August 29, 2019 

By Lauren Floyd 

Contributing Writer 

 

For 14 years, Los Angeles has enjoyed the annual Taste of Soul Family Food Festival on Crenshaw Blvd. The day-long festival presented by Bakewell Media boasts over 350,000 visitors just last year alone. Taste of Soul has become an institution in the Crenshaw community and draws people from L.A. and beyond, coming to enjoy live music and entertainment on more than five stages, delicious food from hundreds of vendors and shopping – including blocks and blocks of art, jewelry, clothing, beauty products as well as a plethora of free community services. The festival is family-friendly and known for being one of the largest and safest events in Southern California. Originally founded by Bakewell Media CEO Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. in 2005, Taste of Soul has grown exponentially over the years, and Mr. Bakewell says he can’t believe it’s been 14 years since its beginning.

 

“The evolution of Taste of Soul has simply been about the care for Black people and wanting the best for our community,” says Mr. Bakewell.

 

As one of the leading & most respected civil rights leaders in California and across the nation, Mr. Bakewell, Sr. wears a lot of hats.  Besides being the founder and creator of Taste of Soul he is the executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times Newspapers, he is one of the founders and serves as Chairman of the Board for Mothers in Action, is a founding member, current board chairman and former president and CEO of The Brotherhood Crusade and is the Chairman Emeritus of NNPA (Black Press of America).  Taste of Soul was birthed when Mr. Bakewell acquired the Los Angeles Sentinel in 2005 and thought of ways to reenergize the historical newspaper, bring in more revenue, and expand the reach of the newspaper into new media markets.

 

“I chose the theme ‘The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself’ for the newspaper, and that has really been a theme of my life. This is what I have lived for, trying to do things with the community in mind,” says Mr. Bakewell. “For Taste of Soul, I didn’t want to simply go rent a venue. I wanted Taste of Soul to be in the community, for the community and hosted by the community. I wanted to do something right here, on Crenshaw Blvd.”

 

With the help of his dedicated and longtime executive assistant, and community activist Ms. Brenda Marsh-Mitchell, who also served as the President of Mothers in Action – a Taste of Soul non-profit partner since the first year — Mr. Bakewell got straight to work on the planning of the festival.

 

 

“Brenda was at the core of everything at the Sentinel and of Taste of Soul,” says Mr. Bakewell of Ms. Marsh-Mitchell whom the gospel stage at Taste of Soul is named after. “She is a key component to the Taste of Soul legacy and we miss her dearly.” Together, Bakewell & Marsh-Mitchell, The Sentinel & Mothers in Action put into action the task of developing a plan to bring Bakewell’s vision to Crenshaw.

 

When Mr. Bakewell came up with the idea for Taste of Soul, it was June. He told Ms. Marsh-Mitchell that he wanted to aim for the following year, yet Ms. Marsh-Mitchell persisted that they could indeed get it done that year.

 

At first, many people didn’t think it was possible to bring a positive, family-friendly festival to the Crenshaw area. Concerns with gang violence and crowd issues kept coming up, but Mr. Bakewell insisted on the festival being in the heart of South Los Angeles on Crenshaw Boulevard.

 

“If you give our community quality, we accept quality and respond in kind,” says Mr. Bakewell. “These are our children in this community - our nieces & nephews and grandchildren. If you give them something to be proud of, they will be the greatest protectors of what we’re doing.”

 

Despite the concerns, Mr. Bakewell chartered the support of city officials like L.A. City Councilman Bernard Parks of District 9, City Council President Herb Wesson of District 10 and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. 

 

“I said, look — If it’s successful, you can take all the credit. If it’s unsuccessful, I’ll take all the weight,” says Mr. Bakewell, who knew all along the festival would go smoothly.

 

What Mr. Bakewell wanted to do was to bring more than just food and crowds out to the boulevard. He wanted it to be all about family. He and Ms. Marsh-Mitchell brainstormed and he decided to call the event “Taste of Soul.”

 

Taste of Soul’s original radio partner was 100.3 the Beat, when it was owned by Radio One (Cathy Hughes).  Following the sale of the Beat, 94.7 the WAVE and 102.3 KJLH became Taste of Soul’s radio partner and CBS2/KCAL9 joined as a TV partner. Mr. Bakewell credits the media partnerships as well as the dire support of major corporate sponsors, city public safety agencies, public health agencies, universities, and more, for making Taste of Soul possible each year.

 

 

The first annual Taste of Soul in 2005 hosted an inaugural crowd of about 35,000 and fit between King Blvd. and Coliseum, just in front of the Sentinel office.

 

“It was an arousing success. We had the radio stations out there. We lit up Crenshaw Blvd. It just had an aura to it,” says Mr. Bakewell. “That was really the beginning of Taste of Soul. It was simply a love for the community and a dedication to making sure we had something of quality that the community could be proud of. That was the catch – make the community proud.”

 

As its reputation grew, Taste of Soul gained more and more vendors each year, extending the festival down to Rodeo Rd., now named Obama Blvd. Another strong feature of Taste of Soul is the success that comes of the small business owners who start with vendor booths at Taste of Soul and through their success at the festival, are able to open storefronts, upgrade their businesses and return to the festival each year.

 

Over time, Taste of Soul has gained its place in the city of Los Angeles and continues to evolve into an institution of South L.A. Chairs of the event are L.A. City Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and L.A. County Supervisor Mark-Ridley Thomas. Co-Chairs include Rep. Karen Bass, Councilmember Curren Price, Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Assembly member Autumn Burke, KCBS-2’s Pat Harvey, LA Unified School Board Member George McKenna and the Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell & Diggs Law Firm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Taste of Soul Family Festival is a day where people in the community can enjoy gourmet food and free live music from big names like Brandy, Teddy Riley, Chante Moore and Stevie Wonder. You can showcase talent at the Starquest competition, worship at the Gospel stage and your kids can have a ball in Children’s World.  But what’s remarkable about the Taste of Soul is that at the very same event, you can get free healthcare resources, register to vote, meet your city officials and even get hired at a new job, on the spot. You can dance and smile and bask in the beauty of Black joy and Black culture on the famous Crenshaw Boulevard, a gem of South Los Angeles. This festival is dedicated to the well-being of Black people and hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world have come to share it. What started as an idea dear to Mr. Bakewell’s heart, has now become a part of the Los Angeles community that will be written into history for years to come.

 

The 14th Annual Taste of Soul is Saturday October 19, 2019. For more information, visit tasteofsoul.org and stay up to date on all Taste of Soul news by downloading the Taste of Soul app and by following @TasteofSoulLA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

August 22, 2019 

By Saybin Roberson 

Contributing Writer 

 

Wednesday, August 14, 2019, Congresswoman Maxine Waters held a hearing entitled, “Examining The Homelessness Crisis in Los Angeles” to discuss ending homelessness with key stakeholders in Los Angeles County.

 

The hearing included representatives from the House Financial Services Committee, chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Silvia Garcia (D-TX), and Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA). Also welcoming members of the California Delegation including Rep. Nanette Barragan, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, Rep. Judy Chu, and Rep. Brad Sherman.

 

Held at the California African American Museum, the hearing focused on current and future plans to decrease a large amount of homelessness Los Angeles faces. Congress­woman Waters opened the discussion with a message for all in attendance, thanking the museum director and staff for housing the event.

 

“As Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, I have made it a top priority to focus on homelessness. We are in a national homelessness crisis. Earlier this year, I convened the first-ever full Committee hearing on homelessness. Today, we will continue our discussion by examining the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, and the federal, state, and local responses to address this great challenge that this city and our nation are facing,” she said.

 

The first panel of witnesses included, Christina Miller, Deputy Mayor for City Homeless Initiatives, Office of Los Angeles Mayor, Peter Lynn, Executive Director, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Margarita Lares, Chief Program Officer, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Monique King-Viehland, Executive Director, Los Angeles County Development Authority, Kevin Murray, Former State Senator and President and CEO, The Weingart Center, Phil Ansell, Director, Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative.

 

The panelist honed in on their organization's use of federal funding to help aid in the war against homelessness, detailing where the money given to their programs has gone and showing their support of the Ending Homelessness Act of 2019 which was introduced by Chairwoman Waters in February of 2019. The bill provides $13.3 billion to improve existing programs to meet the needs of homeless people in the county. The bill was approved March 2019, this hearing stood as a progress note on the conditions of the act.

 

“We cannot ignore that our homelessness crisis is directly linked to the affordable housing crisis. Too many people cannot afford to keep a roof over their heads, as wages have not kept pace with rising rents. Los Angeles has one of the least affordable housing markets in the United States. In LA County, a renter earning the minimum wage of $13.25 per hour would need to work 79 hours a week in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment. As a result, approximately 721,000 households in the County are severely rent-burdened—meaning that they pay more than 50 percent of their income on rent,” Chairwoman Waters said in her opening speech, a statistic nearly every panelist highlighted.

 

After each panel, the representatives were each given five minutes to share remarks and ask questions regarding the claims made by witnesses. During his five minutes, Representative Sherman, opens with a statement regarding one major issue, the price of living in LA, stating, “The homeless issue is a combination of issues. Some are homeless because of substance abuse and psychological issues and trauma, some are mostly homeless because the rent is too [explicit] high.”

 

Nearly every panelist and representative agreed, the homelessness crisis is also the affordable housing crisis. Also alluding to the homelessness crisis as not only an economic issue but that of structural and institutional racism issue as well.

 

The second panel of witnesses included community members, some of which gave personal testimonies, also highlighting the plight women face when it comes to homelessness. Tim Watkins, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Watts Labor Community Action Committee, Joe Horiye, Western Region Program Vice President, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Becky Dennison, Executive Director, Venice Community Housing, Isela Gracian, President, East LA Community Corporation, Anthony Haynes, Speak Up! Advocate, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Erika Hartman, Chief Program Officer, Downtown Women’s Center, Chancela Al-Mansour, Executive Director, Housing Rights Center, Alma Vizcaino, Speaker, Downtown Women’s Center, on behalf of Domestic Violence Homeless Services Coalition Advocate, Dora Leong Gallo, President and Chief Executive Officer, A Community of Friends.

 

During this time, panelist shared more personal stories as each supports a community service-based program. Majority of their focus was on mental health and the ability to rehabilitate the homeless population to better prepare them for success once they are given the opportunity to gain housing. Alma Vizcaino gave a moving personal testimony on just how being homeless and multiple unwarranted evictions affected her mental health, stating, “I have experienced homelessness, mental health problems related to the impact of trauma, and chronic health conditions like diabetes as a result of my hardships.”

 

The final panel which featured only Mayor Eric Garcetti, in which he opened with many thanks to the representatives for supporting the cause to end homelessness in his county and shared positivity on the matter believing the crisis is without a doubt, solvable.

 

“I hope to give you a perspective of some hope and some belief, that this is a human-caused problem that ultimately can be a human solved problem as well,” he stated. Citing the factors that often time create homelessness is lack of resources for those who have dealt with trauma whether being, domestic and sexual abuse, aged-out foster children, mental health, substance abuse, and low wages - issues of which he is sure can be solved with more resources.

 

The informative hearing spoke frequently about Proposition HHH, the Ending Homelessness Act and the ways these programs are benefiting or absorbing funds that could be more useful elsewhere. As this issue will not be solved quickly, it is clear, all are working to fight against increase numbers and protect the vulnerable people living on the streets.

 

Putting full belief into the act, Chairwoman Waters states, “We need a bold and comprehensive response at the federal, state, and local level to address the homelessness crisis. That’s why I have introduced the Ending Homelessness Act, legislation that would provide over $13 billion in funding to ensure every person experiencing homelessness in America has a place to call home. The Financial Services Committee passed this legislation earlier this year, and I am committed to doing everything I can to get the bill passed into law.”

 

To learn more about the homeless crisis and legislation created to solve the issue visit https://financialservices.house.gov/. To watch the hearing visit https://financialservices.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=404181.

August 08, 2019 

By Elizabeth Marcellino 

City News Service 

 

Animal rights activists today praised Los Angeles County’s decision to adopt “socially conscious” operating practices for its animal shelter, warning that alternative “no-kill” policies often result in unsafe, overcrowded facilities and dangerous dogs on the street.

 

Los Angeles County Super­visor Kathryn Barger asked for an update on the new practices at the Department of Animal Care and Control. A report back is expected in 90 days.

 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals representative Lisa Lange said the DACC has emphasized spay and neuter policies to help reduce the population of stray and homeless animals, rather than emulating no-kill shelters that turn sick and dangerous animals away to maintain favorable statistics.

 

“We all want to see an end to the homeless animal crisis, but the way to get there is not by closing our shelter doors and turning animals away for a meaningless save rate,” Lange told the board. “This policy will help animals on a huge level.”

 

PETA representative Diana Mendoza called the newly adopted practices “a smart, compassionate, level-headed model that has the power to bring the community together. Instead of reducing animals to statistics the way the no-kill movement does, socially conscious sheltering puts the animals’ interests firmly in focus along with what is best for the community.”

 

The DACC said many no-kill practices require agencies to refuse admission to animals that aren't adoptable and also overcrowd shelters, increasing the risk of disease.

 

Some release dangerous dogs for adoption to meet live release goals, according to the DACC and PETA.

 

The PETA website details dozens of instances of hoarding animals or sickly or dangerous dogs approved for adoption.

 

“It’s time for the truth that not all animals, just like not all people, are loving, trainable and safe,” said Phyllis Daugherty of the Animal Issues Movement.

 

Socially conscious sheltering originated in Colorado. Its goals are to ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care and to make every healthy and safe animal available for adoption.

 

In line with those practices, the DACC will not offer animals for adoption that are dangerous or “irremediably suffering.” And it will compassionately euthanize animals in severe, unremitting pain or suffering from other serious health challenges.

 

The DACC transferred 7,763 animals to low-intake animal shelters around the country last year in an effort to maximize adoption rates for healthy, safe pets. Here at home, it assesses potential adopters to make suitable matches and provides post-adoption support to ensure good outcomes.

 

The Long Beach City Council is deciding whether to adopt a no-kill policy for its shelter and in April heard from advocates on both sides of the issue who claimed to share the same goal of saving treatable animals and “putting down” animals when necessary due to injury or illness.

 

No kill advocates say they save more lives, while those against no kill policies say Long Beach would have to end its open admissions policy, ABC7 reported. The matter is expected to come back before the council this month.

 

A PETA shelter in Norfolk, Virginia came under scrutiny in 2015 for the 80 percent rate of euthanization in its shelter there, leading state lawmakers to pass a bill changing the definition of an animal shelter. But PETA staffers said they end up caring for animals turned away by other shelters. Many owners of elderly or suffering pets also turn to PETA when they cannot afford to pay the veterinarian’s fee for euthanasia, the animal rights organization told the Washington Post.

 

A blog post from PETA President Ingrid Newkirk states, “It’s easy to point the finger at those who are forced to do the ‘dirty work’ caused by a throwaway society’s casual acquisition and breeding of dogs and cats who end up homeless and unwanted, but at PETA, we will never turn our backs on neglected, unloved and homeless animals – even if the best we can offer them is a painless release from a world that doesn't have enough heart or homes with room for them.”

 

The DACC’s live release rate for dogs is 88 percent and it finds homes for roughly half of the cats that come into its shelters, nearly double the rate for felines five years ago.

 

“Through collaboration with strategic partners, especially the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), DACC has been able to greatly improve outcomes for animals in its care,” DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. “We are committed to continuing our efforts through socially conscious animal sheltering to save animals’ lives and protect our communities.”