Jabari Asim calling out USPS like a boss

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring Maya Angelou, poet, author and civil rights advocate, with her own forever stamp that features a quote attributed to her.
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
Jabari Asim, a former editor for The Washington Post’s Book World, had seen the quote attributed to Angelou on social media but was highly skeptical. He tracked the quote down from a notebook of quotes he has collected from writers, thinkers, etc. Asim found the quote which is from the book “A Cup of Sun,” by Joan Walsh Anglund, copyright 1967.
Find the entire article from The Washington Post here.
By EL Talent | Jabari Asim

Rémy Martin Honors Kip Fulbeck as Mentor to the Next Generation of Multicultural Leaders

Press Release:

Rémy Martin Honors 3 Inspirational Individuals in Los Angeles as Mentors to the Next Generation of Multicultural Leaders

National ‘Circle of Centaurs’ Program Brings to Life the Legacy of the Centaur Chiron, the House’s Legendary Emblem, and Noble Leader

LOS ANGELES – In celebration of Rémy Martin’s “Circle of Centaurs” mentorship program, the House of Rémy Martin, along with host and renowned entrepreneur jeffstaple, will honor three esteemed Los Angeles-based mentors for their invaluable contributions to the community and their guidance to the next generation of multicultural leaders. The Circle of Centaurs event, part of the mentorship program honoring 15 inspirational individuals across the country, will take place on Tuesday, April 7th at The Courtyard at Palihouse West Hollywood.

“Through the Circle of Centaurs program, Rémy Martin brings to life the legacy of its emblem, the noble mythological Centaur Chiron, and his qualities of confidence, wisdom, courage and generosity,” said Emma Medina, Vice President of Marketing for Rémy Martin at Rémy Cointreau USA. “Like the humble and nurturing Chiron, more concerned with service to others than with personal glory, these three Los Angeles-based leaders recognized by the Circle of Centaurs have selflessly contributed to their communities across many areas. Rémy Martin is honored to recognize their achievements.”

The honorees have the opportunity to pay it forward to the next generation by identifying and mentoring an up-and-coming member of their local community. The three Los Angeles-based Centaurs and their mentees are:

  • Kip Fulbeck, artist, filmmaker and author best known as the creator of The Hapa Project, a traveling photographic exhibition and published book which promotes awareness of multiracial/ multiethnic individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander descent. The project gives a voice to previously ignored ethnic groups, and fosters positive identity formation and self- image in multiracial children. Kip’s mentee is Andrea Vargas, who is currently working at UC Santa Barbara to further her commitment to art, and is empowering others in their artistic endeavors by coordinating exhibitions, murals, workshops, and more.
  • Sonja Rasula, curator of culture, community and entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Unique USA, the largest pop-up marketplace in the country for made-in-America goods, putting money directly back into the local U.S. economy. Sonja’s mentee is Krizia Flores, a Los Angeles maker and Founder of Concrete Geometric.
  • Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and CEO of the Point Foundation, a non-profit that empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their potential and to make a positive impact on society. Jorge’s mentee is Eric Nakano, who is acquiring policy and management skills that will enable him to one day establish and grow his own LGBT social service organization and pioneer new methods of social service delivery.“Rémy Martin recognizes the need for this global generation to have real role models and leaders from whom they can gain inspiration,” said jeffstaple. “The Circle of Centaurs program is paving the way to bring these individuals together, giving mentors the recognition they truly deserve, and the platform to make a difference. As an individual who believes strongly in giving back, I am privileged to be a part of this program.”Rémy Martin is awarding the Los Angeles-based Centaurs – along with the 12 other honorees selected from Detroit, New York, Chicago and Houston – each a $2,500 grant, and each mentee a $1,500 grant, to be donated to a charitable organization of their choosing.

Additional information on the Circle of Centaurs can found at here.

About The House of Rémy Martin

Founded in 1724, Rémy Martin is the world’s leading producer of Fine Champagne Cognac. It is because Rémy Martin Cognac is made exclusively with eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne crus, sourced from the rarest vineyards and with the greatest ageing potential, that it delivers such unique aromatic intensity. Centuries of perfecting the art of cognac making have resulted in spirits of unparalleled richness, flavor and complexity. After 38 years at the House of Rémy Martin, Pierrette Trichet passed the Cellar Masters’ legacy to Baptiste Loiseau in April 2014. For more information, visit http://us.remymartin.com.

Press Contacts:

JR Johnson; Day One Agency; RemyMartin@d1a.com; 917.683.7622
Christina Clum; Rémy Cointreau USA; christina.clum@remyusa.com; 646.731.1601

By EL Talent | Kip Fulbeck

Mental health issues are prevalent on college campuses

About 2.6 percent of American adults — nearly 6 million people — have bipolar disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The disease, characterized by significant and severe mood changes, is still dangerously misunderstood. Artist Ellen Forney detailed her diagnosis with bipolar disorder in the graphic memoir Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me.

Ellen Forney

Cartoonist and Author

When Ellen Forney was diagnosed with bipolar disorder 16 years ago, her first concern was for her creative future. The award-winning cartoonist prided herself on the artwork and stories she’d come up with during periods she described as manic.
Ellen chronicles her experiences in her New York Times bestselling graphic memoirMarbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me. Forney describes it as the hardest work she’s ever done. She hopes people struggling with their own mental balance will read her story and draw inspiration from it.
“A lot of people came out after Robin Williams’s death, and in general there’s a lot more awareness about mental illness, but for the most part people still don’t feel safe talking abut their personal experiences. I think that the more people come out, the more the stigma will lift, but it’s not easy. I will say for myself, though, that coming out has made me feel infinitely stronger and more resilient.” Quote by Ellen Forney from the recent article in The Huffington Post. Full article

*National Alliance on Mental Illness on Campus, Learn About The Issue. Full article

By EL Talent | Ellen Forney

Renee Zellweger Set For ‘Same Kind Of Different As Me’ film

EL Talent is very excited to announce that Ron Hall‘s memoir, Same Kind of Different As Me, has been immortalized into a film starring Renee Zellweger as Deborah Hall, Greg Kinnear as Ron Hall, Djimon Hounsou as Denver Moore, and Jon Voight as Earl Hall (Ron’s father). The project is in the works at Paramount with Mary Parent producing alongside Darren Moorman (Marilyn Hotchkiss’ Ballroom Dancing & Charm School, Unconditional), a former exec at faith-based Sky Angel. Michael Carney is directing.

Full Article from Deadline Hollywood

By EL Talent | Ron Hall

VIDEO: Anderson Cooper experiment with mental illness

The CNN host took part in an experiment designed by clinical psychologist Pat Deegan, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager. Cooper put on earphones, and heard voices talking to him as he took a number of simple tests and walked around New York City.

Full article from The Huffington Post here.

By EL Talent | Ellen Forney

Ellen Forney speaking at GWU’s Composing Disability Symposium

Author, Ellen Forney, speaking at GWU Composing Disability Symposium on April 3rd. If you’re in the area check it out.

Composing Disability is a biennial conference series sponsored by George Washington University’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Diversity and Inclusion,  Office of Disability Support Services, English Department, and University Writing Program.  The second installment of this event series, Composing Disability: Diagnosis, Interrupted, is scheduled for April 3-4 2014 in the Jack Morton Auditorium of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs.  This event will offer a series of panel presentations, keynote speeches  and performances that take as their focus the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (published May 2013), examining the fraught relationship between the diagnostic work of the medical industry and the embodied lives of disabled people.

Composing Disability event flyer

By EL Talent | Ellen Forney

NFL Proposing Penalty For Use Of N-Word

Wow, should the NFL penalize a team for using the N-Word on the field?

ESPN.com article states “The head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which monitors diversity in the NFL, expects the league to institute a rule where players would be penalized 15 yards for using the N-word on the field.”

full article here

By EL Talent | Jabari Asim

Everybody Can Help Somebody

From the authors that brought you Same Kind of Different as Me and What Difference Do It Make, Ron Hall and Denver Moore have a new children’s book titled Everybody Can Help Somebody which releases tomorrow Tuesday, September 10, 2013.

“I used to spend a lotta time worryin’ that I was different from other people . . .

But I found out everybody’s different—the same kind of different as me.”

Little Denver grew up very poor, and he didn’t get to go to school. As time passed, Denver decided to hop a train to the big city for a different life. But that life was difficult, and Denver spent many years as a homeless man. But God showed His love through two people who were very different from Denver.

Based on Same Kind of Different As Me, the emotional tale of Denver Moore’s life story, this unique children’s book includes Denver’s original art. Parents and children alike will be moved by this powerful story and will never forget the unexpected and life-changing things that can happen when we help somebody.

“Nobody can help everybody, but everybody can help somebody.”

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

By EL Talent | Ron Hall