W.E.E.N. in DC

Last year I was blessed enough to have been invited to a lovely dinner in NYC.  I sat with the founding board members Valeisha Butterfield, Sabrina Thompson and Lauren Lake. During that dinner I was asked if I wanted to join the board of what will soon to be one of the more successful organizations developed to help girls and young women. The Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network is a coalition of women of all ages and races committed to supporting, promoting and defending the balanced, positive portrayal of women in entertainment and in society. Without hesitation I accepted the women's offer and since then great strides have been made. 


Tonight I co-hosted the first annual WEEN Awards with BET's Terence J at the Recording Industry Association of America located in Washington, DC.  Enlisted to present were names like Big Tigga, BET's Rocsi & Alesha Renee and Angie Martinez.  An amazing list of honorees were in attendance to receive their award and share words of gratitude.  Those honored included Vivica A. Fox, Hill Harper, Melinda Williams, EVP of Universal Motown Shanti Das, Global HIV Activist Maria Davis and McDonald's Chief Diversity Officer Patricia Harris.  An early WEEN supporter, Kevin Lyles, was on hand to give the closing statement for the evening.  


During the night two young ladies received scholarship funds towards college expenses.  They both currently attend school in the DC area.


The event was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Inc, McDonalds, BET Networks, Amtrak and Madison Group.


All in all it was a beautiful event and please be sure to check for more info at WEEN ON LINE.

HEADED BACK TO LA

SLID OUT OF LA ON THE LATE NIGHT TO FULFILL A REQUEST FROM CONGRESS WOMAN MAXINE WATERS. HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IN WASHINGTON DC EARLY THIS AM.
THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER WAS JAMMED PACKED TODAY FULL OF YOUNG, BLACK, EDUCATED KIDS EAGER TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM ALL THE PANELISTS INVOLVED.

THIS MARKS MY THIRD YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HERE IN DC.

THERE WERE 3 OTHERS PANELISTS ASIDE FROM MYSELF HELPING MRS. MAXINE WATERS WITH HER MESSAGE AND MISSION.

THE MESSAGE
HOW AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS CAN IMPACT and EMPOWER their community, locally, and globally.

WE ALL WERE INTRODUCED AND GIVEN TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT COULD ACTUALLY LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION UPON ALL OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

HERE'S WHAT I SAID
"What do 3 out of 4 Americans on welfare have in common with

85% of percent of unwed mothers

and with 68% of those arrested in the US annually?

They are all ILLITERATE

In this decade, only 68% of students who enter the 9th grade will GRADUATE high school

and ONE-FIFTH of those high school graduate won't be able to READ their diploma.

I am speaking about the epidemic of ILLITERACY."

I WENT ON TO SAY A BIT MORE THAT, I BELIEVE IN MY SPIRIT, I LEFT THEM ALL WITH SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.