Expo Celebrity Spokesperson and business owner Amazing Grace Conservatory has been named
Howard University Outstanding Alumnusof the
Year!
New Expo Update Schedule
Expo Update
has returned to our monthly publishing schedule.
We will send email updates when new information has been posted, so please
join our email list. As always, we welcome your input, stories and of
course, your paid ads. Simply email:
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Congratulations to Ahneva Ahneva,
designer, who received a full page spread in Los Angeles
Times Magazine recently. Titled "Straight Out of Africa"
the article heralded the work of the internationally
renowned designer.
Metropolis / Spring Fashion Issue; Straight Out of
Africa.
A couture queen celebrates the real classics. VICTORIA NAMKUNG;
Los Angeles Times; Feb 20, 2005; pg. I.10.
To read, click the link above.
Also Deanzign had an impressive
showing at the Oscars. These photos submitted by
Jonathan Dean and are self explanatory.
Samuel L. Jackson and his
wife LaTanya stepped out to the Oscars in Deanzign
designs.
In remembrance: Josef Stephenson, Expo Hair
Show Coordinator (UPDATED!)
It
really is hard for us to believe that a relatively young
man with so much energy and insight has gone away from
us, but Wednesday night, March 16, Josef Stephenson was
called home.
Professionally, many remember Joseph as a gifted hair
stylist, whose Mobile Salon would come a calling to
those who did not have time to get into the shop.
He was well connected in the hair industry and
represented Andis, which sponsored part of the Hair Show
at the Expo. During the Expo, Joseph could be seen
doing hair at the Andis booth, or upstairs pulling
together panelists to talk about the hair industry or on
the stage consulting the hair show.
Joseph planned his work and worked his plan. We
are grateful to his family for sharing him with us and
enjoyed the time we did know him.
Myra Wallace, West Coast Fashion Show Director,
reports that the viewing will be held at Forest Lawn,
1500 E San Antonio Dr. in Long Beach off
Cherry & San Antonio on Sunday, March 27th, 12-9 PM.
His services will be held Monday, March 28
at 11 AM at New Hope Baptist Church, 1160 E. New York
St., Long Beach CA 90803.
Because Joseph passed unexpectedly, Maurice Kitchen
reports that the family has set up an account to defray
burial expenses:
Donations can be
deposited at any Washington Mutual under Account Name:
Olga Stephenson, for the benefit of Josef Stephenson,
account # 180097190
Truth be told, Michael Riddick, Net.Profiles, is
often found on the red carpet, shooting celebrities. He also shoots
head shots and the usual photo packages, but don’t ask him to do
weddings. Michael Riddick would much rather comb the streets of Los
Angeles for the issues of the day, and as you can see in the slideshow
above, a lot has happened lately.
Why does Michael say he sees trouble ahead?
“When you are out there shooting nowadays, it’s not
the "take it or leave it" attitude anymore. Black folks are angry and
there is a lot coming at them: black on black violence, police
brutality and now black and brown wars. It just doesn’t stop. People
are edgier, they are saying more and editing less. They don’t care who
hears them. I don’t want to see anything jump off but this is what my
lens is telling me from the events I have shot lately,” he said.
Michael is drawn to this type of photography. A
few years back, Riddick shot the funeral of a motorcycle member who was
killed in a car accident. That album is the most popular album of all
we have posted.
He shoots challenging events like funerals well,
capturing the pathos within, while staying unobtrusive.
And his work goes on.
“I feel the need to show the real side of the
problems we have. I know a lot of guys don't like it, but for some
reason I have this drive and I can't explain it, but those families
touch me deeply. I want people to know the real side, that only this
camera and I can show. Sometimes I get scared myself, because you have
to read the people’s hearts and it hurts, but I want to show people who
don't want to face the real, even if it scares me to see it.”
And what is the trouble ahead? “If Long Beach
can't get a lid on this race thing, L.A. is in for big trouble," he
affirmed.
At the community meeting depicted in the slide
show, he saw boldness in the brown community because their children are
being killed by our children too. “The Mexicans were proud in Long
Beach, had no shame,” said Riddick.
All told, this is way too much for one community
to have to respond to in such a short period of time. But the
salvation of Michael's work is "you can't fix it if you don't know its broke."
Michael has shot event photography for many
activist organizations including the Brotherhood Crusade, Pathways to
Your Future and gang intervention programs. He is chief
photographer for the Los Angeles Black Business Expo and Photo Editor of ExpoUpdate.com. He can be reached at (323) 757-0340 or emailed at mike2boos@aol.com.
*At least some of this arch hatred starts when
the troubled youth are locked up and prison guards pit one African
Americans against Latinos, and watch them fight for their own pleasure.
When they are released, that hostility comes out with them.
ExpoUpdate Exclusive
A Metrolink Survivor:
The Willa RobinsonStory
Story by: Stan Thomas
March 10, 2005
Last
month Expo Update ran a story about the recent tragic
Metrolink train crash from a rider’s point of view. Since then,
we’ve learned that one of our colleagues, Willa Robinson,
Director of Advertising at the Los Angeles Watts Times,
was actually on one of those trains.
Ms. Robinson was in the
second car in the southbound train, which is pointing off toward
the left
in this photo. (Click here for an
overview of the entire scene). Her car was the one that
struck the northbound train, derailing two of its cars.
(CLICK FOR MORE)
Photo of Willa Robinson courtesy of Willa Robinson
Business Tips
OK...many of us are in business true enough and STILL flying by
the seat of our pants. You are on the Internet, so you may
as well browse around and get the information you really need to
have a legitimate sustainable business.
Start here:
Don't feel like reading? Here are some audio tips from so
many business owners from various businesses, there is bound to
be something that will help you.
This will take some reading, but hey, you have to slow down
and learn the things you don't know to keep you out of trouble
later on. And as usual, what you don't know, you
should ask somebody.
Keep the Voting Rights Act Alive!
National leaders in civil rights, human rights,
women’s rights and workers’ rights will join forces with
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and the RainbowPUSH Coalition
to secure 1 million signatures for the reauthorization
of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 before its
scheduled expiration in 2007.
“The right to vote precedes, preserves and protects
all other rights,” Rev. Jackson explains, “and therefore
it is of utmost importance that we preserve, protect and
if necessary expand the provisions of the Voting Rights
Act.”
Besides learning the remarkable history
of Afrikan Americans, you will meet scores of people who are
doing their own research and traveling the world. For more
visit www.drkwaku.com
.
If your knowledge of the history of black
people only begins with enslavement, you might consider
enrolling in one of the much acclaimed Afrikan World
Civilizations history courses Fridays, beginning March 18, 2005
or Tuesdays at both from 7-9 PM in Leimert Park. The
classes are being taught by Dr. Kwaku Person-Lynn, a visiting
professor at Loyola Marymount University.
“Our history is
older, deeper and richer and did not begin in slavery,” said Dr.
Person-Lynn, also an author, historian and originator of public
radio’s Afrikan Mental Liberation Weekend.
Titled “Afrikan
World Civilizations, Part I and Part II”, the 11-week courses
begin at Ben Caldwell's Kaos Studios, located at 4343 Leimert
Boulevard, on the corner of Leimert Blvd. and 43rd
Place, right across the street from Leimert Park in Los Angeles.
The actual 11-week courses begin the following Friday for Part I
or Tuesdays for Part II.
“We really do
not know our impact on the world or how civilizations evolved
from the creations of Afrikans. There is almost no history or
civilization in the world that does not involve some aspect of
Afrikan ingenuity,” said Dr. Kwaku. “The most exciting thing to
me is bringing high level information to my community. And as an
educator, it creates a greater challenge because participants
are older; many are self-taught and will not stand for
mediocrity. I feel very blessed and privileged that the
community has embraced the classes as they have.”
A multimedia
approach with Power Point, video and audio media materials will
be used, augmented by lectures from Dr. Kwaku. No books are
required, though a book list will be supplied, and no exams will
be administered. The premise of the classes is an accumulation
of knowledge to be passed on to the next generation. “We cannot
depend on any school system to accurately teach our history.
Those of us who are mature historians have a responsibility to
bring that information to our communities,” said Dr. Kwaku.
Dr. Kwaku (as he
is affectionately called) is also a musicologist. As broadcast
producer of the renowned Afrikan Mental Liberation Weekend (a 30
hour radio special) he later developed Afrikan Mental Liberation
Films, and has authored two books and over a hundred articles,
essays and chapters in books published. Dr. Kwaku is one of the
innovators of teaching Afrikan world history and has taught this
particular course for over a decade at the university level. No
local university covers the breadth of information that will be
taught in the courses offered.
Both Tuesday and
Friday night classes (separate classes) have limited seating so
early registration is encouraged. For more detailed information
and to register, visit Dr. Kwaku's website at:
www.drkwaku.com or by mailing to: P.O. Box 2946, Inglewood,
California 90305.
This and That
April is Black Business Month
April 1: Kick off Black Business Month in Los Angeles at
the Los Angeles Sentinel. Hosted by Recycling Black
Dollars, this event showcases businesses. To include your
business visit
http://www.rbdglobal.net/ or call: (310) 673-7777
April 30, 2005. Hitch
a Ride with BLACK L.A. TOURS to ALLENSWORTH, CALIFORNIA,
for GOSPEL FEST CELEBRATION.
Transportation and Admission to all Attractions
$25.00Adults & seniors, $18.00 Children (4 yrs and under are
FREE).
Departure Time 6:30am / Return Time 6:30pm.
Contact Valerie Holton at (323) 750-9267
INGLEWOOD TODAY GOES WEEKLY
Inglewood Today Magazine, the monthly
publication known for its positive slant on
community issues, has announced that it will go
weekly beginning March 2. The new publication,
called Inglewood Today Weekly, will be
published every Wednesday in a newspaper tabloid
format.
In addition to
the new name and size, readers can expect a few
changes in content.
“We are very
excited about the changes. We’re expanding our scope
with the new publication. There will be more
political news and coverage of City Hall,” said
Willie Brown, Inglewood Today Weekly
publisher. Newsworthy features, heartwarming
profiles, entertainment, health, business and
community news will continue to be a part of mix.
The coverage area will remain the same, serving
residents of Inglewood, Ladera Heights, Baldwin
Hills, Leimert Park and portions of Los Angeles. The
newspaper will continue to be delivered to the homes
of Inglewood residents every Thursday. Others can
pick up copies at high visibility locations,
including restaurants, banks, retail stores and
professional offices.
For information on distribution, to
advertise or submit articles, visit
www.inglewoodtoday.com,
send email inquiries to
itnetworks@msn.com,
or call (310) 330-0063.
FACTS / Families to Amend
California’s Three Strikes Presents ……
”The Voice of the Prisoner; Keeping the
Flame ALIVE” 7th Annual Awards Dinner
Thursday, April 7, 2005, The Proud Bird
Restaurant, 11022 Aviation Blvd., Los
Angeles, CA 90045
Tickets are $130.00; Community price:
$65.00 (for those who can't afford the
more expensive ones)
For ticket information call (213)
746-4844
Playboy Jazz Festival Announces 2005
Lineup--by Ricky Richardson
Hollywood-The line-up for the 27th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival was
announced at a Press Conference at the Playboy Mansion, March 2nd, 2005.
Invited guests consisted of media, musicians and music industry
(Scenes May Take A Minute to Load...Click
Play Arrow When Loaded)
Scene One: Length 1:00.
Features Gayle Anderson teasing her full report with Tony McGill
and the Holy Workshop Choir, So Lynn, Gymnastics L.A., Tama
(Body builder)
Scene Two: Length 2:10--Features
Gayle Anderson with Tama Bonner of Bodi Basix, Gymnastics L.A.,
More of the Tony McGill Holy Workshop Choir and Voices of Civil
Rights Bus Tour
Dear Reader: We apologize for any errors and typos.
They come along with the territory of getting news out fast and not
having proofreaders. Will you be our eyes and ears? Please
report errors, broken links and out of date info
here.
