July 25, 2019
By City News Service
Former Vice President Joe Biden continued his two- day Southland fundraising swing today, stressing to supporters the importance of the upcoming election and visiting another local eatery to mingle with voters.
Biden attended a midday fundraiser at the home of Pasadena City Councilman John J. Kennedy, former president of the local chapter of the NAACP. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis was among those in the crowd.
Biden renewed his attacks from a day earlier on President Donald Trump, accusing him of spreading hate and racism in the campaign.
“As hopeless as things are now, before, we've had it worse before,” Biden told the crowd.
But he stressed the need to defeat Trump in 2020.
“Unless we get by this one, we're in real trouble,” he said.
He vowed that if elected, he would have a diverse administrative staff that “looks like America, because it's important.”
After the fundraiser, Biden and Solis paid a visit to Tamales Liliana's in East Los Angeles, sampling a tamale while shaking hands and taking photos with diners.
One final fundraiser Friday evening was hosted by advertising executive Mary Ann Walker at her home in Palos Verdes Estates, where Biden addressed a crowd of about 65 guests with comments focused heavily on Trump, criticizing the president's rhetoric and policies.
Biden on Thursday put on an apron and helped served food to patrons at Dulan's on Crenshaw in South Los Angeles, then took a microphone and addressed a group of local religious leaders, stressing that he is running for president ``to restore the soul of this country.''
He quickly targeted Trump and his recent comments about four Democratic congresswomen, whom the president said on Twitter should “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came.” That sentiment was echoed at Trump's Wednesday night rally in North Carolina, where the crowd broke into a chant of “send her back,” aimed at one of the congresswomen, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota.
“Did you see or hear Trump's rally last night?” Biden asked the crowd at Dulan's. “It was despicable. To stand and attack those four women in the way he did, talking about them going back home. The racist, basic taunts. And then when the crowd started yelling, ‘Send them back, send them back, send them back,’ when has that ever happened other than the last time you remember the name George Wallace,” Biden said, referring to the segregationist candidate of the 1960s. “No, I'm serious. When has anything like that happened – the president of the United States saying or doing something like that?''
Trump on Thursday tried to distance himself from the North Carolina chants, telling reporters, “I was not happy with it. I disagree with it. But again, I didn't say that. They did. But I disagree with it.”
“It was quite a chant, and I felt a little bit badly about it,” Trump said.
Biden also attended a fundraiser Thursday afternoon at the Brentwood home of developer Thomas Safran, with tickets ranging from $200 to $2,800. He reiterated his comments from earlier in the day and accused Trump of working to divide the country.
“There's always in every society an underbelly that has racist and xenophobic tendencies, thank God it's a minority,” Biden said. “From the day Trump ran he's been trying to appeal to that underbelly. Because like most charlatans in the 19th and 20th centuries, the way you bring down a system is you divide it and make sure you divide it first. That's what this has been all about.”
Biden attended a Thursday night fundraiser at a Bel Air home owned by Sony Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman and his wife, Jessica Harper. There were about 75 attendees there, including fundraiser co-hosts and media moguls Peter Chernin and Amy Pascal, talent agent Bryan Lourd and Warner Bros. Chairman Toby Emmerich. Actor Richard Schiff from “The West Wing” also was in the crowd.
Rothman introduced the candidate and said, “When people, often to enhance their own position, attack aspects of the vice president's 40-year record, I keep thinking the same thing – yeah, that's right, he actually has a record, and a record equals experience and, before the world turned upside down, experience was an important job qualification.”
Biden's 30-minute speech was filled with barbs at Trump.
“Four years of Donald Trump – God willing – will go down as an aberration in American history,” he said. “Eight years of this guy, I believe in my heart, will fundamentally alter the character of the nation we are.”
The candidate also talked about his desire to restore the middle class in America.
Republican National Committee representatives took aim at Biden's appeal to the middle class while the man gathered with Hollywood executives.
“Working Americans can see right past Joe Biden's ‘Middle Class Joe’ act as he mingles with coastal elites and multi-millionaires,” RNC spokeswoman Samantha Zager said. “Meanwhile, President Trump has championed the middle class with historic tax cuts, higher wages and deregulation.”
Biden next will be moving his campaign to Las Vegas.
July 18, 2019
By Cora Jackson-Fossett
Contributing Writer
Ministry takes different shapes at Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Marcus Murchinson, the Watts congregation goes beyond the church walls to provide services to benefit the local community.
Through partnerships with area nonprofits combined with grant funding, the church uses its facilities to offer a youth feeding program, substance abuse treatment, a nurse managed clinic, transitional housing, and reentry classes for formerly incarcerated individuals. Professional staff manages all of the programs, which are free to the public.
According to Murchinson, the outreach programs operate under Tree of Life’s community development corporation, Watts Up. The multi-prong goal is to transform outcomes for the people of Watts, change outside opinions and provide spiritual and tangible services to the community.
“We want to help revitalize Watts and to really make it the epicenter that it once was. I remember all of these stereotypes about Watts, the bad things said about it. So I started driving around and I saw the needs of the community and where we could put our fingerprints,” he explained.
“I teach our congregation that we cannot only do ministry in the building. We can only do worship. Ministry takes place after the benediction and we leave the four walls. Now, you can do ministry and I don’t believe that you have to re-create ministry. You just have to identify where the needs are. That in itself becomes ministry and that is what Jesus was so good at,” said Murchinson, who has served at Tree of Life since 2014.
Referring to his approach as “church unusual,” Murchinson said he uses the ministry of Christ as his role model to develop and implement community programs, collaborations and activities. “A lot of Jesus’ ministry was done outside the church, not within the institution,” he said. And while Murchinson insisted that he will never compromise the message of the Gospel, he is adamant that the presentation of the Word requires flexibility.
One reason for his philosophy is the fact that the demographics of Watts have changed from African American to predominately Latino. As a result, Tree of Life was becoming a commuter church where members worshipped, but failed to serve the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods. Aiming to change the situation, Murchinson embarked on creating outlets to enhance the quality of life for all of the people of Watts.
“We partnered with a Hispanic church and we worship one Sunday a month together. They also have services in our building on other Sundays at 4 p.m. and midweek services, too,” said Murchinson. “We need that cohesiveness if we are going to be effective and reach the masses. We have to blend together. We must bring unity like Christ did. He was unity in division.”
On July 12, Tree of Life launched its Teen Club where young people can meet each Friday to dance and socialize. Also, once a month, the church parking lot will be converted into a roller rink for youth.
“There is nowhere in Watts for young people who live here to do anything in Watts. There is no skating rink, no movie theaters or a mall. So we are going to provide a place for young people to come on Fridays and have fun,” he said.
Also, plans are underway to open another youth-focused program to educate students who are at risk of being expelled from other schools. Through a partnership with L.A. Unified and other agencies, Watts Up CDC will manage a charter high school and also recruit Tree of Life members as volunteer mentors.
“We plan to match each child with one of our senior sages. Many of these children have never had a grandparent because they live in the foster care system or with a guardian and they have never had a nuclear family,” noted Murchinson. “We will try to partner them with someone that can be like a grandmother, big brother, friend or confidant for them. That is ministry.”
The “innovative ministry” team includes nonprofits such as Canon Human Services, a facility located across from Tree of Life that provides residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment. Dr. Richard Harrison serves as the executive director and Watasha Huff is the program manager.
The National University Nurse-Managed Clinic is located in the Tree of Life edifice. Staffed by Dr. Angela Williams and Ariana Peralta, medical secretary, the clinic performs free services ranging from physical examinations and behavioral health screenings to vision and hearing testing, women’s health assessments and social services referrals. It is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dad’s Back, a program of Friends Outside in Los Angeles County that is also housed on the church’s campus, conducts classes in Parenting/Responsible Fatherhood, Job Readiness/Parole to Payroll, Healthy Relationships/Healthy Marriage and Financial Literacy. Murchinson said, “It is a 30-day program that teaches formerly incarcerated people how to transition back into society and the participants receive a stipend for coming to help themselves.”
As part of its re-entry services, Watts Up recently opened a transitional house in South L.A. with separate sections for men and women. The property contains 10 bedrooms that sleep two-to-three persons per room, six bathrooms, two laundry rooms, and an exercise area. Nutritious meals are provided along with transportation.
“We were blessed to have grant funding to pay for these programs and providers. Since all of our programs come from grants, all of the services are free to the community and we serve everybody, no matter what color or background,” Murchinson said.
“Innovative ministry is our church’s goal and we want to support the community, not just spiritually, but on all levels.”
Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church is located at 9702 Holmes Ave., in Los Angeles. To learn more about the church’s programs, call (323) 566-1202 or visit treeoflife-mbc.org.
July 18, 2019
LAWT News Service
On Saturday, October 5, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Audubon Middle School and Gifted Magnet will be celebrating 90 years of educating students in the Leimert Park community and surround communities with celebrity Audubon Alumni such as Brandon Mebane (LA Chargers), Curren Price (Councilman), Arron Arnell “Bobo” Johnson (KJLH) and more. This celebration will include former Audubon Principals, Teachers and Staff members, a live DJ, a performance by Fernando Pullum, Krystal Smith-LA Limited Addition Drumline, Food Trucks, Vendors, Photobooth, Jumpers, Raffles and more. Tickets are available through Eventbrite (AMS 90th Celebration). The event will be held at Audubon Middle School located at 4120 11th Ave., Los Angeles, Ca. 90008.
Over the years, thousands of students have attended Audubon Middle School & Gifted Magnet (AMS) and have become successful individuals. This is a perfect time for Audubon’s Alumni to reunite with their former classmates, purchase yearbooks, say thank you to their former teachers that have made an impact in their lives and celebrate alumni achievements.
Lastly, there are sponsorship opportunities for all businesses. If you would like to make a donation to the 90th Celebration contact Audubon Middle School & Gifted Magnet.
July 18, 2019
LAWT News Service
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) will host a transformational one-day conference “Saving Our Sons” for boys of color in middle school and high school, drop-outs, wards of the court, continuation school students, youth on probation and those residing in foster and group homes.
The pivotal event will be held at California State University Dominguez Hills on Saturday, August 3, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. (registration) to 4:00 p.m. and will include breakout sessions, lunch, tie-tying lesson, free haircuts (pre-registered) and backpack giveaway.
Some of the program topics include “A Generation that Can;” “The Marathon Continues;” “Chin Up and Check In;” “I Don’t Know Anyone; I’m Confused;” “Why Did You Stop Me?;” “How Do I Break the Cycle – Show Me;” and more. The keynote speaker for the conference is Grammy Award winning recording artist Jay Rock who was born and raised in Watts. He is widely recognized for overcoming adversity and for the strong work ethic he demonstrated as he convalesced from a serious motorcycle accident.
Asm. Gipson has partnered with local non-profits and stakeholders who also support the positive advancement of this at-risk demographic. They include Challenging Minds, Inc.; the City of Carson; SIA Tech; Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.; Hands Without Guns; and 100 Black Men of Long Beach.
“Over the years, this event has proved to be a day of empowerment and possibilities. It is now more important than ever that we inform and engage our young men in important conversations in addition to providing them with tools to work through situations and blueprints for success,” said Gipson.
California State University, Dominguez Hills is located at 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson, CA 90747. Admission is free with registration online at https://www.eventbrite.com/ e/saving-our-sons-tickets-64267110658 For more information, please call (310) 324-6408.