L.A. Focus On The Word March 2017 by LA Focus Newspaper

VOLUME >> PAGE

XXIII

W W W. L A F O C U S N E W S PA P E R . C O M

•

ISSUE

3•

March

L.A. FOCUS

2017

@LAFOCUSNEWS

CHURCH NEWS: Community Mourns Bishopf M PAGE

Red Carpet Style: Oh What A Night At the Oscars PAGE

SEE PAGE

UPFRONT:

VOTE MARCH 7

HOT BUTTON ISSUES FACE L.A. VOTERS

>> Upfront: Karen Bass Orgnizes For Resistance

SEE PAGE

contents

March 2017

L.A. Focus Publication

Left: Florence LaRue’s 75th birthday bash with fellow 5th Dimension members Billy Davis Jr, and Marilyn McCoo;Center: L: Kerman Maddox of Dakota Communications with Deborah Flint (LAX Executive Director) and Metro CEO Phillip Washington at 2ndAnnual Meet the Decision Makers Breakfast Right: West Angeles CDC Executive Director Grant Power with DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good are joined by Bishop Charles Blake at the 23rd Annual Unity Awards Gala.

Commentary CA Still Tone Deaf On Racial Profiling From The Editor Upfront

6 Head to Head 7 Headlines From Africa Hot Button Issues Facing Los Angeles Voters;South Central LA being prepped for Controversial Facelift; Congresswoman Karen Bass Organizes for Resistance

The Curious Case of Trump & The HBCU’s

Money Matters Cashing In On The African-American Art Marketplace

Biz News Briefs

Simmons Sets His Sights On Broadway; One United And #BlackLivesMatter Launch Amir Card

On The Money The High Price of Filing Late

10 Inside Hollywood 13 Feature Story

Growing Clout of First Ladies Helps To Reshape Church And Community Outreach

Cathy Hughes Executive Producer for new TV show “Media”;Big Props To Barry Jenkins;A Spinoff For Gina Torres;Shemar Moore in S.W.A.T

Photographer Advertising Social Media

Gavin Houston

14 Calendar/Around LA 16 Red Carpet Style Eye On Gospel 17 Church News 18 Pastor Profile 20 21 First Lady Files From The Pulpit 22 The 89th Academy Awards 2017

Another TV Show For David & Tamela;Tamela Mann and Travis Greene Top Stellar Nominees

Lisa Collins Antracia Moorings Gerald Bell, Emma Gannon, Stephen Oduntan Ian Foxx, Rickey Brown Leatha Davis, Kisha Smith Jinoye Henry

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 Fax: (310) 677-2338 Subscription rates $25.00 per year.

@Lafocusnews

The Day Daryl “Chill” Mitchell’s Life Faded to Black

With Dawn Strozier

Chef Babette

Keith David

L.A. Church Community Mourns Sudden Passing of Bishop Miquail Broadous;Trinity Kicks Off 100th Anniversary Celebration

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatreis coming to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Pastor DeNon Porter - Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

March 8-12, 2017

Cynthia Buelna-Restauracion Total Church

Pastor H.B. Charles Jr.- Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church

Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Marc T. Little

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Law Offices of Marc T. Little

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. Bishop Charles Blake City of Refuge Bishop Noel Jones Paradise Baptist Church Dr. Aaron D. Iverson Southern MBC Rev. Xavier L. Thompson F. A.M.E. Church Dr. Cecil Murray Faithful Central Bible Church Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Rev. Melvin Wade Mt. Zion MBC Rev. E.V. Hill II Copyright, January 1995 by L.A. Focus: Unsolicited manuscripts/photographs are not accepted, nor shall any responsibility for them be assumed.

#LAFOCUS

23 The Body You Want 24 In Good Taste 25 26 Saving Grace Through The Storm

advisory board

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Editorial Coordinator Contributors

One On One

@L.A.Focus

Cover Design: Ups

cale Media Gro up

Commentary Clifton Harris California Black Media

“CA Still Tone Deaf On Racial Profiling”

was very disappointed after I read an article in the Sunday, February 26, 2017 edition of the Victorville Daily Press by Jose Quintero. The article was an interview conducted by the editorial board of Sheriff McMahon and comments by Assemblyman Obernolte regarding AB 953. This bill would enact the Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015, which would, among other changes, revise the definition of racial profiling to instead refer to racial or identity profiling, and make a conforming change to the prohibition against peace officers engaging in that practice. In the article, Sheriff McMahon is quoted as saying “it’s crazy” to have law enforcement officers have to fill out racial profiling documents to collect data on who and why citizens are being stopped and detained. According to the article McMahon is also quoted as saying “it will cause officers not to be proactive therefore allowing crime to increase and crooks will go unchecked.” Assemblyman Jay Obernolte is quoted as saying “he believes the bill is not a step in the right direction.” He also said, “he believes that it places guilt on officers by making the assumption that all of them engage in racial profiling.” One must ask these elected officials if they have been paying attention to the recent events in San Bernardino County and around the nation the last few years involving law enforcement and racial profiling issues. NEWS FLASH: For years in this country and in particular San Bernardino County law enforcement members in certain areas have fallen short in delivering the expected service to the citizens they serve. In recent weeks, a person of color was threatened with arrest without probable cause while seeking assistance from a sheriff’s station deputy as documented via video tape and news reports in the Victorville Daily Press on Saturday February 11, 2017.I wonder how that report would read after the citizen was told by the deputy that if he did not leave he would create a reason to arrest him.

From the Editor

I won’t get into names and agencies but, I am a retired officer of over 25 years and I know that there are many professionals in law enforcement doing the job day in and day out without complaints. Have you heard the regrets about the 1994 Crime Bill signed by President Bill Clinton and what it did to communities of color? Have you heard about Mass Incarnation and how it affected communities of color? When trust between law enforcement and the community is breached, the need for action on the part of those elected that are sensitive to the community needs, take action. Deficient systems and police culture inhibit many other complaints of police misconduct from ever being filed. These deficiencies keep unconstitutional conduct and practices hidden. This breach in trust has in turn eroded many law enforcement agencies ability to effectively prevent crime. In other words, trust and effectiveness in combating violent crime are inextricably intertwined. Racial profiling is not necessary in any form no matter the community, but it continues

to occur. AB 953 aims to curb the harmful and unjust practice of racial and identity profiling, and increase transparency and accountability with law enforcement agencies. Racial and identity profiling occurs when law enforcement officers stop, search, property seize, or interrogate a person without evidence of criminal activity. These practices not only humiliate and frighten law abiding Californians, but also divert limited community resources away from evidence-based policing, thus making us all less safe. I hope that soon the elected officials will familiarize themselves with twenty-first century policing issues when it comes to the communities that are effected that make it necessary for legislation such as AB 953. Note: Clifton Harris is a retired peace officer and the publisher of the San Bernadino American News.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Toto, We’re Not In Kansas Anymore”

ple than Curren Price, who is up for re-election. And while I’m not in the habit of making political endorsements, let me add my voice to the chorus of those who know that —as he has proven by what he has accomplished —he is the man for the job. Then there is Measure H. If there is one thing all of us should understand in these changing times it is how so many of us are one medical diagnosis or a few paychecks away from the kind of financial challenges that could render one homeless. 47,000 are homeless in the city of Los Angeles and they’re not all crazy. Many of them have just fallen on hard times and need us to show the kind of compassion on March 7 that not only gets them the services and assistance they need to get back on their feet, but that also insures that if we find ourselves in that situation, that there will be help for us. Vote yes on Measure H. Now, with regards to our feature story on page 12, First Ladies are close to my heart. Not just because I’m a pastor’s kid who grew up with them and understand the challenges, or because so many of them are friends, but because I have seen their evolution into women who are impacting our communities in more ways than is generally known. When L.A. Focus established the Annual First Ladies High Tea 20 years ago, the efforts of first ladies went mostly unrecognized, but lots has changed since then and they have proven themselves to be forces in our churches and communities. Their stories are inspiring and in so many cases, they are the kind of role models we want our girls to see. What is most endearing is the way so many of them—notably Mae Blake, Dr. Betty Price, Togetta Ulmer, Judi Wortham-Sauls—freely share their wisdom with parishioners. Actress Lynn Whitfield, who plays a first lady (coincidentally named Lady Mae—no other similarities) on the OWN Network’s hit show, “Greenleaf”, shared at last year’s High Tea how the real “Lady Mae” (Blake) helped her through one of the most difficult times in her life, with kindness, compassion and spiritual guidance. So hats off to them. I thank them for what they do and for allowing me to be part of it. Keep the faith.

L.A. Focus/March 2017

n annual tradition in our household while growing up was my brothers and I gathering around the television for the airing of “The Wizard of Oz”. We were mesmerized by not just the production values and story, but I was even that early on struck by the deeper meanings of the film. So much so that throughout my life its metaphors have become engrained in my subconscious. Everyone knows “there’s no place like home”, but often when I got into trouble, I’d wish I could click some ruby red slippers three times and be gone. And while it was easy growing up to separate the good witches from the bad, unfortunately a splash of water didn’t tend the melt the wicked ones. It only made them madder. New York always reminded me of “the Emerald City”—probably because it’s so expensive. Of course, I was always looking for the yellow brick road—which to me symbolized the perfect career roadmap. And in the most challenging of times it seemed that everything good was somehow stuck over the rainbow and out of reach, but you could always go home. However, my favorite metaphor and scene from the movie is when Dorothy unmasks the man behind the curtain pulling the strings as a nice—but a bit of a fumbling idiot, who was perpetrating this grand guise of being a wizard. Kind of reminds me of what’s going on in Washington politics. Every day it seems someone is being unmasked with lightning speed, the latest being Attorney General Jeff Sessions and recent revelations surrounding his contact with the Russian ambassador. Ladies and gentlemen, we live in brave —and dangerous—new times, and while it’s difficult to know whether the men behind the curtain in Washington are fumbling idiots, one thing is clear, like the scarecrow who thought he needed a brain, but found out he already had one, we have the power to change things. That’s witnessed by the energy seen in political engagement movements springing up around the country and town halls bustling over with people who are mortified by what’s happening in Washington and have decided to—as Obama has said—be the change they want to see. What it all boils down to for me is this famous line from “The Wizard of Oz”: ‘Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.’ That’s why voting and getting involved is so important. It is part of being that change you want to see, keeping in mind that where we have the most to gain is in local civic involvement. That sets the tone for everything. Speaking of which, in “the new Ninth” (city council district 9), there is no greater political advocate for the peo-

UpFront Hot Button Issues Facing Los Angeles Voters

os Angeles County will vote on several hot-button issues at the primary on March 7. After the California November election legalized recreational marijuana and approved a $1.2 billion bond for homeless housing units, voters will have a chance to approve or bypass several critical ballot measures meant to help Los Angeles County execute its November promises. California joined the ranks of eight other states when it legalized recreational marijuana on November 8th, but many questions were left unanswered as to how this new addition to California’s already flourishing medical marijuana industry would be regulated. Measure M proposed that the mayor and city council should regulate and tax marijuana funds. The other marijuana measure, which has since been abandoned by its original backers (albeit too late to remove the legislation from the ballot) is Measure N, which would allow a medical marijuana trade group regulate the industry instead of city hall. Measure N’s original supporters have now publicly backed Measure M, which is endorsed by L.A. Chief of Police Charlie Beck, and L.A. City Councilman for the 10th District Herb Wesson. Measure S—or the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative—would impose a temporary ban on construction within Los Angeles that would decelerate development growth for up to two years. This would require the city’s general plan to undergo a public review every five years, and amendments to the city’s general plan specific to development projects would be prohibited until they had undergone public review. While proponents say the measure would cut down on corrupt city planning and would provide some much-needed affordable housing, critics say that the measure wouldn’t be able to deliver on its promises. Measure S’s efforts to down-

Curren Price size city growth could backfire, as a lack of new development has, in the past, fallen to the detriment of low-income renters. But forcing City Hall to undergo a more thorough, gradual planning process, proponents say, puts the power back with the people—and gives the public more of a say in the city’s growth. One primary measure focuses specifically on housing for the homeless. Measure H, which would authorize a 0.25 percent county sales tax to fund homeless services, would last 10 years, and generate about $350 million annually. Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond that was approved in November, will finance the thousands of homeless housing units that Measure H will service, providing 10,000 units for an estimated 28,000 homeless population. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas donated $250,000 to the proposition, telling the press it was time to “get on with the business of making a significant dent in homelessness.” Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson told the L.A. Times that he believed LA voters were “prepared to make an investment” in the homeless issue. "What's different now than what I think it's been in the past is that there's no part of the city that doesn't experience homelessness," he said.

L.A. Focus/March 2017

Office who is one of the president’s closest advisors, so needless to say we know what the president thinks about white supremacy.” Many—like Wendy Heiman, cofounder of RiseUp L.A.—wanted to get direction of how the lead resistance efforts against the Trump Administration for her grassroots socio-political movement committed to protecting democracy, supporting progressive values, and bridging divides. Bass urged attendees to become more involved in civic government and voter awareness. “This is going to go down as one of the most corrupt institutions in over 120

EMMA GANNON Contributor

Curren Price, current L.A. City Councilmember for the 9th District, is also up for reelection in the March primary. Formerly a California senator for the 26th Senate District, Price is now seen as the figurehead leading the “New Ninth” District. Curren’s past four years in the seat have been active—since his election in 2013, Price led the movement to increase hotel employee wages (and went on to author the legislation promising a $15 minimum wage in Los Angeles by 2020) started a “Clean and Green” neighborhood cleanup initiative, and acted as an important voice in the county-wide push to legalize street vending. Price has established himself as an advocate for the homeless, and helped sponsor Measure HHH before it was passed. He also helped to guide a $1.2 billion development proposal known as the Reef to unanimous council approval. Favored to win, Price has the endorsements of his fellow L.A. City councilmembers, Senator Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Karen Bass and Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas among a host of others. Price is up against Adriana Cabrera and Jorge Nuño for the seat. Cabrera has a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Policy & Management and describes herself as “the only working class candidate” running for the 9th District. Nuño is a smallbusiness owner known for renovating a mansion in South L.A. to use for an afterschool space for local children. Also on the ballot is Dallas Fowler, a candidate for the Los Angeles Community College District, Seat No. 4. Fowler, a long time political activist, has earned the endorsements of George McKenna, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and leading elected officials like Congresswoman Karen Bass and L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

Karen Bass Organizes for Resistance At Town Halls oters around the country unleashed their concerns and anger to their congressional representatives over President Donald Trump, his newly installed administration—and its agenda—during the congressional recess last month. Right here in Los Angeles, Congresswoman Karen Bass led a series of Town Hall meetings Hundreds—if not thousands—flocked to the meetings to voice their concerns and find out what they could do. Questions fielded by the congresswomen spanned everything from redistricting, illegal immigration and Obamacare to the Russians toying with our last election and impeachment. One woman said her undocumented son had received a scholarship to college but she didn’t know if he should even go for fear of him being picked up. Another addressed the alarming rise of fake news and yet another posed the question of racism in the White House and how to get Steve Bannon out. “There is legislation that one of my colleagues have offered that I am a part of as well as in support of that would kick Steve Bannon off the Security Council, but I believe he definitely needs to be kicked out of the White House,” Bass said. “So we have an open White supremacist who sits in the Oval

News Briefs

ANTRACIA MOORINGS Staff Writer

years,” Bass observed. “The cabinet is corrupt and he is corrupt. He committed a crime right after he put his hand down, right after he was sworn in and the crime that he committed was the Emoluments Clause because of the Trump Hotel. “Lawsuits are happening. Now, what we need to do though is to make sure that people know about this.” Characterizing what’s happening in Washington as some “pretty scary” stuff, Bass said, “What is bringing people out is the fear and panic spread by a new administration that seems to be so hostile to such a large segment of the American people.” Just last week, Bass joined all House Judiciary Committee Democrats in sending a letter to FBIDirector James Comey and U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, calling for an immediate criminal investigation into U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ statements before Congress in regards to his communications with Russian officials. “On January 10th, our nation’s top cop lied under oath," Rep. Bass said. "There are no two ways about this. If these allegations are true, the Attorney General has committed a crime and as a result, there should an immediate criminal investigation. It has become clear that Sessions is not fit to serve as the top law enforcement officer and should resign.”

County Supervisors Call for Foster Youth Pregnancy Prevention Plan By age 21, one in three girls in foster care will give birth. These alarming numbers are proof that targeted education is necessary to overcome the stigma and challenges relating to early and unplanned pregnancy prevention. In response, the Board of Supervisors passed a motion, co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, to implement the “California’s Plan for the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancies for Youth and Non-Minor Dependents,” better known as “The Plan.” “The harms experienced by both young parents and their children come at a great expense. Worse, however, are the human costs of a lost childhood and a displaced future due to circumstances that could have been prevented with proper medical care and sex education,” said Supervisor Solis. Supervisor Kuehl added, “It's about making sure that girls in foster care have the necessary information to make informed decisions about actions that will ultimately affect their education, their employment, their aspirations and their readiness to start a family. We want them to know that the trajectory of their life could be dramatically altered by an unintended pregnancy." Teen childbearing cost the United States nearly $10.9 billion in 2008, with child welfare system expenses accounting for $2.8 billion of this amount. Supervisors have tasked the Department of Children and Family Services and Probation, in consultation with the Health Agency, to implement “The Plan’s” guidelines and develop a strategy to explore tools, public-private collaborations, and a communications plan in an effort to lower the rates of unplanned and early pregnancy amongst foster care teens.

Obamas Snag Separate Book Deals What the Obamas will be doing for the next year—at least in part—is no longer a mystery. Both the former president and first lady have secured book deals with Penguin Random House. The terms of the deal that brought the New York-based publisher world publication rights for separate memoirs by the former first couple were not disclosed nor was a publication date announced. “We are absolutely thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs. Obama,” Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said in a statement. “With their words and their leadership, they changed the world, and every day, with the books we publish at Penguin Random House, we strive to do the same. Now, we are very much looking forward to working together with President and Mrs. Obama to make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance. At least four publishers had reportedly been locked in a bidding war over global rights to the two books pushing the winning bid to somewhere in the neighborhood of $60 million according to unofficial reports.

The Curious Case of Trump and the HBCU’s

n a clearly calculated move, dents were denied access to Betsy DeVos’ first stop to a post- HBCUs Should Not HBCUs. secondary institution as the Take Trump’s Hush Though the Obama adminMoney newly minted U.S. secretary of eduistration did push forward a cation was to an HBCU—Howard slew of policies aimed at protecting vulnerUniversity, “the Mecca” of black education able low-income students from predatory in the United States. colleges and universities—institutions like Students and outside observers wasted Trump University—past is still prologue. no time serving up pointed questions and This means that students at HBCUs severe rebuke, but make no mistake: should be particularly guarded about Every single word needed to be said. DeVos’ visit and wary of her intentions. Undergrads at historically black colleges They must resist and and universities have a right to be gun-shy not allow HBCUs to over a Department of Education drive-by take hush money because the core values these schools hold while Donald Trump’s dear are not bulletproof. policies simultaneousMost importantly, DeVos’ visit could ly threaten black colforetell a targeted and institutionally vio- legians when they lent strategy that deserves our undivided step off campus. attention. Let’s state the obviWe have only to look at the invitation ous: DeVos’ gesture Andre Perry extended to presidents of HBCUs by Sen. was a photo op. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rep. Mark Walker There may be substance that follows the (R-N.C.) on behalf of other GOP members meeting, but for now, the survey says that of Congress to meet with them later this Howard University was put in the same month. position as Steve Harvey and Kanye West. On the surface, this looks like the seat at We don’t know what DeVos said to the Trump administration’s table that Frederick. But if he didn’t respond by some black people feel is necessary, but telling her that although the country’s 105 students must demand that all policies rec- HBCUs make up only 3 percent of colleges ognize black lives on and off campus. and universities, they produce 27 percent Anything less is inconsequential and of African Americans with bachelor’s potentially dangerous. degrees in STEM (science, technology, The past eight years have shown this to engineering and math) fields, then we be true. know he didn’t say enough. The changes made under the Obama If Frederick didn’t remind DeVos that administration to the Pell Grant and PLUS HBCUs conferred one-fourth of the bacheloan programs often proved callous to the lor’s degrees in education awarded to needs of students at private HBCUs. The African Americans, despite a teacher-tonegative impacts have been far-reaching, school pipeline rusted by systemic racism, and these institutions are just starting to then we know he didn’t say enough. recover. HBCUs offer the country a lesson that Nearly three-quarters of black students black students from all income levels qualify for federal Pell Grants; put simply, deserve the cultural support that historistudents at HBCUs need less loans and cally black institutions provide. These stumore grants. But under the Obama admin- dents need fiscal backing, yes, but they also istration, Pell Grant awards were eliminat- need protection from predatory colleges ed for summer semesters, and the that see students only as financial aid Department of Education began denying packages. loans to parents with debts in collections or DeVos has been a strong supporter of that were charged off. for-profit primary and secondary schools, The Obama administration’s actions particularly in Michigan. What she has not punished students who were ostensibly proved to be is a supporter of strong already in financial crisis. Though changes accountability, which many low-income were eventually negotiated and later black students need. enforced, the damage was already done. Federal involvement through numerous Many universities took significant finan- title programs originating from the cial blows during a period when other insti- Elementary and Secondary Education Act tutions with lower percentages of low- of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on income students were recovering from the poverty came about because states showed Great Recession. Thousands of black stuPerry continued to page 24

Headlines From Africa Benin: The Lagos state government is being called on to tackle the increasing number of kidnappings on the rise in the west of coastal/inland locations. Many believe securing the Benin River with naval bases is key to solving the problem in the Edo, Lagos, Delta, Ogun and Ondo States. Burundi: U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is urging Burundian stakeholders to place their country's interests first and commit in good faith and without preconditions to peace talks that might resolve a two-year old political crisis ignited by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term. Nkurunziza has said he will not attend. Cameroon: At a school in Cameroon’s largest city Douala, students learn how waste can be turned into a renewable source of energy. The lessons are run by The Green Girls Project, a non-governmental organization in Cameroon that trains young women in technology. The project grew out of the need to help students in areas without electricity keep up with their studies. Chad: The Ministry of Public Health of Chad has officially declared an epidemic of Hepatitis E in the region of Salamat, southeastern Chad. The epidemic has claimed 12 lives, while 956 cases have been identified.

Gabon: A new study led by researchers at Duke University has reported that more than 25,000 forest elephants were killed for their ivory in Gabon’s Minkébé National Park, one of the largest and most important wildlife preserves in Central Africa, between 2004 and 2014, leading to a decline of somewhere between 78 and 81 percent in the park’s forest elephant population. The loss is being viewed as a considerable setback for the preservation of the species. Ghana: A survey by an international relocation company has found Ghana to be Africa’s most expensive country to live in. The report published by MoveHub found that Ghana ranks among 20 other nations the world over considered as the most expensive

A look at current news from the continent of Africa to reside in, basing its assessment on a range of costs such as the price of groceries, transport, bills, restaurants and rents. Ivory Coast: A downturn in cocoa sales and a 40% drop in the international price has led to an unprecedented cocoa crisis in the Ivory Coast with buyers backing out of their contracts and farmers going broke. An estimated six million people (more than a quarter of the entire population) depend on the earnings from cocoa in Ivory Coast. Kenya: After waiting for more than a decade, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration says Kenya has complied with international safety standards and can now have direct flights to the U.S. Kenya's transport minister, James Macharia, described its new category 1 ranking as a major milestone in the country's aviation industry. Niger: Niger has become a safe haven for children in Niger escaping the atrocities of Boko Haram. In the heat of the conflict and during displacement, some children have been separated from their parents or orphaned. Communities have also lost the little they have acquired after years of work. Moreover, the ongoing conflict has interrupted education and economic activities, leaving behind people with little or no hope for the future. Somalia: Herds of animals are dying across Somalia following two failed rainy seasons and at least 40 percent of goats and sheep have perished, amounting to more than 10 million animals lost. The UN warns of famine and says more than 6 million people need food aid. Forty have died so far. Tanzania: Tanzanian President Magufuli’s clamp down on homosexuals has created a climate of hatred and fear. In the latest move, Deputy Health Minister Hamisi Kigwangalla wants to publish a list of gay people to coincide with the suspension of AIDS-related services at around 40 privately-run health centers after they were accused of providing services to homosexuals. South Africa: South African police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Pretoria after mobs looted stores believed to belong to immigrants. Anti-immigrant violence has flared in South Africa against a backdrop of near-record unemployment, with foreigners being accused of taking jobs from citizens and spiking crime.

L.A. Focus/March 2017

Ethiopia: The Ethiopian government has been trumping the country's recent economic success. But a new plan to employ young people appears to be more about quelling protests than providing employment. As a response to the growing protests, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency last October. One of the factors that the government attributed to causing the protests is unemployment.

ccording to press reports, enrolled in degree granting the topic of Historically Trump’s Mistaken institutions rose from 11.7 perInterest In HBCUs Black Colleges and cent to 14.5 percent. And Universities came up in the recent enrollment of black students in the age "listening session" at the White House range of 18-25 stayed constant. with President Trump and his internal According to a 2015 report from the team of black leaders, as part of Black think tank Demos, despite receiving a Pell History Month. Grant, these same students wind up takReportedly, this piqued the president's ing on more debt. The study reports that interest and the discussion continued after among black and low-income students, 81 the meeting formally concluded, with pres- percent who received a Pell Grant graduidential aide ated with debt compared to 46 percent Omarosa Manigault who did not receive a Pell Grant. announcing to the Nationwide, according to the National media that she is Center for Education Statistics, 59 percent working on an execu- of all first-time college enrollees graduate tive order to help the in 6 years. For black students, it is 39.5 HBCUs. percent. But in HBCUs only 36 percent of This has apparently students enrolled in 4-year degree-grantiexcited other ng institutions graduate in 6 years. Republicans as an So why is President Trump, who delivStar Parker opportunity to show ered a strong message in his campaign their interest in helping blacks and a about working for real change to build meeting is reportedly in the making prosperity in poor black communities, between Republican congressional lead- starting off by focusing on more of what ers, White House operatives and leaders has hurt black advancement so much — from the HBCUs. politicians showing them they care by The details of the executive order spending government money? remain unknown. But short of it being a Perhaps part of the president's Black purely ceremonial toothless statement of History Month listening tour should support, it is reasonable to assume that include a lesson in the damage governit's about government money — that is ment dependency has already done in usually what interests HBCUs. black communities, in order to start conHistorically Black Colleges and sidering ways to promote market based Universities have a distinguished history, solutions to fight poverty and crime. and they have played a very important President Trump has made some great role in black life, particularly during the appointments with great promise in this years of segregation. direction. Betsy DeVos at Education can But the question today is how does start pushing for parental choice. Ben more government money going into these Carson at HUD should push for more freeinstitutions help further President dom in low-income housing programs, Trump's promise to fix our inner cities? such as stipulation-free housing vouchers, Pell Grants, which are outright grants giving recipients full control where to live. from the federal government to low- And Tom Price at HHS should push for income students, are of particular interest transforming federal welfare expenditures to HBCUs. They were upset with Barack into state block grants, giving more local Obama because in 2011 standards for Pell control, and for market-based reforms in Grants were tightened and they claim this health care. caused drops in HBCU enrollment. Let's hope this is where President But their enrollments were dropping Trump focuses his attention, rather than before 2011. In 1976, 18 percent of all getting diverted, as many Republicans in black students were enrolled in these the past have, into thinking the way to institutions. By 2013 it was down to 8 per- show blacks Republicans care is to spend cent, meaning 92 percent of black students government money like Democrats. were attending other colleges and univerStar Parker is an author and president of sities. And overall black enrollment in institu- CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and tions of higher learning is up. From 2000 Education. Contact her at www.urbanto 2014, according to the National Center cure.org. To find out more about Star for Education Statistics, the percentage of Parker, visit the Creators Syndicate webblack students among all students site at www.creators.com.

MoneyMatters

On the Money

MOORINGS Cashing In On the African-American Art Marketplace ANTRACIA Staff Writer

ne of the hottest ticket items on today's highly competitive collector's scene is African-American artwork—a trend that first began to take form in the early 1980s, with a rebirth of cultural expression tantamount to the famed Harlem Renaissance. Bill Cosby helped the trend along when he featured AfricanAmerican art in his popular show “The Cosby Show.” Trading in on a newfound exposure and acceptance, African-American artists are no longer at a loss for venues to exhibit and sell their work. Increasing sales and popularity have come to reflect a growing number of African-Americans new to the art scene and its practices. The price of original artwork is determined by creativity, notoriety, supply and demand. With an unknown artist, your advantage is price (from $100-1500). Expect to pay $500-5000 for regionally known artists. Best known artists will be priced at approximately $10,000-500,000 or more. Produced commercially through photographic reproduction, signed and numbered "Limited edition prints" are widely accepted in the collector's market. Smaller editions carry the most value. Then there are graphic original prints—woodcuts, lithographs and serigraphs (silkscreens), etchings and monoprints. Produced by hand in collaboration with the artist, they come in small edition sizes on paper, and are smart investments when original art is unobtainable or too pricey. The standard pricing is 10-25% of the cost of an original. Buying can be a great investment both financially and aesthetically. Popular artists include Sargeant Johnson, James L. Wells, David Driskell, Joseph Delaney, Selma Burke, Hughie Lee Smith, Alma Thomas, and Claude Clark. Their starting price range averages anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000. Much rarer are "old masters" like Archibald Motley, Joshua Johnson, William H. Johnson, Aaron Douglas, Henry O. Tanner and Edward Mitchell

The High Price of Filing Late

Bannister, whose art—most of which is housed in museums or institutions like the Smithsonian—would bring a king's ransom. Over the past few years, a number of black artists have seen record sales at auctions, upwards of $1 million. The following represents the top 10 most expensive living artists, ranked in terms of auction sales:

10 MOsT ExpEnsiVE liVing ARTisTs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

David Hammons, “Untitled,” 2000 Sold for $8,005,000 (including fees) on Nov. 11, 2013 Mark Bradford, “Constitution IV,” 2013 Sold for $5,848,796 (including fees) on Oct. 14, 2015 Julie Mehretu, “Retopistics: A Renegade Excavation,” 2001 Sold for $4,603,750 (including fees) on May 15, 2013 Chris Ofili, “The Holy Virgin Mary,” 1996 Sold for $4,522,643 (including fees) June 30, 2015 Glenn Ligon, “Untitled (I Was Somebody),” 1990/2003 Sold for $3,973,000 (including fees) on Nov. 11, 2014 Hurvin Anderson, “Afrosheen,” 2009 Sold for $2,246,481 (including fees) on July 1, 2014 Martin Puryear, “Untitled,” 1989 Sold for $1,805,000 (including fees) on May 13, 2014 El Anatsui, “Paths to the Okro Farm,” 2006 Sold for $1,445,000 (including fees) on May 15, 2014 Kerry James Marshall, “Vignette,” 2003 Sold for $1,025,000 (including fees) on Nov. 13, 2014 Ellen Gallagher, “Deluxe,” 2004-2005 Sold for $987,750 (including fees)

So what do Lil Kim, Lionel Richie, Wesley Snipes, Lauren Hill, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mary J. Blige, Chris Tucker and Vanessa Williams have in common? The fact that it’s tax time should help with the answer as they’ve all tangled with the IRS and lost. For Lauren Hill and Wesley Snipes, that meant time in jail with Snipes getting three years in prison even after offering the federal government three checks for $5 million as a down payment on his taxes. The rest were slapped with heavy fines and liens— from a $369,249 tax lien to Vanessa Williams and a $1.1 million to Lionel Richie in 2014 to $2.5 million to Chris Tucker and $4.5 million to Rev. Al Sharpton. While most of us don’t have to worry about such huge fines, not rendering to Uncle Sam his fair share can get costly. If you don’t file a Form 1040 or an extension to file using Form 4868 by the April deadline, the penalties start adding up the very next day at a rate of 5% per month of any tax balance due until it maxes out at 25% of your unpaid taxes. If you file a return or an extension by the deadline day, but don't pay what you owe, you will be assessed a nonpayment penalty that is 0.5% of your due tax for every month, or any part of a month, that your tax bill is outstanding until it reaches 25% of your unpaid tax bill. continued to page 24

Biz NewsBriefs Simmons Sets His Sights On Broadway

Seems Broadway is the next frontier Russell Simmons is out to conquer with his hip-hopera, The Scenario, which is tentatively slated to his the “Great White Way” for the 2017-18 season. Simmons is partnering up with Universal Music for musical which will key in on the rise of rap over the years. “I want everyone to see it,” Simmons told the New York Times. “I want kids in the ‘hood in Detroit to see it. I want sophisticated theatergoers in New York to see it. And they’re going to love it whether they’re 50 or 14.”

While the title originates from A Tribe Called Quest’s song, the show—part musical and part hip hop concert— is expected to feature a big chunk of Universal Music Group’s rap catalog and feature such classics as “Rapper’s Delight” and “The Breaks.” In other business news, Simmons’s RushCard announced it was being acquired by competing prepaid card services company, GreenDot, for $147,000,000 in a deal that is expected to close this quarter. Green Dot is reportedly buying the pre-paid debit card largely for the name recognition as well as its sizeable customer base of 750,000 people, over 40 percent of whom use the cards to receive direct deposits. The company plans to keep the name and brand. What is not part of the deal is the $13 in restitution and fines the company and Mastercard were ordered to pay last month over the 2015 computer debacle that left thousands unable to access their fund. “UniRush and MasterCard betrayed the trust of tens of thousands of consumers who rely on the RushCard to conduct and manage their day-to-day finances,” Richard

Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said in a statement. One United And #BlackLivesMatter Launch Amir Card Last month marked the debut of the Amir Visa Debit Card, a partnership between One United Bank, the nation’s largest black-owned financial institution and #BlackLivesMatter. The announcement—during Black History Month—was made by OneUnited Bank President & Chief Operating Officer, Teri Williams. “We can empower our community by organizing our spending power to support social and economic justice,” Williams said. “The #BankBlack movement and the "Amir" Visa debit card provide important tools to garner our spending power and channel it back into our community to #BuyBlack and make America great…for us." The debit card is intended to symbolize the continued fight for justice and the power of the Black community's dollars. Those receiving the Amir Visa debit card will receive instructions on how to use their card to donate to #BlackLivesMatter!

ExCEllEnT RATEs • JUsT THREE DAYs A MOnTH MUsT HAVE TRUCK FOR DEliVERY FOR inFORMATiOn, CAll KisHA

310-677-6011

JINOYE HENRY Staff Writer

or more than a century, pastor’s wives were content to sit on the front pew or thereabouts with a pretty hat on or sing in the choir and teach Sunday School. They smiled and served quietly, pitching in wherever they could in their local churches as the perfect helpmates to their husbands. But with the rise of mega churches in the 70s and 80s, came more attention to pastors and subsequently their wives leading to the advent of first ladies, a term almost exclusively born out of the black church. Its core meaning is tied in definition to what many refer to as the “royal treatment” often reserved for pastors and while tracking the term’s origin may be difficult, its growing importance—with one in ten adults attending mega churches— is anything but. The proof of that is reflected in the popularity of those like Dr. Betty Price, Lady Mae Blake, Taffi Dollar, Serita Jakes, Pastor Deborah Morton, Victoria Osteen, Pastor Bridget Hilliard, and Pastor Susie Owens who have not only amassed national followings through their speaking and ministry engagements, but in many cases have authored books and fostered programs that have impacted their surrounding communities. A fierce advocate for community development, Dr. Betty Price—wife of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, the

founder of what has been dubbed as America’s first black mega church, Crenshaw Christian Center—is not only the author of several books, but a leader in the effort to restore beauty and viability to the Vermont Avenue corridor in Los Angeles. A world-renowned author and motivational speaker, Taffi Dollar—who along with her husband, Creflo Dollar established the Atlanta-based World Changers Church International with 27 locations throughout the nation, including Los Angeles—serves as CEO of their gospel record label and established an outreach ministry to women involved in the adult entertainment and sex trade industries. Sandy Iverson, wife of Pastor Aaron Iverson of Paradise Baptist Church has a lead role in the management of the church’s charter school. “The third-pew-ensconced pastor’s wife has given way to a dynamic type of woman who juggles her own ministries, supports her husband, builds a church, and manages a family, all at the same time. Like another famous first lady, Michelle Obama, these women are not content

with being symbols of status and position; they’re getting their hands dirty with the things that matter most,” wrote Newsweek/Daily Beast columnist Joshua DuBois, who once headed the White House’s Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The factors contributing to the growing clout of first ladies is varied. For a very long time, the focus of mega church programming was inward—to ministries that sought to serve those who attended. But with a huge shift to outreach and the popularity of women’s programs (with women accounting for upwards of 60% - 70% of black church devotees) also helped to elevate the role first ladies play in the church and its extended community. Mae Blake, wife of Bishop Charles Blake—Presiding Prelate of the 7-million member strong Church of God In Christ and pastor of the 20,000 member strong West Angeles Church of God In Christ—founded the church’s Women Affairs Organization and equips women on everything from inner beauty and discipline to managing a budget and getting one’s estate in order at her annual “A Day In May With Lady Mae”. Fact is, throughout Los Angeles and the nation first ladies have stepped up in their communities establishing programs and services that outreach to the community everything from health, wellness and youth services to

voter awareness and political/social engagement. “While being a first lady is not my identity, I’m happy to be in service,” states First Lady Judi Sauls of Holman United Methodist Church. “I really enjoy serving others and was privileged to have been honored at L.A. Focus’ First Ladies High Tea last year. I was amazed at not only the turnout but to see what other first ladies are doing as well. It opened my eyes to the impact we collectively have on the community. Lisa Collins is one of the first people to spotlight the work of first ladies and to coalesce them together as a force in this community.” The first of its kind, the First Ladies High Tea—now in its 20th year— was established by L.A. Focus publisher Lisa Collins to not only honor the role first ladies have long played in their communities, but their contribution in shaping the destinies of our youth. “I’m often in settings with pastors’ wives who are woefully underutilized,” says Tara Jenkins, whose husband Pastor Charles Jenkins is a Stellar-winning gospel artist and pastor of Chicago’s Fellowship Baptist Church. “Sure, their congregations will follow their hairstyle or their clothing—but will they follow them into community service? God didn’t invite me into this role to sit; He invited me to serve.” It is a sentiment echoed by Allyson Scott of Macedonia Baptist Church. “I decided I didn’t want to just sit there in the front row and look pretty,” Scott says. “I wanted to get busy— involved. I had conflict in the beginning and would have run away if I could, but I knew what God was calling me to do so therefore I stood my ground and pushed through it. I’ve embracing my call and I’m walking in it. She adds, “Today, first ladies are looked at more as individuals and not just a pastor’s wife. They’ve created their own platforms, their own businesses and other things they are doing aside from their husbands.” In the past and now however, much of the tone is set by their husbands. “When we first came to the church 35 years ago my husband told them that I wasn’t going to just sit there and do nothing,” said Togetta Ulmer, First Lady of Faithful Central Bible Church. “I sing in the choir, I was on the praise team and then I lead a “Life Without Limits” event three times a year, which has been really great for women of all ages because we do everything. It was good for me because my husband spoke up to let them know that I may be doing some things and they can jump on the bandwagon or not. For the most part they did. Of course, there’s always going to be naysayers, but you have to do what you were called to do.” “It can become overwhelming if you allow it to,” adds Rinnita Thompson, First Lady of Southern St. Paul Church. “After 12 years there’s still some times I second guess myself and think maybe I shouldn’t do this or shouldn’t wear that, but then you also want to be true to who you are. Just to be a woman of God, not only as a first lady.” Standing her ground was something Park Windsor Baptist Church First Lady Regina Taylor learned firsthand. “This is our third pastorate and I remember the very first one,” Taylor recalls. “They had an idea what the first lady would be like and because it was new to me, I was like okay this what I need to do. Going through that I kept thinking, ‘I need to be myself.’ With this third church— and it being the church I grew up in—I was received for myself and as a totally different kind of first lady. Because of my technology background, they are amazed at some of the things that I am doing at and for the church, managing the website and social media.” While today’s first ladies have—for the most part— evolved beyond hats, gloves and reserved seating, expectations remain a sticking point in the friction that can arise between parishioners and their first ladies. “I believe that first lady is probably one of the church’s toughest roles,” observes Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford, who serves as both pastor and first lady of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International. “If you chose it and you took college classes, you have to have a Masters and a Ph.D in human psychology when it comes to the expectations, but things are changing just as the world is changing. I’ve been in ministry for 45 years, but you can’t do ministry how you did it 45 years ago. You have to evolve.” Michelle Porter, who became first lady of one of L.A.’s largest Baptist churches —Greater Ebenezer—just eight months ago, is still adjusting to the role. “There is a certain amount of empowerment that comes with my husband being pastor,” Porter said. “Now there are certain things I have influence over and actual power to do, and with that comes a certain amount of clout. If we are listening to God and are able to join together, then we can actually accomplish quite a bit.”

First Ladies Combat Health Issues With Ministries, Screenings, Events MCKENZIE JACKSON California Black Media

I’m often in settings with pastors’ wives who are woefully underutilized. Sure, their congregations will follow their hairstyle or their clothing—but will they follow them into community service? God didn’t invite me into this role to sit; he invited me to serve.

“The Bible says that our bodies are a temple,” said Southern/St. Paul Church First Lady Rinnitta Thompson, “and that doesn’t mean just spiritually. That means if we are walking around tired, sick, may fall out with a stroke that we can’t give God our best because our body is not at its best. Church folks lift themselves spiritually, but sometimes forget to take care of their bodies.” For Regina Taylor of Park Windsor Baptist Church, healthier lifestyles begins with food choices. She said Park Windsor members are always eager to let her know about their dining decisions. “They say, ‘First Lady, I had a salad’ or ‘First Lady I’m eating healthier,’” said Taylor, who established a health ministry three years ago. “When different groups within the church have events, we try to serve healthy food.” Unhealthy eating habits is the one of the many wellness issues that plague the African-American community. CDC numbers reveal that black Americans have a high propensity for obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, and the American Heart Association says AfricanAmericans are more at risk of being afflicted by heart disease or stroke than any other race. In California, 6.9% of blacks have no health insurance, per 2015 numbers from Covered California, the state’s insurance exchange. Also, as of last June, blacks have the lowest enrollment numbers of any race in Medi-Cal or health plan coverage through the Affordable Care Act. First ladies in churches throughout Los Angeles combat health problems and the low amount of health coverage plaguing their pews with health ministry work. Holman UMC First Lady Judi Wortham-Sauls said her church’s health ministry has a diabetes awareness group, exercise classes and organizes blood pressure and other screenings. A sodium awareness program began last month. WorthamSauls added that she and her husband, Rev. Kelvin Sauls, lead by example. “Our own personal health awareness makes us want to bring it to the congregation,” she said. Faithful Central Bible Church First Lady Togetta Ulmer said she puts an emphasis on physical activity. She tells members to exercise at least 20 minutes a day and eat in moderation. “Just because you are skinny doesn’t mean you are healthy,” Ulmer said. Thompson, a co-chair of the Walgreens’ First Ladies Health Initiative, said on March 26 the project will place health professionals from various wellness groups on over 30 church campuses across Los Angeles. Vendors will conduct vision screenings, HIV/AIDS screenings, dental checks and other health evaluations for church and community members. “We just want to tie the spiritual and physical together,” she said. “The screenings are free to the community.” First AME Church First Lady Florence Boyd said she joined the Walgreens program to get as many people in her church community as possible healthy. “A lot of individuals in the black community don’t know their health status because they don’t see a doctor regularly,” she said. “We’ve had people with high cholesterol and high blood pressure and didn’t know they had it. The program is one of many targeting health awareness in the church. Last month, in the process of routine health screenings at the 10,000 member strong City of Refuge, noted Los Angeles nephrologist, Dr. Randall Maxey of the Church Health Network sent several parishioners to area hospital emergency rooms as their blood pressure spiked at stroke levels. “Churches are at the forefront when it comes to the dissemination of information to the community, whether it’s navigating the complex medical industry or screening for disease and first ladies—as well as pastors—have become key facilitators in that process,” said Maxey. “People in our congregation struggle with healthcare issues, so we have to push it in order get them the services they need,” said Weller Street Baptist Church First Lady Kera Tulloss, who organizes free mammograms at her church each October. “I’m just trying to provide beneficial things to people,” the first lady said. “It means a lot because people’s lives matter.” Wortham-Sauls said access to healthcare is needed now more than ever in the black community because African Americans historically not done what is needed to take care of themselves health-wise. “So, now we need to get it correct,” she said. “We see people dropping dead on a regular basis. There is no reason to lose anybody if there is help out there.”

WESTERN BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION 127th MID-WINTER BOARD MEETING “Our Convention Led by the Holy Spirit”, Romans 8:14

Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, President

Dr. Virgil Jones, Pastor, Calvary BC

The worship services for the 127th MidWinter Board Meeting of the Western Baptist State Convention will convene March 4, 6-9, 2017, at the Calvary B. C, Dr. Virgil Jones, Host Pastor. President J. Benjamin Hardwick, Dr. W. Edward Jenkins, Moderator, Los Angeles District, and the Executive Board of the Western Baptist State Convention are extending a personal invitation to the entire Christian community to join us for a magnificent worship experience in the Lord. On Saturday, March 4th, The Young People’s Department, Sister Jeanette Beard, Director, will start at 10:00 am with Minister Carlos Davis, Good Shepherd B. C., delivering the Word of God. Our Mid-Winter Board Meeting Official Opening and Grand Musical featuring the “VOICES OF PRAISES” and “guests from across the State”, will take place on Monday, March 6th, at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, March 7th, our Mid-Winter Board Meeting business session opens at 9 a.m., followed by our Noon Speaker, Rev. Darryl Barnes, Pastor, Paradise Baptist Church. Our special guest, Dr. Manuel Scott, Jr., son of the late Dr. Manuel Scott, Sr., the first Seminary-trained, full-time evangelist on a national scale coming out of the black Baptist Church, will facilitate our Evangelism period at 3:00 p.m. “Developing an Evangelistic Mindset” is the focus of our

Evangelism period. At 7 p.m., the Usher are in session, Sister Carolyn Chapman, President, and Rev. L. A. Kessee, Bethany Baptist Church West Los Angeles, the evening speaker, will bring the Word. The Laymen’ Session, Deacon Roosevelt Gilkey, President, will open on Wednesday, March 8th, at 9 a.m. The noon Speaker is Rev. Reginald Payne, Full Gospel Baptist Church. Dr. Richard D. Sanders, Mt. Pilgrim B. C., the evening speaker, will deliver the message at 7 p.m. On Thursday, March 9th, the Women’s Department, Sister Ernestine Carlyle, President, Keynote Speaker is Sister Yasmin Smith, Executive Secretary, Con-gress of Christian Education. Following the noon speaker, is an amazing luncheon, “ W h a t Makes a Healthy Marriage”. The speakers are Chairman Tyrone Glover, Praises of Zion B. C. and Sister Thelma Price, McCoy Memorial B. C. The Holy Spirit is leading us to rejoice no matter what is happening because we have the Lord and in Him we shall overcome. It will be an honor for each of you to join us for a State and District collaboration of the finest in worship, singing, and praise, and a range of events designed to meet the needs of all age groups. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 4911 W. 59th St., Los Angeles, Ca. 90056.

FOR inFORMATiOn, CAll Dr. Manuel Scott Jr., Nat’l Evangelist

Dr. W. Edward Jenkins, Moderator

Affordable Custom Made Suits for Men and Women Starting at $250 Quality Fabric Selections Custom made to fit your body and your budget, avoiding costly alterations

H&L Custom made CLotHinG www.hlcustommade.com Sunday Best • Business Professionals Tuxedo Needs Order your suit today 1117 W. Manchester Bl #D • Inglewood, CA 90301 (424) 351-8711

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS

323.750.1033

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson

here is no template to becoming an entertainment mogul, but Cathy Hughes, global communicator, business executive, and radio and television entrepreneur has developed her own blueprint to success and is a living legend. Hughes' latest undertaking is executive producer of a show close to her heart called, “Media.” “Media” tells the story of the Jones family and their blind ambition to maintain power in the communication business at all cost. Lead by affluent matriarch, Jackie Jones, played by Penny Johnson Jerald, has worked hard to build Jones Universal Media Productions (J.U.M.P.) dynasty. As with most family businesses, the Jones children, played by Brian White, Pooch Hall, Blue Kimble, and Christie Pharris have been groomed to maintain the thriving business. However,

after an unexpected event the siblings begin to play for position—stirring up family and professional drama that will shock audiences at every turn. An all-star cast of characters includes: Stephen Bishop (Being Mary Jane),

Finesse Mitchell (SNL), Kimberly Crandall (Fresh Off The Boat), Gary Dourdan (CSI) and several others. The “Media” production team includes director, Craig Ross Jr., casting director, Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, Sheila Duckworth of Ducksworth Productions and a host of heavy hitters delivering a show that promises to keep audiences tuned in to make sure they keep up with the Jones’. “Media” premiered Saturday, February 25th and an encore presentation will air March 4th. It has been announced by Hughes that the original movie will go to series, airing on TV1 weekly, adding another accolade to this trailblazer’s queendom. Bravo to Hughes and the TV1 team for making us proud.

DUE IN THEATERS THIS MONTH

The Shack March 3

Kong: Skull Island March 10

Big Props To Barry Jenkins

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

With eight academy award nominations and three Oscars, Moonlight’s Barry Jenkins is the man, though admittedly he is the least likely to believe it. “I didn’t think this was possible. But now I look at other people looking at me and if I didn’t think it was possible, how are they going to?” the filmmaker says. Ironically, after 20 weeks at the box office, his movie—“Moonlight”— which has grossed $22 million from the box office is finally getting the kind of attention its winning status dictates. Following its three Oscars, it’s going wide to 1,500plus theaters. That’s up from 585 cinemas. As to what’s next for the Miami native? He’s set to write a limited series based on the Underground Railroad and will pen a comingof-age drama based on the life of two-time Olympic boxing champ, Claressa “T-Rex” Shields.

A Spinoff for Gina Torres

Gina Torres—otherwise known as Jessica Pearson on the popular USA Network series, “Suits”— has a great deal to be excited about these days. The 47-year old actress, who has joined the cast of ABC’s “The Catch” for season two of the show executive produced by Shonda Rhimes, was one of

Gavin Houston

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Big Break: A recurring role on “Guiding Light” Other Notable Roles: Lifetime’s “The Secret She Kept”; “Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart” (Babyface) Current Project: The Haves & The Have Nots

Beauty And The Beast March 17

“Suits’” most popular characters before leaving midway through the sixth season. Torres had said that she would have done the show indefinitely had it taped in L.A. instead of Toronto, but didn’t want to spend so much time away from her family (husband Laurence Fishburne and their daughter, Delilah). With “Suits” being the USA Network’s most-watched original scripted series and Jessica Pearson (Torres) its most popular character, the idea of a spinoff was a no-brainer, though for now, they’re just talking. We’ll have to wait and see what comes of it.

Q&A

Casting

News:

There is life after “Criminal Minds” for Shemar Moore, who will return to CBS to star in and co-produce a TV spinoff of the 2003 American action crime thriller, S.W.A.T. Moore will play S.W.A.T. lieutenant, Daniel ‘Hondo’ Harrelson (Moore), torn between loyalty to the streets and duty to his fellow officers when he’s tasked to run a highly-trained unit that is the last stop for solving crimes in Los Angeles…“Get Out” star Daniel Kaluuya is set to join Viola Davis in “Widows,” the upcoming film by director Steve McQueen (“12 Years A Slave”) about the surviving widows of four armed robbers (killed during a failed heist) who unite to pull off the job on their own...“Scream Queens” star KeKe Palmer has been cast as a spy in Epix’s drama, “Berlin

Power Rangers March 24

Station.” Palmer will play April Lewis, the newest and youngest case officer assigned to Berlin Station on her first field assignment after making her mark as an analyst at Langley. With a bracing combination of millennial intrepidity and old-fashioned sass, April brings a new-guard mentality often at odds with her old-guard colleagues in a system struggling to preserve its besieged identity. Briefly: The audio version of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Shereé Whitfield’s debut novel, Wives, Fiancées, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta, is set for release from Recorded Books Inc. And no, it’s not expected to give out secrets from the hit show. Instead, Wives, Fiancées, and Side-Chicks of Hotlanta follows central character Sasha Wellington as the fresh-out-of-college dreamer embarks on a career as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. Whitfield is also an executive producer of the WEtv series “Selling It” in the ATL. ..Finally, Congratulations are in order for Tyrese, who I’m sorry to report is now off the market. The singer/actor was married on Valentine’s Day by Pastor Creflo Dollar, and recently posted a sweet love note to wife, Samantha Lee, which read in part: ...the purity of God’s presence all over this union. He’s walking with us so no weapons formed- this will last….. We’re so grateful and humbled by your outpouring of love! We appreciate all of the prayers and well wishes…. Life’s a trip…. Cause sometimes when you pray you get #exactly what your heart desires…I got #MyBlackQueen. I didn’t just marry her I married my daughters new example…grace, elegance, college educated with multiple degrees, kind, classy, sophisticated...

Though most known for his role as Jeffrey Harrington on the hit OWN TV series, “The Haves & Have Nots,” Gavin Houston is no newcomer. He cut his teeth as a child actor before moving on to daytime TV with recurring roles on “Guiding Light” and “General Hospital.” But it is the character of Jeffrey Harrington—a shy, conflicted gay black man struggling to stand on his own and get free from his dominating mother who may be his only hope to escape a murder charge— that has framed his success in Hollywood. What do you think of the new season? Is it kind of like a rollercoaster ride for you as well as viewers? It’s amazing how it’s just jam packed with crazy drama every second of every minute. You can’t even catch your breathe and you go, ‘Oh my God!, this is even crazier than the last one.’ Have you been surprised at the evolution of your own character? It’s funny, because at the beginning I was buttoned up, kind of quiet and a shy character who was more of a facilitator and counselor to Wyatt, But now he has evolved in terms of growth with the strength and confidence of owning who he is — kind of being the rebel. Candice has been a huge influence with him standing up to his mom and getting closer to his father. The whole Harrington dynamic is strengthened with all the adversities they’ve had to deal with. I don’t even know what’s is next for my character. Do you like your character? Yes! It’s one thing for me in the beginning to have so much fear and tackling a character so different from myself. It’s been great because I’ve grown as an actor and being challenged and groomed to be able to handle this character, who is kind of soft. Its been challenging, wild and crazy, but in the end I’m very grateful for how it has changed me as a person. Where are you most like your character? In the innocence and optimism he has. All his intentions are always good and I think that I’m similar to him—in some ways a people pleaser in terms of wanting people to be happy even where it ends up backfiring or him being taken advantage of. Where does this role fit in terms of your evolution as an actor? Personally I love action, I love fight choreography and all that. Being able to have that as well as also representing the gay community. It’s such a huge responsibility that until this role I didn’t know I could pull off. The response I’ve gotten from the fans is amazing. Can you give an experience with a fan that stands out in your mind? I was attending my nephew’s college graduation and I continued to page 24

Calendar of events

Ongoing

www.sabanconcerts.com

Art Exhibition: Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle: The Evanesced (Through June 25) Photo Exhibition: “No Justice, No Peace” (Beginning March 8) An exhibition that examines one of the most notorious episodes of urban unrest in American history. (Through August 27) Tues - Sat 10:00am-5:00pm; Sun 11:00am-5:00pm California African American Museum 600 State Drive • Exposition Park RSVP (213) 744-2024 www.caamuseum.org

In Concert: Arsenio Hall 7PM • $49 Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd Contact: (805) 449-2100 www.civicartsplaza.com

Sunday, March 5 In Concert: The Spinners 9PM • $34-$74 The Saban 8440 Wilshire Blvd Contact: (888) 645-5006 www.sabanconcerts.com

On Stage: “Good Grief” (Through March 26) $25 -$75 • Call For showtimes Kirk Douglas Theatre 9820 Washington Bl • Culver City centertheatregroup.org

iHeartRadio Music Awards 2017 Drake leads the nominations; Performers include Bruno Mars 5PM • $80 - $180 The Forum 3900 W. Manchester Blvd Contact: (310) 330-7300 www.fabulousforum.com

Saturday, March 4

Wednesday, March 8

In Concert: The Spinners 9PM • $44-$74 The Rose Bowl 300 E. Colorado Blvd #101 Pasadena Contact: (888) 645-5006 www.roseconcerts.com In Concert: George Benson 9PM • $58-$98 The Saban 8440 Wilshire Blvd Contact: (888) 645-5006

CAAM Celebrates the openings of four new exhibitions: No Justice, No Peace: Los Angeles 1992; Derrick Adams; Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle; Paperworks: Selections from the Permanent Collection Good art, people, music & food Free • 7-9PM California African American Museum 600 State Drive • Exposition Park RSVP preferred (213) 744-2024 www.caamuseum.org On Stage: Alvin Ailey Dance

Theater (Through Sun., March 12) $44 – 306 • Check showtimes Dorothy Chandler Pavillion 135 N. Grand Avenue Contact: (213) 972-0711 www.musiccenter.org In Concert: Charlie Wilson’s In It to Win It Tour featuring Fantasia & Johnny Gill 7PM • $59.50 – $150 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Contact: (213) 763-6030 www.microsofttheater.com Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Workshops (3 sessions, Wednesdays, Thru March 22) 10AM - Noon • Free

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 S. Vermont Avenue Register: (323) 930-6273 www.alzgla.org

Friday, March 10 “I Love The 90s Concert” featuring Salt N Pepa, Biz Markie, Coolio, C + C Music Factory Featuring Freedom Williams, Snap! 7:30PM • $49.50 – 99.50 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court Contact: (213) 763-6030 www.microsofttheater.com In Concert: Miki Howard (Through Sat., March 11) 8:30AM • $25 Dinner or two-drink minimum required in addition to tickets The Catalina Jazz Club 6725

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Sunday, March 26 Paleyfest: “American Horror Story: Roanoke” Meet & greet Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Cuba Gooding Jr. Dolby Theatre 7PM • $40+ 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Information: (323) 308-6300 www.dolbytheatre.com

West Sunset

L.A. Focus/March 2017

Ava Du Vernay in a beautiful gray flowing dress by Ashi Studio of Lebanon. She wore this as a small sign of solidarity.

eigen & hrissy T C , s d emiere in son 2 pr Aisha H a e S t a Vann Amirah rGround of Unde

black this orange and Rhianna slays in y m et at the Gram on the red Carp Awards

Aldis Hod ge & Jurn on the red ee Smollet t-Bell carpet at season 2 premiere of “Under ground”

Shondra Rhimes is fabulous in a red and black dress on the red carpet at the Oscars ‘Vanity Fair’ party

Underground cast members arrive at Season Two Premiere at the Westwood Village Theater.

Actress Keesha Sharp attends the 48th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 11.

Blvd. Contact: (323) 466-2210 www.catalinajazzclub.com

Saturday, March 11 Discover Your Roots 15th Annual African American Family History Conference Roots: Search, Find & Connect with keynote speaker: Thom Reed $30 - 43 (includes lunch) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Historical Chapel 1209 S. Manhattan Place Register: (310) 475-7018 www.discoveryourroots.org NAACP Act-So (AfroAcademic Cultural Technological & Scientific Olympics) Free competition in visual arts, humanities, sciences, business and performing arts for Black high school students •Winners are eligible to receive scholarships 1-4PM Holman United Methodist 3320 West Adams Blvd Info: (310) 397-1147

Saturday, March 18 In Concert: The Whispers (with Lakeside) 8PM • $25 - $45 The Novo 800 W Olympic Blvd Info: (213) 765-7000 www.thenovodtla.com “How to Pay For College Seminar” 2PM • Free Holman United Methodist 3320 West Adams Blvd RSVP to http://affluentsolution.com/hbcursvp www.holmanumc.com Black Business Association’s 2017 Salute to Black Women Business Conference, Vendor Faire & Awards Luncheon (Honoring women in public service and government) 8:30am–3pm • $50 Sheraton Grand L.A. 711 S. Hope Street Contact: (323) 291-9334 www.bbala.org

Dolby Theatre 2PM • $40+ 6801 Hollywood Boulevard Info: (323) 308-6300 www.dolbytheatre.com “A Joyous Hallelujah Praise & Worship Service” 4PM Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd Info: (323) 735-0044

Tuesday, March 21 In Concert: Big Sean (The Decided Tour) 7PM • $49.50 House of Blues Anaheim 1530 South Disneyland Dr. Anaheim Tickets: (714) 778- 2583 www.houseofblues.com

Thursday, March 23 In Concert: Common 7PM • $40 House of Blues Anaheim 1530 South Disneyland Dr. Anaheim Tickets: (714) 778- 2583 www.houseofblues.com

900 W. Olympic Blvd. Contact: (310) 216-4722 www.glaaacc.org In Concert: Wu Tang Clan 7PM • $124 and up Hollywood Palladium 6215 Sunset Boulevard Contact: (323) 962-7600 http://www.thehollywoodpalladium.com

Saturday, March 25 On Stage: Je'Caryous Johnson's "Married But Single" Featuring Lisa Raye McCoy, Chante Moore, Carl Payne, LaMyia Good and Bill Bellamy (Through Sun., March 26) $69 – 100 • Call for showtimes Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway Contact: (877) 677-4386 www.laorpheum.com National Action Network L.A. Women’s History Luncheon 11AM • $40 Vermont Community Center 8039 South Vermont Info: (323) 546-8173

ments from 9AM – 12:30PM Waste disposal from 9AM – 3PM 3800 Crenshaw Blvd Info: (323) 290-0456

Sunday, March 26 Paleyfest: “Scandal’s 100th Episode Celebration” with Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young, Scott Foley, Joe Morton, Jeff Perry, Cornelius Smith Jr. and more Dolby Theatre 2PM • $40+

Wednesday, March 29 In Concert: Kenny G. 8PM • Call for ticket prices City National Grove of Anaheim 2200 East Katella Avenue Anaheim Contact: (714) 712-2700 www.citynationalgroveofanaheim.com Rise Financial Pathways Power Luncheon 2017 Reception: 11AM; Lunch: Noon The City Club 555 S. Flower St, 51st Flr Info: (323) 233-1900 risefinancial.wordpress.com

around los angeles

“The Legends Luncheon” 11:30AM Trinity Baptist Church 2040 W. Jefferson Blvd Info: (323) 735-0044

Sunday, March 19

Paleyfest: “Grey’s Anatomy” Meet and greet with Chandra Wilson, Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr, Jesse Williams, Debbie Allen, Jerrika Hinton, Kelly McCreary and more

GLAAACC 24th Annual Economic Awards Dinner Keynote Speaker: L.A. Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer 5:30pm Reception 7pm Dinner • $500 JW Marriott LA Live

Gabrielle Union, Mary J Blige and LL Cool J attend the afterparty for the 89th Academy Awards

Friday, March 31 In Concert: Ariana Grande With Little Mix and Victoria Monet 7PM • $29.95 - $199.95 The Forum 3900 W. Manchester Blvd Contact: (310) 330-7300 www.fabulousforum.com “WonderCon 2017” Presented by Comic-Con International Featuring sneak peeks, Q&As, premiere screenings, special guests and a costume contest (Through Sunday, April 2) $65 3-day badge, $30 1-day badge, $18 Sunday only Anaheim Convention Center 800 W Katella Ave www.comic-con.org/wca

Thursday, March 30 The Dancer In Me

ibe on the red Actress Gabourey Sid NAACP th 48 the carpet at Image Awards

Tracee Ross is fierce in a Ulyana Sereenko dress on the red carpet at the 48th NAACP Image Aw ards

L.A. Focus/March 2017

Barry Jenkins at Moonlight director ards Vanity the 89th Academy Aw Fair Party

Community Recycling Clean Up Event Shred confidential docu-

“Planetshakers” Presented by The Long Beach Unity Festival (Through Saturday, April 1) Sacred worship & purposedriven artistry $55 -$110 Cal State University LB 1250 Bellflower Blvd Register: (562) 293-1700 www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

Re d Carpet Style

The stars pulled out all the stops at the Academy Awards with a range of looks spanning romantic and sexy to classic Victorian, but in the end the night belonged to the lady in red—Viola Davis, who took home the Oscar for best supporting actress (“Fences”).

JANELLE MONAE

HALLE BERRY

OCTAVIA SPENCER

VIOLA DAVIS

TARAJI P. HENSON

off with your head in a cinderella inspired black and white gown layered with diamonds by Elie Saab

is giving us a dramatic return to the red carpet in a sheer,sparkly one-shoulder Versace gown

rocking a sliver Marchesa gown with delicate feathers

is fierce in a red off the shoulder Armani Prive gown with a matching train

looking luxurious in a blue velvet Alberta Ferretti gown topped with a stunning diamond necklace

Eye On Gospel Another TV Show For David & Tamela It’s official. David and Tamela Mann are joining the TV One family with a new reality docu-series, “The Manns.” The show marks the fifth series for the talented duo who got their start in a string of Tyler Perry plays and movies, as well as the television series, “Meet The Browns” and “House of Payne.” In 2015, they scored two TV series — “It’s A Mann’s World” and “Mann & Wife”. The official announcement of the new series was made by TV One SVP of Programming D’Angela Proctor. “We are excited to have David, Tamela and The Mann family join TV One because they represent the best of R.E.A.L – relatable, engaging, authentic and loving,” said Proctor. “The Manns are a great modern day example of a family that works together, plays together and prays together.” The new show will reveal the often hilarious and sometimes controversial interactions between David and Tamela, their four grown children, eight grandchildren and a slew of friends, extended family and other characters that enrich the lives of the entertainment power couple. With recording careers, touring and filming, t h i s

beloved couple—who have been married for 29 years— often find themselves negotiating from the conference table to the kitchen table. Tamela Mann and Travis Greene Top Stellar Nominees A new TV show is not all Tamela Mann has to be excited about. Later this month, she will find out which of the nine Stellar Gospel Award nominations, she will win at the 2017 Stellar Awards Show in Las Vegas. Mann tied with Travis Greene for the highest number of nominations including “Artist of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “CD of the Year”. Greene will face off against Mann for “Song of the Year” and “CD of the Year” while other nominations include “Male Vocalist of the Year”, “Contemporary CD” and “Praise and Worship CD”. Other artists scoring multiple nominations include Hezekiah Walker with seven, followed by Kirk Franklin with six, Todd Dulaney and Jekalyn Carr who each scored five, Shirley Caesar with four, and Livre, Enon Tabernacle and newcomer Brianna Babineaux (Bri) with three each. Winners will be announced March 25 in a star-studded show hosted by Erica Campell and Anthony Brown. The two-hour long show—with performances from Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Tasha Cobbs, Shirley Caesar, Tamela Mann, Travis Greene and others—will air on TV One April 9 and then in national syndication on 170 TV stations in over 150 markets around the country between through May 4. Here is a partial list of nominees. Artist of The Year Jekalyn Carr, The Life Project Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion Tamela Mann, One Way William McDowell, Sounds of Revival Song of The Year You’re Bigger —Allundria Carr & Allen Carr (The Life Project/Jekalyn Carr) God Provides — Kirk Franklin (One Way/Tamela Mann) Made A Way — Travis Greene (The Hill) You Deserve It — David Bloom, Cortez Vaughn, Demond Reed (You Deserve It/JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise)

Male Vocalist of The Year Todd Dulaney, A Worshipper’s Heart Travis Greene, The Hill Donnie McClurkin, The Journey (Live) Hezekiah Walker, Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year Bri (Briana Babineaux) – Keys To My Heart Shirley Caesar – Fill This House Jekalyn Carr – The Life Project Tamela Mann – One Way Group/Duo of the Year Myron Butler & Levi – On Purpose Livre’ – Tribe of Joshua Virtue – Fearless Bryan Andrew Wilson w. Roderick Giles/Grace-Overflow New Artist of the Year Bri (Briana Babineaux) – Keys to My Heart Enon Tabernacle – Alyn E. Waller Presents Enon Tabernacle Livre’ — Tribe of Joshua Deborah Joy Winans — Greenleaf Soundtrack CD of the Year A Worshipper’s Heart – Todd Dulaney Losing My Religion – Kirk Franklin The Hill – Travis Greene One Way – Tamela Mann Choir of the Year Charles Butler & Trinity – Make It Chicago Mass Choir – We Give You Praise Enon Tabernacle – The Experience Hezekiah Walker – Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better Producer of the Year Kirk Franklin, Ron Hill, Monica Coates, Shaun Martin & Max Stark – Losing My Religion (Kirk Franklin) Geo Bivins, Travis Greene & Victor Navejar – The Hill (Travis Greene) Myron Butler, Tamela Mann, Kirk Franklin, Timberland, Eric Dawkins, King Logan, Shaun Martin & David Mann – One Way (Tamela Mann) Donald Lawrence & Hezekiah Walker– Azusa The Next Generation 2: Better (Hezekiah Walker)

ChurchNews L.A. Church Community Mourns Sudden Passing of Bishop Miquail Broadous

he L.A. pastoral community is in shock over the sudden passing of Bishop Miquail Broadous. Broadous, who served as the senior pastor of Grace Temple Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church in Pacoima and Cedar Grove Baptist Church, and as treasurer of the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship, died Sunday, February 26 in Los Angeles. He was 47. It was in December 2016 that Broadous was installed as senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Pacoima, a church pastored by his father, the late William T. Broadous until his death just seven months earlier. Describing it as a milestone moment for him, Broadous said, “I’m taking on the leadership of legendary leaders—standing on their shoulders. I grew up in the church and my grandfather organized the church. After he went home to be with the Lord, my Dad took over and pastored there for 34 years, so I’m continuing the legacy. The appointment brought the number to three of the churches Broadous pastored, including Grace Temple, which he has pastored for 20 years and Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, the leadership of which he took on last February. “There has been an overwhelming outpouring of love. Pastors across the city are heartbroken and devastated. He was bigger than life,” said Pastor Xavier Thompson, president of the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship. Broadous was just 14 when he told his Dad that he believed the Lord had called him to preach. “My dad looked at me and then said go back and pray and I did, but I also would be outside preaching to my friends, siblings and just about anyone who would listen." After completing high school, Broadus enrolled at Bishop College but with its closing one year later, returned home to Los Angeles, accepting a job as assistant to his uncle, John Broadus, who pastored Grace Temple Baptist Church. It would be the retirement of his uncle seven years later on November 8, 1996 that paved the way for Broadus to become pastor. “For eight years, I was preaching every second and fourth Sunday, then five years prior to my uncle retiring I felt the call to lead. Not just to preach but to guide them and be an example. That's why I say I was burdened to pastor. I saw myself being a leader in the community— having a church that was making a difference. We have these clubs and liquor stores and people walking around with no Jesus. I'm looking to be a beacon of light.” “As it turns out, he was much more than a beacon of light,” Thompson added. “To know him was to love him. The type of friendship he and I had comes once in a lifetime. He was a leader, wise beyond his years. His memories will be cherished. His legacy will be honored. He will be greatly missed.” Funeral services are slated for 11am on March 11 at Southern St. Paul, located at 4678 W. Adams Boulevard.

Trinity Kicks Off 100th Anniversary Celebration Richard Smallwood and Dr. William Epps are among the distinguished guests set to help Trinity Baptist Church celebrate its milestone 100th Anniversary with the theme, “Celebrating 100 Years of Walking by Faith”. Set to kick off in March with “The Legends Luncheon” (March 11) and “A Joyous Hallelujah Praise and Worship Service” (March 19) with guest speaker, Dr. William Epps, the celebration with culminate with a “Thanks & Praise Worship Service” on November 12. As part of the celebration, Richard Smallwood will appear in concert on Saturday, April 9 and a gala 100th Anniversary Banquet is slated for November 10 at the Hyatt Regency LAX Hotel. The church—pastored by Alvin Tunstill Jr. (First Lady Dr. Sandra Tunstill) was founded on November 11, 1917 by a Sunday School group of 15 children and three adults. For additional information call (323) 735-0044.

Amen L.A. (Affirming Ministry Enlightening Nations) 1455 W. 94th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 229-9351 • www.amenla.org Rev. Dr. DiAnn L. Johnson Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30am-10:30am PTP / Preach the word- Teach the word - practice the word

Bethel AME Church of Los Angeles 7900 South Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 750-3240 • www.bethelamela.org Rev. Kelvin T. Calloway Early Worship: 7:45 am Morning Worship: 10:45am Mid-week “Hour of Power” (Wed): noon

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Reginald A. Pope Sunday Worship: 8:00 & 11:00am Sunday School & C.B.T.: 9:40am Monday Evangelism Training: 7:00pm Wednesday Prayer: 11:15am Sunday Radio KALI 900am @ 7:30am www.bmbcla.com

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 Sunday School: 10am Worship: 8am, 10am, Noon Teen Church (2nd Sundays):Noon,Allen House Wed. Prayer Service: Noon Wed. Bible Study: 7pm Radio: 10:30am on KJLH-102.3FM First AME is the oldest Black Church in the City 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 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 Bishop Miquail M. Broadous Sr., Senior Pastor Sunday School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:00am Wednesday Worship: 6:45pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Bethlehem Temple Church, INC. 958 East 52nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 232-8429 www.bethlehemtemplela.org Pastor Elder Gentry Richardson, Jr. Sunday: Christian Education: 9am Morning Worship: 11am PYPU (youth services): 4:30pm Evening Worship: 6pm (5pm 5th Sun.) Monday Prayer Revival: 7pm Wednesday Ministerial/Teacher’s Prep. Class: Noon; Bible Class: 7:45pm

Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Pastor Paul A. Hill • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7pm Fri. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7pm Tues. Prayer Fellowship: 6:30pm Super Seniors (Thurs/Bi-Monthly): 10:30am Follow us on Facebook

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Rev. Dwaine A. Jackson

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter

Sunday School: 10am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:30 am Bible Study (Tues): Noontime Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 7pm

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: 10am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10am Mon. Centering Prayer/Meditation: 6:30pm Mon. Overeaters Anonymous: 7pm Wed. Bible Study & Eucharist: 7pm Wed. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7:pm E: cgshepherd4041@sbcglobal.net

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-7285 • F: (323) 731-2609 • www.holmanumc.com Rev. Kelvin Sauls

Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 • www.cccf-ucc.org Pastor James K. McKnight

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.

Sun. Early Worship: 8am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Rev. Frederick Price Jr. Sunday Service: 10am Bible Study (Tue): 11am & 7pm Tue. Night Kidz Unlocked: 7pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7pm Intercessory Prayer (Wed.): 7:30pm Prayer & Praise (Thurs.): 6:30pm

Sunday School: 8:00, 9:45 & 11am Jazz for Soul 2nd & 4th Thur: 6:30 pm Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am Bible Study (Thurs.): Noon Sun. Radio: KJLH 102.3FM: 11am E: Holman@holmanumc.com

Sunday Church School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:30am & 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: noon & 6:30pm Prayer Meeting: 6pm Follow us on Twitter @dacrossculture www.thecrossculture.org McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4101 West Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Noon, Tuesdays

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of LA, Inc. 4269 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 Rev. Melvin V. Wade, Sr. Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Mid-Week Worship (Wed): 7pm Bible Study (Wed.): 8pm

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

F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church Pastor George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am, 11am Discipleship Hour (Sun): 9:37am Noonday Prayer (Mon): Noon Noonday Bible Study (Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm 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)

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: 7pm

New Pilgrim Baptist Church 8225 So. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (626)215-5175 • Office: (323) 789-6218 Bishop R. A. McKinley, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 11am Second Location Golden West Baptist Church 4856 Golden West Ave, Temple City, CA 91780 Sunday Worship: 9am

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8am & 11am

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776 Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Sr. Pastor Sundays: Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

BishopR.A.Mckinley@hotmail.com

CHuRCHes CeLeBRatinG anniVeRsaRies and ReViVaLs in maRCH:

AnnUAl REViVAl —spiRiTUAl REnEWAl guest speakers: Rev. Roderick O. Walker sr. Tabernacle of Praise Missionary Baptist Church Sunday, March 19, 2017 @11am Tuesday, March 21, 2017@7pm Rev. Dr. J.W. Brown Welcome MissionaryBaptist Church Monday, March 20, 2017@7pm Wednesday, March 22, 2017@7pm

100 YEARs TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH It is with immense joy that Pastor Alvin Tunstill, Jr. and First Lady Dr. Sandra Tunstill and the Trinity family invite you to share in the 100th anniversary Celebration of our Church. “Celebrating 100 Years of Walking by Faith—Cherishing our Past, Celebrating our Present, Constructing our Future.” Founded on November 11, 1917 by a Sunday School group of 15 children and 3 adults, at Normandie and 35th Street, Trinity was nurtured over the years by several distinguished pastors. The following exciting events have been planned to date. So please mark your calendar now and watch for additional events to be added throughout 2017. •Saturday, March 11, 2017 —“The Legends Luncheon” •Saturday, April 9, 2017 —Richard Smallwood in Concert •Sunday, May 7, 2017 —The Inner City Youth Orchestra •Friday, November 10, 2017—Gala 100th Anniversary Banquet •Sunday, November 12, 2017 — 100th Anniversary Celebration In addition, Trinity will publish a souvenir journal for the 100th anniversary and you are welcome to be a part of it.

Rev. Dr. J.W. Brown

Rev. Roderick O. Walker

Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church 6614 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 753-3189 • F: (323) 753-1018 • www.mttabormbc.org Dr. Ticey M. Brown, D. Min. Pastor/Teacher Early Morning Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid Morning Worship: 11am Tues. Bible Study: 10am & 7pm Meeting/Bible Study: 6:30pm–8pm First Sun. Communion: 8am & 11 am Baptism First Sunday

For information, call (323) 735-0044 2040 West Jefferson Boulevard • los Angeles, CA 90018 New Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church 9537 South Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 755-1130 or 755-1139 • F: (323)755-8961 Rev. Melvin Hill, Pastor Worship Services: 8am & 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Prayer Meeting(WED): 6:30pm Bible Study(WED): 7pm & Noon The Church where “It pays to be nice”.

62 YEARs CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER Ephesians 4-11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

JOIN US IN CELEBRATION March 19, 2017 3:30 pm 900 East Rosecrans Avenue Los Angeles, California 90059

Honoring Dr. Paul M. Martin Dr. Kerry L. Allison, Pastor

For information, call (310) 537-1372 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: 8am Morning Worship: 10am Tues. Bible Study: 11am Wed. Evangelism Class: 6:30pm First Sun. Holy Communion Service: 4pm www.pleasanthillbaptistchurch.org

“You can end your search for a friendly church” 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

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

Sunday Worship: 9am, 11am & 1pm Wednesday Midweek Service: 8pm www.Channel1Live.tv—View live streaming

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Dr. Aaron Iverson Pastor’s Bible Class & Sunday School: 8am Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Prayer: 7pm Tues. Bible Study: 8pm

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City” 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-5458 • www.pozlive.com Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7pm Sunday Broadcast: 7pm

Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins Sunday Worship Service: 10am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

L.A. Focus/FMarch 2017

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

One Church International 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.onechurchla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts

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: 8am & 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed: Prayer Bible Study: 6pm - 6:55 pm Mon. Night Bible Study: 7pm Tue Choir Rehersal Wednesday Prayer: Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7pm • Wed. Prayer Meeting: 7pm Thurs. Evangelism: 7pm (enrollment required) St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 3770 Santa Rosalia Dr. Baldwin Hills, CA 90008 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor Morning Worship: 8am Church School Hour: 10:15am Tuesday Hour of Power: 7pm

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: 9am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org

UpLift Christian Fellowship 4745 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90056 (310) 927-3476 Pastor Anthony Thompson Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm

www.thechurchstop.org E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com Southern Saint Paul Church 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • F: (323) 737-5202 • smbcla@gmail.com Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Sr. Pastor

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

L.I.F.E. Groups Sundays: 8:00am Saint Paul Campus:9:00am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 5pm Word Wednesday: 6:45pm

Sunday School: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 9am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com

“One Church For All Generations”

“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: 8am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7pm 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: 9am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5pm Wed. Bible Study: 7pm

In Judson Baptist Church 451 E. 223rd St, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 834-2630 • F: (310) 513-0943 • www.judsonbc.net Dr. Johnny V. Baylor, Pastor/Teacher

Carson

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Children’s Church (Except 5th Sun): 9:30am 2nd & 4th Sun. Speak Life Youth Ministry: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: Noon Streaming live at judsonbclive.net

Pastor Profile: DeNon Porter Church: Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church How Long: 8 months Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia Education:Syracuse University Family: Married 18 years to wife, Michelle; four children How did you get into ministry? I had been a member here at Greater Ebenezer for about 10-12 years working in the church, singing in the choir, teaching an occasional Sunday School class. As a function of that the Lord began to move on my heart and speak to me and it was through that ministry work that I received the call to preach the gospel. I went to Pastor [Solomon] Drake and after discussion and prayer, he gave me the opportunity to preach my initial sermon on October 9, 2002. Do you remember what the name of that sermon was? “He’s Calling You.” What was your initial response to the call of God? I was like ‘are you sure? Do you have the right person?’ It was a process. I wrestled with it for a while. What was your greatest hesitation? Just that I wasn’t strong enough as a Christian—that I didn’t know enough Bible. That I wasn’t enough of a man of God to be thrust into the spotlight of preaching. Then too, I’m not the most gregarious or outgoing person. I’m more of an introvert, so I didn’t think that was a good fit for me.

L.A. Focus/March 2017

What convinced you? The insistence of the Lord and confirmation from various people, situations and circumstances. I’m a believer that when God calls an individual the church will confirm the call as people were encouraging and admonishing me to move forward in it and when they said that they had been helped or blessed by things that I said or shared, the call was confirmed. What were your family and friends thinking? They were astonished and amazed. They were supportive of course, but the first news of it pretty much floored everyone who knew me.

Growing up, did you have any inclinations toward ministry? None whatsoever. I grew up in church, but ministry wasn’t on my radar at all. I was a church kid, but I wasn’t a believer. I went to church because my parents went. I didn’t come to Christ until I was in college. What were doing for a living at the time? I came out to Los Angeles with the hopes of getting into writing and directing, but at the time, I was doing freelance editing work. When did it become evident that it was a possibility you could become the pastor? It did not. Anybody who knows me will tell you that on the night Pastor Drake made his recommendation, I had shared with anybody who would listen to me how certain I was that it wasn’t going to be me. I was convinced he was going to recommend someone from outside of the church. Taking over from Pastor Drake, what were your biggest challenges and or concerns? The biggest concerns were just keeping the church moving in the right direction. A few weeks after the transition, our annual revival came up and the revivalist—Pastor Curry— preached about keeping the train moving in the right direction. So my main job was to keep the train moving in the right direction and the challenge was really just

personally embracing the role, the requirements of the role and the weight of the role. It’s one of those things where we’re just trying to keep the momentum—continuing to work in the community—and look for opportunities were we can be engaged, be involved, be a blessing to the community and point people to Christ. The biggest change from being an associate minister to a pastor of a church like Greater Ebenezer is that—the outward focus that now is part of my responsibility for the church. This has lifted your profile on the L.A. church scene— what are your thoughts on that? I’m not 100% aware of that element of the whole ministry. We just pray that the Lord gives grace so we don’t fall away from what our true purpose and mission is. What has been the response from L.A. pastors? They’ve been very supportive and encouraging. They’ve embraced me as a brother and have been more than willing to provide any advice or counsel that I might need. Have you made any changes? At this point in my tenure, I have not really made any changes. I feel like me being there is a big enough change and we’re not trying to fix anything that isn’t broke. I’m happy to just continue in the vein that Pastor Drake has set. When you look out at the L.A. church scene, what do you hope in the coming years your contribution will be? I am grateful to God for every church whose door is open in the name of Jesus and as Pastor Drake has said over the years, I’m happy for every church that is preaching the gospel, serving the community, holding up the standard of holiness and righteousness in living and I just hope that Greater Ebenezer can play its part. That we can fulfill our mandate. That we can be our piece in the puzzle or thread in the tapestry of every church in L.A. that God is weaving. I’ll be happy if we can do that. How has this changed your life? Now I’m the one when people have issues or concerns or if people need counsel, I’m the one who gets the call. I’m the one they’re looking to hear from. I went from having a part-time job to being on call 24 hours a day. That voice in you that at first said—“Are you sure, God”— was God right? God knows what He’s doing and there’s one thing I found out. I knew it before but now I know it for sure—that He doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He has called me into this and given me everything I need to perform the work He has for me to do.

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

First Lady Files

Sunday School: 10am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm Resurrection Church L.A. 1135 East Janis St. Carson, CA 90746 Office Address: 1143 East Janis St. Carson, 90746 (310) 626-4864 • www.resurrectionchurchla.org Pastor Joseph Carlos Robinson Service times: 8am, 10am, 12:15pm Communion: every 5th Sunday Tuesday Bible Class: 7:30pm

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: 9am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7pm

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • E: GreaterZionCF@gmail.com Reverend Michael J. Fisher & Dr. W. Jerome Fisher, Pastor Emeritus Sunday Morning Worship: 9am, 11am & 5pm Wed. Bible Studies: Noon-7pm www.greaterzionchurchfamily.com

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: 8am & 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

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

In Gardena

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

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 9am Sunday Evening Worship: 6pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7pm

With the mission to bridge generational gaps, First Lady and Co-pastor Cynthia Buelna remains true to the God-given vision to win the lost at any cost. “I was a teen mother,” Buelna said. “My son is 25 and I have the ability to be able to bridge two generations, the new generation and the older generation.” For the undying support of the congregation at Restauracion Total LA dubbed “the Church on Broadway”, Buelna credits her husband of 25 years, Pastor Javier Buelna. “My husband and I started the church 13 years ago as a Hispanic ministry, but in the last three years we’ve evolved into a multi-ethnic, bilingual church constantly working on our vision and making sure that we live our mission statement to reach an unchurched generation.” Family is the first ministry for this mother of three and grandmother. “I found out the power of having a balanced life in the last 4-5 years and we’re very intentional about spending time with our children and spending time together. My husband and I have a weekly date night. Thursdays are sacred.” As a church, Buelna and her husband continue to work on structure and growth while equipping the congregation to launch and do ministry work. Right now we have a ministry in North Carolina, we have a ministry in Compton, we have a ministry in San Francisco and another ministry in orange county that’s about to be launched.

In Hawthorne

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 Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am First Sunday Evening Worship: 5pm Mid-Week Bible Study Wed.: 7pm Radio: KTYM 1460 AM Saturdays at 8pm & Mondays at 7pm 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: 8am, 10:30am New Generation Praise Service: 10:30am Sun. Bible Univ.: 9:30am Tues. Interactive Bible Study: 7pm Wed. Pastor's Bible Study: Noon, 7pm Thurs. Bible Study: 7pm Fri. Singles Bible Study (1st Fri): 7pm

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 & 7pm Wednesday Pathway: 7pm Thurs Bible Study: 10am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am

In Long Beach Antioch Church of Long Beach 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 591-8778 • F: (562) 599-6048 Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. Worship Services: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am Tuesday Youth BibleStudy: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am WednesdayBible Study: Noon

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: 7am • 9:30am • 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm

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

The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr. Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm Sunday School: 9am Sunday Worship: 10:30am

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

Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III

Cynthia Buelna Restauracion Total Church

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc. 1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90303 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday School: 10am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm KYTYM 1460AM (Sunday): 11:30am www.jacobladderschurch.com

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon First Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 • (323) 7571804 www.go2Hope.com Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm

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: 11am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7pm & 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 1st & 5th Sunday Worship: 9am Sunday School/New Member Classes:8am Live Streaming on NuPhilly App/website: 9am 2nd thru 4th Sunday Worship:7:30 am &10:00am•Sunday School New Member Classes: 9am Live Streaming on the NuPhilly App/website: 7:30am Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday Eve 7pm Mid-Week Bible Study: Thursday 12:00 noon

From the Pulpit: Shiloh Metropolitan B.C. “The God Who Orders Worship” Psalm 150, Hebrews 13: 6, Psalm 137, John 10: 28-30 s darkness turns into light, the true purpose of life comes clearly into view and life’s ultimate purpose is stated in the opening words of Psalm 150, simply: “Praise the Lord”. Praise the Lord translates one compound Hebrew term—“halal” which means to boast or praise. Yah is the contracted or shortened name of Yahweh. Hallelujah is transliterated in every language the same way—Hallelujah or praise the Lord. This call to praise the Lord is so essential to life’s purpose that it is the opening and closing line of Psalm 146150. The psalmist commands us to praise the Lord 13 times in six verses and every line of Psalm 150 begins with a call to praise the Lord, except the first line of verse six that declares let everything that has breath praise the Lord. God blesses man in Psalm 150 and man blesses God. This emphasis of God-centered worship and praise is so emphatic that though there are repeated calls to worship, there’s no place in this Psalm that really focuses on the worshippers who are to obey the commands. The only place where the worshiper is mentioned is when they are lumped together in verse six with everything that has breath. God is the subject and object of true worship. It's for Him and about Him. It's not about what you have and what you don’t have. It's not about what you’ve been through or are going to face. It's all about Him. Sir William Temple said it well when he said to worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God. He said it is to renew the mind by the truth of God. It is to purge the imagination by the beauty of God. It is to feed the heart by the word of God, and it is to submit the will to the purpose of God. In these six verses, the psalmist shows us four ways God orders worship. The Bible mentions two places where you ought to praise the Lord. First, you praise Him in the sanctuary (that’s the temple or the tabernacle and praise Him in His mighty heavens. The mighty heavens represent the place where the sun, moon, and stars dwell. God is to be praised from church to space. God deserves to be praised on earth and in heaven, locally and universally. Every chance you get God is worthy to be praised. Jesus is trying to teach us that worship is not a mythical interlude from the world. Worship is about real world issues like water, racism, and adultery. Jesus said the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. If this year you find yourself standing over the grave of a loved one, it's still a good place to give God praise. If you find yourself in a doctor’s office, that’s still a good place top give God praise. If you find yourself in an unemployment line, it is still a good place to give God praise. Wherever you are, He is still worthy of the praise. God orders a place of worship, but then God orders the purpose of worship. The people of Israel would read Psalm 150 and praise God for his mighty deeds to deliver and intervene and demonstrate faithfulness to Christians. But we Christians read an Old Testament text with New Testament eyes. In other words, we praise God because of what He has done for us. We praise Him as one essence in three persons. When you have nothing else to praise God for, you ought to praise God because He saved you and kept you. He is the one who has given us eternal life. If you could lose your salvation you would have lost it already. Some of us been have through enough in the previous

L.A. Focus/March 2017

Pastor H.B. Charles Jr.

MilEsTOnEs Bishop Joseph Walker Pacts With BET for “The Relevant Word”

Bishop Hezekiah Walker Snags $80 Million Real Estate Development Deal Grammy® Two-time Award-winning Gospel Singer Hezekiah Walker, has landed a $80 million project with New York City, to put low income housing and senior living on property he owns. The project will be completed by SLCE Architects, LLP and will include 241 units that will cover one full New York City block. In 1994, the Brooklyn, East New York property became the home of the of the Gospel Singers rehearsal spot. Renting a small portion of the property for rehearsal, it later became the Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church. After rapid growth, the singer found a larger facility to accommodate his congregation and after a few years they were able to purchase the entire property.

With the East New York section of Brooklyn becoming NYC’s hottest community, the Walker’s property is prime real estate. The property was vacant and abandoned for years until producers of the Netflix original series, “The Get Down” rented out the property for well over a year. The development of the property will consist of low income housing, retail commercial space and a community rental space, in which Walker hopes to open up a youth center and music school.

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Pastor: Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min Sunday School: 9:00 AM Early Worship: 7:30 AM Morning Worship: 10:00 Am Bible Study: Every Wednesday 12 (Noon) & 7:00 PM Radio: 7:00 PM (1st & 3rd Sunday) Station: KJLH

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 Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 450-0331 Pastor Rueben Ford

In Santa Monica

Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11am Bible Study: Thursday 6pm

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: 9am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Intercessory Prayer Thursday: 11:30pm - 12:30pm

year that you would have let go of God, but God didn’t let go of you. He’s great to keep you when you can’t keep yourself. If God was just a mediocre God, mediocre praise would be alright. If God was an average God, average would be acceptable, but because he’s a great God. The Bible says he is greatly to be praised. Your praise ought to match the level of his greatness. That’s what it means to give God the highest praise. If you know how great He is, it will show up not just how you worship, but how you walk when you leave church on Sunday morning. You will live in a way that says God is greater than my problems, greater than my sickness, greater than my troubles, greater than my broken heart, greater than my desires and greater than my ambitions or goals. Worship is meant to please God, not you. It's not

Beginning Sunday, March 5, Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, Nashville-based Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church and Presiding Bishop of Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship International, will become the featured minister of a new program, entitled “The Black on Word” Relevant Entertainment Television (BET. “I am so honored to be the featured minister for ‘The Relevant Word,’ and I’m extremely grateful to BET for giving me this national platform to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Bishop Walker. “Most importantly, I am eager to encourage listeners across the country to live in hope. Through Jesus Christ, we can come to view the uncertainties of life in a more positive light, believing that God has a greater purpose for us.”

In Pasadena Bethlehem Church 1550 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 794-5211 • F: (626) 794-6592 Pastor Christopher A. Bourne Sunday School: 9am Sunday Worship: 10am Tuesday Bible Study: 7pm 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: 10am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. 4:13 Spirit of Zion Fellowship Church In Van Nuys 10853 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 (805) 517-1907 • www.mtzionla.org Pastor E.V. Hill II Sunday Worship: 1pm Children's Church: 1pm

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

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

about meeting your needs, accomplishing your agenda or suiting your taste. God is both the subject and the object of worship. Music is not worship. Music is accompaniment for worship and when your worship is real it won't be dependent on instruments. The Bible says be filled with the spirit (Ephesians 5:18) and when you are filled with the spirit you will be speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Real praise to God is not to be cool, calm and collected. Everything you have is to be offered to God in grateful praise. God wants total praise. The fire ought to praise God, the mountains ought to praise God, the hills ought to praise God. Stuff without breath can praise God. If these can praise God, can’t you praise God for what He’s done for you?

Through the Storm

The Day Daryl “Chill” Mitchell’s Life Faded To Black

ost people experience life-altering change over time—a lot of time. That was hardly the case for rapper turned TV actor Daryl “Chill” Mitchell, who saw his life change dramatically in a matter of seconds. One minute it seemed he had it all—a rising profile and impressive screen credits including two successful TV series—“The John Laroquette Show” and “Veronica’s Closet”; a plum role in Disney’s then yet-to-be-released “Country Bears”; a loving wife (Carol) and growing family of three (now four) children. In the next minute, it all hung in the balance as a November 2001 motorcycle accident in which he nearly lost his life—left him a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. The tragic incident occurred in South Carolina where the actor had been visiting family. “My nephew had asked me to try his bike out,” Mitchell recalls. “I had been riding bikes since I was ten, but I just hit a bad spot in the road. My mistake was riding a bike at night on a road that I was not familiar with and I was by myself. What happened was I hit a curve and some loose gravel. The back tire spun out of control and I went flying. The bike landed on top of me.” He woke up three days later in the hospital paralyzed. His life, in the words of a classic Hollywood script, had faded to black. But Mitchell was determined not to let it stay that way. “I definitely went through a difficult process in the beginning, but I just let the reality of it hit me naturally. I was thinking okay what’s next,” Mitchell continues. “I am paralyzed but what do we have to do now because I have to get back to work and take care of my family. I never gave myself a second to feel sorry.” Admittedly, though, Mitchell’s outlook had been drastically altered. “Your priorities change. Family becomes everything and then too people become exposed and you have to deal with them and how they’ve changed for a minute. But I wouldn’t allow any of that make me doubt myself. It wasn’t like Hollywood stopped. They took notice and they were calling but the world keeps spinning.” What Mitchell had going for him was his incredible resolve, his comic wit and his endearing personality. It was just what the producers of the NBC hit series, “Ed” were looking for. They cast the Bronx-born actor on the spot for the role of Eli Cartwright Goggins III, supervising manager of Ed’s Stuckeyville bowling alley. He credits his resolve to his very religious mother, who raised he and his five siblings in church. “When I was going through my whole ordeal, she would just say to me ‘all of this is temporary, God’s got a plan’. And there’s no question about it, my faith in God and my beliefs definitely got me through.” Admittedly, the two year stint on “Ed” was a huge factor as well. “If this hadn't have come along at the time that it did, there's no telling where I would be. This show proved to me that I could still do what I love to do."

I definitely went through a difficult process in the beginning. I was thinking okay what’s next. I am paralyzed but what do we have to do now because I have to get back to work and take care of my family. I never gave myself a second to feel sorry.”

“

Today, Mitchell plays wheelchair bound investigative computer specialist Patton Plame on the CBS hit series, “NCIS: New Orleans” with Scott Bakula. By all accounts, Mitchell does not fit the classic stereotype of paraplegics and is hardly a victim off screen or on. “Just because you see, or a person might have a difference doesn't mean that they aren't smart or can't use their mind or they are not useful,” said Mitchell, who also uses the roles he takes on to dispel certain myths about paraplegics and to show yet another dimension. “People associate the wheelchair with being a liability instead of an asset. So when you come in and let everybody know I am just as human as the next person–I drink, I have sex–then the wheelchair starts disappearing. Ironically, a recent study by the Ruderman Family Foundation found that just five percent of television characters with a disability are played by an actor with a disability. “After I had my accident I realized there were so many levels of disability,” said the 51-year old actor who’s also lectured on diversity in the workplace and hiring people with disabilities. Mitchell began his show business career as a member of the rap group, Groove B. Chill. It was while shooting a video for their debut CD that the group met the Hudlin Brothers who cast them in “House Party”. After “House Party”, Mitchell appeared in “Boomerang”, “House Party 2”, “A Thin Line Between Love And Hate” and more recently “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Galaxy Quest”. Mitchell h a s

enjoyed his greatest success, however, on the small screen, working first as a regular on the short-lived NBC series "Here and Now" (1992-93), starring MalcolmJamal Warner before landing the regular role of lunch counter operator Dexter Walker on "The John Larroquette Show" (NBC, 1993-97) and going on to work in “Ed” and then in 2009 to be star alongside Michael Strahan in the short-lived TV series, “Brothers”. These days, with a co-starring role on the top franchise in prime time TV, Mitchell feels as if the work has paid off. Thinking back to the day his life was forever changed, Mitchell recalls telling his nephew, “just because this happened to me that doesn’t mean you have to be scared and stop riding. Anything can happen and it doesn’t have to be from a bike.” “I see a lot of people taking things for granted and I am sure I was one of them. A lot of people procrastinate and put off for tomorrow what they could do today, but like Martin Lawrence said, “Life,—you’ve gotta ride it till the wheels fall off.” And that’s just how I feel. You never know what tomorrow holds.”

FIRST LADY PRIDE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

March is Women’s History Month. Join L.A. Focus as we celebrate First Ladies in and around L.A. Share pictures of your first lady and tell us why you love her using the handle @lafocusnews. #lafocus #firstladypride #ilovemyfirstlady

DAWN STROZIER Comtributor

“Dance Your Way To Fitness” While growing up in Cleveland, my mother owned a dance studio. Named after my brother, sister and myself, the Carla Mekall Thomas Dance Studio was where she taught all the neighborhood kids how to dance. This is where we learned ballet, jazz, modern jazz, tap and even gymnastics. In the summertime, this was the place to be. I really looked forward to Saturdays when my mother loaded up the car with as many kids as possible and headed to the studio where we’d dance our little hearts out. I had no idea my love for dance would come to play the major role that it has in my life today. Dance is currently sweeping the nation as one of the biggest fitness craves around. It has become one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise and has a large number of health benefits. Dance is a great overall workout. Research shows that dancing can keep both your mind and body healthy as you age. It helps strengthen and tone the body, increases stamina and flexibility, improves balance and posture, promotes weight loss and raises self-confidence. If you haven’t taken a Zumba class you are missing the best party in town. Zumba fitness is a Latin inspired, cardio-dance workout that uses music and choreographed dance steps to create a fitness party atmosphere. While many of the types of music and dance featured in the program are LatinAmerican inspired, classes also include everything from jazz and African beats to country and hip-hop and pop too.

Zumba isn’t just a workout, it’s a party that you never want to leave. Becoming a Zumba instructor was one of the best career decisions I’ve made. Through Zumba I’ve been introduced to many different forms of dance including; salsa, merengue, cha-cha and cumbia. It has allowed me to help clients in every level of fitness. It has also gives me the opportunity to workout with friends and family in ways that are not possible with traditional forms of exercise. Dancing with family and friends has been one of the most personally rewarding aspects of my career. Another extremely popular dance fitness craze is Hip-hop dance. Like Zumba, Hip-hop dance is a fun and effective way to burn calories and get your heart pumping. It’s a high-impact cardio workout that engages the entire body. It increases stamina and endurance, tones the abdominals, strengthens the core, builds muscle tone and promotes weight loss. Hip-hop dance is set in a group fitness format that translates a variety of calisthenic exercises into exciting Hip-hop dance moves. I teach an old school Hip-hop class that my clients absolutely love. The familiar tunes and dance moves allow them to show their stuff while working hard at executing dance steps and burning the most calories possible. The range of movements required in Hip-hop dance has its participants burning off unwanted calories in no time. Unlike Zumba, Hip-hop dance offers beginner, intermediate and advance class options. I love the flexibility of Hiphop. By taking ongoing, advanced classes provided by other teachers I am able to stay current with all the latest dances moves while getting a great personal cardio workout as well. I try to take a Hip-hop class at least once per

On The Money continued from page 9

walked in with my family and sat down. Someone from behind recognized me from the show and once word started to spread across the whole crowd [that I was there] and my family had to help and escort me out. For my family it was validation. So many times I’d been told to have a plan B and to see the adulation allows them to say, ‘he’s going to be okay,— this is where he was meant to be’. I believe they always knew that but hoping that it would work out they had their own fears. It was a struggle and sacrifice to put in all that work, and just seeing my nephew, my dad and family be so proud, and to see the joy this show brings and how excited people are about it. Even when we are at dinner and people keep coming up to the table, it catches me off guard. I’m like, it’s only me.

If you owe only a small amount but wait more than 60 days to file a tax return, the minimum failure-to-file penalty is the smaller of $205 or 100% of the unpaid tax. What you may not have to worry about is the $200 average penalty tied to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The IRS had required taxpayers to prove they had coverage on line 61 on their 1040s, but an executive order signed by President Trump has changed all that. The IRS says it still maintains the option to follow up with those who elect not to indicate their coverage status, although it's not clear what circumstances might trigger a follow up. For more information on filing your taxes, visit www.irs.gov.

L.A. Focus/January 2017

One On One continued from page 13

ADVERTisE WiTH Us ADs As lOW As $99 FOR MORE inFORMATiOn, CAll 310.677.6011

week. It keeps me feeling young, vibrant, healthy and alive. When it comes to fitness, this unique style of dance tones the obliques, quads, glutes and more. There’s basically no reason not to get your twerk on. Twerking is a combination of twisting and jerking your booty. It’s the latest dance trend currently going viral. Fitness experts tout Twerk and Tone as a fun routine that can be included into any dance workout session. I will definitely be including it into one of my own dance workout classes. I recently took a Booty Burn Dance Workout class with, the one and only Kearia LaShea. Her class was great. I learned to move in ways I never thought possible. If you like to dance and shake your booty like there’s no tomorrow, Twerk and Tone is the perfect workout for you. It doesn’t take much to get a good workout when twerking. It's small, concentrated and controlled moves makes your body work harder. I have to admit, twerking was lots of fun and even made me feel sexy. Learning to do something I never thought possible was really cool too. Although I wouldn’t rely solely on twerking as my exercise regimen--personally, I love lifting weights and toning my arms too—I’ve made plans with Kearia Lashae to host an upcoming class very soon. I promise to keep you posted. There are many forms of dance to try. All of them will keep you in good health while being lots of fun. Research shows any dance which requires you to learn specific steps actually increases brain power while improving memory. Dancing has even been known to aid in reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Remember, in order to make it stick you must make fitness an enjoyable and fun addition to your lifestyle.

an inability to distribute educational resources justly and equitably. Similarly, title programs from the Higher Education Act, like Title IX, protect women and other vulnerable populations from the threat of sexual harassment discrimination. When pressed at her confirmation hearing about whether she agreed to uphold the 2011 Title IX guidance of the Office of Civil Rights, which is located in the Department of Education, in relation to sexual assault on campus, DeVos equivocated: “I would look forward to working with you and your colleagues and understand the range of opinions and understand the issues from the higher-ed institutions that are charged with resolving these and addressing them.” DeVos didn’t say enough, which is a tell-tale sign that she won’t do enough. We must all demand the right answer. Further, undergrads and graduate students at HBCUs are more than collegians. They are immigrants, women and citizens harassed by police. They are people who need affordable health care and protection from police. They are people

who need their voting rights safeguarded. President Frederick himself is an immigrant. He also has several international students. Be clear: Resisting DeVos is bigger than college. She must hear that all black lives matter even when the photo ops—and cellphone footage—disappear. It should come as no surprise that Frederick took the meeting, as most college presidents would. But the school’s administration should also stand by its students in protest. The Trump administration knows that HBCUs represent black people, and throwing HBCUs a bone won’t make the needs of “the blacks” go away. DeVos and others may come to historically black campuses prowling about for favor, but we have to let her know: Trump-like deal-making isn’t required— justice is. Andre Perry is an education leader, author and social commentator working to improve education in K-12 and post-secondary institutions.For more information on Perry, visit www.drandreperry.com.

InGoodTaste THIS MONTH’S GUEST CHEF

Chef B a b e tt e her current until she met ed eis rt ve ad he prepared a he is her best husband and e’s sh y e was sa to eal for her. Sh ment. Proud that vegan m s es gu ly rd ha 66, one would hooked. r. Truth is, she trigued and “I became in by looking at he ur e yo , ht rig t ea I got into th believes if you that’s when to d te an w it. I ct e body will refle kitchen becaus is proof posimy favorite food Chef Babette make some of s pe ho e memsh ge sa od as what I re tive. It is a mes ear- taste as go t-y t the gh ou ei ith r w he g d them tastin re to spread with be au st re based gars, animal e of refined su old, Inglewoodus t no n es. I ve ha t, a d or preservativ rant Stuff I Ea ho products an w and e os od th fo t of bu lot only for vegans threw away a g. . tin od en fo rim just like good just kept expe bette didn’t s, she started Ironically, Ba After a few year geles g. at City of An start out cookin could catering and r e ve sh ne e I er , th up “Growing urch. From Ch ok co ant gi ed a en lik rchased cook. I never ev her husband pu if rl gi rve y se sa ld ld ou ou w cart and w ing. My mother e tchen hot dog ap ki Ag is of t th lo g in in t on the park you don’t ge od fo epr ne to ni le t be ab . Then ristian Center then you will no husband.” Ch ur her husband yo d r fo an l e ea sh m o, pare a st- years ag re te in t n’ as w But Babette

e Wild Rice favorites includ nt ra au st re a Smothered decided to open e is Tacos, Sh e. in tos, Kale is ri cu ur r B sadillas, to share thei ue Q ite sp nut de t that chilada Pie, a quick to point ou is Greens, En ul od so fo c ni e ga th d an or the fact that s- burger, an is cu t r Ea he I of f t uf platter. St healthy, mos od fo t ke ar . vegans North M tomers are not located at 114 e er 1th 67 ) 10 in (3 ood “They come Street in Inglew en Tuesday and texture is e op st is ta e d us an ca 15 be 01 an m hu s of the rday from 12 the key in term through Satu in us of e os ly th Sundays from pallet, especial p.m.-8 p.m. and America.” noon to 6 p.m. d customer Specialties an

ait Avocado Parf

coconut oil ½ cup of organic ctar ne e : Ingredients cup of agav ados (bright ¾ oc av e siz lt sa a ium 4 med ½ tsp of se green but ripe) 1 tbsp of Vanilla ce jui ezed lemon ½ cup,fresh sque the d put them into Instructions: the avocados an m fro on s t ed en se m e ch th ta Remove e S blade at ou want to use th n’t food processer. (Y smooth). If you do ly al re it r to make r. de en bl a in the food processo t them essor, you can pu have a food proc t oil and agave nu co co , ice ju Add in the lemon a salt to e to taste). Add se nectar. (Add agav nilla. va e th ng di fore ad taste as well be ocessor on Turn the food pr til it’s un and process th. oo sm d creamy an it. fru th wi Serve

SavingGrace

L.A. Focus/March 2017

y life is sustained by the grace of my good God. As my grandmother would say, my God is a good God today, every day and all the time. I know that I have this job with the grace of my God. I woke up this morning by the grace of my good God. Every good thing that happens to me is by the grace of my good God. Everything that my mind deems to me as being bad is given to me by the grace of God for me to learn something from. If I don’t learn it, that’s me. It’s not Him.” If one didn’t know any better they’d think they were listening to Bishop James Greenleaf instead of the 60year old steely-voiced baritone actor who has portrayed him since June 21, 2016 when the series’ two-night opener delivered Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network its best ratings to date, scoring over three million viewers. That Keith David can relate to James Greenleaf is an understatement. Fact is, being a real-life pastor once crossed his mind. “I believe the pastor has to be that man who walks a different walk and I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do that. And I wasn’t going to be double dipping.” Then again, David hasn’t done so bad for himself. Someone told him very early on that the race was not for the swift, but for those who can endure. And endure he has in a career that has spanned three decades in Hollywood and included work in such blockbuster films as "Armageddon", "Platoon", "Road House", "Dead Presidents", "There's Something About Mary", "Barbershop", "Head of State" (with Chris Rock), "Crash", "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", "Transporter 2", "First Sunday", "All About Steve" and "The Princess & The Frog". Aside from Greenleaf, he’s been featured in more than seven TV series— including “Community” and “The Bible” and his stage work includes a recent stint at the Mark Taper Forum in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, directed by Phylicia Rashad. "You have a lot of sprinters who make a great movie here and have a big splash and their career is then over," says David, who views himself as more of a marathon runner. "I consider myself among a great breed of character actors who endure. It doesn’t mean we don’t get to play lead roles because we do. But even when I’m playing a lead part, I’m still a character." Because of his affinity for the church as well as the cast and crew, the role in “Greenleaf” is close to his heart. “I’m working with a phenomenal cast, great writers—great combination and having Oprah as a producer and her vision for television and her being so supportive of this project makes it not really a job,” David says. “It’s a gift. “This is special,” he continues, “because we all want to make it

Keith David

happen and there’s a different kind of alchemy that happens when everyone is on the same page and when the set remains about the work and we also socialize with each other too. It’s a wonderful thing.” Each episode for David brings an opportunity to tell more stories. “And the wonderful thing as a whole is that this is a family drama,” David continues. “We haven’t explored the fields of affluent black families and especially when the family business happens to be the church. I look at Greenleaf as a sort of Dynasty meets Empire meets Blue Bloods. It’s all family drama, family business, affluence and how that is born with the human spirit.” A love for acting came early. "I knew I wanted to be an actor when I was 2," David notes. "I also wanted to be a minister, a lawyer, a bank president and a pediatrician. As an actor, I could be all those things. "Theatre in the Greek tradition actually started in the churches—also in the African tradition. So, the theatre for me has always been a very sacred place, filled with spirit, not religious necessarily, but very spiritual." But for David the connection is clear. "God comes before everything I do and everything I'm able to do I am able to through Him. The only credit that I can take is to try to be available to the opportunities that come before me. But I have no control over what those opportunities are." That part of it wasn't so easy for him to reconcile at first. "I used to get very anxious," David recalls. "My very first film was "The Thing" and I thought after getting some decent reviews I was going to have a life in the movies, but I didn’t work in film again for four years until "Platoon." "Nobody's promised a life i n

this business," he continues. "I'm fortunate enough to get paid to do this, but on some level, I’m compelled to do it, whether I'm paid or not. " Singing is the other great passion in his life. "I was a singer before I was an actor," states the twice-married 60-year old native New Yorker who grew up singing in church and in 1992 received a Tony Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, for his performance in Jelly's Last Jam.

God comes before everything I do and everything I'm able to do I am able to through Him. The only credit that I can take is to try to be available to the opportunities that come before me. But I have no control over what those opportunities are.”

“

"I used to sing with the All-Borough Chorus in junior high school and I also used to sing in synagogues and at Bar Mitzvahs. I just liked to sing and whenever I got an opportunity to do it, I did it and at this point in my life, I want to sing more and I am finding more opportunities to do that. I have a club act here in Atlanta. The goal is to get a CD out by the end of the year.” Constantly evolving as an artist is what prompted his initial move to the West Coast in 1988 and for the next decade and a half would move back and forth between California and New York until settling in Los Angeles with his wife, Dionne, who is also an actress. Though always up for a challenge, David refuses to do roles that conflict with his Christian beliefs or uphold long-held stereotypes about African-American men. "There are things I absolutely will not do. One of the things I won’t do is a black man as some stereotypical idea that has no redeeming quality and perpetuates what you’re always thinking a black man is." Thus far, he states unequivocally that he has neither complaints nor regrets in a career that has spanned the Broadway stage, more television and voiceover work than he can recount, video games and documentaries like “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson”, which earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. "And the fat lady hasn’t sung yet. I’ve got miles to go before I sleep and I’m sure that there’s plenty of stuff for me to do, some of which will be of my own creation, and the rest from other people’s creations, but every time I go to work there is inherent in the job an opportunity to bring some joy into somebody’s life.”