I was really moved by this article I saw about African America journalist Kevin Weston's fight for his life. A new father who works for New America Media in Oakland, Mr. Weston was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer, and requires a bone marrow transplant. His time is very limited (doctors originally gave him 2 weeks to live) and his only chance is to find a matching donor.

The article says "Marrow matches are ethnically based and depend on one’s genetic makeup. Weston is African…

Trader Joe's Wants to Know if We Want a Store in Our Neighborhood

Sylvia Lacy from Herb Wesson's office contacted my neighbor, Norman Gilmore to let him know that Trader Joe's has expressed interest in putting in a store at Crenshaw & Rodeo. (Ralph's will be leaving that location when redevelopment starts, and isn't planning to come back.)

Norman is the Secretary on United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council (…

Last weekend my family went to see THUNDER SOUL.  Presented by Jamie Foxx, this joyful movie follows the extraordinary alumni from Houston’s storied Kashmere High School Stage Band, who return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for the 92-year-old “Prof,” their beloved band leader who broke the color barrier and transformed the school’s struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.

This is an…

If you're interested in education reform in our area, this editorial in the LA Times is informative"

"Marlene Romero watched with growing anxiety as her 8-year-old son suffered through third grade at McKinley Elementary School in Compton. She was unhappy with his progress and felt trapped at a failing school. Then, taking advantage of a state law that allows parents to band together and demand change, she signed a petition: "I did it for a better education for my son.""

Here's…