deadly disease. The organization has a unique mission: to provide financial support and invaluable resources to underserved, uninsured, and at-risk women with breast cancer who have nowhere else to turn.

Since Faith’s death in 2003, her fellow Bay Area media personalities, along with many others in the community who are dedicated to her cause, have joined forces to continue the work that has been a Godsend for so many breast cancer survivors and their loved ones.

WHEN: Monday, March 29, 2010. 6-9pm

WHERE: Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco (Free Parking at the Palace of Fine Arts)

TICKETS: $250 VIP (includes reception and Photo Op with Professor Rice)

$100 and $50 General Admission

For VIP tickets, call (510) 834-4142 for more information. VIP tickets will be held at the door.

All other tickets are available through

City Box Office

(415) 392-4400

www.cityboxoffice.com

Visa or Mastercard only

www.faithfancher.org

Relationship Tip No. 1 - Listening for Understanding

2010-01-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

The art of listening is one of the most paradoxical problems in relationships. It is one of the easiest things to do (we all have ears and can pay attention when we choose to), yet if asked to summarize the conceptual understanding of what the speaker said, the listener either cannot or has no concept of what he/she just heard. In the beginning of relationships we all "hear" and listen very carefully with the goal of understanding. As time goes on and we get too relaxed and comfortable, we listen less, until we "hear" but do not listen at all. That is how our back door gets left open to the next person who is willing to make the time and effort to listen. Keep your back door closed tight. Lend an ear with the goal of understanding.

Copyright 2006 KLN Publishing, LLC All rights reserved

Check out the California Diversity Council's Website!

2010-01-15T08:47:00.001-08:00

says check out this spotlight on today's CADC website http://htxt.it/R1a5

Evaluating ‘the dream’ today

2010-01-14T22:32:00.000-08:00

Commentary by Kevin L. Nichols

Americans often contemplate what our lives would be like if it were not for Martin Luther King Jr. Arguably, he is one of the most influential human beings of our time. A preacher’s son who promoted and demonstrated peaceful protest through nonviolent paths of resistance, King preached hope and love, predominately through his actions. In retrospect, we evaluate the relevance of his “dream” today in order to assess whether it has been achieved.

In various ways, our country has made tremendous strides and achievements. For example, rather than “desegregation” we have seen progress with “integration,” meaning our children now attend the same schools and are able to compete academically in ways never before seen. Moreover, religiously, we have seen the nation soften its stance on most religions. And, we have seen the country become more tolerant such that it did something that most of us thought we would never see: elect the first African-American president of the United States, Barack Obama.

Despite these advances, however, our country still has a long way to go before King’s “dream” becomes reality. We cannot use King’s “colorless” philosophy to circumvent our country’s strides with regard to affirmative action by eradicating it under the guise of non-discrimination, like in Proposition 209, which essentially eliminated the ability to use race in the admissions process or the procurement of government contracts.

Moreover, “post-9/11” has launched our country in a tailspin, destroying the advances made in our inalienable/civil rights since segregation and CointelPro. Privacy is becoming a thing of the past and our country is utilizing its powers to usurp the Bill of Rights, including the Fourth Amendment, which prevents illegal searches and seizures merely because people are DWB (driving while black or brown).

Senator Harry Reid’s comments released last Friday punctuate the fact that even though there are liberal Democrats that are sensitive to issues of race, we still have to remove the “field slave versus house slave” mentality that lighter-skinned African-Americans will progress further in life (including obtaining the presidency) compared to those with darker skin.

Progress is measured by being mindful of our starting and ending points. Our country is far better off than the lynchings, government-sanctioned terror and overt racism that existed in the past. Nevertheless, we still have distinct areas that need improvement. All we can do is pray and work to see that King’s dream is realized fully in our lifetime.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the president/CEO of KLN Publishing, located in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://klnpublishingllc.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-12-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

DeafHope plans walkathon for Dec. 4

2009-11-27T21:11:00.001-08:00

By Kevin L. Nichols

There are a number of worthy causes and organizations that flourish in Oakland.

Most deal with eradicating social perils that exist for non-disabled people. But imagine suffering from domestic or sexual violence in addition to not having full access to potentially lifesaving services.

DeafHopeis a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing support services for survivors of violence and their children. It provides a 24-hour hotline, advocacy, youth groups and training. A group of deaf women founded the organization to end domestic violence of all kinds.

DeafHope, in conjunction with the Oakland School for the Arts, will be hosting its “Ease on Down the Road” campaign, where more than 500 students will participate in a four-mile fundraising walk around Lake Merritt beginning at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4. Proceeds from the walkathon will benefit DeafHope.

The following week, all are asked to support the school’s production of “The Wiz”— the first live musical featured at the newly renovated Oakland Fox Theater. “The Wiz”will run on Dec. 10 and 11. Tickets cost $30 for VIP, $20 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Group discounts are available. Tickets can be purchased at oakarts.tix.com.

The Oakland School for the Arts performance schedule is available at www.oakarts.org or by calling (510) 873-8808. For more information about DeafHope or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.deaf-hope.org.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the president/CEO of KLN Publishing, located in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.klnpublishing.com.

Don’t wait until you need a job

2009-11-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

Illustration by Dave Cutler

Originally published at http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/TheRotarian/Pages/Management0912.aspx

Don’t wait until you need a job

by Elizabeth Blackwell
The Rotarian -- December 2009

Illustration by Dave Cutler

With the U.S. unemployment rate close to 10 percent and millions of those with jobs worried about the security of their paychecks, who you know can make the difference between landing a new job or remaining unemployed.

Networking is often misunderstood, conjuring up images of superficial, what-can-you-do-for-me conversations between strangers wearing name tags. But done right, it’s effective and satisfying – especially for those who shift their networking strategies to fit the times.

Surveys conducted by outplacement firms and human resources associations have shown that more jobs are found through personal connections than any other method. But it’s not just who you know – it’s who those people know. Groundbreaking research by Stanford University sociology professor Mark Granovetter has emphasized the importance of “weak ties”: Even if those in your immediate circle of friends and family don’t know of any job openings, when they tell their friends and co-workers – people you don’t know directly – about your search, your opportunities expand dramatically.

New technology has made it easier to track down and connect with those weak ties. The leading online business networking site, LinkedIn, allows members to link their profile to those of other members they know. Once a member confirms you as a contact, you can browse through that person’s connections. Link to 10 members, each with 10 contacts, and you have access to more than 100 potential job leads. You can also post professional recommendations and an online version of your résumé.

The economic downturn has had a dramatic effect on LinkedIn’s membership. Until last fall, about one million new members joined each month, says the site’s career expert, Krista Canfield. “Then, in August and September of 2008, we saw a shift in our growth rate – around the time many of the larger layoffs occurred and the media began talking about a recession in earnest. We’re now growing at a rate of one new LinkedIn member every second, or about a million new members every two weeks.”

Kevin Nichols, the moderator of LinkedIn’s Downtown San Francisco Networking Group and president of his own publishing company, says having an online presence shows prospective employers that you’re keeping up with the times. “It used to be that you’d get the heavyweight paper, print out your résumé, put it in the mail, and get a letter two weeks later acknowledging that it had been received,” he says. “Those days are gone. If you’re not willing to present yourself in an electronic way, employers will be concerned that you’re not going to be able to compete.”

Nichols has seen the benefit of online networking firsthand: When he had an idea for a book, he searched through his network for contacts at publishing companies. “Rather than dealing with the person who opens the mail and tosses it, I talked to the CEO,” he says. But it only worked because his intermediaries put in a good word for him. “You still need someone to vouch for you,” he notes.

That is the most critical aspect of networking: Whether it happens via e-mail or in a face-to-face meeting, it only works if there’s a personal connection. And that’s just what many of us find most difficult. “We know we should be doing it, but we’re not sure how to approach people we don’t know or know only slightly,” says communication expert Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills – and Leave a Positive Impression .

Fine, a member of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast, Colo., says many job hunters make the mistake of coming on too strong. “It’s out of line to call someone and ask them to get you into a company,” she says. “It’s a horrible burden to put on them.” Instead, she suggests, phrase your question as a request for information rather than a job: “Who do you know who could help me find out more about this industry?”

Whether you’re networking at a business event or through e-mail exchanges, Fine cautions against “elevator speeches:” trapping your audience with a pushy, self-promoting monologue. “You should be prepared to answer in one sentence what you’re looking for, if asked,” she says. “It’s annoying when someone hands me a business card I didn’t ask for. What do you think I’m going to do with that card when I find it a week later in my pocket? Chances are I’m going to toss it.”

Perhaps the most important axiom is that networking is a two-way street. To borrow from John F. Kennedy: Ask not only what a new acquaintance can do for you, ask what you can do for that acquaintance. “It’s about value exchange,” says Myles Golden, president of Golden Career Strategies in Greenville, S.C., and a member of the Rotary Club of Greenville. “Genuine networking is showing a keen interest in someone else’s interests and endeavors. They will pay you back eventually.”

This approach requires a mental shift in how we think of networking. Rather than reaching out to others merely to achieve a specific short-term goal, we should constantly be adding to our circle of acquaintances, seeking out mentors, and sharing advice. Every Rotarian has access to a huge network of fellow members, but many don’t take full advantage of it. Fine, for example, makes a point of sitting with different people at every club meeting. She also drops by Rotary clubs in different cities whenever she takes a business trip.

With more than 5,700 members, Rotary International’s group on LinkedIn offers Rotarians another way to connect with each other. Primarily a place to ask and answer questions about Rotary-related programs and activities, it also features a job board, where members can post open positions or messages relating to their own job searches.

Golden, a past governor of District 7750, credits Rotary’s network with much of his professional success. As a young office-supply salesman, he found mentors in his Rotary club and eventually worked his way up to company president. Ten years ago, he started his own career coaching firm and now calls on his extensive network to help clients. “I just can’t imagine what my career would have been like without Rotary,” he says. “The best relationships I have are with my fellow Rotarians. They are many, and they run deep.”

Web sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder aren’t the only places to find job listings online. Try these sites to broaden your search:

Indeed.com . Type in the keywords relevant to your job search, and this site combs through listings on company Web sites and job boards, pulling out the ones most relevant to you.
Professional associations. Whatever your industry, chances are there’s a career-training and networking organization associated with it. Check the association’s Web site for job listings; discussion forums are also a good way to make contacts in your field.
Your alma mater. Colleges and universities sponsor a variety of career services for alumni. Check your university’s Web site for job listings or informal networking events.

Power LinkedIn User Interview with Kevin L. Nichols

2009-10-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Originally published at http://joshuawaldman.net/linkedin-tips/power-linkedin-user-inverview-with-kevin-nichols

by Joshua on October 10, 2009

I had a great conversation with Kevin Nichols, a power LinkedIn user the other day. The audio quality didn’t turn out well, but I thought the conversation was valuable enough to publish it anyways.

Download

Just to summarize:

Kevin uses job boards like Craigslist or Indeed.com to find openings, but actually uses LinkedIn to pursue the job. By leveraging his network, he’s able to get referrals rather than cold call opportunities.

Another great piece of advice is that because his name is so common, he always uses his middle initial. Every blog post and profile uses his middle initial. This is how he is able to get high Google rankings.

He describes how he uses twitter for promotion, facebooks for family and friends and Linkedin just for professional networking. With his own company and his pursuit of finding a job, he is open to various and creative ways of finding employment. We are in an unprecedented time, and forward thinkers like Kevin have a lot to share with us.

Interesting San Francisco Attractions

2009-09-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

Featuring the Legion of Honor and the Exploratorium

By: Kevin L. Nichols

Lately "stay-cations" have become more popular due to the sagging economy and the rise of gasoline prices. Bay Area families have to weigh the pros and cons a lot more carefully in order to determine what destinations they will frequent with the hope of saving a few pennies. Many will have to reconsider that annual Hawaiian or Orlando vacation this year. Nevertheless, all is not lost because San Francisco happens to still be one of the largest tourist attractions in the world. Here are two reasons why:

The Exploratorium

Founded in 1969, the Exploratorium still represents the best and brightest of California scientists and inventors. It is similar to a "declassified" (low level security clearance required) of a national research and/or weapons laboratory such as Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in that it has numerous experiments where everyday people can explore. Some of the amazing exhibits on hand can teach people about the intricacies of light in conjunction with the human eye, sound in relation to our ears, and the behavior of liquids, solids, and gases through various hands on and engaging experiments. The learning never stops and it is applicable for all ages. The Exploratorium is reasonable priced and parking is free. This is one location stay-caution that you will not forget.

The Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor is tucked away in a hidden area of the city near the Golden Gate Bridge. Its approach is mesmerizing with a beautiful overlook of the San Francisco Bay and notable landmarks of the city. It was originally built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I.

Rodin's Thinker, greets you as you enter the courtyard approaching the entrance. The Legion of Honor is a sophisticated museum which contains various paintings, ancient artifacts, murals, and sculptures. In addition to the mature artwork, it also has featured exhibits as well. I had they pleasure of having a docent lead tour of John Baldessari: A Print Retrospective from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. This was a fascinating tour of one of our local artist's collection. Schnitzer signature pictures use black and white photographs of usually random photographs where he infuses colorful objects, including dots, in innocuous places.

If you love art and would like to be exposed to a variety of masterpieces, you will not be disappointed by visiting the spacious and eclectic Legion of Honor on your next visit to The City.

A Day at the DeYoung

2009-09-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

By: Kevin L. Nichols

These economic times require us to be more creative in finding worthwhile entertainment than ever before for ourselves and our families. This is why it is important to explore our local gems that we often take for granted as Bay Area residents. Recently, I visited the DeYoung Museum nestled in the gorgeously revamped Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and I must say that it was a breathtaking experience.

First of all, the lines were not long. The entire museum has been upgraded such that it has a state of the art cafeteria and restroom facilities (which are always nice while visiting with children). Further, most visitors are respectful of the rules, meaning that they speak quietly amongst themselves, the docents are extremely helpful, and the fact sheets placed next to the exhibits are highly informative.

Below, please find some of the magnificent ancient African masks, artifacts, and rugs that I found intriguing:

One piece that I found particularly provocative was Aaron Douglas’s oil on canvas “Aspiration” (created for the Texas Centennial in 1936). Despite knowing many of the purchasers, such as Dr. and Mrs. Coyness Ennix, Jr., Nichole Ennix, and organizations such as the NAACP and the Black Chamber of Commerce, I was deeply moved by what it represented. Essentially the piece articulates Douglas’s conceptualization of the connection between African/Egyptian and African American cultures and their respective historical progressions from slavery to freedom. It is deeply seeded with images of the “lone star” representing Texas, shackles, the North Star that led slaves to freedom, and the ancient pyramids in the distance. It was truly inspiring.

In the near future, I hope to share my thoughts on the King Tutankhamun Exhibit also featured at the DeYoung and I encourage you all to visit the museum to share in this once in a lifetime experience.

LinkedIn for complicated resumes

2009-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

* by Marci Alboher, Working the New Economy, on Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:52pm PDT
Creating a LinkedIn profile is pretty straightforward when you have a job with a well-defined title. But I’ve been getting questions lately about how to create a profile on LinkedIn when what you're doing isn’t so tidy. Two scenarios that come up a lot are how to create one of these profiles if you have a slash career (e.g. yoga instructor/caterer), or if you’re unemployed (or, as some say, consulting).

There’s some overlap between the two scenarios because in both cases you are taking what feels like a standard tool and tailoring it to fit your needs. And the good news is that when you spend a little time with it, LinkedIn allows for a lot of customizing.

Here are a few ideas:

Play with your status updates. If you’re looking for opportunities, mention that in your status update so that your connections are reminded of it. The example above, which says "on the prowl for career and/or entrepreneurial endeavors," is a good model.

Use slashes or vertical lines between your different titles. Twanna Hines, a dating advice columnist, uses vertical lines to separate her various identities (including “sexpot,” which may not be an official job title, but gives you a good idea of what she’s about). I’m partial to slashes myself, and recommend keeping it to no more than three or four at any one time.

Be creative with the “Current” section. If you are between positions, consider identifying yourself with a title that reflects your desired position (e.g. “marketing director seeking opportunity in consumer products”). If you’re consulting or available for freelance work, give your consulting business a name and list it as a current position. This is also a great spot to list anything you’re doing on the side -- a column you write for a trade magazine, an officer position in your university alumni organization, significant volunteer work. Feel free to use several lines to describe your current positions.

Don’t forget to include websites. At the bottom of your LinkedIn profile, you can list a few Websites. If you have a side business or an organizational association with a Website, include it there. If you don’t have any websites associated with your work, use that spot to link to any other social networking profiles you want to highlight.

Include relevant keywords. If you have a few things going on in your career, make sure that you’ve sprinkled around relevant terms from your various interests throughout the profile and in the list of specialties at the bottom of the summary so that your profile will come up in searches on the site.

Tweak your summary section often. Use the summary section to tie things together and tell a story about what you’re doing or want to be doing. And get used to tweaking that often. Every six months I seem to shake up the mix of things I’m doing, and I specifically mention that in the summary section of my profile.

Focus on your recommendations. Though it’s nice to collect recommendations all the time, it’s especially helpful to have a few solid ones when you’re looking for new opportunities. If you can identify a few people who you know think highly of you, ask if they’d be comfortable writing one for you. If you want people to think of you for more than one kind of opportunity, make sure that you have recommendations that reflect those various skills. While you’re at it, cruise around the site and leave recommendations for those who’ve made a positive impression you.

One final thought: While these tips are focused specifically on LinkedIn, the ideas behind them apply to any site where you’re creating a profile from a template.

Have any of you devised creative ways to customize your LinkedIn profile or other online profiles?

Going ‘green’ by car sharing

2009-09-04T23:08:00.000-07:00

By Kevin L. Nichols and sons

Going GreenOne can assume that most Bay Area families own either one or two automobiles.

Many people rent cars for a myriad of reasons. Some rent them for longer trips or if they need more space, while others rent cars to prevent further wear and tear on their own cars. Some want the comfort of driving a newer vehicle with more technological amenities, such as GPS and satellite radios.

Having these luxuries, however, can get expensive. Not to mention, some people want to reduce their carbon footprint and improve the environment. Moreover, what about those who only need a car for a few hours and do not want to pay for gas, additional auto insurance and the increased depreciation on their vehicle? Many turn to car sharing.

Going GreenCar sharing is not a new concept, but it is growing very popular here in the Bay Area. In conjunction with the recent “going green” philosophy, this phenomenon allows individuals to rent cars for a short period of time, such as one to three hours, for a fraction of the cost of owning a car or renting a car from a traditional car rental company. In addition to a $6 to $12 hourly rate depending on what car is chosen, gas and insurance is included in the rental price. Unlike most rental car companies, these cars are usually eco-friendly cars (either hybrids or low emission/ good gas mileage vehicles). This service provides its members with 24/7-access to a fleet of unattended vehicles from convenient locations, such as BART stations or parking lots in urban areas. Two leaders in this industry are local companies named City Car Share and Zipcar.

Both companies offer a seamless process to get you in a vehicle as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can fill out a simple application online or over the phone, pay a nominal registration/membership fee and then you will either receive either a “fob” (City Car Share) or an electronic “key” (Zipcar), much like a credit card, that unlocks the doors of the each vehicle at the time of your reservation. Then you reserve the vehicle of your choice at the location of your choice. All cars are required to have at least a half of a tank of gas in them and are equipped with credit cards to replenish it before you return the vehicle. It’s also nice to have an adapter in each vehicle for your iPod.

Recently, my two boys, ages 5 and 8, and I test drove both and here is what we thought of our experience:

City Car Share

Our first introduction to the car sharing concept was with City Car Share. Its mission is “to improve the environment and quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting car sharing as a means to reduce automobile dependence, ownership and usage.”

We picked up a 2006 Honda Element at the North Berkeley BART Station. This probably was not the appropriate vehicle to test drive since the rear seats were harnessed on the ceiling when we arrived. With two small rambunctious boys, patience was not on our side. Nevertheless, we figured out how to readjust the seats and were on our way.

The process was seamless. One fact that resonated with us was that City Car Share is the only nonprofit car sharing organization, is certified green, has affordable rates and offers discounted rates to other nonprofit/community-based organizations.

Zipcar

Zipcar’s slogan says that they “are redefining the way people think about transportation.” They offer a range of fun cars such as Mini-Coopers to premium BMW 300 series.

We test drove a hybrid Nissan Altima and my boys loved it immensely. None of us could hear the engine and felt that we were definitely doing our part of reducing congestion by sparing the environment from another low gas mileage/gas guzzling vehicle on the road. The reservation process was simplistic and the vehicle was practically brand new.

Overall, the car sharing concept is a reasonably priced alternative to owning a vehicle if you live near a metropolitan area with a sophisticated public transportation system. According to City Car Share, “the American Automobile Association estimates that the nationwide average monthly cost of owning a car is $500” per month, so $50 to $60 a month for car sharing is a viable option.

For more information about car sharing, visit www.citycarshare.org and www.zipcar.com.

Kevin L. Nichols is an author and the president/CEO of KLN Publishing, LLC, located in San Francisco. For more information, www.klnpublishing.com.

BRING YOUR "A" GAME DAY IN OAKLAND

2009-09-04T22:59:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

According to recent data by the state Department of Education, about 17% of California students drop out of high school. But, if you're African American and live in Alameda County, that number shoots up to about 35%, likely higher if you're a Black male.

The Twenty-First Century Foundation's Black Men and Boys Initiative and Actor-Director Mario Van Peebles invite you to participate in a free public screening and discussion about new ideas to improve educational outcomes for African American boys in Oakland.

BRING YOUR "A" GAME is a new documentary film that, in Van Peebles' words, "sheds light on the resilience and influence of Black males." The film will be used as a springboard for discussion and more importantly, action.

The film is hosted by Van Peebles and includes innovative special effects and interviews with prominent Black men such as Ice Cube, Lupe Fiasco, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Cornell West, Spike Lee, and others. Its message, one that President Obama has spoken about, is clear: a high school diploma is not enough.
We must bring our "A" Game!

EVENT INFORMATION

WHERE:
Oakland Musuem - James Moore Theatre
1000 Oak Street
Oakland, California 94607

WHEN:
Saturday, September 19, 2009
9:00AM-5:00PM for YOUTH
9:00AM-12NOON for ADULT STAKEHOLDERS

Open to African-American males between 9th and 12th grade. Lunch (for youth only) will be served.

Space is limited.

INVITED GUESTS:
Mario Van Peeples
Kevin Powell

TO REGISTER:
Click Here

QUESTIONS:
CALL 510.909.7423

How are Oakland Youth
Bringing their 'A' Game?

WATCH NOW!

Weathering the Storm: Using Social Networking Sites to Uncover the Hidden Job Opportunities

2009-08-24T23:04:00.000-07:00

By: Pang Ly, Esq. and Kevin L. Nichols1
Some social networking sites (“SNS”) are still in their teenage phase: crushes, gossip, sports stats, and local flavor are their typical posts. Most SNS’ casual approach to communicating is not the standard communication style among lawyers particularly when “communicating” in writing. How then as legal professionals can we appropriately utilize the tool for job searching? By understanding and finessing the social features particular to each SNS, you can effectively use the SNS tools in a focused manner for your own ends. Make sure the social networking you engage in achieves two goals: (1) identifies persons of interest (“POI”) and (2) reveals networking opportunities.

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and JDSupra are four commonly used SNS which you can easily dabble in and employ for your own purposes including a job search.

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the most professionally focused SNS with its online resume functionality. Anything you would include in your resume and experience section, you can certainly enhance with LinkedIn’s features including showcasing glowing recommendations from colleagues, clients, or past employers as part of your profile. Indeed, you can send an email containing LinkedIn standard text requesting a recommendation or choose to write your own request for a recommendation.

This SNS’s underlying goal is to reduce the "6 Degrees of Separation" by allowing individual members to mine the connections of existing relationships and request introductions to meet potential employers, clients, or other resourceful people. Rather than cold calling companies, etc., LinkedIn facilitates introductions that broaden your contacts. You can easily find people who you went to school with or have worked with and add them to your network. You can easily upload your contacts from other sources such as Gmail or Yahoo. LinkedIn also has job postings, calendar of events, and updates about your contacts so you can keep current.

Practical Tips:
1. Your LinkedIn account should have a professional headshot, detailed resume, solid recommendations, and a careful edit of interests. Employers glean a lot of information from the profile listing, so show off a little and put your best foot forward. Warning: do not get too personal here – save that for Facebook if you want to go there.
2. A useful function of LinkedIn is the contact settings “expertise requests”. This enables you to identify a person as a specialist in their field, and regardless of whether the person is outside of your network, the setting is an excellent icebreaker by facilitating an easy introduction. People appreciate having their knowledge valued and are eager to share about their practice. Once you have identified a POI, then schedule an informational interview. If nothing else, you will make a new friend.
3. Ask a contact to forward your resume to HR. Oftentimes a firm will have an
opening and, instead of blindly sending your resume to HR, LinkedIn can help
you identify a POI in the company. For example, a law firm just posted an
advertisement for a senior associate because the previous one, whom is in your network, was recruited in-house. You ask your contact to forward a detailed introduction to the hiring manager about you and your ability to fill the vacancy. Assuming that their departure was a pleasant one, you have spectacular inroad to a position that no one else would have. 4. Ask for introductions. Really extend yourself and ask your existing contacts to introduce you to POIs. LinkedIn makes it easy to get third parties introduced into your network.
5. Keep track of events or job posting within your area of interest.

Facebook
Facebook ("FB") is perhaps the most popular SNS today with many features to keep friends and family current about your life. Individuals can post events, share photos, play games, post relevant articles, YouTube clips, and other video, and create groups for worthy causes or networking. Members are able to update their "status" by sharing their moods or current activity, to which others may comment and respond accordingly. This SNS tends to be less professionally oriented, however, many professionals maintain both a work oriented LinkedIn page and a friends and family/interest group oriented Facebook page. Thus checking out and being open to both SNS provides a way in which to become better acquainted with your professional contacts. FB also has many settings to address privacy concerns; the settings allow you to manage who has what level of access to your personal
information and details of your life which are on display. Manage appropriately!

Practical Tips:
1. By updating your status, you can let your network know that you are looking for a particular opportunity and those who frequently read what is going on in other's lives, can respond to you with either referrals, connections, or helpful information that you may use to achieve your goals.
2. Belonging to the professional groups, alumni associations, affinity groups, etc., you can learn about social mixers and events that can allow you to meet the right people and open up the appropriate doors for you to walk through.
3. Search for POIs. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you actually know someone who can put in a good word for you.
4. Look for events posted regarding your practice areas. Even bar associations and groups have FB listing networking functions.
5. Sometimes receiving "friend requests" from bosses or co-workers can be unsettling so please visit http://www.examiner.com/x-11864-Office-PoliticsExaminer~y2009m6d23-The-politics-of-Facebook-friends-from-your-job for some helpful tips.

Twitter
Twitter is a site that allows individuals to post short, roughly 160 character messages, containing their thoughts, services, needs, feelings, etc. to their "followers" as well as the rest of the universe. This is like sending an instant message to everyone you know and depending on your settings, the entire world. Thus, it has upsides and downsides. Recently, it has grown in popularity due to celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher's race to beat CNN to 1,000,000 followers, or Oprah Winfrey sending her first "tweet" (message) on her show. Even President Obama tweets!

Millions of people read each others tweets and links to various articles, pictures, and other content on the web. A more focused Twitter for legal professionals is LexTweet which gathers legal tweets. However, it is difficult to measure how effective this tool is with advancing your career as unlike LinkedIn and FB, Twitter is one way conversation. It can help keep you on people’s minds if you use it to provide focused information that they want to see; you can think of it as targeted direct marketing lite.

Practical Tips:
1. Update your status and let your network know that you are looking for a particular opportunity.
2. Keep posts professional because tweets are searchable.
3. For a handbook on how to use Twitter, please visit
http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

JD Supra
JD Supra is a SNS focused on the legal community and allows lawyers to showcase their work product. Its motto is: “Give Content. Get Noticed.” and is intended for lawyers to really highlight their legal acumen and the SNS is a searchable database of court filings, decisions, and articles submitted by the individual members. Employers will appreciate reviewing your work product and evaluating your abilities. This can be used for marketing yourself by reminding people of the client alerts or talks you have given recently. Providing value is key.

Practical Tips:
1. Remember that everything that you post is being "published" and discoverable. That being said put your best article, case or result out there. Prior work is a great way to sell your skills to a potential employer. Remember to keep it current.
2. Identify POIs and make networking connections.
With the working understanding of SNS, make sure to use it in an overall diligent job search.

SNS can be leads on hidden job opportunities and they can also enhance your ability to
positively stand out from other candidates. Here are some great jobs posting sites to get you started, and you just might find that dream job:

1. The Association of Corporate Counsel: www.acca.com
2. www.lawjobs.com
3. Worldwide Legal directory, see its Law Employment Center: www.hg.org
4. The Ladders: http://law.theladders.com
5. Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s job bank:
http://www.tools.mcca.com/MCCA/JobBank/
6. Corporate Counsel Women of Color http://www.ccwomenofcolor.org/
7. www.indeed.com
____________________________
1 Pang Ly, Esq. is a founding member and current President of the Society of Asian Women Leaders (SAWL) and President & CEO of Legal Presence LLC. Kevin L. Nichols is President & CEO of KLN Publishing, LLC. The information in this article is a general description of social networking sites and is not intended to provide specific [legal] advice nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship. Because of its generality, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations. Printed with permission of Pang Ly, Esq. and Kevin L. Nichols. Copyright ©2009. All Rights Reserved.

Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love is now playing in the Bay Area!

2009-08-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Please find some information that I received for your review. Please contact Anne below with inquiries.

Very truly yours,

KLN

Hi Kevin,

I work with Groovy Griot, a production company in New York and
we released a new film in the Bay Area on July 31 entitled,
"Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love." The film is a documentary
about Senegalese music superstar, Youssou N'Dour. The film has
won numerous awards on the festival circuit and it opened in
New York and Los Angeles to much acclaim. The film is an entertaining, compelling documentary and it sends a message of positive change through music. Here's a link to a review of the film in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/31/MV35190UNA.DTL .

We are trying to get the word out about the film in the Bay Area. I wanted to see if you would be willing to send information about the film to your group members via email or if you would be willing to post something on your linked in blog about the film. Below please find additional information about the film. Please take a moment to view the film trailer by visiting the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK4kE329o28.

Warm regards,

Anne Broecker
Groovy Griot
212-222-2336

++++++++
It gives us great pleasure to announce that the new award winning film Youssou N’Dour: I BRING WHAT I LOVE opened in San Francisco (UA Stonestown Twin), Berkeley (Rialto Elmwood) and Monterey (Osio Cinema 6) on July 31 after opening to great success in New York and Los Angeles – “One of the best openings for a documentary so far this year" - Indiewire.

An audience sensation at film festivals worldwide, I BRING WHAT I LOVE takes you behind the scenes and into the world of Africa’s most famous musician: Youssou N’Dour. This never-before-told story follows N’Dour at a turning point in his life and career, as he releases his most personal and controversial album Egypt. But the singer’s hope for promoting a more tolerant face of Islam erupts in scandal and outrage in his native country that rejects the album and denounce it as blasphemous. Part explosive documentary, part stirring drama, I BRING WHAT I LOVE is an unforgettable musical journey with an artist whose courage and conviction shook the music industry and ultimately awakened the world. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba49eFI3WsU

If you live in or near San Francisco, go see the film and bring your friends, family and colleagues. The film's beautiful footage, fun beats, and inspiring personal story make it a must-see.

Enjoy the tantalizing beats, be inspired by Youssou's compelling story, but also go see the film because there is more at stake. It’s all too rare that an African or Muslim subject gets this kind of filmmaking and this kind of attention. Amid the images in the U.S. media of African AIDS, war and poverty, this film is a chance for Americans to see a positive, realistic representation of contemporary Africa. In addition, it is all too rare that stories go below the surface and give nuanced views of a more tolerant Islam. Every film is judged by its box office receipts, so please do your part to make this film a success - to show theaters and the media that we want to see films that reveal an entirely new Africa.

SEE THEATER AND TICKET INFO BELOW:
San Francisco, CA
UA Stonestown Twin
501 Buckingham Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415) 681-0331
http://tiny.cc/UUvOF
Daily 1:00 PM, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00

Opens July 7 at the Roxie
Roxie Theater
3117 16th Street, San Francisco, CA
(415)-863-1087
http://www.roxie.com
Daily at 9:45pm

Berkeley, CA
Rialto Cinemas Elmwood
2966 College Avenue at Ashby
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-433-9730
http://www.rialtocinemas.com/elmwood
Daily 2:30 PM, 4:40, 7:00, 9:30 with Sat/Sun Mat 12:15 PM

Opens in El Cerrito, CA on August 7
Cerrito Rialto Cinemas
10070 San Pablo Avenue
El Cerrito, CA 94530
510-273-9102
www.rialtocinemas.com
Daily: 2:00pm and 7:00pm

Monterey, CA
Osio 6 Cinemas
350 Alvarado St
Monterey, CA 93940
831-644-8171
http://www.osiocinemas.com
Daily: 12:10pm, 2:30pm, 4:50pm, 7:30pm, 9:40pm

SEE PRESS COVERAGE BELOW:
Reel Talk/NBC: June 20th, 2009
“Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love”
http://video.reeltalktv.com/player/?fid=28804 - videoid=1127487
CNN: June 13th, 2009
“African Voices: Singing from Senegal”
http://edition.cnn.com/video/ - /video/international/2009/06/12/av.a.youssou.ndour.cnn
Huffington Post: June 12th, 2009
“Youssou N’Dour and ‘I Bring What I Love’: an Elegiac Meditation on Faith, Islam and Music”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zach-karabell/youssou-ndour-andi-bring_b_214631.html
Group sales questions? Email: groupsales@ibringwhatilove.com

Visit the website: http://www.ibringwhatilove.com /and join our email list
Join on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20862148780
Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/YoussouNdourDoc
Subscribe to http://www.Youtube.com/YoussouNdourDoc for exclusive videos and music!

For more information, questions, and to share your ideas please contact:
Anne Broecker
Groovy Griot
I Bring What I Love Outreach Manager
212-222-2336
anne@ibringwhatilove.com

KLN Publishing, LLC

BAY AREA BLACK EXPO 2012 KICK OFF MIXER at the Linen Life Gallery

3rd Annual California Diversity and Leadership Conference

2nd Annual MLK National Day of Service

Demonstrate What You Are Thankful For!

Kasim Reed - Mayor of Atlanta, GA - Special Guest - Bay Area Professionals Reception/Mixer - SF Chinatown Hilton Hotel - October 28, 2011

Kevin Brown's Discovery Kingdom Backpack Drive

Managing Your Stress While Building Your Business

Managing Your Stress While Building Your Business

National Bar Association's Mid-Year Conference

Kappa Health Finance Literacy Community Fair 4/9/11

BABP April Professional Networking Mixer

A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America Training II

NBA Youth Empowerment Symposium and an ABA Civics & Law Academy

“The Good Fight 50 Years Forward: The Civil Rights Era and Today’s Battle for Justice”

Urban Financial Services Coalition 2011 Annual Economic Summit

Woman-to-Woman Oakland Brunch & Beyond - April 2, 2011

CADC, CMCP & KLN Consulting's Black History Month Celebration

CADC, CMCP & KLN Consulting's Black History Month Celebration!

Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of the East Bay's Blood Drive 1/15/11 7:30am-3pm

Are You Ready to Set Your Vision in Motion in 2011?

Upcoming MLK Holiday Events in Oakland

Vote for the Local 5 Progressive Unity Slate for the California Democratic Party - 16th Assembly District - Oakland-Alameda-Piedmont-Endorsed By Gavin Newsom

The Best “Game” is the “Truth”

Happy Holidays!

Southern Cal Family Fun Spots for the Holidays!

Travel Considerations

DisneyLand ® and California Adventure Park TM

BANC's Understanding & Managing Internet Services

City of Oakland's Meet The Candidates Forum

Oakalnd Art & Soul Festival Celebrates 10 years

Wine + Croquet + Music 2010 - Sept. 25th - Atherton

Bay Area Black Professionals takes social networking ‘offline’

LinkedIn Bay Area Black Professionals Mixer

BABJA's 7th Annual Young Journalists Scholarship Gala

How to develop a strong network

BABP August Professional Networking Mixer

Farewell Randell Bradley-Benson 6/11/69 - 7/3/10

BABP's Inaugural Caramel Lattes

BABP's Inaugural Caramel Lattes

Got Kidney? & Hip Hop(e) for Healing Southwest Tour Kick-Off

CHBA Fundraiser Thursday, 5/27/10 @ Chevy's

African American Organizations Making Connections

Event information

Transportation

Young Leaders for DeWitt

CMCP Career & Professional Development Panel

African American Leadership Weekend Moving the Urban Agenda

Take a step towards your Financial Freedom

A Night in the Fillmore - Haiti fundraiser

Celebrating the Black Press During Black History Month

Must See King Tut at the DeYoung Before it Departs

Burger Gourmet - Downtown Oakland

When Money's Tight and You Still Want to Get Away...Choose Monterey!

Black Youth Rising Book Launch and Fundraiser

Description

An Evening with Condoleezza Rice--save the date and news release

Relationship Tip No. 1 - Listening for Understanding

Check out the California Diversity Council's Website!

Evaluating ‘the dream’ today

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

DeafHope plans walkathon for Dec. 4

Don’t wait until you need a job

Don’t wait until you need a job

Power LinkedIn User Interview with Kevin L. Nichols

Interesting San Francisco Attractions

Featuring the Legion of Honor and the Exploratorium

The Exploratorium

The Legion of Honor

A Day at the DeYoung

LinkedIn for complicated resumes

Going ‘green’ by car sharing

BRING YOUR "A" GAME DAY IN OAKLAND

Weathering the Storm: Using Social Networking Sites to Uncover the Hidden Job Opportunities

Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love is now playing in the Bay Area!

DisneyLand ^®and California Adventure Park TM