Black-owned student academy launches pilot program

LOS ANGELES - Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, a Black-owned and operated educational program for student-athletes, is excited to announce the launch of its first summer program, the Blue Chip Academy, set to begin in July 2023.

DUAL Threat is an educational program focused on providing student-athletes with the proper tools to excel in their sport of choice and outside of sports as academic and civically engaged young leaders. This educational program will support student-athletes starting in the 6th grade.

Each educational program will be based on topics that are applicable to the athlete’s age and sport. The program will cover topics such as social justice and civic engagement, financial literacy, personal health, and much more.

“Dual Threat Prep’s inaugural program will equip student-athletes with the skills necessary to make an impact outside of the game. Far too often, student-athletes are left to grapple with some of life’s most serious obstacles and transitions without the necessary support,” said Dual Threat’s Founder and Executive Director Kristina T. Wilson, Esq.

“It takes more than talent and physical skills to be successful in sports, especially as athletes inevitably face some type of adversity inside or outside of sports,” she added.

“We’re excited to welcome 12 6thgrade and 7th grade student-athletes into our program this summer as we launch this curriculum to provide safe and substantive learning for students over the summer.”

Applications to join the program will be available June 1 at https://dualthreatprep.org/ About Dual Threat Preparatory Academy Dual Threat

Preparatory Academy is an educational program that provides student-athletes with the proper foundation to excel in their respective sports while developing them into contributing members of society outside of athletics.

By teaching student-athletes the "game" within the game, Dual Threat will instill the knowledge necessary to navigate life as a student-athlete on the high school, college, and professional levels. To learn more about Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, visit dualthreatprep.org.

California reparations task force to recommend ‘down payments’ for slavery, racism

By Wendy Fry

The California Reparations Task Force published documents Monday indicating it plans to recommend the state apologize for racism and slavery and consider “down payments” of varying amounts to eligible African American residents.

The documents, numbering more than 500 pages, do not contain an overall price tag for reparations, but they do include ways the state could calculate how much money African Americans in California have lost since 1850, when the state was established, through today due to certain government practices.

The loss calculations would vary depending on type of racial harm and how long a person has lived in California. The loss estimates range from $2,300 per person per year of residence for the over-policing of Black communities, to $77,000 total per person for Black-owned business losses and devaluations over the years.

The state-appointed task force faces a July 1 deadline to make reparations recommendations to the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Task force leaders have said they expect the Legislature to come up with actual reparations amounts.

The task force also is recommending a variety of policy changes to counteract discrimination.

“It is critical that we compensate, but not just compensate. We also need to evaluate policy that continues to hold us back,” said Monica Montgomery Steppe, a San Diego