Taraji P. Henson, Laverne Cox, Alfre Woodard and More Honored at the 16th Annual Heroes In The Struggle Gala Reception and Awards Presentation

Courtesy of Black Aids Institute

Courtesy of Black Aids Institute

On Saturday September 16, 2017, Tam and I covered Heroes in the Struggle Gala Reception and Awards Presentation held at the Darryl F. Zanuck Theater at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. Every year the Black AIDS Institute inducts a select group of individuals and organizations that have made heroic contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Black America into the Heroes in the Struggle Hall of Fame.

Courtesy of Black Aids Institute

Courtesy of Black Aids Institute

This year's theme was "Black Men Honoring Black Women" and included Taraji P. Henson, Alfre Woodard, Laverne Cox, Vanessa Williams, Gina Belafonte, Gina Brown, and Novant Health as the Corporate Hero. Board member and event chair, Jussie Smollett served as the evening's host and celebrated R&B singer/songwriter Ledisi performed a special tribute. 

Watch our Studio Q red carpet coverage below:

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Check out some photos from my red carpet interviews

Karim Webb and Edward Barnett Bring Buffalo Wild Wings to Koreatown (Los Angeles)

Karim Webb and Edward Barnett (Co-Founders of PCF Restaurant Management)

Karim Webb and Edward Barnett (Co-Founders of PCF Restaurant Management)

PCF Restaurant Management Co-Founders, Karim Webb and Edward Barnett celebrated the opening of their newest Buffalo Wild Wings location in Koreatown (Los Angeles, CA) on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Saturday night's "soft-opening" and the Mayweather vs McGregor Fight Night event brought together some of the region's prominent business, philanthropic, entertainment and elected leaders. Over 200 guests feasted on Buffalo Wild Wings signature wings, 16 sauces, 5 seasonings, a wide variety of beers, and craft cocktails. Proceeds from the evenings event went to Korean Churches for Community Development and the Brotherhood Crusade.

As minority business owners, Webb and Barnett are excited to be expanding their footprint into a new and ethnically diverse area. "If I go into a restaurant in a community that I know is diverse and I don't see people that look like the residents in that community, I take note of that," says Webb. He and Barnett pride themselves on being responsive to unique needs of each community their units serve and their ability to engage stakeholders therein. Buffalo Wild Wings Koreatown opens to the public on Monday, August 28th at 11 am.

Check out our Studio Q interviews with the owners Karim and Edward below.  

Check out some of the great photos from the event.

LaRon and Lahmard Tate - Tate Entertainment

LaRon and Lahmard Tate - Tate Entertainment

Nisan Stewart - Musician

Nisan Stewart - Musician

"When Love Kills" TV One Los Angeles Movie Premiere [VIDEO]

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Studio Q attended the Los Angeles premiere of the TV One movie, When Love Kills at the Harmony Gold Theater. Premiering on Monday, August 28th at 9pm ET, When Love Kills tells the tragic story of Falicia Blakely, a teen mom who only knows life in the fast-lane. When she becomes an exotic dancer, she attracts the attention of pimp and predator, Dino. His empty promises of a life together turn Falicia into a pawn in his dangerous games; she's forced to prove her love for him at the expense of innocent lives. 

When Love Kills stars: Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland (CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story), Lance Gross (House of Payne, Temptation), Tami Roman (Basketball Wives, Belle's) and Tasha Smith (For Better Or Worse, Empire) making her feature-length directorial debut.

Check out some of the photos from the red carpet below.

Studio Q correspondent, Tammi Rashonda, who filled in for Quencie, talked to some of the celebrities at the Los Angeles red carpet premiere. Watch our Studio Q interviews below:

Photo cred: Photography By Gip III

Celebrity Connected Gifting Suite Recap - MTV Movie & TV Awards

On Saturday, May 6, 2017, I covered the red carpet for the Celebrity Connected Gifting Suite honoring the MTV Movie & TV Awards held at the W Hotel in Hollywood, CA. There were many celebrities in attendance who received gifts from sponsoring businesses in technology, home decor, beauty, health, food/beverage, fashion/apparel industries and more.

Some vendors include: Hug Life, Diva Stuff, Hemp Kitchen, Aitai Kuji, Sweetopia, Bonjour Clothing, Django Moccasins, Quest, UFrost, Speakeasy 710, Velare, and many more!

Check out my photos and video recap of the event.

Top left: Dawnn Lewis and Shanica Knowles, Sanayya Sidney, Rashad Jenning and Niles Fitch

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UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball Los Angeles [VIDEO]

Here I am with with Lonnie Bunch III

Here I am with with Lonnie Bunch III

On Saturday, March 18, 2017, I attended The Mayor's Masked Ball at the JW Marriott at LA LIVE in Los Angeles, CA. This is one of the largest events put on by UNCF in cities across the United States on the same evening. The LA chapter was hosted by Mayor Garcetti and honored Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and Marx Cazenave a well-known entrepreneur and business Hall of Fame inductee. The ball raised $500,000 for UNCF.

Attendees included: Mayor Eric Garcetti, Lonnie G. Bunch III (Founding Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture), Marx Cazenave (Entrepreneur ), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (I am Legend, Eureka), Michael Jai White (Why Did I Get Married), Laura Govan (Basketball Wives), Dawnn Lewis (Actress & singer), Tiffany Hines (Nikkita, Devious Maids), Lisa Nicole Cloud (Bravo TV's Married to Medicine), T’Keyah Crystal Keymah (In Living Color, That's So Raven), James Wright (WE tv’s “LA Hair”) and Darius McCrary (Next Day Air, Family Matters).

Check out our Studio Q coverage below.

 
Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
 

Marx Cazenave, a well-known entrepreneur and business Hall of Fame inductee.

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