By Dianne Anderson Hundreds ventured out and packed the house for a rich collaboration of creative energy this month to understand what Juneteenth is all about, and how faith made it happen. At the center, the church proved a fitting backdrop as it was the only place where Blacks were historically allowed to gather, create, ...

By Dianne Anderson Health checks usually fall last on the list for many Black patients who are trying to steer clear of doctors who are culturally ignorant, or just don’t care. Either way, avoiding annual vital health checks, like diabetes, mammograms and prostate exams, colorectal tests, or other lifesaving blood work can be potentially dangerous. ...

By Dianne Anderson Tough-minded and resilient is how the Orange County community remembers Warren Bussey, so dedicated that he would give the shirt off his back and his last dime to anyone that asked, if needed. He had enough personality to light up the room, and his smile would make others smile. This is the ...

By Dianne Anderson Juneteenth events are buzzing everywhere this year, almost one on every corner, but Trudy Coleman remembers when her Pomona Valley event was the only option for miles and miles around. Until about the mid-1990s, for the most part it was a little-known celebration, except for its Texas roots. She and her colleague ...

By Dianne Anderson Less than a month away from the primary election and many voters aren’t paying attention to what’s in their mailbox, or maybe they don’t care – until it’s time for law and order. Somehow voters miss the connection between who’s running down ballot, like Superior Court Judge, and the real life implications ...

By Dianne Anderson Not everyone needs a food bank – yet. Poverty advocate Gregory Scott sees a huge increase in local need. He said that most of the population, in general, is feeling the pinch, even in Orange County where affluence abounds. “For those who of us don’t have a need for a food bank, ...

By Dianne Anderson Out in the collegiate expanse, Caryn Lewis-Bugg is certain that someone could use $1,000 or more scholarship dollars, but that’s not what she’s seeing in their annual competition. Judging by the slow response in applications, the organization is pushing its application date back to draw in more takers. She is sure someone ...

By Dianne Anderson Before Omicron, the big news this time last year was that COVID-19 looked under control, the numbers were dipping and freedom from masks and social gatherings seemed within reach. It didn’t play out like expected. For that reason, Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana and CalOptima continued outreach last Saturday for those ...

By Dianne Anderson Lifelong student debt and systemic barriers are just two reasons why a lot of Black students have been turning to education options outside of California, particularly the HBCUs This weekend, Ingrid Johnson is hosting a booth where many parents and scholars in her program will attend the 23rd Annual Los Angeles Black ...

By Dianne Anderson Black inventors, doctors, engineers and mathematicians have inspired and shaped the entire planet since the dawn of humankind, which was enough realization to spark a lifelong inspiration for history speaker Jamaal Brown. This month, Brown is hitting 13 events at schools and campuses across SoCal for Black History Month, including Santa Ana ...