President Obama Sets Two Hollywood Fundraisers (Exclusive)

from The Hollywood Reporter ...

Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26 for a pair of events designed to attract entertainment industry supporters.

In the second of what is sure to be a series of fundraising visits to Hollywood donors, President Barack Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26th for a pair of events scaled to accommodate a variety of incomes.

The first of the two fundraisers -- both of which are designed to attract entertainment industry supporters -- is scheduled for 4:30 pm at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard.

A mere $250 will get a single person in the door, while $10,000 is the cost to take a photo with the president. Later that evening, Obama will network with the heavy hitters at Fig & Olive restaurant on chic Melrose Place. Thirty-five-thousand dollars allows you to bring a date. If you're on your own, it will only set you back $17,900. The main event will be a chance to participate in a Q&A with the president.


Sources say that invitations to both fundraisers are set to go out this week.

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Have you heard of the “DO SOMETHING” Awards??

The Do Something Awards have grown steadily since 2007, being seen on both The CW and as a part of the 2008-9 Teen Choice Awards. Celebrity presenters & participants have included hot acts like Scarlett Johansson, Usher, Lauren Conrad, Nick Cannon, Akon, and more.

This year's ceremony, which was held last Sunday and airs Thursday, August 18 at 9 p.m. EST on VH1, awards both stars and young activists tacking everything from hunger to refugee issues. Five young semi-finalists under 25 have the chance to win $100,000 for their cause. The winner will be announced Thursday.

In a world of glitz and glamour, it is always refreshing to hear about celebrities using their “influence” to do good and also about the organizations that recognize this good.

Do you want to see who was the best dressed? Check out this list from In Style

Learn more about the Do Something! Awards

Some Georgians Question Current and Proposed Congressional District Lines

(EVENT Recap- August 8, 2011)

Ebenezer Baptist Church was filled with over 150 people attendees interested in speaking and asking questions about current and proposed Congressional District lines at a panel discussion hosted by Congressman John Lewis on Monday night. By the time the floor was opened for questions at 7:30pm, the line stretched down the center aisle and almost to the door. The event was proposed from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Questions from the audience centered around “Voter ID” laws that have passed throughout the nation, the Voting Rights Act, and the current “bi partisan” redistricting exercise happening in Georgia. Some even questioned their current district lines and their current Congressional representation and took “microphone time” to express these concerns.

How can the community get involved? How can voter id laws be stopped and/or challenged? What does the Voting Rights Act mean in 2011?

There to answer questions was a panel of experts from all sides of the issue including:

• GA Congressman John Lewis: Georgia’s Fifth District Representative
• GA Representative Stacey Abrams: Democratic House Minority Leader
• Julie Fernandes: United States Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
• Jerry Gonzalez: Director, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials
• Elisabeth MacNamara: President, League of Women Voters of the United States
• Fred McBride, Ph.D: Redistricting Coordinator I Research Analyst, American Civil Liberties Union, Voting Rights Project
• Bill Nigut: Southeast Regional Director of the AntiDefamation League
• Judy Yi: Programs Director, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
• Sally Yates – United States Attorney Northern District of Georgia, Department of Justice (moderator)

Though each had something poignant to say, Representative Stacey Abrams was the most informative on actions in Georgia. She stated that re-districting decisions were not just about what her district will look like, they were more about each Georgian in the room and who would represent them. Congressman John Lewis also spoke about the importance of the Voting Rights Act and access to the ballot box. He alluded that redistricting, or “misdistricting” as I call it, in Georgia is new age discrimination and as informed voters, we must all be aware.

After the event came to a close, many attendees stormed the panel to ask personal questions and to voice concerns.

Proving to be timely, the event was held just before the Georgia General Assembly reports back to work for a Special Session on Redistricting. The special session begins on August 15th.

ENDING THE NATION’S DEBT PROBLEM ON THE BACKS OF BLACK GRADUATES?

I woke up this morning shocked.

As we all know, Congress is currently preparing to vote on a debt ceiling deal struck between President Obama and congressional Republicans and Democrats (arguably), in order to save the economic health of our great Country. Many expect this deal to close today at noon with a final passage vote by the U.S. Senate.

What you (me) may not know is the way in which this legislation could ultimately change the federal student aid program and money granted to graduate students, more specifically, for school.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that the new “debt deal” legislation would
eliminate the subsidized loan program for graduate students.

More specifically, CBO states in a letter to the U.S. Congress, “Beginning July 1, 2012, the bill would eliminate the interest subsidy on subsidized student loans for almost all graduate students while a borrower is in school, in the post-school grace period, and during any authorized deferment period.“

Current and future graduate students would not only be paying more for graduate school, but they would be paying MORE SOONER! Students would NEED TO PAY INTEREST WHILE IN SCHOOL!

Though it seems like this “deal” has already been made, graduate students, especially African American students, across the United States need to be made aware of this change. Many graduate students depend on these loans to help fund their graduate studies. Eliminating such funds will make it that much harder for African Americans to close the achievement gap and continue on to graduate school. Private funders and organizations, non-profits, university academic departments, and more will need to increase their support of graduate students to keep them in school.

This bill will also disproportionately affect the number of African Americans receiving graduate degrees from HBCUs and other private institutions. As these schools continue to cost higher than their public counterparts, many graduate students who attend these schools MUST DEPEND on unsubsidized AND subsidized loans for school.

In closing, I implore graduate students across the Country to HOLD their representatives accountable. HOLD President Barack Obama accountable! Send an email to Speaker of the House, the President, the Minority Leader, and the Majority Leader. Let your Congressional representative know how you feel about this “deal”.

As with most deals, games, and the like, there are always winners and losers. But it’s even more shocking when you didn’t even know that you were a part of the game?!

-Lauren E Williams, MPA
National President
National Black Graduate Student Association 2011-2012