WSSN Stories

LOS ANGELES, CA- In response to a recent survey of African Americans in Los Angeles, AARP has announced that it has formed a partnership with Blavity, a Los Angeles-based media and technology company, to encourage African American millennials to begin planning for their financial future.

The AARP survey, entitled “California Dreaming …or Struggling,” revealed that two-thirds of respondents often worry about not having enough retirement savings. 

AARP and Blavity are collaborating to address this potential retirement-savings crisis by providing tools and information designed to arm millennials with the knowledge they need to manage their finances with the future in mind.

While some might wonder why an organization for people 50+ would partner with one that serves millennials, AARP’s California State Director Nancy McPherson sees a perfect match:

“AARP cares deeply about the financial security of all generations, because we are all connected through family, community, and economic ties,” she said. “Moreover, if we can reach millennials with messages about smart retirement planning while they still have many years left to save for retirement, we are ahead of the game.  That’s why this partnership with Blavity makes so much sense for us. We want to connect with millennials where they already are.” 

The partnership held a wealth-management seminar as a signature event on Wednesday, September13 at Blavity’s headquarters in Los Angeles. The seminar was led by Blavity CEO Morgan DeBaun along with investment advisors Michael and Irwin Persaud. Topics discussed were money management, paying off debt, and planning for retirement.

AARP offers an array of FREE personal finance tools at www.aarp.org/money.

DURHAM, NC- Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange: Black Founders, a one-week intensive “boot camp” for Black founders of high growth potential startups, October 8 to 13, has selected its 2017 class of companies.

The teams selected focus on software, consumer products, big data, analytics or IoT include:

• Loanable (Durm) – Loanable helps you create friends and family loans online and repay them easily with auto-draft
• 2020 Shift (NYC) – We train professionals on the skills they need to find careers they love in digital media and technology
• Please Assist Me (Nashville) – Please Assist Me is a tech based comprehensive home assistant service
• DisputeDoc (ATL) – First automation platform for fixing credit and improving credit scores
• Reciprocare (DC) – ReciproCare helps senior care agencies and facilities find caregivers and helps caregivers find the best jobs for their unique needs
• Partake Foods (Jersey City) – Partake Foods is a line of snacks that are free of the top 12 allergens. They’re Non GMO, Kosher, gluten-free, vegan, and made with simple, whole food ingredients
• Ilerasoft (Cincinnati) – Ilerasoft’s software centralizes a health system’s equipment data on one platform to improve FDA safety recalls. We have built a better way to link and match FDA safety recalls to relevant hospital inventory to identify defective medical equipment earlier and more accurately. The current method is inaccurate and can takes over 3 weeks to identify and remediate the right defective equipment, leading to 50,000 preventable injuries. Our solution reduces identification time to 1 day
• ScrapSports (ATL) – ScrapSports is the #1 platform for athletes, coaches, and fans to build their brand, share their story, and cement their legacy on the web
• Zyrobotics (ATL) – Zyrobotics makes interactive STEM tools and learning games for early childhood education that are accessible, adaptive, and cloud-connected
• Civic Eagle (Minneapolis) – We help government and policy organizations learn, engage, and activate the people they serve through a suite of inexpensive software tools.

Five of the 10 teams belong to organizations within the Google for Entrepreneurs partner network, including TechSquare Labs, COCO, Nashville Entrepreneur Center and American Underground.

The program, hosted by American Underground, Google for Entrepreneurs and Lincoln Financial Group, will focus primarily on:

• Preparation for an angel/seed stage round raise (less than $750k)
• Knowledge sharing around the unique challenges that face Black founders
• Pairing founders with a Thurgood Marshall College Fund intern during the program to support execution

Startups will also have one-on-one meetings with investors focused on raising seed capital, network building with larger, corporate/strategic partners, and 5+ hours of direct mentoring from an area expert.

Quote from Adam Klein, chief strategist, American Underground
“Last year, the inaugural Black Founders edition of Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange was a huge success. We saw half of all of the participating companies in 2016 receive funding and were better prepared to tackle the unique challenges facing Black startup executives.”

Quote from Nicole Froker, Partner Engagement Manager, Google for Entrepreneurs
“Together with American Underground, we are deeply committed to supporting the growth and success of underrepresented founders. The Google for Entrepreneurs Exchange program is ?a unique opportunity to help bridge the gap between founders seeking funding with mentors and investors, and we saw great success from last year’s program. We are proud to partner with American Underground once again to advance this effort.”

Quote from William Crowder. managing partner, 42 Venture Partners
“There are many groups and places touting their interest in inclusion and diversity but I’ve always been biased towards supporting the efforts of those that are willing to take action as well.  Durham is one such community and the American Underground and Google’s commitment are game changers. This experience for startup founders is exactly what is needed to measurably move the needle forward with the ultimate goal of building a more inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem.”

Quote from Harold Hughes, Founder & CEO, Bandwagon (2016 participant)
“The program directly impacted the success we’ve realized in the last six months. Not only was I able to make connections with black founders from across the country who are dealing with the same challenges that I face, but I was able to tap into a group of supporters in the American Underground team that really opened doors.”

About American Underground
The American Underground — one of twelve Google for Entrepreneurs tech hubs in North America — launched seven years ago in the basement of an old tobacco warehouse at the American Tobacco Historic District. It now encompasses close to 125,000 sq ft of space at three locations in downtown Durham as well as a strategic partnership with open source leader Red Hat to offer an office in Silicon Valley. Founding partners include Google for Entrepreneurs, Lincoln Financial Group, Coastal Credit Union, Duke University, Fidelity Labs, and Capitol Broadcasting Company.

About Google for Entrepreneurs
Google for Entrepreneurs provides financial support and the best of Google’s resources to dozens of coworking spaces and community programs across 125 countries. We also create Campuses: physical hubs where entrepreneurs can learn, connect, and build companies that will change the world. To learn more about Google for Entrepreneurs, visit google.com/entrepreneurs or follow us on Twitter (@GoogleForEntrep).

By Lue Dowdy

Youth competition in the I.E. October 14 is WHAT IT DO!

We need your help! Launching Unique Entertainment, known as LUE Productions, is seeking vendors and sponsors for our youth showcase/competition titled, “SHOW IT OFF.” The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 14, 2017 at The Women’s Club of San Bernardino located at 503 W. 31st Street, San Bernardino, 92405 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Our goal is to provide platforms and highlight talented youth from the Inland Empire. We have 13 talented acts ranging from 19 and under competing. Our company, along with its sponsors, will be giving out a cash prize of $500 dollars to the winning act. There will also be a cash prize of $100 dollars awarded to the second-place winner and a $50 gift card to the third-place winner. A trophy comes with each placement.

During the event, we will address the audience regarding metal health issues and the youth! We feel that it is vital to bring awareness and resources to the families on this matter. Be a part of all the fun! Tickets are available for purchase. Please text us at (909) 567-1000 or inbox LUE Productions of Facebook. Until next week L’s!!!!

Participating Acts include: Alandraa Smith, Chozen Exspressions, Daharien Trotter, Elizabeth Estrella, Jack Musgrove, Jahzara and Djehuty/The Garbutt Siblings, LaRae Tillett, LaTisha Williams, Moena Parker, Sheniya Jackson, T.Spokes, Ty’Ren Tillet, and Xager8 Dance Crew.

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Ain’t gonna be nothing nice you best believe that! You see, you can’t cheat or compromise on God’s commandments and get away with it. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows this he will also reap.”[Galatians 6:7]. This principle is irrevocable; there is no escape. It is a law of life and it applies to everyone, both Christians and non-Christians alike. God will not allow you to go unpunished. Consider Scriptural illustrations: David sinned with Bathsheba and attempted to cover it up by having Uriah murdered. But “When the chickens came home to roost”, he had four dead sons, a kingdom in shambles, disgraced wives, a tarnished reputation, a disgraced daughter, and a trusted counselor dead by suicide, among other things. David sinned abundantly and reaped abundant consequences. Isaac and Rebecca let Korah criticized Moses for his office, but God heard and buried him alive. [Numbers 16:1-35].  Listen, God’s moral laws cannot be neglected or violated with impunity, and Scripture fully justifies the expectation and shows that sin must be punished.

“This is the end of the matter: …. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. In [1 Kings 2:3] David told Solomon that he should live in obedience to the Word of God. To walk in His ways, and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses.” In [Isaiah 48:11] God says, “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? “I am the Lord; that is my name! [Isaiah 42:8]

The day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Where do you stand?” Pardon or Punishment.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
¹⁵ See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;¹⁶ In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.¹⁷ But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;¹⁸ I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ²⁰ That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Pivotal Paths is the story of a teenage basketball phenomenon growing up in Compton during the gang and drug explosions of the late 1980’s. He comes from a single parent home that thanks to a limited income is confined to poverty.

Despite a commitment to ride his talents to a better life, Quic chasing instant gratification in the form of a fast buck, tries his hand at drug dealing. Though he excels in this area, he holds steadfast that the life style which ushered his father an early generation Crip into a premature grave is not for him.

Quic rationalizes the contradiction that becomes his life by maintaining that the drug dealing thing is a temporary hold over. he doesn’t gang bang but everyone in his peer group from his best friend Lil Jay to his basketball teammates does. His undoubting loyalties to these guys keep him in the line of fire and provide an erroneous perception.

Quic’s proximity to the hood and its seductive allure places him at a crossroads that will determine whether he actively pursues his hoop dreams or set them aside for the trap that is hood life.

Pastor Chuck

By Linden Beckford Jr.

I recently had a chance to sit and talk with Pastor Chuck Singleton. It was a pleasure to speak with someone deeply rooted in the African-American experience. In today’s environment, it is difficult to find people who truly revere our black culture in North America.

Pastor Chuck Singleton was born in Tallulah, Louisiana. However, he and his family moved to Illinois when he was 1-years old. Pastor Singleton says that he felt called to Minister when he was 5-years-old. 

He has been in California since the 1970’s. Upon moving to California, Singleton led First Baptist Church in Fontana on a new movement in 1981 when he declared that “God has called us to become Loveland.” This was led by the Holy Spirit after six years. Loveland opened its doors for the first time in the Spring of 1981 where over 500 believers gathered to worship at the beautiful new facility constructed at the corner of Sierra and Baseline Avenue.

Pastor Singleton agrees with me that the Black church has been demonized within the last 30 years. While there is some legitimate criticism, there some motivations that are very sinister! Back in the day, Pastor Singleton worked closely with Mrs. Jessie Turner. Mrs. Turner was a true bulwark in the community. According to Pastor Singleton, Mrs. Turner refused to take no for an answer and would get things done!

Pastor Singleton participated in the selection of the Jessie Turner Center after her passing. This Writer has a great deal of respect for the work that Pastor Singleton has done and continues to do. The fact that he is unapologetically Black and Christian is fantastic! This is a tradition of those who came before us.

The Afro Christian tradition/experience has never been an impediment. In fact, it has been the bridge over troubled waters. When one hears the song, “How I Got Over,” you understand why. Pastor Chuck Singleton has been a good Shepherd. He has been the practitioner of liberation theology. For us as a people, that will lead us to the promised land. We need to thank Pastor Singleton for still standing!

By Lue Dowdy

Actor, model, and rapper T Win of the Inland Empire is What It Do! Now an official member of SAG/AFTRA this young man is beating the odds. Born a twin and extremely handsome, T Win whose real name is Donte Lazonn Mack turned a bad situation and turned it into good.

Growing up in the Inland Empire, T Win tried his best to avoid trouble. Reaching high school, he took to sports and began playing football which landed him two championships. After graduating Kaiser High School in 2005, Twin found himself in trouble with the law and was locked up for a total of four years. While incarcerated he linked up with a gentleman by the name of Monte Lindsey a.k.a. Devious and started to dabble in music. At that moment, he knew music was something he wanted to do.

Once he was released from prison in 2012, T Win took off running and hasn’t stopped. He began to take up acting and auditioned for a role in the block buster movie, “Straight out of Compton.” Although he didn’t receive a call back, his determination and love for his children kept him pushing. In 2014, he ended up landing a small part in the movie, “Dope” and in the summer Blockbuster movie “Spiderman Homecoming.”

This triple threat is currently working on a clothing line that is schedule to launch this year. While doing all that he still finds time to take it to the MIC. His mixtape titled, “Street Politics” will be dropping real soon. Please make sure to follow this talent on all social media sites under T Win. Until next week L’z!

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

For being chosen to walk the runway in this year “Ankara Fest LA” the biggest African cultural festival in the United States. With her beautiful features and at just 4′ 11″ tall, Krystal proves once again – that you don’t have to be super tall to become a successful model!  As the founder of MKY Petite Modeling Agency, she quotes Napoleon Hill, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.” 

Yes, the Belasco Theater was the place to be September 1 to September 4. Festivities included Red Carpet and Cocktail, Runway Showcase, Artist Performance, Exhibitors/Vendors Showcase, Comedy, Best Dressed Male & Female Awards, dance and food with live music throughout the night and during the fashion show.  It was a fantastic, memorable evening.

“Los Angeles home to one of the largest celebrations of African fashion, culture, heritage, music, dance and art. In its mission to create social awareness for cultural pride, Ankara Festival serves as creative gathering place for fashion designers, models, exhibitors and individuals at the forefront of afro centric innovation.”

Miss Krystal Yvonne, “continue to be like the eagle: soar high, and drop your food onto rocks to crack them open.”  Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for your continued success!

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Well, you asked for it! Fate it will be: your destiny, Death says the Lord. “For when I invited you, you ignored me; when I spoke to you, you brushed me off. You did the very things I exposed as evil; you chose what I hate.” Therefore, I will put you to death… “[Isaiah 65:12-15] [Psalms 50:22]. Prepare to meet your God!

Listen, life is filled with boundaries. The government places boundaries on our lives through various laws and regulations.  Society places boundaries on our lives by telling what most people feel constitutes acceptable behavior.  Religion places boundaries upon the lives of people by telling them what they can and cannot do.  Even churches have certain standards which they expect people who attend to observe.  The list could literally go on forever, but the truth of the matter is this: everywhere you go in this world, you are confronted with boundaries, and when a boundary is crossed, usually a penalty is incurred.  If you violate the laws of the land and get caught, there is a price to pay.  If you step over the boundaries imposed by society or religion, you may be ostracized by the group. The same is true when it comes to God.  When you step over God’s boundaries, there is always a price to pay. Case in point, Lucifer was proud and because of that God hurled him from heaven down to the earth because he crossed God’s boundary of obedience into the territory of disobedience.  [Revelations 12:7-9]. Adam and Eve had one boundary in the Garden of Eden: abstain from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they chose to overstep the boundary. They crossed the boundary and the result was the introduction of sin, disease, violence, greed, pain and death into our world. [Genesis 3:14-19] [Romans 5:12].  Not to mention Eli’s sons who crossed the boundary of morality. They slept with the women who came to sacrifice at the altar. They therefore met untimely and tragic deaths [1 Samuel 2:12-36]. And Jonadad, who advised and encouraged his friend and cousin Amnon to commit incest by sleeping with his own sister. After committing incest with Tamar, Amnon turned to hate her and chased her away, later Amnon was murdered. [2 Samuel 13: 1-39]. Ham who saw his father Noah’s nakedness, Noah was displeased and rained curses on him [Genesis 9:18-25]. The problem is we’ve been deceived into believing that the boundaries don’t matter.  But here is the deal, if God is truth and he speaks the truth, then what he says matters.   Stepping beyond the boundary stones is not wise.

Listen, God has set certain boundaries in His Word.  Those who cross God’s boundaries will find that there is no hope, no forgiveness and nothing to look forward to but His judgment.  But, it doesn’t have to be that way!  The Lord stands ready right now to forgive all those who will come to Him in humble repentance, [1 John 1:9]. Come to the Lord today and get things right with Him.   Don’t cross that line!  If you do, you will regret it for all eternity! Come while He may be found.  You see a crooked generation is a lost generation. We are told that Peter warned them. We are told that he pleaded with them to save themselves. In other words they were in terrible danger and they couldn’t see it, and so he had to warn them and beseech them to see their plight. “Don’t ignore what I have said to you. The wages of sin is death!” Won’t you respond as the 3,000 men responded who were listening to Peter? They understood what he was saying, and they agreed with his diagnosis of their condition. They nodded their heads silently. They said ‘Amen’ in their hearts. They acknowledged their corruption and that their only Savior was Jesus Christ. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you too will be saved.

[Jeremiah 26:4-6]

“And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; then I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”

 [Deuteronomy 30: 19] “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live…”

By Naomi K. Bonman

After being exhausted from all the happy hour and per usual networking events at restaurants and local clubs, entrepreneurs and Clark Atlanta University alumni, Shanelle Williams and Kareem Taylor wanted to create something different where other Black entrepreneurs and professionals could come together in an adventurous and fun environment, which is how the Encounter Camp was launched.

“My goal is simple,” Williams, CEO at True Splendor Events and Encounter Co-Founder, explains. “I want to create events and experiences that inspire and change people. I want to create a safe place for people to come and share their fears and their thoughts, and those things they’ve been struggling with but leave refreshed and inspired, and renewed to go out into the world and make a difference.”

And that is exactly what the Encounter Camp offered—refreshment, rejuvenation, and inspiration! The camp was held at the beautiful Pali Retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27. Attendees had a full-fun weekend that consisted of workshops, early morning yoga, dance classes, s’mores around a campfire, and archery. Dance classes were taught by Los Angeles based Choreographer, Luckie, who is known from Oxygen’s hit show “Dance Your A** Off.”

“It was very powerful experience,” Dwight Williams, Art Director from Los Angeles, stated regarding his experience at Encounter Camp. “It was definitely life-changing and reaffirming. It’s for those who want to get away and want to grow. I had a wonderful time with great people, great views, and the facilities were clean. What set it apart was the structure, friendliness, speakers, activities, down to the food and the snacks. It was very well organized.”   

Bummed that you missed out? Well, there are already talks about the next Encounter Camp so make sure you follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @EncounterSoCal or visit www.encountercamp.com and sign up on the email list to stay updated!