Los Angeles

Mar 6 2009

Wants clear instruction for DTS voters

The African American Voter Registration, Education and Participation (AAVREP) Legal Counsel is seeking swift and transparent public review of new designs for L.A. County’s problem-plagued Decline-to-State (DTS) ballots before the next election. The group says that flawed “double-bubble” ballot and faulty instructions by county polling place workers denied 20,000 DTS voters of their right to vote for President.

Mar 6 2009

Rep. Watson delivers $250,000 federal grant

The Mayme Clayton Library (MCL), located in Culver City, CA was presented with a $250,000 federal grant by Congresswoman Diane E. Watson to refurbish and expand the recently acquired facility.

Avery Clayton, CEO and president of MCL accepted the funds for the library which is renowned for its extensive collection of rare African American books, literature, recordings, movies and other priceless documents.

Mar 6 2009

Bradley Baker, noted baritone, will be featured again this year in “The Glory of Easter

Bradley Baker, noted baritone, will be featured again this year in “The Glory of Easter.” This production will begin on Thurs., March 13, at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. in Garden Grove. It will continue through Saturday, March 22.

Baker has been a regular performer in “The Glory of Christmas,” and “The Glory of Easter.” He is the choir director at the Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship.

Mar 5 2009

Man killed in drive-by

 Los Angeles, CA -- An investigation continues into the shooting death of Ronald Buckner, 20, which occurred on Monday at about 9:35 p.m. in the 3100 block of West 59th Street in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles.

Witnesses told police that the gunman was one of five people in a red Dodge charger. The victim was shot several times as the car drove through the residential area.

Buckner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call (213) 485-4341 or 1-800-877-LAWFULL.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 28 2009

Former teen mom provides free prom attire

Patricia Lankford vividly remembers the sacrifices she had to make in order to afford a prom dress during her senior year in high school.

“I was a teen mom at 13 years old, and I had to go to work to get my prom dress,” said the hazardous waste worker, who was born of a teen mom as well.

Taking the job meant giving up a nursing class, something that Lankford thinks about to this day.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”