Social Media Connects Continents

Social media freaks like me are gearing up for Social Media Week taking place this year from February 7 to 11. It's an annual international event full of seminars, workshops and networking events covering all facets of social media including consumer marketing, mobile technology and Facebook basics.

If you're not a techie, marketing maven, communications buff, or Twitter addict then this probably doesn't excite you much. However, one of the most incredible things about social media is its ability to connect people who live in other states, countries and continents...much like we do here at Ladies Lotto. To illustrate this point, Ngozi Odita, founder and owner of SocietyHAE.com, is hosting a dope event during Social Media Week: "This Is Africa… How Music and Social Media Are Re-defining A Continent."

“This Is Africa… How Music and Social Media Are Re-defining A Continent” will look at how Africans are using social media to market their music and connect with the world. It will feature live performances and a multimedia presentation on how social media and music in Africa are helping to re-shape and re-define the continent. Social media has been a means for people to see Africa beyond the negative images seen in the media: war, sexual violence, AIDS, corruption and poverty. The artist community has been able to communicate with the world and challenge our perceptions via music and and culture.

We don't often think about how much of our lives and thought are shaped by our social media experiences whether it's news, music, commentary but it has become a way of life and an agenda setter. (Note how much of the news is from blogs and social networks these days.) This event highlights social media at its best...when it's community building.

Check out the event details below and register here:

This Is Africa…How Music and Social Media Are Re-defining A Continent

Monday, February 7
6:30-9:30 p.m.

Speakers:

• Moderator: Ngozi Odita (Nigeria), Society HAE
• Ben Herson, Founder, Nomadic Wax
• Blitz the Ambassador (Ghana), Musician/Artist/Filmmaker, Embassy MVMT
• Delphine Fawundu-Buford (Sierra Leone), Photographer/Educator/Filmmaker
• larry Ossei-Mensah (Ghana), Writer (Arise Magazine, CentricTV.com, The BVX and Young Global)

Performers:

• Rwandan electro-pop singer, Iyadede
• DJ FreizZe (Ahficionados), spinning African hip hop, afrobeat, hip life, kwaito and more

**Authentic African Cuisine Will Be Served Courtesy of Panla.com **

**Complimentary beverages provided by Heineken **

The Bracelet Project: Helping 25 Million Orphans Through Sustainable Fashion

25 million children will be orphaned due to HIV/AIDS by the end of this year. Who will take care of them?

The DO UBuntu Orphan Bracelet Campaign was inspired by the making of the film Angels in the Dust and the plight of orphaned children throughout the world.

The bracelet project is modeled on sustainable development techniques where women are taught how to run their own business, open bank accounts and additional life skills.

http://orphanbracelet.org/what-we-do/bracelet-project

Buy a bracelet and support orphaned children around the globe. I love mine and I haven't gone a day without someone making a compliment.


Watch Angels in the Dust, a story of hope and healing in the face of a staggering crisis. It's a story of inspiration, featuring Marion Cloete, a university-trained therapist who— with her husband and three daughters— fearlessly walked away from a privileged life in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb to build Botshabelo, an extraordinary village and school that provides shelter, food, and education to more than 550 South African children.

http://angelsinthedust.org/trailer.html

NY African Film Festival

New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) starts tomorrow (April 8th) and runs through April 16th.

More details on schedule and program here: http://www.africanfilmny.org/

Socially Conscious Swimwear: the Bantu Line

The women behind Ladies Lotto LA & Lovemade are working with Bantu, an African-based swimwear line that recently had its debut in Los Angeles. Rather than soliciting direct donations to help Africa, Bantu stimulates the local economy in a sustainable way by locating their complete manufacturing line in Ethiopia, and possibly in more countries in the future. Bantu (the Senegalese word for "gateway") is the Western gateway to the little-known beach culture and lifestyle of the 26 coastal countries in Africa. Top-of-the-line fashions are a hybrid of contemporary design and the centuries-old textile industry in West Africa.

"The juxtaposition of colors and patterns reflects the weaver’s identity, character, and beliefs. For instance, magenta is for “good health through the hybrid of red and blue, which is both stimulating and calming,” [the line's founder] Eklund says, and orange is for “energy and inspiration vitalized by the fiery clash between yellow and red.” " - Vogue.com

Please support this hot brand with a big mission by going to Barney's at either 9570 Wilshire Blvd in LA, or at 660 Madison Ave in NYC. See more at http://www.bantuwax.com/.

Positive Energy for 2009

Don't front; you know if you grew up in the 90's you've watched Only the Strong at least once. It's still the most notable American film with capoeira at its core. You can't forget the fluid kicks, pseudo-synchronized movement, that song and well; guys with their shirts off; most notably Marc Dacascos. Hollywood kind of got it right but they didn't dig too deep. History is hardly ever the point of those guy or gal with a heart of gold saves inner-city kids flicks that were popular back in the day.

Capoeira is a vital part of Afro-Brazilian culture. For slaves capoeira was a tool used to preserve one's culture; to entertain and uplift the spirits of communities. Some believe it to be a secret martial art developed by free Maroons to keep Portuguese slave traders at bay.

The Brazilian government was so fearful of capoeira that it was banned in 1890. It wasn't until the 1930s that Mestre Bimba convinced the government of its cultural value. Today people all over the world are getting in on the action one way or another. On random days when the weather is agreeable you can watch capoeiristas at Union Square in New York City. If you're more of a couch potato there are almost 50,000 capoeira videos on YouTube. After watching some of the videos you'll definitely want to do a couple of kicks yourself! Men, women -- even pregnant ones -- and children regardless of age participate.

Capoeira is unique because of its fusion of dance, music and martial arts. The tempo of the music played during a capoeira exhibition determines the nature of the game. If the music is slow, capoeira resembles a fluid waltz rather than a fight, but with fast-paced music it's more of a battle. While there are circle kicks, slapping movements and acrobatics, capoeira is no longer meant to be used as a weapon. The purpose of the game is to trap your opponent while staying in step with them and countering their moves. Capoeira is more than a martial art. It's a celebration of history, music, passion, dance and struggle.
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Next Thursday, Ladies Lotto New York members and their friends can experience the energy and action that is capoeira.

Our guide to capoeira, Leticia Monteiro (a.k.a. Formiguinha) is a certified pilates instructor and ranked Brazilian martial artist. She'll briefly discuss the history of capoeira and get us ready to face the night with an introductory 45-minute class.

We'll provide light fare and non-alcoholic beverages. You'll bring your voice, an open mind and your energy. Axe!

Thursday, January 29th
7-9pm

Essex Street Academy
350 Grand Street
Bet. Ludlow & Essex
New York, NY

$20 in advance @ http://LLNY109.notlong.com

RSVP: rsvpnyc@ladieslotto.com

Gift Shopping for Good

This upcoming weekend San Francisco based World of Good Development is holding their annual Holiday warehouse sale.
In the past the organization has been donating half of the event’s proceeds to the organization.
With the same spirit this year, they aim to raise an additional $10K to support the craft communities worldwide.
Thousands of handmade jewelry, bags, scarves, house wares, and gifts up to 95% off retail price. Everything will be sold at $2 to $5. Half of proceeds to benefit supports artisan communities in Asia, Latin America, and Africa

They will be opening the warehouse to the public through the last two critical weekends of the Holiday shopping season to our friends and neighbors in the Bay Area. The perfect opportunity to shop for memorable, meaningful Holiday gifts for everyone on your list, the sale will feature sustainably-made Columbian pottery, hand-woven baskets from Africa, tote bags crafted from recycled materials, and unique jewelry hand made in India.

The foundation of this San Francisco based organization is focused round the goal to eliminate poverty and structurally improve the quality of life for artisans in very low-income craft producing communities around the world. The organization is partnering with businesses and organizations in order to build a stronger fair trade craft moments in USA. World of good development is investing in social and economic projects to promote the communities of craft producers.

So make sure to do some gift shopping this year that actually do good, not only for your family and friends, but for needing communities too.


World of Good Development Holiday Warehouse Sale
Friday and Saturday
December 20 and 21
10AM – 2PM
6315 Doyle Street
Emeryville, CA 94608
Corner of 64th and Doyle

On the Edge: House of Diehl

House of Diehl is the partnership of MJ Diehl and Roman Milisic. Producing "statment-making" fashion design and multimedia experiences, their revolutionary work transcends the boundaries between fashion, art, music, and performance.

House of Diehl has exhibited and performed in a range of international arenas: with Sonic Youth at the Greenspace Festival in Spain, alongside Elton John and Liza Minnelli, and many, many, more.

House of Diehl uses fashion as a vehicle for a larger social agenda: individual identity, communication, and community.

Please support Charity Water's efforts to provide clean water in Africa. Click here for our benefit auction!

Countdown to 11/4 - #4 Your Vote is Your Voice

A few days ago I spoke with a friend who told me his father wasn't voting. When I asked why his father wasn't voting his response was "my dad isn't voting for anyone because neither candidate appeals to him." Also, his father cited the future of Israel as one reason he would not vote for Barack Obama. I found this to be somewhat perplexing and well, pretty prejudiced. So what if Obama was Muslim? He'd still be American; in his post he'd still have to put the country and its international relationships before his religion. How could his highly-educated, physician father make such a statement? Hadn't he read up on the issues and checked the facts?

Later, we got into a heated discussion about why people are voting in this election. Somehow my friend deduced that people who vote find one issue and stick to it. For most, voting is a complex issue; it's more than punching a hole, filling in a dot or flipping a lever based solely on one issue you care about.

I'm voting because:

• Every woman has the right to govern her own body.
• Unjust wars should not be fought on the taxpayer's dime; as corporations that deal in death profit off the blood of young men and women.
  
• All children deserve an education that is truly equal.
  
• Everyone deserves comprehensive health care.
• The country that spends the most on HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Third World should have its own official HIV/AIDS agenda.
• Our retirement accounts and social security must stop be raided by greedy traders and government officials.
  
• The only Maverick I care to know was played by Tom Cruise in Top Gun.
  

Why are you voting?


Illustration: Hutch