WSSN Stories

Cori Gordon, 28, never imagined she’d become one of Amazon’s youngest Delivery Service Partners when she migrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in 2013.   Bright-eyed and eager post completing her studies at Northern Caribbean University, Cori began her professional career working in the retail and automotive industries before realizing she had a penchant for entrepreneurship.

“I experienced burn out working 80 plus hours for someone else,” Cori says.  “After a bit of soul searching, I realized it was important for me to direct all those hours of energy into something I owned.”

Cori searched online for business opportunities that presented a built-in customer base and a clear track for success.  “I knew right away the Amazon Delivery Service Partner program could be a great fit for me,” Cori says.  “Everyone knows and loves the company and though I hadn’t led my own company before, the training and development resources they offered inspired me to apply.”

In 2018, Amazon launched the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program to share its experience in operations and logistics with aspiring entrepreneurs. The program empowers entrepreneurs to build their own last mile delivery companies from the ground up with Amazon’s support, infrastructure, technology, and a suite of exclusive services.  In the two years since its inception, these thriving entrepreneurs have experienced remarkable growth, with more than 1,300 DSPs operating across the U.S., Canada, UK, Spain, and Germany and nearly 85,000 jobs created. 

Cori’s DSP, Cortoyou operates out of Amazon’s newly launched delivery station in Staten Island and delivers to customers in her home borough of Brooklyn.  “The most fulfilling thing about being a DSP owner is being a job provider,” Gordon says.  “It’s such an honor for me and I get so excited when an employee gets a new car, or a new phone, because I know their employment with my company is helping them reach their goals.” 

The breadth of diversity in the program has been inspiring.  Owners include military veterans, former sellers on Amazon.com, educators, city council members, and many others who come from a variety of backgrounds. They are great coaches and mentors who have built customer obsessed teams that have delivered more than 1.8 billion packages worldwide, using more than 40,000 Prime branded last mile vehicles—from electric vehicles to step vans to delivery vans—generating more than $4.5 billion in revenue for their small businesses.

In August, Amazon announced a new diversity grant to help reduce the barriers to entry for Black, Latinx, and Native American entrepreneurs interested in starting a DSP.  With the launch of this grant program, Amazon is investing in building a future for diverse business owners to serve their communities. The $1 million commitment funds startup costs, offering $10,000 for each qualified candidate to build their own DSP businesses in the U.S.  Those interested in applying can visit logistics.amazon.com.

As the eldest child of nine, Cori knew she had a knack for leading, but she never guessed she’d be in a position to employ more than 50 drivers and make history as an Amazon business partner.  “I hope my story inspires young people of color to look into the program and evaluate if they’re ready to align with a company driven by customer obsession and delivering results,” Cori says.  “The journey has been amazing thus far.”   

The? Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)? is excited to announce its added a special screening of Gregory Everett’s award-winning documentary 41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers to this year’s schedule.

PAFF will take place virtually February 28 to March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plans. Early bird discount pricing has concluded as of February 13.

As a tribute to the late filmmaker, who tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 on January 24 of this year, PAFF will host a global screening fundraiser supporting his family on February 20 at 5 p.m. PT.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers was the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, as well as the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

This special screening is sponsored in part by The Cochran Firm California.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, winner of the 2010 Pan African Film Festival’s Audience Favorite Documentary, features exclusive interviews from Black Panther party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga, Elaine Brown, and Kathleen Cleaver, retired Los Angeles City Councilmember and former L.A.P.D. Police Chief Bernard Parks. The film was the first part of a documentary series by filmmaker Gregory Everett that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, and the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

Using exclusive interviews with former Black Panther Party members along with archival footage detailing the history of racism in Los Angeles, including the Watt’s Uprising, 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, has been called the most in-depth study ever of the murders of L.A. Chapter founder Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins at U.C.L.A. The documentary includes first-hand accounts of the Party’s formation as told by the original surviving members and eyewitness accounts of the murders at U.C.L.A. Also featured in the film are former Black Panther members Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, US Organization member Wesley Kabaila, U.C.L.A. Professor Scot Brown, and Bernie Morris, oldest brother of Bunchy Carter.

Visit www.paff.org for more information and remember PAFF will take place virtually February 28 – March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plans. Early bird discount pricing concludes February 13.

Ameer Natson, celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and founder of the Become Creative Agency is set to launch a co-working space and culinary kitchen for Black creatives and aspiring chefs in New Jersey, a first- of-its kind in the Garden State. As a son of Newark, NJ, affectionately known as “Brick City”, Ameer has used every brick of life to build a brand committed to making impact and delivering results for his community.

Ameer has executed culinary experiences for a Who’s Who in the sports, film and entertainment industry, feeding the likes of Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Queen Latifah, Oprah, Pharrell, Lebron James, Chris Tucker and Blair Underwood to name a few! After quickly being identified as one of the hottest up-and-coming chefs, Ameer landed the opportunity to develop a show with Backroads Entertainment for The Food Network called HELP YOURSELF! He is America’s down-to-earth chef, and has been featured on BBC, ARISE 360 TV, NBC and BET.

More importantly, Ameer has used his experiences traveling the world to focus on what is needed most in communities that resemble where he has come from. Ameer founded Become Creative Agency, a full-service creative and marketing agency that hires local talent from inner city communities.

Ameer Natson believes that his story is proof that success is NOT about resources or circumstances. He says, “I graduated from the school of hard knocks with a degree in perseverance. It’s about being resourceful and creative. It’s about the conviction to charge ahead in spite of the challenges and critics. My commitment is to communities that look like mine and to the young people who may have been told they were never enough. I want my Ameer Natson communities, my Black communities to know we are rich with innovation and talent and my young people to know that the sky is the limit.”

Last summer during the COVID19 pandemic, Ameer partnered with the World Central Kitchen, Chefs For America and Chef José Andrés to donate and distribute more than 67,000 meals throughout the city of Newark, NJ. This past Thanksgiving, Ameer and team got to work again and prepared and delivered more than 5,000 meals as part of his annual 5000 Thankful Souls Community Thanksgiving program, an initiative he has led for several years.

This Spring, Ameer will open “Become” a creative co-working space for Black and Brown creatives. This space will include a media room, a recording space, and a kitchen where the genius of culinary imagination can expound.

“My dream is to ensure that my community, our communities are reliant and self-sufficient. I can’t wait to open the doors and help people turn their dreams and aspirations into reality.” Ameer says.

Seniors 65 and over will soon have additional opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the County continues to make seniors its highest vaccination priority.

In addition to yesterday’s successful Auto Club Speedway mass-vaccination event, which resulted in 3,235 people – mostly seniors – getting vaccinated, the County this week will open several weeks of vaccination appointments for seniors and announce plans to open more community vaccination centers. The County also plans to launch a mobile vaccination program to serve seniors close to home. The County will also address the issues that led to traffic headaches at yesterday’s speedway event in time for the next mass-vaccination event.

“Seniors are most at-risk from COVID-19. That’s why the County has no higher priority than making sure we quickly reach and serve everyone in our county 65 and over,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

While prioritizing seniors the County continues to make progress through the State Vaccination Roadmap. The County learned this week that all police officers and firefighters working in the county who want to be vaccinated have been provided with vaccination opportunities. The County has also implemented a strategy that allows vaccinations for teachers currently conducting in-person instruction or who plan to return to the classroom during the current school year, without disrupting service to seniors.

For several weeks the County has worked closely with County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, public school districts, and private schools throughout the county to develop strategies for vaccinating teachers. Schools and districts will work with their local vaccine providers to serve their eligible teachers rather than create competition between seniors and teachers for appointments online.

“The County’s wise management of vaccines and productive partnerships with vaccine providers such as hospitals and pharmacies are helping us to begin creating a safe environment for teachers and students, which is essential in our efforts to control the virus and return our communities to normal life,” said Hagman. “Best of all, we are doing this in a way that does not interfere with the availability of appointments to seniors.”

By Lue Dowdy

Weeeest up everyone! Its ya’ girl, Lue Dowdy back on the scene keeping you in the loop on What It Do! It’s been a minute I had to work on some things, ya know like getting my life together. But I’m back refreshed and happy to be at it again. Basically, this is my reintroduction article of myself and what my column, ‘What It Do with Lue’ is all about. 

The Entertainment in the IE is like a good pot of GUMBO, filled, seasoned and mixed with so much flavor, just waiting to be consumed. A thriving entertainment hub saturated with talented artists from singers, to dancers, rap artists, musicians, producers, writers, poets, actors, comedians, and more. I absolutely love and support the performing arts especially in my own backyard.

My production company, LUE Productions (Launching Unique Entertainment) is all about highlighting Indie Artists and Community Entertainment. Our goal is to provide platforms for the talented while bringing forth entertaining shows/events for the entire community to enjoy. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to expand my reach through the Westside Story Newspaper, which happens to be one of the longest African American running Publications in San Bernardino County. One of the great things about the paper, is that it’s circulated throughout Southern California. 

Due to the Pandemic the industry has been on pause. If you’re not a mainstream artists or performer, I’m sure the struggles been real. A huge part of this game is staying relevant. Let me help you by highlighting your talent or next upcoming event. I can be reach on messenger on Facebook under LUE Productions or reached by email at lue.info@yahoo.com. Stop by our website www.lueproductions.org

To commemorate Black History Month, Black-owned media companies Rolling Out and BlackBookStore.com, in collaboration with publishing giant Penguin Random House, have launched a historic content partnership called #AmplifyBlackStories. Company representatives said the initiative’s mission is to introduce more stories written by Black authors to a diverse group of readers. 

“As our content and media partner, Rolling Out has developed a full slate of programming throughout the year,” said Anthony Key, Director of Multicultural Marketing at Penguin Random House. “Our collaboration will allow us to propel the awareness of Black literary excellence and introduce more stories by Black authors to a diverse group of readers.”

#AmplifyBlackStories will give power to the truth and testimonies of a wide array of Black voices through deep-dive discussions and thoughtful insights sharing from the book selections. This collective will include authors across the spectrum of gender identities, multigenerational writers, faith-based thought-leaders, and creatives in the LGBTQIA+ community. The partnership between Rolling Out, BlackBookStore.com, and Penguin Random House will undoubtedly help inject more pivotal Black stories into the American literary canon. 

“This partnership and cultural collaboration with Penguin Random House will herald Black creativity and promote cultural understanding by amplifying Black storytelling and Black voices,” said Munson Steed, CEO at Rolling Out. “We are on a mission to celebrate Black authors, both familiar and new, who are helping to tell a more complete cultural story––from social justice and betterment to romance and sci-fi.”

#AmplifyBlackStories kicked off in February with Rolling Out‘s Meet the Author series featuring renowned writer Kevin Powell talking about his long career telling Black stories, including his intriguing journey from reality show pioneer to a congressional candidate. 

#AmplifyBlackStories will continue to pay homage to Black authors with a roster of virtual programming throughout the month, including:

• The Rolling Out Book Club (February selection is A Promised Land by President Barack Obama)
• The Children’s Club (February selection is I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes)
• The Sunday Read (authors read favorite excerpts and reveal stories of inspiration)
• Black Book Brunch (a virtual sip and dine while uplifting our favorite Black authors and their journeys)
• Modern Manual (relevant thought-leadership books, beginning with The Purpose of Power by Alicia Garza)
• Literally Speaking (smart and layered talks of Black literature and the writing process)

“Our partnership with Penguin Random House demonstrates the importance and impact of connecting culture and commerce,” said Steed. “Giving content creators—our equity partners—opportunities to learn and grow with a Black-owned company produces real economic progress.” 

To join the virtual programming for #AmplifyBlackStories, please visit www.rollingout.com and follow Rolling Out on social media channels. Books can be purchased at www.blackbookstore.com.

BLK, the largest dating app made for Black singles, launched a new advertising campaign, Once You Go BLK, to reclaim and reappropriate the antiquated phrase “Once you go Black, you don’t go back”. Instead of “praising” outdated stereotypes of Black people, this initiative embraces the glory of being young, Black, and forging one’s path in life. In order to bring this campaign to life, BLK also partnered with its local network of Black businessowners and creatives.

With over 4 million downloads to-date, the dating app aims to reframe what it means to “go BLK” through empowering messaging about the positive outcomes and implications of being part of both the Black and BLK communities.

This campaign includes original content and video testimonials with BLK users, tailored to acknowledge how real people date, across the Black cultural spectrum. In organizing and executing Once You Go BLK, Austin, TX-local Black businessowners and creatives brought their talents to the strategy and set, such as T&J Hair Designs for hair, honeybeebeats for makeup, a Paola Mathè headscarf design, and Darian Younce as the set stylist.

Once You Go BLK chronicles the journeys of Black singles and how they each take their own distinct approach to dating, from what they look for in a partner and their outlook on both romantic and platonic relationships. This campaign lauds the unlimited potential of the millennial and Gen Z Black community. As these years are incredibly formative in one’s life, Once You Go BLK aims to provide support and celebration for its users as they create their coteries.

“Once You Go BLK embraces the culture of the Black community, while also shedding light on important community topics from state violence to supporting Black-owned businesses,” said Jonathan Kirkland, Head of Marketing & Brand for BLK, “Our ambition for this campaign is to foster more solidarity, from a cultural level, with our users while taking the power away from an ugly adage used against us.”

Global Black Film Festival to Feature Over 65 World Premiere Titles

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) announced today film nominations in its prestigious juried competition. The Pan African Film Festival is America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, the PAFF screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from around the world. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live-action and animation short films.  The 29th Pan African Film Festival will take place virtually from February 28 to March 14.

This year, the competitions will include over 65 World premiere titles and over 29 US premieres.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 29th Pan African Film Festival will run February 28 – March 14 on-line and on-demand only. The virtual component allows this year’s Festival to reach a global audience. More information can be found at www.paff.org. 

Best Narrative Feature Competition

Back of the Moon (South Africa)
Director: Angus Gibson

Caged Birds (US)
Director: Fredrick Leach

Poppie Nongena (South Africa)
Director: Christiaan Olwagen

Red Pill (US)
Director: Tonya Pinkins

The Fisherman’s Diary (Cameroon)
Director: Enah Johnscott

The Ghost and the House of Truth (Nigeria)
Director: Akin Omotoso

The Milkmaid (Nigeria)
Director: Desmond Ovbiagele

Best Documentary Competition

City On the Hill (US)
Director: Xavier Underwood

Disruptor Conductor (Canada, US)
Director: Sharon Lewis

Firestarter – The Story of Bangarra (Australia)
Director: Wayne Blair, Nel Minchin

Fresh Guide To Florence with Fab 5 Freddy (Italy, US, UK)
Director: David Shulman

Lake Women (Rwanda, Germany)
Director: Deve Shema

Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend (US)
Director: Ryan Matthew Polomski, Dean Prator

Through the Night (US)
Director: Loira Limbal

Uprooted – The Journey of Jazz Dance (Canada, France, UK, US)
Director: Khadifa Wong

Best First Feature – Director Competition

Narratives

African America (South Africa, US)
Director: Muzi Mthembu

Caged Birds (US)
Director: Fredrick Leach

Executive Order (Brazil)
Director: Lázaro Ramos

Love Like Winter (US)
Director: Artel Great

Shaina (Zimbabwe, South Africa)
Director: Beautie Masvaure Alt

Documentaries

Finding Sally (Ethiopia, Canada)
Director: Tamara Dawit

Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (US)
Director: Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance

Softie (Kenya, US)
Director: Sam Soko

The Letter (Kenya)
Director: Maia Lekow, Christopher King

The Patterson: Another Bronx Tale (US)
Director: Bahati Adrien Best

Who is Gatsby Randolph (US)
Director: Kobie Randolph

Best Short Narrative (Animation or Live Action)

#WeAreDyingHere (South Africa)
Director: Shane Vermooten

Antivirus (Greece)
Director: Anastasia Sima

Guillermina (Cuba)
Director: Aida Esther Bueno Sarduy

Junebug (US)
Director: Winter Dunn

Junior (US)
Director: Jehnovah Carlisle

London Arabia (UK)
Director: Daniel Jewel

Nazen (US)
Director: Shemar Yanick Jonas

Pure (US)
Director: Natalie Jasmine Harris

Sër Bi (Les Tissus Blancs) (Senegal, France)
Director: Moly Kane

Smell of Summer (US)
Director: Kris Wilson

The Cypher (US)
Director: Letia Solomon

The McHenry Trial – Don’t Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie (US)
Director: Ken Sagoes

The Power Of Hope (US)
Director: Kalia Love Jones

Till Death Do Us Part (Póki ?mier? nas nie roz??czy ) (Uganda, Poland)
Director: Dolores Vunda

Tuk-tuk (Egypt)
Director: Mohamed Kheidr

Two Single Beds (UK)
Director: William Stefan Smith

By Lou Yeboah

“ I am doing a new thing, says the Lord. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. [Isaiah 43:19]. It is right before you. Can you not see it?” I am breaking down strongholds, transforming dark places into light places, so look back, celebrate, but move forward! You cannot be content to sit back and do business as usual. You cannot rest on past victories or be paralyzed by past defeats. You are to move forward in faith personally and corporately. Forward from the past to the future. Forward from indulgence to commitment. Forward from me to we. Forward from brokenness to wholeness. Forward from comfortable to awakened.  What’s your “Tell”? Your Song? Your Story? It’s the same one as Joshua and the Israelites – but with some additions. Prophets have been added, like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Kings have joined the story, like David and Solomon. And of course, there’s Me, Jesus, the very center of your identity. So look back, celebrate, but move forward! Because you are people of story. And your stories give your lives context and purpose. Your stories connect you to something beyond the present moment. Your stories bind you to the ancestors and give you glimpses of destinies still beyond the horizon.

I hear the story of the hunter – and Yes, there is good in that story. Yes, there is virtue in that story. Yes, there is hope and wonder and deep gospel truth in that story AND the lion still has a story to tell. Right here, right now, make your own declaration that you will strive to be a people of hunters no more. That you will never stop resisting and working to overthrow the systems that provide for the thriving of some through the oppression of others. That you will never stop working to end the hunt forever.  Commit to telling the stories and praying the prayers and singing the songs of the lion. To promise that they will never be forgotten. And to work for the day when the hunt finally is over. Let this celebration be one of new normals, greater territory, higher heights and deeper depths for us by looking back, celebrating, but moving forward.

I tell you, we cannot underestimate the seriousness of these times right now. Our nation is being torn apart by political Armageddon, civil unrest, social violence, an international pandemic, and economic meltdown.  I am not a prophetess, but I see patterns in God’s Word, adding:  We cannot let the world shut us up, shut us down, shut us out, or shut us in. God created, called, and commissioned us to take our place in this divine intersection. All the days of our life “were written in [his] book before one of them came to be” [Psalm 139:16]. Yes, we have a rendezvous with destiny, and we are God’s people for the moment. Like Esther of old, “We have come to [the kingdom] for such a time as this” [Esther 4:14]—before adding, “Like Israel in the wake of a national, political, and social crisis, we will need men and women like the sons of Issachar “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” [1 Chronicles 12:32].” Therefore, let as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 

From Adam to Jesus, from Jesus to us, imagine the decisions that were made. Decisions that effected the entire human race, decisions of life and death, condemnation and reconciliation, the very fabric of life hung in the balance. And here we sit trying to make up our mind whether to move or not. We read and we study and we marvel at the old and new testament saints of what they did, but didn’t Jesus declare that we could do the same as he and even greater works shall we do. Well, we aren’t going to do anything sitting in Haran. All God is waiting on is us. Our blessings are just in reach, lets get out of Haran, lets get out of Cherith, lets look up, pack up cause we about to move up, to a brighter day a more secure future, in the land where God wants us to be. Look back, celebrate, but move forward!

Celebrating Black History Month!