Friday, March 29, 2024

Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project-Halfway There Community Celebration

Theo Sanders, Justo Almario and Dwight Trible
Theo Sanders, Justo Almario and Dwight Trible: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

*Los Angeles – Los Angeles Transit (Metro) officials held a community celebration as they approach the halfway mark on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project. The free family oriented event was held on Saturday, May 7th in Leimert Park Village, the cultural hub of the African American community.

The purpose of the celebration was a way for Metro officials to thank their neighbors and local businesses for their patience and continued support as Metro celebrate the halfway mark to construction completion; a major milestone!

A steady stream of people representing diverse communities took in the daylong celebration. The event featured welcome remarks from Los Angeles City Officials, Metro Board members and other community stakeholders.

The Halfway There Community Celebration featured a variety of inter-active, engaging, entertaining and educational activities throughout the day. Residents left the celebration with a better understanding of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, potential job prospects and small business opportunities with Metro to name a few.

An eclectic musical line-up of entertainment enthralled the crowd and me on the Main Stage. The program got underway with the Inglewood High School Marching Band, West Angeles Church of God in Christ Choir and Na’Kia Bell, Hashtag Contest Winner.

Viver Brasil with KAOS Network “Samba in the Streets’ gave us a glimpse into the wonderful, thunderous rhythms that will permeate the streets of Brasil during the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio.

Viver Brasil: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Viver Brasil: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Soul Children DJ’s Sacred and Al Jackson manned the ones and two’s to spend some funky, Global rhythms in between sets.

The Lula Washington Dance Theater graced the stage for a beautiful showcase of World class contemporary modern dances.

Lula Washington: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington Dance Theater: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington Dance Theater: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington Dance Theater: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Lula Washington Dance Theater: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

You probably noticed the seamless thread that binds the eclectic line-up during the Halfway There Community Celebration. This was quite evidence during the crowd pleasing set by Buyepongo. Their Pan-Latin sound takes its cues from traditional “roots” music of Colombia, Haiti, Belize, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. It is no wonder that their high-octane, infectious grooves causes people to move.

Buyepongo: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Buyepongo: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Buyepongo and Dancers: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Buyepongo and Dancers: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

The celebration continued with a set featuring royalty from Leimert Park Village. Kamau Daaood recited original spoken word with some up-tempo sounds of jazz.

Kamau Daaood: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Kamau Daaood: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

Dwight Trible is a singer who combines the best of vocal virtuosity with high caliber musicianship and improvisational skills that are awe inspiring to both audiences and musicians alike.

Dwight Trible: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Dwight Trible: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Theo Sanders, Justo Almario and Dwight Trible: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Theo Sanders, Justo Almario and Dwight Trible: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Dwight Trible Ensemble: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson
Dwight Trible Ensemble: Photo Credit, Ricky Richardson

This concluded my enjoyment of this fun-filled program at the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project. The program continued with a staple of Leimert Park Village, interactive drumming workshop led by Nikki Campbell and Kahlil Cummings.

Visit www.metro.net/crenshaw for more updates on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project.

Ricky Richardson is a Southern California based writer, music reviewer and photographer. Contact him via: [email protected]

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