Hey Black Family,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I saw Talk To Me starring the spectacular Don Cheadle last Friday evening. This moviewhich is aperiod piece that starts off in 1966 is truly inspirational and deserves our financial support. PLEASE go out and see this movie! The movie is damn FUNNY as hell and has remembrances (settings, music, clothes) of back in the day (60s and 70s) but also interweaves social and political commentary into the storyline in a seamless and clever way.

 Please check out the following films showing at the The Best of NewFest @ BAM

Blueprint

On the Downlow

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Casting (NON-UNION OPEN CALL)

Winsome Sinclair & Associates will be casting FEATURED extra roles for thenew feature length film to be directed by SPIKE LEE, entitled "MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA". We will be shooting on location in ITALY starting on September 30, 2007 for 6 weeks.

There will be an open call for talent held on Friday SEPTEMBER 7th 2007 at 75 South Elliot Place (ground floor in Fort Greene Brooklyn from 11am to 6pm.

We are specifically seeking those who can play African American Males between the ages of 20-30 to play soldiers from 1940's (WWII).

Production will cover travel room & board and per diem, and pay. Those interested in being a part of this film should attend and bring a recent headshot/snapshot and a pencil. Must have VALID PASSPORT and be able to travel to work on location in ITALY for 6 weeks.

If you are interested but unable to attend:
Please overnight photos ASAP to:
MIRACLE AT ST ANNA Productions
124 Dekalb Avenue
2nd floor
Brooklyn, New York 11217
Attention: MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA Casting

September 20th, 2007 (New York City) - "Welcome to Jean 6 City Hall (NYC)" came a booming voice projected from Democratic New York City Council member Charles Barron. He said this while his arms were totally outstretched with an arched back in order to rally the African-American brothers and sisters who came out in large numbers to City Hall In New York City at 12 noon for the Jena 6 press conference.

This press conference was one of the many held around the country as a strategic plan for Thursday, September 20th, 2007 to protest the judicial and civil rights injustice of the six Black men involved in what is called "Jena 6" in Louisiana. As one looked around during the assembly on the steps of City Hall, there was an incredible sea of Black. Not just the Black people in attendance, but also just about everyone was wearing black clothing (who were told in advance notice through the grapevine) as a symbolic gesture of unity. Some of the other Black leaders and/or speakers in attendance were Bob Law (civil rights activist), Barron's chief-of-staff Viola Plummer an John Martin Green (co-founder of the Black Men's Xchange-New York or BMX-NY).

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Last Wednesday, November 7th, 2007, Triple S Rated was a sensual blend of fashion, music, and community awareness. Legendary diva Tyra Allure was the host and was joined by Sony Music Recording artist Jesse O, Ray from BET, Smoov from MTV, Nathan 7 Scott, TV producer Nathan H. Williams, Brooklyn B-boy Shorty Roc, JaGore Music Group Boy-Girl duo Rebel Starr, model Nyabel Lual, Lee Soulja, FlavaMen, and a host of others as they spread the message of CAUTION to promote safer sex.

Proceeds from this event were donated to the Beyond the Street Tour and the RaShawn Brazell Foundation.

Freedom Train Productions is now accepting applications into its Residency for Black Playwrights until January 18th, 2008 (DEADLINE EXTENSION). Founded by the awarding of a Social Justice Fellowship from NYU Wagner and Open Society Institute to Artistic Director Andre Lancaster, Freedom Train seeks playwrights whose work responds to the political realities of our times.

To this end, the playwright are commissioned to write a new play that centers a Black LGBT character in a story that tackles provocative themes around - for example - war, police brutality and state violence, women's rights, religious tolerance, capitalism, disease, the prison industrial complex, democracy, freedom, hip hop and culture, family, and love etc.

In its second year, Freedom Train focuses on the early development of new theatre work. They do not currently stage full productions, but instead commission and promote new work to producing theatre companies and the public at Fire! New Play Festival every summer. Their goals are to increase the number of new political plays with Black LGBT characters that are produced in New York City as well as change the public perception around what kinds of characters can carry political stories that universally affect everyone.

For more information, please download the updated announcement at their website.... here

OPEN FOR SUBMISSION: FEBRUARY 4 – MARCH 4, 2008

If you are working on an exciting emerging fields, literature, or performing arts project we encourage you to apply in our upcoming grant round. For general information and guidelines, please visit: http://creative-capital.org/application/

To apply for a Creative Capital grant, you must first submit an Inquiry Form regarding your project. Tell us about your project and how, in conjunction with a Creative Capital grant, it will be catalytic for your artistic and professional growth. In addition, you will need to describe the influences that inform your work and how your work takes an inventive and original approach to form and content. Be prepared to present a basic budget and to identify the audience(s)or your project and any possible presenting venues.

The Guidelines and Inquiry Form for will be available on the Creative Capital website from February 4 to March 4, 2008. It will be available at http://creative-capital.org/application/
http://creative-capital.org/evites/2008grant.html

We invite all same-gender-loving men of African heritage to join us in the gathering for our 22nd annual ADODI retreat: "Living our Authentic ADODI Lives". Creating an authentic life simply means that a person consciously strives to become a whole person and lives the life that gives them purpose and joy within the context of a supportive community.

The goal of the 2008 retreat is to give each attendee the opportunity to examine areas of their lives where barriers to joy may exist and develop a plan of action to tackle these challenges and cultivate a deeper sense of alignment with one's self, others, and their environment.

Workshops, African inspired rituals, daily affirmations and other activities will be inclusive of the above mentioned concepts. The purpose will be to stimulate consideration of resources that may be useful tools to begin to achieve predetermined goals.

We look forward to welcoming you on this adventure of exploration and celebration.

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Housing is one of our most basic needs. Yet, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) wants to limit this human right for many people living with AIDS.

HRSA has proposed an amendment that would create a 24-month lifetime cap on Ryan White emergency and transitional housing benefits.

For many people living with AIDS, Ryan White CARE Act transitional housing dollars are the only thing preventing them from being homeless. Not only does the amendment threaten to put people out on the street, it fails to account for people who are intermittently homeless and may periodically need the benefit. And as we all know, our country is in a severe housing crisis--meaning that displaced PWAs would have an even harder time finding a place to stay if these cuts are allowed to stand.

Please call your Senators and Representative today to demand the withdrawal of this harmful amendment:

1. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121 to reach your Representative and Senators.
2. When you reach your representative's office, ask to speak with the staff person who handles HIV/AIDS or housing issues.
3. Tell the staff person you would like him/her to contact Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and urge that the Housing Policy Notice 99-02 Amendment 1 be withdrawn immediately.
4. Email us to let us know you made a call! Please make your call today! The amendment is scheduled to take effect on March 27.

In solidarity, Cameron Lefevre Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)

ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AIRLINE PILOTS (OBAP) ACE (Aviation Career Education) CAMP for teens ages 14-18 sponsored by DELTA AIRLINES

Do you know of any young person that may want to attend a free one (1) week camp during the summer? If yes, please read below for details.

This summer the Organization of Black Airline Pilots (OBAP) will hold two (2) ACE Camps sponsored by Delta Air Lines. The purpose of each one-week program is to introduce interested youth to the world of aviation by exposing them to the many challenging  careers and opportunities which the aviation industry has to offer.

Please take the time to read the brochure/application and pass it along to anyone that you know who may be interested. The age range is for boys and girls between 14 -18 years old.

Here's the website with more info and pictures
http://www.obap.org/Programs/programs-ace-camps.asp

The official application is at: http://www.obap.org/Programs/docs/2008_Ace_Camp_Application.pdf