Keith Givan Excels at St. Leo the Great School

Keith Givan

By Tasion Kwamilele

Keith Givan, raised by his grandmother Elenda Givan since birth, is a young boy who strives for excellence. Whether it’s the discipline he practices in his martial arts or his passion for academics, his commitment to achievement speaks highly of his character even though he is only 8 years old.
Keith attended New Day School Preschool, started by two women who had graduated from Cal State East Bay. It was here that Keith began to blossom, and his qualities of leadership began to flourish. By the age of 3, he began reading and could even count to 100.
Now attending St. Leo the Great Catholic School in Oakland, Keith continues to excel. His test scores in reading and comprehension, science and math are above average. In first grade, he learned how to write and began making detailed reports on various subjects, with vocabulary far beyond his years.

Andre Ward Joins Dellums In “Fight for Peace”

Andre Ward (left), 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winner in Athens, Greece and Dr. H. Geoffrey Watson. Photo by Gene Hazzard.By James A. Watson

From left to right is his godfather Virgil Hunter, Andre Ward, underfeated gold medal boxer and Dan Goosen, one of his promoters.

By James A. Watson

Andre Ward, 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winner in Athens, Greece, is undefeated as he approaches a May 16 fight against top contender Edison Miranda at the Oracle Arena.
Ward, a 25-year-old native of Oakland, is as easy to talk about as the next “Rocky” or Oscar De la Hoya.  He’s a romantic figure with a compelling personal story.  His father, a promising boxer, died at an early age.  Guided by Virgil Hunter a former athlete himself and now his godfather, he escaped the life of a “gang banger” to become a two-time national amateur champion, a strong Christian man and a devoted husband and father.
Along with his proud promoters Goosen Tutor and Antonio Leonard, Ward has the expectation of the Ward/Miranda fight being a hard but successful contest that will win him respect and move him up to the next professional level.
But Ward sees this battle on May 16 as  a metaphor for a bigger struggle; something he calls a “fight for peace.”
At a press conference announcing a recent fight, Ward talked about emerging as “a Christian man of dignity…a role model to other young brothers who might think they don’t have an opportunity.  God gives us all an opportunity.  It’s what we do with that chance that makes the difference in our lives.”
Ward wants to make a real difference in the lives of his fans, Black, White and Latino. That’s why Mayor Ron Dellums, the city and Preventive Care Pathways, a medical non-profit, are creating an opportunity for Ward to speak to those who might hear his voice.
His goal is to  found a series of Youth Boxing Centers throughout Oakland, where he can tell young people that they can do something positive with their lives instead of dying under the despair of hopelessness.
Young people will be given places to train seriously and learn the art of boxing. It will be a place to focus on their minds, their bodies and their spiritual growth.  While the year-round centers will thrive with training and athletic activities, those few gifted enough will be selected to train with Virgil Hunter with an eye towards a professional career.

We’re on the Bus!

The “We Believe Inaugural Bus” to Washington, D.C. left Oakland on January 16th for the Inaugural celebration of the first African American President. The bus will arrive in Washington on the 19th and return on January 23rd.

The Bus Trip is the collaboration of the Post News Group and the owners of Everett and Jones Barbeque to honor their mother, Mrs. Dorothy Turner-Everett.

The bus riders also hope to bring the struggle and legacy of Oakland to a national audience by honoring Rosa Park’s and Martin Luther King’s bus boycott that began the civic rights movement in 1955. [Read more]

Oakland is Wellspring for Obama Water

Graphic by Alapi Bhatt.

When many delegates to the Democratic convention, along with members of the media, get to the convention, their souvenir bags will contain one distinct Oakland contribution: bottles of H2Obama Water.

“We hope to whet their appetites for Obama and quench their thirsts”, said Conway Jones the creator of the Obama water marketing plan while at the Oakland Post. Jones first met Senator Barack Obama at his 2005 swearing-in ceremony at the nation’s capitol. He then introduced Obama to Congresswoman Barbara Lee and they posed for a picture while reading the Post.

That photo appeared the following week in the Oakland Post. When Obama later visited the Post staff and granted a 30 minute exclusive interview that covered: Darfur, Black males and criminal justice system and the education systems. [Read more]