Chris Brown Silence His Critics

Concord, CA – The F.A.M.E album was released amid the melt down after his first attempt for a comeback.  Unsuccessful, Chris Brown spent two years trying to regain the respect and forgiveness from his fans.  It worked, the pop star returned to the spotlight better than ever.  In front a sellout crowd of screaming fans, Brown put on a unforgettable concert.

On a warm, clear night the Concord Pavilion had everyone on their feet when the count down began.  The lights went to black, the video screens began the countdown from 25 and the crowd erupted.  Magazine covers, photos, performances all graced the screen while Chris made his way onto the stage. … Continue Reading

The Sharpe Family Musical Tribute: “We Come This Far By Faith”

The Sharpe family. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, BAPAC.

Some members of the Sharpe family missed their family reunion in Dermott Arkansas this past August, so a west coast tribute was held on Sunday, September 25th at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.  The Sharpe family came together for a musical tribute and what a talented family! Every generation made a contribution; children, teens and adults, with Elvernetta Henderson on the piano and DeBorah Sharpe providing a moving sketch of Harriett Tubman, then finishing with a song.  Every member of the family sang and played musical instruments proving that the fruit does not fall far from the tree.
The family came together to acknowledge their elders as well as their … Continue Reading

Frizzell Heads PG&E Communications

Roger Frizzell

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced Oct. 5  that it has appointed Roger Frizzell as Vice President, Corporate Relations and Chief Communications Officer. Frizzell, who has been responsible for all aspects of corporate communications at American Airlines since 2003, will oversee internal and external communications, online communications and advertising at PG&E. He will report to Greg Pruett, PG&E Corporation’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs.
At American Airlines, where he was Vice President, Corporate Communications, Frizzell was responsible for corporate communications, marketing communications, community citizenship, and the company’s publications. … Continue Reading

Rosalind Randle Assists Maritime Center Restoration

From left to right: Alicia Galloway, Xavier Galloway, Rosiland Randle, Ruthie Flanagan, and Valarie Galloway. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, BAPAC

Hearing the name “Rosalind Randle” brings forth warm feelings in many people. A community activist, leader and mentor, “Roz”–as she is affectionately known–has lived and worked in North Richmond and Richmond for more than 50 years. Her roots in the community run deep.
Ms. Randle’s interest in the Maritime Center restoration is personal. The Maritime Center, located at the corner of Harbour Way South and Florida Avenue, was one of the first child development centers in the country, as a place for the children of women who worked in the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Following the war, it continued to operate as a school for more than sixty years. Ms. Randle’s grandmother worked in the Kaiser Shipyards in the 1940s.
While Ms. Randle’s commitment to the Maritime Center renovation comes as no surprise, the way she got involved in the actual rehabilitation is unusual. Rosalind Randle balked at conventional retirement after serving 15 years as a Recreation Specialist for the City of Richmond. In the vein of another “double-R” name, “Rosie the Riveter,” she became a construction worker at the Maritime Center. “I wanted to change … Continue Reading

Small Business Has Big Impact

Uche Uwahemu. Photo By Joe l. Fisher, BAPAC.

By Kia Croom
 
Cal Bay Consulting Group (CBCG), LLC is a small business making a big impact among nonprofit and private sector firms in Richmond and throughout the Eastbay. As a comprehensive consulting firm, CBCG, LLC is well versed in helping companies cultivate viable and sustainable programs, products and services.
Under the leadership of Uche Uwahemu, Chief Executive Officer, CBCG, LLC offers services which include, but are not limited to: business formation, writing business plans, strategic planning, executive/staff coaching and proposal/grant writing. CBCG, LLC’s niche is delivering high-quality, yet affordably priced services to small businesses and nonprofits. … Continue Reading

Easter Hill UMC, South Richmond’s Heartbeat

Pastor Betty Austin. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, BAPAC.

By Kia
Croom

Easter Hill United Methodist Church (EHUMC) will soon celebrate its 60th birthday.  Sixty years ago, what began as a place of worship for a small group of visionaries has evolved into an epicenter for worship and social justice.  
“Easter Hill has come a long way from the “little brown house” located on Hoffman Blvd,” said Betty Austin, Pastor. “The founders wanted to form a community and provide care for one another, and that’s what they created,” she said.  “Its following gradually grew and grew and eventually moved here in the 1950s on Christmas day.”
Today, with a following of more than 315 congregants, EHUMC has become a staple within the Richmond community, noted for its community service and rich lineage, EHUMC has been the spiritual home for a number of prominent community activists and political leaders including Booker Anderson, former Mayor of Richmond and many others. … Continue Reading

The Future of Energy “Bubbles Up” in Richmond

From left to right: Top row, far right: Rex Northen, Director Cleantech Open; 2nd row, center: Rebekah Hetzel, Presidio Graduate School, Dr. Lisa Dyson, CEO of Kiverdi, Dr. John Reed, CTO; 3rd row, center: H. Abram Wilson, Mayor of San Ramon; Gayle McLaughlin, Mayor of Richmond; Elizabeth Patterson, Mayor of Benicia; 4th row: l to r – Ross Yarrow, Chevron; Des King, Chevron Technology Ventures. Photos and collage by Adam L. Turner.

Chevron hosted the Cleantech Open Regional Finals at the Crainway Pavilion,  Oct. 6  at the historical Ford Motor Company manufacturing facility in Richmond.  The purpose of the competition is to spark California entrepreneurs and business growth.
The Cleantech Open semifinals will determine 18 of Northern California’s most promising clean-tech startups and the world’s largest clean tech business competition has helped alumni contestants raise over $300 million and create thousands of jobs.
Clean energy start-up companies bubbled up on the site to pitch their ideas to panels of judges in different energy sectors as part of California’s most 39 promising clean-tech startups. The 6 semi-finalists what were selected will move up to the finals and a chance to win $250,000 as the National Grand Prize. One such company who presented as a semi-finalist is Kiverdi, a company based in the blossoming Mission Bay area of San Francisco which recycles carbon and converts the carbon into oil using a proprietary technology.
Kiverdi uses microbes to consume gases that are produced from feedstock, landfill and agricultural waste by converting the carbon into usable products. With energy companies like Chevron constantly looking for new ideas it’s start-up companies like Kiverdi which help keep the evolution of innovation alive.
The event brought some of the brightest minds in the region to one place in hopes of securing a finalist slot and potential funding to further the development of their start-ups.  The event also provided talks on how to secure venture capital and leverage their pulic relations and marketing strategies.
In attendance to promote its resources and … Continue Reading

Civic Pride Scholarship and Awards Dinner and Youth Leadership, College Faire

Sandre Swanson

Civic Pride is hosting their Annual Youth Ambassador Scholarship & Civic Awards Dinner Thursday, October 27,  from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will begin with a Jazz Reception and Complimentary Wine Tasting, followed by Dinner and Program at the Waterfront Hotel, located at 10 Washington Street in Jack London Square.
 Civic Pride raises scholarship funds for local high school students with exemplary academic performance, and fund their annual fall Youth Leadership Forum. The awards dinner will also recognize the contributions of local firefighters, police officers, and the Red Cross for their service to the Oakland community on the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11.  
Others to be honored for their contributions are Assemblyman Sandre Swanson, retiring Oakland councilwoman Nancy Nadel, veteran Emeryville councilwoman Nora Davis as well as individuals and businesses making a difference. … Continue Reading

With Al Davis, Blacks Got the Silver

Al Davis, scout, head coach, general manager and owner of the Oakland Raiders.

By Tanya Dennis,
 Lee Hubbard and
Malaika Bobino,
Sports Editor

Al Davis, scout, head coach, general manager and owner of the Oakland Raiders for over 40 years, was a product of the 60’s, deeply moved by the Civil Rights movement, and sensitive to the inequities that existed in the sports arena for minorities.

During the 60’s the “Good Old Boy” system was in full effect.  The National Football League (NFL) was lily white, and there was not a snowballs chance in Hades that it was going to change.  Opportunities for African American players were extremely limited and absolutely no opportunities as trainers, coaches, or front office positions.

Even on the playing field there were limiting quotas as to how many minority players were allowed, and even then, playing positions were limited.  There were no quarter backs or middle line backers and worst of all, there was no hope of that changing. … Continue Reading

Mayor Quan’s Port Appointment Delayed

Jakada Imani (right), points to Margaret Gordon.

By A. Saleem Shakir

Hundreds of supporters for Oakland Port Commissioner Margaret Gordon before the Oakland City Council last week seeking a delay or a rejection of Mayor Jean Quan’s recommendation to nor reappoint Gordon.
The Council voted 5-3 to delay the decision until their October 18 meeting.    Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan, Pat Kernighan, and Jane Brunner voted against the motion.
Gordon’s supporters touted her as a nationally revered environmentalist and the recent “O” Magazine article recognizing her for the Civic Ventures Purpose Award in 2010.  Commissioner Gordon was appointed to the Port by former Mayor Ron Dellums in 2007.  She was confirmed by a majority of the council, including then councilperson Quan’s yes vote.
Times have changed. … Continue Reading

Blair Underwood Supports Community Groups

Blair Underwood

By Carla
Thomas

The paparazzi clamored for moments with actor director Blair Underwood and during show time, the audience screamed to the passion filled songs of Ginuwine as the singer passed out red long stem roses to 2 dozen lucky ladies in the VIP area.  It was a truly a star-studded, red carpet kind of night in Richmond’s Marina Bay at the Craneway Pavilion where guests enjoyed performances by singer Robin Thicke, Faith Evans, El DeBarge, Jermaine Dupri and debut artist Sydney Nycole.  The event, presented by The Headline Company, boasted a fine mix of fashion, music and charity with the philanthropic and partnering legacy of actor director Blair Underwood at the center of it all. … Continue Reading

Speak-Out and Community Forum on Civil Rights, Oct. 24

Diana Bohn

The Coalition for a Safe Berkeley will host a Speak-Out on October 24, 2011, to unveil proposed city legislation to protect civil and human rights in the face of increasing federal surveillance, repression, deportations and racial profiling.
According to Diana Bohn, a member of the Coalition, “Berkeley residents who have committed no crime are being deported based on ICE (immigration) holds, while racial profiling occurs continually in Berkeley.  Meanwhile, political surveillance involving local police is on the rise across the Bay Area.”
The Speak-Out will feature testimony from Berkeley residents (and others) about their personal experiences with these abuses of civil and human rights.  
The following human rights leaders will provide … Continue Reading

Oakland Police Chief Resigns

Police Chief Anthony Batts

By Post Staff

Police Chief Anthony Batts has resigned as Oakland’s police chief. In his resignation letter, Batts said that he had found himself “with limited control, but full accountability.”
In an email to fellow officers, Batts explained that when he was hired in 2009, “I answered the call for a reform-minded chief, a leader with a focus on community policing and high professional standards.  I was told Oakland residents were looking for a strong, visible leader to engage the community and reduce violent crime.  My goal was to help rebuild a once proud, professional department geared toward crime reduction and community services.”  Now, he says, “rather than a chief managing a diverse department of law enforcement professionals making the streets of Oakland safe, I found myself with limited control, but full accountability.  The landscape has changed radically over the past two years with new and different challenges.” … Continue Reading

AIDS Project of the East Bay Opens “The Jungle Room”

By Jesse
Brooks

Even though “The Jungle Room” sounds like a wild place to be it’s anything but.  The Jungle Room is a clinic opened by the AIDS Project of the East Bay (APEB) for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).
Shrinking resources throughout the STD and HIV/AIDS services sector, and the devastating impact of recent closures of Planned Parenthood sites, makes The Jungle Room clinic essential for people who desperately need free culturally competent and sensitive health care services.
People of color and the poor are underserved and these socioeconomic disparities of care and prevention reflect deep-rooted racial inequalities that exist and are metastasized throughout American society.
“We anticipate rapidly growing numbers of people seeking services across gender, sexual orientation, racial-ethnic, class and cross county lines says Lynice Pinkard, Project Administrator,” It is hard enough for people who are poor and severely under-resourced, disenfranchised and stigmatized to get general primary care services, APEB has a mandate to continue to provide a safety net for the most at risk and compromised people in Alameda County.” … Continue Reading

Community Organizations and Doctors Address State of Emergency

Top, from left to right: Dr. Damon Francis, East Bay AIDS Center; Kabir Hypolite, Executive Director of Alameda County Office of AIDS; Dr. Muntu R. Davis, MD, MPH, Alameda County Health officer; Bottom: from left to right: Sandra Madison, Professor of English, Merritt College, Jesse Brooks, BARAASEC co-chair; Supervisor Kieth Carson. Photos and collage by Adam L. Turner.

By Aneesah
Dryver
 
The Bay Area Regional African-American State of Emergency Coalition (BARAASEC) and Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis, MD of Oakland, presented a results-based progress report to Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Keith Carson and Wilma Chan, Monday, October 10th, on the upcoming 14th year State of Emergency that HIV/AIDS has created in Alameda County. The report explained why HIV/AIDS rates remain substantially higher in African-American communities than White and Hispanic communities, the stigma that is placed on the youth revolving around testing, prevention and treatment; Homophobia, opposing messages around sex; and the difficulty of consistent behavioral change, all factors in the slow progress in HIV/AIDS prevention. Lack of funding, stagnant program funding and a significant lack of consensus on what is effective in the community are also factors. … Continue Reading

The James A. Watson Wellness Center is Your Health Care Advocate

By H. Geoffrey Watson,
MD President/CEO/
The James A. Watson
Wellness Center

Clearly your health is your wealth and when you have your health, you have everything.  The most important issue is to stay healthy and prevent the need to have to navigate our ever changing health care system.  Disease prevention and health prevention can be maintained if you follow the 8 guidelines for healthy living:
These include:  
1) Prayer and meditation
2) Read and gain knowledge
3) Eat to live (low salt, fat and  carbohydrates)
4) Exercise regularly (5 days a week, 30 minutes a session) … Continue Reading

Marcus Book Store to Host Belafonte, Harris-Perry Book Signings

By Barbara Fluhrer
 
Harry Belafonte and Melissa Harris-Perry will appear for book signings at the Marcus Book Store this fall.
Belafonte’s autobiography “My Song” covers an active, public, lifelong human dignity saga of one of the world’s most distinguished human rights leaders.
Harris-Perry’s book “Sister Citizen – Shame, Stereotypes and Black Women in America”, will be available for signings when she appears on October 24, 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., in Oakland.
Harris-Perry, a professor of political science at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, has appeared frequently on the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC TV.  She is an award winning author and founding director of the Project on Gender: Race and Politics in the South.  
Owner of Oakland’s Marcus Books, Blanche Richardson will host the event.  Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. … Continue Reading

Grammy in the Schools Comes to Oakland

By Post Staff
 
Students in the Oakland area were granted a rare opportunity last Saturday October 8th, thanks to a partnership between the Bay Area Community Affairs Show, KDOL Spotlight, and the Grammy Foundation. Students auditioned to be a part of the Grammy Jazz Ensemble, a group of talented high school vocalists and instrumentalists from around the country who will perform live at this season’s Grammys.
“For students lucky enough to know that music is where their passion lies, performing at the Grammys is a dream come true.” said Shonda Scott, KDOL Spotlight Executive Producer and CEO of 360 Total Concept who were the sponsors of the Oakland audition tapings for the Grammy Program.
The Foundation’s “Grammy in the Schools” program focuses on recognizing music excellence at the high school level and making students aware of the many careers available to them in music. In addition to hosting camps where budding musicians can work among industry professionals, the Grammy Camp Jazz Session also offers $2 million in scholarships towards select schools including Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, New School University Jazz Program and the University of Southern California’s (USC) Thornton School of Music. This season’s Grammy Camp – Jazz Session will be held in Los Angeles from February 3-13, 2012.
“If I am selected as a part of the Grammy Jazz Ensemble it will allow me to showcase my talents as a dancer, actress as well as singer” states Sunday Simon, Oakland public school student and member of EOYDC. … Continue Reading

25,000 Patients with MediCal in Alameda County Being Moved Into Managed Care Medical Plans

By Ranjit Mandhare, MD
The James A. Watson
Wellness Center

At the beginning of 2011 new changes in regards to managed health care in our community was initiated. One major change, which took effect on June 1, 2011, is the mandatory shift of MediCal patients into either Anthem Blue Cross or Alameda Alliance.
What this means to you is if you only have MediCal as a result of being disabled or a senior, you will be mandatorily shifted into either one of the two managed health plans listed above. This change will take effect on your date of birth after June 1, 2011.
Although this change has flown under the radar among patients and even some of the health care providers in our community, it constitutes a major change and has many over-reaching consequences. This process will affect 25,000 MediCal recipients in Alameda County, specifically those who are seniors or with disabilities. It is anticipated that as many as 450,000 MediCal recipients will undergo this transition in the state of California.
As patients are moved into one of the two health plans, there is a possibility that the primary care physician assigned to them will not be their current physician. Most patients will be assigned to a primary care physician whose practice is closer to their currently listed residential address. This change may also apply to any specialists a patient is currently seeing on a regular basis.
The second major change, which will affect patients in our community, deals with medications and pharmacies. As a patient is switched into one of the two above health plans, some of the medications they are currently taking may not be on the approved list of medications for the new health plan to which the patient is shifted.
Thus, a patient may be forced to start a new medication regimen even though they have been stable on their current medications. As with the changes in medications, patients may also be switched to a different pharmacy than the one they are currently using. … Continue Reading

Village Project and the Bayview Y to Honor Westbrook, Jackson and Hammonds, Oct. 24

Eloise Westbrook

The Village Project and the Bayview Y will present, “A Senior Moment, Dancing Down Memory Lane”, on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Jazz Heritage Center and Yoshi’s Jazz Club, 1330 Fillmore, SF. Senior community members who have given their time and dedication to serving their communities will be recognized. The honorees are Ms. Betty Hammond, Western Addition, Ms. Espanola Jackson and the late Ms. Eloise Westbrook, both from Bayview. There will be a wine reception/awards presentation  in the Lush Life Gallery, featuring Lady Mem’fis & band, Dancing in the Koret Lobby with a DJ spinning oldies-but-goodies from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, along with blues by The Silver Fox Blues Band in the Yoshi’s lounge.  Join us for “A Senior Prom for the 50+” and enjoy tantalizing food, dancing, no host bar, raffles and plenty of fun.
Cost:  Free for the 50+; Juniors under 50 $20 Donation; Tickets @ www.Brownpapertickets.com … Continue Reading

Maritime Child Development Center Grand Re-Opening

Celebrating their proud history, the Maritime Center hosted their grand re-opening last Thursday, September 29th at their historic building located at 1014 Florida Ave, Richmond CA 94804. The voices of children will now ring once more in the hallways and playground of the Maritime Center, now the home of Richmond College Prep School’s kindergarten and first grade classes. The building is also the new location for the Richmond Community Foundation and a National Park Service Interpretive Center. The Maritime Center is owned and operated by the Rosie the Riveter Trust and is a part of the Rosie the Riveter National Monument.
 Rosie the Riveter was a fictional character featured in a propaganda campaign created by the U.S. government to encourage white middle class women to work outside the home during World War II.  Many African-American women were also “Rosie.”  Vi Wims (Aug 21,1914-Feb 17,2006), one of Oakland’s longtime and well know political and community activist, was one of the many women who worked the men’s jobs in the shipyards during World War II. … Continue Reading

96 HIV African-Americans Are At-Risk Because of a Funding Glitch.

By Post Staff
    
An emergency meeting was called by the Alameda Collaborative Community Planning Council and Alameda County’s Office of AIDS (OOA) on Friday, September 18th, to address a potential interruption in care to almost 96 HIV clients due to a funding glitch.
County funds intended to service these HIV clients have been distributed to other agencies.  
In the Planning Council’s August meeting, Bay Area Regional African American HIV/AIDS State of Emergency Coalition, (BARAASEC) members asked the council to take up the matter, hoping that it would expedite a solution, and bring relief to the many fearful clients concerned about the future of their health care with the AIDS Minority Health Initiative Clinic (AMHI).
The potential risk of clients falling out of care is alarming as the majority of the clients seen at the clinic are African Americans. Care for this population is critical as HIV positive African Americans are most likely to test late, therefore they find out about their status in later stages of the disease, and traditionally have a hard time staying in care. As a result of their late-testing African-Americans are also one of the HIV positive populations with a high morbidity rate due to AIDS. … Continue Reading

Capital One’s Merger With ING Challenged

Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr.

While protesters camped outside the San Francisco’s Federal Reserve Building more than 115 community representatives and leaders spoke for or against the Capital One acquisition of ING at the Federal Reserve’s October 5th Hearing. Seventy-two (72) spoke against the merger in its present form, including Robert Gnaizda, the Chief Counsel for Yolanda Lewis, Chief Deputy of the Black Economic Council, Jorge Corralejo, the Chair of the Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles, Faith Bautista, President and CEO of the National Asian American Coalition and Paul Cobb, publisher of the Post News Group.  
Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr.’s prayer and testimony for Capital One to invest in minority communities was submitted by Yolanda Lewis. … Continue Reading

Obama: Wall St. Protests Express Americans’ Anger

President Obama

President Barack Obama said demonstrators protesting against Wall Street and economic inequality are expressing the frustrations of the American public.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Obama says he understands the public’s concerns about how the U.S. financial system works. And he says Americans see Wall Street as an example of the financial industry not always following the rules.
However, Obama says the U.S. must have a strong and effective financial sector for the economy to grow. He says the financial regulation bill he championed is designed to make sure there is tougher oversight of the financial industry.
The Occupy Wall Street protests started Sept. 17 in New York. Related demonstrations have popped up around the country

Armante Washington Leads Gang of Four Math Scholars

American Indian High School graduates at Thompson Hall at UC Davis. From left to right: Alan Sau, Denny Ho, Armante Washington, and Daysi Nemecio.

Part II
By Tanya Dennis

Armante Washington by his own admission was lazy, not motivated and undisciplined.
“I was not always a scholar, had high expectations, but didn’t meet them because I was lazy and didn’t have a coach to show me anything different.  I had the support at home but didn’t have the discipline at school.”
A student attending St. Elizabeth’s in the 6th and 7th grade his mother, Troylynn Turner, transferred him to American Indian High because she felt she was paying for nothing.  She refused to keep paying for him to fail and talked to his sixth grade teacher. That teacher told Ms. Turner about American Indian High.
“I was not happy,” says Armante.  “Not only did I miss my friends and hanging out and doing all the wrong things, I also had to be retained.  I was depressed, but that was the last time I cried about my education.” … Continue Reading