Prophet Walker has his roots tied to South LA's crucible, advocating tirelessly for justice and education reform. A pioneer of inmate education post his own incarceration at 16, he’s a Civil Engineering graduate, honored by President Obama. Prophet blends community inspiration and business acumen, and on his free time finds solace in his daughter's company.
Tony Jolly, black man, expert barista, entrepreneur, husband and father. In 2012, Anthony began his green coffee career with Ninety Plus Coffee, a global green specialty coffee distribution powerhouse. At Ninety Plus, Anthony learned how to analyze coffee at the specialty level. After a year of on the job training, Ninety Plus Coffee sent
Tony Jolly, black man, expert barista, entrepreneur, husband and father. In 2012, Anthony began his green coffee career with Ninety Plus Coffee, a global green specialty coffee distribution powerhouse. At Ninety Plus, Anthony learned how to analyze coffee at the specialty level. After a year of on the job training, Ninety Plus Coffee sent Anthony to Ethiopia to foster relationships with coffee producers and cooperatives. Anthony lived in Ethiopia for a year searching for the best coffee Ethiopia had to offer and creating personal relationships with several private coffee farm owners. He worked with local farmers and agronomists to enhance the quality of green coffee beans to specialty standards to attract premium wholesale processes and increase coffee yields. He also learned about every aspect of the coffee bean business: planting, growing, harvesting, drying, exporting, selling green coffee, and roasting. In 2012, Anthony imported his first 8 containers of specialty grade coffee, which were distributed globally to over 10 different countries.
In 2013, Anthony parted ways with Ninety Plus to work independently, becoming one of the first people of color in the independent coffee importing business. He remained in Ethiopia for months, expanding his relationships with coffee growers throughout the country and perfecting the art of coffee harvesting and drying. Anthony's latest project was co-producing Karkarsa Coffee from the Anfillo region, which comes from a woman-owned farm with 100-year-old coffee trees on 50 hectares of land. Anthony was the first to import and distribute Karkarsa into the United States.
Additionally, Anthony has nearly 20 years of experience in the coffee and retail industries, including build-out, opening from the ground-up, concept creation, marketing, management, training, general operations, and everyday procedures. He has more than 8 years of experience owning an independent coffee business with multiple revenue streams, including living on and sourcing from single estate farms, importing, roasting, and wholesale and retail sales, including internationally. He has diversified his coffee business to include import and export, roasting, retail, and unique RTD coffee beverages.
Currently, Anthony owns Ora Café in Leimert Park, Los Angeles.
Dr. Diandra “Dee” Bremond was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown and reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel, where she was elected as the Panel Chair. Additionally, Bremond is an adjunct lecturer in the MSW and DSW programs in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern C
Dr. Diandra “Dee” Bremond was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown and reappointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Cannabis Control Appeals Panel, where she was elected as the Panel Chair. Additionally, Bremond is an adjunct lecturer in the MSW and DSW programs in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Bremond served as the founding Board President for Crete Academy, a public charter school in South Los Angeles. Moreover, Bremond served as the Director of Trauma-Informed Youth Development for the Brotherhood Crusade for nearly seven years. Bremond serves on many non-profit director and advisory boards, including the following: Why Can’t We Make A Difference and Equality California Advisory Board.
Bremond is a graduate from Pepperdine University where she earned a Master’s of Public Policy and a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership. Her dissertation and substantive interests are rooted in public policy, innovation and social work. Bremond is married to her wife, Otesha Mosley-Bremond, and resides in Los Angeles with their two dogs, Princess and Polo.
Mahogany, a well-known celebrity stylist, spent her childhood enjoying the beauty of Leimert Park where she was raised. As a young adult she attended the local beauty school in the village and went on to become a go-to stylist for celebrities all over.
Ferriss is a community organizer and social entrepreneur. Ferris holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Golden Gate University. With considerable business insight and experience with both start-up's and large corporations, her passion lies and is rooted in building the community. Ferries was a founding employee of Sole Folks as the
Ferriss is a community organizer and social entrepreneur. Ferris holds a Bachelor of Business Management from Golden Gate University. With considerable business insight and experience with both start-up's and large corporations, her passion lies and is rooted in building the community. Ferries was a founding employee of Sole Folks as the retail manager and has helped guide the company since its inception. She is a current resident of Leimert Park.
Marc Byers is a seasoned connector and veteran problem solver in the entertainment industry. With over two decades of experience solidifying deals, connecting individuals to create hit records, cultivating superstar talent, and identifying opportunities many had overlooked. Marc's experience as a Motown General Manager and Industry Execut
Marc Byers is a seasoned connector and veteran problem solver in the entertainment industry. With over two decades of experience solidifying deals, connecting individuals to create hit records, cultivating superstar talent, and identifying opportunities many had overlooked. Marc's experience as a Motown General Manager and Industry Executive cultivated him a reputation for making influential moves in the industry. As an active advisor to AMP Global, Marc Byers is responsible for identifying, and creating innovative partnerships in both Hollywood and emerging markets. Marc brings strong industry and artist relationships with an eye for talent. He has a proven history of building the black community up through his efforts in Hollywood and seeks to parlay this skill set to support the efforts of BOOCLT.
Chace Infinite, founder of Agency 78 and Harun Coffee, as well as artist, longtime friend and business associate of the A$AP Mob and “a big brother to all of us” according to A$AP Rocky.
Over a long career, he’s been an L.A. rapper, worked with A$AP Rocky and currently manages the Buffalo-based rap collective Griselda, which includes Westside Gunn and Benny the Butcher.
President and Chairman of CORE Los Angeles and Founder of Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
The Congress of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA) is a successor to the Chicago based Civil Rights CORE organization founded in 1942 by the late James Farmer, and a group of Quaker pacifists to launch an aggressive assault on nationwi
President and Chairman of CORE Los Angeles and Founder of Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
The Congress of Racial Equality of California (CORE-CA) is a successor to the Chicago based Civil Rights CORE organization founded in 1942 by the late James Farmer, and a group of Quaker pacifists to launch an aggressive assault on nationwide racial injustice during World War II. CORE immediately became one of the big three organizations in the Civil Rights movement that changed America in the 20th Century. CORE’s original predecessor Agency was the most aggressive of all three and the first to use non-violence. It was CORE that invented the Freedom Rides and the Sit-ins in the 40’s and 50’s. It was CORE that first brought non-violence into the Montgomery Bus Boycott that would be led by Dr. King.
It was the CORE vanguard of Freedom Fighters such as Schwerner, Goodman and Chaney and Viola Liuzzo, whose work in the Southern Voter Registration mid-century wars who braved arrests, beatings and even sacrificed their lives in the 1950’s and 60’s. In the North we focused on securing Equal Employment Opportunity and access to Fair Housing and Equal Education at all levels. While we helped achieve creation of Federal and State Agencies to pursue Fair Housing, Equal Employment and Education, CORE-CA continues to monitor their effectiveness while maintaining the lead ourselves in the struggle to combat Abuse of Police Authority and Education as a Civil Right for our youth.
CORE-CA today also leads in the critical struggle to eliminate rising tensions between Black and Hispanic youths. CORE-CA is engaged in research on the definition of Race and elimination of tensions. CORE-CA today places a heavy emphasis on building self-esteem and the nurturing of test taking ability among African American Cohort students who have become increasingly excluded from admission to College and University and 21st century jobs and business development opportunities. In these regards CORE-CA collaborates with all elements of the public and private sector to achieve these goals.
Charity Chandler-Cole is the CEO of CASA/LA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth impacted by the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems. Born and raised in Los Angeles and having harshly endured its child welfare and juvenile justice systems, she has spent over a decade helping to influence and impact social structures, policies
Charity Chandler-Cole is the CEO of CASA/LA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for youth impacted by the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems. Born and raised in Los Angeles and having harshly endured its child welfare and juvenile justice systems, she has spent over a decade helping to influence and impact social structures, policies and systems that have negatively and disproportionately impacted and oppressed foster youth and vulnerable communities. Charity works passionately to address the issues and challenges plaguing our communities, women and youth and uses her powerful story of redemption and triumph to inspire people under the mantra, “If Charity can do it, then so can I.” Charity believes strongly in changing the narrative and outcomes surrounding system impacted individuals and uses her many platforms to engage, educate, develop and empower people from all walks of life to be change agents, visionaries, and successful agents of society, regardless of their upbringing or past.
In addition to leading CASA/LA Charity serves in several highly impactful positions, including her role as Commissioner with LA County Children & Families, where she is co-chair of its Racial Justice Committee, and recently received her Doctorate’s Degree in Educational Leadership for Social Justice at her Alma mater, Loyola Marymount University.
Co-Chair, Leimert Park Village Stakeholders Member
Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Council
Johnnie Raines III has lived in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles for most of his 70 years. For Raines, the neighborhood looks very much like it did when he was a child, and he would like to keep it that way.
“If I walk do
Co-Chair, Leimert Park Village Stakeholders Member
Empowerment Congress West Area Neighborhood Council
Johnnie Raines III has lived in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles for most of his 70 years. For Raines, the neighborhood looks very much like it did when he was a child, and he would like to keep it that way.
“If I walk down 39th Street between Crenshaw and Arlington, it looks exactly as it did when I was 10 years old,” says Raines. “The same trees are there, the houses look the same, the community is still maintained exactly as it was.”
For Raines, Leimert Park may have withstood the test of time in a constantly evolving city, but outside pressures of change may be catching up to it. As Los Angeles continues to grow, the rising cost of living elsewhere makes affordable neighborhoods like Leimert Park an attractive place for people to buy property.
As more affluent residents start to move in, not only does the cost of living slowly creep up for people unable to afford it, but change affects the cultural dynamics of the neighborhood. As a board member of the West Area Neighborhood Council and a co-chair of the Southwest Community-Police Advisory Board, Raines knows change is a part of living in Los Angeles and a capitalistic society, but he wants those changes balanced with a level of humanity.
“We’ve had some success in saying, ‘OK, we understand what you’re doing, however, that’s not right,” says Raines, referring to how he handles landlords raising rent prices so quickly that it prices out lower-income people. “Recognizing you as a property owner, you have an investment, you have every right to maximize that; however, in this community we have a certain amount of moral turpitude that says, ‘Let’s see what we can work out, let’s see how everybody can be happy.’”
As a retired aerospace industry worker with several engineering degrees, Raines spends most of his time in neighborhood service opportunities. He volunteers at a middle school and serves in a program that matches fatherless boys with male role models. Even though every community in Los Angeles faces challenges, including Leimert Park’s rising cost of living and homeless population, Raines says he doesn’t “allow any concerns or issues to impact my day.”
But despite the positive attitude, Raines does not want Leimert Park to be swallowed up by Los Angeles’ continual change.
He says he would like to see “the community that I live in at 70 years old look exactly like it did when I was 10 years old. I would like for people to be able to say that and understand the community still has the same warmth, the same style, the same feeling for that long.”
As to why the neighborhood not changing is important for Raines?
“Because I have been able to experience it,” he said. “And it really feels good.”
Ms. Esche Jackson, Vice Chair LA COunty Board of Supervisors at Large
Esché Jackson is an advocate and consultant, offering years of diverse experience building and servicing communities, evaluating systems, and providing strategic guidance to c-suite executives and leaders across the local government, private and non-profit sectors. Esch
Ms. Esche Jackson, Vice Chair LA COunty Board of Supervisors at Large
Esché Jackson is an advocate and consultant, offering years of diverse experience building and servicing communities, evaluating systems, and providing strategic guidance to c-suite executives and leaders across the local government, private and non-profit sectors. Esché serves as Vice Chair of the Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Commission, HR Professional & Operations Manager at Yorn Levine et al. Law Firm, and Board Member of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. Her professional philosophy is that the more people-centered the approach, the healthier the organization and outcomes are.
Esché is a proud Leimert Park native who sees the region as a locus of opportunity, promise, and cultural wealth. As the neighborhood transforms, she becomes more invested in protecting its identity and ensuring that African Americans responsible for shaping the community sustain ownership, equity, and inclusion.
A two-time USC graduate (most recently earning a Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy), she endeavors to positively impact institutional policies and practices while ending systemic injustices toward disadvantaged populations and promoting education.
Rene Fisher-Mims is a community leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist and educator in Leimert Park for over 30 years. Originally from Watts, Mims is a fundamental pillar at The World Stage and in Leimert Park. As a musician and songwriter - Mims has facilitated traditional African Diaspora Music programming, as well as other genres to cura
Rene Fisher-Mims is a community leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist and educator in Leimert Park for over 30 years. Originally from Watts, Mims is a fundamental pillar at The World Stage and in Leimert Park. As a musician and songwriter - Mims has facilitated traditional African Diaspora Music programming, as well as other genres to curate a multifaceted environment for learning through the arts. Over the course of her life, Mims has dedicated her time and expertise to building community through the arts.
Rene Fisher-Mims established S.H.I.N.E. MUWASI (in the hands of God), with an intent & purpose to spread the knowledge of West African Drum culture to women in the community. With a vision of healing, empowering, caring, and inspiring women to play the instruments of their African descent, SHINE wishes to pass on the wisdom to those who desire to gain awareness of this culture through teaching, and performing in different areas. Performances for concerts, black history programs, churches, shows, and private parties are many tools used by SHINE in an effort to show the wonderful joy of women drummers and musicians.
The owner of All Chill, Genelle Brooks-Petty, mixed her passion for the sweet treat with her connection to the community.
“It’s a little piece of joy. Little reflections of the culture that they live with and find happiness in all of those pieces,” said Brooks-Petty.
She is a fourth-generation Leimert Park resident. After meeting her husban
The owner of All Chill, Genelle Brooks-Petty, mixed her passion for the sweet treat with her connection to the community.
“It’s a little piece of joy. Little reflections of the culture that they live with and find happiness in all of those pieces,” said Brooks-Petty.
She is a fourth-generation Leimert Park resident. After meeting her husband, Julian Petty, at Howard University, they decided to raise their family here. Brooks-Petty noticed they had to keep leaving the neighborhood for something as simple as ice cream. So, even though she’s an interior designer by trade and Petty an attorney for Warner Music, they decided to make their busy lives even busier.
It doesn’t end here. All Chill is technically still in its pop-up phase. Right now, the husband and wife duo is building a kitchen on-site and will have a permanent set up, hopefully by the summer. They want people in the Leimert Park community and beyond to taste their fresh ice cream and partake in cultural conversations.
“Get something that makes them feel happy and that they find something interesting or someone interesting to engage with while here,” said Brooks-Petty.
Bryant "B. True" Anderson is a diversity, equity and inclusion project manager, business owner and profesional dancer. "I am a representative of impoverished communities everywhere adn my mission is to help educate and elevate my people"
Bryant is the owner of Leimert Park's very own "Kicks B Clean" shop. Where he sells shoe cleaning product and details shoes.
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