California African American Museum

Founded in 1977, the California African American Museum has a long and rich history. The first African American museum of art, history, and culture fully supported by a state, CAAM was the direct result of a sustained, multiyear campaign of activism undertaken by visionary founders and community members. Its creation was an early and tangible recognition by the State of California of the critically important role African Americans have played in the American West’s cultural, economic, and political development. CAAM began formal operations in 1981 and was initially housed in…

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Leimert Park

Dubbed the “Black Greenwich Village” by the late filmmaker John Singleton, the historic neighborhood of Leimert Park is widely regarded as the cultural hub for African Americans in LA. Leimert Park was the brainchild of developer Walter H. Leimert, who began the subdivision business center project in 1928. One of the first planned communities in Southern California designed for upper and middle class families, Leimert Park was considered a model of urban planning – car traffic near schools and churches was minimized, utility wires were buried or hidden from view,…

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Venice Beach

Known for its bohemian spirit, Venice is a buzzing beach town with upscale commercial and residential pockets. Free-spirited Venice Boardwalk is the site of funky shops, street performers and colorful murals. There’s also a skate park and Muscle Beach outdoor gym. Abbot Kinney Boulevard features foodie hot spots, stylish boutiques and coffee bars. A picturesque enclave of canals is surrounded by modernist homes.

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Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. About 70% of the studio lies within the unincorporated county island known as Universal City while the rest lies within the city limits of Los Angeles, California. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use. Its official marketing headline is “The Entertainment Capital of LA”.[1] It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios sets and is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Outside the theme park, a…

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U.S. Marine veteran who fought in Iraq faces imminent deportation

The Long Beach resident, who saw combat in Iraq, served time for felonies. His supporters are asking Gov. Newsom for a pardon.   United States Marine Jose Segovia Benitez By ROXANA KOPETMAN | rkopetman@scng.com | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: October 13, 2019 at 7:00 am | UPDATED: October 14, 2019 at 11:23 am A large tattoo of the Statue of Liberty is spread across the left side of Jose Segovia Benitez’s body.  A second tattoo memorializes his service to the U.S. Marines. Neither will serve him well in El Salvador. But that’s where the honorably discharged veteran…

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Armed man shot and killed by police at El Monte bus station

Police shot and killed a man at an El Monte Metro station on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Authorities said officers fired on the man when he took out a handgun. (Photo by Jonah Valdez, San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Southern California News Group) By JONAH VALDEZ | jvaldez@scng.com | San Gabriel Valley Tribune PUBLISHED: October 12, 2019 at 5:38 pm | UPDATED: October 12, 2019 at 7:56 pm El Monte police shot and killed an armed suspect at an El Monte bus station on Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The shooting occurred about…

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A new lawsuit describes a violent gang in LA County. Its members are deputy sheriffs.

The “Banditos” say they’re a fraternal club for LA deputies. But critics allege that the group violently harasses civilians — and other officers. By P.R. Lockhart  Oct 11, 2019, 7:30pm EDT Share this story Share this on Facebook (opens in new window) Share this on Twitter (opens in new window) SHAREAll sharing options A lawsuit filed in September claims that a deputy group in East LA County is actually a gang using “illegal policing practices.” Getty Images/iStockphoto As concerns over police misconduct and use of force have drawn increased national attention in recent years, activists…

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LAVC’s football team includes ex-gang members, an autistic kicker, a few homeless players and a coach ‘here for a reason

This team is a reality TV show.” –  David Roundtree, special team’s coach for the LA Valley College Monarchs  Boy, is it ever. The punter is a 31-year-old ex-bartender who has lost 40 pounds this year turning his life around. The field goal kicker is a 19-year-old autistic kid with a dynamite leg. Several players are ex-gang members, and two more are homeless – living in their cars eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and taking showers in the locker room facilities The Monarchs first-year head coach is Lester Towns,…

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