Informative panels at the festival will include “Forever Young, The Art of Living Healthy,” featuring top natural health experts in hair, skin and nutrition, such as celebrity vegan chef Babette Davis.

Another, “The Whole Musician,” will discuss how performing artists can maximize their creative potential through healthy practices for the mind, body and soul; and “Boost Your Financial Health” will feature financial advice from a collection of experts.

The humanitarian organization Cure4Hunger, also will unveil its new agricultural technology, Gravity Gardens, at a press conference at noon at the Vision Theatre, 3341 W. 43rd St. The enclosed domes can harvest food and water for food deserts or underserved areas.

“We have created the world’s first self-reliant and affordable cure for global hunger by integrating innovative technologies into one sustainable solution,” said Eric W. Williams, chairman and co-founder of the festival. “Our ability to grow unlimited organic food anywhere in the world inside disaster-proof domes is a historic achievement for humanity.”

Cure4Hunger is slated to build more than 300 food domes over the next decade in the U.S., with Los Angeles as one of the inaugural cities.

A fundraiser for the organization, the VIP Eco-Soiree, will take place April 22 from 7 to 11 p.m. April 22 at Leimert Park’s Fernando Pullum Arts Center, 3351 W. 43rd St. Tickets can be purchased at www.HealthyEarthFest.com.

The weekend program is produced and coordinated by actor Nina Womack and her multimedia company Transmedia 360 degrees.

“Organizing this event has been a tremendous labor of love,” Womack said. “Earth Day is a beautiful global celebration of healing energy that will be vibrating the planet this weekend.”

Film presentations include Ron Finley’s “Can You Dig This?” which explores the increase of urban gardening in South L.A.; “Dear Governor Brown,” about California’s oil and gas industry by Jon Bowermaster and Mark Ruffalo; and “40 Point Plan,” by Eric W. Williams.

Musical performers will include Ladee Dred, the queen of reggae; the Fountain of Roots Band, Parnell Damone Marcano and Barbara Morrison singing with the Connect Jazz Band.

Revelers can sample cultural dances from West African troupe Le Ballet Dembaya and Native American and Asian K-Pop performers. The area for kids and teens highlights youth circus performers, fitness and environmental workshops, classes in Samba and jewelry repurposing and solar demos.

For the full schedule of events, visit http://healthyearthfest.com.

The post Leimert Park to host Earth Day Music and Arts Festival appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

The Y’s mission is to provide people of all ages with lifelong opportunities to become stronger in spirit, mind and body.

Gamino is the vice president of global philanthropy at JP Morgan Chase & Co. and an alumnus of the African-American Board Leadership Institute, which recruits, prepares and places African-Americans on a wide range of governing boards.

Darrell Miller

Darrell D. Miller, chair of the national Entertainment Department at Fox Rothschild LLP, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles offices and author of “The 16th Minute of Fame: An Insider’s Guide for Maintaining Success Beyond 15 Minutes of Fame,” has been named the 2016 Entertainment Lawyer of the Year by the Entertainment Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Miller is nationally recognized for his strategies in brand building for his clients, who include Academy Award-nominated actress Angela Bassett and rapper/actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.

Compiled by Anne Artley.

Cheers! features the everyday accomplishments of everyday people in South Los Angeles. To submit an item, send an email (with picture) to newsroom@wavepublication.com.

The post CHEERS! appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Prince — born Prince Rogers Nelson — was found dead at the recording studio at his Paisley Park estate in Carver County, Minnesota. There was no immediate word on a cause of death, although he had recently been hospitalized with the flu, prompting him to cancel a pair of performances.

A four-hour autopsy was conducted Friday morning but no official cause of death was announced.

A transcript of the 911 call that brought police and paramedics to his compound reflected the shock and confusion of the unidentified person who made the emergency call. He told the dispatcher he was at Prince’s house and the musician was dead, but the dispatcher had to ask him repeatedly for an address so she can send out officers and paramedics.

Finally, the paramedics arrive and eventually one told the dispatcher they were canceling their trip to the hospital because the victim was a confirmed DOA.”

A master showman, Prince created a musical style of his own, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, thanks to hits including “When Doves Cry,” “1999,” “Raspberry Beret,” “Kiss” and “Little Red Corvette.”

His talent was on full display in the 1984 film “Purple Rain,” which became a cult sensation and propelled him to superstardom. Prince won an Oscar for best original song for “Purple Rain.” He also won seven Grammys.

“Never one to conform, he redefined and forever changed our musical landscape,” said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy.

Prince fan Julya Baer holds a candle during a vigil Thursday night in Leimert Park, paying tribute and celebrating the life of Prince. (Courtesy photo)

President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Prince “a creative icon.”

“Michelle and I join millions of fans from around the world in mourning the sudden death of Prince,” he said. “Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent.

“As one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time, Prince did it all. Funk. R&B. rock and roll. He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader and an electrifying performer.”

Justin Timberlake said he was “numb” and “stunned” at the news, while Ariana Grande called him “an artist who showed true creative freedom and challenged all barriers.”

Kiss frontman Paul Stanley called Prince a “truly one-of-a-kind genius.” “His influence is everywhere,” Stanley wrote on Twitter.

Lionel Richie said he was “in total shock” at the news. “So many wonderful memories. I will miss him.”

A candlelight vigil was held Thursday evening in Leimert Park with hundreds of people gathering to pay their respects to the superstar and celebrate his life.

“It hurt because that’s a lost soul, that’s music, I mean he had the soul man, I mean he had a way of wooing you, I was just listening to that guitar part, he has a way with that passion, with that music of making you feel it, and he don’t stop until you feel it,” Anthony Sheriff told Reuters.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck dropped by the vigil.

The post City Hall goes purple in tribute to Prince appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

The forum was attended by more than 100 business leaders from small to mid-sized businesses in the retail, manufacturing, real estate and entertainment industries.

Sam Hughes, assistant general manager of the Economic and Workforce Development Department, and former City Councilman Mike Hernandez participated in a roundtable discussion to inform participants on the trends in the economic and regulatory environment as well as the city’s plans to help businesses be more profitable and expand opportunities for residents to find quality work, shopping and recreation.

Harris-Dawson spoke about the impact of the Crenshaw/LAX light rail line and its potential to build a new economic base in the 8th Council District.

“Our community is going to drastically change over the next decade,” Harris-Dawson said. “I’m committed to identifying our shared values and vision and taking on the tasks that contribute to a thriving business sector.”

Seminar planned

on sexual assault

HAWTHORNE — The Break the Silence campaign is hosting a seminar for anyone who has been directly or indirectly affected by sexual assault from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 23 at the Hawthorne Memorial Center, 3901 W. El Segundo Blvd.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow will serve as the keynote speaker. Survivors will also share their experiences. Resources are available for victims and their families. A portion of the proceeds will go towards Families Against Sexual Trafficking.

Church holds

women’s weekend

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Greater Bethel Cathedral presents a Women’s Weekend from April 22-April 24 at 4831 Gramercy Place.

The program will start at 7:30 p.m. on April 22. A luncheon will take place at 11 a.m. April 23 and services will continue at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 24.

The theme is “Chosen to Conquer” (Romans 8:32).

Black businesses

showcased on tour

COMPTON — Black businesses will exhibit their products and services at this year’s Southern California Black Business Expo on Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23 at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, 951 W. Alondra Blvd.

The event aims to educate consumers on African-American businesses in order to build the community.

To register, visit www.scbbe.com/expo-on-tour or call (866) 493-3394.

Nonprofit holds free

technology sessions

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The Vermont-Slauson Economic Development Corporation is presenting a series on technology and social media, in partnership with the Black Business Association, at the Business Enterprise Center, 6109 S. Western Ave.

“Grow Your Business With Twitter” will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. April 25. “Computerized Accounting-QuickBooks” is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 26 and “Getting Around Microsoft Office” is from 1 to 3 p.m. April 27.

To qualify for attendance, participants must own or operate a business in the city of Los Angeles and have a business license.

RSVP at lelliott@vsedc.org or call (323) 789-4515. Seating is limited.

Children’s organization

presents awards

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The Drew Child Development Corporation, which serves the children of Watts, Willowbrook, Compton and South Los Angeles, is holding its fourth annual “It Takes a Village” community awards from 5 to 8 p.m. April 23 at the USC University Club, 705 W. 34th St.

The event will feature a silent auction. ABC 7 reporter Elex Michaelson will serve as the program’s master of ceremonies.

Register at drewcdc.org/ittakesavillage4/.

Panel discussess

modern relationships

LOS ANGELES — The discussion series Love is a Verb is holding a conversation “The Changing Landscape of Relationships” at 7 p.m. April 22 at Madera Kitchen, 1835 N. Cahuenga Blvd.

Panelists include married couple April and Lashawn Daniels from WE TV’s Tamar & Vince Show, Monique Kelley, the founder of Cocktails and Confessions blog on dating in LA and Sedale Threatt, an actor on Roots, A&E and the History Channel.

The conversation will cover online dating, the effects of social media on relationships, delayed decisions on marriage and children, women emerging as the breadwinners in the household and prioritizing career vs. family. An after-party will take place at 9:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets at www.loveisaverbla2.eventbrite.com.

Information: Naledi Nyahuma: (213) 435-8611, info@inthenine.com

Compiled by Anne Artley. 

L.A. Digest is designed to help promote events, activities and initiatives that are serving the interests of residents in L.A. To submit an item, send emails to newsroom@wavepublication.com.

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Volunteers join forces for a community cleanup, including tree planting, graffiti removal, bulky item pickups, green exhibits and free composting kits.

All volunteers must bring a signed waiver, which is available online at www.cityofsouthgate.org.

Information: (562) 802-7880, ext. 239.

Other upcoming events include:

Friday, April 22

Library market: A farmers market is open in the Bruggemeyer Library parking lot, 318 S. Ramona Ave., Monterey Park, from 4 to 8 p.m. It features fresh and organic fruits, vegetables and flowers grown at California farms. Also available are hummus, breads and tamales, raw honey from Energy Bee Farms, peaches from Arnett Farms and a wide selection of Asian vegetables from Vu Produce of Fresno. (626) 307-1388

Dance night: Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Road, Whittier, hosts Friday night dances from 6 to 10 p.m.Dance professionals Rudy andMaria Hernandez offer lessons on a specific style of dancing from 6 to 7 and then a dance party runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes light refreshments. (562) 567-9450

Saturday, April 23

Waste disposal: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County conduct a free waste disposal program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tweedy Boulvard-Hildreth Avenue entrance to South Gate Park for household items too hazardous for regular trash collections and for electronic waste. Accepted items include brake fluid, paint thinner, household cleaning fluids, vehicle batteries, motor oil, oil filters, expired prescription medications, anti-freeze and fluorescent light bulbs. Electronic items accepted include computers, TV and stereo sets, computer printers and cellular telephones.

Downey market: A farmers market offers fresh produce and other items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Downey Avenue between Second and Third streets in Downey. Parking is available in the city’s parking structure there or on marked spaces on surrounding streets. (562) 904-7284

Practice exam: Teens between the eighth and 12th grades can take a practice exam of the new SAT test for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway. Those attending are expected to bring two pencils, a calculator and a snack. There will be one break during the program. Registration is required and space is limited. (562) 868-0775

Poker party: Friends of South Gate Park conduct their eighth annual charity poker tournament at noon at the Girls Club House, at the park, 4940 Southern Ave. Proceeds go to community youth programs. Cost is $30 for registration in advance for $2,000 in chips. Cost the day of the event is $35. (323) 563-5447 or (323) 357-9636

Daddy-daughter dance: The Norwalk Parks and Recreation Department conducts a “Daddy and Daughter” dance for girls ages 3 to 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex, 13100 Clarkdale Ave. Cost is $12 per couple for “daughter appropriate music” and dessert. Girls may also bring their grandfathers or uncles. (562) 929-5734

Sunday, April 24

Final concert: The Rio Hondo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kimo Furumoto, concludes its 83rd season of free concerts at 3 p.m. in the Vic Lopez Auditorium of Whittier High School, 12417 E. Philadelphia St., Whittier, with a program called “Dreams of America. Selections by American composers are “Liberty Fanfare,” by John Williams; and “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” by Peter Boyer. Voice and string winners of the 48th annual Youth Artist Competition, which took place in February, are featured. (562) 698-8626

Monday, April 25

Bellflower market: A farmers market operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Simms Park, 16614 S. Clark Ave., Bellflower. Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, breads, sprouts, honey and more are available. (562) 866-7510.

South Gate market: Harbor Area Farmers Markets sponsors a farmers market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Gate Park, Tweedy Boulevard and Walnut Avenue. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, fish, eggs, honey, baked items and gardens plants are available. (323) 774-0159

Junior golf: Youngsters from 7 to 17 may participate in the Pico Rivera Junior Golf Club at the Pico Rivera Golf Course, 3260 Fairway Drive, from 5 to 6 p.m. Cost is $10 per week or $30 for the month. (562) 692-9933

Tuesday, April 26

Farmers market: The Norwalk Committee on Aging conducts a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Excelsior High School south parking lot, on the south side of Alondra Boulevard west of Pioneer Boulevard. Fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables and fish are available.

Smartphone assistance: The Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway, offers assistance to be people with smartphones and tablets from 11 a.m. to noon. Those attending are asked to charge their device in advance. Assistance is on a first come basis and those needing more than 15 minutes of assistance may be asked to make an appointment. (562) 868-0775

State of the city: Downey Mayor Alex Saab is the speaker at the State of the City Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. April 26 at the Rio Hondo Event Center, 10627 Old River School Road. Saab discusses the city’s current and upcoming development projects, the city’s financial standing and his short- and long-term goals. Tickets are $35. (562) 923-2191.

Wednesday, April 27

Fresh produce:The Huntington Park Farmers Market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and other items from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Salt Lake Park, 3401 E. Florence Ave. (323) 584-6218

Stroke prevention: The Roxanna Todd Hodges Stroke Foundation offers free  carotid artery screenings and blood pressure checks from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rio Hondo Event Center, 10627 Old River School Road, Downey. A physician from the Keck Medical Center at USC is guest speaker. Screenings are limited to the first 100 to register. (888) 794-9466

Senior home repair: Norwalk Community Development Department representatives present information on a program to assist homeowners with the cost of home repairs from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Norwalk Senior Citizen Center, 14040 San Antonio Drive. It’s free to those 50 or older. (562) 929 5580

Thursday, April 28

Chamber tea: The Bellflower Chamber of Commerce conducts a women’s business mixer tea luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Muriel Macgregor Terrace, 16322 Bellflower Blvd. Cost is $10. Deadline to RSVP is April 22. (562) 867-1744

Friday, April 29

Job fair: The Richard Slawson Southeast Occupational Center, 5500 Rickenbacker Road, Bell, conducts its third annual Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A group of employers and community resource agencies offer information on hiring. Anyone looking for employment or who would like to become familiar with available resources is welcome. (323) 397-1849

Dental screening: NortheastDental providesseniors 50 or older with a free dental health screening from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Norwalk Senior Citizens Center, 14040 San Antonio Drive. A dental assistant discussesfindingswith patients,who can then address issuestheirregulardentist. (562) 929-5580

Dance night: Club Parnell hosts a community dance night at Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Road, Whittier. Rudy and Maria Hernandez conduct a program called Disco Nights, with music of the 1970s and 80s. Registration and social begins at 6 p.m. and lessons at 6:30 p.m., followed by a dance party until 10 p.m. Light refreshments are provided. Cost is $10.

Saturday, April 30

Citizenship fair:  State Sen. Tony Mendoza hosts a free citizenship fair from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the former Excelsior High School, 15711 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk. It’s in cooperation with the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, the NALEO Education Fund, the Mexican Opportunity Foundation, Cerritos College and the Council of Mexican Federations. Information and help is provided on becoming a United States citizen. (888) 839-8682

Arbor Day: The Norwalk Public Services Department conducts an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony from 8 to 11 a.m. at New River Park, 13432 Halcourt Ave. There are information booths and tools are provided for those who wish to help plant. (562) 929-5511

Drug disposal: The Downey Police Department offers free disposal of unwanted or unneeded drugs and prescriptions, which could cause safety problems in the home, from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. at the Police Department Headquarters, 10911 Brookshire Ave. Over-the-counter medications will be accepted, but sharps and needles will not. (562) 904-2374

Riverfest: GrowGood, the Salvation Army Bell Shelter and TreePeople host the second annual Southeast Los Angeles Community Riverfest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  at the GrowGood farm, 660 Mansfield Way, Bell. behind the Salvation Army Citadel on Rickenbacker Road, west of Eastern Avenue in Bell. The nonprofit organization grows food in its garden to supplement that of the Salvation Army shelter on Rickenbacker Road adjoining the farm. (213) 321-7778

Talent winners: Winners of the 27th annual Concerto Competition for Young Artists are presented in concert with the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra, directed by Joseph Taylor, at its Annual Spring Concert at 7 p.m. in the William and Jane Bristol Auditorium, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower. (562) 925-1785

Items for the Community Calendar may be submitted in care of Wave Newspapers, 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 840, Los Angeles, 90010 or by email to dwanlass@wavepublication.com. Please include a daytime phone number.

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In observance of National Alcohol Awareness Month, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism points out that growing up with alcohol abuse in the home can cause an adverse effect on children and often leads them down a path of alcohol abuse at an early age.

Ronald Timms, who is from Arkansas, is a longtime resident of the Los Angeles area. Timms recalls his struggle with alcoholism at 19. He watched both his parents’ long history of alcohol addiction.

“Just about everyone in Arkansas drank,” Timms says. “We were under the age limit but getting liquor and drinking at home, in the streets, at school was the norm — it was a big part of our culture.”

His parents split, mainly because Timms’ father was a mean drunk and physically abusive. Timms’ mother left and the kids stayed with their father.

“My dad was an embarrassment,” Timms recalls. “He would show up at my school sloppy drunk.”

In spite of his resentment of his parents, Timms fell into the same drinking pattern like his parents and friends. He couldn’t stop. Wine and beer were his constant companions.

It was his escape from the social problems in Arkansas — lack of health care, discrimination, unemployment.

Timms was nearing college age. According to a national survey, almost 60 percent of college-age students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol every month and at least one of three participated in binge drinking. Other reports state that the under 21 group are often victims of homicide and motor vehicle accidents both fueled by alcohol; physical assaulted by another intoxicated student; and experience alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

When Timms turned 21, he headed to California to live with his mother. Unfortunately, the drinking had taken hold of him and the reunion was not pleasant. Timms, the youngest of five children, constantly fought with his mom and siblings and was arrested repeatedly for being drunk in public.

There were several occasions that Timms had to be restrained and hospitalized. He was angry and became violent when he drank.  Timms’ family felt he would cause them harm. The alcohol had taken control of his mind. Soon, he was no longer welcomed in any of the family members’ homes.

In 2014, it was documented that among children ages 12 to 20 years old, 5.3 million were binge drinkers, and 1.3 million were heavy drinkers.  Statistically, alcohol plays a high percentage in tragic situations:

• Forty percent of highway crashes, suicides and fatal falls.

• Fifty percent of sexual assaults and trauma injuries.

• And nearly 60 percent of deaths caused by fires, drownings and homicides.

Timms was forced to live on Skid Row for about a year. One day after half his wine bottle was empty, he had a spiritual awakening and wanted to change. He walked into a nearby building and police officers took him to USC-County Medical Center.

Timms was examined by a nurse and diagnosed with alcoholism. That was a turning point for him because he didn’t want to be like his father.

Health professionals admit that are differences in patterns of drinking and access to health care and programs. Fortunately, Timms was placed in a program to detox, get therapy and join Alcoholic Anonymous. He was sober for a year, enrolled in school, was employed, and enjoyed success until he felt the need to find another escape.

For a year and half, he was a functional addict. He smoked marijuana and binged on cocaine and crack but didn’t drink.

The guilt and dependency led him to the horrible feeling that he knew being sober had to be top priority. He had to repeat the cycle at 26.  At 27, Timms returned to AA on a regular basis.

Older people tend to suffer from alcohol-related chronic illness, while younger groups tend to experience more alcohol-related injuries. Alcohol is shown to cause or contribute to the following health conditions: liver disease or cirrhosis of the liver, brain damage or dementia, high blood pressure an irregular heart beat and cancer.

Timms’ mother lived to be 82 but suffered for years from cancer and other medical complications. His father died at 65 from acute alcoholism.

For 31 years, Timms has been clean and sober. He was able to succeed as a business owner and a family man. His experiences and ability to overcome the challenges that addiction played in his life gave him the experience to help countless people in the AA community. He ended the generational cycle of alcohol dependence. The alcoholism may have contributed to his high blood pressure.

A colleague who spent her adult life working with women addicted to alcohol offered some food for thought. One of the signs is the need to drink even when alone or when you go through an emotional upheaval and turn to alcohol beyond social drinking.

“Alcohol doesn’t solve problems; find another way to cope with life,” she said.

Her recommendations to cope were:

• Communicate your feelings to others – professionals or friends; it helps to talk it out.

• Surround yourself with positive people who support you. Keep negative energy away from your environment.

• Exercise — get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors.

• Pamper yourself.

• And monitor your internal thoughts to do the right thing and not let external opinions get the best of you.

Mikey, my nephew, in his late 20s, chose to be a teetotaler, which is someone who abstains from alcoholic beverages. His choice was based on some of the statistics about college drinking and irresponsibility but, most importantly, he lost a classmate in a car accident that occurred after she left a frat party alone.

He is enjoying life, traveling the world, teaching English in Brazil, and meeting new people. You can still be the life of the party without a drink in your hand. The choice is yours — a carefree life or a life alcohol-impaired.

Marie Y. Lemelle is a public relations consultant, the owner of Platinum Star PR and can be reached on Twitter @PlatinumStar or Instagram @PlatinumStarPR.

Please send “Health Matters” related questions to healthmatters@wavepublication.com and look for her column weekly in The Wave on online.

The post HEALTH MATTERS: The cost of alcoholism in the African-American community appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Soon, Phill Wilson, then just 25, and his new boyfriend Chris Brownlie were both diagnosed with swollen lymph nodes, which their doctor suggested could be related to the mysterious disease. But they were not afraid: the media widely reported that “GRID” (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency) was a white gay disease on the east and west coasts, or was contracted through poppers or by contact with “sexual athletes”— none of which they thought pertained to their lives in Chicago.

“Our doctor didn’t know much. No one had any information,” Wilson says today.

But then members of their gay softball team got sick and died in a matter of weeks.

“That’s when it became real,” he said.

The epidemic that has killed more than 25 million people worldwide ended up engulfing Wilson’s life. He founded the gutsy and powerful Black AIDS Institute and became one of America’s foremost AIDS and gay rights activists, featured in the new CNN docu-series, “The Eighties.”

As he approaches his 60th birthday, his experience shows how a person with humbled beginnings can stand up to almost anything, even a global plague.

The Black AIDS Institute is holding a fundraiser in celebration of Wilson’s 60th birthday April 23. There will be entertainment, surprise celebrity guests and a roast.

When asked what he wanted for his birthday, Wilson said, “I want to raise a lot of money for the Black AIDS Institute. I would like for all of my friends, family, and anyone who I’ve ever touched in anyway over the last 60 years to help the Black AIDS Institute finally end the AIDS epidemic in our community. The best way to start is by donating today.”

Wilson moved to Los Angeles with Brownlie in the spring of 1982. They started a black giftware company and got involved in the gay and civil rights organization Black and White Men Together.

“That’s when it got scary,” he said. “We had four or five friends sick at a time. Most of them were black. They didn’t look like any of them the media was talking about.

“We realized that nobody gave a damn,” he said. “Either we were going to die or we were going to have to fight, and still we might die. Die or fight or both.

I had just met Chris. I had just found myself. I wasn’t ready to let either go. So, we fought and did whatever we could to not die — and to help our friends not die.”

It was a jarring epiphany, but Wilson was spiritually prepared for the fight.

“When you are a poor black kid in the 1950s living in a housing project on the south side of Chicago, there is a lot your parents cannot do or provide,” Wilson said. “But what they can do is to make sure you know that you are loved and you matter. That is what my parents did for me, my brothers and my sister.

“They knew they could not shield us from a racist world forever. Eventually we would hear messages that we were not OK — that we were the wrong color, our hair was wrong, or our noses were too broad. So they made sure we had some internalized protection — kind of like ‘PrEP for racism.’” He chuckled.

“They wanted us to know our lives were worth fighting for.”

But even more important, Wilson said, his parents gave him a sense of responsibility for helping and understanding others and an appreciation of his own privilege. When Wilson and his neighbor started kindergarten together, Wilson already knew how to read, tie his shoes, do some of the other things you learn in kindergarten.

His friend, the middle child in a family of eight kids, a girl and dark, was not as prepared and was ignored by teachers while Wilson was perceived to be “cute” and favored.

“My friend couldn’t do a lot of things the teachers were supposed to teach her to do,” Wilson said, “so I took it upon myself to help her.”

But the teachers disapproved and separated them. Wilson told his parents how upset he was.

“It was the first time I realized that people could be treated differently because of who they were, what they knew or how they looked,” he said.

Wilson’s kindergarten friend eventually dropped out of school and became a teenage mother.

“I blamed that kindergarten teacher,” Wilson said. “To this day, I believe I should have helped her more. I try to avoid that feeling.”

Survival and mutual responsibility are at the heart of the message Wilson conveys in his fight against AIDS.

In 1986, Wilson volunteered to fight against the horrific Proposition 64 AIDS quarantine initiative sponsored by right-wing anti-gay activist Lyndon LaRouche — an initiative many feared would lead to branding, rounding up and putting people with AIDS into concentration camps.

After the initiative’s defeat, Wilson and Brownlie worked with Michael Weinstein, Albert Ruiz, Mary Adair and others to found the AIDS Hospice Foundation — later to become the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, launching Wilson’s spectacular 30-year national career fighting for LGBT and black civil rights and for people with HIV/AIDS.

He served as the director of Stop AIDS Los Angeles, director of public policy and planning for AIDS Project Los Angeles, co-founder of the Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum, AIDS coordinator for the city of Los Angeles, member of the President’s AIDS Advisory Council, and the nation’s conscience as the founder of the Black AIDS Institute.

Few actually know how hard Wilson has personally fought to stay alive, taking every HIV drug as it became available (AZT, 3TC, D4T, and others), as did Brownlie. But science didn’t advance quickly enough to save Brownlie, who died of AIDS in 1989.

In 1997, Wilson almost landed on death’s door but refused to believe it was his time to die. The miracle of combination drug therapy saved his life, as it did for countless others, leading some to believe that the AIDS epidemic was over.

But AIDS is still a crisis, especially in black and Latino communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2014, 44 percent of estimated new HIV diagnoses were among blacks, who comprise 12 percent of the U.S. population. One out of two, or 50 percent of black gay and bisexual men in the United States, are likely to develop HIV in the course of their lifetime.

“Our house is on fire,” Wilson says at every opportunity, hoping the community will hear and join in the fight.

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Vice President Inonge Mutukwa Wina, the first woman to hold the post in Zambia’s history, was in South Los Angeles April 17 seeking partners to help develop the Jubilee Women’s Integrated Highway Markets in her home country and, by extension, helping thousands of roadside vendors.

Jubilee Highway Committee Chairperson Gladys Mutukwa told a reporter, “Each Zambian woman, on average, supports about five people. We are hoping to reach a million women and impact 6 million people or half the country’s population.”

Mutukwa said the roadside vendors currently support their families on $60 to $100 a month.

“They make subsistence — enough to look after their families,” she said. “In Zambia, like most of Africa, most of the households are headed by women. The men have died or gone off, but most of them are actually with us.”

“The new highway market system, when fully developed in three years, is expected to raise the income of Zambia’s women from about $1,200 annually to about $5,000 annually,” Mutukwa added.

“To provide for the family, women sell all types of wares, goods, vegetables — anything — on the street, in shelters prone to rain and unhygienic conditions,” Wina told an audience of entrepreneurs, operators of business development nonprofits, expatriates and the congregation at Holman United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles.

“Women are … finding a livelihood … to ensure there is food on the table. They have to make a living and they undergo all sorts of challenges,” she added.

Ten business hubs — one per province in Zambia — complete with child care, medical, sanitation and other services — will replace the open air, termed “illegal,’ flea markets where “women … eke out a living … under deplorable conditions with no road safety, limited water and sanitation, high losses of produce and piles of garbage around them,” Wina added.

“A woman has the power to change things for the better in this world. When you empower a woman, you empower a family a community and inevitably a nation.”

According to Mutukwa, “A Jubilee Highway Committee member is working on the African Growth and Opportunity Act in Zambia, but one or two women meeting an order is not possible.”

“We want to optimize … so we do not go on selling one or two things when we can sell a lot. The main idea is first for the marketers to link up … for a light order. With 15 members, [we] build the capacity to be able to meet a bigger order,” she added.

“We expect to stimulate growth in the economy and shift thinking of the marketers from poor sellers to entrepreneurs,” Robert Sichinga, Zambia’s acting honorary consul general, told The Wave.

“The biggest hurdle is financial support and partners,” Sichinga added. “That is the reason Vice President Wina made this trip — to find partners who would be interested in specific sectors as well as general financial support.”

Los Angeles was Wina’s only stop in the U.S. because of the strong passion for Zambia here and in California, Sichinga said.

Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a trade agreement originally passed by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 2000, eligible sub-Saharan African countries receive duty-free access to U.S. markets in order to help diversify their exports to the U.S. and create jobs and expand their economies.

“Our goal is to start with building the Mulupusho Flagship market in the Chibombo and Chisamba Districts” [about 45–60 miles outside of Lusaka, the capital city] “in Zambia’s Central Province, and once it is off the ground, expand to the other provinces,” Sichinga said.

“When it is all said and done, you’ll have fully integrated market spaces,” he added.

“We have 2,500 women registered at this market,” Mutukwa said. “We want to set it up before the end of the year. We are at feasibility level and the initial cost is $5 million.”

The new business hub also will provide enhanced safety and security; food processing and storage; finance and banking opportunities; and literacy and skills training. Use of solar energy and bio-mass fuels is also planned.

Expatriates of the landlocked nation wore native dress and served Zambian fare on tabletops outfitted with African motif centerpieces at the reception for Wina. Although a native of Zambia, Wina spent some time in her youth in Southern California, graduating from Santa Monica High School and attending Santa Monica College before returning to Zambia, where she received a college degree.

Guests included former U.S. Rep. Diane Watson, L.A. Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Kelli Bernard, and a representative of U.S. Rep. Karen Bass.

Zambia’s President Edgar Chagwa Lungu reportedly told Wina at her swearing in ceremony in 2015: “with your appointment, I expect that the gender agenda In Zambia will move forward.”

Wina stuck to that agenda on her local visit, telling prospective local partners: “We want participation of the young people — girls especially — in our countries to acquire their education, complete their colleges or universities, and start their own families, projects or businesses.”

“But, alas in Zambia, most of our young people will be married off at a young age. And at worse, this is a scourge that we will send those girls and their offspring into poverty because they will not be able to gain a skill to help them if they forge alone in life.”

“So the reason we are here is to meet partners … as we look at one aspect of empowering women through an integrated Jubilee Market Highway.”

More information on the Jubilee Market Highway can be obtained by contacting  jubileemarkets@gmail.com.

The post Zambian official seeks backers for economic project appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Former Los Angeles resident Lee Elder birdied three of his last four holes before sinking an 18-foot birdie putt in a playoff to win the Monsanto Open and become the first black golfer to qualify for the prestigious Masters tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

– For more information on black history, arts and culture, visit www.caamuseum.org 

The post This Week in Black History appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

“And just like that … the world lost a lot of magic,” singer Katy Perry wrote on her Twitter account. “Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much.”

Prince — born Prince Rogers Nelson — was found dead at the recording studio at his home in Paisley Park, Minnesota. There was no immediate word on a cause of death, although he had recently been hospitalized with the flu, prompting him to cancel a pair of performances.

A master of showmanship, Prince created a musical style of his own, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. His talent was on full display in the 1984 film “Purple Rain,” which became a cult sensation and propelled him to superstardom.

“I had the privilege and pleasure of seeing Prince in concert twice in Los Angeles, including his last world tour at the Forum,” writer and activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson said in an email. “He brought grace, style, and social consciousness to the world of music and art. I hailed him for that then and hail him even more for that now. Prince lives on.”

Hutchinson colleague Najee Ali said a candlelight vigil would be held in Prince’s memory Thursday at 6 p.m. in Leimert Park.

“Prince was an iconic musical genius whose legacy will live on forever,” Ali said. “This is a sad day for music fans all over the world. Our prayers go out to his family, friends and fans.”

Prince won an Oscar for best original song for “Purple Rain.” He also won seven Grammys.

“I loved this man. Too soon. Can’t comprehend it but it’s unfortunately true,” MC Hammer said via Twitter. “Heaven is yours.”

Justin Timberlake said he was “numb” and “stunned” at the news.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti even reacted to Prince’s death while appearing on KNX Newsradio’s “Ask the Mayor” program, saying he remembers watching “Purple Rain” with a girlfriend in eighth grade, and later getting to meet him after a performance at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.

Actor/talk show host Mario Lopez said he saw Prince in concert “more than any other artist.”

“Soundtrack to my generation,” he said. “‘When Doves Cry’ was on every mixtape I ever made.”

Stunned reactions also came from the world of Hollywood, with entertainers also pouring out their sadness online.

“I’m crushed!” actor Samuel L. Jackson said. “Massive loss for us all! What a genius. Speechless.”

Director/writer/actor Spike Lee added, “I miss my brother. Prince was a funny cat. Great sense of humor.”

Comedian/actor Chris Rock wrote simply, “Say it isn’t so.”

The post Prince found dead in home recording studio appeared first on Wave Newspapers.