Liberty the adventurous pup- voiced of actress, Marsai Martin Allyson Felix Adds unto Legendary makes ‘PAW PATROL’ delightful, Career in Tokyo Olympics family fun! (See page D-1) (See page D-2) VOL. LXXXVII NO. 31, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, the Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself.” THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 Family and friends vow to seek justice for her death and are determined to continue her legacy of community service BY DANNY J. BAKEWELL, JR. served on the Global Hu- board member for the USC tious smiles with everyone Executive Editor man Resources leadership Black Alumni Association, she met. Prayers of peace team (see Sentinel article on as well as the Centre The- and comfort for her fam- “What I want most is 6/24/2021), and was dedi- ater Group, and the Inter- ily, friends and co-workers, justice for my mother, and cated personally in her role national Black Women’s said Mitchell, president of to continue her legacy,” with the bank in developing Public Policy Institute (IB- Mothers in Action. stated Trevon Avan, the son talent and uplifting those in WPPI). “’I’m Ready ... I love of Michelle Avan, the Bank the community, supporting According to Tracy you,’ were Michelle’s last of America executive who them in reaching their high- Mitchell, every year, with- words to me on Monday, was tragically murdered in est levels of achievement. out fail, Avan spearheaded July 26, the day before I left her home last week. Her The consensus echoes a her team of employees at for Ghana, Africa. We end- death sent shock waves similar praise of Avan; she Bank of America to pur- ed the 90-minute call with throughout the community was much more than just a chase backpacks and fill such joy. It was different and her family and friends rising star in the banking in- them with school supplies from our previous call a few have vowed to continue her dustry, this determined lead- out of their own pockets weeks before when she was legacy of good deeds for the er utilized her role and the for the annual Mothers In grieving the death of her be- betterment of the communi- resources within the bank to Action’s Annual Back to loved father. She was ready ty and those less fortunate. uplift an entire community, School Healthfair & Sup- for her fresh start, her new People close to her say helping break down the bar- ply Giveaway. “This year way forward. I believed Michelle Annette Avan was riers that have traditionally was no different. Special her. I had come to know her a loving mother, grand- been denied to women and thanks to Michelle Avan over the eight years of our mother and friend to all who people of color. Avan was and the employees at Bank working together and being knew her. She was recently a woman of service and had of America. May her beau- in service together. We were promoted to senior vice recently been nominated to tiful, giving soul rest in thinking partners. Michelle president, Head of Global serve on the board of the peace. Her living was not never missed an opportu- Women’s and Under-repre- Los Angeles Urban League. in vain. She spread her {See AVAN A-6} sented Talent Strategy and Michelle Avan COURTESY She previously served as a love, kindness and infec- BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT person after 17 months,” Staff Writer said McKenna, who repre- sents District 1, which cov- Her focus will be on unity, inclusiv- Los Angeles Unified ers the Crenshaw area and a ity and recruiting more African Americans School District campuses large section of South L.A. and women firefighters will soon open for in-person “Schools will open on instruction and Dr. George time on August 16 and we J. McKenna III is ready to are planning a full in-person welcome students back into return to campus to start the the classroom. 2021 school year. Elemen- The COVID-19 pandem- tary - K-5 - and secondary ic resulted in more than a - middle and high school year of remote teaching for - students will have a full pupils, but now the district day of instruction on cam- has implemented the latest pus and all health and safety public health measures to guidelines will be followed ensure a safe learning en- to protect all of our students, vironment for children, fac- faculty and staff,” he said. ulty and staff. Also, virtual learning Dr. George J. McKenna III FILE PHOTO “It’s an exciting time! To will be available for students parents, let me say that we who wish to continue online health and safety pro- students, faculty and staff look forward to welcom- instruction. The City of An- tocols that LAUSD has will be requested to pro- ing your children back to gels Independent Study Pro- implemented, McKenna vide a negative COVID campus. The teachers have gram will offer classes from said face coverings will test each week. missed their students and kindergarten to 12th grade. be worn by everyone en- “Each school site will Jimmie Woods-Gray COURTESY cannot wait to see them in Outlining the various tering the campuses and {See McKENNA A-6} {See FULL STORY A-4} BY ANTONIO RAY HARVEY for Sept. 14. California California Black Media U.S. Congresswomen Karen Bass (D-CA-13) A broad coalition of and Barbara Lee (D- California women are CA-37), who are both supporting WAR, joined a press conference on Aug. 9 to make the case for Newsom. Aimee Allison, founder of She the Peo- Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-A-37) and ple, an Oakland-based Karen Bass (D-CA-13) COURTESY PHOTO political advocacy Governor Gavin Newsom COURTESY PHOTO group, hosted the brief- banding together to support Members of the group, ing. Gov. Newsom’s continued on the front lines, especially Gov. Gavin Newsom as he dubbing itself, Women “We are all against leadership,” Lee said at the women of color.” fights to fend off a recall ef- Against the Recall (WAR), the Republican-led re- onset of the virtual event The women of WAR fort by the Republicans that say they are not going to call because we know hosted by WAR. “Congress- come from diverse back- could mar his legacy and allow Gov. Gavin Newsom that the health of our woman Bass and I decided grounds and bring their sup- throw him out of office in a to be overthrown in the children, neighbors, and that any successful, politi- port for Newsom from dif- www.lasentinel.net little over a month. special election scheduled communities depend on cal event must have women {See WAR A-10} A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY,AUGUST 12, 2021 As Schools Reopen, Gov. Newsom Invests $123.9 Billion to Address Financial and Safety Concerns BY ALDON THOMAS STILES passing them by while they their children resume in- back Plan, a COVID-19 among others. rounding pandemic safety California Black Media are grieving,” said TCF person classes amidst an recovery budget that “Our school year start- in schools could be solved ed Monday and we’ve had by following safety proto- On Aug. 3 in Perris, a great week,” Dr. Gwen cols and getting vaccinated. California – a Riverside Dowdy-Rogers, the San He also addressed the County city located about Bernardino City Unified inequities in education and 70 miles east of Los Ange- School District school healthcare in the state and les – Lincoln Cooper and board president, said at the what he plans to do to tack- Fortunate Hove Cooper beginning of the press con- le that issue. handed out free backpacks ference. “We continue to dispro- full of school supplies and “Families sent 95% of portionately focus on part- hand sanitizers to strug- all students back to our nerships with community- gling families during a campuses for the first time based organizations in the triple-digit heat wave. in over a year for in-person African American commu- They were joined by a instruction,” she continued. nity and in the Latino com- handful of volunteers that Newsom addressed munity to do more, to get included representatives some of the pandemic more people vaccinated from the Moreno Valley related financial issues stu- and address the concerns School District. dents and families like and anxieties that persist in “This is the biggest those at the Concerned terms of vaccine hesitan- back to school event we’ve Family back to school cy,” Newsom said. ever had,” said Lincoln event face. “And that’s profoundly Cooper, president and “By the way, $650 mil- important, the health of our founder of the community lion went into this unprece- diverse communities. And I outreach organization the dented first of the nation want folks to know that we Concerned Family (TCF). effort to provide free nutri- have doubled down 480 “We’ve had a lot of support tious meals for our kids,” community-based organi- and we're really thankful Newsom said. zations working with bar- and grateful that we were “Supervisor Baca ber shops, faith-based com- able to help the communi- would be upset with me if I munities, the Black press, ty.” didn’t remind everybody ethnic media, crossing the The faith-based, Black- about all the support that spectrum to provide addi- lead community outreach we’re providing these tional outreach,” he contin- organization, founded in kids,” he continued.