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ENLIGHTEN. ENCOURAGE. EMPOWER.
Q2
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
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ENLIGHTEN. ENCOURAGE. EMPOWER. QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Message from Tavis Hello friends! It has truly been a very busy year so far, but I’m not complaining. Poverty is a priority for me and I plan to continue to use my platforms to raise awareness and encourage change. There’s a lot going on here at The Smiley Group, Inc. that addresses the issue of poverty. We’ve completed two symposiums this year that focused on the holistic view of poverty and the growing subgroup of women and children who are falling into poverty. My dear friend Dr. Cornel West and I have a new book, titled The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, now available in stores. In addition to the book, we will visit several cities across the country to discuss the book and dialogue with you. I’m very proud of the current Black Enterprise magazine feature that focuses on my company and our work. At The Smiley Group, Inc. we work hard to make America better. If you have a chance, check out the article and let me know your thoughts.
Keep listening, keep watching, and as always, keep the faith!
Tavis
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We had an eclectic mix of guests this past quarter on Tavis Smiley.
Steve Martin, the multitalented comedian, actor, musician, and author discussed his latest book, The Ten, Make That Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten, and even played a tune from his Grammy-nominated bluegrass CD, Rare Bird Alert.
Actor and producer Don Cheadle discussed Showtime’s House of Lies.
Sinéad O’Connor talked about her new CD, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
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The King of Otuam, Ghana and co-author of King Peggy paid us a visit. She discussed the changes she’s made to her home village since becoming its first female ruler, and shared the impact she has had on young girls.
We continued to shed light on poverty during Women’s History Month with an all-woman panel, entitled “Made Visible: Women, Children & Poverty in America.” Panelists included: Nely Galán, founder, The Adelante Movement; Cecelia FireThunder, former president, Oglala Sioux Tribe; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, economist and president, Bennett College; Faye Wattleton, former national president of Planned Parenthood; Suze Orman, America’s leading authority on personal finance; Hilda Solis, 25th United States secretary of labor; Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers; and Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer and co-author of Half the Sky with New York Times columnist Nicolas Kristoff.
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Award-winning writer-producers David E. Kelley and Matthew Weiner stopped by to discuss their latest projects.
David E. Kelley discusses Harry’s Law
Matthew Weiner on the return of Mad Men.
Three of America’s leading health experts, Dr. Steven Nissen, Dr. Marc Gillinov, and Dr. Otis Brawley joined us for our “Road to Health” series.
Dr. Steven Nissen (L) and Dr. Marc Gillinov (R) discuss their latest text, Heart 411.
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Cancer expert Dr. Otis Brawley discusses his provocative new book, How We Do Harm.
I’ll let you in on a secret. I will have a very special guest sit in for me two nights this month. I’ll give you a hint...he is a pioneer in the world of talk television. Okay...one more hint—he was the King before Oprah became the Queen. Can you guess who? Stay tuned to Tavis Smiley during April to find out. Lastly, my dear friend Dr. Cornel West and I have written our first book together entitled, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto. The book will be in stores this month and we are hitting the road for a book tour. For more info, please visit www.therichandtherestofus.com. I hope to see you on the road and remember…keep the faith!
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Where’s Tavis? Rewind... The recent Indiana University white paper revealed the largest sub-group of Americans falling into poverty is women and children. To better understand this sad truth, I convened an all-star panel of women to dissect and discuss solutions on how to solve this issue. The panelists for this powerful conversation included: Nely Galán, founder, The Adelante Movement; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, economist and president, Bennett College; Suze Orman, America’s leading authority on personal finance; Hilda Solis, 25th United States secretary of labor; Cecelia FireThunder, former president, Oglala Sioux Tribe; Faye Wattleton, former national president of Planned Parenthood; Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer and co-author of Half the Sky with New York Times columnist Nicolas Kristoff. Each panelist offered candid thoughts on the issue of women and children in poverty. Below are a few thoughts from the panelists:
Cecelia FireThunder “Many federal programs may look good but when you actually implement [them], it makes it difficult to use the programs.” Hilda Solis “Women have been stagnant in terms of wages. There’s still a gap, like eighty cents on the dollar for male, seventy cents for African Americans, and sixty cents, probably wider, for Native Americans...Now is not the time to take away the safety net.” Faye Wattleton “Women still do not have first-class citizenship in our society.”
Randi Weingarten “Early childhood programs have a rate of return on investment of seven dollars for every one dollar you invest in early childhood.”
If you missed the conversation, you can watch it at www.tavistalks.com/womenandchildren.
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Where’s Tavis? Looking ahead... America I AM: The African American Imprint exhibit will appear in Charlotte, North Carolina, at The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture beginning Saturday, June 30, and will continue through Tuesday, January 1, 2013. This is the last year for the four-year exhibition. If you live in North Carolina, are planning a family vacation to the beautiful state, or simply live nearby, I encourage you to go experience and celebrate the five hundred years of African American contribution to America. Here are just a few of the artifacts you will see in the exhibit:
The Guitar Prince used in the 2007 Super Bowl halftime performance.
Actress Helen Hunt had this to say about the exhibit: “An unparalleled opportunity to walk through Black history, American history, and human history.”
Be sure to check TavisTalks.com for my upcoming events and engagements. I would love to personally shake your hand.
The doors to the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana (Doors of no Return)
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from PRI The Tavis Smiley Show is a high-energy exchange of views, information, and insight. The one-hour weekly show offers a unique blend of news and newsmakers in expanded conversations, along with feature reports and regular commentators. Here are some highlights from the program so far this spring: (click photos to hear the interview) President Jimmy Carter Author of NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter
NBA legend and author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Author of the new children’s book, What Color is My World: The Lost History of African-American Inventors
Made Visible: Women, Children and Poverty in America
Musician BeBe Winans Album America, America
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from PRI As we approach the 2012 presidential elections, you can expect The Tavis Smiley Show to stay on top of what’s happening in the world of politics and how it will affect everyday Americans. To check your local listings and for broadcast times go to www.tavissmileyradio.com. Until then, thanks for listening and as always... keep the faith!
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from PRI Poverty Tour Redux All this month, Smiley & West will remember The Poverty Tour from last summer. Our new book, The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, recalls much of the journey and shares more stories from the courageous and resilient Americans we met along the way. Famed talk-show host Phil Donahue will briefly come out of retirement for a conversation about our new book on Smiley & West on the weekend of April 13th. Plus, we’ll check in with a few of those we met during the Poverty Tour. For those who missed the original Poverty Tour edition of Smiley & West or want to hear it again, go to www. smileyandwest.com U.S. vs FINLAND U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Pasi Sahlberg from Finland’s Ministry of Education gave West a chance to compare and contrast the two school systems. Listen to both of their conversations as well as an in-depth follow-up debate on our Take ’Em to Task segment. Secretary Arne Duncan conversation Pasi Sahlberg conversation Take ‘Em to Task education segment
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from PRI Upcoming Guests We’ll be celebrating the 99% this spring with more provocative conversations and music for the movement. Join us as we welcome Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale, world-renowned jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson, Princeton economist Paul Krugman, composers Alan & Marilyn Bergman, and Tony Kushner, writer of Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Lincoln. What famous TV theme song did Alan & Marilyn Bergman write? The answer is in this clip. Be sure to check out our new Smiley & West website on April 13. We’re also launching our Smiley & West membership, which will allow you more access to us while benefiting Feeding America.
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In 2010, we were excited by the addition of writer-director-entertainer Rick Najera to HQSB’s exclusive roster of talent. In a press release announcing the addition, Rick expressed that he was honored to be the first Mexican-American speaker to join the ranks of Cornel West, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Tricia Rose, and myself. Rick not only brings ethnic diversity to the team, but he also brings a diversity of thought: a way of challenging audiences to see things from a different perspective. Having married an Anglo wife of Irish descent, and now rearing bilingual children, Rick has a family that is a sterling reflection of America’s diversity. Yet Rick is unapologetically proud of his Mexican heritage and the inherent qualities that this heritage affords. Take Rick’s commitment to community for example. For the past seven years, Rick has produced, directed, and written for the annual CBS Diversity Showcase, which exposes underrepresented minority actors and writers to some of the powerful and influential executives in film and television. His hard work and dedication to the program has helped launch the careers of a number of minority talent who otherwise would continue to be overlooked for key roles in quality programming.
Moreover, Rick is proud of the strong work ethic that has been bequeathed to him. Rick often jokes, “My father fought for our country in WWII...then in Vietnam ju st for the overtime.” Although Rick’s statement is in jest, a great deal of truth lies therein. Just last month, Rick nearly lost his life after suffering a traumatic blow to the head when he passed out in his home due to an undiagnosed bout with pneumonia. He was admitted to ICU where he lay unconscious for several days. Three weeks later, after what physicians called “a miraculous recovery,” Rick was on a plane to Washington, D.C. to keep his promise to deliver an entertaining performance for the employees of the World Bank during their Annual Diversity Celebration. The audience roared as Rick gave them a comedic peek at America through the eyes of a Hollywood insider, and their hearts were warmed by his visit after learning of Rick’s traumatic experience that took place just weeks prior. I am highlighting Rick Najera in this quarter’s newsletter because of his dedication, his commitment to excellence, and (most importantly) his will to live.
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This is the very mission that drives the work that we do at HQSB: to lend a platform to the many diverse voices such as Rick Najera’s; to introduce people to one another; to expand our horizons; and to challenge the assumptions that we hold about ourselves, each other, and the world we live in.
excellence, and (most importantly) his will to live.
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Tavis Smiley Foundation brings parent program to Chicago and Memphis The Tavis Smiley Foundation will bring its Too Important to Fail Parent Education Summit program to Chicago and Memphis in April to encourage parents to be champions for their children’s education. The Chicago stop will be April 14, from 9 am – 3 pm at John M. Smyth Magnet School, 1059 W. 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608. You can register at http://www.rsvpbook.com/ChicagoSummit. The Memphis program will be held from 9 am – 3 pm Saturday, April 21 at World Overcomers Outreach Ministry Church, 6655 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38116. You can register at http://www.rsvpbook.com/ MemphisSummit. Hundreds of parents have been inspired by this dynamic informational program, which has visited Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Philadelphia since October 2011. Registration is free and participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Advance on-line registration is requested; however, some on-site registration will be available if space permits. The Foundation launched this initiative in 2011 to inform parents about strategies they can use at home to aid their children’s school performance. Parents of students in all grade levels are welcome to attend—especially those with children in elementary and middle schools, which are critical development years that can determine whether or not a child will graduate high school. Parents will have a chance to attend three of eight workshops offered that focus on eight topics experts believe are keys to learning success. They include the impacts of absenteeism, summer learning, and the important role fathers and mentors play for boys. The sponsors of the program include Open Society Foundations, Hyundai, the National Education Association, and Microsoft. The tour’s final stops will be in Houston and metropolitan Washington, D.C. in May. For more information visit www.youthtoleaders.org.
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Spring is a great season for feeding your mind and your spirit with inspiring and life-changing ideas. So, I was particularly pleased during the East Coast’s early spring to have the pleasure of speaking at the National Black Writers Conference (NBWC) at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY, hosted by Dr. Brenda Greene. As an avid reader, committed writer, veteran broadcaster, publisher, and, most importantly, as an unapologetic LOVER of books, it was a special thrill to be a part of this annual homage to our literary heritage and to celebrate both literary icons as well as emerging writers. At the beginning of my presentation on “Books, Media, and Culture,” where I was interviewed by the brilliant journalist and WBAI radio host, Esther Armah, I shared a 13-minute reel featuring some of the outstanding authors who I’ve been blessed to interview on both my TV and radio shows—including Harry Belafonte, Edwidge Danticat, Pico Iyer, Michelle Alexander, Holly and Rodney Peete, Nikki Giovanni, and Isabel Wilkerson. Just in case you miss the C-SPAN broadcast of the NBWC, I’d like to share this slice of my presentation with you. Hopefully after viewing these clips, you will begin to see why books are so essential, not only to me but to our culture. Books are one of my deepest passions, and that’s the reason why SmileyBooks is committed to supporting Black writers and readers, so we can fulfill our mission to publish books that will enlighten, empower, and encourage YOU!
Press the image above to watch Tavis’ presentation at the 2012 National Black Writers Conference
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Before I detail our exciting 10-city The Rich and the Rest of Us Tour, I want to show some love and deep appreciation to two authors whose book is truly transforming lives. Eleanor Hinton Hoytt and Hillary Beard concluded their successful 9-city national tour for Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide during Women’s History Month. These trailblazers were met with tremendous enthusiasm and gratitude across the country as Black women everywhere, especially the hundreds that showed up at events in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston, took those essential first steps in learning how to make health their number one priority. At the conclusion of the tour, Health First! was featured in The Washington Post’s national series on Black women. Health First! can be purchased on both Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. For more information visit www.blackwomenshealthfirst.com. Iyanla Vanzant, another amazing woman who inspires folks to ‘change their lives,’ returned to national television in a big way in March! First, she inspired viewers on The Wendy Williams Show and on TV One’s Washington Watch with Roland Martin, discussing her #1 New York Times bestseller Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through. Then Iyanla joined Oprah Winfrey in St. Louis, Missouri, for OWN’s “Oprah’s Lifeclass - the Tour.”
Iyanla also joined her enthusiastic fans in Philadelphia and Chicago at two well-attended lecture and booksigning events. Be sure to purchase your trade paperback copy of Peace from Broken Pieces at your local Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.com. You can stay in touch with Iyanla Vanzant on Twitter: @Iyanla Vanzant and on Facebook: Iyanla Vanzant.
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POVERTY THREATENS OUR DEMOCRACY Speaking of women, as you read earlier in this newsletter, the numbers of women and children living below or at near-poverty levels are increasing dramatically. And if you’ve been watching Tavis Smiley on PBS or listening to either The Tavis Smiley Show or Smiley & West, both from PRI, then you know that ending poverty is a very important issue to me. So I invite you to join my dear and abiding friend and co-host of Smiley & West, Cornel West and I on our national 10-city tour for our very first book together —The Rich and the Rest of Us. Together, we take the “P” word—poverty—dead on and unmask the “Top Ten Lies About Poverty,” and empower folks like yourself to consider our “12 Poverty-Changing Ideas.” Dr. West and I hope that this thought-provoking book will help folks re-examine their assumptions about poverty in America—what it really is and how to eradicate it. In fact, at the beginning of the tour on Monday, April 16th, we’re joining forces with Google for a special LIVE online chat broadcast straight from their headquarters! To find out more information about our Google event or when and where we’re coming to a city near you, be sure to view the Rich and the Rest of Us Tour flyer, and check out www.therichandtherestofus.com for additional information! You will want to stay plugged in to this movement by keeping up with Dr. West and me at: @TavisSmiley and @CornelWest on Twitter, and on Facebook: Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West. We’ll also be using #TheRichandtheRest as our hashtag. Social media is definitely the place to be for the latest news, images, and LIVE tweets from the tour! For additional information on all of SmileyBooks’ latest releases, visit www.smileybooks.com.