By Dianne Anderson Darlene Burke seemed the least likely candidate to be in a relationship with an inmate. She holds her degree from UCLA, is a successful real estate agent of 22 years with a big name company, and is a God-fearing woman. But, she said the heart wants what the heart wants. Women and ...

By Dianne Anderson Across the nation, high profile strikes are taking center stage with thousands of workers revisiting some tried and true solidarity tactics of their parents and grandparents, who picketed for power, better pay and benefits. They are holding the line for their rights, filing petitions for union elections, and collective bargaining at a ...

By Dianne Anderson For no other reason than poverty, Black moms are at the whim of the social service system that keeps them in the spotlight of mandated reporters who are trained to not ask questions or investigate, but just report. Charity Chandler-Cole said for all the claims of abuse or neglect coming out of ...

For a little over three decades Rainbow Promotions has delivered a plethora of music events for throngs of concert and festival goers to enjoy on an annual basis. It recently hosted its 34th annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, and for three days, festival goers experienced beautiful music, great food and libations and a number of ...

By Dianne Anderson Instead of being funneled through the police, a new pilot program is set to deescalate mental health crisis in West Long Beach with calls for nonviolent help being handled by trained nonsworn mental health professionals. As part of the City’s Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative, the program focuses on connecting the community ...

By Dianne Anderson Growing up in District 6 in Long Beach, Autrilla “Sheba” Gillis lived next to her grandma and with her mom – both by definition powerhouse sheroes – they always had something good in the works. Likewise, Gillis draws from her community activist roots as the daughter of Sharon McLucas, and granddaughter of ...

By Dianne Anderson Local advocate Duke Givens doesn’t have much time to dig around for what new grants or funding may be coming up, but he just sticks to the mission at hand. He does what he can do to help the homeless. That kind of focus has led to good support and donations for ...

By Dianne Anderson Those that have it to give will dig deep in their closets and pantries this weekend in support of the city’s fifth big donation drive-through to help the homeless, and the nonprofits who serve them. On Saturday, July 29, the drive-through runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Main Facilities ...

By Dianne Anderson Straight from city plot to plate – nothing beats local organics. Local kids and families are working the land, now in full bloom without pesticides. Ms. Sheila G. said that her nonprofit Adventures to Dreams Enrichment gave away bags of produce earlier this month filled with carrots, tomatoes, lots of different varieties ...

By Dianne Anderson Behind the mask, whether The Mandalorian, Deadpool or Spiderman, AKA Yuri Williams, was a lot like the community he serves. Long-term depression following his mother’s death in 2009 was debilitating. On his first day back to work  a bereavement leave – as was his everyday custom – he called his mom at ...