Congresswoman Karen Bass is a leading candidate to become the mayor of Los Angeles in 2022. She’s already garnered the backing of a wide swath of Angelenos, from South L.A. to the city’s Westside, among downtown residents and some voters in San Fernando Valley as well.
Currently the U.S. representative for California’s 37th congressional district, Bass has attained nationwide stature since being first elected to the office in 2011. In 2018, Bass was elected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Prior to her congressional career, she served six years representing the 47th District in the California State Assembly. She was the first African American woman in the country to be elected as Speaker of a state legislative body.
Since announcing her candidacy, she’s traversed the city to meet with citizens and hear their concerns. In response, she developed an in-depth, wide-ranging plan to address the issues of homelessness, public safety, crime prevention, business and jobs and climate and sustainability.
She outlines her vision for the city on her website: “Los Angeles can be a city where all people have access to quality health care. Los Angeles can be a city where its economy — one of the most robust, intricate and complex economies in the world — can work for everyone.
“Los Angeles can be a city where everyone can afford housing, where everyone can be paid livable wages, and where services and resources are provided to help get folks who may have stumbled, back on their feet,” says Bass.
To learn more, visit: www.karenbass.com.
Sydney Kamlager for Congress- 37 District
Chicago-born Sydney Kamlager-Dove found her interest government while she was working with her grandmother on electoral campaign for Harold Washington – Chicago’s first Black mayor.
Following her passion, young Kamlager-Dove moved to L.A. and focused on political science at the University of Southern California (USC). While she was studying, Kamlager-Dove experienced one of the most infamous civic interruptions. The 1992 riots in Los Angeles emerged while she was a student at USC as a direct response to the Rodney King verdict.
Building on the platform of justice, Kamlager-Dove devoted her time and energy to public service. As state senate, Kamlager-Dove worked endlessly to create an environment that thrived on equality.
Kamlager-Dove introduced the Street Medicine Act, which provides medical teams to the unsheltered. Kamlager-Dove brought forward the California State Penal Code (AB 127), holding police accountable by eliminating barriers in prosecuting acts of crimes by law enforcement.
Moving into a congressional standpoint, Kamlager-Dove is looking to expand voting and reproductive rights, broadening health care, reimagining criminal justice, and orchestrating innovative investment in housing. She is looking at climate with a serious eye and preparing to coordinate a “new Green deal” that will respond immediately to the changes in the environment.
To learn more, visit: www.sydneykamlager-dove.com.
McOsker Seeks CD 15 Seat
Tim McOsker aims to extend his history of public service by representing Council District 15.
With decades of government and nonprofit experience under his belt, McOsker believes his leadership and political know-how to secure much needed resources for the 250,000+ residents in CD15. Also, he is a native of the area and intimately familiar with the history and potential that the region possesses.
“I’ve lived in the district my entire life,” said McOsker, who worked many years under James K. Hahn during Hahn’s tenure as L.A. city attorney and mayor. “I had a great experience, but it has always been in the back of my mind that when the opportunity arises to give back to the city that gave so much to me that I would do it.”
The Watts community, where many African Americans still reside, plays a big part in his intention to give back and he’s committed to make the concerns of the region a priority if he is elected.
“Watts is a community with great potential and a real desire to build up retail development, job opportunities and developing properties,” McOsker said. “We want visitors to come to Watts to experience it and to experience the music, food, urban farming, the towers and just the culture and the environment of the place. That's my hope.”
Other priorities for McOsker are resolving homelessness and creating affordable housing, rebuilding the economy and creating more jobs, improving public health and safety, combatting climate change and restoring trust and transparency in city government.
To learn more, visit: www.timmcosker.com.
Reggie Jones-Sawyer for State Assembly District 57
Reggie Jones-Sawyer knows what it’s like to face inequality and injustice because he’s been there. As a child, his family shared a home with four other families.
This experience forced Jones-Sawyer to understand the critical need for social and economic justice at an early age. Ultimately, leading him to dedicate his career to uplifting working families.
While serving as Vice President of Service Employees International Union (SEIC) Local 721, he found ways to secure better wages for working people, including janitors, nurses, and social workers. He also sought healthcare for all, along with equal pay, retirement benefits, and worker’s rights.
During his time in State Legislature, Jones-Sawyer advocated forward-thinking policies that put working families first. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked endlessly to help his community, securing personal protective equipment for first responders and other workers at the frontline of the virus. He distributed critical resources to struggling working families and fought to provide financial support to families impacted by the virus to make sure they could keep roofs over their head and food on their tables.
In his re-election, Reggie Jones-Sawyer will continue to fight for affordable housing, equal pay, protective equipment for frontline workers, as well as a criminal system that caters to everyone not just the wealthy elite. He is a man for the people, and proves this through his dedication and hard work for the community.
To learn more, visit: www.reggiejones-sawyer.com.
Hookah gains popularity by the day in America. While some enjoy it’s multitude of flavors as an alternative to smoking cigarettes and cigars, the truth is that shisha substances used to smoke hookah contain some level of tobacco and nicotine.
With tobacco use being a major contributor to the three leading causes of death among African Americans – heart disease, cancer, and stroke – young entrepreneur, Blakk Tatted, made it his mission change the debilitating relationship between the community and tobacco products.
Through his company, Blakk Smoke, Blakk Tatted is destroying the tobacco industry by creating Hookah shisha made with 100% fruit.
The lightheadedness caused by smoking hookah is due to the tobacco mixed in, however, Blakk Tatted has singlehandedly created a solution for those who enjoy smoking hookah and do not want exposure to nicotine and tobacco.
An old hookah lover, himself, the young entrepreneur admitted that he came up with this idea through his own use of the product.
“I had to ask myself, how can I do what I love to do, which is smoke hookah, without being exposed to nicotine and tobacco.
I didn’t want to stop, but I wanted to find a healthier alternative, so that’s how the wheels started spinning and I came up with Blakk Smoke.” Blakk Tatted told the Los Angeles Sentinel.
Blakk Tatted confessed that when he came up with this idea, he was met with a lot of push back and many thought he was crazy.
Creating hookah with only fruit? Many believed that it was impossible.
“There were even times I thought I was crazy,” said Blakk Tatted. “But I mean when you’re on a diet and you think about what’s healthy, the first thing people say is fruit. So, when trying to create something healthy, I knew to use fruit because that’s where health starts for me. I didn’t want to use grass or shisha, like other people.”
Blakk Tatted specifically created this product to advance the black community, whom he feels is deeply affected by the tobacco industry.
“I get that people probably shouldn’t drink or smoke, but we do. A lot of people live life on the edge, which is understandable because life if short.
So, do what you want, but if you’re going to do these things, let’s do it the healthiest way possible.”
This is a belief that many people must have with Blakk Tatted, who made over $1 million in less than 9 hours with his new company.
Since launching and creating on-the-go hookah pens in January, with every product drop he has inventory is completely sold out in minutes.
Blakk’s popularity is not new to him. With an already large social media platform before the release of his company, many will recognize him as the young artist, the “New Orleans Dip King.” Blakk was crowned by his pioneering the “Dip Challenge” and has nearly 400,000 Instagram followers.
He used his platform to continue to talk to people, just with a different message, as a way to travel word about the negatives of tobacco use and his alternative product.
Being a young entrepreneur has its challenges, however. Blakk said that he still has difficulties maintaining inventory of his fast-selling products.
This is something him and his company are working to improve as the year continues.
With this, the rewards of running his company are far greater. “I get to create generational wealth while saving lives.
It took me a while to find my niche and my passion, so I’m confident that I’m doing what I love and getting paid to do it.”
As 2022 year continues, Blakk Tatted’s only goal for hid company is to elevate.
“I don’t set exact goals anymore.
I try to savor the moment, live in the moment, and put my best foot forward. I just wish for the best, hope the best, and try for the best.
When I look back thirty days…three months…six months…I just want to see progress.”
As for himself, Black Tatted has hopes of eventually getting into acting.
However, he also shared with LAS that he’s open to many different paths. We just have to keep up with him to see what’s coming next.
With all his endeavors, Blakk wants to inspire people.
His advice to anyone, young and old, is that if you’re looking to start a business “don’t stop. Keep going, If you want to do something, the fact that you can think it you can do it.”
With Blakk Smoke’s product being a true first of its kind, these pens offer a premium Blakk Smoke experience that’s 100% portable with no nicotine or tobacco.
For more information on Blakk Smoke and their products visit: https://www.blakksmoke.com.
For more information on Blakk Tatted you can follow his social media platforms @blakk_tatted.
Tay Hawes is the creative powerhouse who has worked behind the scenes on some of the most recognizable videos, promotional content, commercials, and live performances over the last nine years.
Most artist go to larger boutique companies for production, but because of his long working relationships in the industry, Hawes has managed to work with some big named celebrities on special projects.
Through his production company, Hawes Media Group, Tay has produced content for famous hitmakers. He has collaborated music icons like Cardi B, Kanye west, and Los Angeles Rams wide reciever, Odell Beckham. Tay has partnered with world-reknown brands like Disney and Nike. While Hawes Media Group is a small production company, the entrepreneur shows that there is power in hard work through his multitudes of success.
A man known for making the impossible possible, Hawes is known for being a hard worker with a fast turnaround in the entertainment industry. During an interview, the entrepreneur/manager discussed with the Los Angeles Sentinel his first run in with client and famous artist, Lizzo. Hawes worked with the singer at the start of her career for her “Truth Hurts,” video.
“We had about $50k to work on two videos, which was hard, but that gets my adrenaline going. I produced two jobs in two days in one house, and that song later became a hit record and video and was at the top of the charts for over fifteen weeks.”
Black creatives often face a lot of struggles in the entertainment industry from production to the actors and models within the projects. An industry dominated in White supremecy and discrimination is an issue often placed on many creatives of color. Because of this, Hawes has made hiring people of color a staple component of his company.
“Back when I started in production in 2009, there weren’t too many black creatives. It was mostly just dancers and actresses,” said Hawes. “Black people were treated secondary. They’d eat less and have breakrooms that weren’t as nice as other people. They just weren’t treated well so, I always made a point to treat my actors and dancers the exact same way as I treat my crew.”
He continued with, “I’ve shot in so many different cities, but I always hire a diverse crew. I’m a big advocate in hiring black creatives in all my projects, whether it’s PAs, my caterer or someone in the sound department. I make sure to have them in all the jobs.”
While this wasn’t a struggle for Hawes, this was an issue for other production companies who are not accustomed to working with non-White creatives. Especially during the times of unrest in the heap of the pandemic, when companies were pushed to hire more Black people.
“[As Black people] we need to continue to push the initiative and make sure we’re on all these sets.”
Hawes also shared a Black creative concern to be unionized within the entertainment industry. Especially in areas like glam, Black people often have to prep for projects because there’s no one in the union with the ability to work on Black hair and skin.
“We here, and we’re here to stay,” said Hawes.
Tay Hawes dedication to hiring and working with other Black people goes far beyond him. With Black creativity comes Black expression, and Hawes believes that it takes teams of diversity with people who look like you to make these projects as authentic as possible.
“We’re doing these jobs for Black artists, and it’s important for them to see a familiar face. People pour their hearts and souls into these jobs, so it’s only right that the person behind the camera talking to them, interviewing them, and even shooting them understand the importance of being a Black artist,” explained the entrepreneur.
Hawes went on to discuss the value that comes with relation to the artist one works with. “You need to be aware of how to light dark skin or think how can I interview someone who’s overcome something if I don’t understand it or come from something similar. You have to pull things out of them, and I think these days, when working with young artists and athletes who may not be used to being in front of the camera, they need to identify with you. You have to understand them.”
While he’s done many projects in a diverse range of topics, Hawes shared that his favorite projects to work on are usually ones involving sports. The entrepreneur described a Nike campaign he did with Titans running back Derrick Henry that touched his heart, specifically.
“We blessed a single mother of four, which extremely touched me because it was so very similar to my upbringing. She lost almost everything in the Tornadoes, so we surprised her with a year of free rent, twenty boxes of free Nike gear, $12k of Ashley Furniture, and took them to the Titans game where they sat in a box suite. It was a surprise, so she had no idea, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
Of his music video projects, Hawes said that his favorite project was working with Cardi B in “Up”.
“It was a difficult job in the middle of COVID. We had to build seven different sets, which was hard because we had to work over twenty hours with our masks on,” described Hawes. “It was a challenging job for me, but Cardi’s passion is unmatched. When the video game came out, seeing how everyone received it just warmed my heart.”
Dealing with passionate artists can sometimes be the hardest part Tay’s job. Artists can be strict and passionate, especially when working with Black and Brown women.
“They [women] are faced with so much. With comments on social media, people can be very mean, so female artist pour their heart and soul into their crafts and it’s a challenge because everything has to be perfect. Sometimes I’m not always fortunate enough to do everything the exact way they want us to do it.”
With its struggles, comes more rewards, however. Tay also shared that “it’s most rewarding seeing how people receive the projects. I love when people turn videos into challenges, and people all around the world do it.”
It also helps that people are starting to become more infatuated with behind the scenes as much as the project itself. “It’s rewarding that people are starting to appreciate the work from our [production] perspectives,” Tay told the Sentinel.
For those looking towards careers in entertainment, Hawes’ advice is “to understand what it is you want to do in this industry and stick to it,” but be open to learning.
“Understand multiple point of views. Be diverse, and learn the different sides to everything,” shared Hawes. As his career developed, he shared that he did all kinds of jobs and moved up throughout the years. “It’s not hard to get in the industry, but it’s not easy either.”
Tay’s work and dedication to the community will carry Black creatives for many years to come. Through his tenacity, he set an example that we as a community must support each other. The work we do goes far beyond us.
“Black people often have challenges across the board for anything, but we’re beyond strong. We’re built different, and we have ancestors who’ve paved the way for us to be who we are.”
As the year continues, Tay will continue to manage Lolo Lauren Spencer, actress on HBO’s hit show Sex Life of College Girls. He also has many big projects that he’ll be working on.
“I have lots of more sports stuff and music videos, but I’m working on a special project that’s very dear to my heart. I can’t speak much on it, right now.”
To follow along with Tay Hawes, and his many projects, visit his website https://www.tayhawes.com or follow his Instagram @tayhawes.
Actress Lauren London and the iconic shoe company, Puma, partnered with Foot Locker L.A. to create a nurturing space for mothers supported by the TheRareOproject.
Young women between the ages of 15-25 and dedicated to making a better life for their children and themselves were invited to an event that focused on their journey and provided tools to assist in self-love and mental health.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Foot Locker L.A. hosted the special event at their Crenshaw location, focusing on young women who are participants of the nonprofit organization, TheRareOproject.
This nonprofit organization looks to “nurture, motivate, and support teen moms.”
Last month, Foot Locker Crenshaw celebrated its grand opening. The space was designed for community-focused events and connecting women of TheRareOproject to elite resources is a prime example on how this location was made for the community.
On Friday, March 25, approximately 20 women from diverse backgrounds gathered on plush pillows surrounded by the greenery of plants.
They sat eye-level to actress Lauren London and master wellness educator, Devi Brown. London created a line with Puma, labeled “Forever Stronger,” amplifying the power of overcoming any type of adversity.
The young women were given an opportunity to speak their truth and discuss ways to focus on self-love and individual evolution.
Before attending the event, women from TheRareOproject had access to professional coaching and received guidance in building their resume for future job opportunities.
The Foot Locker Crenshaw space was transformed into a sacred room of vulnerability, providing a restorative energy for these young women to see themselves in a different light.
After Brown led the group through meditation exercises, London discussed “Making a Seat for Yourself at the Table,” and together they talked about healing baths and slowing down throughout the day.
Also, all of the attendees shared the fears that they had as mothers.
Afterwards, the young women had the opportunity to get professional headshots done on-site by noted photographer, Jasmine Baeza.
There was also an affirmation wall storing wooden heart keepsakes that was available for the participants of the TheRareOproject.
After the event, the young women were encouraged to take home a complimentary yoga mat, tote, guided journal, and other gifts.
Crenshaw-based business Hot & Cool Café donated light refreshments and beverages.
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), more than 10 percent of California’s birthrate involves teen mothers (2017).
TheRareOproject wanted to address that statistic head on.
Their core values listed on the official website states, “Our mission is to empower young mothers to remain encouraged through obstacles faced as a new mom and we are here to support them through the process.”
TheRareOproject founder, Brittany Daniels, shared her thoughts on the impact of this event provided by Puma and Foot Locker L.A.
She stated, “This event was a first for our organization and community of teen moms that we serve.
As the founder, it meant so much to me to be a part of this opportunity and to help create this space of connection, empowerment, love, and light for my girls.”
Daniels continued, “I have been very vocal since starting TheRareOproject, an organization geared towards giving back to the teen mom community that my mission is bigger than providing our bi-monthly baby essential giveaway events -- although there’s a huge need in our community for it and it helps tremendously, but more importantly for me, it’s about creating opportunities that will help them prevail in their own personal and professional goals.”
The founder of TheRareOproject closed with the following statement, “Allowing them to be a part of this Puma event centered around women empowerment gave them that sense of hope.
I am extremely grateful for how everyone a part of this moment poured into them and made them feel valued as a new mom but also as a woman.”