Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Regina King, star of TNT’s critically acclaimed drama series “Southland,” will serve as social media ambassador for the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards airing on Jan. 29. Through posts on Twitter and Facebook, King will serve as the online face for the awards, giving viewers access to behind-the-scenes moments during the weeks building up to the show, as well as from the red carpet. King’s duties as the SAG Awards social media ambassador will kick off when she announces this year’s nominations on Dec. 14. During the six weeks leading up to the award ceremony, King will continue to tweet and post about the awards, including updates on presenters and fashion. She will also post updates during rehearsals and provide her thoughts and insights from the red carpet on the night of the event. In “Southland,” which returns for its fourth season on Jan. 17, King plays Lydia Adams, an LAPD detective who often finds herself becoming emotionally invested in the cases she handles.
Florida
Tracy Wilson Mourning, Doug E. Fresh and Frederica Wilson are just three of a stellar team joining the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (M-DCC) for its annual signature gala. Set for Dec. 3, at the Hyatt Regency Miami, the annual event continues to attract business, political and civic leaders from across the region for a night of fun and entertainment. The event will be hosted this year by Mourning, founder of Honey Shine Mentoring Program, and Eric Knowles, senior director of government affairs for the Miami Dolphins. More than 600 are expected to attend the gala, celebrating the 2011 theme “Unmasking Business Success” aimed at unlocking the economic potential waiting to break out of every business. The event promises to pop, with Hip-Hop icon Fresh providing the night’s entertainment.
Georgia
Comedian Steve Harvey recently held a mentoring weekend designed to provide positive lessons and role models to Metro Atlanta-area young people, many whom were at risk of never realizing successful, productive futures. Once again, Harvey invited Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson to bring his innovative, unique use of the game of chess to teach lessons that can make a difference in young lives. Hudson participated in Harvey’s last mentoring events in New York, Dallas and Los Angeles. The event was designed to introduce the principles of manhood and dream-building to 100 young men from Atlanta. Since its inception in 2009, more than 450 teenage boys from single female-headed households have participated in the program.
