WQED Presents Live Forum Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys

PORTRAYAL AND PERCEPTION: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS
Multi-Part Series to Encore in Advance of New Episode and Live Forum on November 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 2, 2013

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

PORTRAYAL AND PERCEPTION: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS
Multi-Part Series to Encore in Advance of New Episode and Live Forum on November 14

PITTSBURGH -- Building on the success of last year’s Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys initiative, WQED will continue sharing the many stories of African American men and boys who are accomplished members of the community throughout western Pennsylvania.

Past episodes of Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys will re-air on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. starting October 1 through November 11.

• 10/1 – “Owning It”: Michael Bartley shows how local African American entrepreneurs, often overlooked by commercial media, are not only experiencing financial success, they are inspiring future business leaders.
• 10/8 – “Pitch Perfect”: Minette Seate profiles leaders and members of Pittsburgh's Afro American Music Institute, which goes beyond teaching music to foster a culture of pride and community responsibility.

• 10/15 – “Game Changers”: Chris Moore reveals how One Hood Media combats negative images by urging young men to define themselves using available media, rather than allowing others to do it for them.
• 10/22 – “Teaching Success”: How do you teach an African American boy to become a leader? "Teaching Success" looks at three different on ramps to the road to success: a program for young entrepreneurs and one of its star pupils; the commitment of African American educators at Pittsburgh's Manchester K-8 school on the North Side; and, the Black Male Leadership Development Institute, a seven-day leadership training collaboration between Robert Morris University and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
• 10/29 – “Media Men”: Focusing on communications careers, featured profiles include: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman; WQED/PCNC/KDKA Radio host Chris Moore; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review photographer Sidney Davis; and social media networker Alex Simmons.
• 11/6 – “Journey to Medicine”: Following middle school students, medical school students and seasoned professional physicians, this episode looks at local black males who are pursuing careers in medicine.
• 11/11 – “The New Trailblazer”: After the turbulent 1960s and 70s, the torch has been passed to a new generation of leadership in Pittsburgh’s African American community. Featuring attorney Blaine Jones and Pennsylvania Representative Ed Gainey, this program shows how they are making their mark in law and politics and offers perspective from those who once walked in their shoes.

On Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. “Have You Ever Considered Teaching?” premieres. This episode encourages African American males to explore a teaching career. For the past twenty years there has been a steady decline of black males in the profession.

Immediately following LIVE at 8 p.m. will be Portrayal & Perception: A Community Forum. During the broadcast, western Pennsylvania community leaders, activists and concerned citizens will discuss how the media portrays African American males and how society views them as a result. The broadcast will engage a studio audience as well as people commenting via social media. The forum is the culmination of eight WQED documentaries that reported on people and organizations working to spotlight positive rather than negative images of black men.

As part of the partnership with BMe (which piloted projects in Philadelphia and Detroit to highlight black males engaging with and leading others in service to their communities), WQED plans to identify and recognize local men and boys who are serving Pittsburgh’s communities with an awards ceremony in 2014. Over 200 stories about Pittsburgh men and boys may now be seen at bmecommunity.org.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains and inspires. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqedfm.org; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Acoustic Africa: Afropean Woman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: October 9, 2012
Contact: Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717, roth@trustarts.org

Acoustic Africa: Afropean Woman

Thursday, November 8, 2012, Byham Theater

Pittsburgh, PA:  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Acoustic Africa: Afropean Woman, on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., at the Byham Theater.  This performance is part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series. Tickets ($23-$33) may be purchased in person at the Box Office at Theater Square 655 Penn Avenue, online at www.Trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666.  For groups of 10 or more, call (412) 471-6930.

Photo by Dirk Leunis

This live music experience offers a rare glimpse into the depths and richness of the African vocal traditions with performances by up and coming female African vocal impresarios.  The Afropean Woman tour will feature Dobet Gnahoré, the Ivory Coast vocalist and dancer who has garnered a reputation as one of the most vibrant performers in world music; bassist and vocalist Manu Gallo, from the Ivory Coast, who gained acclamation as the bassist for Zap Mama and whose own music draws on rhythms of West Africa as well as funk, R&B; and Kareyce Fotso, a young Cameroonian singer whose music is an intriguing combination of Afro-pop, Blues, and traditional African music. Afropop Worldwide commented, “A beautiful and fascinating exchange going on between great artists…. 21st century troubadours…if you are in within range of any of these shows, don’t miss it!”

Dobet Gnahore    Photo Credit Dirk Leunis

Kareyce Fotso  Photo Credit Dirk Leunis

Manou Gallo  Photo Credit Dirk Leunis

These exceptional singers will be accompanied by Leni Stern, American contemporary guitarist and composer who gained wide acclaim for her four recordings of African influenced music; along with Ivorian’s balafonist Aly Keita and Tchango Kassoung on drums.  “The combination of musical ingredients stood out in the show. There’s something so magical about the African music,” Dan DeWayne, Director of Chico Performances.

The Afropean Woman tour is the third worldwide tour in the Acoustic Africa series. After an initial tour in 2006 saw such success the creators were motivated to continue creating collaborative tours of African musicians. These musicians are chosen from various nations to represent the diversity and culture that music facilitates worldwide. Powerful lyrics bring attention to the adversity these nations are facing socially and politically. Igniting an awareness globally of nations that are in turmoil, while bringing joy to the patrons through musical collaboration, Acoustic Africa is an impressive movement powered continually by diverse musical talent.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support.  The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.  www.Trustarts.org

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz Theme of African Arts in the Park Festival

UMOJA African Arts Company
PO Box 5230
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone:  412-290-0894
Fax:  412-232-3262
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mrs. Darcel Madkins, President & CEO
UMOJA African Arts Company
Phone: 412-290-0894
Fax: 412-232-3262
umoja@umojacompany.org
www.AfricanArtsInThePark.org

UMOJA African Arts Company in partnership with CitiParks to Host the African-American Festival being held at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA   - African Arts in the Park Festival is dedicated to the demonstration and promotion of African and African Diaspora Arts in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. This year’s theme, “Bridging African Rhythms and Jazz”, appeals to people of all backgrounds recognizing that African music is a strong contributor to the genre of jazz music.  Umoja’s mission,” to raise awareness and increase appreciation for the rich cultures of Africa and their influence on the world”, utilizes the African Arts in the Park as a wonderful event for such an exposition.  Plan on stopping by Umoja African Arts Company’s 8th Annual African Arts in the Park Festival, August 11th & 12th, 2012, in Point State Park from 11AM-7PM in the center of Downtown Pittsburgh.

The Main Stage will be filled with West African music, dance, and jazz.  Attendees can bring their chairs and blankets and hear live bands.  They will be entertained by various West African dance and drum troops including Sankofa Village, Dreme Drum Dance, Legacy Arts Project, and Tam Tam Magic.  Jazz musicians include Afro-American Music Institute, Jessica Lee Quartet, Elevations, Roger Humphries and RH Factor, AfroJazz, Chelsea Baratz Band, Ray Ryan and the Riverside Band, Tim Stevens and the Leonard Johnson Project, Kevin Howard Band, Dwayne Dolphin Band, and Spirit Filled Ministries.

The Culture Hut will offer interactive demonstrations such as West Africa’s influence on Jazz by Kuumba Inc., African storytelling by Temujin the Storyteller and Jackie Jonas, and drum workshops by Assane M’Baye. New this year are cooking and tasting demos which connect West African food and food from New Orleans by Phat Girlz Cookin’ and Culinary Artists.

We encourage a visit to our Children’s Hut.  There will be Spanish & French Arts & Crafts, Reading Is Fundamental, Carnegie Library activities, African storytelling & mask making, jewelry making, face painting, henna artists, petting zoo, Debo the Clown, a stiltwalker, and a bounce house.

Our food vendors will serve a variety of American and international food. The retail vendors will have several crafts, art, and clothing. Admission to this event is free.

UMOJA African Arts Company is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is celebrating its 23rd season of bridging and unifying diverse cultures through educational and artistic presentations of African art, culture and heritage.   Sponsors include City of Pittsburgh, Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Foundation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,  Poise Foundation, The Soul Pitt, Residence Inn- Marriott, and Wyndham Hotel.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Portrayal and Perception: African American Men and Boys

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS SPECIALS EXPLORE PORTRAYAL & PERCEPTION


Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys Premieres Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 14, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS SPECIALS EXPLORE PORTRAYAL & PERCEPTION

Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys

Premieres Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

PITTSBURGH—In the new series Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys viewers will discover local individuals and organizations who are challenging common portrayals and perceptions of them and their culture.

Chris Moore

To set-up the context for this important series WQED’s weekly multi-cultural program Horizons (which airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV) will hold a dynamic conversation on the February 21 episode about why re-shaping the portrayal and perception of African American males is important to all facets of our society. Joining Emmy®-Award winning producer and host Chris Moore will be for this discussion will be:

• Dr. Larry E. Davis, Dean of the Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems;

• Desmond King, Andrew Mellon Professor of American Government at Nuffield College, Oxford University;

• Dr. Marcia M. Sturdivant, Deputy Director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF.)



Minette Seate


Known for teaching the craft and culture of African American musical forms to area youth for almost thirty years, The Afro American Music Institute (AAMI) has a lasting impact on the students it serves. On Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV the premiere episode of Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys comes from Emmy®-Award winning producer Minette Seate. In this special, Seate explores the AAMI and its Boys Choir, where they continue a legacy of mentorship to children in our area. The AAMI goes beyond choir rehearsal to foster a culture of pride and responsibility to one’s community.

On Monday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV, Emmy®-Award winning producer Michael Bartley takes a look at local African American entrepreneurs. In this episode Bartley takes viewers to several local and unique businesses where hard-work, vision and service are the crux of these operations. Often overlooked by commercial media, these individuals are experiencing financial success and finding ways to inspire future business leaders.

The third of these special episodes airs on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV from Moore who talks with African American males who are fed up with the portraits of them drawn by mainstream media. They believe that in order to combat these negative images it is their responsibility to define who they are instead of leaving it to someone else. Through One Hood Media Jasiri X and Paradise "The Arkitech" Gray are teaching young people how to control the image of young black males by using the mediums at their disposal. Moore explains to viewers how the New Media Academy of One Hood Media is helping the students use their own stories to prepare for the future.

A fourth episode and town hall meeting are also planned as part of the series and will air in October 2012.

Funding for Portrayal & Perception: African American Men & Boys was provided by a grant from The Heinz Endowments, which supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and region that embraces diversity and inclusion.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

WQED Celebrates Black History Month with TV and Radio Programs

WQED RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH FEBRUARY'S PROGRAMMING ON TELEVISION AND RADIO



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH FEBRUARY’S

PROGRAMMING ON TELEVISION AND RADIO

PITTSBURGH – WQED commemorates Black History Month with programs centered on the cultural struggles and accomplishments of African Americans not only in Pittsburgh, but throughout America. Classical WQED-FM 89.3 will acknowledge the importance of Black History Month by playing the music of various African American artists throughout the month of February.

Funding for Black History Month television and radio programming was made possible by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Niagara Bank, and the City of Pittsburgh.


February 1st – February 4th

• Thursday, February 2nd

Newspaper of Record: The Pittsburgh Courier 1907-1965 – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – With fourteen national editions and a peak circulation of over three hundred thousand, the Pittsburgh Courier was the leading Black newspaper of the last century. With accounts from Courier reporters and employees, this documentary reveals the role of the Pittsburgh Courier in reporting and shaping African American history.

Independent Lens “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – This documentary tells the story of Daisy Bates, a black woman who was a feminist before the term was invented. Her public support of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, culminated in a constitutional crisis – pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself.


February 5th – February 11th

• Sunday, February 5th

Wylie Avenue Days* – (Airs: 3 p.m.) – This documentary captures Pittsburgh’s Hill District during its prime, which lasted from the 1930s through the 1950s. Wylie Avenue, located in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, was unique as it was the only street in America which began at a church and ended at a jail, but it was the spirit of this vibrant neighborhood that was the reason it was considered the heart of black life in Pittsburgh. A WQED production.

Barbershops: PA Stylin’* – (Airs: 4 p.m.) – Politics, romance, race relations, and hair care are the topics of discussion in “Barbershops: PA Stylin’.” Host Chris Moore visits several distinctly different yet similar African American barbershops that share a time-honored tradition practiced by barbers and patrons everywhere. A joyous mix of new ideas and fond nostalgia, “Barbershops: PA Stylin’” is the real-life story of one of the longest and liveliest traditions in the black community. A WQED production.

Torchbearers* – (Airs: 5 p.m.) – A documentary on Pittsburgh’s civil rights pioneers. “Torchbearers” uses interviews, photos and archival footage to tell the story of Pittsburgh’s struggles during the so-called “golden era” of civil rights. “Torchbearers” spans events from the 1950s through the 70s, and features many of the men and women who risked everything for their beliefs. A WQED production.

Secrets of the Dead “Slave Ship Mutiny” – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – During the summer of 1766, the Dutch Crew of the Meermin, filled to capacity with human cargo, set sail from Madagascar en route to the Dutch colony of Cape Town, South Africa, but it never made it. Along this journey the Meermin experienced an overpowering mutiny from the slaves and cunning acts of deception from crew members determined to reach Cape Town. This program tracks the efforts of archaeologists, historians and slave descendents to discover the full story of this dramatic historical event.


• Monday, February 6th

Underground Railroad: The William Still Story – (Airs: 10 p.m.) – “Underground Railroad: The William Still Story” profiles William Still, one of the most important yet unheralded individuals of the Underground Railroad. The film details accounts of black abolitionists, who had everything at stake as they helped fugitives follow the North Star to Canada.


• Tuesday, February 7th

Freedom Riders: American Experience – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – They called themselves the Freedom Riders, the integrated group of college students who risked everything and bought a ticket on a Greyhound bus headed into the Deep South. For this inspirational documentary, veteran filmmaker Stanley Nelson gained impressive access to many influential figures on both sides of the civil rights issue as he showcases the astonishing testament to those students that managed to bring the president and the entire American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.


• Thursday, February 9th

Independent Lens “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Utilizing an innovative format that riffs on the popular 1970s mixtape format, the film is a cinematic and musical journey into the black communities of America. Filmmaker Goran Hugo Olsson brings newly discovered footage to light and introduces it to a new generation across the world in an examination of the Black Power movement from 1967 to 1975.

February 12th – February 18th

• Sunday, February 12th

Safe Harbor – (Airs: 3 p.m.) – “Safe Harbor” is an incredible story of strength and determination, told through the eyes of the slaves and the people who defied race and gender in one if the greatest survival stories of all time. “Safe Harbor” follows the Underground Railroad through a little-known passage to freedom in the northernmost corner of Pennsylvania. Character voices, reenactments, documents and diaries create a vivid account of Pennsylvania in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Gullah – (Airs: 4 p.m.) – “Gullah” is a documentary about the culture preserved by the descendents of the original slaves who have never left St. Helena Island, South Carolina where their ancestors endured their servitude.

A Harpist’s Legacy: Ann Hobson Pilot and the Sound of Change – (Airs: 4:30 p.m.) – This compelling documentary follows Ann Hobson Pilot’s trailblazing journey as the first black female principle player in a major symphony orchestra and also as an international soloist, teacher, mentor and driving force behind music-education programs for undeserved minorities. “A Harpist’s Legacy” uses her professional journey to explore the increasing racial diversity and shift in attitudes toward musicians of color in the classical music world.

Colored Frames – (Airs: 5 p.m.) – “Colored Frames” reflects on the last 50 years in African-American art by exploring the influences, inspirations and experiences of black artists. Beginning at the height of the Civil Rights Era and leading up to the present, it provides a truthful, unflinching look at often-ignored artists and their progeny. “Colored Frames” also chronicles the black artist’s struggle for visibility and acceptance in mainstream art society as well as their experiences challenging assumptions about what constitutes “blackness,” even within their own community.


• Monday, February 13th

Slavery by Another Name – (Airs: 9 p.m.) – “Slavery by Another Name” challenges one of America’s most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. This documentary tells a harrowing story of how in the South, even as slavery came to an end, new forms of involuntary servitude, including convict leasing, debt slavery and peonage, took its place with shocking force – brutalizing and ultimately circumscribing the lives of hundreds of thousands of African Americans well into the 20th century.

I am a Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Memphis sanitation worker Mr. Nickleberry tells an uplifting life story of endurance and character – joined by the other men and women of the 1968 sanitation strike whose courageous stand helped change the world forever.


• Thursday, February 16th

Jim Crow Pennsylvania* – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – Joined by historical footage, period photographs and interviews, the documentary explores ‘Jim Crow,’ its effect and legacy in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose southern border is the Mason-Dixon line that divided slave states from free states. A WQED production.

Independent Lens “More Than a Month” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African-American filmmaker, is on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. Through this tongue-in-cheek journey, “More Than a Month” investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.


February 19th – February 25th

• Thursday, February 23rd

Fly Boys: Western Pennsylvania’s Tuskegee Airmen* – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – This documentary tells the fascinating stories of more than 40 of the brave African-American soldiers who served their country as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance staff, and support staff during World War II. A WQED production.


February 26th – February 29th

• Monday, February 27th

In Performance at the White House: Red, White And Blues – (Airs: 9 p.m.) – President and

Mrs. Obama host this all-star celebration of the blues -- the musical form that sprang from the Mississippi Delta, up Highway 61 to the West Side of Chicago, with deep roots in Africa and slavery and influences on modern American music from soul to rock and roll. Leading popular artists' performances trace that migratory root and pay homage to the great figures of the genre and the songs they made famous -- from Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters.

American Masters “Cab Calloway: Sketches” – (Airs: 10 p.m.) – An ambassador for his race, Cab Calloway was the first black musician to tour the segregationist South, as early as 1932. A singer, dancer and band leader, he was an exceptional figure in the history of jazz. He was at the top of his game during the jazz and swing eras of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but his career flagged until he was rediscovered in the 1980s with appearances in the film “Blues Brothers” and the show “Sesame Street,” which gave him a new cult hero following of sorts.

* – Indicates that program will also be featured in February’s programming schedule on WQED: The Neighborhood Channel



ADDITIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME PROGRAMS

ON WQED: THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHANNEL

K. Leroy Irvis: A Lion in Pennsylvania – This documentary, narrated by Julian Bond, follows the life of K. Leroy Irvis through his formative years, his struggles as an activist, his legendary political speeches and his commitment to achieve social justice for all Pennsylvanians. K. Leroy Irvis made history in 1977 when he became the first (and ultimately, longest-serving) African-American Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania. Before he retired in 1988, Irvis fought tirelessly for civil rights, health care, consumer protection, prison reform, improvements in housing and education, and government reform.

House: A Black Horizons Special – This documentary is an in-depth and loving look at Pittsburgh's Westinghouse High School. Since the 1930's, Westinghouse has produced an amazing array of writers, educators, musicians and athletes. At the center of the special is the 64-65 Westinghouse Bull Dogs football team, who were all city champions. The program focuses on those players and where they are today, as well as others who were part of the Westinghouse success story.

WQED PITTSBURGH has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.
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Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane.  Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Last of the Line World Premiere at August Wilson Center

August Wilson Center

for African American Culture

Last of the Line

World Premiere

By Samm-Art Williams

Directed by Mark Clayton Southers

@ August Wilson Center

Sept 30, Oct 1, 7, 8, 2011 8 PM

Oct 2, 9, 2011  3 PM

Written by Samm-Art Williams, actor and Tony Award-nominated playwright, the world premiere of Last in the Line bursts with drama and comedy, suspense and candor, laughter and regret, as the descendants of African-American slaveholders and their ancestors take center stage. Told in a stream of consciousness tenor, the play flashbacks from 2005 to the years 1845-75. The story tests loyalties and histories, and forces the modern day characters to examine their own identities, in relation to power, resources and "blood money."


Tickets: $30 / $25 / $20

412.456.6666 or 412.338.8742

Online: www.CulturalDistrict.org



Groups of 10+ Call 412.471.6930

August Wilson Center Announces 2011-2012 Season

AUGUST WILSON CENTER HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING

2011-2012 SEASON & MAJOR PROGRAMMATIC CHANGES

WHO: August Wilson Center for African American Culture



WHAT: The August Wilson Center announces its 2011-2012 season, major programmatic changes; introduces Artistic Directors and new resident company, the August Wilson Center Theatre Ensemble.



WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 10:30 am



WHERE: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Education Center, August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Avenue, Downtown


Treshea N. Wade

Manager, Marketing and Communications

August Wilson Center for African American Culture

980 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3736

Direct: 412.338.8734

Cell: 412.716.8961

Fax: 412.258.2701



www.AugustWilsonCenter.org