JUSSIE SMOLLETT AMONG THREE TO BE HONORED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS...

Actor and recording artist Jussie Smollett stands among three courageous individuals who have given tireless in the struggle against HIV/AIDS. The 2015 Heroes in the Struggle Gala reception and awards presentation at the Director's Guild of America will honor Smollett, star of FOX's hit TV show Empire, Vanessa Mills, Executive Director of Empower U Inc. in Miami, Florida, Gregorio Millett, Vice President and Director of Public Policy for amfAR, and Janssen Therapeutics, a leading virology company focusing on HIV and Hepatitis C. The evening will include a special tribute to Jussie Smollett by fellow Empire cast members Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Gabourey Sidibe, and producer, director Lee Daniels.

"We are honoring three remarkable individuals and an exceptional corporation who have made heroic contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Phill Wilson, President and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute. This year's event will focus on Family and Black Lives Matter.

"We seem to have an epidemic of unarmed young Black men and boys being killed by police," says Wilson.  "The bar for killing a Black male in America has gotten tragically low.  Our righteous indignation over the complete disregard for Black lives cannot begin when we are dead in the streets.  Black Lives have to matter when we notice the achievement gap between Black boys and other racial ethnic groups that start as early as the sixth grade.  Black Lives have to matter when the unemployment rate for Black teenage boys in Chicago is over 50%.  Black lives have to matter when nearly half of the new HIV cases in America are Black.  30% of Black gay and bisexual men in America are already infected with HIV and 60% of them don't know it.  AIDS in America today is a Black disease.  You can't believe Black lives matter and not be concerned about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in America.  The Black AIDS Institute exists because Black Lives matter!"

The star studded event will be hosted by Brian J. White, who just completed a season on Scandal with Kerry Washington.  Other presenters scheduled to appear are Jurnee Smollett-Bell (The Great Debaters), Elvis Nolasco (ABC's American Crime), Nelson Ellis (True Blood), TV and film director Anthony Hemmingway (The Newsroom, Shameless), Shanola Hampton (Showtime's Shameless), and Tracie Thoms (Annie, Veep).  Musical guests include Angie Fisher, Mervyn Warren, and B. Slade. Others scheduled to attend include Vanessa Williams, Anna Maria Horsford, Rockmond Dunbar, Lamman Rucker, and Tasha Smith.

This year's Gala will be followed by an after party sponsored by Merck featuring The Charlene Moore Project in a tribute to Sylvester, with Lynn Fiddmont and Kim Yarbrough, hosted by Jackée.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the event. To order tickets go to BlackAIDS.org or www.HITS2015.EventBrite.com.  Tickets start at $75.00.

 

Community: Justice Prevails in Case of Murdered Cleveland Family...

Six months after the murders of a Cleveland family, a suspect has been arrested and charged with their killings. 19-year old James E. Sparks-Henderson has been arrested and charged with five counts of aggravated murder. 

In November 2014, 41-year old Sherita Johnson was murdered along with her unborn baby, 19-year old son Ja'Rio Taylor, his 17-year old girlfriend Shaylona Williams, and her 60-year old boyfriend, Lemon Bryant. Her 9-year old daughter was shot as well, but survived the ordeal. 

In December, we had the opportunity to feature family members of Sherita Johnson on Urban Grandstand Live! They headed a march on New Years' Day to not only honor the memories of his lost loved ones, but to encourage the community to speak up about what they may have seen. 

No details have been released regarding any possible motive, or the connection between Sparks-Henderson and the deceased. Continue to check back, as we'll keep you updated as the story progresses. 

Charges to Be Filed in Case of Freddie Gray Death....

Freddie Gray

In a shocking announcement heard loud around the world, prosecutors have confirmed that charges will be filed in the case of Freddie Gray, who was injured while being arrested by Baltimore Police, and later died as a result of his injuries.  

In all, six officers on the Baltimore Police force will be charged as a result of Gray's death. Gray suffered a "severe and critical neck injury" after being handcuffed and shackled, and unrestrained in a police van. Charges range from second-degree assault and involuntary manslaughter to second-degree depraved heart murder, which in essences classifies Gray's murder as unintentional. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of each officer, and each is expected to be arraigned as the day proceeds. 

Baltimore Mom and Son Land on ABC's The View...

Just days after catching her 16-year old son throwing rocks at Police Officers in Baltimore, Maryland, Toya Graham has appeared on ABC's The View with her son. 

Graham has been praised by many for literally yanking her son away from recent protests in Baltimore that erupted in the wake of funeral services for Freddie Gray. Gray died after suffering a severe spinal cord injury while in Baltimore Police custody. 

While on the view, Graham stated that her motherly instincts told her that her son, Michael Singleton, would be present at the protests. When co-host Rosie Perez asked Graham what was going through her mind, she had this to say: "I think because of the fact I had been watching everything on the news and when you're right there with the police, and you're actually seeing these rocks and stones thrown at the police, I was like Oh my God, and to turn around and to see my son right there with a rock, I was like in a rage because at the end of the day this gentleman still lost his life. Throwing rocks at the police is not going to bring him back. That's not our justice."

Michael stated he had gone to fight for those friends he had  known to be beaten and killed. Guest co-host Raven-Symoné jokingly asked Singleton how it felt to get his ass whipped on television. He now says that he knows he is loved. "Now, I feel like my mother do care about me, and I shouldn't have been there."

As for those criticizing Graham for being too rough with her son, she has no qualms about what she did. "I respond to that just by what it was. I'm a single mom taking care of children and when you tell your child to do something and you see they're in self destruct and knowing exactly why he was there and it was for no good, it just brought anger to me. Without the cameras being seen and trying to live on a daily basis and take care of your children and make sure they have somewhere to eat and a roof over their heads, you don't worry about what people are saying because at the end of the day, he's my child. 

For continued updates and coverage of what's going on in Baltimore Maryland and the case of Freddie Gray, remain tuned into Urban Grandstand Digital!

Black Male Summit 2015...

What an awesome event today in #Akron Ohio! The #BlackMaleSummit, which extends throughout today and tomorrow, features keynote speakers #JalenRose, Dr #MichaelEricDyson, Dr #MarcLamontHill - someone who I've definitely looked up to as a journalist, and #MauriceClarett among others. Definitely a powerful weekend of events geared at increasing the retention and graduation rates for African-American males in higher education. Definitely worth checking out this weekend if you're in the area!

Steve Harvey to Speak at the 20th Annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit...

NEW YORK, March 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Where Innovation and Capital Meet. Join BLACKENTERPRISE at the 2015 Entrepreneurs Summit hosted by Nationwide on Wednesday, May 13 through Saturday, May 16, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, with a powerhouse lineup of some of the nation's most accomplished and celebrated entrepreneurs and motivational speakers. Steve Harvey, No. 1 New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning television host, and renowned radio personality, is confirmed as one of the Summit's keynote speakers at the 2015 Entrepreneurs Summit.

An annual highlight of the Summit is the presentation of the nation's top awards for African American business achievement and community involvement. The Black Enterprise Trailblazer Award will be presented to legendary record producer, musician, and humanitarian, Quincy Jones; and music executive and entrepreneur Clarence Avant, at the BE 100s Gala on Friday, May 15. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement of an individual who has had broad and positive impact on his or her industry as well as the community at large, while serving as a champion of entrepreneurship and business growth, employment opportunities, and wealth creation for African Americans. 

Celebrating more than 60 years of performing and music industry involvement, Jones's creative magic has spanned more than six decades, beginning with the music of the post-swing era and continuing through today's high-technology age. An impresario in the broadest and most creative sense of the word, Jones's career encompasses the roles of composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder, multimedia entrepreneur and humanitarian. As a master inventor of musical hybrids, he has shuffled pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performance, movies, and television. As producer and conductor of the historic "We Are The World" recording (one of the best-selling singles of all time) and Michael Jackson's multiplatinum solo albums, Off The Wall, Bad, and Thriller (the best-selling album of all time, with more than 50 million copies sold), Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world.

Avant was the chairman of Motown Records and board member of PolyGram. A renowned entertainment industry executive known for his keen business sense and unique deal-making skills, Avant is regarded in the highest esteem and is arguably one of the most influential African Americans in entertainment business history. He has worked with industry greats, such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and veteran music executive Doug Morris, but his scope extends beyond the music industry to people such as Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, BLACK ENTERPRISE Publisher Earl Graves, Oprah Winfrey, and BET Founder Robert Johnson. He serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Network Foundation Technologies L.L.C. Among the many honors he has received are the Heroes Award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Recording Academy, an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College, and the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 2015 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit boasts high-powered sessions on critical business topics such as Attracting Angel Investors, Accelerating Your Tech Startup, The Art of Raising Money, It's Called Show BUSINESS, and Selling Your Ideas and Building Consumer Brands.

Confirmed speakers include: 

• Steve Harvey, Author, Radio Personality and Television Show Host 
• Lisa Nichols, CEO, Motivating the Masses 
• Michael Eric Dyson, Author, Professor and Radio Host 
• Roland Martin, Journalist, Commentator, Host, News One Now 
• Paul Judge, Managing Partner, Judge Ventures, Advisor Opportunity Ventures 
• Jermaine Dupri, Record Producer, Songwriter and entrepreneur 
• Randal Pinkett, Co-Founder & CEO of BCT Partners, Speaker and Author 
• Ken Coleman, Chairman, Saama Technologies 
• Don Peebles, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Peebles Corp. 
• Reginald Hudlin, American Writer, Film Director, and Producer 
• Necole Parker, Founder and CEO, ELOCEN Group 
• Samuel Gilmore, Founder and President, Overnight Success Inc. 
• Tom Chikoore, Founder, Techstars Risingstars Program 
• Kim Kimble, Celebrity Hairstylist, Owner of Kim Kimble Salons and Kimble Haircare System 
• Chris Bennett, Co-Founder and CEO, Soldsie; Founder, Black Founders (NewME) 
• Sherrod Shackelford & LaVon Lewis, CEOs & Co-Founders, PDG Branding & Marketing 
• David Grain, Founder & Managing Partner, Grain Management L.L.C. 
• Stacey Key, President & CEO, Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council 
• Robert Santiago, Owner of Empire FX 
• Kim Wales, Founder & CEO, Wales Capital

For the aspiring entrepreneur, The Small Business Success™ Boot Camp offers practical advice on how to take your business to the next level. Plus, the Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition will award $10,000 for the best new business idea. 

Attendees of the 2015 Entrepreneurs Summit will also have for the first time the opportunity to tap into all the latest BLACK ENTERPRISE developments taking place in and around the Summit courtesy of the new dedicated BE Events app. Available for free on Android, iOS and other smartphones (attendees with Windows and BlackBerry devices can go here), the app allows visitors to access the full event schedule, browse the event social media updates, receive information on all the speakers taking part in the Summit, as well as develop a personal event planner to remind them of their must-attend sessions. It also features a detailed interactive floor plan to help attendees navigate the session rooms as well as keep attendees fully up-to-date with the latest developments through a link to the #BESummit social media tag. Attendees will also receive push notifications in the event of room changes and black enterprise giveaways. 

To download the app for free, visit the iTunes App Storeand Google Play Store.

The host sponsor of the 2015 Entrepreneurs Summit is Nationwide; presenting sponsor is Walmart and platinum sponsor FedEx.

For updates, follow Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit page on Facebook and search the #BESummit hashtag on Twitter.  

BlackEnterprise.com is the leading website for Money, Small Business and Career development. Providing executive and entrepreneurial resources, information, and profiles on the topics of money management, employment, career and startup development, BlackEnterprise.com features expert resource articles, original video packages, and blogs, customized to empower its niche audience while consistently providing universal resource-value.

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source to build Wealth for Life, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 6 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. Visit www.blackenterprise.com for more information.

All Star Sports to Hold Special Autograph Signing with Legendary Cleveland Cavaliers Players in Akron, OH...

It will be an event that all sports will remember. All Star Sports is presenting a special autograph signing with several legendary Cleveland Cavaliers players. 

Former players Campy Russell, Austin Carr, Jim Chones, and Bingo Smith will all be signing autographs Thursday, March 19, 2015 between the hours of 6:00pm and 7:30pm at the Summit Mall location of All Star Sports. Autograph pricing will range from $10 - $20, depending on the items being signed. 

Campy Russell played for the Cavs from 1974-1980, and again in 1984, while Jim Chones played from 1974-1979. Austin Carr played from 1971-1980 while Bingo Smith played from 1970 - 1979. 

For more information contact All Star Sports at 330-835-4007. 

GUND FOUNDATION MAKES $3 MILLION COMMITMENT TO PLAYHOUSE SQUARE CAMPAIGN; HISTORIC OHIO THEATRE LOBBY TO BE RESTORED

Cleveland, OH – The George Gund Foundation has made a $3 million commitment to Advancing the Legacy, The Campaign for Playhouse Square. This gift is designated to support the restoration of the historic Ohio Theatre Lobby, the only one yet to be restored, to its original 1921 splendor. In recognition of the foundation’s generosity, the lobby will be renamed the “George Gund Foundation Lobby.”

“Playhouse Square is one of Cleveland’s great success stories,” said David Abbott, Gund Foundation executive director. “This gift to Playhouse Square’s Advancing the Legacy campaign helps ensure that Clevelanders will continue to enjoy the arts and cultural programs that take place in its beautifully restored theaters for years to come.”

“The Gund Foundation has been a great supporter of the arts and of Playhouse Square for many years,” said Art J. Falco, president and CEO of Playhouse Square. “We are grateful for this gift and excited to begin restoring what will become known as the George Gund Foundation Lobby to its former glory.”

The first of the five historic Playhouse Square theaters to be restored, the Ohio Theatre was badly damaged by fire in 1964. During its early 1980s’ renovation, funding and time would not allow both the auditorium and lobby to be fully refurbished. While the auditorium was restored, a simple, contemporary design was created for the lobby.

The current lobby walls will be torn down to expose the original structure this July. Scaffolding will be erected so the theater can remain open during the renovation, which will include ornamentation sculpted by hand, the re-creation of murals and fireplaces, painting and new carpeting.

The re-creation of the lobby design is a collaboration between EverGreene Architectural Arts and Westlake Reed Leskosky. Construction services will be provided by Turner Construction and The Coniglio Company. 

“We are going to re-construct this lobby as authentically as possible,” said Jeff Greene, president and executive project director of EverGreene Architectural Arts. “You will see a phoenix rise from the ashes when we are done.”

“Advancing the Legacy, The Campaign for Playhouse Square,” led by chairs Thomas Adler, K.K. Sullivan and Daniel Walsh, is the largest philanthropic effort ever pursued by the organization. $57 million dollars have been raised toward the campaign to date and its objectives are: capital improvements, endowment growth, neighborhood transformation, education programming and new productions.

More information about Advancing the Legacy, The Campaign for Playhouse Square is available atplayhousesquare.org/legacy.

More information about the history of Playhouse Square and its impact on the city is available atplayhousesquare.org/history.

Chance the Rapper & Ludacris Surprise Chicago Students with New Internet Essentials Laptops to Kick Off Get Schooled, Get Connected Spring Challenge...

CHICAGO, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Chance the Rapper and Ludacris joined Internet Essentials and city and school leaders at Alcott College Prep on Tuesday afternoon to kick off the popular Get Schooled, Get Connected Spring Challenge, which is designed to help thousands of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students prepare for college. 

Throughout the spring challenge, more than 112,000 CPS students will have access to free educational tools, resources and games – or "quests" – to engage with even when the school day ends. The quests include information about topics ranging from how to succeed in school and plan for your education to how to apply for college and financial aid resources. This content is delivered through an online technology platform on getschooledgetconnected.com, and it features a series of pop culture references and localized information that maintains students' interest.

"Data from the Get Schooled, Get Connected Fall Challenge shows the content not only holds students' interest, but the platform also engages and educates them about college opportunities," Alcott College Prep assistant principal Grace Moody said. "The challenge is a great tool for CPS students who want to go to college and for educators who want to help them advance."

Students may become eligible for prizes depending on the number of quests they complete and points they earn. Individual prizes include special celebrity VIP meet-and-greets, $1,000 Get Schooled scholarships, concert and sports tickets, laptops, athletic wear and gaming systems. The schools with the most student points will receive support from Internet Essentials and the CPS-affiliated Children's First Fund to enhance their classrooms and school technology.  

In January, Internet Essentials provided $100,000 in support for school foundations and community-based organizations, whose participants earned the most points during the inaugural three-month challenge. Over the past 18 months, Internet Essentials has provided more than $200,000 in support throughout the Chicagoregion.

"Having home Internet access can transform a young person's life, because it opens an entire world to special programs like the Get Schooled, Get Connected Challenge," said Chance the Rapper, a graduate of Jones College Prep and recipient of Chicago's 2014 Outstanding Youth of the Year award for his community service work. "One student and one family at a time, this program will help close the digital divide by engaging and educating students throughout Chicago."  

Chance the Rapper was just one of the celebrities who helped motivate and celebrate student success during the hip fall challenge. Actress and singer-songwriter Christina Milian, singer-songwriter B.o.B, MTV's Sway Calloway, White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, Chicago Bears safety Ryan Mundy and offensive lineman Jordan Mills, Chicago Fire forward Harry Shipp, former Chicago Bears offensive lineman James "Big Cat" Williams and former Chicago Bulls forward Sidney Green also personally engaged with thousands of students during the fall initiative.

"Students need Internet access to succeed in school, and families need it to succeed economically," said Ludacris, who has gone on to become a movie and rap sensation after attending Oak Park-River Forest High School. "I went to high school in this area, so I know first-hand how important it is for students and families to have Internet access at home."

Internet Essentials is a major resource for students participating in the spring challenge. Eligible students and their families may receive affordable Internet service at home for $9.95 per month plus tax, along with an Internet-ready computer for $150 and access to free digital literacy training.  

Since launching in August 2011, Internet Essentials has engaged and helped more Chicago families connect to the power of the Internet than any other city in the country. For the fourth year in a row, the Chicago metro area leads the way with more than 50,000 families benefitting, more than 200,000 low-income Chicagoans. 

That is nearly 25 percent of the eligible population in Chicago that has signed up.

Overall in Illinois, 60,000 families or 240,000 individuals benefit from Internet Essentials. Nationally, Internet Essentials has connected more than 450,000 low-income families or more than 1.8 million people in just three and a half years. To put that in perspective, 1.8 million equals two-thirds of the population of the entire city of Chicago.

"It is vital for CPS students and families to stay connected beyond school hours to ensure they remain life-long learners," said Dr. Shawn Jackson, CPS Deputy Chief of Teaching and Learning.

In conjunction with Internet Essentials and the Chicago City of Learning, CPS also has launched CPS Connects, which provides students free virtual learning opportunities as well as live activities across Chicago at locations like the Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium and Lincoln Park Zoo. CPS Connects provides students with connected learning environments by linking learning in school, home and community.

About Internet Essentials

Internet Essentials is the nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. It provides low-cost broadband service for $9.95 a month plus tax; the option to purchase an Internet-ready computer for under $150; and multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in-person. A household is eligible to participate if it has at least one child eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and is located where Comcast offers Internet service. Families that enroll in the program can continue to enjoy the service as long as one child eligible to participate in the NSLP is living in the household.

For more information about Internet Essentials visit InternetEssentials.com for English and InternetBasico.com for Spanish. Educators or third-parties interested in helping to spread the word can find more information at InternetEssentials.com/partner. Parents looking to enroll in the program can call 1-855-846-8376 or for Spanish 1-855-765-6995.

KeyBank to Give Away FREE pair of Season Tickets to Playhouse Square's 2015-2016 KeyBank Broadway Series!...

Cleveland, OH – As Playhouse Square prepares to announce its 2015-2016 KeyBank Broadway Series, title sponsor KeyBank is preparing a special contest of its own.  To many theatre-goers, Playhouse Square’s annual Broadway Launch Party is the most eagerly anticipated entertainment event of the year.  Attendees will be the first in Northeast Ohio to discover which Broadway gems will be making their way to the stages at Playhouse Square, and the first in line to sign up for season tickets.  However, for the past several years, the event has been “invitation-only”…until now!

KeyBank has launched a contest that will allow 10 lucky winners to attend the KeyBank Broadway Series Launch Party with one guest on Tuesday, March 31at 7:30 p.m. st in the historic Connor Palace.  That evening, KeyBank will randomly select one Grand Prize Winner to receive a FREE pair of season tickets to the 2015-2016 Series, courtesy of KeyBank. 

To enter, visit playhousesquare.org/launchcontest.  Entrants may double their chances to win by visiting one of KeyBank’s 80 local Cleveland branches and enter-to-win in person.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 22.nd  For complete details, see “Official Rules.”

OFFICIAL RULES

This promotion is open to all individuals, 18 years and older.  Chances to win depend on the total number of entries. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Message and data rates may apply and each text message sent or received, may incur a charge as provided in your rate plan.

As an entrant, I understand and agree to abide by the following rules:

·         ELIGIBILITY:  This promotion is open to all individuals, 18 years and older. This contest is limited to residents of the United States.  By entering, participants affirm their eligibility and compliance with all contest rules and regulations.  In order to accept the prize, winner will be required to sign a form releasing Playhouse Square and any co-sponsors from all liability.  Winner and all guests must be 18 and over and provide proper identification.  Employees of Playhouse Square and all co-sponsors, and each of their immediate families (spouse, child, parents, siblings and their spouses) are not eligible to participate in the contest.

·         HOW TO ENTER: 

o       Entry Method: Access the Promotion website available online atplayhousesquare.org/launchcontest and follow the instructions provided to enter the Sweepstakes. To be eligible, entrants will be required to provide their full name, complete street address, phone number, date of birth and e-mail address.

o       Double your chances to win by visiting one of KeyBank’s 80 local Cleveland branches and enter-to-win in person.

·         PRIZE:  Ten (10) winners will receive two (2) tickets toattend Playhouse Square’s exclusive Broadway Launch Party on Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30PM.  One grand prize winner will be selected from these ten to win a pair of season tickets to the 2015-2016 KeyBank Broadway Series.

·         WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:  All entries must be received by Sunday, March 22, 2015.  Winners will be notified by telephone and/or email on Monday, March 23, 2015.  Winner will have 48 hours to agree to prize or the next winner will be selected.

·         GENERAL CONDITIONS:  Winner can not win the same prize more than once.  One winner per household.  Submitting an entry and acceptance of the prize constitutes winner’s authorization for Playhouse Square to use the winner’s name and photograph for advertising and promotional purposes.This contest is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and is void wherever prohibited.  By submitting an entry, each entrant agrees to and is deemed to have accepted all of the terms, conditions, and regulations contained herein.

For more information on the promotion, go to playhousesquare.org/launchcontest