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Pauli Murray Named A Saint Of The Episcopal Church

Pauli Murray, the civil right crusader and first African American woman ordained as a priest by the Episcopal Church, was elevated to sainthood in the church’s roster of “Holy Women, Holy Men.”
via Pauli Murray Named a Saint of the Episcopal Church : The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.

NPR Announces Plans To Form Race, Ethnicity Coverage Team At UNITY 2012

National Public Radio, criticized in recent years for a lack of diversity of its staff and coverage, is using a $1.5 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to put together a six-person team to report stories on race, ethnicity and culture.

Will.i.am To Start “Ekocycle” Clothing Line With Coca Cola

Should headphones made out of recycled trash ever cost $349? It depends on how cool they are.  In hopes of giving products made from recycled materials a little more cachet, musician will.i.am and the Coca-Cola Co. are partnering to make a line of clothing and gear called “Ekocycle.” The idea is to brand recycled products with a hipper image that resonates with young consumers.

“If you think about (recycled) products now, none of them are cool,” said will.i.am, who is best known for his work with theBlack-Eyed Peas. “You have to bring some art and fashion sensibility into this technology that turns a bottle into something cool.”

The first Ekocycle product will be a pair of headphones by Beats, a popular and pricey line created by rapper Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine – both friends of will.i.am. The Ekocycle version will cost $349, which is on the high end of the range of Beats headphones.  An Ekocycle hat by New Era will cost $32.

 

Will.i.am To Start "Ekocycle" Clothing Line With Coca Cola

Should headphones made out of recycled trash ever cost $349? It depends on how cool they are.  In hopes of giving products made from recycled materials a little more cachet, musician will.i.am and the Coca-Cola Co. are partnering to make a line of clothing and gear called “Ekocycle.” The idea is to brand recycled products with a hipper image that resonates with young consumers.
“If you think about (recycled) products now, none of them are cool,” said will.i.am, who is best known for his work with theBlack-Eyed Peas. “You have to bring some art and fashion sensibility into this technology that turns a bottle into something cool.”
The first Ekocycle product will be a pair of headphones by Beats, a popular and pricey line created by rapper Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine – both friends of will.i.am. The Ekocycle version will cost $349, which is on the high end of the range of Beats headphones.  An Ekocycle hat by New Era will cost $32.
 

Gabrielle Douglas Helps Women’s U.S. Gymnastics Team Win Gold

The Americans grabbed hands and backed up, eager to get a better view of the scoreboard.
There really was no need. That Olympic gold medal was in the bag the minute they took the floor.

The U.S. women’s gymnastics team celebrates its first Olympic title since 1996.

The Americans lived up to their considerable hype and then some Tuesday night, routing silver medalist Russia and everybody else on their way to their first Olympic title in women’s gymnastics since 1996. Their score of 183.596 was a whopping five points ahead of Russia and made their final event, floor exercise, more like a coronation. Romania won the bronze.

Next Generation of Black Attorneys Honored at "40 Lawyers Under 40"

The “2012 Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40” were honored by IMPACT and the National Bar Association (the largest network of African-American attorneys and judges) on Sunday.  The event aims to recognize talented individuals (age 40 and under) within the African American legal community who have achieved prominence and distinction, professionally and philanthropically.

Next Generation of Black Attorneys Honored at “40 Lawyers Under 40”

The “2012 Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40” were honored by IMPACT and the National Bar Association (the largest network of African-American attorneys and judges) on Sunday.  The event aims to recognize talented individuals (age 40 and under) within the African American legal community who have achieved prominence and distinction, professionally and philanthropically.

First Lady Michelle Obama To Lead New Campaign Mobilizing Effort: 'It Takes One’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taking on a more prominent political role, first lady Michelle Obama is launching a nationwide effort to motivate every supporter of President Barack Obama to get more involved in his re-election campaign — and bring along somebody else, too.
The “It Takes One” program urges supporters to make a difference in this election, and to “start by taking one action that will help grow our campaign,” Mrs. Obama says. In a three-minute video message to supporters that was released Thursday, the first lady tells supporters that with a tighter election than 2008 likely this fall, “in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes in a single state.”
“Every time you take action to move this country forward, we’re asking you to inspire one more person to join you as well,” she says. “That could be the difference between waking up on Nov. 7 and feeling the promise of four more years or asking yourself, ‘Could I have done more?’”  The video opens with Mrs. Obama recalling her husband’s first campaign for the Illinois legislature, when the newly married couple would take friends along when they went out to collect petition signatures to get Obama on the ballot.
“Help one new voter get registered through GottaVote.org, recruit one more volunteer, or bring a friend to the next phone bank you attend,” Mrs. Obama says. “If we all commit to finding at least one way to make an impact, we can ensure that we’ll keep moving this country forward for another four years.”  The Obama campaign said Mrs. Obama would lead the “It Takes One” effort, which will include digital media, advertising and grassroots organizing. Campaign officials said Mrs. Obama would be the face of the effort and personally participate in many “It Takes One” events as she travels the country, recruiting neighborhood team leaders, speaking to groups of women to ask them to volunteer and stopping by voter registration events.
That represents a significant increase in the first lady’s role in the campaign. Already, she has been traveling the country to raise money for the campaign and making appearances at rallies designed to energize volunteers and supporters.  Mrs. Obama, whose high favorability ratings are a big asset to the campaign, was known during the 2008 presidential race as “the closer” for her ability to persuade undecided voters to come on board and her success at motivating supporters to get more involved.
The first lady planned to formally launch the “It Takes One” program during campaign stops Friday in Virginia, a battleground state in this fall’s election. The first lady will speak at a campaign event for women in Charlottesville and to grassroots supporters in Fredericksburg.  Obama’s campaign also plans to launch local “It Takes One” efforts in battleground states to engage new volunteers.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
via First lady Michelle Obama to lead new campaign mobilizing effort: ‘It Takes One’ | theGrio.

First Lady Michelle Obama To Lead New Campaign Mobilizing Effort: ‘It Takes One’

WASHINGTON (AP) — Taking on a more prominent political role, first lady Michelle Obama is launching a nationwide effort to motivate every supporter of President Barack Obama to get more involved in his re-election campaign — and bring along somebody else, too.

The “It Takes One” program urges supporters to make a difference in this election, and to “start by taking one action that will help grow our campaign,” Mrs. Obama says. In a three-minute video message to supporters that was released Thursday, the first lady tells supporters that with a tighter election than 2008 likely this fall, “in the end, it could all come down to those last few thousand votes in a single state.”

“Every time you take action to move this country forward, we’re asking you to inspire one more person to join you as well,” she says. “That could be the difference between waking up on Nov. 7 and feeling the promise of four more years or asking yourself, ‘Could I have done more?’”  The video opens with Mrs. Obama recalling her husband’s first campaign for the Illinois legislature, when the newly married couple would take friends along when they went out to collect petition signatures to get Obama on the ballot.

“Help one new voter get registered through GottaVote.org, recruit one more volunteer, or bring a friend to the next phone bank you attend,” Mrs. Obama says. “If we all commit to finding at least one way to make an impact, we can ensure that we’ll keep moving this country forward for another four years.”  The Obama campaign said Mrs. Obama would lead the “It Takes One” effort, which will include digital media, advertising and grassroots organizing. Campaign officials said Mrs. Obama would be the face of the effort and personally participate in many “It Takes One” events as she travels the country, recruiting neighborhood team leaders, speaking to groups of women to ask them to volunteer and stopping by voter registration events.

That represents a significant increase in the first lady’s role in the campaign. Already, she has been traveling the country to raise money for the campaign and making appearances at rallies designed to energize volunteers and supporters.  Mrs. Obama, whose high favorability ratings are a big asset to the campaign, was known during the 2008 presidential race as “the closer” for her ability to persuade undecided voters to come on board and her success at motivating supporters to get more involved.

The first lady planned to formally launch the “It Takes One” program during campaign stops Friday in Virginia, a battleground state in this fall’s election. The first lady will speak at a campaign event for women in Charlottesville and to grassroots supporters in Fredericksburg.  Obama’s campaign also plans to launch local “It Takes One” efforts in battleground states to engage new volunteers.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

via First lady Michelle Obama to lead new campaign mobilizing effort: ‘It Takes One’ | theGrio.

R.I.P. Ms. Melodie Of Boogie Down Productions

Ms. Melodie

Ms. Melodie, ex-wife of KRS-ONE and a prominent member of the Boogie Down Productions crew, passed away today according to numerous news sources.  Ms. Melodie, born Ramona Parker, was a member of the influential Boogie Down Productions crew and released her first album, Diva, in 1989 on Jive Records. She is best known for her hit video, “Live On Stage” and her hit single “Hype According to Ms. Melodie.” Her most memorable performance was on the 1989 single “Self Destruction” and she also has a cameo in Queen Latifah’s video “Ladies First.”
Ms. Melodie was a native of Brooklyn, NY and is survived by two sons. At this time, her cause of death is unknown.
via Ms. Melodie, Ramona Parker, Of Boogie Down Productions Is Dead (DETAILS) | Global Grind.