Supervisors Vote to Appoint First Inspector General for Skilled Nursing Homes Amid Social Justice Is Bigger than COVID-19 Deaths (See page A-7) Basketball (See page B-2) VOL. LXXXVI NO. 22, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself.” THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 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 Hip-Hop legend talks new movie ‘The High Note’ and Black life in exclusive interview COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY PHOTO Legendary Rapper Ice Cube Bishop Charles Blake Apostle Beverly Bam Crawford BY BETTI HALSELL and highlight what is un- and legendary rapper, Ice BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT are not rushing to resume in mid-March by govern- Contributing Writer der-reported in mainstream Cube to discuss the impor- Staff Writer religious services on Sun- ment officials, the Centers media. Standing behind the tance of Black media for the day, May 31. for Disease Control and Black Press USA is the Voice of The Black Com- collective, and to highlight Although the Califor- An informal poll of lo- Prevention (CDC), and the harmonious sound of media munity; President and CEO Ice Cube’s creative projects, nia Department of Pub- cal pastors by the L.A. National Institute of Aller- publication in America for of the National Newspa- such as the Big 3 Basketball lic Health announced the Sentinel revealed that gy and Infectious Diseases the Black community; pub- per Publishers Association League and a recent feature statewide reopening of ministries would continue (NIAID). lishers, editors, and journal- (NNPA) Dr. Benjamin F. places of worship on May to operate under the Stay- In a statement posted ist of color seek the truth Chavis joined movie mogul {See ICE CUBE A-14} 25, L.A.-area faith leaders At-Home orders issued {See REOPEN A-11} OP-ED Angeles leaders and orga- If a budget is a state- nizations – more than 50 ment of priorities, then in total. The demands were Mayor Garcetti’s are clear: forwarded to nearly every continue Los Angeles’ de- elected official, including scent into a police state Los Angeles Mayor Eric where huge numbers of Garcetti, who never issued Black people are deprived as much as an acknowledg- of services, even in a city ment, let alone scheduling with unimaginable wealth. the meeting that leaders re- Garcetti’s proposed quested of him. Five days budget for the 2020-21 later, he issued a City bud- fiscal year makes cuts to get proposal that stood in nearly every department, direct opposition to the pri- reducing vital services orities outlined by Black and resources, like hous- leaders. Garcetti’s budget ing, libraries, and parks, allocates 54% of the City’s and imposing furloughs on COURTESY PHOTO general fund to the Los An- nearly 16,000 City work- Dr. Melina Abdullah and Pastor Eddie Anderson geles Police Department ers. LAPD, however, gets BY DR. MELINA ABDULLAH, crisis and accompanying (LAPD), at a time when an even greater share of PASTOR EDDIE ANDERSON economic fallout on Black crime has plummeted and taxpayer dollars and offi- AP PHOTO / MARK J. TERRILL, FILE people was coming to light, Black communities, espe- cers are getting a raise. All On April 15, 2020, just a set of immediate and long- cially, are in dire need of told, the mayor is propos- Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as the disproportionate term demands was issued by essential services and re- {See COVID-19 A-10} {See BRYANT A-10} impact of the COVID-19 a who’s who of Black Los sources. SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE late 38 student graduates people graduating from high on a job well done! These school and continuing their The Brotherhood Cru- youth, who have partici- education. Their book of sade is proud to congratu- pated in Brotherhood Cru- life is an amazing work-in- sade’s Youth Development progress and we are so excit- programs, will be attending ed to see their next chapter four-year colleges, universi- unfold. We thank all of our ties and junior colleges. supporters, friends, families Learning, Thriving, and foundations of good Connecting, Leading and will who have supported Working are the pillars from the Brotherhood Crusade which our youth have grown and the success of our future and are now on a path that game changers.” will lead them to sustain- Please donate a gift today able jobs and careers that to help the Brotherhood Cru- will change not only their sade continue offering its life and community but the impactful Youth Develop- world. ment programs. Visit: broth- Brotherhood Crusade erhoodcrusade.org/donate/ President and CEO, Cha- Congratulations to the risse Bremond Weaver said E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL www.lasentinel.net “I am so proud of our young {See BROTHERHOOD A-11} Brotherhood Crusade President and CEO, Charisse Bremond Weaver A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 Cal State LA graduating student strives to help children feel understood Degree marks the culmination of a 17-year journey SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL Transition and Retention in ny’s mission of making know what you are going to Higher Education in 2019 healthy and affordable food walk into,” Brown says. As a speech language on how to help incoming options available to all. “But it was a welcome chal- pathologist, Theora Brown students deal with anxiety. Initially, Brown lenge. Seeing the growth of wants to help young chil- Brown received the Out- returned to her studies a nonverbal child who starts dren feel heard. standing Undergraduate believing that she would to vocalize or make the “I want them to be Student Leader Award at work with adults recover- sound of words was just understood and to under- the conference for the ing with the effects of amazing.” stand themselves,” says region, which includes stu- strokes on speech and cog- Looking ahead, Brown Brown, who lives in South dents from California, nitive abilities. But through plans to earn a certificate Los Angeles. “I want to Nevada, Arizona and her courses at Cal State LA, from the American Speech- work to help them know Hawaii. Brown realized that her Language-Hearing Associ- that even if they are differ- Through the Mind Mat- passion lies with helping ation so she can serve as a ent than their peers, they ters student video series, children. speech language pathology can work through it.” Brown shared tips with fel- Brown credits faculty assistant. She hopes to one Brown, 34, will gradu- low students about how to like Erica Ellis, John day return to Cal State LA ate in May with a Bachelor manage stress while han- Gomez, Heather DeFelice to pursue a master’s degree. of Arts in Communicative CAL STATE L.A. dling family duties, aca- and Maureen Jennings with With her career, she Disorders from Cal State Theora Brown demics and other responsi- connecting coursework wants to work to help chil- LA’s Rongxiang Xu Col- bilities. The Mind Matters with real-world examples dren, especially children of lege of Health and Human children and welcomed two ence of Black students and video series uses a peer-to- and helping her decide what color, in Los Angeles Services. She hopes to stepchildren into her home. their allies, who are either peer approach to reduce the to do after graduation. schools and connect their work as a speech language Then, unhappy and unful- first-time freshmen or stigma around mental Her dedication to help- families with the resources pathologist to help children filled working at a credit transfer students during health and provide strate- ing young children grew they need. in schools across Los Ange- union, Brown decided to their first year. The program gies for managing stress. even stronger after she vol- But for now, she is rel- les. quit her job and return to is part of Cal State LA’s In spring of 2019, unteered for the Los Ange- ishing her accomplishment Earning a degree is the school, encouraged by her New Student and Parent Brown served as an ambas- les Speech and Language that was years in the mak- culmination of a 17-year husband. She applied and Programs in the Division of sador for the Everytable Therapy Center in Culver ing. journey for Brown. She was accepted again to Cal Student Life. restaurant on Cal State LA’s City for several months this “It has been a crazy first started at Cal State LA State LA. Brown’s motivation to campus. Growing up and semester. There, she ride,” she says. “I never right out of high school in With a strong support help new students living in South Los Ange- worked with 4- to 8-year- thought I would be back in 2003. She majored in soci- system, she was determined stemmed, in part, from her les, Brown says, she is sur- olds, some verbal and some school, and now that it is ology and wanted to help to make her university own experience years ago. rounded by fast-food joints nonverbal, on their social actually done, it’s kind of others, but she was unsure experience better the sec- A peer mentor would have and has to drive to get to the skills. bittersweet. It’s the end of a about the professional path ond time around—for her- helped her navigate chal- nearest grocery store. She “It was a challenge for chapter that I really, really she would take. self and for her fellow stu- lenges as a student, she was drawn to the compa- me because you never enjoyed.” She saw a pamphlet in dents.