California Teen Spreads Awareness, Pride in Community

Seventeen-year-old Jahbrielle Henning-Rayford is a young woman on a mission. Born in St. Louis, Mo., but raised in Los Angeles, Calif., Rayford has made it her goal to spread awareness and cultural pride throughout her community. A senior honors student in Crenshaw Senior High School's prestigious Gifted Magnet Program, Jahbrielle will be attending Howard University this fall, where she plans on majoring in radio, TV and film. She also plans to focus on creative writing classes and African-American studies, especially philosophy, literature and history. Read more....

Judge Convicted in Pennsylvania Kids-for-Cash Scheme, Faces Long Prison Term and Class Action Lawsuit

A federal jury has found a former Pennsylvania judge guilty of participating in a so-called "kids for cash" scheme, in which he received money in exchange for sending juvenile offenders to for-profit youth jails over the years. Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella, Jr., was convicted Friday of accepting bribes and kickbacks for putting juveniles into detention centers operated by PA Child Care and a sister company, Western Pennsylvania Child Care. Ciavarella and another judge, Michael Conahan, are said to have received $2.6 million for their efforts. Ciavarella faces a maximum sentence of 157 years in prison, in addition to a class action lawsuit on behalf of the youths’ families. For more on this story, we are joined by Marsha Levick of the Juvenile Law Center and to Sandy Fonzo, who believes her son’s suicide was related to his treatment by Ciavarella. Class Action Lawsuit

Mixed-race adoption policy gets new guidelines

White couples should be allowed to adopt black and ethnic minority children under new guidelines for social workers in England.

Local authorities will be warned not to delay placing a child with a suitable family of a different ethnicity.

Many children from ethnic minorities do not get adopted because social workers have been keen to place them with families of the same background. BBC News

David A. Love: Cops Are Missing the Bad Guys While Profiling the Black Guys

In America, race is a proxy for violence. Black men are regarded as a criminal element, and racial profiling is a practice that goes far beyond the justice system. It is culturally ingrained and normalized. In the days of old, when black people were not allowed to roam about unattended or without permission, slave patrols policed the plantations and hunted down fugitives. Read more...

No Equity in Adoption For Black Children

Although studies show there is little difference, according to racial group, in the incidence of abuse and neglect that would lead to a child or youth’s placement in foster care, Black children are more likely to be steered into foster care at disproportionate rates than Whites, and are often “negatively characterized and labeled” by child welfare workers, explained U.C. Riverside Professor of Psychology Dr. Carolyn Murray during a recent lecture series on the “Psychological Development of Black Children”. Read more...

Profane Kid Video Demonstrates the Need for Our Own Revolution – (Video)

 

It is truly heartbreaking to see such young girls spouting the type of ignorant foolishness that almost certainly guarantees them a life of regret, despair and worthlessness. You just want to reach in to the screen and take them out and kill them show them that the way to excel is not through threats and violence and name-brand clothing. You want to show them that education, hard work and the belief in their own potential is the key to success. You want to tell them they are valuable, beautiful human beings with limitless futures.

As much as we want to blame the schools, the media, the white man or whoever, the blame falls squarely on our shoulders.

- BV Black Spin

Children of working mums more likely to be ill

 

The children of working  mothers are up to three times more likely to be ill, research has revealed.

A study of the health of 90,000 schoolchildren found that those whose mothers worked were more likely to have spent time in hospital, to have been diagnosed with asthma and to have suffered bone breaks and poisonings.

Lack of supervision is thought to be one of the reasons.

Children of working mums ¿more likely to be ill¿ | Mail Online

Energy Drinks May Be Unsafe For Kids, New Report

Energy drinks may be unsafe for some children especially those with diabetes, seizures, heart abnormalities or mood and behavior disorders, according to a report by researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine published in the journal Pediatrics this week; however the beverage industry fiercely disputes this. Read more...

Website connects African American youth with mentors across the country

Website connects African American youth with mentors across the country | wbir.com

Obama to seek changes in Pell Grants

President Barack Obama's budget plan would cut $100 billion from Pell Grants and other higher education programs over a decade through belt-tightening and use the savings to keep the maximum college financial aid award at $5,550, an administration official said.

Nearly $90 billion of the projected savings would be achieved through two changes, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of Monday's release of Obama's 2012 budget. The spending plan applies to the budget year that begins Oct. 1. AP Source - Yahoo! News

Michelle Obama: Laughter is good for marriage

Here's Michelle Obama's advice for couples this Valentine's Day: laugh with your partner.

She says it's what she and President Barack Obama do, and it seems to be working. Their marriage, although tested throughout the years by his political ambitions — for the Illinois Senate, the U.S. Senate and later president — is going on 19 years.  Read more...

No racial bias at child protective services: study

Child abuse really is more common in African American than white homes, according to a new study that dismisses earlier claims of racial reporting bias in the child welfare system.

But the blame lies with circumstances out of parents' control, say the authors of the report.

'The problem is not that (Child Protective Services) workers are racists,' said Brett Drake, who studies child welfare at Washington University in St. Louis and led the new research.

'The problem is that huge numbers of black people are living under devastating circumstances,' he told Reuters Health. | Reuters

Facebook Rolling Out Brand New Photos Interface

Facebook‘s all-new design for displaying photos now appears to be rolling out to quite a few users. It features larger images, a lightbox-type UI and other features that put Facebook in even more competition with Flickr on the casual and social photography front. Mashable

Spain Creates Tax Break for Hiring as Jobless Rate Among Youth Exceeds 40%

The Spanish government created tax breaks to encourage hiring young people and the long-term unemployed in a bid to lower the 43 percent youth jobless rate.

Companies will get a reduction of 75 percent to 100 percent in social-security taxes for offering part-time work to people up to 30 years old and the long-term jobless, Labor Minister Valeriano Gomez told a news conference in Madrid today. The incentives last a year in an attempt to spur employment in 2011. - Bloomberg

Are "Twittering" Youth Agents of Positive Change?

The United Nations World Youth Report 2007 stated that there are approximately 1.2 billion people—18 per cent of the entire world population—between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four living in the world. Youth is a powerful force for change and youth activism is on the rise, with a lot of young people taking action for social transformation. Youth are engaging with their communities and making their voices heard. This activism is being carried out through a variety of media and is conducted differently in nearly every country in the world. Young people can choose to hold rallies and protests on the streets, attend public hearings, or even organize grassroots movements within their communities. Since the Internet is used by 30 per cent of the world’s population, as some estimates have it, it has also become a preferred tool for young people to foster positive change. UN Chronicle

Gaza youth vent anger on Facebook

Khaled (not his real name) has become something of an online sensation in Gaza, but is now effectively living in hiding.

He is one of the authors of the Gaza Youth Manifesto for Change, a 450-word tirade against the frustrations of life in the Strip.

Posted online in December, the manifesto now has over 19,000 followers on the group's Facebook page under the name Gaza Youth Breaks Out. BBC News

Youth in Egypt, elsewhere cry, 'Enough!'

It's no coincidence that so many of the people you see demanding change on the streets and squares of Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Yemen and other countries in the Arab world are young.

They're the expanding majority, for one thing. Two of every three people in the Middle East are under 24. Half of greater Cairo's 18 million people are under 30.

And they've had it. Baptist Press

Website Connects Black Youth to Mentors

Dunlop created 4BlackYouth.com. It's a website that connects young people with those in their chosen fields.

'When you take on a mentoring role, you are able to cut the corners for somebody,' explained Dunlop.
Key features of the site are the directory of scholarships, the lists of jobs and internships, the mentor connect community and the career profiles, which offer job descriptions for more than 300 careers."| NBC Chicago

View more videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com.

Berkeley High Conference Focuses on Issues Faced by Black Youth

Weekends are not typically the busiest of times at the Berkeley High School second-floor library, yet the room's reading tables were filled last Saturday morning with over 70 students, parents and community members focused on one topic: the challenges faced today by Berkeley's black youth.

Attendees of the 'Black Youth in Crisis' conference discussed ways to address the general difficulties black youth may face and pinpointed areas where Berkeley High School can better support its black student population as it overcomes those adversities. - The Daily Californian

Facebook Users in China Doubled to 700,000 within a Month

Just last month, we wrote that China had about 300,000 Facebook users. In less than 4 weeks, that figure has doubled to over 694,000 users. What happened?

We made a check on just-ping.com and as of now, Facebook.com remains blocked in China. The only thing that had happened over the last couple of months between Facebook and China was Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to the country. Zuckerberg’s trip to China could be a possible reason why the figure had ballooned. | Penn Olson

Overweight Kids Who Exercise Improve Thinking, Math Skills: Study

When overweight, sedentary kids start to exercise regularly, their ability to think, to plan and even to do math improves, a new study suggests.

In addition, exercise was linked to increased activity in the parts of the brain associated with complex thinking and self-control, according to brain imaging scans analyzed by the researchers.  Read more...

Kidz 4 Money, A MindSet of Wealth

 

Teens & Tweens Challenge the Value of

Money ~ Business ~ Economics & Perspective

This phenomenal presentation speaks to youth about the power of the Black Dollar like nothing you’ve ever seen or heard before.  Youth get an opportunity to feel the financial power of our past and the opportunities of our future.

This presentation takes youth on a journey through black history using exercises and activities to show how true financial empowerment feels.  We will venture through the ups and downs, failures and successes of many African Americans over the years and their pursuit of financial independence.  Youth get to take an in-depth look at how real Black Wealth was built and how many of those same powerful lessons can help create wealth for our families and communities of today.

Kidz 4 Money, A MindSet of Wealth

Strokes are rising fast among young, middle-aged

Strokes are rising dramatically among young and middle-aged Americans while dropping in older people, a sign that the obesity epidemic may be starting to shift the age burden of the disease. The numbers, reported Wednesday at an American Stroke Association conference, come from the first large nationwide study of stroke hospitalizations by age. Government researchers compared hospitalizations in 1994 and 1995 with ones in 2006 and 2007. The sharpest increase — 51 percent — was among men 15 through 34. Strokes rose among women in this age group, too, but not as fast — 17 percent.  Read more...

Gaza youth vent anger on Facebook

Gaza Youth Breaks Out

As Egypt's unrest continues, in neighbouring Gaza, an online manifesto for change has struck a chord with the young population.

A young man in his 20s peers into the room cautiously before walking in and shaking my hand. He looks nervous and tired, dark circles under his eyes.

'Don't use my real name and if you record the interview you've got to disguise my voice,' were almost the first words he said. BBC News

School scraps race-specific mentoring program

A Pennsylvania high school has scrapped a mentoring program, which allowed students to be taught by instructors of their same race for a few minutes each day, following a storm of criticism over the initiative.

'The mentoring programs are more heterogeneous now,' school spokeswoman Kelly Burkholder said Tuesday. - CNN.com

Related article:

Pennsylvania School Takes Heat for Separating Blacks for Homeroom

Mandatory Arabic Classes In Texas Schools On Hold

A plan to make lessons in Arabic and Arab culture mandatory for students in some Texas schools has been put on hold, following feedback from parents.

Two Schools in the Mansfield Independent School District planned to incorporate Arabic and Arab culture into every aspect of their curriculum. Students in two other schools in the district would have had the option to pursue similar studies. Read more...

Related article:

Mansfield school district backs away from Arabic program

Mandatory Arabic language classes coming to Texas school district

New NAM Poll: More Young People Putting Education on Hold

 

More young people are putting their education on hold, amid a tough economy and deep cuts in the last few years to education funding.

A poll released last week found that 40 percent of young people surveyed felt that the recession had negatively affected their ability to successfully attain a higher education, forcing them to take more time to complete their degree, spend more time working, and ultimately put their academic dreams on hold.  - New America Media

New Tool Makes Online Stalking Easier

By Dan Tynan

 

It's called Voyurl, and as the name kind of implies, it offers a voyeuristic view into all of the URLs you and your friends have been visiting. Just install the Voyurl plug in for Chrome or Firefox; log in via Twitter, Facebook, or your e-mail address; and quietly stalk your friends across the Web (if they're also members of Voyurl).  Read more...

Saviours' Day Essay and Art Contest

Essay and Art Contest

Dear Believers,

I, Sister Zainab Farrakhan, take great pleasure in welcoming all of the prospective competitors to the Saviours’ Day 2011 Essay and Art Competition. The theme of the competition is “What Saviours’ Day Means to Me”.

I grew up in The Nation of Islam and always looked forward to attending the Saviours’ Day Event. Now, it is my sincere desire to make a contribution to that which has given so much to me. I also know that you love being present and participating in Saviours’ Day. We who will judge this competition are interested in knowing why Saviours’ Day is meaningful to you. Your essay and artwork will give you the opportunity to share your heartfelt feelings and experiences in a very unique and special way. The Essay and Art Competition is designed to bring forth the Creative Mind, which in essence, is the Mind of Allah (God).

I wish each and every one of you much success. I am looking forward to meeting you and presenting you with your individual awards. Let the competition begin!

Your Sister in Faith,
Zainab Farrakhan

Saviours' Day Essay and Art Contest

What Saviours' Day Means To Me

Essay and Art Contest Rules

Essay and Art Contest Application

Submissions to Teen Smudge Magazine

Hi!! My name is Sherri Johnson. I am the Publisher for Teen Smudge Magazine. I am always looking for teens with ideas, or creative talent, artwork, poetry,short stories,hobbies or any kind of special interests. If you are interested in submitting a particular interest and having it get published in Teen Smudge Magazine all you have to do is send it to my personal email : smudgemagazine1@aol.com. There is no limits and you can send as many different submissions as you would like. I will then send your submission to my design department for review. We then most likely will publish your work in our next magazine! We publish a monthly Issue. If you would like to be in the following month all submissions must be sent in on or before the 20th day. I hope we will be able to work with you. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me by email. ---Creatively Yours, Sherri Johnson smudgemagazine1@aol.com website: www.teensmudgemagazine.weebly.com

How Teens Are Employing Steganography (coded language) On Facebook (to hide messages from parents)

A new trend has emerged in Facebook where teens are using language hacks as a way to communicate with their friends. Termed ‘social steganography’ by researcher Danah Boyd, such a status update, mostly in the form of song lyrics, looks innocuous enough to their parents who are also on their kids’ friends list, but convey the real meaning behind the post to the friends for whom it was actually intended, mostly because they share the same pop culture and other interests. This helps the teens to maintain their online presence, socialize on Facebook and post candid updates about themselves without fearing about their folks suspecting anything. PSFK » read more...

Government Unites to Improve Child, Youth Programs

By Elaine Wilson

The government’s new military family support effort will have a resounding impact on resources and programs for military children and youth in the months and years ahead, a Defense Department official said.

“It is earth-shattering,” Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon’s office of family policy and children and youth, said of the new initiative. “Never before have we had the full force of the federal government behind taking care of families.”

Last week, President Barack Obama unveiled a new, whole-of-government approach to military family support, with agencies uniting to create new resources and support programs for military families worldwide. The government has made 50 commitments to improving families’ quality of life, which are outlined in a White House report, “Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America’s Commitment.” Defense.gov News

Egypt's revolution inspires Gaza's youth

Illustration: Nidal El-Khairy

The revolution underway in Egypt is being closely watched by Gaza's youth who see it as a source of empowerment and inspiration. It has stirred our sentiments and has moved us to take to the streets to show our solidarity with our neighbors in Egypt. We attempt to absorb every minute event so as to carry it through the years when we will be able to tell our children how proud we were to have lived through one of the greatest and most inspirational events in the history of the Arab world. "ei: Read more...

News Corp. Says It's Ready To Sell MySpace

Rumors of MySpace’s eventual sale to an entity outside the News Corp. family have been swirling for some time. But Carey’s confirmations in today’s call suggest News Corp., which bought MySpace in 2005 for $580 million, would prefer that sale happen sooner rather than later.

MySpace has been, as far as digital properties are concerned, a fixer-upper; and News Corp. has done a lot to fix it up. But are the site’s repositioning, reorganization and redesign enough to make it a good buy for another entity? Selling MySpace

Reading, Writing & Favoriting: The Power Of Tapping Into Crowdsourced Content

Ypulse: How was the inkpop platform built or tweaked to accommodate the needs of an interactive community of readers and writers? Could you describe the dynamic between members?

Becki Heller: When inkpop.com was built last year, HarperCollins wanted to create a more social book site experience. That was impetus for inkpop. Over the year HarperCollins has really seen the power of this site. It’s allowing us to really see what teens want to read and to give them their chance to express themselves. We’re taking our motto, “Your World, Your Books,” seriously. | Ypulse

Youth in the Middle East: Nowhere to go but the street

The firestorm of events across the Middle East over the past few days can't be explained by long-term development factors: the link between politics and economic development (or lack thereof) is complex in the extreme. Still, the staggering lack of opportunities for young people, especially young entrepreneurs without political connections, is clearly an important part of the mix. That includes people like Mohamed Bouazizi, the 26-year-old whose self-immolation sparked the protests which brought down Tunisia's president, and which in turn set off the remarkable events unfolding in Egypt.

The Middle East has witnessed an incredible expansion of both youth populations and education over the past 20 years. Fully two thirds of the region's population is below 24 years old. Tertiary enrollment in Egypt has climbed from 14-28% since 1990, and in Tunisia from 8-34%. Cairo University alone has around 200,000 students. | guardian.co.uk

Egyptian Youth Vow to Transform Their Society

In Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere, a mix of Arabs are protesting against their governments. And a feature of many of the largest demonstrations has been the use of social media by young people to mobilize big crowds. The Egyptian youth rallying there are vowing to transform their society. | News

Digital Divide: Segregation Is Alive and Well in Social Media

As marketers continue to drop traditional ethnic media and scramble to create the 'ultimate cross-cultural digital experience and platform,' one should take note of America's behavior on the web. Youth are everywhere on the web. But ethnic Internet users, both younger and older, are 'congregating in spaces where there are people like them, or where they feel comfortable bringing people like them,' says Ebele Mora, a millennial, and Chief Financial Officer of TUV Media. - Advertising Age

The New Black' consumer

When expressing who they want to be, we often hear that, in the past, the Gen Y AA consumer's options for role models were few and far between -- usually either an athlete or an entertainer. Up until recently, AA youth have had very few tools through which they could negotiate their identities. A large part of their identities were shaped by what was being marketed and sold to them as 'urban.' 'Urban,' although born out of hip-hop culture, soon became a stereotypical catch-phrase and a confining signifier for AA youth.

Fast forward -- post-digital divide, post-Katrina, the Obama era, the 'tools' at their disposal have grown exponentially -- via the Internet, social networks and the blogosphere. Their aspirations, expressions of self and expectations of self (their community and brands) have also become more multi-faceted and dynamic. They know their voices are powerful and that they should be heard; they have platforms to be heard at the touch of a click. MediaPost

Men: The new romantics? - Coupling: Dating, marriage and other relationships

Now, overall, men and women are equally predisposed to marriage. But when you look at singles in their 20s and early 30s, and then in middle age and beyond, guys express more interest in tying the knot. Perhaps most surprising of all: Between the ages of 21 and 34, men are more likely than women to want kids (51 percent versus 46 percent). Adding to this picture of shifting gender roles is the fact that 77 percent of women, compared to 58 percent of men, say independence in their relationship is 'very important.' - Salon.com

Economist Magazine Study: Chastity Before Marriage Leads to Successful Relationships

It appears that those who've argued that people should wait till marriage to have sex have some data that proves them right (sort of). The Economist Magazine, which often studies family stability as a key to economic success, presented an academic study showing that couples who abstain from sex before marriage are more likely to remain married and also more likely to enjoy their relationships. - BV on Money

Nearly Half of All Black College Students Have Never Had a Black Professor

The Campus Accountability Project is an initiative designed to begin holding campuses accountable for their diversity numbers. Many universities refuse to share data on the numbers of African Americans who've been hired or tenured, primarily because the results are so embarrassing. Additionally, there is an interest among black college students and alumni around the nation to see the problem mitigated. Equally intriguing is the fact that many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) don't hire very many African American faculty either. Within the pool of survey participants who attended HBCUs, half (50.5 percent) didn't have more than three African American professors in a field outside of African American or Africana Studies during their four years of attending an HBCU. Professors from other countries are sometimes accused of using their powerful positions to lock out people who are not of the same ethnic background, so qualified African Americans sometimes have trouble getting access to black students at HBCUs, especially in the sciences. The lack of African American male professors on many HBCU campuses is even more disturbing; many universities have no more than one or two African American male faculty in their business schools or the sciences. I recommend you take a look at your own campus to see if the theory holds true. - BV on Money

No Equity In Adoption For African-American Children

Black Voice News, News Report, Chris Levister

The numbers for black foster children is glaring. There are over half a million children in the foster care system in the United States, and African Americans make up nearly 40 percent of that number. U.S. Census data shows black children in foster care, especially older ones, are less likely than white children to be adopted.

Although studies show there is little difference among to racial groups in the incidence of abuse and neglect that would lead to a child or youth’s placement in foster care, black children are more likely to be steered into foster care at disproportionate rates than whites, and are often “negatively characterized and labeled” by child welfare workers, explained U.C Riverside Professor of Psychology Dr. Carolyn Murray during a recent lecture series on the “Psychological Development of Black Children”. - New America Media

Black Children 5 Times More Likely to Be Murdered in California Than Whites

Despite making serious strides in education and politics, one disturbing fact within the African American community remains: Black children are living by the gun and dying by the gun at a highly disproportionate rate.

A new report by the Violence Policy Center finds that in the state of California, black males have a homicide rate more than 14 times that of whites and nearly four times that of Hispanics.

When young girls and women are included, African American children are nearly five times more likely to be killed than any other ethnic group in the state. BV Black Spin

Also read:
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/young-black-males-far-more-likely-be-murder-victims-8405

Girls' Cleaner Lifestyles Could Make Them Sick, Study Shows

In today's cleanliness-obsessed world where anti-bacterial soaps and other cleansers are frequently used to keep germs at bay, researchers are finding these preventative measures actually may be responsible for an increase in illnesses and allergies for kids, especially little girls who are less likely to emerge from the playground covered in mud.

It's called the hygiene hypothesis, according to a study reported by NPR. Because little girls tend to have a cleanlier lifestyle than boys, their bodies no longer need to fight germs. As a result, they're more likely to develop allergies, asthma or autoimmune disorders as they grow up. - ParentDish

Brrrrr! Stay Safe in These Cold Months

CPSC estimates that home heating was associated with about 33,300 fires and 180 fire deaths per year from 2005 to 2007. Cooking and home heating are the leading causes of residential building fires during winter.

In addition, there has been an increasing trend in unintentional non-fire CO deaths associated with consumer products since 1999. CPSC staff estimates that there were 184 CO poisoning deaths on average per year from from 2005-2007 compared with 122 deaths per year from 1999-2001. Since 1999, the majority of CO deaths have been associated with heating systems and portable generators. | Read more OnSafety

PLAYBACK: Preparing Students for Learning in the Digital Age

State of the Union, a Teacher’s POV: Antero Garcia, an English teacher at Manual Arts High School in South Central Los Angeles, a high poverty school with a dropout rate of more than 60 percent, wrote a thoughtful response to the State of the Union speech, focusing on using digital media to connect with students. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan posted it on the Huffington Post.

While applauding the president’s call to connect “every part of America to the digital age” and to make sure the country is “poised for progress,” Garcia urges policymakers not to forget his students, many of whom have learning needs not being met by traditional educational models. | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning

Little Cyborgs Leave Their Elders in the Dust When it Comes to Technology

Blame the kids. Young people are the foot soldiers in the rise of the machine, according to a report just released by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Their parents -- like all obedient minions younger than 75 -- carry cell phones. But it's the kids who are really taking the robot revolution to the streets with all their fancy-schmancy iPods, iPads and other mobile devices. - ParentDish

5 Alabama police officers fired over beating caught on camera

Five police officers brutally kicked and beat an unconscious suspect after a high-speed chase through Birmingham, Alabama, in an incident caught on camera and discovered a year later.

The five officers have been fired, Mayor Larry Langford said at a news conference Wednesday. An internal inquiry is continuing. - CNN

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Bullying victim meets Eagles, including DeSean Jackson, on 'The View'

The View

The Upper Darby teenager who was bullied and beaten - and the attack videotaped - appeared on ABC's 'The View' on Thursday morning.

There was even a surprise waiting for him at the end of the show - A group of Philadelphia Eagles, including DeSean Jackson, came out to meet the young man! | 6abc.com

RELATED: Watch the full clip of the segment!

Also read:

• Nadin Khoury, Bullied Pennsylvania Teen, Meets DeSean Jackson on "The View"
• Bullied Teen Meets Philadelphia Eagles' Wide Receiver Desean Jackson

15 Surprising Previous Careers of Our Presidents

With so many presidents having had a previous career as lawyers and legal professionals (a whopping 24 out of 44) or military leaders before they entered the political realm, it can be easy to forget that others have held a wide range of careers before entering the White House. From working in fields to entertaining audiences at the movies, the variety of careers held by these leaders just goes to show that anyone with the ambition, intelligence and charisma can be President if they set their mind to it– no matter where they started out in life. | Career Overview

Jimmy Carter, Peanut Farmer Ronald Reagan, Actor Lyndon Johnson, Teacher Herbert Hoover, Engineer Warren Harding, Newspaper Publisher and Editor Andrew Johnson, Tailor Abraham Lincoln, Postmaster John F. Kennedy, Journalist Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of Columbia University Harry Truman, Men's Clothing Retailer James Garfield, School Teacher and Minister Chester Arthur, Tax Collector Grover Cleveland, Sheriff Theodore Roosevelt, Rancher Woodrow Wilson, Professor and President of Princeton

Children should be banned from having TV in their bedroom, Play School presenter Floella Benjamin tells Lords

 

The Government and broadcasters should wake up to the 'crisis' in children's television, former Play School presenter Floella Benjamin said today.

Baroness Benjamin called for 'creative' ways of funding high-quality programmes for pre-school children and said she would ban television sets in children's bedrooms.

She contrasted educational programmes such as Play School with those which encourage 'passive viewing and are used as surrogate parents or baby-sitters'.  | Mail Online

Cutting out some suspect foods could help calm ADHD children

 

Children with ADHD should be tried on special diets to trace foods that may trigger disruptive behaviour, doctors claim.

They say diet should come before drugs, such as Ritalin, that are often prescribed to calm hyperactivity at school.

Research shows restricting the range of foods given to children with ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – can lead to significantly better behaviour.  | Mail Online

Authorities: Superbowl Draws Pimps, Child Prostitutes

The hype and hoopla of the Super Bowl is never just about the game, but includes the half-time show and of course, the commercials. One media campaign looking to draw attention this year is called "It's Not My Fault" and it is aimed at women and girls and boys who have been, or are being, trafficked for sex. Host Michel Martin speaks with Jessica Richardson, who was trafficked as a teenager and now works to reach other victims, and Maria Trujillo, executive director of the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition. PLEASE BE ADVISED: This conversation has sensitive, graphic language that may not be appropriate for some listeners.

Authorities: Superbowl Draws Pimps, Child Prostitutes : NPR

Segregating Black Students For Their Own Sake

Two similar, and very telling, stories about Black students and how reverse integration would be beneficial to their academic achievement were published this week. Recently, the Oakland school district in California released data on the achievement of its black male students as part of its African-American male achievement initiative. The data showed a population which is missing more than 18 days of school on average and lagging gravely behind white males in English and Math. What was most interesting about this report, published in San Jose Mercury News for one, is the remarks left by a few of the commenters, which included:

Gee Yu: “The difference with the schools then and now is that we had black teachers in our schools. … We hired local teachers from the local colleges who had roots in the community…”

Segregating Black Students For Their Own Sake

Group Releases Hidden Tapes of Planned Parenthood

By ERIK ECKHOLM

An anti-abortion group seeking to discredit Planned Parenthood released an undercover video on Tuesday that appears to show a clinic manager advising a sex trafficker how to get medical care for prostitutes as young as 14.

In a statement responding to the video, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America said that immediately after the “highly unusual” visit to a clinic in Perth Amboy, N.J., by a man posing as a sex trafficker and a woman posing as a prostitute, it had notified legal authorities.

NYTimes.com

Energy Drinks Are Cause for Concern, Scientists Say

By JANE E. BRODY

The researchers noted that the drinks contain high levels of caffeine and warned that certain susceptible people risk dangerous, even life-threatening, effects on blood pressure, heart rate and brain function.

The authors noted that “four documented cases of caffeine-associated death have been reported, as well as five separate cases of seizures associated with consumption of energy/power drinks.” Additional reports include an otherwise healthy 28-year-old man who suffered a cardiac arrest after a day of motocross racing; a healthy 18-year-old man who died playing basketball after drinking two cans of Red Bull; and four cases of mania experienced by individuals known to have bipolar disorder.

NYTimes.com

Don’t Miss the Signs Your Teen May Be Contemplating Suicide

By Dr. Mercola

Teen Suicide is a Blend of Biological, Emotional, Spiritual and Social Factors

A rather new question that further adds to the tragic nature of many of these cases is: What role do antidepressants play in shaping this trend?

As more and more teens are prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs and drugs for ADD/ADHD, suicide rates have gone up rather than decreased. I'll explore this particular facet of this troubling trend in a moment.

Don’t Miss the Signs Your Teen May Be Contemplating Suicide

Do You Make This Common Mistake When Your Child is Sick?

 

Fever is one of the prime reasons that parents call their children's doctors, and it is true that any fever in an infant younger than 3 months is cause for major concern, as there is a risk of serious bacterial infections. Also, a child who has a seizure with fever should be checked by a physician, at least the first time.

However, fever is actually a signal that an immune system is working well and in older children who do not appear to be particularly distressed, fever is a positive sign. It is evidence that the child has an active immune system. Fever does not harm your brain or your body, although it does increase your need for fluids.

Do You Make This Common Mistake When Your Child is Sick?

Are MMR vaccines dangerous for children? Dr Suzanne Humphries urges parents to get informed

 

Are routine vaccines dangerous for children? Dr Suzanne Humphries, a practicing nephrologist (kidney physician) says the vaccine industry isn't giving people both sides of the story, and parents need to get informed before subjecting their children to vaccines that can potentially cause serious harm or even death.
It's all being revealed in a one-hour NaturalNews interview with Dr Suzanne Humphries. You can view the entire interview on NaturalNews.TV at: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=BAE7F...

Are MMR vaccines dangerous for children? Dr Suzanne Humphries urges parents to get informed

Chemicals in soap can harm children

by: David Gutierrez

The active ingredient in antibacterial soap may produce allergies in children, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and published in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives."
The chemical, known as triclosan, has previously been implicated in immune system dysfunction and in disruption of the hormonal system (endocrine disruption). It can also react with the chlorine in tap water to produce carcinogenic dioxins.

Chemicals in soap can harm children

Inaugural Installment of The Root's Young Futurists Honors 25 African American Leaders, Ages 16-21

  The Root, the premier black news and commentary site, announced today its first-ever edition of The Root's Young Futurists, an exclusive list that spotlights 25 outstanding individuals, ages 16-21, whose active ambition to change the world leaves them poised to become the African-American innovators of tomorrow. The Root's 2011 Young Futurist list is sponsored exclusively by AT&T and will be featured throughout Black History Month.

BlackNews.com

Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2010: Affordable, safe, and family-friendly

By Prashant Gopal

Affordable, safe, and family-friendly

It's time for BusinessWeek's annual ranking of the best places to raise your kids.
As we did last year, we teamed up with OnBoard Informatics, a New York-based provider of real estate analysis, to select one town and two runners-up for each of the 50 states. The selections were limited to towns that have at least 45,000 residents and a median income of between $40,000 and $125,000. Vermont was given a pass on the population restrictions because none of its cities would otherwise have made the cut.

Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2010: Affordable, safe, and family-friendly - BusinessWeek

Gardasil Vaccine Guards Against HPV in Boys

By Amanda Gardner 

A large international trial finds that the Gardasil vaccine shields young men from human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as it protects young women.

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women, but also has been linked to penile cancer and other malignancies in men.

Gardasil Vaccine Guards Against HPV in Boys

A Teen on the Fuel-Efficient Fast Track

By: Cynthia Gordy

Brandon Ford, 18, is a member of Hybrid X, a student organization at West Philadelphia High School dedicated to innovative car engineering. When President Barack Obama said, "We need to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world," during his 2011 State of the Union address, he was talking about the innovative spirit shown by Hybrid X.  Read more…

Three children's books recommended for Black History Month

What could a biography of a champion fighter, a fictional story based on the childhood of one of America's most famous 20th-century authors and a tale of a slave who bakes bread that allows for time travel possibly have in common?

For one, each book features a well-told story that will have you turning page after page. But beyond being good books, each of these stories can also tell you a little about black Americans and their experiences - some happy, some not so - in this country. Because February is Black History Month, we thought we would share these suggestions for books that will entertain and teach. Read more...

8-Year-Olds on Cholesterol Meds? Is Big Pharma Pumping Kids Full of Dangerous Drugs?

 

Since pharma discovered the ka-ching in pediatric pharmacology, millions of kids are on ADHD meds and other mental drugs for conduct disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, mixed manias, social phobia, anxiety, and assorted "spectrum" disorders.

But according to new data from IMS health in a Wall Street Journal article, just as many kids are being treated for non-psychiatric conditions that are often "adult diseases." | AlterNet

Egypt’s Alexandria Library chief thanks youth for protection

The director of Alexandria’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina Ismail Serageldin thanked Egyptian youth for helping to protect the iconic building in the northern coastal town as protests in the city and across the country continue.

Serageldin wrote: “The world has witnessed an unprecedented popular action in the streets of Egypt. Led by Egypt’s youth, with their justified demands for more freedom, more democracy, lower prices for necessities and more employment opportunities. - Bikya Masr