Howdy do! Hope you're having a wonderful week so far! I'm excited to briefly tell you about my July and share some stuff I think you'll enjoy for August. As you can see, I've changed my newsletter delivery schedule. Now it will go out the first Monday of every month, instead of as close to the end of the month as I can.

That's sorta how it originally was, but over time the date has shifted and I really didn't want to even accidentally email you twice in 30 days. However, I don't think y'all are pressed about a day or two.

Each day I'm reminded how folks' reading capacity is going down, so I'm blessed and so thankful that you choose to subscribe to my sometimes verbose newsletter. In this new format, I'm going to try to use more photos to break up text and just less text overall. Call NOPD, I'm killing my darlings. 💌

You bet your sweet bippy!

PERSONAL LIFE: God sent an angel who helped me pay all my bills! My landlord let me pay him in two installments! I used my free will to get a plate of party sandwiches from Rouses, enjoyed a going away party for WWL's Charisse Gibson and Tyrianne Nicole Everage. Got some cool foods from Veggi! Saw my cousin Nadrea Njoku's work in her studio at The Joan Mitchell Center, and right across from her was my middle school friend Jessica Monette's studio. Tales of the Cocktail! New Mockly, salted watermelon!

CAREER: Two press trips: Donaldsonville and Thibodaux. A dear sweet angel friend sent me a gig that turned into a job interview! Another job interview (different role, same place) that seems promising! My landlord wants to hire me! Entered a writing contest! Had lunch at Monday with E’jaaz A. Mason, the chairman of the Lede New Orleans board upon which I also sit. Was on the WWL morning news talking about Black-owned restaurants downtown. Moderated a panel at the ESSENCE Fest book stage, finally back under Community Book Center. 

NEWSPAPER: Spoke to The Urban Leaders Fellowship cohort about the importance of New Orleans East. Was on a panel at Propeller, talking about The New Orleans East Sunshine Weekly. Did my editorial budget! Found cool free benefits for nonprofits! Applied for a ton of funding. Came up with a great and timely idea, just waiting on funding. Created a tangible prototype issue using pen and paper and am working on the digital one too. Got to appear on camera for Carl Harrison Jr's latest installation, all about New Orleans East.

FUN WITH FRANKLIN: Bought a Furby for $16 while at Walmart while getting Mames Meat Pies! FREE New Orleans East Regional Library fun: Vietnamese cooking demo with Chef Anh Luu, rap coaching with Alfred Banks, Library Foundation of New Orleans Really Big Book Sale. NOMA Supper Club featuring Delacroix restaurant! Thanks to The NOLA Collective, I got to take Franklin to a JID and Metro Boomin concert! Swam in the pool at our apartment, and most importantly, Franklin killed it at The Cool Cooperative film camp! He wants to go to NOCCA now, for theater.

I wanted to post about all this on my website and I will, eventually, maybe. Have you ever thought about how if you die, your family might just have a locked computer and phone to remember you by? Imagine your great-great grandchildren on flying cars in search of The Cloud...

Posting on social is still a challenge. I keep trying this online stuff and I think the issue for me is, it's so much manipulation. I love winning and being super smart, so not cracking the social media code remains a pain in my side. Speaking of my thoughts on social media: I applied to a job at Freedom! Fully remote and I'm absolutely down for the cause, so I pray I get an interview and ultimately the job. That would be perfect.

BUT LOOKA ME, I SOCIAL MEDIA'D!!! 👇🏽

INSTAGRAM!

LINKEDIN!

THREADS!

FACEBOOK!

I've actually been accepting some social media paid posting lately, for stuff I genuinely love and support. One thing that vexes me about that, is when I do it the ethical way by using the paid sponsorship banner or whatever, the views are way down. Now for me, OK whatever. But if I'm getting paid to get them engagement...

There was one company where I'm pretty sure the CEO does not like me at all, on a personal level. I was asked by their social person to post something for $100. For $100, I'm posting what I would post anyway. For $500 with another company I post what I want. Because that's why they hired me.

Anyway I posted and it did well but chile that CEO told the social person -- over a week or so after I posted and it had been sitting there getting them traction -- not to pay me because it wasn't what they wanted. Ummmm. For $100? You get zero input. None. And it was funny, that post got a lot of engagement. So much so that I felt bad for my $500 company. Anyway of course I took it down because HELL NO. You don't deserve my platform, don't deserve my love. I hope people forget about the event. It's unfortunate to see someone in leadership harm their own company in that way. Ah well!

Social person and I are still cool, I wish that person all the best. Unfortunately, I'd heard not so good things about the CEO and the company, that I'd put aside because I know I'm likely the bad guy in folks' stories too. Silly me, treating others the way I want to be (but am not) treated. God bless everyone, especially folks who rock with me frfr.

In a perfect world, I would put these events into my website's calendar page. But the world is imperfect and so am I. Anyway here's some cool stuff!

La Reezy Video Shoot
Homer Plessy and Dauphine
TOMORROW (Tuesday) 7:45p

Library Boxes for Teachers
Latter Library
Wed, Thurs, Sat 10-2

N.O. Love Puerto Rican Pop-Up
Anna's
Tuesdays in August, 5:30-10

LA Demos Jamie Davis event
SUNO
Thursday 8/6, 6-8
(DISCLAIMER: As a 501(c)(3) owner I cannot campaign! I refuse to recommend and won't even share my vote. But I think you, lovely readers, would like this.)

Urban League Health Fair
Convention Center
Saturday 8/15, 10-3

Bird Watching
Washington Square Park
Saturday 8/15, 6p

Below Sea Level Aid Anniversary Party
Sports Drink
Saturday 8/22, 3-6

God-willing I get some good news about one (or more!) of these many opportunities! I firmly believe God is a God of suddenly, and I know for a fact He will always provide.

Also praying I WIN that writing contest, all others I enter, and aaaallll the funding for The New Orleans East Sunshine Weekly. Y'all. if I just had funding for a month, I'd be good to go. That's all I need! Though I am absolutely asking God for all the funding for the year, next year, next five years, all that. Just need companies or folks with big money who want to invest in New Orleans East to invest in OUR NEWSPAPER. OUR because it's a nonprofit and part of the community. You absolutely have input! I nearly fainted at the Propeller event when someone said they spent $20,000 on a billboard campaign that went nowhere. So the money is there and I trust that it's on the way to me sooner than I know.

When I get one of these jobs, I'll self-capitalize. However getting a full-time job outside of New Orleans East certainly lessens the time I'll have to put in the paper. You know, MOM FIRST.

Everything is working out for me!

💵 Should you want to give me a little tip, since this is always free, I'd surely love that! Thank you! https://meganbradenperry.com/payment

📰 And if you want to learn more about The New Orleans East Sunshine Weekly and/or donate, I'd love that too! I have a fantastic pre-launch idea, but it involves a few tangible items that cost maybe $500. https://givebutter.com/thenoesunshine