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Mayor Eric Garcetti and Nickerson Gardens Residents in Watts Celebrates Being Awarded $3.7 Million Jobs Plus Initiative Grant

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has been awarded a $3.7 million grant aimed at giving job training and supportive services to 250 residents of Watt’s Nickerson Gardens.

Published

6 years ago

September 26, 2019

Oakland Post

Mayor Eric Garcetti and HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie share a moment on stage (Courtesy Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles)

By Saybin Roberson

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has been awarded a $3.7 million grant aimed at giving job training and supportive services to 250 residents of Watt’s Nickerson Gardens.

“Angelinos will benefit from the Jobs Plus program are going to take us to unimaginable places, places we never believed possible,” Mayor Eric Garcetti shared in the excitement of the new program that will change the community.

The Jobs Plus Initiative Grant was given by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will train and place residents for careers in healthcare and construction. Wednesday, September 4, residents and special guests celebrated the new opportunity and multiple centers set up for peak prosperity among the community.

Mayor Garcetti greeting children of Nickerson Gardens (Courtesy Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles)

“We see Watts rising, thanks to state dollars that are putting Watts at the front of the line,” Mayor Garcetti stated. “We know that we aren’t just turning around and transforming lives; we are saving lives.”

In attendance at Nickerson Gardens Sage Center alongside Mayor Garcetti were Congresswoman Nanette Barragan, Councilman Joe Buscaino, HACLA President & CEO Doug Guthrie, and HUD Field Office Representative Ray Brewer. A special testimony was also shared amongst attendees from a Nickerson Gardens resident, Julie Legardye.

“It takes a lot of people to make things like this happen, there is not one person, in particular, it’s everybody working together,” Congresswoman Nanette Barragan stated. “Partnership – it’s working together at all levels, local, state, and federal, that is what we need to do.”

Congresswoman Barragan shared her excitement surrounding the partnership between HACLA and the Department of Health and Human Services. A component of the Jobs Plus Program created to address the disparities in healthcare.

“What better than to hire from within, within our community to address these disparities and have people in these careers who not only understand those disparities but help close the gap,” congresswoman stated. “What’s exciting for me, is that it’s going to be happening right here in Nickerson Gardens,” she continues to say. This bond will allow residents to join the healthcare workforce through training and jobs.

Julie Legardye shares her testimony among neighbors and friends of Nickerson Gardens (Courtesy Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles)

“The work is just starting, and we must make sure we follow through. That the people need the opportunities, get the opportunity and we put people to work right here,” said Congresswoman Barragan who promised to fully commit to the community to produce positive results.

Another highlight to the event was a special moment shared by a beloved resident of 10-years, Julie Legardye who currently works for the Painters Union for the past seven years.

“I got started with job and housing fair. I always took advantage,” Legardye stated as she shared her journey with the crowd. “It was just a job to me, but now it is a career, and it pays well. I just encourage everybody to take advantage of the jobs that they have here because it pays off in the end.”

Following the press conference, a Community Resource, Health, and Employment Fair officially launched the four-year Jobs Plus Initiative. During this time residents were invited to tour the Job Plus Center, the Watts/LA AJCC Portal & Employment Tech Center, Youth Leadership Center, and more.

Danielle Smith, resident, and mother living in Nickerson Gardens shared her gratitude and enthusiasm, “I feel good about this event. It is a positive thing going on and we need all that they are bringing to the table.”

As an employed member of the community, Smith is hopeful she too can go further in her career with help of the Jobs Plus Program and looks forward to the positive benefits the youth center will bring about.

“I’m most excited about the Youth Center. We need to be more focused in on our youth, so that’s a good thing,” she shared. Among many other residents, Smith was joined by members of her family for food, fun, and celebration of a brighter future thanks to the Jobs Plus Program.

This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

14 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: