Pathways To Your Future - Frontline Soldiers Awards Breakfast

Theme: “Where Were You when you were 18? Were you homeless?”

Greetings from
PATHWAYS TO YOUR FUTURE
Board Chair and the Board of Directors!

P athways To Your Future has experienced change and growth over this past year. PTYF engaged in
capacity building and as an outgrowth of capacity building, the Board of Directors and Dr. Micheal
Williams of Messiah’s Ministries & Services engaged in a very fruitful Strategic Planning Process.
The Strategic Plan was made possible with a grant from The John Burton Foundation.

The Strategic Plan took shape through an iterative process of facilitated group discussions, research, drafting,
and review. In completing this strategic planning process, PTYF has a consistent framework for articulating
our purpose, values, roles, objectives, strengths, and weaknesses. Our Strategic Plan provides a roadmap to a
future where the needs of our organization and our constituents are better served.

PTYF is now poised to not only continue its current operations, but also strategically develop comprehensive
supportive services and organizational capacity that will develop a one-stop state-of-art facility with sufficient
space to accommodate its administration and supportive services for more foster and homeless youth. PTYF
Strategic Plan assures Los Angeles’ foster and homeless youth that their adulthood lifestyles and careers can
be achieved and realized.

Please support our efforts, as we continue to provide the highest quality of homeless housing and supportive
housing services to our homeless and at-risk youth in Los Angeles County.

Sincerely,
Gerald Thompson
PTYF Board Chair

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Pathways To Your Future - 15th Anniversary Frontline Soldiers Awards Breakfast and Fundraiser

WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

D
ear Friends,

On behalf of Pathways To Your Future, Inc., I would like to welcome you to our 15th Anniversary
of the Frontline Soldiers Awards Breakfast and Fundraiser. We are thankful that you have joined
us this morning as we highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of our distinguished list of
“Frontline Soldier Hall of Fame” Recipients.
For more than twenty years, Pathways To Your Future (PTYF) has been on the frontline providing comprehen-
sive health, education, and human supportive services to Los Angeles County foster and homeless youth.
Moreover, the founders of PTYF have been providing significant service and unwavering leadership which
over the years have built an organized network of men and women strategically designed to foster unity, soli-
darity and economic empowerment toward the reduction and elimination of gang killings/violence fueled by
alcohol, tobacco & other drug abuse which insured that this population and age group would have a better
quality of life beyond the violence risks of failure and hopelessness.

To date, more than 5,225 Los Angeles County youths of diverse ethnicity, culture, and gender have benefitted
from PTYF and Frontline Soldiers efforts to provide win-win programs and services which make the differ-
ence between a young life shackled by a legacy of crime, drugs and homelessness to one that propel them into
educational success, reputable career engagements, and a crime free future.

Thank you for joining us this morning to acknowledge and commemorate the sung and “unsung” leaders of the
community that assist in changing the lives of those in need every day . Your support and generous contribu-
tions make it possible for Pathways To Your Future to change lives of hundreds of youth each year and to
build a better future for our communities in Los Angeles County.
In Service,

Linda B. Thompson

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY BOARD

Gerald Thompson “Sweet” Lou Johnson
Chair Los Angeles Dodgers
Co/founder Pathways To Your Future
Louis Gosset, Jr.
Gerald Burgess Actor, Humanitarian
Vice Chair
Burgess Consultants Joaquin Phoenix
Consultant Actor, Philanthropist

Gwendolyn Howard Pastor Austin Williams
Secretary True Vine Baptist Church
One Hot Chef Catering
Caterer /Student Stan Dowells
Homeless Outreach
Cherlyn Martin Program
CM Consultants
Homeless Housing Consultant Stuart Nacht
4-Site Development Inc.
Joy Rayside
SPADVA James Malone
Owner Wells Fargo

Henry Hudson Darryl Patterson
CrossRoads Christian Center Patterson Development
Pastor

Waymon Baker
L. A. County Department of Mental Health
Community Worker

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OUR MISSION
“To provide comprehensive education, health and human services to reduce homelessness of
underserved foster and homeless youth while promoting their development and enriching the
communities of Los Angeles County.”

VISION STATEMENT
Pathways To Your Future envisions that all transition aged youth have hope for a brighter fu-
ture with a clearly defined path that leads to self-reliance, self-sufficiency and independent
living for a better quality of life.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Homeless youth are not a homogeneous group, their individual needs, expectations, and hope
for the future will be different. Based on this principle, services provided must be diverse, ad-
dressing the individual needs of each client on a case-by-case basis. Youth receiving services
should be allowed to navigate their journey into the future in a collaborative effort with the
service provider which, in turn, will empower them to make decisions that will change the
direction of their lives.

Youth who receive services should play a significant role in the decision-making process re-
garding his/her housing and supportive housing needs. This empowerment principle will
build confidence, courage and character.

The goal is to successfully transition youth from teens to adults. As facilitators guiding them
on the path to a brighter future, youth will be equipped with basic life skills, education and
other resources so that they can take ownership in the choices they make in life.

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This year’s theme:
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU TURNED 18? WERE YOU HOMELESS?

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Senator Curren Price

Dodger Great
“Sweet” Lou Johnson

Actor/Philanthropist
Joaquin Phoenix

Academy Award Winner
Louis Gossett Jr.

Martin Ludlow

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Keynote Speaker HILL HARPER
Hill Harper is an award winning actor, bestselling author and philanthropist. Hill is the au-
thor of three New York Times bestsellers: Letters to a Young Brother, Letters to a Young Sis-
ter, and The Conversation. Letters to a Young Brother was named “Best Book for Young
Adults” by the American Library Association in 2007. Hill currently stars on the hit televi-
sion drama CSI:NY as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes. CSI is the most successful television franchise
in history. To date, his collective writing and acting work has been recognized with six
NAACP Image Awards: Outstanding Literary Work: Debut Author (2007), Outstanding Literary Work:
Youth/Teens (2007, 2008), and Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series (2007, 2008, 2009). Hill has also ap-
peared in numerous prime-time television shows and feature films including For Colored Girls, The Sopranos,
ER, The Game, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Lackawanna Blues, He Got Game, The Skulls, In Too Deep, The
Nephew, and The Visit. He is the founder of the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, dedicated to empowering,
encouraging, and inspiring underserved youth to succeed through mentorship, scholarship and grant programs.
Hill graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Brown University (and was valedictorian of his depart-
ment) and cum laude with a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He also holds a master’s degree with honors from
Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and honorary doctoral degrees from Howard University, Winston-
Salem State University, Cheyney University, Westfield State College, and Tougaloo College. Hill travels fre-
quently as a motivational speaker and resonates with a wide range of audiences including youth, adults, and
couples. Named one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, he lives in Los Angeles.

Master of Ceremony Harry Lennix
Harry Lennix is an award winning film, television, stage, and radio actor, born and raised
in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood. Growing up, Harry was active in baseball and Catho-
lic school: as an altar boy and musician. Harry’s childhood goal was to become a Dominican
Priest, but not just any priest--the first black Pope. Harry acted upon an opportunity to per-
form in the annual school musical: Guys & Dolls, resulting in a life-long devotion to the art of
presentation and production.
Harry received various scholarships while studying and working at Northwestern University, where he ma-
jored in Communications. He also began acting in the professional theater, receiving increasing amounts of
recognition for his prodigious skill.
Post-university, Harry worked simultaneously as a Civics and Music teacher in the Chicago Public
Schools. Harry won his first film role in The Package (1989), and his second in The Five Heartbeats (1991).
Harry later moved to Los Angeles where he has enjoyed a distinguished career as an actor on the big and small
screens as well as on the international stage & made his Broadway debut in 2007.
His film career includes leading and supporting roles in Ray, The Matrix sequels, Julie Taymor’s Titus,
Barbershop 2, The Human Stain, Stomp the Yard, and State of Play. His television career includes series regu-
lar and guest starring roles in ABC’s Commander in Chief, 24, ER, and House, MD. For Showtime he was
Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in Keep the Faith, Baby.
Harry lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Djena. His is currently working on the upcoming horror film:
Evidence and will appear as General Swanwick in the latest installment of Superman: Man of Steel.

Musical Guest New Directions Veterans Choir
The New Directions Veterans Choir is an award winning a cappella
group that sings renditions of doo-wop, soul, traditional gospel and popu-
lar music. The choir consists of current and former residents of New Di-
rections' transitional facility comprised of men and women who have
served proudly in the United States Military. Another element they have
in common: following their service to our country, they became homeless.

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The Frontline Soldiers is holistically designed to build an organized network of men
and women strategically designed to foster unity, solidarity and economic empower-
ment toward the reduction and elimination of gang killings/violence, alcohol & other
drug abuse and the prevention of HIV/AIDS to ensure a better quality of life for all.

Core Components

We recognize that women often hold the family together in light of social ills. We embrace the
greatness in women as they answer the call of leadership and give support of great men.

Faith-Based Empowerment Team (FBET): There is but one ultimate authority and that one
is God. This team is responsible to keep the Frontline Soldiers mission spiritually focused and
to keep faith-based communities, churches and efforts involved in all we do.

Unity and Solidarity Empowerment Team (USET): This team is responsible for developing
strategies designed to create a climate that promotes unity and solidarity that empowers the
collective.

Economic Empowerment Team (EET): This team develops insightful economic plans and
strategies for identifying and securing financial resources thus generating economic power.

Event Planning Empowerment Team (EPET): This team is responsible for developing and
planning all events and activities rooted in community spirit. This includes activities such as
The Gathering of Men Breakfast, unity marches, community protests, rallies and other em-
powerment activities. This effort includes contacting necessary parties to secure site, permits,
equipment, time frame available, event set up, and logistical arrangements for events.

Mentor Empowerment Team (MET): This team is responsible for researching processes
and presenting a manhood/womanhood training model for the implementation of training clinic
(s) that focuses on enhancing skills that support positive transitions into manhood/
womanhood.

Political Action Empowerment Team (PAET): This team serves as a voice for social policy
in political arenas that result in building political alliances and updating programs efforts to-
ward policy and service delivery.

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HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Timothy Watkins, President/CEO, Watts Labor Community Action Committee
(WLCAC)
Timothy Watkins, Sr. is the fourth President and CEO of the Watts Labor Community
Action Committee. Watkins also serves as the President and CEO of the Greater Watts Devel-
opment Corporation (GWDC) a WLCAC Corporate subsidiary and as the founder of the
Greater Watts Transportation Corporation (GWTC). Additionally, Watkins founded and co-
chairs the Watts Public Policy Institute and the Watts Renaissance Project, a community based
coalition of grass-root organizations and individuals dedicated to responsible planning and
development in Watts.
Watkins’ focus is on sustainable community development through social enterprise,
environmental policy, and industrial sector initiatives and has been a champion for local participation in the mainstream
of life in Los Angeles through political and social activism. He is currently authoring MudTown, a historical perspective
of life in Watts over the past century
He currently serves on the boards of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, Watts Economic Develop-
ment Advisory Council, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Green Dot Charter Schools, Greater Watts
Development Corporation, African American Women’s Public Policy Institute, Watts Renaissance Project, and the
Watts Area Reform Council.
His election in 2000 came after serving thirty-five years as a volunteer in many capacities. During his presidency
at WLCAC, Watkins launched the Watts Renaissance Project with other local leaders to provide community-based per-
spective on local planning initiatives and priorities. He also formed the Watts Public Policy Institute to serve as an insti-
tutional resource for grass-roots policy research and development. His drive for local participation in the redevelopment
of Watts led to an unprecedented master plan for the Central Avenue Corridor. His commitment to develop a 2-1/2 acre
urban farm on 103rd Street in the heart of Watts serves as a model for other community development corporations to
follow.

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Captain Brent F. Burton, President, Junior Firefighter Foundation

Captain Brent F. Burton was born and raised in the Crenshaw/Leimert Park district of the city
of Los Angeles. In 1982 at the age of 16, Burton became an Explorer Scout with the Los An-
geles City Fire Department. In 1985 at the age of 19 he became a member of the Los Angeles
County Fire Department. At the age of 21 he became a certified paramedic.

At the age of twenty eight, Burton promoted to the rank of Captain. At the time of his promo-
tion, he was the youngest company officer in the Department. His demonstrated leadership
and ability enabled him to earn this position. During his 28 year career in the fire service, he has been able to serve in
various capacities and develop major projects.
Prior to being hired by the LA County Fire Dept, Burton was introduced to the Stentorians; an organization of
Black firefighters in Los Angeles founded in 1954. He quickly became a member. Within 2 years of joining the organi-
zation, he became a member of the Executive Board. Burton gave a total of 16 years of service as a Board member and
served as President of the Stentorians for 10 years. He is the current President of the African American Firefighter Mu-
seum, which was established in 1997.
Burton is very active in the Los Angeles community as a collaborator with many organizations, elected officials,
activists and schools. Burton has assisted many young men and women in becoming firefighters and helped those on the
Department promote to positions of higher authority.
Burton currently serves as an instructor at the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute that is held annually
on the campus of Dillard University in New Orleans La. He is the founder of the Stentorians’ Junior Fire Cadet Program
that targets elementary school students in the areas of self-determination, character building and physical fitness. He is
also the Chair of the Mentoring Committee for the 100 Black Men of LA, and is the Board chair of the LA Cares Men-
toring Movement.
Burton is currently assigned to L.A. County Fire Station 170 in the City of Inglewood. His company is desig-
nated as Light Force 170. He can be reached at biburton@sbcglobal.net.

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BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Percell M. Keeling, Founder and Owner
Simply Wholesome Restaurant
Apryl E. Sims, General Manager,
Simply Wholesome Restaurant

The guy everyone sees running along Slauson, through Ladera, Ingle-
wood and Culver City, with the beard and locs swinging, that’s Percell!
Percell Keeling, Founder and Owner of Simply Wholesome, a Health
food Store and Health oriented Restaurant with a Caribbean flair. Born in
Los Angeles, at the age of 15 he set the National Interscholastic record
for the ½ mile run with a time of 1:52:08. That record still stands today. Percell Held the Morningside High School
records for the 880 and 660 Yard and set numerous other records. He graduated from UCLA in 1971 with a major in
Economics & minor in Sociology.
Always one who believed in giving back to the community, in 1976 Percell returned to his alma mater to coach
cross-country when he learned the high school students were without a coach.
An entrepreneur from the moment he graduated from college, Percell sold athletic shoes and equipment to high
schools and local colleges in the late seventies and early eighties. During this time he purchased ‘The Nutrition Center’
inside the Jack La Lane Health Spa in Inglewood, California. It was there that Percell was introduced to the world of
supplemental health and nutritional products.
As a lifelong vegetarian and runner, creating a business out of selling nutritional products was a natural direction
for his life to take. The move to open a health-oriented center occurred when Percell accepted a challenge posed to him
by a friend. “I remember that I complained about not having a healthy food establishment to eat in, in my own neighbor-
hood,” he recalled. “One day, a friend of mine said, ‘Well, why don’t you open a restaurant?’, so I did.”
Simply Wholesome was born in 1984 in a 1000 square foot leased storefront on the Souththeast corner of Slau-
son and Overhill Streets, in Los Angeles. The community responded positively to the food, shakes and products. Sim-
ply Wholesome soon grew out of that space. In 1994, the present home of Simply Wholesome was purchased on the
Southwest corner of Slauson and Overhill Streets . The entire project from start to finish (real estate agent, de-
signer, architect, contractor, all tradesmen, and landscaper) was facilitated by customers and residents of this
community. The new 5500 square foot facility opened in December of 1995.
Percell tries to be consistent in everything he does. He continues to run almost daily for the pure pleasure and
feeling of running as well as the excellent health benefits running provides. He enjoys providing the best product possi-
ble to his customers while also providing vital work experience to many whom would otherwise go unhired.

Apryl Sims
Apryl is happy to be part of the Simply Wholesome team. She brings fifty years of practical living experience
coupled with over thirty-five years of Marketing, Sales and Management expertise. Educated at Howard University
(BBA Marketing 1984), she is the proud disciple of the late Dr. Lawrence Johnson. Apryl also completed a certificate
program for entrepreneurs at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Business in 1994.
Apryl’s connection to Simply Wholesome came through her later father, Larry Sims. (Percell Keeling and Larry
Sims had a unique relationship. In 1971 when Percell became the High School State Track Champion in the 880 yard
dash, Larry, was in the audience. When Larry first met Percell in 1984, he not only reminded Percell of that race, he told
him his winning time and how he ran the last 220 yards. That first meeting began an unlikely friendship that concluded
with Percell entrusting the construction rehabilitation project to Larry’s company.) She is blessed to have been able to
work with, and for her father for the last nine years of his life. Their company 333 Construction physically transformed
the former Wich Stand, into what is now the home of Simply Wholesome. This was the capstone project for 333 Con-
struction. Customers and community residents performed every phase of this project from Structural Design, Interior
Design and all Trades.
Following in the footsteps of her father (who believed every parent was obligated to teach their offspring how to
fish, so they would eat for life), Apryl has a passion for people and loves to encourage and assist people in doing that
which makes their heart sing. To that end, Apryl and Percell have been responsible for developing many community
based entrepreneurs. Simply Wholesome proudly sells products made by over forty-eight vendors of color. Addition-
ally, many young people have had the opportunity to learn many marketable skills under Apryl’s tutelage and mentor-
ship.

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EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AWARD
Deputy Chief Patrick Gannon, Commanding Officer,
Operations-South Bureau, Los Angeles Police Department

Deputy Chief Gannon was born and raised in Los Angeles and is a third generation Los Ange-
les Police Officer following after his father who retired in 1973 and his grandfather who retired
in 1952. Deputy Chief Gannon’s eldest son, Michael is also a Los Angeles Police Officer.

Deputy Chief Gannon began his career as a Police Intern in 1976 and entered the Los Angeles
Police Academy in 1978. He was promoted to detective in 1985, sergeant in 1989 and to lieu-
tenant in 1997. As a lieutenant he was assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of the Internal Af-
fairs Rampart Corruption Task Force.

In July 2000, Deputy Chief Gannon was promoted to Captain and began working a succession of operational commands
in South Los Angeles which tend to be the most violent areas in the City of Los Angeles. In 2007, he was promoted to
the rank of Commander and was responsible for consolidating homicide investigations in South Los Angeles along with
having functional supervision for all gang enforcement and gang crime investigations in South Los Angeles. Chief
Gannon was one of the first police administrators to champion the use of hard core gang intervention in South Los Ange-
les. This effort has helped to significantly reduce gang violence in this portion of the City.

In January 2010 Gannon was promoted to Deputy Chief and is currently serving as the Commanding Officer of the Op-
erations-South Bureau. Deputy Chief Gannon graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills with a
Bachelors Degree in Public Administration and from the University of Southern California with a Masters Degree in
Public Administration. He has also successfully completed the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and the
West Point Leadership Program. Gannon has received a number of awards for community policing and in 2011 he re-
ceived the President’s Award for Community Partnerships from the Police Officer’s Association of Los Angeles County.

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION SERVICE AWARD
Dr. Andrew Kennedy, Director, Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), retired

Dr. Andrew Kennedy currently works for Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) as a Professional Develop-
ment, Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator K-12 and serves as an Core Adjunct Faculty in the Education Department
for National University. Dr. Kennedy is responsible for assisting the LACOE divisions of Special Education, Juvenile
Court Schools and Alternative Education in implementing a comprehensive Standards Based Curriculum and Profes-
sional Development Educational system. Dr. Kennedy provides leadership for tri-divisional curriculum committees
composed of teachers, school site administrators and other ancillary central office coordinators. Under Dr. Kennedy’s
leadership the committees have developed power standards that align with local and statewide assessments, selected in-
structional materials to be adopted, created content area pacing plans, curriculum maps, and initiated courses of study to
be congruent and coherent with the California Core Content area standards.

Dr. Kennedy provides training, technical assistance, and coaching to Principals, Assistant Principals and school faculties
in implementing standards based education in the core content curricular areas (i.e. Mathematics, History/Social Science,
English Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts, and Physical Education) and in implementing Professional Learn-
ing Communities and Response to Intervention (RTI). He also has developed professional development workshops in all
subject areas and organizational leadership.

Dr. Andrew Kennedy received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of California at Los Angeles
(UCLA), his masters in Urban Education from University of Southern California (USC), and Bachelors degree in Psy-
chology from Pepperdine University.

Dr. Andrew Kennedy is passionate about education for our 21st century student. He believes all children can learn and
succeed in school and No Child should be Left Behind in achieving his or her high school education, preparation for col-
lege and opportunity to enter a career that will support a meaningful living in American society.

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HEALTHY COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD
Ernest Roberts, PVJOBS

Ernest M. Roberts is the Executive Director for Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business
Services (PVJOBS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting our local, at-risk and
multiple-barriered citizenry in attaining self sufficiency through meaningful, career-oriented
employment.

A native of Los Angeles, Roberts is a graduate of the Watts Skills Center, where he learned
the fundamentals of electronics. He held a series of technical jobs that eventually led to work
at Hughes Aircraft. As a research assistant, Roberts was primarily responsible for testing and
troubleshooting control systems for communication satellites in Hughes’ Space and Commu-
nications Division.

Personal experiences led him to dedicate his life to uplifting the at-risk. Roberts started his own company, The House
Doctor, a construction and home improvement service business, which hired exclusively from the at-risk community.

Deeply empathetic and detail oriented, Roberts now runs the day-to-day operations of PVJOBS, utilizing his more than
23 years experience in the technical and construction fields. The community-based organization was created in 1998 to
fulfill a Los Angeles City Council mandate to provide construction employment opportunities for at-risk local residents
at the Playa Vista development site.

Today, as a result of its advocacy, PVJOBS works with several major construction projects. There are currently more
than 100 collaborating community-based organizations providing life skills training and making referrals to PVJOBS for
employment.

Under Roberts’ direction as its first executive director, PVJOBS has grown into a major community-based organization,
filling over 5000 employment positions with multi-barriered persons. It has also become a major advocate for the inclu-
sion of our local at-risk population in mainstream employment.

Roberts received his bachelor's degree in psychology from USC where he graduated cum laude with departmental hon-
ors. He is also former President of the West Los Angeles College PACE Alumni Association. Roberts currently resides
with his wife, Juliette, in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles and is the proud parent of six children and grandparent to
ten others.

Eddie Meador, Senior Counselor, Castle West

Eddie came to Los Angeles from Dallas, Texas in 1956. He spent most of his youth and young adult life in
and out of jail, and abusing drugs. Eddie is a recovered heroine and cocaine abuser and has been clean since
1973. His recovery started through a program called Bricks in Los Angeles. Initially, Eddie went to Bricks for
90 days, then eventually starting volunteering. He later went to the USC School of Medicine and earned his
certification as a Counselor. He returned to Bricks and worked there for 10 years as a Counselor I & II and
later in the ex-felon program. Eddie joined Castle in 1985 where he currently serves as Sr. Counselor and Co-
ordinator. His passion in life is helping people, and dealing with addicts.

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Bobbie Owens, Director, Mini Twelve Step House

As the Executive Director of the Mini Twelve Step House, Inc., Bobbi Owens has provided lead-
ership, strategic vision, and effective alcohol and drug rehabilitation services for women and
their families suffering from addictive disorders. Since joining the organization in 1989, Ms.
Owens has tripled the budget while ensuring the policies, practices and programs remain relevant
to a special population that is often neglected, misunderstood and under represented. Respond-
ing to the shift in our nation’s priority while keeping the services relevant and ahead of the tech-
nology curve, Bobbi and the board of directors adopted a policy of “continuous learning”.

MTSH services assist women and their families in rebounding from homelessness, mental illness, economic depression,
domestic violence and family separation caused by addiction. Founded in 1971, the programs have grown from one to
four locations inclusive of South Central Los Angeles and the City of Compton. The passion and relentless dedication
of Bobbi Owens has kept Mini Twelve Step ahead of the curve in spite of challenges brought about by a shift in our na-
tion’s priority and administration. Thousands of lives have been saved and families reunited by her efforts.

In partnership with the board of directors, Ms. Owens recently led the Mini Twelve Step House into a sound merger
with JWCH Institute, Inc., a 50 year old, premier health care organization serving the neediest citizens of Los Angeles
County. JWCH Institute, Inc, with the merger, will become a full service health home, saving sparse resources, while
fully integrating services which will be of huge benefit to the respective organization’s stakeholders.

She is the executive producer of the film “Sistuh,” released in 1998, which reveals the depth, dignity and growth of
women impaled by substance abuse, violence and poverty. It won the Black Cinema Society’s Best Documentary
Award in 1998. She created and authored a column entitled “Recovery and Addiction” for Our Weekly Newspaper for
two years 2005-2006. She is the co-author of Windows of Life, a collection of inspirational stories of humor, tragedy,
and triumph. The stories capture the essence of our community and the everyday mishaps of living life as it comes. She
was featured in Essence Magazine (feature story) “One Grandmother’s Story 1996 and was presented with the Sojourner
Truth Award, 1996 by the Black Advocates in State Service for outstanding commitment and service to women and
community. Bobbi continues to share her expertise by sitting on various community boards. She favors assisting organi-
zations servicing neglected women and their families in depressed urban communities.

Erick Cerda
Employment Resource Coordinator, Los Angeles Probation Department

Mr. Erick Cerda has a plethora of knowledge in the area of Job Development and in leverag-
ing community resources with the appropriate population. Mr. Cerda has worked in the fol-
lowing capacities: Los Angeles County Probation Department as an Employment Resource
Coordinator, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Public
Social Services and Work Source Center. The above have give Mr. Cerda the knowledge and
experience necessary to help him excel at his current position as an Employment Resource
Coordinator working at the LA County Probation Department Day Reporting Center (DRC).
At the DRC Mr. Cerda is charged with assisting high risk male adults between the ages of 18 and 25, with all of their
basic needs and eventually training, preparing and assisting them to find stable employment.

Mr. Cerda is able to connect this population with the adequate services to help them maintain steady income while they
complete their training, through referrals to different community partners. Mr. Cerda conducts various job readiness
courses that help prepare the clients from the DRC for the mainstream. These efforts combined with the Cognitive Be-
havioral Evidence Based Courses taught at the DRC help groom the clients for their transition into the employment field.
This has allowed Mr. Cerda the ability to assist many of the DRC clients in their efforts to find stable employment.

Mr. Cerda has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and a Master Degree in Public Administration. Mr. Cerda
was also an EMT-Paramedic; he keeps his license active because he participates every year on the Baker to Vegas Relay
Race, Mr. Cerda is the Swarm Peace Officer Volunteer for the Probation Department for this event.
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Eric Marts, Deputy Director
County of Los Angeles Dept. of Children & Family Services - Bureau 2

Eric Marts came to Los Angeles from Louisiana at the age of four and was raised in the Watts
community of South Central Los Angeles. Eric graduated from David Starr Jordan, the local
high school and completed his undergraduate work at the University of Redlands in Redlands,
California obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He attended the California State
University of Long Beach to obtain his Masters degree in Public Administration.
Eric Marts began his career with the County of Los Angeles as a Deputy Probation Officer at
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in 1975. In 1979, Eric went to the Department of Children and Fam-
ily Services to work as a Children’s Social Worker in the former Southwest office (Region VI) and was promoted to Su-
pervisor after five years. Eric’s supervisory experience also included the Exposition Park and Pomona offices. He later
became Senior Departmental Personnel Technician at Maclaren Children’s Center where, among other personnel duties,
he was responsible for investigating complaints during a period when Maclaren was experiencing many challenges.
After the Maclaren assignment, Eric became the Civil Service Advocate advocating on the Department’s behalf
at both the Civil Service and the Employee Relations Commissions. He went on to become Deputy Regional Adminis-
trator in the El Monte office. In 2000, Eric Marts was requested to develop and implement a new bureau called the Bu-
reau of Child Protection. Further, while managing this bureau, Eric developed and implemented a new service delivery
model, the “Point of Engagement (POE),” which was designed to reduce the number of children entering foster care and
help to increase reunification and permanency efforts. The POE service delivery model has been highly successful and
is now a “countywide front-end approach.”
Eric Marts is now the Deputy Director for Services Bureau 2 of Los Angeles County’s Department of Children
and Family Services where he oversees the Child Protection Hotline and the Emergency Response Command Post. Ad-
ditionally, Eric Marts oversees four regional operations that include the Compton Project, Vermont Corridor, Wateridge,
and the West Los Angeles offices.

Marqueece Harris-Dawson
President and CEO, Community Coalition

As President and CEO of Community Coalition, Harris-Dawson has been working arduously
to improve the social and economic conditions in South Los Angeles that lead to crime, vio-
lence, substance abuse and poverty.

Harris-Dawson came to the helm of Community Coalition in 2004 following years of dedi-
cated hard work as a community organizer, leader and director. Previously, Community Coali-
tion founder Karen Bass, the U.S. Representative for California's 33rd congressional district,
led the organization as its Executive Director. Founded in 1990, the Community Coalition is
best known for leading nationally recognized grassroots campaigns that include groundbreaking nuisance abatement
work to close over 150 liquor stores and educational justice campaigns to transform the quality of public education. In
the 1990s, Harris-Dawson served as the director of the Community Coalition youth project, South Central Youth Em-
powered Through Action (SCYEA), leading the Proposition Better Buildings campaign to expose the poor conditions at
South Los Angeles high schools. Arming youth with disposable cameras to document the poor conditions of their
schools, and training them to advocate for badly needed repairs at their campuses, Harris-Dawson helped students win
$153 million in school repairs in 1999.

Along with a host of Board and Committee posts, Harris-Dawson has been recognized with several community commen-
dations, recognitions and awards including the coveted Do Something “BRICK” Award and Liberty Hill Foundation’s
Upton Sinclair Award. Harris-Dawson was recently honored with The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) Sabbati-
cal Program Award that funds a three-month long sabbatical. Harris-Dawson is a Morehouse graduate and has also re-
ceived a certificate in non-profit management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He is currently an Aspen
Institute Fellow for New Leaders.
19


PROGRAM
Welcome/Announcements ..................................................................... Darren Hendon
Opening Prayer .......................................................................... Pastor James Jones JJ
2004 Frontline Soldier Recipient, Gangsters for Christ,
California Cease Fire Committee & the Watts Gang Taskforce

Intro of M.C. .............................................................................................. Joy Rayside
Master of Ceremony: HARRY LENNIX
Musical Selection ........................................................................ New Directions Choir
Blessing of the Food ........................ Pastor Austin Williams, True Vine Baptist Church
2002 Frontline Soldier Recipient
* * Breakfast is Served * *
Video Presentation .............................................“History of Pathways To Your Future”
PTYF: Past, Present & Future ...................................................... Dr. Micheal Williams
Messiah’s Ministries & Services

Acknowledgements .............................................. Gerald E. and Linda B. Thompson
Founders, Pathways To Your Future

Reflections on the Theme ........................................ Pathways To Success former client
“Where Were You When You Were 18? Were You Homeless?”
Video Presentation ................................................................................. 2011 Breakfast
"Frontline Soldiers Prayer" .................... Pastor Edward Turner, Power of Love Church

2011 FRONTLINE SOLDIERS HALL OF FAME AWARDS
Introduction of Keynote Speaker ........................................................................... M.C.
Frontline Soldiers Awards Breakfast Keynote Speaker
ACTOR/AUTHOR PHILANTHROPIST DR. HILL HARPER
Presentations/Remarks ....................................................... Gerald & Linda Thompson
Adjournment Closing Prayer ....................................................... Pastor Gerald Burgess

20


Frontline Soldier Hall of Fame Recipients
2011
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Timothy Watkins, President/CEO, Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC)

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Percell M. Keeling, Founder and Owner, Simply Wholesome Restaurant
Apryl E. Sims, General Manager, Simply Wholesome Restaurant

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Brent F. Burton, President, Junior Firefighter Foundation

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION SERVICE AWARD
Dr. Andrew Kennedy, Director, Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), retired

Ernest Roberts, PVJOBS
Bobbie Owens, Director, Mini Twelve Step House
Eric Marts, Deputy Director, County of Los Angeles Dept. of Children & Family Services
Marqueece Harris Dawson, President and CEO, Community Coalition
Erick Cerda, Employment Resource Coordinator, Los Angeles Probation Department
Eddie Meador, Senior Counselor, Castle West

EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California 35th Congressional District
State Assemblymember Mike Davis, California 48th District
State Assemblymember Steve Bradford, California 51st District
Gloria Gray, Board Member, West Basin Municipal Water District Board

EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AWARD
Deputy Chief Patrick Gannon, Los Angeles Police Department, Operations – South Bureau

LEGACY AWARD
Muhammad Ali Nassardeen, Founder and President, Recycling Black Dollars*
Cesar Calderon, former Executive Director, Soledad Enrichment Action (S.E.A.)*
*Posthumous award

21


U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California 35th Congressional District

Congresswoman Maxine Waters was elected in November 2010 to her eleventh term in the
House of Representatives. Congresswoman Waters represents a large part of South Central
Los Angeles, the communities of Westchester and Playa Del Rey, and the diverse cities of
Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood and Lawndale. She continues to be a senior member of the
House Committee on Financial Services, serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommit-
tee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises. She also serves on the Sub-
committee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, and the Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations.
An integral member of Congressional Democratic Leadership, Congresswoman Waters serves as a Chief Deputy
Whip and as a member of the Steering & Policy Committee.
Prior to her election to the House of Representatives in 1990, Congresswoman Waters served 14 years in the
California State Assembly, & rose to the powerful position of Democratic Caucus Chair.
She is a co-founder of Black Women’s Forum, a nonprofit organization of over 1,200 African American women in the
Los Angeles area. In the mid-80s, she also founded Project Build, working with young people in Los Angeles housing
developments on job training and placement.
She is lauded by African American entrepreneurs for her work to expand contracting and procurement opportu-
nities and to strengthen businesses. One testament to her work is the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, a
multimillion dollar campus providing education and employment opportunities to residents of the Watts area.
Maxine Waters was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the fifth of 13 children reared by a single mother. She began
working at age 13 in factories and segregated restaurants. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked in garment factories
and at the telephone company. She attended California State University at Los Angeles, where she earned a Bachelor of
Arts degree. She began her career in public service as a teacher and a volunteer coordinator in the Head Start program.
She is married to Sidney Williams, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. She is the
mother of two adult children, Edward and Karen, and has two grandchildren.

State Assemblymember Steve Bradford, California 51st District

Assemblymember Steven C. Bradford represents the 51st District, comprised of the communi-
ties of Hawthorne, Lawndale, Inglewood, Lennox, South Central LA, Westchester, Gardena,
Willowbrook, Playa Vista, and parts of Ladera Heights and West Compton.

As a member of the Assembly, Mr. Bradford is focused on providing all children with a qual-
ity education and healthcare. Additional priorities include public safety, economic develop-
ment in the district and across California, and affordable housing. As the new Chair of the As-
sembly Utilities & Commerce Committee, Assemblymember Bradford is focused on supplier
diversity, stimulating green job opportunities for all Californians, and balancing investment in
new technologies with ratepayer protection.
In 1997, Mr. Bradford was elected to the Gardena City Council—the first African American to hold this post. Through-
out his tenure in office, he held regular Up-Close Open Council Office Sessions, which provided opportunities for con-
stituents to provide him with vital input. He has worked for major companies like IBM and Southern California Edison,
and served his community as the program director and recycling coordinator for the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.
He also served as the Director of Solid Waste for the City of Compton and the District Director for the late Congress-
woman Juanita Millender-McDonald, where he honed his knowledge of many public policy and legislative issues. One
accomplishment of which Mr. Bradford is most proud, is that he is responsible for putting Gardena on the map with its
popular free Jazz Festival held annually in August at a local park and featuring well-known internationally recognized
recording artists. Mr. Bradford is actively involved in leading his community. He has served as a member of the Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Committee of Gardena, chair of the Black History Month Celebration Committee, a PTA
member, and as president of the Hollypark Homeowners Association.
Assemblymember Bradford’s history in the district began when he moved to Gardena with his family, at age
nine, and attended Purche Avenue Elementary School, Henry Clay Junior High School, and Gardena High School. From
there he went on to San Diego State University and Cal State, Dominguez Hills, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in
Political Science and a Paralegal Certificate. 22


Gloria Gray, Board Member, West Basin Municipal Water District Board

Gloria D. Gray dedicated her 36-year career to the Los Angeles County Departments of
Human Services and Health Services in the areas of community relations, administration,
health care management and human resources. In 2009, Gray was appointed to the
Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board of Directors and the L.A. County Board of
Supervisors to serve on a water quality Community Task Force. She is currently a Vice Chair
of the MWD Board and serves on the Executive Committee, Organization, Personnel and
Technology Committee, Legislative Committee, Communication and Education Committee,
and Special Committee on Bay-Delta. In April 2010, former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass
appointed Gray to the Delta Stewardship Council.

For her devoted years of community service, Gray has received several awards and commendations from several
organizations, including the 2009 Power Pac Award from the Los Angeles African American Political Action Committee
and the 2009 Female Democrat of the Year for the 51st Assembly District as well as recognition from numerous elected
officials.

Gloria earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Redlands, a Health Services
Management Certificate from the University of California Los Angeles, a Louis Allen Management Certificate from the
LA County Department of Health Services and a Masters in Governance Certificate from the California School Boards
Association.

In 2003, Gray retired from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She is a proud mother of two
daughters, grandmother of five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

State Assemblymember Mike Davis, California 48th District

Assemblyman Mike Davis was elected to serve the 48th Assembly District in 2006 which
encompasses a myriad of diverse communities including: Arlington Park, Athens, Chester-
field Square, King Estates, Koreatown, Lafayette Park, Magnolia Square, North University
Park, University Park, Vermont Knolls, West Adams, West Park Terrace and Wilshire Cen-
ter.
Prior to assuming office, Assemblyman Davis served as a Senior Deputy Supervisor for
L.A. County Supervisor Yvonne Burke, District Director for Congresswoman Maxine Wa-
ters during her tenure in the California State Assembly and continued to serve in this role
when she was elected to Congress.
He helped coordinate the opening of the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation
Center and fought to make sure that South Los Angeles residents got relocation benefits during the expansion of the Har-
bor Freeway, as District Director of the 48th Assembly District Office.
Assemblyman Davis also helped to establish the Denzel Washington Pediatric Pavilion at Martin Luther King,
Jr. Hospital and also fought for diversity among the construction staff at the King Hospital Trauma Center Construction
site during the 1994 construction project while serving as Senior Deputy Supervisor for the Second District, Los Angeles
County.
Assemblyman Davis earned his Bachelor's Degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte;
a Masters of Public Administration Degree from California State University at Northridge; and a Masters of Arts Degree
in Behavioral Science with a concentration in Negotiations and Conflict Management from California State University at
Dominguez Hills. Additionally, he completed Innovations in Governance Program at the John F. Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University. He is also the first elected official to graduate from the Executive Master of Leader-
ship Program at University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development.

23


LEGACY AWARD
Muhammad Ali Nassardeen
Founder and President
Recycling Black Dollars
Posthumous award

Recycling Black Dollars (RBD) founder Muhammad A. Nassardeen was a light of the community. The revered business-
man, community leader and activist passed away from a sudden heart attack at age 54 on Thursday, October 11, 2007.
He was one of California’s premier proponents of minority business ownership and empowerment. Nassardeen’s RBD
hosted networking sessions designed to maximize opportunities for Blacks to exchange business cards, names and other
business information. “We like to keep models of possibilities in front of our young people, so they can see people who
are doing things, who are making money, whom they can emulate or imitate,” Nassardeen once said. Nassardeen’s hope-
ful vision for the future was evident in his dealings with the youth. For author Trizah Morris, whose young son was men-
tored by Nassardeen, the impact of his work touches her on a very personal level. “He taught me the power of spending
with our own people,” she says emotionally. “When I met him, I was actually coming out of being homeless for sixteen
months. I had written a book and he put me in contact with people to help promote and publish the book. But I had no
idea about business and commerce … until he brought it to my attention.”

LEGACY AWARD
Cesar Calderon
former Executive Director
Soledad Enrichment Action (S.E.A.)
Posthumous award

The remarkable life of Cesar Calderon, who recently passed at the age of 45, can be described as one of an extraordinary,
tireless and accomplished champion of alternative education programs for young people in Los Angeles, especially those
on the margins of inner city communities. Prior to his passing on January 17, 2011, Cesar was the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides alternative education pro-
grams and support services to at-risk youth and their families throughout Los Angeles County. He held that position be-
ginning in 2004 and previously he was the organization’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Although Cesar quickly succeeded professionally, he always took care to develop himself as a man, a husband, a father,
son, a mentor, and a friend. He believed strongly in the importance of personal growth and improvement, not as a matter
of self-interest, but as a way to give more fully to the world in which he lived. He saw potential in everyone, especially
those who had been given up on-certainly by society but for some, even by their own families. However, he knew
through his own experience that the solution was not just to “help” but rather to empower. As a result, a philosophy
based on teamwork combined with self-improvement and self-empowerment permeates the mission of the organization
that he served so skillfully.

24


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29


Email: landryslimo@hotmail.com

Congratulations to
Frontline Soldier
Hall of Fame Inductee
Marqueece Harris-Dawson
Congratulations & all Awardees from
to the
Frontline Soldiers
Hall of Fame Inductees
from
Landry’s Limo
Transportation provider
for Actor Hill Harper
www.cocosouthla.org
30


31


CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE
FRONTLINE SOLDIERS
INDUCTEES
AND
PATHWAYS TO YOUR FUTURE

Salutes
PTYF
and the
Frontline Soldiers
32


Ronda Dixon
Exe. Director

CONGRATULATES
Congratulations! PATHWAYS TO
To YOUR FUTURE
Frontline Soldiers Award
Recipients
FOR 15 YEARS
OF WORKING WITH THE
Dixon Recovery Institute YOUTH OF
“Recover your dreams build your life” LOS ANGELES COUNTY

33


34


Congratulations to
Pathways To Your Future
&
Frontline Soldiers Inductees

Ed Keane Associates
573 Pleasant St.
Winthrop, MA 02152
Phone: 617-846-0067
Fax: 617-846-1767
ed@edkeane.com
www.edkeane.com

35


36


Sponsors:
Gold:
SEIU Local 721
Silver:
L.A. County Board Of Supervisors, Mark Ridley Thomas
PV Jobs
Waste Management
Toyota
CityLites
Community Coalition
Media Sponsor:

Supporters:
Eva & Richard Overturf
MaDonna Banks
Katie Barwig
Barry Easdale
Marlene Smith Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher, & Perez Law Firm
Cory Stigile
Hotel Carmel
Assemblymember Steve Bradford
Angelica Rangel
Cease Fire Committee
Shirley Ashford
Georgio Rossi
37


Acknowledgements
Committee Members

Adrianne Orr Joy Rayside
Barry Mack Kandee Lewis
Carlton Griffin Lorraine Dillard
Cherlyn Martin Lotoya
Clarence Allen Mark Johnson
Cornell Ward Nicole Thompson
Darren Hendon Pastor Austin Williams
D'yann Crosby Rene Avelar
Gerald Burgess Samuel Sutherland
Gwen Howard Sergio Paz
Henry Brown Tori Bailey
Henry Hudson Vicki Lindsey
Herve Gordon Wayman Baker
Jessica Crenshaw

Special thanks to Sign with Me and founder, director D’yann Crosby and
Theresa “Mama T” Sharp for providing sign language interpreting for the
deaf and hard of hearing audience participants.

Photography: Michael Riddick
Video Production Services: Kael Beverly, Beverly Boy Productions
DJ/Sound & Video Engineer: James Brown, New Horizon Enterprises
Flower Arrangements: Sullivan Scott, Flowers by Scott

Event Coordinator/Graphic design:
Arnetta Mack, Mack Enterprises Unlimited

38

Visit us at:
www.ptyf.org

PTYF Administration Office
(310) 400-7677

PROUDLY SUPPORTS

PATHWAYS TO
YOUR FUTURE

Pathways To Your Future - Frontline Soldiers Awards Breakfast

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