Spring 2022 issue of THE HUB Magazine

SPRING 2022 | www.sacculturalhub.com

SACTOWN NATIVE, ACTRESS

DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT

AS SERGEANT AYANNA BELL ON AMERICA’S FAVORITE CRIME SERIES, NBC’S “LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME”

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IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

FOUNDER’S ROOM | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIFE!

O

ne might ask how do you live your best life when there can be endless bad news especially when there are family tragedies, world war crises, and senseless fatal violence in the community. My late grandmother would always say, “JUST KEEP LIVING!”, when I would either make fun and not take life seriously when I was in my 20s and 30s. Well this year I will be 55 and for the last 3 years I can honestly say that it has been difficult to cope with life changing issues while at the same time keeping a positive upbeat attitude about the future.

Nevertheless we find ways to stay afloat and move forward.

What do you do to spring clean your life? What makes you feel better and refreshed for this beautiful time of the year? Here are 21 ways to start the Spring cleaning of your life: 1.

Clean up your relationships.

2.

Rediscover your talents.

3.

Straighten out your finances.

4.

Declutter your mind.

5.

Clear your schedule.

6.

Spruce up your diet.

7.

Get rid of physical clutter.

8.

Find your jam.

9.

Get rid of clothes that don’t fit anymore.

10. Try a capsule wardrobe.

11. Create your life plan.

12. Find some new inspiration.

Be sure to sign up online to receive the Urban Weekly e-newsletter at: www.sacculturalhub.com/urban-weekly.

Enjoy all what is to be offered in the Spring season - Happy Easter and Happy Mother’s Day!

13. Spring clean all your spaces.

14. Redefine your core values.

True Blessings!

15. Reflect on this year.

16. Check your attitude.

17. Change up your routines.

18. Find a new hobby.

Pleshette Robertson

19. Clear out your technology.

CEO and Founder Sac Cultural Hub Media Company and Foundation facebook.com/pleshettemarie

20. Have an unsubscribing session.

21. Reclaim your inner peace.

This special edition is full of rich articles beginning with our front cover feature story on SacTown native, Danielle Moné Truitt, who has a starring role in NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime (page 8). I personally met Danielle when she was in her 20s and I am personally extremely proud of her accomplishments and so glad to know her and family members. | 4 | T H E HU B MA G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 2 2

Source: /www.akindjourney.com/read/21-ways-to-spring-clean-your-life

IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CONTENTS

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36 26

22

16

24 8

32

CENTERSTAGE

8

| MEET ONE OF SACRAMENTO’S GREATEST EXPORTS: DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT

WERE YOU THERE? IGHLIGHTS FROM THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY 16 | HGALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB ON THURSDAY, MARCH 10TH AT OLD SUGAR MILL

AND HISTORIAN CANDACY TAYLOR WOWS 21 | AUTHOR AUDIENCE DURING TALK ON “OVERGROUND RAILROAD” AT THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM

AC REALTISTS DEVELOPERS FIRESIDE CHAT & 32 | SHAPPY HOUR

DID YOU KNOW? CREASON: SERVING ON A SCHOOL BOARD IS 22 | ZIMA HARD RIGHT NOW, BUT I’M HERE FOR IT! ECE WINANS ADDS THREE MORE GRAMMYS TO 24 | CHER COLLECTION

36 |

38 | Navigating Black California

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 Founder’s Room 42 Things To Do, Places To Go 42

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SURVIVING COVID-19 RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Advertiser Index

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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 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

WINTER 2022 | www.sacculturalhub.com

KEEPING THE U.S. SENATE & HOUSE BLUE ARE YOU READY TO VOTE IN 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

STACEY ABRAMS SECOND RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA | 1 | T H E H U B MA G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 2 2

celebrating

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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 PHOTOS: Allen Zaki photos | Zach Dilgard/NBC 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

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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SUMMER 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

Contact us: contact@sacculturalhub.com or 916-234-3589

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

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.

CENTERSTAGE: BLACK MEN IN LEADERSHIP p. 19

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Wherever you go, goes with you.

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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T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 7 |

MEET ONE OF SACRAMENTO’S GREATEST EXPORTS

DANIELLE MONÉ TRUITT

By Michael P. Coleman, Freelance Writer

The actress talks making history on NBC’s “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” bringing Disney’s first animated princess to life on the silver screen in 2009’s “The Princess & The Frog,” and her upcoming performances at Sacramento’s B Street Theatre June 2-12.

She also shares the secret behind her “Black Girl Magic!”

“You will go as far as you believe that you can go!” | 8 | T H E HU B MA G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 2 2

photo credit: Allen Zaki photos IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE

Y

ou may remember one of South Sacramento’s greatest exports, Danielle Moné Truitt, from her childhood days, growing up with dreams of being “a superstar,” as she told her uncle when she was just a little thing.

“It’s funny the things that we say as kids. The things we dream of end up coming into our lives,” Truitt EXCLUSIVELY told me by phone.

“I don’t remember it, but my family tells me that when I was four years old, I said that I was going to be a movie star!”

“Some of my fondest memories in Sacramento were my high school years at Valley High School,” Truitt said. “I was a cheerleader, and we won every competition we were in! Even before that, at Samuel Jackson Middle School, I was a part of a drill team called Touch Of Gold. I think that’s where, along with singing in church, I really developed a love of performing. My parents, and especially my mom, were always good at making sure we were involved in a lot of things.”

Those “things” eventually led her to Sac State, where the former psychology major wisely heeded an instructor’s advice to change her major to theatre.

Truitt had commanded the stage in an elective class she was taking “just for fun.”

“She told me that I had a natural talent for acting, and she encouraged me to audition for an on-campus play,” Truitt recalled of that visionary instructor. “I did, and I got the lead in the play. It was a really awesome experience going from reading a script and seeing it come to life and being performed in front of people. That process made me really want to study acting and master it as much as I could.”

“I think the four year old girl who wanted to be an actor came back, without me even knowing it,” Truitt said.

Soon after earning her Bachelors degree in theatre, Truitt packed up and moved to Los Angeles in 2006, in pursuit of her dream. After appearing in a variety of plays, she was offered the chance of a lifetime to break ground and embody Disney’s first African American animated princess, in the 2009 Disney feature “The Princess & The Frog.”

“It’s not one of the projects that a lot of people know about,” Truitt shared, “but to this day, it’s one of the things that I’m most proud of. I wanted to audition to be the voice of Princess Tiana, but Disney wanted

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a “name” actor. They got Anika [Noni Rose], who I think is awesome.”

“Then, I found out about auditions for the physical reference for Tiana,” Truitt continued. “I learned that I’d basically be acting out the body movements and facial expressions for her, filming and speaking every scene, and the Disney artists would then draw what I’d do and give her a real presence. Since I’m from the theatre, you have to be a little bigger than life, and that’s what’s needed in animation as well, so it was a perfect fit. I ended up getting the part and working on the movie for nine months.”

“It was such a fascinating experience. When I was growing up, there were very few black cartoon characters, and certainly no black princesses! It’s cool to be the voice, but it was a special thing for me to be able to act this character, and to see her and see my spirit in her [in the film].”

“I gave Tiana her essence, her sassiness! My two sons still say ‘My mommy is a Disney princess!’ “ Soon after that ground-breaking project, Truitt got an audition for BET’s “Rebel.” That experience would change the trajectory of her career.

“The description of the character was ‘a brownskinned girl with natural hair from Oakland,’ ” Truitt remembered. “I decided that Sacramento was close enough! The casting director liked that I was a new face, and before I knew it, I was auditioning for [director] John Singleton.”

“He absolutely LOVED my audition,” Truitt enthused.

“When I got done doing my first scene, he said ‘See? You’re black! You’re a sista! I love your flava!’

It was an experience that I never had, before or since. John saw me for who I was, and [he] was totally excited by that.”

With Singleton’s encouragement (and advocacy with the network, as they, too, wanted a “name” actor), Truitt won the lead role in “Rebel.” The director continued to be a mentor to her.

“He was like a big brother to me, and when he passed, it was devastating,” Truitt said. “It’s still hard for me to believe he’s not still here. I really give him the credit for where I am today. If it wasn’t for John taking a chance on me, it would have been much harder for me to get here.”

“I would have eventually gotten here, because God is always on my side, but it would have been a little harder.”

T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 9 |

CENTERSTAGE Truitt mentions God a lot. It’s clear within seconds of speaking with her that faith is a big part of her life. Her father is pastor at STC The Well Church in Sacramento.

“I’m very grateful for all he’s done for me,” Truitt says of her father. “Being a pastor’s kid was a big foundational point for my life, giving me a spiritual connection and the legacy of faith.”

“It can be annoying as well — VERY annoying,” Truitt warmly laughs, recalling times when being a pastor’s kid was a figurative thorn in her side. “But I’m grateful for the experience and what I learned, and how I developed from it.”

Truitt has applied all that she learned in Sacramento, and today she’s broken ground as the first African American female lead in a “Law & Order” franchise drama, playing Sergeant Ayanna Bell on “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” airing Thursdays on NBC. Her character is a proud lesbian, and as it turns out, Truitt is equally proud to play her on screen.

heartthrob Christopher Meloni. I asked the actress about those first few days on set with him.

“Chris is so warm,” Truitt recalled. “He texted me right after I got the part, and said ‘I’m so excited to start this journey with you.’ Chris has always made me feel welcomed. It’s been really awesome to work with him.”

Yeah, yeah, all of that is great, Danielle. But what is it like to work with all of THAT? “Chris has a very strong presence. He owns his space,” Truitt shared. “And his eyes! When he looks at you! I’m used to it now — it’s just Chris. But in those first few days, he’s staring at me in the scene, and I’m forgetting my lines! The words would come out of my mouth, but I was thinking ‘What am I doing right now?’ “

During her hiatus before beginning the third season of “Law & Order: Organized Crime,” another thing Truitt is doing is preparing to perform her one-woman play, “3 Black Girl Blues,” at the B Street BEING ABLE TO Theatre in Sacramento June 2-12.

“When you start acting, and you OVERCOME IN THE come from a Christian family, “It tells the story about three MIDST OF ALL OF THE people have certain expectations women and how they’ve THINGS THAT BLACK of you,” Truitt, who is straight, navigated life since high school, reflected. “Everything is an issue.

WOMEN HAVE TO ENDURE and coming back together in their People want to know how you’re — THAT’S WHAT CREATES 30s, and the secrets that they’ve going to kiss someone in a movie, held,” Truitt says of the play. “It’s OUR MAGIC! or do a love scene, or curse in one of a beautiful story of friends, and your plays.” of women. It’s hilarious. It will make I suggested to Truitt that I, at least, was sure that she remained OK in God’s eyes. After all, she’s not a princess who turns into a frog, either.

“God created the heavens and the earth, and He is the most intelligent being in the world, so I’m pretty sure He knows that I’m just acting,” Truitt said. “God has blessed me with the opportunity to tell stories, and to give life to people’s experiences.”

“While my parents were super supportive of me taking the role, I was a little nervous about playing a lesbian,” Truitt shared. “I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t playing a stereotype. Being a lesbian is someone’s sexual orientation, but the heart of a person is just that, regardless of who they love.

That’s the most important thing for me: making sure I’m portraying her as a fully developed human being.”

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you cry. It will make you angry. You will experience the full gamut of emotions.”

“We talk about Black Girl Magic, and I think a lot of the magic that we have is because we have to navigate through the blues of life,” Truitt added.

“Being able to overcome in the midst of all of the things that black women have to endure — that’s what creates our magic!”

As busy as she is these days, Truitt still finds time to continue her community service, remaining active in supporting homeless people, boy’s homes, and promoting mental health, especially in the African American community.

“Therapy has become something that black people are really talking about and getting involved in,” Truitt said. “We have too much PTSD just from being in this country to not do that. At a certain point, you have to get help if you’re going to transition to the next level. If you really want to be who God called IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

CENTERSTAGE you to be in your life, you can’t do it on your own. You’ve got to have people around you, and sometimes [you need] professionals, to help you work through those things.”

“In the last few years, I’ve been very focused on my own mental health,” Truitt confided. “Growing up in church and being a pastor’s kid, we didn’t really talk about therapy growing up.

It was just ‘Jesus.’ “ I’ve realized that I need Jesus and I need therapy.”

“I’ve been able to overcome things I went through in my childhood, things that I wasn’t able to work through until I started [seeing a] therapist. Going photo credit: Zach Dilgard/NBC through a divorce is not easy. Having to own up to your mistakes and the Sergeant Ayanna Bell played by Danielle Mone Truitt with co-star Detective things that you could have done better, Stabler played by Christopher Meloni in “Law & Order: Organized Crime” things that help to make you a better person.” planting the proper seeds and taking the steps to “I’m so proud of the woman that I am today, and it’s get there. And then, when things get tough, you because I took responsibility for myself, and I got have to hang in there.” help.”

Amen, Sister Truitt! Thanks for repping Sacramento As we wrapped up our talk, I wondered whether so well in Hollywood! We’ll see you at the Emmys Truitt had for advice for a young person who might and the Oscars soon! n be dreaming a dream that was bigger than their Get tickets to see Truitt in “3 Black Girl Blues” at the B Street environment might be able to support. I wondered Theater. Get information on the show at BStreetTheatre.org. about the girls — and boys — growing up today in South Sac, and pondered whether Truitt might have Michael P Coleman is a Sacramento-based freelance writer, video a word of encouragement for them. & podcast producer and host, and public speaker. Connect with Truitt replied with a timbre — and displayed a mettle — that would have made her parents - and especially her pastor father — very proud.

him at MichaelPColeman.com.

“You will go as far as you believe that you can go,” Truitt exclaimed. “Half of the time, people are successful because they didn’t give up. I wanted to quit so many times, and I just didn’t, and the right opportunity came. If I had quit, years ago, I wouldn’t be on “Law & Order” right now.”

“Everything you need is already inside of you,” Truitt said, almost as if God had given her the message in the spur of the moment. “It’s like an apple seed.

There’s already an apple tree inside of the seed. You just have to plant the seed in the ground, and that tree will spring forth.”

“Everything you want to be and achieve in your life is already inside of you,” Truitt added. “It’s just about

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T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 1 1 |

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On July 23, 2022, we will hold our free annual event and we’d love to extend our invitation to people, so that kids can begin studying now.

The deadline to register is May 31, 2022. Children recite what they know. There are seven events and kids get points for each event. They get medals to take pictures with, then their names and the year is engraved on it and given to them at a later date.

There is also a gift bag.

Biblical Champions is the brainchild of Carolyn Murdock. Ms. Murdock has come up with a way to not only tech our children about God but to also have them filter what they lean to their entire family.

THE HUB: How did you get started with your business?

MURDOCK: I went to my son’s Academic Olympics Elk Grove Unified School District Scholastic event where kids say what they know and get points.

Children win gold, silver, and bronze medals. Sitting in the stands I thought we could do this to please God. I felt inspired to lift-up Jesus with a Biblical Champions event. It didn’t take a lot to create the format. I knew we could do a Bible quiz replacing subjects like English, History etc. We also add the Ten Commandments drill to help children memorize scriptures. We award each child a medal because God gives the gift of salvation to everyone.

THE HUB: What services do you offer? What is the goal?

MURDOCK: My goal is to make it a worldwide event like the sports olympics. Praising God is worthy of being a worldwide event. Planting God’s word in the heart of children translates to the family and community. As kids practice and recite to family members, family members get it in their hearts too, it is a ripple effect.

The day of the event we offer a light breakfast and lunch. Food is provided for all attendees. We give the children a gift of school supplies, a fun thing, bible or journal with biblical references and a treat.

THE HUB: What are your plans for the future?

MURDOCK: We will hold a raffle to raise funds to purchase gold, silver and bronze medals. We will also organize a parade for children to enter (church by church) where they can hold signs with their church name on it decorated by them where this provides a creative component which enables children to praise God with their talent – this has drawn drummers, violinist, dancers, singers and encourages more.

THE HUB: How would churches and programs benefit from using the activity of Biblical Champions?

MURDOCK: The basic areas of God’s Word that are instilled in the hearts of children and families are done with the following activities.

• Service: Random acts of kindness • Sword Drill: How to find scriptures in the Bible • Books of Bible: Memorize in order to locate scriptures • Scriptures: Memorize to plant God’s Word in their hearts • Ten Commandments: Memorize • Beatitudes: Memorize • Bible Quiz: Ten questions to gain biblical knowledge.

Biblical Champions gives a savings seed award to three children in three age groups, one child per group can win a $500 Certificate of Deposit in their name by providing a one-page essay or speech on the topic of the year. The purpose is to give kids financial literacy. We’re hoping they will use the money for educational purposes or a career goal.

Zoom classes are held every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 pm to prepare for the annual event.

Zoom link: https:// us02web.zoom. us/j/2970936459 Meeting ID: 297 093 6459 Registration is online only at biblicalchampions. com by 5/31/22 for 7/23/22 event.

Donations to Biblical Champions are exempt from federal and California state income tax.

Visit biblicalchampions.com T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 1 3 |

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T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 1 5 |

WERE YOU THERE? 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB | MARCH 2022

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB ON THURSDAY, MARCH 10TH AT OLD SUGAR MILL

by Chief Editor, Pleshette Robertson

T

he 20th Anniversary Celebration for Sac Cultural Hub was more than I ever could have dreamed as stated by Robert Brown, Co-owner of Another Look Hair Salon & Barbershop, “...this started with an idea - a thought!” Who would have ever even imagined that a 4-page newsletter in November 2001 converted to a 5-page website launch of Sacculturalhub.com in March 2002 would literally explode into connecting literally thousands of African Americans/Black people all over Sacramento throughout the Central Valley, Bay Area, Southern California and beyond with the best of excitement on things to do, places to go and people to meet. Black Sacramento stormed the Old Sugar Mill venue with showers of beautiful people all DRESSED up looking so shiny, pretty and just glowing with big smiles!

From the moment I walked in as I was 1 hour late to my own event, DON’T ASK why I was late - that’s just how it goes down at some of THE HUB events (some of ya’ll remember what happened at the 2007 Hub Choice Awards). Anywho, there is so much I want to say in this highlight recap of what I felt, who I saw, and all what happened at the 20th HUB Anniversary event - IT WAS TRULY GRAND - I totally felt like the Black Cinderella and all of you who were there made me feel so very special - OHHH & SHOUT OUT to my CRAZEE family that came - yesszzz those were my loud cousins from the Bay Area that were so very loud (I guess they could not hear themselves when speakers were giving remarks on stage - SMH! OMG!). Anyways, let’s do an official RUN DOWN of the evening - SHOUT OUT to Twlia Laster - Strategic Marketing Director for Sac Cultural Hub who did a FANTASTIC job on all the coordination of set up for those beautiful elegant Lush Balloons, the 360 photobooth, and the Sac Hub Marquee. We had so many activities going on during the 20th HUB Anniversary event - I get exhausted and excited at the same time when I relive the event as we have nearly 1,000 pictures in 5 photo albums that have been posted in the Sac Hub Photo Gallery (https://www.sacculturalhub.com/gallery/).

Upon arrival (1 hr late) - I step into what they call the Boiler Room (from the back entry) at Old Sugar Mill - so beautifully decorated and so many folks milling about and of course I immediately starting taking selfies with folks I see and HUGGING people and surprised to see a lot of folks who were actually able to come! I walk outside through the front entry and see the red carpet and then I see that beautiful Sac Hub 20th Marquee from when we noticed when we were driving in on the 160 highway what a beautiful sight to see. Then I make my way to the

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Gallery walk where the 360 photobooth is stationed - I definitely made sure to get on that before the night ended.

Rayford Johnson, our wonderful and loyal videographer produced a video of the event that is now up on YouTube.

I’m not going to be able to cover every event detail but you can watch at your leisure as it is a little bit over 1 hour. The Hundreds Unit was our show opener and they gave a phenomenal woman performance - SO LOVED IT! Dr. Tecoy Porter (affectionately known as Pastor T - my pastor of Genesis Baptist Church) blessed us with prayer/ welcome and inspirational/encouraging words about Sac Cultural Hub. Our beautiful MC/Host - Neketia Henry who is always on front street for Sac Cultural Hub in making us look good with her handsome husband Dj Gino who provided all of the beautiful lighting and sound for the evening!

Some of the best highlights of the evening included spotlighting our corporate sponsors, community partners, table sponsors, and media partners for the 20th Hub Anniversary event. We recognized recipients of the HUB Champion Support Awards with over 16 years of support as their early investment and commitment have played a major role in the 20th Anniversary milestone of Founder & CEO (that’s me Pleshette Robertson) marking her 20 years in business as a Black woman-owned media agency-Sac Cultural Hub Media Company. The HUB Champion Awards were presented to: • Another Look Hair Salon & Barbershop • Goree & Thompson & Real Estate • Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free

Safe Places - The SOL Project • Gino & Neketia Henry – The Wedding Factor • Phil Givant/Tree of Hope Funding/Spoker.com • UC Davis Office of Campus Community Relations

(OCCR) Several tribute messages from significant supporters and contributors to Sac Cultural Hub over the past several years included: Regina Wilson - CEO/Founder of California Black Media, Jay King - CEO/President of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, and Betty Williams, President of the Sacramento NAACP. To see the full 20th HUB Anniversary program booklet and get the links to the video highlights from the event, go to: www. sacculturalhub.com/category/entertainment/founders-messagen

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WERE YOU THERE? 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB | MARCH 2022

photo credits: Robert Briley

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photo credits: Rayford Johnson

WERE YOU THERE? 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB | MARCH 2022

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WERE YOU THERE? 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB | MARCH 2022

photo credits: Khiry Malik

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photo credits: 360 Extreme

WERE YOU THERE? 20TH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION OF SAC CULTURAL HUB | MARCH 2022

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WERE YOU THERE?

AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN CANDACY TAYLOR WOWS AUDIENCE DURING TALK ON “OVERGROUND RAILROAD” AT THE CALIFORNIA MUSEUM

By Michael P Coleman, Freelance Writer Events also featured keynote address by California’s Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber, and musical and spoken word performances.

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here was a beautiful yet haunting irony that was apparent within seconds of the start of my recent chat with author, historian, and curator Candacy Taylor.

I caught up with her by phone as she drove down snowy backroads to Wichita, Kansas, for a stop during her wildly successful book tour. It was the second of our two conversations, with the first having been in front of a nearcapacity audience at the California Museum in Sacramento in February.

“I don’t take a lot of freeways, so it’s not stressful driving,” Taylor shared, adding that her biggest worry was beating the worst of the winter weather that was pummeling so many midwesterners.

A century ago, the time frame that “Overground Railroad” brilliantly explores, the weather would have been the least of Taylor’s worries while navigating those rural backroads, alone, in photocredit: Sophie Pegrum her car.

Taylor is promoting her new Young Adult edition of her bestselling 2016 book “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America.” Taylor’s California Museum appearance was the only northern California stop of a riveting exhibition that’s on loan from the Smithsonian, also in support of the book.

The Green Book was a directory of businesses that were open to African American travelers, during a time not all that long ago when a seemingly innocuous stop at a gas station, restaurant, or hotel could have threatened — and ended — the life of a black motorist. During much of the 30 years of the Green Book’s publication, if you were of African decent, you were risking your life when you took the wheel of your car — and I’m not referencing hazardous driving conditions.

The Green Book was referred to as “The Bible of Black Travel.” It was promoted with an ominous tagline: “Carry it with you — you may need it.”

Taylor shared stories from “Overground Railroad,” and the behind-the-scenes of writing it, at the California Museum.

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“Sacramento was amazing,” Taylor enthused of the event.

“To have this content that I chose for the exhibition, displayed in such a beautiful space, was so emotionally satisfying. And I had a great time on stage there.”

“My project director at the Smithsonian saw the recording from Sacramento,” Taylor added. “She’s heard me talk about this project for years, and she still found things in our conversation that she found new and interesting. It was a highlight for me, also, because after I’d driven across the country, it was my first event, and the kickoff of the tour. So that was really exciting.”

I took advantage of catching Taylor behind the wheel of her car, and asked her how the book tour was going. She’d just spoken to a group of 400 middle school students in Denver.

“I asked how many of them had heard of sundown towns [cities where black people couldn’t stay after the sun set during the Jim Crow era] or redlining, and just a handful of hands went up,” Taylor remembered. “At least 75% of what I said to them was new to them, which was stunning.”

“But then, even when I’m in front of adult audiences, I hear from people who studied black history and still didn’t know a lot of the things I was talking about. I learned a lot of the stuff when I was writing the adult book.”

You’ll learn a lot from that adult version of “Overground Railroad,” too. As I mentioned during the California Museum’s event, it’s the best book I’ve read since Michelle Obama’s 2018 bestseller “Becoming.”

And if you missed our talk and other accompanying events at the California Museum last month, including a keynote speech by California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and a variety of musical and spoken word performances, you can watch those videos on the California Museum’s site (CaliforniaMuseum.org), or here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNL8cU66DdUBugM CZ8cxE0tMP8OKaLkv n Michael P Coleman is a Sacramento-based freelance writer, podcast and video producer live event host, and marketing consultant. Connect with him at michaelpcoleman.com, follow his blog at MichaelPColeman.

Wordpress.com, and follow him at IG and Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 2 1 |

CENTERSTAGE

SERVING ON A SCHOOL BOARD IS HARD RIGHT NOW, BUT I’M HERE FOR IT!

By Zima Creason, Vice President, San Juan Unified Board of Education

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was elected to the San Juan Unified Board of Education in 2018. It has been said that I took my seat at one of the most tumultuous periods in education, and I agree.

A bit about me, I’m a Black woman raised in South Sac. My momma was a Black woman from Mississippi and my dad was from India. My mom raised me as a single parent for as long as I can remember until cancer took her life when I was 11 years old. My Grandmother, Eloise Bobo, raised me as her own after her daughter died.

I struggled with a lot of trauma, but I’ll spare the gory details. One of the coping tools I clung to was tobacco. I was smoking a pack a day when I was 13 years old.

All that said, I learned to be resilient, and I knew very early on that I wanted to spend my life helping people to have it better than I did when I was young. I grew up, worked hard, and was able to achieve many of my dreams. I found ways to be helpful. I’m the Executive Director of the CA EDGE Coalition, an organization that addresses workforce shortages while creating pathways to the middle class with focus on economic mobility for communities that have historically been left out of California’s prosperity. I’m also the Vice President of the San Juan Unified Board of Education, the only sitting board member with a child attending a district school and the only Black woman on the board.

These past few years have been hard on school boards.

Proud Boys are showing up at board meetings, nasty emails are received protesting critical race theory, and throughout the pandemic, there have been waves of protests against distance learning, masks, and vaccines.

As we have seen in the legislature, many leaders are choosing another path and resigning. I don’t fault them.

We all have to do what we think is best. However, I’m not going anywhere. I’m running for reelection this year and I won’t leave my community when they need me most. I still have work to do!

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DID YOU KNOW? Let’s talk about nicotine addiction. As a child, my father smoked which led me to smoking. I always had easy access to cigarettes . As I entered my teen years, it was easy for me to purchase cigarettes at local stores - I was never asked for ID. My addiction started young and it continues today. I have successfully quit smoking a few times. My longest run has been six years, but I’m sad to say that the nicodemon continues to have a hold on me and my struggle to live a smoke free life continues to this day. It is a terrible feeling to be so strong in many areas of my life, yet feel helpless as I try to take control of this addiction. I don’t wish this reality on anyone, especially our children. I support efforts to decrease children’s access to products that contain nicotine and I believe policy change and investments will be a key factor in achieving this goal.

So now what? We, keep working hard for these kids!

We need to improve outcomes four our Black students.

Not only on the report card, but their access to good jobs with family supporting wages and benefits after they leave our doors. We must do more to provide culturally appropriate mental health services and support. And we must prevent children from becoming addicted to tobacco, as I did.

These are just a few examples of the work that still needs to be done. The work is hard, but as I mentioned before, I am resilient. I am a Black woman! This is what we do when things get tough, we fight harder and get things done. Especially when our babies are involved.

I will keep working hard for these kids and families. You can count on that. But I cannot do it alone. Elections take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. I need help. I don’t come from wealth and power so it really will take the community’s support for me to win this election.

Will you help me? Visit www.voteforzima.com to donate and to send a message to sign up as a volunteer.

Volunteer opportunities include talking to voters, sharing messaging on social media, writing postcards, and so much more. There truly is something for everyone.

Further, I urge you to join The Saving Our Legacy (SOL) Project’s advocacy efforts to end tobacco and vaping addiction. SOL advocates for the advancement of smoke free communities by connecting with leaders in local government to raise awareness and advance policy change that can protect youth and young adults from a lifetime of addiction. Learn more about the Project at http://www. thesolproject.com/.

GET FINANCIALLY CONNECTED

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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

Our kids need us. I’m not going anywhere and I will never stop fighting for them. n Visit www.thesolproject.com ISSUU. C OM/ T HE H U B MA G

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DID YOU KNOW?

CECE WINANS ADDS THREE MORE GRAMMYS TO HER COLLECTION

By Michael P Coleman, Freelance Writer

To Celebrate (New Life!), Winans Has Released Deluxe Version of Her Chart-Topping Album Believe For It, and Plans VERZUZ appearance and May 6-7 Conference, sponsored by Compassion International.

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ospel legend CeCe Winans added three more Grammys to her collection Sunday night, bringing her total to a staggering 15.

She could have never seen that coming when she started recording professionally over three decades ago, but today Winans stands as the best-selling and mostawarded female gospel artist of all time.

“To God be the glory! This is amazing,” Winans said just after the Grammys were announced. “I am so humbled to win three more Grammys.

Thank you to everyone who played and sang on this album.”

The album of which Winans speaks is 2021’s superb “Believe For It,” which started as her long-awaited, first-ever live recording.

With the release of the album, she took the world by storm, calming our COVIDinfused waters with a sterling collection of immaculately sung songs of faith, hope, and thanksgiving.

At the time of “Believe For It” ’s release, I called Winans “this generation’s Mahalia Jackson.” A year later, I stand by that statement!

Upon the announcement of Winans’ latest trio of Grammy awards, she’s just released a deluxe version of “Believe For it,” featuring newly recorded studio versions of the album’s “No Greater,” “I Have A Savior,” and her new Christian radio single, “I’ve Got Joy.” Winans also plans to service “Goodness Of God” to Gospel radio.

“All my life you have been faithful,” Winans beautifully sings” on “Goodness Of God,” reminding listeners of the storms that He’s brought her through. “All my life you have been so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

edition. The 15 time Grammy winner will be reuniting with her brother BeBe for a special VERZUZ TV performance on Easter Sunday, April 17. According to a release, their musical battle with siblings Mary Mary “promises a night of celebration and appreciation of dynamic contemporary gospel music.”

Winans is also set to host GENERATIONS LIVE, a women’s conference on May 6 and 7 in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee at Bethel World Outreach, and sponsored by Compassion International. For ticket information and list of speakers and details, go to www. compassionlive.com/generations. n Michael P Coleman is a Sacramento-based freelance writer, podcast and video producer live event host, and marketing consultant. Connect with him at michaelpcoleman.com, follow his blog at MichaelPColeman.

Wordpress.com, and follow him at IG and Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP

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SAVE THE DATE!

BLACK WOMAN OWNED. LOCALLY PRODUCED. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED. Subscribe Today - 4 Fabulous Issues Collectors Issues to Archive Forever WINTER 2022 | www.sacculturalhub.com SUMMER 2021 | www.sacculturalhub.com

KEEPING THE U.S. SENATE & HOUSE BLUE ARE YOU READY TO VOTE IN 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

HOLLYWOOD’S WALK OF FAME

STAR

TYLER PERRY

DONATE NOW!

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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YES! I’D LIKE TO HAVE THE MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO MY MAILBOX SUBSCRIBE ONLINE!

www.sacculturalhub.com/subscription OR SUBSCRIBE BY MAIL: q Next Issue (1) subscription q One-year (4 issues) subscription q Two-year (8 issues) subscription q Lifetime Magazine Supporter

Big Day of Giving Thursday, May 5, 2022 www.bigdayofgiving.org/ organization/sacculturalhub

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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

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Expiration: ___/_____ CVV:_______ Phone:____________________ Billing Name:___________________________________________ Billing Address:__________________________________________ City:________________________State:________Zip:___________ Signature:_______________________________Date:___________ Make check payable to: Sac Cultural Hub Mail form to: Sac Cultural Hub, Inc., 7902 Gerber Road, #367, Sacramento, CA 95828 or subscribe online at www.sacculturalhub.com/subscription

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT

A letter to my people

Bearing Witness

January 2022

Beloved Brothers and Sisters, particularly the unvaccinated, The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic have resonated with us all in so many special ways.

One important consequence has been our response to the call to get vaccinated so as to save lives, including our own. We understand that it’s really a very tough decision. Please understand that if you have not yet been fully vaccinated we love you and share in our collective agony and anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, some of us have had to bear witness to some heart wrenching, possibly unavoidable tragedies. We have lost many of our loved ones, many others are still suffering from the infections or displacement from home or work or livelihood. But the images of our family members or friends dying alone in the hospital, with regrets or confessions of the deceptive misinformation for not taking the vaccine remain, to say the least, stressful. Consider: The 29- yearold niece whom we mourn with painful hearts of a life cut too short, with young children left behind for us to care; The 44- year- old doctoral student who died within 4 days of the infection, and the community rallied around to mourn and contribute toward sending the body to her parents on the East Coast for burial; We suffered the emotional toll of planning the funeral of a 58- year- old with 5 teenage/youth- adult children and dealing with the funeral home, public health officials in California and Africa as well as the embassy in Washington, DC, the airlines, and transportation services in preparation to ship his body to Africa.

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We can go on and on of the sorrowful stories of people amongst us who died or are suffering of the COVID- 19 after refusing to vaccinate. As we pen this note, a worried 85-year-old mother has asked the community to pray for her unvaccinated son on a ventilator suffering from the infection, and thankfully she tested negative, along with her grandson and son’s wife who are vaccinated. Yes, we’ll continue to pray for the son, and hope that he’ll recover to testify.

While we acknowledge the many reasons for refusal or reluctance in taking the vaccine, we appeal to you to listen to our black scientists and public health authorities of African descent whom we have trained, supported, and prayed for their professional judgment to get us out of the pandemic. We believe that God’s answer to our prayer to end the pandemic is the vaccine, plus other health and safety precautions and guidelines we must obey—despite our vaccination status.

Let’s not look for another God to do the needful.

According to the Sacramento Department of Public Health the rate of vaccination among members of our black community is only about 45%, which is unacceptable, the lowest among all key racial/ ethnic groups in the County. Frankly, this rate is not acceptable and does not represent who we are as a people. It seems un-explainable that whilst 80% of all Californians have been fully vaccinated, only our communities have fallen so far behind in the rate of vaccination. We need to do better to achieve the so- called herd immunity of 80% or higher and help all of us get out of the misery and pains of the pandemic!

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT Please, brethren and beloved sisters, if you have not yet been vaccinated, do the needful in the spirit of Ubuntu: “I AM because you are, therefore we are.” Let’s seize the moment, own this one, despite the very strong head winds that have held you back and take that first step and find a place in your heart to help strengthen the community we have together. Let’s prevent our people from dying unnecessarily from the COVID-19. We are counting on you to consider the interest of the collective, our community, and our people. With one love, let’s join the effort to educate each other by sharing the good news of vaccine safety as our own doctors have reinforced every day. Indeed, each one, teach each one! Let us bear good witness to the positive change we desire!

Signed by Coalition of Concerned Leaders Dr. Ernest Uwazie, Board Chair, Africa House Sacramento Ms. Janice Wisdom, President, Sacramento Caribbean American Association Dr. Veronica Ufoegbune, Chair, Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee, California Mr. David Kamara, President, Sierra Leone Humanitarian Project of Sacramento Mr. Sam Starks, Chair, MLK@365-Sacramento Ms. Betty Williams, President, NAACP of Greater Sacramento Ms. Joan Gachuhi Kingori, President, Ushirika(Kenya) Association-Sacramento Mr. John C. Mbomeda, Leader, Cameroon Community, Sacramento Pastor Karif Lawrence, Antioch Progressive Church, Sacramento Rev. Cannon Franklin Mmor, Anglican Community of Nigeria, Sacramento Ms. Rhonda Smith, Executive Director, California Black Health Network Dr. Robyn Chatman Boulds, President, Sacramento Black Nurses Association Dr. Babatunde Salako, President, Association of Nigerian Physicians in Americas, Northern California Dr. Hakeem Adeniyi, Medical Specialist, Africa House Sacramento COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Education grant Dr. Sylvester Uadiale, Sacramento Africa Peace Committee Dr. Data Barata, Board Chair, Center for African Peace & Conflict Resolution Dr. Boatamo Mosupyoe, Leader, South Africa Community Dr. Uche Duru Can-al Medical Supplies/UPS store Mr. Julius Austin Board member of Afripeace Department and Foundation Ms. Toni Tinker, President, Black American Political Association of California

Africa House Sacramento

www.africahousesacramento.org

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PUT SOME SPRING IN YOUR STRANDS!

3 Tips For Springtime Hair Transition your hair care routine from winter to spring.

Your strands are due for a seasonal change.

Here’s 3 important top tips for seamlessly transitioning your hair care routine from winter to spring.

1- Start with a trim.

This is the perfect time to start with a clean slate. No need to fear, I’m not talking a major cut: just a trim to take off all the dry, and split ends to make hair look and feel healthy. Head to your stylist and ask for a trim to get rid of dull, dry, damaged ends.

2- You may start to notice an oilier scalp, your color may be fading faster than usual.

3- Safeguard Strands Before (and After) You Swim.

Did you know that your hair needs UV protection as well? Using hair care products with built-in UV protection helps to keep your color fresh and prevent your hair from drying out under the sun’s harmful rays. A heat protectant spray ISSUU. C OM/ T HE H U B MA G

before heat styling like TRUBalance HAIR-Smoothie will protect your hair from blowdrying as well as curling and silk press ironing. It also adds layer of protection against UV light and other environmental stressors.This lightweight hair mist that cuts down on dry time, smooths and protects.

a

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 T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 2 9 |

#SBMC

One Pulse | One Voice

Sacramento Black News and Media Radio | Eblasts | Magazine | Newspaper | Street Team | Social Media

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WERE YOU THERE?

Sac Realtists Developers Fireside Chat & Happy Hour At the Harrison Center in Oak Park -Sacramento on Friday, March 25th from 2 pm to 7:30 pm.

Photocredit: Khiry Malik - Magiceyephotos.com | 916.730.5405 Chief Editor, Pleshette Robertson stated: “I learned a wealth of vocabulary from lead Black Developers on basically ‘Controlling the narrative of real estate/ commercial investment in our neighborhoods, across the state and throughout the country’. If you are serious about becoming a real estate developer/ investor and learning the language of leverage, vision, joint venture partnership, doing research, utilizing your circle of friends/network (using other people’s money to purchase and form real estate deals), go to www.sacramentorealtist.com to learn about and get info from the Sac Realtists Developer’s Committee.”

In photo on left the participants on the Fireside Chat Panel from left to right were: Anthony Mosley, President of Bulldog Development; Brother Ayinde, CEO of Black Star Investment Group; Christopher Senegal, Houston Real Estate Developer and Entrepreneur; Mark Buford of Lima One Capital, LLC; Ardell La’Mond Harrison, General Contractor and Developer with Moderator - Zoritha Thompson, Real Estate Broker & President of Sacramento Realtist Association.

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WERE YOU THERE?

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CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS! INCLUDING MINORITY, WOMEN, AND DISABLED V ETERANS

Use cell phone camera to scan QR code above to access information about Caltrans upcoming opportunities Visit us at https://dot.ca.gov/ or email smallbusinessadvocate@dot.ca.gov for more in formation

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COVID–19 RESOURCE DIRECTORY

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Surviving COVID-19 RESOURCE DIRECTORY

REGIONAL—ACROSS CALIFORNIA Visit MyTurn.ca.gov - California COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling Free, confidential COVID-19 testing is available to everyone that needs it. The vaccine is free to everyone ages 5 and up.

Safe, free, effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to you regardless of immigration or insurance status. Stay healthy, protect others and help us end the pandemic.

Find a walk-in clinic or make an appointment today. covid19.ca.gov The State of California’s comprehensive, consumer-friendly website and public service announcements to boost COVID-19 awareness.

Sign up for FREE empowerment and how-to webinars for entrepreneurs and business owners being conducted by the following organizations:

Mental Health Services in Sacramento County 24/7 for Mental Health Crisis Calls (916) 875-1055 or toll free (888) 881-4881 dhs.saccounty.net/BHS/Pages/Mental-Health-Services.aspx

The Sacramento County COVID-19 Collaborative supports community members and business owners with up-to-date information, guidelines and resources to stay informed and to stay healthy. www.saccovid19collab.org

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Free COVID-19 Testing Available In partnership with the City of Los Angeles and LA County, free testing is now available to ANY LA County resident with COVID-19 symptoms. To learn more about eligibility see the flyers below or to set up an appointment visit: covid19.lacounty.gov/testing

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California Black Chamber of Commerce: calbcc.org

Emergency Renters Assistance

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California Capital: cacapital.org

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Small Business Majority: smallbusinessmajority.com

Get info on Emergency Renter’s Assistance, Renter Protection, and Community Resources at Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) housing.lacity.org

SACRAMENTO REGION VaxBlackSac.com provides health and well-being resources from culturally appropriate organizations and publications for the African ancestry community.

Individuals and families can find locations near them for COVID-19 vaccine in the Sacramento community.

The City of Sacramento 311 Customer Service Help Center website and mobile app make asking questions and getting service simple. Making government more accessible and life a little easier for our residents, businesses and visitors. www.cityofsacramento.org/ InformationTechnology/311 Sacramento Emergency Rental Assistance (SERA2) Program In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), in partnership with the City and the County of Sacramento, through federal and state funding, is offering emergency rent and utilities assistance for renters living anywhere in Sacramento County who have experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. www.shra.org/sera

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Get Vaccinated, SAVE LIVES Visit www.vaxblacksac.com for Vaccination Sites, Resources, & Events UC Davis Health will administer the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters for community members age 5 and up (COVID-19 Vaccine Pfizer 5-11 and Pfizer 12+). If you are hesitant about the vaccine, come to this clinic to ask us questions. Walk-ins are welcome or by appointment. Appointments can be scheduled via the MyTurn website at myturn.ca.gov. Search on the desired clinic zip code for best results.

Presented by the MOVE IT UP coalition:

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SURVIVING COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE

NAVIGATING BLACK CALIFORNIA Directory of Black MEDIA News Groups in California Bay Area Registry www.bayarearegistry.com BlackNLA www.blacknla.com Black Cultural Events www.blackculturalevents.com 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

Precinct Reporter precinctreporter.com

The Oakland Post oaklandpostonline.com Compton Herald comptonherald.org

Sacramento Observer sacobserver.com

OnMe News onmenews.com Pace Newspaper pacenewsonline.com Pasadena Journal pasadenajournal.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

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San Bernardino American sbamerican.com San Francisco Bay View sfbayview.com Sun Reporter sunreporter.com Tri County Sentry tricountysentry.com

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

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

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Huffpost.com/Voices/Black-Voices

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Sisters from AARP - sistersletter.com The African History Network facebook.com/TheAfricanHistoryNetworkFanpage IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

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 Sac Black Biz www.sacblackbiz.biz

Black Sistahs Making Friends facebook.com/groups/1091392134541999

Sacramento ACT sacact.org

Black Small Business Association of California facebook.com/BSBACA

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

Black Women for Wellness bwwla.org

Sacramento Area Black Golf Club sabgc.org

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

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

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 National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter sacramentoncbw.org ISSUU. C OM/ T HE H U B MA G

Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce sacblackchamber.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

T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 3 9 |

SPONSORED ADVERTISING SECTION

Just a reminder from THE HUB to support our local soul food restaurants in an around the Sacramento Region.

Dine in and/or order for delivery and pick up.

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant (916) 481-1580 Candies Kitchen 916.439.9922 Cora Lorraines (Colos) 916-692-8948 D’s Smoking Pit 916-993-9428 Daddyo’s Smokehouse 916-821-9020 Dubplate Kitchen & Jamaican Cuisine 916-339-6978 Ermajeans Southern Cuisine Restaurant & Catering 530-749-9651 Family Pizza Take n Bake 916-333-3397

Fixins Soul Kitchen 916-999-7685 Flower’s Fish Market 916-456-0719

Ms. Robin’s House of Que (916) 389-0707

Louisiana Heaven 916-689-4800

Muhammads Meats Vegetables and Desserts (415) 862-8997

Macque’s Barbeque (South Sac Location) 916-381-4119

Play Makers Toucha Class Restaurant 916.451.1786

Macque’s Barbeque (Elk Grove Location) 916-714-2910

Q1227 Restaurant 916.899.5146 Queen Sheba 916-446-1223

Mo’Betta Finger Foods On Wheels 916-307-9511

South Restaurant 916-382-9722

Mommas Market 916-524-2782

Stage Coach 916-422-9296

MoMo’s Meat Market 916-452-0202

Toris Place Soul Food 916-646-6038

www.sacculturalhub.com/entertainment/headlines/supporting-our-local-soul-food-restaurants-in-sacramento

BLACK HAIR SALON & BARBERSHOP DIRECTORY IN AND AROUND SACRAMENTO E-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com with any additions or corrections to the list of Black-owned salons and barbershops (composed by BSBA-Black Small Business Association of California - bsba-ca.org/)

24K Salon & Spa

5031 Stockton Blvd Sacramento, CA 95820 (916) 579-6284

Another Look Hair Salon and Barber Shop

6666 Valley Hi Dr Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 688-7505

Ashley Jayes Beauty Bar 5211 Elkhorn Blvd Sacramento, CA (916) 420-8208

Axis Barber Shop

2850 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 800-3233

Bohemian Aesthetic Atelier 106 L St # 1 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 822-2646

Charmed Lashes & Beauty Bar

621 L St Capitol Mall Alley Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 936-2015

Crystal’s Hair Salon 9117 E. Stockton Blvd Suite 100 (916) 549-8972

Darryl’s Hair Studio & Spa 6801 Fair Oaks Blvd (916) 600 3736

Design R Touch Hair Salon 1510 16th St #106 (916) 968-8935

Diva Glam Spa Parties 2425 20th St (916) 272-5609

Double Take Hair Gallery

1007 12th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 451-4600

Dominick’s Family of Industries Salon and Barber 3400 Bradshaw Rd A3 Sacramento, CA 95827 (916) 346-4616

Dream Girls Fine Hair Imports Salon 9090 Elk Grove Blvd Elk Grove, CA 95624 (916) 686-5030

Dutch’d Couture Extension Studio

621 Capitol Mall (Inside Sola Salons) (916) 821-4747

E Z Style & Supply Barbershop

3731 Stockton Blvd Sacramento, CA 95820 (916) 822-5081

Exclusive Hair Design

930 Alhambra Blvd #150 Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 498-8374

Express Weave Bar

3526 Stockton Blvd Sacramento, CA 95820 (916) 823-5770 ISSUU. C OM/ T HE H U B MA G

Exquisite U Beauty Boutique

J’s Remixed Hair Design

Fadem Up Barbershop

Kajmir Hair Studio/I Twist Sacramento

2550 Valley Rd. #9 Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 338-1137 3824 Stockton Blvd Sacramento, CA 95820 (916) 544-4062

Fadez on 20th

2423 20th St Sacramento, CA 95818 (916) 457-7913

Hair Eco Salon

6845 Five Star Blvd Ste E Rocklin, CA, 95677 (916) 242-9939 www.hairecosalon.com

Hasheem The Barber

2740 Arden Way Ste 224 Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 822-2825

1910 16th St Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 444-9370

Keela Hair Studio & Extension Boutique

2527 J St Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 376-7906

Kingofcurls

4751 Freeport Blvd, ste B Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 736-0808

My Beauty Bar & Spa 9108 Laguna Main St Elk Grove, CA 95758 (916) 684-8111

Naturalistic Salon Spa 2031 Yale St Sacramento, CA 95818 (916) 594-7274

Posh Extension Bar

1115 21st St Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 539-8762

Rockin kidz kutz

9010 Fairway Dr Suite 113 Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 633-9392

1510 16th Street Ste 124 Inside Phenix Salon Studios Sacramento, CA 95814 (703) 200-2780

Kings Joint

Royal Cuts Barbershop

Immaculate Cuts Barbershop

Margarets Hair Gallery

The Next Episode Hair Salon

Marichal Salon, Barber Shop & Suites

Tisha’s Braids

U.S. Bank Tower, Suite#2 (Inside Sola Salons) 621 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 271-3639

J Style in Co. Wellness & Beauty 6720 Fair Oaks Blvd Suite 103 (916) 346-7203

J. Rosé Hair Salon

6720 Madison Ave Ste 6 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916) 967-7673

1900 Terracina Dr Ste 120 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 571-5711 1610 Fulton Ave Sacramento, CA 95825 margaretshairsalon.com

2648 Del Paso Blvd Sacramento, CA 95815 (916) 226-7099

Mo Better Hair Salon & Barber 10401 Folsom Blvd Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (916) 364-3400

4400 47th Ave #102 Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 424-2887

2201 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 519-9045 8245 Florin Rd, Ste A2 Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 381-8894

Urban Beauty Salon & Spa

4444 Manzanita Ave #2 Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 891-5984

T H E H UB M AGAZINE S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 | 4 1 |

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO For more events in Sacramento and beyond, go to www.sacculturalhub.com/events and list your event for free online.

ADVERTISER INDEX OF HUB PARTNERS To advertise in THE HUB Magazine, e-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com or call (916) 234-3589 AMPLIFY WWW.AMPLIFY.LOVE ANOTHER LOOK HAIR SALON www.anotherlookhairsalon.com CALIFORNIA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.calbcc.org CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT www.cdph.ca.gov CALTRANS dot.ca.gov CAPSITY www.capsity.com COLEMAN COMMUNICATIONS www.michaelpcoleman.com CRYSTAL’S HAIR SALON 916.549.8972 DOUBLE TAKE HAIR GALLERY www.facebook.com/tavia.jenkins DR./REV. TECOY PORTER FOR CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY www.tecoyporterforassembly.com GOREE & THOMPSON REAL ESTATE www.goreeandthompson.com JAMES THE BARBER AND STYLIST (916) 514-2539 KDEE 97.FM www.kdeefm.org

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MIXED INSTITUTE OF COSMETOLOGY www.mix-ed.com OLD SUGAR MILL www.oldsugarmill.com

For the who, what, and where stay updated online with our EVENTS page and sign up to receive THE HUB’s URBAN WEEKLY e-newsletter www.sacculturalhub.com/urban-weekly | 4 2 | T H E HU B MA G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 2 2

SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH https://dhs.saccounty.gov/ SAVING OUR LEGACY, AFRICANS AMERICANS FOR SMOKE FREE SAFE PLACES www.thesolproject.com THE CENTER FOR BLACK HEALTH & EQUITY www.nomentholsunday.org THE GOSPEL VINE www.thegospelvine.com UC DAVIS HEALTH OFFICE FOR HEALTH EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION health.ucdavis.edu/diversity-inclusion IS S UU.C O M/ THEHUBMAG

BOLD AWARENESS:

FIGHT TO THE FINISH Sunday, May 15, 2022

Visit www.NoMentholSunday.org to download the toolkit and register today!

No Menthol Sunday is on May 15, so the time to prepare for it is now. The Center for Black Health & Equity is proud to present this year’s toolkit, “Bold Awareness: A Fight to the Finish.”

The Center’s No Menthol Sunday is an annual opportunity to engage faith communities in touch conversations about how menthol and tobacco addiction have robbed us of community health for generations.

The tobacco industry has stripped our community’s finances, engaged in targeted unethical marketing, and attempted to dupe young people with flavors like spearmint and menthol.

Those are fighting words.

Faith communities must be bolder and more confident than ever in raising awareness about the negative impact mentholated tobacco products have in our community.

Use No Menthol Sunday 2022 to rally congregants in the fight against tobacco. Download the toolkit for talking points, activities, and facts. Don’t be afraid to get in the ring, we’ve already won.

Their industry execs have once said that they don’t smoke their won deadly products – they reserve that right for “the young, the poor, the Black, and stupid.”

ISSUU. C OM/ T HE H U B MA G

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FIRST FRIDAYS Presenting Sponsor:

of the month throughout the Greater Sacramento Valley Region. Watch for the Sac Hub eblasts and the radio ad announcements on KDEE 97.5 FM

Hosted and presented in partnership by:

Supporting HUB Impact Partners: Get updates at: Sacculturalhub.com | facebook.com/Sacculturalhub1 California Black Chamber of Commerce | https://www.facebook.com/Calbcc KDEE 97.5 FM | https://www.facebook.com/97.5KDEE