Thursday, March 26, 2020

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

Features

#QuarantineAndChill: Things to Do During the Covid-19 Crisis By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. exhibits on their Facebook page. with their kids, now is the perfect time to practice media NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor Cosmickids.com offers yoga, programming and lesson literacy by sitting down and playing video games with your Covid-19, Coronavirus or “Rona” as some are calling plans to teach yoga and mindfulness to children. Although, kids so you can see what they’re doing and talk about it in it has changed the way society typically functions. Some the Smithsonian National Museum of African American a critically engaged, and fun way. You may just understand cities have imposed mandatory quarantines while others are History and Culture is closed due to coronavirus, they why you should think thrice before allowing your kids to encouraging self-control and self-quarantining. Many are have an app that features highlighted objects from their play Grand Theft Auto or World of Warcraft. complying with official requests for social distancing and collection, multimedia and augmented reality and stories You can also show them some of your favorite video eliminating contact with those outside of the household. exploring their 12 inaugural exhibitions. games which parents may discover they like just as much. Folks are trying to manage how to teach their children If arts and crafts are your thing, Michaels has lots of Finally, for those who are having anxiety over teaching their at home and fulfill employment obligations while not do-it-yourself projects for children that are easily made younger children academic lessons, check out ABCMouse. losing their minds during this new normal marked by with materials around the house. If you’re jonesing for the com which is offering a free 30-day trial. It’s where learning disappointments like canceled proms and graduations, touch and feel of cotton, then you can order online and and fun meet online. rogue relatives refusing to follow the rules and constant news coverage of those who are sick and have passed away. Despite these challenges there is a silver lining. Just when you were lamenting over failing to follow through on giving up social media for Lent, lots of people are coming together on social media to offer wonderful activities for those at home. Check out a few below: Free Celebrity Performances on Instagram: Celebrities are offering outstanding free programming. John Legend was joined by model and partner Chrissy Teigen for a CONVID-19 benefit concert from his living room that played on Instagram. If you didn’t catch John Legend, musical acts as diverse as Luke Bryan, JoJo, Miley Cyrus, D-Nice and Common are offering online concerts via Instagram. All you need is an Instagram account to watch and you’re good to go. If those folks don’t do it for you, then check out NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts series, intimate video performances, recorded live at the desk of “All Songs Considered,” host Bob Boilen. Rising rap star Chika’s performance just dropped and shows her skills and playful side. Other popular performances include The Roots featuring trombonist Jeff Bradshaw and Bilal, Rev. Sekou and The Seal Breakers, Lizzo, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah and Omara Portuondo. Speaking of Instagram, can you say Debbie Allen? The iconic dancer, choreographer and director offered up a free dance class this past Wednesday to lift the spirits of those feeling isolated during the crisis. Thousands checked in and Keep thoughts of isolation at bay by reconnecting with friends and loved ones and making use of what’s available in real time and online. #QuarantineAndChill and enjoy the time you have with those you love. had a blast based on the comments. Not to worry, if you missed it, she’s offering the (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) dance class every Wednesday at 1 p.m. PST during the COVID-19 crisis. How much would it normally cost to take a dance class from Debbie Allen? Who knows but now pick-up curbside at participating Michaels stores. Binge-A-Thons you can dance with Allen for free and in the comfort of Now is a wonderful time to breakout the boardgames COVID-19 has created the perfect opportunity to your home. Allen is also offering a kids class Saturday on like Sorry, Monopoly, Life, Clue, Jenga, Escape Room in binge on television series and film genres that you love. Instagram at 11 a.m. PST so set your reminder! a Box and Black Card Revoked, which not only entertain Blaxploitation films are often available On Demand for free Things for the Kids kids of all ages but also offer fun for adults. Not to fret via your cable provider. Choose your favorite director like If the Debbie Allen kids dance class is not for you, adults, there’s also Spades Plus (virtual), virtual Chess Spike Lee, Gina Prince Bythewood, Ryan Coogler, John then check out some of the following things your kids games, Words with Friends and several online Tonk and Singleton or Ava Duvernay and watch their films until might enjoy. Many zoos and museums are putting exhibits Bid Whist sites, so you can get back to making blind bids your heart is content. You might also like TV shows from online during the COVID-19 crisis. The Cincinnati Zoo and running Bostons on folks in no time at all. the 1970s and 1980s, many of which are also available On & Botanical Gardens is livestreaming several animals and For parents who have slacked off on watching media Demand.

If you want to Netflix and chill, check out outstanding programming you may not have had an opportunity to watch yet like Raising Dion, Dear White People (season 3), Dolemite Is My Name, Jezebel and Queen Sono. Netflix’s highly anticipated series Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame C.J. Walker comes out Friday, March 20, 2020. “Inspired” by the life of Madame C.J. Walker, the first selfmade woman millionaire, the series stars Academy awardwinner Octavia Butler, Blair Underwood, Tiffany Haddish, Carmen Ejogo, Garrett Morris and Kevin Carroll. If you’re tired of “Netflix and chilling,” then check out Lena Waithe’s new series Twenties, season 2 of Boomerang or Tyler Perry’s show Sistas on BET. For the black foodies out there, watch Kardea Brown make Gullah inspired recipes on Delicious Miss Brown (Food Network) or Caribbean Pot (Black Life TV) featuring the food of Chef Phil La Rosa. After eating that delicious food, get up and get moving to the plethora of free workout videos available on YouTube. Follow your favorite YouTube fitness stars Jenelle Salazar (@getbodiedbyJ), Lita Lewis (@followthelita) for workout routines for various fitness levels. You may now have time to finally try Zumba or subscribe to a fitness site like Daily Burn which is offering a 60-day free trial. Once you collapse on the couch after working out, there are also many web series to watch. Giants follows the lives of three young people chasing their dreams and struggling with various issues of romance, identity and mental health as they come into adulthood. Giants is now an award-winning television series on Cleo TV. Pillow Talk makes you think and feel and The Punanny Diaries, which is an oldie but a goodie, makes you chuckle and thank God you are no longer in your twenties. TV One’s Unsung series always satisfies dropping tea about entertainers you grew up with in the 1990s. Don’t forget to watch HBO’s Watchmen, which will not be coming back for Season 2 as of now, so watch it while you can, or forever hold your peace. As the kids would say, COVID-19 is gonna COVID-19, so we may as well make the best of our time #AloneTogether. Outside of holidays, when do folks really have this much potential time to spend together? Keep thoughts of isolation at bay by reconnecting with friends and loved ones and making use of what’s available in real time and online. #QuarantineAndChill and enjoy the time you have with those you love. This article was written by Nsenga K Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. An expert in intersectionality and media industries, Dr. Burton is also a professor of film and television at Emory University and co-editor of the book, Black Women’s Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire. 

Collaboration to Develope Much Needed Vaccine The agreement covers co-development and co-commercialization aimed at accelerating the development of BioNTech’s potential first-in-class COVID-19 mRNA vaccine program, BNT162, which is expected to enter clinical testing by the end of next month. By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
 Pfizer has announced the signing of a letter of intent with BioNTech SE for the co-development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine aimed at preventing COVID-19 infection. The companies have a head-start on working together, since the partnership builds on a 2018 agreement to jointly develop an mRNA-based influenza vaccine, according to a March 17, 2020 report in Forbes Magazine.  The agreement covers co-development and cocommercialization aimed at accelerating the development of BioNTech’s potential first-in-class COVID-19 mRNA vaccine program, BNT162, which is expected to enter clinical testing by the end of next month. The New York-headquartered Pfizer counts as one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. BioNTech SE is based in Germany and works to individualize cancer treatments and other medicines by pioneering patientspecific immunotherapies.  “Many companies, including Pfizer, are working to develop antiviral therapies to help infected patients fight

this emerging virus as well as new vaccines to prevent infection and halt further spread of this disease,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla stated in a news release. “We are committed to working as one team across the industry to harness our scientific expertise, technical skills, and manufacturing capabilities to combat this evolving crisis,” added Bourla. Pfizer and BioNTech SE have immediately begun work on a new vaccine despite not having finalized the financial, development, and manufacturing aspects of their arrangement. The companies have executed a Material Transfer and Collaboration agreement. “We believe that by pairing Pfizer’s development, regulatory and commercial capabilities with BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine technology and expertise as one of the industry leaders, we are reinforcing our commitment to do everything we can to combat this escalating pandemic, as quickly as possible,” Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development & Medical, added in a release.

“Many companies, including Pfizer, are working to develop antiviral therapies to help infected patients fight this emerging virus as well as new vaccines to prevent infection and halt further spread of this disease,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla stated in a news release. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

Black Caucus Submits Priorities for $2 Trillion in Stimulus Funding Cheryl Brown California Black Media   On a call Monday,  Congressional Black Caucus  (CBC)  leaders announced they  submitted an economic proposal to House and Senate Democrats.  From money for head start and non-profits to

moratoriums on car debts, student loans, rents and mortgages, the 11-page document listed the CBC’s priorities for nearly $2 Trillion in federal funding. It also includes financial support for small businesses and independent contractors.   The government plans to pump the money into

the economy to prevent it from crashing under the weight of fallout from the global Coronavirus pandemic. 
Two members of California’s delegations to the U.S. Congress – Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA-37), Chair of the CBC, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) are leading the charge. “We have been fighting from day one to make sure that our priorities are included in any federal stimulus package,” said Lee.  Lee said the priorities listed in the report are based on input from members and other stakeholders.  “While the pains are deep across the national economy, they are deeper in Black communities already struggling with decades of federal divestment and a widening racial wealth gap. We must offer bold solutions that will directly assist people and revitalize the entire economy,” a CBC statement read. Some of the CBC’s priorities have already been incorporated in the first two bailout bills passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Trump.   The House and Senate are expected to iron out differences regarding the third bill shortly.

Bass said the third bill has failed to pass twice because because Democrats contend that there is no safety net for American families included in it, and there are too many giveaways to major businesses with very little oversight or accountability. She said Speaker Pelosi and Democrats are working hard on the stimulus package.” The CBC included several initiatives for small businesses in its proposal that include: $50 Billion in new grants for small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses; $10 Billion to reauthorize state’s small business credit initiatives; and $3 Billion for minority businesses. Other highlights are $3 Billion in emergency funding for HBCUs; making outstanding payments to Black farmers from a federal discrimination lawsuit; $1 Billion for Head Start; $4 Billion for child care for people impacted by the COVID-19 crisis; $4 Billion for non-profits; and $82 Billion for rural broadband connections; among other items.

Bedside Baptist Has Taken on a Whole New Meaning Due to the Coronavirus Crisis Continued from page A1

U.S.Rep Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) Congressional Black Caucus, chair, U.S Rep. Barbra Lee (D-Oakland) 

how to watch it. Even if they have to bring their grandkids over to get them online. They will figure out how to access it.” The pastor hinted at a question some churches will have: How to deal with deaths in church families? One of Curry’s congregants recently died, and another expected to pass soon. “We have to find a way to figure out how to celebrate that individual’s life,” he said. Pastor Touré Roberts of The Potter’s House at One L.A. said in his Sunday morning sermon, that it seems like the world has been flipped on its head during the coronavirus emergency, but he saw a silver lining “There are sometimes it feels like the world wasn’t

turned upside down, but it was turned right-side up,” he said. “People are spending more time with their families. People are texting one another and checking on one another. In the midst of all this craziness, it seems we are getting our priorities straight, and I have just come to suspect that God is somewhere in it.” At Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, a 168year old African-American congregation, pastor Amos Brown prayed a solemn prayer for those affected by the Coronavirus crisis. “We pray for those on hospital bed waiting for healing, waiting for medical supplies desperately needed in this time of a pandemic worldwide,” he said.