Wanda's Picks

Mutual Aid Project: Marshall Trammell, Nick Obando, and Tracy Hui. The group is playing several benefits: Nov. 27: Benefit for Rosa, a Guatemalan immigrant who was injured on the job and needs a critical surgery she can't get in the US, because her immigration has expired. The benefit is at East Side Cultural Center, 2277 International Blvd., in Oakland. Visit http://www.mujeresunidas.net/english/program.htlm. They also perform Dec. 18 at a "Giving the Best of Our Love: A House Party for Haiti Emergency Relief Fund," 2618 Ninth Street in Oakland; Ravi Coltrane, in town Dec. 3-5, 2010. I have a pair of tickets to give away for the Sunday, Dec. 5, 7 PM show at Yoshi's in Oakland; Dr. Shawn Ginwright, a national expert on African American youth, youth activism and youth development, Associate Professor at SFSU, founder of Leadership Excellence Academy, speaks about the new initial and campaign to train adults as mentors for black youth called: "A New Way Forward: Healing What's Hurting Black America, Dec. 3-5, 2010. The kickoff is Friday, Dec. 3, 6-9 PM at the Marriott Convention Center, 12th and Broadway, Downtown Oakland (new location, larger venue, so come). It is a free event. Register at www.anwflaunch.eventbrite.com and www.shawnginwright.com We close with AIDS activists: Gloria Crowell, chair, Allen Temple Baptist Church AIDS Ministry, Commissioner with the Alameda County Public Health Commission & writer, Jesse Brooks, journalist, certified paralegal, filmmaker, motivational speaker, peer advocate, and a long time survivor of HIV disease.