Spring 2023 issue of THE HUB Magazine

GOSPEL LEGEND

CECE WINANS

OFFERS A BALM FOR MANAGING THE EFFECTS OF RACE-BASED HATE CRIMES AND ALL OF LIFE’S TRIALS

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Did I ever mention that I am a mother of three daughters and that I have eight grandsons? Well, YES I am and honestly I cannot believe it sometimes that I am an official empty nester...YAHOO!

HALLELUJAH! YAHOO! HALLELUJAH!

Mother’s Day is coming soon and I realize there are many of us who may be in mourning due to the loss of their mom, grandmother, sister, or aunt who may have been most dear to you in caring for you. Me and mom are VERY CLOSE, and I lost my grandmother in 2016, of whom I both cherished. In our large extended family my two great aunts passed away as well. I would like to give you the following prayer:

A Mother’s Day Prayer to Honor and Bless Moms Heavenly Father,

I speak this prayer to you now in gratitude and praise for the gift of mothers. My mother, those of my friends, relatives, those I’ll never know, all mothers. Thank you for the role they play in the family unit. Thank you for their teachings, their wisdom, their patience, and understanding. Thank you for the physical, emotional, and spiritual gifts they possess. I pray that you help mothers all across the world to be a blessing upon their children. Whether delivering affirmation or discipline, I pray that you help every word and action to be done in love. And I pray that children throughout the world would take time to honor their mothers, that you would show them how to uniquely do so.

I pray that these mothers also act as a blessing beyond their households, reaching into their extended families, communities, churches, schools. I pray that the impact of

motherhood is revered throughout society and that these women are acknowledged for their everyday impact on the world. May you guide each of them into fulfilling their purpose here on Earth. Amen. - Aaron

D. Brown

I hope you enjoy this special edition issue of THE HUB as it is filled with rich articles covering some fantastic events that took place in National Women’s History Month. And, CeCe Winans offers us some great wisdom in her exclusive interview with Michael P. Coleman with a roadmap for passing on faith to the next generation.

True Blessings!

Pleshette Robertson

CEO and Founder Sac Cultural Hub Media Company and Foundation facebook.com/pleshettemarie

Source: www.christianity.com/wiki/prayer/beautiful-prayers-for-moms-this-mothers-day.html

14

CENTERSTAGE

8 | GOSPEL LEGEND CECE WINANS OFFERS A BALM FOR MANAGING THE EFFECTS OF RACE-BASED HATE CRIMES AND ALL OF LIFE’S TRIALS — AND A ROADMAP FOR PASSING ON FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION

DID YOU KNOW?

10 | “ITS PERSONAL NOT BUSINESS” ACTIVISTS TRAVEL TO LONDON DEMANDING MULTI-NATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANIES STOP KILLING BLACKS

WERE YOU THERE?

12 | “HEAL THE WORLD! STOP THE HATE!” TOWNHALL ON HATE CRIMES DELIVERED SEVERAL DROP THE MIC’ MOMENTS

14 | 4BESTFRIENDS ONLY 2ND ANNUAL SOIREE

20 | MARCH 25 - SALUTE TO BLACK 26 WOMEN BUSINESS CONFERENCE AT THE HYATT REGENCY LAX HOTEL

22 | THE “SAME GAME DIFFERENT SMOKER” EVENT AT SACRAMENTO BLACK EXPO SHOWCASED THE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

24 | SOUL OF SAC

26 | KRS1 @ HARLOWS ON MARCH 25

27 | HUNDREDS UNIT ON THE MOVE!

30 | Navigating Black California

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Founder’s Room

35 Things To Do, Places To Go

35 Advertiser Index

Inside every issue of THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine there are things to do, places to go and people to see, with a calendar of events, spotlight and feature articles on major event reviews, career profiles and business services. This magazine celebrates the urban lifestyle of African-Americans living in Northern California.

Northern California’s Most Popular Urban Entertainment Magazine

ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY

2006

Digital online issue available at: issuu.com/thehubmag

Mailing Address 7902 Gerber Road, #367 • Sacramento, CA 95828

Ph 916.234.3589 | Fax 866.302.6429

E-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com

CHIEF EDITOR, CEO & FOUNDER – SACCULTURALHUB.COM

Pleshette Robertson | pleshette@sacculturalhub.com

ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TEAM

Twlia Laster | 916.662.3502 • twlia@sacculturalhub.com

Lesley Leatherwood | 916.838.9267 • leatherwoodmarketing@yahoo.com

Michael P. Coleman | 916.715.2996 • mcoleman@sacculturalhub.com

NEWS REPORTERS

Neketia Henry | Keadrian Belcher-Harris

Donna Michele Ramos

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michael P. Coleman | Kelby McIntosh

Donna Ramos | Valarie Scruggs

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Lesley Leatherwood

PHOTOGRAPHY

Rayford Johnson | 916.868.7048

Khiry Malik | Magiceyephotos.com 916.730.5405

Creative Touch Media Services (CT Media)

Robert Briley | 916.579.4555

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Heather Niemann | Tingible Design • heather@tingible.com

COVER PHOTO: Cmon Creative

Circulation

THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine has an estimated readership of more than 500,000 African American residents in Northern California. Copies are available at numerous storefront locations and distributed quarterly: Winter, Summer, Fall and Fall.

Advertising THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine offers affordable rates to meet your business needs and marketing budget. Ads are due 45 days prior to the next issue. Call (916) 234-3589 or e-mail contact@ sacculturalhub.com.

Letters to the Editor Letters should include the writer’s full name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or style. Name and address may be withheld upon

Mail to: THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine, 7902 Gerber Road, #367, Sacramento, CA 95828.

THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine is printed quarterly in the United States. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustration without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine. THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine is not responsible for errors and omissions in regard to content of ads in which events were cancelled or rescheduled, or phones that have changed abruptly.

CECE WINANS

OFFERS A BALM FOR MANAGING THE EFFECTS OF RACE-BASED HATE CRIMES AND ALL OF LIFE’S TRIALS — AND A ROADMAP FOR PASSING ON FAITH TO THE NEXT GENERATION

By Michael P Coleman, Freelance Writer

When the Sac Cultural Hub’s CEO, Pleshette Robertson, asked me about whether gospel legend CeCe Winans would make a good spokesperson for the state of California’s “Stop The Hate! Heal The World!” campaign, focused on race-based hate crimes, a few words came to mind. And those words were not from one of Winans’ songs.

Although they easily could have, as Winans’ decades-long catalog of charttoppers and heart-lifters includes songs like “Waging War.” One could hardly argue that a war is being fought against those who seem to be more comfortable in spewing hatred against African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Latinos, and members of the LGBT community than they have been in decades.

But my mind went directly to scripture when I pondered how we could heal the world, in preparation for reaching out to Winans.

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

Healing may just come from turning inward while looking upward.

What’s most remarkable about that revelation may be the fact that I didn’t grow up in church, as Winans did. But I practically grew up listening to her family’s music, starting with her older brothers’ “The Question Is” in 1981, followed by her own inaugural hit with another of her brothers, “I.O.U. Me,” in 1987.

It’s been CeCe’s musical output, with a solo career that spans over 25 years, that has literally brought millions of gospel music fans through many valleys of the shadow of death. Many of us have experienced such shadows, along with ebbs in our mood and mental health, since we have battled a global pandemic while our country has been embroiled in a wave of hate crimes, some of which we spurred and encouraged by the then President of the United States.

So I couldn’t think of anyone better to turn to than Winans, who, to my mind, put the “gospel” in BeBe & CeCe before embarking on her aforementioned solo career, co-founding and co-pastoring Nashville Life Church in Tennessee, and returning to recording, including her current album, her

Photo Credit / Cmon Creative

stunning, multiple Grammy-winning “Believe For It.” It’s no surprise that Winans is the best-selling and most awarded female gospel artist of all time!

Nor is it surprising that, according to Winans, that same Bible that gave me the inspiration for this piece offers a roadmap for weathering tough times.

“My faith has taken me through every storm that I’ve faced, and every storm that I will ever face,” Winans recently told Hoda Kotb from “The Today Show.”

“Whatever you feed the most and meditate on the most, that’s going to be the loudest.”

“But pain is pain,” Winans said, echoing what we’re all feeling, “and it’s rough. You go though it one day at a time. I remember when I lost my second eldest brother, and watching my parents. No parent should bury their child. I watched how they walked through it. It was pretty astounding to me.”

“I remember when my brother took his last breath,” Winans said. “My father’s first response was his hands went up. We were all crying, and right away, he began to thank the Lord for the years that we had with Ronald. He shifted the whole atmosphere to gratitude, before depression could come in.”

“I remember my sister asking me how we were going to make it without Ronald,” Winans continued. “I said ‘I do not know. This took us by surprise, but I know the God we serve, and this did not take Him by surprise. We’re gonna trust Him to carry us through.”

“Every day, you don’t know how you’re going to make it to the next day, but you wake up and realize you’re still here. And then it’s amazing how He starts to heal your heart.”

Winans dug a little deeper, offering concrete examples for people still managing the direct effects of trauma, like those suffered by victims of hate crimes, and those of us experiencing the secondary trauma that often comes when we witness such events, either in person or via the media. I, for one, wonder whether I can watch one more second of dash cam footage of a black man being stalked and murdered.

“First of all, I’d encourage people to breathe,” Winans said. “Because you’re still here. As long as you are breathing, there’s still hope. I love to encourage people to remember that God loves them. You’re loved, you’re on God’s mind, and because of that, there’s hope.”

“So don’t give in, and don’t give up,” Winans urged. “Just keep moving. You have to keep going, because it will get better tomorrow. Even though things are altered, and don’t look the same way you thought they would look, the purpose and the plan for your life remains the same.”

The seemingly unshakable faith that has kept the 59-yearold Winans for all of these years is being passed on, not just during conversations with people like me and live performances all over the world, but in every loving word of her latest book, “Believe For It: Passing On Faith To The Next Generation.”

“The book is so powerful to me,” Winans told me last fall, as she was embarking on her standing-room-only “Believe For It” tour and preparing for what would be a standingroom-only stop in Sacramento.

“It’s a message and a movement that I pray people will embrace,” Winans said. “Those of us who are here today [are here] because of those who went before us [who] took out time to pour into us, to teach us what was right and what was wrong, and to be there to encourage us.

I was a kid, and now I’m the mother of the church! It’s time for us to make sure that we’re passing the baton, and we are pouring into these young people after us, so that the faith of God, [and] the message of Jesus Christ, will continue after we’re long gone.”

As we wrapped up our chat, Winans offered a final, practical strategy for weathering life’s storms that we can all employ.

“Laughter’s important,” said the woman with the most infectious laugh that this writer has ever heard. “I laugh a lot! The Bible says laughter’s like a medicine. Laughter will take you through some hard times.”

I typically don’t fact-check a legend, but we live in a world where you have to fact-check the President of the United States (hi there, Donald), so I knew Winans wouldn’t mind. And she was right:

“A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” - Proverbs 17:22

Thanks, CeCe!

You can find Winans’ latest book, “Believe For It: Passing On Faith To The Next Generation” wherever you buy your books.

You can find Winans’ latest album, “Believe For It,” featuring the chart-toppers “Never Lost,” “Goodness Of God,” and the title track, wherever you buy or stream music.

For details on Winans’ current tour, and her 2023 Generations Live virtual conference, go to CeCeWinans.com.

You can connect with freelance writer and Winans Family “Super Fan” Michael P Coleman at MichaelPColeman.com, or follow him on Twitter or IG: @ColemanMichaelP

“A CHEERFUL HEART IS A GOOD MEDICINE, BUT A CRUSHED SPIRIT DRIES UP THE BONES.”PROVERBS 17:22

“ITS PERSONAL NOT BUSINESS” ACTIVISTS TRAVEL TO LONDON DEMANDING MULTI-NATIONAL TOBACCO COMPANIES STOP KILLING

BLACKS

Submitted by African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council

In August 2020, California became the second state in the nation, after Massachusetts, to pass a broad law prohibiting the sale of menthol and most flavored tobacco products. Days later the implementation of Senate Bill 793 was blocked by a tobacco industry orchestrated referendum that forced the measure to go before the voters. But in November 2022, California voters upheld bi-partisan Senate Bill 793, yes California voters showed up and showed out and overwhelmingly voted to uphold the law and take these deadly addictive products off the market. This was a huge step forward in preventing the deaths of the 45,000 Black souls lost each year to tobacco induced diseases. However, before the products were off the shelves tobacco companies introduced new “non-menthol” products that chemically mimic the sensation and properties of menthol. Multinational tobacco companies continue to use their tried ¬and true strategy to circumvent public health laws ….delay….delay…..delay. They know that every year of delay allows them to addict millions of lifelong customers.

The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) has been at the forefront of the national movement to stop the tobacco industry from racistly and perniciously targeting the Black community. AATCLC efforts have included working in cities and states across the country to assist them in banning these products and bringing a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration to compel them to act on the federal level.

One of the most important and critical efforts has been educating and engaging African American leadership organizations and the community at large to pushback against the constant systematic and strategic tobacco industry tactics targeting Black people. These tactics are many but include using Black elected officials, clergy, and other spokepersons to cynically exploit the legitimate fears

and grievances of U.S. Blacks concerning enforcement and implementation of menthol bans. Tobacco companies whose products are the biggest killers of Black people seek to block public health policy at any cost and and incite the Black community to turn inward and fight each other, while they keep collecting their profits.

“Though this is ‘just business’ for them, the 45,000 Black lives lost each year because of their racist targeting are very personal to us,” said Twlia Laster, Project Director of Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places and co-founding AATCLC member. Laster is part of a delegation of African American women, led by the AATCLC who will attend the British American Tobacco (BAT) shareholders meeting this April (4/19/2023) in London, England. BAT wholly owns U.S. based Reynolds American International, the makers of Newport cigarettes. The delegation is taking the fight to the invisible people behind the veiled curtain, the Board of Directors of this multi-national corporation. They are the power brokers who sit behind the scenes, playing with Black lives likes pawns on a chessboard.

DELEGATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN, LED BY THE AATCLC

Though a lot of the coverage on menthol has been centered in the U.S., it is important to note that international tobacco companies work tirelessly to market and sell their products to people of all races and ages – including kids – across the globe, full well knowing the harm, death, and destruction they bring. BAT also works tirelessly to undermine public health and tobacco prevention in Africa as well.

Though the U.K., Canada, Ethiopia, Japan and the European Union have banned the sale of mentholated tobacco products, tobacco companies persist in doing everything they can to keep block public health policies that will protect Black people in the U.S. “When we are

The AATCLC

Created to inform the direction of tobacco control policy, practices, and priorities, the AATCLC works at the intersection of public health policy and social injustice. They have fought resolutely against the decades of racialized tobacco industry targeting of the Black community and the resulting 45,000 Black lives lost each year from tobacco-induced diseases. The AATCLC has been at the forefront of the U.S. movement to restrict the sale of mentholated tobacco products, assisting municipalities across the country. In 2020, the AATCLC, the Action on Smoking and Health, the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association filed an administrative lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its failure to take mentholated tobacco products off the market. The lawsuit prompted the FDA to begin the arduous rule-making process that is expected to finally take deadly menthol and little cigars off the market in spring of 2023. In 2022, the AATCLC worked arduously with other tobacco control advocates to make California the second U.S. state to ban the sale of mentholated and flavored tobacco products. www.savingblacklives.org

targeted by the tobacco company based on our race, gender, or sexual orientation our basic human right to health is being violated.” said Minou Jones, Founder and CEO, Making it Count Community Development Corporation. “The purpose of our mission is to call international attention to BAT’s violations of the International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Their decades long racist targeting of the Black community violates this United Nations treaty,” said Carol McGruder, Co-Chair of the AATCLC. n

Making it Count CDC

Making it Count CDC is committed to increasing health equity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Since 2020, MIC has worked to educate and empower communities about tobacco-related health disparities in Michigan, where 16,200 people die annually as a result of tobacco-related disease. African Americans are disproportionately impacted. and youth are the tobacco’s new target for future tobacco revenues. For 30 years, communities in Michigan have been unable to pass local ordinances to protect the health of residents from tobacco marketing and sales due to pre-emption language in the Michigan Tobacco Act. While the FDA announced plans to move forward with banning menthol, the toll of death and disease continues to grow. More than 45,000 Black Lives are lost to tobacco related disease each year. MIC is working with local, state, and and national partners including the AATLC to put power back in the hands of people who have been left out of protections from the tobacco industry. www.umakeitcount.org

Carol McGruder Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council

Dr. Valerie Yerger Co-Chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council

Minou Jones Founder and CEO of Making it Count Community Development Corporation

Twlia Laster Project Director of Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places and co-founding AATCLC member

Pleshette Robertson Community Engagement Coordinator, Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke Free Safe Places and AATCLC member

“HEAL THE WORLD! STOP THE HATE!” TOWNHALL ON HATE CRIMES DELIVERED SEVERAL DROP THE MIC’ MOMENTS

By Michael P Coleman

Continuing a tradition of assembling our region’s greatest thought leaders in conversation about issues germane to communities of color, the Sac Cultural Hub Media Company & Foundation recently hosted a live virtual event, “Heal The World! Stop The Hate!”

The event’s panel featured Daniel Hahn, retired City of Sacramento Chief of Police and Dean of the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Center at American River College; Kiii, an emerging music artist, producer, and label owner; Mary J. LomaxGhirarduzzi, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of the Pacific; and Betty Williams, President of the Greater Sacramento NAACP and owner of 1 Solution of California Outreach & Recruitment Firm.

“Heal The World! Stop The Hate” was hosted by Senior Minister and CEO of Unity of Sacramento, Rev. Kevin Ross and was broadcast via Facebook Live. The event was sponsored by SMUD, with additional support from the California Public Library and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.

After a brief introduction by Sac Cultural Hub Media Company and Foundation founder Pleshette Robertson and a short video that provided context for the conversation on hate crimes — there’s been a 25% increase in hate crimes over the last 10 years, and a 31% increase between 2019 and 2020 — Ross posed an over arching question for the panelists: “How can we as conscious citizens make this a world of peace?”

Williams was first to address that question, referencing the sharp increase in the number of hate crime calls flooding her NAACP office. “They’re nasty, and at a different level than we’ve seen in the past,” she said.

“Just prior to this meeting, just 30 minutes ago, two calls came in that included ‘the N word’,” Williams continued. “Those are hate incidents, as there’s been no physical harm or destruction of property. We need to educate people that hate crime is a crime. We’ve been working with Sacramento County and a number of school districts, because current school codes only include students, and our teachers and staff are being attacked, too. We’re also looking at housing, and some of the [hate-based] laws that are still on the books.”

Williams attributed her office’s increase in hate crime calls to what she calls “the browning of America.”

“We’re browning in Sacramento. We’re browning in California. Our school districts are browning,” Williams said. “To some people, they’re losing control. They’re losing power.”

After being asked to clarify whether the people of whom she spoke were whites who hold positions of power, Williams delivered the event’s first “drop the mic” moment.

“That’s absolutely who I’m talking about,” Williams said. “The minority is now the new majority. That old majority is losing its footing. That creates fear, and fear is ignorance, which creates hate.”

Lomax-Ghirarduzzi’s talk centered around systemic issues of racism that our society has, in her estimation, “never dealt with.”

“Those issues are embedded in the legislation that has guided public policy,” Lomax-Ghirarduzzi said, “which creates the cultures we see at schools and in the workplace. There is an onslaught of change that is happening. Every year, schools are getting more diverse, and the professional workplace isn’t matching that, [with] people saying mean things to each other. Sometimes the

incident doesn’t rise to the level of a hate crime, but you’ve harmed someone.”

Hahn said the distinction between a hate incident (many of which are protected under the Constitution’s First Amendment) and a hate crime is incidental.

“To call something a hate crime, you have to have facts that you can present in court,” Hahn shared. “Whether it’s a hate crime or not is irrelevant. It’s still harmful, and it’s limiting our ability to be successful as a country.”

Hahn also shared a lack of surprise about the sharp increase in hate crimes, citing periods in our nation’s history when hate has grown during difficult times. He used the moment to help attendees connect the dots between events in our nation’s history and hate.

“If you look at the rise of the [Ku Klux] Klan, the Civil Rights Movement, the Great Depression…with COVID and [recent] social justice movements, we’ve had a hard time,” Hahn said. “If you know history, you know that some of these hateful things are going to grow. People need someone to blame.”

Kiii wrapped the panel discussion up with his view about music having the potential to be “socially empowering, especially when combating racism” and that the current state of hip hop “…isn’t in alignment with moving forward.” He cited Vice Staples, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole as artists who should be one’s “go tos” if one is looking for social responsibility in hip hop.

“[Music carries] the power of the tongue,” Kiii said. “We have to be responsible to narrate the world we’re living in. Hip hop doesn’t naturally address or resist hate crimes, but I see the value in the potential of it being a tool.” n

If you think that you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, contact the federal Department of Justice toll-free at 877-433-9069 or the Sacramento NAACP at 916-856-0155.

Daniel Hahn teaches a class on “critical race theory,” which he insists should be referred to as “history!” Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Kiii’s new album, “Reap What You Sow,” will be released on all digital platforms on March 10.

Connect with freelance content creator Michael P Coleman at michaelpcoleman.com, on IG or Twitter (@ColemanMichaelP), or on LinkedIn.

GET FINANCIALLY CONNECTED

Greater Sacramento Financial Literacy Group (GSFLG) was created to educate, support and empower each other for the economic wealth and growth of our community and to help shape the future generation of wealth.

Financial literacy is the possession of the set of skills and knowledge that lets a person make informed and efficient choices with their financial resources. All people touch money and the manner in which an individual uses it is up to him or her but not being properly informed on how to make, save and invest can spell disaster.

For the Black community, it is necessary to change the habits of being consumers to becoming investors and entrepreneurs. Learning financial skills such as investing, stock trading, saving and what it takes to start a business, you are better preparing for the future and securing a financial legacy for your family.

Learn more about virtual meetings held via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

www.facebook.com/GSFLG18

www.gsflg.org

4BESTFRIENDS ONLY 2ND ANNUAL SOIREE

4Best Friends Only brand presented the 2nd annual Soiree at Arden Hills Resort & Spa on March 19, 2023. Over 250 women of color celebrated friendship while unlocking the keys to friendship, business, and balance. Co-owners Tresla Gilbreath, Jennifer Powers Latasha Thompson and Tavia Jenkins showed the crowd what thirty plus years of friendship looks like with still standing strong. The 4bestfriends shared their keys to a successful lifelong commitment to respect, loyalty, forgiveness, trust, communication, love, and support. They welcomed special guest host - Phoenix White, along with panel speakers:

Roxanne Avent-Taylor- Co-Founder Hidden Empire Film Group

Tonya Thompson- Co-Founder Dreamgirls Hair

Minnie Nguyen- Executive Chef & Five X Restaurant Owner

Pleshette Robertson - Founder Sac Cultural Hub & THE HUB Magazine

Maisha Bahati- Co-Founder Crystal Nugs

Honorees acknowledged and receiving awards included:

Black Women in Legislation

• Assemblywoman Lori Wilson

• Assemblywoman Mia Bonta

• Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

• State Controller Malia Cohen

Special Community Ambassador

• Keadrian Belcher-Harris

• Veronica Bryant-Curry

• Cleo Cartel

• Veronica A. Smith

• Pleshette Robertson

• Shalicia Lashaye Torbert

photo credits: Kobee Byrd – YES YES Productions

photo credits: Kobee Byrd – YES YES Productions

photo credits: Kobee Byrd – YES YES Productions

WERE YOU THERE?

photo credits: Khiry Malik – Magic Eye

WERE YOU THERE?

photo credits: Khiry Malik – Magic Eye

WERE YOU THERE?

EVENT CREDITS

Photographers

• Sean Twonmey- 2MEART.COM

• Kobee Byrd- YES-YES PRODUCTIONS

• Khiry Moore-MAGICEYEPHOTOS.COM

• Michael Parks

Very Special Thank you

• To our incredible Planning CommitteeTemeca Tisby and Michelle Michael

• Jazmine Tucker

• Regia Schauer

• Christina Clark

• To our Male Volunteer Staff - Michael Blair; Keith Powers; Travis Green; Derrick Dennis; Randall Ogans; Richard “Tex” Williams; Marcel Wilson; Damon Banks; James Epperson; Rasheed Vanzant

• Youth & Young Adult Volunteers: Skylar Drew; April Green; Saray White; Noglia Horton; Honesty Hunter; JuJu

Balloons and room decoration: Her Kreations Events- Deana White @herkreationsevents

Photobooth, Sparklers, Smoke: Powers

Luxury Events - Jennifer Powers @ powersluxuryevents

Makeup Artist: Regal B Makeup & LashesBrittany West and Crissvonnne Makeup & Lashes- Christine Edwards

Vip Gift Bag Items

• Dawyna Walker - Slay body butter, hand & foot butter

• Jazmine Tyson @jazzedupsweets

• Dipped Strawberries

• Nadia @Nadibutter

• Body butters

• Tavia Jenkins- Double Take Hair Gallery Satin bonnet, wig combs, satin pillow case

• Jazmine Tucker - Bath & Body hand soap, body spray, body lotion

Raffle Prize Giveaways

• Katryna Lewis -Kpearl Kollections- Satin bonnet, oil, candle

• Pretty Perfect Creations - Heel shoes centerpieces

• Hope Brown - Elizabeth Hope Brown

• Est. Fourteen Forty - One Publishing Gift basket

• Sharie Wilson - DreamGirls Healthy Hair Care Products

• Destiny Oliphant - Trophy Beauty Discount gift cards

• FAITH SOAP - Gift Box

• Mela Wine - 10% coupon codes

www.facebook.com/4bestfriendsonlybrand

photo credits: Khiry Malik – Magic Eye

Yesterday ’s Black Business Association “Salute to Black Women” in honor of Women’s History Month was phenomenal. Thank you Sarah Harris, President of the BBA for the opportunity of Season of Greatness and Forgiving For Living to speak into the lives of women and girls. We had a great day speaking about business, purpose, making good decisions, discipline, health, role models for success and so much more. Many of us were encouraged to push a reset button if necessary and keep it moving. Thank you Cynthia Mitchell Heard

Sabra Marie Denise Pines Tammy Tumbling

Regina Wilson Kim Anthony Celeste Alleyne

Christina Dove Christiáne Chanel Queta Denise

Letari Martin Tera Hilliard Kanisha Bennett

@Dawnchelle Holmes Mignon Blanc Sabra

Diogioes-Waddy Tanness Walker Edna Sims

Yolanda Williams and all guest that came out to support Georgia Zachary Regeanie Corona

@Belynda and Jasmyne Harris Crystel Coleman

@Qiana Charles Teresa Samaniego Rhonda

Carter @Nicole Foote-Buchanan and Nytalia

@Lisa Baxter Keta Graham Davis and so many more. Thank you! #SeasonOfGreatness #SOGCircle #BBA ##SalutetoBkackWomen

Please check out my https://linktr.ee/coachwendysenterprise

Thank you! #SeasonOfGreatness #SOGCircle #BBA

Wendy Gladney March 26 7:41 am

Cynthia Mitchell Heard March 26 8:56 am

The Black Business Association “Salute to Black Women” in honor of Women’s History Month was phenomenal. Thank you Sarah Harris, President of the BBA and Wendy Gladney, Season of Greatness & Forgiving For Living. It was an honor to participate in the incredible panel with amazing women and sister friends Celeste Alleyne, Denise Pines Tammy Tumbling and Regina Wilson

THE “SAME GAME DIFFERENT SMOKER” EVENT AT SACRAMENTO BLACK EXPO SHOWCASED THE HORRIBLE HISTORY OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Submitted by Students of Valley High School’s Health Tech Academy

The AATCLC, AMPLIFY, and Saving Our Legacy work with the youth to amplify the info on big tobacco effects and strategies of whom came together in partnership to present vital historical information at the 35th Anniversary of the Sacramento Black History Month Black Expo from Feb 24-26, 2023 at Hyatt Regency. Students of Valley High School’s Health Tech Academy joined Twlia Laster, a founder of The SOL Project, and Pleshette Robertson, CEO of Saculturalhub.com and Chief Editor of THE HUB Magazine to present an art exhibition demonstrating the ways tobacco companies have changed their ever-evolving advertisements in order to influence African Americans and other populations.

Tobacco has negatively impacted people’s lives. Whether it’s by being influenced by the media, marketing, or peer pressure, it has brought many deaths rapidly over time which has only increased deadly diseases that are brought upon by consuming tobacco like cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The tobacco industry has been targeting minorities with different flavors that attract certain communities. For instance, for the Hispanic/Latino community, there have been flavors like horchata and for children, there have been cereal flavors. By releasing those flavors to the

public it is easier for many teens and kids to be curious about the flavors causing them to want to get a hold of one. Not only are the flavors attracting people but the hiphop industry is known for smoking in their music videos which is influencing many teens to be like them.

After a certain amount of time-consuming tobacco, it has made it harder for people to escape their addiction. Which is why The Sol Project is bringing awareness into the community by educating the public so we can all put an end to the tobacco industry. n

For more information on the event please contact Twlia Laster, Project Director, Saving Our Legacy, African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places. 888.774.7685 ext. 100 or Twlia@thesolproject.com

For more information online please visit http://www.thesolproject.com/

Health Tech Academy is a pathway offered at Valley High School which exposes students interested in healthcare to a variety of opportunities such as community events, internships, and allows them to gain their CHW certification if all requirements are passed. Founded in 2007, the name Saving Our Legacy (SOL) was derived from community advocates Julius Bankston, Roxie Mason, Jolean French and Carol McGruder who, alongside the founders, Kimberly Bankston-Lee and Twlia Laster share a collective vision for improving health among African Americans and other populations who suffer disproportionately as a result of social conditions and tobacco use in Sacramento County.

WERE YOU THERE?

WERE YOU THERE?

SOUL OF SAC

Soul of Sac presented at Harlows on March 19th by Conscious Vibes, Blueprynt Entertainment and MarkeyTown with awards presented to Venetia James (Art & Dance) and Pleshette Robertson (Art & Journalism).

www.facebook.com/people/Conscious-Vibes-Presents

1:23 100%

WERE YOU THERE?

12.55 100%

Christi H. Ketchum March 19

Damond Owens March 20

I would like to thank everyone that came out and supported Soul of Sac at Harlow's with Jakeem Ali, Basi Vibe, and More last night at Harlow’s. Y’all really came out and showed support for what was an amazing night of entertainment. I would also like to thank the amazing talent that hit the stage. Starting with our amazing host Lance Woods bringing the laughter throughout the night. And specials thanks to the vocalist Tone Malone, Jakeem J Ali Jones, Sebastian Basi and Yardley Griffin. And not to mention the Ladies of BluPrynt Melanie Owens, Camille LaTesha Cotton and Cierra Gordon what an amazing line up. I also have to give props to the BluPrynt Band that held every singer DOWN. With Jasmine Williams on Keys, Stefon DuBose on drums, David Ryabov on guitar and Christopher McEwen on Bass. And it was a pleasure to honor Pleshette Robertson for the Art of Journalism and Venetia James for the Art of Dance.. Last but not least it was an honor to join forces with Mark Hall of Markey Town Presents with Douglas Antoine and Andre Henley of Conscious Vibes.. Dope night fellas. Like

You and 233 others

44 Comments Comment

Celebrating two one of a kind Black Women I love, support and RESPECT….Venetia James and Pleshette Robertson at the THE SOUL OF SAC event. A Beautiful and Classic Night of R and B/Soul Music #BlackExcellence Like

You and 245 others

24 Comments Comment

Name:

Billing Name:

DID YOU KNOW?

NAVIGATING BLACK CALIFORNIA

Directory of Black MEDIA News Groups in California

Bay Area Registry

www.bayarearegistry.com

BlackNLA

www.blacknla.com

Black Cultural Events www.blackculturalevents.com

Black Voice News blackvoicenews.com

California Black Media cablackmedia.org

The Gospel Vine www.thegospelvine.com

Inland Valley News inlandvalleynews.com

LA Focus ourweekly.com

West Side Story Newspaper westsidestorynewspaper.com

Bakersfield News Group facebook.com/bakersfieldnewsobserver

Inglewood News Today inglewoodtoday.com

L.A. Sentinel lasentinel.net

L.A. Watts Times lawattstimes.com

The Oakland Post oaklandpostonline.com Compton Herald comptonherald.org

OnMe News onmenews.com

Pace Newspaper pacenewsonline.com

Pasadena Journal pasadenajournal.com

BLACK RADIO STATIONS

• Los Angeles - KJLH 102.3 FM kjlhradio.com

• Bay Area - KBLX 102.9 FM kblx.com

• Sacramento - KDEE 97.5 FM kdeefm.org

• Central Valley - 1001.FM Mega 100 mega100fm.iheart.com

Precinct Reporter precinctreporter.com

Sacramento Observer sacobserver.com

San Bernardino American sbamerican.com

San Francisco Bay View sfbayview.com

Sun Reporter sunreporter.com

Tri County Sentry tricountysentry.com

THE HUB’s Favorite Nationwide Black News Groups

• Essence.com

• TheGrio.com

• BlackDoctor.org

• HelloBeautiful.com

• Huffpost.com/Voices/Black-Voices

• Sisters from AARP - sistersletter.com

• The African History Network facebook.com/TheAfricanHistoryNetworkFanpage

NAVIGATING BLACK CALIFORNIA

Directory of BLACK ASSOCIATION GROUPS in the Greater Sacramento Valley Region and Beyond

100 Black Men of Sacramento 100bmsac.org

African-Americans for Balanced Health aabh.net

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. norcal-alphas1906.com

Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC) bapacsd.org

Black Sistahs Making Friends facebook.com/groups/1091392134541999

Black Small Business Association of California facebook.com/BSBACA

Black Women for Wellness bwwla.org

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) bwopatileleads.org

California Black Chamber of Commerce calbcc.org

California Legisative Black Caucus blackcaucus.legislature.ca.gov

Centers for Fathers & Families cffsacramento.org

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Sacramento Alumnae Chapter sacramentoalumnaedst.org

Elk Grove Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. dstegac.org

Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sacramento Chapter etagammaomega.org

Greater Sacramento Urban League gsul.org

National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter sacramentoncbw.org

National Council of Negro Women, Sacramento Chapter svsncnw.org

Neighborhood Innovation https://www.neighborhoodinnovation.com

Roberts Family Development Center robertsfdc.org

Sac Black Biz www.sacblackbiz.biz

Sacramento ACT sacact.org

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

Sacramento Area Black Golf Club sabgc.org

Sacramento Area Black Caucus facebook.com/sacramentoarea.blackcaucus

Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce sacblackchamber.org

Sacramento Chapter of The Links sacramentolinksinc.org

Sacramento Chapter of the NAACP facebook.com/SacNAACP

Sacramento Kappa Psi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sacramentozetas.org

Sacramento Realtist Association sacramentorealtist.com

Sacramento Sister Circle facebook.com/groups/TheSisterCircle

Sojourner Truth African American Heritage Museum sojoartsmuseum.org

Voices of Youth voiceoftheyouth.com

Just a reminder from THE HUB to support our local soul food restaurants in an around the Sacramento Region. Dine in and/or order for delivery and pick up.

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant (916) 481-1580

Candies Kitchen 916.439.9922

Cora Lorraines (Colos) 916-692-8948

D’s Smoking Pit 916-993-9428

Daddyo’s Smokehouse 916-821-9020

Dubplate Kitchen & Jamaican Cuisine 916-339-6978

Ermajeans Southern Cuisine Restaurant & Catering 530-749-9651

Family Pizza Take n Bake 916-333-3397

Fixins Soul Kitchen 916-999-7685

Flower’s Fish Market 916-456-0719

Louisiana Heaven 916-689-4800

Macque’s Barbeque (South Sac Location) 916-381-4119

Macque’s Barbeque (Elk Grove Location) 916-714-2910

Mo’Betta Finger Foods On Wheels 916-307-9511

Mommas Market 916-524-2782

MoMo’s Meat Market 916-452-0202

Ms. Robin’s House of Que (916) 389-0707

Muhammads Meats Vegetables and Desserts (415) 862-8997

Play Makers Toucha Class Restaurant 916.451.1786

Q1227 Restaurant 916.899.5146

Queen Sheba 916-446-1223

South Restaurant 916-382-9722

Stage Coach 916-422-9296

Toris Place Soul Food 916-646-6038

www.sacculturalhub.com/entertainment/headlines/supporting-our-local-soul-food-restaurants-in-sacramento

BLACK HAIR SALON & BARBERSHOP DIRECTORY IN AND AROUND SACRAMENTO

24K Salon & Spa

5031 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95820

(916) 579-6284

Another Look Hair Salon and Barber Shop

6666 Valley Hi Dr

Sacramento, CA 95823

(916) 688-7505

Ashley Jayes Beauty Bar

5211 Elkhorn Blvd

Sacramento, CA (916) 420-8208

Axis Barber Shop

2850 Northgate Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 800-3233

Bohemian Aesthetic Atelier

106 L St # 1

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 822-2646

Charmed Lashes & Beauty Bar

621 L St Capitol Mall Alley

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 936-2015

Crystal’s Hair Salon

9117 E. Stockton Blvd Suite 100 (916) 549-8972

Darryl’s Hair Studio & Spa

6801 Fair Oaks Blvd

(916) 600 3736

Design R Touch Hair Salon

1510 16th St #106

(916) 968-8935

Diva Glam Spa Parties

2425 20th St (916) 272-5609

Double Take Hair Gallery 1007 12th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 451-4600

Dominick’s Family of Industries Salon and Barber

3400 Bradshaw Rd A3

Sacramento, CA 95827

(916) 346-4616

Dream Girls Fine Hair Imports Salon

9090 Elk Grove Blvd

Elk Grove, CA 95624 (916) 686-5030

Dutch’d Couture Extension Studio

621 Capitol Mall

(Inside Sola Salons) (916) 821-4747

E Z Style & Supply Barbershop

3731 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95820 (916) 822-5081

Exclusive Hair Design 930 Alhambra Blvd #150

Sacramento, CA 95816

(916) 498-8374

Express Weave Bar

3526 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95820

(916) 823-5770

Exquisite U Beauty Boutique

2550 Valley Rd. #9

Sacramento, CA 95821 (916) 338-1137

Fadem Up Barbershop

3824 Stockton Blvd

Sacramento, CA 95820

(916) 544-4062

Fadez on 20th

2423 20th St

Sacramento, CA 95818

(916) 457-7913

Hair Eco Salon

6845 Five Star Blvd Ste E Rocklin, CA, 95677 (916) 242-9939

www.hairecosalon.com

Hasheem The Barber

1510 16th Street Ste 124

Inside Phenix Salon Studios

Sacramento, CA 95814

(703) 200-2780

Immaculate Cuts Barbershop

U.S. Bank Tower, Suite#2 (Inside Sola Salons) 621 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 271-3639

J Style in Co. Wellness & Beauty

6720 Fair Oaks Blvd Suite 103 (916) 346-7203

J. Rosé Hair Salon

6720 Madison Ave Ste 6 Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916) 967-7673

J’s Remixed Hair Design

2740 Arden Way Ste 224

Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 822-2825

Kajmir Hair Studio/I Twist Sacramento 1910 16th St Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 444-9370

Keela Hair Studio & Extension Boutique 2527 J St Sacramento, CA 95816 (916) 376-7906

Kingofcurls

4751 Freeport Blvd, ste B Sacramento, CA 95822 (916) 736-0808

Kings Joint 1900 Terracina Dr Ste 120 Sacramento, CA 95834 (916) 571-5711

Margarets Hair Gallery 1610 Fulton Ave Sacramento, CA 95825 margaretshairsalon.com

Marichal Salon, Barber Shop & Suites 2648 Del Paso Blvd Sacramento, CA 95815 (916) 226-7099

Mo Better Hair Salon & Barber 10401 Folsom Blvd Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 (916) 364-3400

My Beauty Bar & Spa 9108 Laguna Main St Elk Grove, CA 95758 (916) 684-8111

Naturalistic Salon Spa 2031 Yale St Sacramento, CA 95818 (916) 594-7274

Posh Extension Bar 1115 21st St Sacramento, CA 95811 (916) 539-8762

Rockin kidz kutz 9010 Fairway Dr Suite 113 Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 633-9392

Royal Cuts Barbershop 4400 47th Ave #102 Sacramento, CA 95824 (916) 424-2887

The Next Episode Hair Salon 2201 Northgate Blvd Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 519-9045

Tisha’s Braids 8245 Florin Rd, Ste A2 Sacramento, CA 95828 (916) 381-8894

Urban Beauty Salon & Spa 4444 Manzanita Ave #2 Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 891-5984

E-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com with any additions or corrections to the list of Black-owned salons and barbershops (composed by BSBA-Black Small Business Association of California - bsba-ca.org/)

SPRING HAIR CARE 101

During the spring season, some people may experience changes in their scalp health due to various factors. For example, the increase in humidity and warmer temperatures may lead to increased sweating, which can cause the scalp to become greasier and more prone to dandruff or itching.

Additionally, seasonal allergies can also affect the scalp, causing itchiness and inflammation. People who suffer from eczema or psoriasis may also experience flare-ups during the spring season due to the change in weather and environmental factors.

To keep your scalp healthy during spring, it’s important to maintain good hygiene practices, such as shampooing your hair regularly and avoiding excessive use of styling products.

You may also want to consider using a gentle shampoo and conditioner that are specifically designed for your scalp condition. If you have any concerns about your scalp health, it’s always a good idea to consult with a dermatologist or a Trichologist for advice.

Tracy Brown Professional Hair Stylist and Co-Owner of Another Look Hair Salon 7826

Alta Valley Dr Sacramento, CA 95823 (916) 688-7704

www.anotherlookhairsalon.com

Book your appointment now 916-688-7704

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

For more events in Sacramento and beyond, go to www.sacculturalhub.com/events and list your event for free online.

For the who, what, and where stay updated online with our EVENTS page and sign up to receive THE HUB’s URBAN WEEKLY e-newsletter www.sacculturalhub.com/urban-weekly

ADVERTISER INDEX OF HUB PARTNERS

To advertise in THE HUB Magazine, e-mail contact@sacculturalhub.com or call (916) 234-3589

AMPLIFY! www.amplify.love

AFRICAN AMERICAN TOBACCO CONTROL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL www.savingblacklives.org

ANOTHER LOOK HAIR SALON www.anotherlookhairsalon.com

CALIFORNIA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.calbcc.org

COLEMAN COMMUNICATIONS www.michaelpcoleman.com

CRYSTAL’S HAIR SALON 916.549.8972

DOUBLE TAKE HAIR GALLERY www.facebook.com/tavia.jenkins

GOREE & THOMPSON REAL ESTATE www.goreeandthompson.com

JAMES THE BARBER AND STYLIST (916) 514-2539

KDEE 97.FM www.kdeefm.org

MIXED INSTITUTE OF COSMETOLOGY www.mix-ed.com

SAVING OUR LEGACY, AFRICANS AMERICANS FOR SMOKE FREE SAFE PLACES www.thesolproject.com

THE GOSPEL VINE www.thegospelvine.com

TRAVELWITHTWLIA www.instagram.com/travelwithtwlia