phxsoul.com

Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals to Host Soulful Solstice on Nov. 20

Join the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals for the group's Soulful Solstice Scholarship Fundraiser on Nov. 20 from 6-9 PM at the Wells Fargo History Museum in downtown Phoenix.

Please read the flyer below for more info.

Vybe Poetry Lounge Thursdays at Coach and Willie's in Downtown Phoenix

Vybe Poetry Lounge is held every Thursday at 8 PM at Coach and Willie's, 412 S. 3rd St, Phoenix.

Visit www.myspace.com/wisdomsoul for more info.

Mama BJ Internet Talk Show on Hot Chocolate Live TV

The Mama BJ Show, an Internet TV talk show, debuted on Hot Chocolate Show Live Television on Oct. 1. Check hotchocolate.net for future show dates.

What is the main purpose of the show?

The Mama BJ Show will be looking at issues that face our Black communities from a helpful and hopeful perspective seeking understanding and answers for our own healing; mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We will also look at our achievements and learn to take whatever negatives that exist and turn them into positives. We will do this as Black people for Black people, without other people telling us what to do and how to do it. This is something that we must accept the responsibility of doing for ourselves.

Who is Mama BJ?

B.J. Ayers aka “Mama BJ,” a 63-year-old Black woman and mother of two grown sons and four grandchildren.  Originally from Staten Island, New York, Mama BJ relocated to Phoenix, AZ in 1981 from Vancouver, WA and fell in love with the Valley of the Sun. Mama BJ's day job is in the Information Technology (IT) industry as a SQL Server Database Quality Assurance Analyst. Mama BJ's passion is sharing information that is both helpful and hopeful spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically; primarily targeting the Black community.

After learning her way around Phoenix, Mama BJ began connecting with the Black community, primarily with the help of the local Black newspaper, the Arizona Informant. Mama BJ first became involved in the Black community as a community activist and public speaker by becoming a certified health promoter through Planned Parenthood in a culturally based program targeting the Black community.

Later, Mama BJ organized and facilitated several health events targeting Black health issues utilizing the philosophy of natural medicine. Through the healing of my own emotional issues, Mama BJ became a Certified Spiritual Healer specializing in Emotional Health and now reach out to Black men and Women as a spoken word artist. You can find Mama BJ on the mic every first and third Sunday at HomeBase Poetry. 

This led to the opportunity through Hot Chocolate to direct and host her own internet TV show.

Mama BJ is also the Director and Moderator of a series of Open Dialogs between Black Men and Black Women which occur every two months. The next Open Dialog, the third one, will be on November 14 from 11 AM to 2 PM at Keys Community Center/ChildHelp, 2454 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix.

Why should people watch?

When this opportunity was offered to Mama BJ, she thought hard and long and prayed and meditated for several days about that very question. A number of people had remarked to me that she should have a “talk show” because people could benefit from what she shares. Both men and women come up to me after Mama BJ had been on the mic and stated they enjoy hearing what she speaks about, that they have experienced something Mama BJ has talked about or was touched by something she said. Most of what Mama BJ will talk about on the show are the same things she talks about one-on-one, to small groups and audiences and on the “Spoken Word” open mic. 

If you would like to submit a question or comment during the airing of the Mama BJ Show, please send it to mamabjshow@yahoo.com.

Black Pearl Poetry Shows in the Phoenix Metro Area

Open Mics, Special Performances for Teens, College Students and Adults

Black Pearl Productions (BPP) offers TWO WEEKLY shows which include an Open Mic (anyone can sign up and read), poetry slams for those whom wish to compete to go to various events. Also, the show will host special guests, such as poets from HBO Def Poetry Jam, Cave Canem Fellows and national and international slam champions.

Black Pearl Poetry Tempe Thursdays
Time: 7:30 p.m. (doors open), 8:00 p.m. Show starts, 10 p.m.(time to go)
Location: MADCAP Theaters, 730 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, Ariz.
(at Seventh and Mill on the strip next to Uno's restaurant)
Cost: $5 general/$4 student

Hosted by Ed Mabrey, Myrlin Hepworth and guest hosts

Black Pearl Poetry Phoenix Fridays
Time: 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Location: The New Fair Trade Café, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
(downtown at the Civic Space Park beneath the large Net Artwork close to Central Ave. and Van Buren St., across from ASU Walter Cronkite building)
Open Mic, Poetry Slams for adults, ASU students, and teens 14-19
Cost: $5 general/$3 student/$2.00 Teens (14-19)

Please visit blackpearlpoetry.blogspot.com for more information!

Arizona Poetry Slam Team Ranks Top 10 in US

Phoenix Takes 9th Place, Highest for AZ Team Ever

Submitted by Ed Mabrey of Black Pearl Productions LLC

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—The Downtown Phoenix Slam team claimed victory Friday night for Arizona poets by ranking ninth in the nation and put Arizona’s poetry community on the map.

The four-member squad participated in the 20th National Poetry Slam competition, Aug. 4-8 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and saw the spoils of three months of hard work when they beat out 61 other teams in the nation. There were 68 total.

“The audiences absolutely loved us,” Ed Mabrey, the slam team’s coach, said. “Their engaging energy toward our performances made this a great experience.”

A poetry slam is a competitive spoken word performance, in which participants have three minutes on the mic to prove themselves to five judges who have just been randomly selected from the audience. They are judged on their poem’s content as well as its delivery.

The team members, Mabrey, Bernard “Klute” Schober, Myrlin Hepworth and Aaron Johnson, battled their way into the top 10 in the nation with dynamic, crowd-engaging poetry verses focused on race relations, degenerative diseases, “cookie” politics and “super villainy.”

“I am really proud of every guy on the team for stepping out of their comfort zone with their writing and performance skill and style,” Mabrey, also founder and president of Black Pearl Productions, said. “We all hope that this type of success continues for Arizona poets.”

Other participating Arizona poetry slam teams included Flagstaff, Mesa and Tucson.

The 20th National Poetry Slam, hosted by Poetry Slam, Inc., a nonprofit which oversees all international and national slam competitions, is an annual event that celebrates the literary power of spoken word.

For media files and interviews featuring the team, contact Ed Mabrey at edmabrey@gmail.com or 614-623-0687.

Check out samples of poetry slam features by Ed Mabrey:

• uShow
• YouTube

About Black Pearl Productions

Black Pearl Productions LLC is a privately-held company for Black Pearl Poetry and Black Pearl Management. The company hosts poetry slams, workshops and features.

Doc's Place New Home for Live Jazz and R&B Music and Entertainment in Phoenix

Doc and Nayo Jones have been known for a long time as a dynamic musical duo in the Valley of the Sun.

Now, the African-American father and daughter team can be known as OWNERS of a new music lounge and cafe in central Phoenix! Doc and Nayo took over the old Johnny's Uptown location at 40 E. Camelback Road and renamed it as Doc's Place.

Doc's Place officially opened for business on Jan. 1, 2009 and Nayo says she is extremely excited about the future.

"Doc's Place will allow my father and I to bring our music and our vibe to an audience that is craving jazz and contemporary R&B in an adult, upscale environment," said Nayo. "Our goal is to not only cater to an African-American audience, we want people of all races to enjoy Doc's Place."

Doc and Nayo are scheduled to perform live on Friday and Saturday nights.

"Now that we own Doc's Place, we have the opportunity to really put the Doc and Nayo Jones brand out there," said Nayo. 

For more information about Doc's Place, please call (602) 277-5999 or visit docsplaceaz.com.

HomeBase: The Poets' Poetry Set on 1st & 3rd Sundays in Phoenix

HomeBase: The Poets' Poetry Set - hosted by HB

HomeBase happens EVERY 1st and 3rd Sunday!

Doors open at 6 PM (early arrival is recommended)

Time: 7- 10 PM

Location: Downtown Sheraton, 340 N. 3rd St., Phoenix

Cover: $5 per person

For more information, please send an e-mail to homebasepoetry@cox.net.

Editor's Note: If you are living in the Phoenix area and you have not attended HomeBase yet, you are truly depriving yourself of one of the most gratifying, powerful, thought-provoking, pride-filling experiences, you'll ever have as an African American here! It's truly amazing to see the talent that graces the stage and I'm in awe of the fact that HB and his wonderful staff have managed to turn HomeBase into a MOVEMENT! It's so refreshing to attend an event with so many positive people of all races who are all gathered in one venue to support spoken word and each other! I believe HomeBase has the chance to be one of the most celebrated black events in Arizona's history! Make sure you slide into HomeBase every chance you can!!  

PhxSoul.com's Community and Nightclub Calendars - Find Phoenix Area Events and Entertainment

PhxSoul.com has added a Community Calendar and a Nightclub Calendar so you can easily find African American events that are happening in the Valley of the Sun!

You should always review our Community and Nightclub Calendars - especially on the weekends - for a complete wrap-up of what's happening for US in the Phoenix area!

• In our Community Calendar, you'll get information on cultural fairs, theatrical performances, business networking opportunities, social gatherings and much more!

• In our Nightclub Calendar, you'll see recommended nightclubs, happy hour spots, spoken word venues, upcoming concerts, live local music shows and more!

• Where's the Nightlife for Mature Black People in the Phoenix Area? Click HERE to find out!

• You can also text phxsoul to 555411 for updates on your smartphone!

Special Note: If you are organizing an event that may be of interest to the African American community in the Phoenix area, please send us an e-mail! It's FREE for you to send us press releases, electronic flyers and general details to help you spread the word about your event(s) and organization(s). However, DONATIONS to PhxSoul.com are appreciated!

Spraygraphic Apparel Launches Social Network for Creative Minds

Artists of All Mediums Joining New Creative Community

Submitted by Spraygraphic Apparel

Phoenix, AZ - Spraygraphic Apparel recently launched a free social network for creative people looking for a space to share and showcase their creativity with others.

Spraygraphic.com combined its affinity for art and activism to create a high-end, design-oriented Website where members build dynamic profiles and portfolio pages demonstrating their creative work.

Spraygraphic has spent two years developing and designing its new website with the hopes of creating a "Thought Provoking Community" where creative minds can get away from the distractions of other social networks and focus more on their creative efforts and building relationships with other creative and pro-active people.

Members come from all disciplines of art: Visual Art, Design, Music, Film, Performance and Text, but the Website is not limited to professional and trained artists.

Spraygraphic believes people have the capacity to be creative, whether they doodle notebook or a haiku on a piece of scrap paper. All creative efforts are welcome!

Spraygraphic.com would like everyone to realize his/her creative potential and make a positive impact through the world by using his/her creative talents and inspire others to do the same.

Spraygraphic.com has many fun and unique features that enables members to build Thought Provoking Profiles. Members begin by picking their favorite interests to make easy for other members with similar interests to find them. Spraygraphic provides a link section that enables members to link back to their own personal Websites or other social networks like Facebook and MySpace, as well as provide links back to affiliations with organizations and schools. There is also a feature that allows members to post their resumes, professional image-based portfolios, and availability for employment, as well as post events onto the site's Community Calendar and a BLOG that interviews artists every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Every member’s profile page is comprised of four major sections (CREATIVE, ACTIVISM, TRAVEL and MOTION) that allow users to show a fuller picture of themselves. All of the sections are optional and Spraygraphic members can create a profile with just one section or all four sections. It’s up to them.

In addition to all of these cool features, Bands and Musicians can upload their music and make their songs available for other members to create and share MUSIC MIXTAPES to listen to while they are logged on to Spraygraphic.com.

Spraygraphic.com's design, application, and content serves the creative individuals searching for something different on the Internet, a free online community that values aesthetics, design, art, and creativity.