Toastmasters International District 57 of Northern California is featuring Ed Tate, successful trainer, author and international speaker at the Oakland Airport Hilton Friday May 3 and Saturday, May 4. Tate won Toastmasters International’s “World Championship of Public Speaking” in 2000. He is one of two keynote speakers at the conference He will also speak at [...]
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President Barack Obama has warned his daughters that if they get tattoos, he and his wife will get matching ones on the same place on their bodies. In an interview on NBC’s Today show, the president said he hoped the “family tattoo” threat would discourage teen rebellion. Obama said he had warned Malia, 14, and [...]
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By Darryl Bell, NNPA An invitation to the Rev. Kevin R. Johnson, senior pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church, to be the baccalaureate speaker May 18 at his alma mater Morehouse College has been rescinded after he wrote a newspaper column critical of President Obama’s failure to appoint African Americans to his cabinet. Johnson was [...]
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Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 684 Juliga Woods St. in Richmond invites the public to a presentation and discussion Wednesday, May 8, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., about the reasons to transfer residential electrical service from PG&E to MCE, Richmond’s renewable electricity alternative. There will be presentation and Q&A with a representative from MCE. Topics will [...]
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Part II By Lloyd Madden Nat Bates has long been involved in politics at all levels of government. He remembers the 1976 presidential election, in which he was initially a supporter of then Governor Jerry Brown’s campaign. He ended up siding with the winner, President Jimmy Carter. His solid relationship with people inside the Carter [...]
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By Carla Thomas Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, Richmond Community Foundation, and Richmond ESC, “Excellence Serving Our Community,” hosted the 2nd Annual Volunteer Recognition and Awards Ceremony in celebration of National Volunteer Week last Thursday at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. The event honored the outstanding volunteers, organizations, and companies that promote positive change in the community and [...]
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By Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez This month, you’ve decided you need a whole new look. Your hair and wardrobe are out of date, so you’re getting a cut-and-style and a fresh wardrobe, shoes and all. You’ve got an appointment for a mani-pedi, a dermatologist, dentist, and – no more glasses! – you’re getting some [...]
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By Gretchen Kell, UC Berkeley News Minh Dang, a UC Berkeley graduate student whose courageous personal story prompted her work fighting the commercial sexual exploitation of children and launched her into the national spotlight, was named by the White House today (Monday, April 29) as a Champion of Change. Dang and 14 other Asian American, [...]
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A clever mobile app that allows users to locate green businesses in Alameda County was the first-place winner in the Alameda County Apps Challenge 2013 on Saturday, April 27. The First Prize winner, called Green By Me, was the top selection of 20 apps and app concepts presented at the end of the daylong festival [...]
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Civil Rights Movement veteran Ambrose Maxon first became involved in the fight for equal rights in Ruleville, Mississippi. He was active in the campaign of Fannie Lou Hamer, the first Black person to run for governor in Mississippi. He was also involved with the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), [...]
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OCCUR and the San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program present “Keys to Writing Effective Proposals,” conducted by expert Glen Price of the Glen Price Group, who will provide valuable proposal writing training for Bay Area faith-based organizations and their nonprofit partners. This is the fourth in a free series of workshops in the 2013 Model Built [...]
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By Ken A. Epstein The Oakland Unified School District is moving ahead with plans to remove Frick Middle School Principal Jerome Gourdine, who over the past 18 years has earned a reputation as one of the best and most loved educational leaders in the district. The district is also transferring popular assistant principal Jeffrey Taylor, [...]
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By Post Staff The Oakland Police Department’s performance has improved slightly, though its progress in achieving federal court-ordered reforms is still stagnating, according to the latest report from the federal monitor who is evaluating the city’s police services. “We have noted in our past reports our serious dismay with the department’s stagnation in its progress [...]
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Oakland Attorney Walter Riley, pictured above with his wife attorney Barbara Rhine, was honored April 27 with a testimonial dinner by the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild along with hundreds of lawyers, activists, authors and supporters of the causes he has championed for more than 40 years. The City of [...]
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By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor Oakland’s Local 55 Firefighters Union ended a planned lobbying and media campaign before it got off the ground after learning that the City of Oakland was reversing a decision to continue rotating closures of two of the city’s 32 fire stations. A spokesperson for Local 55 said this week that the [...]
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Obray Van Buren, Community Enhancement Officer of United Association of Union Plumbers, Fitters, Welders & HVAC Local 342 and member of the Oakland Workforce Investment Board, was honored last Friday evening by the Alameda Labor Council as unionist of the year. Attorney General Kamala Harris was the keynote speaker at the annual award dinner, which [...]
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Loni Hancock By Danielle Savage Newly released results of two investigations into the causes of the fire at the Chevron Richmond Refinery have set off fresh discussions in Richmond and around the East Bay about what must be done to prevent future disasters. The fire, which took place in August, resulted in six minor [...]
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Vocal music students at the Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) are preparing to perform in “Spotlight,” a one-night show on Thursday, May 2 at the Fox Theatre in Uptown Oakland. The show will take the audience on a journey into competitive singing reality TV shows such as American Idol, Making the Band, and The [...]
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By Uche J. Uwahemu Upon arrival in the United States in 1995, Menbere Aklilu began living her American dream as a hostess at Salute Evita Ristorante in Richmond. Little did she suspect that seven years later she would become the owner of Salute Evita. The restaurant is nestled at the Marina Bay in Richmond, with [...]
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By David Browne, Rolling Stone Richie Havens, who brought an earthy soulfulness to the folk scene of the Sixties and was the first act to hit the stage at Woodstock, died of a heart attack on Monday. He was 72 and was living in Jersey City, New Jersey. Last month, Havens announced he would no [...]
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Elaine Brown, former leader of the Black Panther Party, will give the second in a series of lectures at Marcus Books on May 11, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Oakland store, 3900 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Born in North Philadelphia, Brown’s story is one of a poor Black woman who managed to [...]
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Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) has announced that his bill to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other STDs in California prisons passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee. The Prisoner Protections for Family and Community Health Act (AB 999) now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. “Sexually transmitted disease is a tragic reality of life in [...]
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By Ashley Chambers Shedding light on modern day mental and emotional health challenges, the inspirational gospel play “For Every Mountain” is returning to the stage after a successful run last year. Presented by Totally Led Ministries under Rev. George Brown and Grace Baptist Church in Oakland under Pastor Charles L. Hopkins, the play is written [...]
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By Ashley Chambers At this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Fest, Zelana Smith, Micaela Clark, and Thomas Logwood from Castlemont High School demonstrated the power of young voices winning the 2013 “Write to Live” essay contest. Begun in 2011, the contest is based on the book “Write to Live, Telling Our Stories,” authored [...]
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The Mormon Helping Hands program mobilized more 5,000 volunteers to conduct community service project on April 20 and 27 throughout the Bay Area. The largest project this year took place in Oakland where Mormon Helping Hands 2013, in partnership with Rebuilding Together Oakland and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led an interfaith [...]
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Filing tax forms was a fresh reminder to many that both their income and employment status are in need of a boost. Whether that means rejoining the workforce, finding a better job or going in a different career direction, the East Bay’s HIREvent in Emeryville offers an ideal venue to explore a broad array of [...]
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The Alta Mira Club is presenting a Vintage Fashion Show and Tea on Saturday, May 4 at the Alta Mira Club House, located at 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro. High tea, which will be served at 12:30 p.m., includes tea or coffee and a spread of assorted tea sandwiches and desserts. Theresa LaQuey, custom [...]
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By Post Staff To call Dr. Desmond Carson “committed to his community” would be an understatement. Carson, a Richmond native, is something of a hometown hero: an emergency room doctor in West Contra Costa’s only public hospital, a crusader for public health education, a mentor to youth and husband and father of two. In his [...]
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By Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm Sez It was the scariest half-hour of your life. You were somewhere with Mom or Dad and they let go of your hand for just a minute. Just a minute, and suddenly you were in a sea of legs with no idea what happened. You were totally, completely lost. You [...]
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The Spanish Speaking Citizens’ Foundation will show a major collection of “Chicano Political Poster Art: A Retrospective.” The grand opening and reception will be held Thursday, May 2, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Citizens´ Foundation offices at 1470 Fruitvale Ave. in Oakland. For information call (510) 261-7839.
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By Cathy Cockrell, UC Berkeley News Typecast in high school as bad at numbers, Maria Martinez is now earning her doctorate in mathematics at Berkeley. Convinced he “didn’t belong” at UC’s flagship campus, when he landed as an undocumented freshman from South Central L.A., Joel Portillo graduated a University Medal finalist and is now earning [...]
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By Judith Scherr Despite the Berkeley community’s solid and vocal opposition to a postal service plan to sell the historic downtown post office, postal officials announced Monday they intend to move forward with the sale. Opponents have until May 7 to appeal the decision. “It’s outrageous that the postal service would take this unilateral action [...]
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Hundreds of thousands of residents are hitting the saddle as the region gears up for the San Francisco Bay Area’s 19th Annual Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 9. Bike to Work Day encourages residents to opt for a healthier commute and experience the benefits of cycling firsthand. In addition to burning calories, bicycle [...]
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The Oakland Board of Education this week appointed Dr. Gary Yee as Acting Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). The board made the decision at its meeting Wednesday to replace current Superintendent Tony Smith, who is moving to Chicago. Smith, who said he was leaving for family reasons, announced his resignation on April [...]
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By Kenneth Miller, L.A. Sentinel The Metro Transportation Authority (MTA) in Los Angeles pledged significant African American participation during the construction phase of the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor and also signed a project labor agreement to ensure that Blacks received adequate employment representation. But contractors have drastically underperformed in the hiring of African Americans in [...]
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By Ashley Chambers Business professional Anthony J. Reese recently graduated from the Keller School of Management of DeVry University receiving his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in accounting. For Reese, a real estate agent for the City of Oakland, striving for academic success holds a deeper meaning. Though he battled with dyslexia throughout high school [...]
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Filing tax forms was a fresh reminder to many that both their income and employment status are in need of a boost. Whether that means rejoining the workforce, finding a better job or going in a different career direction, the East Bay’s HIREvent in Emeryville offers an ideal venue to explore a broad array of [...]
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If he had lived, master drummer Babatunde Olatunji would have been 85 years old. To commemorate his memory, his fans and admirers hosted a monumental musical feast at the Ashkenaz nightclub last Saturday in Berkeley. Pictured in this Afro-Caribbean salute to Olatunji are (L to R): Sikiru Adepoju, Val Serrant, Mohamed Kouyate, Karamba Diabate and [...]
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By Babatunde Harrison His name was Michael Babatunde Olatunji, and he is considered to be the greatest African drummer ever to step on the shores of the United States of America. During his 50-year stay in the U.S. Babatunde Olatunji established himself as the leading cultural ambassador of the continent of Africa in America. He [...]
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Attorney General Kamala Harris this week praised the passage of a bill she is sponsoring to upgrade and expand California’s prescription drug monitoring program as an important step in combating a serious public health and law enforcement issue. The bill passed out of the Senate Business and Professions Committee on a 7 to 2 vote. [...]
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By H. Geoffrey Watson, MD Local boxing trainer Virgil Hunter’s advice to young men on living a healthy lifestyle are recommendations that pack a punch. He began training champion boxer Andre Ward when he was nine years old and has influenced pro-fighters from around world who come to him for advice and training. “Starting early [...]
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee is opposing cuts to Social Security, called the chained CPI, that are included in the president’s 2014 budget proposal. The chained CPI is a cost index which helps to calculate the cost of living adjustments for benefit levels. The result is a lower measure of the impact of inflation on the cost [...]
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Arif Khatib (right), the founder of the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame, ‘Jack London’ George Rowan, Jr. (center) and India Alston who was Mistress of Ceremonies, celebrated at the 13th Annual Multi Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame held at the Claremont Hotel & Resort on March 22. George received the Tennis Entrepreneurship Award. The tennis [...]
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Sheree Murphy was honored as a Champion for Change and role model for her family and community by the Network for a Healthy California (Network)-Bay Area Region African American Campaign. Murphy knows “you are what you eat.” This is why she makes sure that she and her 10-year-old daughter Nia eat healthy every day. Even [...]
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The Scepter Club’s Regina Chapter #67, Order of the Eastern Star Prince Hall Rite of Adoption State of California, is presenting an “Inspiring Women and Men to Look and Feel Healthy and Beautiful” luncheon on Saturday, April 27, noon to 3 pm. at the at the Oakland Masonic Center, 3903 Broadway in Oakland. This event [...]
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Tal Kravitz (center, kneeling), Israeli musician, is surrounded by students of Oakland’s Hebrew Day School. He performed for children at the school to mark the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Israel’s Independence. This year, the Israeli Consulate decided that the best way to celebrate Israel’s Independence would be to embody the truth that a [...]
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Maudelle Shirek, who served 20 years as an elected Berkeley leader and a lifetime as an advocate for justice, died last Thursday in a hospice in Vallejo. She was 101. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Maudelle Shirek, and my thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family,” said Congresswoman Barbara [...]
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250 students from Oakland School’s 11 Transitional Kindergartens spent Friday, April 12 at the Oakland Zoo, sponsored by the Oakland Rotary Club. Thirty-five Rotarians led the field trip, which focused on art and biology. This year, Oakland Rotarians and other partners provided $22,000 for classroom learning tools and supplies, $15,000 worth of books, $11,000 for [...]
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Public speaker Drew Debro, 17, was recently presented with the Oakland Unified School District’s Distinguished Participation Award for “Demonstrating the importance of literacy and his eloquence of speaking in the style of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” A senior at Oakland Technical High School, Debro started his career in public speaking at the age of [...]
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Rowena Tatmon, of Oakland, (pictured with show host Drew Carey) recently won over $11,000 in cash and prizes on “The Price is Right” game show, which aired Friday, April 5. A business partner of IVM1 Entertainment, her prizes included a hammock, outside grill, and designer sunglasses. Photo by Blake Kerentan.
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