PRESS RELEASE: American Legacy Network Corp Launches African-american Streaming Service

New Streaming Service Offers Access to Classic Black Films, Documentaries and Original Programming Celebrating Black History and Culture

 

MOUNT VERNON, NY– Rodney J. Reynolds, Founder of American Legacy Network Corporation announced the launch of American Legacy Network (ALN), a subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service showcasing African- American history and culture programming and original content for the whole family.

“We’re excited about the launch of American Legacy Network,” said Reynolds. “The streaming service is a natural transition in the evolution of our brand. ALN will fill the void with content designed to entertain, inspire, empower and educate the black community and will be a network that the entire family can enjoy.”

Subscribers will be able to watch well known classic Black films while discovering new and original content developed and produced by independent producers and filmmakers. American Legacy Network features documentaries, news-oriented programs and much more including original programs like Conversations with Greatness hosted by JP Reynolds, Black Treasure with Robin Myers and Say it Loud, a program geared to millennials. In the future, the network has plans to showcase historical scripted dramas.

The launch of American Legacy Network coincides with the dynamic growth of the American Legacy brand from its roots as a magazine to the expansion of the mobile truck exhibition, a curriculum guide, board game and other special events including the upcoming sport-centric mobile exhibition HBCU tour.

The web/mobile friendly version of American Legacy Network is now available at www.americanlegacynetwork.tv  for $3.99 per month. The company has plans to launch an app version that will be available on iPhone, iPad, Android phones & tablets, Apple TV, Amazon TV and Roku in November 2018.

For more information about American Legacy Network or to subscribe, visit the website today.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN LEGACY BRAND

Rodney J. Reynolds founded American Legacy Magazine in 1995 as a joint venture with Forbes Magazine.  Total readership of American Legacy was over 2 million when the print edition ceased publication in 2011. The mission of the American Legacy brand is to broaden and enhance the awareness of African-American history through the utilization of educational products, the internet, and broadcast media with the launch of the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service, American Legacy Network (ALN) in August of 2018.  To subscribe to ALN, visit www.americanlegacynetwork.tv. Black History Made Every Day.

PRESS: African-American Mobile Truck Tour Celebrates 10th Anniversary

 

To read the article, click on the image above or click here.

Recently, American Legacy Magazine’s Founder, Rodney J. Reynolds, sat down with Penske to talk about the 10th anniversary of the mobile truck tour. The 11-city tour is exclusively sponsored by Toyota. To read the article, click the image above.

Toyota Signs On As Exclusive Sponsor For American Legacy’s Mobile Truck’s 10th Anniversary Tour

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. – American Legacy founder, Rodney J. Reynolds announced today that Toyota has signed on as the exclusive sponsor for the 10th-anniversary tour of its mobile truck exhibit which kicks off its 11-city tour Powered by Toyota in Detroit (MI) beginning February 1^st.

“We are certainly excited to reach this milestone with our mobile truck exhibit and extremely proud that Toyota committed to joining us as we bring our important history and culture to select neighborhoods across the country as we celebrate our rich and noble history,” said Reynolds.

Since February 2008, American Legacy’s mobile truck exhibit has visited various school districts, colleges & universities, churches and African-American festivals and events across the country providing audiences with a look at African-American history and achievement.

“Toyota is thrilled to partner with American Legacy and celebrates the great heritage of its mobile truck exhibit during a month when we salute and acknowledge the innovations, accomplishments, and culture of African Americans,” said Mia Phillips, national brand manager, Toyota Motor North America.

American Legacy’s month-long tour includes visits to:

·         Detroit, MI (February 1^st)

·         Chicago, IL (February 3^rd)

·         Louisville, KY (February 6^th)

·         Memphis, TN (February 9^th)

·         Dallas, TX (February  11^th & 12^th)

·         Houston, TX (February 14^th)

·         New Orleans, LA (February 17^th)

·         Atlanta, GA (February 19^th)

·         Philadelphia, PA (February 23^rd)

·         Newark, NJ (February 25^th & 26^th)

·         Cleveland, OH (February 28^th)

The tour manager is MRA Experiential Tours and Equipment of Madison Heights, MI.

For information about the tour itself and stops, please visit http://www.americanlegacymag.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN LEGACY

American Legacy Magazine was founded in 1995 as a joint venture between Reynolds’ RJR Communications, Inc and Forbes Magazine.  Total readership of American Legacy was over 2 million when the print edition ceased publication in 2011. The mission of the American Legacy brand is to broaden and enhance the awareness of African-American history through the utilization of educational products,  the internet, and broadcast media with the launch of the American Legacy Network in 2019.  Visitwww.americanlegacymag.com (http://www.americanlegacyxl.com/) or American Legacy Network’s On Demand platform American LegacyXL at http://www.americanlegacyxl.com. Black History Made Every Day.

ABOUT TOYOTA

Toyota has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.).  Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people to move more places.

ABOUT MRA

MRA mobile experiential is an industry leader in mobile exhibit and event marketing. It specializes in custom design, vehicle sales and leasing, as well as tour equipment and logistics management services for the experiential marketing and exhibiting needs of museums and many Fortune 1000 firms, working either directly or in association with leading agencies and exhibit builders worldwide. Visit www.goMRA.com and http://www.youtube/MRAmobiletours.

A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND DIVERSITY

Cover Reveal & Pre-Order Offer for Sandra Richard’s New Children’s Book, Rice & Rocks

 

New York, NY— First time author, Sandra L. Richards, teamed with “mommy” bloggers and children’s lit enthusiasts, Pragmatic Mom and Here Wee Read for the exclusive cover reveal of her highly anticipated debut children’s book, Rice & Rocks.

Published by Wise Ink, Rice & Rocks brings a unique contribution to the world of children’s literature as it celebrates tradition, culture and diversity. The book tells the story of Giovanni whose friends are coming over for Sunday dinner and he’s embarrassed that his grandmother is serving rice and beans. He does not like “rice and rocks” and worries his friends will think the traditional Jamaican dish is weird. But his favorite Auntie comes to the rescue. She and Giovanni’s pet parrot, Jasper, take him on a magical journey across the globe, visiting places where people eat different versions of rice and rocks—reveling in the varied traditions of different culture while highlighting the delicious similarities that links us together.

The picture book will be released in print and eBook formats on August 16^th, 2016 and a special pre-order offer for signed copies is now open on the author’s website. For every five books sold, Sandra will donate one to a children’s literacy organization.

The cover and the book in its entirety features the illustrations of recent Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) grad, Megan Sullivan. Rice & Rocks marks Megan’s first published work.

 

ABOUT SANDRA L. RICHARDS (AUTHOR)

Sandra L. Richards is the debut picture book author of Rice & Rocks. With Rice & Rock, Sandra brings a unique contribution to the world of children’s books. Sandra, an American-born daughter of Jamaican immigrant parents, hopes the book will serve as an educational resource for families seeking to teach their children the value of their heritage and the importance of cultural diversity.

Sandra is also Executive Director and Head of Diverse and Multicultural Marketing, Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Richards served as the Development Officer, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Learn more about Sandra L. Richards by visiting her website.

 

ABOUT MEGAN SULLIVAN (ILLUSTRATOR)

Megan Kayleigh Sullivan graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2012 with a degree in Illustration. She is currently working as a freelance illustrator and storyboard artist, and aspires towards a career in the film and animation industry as a concept artist, character designer, or visual development artist (or d., all of the above). She enjoys traveling, writing, telling stories, and hula-hooping. Visit her at her website.

Seen on the Scene: E2 NORTHEAST MOTORSPORTS

In June, E2 Northeast Motorsports (the first multicultural competitive racing team in NASCAR) made an appearance at the BODY SCULPT of New York Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo held at Brooklyn’s Boys & Girls High School.

Kids (and adults alike) got a chance to get up close and personal with the young racing team and its owner, Melissa Harville-Lebron and got a chance to sit behind the wheel of a real race car!

From Left to Right: E2 Northeast Motorsports Team: Eric Lebron, Tyler Gallup, Enico Lebron and team owner, Melissa Harville-Lebron

MORE THAN A PRETTY YOUNG THING

The Black Girl Project has announced the date of their 2nd Annual Sisterhood Summit.

The Black Girl Project Announces the Date for its Second Summit

 

BROOKLYN, NY – SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 — Brooklyn-based non-profit, the Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.org), announced today that the organization will host its second “Sisterhood Summit” on October. Hosted by the BGP founder, Aiesha Turman, the day of workshops and seminars will continue its format as a symposium designed to provide a platform for young women and girls to develop the tools to advocate, express, create and inspire each other. The Sisterhood Summit will also serve as a means to build active and sustainable networks on local, national and global levels. The event will take place on Saturday, October 27 at the State University of New York- Empire State College  Brooklyn Campus.

“This year’s summit was planned based on feedback and the bits of conversation we were able to glean from last year’s attendees,” Aiesha said. “We have a lot in store for both youth and adults — parents, educators and caregivers — and we’re excited that there will be more intergenerational exchanges.”

This year’s symposium is themed: PYT: Pleasure, Youth & Transformation. Inspired by last year’s summit experience, the theme will have participants explore the deeper themes of sex, sexuality, intimacy, love and identity and how these issues resonate in the lives of young women and girls, their communities and popular culture. The purpose of the summit is to give the participants an opportunity to engage in dialogue and interactive workshops that will allow them to question, discuss viewpoints and deepen their awareness and insight. This year, Turman and her team have created a section of the summit dedicated solely to the parents and other adult caretakers in the attendees’ lives. The Black Girl Project firmly believes in the importance of providing a space for a diversity of perspectives to encourage growth as sharing views and ideas lead to enrichment, transformation and understanding.

Interested in attending this year’s Black Girl Project Sisterhood Summit? Online registration is available here:  http://blackgirlproject.wufoo.com/forms/sisterhood-summit-participant-registration/.

 

About The Black Girl Project Sisterhood Summit 2012

BGP’s annual Sisterhood Summit is situated in BGP’s mission to empower young women and girls to navigate the challenging social issues they are faced with around sex, sexuality, and gender by providing a safe environment for them to connect and collaborate with peers, investigate, innovate and explore; in order to educate themselves, educate others, and take action.

About The Black Girl Project

The Black Girl Project is the outreach arm of the film of the same name. The mission of The Black Girl Project is to use the issues discussed in the film–Identity, Obstacles, Goals, Love & Sex, Family and the Media–to help build critical thinking, inspire dialogue and empower young women and girls. For more information, visit us at blackgirlproject.org.

*The Sisterhood Summit is open to all people who identify as Black and women and/or girls and is inclusive of transgender women and girls as well as people who identify with any femininity/femmeness/etc. spectrum.

 

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CELEBRATING BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS

 

 

 

The Black Girl Project Celebrates it’s First Anniversary with A Reception and the Release of the Film’s DVD

BROOKLYN, NY – March 08, 2012—New York-based filmmaker, Aiesha Turman, announced the release of her premier film, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) to DVD. To celebrate the film’s DVD release, Turman, founder of a non-profit of the same name that was born of the film (www.blackgirlproject.org), will host a cocktail reception and silent auction on Saturday, March 24^th at the Foundation House in New York City.

 

“I didn’t know what to expect when deciding to make the film, except that I wanted to inspire dialogue and change within our communities,” said Aiesha Turman. “With The Black Girl Project, we’ve been to college campuses, corporate boardrooms, theaters and community organizations–all to promote the crazy notion that Black women and girls are complex people, not some nebulous problem that needs to be solved. This has been, and will continue to be, about young women and girls, as all proceeds benefit workshops, trainings and the maintenance and expansion of our programs so that we can continue to serve. Thank you to all who have supported us in the past and continue to support our work.”

The cocktail event will open with a silent auction with items donated from various supporters including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Film Forum, the Paley Center for Media and authors such as Tayari Jones, Jamel Shabazz and Kola Boof. Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Black Girl Project and the expansions of their programs for Black women and girls in New York and beyond. Described as an intimate evening with the director, guests will be introduced to the film and the organization by Aiesha, herself. Afterward, the filmmaker will be available to answer any questions as the guests enjoy the auction, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music, and more. Tickets can be purchased at http://theblackgirlproject.ticketleap.com/speakeasy324/.

 

 

 

DEBUNKING THE MYTH

BROOKLYN, NY – JULY 26, 2011 – Super Hussy Media Founder and Filmmaker,  Aiesha Turman, announced today the return of her feature film, The Black Girl Project (www.blackgirlproject.com) to its birthplace, Brooklyn, a welcomed stop on its national tour. The return to Brooklyn heralds the one year anniversary of the film’s debut. To celebrate, Turman has teamed with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency (www.launchedladiescreative.wordpress.com), to screen the documentary as well as lead  a panel discussion of the themes touched on in the film on Wednesday, August 17th at Brooklyn Commons (located at 388 Atlantic Avenue).

“I’m overjoyed about partnering with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency once again, for the screening of the Black Girl Project in Brooklyn,” said Turman. “It is our goal to not just leave this as a completed film, to build a movement to help empower young women and girls.”

The event will begin with a cocktail reception the film’s return to Brooklyn followed by the screening of the hour-long film.  A panel discussion and informal Q&A session focusing on the central themes of the film follows where the audience will get to speak with Aiesha Turman and featured participants from the film.

“Launched Ladies Creative Agency wholeheartedly supports the empowerment of women,” said Kree Cason, co-Founder and co- Creator of LLCA. “The Black Girl Project is an eye-opening powerful vehicle of education and discovery; using Brooklyn as a backdrop we are proud to present the screening and post dialogue of The Black Girl Project along with the filmmaker and director, Aiesha Turman.”

Produced by Turman’s Super Hussy Media (www.superhussy.com), The Black Girl Project (BGP) focuses on one core question: “who are you? “That one question spawned another, then another and yet another, but the one initial question is at the heart of the film.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit (www.blackgirlproject.org) of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.  The film screening will also serve as a fundraiser for the Black Girl Project organization. To purchase tickets, visit:

For press inquiries, email Tamara Walker at tamara@nyprdiva.net or visit www.blackgirlproject.com.

 

ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT

The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.

The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.

This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women. For more information about the Black Girl Project, visit: www.blackgirlproject.org.

ABOUT SUPER HUSSY MEDIA

Super Hussy Media is independently owned, written, edited and designed by filmmaker and writer, Aiesha Turman. A strong believer in the empowerment of young women and girls, particularly those of color, Aiesha created Super Hussy as a means to explore black life as it related to the female gender across place, class, time and sexuality. The site focuses on projects that are intensely personal and through them, hopes to shed light on the contradictions, triumphs, perils and beauty that is black womanhood.

Utilizing traditional and emerging media as tools for investigation, Super Hussy Media engages in frank dialogue surrounding the issues of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexual orientation and the roles they play in the lives of black women and girls through the use of women and families, both historic and contemporary. By illuminating the hardships, struggles and complexities of black womanhood, Super Hussy Media seeks to change the paradigm through which black women are viewed and ultimately, how they view themselves.

For more information, visit: www.superhussy.com

 

ABOUT THE LAUNCHED LADIES CRATIVE AGENCY (LLCA)

Launched Ladies Creative Agency is dedicated to providing creative solutions and ideas for entrepreneurs across a diverse spectrum of fields. Founded by Kree and Krystal Cason along with Basyah Prabhu, LLCA fosters strong relationships with its clients, which includes but are not limited to chic boutique owners, independent designers, make-up artists, and stylists. Launched Ladies Creative Agency offers an array of services from marketing, event planning, management and more. The agency provides each client with a personalized package tailored to his or her needs. LLCA was founded on the platform of helping guide emerging entrepreneurs to a mainstream presence and financial success.

For more information, visit www.launchedladiescreative.wordpress.com.

CREDITS

Conceived + Directed By 
Aiesha Turman

Primary Participants
Chanel Jones
Courtney James
Netchem Hairston
Aurelia Spence
Amanda Rivera
Tiffany Coley
Paige Padgett
Melissa Henry

Additional Photography
Nasheim Williams
Netchem Hairston

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LIVING IN THE AGE OF HIV/AIDS: The Black Girl Project Hosts Workshop & Round Table Event To Bring Awareness and Prevent the Spread of AIDS/HIV Among Young Women Of Color

Aiesha Turman, the Brooklyn-based educator, activist and founder of the non-profit organization, the Black Girl Project
(www.blackgirlproject.org), announced today that she will host a one day workshop entitled “Prevent…Not Manage: Women of Color on AIDS/HIV,” geared toward educating young women of color about AIDS/HIV and preventing the spread of what has now become an epidemic hitting the community.  The event will take place on Sunday, December 12th at Center Stage New York (located at 48
West 21st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan).

“Women of color are under siege within their own communities and society at-large,” says Turman. “With no comprehensive sex education in many cities, such as New York, and with the high visibility of advertisements for antiretroviral drugs, it is time for direct action targeted toward those most affected by the disease.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 64 percent of the women who contract HIV/AIDS are African American.  This startling fact is the force behind for The Black Girl Project’s continued campaign that began with last year’s Internet-based PSA, ”Prevent, Don’t Manage HIV/AIDS,” which will also be screened at the event.  Geared specifically to the largest segment of the
population affected by HIV/AIDS, the two hour event has drawn notable panelists including Bianca Laureano, a noted sex educator, sexual health advocate and representative of Love Heals. Delivering the keynote address for the workshop is Carmen Mendoza, Miss Kings County 2011, whose platform focuses on de-stigmatizing getting tested and teaching other methods in the
preventing the spread of AIDS/HIV.

All proceeds from the event benefit Love Heals and The Black Girl Project After School Initiative.

For more information about this event or for tickets, visit:
http://theblackgirlproject.ticketleap.com/prevent-dont-manage-women-of-color-on-hivaids/

For Press inquiries, email nyprdiva@gmail.com.

PROTECTION IS THE NEW BLACK

 

Eco-Social Conscious Fashion Brand To Host Eye-Opening Discussion on Relationships and Their Impact on the Spread of HIV in Communities of Color

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 17, 2010 – Verneda White, Founder and Creative Director of Human Intonation (www.humanintonation.com), the premium , unisex apparel brand dedicated to raising awareness and funding for social and human rights issues, announced today that the brand will host its first coed HIV forum to address how the dynamics of today’s male-female relationships are impacting the HIV epidemic among women of color. The event, entitled“Protection is the NEW Black: Sex, Love + Lies in the Age of HIV,” coinciding with World AIDS Day, will take place on Thursday, December 2^nd at the Dwyer Cultural Center in New York City.

“With this forum, I want to breakdown the idea people often carry that HIV/AIDS is someone else’s problem and it will never happen to me,” said White.  “My goal is to have at least one person come out of the forum firmly decided that having unprotected sex is something he or she is no longer willing to do. It is a powerful thing when a person (particularly women) feels empowered to reach that point. There was a time when I was willing to have unprotected sex, putting myself at risk even after my cousin died of AIDS at the age of 22, and now I am no longer willing to do so.”

Human Intonation has been waging a campaign to raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention through the brand’s on-going series of “Women 2 Women HIV Roundtable Discussions” where women from all walks of life and organizational leaders were challenged to ask themselves the hard questions like “Why are we [women] having unprotected sex?” and to discuss real life experiences, life lessons, and “ah ha” moments that help to make tangible the idea of empowering women to insist on using protection each and everytime in the fight against the  disease plaguing minority communities. Protection Is The New Black is the first time that Human Intonation will bring in a coed audience.

White, along with national and local partners including the African American Coalition Against AIDS (AACAA), the New York City Department of Health,Lifebeat, Xi Magazine, NAACP, Naked with Socks On, Vera Moore Cosmetics, and One Condoms, have gathered a diverse group of guests and co-moderators to lead the breakout discussion.  The panelists for this event include:

• Dr. Monica Sweeny, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene,    Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
• Professor David Hughes, President, Global World Solutions, Inc. (GWS)
• Hydeia Broadbent, International HIV/AIDS activist and motivational speaker
• Chris Kazi Rolle, Founder of Together Apart, Conversations About Dating, Sex and Relationships
• Slim Jackson, Author of Three Ways to Take it and Single Black Male

Suggested donations from Protection Is the NEW Black will benefit Human Intonation’s non-profit partner, Advocates For Youth (www.advocatesforyouth.org), in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In addition to the panel discussion, Human Intonation will also host a brief fashion presentation showcasing its latest collection as well as hosting a screening of the short film “Close Call” written by Okema T. Moore and Universal for Laam King Entertainment. A wine reception follows the panel discussion.

For more information about the event and Human Intonation’s Women 2 Women series, contact Verneda Adele White at info@humanintonation.com or 917.379.7917.

ABOUT HUMAN INTONATION

Inspired by Verneda White’s personal family experience during Hurricane Katrina and the loss of her very close cousin James Wesley White, Jr. to AIDS, HUMAN INTONATION^TM is the NEW premium, unisex apparel brand dedicated to raising social awareness while giving 20% of the proceeds from each sale to growing non-profits addressing three of today’s pertinent social & human rights issues. Our original tees, tanks, and dresses support youth & minority HIV/AIDS prevention, volunteer efforts in rebuilding the Gulf Coast, education for children in Darfur, and most recently the citizens of Haiti. Our brand donates to three non-profit partners including Advocates for Youth, Hands On New Orleans, and the Darfur Peace & Development Org respectively. The power in Human Intonation is that we are able to use fashion as a platform for inspiring people to start the conversation about these issues in a way that can change perceptions, change choices, change lives.

For more information, visit www.humanintonation.com.