L.A. Focus Newspaper March 2019

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Eye On Gospel: H.B. Charles Makes His Gospel Debut PAGE

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Hollywood Buzz: What’s Next for Regina King...Oscar Winner?

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UPFRONT

And Holly Mitchell Makes Three...

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Last month State Senator Holly J. Mitchell became the third high profile public official to join the growing field of candidates for the 2nd District seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in the March 2020 primary. Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson officially announced his run in December and former city councilmember Jan Perry joined the race in January....

Head 2 Head: The Jussie Smollett Debacle & It’s Deeper Implications

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contents L.A. Focus Publications

MARCH 2019

Left: Rev. Al Sharpton poses with newly installed Baptist Ministers Conference president, Rev. K.W. Tulloss after keynoting the ceremony; Middle: Councilman Curren Price, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray attend L.A. Homeless Sevice Authority event at CAAM. Right: Former Pastor H.B Charles was the special guest of current Pastor George Hurtt at Mt. Sinai Church last month.

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From The Editor “Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone”

Commentary Not Separate&Yet Unequal: The Criminalization of Black Children In Public Schools

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UpFront

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Head to Head

Talk of Reparations Surface Among Democratic Presidential Hopefuls:And Holly Mitchell Makes Three...;L.A. To Build Mental Health Facility

The Jussie Smollett Debacle

Headlines From Africa

8 Feature Story Money Matters 10

Rent Gouging And How L.A.’s Alarming Rent Crisis Is Impacting Black Communities

Debt and Rising Costs Defer Homeownership

Biz News Briefs Barack Obama and NBA Team

On The Money Big Score For Black Directors

staff Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Production Photographer Advertising Social Media

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell, Keith DeLawder Kisha Smith Ian Foxx, Rickey Brown Leatha Davis Antoinette Banks

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Game Changers Bringing Capital Resources to South L.A. Businesses

Calendar/Around LA 91st Academy Awards 2019

Eye On Gospel H.B. Charles Makes His Gospel Debut; Donald Lawrence celebrates Reunion

Red Carpet Style 91sr Academy Awards 2019

One On One Tyler Perry

24 Pastor Profile 25 First Lady Files 26 From The Pulpit 29 In Good Taste Saving Grace 30 Albert Tate Fellowship Monrovia

Karen Sykes Crossword Church

“Eyes On The Prize(Jesus)”

Barbara Byndon

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

20 Hollywood Buzz 21 Through The Storm 22 Church News So What’s Next for Regina King...Oscar Winner?; Jussie Smollett Update

The First Cut Is The Deepest

Macedonia Baptist Church Teams With the L.A. Philharmonic for “Springtime In Watts”;BishopWilliam LaRue Dillard To Retire in May;Grace Temple elected Pastor Rodney Howard as Pastor

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge Greater Zion Church Family Southern Saint Paul Church Faithful Central Bible Church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Mt. Zion MBC Jacob’s Ladder

Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Rev. Edward V. Hill II Bishop Robert T. Douglas, Sr

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

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Commentary

ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS Guest Columnist

Not Separate & Yet Unequal: The Criminalization of Black Children In Public Schools y the time the four 12-year-old girls' parents released a letter detailing the events that transpired at East Middle School in Binghamton, New York, word had already spread to an enraged community. How in the world did school administrators get away with strip-searching the girls for drugs, merely because she seemed "hyper and giddy"? For many, it seemed like a shocking violation of the girls' privacy and a gross overreaction based solely on their perception of the "'strangely immature" behavior of teenage girls.

No drugs were uncovered and three of girls were eventually sent back to class. The fourth girl, who refused to remove her clothes, was sent to in-school detention for refusing the strip search. If the children's allegations are to be believed, their experience sounds more likely to have occurred in a jail than in a school.

Yet, increasingly, all around the country, schools are criminalizing behavior once deemed merely, well, childish. In 2012, school administrators in Georgia called local police on 6-year-old Salecia Johnson, who was having a temper tantrum. The police actually came and handcuffed the little girl, eventually charging her with battery of a schoolteacher and criminal damage to property.

In 2015, a viral video emerged showing a school resource officer in South Carolina body-slamming a young female student. The student had allegedly ignored the teacher's instructions to turn off her cellphone or go to the principal's office. The officer who responded to the teacher's request to remove the student was eventually fired, but the case itself began a series of efforts scrutinizing what many see as the unfair criminalization of African-American children in the public school system.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights organizations are now challenging what they consider to be "a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems" – a prison pipeline. Many of these children are amongst the most vulnerable, suffering from learning disabilities, impoverished living conditions, unstable family situations, as well as abuse and neglect. It is these very students who are presenting the behavioral problems. The school system is, in many cases, ill-equipped to deal with these students' special needs, and as a result, these students end up isolated, punished and, in many cases, expelled from the system entirely.

The zero tolerance disciplinary regimes upheld by many school systems reflect the strained resources with which public schools are faced. Often, teachers have to deal with incredibly large class sizes (35 or more students per classroom) and, as a result, have difficulty maintaining order and discipline while teaching rigid curricula in line with local, state and federal achievement standards.

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With some social problems, including linguistic and immigration-related challenges, schools need additional resources: bilingual staff, school psychologists and social workers. These are often in woefully short supply in a school system that is already under-resourced. Often, the only adults available to deal with troubled students are the school security guards and resource officers, who usually have one solution: impose disciplinary measures, including arresting children who misbehave and charging them with actual crimes.

What seems to be obvious is that African-Americans and other students of color are especially vulnerable to push-out trends and the discriminatory application of discipline.

Nationally, blacks account for about 16% of students in public schools and are subjected to 31 percent of school disciplinary actions that result in suspension, arrest or expulsion. What is also shockingly clear is that students who have been expelled from school are nearly three times more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system within a year of expulsion. High school dropouts are, in fact, 63 times more likely than college graduates to be incarcerated during their lifetimes.

The so-called "school-to-prison pipeline" has become such an obvious trend that states have commissioned prison-construction projects based on the number of children who fail third-grade reading. Failing reading is, in fact, a major indicator of subsequent behavioral problems that often result in student expulsion. A 2012 newsletter published by the Nevada Department of Corrections seems to confirm this trend, stating: "So many nonreaders wind up in jail that officials have found they can use the rate of illiteracy to help calculate future prison needs. Indiana's former governor has stated that determining the number of new prisons to build is based, in part, on the number of second graders not reading at second-grade level. In California they plan how many jail cells they will build in the future by how many children are not reading on grade level by third grade."

Education is critical for all children, but especially African-American children, who come from challenging socioeconomic backgrounds at a far higher incidence than other groups. A myriad of solutions to the school-to-prison pipeline have been proposed, including increasing the number of black male teachers in the public school system.

The difficult issue seems to be this: In a society that, in many cases, instills antisocial behavioral traits in black children as street survival mechanisms, schools, which only have students during the day for five days a week, may be ill-suited to counteract the massive outside social influence. In that light, the prison pipeline starts well before the children arrive at school. It starts on the way to school and at home.

To find out more about Armstrong Williams, visit www.creators.com.

From the Editor

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone”

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ll hell broke loose in the Virginia state capitol last month when it was revealed that Governor Ralph Northam had appeared in blackface in an old yearbook photo.

Immediately labeled a racist, the Governor came under fire from civil rights organizations, fellow legislators and media to step down and for a moment, it appeared he might.

But a strange thing happened on the way to what might have been Northam’s resignation as a closer look at his predecessor—Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax—unearthed yet another scandal. Fairfax, as it turns out, has been accused of sexually assaulting two women.

Stranger still, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, who is second in line to become governor, admitted that he, too, had once donned blackface at a college party nearly 40 years ago.

(So what is it about white folks and black face???)

I can’t —for the life of me— understand why anyone in this society (even 25 years ago), would don blackface for any reason, particularly if they had political ambitions.

That said, I don’t think it necessarily makes either Northam or Herring racists. A better determination of that would be the work they’ve done throughout their political careers.

More importantly, I, for one, don’t want to be judged by the things I did when I was in my twenties. I don’t know how I managed to survive my own mistakes and poor judgements, and while many have turned out to be lessons that have helped to shape the woman I have become, I would just as surely prefer to forget them and to have people appreciate how much I’ve grown.

The glaring lesson or takeaway for me is that no one is perfect. Secondly, that we’ve all gotten a little too thin-skinned in a society riddled with double standards.

Alas, the Virginia scandals were just the beginning of yet another very busy news cycle. In fact, forget “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”. Between breaking stories on Jussie Smollett, R. Kelly, the testimony of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen before a Congressional committee on Capitol Hill, who called the President a liar, a con man and a cheat, who needs reality TV drama, all of which pales in comparison to the nightly news.

I’m still shaking my head over the Jussie Smollett case (see two perspectives on it in our “Head to Head” on page 7). I’m also left to wonder about Chicago’s vast camera network (purportedly the nation’s most extensive video surveillance network—comprised of more than 32,000 cameras mounted on buildings, poles, train tunnels and buses) and why it couldn’t be used to assist with all the unsolved murders claiming Chicago’s black youth.

On to another issue that has taken center stage—the public testimony of Michael Cohen and what, if any, impact it will have. Most don’t expect it will make much of a difference. After all, noth-

ing has, and while I wasn’t at all impressed by the questioning, I was impressed with the way the president’s former “fixer” handled himself.

But for all the proof Cohen provided on Trump’s wrong doings, impeachment hopefuls need not get too excited, as Nancy Pelosi said after the hearing, “I’m not going into that”. So I guess we’ll just have to depend on Maxine Waters and Tom Spier to keep banging the impeachment drums.

Hopefull ed to my great-grandfathers, both of whom were slaves, it’s unrealistic to expect that it is a topic that will resonate with mainstream voters who are more likely to characterize such discussion as left wing.

In the meantime, black Angelenos continue to struggle with a problem that is essential to their survival—affordability, particularly as it relates to rising rents and the crisis they have sparked.

According to a recent study, the average renter in L.A.’s black and Latino communities is paying a whopping 60% of their hard-earned income on rent. With the defeat of Proposition 10 last November and the failure to get a rent control ordinance on the ballot in Inglewood, many in L.A. county find themselves running out of options. Check out our story beginning on page 8 to find out the latest.

Also in this issue, we share for a second time the harrowing story of Duania Henderson, who was stabbed 22 times by her fiancé 19 years ago and has lived to share her story with women in an effort to prevent them from becoming victims of domestic abuse.

According to a 2018 study, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, adding up to more than ten million women and men annually. In fact, more than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the U.S. report having experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. What’s more, nearly half of all women and men in the U.S. will experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Henderson’s is one of many moving stories of women who have overcome great obstacles to become victors instead of victims. March is women’s month –a time to appreciate the efforts of so many great women (past and present) and how they’ve impacted our lives. This month, take time out to honor the special women in your lives.

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

Talk of Reparations Surface Among Democratic Presidential Hopefuls

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en. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro are reintroducing the need for the U.S. government to once and for all come to terms with and make up for centuries of stolen labor and legal oppression through reparations.

Although none of these Democratic candidates—with their sights on the Oval Office—are talking cutting checks to descendants of slaves, they insist a more policy-driven method will make good on America’s original sin.

Harris has said if she’s elected president she’ll prioritize a proposed monthly tax credit to qualified citizens earning less than $100,000 annually. Warren is recommending a universal child care benefit for disadvantaged families from birth until a child enters school. This means families with income less than 200 percent of the poverty line would get free access and others would pay no more than 7 percent of their income. Castro, who has yet to articulate a payment plan, is claiming that if elected he “would establish a task force to look at how [paying reparations] might be done.”

“We had over 200 years of slavery," Harris told The Grio.com. "We had Jim Crow for almost a century. “We had legalized discrimination, segregation and now we have segregation and discrimination that is not legal but still exists and is a barrier to progress...And we have to recognize that everybody did not start out on an equal footing in this country. And in particular black people have not."

The reparations conversation is facing a backlash of objections. Critics are ques-

tioning the trillions it would cost white tax payers, the fact that the primary victims and original offenders are now dead, and the logistics of identifying who exactly is entitled to reparations payment.

In a Point Taken-Marist poll conducted in 2016, 68 percent of Americans said the country should not pay cash reparations to African-American descendants of slaves. About 8 in 10 white Americans said they were opposed to reparations altogether, while approximately 6 in 10 black Americans said they were in favor.

Several press outlets have pointed to Harris’s statement in The Grio interview where she argues, "Any policy that will benefit black people will benefit all of society…So I'm not going to sit here and say I'm going to do something that's only going to benefit black people. No. Because whatever benefits that black family will benefit that community and society as a whole and the country."

Critics are calling the proposed tax credits and other subsidies an attempt to redefine reparations which clearly isn’t addressing the reparations issue.

"Universal programs are not specific to the injustices that have been inflicted on African-Americans," said Duke University economist William Darity. "I want to be sure that whatever is proposed and potentially enacted as a reparations program really is a substantive and dramatic intervention in the patterns of racial wealth inequality in the United State–not something superficial or minor that is labeled as reparations and then politicians say the national responsibility has been met."

Republican strategist Whit Ayres said, "There is no doubt that issues of race

And Holly Mitchell Makes Three... ast month State Senator Holly J. Mitchell became the third high profile public official to join the growing field of candidates for the 2nd District seat on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in the March 2020 primary. Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson officially announced his run in December and former city councilmember Jan Perry joined the race in January.

“I believe in the best Los Angeles County has to offer and I am willing to fight for it. This is why I am running for County Supervisor,” stated Mitchell, who was first elected to the state Assembly in 2010 followed by the state Senate in 2014 and presently serves as chair of the state senate's budget committee.

If Mitchell or Perry were to take the seat it would mark the first time in the Board’s more than 150-year history that women controled all 5 seats. For the first 127 years of the Board’s existence, not a single woman served as Supervisor, and only six have since then-- earning the body the nickname “five little kings”.

Current 2nd District seat holder, Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is terming out after serving for over a decade, is the only male on the board. Ridley-Thomas has said he will seek the City Council seat Herb Wesson will vacate next year.

L.A. County’s 2nd district, which includes the bulk of South Los Angeles, is home to more than 50% of the county’s black population and Mitchell,

KEITH DELAWDER

Staff Writer

L.A. Focus/March 2019

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State Senator Holly Mitchell

Perry, Wesson will not only face off against each other, but against lesserknown candidates Sharis Rhodes and Earl Ofari Hutchinson as well.

While the primary is a year off, the race for endorsements has shifted into high gear. Wesson, who’s raised over half a million dollars in under two months, has the backing of Supervisor Janice Hahn, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, State Senator Steven Bradford and Assemblymembers Autumn Burke and Mike Gipson. Mitchell slate of local endorsements include Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Governor Gavin Newsom.

Perry’s endorsements include former councilmember/L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks.

GERALD BELL Contributor

have been and remain critically important in American society. But the idea that you resolve those issues by taking money from white people and giving it to black people will make race relations worse, not better.”

While in office, former President Barack Obama said in reference to the racial disparities faced by black Americans, “Theoretically, you can make, obviously, a powerful argument that centuries of slavery, Jim Crow, and discrimination [is] the primary cause for all those gaps," he said. "That those were wrongs done to the black community as a whole, and black families specifically, and that in order to close that gap, a society has a moral obligation to make a large, aggressive investment, even if it's not in the form of reparations checks, but in the form of a Marshall Plan, in order to close those gaps."

Whatever the case, those like Sen. Warren insist, “The U.S. needs to confront its ugly history of racism and talk about the right way to address it.”.

L.A. To Build Mental Health Facility Instead of Jail The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have abandoned years of planning to rebuild Men's Central Jail and voted 3-2 to rebuild it as at least one mental health facility. The plan was authored by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Mark Ridley-Thomas who describe the project as a turning point for county incarceration.

"What we're doing is having a paradigm shift in how we treat people who come into the system with mental health challenges,” said Hahn.

Under the new proposal, prisoners will be moved to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. The Men's Central Jail will be torn down for the mental health facility, run by the Department of Health Services, with security provided by the Sheriff's Department. Supervisors predict it will be five to eight years before the project is completed.

Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl voted against the measure, saying it amounts to a mental health jail.

Hahn and Ridley-Thomas believe the new direction will work and the present system had to change.

"The state of Men's Central Jail is nothing short of a violation of fundamental human rights of those individuals," said Ridley-Thomas, "call them inmates or patients, they're effectively both."

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed by Mother of Man Who Died in California Democratic Major Donors Home A wrongful death civil rights lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against California Democratic major Ed Buck, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum in the 2017 death of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore. The suit has been filed on behalf of Moore’s estate and his mother LaTisha Nixon.

Gemmel Moore was found dead of a crystal meth overdose in California Democratic major donor Ed Buck’s West Hollywood home on July 27, 2017. Moore’s death was immediately classified as an accidental methamphetamine overdose by the coroner. 19 days later after Moore’s journal was published by journalist Jasmyne Cannick and appeared in news reports, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s homicide bureau opened an investigation. On July 26, 2018, the District Attorney’s office, under the leadership of DA Jackie Lacey assisted by Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum, declined to file charges against Ed Buck in connection with Gemmel Moore's death citing insufficient evidence.

“Our hope is that this lawsuit will bring some modicum of justice for Gemmel and all of Ed Buck's victims,” said Nana Gymafi, human rights and criminal defense attorney and cocounsel for Ms. Nixon. “Gemmel cries out to us in his journals and his words to family and friends to hold Ed Buck accountable for his torture and death at Ed Buck's hands.

The lawsuit is seeking damages against Ed Buck for wrongful death, sexual battery, drug dealer liability, premises liability, negligence per se, intentional infliction of emotional distress and hate violence.

First African- American To Lead CA News Publishers Association Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, was sworn in as the first African-American president of the California News Publishers Association (CNPA). The 131-year-old organization, headquartered in Sacramento, represents more than 400 newspapers across the state.

The CNPA installed Brown-Hinds at its annual conference on February 6, 2019 with over a hundred media professionals — from major big city dailies and small campus weeklies to historical Black, Latino and Asian outlets –in attendance. This year’s discussions touched on issues facing minorities in the upcoming 2020 Census. It also tackled sticky, longstanding media industry problems and pulled apart laws that could impact news operations across the state in the future.

“We have always valued the work CNPA has done on behalf of the industry,” the Riversidebased publisher of the Black Voice News told her colleagues in her inaugural speech as President. “The work that the Black Voice News has done over the years is impactful work in the community that changed lives, policy. I knew it was important for me to do this as well.”

HeadToHead The Jussie Smollett Debacle & Its Deeper Implications

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ep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., lynch black and gay Trump-bashnot only believed black and Jussie Smollett ers? A PeopleTV host actually said Supporters: openly gay actor Jussie she was "hoping" and "praying" Rooting for a that Smollett's story was true.

Smollett's tale of being attacked by 'Modern two N-word-spouting homophobic Why did so many uncritically buy Lynching' Trump-supporters, she – and Smollett's story? One reason is many other big-name Democrats – knew that an Axios poll last November found exactly whom to blame. that 61 percent of Democrats believe Waters said: "I know Jussie. I love him. Republicans are "racist/ bigoted/sexist."

His family's a friend of mine. I know his Thirty-one percent of Republicans feel that sisters, I met his mom and I called already way about Democrats. to Jazz, one of the sisters, to talk to her And most Democrats about what's happening, what's going on. and members of the ... I'm pleased that he's doing okay. But we media believe Trump have to understand this is happening for a is a racist. So why reason. Why, all of a sudden, do we have doubt such a juicy people unable to study while black, unable story that falsely to mow a lawn while black, unable to have advances two narraa picnic while black, and being attacked? tives?

Trump is It's coming from the President of the Exhibit A that racism Larry United States. He's dog whistling every remains a major probElder day. He's separating and dividing, and he lem in America. And if is basically emboldening those folks who Trump is a "racist," therefore so are his feel this way." supporters.

Rev. Al Sharpton, who became famous But what does it say about America's by falsely accusing an assistant district alleged "systemic," "structural" and "instiattorney of raping a black teenage girl, tutional" racism when, in 2019, the cupweighed in. He said: "(The Smollett attack) board is so bare that "racist attacks" have is only a reminder of the times that we are to be manufactured? Last year, in a span of living in, that people feel empowered to a few weeks, three black motorists claimed express their hate and feel there will be no they were victims of racism by the white accountability. ... The President should cops who pulled them over. One, a revhave said, 'My brand shouldn't stand for erend, was the president of a local branch that.' This hate-filled climate is set by ... of the NAACP. He posted on social media a the President of the United States, who long, detailed description of the alleged gets the award for climate setting, if he is interaction with the cop whom he claimed not at fault for a direct act." racially profiled him and made harassing Rev. Jesse Jackson released a state- comments. A black female motorist took to ment: "Hatred against another simply social media to say she had a "traumatic because of who they are is like acid rain. It experience" in Virginia when she was falls from the top down and pollutes the pulled over for speeding and "threatened" environment." Former Vice President Joe by a "white cop, who "degraded" her "as an Biden tweeted: "What happened today to African-American." And a viral post by a @JussieSmollett must never be tolerated civil rights "activist" claimed a Texas in this country. We must stand up and trooper sexually assaulted another black demand that we no longer give this hate woman following a traffic stop and then safe harbor; that homophobia and racism arrested her for DUI. But they were all have no place on our streets or in our unaware that they were being recorded. hearts." Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., in a The tapes show all three were lying. The tweet, called the alleged attack "a modern cops involved were courteous, polite and day lynching." respectful. The black motorists lied about Isn't it good news that the story is the white cops. But if not for the recordalleged to be false? Isn't it good news that ings, who knows what might have hapTrump-supporting goons are not patrolling pened to the careers of the officers. the streets at night, armed with bleach As to the belief that racism remains a and a noose, to find, attack, whitewash and serious problem in America, can we agree Elder continued to page 28

Headlines From Africa Burundi: Four years after the start of construction, China has presented the $22 million presidential palace it built for Burundi as a gift to seal diplomatic relations with the East African country.

Congo: The U.S. imposed travel restrictions on five top officials from Congo, accusing them of corruption during the recent presidential elections.

Eritrea: Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders are set to sign a bilateral agreement covering a range of areas including border trade, port usage, custom, transportation and Immigration affairs, among others. Once signed, a joint commission from both countries will be established regulate the implementation of the agreements as part of efforts to strengthening cooperation after the twenty years of state of war between the two nations ended last year.

Gambia: A Gambian civil engineering student is working on a 3-D printed device that can transform a smartphone into a microscope for disease detection to save lives in a nation where many continue to die from curable diseases.

Ghana: Former president John Mahama scored a landslide primary victory to become the opposition candidate in thecountry’s 2020 election, winning 95 percent of 213,487 votes cast. Mahama was president from 2012 to 2016, then lost a re-election bid to President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party due to a weakened economy and corruption allegations.

Kenya: A Kenyan court postponed a ruling on whether to decriminalize same sex relationships. The decision from the high court is now set for May 24.

Malawi: Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri spent five days in jail over fraud and money laundering charges and had his private jet confiscated following allegations that he fabricated loan agreement papers to acquire it. Now the celebrity gospel preacher—who set an African record with at least 100, 000 recorded congregants flocking to his church service— is accused of treating the church "like one big bedroom" amidst reports of sexual improprieties. Bushiri and his wife Mary were released and are scheduled back in court on May 10.

Nigeria: The violence during Nigeria’s delayed presidential and legislative polls reportedly claimed at least 27 lives and injured several others. More than 84 million voters registered to take part in the general elections which marked the end of a bitter cam-

t was just a few weeks ago when “Like any other citizen, Mr. I Won’t news first surfaced that Jussie Smollett enjoys the presumption of Apologize Smollett said he was attacked innocence, particularly when there as racist and homophobic slurs were For Believing has been an investigation like this Jussie hurled at him. Each day since then one where information, both true Smollett has been eventful, to say the least: and false, has been repeatedly Like the best roller coasters, the investiga- leaked. Given these circumstances, we tion of his claims has had so many highs intend to conduct a thorough investigation and lows, speculative twists, and uncon- and to mount an aggressive defense.” firmed turns that it was hard for many to For the better part of a week now, my believe the Empire own social media has been a shitshow. As actor was indeed a vic- more and more leaks from CPD occured, tim. I was not one of leading up to eventual charges, self-identithem. I chose, and fied conservatives, bots, and other detracchoose, to come from a tors flooded my mentions and DMs. place of believing peo“Should we still believe Jussie lol,” ple who say they’ve someone wrote on Twitter. “Crickets on been victimized. And Smollet from the great value version of for this, in spite of the Shaun King, @TrevellAnderson. Shocker,” charges against him said another. (I confess, this one gave me a Tre’Vell and in the words of much-needed cackle.)

Anderson Queen Bey, “I ain’t I’m struck by people’s elation that sorry!”

Smollett possibly lied about his attack. It’s I have to admit that, when word about as if they feel vindicated that the evidence the alleged attack started spreading on might justify the anti-Black and anti-queer social media, I was emotional. I immedi- intentions in which some of their skeptiately flashed back to my own run-in with a cism was rooted. But what the response man who wanted to hurt me because of confirms for me is that, as a society, we how I show up in the world. My eyes aren’t as progressive and forward-thinking watered as I was again confronted with the as we’d like to believe. notion that visibility alone doesn’t protect For the sake of clarity, if Jussie Black LGBTQ+ people, that no matter how Smollett lied, he should be held accountout and proud we are, such self-assured- able. I’m unsure if that should be done in a ness can also be a target. The 49 people court of law, public opinion, or otherwise, killed and 53 others wounded in the Pulse but he will have to atone. But asking those nightclub mass shooting also came to mind of us who supported Smollett to apologize – how these queer, mostly Latinx people or change course? Don’t expect it – not and their friends were gunned down in from me, at least. what was supposed to be their sanctuary.

When it comes down to people coming What Smollett said happened to him was forward and saying they have been violatsomething all too familiar. ed – physically, emotionally, sexually, etc.

Two days ago, the Chicago Police – I will always initially verbalize a belief Department charged Smollett with a Class in their claims. Doing so helps to shift the 4 felony for falsifying a police report. culture, ever so slightly, in a direction of Prosecutor Risa Lanier offered a detailed empathy and meaningful aid for those who account of the investigation which, she need it most. says, proves the actor staged the incident As Tarana Burke, founder of the Me and paid his assailants. She cites a heap of Too Movement said on Twitter, “We say interviews, phone records, and surveil- ‘believe survivors’ because it is the first lance footage as evidence. After Smollett step toward transformation and because it turned himself in and posted bail, it was requires empathy but it also, often, announced that his character was written expands our understanding of what bodily out of the final two episodes of Empire, autonomy looks like.” which is currently filming its fifth season.

“By saying *believe* survivors, be clear Smollett has not yet released a statement, that it means START with the premise but his lawyers Todd Pugh and Victor that folks aren’t lying and then handle the Anderson continued to page 28 Henderson told Deadline on Thursday:

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A look at current news from the continent of Africa paign between two frontrunners: incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar. Buhari has been reelected for a second four-year term.

Rwanda: The Nigerian innovation center, Co-Creation Hub, has unveiled its first African ‘Design Lab’ in Kigali as part of its expansion strategy. Over the next five years, the firm plans to spend $11 million on designing design technology solutions to systemic problems in in public health, education and governance. The project is set to assemble a multidisciplinary team of product designers and engineers who collaborate with scientists and stakeholders globally to solve some of Africa’s complex problems.

Senegal: Voters in Senegal casted their ballots last month in the first round of the country's presidential election, with incumbent President Macky Sall expected to win re-election. An estimated 6.5 million people registered ahead of the vote, with a run-off between the two top vote getters on March 24 if no single candidate secures a majority. Sall, 57, benefits from a more substantial campaign infrastructure than his rivals and has overseen a period of healthy growth and delivered several landmark infrastructure projects, including highways, train lines, and a new international airport, much of which was underwritten by the Chinese.

Tanzania: Two populous regions in Tanzania have been hit by condom shortage raising fears of a possible increase in number of sexually transmitted infections.

Tanzania’s deputy Health Minister Faustine Ndugulile explained that the shortage was caused by the government’s new procurement policy to cut off private suppliers of free condoms, but believed his nation’s population was “educated enough to use protection.”

Uganda: Uganda is fast solidifying itself as a go-to blockchain destination in the continent. The country has progressed in the last decade, technologically-speaking, and its foray into blockchain technology is proof.

South Africa: Energy Minister Jeff Radebe says that South Africa plans to expand its use of renewable power as the coal-dependent nation expects traditional, centralized generation plants to disappear.

LISA COLLINS & KEITH DE LAWDER STAFF he rents are too damn high” became the rallying cry of proponents for the Yes On Proposition 10 that, if passed last November, would have repealed restrictions on rent control amid an affordable housing crisis being felt statewide and spiking in the southland as Los Angeles ranked among the top cities for "cost-burdened" renters in the latest “State of the Nation’s Housing” report from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

With the definition of being cost-burdened meaning that 30 percent or more of one’s income is going to rent, the Harvard study found that to be the reality for 57.1 percent of L.A.’s residents. In all, nearly 1.3 million people in greater L.A. suffered from some level of cost burden when it comes to rent, Harvard found.

And despite the failure of Proposition 10–61.7% to 38.3%–the demand for rent control has not only continued but is growing as rents continue to rise. With median prices for one- and two-bedroom units now standing at upwards of $2,430 and $3,220, respectively, Los Angeles is home to the fourth-most expensive rental market in the nation, In a recently released study entitled, “People Simply Can’t Afford To Pay The Rent “, UCLA economist Michael Storper dubbed today’s Los Angeles a “superstar” region to which high earners are drawn, squeezing out the poor, noting “Superstar metropolitan areas like L.A. are increasingly composed of high-skilled, highincome, highly educated people. This has led to an explosion in rents and housing prices, and a lot of people getting less housing than they need.”

Noting that several of the state’s significant measures–including the legalization of marijuana –were initially defeated, rent control advocates have vowed to fight on and believe that a better-worded 2020 ballot measure could result in a positive outcome.

In the meantime, local efforts are ongoing in communities like Baldwin Village and Leimert Park as well as cities like Inglewood, which for many in L.A. County became ground zero in the battle for rent control over the last couple of years.

Since 2015, when it was announced that the city of Inglewood will be home to at 70,000-plus seat stadium for the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers football franchises along with numerous future events such as a Superbowl in 2024 and the Olympics in 2028, the

L.A. Focus/March 2019

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community collectively braced for the inevitable changes that the massive project will impose on surrounding neighborhoods.

While proponents of the new stadium point to the inflow of economic growth and a renewed sense of pride for the City of Champions, serious questions loom regarding how a rise in property value will affect the cities more vulnerable residents-- its renters.

With the stadium less than two years from opening-and another arena expected to be built in an adjacent lot to house the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024–some were starting to see the first wave of rent gouging, or the sudden raising of rents to above market values in order to capitalize on the increased value the area represented.

Literally overnight Inglewood residents saw notices from their landlords of sky high rent increases without warning. Take for example, the surprise Inglewood resident Kerry Grant found one morning at his apartment at Prairie and 99th St, just blocks from the stadium.

“Oh my god lol,” was all Grant could write when he posted a notice from his landlord on Twitter saying that his rent would be increased in the on March 1st by $1,525 which is 150% more than its original price.

The post ended up going viral and sparked the organization Uplift Inglewood Coalition to rally outside of city hall, proposing to city leaders a rent stabilization charter amendment that called for a five percent cap on yearly rent increases for buildings with four or more units.

“We proposed the charter amendment because we knew the city was not on our side in this issue, they’re not on the side of people,” says Derek Steele, a community Organizer with Uplift Inglewood.

“When we first proposed rent stabilization two years ago, the city didn’t believe us. They thought we were making the problem up. Fortunately this post going viral helped turn Mayor Butts head to the idea that rent gouging is a very real threat to the citizens of Inglewood.

“The problem is there is no consideration in the leadership of the city of how all this development all at once is impacting people,” observes Steele, who believes that the primary interest of city hall is bringing in new business rather than the well-being of its residents.

“All the development is causing speculators to come in, and with that being the case, whole buildings are being evicted. Enough is enough.”

"The increasingly high and uncontrolled rent in the City of Inglewood continues to threaten the stability of families who have lived in the area for generations,”

We’re hearing from tenants, particularly elderly tenants, people who’ve been here 2030 years and say they’ve had price increases of 400, 500, up to 800 a month. Initially it was properties near where the new stadium is being built, and now we’re starting to hear the same type of price gouging happening two and a half miles away, and that doesn’t even make sense.

“People are trying to jump on the bandwagon and take advantage of tenants...

noted Miya Walker, Co-Chair of the Plan4Hope Ministry at Center of Hope church in Inglewood. “Without a solid commitment to addressing the rent problem, the rate of homelessness and instability will increase. Center of Hope believes rent control is an issue of basic human need and decency, and supports efforts that help to bring a reasonable solution to rent stabilization," "The issue of rent is a statewide issue and we take it seriously,’” Inglewood Mayor Butts said in a statement.

“What we're going to do is make sure that people aren't gouged and that people aren't forced en masse out of apartments because they find the city of Inglewood desirable to invest in.”

To that end, Mayor Butts is presently considering putting a rent stabilization ordinance before the council along with requiring relocation payments to renters who face large increases. Since the rally and tense council meeting that followed, Butts and the city council have opened a survey that will “study” the increases to area rents and are asking renters who have been notified of an increase to upload their rental agreements along with the notice of increase to the city’s website.

Uplift Inglewood is currently in the process of organizing people to participate in the survey, which they say is a critical step in showing the severity of the rent gouging problem. For those without access to a scanner or computer necessary to upload their rent notification, Uplift Inglewood is offering the use of their resources.

“Now that this case being made and more and more people are speaking up to let city hall know what’s going on my hope is that there’s a change of heart that’s taking place,” says Steele, “But this is after a few years of organizing and pushing for change to happen.”

“I will be watching these investment companies,” Butts said on social media after negotiating a compromise with Malin Asset Management, who was responsible for the increase to Kerry Grant’s rent. “The overwhelming majority of apartment owners are mom and pop families a that have kept their rents below market [value]. We do not intend to hurt them.”

The issue with having no rent stabilization laws in a city is that nothing short of a natural disaster can stop property owners from gouging rent prices, at any time.

Chancela Al-Mansour, Executive Director of the Housing Rights Center, tells L.A. Focus that although there are laws preventing landlords from gouging rent prices, they only come into effect in a state of emergency.

“Only after an emergency situation has happened can the governor say you can’t price gouge,” says Al-Mansour.

“If there’s no disaster and there’s no rent control ordinance, an owner can raise the rents as high as they want- above market value if they choose. We’re seeing owners raising rents above market value in anticipation that they can get higher rents later.”

Unlike the city of Los Angeles, which has rent control laws in place–but only for buildings constructed before 1978, Inglewood has no regulations on what a landlord can charge for rent. Attempts as recent as last year have been made to get a rent control on the books, but the required number of signatures were not obtained in time to get a measure on the November 2018 ballot.

According to Uplift Inglewood, 64 percent of residents in Inglewood are renters and the median household income, at $44,000 is 20 percent lower than the rest of L.A. County. Since 2016 rental prices have jumped 12.2% which is 5% higher than the rest of the county, according to real estate data company CoStar-- and this seems to be only the beginning.

“We’re hearing from tenants, particularly elderly tenants, people who’ve been here 20-30 years and say they’ve had price increases of 400, 500, up to 800 a month,” says Al-Mansour. “Initially it was properties near where the new stadium is being built, and now we’re starting to hear the same type of price gouging happening two and a half miles away, and that doesn’t even make sense.

“People are trying to jump on the bandwagon and take advantage of tenants who always have a less amount of power and bargaining position, so unfortunately without a strong rent control or tenant protection that’s exactly what happens. Tenants get price gouged, forced out, evicted, and become homeless.”

Aside from the city of Los Angeles, just three L.A. County cities have rent control measures on the books-Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica.

For units that fall under L.A.’s rent stabilization ordinance there is protection in cases where landlords violate the law, be it unlawful rent hikes or offering a lesser amount of relocation assistance. The problem is making sure tenants know their rights and understanding that over time the number of those presently protected by L.A.’s rent control ordinance is going to go down as more and more luxury apartment buildings are being constructed that aren’t subject to rent control.

“Often times,” adds Al-Mansour, “what happens is you have a new owner who sees the property being worth much more than they initially anticipated or the rents have been so low for so long, then they raise them so astronomically high on tenants so often on a fixed income

and can’t afford the increase, leading to an eviction.

“We also see situations where a landlord will give a notice that is not a lawful reason to evict and the tenant hopefully knows their rights, gets an attorney or legal advocate, goes to court, wins or the landlord dismisses the case, and the landlord will turn around and serve the tenant with another notice that same week! We’ve had tenants who have gone into court three or four times a year.

After a while it takes a toll and they can’t afford an attorney because it’s so expensive or they can’t take any more time off work and ultimately the landlord is successful.

“So what the city of Los Angeles is doing is passing a tenant harassment ordinance that would prohibit the landlord for giving multiple notices to tenants especially ones that aren’t merited and also prohibiting landlords from filing multiple unlawful detainers as well”.

The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty says that the lack of adequate affordable rental housing is the primary cause of housing instability and homelessness, particularly when coupled with an interruption in income from job loss, illness, injury, divorce, or any other destabilizing life event.

Homelessness surged to about 53,000 countywide in 2018, due in significant part to unaffordable rents. A point not lost on Governor Gavin Newsom, who has called for a Marshall Plan for affordable housing.

“The California Dream is in peril if we don’t act to address this housing crisis,” said Governor Newsom. “The cost of housing – both for homeowners and renters – is the defining quality-of-life concern for people across this state. Housing costs threaten to erode our state’s longterm prosperity and are driving hardworking Californians to look for opportunities elsewhere. That’s why I’m proposing a series of unprecedented actions to tackle this crisis head-on, and I look forward to working with the Legislature, cities, and counties to solve these urgent challenges.”

Among Newsom’s proposals addressing the housing crisis was $1.75 billion to spur housing development and promote economic growth and working with the Legislature to find common ground on efforts to prevent rent spikes and create stability for renters.

“No one,” he said, “should live in constant fear of eviction or spend their whole paycheck to keep a roof overhead.”

Housing activists aren’t, however, holding their breath, insisting that the fight for rent stabilization is far from over.

L.A. Focus/ March 2019

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MoneyMatters Debt and Rising Costs Defer Homeownership

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decade has passed since the housing collapse. In that time, bank profits are back and continue to rise.

Despite occasional trading fluctuations, the stock market remains profitable for most investors. Then there’s the low rate of unemployment that is often cited as if economic strides have included nearly everyone.

But unemployment data does not reflect the vast number of people who today are working and earning less, otherwise known as the underemployed.People who toil at jobs that pay less than in previous years often have a work ethic bigger than their paycheck. Even for those who take a second job, the extra and modest earnings seldom free them from hoping they have enough money to make it through each month.

Then there are the families who sacrificed retirement or building savings to give their children a college education. Both new college graduates, their parents and often grandparents are startled at the amount of debt they share and how long it will take to repay it.

Whatever happened to the American Dream of owning a home and giving your children a better life than you experienced as a child? Is this ‘dream’ being deferred or denied? The stark reality is that between the rising cost of college and the equally rising costs of homeownership, much of the country that works for a living is in a financial catch-22.

This contention is borne out by an updated consumer survey that annually measures profiles of both home buyers and sellers. Each year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) surveys consumers who purchased a primary home in the past year. For 2018, NAR used a 129-question survey of consumers who purchased a home between July 2017 and June 2018.

Summarizing results, NAR concluded that current housing trends are affected by “mounting student debt balances”, along with rising interest rates, higher home prices and larger down payments.

“With the lower end of the housing market — smaller, moderately priced homes — seeing the worst of the inventory shortage, first-time home buyers who want to enter the market are having difficulty finding a home they can afford,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Homes were selling in a median of three weeks and multiple offers were a common occurrence, further pushing up home prices.”

Despite the financial hurdles noted by the NAR survey, there was a glimmer of encouraging news. While married couples comprise 63% of home buyers, single females represent 18%, purchasing homes at a median

On the Money

CHARLENE CROWELL

Contributor price of $189,000. But for the rest of the home buying market, NAR found that the past year meant a median home price of $250,000 required a median household income of $91,600 for a successapplication. mortgage ful Additionally, the nation’s median home down payment now is 13%, or $32,500 for that $250,000 priced home.

According to new research by the Urban Institute, median wealth for black parents is $14,400 compared to whites at $215,000.

“As the NAR report shows, the share of first-time homebuyers continues to lag far behind historical norms,” commented Mark Lindblad, a Senior Researcher with the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). “Efforts should be directed toward pairing low-down payments with affordable and responsible mortgage products so that low-income households and borrowers of color have equal access to the opportunities that come from owning a home of one’s own.”

Lisa Rice, President/CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance shared a similar view.

“The NAR’s survey underscores the persistent difficulty under-served communities face when trying to purchase housing,” said Rice. “With a median purchase price of $250,000 and down payment of $32,500, homeownership remains out of reach for far too many and this exacerbates stress on rental housing prices.”

Recent figures from the Census Bureau found that nation’s 64.4% homeownership rate in the third quarter of 2018 was not statistically different from that of 2017.

Geographically, homeownership in the Northeast, Midwest and South remained the most stagnant. In stark contrast, the financial outlook for the 64 percent of Americans who already own a home brought a hefty median equity gain of $55,000 when they sold their residence over the past year. Additionally, after selling their homes, 44% traded up to a large home.

In other words, if you can find a way to become a homeowner, the costs will likely be outweighed by the economic gains. But making that important financial transition from renter to homeowner will become harder as mortgage interest rates climb from the historic lows of recent years. Additionally, should home inventories remain low, the likelihood of ‘supply and demand’ economics will keep driving prices higher as well.

“Now more than ever,” added Rice, “we need radical policies that will spur the development of affordable housing in all communities.”

Charlene Crowell is the Center for Responsible Lending’s Communications Deputy Director.

Big Score For Black Directors Any lingering doubts that black films could be commercially viable may have been put to rest last year as black directors demonstrated their box office power, pulling in a combined $1.3 billion at the box office in 2018. Fact is, just the top ten films by black directors accounted for nearly 16% of the year’s domestic box office, which topped out at $11.383 billion.

And while the year also marked a record number of films from black filmmakers to hit the box office, leading the pack was Black Panther which grossed upwards of $700 million domestically. The movie, helmed by Ryan Coogler, also earned three Golden Globe nominations and became a cultural phenomenon.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse–co-drected by Peter Ramsey, Robert Persichetti Jr. and Rodney Rothman– earned a cool $117 million, while Creed II–directed by Steven Caple Jr.–has brought in upwards of $112 million. Not far behind was The Equalizer 2 which teamed Denzel Washington once again with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua for a domestic box office take of $102 million.

And with A Wrinkle In Time, Ava DuVernay became the first black woman to direct a movie that grossed $100 million, but the icing on the cake for DuVernay has got to be the multi-million dollar deal she landed with Warner Bros.

With the success ofBlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee not only landed on this list, but took in $48.1 million at the nation’s box office. Others making the top ten most commercially successful list of black directors for 2018 include Julien Lutz–who is better known as Director X (Superfly), Tyler Perry (Acrimony) and Charles Stone (Uncle Drew).

Ryan Coogler

Biz News Briefs

L.A. Focus/March 2019

Barack Obama, NBA Team Up To Launch Basketball Africa League

Former President Barack Obama is using his wellknown affection for the sport of basketball to expand the game to Africa.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced his league’s joint effort with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to launch a professional league in Africa called the Basketball Africa League, and Obama is expected to have a handson involvement in the league-- though the extent of which has yet to be announced.

The NBA shared a video of Obama speaking to African basketball players about the importance of sports.

"I hope you know through sport that if you put in effort you will be rewarded, I hope you learn through sport what it means to play as a team and that even if you are the best player your job is not just to show off but your job is to make your teammates better," Obama says in the

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video.

Obama also tweeted his support following the announcement.

“I’ve always loved basketball because it’s about building a team that’s equal to more than the sum of its parts,” he wrote. “Glad to see this expansion into Africa because for a rising continent, this can be about a lot more than what happens on the court.”

According to the NBA, The Basketball Africa League is set to be a 12-team league and will begin to play next year, January 2020. Qualification tournaments are positioned to take place later this year to determine which existing club teams will join the league. Teams reigning from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia are marked as participants and each country will only be allowed to have a maximum of two teams in the league.

Serena Williams Joins Poshmark’s Board of Directors Tennis great Serena Williams–who launched her own fashion line dubbed “Serena” last year–has joined the board of directors of Poshmark, the Redwood, Ca-based company that serves as a digital marketplace for new and used clothing.

“Poshmark was built by a community of strong, independent women just like Serena Williams,” stated

Poshmark founder/CEO Manish Chandra. “As both our company and community continue to grow, it’s important that we bring smart and diverse new voices to the table, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about what the future holds with Serena in our corner.”

In a video announcing the news, Williams said, “I’m really excited to join Poshmark because it really speaks to my core values. They really believe in so many different aspects of my life that I am not only living but I’m also preaching.”

In Other Business News…

Former Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, who in 2017 became the first woman and first black chief operating officer at Starbucks, became the second black woman to join Amazon’s board of directors last month. The Spellman native– who ranks #33 on Fortune Magazine’s list of the world’s most powerful women– was awarded 570 shares of common stock as part of her election and was also named to the leadership development and compensation committee of the board.

The move comes as the company has come under scrutiny for a lack of diversity to its management team and board of directors. The board currently includes CEO Jeff Bezos, who with a net worth of $160 billion ranks as America’s richest citizen.

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Game Changers:

KEITH DELAWDER Staff Writer

Bringing Capital Resources to South L.A. Businesses eed consulting, education, or access to financing for taking your small business to the next level? Whether you’re just a startup, or looking to grow an existing business, there’s an important resource available to all L.A. area small businesses that can be an essential support for your success.

Meet Constance Anderson, Director of the Pacific Coast Regional’s (PCR) Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

SBDC provides business owners with oneon-one assistance in business planning, management, marketing, sales, strategic planning, and access to financing-- and the best part is, it’s free!

“I think of us as all things small business,” says Anderson who has been Director of L.A.’s SBDC since its inception at Pacific Coast Regional in 2007. “We have people who are skilled in helping you to think through the process of what it takes to open your doors, permitting, licensing, and funding–the whole thing.”

As Director of SBDC, Anderson and her team of 16 small business experts are responsible for technical assistance, which means working one-on-one with small business owners who are seeking to startup or expand their business.

“We’re the first line of contact for people seeking support for businesses,” says Anderson who considers her department’s free of charge services a holistic resource for small business success. “As we work with them, we gain an understanding of what their needs are, whether its money, education or technical assistance-- we help them where they are.”

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We want to locate where businesses are and help them get to the next step. That could be helping them get access to a loan, it could mean looking for investors. We’re here for whatever they might need.

According to Anderson, many people don’t believe their business fits as a “small business”, when in fact most do! The Small Business Administration-- which is the federal department that funds SBDC-defines a “small business” as one with no more than 500 employees and less than $40 million in revenue.

After an initial consultation, Anderson’s team determines what kind of assistance a business needs. If your business is a startup or new (1-3 years old) SBDC often suggests educational programs on business management, or offers consultations with experienced specialists on strategic subjects including organizing a business plan, social media and website management, legal advice, and many more.

For businesses looking to acquire extra capital so they can continue to grow, SBDC can assist in the process of securing a loan through one of their six different loan programs. As a liaison between the State of California and over 35 different financial programs, SBDC has the ability to actually guarantee loans through their California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program.

“It’s the program we probably like the

most because it helps a lot of people,” says Anderson of the Loan Guarantee Program.

“We can guarantee loans that a financial institution would not be able to make because they’ve been in business less than two years or it’s a business that the financial institution is not familiar with.”

Once a business owner applies through SBDC, Anderson and her staff analyze the business’ projections, underwrite and inspect the loan. If the loan is something they can support they cut a check directly to the bank, guaranteeing up to 80% of a $2.5 million loan.

“We want to locate where businesses are and help them get to the next step,” says Anderson of SBDC’s mission. “That could be helping them get access to a loan, it could mean looking for investors. We’re here for whatever they might need.”

Anderson has been a local resident since her family moved to South L.A. from Birmingham, Alabama when she was in high school, and has built her career on assisting the growth and community development of Los Angeles businesses.

After graduating from Compton High and getting a B.A. in Business from UCLA’s Anderson School Of Management, she enjoyed an over 20 year career in banking, which included working in the area of community reinvestment.

It was working with several different banks on their federally required Community Reinvestment Act programs, and sitting on numerous non-profit boards, where Anderson became very familiar with organizations such as PCR by providing them with the grant dollars

they invest in local small businesses.

Anderson would eventually find a home at PCR, where she has been for the last 16 years becoming a vice president and director of SBDC. Anderson’s work as a community advocate has earned her numerous awards including the State Star Award from her peers at the American Small Business Development Centers and the Community Impact Award from Wells Fargo.

Of all of her achievements, Anderson is especially proud to bring the services of SBDC to the businesses of South L.A. During her time sitting on the Neighborhood Housing Services board, Anderson advocated that a recently purchased 30,000 square foot office at 1051 W. Rosecrans Ave. in Compton be used to offer her department’s small business assistance programs and help boost the area’s struggling economy.

“It allows clients in the area to have access to all the tools I have access to,” says Anderson of SBDC’s Compton satellite office. “And it allows me to give back to give back to the community I grew up in.”

For more information on Pacific Coast Regional, visit pcrcorp.org.

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Calendar of events

Ongoing Exhibits: Los Angeles Freedom Rally, 1963 Coined the “Los Angeles Freedom Rally,” it was one of the largest civil rights rallies in the country featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Through March 3, 2019) Also: California Bound: Slavery on the New Frontier, 1848 - 1865 (Through Jan 21, 2019) Free (Parking = $12) California African American Museum 600 State Drive Contact: (213) 744-7432 http://caamuseum.org Lights Out: Nat King Cole Starring Dule´ Hill (An imaginary meeting between Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr.) (Through March 17) $30 - $120 • Visit online for showtimes Geffen Playhouse 10886 Le Conte Ave Info: (310) 208-5454 www.geffenplayhouse.org On Stage: The Mountaintop A theatrical exploration of What Dr. Martin Luther King has meant to

American history since 1968 (Through March 10) Call for showtimes/prices Info: (818) 955-8101 Garrymarshalltheatre.org Art Exhibit: John Henry: American Folk Hero The Palmer Hayden Collection (Thru March 31) Thursday — Sunday Noon — 5pm • Free The Museum of African American Art Macy’s 3rd Floor 4005 Crenshaw Blvd Info: (323) 294-7071 www.maaala.org

Sunday, March 3 In Concert: Toni Braxton With Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds & SWV 8pm • $59.50 - $125 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Tickets: (213) 763-6020 www.microsofttheater.com An American Odyssey: The Life and Work of Romare Bearden 6pm - 8pm • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive Free (Parking = $12) Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org

L.A. Focus/March 2019

Alicia Keys was not only the host, but was the lady in this red Armani stunner at the Grammy Awards last month.

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Tuesday, March 5 On Stage: Black Super Hero Magic Mama (Thru April14) Check website for pricing/showtimes Geffen Theater 10886 Le Conte Ave Tickets: (310) 208-5454 geffenplayhouse.org

Thursday, March 7 Discussion: Lunchtime Liposuction & Other InOffice Procedures The latest procedures for body contouring, facial rejuvenation, fillers, Botox and more 6PM — 7:30PM • Free Oasis Baldwin Hills 200 UCLA Medical Plaza, Ste 206 (Must sign up in advance) Contact: (800) 516-5323 connect.uclahealth.org /calendar Discussion: Take Action to Prevent Colon Cancer Exhibits, information, resources, giveaways 11AM — 2PM • Free

Harman Garden at UCLA Medical Center 1250 16th St, Santa Monica Must sign up in advance Contact: (800) 516-5323 connect.uclahealth.org/ calendar

In Concert: The Spinners $44-74 • 9pm The Rose 254 E. Green Street Pasadena 91101 wheremusicmeetsthesoul. com

Friday, March 8

Saturday, March 9

GLAAACC Annual Economic Awards Dinner Keynote Speaker: Deborah Flint, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports 5:30pm — 9:30pm 7pm Dinner • $500 JW Marriott LA Live 900 W. Olympic Blvd.

Contact: (310) 216-4722 www.glaaacc.org

Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk Celebrities join breast cancer survivors and their supporters in 5K run/walk 9am — Noon • Free Dodger Stadium 1000 Vin Scully Ave komenlacounty.org/race

African Dance On The Terrace (Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen’s wildly popular

Sierra Leone First Lady Fatima Maada-Bio

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Saturday, March 9 The International Women of Power Luncheon Hosted by Wendy Raquel Robinson Honorees include Tiffany Haddish, Ryan Destiny and First Lady Fatima Maada-Bio (of Sierra Leone) 11:30am — 3:30pm • $200 Marina Del Rey Marriott 4100 Admiralty Way Eventbrite.com

Black Pa nther dir ector Rya with Ava n Coogler DuVerna poses y at th can Film Critics Ass e African Ameriociation (A Awards.

AFCA) PHOTO CR EDIT: Sh

the stuff on ruts her s.. st e rd a a n w o A M rammy Janelle G e th t et a red carp

eri Determan

the red ves to fans from Jada Pinkett wa . ds ar ammy Aw carpet at the Gr

Sunday, March 10

Salli Richardson and husband Dondre Whitfield enjoy a night out at the AAFCA Awards.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sheri Determan

Cardi B makes a dramatic entrance at the Grammy Awards.

Dance Sundays) Instruction by Titus Fotso Free • Noon — 2pm Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts 9390 N. Santa Monica Bl Info: (310) 746-4000 www.thewallis.org

Sunday, March 17

Wednesday, March 13

Women’s Day with Actress/ Author Meagan Good 11am • Free Congreational Church of Christian Fellowship Pastor James McKnight 2085 S. Hobart Blvd Contact: (323) 731-8869

In Concert: Justin Timberlake 8PM • $55 - $275 Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa Street Contact: (213) 742-7340 www.staplescenter.com

On Stage: Lackawanna Blues (Thru April 21) A magical, musical written and performed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson $30-$105•Check showtimes Mark Taper Forum 135 N Grand Avenue Tickets: (213) 628-2772 CenterTheatreGroup.org

Thursday, March 14 iHeart Radio Music Awards Featuring Bruno Mars, Big Sean, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Sam Smith, Pharrell, Lady Gaga and more 5PM • $105 - $180 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Tickets: (213) 763-6020 www.microsofttheater.com

52nd Annual Gospel Music Workshop of America Board Meeting Featuring gospel showcases, mightly musicals and industry updates (Through March 21) Hyatt Regency LAX 6225 Century Blvd Contact: (310) 528-3755 www.gmwanational.net

6801 Hollywood Boulevard Info: (323) 308-6300 www.dolbytheatre.com

7pm • $35-65 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Info: (323) 308-6300 www.dolbytheatre.com

Free (Parking = $12) Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org

Sunday, March 24

Friday, March 29

Thursday, March 21

In Concert: Earth, Wind & Fire 7PM • $40+ Pechanga Resort & Casino 45000 Pechanga Parkway Temecula 92592 Tickets: (888) 810-8871 Pechanga.com

“WonderCon 2019” Presented by Comic-Con International Featuring sneak peeks, Q&As, premiere screenings, special guests and a costume contest (Through Sun., March 31) Check for badge pricing Anaheim Convention Center 800 W Katella Ave www.comic-con.org/wca

In Concert: Too Short $34-58 • 9pm The Rose 254 E. Green Street Pasadena 91101 wheremusicmeetsthesoul. com

Saturday, March 23 In Concert: Dee Dee Bridgewater & the Memphis Soulphony 7:30pm • $25 - $55 Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts 9390 N. Santa Monica Bl Beverly Hills Contact: (310) 746-4000 www.thewallis.org Makers Fest 2019 Maker stations with local artists, including painting, e-zines & pattern making 1pm-4pm • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive

Workshop: Patchwork Art Patchwork quilting 2pm4pm • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive Free (Parking = $12) Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org Paleyfest: In Conversation: The cast of “This Is Us” (Including Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia and Susan Kelechi Watson Dolby Theatre 7pm • $35-55 Also Star Trek: Discovery & The Twilight Zone: A Special Live Preview 2pm • $35-65

The Dancer In Me: Sacred Arts/Music Institute (Through Sat., March 30) $0 -$1100 • 11am — 6pm Cabrillo High School 2001 Santa Fe Avenue • Long Beach Register: (562) 293-1700 www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

Saturday, March 30

around los angeles Paleyfest: In Conversation: The cast of “9-1-1” (Including Angela Bassett and Aisha Hinds) Dolby Theatre

PHOTO CREDIT: Sheri

Determan

Host Tichina Arnold and co-founder Gil Robertson pose with Amandla Stenberg and LaKeith Stanfield at the AAFCA Awards.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sheri Determan.

ky black number as Ciara rocked this slin pet with hubby she walked the red car vis’ pre-Grammy Da ve Cli at n Russell Wilso h. bas

NAACP Image Awards Honoring outstanding performers of color in film, TV, music and literature 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Info: (323) 308-6300 www.dolbytheatre.com

Sunday, March 31 In Concert: Snoop Dogg as Snoopadelic $58-113 • 9pm The Rose 254 E. Green Street Pasadena 91101 Contact: (888) 645-5006 wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com 5th Sunday Gospel Brunch Featuring “Martin’s Favor” $25-40 • 12:30pm — 4pm Friendship Baptist Church 80 West Dayton Street Pasadena 91105 Info: (626) 793-1062 Friendshippasadena.church

Cicely Tyson proved tha t her age, 94, was only a number when she stepped onto the Oscars red carpet in thi s black feathered gown and matching fas cinator.

L.A. Focus/ March 2019

shida Jones are all Regina Hall and Ra A Awards. smiles at the AAFC

Black Business Association Salute to Black Women Business Conference & Awards Luncheon

(Honoring women in public service and government) 8:30am—3pm • $50+ Renaissance LAX Hotel 9620 Airport Blvd Contact: (323) 291-9334 www.bbala.org

15

ADVERTORIAL

Eye On Gospel H.B. Charles Makes His Gospel Debut H.B. Charles, Jr.– the widely respected pastor of 5,000 member strong, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida– has operated with the title of “preacher” for decades. He can now add the title “recording artist” as his first solo album, Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs, debuted in the Top-10 on the Billboard Gospel Sales chart when it was recently released. The single, “I’ll Fly Away,” is already cracking the Billboard Top-100. A program director in Mobile, Alabama calls the song “traditional Gospel at its best.”

Produced by Joe Pace, Worship Pastor at Shiloh and Grammy nominated choirmaster, Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs expresses the musical passion that flows from Pastor Charles every week, as well as the traditional sound of Gospel music that he grew up listening to. The album is also a family affair, as it features vocals from his brother (‘But God”) and his mother (“Saved”). Of the latter, Charles says: “This is a song that I just associate with my mother…this is the song she would sing when she traveled with my Dad for his preaching engagements… she hadn't sang it in decades, and it was hard to get her to do this. For that reason, the song is a gem.”

“The entire recording process was new to me, as I have always loved Gospel music but never considered myself an artist. I just love to sing songs of the Lord, and over the last year and a half God was putting music on my heart that I was writing. At a certain point, we determined that that we wanted to share this music outside of our local setting. So this album

and these songs are close to my heart,” says Charles.

“To be a new, and perhaps even reluctant artist, with not only and album but an album that debuted in the Top-10 is beyond my imagination. I have a passion for the music but didn’t expect I would have this opportunity..”

H.B. Charles, Jr. first began pastoring when he was still a high school senior at 17 when he succeeded his late father as pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. He pastored Mt. Sinai for 18 years before being called to Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, with locations in Jacksonville and Orange Park, Florida.

Charles led several songs on the Billboard chart-topping 2016 Shiloh Choir release: Joe Pace Presents: H.B. Charles Jr. and the Shiloh Church Choir. He is also the author of several books, including The Difference Jesus Makes, On Pastoring, and It Happens After Prayer.

“I’m humbled that the project is being heard and grateful that the project is filled with church music,” Charles adds. “I love choirs and think they have an irreplaceable place in the church. We did a Keith Pringle number as my shout out to west coast choirs.”

Despite his move to Jacksonville, Charles’ connection to Los Angeles remains strong.

“All of my roots are in Los Angeles and in the church life of Los Angeles. I feel like even though I’m on other side of the country, those roots remain strong.

I absolutely love Los Angeles. When I say my family is here–my biological family, spiirtual family, the church I grew up in and pastors that let me practice my gifts as a young man and encouraged and supported me.”

Donald Lawrence Celebrates Milestone Reunion With Release of “Goshen” Grammy

award-winning

virtuoso

Donald Lawrence has crafted another symphonic explosion of dazzling melodies and exuberant vocals on this newlyreleased album, which also celebrates a milestone 25th anniversary reunion with the original Tri-City Singers since their acclaimed 1993 debut album. Featuring fourteen tracks, GOSHEN delivers fresh narratives to promote spiritual renewal, healing, faith in God’s protection and more, to break free from whatever pains, trials, or fears we may have.

The project features appearances from beloved TriCity voices Sheri Jones-Moffett, Arnetta Murrill-Crooms, The Murrills, LeJuene Thompson, and Blanche McAllister Dykes, GOSHEN and vocal collaborations with hip hop lyricist Sir The Baptist, Le’Andria Johnson, Jason Nelson and Jekalyn Carr.

Kirk Franklin’s Love Theory Twelve-time Grammy winning artist, songwriter and producer, Kirk Franklin, released his new single, “Love Theory” in advance of his forthcoming, thirteenth studio album which will end a near four-year hiatus from the charts. Franklin, who will be hosting the 34th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards later this month, is also gearing up for the 2nd annual Exodus Fest in May… Meanwhile, “Kind God” is the latest single from awardwinning Gospel superstar Marvin Sapp. Newly launched to Gospel radio, Sapp’s much-beloved voice delivers an impeccable performance on “Kind God,” a soaring ballad reflecting on God’s plans and love over our lives, praising His sacrifice and enduring patience. Written/produced by Kirk Franklin, “Kind God” is featured on Marvin Sapp’s chart-topping album Close. The ten-track album is the eleventh solo album from the multiple GRAMMY® nominated, 24-time Stellar Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, and producer, which garnered Stellar and Dove Award wins for Close and its title track.

You’re Invited DR. W. JEROME FISHER’S

95TH

BIRTHDAY GALA A semi-formAl AffAir

Sunday, March 10th 5 pm - 10 pm Holiday Inn •19800 S. Vermont •Torrance 90502 Tickets: $75.00: General Admission • $50.00: Ages 12 - 18 • $35.00: 11 and under

For more information, contact: 310.639.5535 Presented by Greater Zion Church Family • Pastor Michael J.T. Fisher 2408 N. Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 www.greaterzionchurchfamily.com

RedCarpet Style

ANGELA BASSETT was a favorite in this hot pink Reem Acra gown

JENNIFER HUDSON rocked this red ruffled Elie Saab gown.

The Oscars not only bring out the biggest stars but also some of the biggest fashion statement of the years. Here are some of the stars we thought fired up the red carpet at the 91st Annual Academy Awards held last month at the Dolby Theatre.

DANAI GURIRA dazzled in this gold and black strapless gown.

REGINA KING went classic in this Oscar de la Renta gown.

KiKi LAYNE pulled out another red carpet winner in Versace.

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson A Fond Madea Farewell Now that Oscar season is officially over, we can turn our attention to the end of a beloved cinema favorite– Tyler Perry’s Madea. But before we say farewell, let’s take a look back at Madea’s love affair with black audiences.

Ironically, it was with the staging of the Tyler Perry 1999 play, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” that Madea was born, though it wasn’t until six years later in the 2005 movie, “Diary of a Mad, Black Woman” that she made her screen debut.

Madea would go on to earn a combined $547 million domestically for Lionsgate appearing in a total of eleven films, including “Madea Goes To Jail”, “Meet The Browns”, Madea’s

Family Reunion” and “Boo! A Madea Halloween”.

Perry says the 68-year old character was the combination of his aunt and his mother.

"I don't want to be her age playing her, so it was time to shut it down and move on," Perry, 49, has said. "I've got some other things I want to do, and in

this next 50, I'm going to do something different."

He’s happy for the joy the character has given others, but in an interview with Oprah, he said this: “Doing it every night, it's pretty much a pain, wearing the fat suit and talking in that high voice for hours”.

All you die-hard Madea fans might find some solace in the fact that Madea isn’t the one being buried in this movie and may still yet have some life in her as Perry has teased that he is toying with the idea of prequel film that would explore what a younger Madea might have been like, though he won’t be playing her.

In the meantime, Madea’s swan song is now in theaters. Reviews are mixed but sentiment is high.

DUE IN THEATERS THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

A Madea Family Funeral March 1 So What’s Next for Regina King...Oscar Winner?

Last month, Regina King joined the ranks of a very exclusive few–including Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Hattie McDaniel (the first) and Octovia Spencer–becoming the eighth African American woman to win an Oscar in the category of “best supporting actress”.

“My sisters in art,” she said in receiving the Academy Award, addressing fellow nominees Amy Adams, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Marina de Tavira. “It’s been an honor to have my name just said with yours the whole step of the way.”

So what’s next for Regina?

Well, the “Beale Street” costar was cast along with Don Johnson and Lou Gossett Jr. in HBO’s upcoming “Watchmen” series, a satirical take on the superhero genre where superheroes are treated as outlaws. King has also been cast along side Brandon T. Jackson, Letoya Luckett, Tichina Arnold and Pooch Hall in a thriller, “All The Way With You”, which is presently in the pre-prod u c t i o n stage. But with the all the atten-

Us March 22

Dumbo March 29

tion she’s getting, we’re pretty sure a slew of offers will be heading her way.

We’ll keep you updated.

Jussie Smollett Update, Terrence Howard Expresses His Support for Smollett Despite Jussie Smollett’s indictment

by Chicago police, “Empire” producers are still not saying that there are any plans to fire the disgraced actor even as he is being cut from the final two season episodes. Meanwhile, fellow castmate Terrence Howard–who plays his father in the show–posted his support on social media with a video of Smollett tickling Howard’s toddler son and a caption that read: “All your lil homies got you. We love the hell outta you man.” When one of his followers questioned the 49-year old actor’s support of Smollett, Howard countered back with this response: “Sorry you feel that way but that’s the only Jussie I know. The Jussie I know could never even conceive of something so unconscious and ugly,” Howard replied. “His innocence or judgment is not for any of us to decide. Stay in your lane and my land is empathy and love and compassion for someone I’ve called my son for five years. It’s God’s job to judge and it’s ours to love and hope, especially for those that we claim to have loved.”

Empire’s 5th season continues on March 13.

Headed To The Silver Screen, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is set to produce the upcoming movie, Jesus Was My Homeboy, about iconic Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton,

The Beach Bum March 29 how the FBI infiltrated the Black Panthers and how Hampton was betrayed by a fellow Black Panther.

Daniel Kaluuya is in negotiations to star as Hampton with Lakeith Stanfield in talks to play the man who betrayed him…Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer who earned an Oscar as exec producer of “Green Book” is teaming with Gabrielle Union to produce the film version of the novel,“Coffee Will Make You Black”, about a smart, funny and naive black teenage girl finding her voice as she navigates conflicting relationships with her mother, her best friends, and her crushes amid racism, sexism and colorism in 1960s Chicago...Michael B, Jordan is in talks to star in Journal for Jordan, an adaptation of Pulitzerwinning journalist Dana Cadendy’s bestselling memoir, to be directed by Denzel Washington.

On The Small Screen…It looks like Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s latest project–a legal drama about about a prisoner who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit–may find a home with ABC. The network has ordered pilots for the show which Jackson will exec produre for his GUnit Film & Television…TV One has announced that production is underway in Atlanta for its new original film, The Bobby DeBarge Story, slated to premiere in June. It will explore the tumultuous life of the former lead singer of the 70's R&B/Funk Band Switch, also the eldest sibling of the world-famous pop group DeBarge.

Despite his success in music, the iconic falsetto found his life in peril as he struggled with fame and fortune while coping with the memories of his dysfunctional childhood.

Q&A Tyler Perry Hometown: New Orleans Big Break: Diary Of A Mad Black Woman Current Projects: Nobody’s Fool, Acrimony, Vice, The Haves and the Have Nots, Love Thy Neighbor Upcoming Projects: “A Madea Family Funeral” Tyler Perry started writing for the stage in 1991 after watching an episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that described the therapeutic effect the act of writing can have. While the resulting work, a musical titled “I Know I’ve Been Changed” was an initially financial failure, he would persevere to establish a devout following that allowed him to raise funding for his first movie, “Diary of A Mad Black Woman” which became a hit and gave birth to the most popular character, Madea. His iconic portrayal of Madea is now a franchise with over a dozen movies and plays respectively. Perry currently has over 40 credits as a writer/director/producer/actor for film and television, and started his own production studio, Tyler Perry Studios.

You’ve shared the hardships you’ve endured– with success, are you grateful for what you’ve been through?

The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. I believe that. Because I've seen it all work. I know for a fact if I had not been born to this situation, with this mother, father, and family, then I wouldn't be here using my voice and my gifts to speak to millions of people.

Family is a key theme for you, what is one lesson you aim to teach about the meaning of family?

Family and faith are both very important to me, and forgiveness. I think that with everything I've done, in the end whoever the central character is, they would find a way to forgive because that's really important to me. Forgiveness is important in families, especially when there are so many secrets that need to be healed-for the most part, every family has got them.

You’ve never shied away from including faith in your movies, how important is that for you?

The thing about it is, I don't know why it's never talked about in film. There are people [making films] who believe [in God], but I think they are people who believe in the closet. They believe very quietly. There's this huge separation of church and state. I'm not afraid to mix the two. I'm not afraid to have a character say, "I am a Christian," or, "I believe in God," because I think they represent real people on this earth.

How have you used the power of humor to do God’s work?

What I've been able to do with my character Madea and others, with the jokes, is use it as an anesthetic to get to the heart and soul of real issues. And what I've found on stage over the years is that, while making people laugh, I can drop in pearls of wisdom. That's like tilling the soil for the seeds to be planted. And that's what I've tried to do, to plant seeds that will grow into good situations, seeds that will grow into abundant life for many people.

The final Madea movie, “A Madea Family Funeral”, is out now in theaters. What made you decide to end your most beloved franchise?

I don’t want to be Madea’s age playing Madea. It’s time for me to bury that old broad! She’s had a long run, it’s time for me to let it go. There’s just so many more things I want to do!

Through the Storm

The First Cut Is The Deepest

N

ineteen years ago, on a balmy June morning, Duania Hall-Henderson was at home getting ready to attend her cousin’s graduation ceremony. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would end up in the hospital later that day, clinging to life by her fingernails.

Let alone, live to tell

the story.

It’s a harrowing tale of survival and a woman who thought she had found love. Instead, five hours later she was rushed to hospital with 22 stab wounds.

So vicious was the attack that it even shocked the police officers that arrived on the scene to find Henderson lying in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor.

In the days leading up to the attack, Henderson and her fiancé had been going through a rough patch, but there was little indication that any simmering tensiosn were about to boil over.

“He’d told me he wasn’t happy with the relationship and I was perplexed by this revelation given that we had only moved into a new apartment a few weeks before.”

The death of his mother shortly after the move only compounded problems. He had trouble coping and while she was there for him, the two spoke of separating.

“I asked him what about the lease we’d signed and he replied that we could live together as roommates.”

The night before the incident however, he abruptly changed his mind.

“He was drinking champagne and started saying how he wanted to get back together with me. I thought we should take it slow and evaluate the problems that brought us to that point of breaking up.”

That night as they prepared for bed, Henderson thought they had found common ground. They would sleep in separate rooms and start dating again and see where that would lead them. But overnight, things got a little strange.

“I had fallen asleep on the couch but awakened to him pleading that I give him another chance. I was surprised because I thought we’d talked about this already.

“Later in the night, he crept in my bed and was laying behind me, saying ‘I’m sorry. I was confused because I couldn’t understand what he was apologizing for.”

The next morning shortly after 9:a.m.–as she hunched over her kitchen sink washing her hair in preparation for her cousin’s commencement ceremony–everything seemed fine.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her shoulders.

Somewhat dazed, she turned around to find her fiancé standing in the doorway of the kitchen holding a knife.

“The look in his eyes sente chills throughout my bodyand it began to register in my mind–this man had just stabbed me. He then says, ‘If I can't have you, nobody can’ and begins to stab me multiple times. I was getting stabbed in my arms, legs and thighs.”

Every attempt to block the knife from piercing her body proved futile. Instinctively, she yelled for help but rescue was hampered by the fact that the apartment– located near LAX–was soundproof. She darted for the door, but he overpowered her and pulled her back in the kitchen, covering her mouth and warning her to quiet down. She continued to try and block him, but she slipped in a pool of her own blood and fell to the floor.

“At this point, I just started talking to God because I knew only God could get me out of this situation.”

Her attacker began pacing up and down in the apartment and Henderson thought he was leaving, but she

begin to hear a shredding sound. He had begun shredding love letters.

Severely wounded, she decided to play dead. As she laid there smoke began to fill the apartment setting off the smoke alarm. She would later discover he had ripped his clothes and tried to burn them because they were soaked in her blood. He cleaned the knife and scrubbed the counter and any other traces of evidence.

Amid the confusion, Henderson could hear him making phone calls in the other room. In one of the first calls, he confessed to someone that he’d stabbed her. Moments later, his brother called back and when her fiancé didn’t answer, the brother left a message on the answering machine admonishing him to ‘get out of there right now.’

The message–later used in court–showed more concern for her attacker than Henderson, who had hoped that someone would call the police or summon help.

“Nobody cared if I died,” recalls Henderson, who feared bleeding out.

Though hours had passed, her long ordeal wasn’t quite over as her fiance returned to the kitchen and bent down to check for a pulse and see if she was breathing. Not sure if she was dead, he stabbed her on the side of the neck.

“I guess he felt a need to stab me once more in case I was faking. The doctors would later say he just missed my vocal cord.”

What happened Henderson attributes to divine intervention.

“He leaves the room again and suddenly I hear him on the phone with 9-1-1. He’s telling the operator everything that happened and saying, ‘Yeah I stabbed her. I don't know..I think she's dying.’ In my mind, it was like God’s coming to my rescue.”

Moments later, police burst into the apartment and placed him in handcuffs.

The policeman gasped as he found her in the kitchen before paramedics rushed her to the hospital.

Those

The look in his eyes sent chills throughout my body and it began to register that this man had just stabbed me. He then says, ‘If I can't have you, nobody can,’ and begins to stab me multiple times in my arms, legs and thighs. close to the couple were in disbelief that her fiancé would have been capable of such an act. It was simply out of character.

Worse still, while her family struggled to come to terms with the horrific events, others stubbornly refused to implicate the fiancé despite his fingerprints all over the bloody knife. They declined to budge on their assertion of his innocence.

“Some of his coworkers would later try to discourage me from going forward with a criminal case against him.

They sought to convince me to drop the charges.”

She didn’t and he is now serving a 34-year sentence after a trial that shed very little light on what drove her fiancé to such an excess of calculated cruelty.

Henderson herself acknowledged that she found it baffling how in the three years they were together she hadn’t detected any warning signs of violent behavior, recounting, “He had never gotten physical with me before.”

That said, Henderson noted, with the benefit of hindsight, how during heated arguments, there was some verbal abuse. Looking back, she now believes that should have been a “red flag”.

Still, Henderson is a survivor for sure.

She underwent two surgeries before being released from the hospital with tubes inserted into her lungs to aid her breathing and six months of intense rehabilitation.

“I had nightmares every single night for some time,” she told L.A. Focus. “The psychological effects lasted for years.”

Today, she has turned the worst experience of her life into helping other women overcome domestic violence.

“I know I am not the only woman that had to live through such a terrible ordeal. Unfortunately there are many other women of all ages and backgrounds going through the same thing.”

To that end, Henderson shares her story about domestic violence not only to emphasize its seriousness, but just as surely to show that women can survive it. And although, the man that butchered her within an inch of her life is black, she maintains it shouldn’t be used as a license to slander all African-American men. She went on to marry and mother three children.

“God allowed me to become a vessel to help women dealing with abuse,” said Henderson, “and his deliverance trumps any tragedy.”

ChurchNews Macedonia Baptist Church Teams With the L.A. Philharmonic for “Springtime In Watts”

T

he Los Angeles Philharmonic, Macedonia Community Development Corporation, and Macedonia Baptist Church of Los Angeles present Springtime in Watts, a free neighborhood concert featuring the trombone ensemble of the LA Phil — David Rejano Cantero, James Miller, Paul Radke, and John Lofton (bass trombone) — LA Phil musicians Dale Breidenthal (violin), Stacy Wetzel (violin), Mick Wetzel (viola), David Garrett (cello), and the combined adult voices of all of Macedonia Baptist Church’s choirs — on Sunday, March 31 at Macedonia Baptist Church of Los Angeles.

“When faith and community come together, the possibilities of shalom become reality. Our relationship with the LA Phil is all about bringing hope and healing to hurting communities through music,” said Pastor Shane B. Scott.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Neighborhood Concerts include free orchestra, chamber music and jazz concerts in churches, community centers and other local venues around Southern California.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has been presenting free Neighborhood Concerts for over 20 years, as part of the organization’s dedication to making music accessible to the widest possible audience.

Bishop William LaRue Dillard To Retire in May Retirement services for Bishop Dr. William LaRue Dillard have been set for the weekend of May 18-19 and will mark the culmination of four decades of ministry.

Dillard was called to the ministry in 1957 and preached his first trial sermonic message on February 19, 1957. The Suffolk, Virginia native was later ordained a Baptist clergyman through the ministry of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Los Angeles by the late under-shepherd Dr. Edward Victor Hill. Sr. Dillard’s first parish assignment was in 1959 at Faith Mission Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for one year. He was assigned to the historic Second Baptist Church in Monrovia on January 1, 1974. The church has been in existence for 110 years. Dillard has been with the church for more than a third of those years.

“By far, my under shepherding bishopric oversight for a generation here at Second Baptist Church Monrovia, California has been a labor of love producing consequential commentary among my congregants and society at large,” Dillard has said..

Church Community Bids Farewell to Bishop L. Daniel Williams

L.A. Focus/March 2019

The L.A. church community said goodbye to Bishop Lemuel Daniel Williams, former Pastor of the Baptist Church of the New Covenant in Norwalk and former president of the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California on March 1 during services held at Citizens of Zion Baptist Church in Compton.

Licensed as a minister in August of 1972, Williams first came to Los Angeles in the mid-tolate 70s, while a student at Bishop College in Dallas, TX, to serve for approximately ten years as Youth Minister and Assistant to the Pastor at the Roger Williams Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Dr. M.C. Williams.

In 1986, he was called to pastor the then Norwalk, Ca-based Baptist Church of the New

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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

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 Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

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 God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ / Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles,CA 90056 (323)293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org•gfdjc@att.net Dr. Ruby Cottle, Pastor & Teacher G.F.D.J.C Every Friday: 7:00pm -9:30pm Location: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 West Adams Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90018

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 Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph

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

Sunday L.I.F.E Group: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Wednesday Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth, Pastor • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School (all ages) : 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Tues. Mobile Prayer: 6:15am Wed. Bible Study: Noon Follow us on Facebook

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

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter 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) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., Senior Pastor 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

Gather, Grow,Go and Live The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Apostle 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

Living By Faith Fellowship Ministries Church Address: 8946 Sepulveda Eastway, L.A., CA 90045 Executive Office: 10925 Crenshaw Blvd,#107, Ing.CA 90303 (424) 313-7520 Bishop Horace A. Allen Sunday Worship(East): 8:00am Sunday School(West): 9:30am Worship Service(West): 11:00am Word Explosion(Wed/West): 7:00pm Prayer every Monday(West): 7:00am Service Locations (East: 7510 S. Vermont Ave,•Los Angeles,CA 90045 (West: 8946 Sepulveda Eastway•Inglewood, CA 90303)

Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

Mt. Sinai Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 10:00am Noonday Prayer (Mon): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Noonday Bible Study(Wed): 12:00pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sat): 9:00pm Please call for our Sunday School & Discipleship Schedule

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

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

Our Goal: To glorify God by winning more Christians and developing better Christians (Matt. 28:18-20)

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: 8:30am L.I.F.E. Groups: 9:45am Morning Worship Service: 11:15am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 4:00pm Pastoral Bible Study (PBS)Wednesdays:7:00pm North Campus: Worship Service: 8:00am 11137 Herrick Av • Pacoima 91331 (818) 899-8031 st.paul@smbcla.org •“Loving People Making Disciples”

CHURCHES CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES AND REVIVALS OR OPPORTUNITIES

You’re Invited

Grace Temple Elects New Pastor Welcome Pastor Rodney J. Howard Sr. and Lady Barbara Howard

Installation Service Friday, March 15, 2019 7:30pm

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 Compton Ave, L.A, CA 90011 Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor February 10: The California State University Super Sunday —11AM Loretha Battle, Director February 10: Black History Calendar Tea 3:30PM, Terrell Smith, Chairperson March 16: 20th Annual Women’s Fellowship 8AM Ann Woodmore, Director

Romans 10:15 “and how can they preach, unless they are sent. As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of Jesus Christ”

March 17:Annual Church Revival begininng Sunday, 11AM and March 18-20, 7PM Speakers: Dr. J.W. Brown and Rev. Roderick Walker For Information, call (323) 231-2040 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 New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis 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

For Information, call: (323) 971-8192 People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776

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

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 www.pleasanthillbaptistchurch.org

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-6458 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 http://www.pozlive.com

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm

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 St. Rest Friendship Baptist Church 709 W. Manchester Ave., Los Angeles, CA,90044 (323)752-6179•strestfriendshipglobal.net Rev. Torrey Collins, Pastor Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Worship:10:45am Bible Study(Tues):7pm Choir Rehearsals(1st & 3rd Wed.): 7pm

L.A. Focus/ March 2019

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Pastor Darryl Barnes Adult Life Sunday School Study: 8am Sunday Worship Servie: 9:30am P3 - Pray, Praise & Partake (Fri before 1st Sunday) Mission Bible Study(Wed): 12:00pm Women’s Bible Study(Thurs.): 7:00pm New Life Bible Study(Sat.): 9:00am

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 S. Gramercy Place Los Angeles 90047

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The Sanctuary Church of Refuge 888 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323)519-2341 • Sanctuarycor@gmail.com Pastor Markees Williams

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

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

“We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

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

Gather, Grow,Go and Live The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

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

Victory Baptist Church 4802 South McKinley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 231-2424• Pastor Dr. W. Edward Jenkins

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake 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: 10am www.westa.tv

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center In Altadena 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

Sunday School: 10:45 am Morning Worship: 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday:Noon Radio Sundays: KPRO 1570AM: 9:00pm

Resurrection Church L.A. 1135 East Janis St., Carson, CA 90746 Office Address: 1143 East Janis St., Carson, CA 90746 (310) 626-4864 •www.resurrectionchurchla.org Pastor Joseph Carlos Robinson Worship Services: 8:00am & 10:00am Bible Study Tuesdays: 7:30pm

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

Pastor Profile: Albert Tate Church: Fellowship Monrovia How Long at Church: Seven years Hometown: Pearl, Mississippi Family: Married 16 years to wife LaRosa, four children Education: Fuller Seminary To what do you attribute the phenomenal growth of your church?

The power is in the story of Jesus Christ. It is the greatest story ever told and I think if you commit to not only telling that story, and then living that story out by creating a community that's safe for people to come, and to be transformed and not to be judged and it reflect the diversity of the Bible, and Los Angeles where you see folks that don't look alike, don't vote alike, but they are coming together for something greater than themselves. That's a very inspiring space to be. So, I feel like people have found a home because they experience what we were created for, and that's the fullness of the Kingdom of God. Starting a church is somewhat daunting–what inspired you to move forward with it?

It’s one of those things that I only do it because Jesus said do it. It is not the most attractive occupation, but I tell you, when God gives you a vision and He calls you to do something, I've just learned you serve yourself well if you just say, "Yes." So, me and my wife, we said yes seven years ago. We had a vision of a multiethnic, gospel-centric intergenerational church that exists to make disciples and we put that vision forward and the people just started to respond.

L.A. Focus/ March 2019

Did success come right away?

It did. That first Sunday, I put out 200 chairs, but I was nervous. I didn't know how many folks would come, but we blew past those 200 chairs. Over 600 people came.

However, the first Sunday is when you get a lot of people to come. But the second Sunday we had about 400 folks and we never went under 400. Now we serve a little over 3000 every weekend.

How did people find out about that first service?

We publicized it. We told friends and family. I had done some itinerate ministry around in the regional area, preached at different places. So, people had heard me preach at their school, or at their college, or in the community. They came out and then started inviting friends.

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Did you know from the very start you were going to be a pastor?

You don't really know. My grandfathers were pastors and my great grandmother founded the church that I grew up in, but I didn't see myself in that role until after my late teens when the Lord began to impress upon me around 18, 19 that there was a calling on my life. Before then, man, church was just something I went to. There were times when I went kicking and screaming, and there were times when I got there and had fun because my friends were there, but it wasn't something that was within me.

That took a little while for it to get inside of me.

So when you got the call, were you happy about it or was it something that concerned you?

I was very excited. It was me discovering what I was born for and in that sense it was inspiring. I was nervous about some of the challenges, but overall, I felt like I stepped into my purpose and that brought a sense of peace.

What was your thought of pastors versus now?

Churches were a little stronger back then. I think due to culture, the social media and the next generation, going to church isn't an assumed part of the cultural fabric. To be honest, a lot of culture is moving away from church, so pastors have to be much more aggressive with their pursuit to be culturally relevant.

Are there challenges in multicultural ministry in terms of serving multiple ethnicities and not being that traditional black church?

Yeah. It's much harder to do what we're doing. It's so much more comfortable to go to a church with people that look like you, live like you, and vote like you, but the reality is that's not what heaven will be like. So, how do we begin a practice now what we will actually experience for eternity, and that is this multiethnic, intergenerational experience where we worship God. So, yes, it's harder.

The politics are different. We see political issues differently. We see cultural norms, so it's stretching. It's challenging. You can't just bring your perspective to the table and count it as law. We've got reach out to our Asian brothers and sisters. Our Latino brothers and sisters, listening to their cultural experiences and what it brings to the table. I get to see God through different cultural expression and through that cultural lens, which only makes me a better testament of God's fullness and His grandness.

How have you evolved most personally?

I believe increasing my capacity to not just limit my leadership to my black church experience, but I want to preach to all God's children. I want to reach all God's children. And so, I've got to learn how to communicate cross-culturally. I've got to learn how to lead cross-culturally.

Is there a recurrent theme in your ministry?

Yes. We center our teaching and preaching around the power and the good news of the Gospel and inviting people to lift off shame and guilt and walk in the freedom Christ has called us to have through His son Jesus Christ.

We keep coming back to that because a lot of people walk with shame, guilt, judgment, insecurities, discouragement and we want them to know that the good news of the gospel frees them from that. We invite them to a life of freedom, joy and peace.

What has the good news of the Gospel freed you from?

From myself. I flunked out of high school– thought I was dumb. I had a very low view of myself. The lies that Satan said about me, I agreed with, but the Gospel came and said, ‘Albert, you are a masterpiece. You are created in the image of God. You've tried everything else. Now give me a try. I've got a purpose and a plan for your life that's beyond your wildest dreams.’ And to see the gospel freeing me from the lies of the enemy that I’d cosigned on was one of the greatest miracles of my life. I haven't looked back since.

That's such a rich experience to have when you are preaching to other people who are dealing with similar issues...

The greatest preachers preach from their own brokenness and their own pain. I know what it is to be lost. I know what it is to fail. And I'm not talking about 20 years ago failure, I'm talking about two weeks ago failure. And the Grace of God covers it all and it's beautiful.

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm)

Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr.

Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am|10:45am| 5:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm|7:00pm FB: GreaterZion IG: GZCFamily www.gzcf.us

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

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

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 In Inglewood (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

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

First Lady Files

Karen Sykes Crossword Church Members of her church characterize Karen Sykes as truly a Proverbs 31 woman: diligent, compassionate, hardworking, loving, and shining her light in the places God plants her.

On May 4, 2003, Karen Jean Sykes publicly acknowledged her call to preach the Gospel and under the leadership of her husband, Bishop Lacy Sykes, Senior Pastor/Founder of Cross Word Christian Church, she presently manages staff and the daily administrative responsibilities of the church office as the Associate Pastor of Administration. Although she administers the Word of God to the church body, she has a heart and calling for women and youth and leads the Women’s Ministry and other areas of ministry as assigned.

As a missionary, she has been blessed to co-lead an educational workshop for high school girls in Ghana, West Africa and teach elementary students at the El Shaddai Preparatory School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In addition, Pastor Karen has been a speaker at various women’s events throughout the Inland Empire and in 2012 was nominated alongside her husband as a recipient of the Unsung Heroes award by the Riverside African American Historical Society.

Married to Bishop Lacy for 27 years, they have five adult children and are the proud grandparents of one grandson.

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am 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 www.jacobladderschurch.com

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

Leap of Faith Community Baptist Church 3502 W. Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303 (310) 695-9925

Antioch Church of Long Beach Mailing address P.O. Box 2291, Long Beach, CA 90801 website:www.antiochlb.com

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 Early Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesday): 7:00pm Afternoon Bible Study (Thursday): 1:00pm

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

In Long Beach

Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. Sunday Worship Services: 10:00am Long Beach Poly High School 1600 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, Ca 90813

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 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 Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

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

From the Pulpit of: New Mt Pleasant Baptist Church “Eyes On The Prize (Jesus)” Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV) Because Christian disciples are students of Jesus Christ, we are to look to Him only, for our example of how to live the Christian life. To live the Christian life is to live life with Christ.

The disciple is to look to Christ in everything, for everything, with everything, and through everything.

Not only when trouble comes our way, but even when all is going well, we must look to the example of Christ, and conduct ourselves as He would if He were we.

Jesus ran the race as a human being, living life with God in order to show us how to do it. In this way He is the originator of our faith. He is also the finisher, for he endured and completed the race, the life of the committed suffering servant, the life with God, without giving up.

This is why He is the goal of our faith. Our faith lives are perfected as we chase after and obtain His likeness. Jesus is the finish line!

Look to Jesus in everything, “for in Him we live and move and have our being,” (Acts 17:28a).

Many Christians are ready to look to Jesus when there is a problem, but when everything is going well, they lean on their own finite strength and fail. Just as we need a trainer in order to help train us in sports, we cannot train ourselves to be like Christ. We need a gym for our soul. The church is that gym for the soul.

And the Holy Spirit is our trainer.

We must look to Jesus in good times as well as bad.

Look to Jesus “that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16) Look to Jesus for everything, “and whatever you ask in My name, that I will do” (John 14:13a).

Some of us do not depend on the Lord to supply all of our needs. We tend to rely on our own self-effort or other people.

This kind of thinking always eventually leads to disappointment. We must look to Jesus for life, love, food, clothing, and shelter----EVERYTHING. We must abide in Him! If I'm not abiding in Jesus, then where is it that I abide? One evening I was reading John 15:7 in The Message bible. Eugene Peterson translates Jesus' words on abiding this way: "If you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon." Jesus was telling me, "I have poured myself into you Phil, but you still have other comforters you go to. You must make your home in me."

Look To Jesus with everything.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Many of us who are Christian fall short because we do not look to Jesus totally. We put aside compartments and closets of our lives for ours e l v e s , because we don’t want to let God in there!

C.S. Lewis says, “He cannot bless us unless he has us.

When we try to keep within us an area that is our own, we try to keep an area of Pastor Phillip Lewis

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.

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

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

Walking In The Spirit Ministries In Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks

In Pasadena 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 First AME Church Santa Monica In Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404 • (310) 450-0331 F: (310) 450-4680 Rev. Reuben 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 Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm

Westchester

Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

death. Therefore, in love, He claims all. There's no bargaining with Him.” If we want victory in life, we must look to Christ with our entire being---our time, our talent, our treasure. We must be totally dedicated to Him! Dr. E. Stanley Jones says this: “Make up your mind. If you don't make up your mind, your unmade mind will unmake you.”

Look To Jesus through everything But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you (1 Peter 5:10).

We tend to look to Christ when everything is going well, but when rough times happen we start complaining and blaming God. God allows suffering to happen in order to strengthen our faith and fulfill His purpose. Beloved we must continually look to Jesus and seek His purpose with patience and trust.

When travelling through life’s valley experiences, David the psalmist says: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4).

We must look to Jesus Always! Looking to Jesus we come to realize that Eternal life is begun right here on earth. It is your life with God. Through our life with God we realize that we have power. Power to overcome our weaknesses. Power to overcome poverty. Power to overcome addictions. Power to overcome our prejudices. Power to overcome our hatred. Power to overcome our ignorance.

Power to overcome our sins. Power to overcome what keeps us from being everything God want us to be. Power to be like Jesus. But most of all we have power to love like Jesus.

His great command was “Love ye one another!” For Jesus loved us so, He gave His life that we might have life in all its fullness.

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Covenant, where he served faithfully for more than two decades. A gifted preacher and organizer/coordinator of special events, Williams was the master and chief proponent of the 3-point sermon.

For a decade, he served as the President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles & Southern California, working to infuse the group with a “21st century agenda and flavor”. Williams also served the Progressive Baptist State Convention of California as director of evangelism, director of the

Call (310) 677-6011 Ask for Kisha young people's Department, executive secretary, and ultimately as the convention's 17th President from 1995-1999. He later served as treasurer.

Williams died on Sunday, February 10, 2019 after a long illness.

In other local church news…

By majority vote, Pastor Rodney Jerome Howard Sr. was elected as the new pastor of Grace Temple Baptist Church. Howard has served as the Overseer of Grace since May 2017, following the passing of the late Bishop Miquail Broadous, who pastored Grace Temple for 20 years. As Overseer, he had the support of his wife Lady Barbara Howard and the congregation of the Israel Missionary Baptist Church, where he has pastored for 27 years.

Grace Temple and Israel have bonded as sister churches, and together under the leadership of Pastor Howard have been ministering to the homeless community at a downtown mission; they have also formed a men’s ministry called B.I.G. (Bible Instructed Gentlemen) where the brothers come together to study the Word of God and work together to fulfill the Great Commission…Finally, Pastor George Hurtt celebrated ten years of ministry at Mt. Sinai Church during a gala banquet, held at the Doubletree Hotel in Culver City last month. He is pictured below with his nephew, Randall Hurtt.

Come Celebrate with us

May 18-19, 2019

Retirement Gala Honoring

Bishop Dr. Wm. La Rue Dillard

10:30am - 3:00 pm Pacific Palms Resort One Industry Hills Parkway City of Industry, Ca 91744 $100 per ticket/$45 Children (3-10 years) TICKETS To purchase, call Geneva or Marilyn: 626.358.2136 or visit: www.sbcmonrovia.org â&#x20AC;¢ Deadline: May 5th No tickets available at the door SOUVENIR BOOK Congratulatory ads range from $25 - $300 For information, call 626.358.2136 Email camera ready to: sbcretirement journal@gmail.com Deadline: April 5, 2019

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION SERVICE Sunday, May 19, 2019 10:45 am Worship Service in the sanctuary Retirement Celebration Gathering to follow in the Fannie M. Goodwin Fellowship Hall Second Baptist Church 925 So. Shamrock Avenue Monrovia, CA 91016

Elder continued from page 7

racist, even if they don't think they are, that nirvana is not an option? In a nation of because of their "white privilege." If white 330 million people, bad actors abound. people spent as much time thinking about After all, one survey in 2017 found that 7 how to oppress black people as black people percent of adult Americans believe choco- think they do, white people wouldn't have late milk comes from brown cows. That enough time to oppress black people. works out to over 17 million adults. And a Larry Elder is a best-selling author and 1997 Gallup poll found that 4 percent of nationally syndicated radio talk show host.

Americans believed Elvis was still alive.

To find out more about Larry Elder, visit But today's definition of "race relations" www.LarryElder.com. pretty much comes down to this: how black people feel about white people and how Anderson continued from page 7 white people feel about how black people disclosure with the seriousness and gravity feel about white people. Racism has so it deserves until a satisfactory solution is receded as an impediment to progress that reached,” she continued. new terms became necessary to describe There are many reasons victims don’t puboffensive "racist" behavior, such as licly disclose incidents they experience – "microaggressions." This means whites are fear of and mistrust in the police are chief

among them. But let us all remember that only between 2% and 8% of hate crime reports are hoaxes, “a tiny number,” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, when compared to the many instances even the federal government contends go unreported. And our culture has only just begun to reckon with what happens when victims are loudly, proudly heard, thanks in no small part to the #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #TimesUp movements.

Some have said that Smollett, what with a story they believe was absurd and stranger than fiction from the beginning, didn’t deserve this benefit of the doubt. They say those of us who believed him – and not

unconfirmed leaks from a CPD that has rightfully earned everyone’s skepticism – were blinded by identity politics and a hatred for Donald Trump and his MAGA supporters. But we do ourselves a disservice by picking and choosing who we believe, and I don’t need an attack on a Black gay man by Trump supporters to know that his administration doesn’t truly care about Black, queer, or Black queer people.

Surely, there are a number of takeaways that this circus and alleged stunt teaches us. Most of all though, is the realization that far too many people still don’t believe victims, and perhaps after this, they never will. But it’s not Smollett’s fault. Y’all weren’t believing them before him anyway.

InGoodTaste

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L.A. Focus/ March 2019

SavingGrace Ruben Santiago-Hudson ccompanied by the twang of blues guitar, Ruben Santiago-Hudson transports you to his small-town 1950’s childhood on the banks of Lake Erie in his award winning one-man play “Lackawanna Blues”, where the multi-talented actor and playwright brings over 20 quirky characters to life during the course of his autobiographical tour de force.

While Santiago-Hudson has an extensive list of over 60 on-screen credits for film and TV including American Gangster, Their Eyes Are Watching God, Law and Order, Billions, Castle and the popular HBO feature adaptation of Lackawanna Blues-- the Tony award winning actor, and playwright/director says his true passion lies on stage. Now after nearly 16 years since its last production, Santiago-Hudson is bringing “Lackawanna Blues” back for a run at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, March 5th- April 21st.

While the story is of his experiences, Santiago-Hudson is not the main character in “Lackawanna Blues”. He plays himself as just one of an ensemble of characters brought together at a boarding house run by a strong, independent and compassionate woman, Miss Rachel “Nanny” Crosby.

“I wrote it as a love letter to the woman who raised me,” Santiago-Hudson tells L.A. Focus of Nanny, who took him in after his parents all but abandoned him. “She took me from the jaws of a situation that wasn’t good for me, raised me and gave me an opportunity to thrive and be something. I wrote her a love letter and it became a play.”

Santiago-Hudson started writing “Lackawanna Blues” in 1999 after years of sharing the stories of his upbringing in Nanny’s boarding house with his close friends-- one of which was fellow Tony winning playwright/director and artistic director of the New York Public Theater, George C. Wolfe.

“George finally said to me, ‘you’ve got to make this [play] happen, just be quiet and and write it’,” recalls SantiagoHudson who was given a small commission and a start date to make the memory of his beloved mother-figure come to life.

He spent two years writing the colorful characters and situations that came and went through Nanny’s eccentric boarding house-- from would-be philosophers and petty hustlers to lost souls and abandoned lovers, as he prepared himself to embody each one of them when the play opened in 2001.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, but this is my craft,” says the veteran actor of almost 45 years on becoming dozens his former friends and acquaintances on stage each night.

“This performance feels like more than acting, this is like sense memory and recalling a childhood. And it’s all true, everything in it happened.”

“I love the recollection,” he says on the acting process. “I love the memory of these people of whom I spent the first

L.A. Focus/ March 2019

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I’ve found out that through my art I can make a difference in the world. I can always combat the distorted images of our people. I can show positive images, and that no matter where you are in life, you have integrity, dignity and principles.

17 years of my life with. It’s refreshing and it inspires me. It energizes me, and is everything I need-- it’s almost like sustenance.”

After a successful ten-week run at the New York Public Theater, the play was brought back for a two year tour after the events of September 11th. As he tells it, the morals of “Lackawanna Blues” were needed during our nation’s moment of crisis.

“9/11 hit and everyone wanted to hear my mother tell them it would be ok,” says Santiago-Hudson. “They wanted to rest safely engulfed in the love of Nanny.

“The main message of the play is, ‘we all need a little help sometimes’, Nanny would always say that,” he says. “There was a time in this country when we took care of each other and we need to get back to that somehow. Instead of neglecting each other, shunning each other and finding our differences-- we need to remember, as the phase goes, ‘I am my brother’s keeper’.”

“Lackawanna Blues” would get another rebirth in the following years after HBO showed interest in adapting the one man play into a feature length movie with a full cast of characters.

Santiago-Hudson got busy writing the screenplay, with George C. Wolfe alongside him directing. He also acted in the film as part of a cast that included A-List talent such as Terrence Howard (Empire), Rosie Perez (White Men Can’t Jump), S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order), Jimmy Smits (The West Wing), Michael Kenneth Williams (The Wire), and musicians Yasin “Mos Def” Bey and Macy Gray. The film received glowing reviews and was the recipient of several awards including a Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and Image Awards.

After the success of the movie, Santiago-Hudson put his theatrical production to bed, allowing the mass appeal of the movie to speak for his story-- and for the last 16 years his production lay dormant.

“And then everyone kept asking for it,” says SantiagoHudson on the rebirth of his one-man play. “Any place we had gone, the legend of the play lingered. People kept asking, ‘when are going to do that play again?’”

He became convinced to resurface the production by the persistence of his partner Bill Simms Jr. who wrote the original score for the production and has been on stage with Santiago-Hudson playing the atmospheric bluesstyle guitar since their first performance. Unfortunately tragedy would strike Simms before he would ever get to perform “Lackawanna Blues” again.

“A couple months after he convinced me to do the play again, Bill got diagnosed with cancer,” tells SantiagoHudson. “He said he was sick, but that he would be around-- that he would last a while. Unfortunately God had a different plan and only seven months later he was gone. It was truly an unexpected heart-break.”

Simms will be replaced with Grammy-winning blues guitarist Chris Thomas King for the play’s run in Los Angeles.

While Santiago-Hudson has made a steady career on screen as a character actor in small but impactful roles, he says that his film work is just a way to make a living, whereas the stage is his true calling and saving grace.

“The most important work that I do in my life is my theater work because I’m editor- I’m in charge,” says Santiago-Hudson who has at least two other theater productions lined up for later this year. “In film and TV people see me and wave and say ‘there’s that actor.’ When I’m on stage people want a hug because they see my heart and soul. I bear it all.”