Compassionate CA - Supporting Black Lives, Migrant Youth, Compassionate Cops

Compassionate California’s #CompassionInAction artists, working with others for peace and justice, grew out of our Compassion in Action Youth Summit in Los Angeles in October 2016. This summit, chaired by Fe Love and Carol Salazar Loweree with the help of other CC Team members, was designed to support Black Lives and Migrant youth, compassionate cops, artists and community leaders in compassionate leadership.

We share the goal of the Compassionate California’s main nonprofit sponsor, the EarthWays Foundation in promoting a sustainable future and action for the earth and humanity. We ARE all connected. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS AND BIOS OF SPEAKERS/YOUTH MENTORS BELOW!

NEW: July 4th, 2017 – Free event in Sacramento. We are taking 7 Posts from the Summit to Sacramento on July 4th, for “InterDependence Day” from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, hosted by Compassionate Capitol Region. We are “Compassionate California/Posts for Peace and Justice Project,” a Community Partner!

We will be making a collaborative Post commemorating the day of coming together with compassion and peace and including those attending. More info at dayofpeace.me@gmail.com – partners with us in Sacramento include: The Shift Network, Compassionate Capitol Region, Unity of Sacramento, InterFaith Council, Women for Equality, SAC IONS, UNA-USA, Rose Gardens/World Peace.

10 volunteers are going to Sacramento representing Compassionate California/Posts for Peace and Justice! On our CC Team:: Sande Hart, Carla Baldassari, Fe Love, Dr. Jennifer Colby, Lora O’Conner, Jo Ann Gaines, Kira Carrillo Corser

and PPJ Artists: Robin Powell, Lazaro Peña, Marisa O’Connor Iglesias, and Branham Rendlen)

Compassionate ARTS In ACTION. In October of 2016, we produced a youth summit: Compassion In ACTION. Where we gathered Law Enforcement and Black Lives; convening our community’s youth for
critical dialogue and partnership on how to become more effective compassionate leaders. This event was designed to educate, empower and listen to youth and community leaders, police and artists. Visual artists included: Aldonia R Bailey,Robin Robi Powell,Heather Hilliard-Bonds, Kira Carrillo Corser, Sergio Sanchez, and Paula Martinez at the Summit, and Deanne Thune, Maria Kostelas, Jo Ann Gaines, Marisa O’Connor Iglesias and Patricia Frischer

At the Compassion In Action: Youth Summit (ages 13-25), 80 of our Los Angeles community’s youth of various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and different faiths came together for critical dialogue and partnership on how to become more effective compassionate leaders.  The event was designed to educate, empower and encourage compassionate dialogue and collaboration between concerned youth with their community leaders at all levels, including leaders from Black Lives Matter, law enforcement, elected officials, and others.

Providing interactive educational presentations, and empowering and artistic collaborations, all while engaging in a compassionate dialogue for effective and lasting change the Posts for Peace & Justice project facilitated collaborative, hands-on workshops resulting in 7completed 8 ft. “Posts” relevant to event themes, which are starting to exhibit and “posted” in social media.

Our Panelists and Mentors

Nason Buchanan
Born on the Southside of Chicago and raised in Gary, Indiana, Nason’s purpose and goal is to empower youth and their families, he has become a dedicated and influential man of service in Los Angeles. Since 2011 Buchanan has lead within the GRYD office facilitating various initiatives including the city’s Gun Buy Back program and President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative. He is also the Mayor’s Office lead for the Domestic Violence initiative across the city. More..

Sariyah Idan Sariyah Idan is a New York bred and Los Angeles based singer-songwriter-MC, actor-playwright, and educator rooted in the practice of poetry who is committed to the dignity and self determination of all people. She has facilitated Poetry to Performance workshops at teen art centers and detention facilities in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her EP Deeper Than Skin was hailed by Fusicology as “powerful, soulful, spirited songs filled with stories of joy, struggle, love and social justice”. The Jewish Daily Forward reviewed her poetic documentary solo theater show about identity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict HOMELESS IN HOMELAND: “Idan boldly, but never recklessly, confronts these simmering issues with sensitivity, intelligence and an over-abundance of talent”. More

Captain III Jorge R. Rodriguez was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department in November 1987, and after successfully completing his Police Academy training, he was assigned to Rampart Area where he worked a variety of assignments which included patrol, gangs, foot beats, special problems unit and eventually as a senior lead officer. Over the years, he has not only worked a variety of patrol divisions such as North Hollywood, Northeast, and Southeast, but also Metropolitan Division where he remained as an element member until he was awarded his next promotion. While at Metropolitan Division, both as an officer and a
supervisor, he had the opportunity to have worked every single
patrol division within the City of Los Angeles.

John Silvers, actor, singer/songwriter and Los Angeles native, and whose father, In 1964, was L.A Chapter Leader of CORE (The Congress of Racial Equality) and worked directly with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In later years, Arthur was president of the NAACP (Santa Fe N.M Chapter) and created his own organization for non-violence, called Peace Acts. John holds an MFA in Classical Acting from the University of Delaware and a Graduate of the Professional Theater Academy at Los Angeles City College.

Willie Macc
You may have seen Willie Macc on TV episodes and movies such as CSI, Journeyman, Meet the Spartans and commercials such as Kia, Residence Inn, Applebee’s and was the face of “Pump”, a bottled water brand, in New Zealand. Willie Macc has come a long way as a member of young black Hollywood since first becoming known to a national television audience as the funny man on BET’s extremely popular College Hill Virgin Islands. He has become one of the few Reality TV stars to make the transition from Reality TV to that of a working actor in Hollywood.
Willie Macc also invests in foreclosed properties in St Louis and flips them. Willie Macc is also a part of the Van Nuys, CA City Council Outreach program and was recognized by Assemblyman Adrian Nazarian for his dedication in empowering the youth within the community. More…

Rev. Carolyn Wilkins is an Ambassador of Peace with a global message of dignity, justice, compassion and inclusion.
Rev. Carolyn is founder of PeaceNet, a voice for women, president of Inspirational Consulting, and chair of the Culver City Area Interfaith Alliance. She is a staff minister, on the Leadership Council, and director of the GlobalWorks Ministry of Agape International Spiritual Center, promoting love and peace in the world.

Captain III Cory Palka Hollywood Division. Captain Cory Palka is a 30-year veteran of the LAPD. In March 2016, Captain Palka returned to Hollywood Area as the Commanding Officer for his fourth tour in Hollywood since 1988. Captain Palka
comes to Hollywood from 77th Street Area, Operations-South Bureau, where he was assigned as the Area Commanding Officer, from Summer 2014 through March 2016. In June of 2013, Cory Palka was promoted to police captain and
assigned to Hollywood Area, an assignment suited for a man with a passion and talent for cultivating strong relationships within both the community and the Department. Captain Palka’s
relationship-based policing style, combined with his solid rapport
with community groups and government leaders, has created an
environment where community members and business owners thrive to their fullest potentials. He brings to the table energy,
engagement and experience.

Marrissa Pei, PhD. . an Inspirational Speaker, TV Commentator, On-Air Personality ‘the Asian Oprah’, Consulting Psychologist, Author, Life Balance Coach, Singer/Songwriter and Global Thought Leader. Dr. Marissa’s speaking, coaching, TV, Radio and Media work has been recognized with many honors including the 2014 Asian Heritage Award Best in Entrepreneurship, 2014 Lotus Award for Business Person of the Year, 2012 Asian Entrepreneur of the Year, 2007 Remarkable Woman of the Year, 2005 Role Model of the Year in Business and Media. These awards along with her many past Oprah guests on her talk radio show has earned her the honorable moniker ‘the Asian Oprah‘!
More…

Nick Ferguson After leaving the inner city of Miami, to pursue my dreams of Playing in the NFL, I wouldn’t have imagined the journey it would have carried me on….Growing up in the inner city of Miami has presented me with many obstacles to overcome. No matter how bleak things might have looked or what odds might have been stacked against me. One thing is for sure, I never stop fighting for what I want. I went from a college walk-on at Morris Brown College to a scholarship student-athlete at Georgia Tech, because it was imperative for me to display my athletic abilities on a large platform. More…

Kira Carrillo Corser serves as one of seven Chief Compassion Officers and is part of the planning committee for the Compassion In Action Youth Summit. Kira is an award winning artist with over 20 years experience. a Masters in Fine Art, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism with several documentary films and books, 10 years at PBS and national showings including the Smithsonian, Congress and Senate Buildings, and other sites in 19 states. Currently, she writes curriculum, plans national projects, and teaches K-12 and university level arts classes. She specializes in community projects, often connecting local leaders with schools, libraries, Boys and Girls Clubs, and refugee and immigrant groups. Her main focus is www.PostsForPeaceAndJustice.org.

Saaliha Khan is a proud Angeleno who studied Government, and Justice and Peace Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Saaliha currently works as the Government and Community Relations Manager at the Northeast Valley Health Corporation, and formerly worked as the Communications and Project Manager at NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change, housed with the LA City Human Relations Commission. She is currently an advisory board member of NewGround’s Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change (MAJIC) High School Leadership Program and serves as the Youth Group Coordinator at the Islamic Society of West Valley. Saaliha is a passionate bridge-builder who seeks to lead a life of service, foster transformative change and empower communities.

Michael “Bing Bing” Taylor is an artist and former foster youth from Pasadena, CA. An advocate of tha local arts, Bing Bing has also made community outreach and volunteering a part of his life mission. In 2013, Bing Bing made a ‘One Million foot’ commitment for causes and charity where he would accumulate miles of walking for various causes, charities, values, and principles. In late 2015, Bing Bing fulfilled his commitment and has inspired other local artists to take tha pledge. Bing Bing is on a mission to make a difference by being a positive role model for his peers. “Because if we’re going to do anything, we’re going to demonstrate good things. Why wouldn’t we?” –More…

Pastor Eddie Anderson is a passionate preacher who has been blessed to inspire those on the journey of faith from diverse backgrounds and across generations. In addition to Sunday sermons, Pastor Eddie has preached at camps, conferences, and revivals. His central message is the broken body of the sacred can be mended because God is calling each of us towards lives of creativity, liberation, and wholeness.To this end, Pastor Eddie has constantly fought for the justice and wholeness of his fellow humanity through his various leadership positions and organizational involvement. He has worked with political campaigns, schools, and community development initiatives to motivate passions, organize strategy and navigate inequality. Currently he serves as the Senior Pastor at McCarty Memorial Christian Church in the West Adams District and is an active clergy ally of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Pastor Eddie serves on three non-profit boards in LA and holds degrees from Morehouse College and Claremont School of Theology.

Ayo Adeyemi
Ayo is an IFA Priest and Master Drummer. Ayo ran the Yoruba Center founded to unite L.A. after the Rodney King Uprising in 1992, which continued for 18 years. He previously toured the United States with Baba Olatunji’s Drums of Passion. Recently he has been visiting California State Prisons, teaching drumming and chanting. He has also performed at numerous museums and universities in California and throughout the Southwest. Lyn Pestana is a recently Retired MD. Lyn worked as an HIV, Addiction and Emergency Doctor, and assists Ayo teaching drums at various State Prisons. Ayo & Lyn work under the auspices of the West African Cultural Foundation.

Fe Love Child is one of seven Chief Compassion Officers at Compassionate California and Chair of the Compassion in Action Youth Summit. She is the host and creator of the Artist Eclectic pLAygROUND, a “pop-up” event space that supports new as well as established artists and innovative entrepreneurs primarily in the Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles area. She is an activist/producer and creator of the MOJ:Murder or Justice Project, a drama series that focuses on the defense of battered women who retaliate against their abusers. The women depicted in the series are facing or receiving harsh capital punishment. She is also a trained actress from CalArts. Felecia Lenee is a healer and a licensed massage therapist with a focus on energy balancing. Recently, Felecia Lenee was hospitalized with an autoimmune illness, that left her paralyzed in a wheelchair for three months. Inspired by her own personal recovery story, she has returned to the stage performing “motivational” stand-up comedy and spoken word. Felecia is very passionate about the arts and inspiring others to feel comfortable expressing their true voice.

Sande Hart is one of the core founders of Compassionate California and has been actively supporting the compassionate cities campaigns with the Charter for Compassion since 2009 around the United States and Canada. Sande serves as the lead organizer for the Charter for Compassion Women and Girls sector, Past Chair for the United Religions Initiative for North America, Founder and President of the women’s interfaith organization S.A.R.A.H. (Spiritual And Religious Alliance for Hope), Youth Empowerment Coach for ages 9-99 and deeply engaged in stewarding a culture of compassion by addressing our world’s safety-net issues and responding with social impact and sustainable change. She lives with her husband in Orange County and is the mother to 2 amazing adults.

Carol Salazar Loweree serves the Compassionate California Leadership as one of seven Chief Compassion Officers and part of the planning committee for the Compassion In Action Youth Summit. Carol graduated from Wilson High School in East LA and soon found her calling as a school teacher. After teaching for twenty years, Carol retired in 2005 to pursue her goal of helping at-risk kids. In 2006 she founded Family Improvement Through Education (FITE), providing tutoring for children and seminars for parents on education, parenting and character building. In 2016 Carol became President of Happy House, a non-profit founded by Nancy Cartwright, that gives parents and children the practical tools they need to succeed in life. And, despite her full schedule, since 2012 Carol has given more than 200 drug-education seminars, with over 20,000 children pledging to be drug free.