A Must: Elaine Mensah invites you to the 'Fashion AND Technology' Panel during Digital Capital Week in Washington, DC on Saturday June 19 at 2:15PM at UMC Conference Facility 900 Massachusetts Ave NW

I’m a big fan of Elaine Mensah, the Founder & Fashion Director of SVELTE, LLC –she’s at the very top of her fashion game and continues to inspire me. Elaine has put together a panel to look at fashion and technology, -and the impact of social & new media on the industry, -and DC's blossoming fashion industry; and I feel that this free event is a ‘must’. Unfortunately, I’m based in London and will not be there in person but will be watching the panel live at:http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dcweekfatpanel and the discussion via Twitter - #FATDCWEEK LIVE so tell everyone and let’s support Elaine and learn more about this billion dollar industry. For more information about the 'Fashion AND Technology' Panel visit: http://dcweekfatpanel.eventbrite.com/

For more information about Elaine Mensah visit:http://www.svelte-emc.com/

Adjoa Andoh, Leah Ocran and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith star in Joe Turner’s ‘Come and Gone’ at the Young Vic, London -until 3 July

**If the latest reviews about Joe Turner’s ‘Come and Gone’ are correct –then this play’s the hottest ticket in town.

“It's instructive to see, a full century before the advent of Barack Obama, how the black migrant community was adjusting to new opportunities while still shackled in the past. The strange travelling couple of Herald and his daughter, frozen in their overcoats, it seems, are beautifully played by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Leah Ocran, and Lan's company includes good work, too, from Danny Sapani and Adjoa Andoh as the hosts, Daniel Cerqueira as a local pedlar (the one white character) and Petra Letang as a girl with two suitcases and a penchant for "company". Michael Coveney [The Independent]

"Winner of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play

After seven long years, Herald Loomis has been released from Joe Turner’s slave gang. Now he is scouring Pittsburgh for the wife he left behind. And for the road that will lead him to freedom and his rightful place in a new world.

David Lan directs an extraordinary cast featuring Delroy Lindo, star of many hit films including The Cider House Rules, A Life Less Ordinary, Get Shorty and Malcolm X. He appears alongside Adjoa Andoh star of the Oscar-nominated Invictus and Danny Sapani, star of E4's Misfits. The ensemble also features acclaimed TV and theatre actors Kobna Holdbrook-Smith and Petra Letang (Naomi in EastEnders) as well as rising stars Nathaniel Martello-White, Demi Oyediran and Riann Steele."  www.youngvic.org

Young Vic
66 The Cut
Waterloo
London
SE1 8LZ
020 7922 2922
For more information visit: http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/joe-turners-come-and-gone

A Must: Hemma’s Trunk Show this Friday in Soho NYC…

As you all know, -I love, love Hemma’s elegant designs –and since writing about them last year, -have watched them go from strength-to-strength; featured in Essence and LUCKY magazine and BET. And in a warm appreciation to all their lovely customers -are having a Trunk Show this Friday in Soho showcasing the collection and celebrating Hemma's meteoric success. For more information visit: http://www.thehemmacollection.com/

Feast your eyes on the latest designs from Vlisco’s new ‘Sparkling Grace’ Collection…..

'SPARKLING GRACE': SHINE LIKE A STAR
"All your senses will celebrate the colourful new fabric collection ‘Sparkling Grace’ by Vlisco. Go up the stairs and feel the sensation of melodious pulsations leading to a spectacle of bright colours. The designs coordinate the rhythm of movement. Clear graphic lines give a feeling of the beat while numerous floral designs make up the melody, blossoming into a range of vibrant fabrics. ‘Sparkling Grace’ pays homage to elegance and femininity, magnifying both your inner and outer beauty. So take the stage and shine like a star." http://www.vlisco.com/

**For more information or to place an order visit: http://www.vlisco.com/

Media: Terry Baddoo

**I’ve enjoyed listening to Terry Baddoo since his 'Newsround' days and just wanted to celebrate him. Over the years this proficient: journalist, presenter and News reader -has inspired me to want to be the best I can be and I’m so proud that he’s of Ghanaian heritage …The following is more information about Mr Baddoo:

Terry Baddoo is a television sports presenter. He is half English and half Ghanaian, and comes from a theatrical family. His maternal grandmother appeared in the first ever television broadcast from London's Alexandra Palace. His father was an actor. His sister is a well known choreographer and arts director. And his brother-in-law is the Grammy-nominated producer, John Saxon.

Baddoo was born in London, England, and earned a Bachelors degree in Education from London University. After a brief period teaching in London and Los Angeles, he began his journalistic career as a features writer with Custom Car magazine in England, and later worked for IPC magazines and on the historic launch of Britain's first color newspaper, Today.

In the mid-1980's he worked in BBC Schools television, then hosted the news and current affairs show, Black Londoners, on Radio London. Later, he joined BBC TV as a reporter and occasional presenter of the BBC children's news programme, Newsround,for which he reported from numerous global events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall; the end of apartheid in South Africa; and the Barcelona Olympics. He subsequently worked for BBC News as a sports reporter and presenter on BBC Breakfast News and BBC World. He also freelanced for the satellite TV channel, Sky, as a football reporter and rugby features producer.

Since 1995, he has been the main U.S based sports anchor for CNN International's World Sport, writing and presenting a twice daily live show of news and features on the day's top sports stories from CNN Center in Atlanta, and reporting from the field at many major sporting events. He also provides sports bulletins and commentary for all the CNN International News shows,and is a regular columnist on the CNN World Sport website.

Prior to worklng in the media, Baddoo, a teenage triallist with Crystal Palace and Chelsea, played semi-professional football, and is a qualified referee. He supports Arsenal, but has confessed on-air that he doesn't "hate Spurs either", as they were both his local teams growing up. [Credit: http://www.ask.com/wiki/Terry_Baddoo?qsrc=3044]


CNN
Terry Baddoo is a sports anchor for CNN International (CNNI), based in the network's world headquarters in Atlanta. He is one of the presenters of the network's global sport highlight and news show World Sport.

Baddoo joined CNNI in October 1995. Bringing a wealth of international sports experience, he previously served as a sports anchor and reporter for BBC World, BBC Breakfast News, BBC Sport, BBC TV News, Sky Sports, BBC Newsround, BBC On The Line and BBC Schools. Before working in television, Baddoo worked extensively in print journalism. He was a reporter at several publications, including Today Newspaper, IPC Magazines, Link House Publications, Sunday Express Magazine, Carlton Magazine and Tennis Magazine.

Throughout his career, Baddoo has covered essentially every major international sporting event of recent times from World Cup football matches to the past three summer Olympics to Grand Slam tennis tournaments to World Championship boxing matches. He has interviewed numerous sports stars including football's David Beckham and Pele; gold medal Olympians Michael Johnson, Marion Jones and Carl Lewis; cricket players Steve Waugh and Wasim Akram; tennis superstars Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Venus and Serena Williams as well as Michael Schumacher from Formula One racing and Lennox Lewis from the world of boxing. Baddoo received a degree from the University of London. Credit: http://edition.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/baddoo.terry.html]

Charity: Ghana Rising says a big thanks to Lynne Symonds

*Lynne Symonds is another unsung hero -making a big difference in the lives of our people back home in Ghana. The following is more information about this incredible woman. Be inspired and donate. Thank you.................x

Title: Norfolk woman's fresh plea over Ghana charity By: Tara Greaves / Last updated: 07/05/2010 15:00:0
A Norfolk woman who has been honoured for her work helping to transform the lives of children in poverty-stricken Ghana has urged people to continue to support her charity after being turned down for a much needed Comic Relief grant for the third time.

Lynne Symonds has helped thousands of deprived children by improving education and health through the Wulugu Project she set up more than 16 years ago - even being honoured by being made the chief of two remote tribes for her tireless work.

But she appealed for people in East Anglia to continue to support the project after once again being turned down for funding.

“Wulugu has helped many thousands of kids in Ghana and quadrupled the numbers of girls in Wulugu schools in the remote north as well as rescuing hundreds of older girls from slavery,” said Lynne, who lives in Great Melton.

“We are now starting to extend one of our vocational schools for girls, it is the only lifeline for many with huge waiting list for girls to have education. They learn about nutrition, health and family care as well as a locally marketable skill. Before we came along, they were really without hope. Now the whole community is working with us to change so many lives.

“We have just been turned down by Comic Relief for a grant to help more women and girls. They say: 'It is not clear that this approach will bring about long term sustainable change in the lives of women and girls in northern Ghana' - this, despite our enormously successful track record, all achieved without employing anyone. I know that we are competing with large charities that can employ professionals to raise funds and this is a real problem.”

Though disappointed Lynne, a retired teacher, said the Wulugu Project had managed to do so much in the past without the grant help and will do the same again, if local fundraisers continue their generosity.

A spokeswoman for Comic Relief said: “Comic Relief has a robust process for assessing each application against set criteria. We cannot comment on individual cases but offer a telephone appointment with unsuccessful applicants to offer feedback.”

Lynne, who made the national headlines in 1996 when she became the first white woman to become a tribal chief in northern Ghana, is not only planning to go ahead and extend the vocational school but also push on with another scheme to make dilapidated schools useable again.

“Over the years we have been able to make enormous improvements to schools that have been damaged by the weather,” she said.

“Relatively small amounts are needed to put the buildings back into use. The areas we work in are so remote that the children are likely to be left without a building for many years. This means that most drop out of education completely.”

Currently, top of the list are: Kubori Primary - West Mamprusi which has major cracks in the walls that are falling down and needs flooring and windows at a cost of £3,500.

Yagaba Primary - West Mamprusi which needs roofing, floors, new walls, plastering and painting. This is a major project and will cost £4,000.

“We have had so much support in the past from local people, everyone who has given should feel very proud of themselves. It doesn't matter how small the donation, every little helps and 99p out of every £1 goes directly to changing lives,” said Lynne, who runs the project with help from an eight-strong committee.

If you would like to help, write to:
Wulugu Project
Church Farm, Great Melton
Norwich, NR9 3BH
Or call 01603 810748/ 01603 628709.
For more information about the project or to donate visit: http://www.wulugu.co.uk/

[Credit: http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED06%20May%202010%2015%3A59%3A13%3A503]

I know ‘My Redeemer Lives’ – [as sang by Nicole C Mullen]

I don’t know what's going on; –my mind wants to write about fashion but my heart and soul –wants to [only] praise God –right now. Well......today –I found out that I love God more than what –anyone could possibly think of me! He is bigger than fashion, bigger than my fears, bigger than my wants –and there I say it.....bigger than my dreams. I know that my Redeemer lives –and I’m not ashamed of the gospel.

*Don’t make anyone bigger than you; they are the same as you –but remember, -to never make yourself bigger than God. You must have reverence for God –because without it, -a person is never [truly] beautiful.

My mother and I have always had a somewhat ...non existence relationship [most of my life]. But a few days ago, -we met up and embraced, cried together and let all the past go.....all by Gods perfect grace..... And I feel so light; so free, so Blessed, so redeemed, so born again, –so happy....so alive –and beautiful. A lifetime of not feeling a certain kind of love –has ended. My heart’s no longer missing a piece...Thank you daddy God.....Paulina Opoku-Gyimah...xx

Redeemed:
To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum.
To fulfill (a pledge, for example).
To set free; rescue or ransom.
To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.
To make up for:
To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of: