Fall 2021 Issue of THE HUB Magazine by THE HUB Magazine

FALL 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

DR. PASTOR

TAMARA BENNETT

RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SONS & DAUGHTERS

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FOUNDER’S ROOM | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ENJOY THE SEASON WITHOUT SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTHY HABITS!

elcome to the Fall Issue of THE HUB magazine! Thank you to our readers and advertisers who continue to support our mission and enable us to provide quality content to the community. We are grateful for you! We hope you enjoy this special edition Exceptional Women of Color issue, placing a spotlight on some incredible superstars doing amazing things in our communities, in business, in arts and culture, and in politics and government. With the Holiday season ahead, many might be tempted to also take a vacation from healthy habits. At THE HUB, we want to encourage you to be mindful of staying consistent with healthy habits, especially during the season of “extra” everything – food, social events, spending, to name a few. Even though things are opening up more, and we can get out to socialize and celebrate more than last year, there are still many of us who continue to undergo sickness, tragedy, and death in our families and communities. It’s easy to slide into complacency or depression, causing us to binge, overeat, overspend, or stop exercising. Here are some tips to help you stay on track! Focus on healthy eating. It’s a great idea to focus on foods that boost your immune system as we head into cold and flu season. This includes foods rich in vitamin C and D. Don’t skip meals either! Drink smart. Hydration is important for trapping viruses and bacteria that try to enter through your nose. If your nasal passages are dried out, they can’t trap and get rid of the things that might make you sick. Prioritize sleep. Turn off tech at least an hour before bed, avoid caffeine in the afternoon, and instead of a glass of wine in the evening, try a cup of relaxing peppermint or chamomile tea. Get moving. Moderate exercise boosts immunity and reduces stress levels — and bonus: it can also contribute to getting enough sleep at night. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day.

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Consider getting the COVID-19 Vaccine. Getting the vaccine will help protect your health and the health of the members of your family. Others are depending on you. True Blessings!

Pleshette Robertson CEO and Founder Sac Cultural Hub Media Company and Foundation facebook.com/pleshettemarie sources: www.today.com/health/10-tips-get-stay-healthy-fall-2021-today-t230412 speakingofwomenshealth.com/health-library/the-dos-and-donts-of-health-eating

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CONTENTS

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CENTERSTAGE PASTOR TAMARA BENNETT: RAISING THE NEXT 8 | GENERATION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE GOSPEL

10 | 2021 EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN OF COLOR HONOREES Tomiya Gaines | Katrina Elise Hahn | Kula Koenig | Juanita J.

44 | INAUGURAL BLACK.BRIDGERTON. BRUNCH 46 | Navigating Black California

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Founder’s Room

50 Things To Do, Places To Go

50 Advertiser Index

| WHAT OR WHO DEFINES AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN OF COLOR?

WERE YOU THERE?

38 | R&B JAZZ FESTIVAL IRST FRIDAYS BLACK & WHITE PARTY AT OLD 40 | FSUGAR MILL

43 | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK RECEPTION | 5 | T H E HU B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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BOOKMARK Sacculturalhub.com Inside every issue of THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine there are things to do, places to go and people to see, with a calendar of events, spotlight and feature articles on major event reviews, career profiles and business services. This magazine celebrates the urban lifestyle of African-Americans living in Northern California.

Northern California’s Most Popular Urban Entertainment Magazine ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 2006 Digital online issue available at: issuu.com/thehubmag Mailing Address 7902 Gerber Road, #367 • Sacramento, CA 95828 Ph 916.234.3589 | Fax 866.302.6429 E-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com SUMMER 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

CHIEF EDITOR, CEO & FOUNDER – SACCULTURALHUB.COM Pleshette Robertson | pleshette@sacculturalhub.com ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TEAM Twlia Laster | 916.662.3502 • twlia@sacculturalhub.com Lesley Leatherwood | 916.838.9267 • leatherwoodmarketing@yahoo.com Michael P. Coleman | 916.715.2996 • mcoleman@sacculturalhub.com NEWS REPORTERS Neketia Henry | Keadrian Belcher-Harris Donna Michele Ramos CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael P. Coleman | Lesley Leatherwood | Valarie Scruggs Donna Michele Ramos | Cheryl Howard ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Vicki Blakley PHOTOGRAPHY Rayford Johnson | 916.868.7048 Khiry Malik | Magiceyephotos.com 916.730.5405 Creative Touch Media Services (CT Media) Robert Briley | 916.579.4555 GRAPHIC DESIGN Heather Niemann | Tingible Design • heather@tingible.com COVER PHOTO: Erik Robinson Circulation THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine has an estimated readership of more than 500,000 African American residents in Northern California. Copies are available at numerous storefront locations and distributed quarterly: Winter, Spring, Fall and Fall. Advertising THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine offers affordable rates to meet your business needs and marketing budget. Ads are due 45 days prior to the next issue. Call (916) 234-3589 or e-mail contact@ sacculturalhub.com. Letters to the Editor Letters should include the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or style. Name and address may be withheld upon

HOLLYWOOD’S WALK OF FAME

STAR

TYLER PERRY

WORLD-RENOWNED PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHT, AUTHOR, SONGWRITER, ENTREPRENEUR, AND PHILANTHROPIST p.8 | 1 | THE HUB MAGAZINE S U M M E R 2 0 2 1

CENTERSTAGE: BLACK MEN IN LEADERSHIP p. 19

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Connect with African American professionals and families! Share your services, products and events with Sacculturalhub. com and THE HUB Magazine ... your leading source of EXCITEMENT and Urban Entertainment News in Northern California. Contact us: contact@sacculturalhub.com or 916-234-3589

request. Mail to: THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine, 7902 Gerber Road, #367, Sacramento, CA 95828. THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine is printed quarterly in the United States. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustration without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine. THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine is not responsible for errors and omissions in regard to content of ads in which events were cancelled or rescheduled, or phones that have changed abruptly.

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Visit issuu.com/thehubmag to browse our current and past digital issues today! Digital issues of THE HUB Magazine available anywhere, anytime on all platforms for your i-phone, android, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Easy to flip thru, easy to read, easy to share.

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r. Pastor Tamara Bennett has served as Senior Pastor of This Is Pentecost Fellowship Ministries since June 2000. It has two locations in Oakland and Sacramento, California. She and her husband Elder Quentin Bennett have helped around the world with prayer sessions, anointed revivals, youth conferences, multiple outreach services to the community and a worldwide virtual congregation. Her 501c3 organization, the Daughters of Zion Enterpryz, Inc., (DOZ), annually feeds, clothes, and houses over 9000 individual families. DOZ also provides housing, job training skills, and financial workshops for displaced young women seeking transformation and empowerment. Dr. Bennett’s greatest gift of all is being a loving mother to their four children and a supportive wife to her husband. Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation was honored to have Dr. Bennett present as the Keynote Speaker at the 13th Annual EWOC Awards & Expo on September 28th. THE HUB: Dr. Bennett when you were a child (8 years old), did you ever think that you would be a pastor and speaking all over the world? Dr. BENNETT: Not at all. I was always in drama, from kindergarten to graduation. I always had my sights on public performance. I was steered more towards communication and commentating. In high school I won the Oratory State Championship. My dad was a pastor. I had pastoral roots, understanding and an example.

PASTOR

TAMARA BENNETT RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS By Contributing Writer, Donna Michele Ramos

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THE HUB: What kinds of advice do you have for young girls these days about body image especially with all that is displayed on social media. Lots of teenage girls are struggling with what they see on social media and some have fallen into depression and in some cases thinking of suicide. What are your thoughts on this? Dr. BENNETT: I tell my teenage daughters we love you and see who you are. We see and accept you. They are 15 and 16 not into make-up yet, still in braids. Nothing is sexier than confidence. See me, I love me and you are missing out on me. The earlier I help them to love who they are the better. The scripture says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I don’t want to look like anybody else but who God made me to be. THE HUB: For the past close to 2 years now we have been in the Coronavirus pandemic. How has COVID-19 affected you professionally and personally? Dr. BENNETT: It made me more confident in a large way because it tried my faith, what I’ve been taught and minister about. If ever it was a time people need hope and healing it is during this pandemic. Our congregation is blessed, there have been no deaths. Professionally it made me bolder with my faith. God blessed our business in the middle of a pandemic. We were feeding 10,000 people a year and during

CENTERSTAGE the pandemic, we fed 40,000. It elevated my professional purpose as a servant of God. We all became equal and I love it. Didn’t matter who you were. No one is exempt; it was the great equalizer. Sacramento Food Bank used and still uses our parking lot to distribute food. My husband and I took food to healthcare workers on the midnight shift. People forget about them. I believe in the power of mankind and caring for each other. THE HUB: You and your husband and I quote your husband’s bio “...are raising, the next generation of phenomenal sons and daughters in the gospel”. I absolutely love this. Tell me more about how you have been doing this and the advice you have for mothers and fathers raising children and teenagers in this day and time.

roots but added California freshness. We have a phenomenal seafood platter, etc. What I respect is when he got the keys, he said you’re my general manager. He was brave to make me general manager after I saw what his vision was. I didn’t know how much he struggled to be a black chef in these fine dining restaurants. The white chefs did not share recipes, etc. It was not until he got his own spot that I saw the passion and excellence commitment, he unleashed. I underestimated what your vision was. You weren’t complaining you were frustrated. I heard it as complaining but it I BELIEVE IN WHERE GOD wasn’t. Greatness is inside of you and you can’t let it out. To see this manifestation, HAS BROUGHT ME. IF HE I’m in awe every night. Sisters don’t DID IT FOR ME, HE CAN DO underestimate your black man.

IT FOR ALL. I WON’T STOP TELLING OTHERS.

Dr. BENNETT: Typical old school, lead by example. My husband is from Florida and I’m from Detroit. I have always liked southern and he likes city. We don’t profess a perfect marriage; we serve a perfect God and are honest with him. Honesty transfers to our family and kids. I monitor my daughters’ chasteness and purity. We have candid conversations about sex and guys. They know my childhood struggles. I was raped and shared that with them so they know why I’m like this with them. Our responsibility is to establish a safe place for your kids. We have to be involved in their lives. Try to understand and guide them in old-school thinking, you should keep your virginity. You don’t want to be that girl who sleeps with men and lets their emotions go. Women have value, you can’t sell yourself short. We teach our son who is 22 and he works with his father in the restaurant. We duplicated what we teach in our congregation. Some were gang bangers now they work, have businesses and own homes. It’s the path we carved out, sons and daughters all over the world, my husband and I mentor them. THE HUB: Dr. Bennett you are definitely a woman with many talents and juggling many things - tell us more about your foundation and also the restaurant that you and your husband Chef Quentin Bennett (Chef Q) own and run. Dr. BENNETT: I worked for American Airlines for 13 years. That was my first understanding of the corporate world. I started as a reservation agent then sales in San Francisco and ended up as SABRE trainer for the Pacific northwest. The passing of my first husband led me to the ministry. My husband and I met at a former restaurant he worked at Rio City Café. We got married in 2003. Owning a restaurant, I never saw me in the picture it was always his thing. 2019 was 25 years of him being a chef. At the end, he made a huge leap of faith to do his own thing. He quit his job October 8, 2019, and the building he’s in now was available October 12, 2019. He got a vision of what he wanted and the culture of it. He launched the restaurant on his birthday December 27, 2019. He didn’t want to name it after himself but we told him he had to. So, he named it “Q1227.” We serve modern comfort food. Q stayed true to his southern | 9 | T H E HU B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

THE HUB: 3 words that best describe you? Dr. BENNETT: She died trying.

THE HUB: Your hero? Dr. BENNETT: My mom. She is one of the females I watched take a licking and keep on ticking. She is 84 years old. I’d love to make her brave enough to tell her story of how God helped her through it. In the 1960’s you didn’t talk about domestic violence. She’s from the generation where you don’t tell people your bad stuff. My strength comes from watching her survive. She raised my sister, my brother, and me. My dad was too but especially my mom, my hero. THE HUB: Best life experience? Dr. BENNETT: Finding Jesus and family. My husband is allowing us to have this life together. Family is priceless to me. Finding Jesus Christ is what allowed me to have this. I appreciate my husband and what he has built for us. I appreciate how my husband gives me the avenue to do what I am called to do. He’s the king. THE HUB: In your own words, what or who defines an “Exceptional Woman of Color”? Dr. BENNETT: Confidence. At my meeting today with Sen. McClintock he said the Constitution says we the people was meant for all of us because if you don’t believe in that you don’t believe in the will of God because it’s we the people. We must dismiss what you can’t do or be. It’s a waste of time and energy. Have confidence you can do and be what your God-given purpose is. You can’t look to others for validation. Believe and respect yourself. You do it, in time it comes. THE HUB: What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? Dr. BENNETT: I love how incredibly brutally honest you guys are. Candid, fair honest not abrasive or offensive. To hear a balance, I would take note.n

www.dozenterpryz.org www.tamarabennettministries.com IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CONGRATULATIONS

2021

EXCEPTIONAL

WOMEN OF

HONOREES By Chief Editor, Pleshette Robertson

THE HUB is proud to once again spotlight all of our 2021 EWOC Honorees who received the EWOC Champion and Excellence Awards at the 13th Annual Exceptional Women of Color (EWOC) Awards & Expo (9/28/2021). The HUB recognized a total of twelve women – CEOs, retirees, mothers, and physicians among them – representing everything a woman is and can be while meeting multiple demands. We continue to recognize them as pillars of our community in several categories that include: • • • • • • •

Arts and Culture Communications and Public Affairs Entrepreneur/Innovator Exceptional Career Mom Health, Sport & Wellness Politics & Government Relations Social Welfare & Community Activism

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TOMIYA GAINES

KATRINA ELISE HAHN

KULA KOENIG

JUANITA J. MARTIN

JARITA PICHON

AYESHA RANSOM-WHITE

RACHEL RIOS

MONIQUE SMITH

COLEEN SYKES-RAY

COUNCILMEMBER MAI VANG

JULIE M. WATERS

ANGELINA R.J. WOODBERRY

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God-fearing fearless ambitious

TOMIYA GAINES

TELEVISION & RADIO SHOW PERSONALITY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER & HOST OF GAIN GROUND TV & REAL ESTATE BROKER [COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: Love cruising Book: The Game of Life and How to Play It, by Florence Scovel Schinn, and The Saint the Surfer and the CEO by Robin Sharma Restaurant: Tan’s Kitchen in Stockton, CA Tomiya Gaines, is a television and radio show personality with a background in real estate, real estate finance, insurance, and medical auditing. A California native, Tomiya was born in Stockton, and attended San Joaquin Delta College. Her career has been fueled by a strong optimistic attitude. Michelle Obama sums it up succinctly, “Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s | 1 2 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

about the difference you make in people’s lives.” Tomiya’s faith, professionalism and confidence undergirds her flagship service. She envelops each endeavor fearlessly because she understands God is already on the other side. In addition to being the former President of AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) and Board member of NAREB (National Association of Real Estate Brokers) Tomiya is a proud mother. She currently balances multiple roles as a television and radio show personality, executive producer and host of gain ground TV, real estate broker, farmers insurance agency owner, board member for Habitat for Humanity, published author, and is a certified professional medical auditor. Most recently Tomiya has been appointed by Harold Moret Jr. IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT as the Vice-President of the Universal Domino League. Tomiya’s contribution to society has been recognized by Congressman Jerry McNerney and Former State Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian. AT A GLANCE: Personality Trademark: “Adversity is the diamond dust that heaven sprinkles its jewels upon.” Best workday strategy: God first (commune and converse with God), family second (make sure my family is well), and work last. Celebrity male icon you admire: Jesse Williams, Stephen Bishop, Christian Keyes and Porsha Williams. These actors are diligent in the fight against atrocities against the African American communities. Church: Progressive Community Church (Stockton, CA) Hobbies: Bowling Hero: Matriarchs and patriarchs of my family. They’ve kept me grounded in my faith and in life. Best life experience: Motherhood Something people would be surprised to know about you: I’m very competitive when it comes to sports. Slogan you live by: I’m no better that anyone else, but I’m just as good as the next. Did you or do you have a mentor? Everyone I cross paths with has served as my mentor. There are lessons to be learned from each encounter. A lesson of what to do, what not to do, and what to do more of. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I like the tenacity of how both keep the underserved community informed.

DID YOU KNOW?

GET FINANCIALLY CONNECTED

reater Sacramento Financial Literacy Group (GSFLG) was created to educate, support and empower each other for the economic wealth and growth of our community and to help shape the future generation of wealth. Financial literacy is the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that lets a person make informed and efficient choices with their financial resources. All people touch money and the manner in which an individual uses it is up to him or her but not being properly informed on how to make, save and invest can spell disaster. For the Black community, it is necessary to change the habits of being consumers to becoming investors and entrepreneurs. Learning financial skills such as investing, stock trading, saving and what it takes to start a business, you are better preparing for the future and securing a financial legacy for your family. Learn more about virtual meetings held via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. www.facebook.com/GSFLG18 www.gsflg.org

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KATRINA ELISE HAHN

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AT ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT [EXCEPTIONAL CAREER MOM] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: Every Day I Fight, by Stuart Scott Restaurant: Osaka Sushi Katrina Elise Madison Hahn, a California native, is a passionate educator, wife and mother. In her 27th year of teaching in the Elk Grove Unified School District, Katrina finds her work to be a stress-reliever. “Kids (unless it is taught otherwise) love unconditionally and they bring me joy. I don’t think about all the negative things happening in our world when I am at work,” she shares. “The BEST part about my job, hands-down, is when I run into a former student years later and they simply say, ‘thankyou, Mrs. Hahn, for all you taught me!’” Being married to the “top cop” is no easy feat. Katrina has had to grow thick skin, especially when reading hurtful comments about her husband and the way he chooses to lead. “I will always and forever have my husband’s six,” she passionately states. “I believe the biggest challenge I have faced is realizing all will work out the way it is

humble sensitive loud supposed to work out and that I can take my Super Woman cape off from time to time and just CHILL!” Katrina graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelors in Psychology, and received her Masters in Education from National University. She has been married to her husband, police chief Daniel Hahn, for 18 years. They have two daughters. Katrina and Daniel have been working out together for a long time. They used to compete in CrossFit competitions together, and when the pandemic hit and the gyms closed, they created a home gym and trained every morning at 5:00 am. Her advice on how to cope in stressful times is threefold: saying NO, accepting help, and working out! AT A GLANCE: Trademark: Brutally honest Best workday strategy: Arrive positive, stay positive, leave positive! Church: Midtown Church in Sacramento Hobbies: Running, lifting weights, hot Yoga/Pilates, reading and date nights Hero: Grandmother Elizabeth is/was my hero. She listened, always gave me great advice and loved me unconditionally. I miss her!

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CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT Best life experience: All of my challenges and mistakes as they continue to make me a better person. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I competed in a body building show years ago and won first place. I am currently training for a fitness/bikini show. On mentorship: Honestly, my mentor has been me. I am constantly learning from myself ; I encourage myself to be a better person EVERY SINGLE DAY! Slogan you live by: Kindness matters! Words matter! If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all! What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I LOVE how this magazine keeps our community connected. THE HUB Magazine highlights positive things in the Sacramento area. I also like the emphasis on the leaders of Sacramento who strive to make our city better for all communities.

ROBERT BROWN FATHER, GRANDFATHER, HUSBAND, BARBER, BUSINESS OWNER

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bold genuine ompassionate

KULA KOENIG

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF IMPACT, UNITED WAY CALIFORNIA CAPITAL REGION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/FOUNDER, THE SOCIAL JUSTICE POLITICORPS FOR SAC COUNTY [SOCIAL WELFARE & COMMUNITY ACTIVISM] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: Bali Kula Koenig is an activist. She has been that way since she started collecting money from the residents of her apartment complex for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in junior high school. Currently, she serves as Senior Director of Impact for the United Way California Capital Region directing the organization’s initiative to end poverty in the Region. She is also the founder of the Social Justice PolitiCorps (socialjusticesac.org) which organizes everyday Sacramentans for social justice.

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Prior to these endeavors, Kula was Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association and District Director for former Assemblymember Roger Dickinson. Her background is in community organizing, policy advocacy, strategic outreach, and fundraising. She is proud to have managed successful political campaigns, secured millions for water accessibility in California, passed heart healthy legislation, and moved organizations to focus more on social justice versus charity. She loves being of service to her community and is active with the Sacramento chapter of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) having served four years as chapter president. Kula is passionate about black women IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

being in positions to influence policy and has started a political action committee called The Social Justice Now PAC to make that a reality in upcoming elections (sjnowpac.com). She loves deadlifts, craves her mom’s Liberian cooking and leads with her heart. G E T I N V O LV E D I N T H E

AT A GLANCE: Trademark: Bold, colorful, genuine, changemaker, fun. Best workday strategy: Setting small goals so I don’t get distracted or sidetracked. Celebrity male icon you admire: Yalll! Don’t play with me and my boo Morris Chestnut. I lud that man. Not only is he FIOOONE (see him lick dem lips) but he love him a Black woman that he has been with for over two decades while staying in Hollywood. That’s a feat. He also not afraid to speak up on #BlackLivesMatter. Yah. I love me some him. #MorrisChestnutAppreciation Church: Real Life Church in Natomas. Hobbies: Eating - haha and planning my wedding. Hero: My momma and my sisters. Oh and of course Stacy Abrams. Some quotes I love from an interview with her: “I can’t let my decision making be driven by the potential rise and fall of my reputation.” “Build infrastructure...if it is entirely based on a single personality, it can fall apart easily.” “I will always first acknowledge what others have done. I will recognize what I did because it matters.” Did you or do you have a mentor? Dr. Addie Ellis has shaped my thoughts, helped me to articulate my visions, allowed me to cry on her couch and swim in her pool, and let me know that I am enough. She is like therapy sometimes: I’ll get a text from her that articulates exactly what I’m feeling. A recent one: “One of the things I love about you is your idealism. I also know that you can spiral down because every time you realize all your effort is for naught it takes a hit on your soul” And that realization is key to helping me get back up and not let the disappointment get the better of me. Love you sis.

SACRAMENTO REDISTRICTING PROCESS The Sacramento Independent Redistricting Commission, a group of people just like you, has been created to re-establish the boundaries for City Council districts. Now, they need your help! All of Sacramento’s residents have an opportunity to submit their own City of Sacramento district lines or make recommendations.

Why Get Involved Prevent discrimination. Ensure that the redistricting process does not unequally section-off population groups. Prevent or preserve “communities of interest.” Ensure politics don’t deﬁne districts. Submit your idea for district lines and get more information! R E D I S T R I C T I N G . C I T YO F S A C R A M E N T O . O R G

Slogan you live by: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? That Black women lead and run it! That those Black women also support the community and show up as they have done for me and others. You are appreciated.

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JUANITA J. MARTIN

FREELANCE WRITER/AUTHOR/POET LAUREATE [ARTS & CULTURE] FAVORITES: Book: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Restaurant: Olive Garden Juanita J. Martin became Fairfield’s first Poet Laureate in 2010-2012. She is an award-winning poet and established writer of nonfiction articles. Juanita served as an active member of Redwood Writers from 2007-2017. As an active member of Napa Valley Writers, Juanita started book reviews in the club newsletter, and served as the 2021 managing editor of their 3rd anthology. She is also a member of Benicia Writers Salon, Ina Coolbrith Circle, Benicia Literary Arts and Benicia First Tuesday Poets. Juanita is listed in Poets & Writers directory of poets and author of Quiet Intensity poetry book and The Lighthouse Beckons poetry book. The Lighthouse Beckons was accepted in Solano County Library. Juanita’s poetry also appeared in Blue Collar Review, SoMa Literary Review, Rattlesnake Review, and others. She also contributed a nonfiction article to Sonoma Discoveries Magazine. She has been a featured reader at Beat Poetry Festival, Petaluma Poetry Walk, Berkeley Poetry Festival, and 100 Thousand Poets for Change. Occasionally, Juanita reads on Vallejo Ozcat radio’s ARTbeat or with Benicia First Tuesday Poets.

caring compassionate conscientious

AT A GLANCE: Church: Hope Christian Church, Fairfield, CA Hobbies: Writing poetry, nonfiction articles, and memoir, music, singing, basketball, bowling, decorating, crafts, walking, dancing, collecting mugs, t-shirts, hats, pins. Best life experience: When I became a born-again follower of Jesus Christ. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I can still rap to clean lyrics I wrote. Slogan you live by: There are two I wrote. “Learn all you can today and tomorrow will thank you.“ “Knowledge is wealth in the hands of those without.” What do you like about www.sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? Both are informative, relevant, honest, beautiful, prestigious, yet community-based and communityoriented. | 1 8 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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JARITA PICHON

LEAD, GUIDANCE & POLICY TEAM, CALIFORNIA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH) COVID-19 RESPONSE [HEALTH, SPORT & WELLNESS]

FAVORITES: Book: We Live for the We by Dani McClain Restaurant: Q1227 and A Part Café in Roseville are in my top five restaurants nearby.

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fun-loving analytical honest

JaRita Pichon is committed to public service and providing a safe, healthy, equitable environment for her fellow Californians. Though she has been employed by the State of California for six years, she is currently leading the Guidance and Policy Unit for the statewide COVID-19 Response Team at the California Department of Public Health where her team is an integral part of developing and maintaining mitigation and reopening guidance to support the health and safety of all Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to joining the Guidance and Policy Team, JaRita served as a Health Equity Strategist in the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) Division at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), where she developed protocols to reduce health disparities for mothers, infants, and their families across the state. JaRita’s responsibilities included collaborating with program and evaluation consultants, partners, and stakeholders to impact drivers of health outcomes through capacity building, advocacy, and community engagement. She also led the Perinatal Equity Initiative and provided her expertise to other programs, including the Black Infant Health Program. Prior to relocating to Sacramento from New Orleans, JaRita earned her undergraduate degree IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University, after which she was employed by the Louisiana Public Health Institute in research and evaluation for several years. JaRita serves as a board member for Sharing Parents of Sacramento, an organization that provides pregnancy and infant loss support and services in the Greater Sacramento area. She is also a Class XI Fellow of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (NELP), a lifelong member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and a member of the Greater Sacramento Urban League’s Young Professionals. During the pandemic, she was elected as an Assembly District Election Meeting (ADEM) Delegate representing Assembly District 6 for the California Democratic Party. She remains civically engaged at the local level as an organizer for the Parents for Social Consciousness community group and as a member of Catalyst Democrats in Placer County. Her greatest joy and most profound responsibility is being a mother to her two sons and raising her family with her loving husband to be active members of the community. AT A GLANCE: Best workday strategy: My workdays go most smoothly when I stick to a morning routine. This includes waking up early to workout and meditate alone before I begin the workday with a daily check-in with my team to set our priorities for the day. Vacation getaway: Thus far, my favorite vacation has been to Fiji. I initially went with the intention that I would just sit and relax by the pool, but I learned so much about the local culture, food, and the natural environment. I brought my (then) six month old son with me on the trip and the women there cared for both of us like family. Women supporting one another and caring for each other’s children is ingrained in their culture and it was beautiful to be witness to that. Church: Midtown Church

he accomplished so much in his short lifetime. I lost my father when I was 21 years old, but his drive, passion, and sense of humor still impact my life today and have shaped me into the careerwoman, wife, and mother I am now. To celebrate his impact on my life and countless others, my siblings and I started the James A. Booker, Jr., Trailblazer Scholarship at MCV and an endowment fund in his name at Hampton University to celebrate his legacy and support those who are following in his footsteps. Best life experience: Having children, for sure. In learning about my children’s unique personalities and experiencing life with them, I have learned so much about myself. A wise woman that I admire once said that “having children will be the most intellectually stimulating thing you’ll ever do.” So far, that is still true. Something people would be surprised to know about you: As Black women, we have been taught to care for others, to be strong, and to be resilient. I, too, have fallen victim to that stereotype. Though I can be direct and steadfast, I am also thoughtful, caring, and a bit of a romantic. On mentorship: I have several mentors in my life that I go to for support and feedback, especially when I am making important decisions. Some of them provide inspiration, some provide me with a mirror, some provide me with thought-provoking conversation, and some provide me with an outlet to be and express my true self. It takes a village! Slogan you live by: It doesn’t matter if other people like you. What matters is if you like you. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I have subscribed to Sacculturalhub.com for years now and read THE HUB Magazine periodically. I love the Sac Cultural Hub subscription emails since they are a quick way to stay looped into what’s happening in the regional community of color. I don’t always have a lot of time to sit and read magazines, so I’m grateful for the bits of information on events, businesses, and current events I can get on the go from Sac Cultural Hub and THE HUB’s urban weekly e-magazine!

Hobbies: I’m a huge fan of musical theater and can’t wait to attend musicals in person again! Heroism: I don’t have any one person I would consider a “hero,” as I’m impressed and inspired by people around me every day. I would say that throughout my life, I have been most inspired by my father’s legacy. He grew up during the Jim Crow era and was the first Black matriculant and graduate from the Medical College of Virginia’s (MCV) School of Dentistry in 1961. Even after this milestone accomplishment to become a dentist, he also went on to become a trauma surgeon, a Colonel and flight surgeon in the US Air Force, and an academic instructor at Charles Drew Medical Center and Tulane University. Despite his circumstances and many setbacks, | 2 1 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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AYESHA RANSOM-WHITE SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR

[ENTREPRENEUR/INNOVATOR] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: I love taking trips to the Bay Area. There’s so much to see and do. We discover something new every time. Book: Here I Am by Angela M. Holmes Restaurant: Buca Di Beppo Ayesha Ransom-White is a loving wife and mother of three fabulous boys. She is a community advocate and loves empowering others to succeed. She was born and raised in Sacramento and attended San Francisco City College. Ayesha is the owner of Suggested Eyewear, the first African American woman-owned optical shop in Sacramento, California. She created The Retail Pop-Up Venue inside Florin Square where local businesses book to host their own pop-up and showcase their brands. As the CEO of The Pop Up Shop LLC, she and her husband created an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to have a platform in high traffic malls such as Arden Fair, Stonestown Galleria, and Westfield Galleria. She is also one of the co-organizers of the Black Friday Coalition, where she and her partners create a space and opportunity for business development and brand awareness by hosting annual events including the Black Food Fest and Black Friday Sacramento. When asked what she does like or doesn’t like about being an entrepreneur, she stated: “I have a passion for supporting up and coming entrepreneurs. I actually can’t think of anything that I hate about my career. It gets better with time and experience.” AT A GLANCE: Best workday strategy: I usually start the day off with a to-do list, which allows me the opportunity to prioritize my day and complete the necessary tasks. Celebrity male icon you admire: Tyler Perry. He motivates me to shoot for the stars. I often listen to his lectures as motivation to keep pushing.

passionate loving trustworthy Hobbies: Listening to inspirational videos, outdoor activities. Hero: My mom. She was a Godly woman who was creative, smart, relentless, beautiful, with the heart to match and knew how to stand up for herself when needed. Best life experience: Having my 3 sons and husband. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I’ve never tried lobster, shrimp or crab. Do you have a mentor? Yes, I have many mentors. I have a team of individuals that I contact for mentoring. They all have a different level of expertise in business and family development. They have helped me. Slogan you live by: Don’t focus on the problem, create a solution. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? THE HUB Magazine is just that! A Hub for all things culture. This platform is just what we need in Sacramento to help build the confidence of the local community, by providing visuals and information regarding what’s going on in the city.

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What If There Were No More Tobacco? Make...tobacco sales a thing of the past

thesolproject.com | 888.774.7685

Imagine! What if there was a world without commercial tobacco? No more tobacco-related cancers like lung, colon, mouth and breast! No more strokes and heart attacks caused by smoking! No more Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), asthma or kids with learning disabilities caused by exposure to second hand smoke! Yes, that is what a world without commercial would be like if we had the political and community will to end it! What is commercial tobacco? It is cigarettes, vapes, chew, cigars, little cigars and cigarillos marketed with heavy amounts of nicotine with the intent to addict the user who then becomes a life-long customer. With the nicotine, more than 4,000 chemicals fill their bodies and can cause hundreds of diseases and finally, an early death. Traditional tobacco has been used by Native Americans and differs by Tribe. It is used in ceremonies and in offerings to the ancestors. It has not been genetically modified to have more nicotine, the addictive chemical in tobacco. Who have you lost from commercial tobacco? Your mother, father or grandparent? Or spouse or best friend? It is sad to say, but we all know someone who smoked, chewed and even vaped and then

later became ill. How many of us have taken care of sick relatives or how long have they suffered from lung diseases like COPD or Emphysema, which last for decades, as we watch them slowly suffocate because they can’t breathe. Now imagine a world without tobacco! Store shelves would have healthier foods like fruits and vegetables or other products we use. And guess what, we don’t have to imagine it anymore. We can act now and eliminate commercial tobacco so our children and future generations don’t have to imagine this world. They can live it! California has a goal to end commercial tobacco sales by 2035. We do not have to wait. We can start in our own communities and join cities like Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach who have already accomplished this; and join Pasadena who is currently working on this. We can plan our own “End Game” of commercial tobacco.

Join the SOL Project!

Start by taking our survey and tell us what you think! Scan the QR code to begin The SOL Project (Saving Our Legacy: African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places) is a project of Heluna Health and is funded by California Department of Public Health under contract #20-10385.

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RACHEL RIOS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LA FAMILIA COUNSELING CENTER, INC. [SOCIAL WELFARE & COMMUNITY ACTIVISM] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: Hawaii Book: Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor Restaurant: Roberta’s

hardworking caring committed

Rachel Rios is the Executive Director of La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. a non-profit agency in Sacramento, CA. Ms. Rios has over 30 years of diverse experience working with youth and community issues. Ms. Rios began her leadership role at La Familia in 2012. Prior to coming to La Familia Counseling Center, Ms. Rios had a long career with the State of California in the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), (formally known as the California Youth Authority). During her career with DJJ, Ms. Rios served in various leadership capacities including the Administrator over the Intake and Court Services Division, where she participated in developing legislation defining eligible juvenile commitments and in implementing legislation to realign juvenile offenders to local jurisdictions. In 2008 she was appointed to the Director of Juvenile Parole where she administered statewide programs to successfully transition youth to communities and developed policies to implement parole due process reforms and in 2010 she was appointed Interim Chief Deputy Secretary for the State Juvenile Justice Department, where she successfully led the agency out of an “Order to Show Cause” in the Farrell litigation to reform DJJ and significantly reduced and redirected costs, honoring her the Judge’s praise as “…one of only a few people who have left DJJ better than you found it….” Ms. Rios started her career working in non-profit agencies in the Sacramento area and considers it a great honor to have made the full circle to return to the non-profit arena and lead La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. which is an established and highly regarded community agency in Sacramento. Ms. Rios is a graduate of California State University Sacramento with a degree in Criminal Justice. She completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government “Women in Public Policy Program” at Harvard, the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform “Public Sector Leaders Program” at Georgetown University and the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) in | 2 4 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

Colorado. She is an alumnae of the National Hispana Leadership Institute program, and is a current member of the Sacramento County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission. AT A GLANCE: Best workday strategy: Block out time to catch up on emails and paperwork. Celebrity male icon: Lin Manuel Miranda – seriously he taught us more about history than most schools – LOL. Church: Templo Calvario on 14th Avenue in Sacramento Hero: My mom who always cared about everyone and came here with only a 6th grade education. She was widowed at 55 and ran the family business in Oak Park for 30 years after my dad died. Although she didn’t have a formal education, she loved people, wanted to help people and gave so much to others. She died in 2021. Best life experience: Traveling the world with my husband. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I’m afraid of snails. Slogan you live by: Know what you don’t know; be happy, be self sufficient and be kind. Don’t believe your press. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? Your inclusiveness! IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

COMING SOON SPRING 2022!

Pleshette’s STORY, My Business Guide/Tips for women of color!

SIGN UP EARLY! And receive the e-book at a discount for $1.99 and/or the paperback for $10.99 at sacculturalhub.com/orderpleshette-my-story

#SBMC

One Pulse | One Voice

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creative unique driven

MONIQUE SMITH BEHAVIOR THERAPY SPECIALIST & SPOKEN WORD ARTIST MOPEACELIFECOACH.COM [ARTS AND CULTURE] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: San Diego and New York Book: Just What I Needed by Monique Smith Sacramento native Monique Smith, aka Miss MouthPeace, is a visionary who inspires, motivates, empowers and merges all of her worlds together through empowerment music and life coaching. Her focus is to provide non–traditional educational seminars, leadership development. self discovery and creativity. She not only embodies the sound and deep achy feeling of soul music; she pours all her passion into her singing. For the music, she tinkers with different genres but has an affinity for old school grooves with jazzy elements and just a slice of hip-hop— the perfect companion to her smoky voice. But more than anything, the most important aspect for her is to make sure that what she’s singing moves people. “R&B gives you a love feeling,” she explains. “But a soulful thing penetrates your soul.” What she does goes beyond soulful; it’s a source of inspiration. Her songs might detail her struggles and how she’s persevered, or they might offer a simple message of positivity that is much needed in today’s grim world. “I’m giving hope to people that need hope. It’s relatable messages for people that go through everyday struggles,” she says. Miss MouthPeace started performing music nearly 20 years ago. She was living in Japan and put together an open mic called “Lyrics 4 The Soul.” One night a woman came up to her to tell her that she’d been contemplating ending her life. That changed after she heard Miss Mouthpeace’s message of hope. As a community based educator, speaker and certified behavior therapist, she followed her own words, “nobody can stop your destiny but you.” She continues to lead people to pursue their life passion and purpose with uplifting lyrics and dynamic poetry metaphors.

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CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT Her latest single, “I Need Peace,” is the perfect song for this era we’re living in now where chaos, depression, anxiety, and stress run rampant. “I’m dropping ‘I Need Peace’ now because I’m doing it for the people. I’m doing it for the culture,” she says. Her book, “Just What I Needed,” demonstrates how to create a safe space by building self-awareness, confidence and detailing levels of emotional intelligence. Each dimension of Monique’s life continues to evolve. As the founder of Mo Peace Life Coaching, Monique has expanded her reach. The ultimate goal is to reach as many people that you can and all can look different. There’s no specific person she has in mind while she’s singing. As far as she’s concerned, we’re all human and we all face the same trials and tribulations. Everyone can benefit from her message. “My music can reach a 14-yearold, and it can reach a 75-year-old,” she says. “They might be two different perspectives, but they can relate to what I’m saying.”

Slogan you live by: Nobody can stop your destiny but you. What do you love about Sacculturalhub.com/ THE HUB Magazine? I love Sac Hub – it gives you so much inspiration to never stop your dream with the daily information that’s given to the masses. I love how Sac Hub helps the communities and gives back. The Founder of Sacculturalhub. com’s consistency and commitment is a reflection of a true visionary that helps me to continue in my journey.

AT A GLANCE: Trademark: I love making people laugh and feel good about themselves. A gift of encouragement. Best workday strategy: Prepare my morning with mediation and prayer. Focus on the task. Write down goal of the day. Reset any frustration. Make it happen. Person you admire: I’ve always admired Cicely Tyson. She had a vision and remained committed to her vision. She was very intentional in the role she played. Her life on-film and off-film inspires you to be a better woman. She wore confidence around her neck. She gave her entire life to her purpose and never wavered, in spite of the things she had to endure. Church: Center of Praise Ministries Hobbies: Skating, adventurous activities, sitting near water to read and be creative. Hero: Gerry GOS Simpson - a man that never allowed himself to be put in a box, and who uses every talent and gift until it runneth over into his full life destiny. Purpose has no age limit. You just have to make up your mind to tap into your purpose fearlessly. That’s what I’ve learned for Gerry GOS Simpson. Best life experience: When I realized my value and started healing inwardly. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I love eating ice in the shower. Do you have a mentor? I’ve had a few mentors who have helped me to see a new perspective about myself and to believe in self and the bigger picture. | 2 7 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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COLEEN SYKES-RAY

AUTHOR & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ FOUNDER OF BAGS OF HOPE STOCKTON FOUNDATION [SOCIAL WELFARE & COMMUNITY ACTIVISM] FAVORITES: Best vacation getaway: Yucatán to see the Mayan ruins Chichén Itzá. Restaurant: Market Tavern Coleen Sykes-Ray is the founder and executive director of Bags of Hope Stockton Foundation, a non-profit meeting the needs of any menstruating person with sanitary supplies, resources, and education. She felt empowered to start her ministry in response to her calling to express her gift of healing to reach into the lives of others. God has also called her to be an evangelist, where she thrives on educating families on health and wellness. Coleen is a multi-faceted dynamic powerhouse, helping faith-based organizations establish health ministries, and running her own small business in her community, Coleen’s Cupcakery. She has written and published over 20 books and self help journals. She is a wife of twentytwo years and a proud mother of three. She believes deeply in an individual’s power to overcome any obstacle in their life, through prayer and faith. It is her passion to inspire this belief in others to empower and uplift them.

multi-faceted dynamic genuine

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AT A GLANCE: Trademark: Joy and cheerfulness Best workday strategy: I start each day with a clean slate. A prayer of thankfulness and gratitude allows me to be centered setting the tone for my day. Exercise and a balanced breakfast help me to have the mental energy needed to maintain the organization of my schedule. Creating a to-do list of my priorities before I review email and attend meetings help me to keep track of urgent and important issues. I make it a practice to be present IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT mentally. I smile and communicate and remind myself of my core purpose as it motivates me to make sure that I connect and achieve every goal. Celebrity male icon you admire: Michael Eric Dyson. He is everything that I love which include: the church, academics, politics, hip-hop and African American culture. I admire him because he unapologetically speaks his mind while he is passionate about his purpose and has fun. Church: Fresh Wind in Stockton Hobbies: Swimming, crafting, baking, hiking. Hero: My mother, who was a single mother who overcame every obstacle ever thrown her way. She taught me to love Jesus, love selflessly and the meaning of service. She had a genuine love for empowering people. Best life experience: Skydiving for my 40th birthday. I learned that in order to fly you must be okay with falling, much like life, the scariest part requires you to have faith and the belief that when you jump you will land safely.

Did you have a mentor? My mentor came into my life when I was struggling with identity. He helped me to understand that knowing who I am strengthens character and builds confidence. I learned how to assert myself, exercise good boundaries with family, friends, and business partners. He taught me the importance of doing the internal heart and spiritual work, which includes continuity and contrast. My mentor stressed the importance of self-care, self-reflection, forgiveness, work life balance plus how to have fun while maintaining my businesses. Slogan you live by: “You can’t give to others what you don’t give to yourself.” What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I like that it has current events, culturally relevant information and stories and that it features local up and coming founders plus entertainment.

Something people would be surprised to know about you: I love to watch Dr. Pimple pop pimples.

SAVE THE DATE! Big Day of Giving, Thursday, May 5, 2022 Building a strong community of leaders by EDUCATING, PROMOTING, and INSPIRING individuals to pursue their personal, academic, and business goals. www.sacculturalhub.com/media-foundation | 2 9 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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family energy passion

MAI YANG VANG

SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 8 [POLITICS & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS] FAVORITES: Vacation getaway: Somewhere in the woods, in the middle of nowhere, with my dog Coffee and absolutely no phone signal. Restaurant: My grandma’s kitchen where she makes incredible comfort food, like nqaj npuas hau nrug zaub ntsuab (boiled pork with Hmong greens). Councilmember Mai Vang is the daughter of Hmong refugees from Laos, a proud Sacramento native, and the eldest of 16 children. Before her election to represent Sacramento’s Eighth City Council District, Vang served as the Executive Director of the Buck Scholars Association, an organization that provides mentorship and scholarships to talented high school students who lack the resources and support to achieve their educational goals. She also teaches in the Department of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Sacramento and in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Davis. Mai co-founded Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) whose mission is to strengthen the power of disenfranchised communities through innovative civic engagement and strategic grassroots mobilization. Vang has worked on education, labor and racial/ethnic health disparities with local and national policy and government organizations. Prior to being elected to the Sacramento City School Board in 2016, Vang worked tirelessly as a community organizer to improve health and educational outcomes for children and families in south Sacramento. From 2014-2018 Vang | 3 0 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

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worked at City Hall as the Community Affairs Director for Councilmember Larry Carr. Today, Mai lives in the Meadowview neighborhood of South Sacramento. Vang holds Bachelors’ Degrees in Biology and Sociology from the University of San Francisco and dual Master’s Degrees in Public Health and Asian American Studies from UCLA. During her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog Coffee and spending time with her siblings.

BLACK WOMAN OWNED. LOCALLY PRODUCED. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED. Subscribe Today - 4 Fabulous Issues Collectors Issues to Archive Forever

AT A GLANCE: Trademark: Heart and hustle.

SUMMER 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

Best workday strategy: I make sure I always get to work out in the mornings before beginning my first meeting. Celebrity male you admire: Bruce Lee because he and I both love martial arts and he was very focused on improving his physical and spiritual health. Hobbies: Hiking with my dog Coffee, fishing, and learning to cook new dishes. Hero: My heroes are all of the mothers in my family. They embody resilience, power, kindness, and warmth – and they are always wise and caring. Best life experience: When I get to speak to seniors or elders – I learn so much from them as they share their life experiences. They’ve done so much, and when I get to sit down with them, I always appreciate their unique perspectives. Something people would be surprised to know about you: I have a second-degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do! Did you have a mentor? Yes! Ms. Jean Crowder, one of my high school teachers, worked with me every Tuesday and Thursday in high school to help me graduate. She made sure my college and scholarship applications were submitted on time and drove me home at 11:00pm some nights – Ms. Crowder is still an incredibly meaningful force in my life to this day. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? THE HUB creates a space where mainstream media just doesn’t. It provides a way for nontraditional voices to be amplified and where our communities of color can thrive.

HOLLYWOOD’S WALK OF FAME

STAR

TYLER PERRY

WORLD-RENOWNED PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR, SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHT, AUTHOR, SONGWRITER, ENTREPRENEUR, AND PHILANTHROPIST p.8

CENTERSTAGE: BLACK MEN IN LEADERSHIP

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JULIE M. WATERS

CHIEF POLICY AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, ALAMEDA

fun fancy fierce

FAVORITES: Vacation getaway: Shopping in Italy Restaurant: Almond and Oak (Oakland, CA) Julie M. Waters is the Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer of Alameda Health Consortium. In this role, she advocates for health policies and new initiatives to increase healthcare access for low-income and uninsured residents of Alameda County. Ms. Waters previously served as the State Political Director and lobbyist for the University of California’s service and healthcare workers union AFSCME 3299. As Director, Julie sponsored and lobbied state legislation to fight workplace discrimination, reform the criminal justice system and improve the quality of life of her members. Additionally, she has served the Bay Area in legislative and community affairs roles at AC Transit, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, the Office of Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Ms. Waters was born in Berkeley to an African American father and Mexican American mother and raised in Oakland. Her parents, both workers at U.C. Berkeley’s Lawrence National Laboratory, instilled the value of hard work and service to her community at a very young age and those lessons have guided her lifelong commitment to public service.

AT A GLANCE: Hobbies: Running, cooking and trying new things. Hero: Barbara Lee, because she’s fierce! Best life experience: Auditioning for Beyonce. Something people would be surprised to know about you? I was a very shy child but overcame my shyness through cheerleading. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I love that both mediums uplift black voices.

She currently serves as an elected member and ViceChair of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee (AD-15) and in 2019 was appointed to serve as Lead Chair of the Voter Services Committee of the California Democratic Party. She also supports future democratic leaders through her work on the Emerge California Board of Directors. Ms. Waters is a proud graduate of San Diego State University, Emerge California, Leadership East Bay and in her free-time volunteers in her local community as a member of the Alameda Contra Costa Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.

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3 Easy Ways to Keep Your Hair Healthy in the Fall/ Winter 1. Sulphate Shampoo & Conditioner Shampooing cleanses the dirt and product

Harsh weather, cold, and buildup from your hair,dry but air, it can also strip the everything that comes with it can natural oils from your hair. To keep your hair soft make your hair andonce a week or and healthy. Try dehydrated to shampoo only more to breakage than the everyprone two weeks with a sulphate free shampoo warmer months.to keep your hair moisturized. and conditioner Use cool or lukewarm water to rinse your hair. Hot water to strip away oils and Winter cantends be seriously hardessential on moisture from theisscalp. hair, If your hair feeling dry and

brittle, try these tips to keep it healthy and hydrated. 2. Avoid Heat Styling As fun as it is to blow out, straighten, and curl,

3 EASY WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HAIR HEALTHY IN THE FALL AND WINTER

it can wreak havoc on healthy hair. Give your straightens and curling irons a little break, but If you must heat style, use a protectant like HairSmoothie.

1. Sulphate Shampoo & Conditioner

Shampooing cleanses the dirt and product buildup from your hair, but it can also strip the natural oils from your hair. 3. Save Your Scalp To keep your hair soft and healthy. Try to shampoo once a week If you haveonly a dry, & itchy scalp or in the winter, every two weeks with a sulphate free shampoo and conditioner to keep give yourself a scalp massage with Bloom Hair your hair moisturized. Use cool or lukewarm waterOiltofrom rinse your hair. Hair Care before Growth TRU-Balance

Hot water tends to strip away essential oils and moisture from you shampoo your hair. This will the replenish oils and give yourself a muchneeded moisture boost. scalp.

Harsh weather, cold, dry air, and everything that comes with it can make your hair As fun as it is to blow out, straighten, and curl, it can wreak havoc on dehydrated and more prone to breakage than healthy hair. Give your straightens and curling irons a little break, but If you the warmer must heat months. style, use a protectant like Hair-Smoothie

2. Avoid Heat Styling

Winter can be seriously hard on hair, If your hair is feeling dry and brittle, try these tips to keep it healthy and hydrated.

Tracy Brown Professional Hair Stylist and Co-Owner of Another Look Hair Salon 7826 Alta Valley Dr Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 688-7704

www.anotherlookhairsalon.com Book your appointment now 916-688-7704

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ANGELINA R.J. WOODBERRY

ADULT CONSUMER ADVOCATE LIAISON CAL VOICES IN THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT [SOCIAL WELFARE & COMMUNITY ACTIVISM] FAVORITES: Vacation getaway: Anywhere on the Pacific coast Book: What Use are Flowers? by Lorraine Hansberry Restaurant: Cheesecake Factory Angelina R. J. Woodberry has devoted her professional and personal life to being a voice for the at risk and disenfranchised members of society through nonprofit organization, management and advocacy. She has worked with foster families at River Oak Center for Children as a resource coordinator. At Child Action, she was the Community Outreach Specialist as well as a referral specialist. During her time with Sacramento County’s successful early childhood intervention program, Birth and Beyond, she served as an Americorps Home Visitor and Family Resource Center Aid. She worked for Consumers Self Help in the Office of Patients’ Rights as a Patients’ Rights Advocate for seven years. She currently works for Cal Voices as the Adult Consumer Advocate Liaison to the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Department. Angelina has provided numerous workshops throughout the County on mental health issues as both a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Hearing Voices Network Facilitator. She currently serves as Chair of the Sacramento County Children’s Coalition. She is also a member of the Sacramento County Human Services Coordinating Council, the State of California Office of Health Equity Advisory Board, and the California Behavioral Health Planning Council. Angelina is also a storyteller that draws upon the experience of life to colour her fiction. The award-winning author has published short stories, poems, academic critiques and personal reflective essays in several literary journals over the past two decades. A local theater company performed a children’s play she wrote. She has also served as editor on various educational texts. Recently two local anthologies published her essays. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Clark Atlanta University in Mass Media | 3 4 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

persistent compassionate faithful Arts with an emphasis in Film and Theater. She is also an active member of the organizations Black Women Tell Tales, Sisters in Crime, and the Author’s Guild. Her first collection of short stories, Son of a Preacher Man, will debut in the spring of 2022. A licensed minister of the Christian gospel, she is active with her local church. Angelina lives in Sacramento with her husband and two teenage children. When not working, she enjoys writing fiction, shopping with her husband, and watching Marvel movies. AT A GLANCE: Best workday strategy: Blend your day with a healthy mix of difficult and easy items. You might not accomplish everything, but you will finish something. Celebrity male icon you admire? Michael Jackson because despite having the path of his life chosen for him, he ignored and rose above all of the criticism to stay true to who he was inside. He didn’t change for anyone even though the pressure to do so was enormous. Church: Midtown Church in Sacramento IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE | EWOC HONOREE SPOTLIGHT Hobbies: Shopping, watching movies with the kids, reading. I would say writing, but that’s more of a passion. Hero: My hero, sadly is no longer with us. My mother, Mary Ann, who had me when she was fifteen years old and lived with bipolar affective disorder, showed me daily how to stand strong in the face of life’s challenges and advocate for what you need. Cancer took her in her early forties. Best life experience: There are two that tie in this category. My best life experience was seeing my daughter’s face for the first time. That is until I saw my son’s big brown eyes for the first time. I was told when I was younger that I would never give birth to children of my own because of polycystic ovary syndrome. Clearly God had other plans.

over the years. She helped instill in me confidence to trust my creative talents and abilities. She used to tell me that there is nothing you can’t act your way out of. I have found that to be very true. Slogan you live by: Survival is a group effort. What do you like about Sacculturalhub.com and THE HUB Magazine? I love how THE HUB and the website provide more insight into the events and people that make Black Sacramento such a vital part of our city. I learn things from this source that are not being discussed or publicized in other areas. I especially love the Urban Weekly because it’s a quick visual of things I usually add to my calendar. It is such a key piece of the media in the valley.

Something people would be surprised to know about you? I know how to surf, hang drywall, and kill a chicken to fry it up. Did you have a mentor? I did have a fabulous mentor, cheerleader, and supporter. Her name is Carol Mitchell Leon. She was my theater advisor in college and a very talented actress in her own right. We remained in touch

On TheWith Sho w.

Matt h Jazz ew Whit aker at Li n Hea ther coln Cen • Dr. Ibra M ter O m X. Ron Kend rche ald K cGhee s • i . Bro t A r Delf a r t w u wn a eayo ith W • Heart ro O n b ’ y Mar salis d Eviden Farrill an nton M eat Ope ra • a and c d Dam the U e, A Dan the Afr rsalis o La ien S ce C ptow t o i need n mpa n Jaz Jazz and n z y Orch so m Orch uch estra estra mor e!

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A woman that sets goals for herself and accomplishes them while leading with godly standards and breaking through the barriers of everyday life.

A woman who could stare

adversity in the face, and laugh because she knows her God is greater than any obstacle standing in her way.

Ayesha Ransom-White

Tomiya Gaines

One who knows who she is and loves who she is. That means being unapologetically you and using your voice, even when it’s challenging. Women of color, especially Black women, are assets. We make things happen! We bring unique points of view to any discussion and no one of us is the same as another. My

skin, my hair, my culture, my experiences, my emotions, my knowledge, and even my traumas are a gift. Being

exceptional means leaning into that and using your inherent gifts to bring change, meaning, and joy to others. Jarita Pichon

A woman who takes pride in everything that she does. She is an excellent mother, wife, businesswoman, friend, and leader. She plants seeds

of encouragement, lives authentically, loves without limits and is not afraid to fail. An Exceptional Woman of Color lifts her community, uses her voice and makes sure that no woman is left behind. Coleen Sykes-Ray

An Exceptional Woman of Color is strong enough to embrace her weaknesses and grow through them. Being exceptional doesn’t mean that a woman has it “all together”. There is beauty in fragility and accepting who you are. She is compassionate and resilient. She is a mother, daughter, sister, partner, and the boss all wrapped up in a fierce package.

An ethical leader who remembers where she came from but isn’t defined by it. Rachel Rios

I believe a humble, confident and kind woman defines an Exceptional Woman of Color. However, I think ALL women that are humble, confident and kind are EXCEPTIONAL!

Angelina Woodberry

Katrina Elise Hahn

A woman that embraces her imperfections yet holds space for herself to thrive and grow. A woman that is selfless yet willing to think about others. A woman that embraces confidence and self awareness and has balance with emotional intelligence.

A woman no matter what life throws still keeps moving her feet. A woman that understands balance A woman that’s more than just a title yet Her entire essence is brilliant and the world can see her light. She radiates her light in any setting. Monique Smith | 3 6 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

Someone who fights and leads with their heart and uplifts other Women of Color as they climb. Mai Yang Vang

An exceptional woman of color exudes confidence, humility, and a profound work ethic. She is courageous and intelligent. She is unique in style and in life. She

embraces her heritage and ethnicity with pride. She kindly and boldly speaks truth without fault or blame. She may have some difficulties now and then, but she knows how to overcome through the power and grace of our Lord. Juanita J. Martin IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

Remembering Dana Maeshia EWOC 2021 Tribute On Tuesday, September 28 at the 13th Annual Exceptional Women of Color (EWOC) Awards & Expo, the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation presented the EWOC Legacy of Excellence Award in memoriam to Dana Maeshia. This posthumous award was given in memory of Dana Maeshia who exhibited a selfless lifestyle that was dedicated to creating a better way of life for the Black community and especially the young people in the Greater Sacramento Valley Region. Dana was the Founder of Escape Velocity Foundation, a nonprofit that provides services leading to family literacy, wholeness, well-being and enrichment. She also started the youth book clubs “Boyz In The Hood” and “Around The Way Girls” to get children reading and promote literacy. Dana accomplished all of this while working full time for the State of California. Dana was a mother of 2 children (a son and daughter). Several community projects and events where Dana participated included: Black Friday shopping events and Black Food Festival in South Sacramento and co-created the Inaugural Malcolm X Festival in May 2021 in North Sacramento. “The way to remember your ancestors is to keep their name LIT” a quote from Dana. Berry Accius, Founder of Voice of the Youth stated that Dana was not only about just the build, but the fun, the energy, the LIT of it. She was a great angel of a woman and wasn’t compromised and loved on others. She was always about supporting the community and their family. To do this work it takes passion and someone to take the mantel and Dana did just that. Founder of Sacculturalhub.com Pleshette Robertson stated, “I was very sad to hear about the passing of the very sweet and dear Dana Maeshia. She was a wonderful caring person and always did everything to assist me when I needed it at different events. When I first met her 5 years ago - it was at a youth event and we just talked for at least an hour about all kind of stuff from work to family. I was like, Dana, you remind me of one my cousins!” Dana was an around the way homegirl and warrior princess in the Sacramento community. She will surely be missed and NEVER forgotten. I can’t forget to mention how | 3 7 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

when I posted on social media for those interested in joining me at Planet Fitness in South Sacramento on Mack Road at 5 am to walk on the treadmill, Dana showed up that next morning and we walked alongside one another for 1 hour just talking and laughing.” Dana who was a loving mother, community activist, business owner of All Things Literacy (located inside Florin Market Square in South Sacramento) passed away on August 30, 2021. Though a native of San Francisco she had lived in Sacramento, California since 1994. Dana was honored in August at the Florin Square Community Development Corporation’s Small Business Success Summit. At the 13th annual EWOC Awards & Expo, Sacramento community members (Berry Accius, Founder of Voice of the Youth; Ayesha RansomWhite, Owner of The Pop-Up Shop inside Arden Mall; and sister of Dana - Shirkeri Badger) accepted the endowment check of $1,000 from the Sac Cultural Hub Media Foundation for the Escape Velocity Foundation to present scholarship awards to their students.

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WERE YOU THERE?

R&B JAZZ FESTIVAL

SEPTEMBER 4 IN OLD SACRAMENTO

photo credits: Michelle Neal | Community Champion @ KDEE 97.5 FM

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FIRST FRIDAYS BLACK & WHITE PARTY AT OLD SUGAR MILL SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

photo credits: Robert Briley | CT Media

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FIRST FRIDAYS BLACK & WHITE PARTY AT OLD SUGAR MILL SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Models in the Fashion Show presented by Olivia Armstead featuring clothing from Distinguished Gentlemen Clothing store and Exquisite U Beauty Boutique in North Sacramento.

Hosted and presented in partnership by:

Platinum

Presenting Sponsor:

Supporting HUB Impact Partners:

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK RECEPTION

HOSTED BY SACRAMENTO BLACK CHAMBER – AUGUST 24, 2021 AT CAFETERIA 15L IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO

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photo credit: Ann Spade | Scene Shop Photographer

INAUGURAL BLACK. BRIDGERTON. BRUNCH PRESENTED BY THE HUNDREDS UNIT ON JUNE 19TH | 4 4 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E F A L L 2 0 2 1

In photo from top left to right: Akillah Hatchett-Fall, Keisha Mathews, Sonseeahray Tonsall, Tiffany Sharp; and from left to right below: Maisha Bahati, Pleshette Robertson, Sharie Wilson, Neketia Henry, Christi Ketchum, Desiree Sheppard

by Pleshette Robertson, Chief Editor

The fabulous and stunning HUNDREDS UNIT presented the first of its kind a GRAND 2021 Black.Bridgerton.Brunch to honor 12 Black Queens at the Golden 1 Arena Palace in Sacramento. I SOO LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS EVENT held in honor of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, 2021! What an HONOR as I was a true QUEEN for the day and OFFICIALLY CROWNED on stage. Me and my mom, Ms. Cherry along with my Sac Hub team members were so IMPRESSED by all of what we witnessed as we celebrated Black Queens and Black Excellence throughout the event with beautiful individuals and couples with friends and families in queen and king attire. You had to be there to get the full experience! IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

WERE YOU THERE?

The flow of the Black.Bridgerton.Brunch included: • Welcome by Venetia James (the brainchild and visionary for creativity, design, and • • • • • •

production with the Hundreds Units planning team) Ascension Praise Dance Ministry Set the Atmosphere Kula Koenig, Mistress of Ceremonies/Host Several dynamic dance performances by the Hundreds Unit Dancers: Black Parade, Black Choreography by Brianna James, Black Magic Juneteenth Memoriam by ChiChi Anyanwu Wonderful lunch with wine and no-host bar Lots of Paparazzi photos and vendors

The interviewing and crowning of Hundreds Unit Black.Bridgerton.Brunch Honorees included the following Queens: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Desiree Sheppard, Executive Producer at Your California Life Sonseeahray Tonsall, Reporter, KTXL-TV Brandi Cummings, Reporter/Anchor at KCRA 3 Neketia Henry, Actress, Model, Host at MDT Agency, Inc. Tiffany Sharp, Founder at WOC Canna, Founder at Willow Tree Roots and Attorney at Tiffany S. Sharp, Attorney at Law Christi Ketchum, Owner and Founder at Our Rightful Place, LLC Sharie Wilson, Co-Owner of Dream Girls Hair Salon in Elk Grove and Los Angeles Akilah Hatchett-Fall, Founding Owner at Sanctuary of Sacred Crowns Pleshette Robertson, CEO/Founder of Sac Cultural Hub and Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine Keisha Mathews, Internet TV Show Host/Real Estate Broker at Agent Kee Tamara Bennett, Pastor of TIP Fellowship Ministries Maisha Bahati, Designer, CEO of Crystal Nugs and Bahati Cannabis, Co-Founder of Urban City Flowers

We are BLACK ROYALTY and forever will be. Thank you Venetia James for your vision and commitment with your team and choosing to HONOR US!!! To see hundreds of individual and groups photos from the Black.Bridgerton.Brunch, go to this link: https://sceneshop.smugmug.com/BBB-2021-Honorees

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SURVIVING COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE

NAVIGATING BLACK CALIFORNIA Directory of Black MEDIA News Groups in California Black Voice News blackvoicenews.com California Black Media cablackmedia.org The Gospel Vine www.thegospelvine.com Inland Valley News inlandvalleynews.com LA Focus ourweekly.com West Side Story Newspaper westsidestorynewspaper.com Bakersfield News Group facebook.com/bakersfieldnewsobserver Inglewood News Today inglewoodtoday.com L.A. Sentinel lasentinel.net L.A. Watts Times lawattstimes.com The Oakland Post oaklandpostonline.com

Compton Herald comptonherald.org

Sacramento Observer sacobserver.com

OnMe News onmenews.com

San Bernardino American sbamerican.com

Pace Newspaper pacenewsonline.com

San Francisco Bay View sfbayview.com

Pasadena Journal pasadenajournal.com

Sun Reporter sunreporter.com

Precinct Reporter precinctreporter.com

Tri County Sentry tricountysentry.com

BLACK RADIO STATIONS • Los Angeles - KJLH 102.3 FM

kjlhradio.com • Bay Area - KBLX 102.9 FM kblx.com • Sacramento - KDEE 97.5 FM kdeefm.org • Central Valley - 1001.FM Mega 100 mega100fm.iheart.com

THE HUB’s Favorite Nationwide Black News Groups • • • •

Essence.com TheGrio.com BlackDoctor.org HelloBeautiful.com

• Huffpost.com/Voices/Black-Voices • Sisters from AARP - sistersletter.com • The African History Network

facebook.com/TheAfricanHistoryNetworkFanpage

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SURVIVING COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE

NAVIGATING BLACK CALIFORNIA Directory of BLACK ASSOCIATION GROUPS in the Greater Sacramento Valley Region and Beyond 100 Black Men of Sacramento 100bmsac.org African-Americans for Balanced Health aabh.net Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. norcal-alphas1906.com Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC) bapacsd.org

National Council of Negro Women, Sacramento Chapter svsncnw.org Neighborhood Innovation https://www.neighborhoodinnovation.com Roberts Family Development Center robertsfdc.org Sacramento ACT sacact.org

Black Sistahs Making Friends facebook.com/groups/1091392134541999

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

Black Small Business Association of California facebook.com/BSBACA

Sacramento Area Black Golf Club sabgc.org

Black Women for Wellness bwwla.org

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) bwopatileleads.org

Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce sacblackchamber.org

California Black Chamber of Commerce calbcc.org California Legisative Black Caucus blackcaucus.legislature.ca.gov Centers for Fathers & Families cffsacramento.org Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Sacramento Alumnae Chapter sacramentoalumnaedst.org Elk Grove Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. dstegac.org Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sacramento Chapter etagammaomega.org Greater Sacramento Urban League gsul.org

Sacramento Chapter of The Links sacramentolinksinc.org Sacramento Chapter of the NAACP facebook.com/SacNAACP Sacramento Kappa Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sacramentozetas.org Sacramento Realtist Association sacramentorealtist.com Sacramento Sister Circle facebook.com/groups/TheSisterCircle Sojourner Truth African American Heritage Museum sojoartsmuseum.org Voices of Youth voiceoftheyouth.com

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Fall 2021 Issue of THE HUB Magazine

Articles inside

PASTOR TAMARA BENNETT: RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE GOSPEL

WHAT OR WHO DEFINES AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN OF COLOR?