Happily Divorced And After

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Choose a Door. Door number 1 or Door number 2?

Door #1. Follow the Lord and He will be your provider, your shield, your reward, and your victory. He will give you everything you need to serve Him. He will not only allow you to serve Him, but because of your faith He will walk with you. He will restore your meaning and purpose and He will be your salvation in the midst of wickedness.

Door #2. Don’t believe God. Think He’s hiding something good from you. Believe you can get away with evil. Have faith in the idea, that God is lying about the destructive nature of sin. Let sin rule over you and instead of being priests to the nations you will fill the world with stubbornness, brutality, murder, hatred, division, and eventually every thought in your imagination will be evil.

Now Christ offer some advice.

“Enter by the narrow gate – For wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction, and many enter through it – Door #2.

But small is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. – Door #1. [Matthew 7:13-14].

I tell you, of all the decisions that God puts before us, there is none more significant, none more important than choosing the right door.

There are only two pathways—one leading to destruction, and the other leading to life. One is readily found; the other must be searched for. One is popular; the other is unpopular. One is easy; the other is difficult. Choose wisely, for your eternal destiny depends on this choice.  “Enter!” “Do it now!” Time is running out. The gate will not always be open. The choice is between the way of life and the way of destruction. Let’s make a deal!

Christ beckons one and all with the first word of the text, “Enter!”

May you not be found among the majority – enter through the narrow way. As Moses said long ago: [Deuteronomy 30:19-20] I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing, and the curse. So, choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? | California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom has not yet endorsed a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, but former President Barack Obama did 10 days before the General Election on Nov. 8.

Citing her “proven leadership, integrity, and record of getting things done,” Obama’s endorsement of Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-13) for mayor of Los Angeles can be seen on a video released by her campaign.

Bass was an early supporter of Obama’s presidential run and campaigned for him in 2007.

“I am asking Los Angeles to vote for Karen Bass for mayor. I know Karen. She was with me in supporting my campaign from the beginning, and Karen Bass will deliver results,” Obama stated when making his endorsement official. “Make no mistake, there is only one proven pro-choice Democrat in this race. Karen has always been on the right side of the issues we care so deeply about.”

President Obama’s support of Bass follows endorsements from President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Bernie Sanders and more than 250 other endorsements from community leaders, labor unions and elected officials since the June primary.

Bass is the only candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party and Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County Action Fund. Her leadership has also earned her the endorsements of the Los Angeles Times and La Opinión.

“I am humbled and honored to have the support of President Barack Obama,” Bass said in a letter. “President Obama brought us faith in our government and hope for the future of our country. It is impossible to overstate the impact of his work leading this country for eight scandal-free years advancing social and economic justice in the nation and the world.”

While Gov. Newsom has yet to endorse a candidate running for mayor of Los Angeles, he has endorsed other state and local Democrats running for office.

Statewide, Newsom is endorsing Dr. Shirley Weber, California’s first Black Secretary of State. In a local Los Angeles race, he is endorsing Black educator and community organizer Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) who is running for State Senate District 28 against fellow Democrat and Black civil rights attorney Cheryl C. Turner.

Bass is in a tight race with billionaire and Republican-turned-Democrat Rick Caruso.

Responding to a question on Fox 11’s “The Issue Is” show, Newsom said “I have deep respect for the both of them and have not gotten involved in this race.”

Newsom’s political advisers, a firm called Bearstar Strategies, are also chief consultants for the Caruso’s campaign.

In the 2018 gubernatorial primary, Bass endorsed former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over Newsom. But, August 2021, Bass, members of the group calling itself Women Against the Recall (WAR), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-37), held a news conference to openly support Newsom in the recall election held Sept. 14, 2021.

The Black Women Organized for Political Action PAC (BWOPA-PAC), California Black Women’s Collective PAC and Black women leaders throughout the state called out Gov. Newsom’s reluctance in declaring support for Bass.

“He stated that he supports Black Women, but his administration doesn’t demonstrate that he wants us at his decision-making table.  He selectively supports Black women candidates even when they have overwhelming support from the party leaders and our community like in the case of Congressmember Bass,” the coalition said in a “open letter” in October.

Bass is running to be the first Black woman mayor of the second-largest city in the country. She stated that “President Obama’s support underscores the contrast in this race and inspires” her campaign.  She has stated her plans are to solve homelessness, make the city of Los Angeles safer, and create affordable housing.

“She has devoted her life to serving her community, from working in the emergency room to saving California from a budget crisis to delivering relief during the COVID pandemic as a member of Congress,” Obama stated.

INDIO, CA— California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday joined Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and officials from College of the Desert and FIND Food Bank for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Indio campus student food pantry and a check presentation to College of the Desert for the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program.

“Meeting community needs through the invaluable service of #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Fellows, who are earning scholarships to help pay for school, is a win for all of us,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. “We are thrilled to see the benefits of this program already coming to life.”

The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program is a new opportunity for thousands of California college students to serve their communities in critical issue areas such as climate action, education, and food insecurity.

“College of the Desert is doing an excellent job engaging students, expanding partnerships, and being at the forefront of innovative opportunities to provide financial support for students. We are grateful to California Volunteers, the Office of the Governor and the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps for this $1.8 million investment in our Coachella Valley,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia. “Together with local partners, this program will build a new generation of young leaders willing to step up and serve the community, alleviate food insecurity, and help make the dream of a college education more attainable for our students.”

Fellows in College Corps at College of the Desert will work with community leaders to address food insecurities in the Coachella Valley while achieving their college goals.

“Food insecurities are a real problem for many college students. College of the Desert is grateful to collaborate with community partners to help students struggling with food insecurity on a local level. Students participating in the program will also learn skills that relate to the working world.” said Dr. Martha Garcia, College of the Desert Superintendent/President.

Students who complete a year of service will be eligible to receive up to $10,000. College of the Desert’s year-long service opportunity will be with FIND Food Bank. Fellows will learn about the efforts to address food insecurity in the Coachella Valley as well as take part in direct service activities.

“This program is an opportunity to engage students with the issues affecting our community that also teaches transferrable leadership skills from working in warehouse logistics, retail, and programmatic development,” said Debbie Espinosa, Food Bank President & CEO.

“Food insecurity impacts college students too. By having this pathway to lessen the burden of student debt while giving a platform for students to share their voices and address local problems, we’re cultivating our future leaders to make a lifetime of impact.”

Students can learn more by visiting www.cacollegecorps.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will be performing This Sunday, November 6th at 2 p.m. at San Bernardino Valley College North Hall.

Themed “INNOVATE”, the repertoire will include Fanfare to the Stars by Chandler Wilson, a transcription of African Dance by our own Dr. Nicholas Bratcher and Kevin Day, and Southern Hymn by Sam Hazo, among other works.

Now in its second season, the ensemble is an auditioned group of students ages 14-21 from schools throughout the Inland Empire. The San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble is conducted by Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, associate professor, and director of bands at California State University, San Bernardino.

The San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble is a music education initiative from the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra providing a nurturing and creative environment where young musicians can grow musically and holistically through performance spotlighting the work of traditionally underrepresented composers.

The event will be held on the campus of San Bernardino Valley College in the North Hall.

For more information about the San Bernardino Symphony’s music education programs, including the Youth Wind Ensemble, please visit the Symphony website at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org. Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased at the door

StormyWeather Banks, a Fashion Designer and Boutique Owner recently announced the grand reopening of her newly remodeled and expanded boutique, StormyWeather Designs in Bellflower California. The grand reopening took place with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring beautiful statement jewelry, structured and relaxed handbags, on trend accessories, jackets, and apparel. The event was well attended by Bellflower City Officials, local celebrities, and the community. Those in attendance included: Larry Wehage (Bellflower Chamber of Commerce President), Dan Koops (Bellflower Councilmember), Actress Camille Calvin (Lifetime’s “Deadly Cheers”), Actress Samantha Bailey (CBS’s “The Young and the Restless”), and many others.

“I am excited about this expansion, but more so grateful for the support of the community and the City of Bellflower over the last 10 years,” says Banks.

StormyWeather is a respected designer, retired LAUSD fashion design teacher, and a minority-women owned business. Her boutique is located at 16737 & 16739 Bellflower Boulevard in the City of Bellflower offering selective custom designs, apparel consultation on making the perfect prom dress, wedding dress and an unveiling of her new sewing and manufacturing shop for those who want to learn how to sew.

Sewing classes are available on Monday and Thursday from 11am – 1pm and 4pm – 6pm. The classes are open to individuals ages 6 years old and up.

To learn more about StormyWeather Designs, visit:

 https://stormyweather-designs.myshopify.com/.

Stay connected with StormyWeather Designs at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stormyweatherdesigns-266515007325099/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stormyweatherdesigns/

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

Proposition 28 is one of seven statewide initiatives on the November 8 ballot. If passed, Prop 28 will boost arts and music education funding for 6 million public school students. The proposition requires California to dedicate 1% of the education budget to arts and music programs.

If the proposition passes, it will provide approximately $1 Billion to PK-12 schools.

Prop 28 is backed by Austin Beutner, former superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Arne Duncan, education secretary in the Obama administration, and a broad coalition of teachers, families, artists, entrepreneurs, community leaders and labor organizations.

Among celebrities and musicians supporting the proposition are Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, John Lithgow, Issa Rae, and Will.I.Am

 “This initiative is timely as our country seeks to create a more just and equitable future for all children. A boost in arts and music education will help ensure the future workforce in media and technology properly reflect the diversity of the children in our public schools,” according to a joint statement from Beutner and Duncan.

As schools adapt to tightening budgets, arts and music are often the first to go. But these programs have a profound impact on students’ academic outcomes and behavior. This was shown in a study of 10,000 students in the Houston school system by University of Missouri professor Brian Kisada and Texas A & M professor Daniel H. Bowen.

“We find that a substantial increase in arts educational experiences has remarkable impacts on students’ academic, social, and emotional outcomes. Relative to students assigned to the control group, treatment school students experienced a 3.6 percentage point reduction in disciplinary infractions, an improvement of 13 percent of a standard deviation in standardized writing scores, and an increase of 8 percent of a standard deviation in their compassion for others,” the professors wrote in their Brookings Institution article.

There is no major opposition to prop 28, but some fiscal conservatives say it could lead to an increase in property taxes.

“If Prop. 28 passes, a 1% combination of state spending, in addition to the spending of each locality through property taxes, would be solely dedicated to music and arts education,” said Ari DeWolf, educational outreach manager at the Reason Foundation, an organization that promotes libertarian values.

“California already spends $95.5 billion on its public school system, translating to around $17,000 per student. This figure puts California in the top 10 states for per-student education funding. California’s current spending on K-12 education has reached a historic high, while public school enrollment is the lowest in two decades,” according to DeWolf.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond recognizes the importance of music and arts education. $3.5 billion has been budgeted for an Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary block grant program according to a Department of Education press release. These one-time grants will be available to county offices of education, school districts, charter schools, and the state special schools in the 2025–26 fiscal year.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Thousands of students participated in the annual Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) conference, referred to this year as STEPCon22.

This conference focused on exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) with various exhibits that sparked students’ interest.

“STEM-based education provides our students with connections to grasp difficult concepts,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “STEPCon22 is giving students the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning with real-world applications that will strengthen our region’s workforce for the future.”

This annual event is designed to ignite student interest in STEM related career fields.

Through this conference, students became familiar with how STEM can be leveraged in careers such as first responders, law enforcement, military, engineering, manufacturing, environmental and healthcare sectors.

“There are not a lot of women in the STEM area,” said Nia Hoghs, a Yucaipa High School student. “I think it would make a big impact on people if we can get more women in this field because then they will see if she can do it, then maybe I can, too.”

Students had the opportunity to engage with college educators and industry professionals one-on-one. They also participated in hands-on science experiments, interactive technology exhibits, presentations, breakout discussions and a science showcase.

LOS ANGELES, CA— Covered California and Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services teamed up to officially launch open enrollment across the nation for the 2023 coverage year. Open enrollment is the time when Americans can sign up for health insurance coverage through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. This is the 10th open enrollment period under the landmark law, which has helped provide health insurance to millions of Americans and will feature increased and expanded financial help for consumers through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Becerra joined Jessica Altman, Executive Director, Covered California, Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, Representative 37th Districtand Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services.

The open-enrollment period begins with a record-high 14.5 million people enrolled in the federal and state marketplaces, including 1.7 million in Covered California. The increased enrollment has been driven by the increased financial help first made available through the American Rescue Plan and extended under the Inflation Reduction Act.

As part of its efforts, Covered California is launching a “10 Years Strong” campaign, celebrating a decade of providing quality health insurance plans and reducing the state’s uninsured rate to a historic low.

“Covered California is ‘10 Years Strong,’ celebrating a decade of expanding access to quality, affordable health care for millions of people throughout the state,” said Jessica Altman. “Open enrollment is here and now is the time to sign up for quality health insurance coverage through Covered California that will protect you and your family.”

10 Years Strong

Covered California’s “10 Year’s Strong” campaign will highlight the progress made in expanding health care access by increasing the number of people with health insurance in every region over the past decade. It will also showcase continuing efforts to reach into every community in the state to make sure all Californians have access to quality health care.

Since Covered California’s first open-enrollment period in 2013, federal data shows that California’s uninsured rate fell from 17.2 percent to a record low 7.0 percent in 2021, which is the largest percentage point drop for any state in the nation over this time.

During this time, more than 5.2 million Californians have received health insurance coverage through Covered California for at least one month. Covered California’s has seen its overall enrollment grow by more than 40 percent, including a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of people signed up in Los Angeles County.

One Million Uninsured Californians are Eligible for Low-cost or No-cost Coverage 

Covered California enters open enrollment with 1.7 million consumers. However, new data shows that there are more than 1 million uninsured Californians who are eligible for financial help to bring the cost of coverage within reach. Of that group, at least 55 percent – or about 568,000 people – could get quality coverage through Covered California or Medi-Cal at no cost.

The remaining 471,000 uninsured Californians are eligible for significant financial help that will lower the cost of their monthly health insurance premiums. Right now, 90 percent of Covered California’s enrollees qualify for financial help, and thanks to the increased and expanded financial help made available through the American Rescue Plan and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act, those consumers are saving an average of $475 per month, or an average of 80 percent of their monthly health insurance premium.

Currently, two-thirds of Covered California’s consumers are eligible for comprehensive health insurance coverage at a cost of $10 or less per month.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, CEO of Covered California Jessica Altman, Covered California enrollee Zhang Yue, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Congresswoman Karen Bass, and Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly attend the kick off event for Health Care.gov and ‘California’s 10th open enrollment launch event on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 in Los Angeles. (Mark Von Holden/AP Images for Covered California)

Signing up for Coverage is Easy

Consumers can discover their options by visiting CoveredCA.com, where they can easily find out if they qualify for financial help and see the coverage options in their area.

All they need to do is enter their household income, ZIP code, household size and the number of people who need coverage and their ages into the calculator on Covered California’s homepage.

Open enrollment began on Nov. 1 and is the one time of the year when eligible people cannot be turned away from coverage.

In addition to visiting CoveredCA.com, those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

• Get free and confidential assistance over the phone, in a variety of languages, from a certified enroller.
• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.
• Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

About Covered California

Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies. Covered California is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Depending on their income, some consumers may qualify for the low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal program.

Covered California is an independent part of the state government whose job is to make the health insurance marketplace work for California’s consumers. It is overseen by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the legislature. For more information about Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

The “Stop the Hate. Spread the Love,” initiative spearheaded by California Black Media (CBM) and others, was introduced to the Los Angeles community at the 17th annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Oct. 15.

Representatives of the campaign maintained a booth at the daylong, multicultural event that drew over 300,000 people to a two-mile stretch of Crenshaw Boulevard in South Los Angeles to celebrate the Black cultural experience – as well as the traditions of other ethnic groups — through food, music, and art.

Brandon Brooks, CBM’s campaign project manager, said attending the festival was a good way to familiarize people with Stop the Hate and organizations that are geared toward combatting hate incidents and hate crimes in the Golden State.

“We brought together a lot of partners to give information on how to combat and address hate — outside of law enforcement,” Brooks said.

Representatives from local and state government departments including the City of Los Angeles’ Civil + Human Relations & Equity Department, the California Secretary of State, the California Department of Social Services, and the California Civil Rights Department were at the three-table booth with Brooks and CBM Executive Director Regina Wilson

“Having those representatives on hand was a must,” Brooks said. “If you or I experience hate we might not be comfortable with calling the LAPD or sheriff’s department, so who can we actually really call,” Brooks asked rhetorically, speaking to this CBM reporter. “You can actually call the civil rights department; you can call social services. A lot of people don’t know that. These organizations are there to be a resource or an olive branch to start that dialogue. You may need some help. That’s these organizations’ job.”

A report released by California Attorney General Rob Bonta in June revealed hate crimes inspired by racism and homophobia resulted in a 33% uptick in reported incidents in the state in 2021. Hate crimes against Blacks were the most prevalent, according to the report. There were 513 crimes committed against Blacks in 2021, 13% more than the 456 in 2020.

Becky L. Monroe, the California Civil Rights Department’s deputy director for strategic initiative and external affairs, said working to eliminate hate crimes and the attitudes and circumstances that contribute to them is about saving lives.

“It is critical that people know what their options are if they are targeted for hate and know that we can take action and that we can stop hate and spread love,” Monroe said.

CBM is in the early stages of its Stop the Hate public information campaign. The media and advocacy organization’s goal is to publish a series of stories that educate Black Californians and state residents from other backgrounds about each other’s lives, cultures and traditions as it promotes an appreciation for diversity and fosters deeper inter-ethnic understanding.

CBM has four events or festivals planned within the next year that promote the message of the Stop the Hate campaign.

“Regina’s goal is to really break bread and bring people together,” said Brooks, referring to CBM’s executive editor.

The initiative is funded by a joint venture of the California State Library and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. The Ethnic Media Grant Project has awarded nearly $6 million in grants to 50 ethnic media outlets and organizations serving communities that are historically vulnerable to hate crimes and hate incidents.

The program’s aim is to enhance public awareness of the Stop the Hate Program being run by the state’s social services department.

Festival attendees who visited the Stop the Hate booth were able to meet representatives from media publications Al Enteshar, Carib Press, Ethnic Media Services, Impulso News, and Indian Voices.

The booth was sponsored by CBM, Ethnic Media Services, the Civil + Human Relations & Equity, the NAACP, and the California Civil Rights Department.

Brooks said CBM’s Taste of Soul booth was successful because it introduced people to the Stop the Hate initiative and individuals gained more information about fighting hate crimes and reporting hate incidents.

“When you say hate crimes or hate incidents, we as a collective really need to figure out how to address this topic,” he said. “We really wanted to bring resources and information to the community.”

Los Angeles Sentinel Executive Editor Danny J. Bakewell Jr., whose newspaper organizes Taste the Soul and is a CBM partner, said the festival aligns with “Stop the Hate. Spread the Love.”

“That is what Taste of Soul is all about,” Bakewell said to CBM’s videographer. “Spreading the love, right here in our own community on Crenshaw Boulevard.”

“California Black Media was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.”

By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

The California Hawaii Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted elected officials, activists, organizers, faith leaders, and entertainers at its 35th Annual State Convention held in Los Angeles from Oct. 21 through Oct. 23.

Workshops and discussions were held that covered pressing issues confronting African American and other communities of color in California and Hawaii.

Activities included “Stop the Hate” and discrimination training, a Health Forum, a Reparations Townhall, an economic development panel discussion, workshops for youth and college-aged members, an environmental justice workshop and the Annual Gwen Moore Utilities Workshop.

The convention highlight was a fireside chat featuring Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin, NAACP California Hawaii President Rick Callender Esq., and the Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University Los Angeles, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, on Saturday night.

For the last two weeks, the LA city council has been embroiled in a scandal centered around the release of a recorded conversation involving former City Council President, Nury Martinez, and City Councilmembers Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo and former LA County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera made disparaging comments about several groups including Blacks, Mexicans, LGPTQIA+, as well as several individuals, including Bonin, who is White, and his adopted son Jacob, who is Black

“The attitude that they had of contempt and racism did not surprise me,” Bonin said.  “This was about the three of them holding power…They said, because I voted with Marqueece [Harris-Dawson], Curren [Price Jr.] and my other colleagues, I was the fourth Black member… They went after the organization that Karen Bass founded, The Community Coalition, which is based on a Black-Brown coalition. They went after KIWA, the Korean Immigrant Worker Association, which is based on multiracial collaboration. They were against the idea of people working together, their whole thing was about divide. Their whole thing was for them to win. Somebody else had to lose.”

Martinez and Herrera resigned within days after the meeting tape was leaked, but despite public outrage and pressure from across the political spectrum, including Pres. Joe Biden, Cedillo and De León are refusing to step down.

“One of the things that I think we should be actually calling for is the official censure of these offending council members, and we need to take away their pay,” said Callender.  “If they want to sit there, if they want to do something, they should do it without receiving any money… They refused to resign, refused to pay them… They took Mark Ridley-Thomas’ pay the exact same way.”

“We’re literally looking at every possible thing,” said Bonin. “There is no one on the council who wants them there.”

The President awards dinner honored the activism and achievements of high preforming members and NAACP branches. Honorees included D’Adrea Davie of Stockton, a real estate agent and advocate for building generational wealth, and Yusef Miller of San Diego, a leader of Racial Justice Coalition. Jeanette Ellis-Royston of Pomona, an appointee of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, was also honored for her volunteer work. The Butte County, Hayward and San Francisco NAACP branches were honored for their advocacy and programming.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump gave the keynote address at a youth-focuseddinner Friday night. Crump has a national reputation as an advocate for social justice and is known for his representation of clients like the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Jacob Blake, and Daunte Wright. The Rev. Al Sharpton calls him “Black America’s Attorney General.”

The NAACP was founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country. The NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. There are over 2,200 units and branches across the nation with over 2 million activists. Its mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

More information about the NAACP California State Conference is available at www.CAHINAACP.org.