Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power.” “Smart power” embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools, including sports, to bring people together to foster greater understanding.

This Sports Visitors program follows the July 2007 trip of the NBA’s Juwan Howard and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s (WNBA) Nikki McCray to Kinshasa as Sports Envoys, where they were joined by NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs leads the U.S. Department of State’s sports diplomacy efforts. Through its SportsUnited office, athletes and coaches from a variety of sports conduct clinics, visit schools, and engage with youth overseas in a dialogue on the importance of an education, positive health practices, and respect for diversity.

Since 2003, SportsUnited has brought almost 900 athletes from 58 countries to the U.S. to participate in Sport Visitor programs; and sent over 200 U.S. athletes to more than 50 countries to participate in Sport Envoy programs since 2005.

Mrs. Ndayishimye is a dynamic and energetic promoter of women’s entrepreneurship. In March 2007, she organized trips for Burundian business women to travel to Rwanda in search of projects and to learn best practices. As a result, she organized three regional workshops allowing 150 Burundian and 20 Rwandan women to share business experiences. Subsequently, six projects were launched in the two countries including a microfinance group, the enhancement of a local restaurant and the Agaseke Project, which provides opportunities for women from the underprivileged Batwa ethnic group to produce and sell handicrafts in support of their own sustainable employment.

Mrs. Ndayishimye is also instrumental in working with Burundi’s exchange alumni community. At the recent launch of the reconstituted Burundi Alumni Association, she encouraged fellow alumni to join the global alumni network and combine their talents and dreams to make Burundi a better place.

The IVLP alumna shares her business expertise and contacts with Burundian alumni. She facilitates connections between local journalists and bankers and alumni representatives from neighboring countries. Furthermore, she participates in embassy-sponsored events such as a recent economic roundtable with the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa and other members of the Burundian business community.

Throughout January, her leadership and dedication to African women’s entrepreneurship will be recognized on the State Alumni website (https://alumni.state.gov), ECA’s official website for the more than one million Department-sponsored exchange alumni worldwide. Each month, the Bureau’s Office of Alumni Affairs, which supports alumni as they build on their exchange experiences, confers the award on an outstanding alumnus or alumna.

For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ website at http://exchanges.state.gov/alumni/alumnus.html.

AWEP aims to empower African women entrepreneurs to become part of their national and global business network by increasing opportunities for women to use the AGOA program and expanding opportunities for exports and U.S. investment in sub-Saharan Africa.

The slate of AWEP activities includes:
· Meetings with officials from the Departments of State, Commerce, and Agriculture, and USAID;
· Presentations by companies and industry associations;
· Networking opportunities with non-governmental and civil society organizations, and diaspora groups;
· Introductions and exchanges with Congressional members and staffs; and,
· Information sessions with local government, civic and business leaders in Kansas City.

The professional exchanges are designed to help the participants build business alliances, develop advocacy and communications skills, identify resources to advance women’s entrepreneurship, and take advantage of opportunities for U.S. partnerships through AGOA.

The women will have the opportunity to interact with African ministers of trade, finance, and agriculture during an AGOA plenary session in Washington entitled “Integrating Africa’s Women into the Global Economy.” Events and lunches will be sponsored by the Corporate Council on Africa, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City, the non-profit organization, ONE, and others.

Activities are expected to continue in Africa after the U.S.-based program concludes. The follow-up activities, some sponsored by companies such as ExxonMobil, will include training and mentoring programs for the businesswomen in their communities, as well as advocacy efforts to promote changes to discriminatory systems against women in business and to put in place greater systems of opportunities and support for Africa’s businesswomen.

“I’m trying to smash the statistics that Black and Brown communities don’t get along,” said Luis Guerrero, a youth from Wilmington. “You can see all these youth helping us. There are signs right here that there is a big chance for peace.”

Narconon spokesperson Teddy Chambers who worked with the youth to organize for today’s march acknowledged in particular Luis Guerrero and Angela Flores (from Long Beach). These and other young people worked with other adult volunteers, Danny Flores and Ruben Vazquez, to bring youth in from 10 different cities, including besides Long Beach and Los Angeles Hawaiian Gardens, Compton, Lakewood, Wilmington, Artesia, Inglewood, Culver City, and Carson.

Other sponsoring groups were SoCal Foster Care Mentoring Network and The Positive Art of Hip Hop. One young girl representing Dreamcatcher Foundation, a foster care program, said, “This is a tribute to Martin Luther King. He plays a big part in our having the courage to come together as Black and Brown and just have some harmony and peace.”

Sporting shirts with an artistic, distinctly styled logo, designed by the youth themselves, the young friends marched from 7th and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to MLK Jr. Park. Ruben Vazquez praised the kids: “They made this beautiful sign all together, working as one. It’s nice to see this.”

Narconon supports youth events such as this all across the United States and the world to support drug-free, ethical, and peaceful communities. Narconon centers across the United States are participating in similar events including in Georgia and Oklahoma.

For more information about Narconon drug education and community awareness events, visit www.narconon.org/community-activities/ .

“The situation demands that America steps forward to lead the way by taking bold steps to reduce emissions and to usher in an era of equity in global agreements. Our sisters and brothers in the global south and global north are counting on us.”

Representatives from developing nations believe the industrialized world is not doing enough to reduce pollution. They want developed nations to commit to significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions along with the allocation of billions of dollars to poor countries.

“Developed countries created the climate crisis as they became wealthy and they have the financial resources to tackle it,” Honorable Awudu Mbaya Cyrpian, executive president, Pan African Parliamentarians Network on Climate Change said.

During a press conference last week the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, a coalition of organizations in 43 African countries, presented a letter for delivery to the Obama administration. The letter implores President Obama to consider the impacts of a 2 degree temperature rise on Africa, describing this target as a death sentence for millions of Africans.

“We join with Africa in an appeal for a fair, ambitious, and binding agreement,” said Davis, who accepted the letter on behalf of EJCC and BWR.

On Monday the negotiations hit a snag after African nations accused rich countries of reneging on promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions and walked out of the negotiations. Delegates from nearly 130 developing countries, including Brazil, India, and South Africa followed the Africans in the walk-out. Talks resumed on Tuesday.

“Women in rural Africa and India walk miles to get water; they have no cars. They are not polluting the world, yet their crops are failing due to pollution caused by luxury lifestyles in developed nations,” said Letetia Daniels Jackson president, Tandeka, LLC and member of BWR.

Representatives from EJCC and BWR have been in Copenhagen for over a week working to make sure underserved communities and women of color are properly embedded in any new climate protocol.

Nia Robinson, director of EJCC commented from the nation’s capitol, “EJCC had a large presence at the conference to make sure that principles of environmental justice are included in the final document. We want people to see climate change for what it is, a human rights issue,” Robinson, who traveled to Poland, Montreal and Bali for earlier conferences continues, “It disproportionately affects people of color.”

In addition to attending work sessions, side events, and private meetings with high level officials, the group joined over 100,000 people from around the world in a rally and march in support of a legally binding global agreement on emissions cuts. EJCC youth created and participated in a number of actions garnering international media attention.

On Wednesday Dec. 16, BWR and EJCC will host a roundtable conversation with Black women and women of the Global South from 8-10pm at the Greenlantic House in Copenhagen.

The Black Women’s Roundtable is an intergenerational civic engagement network of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. The BWR Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Policy Forum Series is a national roundtable tour designed to provide women with strategies and tools to address critical issues confronting Black women and girls. This past July BWR submitted key policy recommendations on Climate change to Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the President for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs.

“We advised the administration that BWR is extremely concerned about the impact of U.S. climate policy upon women globally – especially impacts in developing regions where women are primary food producers whose livelihoods are threatened by changing climates,” stated Melanie L. Campbell, executive director of The National Coalition and convener of BWR.

A leader in domestic climate action, EJCC is a national coalition of over thirty environmental and climate justice, advocacy, faith-based and other social justice organizations. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots organization is also committed to informing youth of color about the issue of global warming and climate justice.

For more information visit www.ncbcp.org or http://beyondcopenhagen.ning.com .

The belief that Thomas Jefferson had an affair and fathered a child (or children) with slave Sally Hemings — and that such an allegation was proven by DNA testing — has become so pervasive in American popular culture that it is not only widely accepted but taught to students as historical fact. In this startling and revelatory argument, William G. Hyland, Jr. shows not only that the evidence against Jefferson is lacking, but that in fact he is entirely innocent of the charge of having sexual relations with Hemings.

A “thorough survey of the scholarly and scientific literature … Mr. Hyland, a lawyer, presents the historical record carefully and, closer to our day, provides marvelous details of the scholarly empire-building and grantsmanship that go into making ‘fact’ out of limited evidence — in this case and others. By the end of ‘In Defense of Thomas Jefferson,’ it is hard not to conclude that, given the revisionist impulses of American historians today, Jefferson should have put pen to paper after all,” says Thomas Lipscomb, The Wall Street Journal.

Available now wherever books are sold. To order, call 1-888-330-8477. “In Defense Of Thomas Jefferson: The Sally Hemings Sex Scandal” by William G. Hyland, Jr., in hardcover; $26.95; ISBN-10: 0-312-56100-8; ISBN-13: 978-0-312-56100-0.

Website for book: www.indefenseofthomasjefferson.com .
More information about the author: www.williamhylandjr.com .

The film begins its theatrical run on November 20 at Los Angeles’s prestigious Laemmle Theatres Sunset 5, 8000 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90048. For show times, check local listings or visit www.laemmle.com.

In recent days, NFL injuries and the “safety” epidemic have caught the attention of Congress, the media, and the nation at large, with outlets such as 60 Minutes, the New York Times, and New Yorker Magazine devoting intensive coverage to the controversial congressional hearings attacking the NFL for its negligence towards its star employees.

Roman Phifer, three-time Super Bowl Champion and Assistant Coach for the Denver Broncos, and his business partners Rico McClinton and Joe Ruggiero, produced BLOOD EQUITY, a hard-hitting film that focuses on the issues facing former NFL Players following their retirement, including their ironic struggle against the NFL Player’s Union and the team owners they made rich.

The film features intense, passionate interviews with such notables as Mike Ditka (Player Super Bowl V, VI; Coach Super Bowl XX), Harry Carson (Super Bowl XXI), Willie Wood (Super Bowl XXIV), Cyril Smith, Donnie Green, Tony Dorsett (Super Bowl XXXVII), Darryl Johnston (Super Bowl XXX) who share heartfelt and personal testimonies of living their dreams as NFL players, as well as the dark side of that life and some of the unforeseen nightmares.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of BLOOD EQUITY benefit the Gridiron Greats. The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, established to provide financial assistance and coordinate social services to retired NFL players in dire need of support. To learn more about the GGAF and ways to support its efforts, contact Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, info@gridirongreats.org or www.gridirongreats.org/donate/.

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The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray December 1st, 2009, and is already available to pre-order on Amazon, Netflix, Facebook, and many others. It will debut on iTunes and Hulu shortly thereafter.

More information on BLOOD EQUITY: www.walking-shadows.com/bloodequity .

In an effort to drive the need for health care and education celebrity support has been enlisted. Sherri Shepherd, co-host of “The View,” recorded a public service announcement on KJLH Radio, a station owned by Stevie Wonder. Celebrity participants The Whispers, comedians Kim Coles and Tommy Davidson, actor T.C. Carson, and performers Yo Yo and Montell Jordan are just a sampling of the confirmed talent to visit some of the local shops on Saturday. Former Los Angeles Laker, Norm Nixon, named national spokesperson for the BBHOP, will be on hand.

Ultimately, the BBHO’s goal is to screen more than 500,000 African American men by 2012. This unique and innovative grassroots program works with black-owned barbershops, which represent a cultural institution of familiarity and trust in many communities as an effective avenue to disseminate health education information. The program has already tested close to 10,000 African American men in 23 cities including New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta and Harlem.

Compared to the general public, African American males have a higher risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The American Diabetes Association estimates that 3.7 million African Americans, ages 20 years or older, have diabetes, while statistics show that 40 percent of African American men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to 21 percent of white men.

The BBHOP, in partnership with Charles Drew University, U.C.L.A., Vasamed and Entrahealthsystems, will offer free screenings throughout Los Angeles including the following locations:

- The New Millennium BS, 4310 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles
- In The Cut, 220 East Regent St., Inglewood
- Next Cuts Beauty & Barber, 5712 West Pico, L.A.
- Legends Barbershop, 5366 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.
- Inglewood’s Finest, 122 S. Market St., Inglewood.

The BBHOP, in partnerships with Kaiser Permanente African American Professional Organization and the Healthy Heritage Movement, Inc., will offer screenings throughout the Inland Empire at:

- Da Mood Barbership, 205 E. Mission Blvd., Pomona
- Good Time Barbershop, 924 E. Holt Ave, Pomona
- N u Flava, Pomona
- Hat’s Off, 21065 Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley
- Second To None, 12384 Palmdale Road, #103, Victorville
- Signature Barbershop, 12555 Mariposa Road, Ste. F, Victorville
- T’s Barbershop, 15028 7th St. Ste. 2, Victorville
- Who’s Next, 21280 Brar Valley Rd., #115, Hesperia.

Founded by Dr. Bill J. Releford, D.P.M. the BBHOP seeks to empower African American men to better understand cardiovascular diseases through education, testing and prevention. The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has effectively addressed the health concerns of Black men in nearly 200 black owned barbershops since December 2007.

For additional information and to view a list of all the participating barbershop locations, go to www.BlackBarbershop.org .

About Dr. Bill Releford:

Dr. Bill Releford began private practice in 1990 and started the Diabetic Foot Institute, a facility dedicated exclusively to the reduction of diabetes-related amputations in high-risk populations. Most patients were oblivious to the standard of care that should be expected during the occurrence of a diabetic foot complication or the unfortunate recommendation for lower-extremity amputation.

About the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation:

The DAP Foundation’s mission is to help decrease the diabetes-related amputation rate among high risk populations around the world and address the escalating number of individuals with undetected cardiovascular disease. The DAP Foundation’s African American Men’s Outreach Program seeks to partner with community groups and organizations to reduce the incidence of health conditions that adversely affect Black males by utilizing education, prevention and early detection through screening activities. DAP’s efforts have already been successfully duplicated in other metropolitan areas, such as Oakland, Chicago, Harlem, St. Louis, and Atlanta.

To participate or sponsor please visit www.BlackBarbershop.org .

As DJ Screw, the originator of “Screw & Chopped” music, from which T-Pain borrowed the name for his recent hit single says, “When you say Texas, you say Screwed Up Texas.” Big Moe, an original member of the Screwed Up Click, formed his own blend of Hip Hop and R&B, which started a trend among many Houston talents (Z-Ro, Chamillionaire, Trae) and eventually led him to sign a major deal with Priority Records.

Another original member was HAWK, who had radio success with his mega-hit single “You Already Know”, off his self-titled album HAWK. Last, but certainly not least, legendary artist, writer and producer Pimp C of UGK, coined and exemplified the term “Country Rap Tunes,” and along with group member Bun B, went on to be Grammy Nominated for the group’s single “International Players Anthem” in 2008. If it weren’t for the contributions of the aforementioned artists, you may have never heard of Texas’ current roster of artists, such as Z-Ro, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, and Slim Thug.

Volume 3 is an inventive format containing almost 2 hours of exclusive material-interviews, concerts, music videos and behind the scenes footage with the hottest and most respected artists in Texas. This new DVD also highlights some positive moments, which is often lost in the “rap world,” such as Trae tha Truth being recognized for his accomplishments, in the city of Houston and being given his own holiday, known as “TRAE DAY.”

“I try to focus more on those timeless moments, and leave the beef to the mainstream media,” said director Ariel Santschi.

Pitch Control TV’s Texas All-Star Edition features UGK, Slim Thug, Trae, Big Pokey, Lil’ Keke, E.S.G. and the Screwed Up Click, to name a few.

Be sure to check out www.pitchcontroltv.com to keep up with the streets and latest music in the South.

Ariel Santschi, director of PCTV’s Mixtape DVD series fortunately had groundbreaking success with the release of the Soldiers United For Cash documentary, which he shot with Legendary producer DJ Screw, two weeks before his untimely passing.

That opportunity opened doors, which led Santschi to shooting and directing multiple projects/documentaries with some of the biggest and most respected names in Southern rap today including: Z-Ro, Scarface and the Legendary Pimp C (RIP).

Pitch Control TV Mixtape DVD Volume III will be released Tuesday, September 29th. Volume III is an inventive format containing almost 2 hours of interviews, exclusive concert footage, music videos and some behind the scenes footage of the hottest and most respected artists in South today.

This Texas All-Star Edition features: UGK, Trae tha Truth, Slim Thug, Lil Flip, Big Pokey, Lil’ KeKe, Big Hawk (RIP) and all the Screwed Up Click members, to name a few.

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You can also find hidden segments throughout the DVD, with special bonus material. This DVD will be a positive demonstration of what is yet to come out of the South and with 12 years of filming the underground music scene, Santschi is clever at bringing out the best in his focus.

For more information, visit: www.pitchcontroltv.com.