Black Man Black Woman

Tag: community

  • Have You Joined Perfspot Yet?

    Perfspot

    PerfSpot is so called because it is designed to be the “perfect” place from which to begin one’s exploration of the immeasurably vast world of the Internet. It’s an ambitious aim for a social networking site, and PerfSpot does not disappoint in its fulfillment of this aim. PerfSpot members, who sign up for free, get to participate in a virtual community. They can post images, videos, music, and words to communicate about themselves and their interests. They can find fellow users whose interests match their own–or simply fellow users whose personal photos intrigue them. Users can participate in community opinion polls, and can share their views on anything in the world.

    These days, people are used to the Internet. PerfSpot.com truly re-captures the excitement of being on the Internet during its early days, when communication with people from all over the world was recognized for the revolutionary phenomenon that it was. The site gives its members countless opportunities to meet new friends, find new interests, or simply share their achievements with the rest of the online world. Click Here to get started

  • Illmatic’s Illest Of The Day: Two Faces of Luda

    Posted by: Illmatic

    Ludacris is more known for his rap songs than his community service. But he is using is non-profit organization to benefit under-served communities and calling on other celebrities and hip-hop heads to give back.

  • Obama Announces Small Business Bail Out

    Filed under: ,

    President Obama has finally outlined a bail out plan for America’s small businesses. Perhaps due to mounting criticism that the administration is only helping huge corporations weather the economic storm, the Obama Administration outlined a series of policies targeted to direct more capital to small banks and community institutions that lend to small businesses, especially in economically deprived areas. The New York Times reports:

    The measures, announced by Mr. Obama at a small records storage company in Maryland, would allow smaller community banks to borrow at low rates from the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program. It would also raise the loan caps on several popular Small Business Administration programs.

    Under the administration plan, banks with less than $1 billion in assets could borrow from the program at a lower interest rate than financial institutions are required to pay.

    In exchange, banks must demonstrate how they would increase lending to small businesses and follow up with quarterly reports. According to the White House, most business loans by the community banks that are eligible for the new rules are made to small businesses.

    In addition, community groups that lend to small businesses in low-income areas under a Treasury Department program will be able to borrow relief money at just 2 percent annually for eight years. In the past, banks have been leery of the such loans because the program allows the government to buy warrants for the banks’ common stock and because it requires the institutions to limit executive compensation. But the small banks probably will not have to issue warrants in that program rules contain an exception for infusions of less than $100 million. The proposal as described Wednesday caps the infusions at $20 million.

    To learn more about Obama’s small business bailout program, be sure to check out these sites:

    +Obama Announces Small-Business Lending Push
    +Community banks to get bailout money as Obama seeks to boost small business
    +Obama refocuses bailout on small businesses

     

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  • Dr. Boyce Money: Lost Your Job? Senators Might Help You

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    The Senate has been mingling with the idea of extending jobless benefits for those who’ve lost their jobs. The problem is that the politicians can’t quite make up their minds. A bill was passed last month in the House of Representatives, but the Senate has still been fighting over the details.

    The black community is in dire need of help from legislators, as our community has been hit the hardest by recent trends in unemployment.
    While overall unemployment is at a staggering 9.8%, African American unemployment is 15.4%. Black male unemployment is as high as 30 – 40% in some urban areas. Jobs are needed and benefits are needed even more. According to the Center for American Progress, the poverty rate for African American children is over 34.7%, while only 10.6% for white children. Economically speaking, black people are usually the state of economic recession.

    Typically, unemployed workers are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits, but that number has been extended twice by Congress. Now, workers are eligible for as many as 79 weeks of benefits. The current compromise proposed by Senator Max Baucus would give an extra 13 weeks of benefits in states hit hardest by unemployment, while those suffering less would get an extra 4 weeks. This approach has been disputed by some members of the Senate, who feel that all Americans should get the same extensions, regardless of where they live.

    The unemployment rate is expected to rise above 10%. Additionally, more than 1/3 of all unemployed Americans have been out of work for more than six months.

    One ray of hope for an economic recovery is the stock market. Anyone with a little extra money to invest was able to earn a 50% return over the past 6 months, which is truly phenomenal. The other bright side of the market rally is that the stock market is a leading indicator of economic growth: that means that when the market improves, the economy is expected to improve. So, while recent unemployment numbers imply that a recovery is going to be slow, the truth is that all is not lost.

    Keep your hope alive. Things are going to get better.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Regulators Issue Cease and Desist Order to Chicago Bank

    Chicago-based Highland Community Bank received a cease and desist order earlier this month from federal and state regulators that charges the company with engaging in unsafe and unsound banking practices. The order also suspends the bank’s authority to pay cash dividends or increase assets without regulator permission.

  • Chris Brown To Headline "Powerhouse 09"

    Posted by: www.nydailynews.com

    Chris Brown has landed his first concert gig since beating his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. He’ll be headlining the Power 105.1 “Powerhouse ’09” concert, which features several other performers. And they’re all on the C-list, according to MSNBC.com. Brown, who has taken some time out of the spotlight since his conviction and community service sentence, will be leading a group of nobodies and has-beens at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Oct. 27, according to MSNBC. The concert includes performances from Keri Hilson, The-Dream, Fabolous, Trey Songz, Mario and Ginuwine. “This is a pretty C-list lineup,” one promoter, who is not involved with the show, told MSNBC. “Keri Hilson is good, Ginuwine has some following, but this is nothing like the lineup that would have surrounded him this time last year,” the promoter told MSNBC. “Chris was the Michael Jackson heir apparent, he had huge endorsement deals. This isn’t the sort of show you would have expected from him before he got in trouble.” Apparently the singer, who is currently serving a 180-day community service and probation sentence, still isn’t considered “safe” booking by many, but for this concert, the radio station was willing to take the risk. The concert will supposedly offer Brown a chance to promote his single, “Transformer,” off his new album, “Graffiti,” reports MTV.com. But there could still be a problem. According to RollingStone.com, it is still unclear whether Brown has actually received permission from the Los Angeles court that convicted him or from the Virginia officials overseeing his sentence to perform at the New Jersey concert next month.

  • Dr. Boyce Money: Don’t Throw Tavis Smiley Under the Wells Fargo Bus

    Filed under: ,

    When I read about the predatory lending allegations against Tavis Smiley and Wells Fargo, I wasn’t surprised. Not because I feel that Tavis is some kind of crook, but because economic downturns are usually when everyone’s dirty laundry gets aired out. The high flying 2000s were a decade of extravagance, overspending, easy money and troubled relationships. The party was bound to end. Smiley’s party has ended with Wells Fargo, as the company has been accused of using Tavis Smiley and financial expert Kelvin Boston to convince African Americans to sign on to loans that turned out to be predatory. Neither Boston nor Smiley is willing to disclose the amount they were paid for the service, but I’m sure it wasn’t chump change.

    I’ve been open and honest in my critiques of Tavis Smiley in the past, but I give credit where it’s due. I’ve always felt that Tavis Smiley is a man who works out of a sincere respect and appreciation for the black community. He is not out to hoodwink, swindle or hurt us, at least not deliberately. At worst, Smiley is guilty of being caught in a situation that he may not have fully understood.

    Although I agree with the black community’s decision to hold Tavis Smiley accountable for his actions, I want us to be cautious of going overboard in our judgments. Here are 5 things I want to say about Tavis Smiley:

    1) Don’t throw Tavis under the bus. African Americans can be tough on our public figures. After Smiley’s repeated calls for accountability against President Obama, many failed to appreciate the value of scrutinizing our elected officials. While Tavis’ close relationship with Hillary Clinton undermined the credibility of his challenges to Obama, the truth is that accountability is very important when dealing with any politician. One must respect Tavis for having the willingness to say things that are unpopular, which even Obama himself doesn’t always have the courage to do.

    2) Beware of corporate sponsors bearing gifts. One of the greatest barriers to social progress for African Americans has been our inability to properly assess those who sponsor our activities. Any corporation that comes along with a signed check can usually find a place at our table. Would you want your teenage daughter taking money from any boy who offered it to her? Probably not, because you know that the the boy might be expecting “repayment” at the end of the night. The same is true for corporate sponsors, who are paying you to present the kind of image they want the public to see.

    3) The revolution will NOT be brought to you by Walmart. Rarely, if ever, can true black activism be achieved via funding provided by companies run by the descendants of our historical oppressors. This is due to the inherent conflict of interest between capitalist entities and the plight of the poor. African Americans are disproportionately poor and working class. Therefore, unfettered capitalism is designed to destroy us (although compassionate capitalism can fuel economic growth). So, while one can certainly understand why Smiley would be happy to take corporate money for his State of the Black Union event every year, the truth of the matter is that the honest activism of such a function can only go so far.

    4) A critical line must be drawn between financing and influence. There’s a reason that the New York times doesn’t let it’s advertisers decide which stories are going to appear on the front page. This is because the natural power that comes with financial support must be tempered by a commitment to conscientious objectives. If Wells Fargo needs to be called out for its predatory lending practices, that is not going to happen with the Wells Fargo logo placed behind the speaker’s head. There should be independent oversight of all funding sources for The State of the Black Union, The State of Black America, as well as events held by the NAACP and Urban League every year. Influence is bought behind the scenes all the time, and good black leadership should be as transparent as possible.

    5) We should keep supporting Tavis. Tavis Smiley’s annual event, The State of the Black Union, is one of the most celebrated in the black community. With a renewed commitment to conscientious corporate sponsorship, The State of the Black Union can regain its status as a respected and appreciated forum for black education. But in order for this to happen, we must make sure we know where the money is coming from, where it is going and what strings are attached. Without properly vetting the sources of your financial support, you are setting yourself up for corruption.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University, a leading African American speaker and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Chris Brown: Media Maneuvering Gone Wild

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    Usually when celebrities go through the motions of trying to revive their wounded images, a great public relations strategy – them telling their story – goes into play.

    But for Chris Brown, it seems to have gone off the deep end.

    Major mainstream media opportunities with ‘Larry King Live’ and People magazine seem to have garnered less-than-desirable results.

    Chris Brown Pictures

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (C) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Media attend a press conference after Chris Brown leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (C) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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    On a pre-taped interview for the long-running CNN talk show, the Jive Records singer didn’t say much about anything as he sat there with the support of his mother, Joyce Hawkins, and high-powered attorney Mark Geragos (who admitted on air that he had no idea who the singer was before he savagely beat his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna).

    And then, in the new edition of People magazine, Brown, 20, does his first print interview – and in it, he’s talking about how Oprah Winfrey dealt with the widely reported Feb. 8 altercation on her show.

    “I commend Oprah on being like, ‘This is a problem,’ but it was a slap in my face,” Brown told the magazine. “I did a lot of stuff for her, like going to Africa and performing for her school. She could have been more helpful, like, ‘Okay, I’m going to help both of these people out.’”

    When contacted by TMZ.com, Winfrey’s camp issued the following response:

    “Oprah is very appreciative that Chris Brown performed at her school, but she takes domestic abuse very seriously. She hopes he gets the counseling he needs.”

    Chris Brown

     

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  • Chris Brown: In His Own Words Regarding Larry King Interview

    Filed under: , , ,

    A rep for Chris Brown sent the following statement to BV Newswire today regarding the reports of the singer’s televised interview for ‘Larry King Live’ due to air Sept. 2 on CNN.

    Unlike other outlets, we are running it in its entirety:

    “There have been reports on the internet that I didn’t remember what happened that night with Rihanna. I want to try and set things straight.

    That 30 seconds of the interview they used of me was taken from a one hour interview during which that same question was asked something like 4 or 5 times — and when you look at the entire interview you will see it is not representative of what I said. “

    “The first four times – or how ever many times it was – I gave the same answer — which was that I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to talk about what happened that night. I said it was not right for me and it really wasn’t fair to Rihanna. The fifth time – or whatever it was – I just misspoke. I was asked, “Do you remember doing it?” and I said, “No.”

    “Of course I remember what happened. Several times during the interview, my mother said that I came to her right afterwards and told her everything. But it was and still is a blur. And yes, I still can’t believe it happened because it is not me or who I am or is what happened like anything I have ever done before.

    Chris Brown“As I have said several times previously, I am ashamed of and sorry for what happened that night and I wish I could relive that moment and change things, but I can’t. I take full responsibility for my actions. What I have to do now is to prove to the world that this was an isolated incident and that is not who I am and I intend to do so by my behavior now and in the future.” Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a>

    Chris Brown Pictures

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (C) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Media attend a press conference after Chris Brown leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (C) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

      LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 25: Entertainer Chris Brown (R) surrounded by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s depuites leaves his sentencing at Los Angeles Criminal Courts on August 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Brown’s probation was 5 years probation and 180 days of community labor, as the result of a plea deal, after he was charged with two felonies for assault on then girlfriend, singer Rihanna, during an argument that occurred on February 8, 2009. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

      Getty Images

     

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  • Go Green East Harlem

    Celebrate great food and healthy eating with the residents of East Harlem. Restaurants, caterers, farmers’ markets, members of community groups and a group of darned good cooks, with the help of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, have pooled their resources to come up with scrumptious recipes that can also boast health benefits. From Greenmarket’s tangy peach-corn salsa, to Mo-Bay’s delicious collard greens, to Rao’s famous Lemon Chicken, ending with Debbie Quinones lovely limbel de el Caribe, Go Green East Harlem covers the map when it comes to world cuisine. The book also features information on health benefits of certain foods, ways to make takeout food healthier, how to stock a kitchen and how to steer clear of the double threat of obesity and diabetes.