It's CLOSED!!!

Every two years the National Black Theatre Festival brings performances, workshops, vendors, poetry slams, and people from all over the country together to experience the power of Black Theatre.  Winston-Salem has been the host of this wonderful festival for 20 years and home to the National Black Reportoire Company for 30 years. The theme of this year's festival is 20/30 vision, relating to the 20 and 30 years of the festival and company's history.  The festival brings many famous black actors and a lot of business to the city of Winston-Salem.  The crowd is one of culture, afrocentrism, and class; ones that appreciate the arts and those that are hoping to be seen.  

I went to two very intimate shows and experienced downtown Winston-Salem's art offerings in the way of the many galleries and shops around the 6th and Trade Street Arts District.  I experienced the night life and parlayed in the bars on 4th and 6th Streets.

The festival is well monitored by local officials and volunteers.  Even after Larry Leon Hamlin's (founder of the NBTF and actor) death; the festival maintains its stature.

The festival is a fun, positive environment for those who visit and take part.  The downfall of the festival happens to be the one entity that does not even contribute to the overall festival atmosphere; the YOUTH of Winston-Salem.  While many children share this experience with their parents, because there is rarely any opportunities for the youth of the city to enjoy festivals of this type; they use these times as there moments to raise Hell!!!

At 12:30 am, on my way to the host hotel to here the celebratory end of the festival African drummers, my friends and I were abruptly redirected to another street to continue downtown. "No problem" We said. However it was a problem. As we later found out, we were really being redirected out of downtown since "It was closed," as one of the 7 police officers told us.  Downtown was closed due to the large number of adolescent fights that broke out downtown, coincidentally where the Festival activities were going on.  

I can't for the life of me begin to understand why the city has not instituted a curfew when these kinds of festivals come to town.  If the city deemed five officers per block sufficient to deal with the rowdy crowds, then surely they recognize a need to rid the festival of troublemakers and those not there to enjoy the festivities.

Go to www.wschronicle.com to read articles about the Festivals and see pictures.

Great American Hero

G.I. Joe Y2K is in full effect! I went to the screening last night. It was well written, filmed and acted. Marlon Wayans over the top, silliness was contained nicely and the writers gave him appropriate times to be himself. All the characters that we remember from the cartoon were there but definitely Y2K style. Although some may dislike the amount of CGI technology that is used nowadays, I felt that it was tasteful and didn't detract from the movie itself.

Don't wait for DVD on this one, the big screen added a lot for the action scenes which are plentiful. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for this one though!

See the trailer here!

*&!$#@!*&^

That is exactly what I felt like I was reading and saying during my Fiscal Management and Budgeting Course today! Clearly, I have a lot to learn about managing a budget, mine included. What in the world is Total Overhead costs and how do you determine all the direct costs for each program area? Furthermore, using the net expense for all building costs, multiply that amount by the percentage of square feet in each department. And then, decide how you will allocate administrative costs and calculate the percentage for the method you have chosen for each department. Lastly, using the net expense for admin costs, multiply that amount by the percentage in the previous step.


HUUUUUHHHH!!!! WTFreak!

I totally felt Sofa King after four hours of talk like this!

Oh my goodness, I have two more days of this.

Art-teast?

The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration. -Frida Kahlo

All I know is that I had this idea for these stools that my mother gave me in 2000 when I first went to Graduate school in South Carolina. They were very interesting bar stools; very squatty and short. I drew sketches about what I wanted to paint on them and how I was going to change them into these great stools.

I moved to Georgia and I still had the stools and the idea. What passed through my head was "hey these are bar stools, I should put bar things on them; like bottle caps and class and labels" With that an idea set in motion that just came into fruition last night!!!

It all started with some bottle cap collecting. I decided that I would save all the caps from every beer that me and people I know drank. I finally saved up enough this year (I've been saving since about 2004). I put them on the top of the stool like mosaic and filled in the spaces with broken beer bottle glass. The hard part was trying to figure out what the glass-like substance is that you see on tables at the beach where the sand & seashells are embedded. I found that and now it's on!!!

I'll post a picture tomorrow! It's awesome

Grassroots Volleyball

I am consistantly looking for new ways and ideas to train volleyball players and particularly young athletes. I recently completed a Coaching Accreditation Program through USA Volleyball and met, among others, John Kessel (Grassroots development and disabled volleyball at USA Volleyball).

He is just about the most creative coach I have met to date. I am blown away by his simple ways to incorporate more volleyball in a small or confined space. He simply uses deer netting and rope to turn one simple court into four; thereby creating more opportunities to play! To read more visit Kessel's blog.

Field Day

The Johnston YMCA is hosting its first annual Field Day event to raise money for Community Outreach. Every year, Johnston tries to raise $230,000 that enable it to give out over $200,000 in financial assistance to those seeking memberships and access to programs.

So far this year, Johnston was able to give free swim lessons to a Make a Wish patient that wanted to swim at Carowinds all summer; provided over 90% of Day Campers with financial assistance to attend camp; and helped saved a woman's life by losing over 100lbs in our Medical Referral Program.

Field Day will consist of an Obstacle Course, a Scavenger Hunt and lots of Races. There are two divisions to register in, Adult ($100/team of 4) and Family ($75/team of 4). Register online at SportOften

For more information, contact me at 704-716-6372 or email Khalilah

HEEL YEAH!!!

The 2009 and 2005 National Championship teams will be playing against each other September 4 at 8pm in the Dean Dome. Purchase tickets for the Professional Alumni Game for only $20. Read about the annual event at Alumni Game. It looks like there are only upper level seats left. Don't miss out on what will probably be the most exciting Alumni Game in the past 10 years!!!