MAMA AYO Handy-kendI
founder of african american holiday association (AAHA) and black love day
BLACK LOVE DAY MEDIA ADVISORY
AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION (AAHA)
Perpetuating and preserving culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations & rituals
Phone: (202) 667-2577 / Text: (202) 424-8962 (# not to be published)
www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org
Contact: Rashida Thomas, Publicist
TOPIC: The African American Holiday Association (AAHA) is submitting this Media Advisory for your media
organization to distribute and promote this information, and asking that you consider offering interview of the presenters at the 30th Anniversary of Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 3rd VIRTUAL BLACK LOVE SUMMIT & OFFICIAL BLACK LOVE RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY, from Feb. 11 - 13th, 2023, Noon - 9 p.m EST
Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, Author of the "Black Love Book" and master teacher.
As a frequent guest on radio, TV, the internet, and in print, Handy-Kendi has globally shared with millions the tenets of Black Love Day (BLD).
Available also for interviews, will be Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, grammy-nominated performing artist; Iyanla Vanzant, Bestselling Author, Producer of FixMyLife. Teacher, Life Coach and Relationship Expert, Audri Scott Williams, visionary author and global peace walker. A host of 30+ local and international presenters will also present at the Virtual BLD Summit.
WHAT IS BLACK LOVE DAY AND CONNECTION TO TODAY AS A SOLUTION
BLACK LOVE DAY, Feb. 13th, is the 4th commemorative African American holiday or “wholyday” that offers a 24 -hour demonstration of using 5 loving acts (tenets) to heal all of our relationships, as a spiritual alternative to the commercialized, often violent, Valentine’s Day.
BLD was conceived from a spiritual inspiration in 1993 in Washington, D.C., amid the Nation’s crack/cocaine epidemic that caused violent havoc in many communities. In 2023, some 30 years later, Black Love Day continues to encourage the use of “love” as a “higher vibration and re-connection solution”, to heal relationships, to increase peace, and to stop violence, as Black and White communities are seeing a resurgence of violence in their communities due to the Fentanyl epidemic, fears of white supremacy/racism terrorism, COVID Virus isolation, economic and climate disaster anxiety.
These concerns of the times are showing up as a mental health crisis, especially in marginalized Black
communities in which policy brutality, suicides, homicides depression, anxiety and substance abuse, already rampant, are now spiraling, especially among youth.
HOW IS LOVE BEING USED AS A SOLUTION TO MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS:
AAHA’s theme in 2023 for the 30th Anniversary of Black Love Day is “Black Love Heals 365.” This
message encourages communities of color, especially, but all communities, to use the higher vibration of
love as a mental health solution to help us heal the disconnection so many feel; to help us reconcile our
differences for better relationships and to use its healing value of creating inner peace which fosters greater
resilience in these turbulent times.
SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR SCHEDULING/CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REPLIES
For a real “wake up” solution-based discussion for ALL of our communities, BEYOND VALENTINE’S
DAY, please consider scheduling Sekou Ayo Handy-Kendi for an appearance, to speak about the 30th
Anniversary of Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2023 or consider our special Guests
We would LOVE for you to return to love to SUPPORT our mental health, to increase peace, and to stop violence in all of our communities.
SEE ATTACHED:
DOWNLOAD up-dated, BLACK LOVE DAY 30th Anniversary MEDIA ADVISORY HERE:
AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION (AAHA)
Perpetuating and preserving culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebrations & rituals
Phone: (202) 667-2577 / Text: (202) 424-8962 (# not to be published)
www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org
Contact: Rashida Thomas, Publicist
TOPIC: The African American Holiday Association (AAHA) is submitting this Media Advisory for your media
organization to distribute and promote this information, and asking that you consider offering interview of the presenters at the 30th Anniversary of Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 3rd VIRTUAL BLACK LOVE SUMMIT & OFFICIAL BLACK LOVE RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY, from Feb. 11 - 13th, 2023, Noon - 9 p.m EST
Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, Author of the "Black Love Book" and master teacher.
As a frequent guest on radio, TV, the internet, and in print, Handy-Kendi has globally shared with millions the tenets of Black Love Day (BLD).
Available also for interviews, will be Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, grammy-nominated performing artist; Iyanla Vanzant, Bestselling Author, Producer of FixMyLife. Teacher, Life Coach and Relationship Expert, Audri Scott Williams, visionary author and global peace walker. A host of 30+ local and international presenters will also present at the Virtual BLD Summit.
WHAT IS BLACK LOVE DAY AND CONNECTION TO TODAY AS A SOLUTION
BLACK LOVE DAY, Feb. 13th, is the 4th commemorative African American holiday or “wholyday” that offers a 24 -hour demonstration of using 5 loving acts (tenets) to heal all of our relationships, as a spiritual alternative to the commercialized, often violent, Valentine’s Day.
BLD was conceived from a spiritual inspiration in 1993 in Washington, D.C., amid the Nation’s crack/cocaine epidemic that caused violent havoc in many communities. In 2023, some 30 years later, Black Love Day continues to encourage the use of “love” as a “higher vibration and re-connection solution”, to heal relationships, to increase peace, and to stop violence, as Black and White communities are seeing a resurgence of violence in their communities due to the Fentanyl epidemic, fears of white supremacy/racism terrorism, COVID Virus isolation, economic and climate disaster anxiety.
These concerns of the times are showing up as a mental health crisis, especially in marginalized Black
communities in which policy brutality, suicides, homicides depression, anxiety and substance abuse, already rampant, are now spiraling, especially among youth.
HOW IS LOVE BEING USED AS A SOLUTION TO MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS:
AAHA’s theme in 2023 for the 30th Anniversary of Black Love Day is “Black Love Heals 365.” This
message encourages communities of color, especially, but all communities, to use the higher vibration of
love as a mental health solution to help us heal the disconnection so many feel; to help us reconcile our
differences for better relationships and to use its healing value of creating inner peace which fosters greater
resilience in these turbulent times.
SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR SCHEDULING/CONTACT INFORMATION FOR REPLIES
For a real “wake up” solution-based discussion for ALL of our communities, BEYOND VALENTINE’S
DAY, please consider scheduling Sekou Ayo Handy-Kendi for an appearance, to speak about the 30th
Anniversary of Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2023 or consider our special Guests
- Contact by email: ayomeansjoy@yahoo.com, or call (202) 667-2577
- Learn more on “what to do on BLD” and see a calendar of BLD and Black Love Movement Month local/national/global events at https://AfricanAmericanHolidays.org
- Register free for the BLD Summit at Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/BlackLoveDay30
We would LOVE for you to return to love to SUPPORT our mental health, to increase peace, and to stop violence in all of our communities.
SEE ATTACHED:
- MEDIA ADVISORY WITH PICTURE
- NEWS RELEASE, PSA - 30 & 60-SEC. OR CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT
- BIO OF AYO HANDY-kENDI WITH PICTURE, FOUNDER OF BLACK LOVE DAY, FEB. 13
DOWNLOAD up-dated, BLACK LOVE DAY 30th Anniversary MEDIA ADVISORY HERE:
| bld_30_media_release_v1.pdf |
NEWS RELEASE:
January 29, 2023: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2023 Celebrates its 30th Anniversary with Moratorium on Violence Honoring Tyre Nichols and Black Mental Health Theme, While Expanding Black Love Movement Month.
In 1993, in the middle of a rise in Black homicides due to the Crack/Cocaine epidemic, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th was born in Washington, D.C. then grew globally, to stop violence and increase peace. 30 years later, in 2023, Black Love Day (BLD) will focus our year’s theme “Black Love Heals 365” on the mental health crises that is trending, due to the COVID pandemic, rampant violence, police brutality, economic, and racism challenges of these times. As a solution, demonstrate 5 loving acts for 24 hours on Black Love Day, Feb. 13. Then, attend the free 3rd BLACK LOVE VIRTUAL SUMMIT and official, BLD RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY from Saturday, Feb. 11 - Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, from 12 Noon EST to 9 p.m. Expand the demonstration of love’s healing power, with a Moratorium on Violence on Feb 13 honoring Tyre Nichols, and new, Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) from the Black Love Coalition.
Celebrate BLD 30TH ANNIVERSARY of transforming, healing and reconnecting communities through love sponsored by the African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and stewarded by Black Love Day founder, Ayo Handy-Kendi. Featured at the Summit will be Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, grammy-nominated performing artist; Iyanla Vanzant, Bestselling Author, Producer of FixMyLife. Teacher, Life Coach and Relationship Expert, Audri Scott Williams, visionary author and global peace walker, and a host of local and international presenters.
BLACK LOVE DAY (BLD) is the 4th oldest commemorative African-American holiday (or wholyday) of observance, celebration, reconciliation, atonement and the demonstration of love, showing at least, 5 loving acts (Tenets) in 24 hours. The Tenets are: Love for the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Black Community and the so-called Black Race. So-called, Whites show "love in action" for Black people and inspect their own racial attitudes and behavior. “The 5 Tenets of Black Love serve as a 365 days of the year, value system to heal all of our relationships, with the goals to increase peace, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism. BLD further offers a spiritual, African-centered, alternative to the commercialized, and sometimes violent, Valentine's Day.
Ayo Handy-Kendi, a 50+ year Breathologists/Wholistic practitioner, Author of the “Black Love Book”, and founder of the non-profit AAHA, was given a spiritual inspiration by the Creator, that lead to her co-creating BLD. She is also founder of the BLD Ritual of Reconciliation which offers a restorative justice practice, to be used Feb. 13th and anytime to reconcile differences thru love’s healing power.
Handy-Kendi shared the vision of the 30th BLD Anniversary “While we celebrate 30 years of transforming communities through love, and using love as a solution due to its higher vibration, this year, we call a Moratorium on ALL violence for BLD, Feb. 13th , again, making this a day of pro-peace and love in action”. While BLD has grown way beyond my dreams, with many embracing this day, owning it and co-creating initiatives, programs, events and products. I was spiritually inspired, to call together a Black Love Coalition, to create a movement to address the continued need for healing of a people who were taught “not to love and take care of themselves” while oppressed by a people whose fears, created internalized violence in their communities. We saw that it was time to bring together a Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) to expand our “love solution” of activities, similar to how Professor, Carter G. Woodson’s 1926 Black History Week, eventually grew into Black History Month by the 60”s”.
“Nya Akoma” is the greeting for Black Love Day, Feb. 13th. It means "be patient, get a heart and return to love”. Learn “what to do on BLD” and see BLD and Black Love Movement Month events @ www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call: (202) 667-2577 | AyoMeansJoy@yahoo.com.Register for the Summit at Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/BlackLoveDay30 . We would LOVE for you to return to love to heal, increase peace to stop violence in all our communities. ###
DOWNLOAD updated, BLACK LOVE DAY 30th Anniversary, PRESS RELEASE HERE:
January 29, 2023: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2023 Celebrates its 30th Anniversary with Moratorium on Violence Honoring Tyre Nichols and Black Mental Health Theme, While Expanding Black Love Movement Month.
In 1993, in the middle of a rise in Black homicides due to the Crack/Cocaine epidemic, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th was born in Washington, D.C. then grew globally, to stop violence and increase peace. 30 years later, in 2023, Black Love Day (BLD) will focus our year’s theme “Black Love Heals 365” on the mental health crises that is trending, due to the COVID pandemic, rampant violence, police brutality, economic, and racism challenges of these times. As a solution, demonstrate 5 loving acts for 24 hours on Black Love Day, Feb. 13. Then, attend the free 3rd BLACK LOVE VIRTUAL SUMMIT and official, BLD RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY from Saturday, Feb. 11 - Monday, Feb. 13, 2023, from 12 Noon EST to 9 p.m. Expand the demonstration of love’s healing power, with a Moratorium on Violence on Feb 13 honoring Tyre Nichols, and new, Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) from the Black Love Coalition.
Celebrate BLD 30TH ANNIVERSARY of transforming, healing and reconnecting communities through love sponsored by the African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and stewarded by Black Love Day founder, Ayo Handy-Kendi. Featured at the Summit will be Maimouna Youssef, aka Mumu Fresh, grammy-nominated performing artist; Iyanla Vanzant, Bestselling Author, Producer of FixMyLife. Teacher, Life Coach and Relationship Expert, Audri Scott Williams, visionary author and global peace walker, and a host of local and international presenters.
BLACK LOVE DAY (BLD) is the 4th oldest commemorative African-American holiday (or wholyday) of observance, celebration, reconciliation, atonement and the demonstration of love, showing at least, 5 loving acts (Tenets) in 24 hours. The Tenets are: Love for the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Black Community and the so-called Black Race. So-called, Whites show "love in action" for Black people and inspect their own racial attitudes and behavior. “The 5 Tenets of Black Love serve as a 365 days of the year, value system to heal all of our relationships, with the goals to increase peace, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism. BLD further offers a spiritual, African-centered, alternative to the commercialized, and sometimes violent, Valentine's Day.
Ayo Handy-Kendi, a 50+ year Breathologists/Wholistic practitioner, Author of the “Black Love Book”, and founder of the non-profit AAHA, was given a spiritual inspiration by the Creator, that lead to her co-creating BLD. She is also founder of the BLD Ritual of Reconciliation which offers a restorative justice practice, to be used Feb. 13th and anytime to reconcile differences thru love’s healing power.
Handy-Kendi shared the vision of the 30th BLD Anniversary “While we celebrate 30 years of transforming communities through love, and using love as a solution due to its higher vibration, this year, we call a Moratorium on ALL violence for BLD, Feb. 13th , again, making this a day of pro-peace and love in action”. While BLD has grown way beyond my dreams, with many embracing this day, owning it and co-creating initiatives, programs, events and products. I was spiritually inspired, to call together a Black Love Coalition, to create a movement to address the continued need for healing of a people who were taught “not to love and take care of themselves” while oppressed by a people whose fears, created internalized violence in their communities. We saw that it was time to bring together a Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) to expand our “love solution” of activities, similar to how Professor, Carter G. Woodson’s 1926 Black History Week, eventually grew into Black History Month by the 60”s”.
“Nya Akoma” is the greeting for Black Love Day, Feb. 13th. It means "be patient, get a heart and return to love”. Learn “what to do on BLD” and see BLD and Black Love Movement Month events @ www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call: (202) 667-2577 | AyoMeansJoy@yahoo.com.Register for the Summit at Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/BlackLoveDay30 . We would LOVE for you to return to love to heal, increase peace to stop violence in all our communities. ###
DOWNLOAD updated, BLACK LOVE DAY 30th Anniversary, PRESS RELEASE HERE:
| bld_30_press_release__v1.pdf |
60-SECOND NATIONAL/LOCAL PSA FOR RADIO OR CALENDAR
For 30 years, we have asked this question: What would happen if around the nation and the world, for 24 hours, on Black Love Day, February 13th, everyone in the Black community performed at least 5 specific acts of Love – Love towards the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Community, and for the Black Race, and, at the same time, everyone in the White community put “love in action” towards Blacks?
This is what happens on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 4th nationally-observed African American holiday (wholyday) of atonement, reconciliation, celebration, and 24-hour demonstration of Black Love, in 2023, celebrating its 30th year! To increase peace, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism, Black Love Day encourages us to return to love to transform and heal all of our relationships.
Go to AfricanAmericanHolidays.org to register for activities and to learn how to celebrate Black Love Day, a more spiritual and less commercialized alternative to Valentine’s Day.
###
30-SECOND PSA OR CALENDAR FOR GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
30TH BLACK LOVE DAY 2023: “Black Love Heals 365”
For 24 hours, on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, heal all of your relationships by demonstrating love in 5 Tenets. In 2023, in its 30th Anniversary year, Black Love Day local and global activities will focus on the theme “Black Love Heals 365.”
For details, visit AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577.
###
For 30 years, we have asked this question: What would happen if around the nation and the world, for 24 hours, on Black Love Day, February 13th, everyone in the Black community performed at least 5 specific acts of Love – Love towards the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Community, and for the Black Race, and, at the same time, everyone in the White community put “love in action” towards Blacks?
This is what happens on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 4th nationally-observed African American holiday (wholyday) of atonement, reconciliation, celebration, and 24-hour demonstration of Black Love, in 2023, celebrating its 30th year! To increase peace, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism, Black Love Day encourages us to return to love to transform and heal all of our relationships.
Go to AfricanAmericanHolidays.org to register for activities and to learn how to celebrate Black Love Day, a more spiritual and less commercialized alternative to Valentine’s Day.
###
30-SECOND PSA OR CALENDAR FOR GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
30TH BLACK LOVE DAY 2023: “Black Love Heals 365”
For 24 hours, on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, heal all of your relationships by demonstrating love in 5 Tenets. In 2023, in its 30th Anniversary year, Black Love Day local and global activities will focus on the theme “Black Love Heals 365.”
For details, visit AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577.
###