November 29, 2018
By Niele Anderson
Contributing Writer
The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare whichever you prefer, open enrollment began on November 1. If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen any promotion or advertisement it is because the Trump administration cut the outreach and education budgets by $90 million, or 90 percent, in August.
Open enrollment ends December 15. We caught up with Congressmember Maxine Waters to discuss the significance of the Trump Administrations actions,” So many people in the black community die from preventable diseases and of course we’ve been turned down for years because of pre-existing conditions. With Obamacare we were able to finely get it into law and it prevented insurance companies from turning you down because you have a pre-existing condition.
Waters went on to share the importance of getting the word out about open enrollment which is in its 5th cycle, “It’s extremely important for everybody to sign up. The more people you have the stronger the insurance is and the less cost of the premium. If we don’t have enough people signing up then the premiums increase”. She continued, “we’ve got to get the word out every way we can. You’ve got to get enrolled during the open enrollment periods if we want to save Obamacare. This administration is trying to kill it. Obamacare is one of the most significant things that has happened in public policy”.
In 2019 Waters who is one of Trump’s fiercest and harshest critics is set to become chair of the Financial House Committee. The house committees have been limited to questioning and holding the Trump administration accountable because of a Republican lead Congress. In 2019 that changes for the House of Representatives. We asked Waters what would be her focus as chair of the Financial House Committee for 2019 she stated, “well there’s been a lot of speculation about what I’m going to do as the chair of the financial service committee. The right wing would like to say all she’s going to do is use all her time to go after Trump because she’s the one calling for his impeachment. Others are saying no I think she’s going to focus on all the issues that are in that committee and there absolutely right.” She continued, “we’ve got a lot of work to do in that committee aside from just paying attention to the president.”
To sign up for Obamacare visit www.healthcare.gov. To watch the full Maxine Waters interview, visit www.lasentinel.net.
November 29, 2018
LAWT News Service
Aubry Stone, President CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, has passed. Jerome Horton of the Board of Equalization stated, “He was the civil rights leader and conscious of the business community who lead with grace, competence, and compassion; I thank God for his life and legacy.”
Stone was a mentor, a teacher, a motivator, but most of all a leader, yes all describe the man, the person who dedicated his life to public service and economic development. Aubry Stone always viewed the glass as half full versus half empty. His optimistic outlook was demonstrated by his belief that no life obstacle is insurmountable. It is simply a matter of attitude, tenacity, and focus.
Mr. Stone was currently the President/CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) and Director of the California Black Chamber Foundation. Appointed by the Governor, he served as a California Commissioner for Economic Development. He aggressively led the California Black Chamber in such public policy issues as: Prop 187, co-authored the 9th circuit injunction against implementation of Prop 209, publicly advocated against Brown-fields, the urban environment, insurance redlining the inner city impact of bank acquisitions and mergers and lead the charge of new and emerging markets.
Aubry’s single-minded focus was the creation of individual and community wealth through small business growth development and sustainability. He was the Chairman of the National African American California Chamber of Commerce and also served on the California Regional Community Utilities Diversity Council, the Citibank Regional Community Board, the Pfizer National Minority Business Board, the California Small Business Advisory Board, the Cal-Trans Small Business Board, and was a member of the Greenlining Coalition. He served on the boards of the NAACP, Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, the Mayor’s Economic Development Council, the District Attorney’s Community Relations Board and the State Fair Minority council.
Aubry Stone consistently provided vast insight on economic development through business creation, growth and sustainability that granted him the opportunity to speak to audiences in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, Florida, Hawaii, Howard University, University of Southern California, and California State University, Fullerton.
Under Aubry’s direction, the California Black Chamber Foundation became the state’s only African American owned and operated low powered radio station (97.7 KDEE FM,) serving the Sacramento Region and nation-wide online streaming. Aubry received the Sacramento Observer Newspaper’s Lifetime Achievement Award for being one of the most influential African-American in the city of Sacramento over the past 40 years.
Aubry is survived by his 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
November 29, 2018
LAWT News Service
This week, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-Calif.) was elected to chair the Congressional Black Caucus during the 116th Congress. Members of the Caucus will chair five full House Committees in addition to at least 28 House Subcommittees in the coming Congress.
The New Caucus:
On January 3rd, the Congressional Black Caucus will add 9 new representatives to their caucus, growing their numbers to 55, making it the first time ever that the Caucus will have more than 50 Members. The Caucus will also chair five full House Committees in addition to 28 House Subcommittees.
Since its establishment in 1971, the CBC has been committed to using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. As part of this commitment, the CBC has fought to address critical issues such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, equal access to quality education.
The New Chair:
Rep. Karen Bass became the first-ever African American woman to become Speaker of any state legislature in the United States in 2008. During her time as Speaker of the California State Assembly, California faced its worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Rep. Bass worked with then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican colleagues like then-California State Senator and former Senate Republican Leader Darrell Steinberg to pass a budget that eventually earned her the 2010 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her bipartisan negotiating efforts.
Elected to Congress in 2010, Rep. Bass is soon to become the Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, a position she will use to continue her work to build capacity in African countries and examine voter suppression, mass incarceration and recently implemented immigration policies under the lens of global human rights abuses. She also serves on the House Committee on the Judiciary, on which she will continue to push for criminal justice reform and hold the Department of Justice and the rest of the Trump administration accountable for their conduct.
November 22, 2018
By Lauren A. Jones
Contributing Writer
The Black Public Relations Society Los Angeles hosted its 20th anniversary awards ceremony and aptly chose to honor 20 trailblazers in the fields of media, film, corporate communications and public relations at the California African American Museum on Friday.
The celebration was emceed by the Emmy Award-winning Kevin Frazier and was kicked off with a welcome by Neil Foote, president of the National Black Public Relations Society. The evening included special remarks by best-selling author and screenwriter Antwone Fisher.
One of the night’s most prestigious awards of the evening, the Pat Tobin award, is named after and recognizes one of the first Black women to own a public relations firm, Patricia L. Tobin. Tobin is a co-founder of the National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS) and is single-handedly responsible for the careers of countless corporate executives in the media, film and entertainment industries.
“I’m just so honored to be receiving an award named after her,” stated Erika Bennett, one of the seven recipients of the Pat Tobin award. “I can’t help but feel like our missions were very much aligned for how we create space for people of color and shine a light on the work that we do, and continue to champion for authentic storytelling.”
Bennett currently holds the title of global head of social and influencer marketing for YouTube Originals and YouTube TV. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2013 and is serving a second term was another of the Pat Tobin honorees. She is the first African American to hold this title with the Academy.
“Throughout my career the diversity was close to nil, it's very slowly grown,” remarked Isaacs. “I strongly believe that people who have any kind of power should hire, mentor and promote.”
The other Pat Tobin honorees of 2018 were Ellene V. Miles, senior vice president of intersectional marketing at Sony Pictures Entertainment; Lindsay Wagner, vice president at Ketchum; Michael Lewellen, vice president of corporate communications for APR; Tosha Whitten-Griggs, TV One’s senior vice president of public relations; and Shawn Smith, director of public relations and brand partnerships with MGA Entertainment.
All of the recipients mirrored the sentiments that there is a need for inclusion particularly of Blacks in their respective positions and fields, which is consistent with the vision of the founding members of the BPRSLA, which is an affiliate chapter of the NBPRS.
The NBPRS was co-founded by Tobin in 1998 with a mission to serve as “an advocate for Black professionals in public relations, media relations, corporate communications, investor relations, government affairs, community relations, and related fields” by providing peer-to-peer supports, mentorship, networking, job opportunities, and career advancement strategies.
Tobin’s firm, Tobin & Associates, is one of the most prominent minority, female-owned public relations firms in the nation. In 2008, she lost her battle to cancer at the age of 65. Her impact has left a lasting impression on the world of public relations, especially in the greater Los Angeles area. Many of the honorees shared their personal connection to this public relations juggernaut, including longtime news anchor and reporter Beverly White.
“Pat was the glue,” recalled White, who was honored with the Power Press award. When White became a local news reporter in Los Angeles 26 years ago, she shared that Tobin sent her a Varnette Honeywood greeting card with a personal written message.
“She became my instant family,” added White. “I'm grateful beyond words for longevity and friends and the supportive community like Los Angeles has proven to be for me.”
Fellow recipients of the Power Press award were award-winning journalist Tre’Vell Anderson, E! News correspondent Nina Parker, and managing editor of the L.A. Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times Brandon Brooks.
Brooks emphasized the symbiotic relationship between Black press and Black publicists.
“Being an editor for a Black newspaper, we wouldn't exist without Black publicists and especially the Black publicists of Los Angeles,” Brooks proclaimed. “My job is to effect change, be an advocate. I think the point of Black press is to be the voice of our people, our community, speaking for ourselves. That's the creed of the Black press.”
The evening honored a wide array of talented African Americans, many of whom exhibited the passion that has no doubt fueled their success.
Power of Influence honoree Karen Civil, gave an emotionally charged speech where she thanked her late brother for providing her the strength and motivation to continue building her brand. After spending several years as the digital and marketing director for Beats by Dre, Civil has spent her subsequent years as a multifaceted entrepreneur who operates a media company and provides digital strategy for musical artists like Nicki Minaj, YG, Nipsey Hussle, and a host of others.
Honored alongside Civil with Power of Influence awards were Ke’Andrea “Kiki” Ayers, C.E.O. of Ayers Publicity, and entrepreneur and marketing executive, Everette Taylor.
The PR Power Pro award recipients included Kenya Fiend-Daniel, journalist turned communications executive for Trader Joe’s; Kristin Robinson, vice president of brand marketing and communications at Shondaland; and Leshelle V. Sargent, directory or publicity for Warner Bros. Worldwide Television. PR Power Player honorees included senior corporate communications manager for LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Imani Greene; public relations manager at Cartoon Network, Melissa Mills; and manager of the original film publicity team at Netflix, Kevin Stuckey.
For more information on the Black Public Relations Society L.A., please visit bprsla.org and follow them on social media @BPRSLA.
(All Photos: Kristina Dixon/L.A. Watts Times)