September 28, 2028

Celebrating 31 Years of Service in Inglewood, Airport area Communities

The City of Inglewood’s Hispanic American Heritage Was A Great Day of Cultural Pride and Diversity

By DPM

The City of Inglewood’s Hispanic American Heritage Festival last Saturday was a colorful family-fun day that brought out hundreds of people to enjoy the rich tapestry of the city’s Hispanic culture.

The festival was held in the heart of the city on Market Street and covered several blocks populated by vendor booths, health screenings, children’s activities, and more. There were also plenty of delicious food choices such as La Carniceria El Artista, Baja Tacos Fish Chef, Tamale Fiesta, LA Cheesesteaks, Pupusa Ritas, and Love Ice just to name a few.

But there were two popular attractions that kept people entertained. The main stage provided a variety of music that kept people dancing all day to familiar melodies by Mariachis, Ballet Folklorico Macias, Dreaming of You, Sonora Dinamita, and Clave Dura. Radio personality Caro Marquez served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Down the street was an elaborate display of vintage low riders and other classic cars. Councilman Alex Padilla said the event has grown every year.

“Today we’re hosting over 125 cars,” said Padilla. “There was a $20 entrance fee for all the cars.

That $20 will go directly to the Inglewood Little League Team because they are here helping us as volunteers, and it’s a way to help our youth programs in the city of Inglewood,” said Padilla.

There were 15 categories for participants to take home a trophy and have bragging rights for the year. However, with each car valuing over $100K, every car is a winner.

“I have a 1959 Impala,” said David Reyes, one of the contenders in the car show. “The guy I bought the car from grew up in Venice. He

designed the car. I haven’t changed a thing. It’s original. I’ve had a lot of people offer me $200 thousand for the car, but I really like this car,” added Reyes.

While the festival paid tribute to the culture and accomplishments of Hispanics, it also pointed to the spirit of the city’s ability to create meaningful unity between the Black and Brown communities, said Councilman Eloy Morales, Jr.

“It is super important to have a Hispanic Heritage Celebration,”

Continued on page 8

“ Navigating the Inglewood...” See Page 6

California Has a Critical Shortage of Black Teachers

Numerous studies have shown that Black teachers can improve Black students’ academic outcomes, but in California, where Black Students are the lowest performing sub-group of all ethnic groups, the state has an extremely low count of African American instructors working in school districts across the state

According to the California Department of Education’s 20182019 Ethnic Distribution of PublicSchool Teachers, Black teachers disproportionately make up 3.8% of the state’s 12,000 public school classroom instructors.

Blacks account for about 5.7% of California’s total population of almost 40 million people.

“Addressing the educator shortage is one of the most important things we can do to support student achievement,” stated Tony Thurmond, the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“We must increase compensation, prioritize training, improve working conditions, and pursue all strategies that can help our schools add staff to help our students thrive,” Thurmond continued.

Thurmond made this assessment at a news conference before he hosted a Teacher Recruitment Summit at the California Department of Education (CDE) in Sacramento last month.

The Teacher Recruitment Summit was opened to individuals from all organizations focused on reducing the teacher shortage. The event formally launched a coalition to engage in direct

recruitment of teacher candidates statewide,

The summit included information about teacher credentialing programs affiliated with school districts and county offices of education, pipeline programs, and AmeriCorps programs.

CDE is addressing the needs of Black educators but there some people who found channels to enter the profession outside of the traditional process, including Nisha Britton who is employed at Angelo Rodriguez High School in Northern California.

Britton, 37, is a Special Education specialist at the school located in Fairfield, 45 east of San Francisco. She just started her first year working with special education students where there are about five Black teachers among the faculty.

Britton, who has a bachelor’s degree in communications/Journalism from Morgan State University -a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Maryland -says she is aware about the shortage of Black teachers in the state. She’s motivated to combat the issue on multiple levels.

“There is a lot of diversity at this school, but I feel like these kids need someone like me,” Britton told California Black Media (CBM). “I want to help these kids figure out what they want out of life.”

Angelo Rodriguez High School opened in 2001 and is the newest of the three comprehensive high schools in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. Angelo Rodriguez High

School is located in Fairfield.

Britton is not fully certified as an educator. She found a pathway through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing program (CTC) which certifies her for two years. CTC is committed to ensuring the integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of the educators who serve the state’s diverse students, according to the organization’s website.

There were more than 10,000 teacher vacancies across California during the 2020-2021 school year. The state has allocated $3.6 billion in funding over the last four years to improve recruitment, training, and retention.

Dr. Travis Bristol, Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Education Policy at Berkeley School of Education, was one of the guest speakers at Thurmond’s news conference.

Through his extensive research, Bristol has been at the forefront of increasing Black male participation in public school education.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s the State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce,” educators of color account for less than 10% of all public-school teachers across the country. Black males represent 1.9% of that total.

Based on CDE’s 2018-2019 figures, Black male teachers in California accounted for one percent (3705) of 307,470 instructors in the state. The student population in the state was 6,186,278 during the last school year.

While doing research in Boston, Bristol discovered that Black male educators had one of the highest rates of turnover. Most of them left the profession due to poor working environments, feelings of isolation and the perception that they are the overseers of problematic students rather than educators, and the inability to receive adequate tools from school administrators.

Bristol and other Black educators have facilitated professional learning networks across the state where Black male teachers can discuss their challenges. s.

Bristol, who majored in English as an undergrad at Amherst College, expressed gratitude and urged caution in recruitment, saying that there are other “critical issues” as to why there is a low count of Black men and women educators. The UC Berkeley professor said he does not advocate for a “replacement theory.” White students perform well academically and benefit from having Black teachers, too.

“The research and evidence are clear that when students of color have a teacher of color they persist in school. They are less likely to get suspended, and have higher achievement,” Bristol said. “But as we spend some time thinking about recruitment, let us not lose sight of thinking about and pushing for recruitment, supporting and sustaining ethnic racial diversity in the workforce.”

Frontline Workers at Prime Healthcare Vote to Authorize Unfair Labor Practice Strike

Los Angeles, Calif. – Healthcare workers across four Prime Healthcare facilities in Southern California are the latest round of workers to authorize an unfair labor practice strike as corporate management threatens and intimidates workers, and refuses to bargain in good faith to fix unsafe working and patient care conditions caused by the shortstaffing crisis.

The unfair labor practice strike will run from October 9-13 at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center, and Encino Hospital Medical Center, if progress is not made in negotiations between Prime executives and frontline healthcare workers.

“We are calling on Prime Healthcare to stop their unfair labor practices, bargain in good faith, and listen to the frontline healthcare workers that this community depends on,” said Bernie Espinoza, an Ultrasound Tech at Prime Garden Grove Hospital. “Staffing has been so critically low that many caregivers have left. The remaining

workers are stretched thin and rushed. We’re forced to take on more patients with less staff, which leaves much less time for quality one-on-one patient care,”

Nearly 100,000 healthcare workers have voted to authorize strikes this fall at Prime Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Fresenius Medical Care, Satellite Healthcare, and other healthcare corporations.

In 2021, Prime Healthcare Services and the Prime Healthcare Foundation made more than $263 million in profits

from its California facilities. Prime operates healthcare facilities in 14 states nationwide.

Approximately 1,800 Prime Healthcare employees are members of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. They work in various jobs including licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, emergency room, radiology, and respiratory techs, and many other fields. Their contract expired in June this year.

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

Inglewood Today News

Workers vote by a margin of 98% in favor of a strike as Prime Healthcare refuses to bargain in good faith, threatens and intimidates healthcare workers

Council Members Pay Condolence To A Mother Whose Son Was Fatally Shot By Inglewood Police Officers

By DPM

More than a dozen supporters appeared at the city council meeting to protest the Inglewood police officers who shot and killed a mentally ill man last week.

Petra Mora’s grief was palpable as she spoke tearfully in Spanish about what the death of her son, Ivan Solis Mora, 34, who had schizophrenia. Ivan’s mental illness was well-known by the police because the family had called the department for assistance in the past to help them manage him when he had a mental health episode; however, he was never violent, the family said.

Last week, the family called the police when Ivan was having another mental health challenge. When Ivan resisted the officers and retreated into the family’s backyard, the police followed him and fatally shot him six times, a supporter said.

“I came to ask for justice for my son because he was killed unfairly by cops,” said Mora through a translator. To date, the family doesn’t know the names of the officers or what their status is. Other supporters spoke at the council meeting calling for justice and transparency in the investigation.

“Most major cities recognize the need to equip their officers with body cameras and most of the time they explain that (the cameras) are there to protect the officers to support their version of what happened,” said Cliff Smith from the Coalition for Community Control over the Police who addressed the council members during community comment. “The City of Inglewood has refused to purchase body camera equipment. They said

they can’t afford the expense,” said Smith.

We will hold a march to the Inglewood Police Station at 10 a.m.

on Sunday, October 1,” said Smith. “We will meet at 10024 So. Grevillea Ave. in Inglewood, south of Century Boulevard.

Each council member shared their heartfelt condolences. Moreover, Mayor James Butts said that the city has zero tolerance for bad actors, stating that the city has a record of terminating police who fail to uphold their duties. “We have a reverence for life,” said Butts.

Following the emotional statements by Mora’s supporters, Maria Pineda appealed to the council to hold a press conference and offer a $25,000 reward for anyone who can provide a tip that leads to the arrest of three motorists who killed her son, Jose Samuel Pineda, while racing in District 4. Butts agreed that the city would provide the funds for the reward. A press conference will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 5th.

And there was good news from the Inglewood Unified School District. School Board President Brandon G. Meyers reported that one of the district’s teachers, Eddie Conner, was honored at the Los Angeles Office of Education’s Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.

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

Sports & Entertainment

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Sunset Run At Dodger Stadium Celebrates 10th Year

In keeping with LADF’s emphasis on community, over 2,000 youth and nonprofit partners will participate in this year’s run

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 27, 2023) –

The 10th annual Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Sunset Run, presented by UCLA Health, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and PRIME, will take place at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The race weekend kicks off on Friday, Sept. 29, with a newly added one-hour yoga session on the field and Health + Wellness Expo. On Saturday, nearly 10,000 Dodger fans and community runners will run in the 5K, 10K or Kids Fun Run in and outside of Dodger Stadium for the ultimate fan experience. In keeping with LADF’s emphasis on community, over 2,000 youth and nonprofit partners will participate in this year’s run at a reduced rate or at no cost. Alongside LADF’s Dodgers Dreamteam youth and coaches, this year’s partners include Just Keep Livin’, The Alliance: Los Angeles, Playworks, Students Run LA, Woodcraft Rangers, Homeboy Industries, and more.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers

by Eric Smith & Omar Navarro chargers.com

Foundation is celebrating a decade of hosting the Sunset Run, an event that not only brings joy to Dodger fans but also plays a vital role in supporting our mission to address the most critical challenges facing our city,” stated Nichol Whiteman, CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. “Our collective strength shines through, as every participant’s registration contributes to fulfilling our mission within the communities we are dedicated to serving.”

In-person participants and spectators at Dodger Stadium will enjoy incredible sunset views of Downtown L.A.’s iconic skyline and Centerfield Plaza. Runners have several courses to choose from featuring live music and DJs

throughout, with a cool-down lap on the Dodger Stadium warning track.

Dodger Alumni will be onhand to cheer and congratulate runners as they cross the finish line. All registered runners will receive a Dodgers ‘23 tech shirt, finisher’s medal, race bib, access to the Health + Wellness Expo, and a limited-edition Clayton Kershaw Run Bobblehead.

Joining the 10th annual Sunset Run as presenting sponsors are UCLA Health, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and PRIME. Golden Road Brewing, returning as a weekend sponsor, will once again provide a Beer Garden for runners 21+. In addition to presenting sponsor, PRIME is also a Youth Run Sponsor, providing 125 youth runners complimentary entry. The 2023 Health + Wellness Expo vendors include UCLA Health, LADWP, PRIME, My Image Skin and Body, Doom Rehab, Health-Ade, Generic Events, PRO Compressions, West Coast Fitness, Golden Road Brewing, Homebody, LA Kings, Positive Coach, Students Run LA, Levelwear, Sports Research, Kaleo Marketing, iMed Downtown and a Los

Angeles Dodgers Membership Booth. As runners cross the finish line, they will receive Melissa’s Produce fruit and beverages from Coca-Cola.

Registered runners are encouraged to pick up their race packets on Friday, Sept. 29, between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the Centerfield Plaza, where the Health + Wellness Expo will be open. On race day, participants can pick up their race packets from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHEN/WHERE:

Friday, September 29, 2023

1:00-7:00 p.m.: Participant Packet Pick-up

1:00-7:00 p.m.: Health + Wellness Expo

6:00 p.m.: Yoga on the Field (Pre Registered Yoga Guests Only)

Saturday, September 30, 2023 (RACE DAY)

4:00 p.m.: Participant Packet Pick-up and Health + Wellness Expo opens Race Start Times:

6:10 p.m.: 5K Race

7:10 p.m.: 10K Race

7:30 p.m.: Kids Fun Run

Health + Wellness Expo:

4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Navigating the Inglewood Entrepreneurial Landscape

By Dr. Shindale Seale

Local Aspiring Entrepreneurs Share

Insights on Business Ownership

Hurdles in Pursuit of Their Dreams

In our vibrant community, where creativity and ambition run deep, aspiring entrepreneurs are discovering

startups to secure affordable spaces for their operations.

that starting a small business comes with a unique set of challenges. While the city holds immense promise for businesses, it also presents hurdles that demand innovation and resilience from those brave enough to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

Rising Real Estate Costs:

One of the most prominent challenges for small business owners in Inglewood is the soaring cost of commercial real estate. The city’s strategic location, situated near Los Angeles International Airport and with proximity to major highways, makes it an attractive spot for investors and developers. This increased demand for commercial properties has driven up rents, making it difficult for

Janice Wellington, an Inglewood resident, and aspiring entrepreneur, shared her experience, saying, “Finding an affordable storefront is a real struggle. Costs are so high and that makes it difficult for small businesses to get started.”

Competition in a Booming Market: Inglewood’s revitalization has attracted a surge of businesses, leading to heightened competition across various industries. While competition can stimulate growth, it also poses challenges for newcomers looking to establish their brands and gain market share. Many industries in our city are thriving, which is great, but it means small business owners have to work twice as hard to stand out.

Navigating Regulations and Licensing:

Starting a business anywhere involves navigating a complex web of regulations, permits, and licensing requirements.

Compliance can be a daunting task, especially for those unfamiliar with our local bureaucratic processes. While not all businesses require permits, licenses are required and this could be a tedious process.

Access to Capital:

Access to capital remains a challenge

reach and connect with residents and visitors in Inglewood.

In the face of these challenges, many small business owners in our city are finding ways to adapt and thrive. It is vital to network with other entrepreneurs, seek mentorship, and tap into the support of local organizations

for many small business owners. While there are local initiatives and grants available to support startups, securing funding can be competitive. For Ms. Wellington, keeping her plans small makes managing the financial aspect easy. However, for those with larger goals, it’s important to explore various financing options, from small business loans to crowdfunding, to get your business off the ground.”

Community Engagement and Marketing:

Establishing a customer base and engaging with the local community is essential for any small business’s success. Entrepreneurs often struggle to find effective marketing strategies to

and chambers of commerce.

With its vibrant culture and growing economy, Inglewood continues to be a promising landscape for small businesses. Our entrepreneurs are learning that while challenges exist, the resilience and creativity they bring to their ventures can lead to success, contributing to the city’s economic growth and enriching its diverse community.

Author: Aden Ferguson is a high school senior at Roybal Film and Television Magnet. He’s a published author, a screenwriter, and a skateboarder.

Minority Environmental Justice Orgs Want to Connect to Millions in EPA Funding for California

Environmental justice advocates in California petitioned Gov. Gavin Newsom this past summer, asking the state to direct a portion of the millions in federal and state dollars California is investing in cleaning and greening communities to Black and other minority organizations.

The California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) say the programs they have in place to restore decades of environmental devastation and neglect in minority communities can play a key role in achieving the state and federal green goals to enforce regulations and distribute resources more fairly and equitably.

“There’s systemic racism that we are trying to dismantle that is beyond the usual American concepts of environmentalism and there’s a lot of interrelated and intersecting issues that we’re trying to fix on the ground, Mari Rose Taruc, CEJA’s energy Director, told California Black Media.

Taruc says environmental groups recognizing the harm done to communities of color in the past – and their implication on the local level -is a critical part of the environmental justice movement.

“Environmental justice was born out of the, the Civil Rights Movement and that is to the credit of, of Black organizers that came out of the South to raise consciousness of environmental pollution and destruction of dumping grounds primarily located in BIPOC communities,” she said.

CEJA is a coalition of the 10 biggest environmental justice organizations that coordinate efforts to protect the health and wellbeing of Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander communities in California. The organization also develops programs and raises money to tackle some of the new challenges communities are facing due to the climate crisis.

In July, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Martha Guzman presented $2 million to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to revitalize the Taylor Yard along the Los Angeles River, turning a former freight railyard into urban green space. The project reinforces President Biden’s goal for Environmental Justice to restore the damage that has been done from previous administrations ranging from decades of neglect to the lack of enforcement as it pertains to environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Historically, railyards contaminated nearby ground and waters with petroleum and other dangerous contaminants.

Guzman spoke with California Black Media about policies that led to disadvantaged and low-income communities being the areas where toxic and hazardous wastes were disposed, as opposed to more affluent neighborhoods.

“This can be traced to many of our origins, be it slavery or the taking of indigenous lands here in the West,” she

said. “We see where all these facilities are, and we know that race is the largest determinant of pollution.”

Guzman says the Biden administration is keeping equity and environmental justice front of mind.

“We have to invest in these communities because we have to be intentional about dealing with those generations of neglect and land use decisions that led to a disparate impact to our communities,” says Guzman who leads the EPA efforts to protect public health and the environment for the Pacific Southwest region spanning Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the U.S. Pacific Islands territories, and 148 Tribal Nations.

The investment strategy, she says, intends to heal legacy issues and now the EPA’s number one priority is enforcement.

According to Bass’ office, the City of Los Angeles plans to restore this site as part of a greater LA River initiative to restore ecosystems and habitats, form walkable trails along 52 miles of the river, and create easy access points for residents to enjoy what the river has to offer.

Throughout California, EPA awarded $9,299,566 in total funding from the Fiscal Year 2023 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Funding through 12 separate grants.

According to the EPA, a brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S.

“This funding provides unprecedented resources and highlights how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

are delivering environmental and economic benefits for California,” according to a press release from Guzman’s office.

The EPA is investing nearly $100 billion nationwide to deliver clean water and clean air, advance our transition to clean transportation, and enact environmental justice (EJ), especially in communities that have been disadvantaged and underserved, many of which are low-income communities or communities of color. In addition, President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 – Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad announced Justice40, which mandates that at least 40% of the benefits of specific federal programs-- including Brownfields and those created by BIL and IRA -- must flow to disadvantaged communities. In April 2022, EPA committed to meeting and exceeding this mandate.

Taruc says CEJA has not received any of the EPA funds, but the organization continues to find opportunities for different organizations throughout the state to be able to connect to funding programs focused on environmental justice.

One of the ways that CEJA ensures communities are recipients of funds is through programs such as “Solar for All” so that low-income households receive solar panels to improve their homes and lower their fossil fuel consumption, which reduces emissions.

Taruc says one focus of CEJA is ensuring people – particularly disadvantaged minorities who have been disproportionately impacted -live in safe and clean environments.

“Most environmental justice groups believe we should not build housing next to oil drilling sites and there should be a buffer zone of where you build new housing. We’ve been fighting to close these oil wells because housing should be built in places that

are not only affordable but safe,” Taruc concluded.

Limited spots remain available to register for the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Sunset Run presented by UCLA Health, LADWP, and PRIME by visiting Dodgers.com/Run. Media are invited to cover the pre-run festivities. Please RSVP to Alexandre Torres - atorres@rocketlaunchagency. com.

of 447 million gallons of water per day to more than 4 million residents of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors. For more than 120 years, LADWP has provided the city with reliable water and power service. With a workforce of more than 11,500 employees, LADWP is guided by the five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners,

About the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation:

The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) is tackling the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. Bigger than baseball, LADF envisions a city where everyone, regardless of ZIP code, has the opportunity to thrive.

LADF was reimagined in 2013 and has since raised over $90 million and is on track to raise $100 million in 2023. Since then, LADF has invested more than $53 million in its programs and grants to local organizations and impacted more than 9.8 million youth.

LADF is the proud recipient of ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year, Robert Wood Johnson Sports Award, Beyond Sport’s Sport for Reduced Racial Inequalities Collective Impact Award, and the Aspen Institute Project Play Champion. To learn more, visit Dodgers.com/LADF, follow them on Twitter, @DodgersFdn, Instagram, @dodgersfoundation, and like them on Facebook at facebook.com/ LosAngelesDodgersFoundation.

About UCLA Health:

UCLA Health is among the world’s most comprehensive academic health systems, with a mission to provide state-of-the-art patient care, generate research discoveries leading to new treatments and diagnoses, and train future generations of healthcare professionals. UCLA Health includes four hospitals on two campuses — Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA in the Westwood area of Los Angeles, and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center – and more than 260 community clinics across Southern California. UCLA Health hospitals ranked in the top 5 in the most recent assessment by U.S. News & World Report, and for 33 consecutive years, have appeared on the national honor roll of only 20 hospitals providing the highest-quality care. UCLA Health also includes the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

About the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility. We provide 8,058 megawatts (MW) of dependable electric capacity and serve an average

appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

About PRIME:

Founded in 2022 by entrepreneurs and influencers, Logan Paul and KSI, PRIME is a global lifestyle beverage brand focused on providing better fuel for any endeavor. PRIME offers its highly coveted flagship product, PRIME Hydration, a healthier sports drink alternative with zero added sugar in both bottled and powdered form for on-the-go, as well as PRIME Energy, its caffeinated energy drink. PRIME products can be found at Target, GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart and Kroger Family Stores nationwide as well as select retailers globally. For more information on PRIME and where it is sold, please visit drinkprime.com.

said Morales. “As our (Hispanic) population grows, it is important that we celebrate each with the Black community,” he said.

Morales said over his 20 years in office, he is grateful that the celebration has evolved to become a community event for all of Inglewood residents.

“Today we have about 50% (of attendees) from the Black community here celebrating with us. That’s how much things have changed, and that’s how important it is and that’s how beautiful it is,” said Morales.