
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Takes the Helm at Center by Lendistry
If you don’t know Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, you should. She is quintessentially LA, a hometown girl who wanted to do good for her community and did.
If you don’t know Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, you should. She is quintessentially LA, a hometown girl who wanted to do good for her community and did.
As part of its commitment to strengthening communities by addressing critical needs that help advance racial equality and economic opportunity, Bank of America has awarded $11 million to 174 local nonprofits across greater Los Angeles last year.
In the world of CDCs, Lula Bailey Ballton is considered a brilliant innovator and some even regard her as the “dynamic queen of nonprofits.” Ballton’s reputation stems from her role as the CEO emeritus, co-founder and former president of West Angeles Community Development Corporation (WACDC). In 1993, Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, selected Ballton as the first executive director of WACDC and charged her with fulfilling the organization’s mission “to increase social and economic justice, demonstrate compassion ad alleviate poverty as tangible expression of the Kingdom of God.” To Ballton that meant,
Dr. Belinda Allen, executive director of West Angeles Community Development Corporation, is being honored as part of the Black History Month observance sponsored by U.S. Bank. “Celebrating Black History Month is an opportunity for us to celebrate the leaders in our communities who we partner with to make a tangible difference,” said Greg Cunningham, vice president, diversity and inclusion for U.S. Bank. The other honorees Jackie Taylor, founder and CEO of Black Ensemble Theater in Chicago; Dr. Eve M. Hall, president of the Milwaukee Urban League; and Linda Harris, senior vice president of the Urban League of Metro St. Louis.
Nearly 300 families and children came out for the 15th annual Toy Giveaway sponsored by West Angeles Community Development Corporation on Dec. 20. The nonprofit organization partnered with Sentinel Peak Resources, a new oil company in Inglewood, to provide much needed toys, groceries and other assistance. “Our annual toy drive has provided toys to children in low income families totaling over $1 million dollars of support to the South Los Angeles community,” said Dr. Belinda Allen, WACDC executive director. “We are motivated to do this by the families we serve. In these economic times, people need help with high rents
Bank of America announced $1,124,000 in economic development grants given to 52 nonprofits that help stimulate local business and neighborhood revitalization in communities across Los Angeles. Nonprofits receiving the funds provide services ranging from affordable housing and community development resources to small business support and arts and culture programs that stimulate the local economy.
South Los Angeles-based PVJOBS will coordinate a Community Awareness Event and Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday August 9, 2018 at 5414 11th Avenue, Los Angeles. This is the future site of The Curve @ West Angeles, a development that will include senior housing.
More than 300+ people converged at the exhibit hall behind West Angeles Cathedral for the Financial Awareness Investing in Total Health (FAITH) Expo on July 14. Sponsored by the West Angeles Community Development Corporation (WACDC), the event connected South L.A. residents with 50 agencies offering financial services, health and fitness information, wealth building strategies, and asset protection products. Also, face-painting, backpack giveaways, and a game truck were available to entertain young people. Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., WACDC chairman emeritus and pastor West Angeles Church of God in Christ, and Dr. Belinda Allen, WACDC executive director, were on hand to
West Angeles Community Development Corporation will sponsor the Financial Awareness Investing in Total Health (FAITH) Expo. The event takes place on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at West Angeles Church of God in Christ, 3600 S. Crenshaw Blvd., in Los Angeles. The Right Rev. Charles E. Blake, COGIC presiding prelate, is the host pastor. According to Executive Director Belinda Allen, “The FAITH Expo will feature education and resource series on financial products and services, health and fitness, wealth building strategies, and asset protection. “Also, this event will help prepare consumers to compete for financial products, acquire
Sunny skies and beautiful weather were the perfect complement to the June 29 groundbreaking ceremony on a new affordable senior housing development for seniors and special needs residents.
Dr. Lula Ballton is former CEO of West Angeles CDC and current president of the National Community Development, COGIC, International. With Dr. Ballton’s support and the blessing of senior pastor, Bishop Charles E. Blake, Dr. Belinda Allen takes the reign as executive director of West Angeles CDC. West Angeles Community Development Corporation recently held a “Meet & Greet” luncheon at one of its community enhancement projects, the West Angeles Villas located in the Crenshaw District to inform and engage community stakeholders regarding existing programs, community revitalization projects and introduce its interim executive director, Dr. Belinda Allen. Dr. Allen was
West Angeles Community Development Corporation’s Young N’ LA (YNLA) program is a leadership development program that focuses on assisting young men to graduate from high school and teaches them 21st century skills that will prepare them for today’s workforce. The YNLA program targets young men between the ages of 14 to 21 who reside in South Los Angeles and are low-income. The program offers each participant academic support, life skills, job preparation, training and placement, and entrepreneurial development. Throughout the academic year, participants are engaged in group tutoring, a series of professional development workshops and a host of other activities
West Angeles Community Development Corporation has hired a new executive director, Grant D. Power, who has more than 25 years’ experience in faith-based community development. Power has worked internationally and in the United States leading organizations in providing micro and small business lending, business development counseling, along with housing and commercial mixed-use development. Previously, he worked with West Angeles CDC as a consultant providing counsel on strategic planning, economic development and project design, monitoring and evaluation. “Grant has a history with West Angeles CDC, he was a part of the team as we founded the organization in 1994 and has
On Thursday, November 19, the West Angeles Community Development Corporation (WACDC) along with Metro, the mayor’s office, the Empowerment Congress West Area NDC and the Greater Leimert Park Village Crenshaw Corridor BID invited the community to the attend a Pedestrian Improvement Planning Meeting, where future plans for the Crenshaw District were the topic of discussion. Some the plans for the Crenshaw Corridor include implanting trees, bus shelters, sidewalk repair, landscaping, crosswalks, public art and street furniture. Attendees of the planning meeting got a chance to voice their opinions and concerns about what they wanted to see in their community. The
The West Angeles Community Development Corporation hosted the P.O.W.E.R community fair on August 29, bringing a host of community vendors, corporations and small businesses together to provide the public with helpful health, education and financial resource information. P.O.W.E.R, which stands for Possessing Our Wealth, Education and Resources, is an initiative that started as concerted effort to bridge the gap between small businesses, large corporations and community access to the bountiful resources available. Organizations such as Bank of America, CitiBank, New American Funding, AARP, the Metro HEALTH Station, Community Services Unlimited and more set out to help those in attendance to