WSSN Stories

Akilah C. Thompson

By Akilah C. Thompson

Social media is one of the most powerful forms of communication teens and adults use today.  Here are some tips to help you use social media safely and effectively.

1.     Respect yourself.  ­  Show off how great you are with class. You are a brand and should represent yourself accordingly on social media.  Make sure your photos are appropriate.  Do not post or text photos of yourself naked, dressed provocatively, or making obscene gestures. Avoid uploading anything you would not want your grandmother to see on the front cover of the New York Times! Social media plays a major role in building and ruining personal images. Be wise! 

2.     Post with positivity – Keep it cool! If you don¹t have anything good to say, don¹t post. Avoid ranting or arguing with people on social media and posting when you¹re upset. You may be upset with your mom but it would be very disrespectful to share your anger with the world. What do you think college recruiters or future employers might think about you disrespecting your mother on social media?  No Bueno!  Share positivity and good vibes on the web.

3.     No ³twerking² videos please! ­ Just because you see a trend starting on social media, doesn¹t mean it is something you should do. Do not post videos that portray negative images of you, your friends or family involving profanity, sex, nudity, crime, drugs, discrimination, violence, lewd gestures, or anything that could be offensive to the public. Keep your video posts kid friendly. You don¹t want a video of you intoxicated and ³twerking² inappropriately with friends to surface while you are campaigning for President in 20 years.  Definitely not a good idea!

4.     Know your followers ­ Allowing strangers to follow you can be very dangerous. Even if their account looks harmless, be aware that there are many fake accounts where creeps follow their prey. If you don¹t know them, ignore them and don¹t let them follow you. Also, use privacy settings to protect your accounts from being viewed by strangers. Proceed with caution!

5.     Be careful what you post for likes ­ You don¹t want to end up ³instafamous² for something that could destroy your future.  Keep your posts positive, dignified and smart. Social media is a great way to build a web presence for future endeavors.  Don¹t compromise your future for ³likes² or ³followers.²  Make your mark on the web, the right way!

6.    Play nice ŠDon¹t cyber bully! – No one has the right to harass anyone based on their sex, race, age, orientation, personal beliefs, values, etc. The impact of harassment is heightened and can have deadly consequences when acted out over the Internet. Avoid engaging in cyber brawls on twitter and status face-offs on Facebook. If you have a personal issue with someone, keep it off the Internet. If anyone is saying things about you on social media, report their account and let a relative know.

7.     Think before you post.  – Nothing is ever truly deleted, so be very sure about what you post before you hit the ³post² or ³send² button.   Once you post a picture or a status it is stored on the site¹s server and can normally be retrieved even if you delete it from your profile. So, be smart and post with care for your future!

8.     If you see something, say something! – Report anything inappropriate. Block or un-follow people that post negative comments on your timeline, make you uncomfortable or harass you in any way.

9.     Manage your use wisely ­ Too much of anything can become a bad thing. Is social media keeping you from getting work done? Try putting time limits on your social media usage to make sure it is not impacting your productivity.

10. Don¹t post your every move  – Leave some information to share with your real friends and family over the phone. Your best friend would probably want to know you and your boyfriend broke up before the whole world knows via your relationship status change.  Also be careful sharing info when you are going out of town. You don¹t want to alert a potential burglar that you will be in the Bahamas for a week with your family.

As a teenager it is important that you are aware, informed, and understand the risks that come along with using social media.  Remember to protect yourself, censor what you post, and chose the crowd you associate with wisely.

About Akilah C. Thompson:

Akilah C. Thompson is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of North Carolina A & T State University where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Economics. She is an IRS Enrolled Agent, Certified Life Coach, Licensed Zumba Instructor, and Inspirational Speaker. She is the Founder & CEO of her trademark company ACT Inspires Inc and nonprofit, Generations Inspired Inc. Akilah is also a model, actor, and author. Her life goal is to inspire and empower others to be Ambitious, Courageous & Talented.   For more information, please visit Act Inspires.

Celes King IV

On Saturday, March 15th, 2014, well known community leader, political and civil rights activist, Celes King IV, passed away by heart failure in San Diego.  He was surrounded by family and close friends.

Celes King IV was born in Los Angeles on October 19th, 1943, the first born of legendary Civil Rights leader and Bail Bondsman to the stars, General Celes King III, and Anita Lugo King, internationally respected, delegate to the UN World Conference on the Rights of Women.   As a youth he drove for his father and mother and in this capacity with his sister Teri he was able to participate in their parents hosting of prominent figures from around the world.  After attending Antioch College, Celes IV left the family business, set out on his own and managed several businesses throughout the country before returning to participate in the multi generational family business built around the Celes King Bail Bond companies.  After his return to the fold, the family suffered the loss of both parents and Celes IV then joined with his sister Teri who managed administration of the Bail Bond business internally with Celes IV handling the expediting of external affairs.

It was in this phase that Celes developed into a very effective lobbyist in the course of advocating for several organizations throughout the state including most notably the Congress of Racial Equality of California which had been founded by his father General Celes King, a veteran of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.  Celes IV quickly became a popular and effective operative in the halls of government in both Los Angeles and Sacramento.  He was significantly able to work on both sides of the aisle, relentlessly advocating on behalf of the underserved communities.  Fellow directors of the CORE-CA Board and family recalled Celes frequently saying that his role in Sacramento was to “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

With characteristic determination Celes founded the Family Foundation named after his parents Anita Lugo King and Celes King III.  He was also President and CEO of the King Central Self Development Foundation, The Phoenix Alliance and served on several Boards including the California Black Chamber of Commerce,  Advisory Board of Pacific Oaks College, and the Lillian Mobley Black Health and Education Task Force.

Celes was appointed by, CORE-CA and Kingdom Day Parade Chairman Adrian Dove, to proudly serve as CORE-CA Vice Chairman for Legislative Liaison, Education Policy and the Legal Defense Committees, where despite increasing health challenges he worked relentlessly and effectively on behalf of the community. throughout the state.

It was his close to the family collaborator Dove, who observed that, “Celes IV, the oldest son of a great man was driven to succeed far beyond any ordinary standards in order to righteously fill his father’s shoes by carrying forth the family legacy and taking it even to an extra step forward in every project he undertook.  We are thrilled to now to have witnessed Celes having succeeded”.  His ultimate focus has always been community and family.  His parents’ family motto, “Success is one step behind where you stop.”

Celes King IV, or “Uncle Mike” as children of the family and close friends sometimes refer to him, leaves behind his brother, Tobi, sister Teri, Significant Other Diane Merrifield, First Wife and lifetime friend Ilene, as well as his six children, and six grandchildren.

Services for Celes King, IV will be held March 29th. 11:00 a.m at Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church, 3751 West 54th Street, Los Angeles 90043.

OTHER NOTABLE FACTS:

Preceded in transition by his; Father Celes King III, Mother Anita Lugo King, and Sister Toni King.

Succeeded by: Sister Teri King; Brother Toby King & Wife Terrie; Significant Other: Diane Merrifield, First Wife, lifetime friend and mother of his children; Children: Darcie, Derek, Dana, Danny, Leontyne; Three Nieces and Nephews: Tyia, Tyie, Tyona; Eight Grandchildren; Eight Grand Nieces and Nephews; and a host of friends.

Are Strippers, Drugs, and Money keeping Hip Hop alive? Or, does Hip Hop continue to survive due to its ability to inspire, motivate, and passionately serve as a voice for its fans worldwide? Has Hip Hop been over commercialized? Has its message been lost in all the money it generates? Are there smaller genres of Hip Hop that still embody the true nature of the musical movement? Is Hip Hop truly an expression of freedom of speech for a generation? From NWA and censorship to Common and Fox News, for a number of decades Hip Hop has taken on more than its fair share of criticism. Yet, after 40 years since its creation, a plethora of questions still remain.

In order to answer some of the most complex questions about Hip Hop, Dr. Niama T. Malachi orchestrated a dynamic study that would take her from the streets of Bronx, NY, where Hip Hop originated, to Hip Hop in its current most active form. She submerged herself in the Hip Hop culture by meeting with artists, video models, executives, pioneers, and members of the culture. She attended numerous video shoots, concerts, parties, cultural events, tours, and lectures; even once bravely taking on the role of a video model herself! During the study, Dr. Malachi ingeniously employed social psychological theory to evaluate the state of Hip Hop and its impact on the Black Community.

The OFFICIAL release date for “A Hip Hop State of Mind” is May 6th, 2014 and will be available on Amazon, Kindle and at Barnes & Nobles.  The launching of the book includes special invite release parties that will include panel discussions.

In the fall of 2014, Dr. Malachi begins her book tour and is presently accepting tour dates for locations to include New York, Atlanta and California with various Universities, bookstores and organizations. The tour will also include speaking engagements as well as opportunities for panel discussions at conferences and seminars. To schedule Dr. Malachi for book signings or speaking engagements, please contact KimiRhochelle of KRPR Media at krprmediadrmalachi@gmail.com.

Dr. Niama Malachi

About Dr. Niama T. Malachi

Dr. Niama T. Malachi hails from humble beginnings. With insurmountable determination and drive, she has forged through many obstacles. She recently attained a Doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In addition, she holds the position of Director of Performance Improvement, under the umbrella of a Fortune 500 company; she is also one of the youngest Directors in the organization. Dr. Malachi’s advocacy and activism is focused towards mental health services for underserved populations and the use of Hip Hop as a catalyst for social change. Her pioneering research initiatives involve Hip Hop and its impact on the black community, with over five years of concentrated experience on this topic. Dr. Malachi is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she served as the co-chair of the Pomona Valley Alumnae Chapter’s Social Action Committee. In this capacity, she also co-chaired the award winning State of Black Male/Female Relationships Conference. Dr. Niama T. Malachi is driven to provide mental health services for underserved populations. She continues to relentlessly construct ingenious methods in her approach.

Dr. Malachi will use social media as a communication forum for her readers and those that have questions.  Readers will be able post various scenarios and ask personal questions that will be answered.  In addition, Dr. Malachi will have various online discussions about “A Hip Hop State of Mind”. 

For more information on Dr. Niama T. Malachi, please visit www.drniamamalachi.com. 

Dr. Michael Forbes

By Michael Forbes, MD, FAAP, Director of Clinical Research and Outcomes Analysis, Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron, Ohio

There are an alarming number of preterm births in the U.S., with more than a half million babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation) each year. For reasons unknown, African Americans experience the highest rate of prematurity at 17.1 percent, which is dramatically higher than the national average of 12 percent. In fact, the risk of preterm birth for African-American women is approximately 1.5 times the rate seen in Caucasian women.

Because they were not able to fully develop in their mother’s womb, preemies have unique health needs, often requiring specialized medical attention. Preemies often have underdeveloped lungs and immature immune systems, putting them at increased risk of developing a serious infection from a common respiratory virus known as respiratory syncytial virus (or RSV). RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations for babies during the first year of life, and affects nearly all babies by age two.

Premature infants:

• Are two times as likely to be admitted to the hospital for RSV-related symptoms compared with infants born at full term
• May stay two times longer in the hospital than infants born at full term who are hospitalized for severe RSV disease

 Parents of all babies, particularly preemies, should be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of severe RSV disease:

• Coughing or wheezing that does not stop
• Fast or troubled breathing
• Spread-out nostrils and/or a caved-in chest when trying to breathe
• Bluish color around the mouth or fingernails
• Fever (especially if it is over 100.4°F in infants under 3 months of age)

Parents of babies who may be at high risk for severe RSV disease should talk to their doctor to learn all the ways to help protect their baby.

Visit www.rsvprotection.com for more information.

Shellie Braggs and her children

By Shellie Braggs

I work hard helping at-risk young adults in Dallas get the job training and life skills they need to make better lives for themselves and their families. I know how important that is because I’m a single mom trying to do the best by my children.

My kids are great, and I want only the best for them, but one thing I wasn’t always able to do was provide health insurance for them. I don’t get insurance through my employer because I’m a contractor, and I couldn’t afford the $500 monthly premiums for my children and myself.

Not having health insurance for the past seven years, my children were uninsured for about a year, has weighed heavily on my mind. I’ve had to make tough decisions. I managed to cobble together free or inexpensive health services through local clinics and my church, but it was never easy.

I felt helpless being unable to provide something as basic as health care to my family.

That’s why I was thrilled to find out that I could find affordable, quality health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. It was cheaper and easier than I had thought.

All I had to do was log onto HealthCare.gov and explore my options. I selected a Silver plan, in no more than 15 minutes! I qualified for reduced costs, so my premium is only $131 a month. And my children are covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Having insurance that covers preventive services is going to help me stay healthy and catch potential problems early, a great peace of mind I’m grateful to have. I’ve had two repeat mammograms that I had to pay for out of pocket, and I need to monitor myself for possible growths. My new insurance covers mammograms at no additional cost.

It’s a great relief. If you’re sick, you can’t take care of your kids.

So I’m very excited to finally be covered. As a single mom, I have an obligation to take care of myself and my kids and now I can focus on that.

My coverage went into effect on March 1. I urge all moms and dads to get the security that comes with a Health Insurance Marketplace plan. Get covered through the Marketplace at HealthCare.gov by March 31, the end of open enrollment for the current year. Don’t delay.

The cast of The Wizard of Oz took some photos with some of the audience. Left to right children at the bottom, Ahmyiah, Wallace & Naimah were some of the happy crowd.

Last weekend, La Sierra HS performed the Royal Shakespeare Company version of  ‘The Wizard of Oz.” There is still time to see it if you missed it. March 19 -21 at 7pm and March 22 at 1pm. Proceeds benefit LSHS Drama Boosters. If you would like to get involved in theatre, the drama club is holding workshop training sessions for their lighting and costume crews. Bother of these exciting opportunities will be Thursday March 27th from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Stop by the drama room 801 to sign up.

Christelyn-Karazin-and-Co-Host-Jordan-Harbinger

Interview and Write Up by Naomi K. Bonman

TEMECULA, CA- Being in California, interracial dating is a norm; however, it still isn’t portrayed in the media on mainstream shows, such as dating shows. There have been plenty of dating shows in the past that might have matched an interracial pair, but there has not been one that specifically catered to interracial dating—until now. Producers Shawn Miles (Ice Loves Coco, Americas Top Dog) and Rick Rock decided to come together to produce an online web series entitled, ‘Swirlr’ which is dedicated to helping interracial couples find love. The web series is hosted by Christelyn Karazin and Jordan Harbinger, who are both in interracial relationships themselves.
“The overall goal of the show is for viewers to see that people are people, attraction is attraction, and that when it comes to mental, emotional and physical chemistry, skin tone doesn’t matter,” Karazin said.
This is the first reality, unscripted dating show of its kind with plenty of twists and turns that will not only keep the viewers wondering what is going to happen next, but the producers and hosts wondering as well. New episodes premiere every Wednesday on www.swirlr.com and www.youtube.com/user/swirlr.
For those that are interested in being on the show to find interracial love, please send a submission for consideration to info@swirlr.com. Please not that this is just a submission, and the producers have final say on who is chosen for the show. Good luck and happy dating! (Interview and write up Naomi K. Bonman)

DuBoise Courthouse Visit with Commissioner Eric Isaac 3-6-14

RIVERSIDE, CA- Chapter member and Commissioner of the Superior Court Eric Isaac, as part of the Chapter’s Guide Right program, partnered with Dr. Abdulmumin, CEO of the DuBois Institute, to extend mentoring to young males enrolled at the Institute. Riverside Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. members participating in the Law Day mentoring program include A. C.  Jones, Esquire, Darryl Exum, Esquire, and Victor Marshall, Esquire. Under its Law Day, Guide Right Program, the Riverside Alumni Chapter seeks to provide mentoring on law careers, as well as have community legal education days where members meet with the public to educate youth and their parents on what to expect from law enforcement.
Having Judge Isaac in the position that he is, Anthony Thomas, M.H.A. said, “The input that Judge Isaac has is that he grew up in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. His experiences there showed him that young men of color are in need of positive male role models in their lives. Our membership is about achievement in all fields of human endeavor. Having attorneys in our membership allows us this focus on the legal system. We know that many of the young men we work with are being raised by a single mother, grandparents, and others. During these formative years, association with positive male figures helps them on their path to achievement in life, school, employment, and all else.”
Judge Isaac noted that other courtroom duties were addressed with the young men and that he was joined in the Riverside Hall of Justice by Monte Stone, Courtroom Assistant and Deputy Holt from the Riverside Sheriff’s department who addressed the scholars about jobs.

Homeless youth

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Did you know that on any given night in San Bernardino County over 500 children go without food, shelter and basic security? It is because they are homeless and have nowhere to turn. These are children under the age of 18 years old that have slipped through the cracks of our systems. Young Visionaries Academy has been addressing this issue for a number of years where they have provided 24-hour, 7 days a week, housing for youth. On Tuesday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Young Visionaries will be hosting the celebration of its new shelter location with a Re-Grand Opening. The celebration will take place at 3632 North Sepulveda, San Bernardino, CA 92405. The organization needs the assistance of the community to provide a few necessities, which include: Sheets, bottom and top; towels, face and body; pillow cases; non-perishable food items; hygiene items (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair brushes, shampoo, conditioner, body soap); cleaning products; trash bags; a vacuum, broom and dust pan; mop and bucket; living room furniture; sofa; and games, books and sports equipment.

Lupita Nyongo

LOS ANGELES, CA- On the evening of Sunday, March 2, the 86^th Annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, viewers were thrilled and pleased with the overall presence of the show and felt that the ones who won, truly deserved to win, and of course it brought about a bit of surprise. Lupita Nyoungo won Best Supporting Actor for her role in “12 Years a Slave”. This makes her the 7^th African American Woman to win an Oscar. As she accepted her award she stated that, “No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid”.