X's and O'x - A Football Love Story - It's A Collision Sport (Not a Contact Sport)

What does the Berkeley Repertory Theatre (BRT) and the National Football League (NFL) have in common?  Both institutions LOVE football. One week from today, the NFL will host its biggest party of the year, the 49th Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona; and for the next five weeks, the Berkeley Rep will run its world premiere of X’s and O’s (A Football Love Story), written by playwright KJ Sanchez and co-creator Jenny Mercein.  While gridiron gladiators--the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks--battle it out on the field, the Berkeley Rep Theater will present a “hard-hitting docudrama that examines our country’s passion for a game that is both generous and dangerous, life-giving yet lethal,” noted Sanchez. Photo: Raymond Chester (Raiders), Tim Anderson (49ers), Delvin Williams (49ers) and Guy McIntyre (49ers)

During opening night, Jan. 23rd, X’s and O’s, sprinkled with minor bits of profanity, takes its audience through a football time capsule which begins in the early 1800’s and travels to present-day.  The play offers a different view of America’s favorite and most idolized sport, and focuses on what professional football and its long-term consequences are really about.  Directed by Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, X’s and O’s (A football Love Story) is as “visceral, emotional, and highly theatrical as the game itself.”  While we {the public} are entertained by the ‘thrill of victory and agony of defeat’ of teams pitted against each other in sometimes gruesome, physical combat, this play performance looks at football through the lens of the players, their families and the fans, to fully examine our cultural values around the game.  “It’s a story that presents both the beauty and brutality of the game and how it ties so profoundly into our identity as Americans.”

A major portion of the play emphasizes how the’ wear and tear’ of football takes a toll on athletes’ bodies, particularly when players suffer head trauma.  While football may be a way out of poverty for some, and is known to relieve stress for others, it’s also a sport that has lifelong physical challenges on the players themselves.  Concussions, considered contusions to the head, takes a devastating toll on these players, especially those who have had several concussions throughout their career.  Over 20 years ago the average weight of a linebacker was 235 and now it's 325.  Having that much more weight landing on a player's body can be unbearable, however you dare not show the feeling of pain on the field.  X's and O's describes a situation where a player was on the field wearing a cast for a broken arm, and a hit by that player caused a kidney rupture, given the hit was with the casted arm. {Photo: Khary L. Moye, Actor and Understudy)

The full-contact sport (referred to in this play as a collision sport) can bring riches to some (the industry now boasts annual revenues of $9 billion dollars--the most lucrative in the world) and misery, depression and even death to others.  X’s and O’s examines the philosophy of football and its effect on life itself.  Mercein, the daughter of Chuck Mercein, a Super-Bowl winning former professional player, noted that she sees a lot of parallels between live theatre and live sports. {Photo: Eric Wright, 49ers}

X's and O'x runs through March 1, 2015 at the BerkeleyRepertory Theatre, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley.
 

Written by: Y'Anad Burrell and Clifford L.  Williams

Judy Smith - The REAL Olivia Pope of ABC7 Scandal

I have been a fan of ABC7's Scandal and the lovely Kerry Washington since the season started. However, meeting the real Olivia Pope, that would be JUDY SMITH, made the excitement much for enticing. I met Ms. Smith about 5 months ago at an event and was so happy to see how engaging, unassuming, delightful and unapologetic she was about her wit and intelligence.  

On Jan. 20th, Ken Coleman, technology giant and Special Advisor to Andreesen Horowitz, hosted a fireside chat with Judy Smith in their Menlo Park, CA office.  The chemistry between Ms. Smith and Ben Horowitz during the Q&A was the best I've seen in a long time.  When asked about how her career started, Judy shared that she had to be reminded by her childhood friend, affectionately known as 'beanhead', that her conflict resolution skills began at the age of 15 as she was always the neighborhood 'we can all work this out' negotiator. 

Judy's career in conflict resolution went through the roof right after her tenure as special assistant to the press secretary during President George H.W. Bush administration in 1991.  During her time with President Bush, some of her major work included PR guidance during the Clarence Thomas nomination, PR consulting during the Gulf War and dealing with US Kuwaiti relations.

While many saw the writing on the wall that President Bush would not be reelected, Judy stayed the course until the very end instead of leaving and looking for employment like many.  It was that tenacity, dedication and loyalty that lead to President Bush making several phone calls to key influentials in the political arena, sharing the stellar work Judy performed under his administration, that her phone began to ring constantly with requests for her services.  Since that time, Smith & Associates has been the most sought after crises management firm in the nation and beyond. 

Judy's most fascinating client was former Mayor Marion Barry.  According to Judy, even in light of his indiscretions and 6-month federal prison sentence for drug possession and use, Mr. Barry remained a 'people' person and very much connected to the community. Despite his history of political and legal controversies, Barry was a popular and influential figure in the local political scene.  After his release, he was elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in 1992, and ultimately returned to the mayoralty in 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999. 

Judy Smith's book, "Good Self, Bad Self: How to Bounce Back from Personal a Crisis is a must read.

 
And go!

Post by Glass House Communications.

Grammy Award Winner and Songbird DENIECE WILLIAMS - Feb. 8th

Intel Invests $300M Towards Diversity in Technology while Microsoft Struggles With an Inclusive Workforce

"It's time to step up and do more. It's not good enough to say we value diversity," says Intel's CEO Brian Krzanich.  Intel will aim for its U.S. workforce at all levels to mirror the talent available in America in the next five years, and Krzanich said the compensation of Intel leaders would be directly tied to the progress they make in reaching that diversity goal.  "This isn't just good business. This is the right thing to do," he said.

While Intel should absolutely be applauded for this initiative, a huge red flag is their first step, according to Krzanich, which is putting together the structure for connecting managers' pay to diversity stats and that part of the program will be implemented for 2015 pay.  Money certainly talks so who is to say the managers' efforts will be truly a party of Intel's 'culture of diversity' as opposed to keeping their monetary compensation steady and growing.  Anything tied to money will influence behavior so does it become a game of just 'filling in the numbers', as opposed to truly believing that Diversity & Inclusion is 'just good business sense'.    Read More About Intel's Initiative!

In mid-December, Microsoft quietly released its EEO-1 form, a federal filing that outlines employment data by race and gender according to job type. While Microsoft has diversity in its highest ranks, including an African-American Board Chairman, an Indian CEO and a female CFO, the overall statistics are less flattering: the company is 60.6% white and 71% male, according to its EEO-1 form.  Read more!

I have been passionate about Diversity & Inclusion (affectionately called D&I) since my graduate studies at Golden Gate University when I chose to do my thesis on Change Management.  It's been a 'lifestyle' and not just the hot topic of the year or month.  While D&I can be challenging to grow in any industry (i.e. technology, art, education, etc.), it's the consistency of the effort that brings the most impact and not an effort that has a 'designated time period'.  If there is not an 'intentional plan in place that is part of a business model, company goals, human resource training, then results will come more fluidly and organically.  This is the best approach to building any effective and impactful culture of diversity and inclusion.

Diversity is being invited to the party.  Inclusion is being asked to dance at the party.  It's time to dance more!  And go!

Sunday Nite Live! Tribute & Celebration of Life - Bishop Gordon A. Humphrey, Jr. - Sunday, Jan. 18th

The Sunday Nite Live! Tribute and Celebration of the Life services for the late Bishop Gordon A. Humphrey, Jr., takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2015, 7:00 pm at Love Center Ministries, 10440 International Blvd., Oakland, CA.  Please join the Olivet Church family and friends in celebration one of God's best.  Blessings.

The Olivet reunion choir rehearsals take place Jan. 8th and Jan. 15th @ 7:00 pm at Olivet Oakland, 1125 West St., Oakland, CA.

 

Nicole 'Nik' Caldwell - 1st Time Author - Bay Area Native - TODAY on sale NOW!

Oakland native Nicole Caldwell continues to thrive with her many talents in becoming a 1st time author, book entitled TODAY.  Nik's passion to empower young girls around the globe with inspirations of hope and dreams, TODAY will capture your attention from start to finish.  Come and meet Nik on Jan. 17th, grab a copy of her book, and enjoy the company of one  of Oakland's best-kept secrets.

Order your advanced discounted copy at www.nikcaldwell.com.  For interview/media/press contact Glass House Communications - yanad@glasshousepr.com