Antonio Villaraigosa

Jul 3 2009

Villaraigosa’s first term: big promises, big disappointments

Who can forget the euphoric scene nearly four years ago? A triumphant Antonio Villaraigosa kicked off his first term as Los Angeles mayor by leading a massive throng of elected officials, religious and community leaders and plain ordinary citizens down Grand Avenue to City Hall.

Jun 25 2009

Villariagosa collaborates with Interfaith Inventions, Capri Capital Partners

Los Angeles, CA -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in collaboration with Interfaith Inventions, Inc. and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood & Constituent Services, announced Friday that they will be hosting a summer camp in Big Bear, CA to promote cross-cultural understanding between Latino and African American youth.

“This camp will serve as a model to children that the diversity of Los Angeles is a gift that strengthens the future of our city,” Villaraigosa said.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
May 7 2009

Summer opportunities announced

Los Angeles, CA -- Summer youth employment was not just a way for Nicole Graves to earn a little spending money. Participating in the HIRE L.A.’s Youth program last year was “path-forming,” said the 2007 Dorsey High School graduate who had only held one other job previous to working as a student journalist in the city’s Community Development Department, and was struggling to buy books during her first year of college at El Camino Community College.

Mar 26 2009

Mayor Villaraigosa rolls out new initiative

 Los Angeles, CA --Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined local community members and leaders in the banking and non-profit sectors to roll out “Bank on LA” – a new initiative to help low-income Angelenos open bank accounts, access critical financial resources and move up the economic ladder, on Tuesday at the Community Financial Resource Center, 4060 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90037.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Mar 26 2009

Artist, sculptor

 Los Angeles, CA -- Artis Lane is not one to follow the beaten path, and nowhere is that inclination more obvious than in her art.

In the 1990s when conceptual art pushed aside works with a spiritual message, Lane continued to create pieces that explored man’s “emergence out of the ignorance of material concepts and into spiritual awareness.”

Lane, who studied art in her native Canada as well as at UCLA, has strived to answer deeper questions through her art for most of her career.

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.”