How to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

After a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southern Haiti on Saturday, advocates encourage donations to locally based charities

On Saturday, a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. More than 1,400 people were killed in the island nation, which was also the site of a massive earthquake in 2010, and at least 6,000 have been injured as of Tuesday, per the Associated Press.

The earthquake hit about 80 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, displacing tens of thousands of people; 7,000 homes have been destroyed per PBS News Hour, who also reports that Covid-19 vaccines had only begun to be distributed less than two weeks prior to the earthquake. An estimated 30,000 families are homeless. Rescue efforts have also been hampered by landslides. The country is already grappling with political upheaval following the July 7th assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, and coupled with the pandemic, widespread poverty, and gang violence, the need for aid in Haiti is palpable.

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In the midst of the maelstrom, Tropical Storm Grace hit the island late Monday, bringing torrential rain and winds, which are expected to cause mudslides and flash flooding.

Haiti has yet to have fully recovered from the 2010 earthquake, which killed 230,000 people and injured 300,000. Following criticism about how donations were allocated in the aftermath of that disaster, advocates for the region are urging donators to look to local organizations that provide aid. Here are several organizations who are either local organizations, have local workers, and/or partner with local organizations on the ground to provide support in the region.

• The Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, which touts that it does not pay staff or have overhead, collects donations and sends all the money directly to grassroots organizations in Haiti. During the 2010 earthquake, HERF funded mobile health clinics, women’s groups and community organizers. After 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, it supported efforts to help healthcare workers, and provided medicine and food for those affected.

• FOKAL Haiti Relief (via U.S. charity Ayiti Demen) channels donations directly to Haiti farmer’s associations, grassroots women’s organizations, and other local organizations that are the frontline to local advocacy and economic recovery following disasters, such as the latest earthquake. FOKAL also successfully provided support to grassroots organizations during Hurricane Matthew.

• Haiti Communitere is a small organization built around a Port-au-Prince community center that offers a safe and secure place for local organizations to meet, as well as resources and education. The organization works with community members to address needs and provide emergency support. Since it is nearby the capital’s main hospitals, after the earthquake, it immediately began providing free accommodation for families of victims.

• Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières, who have had medical staff in Haiti for 30 years, have teams in position in Haiti providing medical care, including in some of the hardest-hit areas such as Port-Salut, Les Cayes, and Jérémie. The organization is assessing the needs in other areas and are planning to provide additional medical equipment, essential items and medical teams to help those that are injured.

• Hope for Haiti is a humanitarian relief organization that has been working in southern Haiti for more than three decades. Their team lives and works in the region and their aim is to reduce poverty via education, healthcare support, access to clean water, infrastructure and economic opportunity. Specific to the recent earthquake, the non-profit is providing emergency kits, healthcare and other resources.

San Francisco to Require Full Vaccination Proof at Indoor Venues

California city’s mandate goes into effect on August 20th

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has issued a vaccination mandate to enter indoor venues in the city, as Associated Press reports. The announcement made on Thursday requires proof of full vaccination at indoor restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues. The news comes in the wake of growing concern over the highly contagious Delta variant, which experts cite as the reason Covid-19 cases are on the rise across the U.S.

“This is to protect kids, is to protect those who can’t get vaccinated, is to make sure that we don’t go backwards, is to make sure that I never have to get up in front of you and say, ‘I’m sorry, I know we just reopened and now the city is closed again because we are seeing too many people die,'” Breed said.

While New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also mandated vaccinations for indoor events last week, that city’s requirements allow for only one dose of the vaccination. In San Francisco, the full dose (which includes two shots for Moderna and Pfizer) must be met in order to enter indoor venues. New York’s mandate goes into effect on August 16th, while San Francisco’s begins on August 20th.

However, San Francisco businesses will also have some wiggle room when it comes to vaccinated employees, extending the timeline for two months “to preserve jobs while giving time for compliance.” The mandate will not apply to people ineligible for vaccines, including children under 12.

Breed said the mandate’s goal is to raise the city’s vaccination rate, which is at 78-percent of the eligible population to date.

The state of California already requires all teachers and school staff to be vaccinated or undergo weekly Covid-19 testing, which Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday. Newsom previously mandated that all health care workers must be fully vaccinated and required that all state employees get vaccinated or choose weekly testing.

LiLi Inks Million Dollar Deal with Amada Records

LiLi is a talented singer and songwriter who sets the bar higher in terms of genre definitions and sonic aesthetics. Not only is she ready to unleash some of her best music yet, but she also recently signed a million-dollar deal with Amada Records, which is sure to take her career to the next level. Her music is not just about entertainment, but it’s all about setting the bar higher to share authentic experiences and connect with the audience on a deeper level. Invisible is a perfect example of how LiLi also uses music to create a strong bond with other people and share something quite special with her listeners. The song features two extraordinary guests: DreamDoll, one of the hottest female rappers on the scene today, and none other than the absolute legend himself, Fatman Scoop, one of the most iconic names in the rap game. LiLi holds her own with her exciting performance, even when you put her next to two of the most talented artists in the industry today.

The song hits hard with a stellar mix, and it brings a dash of uniqueness and focuses to the artist’s music. The sheer scope of the production will immediately capture your imagination. The music has a larger-than-life feel, almost hitting the speaker in a big cinematic way. These sounds are very evocative and create a strong texture, rather than just focusing on a melodic line to remember. The fact that there are many layers to this release allows the artist to achieve an extra sense of depth, making for a balanced and robust tone. In addition to the quality production, the song also comes with a matching music video, which has a fun and one-of-a-kind vibe, matching the music to perfection.

LiLi her to leave a legacy, and Invisible is a strong indication that she seriously means business here. This track is for anyone who enjoys music made with passion and integrity. LiLi is a rare breed: an artist who is entirely selfless in terms of musicianship, as she does not just seek fame and glory: she wants to impact her audience positively.

Find out more about LiLi, and do not miss out on Invisible, which is now available on the web.

Singer/songwriter LiLi has stepped up to that challenge and after rolling out top charting new music and providing job opportunities for animators with her visual project, the triple-threat has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Amada Records.

“It’s an artist’s dream to have control over their career, and to partner with a label that fully commits to that dream is a reality that I’m grateful for. Their belief in me and support of my visions have been amazing and I’m looking forward to continuing this collaboration on an even higher level.” -LiLi

Here Are the Best Events Going Down Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles

When is Memorial Day 2021?

Memorial Day 2021 is Monday, May 31st, 2020.

As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day weekend is usually a combination of many of the best events Los Angeles has to offer: outdoor movies, festivals and summer concerts, among them. But this year is a little different, to say the least. That said, we’ve still come up with some ways to advantage of the three-day weekend and pack it full of food, fun and even some time outdoors. Memorial Day is starting to look like the Los Angeles we know and love: Museum exhibitions are back on the calendar, live performances are beginning to return and so too are more and more of our favorite things to do. So make the most of that sweet, pre-summer Memorial Day weekend event—before the beach crowds return—with our Memorial Day weekend events calendar.

VIP Recordings Presents: Listening Sessions North Hollywood

Location: N. Hollywood, California, May 29th

Calling all Musicians! VIP Recordings Is Now Signing Artists... Up To $100K On The Table! *** GET SIGNED ON THE SPOT *** Private Listening Session Includes 1-on-1 w/ Music Executives Looking To Sign Talent On The Spot, Feature On 10+ Media Publications, 15 Minute Performance (On Stage), & Live Interview with On Air Hosts (KLYZ HITS 98.5 and POWER 107.9 LA). We will be shooting a "VIP Recordings Presents: Listening Sessions" commercial to be aired on "The CW Network" this summer featuring all of the talent who performed at the North Hollywood event. ALL performers will receive FREE PHOTOGRAPHY performing on stage. All Genres Accepted. Artists May Bring 1 Guest in Per 15 minute Performance Spot to Witness the TV shoot.

See Full List Here.

Teyana Taylor Gives Update On Dionne Warwick Series

When I think of Teyana Taylor, the word multifaceted instantly comes to mind. I was first introduced to her on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 as a skateboard-loving musician with effortless style. While her style still remains exemplary, it’s the trajectory of Teyana’s artistry that’s left me captivated. Singer, songwriter, choreographer, and actor are just a few of the many hats the 30-year-old Harlem native wears, and she has no intention of slowing down.

A few weeks ago, Teyana sat down with us to talk about being hand-picked for Dionne Warwick’s biopic, why she doesn’t regret retiring from music, what it was like working on Coming 2 America, and so much more!

Late last year, legendary songstress Dionne Warwick nearly broke the internet when she announced that the “obvious” casting choice for her biopic is you. What was your immediate reaction when you heard that?

I was screaming, of course! I was like, “Oh my god!” She’s the queen of Twitter — she’s super, super active, so I knew for a fact that it was really her. Like, it wasn’t just a cute little tweet like, “Yeah girl, I see you.” No, it was really like, “Um, Netflix, if you’re ever thinking about doing anything regarding me, y’all obviously know my choice.” She got straight to the point, so that was exciting for me. After she tweeted it, of course, I retweeted it. They literally reached out to me a day later. They reached out right away and I was like, “Oh, they’re serious!” I was ready. We hopped on Zoom that very next day. I responded to that email so fast, it didn’t make no sense [laughs].

It’s dope that I actually get to spend time with her, because when you’re portraying someone’s life, getting that opportunity can be rare. Sometimes things aren’t approved or other times the person isn’t physically here to say what they want, so to know that she’s gonna be a part of this for the whole ride is absolutely amazing. We will be telling her story from her own words, and I’m so excited. Dionne and her son have literally been so lovely.

Hearing the joy in your voice while talking about it is getting me excited. Has production started yet on the series?

Not yet. Twitter in itself is its own world, right? So I think Twitter had went so crazy with the look-alike pictures of us. So we kind of just jumped into it that way — it wasn’t like she already had a plan for it. We’re literally at the stages of getting everything laid out. One thing we’re very clear on is that we definitely want it to be a series. Dionne has been an icon for so many decades — not years, but decades! Her story is still continuing, so we knew an hour-and-a-half movie wasn’t gonna do it. Ninety minutes ain’t enough girl, you need a whole series!

So we’re at that place where I’m just really getting to know her. I get to ask her whatever I want to ask her and just talk to her for however long I want to talk to her. I think once we get past that, it’ll help us really shape an idea of what we want it to be about. Then we’ll start talking production, writers, and different things like that. We’re at the very early stages of it, but we’re definitely not in a super-early stage. We’re getting there.

Like you said, Dionne Warwick is a living icon who has showered us with her many talents for decades. There are so many chapters of her life to dive into. Are there any particular parts of her life that you’re really eager to explore?

Honestly, all of it! I’ve watched her career and she’s remained so graceful. Like, “Girl, how you do it?” She’s been there for a lot of elements and eras that we’ve endured. So, I want to know everything about her! You know, I want to know everything. She has some really cool life stories. Have you read her book? It’s really, really good. I was conceiving scenes in my head while reading her book. So, the director and producer in me was like, “Oh my God, I can’t wait to do this. I can’t wait to do that.”

Dionne Warwick wasn’t the only one making shocking announcements on social media around that time. To fans’ surprise, including myself, you announced that you would be retiring from music. Since making that decision, has anything changed for you emotionally?

No. Actually, since making that announcement, I’ve literally gotten deeper into directing. I’ve always loved making music and it’s always been mine. The Aunties Inc, my production company that I started with my partner/dancer Coco Gilbert, was created when we were still on tour. But at the time, we had a lot going on with music and everything, so we kind of put it on the back burner a little bit. So it was definitely something that I really wanted to put a lot of time into and prioritize.

Taking a step back from music, going into directing, and just enjoying other parts of my journey — I have so much more to live for. Being able to tap back into directing and producing was everything for me. I’m really, really happy. I don’t plan on letting anybody box me in or make me feel like I can only do one thing at a time. I can do it all. I had my fair share and fun times with music, but now I’m in my directing bag and I plan on staying there for a little while. And when I want to get back to music, I’ll get back to music.

I know that’s right! Well, we’re excited to watch you on this journey. But speaking of your production company The Aunties, it’s specifically made up of an all-female production crew. Why was that important for you?

We were doing our thing. We were making it happen. We called ourselves The Aunties [laughs] because we would create content and then we’d be like, “Alright, girl we did some good work for the day. Let’s go and step it on out.” Then me and Coco would look at each other and go, “Baby, Auntie tired. Auntie Coco tired.” And I was like, “Yo, we need to start a production company called The Aunties,” and we just started dying laughing. So it started off as a joke, but we were still kind of serious.

I was at a place in my life where I felt like I didn’t have the most support from my label, so we were doing our own music videos and making it happen with, like, a bubble gum and shoestring budget. So I felt like, if we’re already creating videos at this level, then we can definitely do this. There have been times when Coco and I would walk up on set and one of the guys that’s working for us would literally be shocked when he saw me yelling, “Action,” or when I yell, “Cut!”

Also, it just feels good to see these women demanding that energy and commanding a room. Like, “Yes, we are females and yes, we’re still gonna kill this goddamn video, so what you talkin’ ’bout?”

Let’s get it!

There’s a lot of men that work on our projects that really be looking shocked. One thing I will say, though, at the end of the video shoot, or commercial, whatever it is that we’re doing, they give us praise. Granted, I feel like they shouldn’t really be shocked because us women can do it all! We are real superheroes. We’re the superHERoes, you feel me? So, at the end of the shoots, the guys are usually like, “Oh my God, y’all are really, really amazing. I’m truly impressed.” To which I reply, “Thank you, but as you should be.”

Through singing, dancing, directing, and producing, you have shown time and time again that you have the range! We’ve also gotten to witness another one of your passions: acting. You recently starred in Coming 2 America — which you were great in, by the way. Can you tell me about one of your favorite behind-the-scenes moments?

My favorite moments on set were actually the behind-the-scenes moments, because everybody was so funny. I was surrounded by legends who’ve been in the game for so long. But if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the way Wesley Snipes cut up. He stayed in character the whole time. So even when they yelled, “Cut,” he remained as General Izzi — my father in the movie — and it was the funniest thing ever.

I love that! Okay, well, before we go, I gotta know: Did you get to keep anything from set?

I did, actually! They have to keep a lot of the main props for archives, but there were these green jumpsuits that the guys had on with the green flakes on them. I was like, “Can I please, please get one of those?” Because I love those — I love onesies and jumpsuits and stuff like that. So I was begging for a jumper, and [costume designer Ruth E. Carter] left me one on the last day. It was really nice that she let me keep that. They did give us a lot of merch though. We had jackets, shirts — they made sure we were loaded. Like, “Look, you can’t take the real stuff, but here’s some stuff to remember us by.” [Laughs]