My conversation with author and veteran political analyst, Bradford R. Kane on a post election, post Donald J. Trump era.
Who is Brad Kane?
Bradford R. Kane has developed policy, legislation, and initiatives in Congress, California state government, and the nonprofit and private sectors. He was a speech writer and researcher for Congresswoman Maxine Waters, counsel to Congresswoman Cardiss Collins and counsel to the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce & Consumer Protection.
Kane was a member of President Clinton’s Task Force on Health Care Reform. He was Deputy Controller for Legislation, and Deputy Secretary of Information Technology for the state of California. As a member of the Nielsen Media Research Task Force on Television Measurement, he created the Bipartisan Bridge and developed environmental, economic and racial equity initiatives. He was also a member of the United Nations Global Alliance on ICT & Development, CEO of the International Commission on Workforce Development, and Director of Strategic Initiatives and International Development at TechSoup Global.
His book, Pitchfork Populism: Ten Political Forces That Shaped an Election and Continue to Change America, is an examination of the political forces that led to the current form of faux populism in America. The book also evaluates the evolution of demographics and racial dynamics, the media’s role and impact, increased activism, bipartisanship and globalization.
The R&B Group may sound like your typical music alley or fun venue to explore but don’t let the name fool you. This exclusive high-level executive business networking group is turning the pursuit of rubbing elbows and making deals into an art form. And, since the start of the COVID pandemic, the group, in its 10th year hosting networking events in the New York region, has found another footing online connecting financial experts, HR officials, media executives, diverse portfolio entrepreneurs and the who’s who of the financial business world with each other. And it’s all thanks to the passionate advocacy undertaken by the group’s Founder and Director, Jay Rovert.
From New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, including DC and crossing to the West coast in parts of California, The R&B Group is making great strides in the business networking world in spite of the global health crisis still at our feet. In fact, the group is able to expand its reach thanks to the move to online platforms like Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Now more than ever, people all over the world are conducting more of their work and business online, including their social activities, learning and even teaching. The R&B Group is a great example of riding the unsuspecting waves of life and staying afloat, especially with the uncertainty of financial markets and conducting business during COVID. The R&B Group may just be a perfect fit for someone looking to connect with like-minded folks open to sharing their professional expertise and building a quality community centered on business development and of course, good music, food, drinks and wholesome fun. So, how does one get a ticket to enter? You must be invited by a standing member. To learn more about the process contact Rovert via LinkedIn, he’s excellent in responding and clear with his communication.
The age of technology is here to stay. Our lives are increasingly moving toward a more comfortable, sustainable and user friendly space we love and hate equally: the World Wide Web, making another aspect—production—of this new online world worthy of mention. Most of us don’t put too much thought into preparing for an online meeting. As long as you look presentable from the waste up and have pretty good lighting, you’re in business. But there’s so much more that goes into these events. Barrett Lester, Head of Video Production and a Creative Teams Leader, facilitated the Zoom interview between myself and Rovert. His passion for video production, his keen eye for background, lighting and his overall attention to detail are commendable. Lester does the work behind the scene many of us tend to take for granted. He loves producing and it shows. His work reminds me of a bumper sticker I read once: Hug a musician, they never get to dance. In that spirit, it’s important to recognize the work being done behind the scenes to create quality content and bring you information that just may change your life. Check him out on LinkedIn too, he’ll improve your online presentation and make you look good doing it. Don’t get left behind during these stressful times. Check out The R&B Group and find out of it’s a good fit for you and your business endeavors. Tell Jay, Jeanette sent you.
From Anacostia to the Marshall Heights neighborhood and beyond, some Washingtonians have to find new ways to stay safe, active and mindful of the deadly virus buckling governments in every corner of the world. It’s no secret African Americans will bear the brunt of the coronavirus illness and lead the death toll despite making up only 14 percent of America’s population. ProPublica, The New York Times and other publications are already documenting the number of people dying from the airborne disease by race and class, and according to preliminary findings, the numbers are not looking good for black people.
“As of Friday morning, African Americans made up almost half of Milwaukee County’s 945 cases and 81% of its 27 deaths in a county whose population is 26% black. Milwaukee is one of the few places in the United States that is tracking the racial breakdown of people who have been infected by the novel coronavirus, offering a glimpse at the disproportionate destruction it is inflicting on black communities nationwide. In Michigan, where the state’s population is 14% black, African Americans made up 35% of cases and 40% of deaths as of Friday morning. Detroit, where a majority of residents are black, hasemergedas a hot spot with a high death toll. As has New Orleans. Louisiana has not published case breakdowns by race, but 40% of the state’s deathshave happenedin Orleans Parish, where the majority of residents are black,” stated the report by Talia Buford who covers disparities in environmental impacts for ProPublica.
Although a handful of states are keeping track of the disease’s impact, according to ProPublica, the CDC is not keeping track of deaths and infections by race. Thankfully, other institutions like hospitals and city health officials are. While many are running to the aid of hospital workers and other essential employees in the thick of this global crisis, it remains to be seen who will help black communities survive COVID-19.
The Laurel Cemetery is a significant burial location for African Americans and yet, it sits unrecognized beneath a strip mall on Belair Road in Northeast Baltimore. Frederick Douglas spoke there during the funeral of a friend, 270 black Civil War soldiers are buried there, and it’s the final resting place for some of the movers and shakers in the African American community who called Baltimore home in the early 19th century. One would never know the sacredness of this cemetery at face value today because it’s easily walked over and used as a short cut to get to and from the strip mall that sits above it.
Thankfully, there’s good news to report on the cemetery that stood the test of time from 1852 – 1957. A symposium to commemorate the historic cemetery will take place on June 15, 2019 at Coppin State University from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM in the Talon Center, located at 2500 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216. Click HERE for all the details.
My conversation with local Artist and Baltimore native, Terrell Brown, dives into this sad state of affairs of a once prominent resting place for Baltimore’s black elites.
A visiting media scholar from Jagiellonian University in Poland, Dr. Rafal Kus, gave a poignant public lecture for the United Nations Association at the Unitarian Universalist Church in New Hartford on Thursday. Dr. Krus was invited by Utica College’s Communications and Media Department thanks to a grant from the Erasmus Program of the European Union. Dr. Krus specializes in the study of American television media.
The local United Nations chapter—Upper Mohawk Valley Chapter of the United Nations Association—is tied to a global network of UN supporters and educators dedicated to educate, inspire, mobilize and strengthen the U.S. system in order to achieve the goals stated in the UN charter. The talk, which aims to do just that, focused on public broadcasting in the U.S., media and politics, and the impact of media systems in the world.
Part of the goal, according to organizers is to learn how U.S. foreign policy has been shaped by the international media climate and how it relates to the United Nations. There’s currently a bill being considered in Congress that aims to slash funding to the UN And Greg M. Smith who serves as Vice President of the local chapter, UMVUNA, says the cuts are in addition to the UN reducing its own budget by $200 million. “Now the United States is saying an additional $250 million needs to come away. That’s problematic because if we do that then we’re going to lose some of the seats we have within the United Nations. And, without a voice or a presence in committees we don’t have a voice in what happens within the United Nations and very easily the UN could become the League of Nations which we all know didn’t’ do very well to prevent WWII.”
