A Day In "The Life Of Riley"

WELCOME to "The Life of Riley" which will include periodic chronicles of pop culture and possibilities that flow out of Patrick L. Riley's day. That's me!!! Through blogging (and soon some other technological features on which I'll keep you posted as they launch), I will pull experiences from my busy life to entertain and inspire all of you. Through this site, I will share my observations and insights.

Some features to look forward to:

1.) "PATRICK'S POP UP(DATES)" will feature stories from pop culture, music, theater, fashion, and the entertainment industry at large.

2.) "The Life of Riley" will also introduce a "take-a-look-at-your-life" section (READ: sort of an advice column), where I will help readers come up with their own questions and answers around what "ways of being" are working (or not working) to have them acheive their respective goals and live their best lives. This section is called "WHO YOU BE?".

3.) Additonally, there will be a free-flowing, organic section called "TESTIFY" from which I will pull from my own life's journey to share and hopefully inspire. Some of the fare may be new musings and experiences. Other times, I may pull from my journals and past sharings to shed light on some uncomfortable truths that I've experienced and that may perhaps play a role in healing someone else's wounds as the real-life experience did for me. From my experience of covering 9/11 as a freelance journalist to courageously coming out (as gay) to my family, "TESTIFY" promises to move those who choose to read it.

4.) And a section titled "PR" (like my initials, but also like "public relations") will include press clips from any coverage I get.

5.) And anytime pictures or video can support an entry (in the blog, and perhaps in the subsequent podcasts, my space, and website), those visuals will keep things aesthetically enrolling. That section will be called "MY TUBE".

PLAYING TO THE POP IN POSSIBILITIES!

Patrick L. Riley

Entries in Reverend Jesse Jackson (1)

celebrating love

VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH

RESERVE YOUR SPACE HERE: https://valentines-brunch-and-karaoke.eventbrite.com/

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2016/1/24/all-star-karaoke-special-on-valentines-day-sunday-21416.html

SUSAN TAYLOR

THIS IS Edward Lewis - The Man from Essence! Edward Lewis is a Co-Founder of the iconic magazine that found a MUSE in Susan Taylor! Want to also speak the names of friends Michaela angela Davis and Gordon Chambers who each shared their history with Susan Taylor with me. Each of them – and so many in the room – were ESSENCE alums who worked under Susan Taylor. In fact, a host of legends and industry insiders gathered at swanky event space 583 PARK AVENUE as we toasted the 70th birthday of the icon Susan Taylor. Millions were also raised as awareness was shed on the organization she Founded to mentor the children of the world: the National CARES Mentoring Movement - National Office. The star-studded For the Love of Our Children gala kicked off a major fundraising campaign to support the national roll-out of transformative mentoring initiatives aimed at providing the nation’s most vulnerable youth with crucial support. Eddie and C. Sylvia Brown were honored for their extensive philanthropic support of education indicatives through the Brown Family Foundation. I even have an anecdote or two on my resume with Susan Taylor: LIFE OF RILEY has been invited and covered Miss Taylor's events in years gone by - one she did featuring one of my main and most lucrative clients as a freelance field producer: Oprah Winfrey - in 2008: http://thelifeofriley.squarespace.com/rilys-blog/2008/12/21/what-a-day-for-a-daydream.html. Also worth noting: I got to field produce Susan Taylor for a couple of REMEMBERING YOUR SPIRIT installments that ran on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in 1998. GREAT TIMES! As an independent producer/personality/writer, I still credit OWN a client as I am a freelance field producer for "Oprah, Where Are They Now?" - including one of my latest on DL HUGHLEY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8JV9iIMbao. I have a half dozen or so pieces coming up in the current season of the show, including updates on Iman, The Chew’s Carla Hall, and Carol Daughter’s Lisa Price. SHOUT OUT TO MY Sidra Smith and her team for producing with Susan Taylor an awesome and elegant night - including a palpable script written by my personal icon in the business Stanley Bennett Clay! susantaylor #essence #nationalCARES #mentoring #fortheloveofourchildren

STARS ALIGN FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Yoko Ono, Danny Glover, Dionne Warwick, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Esperanza Spalding are among a diverse group of stars, civil rights icons, and religious leaders challenging all Americans to ring a historic church bell in Colonial Williamsburg during Black History Month as a call for racial healing, hope, and justice nationwide.

The "Let Freedom Ring Challenge" launches February 1st with a star-studded ceremony and concert in Williamsburg, Virginia on February 1st to celebrate the 240th anniversary of the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, one of the country’s oldest African-American houses of worship. Founded in 1776 by enslaved men and women, the church's bell has been silent since the days of segregation, but has been newly restored by historians from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in honor of this historic occasion.

The event will honor America’s civil rights heroes and activists, including Dr. Bernard Lafayette, the leader of the Selma Voting Rights Movement and launch a challenge to the nation to play a part in history by ringing the restored bell throughout the day — every day — during Black History Month. A national broadcast and social media #LetFreedomRing campaign, featuring videos from Yoko Ono, Malcolm Jamal Warner, and other artists, dignitaries, and social activists, will also be undertaken throughout the month.

MISS JESSIE'S

SHOUT OUT to MISS JESSIE'S CEO and CO-FOUNDER MIKO BRANCH. I'm doing Brand Ambassador work with Miss Jessie's who sponsors my Billie's Black presents All Star Karaoke with Patrick L. Riley, a popular open mic night I host in Harlem. Her book is 2015 best seller Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch-Naturally (Amistad; Hardcover; $24.99) which we promote at ALL STAR KARAOKE: https://youtu.be/RL-EqYvCAeI.

As MISS JESSIE'S steps into 2016, I am:

· sharing some of what Miss Jessie’s CEO Miko Branch has in store so far for 2016. Please see where her itinerary so far is taking her this year – including a range of stops and appearances in the NYC-area and Atlanta.

· recapping a few things Miss Jessie’s and Miko have been up to this past couple of months – including:

1. EBONY 100

2. HUFFINGTON POST:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-souleo-wright/on-the-a-wsouleo-miss-jes_b_8229820.html

3. BREAKING INTO…BLACK HOLLYWOOD LIVE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPr1f7H_KpY

4. SANDRA BOOKMAN/HERE & NOW:

http://abc7ny.com/society/here-and-now-on-november-8-2015-miko-branch/1068361/

5. RHYTHM LATE NIGHT (L.A.-based, global show out of Nigeria/UK):

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.l.riley/videos/10153398077113737/?l=3972871543851054556

· re-engaging our friends in the media and in the events sphere in Miss Jessie’s as you look to book guests and identify donation/giveaway synergies.

FYI: MISS JESSIE'S ALSO DONATES PRODUCTS as a legacy initiative that honors Co-Founder/CEO Miko Branch's amazing sister and MISS JESSIE'S Co-Founder Titi Branch who we lost December 2014.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Miss_Jessies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missjessiesfans
Instagram: http://instagram.com/miss_jessies