Congratulations, M! Introducing Mater Dei High School - Class of 2017 Valedictorian!

Marianna McDevitt,
 Mater Dei Class of 2017, Valedictiorian

Congratulations is in order for the entire
Mater Dei High School Class of 2017 for a job well done! I've never seen so many students with 4.0 grade point averages. Awesome!
I must admit that my focal point is on the Mater Dei High School, Class of 2017 Valedictorian
(drum roll!)  - Introducing Ms. Marianna McDevitt -
an amazing, multi-talented, kind, and beautiful
young lady (inside and out). A young lady with true grit.

We want to show gratitude for all of the effort that went into making such a momentous occasion so special - 

Thank you, Ms. Frances Clare, Principal,
Mr. Patrick Murphy, President,
Mr. Gregory Dhuyvetter, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Reverend Gerald M. Horan, O.S.M. Vicar of Faith Formation, Diocese of Orange, Most Reverend Keven W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D. Bishop, Diocese of Orange,
for such a dignified seremony. 

M., all dressed up for Prom Night. Isn't she lovely?

Marie McDevitt, Marianna's grandmother, and M.,
Who's the tallest?

Marianna, or M., as I affectionaly call her, is the apple of her father's eye, and her mother and grandparents simply adore her. 

M., with the help of her parents, worked very hard, triumphing over adversity, staying focused, acheiving her goal.
Not only did she have to stay focused on

Mr. & Mrs. McDevitt w/ Marianna - nothing tops the love of grandparents! #grandparentsrock

school, missing her junior year due to an injury she sustained a concussion.  
During her Senior year,
she stepped up to the helms when there was a family illness, and took on the responsibility of helping her brother, Sean-Anthony, stay on task, getting to school on time, during his freshman year at #MaterDai High School. #sisterandbrotherfriendsforever

Avis, Marianna, and Brendan McDevitt
 @MaterDei Senior Awards
#McDevittFamilyRocks

Mom, Dad and Valedictiorian, M.!
#family #love 

M. and her big sister Amanda(r.) - (two #blessings),
celebrating M's Big Day!
#SistersForever 

 Mom, Avis, and Dad Brendan McDevitt, and big brother Jordan,
celebrating M's graduation.
What a nice surprise! #BestParentsEver 

The McDevitt Family
(Amanda is missing! She's away, @Yale University.
See beautiful Amanda in the next photo ↙)

Amanda, Sean-Anthony, Marianna, and Jordan
#McDevittFamilyRocks

l to r, Proud Mom, Avis, M, and God-Mom, Carla Thomas. 

M., with your determination, dedication and serious skills, you did it!
Our ancestors would be so proud of you. 
So many of us love you, and you've made our hearts glad.
With all my heart I wish you much more continued success, Beautiful One.
Keep on pushing forward. Keep on shining! 

"Out of the huts of history's shame - I rise,
Up from a past that's rooted in pain - I rise...
I rise. I rise, I rise." - Dr. Maya Angelou

With so much love & light, 
Your God-Mom, Carla

#family #goodparenting #love #educationiskey #MaterDeiHighSchoolClassof2017 #gomgo #firstafricanamericanvalevictorian #brilliancerunsdeep 

Love & Happiness!

When I think of growing up in San Francisco, living right across the street from Golden Gate Park, and listening to the music that my parents played around the house, I think of love! I also think of the love that I see being displayed today. Take Dr. Bernard and Shirley Kinsey. They've been married for #40+ years, and they are still in love, and it is beautiful!

Here's an example of what I grew up hearing - "Love & Happiness" by Al Green -

Enjoy this day and remember, Love & Happiness ROCKS!

Truly,
Carla

Dr. Bernard & Shirley Kinsey, married for 40+ years=Love

The Flip Side of 2016 - WE Love You Natalie Cole!

We are so blessed to be alive, making it to another year. Keep in mind that there are so many people that didn't make it into 2016. I remember my Grandfather, Stokes, saying, "No one is promised tomorrow."

Life is a gift - act like it is. You've got a new start, with a new year.

I want to take a moment to say that Natalie Cole, a Native Californian, born and raised in Beverly Hills.  Natalie Cole just recently passed away 12.31.15. My heart goes out to the Cole Family.
Natalie Cole and I laughed, cried and prayed together. May you R.I.P. Natalie.



I am grateful to Jah for making it to 2016, and will continue to show my appreciation by treating people with loving kindness. Happy New Year to you!

With so much love & light,
Carla

Its Been A Minute

Santa Barbara, CA

Hey Everyone, How's it going? I know its been a minute since you've heard from me.
No worries, I'll be updating you with some really good, positive thoughts in a little bit, okay? On my way to Los Angeles, via Amtrak ("All aboard!")

Remember to watch the company that you keep. Stay on your path = stay in the light!

Sending you love & light,
Carla

We Need to Take A Moment and Listen to some Songs in The Key of Life ~ Stevie Wonder

Life. A precious gift. Something to treasure.

"Sometimes our pains and trouble can make you wish you were born in another time and place...But you can bet your life and that as twice as double, that God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed. So make sure when you say your in it, but not of it, that you're not making this place sometimes called hell. Change your words into truth and then change that truth into love, and maybe our children's grandchildren and their great-grandchildren will tell...and I've got to say Always - Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key of Life "As"



Love & light,
Carla

150th Anniversary of Juneteenth Celebration - 6/20/21st 2015 @ Leimert Park

Black Arts Los Angeles (BALA), 6th Anniversary, in full swing.
Join in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth
in Leimert Park. #BALAEvent2015

Black Arts Los Angeles (BALA) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is throwing there 6th Anniversary of there stepping into the ring, and including the 150th Juneteenth Celebration, in honor of the fact that according to the Emancipation Proclamation, all slaves in America were free.


The battle of Antietam (a.k.a. Sharpsburg) set the stage, providing the necessary Union victory needed  to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Henry Louis Stephens, untitled watercolor (c1863),
black man reading a newspaper w/ headline
"Presidential Proclamation/Slavery".
(wikipedia.org)

Images courtesy of Houghton Library, Harvard University The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Jan. 1, 1863. The writing on the bottom of this copy, in the hand of Charles Sumner, a senator from Massachusetts, states that this was an “official copy from the Department of State.” The document is part of the Houghton Library collection.

The facts are, President Lincoln, via an executive order, issued January 1, 1863, changed the legal status, as recognized by the US Fed Government, of 3 million slaves in the designated areas of the South, from "slave" to "free". The ratification of the 13th Amendment,
Dec 1865, made slavery and indentured servitude, expect for those duly convicted of a crime, illegal, everywhere subject to the Unites States jurisdiction. 

African American Men - Military Service in the Civil War

earned the right to go from being held in captivity, 

to being free citizens in America. 

(Photo: Wikipedia.org)

considered the Emancipation Proclamation the crowing achievement of his presidency/career.
Quiet as it's kept, President Lincoln had to issue the Emancipation Proclamation twice.


Fast-forward to today. America, the Beautiful. We've got work to do. 




As the late, Dr. Maya Angelou said in
"Still I Rise"  -
 "Out of the huts of history and shame -
I rise. 
I am the dream and the hope of the slave -
I rise.
I rise.
I rise.  

Love & light.
Carla

Black Arts Los Angeles is a 501(c)3) founded by Moza Mjasiri Cooper and Gail Jennings.