New York Trend NYC: August 22-28, 2019

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THE ALTERNATIVE VOLUMEPERSPECTIVE 26 ISSUE 40

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December 17, 2015 - December 23, 2015

VOLUME 29 ISSUE 22

Since 1989

August 22nd, 2019 - August 28th, 2019

HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

N A A C P TA K E S A C T I O N T O E N D G U N V I O L E NYork C Eand, a former chancellor of the The Black Stars News 2015 Annual H Mayor I T E S U P R E M A C Y , A N D D O M E S T I C T E R R O R I SNew M York public schools system.

Awards Dinner will W honor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles

individuals that display hate or In response to the recent mass Rangel, Rep. Yvette Clarke, shootings, the NAACP hosted R. Donahue Peebles, Barbara violence toward others. a Tele-Town HallInez to demand Arnwine, Barron, Sabrina Congressman Bobby Scott Lamb, Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen legislative action to combat the offered condolences to the Byrd, Alia Jones, and the rise of gun violence, domestic Centralpeople of Dayton, as well Park Five survivors of gross injustice terrorism and white18 supremacy. on December from 6:00pm – commented on legislation Derrick Johnson, President 10:00pm at MIST Harlem, 46 West Congress is working on to make and CEO of the NAACP; 116th Street. the country safer and better.

Dayton Mayor Nan chosen Whaley; “Each honoree for “There is no one thing you can do Congressman Scott recognitionBobby has demonstrated to solve this problem, but if you leadership (VA-3);exceptional Matt Deitsch, CO- and vision indo several small things, it will add David Dinkins her or his respective or Founder, March for our profession Lives; up to create workable solutions.” endeavor and in some significant was a member of the New York Leciameasure Brooks,has Chief Workplace contributed towards City Council, representing the Transformation Officer, creating a more justSouthern society in this 40th council district WILL in Brooklyn, “THE NAACP Poverty Law Center; andStar Dr. News country,” says Black succeeding her mother, Una S. founder and publisher Milton Derrick Ford, President of the ALWAYS THE T. Clarke. InBE the AT current 114th Allimadi.

“Obviously much NAACP Dayton Chapter offered work Congress Clarke serves FOREFRONT OF on needs to be done here and the Energy and Commerce remarks during the Tele-Town around the world.”

Committee, responsible HUMAN AND CIVILfor Hall.

The gala starts at 6:00pm with a

consumer protection, food

information to create legislation to protect citizens.

Pioneering producers Stephen violence.

He brought attention Byrd and Alia Jones, through their to the fact that preventing gun company Front Row Production, violence starts at an early age brought “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and called onStreetcar the creation of Desire” and “A Named programs stem the tide. with to a multi-ethnic cast to

The call ended with comments

by Matt Deitsch, Co-Founder of March For Our Lives.

Broadway. In 2016 they bring “Momentum is building for a “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner Founded in 1909, the NAACP peace movement to confront Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway. is the nation’s oldest and the violent policies that have the so-called Central largestHonorees, nonpartisan civil rights constructed the system of Park 5, are collectively and organization.

Its members injustice.” Deitsch called individually heroes. They are throughout the survivors ofUnited one ofStates the ugliest attention toRangel the complacencies Charles and the world are the premier miscarriage of justice in New York’s of members of Congress to get history; having been railroaded majority. She now leads The advocates for civil rights in their anything done to protect people and unjustly convicted for a crime Transformative Justice Coalition. communities. from hate crimes gun they did not commit and for which Arnwine was and for 26 years executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.

RIGHTS.” cocktail hourwith to be followed by the The call opened Dayton safety, energy development, public dinner and awards ceremonies.

There health, communications, the Mayor, Nan Whaley offering DR. DERRICK FORD will beabout musical entertainment by environment, and interstate and comments how she opera singer Cassandra Douglas international commerce. is combating rise of gun and fromthe harmonica phenomenon“We will not overcome challenges R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is violence in Dayton.

Along with William Galison.

David Dinkins is a leading developer of by working alone.

That’sand whyfounder I honoredshe for Lifetime 250 mayors, signed aAchievement The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest appreciate this call, it recognizes — urging he was the NewSenate York City’s first petition to vote African American-owned real African American mayor and is going to have to come on a background check bill. “We alsochange estate firm with $3.5 billion worth welcomed Nelson Mandela to theby us all working together,” said of properties under development see action within our cities, but city after his release in 1990.

Lecia or Brooks, Chief Workplace management — he was one unfortunately, we don’t see a lot Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored of the pioneering developerswho Transformation Officer of the of action in our statehouses andhas for Lifetime Achievement, helped turn around and revitalize Southern Poverty Law Center. certainly notininCongress D.C.,” said served sinceNan 1971. He is the once-blighted Anacostia “Hate crimes are clearly on the a recipient Bronze medal for Whaley, Mayor of ofThe Dayton, OH. neighborhood in Washington, D.C. we believe that the helping save soldiers behind enemyrise, and A champion of African-American Dr. Derrick Ford, of line during thePresident Korean War. President of the United StatesPeebles’ is economic empowerment is the NAACP Dayton Chapter, run for NYC drivingcontemplating this.” Brooksa possible reinforced Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic followed Mayor mayor in 2017. member of Whaley’s the US House of Southern Poverty Law Center’s remarks.

“The NAACP from will always Representatives New HonoreetoBarbara Arnwine, commitment monitoring hate civil whose 9thof district covers be at York the forefront human and crimesrights lawyer, is a champion and collecting data to of much of voting rights of ethnic civil rights.”

Dr.central Ford Brooklyn. called forBefore ensureprotecting legislators have factual entering Congress in 2007, she minority groups — the emerging closer monitoring of dangerous

Inez Barron, honoree, formerly a State Assembly member, is now a New York City council member and a champion of education for our youth.

Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is a legendary radio talk show host and executive producer, radio DJ, poet, songwriter, music recording artist and producer, rapper, writer and community activist. He began his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s been a talk show host at WBLS and WLIB radio in New York City. He also has a Friday night radio talk show on WBAI. Honoree Sabrina Lamb, founder of World of Money, is a champion of financial literacy for youth-- she teaches knowledge about handling money, budgeting and planning.

Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of the nation’s leading educators. He’s president of Medgar Evers College of The City University of New

they served long prison sentences ranging from seven years to 13 years before being exonerated when the actual rapist confessed. They are: Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, and Kharey Wise.

The Black Star News, which focuses on investigative journalism, has been featured as a result of some if its news scoops, on CNN, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s Content magazine.

Past Black Star News honorees have included: Gil Noble (Like It Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William Pollard (Medgar Evers College), Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Fountain (Columbia University), Lillian Roberts (DC37), Desiree Dancy (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National Action Network), and many others.

INSIDE T HIS ISSUE: IS SUE : INSIDE THIS

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BUSINESS

F e ar le ss

fund Launches WOMEN

The Fearless Fund invests in women of color-led businesses seeking preseed, seed level, or series A funding.

With a mission of bridging the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders building scalable, growth aggressive companies, Fearless Fund is built by women of color for women of color. Since its recent initiation, the Fearless Fund has hosted pitch competitions at Facebook Headquarters & Spanx Headquarters with brand partners such as Coca-Cola, UrbanSkinRX, Bumble and more.

Through Fearless Fund, Founding Partners Arian Simone and Keshia Knight Pulliam are highlighting how diversity significantly impacts a company's performance and potential to provide investor returns. In fact, a 2018 report released by Boston Consulting Group found that for every dollar of funding a startup in their study received, female-run startups generated an average of 78 cents in revenue while male-run startups generated 31 cents. Despite a greater potential to produce higher returns, women are historically underfunded-particularly women of color. "The Fearless fund is designed to change the narrative as it relates to funding allocated to women of color," states Arian Simone.

In 2018, U.S. companies raised a total of $130B in VC funding. A mere 2.2% of that total went toward femalefounded companies and less than 1% of total funding was allocated toward businesses founded by women of color (Fortune, 2018 & GirlBoss, 2019). This is not a "pipeline issue"

or a result of a lack of VC-eligible, women of color-led companies. In fact, Fearless Fund already has five companies in its portfolio including Ellis Island Tea founded by Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur Nailah Ellis-Brown, the first African-American female to ever own a beverage production facility.

Serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, angel investor, best-selling author, and marketing expert, Arian Simone, spearheads this initiative alongside actress and entrepreneur, Keshia Knight Pulliam. Arian is the Founder and CEO of Arian Simone Enterprises and Keshia is the Founder of spice line Keshia's Kitchen, podcast Kandidly Keshia and non-profit The Kamp Kizzy Foundation. Additionally, the fund has seen abundant support from its advisors: Opportunity Hub CEO, Rodney Sampson, and The 22 Fund Managing Partner, Tracy Gray. Early investors in the fund include actress and producer, Marsai Martin (Black-ish), Atlanta OBGYN, Dr. Jacqueline Waters (Married to Medicine), Chattanooga VC fund, The JumpFund, and other notable individual and institutional investors.

With a proven track record of molding successful startups and building an

Pa n e l D i s c u s s i o n

From battling frostbite to walking through someone’s live shot, journalists at the 2019 National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention & Career Fair this month learned what to do and not do when covering a storm.

The group learned tips and tricks firsthand from meteorologists, public relations professionals and media representatives on the Surviving the Storm Coverage panel.

The journalists also heard from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) about how the company helps reporters tell stories of preparation and recovery, and from Paul Goodloe, an on-camera meteorologist with The Weather Channel, who was full of fascinating onscreen stories.

The panel session, which took place Aug. 7 at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, offered journalists a look at what it takes to prepare themselves for covering all weather events from tornadoes to snowstorms.

FPL sponsored the panel, which was hosted by The Weather Channel and moderated by Paul Goodloe.

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at

Of

COLOR Owned Businesses

expansive network of top entertainers and business leaders, the Fearless Fund team is more than a source of capital infusion for the companies they invest in. In addition to a robust mentor program, the team is leveraging their network to build out an optional Celebrity Equity-Based Endorsement program for their

portfolio companies. This program aims to quickly scale companies by connecting them with celebrities for influencer marketing campaigns.

Fearless Fund is proof that women

of color are founding and growing businesses that drive strong returns for their investors while multiplying the number of women of color who are investors. 2017 and 2018 reports showed little-to-no growth in the amount of funding allocated toward WOC-led businesses. It's time that we have positive numbers to report in terms of VC funding for WOC-led businesses. Fearless Fund is the key—the game-changer.

For more information on the Fearless Fund, visit www.fearless.fund.

Fearless Fund invests in women of color-led businesses seeking preseed, seed level, or series A financing.

Its mission is to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders building scalable, growth aggressive companies.

Fearless Fund is built by women of color for women of color.

N A B J C O N F E R E N C E A d d r e s s N e w S t r at e g i e s

Surviving the Storm Coverage Panel Discussion at NABJ Conference

August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

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BUSINESS BANGI, Inc. Appoints MATHEW KNOWLES as Chief Marketing Officer

BANGI, Inc. (OTC PINK: BNGI), a

diversified investment vehicle that acquires and leases specialized real estate assets in the cannabis, hemp and CBD industries, today announced the appointment of Mathew Knowles to the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective immediately. Founder of Destiny’s Child, Mathew Knowles, is an author, professor, public speaker, entrepreneur, music executive, artist manager and founder of Music World Entertainment, a 25-year entertainment company with record sales exceeding $450 million worldwide. Knowles was recently featured in an interview with Forbes Magazine.

As the CMO for BANGI, Knowles will be responsible for developing and overseeing the launch of BANGI’s global marketing campaign, including advertising, branding, communications, content, creative services, digital strategies, press events, social media and the web.

“As one of the world’s most successful music and entertainment pioneers, Mathew is a relentlessly innovative and creative marketing leader whose experience will ensure our success in the rapidly-growing and dynamic cannabis industry,” said Dr. Neil Parsan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BANGI, Inc. “Under his leadership, we are looking forward to launching and developing one of the strongest and most trusted brands in the cannabis industry based on our ability to deliver real value to our tenants, partners and shareholders,” concluded Dr. Parsan.

“I have been blessed throughout

my career to work with various artists and companies at defining moments in their histories, which is why the opportunity to lead the marketing program at BANGI was so compelling,” said Knowles. “BANGI has a strong culture and strategic foundation, and I look forward to leveraging my extensive network and experience to building upon the Company's momentum through innovative and breakthrough marketing strategies that are designed to achieve sustainable growth and profitability," concluded Knowles.

BANGI (pronounced bon-ghee), which means "marijuana" or "hemp" in the African dialect Swahili, is a

diversified investment vehicle that acquires and leases specialized real estate assets, such as cannabis farms. The Corporation combines hard asset security and long-term appreciation potential. For more information, visit www.bangistock. com.

This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding the investment offerings and the terms thereof, are forward-

looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as we "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", or the negative thereof or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such statements. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forwardlooking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Owner/Publisher Executive Editor Editor-In-Chief Dr. Teresa Taylor Williams

Online Editorial Director Rachel Breton Hamlett

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August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

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Happy. Healthy. Loved. These are the dreams we have for our children.

So we cherish the moments when little giggles fill the room, imaginations take us on great adventures, and when it seems our hearts could burst with pride and love.

Here and now, we’d stop time if we could. Because when kids are being kids, we all feel better.

Let’s get every child covered.

If your child needs health insurance, Fidelis Care is just a call, click, or visit away.

Call: 1-888-FIDELIS Click: fideliscare.org/everychildcovered Visit: A Fidelis Care community office near you. Search for locations at fideliscare.org/offices

1-888-FIDELIS • fideliscare.org (1-888-343-3547)

TTY: 711

To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.

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ENTER TAINMENT New Episodes of SAINTS

Brown Sugar , the popular subscription streaming service from Bounce, has a cool lineup of original series and movies to help consumers beat the heat in the dog days of August.

All-new season four episodes of the hit Bounce drama series Saints & Sinners will be available to watch Monday mornings on Brown Sugar, with seasons one, two and three available for binge-watching. New Saints & Sinners episodes premiere on Bounce Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. New season five episodes of Bounce's popular original sitcom In The Cut are available on Brown Sugar every Tuesday in August, following their Monday night Bounce premieres (9:00 p.m. ET.) All

FUBU JOINS

ONE Musicfest, the Southeast's premier

urban progressive music and arts festival - has announced a collaboration with the iconic sportswear brand FUBU to create a limited edition of merchandise for the 10th annual festival taking place September 7-8, 2019 at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

The "ONE Musicfest x For Us By Us" partnership will consist of t-shirts and hats and will be available to purchase during the festival. The deal reflects OMF's philosophy of economic empowerment and cultural pride - key elements that have long set the event apart from other music celebrations. "ONE Musicfest has always been about bringing the best of urban culture together," says Jason Carter, founder of ONE Musicfest. "FUBU is a staple of our culture and represents everything we believe in - excellence, innovation, and authenticity. Like FUBU, ONE Musicfest was created for the consumer by the consumer. We're honored to work with them for this year's milestone festival."

"When we started the FUBU brand 27 years ago, our immediate goal was to fill a need and represent urban culture in the apparel industry," says FUBU founder and CEO, Daymond John. "We saw people that looked like us spend money on brands that did not care to understand the nuances of our culture. 'For Us, By Us' was about the empowerment and celebration of Urban culture. Therefore, and in that same spirit, it is only right that we partner with ONE MusicFest, whose goal is also to create spaces for the most amazing people on this planet to be recognized."

Founded in 1992 by four neighborhood friends from Queens, New York trying to

SINNERS and IN THE CUT Make Lineup

prior seasons of In The Cut are available for viewing anytime on Brown Sugar.

People can avoid the summer heat this August with Brown Sugar's curated homepage collection "It's

Getting Hot in Here," featuring classic titles such as Mean Johnny Barrows (Fred Williamson), The Dolemite Explosion (Rudy Ray Moore) and Black Heat (Timothy Brown) among others.

IN MERCHANDISE DEAL make quick cash by selling tie-top hats to their friends and family, FUBU quickly grew from a shoestring budget of $40 into a $6 billion fashion empire. In 2017, FUBU celebrated the brand's 25th anniversary with a capsule collection of classics with plans to introduce larger collections and more collaborations in the near future.

Hailed as one of the nation's "Can't Miss Festivals," ONE Musicfest returns for its tenth year on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 with an unforgettable lineup of performances including Gucci Mane, Rae Sremmurd, Tory Lanez, Rick Ross, DMX, Wu-Tang Clan, Three 6 Mafia, Teyana Taylor, Raphael Saadiq, KP The Great featuring Pharrell Williams and Usher, Florida AllStars featuring Uncle Luke, T-Pain, Trina, Trick Daddy and more!

FUBU (short for For Us By Us) was founded in 1992 by Daymond John, J. Alexander Martin, Keith Perrin and Carl Brown. The earliest collection consisted of a small line of tops and hats with the FUBU logo. By 1995, an extensive sportswear line was designed and produced by FUBU using raw materials imported from around the world. With the success of the collection, distributors and investors came calling. To date, over 5,000 stores globally have carried the FUBU collection and more than $6 billion in merchandise has been sold at retail. The partners of FUBU soon became leaders in one of the most successful sportswear companies of all time and the creators of a whole category of marketing innovations that are now considered to be staples of industry. Their philosophy was to make clothing for the consumer by the consumer. For more information, follow FUBU on facebook.com/fubuthecollection and @fubuthecollection on Twitter and Instagram.

ONE Musicfest is the Southeast's largest annual urban progressive music festival, featuring a diverse range of music, including classic and next generation hip-hop, soulful R&B, alternative, and rock. Started in 2010, ONE Musicfest is now recognized as one of the most highly-anticipated celebrations of the arts in the Southeast, with this year's festival expecting an attendance of 50,000 music lovers from throughout the country.

6 | NewYorkTrendnyc

Additional popular titles streaming this month are fan favorites including Eve's Bayou (Samuel L. Jackson and Lynn Whitfield), Crash (Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard), In Too Deep (Pam Grier and LL Cool J), Blue Hill

Avenue (Richard Lawson), American Son (Nick Cannon), Hoodlum (Laurence Fishbourne and Cicely Tyson) and American Bad Boy (Obba Babatundé and Katt Williams).

Subscribers can watch these films and countless others on Brown Sugar, along with complete seasons of other top-rated Bounce originals such including Family Time.

Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Comcast Xfinity X1, Amazon Prime Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets and web browsers via BrownSugar.com.

There is a free seven-day initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter. Visit www.

BrownSugar.com for more information.

Brown Sugar is a part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

WARNER BROS. PICS TEAMS UP WITH "MESS IN A BOTTLE" FOR "THE KITCHEN" (Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES -- Warner Bros. Pictures has announced a partnership with the popular t-shirt brand Mess in a Bottle to create a special collection of shirts commemorating the August 9th release of the New Line Cinema film The Kitchen, starring Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish and Elisabeth Moss.

The bespoke collection features a variety of short-sleeve t-shirts bearing uplifting affirmations inspired by the femaledriven mob drama, which centers around three women in New York City's Hell's Kitchen who take business into their own hands when their gangster husbands are sent to prison. Phrases like "Queen, don't be afraid to rule like a king" and "I want it all" reflect the resilience and determination displayed by the women in The Kitchen.

"Mess in a Bottle embraces the strength of women," shares Kalilah Wright, owner and creative director at Mess in a Bottle, which was founded in 2015 to evoke change, question the status quo and provide a product that allows one to 'wear their voice.' "Women figure it out, make it happen and make no excuses. Our brand embodies this and this collection of shirts reminds us that you can be a mother, business owner and a woman in power."

The Kitchen opens nationwide in theaters on August 9th.

Mess in a Bottle is an independently owned apparel company run by accomplished designer and trained architect, Kalilah Wright. The concept is based on a form of communication dating as far back as 310 B.C. when messages were placed in bottles and released into a large body of water. Mess in a Bottle is the 21st-century form of communicationspreading emotional, thought-provoking and expressive MESSages all over the world.

The gritty, female-driven mob drama The Kitchen, written and directed by Oscar nominee Andrea Berloff (screenplay, Straight Outta Compton) follows three 1978 Hell's Kitchen housewives whose mobster husbands are sent to prison by the FBI. Left with little but a sharp ax to grind, the ladies take the Irish mafia's matters into their own hands-proving unexpectedly

August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

adept at everything from running the rackets to taking out the competition... literally.

The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, Elisabeth Moss, Domhnall Gleeson, James Badge Dale, Brian d'Arcy James, with Margo Martindale, Common and Bill Camp. Written and directed by Andrea Berloff, based on the comic book series created for DC Vertigo by Ollie Masters and Ming Doyle, it was produced

by Michael De Luca and Marcus Viscidi.

Executive producers were Richard Brener, Michael Disco, Dave Neustadter, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth, Elishia Holmes and Adam Schlagman. Maryse Alberti was director of photography; Shane Valentino, production designer; Christopher Tellefsen, editor; Sarah Edwards, costume designer; and Bryce Dessner, composer.

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ENTER TAINMENT

ESSENCE To R e d e s i g n Signature Magazine

Essence Communications , the number

one media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, is unveiling a premium redesign of its signature magazine, beginning with the ESSENCE September Global Fashion issue featuring tennis superstar, activist, entrepreneur, fashion designer and mother Serena Williams on the cover (available August 16). Reinforcing the brand’s mission to serve Black women deeply, the magazine redesign will enrich the consumption and engagement experience for readers, including a slate of immersive new content and digital integration that more expansively chronicle the depth and breadth of Black women and their influence on culture globally.

With the debut of an innovative and artistic aesthetic, compelling international perspectives and expanded original content in the September issue, ESSENCE is previewing an expanded issue format, which will offer up to 80 additional pages of content per issue. Starting with the January/February 2020 issue, the planned new format for the magazine will be an enhanced double-issue that will be distributed six times per year. In addition, ESSENCE will produce four specialedition/collectible newsstand-only book-azines throughout the year beginning in 2020.

“As we approach our 50th anniversary as a brand, we are grateful that ESSENCE continues to thrive in a class of its own – by tenure, by focus and by impact,” said Michelle Ebanks, CEO of Essence Communications. “ESSENCE stands the test of time because we have always responded to the diverse and evolving needs of the community of Black women we serve with

the urgency, quality and understanding they deserve, and that remains our focus in everything we do – to test, learn and grow with the community that grows with us. So, as with other parts of our business, we are making significant investments to innovate and elevate our magazine experience and further demonstrate our commitment to drive and reflect our culture, own our storytelling and direct our narrative to encompass the most inclusive, authentic and non-monolithic expression of who we are globally – capturing and reflecting our beauty, our power and our influence across the Diaspora.”

ESSENCE Chief Content and Creative Officer MoAna Luu added, “ESSENCE’s transition to six collectible double issues and four book-a-zines per year will enable the brand to deepen its content offerings not only in the magazine, but across our digital and social platforms and our live events. The redesigned magazine will also feature interactive pages that translate across digital platforms, extending the magazine’s exclusive cover stories and in-depth features to ESSENCE podcasts and video series for bonus content and experiences.”

Newsstand pricing will be slated at $7.99 for the remainder of 2019 and $9.99 starting in 2020 for the enhanced double issues.

The new magazine format will feature more pages of original editorial content per issue, accommodating a broad expansion of some of the magazine’s most popular features and reporting, as well as the addition of reimagined editorial sections (** denotes new sections or columns):

Fashion  ESSENCE Fashion is cutting-edge, cool and culturally inspired. Across every platform and continent, ESSENCE celebrates rituals, trends and magic that define Black women’s style. **New columns: Fashion News, Shop The Closet, Masterclass, Real Fashion Confessionals and Accessories.

Beauty  ESSENCE Beauty holds a mirror up to Black women’s stunning spectrum of skin tones, endless hair textures, and the powerful way in which she moves through the world. **New columns: Vanity Voyeur, Black Beauty Musings.

Culture  ESSENCE Culture provides a unique platform to spotlight the celebrities, culture makers and creators in arts and entertainment. The Culture section is newly expanded to include fine arts and explore the contributions of Black creatives from around the world. **Debuting The C List, a roundup of what ESSENCE editors are screening, reading and hearing for the month.

Views  From news to politics and other current events, ESSENCE Views takes an in-depth look at issues and trends that are important to Black women and that impact our community.

Wealth  ESSENCE Wealth is the go-to destination for all things money, careers and business… offering serviceable content to help Black women sustainably level up their finances and succeed in their careers. **Introducing the Black Women In series… which profiles female leaders across varied industries.

Body and Soul  ESSENCE Body and Soul helps Black women cultivate, nurture and heal the heart, mind and body...from inspiring Black love stories to timely features on health risks and remedies for Black women to mental health and self-care. **Living  ESSENCE’s first-time, newly dedicated Living section covers Travel, Home, Food + Drink, Tech and Parties (recapping the top trending social events from around the world). Popular columns include ESSENCE Escapes, Cool Girls Guide, At Home With and ESSENCE Eats.

For the first time as of September, ESSENCE magazine will be more widely available internationally---including throughout London and the Caribbean, as well as South Africa, Nigeria, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Brazil, Bermuda and Germany.

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August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

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ENTER TAINMENT "love & marriage: HUNTSVILLE" RETURNS OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has unveiled the explosive new trailer for its hit reality series "Love & Marriage: Huntsville," which returns with all new episodes Saturday, September 7 (9 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET/ PT).

The series, which follows three powerful African American couples working in real estate in the thriving city of Huntsville, Alabama: Melody and Martell Holt, Marsau and LaTisha Scott and Maurice and Kimberlee Scott, will also feature a new couple Cedarric and Adaira Collins, both good friends of the Holts and Scotts.

This season being a power couple doesn't mean the perfect couple as Martell works to try and win back his estranged wife Melody. LaTisha doesn't allow her husband Marsau to get in her way as she puts her homemaker days behind to put her real estate license to good use.

Kimberlee is forced to reconcile with the challenges of a blended family as she deals with Maurice's son and ex-wife's potential move to Huntsville. While there's still a lot of love to go around, neither business

nor pleasure seem to be getting any less hectic for these couples.

Catch up on the first eight episodes of the series on the WATCH OWN app.

"Love & Marriage: Huntsville" is produced by Kingdom Reign Entertainment and ITV America with Carlos King, Bernie Schaeffer, Rob Cornick and Andrew Hoagland serving as executive producers.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism of the channel.

OWN is a leading destination for premium scripted and unscripted programming from today's most innovative storytellers. OWN's original scripted series include popular drama "Queen Sugar," "Greenleaf," "The Haves and the Have Nots," "If Loving You is Wrong," family saga "Ambitions" from box office hit-maker Will Packer, and the upcoming drama series "David Makes Man," from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney. OWN's Saturday night

unscripted programming lineup includes "Iyanla: Fix My Life," "Ready to Love," "Love & Marriage: Huntsville," and "Black Love." OWN connects with its audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a global community of likeminded viewers on social media and beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery, Inc. The venture also includes award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. Access OWN anytime on WatchOWN.tv or across mobile

devices and connected TVs. Kingdom Reign Entertainment, LLC is recognized as one of the leading entertainment companies in reality television. Founded by television trailblazer Carlos King, the company's programming ranges from non-scripted to scripted programming with such hits as Styling Hollywood (Netflix), Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN), Gucci Mane & Keyshia Ka'Oir: The Mane Event (BET), Hollywood Divas (TV One), Selling It: In the ATL (WeTV) among others.

SERENA WILLIAMS On ESSENCE’s September Global Fashion Issue Cover E SSENC E , the number one media,

technology and commerce company serving Black women, unveils its upcoming September Global Fashion Issue cover featuring tennis great, entrepreneur and style icon SERENA WILLIAMS in a way that fans have never seen her before!

Williams is resplendent from beginning to end in the story, The Future of Serena Williams—from rocking face paint by artist Láolú on the cover, to dazzling fans in designers such as Carolina Herrera, Giuseppe Zanotti, Talbot Runhof, Issey Miyake and more in a gorgeous photo spread shot by photographer Kwaku Alston and styled

by ESSENCE Fashion Director Marielle Bobo.

“We are beyond ecstatic to have Serena Williams—one of the most photographed women on the planet—to be the muse for our September Global Fashion issue,“ said ESSENCE Chief Content & Creative Officer MoAna Luu. “This issue promises to be one of ESSENCE’s biggest with a fresh new redesign. We also brought the best Black creatives in the world— including visual artist Láolú, who gave us Serena’s stunning face painting for the cover—to present all of the stunning visuals that you see.”

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The multi-hyphenate wife/mom/ entrepreneur also opens up to ESSENCE Entertainment Director Cori Murray about everything from her upcoming S By Serena New York Fashion Week

get me excited. Or it could be something fresh I haven’t seen before. Honestly, I can go in any direction. Just depends on how I feel…”

that we wanted to dress down for, or we might want to go out with our friends and relax, or we may just be walking around the house as a mom. So when we were designing the collection, we wanted to speak to every aspect of that woman...”  ON BODY POSITIVITY IN FASHION: "We want to be inclusive. We have an extended size, and we call it great because I don’t like the word 'plus.' So we call it S Great because every woman is great. Hopefully the word 'great' will catch on and people will get rid of the word 'plus.'

moment, what she looks for in fashion, the importance of speaking up and freedom. (See quotes below):

 ON WHAT SHE LOOKS FOR IN FASHION: “Wow. I love fashion, obviously. It has to connect to me, first of all. I like things that are unusual, but also a little classic. It depends: It could be a crazy pop of color, and it’ll totally

 ON HER “S BY SERENA” NYFW MOMENT: “Everything that’s on the runway will be ready for sale for 24 hours on September 10th. As far as the clothing, we really wanted to have fun and be confident. It’s kind of like all the aspects of my life. But not just my life, most women’s lives. We have a job, or we have somewhere to go for an event, or we have something more serious

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 ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING UP AND FREEDOM: "Freedom means standing up and not being afraid to say, ‘I’m here’ or ‘Hear my voice’ or ‘This isn’t what I agreed to’ or ‘This isn’t fair and that isn’t right.’ I’ve done it my whole career. It’s knowing where I’ve come from, knowing my history, in particular, the sport that I’m in. When I first started, there weren’t a lot of people who looked like me. So it was really important to always help other people feel as if this is something they could also be a part of…”

The groundbreaking September issue of ESSENCE hits newsstands on August 16th. For more on this story, visit ESSENCE.com.

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EDUCAT ION Students Participate in Hands-On HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRAINING Morgan State University (MSU) students are participating in a program this summer that aims to bring young African American students working toward architecture degrees into historic preservation and related career paths.

Touching History: Preservation in Practice is a program developed jointly by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), the National Park Service (NPS), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s (NTHP) HOPE Crew designed to raise awareness about the importance of historic preservation and conservation while, at the same time, engaging a new generation of preservation professionals and complete urgent preservation work at America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities campuses.

“Touching History gives students the opportunity to grow as a person, grow as a professional, and connect to their shared history and heritage,” said Robert G. Stanton, ACHP expert member and former National Park Service Director. “The historic preservation and conservation fields need young people like these six Morgan State students. This internship could lead them in a new direction for their careers and is giving them an understanding of the importance of telling the whole story of the American experience.”

Six MSU students, Tyriq Charleus, Devin Funderburk, Danasha Kelly, Terry Mayo Jr., Stephanie D.N. Walker, and Zahaira Williams, are working on a preservation and conservation project through this partnership with a HOPE (HandsOn Preservation Experience) Crew team. HOPE Crew is a nationwide initiative connecting hundreds of young people to preservation trades while breathing new life into historic structures across the country. In Baltimore, the team is working on two principal projects: window restoration at Morgan State University’s Memorial Chapel and masonry work at the Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture.

“Investing in our future preservation leaders is one of the most important things the National Park Service can do to further its mission,” said National Park Service acting deputy director for operations David Vela.

“We are dedicated to providing access to real-world experiences for our nation’s youth and young professionals, so that together we can preserve our shared historic

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and cultural resources.”

Prior to their work at MSU, the students worked at the National Park Service’s Western Center for Historic Preservation, located in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Students spent time at the Bar BC Dude Ranch, established in 1912 as a dude ranch using a style called “Dude Ranch Vernacular” and completed the “Guiding Principles for Historic Preservation,” a course on fieldbased historic preservation, documentation, hands-on treatment, and heritage asset maintenance planning.

and culture along with creating opportunities for young people of color in diverse STEM related fields are important parts of our mission as a Foundation,” said Linda Wilson, executive director, Fund II Foundation. “This work will enrich communities for many years to come.”

“There’s no better way to prepare our students for successful careers than to give them hands-on training,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). “This program is a great opportunity for Morgan State students to test their skills, while also providing a crucial service to the University. In the Senate, I

Service,  202.339.1509  stephanie_loeb@nps.gov  Erica Stewart, National Trust for Historic Preservation,  202.207.6795,  estewart@savingplaces.org

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation 

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places.

Since the start of the program in 2014, HOPE Crew has trained over 750 youth participants in the preservation trades, recruited 3,500 volunteers to protect places that are significant to their communities, and completed 170 projects. For more information, visit: savingplaces.org | @savingplaces

About the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation  An independent federal agency, the ACHP promotes the economic, educational, environmental, sustainability, and cultural values of historic preservation and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.

It also influences federal activities, programs, and policies that affect historic and cultural properties.

See www.achp.gov for more information.

“Beyond addressing critical maintenance and preservation needs at Historically Black Colleges and University buildings, we want this HOPE Crew project to make a difference in the lives of future preservation leaders,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the National Trust’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. “We’re excited to continue broadening the preservation movement with this partnership that allows African American college students to see first-hand what happens when theory meets practice in preservation trades.”

During their final week, the students will join Stanton on field trips to historic places in the BaltimoreWashington, D.C. area. They also will travel to St. Mary’s College in Maryland to work with former ACHP expert member and professor of anthropology Julia King, who worked with St. Mary’s College to uncover evidence of enslaved people’s quarters on the proposed site for the school’s athletic stadium.

“Supporting initiatives that preserve African American history

will continue working to support programs like this, which give students valuable work experience and promote opportunity at our Historically Black Colleges and Universities.”

As a final task, the students will create a portfolio that will point out the importance of preserving and restoring the historic buildings that are a part of the MSU campus. MSU has 20 structures eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and in 2016, the NTHP designated MSU one of its National Treasures and is partnering with the school to develop a preservation plan.

The Touching History: Preservation in Practice program is funded by the NPS, the National Trust—which receives additional financial support from the Fund II Foundation—and in-kind support from the ACHP. MEDIA CONTACTS:  Lynne Richmond, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,  202.517.1484 lrichmond@achp.gov  Stephanie Loeb, National Park

August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-tohome recreational opportunities.

Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

About the Fund II Foundation

Fund II Foundation makes grants to 501 (c)3 public charities in five areas: 1  preserving the cultural richness of the African-American experience; 2  safeguarding human dignity by giving voice to the voiceless and promoting human rights; 3  conserving the environment, promoting the benefits of the great outdoors to people of all ages and backgrounds; 4  affording music education to nourish both talent and the soul; and 5  sustaining the American values of entrepreneurship, empowerment, and innovation. For more information, visit: fund2foundation.org | @Fund2F

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MOVIE S

B I L L D U K E R e p r i s e s ‘ M E N AC E I I S O C I E T Y ’ R o l e

Bill Duke, G Perico, and Soren Baker have released the short film The Bookstore Menace, a clever reworking of Duke’s iconic role in the landmark 1993 film Menace II Society. The film world premiered on the Facebook page of leading hip-hop website Ambrosia For Heads last night.

A legendary actor, director, producer, and owner of the new NSights Network, Bill Duke is best known in the rap world for his scene in the film Menace II Society. Who can forget his famous line: “You know you f-ed up, don’t you?”

“No matter where I travel across the world, this line is the line people remember most,” says Duke who has acted in dozens of films, including Predator and Commando. “They say it back to me often and declare that the line has become an iconic line in movie

history.

“This reprisal is a fun way to remind people of the line in the movie, while placing value on the incredible content that can be found in these two books that have become topics of discussion in the film and TV and rap music genres,” Duke continues. “The interrogation of G Perico is our ‘new jack’ new spin on an old story.”

The books highlighted in The Bookstore Menace are Bill Duke: My 40-Year Career on Screen and Behind the Camera and Baker’s The History of Gangster Rap. Its author, storied rap journalist Soren Baker, partnered with Duke and G Perico, the rising gangster rapper who is often compared to Eazy-E and DJ Quik, to create the highly anticipated release of the short film that re-creates one of the hottest scenes in entertainment and hip-hop history.

Movie Review: Return To Pride Rock Twenty-five years ago, I went to see my very first theatrical film. That movie was The Lion King. That was the film that sent me on my path of loving movies so of course when Disney finally got to The Lion King during their “live action remake phase” I would be excited to go see it especially with Jon Favreau at the helm (who if you remember directed the excellent Jungle Book remake).

Was this live action silver anniversary every bit as good as the original or was it just a soulless cash grab?

The story for The Lion King is, unfortunately, very disappointing. You know what the very best of these Disney remakes are? The Jungle Book, this year’s Aladdin and Maleficent. Why? Because the former two took the same stories as the originals but added new plot elements which makes the movies similar yet new and completely different while the latter was a brand new tale altogether. The Lion King, for whatever reason, decides to blow it’s massive budget and talent on telling the same story yet again. The story follows the same beats even going as far as to remake the same shots and cinematography and save for a few lines of dialogue and one or two new scenes it’s pretty much the same movie all over again. Granted, the idea of a younger generation experiencing this movie on the big screen with new film making technology is a logical explanation but it’s still lazy and disappointing to see this. It isn’t bad at all, It’s The Lion King of course the story is still going to be good, of course the emotional moments are still going to hurt, of course the comedy is still going to pull a laugh, but what is the point of going through all this time, work and mass amounts of money just to tell the same story again with little to no new elements or input? Just a few tweaks here and there and it’s a different movie but instead it’s the same movie but with a fresh coat of paint.  The characters for The Lion King are good but only because they’re the same

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characters as before I find it difficult to discuss the characters of The Lion King because they’re the same exact characters they were twenty five years ago. They have the same dialogue, the same characteristics and the same development.

Granted they’re still great characters there’s no mistaking that, however like the story what is the point of making a new film if you’re just going to do the same thing again.

Granted two characters stood out very much, one bad and the other good: Scar and Shenzi. Scar is the same villain once again and to me that’s a colossal problem.

One thing I would love to see from these live action remakes is new, original takes on the villains such as seeing Maleficent from a sympathetic angle or Jafar with some backstory and different reasons to conquer the kingdom. Scar is a character who could have easily been spun as tragic and sympathetic character, give him new motivations to get the throne make him feel guilty about his action heck make him care about Simba and be conflicted with what he has to do. But no. It’s just Scar yet again though this time he comes off as far less intimidating as he’s been given a lankier, weaker build and is clearly not in control of the hyenas. Speaking of which, the only character to actually get any kind of update is Shenzi. Initially a comedic goon she is now a secondary antagonist being the leader of the hyenas. Shenzi is cruel and intimidating and I found myself finding her to be a far more interesting and effective villain then Scar. It’s clear she’s the one in control, she’s the one with all the power and could crush Scar easily and without a second thought.

That coupled with a brief line of dialogue about how hyenas and lions have been at war for years could have made for a grand and interesting villain. Instead it’s the same old bit once again.  For a change acting for The Lion King is different and excellent with a few exceptions.

JD McCrary and Donald Glover both do wonderfully as Simba. Both manage to make the performance their own and bring the character to life in their own way, not to mention their musical numbers were very much spot on and done very well.

Beyonce Knowles does very well as Nala.

She works well with Glover and manages to blend in perfectly with her role seeming almost unrecognizable.

Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner practically steal the show as Timon and Pumbaa. The two have excellent chemistry together, nail their jokes perfectly and were all around just made for a fun and immensely entertaining time. Every last second with the two is a sheer delight and I could not think of a better duo to have taken these roles.

Florence Kasumba is positively frightening as Shenzi. Every single line she delivers is cold and cruel, she lets her threats roll off her tongue, it is a truly menacing and mesmerizing performance and only makes me wish more that Shenzi was the lead villain.

Keegan-Michael Key and Eric Andre are both very humorous as Kamari and Azizi (the updated Banzai and Ed). Though they aren’t around much they still work very well together and do manage to have some truly humorous and memorable moments.

John Oliver is fantastic as Zazu though it wasn’t what I was expecting. I imagined Oliver being as loud and boisterous as Rowan Atkinson was but instead he’s more often subdued though he has his own energetic and loud moments. It was a fun performance and another that was fun in every scene though I still wish he got as excited as Zazu as he would be about a Japanese mascot.

Lastly we come to James Earl Jones as Mufasa and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar and unfortunately they are the weak links in the cast. I was beyond excited for Jones to return to his role and while it was a different performance it wasn’t particularly good. It was so odd, he came off as stilted as if he were merely reading his lines off a cue card with as little care or passion as possible.

It was jarring and disappointing to hear.

Ejiofor reminded me of Idris Elba as Shere Khan in The Jungle Book. Elba took that performance and made it different, playing Khan as cold, calculating and outwardly violent rather then sarcastic, playful and subtle. It was different and as such he made a familiar villain new again. Ejiofor seems to be mimicking Elba as his performance came off as very similar though without the dread and menace behind each word. He too came off as awkward and stilted. In his case, however, I don’t blame him too much as he

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was given little to work with. Had Scar been re-imagined Ejiofor could have given a better performance.  The effects for The Lion King are truly beautiful.

I have seen many people harp on the effects for this film. Many, many, many people.

Their problem is the film’s approach to making every thing photo realistic and that means making the characters move and act like actual animals rather then cartoons.

It’s an interesting approach and one that I personally didn’t mind much but the main problem people take is that the characters don’t emote. There isn’t much in terms of facial expressions and yes at times it can be pretty distracting as the way the characters look never matches up with how they sound. However, this isn’t some massive sin that brings the entire film down and it has become irksome to hear others say that no facial emotions means the effects are bad.

Because guess what? They’re still fantastic.

The characters look almost perfectly real, some more the others (it was a while before I was convinced Pumbaa wasn’t an actual warthog) and the fit into the real landscapes perfectly. It’s also fascinating to see remade scenes with the new technology and though it is annoying to see the same thing again I couldn’t help but feel drawn in by how well the effects were done. It really is a beautiful film to look at and even though it is just a fresh coat of paint over something familiar it’s still a fine coat of paint.  Lastly the music for The Lion King is done rather well.

The songs from the original are brought back and mostly are remade rather well. They still sound good and thanks to the different performers have a different and almost unique feel to them. The instrumentals are also done beautifully and make for a very pleasing and exciting movie going experience. I wish I could say the same for the this film’s rendition of my favorite song Be Prepared which is very short and sung with little energy or care by Ejiofor.

Final Thoughts: The Lion King isn’t a perfect film. It’s the same story we’ve already been told and the same characters we already know. Be that as it may it isn’t a bad film. It’s still the good film it was before, the acting is mostly excellent, the effects are gorgeous, the music is done beautifully and it’s all around an entertaining film. It’s a nice way to spend a summer afternoon especially with your family. If you have kids take them to see this so you can experience this film together and make your own memories. And of course be thankful there’s no new The Santa Clause.

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ENDNO TE S

AFRICA UMOJA The Spirit

As the Lion King continues to break box office records, another story that celebrates the African continent and its unbreakable spirit is set to arrive in South Florida. AFRICA UMOJA, The Spirit of Togetherness, sponsored

by Aetna and benefiting The Embrace Girls Foundation, Inc., will premiere for a two-week celebration during Black History Month. Opening Tuesday, February 25, 2020 the production will run, at the Miramar Cultural Arts Center, until March 8, 2020.

“All children should have access to opportunities that will help them thrive academically and socially.

The Embrace Girls Foundation fills this need in underserved and low-income communities, ensuring that the students they serve are exposed to important and meaningful academic, wellness and enrichment programs,” said Richard Weiss, Aetna’s market president in Florida. “Aetna is proud to support this organization, while building on our longstanding commitment to celebrate black history.”

Conceived by Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni and produced

by Joe Theron, Africa Umoja was developed to educate a new generation of South Africans about their rich heritage and the power of unity (Umoja is the Swahili word for unity) by showcasing the glory days of South African music and dance, that persisted even during the country’s hardships. However, the show has become much more than either of its founders could ever have imagined, dazzling audiences and receiving standing ovations and breathtaking reviews in more than 50 countries across the globe over the last two decades.

Fueled by history, the cast of 33 young adults are arguably South Africa’s most versatile and dynamic singers, dancers and drummers, drawn from the myriad of cultures that compose their rural worlds. The production will feature traditional love songs, lullabies, and internationally acclaimed choreography that narrates in passionate song and dance the moving tale of love and community that helped Black South Africans triumph during some of their country’s stormiest passages.

Audiences will experience life in

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townships through authentic tribal dancing, joyous gospel singing, explosive drumming and heartfelt performances in an exciting tribute to South Africa and the Zulu heritage. Africa Umoja also celebrates South Africa’s freedom and democracy through a tribute to Nelson Mandela. The production includes the song “Long Road to Freedom,” which was written in Mandela’s honor and performed to visuals of Mandela in jail on Robin Island and his release from Poslmor Prison in 1990. In addition, there is a jaw-dropping tribute to America’s civil rights legend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Africa Umoja carries the audience on a musical journey right up to “Kwaito,” the equivalent of American hip-hop in culture, fashion and expression that is the dynamic club climate of South Africa today.

The authentic pride spilling off the stage is utterly irresistible and a refreshing change to the norm of manufactured performances. Africa Umoja is a pulsating celebration of Black History from then until now, telling a story that every family anywhere can embrace.

The Miramar Cultural Arts Center is located at 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar, Florida 33025. Multiple performances are

of

Togetherness

scheduled as follows:  Evening performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:00 P.M.;  Matinee performances are Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 P.M.;  Group Performances Booked at www.embracegirlpower.org include:  Educational Student performances @ 10:00 AM designated days;  Senior performances @ 10:00 AM designated days.  Weekends from 11am – 3pm the Miramar Cultural Arts Center will be transformed into the Africa Umoja Family Fun Village featuring free master classes, backstage tours, food, accessories, art vendors, and family friendly games and activities.

All seats are reserved. Tickets are VIP Opening Night Gala: $100, $75 and $50; Weekday Nights: $60, $50, $25; Weekend Nights: $75, $65, $40; Educational Student Days: $15; Senior Days: $15.

For ticket information call the Miramar Cultural Arts Box Office at 954-602-4500 or visit www. miramarculturalartscenter. org, www.embracegirlpower. org or www.ticketmaster.com.

Founded in 2001 in Miami, Florida The Embrace Girls Foundation,

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Inc., is committed to providing academic, social, cultural and life skills enrichment to at risk elementary and middle school age girls and providing a place where they learn to be healthy, confident and ambitious young ladies who strive for academic excellence and service before self www. embracegirlpower.org.

Aetna, a CVS Health company, serves an estimated 38 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, parttime and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, governmentsponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

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THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET BLAZER DRIVING HBCU TALENT INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

TYLA BARNES

SHARON JOY WASHINGTON

MIANA MASSEY

TEDARIUS ABRAMS

EMANI NICHOLS

ELAE C. HILL

DTU FELLOW 2019

DTU FELLOW 2019

DTU FELLOW 2019

DTU FELLOW 2019

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DTU FELLOW 2019

Follow these DTU Journalism Fellows through their summer internships.

See the stories they’ve uncovered at nnpa.org/chevydtu. @ChevroletDTU

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August 22, 2019 - August 28, 2019

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