L.A. Focus On The Word February 2018

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F E B R U A RY

L.A. FOCUS

2018

@LAFOCUSNEWS

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UPFRONT:Kamlager-Dove Has Edge in 54th Assembly Race PAGE

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ONE ON ONE: Angela Bassett Sizzles in Black Panther PAGE

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26 Pastor Toure Roberts Opens up About Finding Love, His Famous Father-In-Law & Becoming Whole in New Book If there is one thing certain about Toure Roberts, it is that he is always >> evolving.

Just last year, he folded his growing L.A. mega church, One

Church L.A. into Bishop T.D. Jake’s Potter’s House family of churches and in the process took on leadership of The Potter’s House Denver as well. And later this month he will release his second book, Wholeness,the follow up to...

SAVING GRACE: Charlie Wilson

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contents

L.A. Focus Publications

FEBRUARY 2018

Left: (l-r) Dr. David Carlisle, President and CEO of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science(CDU); Assemblymember Autumn Burke;and Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee; Center: (Middle); Viola Davis speaks onstage at the 2018 Women’s March in Los Angeles at Pershing Square to share her #MeToo moment speech; (Right) Olympic Medalist, Camelita Jeter and Nike campaign for EQUALITY are collaborating with the Los Angeles Jets Track and Field Club to help empower the young female athletes of tomorrow.

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Commentary Federal Law Allowing Slavery In California

From The Editor We Must Tell Them...

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Upfront

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Head to Head

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Kamlager-Dove Has Edge In Race to Fill 54th District Assembly Seat;Anger Builds Over District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s Failure To Prosecute Police Officers;Con

Trump: The Latest In Long History of Racist U.S. Presidents

Headlines From Africa Money Matters Top Internship Program for 2018

On The Money America’s First Black Millionaire

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Feature Story

Pastor DeForest “Buster” Soaries Million Dollar Challenge

Hollywood Buzz

Royal Family Drama for Meghan Markle; Jon Legend to Play Jesus; A Remake of Super Fly

One On One Angela Bassett

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Lisa Collins Editorial Coordinator Antracia Moorings Contributors Gerald Bell Production Britney Westbrook Photographer Ian Foxx, Rickey Brown Advertising Kisha Smith, Tina Stephens Social Media Jinoye Henry L.A. Focus–On the Word, is published monthly.

Address all correspondence to: L.A. Focus, 333 W. Florence Ave., Suite C333 Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 677-6011 Fax: (310) 677-2338 Subscription rates $25.00 per year.

14 Calendar/Around LA 23 First Lady Files Red Carpet Style From The Pulpit 16 Eye 24 On Gospel In Good Taste 25 Through The Storm Saving Grace 26 17

Kinette Cager—Ward AME Church

Award-winning Looks From The Red Carpet

New Life L.A. --Todd Clease

Marvin Sapp Humbles by Grammy/NAACP Image Award Nominations/ Charles Jenkins Receives Early Christmas Gift/Kirk Franklin To Host New Gospel Music Festival

This Year’s Flu Season is A Killer

Monique Scott - Trinity Catering

Charlie Wilson

Biz News Briefs

Sale of Essence Magazine Re-establishes It As 100% Black-owned; Marvel’s First Black Super hero On Pace To Break Box Office Records

18 Church News 20 22 Pastor Profile

Game Changers Tyrone Howard

Evangelist Carlton Pearson Biopic Debuts At Sundance Film Festival

Pastor Johnteris Tate

Snoop Dog debuted music from his upcoming gospel project at the Superbowl Gospel Celebration in Minneapolis.

Snoop’s 32-track Bible of Love collection is set to drop on March 16.

advisory board

Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. Bishop Charles Blake City of Refuge Bishop Noel Jones Paradise Baptist Church Dr. Aaron D. Iverson Southern Saint Paul Rev. Xavier L. Thompson F. A.M.E. Church Dr. Cecil Murray Faithful Central Bible Church Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Rev. Melvin Wade Mt. Zion MBC Rev. E.V. Hill II

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Cover Design: Ups

cale Media Gro up

-Copyright, January 1995 by L.A. Focus: Unsolicited manuscripts/photographs are not accepted, nor shall any responsibility for them be assumed.

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Commentary

Pastor Noel Jones Guest Columnist

Federal Law Allowing Slavery In California ou may be surprised to learn that under the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution, California inmates are considered slaves and are treated as indentured servants by definition.

As of December 27, 2017, there were approximately 118,232 individuals incarcerated in California prisons.

California budged for 7,700 positions for the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA); of-which 6,000 are incarcerated men and women who volunteer to work in manufacturing jobs such as building equipment and furniture, not to mention making license plates, for which CALPIA has a virtual monopoly in California. These prison workers are paid $.40 - $1.00 per hour. Then there are approximately 29 who work in private industries via public/private partnerships and are paid a minimum wage.

All other regular prisoners are paid $.08 - $.37 an hour for cooking, cleaning, and other state prison services.

Prisoners who volunteer and are qualified to be trained and serve as firefighters, and work side-by-side with our brave professional firefighters, are paid only $2 a day plus $1 an hour. In California, they have provided approximately 3 million personhours responding to fires and other emergencies and 7 million person-hours in community service projects, saving California and the state’s taxpayers approximately $100 million. Many have lost their lives protecting the lives of others.

Some argue that treating inmates as indentured servants is fair because they get free medical care and room and board. When you consider that California taxpayers pays up to $75,000 for each adult inmate, and that out of their low wages the state deducts up to 80% for taxes, restitution, room and board, and other costs associated with the prisoner’s criminal processing and incarceration; this argument has no merit.

Further, under federal law all inmates are considered slaves and not “employees” as such their salaries are not considered earned income. Thus they are subjected to “legal financial obligation” (LFO), and their wages are subject to personal income taxes but they do not qualify for unemployment benefits, child care tax credit, or Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which could net their families up to $12,500 in refunds.

Here’s the kicker – private companies entering into an agreement with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to employ and train prisoners get a 10% tax break. In essence, these men and women are serving out their criminal sentences as indentured servants who pay taxes, without representation.

Equally inequitable, this unfair and unjust system continues to deny former inmates, who have served their time and are productive, tax paying citizens, from voting because their crime was considered a felony. And inmates who qualify to vote are not institutionally encourage and provided the opportunity to register and vote as part of their civic education while incarcerated. This is especially unfair when their crime may not be a felony under existing California law, they are required to pay taxes, and

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From the Editor

the state has failed to protect their freedom of speech.

The Governor’s budget preserves the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, and inmates who volunteer to participate in CALPIA’s Career Technical Education (CTE) programs can earn industry-accredited certifications. Programs includes computer coding, computer-aided design (AutoCAD), pre-apprentice carpentry, pre-apprentice construction labor, ironworking, commercial diving, and culinary and facilities maintenance. CTE graduates have some of the lowest recidivism rates, a cumulative 7.13% (as opposed to the 65% recidivism rate for other California inmates) proving that this strategy has an economic and moral benefit.

The Governor’s budget also includes funding to establish a Firefighter Training and Certification Program, to provide exoffenders with education and training to become firefighters employed by the California Conservation Corps with base wages and benefits consistent with other corps members. Proving that rehabilitation programs, when coupled with career education programs, work extremely well.

However, billions were saved over the years by allowing prison overcrowding and scarce mental and health care, (according to the 2011 United States Supreme Court in Brown vs. Plata). Further the shifting of inmates to the county and to the streets also saved money, but with insufficient re-entry programs the result was increased crime.

The millions recently invested as a result of prison realignment is appreciated but woefully inadequate. Based on various studies, punishment without rehabilitation and reintegration into society does not reduce recidivism nor address the loss of life and property associated with cycles of incarceration, early release, assault, murder, theft, or other crimes and back to prison only to start the process over again. We must ask ourselves who benefits from continuing this failed practice – and at what cost, especially given that time has proven that the historical strategies of perpetuating slavery through massive incarceration of men and women is not humane, moral, or economically productive.

The solution? California does not have to follow the 13th Amendment and treat inmates as slaves and indentured servants. California can treat inmates justly and fairly, pay them market wages, invest in programs that save the lives of inmates and victims, provide the same level of heath care afford to all California and undocumented resident and allow them their constitutional right to vote. (Colossians 4:1) The Legislative Black Caucus should introduce legislation that allows all free men and women to vote (including ex-inmates with felonies), issue a $25 billion tax exemption bond for prison reform or property tax bonds to fund prison rehabilitation, eliminate taxes on inmate salaries, pay them a progressive minimum wage, and allow them to accumulate workers compensation and unemployment benefits.

Bishop Noel Jones is the senior pastor of the City of Refuge.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“We Must Tell Them”

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an estate of three houses because she’d saved.

Believe it or not, a 20-year-old worker who saves just $10 a day for the rest of his or her working lifetime will have investable assets of $1 million or more at retirement. Now that’s empowering.

Unfortunately, a 2016 survey by GOBankingRates, tells the side of the story we most often see. That 23% of respondents said they have less than $10,000 saved for retirement, and roughly one-third had no savings at all.

Whatever the case is for you, check out our feature story on page __ and be inspired. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that we all need to pad our bets and put ourselves in the best position possible to navigate this world with some sense of financial stability.

Also in this issue, the inspiring story of Charlie Wilson. A man who was counted out and cast out, kicked to the curb by a music industry that thought they’d seen the best of him.

But God granted Wilson a second act, that as God would grant it has exceeded his first act and what a story he has to tell.

With it being black history month, I am reminded of one of my favorite sayings from a black history giant, Booker T. Washington: “Tell them that the sacrifice was not in pain. Tell them that by habits of thrift and economy, by the way of the industrial school and college that we are coming. We are crawling up, working up, bursting up: coming through oppression, unjust discrimination and prejudice; but through them all we are coming up, and with proper habits, intelligence and property, there is no power on earth that can permanently stay our progress".

Finally, in a month where we celebrate black history and African Americans who invented everything from traffic lights to a paper bag or broke color barriers in sports, entertainment and politics, we would do well to remember that not all of it is in our past. That blacks continue to make history every day and that many of those black history makers live among us. Let us not wait until they are dead to celebrate them.

Keep the faith.

L.A. Focus/ February 2018

here is a power that comes from being debt-free—an almost euphoric sense that a chain that has been weighing you down has been lifted. Pastor DeForest “Buster” Soaries knows that all too well. Though he looked like he had it all together from the outside, he was living check to check and dodging bill collectors.

That is until one day he decided he was done.

He got rid of the car and the high monthly note that came with it, gave up the lease on the apartment that was too expensive in the first place and moved in with his mom, where for the next six months he would sleep on the floor.

But it was during that period that Soaries paid off all his debts and began on the path of realizing his dream.

Today, he is the pastor of a New Jersey based church, sits on the board of a bank and is the former secretary of state of New Jersey.

But not only was getting out the debt the first step on the path to living his dreams, but now is helping others to do the same and reap the sense of empowerment that has fueled his own goals and objectives.

This month we’re spotlighting his dfree program, because he couldn’t be more accurate when he says that debt in the black community is perhaps a bigger problem than racism.

Unfortunately, we have to face that for far too long, we have been a community of consumers. Worse still, we have fallen short on the ability to leverage the dollars and profits that are fueled by our consumption.

We could empower ourselves if we could just pay more attention to where those dollars are spent, understanding that if we did recycle those dollars, our unemployment numbers would fall, but even with that we have come up short.

Sure, in a world where salaries have been stagnant and the cost of everything is going way up particularly in a city where housing is increasingly unaffordable, saving can be a challenge. But for so many of us, spending sure isn’t. Let’s not even address the amount of money women spend on all that goes with looking good.

Despite the rising costs of everything, we (myself included), spend way too much on things we really don’t need.

The straw that broke the camel’s back for Soaries came with the death of his grandmother, a humble woman, who despite racist Jim Crow laws, was able to leave

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UpFront S

Kamlager-Dove Has Edge In Race To Fill 54th District Assembly Seat

ydney Kamlager-Dove, is in good place—out front— in the race to fill the 54th District State Assembly seat left vacant by retired assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. Though it’s early, she’s showing a significant edge over the other hopefuls bidding for office.

It took Kamlager-Dove—, president of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees and district director for State Sen. Holly J. Mitchell— less than a week after her announcement to accumulate endorsements from a long list of prominent political officials such as US Congresswoman Karen Bass, California Senator Holly J. Mitchell, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, Culver City Mayor Jeff Cooper, and several major dignitaries at the national, state and local levels.

“I think folks consider me to be someone who is no-nonsense and who is going to roll up my sleeves and do the work that is required,” said Kamlager-Dove. “I do have with relationships in Sacramento with many of the leaders that are there. I credit that to the work I have done while I have been working for the Assembly and for the Senate office…I think those are just some of the reason the group of folks have come out to endorse me.”

Kamlager-Dove said she knew she needed to approach her candidacy “swiftly” because there would be a short window before Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. announced the special election that is set for April 3, 2018 to replace Ridley-

Sydney Kamlager-Dove Thomas.

“I am able to hit the ground running because of my work in the district,” Kamlager-Dove said. “When I am successful I think it is just as important to know what the issues are in the district.

If it’s about environmental Justice and environmentally safe policy; if it’s about fighting for educational access, and making sure there is equity in how our schools are funded that’s not predicated on someone’s color or zip code; if it’s about fighting for foster youth and the formerly incarcerated.”

“Sydney has demonstrated her full appreciation of what it means to be a skilled public servant by taking care of the day-to-day community needs of the people of the 30th Senate District that I represent,” said Sen. Holly J. Mitchell.

“The voters of the 54th Assembly District

Anger Builds Over Los Angeles D.A. Jackie Lacey’s Failure To Prosecute Police Officers

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L.A. Focus/February 2018

n Tuesday, January 23, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (BLMLA) activists, supporters and the families of those killed in Los Angeles County by law enforcement held a community meeting on Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s failure to prosecute officers involved in fatal shootings of civilians.

Since Lacey’s election in 2012, over 300 residents of Los Angeles County have been killed by the police or died while incustody. The district attorney's office has not filed charges against any officer involved in an on-duty shooting in more than 15 years. Lacey hasn’t held a community meeting in South Los Angeles since 2016. The last community meeting held in October 2016 and Lacey walked out of the meeting after things got heated between her and community members from various groups and people whose loved ones were shot and killed by police after they voiced their anger and frustration with her.

Participants of last month’s meeting included Helen Jones, mother of John Horton, who was found hanging in his cell in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in 2009 and Lisa Hines, mother of Wakiesha Wilson, who was died at a hospital in 2016, about an hour after she was found hanging in her cell in a Los Angeles jail. The official ruling on the deaths of Horton and Wilson were never accepted by their families who both believe law enforcement played a role in each of their deaths. Other speakers include,

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News Briefs

continued to page 18

Ben Carson Strikes Back At Atheists

Contributor

already know Sydney. They can confidently be assured that Sydney will deliver for them when they elect her to represent them in our State Capitol. I wholeheartedly and forthrightly endorse Sydney Kamlager-Dove for 54th Assembly District in 2018."

Also contending for a chance at the seat are Ashlee Marie Preston, Joey Hill and Steve Dunwoody, a veteran, environmental and community advocate.

Dunwoody, who has already had his eye on an Assembly office long before the Ridley-Thomas announcement, posted his candidacy on his Facebook page the same day Ridley-Thomas stepped down.

“I am not running as a career move,” asserts Dunwoody who is the Acting Chair of the 54th Assembly District Democratic Club and serves as Legislative Chair of the Culver City Democratic Club. “I have been running for six months before it was clear about [its availability].”

Ashlee Marie Preston, a transgender civil rights activist has received widespread press after announcing her bid last December. Preston, the former editor-in-chief of Wear Your Voice magazine, attained national attention after criticizing Caitlyn Jenner in August for supporting President Trump.

There is also buzz that Joey Hill, a legislative staff member, is a potential candidate. Hill ran against RidleyThomas in 2013 but decided to support Ridley-Thomas prior to the election and backed out of the race.

Condoleezza Rice Concerned That #MeToo Campaign Could Infantilize Women

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Valerie Rivera, mother of Eric Rivera who was as shot to death by Los Angeles police, then run over by an uncontrolled patrol car in 2017 and Trisha Michael, the twin sister of Kisha Michael who was killed along with her boyfriend by Inglewood in police in 2016 while sleeping in their car. Activists with various community groups including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference were also present.

In 2017, BLMLA delivered over 10,000 petitions delivered to Lacey asking her in her capacity as district attorney to prosecute officers involved in fatal shootings of civilians. According to Mapping Police Violence, 53 people were killed by police in Los Angeles County in 2017.

"Lacey called me twice," explained BLMLA organizer Dr. Melina Abdullah.

"First she said that she could do a community meeting and the next day she called me to say that after she slept on it

GERALD BELL

ormer U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice weighed in on the #MeToo controversy in an interview with CNN’s David Axelrod and cautioned that women need to be careful about it.

“I think the movement to expose these circumstances is a good thing,” Rice said. “Let’s clear the air about it.

“I do think we have to be careful.

Let’s not turn women into snowflakes.

Let's not infantilize women and what I really don’t want to happen is I don’t want it to get to a place where men start to think maybe it's just better not to have women around.'

I've heard a little bit of that. And it, it worries me.”

While Rice—who made history as the first African-American woman to become secretary of state under President George W. Bush—says has never been a victim of assault, she revealed that —as with most women—there have been occasions on which people have said inappropriate things.

“I’ve never had anyone do anything I would consider assault”, said the 63-year old Stanford University professor, “but I don’t know a woman alive who hasn’t had somebody say or do something that was inappropriate at best and aggressive at worst.”

He may have been soft-spoken on the campaign circuit and maintained a low profile as he has taken the reins as head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but HUD Secretary Ben Carson recently blasted a pro-atheist group in response to a lawsuit filed over the weekly Bible study attended by members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet.

The lawsuit against Carson and HUD, filed last month by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), seeks to determine if government resources were being used to conduct the Bible studies.

FFRF moved to sue Carson and HUD when they refused to waive the standard fees normally required for the request under the Freedom of Information Act. Said Carson, “They are fearful that a hot beverage or a bagel may be consumed at the expense of taxpayers or that staff may be coerced to participate in religious activities against their will” “First of all,” Carson continued in his post, “taxpayer funds are not used to support the ministry, and secondly, no staff are involved in the Bible study. More importantly, I refuse to be intimidated by anti-religious groups into relinquishing my spirituality or religious beliefs. One of the principles of our nation‘s founding is freedom of religion.

“I will not stop being a Christian while in service to this country, in fact, it is my faith that helps me serve the nation even better”.

Clippers Team Up To GIve Free Glasses In a two year, six million dollar initiative to improve the lives of students with eyesight issues, the LA Clippers have partnered with billionaire Austin Beutner’s Vision To Learn nonprofit and the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide free glasses to every student who needs them.

“It is the L. A. Clippers Foundation’s goal to make a positive difference for the children in Los Angeles. This is what we do, and there is no better way to do it than by working with a strong, proven, community leader like Vision To Learn to help kids,” said Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. “For kids with eyesight issues, Vision To Learn can change the scope of entire lives.

When you can see the chalkboard, or the computer screen, or the math book- you’ve got a shot at learning.”

The move will make LAUSD the largest school district in the nation to provide glasses for every child who needs them, free of charge.

Out of the over 600,000 LAUSD students, it is estimated that 15-20 percent need glasses.

Over the next two years, Ballmer and members of the Clippers will make follow up visits to schools receiving eye exams from mobile clinics branded with the Clippers and Blake Griffin’s logo.

This is the third year of the Clippers and Vision To Learn’s partnership, with the program growing each year. In 2015, the partnership brought vision to 12,000 students in the Inglewood Unified School District, followed by and expansion the following year to help 80,000 students in the Long Beach Unified School District. Eye exams in all LAUSD schools are starting this month, beginning with Lovelia P. Flournoy Elementary.

HeadToHead

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Trump: The Latest In Long History of Racist U.S. Presidents

Some have called Trump Ain’t New: Black folks that they should Donald Trump the most self-deport and colonize in America’s Long racist U.S. president in Central America, telling them it History of Racist modern times, if not the most would be “extremely selfish” not Presidents racist president ever, for his to do it. crude and highly offensive comments callWith a deep hatred of Black people, ing Haiti and African nations “shithole Andrew Johnson believed America should countries”. However, Trump does not have a white man’s government. Johnson stand alone. As dangerous and violent as opposed the 14th Amendment, and vetoed his words are today, they are but a throw- the Civil Rights Act of 1866 granting equal back to what other commanders-in-chief protection to all citihave said and done during darker zens, as he doubted it times–when America was “great,” accord- was “sound policy to ing to Trump. make our entire colIt makes sense to start off with the ored population” U.S. first U.S. president, the father of the coun- citizens. Meanwhile, try, George Washington—who owned over Johnson also issued 300 slaves when he died. Washington pardons to wealthy ordered his overseer Anthony Whitting to Confederate traitors, keep a slave named Gunner working hard and gave his blessing David A. Love and “continue throwing up brick earth.” to the Southern states Gunner was 83. to issue the “black codes” reinstituting slavWhen Washington was president liv- ery by another name. ing in the Executive Mansion in Vice President Mike Pence once comPhiladelphia, he evaded a Pennsylvania pared Trump to Teddy Roosevelt, who law freeing any slave who lived in the state called white Americans “the forward race” for over six months. The father of this coun- and minorities “the backward race.” try sent his human property back down to Regarding Native Americans, he said “I Mount Vernon whenever the six months don’t go so far as to think that the only good were about to expire.

Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine Third president Thomas Jefferson out of ten are, and I shouldn’t like to owned as many as 140 slaves. Jefferson inquire too closely into the case of the spent years raping his slave Sally tenth.”

Hemings—his wife’s half-sister—since she Woodrow Wilson resegregated the fedwas a child. Hemmings bore six children. eral government, and when a group of And this man enslaved his own kids. Black professionals led by journalist Jefferson said the “unfortunate difference Monroe Trotter met with him to protest the of color” of Black people made them less policy, he told them, “Segregation is not beautiful than whites. humiliating, but a benefit, and ought to be Andrew Jackson–Trump’s hero– was so regarded by you gentlemen.” one of the worst American presidents and Wilson screened D.W. Griffith’s film also one of its most racist. He owned hun- The Birth of a Nation, glamorizing the Ku dreds of slaves, and censored anti-slavery Klux Klan as saviors of the white South–in mailings from Northern abolitionists while the White House. The film even quoted the president. Nicknamed “Indian killer,” he president: “The white men of the South committed genocide against Native were aroused by the mere instinct of selfAmericans, including women and children. preservation to rid themselves, by fair His Indian Removal Act removed means or foul, of the intolerable burden of 46,000 native people from their land, mak- governments sustained by the votes of ing 25 million acres available to white set- ignorant negroes and conducted in the tlers and slaveowners, while 4,000 interest of adventurers.”

Cherokee people died during the “Trail of Calvin Coolidge, responsible for the Tears” forced relocation to the West. racist Immigration Act of 1924 that The great emancipator, Abraham restricted nonwhite people into the counLincoln was a racist as well. During a try, said “America must be kept American. debate in his run for Senate in 1858, For this purpose, it is necessary to continue Lincoln said “There is a physical difference a policy of restricted immigration.” between the white and black races which I Despite the important pieces of civil believe will forever forbid the two races liv- rights legislation he signed, Lyndon B. ing together on terms of social and political Johnson was racist, to be sure. When he equality.” And in 1862, he tried to convince David A. Love continued to page 18

Headlines From Africa

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A look at current news from the continent of Africa Namibia: Inmates at Namibia's correctional facilities are transforming their lives as they prepare for re-entry into society, with a number of inmates obtaining degrees – including masters' degrees – and other qualifications that would allow them to find meaningful employment upon release.

Nigeria: Nigerian women risk being sidelined in elections next year, said female leaders, calling for greater training and support in a country where about only one in 20 lawmakers are female. Women occupy only 27 of 469 parliamentary seats, and the United Nations ranks Africa’s most populous nation as one of the worst in the world for female representation in parliament.

Sierra Leone: The Campaign for Human Rights and Development International has condemned the Sierra Leone Police for failing to control the rise of serious crimes, such as murder, rape, sexual assault, and other forms of domestic violence in the country. It is calling on the police to step up action to curb the growing trend.

Tanzania: Upgraded infrastructure, health services, free education policy, anti-corruption fight and well-performing social security schemes are among factors that helped Tanzania to emerge as the best inclusive economy in Africa as ranked by the World Economic Forum.

Zambia: People are collecting excess bottles of chlorine to sell at inflated prices, forcing the government to threaten prosecution. Meanwhile, the Lusaka Central Business District has run out of chlorine due to unprecedented demand as the fight against cholera has now spread beyond the capital city.

Zimbabwe: 75 political parties have registered for the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe. That’s up from the 35 that existed prior to 2017. Insiders credit the rise the factions feeling that they have a better chance against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sworn in last November after the resignation of Robert Mugabe.

L.A. Focus/February 2018

Angola: More than 31,000 Congolese refugees who sought shelter in Angola will be able to return home in March. The authorities of Angola's north-eastern Lunda Norte Province in Kananga, chief town of DRC's Kasai Central Province, received guarantees of political stability that will paved the way for them to leave.

Cameroon: The Boko Haram sect has used more than 100 children to carry out at least 60 suicide bomb attacks in Cameroon over the past year. The children are believed to be among thousands the terror group from Nigeria has kidnapped in a violent campaign to establish as Islamic state.

Congo: The UN has labeled the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a "level 3 emergency".

This is its highest warning and puts it on par with Syria and Yemen. Over the last couple of years, scores of activists have died protesting against President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down. In the latest bout of nationwide demonstrations, at least seven more were killed as they took the streets. Many more were arrested.

Eritrea: President Isaias Afwerki says the issue of illegal migration and trafficking of the country’s young people was a calculated attempt by persons outside of the country, adding that it was also hinged to efforts aimed at instigating a regime change. He also reiterated calls for the United Nations to undertake a probe into what he described as a scourge.

Ghana: Across Ghana, hairdressers specialising in perms, Jheri curl, leisure curls and hair extensions are struggling to fill their salons, with the growing number of women embracing their natural hair.

Liberia: George Weah, Liberia’s newly sworn-in 25th president, has pledged to cut his own salary in light of the country’s deteriorating economy and is calling for the removal of a "racist" clause in the constitution which restricts citizenship to black people.

s President Trump lays racist.

Bogus Racist out and implements his Granted, our president is not vision for American suc- Claims Against always careful with his rhetoric.

Trump cess — via his campaign But policy and principles are slogan, "Make America Great Again" — what we should be looking at, not rhetoric. there remain defiant naysayers.

We might recall that four years after Among the most defiant are those who Obama stated those inspiring words, he want to talk about race. was quoted during the 2008 campaign, They oppose Trump, claiming he is speaking about working-class Americans biased against minorities. hard hit by the recession, saying, "They Unfortunately, get bitter, they cling to guns or religion, or talking about race is a antipathy to people who aren't like them, great diversion from or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade the discussion about sentiment as a way to explain their frusthe ideas and policies trations." we need as a nation to The point is that the difference move forward. between Obama and Trump is not prejuThe proposition dice toward white working-class that America is a coun- Americans versus prejudice toward try defined by a set of minorities.

Star Parker founding principles that The difference is in their ideas of what are true for all is itself taken as racism. It makes America great. One sees big, flies in the face of the identity politics, so activist government as what defines us. loved by the left, that sees American great- The other sees limited government and ness not in universal principles but in giv- individual freedom as what defines us. ing credence to the claims of interest Trump is bringing back individual groups and responding to these claims freedom and economic freedom. And it's through new laws and court decisions. working. Deregulation and a new tax-cutAfrican-Americans are, of course, the ting law are freeing up the marketplace, poster children of interest groups, because and the economy is seriously picking up of the history of injustices to which blacks steam. can point.

The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small But we seem to forget that in order for Business Index, which measures "smallthere to be sense of injustice and wrong, business owners' attitudes about a widewe need principles defining what is just variety of factors affecting their businessand right. es," shows the highest score in 11 years.

If we look back to Barack Obama's Fifty-two percent of "business owners famous speech at the 2004 Democratic reported their revenue increased a little or Convention — the speech that put him on a lot over the past 12 months ... the highthe political map — he sounds like Donald est reading on this measure since 2007."

Trump.

Is this good for blacks? A growing, "Now even as we speak," he said, churning economy is good for every "there are those preparing to divide us, the American. spin masters, and negative ad peddlers, Economic growth is the engine of opportuwho embrace the politics of anything goes. nity.

"Well I say to them tonight, there is Let's not get diverted by racial rhetonot a liberal America or a conservative ric. Individual freedom, not interest group America; there's the United States of politics, is the platform through which America. every American, of every background, can "There's not a black America and a realize their potential and participate in a white America and Latino America and growing, job-creating economy.

Asian America; there's the United States of America.

Star Parker is an author and president of "We are one people, all of us pledging CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of Education. Contact her at www.urbanus defending the United States of cure.org. To find out more about Star America."

Parker and read features by other When Trump makes these same Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonpoints, because he is de facto delegitimiz- ists, visit the Creators Syndicate website ing interest group politics, many blacks — at www.creators.com. and, of course, most liberals — call him

7

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Come and Meet Inspirational Author Leeza Lee Barr

Book signing & Reading Saturday, February 10, 2018 1-3pm • Classic Bookstore 1425 W. Manchester BlvD • Inglewood, CA 90047

Saturday, February 24, 2018 12-3pm • Copy City 3818 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite # 1 • L.A. CA 90008

This book touches upon the many facets of life’ s experiences with emphasis on hope and redemption. Come and wet your appetite with the savor flavor for Love, Peace and Sweet Tea.

MoneyMatters Top Internship Programs For 2018 f you’re looking to find that perfect job, often the only way to get one’s foot in the door is via internships. Internships not only help to give you on-the-job experience, but provide an opportunity for prospective employers to see first-hand your skills and or talent. And as the job market is more and more competitive an internship just might be the edge you’re looking for.

Provided below is a list of some of the top minority internship programs for 2018: Year Up Internship Program – This internship helps urban young adults increase their technical skills and prepare for a career in information technology.

Students are paid a stipend and also receive mentoring, guidance and expert career advice.

Microsoft Internship Program For Women and Minorities – A competitive 12-week paid summer internship specifically designed for undergraduate minority college freshmen and sophomores interested in software engineering. Students must major in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related disciplines.

TV One Internship – TV One’s summer internship is open to full-time or part-time students attending an accredited college or university with an interest in the media industry. Internships are offered to undergraduate college students in the fall, spring and summer.

The Minority Access Internship Program – Offered in the spring, summer and fall to college sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduates and professionals, interns receive pre-employment training and counseling on career choices as well as professional development, with the possibility of full-time employment after graduation.

Congressional Black Caucus Internships – Three paid internships are available along with housing for college students pursuing undergraduate associates or bachelors degrees. A GPA of 2.5 or above is required.

BET Networks – BET offers paid 10-week internships for both undergraduate and graduate college students interested in media careers at five different locations.

Allstate Insurance Intern-ships – Offers paid summer internships in a variety of major and minor study areas and at various locations across the U.S. PricewaterhouseCoopers – Offers more than 700 internships each year across 29 countries for college students majoring in accounting and finance. Students will work with highly-skilled professionals and receive a realistic insight into the accounting and finance profession.

Dell Computers – 10-12 week internships are offered during the summer for undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of marketing and sales, finance and accounting, IT and more.

I

America’s First Black Millionaire?

People often refer to Madame C.J. Walker as America’s first black millionaire. But before Walker, there was Jeremiah G. Hamilton. At the time of his death, Hamilton was the richest non-white man in the country with an estate was worth about $2 million ($250 million today). As America’s first black Wall Street stock broker, he was bigger than life, dealing with power in the white business world, married a white woman, owned a mansion in New Jersey, and owned railroad stock on trains he was not legally allowed to ride.

Dubbed the “Prince of Darkness”, Hamilton ran what was then referred to as a “pool”, but today more closely resembles a ‘hedge fund’, which made him way ahead of his time. Even more surprising is the fact that whites wanting in on Hamilton’s pool, courted his favor with gift and he was said to have made it clear that he wanted nothing but the very best.

Once accused of counterfeiting, some of his business practices were controversial and by all accounts, he was not well-liked. One obituary account of his death read, “The notorious colored capitalist long identified with commercial enterprises in this city is dead and buried.”

Actor Don Cheadle is set to produce and star in an upcoming biopic of Hamilton’s life, appropriately enough titled, “Prince of Darkness”.

The AAAS Minority Science Writers Internship – A 10-week internship in Washington, D.C. for minorities attending an accredited college or university and majoring in journalism.

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship For Minority Students: Offered in the fall, spring and summer to minority undergraduate or graduate students with a strong interest in working in nonprofit or other social organizations.

To view and apply for hundreds of internship programs, visit www.findinternships.com.

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L.A. Focus/February 2018

Oracle – The second largest software maker offers 8-week, paid internships to students who attend one of the 39-member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and are interested in gaining knowledge and experience in the field of technology.

General Motors – This automotive giant offers paid internships in the areas of communications, finance, information technology, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, health and safety.

Merck – One of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Merck offers 9-11 week internships to college students in the areas of research & development, sales & marketing, information technology, human resources, communications, finance and legal, as well as internships in biology and chemistry.

Coca-Cola – Offers paid internships to minority students who are college sophomores majoring in chemistry, engineering, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing or business management, usually in the Atlanta area.

NASCAR – Offers paid, 10-week, full-time, summer internships to deserving minority students with an interest in the NASCAR industry.

Google –Google is rated No. 1 by Forbes as the best internship opportunity for college students interested in a career in software engineering. The pay is good as well.

UNCF/NAACP – 10-week, paid summer internships are offered to undergraduate students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Gateway to Leadership Internship Program offers finance majors an opportunity to work with major financial organizations.

NABJ – The National Association of Black Journalists offers internships to minority students interested in pursuing a future career in journalism. Applicants selected for a 10-week internship will be offered positions in print, broadcast or online disciplines at selected news organizations across the country.

Essence Communications Internship – This 9-week, paid internship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in a career in media.

Candidates must have a strong interest in issues among African-American women.

Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) – This paid internship is offered to college students pursuing a career in advertising.

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Diversity Internship – A 12-week summer internship for undergraduate college students across various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

SAMHSA Internship Program – Spring and summer internships available in a wide variety of areas to college students who have completed their freshman year. Undergraduate and graduate students may also apply.

James E. Webb Internship Program – Open to minority undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students in the areas of business and public administration, paid internships are offered in the spring, summer, and fall.

FAA Minority Serving Institutions Intern Program – Internships are open to minority college students interested in a career in aviation.

Diversity Internship at The Strong – Offers an 8-10 week, paid internship to undergraduate and graduate college students from diverse backgrounds with an interest in a career in the museum field at one of the largest history museums in the U.S. HBCUI Foundation Youth Greening Internship Program – Offers paid, 10-week internships to HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) students around the country.

Internships include housing and provides students a hands-on work experience at one of 12 National Park Services around the country.

On the Money

9

L.A. Focus/February 2018

D

r. DeForest “Buster” Soaries is on a mission.

The mission: To help 125,000 black people in America get out of debt and to have 3,000 churches using the curriculum he set up to do just that.

If the goal seems pretty lofty, understand that he is already about halfway there as an estimated 1,500 churches across the nation have some level of training and exposure to his curriculum along with 64 chapters of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. It doesn’t hurt that Soaries dfree® Financial Freedom Movement has the full backing of Fortune 500 companies such as Prudential Financial, who have joined the movement and its mission of making black Americans debt free.

So far, Soaries efforts have resulted in black Americans paying off nearly $12 million in debt. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Soaries who has issued a billion dollar challenge to get black Americans to pay down a billion dollars in debt by 2020.

Said Soaries, “We want to reintroduce black America to an economic strategy of personal responsibility, of making money work for you, and doing it ourselves. Our goal is to impact black culture so that it is not limited to profanity, sagging pants and ignorance.

“I believe that as a pastor I am absolutely obligated by God to empower my people. That’s a theological construct in the first instance. ‘My people suffer’, says the bible, but the knowledge dispenser is the pastor.”

It is a thinking that propelled his church onto the national stage with the 2010 airing of the CNN documentary, “Almighty Debt” in conjunction with it’s “Black In America” series. In it, then CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien examined how in every leading indicator — unemployment, income, wealth, educational attainment, home ownership and foreclosures —- the African American financial situation is worse off than other segments of the U.S. population, while profiling three families—all members of Soaries’ 10,000 member strong, Somerset, New Jersey-based church, The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. All with hefty financial challenges that Soaries dfree® strategies have helped them to overcome.

Believing that debt is a bigger problem in the black community than racism, Soaries makes living debt-free an integral part of his messages to the congregation. It is a culture shift from which both his church and its members have benefitted.

“Our people are getting out of debt, starting businesses and owning homes,” Soaries reports. “We have a

10

LISA COLLINS Editor

A lot of this prosperity stuff has been growing and people are sowing seeds, praying prayers and claiming victories and still broke. I decided I had to bring to my church a strategy that’s based on scripture, based on my personal experience and based on black culture....

35% of us have a zero net worth, 21% of us don’t have a bank account because we’ve never developed a post-civil rights economic strategy that starts with the individual.

testimony service every fourth Sunday where people testify about getting out of debt, paying off car notes, mortgages and student loans. So instead of celebrating someone buying a new car they can’t afford, we celebrate people paying off their old car and still driving it while saving—for themselves— the money they used to pay in a car note.”

Soaries knows first hand the alternative, living the early part of his life without the financial security that comes with debt-free prosperity.

“I was broke,” Soaries said. “Always having to go to strangers to fund projects I cared about. Never having enough money to do anything significant.

“What happened to me personally —after living 13 years paycheck to paycheck, credit card debt, bill collectors all the time— is that my grandmother died at 80.

She was a simple woman with no education from New York, but she died and left us three houses.”

That served as the catalyst for Soaries.

“I was 30 years old and for me to see that my black grandmother, with no civil rights, little education and no support from her husband could leave us three houses paid for —and I mean significant houses too—shame on me.”

It was a watershed moment.

“I had always believed that the solution to financial challenges was more money, but the reality was that the more money I had, the more money I wasted and the less money I saved or invested. So I sold the Cadillac that was too expensive for my salary. I got rid of all the furniture I’d bought on credit paying $229 a month. I ended the lease on my nice apartment and moved back to my mother’s house. I slept on the floor for six months, took all my money and paid off my bills. I then began following principles of saving, tithing and investing to the point where I’m on the board of three corporations, including a bank, and I own real estate.”

As a pastor, Soaries feels that not only is it important to set an example, but to teach his members the principles God has shown him for their benefit.

“A lot of this prosperity stuff has been growing and people are sowing seeds, praying prayers and claiming victories and still broke. I decided I had to bring to my church a strategy that’s based on scripture, based on my personal experience and based on black culture.

“Just because the civil rights movement was successful in tearing down barriers of restrictions does it not mean that we are going to be financially free,” Soaries

continued. “In an economic system you need an economic strategy, and we [as blacks] have none. In fact, segregation required that we do more with money than integration did.

“The second thing that happened in the post-civil right era was our parents prior to the 70s, did not have credit cards. The credit card became a tool that all Americans use to supplement income. It became seductive and our generation was not prepared for that.

“The third thing that happened was that advertising subliminally shifted our social consciousness and lured us into products that made us more consumers than we have ever recognized.”

For Soaries, the combination of those three elements has led to the myth of a social axis creating financial opportunities and black people being disproportionally poor.

“Thirty-five percent of us have a zero net worth, 21% of us don’t have a bank account because we’ve never developed a post-civil rights economic strategy that starts with the indiviual,” Soaries said.

While he has three earned degrees in religion from three established institutions, Soaries has not taken a single course on money management or community development.

Instead, everything he knows about finances, community outreach and the more than two dozen ministries the church operates, he has learned on the job, spurred on by a passion to serve people.

“Unfortunately in the post-civil rights era we have this ecclesiastical scheme where preachers support other preachers and the people making them rich and success in ministry has a lot to do with what the pastor drives rather than how the people live.”

The dfree® Financial Freedom Movement is a 12-part curriculum taught in classes and online. Section one, dubbed “address the mess” takes inventory of one’s debt and spending, while creating budgets that help to fast track their way out debt via advance payments, and to steer clear of late fees that are often the result of poor organization and not debt. Getting out of debt is not the goal, it is merely the first step on the way to the kind of financial security that pays off when there is an emergency or perhaps the goal of owning a business.

“Forty percent of the people we work with nationally say they have taken out a payday loan,” Soaries notes. “A payday loan starts you at 390% interest, but if you have an emergency savings account of at least $500, you’ll never need a payday loan.

“What we’re trying to teach people is that financial freedom starts with the way we think, not how much money we make. The second thing we teach people is the difference between their wants and needs.”

One of the program’s goals is to arm people to discern the powers embedded in the messages of consumption Americans are deluged with day in and day out.

“Every time we log in online, the shoes we looked at two weeks ago pop up,” Soaries points out. “Unless we motivate people to spend less and save more; unless we show people the biblical, cultural and personal options they have, we’ll spend a trillion dollars a year as a people and watch other people come here from all over the world, buy businesses, sell us donuts, do our nails while we stay broke.”

Getting people to overcome the fear and embarrassment of drowning in debt is part of the challenge, but Soaries says the embarrassment eases as one hears the stories of others with similar financial challenges. Then there’s always the privacy of going through the course online.

Program participant Tameka Davis says dfree® changed her life. “If you don't understand what overwhelming debt

can do to your future, you won't take steps to change it,” says Davis. "The dfree® program has helped me to realize that I am not alone in my debt challenges and it is possible to be debt free, with perseverance, determination and discipline."

Another participant, Alexandra in New Jersey, says "dfree helped me reduce my debt and has allowed me to save money to start my own business.”

“There is a church in Indiana where one member donated $2000 as a gift for the family that reduced the most debt in a 3-month period,” Soaries reports. “So it’s not condemnation, it’s not just mental, it’s not all education. It’s motivational. It’s spiritual. It’s mutual support and it’s celebration. That’s what we have to do to break through.

Otherwise we will be angry at the government for what it does not do for us without taking advantage of what we can do for ourselves.”

While his book, “Dfree®: Breaking Free from Financial Slavery”, provides his testimony and describes what’s possible, an online workbook shows people how to do it stepby- step, complete with tools.

Classes set up around the country also provide training and the program is available free online at mydfree®.org, which Soaries refers to as a portal for all things financial for the black community, including articles and videos on everything from financing college education to improving one’s credit score, all free to access.

“We don’t sell anything except books,” Soaries points out.

“There is nothing else to pay for. Our online course is free.”

“Prudential did some research and discovered that black people are likely to get information they trust from church, so we cut a deal with Prudential,” Soaries revealed. “They bring licensed professionals to do free consultations with all of our participants wherever we go and they are not allowed to sell products when they come with us. If people want to buy products, they’re free to do that, but we want our people to talk to a licensed professional to help them with their life planning and to help them understand the need for insurance and investments.

“Some people are attracted because they are in debt, others are attracted because they’re tired of paying $1500 a month for a small closet-sized apartment when they could pay a $1000 mortgage and own their own house.”

Fact is, according to Prudential, 85% of African Americans say that getting out of debt is their number one priority.

“Our problem is we are not in control of our own money,” Soaries states. “We need more businesses we can recycle into, and yet business formation is blocked by excessive debt. If you’re in debt no one can invest in you. “ dfree® kicked off 2018 with a bold BET Digital campaign celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The campaign features celebrities including Jussie Smollett, Taraji P. Henson, Remy Ma, 50 Cent, Mike Epps, Tank, Chloe x Halle and more reflecting on how the legacy of Dr. King inspires them.

Said Soaries, “Our people have a responsibility to pass on to future generations a legacy of prosperity, of power and of freedom. We are seeing a coming together, from Brooklyn to Baton Rouge, of young men and women who have decided to make this country the America that Dr. King begged America to be.

“I challenge black people to put off a billion dollars in debt. If we were to shift a billion dollars in credit card payments to a billion dollars in life insurance premiums, we could eliminate the income gap between black and whites in one generation.”

Pastor Toure´ Roberts Opens Up About Finding Love, Famous Father-in-law and Becoming Whole in New Book

I

f there is one thing certain about Toure Roberts, it is that he is always evolving. Just last year, he folded his growing L.A. mega church, One Church L.A. into Bishop T.D. Jake’s Potter’s House family of churches and in the process took on leadership of The Potter’s House Denver as well. And later this month he will release his second book, Wholeness, which is—in a sense—the follow up to his 2014 best-selling release, Purpose Awakening.

“The first book was basically about getting people to embrace the fact that they are not here randomly and launching them into walking out their purpose.

Wholeness is the next level” Roberts said.

“It’s about learning to identify invisible blind spots and saboteurs within so that your purpose is not hindered. Having a vision is one thing, having strength and wherewithal to execute it is another.”

“The most difficult thing for human beings”, Roberts continues, “is to see our own faults. We see everyone else’s faults.

For some reason the inner mirror is cloudy…it doesn’t work! Wholeness is just that— an inner mirror.”

Despite the call on his life and his gifting, Roberts own inner mirror revealed some insecurity early on.

“While I have a great call and gift that would bring me into [big] rooms, there was a time when I’d get into those rooms and shrink,” Roberts reveals. “I would feel unqualified. But the good news about insecurity and understanding it, is that it is a feeling based on a thought and we can control our thoughts.”

His new book provides practical stepby-step advice to overcome negative thinking coupled with his own observations and experiences. Roberts also discusses his relationship with famed father-in-law, Bishop T.D. Jakes.

“Initially, I had two meetings with my father-in-law,” he recalls. “The first one was at his book signing and we were trying to connect. He had heard his daughter [Sarah] had fallen in love with a preacher from L.A. and I wanted to connect because I knew I was in love with her. Given the circumstances, that first meeting was really quick. He said ‘You’ve got my heart in your hand, sir.’

“The second time —when we finally had a chance to sit down, we talked for two and a half hours. I’m not going to say it was an interrogation, but if you could mix the words interview and interrogation…”

Roberts pauses for a moment. “He saved the most poignant question for the end. He said ‘Son, I know what’s right with you, now tell me what’s wrong with you?

“Oh man! By the time it was over we had dinner as a family, and we’ve had a fabulous relationship ever since.”

In fact, Jakes became the spiritual father Roberts had been looking for.

“When Sarah and I fell in love, she would have been enough,” Roberts says.

“Just thinking about her—she is evidence that God knows what I need. What I didn’t expect to get was two bonus parents and he is also a great pastor. Almost immediately I began to benefit from the spiritual recovering, so when the opportunity in Denver opened up, we felt called to

go.

“I didn’t want to be separate. I wanted to merge the branch together, under the covering of Bishop Jakes, who I trust without hesitation. I now believe it was really a divine strategy of God before I even planted one church that we would ultimately do ministry together—a multi generation ministry under Potter’s House and it is going really well.”

Both he and wife Sarah Jakes—an author and speaker in her own right— now split their time between the two congregations.

“Typically on most Sundays, I will be at one campus and she will be at the other campus and then we flip flop,” Roberts explains. “There will be times where I will need to be at a campus for consecutive weeks either I’m doing a series or we just sense it needs more attention. In that case we have a few speakers who have become regulars. We also like to be all at the same campus at once at least once a month.”

For now, Roberts says that they feel equally called to both places. Their kids attend school in Denver, they maintain a residence in L.A. where they remain actively engaged in the industry and empowering people through the arts.

“We are very serious about our art center and my wife and I have identified our first film story. Thank God for technology, streaming and the resources that allow you to do both. ” The timing of the Denver assignment couldn’t have been more ironic for Roberts.

“When God called us to take Denver,

we had just put the final piece of furniture here in L.A. It didn’t make any natural sense, but as we are seeing what’s happening in Denver… they needed us! L.A. proves to be a strong resilient community.

We just got all our attendance numbers in and we continue to grow even though midway through the year I basically told the members they would have to share us with a new congregation! I think it proves that if you follow God, He’s going to have all the bases covered.”

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson You Gotta See “Black Panther!

If you thought Eddie Murphy’s portrayal of Akeem, Prince of Zamunda, and the cast of Coming To America was a great representation of African royalty in a film, you ain’t seen nothing yet!

This Chadwick Boseman as King of Wakanda and “Thee” Black Panther cast ups the ante! #BlackPanther is an amaZing film that bridges an African Diaspora, of sorts, to the current affairs African Americans face today.

Without delving too deeply, Ryan Coogler, director of the film, has put together an intricately - smart, thought - provoking, at times funny, and action packed tale, introducing an array of characters that are intertwined and thrive off each others’ strengths & weaknesses.

When we meet T’Challa, played

by Boseman, the mantle of King is being bestowed upon him in a ritualistic ceremony by the Tribes of Wakanda.

At his ceremony we meet his family, the Queen Mother - Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett, Shuri his tech-savvy & feisty lil’ sister, played by Letitia Wright, the woman who makes him weak, Nakia, played by, Lupita Nyong’o, and life-long family friend and supporter, Zuri played by Forest Whitaker.

Although a celebration of family, #BlackPanther also deals with the broken parts—those family members who were left behind. And we’re introduced to Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan. Secrets are revealed and Erik rises up challenging T’Challa’s position.

As often happens in the communi-

ty, those who may not be family, but stick close stand up to support and defend their King.

One of those supporters is Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje, all-female Wakandan Special Forces. Y’all she’s BAAAAAd, ev’rybody needs an Okoye in their squad. Then there’s the reluctant to assist, but he comes through, M’Baku, played Winston Duke. #BlackPanther illuminates the brilliance of a nation, magnificence of it’s people, prowess of its heritage and the greatness we know as “Our” Community and now get to see portrayed on the Big Screen.

Buy your tickets!!!

Do not bootleg this film. Get yo’ snacks, grab your blanket, and go see Marvel’s first black superhero over and over and over and over again.

Believe me, it is well worth your time and hard earned cash.

DUE IN THEATERS THIS mONTH

Bibal: A New Breed Of Hero February 2

15:17 To Paris February 9

Omarosa Returns To Reality TV:

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Will she slip up and spill secrets about her time in the White House?

That’s probably what the producers of CBS’ “Celebrity Big Brother” believe will get you to watch their show given the casting of former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault-Newman. Our guess is that she won’t but the former Apprentice star knows how to make good reality TV, so we’ll just have to wait for February 7 when the show is set to make its debut. Also signing on for the 20th season of the show are Metta World Peace, former Beverly Hills housewife Brandi Glanville, former Cosby Show star Keshia Knight Pulliam and Shannon Elizabeth. The winner will take away a cool half million dollars, though cast members won’t fare too badly, reportedly pulling in a minimum $200K, but it has been reported that Manigault’s deal would be worth upwards of $1 million and includes the development of a syndicated talk show. Who could say no to that?

Jennifer Aretha:

To

Play

Seems Clive Davis let the cat out of the bag when he introduced Grammy and Oscar winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson at his famed pre-Grammy party,

Black Panther February 16

informing guests that she would be playing Aretha Franklin in an upcoming film biopic about the life of the Queen of Soul. The project — which has been in the works for some time — will not only chronicle the rise of the R&B icon who has earned 44 Grammy nominations, but will also detail her offscreen struggles and a tumultuous relationship with her first husband, who also reportedly abused her. Hudson, who was reportedly handpicked by Franklin by the role. In the meantime, Hudson is still knee deep in her own personal drama surrounding the custody battle over her 8-year old son with longtime boyfriend, David Otunga. While both are under a gag order to not speak with the media, reports are that the pressure is on f o r Otunga to get a job.

In o t h e r

Samson February 16

casting news, Michael K. Williams has signed on to play Scatter in the new Superfly remake that is set to hit theaters this Summer. Williams joins Trevor Jackson who will play Priest and a supporting cast that includes, Jason Mitchell, Lex Scott Davis, Andrea Londo, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Allen Maldonado.

Mo’Money: That’s what Kendu Isaacs, the estranged husband of Mary J. Blige is reportedly asking for given the success of her current album, Strength of A Woman, which is contends is fueled by songs like, “Love Yourself,” and “Set Me Free,” tracks he allegedly refers to as “divorce songs.” Isaacs, who was awarded $30,000 in monthly spousal support, now reportedly wants $65K per month and is still fighting for half of what she earned while they were together, including royalties and residuals…In other domestic news, while Married to Medicine’s Dr. Jackie and her estranged husband continue to work on repairing the damage done to their marriage with revelations of his affair, it is Dr. Simone and her husband Cecil Whitmore who are calling it quits after 21 years of marriage.

Whitmore filed for divorce in October of 2017.

Finally, congratulations are in order for Golden State Warriors All Star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry. Ayesha shared on social media that they are expecting baby number three.

Q&A

Angela Bassett Hometown: New York City Breakout Role: Boyz N The Hood Box Office Hits: Malcolm X, What’s Love Got To Do With It; Current Project: “Black Panther”, “9-1-1” (Fox TV) Bassett was bit by the acting bug after a high school field trip to a Kennedy Center production of the classic story, Of Mice and Men, starring James Earl Jones.

She went on to study at Yale and while there, studied under renowned stage director Lloyd Richards, who cast her in the Broadway productions of “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” and “Joe Turner's Come and Gone”. She is married to actor Courtney Vance.

Q: You’re set to star as the mother of superhero T’Challa in Black Panther? T’Challa in Black Panther what’s it like being part of the first Marvel Comic book movie to feature a black super hero?

A. It’s thrilling… it’s all new to me, the whole super hero and huge franchise [movies]. Fans have been asking for it, , expecting it, and you’re going to be satisfied.

Q: In 2015, you had your directorial debut with the biopic Whitney on Lifetime. Why was that your choice?

A. I obviously had worked with Whitney and just fell in love with her as the rest of the world did. And when this opportunity was brought my way, it was something I couldn't say no to. I felt that if I said no and let it pass, I could imagine having a great deal of regret, you know? I wanted to tell a story about a beautiful sista, which is of course an opportunity for me to grow as a woman and as an artist in many expected and unexpected ways. I've had opportunities in the past, but nothing that just grabbed me like this did.

Q: You’ve made a career out of bringing the lives of real people to the screen like Rosa Parks and Tina Turner, what’s it like playing a fictional character in 9-1-1 and previously on American Horror Stories?

A. With Athena, it starts when I put on the uniform.

Just the way it fits. The belt. The gun. The weight of it.

I can feel the character. I was absolutely not looking to do series TV. But when [creator Ryan Murphy] showed me the American Horror Stories characters, they were so phenomenal that I couldn’t say no. He challenges you on every level.

Q: What advice would you give to women about choosing strong roles?

A. I have always encouraged people to discover who you are. Stand in your own truth. I am not attracted to every kind of role. Strong, resilient women are the roles I have been attracted to. A rich, full-bodied character is interesting — whether she’s strong, weak, resilient or vulnerable. Sometimes in weakness there is strength.

When someone is open enough to be able to show their vulnerability, it gives others the strength and the courage to show theirs. It’s not always all about power or the roar.

Q: As a mother, what advice do you give your children?

A. Put in the work, don’t’ expect a handout. To help those who have less than you, and not to take life and the gifts you have for granted. We all have a gift, we all have a passion—it’s just about finding it and going into it. Being an asset to your family and community.

Follow your dreams, really. Maybe they get tired of hearing that—but maybe one day that will sink in. And not just talking it, but also living it.

Calendar of events

Ongoing On Stage: “Disney’s Aladdin” (Through March) Check online for times/prices Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd Contact: (323) 468-1770 hollywoodpantages.com Exhibit: Chasing Trane: John Coltrane’s Musical Journey 10:30am–6:30pm• $12.95 Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd Contact: (213) 765-6800 www.grammymuseum.org BFit Yoga Class On the Macy’s Bridge Free •10 -11:00am Saturdays Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 3650 W. Martin L. King Jr. Blvd Information: (323) 290-6636 Baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com Wednesday, February 7 In Concert: Ja Rule & Ashanti with Ray J 8:00pm • $42.50-52.50 The Novo 800 W Olympic Blvd Contact: (213) 765-7000 www.thenovodtla.com Thursday, February 8 The Pan-African American Film & Art Festival

(Through Feb. 19) Over 125 new black movies. Also music, comedy and spoken word.

Also features panels and workshops, and an artfest with over 100 established and emerging fine artists and craftspeople.

Times & Prices Vary Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 3650 W Martin L. King Jr Blvd Contact: (310) 337-4737 www.paff.org

Mt. Moriah Installation Revival Speaker: Pastor Rudolph McKissick Mt. Moriah Baptist Church 4269 S. Figueroa Street Contact: (323) 846-1950 mtmoriahbaptistchurchla.com

Exhibition: “How Sweet The Sound: Gospel In Los Angeles (Through August 26, 2018) Tues-Sat:10am – 6pm; Sun: 11am – 6pm Free (Parking = $12) California African American Museum (CAAM) 600 State Drive Information: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org

Friday, February 9 In Concert: Charlie Wilson & Keith Sweat 7:30pm • $49.50 - $129.50 Nokia Theatre-LA Live 777 Chick Hearn Ct microsofttheater.com

Frederick Douglass Now by Roger Guenveur Smith Actor Roger Guenveur Smith presents his acclaimed solo performance of Douglass’s classic 19th-century texts 7-9pm • Free CA African American Museum 600 State Drive Free (Parking = $12) Information: (310) 676-7300

In Concert: Anthony Hamilton 8PM • $69 -125 Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway www.jecaryous.com

In Concert: Jeezy $40 - 130 • 7PM

Belasco Theatre 1050 South Hill Street Contact: 213) 746-5670 www.thebelasco.com 2018 Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour Featuring Mandisa and more 5PM • $12 - $69 Citizens Business Bank Arena 4000 E. Ontario Center Parkway Ontario www.cbbankarena.com Saturday, February 10 94.7 The Wave Love Affair Concert featuring The Manhattans, Rose Royce, Tavares, Lenny Williams, Deneice Williams, Mtume Honda Center 7:30pm • $34-75 2695 E. Katella Anaheim

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Thursday, February 22 Grand Opening First Ladies Health House 2249 S. Hobart Blvd Offering Medical Screening, Nutritional Cooking Classes, Community Garden, Health Referrals and Resources.

Sponsored by: The First Ladies Health Initiative, contact: www.firstladieshealth.com

L.A. Focus/February 2018

Halle Berry wowed them at the NAACP Image Awards with this sexy gown.

14

e nd fianc wrence a s at a d L a e n h ti r d Ma r turne fa d a r e o r M remie .

Roberta anther p P k c la the B

d carown lit up the re Yvette Nicole Br d sp y African-in ire pet with this prett ds ar Aw e ag CP Im gown at the NAA

Alfre Woo dard and Jurnee S were amo mollett ng the sta rs speakin at the Wo g men’s Ma rch last m out onth.

The man of the hour— Chadwick Boseman— looked regal on the Black Panther red carpet.

Mary J Blige accepting star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Angela Bassett made it a family affair with husband Courtney Vance, son Slater and daughter Bronwyn at the star-studded Black Panther premiere.

www.hondacenter.com Annual Black College Expo 9am – 5pm • $8 online; $10 at door (Bring SAT/ACT scores and transcripts) L.A. Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa Street Contact: (877) 427-4100 www.thecollegeexpo.org L.A. Cookie Con Taste free samples, meet celebrity chefs, watch baking demonstrations at the biggest baking/pastry convention on West Coast (Through Sunday, February 11) 9am – 5pm • $12 – 90 Anaheim Convention Ctr 800 W. Katella Avenue lacookiecon.com Sunday, February 11 Installation Service of Pastor Johnteris Tate 5pm • Free Mt. Moriah Baptist Church 4269 S. Figueroa Street Contact: (323) 846-1950

Featuring Pastors R.A. Williams, Melvin V. Wade and Rikki Ferrell Jr. 11am • Free (Also Feb. 18, Feb. 25) Annual Musical—March 4 Mt. Zion MBC 1300 East 50th Street Contact: (323) 235-2103 Monday, February 12 California Black Health Agenda Policy Summit A two-day statewide convening of thought leaders, policy analysts, healthcare providers, and activists 9am • Free The California Endowment L.A. Conference Center 1000 Alameda Street Information: Thursday, February 15 In Concert: The Fifth Dimenson $28-48 • 9pm The Rose • 254 E. Green St Pasadena 91101 Friday, February 16 I’m Every Woman Presents Human Trafficking Awareness Breakfast $100 • 8am-11am

Los Angeles City Club 555 S. Flower Street imeverywoman.org NBA All -Star Weekend (Most events are sold out, but for information, visit: nbaevents.nba.com Saturday, February 17 NBA All Star Practice 11am • $50.00 - $75.00 Verizon Up Arena/L.A. Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa Street nbaevents.nba.com African Dance Competition Traditional and contemporary African dance competition sponsored by Councilman Curren Price 4-9pm•$15–20 ($25 at door) CAAM 600 State Drive Free (Parking = $12) Info: (310) 676-7300 www.africandancela.com Celebrating James Baldwin—Here and Now Hosted by Alfre Woodard Remarks, panel and performances of Baldwin’s work by Empire star Jussie Smollet

2-4pm•$15 (Students $12) Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. https://www.skirball.org Free Health Screenings Hosted by the National University of Nurse Managed Clinic Snacks and entertainment Tree of LIfe MBC 9702 Holmes Avenue Contact: (310) 662-2052 Wednesday, February 21 Discussion: Diabetic Kidney Disease Early signs, prevention, detection and management of diabetes 6:30 – 8pm • Free Torrance-South Bay Family YMCA 2900 W. Sepulveda Blvd RSVP: (800) 516-5323 Vermont Slauson’s African American-Owned Family Business Celebration Hosted by Karim Webb Breakfast, networking and panel discussions at: Holman Methodist Church 3320 West Adams Blvd Information: (323) 789-4515

Friday, February 23 Obba Babatunde 'Once in a Lifetime: A Tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. 8PM • $30 - $40 Nate Holden Arts Center 4718 W. Washington Blvd Info: (323) 964-9768 www.ebonyrep.org Saturday, February 24 Aquarium of the Pacific’s 16th Annual African American Fest (Thru Sun) Live entertainment. arts and crafts, ethnic food, hip hop/break & West African dancers, and storytellers 9am—5pm $17.95-$29.95 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach Info: (562) 590-3100 aquariumofthepacific.org In Concert: The Spinners 9pm • $34 - 74 Saban Theater 8440 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills Contact: (323) 655-0111 www.sabanconcerts.com

around los angeles 14th Annual Pastoral Appreciation Celebration of Pastor E.V. Hill II

Sterling K. Brown and wife Ryan Michelle Bathe glow at 24th Annual Screen Actor’s Guild Awards

Holman UMCs 58thAnnual Concert of Negro Spirituals 4PM – 7PM • $15 - 50 3320 West Adams Blvd Contact: (323) 731-7285 www.holmanumc.com UCLA Kidney Education Enhancement Program Free educational programs about kidney health, high blood pressure and kidney disease management. Free blood pressure tests.

1-4pm • Free UCLA Medical Center – Santa Monica 1250 16th Street Conference Center RSVP: (800) 516-5323 Leimert Park Artwalk Art exhibitions, music, fashion, food, drumming, spoken word, and local shopping 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm West 43rd Place at Degnan www.leimertparkbeat.com

chael B. Jordan Black Panther star Mi er pose together ogl and Director Ryan Co miere. at the Hollywood pre Kerry Washington sho ws why she is always a red carpet fav orite at this year’s NAACP Image Awards

L.A. Focus/February 2018

ri Naughton and “Power” stars Natu se together at the po Omari Hardwick P Image Awards 49th Annual NAAC

Sunday, February 25 The Original Harlem

Globetrotters World Tour 2pm • $29.40 - $288.15 Staples Center www.staplescenter.com

15

Eye On Gospel was taught, so that’s all I know. Real love.”

Snoop Dogg To Drop Gospel CD in March Snoop Dog debuted music from his upcoming Bible of Love album at the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Minneapolis. Bible of Love is the 16th album and first ever gospel project from legendary, award-winning artist and icon, Snoop Dogg, whose career spans more than 25 years. The album—set to release March 16— is also the first release from All The Time Entertainment, a label which Snoop launched to provide more opportunities for gospel music artists. Snoop feels there is a need for people to be unified more now than ever and he and co-executive producer, Lonny Bereal, handpicked some of Snoop’s personal favorites from gospel and R&B including, B. Slade, Patti LaBelle, Kim Burrell, Faith Evans, Rance Allen, The Clark Sisters, Charlie Wilson, Fred Hammond and Tye Tribbett. He has always been inspired by gospel music and created this double disc, 32track collection to both showcase the genre and bring people together.

Snoop credits his late grandmother, Dorothy Tate, with introducing him to gospel music and inspiring him to finally release a gospel project. He says, “I am blessed to have so many legendary friends join me on this journey. As the country is in one of its heaviest times and is so divided, I wanted to make an album that spreads love and unity around the world. That’s what I

Anthony Brown Leads Stellar Gospel Music Awards Nominations Central City Productions announced the nominees in 28 categories for the 33rd Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards, hosted again this year by history-making artist, Kirk Franklin on Saturday, March 24. Contemporary gospel group Anthony Brown & group therAPy led the field of nominees this year with ten nominations.

The group earned recognition for its work on the album “A Long Way From Sunday” (Key of A/Fair Trade/Tyscot Records) in the key categories of Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Producer of the Year, Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year, Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Contemporary CD of the Year, and Urban/Inspirational Single or Performance of the Year.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard, gospel choir J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, and praise and worship artist Travis Greene trailed close behind with a total of nine nominations each.

With five nominations each, veterans Deitrick Haddon and Ricky Dillard demonstrated their staying power in gospel music, representing contemporary and traditional gospel, respectively. Other artists earning multiple nominations include Marvin Sapp (4), The Williams Brothers (3), CeCe Winans (3), The Rance Allen Group (3), Bishop Paul S. Morton (3), Tina Campbell (3) and Le’Andria Johnson (2).

The Stellar Awards will return to The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas with a full slate of weekend activities including an Artist

L.A. Focus/February 2018

Re d Carpet Style

16

OPRAH WINFREY is snatched in a Atelier Versace off the shoulder,black fitted dress

EVE is giving attitude in a Naeem Khan and Chopard jewelry suit

& Quartet Showcase, 2018 Stellar Gospel Music Awards Pre-Show and Stellar Gospel Radio Awards.

In New York City, the first string of Grammy wins were announced prior to the live broadcast. CeCe Winans was nominated for two top awards and snagged them both: Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Performance/Song. The latest additions take the total count up to 12 Grammy wins for the dynamic singer.

Said Winans, “Let Them Fall in Love is my best project ever! I am humbled and honored for two Grammy wins!

Thank you to the visionary, Alvin Love III and everyone who made this project what it is. Also, thank you to NARAS and my prayer is that the world will hear this music and Fall In Love!”

Gospel Industry Bids Farewell to the Legendary Edwin Hawkins This month (February 6-7), the gospel industry will say goodbye to one of its legends. Edwin Hawkins, a pioneering force in gospel music, best known for his Grammy-award winning crossover gospel classic, ‘Oh Happy Day’, passed away from pancreatic cancer at his Pleasanton last month. He was 74.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Edwin Hawkins –– a celebrated artist, innovator, and music icon. Though he will be greatly missed the world over, the message of love, life, and encouragement that he incorporated into his music gives us all the same hope that we’ll join him in heaven and sing `Oh Happy Day.’” the Hawkins Family said. “Edwin Hawkins was not only a musical hero to me but he came to be a mentor and a close friend, “ said Grammy® winning singer/producer, Donald Lawrence. “His group also had a huge influence on Richard Smallwood who has known Edwin since Richard was 19 years old.” Smallwood adds, “Edwin changed the face of gospel music and helped create a fresh sounding genre that spread around the entire world. He was a humble and kind spirit that not only encouraged others who were privileged to meet him, but also inspired millions to be daring in their creativity.”

January was a big red carpet month what with the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and the NAACP Image Awards. Here are some of our favorite looks.

MARY J. BLIGE looks stunning in a JeanLouis Sabali gown

TRACY ELLIS ROSS never disappoints in a Ralph & Russo dress

NEICY NASH looks flattering in a green Julea Domani dress

Through the Storm

KEITH DELAWDER Contributor

...A Killer W

ince his hospitalization two years ago from a viral infection that left him unable to preach for a month, Pastor Michael Fisher of the Greater Zion Church Family has been extremely cautious when it comes to his health during flu season, but the death of a staffer at his parish last month came way too close to home.

The 27 year-old staffer was admitted to the hospital on December 31st when what was thought to be a common cold or mild flu symptoms turned into a one hundred and three degree fever.

That staffer—an integral part of his ministry— would never leave the hospital alive.

Upon arrival, the staffer was diagnosed with double pneumonia and a week later was intubated to support his breathing. Then his vital organs started shutting down and days later, he was dead.

“A lot of stuff doesn’t shake me, but this one did,” says Fisher. “So as a result, we have released a ninety day health challenge at our church. Our goal is to refocus Christians to be better stewards over our bodies, and to pay attention and not neglect our bodies.”

This year’s flu epidemic comes from a stain of the flu called H3N2, which experts are saying is a nationwide crisis. H3N2 is especially dangerous because it is able to mutate so quickly that vaccine makers can’t quite catch up to it. According to state epidemiologists this could be the worst flu season since 2009, when H1N1 or ‘swine flu’ killed 12,4698 people nationwide.

Already Los Angeles County has seen 36 deaths and According to a recent report from the state Department of Public Health, the number of flu deaths in California surged to 97 among people younger than 65 in the third week of 2018.”

“What is important for the church to understand is that we are a communal place,” asserts Fisher. “We house a lot of people and hold many public events. So the churches really need to be educated on how to protect their practitioners and congregants from something like the flu virus-- that is no longer just a common cold that knocks you out for seventy-two hours, but it’s taking people out of here for good.

“You have churches that don’t use anti-bacterial soap in their bathroom or have hand sanitizer dispensers throughout their sanctuaries,” Fisher continued. “They have microphones that are not wiped down when you have up to seven speakers or singers using it throughout the day. With an epidemic like this churches really need

THOSE AT HIGH RISK FOR SERIOUS FLU-RELATED COMPLICATIONS: •Pregnant women •Children younger than 5 •People 65 years of age and older •People with certain medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

WHEN TO SEEK EMERGENCY CARE In children •Fast breathing or trouble breathing •Bluish skin color •Not drinking enough fluids •Not waking up or not interacting •Irritability, i.e. child doesn’t want to be held •Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough •Fever with a rash In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs: •Being unable to eat •Has trouble breathing •Has no tears when crying •Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal In adults •Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath •Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen •Sudden dizziness •Confusion •Severe or persistent vomiting •Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

to be educated on how to protect their parishioners from something like a flu virus that is a great deal more serious than a common cold.”

Fact is, by all accounts this year is shaping up to be the worst flu season in nearly a decade and medical experts say it hasn’t even peaked yet. They expect that to happen later this month.

In the meantime, upwards of 12,000 people have been hospitalized with confirmed cases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in the process a particularly resident strain of the flu—H3N2— has surfaced.

Hit hardest are the elderly with people over 65 experiencing the highest hospitalization rates. Children under 4 are the second most affected age group.

However, officials have been surprised to see a new trend—that of baby boomers between 50-64 being hospitalized at a significantly higher rate than before.

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that chances of a heart attack are increased sixfold during the first seven days after a flu infection.

Experts say it’s not too late to get a flu shot, with the current vaccine protecting against three of the most prevalent strain, though not however as effective against the H3N2 strain.

“Although influenza season usually peaks between December and February, flu activity can occur as late as May,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith.

“While influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection, antiviral treatment with antiviral drugs, these are approved and recommended to treat influenza illness,” reports Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the influenza division in CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “These drugs can lessen the symptoms and shorten the duration of illness and there’s observational studies and other studies that have shown they prevent serious flu complications.

During influenza epidemics, with widespread and intense flu activity, flu antivirals can reduce the burden of illness in a community. Most people who get the flu have mild illness and they don’t need medical care or antiviral drugs; however, some people are more likely to get very sick from flu. We’ve seen that some states have even had states of emergency called because of the influenza in their states right now.

Biz NewsBriefs Essence Ventures LLC, an independent AfricanAmerican owned comp a n y focused on merging content, community and commerce, announced its acquisition of multiplatf o r m media comp a n y Essence Communications Inc. from Time Inc. The sale re-establishes the nation’s leading black women’s magazine as 100% AfricanAmerican owned.

“This acquisition of Essence represents the beginning of an exciting trans-

Sale of Essence Re-establishes The Brand As 100% Black-Owned

formation of our iconic brand as it evolves to serve the needs and interests of multigenerational Black women around the world in an even more elevated and comprehensive way across print, digital, ecommerce and experiential platforms,” said Essence President Michelle Ebanks.

The pact comes a little over a month after Time Inc. was acquired in a $2.8 billion deal and ironically enough a month after Unilever acquired the acquisition of Sundial Brands with Dennis continuing as CEO and with Unilever creating a groundbreaking $100M New Voices Fund to invest in and empower women of color entrepreneurs.

Richelieu Dennis, founder/chairperson of Essence Ventures, is also the founder and CEO of Sundial Brands, a leading haircare and skincare company whose brands include SheaMoisture, Nubian Heritage and Madam C.J. Walker.

Dennis said that the company remained committed to leveraging resources to provide opportunities for other culturally-rooted entrepreneurs and businesses that create economic opportunities for our communities.

“Our focus here,” he continued, “will

be on ensuring that Essence reaches its full potential via heightened capabilities, technology, products and touch points that super-serve the interests of Black women locally and globally.

ESSENCE currently reaches a global audience of more than 16 million across its various platforms encompassing print and social platforms; TV specials and their annual ESSENCE Festival, which attracts more than 450,000 attendees

Marvel’s First Black Superhero Is On Pace To Break Box Office Records Jill Scott said it surpassed “Star Wars”. Actor David Oyelowo called it “phenomenal”. Usher labeled it simply as “black excellence” and Janelle Monae tweeted: I have two words for you: “Black Panther. “ Everyone, it seems, is talking about Marvel’s forthcoming film, Black Panther.

So much so that anticipation for the film spotlighting Marvel’s first black superhero is at a fever pitch propelling advance ticket sales to record numbers.

Already, the film —starring Chadwick Boseman, Angela Bassett,

Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya and Sterling K. Brown—has become Fandango’s top-selling superhero of all time, besting the advance ticket sales of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and it remains the number one ticket seller on the site more than two weeks before it opens on February 16.

Industry projections are that Black Panther will debut at the box office to revenues in the neighborhood of $120 million and could possibly hit $150 million over the four day weekend, making for the biggest launch for a Marvel Cinematic Universe hero's first standalone movie.

The trailblazing film —directed by Ryan Coogler—will mark Marvel’s first movie with a majority-black cast.

Marvel’s first black superhero was formally introduced to filmgoers in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War as a prince dealing with the murder of his father amidst the unrest among the Avengers. In Black Panther, he will embrace his new role as king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, facing off against those who wish to claim his crown.

Game Changers: Tyrone Howard Forty-one percent of black males do not graduate from high school. Of those who do, sixty-eight percent enroll at college but only fifty-two percent graduate, and just nineteen percent of all AfricanAmerican men hold a four-year degree, all of which make up what is known as the “black male achievement gap”.

Dr. Tyrone C. Howard, an Associate Dean for Equity & Inclusion at UCLA and best-selling author, has made it his life mission to change that as director of UCLA’s Black Male Institute and in the process has come to be considered as one of the foremost thinkers on race, equity, access and education in the country.

“I grew up in Compton and I saw my friends who were just as smart, if n o t smarter, than I was not have the opportunity that I got,” says Howard.

“I kept thinking,

why is it that my friends who did well on these math tests and science tests, how come they’re not here? And I realized that there are gross inequities that exist in schools.”

Later, as a young professional teaching in the same Compton schools he once attended, Howard got another perspective on the problem.

“I realized there were systems at work that really don't give kids an opportunity to be the best they can be in terms of teachers who care-- the academic leadership.”

Howard has since gone on to reach the highest rung of academic achievement earning a PhD, documenting much of what he learned in his groundbreaking book, “Why Race and Culture Matter In Schools”, but advocating for pathways to success for young men of color has remained at the center of his work. That’s why in 2009, Dr. Howard-- along with his colleges at UCLA-- founded the Black Male Institute (BMI), which is dedicated to improving the educational outcomes and life chances of black males.

“As an African-American male who spends his time thinking about issues that revolve around black men, I was deterred by the few number of African-American men I saw on the UCLA campus. We’re in Los Angeles and you would think that there are no African-Americans anywhere to be found. So I became interested in how we can deploy young black men in college.”

Dr. Howard soon realized that getting black men into

college was only the tip of the iceberg.

“It became clear that this is a pipeline issue. We don’t have that many black men on college campuses because they end up dropping out of high school. They drop out of high school because they had poor education in middle school. They had poor education in middle school because they didn’t have the proper foundation in elementary school. It’s all connected.”

Along with his professorial duties at UCLA, Dr. Howard does extensive outreach programs at local high schools.

“That work entails working with their counselors to help them understand how to help their students prepare for college,” says Dr. Howard. “We work with teachers to help them understand the roll that they can play. It requires working with parents too because parents need to understand their roll. Everybody has a roll, and part of what we have to figure out is how we get everyone to play their roll. If they play their roll we can all see some results to this complicated problem.”

Dr. Howard also uses the resources available at UCLA to reach kids long before thinking about college becomes a part of their lives.

“We’re helping kids understand college at an early age, so we do a lot of college trips,” says Dr. Howard. “I think you’ve got to first start by helping kids realize that college is possible. A lot of kids don’t even think that is a realistic option for them. So we bring elementary school students just so they can be on our campus, run around on the grass, sit in classes, and talk to students.”

So far his efforts have seen success,

KEITH DELAWDER Contributor although Dr. Howard asserts, there is still more work to be done, “UCLA in its current class has had the highest number of African American students on the campus in its school history. The numbers are higher than they’ve ever been, however, the numbers are still low in terms of where I think they should be. African-Americans make up only four percent of the campus, yet we’re about seven or eight percent of the county. And when we look at these numbers in terms of the gender breakdown, African-American women out number African-American men about seventy to thirty percent in terms of numbers on our campus.”

Dr. Howard has put his expertise of combating the black male achievement gap in his most recent book entitled, “Black Male(d): Peril and Promise in the Education of African-American Males”.

“That book is about black boys and how we can get them to be better,” Howard states. “I interviewed over two hundred young black men and boys and they’ve told their story and talked about ways they just want to be humanized. We want people to not stereotype them or feel they’re biased. We want people to not feel that they’re angry. They have hopes and dreams and aspirations and fears just like anyone else.”

For Howard, the greatest success is creating self-empowerment in students.

“I believe our goals and responsibilities are to help young people believe in themselves, give them the support that they need, and let them be as amazing and brilliant as we know that they are.”

And everyday he keeps fighting to do just that.

Jackie Lacey continued from page 6

that she thought it wasn't a good idea.

Lacey told me that she would only meet with the individual families of those killed by the police with open cases and that they could give her 'the particulars.' She said she would not meet with any activists-especially Black Lives Matter. Lacey is an elected official. No elected official should be able to escape meeting with or be allowed to refuse to meet with the community they're elected by and ultimately responsible to. I told Lacey that Black Lives Matter was willing to work in a cooperative manner to address barriers that might be preventing her office from prosecuting officers involved in fatal shootings and she said she was not interested. As unpopular as the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's are, even they hold community meetings. What makes her office exempt?"

Lacey is the first woman, and first

African-American, to serve as L.A. District the antiwar left, and used a Southern Strategy in his 1968 campaign to appeal to Attorney since the office was created. white Southerners’ resentment over civil David A. Love continued from page 6 rights. nominated Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. “Do you know, maybe one black counSupreme Court rather than a less-well try that’s well run?,” Nixon told Henry known African-American judge, he Kissinger, speaking about Jamaica. explained, “When I appoint a nigger to the “Blacks can’t run it. Nowhere, and they bench, I want everybody to know he’s a nigwon’t be able to for a hundred years, and ger.” maybe not for a thousand.”

Johnson once asked his chauffeur Ronald Reagan brought us the racist Parker if he preferred to be called by his stereotype of the “welfare queen,” presumname rather than “boy,” “nigger” or “chief.” ably a Black woman. “There’s a woman in When Parker said yes, Johnson angrily Chicago. She has 80 names, 30 addresses, said, “As long as you are black, and you’re 12 Social Security cards and is collecting gonna be black till the day you die, no one’s veterans’ benefits on four nonexistent gonna call you by your goddamn name. So deceased husbands. She’s got Medicaid, is no matter what you are called, nigger, you getting food stamps and welfare under each just let it roll off your back like water, and of her names. Her tax-free cash income you’ll make it. He called civil rights legislaalone is over $150,000.” tion “the nigger bill.”

President George H.W. Bush was Richard Nixon was racist and antiknown for the infamous Willie Horton ad in Semitic. The “law and order” president his 1988 bid against Michael Dukakis. The waged a war on drugs against Blacks and

ad depicted Horton, a Black convict who was released from prison under a weekend furlough program while Duka-kis was governor of Massachusetts, and committed armed robbery and rape. Invoking an image of Black criminals who rape and murder white women, and tapping into a visceral white fear of Black men, the ad helped get Bush to the White House.

George W. Bush called himself a compassionate conservative, but government neglect and inaction in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina devastated Black lives in New Orleans.”

Now, that’s a lot of racism. Although Trump has indeed earned his white supremacist credentials, there is a lot of racism to go around throughout American presidential history. We must understand the context for his offensive comments and understand this is nothing new.

Follow David A. Love on Twitter@ davidalove.

ChurchNews Evangelist Carlton Pearson Biopic Debuts At Sundance Film Festival

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t’s been years in the making but this week in Park City, Utah, a biopic centering on the life of evangelist turned heretic Carlton Pearson made it’s debut at Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews.

“Come Sunday”—starring Chiwetal Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Danny and Condola Glover Rashad—follows the life of Pearson, a once popular and in-demand televangelist and pioneer in the black charismatic Christian movement whose TV ministry attracted millions, whose Tulsa, OKbased church—Higher Dimensions— numbered over 6,000 parishioners and whose annual Azuza Conference attracted upwards of 50,000 in the 1990s. So popular was Pearson that in 2001, he entered the race of the office of Mayor of Tulsa.

That all changed when Pearson crossed a fundamental Christian line and began preaching that there was no hell, embracing a Universalist philosophy that was in conflict with the traditional church.

Members left his church in droves and his once countless TV appearances and speaking engagements dried up as did the crowds at his annual Azuza Conference. In 2003, he lost the building that had once housed his mega church.

For the now 64-year old Pearson, the film is more about his relationship with Oral Roberts, who was like a father and who tried his best to convert Pearson back to his traditional Christian roots.

“Oral was like a second father, a spiritual father, to me.

We had a bond from the time I got here. He didn’t want me to destroy my ministry, to commit ministerial suicide,” Pearson told the Tulsa World Newspaper.

Instead, the stand he took cost him most everything he had.

“I’ve lost home, property, an inheritance for my children. I lost everything,” said Pearson who now preaches twice monthly at Tulsa’s All Souls Unitarian Church, and still believes to this day that if he would return to his fundamentalist roots, he’d be fine.

“Come Sunday” is tentatively scheduled for a limited release in theaters this spring before premiering on Netflix in April.

National Council of Churches Plan Major Campaign to Mark 50th Anniversary of MLK Death The National Council of Churches, an umbrella organization of mainline Protestant, historic black and Orthodox denominations, is leading “Act Now! United to End Racism” events in early April in Washington.

“After Ferguson, Charleston and Charlottesville, in the wake of pernicious voter suppression tactics and the lack of criminal justice reform, when schools are as racially segregated as they were 50 years ago, it’s time for Dr. King’s dream to be reawakened across the nation,” said Bishop W. Darin Moore, chair of NCC’s governing board and a leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

“Ours is a bold call for thousands of people of faith to come together on April 4th to commit ourselves to realizing his dream and resolving to end racism. In this 50th year after Dr. King’s martyrdom, we believe the time has finally come.”

Events include an April 3 ecumenical service at a Greek Orthodox cathedral, an interfaith prayer service and rally on the National Mall on April 4 and a lobby day on Capitol Hill on April 5.

Partners include the National African-American Clergy Network, the Conference of National Black Churches, Sojourners, the AME Church, the Franciscan Action Network, Churches Uniting in Christ and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center Consolidated Plaza: 3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethany Baptist Church of West LA 4115 W. Martin L. King Jr. Bl • LA 90008 (323) 296-7223 Dr. L.A. Kessee, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8am •11:00am Sunday School: 9:45am Communion, First Sundays 6:00pm Prayer Service: 10:00am www.bethanywla.com

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 Bishop Miquail M. Broadous Sr., Senior Pastor Sunday School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:00am Wednesday Worship: 6:45pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Reginald A. Pope Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 8am • 11am Children’s Church: 11am (2nd/4th Sundays) Evangelism Training/Bible Study/Independent Prayer: (Mon): 7:29pm Mobile Prayer/Bible Study: (Wed) 11am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm

Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Pastor Paul A. Hill • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Fri. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7:00pm Tues. Prayer Fellowship: 6:30pm Super Seniors (Thurs/Bi-Monthly): 10:30am Follow us on Facebook

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter

Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 10:00 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

Christ The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 3303 W. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 295-4139 • F: (323) 295-4681 Rev. Joseph Oloimooja Sunday School: 10:00am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:00am Mon. Centering Prayer/Meditation: 6:30pm Mon. Overeaters Anonymous: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study & Eucharist: 7:00pm Wed. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7:00pm E: cgshepherd4041@sbcglobal.net Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sun. Early Worship: 8:00am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1:00pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, Founder Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:00pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:00pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:00pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:00pm

First AME Church (FAME) 2270 South Harvard Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-1251 • F: (323) 735-3353 • www.famechurch.org Pastor J. Edgar Boyd, Senior Pastor/CEO Sunday School: 10:00am Worship: 8:00am, 10:00am, Noon Teen Church (2nd Sundays):Noon,Allen House Wed. Prayer Service: Noon Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Radio: 10:30am on KJLH-102.3FM First AME is the oldest Black Church in the City

Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-7285 • F: (323) 731-2609 • www.holmanumc.com Rev. Kelvin Sauls Sunday School: 9:30am(Youth) & 9:45(Adult) Sunday Worship: 8am and 11am Morning Worship: 11:00am Bible Study (Thurs.): Noon Sun. Radio: KJLH 102.3FM: 11:00am Praise and Worship: 2nd Wednesdays 6:30pm8:00pm Jazz for the Soul: 4th Wed’s 6:30pm-8:00pm Gather, Grow, Go and Live The Gospel Jesus Christ

Liberty Baptist Church 1500 West 51st Place, Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 295-3866 • F: (323) 295-0366 • E: LBCwim@aol.com Rev. Terry Lovell Brown Sr. Sunday Church School: 9:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am & 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: noon & 6:30pm Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Follow us on Twitter @dacrossculture www.thecrossculture.org Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of LA, Inc. 4269 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 Rev. Melvin V. Wade, Sr. Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Mid-Week Worship (Wed): 7:00pm Bible Study (Wed.): 8:00pm

Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121

F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church Pastor George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 11:00am Discipleship Hour (Sun): 9:37am Noonday Prayer (Mon): Noon Noonday Bible Study (Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: Email: office@sinai.church •www.sinai.church Our Goal: To win more Christians & develop better Christians to the glory of God. (Matt. 28:18-20)

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • www.mtzionla.org Dr. Edward V. Hill, II, Pastor Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 9:15am Morning Worship: 9:30am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am Baptism: 2nd Sun. & Lord’s Supper: 1st. Sun. Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

Sundays: Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7:00pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Rev. Dr. Lovely Haynes Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed: Prayer Bible Study: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Mon. Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Tue Choir Rehersal Wednesday Prayer: Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 7:00pm Thurs. Evangelism: 7:00pm (enrollment required) St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 1740 West 59th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90047 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 56608, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor Sunday Worship Service: 8:00am PrayerLine: (Tuesday & Wednesday): 6:00am WordLine (Tuesday): 7:00pm ( (712) 775-7031 Access Code: 814352108) E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com

The Children’s Collective Inc. Immediate openings for full and part day preschool in our 12 child care centers The Children’s Collective, Inc offers: • Assessment of parent fees on a sliding scale • Licensed/credentialed caring child development teachers • Appropriate learning environment that encourages each child to develop a positive sense of self-worth • Resources and referrals provided for families • Child care services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers • Multicultural curriculum and kindergarten readiness activities Our program is open from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday Nutritional breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks provided at no cost

We currently have openings in all of our Child Care Centers To enroll your child, contact us at (323) 789-1873

New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 402 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90061 (310)324-0644 • F: (310) 769-1287 Rev. Sonja Dawson, Senior Pastor • Rev. Lonnie Dawson, Sr., Founder (1962 - 2010) Morning Worship: 7:30am & 10:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Wed. Prayer/Bible Study: Noon Pastor’s Bible Study: 7:00pm

One Church International 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.onechurchla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:00am & 1:00pm Wednesday Midweek Service: 8pm www.Channel1Live.tv—View live streaming

Pastor’s Bible Class & Sunday School: 8am Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Prayer: 7:00pm Tues. Bible Study: 8:00pm

www.pleasanthillbaptistchurch.org

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-5458 • www.pozlive.com Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Sunday Morning Broadcast: 5:30am Live Streaming Sundays: 12:00pm Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins Sunday Worship Service: 10:00am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11:00am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

Southern Saint Paul Church 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • smbc@smbcla.org Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Senior Pastor/Teacher Corporate Prayer: 7:450am Morning Worship Service: 9:00am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 4:00pm Weekly Bible Enrichment Wednesdays: 7:00pm North Campus: L.I.F.E. Groups: 11:00am Worship Service:12:30pm 11137 Herrick Av • Pacoima 91331 (818) 899-8031 st.paul@smbcla.org •“Loving People Making Disciples” Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9:00am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7:00pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org UpLift Christian Fellowship 4745 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90056 (310) 927-3476 • www.upliftla.org Pastor Anthony Thompson Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm

L.A. Focus/ February 2018

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Dr. Aaron Iverson

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 2009 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 293-6448 • F: (323) 293-6605 Dr. Sylvester Washington Sunday School: 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:00am Tues. Bible Study: 11:00am Wed. Evangelism Class: 6:30pm First Sun. Holy Communion Service: 4:00pm

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Victory Baptist Church 4802 South McKinley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 231-2424• Pastor Dr. W. Edward Jenkins Sunday School: 10:45 am Morning Worship: 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday:Noon Radio Sundays: KPRO 1570AM: 9:00pm

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake

www.westa.tv

Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10:00am

In Altadena

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center 2556 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 797-3585 • F: (626) 797-3233 • www.lifelinefcc.org Pastor Charles D. Dorsey Sunday School: 9:00am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm

Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church 1249 East Carson Street • Carson, CA 90745 (424) 287-2809 Pastor Quentin T. Oden Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship Service: 10:00am Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00pm Facebook live Sundays at: Triedstonembcla 11:15am “Where the father leads, we will follow...” www.triedstonembcla.org

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus) Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • E: GreaterZionCF@gmail.com Reverend Michael J. Fisher & Dr. W. Jerome Fisher, Pastor Emeritus Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am, 11:00am & 5:00pm Wed. Bible Studies: Noon-7:00pm www.greaterzionchurchfamily.com

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, P.O. Box 5449, Compton 90220 (310) 604-5900 Fax: (310) 604-5915 Dr. Ron C Hill Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:30am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:30pm Bible Studies: Wed. 7:30pm & Sat. 9am Food for Your Soul Radio & Television Ministry: beblessedwebradio: Mon - Fri. 6:30am Church Channel: Tues. 5:30pm & Fri. 2:30pm

Pastor Profile: Johnteris Tate Church: Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church How Many Years At Church: Two months Home Town: Memphis, Tennessee Family: Married to wife Crystal, this year You’re 24 now, so when did you start preaching and what did you know to preach about?

I started preaching at the age of nine. I’m unlike most pastors these days that have a father or grandfather, uncle or cousin who is a pastor. I’m a first generation preacher and at the age of nine I felt a strong pull, because I was always raised in church. My Grandmother kept me in church and I just felt a strong pull of God pushing me to preach his word. I always loved church— loved to be around pastors and preachers, so I guess my love of God was pulling me. I didn’t run from it, I just accepted the fact I was called and walked in.

Was it hard to grow up a “church boy” in a society where there is so much negative imaging?

I got called “Church Boy”, but it helped because everyone knew me—I wasn’t a stranger. I was always speaking at the honor programs and at the majority of everyone’ s church so everyone knew me and it was a kind of a fun thing for me. They weren’t picking on me or looking at me like, “Aw he’s too good.” No, in fact I was kind of a trend setter. I would wear slacks and sweaters and dress shirts to school, and it got to the point where the principals and administration said we’re going to have dress up day at school once a week.

Obviously, you being so young gives you an edge with millennials and social media...

I’ve learned this, once you get the children the sense of drive to go to church, then the parents will be pulled to church by the children. It’s funny because there used to be a time where the parents would pull the children. But now in this modern day the children pull the parents. So now I’m coming up with more creative ideas to get the children and their friends active. I’m trying tutoring programs to help them learn. There are just so many avenues to help the family grow again. And as for social media, I believe it’s an avenue through which you can advance not only yourself, but your church and everything you have going on.

Did a lot of people think of you as an old soul and what do you feel about that?

I do get that a lot. I tell people all the time, that’s my thing! I’m an old school preacher with a new school flavor.

Was there much thought given to the fact that you are so young being called to an older more established church in Mt. Moriah?

Actually, I wasn’t intimidated having been raised by an older woman in my Grandmother. I know how to love on all the older saints as well as the younger ones. You can’t just try to drive and bring in all the young and forget about the stability and the foundation.

I’m sure you had a great many offers to pastor other churches, how did come to choose Mt. Moriah?

I’ve always had someone in my corner saying, “Hey I’ve got this young man, ‘Your people will enjoy him.” People who were pushing me forward all the time, and I didn’t even know they were pushing me. That’s how I made it to where I am today. As to Mt. Moriah, there were a couple of senior pastors—Bishop Rudolph McKissick and Pastor Jamal Bryant— behind the scenes who recommended me to Dr. Wade.

What do you hope to bring to the Mt. Moriah and the City of Los Angeles?

I am currently in the process of reviewing and seeing what the church and community needs. There is so much to do in L.A. to the point where church is not a priority, it’s an option. So we have to figure out what will draw more people back to church. Churches used to be packed back in the day, now we have to see what we can do to bring the family back to church.

Do you have any specific community outreach events planned?

Yes, I want to go over and beyond. Like this year at Thanksgiving I’m looking to feed the community. We usually feed the families in our church, but I’m going to feed every homeless person outside of our church on Thanksgiving this year. That is my vision, to take Thanksgiving service from the inside of our building to the outside.

Mt. Moriah is not your first church, you got your start in Memphis…

The church I pastored in Memphis was the First Apollonian Baptist Church, and I was there five years, starting at the age of seventeen. When I started with

that church there were probably about twenty members, and the Lord allowed it to grow so when I left, the church had maybe 300 members on roll. It was a good growing experience for me, to teach me how to love people and to master pastoral duties. It wasn’t anywhere near the size of Mt. Moriah, but it was a great church with a great spirit, and it was an incredible and rewarding journey.

What did you learn about yourself in the process?

I learned patience. Being young you think everything ought to come fast. You think because you’re young and ambitious with all the enthusiasm and energy that it should come fast. But if anything, church has taught me to be patient—that throughout ministry, you don’t want swelling, you want growth. That uou don’t want things in life to come to fast, because like my Grandmother says, if you can get it fast you can lose it fast. So growth comes from patience. Patience has taught me how to be slow to speak, slow to get angry, and slow to listen.

What is a recurring theme in your Sunday messages?

You will hear “Better” all the time. That is our church, we’re a “Better” movement. We have a saying around the church: “Expecting Better”. We are expecting better-- which can’t be explained, it can only be experienced.

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am

The Liberty Church 14725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross Early Worship: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9am & 11am Children’s Church: Both Services Word Power Wed.: 7-8pm www.thelibertychurch.com

Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7:00pm

In Inglewood Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7:00pm Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Rev. Wendy Howlett Sunday School: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9:30am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm

Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr. Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship: 10:30am

Faithful Central Bible Church 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher Services at The Tabernacle: Sunday Services: 7:00am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com

First Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 757-1804 www.go2Hope.com Pastor Geremy L. Dixon

First Lady Files

Kinette Cager

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90303 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm KYTYM 1460AM (Sunday): 11:30am www.jacobladderschurch.com Leap of Faith Community Baptist Church 3502 W. Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303 (310) 695-9925 Rev. Artis Glass Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Bible Study: Wednesdays Noon and 6PM

New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church 434 S. Grevillea, Inglewood CA 90301 (310) 673-6250 Office • (310) 673-2153 Rev. Dr. Phillip A. Lewis, D. D., D. Th., Senior Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am First Sunday Evening Worship: 5:00pm Mid-Week Bible Study Wed.: 7:00pm Radio: KTYM 1460 AM Saturdays at 8:00pm & Mondays at 7:00pm

Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon Christ Our Redeemer AME Church In Irvine 45 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 955-0014 • F:(949) 955-0021 • www.corchurch.org Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, II Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 10:30am New Generation Praise Service: 10:30am Sun. Bible Univ.: 9:30am Tues. Interactive Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed. Pastor's Bible Study: Noon, 7:00pm Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Fri. Singles Bible Study (1st Fri): 7:00pm

In La Puente

Sunday School: 9:30 AM Early Worship: 8:00 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Spanish Service: 9:30AM Bible Study: Every Wednesday 7:00 PM www.stsbc.org Antioch Church of Long Beach 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 591-8778 • F: (562) 599-6048 Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr.

She chairs an auxiliary, teaches Sunday School and serves as president of the clergy spouses for the So Cal conference and the 5th AME district. For Kinette Cager such service goes hand in hand with being a first lady, even if she’s not all that comfortable with it.

“You’re in a fishbowl and I’ve always been a person who has always been active in church, but behind the scenes, not up front,” says Cager, who is the wife of Pastor John Cager and for the last three years the First Lady of Ward AME Church.

The biggest adjustment for the L.A. native and mother of two, was the familiarity with which people related to her.

“Whether it’s commenting on your appearance, what you say or a perception they might have of you... You just always have to remember that people watch you,” Cager csays. “ She has since learned to take what people say with a grain of salt.

“If your husband is in ministry, you are,” she clarifies.

“I just try to my best to help my husband and to uplift and undergird the church. I believe each person has to find their own way of how they’re going to support their spouse in ministry and sow into the church.”

She met her husband when he was a youth pastor at First AME and she, a member of the youth choir.

“Ministry was always his path. I didn’t realize that it would mean leaving all of my friends at FAME and going to another church,” adds Cager, who never thought she’d marry a minister.

For Cager—whose mother always had her in church even during the frequent moves the family had to make to be with her father who served in the Navy—service to the church is what’s expected and she makes the most of it, particularly enjoying her work with kids.

“You have a responsibility to work within the church.

That’s what God is asking of us—give of your time, your talent, your treasure.”

Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins

St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church 1720 N. Walnut Avenue, La Puente, CA 91744 (626) 918-3225 • F: (626) 918-3265 Pastor Tony Dockery

Ward AME Church

In Long Beach

Worship Services: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am Tuesday Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm WednesdayBible Study: Noon

Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7:00pm

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Pastor: Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min Sunday School: 9:00 AM Early Worship: 7:30 AM Morning Worship: 10:00 Am Bible Study: Every Wednesday 12 (Noon) & 7:00 PM Radio: 7:00 PM (1st & 3rd Sunday) Station: KJLH Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com Bishop Joe L. Ealy Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Annointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Were all receive a little attention, affection and love.

From the Pulpit: New Life L.A.

MILESTONES L.A. First Ladies Celebrate Opening of New Site for Free Medical Screenings

“Love the Fruit of the Spirit—Galatians 5:19-26

T

L.A. Focus/February 2018

here’s only one fruit—it’s love. Everything else is a derivative of that love. It is how you set yourself apart from this world.

Christians are supposed to look like something. The only way you’re going to look like what you’re supposed to look like is—which is baby Jesus—is by developing in love.

Otherwise, you’re going to look just like the world.

Galatians 5:19-26 says, Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. If you’re in the flesh, you’re going to produce works of the flesh. If you want to destroy the works of the flesh, you’re going to have to produce the fruit of love.

Love is the character of God and it should be your character. It’s what makes you different everywhere you go because love is the essence of God. We should be producing the essence of God in our lives.

Think about your workplace. I worked in a cop culture and I learned the ones who worked in the flesh would take things personally.

Cops have authority that they can misuse. What I learned working in the police department is that the ones who didn’t produce love were always in trouble. I learned how to police by watching the right examples.

John 15:1-5 says, I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. The word abiding means to take up residence. You need to learn to take up residence in the Word and in the Lord. When I married my wife, I abided with her. I thought about her and wanted to spend all my time with her. I wanted to do things that pleased her.

We need to learn how to do that in Christ. When we were baby saints, all we wanted to do was read the Word.

You need to learn to feast on the Word. Listening to teaching is good, but that’s like taking vitamins. It’s a supplement to food for your soul. What you feed on is what you will do because you’re constantly thinking about it.

If you’re constantly thinking about the flesh—how you’re going to straighten someone out and not hold yourself back, then you’re practicing thoughts that will take you to the wrong place. You need to read the Word to learn about Jesus and His ways.

If you put yourself into the environment of the Word, good things are going to happen to you. There are good results from abiding in the Word.Being developed in love will keep you on the playing field because you will be developed in the character of God. I’ve seen a lot of people get up and give a word for God in a season. But after their season is over with, because they didn’t develop in love, they’re gone. Love will keep up in the grace of Christ.

Love is who you are. Your fruit of love will come out even more than what you say. Jesus wants to build on your love.

Every branch that bears fruit He prunes. A tree that has too many leaves won’t produce fruit. As you’re growing, there are certain things He has to cut off your life and sometimes it’s hard.

Pruning suggests chastening.

Chastening is another word for child training. WE are the children of God. Hebrews 12: 11 says, Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been Pastor Todd

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The more than 35 first ladies who make up the Los Angeles chapter of the First Ladies Health Initiative — including Dr. Betty Price (Crenshaw Christian Center), Juanita Edwards (Pasadena Community Christian Fellowship), Miranda Lewis (New Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church), (Florence Boyd (First AME), Evelyn Perkins (True Friendship), Shalonda Crawford (ECM Ministry) and , — will celebrate a milestone later this month with the opening of the “First Ladies Health House.

The opening is officially scheduled for February 22 when members of the community, healthcare providers and elected officials will attend a rib-

bon cutting and tour the facility that is located at 2249 S. Hobart Blvd.

The group is part of a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to reducing health disparities by providing free medical screenings ato those who need it most.

“The Health House’s primary purpose is to nurture a more on-going relationship with those who we help and serve,” said Executive Director Tracey Alston. “Prior to our acquisition of the Health House, our impact was limited to a yearly community outreach event. Now, we are able to host quarterly “Health Day” events.

During each “Health Day,” free medical screenings and educational materials are provided for a multitude of life-threatening conditions, including HIV, Hepatitis C, Diabetes and more. Other scheduled events include “Ask The Expert,” wherein members of the community can have their healthcare-related questions answered by a medical professional.”

The Health House also boasts an organic Community Garden, donated

by Charles R. Drew University, to provide underserved communities with clean, healthy food. The garden

PASSAGES Wyatt Tee Walker, 88, civil rights strategist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. confidant, preacher, author, Harlem activist who served for 37 years as the senior pastor of Harlem’s Canaan Baptist Church of Christ. From 1961 to 1964, he served as the executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington. A strong advocate for better schools and affordable housing, he served for ten years as a special assistant on urban affairs to Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York.

So effective was Walker that he was described as the “real leader of the Negro movement” in a 1964 report by the Alabama Legislative Commission to Preserve the Peace, which followed civil rights-era militants, subversives and communists.

Second Baptist Church In Monrovia 925 S. Shamrock Avenue • P.O. Box 479, Monrovia, CA 91017 •(626) 358-2136 • F: (626) 303-2477

New Philadelphia A.M.E. Church 6380 S. Orange Avenue, Long Beach, Ca 90805 (562)422-9300•F: (562) 422-9400 Pastor Darryl E. Walker, Senior Pastor Worship: 9:00am —1st & 5th Sunday Sunday School/New Member Classes: 8:00am 2nd thru 4th Sunday Worship:7:30 am &10:00am•Sunday School New Member Classes: 9:00am Sunday worship services streamed live on the web Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday Eve 7:00pm Mid-Week Bible Study: Thursday 12:00 noon www.nuphilly.org

In Bethlehem Church 1550 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 794-5211 • F: (626) 794-6592 Pastor Christopher A. Bourne

will produce enough fruits and vegetables to feed six families of three for a year. Nutritional cooking classes will also be hosted.

More than 100,000 people have been reached FLHI over the last seven years.

Pasadena

Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Tuesday Bible Study: 7:00pm Mid-day Worship Thursday: Noon www.bethelemchurchpasadena.org Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church 980 Rio Grande Street, Pasadena, CA 91104 *Mailing Address: 1416 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-4875 • F: (626) 794-7815 Pastor W. Harrison Trotter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7:00pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. 4:13

trained by it. You have to be willing to look like the weak one because what’s perceived as weakness is really strength. People are losing jobs because they are “keeping it real.” You don’t need to keep it real, you need to keep it Jesus. Keep it Jesus and you will experience promotion and increase in ways you didn’t imagine.

The fruit of the Spirit of love is not what you do, but how you do it. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 says, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Many think they are doing something for God, but it’s done in the wrong spirit. You have to develop a root of love.

You can learn this by watching people who are developed in love. The Bible says, follow those who through faith and patience have inherited the promise.

Clease

Bishop W.M. Larue Dillard, Phd. Sunday Worship: 7:45am, 10:45am, 4:45pm Ministry Worship to Children/Youth Sunday: 9:45am - 10:45am Prayer/Academy of Biblical Studies (Wed): 10:45am - 6:45pm www.second-baptistchurch.com First AME Santa Monica In Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404 • (310) 450-0331 F: (310) 450-4680 Rev. Rueben W. Ford, Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Bible Study/Prayer Meditation: Thursday 6pm “The Church In The Heart Of The Community with The Community at Heart” Email:famecsm@verizon.net Facebook: First AME Church Santa Monica

Arise Christian Center In Westchester 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C, Westchester, CA 90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Intercessory Prayer Thursday: 11:30pm - 12:30pm

22nd Annual Teen & Adult Health Conference For Middle/High School Students & Adults

Saturday, February 24, 2018 8:30am - 2:30pm Frank Parent School (Ladera Heights) 5354 W. 64th Street Break out Health Education Sessions for Adults and Chaperones • Human Trafficking HIV/AIDS & Hepatitis C • Alzheimer’s/Mental Health Black Lives Matter • Stem Careers

For Information contact: Dolores Caffey-Fleming: deeflemrpv@aol.com • 310.346.1948 Barbara Trotter: 310.670.8446 btakasoror@gmail.com Eleanor S. Wallace: 310.680.5430 ewallace@inglewood.k12.ca.us In collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and the Beverly Hills West Chapter of the Links

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SavingGrace

Charlie Wilson

A

L.A. Focus/February 2018

sk Charlie Wilson how he’s doing and you’re sure to get this trademark response: “I'm Blessed”.

It is the title to his most recent hit single and has fast become the song most capturing of the testimony that has become his life and mission.

“I sing it on every show because people always tell me that it inspires them and gives them hope,” said Wilson.

Just last month at the 49th Annual NAACP Image Awards, the legendary R&B singer affectionately dubbed “Uncle Charlie”, made history becoming the first artist to receive the inaugural presentation of the NAACP’s Music Makes A Difference Honor, paying tribute to a worthy performer who has used his or her platform to improve the conditions of those in need.

“It’s a miracle that I’m standing on this stage,” said Wilson, who has chronicled the ups and downs of his storied life in the best-selling book, I Am Charlie Wilson. “A miracle because I went from rags to riches, riches to rags, rags to the curb, and curb to homeless. I’ve been sober now for 22 years and with these now clear eyes, I can see all my brothers and sisters who are down and out, living without a home, shelter or hope.

“Everyone needs help at some time in their life and I’m dedicated to using the platform that God gave me to speak for those whose voices are never heard.”

His is a career that has spanned four decades in the music industry—including eight solo albums, 15 albums as lead singer for The Gap Band, eleven Grammy nominations along with Soul Train and BMI Icon Awards and such solo hits as “There Goes My Baby”, “Charlie, Last Name Wilson” and “My Love Is All I Have”, which have propelled him to the top of the charts laying the groundwork for sold out tours across the nation.

He’s also been part of successful collaborations with the likes of Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Mystikal, R. Kelly, the Eurythmics, Quincy Jones and Snoop Dogg, who first nicknamed him “Uncle Charlie”.

He credits his successes and the platform that they have given him to God. “I will never stop giving God praise, I don’t care where we are,” Wilson told L.A. Focus. “I love to give God praise. I always have. I was raised in the church.

My father was a preacher and my mother was minister of music and for so many years I grew up in church praising God.” It was in fact in his father’s Tulsa, Oklahoma-based COGIC church, where Wilson honed his vocal skills. He was the third of four children, all of whom could sing.

For a time in their youth, he and his older brother, Ronnie sang in rival bands, but in 1973 the two came together and with their younger brother, Robert, formed The Gap Band.

Over the next two decades the group would record more than a dozen albums, scoring number one hits with such R&B classics as “Outstanding”, “Oops Upside Your Head”, “Yearning For Your Love” and “Burn Rubber On Me”.

26

With the growing notoriety and success came partying and drugs and when the group hit a rough patch in the 1990s, Wilson —who had been unable to navigate the pitfalls of stardom —found himself broke, addicted to alcohol and cocaine, and homeless on the streets of Hollywood.

“The record industry had turned its back on me,” Wilson recalls of those dark days. “I was homeless and an addict. Then I got sober and began to work my way off the streets.

“I knew God was always with me. I used to pray this prayer: I would ask God not to let the Devil kill me out here in these streets before I can get back to doing what I love to do which is making music, playing to sold out concerts. I said God if you give me one more chance at life and at music, I promise, I’m going to shout you out.”

Together, with his wife Mahim, Wilson successfully rebuilt his career as a solo artist. Then in 2008, Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but with early diagnosis, the 64-year old singer was able to beat it.

The desire to share his story of survival and hope is what led him to become the national spokesman for the Prostate Cancer Foundation “Men need to know that it’s a diagnosis, not a death sentence, but early detection is key,” Wilson stressed.

“I’m still preaching to myself when talking to other men because I still sometimes have that same thinking: I’m not going [to the doctor], I don’t want a rectal exam, but you have to go.

“It’s been my passion to talk about it, so I even talk about it on stage and give my testimony. We just want to work in the communities and all over the country.”

His desire to testify to men about prostate cancer and to reach out to the homeless is as much part of his mission as is performing and making music. Looking back on a life full of challenges that he seems to have overcome, Wilson says he wouldn’t change a thing.

“Everything was designed the way it is now.

God took us through some things and we had to go through some things. If I could change one thing it would be to tell everyone around me that we need to pay attention to what’s around us, and the people who really need our help and not try to take, take, take… Just give a little bit more and I believe whatever is coming to us is going to come. We’ve got to believe in that.”

Next up for Wilson, is a guest appearance on Snoop Dogg’s upcoming gospel album—a project Wilson is just as excited as the rapper and longtime friend is.

“When Snoop asked me to come to be on his project I just looked at him and was overjoyed. I was like wow. we used to always talk about him doing gospel music. He wanted to do it for his grandmother and so when I started doing music with him he wouldn’t curse on the record so for him to want to do some gospel music and the fact that we did this

record together is incredible.”

While Wilson performs nearly every weekend, offstage, he and his wife spend a great deal of time at their ranch, outside of Los Angeles. There he often contemplates on his saving grace and all God has done for him.

I would ask God not to let the Devil kill me out here in these streets before I can get back to doing what I love to do which is making music, playing to sold out concerts. I said God if you give me one more chance at life and at music, I promise, I’m going to shout you out.”

“

“I’m blessed and highly favored,” Wilson declares. “I have made it my mission to raise awareness for the homeless—to show them there is a way out. Just look at me. I’m a way out.

“Every day I wake up I wake up thanking God for the day and for all that he’s done for me and I’m going to testify every chance I get: I’m blessed. For me, this is critical for it was He who brought me through.”