For Immediate Release

Contact: Anthony Twyman
Public Relations Coordinator
Community College of Philadelphia
Office: (215) 751-8082
atwyman@ccp.edu

AUTHOR MISTER MANN FRISBY TO SPEAK AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA, February 6, 2007 – Mister Mann Frisby, an acclaimed author and former reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, will speak at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Community College of Philadelphia’s Coffee House in the Winnet Student Life Building on 17th Street, between Spring Garden and Callowhill streets.

Frisby will discuss his book, Holla Back ...but Listen First: A Life Guide for Young Black Men (Skye Larieux Publishing, January 2006), a motivational book for teens. The event is sponsored by the College’s African-American Men’s Book Club in recognition of African-American Heritage Month.

In addition, the club will host a symposium at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the Great Hall in the Winnet Student Life Building that will highlight positive programs that impact the lives of African-American men in Philadelphia. The panel of speakers will include basketball great Sonny Hill, founder of the Sonny Hill League in Philadelphia; Malik Aziz, co-chair of Men United for a Better Philadelphia; and Joseph Paige, director of Academic Advising and special assistant to the provost of Cheyney University.

A South Philadelphia native, Frisby, 31, began his journalism career at the Philadelphia Daily News in 1997, where he wrote stories on everything from A-list celebrities to convicted murderers. He left the Daily News in 2000 to pursue a career as a novelist.

“Through journalism I have had the fortune to network with some of the most talented and inspirational black men in the nation, and I hope to pass on their wisdom to our future generations,” Frisby said.

Frisby self-published his first novel, Blinking Red Light, in May 2002 and it sold more than 15,000 copies. He then signed a two-book deal with Penguin Books. Penguin re-released Blinking Red Light under its Riverhead label in May 2004. Frisby’s second novel with Penguin was Wifebeater (Riverhead Trade, March 2005).

A single father of a 5-year-old child, Frisby is featured in the April, 2005 issue of Ebony Magazine as one of the nation’s future leaders. He has been on the “Oprah” and “A&E Biography” television programs, as well as numerous local talk shows.

A Summary of the Upcoming African-American Men’s Book Club Events

Mister Mann Frisby
What: Mister Mann Frisby discusses his book, Holla Back…But Listen First: A Life Guide for Young Black Men (Skye Larieux Publishing, January 2006).

When: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7

Where: Community College of Philadelphia’s Coffee House in the Winnet Student Life Building on 17th Street, between Spring Garden and Callowhill streets

Symposium
What: Symposium highlighting positive programs that impact the lives of African-American men featuring basketball great Sonny Hill; Malik Aziz, co-chair of Men United for a Better Philadelphia; and Joseph Paige, director of Academic Advising and special assistant to the provost for Cheyney University

When: 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 21

Where: Community College of Philadelphia’s Great Hall in the Winnet Student Life Building