Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson calls for consciousness awakening.
New York, NY – The Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, pastor of the 4,000 member Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, NY, called for a consciousness awakening to focus attention on the need to apply Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy to current context. In a keynote message on January 16, 2011 at New York City’s Riverside Church, Rev. Dr. Richardson said, “…If all we have come here to do today is to reflect and sing and pray and rehearse speeches, this occasion will fall short of relevance. The only way that this gathering, this celebration can be relevant is if we take time to apply the message and life and values of Martin Luther King, Jr. to our present context; to our present dilemma in America, to our present challenges that we face as a nation…” Change, like the change Dr. King’s life represents, will not come he warned, “If we come simply to bow at the altar of Martin Luther King’s life without picking up an interpretation of how to apply his life to the circumstances and conditions that we face in the present moment.”
2010 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Season of Tribute to 50 Years of Revelations
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Photo by Paul Kolnik
New York, NY – The 2010 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s New York season, December 1 – January 2, 2011, celebrates 50 years of Revelations. Its most performed modern dance was created by its founder Alvin Ailey in 1960. This classic work is the cornerstone of the Dance Theater’s repertory and has been performed for over 23 million people in 71 countries across six continents.
Emmy Award winner Judy Kinberg’s documentary short film premieres during this 50th anniversary celebration, intertwined between each performance, setting the stage for this season of tribute.
Church school students share the significance of Thanksgiving. Photo by Gwynne Youngs
New York – Training up children was in progress again at Grace Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, NY during its Church School Thanksgiving Presentation. The children reenacted the Pilgrim’s celebration of their first bountiful harvest and feast with native Indians. They related later treatment of the Indians to the struggle of African Americans to emphasize that the spirit of the religious day of giving thanks, that we now celebrate as Thanksgiving, is more important than the feast.
Presenters, Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson(L), Mayor Dwight Jones(R), listen as Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson accepts 2010 National Action Network Triumph Award for Leadership. Photo by Gwynne Youngs
New York, NY – National Action Network (NAN), one of the nation’s leading Civil Rights organizations, launched its first annual Triumph Awards at Jazz at Lincoln Center Rose Hall, Allen Center, on Monday, November 15, 2010. An intimate audience of about 500 guest watched honorees receive their awards from a stage with one of New York City’s most dramatic backdrops, Manhattan’s skyline over looking E. 57th Street and Central Park at Columbus Circle.
MSNBC TV Ed Schultz and Mara Schiavocampo hosted the event. NAN founder Rev. Al Sharpton said “the artists, entertainers and athletes being honored have made a mark in their professions and have recognized the need to remain connected to something bigger and greater than any individual achievement. They have remained connected to the people, have supported their growth and development and realized that together we are a better world.”
Volunteers Help You Stay Grounded Until You Are Ready To Jump To The Next Step!
Money is not the currency of volunteerism. Volunteers are compensated when you notice their contributions and sacrifices with a sincere thank you. Most nonprofit organizations are fortunate enough to have volunteers that help provide some of the manpower they need to carry out their missions.
Here are 5 ways to compensate volunteers without money.
1. Personally thank volunteers with a written note. A hand written note from someone whom they will recognize tells volunteers that you personally noticed their contribution.
Rosita Cortez, Founder, Social Media 4 Nonprofits
I did not understand what Poke Me on Facebook was used for until Rosita Cortez wrote so succinctly about Poke Me on her blog. The one thing nonprofits find most difficult about social media is they don’t understand it. Not understanding it is an obstacle many people find difficult about social media and information technology and my reason for using Rosita’s blog to help me unravel social media.
I can not say how many times I have been asked what Poke Me on Facebook is used for. So, imagine my surprise when I learned it has a very useful purpose. Rather than blogging about Poke Me and other issues that you may need answers to; why don’t I direct you to Rosita Cortez’s site, Social Media 4 Nonprofits, to learn what Poke Me and many other social media issues are used for.
L-R: Supporter, Mical Whitaker, Susan Scheftel, James Magnuson, Shirley J. Radcliff, Bill Bragin
New York – Lincoln Center and Everyman Communities are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, July 28-August 15, 2010. The 40th year of this free summer festival launched with a talk about its birth from Everyman-Community Street Theater to Lincoln Center Out of Doors. A reception and one-act performance of Jim Magnuson’s play, No Snakes in This Grass, directed by Mical Whitaker followed along with the world premiere of Ethel Fair: The Songwriters. Lincoln Center Out of Doors has grown into one of the largest free performance festivals in the U.S.
Embrace My Facebook
New York – How should New Yorkers, friends and users all over the planet celebrate being one of Facebook’s 500 million users–when this new milestone is announced? How do you mark being part of an unprecedented social network in human socialization and interaction? How would you mark–being one of Facebook’s 500 million users?
Embrace Facebook
I’m celebrating by continuing to embrace Facebook for helping find my friends Liz and Annette; connecting me to family members I didn’t know I had; friends, co-workers and classmates whom I never expected to see or hear from again and making a place to say what’s on your mind during sleepless nights at 3:O’clock in the morning. I’m embracing Facebook for helping build an audience for my blog, www.nonprofitpal.com and creating a platform to market my book Abraham Lincoln’s Savannah: Damage Control to 40 Acres and A Mule when it’s completed.
Participate In A Facebook Celebration Event
I’m celebrating Facebook for inviting me to its official NYC 500 million users’ celebration when the omission of my name is recognized; for a new post about the world’s largest social network and for helping me continue to accomplish my goal of life long learning.
Chris Hughes, Facebook co-founder and Jumo developer
New York – New Yorker Chris Hughes is inviting public input for his new nonprofit startup website, Jumo. Hughes, one of the co-founders of Facebook and President Obama’s “Internet man” for his 2008 social networking presidential campaign, describes Jumo as a global platform to connect everyday individuals to issues and organizations relevant to them; to foster lasting relationships and meaningful action to speed the pace of global change.
Hughes’ global startup is also hiring developers for its New York, NY location. “Candidates with a longstanding interest in global development issues (i.e. global health, good governance, education, free-flowing capital markets, etc.) are strongly preferred.”
New York — First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled today “a nationwide effort to solve the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation” through the launch of LetsMove.gov. Mrs. Obama describes Let’s Move as a “new and improved…online resource for parents, teachers and community leaders to help our children eat better and become more active.” The launch includes an invitation to link to Let’s Move on Facebook and join her tomorrow, Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10 AM EDT for a special, live web chat on LetsMove.gov. “We’ll talk about this important issue and I’ll answer some of your questions.”