As we remember and mourn the loss of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we can take inspiration and solace from, not only his written speeches, but also in the works of a number of esteemed Black writers who themselves mourned, coped and mapped out their own blueprint for a better nation through their art in 1968.
The Los Angeles-Lusaka Sister City Committee is going strong. Los Angeles’ interdependent relationship with its sister city in Zambia, Africa – Lusaka – was strengthened last year with more widely available clean water and other strides that will benefit the two cities in 2023 and for years to come.
Top 10 National News Stories of 2022
The Office of Councilwoman Heather Hutt Hosted a Turkey Giveaway for local residents of the 10th District at the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex on December 14. Councilwoman Hutt was accompanied by newly appointed Mayor Karen Bass on her third day in office.
Legendary Blaxploitation actress Jeanie “Annie” Bell Judis (“Mean Streets,” “TNT Jackson,” “Trouble Man”) has won the Guinness World Record for Oldest Competitive Rope Skipper at the age of 79. She has beat her own record.
Nichole Dorch-Cannon, investment advisor representative at World Financial Group, has been listed among Forbes’ Top Financial Security Professionals Best-In-State of 2022. Dorch-Cannon is ethically and effectively getting significant results while helping people, some of whom, before working with her, may not have realized that they needed it.
Pianist and composer Paul Cornish has performed around the world from Europe, Australia, and South America to Carnegie Hall, and worked with esteemed artists from Herbie Hancock to John Legend. He won the American Jazz Piano Competition in 2018, and he is on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
At Taste of Soul’s dynamic, new Microsoft-sponsored Digital World this year, founders of the tech- and entertainment-centered non-profit TecLeimert recorded live podcasts that featured interviews with a host of thought leaders and industry experts, among them changemakers creating significant impacts in the critical areas of wellness and education. One such panelist present on at the festival on October 15 was former record executive Shanti Das, an entrepreneur with an impactful story that led to the launch of the mental health nonprofit Silence the Shame. Amid the boisterousness literally bubbling at the 360 photo booth, and the virtual reality and gaming
Sheldon Epps, one of the first Black artistic directors in American regional theatre, has written a new book entitled, “MY OWN DIRECTIONS: A Black Man’s Journey in the American Theatre.” Epps chronicles his tribulations and triumphs as a freelance director, which led him to the Pasadena Playhouse, where he served as artistic director for twenty years. During that time, he helmed many productions, also directing episodes of classic television shows along the way.
TecLeimert joined Taste of Soul’s Digital World on October 15, just three weeks after the nonprofit’s innovative Black to the Future Conference. Their station was alight with live podcast recordings of panel discussions with industry experts, immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences, a 360 photo booth machine complete with bubble gun fun, and multiple gaming stations, all highlighting the creative side of technology.
Bakewell Media and Taste of Soul are pleased to announce that Chevrolet—a company that specializes in “finding new roads” with cars that make that mission easy, stylish, and fun—will be the Premiere Sponsor of the Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Music Stage at the imminent Taste of Soul festival occurring on Saturday, October 15.
Coming up at Taste of Soul, Bakewell Media’s Music Stage, “Music for the Soul,” sponsored by Chevy, will delight audiences with legendary soul groups Troop, Lakeside featuring Mark Wood, and Midnight Star, while showcasing exciting local acts in the realms of dance, hip-hop and R&B. Non-stop topnotch musical entertainment will add to Taste of Soul’s signature spirit of merriment, providing attendees with good vibes and great opportunities to dance during the family-friendly festival on October 15.
102.3 KJLH and Taste of Soul are partnering again to heat up the October 15th festival’s music stage. Major acts such as Kenny Lattimore and Ruff Endz will grace the music stage along with a host of exciting local performers and KJLH’s beloved on-air personalities.
Eboney Thompson of Los Angeles is a breast cancer survivor and Baddie Ambassador for the empowering organization For the Breast of Us, which aims to create a safe space for women of color who are battling breast cancer. For the Breast of Us’ upcoming inaugural Sneaker Ball will take place on the evening of October 15, in Houston, Texas, where members and attendees will pay homage to survivors past and present, raise awareness and raise funds to expand the organization’s reach.
Coming up at Taste of Soul, on October 15, Bakewell Media Presents Digital World sponsored by Microsoft and powered by TecLeimert. Microsoft is making good on promises set forth in 2020 to address racial injustice by partnering with these key organizations to bridge the digital divide.