Local

Sweet Alice Harris

LOS ANGELES, CA-The California African American Museum (CAAM) is pleased to announce the next Conversations at CAAM with Watts community activist “Sweet” Alice Harris, Saturday, May 16, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., The discussion will highlight Sweet Alice’s unwavering commitment to the community of Watts and will be moderated by CAAM’s History Council Member Ruby Quallsgray.

A local hero and legend, Sweet Alice has dedicated her life to servicing residents in the community of Watts.   As the executive director and founder of Parents of Watts (POW), she has organized many programs for the community that focus on education, job training, voter registration, counseling, drug abuse and prevention on behalf of the organization.  Additionally, through POW she provides residents with necessities such as food, clothes and shelter.  During Christmas, Sweet Alice gives away free bikes to disadvantaged youth. She is also known to give the community’s youth five dollars each, under the condition that they place the money into a savings account.

Having founded POW in 1979, Sweet Alice’s drive for change comes from a life of struggle.  She was a mother by the age of 14, homeless by 16 and moved from Detroit to Los Angeles to care for her ailing mother.  It was then, she realized her calling for community activism.  Sweet Alice has received an honorary doctorate from USC and many awards including awards from Essence magazine and former President George W. Bush.

This event is free and open to the public. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, 90037. RSVP is encouraged by calling (213) 744-2024.  For more information visit www.caamuseum.org.  Follow CAAM on social media: Facebook/Twitter @caaminLA and Instagram @caaminlosangeles.

Immediate Family cast and crew

LOS ANGELES, CA- On Sunday, May 3, “Immediate Family” written by Paul Oakley Stovall and directed by Phylicia Rashad debuted at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Several celebrity guests arrived to the theater via red carpet. They included: Debbie Allen, Ava DuVernay, Jackée Harry, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Vanessa Williams, and a countless number of others.

“Immediate Family” is a biting new comedy which explores evolving ideas of marriage and family. When the Bryant siblings come together for the first time in five years to attend a wedding, the family reunion quickly becomes a hilarious family showdown. Secrets are revealed and long-held beliefs are challenged as a spirited game of cards brings all of the family dysfunctions to the table. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune said the play is “highly entertaining … [it] just bursts with life.”

The Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center is located at 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles. The play will run through June 7. Tickets are available in person at the CTG box office, by phone (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Photo by Jay Parnell

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Just in time for fight night, Willing Winn Association and Mission (WWAM) Inc., will be hosting their second BBQ Fundraiser of the year. They will be barbecuing it up behind the Family Dollar at 146 West Baseline Street in San Bernardino from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For the fight there will be a special “Fight Fix” at just $30 which includes 1 slab of pork ribs, 1 pint of potato salad, and 1 loaf of bread. Regular menu items and price includes: a beef brisket, $14; hot link plate, $11; chicken plate, $11; pork rib plate, $13; combo plate (3 meats), $17; and peach cobbler, $4. Each plate comes with two sides of cabbage, red rice, baked beans, or potato salad.

For more information, please contact (909) 890-8674.

Photos by Jay Parnell

Children raise signs at the Run for Hope fundraiser for the Best Dollars Raised. Photo by Vivien

LOS ANGELES, CA- OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center held its sixth annual ‘Run For Hope 5k Festival’, on Saturday, April 25. OUR House ambassador Melissa Rivers presented awards to the largest and most successful teams.

The event took place at the West Los Angeles Civic Center and was a day dedicated to celebrating and honoring the memory of loved ones who have died. This year’s presenting sponsors were The Hollander Family and Best Friends Animal Society. The Run for Hope, deeply rooted in the community, drew close to 1, 600 participants who raised over $370,000 to provide grief support directly to adults and children. Participants wore their personalized t- shirts with their loved ones’ photos commemorating and celebrating their memories.

All participants gathered at the stage following the In-Memory Walk and the 5K Run/Walk with a ?closing ceremony and festival, which included live music by DJ Sherpa and the School of Rock, a kids fun zone and expo.  Melissa Rivers presented awards to the largest and most successful teams, including the Largest Team: Team Tia’s Hope along with the four Top Fundraisers: Team Nico and Steven who raised $134,000; Team #Matthew who raised $10,000; Team Debbie Cohen in memory of Shirley Levine who raised $8,100; and Team Anne’s Angels who raised $7,300.

Kim Carter

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – At the Young Visionaries Iron Sharpens Iron Gala this Friday night at The Hotel San Bernardino, Time for Change Foundation Executive Director Kim Carter will be honored with the Dr. Margaret Hill “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her work not only as a powerful voice for women who bear the scars of poverty, homelessness and incarceration for her result driven efforts to empower disenfranchised communities.

“I am humbled and honored” Ms. Carter said when she was informed that she would be recognized  for her work.  Kim Carter started Time for Change Foundation in her garage as a one women organization in 2002 with one shelter with 6 beds.  Today, Time for Change Foundation has a staff of 11, a total housing capacity of 114 annually along with evidence-based programs and supportive services that provide communities with the tools to recover from homelessness, drug addiction, mental and physical abuse, family separation and the effects of incarceration.

In addition to being the national model for housing and supportive services, Time for Change Foundation is also a low income housing developer, has a strong advocacy arm and provides evidence-based training to governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations through its Center for Advocacy and Leadership Training (CALT).

For more information, call 909-886-2994 or visit us on the web at www.Timeforchangefoundation.org.

LOS ANGELES, CA- The Alliance for Women in Media, Southern California (AWM SoCal) Prepares for their highly-acclaimed Speed Mentoring event, presented by Sag-Aftra. Held Sunday, May 3, 2015 at Carla’s Café at CBS Radford Lot 4024, the event brings industry leaders together with students and job seekers in a fun, interactive environment similar to the speed dating concept.

Mary Schaffer, Director of Students and Scholarships for AWM SoCal, explains, “Mentors and mentees will be seated at tables. A five-minute stop watch will mark the time and when the bell rings, mentees will move down the line to the next mentor. It’s not only fun, but a great way to meet a lot of people and network with the top leaders in media and entertainment fields.”

The list of scheduled mentors includes:

• Corinne Baldassano, Senior Vice President, Programming and Marketing, Take On The Day, LLC/The Dr. Laura Program
• Samantha Brown, Vice President of Strategic Sales for Vubiquity
• Tish Ciravolo, Founder and President of Daisy Rock Guitars, the only girl guitar company in the world
• Vic Cohen, TV comedy writer (Emmy nominated), producer, show creator and comedic actor who has starred/written on comedy shows on Fox (“Mobbed”), NBC (“Deal or No Deal”), TBS (“Deal With It”), and other cable networks
• Bill Denton, General Sales Manager, KFI/KEIB/KLAC, iHeartMedia
• Tanya Memme, host of two Emmy Nominated TV shows on A&E “Sell This House” and “Sell This House Extreme,” Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family “DIY” Expert, and KTLA’s Best Vacations and mom entrepreneur
• Jenn Sherry Parry, Emmy award winning television producer with 14 years experience in the Los Angeles market. She is currently Senior Field Producer of “The Doctors”, a daytime medical talk show on CBS.

Desiree Duffy, Co-President of AWM SoCal, adds, “It’s all about meeting people, making connections and helping each other. All ages and career levels, both women and men, are welcome because everyone needs a little mentoring once in a while!”

Speed Mentoring takes place inside Carla’s Café at CBS Radford from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited. Advance registration is required no later than Thursday, April 30. Tickets are $20 for AWM SoCal members and $30.00 for non-members. Students who bring a copy of their unofficial transcript will receive a free AWM SoCal Student Membership with their registration. To register and for more information, and to see a complete list of mentors, visit www.AWMSoCal.org.

RIVERSIDE, CA – The NAACP Riverside Branch’s annual fundraising gala, the “2015 Freedom Fund Celebration,” will recognize community leaders and organizations that have made significant contributions in their communities. This year’s theme: “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: One Nation, One Dream, United” commemorates the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Selma. This formal affair will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at the Riverside Convention Center located at 3637 Fifth Street in downtown Riverside. Doors open at 5 p.m. with social networking, followed by a strolling dinner and awards at 6 p.m. The evening will also include live entertainment, special performances, dancing and more.

This year’s honorees include: Judy White, PhD, Superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District (Education); Joan Roberts, PhD, Owner/CEO-Visiting Angels Riverside County (Business Entrepreneur); Victory Outreach Riverside (Community Service); The Honorable Rita Rogers, Councilwoman-City of Perris (Government/Political); Angela D. Martin, M.D., Physician in Charge-Kaiser Meridian Clinic (Health); Wallace J. Allen, Founder/Editor, West Side Newspaper (Media/Journalism); Rev. Marrix Seymore, Sr., PhD, Pastor-Amos Temple CME Church (Religion); Bruce Wilson, Sergeant, U.S. Army (Military); and William Kennedy, Esq., Attorney at Law-Law Firm of Kennedy and Jimenez (Law/Justice). Presidential Honorees include: William Chamberlain, V.P. Sales and Marketing for Raceway Ford (Roy Wilkins Award); Tanya Humphrey, Consultant-Non-profit management and funding (Griot Award); and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter (Stratton Award).

Tickets are $75 per person or $750 per table. Tickets can be purchased online at www.naacp-riverside.org. The RSVP deadline is April 29^th. For more information contact the event chair Dr. Regina Stell at 951-217-0055 or 951-324-9603. Email rivnaacp@gmail.com and visit www.facebook.com/RiversideNAACP.

Sir Knight Khari Bush featured center in picture with parents Dr. Edward Bush and Mrs. Jenise Bush as future Knights look on.

HIGHLAND, CA- On the evening of Saturday, April 18, seven outstanding young men were presented to society. The young men included Mr. Khari Bush who was crowned Sir Knight, Mr. Sir George Bernard Davis who was awarded 1^st place, Mr. Arlington Rogers III who was awarded 2^nd place, Mr. DeVon Clay, Mr. Myles Jones, Mr. Anthony Montgomery, and Mr. Brandon Watts at the 48^th Social Lites, Incorporated Beautillion Ball at the Hampton Inn & Suites Resort Event Center, Highland, California.

This affair celebrated the accomplishments and efforts of the Inland Empire young African American men.  In addition to saluting these young men for their accomplishments, two participants were recognized and awarded scholarships for their outstanding academic achievements which included Mr. Khari Bush and Mr. Brandon Watts. Mr. Watts was also awarded the “Mr. Congeniality” award.  Collectively these young men were awarded over $20,000 in scholarships and gifts.  Dr. Wil Greer, professor at California State University, San Bernardino College of Education was the keynote speaker who personalized his presentation to all seven participants with words of encouragement associated with their career aspirations. The Social Lites, Incorporated under the leadership of Mrs. Bettye Brewster, president expressed her appreciation to all for supporting the Beautillion program.

Back Row Left to Right: Sir Knight 2015 Mr. Khari Bush, Brandon Watts , Dr. Wil Greer (Keynote Speaker), Anthony Montgomery, Arlington Rogers III (2nd), Myles Jones
Front Row Left to Right: DeVon Clay and Sir Davis (1st)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- At a sold out event at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino on Friday night, Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) celebrated its 13^th year providing quality services (including evidence based programs) to homeless women and children while honoring community members and organizations for their collaboration in those efforts at their 2015 Annual Awards Dinner “Celebrating Life’s Precious Jewels”.

The Dinner’s emcee duties were shared by John Kunkel, former Time for Change Foundation Director of Communications and Fontana Mayor Aquanetta Warren.   Vanessa Perez, Civic Engagement Specialist provided the welcoming greeting and Senator Connie Leyva led the pledge of allegiance.  She introduced Pastor Hodari who led the invocation.

Time for Change Foundation proudly presented awards to the 2015 honorees for their outstanding community service and commitment:  Community Education Champion Award – Chancellor Bruce Baron; Humanitarian Award – The Race, Gender and Human Rights Giving Circle of the Women’s Foundation of California; Community Service Award – Santa Claus, Inc.; Ramos Family Spirit of Compassion Award – Mi Cocina Restaurant in Highland; Community Health Champion Award – June Collison; Community Health Advocate Award – Dr. Dora Barilla; Dynamic Duo Award – Angela and Victor Myles; Community Development Champion Award – National CORE; Community Business Leader of the Year Award – Premier Medical Transportation

Kim Carter with special guest, Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of the California Endowment presented the 2015 Community Development Champion Award to Steve PonTell, CEO of National CORE and Dawn Davison, Warden of California Institution for Women (retired) and current Time for Change Foundation Board member presented the Humanitarian award to the Race, Gender and Human Rights Giving Circle of the Women’s Foundation of California.

Dr. Nena Messina, Ph.D., a Criminologist at the UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs reported her 3 year findings as Lead Evaluator for the Time for Change Foundation’s Positive Futures project funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).  The results of her evaluation yielded a zero percent recidivism rate for the 131 clients served.  “SAMHSA often looks for successful programs to hold as the “gold standard” – [The Time for Change Foundation] Positive Futures [program] is an example that other programs can emulate,” said Dr. Messina. “After years of being referred to as “Evidence Based Kim” because we are focused on doing what is best (evidence based) instead of what feels good, it feels good to be nationally recognized for our outcomes,” said Kim Carter, TFCF Executive Director.  Nicole Wolfe, TFCF Director of their Center for Advocacy and Leadership Training (CALT) was “excited for the community to see the results of our evidence based training programs.”

Family and friends of honorees, elected officials and supporters of Time for Change Foundation were in attendance, enjoying social hour, entertainment by Jazz saxophonist Vaughn Fahie, a viewing of the agency’s new video, participating in the silent auction and much more.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- In support of the National Orange Show Fair’s 100th Anniversary, Omnitrans’ 1-year-old sbX bus rapid transit line will offer expanded weekend service April 24 – 26.
“The National Orange Show Fair is among the biggest annual events in our community. We are happy to make getting there a little easier by expanding our sbX service through the weekend,” explained Omnitrans spokesperson Wendy Williams.

The sbX line normally operates on weekdays only from 6 am to 8 pm. National Orange Show Fair weekend service hours will be:

• Friday, April 24: 6 am to 11 pm
• Saturday, April 25: Noon to 11 pm
• Sunday, April 26: Noon to 8 pm

sbX vehicles will run at 15 to 30 minute frequencies during the weekend. A detailed weekend schedule is available online at sbX NOS Schedule. The station at Inland Center Mall (North Mall Way) is adjacent to the National Orange Show grounds.

In partnership with NOS, Omnitrans is distributing coupons on board sbX and regular Omnitrans buses that offer $2 off admission to the event. “We are excited to team up with Omnitrans and hope to see many sbX riders at our 100th fair,” said Alan Conrad, NOS Director of Production and Marketing. More information on the fair is at: http://nosevents.com/2015-national-orange-show-fair/

“The Inland Empire 66ers baseball team also has a home stand that weekend, so we invite fans to hop on sbX to take in a game,” said Williams. The sbX station at E and Rialto is a short walk from the ballpark. More information at: www.ie66ers.com

The one-way fare on sbX, and all Omnitrans bus routes, is $1.75; a 1-day pass is $5. Persons with disabilities, military veterans, seniors age 62 and up, and youth age 18 and under, qualify for discounts. 7-day and 31-day passes offer savings for frequent riders.

The sbX green line travels along Kendall Avenue, E Street and Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino and on Tippecanoe/Anderson and Barton Road in Loma Linda on a 16-mile route, with over 5 miles of dedicated bus lanes. Riders can enjoy free Wi-Fi and 110-outlet power outlets on board. Stations feature real-time arrival signs, ticket vending machines, emergency telephones, and public art. Regular sbX route and schedule information is at: http://www.omnitrans.org/schedules/sbx-green-line/ or 1-800-966-6428.