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Nov/Dec 2018
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Amaya Joseph becomes the first African American Clara in the Nutcracker
Orlando celebrates Diversity at Fusion Fest Perhaps it began when Mayor Jacobs asked Terry Olson to investigate ways to show Orange County’s support for diversity. Perhaps it began years before when Olson, as the County’s “ambassador” for arts and culture, would help some of the ethnic cultural organizations come together. But it probably began when Sam Roberts of the Caribbean American Passport and Yves Bouele of the African Leaders Council approached Mr. Olson about creating some kind of international event.
Amaya Joseph (whose parents are from the U.S. Virgin Islands) is the first African American to play Clara the iconic role of a young heroine who journeys to the Land of Sweets in the Nutcracker. Amaya started dancing at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since. Amaya and and her alternate Cristina Sotolongo Orlando Ballet, including recently promoted David Wright, round out the rest of the cast, representing the new face of ballet, one Continued on Pg 13
In November 2016, about 40 people from various backgrounds gathered to brainstorm the best way to share our heritages. A festival and parade were the top choices. Continued on Page 5
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L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
BEING GRATEUL AND THANKFUL
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s we enter the holiday season, Thanksgiving comes right on time to remind us of the importance of being appreciative of all the things that we often take for granted. Samuel J. Roberts, Publisher/Editor
Most of us live day to day striving for more and being ambitious about creating a better life for ourselves - and that's generally fine. But are we losing something important in that continuous quest for more. I have found that if I'm not looking forward, with ambition, I'm looking backwards with regret. A good example was recently we moved homes, and while this was not exactly what we wanted, it was what we needed to do. However, knowing that and accepting that are two different things. I ended up stalking my old house like a jealous ex, finding reasons to stop by, not clearing all of my stuff out at one time so that I could go back over and over again to pick up something else. I have gone by that old house to pick up something or the other more than 10 times since our final move out. What kind of crazy person does that? I didn't even know I had that level of craziness inside of me...God help poor Sam if we were to ever split up. I can see the type of ex I would be and it isn't pretty. I lived in that house for close to fifteen years, I had all of this anguish about leaving it - as if it were a living, breathing person. I could not enjoy our new home and found reasons to hate it. As you might imagine, the past two months of this move have been rough on me. But then I realized something...I was lamenting about the fact that I had raised our children in that house and created so many memories. But the children who could have moved on are happily enjoying the new house. We are still creating wonderful memories and home is where we are. The house that I moved into is in a wonderful neighbourhood that I wouldn't even give myself permission to enjoy. Thank goodness that Thanksgiving was right around the corner and I had to write this editorial. It allowed me to understand something pretty important. Our mind is a powerful thing...it can determine our happiness. It's now clear to me that I have an abundance of things to be happy about: A wonderful new home to fix and decorate in a new amazing neighbourhood, closer to most of my friends and all of the things I enjoy about Orlando.
A career based on what we enjoy doing, with clients we enjoy serving. There is a lot for me to be thankful for. Yes life with its ups and downs get in the way. But if you get up everyday and you are thankful that you have another day to get a chance to live. I have a warm bed, a home, food a car, family, friends and health. That is so much that I should be thankful for. I encourage you to give up living with regret and ambition and to enjoy the present. Live fully with an awareness of everything that you have to be thankful for. Give an extra snuggle to that baby that's keeping you up at night and wants all of your attention. In a few short years you will be staring wistfully at the back of that independent adult wishing for an extra snuggle. This season, go into the new year loving and being gentle with yourself. Be thankful that you have another day to change anything that you are not thankful and grateful for. It is your life, you create it....give yourself permission to enjoy it. From our family to yours...Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800
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Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com
Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Editor & Publisher............................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ........................................................... Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .................................................Samuel Roberts Contributing Writers: ............................................................ Tony Dyal ................................................................................................Ryan Davis .............................................................................................Sandra Fatmi ...............................................................................................Gail Seeram ...........................................................................................Sasha Watson ..........................................................................................Kamal Abdool Contributing Photographers ............ ...................................Ted Hollins ..................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .......................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution...................................................Roy Benn South Florida Distribution ...........................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution ......................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ...........................................................Kadeem Roberts Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
A family that enjoys each other's company and that may fight but has each other's best interests at heart. Living, fighting, laughing and working together. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
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Add a little Caribbean Flavor to your Thanksgiving Grandma's secret turkey recipe, mom's special cranberry dish, and Thanksgiving Day celebrations are a mixed bag of cherished, time-honored recipes and traditions. Although Thanksgiving is not exactly a Caribbean holiday, many people from the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and The U.S. Virgin Islands, in addition to Americans with Caribbean roots, do celebrate with their own special menus for the occasion. Here are recipes for dishes commonly served at Thanksgiving, but with an island flare. Roasting a turkey for Thanksgiving in the manner of lechón (suckling pig) has been a tradition in Puerto Rico since the island became an American commonwealth and adopted the holiday. The word pavochón is a combination of the Spanish word for turkey, pavo, and the word lechón. On the Spanish speaking Caribbean islands, the meat of choice for the holidays is roasted suckling pork. So it only makes sense to combine the tradition of the islands with an American tradition and serve turkey that is reminiscent of roasted pork for Thanksgiving. This flavorful recipe will go over well with the most discriminating of tastes.
Plantain turkey stuffing, also called Mofongo stuffing, is an excellent alternative to the traditional "bread and meat" dressing that's usually associated with a Thanksgiving turkey. This mouthwatering recipe is made from green, unripe plantains, bacon, garlic and ajíces dulces — sweet chili peppers. If you prefer ripe plantains instead, try Cuban fufu as an alternative. A plantain is a member of the banana family. It's bigger and less sweet than a banana, and it's not particularly appealing in its raw form. Plantains are sometimes called "cooking bananas" because they're at their best when they're cooked. They grow in warm climates and are common in India and the Caribbean.
Ingredients : 1 head of garlic (cloves separated and peeled) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns 3 tablespoons adobo 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 (14-pound) turkey
Ingredients: 6 green plantains Vegetable oil for frying 1 pound cooked bacon (chopped) 6 cloves garlic (chopped) 3 sweet chili peppers (seeded and finely chopped) 1 small onion (finely chopped) 1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup chicken broth
Steps to Make It : Mash the garlic cloves and salt into a paste using a pilòn (mortar and pestle).
Steps to Make It: Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oil to 375 F.
Add the peppercorns and adobo and crush the ingredients into the paste.
Peel the green plantains and cut them into 3/4-inch slices while the oil is heating.
Stir in the olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
Fry the slices in the hot oil for 3 minutes. They should be a light golden color and semi-soft.
Rub the mixture under the turkey’s skin, inside the cavities, and then rub the rest of the mixture on top of the skin.
Remove the plantain slices with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels.
Roast the turkey according to the manufacturer’s recommended time and temperature. A 14 to 16-pound turkey will take about 2 to 2 1/2 hours to cook.
When the plantain slices are cool enough to handle, usually about 1 minute, smash them into flat rounds.
Serve with your favorite Thanksgiving sides and enjoy.
Fry the rounds in the hot oil for an additional 3 minutes. They'll turn crisp and golden brown. Remove the slices with a slotted spoon and drain again on paper towels. Mash together the bacon, garlic, peppers, onion and olive oil in a mortar and pestle. Add each ingredient a little at a time until everything is well incorporated. Add the broth. You can add more than 1/3 cup if the stuffing doesn't seem moist enough until you get the consistency that you prefer. Serve the stuffing as is, or use it to stuff your turkey.
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Orlando Celebrates Diversity at Fusion Fest While there are dozens of festivals centered around one heritage or another in our community, we thought, What if we all came together at the same time A Steering Committee began to take shape and met monthly ever since. Some of the early stepping stones to the festival were bimonthly “Gathering of Nations” events with a few people from every heritage we could find in Central Florida (currently we have more than 140). Each of the Gatherings was focused on a particular aspect of culture Food, Dance, Music, Clothing, Games, Literature. These explorations helped us envision what a “fusion” festival would look like – a place where we honored our heritages while celebrating how we influence each other as we shape our own unique identity as Central Floridians. Under the fiscal sponsorship of the Downtown Arts District and support from Orange County Government, the City of Orlando/Downtown Development Board and a growing grassroots movement, the festival began to take shape.
Fusion Fest Map Starting in December 2016, monthly meetings were held at the Orange County Administration Center, bringing together a core group of volunteers who now live in Central Florida but with roots from every corner of the globe.
Interview with Orlando's own Herve Lincifort popularly known as Footwrk 9 years old. I learned all the dance moves and songs from the movie. I guess that’s how I learned how to entertain. Shortly after that I discovered Michael Jackson and the rest was history. How long you’ve been doing dancing & making music? I’ve been dancing for over 20 years and doing music for 6 years. Being that I’m Haitian, I’ve always been a fan of Caribbean music, especially dancehall reggae. What motivated you to get into the music industry? After years of doing events and shows as a dancer in the Caribbean community, I realized that if I wanted to further my career, I needed to open more doors for myself. The best way I could think of was instead of dancing and performing to everyone else’s music, I needed to start making my own music that I could put all my energy into so when it’s all said and done, the hard work and credit doesn’t go to someone else.
How did you come up with the name footwrk? Is there a meaning behind it? A high school friend gave me the name as a joke. When the rest of the crew would be rapping and making music, I was the one always dancing to the music. Where are you from? Originally I'm from Brooklyn, New York. I lived there till the age of 7, then located to Boston till the age of 12, which is when I finally relocated to Orlando Florida. As a kid were you always into dancing? I didn’t get into dancing until I saw the movie Grease at
One of your most popular songs and our favorite over summer 2018 was "Stamina". Where did you get the name from? We thought the music video was incredible and loved that you included both of the Orlando Carnivals that took place in 2018. What inspired you to make the video this way? . There's a funny story behind “Stamina”. An Orlando Dj by the name of Dj Stamina and I were having a conversation about how he wanted to get into music one day and work with an artist. I then told him that I'd write a song and name it “Stamina” and we can see how that works out for the both of us. Being that I have relationships with both carnival parties, I thought it would be a good idea to incorporate it in my music video. To Orlando, I showcased 2 carnivals, but to the general public I showed Orlando’s Caribbean scene as ONE. You can follow Footwrk on SPOTIFY-FOOTWRK, ITUNESFOOTWRK and SOUNDCLOUD- FOOTWRK and check out his Instagram @darealfootwrk to see some of his dance moves
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Are you getting ready to ship your barrel home for the holidays? Shipping Tips from Laparkan Here are a few tips for you as you prepare to ship for the holidays. A Barrel is usually the best value. Shipping a barrel is one of the most economical ways to ship items, especially if you have large quantities of goods that need to be delivered to a friend, relative or loved one in another country or across the nation. Barrel shipping is not the right solution in every situation but it often is a smart choice, provided that you pack your barrel carefully and follow some basic tips to ensure your shipment is a successful one. To ensure that your barrel shipment is successful and that the things you are sending get to their recipients on time, intact and in good condition, here are a few important things for you to consider: • You need to choose the right shipping company. Not all companies offer barrel shipping and not all companies have established systems in place to handle this type of shipment. You want your shipping company not only to have regular routes to the location where your shipment is going but also to have experience with barrel shipments. This way, you can rest assured that the shipping company has the tools and resources to deliver your shipment and that they have local people on the ground in case anything goes wrong after your shipment has left the United States. • You need to plan smartly when purchasing items to pack in your barrel. It is always best to send items in their original packaging whenever possible. However, you also don’t want to take up a lot of space in your shipment with items that have bulky or awkward packaging. This means that you should look for things that are well-packaged and that are securely packaged but that don’t have excessive packaging to waste space.
• Packing your barrel strategically can be a smart solution. This means, for example, putting the most breakable items into the center of the barrel and then surrounding them with items that are not prone to breakage. The items on the outside of the barrel will act as additional cushioning for anything that is packed in the center. If you are sending both food and toiletry items in your barrel, you also need to be smart about how you package those items so that any scented toiletry items don’t penetrate the food products. Keep these different items in separate locations within the barrel for the best results. • Understand customs requirements at your destination country. You may need to have an inventory of the items that are inside of the barrel in order for your shipment to pass customs. It is a good idea to know this in advance so that you can plan ahead as you are packaging your shipment. These are a few key things that you should keep in mind in order to ensure your barrel shipment is successful. As long as you select the right shipping company and are smart in how you package your item, barrel shipping is a great, cost-effective, convenient and safe way to send shipments of many items around the world. Contact a local Laparkan agent near you to find out the best way to get your package home for the holidays. www.laparkan.com customerservice@laparkan.com 718-227-7357
Laparkan's Cargo Tracker Feature allows you to track your package to it's destination. www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
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Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood star, clears debts of 1,398 Indian farmers Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has cleared more than $560,000 worth of debt owed by farmers, amid a wider agricultural crisis that has forced many rural workers into extreme poverty. In a blog post, he wrote he had "taken care" of 1,398 farmers in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where Bachchan
As a result, thousands of farmers have fallen into debt. Government data indicates that 11,772 farmers across India committed suicide in 2013, the most recent available data, equal to 44 deaths every day. Consi-dered a national institution, "Big B" as he is known across India, has starred in over 200 movies.
was born, by paying off their debt. "Gratitude leans across to the desire of removing some of the burdens that farmers continue to suffer from...and the inner peace it generates when the desired is completed," Bachchan wrote.
He spoke about his intention to help farmers "...recently in Maharashtra, I have ensured that the loans of around 360 farmers have been paid off to the banks. My next step is to help clear loans of approximately 850 farmers in Uttar Pradesh," Bachchan said on his show.
He added that banks had issued the farmers with a one-time settlement document and certificate. More than 50% of India's population is involved in the agricultural and allied sector, which contributes 18% of the country's GDP. Indian farmers have battled against a variety of hardships in recent years, brought about by a combination of monsoondamaged crops, rising fuel costs and lack of adequate state support.
"I would urge people to understand the plight of our 'anna -data' (farmers) and the kind of hardships they are facing. I do not want to boast about myself but I want everyone to help our farmers who face the shortage of even having basic necessities," he added. "I shall wish of course to give these settlements, these confirmations that their loans have been paid off, personally," Bachchan wrote.
Orange County Government to Hold Oath of Office Ceremony The Oath of Office ceremony will be held for Orange County Mayor-elect Jerry L. Demings on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the North Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center. In addition, the swearing in ceremony will take place for Orange County District 2 Commissioner-elect Christine Moore, Orange County District 3 Commissioner-elect Mayra Uribe and Orange County District 4 Commissioner-elect Maribel Gomez Cordero. Orange County District 6 Commissioner Victoria P. Siplin will be sworn in for her second term. The event is complimentary and open to the public. The Oath of Office ceremony will also be live-streamed on www.ocfl.net/orangetv. Follow #OCFLOath for live updates on Orange County’s social media accounts. WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018 9:30 a.m. – Doors open 10:30 a.m. – Oath of Office Ceremony WHERE: North Concourse Room N320 Orange County Convention Center 9400 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819 (Parking is complimentary) www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com
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Grace Jamaican Jerkfest Moments 2018
The Legendary Marcia Griffiths and Soca Queen Alison Hinds
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND CULTURE EXPO
On October 17-18, 2018 Broward County hosted its fourth annual Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo (FITCE 2018). FITCE2018 welcomed local and international companies to the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a unique opportunity to engage high level government leaders, international trade experts and delegations from around the world to participate in dialogues relating to international trade, foreign direct investment and culture. FITCE 2018 attracted over 1,000 attendees including: international businesses, local businesses, multi-cultural global trade representatives from over 50 countries, federal, state and local trade agencies, and government leaders from around the world.
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CONGRATULATIONS to Lody Jean on her appointment to the Miami-Dade County Court Bench! Lody is a member of the Caribbean Bar Association and a past president of the Haitian Lawyers Association. . Born and raised in Haiti, she is the owner of Lody Jean, P.A., specializing in immigration and criminal defense with a focus on deportation-related matters. During her term as President of HLA, Lody led the organization’s response to the rescission of the Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and partnered with the Haitian Ambassador’s Office in Washington D.C. to address TPS-related questions from the Haitian community.
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Amaya Joseph becomes the first African American Clara in the Nutcracker...Continued from pg 1 • that is diverse and representative of our community as
a whole. Orlando Ballet will present “The Nutcracker,” December 7 through 16 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Due to popular demand from last season, Orlando Ballet will expand “The Nutcracker” performances over two weekends instead of one, and also offer other special opportunities to see the production.
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In addition to the traditional production, Orlando Ballet will perform the “Nutcracker Family Show” on December 8 and 15. With a shortened one-hour run time, this version is perfect for younger audiences and children experiencing a ballet for the first time. This season also marks the first time the “Nutcracker Family Show” will feature the ballet’s famous snow scene, adding one of the most beloved and magical parts of “The Nutcracker” to the performance. On November 2 through 4 Orlando Ballet will also perform a one-hour version of the show at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Fla. Orlando Ballet will continue its more than 20-year tradition • of working with Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), and offer a free field trip performance to every second grade class in OCPS. This opportunity gives more than 15,000 young students a chance to experience “The Nutcracker” every year. The Nutcracker Tea on Saturday, December 15, will transport guests to the Land of Sweets where they can enjoy • sweet and savory treats, take photos with the ballet’s beloved characters, and purchase unique holiday gifts – all
benefiting the Orlando Ballet School. Reserve your seats for the Nutcracker Tea priced at $50 for children and $75 for adults. The event is timed so that patrons may attend the tea immediately after the 11 a.m. “Nutcracker Family Show” performance or before the 3 p.m. show. The Orlando Ballet School students play an important role in making this cherished holiday ballet come to life. This year, more than 150 students from the Orlando Ballet School will perform alongside the professional company on the Dr. Phillips Center stage. “The Nutcracker” helps prepare young dancers for a professional dance career, and gives them invaluable stage experience. Each year two Orlando Ballet School students get the amazing opportunity to perform the role of Clara, one of the story’s main characters and the young girl who takes the audience through a magical journey after receiving a nutcracker doll. “Whether it’s a young child experiencing the wonder of ‘The Nutcracker’ for the first time or a longtime patron who still marvels at the show’s beautiful snowfall, people have a strong emotional connection to this ballet,” said Orlando Ballet artistic director, Robert Hill. “I’m thrilled more Central Floridians will get to enjoy the magic of ‘The Nutcracker’ this year. From the captivating music to the costumes, sets, and colorful cast of characters, it is truly a delight.” The run of performances completely sold out last season and Orlando Ballet encourages guests to purchase tickets well in advance.
Happy Diwali to our Hindu friends and family
Happy Divali/Deepavali to our Hindu friends According to the Indo-Caribbean Cultural Council, Divali/ Deepavali, the Festival of Lights is arguably the largest vegetarian alcohol-free festival in the Caribbean.
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While it is traditionally a Hindu festival, people of all faiths actively join in celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
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Former PM PJ Patterson to visit Florida Supports fundraising for LASCO Chin Foundation
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable P.J. Patterson QC, will be the keynote speaker at the LASCO Chin Foundation (LCF) Inaugural Benefit Gala in Florida. The statesman will be in Miramar, at the Miramar Cultural Center on Sunday, November 18, 2018, reflecting on decades at the highest level of Jamaican governance. "We are looking forward to Former Prime Minister Patterson's perspectives on the actions and policies on how to break the cycle of poverty and crime, especially for atrisk youths," said Professor Rosalea Hamilton, CEO of LCF. The vision of the newly established Foundation is to change the way Jamaica views and treats its most vulnerable young people, so that in the future all of Jamaica's young people will be empowered. Through the Sustainable Socioeconomic Intervention ModelŠ, which incorporates high quality capacity-building solutions, skilled and caring adults who are willing and able to support their efforts are fostered to succeed in life generally and business in particular. Supporting this vision, as well, are Consul General Oliver Mair and Mayor Wayne Messam, who will join Former Prime Minister Patterson at the Miramar Cultural Centre. Comedians Tony Hendriks and Blakka Ellis will provide entertainment, while DJ Mark Swaby will guide the musical offerings for the evening.
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Orlando based AFRO will launch on Comcast’s Xfinity TV in January 2019
Comcast plans to launch CLEO TV and AFRO next year, fulfilling its final NBCU public interest commitments through the addition of the two African American majority owned networks. CLEO TV comes from TV One parent Urban One. It is a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting millennial and Gen X women of color. AFRO, a channel from Afrotainment, is a 24-hour polycultural black network mainly broadcasting Nollywood and black movies, dramas, sitcoms, music, talk, and late night comedy shows. It’s been a long process, with Comcast putting out the call for applications for minority owned nets in December 2016. “We took the necessary time to thoughtfully consider all proposals,” Comcast Cable executive director, multicultural products Keesha Boyd told Cablefax . “We received more than 50 proposals from a wide range of independent networks. All of the proposals we got were very detailed and highquality, and covered a variety of content genres, including general entertainment, lifestyle, music, kids, news, faith, and sports.” Ultimately, CLEO and AFRO were settled on because they fill some of the MSO’s content gaps, she said. Snagging a coveted launch spot with Comcast is sort of like being an Oprah book club pick in that it can open more doors. TV One gm Michelle Rice said CLEO TV is close to closing a second deal with a distributor with discussions underway with multiple partners. Afrotainment’s various channels have been available on multiple MVPDs over the last 13 years, with founder/CEO Yves Bollanga anticipating that the Comcast deal will accelerate ongoing negotiations and increase its current reach to an anticipated 40mln homes by the end of 2019. AFRO has carriage currently on Sling TV Blue and Orange Lifestyle Extra. Comcast will begin rolling out the nets in January on digital basic in to-be-determined markets, similar to how it has launched other nets under the NBCU Memo of Understanding. Since the 2011 NBCU transaction, Comcast has launched more than 20 independent networks—double its Baby First Americas and El Rey.
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commitment. Under the MOU, Comcast agreed to launch 10 new independently owned and operated networks by 2019, including eight that are minorityowned or –operated. Comcast previously launched two African American majority owned nets ASPiRE and Revolt as well as Hispanic American operated networks Baby First Americas and El Rey. Last year, it launched substantially Hispanic American owned networks, Kids Central and Primo TV. CLEO’s programming lineup is squarely in the lifestyle category and includes a cooking series with Harlem based Chef JJ as well a design series hosted by brother/sister team Jake and Jazz Smollet. AFRO’s sweet spot is Nollywood and black movies, with more than 129 movie premieres per year and a growing VOD catalog of more than 300+ hours of scripted content. “The Comcast launch gives us more capital to invest in original and exclusive programming to accelerate our growth. To that effect we are currently in talks with the City of Orlando, and are in the planning phase to build by 2020 a 120,000 square foot state of the art TV and Film Studio in Parramore, a historical black neighborhood in the heart of downtown Orlando,” Bollanga said.
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Doing business with GOAA is designed to help small businesses from across Central Florida establish and strengthen business relationships with Construction Managers, Prime Contractors, Consultants and winning Small Businesses.
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ImmigrationINFO
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Immigration Denaturalization Task Force By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com 1-877-GAIL-LAW @GailSeeram
In June 2018, the USCIS announced the launch of a new "denaturalization task force." This group of attorneys and immigration officials has been tasked with reviewing the cases of naturalized U.S. citizens to determine if they committed fraud to obtain their naturalized citizenship. The agency received $260 million in additional funding to support this work and it has many immigrants and immigrant rights groups worried.
Who Is at Risk? Although the United States and USCIS have always pursued cases as they discovered them, this is the first time there has been a coordinated effort specifically looking for instances of citizenship fraud. The task force will be focusing on people who obtained their U.S. citizenship illegally, such as by using false information, hiding criminal activity, or entering marriage with a U.S. citizen solely for the purposes of becoming a naturalized citizen. However, under the law, USCIS could investigate any naturalized citizen whom they believe meets the criteria for denaturalization. Once identified by USCIS, the case would be sent to the U.S. Department of Justice, which has the authority to strip naturalized citizens of their naturalized status if prosecutors prove that they do not meet the requirements of citizenship or misrepresented themselves during their naturalization process. Denaturalization proceedings take place in civil court, although criminal charges may also be brought, if warranted.
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What Happens If You Are Denaturalized? A person who loses his or her U.S. citizenship is not automatically deported. Instead, their status reverts to what it was before they became a citizen – usually a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). Once the person has been formally denaturalized, removal proceedings can begin in immigration court. The proceedings are usually based on grounds of fraud or criminal activity.
Contact the Immigration Law Offices of Gail Seeram For Denaturalization Help USCIS estimates that only "a few thousand" citizens will be denaturalized because of the task force's findings, but it is still a frightening prospect for many individuals and families. Simply being subject to an investigation when you know you are innocent is very scary. If you are concerned that you may be targeted for denaturalization, are in the process of being denaturalized, or want to become a U.S. citizen, contact The Immigration Law Offices of Gail Seeram. We can help you through the immigration naturalization process or defend you against denaturalization attempts. Call or text our Orlando immigration law office at 407-292-7730 to arrange a free consultation. Copyright Š Law Offices of Gail S. Seeram, 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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This cricket business by Tony Deyal I once compared Pavarotti with the Prince of Port-of-Spain, multiple batting record holder, Brian Lara. It is true that in music, the conductor uses a baton, and the cricketer a bat. In opera, while the person in charge of the music, the conductor, yells at the players, in cricket, the players yell at the person in charge, the umpire. There are uproars in cricket while there are only operas in music. When you add up all the costs, cricket is the most expensive game for Caribbean children, but opera is worse. It is "like a husband with a foreign title: expensive to support, hard to understand and, therefore, a supreme social challenge". In music and cricket, 'form' is extremely important. In music, it is the plan of organisation that a composer follows in assembling his musical materials. In cricket, it is everything for the player, whether batsman or bowler. If you are out of form in cricket, like most of the West Indies team, you can only pray for someone else to have worse form than you. If you say that aloud, it is not considered good form and hence not cricket. It is the same with 'pitch'. In music, this is the height or depth of a sound. In cricket, it is centre stage, the point where the crucial action takes place. Nowadays, losers in cricket generally blame the pitch. A pitch that is 'flat' is not desirable in cricket. However, in music, a flat is a note played below the natural note. Some notes are also 'double flat' like the pitches in Guyana, St Kitts and Trinidad. These create considerable discord with the players. Many have voiced their concerns, demanding that our groundsmen change the tenor of their ways. William Temple, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, once described cricket as "organised loafing". Harold Pinter, the playwright, described it as being better than sex. Robin Williams once said that cricket is baseball on valium, which is what you need when you watch a West Indies game and see them losing by wide margins these days. Music is not a bad comparison if you substitute the bat for the baton and remain composed. There is form, pitch, score and even runs, although the latter is something that players get while in India and Pakistan because of the curry. Beat is something that cricket and music also have in common and, as one colleague said, unless we improve dramatically, the beat will go on. There is a kind of comparison with architecture. They have 'form' in common and now with
the World Cup comingup in England next year with all these opening ceremonies, a lot of 'function' to attend. Shape, as well, since batsmen 'shape up'. Buildings need an earthquake to fall down, but not the West Indies. As the Indian tour has made very clear, we are back to collapse-o cricket. However, I believe cricket is more like business than anything else. You start with turf. It is the stuff that you play on in cricket. In business, people hang on to their turf. There are turf wars in most organisations. In cricket, when the best advice is to bat in your crease, in business, it is stay within your turf and guard it with your life. LEVEL PLAYING FIELD In cricket, you get a freak dismissal and it is tough luck; in business, you get booted out of your comfort zone and it is turf luck. Then there is the playing field. In cricket and in business, people say they want a level playing field and then do their best to ensure that it is not level. Many business people are not on the level to start with. All the turf wars in world trade are about ensuring a level playing field. In cricket, people prefer an umpire who is on the level and players who are level-headed. There is also the matter of boundaries. In cricket and in business, there are always boundaries. While in cricket, you get the biggest profit by going over the boundary, in business, you have to be careful, since if you go beyond your boundaries, you might eventually suffer losses. Some business people take the risk and do well - expanding beyond national boundaries and going global. Cricketers and business people are always looking for a big score. Some business people who try the hard way and get stumped, then try the easy way and end up having to be bailed out. Cricket is played on grounds and business people are always looking for grounds on which to jack up prices or to sue. Cricket has a pitch and every good businessman has a sales pitch. The most important similarity is that there is one indispensable thing in cricket and business. To succeed, or merely just to take part, you must have balls. - Tony Deyal was last seen saying that the way the team is playing now the best comparison for West Indies cricket is with a road vehicle designed to carry many passengers. In other words, the business is about to "bus".
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