Washington Informer

Any rom-com fans out there? I am talking about romantic comedies. So, who remembers, "My Best Friend's Wedding," which starred Julia Roberts? It was on the other day while I was channel-surfing and I found myself cracking up when Julia's character – the hip, successful NYC food critic and best-selling author – whipped out her cool cell phone in a restaurant scene. It was a gigantic flip model (almost the size of a quart bottle of milk), and featured a nifty retractable antenna. Wow. And this was just 15 years ago, in 1997. This could very well be pre-historic to you, depending on your age and perspective.

Technology and our addiction to it are moving so quickly, a few months can seem like ancient history; let alone a few years. New Nielsen consumer data of U.S. mobile subscribers reveals that between December 2011 and March 2012 (3 short months), the number of cell phone owners who opted for smartphones rose from 47.8% to 50.4%. A year ago, less than 40% of all mobile subscribers in the country owned smartphones. Chances are, you've got a smartphone, and might even be reading this column on your mobile device because the study reports that the majority of African-American mobile subscribers (54.5%) now own these phones, which are really tiny computers that allow us to do almost everything – including talk. Compare these numbers to a year ago when 33% of African-American mobile subscribers owned smartphones, which was reported in The State of the African-American Consumer Report.

The battle between Apple iOS and Android OS, and other operating systems, continues. Apple remains the top manufacturer of smartphone handsets (the iPhone), while Android was the top smartphone OS, with 48.5% of smartphone owners having a device that uses the Android system during the first quarter of 2012. Blackberry owners are a small but loyal group, holding on with an 11.6% share of the smartphone market. Nielsen's look at U.S. smartphone owners breaks down who's purchasing and using what even further:

• 50.9% of women mobile subscribers opted for smartphones in March 2012 compared to 50.1% of men.

• Not surprisingly, more than two out of three young adults (age 25-34) own a smartphone.

• Asian-Americans lead the pack as smartphone adopters with 67.3% using a smartphone as their primary mobile handset.

• Almost three in five Hispanic mobile subscribers (57.3%) use smartphones.

In addition to talking and being available pretty much 24/7, how do we use these devices? Again, what a difference a year makes. Another Nielsen study reports that all Android OS and Apple iOS users in the U.S. account for 88% of those who have downloaded an app in the past 30 days; which means the number of apps per smartphone has jumped 28%, from 32 apps to 41. It doesn't matter whether you're hunting for the best prices for anything from food to shoes, navigating your way through unfamiliar territory or catching the latest news scoop – there's an app for that. A constant, however, is the Top Five Apps: Facebook, YouTube, Android Market, Google Search and Gmail; and the amount of time the average smartphone user spends on apps each day is 39 minutes compared to 37 minutes in 2011.

Among African-American smartphone owners:

• 67% researched or looked up shopping info using a search engine.

• 64% visited a retail site/app.

• 58% looked up prices to compare between retailers.

• 55% read product reviews.

• 41% visited a shopping site/app.

• 33% looked for and downloaded a coupon.

• 30% are more likely than average to visit Twitter through a mobile web.

• 58% use mobile internet (compared to 57% of Hispanics, 56% of Asians and 41% of Whites).

• 79% text (compared to 78% of Hispanics, 73% of Asians and 68% of Whites).

The downside of the miracle of smartphones is the issue of privacy. In 2012, Nielsen reports 73% of all smartphone owners (70% in 2011) expressed concern over the scary reality of personal data collection. Fifty-five percent were wary of sharing information of our whereabouts via those smart smartphone apps.

It's amazing how mobile apps have changed the way we exercise our recreational habits. When my teenage son was younger, I remember arming my son with crayons and a coloring book in an effort keep him occupied and reduce his fidgeting during church services. Guess those childhood staples are almost obsolete. A little kid across the aisle from me last year was happily playing a game or "coloring" on his Mom's – you guessed it – smartphone. Sign o' the times.

Cheryl Pearson-McNeil is senior vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Nielsen. For more information and studies go to www.nielsenwire.com

Washington, D.C.  – The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded a three-year, $325,000 grant to the Summit Health Institute for Research and Education(SHIRE) for a grassroots health-education initiative serving District residents in Wards 5, 7, and 8.

SHIRE will recruit and train ward residents about the causes and dangers of obesity, the importance of regular physical activity, the risks of consuming processed foods, gardening techniques, and healthful methods of food selection and preparation. The trained cohort of peer educators will actively share their knowledge within their families, neighborhoods, and communities.

"SHIRE is honored by the confidence that the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has placed in our work," said SHIRE Executive Director/CEO Ruth Perot. "In addition to the noticeable impact of peer educators in District communities, we have also seen the lives of peer educators' change as they become role models for others – losing weight, effectively managing diabetes and hypertension, and gaining confidence as spokespersons. Further, their paid work experience has opened doors to their professional and academic advancement."

SHIRE will identify teenagers and adults of all ages to include in the peer education program. After the completion of 40 hours of training, peer educators will engage community members in gardening demonstrations, trips to farmers markets, performances and other interactive word-of-mouth activities pertaining to health maintenance. SHIRE is committed to cultivating the enthusiasm and creativity of ward residents on issues of health so communities will unite to combat the high rates of health-related diseases and mortality in these wards of the nation's capital.

Currently, within these wards' demographics, approximately 35% of children between the ages of ten and seventeen are obese, 29% of infants and toddlers are overweight, and 50 percent of households are afflicted with food insecurity or chronic hunger. SHIRE develops and promotes outreach programs that inspire residents to reverse these negative trends and address the critical health concerns in their communities.

Canary Girardeau, SHIRE senior program associate, attests to community interest in the health initiative. "We observe residents talking and listening to each other," Girardeau said. "Peer educators provide dynamic and provocative presentations. There is give and take, and the resolution of issues is something they arrive at together. It is very powerful, and I am looking forward to the continuation and expansion of the project."

For more information about SHIRE and its programs, visit us at: www.shireinc.org

G. Wayne Clough, secretary, the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, present President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberia with a gift.

Sirleaf returned home to Liberia on Wednesday, following a most successful visit to the United States of America, where her activities took her to Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and, of course, the nation's capital, Washington, D.C.

Before departing the U.S. for home, Sirleaf was the special guest of honor at a luncheon hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Cole. Sponsors of the event included several of Liberia's partners: Chevron Corporation, Exxon Mobil and the Coca-Cola Company.

Yvette Wilson, one of the stars of the TV sitcom, "Moesha," has died following a battle with cervical cancer. She was 48.

Wilson, who played Moesha's friend Andell Wilkerson on the long-running hit show, also had a starring role on the "The Parkers."

At the time of her death on Wednesday, Wilson's cancer was Stage 4.

Wilson's close friend, Jeffrey Pittle said in an interview that she was a good friend and talented actress.

"[She was also] a very funny lady, both onscreen and off," said Pittle. "She will be sorely missed, but I'm sure her talent and humor will live on in her legion of fans. It's a small comfort knowing we can still experience Yvette through the work she left behind."

Justin Combs, son of hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, took to Twitter this week to defend his full scholarship to UCLA, which the school confirmed this week. Many in cyberspace are questioning whether the multimillionaire's son should have accepted the $54,000 football scholarship, given the school's economic troubles.

But the 18-year-old said he earned the scholarship.

"Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!! PERIOD," he tweeted on May 30. "Regardless of what you do in life every1 is gonna have their own opinion," he tweeted. "Stay focused, keep that tunnel vision & never 4get why u started."

Combs, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back, reportedly graduated from New York's New Rochelle Iona Prep with a 3.75 GPA, according to the Los Angeles Times.

UCLA defended its decision, saying Combs' award was not siphoned from need-based scholarships to other students.

Athletic scholarships are "entirely funded by Athletic Department ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations" and "do not rely on state funds," university spokesman Ricardo Vazquez told the Times.

"There is a big separation between financial aid based on need and how that's funded and how athletic scholarships are funded and awarded to students," he added.

Beenie Man's Respect for Gays and Lesbians

The controversy of internationally recognized Reggae artist, Beenie Man's anti-gay songs, which he penned twenty years ago, continues to follow him everywhere he is scheduled to perform. Today, he has developed a newfound respect for gays and lesbians. A few days ago, at a concert in the Rototam Sunsplash (www.rototomsunsplash.com) in Spain, expressed to concert-goers in a video message:

"I respect each and every human being, regardless of which race or creed, regardless of which religious belief and regardless of which sexual preference you have, including gay and lesbian people."

In recent years, Beenie has been the subject of several protests from gay communities on an international scale. Between the years 2004 to 2010, several demonstrations all over the world, prevented him from performing and led him to cancel his concerts. Today, Beenie understands the severity behind the degrading lyrics from his past songs. He reflected on the poor decisions he has made as a young artist publicly at his most recent performance. He said to his audience:

"Do not fight against me for some of the songs I sung 20 years ago. There is no one in this world who is the same person they were 20 years ago, I know I'm not. I was a kid when I came from Waterhouse in one community. I never knew what the world was like and what the world was all about. Now, I know that there are people in the world that live differently from the way I do. I know I still have to respect and love human beings."

 The National Coalition for Community Schools applauds the D.C. City Council for passing the landmark Community Schools Incentives Act and for the Council's continued support for meaningful and equitable education reform in Washington D.C.

The $1 million in funding, which the Council recently approved, will provide $200,000 to five schools to incorporate health, youth development, social services, and academic support through community partnerships into their schools.

Research has shown that children who come to school hungry and preoccupied with out-of-school problems struggle to learn in the classroom. Community schools are a proven strategy that can help more students overcomes these factors, come to school ready to learn, and graduate college and career-ready.

Many school systems and their communities are adopting this approach including Chicago, Cincinnati, Portland (OR), and they are seeing improved attendance, graduation, better health and reduced discipline rates.

"The Coalition applauds the tireless efforts of DC VOICE that led to the passage of this legislation," said Martin Blank, president of the Institute of Educational Leadership and director of the Coalition for Community Schools. "DC VOICE's community action research and community organizing work demonstrates how grassroots organizations can be instrumental in moving policymakers to take action to support community schools."