HAPPY JULY!

HAPPY BLACK FAMILY / FAMILY REUNION MONTH!

Pledge to: Vacation Safely and with Purpose! Spend Time with Your Family! Interview and Honor Your Elders! Guild and Protect Your Children! Remember You Ancestors!

This issue of The Crystal News is dedicated to the memory of Yvette Wilson, whose bright spirits I will always remember.

GEMS SPARKLE AGAIN!

2011 Winner

Alsip, IL. The G.E.M.S. (Growing Emotionally, Maturing Socially) program is designed to promote community outreach, respect, service and education in social skills and friendship among college bound high school seniors. Our three finalists, Cleontra Jones, Tytianna Nailon, and Cyairra Smith-Clark, will now compete to share $10,000 in scholarships based on criteria that includes a written essay and community service. All three have been participants since the CHARM began.

2011 GEMS

CHARM (which stands for: Challenge yourself; Honor yourself; Arm yourself with knowledge; Restore what's been broken and Motivate others) is a faith-based organizaiton created by and for women to transform lives. We exist to assist women of all ages build self-esteem and to empower, encourage, and inspire them to passionately pursue God's purpose for their lives. Our (Motto), "Meeting You Where You Are", means that no matter where you are spiritually, socially, mentally, or emotionally, we will be there to meet you. We will use our vast experiences along with our professional partners to knock down barriers and build character and confidence. CHARM Outreach and Mentoring Services was founded by community advocate Michele Traylor. The ball will include performances by the gems and will feature YouTube sensation Jamiah (On Fire) and The Red Machine, a three boy band. Keymáh will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event. Tickets are $50 and include lunch. There will be a cash bar as well as a raffle. The deadline for purchasing tickets has been extended until JULY 18, 2012!!!!!! Get your tickets now at www.mycharm.org!

UNCF WALK GREEK TEAM SUCCESS!

The GREEKs for HBCUs Team raised more than $10,000 for the United Negro College Fund during the UNCF Walk for Education L.A. last month. Los Angeles New Anchor Chris Schauble hosted the pre-walk festivities. The GREEKs for HBCUs team, one of a dozen participating in the walk, included members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (including Team Captain Katrina Anderson and Honorary Captains actress / writer / director T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh and L.A. School Board Member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. A number of the ladies in red power walked before making it to their chapter meeting, but a grand time was had by all.

WHERE THE ACTION IS:

Formerly "T'Keyah Fights City Hall" which was formerly the "Do Something" and sometimes the "T'Keyah's Two Cents" columns of this newsletter, this is what the action should be...

Since reinstatement of the death penalty in the U.S., 140 innocent men and women have been freed from death row. The SAFE (Savings Accountability Full Enforcement) California Act will replace California's death penalty with a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole as the maximum punishment for murder. This means convicted killers will remain behind bars forever – but with no risk of executing an innocent person. We don't know how many innocent people the government has wrongly executed, but we recently learned through a report published by Columbia University, that Carlos De Luna, who was executed in Texas in 1989, was one of them.

Carillo

Franky Carillo is one of the people standing up to speak for De Luna, and for all of the men and women who have been and who will be falsely convicted. Carillo was wrongfully convicted at 16 years of age and served 20 years in prison before proving his innocence. "I was mistaken for the true killer, just like Carlos De Luna. That terrible mistake took two decades of freedom from me -- but it took Carlos De Luna's life." Regardless of your stance on the punishment of crime, please consider safe measures to protect those are falsely convicted. Help ensure that California never executes an innocent person. To sign Franky Carillo's petition supporting the SAFE California Act, an initiative to replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole, Click Here!

BIG DEAL OVER SMALL ART

Friday, July 13th, 6:30PM - The Bahamas Historical Society Museum - Corner of Shirley Street & Elizabeth Avenue - Nassau, The Bahamas - The first of its kind, the Small Art Auction House is a one-night only live auction of new “postcard” sized original artworks by over 50 Bahamian and international artists including Margaret Laurena Kemp. The commissioned never-before-seen works are in a collection of media including drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, textiles and sculpture and all begin bidding at $50. You need not be present to bid. The fundraiser for cultural worker Jon Murray's University tuition - will also include a performance by The Bahamas Music Conservatory Chamber Ensemble, delectable drinks by Young's Champagne and hors d'oeuvres by Cheesecake Heaven. $25 Doongalik Studios Art Gallery and The Bahamas Historical Society Museum. View the art at www.smallartauctionhouse.tumblr.com.

WHERE DOES YOUR GIFT GO?

The American Red Cross President and CEO's salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses. The United Way President receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits. UNICEF CEO receives $1,200,000 per year plus all expenses including a ROLLS-ROYCE. Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause. The Salvation Army's Commissioner receives a salary of only$13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause. The National Commanders of The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Disabled American Veterans, The Military Order of Purple Hearts and The Vietnam Veterans Association receive a $0.00 zero salary. The Founder of The Keymah Cultural Fund (that would be me) receives no salary, and personally covers the cost to house the fund at Associated Black Charities. 100% of your donations go toward the supporting cultural programs and exposure to youth. Neither the Founder of C.H.A.R.M. Mentoring and Outreach Services, Michele Traylor, nor her 'Team Members,' receive a salary, and each makes monthly contributions to fund the organization's uplifting programs and activities for women and girls. 100% of your donations go toward this work.

AURORA FEST MAKES 5

The 5th Annual Aurora Jacksonville Black Arts Festival - July 20- 23, 2012 features an encore presentation of Stage Aurora's popular production of The Wiz, a WHITEROBIN Group, Jacksonville Acting Intensive, screening of Though I'm Not Perfect, Jacksonville Consortium of African-American Artists and more... THE WIZ starring Stage Aurora founder Darryl Reuben Hall can be seen July 21 at 2pm, July 21 at 6pm, July 22 at 3pm. (904) 765-7373 or visit www.stageaurora.org or www..ticketleap.com.

WHITEROBIN 2 Day Acting Intensive - taught by veteran performers Scott Whitehurst and Angela Robinson: What is the definition of Acting? What is the job of the Actor? How to Audition and get the part? What is the spiritual connection to your artistic passion? Sunday July 22 3pm - 7pm and Monday July 23 6pm - 9pm - $50 for both days (you must be present both days) TO REGISTER AND MAKE A DEPOSIT: Go to http://www.whiterobingroup.com/page0/page0..html

THOUGH I'M NOT PERFECT, an award-winning documentary by actress / singer / dancer Stacey Sargeant - exploring what her life would be like if she had listened to the teachers who discouraged her and how tragic it would be for people to give up on their dreams because of someone else's limited beliefs about what they can accomplish. For more info on the screening, or other festival activities, check www.stageaurora.org or call 904-765-7372.

WHERE THE ACTION IS:

Formerly "T'Keyah Fights City Hall" which was formerly the "Do Something" and sometimes the "T'Keyah's Two Cents" columns of this newsletter, this is what the action should be... Sometimes action is voting with a ballot at the polling place, sometimes it is voting with your wallet at the checkout counter of any store. Eric J. Chambers recently sent me the following reminder about water:

"Last night, I watched an incredible documentary on the $800 billion bottled water industry called "Tapped." What an eye-opener! It revealed that designer bottled waters by Coke & Pepsi (Dasani and Aquafina) are tap water dressed up! And 40% of the bottled waters we buy are straight up tap water! It also reveals how Nestle´is stealing fresh water from American cities, paying no taxes and selling it back to the cities making millions! In addition, the plastic bottles have cancer-causing agents called PETs... And our legislators know about this stuff, but the money is just too good, so many pretend it's not an issue. The documentary also reveals bottled water kept in a hot car can be a hazard too. I just peeped the ingredients on my Wal Mart bottled water and noticed it's tap water from Stockton, CA! It reads: Source: Stockton Municipal Utility. I can drink my own tap! ... They recommend you buy your own bottles, use tap or get a filter, and we'd have the same thing that the water companies are making millions selling us: filtered tap water. We drink it free at restaurants, why not at home? Because we've bought into the propaganda marketing craze... http://www.tappedthemovie.com/ ...We've been hoodwinked for billions!" Eric J. - Eric J. Chambers is an award-winning journalist.

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Get Gerald Albright and Norman Brown's new Collaboration, 24/7, and many more music CDs, DVDs, records and tapes from Fletcher’s One Stop Records & Tapes, 457 E 75th Street, Chicago, IL 60619-2228 (773) 874-4484... Get Maggie Anderson's Our Black Year and many more books and gifts from Afri-Ware Books, 440 S. Ridgeland Ave. (NEW LOCATION), Oak Park, IL 60302, 708-524-8398 - WWW.AFRIWARE.NET

Thank you to: Everyone who walked in or supported the UNCF Walk for Education L.A. my fellow CHARM Board Members, and everyone supporting the CHARM GEMS Ball! MUAH! And I mean it!

KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS

Congratulations to: Bobette Jamison-Harrison of Jus Clown'N Music Vocal Coaching on her new gig on OWN's new show, Real Life, The Musical; Chicago native Lamont Clayton on his new pilot Shadow Hills, also starring Kellita Smith, Bobby Brown, Dorian Wilson, John Amos, Jackee Harry, Dick Anthony Williams, Peter Sherayko and Tommy Davidson; and Terri Grant, on her so cool radio show, Friday's 6 pm PST, at wwwboxtreeradio.com... go on ~~girl~~ woman!

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