The peace advocacy group We-Us-I Will S.U.R.V.I.V.E. along with Marygrove College are hosting the First Annual Peace and Love Day on Saturday, March 13, 2010, from 1- 5 p.m. on the Marygrove College campus.

The event is inspired by national youth and peace activist Weusi Olusola, who, at 16 years old was the innocent victim of gun violence, leaving him paralyzed. The event marks the one-year anniversary of his passing, at the age of 38, from liver cancer.

The event will feature inspiring stories from people who have been directly affected by violence, as well as remarks by Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh and a keynote address by Diane Weathers, Senior Vice President for Communications and Advancement at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Ms. Weathers was former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine and a program officer for the United Nations World Food Program.

The event will also offer community resources and entertainment. This event is free and open to the public. Join us and become inspired, entertained and empowered!

Additional sponsors include: Marygrove College Student Government, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s Pioneers for Peace, Detroit City Council, Park West Foundation’s “Blue Babies,” Partnerships for Peace, City of Detroit Youth Commission on Peace & Justice, Tamarian Institute, Youth Violence Prevention Task Force, University of Central High School and the Focus Hope Safety Project.

For more information, contact the Peace and Love Day Committee at (313) 254-3818.

ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1927, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to developing leaders for the new global society.
The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit.
8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221
Web site: www.marygrove.edu

ABOUT We-Us-I WILL S.U.R.V.I.V.E.
In 2010, We-Us-I Will S.U.R.V.I.V.E. was founded by Nadiya Olusola in memory of her late husband, Weusi Olusola. We-Us-I Will S.U.R.V.I.V.E. keeps Weusi’s mission, “Pioneering for the preservation of our youth” and his message of peace and love alive. We-Us-I Will SURVIVE is open to partner with all that are committed to work together to manifest peace and love to empower our youth.

ABOUT WEUSI OLUSOLA
In 1986, Weusi Olusola was shot four times and was told he’d never walk again. Weusi triumphed over the tragedy when he dedicated his entire life to changing lives of youth by using his own experience to mentor, motivate and inspire youth in Detroit area as well as the nation.

ABOUT THE PARK WEST FOUNDATION
The Park West Foundation was formed in 2006 to provide assistance to children and families including foster care, family preservation, family life education, counseling, teen parent services, residential placement and adoption. The Park West Foundation also provides support for young women and young men who have “aged out” of the foster care system. The foundation’s goal is to create a more complete support system that promotes solutions for creative, lasting and positive development of youth including healthy community connections.

Native American Entertainment Network (NAE Network) (www.naenetwork.com) presents free web-based, video content featuring Aboriginal stories and news. As a voice for Indigenous Peoples, NAE Network provides an important avenue for cultural representation in mainstream media. The launch on February 20, 2010, was groundbreaking because Indigenous Peoples across North America are now able to share their stories with the rest of the world through one website.

Historically there have been few, if any, programs about Indigenous Peoples that have been accessible to the general public. NAE Network is the first site of its kind in the U.S. to bridge this gap, with a goal to preserve cultures and traditions of tribes across the continental United States, Canada, Hawaii, and Alaska. The website offers viewers a look into the incredibly diverse worlds of many North American cultures through documentaries, news magazines, dramas and cultural specials.

“Native American Entertainment Network is an empowering resource for all Indigenous Peoples of North America,” says renowned Tlingit storyteller, performer and NAE Network Board Member Gene Tagaban. “It provides a means for our People to tell their stories and come together through the arts—strengthening a sense of pride and honor in who we are historically and moving forward into the future.”

NAE Network is aimed at both Native and non-Native audiences with content to interest all viewers. The network is continually adding new stories and features to their online library. Video categories include: news, government, sports, health and wellness, lifestyle, arts and entertainment, history and biography, culture and tradition. Other features highlight news, resources and events relevant to North American indigenous communities.

About NAE Network Established in 2009, NAE Network provides a voice to the spirit of empowerment and honor for all Indigenous Peoples of our continent. For advertising, programming or more information on how to become a part of NAE, please visit the website at www.naenetwork.com

The Future of Wireless International Conference, a two day high-profile event to be held in Cambridge on 29th & 30th June 2010, brings together from around the world more than 300 key players, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists, investors and academics, to explore the key market, business and technology opportunities for wireless – and it’s potential impact on society – over the next five years. The breadth of topics to be covered is impressive, including such matters as re-inventing business models and the value chain, bridging the digital divide, wireless delivery of healthcare, low-carbon smart homes, future wireless devices and the impact of cloud computing on life in the 21st Century. As well as informative presentations, there will also be lively, thought-provoking panel discussions and plenty of opportunities for attendees to engage and participate. The Cambridge Wireless free online partnering service enables delegates to maximise business development and partnering opportunities by facilitating pre-arrangement of meetings with other delegates.

California College San Diego announces online Graphic Arts program through its affiliate college, Stevens-Henager College. The employment of Graphic Designers is projected to grow 13 percent by 2018 with interactive media such as websites, mobile phones, and other technology-based media adding many new job opportunities. This growth in employment is expected to be spurred by an increase in demand from advertisers and web design companies foraying into new territories like web marketing.

Students and working professionals in San Diego looking for an exciting career in graphic arts can now pursue the online Graphic Arts and Graphic Design degree at California College San Diego through its affiliate college Stevens-Henager College. With the Graphic Arts and Design degree, students will get a chance to have hands-on experience with applications like Web Page Design, Web Animation, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. Students will also get introduced to programming languages, computer fundamentals, and business concepts like JavaScript, Internet Management, Databases, and Marketing.

The Associate of Occupational Studies in Graphic Arts degree is a flexible online program designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in a fast-paced business environment. Students can learn and develop the essential computer skills as well as modern techniques. The technical prowess imparted through this program is designed to help students take their creative talent to the next level in a professional setting. Armed with a college degree in graphic design, graduates can pursue exciting careers in a variety of industries ranging from print, electronic, and interactive media to fashion, interior design, and packaging.

For details on this program, call at 1-800-622-3188 or visit www.cc-sd.edu to request more information.

Offering Associate, Bachelor and Graduate degree programs in Business, Computers, and Healthcare, California College San Diego (CCSD) has trained graduates for new careers in high demand jobs since 1978. The degree programs at the CCSD are accredited various accreditation body like ACCSC and CAAHEP. This assures the high standards of quality of the school as well as the programs offered.

California College San Diego
2820 Camino del Rio S
San Diego, CA -92108
www.cc-sd.edu

Taliah Performing Arts Center, a women’s-only studio for acting and dance located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, is officially opening this spring. Workshops for the spring semester will take place April 12 – July 1, with fall classes resuming October 2010. To celebrate the launch, the opening night party will take place at the studio – a 3,800 square foot performer’s oasis – on Saturday, March 13th at 8:30pm, and will include live music, improv and dance performances.

“Taliah is more than a studio or a performing arts center. It is where women are asked to come in with an open mind and an open heart so through acting, music and dance they can create, inspire, and be inspired,” says Tamar Madmoni Reich, founder of Taliah PAC. “I am so thrilled to be able to bring this project to life and celebrate women and the performing arts.”

Women will be able to choose from a menu of challenging classes and workshops to hone their craft from Scene Study, Improv, Movement for Actors, Voice Coaching and Shakespeare at the acting studio, to Flamenco, Belly Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Israeli Dance, Contemporary/Lyrical and more at the dance studio. Master teacher’s workshops and classes for children and teens are being developed for the future. All classes will be held at the studio, which was converted from a tow truck warehouse with the addition of a state of the art dance floor, glass facade, and theatrical lighting.

Performances by Taliah PAC faculty at the opening night launch party will include flamenco with Maya de Silva, improv with Elizabeth Fountain of Lipstick Jungle and Law & Order, music by Noa Lembersky of J. Viewz, belly dancing with Jehan and Sultana Taj, and Israeli dance with Sara Burnbaum.

Please join us for an evening filled with talent, enjoy our wine and chocolate bar, and support women in the performing arts at Taliah Performing Arts Center located at 303 Bond Street, Brooklyn. The women-only event will begin at 8:30pm and is free to the public. Must be 21 and over to attend. Gift bags will be provided for attendees; RSVP to info@taliahpac.org is strongly encouraged.

For more information, please visit http://www.taliahpac.org.

About Taliah Performing Arts Center
Taliah Performing Arts Center for women is the first of its kind in New York City. With an emphasis on the craft of acting and the art of dance, taught by an acclaimed and international diverse group of teachers, Taliah is a space for women to have fun, tap into their inner child, dig deep into their souls, create, inspire and be inspired within the safety of an embracing women’s-only environment.

Contact:
Farrah Fidler
Kerem Consulting
Farrah@keremconsulting.com

Celebrate Spring at the Grand Opening of New Jersey Audubon’s Hoffman Center for Conservation and Environmental Education on Saturday and Sunday May 1 and 2, 10 am to 4 pm, at the Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, 11 Hardscrabble Road, Bernardsville. This free, two-day family event features something for everyone — music and entertainment; hands-on nature activities; live animal demonstrations; and displays from local organizations, all surrounded by 276 acres of scenic woodland, field and floodplain habitat supporting some 200 species of wildlife ready for you to explore. Stop by the registration table and pick up an Event Program that will guide you through the May Days activities.

Several times throughout both days, special kids’ radio telemetry classes will take place, which will show how professional wildlife biologists track all kinds of species on their travels around the world by letting kids track “wildlife” on the grounds of the Sanctuary. There will be fun nature crafts for the little ones, a Natural Treasure Hunt and free face painting provided by local Girl Scout Troops.

The event line-up also includes entertaining and educational indoor presentations by specialists on dragonflies, birds, local history and some great storytelling. And, if a plant only blooms for one day, what good does it do in nature? Find out at a lecture by one of the state’s renowned experts on “ephemeral” plants. Enjoy live music outdoors and visit live animal exhibits by the Raptor Trust and NJ Audubon’s Weis Ecology Center, featuring birds of prey and other birds.

Come by and shop for special May Days discounts at the Nature Store, and tour a one-of-a-kind exhibition of indoor and outdoor contemporary art on threatened and endangered birds of New Jersey by award-winning New Jersey artist, Pat Brentano.

Admission is FREE and healthy foods and refreshments will be available both days, for sale by local vendors.

For more information please visit www.njaudubon.org/go/grandopening. As we move closer to the event check back for an event schedule, directions to off-site parking and bike routes to the celebration. Bring your family and friends to this fun, festive event where you’ll discover a place where experiencing nature is pure fun.

For more on artist Pat Brentano, visit www.patbrentano.com.

The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference will hold a special reception to honour youth and student travel-industry leader, Susan Goldstein.

Goldstein recently stepped down as managing director of event management company, WYSTC A/S to form her own firm, Susan Goldstein Associates – an independent consultancy that enables companies, associations and trade shows to maximise product, network and business development.

Goldstein led WYSTC A/S, the event management company behind the joint Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference and the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) for ten years. Under Goldstein’s leadership, the events grew to become the global youth, student and educational travel industry’s two most important annual business-to-business trade conferences.

Susan Goldstein began her career in youth and student travel at Kilroy Travels in Denmark more than 25 years ago. She joined WYSTC in 1999. During her concurrent tenure as managing director of the conference, its event management company, and as acting director general of the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations, Goldstein became an extremely influential and important advocate for the industry. Speaking regularly at conferences and events around the world, Goldstein continues to champion independent youth travel to the wider global tourism industry. In particular, she has been instrumental in highlighting its value to national tourism bodies, not only in terms of its cultural significance but as an economic driver as well.

“Susan has been a landmark figure within the development of this industry to whom we owe a huge debt, said STA Travel founder,” Dick Porter at a BETA Youth Travel Awards dinner where he recently presented Goldstein with an “Outstanding Contribution to the Industry” Award.

Now in its sixth year, the joint Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual will honour Ms Goldstein at its Friday night farewell reception.

“Susan has played a vital role in building our conference and advancing the industry. It goes without saying, that the event and hence, the business opportunities it delivers, would not exist without her,” says Jack Hompes, chairman of the International Au Pair Association, (IAPA) – co-organiser of the event.

“Susan’s vision and industry knowledge have been a key driver in getting youth, student and educational travel organisations to work together successfully to build their businesses as well as benefit the industry,” says Elizabeth O’Neill, Chair of the WYSE Work Abroad Association- co-organiser of the event.

The Work Experience Travel Market and IAPA Annual Conference’s ceremony for Susan Goldstein will take place during the event’s farewell reception on Friday, March 19th at 4PM at the InterContinental Miami, the conference hotel.

For media inquiries or for more information, please contact:

Deborah Fitzgerald
+31 20 421 2800
d.fitzgerald@wysetc.org

Andrew Singer
+45 5090 5190
andrew@andrewsinger.dk

About the International Au Pair Association (IAPA)

The International Au Pair Association (IAPA) was established in 1994 by cultural exchange organisations seeking to improve and protect the rights of au pairs and host families around the world. The association has been responsible for the creation of internationally recognised Guidelines for au pairs and exchange programmes with its 155 plus member organisations agreeing to abide by the IAPA Codes of Conduct: signifying competence, fair dealing and high integrity.

About WYSE Work Abroad Association

WYSE Work Abroad Association is the leading global forum and trade association for organisations involved in work abroad programmes. WYSE Work Abroad Association was formed in October 2006 through the merger of the Global Work Experience Association (GWEA) and the International Association for Educational Work Exchange (IAEWEP). The association’s mission is to facilitate and increase international youth travel and exchange through the promotion of culturally-oriented work abroad and volunteer activities.

Now in its 11th year and formerly branded as Retail Expo and National Retail Forum, the new joint branding highlights the connection and alignment between the Exhibition and Conference. Retail 2010 remains Australia’s largest trade show for retailers, bringing together every segment of the retail sector under the one roof and providing solutions for better retailing.

Retail 2010 Exhibition and Conference will explore advances in:

- Retail Technology
- POS
- Lighting/LED
- Digital Signage
- Shop fit out and design
- Security Technology
- Business Services
- Green building/sustainable Retail

The reinforced link between the Exhibition and Conference opens the door to explore existing markets and focus on our target market in more detail, the small to medium retail businesses.

With an expected 180 exhibitors to the Exhibition plus over 120 delegates to the Conference, Retail 2010 Exhibition and Conference is a must attend event offering approximately 5000 visitors the opportunity to explore the latest retail trends from home and abroad. This is your chance to be informed by key note retail experts through an established conference and then experience the array of products on the exhibition floor.

Other exciting components of the Exhibition include the Store of the Future, a unique feature that takes visitors on a shopping journey to the future, showcasing the latest in fit-out and design, retail technology advances and on-line innovation.

Industry exhibitor heavyweights Microsoft, Beonic, Pronto, HP, Sensis, Iconiq, Futura, Checkpoint, Powerfront are just a few of the taking part.

For the first time Retail 2010 E and C will co-locate with three other complimentary and industry leading events. VISA (Visual Impact), Marketing at Retail Expo 2010 (POPAI) and PrintWorks Expo 2010 (GASAA) will run alongside Retail 2010 and an anticipated visitor audience of in excess of 7,000 are expected to attend during the three days.

Retail 2010 Conference, Australia’s leading retail conference, will introduce influential industry speakers from Australia and around the world. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from leading retailers and industry specialists on hot topics facing the Australian retail industry. With a broad range of sessions featuring presentations, case studies and panel discussions, the Conference also provides a fantastic opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing as well as free entry to the Exhibition.

It is a perfect time to talk business, get new ideas, learn from industry leaders, make new contacts, network and, most importantly, generate sales. Retail 2010 Exhibition and Conference is where the key retail decision makers come to shop – can you afford not to be a part of it?!

For more information or to register your interest for Retail 2010 Exhibition and Conference, go to www.retailexpo.com.au

The countdown is on, once again, for Thailand’s grandest food extravaganza of the year, the THAIFEX – World of food ASIA 2010. The event aims to further underscore Thailand’s capabilities as a major food-manufacturing and food-exporting hub of the region, and the world. This year’s event is set to feature over 1,000 leading food-related companies, occupying over 2,100 booths, and is poised to welcome an influx of international visitors from around the world.

Mrs. Srirat Rastapana, DEP Director-General revealed that, “The Royal Thai Government has established policies for strategic developments and promotion of the Thai food industry with objectives to improve the already outstanding food quality and safety standards to the next level. The policies encompass virtually all production processes from factory to consumers, and they should also contribute to expanding export opportunities to more countries, especially ones with stringent importing requirements. Thai food exports this year are expected to enjoy a noticeable growth in line with the global economic recovery.”

The THAIFEX 2010 is yet another collaboration of three outstanding organizing partners ? the Department of Export Promotion (DEP), the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC), and, the German world-class event organizer Koelnmesse. The event is aimed at showcasing to an international audience a comprehensive spectrum of Thailand’s food production capabilities and advanced food-related technologies. The display will be divided into categories including ‘Food & Beverage’, ‘Food Catering’, ‘Food Technology’, ‘Hospitality Services’ and ‘Retail Franchise’, all of which amount to a total of 2,100 booths featuring over 1,000 leading companies from Thailand and beyond.

Other interesting highlights, especially for professionals in the food industry, include exhibitions on ‘Halal Food’, ‘Organic Food’, ‘Food Safety from Thailand’, and ‘Design in Thailand’, plus eye-opening and educational seminars on the current situation of the global food market. Moreover, there will also be an exhibition dedicated to advanced manufacturing and packaging technology, along with, latest trends in the food industry that are attracting consumer attention across the globe.

This event will offer a great opportunity for international food buyers to meet face-to-face with producers, importers and exporters, as well as, to learn about their newest developments.

Trade:
12-14 May 2010 (10.00-18.00 hrs.)
Public:
15-16 May 2010 (10.00-20.00 hrs.)
Venue:
Challenger 2-3, Impact Muang-Thong-Thani,

Bangkok, Thailand
www.thaitradefair.com, www.worldoffoodasia.com

For more information, please contact:
Usanee Thavornkarn
Integrated Communication Co., Ltd.
Email: usanee@incom.co.th

Award-winning photographer Donald Verger today announced that he is donating an extraordinary pink rose image valued at $1,000 to support the Pink Tie Ball™, an annual event of the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to be held March 20th at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. Verger is also the Founder and President Emeritus of the world-renowned Children’s Discovery Museum and Science Discovery Museum in Massachusetts. He often donates his photography works to nonprofit organizations that benefit families and children.
“I have been a Donald Verger Photography admirer and I am thrilled that he has donated one of his prized pieces to the Pink Tie Ball™ auction,” said Victoria Abbott, Chair of the Pink Tie Ball™. “The evening at the ball is to be spent raising money for breast cancer research and education. Donald’s contribution will clearly facilitate our cause.”

“I am glad to help support the vitally important work of The Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure,” said Donald Verger. “I hope ‘October Rose’ brings peace and good health to all who view it.” Acknowledged for its spiritual and healing qualities, Verger has donated his fine art photography to Mercy Health System of Maine’s Fore River Campus in Portland, where it is displayed in permanent, rotating galleries. His work also hangs in the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland and the Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan. Previously Verger donated his celebrated imagery that raised $2,000 each for the Innocence Project in New York City and UNICEF.

“The mantra for this year’s Ball, ‘to honor, to celebrate, to cure,’ encapsulates the celebratory nature of the evening and the Komen mission of ending breast cancer forever. This task cannot be achieved without the significant philanthropic support of individuals like Donald, as well as businesses across the state of Maine,” added Abbott.

For more information on the Pink Tie Ball™ including how to purchase tickets, visit www.komenmaine.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.

About Donald Verger, Photographer, Naturalist

Donald Verger is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning photographer, most widely recognized for his iconic image “Dawn of Peace.” His stunning landscape photography, reminiscent of the legendary work of Ansel Adams, is notable for its quiet, ethereal beauty and subtle nuances of light. Verger is also acknowledged for his highly collectible fine art photography of Portland Head Light and Nubble Lighthouse in Maine. He has served numerous nonprofits, as Chairperson of UNICEF’s New England Advisory Board, along with members Ted Kennedy and Arnold Hiatt, and on the board of directors for Wheelock College and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

www.donaldverger.com

http://www.donaldverger.com/section370388.html

http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/ma/2003/discovery_museums_1029.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Discovery_Museums

http://www.discoverymuseums.org/

www.Pbase.com/donverger/all

Heidi Hynes Communications Heidi Hynes, 978-302-1198 (Mobile)