tavis+talks+newsletter q2 2011

8/6/2019 Tavis+Talks+Newsletter Q2 2011

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

TAVISTALKS.COMENLIGHTEN. ENCOURAGE. EMPOWER.
http://www.tavistalks.com/http://www.tavistalks.com/


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ENLIGHTEN. ENCOURAGE. EMPOWER.

This is quite an exciting time for all of us! This past quarter was lledwith many successes and leads into a very promising third quarter,with opportunities of new partnerships and monumental events on the

horizon. In this issue, it is my goal to better familiarize you with the workthat we do in all of our entities, as well as formally introduce you tothe structure in which they all exist. The Smiley Group, Inc. (TSG) is a

communications corporation established in support of human rights andrelated empowerment issues. TSG serves as the holding company forthe various Smiley enterprises of broadcast and publishing, the speakercircuit, events, and the Internet. Our organizations have a simple andcommon purpose: to Enlighten, Encourage and Empower. We constantlyevolve each organization to better meet our communitys needs through

informative and inspiring media.

2011 has proven to be a very productive year. Along with the launch ofmy newest book, FAIL UP: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure,and the extremely positive feedback received from our America I AM

Exhibit in Washington DC, I just wrapped up my PBS Tour, where I hostednversations in different cities. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling and meeting with folks from all over theuntry! In case you missed the tour, click here to review some of the highlights from the various stopsng the way.

October 2010, I had the distinguished pleasure of traveling to China with The Committee of 100adership Delegation for distinguished journalists. After interacting with the people, engaging in theirstoms and learning their history, I felt compelled to bring my staff so they could revel in the experiencewell. In keeping step with our mission, TSG, accompanied by my dear brother Dr. Cornel West,veled to China on May 26, 2011. While the initial purpose of the trip was to tape my PBS show, Iered my staff a unique opportunity to tour the cities of Beijing and Shanghai so they, too, would returnimpacted as I was. During the course of our trip, we visited the Great Wall, Imperial Palace and many

er wonderful landmarks. We also had the opportunity to celebrate Dr. Wests 58th birthday while inanghai. I hope you enjoy the photos from the staff. Our trip was truly transforming, and I believe ourtire staff would agree with the sentiment that it fell right in place with our desire to leave legacies ande purposeful existences. The special is scheduled to air from July 11, 2011, through July 15, 2011, on

nightly talk show on PBS.

etter from Tavis
http://www.tavistalks.com/http://www.tavissmileyfailup.com/http://www.tavissmileyfailup.com/http://www.tavistalks.com/


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etter from Tavis [continued]

he theme for this year has been the celebration of my milestone achievements in broadcasting. Itsrd to believe, but November 6, 2011, marks the actual 20th anniversary of my career in broadcasting!om my humble beginnings in Indiana to being recognized as a TIME 100 Most Inuential, my careers been focused on enlightening, encouraging and empowering audiences worldwide with an arraythought-provoking and stimulating content. I am extremely excited to announce my 20th Year

lebration, a televised event to take place on Friday, October 28, 2011, in which all proceeds from theent will benet my nonprot Tavis Smiley Foundation. Stay tuned for further announcements once all of

e details are nalized, and please feel free to share this information amongst your family and friends.


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e stars continue to align and shine on Tavis Smiley! We kicked off the second quarter of our eighthason by continuing to challenge our viewers with our slogan of EXPECT MORE!

d more is exactly what you can expect from our program.

gendary talk-show host Larry King stopped by to sit in the host seat to interview me on the topic ofhieving success through failure. Twenty years in the broadcasting industry comes full circle the nightmeone with over 50 years in the business interviews you on YOUR program regarding your new book,

IL UP: 20 Lessons on Building Success from Failure. King appeared for two back-to-back nights ofvealing conversation.

en we took the show on the road to New York City and the country of China.

New York, we sat down with some noted guests, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg,mer CBS News anchor Katie Couric, philanthropist George Soros and lmmaker Harvey Weinstein. Ourow was mentioned in several media outlets: The New York Times, New York Post, PEOPLE.com, CBS,C News and MSNBC.

ross the Pacic in China, we lmed TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS which will air for ve nights, beginningy 11.

d of course, weve kept the beat going with our recent musical guests: Bootsy Collins, k.d. lang, Barryanilow and Lenny Kravitz.

ank you for your continued support of Tavis Smiley on PBS. Keep the Faith!


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wind...ly enjoyed touring cities across the county. My primary goal for the tour

s to engage in thought-provoking dialogue with my friends. After visitingcities, I felt the love and positive energy from the people I love. In a fewes, some of my dear friends, such as Aretha Franklin, Thomas Hitman

arns and comedian Paul Mooney, showed up to support me. If you

sed it, Paul did a mini-comedy skit during the Q&A that was hilarious!ank you for the wonderful conversation and allowing me the opportunityhare my thoughts with you. If you missed the tour, please visit my Web site and check out the photos

m the events.

oking ahead...ve the summer months there are so many exciting events to attend. From music concerts to family

nions, you can always nd the right place to escape. This summer, I will be attending several events,uding the Essence Music Festival, the Black Baptist Convention and of course the Kappa Convention

my hometown of Indiana. Im looking forward to hearing some great music and meeting some fabulousple!

October, I will be celebrating my 20th year in broadcasting! Time surely ies when youre doing whatlove! Please stay tuned for upcoming announcements at tavissmiley20year (link to site) for detailedrmation. So get ready and stay tuned!

er completing a fantastic run in Washington DC, America I AM: The African American Imprint is nowopen in St. Louis through September 25. The exhibit is trulyamazing and celebrates nearly 500 years of African Americancontributions to America. America I AM presents pivotalmoments in courage and creativity as well as celebrates the

undeniable imprint of African Americans on the United States.For more information, please visit AmericaIAM.org.

Wheres Tavis
http://www.tavistalks.com/http://www.americaiam.org/http://www.americaiam.org/http://www.tavistalks.com/


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As we reach the midpoint of 2011, The Tavis Smiley Show continues to bring listeners the latest andhottest news, stories and entertainment each week. We kicked off this spring with music icon ArethaFranklin and political activist Angela Davis, who headlined our second annual Womens History Month

program. Broadcasting legend Phil Donahue made a return

to radio to take over The Tavis Smiley Show for a week back

in May. Then, for the rst time in his 20 years in broadcasting,Tavis sat down with singer/songwriter Barry Manilow to talkabout the release of the entertainers rst album in 10 years.

Other highlights on the program this spring included: coverageof Japans 9.0 earthquake; Osama Bin Ladens death; AnthonyWeiners political scandal; Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz;

CBS News correspondent Jeff Greeneld and actor HarryBelafonte.

In the fall, with the 2012 presidential elections a year away,

you can expect The Tavis Smiley Show to stay on top of whatshappening in the world of politics and how it will affect everyday Americans. To check your local listingsand for broadcast times, go to www.tavissmileyradio.com.

Until then, thanks for listening and as always...keep the faith!

The Tavis Smiley Showfrom PRI


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Smiley & West has beenon the move. We movedinto the Houston market,where we are now heardeach Saturday on KUHF88.7 FM. While Smiley was

on the move for his Fail Up! book tour, we recorded aspecial program from New York City. Smiley & Westalso celebrated their journey to China with a one-hour radio special, which featured: New York TimesShanghai bureau chief David Barboza and American-born media mogul Andrew Ballen, both of whomprovided unique insights into life, culture and politicsn China; the dean of Beijings top high school taking

both of them to task for Americas foreign policy towardChina; the origin of the term Gung Ho, which meansworking together in harmony; highlights from the dayhey danced on the Great Wall to One Nation Under

A Groove; and migrant schoolchildren near Shanghaisinging Happy Birthday to West. For more informationon Smiley & West, visit www.smileyandwest.com.

Smiley & Westfrom PRI
http://www.tavistalks.com/http://www.smileyandwest.com/http://www.smileyandwest.com/http://www.smileyandwest.com/http://www.tavistalks.com/


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s past second quarter, social media has been the driving force behind most

what goes on in Smiley World. Social media has not only kept viewers,eners and followers in the know with events around the country, but haso helped disseminate commentary on todays most pressing issues.

ghlights include inspirational anecdotes from the latest SmileyBooks releaseAILUP and top tweets. We also reveled in the joy of surpassing the 100,000ower mark on Twitter. Please follow Tavis on Twitter by searching - @visSmiley, or like his page on Facebook: http://facebook.com/tavistalks.m.

ocial Media
http://www.tavistalks.com/http://facebook.com/tavistalks.com.http://facebook.com/tavistalks.com.http://facebook.com/tavistalks.com.http://facebook.com/tavistalks.com.http://www.tavistalks.com/


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gh Quality Speakers Bureau is moving in positive new directions and we owe it all to you! As we getck into the swing of things and recoup from our enlightening trip to China, we still have plenty to focus..

tional Diversity Awareness Month

ring the month of October, many people gather across the country to celebrate National Diversity

wareness Month. National Diversity Awareness Month is a time to celebrate and embrace whoare, despite our differences. No matter what race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age,

tionality or disability, it is also a time to reect and learn about different cultures and ideologies.ost of our prominent speakers have spoken about diversity issues domestically and abroad. Withtional Diversity Awareness Month quickly approaching, HQSB is looking forward to representing ourwerhouse speakers at events across the nation.

ection Season is Hereth the advent of the 2012 election season, two of Americas most inuential and provocative publicures, Tavis Smley and Dr. Cornel West, are bringing their highly respected Smiley & West radio

nversations from the airwaves to the stage. Smiley and West are visiting college campuses acrosse country to conduct informed dialogue and candid conversation about the issues that matter most toose who matter most: we the people! From race and class to war and our nations anemic economy,miley and West are prepared to take any and all to task who are implicated in the issues. The12 presidential race is shaping up to be one of the most politically charged, exciting and potentially

ocking campaigns ever. You do not want to miss the Smiley & West duo as they bring thought-ovoking, intelligent and stimulating conversations to your community. Contact HQSB today for bookingormation.

igh Quality Speakers Bureau


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WIND & FAST FORWARD

e are pleased to announce that through our Viewer Support Page, we have been able to make historyre at Tavis Smiley on PBS! Your generous support has touched me in ways I cannot put into words.th your continued support, we can continue to in this most multicultural and multiethnic America mpel people to reexamine the assumptions they hold as well as expand their inventory of ideas.

wind...

ambassadors for our viewing audience, we took a bite out of the Big Apple with an amazing lineuphistory-making guests the entire last week of April. We began the week with an exclusive interviewh Katie Couric as she spoke candidly about her exit from CBS News. We nished the week off withpiring conversations from Robert Battle, the Artistic Director at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and Dr.alil Gibran Muhammad, Director at the Schomburg Center.

derstanding that there are emerging markets that have a tangible impact on our culture, your targetedancial support enabled us to take the team to China and explore its landscape on a variety of levels.

r experience was captured on video and is scheduled to air the week of July 11.

st forward...

e look forward to you being a part of the amazing lineup of topical issues that affect all Americans.ur generous support via our Viewer Support Page ensures the quality and primetime placement of

ese specials, which affect the lives of everyday Americans.

ajor Gifts and Strategic Partnerships


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ew youth council set to meet delegates at Leadership Institute

When the Leadership Institute program opens this summer, youthattendees will not only have a chance to hear from great speakers; theyalso will meet the 12 teen leaders working behind the scenes to make theconference happen.

In March, the Foundation tapped a new team of young people who willserve for the next three years on its National Youth Advisory Council. Thestudents, all alumni of the Leadership Institute, were selected based ontheir outstanding leadership skills, academic achievement and community

ervice. As council members, they serve as special ambassadors for the Foundation and help organizend implement the Leadership Institute.

he members are: Amber Murray (Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, CA); Maxine Dior Chapman (Soutills High School, Covina, CA); McKenzie Conner (Towson High School, Randallstown, MD); Camille

onseca (Crossroads High School, Santa Monica, CA); EJ Fortenberry (Crossroads High School, Santaonica, CA); and Lamar Howard (Long Beach Poly High, Long Beach, CA).

he other members are: Samaiya Hoyle (Long Beach Poly High, Long Beach, CA); George Kilpatrick IIIDeWitt High School, DeWitt, NY); Anthony Perry (St. Francis High School, Louisville, KY); Sadiyah SabreThe Agnes Irwin School, Philadelphia, PA); Kaya Savannah (Houston Academy for International Studies,ouston, TX); and Ronald Taylor (Holy Trinity Diocesan, Hempstead, NY).

2003 when the Tavis Smiley Foundation organized its rst National Leadership Summit, 24 high schoolnd college students were tapped to form what was called the National Leadership Summit Planningommittee.

avis Smiley Foundation


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th support from the Foundation staff, the students implemented a summit that brought together 600ung people for a ve-day conference. Now eight years later, 64 college and high school students haverved on what is now known as the National Youth Advisory Council. And key elements from the summitat the young leaders created still exist inside the Institute, mainly its focus on a youth-led, adult-supported

odel of leadership development.

e objective was to identify young leaders from the Foundations existing pool of alumni and provide them

h an expanded opportunity to increase their leadership skills in the areas of critical thinking, projectnning, advanced advocacy and service.

entifying young leaders is one thing, but giving them an opportunity to demonstrate and test their skills asders really allows us to fulll our mission.

t surprising, the young people who have served on thisuncil have done great work, but what is even more exciting is

at the experience they gain gives them a framework for otherportunities as a result of being on the council.

r example, past member Ginene Lewis graduated Phi Betappa from Spelman College. She is now in her third year of

w school and serves on the board of directors of the YWCAPhiladelphia. Elicia Azali, a graduate of The Ohio Stateiversity, serves on the Foundations board of directors.

cholas Hall, a student at Vanderbilt and past president of the

08 council, was selected as one of 12 students to participate in the Institute for Responsible Citizenship

C). It is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive programs for African American males.

the 64 students who have participated as council members, all have graduated high school and 39 havew completed college; and 12 are in their junior or senior year of college. On the current council, three ofe 12 members will enter college in the fall.

avis Smiley Foundation [continued]


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April and May, I worked tirelessly on a whirlwind 10-city tour to promote Fail Up: 20 Lessons on Building

ccess from Failure. To kick off the tour, on my PBS show Larry King turned the tables and interviewede in two special episodes. I also appeared on many national and local media shows for two weeks duringe tour, which included 35 radio show appearances, including NPRs All Things Considered and Tell Meore programs. I also appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, Morning Joe, The Today Show, The Joyhar Show, Newsroom with Kyra Phillips, and dozens of other TV programs. Sixty-ve Web sites featuredl Up and the tour, while 15 traditional print publications, including the New York Post and Philadelphiauirer, did so as well. In each tour city, I discussed the powerful stories of Fail Up with live audiences

ross the nation.

er making it to number one on the New York Times best-seller list in the Advice and How To category,ace From Broken Pieces, by Iyanla Vanzant, remained on the list for four additional weeks. Iyanla has

mained in demand following her two-part reunion on Oprah, including speaking engagements around theuntry, joining Tom Joyners Fantastic Voyage Cruise, becoming a regular host on Hay House radio, andning Michael Baisden on air to talk about relationships. She recently spoke to Michel Martin about what

e end of Oprahs program signies.

mileyBooks is thrilled to be part of the 2011 Essence Music Festivals Empowerment Series. Ill be

oderating the rst-ever SmileyBooks author panel on American I AM: The African America Imprint, whichludes authors Tom Burrell, Chef Jeff Henderson, Iyanla Vanzant and Dr. Cornel West. Iyanla will also bert of Fridays empowerment lineup to present Coming Home: The Message You Are Waiting to Hear.

ef Jeff Henderson is poised and ready to promote the America I AM Collection, including the AmericaM: Pass It Down Cookbook, at latest stop on the America I AM: The African American Imprint exhibitSt. Louis. Artwork featuring our book covers will be on tabletop display in the gift shop, highlighting the

merica I AM collection that allows museum goers to take the exhibit home.

August 10, my dear friend Dr. Cornel West and I will interview living legend Dr. Gardner C. Taylor,ounder of the Progressive National Baptist Convention with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. Taylors newok, Faith in the Fire, celebrates his legacy of contribution, service and activism. This occasion will marke 50th anniversary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

mileyBooks

tavis+talks+newsletter q2 2011

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