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The Rhode Island Young Professionals Invites You to Its 7th ANNUAL WINTER SOIREE, Saturday, February 27, 2010. Media interested in covering the event should contact Raymond Watson by calling 401-338-7606 or by emailing rlwatson06@yahoo.com.

Providence RI, February 12, 2010 — Rhode Island Young Professionals, an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals, announce it’s 7th Annual Winter Soiree. The event will feature a night of decadence, grace, and stature that includes a live Pianist, followed by dinner, a brief awards ceremony, and plenty of dancing. The theme for this year’s Soiree is “ Taking the Torch” where all professionals, both young and old, will be inspired and encouraged as the leaders of a new tomorrow. The event will take place on February 27, 2010 at the Providence Marriott Downtown (1 Orms Street) from 6pm to 1am.

The Keynote Speaker for the evening is Keith Stokes, Executive Director of RI Economic Development Corporation. The Black Heritage Society will be honored for their contributions and commitment to the Rhode Island Community. The Master and Mistress of Ceremony for the evening will be John Guice, Reporter of ABC 6 News, and Reza Clifton from RezaRitesRI.com.

This year’s event will be sponsored by Lifespan, Amica, Banneker Industries, Rhode Island Foundation, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Metlife Auto & Home and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. However, sponsorship opportunities are still available, and additional support is invited through ticket sales.

Tickets are $60 for the general public and $50 for RIYP Members. Tickets can be purchased directly from the RIYP website by visiting www.riyp.org or email wintersoiree@riyp.org for ticket and sponsorship information and to learn more about the RIYP Winter Soiree. Media interested in covering the event should contact Raymond Watson by calling 401-338-7606 or by emailing rlwatson06@yahoo.com.

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Celebrate the launch of an online magazine for New England’s “Ethnic” Professionals on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 6-9 PM at RISD Museum in Providence, RI. Music will be provided by me, Reza Rites / Venus Sings / DJ Reza Wreckage, but register by Monday, March 1 by emailing lwebb@ethniconline.net

PROVIDENCE, RI - Join me, Reza Rites/Venus Sings, Ethnic Online Magazine, RISD and a host of community partners on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, for a kickoff of Ethnic Online Magazine and the official RI launch party. Ethnic Online (EO) was launched in September 2009 to serve as “New England’s Magazine for Ethnic Professionals.” Sections of the magazine include those covering money, health, politics, and arts and entertainment.

The March 3rd event will go from 6-9 PM and will be held at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum, 224 Benefit Street in Providence. Music will be provided by me, Venus Sings, and the event is free and open to the public. However, registration is required by Monday, March 1st.

For more information see the flyer below or to RSVP, contact Ethnic Online Founder and Publisher, Leonard Webb, by emailing lwebb@ethniconline.net or by calling 781-652-0777.

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Celebrate and curse Valentine’s Day all in one show: Venus Sings Radio on WRIU: Saturday, February 13 from 9-11 AM (est) on 90.3 FM.

KINGSTON, RI - Last year, it sounded like Duffy’s “Mercy” and Amel Larrieux’s “Make Me Whole;” Lily Allen’s “Shame for You,” and Sade’s “This Is No Ordinary Love.” What will it sound like this year, during the 2nd annual “Venus Sings Radio for the Lovers and Haters?”

Join me, Venus Sings / DJ Reza Wreckage, and find out for yourself:

Venus Sings Radio
Saturday, February, 13, 2010,
9:00-11:00 AM

Hear it: 90.3 FM or www.wriu.org
Contact: www.VenusSings.com
studio lines: 401-792-9030 or 1-888-303-9748

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Isis Storm Presents…

Finding the Gray:
A Black History Month Film & Discussion On the Diaspora & Identity

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Brooklyn Coffee Tea House
209 Douglas Avenue
Providence, RI 02908

Doors open at 6:30 PM; $5 donations collected at the door.

Can Blacks tell the story of Whites and can Whites tell the story of Blacks? Can men properly reflect women in art, and can women reflect men?

What about everyone in between?

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Join members of Isis Storm and RI’s film community for this special viewing of “Mix,” courtesy of the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC). Mix is a film directed by South African filmmaker, Rudzani Dzuguda, about “freedom in South Africa after 1994.” Following Tumelo and Dominique, two female, hip-hop disc jockeys (dj’s) – one Black and one White – Dzuguda explores the issues of personal freedom “in ways that genuinely baffle their parents.”

Part of NBPC’s critically acclaimed AfroPop Series, Dzuguda through his filmmaking and Tumelo and Dominique through their everyday lives, “are forging new social realities – between black and white, between males and females, across vast stretches of land – which seem to leave the generation gap as wide as ever.”

For more information about Isis Storm and the February 25 event, visit www.IsisStorm.com or email beginthestorm@gmail.com or call 401-497-5246. For more about NBPC’s AfroPoP series, visit www.afropop.tv. To learn more about Brooklyn Coffee Tea House, visit www.brooklyncoffeeteahouse.com.

Before she passed away on December 27, 2009, Dana Wright was spreading the word about a children’s book she had written called Rolling with Nia. Click on the image of the book cover or here to watch a video to see and learn more about Wright and her book. I, Reza Rites, produced the film for “Black Perspectives Now,” an online initiative of the public media organization, WGBH, and the program “Basic Black.”

by Reza Corinne Clifton

PROVIDENCE, RI - On Sunday, December 27, 2009, a friend, mentor, and colleague of mine passed away, leaving me shocked and saddened. From her activism in the community and online, to her work as a storyteller and published author, Dana Wright inspired me professionally and personally, and for these reasons and more, I will never forget her.

Before her untimely death I had a chance to talk to Wright, about a project she had recently completed, and about the impact she was on having on youth and families. And I wasn’t the only one interested in her story.

Up in Boston, Massachusetts, series producer Valerie Linson had just launched a new online initiative, which was to be tied to “Basic Black,” a television show she runs out of WGBH. Basic Black was created in 1968 - “during the turmoil of the civil rights movement as a response to the demand for public television programs reflecting the concerns of African Americans.” But Linson saw a more contemporary need for “Black Perspectives Now,” and for “stories, events, people and voices of black New England.” Dana Wright’s was one of them.

Learn more about my interview with Wright and see other stories from Black Perspectives Now by clicking here. To learn more about Basic Black, visit www.wgbh.org/basicblack.

And Rest in Peace, Dana.

Join me and tune in to WRIU on Sunday, February 7 from 2-5 PM

KINGSTON, RI - For more than twenty years, Peter Dante has been spreading the sound and gospel of reggae music from a point in southern Rhode Island - the University of RI, Kingston Campus. That is the home and headquarters of WRIU, 90.3 FM, a student- and community-run radio station known for playing independent, noncommercial, and eclectic music. Dante has been holding it down there since 1982, holding different slots but staying steadfast to rocksteady and other forms of reggae.

On Sunday, February 7, I, Venus Sings of Venus Sings Radio and Voices of Women, will try my best at shape-shifting as I fill in for Dante on his Sunday afternoon “Reggae Showcase” program. Every week, from 2:00 - 5:00 PM (EST) on 90.3 FM (in and around RI) and streaming online at www.wriu.org, Dante provides listeners with the best in “roots, reggae, dub, rock[steady] and ska,” and I’ve signed up to be the substitute teacher for his classroom of students and music lovers.

Now no, I won’t be the almost thirty-year reggae playing, radio hosting veteran and guru people know and love, but I am a disciple of Bob Marley, an admirer of Sanchez, and a scholar of Sly and Robbie; a collector of Queen Ifrica, a sister of Tanya Stephens, and a soldier for Etana. In sum, I look forward to the show and I hope you do too.

Sunshine and laughter,
Venus Sings (DJ Reza Wreckage)

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Rhode Island Young Professionals Invite You To Its 
7th ANNUAL  WINTER SOIREE.  
 
PROVIDENCE, RI ‐ The Rhode Island Young Professionals, an auxiliary organization to the Urban League of Rhode Island, announces its 7th Annual Winter Soiree, themed “Taking The Torch, Tomorrows Leaders Today.” Scheduled for Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at the Providence Marriott (1 Orms Street) from 6:00pm to 1:00am, the event will feature a night of decadence, grace, and stature punctuated by a live jazz ensemble, special dinner, a brief awards ceremony, and plenty of dancing.

Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, will be the keynote speaker for the evening. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Stokes served as the Treasurer of the RI Economic Development Corporation and worked as the Executive Director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce for over 15 years. He will deliver a message focused on the importance of investing in young professionals. John Guice, Reporter at ABC 6 News, and RIYP’s very own, Reza C. Clifton (RezaRitesRi.com), will serve as the master and mistress of ceremonies.
 
All professionals, both young and old will be inspired and encouraged as the leaders of a new tomorrow. For more information, contact Raymond Watson at 401‐338‐7606 or at Rlwatson06@yahoo.com 

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by Reza Corinne Clifton

WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, January 28, 2010, Families USA, a national organization, began Health Action 2010 - its conference for consumer health advocates. The three day conference ended on Saturday afternoon, January 30 after being held at The Hyatt Regency Washington, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC.

According to Families USA, which is a Washington, DC-based nationally-serving nonprofit organization, the 2009 conference drew approximately 800 participants from more than 40 states.

This year’s conference featured a powerful group of leaders, informants, and advocates who talked about health reform legislation, field strategies for advancing the message about health equity, and strategies to keep constituents engaged. On Friday, January 29, yours truly, Reza Rites - in part representing UrbanHealthWatch.net - co-presented on the topic of “Getting Your Message Out: Strategies for Advancing Health Equity.”

It was day two of Health Action 2010 and after a 10:45 AM start and a preceding talk on engaging the traditional media, your RezaRitesRi.com/Urban Health Watch editor, delivered “Spread the Word in 2010: Health Equity Today, Tomorrow and Right Now,” a presentation which included statistics about diversity in the media to illustrate why advocates need to take matters into their own hands and tips on starting, maintaining and sharing new media projects and social networking accounts.

Photos and additional coverage of the conference are available at UrbanHealthWatch.net, but to catch a glimpse at what I shared, click here to download the presentation.

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