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Joyce S. Johnson CEO

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 25, 2008

Black Equity Alliance today announced the appointment of Joyce S. Johnson as its president and chief executive officer. A veteran of New York politics and government, Johnson most recently served as the New York State Field Director for the Obama 2008 presidential campaign, in addition to having worked as the Deputy Campaign Manager in Charlie King’s campaign for New York State Attorney General in 2006. Johnson is also a former National Director of Equal Employment Opportunity for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc, and a former Executive Assistant to New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, directing the Office of Business and Community Relations. Johnson is the organization’s second chief executive officer. Dr. Billy Jones, CEO of BJones Consulting Service, and Chair of the Black Equity Alliance Board of Trustees, made the announcement.

Commenting on the search process, Jones said, “The Board engaged in a highly competitive six-month search to find the right candidate that could lead Black Equity Alliance as it enters a period of growth and expansion. We were extremely selective in that we brought in a very strong list of candidates from diverse and accomplished backgrounds. In the end, we selected Joyce because of her commitment to our mission, the depth and breadth of her experience, and her three-decade record of accomplishment in the areas of education, human services, and social, political and economic equity.”

Jones said Johnson’s ability to build cross-collaborations and alliances, in addition to her ability to expand and diversify the organization’s funding sources, was a significant factor. “We felt strongly that it was important that we choose a dynamic leader who was capable of maximizing partnerships, and engaging stakeholders from diverse sectors of the New York community to address the many socio-economic, civic, and human service issues confronting blacks in New York. Without question, Joyce is the ideal person to move the organization forward,” said Jones.

Speaking on behalf of the Board, Jones commended Melba Butler, who served as the organization’s interim president and CEO, for the nine-months preceding Johnson’s hire. “The Board extends our sincerest thanks to Melba Butler for having effectively helmed the organization through this transition, and for her many contributions to its growth,” said Jones.

Johnson thanked the Board for entrusting her with leadership of the organization. “I thank the Board, our funding partner — the United Way — the Black Agency Executives and our numerous partners and staff for entrusting me with the leadership of this venerable organization. It is a great honor to be joining Black Equity Alliance, particularly at this transformative moment in our state and nation’s history,” Johnson said.

“I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Alliance as we work to maximize the enormous power and potential of our organization to create great and sustainable economic and social change for African Americans and New Yorkers, as a whole,” said Johnson.

Johnson added that a key aspect of the organization’s mission will be “to build the capacity of our partner organizations in the human service area, collaborate more effectively with our stakeholders, and examine more closely the gaps between what we have not done and what we need to do, so that we can effectively leverage the collective .9 billion buying power of our community and serve as a catalyst for progress.”

As the new CEO and president Johnson stated that she looks forward to working to develop tangible solutions, as well as bringing increased attention to the inequities highlighted in the organization’s groundbreaking study, The State of Black New York City 2007. Done in partnership with the New York Urban League, the study looks at how New York City blacks are faring in employment, housing, health, the criminal justice system, and the start-up of new businesses, among other areas. SoBNY 2007 combines hard statistical data with analysis and recommendations. Johnson said next spring Black Equity Alliance plans to issue an annual report card stating how blacks are doing in the eleven areas covered in the study.

Johnson is the former President and CEO of Bradford Stanley Johnson and Johnson, a former Director of Community Relations for the Office of New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi, a former Special Assistant to Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger, and a two-term Board and Vice Chair for Upper West Side Community Board 7. In 2005 she ran for the Office of City Council for Council District 8 and was a candidate in 2002 for New York State’s 69th Assembly District.

Johnson has a B.S. in Microbiology from Howard University.

Black Equity Alliance is a federation comprised of stakeholders across the human service, political, faith, business, cultural and philanthropic communities engaged in collaboration to foster solutions that lead to economic and social sustainability for blacks in New York. The Alliance is the only institution engaging in policy analysis, research, and advocacy on cross-systems issues on behalf of the black community. To learn more about Joyce S. Johnson or Black Equity Alliance call: 212-251-2420. Click here www.blackequityalliance.org to view Black Equity Alliance/NY Urban League publication, “The State of Black New York City 2007.”

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(PRWEB) November 21, 2003

New York, November 05, 2003—Freedom and Justice International, Inc. and Africans In America, Inc. wish to express outrage at the public relation blunder of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris N. Ngige during his just concluded visit to New York.

The governor’s office had requested our organization to schedule a meeting with New York political and business leaders during his visit. The governor’s office also sent us the governor’s itinerary requesting us to schedule events for the governor from 1.00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2003 to 6.00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2003.

Based on the written request, we contacted some key New York political leaders. We also scheduled a town hall reception and press conference for the governor to give him opportunity to speak to wider audience, as well as, market Anambra State to the American people. Admission to this function was free-of-charge. We also scheduled for the governor to lay a wreath at the site of the former World Trade Center. New York and New Jersey Authority approved and arranged a memorial and invited the families of Sept. 11 victims. This was intended to capture the heart and soul of America and bring positive awareness and bonding between the people of Anambra State with the American people. All these were agreed upon by the governor’s office.

Based on these, we proceeded to arrange and organize elaborate and decent receptions and press conference. We rented a hall at Marriott Marquis Hotel, which is in the strategic heart of New York City, and scheduled our event for Sunday Nov. 2 at 2.00 p.m. – 4.00 p. m. We printed invitation, did publicity, and invited the press. We incurred tremendous expenses.

We had hoped the governor would also condemn the abuse of victims of child trafficking currently devastating the lives of many children from Anambra State.

The governor’s office also informed us about governor’s protocol and we followed it to the letter.

However, upon his arrival in New York, the governor for yet unknown reasons allowed himself and his activities to be highjacked by some egomaniacs, myopias, contract-seeking miscreants, interlopers, and anti-Americans led by a New York based low-life society lady, who we choose to identify at the moment as “lady ngooor”. These selfish miscreants had earlier boasted that they would not allow the governor to attend any other function except a factional gathering of dissolved Anambra State Progressive Union. Admission to this function was .00 per person. The threats were earlier discounted by the governor’s office, which assured us to continue with our program. How they were able to accomplish this monumental damage is yet unknown.

The protocol given to us by the governor’s office was not followed. The governor did not attend the reception and press conference organized for him, nor did he attend the memorial/laying of wreath organized by the New York and New Jersey Authority. The Governor’s aid and the low-society woman gave inconsistent reasons for the abrupt cancellation.

Effort to get clear information from the governor’s team was abortive. This represents a major public relations blunder for the Anambra State government. We are alarmed at the type of underhanded maneuvering which took place behind closed doors.

Despite his failure to honor his commitments, our organizations still gave him a plaque, which had been prepared for presentation during the aborted reception. It reads, ‘Presented to Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, the governor of Anambra State, Nigeria for liberating Anambra State from the clutches of political godfathers and cronies’.

Even though it appears that Gov. Ngige did a good job in bringing awareness to the mass corruption and looting of public funds in Anambra State by individuals he refers to as “locusts”, he scored miserably low in honoring commitments and improving community relations. This may play out in detracting highly needed credible western investors from investing in Anambra state. This blunder must be addressed immediately.

Government will loose credibility if low-society women (and men) are allowed to interfere, highjack, or derail its official business. There should be a boundary for government to maintain credibility.

Who we are:

Freedom and Justice International, Inc. (FJI) is human rights, anti-corruption, social, and economic justice organization based in New York. Our mission is to engage in generating awareness, resources and coordinating activities to promote freedom, address injustice, and exploitation of people of continental Africa and Africans in Diaspora. We also advocate facilitation of economic, educational and social development of the rural (villages) and urban communities in the hinterland of Africa. Freedom and Justice International, Inc. intends to tackle the issues of corruption, and exploitation of the people resources in the continent of Africa applying the civilized methods found to be successful in the Western countries.

Africans In America, Inc. (AIA) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to end the abuse of victims of trafficking, especially women and girls from Africa living in the United States.

For information regarding our organizations, visit our website:

Freedom and Justice International, Inc.: www.freedomandjusticeinc.org.

Africans In America, Inc.: www.africaslavery.org

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) January 2, 2008

Indie Rocker and Independent Music Awards “Christian Album of the Year” winner Sonia V. hits the political arena with her special brand of Rock-n-Roll by way of her critically acclaimed song “Superstar” which has been chosen as the campaign theme song for political candidate David R. Grate (www.davidrgrate2008.us).

Grate is running for the US House of Representatives in the 22nd Congressional District in New York State for the November 2008 Election. On Monday, December 10, 2007, The Constitution Party of New York announced its endorsement of Mr. David R. Grate for US House of Representatives in the 22nd Congressional District. Grate is also a supporter of Ron Paul for the Republican nomination for President of the United States of which Grate shares many of the same values and goals. (www.ronpaul2008.com)

David R. Grate states, “I am an educator, not a politician. The reason I decided to run for the 22nd Congressional District of New York was that this area needs a regular person to represent it, not a career politician.”

He continued, “When I first heard the song ‘Superstar’ I immediately took a liking to the song. Sonia V., the performing artist, is a regular person who just likes to sing. That’s what the song is about; singing because she loves to sing, not because she wants to be a superstar. I am running in the upcoming election because it’s what I am being led to do, not because I want to be a politician. My political aspirations end at Congress — I don’t want to be President or a Senator, I just want to represent my neighbors.”

More information is available about Mr. David R. Grate from his website, http://davidrgrate2008.us, or from

http://www.myspace.com/davidrgrate2008. Check out Sonia V. and the political campaign theme song “Superstar” at http://www.soniav.com and http://www.myspace.com/soniav

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Bloomberg for President!

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a potential presidential contender, berated the Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls on Friday for “pandering in full throttle.” The billionaire independent’s pointed assessment of honesty on vital issues came during a visit to New Orleans, a tour that was itself a much-hyped event with the feel and pace of a presidential campaign swing.

Mayor Bloomberg’s aides have been reaching out to consultants from his past campaigns about whether they are free for a possible 2008 White House bid – including one who helped make his slick mayoral TV spots, The Post has learned.

The moves took place in the past few weeks, as the primaries for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees are about to begin – and aides have suggested that he will wait and see who the nominees are before making a decision about an independent White House run.

And then he’ll run!

Bloomberg aides have reached out to people involved in ad-making – including one who had been involved in creating the mayor’s vaunted TV spots – asking about their availability in the coming months, the sources said. That Bloomberg aides would look to lock up an ad team dovetails with what the mayor has privately told people about how he would spend up to billion of his own fortune on an independent run, which would be played out mostly on the TV airwaves and through direct mail.

The Post has learned that a New York political activist who worked on the mayor’s last campaign had been planning on joining up with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign team and reached out to discuss it first with Bloomberg’s aides. Bloomberg’s advisers said he should not sign up with another campaign and instead wait and see what happens with the mayor.

The new flurry of activity by Bloomberg’s political aides – led by Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey – comes amid speculation about whether the mayor will make a third-party campaign. A Bloomberg spokesman declined comment.

Bloomberg himself has insisted he has “no plans” to run for president, even while talking privately about the possibility – and while allowing Sheekey to drum up interest and scope out the logistics of a run. Sheekey has said publicly that the mayor doesn’t have to make a decision before March 5. So, we are now less that 90 daya away from knowing for sure.

That’s the day after the Texas primary elections – but it’s also the first date that nominating petitions for an independent candidate in the state can be circulated. Asked about the latest rumor-generating trip he took – this one to China and Indonesia – Bloomberg insisted again that he was not looking for another elected office.

Sure!

Speculation has increased that Bloomberg might enter the presidential race as a self-financed third-party candidate. This month, for example, he started saying “I’m not a candidate” instead of his usual response, “I’m not running.” It was a slight but significant shift in phrasing his intentions.

Speaking at a meeting of the National League of Cities Friday, Bloomberg said politicians from both major parties are beholden to special interests, a reality that also shows up on the campaign trail. When you’re a BILLIONAIRE like Bloomberg, you’re not beholden to anyone- or very few.

“You will not hear the truth on the campaign trail because the campaign trail is, as somebody described it, pandering in full throttle,” he said. At a subsequent news conference, Bloomberg said his statement was not directed at particular candidates. “I’m referring to everybody. You can go look through their speeches,” he said.

He said candidates need to be more frank about their policies. “‘I have a secret plan to end the war’ is not an acceptable answer to the question of what you would do- whether it’s a war against poverty, a war against crime, a war against high taxes or a war against terrorism here or abroad,” Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg’s trip to New Orleans was the latest in a parade of high-profile tours by politicians and world leaders since Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005. And, as so many others before him have done, Bloomberg ventured to the Lower 9th Ward to see for himself the flood-flattened neighborhood.

Prem drops the bomb, Term detonates it. Nuff said. Original Track: www.youtube.com

Politicians are supposed to act on behalf of the people they represent, but are politicians really taking into account people’s ideas, or is it all about money and power? And does a chance to vote really matter?

If you run a business in New York, it makes sense to hire a New York SEO and internet marketing company to boost your website’s local SEO rankings, but which one do you choose? There are literally thousands of New York SEO companies of all sizes and experience. How do you choose the New York SEO and internet marketing company that’s the right fit for your business?

The answer, of course, is to do some research. Check around with other businesses in your niche to find out who did their website optimization. Search for SEO companies in directories of local businesses and get recommendations from the owners of websites that you like. Be prepared to ask about the services offered by the SEO and website design companies you interview. A good New York SEO, marketing and promotion company will be able to tell you how they will meet each of the following categories in optimizing your website.

How will you ensure that my website is indexed by the top search engines?

The answer should include a website analysis to discover any reasons that your website isn’t ranking well in the search engines. If they start talking about submitting your site to hundreds of search engines, say a polite thank you and cross them off your list.

What kind of keyword research will you do?

Finding the right keywords can mean the difference between a little amount of inbound website traffic and a lot of inbound website traffic! In most cases, your keyword research will work best if it’s a cooperative effort between you and the SEO company. Certain keywords produce large amounts of traffic and certain keywords do not, so ensure you hire the right agency to help you with your keyword research initiatives.

Search engine optimization and content writing

Will the company provide professionally written SEO friendly content for your website? Will they rewrite your current content to optimize it for your chosen keywords?

Site maps

Will the SEO company create a site map and optimize the internal link structure to make it easy for search engine spiders to find all the pages on your website? This is usually only necessary if you have a large website with large amounts of content.

Manual search engine submission

The search engine optimization company should manually submit your website to the search engines rather than using any type of automated script to submit it. That will ensure proper indexing.

Link building campaigns

Search engine optimization is a two-part process. The internal SEO includes the above, but it’s only part of the equation. In order to be really effective, your SEO company should propose a link building campaign to bring in high quality, relevant incoming links to your company website.

In addition, the New York SEO company that you choose should include complete reports so that you can analyze the effectiveness of their work, and maintenance to keep your website at the top of the rankings once you get there.

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A response to the UN’s video contest: www.youtube.com (submitted with no intention of winning), concerning what the leaders at the United Nations could do to make the world a better place: remove themselves as a barrier to social and economic progress. I encourage others to make a similar response to the United Stations as well.