The Brotherhood SisterSol ~ Voices 6 hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien

Save the date for Voices 6, to be hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien on May 6th, 2010

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FREE Web Design Classes...

FREE Web Design Classes... The Web Academy's Winter Schedule has been finalized and set. Classes begin Monday February 15, 2010. Our FREE Web Classes include: Intro to Web Design Intro to Graphics Design using Adobe Photoshop Intro to Scripting Applied Web Development To register visit http://www.thewebacademy.org Spread the word... Thanks EHAM Eric Hamilton Executive Director The Web Academy 305 Madison Ave suite 449 New York, NY 10165 Office: 866-295-7820 http://www.thewebacademy.org http://twitter.com/thewebacademy The Web Academy is a 501c3 organization offering free web design classes and free web services to the community.

HAITI - SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TRANSAFRICA FORUM

January 15, 2010

Port-au-Prince Devastated; Haitian Red Cross Estimates 45,000 - 50,000 Dead Summary and Recommendations for Recovery "The country does not have the infrastructure or resources to deal with a crisis of this magnitude, the U.S. and the international community must provide immediate medical, humanitarian, search and rescue, and additional supports as requested by the government of Haiti," --Nicole Lee, President of TransAfrica Forum. Summary January 12, 2010, Haiti, was hit with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, its most severe in 200 years. The epicenter of the quake was approximately 10 miles south of Port-au-Prince, the country's capital and home to over 2 million people. The city is devastated and the Haitian Red Cross estimates that 45,000 - 50,000 are dead. At this time, basic supplies -- food, water, and shelter, as well as search and recue equipment -- are the major needs. A majority of the city's population is sleeping in parks and on the streets, fearful of additional building collapse. According to a Reuters report: "Money is worth nothing right now, water is the currency." Relief supplies, along with search and rescue squads are arriving. Some groups, for example, Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, along with Cuba have doctors on the ground and have been treating victims since the quake struck. The U.S. government reports that some 2,200 Marines are en route as the military plans to assist with the delivery of humanitarian supplies, as well as security, and search and rescue missions. At least six U.S. military ships, including the hospital ship, are expected to assist. President Barack Obama has pledged 100 million in support to Haiti. The World Bank indicates that it will pledge a $100 million grant, Britain has pledged $10 million, and the Canadian government made an immediate pledge of $5 million with the offer to match charitable donations from Canadians up to $50 million. A SMALL VICTORY! Thanks to you and the work of thousands throughout the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security announced this afternoon that Haitians living in the United States on January 12, 2010 are now eligible for Temporary Protective Status! This is a significant victory; since January 2009 U.S. immigration judges have issued deportation orders to over 30,000 undocumented Haitians. Temporary protected status (TPS) is granted by the United States (Homeland Security Department) to eligible nationals of countries that cannot safely return to their homelands because of armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Haiti clearly fits this description. Haitians living in the United States have and will continue to make significant financial and other contributions to their families in Haiti. They provide critical information, analysis, and guidance to the advocacy community. Now that the threat of deportation is removed, Haitians living in the United States can continue their significant contributions to their families in Haiti and to our communities here. News updates are posted regularly on the web, click here for links to several media outlets that are providing frequent reports. Additionally, TransAfrica Forum has created a blog and daily posts updates on the situation in Haiti and summaries like this to ensure that you have the most recent information and recommended activities. In the United States advocates and legislators are already beginning to discuss the need for a major recovery plan for the country, along the lines of a Marshall Plan for Haiti. "The people of Haiti are only just beginning to recover from a decade of economic, environmental, and political shocks. The global recession, increases in international food prices, and natural disasters, including four hurricanes in 2008, have undermined the country's already weak infrastructure and increased poverty in a country already the poorest in the western hemisphere," according to Nicole Lee, President of TransAfrica Forum. "The country does not have the infrastructure or resources to deal with a crisis of this magnitude, the U.S. and the international community must provide immediate medical, humanitarian, search and rescue, and additional supports as requested by the government of Haiti, along with longer-term recovery funds," Lee continued. Recommendations Understandings of the situation in Haiti shifts as each new piece of information are announced, however, the following recommendations represent a consensus of views from the advocacy community: 1. CASH DONATIONS. Cash donations to organizations on the ground are most recommended. In-kind contributions, particularly clothing and equipment collections are discouraged as these donations are particularly hard to transport. Additionally, the Port-au-Prince airport has become the staging ground for relief activities, making distribution of clothing, etc. difficult. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private voluntary organizations (PVOs) have long-established development projects on the ground. Those organizations are best placed to assist with the country's immediate needs; we encourage supporters to contribute to two highly effective organizations that are already providing emergency services: Partners in Health. Donate online at: www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html or send your contribution to Partners in Health, P.O. Box 845578, Boston, MA 02284-5578. Doctors Without Borders. Donate online at www.doctorswithoutborders.org, or toll-free at 1-888-392-0392. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. USA Headquarters 333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001-5004. 2. EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ONLY. We have received queries regarding travel to Haiti. At this point travel to Haiti is discouraged. The airport must be kept clear for emergency personnel, and port facilities are damaged. Additionally, the roads from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, which are challenging in the best of times, must be cleared to transport Haitians requiring medical attention. 3. TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS. As noted above, the Obama administration has extended Temporary Protective Status to Haitians living in the United States. Our colleagues at the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti point out the following: "Two applications will be required -- one for TPS, another for a work permit (the work permit application fee alone is $340). DHS should waive those fees because they will prevent many from being able to apply, and those funds would add millions to Haiti recovery efforts if working Haitians could send them home in the form of remittances instead of paying them as fees." Please take a moment to send a letter of thanks to President Obama and to encourage him to waive fees in order to encourage larger remittances to Haiti. 4. COORDINATED INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ASSISTANCE. We commend President Obama for his immediate commitment of support for the people of Haiti during this time of crisis. We urge the administration to continue its efforts, in full coordination with multilateral agencies in order to ensure efficient relief efforts. We also commend governments around the world, from Cuba to Canada, and Venezuela to China for their support, as well. 5. SUPPORT FOR HAITIAN SOVEREIGNTY. Even prior to the earthquake, Haiti was the least-developed country in the Americas. The "dumping" of cheap products into its economy had destabilized the nation and underscored the need to overhaul Haiti's agriculture policies in tandem with international trade policy. Approximately 80 percent of Haiti's population lives in poverty and over half struggle to survive on less than $1 a day. Remittances that Haitians outside the country send home account for over a quarter of gross domestic product (GDP), there is chronic unemployment and the informal economy is steadily growing. Foreign aid dominated Haiti's budget (30-40 percent) and its debt stood at $1.3 billion - 40 percent of which was incurred by the Duvalier dictatorships by stealing or misspending most of the money between 1957 and 1986. The prices of products needed to fulfill basic needs have risen by more than 50 percent since 2007 and most families are forced to choose between buying food and sending their children to school. As the international discussion moves to relief to recovery and rebuilding, support for sovereignty, and policies supporting equitable and participatory economic development must be central. *** Cash donations for the immediate emergency are the priority. After you contribute to Haiti's relief, please also consider making a donation to TransAfrica Forum. If you found the above information useful, please make a donation today. TransAfrica Forum is the leading U.S. advocacy organization for Africa and the African Diaspora in U.S. foreign policy. TransAfrica Forum helped lead the world protest against apartheid in South Africa and today works for human and economic justice for African people on the continent of Africa, in Latin America and in the Caribbean. Contact us: TransAfrica Forum, 1629 K Street, N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C., 20006, 202-223-1960, www.transafricaforum.org. TransAfrica Forum | 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20006 | Phone: 202.223.1960 | Fax: 202.223.1966 | info@transafricaforum.org

Vote for Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation

Vote for Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation

Chase Community Giving - A program run by Chase that will allow Facebook users to vote for local charities and non-profits, and help direct Chase corporate philanthropy dollars to eligible organizations. The grassroots campaign aims to inspire a new way of ePhilanthropy.

The eligible charity receiving the most votes will be awarded $1 million, the top five runners-up will receive $100,000 each and the 100 finalists, including the top winners, will be awarded $25,000 each.

- Voting for Round 1 has begun and ends December 11.
- Voting for Round 2 ends January 22, 2010.
- The top charities will be announced on or around February 1.

Here's how to do it:
1. Go to http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/home/faq and type in Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation. You are allowed to vote up to twenty other charities. It's that easy.
2. Forward the link to your friends on Facebook as ask them to support your and the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation in their voting.
3. Ask them to get three supporters to vote for the Wall Street Alphas Charitable Foundation.

Chase will use Facebook to allow participants of the Chase Community Giving program to select local causes and organizations in need of support focused on the issues that matter most.

Five Black Friday deals you shouldn't miss

Five Black Friday deals you shouldn't miss by Rick Broida Read full story Acer Aspire One Netbook If you're going to stand in line for something, make it the Acer Aspire One 10-inch Netbook for $149.99 at Office Max. Needless to say, that's a seriously smoking deal--though I still wouldn't get up at 5 a.m. for it. Would you? Bing Gold Rush Many people really like Microsoft's Bing cashback program, and with good reason: After buying stuff you were going to buy anyway, you get money back. Three percent here, 10 percent there--it adds up. Starting Black Friday, retailers like AT&T, eBay, Gap, Sears, and Walmart will be raising their cashback rates as high as 35 percent. Microsoft didn't give me any specific details, but if you're planning to shop online, Bing is probably a smart place to start. Fast Video Converter Pro Normally $24.95, this handy utility is available free, no strings attached, as part of a Thanksgiving promotion. FVC Pro supports just about every video format on the planet, from 3GP to Divx to WMV. It's perfect for converting videos to play on, say, your iPhone or Zune. Don't wanna wait until Turkey Day? You can actually grab this freebie right now, and up until Nov. 30. MiFi 2200 One of my favorite gadgets of 2009, the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 is literally a Wi-Fi hotspot in your pocket. It's normally $99.99 with a two-year Sprint contract, but Best Buy will be selling it free with said contract. I don't know if they'll be offering the same deal on the Verizon version, which I suspect many people would prefer. But I do think this will be an in-store-only offer, so plan on a trip to your local BB. Navigon for iPhone As part of a Thanksgiving-weekend-trip-to-grandma's promotion, Navigon's MobileNavigator app [iTunes link] is on sale for $69.99. You can also grab, in-app, the new Traffic Live feature for $14.99, a combined savings of $30. Then grab yourself a basic windshield mount like this one and you can put your old, crummy GPS up on eBay.

Top 5 Must-Read Social Media Books

Top 5 Must-Read Social Media Books Posted: 13 Nov 2009 10:00 AM PST Steve Cunningham is the CEO of Polar Unlimited, a digital marketing agency. To win a signed and personalized copy of each of the books mentioned here, visit Read It For Me. So you want to get up to speed fast on the latest social media thinking. Maybe give your colleague, boss or friend a dose of new social strategies. But where to start? Amazon nicely suggests 44,444 titles that they would be delighted to overnight direct to your bookshelf. Ummm, no thanks. Fortunately, you've got your own social media fairy right here. (Hi!) We've already done the hard part for you, and have narrowed down those 44,444 titles to 5 killer must-reads that can get you on the road to social media stardom. Abracadabra!

Working Your Degree with Feniosky Peña-Mora

Working Your Degree with Feniosky Peña-Mora,

Dean of Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Thursday, November 12, 2009

301 Philosophy Hall, GSAS Lounge of Columbia University

6:00 - 7:30 pm

The Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race is launching a new speaker series, Working Your Degree, on the practical applications of degrees in various interdisciplinary fields of study (such as gender studies, Latino/a studies, and African American studies).  Over the course of the next academic year, this series will feature individual speakers and panels with prominent individuals from a wide range of fields such as academia, the arts, and the public sector, etc.  The speaker for the first event on November 12 is Feniosky Peña-Mora, the recently appointed Dean of SEAS.  Co-sponsored by the Institute for Research in African-American Studies and Center for Career Education.

This event is free and open to the public, however, seating is limited and on a first come first serve basis.  Talk will be followed by a brief reception.

Brick Walls & Glass Ceilings Part I: Six Career Roadblocks

Brick Walls & Glass Ceilings Part I: Six Career Roadblocks 
by Dawn Dugan,

Workplace challenges are inevitable. But most challenges we undertake go hand-in-hand with obstacles that interfere with—and sometimes even prevent—our progress.

Think of your career as a road complete with twists and turns, bumps and potholes, speed bumps and detours. You can reach your destination. The key lies in recognizing specific barriers, and using time-tested strategies to knock them down.

9 Career Stoppers for Women

9 Career Stoppers for Women

By Barbara Reinhold, Monster Contributing Writer

Few doubt that the corporate deck is stacked against women to some degree. Still, women sometimes undermine their own best efforts. Here are nine career stoppers that can prevent women from advancing in their careers. Do any of them figure into your modus operandi? Click to continue

Book Signing- Clawing at the Limits of Cool: Miles Davis, John Coltrane and the Greatest Jazz Collaboration Ever

Clawing at the Limits of Cool: Miles Davis, John Coltrane and the Greatest Jazz Collaboration Ever
Presented by Center for Jazz Studies - Columbia University
Wednesday, November 11 @ 7:30 pm

Columbia University in the City of New York
Venue: 301 Philosophy Hall, 116th Street and Amsterdam Ave Columbia University Morningside Campus
New York, NY 10027

A book reading and signing with Farah Jasmine Griffin (Columbia University) and Salim Washington (Brooklyn College). When Miles Davis invited the young John Coltrane to join his quintet in 1955, a collaboration was born that would change the landscape of jazz. In their new book, ''Clawing at the Limits of Cool," Farah Jasmine Griffin and Salim Washington focus on the profound implications of this collaboration.

Presenter: Columbia University Center for Jazz Studies