March 16, 2023

By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

You have probably drove past this storefront many times and barely noticed the antiquated blue metal sign that sits just atop the O on the Uniroyal Tires lettering on the white building.

The 949 S La Brea Ave address was my destination and I passed it up myself trying to find it.

Wise Tires has been in Inglewood since 1923. The business was started by Dan Wise and his his son Dan Jr. until recently.

Wise Tires is an Inglewood institution, but when owner Dan Wise decided to sell the building and the namesake company, he wanted to make sure it was in good hands.

Inglewood native and former basketball player Nelson Batiste had

Continued on page 8

Living

By Anuoluwapo Bamiro, Contributing Writer

Welcome back to “What’s Up with Anuolu.” This week I want to give some encouragement to people out there trying to make their dreams come true.

Now that most people I grew up with are well into their twenties as well as growing families, living on their own, or planning to, the current increases in the cost of living can make it seem like those dreams are nearly impossible. With minimum wage just now set at $15 an hour, that calculates to roughly $2400 a month, which is the average costs for a one-bedroom in the Inglewood/LA area now.

I know for me, sometimes, I feel played with this whole adulting thing. Like I know we should have appreciated our childhood more, but it’s deeper than that. Most of our parents and family members had their own apartments or house by the time they were our age. So, they think our generation is lazy and lacks loyalty to jobs. But we do not have the security that our parents and older family

members had. We are working the same number of hours or more yet can’t afford a spot of our own nor be able to obtain it with one or even two jobs.

It makes a lot of my generation over hustlers, meaning we find a way to bring in an average of 3-6 different

streams of income, or we’re stuck with having 1-4 roommates to survive. I know many people will say, “Well just move back home.” But in doing that, I feel like sometimes, parents can stunt one’s spiritual and emotional growth. This is never, ever on purpose, but mostly because they will always see their kid as their baby. So, what does our society do to babies? It coddles them and keeps them safe from a single thing. We make the entire house baby-proof so that they don’t hurt themselves. So, it’s not that parents do it on purpose; they do it out of love. But that doesn’t really give us the breathing room to fail, to make mistakes, and have only our connection to God, to help us through.

So, with the cost of housing so high, a lot of people in their 20s are stuck

at home in places that don’t give them the space and autonomy to thrive and grow. In addition to that, the cost of buying groceries is insane. It seems like it is mandatory to have between $100$200 a trip just for a single person to buy some fruits, veggies, and maybe two types of protein. And don’t let me get started on gas. It is slowly creeping back up to $5 a gallon for regular. It is as though no matter where we turn something essential is going up to 2-3 times the previous price.

So that is where the disconnect usually comes from. The cost of living then verse now is not the same. It can trick us into thinking the world is against us. I know that these times are hard and difficult, but I also know that I and my generation are a resilient group of people. We have been taught how to make ways out of nothing. How to keep pushing through even when it feels like our back is against the wall. I know that even though it feels like all odds may be stacked against us, this generation is going

It’s the dawn of a new season in Inglewood

By Willie Brown, Executive Publisher

When I decided to start this publication some 31 years ago, I did so because I was inspired by a young student who wanted to see some positive news published about what was happening in Inglewood.

I heard his plea and it has resonated with me ever since.

I have always advocated for what I felt was best for the City of Inglewood, and so when I chose to support and endorse Gloria Gray for Inglewood District 1 City Council, I did so because it was best for Inglewood.

It was a crowded field of candidates and the incumbent George Dotson had the weight of the mayor and all of the money behind him, so few thought he could or would lose.

After he was forced into a runoff and Gloria survived that crowded field of candidates, the odds were still stacked against her.

I doubled down, utilizing all of the resources at my disposal I got the message out, the citizens in the community got it and they have now elected Gloria Gray to become District 1 Council person.

Gloria’s victory breaks the yoke on the stronghold of power that has been wielded over this city by the mayor.

It demonstrates that if a candidate is presented to the residents of the districts in an open and fair forum then they are capable of making

sound choices that benefit their interest, which is the way it should be.

Therefore, I am convinced that having and independent voice on the City Council is good for the City, good for District 1 and good for our community business. While many people have called to congratulate me and Inglewood Today for backing Gloria Gray, the credit goes to the community residents who have made their minds up to make choices that are best for them.

This is a new dawn in Inglewood, where we will become a melting of ethnic groups and cultures, but the culture that we do not want to lose in this transformation is the culture of Inglewood. Who we are, what we are and how we became matters. It mattered before this transformation and it matters most while it is happening. There is room under the tent for all of us.

THANK YOU GEROGE FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO INGLEWOOD.

Rams aiding legislative push for regulation for California high school athletic trainers

By Stu Jackson, The Rams

LOS ANGELES – If your child is a California high school student athlete and gets injured, do they have a certified athletic trainer nearby?

Statistics show it’s highly unlikely. And the Los Angeles Rams are aiding the push in making sure that changes.

“I think it’s important because our youth is important,” Scott told theRams.com Thursday after speaking at the second Team Up for Sports Safety Forum, which is planned and hosted by the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) in conjunction with the California Athletic Trainers’ Association (CATA), the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and National Football League (NFL). “That’s what creates and unites the action. But I think other the good thing about it, too, is that it’s very preventable. This is something that we can fix with the proper healthcare professionals and proper licenses and regulations.”

Authored by Dr. Akilah Weber, recently-introduced AB 796 would establish the California Board of Athletic Training within the Department of Consumer Affairs to exercise licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions under the act. It would also prohibit a person from practicing as an athletic trainer or using certain titles or terms without being licensed by the board.

The bill is driven by nationwide numbers that present a startling picture when its scope is narrowed to California.

Nationally, nearly 300 sport-related high school catastrophic injuries and more than 80 sport-related high school deaths have occurred in the past five years, with 90 percent of these deaths occurring due to cardiac arrest, heat/neck injuries, exertional heat stroke and exertional sickling. At the moment, states only mandate an average of 54 percent of the policies proven to reduce these deaths. The leading states in the country – Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Kentucky and New Hampshire – require an average of 79 percent.

In contrast, California currently mandates only 31 percent of those policies despite seeing 34 high school athletes die and 92 sustain catastrophic sports-related injuries from 20052020. Of those deaths, 88 percent were due to three injuries: Cardiac (69 percent), head/neck (13 percent) and heat stroke (6 percent).

Furthermore, California has 800,000 high school athletes, yet just 56 percent of schools have access to an athletic trainer. CATA estimates that about 20 percent people employed as athletic trainers in California high schools have

not graduated from a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education Accredited program or passed a national certification exam, potentially placing thousands of youth at great risk.

Most stunning, California is also the only state in the entire country that does not regulate athletic trainers.

“I think (preventability) is number one, because once you can get licensures and we get respected as an allied healthcare professional, then hopefully, eventually, it gets to where we start mandating these new athletic trainers at every secondary high school,” said Scott, who also serves as President of the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. “Like we talked about, 800,000 student athletes, 56 percent have (access to) athletic trainers, and how many are not certified athletic trainers? That’s an issue. So I think once we get the licensure, the next step then is to really start regulating and mandate to try to make sure there’s no youth sports that go on that don’t have the proper medical coverage).”

According to a 2019 study on Access to Athletic Trainer Services in California Secondary Schools, nearly half (47.6 percent) of California high schools did not employ an athletic trainer (representing 191,626 or 28.9 percent of student athletes). Additionally, eight percent of student athletes participated at a school that employed an unqualified health personnel as an athletic trainer.

What is closest to the Rams’ support of this is that is very much a social justice issue, in terms of underresourced areas lacking athletic trainers.

“My kids, God willing, they’re going to have the financial means to have a lot of care,” former Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who also spoke at Thursday’s forum, told theRams.com on Thursday. “I’m worried about the kids who don’t have that opportunity, and there’s an obligation to this state in my opinion, to make sure that every kid, no matter where they go to school, when they step on a field and they step out in sports in high school, they can feel secure that their life is in good hands. And that they can trust the people that are taking care of them, and that we are overseeing that those are the best-qualified people, educated people, in their position at each one of these schools. They all deserve the same account.”

Whitworth’s storied longevity as a 16-year NFL career at one of the game’s most demanding positions is well-documented. He said having that certified care at the high school level is

‘This is something we can fix with the proper healthcare professionals and proper licenses and regulations’:

Rams & Bank of America team up to provide paid fellowship program for formerly incarcerated young adults

TheRams.com

The Los Angeles Rams and Bank of America teamed up with LA-based nonprofits Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and The RightWay Foundation to provide two formerly incarcerated young adults with paid fellowship experiences and second chances to build a better future.

The sixth month Rams Fellows Program provides onsite working experiences across various Rams’ departments including Football Operations, Partnership Sales, Partnership Marketing, Community Impact and Rams Studios.

“Providing access and opportunity for our at-risk youth and young adults is at the core of the Rams’ community efforts and we are thankful that Bank of America shares those same values,” said Molly Higgins, Rams Vice President of Community Impact and Engagement. “Juan and Kenzo were outstanding additions to our team last season and inspiring reminders that when we leverage our platform in creative ways, we can help change life trajectories. After seeing their powerful stories, our hope is that other organizations will want to join the effort to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with a second chance to redefine their future.”

The Rams Fellows program was created jointly by the Rams and

Bank of America and is designed to support young adults from underresourced communities by providing access to mentorship and workforce experience to develop critical job skills, a professional network and career pathways. Bank of America’s funding not only provides monthly stipends to the fellows, but also covers the costs of corporate housing, subsidized transportation, and financial education coaches for each fellow. Over the past two years, both organizations have worked with Brotherhood Crusade, Anti-Recidivism Coalition and The RightWay Foundation to identify candidates for this unique opportunity.

“The partnership between Bank of America and the LA Rams not only opens doors to work experience and a paycheck, but it goes above and beyond that,” said Raul A. Anaya, president of Bank of America Greater Los Angeles, and president of Business Banking. “By connecting these talented young adults with mentors and a nonprofit partner that provides important wraparound services, they can more readily overcome barriers to success at work and in life.”

The new short film “Redefined,” produced by Rams Studios and available on therams.com/Redefined, highlights the journeys of the most recent fellows - Juan Camacho and Kenzo Sohoueand how they have taken steps forward

to redefine their lives.

Juan Camacho hails from Long Beach, Calif., and was separated from his mother at a young age before entering into the foster care system where he was then separated from his siblings. He lived with more than 10 different families in a span of four years and was incarcerated for more than a decade. Juan connected with ARC upon his release and explored employment opportunities including the fellowship program with the Rams.

Kenzo Sohoue grew up in Cameroon, Africa, before coming to the United States. Once he arrived in the U.S., he battled homelessness and lived in housing shelters with his mother, who eventually left him on his own. Upon release from incarceration, Kenzo worked with ARC to enroll in college courses and discover hobbies and passions that develop transferrable skills for future work opportunities.

This program is one of the Rams’ social justice programs aimed at inspiring change with a focus on providing access and opportunity and driving equity. Through various initiatives, the Rams work to address issues of poverty that disproportionately impact communities of color including education inequities, housing and food insecurities, youth mentorship and community-police relations.

As part of Bank of America’s ongoing

commitment to youth employment, more than 27,000 summer jobs and paid internships have been funded since 2011 for teens and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country. Programing is focused on connecting young people predominantly from communities of color to impactful jobs, skillsbuilding, networking, and mentorship opportunities.

critical, because he doesn’t know if he would be where he is today if not for the care he received in high school –especially given that he played almost every sport his school offered.

“So there’s lots of opportunities for injuries and mistakes and everything else and they happen,” Whitworth said. “It’s a guarantee that kids are gonna get hurt playing a sport, just how severe they are, so the best healthcare for each one of those situations is what we should always be shooting for. But to think that we’re starting from a place where that person’s not even certified in the majority of injuries is just insane to me. It makes zero sense and it’s something that has to be fixed.”

Continued from page 2: Rams...

Area Communities

Serving Ladera, Hawthorne, Westchester, Lawndale, Gardena, Carson

Women’s History Month: Asm. McKinnor Joins Panel of Legislators at Sacramento Event

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Last week, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) joined a diverse panel of women legislators at the “Women in California’s Legislature: 2023 Speaker Series on California’s Future” luncheon to discuss the essential roles they play in shaping governmental policies benefiting Californians.

The event was hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.

This year’s class of legislators includes the largest number of women in state history– 18 senators and 32 assemblymembers. Joining McKinnor on the panel by were state Senators Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro).

McKinnor said she made the decision to get into politics after seeing the video of police officers beating motorist Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1992.

Over the years, Mckinnor said, a major influence on her policy decisions are the learnings she gleans from raising a family.

“I think (women) bring diversity to the table because we are about taking care of our families,” McKinnor said. “So, the legislation that you see coming out of this (panel), I believe, will be around housing, jobs, equity, and public safety. The women here are going to make a tremendous difference because we take care of our families differently.”

Before McKinnor was elected to the California State Assembly in June 2022, she served as civic engagement director for the non-profit LA Voice and previously served as operational director for the California Democratic Party and chief of staff to several members of the State Assembly. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from California State University Dominguez Hills.

McKinnor is currently chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee. She serves on other policy committees, including the Business and Professions Committee, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, and the Governmental Organization Committee.

McKinnor’s legislative priorities include California’s continued COVID-19 recovery, increased funding for public education, expanded universal access to healthcare, the state’s housing and homelessness crisis, and reforming the state’s criminal justice system.

“I never thought I’d be in politics in 1992. I thought I had better get off the sofa and pay attention to what’s going

on,” McKinnor said. “After that, I didn’t sit down, and I got involved in the community.”

Black women are 7.7% of the total U.S. population and 15.3% of the total number of women in the country, according to the U.S. Census.

In 2021 study, the State Innovation Exchange (SIE) – a group that advocates for representation in state legislatures -- and the National Organization for Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women) took a deep dive into their analysis of women serving in government.

SIE and NOBEL Women reported that Black women fill just 4.82% (356) of 7,383 state legislature seats across the United States. That same year, eight state legislatures convened without a single Black woman in their ranks: Vermont, South Dakota, Hawaii, Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota – all places with Black populations falling in a range from 2 to 6%, the study revealed.

Currently, there are five Black women in the California Legislature: McKinnor and Assemblymembers Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Akilah Weber (D-La

Mesa) and Sen. Lola Smallwood Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights). They are also members of the California Legislature Black Caucus.

Smallwoold-Cuevas is the lone Black woman among 40 state senators.

“I am the 20th Black woman to be elected to the (California) legislature,” McKinnor said at the event held on International Women’s Day. “Sen. Lola Smallwood became the 21st Black woman. So, we still have a lot of work to do.”

PPIC, the nonprofit that organized the event, bills itself as nonpartisan think tank with a mission to inform and improve public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. Former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is PPIC’s president and chief executive officer.

Ophelia Basgal, an affiliate at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at University of California, Berkeley, and a senior executive consultant for Inclusion INC, provided the opening remarks.

All the women legislators who participated in the event are members of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, a political body that represents

and advocates on the behalf of the diverse interests of women, children and families.

The panelists discussed gender diversity in state politics, how personal interests play out in politics, legislation they are currently working on, setting better policy for the state, and offered advice to women who are interested in running for office.

“In addition to the vision and experience, we bring that voice into the room that is often unheard and unseen,” said Ortega, a longtime labor leader and activist from an immigrant family. “We will make sure we are seen and heard and deliver (policies) for all in the state of California and the United States.”

The Sheraton Ballroom in downtown Sacramento was filled with women and men listening to the 60-minute conversation between the women that was at times passionate, thoughtprovoking, reflective and lighthearted.

“We’ve been truly inspired by this distinguished panel for their questions, insight, and answers,” Cantil-Sakauye said to the audience. “Thank you for making this (speakers series) memorable.”

Sports & Entertainment

Losing a friend hurts, No matter when you find out

By Kenneth Miller, Publisher

The origin of the missed phone call was Nashville, Tennessee but the name associated with it was form St. Louis.

So, I immediately called DJ. Phone disconnected…Second number… Phone disconnected. Facebook confirmed it.

Demetrious Johnson, aka DJ, The Big Fella had died. He passed on Christmas Eve 2022, the day before his annual toy giveaway in north St. Louis that impacts thousands of families every year. He was just 61 years old.

I met DJ in 2005 when I was working with Don King to promote St. Louis native Corey Spinks versus Zab Judah boxing match. The two had just fought a year before in Las Vegas and King chose St. Louis for the rematch.

Two weeks before the fight you could not give tickets away, but I met DJ who took me around town, introduced me to everybody, he pledged to help me promote the fight then things begin to change.

Days before the fight Don King had a promoter’s dream. It was a sell-out, not a single ticket available.

I am not saying that DJ was single handedly responsible for that, but what I am saying is that fight would not have been as successful without the help of Demetrious Johnson.

He was that impactful, carried that much weight and if you so happen to be on the other side of one of his issues where he was advocating for poor Blacks, then may God be with

you because your life was going to be a living hell.

He grew up in the Darst-Webbe Housing Projects and was raised by a single mother, just like I was in Los Angeles. He came from a family of 8, I came from one of 7. Our connection was immediate and it was sincere.

DJ would go from McKinley High School and then to University of Missouri on a football scholarship.

After graduating, he was drafted by the Detroit Lions to the NFL where he played for five years before concluding with the Miami Dolphins in 1987. Three years later in 1990 he started the

Demetrious Johnson Foundation.

It was through the foundation that our relationship evolved. That summer he invited me to his golf tournament, footing the bill for the flight and hotel. The next year he hosted a high school all-star game similar to the event that I produce in Los Angeles and we had a fun debate over who had the best players.

He challenged me to bring the best player from my game to play in his, so the following year I brought UCLA recruit Michael Roll who had played alongside Darren Collision in my Collision All Star Game.

Roll lit it up and DJ absolutely love it. I called Roll the other day and told him of DJ’s passing and he too was saddened. Roll said that was one of the most memorable events of his life.

There was an impasse where we didn’t talk for about a year, but when I called, he apologized we promised to keep in touch.

I met his former wife of 36 years, his childhood sweetheart Patricia “Pat” Jackson and their three daughters Ashley, Taylore and Alexandria. He was absolutely in love with all of them

Continued on page 7

Los Angeles Chargers Tender Cameron Dicker and Foster Sarell

The Los Angeles Chargers have placed tenders on kicker Cameron Dicker and tackle Foster Sarell.

Chargers.com

Dicker recorded one of the best rookie seasons by a kicker in NFL history, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December/ January and two Special Teams Player of the Week honors (Week 5 with Philadelphia and Week 9 with the Chargers). He was an All-Rookie selection by the Professional Football Writers of America after making 21-of22 field goals (95.5 pct.) on the season. The 95.5 field goal percentage was the best by a rookie kicker since the 1970 NFL-AFL Merger among players with at least 15 field goal attempts. Dicker kicked at the University of Texas for four seasons (2018-21), earning firstteam All-Big XII recognition at punter

and honorable mention at kicker as a senior for the Longhorns.

Sarell saw his first NFL action in seven games for the Bolts in 2022, including

three starts at right tackle. He made the first start of his career on Sunday Night Football in Week 10 at San Francisco. The Tacoma, Wash., native started at right tackle in the Week 14 victory over Miami, helping the offense total over 400 yards of offense and protect Justin Herbert to throw for 367 yards. He spent most of the 2021 season on the team’s practice squad after spending time with the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens. Sarell played four seasons (2017-20) at Stanford, starting 17-of34 career games along the offensive front, seeing most of his action at right tackle. He earned honorable mention All-Pacific-12 recognition in 2019.

NNPA to address state of Black Press

National Bankers Association (NBA)

President & CEO Nicole Elam Esq. and Chairman Robert James II released the following statement regarding Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank.

“In light of recent industry events,

the National Bankers Association wants to assure consumers that your money is safe with minority banks. Minority depository institutions are very different from both SVB and Signature Bank which had high concentrations in crypto deposits and volatile venture capital. Minority banks are not exposed to riskier

asset classes and have the capital and strong liquidity to best serve consumers and small businesses. If you’re looking for a place to bring your deposits and have greater impact, bring your deposits to minority banks” said Nicole Elam, President and CEO of the National Bankers Association.

“The Biden-Harris Administration, FDIC, and Federal Reserve worked hard this weekend to make sure that these bank failures are the exception, not the rule, and that all Americans can continue to have confidence in our banking

Continued on page 7

Statement from the National Bankers Association on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank

National Bankers Association (NBA)

President & CEO Nicole Elam Esq. and Chairman Robert James II released the following statement regarding Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank.

“In light of recent industry events, the National Bankers Association wants to assure consumers that your money is safe with minority banks. Minority depository institutions are very different from both SVB and Signature Bank which had high concentrations in crypto deposits and volatile venture capital. Minority

banks are not exposed to riskier asset classes and have the capital and strong liquidity to best serve consumers and small businesses. If you’re looking for a place to bring your deposits and have greater impact, bring your deposits to minority banks” said Nicole Elam, President and CEO of the National Bankers Association.

“The Biden-Harris Administration, FDIC, and Federal Reserve worked hard this weekend to make sure that these bank failures are the exception, not the

Each year, Black Press Week provides an opportunity for journalists and media professionals to connect and discuss issues facing the Black Press.

Continued from page 6: NNPA ..

system. I also applaud bipartisan leaders in Congress for keeping stakeholders informed about how hard-earned deposits are being kept safe.” said Robert James, II, Chairman of the National Bankers Association, President & CEO, Carver Financial Corporation

MDIs are in the strongest position ever to support their customers and here’s why:

capital has flowed to MDIs and currently, the median MDI common equity ratio is 16.4% versus 14.8% for non-MDIs.

• Traditional Banking Model with Diverse & Secure Assets: MDIs are diversified in terms of their assets, predominately focused on wellcollateralized loans, and are not exposed to riskier asset classes. Unlike both SVB and Signature Bank, MDIs have very limited exposure to the venture capital industry and crypto.

• Well-Capitalized and Strong Liquidity: MDIs are in the strongest position ever. The sector is exceptionally well capitalized, enjoys substantial liquidity overall, and has grown by 33% over the last three years in total assets. Nearly $4 billion in new, permanent

• Positioned for Impact: 77% of MDI branches are in areas with a higher average share of minorities compared to 31% for all FDIC-insured depository institutions. According to a Dallas Fed Study in 2022, MDIs originate almost 40% of their mortgages to minority borrowers, versus only 10% by other banks. Additionally, MDIs originate 30% of small business loans to lowto moderate-income communities in comparison to 20% at community banks and 24% at large banks. Customer deposits are not only extremely safe in an MDI but are far more likely to have a positive impact in the community.

Continued from page 6: NNPA ..

The National Bankers Association is the nation’s leading trade association for the country’s minority depository institutions (MDIs). MDIs have always focused on safety and soundness as a part of our conservative, relationship-based business model. We continue to monitor SVB’s impact on large corporate deposit concentrations, fintech, tech companies, and larger financial institutions that have partnerships with MDIs or who have made investments in MDIs. rule, and that all Americans can continue to have confidence in our banking system. I also applaud bipartisan leaders in Congress for keeping stakeholders informed about how hard-earned deposits are being kept safe.” said Robert James, II, Chairman of the National Bankers Association, President & CEO, Carver Financial Corporation

The National Bankers Association is the nation’s leading trade association for the country’s minority depository institutions (MDIs). MDIs have always focused on safety and soundness as a part of our conservative, relationship-based business model. We continue to monitor SVB’s impact on large corporate deposit concentrations, fintech, tech companies, and larger financial institutions that have partnerships with MDIs or who have made investments in MDIs.

MDIs are in the strongest position ever to support their customers and here’s why:

• Traditional Banking Model with Diverse & Secure Assets: MDIs are diversified in terms of their assets, predominately focused on wellcollateralized loans, and are not exposed to riskier asset classes. Unlike both SVB

and Signature Bank, MDIs have very limited exposure to the venture capital industry and crypto.

• Well-Capitalized and Strong Liquidity: MDIs are in the strongest position ever. The sector is exceptionally well capitalized, enjoys substantial liquidity overall, and has grown by 33% over the last three years in total assets. Nearly $4 billion in new, permanent capital has flowed to MDIs and currently, the median MDI common equity ratio is 16.4% versus 14.8% for non-MDIs.

• Positioned for Impact: 77% of MDI branches are in areas with a higher average share of minorities compared to 31% for all FDIC-insured depository institutions. According to a Dallas Fed Study in 2022, MDIs originate almost 40% of their mortgages to minority borrowers, versus only 10% by other banks. Additionally, MDIs originate 30% of small business loans to lowto moderate-income communities in comparison to 20% at community banks and 24% at large banks. Customer deposits are not only extremely safe in an MDI but are far more likely to have a positive impact in the community.

PLACE

SAVE

to push through and make it great for not only ourselves but for the future generations to come.

I wanted this week’s blog to shed some light on what I and my generation may be feeling about the rising cost of living as well as the rising cost of food, gas, shelter, and water (you say

Continued from page 5: Losing ..

Continued from page 1: Twenty-Somethings... at the time, frequently boasting about how smart the girls were.

He also introduced me to his mother, brothers and some of my favorites those deep in the hood, who respected him as much as the local politicians.

DJ earned his living working at the Sherwood Medical Company, which is now Covidien, as the National Sales Manager for the Athletic Sports Medicine Division. While there, he became the first non-athletic trainer to receive the Bill Chissum Award for bringing diversity to the Athletic Training Field.

as well as, but these things are the cost of living). It can get discouraging and feel as though we aren’t doing enough when we are doing so much. I know as we get older and create families, it almost feels impossible to achieve living well and enjoying life. But I know we can, and I know things will

get better for us. We’ve lived through so many tragic and life-altering events in the world. Yet, look at us--still here, still brilliant, and still resilient. I hope when you read this column you feel seen, and heard and know that no matter what, you will get everything you dream of.

However, he was most proud of his foundation, local radio show where he would delve into a myriad of topics from race to relationships.

DJ understood the importance of his community started exploring ways to give back as early as childhood. His deep desire to encourage and support underprivileged children to reach their potential was his life work through the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation, Inc.

I was often a guest on his show which had expanded to Michigan at the time of his death.

Jamie, JC and Kevy Kev, three of

the rocks in his life that I became acquainted with were all instrumental in his foundation and radio show.

Jamie explained to me this week that DJ learned that he had heart complications but kept it close to the vest but eerily began putting his affairs in order. He went to the hospital for about five days but never came out.

Damn it DJ? You could have said bye. I am left with your last text message you sent me on July 13, 2022 at 1:39pm. “Love You Big Dog.”

And, I love you too my brother. Rest well. I miss you!

worked with his father’s automotive repair shop that had been established for 40 years, but the owner of their Century and Prairie Ave. location sold and the Batiste family did not have right of first refusal.

Both small Inglewood businesses had five star ratings, but heading in vastly different directions. One seeking a new location and the other perhaps closing its doors for good.

However, what Wise discovered in Nelson Batiste and his wife Lindsay six months ago was capable caretakers of the long standing tire store that was as trusted a business there is in the city.

“We saw that Dan Wise deal had fell out, we were looking on LoopNet because we wanted to stay in Inglewood. When we saw that Dan Wise building came up for sale again we came over to speak to him personally,” Nelson explained.

The couple introduced themselves to Wise and he later went to their shop to meet Nelson’s father and at that point Wise was impressed in what he saw and wanted a family to take over his family business. Not just any family but a Black family. Wise is white.

“I think it was important to him. He was very ecstatic when he saw that a young Black man was running a shop and that we had been in business for 40 years. I think he did his background check on us too because we both had five star ratings. I think it was important that it was a minority owned business,” he added.

Nelson initially got into the business because he quit playing basketball at California State University Stanislaus in Northern California, so he came back home to Inglewood because as he said he had no reason to be there anymore.

“When I came home and after finishing my degree at Cal State Dominguez Hills (with a degree in business management

and entrepreneurial strategies, also with a minor in public administration), my dad sat down with me and said son I need some help.”

Nelson hesitated at first, waffling on whether or not he wanted to go and work for his father auto repair shop, but decided to do it.

Living with his sister at the time, he needed the job to help pay rent so he also got a job working at LAX working graveyard and then work for his dad during the day time.

It was while working at LAX he met his wife Lindsay who works side by side with him.

He says that he would get a lot of requests from customers for tires while in the automotive shop, but it was not his primary business.

So, it wasn’t until he met Wise that tires became his primary business.

“It’s not too far off from what we were doing. All we do is check the plaque in the door and ask them what brand they want.”

Wise Tires offers mostly new tires, wheel alignments and high speed balances, breaks and suspensions with a plan to incorporate automotive as well.

Nelson has Lindsay to thank for encouraging him to run his own business when he took over ownership of his father’s business in 2004.

The first six years was a struggle, he didn’t make any money and was forced to live off his savings.

His family which included two kids at the time has since swelled to five, a 20 year old, a 15 year old, a 7 year old, a 3-year old and a one year old for the 44-year old business owner. Nelson and his wife have been together for 20

years.

Nelson wants the community to know that Wise Tires is stable and as old as

Disneyland, but still promises you the ride of your life.