UNCF - Mayor's Masked Ball - Los Angeles, 2013

The invitation to the Mayor's Masked Ball 2013

It was April 25, 1944, when  Frederick D. Patterson (President of Tuskegee University) and
Mary McLeod Bethune, UNCF envisions a nation where all Americans have equal access to a college education that prepares them for rich intellectual lives, competitive and fulfilling careers, engaged citizenship and service to or nation."
"Last evening, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa, in conjunction with UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball, held at
 Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City.
The Whispers were in the house - and had everyone on their feet dancing! Loretta Devine, Obba Babbatunde, Anna Maria Horsford were just a few celebrities having a blast at the ball!
Chris Schauble, Co-Anchor, KTLA 5 Morning News announcer, and Vera Jimenez, Meteorologist, Reporter, KTLA 5 News and Master of Ceremony, Jim Hill,
 Sports Anchor, CBS 2/ KCAL 9  were outstanding!

The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor, City of Los Angeles,
and Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF welcomed everyone so warmly.

Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Mayor of  Los Angeles, CA.

The Invocation was done by Rev. Zelda Kennedy, Senior Associate, Pastoral Care and
Spiritual Growth All Saints Church.

Chris Schauble, Anchor, KTLA 5

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel,Toyota Motor Sales

Jim Hill, Sports, Anchor, CBS2/KCAL 9

Sandra Phillips, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. was so lively and entertaining.

Lisa D. Cagnolatti, Vice President, Business Customer Division of Southern California Edison was very hospitable, with the largest mask I've ever seen! She had the entire audience rolling!

Carl A. Balton, President, Union Bank

Hats off to Carl A. Balton, President,
Union Bank Foundation, for sincerely working so diligently in the community, making sure that the richness of our culture is preserved, as well as supporting HBCUs.



 Earvin "Magic" Johnson  - and Sheryl P. Underwood were the Honorees.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Honoree

Sheryl P. Underwood, Honoree

Did I tell you that the full-time Husband, Father, MBA All Star, Entrepreneur and Joseph (the Biblical character that forgave his brothers and took care of his family during a famine. How? His brothers sold him into slavery and he worked his behind off, and was eventually rewarded by being entrusted with all of all of the Pharaoh's store houses of food stuffs, during feast and famine) in the community,  Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his lovely wife, Cookie, are life/purpose driven and provide so much help within the urban communities across the United States in more ways then one can imagine.

This remarkable man (I'm talking "Magic" Johnson, ya'll), along with the late Jerry Buss (R.I.P. Jerry Buss), from day one, have made things happen in the Los Angeles area. Magic Johnson says, "For me, it always goes back to something I learned in basketball. There's winning and there's losing, and in life you have to know they both will happen. But what's never been acceptable to me is quitting." Yes, Magic Johnson, you consistently show by example that you are not a quitter. Thank you, Magic Johnson, for showing our children first hand, how to work hard, gain success and reach back and uplift others. You are your brother's keeper, and we love you for that.

Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller USCO,
XEROX Corp.

Sheryl P.Underwood is truly a brilliant woman. Her comedic timing is impeccable. Sheryl, a co-host of the show, "The Talk", on CBS International President of her beloved Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., makes it a goal to help people as often as possible. She humbly accepted her award, and spoke to the audience from her heart, stressing the importance of making sure that we continue to support our youth, ensuring that they have better opportunities. Keep letting your light shine, Sheryl!

XEROX Corporation actively supports the community and was one of the sponsors for the event.
Dawn Sutherland, VP Finance, Controller, USCO Southern California / Las Vegas Operations looked absolutely fabulous! Yes, Dawn Sutherland does fabulous quite well, wearing a gown designed by Carolyn Wilbourn, of
Wilbourn Exclusives, out of Atlanta, GA.

Dawn Sutherland is committed to making sure that our youth succeed, getting all the necessary tools needed to grasp and obtain higher education.
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., Founding sponsor is an awesome corporation. See how they continue to fly!

Smooches,
Carla













(photo of listing of sponsors - Richard Nichols, All other photos are taken from each person's website - and UNCF)

African American History Month - Herb J. Wesson Jr. & Bernard & Shirley Kinsey Collection @ The Barrett Art Gallery & The Broad Stage

This evening, Bernard & Shirley Kinsey, in conjunction with Santa Monica College Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery, will have a Multi-Media Presentation @ The Barrett Art Gallery & Broad Stage. The Cultivators by Samuel L. Dunson Jr. and the curator is Khalil Kinsey. This is a presentation that you will not want to miss. Dr. Bernard Kinsey is a brilliant, masterful orator of African American history. Make sure to reserve a ticket now! 310.434.3200 & www.thebroadstage.com

Just the other day, I got a chance to stop by an excellent exhibit at Los Angeles City Hall. Herb J.Wesson Jr. and his staff, with Albert E. Lord III as Deputy, created an amazing compilation, touching on so many different elements related to the contributions that African Americans have made in this beautiful country that we call the United States of America!...I'm just sorry that I hadn't heard of the exhibit earlier!...

Pan African Film and Arts Festival - www.paff.org - now through - Feb 18th 2013

It's a lovely Saturday morning in Los Angeles, and Louise Richardson., and I are heading for the Pan African Film and Arts Festival for another fantastic, energetic, day of film and arts.

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is celebrating its 21st anniversary in grand style, with a string of highly - anticipated films - oh yes!

 There are a total of 154 films, representing 34 countries---that is, 23 documents, 13 short documentaries, 67 narrative features, and 51 narrative shorts.

Today, we're going to see the following:

"Fair Game?" | 1 to 3 pm
Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, in collaboration with the Pan African Film Festival, Strategic Concepts in in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) will host a fundraiser and screening of Mario Van Peebles' film, "Fair Game?"  In this film, "Fair Game?" African American entertainers, professionals and executives weigh in on the barriers facing young African American men in the "post-racial" era of America's first African American president. Facilitated by Mr. Van Peebles and Youhance (aka Merc 80), the audience will engage in a Q & A examining the responsibility of community members, and music and film leaders to create organic solutions to these barriers. SCOPE has worked in South LA for 20 years with low-income families impacting meaningful changes like job creation programs with clear pathways from training to employment. For more information, please visit: www.paff.org

"Raising Izzie" | 5:30 to 9:30pm (US/Narrative Feature/88 min) Director: Roger Bobb
Union Bank joins the 21st Annual Pan African Film Festival(PAFF) in the ongoing celebration of Black History Month. The bank will co-host a private screening a " Raising Izzie," starring Vanessa Williams and Rockmond Dunbar, best known for their roles in the television series "Soul Food".

Synopsis: Gertie and Izzie are two young girls on their own. Abandoned by their father and orphaned by their mother, they are doing the best they can to stay in school and stay undetected and stay together. For more info., please visit www.pafflorg

"PAPA", (2012/US/Narrative Short/23min) Director Bambadjan Bamba Feb 16 @ 5:00pm Q & A
Papa is a stoic African father who runs his household with an iron fist while Pepe, his rebellious son, forces him to either reconsider his ways risk losing his entire family. for more information, visit www.paff.org

Please stop by the community room at the mall for CUC/ KRST Unity Center of African Spiritual Science - they are presenting, INSIDE STORY - A lunch and a movie $35.00. organized by  Alake Adewale, Khepera Auset and Akosua Adobea, photographer at KRST. Nice meeting Andre Parvenu aka Msonga-Mbele!

Love & light,
Carla

Out of Darkness Exhibit – Artist Calida Garcia Rawles @ Ebell Los Angeles

Out of Darkness Exhibit –  Artist Calida Garcia Rawles
@The Ebell Los Angeles  - Feb 6th – Feb 27, 2013

For Immediate Release
Press Release

CTC PR – Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Los Angeles, California

Calida Garcia Rawles, Los Angeles, CA.

'Out of Darkness' is the latest series of portraits by Wilmington, Delaware born,
Los Angeles based Artist, and graduate of Spelman College as well as New York University, where she earned her Master's of Art.

Artist Calida Garcia Rawles Opening Reception – Thursday, Feb 14, 2013, 5-8pm

'Out of Darkness' is the latest series of portraits by Los Angeles 

based artist Calida Garcia Rawles. In this series, Calida Garcia Rawles captures celebrated personalities of "Basquiat" (Artist, Jessye Norman (American Opera Singer)
and Raven Wilkinson (Ballerina) are prime examples of those whose political, intellectual, and artistic excellence have cemented them as icons in  traditionally white institutions.
The subjects of these revealing portrayals "emerge" from the confines of race, and in doing so, challenge viewers to rethink the complex and often binding notions of black identity in America.

Calida Garcia Rawles’ Artist Exhibition Runs Wednesday, February 6, 2013 – Wednesday,
Feb 27, 2013

Location: The Ebell of Los Angeles – The Art Salon, 741 South Lucerne Blvd., LA, CA 90005

About Calida Garcia Rawles

Calida’s aesthetic sensibility was nurtured by her parents and refined at Spelman College, where she studied art and later served as an artist-in-residence, and at New York University, where she earned a master’s of art.

She has exhibited her paintings nationally and abroad, exploring the concepts of beauty and identity. Several of her works have been published in the compendium  Roll Call:
A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature Art.
In addition, Calida Garcia Rawles wrote and illustrated her first children's book,
Same Difference (samedifferencebook.com), which addresses the difficult and divisive issues of beauty and identity. 

Calida also has a parenting blog (crazymomwithkids.com), where she writes about the often-comedic trials and tribulations of raising two girls.

Calida Garcia Rawles currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters.
Their son is in the Navy and is stationed in Seattle Washington.

For Press inquiries, please contact Carla @ Carla Thomas Consulting – CTC/ PR 310.388.7960 carla.thomas.ct@gmail.com

                                                           

                                                   ###

Out of Darkness Exhibition – Artist Calida Garcia Rawles - 

 Opens: Feb 6th running through Feb 27, 2013
Artist Reception is on Feb 14, 2013 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

@ Ebell Los Angeles – 741 South Lucerne Blvd., LA, CA 90005 

Please RSVP to: tickets@ebellla.com or call 323-931-1277 x131

For press inquiries, or to arrange interviews with artist Calida Garcia Rawles, please contact: 

Carla Thomas @ Carla Thomas Consulting=CTC/PR

310.388.7960

carla.thomas.ct@gmail.com

Twitter: Carla_Patra

P.O. Box 3034 BH, CA 90212

Please follow Calida Garcia Rawles
Twitter: @ArtistCalida 
Facebook: ArtistCalida.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/RodeoDriveLife/artist-calida-garcia-rawles/

“Jessye Norman”, 48 x 48 inches, Acrylic on Canvas 2012. 

Inquiries: Carla Thomas Consulting / PR– CTC/ PR 310.388.7960 carla.thomas.ct@gmail.com

We've Got So Much Catching Up to Do!

Good Saturday morning to you! I've got so much to share with you, and so many things to reflect on from 2012 and the Presidential Inauguration to share with you, so hold tight - I'll be right back!#PresidentObama&FamilyROCK

Love & light,

Carla

Flip Side of 2013 - w/ Eric Clapton and BB King ~ Live

There is nothing more wonderful than waking up in the morning, to the sound of the birds chirping.
 I promise you, I love it. You know what? Come rain or come sunshine, no matter what the weather is like, the fact that I am rising another day, with my sanity, health and strength? Hey it's all good! So, I'm saying all of this to say that no matter how 2012 was - good or bad - you made it through to another glorious year, and truly, it's what you make of it. My advice? Put on some really good vibes....my choice for today? BB King and Eric Clapton...Yeah....

Create some positive affirmations that you read/recite daily. Make sure that you take the time to commune with the nature...my preference? Being kissed by the sun....Go out and get the thrill of your life!

Love & light,

Carla
(Youtube: Johvan Stojanovic 2010)

Happy New Year Count Down 2013