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Join me and tune in to WRIU on Sunday, February 7 from 2-5 PM

KINGSTON, RI - For more than twenty years, Peter Dante has been spreading the sound and gospel of reggae music from a point in southern Rhode Island - the University of RI, Kingston Campus. That is the home and headquarters of WRIU, 90.3 FM, a student- and community-run radio station known for playing independent, noncommercial, and eclectic music. Dante has been holding it down there since 1982, holding different slots but staying steadfast to rocksteady and other forms of reggae.

On Sunday, February 7, I, Venus Sings of Venus Sings Radio and Voices of Women, will try my best at shape-shifting as I fill in for Dante on his Sunday afternoon “Reggae Showcase” program. Every week, from 2:00 - 5:00 PM (EST) on 90.3 FM (in and around RI) and streaming online at www.wriu.org, Dante provides listeners with the best in “roots, reggae, dub, rock[steady] and ska,” and I’ve signed up to be the substitute teacher for his classroom of students and music lovers.

Now no, I won’t be the almost thirty-year reggae playing, radio hosting veteran and guru people know and love, but I am a disciple of Bob Marley, an admirer of Sanchez, and a scholar of Sly and Robbie; a collector of Queen Ifrica, a sister of Tanya Stephens, and a soldier for Etana. In sum, I look forward to the show and I hope you do too.

Sunshine and laughter,
Venus Sings (DJ Reza Wreckage)

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Rhode Island Young Professionals Invite You To Its 
7th ANNUAL  WINTER SOIREE.  
 
PROVIDENCE, RI ‐ The Rhode Island Young Professionals, an auxiliary organization to the Urban League of Rhode Island, announces its 7th Annual Winter Soiree, themed “Taking The Torch, Tomorrows Leaders Today.” Scheduled for Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at the Providence Marriott (1 Orms Street) from 6:00pm to 1:00am, the event will feature a night of decadence, grace, and stature punctuated by a live jazz ensemble, special dinner, a brief awards ceremony, and plenty of dancing.

Keith Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, will be the keynote speaker for the evening. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Stokes served as the Treasurer of the RI Economic Development Corporation and worked as the Executive Director of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce for over 15 years. He will deliver a message focused on the importance of investing in young professionals. John Guice, Reporter at ABC 6 News, and RIYP’s very own, Reza C. Clifton (RezaRitesRi.com), will serve as the master and mistress of ceremonies.
 
All professionals, both young and old will be inspired and encouraged as the leaders of a new tomorrow. For more information, contact Raymond Watson at 401‐338‐7606 or at Rlwatson06@yahoo.com 

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by Reza Corinne Clifton

WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, January 28, 2010, Families USA, a national organization, began Health Action 2010 - its conference for consumer health advocates. The three day conference ended on Saturday afternoon, January 30 after being held at The Hyatt Regency Washington, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC.

According to Families USA, which is a Washington, DC-based nationally-serving nonprofit organization, the 2009 conference drew approximately 800 participants from more than 40 states.

This year’s conference featured a powerful group of leaders, informants, and advocates who talked about health reform legislation, field strategies for advancing the message about health equity, and strategies to keep constituents engaged. On Friday, January 29, yours truly, Reza Rites - in part representing UrbanHealthWatch.net - co-presented on the topic of “Getting Your Message Out: Strategies for Advancing Health Equity.”

It was day two of Health Action 2010 and after a 10:45 AM start and a preceding talk on engaging the traditional media, your RezaRitesRi.com/Urban Health Watch editor, delivered “Spread the Word in 2010: Health Equity Today, Tomorrow and Right Now,” a presentation which included statistics about diversity in the media to illustrate why advocates need to take matters into their own hands and tips on starting, maintaining and sharing new media projects and social networking accounts.

Photos and additional coverage of the conference are available at UrbanHealthWatch.net, but to catch a glimpse at what I shared, click here to download the presentation.

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Isis Storm is back in 2010; you didn’t think we were going somewhere, did you?

TONIGHT Sunday, January 24, 5:30 PM:

Isis Storm Presents…2010: The Year of the Woman
A New Year’s Celebration Honoring Women

Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Mediator Fellowship Center
50 Rounds Ave., in Providence, RI

$5 dollar donations (more optional)

Are you needing your soul and spirit to be moved, awakened, altered for the new year? Then come to the Mediator Fellowship Center, 50 Rounds Ave, Providence RI. Doors open at 5:30 PM with music by Isis Storm Co-founder “DJ Reza Wreckage.” A potluck dinner starts at 6pm, followed by an open mic and feature performances by Monsurat Ottun, Natasha Clay, Michelle Cruz and other members of the Isis Storm collective. $5 dollar donations (more optional) will be collected at the door. To sign up for the open mic, or to coordinate bringing a dish, email beginthestorm@gmail.com or call 401-497-5246.

Venus Sings at Funda Fest
Catch me, Reza Rites aka Venus Sings On Friday, January 22 at Spoken Word and Love Stories, a Funda Fest 12 event.

PROVIDENCE, RI - In case you missed it, the 12th year of Funda Fest began this week with its workshops, story swaps, school shows, and special performances. The annual cultural festival is organized by the RI Black Storytellers, a non-profit organization “dedicated to promoting the awareness, appreciation, and application of Black Storytelling in Rhode Island through performance, educational, and cultural experiences.”

Well the event continues tomorrow, on Friday January 22, with “Spoken Word and Love Stories.” The event will be hosted by spoken word poet, Christopher Johnson and dj’d by ME, Venus Sings/DJ Reza Wreckage. The event starts at 10pm, admission is $5, and it will take place at Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House, 209 Douglas Avenue in Providence, RI.

Join Johnson, me, and a host of other performers including a special preview performance by the Funda Fest 12 headlining performer, Grammy-nominated Christon Bacon, aka Christylez (pronounced Chris- styles) a progressive hip-hop artist out of Washington, DC. He performs for the Funda Fest Storytelling Concert and Market Place on Saturday, January 23, at 8 PM at the Michael P Metcalf Auditorium at Rhode Island School of Design, 20 North Main St in Providence, RI. For more information about the show visit www.ribsfest.com. For more about Funda Fest, click here.

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Venus Sings Radio

You know the deal: women, music, community.

Venus Sings Radio
Saturday, January 23, 2010
9 - 11 AM (est)

Hear it: 90.3 FM or www.wriu.org
Contact: www.VenusSings.com;
studio lines: 401-792-9030 or 1-888-303-9748

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WESTERLY, RI - Funda Fest 12, an annual cultural festival organized by the RI Black Storytellers, begins on Sunday, January 17 with “Tales from Black History,” a Family Storytelling Concert. It starts at 1 pm, admission is free, and it happens at a new location: The Westerly Armory, 8 Dixon St in Westerly, RI.

Funda Fest continues all week, bringing workshops, story swaps, school shows, and public performances of spoken word, love stories, folk tales, and true stories from Westerly to Woonsocket, Providence to Newport. Headlining this year’s invited national guests is Grammy-nominated Christon Bacon, aka Christylez (pronounced Chris- styles) a progressive hip-hop artist out of Washington, DC.

”We are so excited to have Christylez with us this year. Several of us had seen him at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC this past summer. He is a young guy with a lot of talent and a great mix of old traditions and new flavor. Christylez is a talented musician and a poet who understands the Black oral tradition,” says Valerie Tutson, FUNDA FEST Director. “We had invited him, and then found out he will be headed to LA right after he leaves Rhode Island.” Christylez has been nominated in the “Best Musical Album for Children” category for a collaboration done with Folk/Children Music Duo, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.

Other updates to the schedule include to the event on Friday, January 22: Spoken Word and Love Stories hosted by Christopher Johnson. The event starts at 10pm and will take place at Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House, 209 Douglas Avenue in Providence, RI. Admission is $5.

To read the full press release about Funda Fest 12, click here. For up-to-the-minute updates and info about the RI Black Storytellers, visit www.ribsfest.org.

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WOONSOCKET, RI - Join Reza Rites of RezaRitesRi.com, VenusSings.com, and IsisStorm.com, in Woonsocket, RI on the day commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. MLK Day Woonsocket: “Tomorrow is Today: Fulfilling the Purpose” Monday, January 18 from 10 AM - 2:30 PM at the Stadium Theater (28 Monument Square, Woonsocket) and Beacon Charter High School (320 Main St., Woonsocket). Registration begins at 9:30am in the Stadium Theater Lobby.

Spread the Word!
Everyone is Welcome and it’s Free!

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Schedule of Events

9:30am - 10am, Registration

10am - 10:30am, Opening Ceremonies

Robert S. Harvey: Robert, age 20, is a Sociology and Social Research major, Business Administration and Political Science double minor at Bryant University; post-graduation this May he will be attending Dartmouth College to study for a Master of Public Health degree. Along with academia, he has been a licensed minister for six years and involved in a variety of capacities with community organizations, spiritual centers, and economic-development corporations.

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10:30am - 12:45pm, Workshops

Fulfilling the Purpose: Self

Presented by Marlon Carey and Reza Clifton

How do you fulfill the purpose? How are you defined? How do you define yourself?

By asking these and other questions, this workshop will focus on understanding imposed identities and how they are created, enabling participants to move beyond these imposed identities by asserting “I AM” through the powerful medium of artistic spoken word.
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Fulfilling the Purpose: Community

Presented by Robert Harvey and Ainsley Morisseau

How does your community fulfill the purpose? What are your community’s weaknesses? What strengths do you bring to help rebuild your community?

This workshop will assess areas in need of improvement present in our local communities and will help participants build bridges in an effort to solve some of those problems. Community challenges to consider will include infrastructure, apathy, and racism, among others.
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Fulfilling the Purpose: Global

Presented by Mike Rinker, Mohamed Kalifa Kamara and Gigi Desaulniers

What can you do in order to fulfill the purpose internationally? What are some of the major global issues that need to be addressed? Why should we care?

Using the universal language of music, this workshop will bring participants together to discuss important global issues from poverty to climate change. The presenters will discuss how their musical journey has helped them address global issues and experience new cultures.

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12:45pm - 1:30pm, Multi-Cultural Lunch

Taste of Woonsocket: For the second year, Woonsocket restaurants have participated in the “Taste of Woonsocket” event, highlighting the fantastic diverse cuisine our city has to offer. Special thanks to:

African Restaurant

The Burrito Company

The Cakery

Vintage

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1:35pm - 1:40pm, Address from Mayor Leo Fontaine

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1:40pm - 2:20pm, Cultural Celebration

Todashia Adekeye: Todashia is a talented Woonsocket songstress on the rise. She has been a lead vocalist for MusicOne and local super-band, Rooted Sound. Todashia began her singing career in the church and has been singing for many years and has a solo debut CD due in 2010.

Marlon O. Carey: Marlon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and has extensive knowledge in Communications and Media Arts. He authored 3 books of poetry and 1 Spoken Word/Hip Hop CD. When the school day is over, Marlon transforms into his alter ego; increasingly popular and super-talented local emcee, Inphynit.

Michelle Cruz: Michelle Cruz is a singer/songwriter who blends jazz, folk and rock in her music. Michelle was asked to perform for her music hero, the late Jeff Buckley, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Gathering and Tribute concert in Cleveland which proved to be a life changing experience. Called “Sultry” by the Jeff Buckley International Newsletter, Michelle has opened for the likes of folk legend Judy Collins, appeared on WXPN’s World Cafe Live and venues such as the legendary Bitter End in NYC. Michelle is currently recording her debut album, which will include the single “Not Saying Never.”

Gigi Desaulniers: GiGi Desaulniers has been traveling back and forth to India for more than 25 years involved in issues related to poverty and women. She is president of IPAE International Kolkata (India) and founding director of the Institute for Poverty Awareness and Education, Inc. working with team partner, SWARAJ in Northern West Bengal with a micro lending program presently serving more than 1,000 women. She also owns GiGi’s Global Specialty Art & Gifts at 68 South Main Street, Woonsocket.

Mohamed Kalifa Kamara: Born in a village in Guinea, West Africa, Mohamed began his career in the Gambia where he started his own dancing and drumming group, later becoming the artistic director of the African Ballet of Gambia. Mohamed continues to teach dancing and drumming all over New England in school systems and at various Universities. He is an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music.

MusicOne: Located in Providence, Music One is constructed to support young artists at various stages of their individual artistic development. The program provides participants with diverse resources including the environment needed to support creative artistic growth, a venue for performances and the guidance
necessary to realize their full talents in the areas of writing, performing and recording original materials. The participants span many genres, including Hip Hop, Gospel, R&B and Spoken Word, with all the martial focused on the “Power of Positivity”

Terrell A. Osborne (DJ Spin): Using the alias DJ Spin, Terrell has showcased his love for music in a multitude of ways. He hosts the acclaimed radio show, “A Spin the World Movement,” airing Sundays from 9-11pm on Brown University’s 88.1 FM. Both online and over the airwaves, Spin plays the best gospel and holy hip hop and his diverse musical selection and informed commentary draw a devoted fan base of listeners that has made his show one of the station’s most downloaded programs.

Michael Rinker: Michael is a Berklee College of Music graduate, elementary school teacher, private instrument instructor, clinician, and performer.

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2:20pm - 2:30pm, Closing Ceremonies

The Gospel Inspirations: The Gospel Inspirations were formed to celebrate St. James Baptist Church’s 50th anniversary in 2004. Members included Willie Dandy, John Dandy, T.C. Dandy, Ben Washington, Willie Scurry, L. V. Mitchell, William Mitchell and Rick Dawkins. The group represented singers from the late 40s to the late 60s. The group sings quartet style, ala the Dixie Hummingbirds and the 5 Blind Guys. The group continued after the deaths of Willie and John Dandy, and now consists of Washington, Deacon Scurry, the Mitchells and Dawkins.

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12th Annual FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling
January 17-24 2010
For more information, contact Valerie Tutson at 401.439.7122

Providence, RI—Rhode Island Black Storytellers, otherwise known as RIBS, invite you to join them in FUNDA FEST 12: A Celebration of Black Storytelling, January 17-24, 2010. FUNDA means to teach and to learn in Zulu and KiSwahili. For an entire week, Rhode Island will experience some of the best cultural arts programming across the state for the 12th year in a row.

Headlining this year’s invited national guests is Grammy-nominated Christon Bacon, aka Christylez (pronounced Chris- styles) a progressive hip-hop artist out of Washington, DC.”We are so excited to have Christylez with us this year. Several of us had seen him at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in DC this past summer. He is a young guy with a lot of talent and a great mix of old traditions and new flavor. Christylez is a talented musician and a poet who understands the Black oral tradition,” says Valerie Tutson, FUNDA FEST Director. “We had invited him, and then found out he will be headed to LA right after he leaves Rhode Island.” Christylez has been nominated in the “Best Musical Album for Children” category for a collaboration done with Folk/Children Music Duo, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer.

“In addition to Christylez, we have a wonderful woman, Deborah Asante, out of Indianapolis. She has a children’s theatre company, and has been telling stories all of her life. She will be doing the Intergenerational Storytelling Workshop at the Providence Public Library on Saturday, January 23rd, and sharing some of her Love Stories for grown ups on Friday night, the 22nd”

The FUNDA FEST performers include RIBS tellers Len Cabral, Rochel Coleman, Raffini, Ramona Kolobe, and Valerie Tutson. Festival favorite, Teju Ologboni returns from Milwaukee. Local artists include Christopher Johnson, who will perform as a solo artist, and with the spoken word trio Spittin Images. Drummer Abdul Mateen will add his talents to the mix.

“This year, RIBS and FUNDA are looking to expand our circle of family and friends, “ Tutson explains, “ For several years, RIBS has been a part of the Expansion Arts Program through the Rhode Island Foundation. We have had the opportunity to work with some very fine cultural arts groups in the State. Our program is coming to an end and we had talked about finding a way to showcase these groups; to bring our communities together. FUNDA seemed like the perfect opportunity.” As a result, the Saturday night concert at the Metcalf Auditorium at RISD will include a mix of voices and performances including young African drummers from OASIS International, Thawn Harris, a Native American storyteller from the Tomaquag Indian Memorial and Museum, ECAS Theatre and music and dance from The Hmong United Association of RI. All these groups and more will be a part of the Market Place in the lobby.

It’s a full week, from Sunday to Sunday, from Westerly to Woonsocket, Providence to Newport. See part of the schedule below, and full up-to-the-minute details at www.ribsfest.org.

Sunday, January 17, 2010:
Family Storytelling Concert
Woonsocket, RI
www.ribsfest.org for details and more info

Monday, January 18, 11:30 am, 1 and 2:30 pm:
MLK Amazing Grace featuring Rochel Coleman and Valerie Tutson
Providence Children’s Museum
100 South Street, Providence RI
Free with Museum Admission

January 19-22:
RIBS tellers and invited guests perform for Storytellers in the Schools
Statewide locations. For information, call Carolyn Martino: 401 351.8090

Thursday, January 21, 6-8 pm:
Family Storytelling Concert
YWCA Northern Rhode Island
514 Blackstone Street, Woonsocket, RI
Admission: $1/children .$50/adults

Friday, January 22:
Spoken Word and Love Stories
www.ribsfest.org for details and more info

Saturday, January 23, 12:30-5 pm:
Free Family FUN-Day
Providence Public Library
150 Empire Street, Providence
- 1:00-2:15 pm: Intergenerational Storytelling Workshop with Deborah Asante
- 2:30 pm: Family Storytelling Concert featuring RIBS and invited guests
- 4:00 pm: Story Swap: Tell your own story!

Saturday, January 23, Doors open at 7:30:
Storytelling Concert and Market Place (NEW VENUE)
Michael P Metcalf Auditorium at RISD
20 North Main St, Providence 8 pm
- 7:30 PM: Marketplace opens for Cultural gifts, tellers’ merchandise and more
- 8:00 PM: RIBS’ Featured tellers and Expansion Arts Partners take the stage
- Tickets: www.ArtTixRi.com; $10/advance, $15/door, RISD students free w/ID, RISD Museum members $10 w/ID at door

Sunday, January 24, 2010, 2:00 PM:
Family Storytelling Concert
Martin Luther King Center
20 Marcus Wheatland Blvd, Newport
Donations collected on-site

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FUNDA FEST is made possible with support from The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, The Rhode Island Foundation, The Expansion Arts Program, Project Priscilla, and underwriting from the CITIZENS Bank Foundation.

Community Partners include The Providence Children’s Museum, Providence Public Library, The RISD Office of Minority Affairs, The Martin Luther King Center, Newport, The YWCA of Northern RI, The Westerly Public Library, ECAS Theatre, Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, OASIS International, The Hmong United Association of Rhode Island, and RezaRitesRi.com.

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PROVIDENCE, RI - What do Sara Tavares, Esperanza Spalding, Adele, Ceu and Eva Cortes all have in common? They all had songs or albums that played frequently in 2009 on Venus Sings Radio. Learn more about who and what I brought to the air this past year on Saturday, December 26, when I host the year’s final edition of Voices of Women and Venus Sings Radio.

From locally-, nationally- and internationally-recognized singers to field- and studio-acquired interviews, if you listened to WRIU on a Saturday from 9-11 AM, then there was a chance you heard something special, exclusive, or refreshing. Review it all with me and hear more - and start an hour early!

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Venus Sings Radio
Year-End Special

Saturday, December 26, 2009
8 - 11 AM (est)

90.3 FM in and around RI
Streaming live at wriu.org

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Catch me, Venus Sings, spinning Thursday, Dec. 17 and Friday, Dec. 18 at 393 Broad Street in Providence. I’ll be part of “Introducing…the Power of Extraordinary Everyday People,” a Breaking the Chains Community Theater showcase. (flyer is courtesy of People’s School; photo by Nataly Garcia)

PROVIDENCE, RI - If you did not see the press release I posted a few days ago, Providence is about to be exposed to an organic arts movement designed to heal those who perform and participate: Breaking the Chains Community Theater (BTC), a project of People’s School. Tonight and tomorrow, from 7-10 PM, they will be previewing their groundbreaking work, and its endless possibilities, with a showcase called “Introducing…the Power of Extraordinary Everyday People.” It takes place at the historic Theater at the Annex Building of Trinity Methodist Church, 393 Broad Street in Providence, RI.

Some may remember - or be alumni - of the first round of work done by the People’s School, for instance the “Mindz Speaking” event held at the Providence Black Repertory Company in the fall of 2006. And while co-founder Deanna “Dee Dee” Brown remains at the helm - with the support of a variety of artists and community members that collaborated before - with a new home that also serves as a performance site, a fresh cadre of recently transformed artists, and a host of new partners (including me Venus Sings/DJ Reza Wreckage), expect the unexpected, prepare for empowerment, and be ready to open your hearts and minds to a program with incredible potential.

Or come out to support your newest, favorite DJ.

Read more about People’s School and their two-day showcase below, in the organization’s press release. To read about the former incarnation of People’s School, click here.