Taste of Soul Founder and Creator, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., Discusses the History of Taste of Soul
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Former Inmate Lawrence Car- LADOT Crossing Guard Carl penter Shares His Journey from McCorkle celebrates 40+ years of Ex-Convict to Entrepreneur service (See page A-2) (See page A-7) VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO. 35, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax“For Over “For Eighty Over Eighty Years Years, The Voice The Voiceof Our of CommunityOur Community Speaking Speaking for forItself Itself.” THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019 Taste of Soul founder and creator, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., discusses the history of Taste of Soul BY LAUREN FLOYD from hundreds of vendors ginning. Staff Writer and shopping – includ- “The evolution of Taste ing blocks and blocks of Soul has simply been For 14 years, Los An- of art, jewelry, clothing, about the care for Black geles has enjoyed the an- beauty products as well people and wanting the nual Taste of Soul Family as a plethora of free com- best for our community,” Food Festival on Crenshaw munity services. The festi- says Mr. Bakewell. Blvd. The day-long festi- val is family-friendly and As one of the leading val presented by Bakewell known for being one of the and most respected civil Media boasts over 350,000 largest and safest events in rights leaders in Califor- visitors just last year alone. Southern California. Origi- nia and across the nation, Taste of Soul has become nally founded by Bakewell Mr. Bakewell, Sr. wears an institution in the Cren- Media CEO, Danny J. a lot of hats. Besides be- shaw community and Bakewell, Sr. in 2005, ing the founder and cre- draws people from L.A. Taste of Soul has grown ator of Taste of Soul, he and beyond, coming to exponentially over the is the executive publisher PHOTOS ROBERT TORRENCE / SENTINEL enjoy live music and en- years, and Mr. Bakewell of the Los Angeles Senti- CEO of Bakewell Media and executive publisher of the L.A. Sentinel, Danny J. tertainment on more than says he can’t believe it’s nel and L.A. Watts Times Bakewell, Sr. is the founder and creator of Taste of Soul. five stages, delicious food been 14 years since its be- {See BAKEWELL A-5} BY MANNY OTIKO BY IMANI SUMBI California Black Media Contributing Writer You could feel the The California Public high level of energy in the Employees’ Retirement room when the California System (CalPERS) is the Democratic Party African largest pension program in American Caucus (CD- the United States. It pro- PAAC) made history this vides retirement benefits past weekend, electing to approximately 1.9 mil- four Black women to lead lion members, 600,000 of the organization. whom are currently retired. “I am at a loss of This includes state work- words. People were cry- ers, school district non- ing, cheering and texting teaching personnel, and me congratulations - all at most of the state’s county the same time,” said Tai- COURTESY PHOTO and city employees. sha Brown, who the CD- (L-R) Kendra Lewis, vice chair, Taisha Brown chair, Henry Jones COURTESY PHOTO Lorrie Brown, recording secretary, and Cecile Nunley, {See CalPERS A-10} {See CDPACC A-10} treasurer. BY JENNIFER BIHM BY LAUREN FLOYD tor Stephen Bishop. The Contributing Writer Staff Writer discussion was held at Vector.90 in South L.A., a Former UCLA employ- 2020 Presidential Can- creative working space co- ee, Nicole Birden said she didate Cory Booker made founded by the late rapper, feels “good about her vic- the most of his visit to Nipsey Hussle. tory” now that UC regents Los Angeles last week, Gun violence preven- have been ordered to pay participating in a round- tion is not only relevant her $1.58 million, as com- table discussion centered considering the three mass pensation for her experi- on gun violence preven- shootings that took place ence in what she and her at- PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC7.COM tion. The panel included in Dayton, Ohio, Gilroy, Nicole Birden Los Angeles City Mayor California and Philadel- Eric Garcetti, Black Lives phia within the few weeks torney, James DeSimone are Matter L.A. Activist Paula prior to the event. The calling a hostile and racist Minor, Moms Demand absurd number of shoot- work environment. Birden, Action California chapter ings that have happened who is African American, co-lead, Samantha Dorf, PHOTO LAUREN FLOYD/ SENTINEL this year alone is reason gun violence survivor, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and Cory Booker address the {See UCLA A-14} Cindy Montana and ac- press following the roundtable discussion. {See BOOKER A-13} www.lasentinel.net E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY,AUGUST 29, 2019 LADOT Crossing Guard Celebrates 40+ Years of Service BY IMANI SUMBI Contributing Writer Wednesday, March 3, 1976. It’s a date Carl McCorkle will never forget. That was the day he first began working as a crossing guard for the Los Angeles Department of Transpora- tion (LADOT). He also remembers his first intersec- tion – 11th Avenue and Hyde Park Boulevard, just COURTESY OF LADOT by the Hyde Park Early Lead Crossing Guard, Carl McCorkle, helps families cross the intersection of Century Education Center, YES Boulevard and Wadsworth Avenue, near 99th Street Elementary School. COURTESY OF LADOT Academy, and Hyde Park Carl McCorkle has served as an LADOT crossing guard for Elementary School. schools on a weekly basis. ment has implemented new plies younger people with a more than 40 years. More than 40 years later, McCorkle has always and improved safety meas- contact to understand the McCorkle continues to safe- enjoyed meeting new peo- ures for pedestrians, such as rules and the regulations of job, and I believe I can help don’t like the job.” guard children and families ple, and over the years, he more signal light locations, crossing the street.” for the safety.’” Both Jones and as they walk to school each has become truly embedded more visible crosswalks, For many children, Back then, he said, he McCorkle seek to increase morning. Armed with noth- in the communities he and flashing lights, Jones Jones says, a crossing guard only expected to do the job recruitment in the crossing ing but an orange cap, a serves. says there is still a great deal is the first public official for a short while, but he guard training program, safety vest, a water bottle “Mr. McCorkle himself crossing guards can bring to they encounter during the soon discovered a genuine particularly to address a and a handheld stop sign, he has gone through two or an intersection that technol- day. A crossing guard passion and excitement for shortage of guards in the starts his day at 5 a.m. and three generations of individ- ogy cannot. becomes a familiar face that it. He saw how the school- Valley. According to Jones, works until 3:45 p.m. For uals,” said LADOT Lieu- “It is extremely impor- children come to rely on, children looked up to him there are over 500 intersec- the past 20 years, he has tenant Carl Jones, who over- tant that they have an indi- especially when they are by and felt compelled to con- tions in Los Angeles that served as a lead crossing sees the crossing guard vidual there,” Jones said. themselves. tinue looking out for them. qualify for a crossing guard in the Watts area, training program. “He gets “The light is an excellent “I’ve had a parent tell McCorkle’s unabating ded- guard, but not all of them supervising more than 20 to know their name; they get traffic control device, but me that it was the first time ication has made quite a are currently manned. other crossing guards and to know his name.” the crossing guard provides she ever let her child cross positive impression on his So, what does the cross- communicating with local Although the depart- a personal touch, and it sup- the street by herself, because community, and it’s a qual- ing guard program have to we had an individual there,” ity many of his fellow attract potential trainees? Jones said. “It gave the child crossing guards seem to According to McCorkle, a level of independence that share. there’s good pay and an she didn’t have before.” “The years of service incredibly supportive work McCorkle, who has are exemplary,” Jones said. environment. raised three children of his “To have someone to per- “We are a family,” own, says his desire to pro- form on the job for 40 McCorkle said. “From the tect children was what drove years, it takes a special per- captain, the lieutenant, the him to apply to be a crossing son. It takes a lot of dedica- sergeant, crossing guard, guard to begin with. tion to a job itself. You lead guards, we all are a “I’ve been concerned for don’t find that in too many family including the schools the safety of schoolchildren individuals. My crossing and the students. They have because I’ve experienced guards, including Mr. made great things happen people having accidents McCorkle, have exemplary with the crossing guard pro- because they weren’t attendance. Crossing gram. I’ve had quite a few focused, and they didn’t guards, for some reason or [supervisors], but all of them have a crossing guard,” he another, they come to work have really been good. It’s said. “They didn’t have any- and they like the job that been a joy working with the one to cross the children. So, they’re doing.