Latest news with #ErikaAlexander
Black America Web
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
In A 90s Kind Of World: Hartbeat Teams Up With Erika Alexander & Kim Coles To Launch ‘ReLiving Single' Podcast Series
Source: Courtesy / Hartbeat Today (May 1st), we got some big news from Hartbeart, the global entertainment company at the intersection of comedy and culture. Alongside Color Farm Media, Hartbeat announced ReLiving Single , a new podcast series hosted by real-life best friends and Living Single stars Erika Alexander and Kim Coles. The official unofficial rewatch series offers a fresh, in-depth look at the iconic '90s show that redefined comedy, friendship, dating, and the Black experience for a generation. From 'Ride the Maverick' mishaps to classic 'woo woo woo' wisdom, each episode delivers behind-the-scenes stories, unforgettable moments, and surprise guest appearances, giving both longtime fans and new viewers a front-row seat to the legacy of Living Single . Kim Coles expressed her excitement by stating, 'Getting to relive 'Living Single' with Erika — and with all of you — feels like opening a time capsule packed with love, laughter, and a little extra lip gloss. I can't wait to spill the tea, share the joy, and celebrate the magic that made us all family.' ''ReLiving Single' is a multigenerational conversation that remains evergreen because of the love our fans have for us and the show! And they want more!' said Alexander. 'So we put together an all-star lineup to reminisce, drop life-lesson gems and give a masterclass on comedy and showbiz. You'll hear stories you've never heard before, but the best part of the rewatch series is on screen, Kim and I, like a pair of vampires, ain't aged a day!' SVP of Digital & Platforms at Hartbeat , Eric Eddings added, 'We've seen the massive impact that 'Living Single' has had on The Culture . From inspiring legions of journalists and lawyers to changing the narrative of what it meant to be a Black woman in '90s America, 'Living Single' created a picture of Black Life that still feels authentic. What ReLiving Single will illustrate is that it was an intentional effort by dozens of people whose stories we haven't really heard. Erika and Kim are two of those people – which makes them the perfect guides on this journey.' Hartbeat's exciting new series is executive produced by Kevin Hart, Jeff Clanagan, Eric Eddings, Lesley Gwam (Hartbeat), Erika Alexander and Ben Arnon (Color Farm Media). Amber Watson and Kim Coles serve as producers, while Kenny Jackson takes on associate producer responsibilities. ReLiving Single is the newest addition to Hartbeat's expanding portfolio of original audio content, joining hit series like Gold Minds with Kevin Hart , One Song with Diallo Riddle and Luxxury , and Petty Crimes with Ceara Jane O'Sullivan and Griff Stark-Ennis . Fans of the cult classic series Living Single can tap in when the new series premieres on Wednesday, May 7th. New episodes will release weekly on Wednesdays on the ReLiving Single YouTube page, which you can find here. Also, fans have the option to listen wherever they get your podcasts. Congrats to Erika Alexander, Kim Coles, Hartbeat and everyone else involved in making this major move happen! SEE ALSO In A 90s Kind Of World: Hartbeat Teams Up With Erika Alexander & Kim Coles To Launch 'ReLiving Single' Podcast Series was originally published on
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Most Hamilton Conservative candidates skip televised election debates
All but one of Hamilton's federal Conservative candidates appear to be skipping televised local election debates . Cable 14 partnered with local news agencies, including The Spectator, to stage candidate debates in each of the five Hamilton-based federal ridings. Ken Hewitt, the Conservative candidate in the Hamilton Mountain riding, was the sole Tory candidate expected to take part. Hamilton East—Stoney Creek's Ned Kuruc, Erika Alexander in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, Hamilton Centre's Hayden Lawrence and Dan Muys in Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North all either declined or did not respond to invitations to the televised debates. Cable 14 general manager Jonathan Freedman said the lack of attendance from candidates is 'disgraceful.' 'The candidates that are running in the ridings should be here debating,' he said, adding the forums give voters a chance to see and make a choice on who the right candidate is for their riding. Cable 14 was forced to cancel the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek debate slated for Wednesday because the only major party candidate who agreed to attend was Liberal incumbent Chad Collins. Freedman said the Tory candidate, Kuruc, declined the invitation to take part, while organizers got 'complete radio silence' from NDP candidate Nayla Mithani. The Green Party did not field a candidate. Kuruc, who did not reply to Spectator requests for comment, was also a no-show at debates hosted by the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce and the Bosnian Islamic Centre of Hamilton. In an interview, Collins said he was disappointed by his Tory challenger's decision to skip the Cable 14 debates, which he called a tradition at all three levels of government. 'Debates are important because it gives residents, especially those who are undecided, the opportunity to make an informed decision about how they cast their ballot,' he said. During Monday's Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas debate , Liberal candidate John-Paul Danko questioned whether the missing Tory candidate 'actually exists,' while Green candidate Georgia Beauchemin questioned whether Alexander was a 'paper candidate.' Alexander told The Spectator in a later interview her campaign is 'focusing on voter contact, so we're out 12 hours a day' and added the national Conservative campaign did not tell her to skip the debate. The candidate also said she was unsure whether her campaign received a 'proper' invitation. Cable 14 moderator Mike Fortune said at the start of the debate the candidate did not respond to emails, calls or messages on social media inviting her to attend. In Hamilton Centre, the campaign for Conservative candidate Lawrence declined to participate, telling Cable 14 that 'Hayden would be focusing on door-knocking.' Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas Liberal candidate John-Paul Danko, NDP candidate Roberto Henriquez and Green candidate Georgia Beauchemin squared-off during the televised Cable 14 debate April 21. Conservative candidate Erika Alexander did not take part. Muys, the Flamborough—Glanbrook—Brant North incumbent, said he was attending the Hamilton Jewish Federation's Yom Hashoah Holocaust commemoration Thursday evening when the debate is scheduled — something he 'agreed to a month ago.' Muys also noted he has attended two debates during this campaign — an all-candidates debate in Paris and an all-party forum hosted by the Hamilton Muslim Association. The federal Tory no-shows come after all but one Progressive Conservative candidate — Flamborough-Glanbrook's Donna Skelly — skipped the Cable 14 debates during February's provincial election . McMaster University political scientist Peter Graefe said the absence of a debate is 'a loss' for the community to see candidates defend their ideas, as well as evaluate their personalities and competence. 'If you want the support of the people in a riding, you should show up in places where the people in the riding can assess your talent and quality.' Graefe said while candidates from different parties skip debates for various reasons, there seems to be 'fairly strong evidence' that Conservative candidates are 'almost systematically avoiding' debates. He said one reason could be the party has a sophisticated technology for tracking voters and may feel their time is better spent engaging specific voters likely to vote Conservative, versus a debate. He added the Conservatives may also be particularly concerned about message control. Hamilton East—Stoney Creek Conservative candidate Ned Kuruc took part in the televised Cable 14 debate in the 2021 federal election alongside Green Party candidate Larry Pattison. Kuruc declined to participate in the debate during this campaign — as did NDP candidate Nayla Mithani — leading to its cancellation. 'They don't want the party's message for that day being derailed by what some no-name candidate in some riding they might never hope to win said at some candidates meeting,' he said. —With files from Matthew Van Dongen.
Hamilton Spectator
24-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton-area Today: Community mourns death + CityHousing scammed + Ministry releases review on ‘Italy trip'
G ood morning! It's April 24, here are the top stories today in the Hamilton area. Our first summerlike day. Clouds are expected to clear this morning, leaving us with sunshine and a daytime high of 25 C. Watch your UV index, it is going to climb to 7 or high, which means wear sunscreen or cover up. There are no weather alerts. Find the latest provincial road closures and traffic incidents via Ontario 511 . Closures in Hamilton are available on the Hamilton police incident feed . Taking transit today? Find the latest GO Transit service updates here . The latest information on local bus services are available here: Hamilton , Burlington and Oakville . Hope, dreams and an unthinkable ending: Community mourns death of international student killed by stray bullet Police will 'leave no stone unturned' until suspects are found. CityHousing Hamilton aims to close gaps after $552K email scam The fraudster made off with the payment after posing as a vendor, the city auditor says. 'The Italy trip was the symptom, structural governance practices were the cause': Ministry releases review of Brant Catholic board Trustees weren't acting out of 'ill will,' but need to 'reaffirm and respect their oversight role,' report says. Star candidates vie for open seat in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas Liberal John-Paul Danko and Conservative Erika Alexander both have name recognition — but the latter has kept a lower profile in the media. Thie Convery | How to claim a timely tax credit on your income tax return Federal political contributions can help reduce your tax bill. Personal Fitness | Healthspan versus lifespan: The vital role of muscle in successful aging Older people are spending more time in poor health, and this represents a major individual and public health burden. Subscribe to our newsletters for the latest local content .
Hamilton Spectator
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Star candidates vie for open seat in Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas
The race to fill Hamilton's only open seat includes a couple of big names in local politics — and one big difference in how they're selling themselves to voters. John-Paul Danko, a Ward 8 councillor, hopes to hold Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas for the Liberals after the departure of MP and cabinet minister Filomena Tassi. John-Paul Danko, the Liberal candidate for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, during a federal election debate Monday at Cable 14. He said he jumped into the race at the last minute because of the same concerns he is now hearing at the door — 'Trump, tariffs and the need to protect the economy — protect our sovereignty,' he said. 'My two kids are 16 and 18 and I've never been more concerned about their future than I am right now.' On council, Danko has not been afraid to give interviews or opine about hot-button issues — a sometimes-contentious trend NDP rival Roberto Henriquez seized on during a recent riding debate . The Conservatives, meanwhile, long ago recruited Erika Alexander — the granddaughter of one of the most respected politicians in Hamilton history, the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander . Erika Alexander, centre, is the Conservative candidate for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas. She is pictured at Pierre Poilievre's Stoney Creek news conference Wednesday morning. Alexander's website says she 'carries the legacy' of her grandfather, Canada's first Black MP and cabinet minister, who was a leading advocate for racial equality. Her online biography also describes her as 'passionate about public speaking' — but the candidate has been criticized for skipping a televised Cable 14 debate and not participating in some local news coverage in the riding, unlike other party candidates. 'Right now we're focusing on voters contacts, so we're out 12 hours a day,' said Alexander, who agreed to an interview after The Spectator caught up to her at a local appearance with Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre Wednesday. 'We're just really busy.' Conservative campaigns at various levels have been accused of encouraging — or directing — inexperienced candidates to avoid debates in order to prevent damaging 'unscripted moments,' said local political scientist Chris Erl. Erl said such a strategy does a disservice to voters who want to learn more about prospective MPs — and it would not necessarily help Alexander, either. He argued the personable Hamilton MP affectionately known as Linc was a 'skilled orator and very good debater' who was never afraid to offer a comment on important issues of the day. 'So to not allow (Erika Alexander) the opportunity to showcase those talents is a bit of a strange approach.' Alexander told The Spectator she was not instructed to skip debates by the national campaign. But her absence from the Cable 14 debate and some local news coverage spurred criticism online as well as from fellow candidates, with Danko sarcastically asking if Alexander 'even exists.' New Democrat candidate Henriquez, who also ran in 2021, said in an interview he thought skipping debates and ducking 'public' questions about party policy is 'disrespectful' to the democratic process. Roberto Henriquez, the NDP candidate for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, during a federal election debate Monday at Cable 14. Green candidate Georgia Beauchemin also chimed in during the debate to wonder aloud if the Tory was a 'paper candidate.' Alexander shrugged off the criticism as campaign politics, adding she is happy to talk policy with residents one-on-one. She said was inspired to get involved in politics in part because of her grandfather — and also a meeting with Poilievre, the Tory leader, who later went door-to-door in the riding with her last year. 'He actually reminds of my grandfather in the way where he remembers everyone's name, he shakes everyone's hand, he takes time out … to really listen to people.' The party's focus on improving affordability and community safety appealed to the former civilian employee of Hamilton police. 'We do need to support our police services.' Erl said prior to the resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, it looked like Alexander was 'a sure bet' in a riding with an open seat and a then-flailing Liberal party. But after Mark Carney was elected Liberal leader — and U.S. President Donald Trump started threatening economic annexation — Liberal support has skyrocketed in polls. NDP support, by contrast, has cratered. Henriquez acknowledged the frustration of seeing constant reporting on 'self-defeating' national polls, but said he is having success 'changing minds' of voters at the door by emphasizing the importance of the NDP's progressive voice in Parliament. Erl said bringing in a 'known personality' like Danko — who as a councillor represented part of the federal riding on the west Mountain — gives the Liberals a good shot at holding the seat. He has also benefited from Tassi's endorsement, volunteer base and a lightning rally earlier this month in the city by Carney. 'He has a record in the community and people know who is, for better or worse,' said Erl, who added the Liberal has abandoned a sometimes 'confrontational' social media style during the federal campaign. Poll-based forecasting websites differ on which party will come out ahead in the April 28 vote — with one calling HWAD a red-blue 'toss-up' and another a 'safe' Liberal riding. Erl wouldn't count out either party. 'I think both the Conservatives and the Liberals believe they have a good shot at this riding.'
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Know your riding — Canada Votes 2025: Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas
Social Sharing Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the federal election here. This west Hamilton riding will be represented by a new member of parliament no matter who wins. Former MP Filomena Tassi announced she would not run for re-election in the fall, citing a "deeply personal" reason. Now, major party candidates running to replace her include Hamilton city councillor John-Paul Danko and Erika Alexander, granddaughter of Lincoln Alexander, Canada's first Black member of the House of Commons and first Black lieutenant governor of Ontario. As of a 2023 riding boundary redistribution, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas spans about 100 square kilometres from Highway 403 in the east to Highway 52 in the west. It also includes part of the west Mountain neighbourhood. The riding's southern boundary is an exurban transmission line and its northern boundary is a Canadian National Railway track north of Governor's Road. When she was elected in 2015, Tassi was the first federal Liberal to win in Hamilton since 2004. Prior to that, voters in the riding area supported the NDP. In the 2021 general election, Tassi won about 44 per cent of the vote. Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas contains dense, mixed-income neighbourhoods in the old city of Hamilton as well as wealthier suburban and exurban neighbourhoods in the former townships of Ancaster and Dundas. It also includes McMaster University, Mohawk College and Redeemer University. About 120,000 people live in the area. The median total household income in the riding was $101,000 in 2020, per the 2021 census. About 27 per cent of residents identify themselves as visible minorities. CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives, asking why people should vote for them. Here's some of what they said, organized alphabetically by candidates' last names. Erika Alexander, Conservative Alexander did not respond to CBC Hamilton's survey before publication. On Facebook, she wrote that it's clear "Canadians want real change," as well as "a lower cost of living and to feel safe and secure in their communities," — a change she says Conservatives will bring about. Georgia Beauchemin, Green Party Georgia Beauchemin, 29, is a full-time student in her fourth year studying disabilities studies and political science at Toronto Metropolitan University. She studied recreation therapy and educational support at Mohawk College and worked as an educational assistant. "Voters should be choosing someone who cares about them. My student and work life have all been focused on the needs of other people," Beauchemin said. "The Green Party is the natural home for me and is the natural party to be voting for if you are concerned about climate, affordable housing, taxation fairness, the rights of marginalized people and moving toward proportional representation in Parliament." John-Paul Danko, Liberal Danko, 47, is the Ward 8 city councillor and a licensed professional engineer. "I am very proud of the work I have done at the City of Hamilton. On Council, I leveraged on my 20 years of private sector experience as a structural engineer and worked collaboratively with my colleagues to improve our Ambitious City," Danko said. "I made a point of working across party lines with our provincial and federal representatives. I believe in the Team Hamilton approach to politics and look forward to continuing to take a collaborative approach to ensuring our city's prosperity." Roberto Henriquez, NDP Roberto Henriquez, 37, is a labour and human rights lawyer. "I fight for my clients, working-class Canadians, every single day. During this election where working families are taking a back seat to tariffs, Trump, and trade, I commit to keeping the focus on Canadians as a whole," he said. "I commit to advocating for all Canadians and advancing opportunities for all families, both in our riding and across Canada." Ava Sharavi, People's Party of Canada Ava Sharavi did not respond to CBC Hamilton's survey before publication. On her campaign website, Sharavi describes herself as a "member of the younger generation," who understands challenges like the rising cost of living. She said she is concerned about "uncontrolled immigration," and that Canadian society has been weakened by government overreach, foreign influence and "social engineering in education and media." Also Running: Jim Enos, Christian Heritage Party of Canada: Enos's party bills itself as Canada's only "100 per cent pro-life" political party. His website says he has spent 30 years "participating at public tables influencing public policy," and is a "vocal and public figure with a long record of promoting and defending family, life and freedom." Enos has served as a spokesperson and Ontario branch president for his party, including for a recent case in which the City of Hamilton declined to run an ad for the party, deeming it harmful to transgender people.
