The city of L.A.’s annual worship service commemorating African American Heritage Month takes place on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 10 a.m., at First AME Church of Los Angeles. As in the past, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Our Authors Study Club will join with Pastor J. Edgar Boyd and the members of FAME to sponsor the virtual celebration. The service, which can be viewed online at famechurchla.org, will focus on the theme, “National Healing in a Time of Global Challenge.”
According to AAHM Chair Mike Davis and Pastor Boyd, special recognition will be extended to leading health scientists and medical professionals who have played pivotal roles in helping to stem the pandemic and provided care for those infected by the deadly disease.
“We are delighted to recognize and honor Black health professionals, who have helped to protect the mental and physical health of the community. We are especially proud of the achievement of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the Black immunologist responsible for the discovery of the key element in the coronavirus vaccine,” said Boyd. “Their collective contributions are vital to the well-being of our community.”
Also, singer/songwriter Ann Nesby, a Grammy award-winning artist, will perform with the FAME choir and the U.S. Postal Service will unveil the 44th stamp in the Black Heritage stamp series, which honors esteemed American playwright, August Wilson. In addition, city, county and state elected officials will be acknowledged as well as Los Angeles-based Consul Generals, who represent the African Diaspora.
The public can view the worship service via the famechurchla.org website by clicking on the “FAME LIVE” icon or on YouTube by typing First AME Church LA. To learn more, call Charlene Cyrus at FAME at (323) 735-1251 or AAHM Chair Davis at (213) 978-0254.
Vicki Phillips contributed to this article.
