African American Office of Gay Concerns To Launch ‘Status Is Everything’ HIV Testing Campaign

Beginning January 2010 in Newark, African American men who have sex with men will be targeted by an HIV Testing social marketing campaign titled “Status Is Everything” organized by the African American Office of Gay Concerns (AAOGC) of Newark. “Status Is Everything” aims to encourage African American men, particularly young men who have sex with men, to get HIV tested and reduce risky behaviors. AAOGC will unveil the “Status Is Everything” brand and outreach components on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009. Funding for “Status Is Everything” is provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as part of the department’s HIV prevention efforts aimed at high-risk African American men. Read more

Movie Spotlight: Ten9Eight

Synopsis: This is the compelling question behind award-winning filmmaker Mary Mazzio’s newest project Ten9Eight, a thought provoking film which tells the inspirational stories of several inner city teens (of differing race, religion, and ethnicity) from Harlem to Compton and all points in between, as they compete in an annual business plan competition run by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Read more

Massachusetts Governor Patrick and Industry Executives Recognized By National Energy Services Firm

Conservation Services Group (CSG) today announced awards for 15 outstanding environmental and energy advocates honored during a formal ceremony this month. Award winners and CSG executives were joined by more than 200 environmental and energy efficiency advocates, politicians and state officials at a Silver Anniversary reception at Boston’s Lenox Hotel.

CSG CEO Stephen Cowell kicked off the event by presenting an award to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for “Excellence in Environmental Advocacy.” Held during National Energy Awareness Month, the event thanked shareholders, clients, CSG staff and other constituents for their ongoing support of sound energy and environmental policies and “green” initiatives.

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Foot Locker and Leaders in the Sports World Join Forces for a Cause

Foot Locker Foundation, Inc. joined together executives from the sports industry, professional athletes and celebrities on Tuesday, October 20, at New York City’s Gotham Hall, to celebrate the ninth annual “On Our Feet” fundraising gala. For the past six years, the event has benefited UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) through a scholarship program to provide deserving students the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

“It is rewarding to know that our efforts are directly impacting students by providing them with an opportunity to further their education,” said Ken C. Hicks, President and Chief Executive Officer, Foot Locker, Inc. “These young people truly appreciate the value of an education and we are proud to invest in them and their future.” Read more

FSBI Business Coaching Brands Honored For Their Minority Outreach

FranchisEsource Brands International (FSBI) has been selected as one of the Top 50 Franchisors by the National Minority Franchising Initiative (NMFI) for actively seeking minority participation and ownership through sophisticated minority recruitment programs. The FSBI business coaching brands included in this honor are The Entrepreneur’s Source, AdviCoach and Business Partner. FSBI’s inclusion was based on its overall minority recruitment program, the percentage of minority franchisees currently within their system and the percentage of minorities in key positions within the franchisor’s management.

“Owners of FSBI business coaching brands are made up of people from all backgrounds and cultures,” says Terry Powell, founder and CEO of FSBI, a multi-brand Business Coaching franchisor with high-performance brands dedicated to the advancement of the entrepreneur and those who aspire to be one. “Awarding franchises to a diverse group of franchisees has only added to the growth and success of our brands,” he added. Read more

Teenagers Difficult to ‘Capture’ for Vaccinations; Rates on Rise Overall, But Still Low

More teenagers are being vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal meningitis and pertussis (whooping cough), though the rates are still too low, according to recently released government data and a panel of experts convened by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Now, in addition to urging routine HPV vaccination for girls, providers can educate adolescent boys, young men – and their parents – about HPV and its potential consequences, and offer vaccination to boys as well. Last week, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted for a ‘permissive’ HPV vaccination strategy for boys.

In taking the vote, the Advisory Committee considered research specific to the impact of genital warts in males and whether vaccination in males would be unnecessary if females were vaccinated at high rates. Presently, only about 40 percent of teenage girls receive the first dose of HPV vaccine with fewer than 20 percent receiving the complete three-dose series. Committee members could not consider research about HPV-related cancers in males in their deliberations, though that may leave the door open to revisit or even expand the recommendation to prevent cancer in the future. Read more

16 Year Old Executive Producer Set to Release Aids Awareness PSAs

Chantel “CHANI” Christie is just 16 years old, but has already made quite a contribution to society: a recording artist, Fashion model and inspirational author of the bestselling book, I Want to Live: A Teenagers Guide to Finding Self Love. She is also the United States Youth Ambassador on HIV/AIDS Education and Awareness.

Now donning a director’s hat, this 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. excellence in hip hop award winner has now executive produced and co-directed her 1st in a series of Knowledge is Power PSAs to educate and empower young people about HIV/AIDS. Read more

Beyonce, Maxwell and Keri Hilson Lead the Nominations for the 2009 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS SHOW

CENTRIC announces a prestigious list of nominees to be recognized in the Network’s first special, CENTRIC PRESENTS: 2009 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS SHOW. Grammy Award-winner Beyonce, R&B diva Keri Hilson, and soulful crooner Maxwell lead the pack with four nominations each. Hosted by Academy Award-nominated actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the return of the Soul Train Awards promises to be a soulful music event acknowledging R&B music’s finest. Taping at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday, November 3, the show will premiere on both CENTRIC and BET in a special simulcast on Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 PM*. Read more

Monica Makes Her Reality Television Debut With “MONICA: STILL STANDING”

After a brief hiatus from the music industry, Monica is back in the spotlight with an intimate, profound docu-drama that takes a look at her day-to-day world in the new original BET series MONICA: STILL STANDING. Beginning Tuesday, October 27 Monica will open her heart and life to viewers every week at 10:00 pm* and take them on her personal journey of survival and enlightenment. Viewers will have the chance to experience the many faces of Monica as she balances family, deals with trials, triumphs and health challenges, records her fifth album, “STILL STANDING” and tackles the hardest job of all – being a full-time mother of two young sons.

“It was very scary stepping into the type of situation that would expose me and my life,” said Monica. “But I think that there are so many kids now that are aspiring to do exactly what I’ve done and I felt like that was worth me putting myself on the line so they would really understand what it’s like to try and juggle both a music career and personal life.” Read more

Pepperdine University Set to Induct NBA Star Doug Christie Into Its 2009 Hall of Fame Class

NBA Star/Author and CEO of Christie Sports Management Athletes Training Firm Doug Christie will be inducted into Pepperdine University Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 25, 2009, at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, Calif. A reception will be held at 5 p.m., with dinner and the awards presentation at 6 p.m.

The Pepperdine University Department of Athletics has announced that seven of its all-time greats, Doug Christie, Geoffrey Clark, Bob Ctvrtlik, Katherine Hull, Kelly Jones, John Rettberg and Rod Wilde will all be honored at the ceremony.

“The Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame is enriched each year as they continue to add some of the most distinguished and accomplished student-athletes in the program’s history,” said Pepperdine Director of Athletics John Watson. “These are seven individuals that are very well deserving of this honor. We look forward to honoring them and recognizing their achievements, both what took place at Pepperdine and in their professional lives.” Read more

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