Compton mother goes from rags to the Ritz
Vickie Knight
Vickie Knight has seen how the other half lives, and knows that one day, she too, will get back on her feet thanks to the opportunities afforded her through education.
Knight, a Compton native, who found herself homeless through a seers of unfortunate circumstances, recently spent a few days in the luxury of the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia. She was in the City of Brotherly Love to accept an award for being named the 2010 National Graduate of the Year by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
Knight was nominated for the honor by ICDC College, where she was enrolled in a alcohol and drug counseling program.
Knight decided to take this educational route, after living in a homeless shelter on L.A.’s Skid Row, and seeing all the people grappling with substance abuse.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—More than 51,000 people are homeless in Los Angeles County, a 3 percent drop from 2009, according to a report released today.
The report, by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, which counts the homeless once every two years, found that social service agencies and homeless prevention programs have helped keep the numbers level despite the economic downturn.
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman will receive the American Film Institute's 39th Life Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization honoring a career in the film industry, the group announced today.
"Morgan Freeman is an American treasure,'' said Howard Stringer, chairman of the AFI board of trustees." Across decades, whether playing a prisoner, a president or God, he embodies a calm authority that demands respect for the character and for the art form.
The city of Compton, the United States Veterans Inc. and other organizations are partnering, to provide assistance to local homeless veterans as part of their seventh annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down program.
Stand Down helps local veterans in need by providing services, support, information and assistance to enhance their quality of life. Volunteers and service providers offer clothing, sleeping supplies such as blankets and pillows, coats, food, health care, vision care, dental care, referrals to temporary and permanent housing, and other services.
LOS ANGELES - The USC men's tennis team and men's and women's water polo teams and UCLA women's gymnastics and softball teams will be among more than 30 NCAA championship teams from the 2009-2010 academic year honored by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony today.
The Trojan men's water polo and tennis teams also won NCAA championships during the 2008-2009 academic year, but neither received invitations to the White House.
At this point in her life, Iyanla Vanzant is not particularly concerned about jumping back into the rat race that was her existence in 2002. And her newest book “Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through” is a result of the battles, and war the New York Times best-selling author, Yoruba priestess, mother and grandmother went through to reach that realization.
It all began in 2002, when by mutual agreement Vanzant passed on renewing her $1 million television contract.
