Flying Proms

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I’ve been living and working in Virginia for a little more than 2 weeks now, and there’s nothing like acclimating yourself to new settings than by seeing the lay of the land. Well, I got to fly the friendly skies in a World War II era airplane…we’re talking open-air cockpit and prop engine! It was quite the experience as I got to fly high above Virginia Beach/Pungo area….and it was all so I could get a first hand preview of the “Flying Proms” event. Press play below to watch me take flight….we even used a Go Pro to get some of the in-plane footage!

And here’s a few more photos from my aviation adventure…

 

In the Kitchen with Chef Kyler

Everyday on The Hampton Roads Show…we have a chef or people cooking in the kitchen. Today we had a chef who is competing on the new season of The Next Food Network Star – debuts this Sunday! He is a Virginia native and wants to give his food a “modern” spin…check out my interview and cooking segment with Chef Chris Kyler…

Positive Images for Inner City Youth

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Dr. Jaseon Outlaw, is on a mission…to actively change the way inner city youth are often times portrayed in the (mainstream) media, and instead highlight, present and focus on the positive images in the community! I commend his effort and action to create an organization designed to lift, enlighten and create change for the benefit of inner city youth…in his hometown of Oakland, CA!

Positive Images for Inner City Youth is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.  Seeking 501(c)(3) non-profit organization status,  Positive Images seeks to promote and expose inner city youth to realistic and positive images of those representative of the community.  This is a direct response to the mainstream media’s decision to focus on inner city violence and the psychological implications that reality television has on defining the identities of inner city youth.

The vision for Positive Images is to expand the realm of career and lifestyle choices for inner city youth, by providing a barrage of positive imagery in the areas of career, education, arts, healthy living, and family.

Since “Positive Images” is a brand new endeavor, they need your help to grow the organization and spread the message of positive images! So, if you can, please strongly consider donating a few dollars to the organization http://positiveimagesoakland.org/

And — If you have not already mentored a young person in your community, please do so…

Time is Illmatic

Time Is Illmatic, a documentary film that explores Nas’ 1994 debut album, Illmatic. The film is set to debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 16 and will hit theaters shortly after. This documentary was Directed and Produced by a friend of mine, One9, and pretty much since I made his acquaintance he has spoken about this project.

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As a hip hop fan (the 90’s was my era), I can’t wait to watch the film and for my friend, I am thrilled and excited for him to finally get to share his hard work, dedication and passion for “Time Is Illmatic” with the world! Watch the trailer below…

Time Is Illmatic is a feature length documentary film that delves deep into the making of Nas’ 1994 debut album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation.

Twenty years after its release, Illmatic has become a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the socio-political outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young black men searching for their voice in America.

Time is Illmatic tracks the musical legacy of the Jones family, handed down to Nas from his jazz musician father, Olu Dara. It also examines the social conditions and environmental influences that contributed to Nas’ worldview.

Along the way, Time Is Illmatic shows how Nas—with the support of his Queensbridge neighborhood crew, the loyalty of his younger brother Jabari “Jungle” Fret, and sacrifices of his mother, Ann Jones—overcame insurmountable odds to create the greatest work of music from hip-hop’s second golden era.

With support from Ford Foundation & Tribeca Film Insitute.

PhilanthroFest

Philanthrofest has made a huge impact on the South Florida community. The event, now in its third year, connects 1000’s of South Florida residents to valuable resources and services in the areas of Business & Economic Development, City/County Services, Civic Engagement/Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Cultural/Arts/Humanities, Educational, Environmental, Health/Human Services/Disease Prevention, Poverty/Welfare, Animal Related, Food/Agriculture/Nutrition, Recreation & Sports, and Youth Development & Services.The PhilanthroFest Community Engagement Festival features more than 100 South Florida non-profits and community agencies, art, music and dance entertainment, a kid’s zone, a community stage, healthy living section, and other family friendly attractions.

PhilanthroFest is FREE and open to the public with the goal of connecting volunteers and donors to not-for-profit organizations while creating an environment that promotes civic engagement, deepens community connections and sparks the philanthropic spirit of South Florida.

3 ways YOU can support PhilanthroFest TODAY:

GIVE

Donate to support the PhilanthroFest 2014 Festival and we will include your name on our donor recognition page and donor activation at the festival. DONATE VIA EVENTBRITE!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/philanthrofest-2014-tickets-10897953071

VOTE

Cast your vote for PhilanthroFest in the KIND “Do The KIND Thing” Challenge: VOTE NOW! http://projects.kindsnacks.com/project/philanthrofest-2014-civic-engagement-festival/

SHARE

Share your #PhilanthroSMILE with us and be featured in our social media campaign: SHARE YOUR #PHILANTHROSMILE
http://www.philanthrofest.com/philanthrosmile

On Set with Comcast Newsmakers

I want to share some of my latest interviews as a Host for Comcast Newsmakers in Florida. The segments are great because I have the opportunity to talk with a diverse group of Public Servants, Lawmakers, Community Leaders and other “newsmakers” about a variety of topics that affect so many of us…. You can see all the current newsmakers segments online at www.comcastnewsmakers.com

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Below you can just press play to see some of my most recent on set interviews!

The Miami HEAT’s official DJ and founder of the Irie Foundation, DJ IRIE!

Estrellita Sibila of Philanthrofest

Discussing the topic of stroke with Dr. Tiffany Sizemore-Ruiz

SunFest of Palm Beach County with Paul Jamieson

Muppets Most Wanted

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The Muppets are back with a new movie opening this Friday, March 21st… it’s Disney’s “Muppets Most Wanted!” I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with a small group of people and do a roundtable interview with Kermit for my Mommy Blog, 53 Weeks. Well, I think doing the interview made me a bit nostalgic because I found myself thinking back and reminiscing on not only one of my first Muppet memories, but also one of my first recollections of watching a movie in a movie theater!

My Mom took me to see “The Great Muppet Caper.” I still remember arriving to the theater a little late, because it was dark when we were walking in and I think the opening had just come on — I definitely don’t recall so many previews back then as there are now… but anyway, I love The Muppets. As a child, I even remember the “collector” glasses released with the movie at McDonald’s!!! Those were the days, I would watch “The Muppet Show” all the time and Miss Piggy was always the coolest!

To read about my interview with Kermit the Frog, visit 53 Weeks!!!

 

Alana Nichols x Sochi x 2014 Paralympics

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Team Citi athlete Alana Nichols won a silver medal for Alpine Skiing in the women’s sitting downhill competition, before being injured in a crash while competing in the super-G at the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi. Her agent released a statement saying she suffered a concussion and had to get stitches to her chin…OUCH! However, the talented athlete let it be known on social media that she is doing “fine.”



Alana, along with 8 other Olympians has teamed up with a U.S. Olympic, Paralympic or Community program in need. Alana is partnering with The Team USA Paralympic Champions Fund to increase financial support for athletes pursuing the dream of participating in the Paralympics, so they can aspire to go for the gold too!


A $500,000 donation by Citi’s “Every Step of the Way” program is up for grabs and you can have a say and decide where the money will go between any of the 9 programs the Olympic/Paralympic athletes have chosen! Just click to decide how much to award!! You can start by watching the video below to meet the Team Citi athletes, and learn about the various programs. Then go to >>  http://citi.us/1ek5E7S

GO U-S-A!!!

 

This post was created in partnership with Citi®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.