Vol. XVI Issue I

2009 National Black Theatre Festival

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC. The festival's late great founder, Larry Leon Hamlin's vision to gather the greats of theater and beyond into a synergistic community has been realized in a big way. I am happily attend as I have each festival since 1999. The opening gala was Marvtastic as usual. Juanita Moore (the actress nominated for an academy award for her 1959 film Imitation of Life) was among the honorees - adorable! Dr. Maya Angelou, who helped Hamlin with the first festival was there to toast him. Ted Lange, who has been there from the beginning, andWendy Rachel Robinson, another NBTF favorite are this year's hosts.

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Networking Event for

Lemon Tea:

The Emancipation of Liberty

by award-winning Screenwriter

Marcia L. Sinclair

Friday, August 7, 2009

6:00 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Holiday Inn Matteson

500 Holiday Plaza Drive, Matteson, IL

For information call 708.539.4646

Meet the director of “Lemon Tea”, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh

Actress, author, producer, director, singer T'KEYAH CRYSTAL KEYMÁH is best known for her acclaimed work on three pioneering television shows. On the Emmy Award winning, In Living Color she won many fans with astonishing impressions and original characters. Keymáh gained a whole new set of fans as Bill Cosby’s newest TV daughter, the ever vacillating Erica Lucas, on CBS' COSBY. Keymáh portrayed Tanya Baxter on Disney Channel’s #1 hit, That’s So Raven; but millions of children worldwide just think of her adoringly as ‘Raven’s Mom.’ In addition, Keymáh has produced three films and directed her an episode of That’s So Raven. T’Keyah is also the voice of Bumblebee on the WB’s animated series Teen Titans and Trixie’s mom, Mrs. Carter on Disney’s American Dragon. www.tkeyah.com

Lemon Tea tells the story of 10-year old, Liberty “Libby” Ewing, who is ashamed of her dark skin. Through a new friend, she soon discovers that beauty comes in a myriad of shades and the beauty that lasts forever comes from the heart. The script has received much acclaim for its funny, sometimes sad, heartwarming family story, with a message that transcends age, race or gender. The screenplay has won numerous awards including a semifinalist placement in the prestigious Nicholl screenwriting competition, winners in the Women in Film, CineStory, and the 2008 Illinois International Film Festival screenwriting competitions. Help us bring to the screen a film that will inspire audiences as our nation strives for harmony, inclusiveness and the strengthening of family values. Become a part of this exciting opportunity by showing your support for producing this quality African-American screenplay about friendship, community, and conquering life’s adversaries.

Join the network in support of this film:

www.lemonteathemovie.ning.com

A Coffee, Tea and Me Production. To learn more, visit www.CTMontheweb.com

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Bud Billiken's 80th Annual Back to School Parade!

Saturday August 8, 2009

http://www.budbillikenparade.com/

The 2009 Bud Billiken® Parade and Picnic will take place August 8th. 2009 marks Bud Billiken's® 80th year! With last year's festivities seeing over 75,000 participants, 1.5 million people along the parade route and over 25 million watching in their homes around the country!

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Kudos Kudos Kudos

Kudos to: My dear friend Harry J. Lennix and his lovely new bride nee Djena Graves; my niece Robin Washington on the birth of her new daughter; my niece Jonni McCombs on the birth of her new son; Florida A & M University on its selection of our new president Dr. James Ammons; my sister Karen Walker, the new CFO of the CTA go on girl woman!

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FAMU Searches for Black Female Students

Florida A & M University is providing an outstanding opportunity for Black women entering college in the fall of 2009. It is designed to address their absence in the field of computer technology. Dr. Jason Black is the Principal Investigator of a recently awarded $552,000 NSF Grant entitled African-American Women in Computer. The grant provides scholarships from $4000 to $10,000 per year for female African American students. We need your help to get the word out about this great opportunity to build back up the enrollment of women in the CIS Department. Pass this information along to high school or community college students, their parents, and to guidance counselors you may know. Checkout: http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=805&archive

Have you hugged someone you love today?

http://www.tkeyah.com
http://myspace.com/tkeyahcrystal
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=98235188456&