Who Could Replace Charlie Rose?

Mother Jones Editor-in-Chief Clara Jeffrey tweeted that it would be "a great idea to offer the spot to one of the many competent, successful female journalists working today. ELLE suggested 10 Women Who Could Replace Charlie Rose.

One of their nominations is Soledad O’Brien who they describe as "a seasoned anchor and correspondent, having appeared on MSNBC, CNN, HBO, and NBC, as well as her current show, Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien. She also serves as the CEO of Starfish Media Group, a media production and distribution company."

Who Shot Biggie & Tupac? Airs Sunday

The story of Tupac Shakur's mysterious death was covered in Snapped: Notorious, a documentary that aired September 10. On Sunday, September 24 a Tupac documentary on FOX hosted by Ice-T and Soledad O'Brien, Who Shot Biggie & Tupac?, will also detail the circumstances of these events.

The rappers were gunned down within months of each other in the late 1990s. Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on Sept. 13, 1996. Biggie, born Christopher George Latore Wallace, was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997.

20 years since the second murder and no one has been held accountable.

There have been rumors of police corruption, gang connections and a East vs. West rap rivalry, but both murders remain officially unsolved.

The special will reveal new details of the investigation. It includes interviews with former private investigators, police officers, informants and hip-hop insiders. There is an on-camera reunion between Lil’ Cease and E.D.I. Mean, who will talk about the friendship between the two rappers. An exclusive, never-before-released audio recording of Biggie talking about the shooting of Tupac will be revealed.

Empowering Change in Mobile, Alabama

In Mobile, Alabama,  the Empowering Change initiative is a movement to create a community in which all persons are welcomed, included, valued, respected and empowered to thrive and succeed.

One of their efforts will occur on September 25 with a sold-out event event moderated by Soledad O’Brien. O’Brien is an award winning journalist, documentarian, news anchor, producer and philanthropist and the new host of Sunday morning syndicated political show, Matter of Fact. A free dinner and discussion will give the community a chance to ask questions about this transforming initiative.

According to the mission statement, the idea of this initiative is to bring the community together in service so that we may begin to see each other as equals. The inclusive opportunities for community service are in hopes of achieving this. By serving together, the founders of the initiative hope that this will aid in living together as well.

To find out more about this initiative or to sign up for community interaction events, visit empoweringchangemobile.com

Who Shot Biggie & Tupac?

The special, Who Shot Biggie & Tupac? premieres Sunday, September 24 at 8 p.m. EST on FOX.

Soledad O’Brien and Ice-T are hosting the investigative special that explores the deaths of legendary rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur.

The two-hour special will explore the details surrounding the cases of the rap rivals and former friends who were gunned down within months of each other in the late 1990s. Shakur was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas on September 13, 1996. Smalls, born Christopher George Latore Wallace, was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. It has been 20 years since their murders, and no one has been held accountable.

Soledad O'Brien and Ice-T: Who Shot Biggie and Tupac?

The still-unsolved murders of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. will be the topic of a special hosted by Ice-T and Soledad O'Brien on September 24 on FOX.

The two-hour special, Who Shot Biggie & Tupac?  will include new details from the investigations, along with interviews with police officers, informants and associates such as Doug E. Fresh, Funkmaster Flex, Suge Knight and Lil Cease. An unreleased recording of Biggie talking about Shakur's September 1996 shooting will be aired.

The true crime genre has had a resurgence the past year and a number of projects are in the works including A&E announcing Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G. and Who Killed Tupac? and  USA network's true crime scripted series Unsolved  and the first authorized documentaries about both Shakur and Biggie were announced in the past year. Also on this list are the 2Pac biopic All Eyez on Me and a pre-production announcement of the Johnny Depp-starring film LAbyrinth, about the rappers' murder investigations.

Soledad O'Brien to Host Series on Oxygen Network

Soledad O’Brien is getting some Oxygen, as in the TV network, which announced it was pivoting to the popular true crime genre, and is adding Soledad as a host.

O'Brien will host their new true crime series titled Mysteries and Scandals  which is being described by the cable network as an investigation of “Hollywood’s most intriguing criminals, murders and cases of corruption, exploring infamous headlines that captured the nation’s attention using archival footage, new interviews and stylized depictions of past events.”

Oxygen was a channel previously known for for its cross-section of cable programming with broad appeal toward adult women. Apparently, adult women watch true crime, as might be evidenced by the popularity of the popular podcasts Serial  and My Favorite Murder, and the Netflix series Making a Murderer and The Keepers.

Panel on 'Hidden Figures' Hosted by Soledad O'Brien

(From left to right: Elizabeth Gabler, President Fox 2000 Pictures, 20th Century Fox; Rashid Ferrod Davis, Founding Principal, P-TECH; Kristen Summers, Technical Delivery Lead, Watson Public Sector, IBM; Soledad O’Brien, journalist and panel moderator. Image: Black Enterprise)

Coinciding with the official nationwide launch of Hidden Figures, the biopic about three black women mathematicians who worked in the earliest days of the American space program, Soledad O'Brien hosted a panel on the movie and a discussion of women in science and tech.

Those mathematicians (Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson) did work that helped John Glenn orbit the Earth in the 1960s.

The panel at CES, the world’s largest technology show, included the film's director, Theodore Melfi, and one of its stars, Octavia Spencer as well as leaders in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and focused on the incredible achievements of the three mathematicians as depicted in the film and the ongoing push for women to succeed in STEM.



Soledad O’Brien said that the movie was an emotional experience for her because it not only recognizes the power of these women using math and science, but also what they accomplished socially. She was struck by how the women affected great change. “These are some tough, amazing women who really got the job done that needed to be done,” she said.

During the movie, Octavia Spencer’s character learns to program the IBM 7090 DPS—a vacuum-tube mainframe computer. IBM is one of the oldest tech companies in the world, forming in the 19th century. Its technology was used in World War II and for space exploration.

“Big Blue” also has an extensive history of diversity. “We’re so privileged to have had the IBM forefathers who hired the first black employee,” said Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, IBM’s chief diversity officer. That employee was Richard MacGregor hired in 1899 by IBM’s precursor company, the Computing Scale Company. In 1953, IBM hired its first black engineer and continues on a trajectory of diverse hiring today.

You can watch the IBM and Hidden Figures panel in its entirety at facebook.com/IBM/videos/1226504650773148/





Source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/technology/ibm-hidden-figures-celebrate-jeannette-epps-foremothers/

National Geographic Bee Hosted by Soledad O'Brien

Photo by Rebecca Hale/National Geographic

This year, Soledad O’Brien hosted the National Geographic Bee taking over for long-time host, Alex Trebek.

The championship round of the competition was live from the the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Ten students compete in the final round which started classrooms, then state or territory competitions which produced 54 of the best the nation.

Under bright lights and the gaze of television cameras, they competed last week for a $25,000 scholarship, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos Islands, and the right to call themselves National Geographic Bee Champion.

The new champion is a Virginia eighth grader Akhil Rekulapelli.

Watch the final round.

Akhil Rekulapelli (left) and Florida fifth grader Ameya Mujumdar (right)
answer Soledad O'Brien's questions during the final round.

O'Brien Hosts 'Let Freedom Ring' Event in DC

Soledad O'Brien and Hill Harper hosted the "Let Freedom Ring" commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech on Wednesday.

President Barack Obama and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter also joined the tribute at the Lincoln Memorial.

Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Foxx and Forest Whitaker were among the celebrities joining the three presidents to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who spoke at the 1963 March on Washington, spoke at this year's march, along with Winfrey, Foxx and Whitaker. Winfrey and Whitaker are starring in Lee Daniels' The Butler, a movie about a man who served for seven presidents as a White House butler.

Musicians including LeAnn Rimes and BeBe Winans were scheduled to perform.

O'Brien Will Host National Geographic Bee

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Alex Trebek is retiring from the National Geographic Bee after this year, and Soledad O'Brien will step into the hosting duties starting in 2014.

Held each year in Washington, D.C., the annual spelling bee-like competition was founded in 1989 in response to the perceived lack of geographic knowledge among children in the U.S.

Soledad O'Brien Will Host CHCI Annual Awards Gala

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) is the premier Hispanic non-profit and non-partisan leadership development organization in the country.

CHCI announced September 12-15, 2010, as the dates for its 2010 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Washington, D.C. with the theme "Celebrating History, Heritage and the American Dream."

CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien will celebrity host the 33rd Annual Awards Gala on September 15, 2010. O'Brien is a recipient of CHCI's 2009 Medallion of Excellence Award for Leadership and Community Service.

CHCI hosts the nation's premier events commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month, which draws over 3,000 Latino leaders from across the country to its Public Policy Conference, Reyes of Comedy Night, and Annual Awards Gala.

"This year's theme reflects the historical contributions of Latinos in the United States as we join the celebration of Latin American landmark independence anniversaries all over the hemisphere and the 400 year anniversary of the founding of the city of Santa Fe," said Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, CHCI Chair.

"Our theme also embodies the Latino community's embrace of the American Dream and its commitment to the success of this great nation. We expect a huge turnout this year to hear from members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, and other national leaders on how the Latino community will play an integral role in leading this nation forward in the 21st century."

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 - October 15. For CHCI, it also represents an opportunity to highlight its competitive and nationally acclaimed Latino youth leadership development programs, including two fellowship programs, a congressional internship program, scholarship awards, and a college readiness program, Ready to Lead (R2L) for high school students.

Latino Commission on AIDS Gala Hosted By Soledad O'Brien

Soledad O’Brien will host the Latino Commission on AIDS’s annual benefit gala – "Cielo Latino" – to be held Tuesday, May 11, 2010.

The event marks the Commission’s 20th anniversary and will look back at the organization’s work through the years and honor the life of Dennis deLeon, founder of the Commission who passed away on December 14, 2009.

“We are thrilled that Soledad O’Brien, a powerful voice in America, will join us in this very special tribute,” said Guillermo Chacon, president of the Commission. “With the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Latino community still at a crisis level, Soledad’s support of our cause at this juncture will help us demonstrate our determination in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

Since joining CNN in 2003 and as part of their “Best Political Team on Television,” O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced award-winning documentaries on some of the most important stories facing the world today. Her most recent project, Latino in America, is a wide-ranging look at Latinos living in this country, how they are reshaping America, and how America is reshaping them.

“I am honored to join the Latino Commission on AIDS in this hallmark year to pay special tribute to its work over the last two decades and highlight the impact of Dennis deLeon’s contributions,” said O’Brien. “I have covered HIV/AIDS stories many times throughout my career; the topic and our fight against the disease continues to be vitally important. I am more than happy to do my part.”

For more information visit: www.latinoaids.org or www.nlaad.org

SoledadOBrien.info

O'Brien to Host AdColor Awards

AdColor, a national coalition that promotes diversity in the advertising, marketing and media industries, is honoring Latino talk-show host Cristina Saralegui and 20 others in the industry at an Oct. 4 awards dinner at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix.

CNN anchor, Soledad O'Brien, will host the awards show.

2009 ADCOLOR Awards To Be Hosted By Soledad O'Brien

The ADCOLOR Industry Coalition will host the 2009 ADCOLOR Awards, a program that honors outstanding diverse professionals at the junior, mid and senior-levels within the advertising, marketing and media industries.

It was announced that Hispanic media mogul Cristina Saralegui will be given the All-Star Award, while CNN anchor and special correspondent, Soledad O'Brien will host the ADCOLOR(R) Awards show on Sunday, October 4 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix.

The show will kick-off the 11th Annual Association of National Advertisers' Multicultural Marketing & Diversity Conference.

Civil Rights Game This Weekend

The Civil Rights Game will be held this Saturday, June 20, between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

The event showcases the efforts Major League Baseball has made to create a level playing field for players and fans from all races and backgrounds. For the first time in its three editions, the Civil Rights Game is being held at a big league ballpark during the regular season.

The event is billed as the Civil Rights Game, but there are two days worth of events both inside and outside of Great American Ball Park.

Saturday afternoon will be about saluting iconic people and personalities during the Major League Baseball Beacon Awards Luncheon at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati. The Beacon Awards recognize individuals "whose lives are emblematic of the spirit of the civil rights movement."

The MLB Beacon of Life Award will be presented by Commissioner Bud Selig to Hank Aaron. Boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard will give the MLB Beacon of Change Award to the legendary Muhammad Ali. Comedian and television star Bill Cosby will receive the MLB Beacon of Hope Award from Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson. The luncheon, which is sold out, will be hosted by CNN anchor and reporter Soledad O'Brien and former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.

The Baseball and Civil Rights Movement Roundtable Discussion will be held Friday afternoon at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Moderated by renowned Harvard Law professor Charles Ogletree, the discussion will feature panelists like Reds great and Hall of Famer Tony Perez, basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds. Admission to the roundtable is free and it will also be streamed live on MLB.com from 4-5:30 p.m. ET. The Freedom Center, which tells the story of slaves and their quest for freedom, is just down the street from Great American Ball Park.

Soledad O'Brien Hosts EPIC Awards

Maria Teresa Petersen, Soledad O'Brien and Rosario Dawson
EPIC Awards 2009, March 30th, 2009 at the United Nations

Hundreds of White House Project supporters came together at U.N. Headquarters in New York City for the 2009 EPIC Awards, celebrating the voice and vision of innovators whose lives have shown other women what is possible—as well as those who use media and culture to help women see on-screen what they can’t see very often in the world: women leading at every level.

As host Soledad O’Brien said at the start of the night, “In my work as an anchor and correspondent at CNN, I have witnessed the powerful impact that images—on screen and in real life—can have on the ambitions and aspirations of our young people.”


The White House Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, organization that aims to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors—up to the U.S. presidency—by filling the leadership pipeline with a richly diverse, critical mass of women.

Photo via Flickr

Soledad Interviews For Speaker Series

The Speaker Series: The Minds That Move the World, kicks off this year with political satirist Bill Maher and conservative commentator Ann Coulter debating March 10, at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston.

Future programs feature Al Gore March 30, Charlie Rose interviewing James Carville and Karl Rove May 27, and Soledad O'Brien interviewing Al Sharpton, Lisa Ling and John Quinones on June 9.

Straight for Equality Awards

The first-ever Straight for Equality Awards Gala, honoring straight allies in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, will be held Thursday, February 5, 2009 in New York City.

Honorees include Dr. Maya Angelou (Recipient of the Straight for Equality in the Humanities Award), Sigourney Weaver (Recipient of the Straight for Equality in Entertainment Award), Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole (Recipient of the Straight for Equality in Education Award) and IBM (Recipient of the Straight for Equality in Business Award)

Soledad O'Brien will be an emcee along with actress Judy Reyes, star of the hit ABC comedy series Scrubs.

Launched in October 2007, Straight for Equality is a national outreach and education project created by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) National to empower allies in supporting and advocating for LGBT people. The project invites, educates, and engages straight allies to move equality forward through every day actions that transform our culture.

In keeping with these goals, the Straight for Equality Gala aims to honor and celebrate amazing straight allies.

Straight for Equality is an outreach and education project that empowers straight people in supporting and advocating for gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender (GLBT) people. This project reaches out to straight allies who may not have realized how their own contribution can make a significant difference. It also seeks allies who understand the importance of this goal but may be hesitant to get involved.

Straight for Equality's objectives are to a) invite allies into the community, b) educate people about what it means to be an ally, and c) engage allies by showing them how to create positive change, in big and/or small ways, to move equality forward.

Legacy in Motion Gala

CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien, My9 Co-anchor Brenda Blackmon, and WCBS News anchor Maurice Dubois are donating their talent in support of the American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI).

The Foundation helps to secure funds for scholarships and grants for needy students of the University of the West Indies. The three will host the black tie "Legacy in Motion Gala."

Actor Danny Glover, Bermuda Premier Dr Ewart Brown and Macy’s are among the list of honorees for the 12th Annual Fund-raising Gala of AFUWI. This event, under the honorary patronage of Harry Belafonte, will be held on January 29 in New York City.

This year’s recipient of The University of the West Indies Bob Marley Award is UN Ambassador Danny Glover. This honor is granted to individuals whose contribution to the advancement of arts and culture transcends boundaries of race, color, creed and geographies, uniting people throughout the world in a spirit that embodies the essence of the music and lyrics of the Hon Robert Nesta Marley, OM.

Sir Courtney Blackman, founding Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados and vice-chairman of the Stanford International Bank, will be presented with the Foundation’s Special Award. Sir Courtney, who is also a former chairman of the AFUWI, is being honored for his outstanding contribution to the Foundation as well as to the growth and development of the financial industry of the Caribbean region.

Department store Macy’s will receive the Corporate Award at this event.

Green Chimneys Gala Hosted By Soledad

June 5 - Soledad O'Brien hosted the Green Chimneys 60th anniversary Gala at the New York Hilton. Green Chimneys helps children through animal-assisted therapy.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd and others have painted fiberglass dogs that were displayed tomorrow and will be auctioned off this fall to benefit the organization.

The event honored Green Chimneys founder Dr. Samuel B. Ross Jr. and his wife, Myra.