Career coach Cheryl Palmer says that, “92 percent of employers” vet prospective employees using the Internet. Palmer of Call to Career provided that fact to support her job finding tips at the free monthly meeting of The 40 Plus of Greater Washington, which provides training and peer support for professionals in career transition.

She strongly encouraged participants to have an Internet presence on LinkedIn and Twitter. “Recommendations on Linked In are more valuable than endorsements,” she continued.  She also suggested using ZoomInfo.com to see what is being said about you on the World Wide Web and Simply Hired to look for jobs.
 
In addition to weekly free meetings/seminars, 40+ also offers an intensive 4-week program for $650.  Two of the programs recent graduates suggested that resume writers over 40 focus on their successes and accomplishments and not the jobs they had.

From Arabic inspired paintings and Ghanaian sweets to Native American jewelry, Empowered Women International‘s (EWI) marketplace will be an international shopping experience in Washington.  EWI’s mission is to create jobs and economic empowerment for immigrant, refugee, and low-income women in Metro Washington.  EWI provides a yearlong entrepreneur incubator, mentoring, and support services that transform women's lives and livelihoods.  Women in the program will display and sell their goods.

The Whittemore House
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC
(near Dupont Circle)
Sun, Nov 24, 11a-5p, free

• African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians and experience greater disability from diabetes-related complications
• Death rates for African-Americans with diabetes are 27 percent higher than for Caucasians

That National Stroke Association has a new colorful, easy to read brochure, Diabetes and Stroke that plainly spells out the connection between diabetes and stroke.

Dance of the Holy Ghosts is a very appropriate name for the Marcus Gardley play running at Baltimore’s Center Stage through Sunday, November 17.  With a scenic design by Neil Patel, the characters, especially Sheldon Best as Marcus, magically transform themselves on stage to create flashback illusions easily created in television and film.  This makes great theater.

In much of the story, up and coming poet Marcus learns of his family’s great dysfunctions. Like the other actors, Best toggles himself between the younger and older Marcus to reveal the causes and effects of this dysfunction.  The root of this dysfunction is balled into his grandfather’s inability to deal with his own life.

The story of another Black man and how his demons prevent him from not being a trifling, irresponsible human being is something that quickly tired my ears.  Even with a weak story and weak script, where the use of four-letter words is the norm, the story is fast moving and entertaining - - especially the second act where we learn of the bedrock of the grandfather’s oppressive demons.

At the end, I just could not get myself to give the play a standing ovation. I am just waiting for a play that tells the story of a Black man who turns his bad experiences into a springboard for self-fulfillment.

Culture Coffee, a new neighborhood social-entertainment café, opened in Brightwood Park, D.C.  Furnished with high back bar and soft cushioned chairs, the coffee shop offers free Wi-Fi, coffee drinks, teas, fruit smoothies, sandwiches, salads, and pastries, including its signature Mango Vegan Cake.

Owners Veronica Cooper and Saundrell Stevens collaborated with architect Genell Anderson to create a cozy, eclectic space for the Brightwood Park community.  They focused on designing an interior that reflect their warm and culturally rich African American heritage that a multicultural audience will appreciate.

Cooper says, “The brightly-colored counter is our focal point.” Anderson added, “Orchestrating the project saved the owners time and money and allowed them to put more money into the finishes like the circular custom counter and furnishings.”

Every month the shop will host live, multi-cultural music performances, open “mic” poetry readings, artist, and authors.

Scheduled events and performances start at 7 pm.  Culture Coffee is open at 709 Kennedy Street, NW, Monday through Friday 7 am to 4 pm, Saturday 8 am to 3 pm, and Sundays 10 am to 3 pm. 


Photo:  Owners Veronica Cooper and Saundrell Stevens collaborated with architect Genell Anderson (middle) of AMAR Group, LLC.  Photograph credit – Ken Hipkins.

Nightwatcher
Studio Theater
1501 14th Street, NW
Through Sun, Nov 17, $

Omar Sosa  Afri-Lectric Sextet Tour
Bethesda Blues & Jazz
Bethesda, MD
Fri, Nov 15, $

Dissonance Dance Theatre
East to West: Dances of a Minority Mind
Joy of Motion Dance Center
5207 Wisconsin Ave NW
Sat, Nov 16, 8p
Sun, Nov 17, 7p, $25

Transgender Day of Remembrance
Memorial Ceremony
Metropolitan Community Church
474 Ridge Street NW
Wed, Nov 20 6p-9p, free

Caribbean American Heritage Awards
Marriot Hotel
1331 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Nov 22, 6:30p, $150 and up

Olu Yemisi & Company Entertainment
Pre-Turkey Fun Session
(Dance and Mini Spa)
2610 P. St. NW
(Next to New Jerusalem Baptist Church)
Sat, Nov 23, 4:30pm-6:45pm, $25

Coming to Washington
23rd Annual BZB Holiday Gift Art Show
Shiloh Family Life Center
1510 9th Street
Fri, Nov 29- Sat Nov 30
Sats Dec 7, 14, and 21, 10a-7p, free

Baltimore
Dance of the Holy Ghosts
Center Stage
700 North Calvert Street
though Nov 17, $49

New York (Greater)
An Afternoon of Bach Concertos
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Street
Between Broadway and Amsterdam
Sun, Nov 17, 3p, $15, $10-Sr/Students

RFA gallery presents  Shaunté Gates
2075 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr, Blvd
(7th Ave. @124th St.)
Till Fri, Nov 29, free

San Diego
San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival
Wed, Nov 20- Sun, Nov 24, $45-$550

“In Feng Shui, we believe it is possible to alter the perceptions by changing or combing certain colors,” explained Port of Harlem contributor Sherry Ways at the Decorating for the Holidays event held at the Alexandria Black History Museum.  She continued sharing tips on using various colors to create a harmonious balance.

A short breakout session with the 20 participants revealed some of the things we look for during the holidays including memories of and gratitude for our ancestors, peacefulness, gratefulness, and no stress.

During the interactive session, participants shared ideas and Ways circulated easy to create, eco-friendly decorations.  “You can use items in and around your homes to create holiday decorations, whether you have candles, twigs, or other things from nature, to create something special and unique for your homes.”

The hour session ended with a silent auction and with the funds going to the Port Of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership.  Several participants also went home with door prizes.

A big thank you to each and every one of the 270 people that "Liked" our page and "Share" our Facebook posts.  From our Facebook posts you can learn of last minute deals such as the complimentary tickets that Studio Theater was providing for Nightwatcher, which closes November 17.

And thanks to those who send us events for posting on our Facebook page or in Snippet’s “Things to Do” (see Things to Do, above) and feedback on the articles we post of Facebook and publish on the web.  I also appreciate those who forward Port Of Harlem Snippets to their friends and suggest they sign up for Snippets and/or Like us on Facebook.  You can also follow us on Twitter.

• The Gambia’s Rodent Slayer
  (4th consectuve Snippets) 
• Bern nadette Stanis
  (1st Snippets, knocked Lamman Rucker out of the top spot after 12 consectutive Snippets)

If you a getting Snippets from a friend, click the icon below and we will send Snippets to DIRECTLY to you, on time, at no cost!