You’re Invited to the YWCA 11th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast

The Pasadena MLK Community Coalition is pleased to invite you to support the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley’s 11th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast. Last year, 550 of Pasadena’s community leaders gathered to honor the National Hispanic Media Coalition for its accomplishments in helping advance American Latino employment and programming equity throughout the entertainment industry. Guests had the pleasure of hearing from Dolores Huerta, lifelong advocate for women’s equality, immigration rights, and social justice causes. On Monday, October 21, 2013, the YWCA will hold its 11th Annual Women for Racial Justice Breakfast at the Pasadena Hilton Hotel from 7:30 to 9:30 am.

This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Annalisa Enrile, PhD, who brings awareness to social issues in the Filipino-American community, and has been a vocal activist against human trafficking and violence against women. Our 2013 Racial Justice Award recipient will be Jacqueline Jacobs, PhD. Dr. Jacobs has served as Co-Chair of the Pasadena City College President’s African American Advisory Committee, and is currently the President of the Pasadena Martin Luther King Community Coalition. We are thrilled to present her with the Racial Justice Award this year!

Can we count on your support this year?

Simply pledge or purchase by August 31 and your name (or the name you designate) will be listed on the invitation and program as a:

    •Community Benefactor ($800 if paid before September 30, $900 thereafter): Table of 10 and two tickets to the 2014 Women’s Leadership & Networking Day

    •Community Advocate ($600 if paid before September 30, $700 thereafter): Table of 10

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Should filling your 10 seats pose a challenge, the YWCA can help; you have the option of donating any number of seats back for community members served by its programs.

The Women for Racial Justice Breakfast continues to be a unique, inspirational community event because the YWCA continues to be an innovative and cutting edge organization in its empowerment of women and girls in our community. Please save the date and reply by email or phone regarding your reservation, or make your purchase online. If you have questions, please contact Jessica Kubel at the YWCA: (626) 296-8433 or by email at [email protected].

Talent Wins the Race: More 2013 Winning Campuses

As we near the finish of the spring semester and our academic year 2013, we celebrate with some more of the schools where winners of this year’s contests raise the bar of talent and achievement!
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Our elementary division winner for the Essay Contest, 5th grader Kacie Ossmen and Principal Mrs. Esther Salinas!

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At Eliot Middle School, only winners report to the principals office! We salute you!  The beautiful Altadena campus of Eliot Middle School managed and inspired by an inspired staff.
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Sierra Madre Elementary School

Sierra Madre School has a stellar history of winners in the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition Essay and Art contest.

New Literary Festival Descends upon Pasadena May 11

Southern California is not so much a region known for showcasing the literary arts as it is the heart and soul of Hollywood. But in recent years, high-profile book festivals such as The LA Times Festival of Books, along with a number of other writer-specific celebrations have descended upon SoCal. Another, new event will take place in Pasadena, California on Saturday, May 11 from 10am-5pm. It is LitFest Pasadena 2.0 and will bring some of our area’s more diverse groundbreaking writers and performance artists to the stage. In addition, there is a writing contest open to local aspiring writers. Check it out here.

It is LitFest Pasadena and here is how the organizers describe the event:

LitFest Pasadena 2.0 will feature more than 75 authors, storytellers, performers, and exhibitors for a day that will explore an eclectic mix of subjects such as Southern California surf culture, local history, children’s and young adult literature, and more. Confirmed guests include:

JONATHAN GOLD, Pulitzer-Prize winning Los Angeles Times food critic, in conversation with the “626 Foodettes.”

REYNA GRANDE, American Book Award winner for “Across a Hundred Mountains,” speaking as a member of a panel exploring Latino literature.

KATE DURBIN, Los Angeles-based writer, performer, and founding editor of the online journal “Gaga Stigmata,” performing on and off stage.

HISTORY LIT, a project of the theater troupe Unbound Productions, performing a Harriet Beecher Stowe story.

ALAN BRENNERT, Emmy award-winning writer/producer of L.A. Law, speaking on a panel about his new novel.

BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER, a treasured Los Angeles institution for more than 50 years, presenting a children’s performance.
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More than 50 exhibitors will entice attendees with a variety of products, services, and activities. LitFest’s unbeatable price—free—and easy access (just steps from the Central Park Gold Line station) will make for a fantastic day for all!

National Day of Service 2013

In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this effort. Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.” Read more ant the National Day of Service website.

The Pasadena MLK Community Coalition has been participating in this event over the years by focusing on the Pasadena Unified School district to beautify campuses and enlist the help of school staff members to commemorate the day. This year, the Coalition focused on John Muir High School.

Even More Photos from the 2013 Awards Celebration…

Here are more photos from our January events…in time to celebrate Black History Month 2013. The Pasadena MLK Community Coalition would like to thank all our friends and guests for making each event memorable not only for the students, but for all of us who strive to see our community become a fair and just haven for all residents. The following collection of photos includes honored guests, family, friends and participants in the awards ceremony, Jan 21, 2013.

The following individuals are pictured: Mr. Scott Jenkins, Tournament of Roses President; John Kennedy, Senior VP LA Urban League; Ms. Phlunte Riddle, retired lieutenant, Pasadena PD; Mr. Anthony Portantino, former CA Assemblyman; Jenny Price, Director the All Saints Episcopal Church; Ms. Jasmine Colbert, Spoken Word Artist; Rev. Dr. James E. Stevenson; Dr. Sam Walker; Madison Elementary School Folklorico Dancers, Ms. Rosey Cortez Director; Dr. Sandra Thomas, Quality of Life Center; Dr. N. Benson, IMA; Pasadena City College Ujima Students; Joe Hopkins, Attorney and Publisher; Mr. Nat Nehdar, Chair, Pasadena Human Relations Commission; Jon Gundry, Superintendent PUSD; Honorable Mayor Bill Bogaard, Pasadena; Mr. Joe Brown, Pasadena NAACP; Dr. Mark Rocha, President, Pasadena City College; Pastor Patty O’Reilly, President, Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches; Ms. Renatta M. Cooper, LACO CAO; Mr. Wayne Burton, Dr. Jackie Jacobs and Dr. David Jacobs, Pasadena MLK Community Coalition