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“Mothers of the NBA” Features Wanda Durant at Intel

Published

6 years ago

May 1, 2018

The PushTech 2020 summit hosted “Mother’s of the NBA” on April 12 and featured Wanda Durant, mother of 7-time NBA All-star Kevin Durant. Dressed in a black and white pants suit, Durant discussed her life in conversation with Intel’s Vice President, Worldwide Corporate Affairs and President of the Intel Foundation, Rosalind Hudnall.

Lovingly referred to as “The Real MVP” by her son after winning the 2017 NBA Finals and being named MVP, Durant reflected on her journey’s challenges and triumphs. As a single parent, Durant struggled with self esteem and felt “undeserving of happiness.”

“During a very low point, I attempted suicide,” she said.

The silence in the room was lifted as Durant flashed her bright smile and said, “Had I succeeded I’d of missed out on all of this”, referring to the past 10 years of her son’s basketball career. The audience cheered. Durant says that her faith, close bond with her own mother and time with close friends have sustained her.

Fondly known as Mama Durant, the audience was shown a clip of her in action. During an interview after the 2017 NBA finals, Durant stood up for her son’s decision to move from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors.

“Do other people get the same pressure when they go for the best opportunity in their careers, that’s what we chose,” she said. “You have to do what’s best for you.”

Durant spoke of how her son recently donated 10 million dollars to a worthy cause but also the reality of how she fears for her son’s lives in the racial climate of today.
“Money can’t protect you from racism,” she said.

Now in her 50s, Durant said that she never dared to dream. “I didn’t start dreaming dream of my own until I was in my 40s,” she said. “It took a while for me to realize that I could be more than an NBA mom and parent,” she said. Durant created the Hope, Dream, Believe and Achieve, her motivational platform where she shared the parenting skills she discovered while raising her son’s Kevin and Anthony.

More recently, Durant founded her non profit, the Wanda Durant The Real MVP™ Charity, Inc. “My goal is to inspire single mothers and undeserved communities,” she said.

Durant also supports the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, the Single Parents Support Network, Baller Moms, Positive Tomorrows, among others. Durant’s life story“The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story” was produced by Queen Latifah which is now available on DVD.

The evening also included panel discussion, “Women Warriors of Tech,” featuring tech powerhouses; Google’s Valeisha Butterfield, Molly Ford of Salesforce, Aptica’s Laura Gomez, Lisa Mae Brinson of Wonder Woman and CNN Commentator Angela Rye.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

6 hours ago

April 19, 2024

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

18 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.