• South County

    Community Child Care Council of Alameda County 40th Anniversary

    by  • April 26, 2013 • Bay Area, News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The Community Child Care Council (4C’s) of Alameda County will be hosting its 40th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 4 at 6 p.m. The organization will present awards to Michael A. LeNoir, M.D., president-elect of the National Medical Association; George Halvorson, president and CEO of Kaiser Permanente; Kristina Adams, president-elect of the California Child...

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    Afternoon of High Tea and Vintage Fashion in San Leandro

    by  • April 26, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Events, Lifestyle, Oakland News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    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,...

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    San Leandro Expands Dates and Hours for Summer Swimming

    by  • April 26, 2013 • Bay Area, Children, Entertainment, Family, News Articles, Publicity, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The San Leandro Recreation and Human Services Department will operate pools over the summer at the San Leandro Family Aquatic Center, Boys and Girls Club and Farrelly Pool. Each of the pools offers swim lessons for all ages and levels at a variety of times with American Red Cross certified and trained instructors.  To...

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    The Celebration of Babatunde Olatunji An Invocation of the Spirit of the Drum

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Babatunde Olatunji, the greatest African drummer. Photo by John Werner.

    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....

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    Kamala Harris Backs Upgrade of Prescription Drug Monitoring

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    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...

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    The Secret Is Healthy Living, Says Olympics Boxing Trainer Virgil Hunter

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    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...

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    Lee Opposes Social Security Cuts

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Barbara Lee

    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...

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    George Receives Tennis Entrepreneurship Award

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    George & Arif

    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...

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    Sheree Murphy is a Bay Area Champion for Change, Her Motto: Health is Wealth

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    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....

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    Scepter Club Holds “Inspiring Women and Men” Scholarship Luncheon

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    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...

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    Oakland’s Hebrew Day School Celebrates 65th Anniversary of Israel’s Independence

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    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...

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    Maudelle Shirek, 101, “Godmother” of East Bay Politics

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Maudelle Shirek

    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...

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    Oakland Rotary Sponsors Zoo Trip for 250 Kindergarteners

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Linda Pitts, Transitiional Kindergarten teacher at Garfiled Elementary School, chaperones some of the 250 children who spent the day at the Oakland Zoo.

    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...

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    Drew Debro Awarded for Public Speaking

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Drew Debro

    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...

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    Rowena Tatmon Wins “The Price is Right”

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    drew carey and rowena

    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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    San Leandro Honors Earth Day

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, Environment, Featured Events, Information, News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The City of San Leandro will honor Earth Day 2013 by hosting or partnering on a number of springtime events. Residents can commemorate the occasion by learning about the city’s recycling programs, attending the Watershed Festival, visiting local Bay Friendly Gardens, receiving locally made compost, participating in the annual citywide garage sale, or joining...

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    Fremont Student Wins President’s Environmental Youth Award

    by  • April 19, 2013 • Bay Area, News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Pavan Raj Gowda.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week announced that 12-year-old Pavan Raj Gowda of Fremont  is one of the recipients of the 2012 President’s Environmental Youth Award for his environmental stewardship work, which includes founding “Green Kids Now, Inc,” a non-profit organization focused on raising children’s awareness of environmental issues. “EPA is proud to...

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    Albertine Thomas

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Obituaries, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Albertine Thomas

    By Vanessa Le Blanc Albertine Thomas passed away at the age of 83, and was the only child of Alberta and Joseph Wilson of New Orleans, Louisiana. While growing up in the South, she attended segregated schools. However, the injustice and bigotry of segregation did not diminish her dreams. As integration transformed society, Albertine...

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    Winter Noel, 9, Miss Oakland Congeniality

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Winter Noel of Oakland was crowned Miss Congeniality in the 2013 Miss Teen Oakland pageant competition on Saturday, April 6. Judged on personality and modeling routines of casual and formal wear, Noel participated in the Junior Pre-Teen division, one of four divisions in which young ladies ages 7 to 19 competed. Winter says she...

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    Dr. Gayle Speaks on HIV/AIDS, Health Issue at Parks Chapel AME

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Dr.-Helene Gayle

    Dr. Helene Gayle, a leading world public health expert, will discuss the declining state of health in America, as part of the Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series, Saturday, April 20 at 7 p.m. at Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church 476 34th St. in Oakland. Dr. Gayle is president and CEO of CARE USA,...

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    Scientists Close in on AIDS Vaccine

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, HIV, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Barton Haynes

    Published in the Wall Street Journal Researchers are saying they have mapped an “arms race” in the human body between the AIDS virus and powerful antibodies that fight it off—the latest of several recent scientific advances accelerating the pursuit of a vaccine. In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers showed how a...

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    LaFleur Library Dedicated

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Teacher Ronald James LeFleur (left) with Rudsdale Principal Willie Thompson.

    By Tanya Dennis Rudsdale High School in Oakland will rename its school library on April 26 for Ronald James “Joe Black” LaFleur, who dedicated his life to his students at the school. LaFleur, who died last year on April 16,  was well known for his humor and  charming personality, but more importantly, remembered for...

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    Dr. Nathan Hare, Father of Black Studies, Turns 80

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Dr. Nathan Hare

    The Bay Area is invited to celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. Nathan Hare, the father of Black Studies in the United States, Saturday, April 13, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle, 410 14th St. in Oakland. A sociologist and clinical psychologist, Dr. Hare, who was born on April 9, 1933,...

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    Hayward Teacher Named California History Teacher of The Year

    by  • April 12, 2013 • Bay Area, Education, News Articles, South County

    Miroslaba “Lili” Velo

    Tennyson High School Teacher Miroslaba “Lili” Velo from Hayward has been named the Outstanding Senior High School History Teacher of the Year by the California Council for the Social Studies. The award recognizes Velo’s leadership in advancing social studies education through engaging activities for Hayward youth, and developing innovative history curricula and teaching techniques...

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    Obama Meets with First-Ever Ethiopian Crowned Miss Israel

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Barak Obama, Berkeley, News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Titi, Israel’s first Black beauty queen meets President Barack Obama.

    Israel put its best face forward for President Obama, and what better face to put forward for than Israel’s first Black beauty queen? Titi is her name, short for Yityish Aynaw, is newly crowned Miss Israel, an Ethiopian Jewish immigrant to Israel. She joined Obama Thursday for the official state dinner in Jerusalem. Ethiopian...

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    Lori Taylor, Hayward’s New Economic Development Manager

    by  • April 6, 2013 • News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Lori Taylor

    Hayward has announced the appointment this week of Lori Taylor as the city’s new economic development manager Taylor will lead Hayward’s economic development program, which includes overseeing a range of programs designed to attract new businesses and retain and expand existing businesses, as well as hosting business events and promoting the city’s attributes as...

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    McKinley Elementary School Receives “Platinum Sneaker” Award

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Alameda County, Bay Area, Children, Education, Foundations, Geneology, News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    From left to right: San Leandro City Councilmember, Pauline Cutter; TransForm Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Jessica Cruz; McKinley Elementary’s Golden Sneaker Parent Champion, Darlene Lee; Principal of McKinley Elementary, Cher Situm; San Leandro Vice Mayor, Michael Gregory.

    Eight San Leandro schools participated in the Alameda County Golden Sneaker Contest during the month of March for healthy and greener transportation to and from school. The contest challenged students and teachers to walk, bike, carpool, or take transit to schools. Families who could not walk or bike to school still joined in the...

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    Velma Ewing, 88, Widow of Tuskegee Airman

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Obituaries, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles, Vallejo News

    Velma Ewing on Mother’s Day last year..

    By Janice Ewing and Lateefa Ali The Tuskegee Airmen earned their place in history as they bravely defied convention and fought for what they loved.  We remember these men. But we seem to forget their wives who have also earned their place in history, defying convention and fighting for what, and who they loved....

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    Africans In America

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles, Vallejo News

    AIA 2

    Part 3 Propitiation honoring Ancestors According to the Odu Osa Meji, in the Yoruba belief system, Odu (female oracle) established all the sacred groves (places) and maintained secrets of the sacred shrines of the Orisas (belief of the Yoruba, divine system) after descent. Women were not excluded from performing rituals at any sacred grove....

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    “Daddy Date” Offers Fun for Young Fathers and Their Children

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Article Archives, Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Andre Fikes and daughter Autumn (left) and Dante Toomer and daughter Kennedy .

    By Kia Croom, Contributing Writer Local extent organizer Dante Toomer recently held “Daddy Day,” an afternoon of activities for fathers to share with their children. The event, held on the afternoon of March 16 at Marina Park, took place in conjunction with a carnival sponsored by the City of Emeryville. Fathers and their children...

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    Tax Preparer Robin Swarn: “Whatever Is Going On, We Can Fix It”

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Robin Swarn

    By David Scott You don’t have to be rich or a movie star to find good help to do your taxes, according to Robin Swarn, a tax preparer with Jackson Hewitt. “We have news for everyday people seeking a tax refund or needing help with tax issues,” she said.  ‘’Whatever is going on, we...

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    Oakland’s James Meeks in NFL Draft

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    James Meeks, Jr. (center), with his parents James Meeks, Sr. (left) and Nina Meeks (right) at his graduation from Central Washington University.

    By Ashley Chambers Oakland native James Meeks  Jr. will get the chance to live out his dream, taking the opportunity of a lifetime in the NFL Draft next month. Towering at 6’5”, he will compete in the regional combine on March 23 with the Seattle Seahawks in Washington. A graduate of Central Washington University...

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    Breast Cancer and African Americans Bay Area Conference

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Health, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The Stanford Cancer Institute’s Community Partnership Program is hosting the second annual conference, Breast Cancer and African Americans, on Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard, S. San Francisco. The purpose of this event is provide culturally tailored breast health and cancer...

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    Sickle Cell Advisory Council Offers Scholarships

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The Sickle Cell Community Advisory Council of Northern California  is offering the Samuel Wallace Scholarship Award to high school seniors and college students living with the Sickle Cell disease. The advisory council was started in 1999 as a collaboration between patients of the former Alta Bates Sickle Cell program, administrators at Children’s Hospital of...

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    Youth UpRising Hosts Arts Open House, March 29

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, General Articles, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Youth Uprising at 8711 MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland.

    In the wake of a year of unprecedented violence, which ultimately led to the murder of four Youth UpRising youth members, the agency is showcasing young artists who will display their artwork focused on community violence. The open house will be held Friday, March 29 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Youth Uprising...

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    Small Business Administration to Expand Access to Loans

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Post News Feature Story, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Karen Mills

    Borrowers and lenders of loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will have greater access to capital and less paperwork as a result of a proposed regulation aimed at streamlining the SBA application process. “Streamlining and simplifying has been a key focus of our agency over the last few years. The changes...

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    Painter Keli J. Walker Depicts “The Albino,” A Child with a Hard Life

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Painter Keli J. Walker stands next to her painting “The Albino” on display at Joyce Gordon Gallery in downtown Oakland through Apr. 28. Photo by Babatunde Harrison.

    By Keli Walker I paint faces that hold stories. I paint them to understand their histories, emotions, and dreams. My process is dialectic; conversing with the face through every brush stroke. The more time I spend painting faces, the more the face tells me about who they are and how to render their appearance....

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    KDYA/KDIA Praise in the Pavilion

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Lady Kelly Harris (middle) and the Motions That Minister praise dancers performing at Praise in the Pavilion. Photo by Timothy-the photographer-Powell.

    By Ashley Chambers Gospel radio stations KDIA 1640 AM, “The Light at the Top of the Dial,” and KDYA 1190 AM, “The Light,” put on their first Praise in the Pavilion gospel concert on March 16 at Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion. Featuring praise dancers, gospel recording artists, children’s activities and vendors, the event appealed to...

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    Babatunde Harrison, Journalist Griot in the Diaspora

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    The Ancestress, Alice Ewurafua Baoye Arthur, at home with her great grandchildren in Hayward: Anthony Adeyinka DaSilva, JR., (far Left), Miles DaSilva, next to the Ancestress, Christiana Folarinde DaSilva and Malik DaSilva. Photo by Kenneth Walker.

    Part II By Babatunde Harrison In the ancient African empires of West Africa, the Griot was the custodian of the histories and genealogies of the people of West Africa. Through epic songs and poetry, the Griot told and preserved the traditions and memories of ancient Mali, Songhai and Ghana.. Since the arrival of the...

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    Africans In America

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, News Group Publisher, Oakland News Articles, Rev. Hunter, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    A Veneration Ceremony often has dancing, singing ,drumming, and spiritual chants to honor the ancestors. A  Yoruba Mythology saying:” As a spirit in heaven before taking a body, we each are given assignments tasks from our ancestors to achieve then we are sent to earth through selected parents.  which leads to the chant - It is the errand of my ancestors that I run, or it is the path of my ancestors that I walk. Photos by Kayode Gbadebo and graphic design by Adam L. Turner

    Part II By Kayode Gbadebo According to historian John Ridpath, “Observers of traditional African culture, so inevitably influenced by Western style of thought and intellectual traditions, failed to understand and interpret the culture.” This may be because, according to writer John Bascom. “The Yoruba way of life is traditional, dating back well before the...

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    Kaiser Security Officers Rally

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Nancy Skinner

    Security officers who work at Kaiser rallied this week in Oakland and Los Angeles calling on the state’s largest health care provider to provide more sick days and family medical benefits. The workers are members of SEIU USWW, which represents more than 1,800 contracted security officers at Kaiser facilities throughout California. The officers are...

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    Nubian Academy for Girls Set to Open

    by  • March 15, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Faith, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Nubian Academy students participate in a science lab. Left to right are: Cierra Suarez, Empress Shalom, Meisha Butcher. The girl in back is Imari Fernandez.

    The Nubian Academy for Girls, which is opening on April 6, will host a Saturday school every weekend until the summer. The Saturday school will serve up to 50 girls from sixth through eleventh grades and will be hosted by several community centers, churches, public schools and colleges. Activities will include homework help, cultural...

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