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There were ten Democratic candidates on stage for the first of two debates in two nights. They were: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro of Texas, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), former Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas, New York Mayor Bill deBlasio, Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, former Maryland Rep. Tim Delaney and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii.

Typically, moderators and subject focus for each debate The second of the first two debates of the 2020 campaign will be June 27 in Miami. A second African Amer- controls what the topics will be. Even though Lester Holt ican candidate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, will be featured. was a moderator for the first debate on June 26, corporate NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Vanderbilt Univermedia largely ignores issues disproportionately impacting sity is pledging $2 million for the National Museum of African Americans, unless there is a pre-planned structured African American Music, which is scheduled to open a

By Lauren Victoria Burke debate where specific subject matter is to be focused on.

NNPA Newswire Contributor 56,000-square-foot facility in downtown Nashville early Sen. Warren and former Housing Secretary Castro next year.

The first presidential debate for the 2020 campaign in But even that question, which started out focused on the were viewed as winners of the first debate as they focused the race for the White House featured five moderators, ten Democratic party’s reliance on African American voters, The university says the gift includes in-kind contribuon middle class issues and social economic parity. candidates, two hours and only one question on the voting pivoted over to a question on Latino voters. tions and direct financial support, and will help expand the “From a candidate’s perspective, it’s about who comes museum’s archives, contribute to innovative programming, block that comprises the base vote for the Democratic Hispanic voters continue to underperform at the ballot the game ready to play the game. The only person, in support the completion of the facility and more. party: African American voters. box as compared to other demographics. Additionally, exit to The one question came an hour and thirty minutes polls and other data demonstrated that 25 to 30 percent my view, who came to the game last night and ready to Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said the into the debate and was delivered by MSNBC’s Rachel of Hispanic voters supported Donald Trump in the 2016 play it was Julian Castro,” said former Republican National partnership will help build global awareness of the impact Committee Chair Michael Steele on MSNBC on June 27. of African American composers, performers and supportMaddow to candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. presidential election. ers.

The partnership will include collaboration with the university’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries to offer thier collection of books, scores, recordings and other materials for loan, display and study at the museum.

Vanderbilt and the museum will also team up for a speaker series after the facility opens.

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First Democratic Debate had Almost No Questions on the Black Agenda

BoWoman bcat Reco First Black ve A f t er Being H Miss Tennessee i Police Car

Vanderbilt Pledges $2M for African American Music Museum

Supreme Court Shoots Down Trump’s 2020 Census Citizenship Question

Trump has pledged to delay the 2020 Census and he said his administration still plans to include a question that inquiries about a person’s citizenship status. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent The U.S. Supreme Court’s sharp rebuke of the Trump Administration’s rationale for wanting the citizenship question in the 2020 census means the question is an artifact of the past, according to Southern Methodist University Professor Lolita Buckner Inniss.

“Though ultimately the Trump administration may prevail in having the citizenship question added, the Trump administration has to adequately explain how eliciting the citizenship question data will help them better enforce the Voting Rights Act,” said Inniss, who joined many others in celebrating the decision by the high court to strike down Trump’s request to add the question of citizenship on the 2020 Census.

In writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that the explanation for preferred federal policy must “not only be reasoned and genuine but also legible to both courts and interested public.”

The ruling marks a historic win for democracy, said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

“In blocking Trump’s ability to add a citizenship question, the court has ensured that voting rights for people of color are protected, and that all communities – regardless of race, ethnicity, geographic location, religious views, political affiliation, and country of origin – are fairly represented,” Waters said.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), said the future of the nation’s democracy was at the forefront of the ruling.

“The ruling in favor of partisan gerrymandering underscores the necessity of citizen participation in the electoral process. Stacking the deck for partisan gain is not ideal for democracy or the principle of one person, one vote,” Clyburn said in a statement.

“Most Americans believe in fairness and due process, but not enough are able to participate in the electoral process. This must change going forward or we will soon exContinued on page A3

GM Exec Touts DTU Programs and HBCUs

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent During a fellowship luncheon and fireside chat at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) convention in Cincinnati, Lester Booker, Jr., the project manager for communications operations at General Motors explained to publishers and others why it’s important for the automaker and other Fortune 500 companies to invest in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUS).

“There are so many great men and women that are being developed and minds that are being cared for, cultivated inside of the schools and they don’t necessarily have the recruitment bandwidth and their career centers don’t have the relationships established to actually open up access to larger Fortune 500 companies,” Booker said.

“So, I think it is imperative that if we want to grab diverse talent, specifically in the African American community,” he said during the conversation with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., on Thursday, June 27 at the Cincinnati Westin Hotel.

Chavis and Booker touted the fourth year of the popular Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship program (DTU) that was developed by Chevrolet in 2016 as an HBCU fellowship program.

“It’s purpose was to create and share optimistic stories while reinforcing the brand’s continued commitment to the African American community,” Booker said.

Chevrolet awards each of the six DTU fellows a Continued on page A4

He Desegregated California Schools, Judge Manuel Real Dies at 95 LOS ANGELES (AP) – U.S. District Judge Manuel Real, who desegregated schools in Southern California, has died. He was 95.

The court’s Central District of California said in a statement posted Friday that Real died on Wednesday. His courtroom was in Los Angeles.

Real was the longest-serving active district judge in the country before he took senior status in November. He was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 and served as an active judge for 50 years.

Real ordered the desegregation of the Pasadena Unified School District in 1970 and barred the district from discriminating on the basis of race.

Before becoming a judge, Real was the U.S. attorney and an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California. He served in the Navy reserve during World War II.

Black Voters Need to See Me in Action

CHICAGO (AP) _ Democrat Pete Buttigieg (BOO’tuh-juhj) says he needs to meet more voters in the black community and they ``need to see me in action for a longer period of time.’’

Buttigieg is looking to build support with black voters for his presidential bid. He spoke Tuesday at a convention for Rainbow PUSH, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s civil rights organization.

The 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is among the top tier of 2020 candidates. But he’s received marginal support from black voters, who are critical to winning as a Democrat. He’s also facing fallout from the fatal shooting of a black man by a white South Bend officer.

Buttigieg says when you’re ``new on the scene’’ it takes longer to earn voters’ trust.

TV Reporter Quits after Black Comment

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. and Lester Booker., the project manager for communications operations at General Motors touted the fourth year of the popular Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship program (DTU) that was developed by Chevrolet in 2016 as an HBCU fellowship program.

DETROIT (AP) _ A white Detroit television reporter says he’s left his job following a comment he made about a black colleague at a journalism conference.

A post on the Facebook page of Kevin Dietz late Monday says that while taking a photo with other WDIVTV staff at last month’s Investigative Reporters & Editors conference in Houston he jokingly told the group they’re ``probably going to have to crop the black reporter out of the photo.’’

Dietz, who had been with the station since 1993, says he intended to openly acknowledge challenges that his company and others face in achieving diversity goals, but his remark violated the station’s zero-tolerance policy on racially insensitive comments. He’s apologizing to anyone he offended.

A statement from WDIV-TV says Dietz resigned and it wouldn’t discuss specifics.

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World & Nation

Biden Doubles Down on Segregationist

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Former Vice President Joe Biden had his frontrunner status tested for the first time in his effort to be the 46th President of the U.S. The polls have declared President Barack Obama’s running mate as the 2020 the leader of the pack, but Biden’s time at the top of a twenty-five-person field has meant that he is under a stronger media microscope.

On June 19, Biden spoke about civility and politics during his years in the Senate in the 1970s. “I was in a caucus with James O. Eastland, He never called me ‘boy,’ he always called me ‘son.’

“Well guess what? At least there was some civility. We got things done. We didn’t agree on much of anything. We got things done. We got it finished. But today you look at the other side and you’re the enemy. Not the opposition,

the enemy. We don’t talk to each other anymore,” Biden continued.

The comments caused a firestorm. Biden received a call from 2020 rival, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) who advised him to apologize for his segregationist comments.

Instead, Biden doubled down.

“Apologize for what,” Biden remarked outside a fund-raiser. During an interview on June 22, Biden told MSNBC’s Al Sharpton that his statements on segregationists were taken out of context.

Senators Booker and Kamala Harris (D-CA) questioned the former Vice-President’s understanding of the details of the history of segregation in America. The episode calmed down when Biden supporter and U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) defended him along

Bernie Sanders Says Trump is Racist & Worst President in History

Thursday, July 4, 2019

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Credo - The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accounts to every person, regardless of race, color, or creed full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as any one is held back.

The length of Biden’s legislative career is destined to become an issue in a diverse field of candidates entering a new era where progressive politics is looked on as being advantageous. (Photo: joebiden. com)

with Rep. John Lewis (D-GA). But that a debate over segregation broke out that involved the Democrats’ frontrunner for 2020 was not a good look.

On June 25, the New York Times published a deep dive into Biden’s views on justice reform and his involvement on the 1994 Clinton Crime Bill. Biden’s involvement was substantial, unlike former President Bill Clinton, Biden has never walked back his support for the largest crime legislation package in history. The bill is widely seen as being responsible for a dubious era in mass incarceration that was highlighted by the U.S. becoming the nation with the highest rate of incarceration in the world.

The length of Biden’s legislative career is destined to become an issue in a diverse field of candidates entering a new era where progressive politics is looked on as being advantageous. During a week that kicked off the first debates of the 2020 campaign for the White House, the question will become whether Biden can maintain an advantage as a frontrunner or be overtaken by another challenger as so many anointed frontrunners.

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Daughters of the American Revolution Welcomes 1st Black Woman to Ntl Board “People aren’t able to go to the doctor because they can’t afford to and if you go to a hospital, you’re afraid to get hit with a $50,000 medical bill,” said Sanders, before promising that a Sanders Administration would work to provide medical coverage for all.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent Excerpt: “We have a president who deliberately is trying to divide America and not only do we have to defeat the worst president in the history of our country, we will have to transform this nation and create an economy for all of us and not just the one percent,” said Sen. Sanders.

One night after many pundits said he acquitted himself well in the debate in Miami between himself and other 2020 Democratic Presidential hopefuls, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders arrived in Cincinnati to deliver the keynote address at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Legacy Awards Dinner.

Sanders addressed a large local and national media contingent, which also included many members of the Ohio press.

Earlier this month, Sanders was the lone candidate to accept an invitation to speak at the gala, which is part of the NNPA’s weeklong national convention.

The NNPA is a trade organization that represents the more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies throughout the country.

The organization does not endorse candidates, leaving such decisions up to its member publishers whose influence and readership comprise the nation’s largest media markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Tennessee, San Francisco, and numerous swing states around the country.

After being introduced by former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner, Sanders gave an inspired 25-minute address in which he blasted President Donald Trump as a racist and a bigot and he promised that, if elected, he will work to make college tuition-free, eliminate student debt, take climate change seriously, and make every effort to level the playing field economically, educationally and in other ways that reflect his stance on social justice for African Americans and other individuals of color.

“It is absolutely imperative to defeat the most dangerous president in the history of this country,” Sanders said.

“He is a racist and a bigot,” the senator said.

Sanders said he and his wife thought long and hard before he decided to enter the race this year. Even after deciding to run, Sanders said he slept on it and almost reconsidered, but he believed it was important that he step up for the sake of all Americans, particularly the underserved.

“We are going to have to transform this nation and create an economy that works for all of us, not just the one percent,” Sanders said.

“People aren’t able to go to the doctor because they can’t afford to and if you go to a hospital, you’re afraid to get hit with a $50,000 medical bill,” he said, before promising that a Sanders Administration would work to provide medical coverage for all.

“My anger at [Trump] is not just that he wanted to take away health care for 32 million people, but his [proposed] massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security and his tax cuts which …. were for the top one percent,” Sanders said.

The senator drew applause several times from the packed crowd inside the second-floor ballroom of the Westin.

He also blasted Trump for the president’s disbelief in climate change.

“It is the great existential threat of our time and this is not an issue that we have a choice about,” Sanders said.

Sanders also promised to focus his presidency on social, environmental, racial and economic justice.

“We have a president who deliberately is trying to divide America and not only do we have to defeat the worst president in the history of our country, we will have to transform this nation and create an economy for all of us and not just the one percent,” he said.

By DEEPTI HAJELA Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) – When Wilhelmena Rhodes Kelly hit a roadblock while researching her family history, a chance encounter at a conference with members of the Daughters of the American Revolution got her the help she needed to keep going.

Now, Kelly is helping the DAR have its own breakthrough moment. On Sunday, the lineage-based group, with a longstanding reputation as a bastion of white privilege, will install Kelly as the head of its New York state organization and the first African American woman on its national governing board.

The milestone, Kelly and others say, reflects the efforts the organization has made in recent decades to encourage women of color to get involved, after a long history of exclusion.

The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890. The first black woman to join in modern times became a member of the organization in 1977.

Kelly, 72, who lives in New York City, joined the DAR in 2004 after tracing her own lineage to a white Virginian who donated supplies to the Revolutionary War efforts.

“The push is largely to encourage people to realize their own foundations and contributions to American history,” said Kelly.

Denise VanBuren, who officially becomes the DAR’s president on Sunday, said, “We’ve had a real awakening here that we have an obligation to try and tell the stories of some of those folk who history has left out of the history books.”

The Daughters of the American Revolution has around 185,000 members today. It doesn’t ask new members about their race, so there is no firm count on how many women of color are affiliated. Kelly said she has seen more nonwhite people join in the last decade, though, as genealogy has become even more popular among Americans.

The DAR is open to women who can show they are descended from someone who helped the revolutionary

cause between the Battle of Lexington in 1775 and the withdrawal of British troops in 1783. Helping the cause could include a number of acts, including military service, civil service to the new provisional government or patriotic service, which includes those who donated supplies or gave medical aid.

An estimated 5,000 black soldiers fought on the American side during the war, but for most of its history, the Daughters of the American Revolution was entirely white.

The organization has included some of America’s most notable women among its ranks, including Eleanor Roosevelt.

But Roosevelt gave up her membership in 1939 after the DAR refused to allow a famous black singer, Marian Anderson, to perform at its Constitution Hall. Anderson gave a famous performance instead on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. (She did perform at Constitution Hall in in later years, including as part of a farewell tour.)

The DAR didn’t include a black woman as a member in modern times until Karen Batchelor joined in 1977.

“There was no one else who looked like me,” said Batchelor, now 68.

She’s thrilled to see Kelly moving into a role on the national board and hopeful that her visibility will inspire other black women to look into their own family lines to see if there’s a Revolutionary War link. Discovering that she was related to the people who fought for U.S. independence was revelatory, she said.

“This discovery, it was mind-boggling, for the first time I said, `Wow, I have such deep roots in this country that I didn’t even know I had,”’ she said. “Now when the Fourth of July rolls around, I don’t feel like I felt when I was a little girl, that maybe I was a click short of being really American because of the color of my skin,” she said.

“Now, I feel more American than apple pie, and that’s a good thing.”

Milwaukee’s Legacy of Consumer Fraud

By Khalil Abdullah Ethnic Media Services (Milwaukee, WI) -- African Americans and Hispanics continue to be victimized by consumer scams at higher rates than white Americans but are more reluctant to report their experiences, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials.

“African Americans are almost twice as likely to be victims of consumer fraud as whites,” said Todd Kossow, FTC’s Midwest Regional Director, noting that Hispanics also are victimized “at a significantly higher rate than whites.”

He listed debt-related scams that hold out the hope of avoiding foreclosure, paying down student loans, and credit card debt among the leading monetary enticements that lure poor, low-income, or otherwise financially marginal individuals to grasp at the false promises of solvency and freedom from creditors.

Kossow led off a discussion on consumer fraud with other FTC officials and an all-star panel of experts drawn from federal agencies, including IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Elder Justice Initiative, U.S. Postal Inspector Service, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. They were joined by a representative from Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation’s auto division, other state and Milwaukee city agencies, including the Milwaukee Public School District, as well as local participants from consumer advocacy organizations like the AARP, and the Better Business Bureau. Media also attended the event, held at Milwaukee’s Washington Park Branch Library.

Sandy Close, founder of Ethnic Media Services, termed the symposium “a convening of fraud busters in order to create a community of informed advocates. Local media are vital to this effort.” EMS, an organization that serves ethnic media, has co-hosted similar events with the Federal Trade Commission for over three years in cities across the country. The magnitude of the crisis is pervasive and daunting.

Kossow said latest data show that 11 percent of America’s adult population, or approximately 25.6 million people, were victims of scams in one year alone. Though reporting can be done anonymously, African Americans and Hispanics have been less likely to report fraud, making it more difficult for enforcement officials to alert consumers to the latest scams. That underreporting prompted an FTC report.

In Milwaukee, and throughout the country, imposter scams comprise the greatest number of consumer fraud events; “any scam where someone pretends to be who they are not in order to get your money,” Kossow explained.

These scams are often initiated over the phone by an individual who claims to be an IRS agent, or is calling from the Social Security Administration, from a well-known institutional authority or reputable corporation. Also proliferating are technical support scams, where the caller convinces a consumer that a computer or a piece of equipment needs a patch or adjustment of some kind.

Aside from fraudulent schemes that can potentially affect any consumer, there are scams rooted in bitter leg-

acies of discrimination, for example, when banks, through redlining, declined to offer mortgages to African Americans seeking to live in certain neighborhoods or zip codes.

Insurance companies likewise shirked legal obligations behind the veneer of prudently avoiding doing business with “high-risk individuals,” the not so discrete term for people of predominantly non-European descent, or, who, if then insured, were charged exorbitant rates.

Jessica Roulette, an attorney at Legal Action of Wisconsin, and a native of Milwaukee, spoke to the ramifications of this history. “Scammers prey on the effects of structural racism, the fact that minorities have been excluded from our banking system; excluded from home ownership.” She cited the 2008 financial crisis as but one fairly recent example of how financially unsophisticated, low-income consumers, were steered into burdensome mortgages designed to fail.

She outlined how structural inequities have affected minority and poor communities in her city and continue to impede home ownership, the primary means of the transfer of intergenerational wealth in America. She exuded particular scorn for home ownership scams, such as rent-to-own, and explained how aspiring low-income homeowners in the city are currently being bilked by predators.

“These deals offer the worst of both worlds for consumers,” Roulette said, “because they actually never transfer ownership of the property to the consumer.” The initial pitch to prospective homebuyers, in what is likely to be the largest financial transaction of their lives, is ‘you’re building equity so you can own it one day,’ and that’s what many people want.”

“What you’re actually getting is a property tax burden that may not ever be disclosed,” Roulette said, or a home that may be uninsurable due to its poor condition or, ultimately, even uninhabitable. She said unsuspecting victims, initially proud, thinking they are homeowners, are often embarrassed at their predicaments, thus often becoming, predictably, among those who fail to report the fraud.

Immigrants also, especially those who have functioned outside the traditional banking system, are vulnerable to these types of scams. Without community members sharing their knowledge and gaining an understanding of their rights, simply put, Roulette said, “it’s easy to be deceived.”

Parker Rios, VP of Workforce Development at United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), which has an over 54-year presence in Milwaukee, said, “over 1,000 people come through our doors every day for the services that we offer.” His staff also functions as case managers for its Latino clientele, including recently resettled refugees.

He said information on the prevalence of frauds and how they work could be better collected by his staff if they had a greater understanding of what questions to ask.

“We’re all in,” said Rios, after listening to the presenters, inviting them to share their knowledge at upcoming UMOS staff training sessions.

Continued on page A3

Thursday, July 4, 2019

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2019154711 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: HIGHLY FLAVOURED at 1927 S Spaulding Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90016 Mailing Address: Same County: LA REGISTERED OWNERS(S): BRIAN CHARLES COMPTON, 1927 S Spaulding Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90016 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED:BRIAN CHARLES COMPTON, OWNER The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 06/2019 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: June 5, 2019 DEAN C. LOGAN, Registar-Recorder/County Clerk County Clerk By: CATRICE DANIELS, Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES ST THE END IOF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on June 5, 2024 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2019 �������������������������������

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2019158733 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: VOICE OF THE FANS / ABC HOME INSPECTIONS at 1167 West 166th St., Gardena, Ca. 90247 Mailing Address: Same County: LA REGISTERED OWNERS(S): CAMERON CRAIG BUFORD, 1167 West 166th St., Gardena, Ca. 90247 The business is conducted by: an Individual SIGNED: CAMERON CRAIG BUFORD, OWNER The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: 05/2019 This statement filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles County on: June 10, 2019 DEAN C. LOGAN, Registar-Recorder/County Clerk County Clerk By: CATRICE DANIELS, Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES ST THE END IOF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF IDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on June 10, 2024 LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: June 13, 20, 27, July 4, 2019 �������������������������������

Legal Notices / Features

Loretta Griffin (left), 68, trained for the Senior Olympics at the Bickford Aquatic Center with her coach Cynthia Dickerson. “I just think she’s a winner,” Dickerson said of Griffin. “You don’t find that in many people.” (Photo: George W. Tillman Jr.)

68-Year-Old Swimmer Competes in National Senior Olympics

By Jannelle Walker Special to The New Tri-State Defender Last week, 68-year-old Loretta Griffin became the first African-American Memphian to compete in the National Senior Olympics for swimming, coming full circle from her days of doing water aerobics at the Davis YMCA in Whitehaven.

The New Tri-State Defender talked to Griffin before she left for Albuquerque, N.M., where the swimming competitions were being held.

Griffin, a retired teacher, began swimming five years ago. She had been taking water aerobics classes at the YMCA for about three years and when she became comfortable with the water, she decided it was time to learn how to swim.

“I would always see other swimmers doing laps. They looked like they were really enjoying themselves. That made me want to learn how to swim,” she said.

That’s when she started swimming lessons and learning the basics that she practiced every day. One day Griffin

was at home watching television and a feature for men in their 90s participating in the National Senior Olympics appeared, but it wasn’t until “the next day I saw a news item about local games and they were about to start. It was time to register, so I went on and signed up for those.”

Once she became a contestant for the local games, Griffin was told that she would need to participate in the state level and place in the top four to attend the Nationals, as well as qualify the year before the actual Olympics.

Griffin completed all her requirements, including coming in third place last year in a 500 freestyle that consisted of 20 laps and four strokes to qualify her for the Nationals.

In college, Griffin took swimming lessons to complete her degree.

“So, I did take it, but the lady felt sorry for me and gave me a C because you had to make a C in order not to take it again. I was terrible at it.”

Many times, Griffin was the only African American

participating in the swimming competitions leading up the Olympics. She encourages more African-American children to swim, specifically girls because she feels “everybody should know how to swim.”

Her strategy for being proficient is to focus on the game and doing the best to her ability.

“I want to get there and do my technique. Get my technique correct, then my strategy is: Do the best I can do. If that results in a win, that is even better,” Griffin said.

“That is like icing on the cake.”

Griffin trained at the Bickford Aquatic Center for the National Senior Olympics at least three to four times each week. She would start with 10 minutes of warm-ups, then 20 laps and then begin on her backstrokes.

Her coach was Cynthia Dickerson, whom she met as a coordinator for the local games.

“She was the one who suggested if I was interested in going into the state or to the Nationals, I needed to get with

her,” said Griffin, “and that made a world of a difference…

“She is the bravest person I know. I can mess up really bad and she will find something good in it. When I’m swimming, I’m thinking about her, I’d think about her words.”

Dickerson, 65, has been a swimming coach for 20 years, coaching both adults and children. A former coach at Central High School, Dickerson said her own son inspired her to be a coach.

What makes a good swimmer? According to Dickerson, it is both attitude and technique. “Somebody that can do all four strokes, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. Somebody who can do the continuous laps.

Somebody who is consistently trying to improve.”

Dickerson sums up Griffin with one word: Persistent. “(She) does whatever I tell her to do, to correct her structure, to improve her stroke, and she is right there doing it to the best of her ability. I just think she is a winner. You don’t find that in many people.”

15-Year-Old Cori Gauff Shocks Venus Williams at Wimbledon

By Alex Andrejev July 1 at 5:45 PM Cori “Coco” Gauff’s skill level has long been out of proportion to her age, a fact increasingly obvious in the world of tennis. On Monday, Gauff’s talents were on display for a much larger audience. The 15-year-old defeated five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the first round of the tournament, becoming the youngest woman to win a main-draw Wimbledon match since Jennifer Capriati beat defending champion Martina Navratilova in 1991.

Not only did Gauff upset her idol, who is more than twice her age, but she did so in spectacular fashion, eliminating Williams in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

“I don’t really know how to feel,” Gauff said in an interview with the BBC. “This is the first time I’ve cried after a match, after winning.”

The tennis prodigy entered her Wimbledon debut ranked 313th by the Women’s Tennis Association, while Williams entered 44th. Gauff had never played in a Grand Slam event. Williams has played in 16 Grand Slam finals.

“I never thought this would happen,” Gauff told the BBC. “I’m living my dream right now; not many people get to say that.”

She got to Monday’s match by advancing through qualifying in London last week, a run that included straight set wins over top-seeded Aliona Bolsova and No. 19 seed

Greet Minnen. That made Gauff the youngest player to advance to Wimbledon’s main draw via qualifying.

After clinching the berth last week, Gauff said it would be “amazing” to play either Williams sister in the first round of Wimbledon, according to WTAtennis.com.

Gauff’s tennis career accelerated when she was 8 years old after her family moved from Atlanta to Delray Beach, Fla., where she still lives. In 2017, when she was 13, she became the youngest player to reach a U.S. Open junior final. Last year at the French Open, she became the youngest female to win a Grand Slam qualifying match.

As with Venus and Serena Williams, Gauff’s father, Corey, has taken an active role in coaching his daughter. Corey Gauff played basketball at Georgia State; Cori Gauff’s mother, Candi, competed in track and field at Florida State University.

The couple cheered from the stands at the All-England Club Monday as they watched their daughter take down one of the all-time tennis greats, a player whom the family credits with paving the path for other young, black, female tennis players, according to Time.

Cori Gauff told the BBC after the match that when Williams shook her hand, she told the 15-year old, “congratulations and to keep going.”

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” Gauff said.

Citizenship Question

Continued from page A1

perience some backward lurches,” he said.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the decision clearly is a rebuke of Trump.

“When even the conservative court determines that the Trump administration’s argument is odious and dishonest, you know the administration’s motivation behind adding the citizenship question in the first place was an abhorrent one,” Schumer said in an email.

“The lower court must, for the sake of our democracy and fair representation for all communities, ensure the misguided citizenship question remains out of the census,” he said.

“Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that prevents the government from asking U.S. residents on the 2020 census whether they are citizens,” Melanie Campbell, the president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) said in a statement.

“For Civil Rights and Immigration Rights organizations, this is a major victory in an effort to ensure that all minorities in the nation are properly counted and represented in the 2020 Decennial Census,” Campbell said.

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chair Dorothy R. Leavell said she hadn’t yet reviewed the ruling but a decision opposing the citizenship question is important for all – particularly people of color.

“The Census is so important, it means funding for needed services and other things that are so important to our communities,” Leavell said.

NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis echoed Leavell’s comments.

“The NNPA supports and agrees with the Supreme Court decision against Trump’s administration’s attempts to add language in the 2020 Census which is discriminatory and keeps millions of people from being counted,” Chavis said.

“We should have a Census campaign that practices the importance of including everybody rather than excluding certain people. The NNPA is also for equality, justice, and fairness so therefore the Supreme Court made the right decision,” he said.

The 2020 Decennial Census will be the most critical census count of our lifetime, she said.

Campbell noted that in 2010, African Americans and Black immigrants were undercounted by more than 800,000, leaving those communities with a shortage of government resources.

“We cannot let this happen again. We have to stay vigilant to ensure our people are counted and vote in . “It’s about money and political power and our future depends on it,” she said.

Trump has pledged to delay the 2020 Census and he said his administration still plans to include a question that inquiries about a person’s citizenship status.

“I have asked the lawyers if they can delay the Census, no matter how long, until the United States Supreme Court is given additional information from which it can make a final and decisive decision on this very critical matter,” Trump told Fox News.

However, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said justice must now be done and everyone must be counted. Johnson said the strength of America’s democracy depends on it.

“The court today rejected the Trump administration’s fraudulent justification for adding the citizenship question,” Johnson said.

“The highest court in the land – in an opinion authored by a Chief Justice appointed by a Republican President – has effectively ruled that the head of one federal government agency, the Department of Commerce, lied to the nation, aided and abetted by the head of another federal agency, the Department of Justice,” he said.

Cori Gauff, the youngest qualifier in Wimbleon’s history, won her first-round match against Venus Williams, a five-time singles champion at the tournament.CreditCreditToby Melville/Reuters

Milwaukee’s Legacy of Fraud Continued from page 2

The FTC provides materials in Spanish and other languages, but Milwaukee’s Hmong population poses a unique challenge. Wisconsin, given its relatively small size, boasts the largest per capita Hmong population in the country, and, at approximately a quarter of a million people, the third largest Hmong population, trailing only neighboring Minnesota, the second largest, and California.

Zongsae Vang, senior specialist of Hmong American Friendship Association, cited numerous examples of friends and relatives who fell victim to virtually every fraud described during the meeting but identified business pyramid schemes as especially appealing to Hmong community members seeking to attain the American dream of financial independence. “We’ve lost a million dollars in Milwaukee only,” he said of pyramid schemes, $20,000 of which belonged to Vang’s cousin.

Some lost life-savings because they were convinced of the need to give their bank account information. Others were conned by IRS or Social Security imposter fraud. Vang returned home one day, in the nick of time, he recalled. His wife was on the phone speaking with someone offering an upgrade for her computer. Vang convinced her to hang up.

He said he has found these experiences gut wrenching. “It hurts,” he acknowledged, “I feel pain,” adding that “minorities get hit the most. They don’t know how to report or they

don’t know how to handle the situation.”

Lara Sutherlin, the administrator of the Division of Trade and Consumer Protection at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, said “education is oftentimes our best weapon to prevent the perpetration of fraud.”

That sentiment was wholeheartedly endorsed by the FTC’s Lois Greisman.

Greisman leads the Division of Marketing Practices in the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Among the advice she shared, as did Kossow, was to encourage attendees to spread the message that anyone soliciting payment by use of a gift card was likely a scam artist. And, as many phone scams originate from overseas, a caller who demands payment by a wire transfer, using Western Union or MoneyGram, as examples, should be considered one also. She explained that once the money leaves the United States, it’s harder to trace and far more difficult to recoup.

As in her other presentations at FTC-EMS events, Greisman emphasized that one of the best ways for consumers to avoid a scam is, before you act, tell another person about that free vacation, winning lottery number or any other too good to be true opportunity that only requires a minimum contribution to unlock the prize.

A4

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Sports

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Los Angeles Sparks Rout Chicago Sky

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com The Los Angeles Sparks welcomed the Chicago Sky to the Staples on Sunday afternoon. Having won only one of their five previous games, the Sparks were looking to turn their last win into a winning streak. They would have to remain committed to their multiple efforts that it would take against a team like this,” as per Head Coach Derek Fisher.

Due to the early afternoon start time, the Sparks would not conduct a shootaround practice prior to the game. Even without a pre-game shoot around both teams game out shooting over 50% from the three-point line in the first quarter. Riquna Williams led the Sparks with 9 points by going 2 out of 3 from the arc. The Sparks also led both teams with 6 assists the opening quarter.

The Sparks then extended their lead in the second quarter by hitting a couple early fast-break threes from their backcourt. However, Diamond DeShileds kept the Sky within striking distance by scoring 11 points in the half. The Sparks bench scoring was their differentiator as each of the Sparks bench players scored when they came into the game, led by Syndey Wiese, giving them at 12 point at the half.

Having not scored a pint in the first have, Sparks Terra Rufin-Pratt erupted for 8 in the quarter. three quarter DeShields led the Sky with 17 points while here teammate chipped in 10 points. Yet, the Sparks were led their 47.4% shooting from the 3-point line in addition to Riquna’s 17 points and Parker’s 12 points lead the Sparks to 21 points lead at the end of the 3rd quarter.

In each quarter of the game, except the first quarter, the Sparks held the Chicago Sky to under 20 points.

Conversely the Sparks scored 20+ points in each quarter of the game. By the time final buzzard sounded, each of the Sparks starters scored in double figures in the game to lead them to their 2nd consecutive win and their 6th victory of the Season. What are your thoughts about Los Angeles Sparks? I’ll be interested in seeing how, this Derek Fisher coached team handles their week off before playing again.

In his post-game press conference, I asked Coach Fisher about the conversation he had with his team in regards to defending the three pointers the Sky were making early in the game, Fisher’s message was for his team to, “stick with our defensive principles.” As well as to understand, “You can’t take away everything from professional basketball teams, they will score somehow. We just feel like making teams score far from the basket at time is best.” This philosophy aided the Sparks to a 25 pint win on Sunday afternoon.

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports. com or follow me on Twitter at “Voice of the Fans” for immediate engagement. Additionally, subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans” Podcast which is available on Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TunedIn, and iHeart Radio. Thank you for making our voice our choice.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker, right, and Chicago Sky forward Tamera Young reach for the ball during the second half of Game 2 of a WBNA basketball semifinal in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016. The Sparks won 99-84. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Over $500 Million dollars have been allocated to NBA Salaries thus far in the NBA’s Free Agency period (photo: shawsports.net) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Dodgers Hang on to Big N.L. West Lead

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer The Dodgers have split a four game series with the Rockies leaving Colorado with a 13 game lead (at press time), while posting a 57-29 record the best in the majors.

“For us to come out of here with a split and not lose ground to those guys who gave it all they had is a good

thing for us,” says Dodger manager Dave Roberts.

The All-Star break is around the corner and Dodger starting pitchers Hyn-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw, and Walker Buehler were name as members of the N.L. team. They will be joined by Cody Bellinger in Cleveland.

GM Exec Touts DTU and Other Programs that Feature HBCUs Continued from page A1

$10,000 scholarship and a $5,000 stipend. The students form two teams of three people, and each team has access to an all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer during their reporting assignments.

Since 2016, Chevrolet has awarded in excess of $400,000 in scholarships and stipends in the annual program.

This year’s fellows are Elae Hill of North Carolina A&T; Sharon Joy Washington of Florida A&M; Tyla Barnes of Hampton University; Tedarius Abrams of Bethune-Cookman University; Emani Nichols of Morehouse College; and Miana Massey of Howard University.

The fellows will work this summer with NNPA member newspapers the Atlanta Voice, Chicago Crusader, Washington Informer, and Houston Forward Times.

The program includes a boot camp which Lester said immerses the fellows in “all things Chevrolet.”

They also meet leaders from Chevrolet and NNPA publishers.

“The program started with Howard University in 2016,” Booker said.

“We increased the reach of the program in 2017 to Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta …based on the overwhelming response, the online submission process was opened to all HBCU students in their sophomore through senior years with an interest in journalism, communications, mass media, or visual arts,” he said.

The fireside chat also included a video featuring DJ Envy, the famed disc jockey and music producer whose cohost of the popular syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club.’

Musician and author Fonzworth Bentley serves as the fellows’ Road Trip Advisor and both he and Envy are HBCU graduates.

“It’s definitely important for young African Americans to have time with influential leaders that they aspire to be like,” Booker said.

Since the DTU program’s establishment, Chavis said everyone has seen some of the best and brightest students.

Booker noted the success of Jordan Fisher, a 2017 graduate of Clark Atlanta whose began working for the media team on Stacey Abrams’ campaign for Georgia governor.

Fisher is currently a media manager and advisor for CNN political commentator and attorney Angela Rye’s political advocacy firm, IMPACT Strategies.

The program has also gained recognition by the Mosaic Awards panel which selected DTU as the winner of the Mosaic Award for Multicultural Online/Interactive Campaign.

The award recognizes campaigns that are executed primarily through interactive marketing targeted toward multicultural markets.

Booker said GM has other partnerships that reach HBCU audiences.

“Through our Corporate Giving efforts, we’ve provided financial support to both Howard University and North Carolina A&T,” he said.

General Motors also has several other partnerships that will include an AutoDrive Challenge and a Buick Come Up Challenge.

“General Motors is a member of the billion-dollar roundtable, and we have been involved as one of the 28 companies who spend $1 billion with diverse-owned companies,” Booker said.

“We have an HBCU White House partnership … we’ve actually participated in a conference and met with presidents of many HBCUs to talk about how to develop these pipelines of talent to make sure that we’re actually creating a pipeline of talent for entry-level positions,” he said.

To learn more about the DTU program, visit www. nnpa.org/chevydtu

NBA Free Agency

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com A few weeks ago, I wrote about how fantastic the NBA remains. In recent years they have done a wonderful job in keeping their sport top of mind among sports fans.

When other professional sporting leagues crown their champion for the season, the leagues typically fade into the background of the sports scene. However, in recent years once the season ends, the anticipation and conjecture of the NBA off-season have become just as intriguing as the regular season itself.

Just a couple weeks ago the NBA introduced their young rookies into the league. Beginning this week these young players will begin to compete with each other in various NBA sponsored Summer Leagues tournaments.

However, the off-court free agency speculation will lead most sports pages around the country. While teams and players are allowed to come to agreements, these deals won’t become official until July 6th.

Out of the many acquisitions which have been reported, fans around the league are still waiting for one of the league’s premier players to make a decision on who he’d like to play with. I have listed what I believe to be the most impactful Free Agent acquisitions to this point: 2 Time Champion and 2 Time Finals MVP Kevin Durant and NBA Champion and 2 Time All NBA Kyrie Irving have chosen to team up in Brooklyn and give the Nets the best duo they’ve seen since Dr. J and Larry Kenon ran the court for the New Jersey Nets. As you may know, Durant will be recovering from his Achilles injury most the season, yet the Nets will be excited to allow the malcontent Kyrie dance on the league in their arena until Kevin Durant returns to form.

By bringing in the 29-year-old 3 Time All-Star Kemba Walker to fill the void left by Kyries departure. The Celtics may have gotten better with addition by subtraction.

Walker will accept the coaching and adapt to a team philosophy whereas the moody Irving didn’t seem to relish the team, the culture or opportunity to lead the Boston Celtics.

Apparently, Durant and Irving really wanted to play together as they both took less than the maximum salary they could have garnered to play in Brooklyn. The Warriors conducted a sign and trade deal with the Nets, to get recent All-Star D’Angelo Russell and few other players to help fill out their expensive roster. Though Russell clearly is not an adequate replacement, paring him with Stephon Curry until Klay Thompson returns should work out well for them.

5 Time All-Star Al Horford chose to depart from the Celtics to join the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran leadership and competitive spirit of Horford will immediately aide the 76ers. Additionally, the 76ers actually weaken one of their conference rivals. Picking up Horford wasn’t a bad move, but they now will be on the market for a shooter, as JJ Reddick chose to go down south.

The New Orleans Pelicans continue to rebuild their

image and most importantly their talent pool having lost 6 Time All-Star and 3 Time All NBA player Anthony Davis. The Pelicans traded Davis earlier this offseason to the Los Angeles Lakers for a host of role players. They’ve added sharpshooting J.J. Redick to this accumulation of talented player they have acquired through the NBA draft last month.

According to multiple sources, the Heat have signed 4 Time All-Star and 2 Time All NBA player Jimmy Butler away from the Philadelphia 76ers. On the surface, this appears to be a strange fit for the outwardly competitive Butler because the Miami Heat aren’t ready to compete for championships at this point, even with the signing of Butler. This will be interesting to see how this move transpire.

Utah Jazz couple the signing of sharpshooter and member of 2015 All-Rookie team Bojan Bogdanovic with the earlier trade for 2013 All-Defensive team player Mike Conley earlier in the offseason. Each of these moves should pay immediate dividends and make the Jazz much more competitive in the tough Western Conference. The addition of Conley would allow Donovan Mitchell to slide into his natural shooting guard role and Bogdanovic will provide more shooting from the forward position.

The Milwaukee Bucks sign their Free Agent Guard Khris Middleton to a max deal. The Bucks also resign 10-year veterans Brook Lopez and George Hill. They will also welcome in Brooks’ brother Forward Robin Lopez.

The growth and development the Leagues 2019 MVP, in addition to these signings will assist the Bucks in making another deep playoff run in the upcoming season.

Other notable transactions include for Bucks Guard Malcolm Brogdon will sign with the Indiana Pacers; journeyman Center Enes Kanter agrees to join the Celtics; Charlotte Hornets sign young Guard Terry Rozier, former MVP and injury-plagued Guard Derrick Rose will join the Detroit Pistons; and 5th year Center Julius Randle has agreed to join the New York Knicks.

The 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard has a few teams and millions of fans on edge about which teams he’ll choose to play for next season. From all accounts, Leonard has narrowed his decision to the Los Angeles Clippers or Lakers and the Toronto Raptors. So, this situation remains fluid folks. Deals continue to be made daily, but these are several of the most impactful transactions which have been made in this NBA Free Agency off-season to this point.

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports. com or follow me on Twitter at “Voice of the Fans” for immediate engagement. Additionally, subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans” Podcast which is available on Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TunedIn, and iHeart Radio. Thank you for making our voice our choice.

Thursday, July 4, 2019

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A5

Entertainment

Lakeside with Mark Wood. (courtesy photo)

Lakeside and Loose Ends Rocked St. Andrews Jazz Festival in Los Angeles Alonzo “Lonzo” Williams. (courtesy photo)

By Ricky Richardson Letter to the Editor Los Angeles-The quant, tree-lined, well maintained St. Andrews Park in Los Angeles was transformed into “Party Central” on Sunday, June 30, 2019. The occasion was the 4th Annual St. Andrews Jazz Festival, presented by the City of Los Angeles and hosted by Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and the Empowerment Congress Southwest Area Neighborhood Development Council. (ECSWANDC).

You might wonder about the significant of this date.

The festival was held on a beautiful, sunny day with a slight breeze. This was a welcome respite from the June gloom of the previous week.

Also, of a musical note, June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter decreed that June is Black Music Month. In 2009, the commemoration was renamed African-American Music Appreciation Month by President Barack Obama.

In his 2016 Proclamation, President Barack Obama noted that African-Americans music and musicians have helped the country “to dance, to express our faith through song, to march against injustice, and to defend our country’s enduring promise of freedom and opportunity for all.”

7,000 music aficionados gathered in St. Andrews Park in a day-long celebration of jazz, smooth jazz, Latin jazz, Soul and R&B, culture and mouthwatering cuisine.

Brent Page, Chairperson, Empowerment Congress Southwest Area Neighborhood Development Council.

(ECSWANDC), stated before the show “We are happy to provide a safe, family friendly event for the entire community.”

Yes indeed, this family-friendly festival offered a day of

Jazz and Rhythms and Blues, providing the perfect setting for a fabulous and fun day in the park. The Children’s Village engaged the little ones with activities and food. The Senior Tent provided the elders with seating, shade, also an afternoon meal.

Alonzo “Lonzo” Williams, The Godfather of West Coast Hip Hop, DJ, Producer, served as Master of Ceremony and DJ. Lonzo enhanced the festival going experience with his awesome soundtrack of old and new school jams that propelled the crowd to bust out their best timeless dance moves throughout the park.

The Washington Prep High School Jazz Combo under the direction of Christopher Estrada was the opening act for the day. It does my heart good to see and hear youth taking the jazz baton and keeping the genre alive for generations to come. The group performed superbly with their arrangements of “Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock, followed by Song for my Father” by Horace Silver, “Little Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard, and concluded their set with Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock. The band featured Markus Donnell-keyboards, De’Andre Garrett on drums, Luis Costello-bass, Melissa Torreblanca-alto sax, Varusa Garcia-tenor sax and Joseph Fabian on trumpet.

The sunny weather with its Tropical breeze provided the perfect ambiance for Jose Rizo’s Mongorama. Jose Rizo’s Mongorama “continues to explore and integrate jazz with Cuban charanga rhythms, inspired by early 1960’s music of Mongo Santamaria, Cuban Master conguero. Mongorama spiced up the proceedings with the tunes “Bluchanga,” followed by “Que Maravillosa,” “Son Wambari,” “Baila

Que Baila,” and concluded their smokin’ set with “Tin Marin.” Mongorama consist of Danilo Lozano-Musical director/flute, Joey De Leon-congas, Justo Almario-tenor sax, Joe Rotundi-piano, Dayren Santamaria-violin, George Ortiz-timbales, Rene Camacho-bass, James Zavaletavocals and Alfredo Ortiz-bells/guiro/vocals. Visit https:// altamedfoodwine.org/elamn On Friday, July 26, at L.A. Live, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, East LA Meets Napa takes attendees on a journey to the vineyards of the famed Napa Valley. Over 50 top LA chefs, restauranteurs, award winning Napa wine-producers and premium spirits distributors will serve generous tastings while patrons the live music of Jose Rizo’s Mongorama throughout the evening. Now in it’s 14th year, East LA Meets Napa has become AltaMed’s premier fundraising event.

Loose Ends featuring Jane English took the live entertainment up a notch with their classic and timeless hits. Passengers flying over the park heading to LAX could easily see that attendees at St. Andrews Jazz Festival were rockin’ with Loose Ends featuring Jane English. Their high-octane set consisted of the tunes “Stay a Little While Child,” “Gonna Make You Mine,” “Don’t You Ever Try & Change,” “Watching You,” “Mr. Bachelor.” They slowed down the tempo to perform at heartfelt rendition of “Can’t Stop the Rain.” They revved up the engines again for “A Little Spice,” “Nights of Pleasure,” “Cheap Talk,” “Hangin’ on a String,” and “Slow Down.”

Jazz in Pink is a dynamic and extremely talented allwomen band. The crowd and I were jammin’ and vibing throughout their awesome set of smooth jazz with a heavy

tinge of soul, funk and R&B. Their groovin’ set featured the tunes “BreadSandwiches/Kat Girl Intro,” “I’m Every Women,” “Back & forth,” Bass Jam,” and they all cut loose/ rocked out on “Knee Deep/One Nation Under a Groove”

by Parliament/Funkadelic.

African-American Music Appreciation Month and the 4th Annual St. Andrews Jazz Festival concluded on a brilliant musical note with a set by Lakeside with Mark Wood. Lakeside delved into their catalog of classic hits and showcased some newer material. The crowd and I took a trip down memory lane along with the tunes “Raid,” “It’s All the Way Live,” and “Fantastic Voyage” to name a few.

Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc. (SEA) were on site to provided attendees with a free, might I say, delicious BBQ dinner that consisted of hot links, tri-tips BBQ, hamburger, potato salad, chips and water for FREE! Since 1972, Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc. (SEA) has offered high-risk youth and their families alternatives to gangs, drugs and violence by providing a wide variety of social, mental health and educational support services that address the often-complex needs of youth and their families.

Throughout the day organizers of Jazz at St. Andrews honored community leaders who dedicate themselves to bettering the community. The honorees were recognized for going above and beyond to empower, strengthen and invest in the kind of community that we are deserve. Visit https://southwestnc.org/jazz-st-andrews-2019-honorscommunity-empowerment to read about this years amazing honorees and be inspired!

Essence Fest Marks 25 years of Celebrating Black Culture

By CHEVEL JOHNSON Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The Essence Festival, which draws thousands to New Orleans during the fourth of July week, is celebrating 25 years of bringing African American women of all ages together for thought-provoking conversation and performances from top musical acts.

Launched to mark the 25th anniversary of blackowned Essence magazine, the festival has become a yearly celebration to highlight excellence in business, fashion, entertainment, and, of course, music.

It is a destination vacation for African American women, which was showcased in the 2017 hit movie “Girls Trip.” The movie _which starred Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish in a breakout role _ centered on four longtime friends who reunited at Essence.

The festival is July 5-7 and has two parts: daytime activities and panel discussions mainly held at the convention center and nighttime music and concerts at the Superdome.

The Associated Press spoke to some performers and thought leaders who’ve made frequent appearances and to a relatively new performer who is moving up to the main stage this year about what they like about the festival and why they return.

MARY J. BLIGE The Grammy Award-winning songstress is no stranger to the festival, having closed the show many times in the past.

She’s scheduled to take the main stage Saturday at the Superdome.

This year, though, is extra special, she said. The festival marks 25 years and so does her album, “My Life.” It’s a milestone that “feels great.”

“It’s one of the most important albums of my career.

It’s when I started a relationship with my fans,” she said.

“I could tour on that album for the rest of my life and not make another song.”

Blige said she never doubted the festival would reach the quarter-century mark.

“It’s been nothing but huge since Day 1,” she said.

“People from all over the world and all walks of life flock to this big, black event. Everyone’s coming to see what’s going on, to come to New Orleans, to eat. The food down there is crazy good and there’s a party every other night. There’s lots of entrepreneurship around, there’s gospel, there’s everything. It’s just phenomenal.”

Blige received BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in June.

She and rapper Nas released a new single, “Thriving” in May. They both perform Saturday and will co-headline a tour that kicks off following the festival. Nas is also marking a 25th anniversary, for his debut record, “Illmatic.”

REV. AL SHARPTON Sharpton has attended and participated in every festival since its inception in 1994. And, as a result, he said he stays on his toes.

“Everywhere I go, people tell me `I will see you at Essence,”’ he said. “That forces me to think of a new speech every year.”

Sharpton generally appears during the daytime activities at the convention center. Festivalgoers can attend any number of panel discussions or presentations on issues such as politics, economic wealth, health care and entrepreneurship. He said the festival has become the “central meeting place for black people, black women specifically.”

“It’s a celebration of who we are and the diversity of us in terms of our talents and our gifts. It’s the perfect mix of entertainment and information,” he said.

Sharpton recalled when the magazine’s co-founder, Edward Lewis, started the project: “When I was on that first leadership panel at the first festival I thought, this was just a one-time thing.”

But since then, the festival has grown from a few exhibitions to a destination for Fortune 500 companies, top lecturers, business minds and CEOs, Sharpton said.

“People plan their vacations and reunions around Essence. It’s grown from just an event to almost a pilgrimage.

It’s the only place that you see the kinds of crowds ranging in age from grandmothers, to mothers to daughters to

granddaughters,” he said.

MAZE, FEATURING FRANKIE BEVERLY This year the festival is paying tribute to one of its longtime stars: Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly.

For 15 years, Beverly and Maze closed the Essence Festival, often turning the Superdome floor into a sea of dancing fans. Beverly has an almost cult-like following with devoted fans who sing along with him. During a Maze performance, fans can be seen dancing in the aisles, many wearing white clothing as Beverly often does.

He says he’s always amazed to see how fans react.

“They don’t have to do that, but it shows they’re still into us and to still be in that position to do that, I’m moved and pleased by it. To be back this year is like getting with your family again,” he said.

Beverly’s run at the festival ended in 2010 when a new producer decided to end the long tradition of Maze as the closer. Many fans were disappointed despite the great talent tapped to close such as Beyonce, Lionel Richie, Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind and Fire. In 2015, Beverly returned for an appearance that coincided with the festival’s recognition of the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

On this year’s final night, the festival is scheduled to pay tribute to Beverly for his lifetime contribution to music. The tribute will feature a special performance by Anthony Hamilton.

“Hearing about that, that surprised me,” Beverly said.

“I appreciate it though. New Orleans has had a big part to play in our receiving this. They’ve loved us from the beginning.”

H.E.R. The Grammy winning singer-songwriter returns to the festival this year but moves to the main stage instead of the Superlounges _ smaller venues set up in the Superdome’s cavernous halls.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “It’s just honestly crazy but

dope too because last year, people were telling me I should have been on the main stage and now I am.”

H.E.R., whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, said she’s looking forward to being on stage the same night as icons Blige and first lady Michelle Obama. She’s also eager to sample New Orleans’ famous cuisine.

“Essence is one of the places you go if you want (to) see all the beautiful black people from all over the world.

It’s black excellence at its finest, literally. And having it in New Orleans is the best place because the food is crazy good!”

She hopes her performance is an opportunity to expose those who may not be familiar with her music.

“Expect a lot of musicality. I will be picking up a few different instruments,” she said. “It will be electric. A lot of people who haven’t seen me live are in for a treat. I just plan to sing my heart out and invite them into my world.”

DONNIE McCLURKIN Before the thousands of festival-goers head home Sunday, many of them gather at the convention center for a gospel service to connect spiritually.

McClurkin, a pastor and singer, has performed and hosted the service multiple times and says he’s looking forward to this year’s event.

“It’s really devoted to us as African Americans, not just women, but to the black experience,” McClurkin said. “At this point, it’s got to be one of most sought after tickets in the world.”

The “We Fall Down” singer said he’s awed by the festival’s “diversity and appreciation for ethnic accomplishment” and that the event is also a platform for gospel performers.

“It exposes us to people who may not have known us before and gives us an opportunity to minister to people from all walks of life,” McClurkin said. “A major part of the festival is set aside for a Sunday morning service and people make their way to it whether they’re there to see a Janet Jackson or a Beyonce, they’re crammed into that hall to serve God.”

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LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Local

Mental Illness, Homelessness Major Issue in So LA Distinguishing Myths from Facts

Daily stress can be an enemy of your mental health. It causes a chemical reaction that occurs when the body goes into “fight-or-flight” mode. Your heart rate increases and blood pressure rises. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Lisa Fitch Our Weekly News Contributor During Mental Health Month (May) the 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count results came in. While both subjects—mental health and homelessness—are becoming increasingly intertwined within the African-American community, the latter report is filled with “June gloom.”

“But not surprising,” said Dr. Erica Holmes, director of the Championship Counseling Center at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood.

“There are a lot of reasons that cause individuals to lose their housing and the city, county and state haven’t done much to reduce those risk factors.”

According to the L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), this year’s point-in-time count put the number of homeless people countywide just shy of 59,000. That’s an increase of twelve-percent increase over last year’s count.

“A lot of people think the majority of the homeless population have some severe mental illness, but that’s not true,” said Holmes, a licensed psychologist. “Most of the homeless are women with children.”

According to LAHSA, 38 percent of the homeless are

African-American and 30 percent of those counted are female. Twenty-seven percent of the 18-and-over homeless population reportedly have serious mental illnesses.

“Treating mental illness is kind of like with cancer – early detection is best,” Holmes said.

Driving through downtown’s Skid Row, one can see and feel the destitution. Hundreds and hundreds of people are in need of physical and mental services.

But somehow, Ericka Newsome, 39, found an oasis on Skid Row. The Downtown Women’s Shelter is helping her through mental health and housing services.

“I was in foster care a couple of times,” Newsome said.

“I’m the second oldest of 12 children.”

Story of Ericka Newsome After suffering beatings from an abusive mother, Newsome was determined to live on her own. She received prescription drugs for depression and attended Pasadena City College, close to where she was reared.

“The original plan was to transfer to a four-year music school,” Newsome said. “But I had to get a job right away.”

Crisis Is Hitting Black Californians the Hardest

Newsome worked with temporary agencies and landed a job at a local bank. She was even a Rose Parade musician at one time.

“I was being a responsible citizen, paid my bills, following the rules,” Newsome added. “In 2009, a lot of people in the banking industry were cut back. There were no raises, but my rent went up.”

Newsome had to live in her car when she could not afford rent. To avoid parking tickets when she parked on the Pasadena streets, she slept in the bank’s parking structure. She became a member at a local gym, where she could take showers.

“One day after lunch I got a call to go to HR (Human Resources),” Newsome said. “’Hey, ‘you’re no longer part of this company’ they said. I remember walking out and I stood on the edge of the parking structure ready to jump.”

That’s when Newsome checked into the Huntington Hospital – Della Martin Center in Pasadena, where she received a psychological evaluation and hospitalization for depression and anxiety.

But after treatment, she was back sleeping in her car.

When she had to sell her automobile to get some money, she was left to walk the streets. She found out about the Downtown Women’s Center while she was staying at a shelter in South Los Angeles.

Downtown Women’s Center But then one day she was turned away because the shelter was filled to capacity.

“I was really scared and trying to find a place to keep safe,” Newsome said. “The shelter would bus us to this place downtown to shower, get food and clothes.”

Newsome tried to remember the bus route and walked the streets until she finally found the Downtown Women’s Center.

“In the shelter, you had to shower at night,” Newsome remembers. “But at the center you could shower in the morning. I really liked that.” She now attends their group sessions and receives assistance to live in an apartment.

The Downtown Women’s Center has operated for 41 years on Skid Row. They have 119 permanent, supported housing units downtown, as well as other housing units located throughout Los Angeles County.

Some renters pay 30 percent of their income for rent.

But a job is not a prerequisite.

“Once a person gets housed, they make sure they are mentally stable there and we’re monitored,” Newsome said.

“I don’t want a setback. I need to maintain.”

“I want to give back,” Newsome added, noting that she has joined the Downtown Women’s Center’s advisory board. “I want to pass the word. I was in the same situation.

It’s possible.”

Newsome recognizes that there is a cloud surrounding the issue of mental health, especially in the Black community.

“There’s a stigma there,” Newsome said. “But you shouldn’t look down on me because I’m getting help. That doesn’t downgrade my value.”

The African-American community, in particular, has a fear of asking for mental health services, according to Dr. Holmes.

“Research shows that African-Americans tend go to ‘family first,’ then pastor or clergy, and then seek professional psychological services,” Holmes said. “By the time they come into counseling, dealing with psychological distress has become a way of life. Sometimes we have to unpack five, 10, 15 years of depression.”

A stigma in Black families

The center, which has more than a dozen clinicians on staff, conducts a standard intake, which includes a questionnaire asking potential clients about their current situation, why they want therapy, and their previous use of psychotropic medications. They provide services to children as young as four years of age and to seniors. Client fees are based on their ability to pay.

Word is spreading through social media that mental health is an important part of overall health and is made up of our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It’s a part of life and nothing to be ashamed of.

Millenials embrace therapy Although seeking out professional help has been a taboo subject for years, Millennials are more likely than previous generations to pursue therapy when they recognize the signs of stress, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders.

A 2015 study conducted by American University revealed that Millennials grew up hearing about mental illnesses—including eating disorders and suicidal tendencies—more than any other age group. This younger society is reportedly more accepting of mental health challenges and is also more likely to talk about mental health issues than their parents or grandparents.

In the American University survey of 900 Millennials, more than 70 percent said they would be comfortable visiting a counselor or therapist.

As more people speak out, the stigma surrounding mental illness is beginning to lessen. Celebrities are openly sharing their mental health struggles in social media, such as former Laker Metta World Peace, who regularly shared his challenges and experiences.

Stigma, distrust and socioeconomic reasons have historically all been factors in Black America’s shunning of professional mental health assistance. The need for these discussions has only increased.

In a study published earlier this year by the American Psychiatric Association, Millennials were found to be the most anxious generation. Women reported higher anxiety than men, and people of color scored 11 points higher on the anxiety scale than Whites.

Research suggests that African-Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience a mental health disorder as opposed to the general population, but many factors may inhibit proper treatment. Only 25 percent of Blacks seek professional help, compared to 40 percent of Whites with mental health disorders.

Daily stress can be an enemy of your mental health. It causes a chemical reaction that occurs when the body goes into “fight-or-flight” mode. Your heart rate increases and blood pressure rises.

Know the signs and potential triggers of mental illness and if you’re ever concerned about how you feel, consult a doctor: • Insomnia • Low energy • Negative outlook or thoughts • Pulling away from people or usual activities • Lack of affection • Mood disorder • Anxiety attacks • Poor judgment • Upset stomach • Racing thoughts • Chest pains Mental health experts agree that when a person is experiencing excessive stress and it is interfering with daily activities, seeking help is key. In addition to discussing the situation with a professional, reach out to friends; look for local support; and find therapeutic resources.

Some stress tools worth trying include, acupuncture; aromatherapy; art therapy; deep breathing; exercise; healthy eating; massage therapy; stretching; and yoga.

Your mental health affects your physical health. Don’t ignore the signs.

As State Pumps 1.7 Billion into Homelessness Fight

By Manny Otiko and Tanu Henry California Black Media Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a $214.8 billion state spending plan he and legislative leaders are calling “the Affordability Budget” for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

It took effect July 1 after the governor hashed out differences with the Assembly and Senate.

The budget includes $1.7 billion to fight homelessness, a problem that is affecting more African Americans per capita than any other group in the state. Of that money, $650 million will go to support county and city governments as well as regional homeless prevention agencies in their local efforts to decrease homelessness and increase their stock of affordable housing.

“Homelessness. What the hell is going on in our state?”

Asked Gov Newsom at an event at the Capitol organized to mark the beginning of the new fiscal year.

“I agree with the critics. I agree with all of you,” said Gov. Newsom. “We have a crisis.”

The new funding represents the largest budget investment in affordable housing, homeless shelters and homelessness support services in the history of the state.

“We have come to agreement on a package of housing measures,” said a joint statement from the governor, Senate pro Tem Toni Atkins (D- San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).

“One that creates incentives,” their statement continued, “both sticks and carrots – to help spur housing production across this state.”

Large cities will receive a total of $275 million in grants, $190 million will go to counties and an additional $90 million is allocated to fund support and prevention programs.

The budget also provides $167 million for supportive housing primarily for mentally ill people and substance abusers.

Another $52 million is dedicated to fighting homelessness among college students. About 19 percent of Community College students in the state are homeless, according to a Temple University study.

“This homelessness issue is out of control,” Newsom said when he presented his budget last month. “Californians are outraged. They are disgusted.”

With fines that could run as high as $600,000, the governor also plans to begin stronger enforcement of state laws that require county and city governments to plan for new growth.

California, with its Gross Domestic Product of $2.7 trillion, boasts the largest economy in the United States.

But the state’s 130,000 homeless population is the largest in the country, too, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all people without a permanent residence in the United States. The state also has the highest rate of unsheltered homeless people (about 75 percent) and it has seen the sharpest increase in homelessness in the country over the last 4 years.

In the Los Angeles area, the homelessness problem is dire. There are about 59,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County. That number represents a spike of about 16 percent over last year’s total.

For African Americans, the numbers are worse.

Although the total Black population is only about 9 percent, African Americans make up about 36 percent of L.A.’s homeless people.

In other Census tracts of the state where there are clusters of African-American residents – Alameda County and San Bernardino County, for example – the rates of homelessness for Blacks is also disproportionate. Take Alameda County, where Oakland is the largest city, African Americans make up about 28 percent of the population, but they account for nearly 70 percent of the county’s homeless people. And down south in San Bernardino County, African Americans make up about 9 percent of the county’s residents and comprise about 15 percent of the homeless population.

In San Francisco, where Blacks only make up about 7 percent of the population, they account for about 36 percent of the city’s homeless.

A number of factors contribute to the high numbers of homeless Blacks in California. According to the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority (LAHSA), they include failing schools, a broken foster care system, high rents, the scarcity of available rental properties, criminal records, racial discrimination and more.

Personal setbacks like the loss of a job, a divorce, illness, etc., may drive families or individuals into homelessness.

In fact, less than 50 percent of California’s homeless population are mentally ill or substance abusers. The majority, dubbed the “economically homeless,” fell upon hard times, missed a series of rent or mortgage payments and lost their housing.

Also, more than half of California’s renters are considered “rent burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income to keep a roof over their heads, according to a UC Berkeley report.

“We have millions of Californians that are one rent increase away from being forced out of their homes,” said Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco).

Chiu recently sponsored a bill, AB 1482, to limit rent increases to 7 percent. Lawmakers are expected to vote on it by the middle of September.

Assemblymembers Tim Grayson (D-Concord) and Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) introduced another bill, AB 1481, with stronger protections for tenants. That legislation did not make it out of the Assembly. Landlord groups and the California Association of Realtors spent more than $80 million on lobbying fighting against it.

In 2018, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles), a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, successfully sponsored a set of three bills called the “Vulnerable Youth Empowerment Package.” Together, the provisions in them are intended to prevent homelessness among foster youth who make up a little over 10 percent of the state’s unhoused population.

California’s large homeless population puts the state at risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census. That could lead to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for programs like Head Start, Title 1, SNAP, Medicaid and more. A majority of the Golden state’s homeless people live in tracts of the state where those programs are needed the most.

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Launching a Fashion Line Conference and Breaking Barriers Awards Gala To accommodate the overwhelming response, the 2019 Launching A Fashion Line Conference and Breaking Barriers Awards Gala will now be held on Saturday, August 3, 2019 and Sunday, August 4, 2019 at The Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015, it was announced today by Fashion Designer, Conference Founder, and Host, Stormyweather Banks. This event is open to the public.

On Saturday, August 3rd, attendees will enjoy workshops and interact and network with industry experts in business, fashion design, garment manufacturing, suppliers, and buyers from major department stores from across the country. They will also gain advice and guidance from industry leaders and experts on ‘How to Launch A Fashion Line.’“This conference is for fashion, jewelry, handbags, footwear, accessories, and costume designers,” said Banks.

Workshops include top-notch panelists from fashion, business, finance, and law. This year’s panelists include Attorney Irene Y. Lee (Law Office of Russ August

& Kabat),Brandon Thrasher (The Thrasher Group), TJ Walker (Cross Colours Clothing, TJ Walker Enterprises & Black Design Collective), Jonathon Santos & Medin Gebrezgier(The Santos Media Group, LLC.), and Joseph Park (ABC Sewing).

Following the conference, an after-party concert will feature Rapper Bumpman (Lifetime’s Little Women: Atlanta), Active The Great (Rapper), Maserati Jay (Rapper), and many others.

On Sunday, August 4th, the Breaking Barriers Awards Gala will present awards to those who have broken barriers in the fashion industry, hosted by Obba Babatunde’(Actor, Producer, Director). The honorees include Ruth Carter (Academy Award Winning Costume Designer “Black Panther”), Beverly Johnson (Supermodel, Actress, & Businesswoman), and Carl Jones & TJ Walker (Founders of Cross Colours Clothing Line).

To purchase tickets to the Launching A Fashion Line Conference and the Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, Please contact sales@stormyweatherbanks.com or call 562-461-8555.

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