National Urban League CEO Celebrates New LAUL President
Cynthia Mitchell-Heard is the new president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL). She took over the role on January 2, 2024. Mitchell-Heard is the first woman to hold the position in almost a century. Mitchell-Heard has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit, public affairs, and philanthropy sectors. She has held leadership roles at the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles and Children Uniting Nations. She also serves on the boards of the California League of Women Voters, the USC Black Alumni Association, and the KIS Foundation. Mitchell-Heard has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in Education from Howard University.
Walt Disney Imagineer Lanny Smoot Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame
Walt Disney Research Fellow Lanny Smoot holds 106 patents and was inducted into the 2024 class of National Inventors Hall of Fame for his work in theatrical technologies and special effects. The National Inventors Hall of Fame 2024 Inductee Announcement was held on Jan. 17, on the Walt Disney Imagineering campus in Glendale where Lonnie Johnson – inventor of the Super Soaker and a 2022 NIHF inductee – joined the ceremony to congratulate the addition of another Black inventor making modern history. Smoot, who currently resides in Thousand Oaks, has spent 42 years of his life as a theatrical technology creator, inventor, electrical engineer, scientist, and researcher — with 74 of his patents being issued during his 22 years at Disney.
Strengthen In Numbers: Black Mayors Nationwide Convene in L.A.
Continuing to uphold her commitment to helping eradicate homelessness in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass hosted 18 Black mayors from across the country to discuss critical issues impacting metropolitan areas including the need to make our cities safer, energy efficient, and more affordable. On the importance of bringing her mayoral colleagues to Los Angeles to see how the city is addressing the homelessness crisis, Mayor Bass told the Sentinel, “We’re all dealing with this issue to one degree or another, but if you’re going to bring about change, you have to come together.
GLAAACC Celebrates 30 Years of Honoring Businesses
In 1994, Bill Clinton was president, Al Gore was vice president, the median price of a home was $154,500 and a stamp cost 29 cents. 1994 was also the year that the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce held its first Economic Awards Dinner. GLAAACC celebrated Black businesses, community leaders, policymakers and corporate supporters at the 30th Economic Awards Dinner, which took place on April 19, at the JW Marriott LA Live Los Angeles. GLAAACC Chairman Gene Hale and GLAAACC President Angela Gibson Shaw presented the awards on behalf of the organization. The catalyst for GLAAACC’s Economic Awards Dinner stemmed from the lack of recognition for Black business owners and the companies and policymakers that contributed to their success.
V.P. Harris Highlights Power, Leadership, and Influence of Black Woman Luncheon
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered empowering remarks about women’s rights at the Power, Leadership, and Influence of Black Woman Luncheon sponsored by Bakewell Media and the L.A. Sentinel on April 13. Harris was a surprise guest at the third annual event, which attracted more than 1,000 people from throughout Southern California. Radio broadcaster Pat Prescott served as emcee and KCBS News Anchor Pat Harvey was the moderator. The honorees were County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, L.A. Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler, Brotherhood Crusade CEO/President Charisse Bremond-Weaver, Black Lives Matter – L.A. and Grassroots co-founder Dr. Melina Abdullah, and renowned actress, producer, and businesswoman Marla Gibbs. Also honored was U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, who shared insight about issues important to women during an intimate conversation with Harvey.
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove Secures $12.4M in Grants for 15 Organizations
For example, she awarded South LA Community Foundation. The owners and founders of South LA Café Joe and Celia Ward-Wallace were surprised with a $850,000 check. She also awarded a women’s re-entry program with $900,000 during a Re-Entry Resources and Health Fair on June 15 to Turning Point AOD for housing and all the supportive services necessary to empower formerly incarcerated women. $500K went to Brotherhood Crusade on Oct. 30 for its groundbreaking Trauma-Informed Anti-Recidivism Initiative. The next day, she presented $1.84M to renovate permanent supportive housing in DTLA with a check to Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles, marking a critical investment in combating homelessness. Finally, $1M in grants went to South L.A. organizations tackling community violence such as 2nd Call and The Experience Christian Ministries (ECM) on August 30 right after back-to-back grants to improve South LA were provided just in time for back-to-school. Funds were provided to revitalize economic empowerment and improve public housing.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Appears at Wilshire Ebell
A matinée and evening event with U.S. Supreme Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson at the Ebell of Los Angeles was full of inspiration, marking the historic achievement of the first African American woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Justice Brown Jackson was on a high-profile book tour to promote her memoir, “Lovely One,” about her journey to the highest court in our land. She read from her book, which was a #1 New York Times Bestseller. “Lovely One” is more than just a memoir; it is a testament to resilience and achievement. Justice Brown Jackson chronicled her family’s ascent from segregation to her confirmation on America’s highest court, illuminating the personal and collective struggles faced by her ancestors. Named “Ketanji Onyika,” meaning “lovely one,” by her aunt, Jackson shared how her educator parents instilled in her a deep pride in her heritage and an unyielding ambition from an early age. Honorary Oscar recipient Angela Bassett and Academy Award nominated director Ava Duvernay served as interviewers per event.
Marqueece Harris-Dawson Elected as L.A. City Council President
Harris-Dawson, who represents the very soul of L.A.’s Black community, had long been a champion of the people, from his early days as an organizer to his tenure on the City Council. His leadership, rooted in the spirit of South L.A.’s dreamers, doers, and innovators, now extends to the entire city, as he stepped into this critical role. On May 28, the Los Angeles City Council confirmed the nomination then a 14-0 vote selected Harris-Dawson as the next council president. He was sworn in on Sept. 20th.
Taste of Soul Fills Crenshaw Blvd. with Hundreds of Thousands of People
Crenshaw Boulevard overflowed with bodies as more than 500,000 people came out on Oct. 19 for the Taste of Soul Family Festival. The free event created by Danny J. Bakewell Sr. featured Tiffany Haddish as the celebrity host, 300 vendors, three music stages, job interviews, health screenings, Children’s World, and more. “Every year, Taste of Soul gets bigger and it’s due to the contributions of our partners, sponsors and the greater L.A. community that help us present entertaining events that also generate dollars for the local economy,” Bakewell said.
Elected Officials Unite to Prevent Closure of MLKCH
After an emergency press conference on June 7 to sound the alarm on the impending shutdown of both the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital and its maternity ward, which would have negatively impacted women all over South L.A. and surrounding neighborhoods, the financial threat was reduced. A closure would have negatively impacted residents throughout South L.A. and surrounding neighborhoods. The hospital’s executive leadership along with local elected officials gathered at the MLK Community Hospital on July 5 to celebrate the support that helped secure a commitment of $25 million in the California state budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Assemblymember Mike Gipson, State Senator Steve Bradford, and Supervisor Holly Mitchell were recognized for their legislative efforts by health system CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor, hospital staff members, doctors and nurses, patients, and community leaders.
