Karen Bass

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Aug 5 2010

A candid moment with the Speaker

Since she announced her candidacy for congress, Los Angeles has been abuzz for Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass. So far she has raised $650,000 for her campaign and there are only a few months to go before her constituents vote.

For more than 30 years, Bass has been heavily involved with the local community and has not forgotten her roots in Los Angeles.

In 1990, Bass founded the Community Coalition in response to the growing drug and crime epidemic in impoverished ethnic communities, with the goal of trying to eliminate some of the ills.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Apr 29 2010

Supporters spend the evening with Karen Bass

Recently CEO and Publisher of Our Weekly Natalie Cole and Publisher of Who’s Who in Black Los Angeles Anthony Asadullah Samad hosted a fireside chat and fundraiser for Congressional candidate Karen Bass, complete with great food, amazing entertainment and a beautiful view of Los Angeles from the home of Charles and JoAnn Quarles.
The event had a number of supportive co-hosts, specifically president of Urban X Marketing Starlett Quarles and president and CEO of the Community Financial Resource Center Forescee Hogan-Rowles, who emceed. 

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 18 2010

Karen Bass' coalition skills touted as key asset.

Master coalition builder. Unapologetic progressive with a highly pragmatic streak. Smart leader with integrity. Trustworthy. History maker.
Those were just some of the descriptions applied to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass yesterday when she announced that she was throwing her hat into the ring in a bid to take over the 33rd Congressional seat, when incumbent Diane Watson steps down at the end of the year.
Watson announced last week that she would not seek re-election for the seat she has occupied for five-terms.

Jun 4 2009

Few choices available to law makers to balance budget

Sacramento, CA -- People who want to let the legislature know about what budget cuts should or should not be made, will need to submit their comments within the next week because, according to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, decisions about how to close a $21.3 billion gap will be made swiftly.

“Closing a $21 billion deficit is gong to be extremely challenging and down right frightening,” said the Speaker. “The governor is proposing elimination of a number of programs, that in my opinion are vital for those most vulnerable.”

May 28 2009

Our Weekly Publisher Natalie Cole goes one-on-one

Inglewood, CA -- If anyone ever says to you that Black people aren’t concerned about local and state politics send them to Our Weekly Publisher Natalie Cole. This past Sunday the Savoy Entertainment Center, in Inglewood, California played host to Cole who had the pleasure and responsibility of interviewing the most powerful woman in the State of California, Speaker of the California Assembly Karen Bass. A packed audience of concerned citizens of all ages were in attendance, most in their Sunday best.

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.”