DIONNE WARWICK RECEIVES NBLCA AWARD FROM VIRGINA C. FIELDS AT THE FORUM 3, THEMBALETHU BEADER CAMPAIGN PHOTO SHOOT

On July 9^th Dionne Warwick, former Health Ambassador for the Reagan administration and current US Ambassador of the 46664 Nelson Mandela Foundation received an award from the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. at the FORUM 3 photo shoot for THE THEMBALETHU BEADER CAMPAIGN in collaboration w/COVER GIRLS FOR CHANGE at 16 Beaver Studio in New York City.

L to R: Richard E. Pelzer II, Tamecca Tillard, Virgina C. Fields, Dionne Warwick, Camille Evans & Phillip A. Hilton
Photos Courtesy of Steven Littles for Swollen Eye Productions

In addition to Ms. Warwick photo participants included President of NBCLA Virginia C. Fields and NBCLA VP for Administration Phillip A. Hilton along with the producers of the campaign Camille Evans, Richard Pelzer and Tamecca Tillard of Forum 3.  Ms. Warwick an ardent fighter of HIV/AIDS and pioneer within the Black community for promoting health reform and awareness of this disease has joined forces with several Celebrity, fashion, and film notables to produce two photo shoots, which will be the catalyst for a global human rights campaign in an effort to bring economic stability, health reform and awareness to women’s rights starting in South Africa which has the highest rate of HIV in the world.

Proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Thembalethu Beaders.  www.thembalethubeaders.org

FORUM 3 is a philanthropic entertainment and media company devoted to producing public good and innovation. FORUM 3 (created by Tamecca Tillard, Richard E. Pelzer II & Camille Evans) leverages every facet of pop culture, celebrity and media relations to spark social movements, to ignite dialogue and debates about pressing policy and to influence and mobilize the masses. When we are not producing campaigns or investing in social ventures, we are helping corporations and organizations embrace, devise, fulfill, measure and evaluate their ethical commitments to people, planet and profit.

Contributing Sponsors: MEGA Management, CME Group, Element 9, 16 Beaver Studio, K&M Rentals, Go Studios, Zephra Magazine,  Steven Littles

Semenya Smiling Despite a Scandal

Runner Ignores Gender Scandal, Gets a Glam Makeover
By Emerald Catron

In a perfect world, you'd know Caster Semenya as the teenage woman who can run half a mile in under two minutes. What you probably know her as is the athlete whose muscular physique prompted officials to order a test to verify her gender. But her femininity isn't a question at all in the "after" shots of her makeover from South African magazine You.

Smiling Despite a Scandal

The makeover proved to be a learning experience for Semenya, 18, who admits she doesn't know how to put on makeup. The photo shoots also gave her the rare opportunity to get dressed up, something a girl who's in school and race training doesn't get the chance to do very often. Says Semenya, "I didn't do this to prove a point but rather to have fun. I don't give a damn what people say about me. I like me the way I am, and who cares what other people say?"

Regardless of the controversy, South Africa has embraced its daughter since she took gold in the 800-meter race at the World Championships in Germany last month, She even met with Nelson Mandela, who praised her.

Click here to read the entire story: Lemondrop.com by Emerald Catron