SCLC of So Cal - Gala Journal 2022

January 16, 2022 - 6:00PM



Tonight we are restoring the cornerstones of the beloved community. We come together at a time when the pandemic is raging and voter suppression is running rampantly. But we believe it’s time for a new called in our community. The beloved community is where we advocate for peace, racial and intersectional justice, climate sustainability and economic enhancement for all people. The beloved community must become a reality today. We need better public policy out of Washington D.C. that can enhance the lives of all people. The work of SCLC-SC is more important today than it has ever been. This year we will continue in our foundational work of youth development, economic empowerment, educational enrichment, employment enhancement, and voter and political advocacy. We will continue to work with our key allies including the Beloved Community LA – Out of Many One Coalition. Working with the Hurting and Hungry Charities and SCLC-SC Poor People’s Campaign we will continue to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and make the holidays a joyful time for the marginalized, disenfranchised and vulnerable. Working with the Women of SCLC-SC we will still fight for women firefighters and the women at the Chateau Marmont. With the voter engagement work that is before us you may think this will be a difficult year but we are going to have to work hard for voter success we believe we can do this with your help. SCLC-SC is coming up with a plan and will need you to work with us as we impact not just in Los Angeles but across this country. I extend gratitude to my family, Pastor Thembekila, Gregory, KarmaNia and Jehoshua, and to my beloved community for all of your support. Now is our time to work and to see the dream of King. Now is our time to see new visions and create new opportunities for all people. Let us move forward in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. Pastor William D. Smart Jr. Co-Pastor Christ Liberation Ministries President/CEO Southern Christian Leadership Conference -Southern California

Mistress of Ceremony NIELE ANDERSON Niele Anderson is a Communications / Political Strategist from Los Angeles California. She attended Grambling State University majoring in Mass Communications. She began her political career in 2004 as a volunteer with Rock the Vote quickly rising to National Field Manager. She next joined the Radio One- Los Angeles family as the Gospel / Community host of a very popular Sunday Morning radio show. During her time with Radio One she joined the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper owned by Bakewell Media in 2006 and has worked with the organization as a consultant ever since. Niele has also worked with SB Strategies Inc., a political consulting firm that focuses on candidate and issue campaigns for people of color. SB Strategies Inc. clients include Congressmember Karen Bass, Patrise Cullors co-founder of Black Lives Matters and a host of others. Currently, Niele is the co-anchor and senior producer for Fox Soul’s Black Report, which provides Black news, views and opinions. It can be seen at 3pm pst / 6pm est and 6pm pst / 9pm est on the Fox Soul app. She has also produced Fox Soul specials for COVID -19, 2020 VP Presidential Debate, the 2021 U.S. Presidential Inauguration, President Biden's 2021 Joint Address Congress and a Social Justice Town Hall for the platform.

Introduction of M.C. Mistress of Ceremony - Niele Anderson SCLC Photo Montage Music Selection - Mahalia Jackson Tribute to Kimberly Bolanile Paggett Prayer - Rabbi Heather Ellen Miller Welcome - Ron Herrera President's Address - Pastor William D. Smart, Jr. ~ HONOREES ~ Kristine Larson Rosa Parks Humanitarian Award Dominique DiPrima Drum Major for Justice Award Music Selection Pastor Cue JnMarie Thomas Kilgore Jr. Prophetic Justice Award Assemblymember Issac Bryan Millennial Justice Leadership Award Photo Montage - Dreamers for Justice Music Selection - K’ Marie Shelby Music Video State Senator Steven Bradford Mayor Douglas Dollarhide Community Servant Award David Green Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award CALL TO ACTION Closing





Kristine M. Larson ROSA PARKS HUMANITARIAN AWARD Kris Larson is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and currently holds the rank of Battalion Chief. In her early career, she held the rank of Fire Inspector, and subsequently was the first African American woman to be promoted to the rank of Captain I, Captain II and Battalion Chief in the history of the LAFD. She was also the first African American woman to serve as Drill Master for the Fire Academy. Kris earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA while achieving the distinction of becoming a three time All-American as a track and field athlete. She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Capella University with a master’s degree in Public Service Leadership with an emphasis in Emergency Management. Kris also serves the community as President of Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service, and is vice president of the Board of Directors for Camp Blaze, a fire camp for young women held in Washington State. She is also a founding member of Equity in Fire, a grassroots coalition of firefighters, civil rights leaders, and community members working to achieve equity and an end to discrimination in the fire service. Kris’ current assignment with the LAFD is overseeing recruitment and youth programs for the fire department. When not on duty, Kris and her wife enjoy country western line dancing and spending time with family, which include Kris’ parents and five active grandkids.

Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie REV. THOMAS KILGORE, JR. PROPHETIC WITNESS AWARD A former Virgin Records Artist with the Rap Group College Boyz; the group that brought you Victim of the Ghetto, Cue heard a call from God in 1994 while watching the movie Malcolm X. He then left the music industry and began following this call. In an attempt to understand human struggles and suffering, Cue has traveled and has been involved with international service missions for over 15 years, and has been to Thailand, Vietnam, West Africa, Guatemala and several other countries, this has helped to shape his worldview. Cue is a visionary Church planter and co-founder and former Executive Pastor of NewSong LA Covenant Church and a Graduate of the passing the Mantle program at the University of Southern California. Cue has also completed a two-year program at USC’s Institute for Violence Prevention. As a result, he was formerly on the planning committee organizing prisoner re-entry hearings in the city of Los Angeles with RCNO. Cue is the co- convener of the Black & Brown Clergy Coalition as well as the Black Jewish Justice Alliance in the City of Los Angeles, as a faith rooted organizer and part time staff with Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). Pastor Cue is actively engaged in the city of Los Angeles in many areas. Previously he served as the Cause (outreach) Pastor for both NewSong LA & NewSong Irvine (currently NewSong Santa Ana). He was formerly on NewSong LA’s staff for 10 years; and had been on staff as part of the NewSong family for over 12 years. Cue is founder and Director of Creating Justice-LA, and is also the Founder and Pastor of The Row LA aka “The Church Without Walls” in Downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row Community for the past 15 years. Cue is a member of Black Lives Matter LA, a co-founder of Clergy 4 Black Lives and is dedicated to helping address issues of public policy; that are affecting the most vulnerable citizens and residents in the City of Los Angeles. Cue, reimagining economics and attempting to democratize economics, has launched a social enterprise called ,“The Hip Hop Smoothie Shop.” Finally, Pastor Cue is a KCET/PBS 2019 Southern California local Hero honoree.

Dominique DiPrima DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE AWARD An activist, and master communicator, both her parents are creative writers, poets and activists. Dominique began her career in entertainment as a rapper, an emcee, a writer, producer and an on-air personality. Dominique’s voice is one of reason and respect that Los Angelenos have come to rely on during good times and troubling situations. Best known for her work on the Steve Harvey Show, and as host of the “The Front Page” with Dominique DiPrima on KJLH, she continues to beat the drum for justice as host of her radio show, “First Things First,” which airs on KBLA Radio, the only Black owned talk radio station in Los Angeles. Prior to her work in radio Di Prima worked in television for San Francisco NBC affiliate KRON-TV. Di Prima has won five Emmy Awards, six Parents' Choice Awards, an Ollie and the SAG/AFTRA American Scene Award for positive portrayals of women, the disabled, senior citizens and people of color. In May 2017 Di Prima was honored as \"Pioneer Woman of the Year\" at the Los Angeles City Hall. Di Prima played Megan McLean in one episode of the television show X- Files. Dominique di Prima is the daughter of Amiri Baraka and Diane di Prima. She grew up in New York and California.

Assemblyman Isaac Bryan MILLENNIAL JUSTICE LEADERSHIP AWARD Isaac Bryan was elected in May 2021 to represent California's 54th Assembly District, which consists of Baldwin Hills, Cheviot Hills, the Crenshaw district, Century City, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Mar Vista, Palms, Rancho Park, Westwood and parts of South Los Angeles and Inglewood. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Isaac served as the founding Director of the UCLA Black Policy Project – a think tank dedicated to advancing racial equity through rigorous policy analysis – served as the first Director of Public Policy at the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center, as well as Director of Organizing for the nationally recognized Million Dollar Hoods project, a community-based participatory research project. Isaac also co-chaired the successful Measure J campaign in Los Angeles County, a ballot measure that allocated hundreds of millions of dollars a year to address racial injustice and strengthen communities. Measure J sets aside money for investment in youth development, small business support, job training, alternatives to incarceration, affordable housing, community mental health and substance abuse treatment, and other systems of care. Isaac is a community organizer, highly regarded policy expert, and a published academic. He authored the first holistic report for the City of Los Angeles on the needs of the formerly incarcerated Angelenos, and exposed a gap in youth justice policy – research that was ultimately used by then Senator Holly J. Mitchell to advance SB439. For years, his academic and organizing work has been at the intersection of environmental, economic, education and housing justice. For Isaac, these issues aren’t just academic or policy questions – they are deeply personal. He grew up in a family of fifteen, as one of nine adopted children. Several members of his family have struggled with houselessness, faced incarceration, and have struggled with substance abuse and mental health challenges. Born to a teenage mother who could not keep him, he was put up for adoption as an infant. The Bryan family, who adopted him, served as foster parents for over 26 years and influenced the lives of nearly 200 children. As a child, he had a powerful and intimate view of what happens when our civic institutions fail. After a difficult start to his schooling Isaac took courses at two separate Southern California community colleges before earning dual degrees in Political Science and Sociology. He completed his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters in Public Policy, and remains a proud Bruin. Isaac, his partner, and his Great Dane Darius live in Jefferson Park.

Senator Steven Bradford MAYOR DOUGLAS DOLLARHIDE COMMUNITY SERVANT AWARD In over two decades of public service – first as a Gardena City Councilmember, then as a State Assemblymember and now as a State Senator - Bradford has proven himself to be an unwavering citizen activist. He views himself as a public servant and not a politician. Prior to his service in local and state government, Bradford was a Public Affairs Manager for Southern California Edison, District Director for the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, Program Director for the LA Conservation Corps, National Director of Bigger and Better Business for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and worked for seven years as a marketing and sales representative for International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). He made history when he became the first African American elected to the Gardena City Council. Over the 12 years that he served on city council, he helped create robust job and economic growth, and stabilized the city’s budget. In addition, he served as Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Gardena for one year. Bradford was elected to the 51st State Assembly District in a Special Election in 2009, reelected in 2010, and reelected again in 2012, but the second time around, to the newly created 62nd District. In 2017, Senator Bradford was re-elected to the California State Legislature, and his first year in the Senate he was successful at getting 11 bills signed into law by Governor Brown. In 2020, Senator Bradford was appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and elected by his peers to become Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). Through his work he has secured more than 140 million dollars in direct equitable investments for his district.

David Green DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD David Green is one of Los Angeles’ most passionate, committed, and effective labor leaders. Throughout his more than 20 years with Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Green has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working families in California and beyond. As both a social worker and a longtime member of the SEIU Local 721 Executive Board, Green brings a unique and complete perspective to the challenges facing California’s working families, a perspective informed by his direct experience working with thousands of families, as well as his advocacy in the L.A. County Hall of Administration, the capitol in Sacramento, and nationally in D.C. David was elected to the Board of the Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association (LACERA) in 2016 and served concurrently as the Chair of the Board and Chair of the Board of Investments of LACERA. David served as Treasurer of SEIU Local 721, having previously served as Vice President of SEIU Local 535, and sat on the Statewide Child Welfare Council where he fought for the rights of foster children at the local, state, and federal levels. David is currently the President of SEIU 721. David is also an adjunct professor at California State University Los Angeles School of Social Work in their Graduate school. He lives with his wife, their 14-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter.







On Your Leadership and Unwavering Commitment to Social Justice. AKILI, PRESIDENT Fannie Lou Hamer Institute Tune-in, January 29, 2022 at 11am PST “Reparations Townhall: Beyond Equity” Register here: bit.ly/FLHIReparationTownHall or watch on FB Live @FannieLouHamerInstitute





THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Diamond SEIU Local 721 Platinum SEIU Local 2015 Gold SEIU-UHW United Healthcare Workers West Bronze UFCW Local 770 SEIU - United Service Workers West UNITE-HERE Local 11 AXON Los Angeles Department of Water and Power L.A. County Federation of Labor Justice Donors Rebecca Ninburg Senator Sydney Kamlager Janet Kelly

NATIONAL SCLC PRESIDENTS 1957 – 1968 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1968 – 1977 Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy 1977 – 1997 Rev. Joseph E. Lowery 1997 – 2004 Martin Luther King III 2004 Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth 2004 – 2009 Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. 2009 – 2011 Howard W. Creecy, Jr. 2011 – Present Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. EXECUTIVE BOARD SCLC - SO CAL PRESIDENT & CEO Pastor William D. Smart, Jr. Co-Pastor Christ Liberation Ministries Executive Director, Hurting & Hungry Association VICE CHAIRPERSON Rev. William Monroe Campbell Sr. Pastor, Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church TREASURER & CO-CHAIR LABOR COMMITTEE Anton Farmby Vice President, SEIU USWW SECRETARY Jamie E. Wright, Esq. CHAIRPERSON FINANCE COMMITTEE John Ek CHAPLAIN Pastor James Baylark

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