Author: Edie Okamoto

  • Enjoy Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha at the Art + Soul Celebration on July 27, 2019

    https://www.riovida.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Join Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha on Saturday July 27,2019 Oakland Art + Soul
    “Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha”

    July 12, 2019, 12th & Clay Street, Oakland, CA, Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha will perform at the Oakland Art + Soul Festival, on Saturday 27th at 5pm. You will find their performance at the Art & Soul: Victor McElhaney Emerging Artists Stage on 12th and Clay which is west of Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and easily reachable with public transportation. See entire line up here.

    The Oakland Art + Soul Festival is an annual tradition to celebrate art, music, great food and the Oakland Spirit. The festival brings together a wide range of musical performers, artists, dancers, and vendors to create one of the West Coast’s best city wide celebrations. It features 4 stages, dance areas, and a sea of food vendors including Jambalaya, Gumbo, Crawfish Etoufee Catfish, Snapper, Oysters, Crab Cakes, Shrimp, Hush Puppies, Remoulade Sauce Ethiopian Cuisine Fried Chicken Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Pakoras Pork, Chicken or Veggie Lumpia Hawaiian BBQ, Malasadas Tri Tip and Sausage Sandwiches, Smoked Turkey Legs, Jerk Chicken, Funnel Cake, Jazzy Juice Drinks and much more.

    Jonah Melvon and his sister Adesha are born and raised in Oakland. Their success is based on their world-class talent and their commitment to positivity whether that is at their performances, community involvement, or sharing the positive and mellow soul spirit internationally. Their music can be found on Spotify or Soundcloud.

    Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha are taking the world with their breezy sound and intelligent lyrics.

    Aside of Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha’s songs about truth, love songs, that include the city, relationships, love for parents, clear communication, and the importance of the wider community to forge content lives.

    Jonah Melvon and his sister Adesha lift the spirit with their intelligent and fun lyrics and smooth soul music; using socially conscious rap lyrics to spread love and joy from their soul.

    Jonah Melvon is dedicated to “Bridging the Gap” and Equity for all!

    Jonah Melvon featuring Adesha will perform as the headliners for the Art + Soul Emerging Artists Stage

    In Memory of Victor McElhaney

    Art + Soul has partnered with Angela Wellman, Founding Director of the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPC), to present two days of music performed by emerging artists in loving memory of the late Victor McElhaney, son of Oakland City Councilmember Lynette McElhaney. An immensely talented drummer, Victor joined the OPC musical family at age 10 and was a founding member of the Frederick Douglass Youth Ensemble, the organization’s pre-professional ensemble that debuted at Art + Soul in 2009. Confirmed headliners include Jonah Melvon and Adesha ─ R&B/conscious hip hop artists and siblings from Oakland on Saturday ─ and Victor’s Village, a special showcase featuring musicians who loved and worked with Victor, curated by Bay Area hip hop artists SOL Development on Sunday. Performances on the Emerging Artists Stage will take place both days of the festival, also featuring Union de la Bahia, Ajai Kasim, Sean Huang Ensemble,and The Void on Saturday; Barbara Deveaux, Genius Wesley, Jayla Hernandez,and Oaktown Jazz Workshop on Sunday. A separate announcement about this new festival stage with more details on the artists will be issued soon.

    Art + Soul Oakland 2019 takes place in downtown Oakland Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28, from noon to 6 p.m., centered in and around Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. Advance tickets are available for purchase online for just $12 Adults and $6 Seniors (65 & older). Festivalgoers can save even more with two-day tickets available through advance purchase only. At the door, admission will be $15 Adults and $9 Seniors (65 & older). Ages 18 and under enjoy free admission (no ticket required).

    Art + Soul Oakland 2019 is Northern California’s most accessible festival with direct service via both BART’s 12th Street City Center station and AC Transit, in addition to $5 parking in the adjacent City Center West Garage, 12th Street at Martin Luther King Jr., Way. Free attended bicycle parking will be available (please bring your own lock).

    About us and how to get in touch for further conversations, interviews, etc.:

    The Oakland Art + Soul Festival one of the top highlights of the SF Bay Area Summer.

    To learn more about the Oakland Art + Soul Festival please contact Samee Roberts 510.550.4804, ext. 1| sameeroberts@heartofthetownevents.org

    To learn more about the Oakland Art + Soul Festival’ Emerging Artist Stage in honor of the late Victor McElhaney, son of Oakland City Councilmember Lynette McElhaney please contact Angela Wellman 510-836-4649 | amwellman2@gmail.com

    To learn more about Jonah Melvon and the Rainwater Project, please visit his website at https://www.jonahmelvon.com/

    See you at the show! To set up an appointment for an interview or requests for additional materials with the label, photos, video links, etc. please text Edie Okamoto, Media Relations, at 510-693-0166 or facebook or linked in or reach out at edie.okamoto@gmail.com.

    About the Rainwater Project

    You can hear the music on Spotify or purchase them on Amazon.

    Please join our list of sponsors who like you believe that education and better paying jobs are the answer to a higher standard of living for all. #Equity

    Sponsored by Riovida Networks: RioVida Networks brings causes, celebrities, music, film makers, artist and corporations together for mutual benefit. www.riovida.net

    HOTT is an Oakland-based 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the region’s economic and cultural landscape through marketing,public relations, event production, and operational support for area arts, civic, and community organizations.www.heartofthetownevents.org

    Vigilint Biosensors Logo - for www.vigilint.store

    Sponsored by Vigilint Biosensors: Keeping Families together 24/7 – digitally. www.vigilint.store

  • Word Class Author & Speaker Whitney Vosburgh (“Work The Future Today”) to Host “Change Yourself, Change the World” Workshops: August 10-11th & 17-18th in Berkeley, CA

    Change Yourself, Change the World by Visionary Speaker and Author, Whitney Vosburgh.

    In response to a growing call, visionary author and business leader Whitney Vosburgh will be leading two fun, highly interactive weekend workshops in Berkeley, California in August 10-11th and 17-18th.

    These workshops will guide you, together with a select number of participants, through the process of awakening to your unique gifts, identifying your “North Star” for a sense of purpose and creating a personalized action-focused pathway that enables you to head into 2020 with enhanced vision and enthusiasm at work and in life.

    Each of these two “Change Yourself, Change the World” weekend workshops will take the principles and framework featured in Vosburgh’s two books and provide an immersive experience designed to transform the lives of participants. These inspiring and insightful new books co-authored with Dr. Charlie Grantham — “WORK THE FUTURE! TODAY: Finding your path to purpose, passion and profit” and the accompanying workbook, “WORK THE FUTURE! TODAY 2019 POCKET PAL: A faster path to purpose, passion and profit” — have received praise from a wide spectrum of leaders and readers in the pursuit of regenerative business growth that also provides purpose and meaning.

    Sign up soon places are going fast!  Your $300 dollars for this workshop is an investment in your personal growth as well as your career. You will leave with a deeper understanding how to achieve your own preferred work/life balance.

    For more information about these workshops, visit: https://bit.ly/2Yn4KYn and https://bit.ly/2XkMVbd, and to learn more about Whitney Vosburgh’s “Work The Future! Today” books, visit: http://www.workthefuture.today

    Work the Future Today book and Pocket Pal editions

    Enjoy your life and future!

    If you can’t attend in August check back at www.workthefuture.today regularly. And, you can buy the books on Amazon or Amazon2

    About the Workshop Leaders

    Whitney Vosburgh, Change Yourself, Change the World Host

    Whitney Vosburgh is co-founder of WORK THE FUTURE! TODAY, a social venture that offers vision, leadership and solutions for maximizing personal, organizational and societal potential, and co-founder of Brand New Purpose, a brand transformation consultancy that creates purpose-built, value-driven opportunities. He is also a consulting Chief Marketing Officer and change agent for Fortune 20 companies and Silicon Valley startups, guiding over $20+ billion worth of M&A, IPOs, sales, pivots and launches. Whitney graduated with an M.A. in Religious Leadership for Social Change from Graduate Theological Union, and with a B.F.A. from Parsons School of Design in New York City. His expertise on the Future of Work has been featured in four books, including a bestseller by Dan Pink, and in “Conscious Company” magazine. When Whitney is not focusing on business consulting, speaking and writing, he can be found making art, which has been exhibited throughout the world. His Tweets can be found at: @brandguru

    Marcus Druen, Change Yourself, Change the World Workshop Leader.

    Marcus Druen is an expert on individual and business transformation, and has led hundreds of workshops focusing on empowerment and transformation in over 20 countries. His consulting firm, Audacify, is based in the UK. He shares Whitney Vosburgh’s commitment to restore the sense of “shared humanity” to the workplace, at this time when the move to de-personalized “digitization” is proceeding with alarming speed. He also shares the belief that all change begins within each individual. Marcus is a graduate of Cologne Business School.

    For more information about these workshops, visit: https://bit.ly/2Yn4YKn and https://bit.ly/2XkMVbd, and to learn more about Whitney Vosburgh’s “Work The Future! Today” books, visit: http://www.workthefuture.today

  • Keith Okie & Rebel Sol are expanding their national tour.

    Keith Okie & Rebel Sol are expanding their national tour.

    by Keith Okie
    Keith Okie (middle) and Rebel Sol members Jason Teague, and Thomas “Doc” Glendenning

    The music of Rebel Sol comes from a deep spiritual desire to shine light and love on the world. Not just your average party band; these guys serve a higher purpose. They know the true power of love and walk through life in awareness of the strength that comes from the musical gifts that have been bestowed upon them.

    This vibration shines through in the music. It encourages us to care for one another, to live in harmony with our families and community, to dissolve mental and spiritual boundaries and to break the bonds of conditioning that bind us as individuals and a society.

    Rebel Sol reminds us that even after the darkest night, the sun always rises, the light will always shine and that the universe is an infinitely wonderful place.

    Upcoming Tour Dates:

    SATURDAY JUL. 6, 2019 at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff AZ.
    Keith Okie & Friends with special guests Zoe and Petey of Kill Babylon Coalition 
    “Southwest Acoustic Reggae Showcase” 
    Doors at 8 pm 
    Show at 9 pm 
    $5 at the door 
    https://www.orpheumflagstaff.com/  

    This is one of the biggest and best local theaters here in northern Arizona. Great spot! They actually sought us out on this one to put a show together for their fourth of July weekend series.

    THURSDAY, JUL. 18th, 2019 at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, AZ.
    Toots and the Maytals with Keith Okie & Rebel Sol and others.
    Doors at 6
    Show at 7
    $33 (or $20 presales from opening bands)
    https://www.marqueetheatreaz.com/

    Toots and the Maytals are one of the all-time greatest reggae bands ever. Toots Hibbert is credited with inventing the word reggae and is one of the most soulful, well-known and prolific artists in reggae history. A real original legend.

    SATURDAY, AUG. 24, 2019 at The Hut in Tucson AZ.
    E.N. Young with Keith Okie & Rebel Sol and ZeeCeeKeely
    Show at 9:30
    $5
    Rebel Sol set is 10:45 to 11:45
    https://www.facebook.com/TheHutTucson/  

    E.N. Young plays with one of the biggest national reggae bands call Tribal Seeds. He also owns a studio called Imperial Sound and a label called Roots Musician Records. Big player in the national reggae scene. Really good music too. Everyone is excited for this one. 

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12th Havasu Landing Tribal Reggae Festival
    Havasu Landing Resort and Casino (on lake Havasu outside of needles, CA)
    Set time and details to follow.
    www.havasulanding.com

    Media Contact: Edie Okamoto at edie.okamoto@riovida.net or 510-693-0166
    Feel free to contact her for any further information, videos, photos and to schedule interviews.

    Keith Okie, spreading love and smiles.

    Booking Contact: Keith Okie

    Email- okiekeith@gmail.com
    Phone- (928)-963-0359

    Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/keithokiemusic
    Instagram – @keithokie
    Soundcloud- http://www.soundcloud.com/keith-okie

  • World Environment Day reminds us of the reason once a year what we should work on each day.

    Whales are endangered due to our careless and feckless behaviors and policies.

    So far in the Western United States scientist of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) shared more whales than ever have died and washed ashore in California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. So far 73 whales have washed up. Whales are dying due to malnutrition and it is suspected that the plastics causes indigestion and the microplastics in the water is damaging their organs. Whales are important to the eco balance of the oceans in ways we don’t even understand fully as yet.

    Microplastics, which are tiny pieces of plastic, no larger than 5 mm, float around in the fill the water at the Monterey Bay according to Anela Choy. “Our findings buttress a growing body of scientific evidence pointing to the waters and animals of the deep sea, Earth’s largest habitat, as the biggest repository of small plastic debris,” said Anela Choy, the lead author of a study paper by the MBARI.

    MBARI’s uses underwater robots to filter plastic particles out of seawater multiple times at two the Monterey Bay and in Moss Landing Harbor at the Pacific Coast of California. The study showed microplastic samples from five to 1,000 meters below the surface. They found identical concentrations of microplastic particles near the surface and in the deepest waters surveyed. However in the mid range, at 200 to 600 meters down, the pollution was 4x higher than at the surface. Shockingly they found that all of the animal specimens they surveyed had internal microplastic.