Tag Archives: Russell Simmons

Rosario Dawson to Appear in the Homeless Youth Documentary “Lost in America”

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Rosario Dawson is raising awareness about homeless youth.

The 38-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist will appear in the upcoming documentary about homeless youth called Lost in America, executive-produced by Miley Cyrus and Russell Simmons.

Rosario Dawson

Dawson will appear in the Rotimi Rainwater-directed film alongside Cyrus, Halle Berry, Jewel, Jon Bon Jovi, Sanaa Lathan and Rebecca Gayheart-Dane.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams that we would get this many people to shine a light on youth homelessness,” says Rainwater, who himself was a former homeless youth. “It’s phenomenal but also truly needed to make others aware of the problem.”

He noted that about 5,000 youth die each year on American streets from homelessness. “That’s 13 who die every day. It’s like Columbine happening every single day.”

Las Vegas will be the host town for Intersections: The 2017 Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit taking place Nov. 2 and Lost In America’s Rainwater will be speaking. It’s being sponsored by Las Vegas Sands Corp. and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

Lost in America follows the four-year journey of Rainwater and his team as they interviewed more than 30 youth in 15 cities, from the drainage tunnels of Denver to the streets of Orlando, you can continue reading about how it can be helpful – where Rainwater lived homeless for almost a year after getting discharged from the Navy to take care of his mother who was battling cancer.

While growing up in New York City, Dawson’s mother moved the family into an abandoned building, a squat on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where she and her husband renovated an apartment and installed the plumbing and electrical wiring for the building, creating affordable housing where Rosario and Clay would grow up. Dawson has cited this part of her history when explaining how she learned that, “If you wanted something better, you had to do it all yourself.”

Martin Featured in Time Magazine’s “Letters From Dad” Series

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Let(ter) Ricky Martin entertain you with his words of wisdom…

With Father’s Day this upcoming Sunday (June 21), Time magazine has revealed its annual Letters From Dad series, with the 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer-songwriter participating in the project.

Ricky Martin

The magazine typically asks several influential dads to write open letters to their children — and this year, Martin was among them.

In his heartfelt letter, former member of the all-boy band Menudo starts off by telling his twins Matteo and Valentino, now six, that being a father was something he always dreamed of. He also credits them with positively changing his life.

“Above all, my beautiful sons, your love gave me the strength to live an honest life,” writes Martin, who came out as a gay man in 2010, after years of scrutiny about his sexuality. “A life of courage and transparency, which fills me with great pride and peace. What an amazing gift you have given me, and I’m forever thankful to you.

Before signing off, Martin adds, “If there is anything I want you to live with, aside from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and adored by me and our family and friends, it is that you can be YOURSELF. Don’t ever let anyone or anything make you feel like you can’t be your true self.”

But Martin isn’t the only Latino dad participating this year.

In an equally sweet letter, Colombian superstar Juanes goes through the emotions he felt when each of his children came into this world and what they have taught him.

“I would feel a mixture of joy and nerves come over me that I could not describe with words alone,” writes Juanes to Luna, Paloma and Dante, his three children with TV personality Karen Martinez. “And then, in the blink of an eye, as when a candle is lit in the darkness, you would appear, illuminating the whole place.”

Later in the piece, he writes, “At first, I imagined that my mission as a father would be to teach you everything I knew about life: the physical, the intellectual, the spiritual. But as the days passed, I realized that I would be learning from you. Yes, you read that right—I would also be your student. The purity of your souls, your innocence, reminded me that I, too, one day came to this world like you, innocent and with a pure soul. I felt myself reconnecting with my father and mother, completing this mysterious and magical circle of existence.

Juanes’ letter is also available in Spanish. As the Colombian rock star’s short bio points out, he is about to head on his Loco de Amor tour, for which he is currently rehearsing.

Martin is getting ready for Univision’s La Banda, a new reality singing competition series airing in September in search of the next big Latin boy band. Martin will serve as a judge, along with Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini, and he is also credited as a producer.

Other musical figures invited by Time to pen letters for their kids this year include Pete Wentz and Russell Simmons.

Click here to read the letters in full.

Pitbull Developing Two Reality Shows with The Weinstein Company

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Pitbull is about to get real with The Weinstein Company.

The 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar has been tapped by The Weinstein Company to be the catalyst for two reality television series.

Pitbull

The first is called Pitbull: The Lyfe. It will focus on the “Timber” singer’s world tour, recording sessions, and his life behind the scenes.

The second series is The REAL Change Project, in which Pitbull teams with public figures like Michelle Obama, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Kobe Bryant and others as they look back at obstacles they overcame in their formative years and the mentors who helped them succeed.

That series will include live performances with the aim of raising money for school teachers and educators around the globe.

itbull joins a long list of music stars who’ve lived their lives onscreen, including Ozzy Osbourne, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Snoop Dogg, Bret Michaels, T.I., and Russell Simmons.

Pitbull has seen his songs reach No. 1 in 15 countries, and his signature tunes are I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho), the Kesha duet Timber and Give Me Everything, the latter with Neyo.

Pitbull, currently on a North American arena tour with Enrique Iglesias, has geared his career toward global appeal. That includes performing the World Cup anthem We Are One (Ole Ola) with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte, and expanding his brand with lines of vodka, clothing and fragrances. He’ll also host the American Music Awards for the second time and through his Honey I’m Home banner, he’ll host a New Year’s Eve special on Fox.

“Our television division at TWC has made an incredible name for itself in creating fresh and entertaining unscripted programming. Partnering with Pitbull, one of the biggest names in music today, on The REAL Change Project and The Lyfe is a phenomenal opportunity that we’re all very excited to get started on,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein.

 

Acevedo Named to the Social 25 as Part of Social Media Week Los Angeles

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Beatriz Acevedo is being feted for her social media skills…

The 45-year-old Mexican entertainment executive and Emmy-winner is among this year’s honorees in the Social 25 as part of the upcoming Social Media Week Los Angeles conference and other festivities.

Beatriz Acevedo

Acevedo is the founder and president of MiTu Network, which provides Spanish-language lifestyle programs on YouTube. When the network launched, it had 30 channels with about 15 million monthly views. MiTu now has more than 700 channels, and about 100 million monthly views.

MiTu provides content in English, Spanish and Portuguese, because many Latinos, Acevedo said, though they are Spanish speakers, prefer to search in English and watch English videos. Most traditional networks offer only game shows, soap operas and sports in Spanish, but MiTu provides “culturally relevant content,” including shows on Mexican cookery and raising bilingual children — free of charge.

“You have to pay a high premium for most Spanish channels, except for us,” she said.

Acevedo joins actors Sophia Bush, Caitlin Crosby and Marlon Wayans; Endemol Beyond USA president Will Keenan; Russell Simmons and Steve Rifkind of All Def Digital; Beats founders Jimmy Iovine, Doctor Dre and Ian Rogers; Danny Gabai of Vice Media; and YouTubers Grace Helbig, DJ Skee; the Fine Brothers; Jonathan Skogmo of Jukin Media; the 26MGMT management company and Meridith Rojas of live-event company Digitour on the list.

The L.A.-based list recognizes the year’s “25 most outstanding individuals, companies, and brands influencing the future of social media.”

Honorees will be part of an event on September 22, opening night of Social Media Week Los Angeles.

Other honorees on the list include: Matt Pohlson and Ryan Cummins of charity Omaze; Sean Rad of Hollywood’s favorite hook-up app, Tinder; Jim Redner of virtual-reality company Oculus Rift; Jonathan Shokrian of online retailer MeUndies; author and speaker Marianne Williamson; and musician ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, whose social-media-driven latest album was the biggest in his decades-long career as a parodist.

The list also includes chef, author and starter of the food-truck revolution Roy Choi; Tony Horton of Beachbody Fitness (the P90X fitness empire); Bastian Lehmann of “Uber of stuff” site Postmates; Jason Nazar, CEO of small-business documents company Docstoc; and Abhi Nemani, the city of Los Angeles Chief Data Officer.

Along with attending the VIP event, some of the honorees will serve as keynotes and panelists during the four-day Social Media Week LA conference in Santa Monica.