Antelope Valley

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 16 2010

A Black Infant Health graduate’s story

LANCASTER, Calif.,—On Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Child Care Resource Center, 18 women graduated from the Antelope Valley Black Infant Health Program (BIH); this was the largest graduating class in the local organization’s history.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 16 2010

Soul Sista’s opens

This weekend, Lancaster will have something new to “mmm” about. After years of serving up their own recipes at church, two sisters are finally opening up a full-service restaurant in Lancaster.

Marisol Aguilar  |   OW Contributor
Sep 9 2010

Innovation, creativity sought in projects

Uniting Neighbors in a Team Effort (UNITE) Lancaster is a program launched by the City of Lancaster’s Neighborhood Vitalization Commission and by the Safer Stronger Neighborhoods Committee in an effort to improve neighborhoods and to strengthen neighbor relationships. 
 
 The program is designed to not only beautify or improve the neighborhoods in Lancaster, but also for neighbors to work side by side and build strong relationships to help each other in times of need.
 

Sep 9 2010

Labor Day weekend horror

LANCASTER, Calif.—A 14-year-old girl was fatally shot and six children and adults were wounded at a party Sunday in Lancaster, and authorities are looking for at least two suspects, according to the sheriff’s department.
 
The shooting at Nugent and Sixth Street East occurred shortly before 1 a.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Keith Gibbons said.
 

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Sep 9 2010

Some residents say group is missing in action

LANCASTER, Calif.—The Antelope Valley has experienced what some people would call community-shifting happenings, including the shooting death of two young people within a week of each other and two church arsons that have been speculated about as possible hate crimes.
 

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”