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May Peace Prevail On Earth in the News • January 2026

Austin Tang — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:00:54 +0000

Welcome to our Monthly Newsletter

We are excited to share news from JANUARY 2026 regarding May Peace Prevail On Earth International, The Peace Pole Project, and Peace Pals International.

May Peace Prevail On Earth

We would love to hear from you!

If you’ve planted a Peace Pole, held a World Peace Flag Ceremony, celebrated your Peace Pals, or have any uplifting news connected to our shared mission of “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” please share it with us.

Your stories don’t just brighten our day, they inspire our global community, spark new ideas, and help spread the message of peace even further.

Let your experience encourage others. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Send your news to: info@worldpeace.org

Monthly News Highlights

JANUARY 2026

World Peace Flag Ceremony – A Global Moment of Prayer and Unity, Rome, Italy.

Six Peace Poles in Garden at University Hall, University of Western Australia.

Vigil at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.

LQHS Unveiled the First and Only Rotary Peace Pole in the Coachella Valley, California, USA.

Magnolia Lakes Peace Garden opens to all, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA.

Merry Christmas from The Kootenays-British Columbia, Canada.

New Rotary Club Launching by Peace Pole in South Maui, Kihei, Hawaii, USA.

Peace Pole in Fatima Sanctuary of Wiltz in Luxembourg.

The Peace Pole Project Coming to Plattekill, New York, USA.

The Peace Pole Project in 2050 Vision Plan, Philomath Oregon, USA.

Peace Poles located in the Greater Westerly area of Rhode Island, USA.

Bishop ushers in Jubilee year at cathedral, launches sweeping diocese evangelization plan, Paradise Valley, Arizona-USA.

Vigil, Protest held in Lake Zurich over Minneapolis, Shooting, Illinois-USA.

Pyone Myintzu Han Crystal, Peace Pals International Finalists 2025, Age 13, Myanmar.

Nishika Tibrewal, Peace Pals International Finalists 2025, Age 11, India.

Peace Pole Proposed for Peconic Riverfront Park, Long Island, NY, USA.

Rotary Club of Woodend with Kathryn Footner, planting Peace Poles, Australia.

Peace Pole in Spa Park, Bad Boll Baden, Wurttemberg, Germany.

MLK Day 2026: Environmental justice is a Civil Rights issue Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.

Zufar Xusniddinov, Peace Pals International Finalists 2025, Age 7, Uzbekistan.

Olivia Huang Peace Pals International Finalists 2025, Age 12, Canada.

Ananya Nandanwar Peace Pals International Finalists 2025, Age 8, India.

Installation of Peace Pole, Galveston, Texas, USA,

Pranshu Saini Peace Pals International 3rd Place 2025, Age 14, Bahrain.

SEND US YOUR NEWS!

info@worldpeace.org

Peace Pole Byodo in Temple Kane’ ohe Hawaii, USA.

SEND US YOUR NEWS!

info@worldpeace.org

FEATURED STORY FOR NOVEMBER 2026

World Peace Flag Ceremony
A Global Moment of Prayer and Unity, Rome, Italy

https://tinyurl.com/yc6ppf2p

The World Peace Flag Ceremony took place on January 1, 2026, marking the closing of a shared moment of prayer for peace.

Two hundred and fifty teenagers from 27 countries, representing four continents, participated in Scuola Foco, a formative experience for young people ages 14 to 17 connected to the Ecumenical and Interreligious Movement of the Focolare. The program centers on Gospel spirituality, mutual love, and the building of bridges through dialogue.

The post May Peace Prevail On Earth in the News • January 2026 appeared first on Good News!.

Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Buffalo Mass Shooting Victims…

Austin Tang — Mon, 16 May 2022 13:41:53 +0000

Dear New Yorker,

The horrific news of what happened to our fellow New Yorkers in Buffalo has left all of us at the Mayor’s Office distraught with pain and sadness. That someone could be driven by hatred to carry out that amount of violence to innocent people, simply because of the color of their skin, feels unconscionable, and is an attack on everything we believe not only as New Yorkers, but as Americans.

Tomorrow evening we are going to turn our pain into purpose and the Mayor will host an interfaith vigil at Bethel Gospel Assembly in Harlem. Together, joined by faith leaders of different denominations, community leaders, and loved ones, we will pray for the victims of yesterday’s attack, and will show our resolve in the face of racism and hatred. If you’re available, please feel free to join us.

Please see details for the vigil below:

WHERE: Bethel Gospel Assembly – Destiny Worship Pavilion, 1483 5th Ave, New York, NY 10035

WHEN: Monday, May 16th @ 8:00 PM

In solidarity,

Fred Kreizman, Commissioner, Community Affairs Unit

Pastor Gilford Monrose, Executive Director, Office of Faith Based & Community Partnerships

#interfaithprayervigil #buffalomassshooting #victims #nyc #sadness #mayoradams #bethelgospelassembly #destinyworshippavilion #faith #hatred #newyorker #horrific #pain,

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THE GREATER HARLEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HARLEM WEEK, HARLEM MUSIC FESTIVAL AND NYC & COMPANY

Austin Tang — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:00:30 +0000

Listen to “THE GREATER HARLEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HARLEM WEEK, HARLEM MUSIC FESTIVAL AND NYC & COMPANY” on Spreaker.

“UPTOWN SATURDAY NITE” IN HARLEM AT THE HISTORIC APOLLO THEATER

Featuring performances by Hezekiah Walker, Nat Adderley, Jr., Nona Hendryx, Forces of Nature, Baba Don & the East Harlem Latin All-Stars, Ray Chew and the Harlem Music Festival All-Stars, and Broadway Hit Shows “Ain’t Too Proud” and “Lackawanna Blues;”

With special tributes to the Late Lloyd Price and 50th Anniversary of “Summer of Soul”

All-Star Music and Cultural Salute to Celebrate NYC Homecoming Week

NEW YORK (AUG 25, 2021)–The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, HARLEM WEEK, Harlem Music Festival and NYC & Company will host “Uptown Saturday Nite” in Harlem, Saturday, Aug. 28th at the historic Apollo Theater. Doors open at 5 pm and proof of vaccination and masks are required.

This special celebration signaling the return of live arts and culture in New York City will include performances by HEZEKIAH WALKER, NAT ADDERLEY, JR., NONA HENDRYX, FORCES OF NATURE, BABA DON & THE EAST HARLEM LATIN ALL-STARS, Broadway hit shows AIN’T TOO PROUD and LACKAWANNA BLUES, and a salute to the late Rock & Roll and R&B Hall of Fame great LLOYD PRICE led by RAY CHEW AND THE HARLEM MUSIC FESTIVAL ALL-STARS. The event will also salute the 50th anniversary of Harlem’s SUMMER OF SOUL MUSIC FESTIVAL. Radio legends LENNY GREEN and DEBI B. will serve as emcees for the evening.

The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce will also recognize NYC Police Department Commissioner DERMOT SHEA for his commitment to diversity and the department’s ongoing efforts to bring the NYPD and the communities closer together to strengthen public safety. When receiving his award, Shea will be joined by NYPD Senior Chiefs RODNEY HARRISON, JUANITA HOLMES, JEFFERY MADDER and KIM ROYSTER.

“We are extremely pleased that Harlem has been selected by Mayor Bill de Blasio to host the culminating event of “NYC Homecoming Week” which will showcase the best in R&B, gospel, jazz, Latin, dance and Broadway,” said Lloyd Williams, President of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. “Consistent with HARLEM WEEK 2021 theme: “Rebirth, Rebuild and Rejoice,” there could be no better location to celebrate the diversity of New York City than Harlem than at the world-famous Apollo Theater.”

Free tickets are available at Apollotheaters.org. For the safety of all, ticketholders and attendees must provide proof of vaccination in order to enter the theater. Click here for more information about the Apollo’s COVID safety policies.

For Media Inquiries: Sunshine Sachs, HarlemWeek@sunshinesachs.com

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2 Horas de Música Gospel em Inglês com Letra (AS MAIS TOCADAS NA AMÉRICA)

Austin Tang — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:29:51 +0000

Listen to “2 Horas de Música Gospel em Inglês com Letra (AS MAIS TOCADAS NA AMÉRICA)” on Spreaker.

Submitted by Marlene Barbosa
2 Horas de Música Gospel em Inglês com Letra e Música
Aprender INGLÊS com método e técnica…E sozinho | PASSO A PASSO https://www.hotmart.com/product/ingle…

E-BOOK GRÁTIS: http://www.professorreis.com “Como Usar o DESIGN THINKING para Aprender Inglês e Espanhol”

http://www.varandadelivros.com/

Acesse o site (livraria online) e conheça nossos livros grátis. Há muitas outras novidades para quem quer aprender inglês e espanhol. Aprender uma língua requer do aprendiz além de muito trabalho, precisa de excelentes materiais didáticos. Veja nossos produtos e saia na frente!

O professor Reis trabalha para auxiliar você com as melhores técnicas e os melhores materiais de aprendizagem de inglês e espanhol.

O melhor gospel americano. Escute e cante com as melhores bandas da música gospel. Aprenda inglês cantando.

http://inglesbrasil007.blogspot.com.br/

ALFABETIZAÇÃO DE INGLÊS PARA BRASILEIROS. DO IT YOURSELF!
LEIA INGLÊS EM 1 SEMANA. Ideal para iniciantes, viagens, turismo, estudantes. Aprenda inglês sozinho. Método simples, rápido e eficiente.
CONHEÇA O LIVRO Baseado nos princípios da formação das palavras, fonética e fonologia, método dedutivo; e apoiado nos estudos de Chomsky e Saussure, e através de uma linguagem não-técnica, deixamos acessível a todos estudantes o universo sonoro da língua inglesa. Sem a aprendizagem da sonoridade do inglês, dificilmente você vai dominar 100% do inglês. Uma quantidade finita de letras (26 ao todo) produz uma infinidade de sons quando combinados. Os sons dessas letras são particularidades em cada idioma. O livro-curso discute e exercita os sons dessas 26 letras de forma muito acessível, rápida e explicações fáceis para todos as idades. Se você tem dificuldade com a pronúncia do inglês e com o vocabulário do inglês; você está precisando desse livro. Ele vai te ajudar a entender e dominar na teoria e na prática; os mais de 40 sons do alfabeto em inglês. Sem esse domínio você não conseguirá sobressair nesse idioma. Com método simples, você aprenderá as consoantes e as vogais de uma forma célere, lógica e eficiente. Conhecer, aprender, memorizar e internalizar são ações necessárias aos estudantes do inglês; e os exercícios contidos no livro te levará a tudo isso de forma rápida. Este livro-curso faz parte dos 4 passos para aprender, dominar, escrever, ler, entender e falar inglês de forma competente.
1) Como dominar o universo sonoro do inglês
2) Como aprender a gramática do inglês
3) Como aumentar o vocabulário do inglês
4) Como praticar o inglês corretamente
Você vai resolver o problema da má pronúncia do inglês; passando a falar igual americano ou britânico. E mais; questões como:
a) Sotaques do inglês
b) Inglês americano
c) Inglês britânico
d) Inglês correto
e) Gírias do inglês
f) Como falar rápido o inglês
g) Como entender qualquer inglês
h) Como entender as pessoas que falam rápido demais
i) Os países que falam inglês
j) Que sotaque eu devo adotar?
k) etc Você terá um manual de inglês, um guia de inglês indispensável para consulta.

ENCONTRE NOS NO FACEBOOK
Reis das Línguas https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorRei…
Varanda de Livros no Facebook https://www.facebook.com/professorreis/
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#gospel #musica #music #ingles #english #america #songs #song #praise #god #jesus #mighty #save #praise #bless #lord #reasons #matt #redman #band #great #blessed #name #worship #everlasting #revelation #open #eyes #heart #grace #enough #christ #alone

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AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO

admin — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 22:16:33 +0000

http://goodnewsplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/apollo_1.mp3
850 Opening Night Tickets Will Be $8.50

In Honor of the Apollo’s 85th Anniversary

Wednesday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Featuring a Special Performance by Raheem DeVaughn

Harlem, NY, January 28, 2019 – Amateur Night at the Apollo returns on February 2o at 7:30 p.m. In honor of the Apollo’s 85th Anniversary, 850 tickets for Opening Night will be $8.50, made possible with support from sponsor Coca-Cola. The exciting program will feature a special performance by R&B artist Raheem DeVaughn.

Apollo Theater’s signature original, large-scale talent show and one of the longest-running continuous events in New York City is hosted by comedian Capone and features staples like C.P. Lacey in the role of the “Executioner” (in charge of ushering off “booed” contestants), Joe Gray the “Set It Off Man,” and the Apollo’s Amateur Night house band led by music director, Michael Mitchell.

Since introducing the first Amateur contests in 1934, Amateur Night has been the launching pad for some of the biggest artists in the world including Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and Ella Fitzgerald who won the very first year. Now, 85 years later Amateur Night continues to be a primary source for discovering and nurturing new talent and spotlighting up-and-coming artists including Sung Lee, NUMBERS, Christian Guardino, Machine Gun Kelly, Moses Harper, Matthew Whitaker, and Wé McDonald.

Apollo Theater Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes said, “Amateur Night was created with the idea that anyone could have a chance at stardom and the Apollo Theater has been a place for opportunity and growth for thousands of performers for 85 years.”

This season, contestants will once again “Be Good or Be Gone” to compete for the chance to win a grand prize of $20,000. Amateur Night has played a major role in the cultivation of artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Select performances including opening night will be live streamed via the Apollo Theater’s Facebook page, also sponsored by Coca-Cola, a sponsor of Amateur Night for more than 30 years.

Tickets and Information:

Tickets for the Amateur Night 2019 season opener on Feb. 20 begin at $8.50 and are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street, and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, https://www.ticketmaster.com/amateur-night-at-the-apollo-tickets/artist/839690. Tickets purchased online or over the phone are subject to additional fees. Amateur Night’s 2019 Season runs every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m., February 20, 2019 through November 27, 2019.

ABOUT RAHEEM DEVAUGHN

Three-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn, son of renowned jazz musician Abdul Wadud, grew up in Maryland and cut his teeth performing in clubs throughout the Washington, D.C. area. His debut album, The Love Experience (2005), reached No. 46 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. It featured the singles “Guess Who Loves You More” and “You”. His second album Love Behind the Melody (2008) featured the popular single “Woman”, which was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards. His sixth studio album Decade of a Love King (2018) takes listeners to new heights and celebrate the sound that the last 10 years have brought him to, creatively and sonically.

ABOUT APOLLO THEATER

The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging artists and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world.

With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, spoken word, and more. This includes special programs such as the blockbuster concert Bruno Mars Live at the Apollo, the world premiere theatrical reading of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s National Book Award-winning Between the World and Me, 100: The Apollo Celebrates Ella, the annual Africa Now! Festival, and the New York premiere of the opera We Shall Not Be Moved. The Apollo is a performing arts presenting organization that also produces festivals and large-scale dance and music works organized around a set of core initiatives that celebrate and extend the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens; global festivals including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival and Breakin’ Convention; international and U.S.-based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and Special Projects, multidisciplinary collaborations with partner organizations.

Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy. For more information visit https://www.apollotheater.org/.

Amateur Night at the Apollo is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company.

Get social! For exclusive photos, updates and more use the hashtags #AmateurNight

Follow the Apollo Theater:

Facebook.com/apollotheater

Twitter.com/apollotheater

YouTube.com/apollotheater

Instagram.com/apollotheater

The post AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO appeared first on Good News!.

Thursday, November 12th at 6:30pm – Apollo Theater Mainstage

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:21:13 +0000

(Harlem, NY, November 4, 2015) The Apollo Theater Education Program pays homage to Apollo Legend, James Brown, with a free special screening and discussion of Alex Gibney’s highly acclaimed documentary, Mr. Dynamite: the Rise of James Brown, on Thursday, November 12th at 6:30pm. The documentary covers the peak of Brown’s career with rare video clips, never-before-seen photographs from his estate, and fresh interviews with some of his closest personal and musical associates. The result is new insight into a man whose life and career made an indelible and everlasting impact on entertainment and culture.
This free event will be presented as part of the Apollo Live Wire Series and will include a discussion with:
Alex Gibney, acclaimed Director of Mr. Dynamite and Emmy Award-Winning Director of Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief,
Geeta Gandbhir, Supervisory Editor of Mr. Dynamite and Emmy Award-Winning Editor of When the Levees Broke,
Harry Allen, acclaimed Hip Hop journalist and activist,
Michael Veal, Ethnomusicologist and Professor of Music and African American Studies and American Studies at Yale University and
(Moderator) Harry Weinger, special consultant to the film and Grammy Award -Winning reissues producer.
Image removed by sender.The Mr. Dynamite: the Rise of James Brown screening at the legendary Theater is a return home for the “Godfather of Soul.” Brown, an Apollo Legend, has a longstanding history with the Theater that dates back to the 1950’s when he won Amateur Night at the Apollo. Brown would go on to record his classic Live at the Apollo album at the legendary Theater. Throughout his career James Brown performed on the Apollo stage over 200 times. After his death in 2006, his body lay in state on the iconic stage where members of the community were able to pay final respects. The Theater later inducted Brown into its Apollo Walk of Fame in 2007.
Apollo Live Wire discussions invite deeper engagement with the Apollo’s artistic programming. These discussions are recorded for inclusion in the Theater’s archives. Live Wire Discussions are free and open to the public. Seating is limited; Pre-registration is strongly suggested at apollotheater.org/event/mr-dynamite-james-brown/
For exclusive photos, updates and more use the hashtags: #MrDynamite #ApolloLiveWire and connect with us on Twitter @ApolloEd @Apollotheater
About Apollo Education

The Apollo Theater Education Program extends the Apollo’s commitment to enhancing the life of the community. The Education Program focuses on four distinct areas of learning and engagement: residencies, workshops and tours for schools; curriculum materials aligned to state and national learning standards and study guides derived from the Theater’s history; career development for teens and adults through the Apollo Theater Academy; and discussions and lectures for the public that highlight the history of the Apollo and its impact on American art, culture and entertainment. For more information on Apollo Theater Education, visit www.apollotheater.org/education/; follow on Twitter @ApolloEd or stay connected through Apollo Theater Education’s Facebook page.
About The Apollo Theater
The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in cultivating emerging talents and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York, and the world. With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, performance art, spoken word initiatives, and more.
This includes the October 2014 premiere and 2015 international tour of the dance celebration project – James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, the annual Africa Now! Festival, Apollo Club Harlem and the upcoming New York premiere of the opera Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD. The Apollo is a presenting organization that also produces festivals, large-scale dance and music works organized around a set of core initiatives: Apollo Music Signature Programs—Amateur Night, Salon Series, Apollo Music Café; Legacy Series – work that celebrates and extends the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens; Global Festivals including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival and Breakin’ Convention, international and U.S.-based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and Special Projects, multidisciplinary work with partner organizations.
Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms, and has ushered in the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their careers at the Apollo are D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Miri Ben Ari, D’Angelo, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on this legacy.
The Apollo Theater is a not-for-profit organization and currently in the midst of fundraising for its 21st Century Apollo Campaign, created to extend the institution’s role in fostering artistic innovation and in building appreciation of American culture around the world. Visit www.apollotheater.org.
Leadership support for Apollo Education programs from Ronald O. Perelman Family Foundation. Additional support from the Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation, Con Edison, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Insperity, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Pinkerton Foundation, the QBE Foundation and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Apollo’s 2015-2016 season is made possible by generous support from American Airlines, BNY Mellon, Citi, Coca-Cola, Troy and Keisha Dixon, EmblemHealth, Frederick Wildman, The Howard Gilman Foundation, Carla A. Harris, Robert K. Kraft, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, The Parsons Family Foundation, the Ronald O. Perelman Family Foundation, JoAnn Price, Earl W. and Amanda Stafford, Time Warner Inc., the Reginald Van Lee New Works Fund, the Apollo Board of Directors and many other generous donors.
Lead annual support is also provided by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Stafford, Time Warner Inc., the Reginald Van Lee New Works Fund, the Apollo Board of Directors and many other generous donors.

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USCIS to Naturalize 75 New Citizens at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:46:19 +0000

The Metropolitan Museum of Art Director & CEO among citizenship candidates to take Oath.

NEW YORK — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Deputy Director Lori L. Scialabba will administer the Oath of Allegiance to America’s newest citizens, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Director & CEO Thomas P. Campbell, during a special naturalization ceremony at the Museum on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

USCIS New York District Director Phyllis Coven will open the ceremony followed by the National Anthem performed by the Gospel for Teens Choir and welcoming remarks from New York City Council Member Carlos Menchaca. USCIS Deputy Director Scialabba will provide congratulatory remarks. Mr. Campbell will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and deliver the keynote address to the new citizens and guests.

The 75 citizenship candidates originate from the following 42 countries: Albania (2), Antigua-Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil (3), Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, People’s Republic of China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic (13), Ecuador (2), France (4), Germany, Ghana (2), Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India (3), Ireland, Israel (2), Italy, Jamaica (4), Kosovo (2), Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco(2), Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, South Korea, St. Kitts-Nevis, Taiwan, Turkey (3), United Kingdom (3), Uruguay (2), and Yemen.

USCIS encourages new citizens and guests to share their naturalization ceremony experiences and photos through social media, using the hashtag #newUScitizen on Twitter.

During the last decade, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) welcomed more than 6.6 million naturalized citizens. For more information about USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis or @USCISMediaVT), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

WHO: Lori L. Scialabba, USCIS Deputy Director
Phyllis Coven, USCIS District Director New York
Carlos Menchaca, New York City Council Member
Thomas P. Campbell, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Director and CEO (citizenship candidate)
75 Citizenship Candidates

WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, 2014, 10 a.m.
WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, NY, NY 10028-0198

The post USCIS to Naturalize 75 New Citizens at The Metropolitan Museum of Art appeared first on Good News!.

Human Nature, Australia’s leading pop vocal group, Celebrates Apollo’s 80th Birthday.

admin — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 20:07:42 +0000

As Martha and the Vandellas once put, “They’re dancing in the street in Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore and DC now…can’t forget the Motor City…Across the ocean blue, me and you.” The music of Motown traveled around the globe, landing on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia, where four high school students—brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allen—were more interested in soul, gospel and harmony groups than their country’s usual obsession with “guitars, grunt and good old rock and roll.” Forming a singing group that began as a tribute to their love of a cappella doo-wop, the foursome was directed to the music of the legendary label by a music teacher. That was 22 years ago. Today, Human Nature are Australia’s leading pop vocal group, having released nine albums (many containing their own, self-penned original material), five of which went to #1 in their native continent, selling millions of records world-wide and garnering 23 platinum awards, 70 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits. The group has opened for Celine Dion and Michael Jackson in Europe and Australia. Their chart-topping Motown tribute, Reach Out, went five-times-platinum, attracting the attention of famed songwriter Smokey Robinson, who recorded “Get Ready” with them and presented them in an exclusive booking at Las Vegas’ Imperial Palace, where they have played five and six nights a week to sold-out crowds for the past two and a half years. Having inked a comprehensive worldwide deal that includes merchandise, sponsorships and endorsements, ticket/music bundling, touring and corporate gigs with Universal Music Group’s Universal Music Enterprises (they remain with Sony in Australia), Human Nature are ready to tackle America, and carry the legacy of Motown music for a new generation. The first release under the new agreement will be The Motown Record, featuring 11 soul classics plus a bonus track, including “Get Ready,” the band’s collaboration with Smokey Robinson, distinctive doo-wop versions of “Ooh Baby Baby” and “Just My Imagination,” as well as the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving,” the Temptations’ “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” Stevie Wonder’s “Uptight,” Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” and the Supremes’ “Stop in the Name of Love.” The versions are faithful, yet updated and freshened, everything we’ve loved about them renewed and revitalized, performed and arranged by four guys who clearly love to sing and harmonize on these particular songs. “There is such beauty in the original material,” says Phil Burton. “We didn’t want to make a carbon copy of the songs, but we didn’t want to change them into something they weren’t, either.” “We put our stamp on these songs by the way we sing them,” explains Andrew Tierney, who is the one with the highest pitch, with brother Mike and Phil in the middle, and Toby on the bottom, trading leads according to whose voice best fits the track. “We wanted to keep the magic by maintaining the energy and fun. It was a learning experience to immerse ourselves into the arrangements, like taking a lesson from the masters.” Human Nature Sings Motown, a special telecast of the group’s Las Vegas state show filmed by longtime Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich, will be at the center of PBS’ fund-raising efforts in December, featuring an appearance by Smokey Robinson. Ehrlich enthused about working with the band: “When you hear their versions of the great Motown classics, you’re not only reminded of the greatness of the originals, but you hear nuances that bring those originals up to date without tarnishing them in the least.” A DVD version of the show includes 40 minutes of bonus content featuring the band discussing Motown’s enduring influence with the label’s legendary songwriters Lamont Dozier, Eddie and Brian Holland, all of whom have given their blessings to Human Nature, as well as more than 20 minutes of performances not shown in the original broadcast. Both CD and DVD are exclusive to PBS subscribers through December before being available at retailers in March 2012. Smokey Robinson, who has nurtured the band and is actively working with them to reinvigorate the Motown brand, says: “The members of Human Nature are extraordinary vocalists who truly now how to entertain and I knew that they would be hugely successful….” “He’s such a big supporter and it’s just fantastic to have him give his stamp of approval for our take on his music,” says Michael about the legendary performer/songwriter/ producer. Adds Andrew: “Every time we do something with Smokey, we’re constantly reminded of how lucky we are to have him as a good friend and mentor. It’s been a career-changer for us.” “I’m still pinching myself,” admits Toby. “Smokey has no need to get involved with something like this if he doesn’t want to. He obviously loves the music, and that’s the greatest satisfaction for us.” “We were always concerned with what guys like Smokey, Lamont Dozier and the Hollands were going to think, but we’re doing this out of a pure love for the music,” adds Phil. “We’re going back to our roots, the songs we’ve been performing since we first started.” And now it’s time for Human Nature to conquer America with its own music. “It was a huge gamble,” reveals Andrew about their decision to come over for a two-week stint at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, where they saw first-hand that their Motown show connected with stateside audiences. “Why should people listen to four white Australians sing these songs when they’re ubiquitous on radio and TV? It just shows that this music is written for everybody, and that it has reached to every corner of the globe, including Australia. And it’s still influencing people, just as it touched us.” Human Nature’s many accomplishments include performing the Australian national anthem at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and performing on Oprah last summer, when the show was taped before thousands in Australia, but nothing beats making it in America, the home of not only Motown, but much of the music they are most passionate about. “Our roots lie in American soul,” proclaims Andrew. “It’s the ultimate market for what we love. It feels like our options are endless. I’m looking forward to continuing our career, making great music, and playing our original songs.” Get ready… because here comes Human Nature. – See more at: http://www.humannaturelive.com/bio/#sthash.71hY2jcz.dpuf

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PLEASE COME AND SEE THE AMAZING NITA WHITAKER ON MARCH 24TH AT 7PM AT THE TRIAD.

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:01:06 +0000

I would be happy to arrange your tickets for an evening that you will love.
Groomed in gospel, trained in opera, honed in pop, Nita’s voice is a remarkable instrument that defies limitations. Pulling all these elements together, Nita has found a beautiful blend of music that soothes the soul on this her latest CD Life Stories, showcasing her songwriting and producing abilities as well.

With a vibrant and dynamic stage presence that is unequaled, Nita is comfortable singing in any setting, from an intimate club to the arena stages. She has sung with Andrea Bocelli and often travels with Multi-Grammy winner David Foster as his featured artist, and her performances invariably end in standing ovations. She has performed and shared the stage with countless celebrities including Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Richard Marx, Josh Groban, Stevie Wonder and Yolanda Adams. Nita’s current CD follows two other independent projects titled Nita Whitaker and One Voice.

Pamela Cooper
The Cooper Company
729 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10019
212-302-5559 (o) || 212-302-1498 (f)

www.TheCooperCompany.biz || @CooperCompany || on Facebook

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Richard Pierce “Richie” Havens (January 21, 1941 – April 22, 2013)

editor — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:10:25 +0000

Good News had the honor to create the 20th anniversary of Woodstock with Richie. He was a great man who taught us a great deal about life. FREEDOM. Reverend Paul Sladkus. Good news planet.
Richie Havens was an American folk singer and guitarist.
He is best known for his intense and rhythmic guitar style (often in open tunings), soulful covers of pop and folk songs, and his opening performance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

Early life

Born in Brooklyn, Havens was the eldest of nine children. At an early age, he began organizing his neighborhood friends into street corner doo-wop groups and was performing with the McCrea Gospel Singers at 16.

Early career

At age 20, Havens left Brooklyn, seeking artistic stimulation in Greenwich Village. “I saw the Village as a place to escape to, in order to express yourself”, he recalled. “I had first gone there during the Beatnik days of the 1950s to perform poetry, then I drew portraits for two years and stayed up all night listening to folk music in the clubs. It took a while before I thought of picking up a guitar.”

Havens’ reputation as a solo performer soon spread beyond the Village folk circles. After cutting two records for Douglas Records, he signed on with Bob Dylan‘s manager, Albert Grossman, and landed a record deal with the Verve Forecast label. Verve released Mixed Bag in 1967, which featured tracks such as “Handsome Johnny” (co-written by Havens and future Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr.), “Follow”, and a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman“.

Pre-Woodstock rise

By 1969, Havens had released five more albums. Something Else Again (1968) became his first album to hit the Billboard chart and also pulled Mixed Bag back onto the charts. Two of those albums were unauthorized “exploitation albums” released by Douglas Records (or Douglas International): Electric Havens (released June 01, 1968) and Richie Havens Record (1969):

This [Electric Havens] was one of two albums (the other being The Richie Havens Record) comprised of overdubbed solo demos, probably from sometime between 1963-1965, that Havens had done prior to recording for Verve and making his official recording debut. In the late ’60s, as Havens rose to stardom, producer Alan Douglas took the original solo demos and overdubbed them with electric instruments. The albums were pulled from circulation and are hard to find today. The eight-song set is oriented toward the kind of traditional material that he was likely doing in clubs around that time, such as “Oxford Town”, “C. C. Rider”, and “900 Miles From Home” as well as an early Dylan cover, “Boots & Spanish Leather”.

Woodstock: opening act

Havens’ reputation as a live performer earned him widespread notice. His Woodstock appearance proved to be a major turning point in his career. As the festival’s first performer, he held the crowd for nearly three hours (in part because he was told to perform a lengthy set because many artists were delayed in reaching the festival location), and he was called back for several encores. Having run out of tunes, he improvised a song based on the old spiritual “Motherless Child” that became “Freedom”. The subsequent Woodstock movie release helped Havens reach a worldwide audience. He also appeared at the Isle of Wight Festival in late August 1969.

Following the success of his Woodstock performance, Havens started his own record label, Stormy Forest, and released Stonehenge in 1970. Later that year came Alarm Clock, which included the George Harrison-penned hit single, “Here Comes the Sun“. This was Havens’ first album to reach Billboard’s Top 30 Chart. Stormy Forest went on to release four more of his albums: The Great Blind Degree (1971), Live On Stage (1972), Portfolio (1973), and Mixed Bag II (1974). Memorable television appearances included performances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. On the latter program, the audience reacted with such enthusiasm that when the applause continued even after the commercial break, Carson asked Havens to return the following night.

Havens also branched out into acting during the 1970s. He was featured in the original 1972 stage presentation of The Who’s Tommy, and appeared as Othello in the 1974 film Catch My Soul. He also appeared in Greased Lightning alongside Richard Pryor in 1977. In 1987, he landed a role in the Bob Dylan vehicle Hearts of Fire.

Havens increasingly devoted his energies to educating young people about ecological issues. In the mid-1970s, he co-founded the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children’s museum on City Island in the Bronx. That, in turn, led to the creation of the Natural Guard, an organization Havens describes as “a way of helping kids learn that they can have a hands-on role in affecting the environment. Children study the land, water, and air in their own communities and see how they can make positive changes from something as simple as planting a garden in an abandoned lot.”. In July of 1978 he also was a featured performer at the Benefit Concert for The Longest Walk, an American Indian spiritual walk from Alcatraz to Washington DC affirming treaty rights, as a result of legislation that had been introduced to abrogate Indian treaties.

1980s–1990s

During the 1980s and 1990s, Havens continued a world touring schedule and a steady release of albums. The release of the 1993 Resume, The Best Of Richie Havens Rhinocollected his late 1960s and early 1970s recordings. In 1982, Havens composed and performed a promotional slogan for NBC‘s 1982-83 television season entitled, We’re NBC, Just Watch Us Now. He also performed slogans for CBS and ABC, and recorded commercials for Amtrak, singing the slogan “There’s something about a train that’s magic.” Havens also has done corporate commercial work for Maxwell House Coffee as well as singing “The Fabric of Our Lives” theme for the cotton industry.

In 1993, Havens performed at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. Among the selections was the “Cotton” song, made famous by a series of television ads in the early 1990s. In 1999, Havens played at the Tibetan Freedom Concert for an audience of more than 100,000.

Havens also played a small role as a character named Daze in a 1990 film named Street Hunter starring John Leguizamo.

Havens was the twentieth living recipient of the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award, presented in Sherborn, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1991.

In addition to performing at charity benefit concerts, Havens formed the Northwind Undersea Institute, an oceanographic children’s museum on City Island in The Bronx. The museum led to the creation of The Natural Guard, an organization that educates children about the environment.

2000s

In 2000, Havens teamed with the electronic music duo Groove Armada for the retro 1970s-style song, “Hands of Time”. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the film Collateral starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx; the same song was also used in the films Dominostarring Keira Knightley, and Tell No One with François Cluzet. Havens was also featured on “Little By Little” and “Healing” on the band’s third album, Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub).

In 2000, Havens published They Can’t Hide Us Anymore, an autobiography co-written with Steve Davidowitz. He maintained his status as a folk icon and continued to tour. In 2002, he released Wishing Well, followed by the 2004 album Grace of the Sun.

In 2003, the National Music Council awarded Havens the American Eagle Award for his place as part of America’s musical heritage and for providing “a rare and inspiring voice of eloquence, integrity and social responsibility.”

On October 15, 2006, Havens was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Havens appeared as “Old Man Arvin” in the Todd Haynes film I’m Not There. In a classic front-porch jam scene, he is shown singing the Bob Dylan song “Tombstone Blues” with Marcus Carl Franklin and Tyrone Benskin. Havens’ version of the song also appears on the I’m Not There soundtrack.

Havens was invited to perform at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony. He played “Freedom” in tribute to his fan and jury president, Sean Penn. He also performed at the London, Ontario, Blues Festival in July 2008.

In March 2008, Havens released a new studio album entitled, Nobody Left To Crown. The first single release was the country-tinged “The Key”.

Havens appeared in the acclaimed 2009 film Soundtrack for a Revolution, which provided a general history of the modern Civil Rights Movement, and had modern artists performing many of the era’s musical classics. In the film, Havens performed a haunting rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”.

On May 3, 2009, Havens performed at the fundraising concert in honor of Pete Seeger‘s 90th birthday. In June 2009, he performed at the fifth annual Mountain Jam Festival. The event, hosted by Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes, was held at the Hunter Mountain Ski Resort in Hunter, New York. As is the tradition, the festival took place on the weekend following Memorial Day. On June 20, 2009, Havens performed at the Clearwater Festival. On July 4, 2009, he performed at the Woodstock Tribute festival in Ramsey, New Jersey. On August 8, 2010, he performed at Musikfest 2010 at Foy Hall at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

On March 20, 2012, Havens announced on his Facebook page that he would stop touring after 45 years due to health concerns. On April 22, 2013, Earth Day, Havens died of aheart attack at home in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was 72

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