Who is William Ayers?

William Charles "Bill" Ayers (born 26 December 1944). Ayers grew up in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. He attended public schools there until his second year in high school, when he transferred to Lake Forest Academy, a small prep school.[2] Ayers earned an A.B. from the University of Michigan in American Studies in 1968. (His father, mother and older brother had preceded him there.)[2] He is the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison (1973 to 1980), Chicago philanthropist and the namesake of the Thomas G. Ayers College of Commerce and Industry. Ayers is known for the radical nature of his activism in the 1960s and 1970s as well as his current work in education reform, curriculum, and instruction. In 1969 he cofounded the violent radical left organization Weather Underground which was active during the 1960s and 1970s.

In 1970 Ayers was called "a national leader"[27] of the Weatherman organization and "one of the chief theoreticians of the Weathermen".[28] The Weathermen were initially part of the Revolutionary Youth Movement (RYM) within the SDS, splitting from the RYM's Maoists by claiming there was no time to build a vanguard party and that revolutionary war against the United States government and the capitalist system should begin immediately. Ayers participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, the United States Capitol building in 1971, and The Pentagon in 1972, as he noted in his 2001 book, Fugitive Days. Because of a water leak caused by the Pentagon bombing, aerial bombardments during the Vietnam War had to be halted for several days. Ayers writes: Although the bomb that rocked the Pentagon was itsy-bitsy - weighing close to two pounds - it caused 'tens of thousands of dollars' of damage. The operation cost under $500, and no one was killed or even hurt. [13] While underground, he and fellow member Bernardine Dohrn married, and the two remained fugitives together, changing identities, jobs and locations. By 1976 or 1977, with federal charges against both fugitives dropped due to prosecutorial misconduct (see COINTELPRO), Ayers was ready to turn himself in to authorities, but Dohrn remained reluctant until after she gave birth to two sons, one born in 1977, the other in 1980. "He was sweet and patient, as he always is, to let me come to my senses on my own", she later said.[2] The couple turned themselves in in 1980. Ayers and Dohrn later became legal guardians to the son of former Weathermen David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin after the boy's parents were convicted and sent to prison for their part in the Brinks Robbery of 1981.[14]

And here is how Ayers characterized himself and the longtime radical comrades to whom he was speaking:"Even though we think of ourselves as political, we weren’t politicians. We were people who had a moral vision of what was possible. And when we talk, for example, about health care, about peace, we’re talking a language of ethics, not a language of instrumentalism or opportunism, or what we might get. So we have to speak in a language that’s large and generous and encompassing. And then we have to act."

Ayers worked with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in shaping the city's school reform program,[40] and was one of three co-authors of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge grant proposal that in 1995 won $49.2 million over five years for public school reform.[41] Since 1999 he has served on the board of directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an anti-poverty, philanthropic foundation established as the Woods Charitable Fund in 1941.[42]

Ayers is currently a Distinguished Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Education. His interests include teaching for social justice, urban educational reform, narrative and interpretive research, children in trouble with the law, and related issues.href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ayers#cite_note-UIC-38">[39] He began his career in primary education while an undergraduate, teaching at the Children’s Community School (CCS), a project founded by a group of students and based on the Summerhill method of education. After leaving the underground, he earned an M.Ed from Bank Street College in Early Childhood Education (1984), an M.Ed from Teachers College, Columbia University in Early Childhood Education (1987) and an Ed.D from Columbia University in Curriculum and Instruction (1987). He has edited and written many books and articles on education theory, policy and practice, and has appeared on many panels and symposia.

Who is CHRIS GARDNER

Who is CHRIS GARDNER? He us a Self-made Millionaire, Author of "The Pursuit of Happyness"Christopher Gardner is president and CEO of the Chicago-based brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co., which he founded in 1987. Prior to launching his own firm, Mr. Gardner worked for several prestigious Wall Street firms. He landed his first job in the securities industry in 1981 with Dean Witter Reynolds, coming out of their training program. Later, he spent four years with Bear Stearns & Co., where he became a top earner. A self-made multi-millionaire, Gardner is intent on giving back to the communities where he conducts business because he has never forgotten his humble beginnings or the odds he has surmounted. Christopher Gardner’s accomplishments are extraordinary on their own merit, but are all the more astonishing because of the unimaginable obstacles he encountered on the road to success.

Always hard working and tenacious, a series of circumstances in the early 1980’s left Gardner homeless in San Francisco and the sole guardian of his toddler son. Unwilling to give up Chris Jr. or his dream of financial independence, Gardner started at the very bottom of the financial industry ladder and pulled his way up, often spending his nights in a church shelter or a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland. The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, by Amistad/Harper Collins on May 23, 2006, and is the subject of a movie with the same title starring Will Smith as Gardner to be released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006.Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gardner never knew his father. He lived with his mother, Bettye Jean Gardner, and her family and, when necessary, in foster homes. Despite a life of hardship and emotional scarring, he always had supreme love and admiration for his mother, who was a trained schoolteacher. His mother taught him some of the greatest lessons of his life, which he follows to this day. When Gardner told her he wanted to be the great jazz trumpeter Miles Davis she said, "Son, there's only one Miles Davis and he got that job. So you have to do something else.” He understood from that day forward that his job was to be Chris Gardner – whatever that entailed. Bettye Jean also taught him that in spite of where he came from, he could attain whatever goals he set for himself by saying, “If you want to, one day you could make a million dollars.” Gardner believed this to be fact, and it allowed him to persevere through the years when he and his son were struggling for survival and a better life.Straight out of high school, Gardner enlisted in the Navy, just like his uncles, his role models, had done previously. After the military, Gardner went to San Francisco and took a job as a medical supply salesman. Then he reached a turning point in his life. In a parking lot, he met a man driving a red Ferrari. "He was looking for a parking space. I said, 'You can have mine, but I gotta ask you two questions.' The two questions were: What do you do? And how do you do that? Turns out this guy was a stockbroker and he was making $80,000 a month." That pivotal encounter gave Gardner a clear career goal, but he still needed a way into the world of high finance. Without experience, connections, a degree, or pedigree, Gardner began knocking on doors, applying for training programs at brokerages, even though it meant he would have to live on next to nothing while he learned. When he was finally accepted into a program, he left his job in medical sales. But his plans collapsed when the man who offered him the training slot was fired, and Gardner had no job to go back to. Things got worse. He was put in jail for $1,200 in parking violations that he couldn't pay. Chris Jr.’s mother left and Gardner, despite his circumstances, fought to keep his son because, as he says, "I made up my mind as a young kid that when I had children, my children were gonna know who their father was." Although he managed to enter a training program at Dean Witter Reynolds, Gardner’s meager stipend as a trainee meant he, like so many working poor in America, had a job but couldn't make ends meet. Chris’s co-workers never knew he spent his evenings trying to arrange day care, find food and a safe place for him and his son to sleep. After spending nights in a locked bathroom at an Oakland subway station, Gardner persuaded Rev. Cecil Williams, founder of a new shelter program for homeless women at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, to let him and Chris Jr. stay at the shelter. Gardner passed his licensing exam in 1981 on the first try. He arrived early, stayed late and worked the phones day after day to lure new clients. He and Chris Jr. got an apartment, and in 1983 he joined Bear, Stearns & Company. After becoming a top producer, first in San Francisco and later in New York, Gardner left in 1987 to establish Gardner Rich & Company, Inc., an institutional brokerage firm specializing in the execution of debt, equity and derivative products transactions. With a network of offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, GRC has grown by focusing on its commitment to provide quality service and excellent trade executions for clients. The firm executes trades for some of the nations largest institutions, public pension plans and unions. Under Mr. Gardner's directions, GRC has adopted a "give back to the community" program. The Company donates 10% or more of the company's earnings toward school and educational projects in the communities it serves.Chris Gardner’s remarkable story of struggle, faith, entrepreneurialism, and fatherly devotion has catapulted him beyond the notoriety he has found on Wall Street. He has been featured on CBS’ Evening News with Dan Rather, twice on ABC’s 20/20, as well as being the subject of profiles in newspapers and national magazines.

Who is Eve Jihan Jeffers

Eve Jihan Jeffers is known to the world as Eve. Eve was born November 10, 1978i in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Julia Wilch-Jeffers, a publishing company supervisor, and Jerry Jeffers, a chemical plant supervisor.[2] She adopted the name Gangsta in high school as part of an all-female group called EDGP (pronounced Egypt), and went solo as Eve of Destruction.

During her early years in Philadelphia, Eve's first musical interest was singing. She sang in many choirs and even made an all-female singing group (Dope Girl Posse or D.G.P.) with a manager. This group covered songs from En Vogue and Color Me Badd. After the group's manager saw the rap group ABC, they suggested that the group raps and Eve stuck with it. She then went on to form a rapping group.She also won a Grammy Award rapping. She has sold millions of albums during her musical career. Her first three albums have so far reached 7 million copies sold world wide. In 2003, she became the star of her own TV show, Eve, which lasted for 3 seasons. The rapper/singer/actress has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She ranked # 48 on VH1's "50 Greatest Women Of The Video Era" show list. On April 26, 2007, Eve was arrested due to suspicion of driving under the influence after she crashed her silver Maserati into a divider on Hollywood Boulevard. The crash happened at 2:45 a.m. and two other people were in the car at the time of the crash. Eve was visibly upset after getting out of the car. She was then transported to the Los Angeles County Correctional Facility and was held on $30,000 bail. She received a visit from actor Sean Penn while in jail and was let out later that morning. She was due back in court May 30, 2007. Eve has been told she must wear an alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet for 45 days after she pleaded no contest to drunk driving in a Los Angeles court. The rapper must also attend 10 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, a three-month alcohol education program and appear in court to verify that she is using the alcohol detection monitor.

Eve The First Lady of Ruff Ryders (1998-1999)
Eve first appeared on DJ Clue's The Professional, along with other Ruff Ryders' compilations. Her next single, "What Ya Want", featuring Nokio of Dru Hill, didn't do so well on the charts, so she collaborated with The Roots, Blackstreet and Janet Jackson, which further expanded her fan base. Her 1999 debut, Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady, was an unprecedented success, becoming the second hip-hop album by a woman to enter the Billboard 200 at #1 (the first was by Brooklyn rapper, Foxy Brown).

It is a known fact that Eve used to be a stripper before becoming a successful rapper.[3]


The follow-up to Let There Be Eve, Scorpion, was released in 2001. Its first single, "Who's That Girl" guaranteed the rapper first international success. The second single, "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (with Gwen Stefani of No Doubt) and produced by Dr. Dre, became a pop success, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Scorpion eventually went platinum.

One of the record's strengths, cited in several reviews, was Eve's exploration of her singing voice in addition to her rapping skills. "I was a singer before I started rapping," Eve said in a Ruff Ryders press release, "so on this album I wanted my audience to hear more of my vocal skills".[4]



Eve's third album, Eve-Olution, was released in summer 2002 (see 2002 in music) and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 2003. In the meantime, the album's first single, "Gangsta Lovin'", with Alicia Keys, became another #2 hit. The second and final single, "Satisfaction", only saw moderate success again. Eve-Olution was a flop and became Eve's worst-selling album to date. Also that year she performed the entrance song "All Grown Up" for WWE personality Stephanie McMahon. Afterwards, Eve closed out 2003 by signing to UPN for a television show about a fashion designer titled, Eve, and a feature on Mary J. Blige's single, "Not Today".



In 2005, the rapper appeared on Gwen Stefani's top ten hit "Rich Girl", which peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March. The same year, she appeared on the remix of Amerie's #1 U.S. R&B hit, "1 Thing" the Hitch soundtrack. Eve also was featured in Keyshia Cole's song Never as on the Barbershop 2: Back in Business Soundtrack and The Way It Is along with the official remix for Teairra Mari's second single No Daddy.

In 2007, she appeared on Kelly Rowland's single "Like This". The Punk Cabaret band One On None covered Eve's 1999 song "Love Is Blind". In July 2007, Eve made a guest appearance on Maroon 5's second single Wake Up Call on Live @ 45th at Night, it is unknown if this will be an official remix or if it will even be recorded.


[edit] Here I Am (2009)
Eve will release her fourth album in January 2009. Those rumored to be involved with the album are Timbaland, Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz and Scott Storch. Slated to make guest appearances are Adam Levine, Sean Paul, Swizz Beatz, Shakira, and possibly Gwen Stefani.[5]

The first single "Tambourine" from Here I Am was released in April 2007. The second single was "Give It to You" featuring Sean Paul, a reggae-influenced breezy mid-tempo song[6] Eve has stated that the third single may be a song called "All Night Long". This song is an 80s-pop influenced song that Eve sings rather than raps.[7] "All Night Long" was produced by Pharrell and finds Eve singing, something the rapper had previously been reluctant to undertake despite persuasion from her label.

"Pharrell made me sing a whole song. I finally got up the nerve [but] I feel like I was bullied into it," she jokes. "But it's one of my favorite songs on the album. I was really stressed about it but it was fun to do. I consider myself somebody who can maybe hold a note on a good day. I sang hooks before, which is super easy, but I had to get out of my comfort zones."
She will embark across Australia on her Here I Am Tour in early 2008 near the 2008 MTV Australian Video Music Awards where she will also be performing and appearing.

An insider review of "All Night Long" said:

"Very different than Eve's usual style. It sounds like an '80s pop song. She tries out her singing skills here and she succeeds. They are no crazy, over the top vocals, but she sings much better than most so called songstress' today. The beat is pretty much good, and the lyrics are above average, but the chorus gets repitive (Make it last all night long/baby baby all night long). This should be the third single"[8]
Reggae artist Sizzla is also featured on a song and Eve is currently lining up another reggae cameo. "I listen to reggae all the time. It's always been my favorite music because of the melodies," she says. "I also listen to a lot of Brazilian music [and] a little bit of rock, so I wanted to bring all those elements, along with hip-hop".[9]

Swizz Beats said that Eve's Here I Am — despite constant push-backs — isn't dead. They're going back in the lab, and Swizz will produce some if not the entire project. "It ain't over until it's out," he said. "Everybody wants the best for her. We just regrouping and starting back. It wasn't too many follow-ups that can follow up after Tambourine...You get those type of records ... I'm sorry to make those type of records, but sh--, they're hard to follow up. I'mma get back to doing the [whole] album thing," he added. "It eliminates the problem of what we go through. I let the artist use who they wanna use, this and that, it's crazy. The following up [to the songs I produce], sh-- becomes hard. It's a formula and sound the people are looking for and want. When you get all these different producers, it messes up the formula."[10]


Acting (2004-present)
Eve appeared in XXX with Vin Diesel, both Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business with Ice Cube, The Cookout with Queen Latifah and Meagan Good, and The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon in mid 2004. She also voiced Major Jones in the video game XIII. She also voiced one of the villains of the short-lived Spiderman cartoon on MTV.

In 2003, Eve starred in the UPN television sitcom, Eve, as a fashion designer named Shelly. The show lasted three seasons until it was cancelled May 2006. Eve appeared on Wisin Y Yandel's Reggaeton Album "Wisin vs. Yandel: Los Extraterrestres".

She is currently appearing in the nostalgic drama Flashbacks of a Fool alongside current James Bond actor Daniel Craig.




Discography

Albums

1999: Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady


2001: Scorpion



2002: Eve-Olution
Unreleased: Here I Am

Top-ten hits
Year Song U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap UK Album
2001 "Who's That Girl?" 47 16 5 6 Scorpion
"Let Me Blow Ya Mind" (featuring Gwen Stefani) 2 6 10 4
2002 "Gangsta Lovin'" (featuring Alicia Keys) 2 2 2 6 Eve-Olution
2004 "Rich Girl" (Gwen Stefani featuring Eve) 7 78 — 4 Love.Angel.Music.Baby
2007 "Like This" (Kelly Rowland featuring Eve) 30 7 — 4 Ms. Kelly
2007 "Tambourine" (featuring Swizz Beatz) 37 17 10 18 Here I Am

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Barbershop Terri Jones
XXx J.J.
2003 -
2006 Eve Shelley Tv Series - Lead Role
2003 Third Watch Yvette Powel Television drama (Episode - Second Chances)
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Cheyenne Tate/The Talon Voice Role (Episode - Keeping Secrets)
XIII Major Jones Voice Role
2004 The Woodsman Mary-Kay
Barbershop 2: Back in Business Terri Jones
One on One Ida (Episode - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Hip Hop World)
The Cookout Becky
2008 Flashbacks of a Fool Ophelia Franklin
Ego Denise (in production)


Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
2003, Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist (Nominated)
Black Reel Awards
2005, Best Actress (Independent): The Woodsman (Nominated)
Grammy Awards
2003, Best Female Rap Solo Performance: "Satisfaction" (Nominated)
2002, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" w/ Gwen Stefani (Winner)
2002, Best Rap Album: Scorpion (Nominated)
Image Awards

2005, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series: "Eve" (Nominated)
2004, Outstanding Music Duo or Group (with Mary J. Blige) (Nominated)
2003, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Barbershop (Nominated)
Lady of Soul Awards
2001, Best Music Video: "Who's That Girl" (Nominated)
2000, Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "Gotta Man" (Nominated)
2000, Best R&B/Soul Female Solo Album of the Year: Let There Be Light (Nominated)
2000, Best Music Video: "Love Is Blind" (Nominated)
MTV Movie Awards
2003, Best Female Breakthrough Performance: Barbershop (Nominated)
MTV Video Music Awards
2007, Best Choreography: "Tambourine" (Nominee)
2001, Best Female Video: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Winner)
2001, Viewer's Choice: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Nominated)
2001, Best Hip-Hop Video: "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani (Nominated)
2000, Best Rap Video: "Love Is Blind" (Nominated)
MOBO Awards
2001, Best Hip-Hop Act (Nominated)
Soul Train Awards
2000, Best New R&B/Soul or Rap Artist: "Gotta Man" (Nominated)
2000, Best Music Video: "Hot Boyz" with Missy Elliott, Nas, & Lil' Mo (Nominated)