VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBERSEPTEMBER 12 17,- 18, 2015 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO 48, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax“For Over “For Eighty Over Eighty Years Years The Voice The Voice of Our of OurCommunity Community Speaking Speaking for for Itself Itself” THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018 Sentinel Declares Villanueva Winner Pledges to be a champion of public schools and a Superintendent L.A. Sentinel echo’s loud and clear, there’s a new sheriff in Town! for all California students BY KIMBERLEE BUCK SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE Staff Writer Assemblymember Tony The November 2018 Thurmond is the projected midterm election race winner of the California for LA County sheriff State Superintendent of left local residents on the Public Instruction election. edge of their seats as they More than a week after waited to see who would Election Day, Thurmond declare a victory. Would has overcome an 86,000 it be incumbent Jim Mc- vote deficit on Election Donnell or his challenger, Day to win the election. Alex Villanueva? As of On Saturday, his opponent press time, the LA County Marshall Tuck conceded. Registrar shows Villan- “I want to thank the ueva has 1, 193,670 votes voters of California for compared to McDonnell’s electing me to serve the 6 1,106,750. However, million students of Califor- more than 261,000 ballots nia, I intend to be a cham- still need to be counted pion of public schools before there is an official and a Superintendent for winner. all California students,” “With a lead of nearly said Superintendent-elect 58,000 votes, we can fi- Thurmond. “I ran for Su- COURTESY PHOTO nally say that there’s a BRANDON I. BROOKS/ L.A. SENTINEL perintendent of Public Tony Thurmond #NewSheriffInTown! We Alex Villanueva Instruction to deliver to owe it all to our volun- all Californians the prom- overcame humble begin- old, Thurmond moved to teers and everyone who has more than 48.67 per- ish out that and end up in ise that public education nings. His mother was an im- Philadelphia with his sib- supported our campaign. cent of the votes, he has not a position like this...” said delivered to me – that all migrant from Panama who ling and was raised by a Now the work really be- conceded because “there McDonnell in a statement. students, no matter their came to San Jose, California cousin whom he had never gins as I prepare to hit are too many uncounted Villanueva who has background and no matter to become a teacher. Thur- met before. With the help the ground running on votes.” more than three decades of their challenges, can suc- mond’s father was a Vietnam of the public education day one as your new Los “We were very success- experience in law enforce- ceed with a great public veteran who Tony met when system and public assis- Angeles County Sheriff,” ful. We had four years that ment, built his campaign education.” he was almost 40 years old. tance, Thurmond went on said Villanueva in a Face- I think if you were using a platform on improving the Thurmond was born in After Thurmond’s mother book post. sports analogy, four cham- Fort Ord, California, and died when he was 6 years {See THURMOND A-8} Although McDonnell pionship years and to fin- {See VILLANUEVA A-8} BY KIMBERLEE BUCK Staff Writer When Danny J. Bakewell Sr. first created the Taste of Soul Family Festival, he envisioned an event where the South Los Angeles community could come together for a day of fellowship, love, peace and unity. Although the 13th annual festival has come to end, Taste of Soul con- tinues to spread its mission E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS through the city but this (L-R) Sharon Poland, Tracy Mitchell - President of Mother’s in Action, Mitchell time with a holiday twist! Thomas and David Sheffey For the first time ever, LA Sentinel, Mothers In number of Taste of Soul’s George McKenna III. Tracy Mitchell. “It takes Action & Taste of Soul community partners in- “Mothers in Action is a village to take care of partnered with Hyundai cluding Mothers in Action, very grateful for the 50 our community and we Motor America to give- Brotherhood Crusade, Ward turkeys that have been al- are honored to have both WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP away 300 turkeys to fami- AME, Bethany Baptist located to our underserved Hyundai and the LA Sen- Rapper Snoop Dogg said he hopes he can be a posi- lies in need. These families Church, Kappa Alpha Psi, families by LA Sentinel and tinel as a part of our vil- tive influence over the next generation of hip-hop stars have been selected and the Weingart Center, and donated by Hyundai,” said {See BAKEWELL A-8} {See FULL STORY A-9} pre-qualified through aLAUSD board member Dr. Mothers in Action president BY LAUREN A. JONES Sentinel Managing Editor Brandon I. Brooks Contributing Writer Honored with Power Press Award nications and public rela- One of the night’s most “I’m just so honored The Black Public Rela- tions at the California Afri- prestigious awards of the to be receiving an award tions Society Los Angeles can American Museum on evening, the Pat Tobin named after her,” stated hosted its 20th anniversary Friday. award, is named after and Erika Bennett, one of the awards ceremony and aptly The celebration was recognizes one of the first seven recipients of the Pat chose to honor 20 trailblaz- emceed by the Emmy Black women to own a Tobin award. “I can’t help ers in the fields of media, Award-winning Kevin public relations firm,- Pa but feel like our missions film, corporate commu- Frazier and was kicked off tricia L. Tobin. Tobin is a were very much aligned with a welcome by Neil co-founder of the National for how we create space Foote, president of the Na- Black Public Relations So- for people of color and tional Black Public Rela- ciety (NBPRS) and is sin- shine a light on the work tions Society. The evening gle-handedly responsible that we do, and continue included special remarks for the careers of countless to champion for authentic by best-selling author and corporate executives in the storytelling.” PHOTO BY KRISTINA DIXON screenwriter Antwone media, film and entertain- {See BPRS A-9} Sentinel Managing Editor Brandon I. Brooks Fisher. ment industries. CLICK TO WIN TICKETS TO THE 2019 LA AUTO SHOW!-COMPLIMENTS OF HYUNDAI AND TASTE OF SOUL www.lasentinel.net WWW.LASENTINEL.NET/WIN E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL A-2A-6 LASENTINEL.NETLOS ANGELES SENTINEL NEWS NEWS THURSDAY,THURSDAY,JANUARY NOVEMBER 22, 9, 2018 2014 The District will Work with College Partners to Provide Intense College Preparation and Support to 1,800 6th and 7th Graders over the Next Seven years of their Academic Careers Dr. Darin Brawley Micah Ali Satra Zurita COURTESY PHOTO SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE trajectory of improved SNAP and Project First. begin its intensive work at lege awareness, preparation fied School District, we are graduation and college go- “Today is truly a great Davis, Bunche, Enterprise, and parents’ college knowl- intently focused on partner- Compton Unified ing rates, it will enable us day in Compton!” said Sa- and Willowbrook Middle edge. ships and initiatives that School District has been to take a huge leap toward tra Zurita, Vice President of Schools in the Compton The California State are innovative and game- awarded two United States ensuring students suc- the CUSD Board of Trust- Unified School District. The University of Dominguez changers for students. We Department of Education cessfully graduate college ees. “In addition to the project will start by creating & Compton Unified School are grateful to the US De- Gear Up Grants for the as well,” said Dr. Darin strong academic support a cohort of 1,000 6th and District GEAR UP will be- partment of Education and next seven years in collab- Brawley, Superintendent students will receive, I am 7th grade students, and will gin its intensive work at our collaborative partners oration with university and of CUSD. excited that this grant will continue to serve these same Dominguez High School, for agreeing to take this community college part- The goal of the grants help our students gain ac- 1,000 students as they move Whaley and Roosevelt Mid- bold step forward in firmly ners. Through the grant, are to measurably increase cess to financial, academic into Compton and Centen- dle Schools in the Compton establishing a college-going CUSD will provide in- students’ rate of gradua- and other supports that will nial High Schools and on to Unified School District. The and college-enabling cul- tensive academic and col- tion, enrollment in, and in essence lock arms with the college of their choice. project will start by creating ture in our district,” said lege preparation support completion of college. them as they travel a path California State Univer- a cohort of 800 students and Micah Ali, President of to 1,800 6th and 7th grade The grant will fund mul- that leads them to directly sity Dominguez & Comp- will continue to serve the CUSD’s Board of Trustees. students. The grant will tiple activities and services to success!” ton Unified School District same 800 students as they The Gear Up grant will fund programs that will including STEM enrich- The two grant projects, Gear Up were awarded move into Dominguez High begin implementation in the follow the same students ment, college readiness, award amounts, participat- $4,450,000 for a seven-year School and on to the college 2018-19 school year.