Kool Kids Foundation raises money for music education, Kool & The Gang founder giving back locally

Yanina Carter Entertainment Editor

Congratulations go out to “Abbott Elementary” for its nine Emmy nominations, which include, Philly’s own Quinta Brunson for Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series. Along with Sheryl Lee Ralph who has scored her third consecutive Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as, Barbara Howard in the comedy series.

Sheryl has been having some exciting moments coming her way, and with her new film “The Fabulous Four” coming out, all eyes are on her. The American comedy film directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and written by Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly stars Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bruce Greenwood, Timothy V. Murphy, and Michael Bolton.

In the film, three friends travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids at a surprise wedding of their friend from college. “The Fabulous Four” is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 26, 2024. ********** At 15, he took a life; three days later, his brother’s life was taken. A documentary visual album, “Songs from the Hole” follows James “JJ ’88” Jacobs through a musical opus of hip hop and soul, inspired by his innermost struggles as a person who has both committed and experienced violent harm, as he serves a double-life prison sentence. The film interweaves the collective storytelling of its non-fiction participants with imagined representations of memories, dreams, and spiritual dialogues set to its protagonist/co-creator's original music.

Director, Producer, Director of Photography, Editor, Writer Contessa Gayles is a non-fiction director, DP, editor, and Emmy-nominated producer. She tells stories about identity, socio-political movement, healing, Black liberation, and radical imagination. Contessa’s featurelength documentary visual album, “Songs from the Hole” world premiered at SXSW 2024 and won the Visions Audience Award. Her work has been supported by Impact Partners, Field of Vision, Open Society Foundation, and the IDA. She is a former Firelight Media, Chicken & Egg Pictures, and Soros Media Justice Fellow.

Contessa was a guest on The New World View with David Barnes and Yanina Carter on WURD this past weekend. This film is raw and real. The music takes you on JJ’s journey as a youngster, growing up and life without the freedom to move freely but the freedom to speak and lyricize his thoughts. Nicely done! ********** Celebrate good times this past week at the Fourth Annual Kool Kids Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament. The event took place at the Cedar Hill Golf & Country Club, 100 Walnut Street, Livingston, NJ. The Kool Kids Foundation was created by Robert “Kool” Bell, cofounder/ leader of the Grammy-winning Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Kool & the Gang, and his late wife, Sakinah Bell.

A 501(c )3 non-profit organization, the Foundation’s goal is to support music education in schools and communities across the USA. Mr. Bell oversees the organization with his sons – Hakim Bell, President, and Muhammad Bell, Vice-President.

Last year, the Kool Kids Foundation awarded grants to schools and youth marching bands to help further music education, including the Glenfield PTA in Montclair, NJ, and Newark, NJ’s Malcolm X Shabazz High School Marching Band. Robert “Kool” Bell is proud of the work being done with the Kool Kids Foundation to help with music education. 'We are Instrumentally influencing children to find their rhythm and melody.in music and life so we can all live in harmony,” states Mr. Bell.

For more information, go to www.koolkidsfoundation.org.

********** Theresa Merritt-Watson unveils her most recent book “Black Tech: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Leaders in Technology” - an enlightening read designed to help not only African Americans learn and appreciate more about Black participation in the development of the United States--but all people as this is a vital part of history.

Theresa shares that “Black Tech’ is written for firstto third-grade readers, but its content applies to all ages. In the book, a young narrator presents Black inventors and their unique inventions in a colorful way that catches the eye of the reader. Some of these lesser-known inventors highlighted in the book include Gladys West, Jesse Russell, Alexander Miles, Frederick Jones, and other dynamic scientists and engineers.

The book is designed to appeal to anyone who has ten seconds to read short descriptions--paired with colorful illustrations. Theresa continues, “The goal of ‘Black Tech’ is to invoke pride in the readers and encourage readers to pursue their own passions with purpose and clarity. It is difficult to know where you are going if you do not know where you are from.”

Theresa is a Temple University Graduate, “Black See “Philly Beat” page 10

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Tech: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Leaders in Technology” is the result of her belief that exposing young people to history early on is incredibly important, as well as her desire to allow readers to see themselves and their potential. Through “Black Tech,” the author aims to spark curiosity while developing a platform for young readers to envision their own limitless potential and appreciate the power of reading. “Black Tech: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Leaders in Technology” is available at bookstores and online. ********** Misguided Behavior, the controversial movie currently on Peacock, is raising eyebrows. The movie is an American drama film written by Victor Cobb and directed by Avery O Williams and Carl Payne, best known for his role as Cole Brown on the Fox sitcom, “Martin.” The film stars Carl, along with cast members Khalil Kain, Towanda Braxton, Elijah Johnson, Princeton Perez, and Malek Payne.

“Misguided Behavior” is a horror story affecting kids every day in schools across the country. Through Kevin's eyes, we are taken on an emotional roller coaster ride as we discover what lies beneath his teenage fears as he and his peers cope with being teased, abused, and dismissed daily by their classmates. The movie's shocking end leads to the paralyzing truth about his real family and his ultimate decision. ********** Tyler Perry’s latest feature film, “Divorce in the Black” is now available to stream on Prime Video. This project will mark Tyler’s second film from the four-picture deal for Amazon.

Written by Tyler, who directed and produced, the film stars Meagan Good, Cory Hardrict, Joseph Lee Anderson, Taylor Polidore, Shannon Wallace, Richard Lawson, and Debbi Morgan. “Divorce In the Black” tells the story of Ava, a young bank professional, who is devastated when her husband Dallas abandons a marriage she is determined to fight for. However, fate intervenes, revealing Dallas’ wicked deeds that have trashed their marriage and sabotaged Ava’s destiny to be loved by her true soulmate.

Next coming out from the deal is the film “Black, White & Blue.” Stay tuned for more information about the release of these upcoming films. Well, That’s Philly Beat!!