January 29th – Teaching New Voice Class at Alza Acting Studio

Alza Acting Studio is located at Yonge and Bloor in Toronto

Sign up everyone! I will be teaching a voice class at Alza Acting Studio starting January 29, 2009. The class has three levels and runs over 12 weeks. The school is owned by award-winning actor Walter Alza (“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” and Metropia). For more information on how you can sign up for classes, please visit this website: http://www.walteralza.com/v1/content/classes/index.php?page=times.

I look forward to seeing you there and meeting new and old friends!

Life Long Learning

Phil Schalm heads up the Chang Ryerson School

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is a name that has been around for about two years. The continuing education program has been around since the early 1980s. It’s been around a long time.

The future of home building (originally published in New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine)

Courtesy of Morguefile.com

While driving a rented car on his way to get his two boys their first movie ever, Antonio Gomez-Palacio, the chair of the Toronto Society for Architects, discussed his work and vision for the future of home building in the Greater Toronto Area.

Getting from A to B in home building (originally published in New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine)

Courtesy of Morguefile.com

From acquiring the land to build a home, to choosing its tradespeople, to the time it takes to build a home and good and bad stories about building – Townwood and Baywood Homes share their knowledge on getting from A to B in building.

Hot home Office for Resale

Courtesy of Morguefile.com

The second floor office had books everywhere floor to ceiling and a little laptop. It was part of a house going on the market for re-sale.

TTC Time Travel (originally published in the Toronto Star)

Courtesy of Morguefile.com

I took the hour commute by TTC to Seneca College on York University’s campus to teach. On my way a woman spoke in what sounded like Polish on a cell during the moment of light on the northbound University-Spadina line. I caught all my buses and subways. I even made sure I was the third person off the bus to Dupont Station through the turnstiles and I think this helped me with my luck at getting the subway right away.

Let it Go or Organize it (originally published in New Dreamhomes and Condominiums Magazine)

Getting a new dream home or condo is a great thing to come into your life. It’s getting and keeping it organized that is the key.

Hushing People to Try on Clothes (originally published in Pride Newsmagazine)

Owner of Hush Boutique, Stephen Phillips stands by his creations

He was one of those people who answer his phone, but you get put on hold a lot because he has so many calls coming in. After three tries, I was finally able to set-up an interview with African-Canadian Stephen Phillips.

The Biracial Generation: Embracing Cultural Diversity (originally published in Amöi Magazine)

There are more than 70,000 biracial people living in Canada according to Statistics Canada in 2001. They may have any combination of heritage including Aboriginal, black, white, South Asian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian, people from the Philippines, Arab/West Asian and Latin American. Christine Chin who is a salesperson with Conservus, a concierge company, calls herself Jamaican-Canadian and Canadian ultimately.

Diverse women of the North (originally published in Amöi Magazine)

Yellowknife is a well-kept Canadian secret.

Where I Was Just Published

Cover Design for Where I Was

Check out Donna Kakonge’s latest book at her online store that can be found at: www.donnakakonge.com. You can find other books there too.

First Summer Job

My Dad told me that at my age I would never be able to find a job. At 14, I was determined to prove him wrong. Plus, I was a well-seasoned worker. I delivered newspapers when I was 10 years old – but would that be enough to get me the job and financial freedom I needed?

Girl power in hockey (Originally Published in Amöi Magazine)

Fran Rider, Executive Director of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association says Canadians are born with an interest in hockey. She came from a sports-minded family and started playing around 1967.

Merging business and art – Imani Enterprises

Anne-Marie Woods started Imani Enterprises in 1994. The company started by focusing on youth arts and culture in Nova Scotia.

Being Black Women and Finding A Way (Written Five Years Ago)

Franceen (not her real name) is a former crack addict and has been clean for three years. She has been living in Toronto for seven years and been convicted of four drug trafficking charges.

Morning English Lessons Just Published

Cover Design for Morning English Lessons

Welcome to Morning English Lessons! To help you with your English langauge skills – go to http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged to find out how you can buy it. As well, you can check out the other books offered there. My official website at: www.donnakakonge.com has been updated too.

Closet Shopping

With little funds and a closet stuffed with clothes, I decided to shop in my own closet.

Romance in South Africa

It was an opportunity of a lifetime – a free ticket to South Africa. My boyfriend at the time wanted to show me the country of Nelson Mandela, the country of Kwaito music. South Africa had been on my travel list for eight years.

Finding the Perfect Car

My Very First Car Driving With My Family

Ever since I was in high school, my dream car was a Jaguar. Although I was driving a standard Russian Lada at the time that was white, with a blue stripe and black interior, I always dreamed of owning a Jaguar.

Creating a Canvas (originally published for Pride Newsmagazine)

Guess what? That beautiful mane on the head of Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova – it is a weave.

Christos Cox and his team at Urban Textures Salons created the winning look for Miss Universe like any artist creates their canvas.

The Self-Publishing Solution

Getting Through the Publishing Maze by Self-Publishing

There are so many self-publishing sites that can help you to finally get that novel or your dissertation published the way you want to.

Men and Single

The hallway was washed in yellow light. Penny had spent many days trying to get there. She had seen it on TV and it looked just like the pictures.

Get radical (originally published on Canoe.ca)

Trends in hair fashions are keeping tempo with music and other media. Looks change from the rock and roll and out of bed, straight with no frizz and shiny as a mirror like classical or jazz, or alternative radical styles with no half measures and no compromises.

The desired look with StudioFX

10 Most Popular Media & Recording Arts Programs

You Cannot Go Wrong Studying Journalism

There are so many terrific media and recording arts programs in Canada and the United States that are popular – it is hard to know where to start. There is a list below though.

Citizen and Refugee (Originally Published for Orato.com)

African beauty displayed in this statue

As the end of the year draws near and the death of former President of Uganda, Milton Obote passes, it brings back memories. Memories of a life I was meant to live in my Dad’s home country and all the loved ones lost in the wars which have ravaged Uganda.

Forging a Career in Aboriginal Film and Video (originally published in Heartbeat of the North.com)

Marie-Helene Cousineau is a video and filmmaker who I first met by being her teacher’s assistant at Concordia University in Montreal back in 1997. Her career path has lead her to many opportunities to work with Aboriginal people in Nunavut. She is founder of a women’s video collective called Isuma.

Mumbai Attacks From Ishita’s Perspective

Ishita Pacholi lives in Mumbai. In a conversation with Donna Kakonge who has been a friend of hers for many years, she shares her present situation in the city under fire through an MSN Chat.