RENWL

Can we say how proud we are to know Lisa Powell? We met her at the very first Camp Courage for Courage Campaign in West Hollywood last January. It feels like a thousand years ago—seems like we’ve been through so much trudging this crazy equality road together. She is one of our mentors, a co-conspirator, and frankly just one helluva funny sista. We’ve shed many tears together through laughter.

Lisa has an extraordinarily rare gift of keeping the peace, bringing the calm, fostering the trust and moving forward in steady progress the whole time. She is indeed part community activist, part parent, part therapist, part drama killer, part visionary, part comedian, part sentinel—and all black woman. Truly she is a gift to not just the local African American LGBT community—but to the entire LGBT community here on the West Coast. Rick Jacobs ought to get on his hands and knees thanking the good Lord everyday for her association with the Courage Campaign. We jus’ sayin.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010, Lisa will be speaking at Cal State Northridge. The event (free by the way) is co-sponsored by various university departments and student clubs including the Center for Ethics and Values, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies Student Association, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance, Queer Studies Program, Queer Studies Student Association and the Women’s Research and Resource Center.

For more info on how to get a seat—and you should do that like—now–here’s the Facebook page for the event: A Conversation with Lisa Powell

But wait! There’s more. The sistas are busy! How many folks knew Jasmyne Cannick served as a producer for a recent documentary about the Black Panthers in Los Angeles? Yep, she sho’ did. And the film won’t shut down. Meaning the film just had screenings at the Pan African Film Festival. But do to overwhelming demand it returns with a limited engagement March 26 through April 1 at the Culver Plaza Theatres in Culver City.

“41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers” is the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise.

We want to drop a few words about Jasmyne Cannick: We can honestly say there is NO ONE we know of who has demonstrated a dog-vicious unyielding commitment to the overall black community like Cannick. So much so that we seek consultation from her and only her on issues we’re undecided about in regards to the black community and black LGBTs. We don’t always agree, but we have to hand it to her, the sista loves loves loves her people and her community. So much so that some black LGBTs resent her for it. We don’t. But then again, we’ve never exclusively dated white folks. Quiet as it’s kept, we’ve found that it is those black LGBTs who seem to have the biggest ax to grind with Cannick. A mere observation. Make of it what you will.

Here’s the trailer for 41st & Central:

For more information on the upcoming Culver Plaza Theatre screenings go to this link: Black Panther Documentary Gets Limited Engagement in Los Angeles Mar. 26-Apr.1

To join the film’s Facebook fan page go here: 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers

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