47th ANNUAL WATTS SUMMER FESTIVAL HOSTS PRE-FESTIVAL FORUM TO ALLOW HEALING AFTER ZIMMERMAN ACQUITTAL

“Mental Health and Violence – Restoring Our Communities.”

By James Bolden

LOS ANGELES – Like most who watched television news in shock as the small disturbance in Leimert Park overshadowed a larger peaceful protest of the George Zimmerman acquittal, members of the Professional Community Intervention Training Institute (P.C.I.T.I.) Leadership Team were not surprised to see one of their interventionists breaking up fights between unsupervised youth. 

“We are trained to respond to a crisis, not to run away from it,” said Barbara Jett, sharing her experience with an audience attending “Mental Health and Violence – Restoring Our Communities,” a weekend community forum hosted by organizers of the historic Watts Summer Festival. The P.C.I.T.I. voluntarily patrolled the Crenshaw District following the disturbance.

Joining Jet on the panel were fellow P.C.I.T.I. Leadership Team members Nikko Deloney and Reno Williams and Doctors Lisa Bolden, Psy.D. and Rick Williamson, Ph.D., from the Emmada Psychology Center. The private practice specializes in providing culturally sensitive mental health services. The panel offered insight on how the community can empower itself and direct its anger in a more positive use.

The need to openly discuss racial prejudice and stereotyping has never been greater, as the Florida jury’s decision reignited the national debate. Over the past weeks, marches and protests have taken place in California and throughout the nation.

 “Racism and discrimination does not have to be overt to be damaging,” said Dr. Rick Williamson, who described how the everyday verbal, nonverbal or environmental slights can harm one’s psychological well-being.

Most area residents were disgusted by the display of out-of-control-youth rampaging through the Crenshaw District, in what many peaceful protesters described as an opportunity to terrorize the community. But while the anger is understood and venting is needed, many at the weekend forum stated that they must learn to express their feelings without resulting to violence.

The Watts Summer Festival facilitated the forum as part of its pre-festival activities for the annual event which kicks off this weekend at Ted Watkins Park. The event grew out of the 1965 Watts Revolt and was conceived in 1966 by members of the Watts’ community.

The P.C.I.T.I. can be reached on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/PCITI-Worldwide/407155025976110. The Emmada Psychology Center can be reached by visiting http://emmadapsych.com.

Iconic “history making” photojournalist Haywood Galbreath

Last Sunday I attended an extremely exciting photography exhibit at the The Museum of African American Art, located inside Macy's Department Store, featuring my friend Haywood Galbreath.

As I entered the showroom I was dismayed the room was not standing room only, as many empty seats faced me, but this quickly changed as everyone arrived together, and the once empty seats gave way and filled quickly. The young man volunteering at the museum brought out every available folding chair which were filled as quickly as brought out, and before Haywood began speaking, the room was indeed standing room only.

I met Haywood last year through a mutual friend, James Bolden, and James appears to know everyone and is very active in the community, always positive and happy to see people. My attraction to Mr. Galbreath was immediate as I learned how he mentors children in photography every year from Inglewood High School, my hero's are those that help others, which Haywood fits specifically into, a genuine hero. 

Mr. Galbreath's photography collection will be on display from April 14th through June 30th, 2013.

Visit the 3rd floor of Macy's at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles

	Thursday - Sunday 12 noon - 5 pm
	Monday - Wednesday CLOSED

From Haywood Galbreath:

   

Thanks for coming to the historic photo exhibit opening of “my choice of weapons through the lens history and moments captured “

I want to thank everyone who took time out Sunday to come to the opening of the historic photo exhibit “my choice of weapons: through the lens history and moments” I received word from the museum that it was a very successful opening! And that was made possible by all of you who came out to spend your afternoon with us! I hope you were not disappointed with what you saw reference to history making images and my comments.

Several of my friends saw a different side of me yesterday! Yes I am a man on a mission that I feel was ordained by God! We have much work to do for ourselves and for those who come after us and I’m bound and determined to level the playing field so that young people of color as well as people of color as a whole can enjoy all they should be able to enjoy being American citizens!

I would appreciate if you would go out and encourage others to attend the exhibit and purchase images so that the money can be used to purchase equipment to teach young people of color the very rewarding careers of photojournalism, photography and broadcasting and we can make a change for the better in young lives! We can we must and I sincerely hope we will!

I made some new friends yesterday several of you are in the profession of media in the weeks to come let’s try and build network and move ourselves and others forward!

Thank you,
-Iconic “history making” photojournalist Haywood Galbreath-

My choice of weapons photo exhibit

Haywood GoldenEagle Galbreath

My choice of weapons photo exhibit highlighted on Fox 11 television Sunday 9:00 A.M.

Well! It’s official the show has been shot and airs Sunday April 14 at 9:00 AM on Fox 11. Would like to thank Tony Valdez and Fox television for the opportunity to discuss my photo exhibit and highlight some of my history making images.

If you get an opportunity once again the show is “midday Sunday” comes on at 9:00 AM on Fox 11. Pictured is Tony Valdez and myself after the taping and yes I was quite comfortable in the anchor chair and that is another one of my careers!

- Iconic “History making” Photo/Journalist Haywood Galbreath-

The lesser of two evils!

Haywood Galbreath, Sherita Herring, and James Bolden
Photo Credit: Lisa Bolden

By Haywood Galbreath

For all of you out there! Who have criticized the president of United States Obama! Said he has not done enough to help the people and the economy! Says that he is not an American and wants to destroy the American way! Says he is evil!

There’s another individual running for the presidency of the United States his name is Mitt Romney! Mitt Romney belongs to the party that basically has destroyed this nation! By all indications Mitt Romney does not truly care about the working class people and will try his best to put him and his friends at an even greater financial position off the backs of the middle class than they already are at! You can say this man and the party that he belongs to is evil!

Therefore if you’re saying that Obama is evil! And we know that by all indications that the Republican Party and Mitt Romney are evil!

Yet Obama has tried the help the American people! You would be wise! The go with the lesser of those two evils! Obama! Unless you just really ready to have pure evil run America! –HG--

Minority Photo Journalism Institute

As many of you know or have guessed I’m a photography buff, and attend any event or display of photography. On Sunday James Bolden invited me to the Minority Photo Journalism Institute photography program, featuring the work of Inglewood High School students. The mentor of the students is the famous presidential photographer Haywood Galbreath, and after viewing the children’s artwork it’s easy to see they have a great mentor. Unfortunately my camera was taken without my knowledge, and I felt naked visiting the event with no camera but my Droid cell phone, which takes rather poor quality photos.

James Bolden has additional photographs here.

Edward meets student Isaiah Jamerson

Student Davarius Brown

Haywood Galbreath, Sherita Herring, and James Bolden Photo Credit: Lisa Bolden