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Loyola Marymount University Mounts National, Cultural and Academic Leadership with Publishing Press [Huffingtonpost]

 Harriet Tubman Press Launched at Historic Leimert Park in Los Angeles

Photography by Nick Belohlavy
Roland Martin, Elias Wondimu, Angela Rye, Congressmember Karen Bass, and Collin Hinds at the inaugural launch of Harriet Tubman Press

Stories of our existence both of the good and the bad are the building blocks of our collective  history. Writing, editing, publishing, and distributing them is the only guarantee we have for the good to be honored and celebrated; and for the bad to be lessons learned.” Elias Wondimu, Harriet Tubman Press, a TSEHAI Press Publisher

Leimert Park is a place with timeless roots that reach deep into the lore of Hollywood and it’s surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods. In the 1920’s, the master planned community was built with Spanish Colonial Revival homes that cast quiet spells of imagination on resident and passerby alike. It’s evergreen pine needle trees reach into the heavens. Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and iconic former LA Mayor Tom Bradley have all enjoyed homes and time in the historic neighborhood. It has been called the “Black Greenwich Village”. Today it is an ongoing bedrock of culture, free expression and American culture.

This past Saturday, Oct, 14, from 3 to 6 pm, Leimert Park, at the Vision Theater, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, enjoyed another cultural hallmark in its celebrated history. The national media, Leimert Park residents and cultural leadership enjoyed the debut of the Harriet Tubman Press by Loyola Marymount University and its parent press TSEHAI Press. Panels and live readings from the poets of the press’s first book, “Voices of Leimert Park!” In fact, in a time in which public funding for the arts has been cut by federal sources, Loyola Marymount University and TSEHAI Press and its international publisher Mr. Elias Wondimu have doubled down not only on publishing and world culture but community and bringing people together.

PAtrick a. Howell (c) 2017
Loms Angeles Historic Landmark Vision Theater

LMU Photographer Robert Macaisa
Celebrating the inaugural book launch of Harriet Tubman Press and the 20th Anniversary of TSEHAI Publishers at Leimert Park Village Plaza in front of the The Vision Theatre

“God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law. Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.” Marcus Garvey

Mr. Elias Wondimu, publisher of the iconic press TSEHAI and its new imprint, Harriet Tubman, said of the event, “For us, publishing in today’s world is not a luxury, but a necessity that can help us learn from the past, create a new reality in the present, and document our triumphs and tribulations for future generations to learn from.”  Corporate sponsorship included Parking Company of America, UPS, Pen USA and Big Man Bakes. The event co-marketed with the Women’s National Health Conference while media sponsorship was provided by TV One and Stevie Wonder’s KLJH. KLJH’s Kevin Nash emceed the event and One Now Roland Martin covered and broadcast the event to a national audience of radio listeners, and internet and television viewers. Blues and jazz legend Barbara Morrison delighted listeners and surprised the jazz band Supa Lowery Brothers with an impromptu performance.

Patrick A. Howell (c) 2017

Mr. Collin Hinds, Director of Development at LMU said of the event, “Angela Rye did an excellent job hosting two of the conversations and KJLH’s Kevin Nash emceed the event and conducted the final conversation. Congresswoman Bass participated and was gracious as always, we had Freedom Riders Dr. Bob and Helen Singleton, Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, LMU’s Dr. Cheryl Grills, Holman United Methodist Church’s Reverend Sauls and ILM Executive Director Umar Hakim!” Dr. Elena M. Bove, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at LMU and chair of the Marymount Institute Advisory Council, led the event announcing the Loyola Marymount University’s ongoing support and pride in TSEHAI Publishing and its publisher, Mr. Elias Wondimu.

Approximately 500 came to celebrate the press’s unveiling. Ms. Theresia de Vroom, Director of the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture and the Arts, Editor and Founder of the Marymount Institute Press was a key participant; LaShawn Stanford of UPS sponsored give-aways for VIPs; Pete and Melanie Wilson, members of the TSEHAI Board and Pete is CEO of Pyromation, also flew in; Joe Wakelee-Lynch, editor of the award winning LMU Magazine also attended; Rev. Kelvin Sauls of Holman United Methodist Church and the Provost of Clark Atlanta, Peter O. Nwosu, Ph.D. were also in attendance.

LMU Photographer Robert Macaisa.
Shonda Buchanan, Elias Wondimu, Congressmember Karen Bass, and Angela Rye during a panel discussion on “Harriet Tubman Press: The Power of a Press” at the inaugural launch of Harriet Tubman Press (Photography by Robert Macaisa)

LMU Photographer Robert Macaisa.
Editor for Harriet Tubman Press, Shonda Buchanan speaks at the inaugural book launch of Harriet Tubman Press for Voices from Leimert Park Redux (Photography by Robert Macaisa)
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