Rest In Peace Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain

Rest in Peace to Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain that took their lives. I’m exasperated over all of these FaceBook statuses. People pretending to care about others. Posting hotline phone numbers. Really phone numbers? How about post your own number? Or send someone a message that’s hurting to check on them. Okay? These suddenly caring people see a person in distress they are the first to not just kick a person when they are down but laugh, joke, isolate, stigmatize and demonize any person who doesn’t fit inside this perfect box.

People everyday suffer from depression. Not everyone is happy daily. Yes people are suicidal and take their own lives. Stop acting surprised when the person you bullied, harassed, turned your back on, kicked when they were down takes their life. That misperception that they haven’t sought help or haven’t received treatment is just that an assumption. They probably called you and you were too busy judging or talking about them on a Facebook status to pick up the phone or answer their inbox for help.

Many suffer in silence for years while you post statuses saying you’d never date or befriend a person that suffers from mental health conditions. While you call them crazy and other hurtful names. Remember you told them to get over it? It’s ironic most times the people that say these hurtful things also suffer from severe mental illness as well. Please stop with the fake caring. The world and so many people are messed up. You don’t really care at all. If you did instead of a FaceBook post you’d at least have the decency to call and check on a friend. You won’t though so stop being fake. Let’s be real and actually show compassion not just a FaceBook post. 💔💔💔

In Memory of Kate Spade: Suicide Has Many Faces

Kate Spade, an innovative designer that created a fashion empire that transcends generations, was found dead on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in what police characterized as a suicide by hanging. This left many on Social Media to ponder: What does depression look like? What does that woman that has everything look like? What does a woman that suffers from deep sadness and loneliness look like? What does the face of someone who suffers silently with grief and loss look like? What does a person who has contemplated taking their own life look like? That face has many covers. Yesterday, that face was Kate Spade’s.  Oftentimes, you just don’t know the battles that people go through behind closed doors. Stop making assumptions and show compassion. It’s okay to call, text, or send a message to someone just to ask how they are doing. Simple empathy and love makes a difference. Rest in Peace Kate Spade.  May your legacy continue to carry on and may your death encourage others to seek help if needed. Suicide and depression has many faces. #RIP #KateSpade

If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and seek help. Your life matters. Call 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.  The lifeline is available 24 hours everyday.

 

Love,
Simply Ebony

Black Panther #WakandaForever

The Black Panther movie premiered this weekend and took the world by storm! This film was an opportunity for the black community to unite in pride. It allows little black boys and black girls to see heroes depicted on screen that look just like them. Director Ryan Coogler broke down barriers with Black Panther earning $242 million the opening weekend! The #WakandaForever movement is so powerful it surpassed “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” for the second-highest four-day domestic opening of all time.

What did you think of the film? Please share your pictures and thoughts.

BREAKING NEWS: ‘Sixteen dead’ and ‘at least 50’ injured in Florida school shooting

At least 16 people have been killed in a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Police have named the suspect, who the local sheriff says was a former student at the school.

The victims were taken to hospitals from the incident at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, the Broward Sheriff’s Office said, though their conditions were not immediately clear.

“It’s catastrophic. There really are no words,” according to the Broward Sheriff.

Las Vegas Shooting: 59 Killed and 527 Injured

On the evening of Sunday, October 1, 2017, at approximately 10:00 p.m., gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of unsuspecting victims during the Route 91 Harvest music festival, held at the Las Vegas Village and Festival Grounds. Paddock fired on the crowd of 22,000 from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Initially from video footage, the crowd thought they were hearing fireworks, but with the second spray of gunfire concertgoers began running for their lives.

“People were getting shot at while we were running, and people were on the ground bleeding, crying and screaming. We just had to keep going,” witness Dinora Merino, 28, told the Washington Post. “There are tents out there and there’s no place to hide. It’s just an open field.”

On Monday, October 2, 2017, police identified Stephen Paddock, 64, as the lone shooter. Police found 23 firearms, including handguns and AR-15-style assault rifles, in Paddock’s room. Law enforcement sources said two rifles were set up on tripods in front of windows that had apparently been broken with a hammer-like object. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas police department said that Paddock had brought at least ten suitcases into his room during his four-day stay.

Law enforcement sources told the AP that Paddock attached bump stocks to two semi-automatic weapons to make them function like automatic weapons.

Another 19 firearms were found in Paddock’s Mesquite, Nevada home on Monday, along with explosives and several rounds of ammunition. According to CNN, several pounds of ammonium nitrate, which is used to make explosives, were found in Paddock’s car.

FEMA Jobs – Temporary Workers Needed!!

There are a lot of questions and rumors about FEMA job postings for Harvey. If you’re interested in getting involved in the response, make sure you’re working through trustworthy sources.

To verify, please visit the rumors section of the FEMA Hurricane Harvey page: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey.

For those interested in volunteering/donating, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) has a list of Texas organizations here: https://txvoad.communityos.org/cms/node/104

If you’d like to help out the FEMA mission as a temporary hire, visit: https://careers.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey

Help the victims of Hurricane Harvey

By Ebony Johnson

Updated 9:41am EDT, Tue August 29, 2017



Survivors of Hurricane Harvey continue to evacuate as rescuers work diligently to pull people from rising floodwaters. The evacuees have been forced to flee with just the clothes on their backs. Humanitarian Aid groups are working together to provide food, shelter, and emergency services to the survivors. 

Here are several ways you can help. 

American Red Cross
You can donate by phone and online to help the hurricane victims through the American Red Cross – http://www.redcross.org/

You can give any amount online, text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10. Or you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

GoFundMe
GoFundMe.com has set up a Hurricane Harvey Relief page to help support those who have been affected by the storm.

Houston Flood Relief Fund formed by Houston Texan JJ Watt. The fund has reached over $383,000. 
Houston Flood Relief Fund – https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053 

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has begun a page for Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts. There, anyone can make a financial donation to a disaster relief charity by phone, mail or online.



Catholic Charities the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, is accepting donations. Their recovery efforts will include disaster response and recovery efforts, including direct assistance, rebuilding and health care services.

You can make donations online or by phone. You can also text CCUSADISASTER to 71777 to donate.

Catholic Charities – https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/CCUSADISASTER

Amazon/Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market Headquarters, based in Austin, Texas, has teamed up with Amazon.com to help raise funds for flood victims.

Amazon and Whole Foods Market will match cash donations made on Amazon.com, up to $1 million total, to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

If you are in Texas, there are additional ways you can help: 

Donate blood: The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center desperately needs more than 2,000 units of blood. The biggest need is for O positive and O negative. A list of locations to donate blood can be found here: https://southtexasblood.org/. 

Donate food and clothing: Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking people to donate clothing, medical supplies, baby items, and food to nearby shelters. Feeding Texas (http://mailchi.mp/ac80c17d9660/harvey-food-banks) is coordinating with local food banks to distribute food and cleaning supplies. The organization is asking people to drop off non-perishable food, bleach, and paper towels. The Texas Diaper bank (http://www.texasdiaperbank.org/) is seeking diaper donations. You can mail them to 5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504, San Antonio, Texas 78238 or drop them off at the same address.

Help with clean up: Austin Disaster Relief Network (https://adrn.org/disaster-relief/hurricaneharvey/) is asking for toiletries, inflatable mattresses, undergarments, and cleaning tools. They can be dropped off at the Hope Family Thrift Store (http://hopefamilythrift.org/) in Austin. Volunteers can also sign up for cleaning efforts there.

#Houston Shelters are available to provide a safe place for residents evacuated by the hurricane.

Gallery Furniture is welcoming Houstonians in need of shelter from rising flood waters to the location off I-45 North between Tidwell and Parker. Gallery Furniture is stocked with food, water, plenty of mattresses and looks forward to keeping their neighbors safe from the storm. Gallery Furniture is in need of pet kennels or crates.

CITY OF HOUSTON

George R. Brown Convention Center

Downtown Houston

1001 Avenida De Las Americas,

Houston, TX 77010

Mayor Sylvester Turner has announced that all City of Houston Multi-Service Centers and some other designated City and non-profit facilities will be opened for those who may need immediate shelter from flood waters.

Houstonians residing in flooded dwellings may consider seeking temporary shelter by walking to a neighborhood Multi-Service Center or other designated facility. Only consider this option if it is safe to do so. Driving vehicles in flood waters is discouraged. 

Call 3-1-1 (713.837.0311) to report high water and other non life-threatening incidents. City officials are asking residents not to call 9-1-1 unless there is a life-threatening emergency.

Multi-Service Centers:

Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center

6402 Market Street

Houston Texas 77020

832.395.0895

Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center

4014 Market Street

Houston, Texas 77020

832.393.3800

Sunnyside Multi-Service Center

9314 Cullen

Houston, Texas 77051

832.395.0069

Third Ward Multi-Service Center

3611 Ennis Street

Houston, Texas 77004

832.393.4051

West End Multi-Service Center

170 Heights Blvd

Houston, Texas 77007

832.393.5950

John Peavy Senior Center

3814 Market Street

Houston, Texas 77020

Kashmere Gardens Branch Library

5411 Pardee

Houston, Texas 77026

Additional temporary shelters offered by non-profit agencies:

Fallbrook Church

12512 Walters

Houston, Texas 77014

Lyndale United Church

503 Reeid

Houston, Texas 77002

MD Anderson YMCA

705 Cavalcade

Houston, Texas 77009

Trotter Family YMCA

1331 Augusta Drive

Houston, Texas 77057

Community of Faith Church

1024 Pinemont Drive

Houston, Texas 77091

M.O. Campbell Education Center

1865 Aldine Bender Rd.

Houston, Texas 77032

YMCA at Calvalcade

705 Cavalcade St.

Houston, TX 77009

Northshore High School – 9th Grade Campus

13501 Hollypark Dr.

Westside High School

14201 Briar Forest

Paul Revere Middle School

10502 Briar Forest

Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 1414 Wirt Road