WSSN Stories

Mer-C

By Lue Dowdy

Female emcee Mer-C is WHAT IT DO! When I see an artist on their grind, especially a female, I must say “Salute.”  

I’ve been watching this talented young lady for a cool minute now. I see how serious she takes her music, image, and brand. A lot of other female emcees can truly take a page from her book.

Below is more about this beautiful, fire spittin’ Queen. Make sure you follow my articles and events on Facebook under ‘LUE Productions.’

Mer-C a.k.a. Sharea Brown was born and raised in Pomona, California. She went to school in Rialto during some of her younger years. She is known for dancing at Pomona High and in a couple music videos by Master P and Goodie Mobb. She is also a mother to two sons.

She moved to Chicago for six years and while there she won a reality show called “#Thehungriestrapper” produced by Stacey ‘Boss Diamond’ Gill where she walked away with $10,000 that she invested in herself working with a little bit of everyone from Chicago to California.

She sacrificed it all in the height of her rap career when she moved back to California when her oldest son was off to college. While back in California, Mer-C continued to pursue her rap and pinup model career while doing shows in and opening acts for DJ Quik and Juvenile, just to name a few. She eventually ended up linking with Pomona Young and his daughter Ree Ree where together they created the Pomona Ladies Movement capturing the attention of RMM Percy and Snoop Dogg. Both ladies were chosen to go on the “Puff, Puff, Pass Tour 2” along with legends from the Dogg Pound, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Warren G, Too $hort and several others.

Mer-C came right off tour totally focused. She created her own clothing line for men and women titled, “No MerC Clothing” and “No MerB Kings Only.” Out of that she formed her own crew of Queens called the “No MerC Models” who were recently featured in “DBG” featuring Snoop Dogg and the “Don’t Fuck with Y’all” video which can be seen on World Star Hip-Hop.

Giving back to the community Mer-C also works with a group of young girls she calls ‘Lil Ladies Motivating Little Girls to Stick Together.’ The purpose is to teach little girls to stay little girls for as long as they can. Follow Mer-C on IG at @no_merc and @no_mercmodels for booking or questions email Im2010mercy@yahoo.com. Blessings. Until next week L’s!

By John Coleman

REDLANDS, CA- Carlotta Poole is a Redlander.  She is born, schooled, and lived here most of her life.  Following the death of her father, she returned to her childhood home and began to settle into typical Redlands life.  Then a fire burned the brush in the open field near the freeway interchange area and across from her home. She then raised awareness of other (hidden in full sight) ?issues and needs of the city.

She walked through the neighborhood, knocked on doors, and asked neighbors what city issues concerned them. She collected a list of issues, names, and addresses, then notified City Officials of her findings. They responded to the information by visibly dealing with a frequently identified issue and the city planned with Ms. Poole for a time and place where community members could meet with City Officials, raise questions, and share in seeking solutions.

Ms. Poole again walked through the neighborhood, knocked on doors, prepared and distributed notices of the event which was held on Tuesday, July 25 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Redlands Senior Center.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

That’s a darn shame! Yet you expect God to bless you! Well forget about it! Ain’t going to happen! God made it very clear in [Matthew 6:33] He said, “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” What part of “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God” do you not understand? To seek means to have a keener sense of the spiritual.  It is to have that spiritual vision that there is more to life than the physical world. Being committed to everybody and everything but God… Slap yourself!

I want you to know that twice Haggai instructed the people, “Consider your ways.” [Haggai 1:5-7]. The word considers means to give careful thought to. It was time for the people to do some serious self-examination before the Lord. Haggai wanted the people to stop long enough in their busy schedules to evaluate their life in light of God’s Word. He wanted them to measure the consequences of their actions. Samuel urges the people of Israel to consider what great things God has done! “Yes, consider…and fear the LORD!  Consider…and serve the LORD!  Give yourself completely to Him” Samuel said. When we recognize what God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ, the only response is to give ourselves completely to him. Nothing significant ever happens in life without commitment. Your commitments determine your future. You can’t lose by being committed to God. The Bible tells us in [2 Chronicles 16:9] that God is looking for people whose hearts are fully committed to Him so that He can bless and use them. Paul put it this way, ‘Even before the world was made, God had already chosen [you] to be His through your union with Christ, so that you would be holy and without fault before him [Ephesians 1:4].

 I tell you if reflecting on God’s mercies doesn’t move you, then you are in trouble? Where would you be without God’s love and forgiveness? Where would you be without God’s presence in your life? What kind of hope would you have without him? [Psalm 37:5-6, 34-40]. God wants you to know that, “No other person must come before Him: not your children, your mate, your parents, or your best friend, not even.” Consider the greatest commandment. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy mind, all thy soul, and all thy strength.” That is the greatest commandment and the second is like unto it, “Love thy neighbor as yourself and you shall live.”

I don’t know about you but I surrender my life to God because He’s given His life to me.  If God never did another thing for me, never blessed anything else in my life, never answered another prayer, never gave me another morsel of food or never said another kind word my way, I owe Him my all right now because of what He did for me on the cross. Paul writing about His own motivation in [1 Corinthians 15:10] stated, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and I labor more abundantly than they all-yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” I commit to Christ because I’m grateful for my salvation. You know Jesus told the Ephesians that they stopped loving Him, and to fix that problem He told them to do two things: Remember the height from which they fell. And repent by doing the things they did at first. God expects unconditional surrender. Whatcha gonna do?

Remember, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” [Proverbs 16:25].

By Ysrayl

For the uplifting and encouragements of my people…

The Hebrew Doctrine is the only doctrine that ensures their believers of a life expectancy beyond the grave. I myself laid out each brochure of each faith before me, and considered the strength of the faith. It was the best thing that was going on. We are the only faith that promises eternal life through the sacrificial blood atonement which places us back in terms with the Mighty One.

Our ancestors followed the precepts in the literal ceremonials, pointing ahead into the future of Messia, [of whom would come through the loins of a Hebress woman.] The Word came in the flesh, in the person of Yahshua, and there are those of our forebears that beheld His glory [John 1]. We in this day, observe these same ceremonials in the Spirit, by faith, not by anything we can touch and feel, see and smell. Yah is a spirit. These festivals of old were and are summed up in the life and death of Jesus the Christ. In Genesis, we observe the Mighty One taking a skin [we suppose a lamb] making the covering for their sin. We have Yahshua taking His blood into the presence of Yah as the atonement for the world, regardless of complexions of skin. This life is offered to all. It takes you to receive it. It’s freely given. You don’t have to pay for the Word of Yah. The so-called preachers are cheating you. Those of us that believe in this message are promised eternal life with the Father, and when we sleep [we will] be awaken in Paradise and we will see our loved ones again; mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, all of us will unite up under the banner of Love, over our heads in Yah’s Kingdom. This is the gift that God gives to those of us that believe.

Erica Brown

Helping clients shine is one of the key tasks of Erica Brown, the newly appointed Associate Creative Director and Senior Graphic Designer at Sonshine Communications.  In this new role, Erica is responsible for managing creative design, graphic services, and creative packaging.

“Erica has an exceptional eye for detail and creativity,” says Bernadette Morris, president/CEO. “She often veers away from the norm and strives to develop products that are extremely innovative and out of the box. She is a valuable asset to our team.”

The consummate professional, Erica has been a part of the Sonshine team for nearly 15 years.  Her award-winning designs have included campaigns for the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Transportation, the U.S. General Services Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, among others.

Erica holds a Master of Communication Arts degree from New York Institute of Technology. In addition, her work has afforded her with multiple awards including recognition from the American Advertising Federation, and the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.

Sonshine Communications is a leading public relations, marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Miami, Florida.  Sonshine works with a diverse array of government agencies, non-profits and businesses in numerous industries nationwide.

For more information on how you can experience the Sonshine Communications, please call (305) 948-8063 or visit www.sonshine.com.

This week GWAAP is What It Do! They will be dropping EP, “F.R.O.M.” on 9/1/17! Keep your eyes and ears on the lookout. Be sure to follow them at facebook.com/gwaapfam and www.facebook.com/lueproductions.

Until next week, L’z!

Although we are half way through summer, the kiddos are still trying to enjoy their last few days before it’s time to hit the books again, and not to mention the days are still hot and just getting hotter! Whether you spend these hot days outside having picnics or enjoying that dip in the ocean or pool, it is important to stay safe. The American Red Cross offers these 15 safety tips to make sure your summer fun stays safe, fun and stress free.

HEAT SAFETY.

1. Stay hydrated, drink plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
2. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors – they absorb the sun’s rays.
3. Slow down, stay indoors. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
4. Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
5. Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. 

WATER SAFETY.

1. Do your part, be water smart! Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well.
2. Actively supervise children by staying within arm’s reach of young children and newer swimmers.
3. Don’t fool with a pool: fence it in. Enclose your pool and spa with four-sided, four-foot fencing and use self-closing, self-latching gates.
4. Don’t just pack it; wear your U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket – always when on a boat and if in a situation beyond your skill level. Inflatable children’s toys and water wings can be fun, but they are no substitute for a life jacket and close adult supervision.
5. Swim as a pair near a lifeguard’s chair – everyone, including experienced swimmers, should swim with a buddy in areas protected by lifeguards.

GRILLING SAFETY.

1. Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
2. Never grill indoors – not in your house, camper, tent, or any enclosed area.
3. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
4. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, the deck, tree branches, or anything that could catch fire.
5. Use long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to keep the chef safe.

The Red Cross Emergency App can help keep you and your loved ones safe by putting vital information in your hand for more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts. The Red Cross Swim App promotes water safety education and helps parents and caregivers of young people learning how to swim. The Red Cross First Aid App gives instant access to expert guidance on handling the most common first aid emergencies at your fingertips. Download these apps by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps.

 Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Going around doing things you know you have no business doing; all because you want to fit in! Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God [James 4:4]. You need to have a realization in your heart, that you are now a child of God, and you don’t have any business fooling with the things of the world. As Christians, we have to be ever so careful who we associate ourselves with. We have to be careful who we allow to be in our space. Fools cannot be real friends to a child of God. It is impossible, for they are incompatible by nature. They have nothing of value to offer. Avoid the company of fools and you will save yourself harm! Walk with the wise and you will become wise!

[Romans 12:2] says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Ephesians 5:15-16] says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” So come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning … I say this to your shame” [1 Corinthians 15:33-34]. Listen, [Psalm 1:1] says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. What a simple rule for wisdom and life! Get rid of foolish friends, and choose the wise for friends. You will grow in wisdom and avoid much trouble in life.  

The Bible declares, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” [I Corinthians 15:33]. The warning about deception is to save you. I ask you, How did Lot, Abraham’s nephew, end up in a cave with nothing but his two daughters pregnant by his incest? He moved toward Sodom and made friends in that wicked city [Genesis 13:12]. What a disaster it turned out to be for him, his wife, and five daughters. Be not deceived!  Fools cannot be real friends to a child of God. It is impossible, for they are incompatible by nature. They have nothing of value to offer. I tell you, if you lie down with the dogs, you will rise up with fleas. Do not go in their direction [Psalms 1:1; Proverbs 1:10, 15; 4:15; 9:6), and have no fellowship with them [Proverbs 14:7; Amos 3:3; Ephesians 5:11-12]. The clincher of Jehoshaphat’s story in [2 Chronicles] is the devastating effect that his compromise with the world had on his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and on the whole southern kingdom. In [Chapters 21 and 22] we read that after Jehoshaphat’s death, his son Jehoram [married to Athaliah] slaughtered all his brothers and then turned the nation to idolatry [see 21:6]. God struck him with a terrible disease of the bowels and he died after eight years in office. His son Ahaziah became king and lasted one year before he was murdered [see 22:3-4]. Ahaziah’s wicked mother Athaliah then slew all his sons [her own grandsons] except for Joash [a one-year-old] who was rescued and hidden from her. The Davidic kingly line from which Christ was descended came that close to being snuffed out! And then the wicked Athaliah ruled the land for six years. All this was the result of Jehoshaphat’s compromise with the wicked Ahab! Do not be deceived. He who lie down with dogs, will rise up with fleas!

My aim is to walk with God, to follow His Word of truth, and to help you do the same.

By Naomi K. Bonman 

Summer time is the time for good food, good company, and good music. This is the experience that many are hopeful for when attending the LA Soul Fest. After a successful year, last year during the 1st annual LA Soul Fest, concert goers were amped for this year’s show and line-up. Despite Sunday’s cancellation, many still made the most of the first two-days.

This year the festival was held at a new location closer to Downtown Los Angeles at Exposition Park, and with a new location came several changes. The first change was within the staffing. There seemed to be miscommunication between event staff, the public relations crew, and the promotion company, Airborne Tickets. For press, checking-in was a bit confusing on Friday where some of us kept getting the run around prior to picking up credentials. Guests also said stated that they had difficulties when claiming their VIP, The passes at the “box office”. 

“Friday and Saturday for us Florida tourist was nice,” Tanya Hurt explains. “I’m very disappointed they canceled Sunday’s show…well I guess seeing how they were disorganized with VIP tickets on Friday should have been a foreshadow of what was to come.” 

Despite the confusion with check-in everything seemed to run smoothly on Friday, even regarding some of the talent skipping the red carpet due to not getting their full pay. Each artist performed and put on a great show in order not to disappoint fans.

Saturday night was a different story. The evening was more hectic with artists not showing up due to no payment. Tyrese went on a rampage via social media about his pay. He was supposed to close out Saturday night’s show as the main headliner. BJ the Chicago Kid was due to open the show, but he dropped as well. However, Anthony Hamilton and Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh saved the show by doing extended sets. 

After Saturday night’s disappointments, it was excepted that Sunday would run much smoother, but due to unforeseen circumstances the show was pulled. The news came at the last minute when guests was already lined up waiting for the gates to open. Several traveled distances and booked hotel fares for the festival, and felt as if they wasted money and that their vacation turned into a disaster. Guests were told via email that they would receive full refunds for Sunday’s show, although some also believed that they should also receive a partial refund for Saturday night since some of the artists did not perform as hoped for.

“Thank you for your support and patronage over the last two years,” Mark Douglas, CEO of Airborne Tickets/Director of LA Soul Fest, explained. “We apologize for your experience regarding Sunday’s event cancellation. We did everything in our power to make this show a success, but fell short financially. We ask for your patience in this matter, as we work to deliver the best possible service to all our customers during these circumstances.”

This is one of those unfortunate situations where you just scratch your head and ask, “Now how do we recover from this?” Hopefully in the future the promoters can rethink and re-manage things to have a successful event like the first year. They may have to go back to the original venue and layout plan, and invest in acquiring sponsors because vendors alone can’t cover all the expenses and payouts of an event that is this massive with A-list talent. 

Photos by Kristina Dixon/11:One Visuals 

By Manny Otiko, California Black Media

People getting busted for hosting parties based on racial stereotypes is nothing new. But it’s not something that you expect from a legal organization that’s supposed to stand for impartiality in the law. But that’s what happened when photos leaked of a Halloween party thrown by the Judicial Council of California. The Judicial Council is the policymaking arm of the California courts. Its goal is to be an independent and impartial administration of justice.

According to a report from the San Francisco ABC affiliate, the party featured stereotypical images of people of color depicted as prisoners. Some of the male staff members dressed as a transgender character from the TV show, “Orange is the New Black.”

News of the Judicial Council’s party has sparked a political uproar from Black organizations and legislators.

“I am deeply disturbed by the reprehensible, racist and poor judgment the Judicial Council displayed at a Halloween party last year,” said Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D- Carson), a member of Legislative Black Caucus and Chair of Democratic Caucus.  “For a public policymaking body that is equipped with the responsibility of fair access to the courts, it is highly disappointing that a group of judicial staff members would put down a race simply to win a contest. It is never okay to engage in stereotypical behavior or homophobic mockery, all while distributing offensive photos over a public server for ridicule.”

“I stand with the NAACP and am calling on the Judicial Council for a sincere public apology and an immediate reprimand of these senseless actions.  This is demeaning, discriminatory, and sends the negative message that black people and members of the LGBTQ community are bad people.Although the damage is done and the seed is planted, and quite possibly for years to come, we will not tolerate bias from a department whose responsibility is that of justice for all. This action will not go unchallenged,” said Gipson.

The California Capitol Black Staff Association released a statement condemning the images.

“As public servants who work for a public body created to provide equitable access to California’s courts, it is shameful that these individuals chose to engage, on state time, in a type of hate speech that depicts dangerous stereotypes that have haunted the Black population in America since slavery,” said the California Capitol Black Staff Association.

According to the ABC report, Michael Roosevelt, an employee of the Judicial Council, said the images make a mockery of the organization’s goals.

“Here you’ve got the image of people who work for and support the courts who are dressed in prison garb, darkening their faces, depicting a prison setting where disproportionately those people who are incarcerated are people of color,” said Roosevelt.

The Alliance of California Judges said the incident proves the Judicial Council needs to be reformed.

“If the Chief Justice won’t restructure the Judicial Council, so its judicial members are elected by their peers, then it’s high time for the Legislature to take control of the judicial branch funds away from the Judicial Council and place those funds in the hands of a trial budget commission consisting of trial judges elected by their peers,” said the Alliance of California Judges in a press statement.

The pictures were also condemned by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena,) chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.

“The racist actions of those associated with the Judicial Council are shameful!” said Holden.

Dr. Amos Brown, national board member and president of San Francisco NAACP, who first learned about the incident from a Bay Area reporter said, “This should be a wake-up call for Blacks in this state. Blacks make up 6 percent of the California’s population but 45 to 50 percent of the inmate population.”  Brown suggested an “ignorance of Black history” was the reason these employees could host a party in such poor taste.

Brown said he credited the executive director for the written apology discipline actions that have not been announced, but still feels like the damage has been done.

Third Baptist Church in San Francisco will be meeting with judges from the San Francisco Superior Court area on August 23 to discuss how to work together so the criminal justice systems can embody justice and restorative justice for the African American community and the greater community.