L.A. Focus Newspaper On The Word November 2018 by LA Focus Newspaper

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Church News: Antioch Church PurchasesFamed Long Beach Concert Venue as New Location PAGE

So What’s Next For

LAPHONZA BUTLER Hollywood Buzz: Tika Sumpter is Red Hot PAGE

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UPFRONT Black Women Voters set to shake up midterms

>> Game Changers : Baptist Community Celebrates Legacy of A.D. Iverson

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L.A. Focus Publications

NOVEMBER 2018

Left: Areva Martin, Maxine Waters, Barbara Morrison—all honorees at the Black Women’s Network Business Career and Networking Breakfast Forum,Center:(L-R) Maxine Waters, Rev. Jessie Jackson Sr., Rev. Amos Brown San Francisco NAACP Chapter President share a laugh at Jackson’s 77th Birthday Celebration/Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s 20th Annual Awards Gala; Right:Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas and Apostle Bam Crawford with Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom.

Red Carpet Style

Commentary

School Grading Practices Are Inaccurate & Inequitable to Black Children

From The Editor Just How High Are The Stakes

UpFront Black Women Seek To Shake Up Midterms; Sebastian Ridley-Thomas Files Complaint Against USC

Tyler Perry’s New York Premiere“Nobody’s Fool”

14 Calendar/Around LA Hollywood Buzz 16

The Year of Tika Sumpter; Prayers For Tina Turner;Family Matters:”Ray Donovan” costar Pooch Hall pleading not guilty to DUI

One On One

Head to Head

7 8

Phylicia Rashad

Debating The Voter ID Controversy

Headlines From Africa Money Matters dfree Freedom Movement Expands its Reach to Youth/Young Adults

Biz News Briefs

Curtis “50 Cents” Jackson signs Landmark TV Deal...

Feature Story

Eye On Gospel

She’s Championed The 21st Century Labor Movement(And become one of the most powerful Black woman in the city) So What’s Next for Laphonza Butler

Getting In The Holiday Spirit;2018 Dove Awards Honor Best In Gospel...

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Production Photographer Advertising Social Media

Lisa Collins Keith DeLawder, Gerald Bell Kisha Smith Ian Foxx, Rickey Brown Lisa Ely Jazmin Young

L.A. Focus–On the Word, is published monthly. Address all correspondence to: L.A. Focus, 333 W. Florence Ave., Suite C333 Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 677-6011 Subscription rates $25.00 per year.

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

Kerri Strong - Living Hope Baptist Church

“Extravagant Living”—Rev. Judi Wortham — First AME Church

25 In Good Taste

Carla Hall’s Molasses Baked Chicken Wings

26 17 Through The Storm 19 20 Church News Game Changers Common “ A Voice For The Voiceless”

Saving Grace Keesha Sharp

“Them Against The World”: How Trials Made David & Tamela Mann Stronger

Antioch Church of Long Beach Purchases Former Concert Venue As New Location; Churches Partner to Aid Foster Children

Pastor Profile Cedric Bridgeforth Grace United Methodist Church

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge Greater Zion Church Family Southern Saint Paul Church Faithful Central Bible Church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Mt. Zion MBC

Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Rev. Edward V. Hill II

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Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

23 From The Pulpit 24 First Lady Files

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. Nov 6

Commentary

Joe Feldman Guest Columnist

School Grading Practices Are Inaccurate and Inequitable to Black Children

The battle for equity in our schools is not only a fight to guarantee access to great teaching and high-quality learning environments, programs, and materials. The battle for equity also includes the practices and policies that teachers use to describe students’ success or failure in school. An issue often overlooked, grading, is of critical importance. Grades determine so many decisions made about our children: whether they are promoted, qualify to play on the athletic field, graduate, receive scholarships, and get accepted to college. Unfortunately, in too many schools and classrooms, teachers often unwittingly assign grades in ways that are unfair and make success more difficult for black and other underserved children. Teachers go to great lengths to identify what percentage quizzes, homework, tests, extra credit, and class participation count towards the overall grade, but the seemingly objective way educators determine grades are often inaccurate, hide student achievement, and actually perpetuate achievement gaps. First, teachers inject subjectivity and biases into their grading. In much the way that schools’ disciplinary actions often disproportionately punish African-American, Latino, low-income, and students with special needs, too often traditional grading practices are often corrupted by implicit racial, class, and gender biases that affect individual teachers’ grading. Teachers often include in grades a student’s “effort” or “participation”—a subjective judgment about that student which may have nothing to do with how much the student has learned. Second, traditional grading rewards students with privilege and punishes students without them. When teachers award points for completing homework and extra credit, they are giving advantages to students with greater resources—those with college educated parents who are available at home and can help with homework or the extra credit assignments—and making it harder for students who have weaker education backgrounds and fewer supports. Third, grading is often based on calculations that depress student achievement and do not account for progress students make. A student may fail early on, but if they dramatically improve, their initial grades of F combined with subsequent grades of A average to a C for their final grade. This is a mathematically unsound approach that punishes

From the Editor

students who have early struggles and conceals their progress and final achievement. Even though teachers are dedicated to having every student succeed, they have never been trained in how to grade. They grade how they were graded, and perpetuate the same unfair and biased methods. Fortunately, new research has illuminated the harms of traditional grading and identified more equitable grading practices that are based on sound mathematical principles that (1)don’t average performance over time, (2)value growth and knowledge instead of environment or behavior, and (3) build soft skills like teamwork and communications skills without including them in grades. Grades based on these approaches have been shown to reduce failure rates, particularly for historically underserved students, and empowers teachers to create more caring classrooms. But ensuring that schools grade students equitably isn’t just the responsibility of teachers and principals. Parents have a crucial role to play. Parents can begin by asking their child’s teacher a simple question: What would be my child’s grade if it were based solely on their academic performance? This can start an important and clarifying discussion with the teacher while encouraging the entire school to tackle a problem many have been unwilling to address. It is pertinent that parents understand what grades mean. As educators it is important that we ensure grades clearly communicate a student’s academic performance? It’s time for parents and teachers to ask these questions about grading. If we expect our children to succeed in school, we need to be sure that they are graded accurately and fairly. If we believe that our students can compete on the world stage, then we’d better make sure that we have grades that tell us clearly if they’re ready. Joe Feldman is a former teacher and school and district administrator who is the founder of the Oakland, CA-based Crescendo Education Group, which helps educators introduce more equitable grading practice. He is the author of Grading for Equity, published recently by Corwin Press, and the paper, School Grading Policies are Failing Children: How We Can Create a More Equitable System

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Just How High Are The Stakes?”

new Census, the party control of statehouses over the next two election cycles will have a major impact on whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress. Of course, the midterm elections are also a referendum on President Trump’s first two years in office. “I’ve witnessed a lot of injustice in my life,” Congressman Lewis observed, “and the injustice I’ve seen under this Administration has been among the worst,”. As pointed out in a Washington Post opinion column: “He has used the bully pulpit of the presidency to normalize vulgarity and venom and to divide an already divided nation along lines of race, region, gender and education. He has done repeated violence to the truth, about matters trivial (the size of the crowd at his inauguration) and tragic… “Alas, Mr. Trump has maximized the political advantage to be gained from this debasement of politics. His popularity is not high, but, among the 40-odd percent of the country that kindles to his message, it is strong.” Indeed, don’t be fooled. The biggest lesson in not voting is seeing what happened the last time you didn’t vote and President Donald Trump took up residence in the White House. Your one vote makes a difference, but more important is the exercising of what should be a civic responsibility to elect better leaders that will transform our communities into a stronger, more united and more civil society. Understand that just as surely as you don’t go to the polls, you demonstrate— through that inaction—that you’re okay with the status quo as any election is decided not only by those who vote, but those who stay home. Black women will be pivotal players in the outcome. We have become a voting block and force that has shown its power this year and politicians have taken notice. So,let’s show them what we really think. In the words of President Barack Obama: “If you're mad at politicians trying to take us back to the days of health insurers denying people with pre-existing conditions of care ... Vote. “If you're sick of politicians giving huge tax cuts to billionaires, only to tell you we have no choice but to slash Medicare and Social Security ... Vote. “If you're upset with politicians denying basic climate science as our communities continue to pay a steeper and steeper price ... Vote. “If you're frustrated with politicians failing to adequately stand up for the rights of immigrants, or women, or LGBTQ Americans ... Vote. Vote. Vote. Let’s not forget the price that was paid and the blood shed for our right to vote. Keep the faith.

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

ow many times in the months, weeks and days heading into the mid-terms have we heard that the stakes couldn’t be higher in the November 6 election? They say that the consequences of not voting are monumental in what is been characterized as one of the most significant midterm elections in modern U.S. history.” So just how high are the stakes? “America is at a crossroads,” said former president Barack Obama. “We’re fighting for the very soul of our nation,” said Congressman John Lewis. “I can’t overstate the urgency of winning a Democratic majority to put a check on this dangerous president.” Here’s why you should believe them. While by all accounts, Democrats have little chance at taking back the Senate, their prospects for dominating the house—look a great deal more promising (with a third of the seats needed to retake the house right here in California). By the numbers, they need only flip 24 Republican seats and hang to the seats they currently have. And for those crying for Trump’s impeachment, that could indeed be a possibility. What is for sure is that a win in the House would throw a wrench in Trump’s destructive policies, particularly in the areas of immigration, environment and the rights of marginalized minorities. One of the them is the Affordable Care Act—Obamacare. In jeopardy is the provision requiring insurance companies to offer coverage regardless of a person's medical history. Republicans insist they will protect patients with preexisting medical conditions, but have yet to say how. Environmentally, experts believe that the world has just 12 years to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and limit the rise in the earth’s temperature before the effects of global warming—drought, extreme heat, floods and hurricanes—become irreversible and yet the Trump administration is rolling back environmental regulations. Then there is the matter of redistricting, as pointed out by former president Barack Obama. “Dozens of governorships and thousands of state legislative seats are up for grabs, with major implications on whether we can draw fairer maps for the next decade.” Redrawing the congressional district maps will heavily influence which party controls the House of Representatives for the next decade, a proceess known as gerrymandering. "Both Democrats and Republicans have gerrymandered to shore up districts," states Michael Li, a redistricting specialist. "Since district maps are drawn by political branches, political considerations are paramount. And everything else — racial fairness and bringing communities together — goes on the wayside." "Republicans want to tack in minorities to just a few districts, and Democrats want to spread them out among many districts," Li said. Many of the candidates will be elected for four-year terms, which means they'll be in office when the 2020 Census results are in and the redistricting process begins. With a

UpFront

News Briefs

Black Women Voters seek to shake up midterms

STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire

ational Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., heralded 2018 as “payback year” for African Americans and other minorities who have suffered on the new presidential administration policies and it that seems Black women are in lock-step with Chavis. Two years into the presidency of Donald Trump – which has seen an onslaught of attacks on health care, reproductive and other rights – the stakes for Black women could not be higher this midterm cycle, according to many observers. Statistics reveal that Black women face disproportionate barriers to reproductive health care and are more likely to die after childbirth than their white or Latino counterparts. Also, women of color are disproportionately impacted by bans on insurance coverage for abortion and at risk for criminalization should abortion be made illegal once again. “Black women in America face significant barriers to health care, including abortion. We are also three times more likely to die after childbirth than white women,” said La’Tasha D. Mayes, founder and executive director of New Voices for Reproductive Justice, a nonprofit that promotes the complete health and well-being of Black women and girls. “The Trump presidency has repeatedly undermined the Affordable Care Act and other health programs that benefit the health of Black women. Black women will step up and vote for those who will work together with us to create health equity so that our families and communities can thrive,” Mayes said. The pain of Black women and their rising up as one has also been heard in the LGBTQ community, said Candace

Stacy Abrams stands to make history this month should she prevail in Georgia gubernatorial race, which would make her the first black woman governor in any US state and her gains thus far have been largely attributed to black women voters. Among those hitting the campaign trail for her—Oprah Winfrey. Bond-Theriault, a reproductive health, rights and justice policy counsel and democracy project director at the National LGBTQ Task Force. “We too are a part of the American body politic and though the system is broken, we demand a seat at the table so we can center our own experiences and stories and vote for candidates who are dedicated to our collective liberation,” BondTheriault said. “All of the issues that we care about – living in neighborhoods with safe drinking water, nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQIA folks, and access to safe, legal abortion – are always on the ballot because the legislators we elect will make decisions that affect our everyday lives.” In a series examining the role of women in the 2018 midterm elections, NPR noted that more than a year and a half ago, the day after Trump was inaugurated, millions of women worldwide took to the streets in fury over his election.

sebastian ridley-thomas Files complaint against usc

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

ormer state assemblyman Sebastian Ridley Thomas has fired back at USC for its disclosure of confidential student information to the L.A. Times, with a formal complaint against the university to the U.S. Department of Education. Filed in late September and recently reported by the Daily Trojan, the complaint alleges the disclosure to the Times of Ridley-Thomas’ status as a student as well as information about his employment as a professor and receiving a scholarship for a master’s degree at the Dworak-Peck School of Public Work. In a letter to a USC legal representative, Porter Scott—the attorney for Ridley Thomas—wrote: “Since we have no way of knowing if USC questioned the persons who knew about the scholarship or took other steps to learn the source of the disclosure, we will rely on the federal authorities at the Department of Education to investigate this issue.” USC has reportedly denied the allegations and in response to his initial complaint, determined that his concerns did not fall within the scope of the student grievance process. In accordance with the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act, schools receiving federal funding “must have written permission

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Like all other new students and people who are offered employment, Mr. RidleyThomas relied on the deans and academic administrators at USC to know and follow the university’s rules.

It was a massive show of resistance. One of the biggest questions that loomed over the demonstrations that day: Could the energy last? Amy Chomsky, an ophthalmologist from Nashville, attended the demonstration in Washington, D.C., and she wanted to make it clear that she and her fellow marchers were serious in their anger. “We’re not just crazy protesters,” she said the day of the march. “It’s a shame that we have to still be fighting for women’s rights or saying that we have a right to decide on our own reproductive health. We have a right to equal pay. It’s a shame that we’re still doing this.” Already, a record number of women have run and won primaries for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and governorships this year, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, and a record number of women have also won nominations for state legislatures; the vast majority are Black women continued to page 25

man kills two at Groceray store after attempting to enter church to kill african americans KEITH DELAWDER

from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. In August, another of Ridley-Thomas’ attorneys, wrote to the University that he was concerned that the Los Angeles Times was informed of a confidential interview prior to Ridley-Thomas’ hiring. The filing of the complaint to the Department of Education comes after stories from the Times about the former legislator’s resignation from the state Assembly. The Daily Trojan also published a story last month that suggested that administrators at the School of Social Work were aware of RidleyThomas’ status as a student when he was hired as a faculty member — a conflict that led to his firing. “Like all other new students and people who are offered employment, Mr. Ridley-Thomas relied on the deans and academic administrators at USC to know and follow the university’s rules,” Olson

Jeffersontown, Kentucky —Minutes before shooting and killing two people at a grocery store, the suspect—a 54-year old white man, was attempting to enter the predominantly black First Baptist Church. A church member sitting in the parking lot witnessed the man, later identified as Gregory Alan Bush, banging and pulling on the door trying to get inside the church. When Bush was unable to enter, he went to a Kroger grocery store and opened fire, killing Maurice Stallard, 69. He then fled the store shooting a second victim, 67 year-old Vickie Jones in the parking lot, according to police. "To think that an hour and a half earlier, we had 70 people in the church," said church administrator Billy Williams. "But by the time he came through, all doors were locked, and there were probably eight or 10 still in the building."

Ridley-Thomas continued to page 24

Man Kills Two continued to page 24

Staff Writer

Three-Strike Life Sentences Under Review Nearly 4,000 California inmates serving life sentences for nonviolent convictions will have a chance at parole after a judge ruled to let stand the voter approved law saying those prisoners are eligible for freedom. By January, the state will craft new regulations on early release provisions for repeat offenders. According to an estimate from the state parole board, between 3,000 and 4,000 nonviolent third-strikers could be affected, but corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters says, “they would have to go through rigorous public safety screenings and a parole board hearing before any decision is made.” Michael Romano, director of the Stanford Three Strikes Project says that the 4,000 inmates eligible for parole are disproportionately black, disproportionately mentally ill and statistically among the least likely to commit additional crimes.

Civil Rights Groups Move To Combat Hate Online A coalition of more than 40 groups including the Center for American Progress, Color Of Change, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, announced the release of Change the Terms, which introduced a set recommended policies for internet companies to adopt and implement to disrupt hateful activities on their platforms. The release of these policies coincides with the launch of changetheterms.org, a site where people can learn more about the issue and the coalition, and take action by urging prominent internet companies to adopt the policies as part of their terms of service. To ensure that companies are doing enough to combat hateful conduct on their platforms, organizations in this campaign will track the progress of major tech companies — especially social-media platforms — in adopting and implementing these model corporate policies. The coalition will also give report cards to these same companies on both their policies and their execution of those policies in 2019.

Kanye West Distancing Himself From Politics “My eyes are wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in,” said Kayne West in a tweet only weeks after his visit to the White House and much publicized meeting with Donald Trump. This after black conservative spokeswoman Candice Owens claimed West designed clothing for the Blexit campaign—intended to persuade black people to leave the Democratic Party—and West said he had “nothing to do with it.” Kanye says he will be “completely focusing on being creative”, for now but the rapper is infamous for holding double standards with the things that he says.

HeadToHead Debating The Voter ID Controversy

Add late-night ers to show a photo ID — such as The ‘Voter ID Is comic Trevor Noah to the a driver's license or passport — Racist Con list of ill-informed lefties before casting their votes. Stevens who consider voter identification a "racist" recognized "flagrant examples of (voter) demand intended to "suppress" the black fraud" throughout America's history and vote. wrote that "not only is the risk of voter "Isn't it interesting," Noah said, "how fraud real" but "it could affect the outcome every time Republicans create a voting of a close election." The additional burden restriction, it just so happens to dispropor- on voters, Stevens argued, is more than tionately affect people of the brown-brown? offset by "the state's interest in counting ... Let's be honest, you don't have to say only the votes of eligiwho you're targeting to target someone. ble voters." You just have to know which rules are like- Blacks also support ly to hit them the most." voter ID. A 2016 Noah echoes the sentiment of then- Gallup poll found that Attorney General Eric Holder, who in 2014 77 percent of noncharacterized the call for voter ID laws as whites support voter an example of "pernicious" racism. Last ID, nearly as high as week, MSNBC's Chris Matthews told the 81 percent of Holder's successor, former Attorney whites who support it. Larry General Loretta Lynch, that Republicans The fact that voter Elder push voter ID laws to "screw the African- ID is legal and popular American voter." Lynch responded: "Yes, does not, of course, affect the view that it yes — and it's nothing new. ... This is a his- "suppresses" the minority vote. The torical issue. It's a current issue. And it's George Soros-supported website only history because it happened to some- ThinkProgress ran a story last year with body else, not because it could never hap- this menacing headline: "New Study pen again. That's what's happening now." Confirms that Voter ID Laws Are Very Former Vice President Joe Biden Racist." called Trump's assertion that millions of Citing research by three professors people voted illegally in the 2016 election a from U.C. San Diego, Michigan State and "flat lie." But Biden did not stop there. The Bucknell University, the article says: Republican support for voter ID, he said, "turnout among Hispanic voters is '7.1 perwas all about suppressing minority votes: centage points lower in general elections "It's what these guys are all about, man. and 5.3 points lower in primaries' in states Republicans don't want working-class peo- with strict voter ID laws. The laws also ple voting. They don't want black folks vot- reduce turnout among African-American ing." Last year, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D- and Asian-American voters. White Mass., denounced "racist voter ID laws and turnout, according to their study, is 'largevoter suppression tactics (that) sprout like ly unaffected.'" weeds all across the country." In a press Case closed? Not exactly. conference in July, CNN's April Ryan A follow-up study by researchers from asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Yale, Stanford and the University of Sanders: "So, Sarah, since you keep saying Pennsylvania found no evidence that voter that the President is very concerned about ID laws have a statistically significant the election process ... you did not mention impact on voter turnout. This study examvoter suppression in that. Voter suppres- ined the methodology and conclusions of sion has been an issue for decades and par- the previous study. Its researchers wrote: ticularly in these last few elections." "Widespread concern that voter identificaDespite these alleged racist road- tion laws suppress turnout among racial blocks to the ballot box, in 2008 blacks and ethnic minorities has made empirical voted at a higher percentage than whites. evaluations of these laws crucial. But probThat same year, liberal Supreme Court lems with administrative records and surJustice John Paul Stevens wrote one of the vey data impede such evaluations. ... We majority opinions in a 6-3 case that upheld show that the results of the paper are a Indiana's voter ID law, which required votcontinued to page 28

Headlines From Africa

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A look at current news from the continent of Africa and 2.75 years for children. In the second quarter of 2017, 45 percent of minors that were released from pre-trial detention were released after their detention limit expired and before any trial took place. Since 2010, more than half of the detainees in Madagascar were pre-trial detainees. Mozambique: Mozambique’s biggest opposition party froze peace talks with the government after challenging some results of last month’s local elections that gave the former rebel group control of eight municipalities. The southeast African nation’s top court has been asked to rule on the outcome in five municipalities. Nigeria: The Nigerian Heart Foundation revealed for a massive awareness campaign on cardiovascular disease in Nigeria with a view to promoting preventive measures aimed at reducing high mortality from heart diseases. Senegal: A new report, “It’s Not Normal,” examined sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse of girls in secondary schools in Senegal; how girls’ complaints about teachers trying to coerce them into sex sometimes fall on deaf ears, and how in many cases the abusers rarely face consequences. Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone is developing a national plan to safeguard the rights of albinos, who have been marginalized because of their skin color. Tanzania: President John Magufuli suspended advertising by family planning organizations until further review, raising outcry among human rights groups and causing unrest within Tanzania's health ministry. The move came weeks after Magufuli called women who use contraception "lazy" and saying he saw no need for birth control in one of the world's fastest-growing countries. Uganda: In a move to make the nation less reliant on donors, taxes levied on alcohol and soft drinks in Uganda will be used to fund the country’s HIV treatment programs. The government believes $2.5 million a year will be generated from the 2% tax levies collected from drinks. Zimbabwe: The opposition movement for Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa installed the 40year-old lawyer as president, two months after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared by the Constitutional Court as winner of the nation's July presidential election. The move infuriated the ruling Zanu PF party, which described Chamisa's inauguration as treasonous, noting that Mnangagwa was the democraticallyelected president of Zimbabwe.

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Benin: With the goal of complying with international conventions and ending child trafficking, Benin has initiated a plan to partner with Gabon in order to fight the illegal trafficking of children. Burundi: The UN's human rights chief demanded respect from Burundi after its ambassador threatened to prosecute the authors of a recent report detailing continuing violations in the country. In an address at the UN, Ambassador Albert Shingiro had branded the report "biased," "politically-oriented" and "insulting," with the goal of "destabilising the country." Congo: More than 100,000 people gathered in the capital to support Congo President Joseph Kabila's successor and the newly created Common Front for Congo political platform ahead of the December presidential election. Observers said this is one of the largest crowds mobilized by the presidential camp. Kabila, who has been president since 2001, finally agreed to step down from office after elections delayed for nearly two years. Ethiopia: After approving one of the world’s few “gender-balanced” cabinets, Ethiopian lawmakers unanimously elected the country’s first female president. Though a largely ceremonial post, Sahle-Work Zewde is Africa’s only current female head of state. Eritrea: Eritrea's foreign minister called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia and has also demanded compensation for the economic hardship. "The sanctions imposed on Eritrea for the last nine years have entailed considerable economic damage to the country and unnecessary hardships on its people," Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh told the UN General Assembly. Kenya: African start-ups raised a record breaking $560 million in 2017, an increase of 53 percent from the previous year. African governments have welcomed technology into the continent, hoping to inspire a revolution across all sectors. Liberia: After being troubled by the alarming high statistics of students in his country who could not afford a college education, Liberian President George Weah has abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the poor West African country's public universities. Madagascar: Amnesty International has accused Madagascar of an “unjustified, excessive, prolonged and otherwise abusive use of pre-trial detention.” The law in Madagascar allows pre-trial detentions to last as long as 5.5 years for adults

well-respected group of civil rights! Voting Rights Democrats and RepubThe nearly 500-page report Under Attack licans in Washington are points out that in the last five in agreement that the federal government years sixty-one law suits have been filed is doing very little to protect the voting challenging Voter ID laws and other rights of minority voters in the United restrictive measures. Its members bemoan States. Describing the government’s the lack of sensitivity by Attorney General refusal to enable its citizens to participate Jeff Sessions whose commitment to civil in fair elections, the Commission on Civil rights was challenged during his confirmaRights, in a recently released report, char- tion hearings by Congressman John Lewis, acterized the electoral Senator Cory Booker and a plethora of fairclimate as dangerous ness advocates who believe that Sessions is and pernicious. vested in seeing a dilution in minority votCreated in 1957, ing participation. the eight-member Under Attorney General Sessions, the panel investigates civil Justice Department has failed U.S. citirights issues in the zens of Hispanic origin and the handiUnited States and rec- capped, according to the Commission’s ommends measures report. It cites that state officials in that it deems neces- Florida recently had to be taken to court to Eddie Bernice sary to correct injustice. ensure that voting materials were providJohnson current ed to Spanish-speaking voters. The Commission consists of six Democrats and The nearly 500-page report two Republicans, and each of them agreed with the report’s conclusions that the state points out that in the last five of voting rights was blatantly unfair. years sixty-one law suits have The U.S Department of Justice hinders the rights of minority voters, said been filed challenging Voter ID laws and Catherine E. Lhamon, an attorney, and other restrictive measures. veteran government official who chairs the Commission. Ms. Lhamon said that the Justice Department had failed in its The Commission also was alarmed that responsibility to protect minority voting the Justice Department seemed to ignore rights. the special needs of handicapped voters by Among its recommendations, the not insisting that voting places be Commission urges the strengthening of the equipped with ramps, assisting disabled Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was people access to voting booths without difseverely weakened in 2013 when the U.S. ficulty. Supreme Court decided to preclude the The Commission’s report is timely with Justice Department from stopping what it a major national election just days away. It considered unconstitutional voting proce- should give those who find the practices of dures passed by state legislatures. some state legislatures disgusting the The Court’s decision in the case, Shelby encouragement to vote, to urge their County v. Holder, allowed states such as friends and relatives to vote, and to particTexas to pass restrictive voter ID laws ipate in the correction of our local, state designed to weaken the voting strength of and federal governments! racial minorities, students and persons This article originally appeared in the with disabilities. Dallas Post Tribune. Other states controlled by Republican Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson legislators have passed legislation such as currently represents Texas's 30th congresthe one enacted in Texas in efforts to deny sional district in the United States House Democratic majorities in voting, knowing of Representatives. Elected in 1993, full-well that minorities, students and the Johnson is serving her 13th term and is an disabled tend to vote for the Democrat advocate for workers, children and famiParty because of its progressive stance on lies. issues, and its history of being the party of

MoneyMatters

On the Money

dfree® Freedom movement expands its reach to Youth/Young adults ince 2005, the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement has traveled the world, teaching and leading churches, community organizations and individuals to financial wellness. To date, dfree® has connected with more than 3,100 churches, 100 chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and tens of thousands of individuals between the ages of 25 and 60. Last month, the organization officially launched its first-ever youth and young adult initiative, dfree® Young Money. “Finance is a topic that is too rarely discussed in many households,” said Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., CEO of dfree® and author of Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom. “Yet, when you think about how millennials are raised, with parents sacrificing so much so they could be spoiled with luxuries, even when living in their parents’ homes, millennials today are some of the most broke and lacking in knowledge about how to find financial freedom.” About 1 in 4 adults under the age of 30 have student loan debt, and those with a bachelor’s degree owe a median of $25,000, according to the Pew Research Center found. “We’re determined to not let the most prosperous generation become the poorest generation,” continued Dr. Soaries. “We’re using popular culture as our financial textbook with economic explanations while using dfree® principles. It’s monumental.” dfree® Young Money, developed by a group of the organization’s very own talented, creative millennials, is designed to infiltrate and leverage urban culture by using symbols of pop culture to teach age- and interestappropriate financial lessons through relevant mediums. Targeted for youth and young adults ages 12-27, dfree® Young Money plans to partner with schools, colleges, churches, sororities, fraternities, and community organizations to reach 1 million youth/young adults through both virtual and live events by the end of 2019. “We’ve reached tens of thousands of people with dfree®, and so many of them have ‘money stories’ and financial habits that started when they were young. It’s time to break the cycle and start teaching money matters at younger ages,” said Tamika Stembridge, Esq., Executive Director of the dfree® Global Foundation. “The adults at home aren’t modeling good financial behaviors, and kids aren’t taught about money and lifestyle basics in school. So this is such a pivotal time for dfree® Young Money to fill in the gap, especially in the urban community.” To commemorate its launch, dfree® Young Money will debut its all-new YouTube web series entitled, The Black Money Series, on Tuesday, October 9. BMS will tackle lifestyle and financial habits of millennials with a fun twist and will feature dfree® Young Money’s very own seven-member team. The series will air weekly,

exclusively on the dfree® YouTube channel - @mydfree. In addition to the web series, dfree® Young Money will release its all-new curriculum at the dfree® National Homecoming Conference, October 25th-28th in Somerset, NJ. “We want to really deliver financial literacy through ways that interest, US, millennials and Gen Z, and we know that we have to break all traditional barriers to do so,” said Nia Baskerville, dfree® Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist. “Our dfree® Young Money programming and curriculum does just that. This is literally for young people like us, by us because too many of us are drowning.” Already off to a great start, since the beginning of the year, dfree® Young Money has partnered with organizations such as the Urban Leagues of Union and Essex Counties’ Young Professionals (NJ), New Brunswick Public Schools (NJ), the Mastery Charter School of Philadelphia (PA), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Boys and Girls Club of Union County (NJ), and the Macedonia Community Development Corporation of Los Angeles (CA) to host events for young people to not only begin thinking about their finances but also about career planning, entrepreneurship and college funding. dfree® Young Money will host a special Building Billionaires LIVE event this fall at the dfree® National Homecoming Conference on October 26 in Somerset, NJ. The event, for high school juniors, seniors and college students, will celebrate financial literacy and entrepreneurship. “We have so many great things lined up with dfree® Young Money this year,” Dr. Soaries said. “In addition to the reality web series, we will also release our youth and young adult supplement book at our national conference in October. This is not just dfree® for kids. This is going to be huge!” For more information about dfree® Young Money, The Black Money Series and the dfree® National Homecoming Conference, please visit www.mydfree.org.

the price is right For chargers season tickets

`“Affordable” is apparently the name of the game for the L.A. Chargers with the announcement last month of ticket sales for all general seating inside the new arena being built in Inglewood and slated to open in 2020. More than 26,000 seats priced between $50 and $90 per seat, per game are being offered by the Chargers with a one-time stadium license fee of $100 (which is what Chargers season ticket holders now pay up to just to park at the StubHub where the team is playing until the new stadium is built). The pricing is said to reflect not only their desire to keep seats affordable but what many are citing as an inability on the part of the team to gain traction with fans and fill the stadium, which has been reported to be a concern for the NFL. By contrast, the Rams season ticket pricing will start at $60 a game, with the license fee ten times higher at $1,000. “We’re excited that every seat inside the new stadium is finally on sale,” said Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos. “Each decision throughout this process has been made with the fan in mind, and we think the pricing announced today reflects this fact. When you look at the pricing levels for general seating, you can confidently say there is a season ticket opportunity for just about everyone. I think this model also reflects our view that it’s not just about pricing for one person. A family of four should be able to buy season tickets for the entire family and not need a second mortgage to do so.” Season ticket sales for these seats – which comprise approximately 75 percent of the new stadium – were first made available to current Chargers season ticket holders the week of October 22nd and then to those on a waiting list. As to what NFL teams have the highest average ticket prices, they are as follows: Chicago Bears —$131.90; New England Patriots — $130.73; New York Giants —$123.40; Washington Redskins — $119.52; San Francisco 49ers—$117; Denver Broncos —$114, Baltimore Ravens— $112.11; the New York Jets —$110.54 and the Dallas Cowboys— $110.20.

Biz News Briefs In what has been characterized by Starz CEO Chris Albrecht as “among the most significant deals to date for an executive producer in premium television”, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson stands to net $150 million under a new fouryear pact. Jackson, who exec produces and stars in the Starz hit series, “Power”, will develop new projects exclusively for the network in partnership with his G-Unit Film & Television. Said Albrecht, “Both on screen and off, Curtis has proven that he can deliver content that our viewers want to watch. He is the real deal, and we have given him a real deal, with what I believe to be among the most significant deals to date for an executive producer in premium television.” Adds Jackson, "When I sat down with Chris [Albrecht, Starz CEO] and walked him through my plans, he let

November 2018

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Signs Landmark TV Deal

me know I was essentially requesting the biggest deal in premium cable history." The 43-year old rapper/entrepreneur has two series — Black Mafia and Vanguard— in the works for the network as well as a drama series in development at ABC that tells the powerful story of a wrongfully convicted drug kingpin (Isaac Wright, Jr.) who got his conviction overturned and went on to become a licensed attorney.In a shout out to his detractors, Jackson posted this on Instagram: Pay close attention to those who don’t clap when you win.”

New Digital Platform Will Help Students of Color Secure Tech Internships

Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert F. Smith, CEO, joined with Linda Wilson, executive director at Fund 2 Foundation to unveil a new digital platform, InternX.org to serves as a pipeline to help students of color from underserved communities gain access to tech internships. “If America is going to remain competitive in the global economy age of the digital disruption, business and academia must collaborate on engaging the best and brightest talent from underrepresented communities of color,” said Smith, who surpassed Oprah this year to become America’s richest African American according to Forbes. “This is why we built internX.org – to ensure a win-win for everyone.”

Students will have access to the website to post their resumes, undergo a skills and aptitude assessment, and view internship openings for which they may qualify. Corporations can view potential interns’ resumes and begin the interview and selection process. Wilson and Smith intend to use internX.org to connect and match 10,000 students to internships by 2020

One United Bank Launches Justice Visa ATM/Debit Card

Last month, the nation’s largest Black-owned bank, One United, released the Justice Visa ATM/ Debit Card. The card — featuring on its face a young Black woman wearing locks with her fist out in solidarity — was designed to bring awareness to the Trump Administration's immigration policies that affect countries like Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad, Barbados, and all African nations and how much immigrants contribute to the American economy. In fact, a recent internal study by the Department of Health and Human Services found that immigrants brought in $63 billion more in government revenues than they cost the government. A 2017 study, "The Economic and Social Outcomes of Refugees in the United States: Evidence from the ACS" found that immigrants pay $21,000 more in taxes than they receive in benefits. Immigrants are also linked to greater invention and innovation in the U.S.

Upcoming Entrepreneurial Training Programs Level I: Intro To Entrepreneurship 3 Weeks Saturday: October 6 & November 3 9:30am12:30pm Workshop@ 6109 S. Western Ave.,LA,CA 90047 Ph 323-789-4515 Business Plan Courses 7 Weeks Tuesdays, begins November 13 6:30pm - 9:00pm Saturdays, begins November 17 9:30am - 12:30pm Workshop@6109 S. Western Ave., LA, CA 90047 Ph 323 789-4515 Events: Financial Literacy for Business Owners First session begins Thurs., Oct 11 6:00pm -8:30pm Women In Business Leadership Series First session begins Thurs., Oct 11 6:00pm - 8:30pm Workshop Above @ 1130 W. Slauson Ave, LA, CA 90044 Ph 323 753-2335

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L.A. Focus/ November 2018

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Are You Tired Of California’s High Cost of Living? Thinking of Relocating to Dallas, Texas?

SHE’S CHAMPIONED THE 21ST CENTURY LABOR MOVEMENT (And become one of the most powerful black women in the city)

So What’s Next For

LAPHONZA BUTLER

KEITH DELAWDER Staff Writer

ince arriving in California just nine years

ago as a relatively unknown labor organ-

izer, Laphonza Butler has risen through the ranks to become one of the most powerful black women in the state-- leading California’s single largest union; establishing herself as a key player in A-list political circles —while earning the support of some of the state’s most powerful politicians; and she’s one of the people you have to thank for championing the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Fact is, when it comes to influential figures in the fight for workers rights, there few powerhouses anywhere in the nation with as much sway and as Laphonza Butler. Under her leadership, California long term care workers won several significant victories such as the passage

L.A. Focus/November 2018

of mandatory CNA staffing levels in nursing homes, the right to sick pay, overtime, wait time and travel time for home care providers, and winning strong contracts for hundreds of thousands of caregivers who provide vital care to our seniors and people with disabili-

ties.

She was also a leading figure in several causes which helped improve conditions for all working families, including: the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act and expansion of MediCal to cover millions more Californians, the passage of Propositions 47 and 57 which helped restore real second chances to those caught in the criminal justice system, and the historic fight which passed the nation’s first $15 minimum wage, improving the lives of over 6 million Californians-- for which her leadership was honored by President Barack Obama. “Laphonza Butler is one of our nation’s most influential leaders,” says organizer and community leader, Pastor K.W. Tuloss of Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church. “She has made an incredible mark for labor-- in the realm of A. Philip Randolph and other labor leaders who have made a significant contribution to the civil rights community.” By all accounts, under Butler’s leadership union membership has increased. “I think the 21st century labor movement in Los Angeles is thriving,” Butler tells L.A. Focus. “You can take a look at recent measures and overall efforts to do things like raise the minimum wage and drive the conversation in the community, and the labor movement has been front and center. You see workers of all colors from all industries not just raising their voice for our people who have a membership card, but raising their voice for all Angelinos to advance the quality of life for everybody. “In the last numbers I’ve seen from Pew’s annual surveys, people who responded positively when asked, ‘If they had the opportunity join the union, would they?’ are at alltime high, especially with millennials. “We're in a time where people want to demand what they deserve and they see the labor unions as a way to do that. I think they see workers fighting back. I think young folks have heard some stories about the work that the labor movement has done to improve the lives of all workers, and especially in the African-American community, where the labor unions are really how we got to the middle class. Whether we were working in factories in Detroit and members of the UAW, or working in steel mills in Pittsburgh, or working as janitors or in the postal service, that's how our families got to the middle class.”

There’s still so much work to be done in Los Angeles, California, and across the country to lift up the voices of young black girls, and those in the community that have been voiceless for so long. I am committed and feel in my purpose that this is what I’m going to be doing.

With State Senator Holly Mitchell

Once that person passes a background check they can begin serving as the patient’s worker. While union membership is optional-- since the 2014 supreme court decision in the case of Janus vs. AFSCME- Butler is working hard to spread awareness of her union and the benefits that come with being a union member. “According to a poll we do every year, 60% of homecare workers are unaware the SEIU has a chapter representing workers in their field. I believe this is because there is no shared workplace that they go to. There's no water cooler for them to hang out at and get to know other homecare workers, so a lot of them feel like they're the only one,” explains Butler. “We're trying to do a lot more of building connections at the neighborhood level so that more people know, one, that a union exists and, two, that they have a choice about whether or not they want to be a part of a larger community. This way, if they need a sick day they can call another union member in their own building and see if they can cover them for an hour or two so they can get some piece of mind, as these can be really stressful positions.” Most homecare workers are employed by their county’s In-Home Supportive Services Program of the State of California which is a program that is funded in three parts, 50.5% by the federal government, 37% by the state and 16% by the county they work in. “What elected officials are faced with is a set of choices around the the quality of care and the dignity of work in the industry,” reports Butler. “They are tasked with how to balance the resources and the taxpayer dollars that are being invested in taking care of our elderly and disabled with the taxpayer dollars that are being spent on other services that are being provided in the community. “I think we can create a system that the public has trust in and maintains the independence of those who want and have the capacity to do it. There are many in the system that qualify for these services who need a trained dependable worker to keep them out of the institution-like people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s who don’t necessarily need to be put in an institution which costs the taxpayers $90,000 a year or more.” With California’s elderly population on the rise, an increasing number of workers are needed to meet demand for a job that has previously been low wage and little to no benefits. “The SEIU Local 2015 represents about 393,000 caregivers in the state,” says Butler, which makes it the largest long-term care local in the country. “With the growth in the aging population that the California Department of Employment Development has projected, they will need to recruit another 200,000 caregivers by 2030. You can't recruit California caregivers paying minimum wage with no health insurance in some of the most expensive cities in the country, and with no training and expect them to give quality care. “In the end our services actually keep the overall health costs down. More likely than not, without our support services folks would have to start accessing the emergency room. If you have an elderly person who can’t take their medicine without help, there’s likely to be a crisis incident and now we’re paying $5,000 for a two-day hospital stay when we could be investing it in trained workers that we need to keep our elderly safe.” Due to the skyrocketing demand for quality in-home support workers, the primary goal of SEIU Local 2015 is worker retention and recruitment. But in order for people to take on the demanding and emotionally taxing work, wages and benefits have to be at a livable rate-- which what the union has been working to achieve.

At the Aspen Institute

“There are families and neighbors right now who are providing care to the elderly and are doing it out of the love of their heart, they’re not doing it because they’re getting paid to do it,” says Butler. “But you’re not going to get that person to commit to take on three other people at $10 an hour. “Wages and benefits are essential to our recruitment and retention-- and that’s not just me saying this from the place of working for a labor union. If you talk to any business operator out there that is looking to recruit workers, their compensation package is what they spend a lot of time on. You’ve got to know where to simplify the system and create the workforce to make sure that you have qualified well-compensated folks who are ready to go out and give the kind of care that keeps the cost of our health care system down.” Recruitment of quality workers into the home-care field can also be difficult because, as Laphonza knows, it takes a special kind of person to do the challenging and long overlooked job of caring for our most vulnerable citizens. “What I love about the workers in this program that I have met over the last 10 years is that they fundamentally care,” says Butler. “When your job every day is to help somebody, your job is not to go screw tighten a screw or build a house-- your job is to love somebody.” It’s these kind, loving and hardworking souls Butler has on her mind when she goes to work-- and goes to bat for-- in securing better conditions for her people. “When I landed here California nine years ago, we were in the depths of an economic recession,” Butler recalls. “The state had a structural budget deficit. Caregivers were threatened to being taken all the way back to minimum wage, and at that time the minimum wage was $7.25. We have gone up from an all time deficit as a state to record a surplus, and our members fingerprints are all on that. Minimum wage has gone from $7.25 to on his way to $15, and our members fingerprints are all on that as well. When I came here, caregivers in Los Angeles were making $9.25 and today they make $11.18, and on their way to $15 an hour. I believe none of that would have been possible without the gift of this organization, and I'm really grateful to have been a part of it.” Now Laphonza looks to start a new chapter in her life. While she still serves a regent of the University of California system-- which she says part of a promise she’d made to the children of California to keep the higher education system affordable and accessible to all-- her number one priority now will be to spend time with those who matter most to her: her family. “The future is so bright, and my commitment to my daughter is that I’m going to do everything so that her future is as bright as possible,” says Butler. “There’s still so much work to be done in Los Angeles, California, and across the country to lift up the voices of young black girls, and those in the community that have been voiceless for so long. I am committed and feel in my purpose that this is what I’m going to be doing-- I don’t know what that looks like at this moment, but that is the space in which I’ll be.” And as for her tenure as President of SEIU Local 2015: “I am so grateful for the honor that these members gave me and never, not one day, do I take it for granted,” Butler says. “It's a gratifying experience. It will be the best thing that I ever do with my life. I'm young-- I'm only 39 and I know that this will not be the only thing that I do with my life, but it has been an incredible gift.”

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

But with all she has done, to Butler, her greatest cause is establishing respect for the long term care workers who serve and protect our most vulnerable elderly citizens-and according to her, the labor union is as it always has been, the most effective means for making progress. Now, the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015, Laphonza Butler surprised everyone by making the bittersweet announcement that she will be leaving the organization at year’s end. “Serving as president of SEIU Local 2015 has been a job of a lifetime, but I have always known that it should not be a job for a lifetime,” said Butler in an official statement released October 22nd. “I have long said that in order for an organization to thrive, it requires new energy, ideas, and leadership. The time has come for new leadership to take Local 2015 to its next great victories.” Butler, who is also President of the SEIU California State Council and Vice President of SEIU International, was the architect and founder of SEIU Local 2015 which unified over 378,000 in-home long term care workers with the goal of making sure all of the invaluable service providers she represents are able to financially support themselves and move towards the middle class. “Laphonza has distinguished herself in an extraordinary way building the labor scene in Los Angeles, and her work is not done,” says L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “We embrace, surround and push her to even higher heights-- that’s what we expect and that’s what she’ll continue to do.” A native of Magnolia, Mississippi, Butler began working for the SEIU as an organizer after graduating from Jackson State University and spent eight years organizing workers around the country in all of the different industries that SEIU represents. She got the opportunity to lead the SEIU in Los Angeles during a period of crisis for the chapter, when her predecessor was facing criminal allegations and was removed from his position. Despite having never imagined living in Los Angeles, Butler accepted the opportunity to come right the ship at then Local 6434 because she says, the woman of her chapter remind her of her mother. “My mother, who grew up in Louisiana and Mississippi never had the opportunity to be in a union,” recounts Butler. “She turns 65 this year and has no retirement pension to look forward to, she never had health insurance until the Affordable Care Act became law, and has none of the securities of being a long time union worker. “What I saw in Los Angeles with the home care workers was the opportunity to work for women like my mom and give so many young caregivers in this profession who deserve that opportunity, and deserve to have a different story to tell their children and grandchildren than my mother does. As a child growing up there was nothing I could do to help my mom. I believe now, every day that I wake up is an opportunity to help women like her.” The homecare workers of SEIU Local 2015 assist with the activities of daily living as well as some paramedical care for elderly clients whose doctors have confirmed that they need daily assistance to be part of the community and remain healthy in their home. Many of their clients are medicare eligible, meaning that they have less than $2,000 in assets. Once the doctor signs off on a document to the state and county saying that they want to secure homecare in-home support services for the patient, the patient can then choose their own caregiver, which most Californians do. Typically, a patient will choose someone they know, a relative, neighbor, or someone from church.

Honored at the Brotherhood Crusade (with CEO Cherisse Bremond)

Eye On Gospel Getting In The Holiday Spirit

Christmas is in the air and award-winning singer CeCe Winans is gearing up for the release of her fourth holiday recording, Something’s Happening! A Christmas Album. The 11-track musical project features Christmas classics as well as new music. Once again, Winans has teamed with her son Alvin Love III, a Grammy winning producer, to deliver a mix of festive songs including five new songs penned by Love III. Then, of course, there’s CeCe’s unique twist on such ageold classics as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, “Feliz Navidad” and “Silent Night.” “We were inspired by the Christmas albums from the golden era of symphonic popular music. This album is grand in scale and spectrum. Each song is accompanied by a 75 piece orchestra and brings out a different color in CeCe’s voice, some colors will be familiar some will be new. It’s a big sound and we’re really proud of it”, says Alvin. The melodious sound of “This Will World Never Be the S a m e ” reminds listeners how much the world has changed, but gives us hope for a bett e r

tomorrow. The whimsical, “Giving Season” paints a vivid picture of Christmastime and the spirit of giving while the classic, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” delivers familiarity in the beginning, but midway through the song the tempo changes to flavorful and rhythmic percussions. "It's been a long time," said the Grammy Award-winning singer, who hasn’t released a solo holiday project since His Gift in 1998. "I just felt like I could do something that was better, something that was fresher. It was time to do a new one, and I'm pretty pleased with it. I think it's fresh, and fun. I'm glad I did it." 2018 Dove Awards Honor Best In Gospel Tasha Cobbs-Leonard was named “Gospel Artist of the Year” at the 2018 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, while also pocketing the award for Urban Worship Album of the year for her current project, Heart.Passion.Pursuit. Other winners included Koryn Hawthorne, whose song “Won’t He Do It” was named Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year, Marvin Sapp for Traditional Recorded Song of the Year with “Close”, Travis Greene who took for Urban Worship Recorded Song of the Year with “You Waited”. Anthony Brown and Group Therapy—who electrified the crowd with their live performance of “I Got That”— took home the award for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year for their 2017 release, A Long Way From Sunday. Jekalyn Carr snagged the trophy for Traditional Gospel Album of the year for her “One Nation Under God”. Congrats as well to KB whose “Today We Rebel” was named Rap/Hip Hop Album of the year. However, the biggest winner of the night was firsttime nominee, newcomer Tauren Wells, who took home four awards, including Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year and New Artist of The Year. The awards show were held last month in Nashville and aired exclusively on TBN.

Charles Jenkins Can’t Turn Back

Chicago-based pastor and chart-topping gospel recording artist, Charles Jenkins, scored his sixth Billboard Top Ten single with his new gospel radio smash, “Can’t Turn

L.A. Focus/November 2018

Re d Carpet Style

TIKA SUMPTER TIFFANY HADDISH turned heads in a orange wowed us in a color blocked strapless Zac Posen gown Peter Pilotto jumpsuit

Back”. Backed by the Fellowship Chicago aggregation, the track came in at No. 9 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart with a bullet. “Wow,” the Chicago-based pastor exclaimed when he heard the news. “I make music that comes straight from God with two goals, to honor God and to bless people. I’ve got so much to thank God for, to quote a song. This is my sixth Top 10 radio single in 6 years! It’s so hard to do, but my God is awesome.” The success of “Can’t Turn Back” comes on the heels of Jenkins’ most recent radio single “Grace” which reached No. 1 on the Gospel Airplay chart in 2017. Over the last six years, he has cemented his audience with a string of other hits such as “War” and “Awesome.” Briefly: Chart-topping recording artist Jason Nelson celebrates his latest single atop the charts as his live hit song “Forever,” tops the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart at #1. The lead single from his chart-topping fifth solo album The Answer, the Stellar Award-winning acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer also releases a new live performance video of “Forever.” The 14-track album The Answer, opens with the unforgettable Andraé Crouch ballad, “Jesus Is The Answer,” and closes with the title track “The Answer.” Said Nelson: “I’m humbled that the world has embraced this message of the love that The Lord has for us. It’s even being expressed in weddings around the country. Love never fails.” Finally: After being on the Billboard Charts for 49 weeks, and peaking at #1 for 8 weeks for the title track from his latest album, "Your Great Name", Todd Dulaney is back and ready to do it all again with his new record, "You're Doing It All Again" which will be available November 1. Due to the exponential growth in support of his ministry in Africa and the high demand that the support brings, Todd's new album, slated to be released in the 1st quarter of 2019, was recorded Live in Africa. After releasing the album, the Grammy-nominated worship artist will launch a tour in Africa. "Some places you just know are apart of your destiny," says Dulaney. "The motherland is home for me, not just physically, but spiritually as well. It's where God has assigned me in this season. I can feel it every time I step foot on the soil."

The styles ranged from casual to elegant at the New York premiere of Tyler Perry’s “Nobody’s Fool” starring Tika Sumpter, Tiffany Haddish, Amber Riley, Omari Hardwick and Whoopi Goldberg.

AMBER RILEY is stunning in a blush color Rue 107 dress

WHOOPI GOLDBERG in plaid leggings white shirt and a black velvet jacket

GAYLE KING in a black and white dress with a biker moto jacket

Calendar of events

Ongoing Exhibits: Los Angeles Freedom Rally, 1963 Coined the “Los Angeles Freedom Rally,” it was one of the largest civil rights rallies in the country featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Through March 3, 2019) Also: California Bound: Slavery on the New Frontier, 1848 - 1865 (Through January 21, 2019) Free Admission (Parking = $12) California African American Museum 600 State Drive Contact: (213) 744-7432 http://caamuseum.org

Thursday, November 1 Booksigning— “Carla Hall’s Soul Food 7pm • Free The Grove 189 The Grove Drive Info: (323) 525-0270 www.barnesandnoble.com In Concert: Grace Gibson 9pm • $10 Advance Tickets (Standing

room only) The Sayers Club 1645 Wilcox Avenue www.sayersclub.com

Friday, November 2 Conference with Pastors Creflo & Taffi Dollar Free • 10AM/2PM/7PM Crenshaw Christian Ctr 7901 S. Vermont Avenue Register at www.creflodollarministries.org

Saturday, November 3 Regalettes’ Diamonds & Pearls 60th Anniversary Red Carpet Gala Honorees include Quincy Jones, Lorrie Bartlett, Sandra Evers-Manley and Byron K. Reed 6PM • $150 - 250 Beverly Hilton Hotel 9876 Wilshire Blvd Contact: (323) 822-7822 www.regalettes.org Musicians In Action Annual Awards Gala Honorees include Sonya Griffin, Laweta Crawford, Kevin Davis, Marquise Henderson and more $85 • 6pm Renaissance Airport Hotel 9620 Airport Blvd Contact: (323) 777-3213 musicians-in-action.com

Sunday, November 4 Tribute to the Queen VIP Featuring Freda Payne, Bonnie Pointer, Barbara Morrison and more 7PM • $75 Hermosa Beach Community Theatre 710 Pier Avenue The Second Annual Compton Ball Featuring DJ Quik 8PM • $60 - $500 620 W. 135th Street Gardena Wizdom Entertainment Flu Shot Clinic 10am – 2pm •$30 if not covered by insurance Westfield Culver City 6000 Sepulveda Blvd #2660 Contact: (310) 313-0020 connect. uclahealth.org Afrolicious Natural Hair Expo Featuring professional hair panels, fashion show, product vendors 11AM – 5PM • $5 – 50

L.A. Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa Street www.AfroliciousHairExpo. com In Concert: Eric B. & Rakim 8:00pm • $15-30 The Novo 800 W Olympic Blvd Contact: (213) 765-7000 www.thenovodtla.com

Monday, November 5 Church of God In Christ 111th Holy Convocation (Through November 13) Speakers include Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis and Bishop Charles Blake The America’s Center St. Louis Info:

(901) 947-9322

Thursday, November 8 In Concert: Bone Thugs-NHarmony 8:00pm • $25-35 The Novo 800 W Olympic Blvd Contact: (213) 765-7000 www.thenovodtla.com Holman’s Annual Black College Summit Meet with admissions directors and recruiters from invited historical black colleges 6PM – 9PM • Free Holman UMC 3320 West Adams Blvd Contact: (323) 731-7285 www.holmanumc.com

Friday, November 9 On Stage: “The Color Purple” (Through

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Thursday, November 15 Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama 8pm • $129 – 500+ The Forum 3900 W Manchester Blvd Inglewood www.msg.com

L.A. Focus/November 2018

Amandla Stenberg wowed in black at the premiere of The Hate U Give at the 62nd Annual London Film Festival

at the honored s in idi was h rd a a h w S A Yara Respect N E S L 2018 G Hills Beverly

Harold P errineau was on h his Claws and to co-star N iecy Nash honor Special N at th eeds Netw ork Evenin e g of the Sta rs

the ed off her legs at Tyra Banks show h. nt mo st Awards la American Music

Tracee Ellis Ross glowed in this red stunner at the American Music Awards

Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players, Tyler Perry Studios and BET Films Present the World Premiere of "Nobody's Fool" After Party..Pictured: Whoopi Goldberg, Cicely Tyson, Tyler Perry, Al Sharpton Photo: Dave Allocca | Starpix Foundation

December 9) 8PM • $10 - $45 Greenway Court Theatre 544 N. Fairfax Avenue Tickets: (323) 673-0544 greenwaycourttheatre.org

Saturday, November 10 In Concert: Sinbad 8pm • $38 - $58 The Saban 8440 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills Contact: (888) 645-5006 sabantheatre.com Heads Up Foundation 2018 Holiday Fundraising Gala Featuring Terry Steel, Andrew Gouche, DW3, Jade and more 7PM • $75 The Proud Bird 11022 Aviation Blvd Contact: (424) 243-5831 headsupfoundationinc.org In Concert: Nobuntu: African A Capella Quintet Zimbabwe superstars bring mix of traditional African, Afrojazz, gospel and crossover music 7:30PM • $30 The Broad Stage

1310 11th Street Santa Monica 90401 Contact: (310) 434-3200 www.thebroadstage.org In Concert: Maxwell With Marsha Ambrosius 8PM • $45.50 - $250.50 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Contact: (213) 763-6030 www.microsofttheater.com 17th Annual Cash for College & Career Convention (Features financial aid presentations, scholarship info, help with college application essays 10AM – 12:30PM • Free Los Angeles Trade Tech College 400 W. Washington Blvd www.lacashforcollege.org

Sunday, November 11 In Concert: Billy Childs’ Jazz Chamber Ensemble 7:30PM • $30 The Broad Stage 1310 11th Street Santa Monica 90401 Contact: (310) 434-3200 www.thebroadstage.org

Nutcracker Tchaikovsky’s Score, Hip Hop Dance, NYC Style 7PM • $70 - $95 Long Beach Convention Ctr 300 East Ocean Blvd Contact: (562) 436-3636 hiphopnutcracker.com Southern St Paul Holy Convocation Special Guest: Bishop Victor S. Couzens (Through November 13 4678 Adams Blvd Contact: (323) 731-2703 www.smbcla.org

Tuesday, November 13 Workshop: Free Help with Clearing Criminal Records 5:30PM – 8PM •Free LA Law Library 301 West First Street Contact: (213) 785.2529 www.lalawlibrary.org

Wednesday, November 14 In Conversation: Terry Crews 7PM – 9PM • Free Parking = $12 California African American Museum 600 State Drive

Contact: (213) 744-7432 http://caamuseum.org Workshop: Family Law Divorce Orientation 9AM – 11:30AM •Free Torrance Superior Court 825 Maple Ave, Room 110 Contact: (213) 785.2516 www.lalawlibrary.org Conference: The Church & Changing Culture Speakers include Togetta Ulmer, Wayne Chaney, Myesha Chaney, Pastor Jody Moore, Dr. Jack Hayford and Van Moody (Through November 15) $199 333 W. Florence Avenue Contact: (310) 330-8000 www.faithfulcentral.com

Friday, November 16 On Stage: Redemption of a Dogg Starring Snoop Dogg & Tamar Braxton 8PM • $44.50 - $130 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Contact: (213) 763-6030 www.microsofttheater.com

Golf Tournament, Dinner Montebello Golf Course 901 Via San Clemente Montebello 90640 Contact: (323) 735-1251 famechurch.org

Saturday, November 17 Booksigning— “Mother of Black Hollywood” With Jenifer Lewis 3pm • Free The Grove at Farmers Market 189 The Grove Drive Contact: (323) 525-0270 www.barnesandnoble.com

Saturday, November 24 The Souldies Show featuring The Notations, The Temprees, The Younghearts and more Hosted by Angel Baby 7PM • $35-55 Quiet Cannon 901 Via San Clemente Montebello Contact: (323) 724-4500 www.quietcannon.com

around los angeles On Stage: Hip Hop

Photo: Nicci Carney

Dr. Betty Price —seated with daughter Stephanie—celebrated her 40th Annual Wisdom From Above Luncheon last month.

In Concert: Justin Timberlake 8PM • $55 - $275

sband Norm Debbie Allen and Hu of Hope Ball sel rou Ca the Nixon attend Hotel at the Beverly Hilton

Wednesday, November 28 On Stage: “Wicked” (Through January 27, 2019) Check online for prices Hollywood Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd Contact: (323) 468-1770 hollywoodpantages.com

Friday, November 30 In Concert: Sweet Honey in The Rock 8PM • UCLA Royce Hall Contact: (310) 825-2101 www.roycehall.org

Saturday, December 1 Stroke Risk and U: Living A Healthy Life With A Healthy Brain Common causes, risk factors, newest treatments, UCLA Medical Center 1250 – 16th Street Santa Monica Contact: (424) 259-8390 connect.uclahealth.org

Gladys Knight was cla ssy in black on the red carpet at the Am erican Music Awards last month

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

honored with Angela Bassett was th Annual 10 at d Icon Awar ntial Gala Hollywood Confide

First AME’s 8th Annual

Tuesday, November 27

Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa Contact: (213) 742-7340 staplescenter.com

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson The November 2 release of The Nutcracker And The Four Realms mark the beginning of holiday films and it’s a good one. Filled with magic, beauty, and some fantastic dancing the film is the story of Clara – played by Makenzie Foy and her enchanted journey. Here’s what happens: while attending a Christmas party, gifts are distributed and Clara’s god-father, Drosselmeyer – played by Morgan Freeman - makes sure she’s prepared for the responsibility of her gift, which happens to be a key, left to her by her late mother. As she’s moves to grab the key it is snatched from her hands and in order to get it back she is transported through a magical world of various kingdoms that are all connected to

Clara’s key. While in the new world she encounters an array or characters who help her unlock the secrets of each Realm, while allowing her to discover a variety of untapped personal attributes that develop with each challenge encountered.

DUE IN THEATERS THIS mONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Nobody’s Fool November 2

Widows November 16

Tika Sumpter Is Red Hot

Riding high off the pre-publicity and media surrounding the release of Tyler Perry’s “Nobody’s Fool”, starring Tiffany Haddish, Tika Sumpter, Power’s Omari Hardwick and Whoopi Goldberg, Tika Sumpter is having a very big year. She’s got four films in the works for 2019—including Ridealong 3 and the political thriller, An Acceptable Loss (with Jaime Curtis)—and HBO is developing a drama series that she will not only star in, but produce. The series, titled Trader, has been described as a contemporary re-imagining of the Robin Hood saga told through the perspective of a half-Nigerian and half-Black American female, Adefolke Girabaldi, an investing wunderkind and trading forecast prodigy on Wall Street. Her character wields a billion-dollar hedge fund as a sword to eviscerate predatory corporations that exploit the poor while navigating the unscrupulous world of the Girabaldi family who are the center of New York City’s black aristocracy…In other casting news, Forest

Surrounded by an excellent cast, The Nutcracker features, Kierra Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger, Eugenio Derbez as Flower Realm King, new comer Jayden Fowora-Knight is Phillip the Nutcracker. There are special performances by the first African American Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theater, Misty Copeland and Jookin’ by Charles “Lil Buck” Riley. Copeland plays the central dancer of the film’s first ballet sequence and this movie is a great showcase of the best ballet has to offer. Grab the kids, make it family day at Hometown: Washington D.C. the theater and go see, The Nutcracker Big Break: “The Cosby Show” And The Four Realms. Current Projects:“Empire” Upcoming Films: “Creed II (November 21)

Q&A

Phylicia Rashad

Creed II November 21

Whitaker—who ended a stint on Empire earlier this year—is set to play New York City crime boss Bumpy Johnson in the EPIX series, Godfather of Harlem, airing in early 2019. Whitaker will also star in Jingle Jangle, a holiday musical in which the Oscar-winning actor plays a oncegreat inventor/toy maker who lost his belief in himself and his inventions, but gets a second chance and a magical invention, when his granddaughter comes to town for the holidays. Prayers For Tina Turner Last month, we reported that a musical on Tina Turner’s life is headed to Broadway, but sadly today we report that she is in the fight of her life. In a post from Glenn Cosby, which has since been removed, it was stated that the superstar needs our prayers and is apparently in the fight of her life. Undocumented reports are that the singer who suffered a stroke, had a bout with intestinal cancer in 2016 and underwent a kidney transplant—may now be yet another health crisis. The 78year old singer just released a new memoir entitled, “My Love Story”, which details not only new revelations about her abusive marriage to Ike Turner and her marriage to German music producer Erwin Bach (after a 27year romance), but also the health issues that nearly took her life. While the status of her health remains unclear, our prayers go out to the reclusive diva—who lives in Switzerland. Family Matters: "Ray Donovan" co-star Pooch Hall had his day in court pleading not guilty to felony child abuse and DUI. Hall was reportedly driving with his toddler in his lap,

If Beale Street Could Talk November 30

holding the steering wheel, when he crashed into a parked car. No one was injured but a breathalyzer put him at over three times the legal limit. He’s entered a 60-day residential rehab program and as a condition of his bail, he has been ordered to attend two AA classes per week and get outpatient treatment. Hall could face up to six years and six months in prison if convicted …Married To Medicine/ Sister Circle star Quad Lunceford says there is no hope for reconciliation with her estranged husband, Dr. Greg Lunceford. “He was cheating in the marriage, profusely, and is already dating a number of women,” Quad told HipHollywood. “If you are going to conduct yourself as a single man then just do the business and get a divorce to be single. This is a man that said he loved me but is now trying to paint a very negative picture than what is real.”…On a happier note, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Eva Marcille tied the knot with Atlanta attorney Michael Sterling in a lavish ceremony that will be seen on this season’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta”, which debuts November 4…Not returning to the show this season are Kenya Moore and Sheree Whitfield. Moore and husband Marc Daly expect their first child this month. Whitfield is close to delivering her athleisure clothing line, She by Sheree´. Briefly: Ava DuVernay is set to film a documentary about Prince for Netflix with the blessings of his estate. “Prince was a genius and a joy and a jolt to the senses,” DuVernay told Deadline. “He shattered every preconceived notion, smashed every boundary, shared everything in his heart through his music. The only way I know how to make this film is with love. And with great care.”

Phylicia Rashad began her acting career on the stage, earning a string of Broadway credits including Dreamgirls, The Wiz, and Raisin in the Sun, and in 2004 became the first black actress to win the Best Actress Tony Award. Rashad is best known for her work in television as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, earning her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Aside from her eight year stint on the Cosby Show, recurring role on “Empire” and a recent appearance in a Drake video, she has amassed over 60 credits in film and television. In 2007, the 70-year old actress made her directorial debut with the Seattle Repertory Theatre's production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. In 2016, she directed Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Mark Taper Forum. What was it like working with a break-out star like Michael B. Jordan in Creed II? Michael B. Jordan in this role as Adonis Creed is so perfect, so beautiful. It was wonderful being with him, it was so natural I feel like I had known him forever. It wasn’t hard to be with him at all, and believe this relationship. How did Ryan Coogler’s vision impact the film. Ryan Coogler is one of the most interesting people I’ve met in a very long time. His knowledge is vast and his vision is very broad and deep. He sees into the sinews of a character, and doesn’t get stuck in one mode or another. He listens to the text as well, and is fine tuning it all the time-- and he does it in such a charismatic way. You’ve done television, film and theater-- which one of those makes you feel the most complete? They all go together as far as I can see, but theater is certainly the original discipline. I’m very happy I’ve continued working in theater all these years, even while working with Mr. Cosby on The Cosby Show, I never left theater-- and following that show back into theater, I’ve never left it. I’m so happy to be able to say that. How are you enjoying your role as a guest artist on FOX’s Empire? Being naughty can be so much fun, especially when no one really gets hurt. I thought it would be so much fun to work with this cast, and so far it has been great! It really has been a lot of fun. How do you feel about the state of TV today? I believe that [TV] is beginning to change. I think it’s getting ready to shift, I had a talk with Brandon Tartikoff (the late head of NBC programming during the 1980’s) about the time when The Cosby Show was coming to its conclusion and he said: “It’s getting bad and it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.” He told me that years ago and he was very right. But there are some wonderful things on television right now. I love Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Scandal, Luther. Wonderful things on television and wonderful things coming up too. It’s not done yet. This stuff comes in waves. There was a time when I couldn’t watch sitcoms for a while because it was just cacophony, it was just noise.

Game Changers: Common

KEITH DELAWDER Staff Writer

“A Voice For The Voiceless”

ith over thirty years under his belt as a professional musician, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.-- better known as his stage name ‘Common’-- has made it his prerogative to transcend what it means to be an entertainer and use his platform to spread awareness and knowledge about the critical issues of our time. The rapper turned actor and activist is going well beyond the typical spokesman role in his latest crusade, fighting for policy change in our country’s notoriously vicious criminal justice system. In October, Common brought his Hope & Redemption Tour through California’s central valley where he played concerts at three different prisons to instill hope, love and humanity in the men and women who are incarcerated. Along with playing shows for the inmates, Common took time to personally meet those imprisoned and listen to their stories. As a part of the tour Common appeared at a series of community events and discussions in the sur-

rounding cities of Fresno, Merced and Bakersfield to engage, build and inspire local communities and organization-- finishing with a special visit to a California Division of Juvenile Justice youth facility and a meeting in Stockton with Mayor Michael Tubbs and local leaders. “Visiting these prisons and speaking with the men and women inside during the Hope & Redemption Tour had a profound impact,” says Common. “It is my duty to lend my voice to the voiceless and stand with the men and women in prison who have been silenced for so long. We need a justice system that’s a tool for rehabilitation rather than a weapon for punishment.” In that spirit Common published a youtube video series using his meetings with the inmates to inform those on the outside in seeking ways to improve the system, specifically on the issues of life without parole, rehabilitation and women in prison. His video addressing inmates facing life sentences without the possibility of parole was especially moving. “No doubt I was running around crazy on methamphetamine and committing crimes, stealing from people and those aren’t victimless crimes,” said one inmate who received six life sentences without the possibility of parole for a non-violent offences. “You get permanently defined by an act. There isn’t hope. It’s not like, ‘I can do it, I can work my way out.’ Does someone deserve to die in prison is something that our society needs to answer.” In order to promote his activist events as well as support others fighting for change, Common started the non-profit

organization Imagine Justice. According to its mission statement, the organization-- which is centered at the intersection of art and activism-- “is dedicated to leveraging the power of art to advocate for the most marginalized people in society, to fight for justice and equality, and to stand united against injustice wherever it appears.” “As an artist, I believe it is my duty to fight injustice wherever it appears and take a stand for my fellow brothers and sisters...to use my platform to amplify the courageous voices of the movement and support the most marginalized members of our society,” said Common on organizing Imagine Justice. Imagine Justice started the Hope & Redemption Tour in March of 2017 with a similar stretch of concerts, playing at three prisons in four days. In August of that year Common hosted a special free community concert to over 25,000 people on the grounds of the the Capitol building in Sacramento. The following day Common joined multiple organizations for several meetings with the Governor, numerous caucuses and other legislators to discuss a number of bills that were eventually signed into law. “The Hope & Redemption Tour was one of the greatest and most awakening experiences of my life,” says Common. “It

inspired me, as I met some of the most humane and enlightened people. For them to be in such difficult circumstances, yet be aspiring toward hope and their own and others’ humanity, was amazing.” Last month, Common joined Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and representatives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Office of Diversion and Reentry, American Civil Liberties Union, and Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership to promote voter registration for justice-involved individuals. In honor of National Voter Registration Day, Supervisor RidleyThomas promoted the recent launch of a campaign to bring voter awareness to incarcerated individuals called “L.A. Free the Vote”, followed by a voter registration drive inside the jail. “The vote is one of the first steps that we can do as people in this country to show that we care and people have made mistakes, but we’re still reaching out for them,” stated the rapper/activist. That’s what America is supposed to be about”.

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Through the Storm

KEITH DELAWDER Staff Writer

“Them Against The World”: How Trials Made David & Tamela Mann Stronger

hile most of America knows them as “The Browns”, the lovable outspoken characters from so many of Tyler Perry’s productions (Madea’s Family Reunion, Madea Goes To Jail, Meet The Browns), the gospel community has for over a decade has known David and Tamela Mann as the soulfully talented couple that spreads the light of the word with their music. Now the Mann’s are back at it with ambitious new album based off the autobiographical book they’ve co-written, “Us Against The World: Our Secrets to Love, Marriage, and Family”, with a tour planned in support of the projects. The inspiration for the projects comes from the over 30 years of marriage that David and Tamela enjoy, which is something that they want to share with younger generations-- both the good times and moments that’ve nearly ended them. “How we came up with ‘Us Against The World’ was from an issue that came up five years into our marriage- and it was one of those things that almost broke us apart,” David tells L.A. Focus. “I found out I had a child from another woman because of previous stuff we were going through before we got married-- there was a previous argument we were having before we got married and it caught up five years into our marriage. “So to have your wife come home from work and have to tell her, ‘Oh by the way, I hope work was great but I have another child,’ that is good enough to drive a wedge between any marriage.” “He was like, ‘it’s us, and there’s everything else.’ And it just kid of clicked because, at first, I was just like, ‘I can’t do it,’’ admits Tamela. “And so she was worried, ‘where do I fit into this whole situation?’, recounds David. “‘Am I going to be the focal point? Am I going to be an afterthought?’ And I assured her I said, ‘Look there's everything else and then there's us. It's literally us against everything. It's us against the world.’ And once I told her that it eased her mind and it let her know that she’s my priority.” “It’s about bringing us together and not giving up on each other as a family and as a unit,” says Tamela. “When you think of all the mothers and fathers that are breaking up, and it’s the kids coming in the middle like, ‘Are we ever going to be back together as a family, or do anything together as a family?’” “So it’s literally going to take us to keep this from happening,” says David. “And when we say ‘us’ it’s going to take everybody, the village.” David and Tamela had two children together, David, Jr. and Tia. They also had Porcia and Tiffany from their previous relationships, respectively, as well as Sonya, Tamela’s niece, of whom the couple raised as their own. Altogether they currently have eight grandchildren, and with their large blended family, they’ve made it a point to establish their family unit as a grounding force that can be past down for generations. “We’ve tried to go back to the basics, like when

we were growing up you had reunions and family functions of getting together and having dinner like on some Sundays,” recalls Tamela. “We have to get back to that because our kids are losing it. So, they feel like they really don't have any foundation like what we had when we were growing up. “We have our eight grandkids. We've taught our kids: family is all you have. God forbid if something happens to me and your daddy, what are you going to do? Are you all going to just tear each other's head off and just split up?” “Or remember the foundation that we built for the family?”, adds David. “So you can keep it going with your nieces and nephews and with your kids,” Tamela asserts. “That's what we're trying to incorporate as we do this, to let the people see and encourage other people.” Writing a book was a new challenge for the Mann’s, and one that they embraced in the spirit of giving back and sharing their experiences which motivated them to be open in their memoir, without editing out the difficult times. “I believe in being diversified and reinventing yourself, like doing a book,” says David. “I mean we're two kids from Fort Worth, Texas-- from the hood. And I asked one of my teachers the other day, could you believe I'm writing a book? And she was like, ‘No’, but that's just the favor of God-- the Lord is like, ‘Hey, here is another method of getting the Word out. You've had 30 years of successful mar-

riage, tell the story.’” “The Lord was just pressing it on my heart,” tells Tamela. “I was like, ‘David, we have to do this’ it's like the Lord is just pushing me, saying nothing else is going to happen until you put this in order. “As we were writing the book going back with our stories it kind of ruffled feathers in between us. We're not trying to paint a perfect picture of our marriage. We have misunderstandings like everybody else but we chose to take divorce off the table and we were going to work through whatever situation we were facing, and that's what we've been doing.” To add to the power of their stories, the Mann’s recorded the album (also titled, “Us Against The World”) as a sort of musical soundtrack to the book. “My son put this team together and we sat down with them and said, ‘Listen, these are stories from the book. This is the outline of the book. We want something that can really reflect our heart,’” tells David. “We're doing this for love and to encourage,” says Tamela. “It's from us, and also for us. We want to encourage marriages, especially in the church, that you can make something clean. And we're talking about your spouse. Think on your spouse, or your love, the love of your life. This my love, he's the love of my life! And these songs just made me love him even more.” “The album is not gospel,” asserts David. “It’s inspirational love music,” adds Tamela “We know people are going to put a category on it, because we’re not singing, ‘Jesus! Jesus!’, But saved sanctified church folk need music when they’re trying to work things out, and also being intimate.” To support the album, The Mann’s are set to embark on the “Us Against The World-Mann Family Tour”, starting with eight dates set across the United States. “Our show is not just singing and a comedy concert,” says David. “It’s everything! We have a little drama in it, Tamela is going to take you to church, I'm here to make you laugh, my son is going to make you party, Tia here to make you feel good with the neo-soul and the vibes. It's a little something for everybody.” And whether it’s on television, in the movies, making music or telling their stories, one thing is for sure: the Mann’s will be out there working hard. “We're not at the sky yet. I still feel like we're still reaching for the sky because I feel like we need to push other people,” says Tamela “For me I will probably never feel like I've accomplished everything because I'm striving for something that I'll never probably get: perfection,” says David. “That’s what keeps me driving, because I want that and I know I’ll never get it. “We’re just two kids with high school diplomas making it in this game. That’s it in a nutshell.”

Milestones Truth) Areva Martin, it is one of the nation’s leading autism advocacy organizations. Martin was inspired to create the organization after going through the challenges of raising an autistic son. “There is no greater joy in my life than seeing the positive impact SNN has had on countless families,” said Martin. Since its inception, the organization— based in Los Angeles— has provided critical direct services to over 50,000 kids and adults with a range of developmental and mental health disorders in the state’s poorest communities and has become California’s leading grassroots advocacy organization. The theme of the event is “Superheroes” and guests—including Sherry Shepherd,

Tina Knowles and Richard Lawson, Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas and “Claws” co-star Harold Perrineau—were asked to wear superhero cocktail attire and encouraged in ways to bring change to the world. The evening was hosted by CBS broadcast journalist, Susie Suh. Honorees also included CEO Scott Laurie (The Olson Company) who received the Corporate Citizen Award, and Dr. Fred Parrott who received the Dr. Ruth and Dr. Ludlow Creary Lifetime Achievement Award. The event also paid tribute to ten women who have changed the face of autism by tirelessly volunteering. For more information on the Special Needs Network, visit: www.snnla.org

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Niecy Nash with Areva Martin (left) and Claws co-star Harold Perrineau (right)

2018 has been a big year for Niecy Nash. She just completed the second season of the hit TNT series, Claws, is filming Ava DuVernay’s Central Park Five Netflix mini-series and recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This Saturday, she will be honored with the Vanguard Award at the 13th Annual Evening Under the Stars Awards Show and Gala at the California African American Museum. "I am so honored to receive this award. Inclusion in television is a necessary thing. Viewers need to see themselves now more than ever. I'm happy I could be a part of this narrative", said Nash. The event was hosted by the Special Needs Network. Founded by CNN legal analyst and talk show co-host (Face the

ChurchNews Antioch Church of Long Beach Purchases Former Concert Venue As New Location

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center Consolidated Plaza: 3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethany Baptist Church of West LA 4115 W. Martin L. King Jr. Bl • LA 90008 (323) 296-7223 Dr. L.A. Kessee, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8am •11:00am Sunday School: 9:45am Communion, First Sundays 6:00pm Prayer Service: 10:00am www.bethanywla.com

fter seeking a new location for its thriving Long Beach congregation, Pastor Wayne Chaney has entered into a partnership with Sixth & Pine Development, LLC (Millworks) for the redevelopment of the onetime concert venue, 350 Pine (Vault 350), into a church and multipurpose facility. "The purchase of 350 Pine will allow us to do much more than house our services, it will serve as a premier venue," said Pastor Wayne Chaney. "We see an opportunity to bring events that inspire the City," adds Mrs. Myesha Chaney. The yet to be named venue will cater to musical acts, plays, weddings, comedy shows and business events in addition to Antioch church services. What makes this transaction special is the extraordinary timing. Millworks acquired 350 Pine Ave in 2015 and made plans to restore the languishing building into a top-notch concert venue. But after three years of unsuccessful negotiations, the Millworks team couldn't find any like-minded partners or investors and were ready to cut their losses and sell the property. Around the same time, Becky Blair and Sheva Hosseinzadeh at Coldwell Banker Commercial were tasked with selling Antioch Church's current property and finding a new building that could also function as a multipurpose venue. After four years of searching, they found nothing that fit the Chaney's vision and they didn't have a single offer on the table for the current property located at 1535 Gundry Avenue. The Chaneys were ready to give up. After meeting with the church leadership, the Chaneys decided to wait one more week before taking their property off the market. "It was really nothing short of miraculous," says Pastor Chaney. "In that one week, after four years of nothing, we got three offers." Three days after the Chaneys accepted an offer on their church property, 350 Pine Ave became part of the conversation. Inexplicably, the property had been overlooked during their 4-year search and it turned out to be everything they wanted. "A match made in heaven," proclaims Michelle Molina, Managing Partner at Millworks. The fact that the building had been designed by Paul Revere Williams, one of the first African-American architects on the West Coast, only gave it deeper meaning. The building will be completed in 12 - 18 months. In the meantime, Sunday services for the 2,500-member church are now being held at Poly High School at 10am.

Churches Partner to Aid Foster Children

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Six churches in the greater South Los Angeles area recently partnered to create the Faith Foster Families Network to offer another level of support to parents and youth involved in the foster care system. Holman CDC of Holman United Methodist Church, the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation of First AME Church, the West Angeles CDC of West Angeles Church of God in Christ all in Los Angeles, along with the Center of Hope in Inglewood, the City of Refuge in Gardena and Crossroads United Methodist Church in Compton are initial network members, but FFFN plans to reach out to more South L.A. ministries to participate in the future. Data collected by DCFS indicates that disproportionately high numbers of Black children enter the foster care system. The group’s goal is to provide resources, education, activities and advocacy for foster families and youth, working closely with the county’s Department of Children and Family Services and a range of agencies to fulfill its mission.

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Reginald A. Pope Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 8am • 11am Children’s Church: 11am (2nd/4th Sundays) Evangelism Training/Bible Study/Independent Prayer: (Mon): 7:29pm Mobile Prayer/Bible Study: (Wed) 11am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior Pastor Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph

Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 Sunday L.I.F.E Group: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Wednesday Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth, Pastor • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School (all ages) : 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Tues. Mobile Prayer: 6:15am Wed. Bible Study: Noon Follow us on Facebook Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm

Christ The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 3303 W. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 295-4139 • F: (323) 295-4681 Rev. Joseph Oloimooja Sunday School: 10:00am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:00am Mon. Centering Prayer/Meditation: 6:30pm Mon. Overeaters Anonymous: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study & Eucharist: 7:00pm Wed. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7:00pm E: cgshepherd4041@sbcglobal.net

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., Senior Pastor

Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sun. Early Worship: 8:00am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1:00pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube

Liberty Baptist Church 1500 West 51st Place, Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 295-3866 • F: (323) 295-0366 • E: LBCwim@aol.com Rev. Terry Lovell Brown Sr.

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Apostle Price, Founder

Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor

Sunday School: 9:30am(Youth) & 9:45(Adult) Sunday Worship: 8am and 11am Morning Worship: 11:00am Bible Study (Thurs.): Noon Sun. Radio: KJLH 102.3FM: 11:00am Gather, Grow,Go and Live The Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Sunday Church School: 9:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am & 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: noon & 6:30pm Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Follow us on Twitter @dacrossculture www.thecrossculture.org

Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:00pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:00pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:00pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:00pm

Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

First AME Church (FAME) 2270 South Harvard Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-1251 • F: (323) 735-3353 • www.famechurch.org Pastor J. Edgar Boyd, Senior Pastor/CEO

Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121

Sunday School: 10:00am Worship: 8:00am, 10:00am, Noon Teen Church (2nd Sundays):Noon,Allen House Wed. Prayer Service: Noon Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Radio: 10:30am on KJLH-102.3FM First AME is the oldest Black Church in the City

F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church Pastor George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 11:00am Discipleship Hour (Sun): 9:37am Noonday Prayer (Mon): Noon Noonday Bible Study (Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: Email: office@sinai.church •www.sinai.church Our Goal: To win more Christians & develop better Christians to the glory of God. (Matt. 28:18-20)

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • www.mtzionla.org Dr. Edward V. Hill, II, Pastor Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 9:15am Morning Worship: 9:30am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am Baptism: 2nd Sun. & Lord’s Supper: 1st. Sun. Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Rev. Dr. Lovely Haynes Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed: Prayer Bible Study: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Mon. Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Tue Choir Rehersal Wednesday Prayer: Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 7:00pm Thurs. Evangelism: 7:00pm (enrollment required)

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

Sundays: Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7:00pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 1740 West 59th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90047 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 56608, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor Sunday Worship Service: 8:00am PrayerLine: (Tuesday & Wednesday): 6:00am WordLine (Tuesday): 7:00pm ( (712) 775-7031 Access Code: 814352108) E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com

CHURCHES CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES AND REVIVALS OR OPPORTUNITIES

SHOWCASE YOUR CHURCH ANNIVERSARY OR REVIVAL HERE

Mt.Tabor Missionary Baptist Church Sunday, November 25th 8:00/11:00 am Worship Services Guest Speaker: Pastor Anthony L. Bennett, Mount Aery Baptist Church

with our

Saturday, December 1, 2018: 4:00pm Homecoming Reunion Musical

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER

Sunday, December 2, 2018 Homecoming Reunion Worship Services Guest Speakers 8:00am - Bishop Larry T. Kirkland Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church 11:00am - Pastor Richard Williams, Victory Institutional Baptist Church 3:45pm - Pastor Chuck Esters Community Missionary Baptist Church of Compton

of just $199

For information, call 310.677.6011 New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 402 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90061 (310)324-0644 • F: (310) 769-1287 Rev. Sonja Dawson, Senior Pastor • Rev. Lonnie Dawson, Sr., Founder (1962 - 2010) Morning Worship: 7:30am & 10:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Wed. Prayer/Bible Study: Noon Pastor’s Bible Study: 7:00pm

One Church International 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.onechurchla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:00am & 1:00pm Wednesday Midweek Service: 8pm www.Channel1Live.tv—View live streaming

Pastor’s Bible Class & Sunday School: 8am Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Prayer: 7:00pm Tues. Bible Study: 8:00pm

6614 S. Western Avenue L.A.,CA • 323.753.3189 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 2009 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 293-6448 • F: (323) 293-6605 Dr. Sylvester Washington Sunday School: 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:00am Tues. Bible Study: 11:00am Wed. Evangelism Class: 6:30pm First Sun. Holy Communion Service: 4:00pm www.pleasanthillbaptistchurch.org Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-6458 Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Sunday Morning Broadcast: 5:30am Live Streaming Sundays: 12:00pm http://www.pozlive.com Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins Sunday Worship Service: 10:00am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11:00am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

Southern Saint Paul Church 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • smbc@smbcla.org Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Senior Pastor/Teacher Corporate Prayer: 8:30am L.I.F.E. Groups: 9:45am Morning Worship Service: 11:15am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 4:00pm Pastoral Bible Study (PBS)Wednesdays:7:00pm North Campus: Worship Service: 8:00am 11137 Herrick Av • Pacoima 91331 (818) 899-8031 st.paul@smbcla.org •“Loving People Making Disciples” Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9:00am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7:00pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Walking In The Spirit Ministries Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Dr. Aaron Iverson

Dr. Ticey M. Brown, Pastor

Victory Baptist Church 4802 South McKinley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 231-2424• Pastor Dr. W. Edward Jenkins Sunday School: 10:45 am Morning Worship: 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday:Noon Radio Sundays: KPRO 1570AM: 9:00pm

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6 West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am www.westa.tv

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center In Altadena 2556 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 797-3585 • F: (626) 797-3233 • www.lifelinefcc.org Pastor Charles D. Dorsey Sunday School: 9:00am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm

Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus) Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm) Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor

Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm

Divine Fellowship Community Baptist Church In Compton 1110 N. Dwight Avenue,Compton, CA 90222 P:(800) 715-1240 • F: (800) 878-6882 Rev. Raphael Irving MDiv, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:30am 3rd Annual Financial Literacy Summit Saturday, October 27, 2018 Breakfast & Registration @ 9:00am Financial Workshops 10:00 - 1:00pm Email: Pastor@DivineFellowship-inc.com

Sunday Worship: 8:00am|10:45am| 5:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm|7:00pm FB: GreaterZion IG: GZCFamily www.gzcf.us

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, P.O. Box 5449, Compton 90220 (310) 604-5900 Fax: (310) 604-5915 Dr. Ron C Hill Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:30am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:30pm Bible Studies: Wed. 7:30pm & Sat. 9am Food for Your Soul Radio & Television Ministry: beblessedwebradio: Mon - Fri. 6:30am Church Channel: Tues. 5:30pm & Fri. 2:30pm

Pastor Profile: Cedric Bridgeforth Church: Grace United Methodist Church Years at Church: Five months Hometown: Decatur, Al Family: Single Education: Stamford University; Claremont School of Theology When did you know you were going to be a pastor? My grandmother called me long before God sent me. How so? When I was about 10, I was called on to offer the prayer in a regular service. The man who did the prayer every Sunday for all their lives wasn't there and my grandmother told them that I would pray, which meant I had to pray in front of the whole church. I prayed and when I finished and stood up to go back to my seat, my grandmother met me at the head of the aisle, looked me squarely in my face and said, "Boy one day you're going to preach." I

screamed and I ran out of the church. Was it a scream of fear? Yeah, it's like I don’t want to do that. How did she know at ten you would be able to lead that prayer? I don’t know. I think my grandmother was a very spiritual person. She was a mother at the church— the one everybody called on to pray for them and I believe she just had a sense. Had you been very active in church? Yeah, we had to be. People talk about they were that family who was at church every time the doors opened. Well, we were the family that opened the doors. But as far as doing something on my own or leading, I had not expressed any of that. I was in the children’s choir, a youth usher and, of course, participated in Sunday school, but I hadn't stepped out in any kind of way to be singled out. But that stirred something in me to the point that I really started to try to convince my grandmother and everyone else that was not possible. So, anything I could do to demonstrate how bad I was, I did it. How bad did it get? Well, I didn't go to jail or anything, but as soon as I got my driver's license and could myself my decision was to not go to church. I took a job and told the manager I could work on Sundays, when my mother and my grandmother were explicit, "You can take that little job if it means you work on Sunday mornings." And so, the first words out of my mouth was, "And I am available on Sunday morning." Also drinking with my friends and partying with them— I was that intent on not being somebody's preacher because all I understood then was that preaching on Sunday meant howling for 45 minutes at people and slamming your hand on that big old book up there.

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Is that what you do now? That is not what I do.

So how did you come to the ministry? By the time I enrolled in college, I couldn't really get the classes I needed, so I chose to take these religious classes for a semester and then move on into my required classes the next term. After a month or so, one of my professors who a mentor pulled me aside and said, "You're a prepharmacy major, why are you in my class?" I was like, ‘Well, I think God might be calling me to do something but I'm not sure what that is.’ He committed to meet with me weekly and in

that time exposed me to the reality that a call to ministry was not just about Sunday morning. That there was pastoral care and counselling, missionary work and many expressions of ministry. So how did you actually get to the pulpit? In my third year of seminary at Claremont School of Theology the bishop asked if I would serve in a part-time pastoral appointment at Bowen Memorial United Methodist Church in downtown Los Angeles for one year and I really just felt fell in love with those people. I ended up staying for four years at that church and found a gift for preaching and found joy in it and finding ways to help people so the church grew. Our understanding of who we were to be grew and extended. Then I was hired at Claremont School of Theology as a Director of Alumni and Church Relations. There, I did fund raising and event planning for the seminaries for a few years, and while doing that then the bishop asked me to go serve at Crenshaw United Methodist. I ended up being there for five years, the congregation grew. Then the bishop appointed me as the superintendent and I served as a superintendent for eight years. You came to Grace because the pastor who had been there for 17 years retired, how has the congregation taken to you? It's really been great. I wasn't completely unknown entity to Grace because I served as their superintendent for a number of years. I had 82 churches that were spread out over five county areas, so the connection and familiarity was already there. What we've had to learn is how to be in a different kind of relationship together because I'm not the superintendent. Now, coming to Grace or any other place it's a smaller system. And the nice thing about Grace is 90% of it's systems work and they work well and they don’t need that from me, they don’t need that stable so much from me. It seems to be a very family-oriented, cozy church? Yeah, it is. It is. But a lot of ministries go on here— a lot of small groups, support groups, bible studies, outreach things going on. Everything that I would lead a congregation to do, they were already doing. So, my focus is really on growing the worship presence and then broadening our footprint in the community. Particularly paying attention to changing demographics around us and leading us into real dialogue as to how we retain who we are but not to the extent that we exclude anyone who might want to come be part of this fellowship. This church—as late as 1967-68— was still an allwhite congregation and as African-Americans started

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am

The Liberty Church 14725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross Early Worship: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9am & 11am Children’s Church: Both Services Word Power Wed.: 7-8pm www.thelibertychurch.com

Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7:00pm

In Inglewood Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7:00pm Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Rev. Wendy Howlett Sunday School: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9:30am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm

Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr. Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship: 10:30am

Faithful Central Bible Church 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher Services at The Tabernacle: Sunday Services: 7:00am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com

First Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 757-1804 www.go2Hope.com Pastor Geremy L. Dixon

First Lady Files

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc. 1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com Leap of Faith Community Baptist Church 3502 W. Imperial Hwy, Inglewood, CA 90303 (310) 695-9925 Rev. Artis Glass Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Bible Study: Wednesdays Noon and 6PM

New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church 434 S. Grevillea, Inglewood CA 90301 (310) 673-6250 Office • (310) 673-2153 Rev. Dr. Phillip A. Lewis, D. D., D. Th., Senior Pastor Early Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesday): 7:00pm Afternoon Bible Study (Thursday): 1:00pm

Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon Christ Our Redeemer AME Church In Irvine 45 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 955-0014 • F:(949) 955-0021 • www.corchurch.org Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, II Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 10:30am New Generation Praise Service: 10:30am Sun. Bible Univ.: 9:30am Tues. Interactive Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed. Pastor's Bible Study: Noon, 7:00pm Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Fri. Singles Bible Study (1st Fri): 7:00pm

In La Puente

Sunday School: 9:30 AM Early Worship: 8:00 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Spanish Service: 9:30AM Bible Study: Every Wednesday 7:00 PM www.stsbc.org Antioch Church of Long Beach 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 591-8778 • F: (562) 599-6048 Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr.

Living Hope Baptist Church For Kerri Strong, first lady at Living Hope Missionary Baptist Church (pastored by her husband, Darryl Strong)—church and ministry is strictly about service. “Despite my being seen possibly as a first lady,” she declares, “we [my husband and I] are servants.” In fact, the mother of five aged 15 to 27—who works in the healthcare industry and met her husband in church— says that she is not even that sure about the title of first lady, despite the fast that her mother is the former first lady of an L.A.-area church. “I am still learning that it's about service,” said Strong, who also serves as the women’s day coordinator. “And learning your place and where you might serve or how you might serve. One thing I'd like to bring is more outreach to the sick and shut in. Being a first lady is still new to Strong, whose husband was only recently installed as pastor. “I'd try to convey at our church what God's word says for us, as women because we should be about Our Father's business and what His Word says. We want to be obedient to God's Word and it takes time. It's a process as I often say to a small group of ladies in our Sunday school class that we go through to learn how to live as women and children of God.” Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7:00pm

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins

St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church 1720 N. Walnut Avenue, La Puente, CA 91744 (626) 918-3225 • F: (626) 918-3265 Pastor Tony Dockery

Kerri Strong

In Long Beach

Worship Services: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am Tuesday Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm WednesdayBible Study: Noon

Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com Bishop Joe L. Ealy Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Annointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Were all receive a little attention, affection and love. New Philadelphia A.M.E. Church 6380 S. Orange Avenue, Long Beach, Ca 90805 (562)422-9300•F: (562) 422-9400 Pastor Darryl E. Walker, Senior Pastor Worship: 9:00am —1st & 5th Sunday Sunday School/New Member Classes: 8:00am 2nd thru 4th Sunday Worship:7:30 am &10:00am•Sunday School New Member Classes: 9:00am Sunday worship services streamed live on the web Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday Eve 7:00pm Mid-Week Bible Study: Thursday 12:00 noon www.nuphilly.org

From the Pulpit: First AME Extravagant Living: Luke 21: 1-4 Our text this morning comes from the gospel according to Luke 21:1-4. 21 1-4 Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, “The plain truth is, that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” Let’s zero in on that last verse. All these others made offerings that they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all!” Let’s focus the spotlight on “Extravagant Giving.” There is a story about a medieval monk who stopped along the roadside to have some food. Another traveler passing that way, asked for something to eat. As the monk pulled out some bread from his sack, the traveler noticed something else inside that bag: a jewel glistening in the sunlight! With extraordinary nerve, the traveler asked for the jewel, too. And the monk gave it to him. The traveler went on his merry way—happier than he had ever been—at least for a time. A few days later the traveler sought out the monk again, and said to him, “When I left with that precious jewel, I thought I would never need anything more. But I soon realized I was wrong. I have come back to ask for something more precious still: That which enabled you to give it to me.” How precious is that gift of God—the gift to give extravagantly. God is the original giver of gifts. In fact, the first thing God did after forming us in creation was to bless us. Blessing someone is a relational act: It shows one person’s desire to bestow favor and benefit upon another without reciprocation. In blessing us, God gave us power to increase and be successful in every area of our lives: God invited us into companionship and partnership. With God’s blessings, He provided everything we could possibly imagine and desire to enjoy. God is the supreme extravagant giver!—and we get to gratefully, joyfully respond by loving God with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength….and time…and money. These last two, you have to admit, can be very hard. But I’ve experienced it, and I’ve heard many others testifying to this truth: when you give of your time, and give of your money—for the Kingdom of God—you find that you get back much more than you could ever give. We give up something of value for something of even greater value. Our extravagant giving makes everything else possible. Radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service—these all depend upon a spirit of extravagant giving. How are we doing at nurturing this gift in our individual lives, and in the life of our congregation? How can we do better? Let’s peek into the life of the poor widow in Luke chapter 21. She was a woman of great sacrifice; a woman of great obedience; and a woman who was an extravagant giver. She was a poverty stricken woman down on her luck, but God saw her as a spiritual giant. Let’s allow her story to interact with our life stories and influe n c e a n d

Young Adult Pastor Judi Wortham

In Bethlehem Church 1550 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 794-5211 • F: (626) 794-6592 Pastor Christopher A. Bourne

Pasadena

Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Tuesday Bible Study: 7:00pm Mid-day Worship Thursday: Noon www.bethelemchurchpasadena.org

Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church 980 Rio Grande Street, Pasadena, CA 91104 *Mailing Address: 1416 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-4875 • F: (626) 794-7815 Pastor W. Harrison Trotter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7:00pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. 4:13 Arise Christian Center In Westchester 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm

help us in our own spiritual formation. Let’s take a few moments and sit at her feet. It may be hard for us to put ourselves in her shoes. The widow part, some know that life all too well. However, the depth of poverty, the experience of being down to your last meal or penny most of us simply do not understand. We may know what it means to go without some things we want and we may even believe that we do not possess very much, especially, when we look around and compare our lives to those around us. We may see ourselves poverty stricken because we do not have the finest of cars, homes or other things our friends possess. But this widow teaches us life lessons about what it means to truly be obedient and trust in the Lord. This widow places all she has in the hands of the Lord and depends on the Lord to take care of her daily needs. This unnamed woman teaches us life lessons about sacrifice and surrender. She does not give with the expectation of getting something from God. She gives because of her love of God and her relationship with God! She believes that God will take care of her, but she does not approach God as her business partner. She simply surrenders herself to the lord. How can being more like this poor widow help us to live out a life of holiness? First, do what you can with what you have. We are tempted to wait until just the right moment to do the right thing or a “big” thing. And while we wait on just the right moment to care for our souls, deal with our pain, or change our outlook, life can pass us by. Secondly, become pure hearted givers. Lastly, we must do what we must do to imitate God. Our ultimate destiny, as beings created in God’s image, is to become one with God in this community of boundless love and joyful giving. Ephesians 5:1-2 says “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are God’s dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us— a pleasing aroma to God.” Ridley-Thomas continued from page 6 wrote in a September email to the Daily Trojan. “Naturally, he believed everything was in order.” A report in the L.A. Times, would however link a $100,000 donation from the Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ to the School of Social Work to the former assemblyman’s hiring, the disclosure of which triggered the firing of Sebastian Ridley-Thomas and the forwarding of details about the donation to a federal agency. Sebastian Ridley-Thomas’ attorneys have steadfastly denied any connection between the donation from Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sebastian’s enrollment and employment at the University.

Second Baptist Church In Monrovia 925 S. Shamrock Avenue • P.O. Box 479, Monrovia, CA 91017 •(626) 358-2136 •F: (626) 303-2477 Bishop W.M. Larue Dillard, Phd. Sunday Worship: 7:45am, 10:45am, 4:45pm Ministry Worship to Children/Youth Sunday: 9:45am - 10:45am Prayer/Academy of Biblical Studies (Wed): 10:45am - 6:45pm www.second-baptistchurch.com

First AME Church Santa Monica In Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404 • (310) 450-0331 F: (310) 450-4680 Rev. Reuben W. Ford, Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Bible Study/Prayer Meditation: Thursday 6pm “The Church In The Heart Of The Community with The Community at Heart” Email:famecsm@verizon.net Facebook: First AME Church Santa Monica Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

He added that they were praying for the families of the victims. Both had relatives who attended the church, which recently celebrated its 185th anniversary. Bush exchanged multiple rounds of gunfire in the Kroger parking lot with an armed civilian who had a carry concealed permit. Nobody was injured and the Bush fled the scene but was arrested nearby where he then was taken into custody.

“

...his father confronted Bush during the chaos with a gun, and the gunman told his father, “Whites don’t kill whites,” before moving on.

"Our hearts break for the families of the those we lost to the tragedy at the Jeffersontown Kroger," Russell M. Coleman, the US attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, said in a statement. "The murders are not being taken lightly by the United States government. Federal investigators are supporting local law enforcement and examining this matter from the perspective of federal criminal law." A local man named Steve Zinniger told a local TV station that his father had confronted Bush during the chaos with a gun, and the gunman told his father, “Whites don’t kill whites,” before moving on. Court records detail Bush’s history of domestic violence incidents involving his parents and his ex-wife, who is black. She said that he had used a racist epithet against her, and that she was “scared to death” of him after he punched her in the face. Ironically, because in accordance with Kentucky law, hate crimes don’t apply to murder, the FBI and Department of Justice are instead investigating the case as a hate crime. "Federal investigators are supporting local law enforcement and examining this matter from the perspective of federal criminal law, which includes potential civil rights violations such as hate crimes," said Russell Coleman, the U.S. attorney for the western district of Kentucky. While murder already carries the full punishment of life in prison, state prosecutor Thomas Wine observed, “It’s hard to escape the conclusion that he acted with hate toward these individuals because of their race." In addressing the congregation of the First Baptist Church in the wake of the shooting, Jeffersontown Police Chief Seth Rogers told parishioners that the fact that the shooting was racially motivated signalled the need for more meaningful dialogue even as some didn’t want to acknowledge the elephant in the room. "A crime against race is something that we will not accept,” Mayor Bill Dieruf stated. “It's unacceptable to us that a crime would be committed against a race — certainly against any nationality or race is heinous. “I want you all to realize,” he continued, “that yes, we have a race problem,” Mayor . Yes, it is real. It's up to us to solve the problem of racism."

InGoodTaste

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Elder continued from page 7 product of data inaccuracies (and) the presented evidence does not support the stated conclusion ... When errors are corrected, one can recover positive, negative or null estimates of the effect of voter ID laws on turnout, precluding firm conclusions." In other words, the data do not support the notion that the "brown-brown" are too dumb, too lazy or otherwise incapable of obtaining the necessary identification to vote. Larry Elder is a best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com.

Black women continued from page 6

Pastor continued from page 22 coming in the white folks pretty much got up and walked away. And now they're walking right back... Exactly. So, we have a choice to make to behave as they did or to do it in a different way so that two generations from now we can see we were a part of the solution, the healing and bringing about wholeness in this area. I have made a point in my life to be as open, as welcoming and as affirming as I can be. God wants and needs us to do better in terms of how we, as Christians…as disciples of Jesus, avail ourselves to those who may appear to be different than we are.

Was there any philosophy or scripture that shaped your life more than anything else? The scripture that is my daily mantra is own rendition of Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord and no one else."

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L.A. Focus/ November 2018

Is that one of the recurring themes in your ministry? Yes, it starts with loving God and receiving the love that God offers. The next piece is going to be about loving yourself. Really falling in love with yourself, flaws and all, and yes, you have flaws. Plenty of them and you do not need an inventory. Third, it's find a way to love the ones you're with because this who God has brought into our spheres of influence and our role is to find a way to love the ones we're with.

Democrats. In particular, according to the NPR series, Black women have relatively high turnout rates, and they vote heavily Democratic. For instance, Black women in Alabama propelled Democrat Doug Jones to a Senate seat – a remarkable political upset – in a December special election, and they also helped push Ralph Northam to a win that was larger than predicted in most polls in his 2017 election for the Virginia governorship. In a feature on ‘How 2018 became the year of the Black progressive,” Politico noted that 2018 may well be remembered as the political “Year of the Black Progressive,” much as 1992 was the “Year of the Woman.” The online publication noted that Black women are taking office as mayors in major cities such as San Francisco and New Orleans. Record-breaking numbers of black candidates are running for office at the state level. No fewer than three black candidates are being seriously discussed as presidential nominees. And with gubernatorial candidates Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Andrew Gillum in Florida and congressional candidate Ayanna Pressley in Boston, among others, Democrats have nominated young, black, progressives where they typically would nominate white moderates. “No matter the outcome, this election results will give us a taste of what to expect in the next presidential race,” Politico’s Theodore R. Johnson wrote. “Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, as well as former Governor Deval Patrick, will be watching how black progressives fare this year very closely before making their decisions on whether (and how) to embark on a presidential run. “Trump and the Republican Party will be paying attention, too. The nation will be tuned in to see if this is truly the year of black progressives, or if they’re just the flavor of the month.”

SavingGrace

Keesha Sharp

L.A. Focus/ November 2018

espite a burgeoning list of credits that included recurring roles in the CW hit series “Girlfriends”, “American Crime Story” and “Everybody Hates Chris”, a starring role in the TBS series, “Are We There Yet?” and being cast as Thurgood Marshall’s wife opposite Chadwick Boseman in the 2016 film, “Marshall”, it was a serious fear of flying that had stifled Keesha Sharp’s career in Hollywood for more than a decade. “For fifteen years I wouldn’t get on an airplane, I just couldn’t do it,” Sharp told L.A. Focus. “It was like prison to me! I would have to drive across country or turn a job down if I had to fly. It was so debilitating, I couldn’t see how I could possibly get over it. “Then one day I heard it clearly. I was a little embarrassed and felt a certain way about telling people to have faith and follow through when I wasn’t myself, and couldn’t do it. And so I made this decision, ‘I’m going to let go and let God in.’ I flew to Europe with my husband and that was when all these blessings started to flow, because in my opinion, I wasn’t ready for them before! “I felt the weight of my fear lift off me and two days later I got the call to be on Lethal Weapon, which made no sense!,” adds Sharp, who brought an infectious warmth and charm to complex character portrayals. “I didn’t have to audition or go through any of the normal screen tests. They just said, ‘You’re starting on Friday.’ “I love to tell people this story because I want them to know, whatever is holding you back in your life, have faith and let go. And it’s hard! It took me fifteen years to get where I am today.” Today, Sharp has added another hit to her resume, acting alongside Damon Wayans in FOX’s action packed and laugh-out-loud funny television reboot of Lethal Weapon. And with the show embarking on it’s third season, Keesha is marking a new first in her career as she makes her directorial debut for the franchise. “First of all, after being such a fan of the original movie, to say that I'm doing Lethal Weapon and playing Trish is something in itself-- but now I'm directing Lethal Weapon and it’s such a huge episode! I could not have dreamt it at all,” Sharp said. “I’ve directed sitcoms and shorts before, but this was my first hour-long drama. In preparation, I took the Warner Brothers’ workshop for new directors who have been promised an episode, which was taught by veteran directors Bethany Rooney (Desperate Housewives, Ally McBeal, Brothers & Sisters) and Mary Lou Belli (NCIS, Monk, Sister Sister)-- and it was the best thing ever to get me ready for this, I’m so glad I took it! I didn’t have to, but thank God I did because He knew I needed it!” Throughout her life Keesha’s guiding light has always been her faith. She attributes all of her successes, including the unlikely series of events that led to her role in Lethal Weapon, to listening to God-- and as she likes to tell it, faith is what allowed her to let go of fear and embrace His blessings.

While taking on the challenge of directing an episode of a major network drama may have seemed daunting, the multi-talented Sharp is used to learning new things. She grew up as a trained musician-- fluent at playing piano, clarinet, cello and singing. In fact, it was in music where Sharp always thought she would end up. “I love classical music and thought I wanted to be in an orchestra,” says Sharp. “But then I was doing theater in high school and I realized I loved acting and music. So what do you do? Musical theater.” The Rochester, New York native would do just that at the Boston Conservatory which led her to New York after graduation where she did Broadway and off-Broadway tours, appearing in “The Producers”, “Living in the Wind” and the notebly challenging production, “Eat the Runt”, in which she played eight different roles. “At some point I started to just straight plays, with no music, and that’s when I began to realize that I really loved it all. It didn’t have to have music in it to awaken my artistic side,” recalls Sharp. While Sharp remains a person of many passions, she looks to a higher cause to find her true purpose in life. “I love what I do. I love acting, directing, and writing, but that’s not the same as my purpose in life,” says Sharp. “For me my purpose is helping. I feel the most blessed and the most lifted up myself when I’m helping someone else. And not just by giving money-- which is great and people need that-- but it’s about getting involved, and really getting your hands dirty. Acting has given me the tools and maybe the finances to go forth and do what my purpose is. “I work with the organization “Homes for Veterans” every year to raise money. I love this organization because in my opinion there should be no vets that come back without a home when they’re fighting for you to have freedom. It just doesn’t make sense to me! “And I also work with generosity.org, which is an organization where we build wells all over the world. We’re building two wells right now in Africa, which I love because we go to these tiny villages and bring them water, which is life.” Sharp sees her job in life—beyond any given title—as someone who spreads light on the world by sharing her love. “No matter where I am, whether it’s on the job or out in public, spreading the light of positivity is really important to me,” states the 45-year old wife and mother. “Wanting to spread love and light is just who I am, I’m not just doing it because I think I should. It’s about how you make people feel and not what you say. “It’s about finding ways to spread love and kindness, even when you’re not in the best of moods or your not getting the most positive vibes from someone, and I don’t care who it is. The way I see it, even if there’s an enormous dark hole,

I felt the weight of my fear lift off me and two days later I got the call to be on Lethal Weapon, which made no sense. I didn’t have to audition or go through any of the normal screen tests. They just said, ‘You’re starting on Friday.’ I love to tell people this story because I want them to know, whatever is holding you back in your life, have faith and let go..

“

dropping just the tiny bit of light down can illuminate the whole thing. “And it can be hard because darkness keeps knocking on you and it can beat you down, and you have to be reminded to go home, put on some music and recharge so you can lift yourself back up to get filled up so you can start spreading it again. “Love is my saving grace. I try to spread it like Christ does so when I’m a little down, I remember that I’m loved. He loves me, and with that, I can spread it to everyone. That’s really important to me.”