By C.K. McGhee

Sometimes you have to step away from yourself and step into your purpose. Because the bitterness of life and of people can feel like a circus. Quiet the noise, be steadfast and poised because at this very hour, you need to recognize your melanated power.

The only thing that separates you from me is the recognition that I have of my destiny. Purposely driven, yes…that’s  how I’m living, I’m turning pain into purpose and I’m shedding the old skin…old things become new and I’m feeling like me again.

Trials and tribulations they lead to elevations…immersed in life affirming thoughts mixed into…revelations. Stronger each day as God has his way…moves throughout my life, erasing stress and all strife. Wiping me clean of all darkness within, For he’s preparing me…for all light to come in.

Sometimes we may not be aware of the damage within, until the waters of healing start to rush in, bringing life and hydration to all those dry places, witnessing looks of joy on black and brown faces.

Seeing and tasting the salvation of life, was going left for so long, it feels good to go right. People, places and things draining all of my energy but like Lennon said, its time to just let it be. 

Tomorrow’s not promised and we know not the hour, so tired of attitudes that have grown sour, so stop wasting your time, seeking whom to devour, I’m walking in faith and my melanated power.

Best-known for its line of innovative head-to-toe grooming products developed to meet the needs of Black men, Bevel, a Walker & Company Brand, is introducing two new Hair stylers: Ultra-Defining Curl Creme and a 2-in-1 Pomade for Waves & Beards. The new stylers, designed to moisturize, define, style and shape beards, waves, curls, and coils, join their award-winning Hair line up featuring a Shampoo, Conditioner, Beard Oil and Beard Conditioner.

In addition, to increase access to their products and offer men a simpler way to shop, Bevel is expanding its partnership with Walmart, bringing their new stylers and Hair, Body, Beard, and Skin lines to additional Walmart stores across the country, starting in February 2021.

“Expanding our partnership with Walmart is incredibly exciting. Bevel’s mission, to make health & beauty simple for Black men and women, truly drives everything we do. The opportunity to bring Bevel’s award-winning Hair (including our new hair stylers), Body, Beard, and Skin products into select Walmart stores represents another great step in making our mission a reality. Our community truly matters to us and we’re not done yet.”
– Tia Cummings, VP Marketing, Walker & Company Brands

The Bevel Hair collection ranges from a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner designed to cleanse and moisturize hair, to a nourishing beard conditioner to soften and tame, an ultra-hydrating beard oil that sculpts and locks in moisture, a 2-in-1 Pomade for Waves & Beards that locks-in moisture and gives a lightweight shine with a butter-based formula, and the all-new moisture-rich and defining Curl Creme that offers all-day hold. 

The new products and expanded retail access reflect the company’s on-going mission to deliver high-quality head-to-toe grooming products, made with only the best ingredients, to Black men, men of color, and those with curly, coarse, and textured hair, whenever and wherever they need them.

Bevel is committed to creating solution-based products that work to solve the unique health and grooming issues faced by Black men.

Products available at Walmart (in-store and online) will include:

Bevel Curl Creme ($11.95; 7 fl oz) 
The curl creme enables your hair to lock in moisture, while the ultra-hydrating formula leaves your curls lightweight, manageable and frizz-free.

Bevel 2-in-1 Pomade ($11.95; 1.7 oz) 
The unique blend of coconut oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter and cocoa butter locks in moisture, helps nourish hair textures from within, maintains a lasting hold and a grease-free finish. 

Bevel Sulfate-Free Shampoo($9.95; 12 fl oz)
A moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo that gently cleanses thick and textured hair without stripping it of its natural oils or altering the hair’s natural pattern.

Bevel Sulfate-Free Conditioner($9.95; 12 fl oz)
The best cuts come after the conditioner. This sulfate-free formula moisturizes, conditions, and detangles your hair so your lineups and styles are always fresh and clean.

Bevel Beard Conditioner($9.95; 4 fl oz)
The best cuts come after the conditioner. This sulfate-free formula moisturizes, conditions, and detangles your hair so your lineups and styles are always fresh and clean.

Bevel Beard Oil ($14.95; 1fl oz)
Formulated with a non-greasy lightweight solution of ingredients, this premium oil blend packs all the punch without clogging your pores.

For more information on Bevel visit getbevel.com or follow Bevel on Instagram.

By J. Adalberto Quijada, U.S. Small Business Administration’s District Director for the Orange County / Inland Empire covering all of Orange County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County

During Black History Month, we celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize the important role they have contributed to U.S. history. At the U.S. Small Business Administration, our role is to support entrepreneurs in achieving their dream of owning a business and our goal is to work with Black entrepreneurs to overcome today’s challenges and come back stronger than ever.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black owned businesses show they have been hit particularly hard across demographic groups as outlined in the SBA’s Office of Advocacy Report.  The decline in business activity among Black owners has been nearly three times the decline among other owners. When an entrepreneur starts their own business, they create new jobs in the community. In fact, small businesses generate two of every three net new jobs and deliver essential goods and services to our community.

Here are the top resources that small business owners can utilize today to leverage all available financial resources to be not only resilient but come back stronger:

1. Funding: The small business community faced unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus. SBA provides several relief funding options through the Payroll Protection Program. The PPP is a forgivable loan if 60 percent is used to payroll.  Independent contractors, self-employed and workers part of the gig-economy can apply.  The PPP has a First Draw and a Second Draw, meaning two loans that can be 100 percent forgiven. You can apply for a PPP Loan until March 31, 2021.
2. Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is a separate program from PPP and delivered through SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Applications can be submitted through December 31, 2021.
3. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program will be available soon for live venue operators/promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organizations, some museums, zoos and aquariums, and other entities. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
4. Lender Match is our online program that connects entrepreneurs with financial institutions to provide business loans backed by the SBA. Small business are encouraged to find a local lender that meets their needs.
5. Business Counseling: The Orange County Small Business Development Center Network offers free, Covid-19 resources, one-on-one counseling, training services, market research and more. Assistance is free or low-cost.
6. Mentoring: SCORE provides free mentoring, Covid-19 resources and education to business owners to learn from others who have been through the entrepreneurship journey. SCORE is a network of thousands of volunteer business counselors around the country who mentor and educate small business owners. SCORE provides online counseling as well as educational webinars. We have three chapters in our district to assist you: Orange County SCORE; Inland Empire SCORE; Coachella Valley SCORE.
7. Scaling Up their Business: SBA’s Emerging Leader’s program is a no-cost “mini MBA,” that assists entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level. The Orange County / Inland Empire District Office is proud to offer this program in 2021. Stay tuned for upcoming details on the application process!
8. Assistance to Woman Entrepreneurs: Across the U.S., Black women start their own business at record rates. Women’s Business Centers assist women in starting and growing small businesses. They provide a full range of services for women entrepreneurs at all stages of planning, implementation and growth. We have two centers in our district: Inland Empire Women’s Business Center; Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center. Additionally, SBA recently launched Ascent, a first-of-its-kind, free digital e-learning platform geared to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses. 
9. Support to Veterans with Starting their Own Business: Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial education and training program available to active duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve), veterans and their spouses in starting or growing their business. Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide business development services to transitioning active duty service members, Guard, Reserve, Veterans and military-connected family members.
10. Taking their Business to the International Market: Export Assistance Centers help small businesses entering the international marketplace. Entrepreneurs can learn how to export, participate in foreign trade missions and trade shows, translate websites, and design marketing campaigns.
11. Accessing Government Contracts: The 8(a) Business Development Program helps provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities. Women-owned business certification helps women business owners, as the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses certified as women-owned. Our office presents informational webinars to help understand the programs and application process.
12. Online Resources: SBA.gov includes online resources and information about upcoming webinars to assist entrepreneurs in overcoming common business challenges.
13. Local Support: The SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office can connect you to local SBA resources, mentors and training. Visit https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ca/santa-ana for more information.
14. Join our office on February 25, 2021 along with SCORE, the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce and the Riverside NAACP where we will share resources available to Black owned small businesses. Register at https://score.tfaforms.net/17?EventID=a105a000006dG4d

As the director for the SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District, SBA recognizes the contributions of the Black community, the job-creating entrepreneurs and their families for their daily hard work in keeping local economies thriving. We encourage you to reach out to SBA.

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SBAs’ participation or support is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services of any Co-sponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.  All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!   This is a great place where ideas and information are shared with the small business community.  Your feedback, questions, and comments allow us to better serve the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

In honor on Black History Month, we introduce you to the epically determined Angela Dawson, a woman who is putting a stake in the ground for Black Farmers and helping to build generational wealth.

As the Founder of 40 Acre Cooperative and the 40 Acre Ranch which employs 60 percent of female farmers, this one-woman pioneer is single handedly responsible for making sure that over 100 black farmers, with more on the waiting list, are getting the tools and resources they need to succeed with the First (and only) Nationwide Cooperative Supporting “Socially Disadvantaged” Farmers. Angela is what you can truly call, an American Hero.

Angela is making sure that money is being made and kept in the Black community while the earth is being regenerated, and healthy food is being grown for Americans across the country.

Angela has always enjoyed membership in the local food co-ops in her home state of Minnesota, but she noticed a huge glaring issue- almost all of the co-ops were white run businesses operating in white communities. She found that black farmers made up less numbers by population now than ever before. In America today, 95 percent of farms are white owned and just 1.3 percent of farms are Black owned according to the USDA. She found that a Black owned and Black community supporting co-op has not been in operation since the 1800’s in the US. Angela was determined to change that.

After leaving a career in public health at U of M and putting all of her life savings into starting her own farm in Northern Minnesota, Angela applied for support from her local USDA office. She applied for the “socially disadvantaged farmer microloan” program. She was immediately denied. After appealing to the office and asking them to reconsider, they said she wasn’t eligible and didn’t offer any other options. It became abundantly clear, from her very own experience, that black farmers were still being suppressed, even in 2018.

Recent changes to USDA policies aim to address historic disadvantages for farmers left behind, but farmers of color haven’t caught up. The U.S. agricultural industry has been failing to provide livable wages for independent farmers for years and farm commodity prices continue to fall. However, the 2018 Farm Bill opened the opportunity for hemp farmers to add this high earning cash crop to their acres and this empowered Angela to add hemp and the 40 Acre Co-Op was born.

The idea was to get Black farmers back their land and build generational wealth in the community. At 40 Acre Co Op the goal is to help farmers navigate barriers in accessing the market. From help obtaining a grower or processor license to their Hemp Incubator Program that provides support and mentoring for farmers from seed to shelf. Recently, Angela has seen an influx of Black farmers returning back to the farm to re-establish their legacy farm. Saying “People are becoming more interested in self sustainability through farming since COVID.”

40 Acres also works with them to review and improve their business plans and provide access to budgeting and farm management software. Ultimately, helping as a trusted grow partner in the industry by providing access to high-quality genetics and reliable data to support their growing needs. All of these years later, in northern Minnesota, a wrong becomes something Angela wants to help right, and she is being joined by farmers all over the country.

So, what’s next?

In Feb 2021 Angela is partnering with Hemp Industry leader Charlotte’s Web “Seeding Our Future Together”, an educational mentor program for Black hemp farmers and leaders. Policy Education is on the docket, this is the first partnership announced from the Company’s ‘Ten Commitments to Black Lives’  announced in June 2020.

“This is the beginning of an important shift in the industry and we intend to use this momentum to create lasting and impactful change,” says Dawson. ” I am excited about the partnership with Charlotte’s Web that will increase access to the healing properties of CBD bringing relief to so many children and families who struggle with health conditions and quality of life issues. This monumental partnership is a game changer for the economic health and well-being of so many people, with win-win scenarios in towns all over the country. Just as important is our pride in bringing so much richness to agriculture via new high-quality products, while keeping equity and fairness in check.  This is how we feel business should be done.”

Additionally, with the tremendous impact that the pandemic has had on our food supply, the 40 Acre Co-op swiftly adjusted their growth plans to supply critical food resources to communities in need. They are launching a food security program to address the needs in the communities where their members farm.

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media 

After launching a campaign last year to push for another Black woman to replace Vice President Kamala Harris in the United States Senate, a coalition of California Black women leaders say they are not defeated. They are organizing. 

Many of the women – federal or state legislators, other elected officials and political leaders –have made history in California and across the nation. Now, they have come together to organize, launching an effort to ensure that more Black women are voted into elected office in California.  

On February 15, the California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC) hosted “Conversation with Congresswomen Karen Bass, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters.” Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, moderated the virtual event.

“After we were disappointed that we were not able to keep the seat for the United States Congress, we wanted to make sure that we did not lose our momentum, so we brought together this collective of Black women across California to make sure that we stay visible and active and engaged,” said LaNiece Jones, Executive Director of Peralta Colleges Foundation and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA).

According to the event’s organizers, the goal of CBWC is to amplify the priorities of Black women and organize with the goal of securing adequate representation for Black women in government. They also work in solidarity with the #WinWithBlackWomen initiative, which advocates for Black women lawmakers nationally.

The congresswomen spoke about how they ended up serving in the state legislature and later Congress, with all of them mentioning that they were ushered in by other Black legislators who called them to serve. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37) said she entered the race for the California Assembly because other Black legislators were going to Congress and there weren’t going to be any African American women serving in the state legislature had she not run and won. 

“That was very motivating to me because all of the issues that we had worked on in the community. When people leave, everything that you’ve worked on can be reversed. So, that’s what led me to run for office,” said Bass.

When asked who had been critical to their success in their career, the congresswomen spoke about Black women community leaders and local government leaders who have worked with and inspired them, including Mary Henry, Opal Jones and Lillian Mobley in South Los Angeles, Maudelle Shirek in Berkeley, Nolice Edwards and Kellie Todd Griffin in Sacramento, and Edith Austin in Oakland.

“What I liked most about them was the courage that they had. If you could’ve seen them operate, you would’ve been instilled with the kind of strength that they helped to generate for me. I’ve been out of place, outspoken, confrontational, all of that, because of all these women, and I love it, and I’m so pleased I knew them and embraced me,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43).

Speaking about their legacy, the congresswomen all say they hope they will be recognized for the fights they have led on behalf of their communities, and for delivering for their constituents. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) emphasized the importance of changing systematically oppressive systems.

“Like Shirley Chisholm said, when you get inside it’s not about playing by the rules, it’s about changing those rules because they weren’t made for you and me. So, I hope that my legacy will be, I didn’t go along to get along and I tried to change the systems and structures that are creating such oppression for so many marginalized people,” said Lee.

State and local Black women legislators also spoke about the legacies they want to leave, and what they want to accomplish for both their constituents and the women who will follow in their footsteps in various roles. They also touched on the importance of creating a better future of Black Californians.

“I wanted to demonstrate to people from San Diego and for African Americans across the state, that we can actually fight this battle and win,” said California Secretary of State Shirley Weber. “That was something that was so important because so many of our communities settle for little or nothing in terms of representation. So, my goal was to basically demonstrate that we can get police reform, that we can get a reparations bill passed, that we can do things in California that others think that we couldn’t do.”

State Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen said, “This country has done dubious things in terms of passing policies that have shaken the bedrock of our financial stability. When I think about my legacy at least, as I serve on the Board of Equalization, I really want to begin to elevate the conversation. There are very few women – let alone Black women that are in this space that are paying attention to taxes and fees and they’re paying attention to budget. That is the legacy that I hope to leave behind.”

Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes Crenshaw, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills and Culver City, says Black politicians have to press their colleagues holding elected office to push for the changes they would like to see. 

“We are at the bottom of just about every statistic when it comes to talking about Black futures, and what our Black babies are going to grow into. At the end of the day, we have got to be riding every single fellow colleague and the administration on budget decisions that are coupled with policy decisions,” said Kamlager-Dove. 

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Holly Mitchell emphasized that courage is required to succeed. 

“I want people to be clear about my ‘why,’ and understand that I was not afraid because fear is the only thing that can stop us as Black women from being overwhelmingly successful. Don’t be afraid. If others are afraid of you that is their problem, not yours,” Mitchell said. 

Assemblymember Autumn Burke spoke about her mother, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who also served in the state legislature. Burke said she now feels it’s her responsibility to bring Black women into the legislature as her mother did. 

“Creating a bench is incredibly important to me now. It was one of my mom’s legacies. So many of her staff became speakers and supervisors and city council members. It’s something she’s really proud of. And as I look now, as I’m getting a little bit older, I’ve realized how important that really is. When I look around that room, knowing that I’m going to be the only one there, and what a disservice that is to our communities,” said Burke.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed spoke about her motivation for getting into politics, after growing up in poverty. Now, she wonders why she was one of the only people in her neighborhood to go to college and get out of poverty.

“All the people I grew up with, I now see them in the Tenderloin, sometimes strung out. I’ve gone to more funerals and I can count. The only reason why I decided to do work as a public servant is because I wanted to change things from a perspective of someone who’s was forced to live in it for most of my life. So, what I want my legacy to be is I want to look back, and I want to feel and see a difference in people’s lives,” said Breed.

The annual event will resume as a virtual conference throughout the month of March 2021

“Her Story” is the theme for the 20^th Annual Empowering Young Women’s Conference, a collaborative effort of the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation and Howmet Aerospace. In previous years, the conference was held at Riverside Community College where over 200 girls would consistently attend.  

This year, due to the pandemic, things have changed, but the conference is still continuing—-virtually. The FREE conference will be held EVERY Saturday in March from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Girls have until March 3 to register, but they must register by February 20 to receive a mailed STEM Kit. 

The conference consists of activities for the girls and special guests that speak inspiration into them. This year’s keynote speaker is LeShuana Evans. Evans supports the U.S. Department of Defense in STEM education, outreach and workforce development as a contractor in Alexandria, VA.

Video guests of the conference include Sydney Barber, Midshipman 1^st Class-US Naval Brigade Commander; Valorie Burton, President and CEO of CaPP Institute; Dr. Yolanda Harold, Anesthesiologist; Alesia Martin, Sr. Project Engineer, King’s Hawaiian, Western Region; Dr. Lauren Mathews, General Dentist and Owner of Mathews Dental Group; Lee Rodriguez, Actress and Model; and Monica Stockhausen, Founder and CEO of Nerdy Girls and the Proven Method. 

The conference is catered to girls 12 and 21. To register for the conference, please visit http://bit.ly/EYW2021. If you want to donate to support the Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation a 501 (C) 3; Non-profit Organization, visit www.adcrfoundation.org. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. has invited community stakeholders to join a virtual town hall called “Community Conversations on COVID-19”. The town hall will focus on the current state of COVID-19, provide facts regarding vaccination and give specific resources to local communities. Over a dozen organizations representing faith-based leaders, essential workers, and nonprofits who work in Latino and African American communities will participate in the Community Conversation. This town hall will serve as a bridge to mitigate vaccine hesitancy and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.ThetownhallwillbeheldonWednesday,February24th at7pmandbroadcastonFacebooklive and YouTube live.

“The County is making significant progress in combating the spread of Covid-19,” Supervisor Baca said. The next step is to expand equitable access to the vaccine among populations disproportionality impacted by the disease. We must roll our sleeves up and get to work by ensuring all communities have the resources necessary to defeat the scourge of COVID-19. It will take all of us to safely reopen schools and restore our economy and a return to normalcy.”

The Community Conversation on COVID-19 will feature industry professionals Dr. Sharon Wang, an infectious disease specialist from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), County Public Health Director Corwin Porter, and County Assistant Executive Officer Diana Alexander — all of whom will provide expert, up-to-date information.

Supervisor Baca will moderate the conversation covering the following topics:

• Vaccine myth busting
• Expert medical advice regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine
• Resources available to learn more about vaccines
• How and when to schedule an appointment for the vaccine
• How we’re helping hard-to-reach and diverse populations

There are three ways to participate in the Community Conversation on COVID-19 town hall:

• Via Facebook Live: @SupervisorBacaJr
• Via YouTube Live: https://tinyurl.com/bacajr
• Via telephone in English: 669-900-9128; Meeting ID – 824 5205 1039
• Via telephone in Spanish: 609-663-4744

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

The California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP is applauding outgoing California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s decision to conduct a probe of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

Last week, Becerra announced that he has opened a civil rights investigation to determine whether there is a pattern of unconstitutional policing practices involving the country’s largest sheriff’s department.

“I applaud Attorney General Becerra for his commitment to looking at public institutions and to ensure that our civil rights are not being violated,” NAACP president Rick L. Callender told California Black Media.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the investigation responding to allegations of excessive force, retaliation, and other misconduct, including a number of reported incidents involving LASD management and personnel.

“We’ve done a number of these,” Becerra said, referring to the multiple investigations his office has opened. He was speaking during in a virtual news conference Jan. 21.

“The action we’re taking is the result of having received credible information, reports, from a number of sources over a period of time,” Becerra said. “(It) led us to a point where we now believe it is important to move forward with the investigation. We are undertaking this investigation to determine if LASD has violated the law or the rights of the people of Los Angeles County.”

Becerra said that the LASD probe is “not a criminal investigation,” and his office has not made any determination about “specific” complaints. The DOJ’s action is also prompted in part by the absence of sustained and comprehensive oversight of LASD’s operations.

Callender said he believes the investigation will force other law enforcement officers in the state to think twice before from breaking the law or violating established codes of conduct.

“It’s efforts like this which allow us to not only fight individual acts of bigotry and racism; but this puts on notice other statewide institutions and systems that perpetuate racism and inequity that they will not go unchallenged,” he said.

LASD isn’t the only law enforcement agency in the state under the DOJ’s microscope for allegedly engaging in activities that went against their departments’ policies. The cities of Stockton, Vallejo, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Sacramento, and the county of Kern have kept the DOJ busy since Becerra became AG in 2017, replacing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Last month, President Joe Biden nominated Becerra to join his Cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is expected to be replaced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who Gov. Newsom has selected for the role, once she is confirmed by the legislature.

Awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Becerra has been making an effort to improve public safety and the criminal justice system up and down the state.

Last month, following an extensive investigation, the AG secured an agreement to reform a wide range of practices at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier last year, following several reports of misuse – including falsification of records — the DOJ rescinded LAPD’s access to CalGang, a statewide database that tracks individuals who may be connected to gangs.  

In Northern California, Becerra also launched a review of the Vallejo Police Department after officers allegedly destroyed evidence related to the June 2020 officer-involved shooting of Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old unarmed Latino man.

The year before, the DOJ secured an agreement with the Stockton Unified School District and its police department to address system-wide violations of the civil and constitutional rights of African American and Latino students, as well as children with disabilities. 

Then in 2018, Becerra stepped in at the request of the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department to provide independent oversight of reform initiatives in that city.

Last summer, the DOJ introduced a broad statewide agenda for police reform aimed at improving use-of-force procedures, addressing issues around bias in policing, and increasing accountability and transparency. Many of the proposed reforms stem from a set of policing best practices and recommendations made to the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) by the Attorney General in January of 2019. The AG issued 66 policy recommendations to SPD following the shooting death of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed African American man in Sacramento, by two officers in 2018.

Regarding the LASD, Becerra says he has made no determinations at this time about specific complaints or allegations.

However, one violation stands out. In March 2020, LASD announced that eight of its deputies were responsible for sharing images taken at the site where retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna “Gii” Bryant died in a helicopter crash. The action of the deputies and other first responders at the scene prompted Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) to author AB 2655, the “Invasion of Privacy: First Responders” Act.

L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he welcomes the probe.

“I look forward to this non-criminal pattern and practice’ investigation,” Villanueva said in a statement. “Our department may finally have an impartial, objective assessment of our operations.”

The Center for Juvenile Law and Policy (CJLP) at Loyola-Marymount’ Loyola Law School released a comprehensive report documenting how “deputy gangs” have negatively impacted public safety in Los Angeles.

“The concern is that these subgroups foster a culture that resists police reforms, such as community policing and constitutional policing, by encouraging and even celebrating aggressive tactics and excessive use of force against minority communities,” the report stated.

Starting this year, State prosecutors in California must investigate all police shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian, under a new law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1506. It took effect Jan. 1.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced the legislation which will override local prosecutors’ authority in investigations of fatal shootings by police. That responsibility now falls under the AG’s office. It also requires that a detailed report is created and publicly released on each investigation.

McCarty says he was motivated to push the law after he learned that more than 800 people had been shot and killed by police in California since 2015. Only one independent investigation had been carried out.

“Now more than ever there needs to be a uniform standard for local law enforcement officials and district attorneys to call for independent investigations into police killings,” McCarty said. “Police shouldn’t police themselves, and the current system is fraught with conflicts of interest.”

They say what would the world be like without the sound of music. In my opinion the same goes for the art of dance. Just imagine the world without it. I mean even in the Bible King David danced. In 2 Samuel 6:14, it says, “And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod”. Dancing is another way to communicate feelings through movement. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen and Asia online due to a LUE Productions virtual talent competition, ‘GONGED ME’. The moment they began dancing, I was blown away. 

Stephen and Aisha are a freestyle/improvisation duet collective that has been exploring/, performing, training, and collaborating together since 2016. As a duet, they want to express the importance of creativity and individuality through dance.  Stephen and Aisha work well together because they love what they do and want to express how powerful dance is to as many people as they can as a duo, as well as solo artists. Representation Matters! As Black artists, we hope to inspire others to be bold and have the confidence to share their sunshine too.

The Riverside based duo has performed in much of the Inland Empire area and have sprinkled out into areas of Los Angeles, California performing at the Shut Up and Dance Festival 2018 (Licia Perea) and Under the Spotlight Showcase (2018) at multiple occasions (Maxine Silfvergen), San Diego, California, performing at the Pop-Up Showcase (2017-18)  on multiple occasions (Omeed Simantob), and Phoenix, Arizona where the pair was invited out to perform at the Blaktinx Festival PHX 2018 (Licia Perea and Liliana Gomez).

Aisha is a recent graduate from Cal State Long Beach receiving her BFA in Dance. She is currently working as a guest teaching artist for an elementary school and involved with other online dance projects. Stephen is currently performing for company parties via Zoom and learning the art of DJing.

As a duo, Stephen and Aisha are currently training and exploring together and cultivating new work. They also host a bi-weekly dance session in Riverside CA to provide space for ALL dancers to express themselves and learn from each other. The sessions are currently taking a break and will be back April 2021. To keep up with Stephen and Aisha, you can follow them on Instagram:  @aishabuttersctoch and @stanner300.

Make sure to following the talented duo and book them for your next gig. If you’re a dancer or a part of a dance group, make sure to check out LUE Productions upcoming event ‘JUST DANCing’ in September honoring the world of dance along with their $500.00 Dance competition. Details can be located on the LUE Productions website at www.lueproductions.org. Now with that being said, don’t be afraid to BUST A MOVE of your own. Until next time L’s!