"Gumbo for the Soul" dares to call it like it is. This serving of Gumbo is a must-read for every parent, teacher, mentor, and all who believe it is important that our children can read and comprehend the English language." — Tavis Smiley, Author, Television and Radio Host
"Gumbo for the Soul" tells African-Americans exactly what the recipe for a good life is…It is inspirational, uplifting, and recommended for people of all ages, colors and aspirations." — Alice Holman, The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
San Francisco Bay Area parent and adult tutor Beverly Black Johnson has taken steps to address the dismal statistics of the high school drop-out rate amongst Black students. She founded Gumbo for the Soul Literacy Program to implement solutions to black students' declining GPAs, and to improve the scores of college-bound high school seniors by developing a literacy program. Johnson shared her vision for the literacy program with some of the nation's best-selling and first-time African-American writers, professionals, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders, laypersons and students. More than 100 talented individuals generously contributed to the anthology titled Gumbo for the Soul: the Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community. Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit development of Gumbo for the Soul Literacy Program – a 501(c)(4) public service initiative. The anthology is available online at www.BarnesandNoble.com

Johnson commented, "We as parents, educators and village leaders have to step up and place higher demands on the education system so that our kids get the quality of education to which they are entitled and deserve." She continued, "We cannot afford to simply stand by the wayside and allow our kids to slip through the ever-widening cracks. We must take action."
Gumbo for the Soul: the Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community is the first in a series of compilations of delicious poems, essays, quotes, personal reflectional accounts of contributors' respective educational and occupational experiences that address adversity, obstacles, perseverance and determination, as well as assorted gumbo recipes. Under development for more than two years, and in print for less than two weeks, the highly-anticipated anthology is already the buzz in literary circles.
Popular author, television and radio host Tavis Smiley said, "Gumbo for the Soul" dares to call it like it is. This serving of Gumbo is a must-read for every parent, teacher, mentor, and all who believe it is important that our children can read and comprehend the English language." Member of the highly-respected RAWSISTAZ Reviewers Alice Holman's R.A.W. Rating of "5 out of 5" accompanied her broad review that included, "This collection of writings is inspirational and uplifting. I can't think of a better book to read when depression and a sense of meaningless in this world overtakes your soul."…"Gumbo for the Soul"…succinctly brings out our stellar history in this country. The inspirational pieces are beautiful stories that let us know God is with us no matter what. The gumbo recipes begged to be tried for dinner."

Gumbo for the Soul proudly includes among its 106 talented contributors: Toni Beckham, president & CEO, PR, et Cetera, Inc.
Heather Covington, NAACP Image Award nominee; author of Literary Divas; host, the Black Family Channel's "Literary Living"
Nathasha Brooks-Harris, Emma Award winning author of Panache
Delores Thornton, "Queen of Marketing" Marguerite Publishing
Niambi Jarvis, founder & CEO, Hiyaah Power, Inc.
Michael Henderson, Morehouse College Alumni
Kim Robinson, author of The Roux in the Gumbo
James W. Lewis, contributor, Chicken Soup for the Soul
Synthia Saint James, award-winning artist, author, songwriter, and illustrator of the widely popular Kwanzaa postage stamp
Vecepia Towery-Robinson, CBS "Survivor" winner
Keyanna Bean, Rapper
Kyeisha D. Johnson, Student
Beverly Black Johnson, founder, Gumbo for the Soul Literacy Program; compiler, Gumbo for the Soul anthology series
THE BOOK:
Gumbo for the Soul: the Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community
Compiled by Beverly Black Johnson
iUniverse, Inc./Gumbo for the Soul Publications, April 2007
(ISBN:0-595-42907-6, ISSN:1934-3590, Paperback, $24.95 U.S., non-fiction)
Book cover by Synthia Saint James; foreword by Heather Covington
Available for purchase now at www.BarnesandNoble.com
THE LITERACY PROGRAM:
Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit development of Gumbo for the Soul Literacy Program – a 501(c)(4) public service initiative. To learn more about the program, and how you can support it, please visit www.gumboforthesoul.net. Corporate and organizational sponsorships are welcome. Please email gumboforthesoul@yahoo.com or call 209-947-4743.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
Next in the Gumbo for the Soul anthology series is Gumbo for the Soul: Here's our Child, Where's the Village? Submission deadline: June 16, 2007 | both electronic (heresourchild@yahoo.com) and hardcopy required. Mail to: GFTS-Village Child, P.O. Box 5193, San Jose, CA 95150. Sponsor ads are available. For more detailed information about submission requirements for the next anthology, please visit www.gumboforthesoul.com

CONTACT:
Toni Beckham
PR, et Cetera, Inc.
408-499-3664
Toni@PRetCetera.com

"Black leaders like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Rep. Maxine Waters, former NAACP head Ben Muhammad (formerly Ben Chavis), and Russell Simmons have encouraged anger and distrust towards police for years." states the out-spoken minister
A CBS 60 Minutes segment aired this past Sunday reporting that the "stop snitchin'" campaign being promoted by some rappers in videos and on t-shirts is intimidating witnesses from coming forward to testify. According to law enforcement officials, this is causing crimes including murder to go unsolved in the inner cities. This epidemic has outraged social activist and author, Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, who says that this twisted "code" has been passed down by criminals and by corrupt Black leaders who have been promoting an anti- police culture for the past 15-20 years.
"No one should be surprised that this 'stop snitchin'' campaign has a foothold in the Black community," said Rev. Peterson. "Black leaders like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Rep. Maxine Waters, former NAACP head Ben Muhammad (formerly Ben Chavis), and Russell Simmons have encouraged anger and distrust towards police for years."

In the 60 Minutes segment, CNN's Anderson Cooper talked with New York rapper Cam'ron, also known as "Killa Cam," who said, "It's a code of ethics (not to snitch)." Rapper Busta Rhymes, along with up to 25 people witnessed the Feb. 5, 2006 fatal shooting of his friend and bodyguard, Israel Ramirez, but according to New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, no one will talk or testify. The segment also featured interviews with several young Black teenagers who said that in their neighborhoods, "People get respect for robbing banks, but if you're snitching that's a crime."
Rev. Peterson said, "What the rappers are doing is wrong, but we must realize that so-called Black leaders have long encouraged Black youth to hate and distrust police. Until we restore the family and Black men become responsible fathers, this problem will continue to plague America's inner cities."

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is the author of "SCAM: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America." He's also an expert commentator on race and gender issues. For more information, visit www.bondinfo.org

Tony Victory Fitness has released its latest interactive fitness musical entitled Brickhouse One: Tough Love. This DVD is a musical adventure in toning and sculpting. A total body workout for men, women, and children of all fitness levels, Brickhouse One works all the major muscle groups. No expensive equipment is necessary, only a set of dumbbells or your own choice of resistance. The unique choreography, stunning visuals and hot musical soundtracks are produced, arranged and performed by Tony Victory himself.
Due to the rising demand for fitness-related products as a means to combat obesity and improve self-image, this DVD helps to position Tony Victory Fitness to enter into the independent fitness DVD market that has demonstrated tremendous growth potential for our company and clients.
"Traditional exercise tends to be boring and repetitious which makes it seem like hard work, whereas the music and visuals of interactive fitness musicals is so engaging that the participants forget they are working out at all," states Tony Victory, President and Founder of Tony Victory Fitness, LLC. Whether it is in the form of products or services, creating new and exciting approaches to fitness has become a necessity.
Tony Victory currently offers his unique line of programs at Bally Total Fitness in Cerritos, Huntington Park and Long Beach. Check www.stomperobics.com for the latest class schedule and purchase the DVD along with the signature DVD, Stomperobics V1: The Nutkracker, the first in the explosive aerobic workout series based on the African American College Fraternity and Sorority dance tradition popularized in the recent movie, Stomp the Yard. Also available on DVD is Abducted One, which is a 20 minute abdominal and lower back workout that will leave you with a beautiful midsection.
For more information, contact Sandra Young at skyoung_11@yahoo.com and/or by phone at +1 (562) 867-2806.

ABOUT TONY VICTORY FITNESS
Tony Victory, President and Founder of Tony Victory Fitness, LLC, a company specializing in the production of fitness programs and products, was started in Los Angeles, Feb 5, 2007. The company was created to oversee the continuous demand for innovative fitness content and services.
Tony Victory is a native of Los Angeles, CA and has been involved in the fitness industry for over 10 years. In 1999, Tony V created the STOMPEROBICS fitness program for gyms, health spas, schools and nonprofit organizations throughout the country. In 2000, Tony V filmed the first Stomp related fitness video entitled Stompercise which received a 5 star mark in Fit magazine. Tony V has starred in over 100 stomp shows, video and television productions nationwide including cameo appearances in hit shows that include "Sister, Sister" and "Moesha".

The Elements of Fitness

Fitness is an elusive concept, in other words it's the entangle, the thing that we can not see. But, according to the President's Council on Physical Fitness it is the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without fatigue, and with enough energy to enjoy leisure time and to meet unforseen emergencies.
There is no clear cut point at which you are fit, but if fitness is your goal, exercise is the way to get there.
There are four elements of Physical Fitness: Cardiovascular Endurance, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, and Flexiblity.

Cardiovascular Endurance-the most vital element, it is the sustained ability of the heart, blood vessels, and blood to carry oxygen to the cells, the ability of the cells to process oxygen, and the ability of the blood to carry away waste products.
Cardiovascular Endurance is built up through exercises that enhance the body's ability to deliver large amounts of oxygen to working muscles. Aerobic activities include running, brisk walking, swimming, cylcing, rowing, cross country skiing, jumping rope, playing basketball, aerobic dance, and praise dance.

Muscular Strength-is the force a muscle produces in one effort, a lift, or a jump. Exercises that will improve your overall muscular strength are push-ups and jumping jacks.

Muscular Endurance-is the ability to perform repeated muscular contractions in quick succession such as twenty five sit-ups in a minute.

Flexibility-is the ability of the joints to move through there full range of motion. Good flexibilty is to protect muscles against pulls, and tears. To get the full benefit of each stretch make sure you hold that stretch for at least 36 counts.

"Stay Fit Always"
Andrea George:-)
workoutsbyandrea.com

New from award winning producer and director Bro. Steve Harris & Bro. Steve Enterprises, "America's Funniest Church Videos and Bloopers..Volume 1. Experience a new TV show and DVD like no other in the world. You will laugh yourself crazy. Some of the funniest church videos you have ever seen in your life.

Special footage from the vault of Bro. Steve of the funniest Gospel Celebrity bloopers and goofs caught on tape. Hear some of your favorite Gospel stars' most embarrassing moment, never heard or seen before.

If you believe you have the funniest church video in America, reply to WWW.BroSteveTV@aol.com  for your chance to win cash and prizes for your funniest church video.

Columbus, OH – Glory Foods® the category leader in Southern-style heat-and-serve products is offering Valentine's Day heart-healthy gift baskets. Available online at www.GloryFoods.com, the baskets are available in two sizes, and feature Sensibly Seasoned(TM), Glory Foods' line of lower sodium, low fat and meatless side dishes.

According to a 2007 update to the "Heart and Stroke Facts" study by the American Heart Association, an estimated 79,400,000 American adults (one in three) have one or more types of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high blood pressure. The study indicates risk factors for CVD include hypertension, diabetes and the low daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. The AHA also lists high sodium intake as a direct cause of hypertension and diabetes.

"Sensibly Seasoned side dishes offer consumers healthy and tasty meal options, while helping to reduce their daily intake of sodium. Sensibly Seasoned products also meet the dietary needs of consumers who prefer vegetarian cooking," said Theresa Potter, Director of Marketing for Glory Foods. "The Valentine's Day Sensibly Seasoned Gift Basket makes a great gift for family and loved ones who enjoy Southern-style foods, but who also face certain dietary restrictions."

The Glory Foods' Sensibly Seasoned Gift Basket includes mixed greens, collard greens, turnip greens, red beans, black beans, pinto beans, string beans, blackeye peas, tomatoes & okra, and tomatoes, okra & corn. The gift basket is available online at www.GloryFoods.com for $38.

The deluxe gift basket includes all of the products found in the regular gift basket, with the addition of a Glory Foods' apron for the at-home chef. Many of the items included in the gift baskets are not yet sold throughout the U.S., making the gift both tasty and unique. The deluxe gift basket sells for $46.

ABOUT GLORY FOODS
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Glory Foods is a category leader in Southern-style, heat-and-serve products. Glory's products are symbolic of the tradition of home-cooked taste that consumers have come to expect. Glory Foods offers a full-line of products including canned vegetables and side dishes, frozen savory entrees and side dishes, and fresh-cut, bagged vegetables. Glory Foods' products are available in grocery stores nationwide.

Troy Sneed and his Emtro Gospel label had a very good weekend at this year’s Stellar Awards. The former FAMU college football star just won his first Stellar award for Youth for Christ's "The Struggle is Over." The song which spent 12 weeks at #1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel songs chart a few weeks ago, was written by Jonathan Nelson & Justin Savage. Nelson narrates the song and Sneed closes it with his powerful singing voice.

Another recent surprise for Emtro came when Billboard magazine named Emtro one of the Top Ten Gospel imprints of 2006. The label came in at #6 on the annual listing right behind such powerhouses as Sony and EMI. At the same time, Emtro came in ahead of gospel superstar Kirk Franklin's Fo Yo Soul and CeCe Winans' Pure Springs Gospel labels – a huge fete.

After almost two decades in the music industry, Sneed and his wife, Emily, are beginning to harvest the fruits of their labor. The erstwhile Savoy/Malaco recording artist began Emtro Gospel (a mix of his and his wife's first names) in 2003. Emily took on a second job and Sneed worked around the clock to get the label established by personally calling manufacturers, retail stores, distributors, etc

"The first couple of projects didn't get a lot of attention or radio play," says Sneed from the lobby of Nashville's Opryland Hotel. "But, we turned the corner with Rudolph McKissick and Alvin Darling and began to make some noise."

McKissick's "The Right Place" and Darling's "All Night" gave Emtro their first Top gospel hits. Then, "The Struggle is Over" went all the way to #1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart and stayed there for twelve consecutive weeks in late 2006. After opening the door for other artists, now Sneed's latest high-energy single, "Hallelujah" is #6 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart with a bullet facing the #1 slot.

Sneed isn't resting on his laurels. Emtro is actively working towards increasing their presence in the gospel market with a series of innovative marketing techniques that will unfold over the coming months. One unique technique is how he sells his other label mates products at his in-store appearances. "I don't care what the song is," Sneed laughs. "I sing the hit songs from all of my artists when I do my appearances and then tell the people which CD the song is on. When I do that, I not only sell my CDs, but I'm also selling the CDs of my other artists and it's a great thing all around."

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bill Carpenter
202-636-7028
carpbil@aol.com

BET’S CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL A HUGE SUCCESS

Featuring top named artists such as Quincy Jones, Tyler Perry, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Fantasia, Blair Underwood, Gabrielle Union, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Derek Luke and Host Steve Harvey, the sounds of praise turned the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles into church!

CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL was without doubt a hand-clapping, foot-stomping two-hour revival that was filled with stellar performances by the likes of Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Fantasia, Tye Tribbett, Kelly Price, Coko, Smokie Norful, Lil’ Mo, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dr. Bobby Jones, Fred Hammond, The Caravans and many more. The show also featured a special tribute to Tyler Perry — writer, producer, director, and actor extraordinaire — for exemplifying the theme of this year’s show, “Taking You Higher” with his successful approach to making gospel-themed urban theatre accessible to the masses. In addition, the highly-anticipated gospel extravaganza contains a new element of spoken word performed by Hollywood’s brightest leading lights.

Also in attendance were Lou Gossett Jr., Quincy Jones, Blair Underwood, Gabrielle Union, Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Derek Luke and Keke Palmer.  Hosted by the popular syndicated radio personality Steve Harvey, the show premiere was January 28^th but re-broadcasts are scheduled.  Consult your BET show listings for time & dates.

Path Magazine | Path Pictures >> click here to view the stars!