A friend of mine sent me this and as any good friend would do Im posting this up here to help her out. So along with my donation Im posting this in hope that ya’ll will help her help others.

“I hope all is well with each of you. Some of you I talk to often and others only every now and then, but know that you are in my thoughts and in my prayers.

Recently I started my own non-profit called ‘Sporty Girls, Inc.’ It is a wonderful organization geared towards introducing non-traditional sports to young girls. The girls in this program will be exposed to sports such as swimming, tennis, golf and soccer along with mentoring and life skills. Because I received a full swimming scholarship to Florida A&M University after swimming competitively since I was five-years-old, it is my responsiblity to show them that they can do the exact same thing!

This summer we will host our FIRST six week summer camp program in conjunction with the Villages of Carver Family YMCA in Atlanta, Ga. We need your help to make it a huge success! So, I am asking a few of my closest friends (people I know I can depend on) to make personal contributions of $25.00 or whatever you feel lead to donate.

It’s that simple!  Contributions are tax deductible and once your donation is recieved, we will send you a receipt/letter for your tax files and records.  Your contribution will make a tremendous difference in the lives of young girls throughout the city this summer.  The money we raise in the next few weeks will go towards supplies, equipment, snacks, meals, transportation (bus tokens) and every and anything you can imagine to help make this the best camp experience possible.  It is greatly needed and will be greatly appreciated!”
God Bless,

Rashan Ali Smith

(TO SEE PICTURES FROM THIS EVENT CLICK ON THE PICTURE)

This Mother’s Day Ne-Yo made sure single and foster moms in Atlanta know just how appreciated they are.

The Grammy award winning singer/songwriter will host a brunch on Sunday (May 11), for 50 single and foster mothers from the metro Atlanta area to help raise awareness of the need for reform of the foster care system in the United States.

“They need something special,” Ne-Yo told the Associated Press. “So with the success I’ve been given, through the blessings I have, how could I not use it for good? This is a way to help people who deserve it — for both the mothers and children.”

The event will include a performance from the Def Jam star, while licensed child care workers tend to the women’s children, who are between the ages of one and ten-years-old, by providing activities in nearby rooms.

“My efforts are minor for what should be done,” Ne-Yo told the AP:. “We’re in a day and age where people care about themselves and no one else. That’s the outlook a lot of people have. But it is everybody’s responsibility to make sure that our future, which is these kids, are brought up the right way.”

His own mother, Loraine Smith was so touched by her son’s generosity she cried when she learned of his involvement in the event.

“I got a little emotional because trying to help children is a passion of mine,” Loraine Smith said. “This is the best thing so far he has done to give back to the community.”

Smith raised Ne-Yo on her own after his father left the family.

“A lot of aggravation was inside me,” the 28-year-old singer-songwriter said. “Dad stuck around for a minute and decided it wasn’t for him. But I credit my mom for being so positive, putting the pen in my hand. Its single women like her who don’t get enough recognition.” Ne-Yo and his Compound Foundation announced that McDonald’s USA, LLC.  And V103 have joined as sponsors for Ne-Yo’s Mother’s Day Brunch Serenade. Where the mothers where serenaded by 5 time Grammy award wining artist John Legend.  The event, took place on Sunday, May 11th from 2-5 pm at the Loft at Castleberry Hill, will help make this mother’s day super special for 60 metro Atlanta foster and single mothers. The Mother’s Day Brunch Serenade will encourage, celebrate and reward these mothers for all that they do each and everyday. While mothers enjoy the brunch, their children will be treated to fun activities and games.

This is an invitation only event for foster mothers who have been chosen by Georgia’s Department of Human Resources to have a positive record of service to children in Georgia, mothers who are V-103 radio contest winners, and a select number of mothers staying at the Ronald McDonald House® in Atlanta while their children are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Porsche Foxx, V103 radio personality, will be the host for this special occasion and is currently giving away tickets for the event during her afternoon radio show.

As the title sponsor, McDonald’s will provide Happy Meals for children attending the event.  Children will also be able to play two games from McDonald’s Passport To Play® school program, and Ronald McDonald® will make a special visit and lead his “Get Moving with Ronald McDonald” show and conduct other fun activities for the children.

“We hope to bring attention to state of the foster care system in America and to honor mothers that deserve recognition.  This group seldom gets the attention that they deserve because they are not troubled; they are just good mothers,” “They wake up each morning and go about the day’s activities selflessly; sometimes forsaking their own needs,” said Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith.

Launched in early 2007, The Compound Foundation, with Ne-Yo at the helm, is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization established to create a productive and stable environment for at-risk and displaced youth in the group home context.  The foundation’s mission is to increase awareness about the status of children in the child welfare system in America and to support and partner with residential care facilities through programs aimed at teaching entrepreneurship and life skills that will empower them to become productive, successful, independent adults.

It’s been another tumultuous week for the Black Athlete. On Monday, Atlanta Falcons’ linebacker Michael Boley was arrested on battery charges for allegedly becoming “physical” with his wife after she confronted him about cheating. He became angered after she hid his keys because he had been drinking earlier. He pushed her against a wall and pushed her into a kitchen cabinet and eventually threw her out the house, literally. Of course these are all allegations, but WOW!

Then the next day ex-Viking Darrion Scott was charged with assaulting his two-year-old son by holding a plastic dry cleaning bag over his head. Thankfully the little boy didn’t die, but the doctor who examined him said there were old injuries on his body that had been intentionally inflicted.

It’s funny how dogs, speaking of the Michael Vick case, get more love than people. We’re talking domestic violence and child abuse here people. It barely makes a blip on the radar anymore. No, these guys weren’t poster-children for their franchises but my, how society has become desensitized to battered women and beaten children. I bet you neither one of them will be in jail for 23 months, if proven guilty.

“I’m Rashan Ali for Exclusive Access.net and that’s just the way I see it!”

Rashan Ali

Who’s house? Run’s House ! You know in my opinion one of the best shows on MTV is RUN’S HOUSE. To those who say there’s no good quality family-oriented TV shows left, I say they haven’t seen this show. Check it out it airs every Thursday night at 10pm. If your a reader go to your local book store and pick up a copy of his book Words of Wisdom. I found this book quite hard to put down! Rev Run has put together a great combination of quotes to keep you focused, motivated, and strong in faith, in this nice size book. His Daily Words of Wisdom are quotes I find uplifting and hope they’ll be a blessing to you. So from Rev to me and now me to you.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Good morning. Be proactive with your thoughts! Your thought world is as real as the physical world that you live in. The scripture is very clear about what we should think about….. It reads….. Think on these things….. Things that are lovely… Things that are pure….. THINGS THAT ARE OF A GOOD REPORT! Think on these things! HAVE A THOUGHTFUL DAY!

God is Love
Rev Run

The Rev. Al Sharpton was arrested at the Brooklyn Bridge on Wednesday as he and hundreds of demonstrators blocked traffic to protest the acquittal of three detectives in the 50-bullet shooting of an unarmed black man on his wedding day.Sharpton, two survivors of the shooting and the slain man’s fiancee were among about a dozen people arrested on disorderly conduct charges near the base of the bridge. Police led away demonstrators at several other bridges and tunnels in the city.

The protests were part of a coordinated campaign to urge federal authorities to investigate the November 2006 shooting of Sean Bell. Three officers were acquitted of state charges last month.

Sharpton, shooting survivors Trent Benefield and Joseph Guzman, and Bell’s fiancee, Nicole Paultre Bell, lined up and peacefully put their hands behind their backs as police put plastic handcuffs on them. Sharpton and Bell were placed in a police vehicle.

The civil rights leader is seeking a federal civil rights probe into Bell’s shooting outside a Queens nightclub. The case raised questions about police use of deadly force in minority neighborhoods.

Sharpton had promised recently to “close this city down” with civil disobedience.

Bell was black, as are his friends Benefield and Guzman; the three officers acquitted in the case are Hispanic, black and white.

U.S. attorney spokesman Robert Nardoza said the case was under review, but he declined to comment further.

By TOM HAYS and DAVID B. CARUSO Associated Press reporters Bonnie Ghosh and Ted Shaffrey contributed to this report.

Rapper Yung Joc has landed the first major label situation for his new imprint, Swagg Team Entertainment.

The Atlanta-based artist, born Jasiel Robinson, has inked a deal with Jive Records to release the debut album by Chicago trio Hotstylz, (Radio G, Meatball & Krayzee) who created an online sensation with a satirical track that has since been renamed “Lookin’ Boy.”

“I wanted to put together a team of artists and opportunists to change the pace of music as we know it right now, as far as Hip-Hop and R&B is concerned,” “So I went through a lot of different mediums as far as open mics in Atlanta, I went through mediums as far as getting on the radio and telling people to bring their CDs to certain places. All types of efforts to find new talent.”

All concerted efforts aside, Joc discovered Hotstylz quite accidentally, when he was introduced to them by radio and club DJ Hershey, who had downloaded the audio from the group’s YouTube video.

“He gave me a copy of it,” recounts the Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South artist. “My assistant (shout out to Tamika) got on the internet, she found them, got in touch with them, flew ‘em down three days after that. I talked to them, we re-did the record. Three days after we re-did the record, we had a deal on the table from Jive.”

The more radio and consumer-friendly version of “Lookin’ Boy,” which features Joc himself, created a bit of a bidding war, the artist says.

He is counting on the interest generated by the song to not only help him garner a larger label situation for Swagg Team, but to also establish the imprint as a front runner for a new wave in urban music.

“With a group like Hot Stylz, there isn’t a lane for what they do,” Joc says. “They’re creating their own lane right now. It’s like taking [Comedian] ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic and putting him in the hood. These cats are from the Southside of Chicago. Don’t get it twisted: although they make funny ass records and they silly, these ni**as is still from the hood.”

The new video for “Lookin’ Boy,” which Joc says closely follows Hotstylz’ original clip, is set to hit airwaves on May 12. And will feature several surprise celebrity cameo appearances

In an effort to let the group’s popularity develop organically, a release date has not been set for their debut album.

“I talked to the label,” Joc explains, “and I said, ‘Look, if possible, don’t hit me with the standard. Don’t give me a album date and make me work towards that date. Let’s look at the growth of their record and their brand, and then let’s put a date.”

Yung Joc’s entrepreneurial aspirations go well beyond the world of entertainment.

The 25-year-old rapper also owns two automobile related businesses and is in the process of launching a new line of sunglasses called Claudio St. James.

Joc is partnering with his father to release the new collection of shades independently of any existing fashion or eyewear line.

I thought this was real. Check out what Russell Simmons has to say about Jeremiah Wright and Sen Obama.

If the Honorable Minister Louis Farrahkan can bite the bullet countless times after being denounced by countless black leaders, and be gracious enough to always ask his followers to honor and support those very same leaders, how is it possible that you, Reverend Wright—who claims to be a great supporter of Louis Farrakhan–can’t follow his leadership so the community can benefit?

Recent public controversies in the wake of statements and speeches by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright only serve to emphasize why Senator Barack Obama’s vision of a unified America is the most effective antidote to heal the painful wounds of the past and to lead our nation forward on a progressive agenda for change.

There are too many in the media who seem to have an insatiable appetite for personal attacks, foolish sound bites and pointless negative campaigning. Young voters are fed up with this type of hype and will not be tricked by these tired, divisive tactics.

It is time to move beyond the syndrome and spectacle of “backlash politics” every time a controversial figure makes a statement about race, religion, or patriotism. The truth is that America needs Senator Obama’s leadership today more than ever.

The 2008 presidential election campaign should stay focused on the issues of ending poverty, providing universal health care, funding and improving public schools, ending the war in Iraq, protecting the environment, and other quality of life issues. Senator Obama should stay on his transformative message and not get diverted reacting to the politics of negativity.

Millions of young voters are going to the polls in record numbers across the nation in direct response to Senator Obama’s positive campaign platform and inclusive outreach to all who want to help America change. We can make a real difference if we all continue to work together in an unprecedented manner.

The hip-hop generation has already transcended race, gender, class, and religion in terms of a new consciousness of mind. Now we are working for a new America as best represented in this moment of history by Senator Barack Obama.

-Russell Simmons

The Seventh Annual Grand Gala welcomed some of the top professionals in their field to the 134^th running of the Kentucky Derby held in Louisville, Kentucky. The Grand Gala was held at 8 p.m. at the Galt House East. Celebrities walked the Red Carpet which started with the sounds of drums playing and screaming fans on the exterior to the venue. Celebrities like Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Michael Strahan and model Nicole Murphy, ‘Bad Boys II’ actress Gabrielle Union, ‘Everybody Hates Chris’ actress Tichina Arnold, NBA legend Julius ‘Dr. J’ Erving, NBA All-Star Guard for the Miami Heat Dwyane Wade, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Byron Leftwich, and Houston Texans safety Will Demps to name a few. This year’s entertainment was none other than the Grammy award winning group Earth, Wind & Fire. Celebrities and fans alike danced to their soulful groove.

Other celebrities who enjoyed Saturday’s event: NBA legend, Michael Jordan, Houston Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young, Host and Producer Access Hollywood Jamal Munnerlyn, and Kings of the Evening’ actress Lynn Whitfield.

Proceeds from the Grand Gala benefit the 828 Foundation which identifies and supports several non profits, some of which include United Negro College Fund, Young Life, Youth Alive and OASIS Life Center.

Special thanks to Sherelne M. Shanklin of VIPP COMMUNICATIONS be sure to check her out at www.vippcommunications.com

(To view more pics from this event click on the picture in the blog)

Who’s house? Run’s House ! You know in my opinion one of the best shows on MTV is RUN’S HOUSE. To those who say there’s no good quality family-oriented TV shows left, I say they haven’t seen this show. Check it out it airs every Thursday night at 10pm. If your a reader go to your local book store and pick up a copy of his book Words of Wisdom. I found this book quite hard to put down! Rev Run has put together a great combination of quotes to keep you focused, motivated, and strong in faith, in this nice size book. His Daily Words of Wisdom are quotes I find uplifting and hope they’ll be a blessing to you. So from Rev to me and now me to you.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Good morning. They say Thomas Edison failed 1000 times when creating the light bulb… His story is a bit different.. He said…. “I didn’t fail 1000 times,,, it just took 1000 steps to create it!”. Be patient! Keep going!

God is Love
Rev Run

Kanye West is one of the few artist who truly speaks his mind regardless of consequence, he will tell you exactly whats on his mind.  Check out what Kanye had to say about his Glow in the Dark Tour review by Entertainment Weekly

The rapper went off on a tirade on his blog against the magazine, who gave his “Glow in the Dark Tour,” a less the pleasing review

Heres what Kanye has to say:

“Yo, anybody that’s not a fan; don’t come to my show. For what?! To try and throw ya’ll two cents in? Ya’ll rated my album shitty and now ya’ll come to the show and give it a B+. What’s a B+ mean? I’m an extremist. It’s either pass or fail! A+ or F-! You know what, fuck you and the whole fucking staff!!! I know I shouldn’t dignify this with a comment, but the reviewer threw a jab at all the artists. I just wanna know when was the last time you enjoyed yourself. If you can’t have fun and lose yourself at this tour it’s a good chance you’re a very miserable person. I actually feel sorry for you guys. Your job forces you to not have fun anymore. Grab a drink, holla at some nice girls, and party bitch!! You don’t know shit about passion and art. You’ll never gain credibility at this rate. You’re fucking trash! I make art. You can’t rate this. I’m a real person. I’m not a pop star. I don’t care about anything but making great art. Never come 2 one of my shows ever again, you’re not invited and if you see me…BOW!! This is not pop, it’s pop art!”