By Veronica Mackey
When President Joe Biden officially recognized Juneteenth as a federal
holiday on June 17, 2021, corporations got the green light to market as many Juneteenth-themed products as they
wanted.
But Black consumers said, not so fast! The holiday, which celebrates freedom
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The Rev. James Lawson Jr., pastor of Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, civil rights icon and personal friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has died. His family said Lawson passed away on Sunday after a short illness. He was 95.
A minister for more than 50 years, Rev. Lawson served as Pastor of Holman on Adams Blvd. from 1974 to 1999, when he retired. During his lifetime, he spent decades working as a pastor, labor movement organizer and university professor.
Lawson first met Dr. King in 1957,
after spending three years in India, studying about Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent approach to achieving independence against British rule. Two years later, Dr. King would travel to India himself.
Both black pastors were 28 years old at the time and quickly discovered their shared respect and enthusiasm for Ghandi and nonviolent activism.
During the Jim Crow period, when racial segregation in the South was upheld by law, King asked Lawson to join his civil rights movement.
Lawson became a top advisor to King, who called him “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in
the world.”
It was Lawson who organized the
Continued on page 7
Looking at statistics on absent fathers can make us feel there is no hope for the next generations. How can we expect our children to grow up with healthy self esteem, without a trusted and respected male figure to help and guide them?
Women have proven their ability to thrive as single mothers, to raise amazing children despite doing it without a man. But the truth is every child needs both a father and a mother in order to reach their maximum potential.
Of course, we’re not talking about just any old man—but
one who is loving, kind, and compassionate about his children. This does not have to be his biological children, however. Surrogate fathers can be found in a number of places, including churches, nonprofits and afterschool programs.
Denzel Washington has supported the Boys and Girls Club for many years, and credits the organization toward keeping him out of
trouble. After-school programs can be a big help for parents who can’t pick up their kids as soon as school is out. Big Brothers and similar mentorship programs can be helpful, especially for women who are raising boys.
Men have come a long way developing more positive attitudes and skills toward parenting. These days more men want to be actively involved in their children’s lives—no longer content to sit on the sidelines and let mothers do all the work. Even if they are no longer in a relationship with the mother, they realize there is more to parenting than writing a child support check. It’s being there for all
Inglewood Today (https:// inglewoodtoday.com) has announced immediate internship opportunities for aspiring journalists and data/research assistants. The 31-year old media company is considering college and high school students for 3-6 month internships working hybrid 4-8 hours per week.
Journalist interns will have an opportunity to build their writing portfolios while interviewing celebrities, elected officials and other community leaders. They will also cover issues related to Inglewood and surrounding areas. Data/research assistants will work behind the scenes maintaining databases and helping to organize and launch a new blog.
Interested candidates may apply by submitting resumes to veronica@ inglewoodtoday.com. If applying for the journalist internship, candidates must also submit their best 2-3 writing samples.
the highs and lows of raising their sons and daughters—from a child’s first step to their first romantic heart break, and everything in between.
So, in honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to give a big shout-out to those men who are actively making a difference in their children’s lives. Those who support their kids with their time, effort, attention, and positive affirmation, aside from money.
Happy Father’s Day to every father and fatherly surrogate putting in the time and work required to grow positive, loving, well-adjusted human beings.
“Love Letters to the Black Man” on August 3, 2024 at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood.
This performance promises to be an “electrifying experience filled with love, inspiration, and celebration as the brilliance and resilience of the Black man is honored through the arts,” according to creators. From soul-stirring monologues to hilarious comedy, the event promises to be a beacon of positivity, healing and empowerment.
The event will include a short documentary, the reading of monologues, honoring black males who are doing great work in the community, a male panel, and a comedian.
The performance is curated by award-winning playwright Shaneisha Dodson, who is also the founder of Black Girlz Productions. She holds a BA in psychology, MA in counseling, an Ed.S in education, and a certificate in women entrepreneurship. Dodson has received numerous accolades: 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023 Honorary Doctorate, 2022 Christian Women In Media Award (London, UK), 2021 Fade to Black Winner, 2021 Featured Writer for Madwomen in the Attic and many more.
Dodson has independently produced three full length productions that have toured throughout the United States. Her work has been presented at the Playwrights Playground at
Classical Theatre of Harlem,
It’s not easy to accept that nearly two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s are women, including Black women.
But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk, like monitoring Type 2 diabetes and lowering blood pressure. Because you have what it takes to take on Alzheimer’s. Talk to your health care provider about signs, screening and early detection.
Theatre, Soundscape theater,
Foundation and
Juneteenth Happenings
Taste of Inglewood Juneteenth and Father’s Day Celebration
We will commemorate the Juneteenth holiday and celebrate the amazing men who created a positive impact on parenting. Music, vendors and more. Contact: keokia@tasteofinglewood. com
Sunday, June 16, 11am-7pm Market Street, between Manchester and Nutwood, Inglewood 2024 Long Beach Juneteenth Celebration
A full day of music, food and more, celebrating Juneteenth. Performance by DJ Pee Wee, AKA Anderson Paak. Free. Reserved seating available ($80 per ticket). Contact: LBJuneteenth. com
Saturday, June 15, 10:30am-8:00pm Rainbow Lagoon Park, 400 E. Shoreline, Long Beach California African American Museum
Join us as for free workshops and family activities! Activities include self-care, sound bath, storytelling and Zine workshops. RSVP at https:// caamuseum.org/programs/talks-andworkshops/juneteenth-celebration
Saturday, June 15, 10:30am-3:00pm Exposition Park, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles
A groundbreaking new test has been developed that can predict dementia up to nine years before diagnosis, with an impressive 80% accuracy. This new technique has the potential to fill a significant clinical gap by identifying individuals who are at risk of developing dementia and providing treatment before symptoms manifest.
The test involves analyzing the network of connections in the brain during its “idle mode” to detect early signs of the condition.
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that this method is more effective than traditional memory tests or brain shrinkage measurements commonly used to diagnose dementia.
The study, led by Professor Charles Marshall, examined brain scans from
over 1,100 individuals from the UK Biobank database, which contains genetic and health information from half a million people in the UK. By analyzing the connections in a brain network called the default mode
network (DMN), researchers were able to predict which individuals would go on to be diagnosed with dementia.
Among the 103 individuals who were diagnosed with dementia, brain scans showed less connectivity in the default
mode network compared to those who did not develop dementia. Professor Marshall stated that predicting who will develop dementia in the future is crucial for developing treatments that can prevent the irreversible loss of brain cells that cause dementia symptoms. While the research shows promise in identifying structural changes in the brain before dementia symptoms appear, Dr. Richard Oakley of Alzheimer’s Society emphasized the need for further studies involving diverse groups of people to fully understand the benefits and limitations of this MRI scan as a diagnostic tool. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Nature Mental Health, offering hope for more accurate and timely detection of dementia in the future.
Source: Press Rundown
On June 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation for Pride Month in California, joining others around the world commemorating the LGBTQ+ struggle for equal rights following the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. Many historians regard that event as a catalyst for the global LGBTQ+ movement.
“This month –and every month – California stands with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community as they take pride in who they are and whom they love. Pride Month is a time to remember the gift that is our remarkable diversity, making all of us stronger as we continue to pursue equality, acceptance, and freedom for all,” Newsom said in a statement.
June also marks Juneteenth, a federal holiday celebrating the abolition of chattel slavery, in the United States. For Black LGBTQ+ advocates, these overlapping celebrations provide a unique opportunity to highlight the principles of activism that have become key to making a space for themselves in the world.
of the ACS will be holding a Pride and Juneteenth Celebration Picnic at the Don Castro Regional Recreation Area from 11:00am to 2:00pm.
Picnic activities include prizes, games, food refreshments and trivia about Cal ACS, Juneteenth and Pride.
The Los Angeles Black Pride event,
that we’re a resource against hate and discrimination.”
Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang said it is unfortunate that LGBTQ+ people of all races continue to experience hate crimes and hate incidents as they become more frequent and widespread.
8:00pm.
Cannick, while not condemning the more light-hearted elements of Pride celebrations, insists that Pride should also be a time for activism.
“Pride in 2024 should be about more than dressing up, more than a rainbow flag, and more than getting drunk and partying,” Cannick said. “That connection needs to be made especially with younger generations who are more content with social media activism than taking that same activism into the ballot booth.”
Jasmyne Cannick, a political consultant and journalist, spoke to California Black Media about how Pride and Black activism have always been intertwined, noting that activist Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, started the series of protests that would eventually give rise to Pride Month.
“Pride evolved out of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. They were protests against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City,” Cannick said. “So, Pride’s roots are based in political and social action.” Cannick highlighted a few events in California celebrating this shared history: the Cal American Chemical Society (ACS) Pride & Juneteenth Celebration Picnic, Los Angeles Black Pride and South Los Angeles Pride.
On June 15, the California section
taking place on July 4th weekend, is a three-day event featuring dancing, performances, awards and community gatherings in various locations in LA.
For Pride his year, the California Civil Rights Department’s “California Vs Hate” campaign launched a Pride tour that will make stops at celebrations across the state to inform LGBTQ+ Californians about the resources available to them to fight hate.
“In California, we don’t just tolerate our differences, we celebrate them,” said California Civil Rights Department Director Kevin Kish. “During Pride Month, we’re excited to march with and support communities up and down our state in the fight against hate. No matter who you love or who you are, we all deserve a chance to live our lives with joy. Through CA vs Hate and the Civil Rights Department, we want all our state’s residents to know
“Ensuring that LGBTQ+ Californians have the necessary resources and awareness on how to report hate safely is critical,” said Hoang. We are thankful for Governor Newsom’s leadership in ensuring that all acts of hate can be reported through CA vs Hate, regardless of whether it is a crime. We’re proud to work alongside CA vs Hate and the California Civil Rights Department to help make sure all members of the LGBTQ+ community can get the support they need when they report.”
The South LA Pride Celebration also takes place in July.
According to their website, the annual South LA Pride Celebration “exists to celebrate, uplift and empower the diverse LGBTQ+ community of South LA.”
South LA Pride will take place at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex on July 13 from noon to
The Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ priorities, tracks fatal violence against transgender and gender expansive people. So far this year, 15 people who fit this designation across the United States have been murdered. According to that data, 80% of victims have been people of color and 40% of them were Black transgender women.
For Black LGBTQ+ individuals who need to report hate incidents, CA vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal. Reports can be made anonymously by calling (833) 8664283, or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT or online at any time. For individuals who want to report a hate crime to law enforcement immediately or who are in imminent danger, please call 911. For more information on CA vs Hate, please visit CAvsHate.org.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, securing funding from outside investors can be a major stepping stone to growth and success. However, convincing investors to take a chance on your fledgling company is no easy feat. Investors will scrutinize your business plan, financial projections, and execution ability before parting with their capital. Small businesses should take the following key steps to attract investors and position themselves for an infusion of investment dollars.
Fortify Your Business Plan
Your business plan is one of the most critical components investors will evaluate. The plan should outline your company’s mission, products/services, market opportunities, competition, operations plan, management team bios, financial forecasts, and capital requirements. Ensure your plan is thorough, wellresearched, and paints a compelling
vision of how your business will grow and generate returns for investors.
Get Finances in Order
Sloppy or incomplete financial records and accounting will quickly turn investors off. Hire an accountant to audit your books, ensure accurate
If your business relies on proprietary technology, inventions, or trade secrets, take legal steps to protect your intellectual property. Investors will want to see patents, trademarks, or copyrights filed to prevent future
entrepreneurial experience, and skills to successfully lead the company’s growth. Outline responsibilities, ownership stakes, and compensation packages.
Tell a Captivating Story
bookkeeping and reporting, and help model different financial scenarios based on performance projections. Having meticulous and up-to-date financial statements demonstrates you run a professional operation.
conflicts as your business grows.
Build a Capable Management Team
Investors are betting on the jockey as much as the horse. Highlight management team members with relevant industry expertise,
When pitching investors, don’t just rattle off facts and figures. Tell an engaging story that lets investors envision your business’s potential. Explain the market pain point you solve, your competitive advantages, growth strategies, and the path to generating returns. Let your passion and vision shine.
Establish Traction
While your financial projections may show exponential growth ahead, investors want to see tangible evidence you’ve built a product or service customers want. Demonstrating early sales revenues, key customer acquisitions, or partnerships can dramatically improve your odds of landing funding. Getting small business investment requires meticulous preparation and ongoing business execution. Following these steps can help attract the investor dollars needed to catapult your entrepreneurial dreams to new heights.
Continued from page 1: African American ...
U.S., is more about history, culture and education than a trip to your local Walmart. Tee-shirts and greeting cards are not needed.
While Juneteenth is certainly worthy of its place in history, and its significance should be shared with those of all races and nationalities, becoming a “mainstream” holiday means taking away some of its specialness, its sacredness.
What we don’t need is another holiday to throw into the overcrowded ring of over commercialized observances like President’s Day, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day and of course major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Here in the U.S., holidays— regardless of the magnitude—are treated as opportunities for Corporate America to do business as usual. Slap the right colors on a book, mug, food and any popular item and call it a day.
However, the old formula is not working. Large corporations are having to walk back their big promotions and Juneteenth-themed merchandise, thanks to backlash from woke folks on social media.
Two years ago, Walmart was forced to remove its store-brand ice cream amid mass criticism. The retail giant issued an apology noting negative feedback from African-American customers
Some things just should not be marketed, and money made off the suffering of Black Americans is definitely one of them. The price paid for the end of slavery in this country should never be trivialized by cheap trinkets.
In recent years, emphasis has been placed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day of service to commemorate King’s tireless efforts toward socioeconomic equality. Similarly,
Juneteenth is valued as a day set aside to celebrate and reflect on the ultimate sacrifices made to win freedom for today’s generation.
Juneteenth is nicknamed for June 19th, the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans returned in Galveston, Texas to learn that slavery had been officially outlawed by President Abraham Lincoln.
Matthew Delmont, a historian at Dartmouth College, told Yahoo Finance, “It is hard not to worry that Juneteenth will be watered down or distorted now that it is a federal holiday.”
Kevin Cokley, chair of the educational psychology department at the University of Texas, said, “The true meaning of Juneteenth can easily be lost through consumerism and widespread consumption.”
Indeed. The apparent lack of respect for the meaning behind Juneteeth can be seen in the plethora of merchandise used to promote it. Walmart created a black tank-top with the phrase: “Because my ancestors weren’t free in 1976”. . .It was an apparent mistaken reference to the year America won independence in 1776.
Another example of dismissiveness was found by merchandise sold by Dollar Tree with red, yellow and green colors, instead of the official colors of the Juneteenth flag: red, white and blue.
“Having this date on the national calendar every year offers an opportunity to talk honestly about our nation’s history and to come together in community to celebrate the generations of Black Americans who have fought for freedom and equality.” Delmont said.
Case# 24TRCP00217
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS
Natalia Alisa Escalante, 712 E. 67th Street, #A, Inglewood, CA 90302, has filed a petition with the Superior Court Of California, County Of Los Angeles, Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Avenue, Room 100, Torrance, CA 90503, to change her name.
FROM: Natalia Alisa Escalante -TO: Natalia Noelle Herrera
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing on July 19, 2024, 8:30 AM, Dept P, Room 440, to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name change described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
Publication Dates: June 13, 20, 27; July 4, 2024.
Continued from page 1: James Lawson Jr., ...
sanitation workers strike in 1968 that led to King’s assassination in Memphis. Lawson said getting the news made him feel “paralyzed” and “saddened.”
In the early days of his career, Lawson worked extensively in Tennessee, training up-and-coming activists like John Lewis and Marion Barry, the Freedom Riders, and many others on the basics on how to respond peacefully to racist laws and policies.
Because of Lawson’s work, Nashville became the first major city in the South
to desegregate its downtown, on May 10, 1960.
Rev. Lawson was born September 22, 1928. As a young man, he refused to serve in the Korean War and spent a year in prison as a conscious objector. He recalled in an interview that his commitment to nonviolence began as a child. He told his mother that he slapped a boy in school who used a racial slur against him. His mother asked, “What good did that do?” That question changed his life.
West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) continues to expand its water recycling program. The program’s projects increase the supply of drinking water to property owners within West Basin’s service area by using recycled water for nondrinking water purposes (e.g., irrigation, parks, industrial cooling towers).
West Basin has adopted a resolution of intent to levy water standby charges. A copy of this resolution is available for public review by contacting West Basin’s Board Secretary at WestBasinBoardSecretary@westbasin.org or by submitting a written request to West Basin’s below specified Avalon Boulevard Office. The resolution describes how West Basin will fund the debt service obligation on West Basin’s water recycling facilities by the proposed levying of a water standby charge. The proposed annual standby charges shall be effective July 1, 2024 as follows:
For property located outside of West Hollywood the rates shall be as follows: single-family home or duplex shall not exceed $14.40 per acre of land, or portion thereof, or $14.40 for each parcel of land less than one acre. For property used for multiple-family residential purposes, including but not limited to, condominiums, apartments, mobile homes, motels and hotels, the rate shall not exceed $9.60 per dwelling unit. For property that is used for any nonresidential purpose the rate shall not exceed $72.00 per acre of land, or portion thereof, or $72.00 for each parcel less than one acre.
NOTE: THIS CHARGE WILL NOT EXCEED THE CHARGE THAT IS AS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. THERE IS NO STANDBY CHARGE INCREASE WHATSOEVER. The charge, if adopted, will be collected on the annual property tax bill, or as directed by West Basin’s Board of Directors.
PLEASE NOTE that the Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on June 24, 2024, at 1:00 pm at West Basin’s address shown below and by teleconference at 1-213349-1594 (Access code, 343-720-860#) to receive comments and written protests, if any, on continuing the proposed water standby charges for West Basin’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024. In addition, the Board will review all public protests and/ or written comments before considering adoption of the proposed standby charge. Any person may email or file a written protest with West Basin’s Board Secretary, at the street address below or by emailing WestBasinBoardSecretary@westbasin.org, to be received no later than 12:00 pm on June 24, 2024. The protest must identify the landowner and contain a description sufficient to identify the land owned by the landowner.
West Basin Municipal Water District 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Suite 210 Carson, CA 90746 (310) 217-2411
Edward J. Caldwell
General Manager
West Basin Municipal Water District
The state of California, in conjunction with the federal government, has allocated millions of dollars for small businesses in California to help them become greener and to strengthen their resilience to climate change.
However, many Black business owners across California say there is an information gap -- they have never heard of those climate-focused grants and other funding opportunities.
“In my community, we struggle to access information about available programs. Historically, by the time we hear about these opportunities, the funds are usually all gone, or the programs have ended, said Perry Bennett, the owner of Perry’s Joint, a “handcrafted gourmet sandwich shop” in Pasadena.
“We are always eager to grow our businesses, but we just don’t know what’s available. I’ve been in business for 30 years, and the cost of doing business has only increased,” Bennett added. “We want to use energy-efficient equipment, but we are a mom-and-pop operation. Help us out. We don’t even have the resources to take advantage of the resources.”
To identify what it would take to help businesses like Perry’s Joint,
The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit focused on helping to close the racial wealth gap by connecting small businesses to financial and other resources, has launched a new effort.
In partnership with the City of Pasadena’s Economic Development Division, The Center by Lendistry hosted a ‘Small Business Green Survey Crawl’ in Northwest Pasadena on May 30.
Small teams of volunteers visited local businesses to survey their efforts and challenges in becoming more resilient to climate impacts.
The Center by Lendistry’s efforts in Pasadena are part of a larger movement by local cities and municipalities, nonprofit organizations (Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to ensure that Black businesses and other minority-owned enterprises are not left behind as America and the world transition to a green economy.
climate resiliency.
“I applaud The Center and the City for bringing small business owners into the conversation about the effects of climate change,” says Everett K. Sands, CEO of Lendistry. “We’re doing what we can to ensure underserved
businesses have access to resources so they can participate in the green economy.”
the Crawl because it is the only area in Pasadena designated as a California Disadvantaged Community by the state. This historically Black neighborhood and its distinct commercial districts is home to a diverse range of minority- and women-owned businesses, including both legacy establishments and emerging enterprises. This year, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began distributing funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
GGRF is a $27 billion federal program to address the climate crisis. The fund will use financing and private capital to support clean energy and climate projects that reduce pollution, with a focus on benefiting low-income and disadvantaged communities.
to thrive.
Early survey results from the Crawl show that small business owners want to make their buildings more energy efficient but find it challenging to do so.
“I’m constantly looking for ways to cut back. I looked into solar but the program I found only allows you to put in enough panels to deal with the current load. I couldn’t cover the whole roof,” one Pasadena business owner who asked to be anonymous shared.
The Center also recently partnered with the City of San Fernando to extend climate resilience support and resources to local businesses.
The Center is also supportive of Blue Sky Center of Cuyama Valley located in rural north Santa Barbara County. That project is actively engaged in several resilience projects. Their cutting-edge hydro panels pilot project delivers pure drinking water from the air, bypassing the need for groundwater or bottled water deliveries. This initiative not only tackles environmental concerns but also aims to empower residents in a drought-affected community, reducing utility bills, upgrading homes, and ensuring a dependable source of clean drinking water.
Advocates say Black communities throughout California have historically faced disproportionate environmental burdens.
The Center volunteers assessed awareness and accessibility of existing programs that assist businesses in improving energy efficiency and upgrading equipment. The information collected will help The Center and the City to create strategies to ensure small businesses benefit from federal, state, and local programs designed to support
Lendistry leaders say the information gleaned from the survey will influence decisions about funding small business resilience to climate change. They hope the programs they design based on the information they collect from the crawl will be used as models for others around California and across the country.
Northwest Pasadena was selected for
Climate change poses significant challenges for small businesses, including damage from extreme weather events and financial losses. Regulatory compliance with new environmental standards often requires costly upgrades, and limited access to capital for resilience investments makes it difficult for small businesses
“By prioritizing these communities for climate resilience funding and support, we are working to reverse decades of inequity and ensure that the benefits of the green economy are equitably distributed,” read a statement from the Center.
“The insights from the ‘Green Survey Crawl’ in Pasadena will inform strategies and programs that can be replicated in communities not only in the state, but across the country, amplifying the impact of our work.”