BlackGirlTravel.com 2011 Tour Destinations

Fleacé Weaver organizes tour groups for Black women to Italy and other destinations.
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) -- Fleacé Weaver, savvy founder of BlackGirlTravel.com, is traveling all expenses paid to Milan, Italy on Thursday, February 17, by special invitation of the Italian government. Weaver will be discussing ways to grow her popular Italian tours. Currently her tours contribute over $500,000 annually to the Italian economy. Widely known as the "Pied Piper of African American Female Travel," Weaver, a former runway model, has taken tour groups to Italy and other destinations since 2006. Her mission is to expose black women to the beauty of the world, and the world to the beauty of black women: a group she affectionately refers to as her "Fly Girls" and the "traveling sisterhood."
Current destinations with spaces still available in 2011 include two Luxury Tours: "April in Paris" and South Africa (November), and several Mid-Range Tours: "Bella Takes Rome" (Rome/Amsterdam - June), "Under the Tuscan Sun" (Florence/Chianti/Venice - June), "Girls Gone Mild" (South Beach/Jamaica – December), and the signature tour, "Bella Italia" (Venice/Naples/Pompeii/Capri/Sorrento – September). Visit BlackGirlTravel.com for more destinations and details.
In her book, Don't Bring Home a White Boy published by Simon & Schuster, Karyn Langhorne Folan writes about BlackGirlTravel.com: "I think Nikki Doughty said it best: for what we spend in shoes, we could have an experience that completely changes the way we see ourselves and what we know about the wide world..." (p. 228). A comment to Weaver by a member of the Italian Department of Tourism affirms this: "You are such a passion; kudos for making your program so successful. You connect to Italy and your girls connect to our country through your passion."
Of course, Weaver agrees. "I think it's important that everyone starts thinking globally. When you start traveling outside of the States, it opens up your mind and options. Through international travel I have learned to think more globally by questioning my belief system and the cultural influences of the United States. I know have a better sense of who I am as a citizen of the world. It is okay to think differently, and I want more black women to experience this."
Weaver anticipates a productive trip to Milan and great results that will benefit both her travelers and the people of Italy. Her entrepreneurial pursuits include BlackWeekly.com, which boasts more than 32,000 members in the greater Los Angeles area, and Sistas Without Borders, a non-profit organization that benefits the children of destinations where she travels.
For more information, visit www.BlackGirlTravel.com. Photos are available at www.BlackGirlTravel.com/mediaphotos.


 

The ultimate parade of church hats

	Register today on KentuckyDerbyParty.com to enter the “Bring the Derby Home!” Sweepstakes and you could win the ultimate Kentucky Derby Party for 20 of your closest friends.

If you plan to be in NYC this week

Check out art in march / nycgo.com

Quote of the day

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
-Unknown author

Quote of the day

"It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it."
-Dale Carnegie

Servin' Up Some Soul at Urban Mosaic

Thrift store finds

In my recent travels I've found some really awesome, and incredibly priced items at Cleveland area thrift stores.  Here are some of my favorites, not necessarily in order of preference:

1. Hospice Resale Shop - 5139 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst (440) 442-2621 "Good-Bye Winter clothing sale" Monday, February 28 - Saturday, March 5.  Nice selection of shoes, clothing, and housewares, but also found great deals on sporting goods.
2. Refurnishings - 5125 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst, OH (440) 720-0400.  Upscale home furnishings fairly priced; nice jewelry selection.
3. The Gathering Place thrift event - 4911 Commerce Parkway, Warrensville Hts. (off Miles, east of Richmond) (216) 595-9546 Saturday, February 26 10 am - 4 pm

Quote of the day

"We will go before God to be judged, and God will ask us, 'Where are your wounds?' And we will say, 'We have no wounds.'  And God will ask, 'Was nothing worth fighting for?'"
-Rev. Allan Boesak

Healing a Wounded Credit Score

February 18, 2011

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

Millions of consumers have fallen out of favor with the credit scoring gods.
Some lost their jobs or were just overwhelmed by mounting debt. Others got caught up in the real estate bubble or had major medical bills. Whatever the reason, the rising number of foreclosures, short sales, late credit card payments and the ultimate credit sin — bankruptcies — have left black marks on credit reports most everywhere.
So what can these people do to repair their credit?
The simple answer is to focus on the information that is used to generate the all-powerful FICO score — the measure used most frequently by traditional lenders to determine creditworthiness. Its scale runs from 300 points to 850 points; the higher the score, the better your credit standing. “FICO is still the 500-pound gorilla,” said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. “In 2011, the best way to get credit from the mainstream lenders is to have a good FICO score.”
Consumers can hope that the banks will eventually consider alternatives to the traditional FICO score, which was developed by Fair Isaac Corporation and has been in wide use for about two decades. After all, as banks regain their appetite for lending, they will be looking for ways to differentiate between borrowers with the same scores, some of whom are temporarily struggling and others who chronically have trouble with money.
For now, though, the FICO score reigns. The best antidote to a poor score is time. Still, there are a half dozen ways to speed the process, or, at the least, avoid even more credit trouble.  To view the complete article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/19/your-money/19money.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha25&pagewanted=print

Tri-C JazzFest April 28-May 8, 2011

Featuring a couple of my favorite artists Trombone Shorty and Smokey Robinson.  For complete schedule go to http://www.tricpresents.com/

2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival featuring Mavis Staples, Bootsy Collins & the Funk University, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Dr John and the Original Meters

June 9 - 12, 2011 in Manchester, Tennessee

BONNAROO 2011 TICKETS ARE ON-SALE NOW. http://www.bonnaroo.com/tickets/ticket-info.aspx
Price Level 1 - $209.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT via Holiday Pre-Sale
Price Level 2 - $224.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT
Price Level 3 - $234.50 plus applicable fees - SOLD OUT
Price Level 4 - $249.50 plus applicable fees

Price Level 2 and Price Level 3 are available in very limited quantities. Once each price level is sold out, tickets will continue to be sold at Price Level 4, while supplies last.

All tickets are 4-day festival tickets (Thursday through Sunday), which include camping and parking.  RVs and other oversized vehicles require a VIP RV upgrade pass. See below for more information.

Want to buy now and pay later?  Check out the Bonnaroo General Admission Payment Plan.

Complete 2011 Artist line-up: Eminem Arcade Fire Widespread Panic The Black Keys Buffalo Springfield feat Richie Furay, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Rick Rosas, Joe Vitale My Morning Jacket Lil Wayne String Cheese Incident Robert Plant & Band of Joy Mumford & Sons The Strokes The Decemberists Ray Lamontagne Bassnectar Iron & Wine Girl Talk Primus Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas Pretty Lights Florence + the Machine Superjam ft. Dan Auerbach and Dr. John Explosions in the Sky STS9 Gogol Bordello Beirut Big Boi Gregg Allman Ratatat Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz Robyn Warren Haynes Band Deerhunter Opeth Atmosphere Old Crow Medicine Show Bootsy Collins & the Funk University Wiz Khalifa Matt & Kim Grace Potter & the Nocturnals The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Mavis Staples Béla Fleck & the Flecktones Chiddy Bang Jovanotti Bruce Hornsby & the NoisemakersLoretta Lynn Cold War Kids The Walkmen Devotchka Wanda Jackson Neon Trees Portugal. The Man Sleigh Bells Amos Lee Best Coast Dãm-Funk & Master Blazter The SwordThe Drums The Black Angels School of Seven Bells J. Cole Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea Wavves !!! Junip Freelance Whales Justin Townes Earle Ryan Bingham Deer Tick Band of Skulls Sharon Van Etten Abigail Washburn Omar Souleyman Twin Shadow Kylesa Man Man The Low Anthem Alberta Cross Railroad Earth Jessica Lea Mayfield Smith Westerns The Head and the Heart Karen Elson Beats Antique 22-20s Phosphorescent Clare MaGuire Hayes Carll

- Lineup Subject to Change -

Quote of the day

2/21/2011
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes."
-Charles Swindoll, Thinkexist.com

Quote of the day

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
 -Buddha

Quote of the day

"Take care of your character, then your reputation will take care of itself"
-Unknown author

PND - RFPs Scholarships Available to Attend Harvard Business School Nonprofit Management Course

PND - RFPs Scholarships Available to Attend Harvard Business School Nonprofit Management Course

OSCAR MICHEAUX INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL - Call for submissions

The inaugural Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, sponsored by New Works Writers Series (NEW WORKS), is now accepting submissions for the event taking place April 29-30, 2011 in Toledo, Ohio. NEW WORKS is accepting submissions of independent features, shorts, narratives and documentary films made by or about people of African descent.
Eligibility:
Filmmakers need not be of African descent, in order to participate, but films should depict positive images of subject matter related to African descendants and their experiences. Genres may include drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental. Christian/spiritual-themed films are welcome.
Competition:
NEW WORKS competition categories are: Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary (short or feature length) and Best Narrative Short.
Submission Fees:
Submissions must be accompanied by a $25 fee payable to New Works Writers Series. The submission deadline is March 25, 2011. Late submissions (postmarked after March 25, 2011) require a $40 submission fee. Mail submissions in the form of a DVD or video screener (NTSC or PAL – no mini-DVs or Betas) to Oscar Micheaux Independent Film Festival, P.O. Box 141216, Toledo, Ohio, 43614.
Application:
A signed and completed application with publicity materials must be submitted with the film. Applications can be downloaded from http://www.newworkswritersseries.org/ or requested by emailing filmfestival@newworkswritersseries.org.Entry Confirmation:
If you want confirmation that  NEW WORKS has received your entry, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard.
Please send duplicates of your film. NEW WORKS does not guarantee any return of material submitted for competition. NEW WORKS will not be responsible for cassettes or DVD's lost or damaged in the mail, and NEW WORKS will not accept submission fees for films that cannot be viewed due to prior damage.
Selection results will be announced after April 1, 2011.

House Party bareMinerals® Skincare Get the Famous Glow House Party™

House Party bareMinerals® Skincare Get the Famous Glow House Party™

Calling local African-American clothing, jewelry, accessory, and shoe designers

Showcase your Spring/Summer collections at the Urban Mosaic Art House & Gallery during March & April.  Please contact via urbanmosaicgallery@gmail.com for interest and to receive further information.

PND - RFPs Joyce Awards Program Offers Support for Midwest Cultural Groups to Commission New Works by Artists of Color

PND - RFPs Joyce Awards Program Offers Support for Midwest Cultural Groups to Commission New Works by Artists of Color

This week's workshops and seminars

Wednesday, February 16
Finding Grants for Business, Workshop I ($20)
Urban League of Greater Cleveland
2930 Prospect Ave
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Contact: Gwen Solomon (216) 622-0999 x232
_________________________________________________
Thursday, February 17
Small Business Administration loan seminar (FREE)
SBA Cleveland District Office
1350 Euclid Ave, Suite 211
10 a.m. - Noon
Limited seating - call (216) 522-4180

February 1 - Black History

February 1

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On Feb. 1, 1960, four black college students began a sit-in protest at a lunch counter in Greensboro, N.C., where they'd been refused service.
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On Feb. 1, 1902, Langston Hughes, the American poet and prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance , was born. Following his death on May 22 , 1967, his obituary appeared in The Times.