Southeast Queens Scoop Blog - Streetwise Digital News cover Southeast Queens and Jamaica NY

Monday, February 13, 2023

See The Dynamic Story Of How A Designer’s Visit to a Museum Inspired Her to Launch an Original Shawl Collection

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DESIGNER’S VISIT TO A MUSEUM INSPIRED HER TO LAUNCH AN ORIGINAL SHAWL COLLECTION

When Queens, New York, designer Dr. Tenaria Drummond-Smith visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, she had no idea that she was going to be inspired to launch her very own shawl collection. But that’s exactly what happened when she saw an exhibit of an original shawl worn by Harriet Tubman in 1911.

She says that after being inspired by it, she prayed about designing her own line of shawls without using any patterns. She calls it the SWAG SHAWL.

Unique Music Sound Collaborations Around MyHeadPhonesLoud Comes To Queens

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MYHeadPhonesLoud Showcases Unique Music Entertaiment In Queens

Created by Factory of Images LLC and The Aguille Collective, MyheadphonesLOUD is a curated live performance aimed at providing the audience with an intimate setting to witness the music of emerging artists. The sister show of a hit improv show, Dysfunctional Date, in Bushwick, MyheadphonesLOUD finds itself in Astoria proposing a new type of live entertainment that differs from the comedy-centered landscape.

Offering two extended setlists, aptly dubbed Left Ear and Right Ear, the event will highlight two artists who have unique and original soundscapes that compliment one another. The opening show will be in November of 22’ and the series will run through June 23’ hosting a show on the first Tuesday of each month.

After speaking with the host for this show, Brooklyn Artist M E who is a member of The Aguille Collective, he shared “The standard for this show is to offer the community, elite, live entertainment for a fraction of the cost while also creating a platform to highlight amazing up and coming talent.”

With a roster including actor and nationally recognized poet Drew Drake, Bushwick upcoming artist Marc Baze, Connecticut rising star Expjose, and Jazz singer Jamile, the show looks to do just that!

The series will be hosted at Grove 34 located at 31-83 34th St in Astoria, Queens.

The dates are:

Nov 15th 2022
Dec 6th 2022
Jan 10th 2023
Feb 7th 2023
Mar 7th 2023
Apr 4th 2023
May 2nd 2023
Jun 6th 2023

Shine A Rae Of Sunshine On Your Career With An Awesome Resume

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Resume By Rae Looks To Revive And Rev-Up Careers In Southeast Queens & Beyond

Resumes By Rae Owner Rae Reeves

By Kamau Austin with Rae Reeves

Rae Reeves is driven by her timely goal of helping Southeast Queens residents level up their lives by obtaining better careers. Her experience and professional expertise related to career development sees an impressive resume as an essential tool for success. Because of her sense of urgency about employment and careers in our community she started her company Resumes By Rae.

Her service is one that is indispensable for those looking to advance their job opportunities. Reeves, has largely been a resident of Queens, most of her life and has learned many lessons in career advancement along the way.

I was able to get her to share insights on getting better employment opportunities in this post COVID-19 climate. She agreed to reveal her know how for both people starting out in the job market, or in contrast are seasoned career pros looking for a leg up in the current hiring process.

Grads and Alumni of The Legendary St. Pascal Baylon School Are Ready To Rock A Reunion

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St. Pascal Baylon Grads Are Celebrating With
A Highly Anticipated Reunion

Are You A Graduate Of The Legendary St. Pascal Baylon School?

Attend The Upcoming Reunion Events And Celebrate Good Memories

Checkout Our Exclusive Interview With
St. Pascal Baylon Reunion Committee Member Earl Roberts

Kamau Austin, Publisher SE Scoop (Left) Earl Roberts, St. Pascal Baylon Reunion Committee (Right)

Kamau: Can you tell us a little about your background and life growing up in Southeast Queens?

Earl's Answer: I am a lifelong resident of Jamaica, Queens, NY, and I was raised as a catholic. I started grade school at St. Monica's which is now York College.

We moved to Cambria Heights, and my life changed being the only African American family in that Caucasian neighborhood. My sister and I integrated Sacred Heart elementary school, which was one hundred percent (100%) white population.

We often hear about Rosedale, and the racial strife but Cambria Heights, was worst and occurred a decade before Rosedale. I graduated from Sacred Heart in 1969 and went to St. Pascal Baylon High School.

It was the closest Catholic high school in the area and attracted most of the Catholics from all areas of Jamaica, Queens, and every other elementary school which did not have a high school.

Kamau: What years did you attend St. Pascal Baylon?

Earl's Answer: I attended St. Pascal's from 1969 to 1971 and then I transferred and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. I knew many people from all over Queens, and was happy at St. Pascal's because everyone got along with one another - which was quite different from elementary school.

The reunion will also be a 50th year anniversary for the class of 1973 of which I am a part. I am glad that many of us are still on this earth in good health and happy.

Alumni of St. Pascal Baylon in a past Reunion

NYC Looks To Help Small Business With The NYC Opportunity Fund

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The NYC Opportunity Fund Offers $75 Million Dollars For Qualifying Businesses

Did you hear the news about our Small Business Opportunity Fund?

Together with @nycsmallbiz, @goldmansachs, @mastercard and @crfusa, we have created the largest public-private loan fund in our city's history that will be directed at small businesses in #newyorkcity.

It will offer $75 million to businesses with no application fees or credit checks. This is just our latest effort to ensure our small businesses thrive.

Site to visit: https://sbsopportunityfund.nyc/

Do You Know Why You Should Celebrate February 1st As National Freedom Day?

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Passionate Advocate From Diverse American Family Helps Revive National Freedom Day Within Divisive US Political Climate

The Beautiful Garner/Chappelear/Lawson/Deane/Benitez Family Has A Rich Freedom Legacy

By Kamau Austin

A national advocate for equality and inclusion Venita Benitez, an Afro-Latino woman, is working passionately to help revive a day of liberation, healing, and American harmony: National Freedom Day. National Freedom Day, was proclaimed to be celebrated annually February, 1, eventually jumpstarting Black History Month.

Moreover, National Freedom Day, also commemorates President Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and subsequent passing in Congress of the 13th Amendment. The National Freedom Day proclamation by Harry S. Truman states the following "National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later was ratified as the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

President Lincoln signed the Amendment abolishing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the states until later." February 1st, was later to become Black History Day, then eventually, driven by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson - Black History Month.

Venita Benitez, an equality advocate and diversity professional with Afro-Latino roots, that also ironically derives from the British Monarchy, is looking to continue to help bring awareness to National Freedom Day. Benitez is looking to bring the little known, but official national holiday proclamation of National Freedom Day, by President Harry S. Truman, into the mainstream.

This will be a challenging goal given the divisive present political climate in the US, and actually the world. Our country beyond just the present ongoing culture wars confrontations, we also have movements that are threatening democracy itself in our country.

But Venita is passionately up for the challenge following the movement in the footsteps of the founder of National Freedom Day, former slave, educator, college President, entrepreneur, banker, and army veteran Major Richard R. Wright Sr. (no known relation to author/writer Richard Wright). Major Wright was extremely accomplished.

According to the Pennsylvania: Life and Times of Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. and the National Freedom Day Association, "Richard Robert Wright Sr. (May 16, 1855 – July 2, 1947) was an American military officer, educator and college president, politician, civil rights advocate and banking entrepreneur. Among his many accomplishments, he founded a high school, a college, and a bank. He also founded the National Freedom Day Association in 1941.

Ms. Benitez shared "One year after Wright's death in 1947, U.S. Congress passed by a joint resolution approved on June 30, 1948 a bill to recognize National Freedom Day. The proclamation was signed into law on January 25, 1949, by President Harry Truman."

The Original Founder Of National Freedom Day Movement, Major Richard Robert Wright Sr.

Discover How Dr. Adrienne Whaley Is Planning To Showcase This Year's Outstanding Independent Black Films In Southeast Queens

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Black History Month Continues Into Spring

With Queens Underground International Film Festival Dates

Queens, NY – January, 30, 2023 -- In honor of Black History, Queens Underground International Film Festival announces Season 5 of its Red Carpet Film Festival which features Independent Filmmakers from all over the world. The Festival will span two days at a Venue in Queens, NY and includes the following Categories: Movie Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Poetry, Dance and Music Videos and Series Episodes from all genres.

Held annually in the Springtime, Filmmakers fly in from across the country to view their works on the big screen along with excited audience members. As a nonprofit organization, Queens Underground, is a Disrupter by offering a unique platform and Festival which also boasts live performances, awards presentations and festive Red Carpet Interviews.

This Season, the organization plans to hold opening night Red Carpet interviews Live on its Instagram and Facebook pages. More information and details about the Selected projects may be found on the website at: https://www.QueensUndergroundFilmFestival.com.

Pages

Monday, February 13, 2023

See The Dynamic Story Of How A Designer’s Visit to a Museum Inspired Her to Launch an Original Shawl Collection

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Unique Music Sound Collaborations Around MyHeadPhonesLoud Comes To Queens

Shine A Rae Of Sunshine On Your Career With An Awesome Resume

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Grads and Alumni of The Legendary St. Pascal Baylon School Are Ready To Rock A Reunion

NYC Looks To Help Small Business With The NYC Opportunity Fund

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Do You Know Why You Should Celebrate February 1st As National Freedom Day?

Monday, January 30, 2023

Discover How Dr. Adrienne Whaley Is Planning To Showcase This Year's Outstanding Independent Black Films In Southeast Queens