August 08, 2019
By Lauren Floyd
Contributing Writer
It’s no secret that when it comes to under-resourced communities in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods, arts and music education is usually lacking. But the program director of the Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory & Youth Symphony, Billy Mitchell, says it’s not because the programs don’t exist.
“The problem with under resourced areas is that they very seldom get information on all the opportunities that are out there,” says Mitchell. “There are college scholarships and grants and all kinds of things available.”
One of those programs you should know about in the South Central L.A., Watts and Compton area, is the Watts-Willowbrook Conservatory, or WWC, which is now preparing for its tenth year of providing free music classes to youth, ages 6-18.
WWC was established in early 2010 at the Watts-Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club in partnership with the Scholarship Performance Preparatory Academy, also known as SAPPA. The program offers high quality music education and exposure into the world of arts which builds self-esteem, discipline and creativity amongst its youth participants.
“We stress learning music correctly at a very early age so you can create any music you want not only creatively, but effectively,” says Mitchell, a self-taught pianist who has had an affinity for music since childhood. Growing up with that natural inclination for music meant that Mitchell says he, like many students, struggled with the technical aspect of practicing and taking lessons.
“I totally get it, I understand why young people are resistant [of music lessons] and why this is kind of difficult. I did the same thing. But later, as I got back into music, I found myself in a professional setting, and I wasn’t prepared.”
Mitchell went back to school to get professionally trained which he says was much more difficult as an adult. Now, Mitchell has instilled this lesson he learned in his outreach to youth.
“It’s so important to learn music as a child. So, I brought that message to young people because once you got it as a child…you got it,” says Mitchell.
“I have been judging music competitions for years and I am always disappointed that a lot of my inner-city students, who I know are qualified and talented, are not showing up. And when they do show up, they are not operating at the level that I would expect them to, and the level that I know they can operate at, because they’ve never had the exposure to these kinds of programs.”
The students of WWC are being prepared to reverse these types of disparities in music. Participants attend one hour classes after school, twice a week. They learn to read music and play symphonic string instruments — violin, viola, cello and bass. These satellite programs are designed to be the network that forms the core of the Watts-Willowbrook Youth Symphony, made up of young people from the South Central L.A. and the Watts/Compton communities. Classes are offered at three locations in the Watts/Compton area, including the WLCAC campus on Central Avenue. Classes are completely free with the exception of a $10 registration fee.
The WWC program is free through the sponsorship and support of The Herb Alpert Foundation, The Ayrshire Foundation, California Community Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Southern California Edison, The Colburn Foundation, The California Arts Council and the Jerry & Terri Kohl Foundation. Still, Mitchell says as with most inner-city music programs, funding remains a continuous need for WWC.
“We’ve been very fortunate from corporate funding, but we haven’t been so fortunate with community funding which has been an issue with me,” says Mitchell. He doesn’t know why exactly that is, but he says its troubling to see so much funding and attention from celebrities and public figures, being invested elsewhere, while the communities they came from are still struggling.
Regardless, the goal of the program remains focused on enriching the youth of South L.A., Watts and Compton with music.
“My goal is to make sure our kids learn music correctly so that they can have control of their careers and control of their lives. I don’t want my hip-hop artists to go into a studio and the engineer has to tell them that there are three beats there, or four beats there,” says Mitchell.
“In any genre we represent, I want us to know all the technical aspects of it so we can control it.”
WWC’s Fall 2019 session begins September 10. Registration and orientation will take place Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 5PM in the City of Los Angeles “Old Library Building”’ at 1501 E 103rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90002. Applications are available online at www.sappa.net and you can learn more about WWC at wattswillowbrookconservatory.com.
August 01, 2019
By Brian W. Carter
Contributing Writer
It’s August!
You know what that means? They’re going back—to school!
Before you send the kids off for another year of academic excellence, you should make sure they go back prepared. The annual 21st Mothers In Action’s (MIA) Annual Back to School Health and Family Festival is coming to make sure they will be prepared for school. The festival will take place Saturday, August 3, from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. at Exposition Park’s Christmas Tree Lane 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037.
“We’re helping young students to be good, law-abiding, healthy, knowledgeable citizens by having back-to-school,” said the late Brenda Marsh-Mitchell and former president of MIA. “The need is still there and probably even more necessary now than it was when we started it.”
Tracy Mitchell echoes her mother’s sentiments and continues to bring the community one of the biggest health and family festivals in Los Angeles. Her mother’s words, truer now, than ever—there is still an unyielding need for youth to be successful in school.
“Brenda Marsh-Mitchell, recognized the fact that kids fail because they can’t hear, see, or feel,” said Mitchell. “So, she created the back to school to help diffuse the health issues that many underserved at risk youth in our community.”
The free event provides L.A.’s at-risk, underserved, school aged youth with free health screenings, immunizations, haircuts, uniforms and valuable community resources and information. Visitors can expect free or low-cost healthcare, youth job opportunities, safety, sex-trafficking information, education, social services, healthy habits and much more while supplies last. The event caters to children ages five to 15-years-old. There will be free raffles throughout the day that includes a variety of tickets and more.
“We are very thankful to our village of elected officials, sponsors, donors, volunteers and barbers because as a small non-profit 501 (c)(3) agency we could not do this without them,” said Mitchell.
MIA would like to thank their chair, co-chairs, friends, members, sponsors, staff, volunteers, vendors and donors who are stepping up and out to help us provide our underserved residents of our community with a quality much needed health fair and back to school supply giveaway.
This year’s co-chairs and sponsors include: Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. of Bakewell Media; Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; Councilmember Curren Price (CD9); Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson (CD10); Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD8); and School Board member of District 1, Dr. George McKenna III.
Those sponsors, partners and special individuals include: Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, L.A. Watts Times, The Bakewell Company, Brotherhood Crusade, Bank of America, CHP, The Cochran Firm of California, The Baron J Foundation, Holman United Methodist Church, DJ Jiji Sweet, Robert Torrence, PAVA World, 7-Eleven, Oscar Joel Bryant Foundation, Office Depot Foundation, Office of Management of Exposition Park, LAPD, LAPPL, Sandra Evers Manly, South Coast AQMD, Printco Graphics, Kaiser Permanente, L.A. Sanitation, Walsh Shea Corridor Constructors, Weingart Foundation, RFP Insurance and Zapata-King Neighborhood Council. MIA appreciates all of their corporate and individual donors.
MIA is honored to have health care educators/providers, which include Benevolence Health Center, Explorer -1, COACH for Kids, LAC+USC medical Center Asthma Breath Mobile, Special Service for Groups Trauma Recovery, The Children’s Dental Center, Watts Health Center – Dentistry, Watts Health Center, YWCA Greater Los Angeles and many more join our village to bless our youth with free health screenings and education at this year’s back to school health fair.
If you are planning on attending the event please bring your child’s immunization record if applicable. For more information on the event please contact the organization at (323) 290-0456 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Participants interested in donating to Mother’s In Action can visit www.gofundme.com/miabacktoschool
August 01, 2019
By Saybin Roberson
Contributing Writer
Thursday, July 25, 2019, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency (Metro) Board came to a unanimous vote granting $15 million to Destination Crenshaw to begin the construction of Sankofa Park, a 49,000 square foot outdoor space and cultural experience.
At 1.3 miles long, Destination Crenshaw will celebrate Black Los Angeles, enhancing each Metro-owned property along the Crenshaw corridor. The outdoor museum intends to combat gentrification and the removal of cultural history while promoting economic development and pride for the community. Destination Crenshaw aims to ensure economic vitality for present and future residents of the community.
The main attraction will be Sankofa Park, which will be the largest platform of all included in the project. Located just south of Leimert Park on 46th and Crenshaw, the platform will serve as an amphitheater for performances, festivals, and community gatherings and events.
“Sankofa Park, we think is a fitting investment for this board to make to augment and enhance the train, and make it an asset that increases the vitality of the existing community and doesn’t require a new community to come in to create economic vitality,” Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson says directing his comments to the board.
Along with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, community stakeholders Berlinda Fontenot Jamerson, president of the Museum of African American Art, Quinton Primo, co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Capri Capital Partners and Addam Ayala, Founding Director of Smile South Central also advocated for the project. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas also shared comments backing Destination Crenshaw and the future installments. Supporters in the audience wore shirts that read Destination Crenshaw stood in solidarity to show their support of the initiative.
As part of Metro’s Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project (C/LAX), an 8.5-mile light rail is currently under construction and expected to open in 2020. Rather than receiving minor changes, the train will bring about, Destination Crenshaw will partner with Metro to create an experience and preserve the true essence of the area.
The C/LAX has been allocated $2.058 billion in funds to build the rail, aligning the goals of both Destination Crenshaw and Metro’s transit-supportive campaign to make trains safer and more accessible to residents of Los Angeles, also encouraging healthier options such as biking and walking. With the vote from the board, Destination Crenshaw has now opened the door to 240 years of history and Black excellence.
“Together we have the opportunity to create a regional and national model for large scale transportation, and for economic revitalization efforts,” Berlinda Fontenot Jamerson says of the partnership with Metro and Destination Crenshaw.
Architectural firm Perkins+Will, best known for their work with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., will produce a design set to honor the past, present and future of Crenshaw Boulevard without compromising its true essence and unique history. Over 100 art installations will be displayed created by local artists and community members, as well as commissions from world-renowned artists.
Setting the standard for community pride, this project aims to raise awareness and restore Crenshaw Boulevard to an optimal economic state. As many stated, Destination Crenshaw, is a project not only for South Los Angeles but the entire region.
To learn more about Destination Crenshaw visit http://destinationcrenshaw.rasheedsulaiman.com/index/
July 25, 2019
By City News Service
Authorities today sought public help to solve the drive-by killing four years ago of a young man in the south Los Angeles Area.
Kejon Atkins, 22, was shot in the head about 11:30 a.m. on July 23, 2015, as he stood on a sidewalk in the 1800 block of East 126th Street, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported. He died four days later at a hospital.
Detectives released security images of two vehicles believed connected with the crime: a gold, older model 4-door sedan and a maroon and gray Pontiac Vibe van. No descriptions were available of the suspects. A motive for the crime was not known.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the killing.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.