October 10, 2019
By E. Mesiyah McGinnis
Contributing Writer
With the Taste of Soul Food and Family Festival being famous for showcasing primarily adult -themed entertainment, the festival organizers also curate Children’s World, a special safe place for children to explore fun activities and be entertained on the Children’s World Stage by up-and coming young artists, excited about living their dreams at Taste of Soul in front of adoring young fans.
“My mission in this year’s Taste of Soul is to bring the best variety of talented young artists, from ages 6-20, to the Children’s World Stage,” says Randy Hankins, who says he is honored to curate the Children's World Stage for a 5th year. “It gives me a great sense of pleasure knowing I’ve provided the Taste of Soul community with an amazing group of dancers, singers, and rappers, and providing the audiences with the possibility of seeing future stars. And we do this with clean age-appropriate music that is both entertaining and uplifting.”
For the last five years, Hankins has provided all the entertainment and sound/ DJ equipment for the youth-showcase. “It's a wonderful feeling to be a part of Taste of Soul, especially on historic Crenshaw Blvd. in inner city L.A. We feel right at home since we already interact with many the local students from all grade levels. Hankins is the head of The School Tour, a music tour that performs age-appropriate entertainment to all school grade levels on a weekly basis and says he sees many of the students at Taste of Soul.
“This year’s talent is exceptional and the Children’s Stage is going to be fire with emerging artists such as, The Compton Divas dance crew; R&B group, High Key; Six-year-old dynamo singer, Lil Ivan, KnsRocStar; and artists, Ashley Brinton, Ty Hibbet and more exciting acts throughout the day, Hankins says.
In addition to the stage, other Children’s World’s highlights will include Bank of America’s "Paint & Sip," where kids paint while enjoying their favorite juice beverage; PCL Construction will host cool activities for children; and MRKT Films will show their movies “Jumanji; Next Level,” “Disney’s Frozen II” and Paramount ‘s “Playing with Fire.”
“Pam and Danny Bakewell and the Taste of Soul nation, thank you for the amazing opportunity to expose such talent and showmanship in young artists to such a receptive and supportive audience” said Hankins.
“Every year, we look forward to providing youth and their parents with fun alternatives that are child-friendly, safe and fun,” said festival founder, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr.
Children’s World is located on the corner of Crenshaw and Coliseum.
For more information on Taste of Soul visit www.tasteofsoul.org and download the Taste of Soul mobile app for the latest updates.
October 10, 2019
LAWT News Service
Nearly 2,000 jazz aficionados from across Southern California enjoyed a day of “Great Music For a Greater Mission” at the 2019 Jazz at Drew concert on Saturday, October 5, 2019. 
The all-day outdoor festival took place on the campus of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in South Los Angeles and featured exciting performances from the Grammy-nominated artist Will Downing, Next, Louie Cruz Beltran and the Lao Tizer Band featuring Eric Marienthal and Karen Briggs, as well as highly-acclaimed local artist Toni Scruggs.
Funk legends The Ohio Players closed the show with an ultimate mix of their most popular hits, such as “Fire,” “Love Rollercoaster,” and “Sweet Sticky Things.”
Since its launch in 1991, Jazz at Drew has sought to alleviate the need for residents in South Los Angeles and surrounding areas to travel far for quality entertainment at affordable prices.
Equipped with superior artist line-ups and a unique concert experience, Jazz at Drew has demonstrated that local residents will support big-name entertainment when given the opportunity and venue to do so.
“CDU has deep roots within the community that it serves, and the ‘Greater Mission’ that Jazz at Drew attendees are supporting is derived from the experiences of this community,” said CDU President Dr. David M. Carlisle. “Funds raised by this concert will help the University with its ‘Greater Mission’ of creating healthier communities in under-resourced areas.”
Jazz at Drew was also well-attended by VIPs and elected officials known for dedicating their time in office to fighting for social justice in underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles and around the country, such as L.A. County Supervisor Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas (2nd District), Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), and City Council President Herb Wesson (10th District), Assemblymember Mike Gipson (CA-64), Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, and noted attorney and media personality Areva Martin, Esq.
Proceeds from Jazz at Drew go towards enriching the CDU experience for students by funding University scholarships and pipeline programs, including the renowned Saturday Science Academy-II, which encourages South Los Angeles students to excel in math, science and technology.
The day’s festivities were emceed by popular radio host Pat Prescott of 94.7 The Wave.
Sponsors included:
Diamond Sponsor: CommonSpirit
Platinum Sponsors: Cedars-Sinai, Office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
Gold Sponsors: Comerica, ECMC Foundation, UCLA Health Geffen School of Medicine, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, AltaMed
Silver Sponsor: Wells Fargo, Gilead Sciences
Community Sponsor: Akerman, LLP, Aetna, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital
Jazz at Drew Scholar Sponsor: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Cader Adams, LLP, Frederick Fisher and Partners
In-Kind Sponsor: BizFed, Truxton’s – Westchester, Not Your Mama’s Kitchen, Apple Spice, Grocery Outlet, Panera Bread – South Gate.
October 03, 2019
City News Service
The West Angeles Church of God in Christ in the Crenshaw District announced today it has sold some of its property so it can be used to beautify and revitalize the area, while ensuring “nuisance businesses” will be prohibited on the land.
According to the church, it sold off property including its administrative offices, church annex and theater. Financial details were not released, but church officials said the sale will enable it to build a Family Life Center, while also paying off the mortgage on its cathedral, with enough left over to establish a financial reserve.
“Paying off the cathedral's mortgage ensures that the Crenshaw Corridor will forever have a house of worship that cares about its community,” Bishop Charles E. Blake said in a statement. “I am thankful to God that West Angeles Church of God in Christ can play such an important part in the future development and beautification of the South Los Angeles community.”
The sale of the church's property included restrictions on its future use to prevent “nuisance” businesses from ever being located on it – “including, but not limited to bars, cannabis businesses and strip clubs.”
The deal was also structured to close in phases to allow the church to continue occupying its North Campus facilities while the Family Life Center is being built, officials said. The center is expected to be home to the church's offices and educational facilities.
September 26, 2019
LAWT News Service
On Saturday, October 5 at 3 p.m., Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson will designate of the intersection of Pico Blvd. and Norton Ave. as “JEWEL THAIS-WILLIAMS SQUARE” for the legendary human rights activist and owner of Jewel’s Catch One, the oldest Black owned disco in America that became a safe haven for the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenders community. With the designation Thais-Williams becomes the second Black woman in the history of City of Los Angeles to have a square named after her and the first Black lesbian to receive the honor.
"Everybody deserves to be able to enjoy a night out where they can feel safe and welcomed, but before Jewel Thais-Williams that was not the reality for Los Angeles' Black LGBTQ+ community,” said Wesson.
“With Jewel's Catch One, she built a home for young, Black queer people who were often isolated and shut out at their own homes, and in doing so changed the lives of so many. Jewel is more than deserving to be the first Black lesbian woman with a dedicated square in the City of Los Angeles for this and so many other reasons."
For over four decades, Thais-Williams helped change the course of our country by breaking down racial, social, and cultural barriers. One of the original safe spaces for the Black LGBT community, The Catch also served as a refuge for many during the AIDS crisis. As Thais-Williams’ club grew to become known as the "unofficial Studio 54 of the West Coast,” Jewel became a national role model for how to fight discrimination and serve the less fortunate.
Thais-Williams graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in History, and during her college years, she wanted to be self-employed. Her first business was a boutique, but it went out of business, so she bought a bar. She opened the club after she experienced discrimination in different clubs around West Hollywood, because she was Black and female. Women at the time were not allowed to tend bar, but Jewel saved enough money and bought the bar despite the limitations. When the club opened, it became a hub for a diverse population of performers, including Sylvester, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson, Donna Summer, Whoopi Goldberg, Rick James, and Madonna.
While she was still the owner of the nightclub, Jewel went back to school and got her Master of Science degree in Oriental Medicine from Samra University in 1998. Due to the high rate of preventable diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, in minority populations, Jewel decided to open a non-profit called the Village Health Population next door to The Catch. It was created with the purpose of educating lower-income communities on nutrition and living a more healthy lifestyle and continues to serve the community.
As profiled by journalist Karen Ocamb, “Thais-Williams became a mother figure to many, helping her ‘kids’ get clean and sober and providing comfort to Black gay men rejected by their families and church during the AIDS crisis. But Thais-Williams took the extra step, co-founding the Minority AIDS Project and the Imani Unidos Food Pantry in South L.A. and joining the Board of AIDS Project Los Angeles to bring their HIV/AIDS services ‘down to the hood.’”
Ocamb continued, “additionally, with her wife Rue, Thais-Williams founded Rue’s House, the nation’s first housing facility for women with AIDS and their children, most of whom were poor and Black.” Thais-Williams funded Rue’s house from revenue made at Jewel’s Catch One. A number of the women living with AIDS staying at Rue’s House publicly raised the issue of what would happen to their children after they died. After the women gained access to life-saving HIV medications, Rue’s House transition into a sober living facility.
After nearly closing in 2015, it was purchased by Mitch Edelson and reopened under new management. Briefly called The Union after the change in management, it has since reverted to the Catch One moniker.
Members of the public can RSVP to attend the ceremony online by visiting https://www.eventbrite. com/e/jewel-thais-williams-square-dedication-ceremony-tickets-7303703874