California
For the second consecutive year, the KLCS original monthly program “Families Matter” has been nominated for an Imagen Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes positive portrayals of Latinos in television and film. Owned and operated by the LAUSD, the family-themed show was selected as a 2013 Imagen Award nominee in the category of Best Local Informational Program. The nominated episode, “Getting Ready for College,” focused on the district’s goal to graduate 100 percent of its students college-prepared and career-ready, while also guiding parents on how their child can prepare for and achieve a higher education.
Florida
Representative Cynthia Stafford (D-Miami) was honored by the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar with the 2013 Legislator Award. Representative Stafford attended the Family Law Section Annual Installation Luncheon during the Florida Bar’s Annual Convention in Boca Raton, where she received the award. Stafford was recognized for her outstanding efforts on behalf of Florida’s families throughout the 2013 legislative session. During that session, Representative Stafford worked closely with the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar on issues of importance to families in the state. Among other things, Stafford was a vocal opponent of Senate Bill 718, a measure that would have ended permanent alimony in the state.
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San Diego Chargers Corey Liuget and 10 of his NFL superstar friends held the first Corey Liuget Youth Football Clinic in partnership with the Little Haiti Optimist Club. The Youth Football Clinic was free to boys and girls ages 6-18 and was held at the Little Haiti Soccer Park located at 6301 N.E. 2nd Avenue in Miami. Youth in attendance had an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the game as well as make friends and meet a host of NFL players such as Mike Pouncey of the Miami Dolphins, Raheem Moore of the Denver Broncos, Adwele Ojomo of the New York Giants and Jeff Allen of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Georgia
Clark Atlanta University recently received an anonymous gift of more than 22 trees, valued at $32,000, from the Legacy Tree Project to help beautify the campus. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, over the course of 50 years, a single large shade tree can generate more than $160,000 in environmental benefits. This includes $31,250 worth of generated oxygen, $62,000 worth of air pollution control, $37,500 worth of recycled water and $31,500 worth of soil erosion control.
New York
Three lawsuits alleging sex abuse by Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who gave Sesame Street’s Elmo his voice, were dismissed by a judge who ruled the accusers waited too long to sue. Clash, who was suspended and later resigned from Sesame Street after the first allegations surfaced in November, “can go about the business of reclaiming his personal life and his professional standing,” his lawyer told CNN Monday. The lawyer who filed the lawsuits vowed to “appeal the decision and continue the fight to be a voice for victims.” A clerk with Manhattan District court confirmed that three lawsuits filed against Clash were dismissed on grounds that the statute of limitations had run out. Sesame Street had no immediate comment on the matter. Each accuser, all adult men, said they were courted and seduced by Clash when they were underage teenagers.
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CocoaFab.com, founded by Angela Burt-Murray, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, and digital strategist Shelly Jones Jennings, announced a digital content development partnership with actress Malinda Williams. They will co-produce original hair, beauty and fashion-focused videos for CocoaFab.com. The first project premiered with a “do-it-yourself” (DIY) hair care video series titled “Mane Taming with Malinda Williams.” The show is born from Williams’ passion for hairstyling. The actress, who does her own hair, attended the Hair Fashion Institute in Plainfield, N.J. “People are consuming more and more content outside of traditional viewing platforms, and I want to offer my fans something that I think is relevant, useful and entertaining,” said Williams. “I’m an actress, but I’m also trained in the hair/beauty industry. The content produced for CocoaFab.com will be a perfect marriage of the two.”
North Carolina
According to an article published in Campus Reform, school administrators at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) are systematically raising the final grades of African American students. Former Director of Academic Technology Shira Hedgepeth, along with two former professors who spoke anonymously, alleged administrators routinely increase the final grades of African American students to raise the school’s standing. Documents provided to Campus Reform by one of the former faculty members appear to validate these claims. According to the university, they were not aware of these claims and no complaints have been filed on the matter.
Texas
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the world’s oldest intercollegiate fraternity founded by African American men, recently held its 107th anniversary convention at the Austin Convention Center and Hilton Austin Hotel. Thousands of Alpha members from nearly 700 chapters spanning four continents and their families descended upon the capital city to take part in five days of leadership workshops and service projects. Alpha kicked off the public portion of the convention with a community service project in support of the fraternity’s mission inviting youth from the Austin metropolitan area to participate in the “Leadership Development Institute” (LDI) program which focused on service, team-building and how good leadership yields success from the classroom to the boardroom.
Wisconsin
A saxophone player was assaulted outside the Summerfest grounds near Chicago St. in Milwaukee. The 26-year-old street performer, Cassandra Struve, became a target on opening night while she was playing an old Jazz song. “I was playing Minnie the Moocher, classic Blues Brothers song,” said Struve. “A lady with a child in her hand came up to me, smacked me in my face and said ‘don’t play that.’” Struve says three African American women confronted her and shouted that a White girl could not play the song. After being hit, Struve says she was shocked and pushed the woman away, but was hit again. “Her daughter came out of nowhere and punched me twice in the side of the face,” said Struve. “Saxophone is an innocent instrument. It’s supposed to spread the love and joy with people, not to bring hatred,” said Struve. Two women, 14- and 24-years-old, were cited for disorderly conduct. A 41-year-old woman was cited for assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
Compiled by Juliana Norwood.
