Our legacy of pushing boundaries and defying convention creates a welcoming, rewarding experience looking for a California excursion outside the ordinary. www.visitsacramento.com
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.
By Antonio Ray Harvey, Contributing Writer
Since Malik Monk signed with the Sacramento Kings as a free agent during the summer of 2022, he has established a casual sense of belonging to the City of Trees’ personable, yet caring environment.
No, it’s not his primary residence, but during his stay, he has transformed his living arrangements into a space where he feels compassionately comfortable, confidently safeguarded, and emotionally invested.
In that regard, the community has shown Monk – originally from the state of Arkansas – he is a neighbor, and for those reasons and more, he went completely out of his way to reciprocate the respect bestowed upon him.
“It feels like home. The (community of Sacramento) treats me like I am in Arkansas – a lot of love,” Monk told The HUB at the Kings’ season-ending exit interview with the local media. “Everywhere I go, everybody says, ‘What’s up?’ to me. They don’t bombard me, don’t ask questions, and don’t overcrowd my space. So, it’s like home.”
Malik Ahmad Monk’s work in the Sacramento region does not go unnoticed. For the second season in a row, the Kings honored the 27-year-old guard with the 2025 Community Crossover Award presented by Kaiser Permanente.
The prestigious award recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievements in service, engagement,
and development both on the court and throughout the community.
Monk’s commitment and loyalty to the area have been the driving force behind supporting families during the holiday season, staging his annual Thanksgiving turkey drive in his hometown in Arkansas. He also provides holiday shopping sprees for local mothers and their children.
Along with his teammates, Monk participates in various Kings community events, including Eat Like a King, Kingpin Classic, and Season Ticket Member parties. He engages with fans and young people who face social, economic, or environmental barriers.
“It’s always good to give back,” Monk said.
A month before the NBA season ended, Monk held an exclusive event in the showroom of Porsche Sacramento to celebrate his new partnership with the Chinese sportswear company, Peak Sports.
After Monk signed on with Peak, the company launched the TAICHI Surging Technology Triangle 4.0 series. The colorful, athletic shoe falls right in line with Monk’s humble character and respected image, aspects that represent Peak’s global values, according to the company marketing arm.
Peak has the blessing of several current and former NBA players who signed endorsement deals, including Andrew Wiggins, Lou Williams, Tony Parker, Dwight Howard, and Chandler Parsons.
Monk said he did his research on the company before inking his deal. He will have an artistic opportunity to design shoes well as apparel and equipment, the former University of Kentucky player said.
“It’s more than the shoes,” Monk said. “I am a creator, and I will get to create a lot of things with Peak. That’s why I picked them. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of everything.”
Monk shared that Peak Sports signed on to support youth initiatives and student athletes from Sacramento’s El Camino High School and a high school in Arkansas.
The shoe apparel company will supply the educational institutions with sports gear for the 2025-2026 season. He and his brother Marcus Monk serve as ambassadors of the schools. Marcus, a former professional football and basketball player, is his younger brother’s manager.
“For him to go down in the last bit of the season made it tough for us,” said Kings guard Keon Ellis. “He’s the main reason for what we’re doing here. You definitely want to have him out on the court with us (because of) the energy that he plays with.”
DeMar DeRozan, who arrived in Sacramento last summer through a sign-and-trade deal from the Chicago Bulls, said Monk plays with a great deal of enthusiasm. But it’s his technical and tactical skills on the basketball court that put the Kings in a position to win games.
“It was an amazing turnout at Porsche Sacramento,” Monk said. “My brother did a great job putting that together. I am glad all the local businesses attended and sponsored us. I want to thank Porsche for letting us have it at that facility.”
Monk returned to the Kings after signing a 4-year contract in 2024. After a 1-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, he signed with the team in 2022 and played an integral part in helping the franchise end a 16-year playoff drought.
Monk just had his most productive season of his NBA career. He averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 31.2 minutes per game for the 2024-2025 campaign. The statistical uptick was made possible when he was inserted into the starting-five lineup.
It marks the second straight year Monk was not available for the NBA Play-In Tournament due to injuries. He was sorely missed by his teammates.
“You’re talking about a guy who can get you 30 points, a guy who can get you 10 or 11 assists, and a guy who can change the game in a lot of ways with his excitement,” DeRozan said. “Not having him out there those last couple of games…it showed. We need Malik.”
It has been a turbulent year for Monk and his teammates as well. Head coach Mike Brown was fired in December 2024, which led to Doug Christie becoming the interim leader. In February, point guard De’Aaron Fox was traded to San Antonio after nearly eight seasons in Sacramento.
In addition, the general manager was let go right after the season ended. The Kings immediately announced the hiring of new general manager Scott Perry to lead the front office. The Kings finished the season 40-42.
The season started with high expectations that ran into many challenges. In the business of professional sports, athletes’ addresses can change on a drop of a dime.
Monk was asked by Sports Radio Services’ reporter Jeremiah Salmonson whether or not he wanted to stay in Sacramento after witnessing a season of drastic changes and personnel moves. His response was professional, clear, and direct.
“I am all in. No question,” Monk said of remaining in a Kings’ uniform. “Don’t question that.” n
By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
As a candidate for mayor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee released a “10-point plan” last week to reassure residents that she will tackle Oakland’s most pressing challenges.
Now that she has edged out her competitors in the rankedchoice special election with 50% or more of the vote, the former Congresswoman, who represented parts of the Bay Area in the U.S. House of Representatives, can put her vision in motion as the city’s first Black woman mayor.
“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City,” Lee said in an April 19 statement. “I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems.”
As of April 18, Lee had secured 47,045 votes (50.0%), while Loren Manuel Taylor trailed her with 42,276 (44.9%) votes, according to Alameda County election results. Lee and Taylor were among 10 candidates who vied for the office after embattled former mayor, Sheng Thao, was recalled in November.
On Saturday evening, Taylor conceded to Lee. There are still about 300 Vote-by-Mail ballots left to be verified, according to county election officials. The ballots will be processed on April 21 and April 22.
“This morning, I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor said in a statement.
“I pray that Mayor-Elect Lee fulfills her commitment to unify Oakland by authentically engaging the 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic, results-driven leadership.”
The influential Oakland Post endorsed Lee’s campaign, commending her leadership on the local, state, and federal levels.
Paul Cobb, The Post’s publisher, told California Black Media that Lee will bring back “respect and accountability” to the mayor’s office.
“She is going to be a collegial leader drawing on the advice of community nonprofit organizations and those who have experience in dealing with various issues,” Cobb said. “She’s going to try to do a consensus-building thing among those who know the present problems that face the city.”
Cobb continued, “I also think she has the one thing that the previous leaders didn’t – the willingness to want to work with
(Alameda) county to solve social issues like homelessness and housing because the county has the resources and the budget.”
Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s family moved to California while she was in high school. At 20 years old, Lee divorced her husband after the birth of her first child. After the split, Lee went through a tough period, becoming homeless and having to apply for public assistance to make ends meet.
But destitution did not deter the young woman.
Lee groomed herself to become an activist and advocate in Oakland and committed to standing up for the most vulnerable citizens in her community.
Lee traveled to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland in 1973. Lee later won a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fellowship to attend the School of Social Welfare, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California-Berkeley in 1975.
Lee later served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before she was elected to Congress in 1998 to represent California’s 9th District, which includes parts of Berkeley and Oakland.
After serving in the U.S. Congress for more than 25 years, Lee ran unsuccessfully for California’s U.S. Senate in the 2024 primary election.
Lee joins current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and former San Francisco Mayor London Breed as Black women serving as chief executives of major cities in California over the last few years.
“For the past 100 days — as I have for the past 30 years — I worked hard every day to continue to earn your trust, your respect, and your vote,” Lee said in the April 19 press release. “I couldn’t be prouder of the margin of our collective win and our amazing coalition.”
In an April 10 press release, Lee said she expects to improve public safety, find effective solutions to address homelessness, and revitalize the city’s economic state in her first 100 days in office.
According to the United States Census, Oakland’s population was 436,504 in July 2023, a decrease of 4,165 since April 2020. The Black population makes up 21.1% of the city’s residents compared to the city of Los Angeles’s 8.5%. As it has all over the state, homelessness has risen considerably in Oakland over the last decade.
Cobb said that Lee’s work governing will take patience from the community. She not only has to repair the city’s image but also, “like the Betty Wright song, ‘Cleanup Woman,’ she’ll have to clean up the mess that was left behind,” Cobb said.
“That’s the role of Black women in politics – arriving to clean up the mess that was left by others,” Cobb said. “But I believe she can do both, repair and clean up some of the internal bureaucratic messes, while branching out to do things that others did not dare to do or did not care to do.”
Lee stated that she met with voters “every day in their living rooms, at their doors and at community events,” to hear their concerns and hardships of living in a city that once had three professional sports teams that were drawing revenue.
Part of her 10-point plan includes directing the City Council to develop a budget that puts Oakland on solid financial footing. She also wants to establish stronger links between the leadership of the City’s police department and business leaders to keep the city safe.
Another priority for Lee is deploying vegetation management crews to clear hazards in high fire danger zones to help protect residents and property from the growing threat of wildfires.
“I hear them loud and clear – they want a mayor who can make Oakland safer, address the fiscal crisis, and root out corruption,” Lee stated. “Together, we can build a safer, vibrant Oakland that works for everyone. This is our moment to reimagine what’s possible for our beloved city.” n
By Edward Henderson | California Black Media
On May 7, the federal government started enforcing Real ID requirements at U.S. airports and some federal facilities.
From this date forward, travelers will need a Real ID compliant license or other accepted form of identification like a passport to pass security checks before boarding a domestic flight.
However, just over 55% of Californians (18 million people) have updated their driver’s licenses or ID cards to be Real ID compliant, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
If you are among those who have not, here is what you need to do to complete the process. Schedule your appointment through a California DMV office and obtain your Real ID application code (issued when you schedule your appointment online). Be prepared to pay a $35 fee.
“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by the 9/11 attacks,” said former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske in a release.
“Identity verification is foundational to security. I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant,” Pekoske added.
“We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports.”
The national Real ID policy was originally supposed to go into effect in 2008, but has been repeatedly postponed, including during the pandemic.
Updated California licenses will be marked by a golden bear in the upper right-hand corner of the card.
Travelers 18 or over need the ID for U.S domestic flights. The ID cannot be used to travel internationally, with an exception for land or water border crossings into Mexico and Canada.
To apply for a REAL ID, you must present several documents, including ONE proof of identity document. This document must include your date of birth and your full name. Examples of acceptable documentation include:
• Valid U.S. passport or passport card
• Original or certified copy of U.S birth certificate issued by a city, county or state office. (Abbreviated or abstract certificates are not accepted.
• Valid Permanent Resident Card
• Foreign passport with valid U.S. Visa and approved I-94 form
• Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
• Certified copy of birth certificate from a U.S. Territory
• Valid Employment Authorization Document Card or valid/ expired EAD card with Notice of Action
• Valid U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad or Consular Report of Birth Abroad of U.S. Citizen
• Valid foreign passport stamped ‘Processed for I-551
• Documents reflecting TPS benefit eligibility
Additionally, applicants will need to provide TWO different proofs of California residency. Both documents must show your first and last name with the same mailing address that is listed on your application. Utility or cell phone bills are preferred document types. Medical, employment or insurance documents are also acceptable.
If you use a P.O. Box, one document must show both your P.O. Box address and physical address. The second document must only bear the P.O. Box address.
The TSA says the May 7 deadlinewill be enforced, and that travelers without a Real ID or other accepted document could experience delays when going through security because it will take longer to verify their identity.
They could face “additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,” the TSA said in a news release.
The agency recommends travelers arrive at least three hours before domestic flights if they don’t have Real ID or an alternative. n
By Keenan Abercrombia
Iwas 10 years old when I first snuck one of my mom’s cigarettes. By 15, I was smoking regularly. Where I grew up in Compton, smoking wasn’t just a habit—it was a way of life. My mom smoked. My family smoked. Everyone I saw hanging out around the neighborhood and at the corner stores smoked. It was normal. Cool, even.
My mom used to send me to the store with a note pinned to my coat, and the workers—who all knew me—would let me buy her cigarettes. They never pushed back and I never thought anything of it because my reward was extra cash for candy. Looking back, I realize how much I was shaped by the world around me. Nicotine was everywhere, woven into the fabric of my life, and before I even understood addiction, I was hooked.
After years of smoking, my addiction only worsened when I became a culinary chef. Kitchens are high-stress environments, and for a long time, smoking felt like the only way to take the edge off. The vast majority of chefs smoke—it’s part of the culture. I fell right into it, using cigarettes to push through the pressure, to keep up with the chaos. And as my smoking increased, my mom and I became two peas in a pod, enabling each other without thinking twice about the consequences.
At one point, I was smoking two packs a day, often smoking backto-back cigarettes during my breaks. I tried quitting a few times. I even started vaping thinking it would help me cut back, but the flavors didn’t do it for me, and the headaches only made it worse. Clearly, I wasn’t ready to quit because I went right back to smoking cigarettes.
Then life started hitting me in ways I couldn’t ignore. I started losing family members to illnesses caused by smoking. My mom developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, requiring her to rely on oxygen. I could feel my own lungs struggling at times. But the biggest wake-up call was my three kids. I grew up without a father, and I refused to let them experience that same absence. I had to stop making excuses. I had to face my addiction head-on.
When I finally quit, I did it cold turkey. No patches, no vapes, no crutches—just pure willpower and the realization that I wanted better for myself and my family. Shortly after I quit, my mom passed away. It was a devastating loss, but it pushed me to stay strong. Instead of turning back to cigarettes, I threw myself into my work as a private chef and focused on raising my kids.
I also immersed myself in my roots with the Compton Cowboys, caring for horses and mentoring youth. Horses have a way of grounding you, teaching patience and discipline. Now, I use that platform to show young people there’s more to life than the streets. More than addiction. More than the habits we inherit.
Today, at 33, I am committed to choosing life. I share my story because I know the struggle firsthand. I don’t judge anyone still in the cycle—I’ve been there. I know how easy it is to think you have time until you don’t. My mom didn’t take quitting seriously until it was too late. I tell my loved ones and friends who still smoke to start now. Get ahead of it before it gets ahead of you because breaking free from the cycle of addiction is worth it. You are worth it.
Big Tobacco deliberately makes products that are hard to quit because our addiction is their profit. Like Keenan, you can break this dangerous and deadly cycle with science-based quit programs like Kick It California which provides trained Quit Coaches ¬– for free.
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
The Oakland Post oaklandpostonline.com Compton Herald comptonherald.org
OnMe News onmenews.com
Pace Newspaper pacenewsonline.com
Pasadena Journal pasadenajournal.com
• 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
Precinct Reporter precinctreporter.com
Sacramento Observer sacobserver.com
San Bernardino American sbamerican.com
San Francisco Bay View sfbayview.com
Sun Reporter sunreporter.com
Tri County Sentry tricountysentry.com
• 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
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 8949 Elk Grove Blvd Elk Grove, CA 95624 (916) 250-3087
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
Exquisite U Beauty Boutique
2550 Valley Rd. #9 Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 338-1137
Fadem Up Barbershop 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 1510 16th Street Ste 124 Inside Phenix Salon Studios Sacramento, CA 95814 (703) 200-2780
Immaculate Cuts Barbershop
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
J’s Remixed Hair Design 2740 Arden Way Ste 224 Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 822-2825
Kajmir Hair Studio/I Twist Sacramento 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
Kings Joint 1900 Terracina Dr Ste 120 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 571-5711
Margarets Hair Gallery 1610 Fulton Ave Sacramento, CA 95825 margaretshairsalon.com
Marichal Salon, Barber Shop & Suites 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
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
Royal Cuts Barbershop 4400 47th Ave #102 Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 424-2887
The Next Episode Hair Salon 2201 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 519-9045
Tisha’s Braids 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
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
ANOTHER LOOK HAIR SALON www.anotherlookhairsalon.com
CALHOPE www.calhope.org
CALIFORNIA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.calbcc.org
COLEMAN COMMUNICATIONS www.michaelpcoleman.com
CRYSTAL’S HAIR SALON 916.549.8972
DOUBLE TAKE HAIR GALLERY www.facebook.com/tavia.jenkins
GOREE & THOMPSON REAL ESTATE www.goreeandthompson.com
JAMES THE BARBER AND STYLIST (916) 514-2539
KDEE 97.FM www.kdeefm.org
MIXED INSTITUTE OF COSMETOLOGY www.mix-ed.com
MONDAVI CENTER AT UC DAVIS https://www.mondaviarts.org/
SACRAMENTO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU www.visitsacramento.com
SAVING OUR LEGACY, AFRICANS AMERICANS FOR SMOKE FREE SAFE PLACES www.thesolproject.com
THE GOSPEL VINE www.thegospelvine.com
TRAVELWITHTWLIA www.instagram.com/travelwithtwlia
www.sacculturalhub.com/media-foundation
