President Obama offers a dance challenge to Sarah Palin -Sept. 24 in Brooklyn

The free Let's Get Mobile Festival is Saturday, Sept. 24th in Brooklyn, 257 N. 6th St. at 10 a.m.

A health and fitness event for families, students and children featuring food, free prizes from the Jets, Knicks, AT&T, Staples and ESPN as well as capoeira, dance, hip hop, yoga and double dutch.

Special guests U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, NYC School Chancellor Dennis Walcott and international hip hop performer and activist Toni Blackman.

Obama "Let's Get Mobile" Sept. 24th
by: alonza.robertson

Obama, corporations and celebs join forces to fight obesity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alonza Robertson /Arobertson@todays-child.com, 202.567.1276

Let’s Get Mobile Festival promotes healthier lives for families and youth

NEW YORK – (September 8, 2010) - The Let’s Get Mobile Family Festival – powered by TCC Family Media, Wal-Mart and AT&T – will mobilize celebrities,businesses and public officials in Brooklyn Saturday Sept. 24^th for a free health-empowerment event to promote fitness, nutrition, technology and support services.

In conjunction with the 8^th Annual Worldwide Day of Play –endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama http://vimeo.com/28457172 – Let’s Get Mobile will offer interactive fun to help families and youth make healthy choices, promote access to healthy food and help children become more active through a half-day of hip hop art, music, spoken word, cooking demonstrations, exercise and technology.

“Families will embrace healthier habits when they can understand and see how beneficial it is to their well-being and life,” said Michelle Drayton, president of TCC Family Media.

The fun will happen Saturday, Sept. 24th, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 pm at the joint campus of the Brooklyn Preparatory High School and Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design, 257 N. Sixth Street in Brooklyn.

Confirmed to attend are:

§  NYC Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott

§  U.S. State Department Hip Hop Ambassador and activist Toni Blackman –

                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVcoUmJc3Ns

§  Olympic gold medalist Diane Dixon - http://youtu.be/Ufug2NdyXT0

§  The all-youth Renaissance EMS Band - http://www.renaissanceems.com/

§  Double Dutch Dreamz - http://vimeo.com/27122906

Invited to also join us are:

·         Celebrity chef, food activist and Red Rooster owner Marcus Samuelsson

·         U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clark (D-Brooklyn)

·         Underground rapper Stic.man, of the hip hop duo Dead Prez, and founder of the RBG Fit Club - http://www.rbgfitclub.com/

·         Allan Houston, retired NBA All-Star New York Knicks

More than 40 percent of NYC Schools’ 1.1 million students are overweight or obese. Events like TCC’s Let Get Mobile energize students, parents and community groups and remind them that physically-fit students do better in school and often have better long-term outcomes in life as well.

Festival attendees can participate in the games and workshops while parents can browse Education Row, a collection of exhibitors, city support services organizations and other resources. Everyone will have the opportunity to win free Samsung smart phones, NY Jets prizes, ESPN book bags and Chef Rock cookbooks.

The Let’s Get Mobile Family Festival is sponsored by TCC Family Media, Wal-Mart and AT&T. Other participating sponsors and exhibitors include Children First BYAM Network 404, NYC Human Resources Administration OCSE, NYC Department of Education, NYC Parks, MobileTrec, PepsiCo, Health and Hospitals Corporation, Monroe College, Advanced Business Solutions and That's My Father Productions.

The festival will be available on Ustream and posted for later viewing on Twitvid, Facebook and YouTube.

  

About TCC

TCC Family Media is a division of Today’s Child Communications, todays-child.com; a marketing, communications and publishing firm that specializes in developing programs and products that enhance the health and well-being of families. TCC is a private-sector firm invested in the public sector—it’s where brands and families connect.  

TCC organizes professional development workshops, health forums, wellness conferences, publishes a quarterly family/parenting magazine, Today’s Child, as well as provides fundraising, grant-writing, media communications and partnership services.

Let's Get Mobile!  http://youtu.be/mYP4MgxDV2U

Contact arobertson@todays-child.com or call 2025671276 for more information.

Taye Diggs, Chris Paul and more Back To School news - TCC E-News 2011

READ TCC E- News September Edition: Chris Paul, Taye Diggs, Help for Parents on Back to School, Get Your Child a  safety tattoo and more. Click here http://ow.ly/6fWZJ

Planking: Don't Sweat the Technique

The fine public art of planking, where people are photographed face down with stiffened arms and legs, has already swept out of Australia and taken the world by storm. Formally called "the laying down game," it has encouraged people to produce surprising and surreal images that have entertained millions. It seems to have just hit Black America in the past week.

And just for the record it DOES not have anything to do with racism slavery. Slaves on slave ships were brought over to America not LYING on their stomachs as some as saying. They were simply on their backs. Planking is a social web phenom that's sort of silly, yeah; but also harmless fun for a three-day weekend off of work.

45 tips for a happy marriage - St. Petersburg Times

45 tips for a happy marriage - St. Petersburg Times

Talib's rap rainbow set shines in Brooklyn

Talib Kweli gave a chill entertaining  - real hip-hop-  concert in Brooklyn's Red Hook Park Tuesday evening at part of NYC's free summer Center Stage concert series.

More than 2,500 people, of all races and ages, came out on a blustery first day of summer evening to hear some good music and enjoy the good vibes. Kweli, whom I'd followed for several years but  never seen live, upheld his part playing sounds from his BlackStar Project days where he teamed with Mos Def to his belting a great live versions of some of his most recent hits "Gutter Rainbow", "I Try", "Never Been in Love" http://youtu.be/jyqkw0z6Shs,  "Listen," and "Get By" http://youtu.be/UVtpXvzzXiA.

Showing his versatility, the critically-acclaimed MC played riffs and improvisations of songs from the Beatles, Sugar Hill Gang, The Beastie Boys, Boogie Down Productions, Gil Scott Heron and Bob Marley. It seemed like at any minute Kanye, Common, Mike G or KRS-One was gonna bound onto the stage to join Talib's boundless energy.

An engaging rapping with stage presence and great linguistic dexterity, Talib, at more than a couple points in the show, had a brother falling back to some of my late 80s/early 90s New Jack arm Swings before regathering my pose and subtle subjectivity of informed observer ;)

A good time was had by all - Shelley was dancing and singing; I even saw some members of the NYPD and FDNY looking as if they were enjoying the show as well; that's what I'm talking 'bout! Son, if you're a fan of real hip hop music and understand and love its whole history, Kweli delivers it straight with no filler.

Tuesday night was pure hip hop, no need for drink, trees or bravado, as Talib says in one of his songs, " all you need is love to get by."

Jay Z was right right about Talib.

WANT A GOOD LAUGH? Read this

Want a belly laugh? Have you seen the original Friday video by Rebecca Black? Okay open this link and scroll down to the bottom and look at the picture and the question she asks? HILARIOUS.

reposted from Roc4Life



Rebecca Black's straight outta nowhere but suddenly everywhere "Friday" video is no longer available on YouTube. "Video no longer available due to a copyright claim by Rebecca Black. Sorry about that" is the gloomy message that now greets those seeking out the hugely popular video on YouTube.

"Friday" was temporarily available only as a $2.99 YouTube rental last week, and now, it's completely locked. The video garnered over 165 million views and catapulted Rebecca Black to stardom in a short amount of time.

A YouTube person offered the following explanation to Techcrunch:

"YouTube takes copyright infringement very seriously. When we receive a complaint alleging that a video infringes another person or company’s copyrights, we remove that video. Users who believe that a video was removed in error can appeal the copyright takedown."

What do you think, Roc4Lifers? Good riddance or bad move?

Either way, that was fun fun fun while it lasted.

Celebrating Father’s Day: Father and Son in Film

Reposted from Harlem World June 16, 2011 

Deadbeat. Immature. Absentee.

Unfortunately, those are the stereotypes given to many African American fathers, but it is not the reality for many who are doing “the right thing.“  The team at HW celebrates all of the dads who are teaching their sons responsibility, respect, commitment, and the value of education.

Here are our pick(s)–it was a tie– for our favorite videos that we believe best represent father/son relationships.

Boyz N The Hood (1991)  The film is about the struggle of three young men growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The film shows the crime and senseless violence the plague many urban communities.  But, to call it just that would be a poetic injustice–pun intended.

The secondary story about the strong and positive father/son relationship adds to what should be a cinema classic.  Laurence Fishburne, who plays divorced father “Furious Styles,”  is an active participant and has always had a strong  hand in his son’s upbringing–and it shows.   Cuba Gooding, Jr plays Tre, the teenage son moving in with him after spending his early childhood living with his mother.

Boyz N The Hood co-stars Angela Bassett,  Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube,  Regina King and Nia Long.

John Singleton received an Academy Award nomination for best screenplay and directing for this film. Only 24 at the time,  he became the youngest person  and first African-American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.  See why.



Pursuit of Happyness (2006) The film is based on the  real life story of entrepreneur,  motivational speaker and author Chris Gardner who struggled with homelessness while raising his young son as a single dad.  Gardner, who won a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds Trading program, fell into deep financial troubles, after the program’s small salary left him unable to make ends meet.

Gardner’s, whose own childhood was marked by poverty, abuse and alcoholism, vowed he would never pass that onto his son. His amazing story inspired a New York Times best-selling book and a Hollywood film.

  (And, if both were not enough to inspire and motivate, Gardner’s follow up book, Start Where You Are, speaks to anyone struggling to make ends meet–or just struggling to get through the day– to get where you want to be.)

Real  life father and son Will and Jaden Smith co-star in this movie which garnered the elder Smith an Oscar nomination as Best Actor.

Tell us your pick for films that best celebrate Dad.

A Repost from Roc4Life - 11 Must Hear Albums

11 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR THIS SUMMER

Summer is here and it comes with a batch of great new music. Whether your goal this summer is to party in the sun or get a tan from your computer light, these albums will surely soundtrack the days and months ahead.Trae - Street KingRelease Date: June 28, 2011Banned on the radio, adored in the streets, Houston's Trae tha Truth soldiers on with his third major LP, Street King. His last mixtape had lyrics so compelling and production so fetching that it's a surprise radio jocks have managed to resist so far. Co-conspirators include Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Game, Big Boi, Lupe Fiasco, Wyclef, Wale and Lloyd, as well member of Trae's ABN Gang. Production duties are handled by Vdon, Drumma Boy, Mr Rogers, Mr Inkredible, Cyfyre and Rockaway Productions.The Game: R.E.D. AlbumRelease Date: Late AugustR.E.D. has suffered more pushbacks than any album on this list. At this point, Game is neck to neck with his mentor Dr. Dre for the title of Least Likely to Drop an Album in 2011. But word on the street is that Game's fourth LP is finally ready for a summer release. The guest list is solid: Jay Electronica, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre, and Lupe Fiasco. Game also teamed up with Odd Future leader Tyler, The Creator on the aptly titled "Martians vs. Goblins"Wu-Tang Clan - Legendary WeaponsRelease Date: July 26, 2011Details are still sketchy, but this includes a heavy dose of Ghostface Killah, so it's worth keeping an eye on. With Ghost gracing eight of the eleven songs and RZA doing some boardwork, we're definitely checking for Legendary Weapons come July 26th.Curren$y - Weekend At BurniesRelease Date: June 28, 2011After dropping a bamillion mixtapes, Curren$y finally readies his major label debut, Weekend At Burnies. It's produced almost entirely by Monsta Beatz, with Rahki lacing the Twitter-inspired lead single "#JETSGO."

Jill Scott: The Light Of The SunRelease Date: June 28, 2011Believe it or not, that slim and sexy damsel on the album cover is Jilly from Philly. This marks Jill Scott's first release for Warner Bros and her first album since 2007's The Real Thing. The Light Of The Sun boasts collaborations with Eve and Doug E. Fresh. It's one of two albums the soul singer plans to release this summer.Big Sean - Almost FamousRelease Date: June 28, 2011Five years after freestyling for Kanye outside a local radio station, Big Sean will finally drop his GOOD Music debut, Almost Famous. Since wrapping up his album, the Detroit MC has kept busy. He dropped a mean 16 on Kelly Rowland's "Lay It on Me" and even stashed a few extra cuts with Nas and Common for his sophomore album.

Bon Iver - Bon IverRelease Date: June 21, 20112008's For Emma, Forever cut deep. It was also one of the best received albums of that year. In the three years that passed, Justin Vernon has lent his vocals to Kanye's "Monster" and found inspiration from unusual places, among them a house. "We got a house at Fall Creek a couple of miles from where I grew up and just recorded it all there," says Bon Iver's Vernon. "We moved in and made our own space. The process wasn't all that unlike the first album, we just decided to make it sound denser and a little less achy and empty. We wanted it to be full... full of blood and that kind of thing." Each song on Bon Iver’s self-titled sophomore LP is titled after a specific place, from "Minnesota, WI" to "Hinnom, TX."Kelly Rowland - Here I AmStreet Date: July 26, 2011It's been a long, trying process, but Kelly Rowland has figured this solo gig puzzle. The early verdict on Here I Am is that it may be the album that sets Miss Rowland apart as a star in her own right. If you doubt that prognosis, you clearly haven't heard the hypnotic chart topper "Motivation” or the instabanger "Lay It on Me." The album sports production from Red One, Jim Jonsin, Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ester Dean and more.Lil’ Wayne - Tha Carter IVRelease Date: August 2011It was originally scheduled for June, but Wayne pushed it back to August 29 to perfect the album. We're not mad at that at all. After all, Tha Carter III is a tough album to follow. It was the best selling album of 2008 and earned Weezy a bazillion awards. Since then, Wayne has served time for a weapons charge, dropped a successful EP, and toured the world. Expect him to draw from those experiences for Carter IV. The disc will include cuts from Jeezy, Drake, Kanye West, Jadakiss, and Rick Ross.

Beyonce - 4Release Date: June 28, 20114 is designed for young adults who pay their own bills, working mothers, empowered gals who are unafraid to be sexy, gentlemen who love their women. 4 is designed for the strong and sexy. Or as Bey puts it: "Buoy, you know you love how we're smart enough to make these millions, strong enough to bear the children…then get back to bidness." Equally capable of working a power ballad and riding a disco beat, Bey powers the album with her unique vocal undulations. Musically, 4 keeps its eyes squarely focused on the rearview, drawing inspiration from afrobeat, ol' skool hip-hop, and even a wee bit of new jack swing. Weighing in at 12 songs and 46 minutes, 4 leaves no room for errors.Jay-Z/Kanye West - Watch the ThroneRelease Date: TBAHov and Yeezy joining forces is the equivalent of two planetary bodies colliding. Explosions are guaranteed. And as "H.A.M" proved, they're not interested in playing it safe, either. The Roc Boys recorded Watch the Throne with a variety of unexpected guests, including singing wolf Frank Ocean.

POPTalk - Joe Girardi

"My kids don't care that

 I'm the manager of the NY Yankees!"

Watch more of the Yankees skipper on Fatherhood here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10080017&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_10080017&v=3

PopTalk - Tom Brady

It's Great to See Them Run Around

Tom Brady   excerpts from EXTRA interview 

 When it comes to being a dad, it's no surprise NFL superstar Tom Brady plans to bond with his boys over football.

The New England Patriots quarterback says he is looking forward to the day he can play sports with his family off the NFL field.

"It's a great thing to see them run around at the football game or at least one of them run around," says Brady, referring to his eldest child, 3-year-old son John, with ex Bridget Moynahan.


 He adds: "For a long time, I didn't know when I was going to be a father, and now I have two boys.""I like to spend time with my family and friends and get a little rest," he tells Extra of his downtime. 


"Because, obviously, during the football season, there's not a whole lot of that!"

PopTalk -Albert Pujols

MLB slugger Albert Pujols says it's something special when your children call you "Daddy"

Watch how fatherhood has changed one of baseball's biggest stars. 


http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8853605&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_8853605&v=3

PopTalk - Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise Talks Fatherhood, his children make him better.......


Excerpts from an interview in Esquire and reposted on Just Mommies: http://www.justmommies.com/celebrity-baby-updates/new-interview-tom-cruise-talks-fatherhood

"I remember looking at my dad and wanting to understand him. I didn't want to just write the guy off. He was lost. I can't speak specifically in terms of why and how he got to where he was -- that was his journey. All I can tell you is, he was overwhelmed by life... My mother basically did all the work, and then they got separated and I didn't see him for a long time. He didn't try to help the family financially or spiritually, and I lived with the effects of the chaos."

He also talks about being a father himself to children Isabella, Suri and Connor. "I'll never forget the moment I became a dad. But it's hard to describe -- that level of responsibility, the desire to give such joy. The clarity: Nothing is more important than this. I remember that first night, just staring at Bella. I was checking her every second, just looking at her, feeling that immediate bond. I was probably looking at her so much that I was keeping her up. I made a promise to her: All I can do is the best I can. But I'm not going to say I'm gonna do something and then not do it."

Cruise says Suri makes him a better person:" It comes down to the same thing as when I was a kid. Can I create a character that will make her happy, that will make her laugh? And you know what? She makes me get better and better, because she's always asking me to do it again."

PopTalk - Snoop Dog

Five Tips for Fatherhood

PopTalk - Salt N Pepa

Give him a hand, a big hug and a loving heart!

Whatta a Man!                    

PopTalk- President Barack Obama

President Obama Speaks on Fatherhood

PopTalk - Nat King Cole

The day Natalie was born was "Unforgettable."
- Nat King Cole excerpted from Africanamericanquotes.org



“I felt something impossible for me to explain in words. Then when they took her away, it hit me. I got scared all over again and began to feel giddy. Then it came to me — I was a father.”

PopTalk - Rev. Run

Who's House? Run's House!

POPTALK - Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and hip-hop pioneer Joseph Simmons aka Rev. Run, of MTV’s top-rated reality show Run’s House, knows a lot about fatherhood and fame. More than 25 years ago Rev. Run was known as DJ Run, founder of the ground-breaking rap group Run-D.M.C. While he remains an influential part of the hip-hop culture, today his focus is on the family and parenting six children.

For six seasons straight Run’s House, a reality series about the Simmons family, has been educating and entertaining viewers with themes ranging from career exploration and healthy competition to dealing with the loss of a loved one and adoption.

Rev. Run told Today’s Child magazine his show isn’t about fame and it’s not a show about him becoming a bigger star. His show is about giving people stories and words of wisdom. It’s about self-help. “I believe that people watch the show because they recognize that they have similar families. They have a similar life—and they also can achieve similar closeness with their family”.  Watch more of Rev. Run on fatherhood and family.  

For more PopTalks, celebrity family and parenting news, views and tips, visit todayschildcommunications.com; follow on Twitter @todayschildmag and like us on Facebook/Today’s Child Communications. Also follow the new blog mommyhoy.blogspot.com.