L.A. DIGEST
Wave Staff Report
HOLLYWOOD HILLS — In Honor of Black History Month, Forest Lawn will present a virtual presentation of inspirational music, dance and readings at noon Feb. 13.
The virtual performance streamed live on via Facebook Live will celebrate Black culture with a New Orleans-style jazz band, a tap dancing and bucket drumming performance from the Broadway musical “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk” and soul, rhythm and blues vocals.
Streaming for the event is available via Forest Lawn’s Facebook page live (https://www.facebook.com/ForestLawn/). Visit www.forestlawn.com for more information.
Bradford joins
reparations panel
LOS ANGELES — State Sen. Steven Bradford has been appointed to the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.
California is the first state in the country to establish a task force to study reparations. The task force consists of nine members that analyze discrimination against freed slaves and their descendants and make suggestions on how the state can develop reparations for those affected.
“I am honored to be appointed by President Pro Tem Toni Atkins to this truly revolutionary position,” Bradford said.
Black College Expo
goes virtual this year
LOS ANGELES — The California Black College Expo is hosting a two-day virtual college fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 17 and noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 20.
The Black College Expo will allow students to obtain access to more than 100 colleges that mainly focus on historically Black colleges and universities. College admissions and scholarships are available on the spot. All students are welcome from all ethnic backgrounds.
For more information, visit https://www.thecollegeexpo.org/events/black-college-expo-california-westcoast.
Film critics group
offers competition
LOS ANGELES — The African American Film Critics Association is holding a Social Justice Short Film Competition for rising creatives. Films chosen for the competition will confront societal structures in the United States on a macro and micro scale and also show how filmmaking plays an important role in encouraging social change.
The competition will be handled across the first half of the annual American diversity calendar. That means there will be a winner for February, which will honor Black History Month; March honoring Women’s History Month; April for Asian Pacific Heritage Month and May for Gay Pride Month. Winners from the four months will win l prizes and will compete against one another in June for a grand prize.
The deadline for the competition is Feb 28. For more information and to submit short films, visit https://aafca.com/shorts/.
Underwood featured
in conversation
LOS ANGELES — The Robey Theatre Company’s next installment of the online series of “Evening Conversations” will include Blair Underwood on Feb. 19 via zoom.
Underwood will talk about the existing and future state of theatre, the effect of the pandemic on the performing arts, and the arts’ response to the recent global uprising in support of racial justice.
The virtual event is free. To register for tickets, visit http://therobeytheatrecompany.org/our-events.
Six-part virtual
series to be held
LOS ANGELES — The Positive Results Center will host a six-part virtual conversation series titled “Advancing Social Justice and Equity; Opportunities and Possibilities for BIPOC Communities,” beginning Feb. 18 through March 27 for Black History and Women’s History Month.
The targeted audience includes young adults, parents, educators, advocates, nonprofits, faith leaders, health, law enforcement, government, elected officials and corporate partners.
For more information, contact Kandeele@prc123.org or https://prc123.org/asj/.
Holocaust Museum
to host conversation
LOS ANGELES — In recognition of World Day of Social Justice, the Holocaust Museum LA presents “Racial Stress & Trauma: A Conversation About Social Justice and Resilience,” at 11 a.m. Feb. 16.
The virtual event will include a panel of mental health professionals that will discuss the connection between mental health and social justice and how racial and historical trauma impacts individuals and communities.
For more information and to register for this event, visit https://holocaustmuseumla.org/event-details/racial-stress-trauma-a-conversation-about-social-justice-racial-stress-trauma-and-resilience.
Price seeks
SHero nominees
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — City Councilman Curren Price is accepting nominations for the 2021 tribute to SHeroes Awards.
To be eligible for the annual tribute to the SHeroes Awards nomination, nominees must either live and/or work with an organization or business in Council District 9. rice is accepting nominations through Feb. 19.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SHeroes Awards will be presented virtually.
To submit your nomination, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGAP3oeWQH_hzWfWWFBnThmAa1IOgArwvx1V1KF8LSsQ9Brg/viewform.
Cinematographer
to display work
LOS ANGELES — Emmy Award-winning cinematographer John Simmons will exhibit his photos and cartographies in an exhibit “Capturing Beauty: The Artwork and Photography John Simmons” during Black History Month through June 5.
The exhibit is a free online virtual tour by Simmons of his multi-layered paper collage cartographies and his black and white photographic images of life from 1965 through 2021.
A Zoom Webinar question-and-answer session with Simmons, moderated by Jimmy Centeno, will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28.
To register for the Zoom, visit https://casa0101.org/?shows=webinar-capturing-beauty-the-artwork-and-photography-of-john-simmons.
Compiled by Taylor Goodson.
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.
