Suite Life SoCal Magazine Winter 2021 Issue

C O N C I E R G E

M A G A Z I N E

Suite Life SoCal

WINTER 2021

+ malina moye

NEW YEAR NEW YOU ISSUE

AWARD-WINNING GUITARIST

An Interview With Chincie Mouton On Doing Business With The Super Bowl Celebrity Stylist Rhonda O'Neal Creating Opportunities For More Diversity In Hollywood Entrepreneur & Mentor Ken Calvin His Passion, Pain and Progress

don b. welch

HOLLYWOOD PLAYWRIGHT/DIRECTOR JAN/FEB/MAR $6.95 US

Wine & Culture with Roots & Vines Wine Founder Jennifer White

Better Than Expected: Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine Owner Robert Smith

Slab City and Salvation Mountain Pandemic Dilemma

Suite Life SoCal

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47

Contents 16 SOCAL LIFE

26 SUITECAUSES

Living in a Virtual World

Nehemiah Project LA and Film Festival

COVID-19 has changed all of our lives, but it’s a shared experience the entire world will have forever.

STORY BY SHEILA MCKINNON AND MICHELE ERVIN

STORY BY KALAISHA TOTTY

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 26

29 SUITEBIZ

Slab City: Pandemic Dilemma A brief history and rst-hand look at Slab City and Salvation Mountain. How its residents are dealing with the Pandemic by coming together, helping each other, leaning on their community leaders, and using technology to communicate with each other in the times of social distancing.

STORY BY EDDIE TRUJILLO GRIJALVA PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK

 18

Ken Calvin: His Passion, Pain and Progress Bakerseld-native, Ken Calvin has had to navigate and adjust his business ventures and mentorship in the wake of COVID-19. Despite setbacks, Calvin has found a way to continue doing what he loves while impacting people along the way.

STORY BY FAITH PETRIE PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEN CALVIN

 22

Full-bodied, Powerfully Sophisticated, and Distinctly African – Wine & Culture with Roots & Vines Wine Founder Jennifer White “When you think of wine, we (Roots & Vines Wine) want you to think of #blackgirlmagic. We want to have such a presence that you don't think of a French man when you think about wine; you think of a Black woman."

STORY BY ASHLEY YANCEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA BELANDRES-ROOT

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Better Than Expected: Restaurant Owner Robert Smith on How COVID-19 Affected His Business Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine owner Robert Smith uses lessons learned from 12 years of business to adapt to COVID-19 shutdowns.

STORY BY QUINCI LEGARDYE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA BERRYMON

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39 ENTERTAINMENT JANUARY COVER FEATURE

Don B. Welch: The Man, The Gift, His Story On the East Coast, he's known as a singer. On the West Coast, he's known as a playwright turned lm director and producer. Though highly regarded and quite accomplished in Hollywood, what singer, actor, writer, playwright, and author Don B. Welch really wants to be known as is a Black man who cares deeply about the stories Black people have lived and the images Black people are fed.

36 How Local and Diverse Businesses Support the Super Bowl: An Interview with Chincie Mouton Chincie Mouton tells Suite Life SoCal about her role at LASEC and her work connecting local and diverse businesses with opportunities to contract at high prole events, including Super Bowl LVI. STORY BY QUINCI LEGARDYE PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION

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Beyond The Combs Academy: Celebrity Stylist Rhonda O'Neal Is Creating Opportunities For More Diversity in Hollywood While the year 2020 has crippled many businesses and shut down others permanently, hairstylist Rhonda O'Neal felt this was the perfect time to launch a business, create opportunities and more diversity on TV and lm sets in Hollywood.

STORY BY JEANNIE JONES PHOTOS: BEYOND THE COMBS ACADEMY

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STORY BY MISCHA DUFFIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAI BYRD

57 SUITE ESSENTIALS

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3 Virtual Platforms to Consider

MARCH COVER FEATURE

With so many virtual platforms available, and Zoom leading the way, businesses can use this guide to compare three additional options.

Malina Moye: The Woman, The Gift, Her Story

STORY BY KALAISHA TOTTY

When Minnesota felt too limiting and average for the left-handed, upside down playing guitarist, Malina Moye made her way to Los Angeles and onto the world's stage as an award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist —who, in August 2020, was named alongside musical giants: Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Otis Rush, as one of the 13 Most Iconic Left-Handed Guitarists of All-Time.

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STORY BY MISCHA DUFFIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISAIAH-MAYS

The Suite List

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IN EVERY ISSUE From the Publisher

8

From the Editor

 10

Contributors

 12

featuring Event, Media and Marketing Professionals SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

5

from the publisher

Forging ahead This time last year, as we released our Winter 2020 Issue with our cover feature, L.A. Tourism & Convention Board CEO Ernest Wooden Jr., we were lled with much anticipation for the outlook for 2020. It was to be a year of vision and new discoveries.

Surprisingly, it was to be a year lled with so much more than we could ever have imagined. It was a year of great pain, sorrow, worry, struggle and strife. It was also a year of overcoming challenges and breakthroughs in centuries of social injustices that was created with the birth of this country.

So here we are again, asking what the vision for 2021 will be.

From all that I have seen on social media and talking with friends and family, it appears to be a year of uncertainty but mixed with a mountain of HOPE. We believe that we will be able to turn the corner from what COVID-19 brought us and the triing leadership that allowed it to fester.

For Suite Life SoCal, we are looking forward to regaining our footing to forge ahead with establishing our foothold in the Southern California and beyond by crafting a unique and fullling niche media company with a concierge magazine, interactive website and timely community engagements to better connect with our audience.

I want to thank my contributing “Suite Team” of writers and photographers for continuously bringing their best to every issue. Moreover, I want to express my deepest appreciation for my sister-in-spirit and managing editor, Angela Jackson, for being the cornerstone of pulling each issue together every quarter. It's a great feat that I cannot possibly do alone.

In this issue, we are honored to be blessed with two cover features: Hollywood playwright/director Don. B. Welch and award-winning guitarist Malina Moye. Welch will help us commemorate our New Year, New You theme of this issue and Moye will be our highlight in March—in partnership with our friends at We Luvv Rare Grooves—in celebration of Women's History Month. We also thank all of our featured participants in helping to make this a tremendously informative and interesting edition.

We hope that you will be inspired to be your best you in 2021.

Stay Suite!

Sarah 8

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

Sarah R. Harris Publisher-in-Chief

@suitelifesocal

#suitelifesocal

SUITELIFESOCAL.COM SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | SPRING | SPRING 20202020 7

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from the Editor

Being comfortable with being uncomfortable Congratulations! You made it through a very challenging year. But more importantly, you are in a position to scale your tallest mountain. One of the greatest gifts I received from 2020 was becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Why is being uncomfortable a gift? Allow me to explain.

Imagine you were born into a family and everything was perfect. You had the perfect mother and father. You lived in the perfect house with perfect siblings, and everything went your way. There was never a lack of or a need for anything. Imagine year after year this was your truth.

Now imagine a world that was perfect. Never a need and never a want. Imagine this world in the 1400s before the industrial revolution—before mechanical devices.

While this world would be beautiful and peaceful, this world would be stagnant. Since there was no need, there would be no new inventions. If every need was met, there would be no need to think outside the box to create a car, a Ferris wheel, or a ship. Our challenges reveal need, and our needs create an opportunity for creative minds to create solutions.

Angela R. Jackson, MS Managing Editor @ajgrateful2be

In every story in our Winter 2021 Issue, there are instances of challenges that made our featured heroes and heroines who they are today. Their discomfort allowed them to be the comfort for others, to be the solution for another. I say bring on every challenge for each of us to answer the call to be our best selves.

In a perfect world, life would be one-dimensional and, in many ways, stale. Without challenges to make us uncomfortable, we would never recognize the greatness within. In our Creator's inď€ nite wisdom, He created opportunities for each of us to be uncomfortable so we can become our best selves. With this understanding, I simply say, "The Best Is Yet To Come," and you are in a position to receive your best life simply because you made it through the uncomfortableness of 2020.

I know 2021 is your year. Walk in it.

Love & Light,

Angela 10

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

authorangelarena.com

@_angelarena

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SoCal Life | COVID-19

Living in a Virtual World STORY BY KALAISHA TOTTY

A

baby shrieks over the phone while Lakisha Joseph explains how she divides the house when her children are in virtual learning.

“All four kids share one room, and the three oldest are ne doing their school in their room," she said, "but the youngest I have to put in the living room so I can keep an eye on him. He has a hard time focusing."

Lakisha is a mother of ve children, including three stepchildren and an 8-month-old baby. She's also the homemaker, a student, and now an educator with virtual learning in place.

Our homes have become boardrooms, breakrooms, classrooms, and event centers. The world has adapted to life with COVID-19, but it wasn't easy.

Now eight months into our "new normal," Lakisha's daily life isn't seamless. "We don't have a routine," she said. "With each kid's schedule having different start and end times, most of the time, they have their breakfast during their lunch breaks."

Her children are still adapting to virtual learning, but it's been a challenge for them. They miss their friends. They don't have the same motivation as before.

“I'm running back and forth taking care of all the kids and cooking and cleaning," she said. "I still have to nd time to do my own school work.”

Virtual learning and telecommuting have been a challenge. But for Jennifer Huang, the change has shown her a new side of parenthood. "I was ready to go back to work," she said, "and he was really good in preschool and had a lot of afterschool programs that would make it easier for me to work full time." But e-learning was a new challenge, and she felt her son needed her to be there.

“It's really helped our relationship," she said. "I didn't want to stay home before, so this forced me to be a more active parent."

"Being an educator is hard," Jennifer explained. Their rst couple of weeks were difcult.

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LAKISHA JOSEPH AND FAMILY

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JENNIFER HUANG AND SON

"He yelled, 'Mom! Where's my glue stick?' and I was like, that's my job now?" She said. "But he sees mom as a problem solver now.”

In some ways, virtual learning has helped Lakisha too.

Lakisha's family lives in Los Angeles near the University of Southern California, but almost all of her children attend Long Beach schools.

“I was worried about taking the baby on the bus and trains to take all the kids to school, but now I don't have to worry about it," she said. "And Long Beach Unied School District made it such a smooth transition."

Jennifer agreed but added she understands that families who don't have access to many resources and might not be having a good experience. She said to consider using libraries and museums with online resources and use those activities to break up the lull of schoolwork.

"Think larger when it comes to education and have fun," she said. "For families struggling with the transition, reach out to other families, especially those with older kids, for support and ideas and suggestions. That helped me."

“Breathe,” Lakisha offers with a laugh. She urged them to keep track of school schedules to keep children accountable.

"But take it easy," she said, "and don't overdo it.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ????????

LOS ANGELES, CA

BEN GLEIB

Businesses have had their challenges with transitioning to virtual as well.

Ben Gleib's and Steve Hofstetter’s comedy careers were halted in March 2020 due to COVID-19.

Live entertainment ceased, but Steve and Ben launched a new company in response to the pandemic. "I had to cancel my upcoming tour. Everyone we knew lost their jobs," Steve said.

Ben thought, “what if we made an online comedy club and invite the audience to engage and use their mics?"

After talks between Ben and Steve, they came up with Nowhere Comedy Club, a Los Angeles-based company that's 100 percent virtual.

"I canceled my tour [on] March 11th, and that weekend we tested the live stream," Steve said. "April 6th was our rst live show."

Ben credits desperation for the quick turnaround.

Seven months later, they've hosted over 400 shows and made thousands in prots. "There's nothing like the energy of a full room, but this is as close as you can get to it," Ben said.

The most manageable parts of the change were unexpected. Selling tickets was one of them.

A lot of people needed this outlet, Steve said.

"People who have COVID-19, have this experience to lift their spirits," said Andrew Gioia, lead showroom manager for Nowhere Comedy Club.

Zoom, the platform that Nowhere Comedy Club uses, allows people to watch from hospital beds and from all over the world. For those with outside phobias, they can watch from the comfort of their homes, Steve noted.

“So many niche audiences can be reached now," Ben said. "They get to be a part of the experience."

They told the story of a 16-year-old boy in Serbia that watched their show.

STEVE HOFSTETTER

"He was hiding under the covers, so his parents didn't nd out," Steve said with a laugh.

In another story, they talked about an audience member's mother that was in the hospital.

"The daughter wasn't able to visit the hospital, but they attended the show, and unfortunately, her mom passed," Ben said. "It was one of their last moments together, and it was full of joy. The daughter is pregnant and told us she'd name her son Benjamin Steven after us."

At the heart of it, it's just comedy, Ben said.

Nowhere Comedy Club plans to keep the virtual experience a part of their shows post-pandemic.

Future plans also include using their platform to aid other comedy clubs.

"Some comedians are challenged with transitioning, so we built a state-of-the-art studio in my home, and we can help performers produce their shows," Ben said.

“

I canceled my tour [on] March 11th, and that weekend we tested the live stream...

April 6th was our rst live show.”

They've been approached by other comedy clubs asking Nowhere to stream their shows. Once the pandemic is over, they'd love to expand capacity at clubs using their online platform.

COVID-19 disrupted everyone's lives, no question about it. Unexpectedly, though, the pandemic offers an endless ceiling for creative solutions.

So whether you're taking on being an educator, becoming a more active parent, or inventing new ways to reach your consumers, you're not in this alone. Your support network is global. Let's power through these uncertain times together. + SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

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SuiteSpot

SLAB C

Somewhere down in the SoCal hinterlands, between the Salton Sea and the Mexican border, there is a sun-beaten patch of desert that enjoys folkloric status, Slab City. Formerly belonging to the Military, it was a Marine Installation called Dunlap. Though not for long, the base was closed after it was used for training troops during World War II and given back to the State of California in 1961.

Eventually, all the military structures were torn down, leaving only the foundation slabs on the old installation, giving the place its name. The area became a favorite wintering spot for "Snowbirds"—usually retirees from the Northern U.S. or Canada- who ocked there every year. Some of its rst "permanent" residents were thought to be eld laborers, though, for some reason, it became a year-round haven for artists, writers, dissenters, and plain old eccentrics; the Military never really left the area either.

The Sonoran Desert bloomed an off-grid community that has so far stood the test of time. Slab City and its iconic Salvation Mountain, created as a passion project by Leonard 18

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

Knight in 1989, have become a place of legend and myth in the minds of most people around the world. Where there are no laws, no bills, and a person is free to claim a homestead, park your R.V. there, walk down the road and see Leonard working on his ever-changing mountain.

The truth is a bit less glamorous. Leonard has since passed in 2014, but not before putting 30 years of work into his mountain of God and love. It was named as a National Folk-Art site in 2000. In 2002 the Congress named it an ofcial National Treasure; it also made cameos in video games and movies, most notably, "Into the Wild." The Slabs and their famous mountain are introduced to most people through the

B CITY

NILAND, CA

STORY BY EDDIE TRUJILLO GRIJALVA

Pandemic Dilemma

A storm and a rainbow descend upon California's famous Salvation Mountain outside of Slab City.

PHOTO CREDIT: ZAKZEINERT | ADOBE STOCK

internet and social media. YouTube has made stars of the mountain and the desert community, which is a blessing and a curse, especially for its permanent residents in today's world of Pandemic.

Yes, the Coronavirus' deadly tendencies have reached the land of ideals and freedom, and therein lies the problem. How do you explain to people used to living off-grid in "the last free place in America" to social distance and stay in-doors? The residence, accustomed to living free, have created traditions like "The Range," a music venue. Every Saturday night, people from the Slabs and surrounding Imperial Valley communities would come out, get together and listen to live Range music all

An art tower in the East Jesus area of Slab City.

PHOTO CREDIT: NATHAN | ADOBE STOCK

night. Musicians from all over the world play, and you could meet anyone in this place, from artists, Rastafarians to Navy Seals. It's been described as "one of the coolest venues in the world." Saying goodbye to this venue is huge for residents.

Their tourism-based economy and semi-nomadic lifestyles make the thought of the Slabs going into a lockdown about as unimaginable as snow in the desert. As unimaginable as it was, social distancing was attempted. You could go on social media on one of the many Slab City community pages and see the local businesses attempting to notify patrons. A sincere effort was put forth, but in "the last free place in America," some birds are too wild and colorful to cage.

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SuiteSpot

Leonard Knights painted Salvation Mountain on Beal Road outside of Niland, California PHOTO CREDIT: MelissaMN | ADOBE STOCK

Entrance to Slab City Slab City.

PHOTO CREDIT: NATHAN | ADOBE STOCK

 Painted truck near Leonard Knights painted Salvation Mountain on Beal Road outside of Niland, California PHOTO CREDIT: MelissaMN | ADOBE STOCK

The times I've spent out in this wild place, with artwork in every nook and cranny, was at the homestead of a childhood friend, Abel Barraza -- a man who raised a family out there and knew the meaning of struggle. In the very beginning of the Pandemic, before we knew the seriousness of the thing, it was still the free place I was used to. Realization set in when Salvation Mountain and the Range Stage closed. No more Saturday nights. They tried to adapt; to this day, "The Range Underground" shows online Saturday nights.

The closings were shocking, but not a huge change due to the Valley's brutal heat; Slab summers are usually quiet. The real question was: would the tourists and snowbirds return during the fall and winter "money" seasons? It's an essential question to the permanent residents. While talking with some of the community leaders, Wanda Whitlock and Andra Slaburbia, the answer was "yes." They are coming in droves.

Salvation Mountain even opened back up with the rest of the county.

Ms. Whitlock, who wears many hats in the community and had just nished erecting a free water tank in front of their place with her friend Jerry "the water guy," told me, "The snowbirds that come in are being really good about selfquarantining [for] 14 days." Which makes sense seeing that they're an older population, more concerned with their health and that of others.

Though speaking with Slaburbia, she let me in on what 20

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

she called "Andra's little theory," saying: "The Slabs have been largely spared from the virus, for some reason. There are many people, the ATV types, who don't wear masks or social distance. We think it's due to the warm climate and the fact that most gatherings are outside in the open-air." Then she expressed the fear that the winter would force the masses inside to conned spaces and turn this place into the next super-spreader. She seemed to be mentally preparing herself for the worst.

No matter what happens, this place is as unique in the world as are its people. I am sure Slab City will endure this Pandemic like they endure all things with self-reliance and toughness, but it won't be easy. Whatever your stance on personal liberties and mask-wearing, it should be recognized that there are real people here who care about life and take their freedoms seriously.

If you nd yourself in the area in need or just want to donate, the City of Niland has monthly food drives at the Niland Chambers. Whitlock can be contacted through the many Slab City community pages or by calling (760) 442-2019 to receive donations of daily necessities, food, and water.

Slaburbia can also be contacted through the Slab City community pages to donate pet food, pet toys, and even vaccines for her free spay and neutering clinics for the many pets of the Slabs. Donations can also be given through slabdogsunited.org or their sister organization S.O.A.R. +

SoCal Life | FACES WE LOVE

ENTREPRENEUR & MENTOR

Ken Calvin HIS PASSION, PAIN & PROGRESS STORY BY FAITH PETRIE

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While growing up, once the football season ended for Calvin, he always had another sport in rotation, keeping himself busy with multiple hobbies. This posture allowed him to quickly pivot from professional football to giving back to his community. "One of my favorite sayings is, ‘every day you wake up, [you have] got to prove the world wrong’," Calvin said. "It's up to us to wake up every day, knowing that you have the ability to defy every non-believer that you come across."

With most of Calvin's work requiring a hands-on approach, the impact of COVID-19 has hindered many areas of his professional life. Stay-at-home orders halted campuses across America, which in turn, momentarily stopped school athletics—the subject matter of his biweekly sports report television show, Renegade Report, viewed on the Bakerseld College website at www.gogades.com.

Those same sports, formerly an escape for the children Calvin mentored, were ripped away from them with no warning, something he shared was "90% of the things that [the kids used] as coping skills." Group outings were difcult, as facilities were closed due to the looming threat of the virus.

"That was probably the most disappointing thing from our mentorship perspective, is the fact that it's going to make our job ten times harder as mentors to get kids to stay motivated, being that there's nothing for them to do."

His company, U.N.I.F.Y., was also at a loss, with one of its main focuses being the entertainment industry. To rectify this, Calvin and his team developed TGX Live, an entertainment streaming platform they have used to offer their participants in U.N.I.F.Y. access to virtual entertainment resources.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEN CALVIN

W

hen most people ask Ken Calvin what he does, he usually chuckles and asks them how much time they have. Calvin has done it all, from professional football and working in sports media broadcasting to social work with 20 years of experience under his belt. He's worked a lifetime worth of jobs, and as of now, there's no stopping anytime soon.

His work as a youth center administrator in Bakerseld, CA, and CEO of Universal Network International Family of Youth LLC (U.N.I.F.Y.), a sports, music, and lm development company, couldn't sound any more polarizing, and yet, at its root, all of his business ventures serve as a catalyst to bettering his community.

As a mentor to teens in his hometown of Bakerseld, Calvin has used every facet of his life and career to give back to the place that raised him. “It's just a collective effort of positive energy and taking everything that [my] community hands me and using it to inspire youth to do the same things."

Calvin said that a common saying growing up was, "We get it out the soil," a testament to not only the thriving agricultural background of the city, but also the mentality of those who live there too. While Calvin mentioned the unfavorable stigmas surrounding Bakerseld, commonly characterized as rural and crime-ridden, he noted that those attributes pushed residents to make the most of their lives. To many, including Calvin, sports became a safe haven.

For Calvin, his passion for football led him to the NFL, but as soon as the door opened, it quickly closed. Due to an injury in his senior year of college, Calvin was forced to sit out his rookie year, missing his chance at his dream, but opening the door to his destiny.

BAKERSFIELD, CA

“

One of my favorite sayings is, ‘every day you wake up, [you have] got to prove the world wrong’...It's up to us to wake up every day, knowing that you have the ability to defy every non-believer that you come across.”

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SoCal Life | FACES WE LOVE According to Calvin, “TGX Live was the rst to offer live streaming concerts and featured artist with a [virtual platform].” While Calvin and his team may have led the way it is clear others shared similar visions on how to pivot. "You know, [it was] denitely different," Calvin said. "It wasn't something where you're making a million dollars based on starting it."

This felt especially true once other companies began creating similar platforms. Still, Calvin maintains his "go get 'em" attitude, nding a horizon in the dark sky that came in the coronavirus's wake.

As a territory sales executive for PLUSH Vodka, a Black-owned spirit company founded by Malcolm Hale, Calvin shared that the company has found unexpected success despite the pandemic. Towards the beginning of the stay-at-home orders, the company's main clientele, restaurants, bars, and music events closed, making business nonexistent. As time went on, more people became interested in their product causing sales to consistently increase as more people stayed home.

"So it was kind of a catch 22 and a delicate balance, but ultimately, it's a year that I wouldn't want to experience again based on the uncertainty," Calvin said.

While the chanciness of 2021 is felt worldwide, Calvin expects a stacked future of continuous growth for his endeavors: PLUSH Vodka, soundtrack projects for his collaborative books, "BLACK CYANIDE / white pill" and "Concrete Ghosts" by Greg Hoetker with a forward written by Calvin himself; along with a possible spring football season to report on—a rst for many of the student-athletes familiar with its usual fall timing.

For now, Calvin is enjoying spending time with his wife of 12 years, two sons, and a 16-year-old daughter, who has also felt the loss of school sports.

Together, Calvin and his daughter have built a stronger relationship through practicing basketball and doing drills with one another, an anomaly with his hectic schedule.

"Tomorrow's not promised, and that's all, that's it," Calvin said. "Do everything you aspire to do, be everything you aspire to be because when it's all said and done, and they got to drop that casket, all [they're] going to talk about is what you did, not what you planned on doing." +

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SuiteCauses

NEHEMIAH PROJECT LA AND

FILM FESTIVAL STORY BY SHEILA MCKINNON AND MICHELE ERVIN

BEHOLD I DO A NEW THING You've heard it said before: "There's no place like home" or "Home is where the heart is," or even "Home Sweet Home." What if you didn't have a home? A place you knew you could be safe, loved, and developed to your full potential by a family all your own.

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F

PHOTO CREDITS: ADOBE STOCK AND COURTESY OF NEHEMIAH PROJECT LA

or most people, that is their reality, but for some, they live in a world where they are displaced, forgotten, the unknown. They are those who live in shadows—the forgotten known as TAYs or Transitional Adult Youth we call "Dream Chasers." They are young adults, who after having grown up in foster care and provided shelter, are left to fend for themselves with no one, not even the overburdened system which raised them, to help.

Meet Bishop Ed Smith, founder of the Nehemiah Project LA, which works to build greater awareness of the challenges faced by our nation's at-risk foster youth exiting foster care. "We build local networks of support while advocating for more effective and supportive policies to help this invisible community develop self-sufciency and a resilient future," says Bishop Ed. It is this vision for greater awareness that Bishop Ed has declared, "Behold I Will Do A New Thing," as the theme for his annual Zoe Purpose Conference and Nehemiah Film Festival in July 2021.

The conference brings together a network of support from all over the world from Africa, the Philippines, Japan, Brazil, the United States, Europe, Mexico, etc. This coalition of men and women representing corporations, networks, and communities from all walks of life, seek to provide aid for these young adults so that they can Thrive in Life.

Bishop Ed's proposal of an exciting new thing is a bold, innovative way to bring a higher awareness with more participation in the July '21 Conference. The rst Nehemiah Film Festival is scheduled for July 15-24th of 2021—now accepting entries. The festival is dedicated to showcasing worldwide independent talent. It will offer exciting festivities such as a red-carpet event and mixer, opening night lm screenings with panel discussion and workshops. There will be surprise celebrity guests. We will be the rst lm festival to offer entry categories for Spoken Word and Stand-up Comedy.

Because this is a combination of live-stream and virtual events, we anticipate considerable participation. Everyone who submits a lm will be able to attend along with their family and friends from the comfort of their home. The lm festival is a precursor to the Zoe Purpose Conference. Anyone attending the conference will have an all-access pass to the festival. Greater participation and greater awareness for TAYs, we call "Dream Chasers," will help gain support for their cause.

Another way the Film festival will help bring Nehemiah Project LA awareness is a special themed category for lms produced, written, acted, or directed by Dream Chasers. Who better to tell their stories than those who have gone through the foster care system. Whether victimized or aided by the foster care system, these are stories that need to be told.

Many former foster youths' or orphans' life expectancy is shortened due to drugs, homelessness, prison, or trafcking. Many may never live long enough to realize their full potential, much less pursue their dreams. It's time they come out of the shadows into the light. Nehemiah Project LA does that and takes it a step further.

For more information, visit: nehemiahlmfestival.com. +

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

January has been recognized as Human Trafcking Awareness Month,

and pimps or anyone selling human beings for a prot is thriving during the Coronavirus pandemic, according to experts from around the world.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the nation to shut down, FCI had to cancel all scheduled outreaches and fundraisers. While uncertainty loomed over the nation and with no clear answers in sight, I, along with my team, had to make the necessary decision to continue "forging ahead"—to meet the needs of the many voiceless victims impacted by human trafficking.

While there is a movement to educate and raise awareness, much work still needs to be done. Many people think human trafficking is not happening here in the U.S. or how extensive the sex trafficking epidemic has become. Human trafficking is rapidly becoming an enemy that is hidden in plain sight.

Over 14 years ago, FCI recognized that anti-trafficking resources were often devoted to either minors or sent outside the U.S., leaving limited funding available to support adult survivors of trafficking domestically. FCI was founded to provide trauma-informed, supportive services in a nurturing environment to transition-age youth between the ages of 18-24 who have been exploited and to provide education to those at risk of exploitation.

FCI focuses its efforts on areas in and around Los Angeles where a large number of victims are identified, including South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Compton, Lynwood, Willowbrook, Long Beach, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties.

With many of the girls coming out of the foster care system, creating a safe place to heal and receive trauma-informed care is our number one priority. According to national data, children of color account for over 50% of all fostered youth, and at least half of them will experience homelessness—no family or community. When you don't have anywhere to go, where do you go? You go to the streets, which has become a breeding zone for pimps and traffickers.

Sitting at Greyhound bus depot or a bare table at a McDonald's restaurant lobby, a pimp can easily spot a young, teenage runaway and is quick to offer her a warm place to sleep and something to eat. It isn't long before the victim will hear, "You owe me."

With no other option in sight, these girls—most targeted anywhere from 12 to 14 years of age—are forced into "the life" where they will remain for an average of seven years.

The recent pandemic has birthed a new concern. Traffickers have expanded their enterprise to the internet for the sole purpose of advertising, recruiting, and exploiting children for grooming.

FCI is committed to "Trusting God and doing good (Psalm 37:3)." As our nation slowly recovers from the pandemic, we will continue the fight against human trafficking. Will you join us? For more information, visit us at www.fci-la.org.

"Forgotten Children, Inc. gave me the strength and empowerment to ght for what I lost. God has made my family whole again. Our family is stronger now more than ever." ~Victoria, a former client/resident.

Find us on:

#NOMOREGIRLS #ENDEXPLOITATION

(800) 445-1326

www.fci-la.org

Suite Biz WINE & CULTURE WITH ROOTS & VINES WINE FOUNDER

Jennifer White

+

RESTAURANT OWNER

Robert Smith BUSINESS CONNECT WITH

Chincie Mouton

SuiteBiz

Full-bodied, Powerfully Sophisticated, and Distinctly African

Jennifer White THE FOUNDER OF ROOTS & VINES WINE

and Her Quest to Transform the American Wine Industry

mericans love wine. Globally, not only are we the top buyers, but we're also the top drinkers. In 2018 we spent $14.4 billion and consumed 33 million hectoliters of wine—nearly 15% of the global total. One hectoliter is 26 gallons alone!

With costs ranging from $2 to up to the thousands for a single bottle, and avor proles just as extensive, you can bet there is something for everyone.

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SAN DIEGO, CA

“

When you think of wine, we (Roots & Vines Wine) want you to think of #blackgirlmagic.

We want to have such a presence that you don't think of a French man when you think about wine; you think of a Black woman.”

STORY BY ASHLEY YANCEY PHOTOS BY MONICA BELANDRES-ROOT

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SuiteBiz

 PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROOTS & VINES WINE: White on one of her trips to Africa making connections with enterprising women.

While the vast majority of the American wine industry has broadly excluded Black people, there's no denying that the Black demographic has made a strong impact on the wine and spirits market. Ciroc, Hennessey, Hypnotiq, Cristal, and Moscato are just a handful of wine and spirits brands that have all benetted greatly. When Jennifer White, the San Diegobased founder of Roots & Vines Wine Trading Co., visited South Africa's world-renowned vineyards in 2018, she noticed this glaring disparity and decided to do something about it.

Originally, White admits she didn't know much about wine. "I was a Two-Buck Chuck wine drinker," she shares, referencing the grocery retailer Trader Joes' bargain-priced wine. "That's not a real wine drinker, right?" It was while visiting South Africa's majestic Winelands; however, where she learned about the hidden horrors of producing one of the country's hottest commodities. The working conditions were abhorrent, the pay was less than the minimum wage, and the labor was backbreaking and exhaustive. In short, these were slavery conditions. "I came across the story of the women, and that just compelled me to act," White shared.

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"Our particular mission is to really open up the $70 billion US wine market for Black South African women. The whole world knows that the US is the largest consumer market in the world, so everyone wants their products in America, because we 'buy buy buy buy buy!" White explains. Because Americanbased, minority-owned wine companies already have access to these vital resources and markets, White believes Roots & Vines Wine's efforts are best served abroad. That said, there is no love lost to those Black winemakers in her own backyard.

"We know Black [American] women in wine and we love and support all of them."

Roots & Vines Wine dually benets women winemakers in South Africa, being careful to ensure a generous business model, as well as the Roots & Vines investment pool, which is comprised exclusively of American Black women. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., White found it essential to provide economic empowerment tools for those in her community searching for ways to make a difference. "We want to really demonstrate a model for collective investment, not just in America but also with Africa," White shared. "Our money goes so much farther in Africa; it just multiplies. We wanted to tap into that market" Over the last ten years, White has made countless trips to the Motherland and witnessed rsthand the strong lineage, healing arts, and extensive community ties that bound herself to the people she met. The name "Roots & Vines" was inspired by this. "We went through a process of creating a name that was really meaningful to us, that connected us to this project, and really reafrmed why we believed in this project to begin with," she reected. "Making a connection between Africa and African-Americans when most of our investors have not been

SAN DIEGO, CA to Africa yet was important." She further elaborated. "The vines represent us as AfricanAmericans. We grew out of the root that came from Africa. Right! Our root is not in America; our root is African. We wanted to be clear about that," she rmly stated.

In addition to connecting South African wineries to American customers, it is White's hope that the exchange doesn't stop there. "Our LLC is named Roots & Vines Trading Company," she says, adding extra emphasis to the tail end. "We did that because we didn't want to be pigeonholed into wine. We want to be available to connect products that come from Africa with the market in America." Through her partnership with SISTERcircle, another organization she founded that organizes trips for Black women to visit Ghana, White has formed a strong network of African-based artisans and entrepreneurs to make this possible.

"SISTERcircle really connects Black women around the world through healing arts and entrepreneurship, so it's through that journey and connecting that the idea has evolved," she gushed. "I'll say, it gives us the space to travel, to heal, to grow, to do business, and to support each other as we do this."

While 2020 has presented its share of COVIDrelated challenges, White is optimistic about the future and new opportunities to connect Americans with the wine she loves so much. A subscriptionbased wine club, wine classes, and more procurement trips to the Motherland are all at the top of her agenda. For now, she focuses her efforts on her website (rootsandvineswine.com), where her wine is sold directly to consumers. "When you think of wine, we want you to think of #blackgirlmagic. We want to have such a presence that you don't think of a French man when you think about wine; you think of a Black woman." +

 PHOTO: Bayede! Brut Rosé, a Roots & Vines Wine fruity bouquet offering.

FACEBOOK: @rootsandvineswine INSTAGRAM: @rootsandvineswine info@rootsandvineswine.com rootsandvineswine.com

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SuiteBiz

Better Than Expected: RESTAURANT OWNER

2020 has been a difficult year for small businesses.

Robert Smith

In-person dining was one of the rst activities to be shut down, and restaurants quickly had to adapt to only providing takeout, delivery, and some outdoor dining. For Robert Smith, owner of Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine in Inglewood, CA, it was just the latest challenge to overcome in the restaurant's 12-year history.

Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine has withstood years of change in its surrounding environment. The restaurant, which opened on November 8, 2008, at its current location on Prairie Ave., has survived through years of rent raises throughout Inglewood's recent city development with 2020 slated for the opening of the SoFi Stadium and to include luxury housing and a large entertainment complex soon to follow.

Even with the most signicant change to the restaurant's operations, the COVID-19 related ban on indoor dining, Blessed Tropical has stayed aoat.

According to Smith, part of that has come from his loyal clientele, who make use of their takeout services.

"I think they came out better with this COVID than they did before. And that's something, I appreciate it. I keep telling them they don't have to come here. I appreciate it more than they know," Smith says.

on How COVID-19 Affected His Business

STORY BY QUINCI LEGARDYE PHOTO BY JOSHUA BERRYMON

“It makes me feel good when I can help somebody. That's the thing that makes me feel good.

It's best for me. I don't worry about all the other stuff."

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FOOD PHOTO CREDIT: POSTMATES

INGLEWOOD, CA

Smith has a very altruistic nature, with an instinct to help people. He believes in helping people out, to the point where he'll offer a meal to someone who needs it but may not have the money to pay.

"One thing that I thrive on, if a person comes through and they are hungry, they don't have to worry about being able to pay for it. We will give them food, that's what we would do. We would give them food. That was my motto. If you can help someone, you help them."

Smith also takes pride in taking care of his employees.

He'll often help them out when they need it, giving money when they have nancial issues and setting up reasonable payment plans. He also planned on having a celebration with them this year before everything changed.

"I appreciate my workers. I love them. And they can tell you that any way that I can help them, I will. It doesn't matter.

If they're in need, they need something; if I can do it, I do it," Smith says.

"It makes me feel good when I can help somebody. That's the thing that makes me feel good. It's best for me. I don't worry about all the other stuff," Smith says.

Part of Smith's ability to roll with the punches is his worldview: he takes a very uncomplicated view on life. It's like the principles of life that are posted on a yer in the restaurant, simple solution-based statements. The rst principle: Life is a Challenge…Meet It. Though the SoFi Stadium shadow looms over the shared street, it hasn't affected Blessed Tropical Jamaican Cuisine's business that much in 2020. However, Smith is expecting more business once the stadium fully opens.

"That's why I keep hanging in there. Sometimes you want to cry, but hey, that's the way life is right now. I'm just hoping that I can expand from where I am today. If I could expand from where I am today, I'd be one of the proudest persons in the world," Smith says. + SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

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SuiteBiz

How Local & Diverse Businesses Support The Super Bowl AN INTERVIEW WITH

CHINCIE MOUTON

L

os Angeles County is already known as a sports and entertainment hub, as the home to many sports teams, stadiums, and theaters. As we continue into the 2020s, L.A. will build its reputation as the focal point of the sports and entertainment industry by hosting multiple championship and all-star games throughout the decade. If you wonder what agency or organization gets the Super Bowl or the U.S. Open to come to L.A., look no further than the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC), a nonprot that works to bring high-prole sports and entertainment events to the city.

LASEC is contracted by the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board to support the lead-up to and the execution of these large-scale events. Some of the events that LASEC has secured so far for Los Angeles to host include the Super Bowl LVI, 2022 MLB All-Star Game, 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship, and the 2023 U.S. Open. Through LASEC’s efforts, L.A. is also a candidate host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. LASEC also works to bring contracting opportunities for these events to L.A.’s local businesses through the Super Bowl LVI Business Connect program. As Director of Business Connect, Chincie Mouton is currently liaising with the NFL to connect local certied businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans, and LGBTQ+ people to these massive sports events.

Before joining LASEC, Mouton previously worked with the Championship Hosting Division of the Atlanta Sports Council, managing community engagement programs for the 2020 NCAA Men’s Final Four, Super Bowl LIII and 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. With Business Connect, Mouton will continue her work connecting communities to largescale events by giving local and diverse businesses access to impressive sub-contracting opportunities.

“These high-prole events are important because they generate signicant economic impact, attract invaluable media exposure, and drive positive social impact and engagement opportunities across our communities. Los Angeles is set to host an unprecedented decade of high prole events and is wellpositioned to cement itself as [the] epicenter of the sports world,” says Mouton.

These events come at a time where many local and diverse businesses may be just beginning to recover from lost opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mouton recognizes that her work is part of the economic recovery of L.A.’s local and diverse businesses.

“We know this is one of the most challenging periods the sports-live events industry has ever faced, and it is imperative we look ahead, adapt, and continue to plan for L.A.’s decade of opportunity. We believe major events will be critically important 36

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

STORY BY QUINCI LEGARDYE PHOTO COURTESY OF LOS ANGELES SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION to accelerating the recovery of our local hospitality industry – an industry that has been decimated by the pandemic – and our mission is to maximize the long-term economic impact of these events across the L.A. region.“ The rst event on LASEC’s roster is the Super Bowl LVI, which will be held at Inglewood’s new SoFi Stadium in February 2022. Business Connect is currently accepting supplier applications for Super Bowl LVI up until February 1, 2021. From this application group, 250 businesses will be added to a resource guide used by organizing committees and event producers for Super Bowl LVI.

“

These high-profile events are important because they generate significant economic impact, attract invaluable media exposure, and drive positive social impact and engagement opportunities across our communities. Los Angeles is set to host an unprecedented decade of high profile events and is well-positioned to cement itself as [the] epicenter of the sports world.”

These businesses will also be included in the Business Connect Resource Guide, shared with city ofcials, local NFL clubs, and convention centers for use in the indenite future, creating more opportunities beyond the Super Bowl. The businesses will also receive access to free professional development workshops and networking opportunities.

For business owners who are interested in these opportunities, the Super Bowl LVI Business Connect supplier application is available at their website: https://www.LASEC.net/businessconnect. +

SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

 35

ENTERTAINMENT

E A CONVERSATION WITH

pluS AWARD-WINNING GUITARIST

MALINA MOYE HOLLYWOOD STYLIST

RHONDA O’NEAL

don b. welch

enteRtainment

The Man, The Gift, His Story STORY BY MISCHA DUFFIE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAI BYRD

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HOLLYWOOD, CA

Suite Life SoCal sits down with celebrated Hollywood Playwright/Director,

don b. welch W ith a sign and a stand in tow, a veyear-old Don B. Welch stepped onto the entrepreneurial stage for the rst time by opening up his own lemonade stand.

With a goal to sell cups of lemonade for ve cents, Welch declared his rst day a success when lured by a mixture of thirst and curiosity; the neighborhood kids consumed every ounce of his delicious lemonade. But after seeing an empty money box and learning that Welch had not sold but given away all the cups of lemonade to his little thirsty consumers, the matter of a successful rst day was questioned by Welch's mother.

"Where is the money?" she asked.

"They're going to come back tomorrow and bring the money," a seemingly naïve Welch declared to his mom.

"And what makes you think that?" Mom replied.

"I know they will," he proclaimed.

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enteRtainment

“

I have been in some situations

where I knew God moved. It had to

be God...When you're walking in

your purpose and put God rst,

you always win.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA

The foundation for a life of grace, giving and gratitude.

As it turned out, naïveté nor innocence had inuenced Welch's belief that the earnings from his lemonade sales would be returned to him because, as he predicted, the kids came back the next day with their money and their parents. This ideological belief in people's goodness became a part of Welch's character because he grew up around goodness.

He was raised in a loving home managed by a mother and grandmother who always put him and his brother rst. From being tucked in every night with a kiss; to listening to the melodious sound of his mother's voice echoing throughout the house; to hearing his grandmother, who only had a third-grade education, share words of wisdom that still guide his life to this day—the foundation for a life of grace, giving and gratitude was being laid.

He was twelve years old when he sang "Jesus is Calling" in church for Easter, and the people at the church couldn't believe the celestial sound coming out of his mouth. He was fteen when he routinely sang at the then Tarellos Restaurant in Downtown Philadelphia to a patrons' packed room. Welch was sixteen when he sang in night clubs accompanied by his mother. It was the 1980s when he started acting as his own agent and getting booked for shows . It was also in the 1980s when in an exciting turn of events, musical sensation DeBarge opened for Welch.

These unprecedented moves allowed Welch to evolve his love for singing while simultaneously opening the door for him to forge relationships that would prove consequential as he entered the stage play ethos in his hometown of Philadelphia in 1988. A man who believes it is his responsibility as a Black man to tell Black folks' stories, Welch married his passion for the stage with a newfound love for writing and directing. This marriage took Welch from singing all over the country with some of the music industry's most notable artists to writing and directing his own stage plays.

STOCK IMAGES BY SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“I was the rst Don B. Welch.”

Since his playwright debut and inaugural play, Take It to the Lord or Else, Welch has written, produced, and directed an astounding thirty other plays. And when asked if he is ever compared to media mogul Tyler Perry, who started his writing, producing, and directing career with stage plays as well, Welch says, "I didn't use to like the comparison because I'm Don and he's Tyler. I wasn't the next Tyler Perry. I was the rst Don B. Welch. Then it dawned on me that people didn't mean any harm. They just needed a point of reference. They just wanted to make a comparison."

Being able to move from what's possible to what's probable is something Welch learned from his mother and best friend, who passed away in 2018 at the gracious age of eighty-nine. It was her quiet strength combined with God revealing to Welch his purpose just ve years ago that taught Welch the power of letting stuff go. "There were so many things my mother went through that we never knew about because she just quietly did what she had to do. She didn't complain. She just moved on with her life."

Listening to Welch talk about the difference between walking in faith and walking in purpose dispels any mystery regarding his upward climb. There is no question that the sacredness of Welch's relationship with God is what keeps him steady and prospering. "I have been in some situations where I knew God moved. It had to be God." He further qualied, "When you're walking in your purpose and put God rst, you always win."

Winning means different things to different people. For Welch winning is not his more than 500 stage performances; rather to Welch, winning is being able to lay his head on the pillow at night knowing he planted some seeds and passed some goodness on. Winning is helping someone else's miracle be realized. Winning is using his inuence to make sure others don't have to struggle like he struggled starting out. And the fact that Welch has hired six hundred plus actors via his 31 stage plays and lms is proof that he is determined not to win alone.

In the same way his childhood friend and Oscar-nominated actor, Will Smith, extended to Welch the offer to come to California some twenty years ago because he believed Welch could expand his writing and directing into feature lms and television, Welch taps talent that he believes the world more often needs to see. In the same way Welch seeks new talent he also intentionally hires talent that the world needs to see more. And with a signicant amount of skin in the game, Don B. Welch Productions has become the sought-after partner by Hollywood lm and television executives that Smith knew he would be.

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enteRtainment

“I decided I wanted to live!”

With few regrets in life and a glistening career, there was an area in his life where Welch was not experiencing success.

For years, reaching a healthier weight was an internal conversation and ongoing battle. Then a personal health scare, coupled with lm director John Singleton's death due to a massive stroke, compounded by actor Chadwick Boseman's death due to colon cancer and layered with this year's COVID-19 lockdown, shot reaching a healthier weight to the top of Welch's priority list.

And with the same single-mindedness of the ve-year-old running a lemonade stand, Welch is down half his prepandemic body weight. When inquiries about his noticeable weight loss poured in by Facebook followers messaging him, Welch didn't sugarcoat his contentious relationship with obesity. Instead, he responded in earnest by saying, "I decided I wanted to live! I was overweight and winded when I would take short walks. I was overeating even when I was not hungry.

My sleep pattern was off. I worked out, but not nearly as much as I needed to do or that I now do. We get one life, and every day must count."

Making every day count is why 2020 caught Welch doing more than losing weight. Making the most of the one life he has is why Welch wrapped up his new lmed live play, Love On a Two Way Street which premiered as a virtual live lmed play in December 2020 and is currently streaming on www.umc.tv. “Love On a Two Way Street'' was greenlit by Brett Dismuke, General Manager of UMC & WETV. And I am extremely grateful to him and the Producers at Octet Productions.” Welch emphasized.

Making the most of 2020 is also why Welch is working on his third book and life story titled, All Things in Time, and it's why he has joined forces with legendary actor Bill Duke to create an additional production company called GloMar Productions.

Suite Life CONCIERGE MAGAZINE

SoCal

Join us online at suitelifesocal.com to view our magazine online, for additional content, and have an opportunity to add your voice to the conversation.

Visit us today and Follow us @suitelifesocal

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WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

Making the most of life for Welch further means sowing into his close relationships with friends like Kenny Lattimore, Ginuwine, Loretta Devine, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Marla Gibbs, Fred Thomas Jr., Will Smith and his partnering producer, Chris M. Dabney. It means honoring his mother and grandmother's legacies by being the person they always told him he could be.

“Sometimes you just gotta sit back and rock a while.”

Karma is something Welch takes seriously. He believes that we get back what we put out. As he profoundly says, "You can block on Facebook. You can block on IG. But you can't block karma." And because Hollywood can be a crazy place lled with strange people who do weird things, Welch refuses to be distracted by those with ambiguous agendas. Instead, he has learned to meet craziness and disappointment with his grandmother's words ringing in his ear, "Sometimes you just gotta sit back and rock a while." Meaning, sometimes you just have to be still and pray; be still and observe; be still and hear what God is saying to you.

As one who is as committed to developing as a writer and storyteller as he is to hearing God's voice, sometimes stillness catches Welch with his head buried in the novels or old Hollywood celebrity biographies he reads each month.

With doors constantly opening in lm, I asked Welch which one he likes best: lm or theater? He was clear: “I'll never leave [the] theater because you can't beat the intimacy of theater. Not to mention, I am passionate about what's being fed to our people."

In a nutshell, feeding our people. Employing our people.

Showcasing the expansive talent of our people. Believing in our people is who Don B. Welch is and it’s what he’s consistently done for more than thirty incredible years. +

HOLLYWOOD, CA

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ENTERTAINMENT

E A CONVERSATION WITH

malina moye

pluS CELEBRITY STYLIST

RHONDA O’NEAL

enteRtainment

The Woman, The Gift, Her Story STORY BY MISCHA DUFFIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISAIAH-MAYS

N

othing introduces us to ourselves like the trials and tribulations of life. Nothing makes us trust God more than seeing Him keep His promise. No one knows this better than Malina Moye, who courageously left Minnesota in 2004 headed to Los Angeles with twenty dollars to her name and a treasure trove of promises that she would not let God forget He made to her.

Determined that no one would put their label on her, Malina Moye, 36, followed the dictates of her own mind to become one of the top female guitarists in the world. Never mind, she's lefthanded. Never mind, she plays upside down. Never mind, it was quite unusual in the industry for a Black woman to hold her own on stage with a bunch of male musicians when she started; this singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist put her foot on the gas, created her own lane and drove nonstop in the direction of her own heartbeat.

Born in Ohio but raised in Minnesota by a father and mother who were established musicians who always had different musicians in their home, the vibration of music lled the rooms of Moye's home with the same consistency that breath lled her body. When she started imitating her mother, Scelesteen Moye, who was a singer and a drummer, the question wasn't if Malina would play an instrument, but when. To fast-track when her father, bass player and guitarist, George Moye, also known as Dr. Funk in the music world, put a guitar in his only daughter's hands at eight years old.

Shortly after that, Malina and her brothers joined their mom and dad to start a family band.

Things were going well. The band was in demand. The family found themselves traveling from one gig to the next, doing what they enjoyed. Then it happened, the wheels of more started turning. The notion that something else is out there began to command space in Moye's consciousness. And because she knew to respect the voice and longing of her spirit, she knew that she had no other choice but to honor what she heard.

Led by her spirit, Moye visited California the rst-time alone courtesy of a plane ticket purchased by a friend to get a feel for things. The second time, her mother, who was not completely thrilled, but also not one to hold her children back, drove to California with her. In addition to wishing Malina well before returning to Minnesota, Mrs. Moye reminded Malina that if times got hard, she could always sleep in the car. Well, times did get hard. Sleeping on a friend's couch ran its course. And Malina did, in fact, nd herself sleeping in the car.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA

“

People always put labels on you. Everybody's playing blues and neo-soul. You have to know who you are. I'm the person who has to create my own lane. There is no prejudice in notes. Music has no prejudice."

Suite Life SoCal has an intimate conversation with Award-winning Guitarist

malina moye SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

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enteRtainment

Hitting the Road & Creating Own Lane Interestingly enough, between the knife, the Bible, and the faith she slept with during those daunting nights in the car, Moye never allowed herself to become too discouraged. "I knew what He promised me. God always made a way. I had the kind of luck where a twenty-dollar bill would be laying on the ground at an ATM." And of her sense of certainty about who she was and what she wanted, Moye adds, "My mind is trained to remember the things I read or was exposed to."

Swathed in this training and a boatload of determination, Moye hit the ground running.

During the day, she looked for work. Sometimes this meant parking her car illegally or at meters that she couldn't afford to feed. Yet to avoid incurring any unnecessary expenses, her survival nature inclined her to post a sign in the window that read: "BROKEN. DON'T TOW." Because Moye understood that she had to do what she had to do until she could do what she wanted to do, Moye worked a telemarketing job . . . even as she played her guitar. She took pictures and ended up selling some to a guy for ve hundred dollars to test a calendar idea...even as she played her guitar. She then took the ve hundred dollars and created a calendar. She used the computer at work to search and download information for stores that would buy calendars.

Selling calendars yielded more income. More income yielded more stability.

While meandering through opportunities that were a means to an end and setting herself up to do music full time, Moye stayed true to the roadmap in her head. Within the same year she relocated to Los Angeles, she founded WCE Records. And when asked if she found it challenging to synchronously get acclimated to a new city while starting a record label, Moye said, "It wasn't hard. I always had the foresight of what I wanted to do. I knew so much already because of playing with my family." From the outside, it appeared that Moye came to Los Angeles pretty empty-handed. The reality is that she came to Los Angeles with more than the eye could see. And as it began to be obvious just how much talent she did possess and how much she did already know, the universe put a spotlight on Moye that garnered her attention she didn't even have to go searching for.

The word got out that there was a tiny, left-handed, beautiful Black woman who could sing, write songs, and play the guitar—upside down, mind you—with a stage presence all her own.

Then to take the element of surprise to another level, Moye, who was also known to play blues and neo-soul, made Rock and Soul her sweet spot. Why? Because as she says, "People always put labels on you. Everybody's playing blues and neo-soul. You have to know who you are. I'm the person who has to create my own lane. There is no prejudice in notes. Music has no prejudice."

Inuenced by Gospel blues singer, guitarist, and queer woman, Rosetta Tharpe, Moye's talent, condence, and style grew to historic proportions. She became the rst African American left-handed upside-down female guitarist endorsee to join the Fender Guitar family.

A little over ten years ago, she became the rst African American woman guitarist to play the National Anthem at a major sporting event (Vikings vs. Cowboys NFL football game). She was the rst female to be invited to join the Experience Hendrix Tour. She had the honor of playing for the Queen of England for her 60th Year Jubilee. And in November 2020, she was selected to be in the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum exhibit, "Right Here, Rock Now," where her infamous jacket and guitar are on display. Gibson TV and Jamie Hendrix also asked her to narrate a Gibson TV piece about Jimi Hendrix's customized 1969 Flying V guitar and his 1967 SG custom guitar.

In addition to these amazing honors, Moye has been lauded by Hufngton Post, Seventeen Magazine, and Parade Magazine. Guitar Magazine has dubbed her World's Top Guitarist, and Billboard Magazine calls her K-yotic collaboration with Bootsy Collins "explosive." In August 2020, Moye was named among the “13 Most Iconic Left-Handed Guitarists of All Time.”

What's equally intriguing about Moye's catalog of accolades is with so much life ahead of her, it could be said that she's just getting started. More lanes are opening all the time. As an actress, she has appeared in several movies with the latest lms, 10E and Burn, having been released in 2019.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA

“

People always put labels on you. Everybody's playing blues and neosoul. You have to know who you are. I'm the person who has to create my own lane. There is no prejudice in notes.

Music has no prejudice.”

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enteRtainment As a philanthropist, she founded the nonprot Drive Hope Foundation to open the minds of underserved youth and encourage them to follow their passion. And as a singer and songwriter, she recently penned the song Enough, which was inspired by an experience where someone made her feel like she didn't matter, and she didn't count. Moye recalls that after she stopped crying, it took her only fteen minutes to write Enough. Overcome with hurt; she says of the experience, "It made me feel like my crown fell off. Then I came to myself and realized there is no way I can be playing second ddle when I know I'm worth so much.”

A Woman & Her History It was this self-assured Malina Moye that podcast host Clifton Moseley encountered three years ago when he saw her on stage playing an electric guitar with her left hand next to Grammywinning bass player Stanley Clarke. Never forgetting the uniqueness of Moye, Moseley spotlighted her on the WE LUVV RARE GROOVES podcast in October 2020. Recollecting his conversation with her, he says, "What struck me about Malina Moye is she's a very smart, independent woman who knows the business and knows her history. She knows she has higher ground to achieve."

Moseley believes that the historic election of the rst female Vice President of the United States of America all but demands that Women's History Month is celebrated with a stepped-up, more nuanced emphasis on the spectrum of female excellence. To this end, WE LUVV RARE GROOVES will host its inaugural Women's History Month Spotlight of African American Female Artists featuring the likes of guitarist Malina Moye (conrmed), keyboardist Patrice Rushen (to be conrmed), drummer Terri Lyne Carrington (to be conrmed), and completing the lineup with other strings and horns greats.

Represent the House When asked how it feels to be in her skin right now, Moye responded, "When you leave the house, you represent the house. I just always want to represent the house. My heroes are Prince and Michael Jackson. I just hope that people take [from my music] what they need to understand their worth. God knows my heart, and if tomorrow everything left me, I could always rebuild it. So, it's about appreciating who you are and what you have."

When asked about not being able to perform in person as a result of the 2020 pandemic, Moye said, "I miss the energy. Every venue has its own spirit as well as the people in each city. You don't realize how much you miss it until you can't do it." As the dwelling place for ingenuity that she is, Moye used this time of pivot to her advantage, turning her attention to other projects. In addition to working on a new album coming out in 2021, the Malina Moye Story is in development, and she's currently working with two major brands: Fender and Experience Hendrix, LLC. I must say that the big, bright, captivating smile that spreads effortlessly across Moye's beautiful face is matched only by the joy of experiencing her beautiful spirit. + 52

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enteRtainment

BEYOND THE COMBS ACADEMY CELEBRITY STYLIST

Rhonda O'Neal Is Creating Opportunities For More Diversity in Hollywood

STORY BY JEANNIE JONES PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEYOND THE COMBS ACADEMY

A

s the sun sets on a September evening in the heart of Los Angeles' cultural landmark, Leimert Park, there's excitement brewing over the grand opening of SoFi Stadium, the largest stadium and entertainment complex opening for the NFL games and the selected location for Super Bowl LVI. Meanwhile, celebrity hairstylist and author, Rhonda O'Neal, is inspired to open the doors to Beyond The Combs Academy (BTCA).

O'Neal knew that with an increase of discussions on racial turbulence in front of and behind the cameras, this would be the opportune time to empower hair and makeup artists in the entertainment industry.

The idea to further educate hair and makeup artists came after writing a book she titled, 'Beyond The Combs, A Celebrity Hairstylist's Guide to Success,' which would ten years later become her academy's name. "I knew I had to do something," says O'Neal. "With so many articles coming out about not enough POC (persons of color) in the trailers that could do African American hair, that's when I wanted to build an academy." O'Neal added, "Of all union hairstylists, makeup artists, wardrobe, stunt persons, still photographers, only 3% are black."

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O'Neal started her career in cosmetology at an early age in Houston, Texas, and always had a vision of working on Hollywood sets. She knew in order to make that happen she was going to have to step out on faith and head to the west coast. After years of a disciplined work ethic, networking, and building a clientele of who's who on TV shows and lms, O'Neal began thinking of how she could make more of an impact in the industry and help others prepare to get into the union, a level you reach after working enough hours on a professional set and compensated by a higher negotiated rate than non-union personnel.

When the pandemic shut down most non-essential businesses, O'Neil found the perfect space in the heart of the historic Crenshaw Boulevard strip and started reconstruction. Within a few months, she opened the doors to her rst group of stylists, and creative artists prepared to continue their education and learn what it takes to get jobs on Hollywood sets. More than just education, participants gain condence along with accurate and efcient skills to prepare them when they get "that call" to tour nationally or overseas.

BTCA offers COVID-19 safety compliant classes to licensed barbers, hairstylists, makeup artists, wardrobe

HOLLYWOOD, CA PHOTO: RHONDA O’NEAL (CENTER) PICTURED WITH THE BTCA TEAM

“

I knew I had to do something. With so many articles coming out about not enough POC [persons of color] in the trailers that could do African American hair, that's when I wanted to build an academy."

stylists, animators, and photographers who want to evolve their careers. In addition, students learn the differences between working in a salon setting, making the transition to working on sets, and how to create a look. For example, if you have to use a hairpiece or wig to create a look during the 1930s or 1970s, you will learn to execute that in minimal time.

"The difference in attending Beyond The Combs Academy from other cosmetology schools is that you're not there to get a license you already have," says O'Neal. "You're gaining more knowledge in your craft by attending our 4 Day Hollywood Training Course with many of the sessions instructed by those who work on sets including HBO, NBC, ABC, FOX, lm studios, and tours around the world with topselling recording artists.

BTCA also offers a Master Series, which recently featured Sam Fine. His celebrity roster of clients includes Tyra Banks, Iman, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle, Serena

”

Williams, and other A-listers. Fine's work has been seen in Cosmopolitan, Essence, and Marie Claire. Furthermore, Fine was chosen as the rst African American spokesperson for Revlon and Covergirl Cosmetics.

The vision at BTCA is to prepare as many creative artists who walk in the door, get the necessary training around the right network of professionals that will assist them on their journey to working on sets they've imagined in their dreams.

"It's great that a 'Beyond The Combs Academy' exists now," says BTCA Makeup Instructor Jennesy Tyle. "If I had a place like this when I was coming up in the industry, I would have learned where to go and what to do while trying to transition from being a retail makeup artist to getting hired to work major events, tours, television shows, and lms."

If you are interested in furthering your career in hair and makeup, register online at BeyondTheCombs.Academy or call 323-815-1719. + SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

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Suite eSSEntials

3

Virtual Platforms to Consider

Everyone knows about Zoom.

It's our classrooms, boardrooms, and parties. It seems like Zoom rose to popularity overnight, but the company has been nine years in the making.

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STORY BY KALAISHA TOTTY

Zoom went public in Spring 2019, though it was founded in 2011.

When COVID-19 restrictions were set, Zoom was our friend we could depend on. Its user-friendly platform was simple enough to use for whatever you needed. Plus, the free 40-minute-meeting plan attracted lots of users.

Fast Forward to now, we're entering the new year, and virtual events and telecommuting remain in high demand. Zoom is great, but companies may need a more robust platform to meet all of their needs.

There are hundreds of virtual platforms on the market. Here are three that have risen to the top and might be just the thing your company needs.

PHOTOS BY: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

TECH

BY TADA IMAGES

BY II.STUDIOS

Webex Meetings by Cisco has been a popular choice for webinars, webcasting, and virtual learning. Funny enough, Zoom founder Eric Yuan is a former founding engineer on Webex.

Webex Meetings is a great option because: n

n

Tiered memberships start at $0 per month for personal accounts of up to 100 participants.

Can host large groups of up to 100,000 participants when paired with other Webex platforms

n

No limits on meeting duration

n

Participants can dial in from anywhere in the world, and

n

Meetings can be recorded and shared.

Small businesses and enterprises have used Webex Meetings, noting the easy international accessibility and solution for demonstrations and training sessions.

Susan Hammiche, marketing, and operations manager for SYSUSA, Inc., said Webex Meetings works great for presentations to show products and services to clients before meeting in person, canceling any travel expenses.

SYSUSA, Inc. has between 11 and 50 employees.

For plans, pricing, and additional information, visit webex.com.

Another popular platform is ON24, a robust virtual solution.

Over 1,200 global organizations, including LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Marriott, rely on ON24.

Some of the features include: n

User-friendly

n

24/7 phone and chat support; plus videos, live training, and attendee guide, and

n

Highly customizable

Custom options allow you to add logos to brand rooms, several widgets to create an interactive experience, shareable URL for social media, and more.

Tyler Hershberger of Jackson Systems, LLC praises ON24 for its certication widgets.

"The certication widget is well thought out, giving the trainer a lot of exibility on how to track a passing scenario for the class. Once an attendee has met the requirements, they can download a certicate that auto-lls their information."

Hershberger added ON24 allows them to broadcast their training sessions across the countr y, which was a challenge they faced before nding ON24. His company has between 50 and 200 employees.

Companies can request a demo, nd pricing information, and other resources at on24.com.

Lastly, GoToWebinar is a happy medium for a lot of companies. This platform is a step up from Zoom but not as high-tech as On24.

Hosted by LogMeIn, GoToWebinar allows up to six video streams at once for up to 2,000 participants.

Some features that win over companies are: n

Interactive features, and

n

24/7 phone and live chat support.

Some interactive features include: questions from viewers are sent to presenter emails for Q&As, and hosts can collect viewer information through registration, polls, and sur veys.

GoToWebinar also archives your webcast for a year, which is a plus.

Customer support technicians can view your event live to diagnose any issues you're having. Hosts can browse how-to videos or join live training sessions to learn GoToWebinar.

Andy Ryan, with L et's L aunch, r e c o m m e n d s G o To We b i n a r f o r companies selling products.

Companies can request a demo and view pricing at gotomeeting.com/ webinar.

With hundreds of virtual platforms to choose from, these three options show a lot of promise for a wide variety of uses.

For more reviews on Webex Meetings, ON24 and GoToWebinar, visit trustradius.com.

SUITELIFESOCAL.COM | WINTER 2021

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Suite eSSEntials

The

Suite List An Industry Listing Guide featuring Event, Media, PR and Marketing Resources Watch this space for updates or view our online directory at suitelifesocal.com.

For more information, email us at suitelifesocal@gmail.com.

CALENDARS & EBLASTS Black Book LA Makiah Green info@blkbkla.com blkbkla.com FB/TW: BlackBookLA IG: blackbookla_ Black Cultural Events blackculturalevents.com info@blackculturalevents.com FB: BlackCulturalEvents TW: BlkCulturalEvnt LI: black-cultural-events Fusicology fusicology.com FB/TW/IG: fusicology SuiteEvents Sarah Harris events@suiteevents.com suiteevents.com The Loop 411 Gayle Corn theloop411blog@gmail.com theloop411.com FB/TW/IG: theloop411

Heartsung, Inc. Lura Daniels-Ball (213) 400-3489 luraball@gmail.com www.heartsung.com FB: lura.ball Mack Enterprises Unlimited Arnetta Mack (323) 789-6224 mackenterprises1@aol.com mackenterprises.net FB: mackenterprises

DÉCOR

M&G Catering Micheal Chatman (909) 320-0341

CONSULTANTS

DJs

A Personnel Touch Faye Geyen fayer49@yahoo.com FB: fgeyen LI: in/apersonneltouch

DJ Higher Lvl Jon Harris (951) 347-6242 djhigherlvl.mgmt@gmail.com djhigherlvl.com @djhigherlvl

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EVENT PRODUCTION

WP Miller Special Events William P. Miller (310) 242-1039 wpmiller@wpmillerspecialevents.com

wpmillerspecialevents.com FB: WP MIller Special Events IG/TW: wpmillermoments

Fun-PR Events Service Tiffany Bradshaw, MBA (866) 219-8558 Tiffany@Bradshaw&Co.com Fun-pr.com

EVENT RENTALS

The Baker Group Tammy Dickerson tammy@tbakergroup.com tbakergroup.com FB/TW/IG: tbakergrp

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Collective Rentals Design House Lauren Montgomery 24414 S Main St #208 Carson, CA 90745 Personal Services Plus Minor Details Productions (323) 553-0641 Wendy Gladney Terrina Scott collectiverentals.com (951) 313-4732 terrina@minordetailsproductions.com FB: collectiverentals wendy.gladney@gmail.com minordetailsproductions.com IG: collective_rentals IG: wendygladney / FB: minordetailsproductions seasonofgreatness IG: mdpevents EVENT SPACE wendygladney.com TW: MinorDProds Bella Luxe Loft Wade & Associates Splendid Affairs 6081 Center Drive #102 Margo Wade LaDrew Sabra Diogioes-Waddy Los Angeles 90045 (310) 674-6700 (818) 605-7405 (323) 423-6446 margo.wadeassociates@gmail.com sabra@splendidaffairsinc.com bellaluxeloft.com FB: margo.ladrew splendidaffairsinc.com TW: loft_luxe / IG: bellaluxeloftla FB: splendidaffairsinc Dazzle & Design, LLC Linda Patterson (310) 774-6537 linda@dazzleanddesign.com dazzleanddesigndecor.com

CATERING

Good Boy Entertainment Kerry Neal (310) 946-2321 kerryeneal@gmail.com goodboyentertainment.com

WINTER 2021 | SUITELIFESOCAL.COM

The Todd Group Todd Hawkins todd@thetoddgroup.net thetoddgroup.net FB: thetoddgroupla TW: thetoddgroup

11:ONE VISUALS Kristina Dixon (310) 855-2032 11onevisuals@gmail.com 11onevisuals.com FB/TW/IG: 11onevisuals Foxx Media Group Photography by Foxx Ian Foxx ifoxx@sbcglobal.net foxxmedia.smugmug.com FB: FoxxPhotography

RESOURCE DIRECTORY

Kai Byrd Photography Kai Byrd kaibyrd@gmail.com kaibyrdphotography.com FB: Kai.Byrd IG: kaibyrd_ Malcolm Ali Photography Malcolm Ali malcolmali@aol.com FB: malcolm.ali.98 Monica Root Photography Monica Belandres Root monicaroot.photography Sabra Marie Photography Sabra Marie (909) 215-2104 photos@sabramarie.com sabramariephotography.com @sabramarie

PRINT & WEB DESIGN B. René Norman (323) 359-0755 blest1_two@me.com René Cross-Washington Art Director/Creative Consultant (323) 292-8302 rcwgrafx@aol.com reneella.smugmug.com/Art/ReneCross-Washington-Graphics ATTAIN Design and Marketing Communications Kelcey Newman Creative Director (805) 822-9392 kelcey@attaindmc.com FB: kelcey.newman JAGs Design Studio James Green (951) 251-4852 Info@jagsdesignstudio.com jagsdesignstudio.com Kaleidoscope Consulting Group Bonique Edwards Website Development | Graphic Design | Social Media (310) 500-2222d kconsultinggroup.com FB: kaleidoscopeconsulting IG: kaleidoscoperocks LI: kaleidoscope-consulting-group Mack Enterprises Unlimited Arnetta Mack (323) 789-6224 mackenterprises1@aol.com mackenterprises.net FB: mackenterprises SuiteEvents Sarah Harris (323) 445-6745 sarah@suiteevents.com suiteevents.com FB/TW: @suiteevents

PRINTER L.A. Business Printing Eric Johnson 6840 La Cienega Blvd Inglewood, CA 90302 (310) 649-5855 eric@labusinessprinting.com

PUBLICISTS/PR/ MARKETING CB Communications Cheryl Brownlee (916) 806-3384 cbcommunications@ymail.com cbcommunications.net CW&Company, Public Relations Counsel Clarence R. Williams Owner (323) 979-4355 crwsm9@aol.com facebook.com/clarence.r.williams ESP Public Relations Edna Sims, Owner 310-770-8117 esppr@mac.com espr.net FD Parker & Associates Farrah Parker (310) 350-1984 fparker@fdparker.com fdparker.com FB: Farrah-Parker IG: fdparkerpr TW: LeavUrImge2FDP KRPR MEDIA FIRM KimiRhochelle Porter (909) 543-2978 kimirhochellepr@gmail.com krprmedia.com kimirhochelle.com FB: kimirhochellepr TW: kimirhochelle | krprmedia | urbanlyfestyles Platinum Star PR Marie Y. Lemelle, MBA m.lemelle@att.net (213) 276-7827 platinumstarpr.com FB: marie.lemelle IG: platinumstarpr TW: platinumstar Reinvent Communications Vincent Jones reinventcomm.com IG: reinventcomm The Society Nineteen Group Lela Christine lela@societynineteengroup.com societynineteengroup.com FB/IG: societynineteengroup

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AABLI offers:

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