(photo: E. Mesiyah McGinnis)
For the 20th Annual Lighting of the Holiday Tree Celebration at the Museum of African American Art (MAAA), located on the 3rd floor, of Macy’s Baldwin Hills Crenshaw, MAAA president, Berlinda Fontenot-Jamerson and members of the board welcomed a packed house to this annual event. Holiday greetings were brought to all by the president of the Los Angeles City Council, Herb Wesson, on behalf of the 10th District and by the general manager of Macy’s Baldwin Hills, Anthony Mayhugh.
During the celebration, the event space at the MAAA was named the Carol Jackson Event Hall, in honor of Carol Jackson, a corporate vice president of government and public affairs for Macy’s, Inc., who passed last year. She was a passionate advocate for many community organizations, positively transforming lives, including the MAAA.
Wendy Raquel Robinson, actress and founder-director of Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC) served as the celebrity emcee for the annual Tree Lighting Celebration. It included outstanding performances by AGC students and a glorious selection of Christmas songs by the West Angeles COGIC Angelic Children’s Choir. The celebration also launched the holiday shopping season in the MAAA Gift Shop, filled with wonderful, unique, Afro-centric cards and gift items.
Sunday, December 16, 2pm – 5pm, everyone is invited to the MAAA for “Holiday Cheer – In Celebration of Family!” This is an opportunity to purchase and have signed, a new book, “Raised Up by Mrs. Manly & Her L’s – Love, Listen, Learn, Lift, Lean, Lead, Laugh, Live,” written by Sandra Evers-Manly. Robinson will serve as the interviewer and moderator. Sandra Evers-Manly is a longtime friend and supporter of the MAAA and with her book, seeks to extend the legacy and indelible imprint left by her mother, Mrs. Manly, to generations to come.
For 2019, the MAAA has launched and invites the entire community to join in the #WeWantMichelle, social media campaign to help bring Michelle Obama to the Museum of African American Art, in 2019, during her book tour for her memoir, “Becoming.”
The MAAA was founded in 1976, by noted artist and art historian, Dr. Samella Lewis and a group of academic, artistic, business, and community leaders to increase public awareness of African American art. Offering free admission, the MAAA welcomes thousands of visitors, especially school children from the neighboring community. The MAAA operates based on individual and corporate contributions and the generous support of Macy’s, that donates space on the third floor of its Baldwin Hills Crenshaw store located at 4005 Crenshaw Blvd. The museum and gift shop is open Thursday to Sunday, noon to 5pm. For more info visit: www.maaala.org. ###
