The Foundation for Arts, Mentoring, Leadership and Innovation (FA-MLI, Inc.), a Los Angeles based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 to provide educational, culturally, and artistically relevant programs and services to youth and communities in need. "See a Man Be a Man" is our award-winning life mastery/mentoring program consisting of dynamic activities, classroom lessons, group and one-on-one m
entoring, and interventions run by Black men to support vulnerable students in recognizing, articulating, and successfully navigating their life challenges. Our youth program is powered under the Root Curriculum, which espouses (9) Critical Life Themes, including, Spirituality, Culture, Career, Education, Economics, Politics, Health, the Family and Personal Responsibility. The program serves students from the ages of 11 - 24, including those returning from incarceration, and to those exhibiting behavioral or mental health challenges. We are expanding the program to additional school in 2022. II. I've Known Rivers Film Festival: 11th annual I've Known Rivers Film Festival and fundraiser, will take place November 18th -19th, 2022 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Drive Inn style! Thanks to those of you who supported last year, and we look forward to a bigger and greater Film Festival this year. Last year, we honored legendary movie star, Judy Pace, (Above) with a lifetime achievement award, this year's honoree is famed Director/actor/humanitarian, Bill Duke! Our theme this year is, "Here I Stand, the Intersection of Art & Activism." As mentioned above, this event is an annual fundraiser for our agency and its plethora of programs, services, activities and events, and the cost for entry is $40 per car, $75 VIP, and $15 general Admission. We welcome our new coordinator, Brie Cole, who comes to us with a wealth of experience and is helping to lift our event to a new level! III. A Question of Culture Film & Discussion Series: Our Tuesday evening, zoom based series, (6pm – 9pm each evening) is going strong and has functioned as a conduit, bringing together a group of people, all in love with the acquisition of knowledge, a passion for Black History and great Films, and a keen interest in contemporary issues. We are currently discussing how the remainder of the year will look like in terms of topics, and, we will link this project with our monthly series at the Barbara Morrison Theater, more to come. IV. FAMLI’s Cultural Renaissance, CLASSIC PHOTO Gathering project:
Our Classic Photo project began 26 years ago, on May 18, 1996, in front of the iconic World Stage Performance Gallery, in historic Leimert Park Village, Los Angeles, California. This project recognizes and honors unsung artists, advocates and activist, political figures, writers, poets, and everyday people, who have achieved much in life, yet, for various reasons, have not been properly acknowledged, this annual gathering ensures that they are enshrined in history. V. The FAMLI, MALCOLM X Legacy Project; Festival & Blvd., Co-Naming:
In 2021, we re-introduced the annual Los Angeles Malcolm X arts, culture & education Festival, a legendary event, originally starting in May of 1993, and ending 15 years later, May of 2007. We built upon 2021’s event an retooled the Festival in 2022, moving it to inside venues due to construction in the Leimert Park Black Arts Village. Our 28-year-old effort to name a major street after the legendary Human Rights leader, Malcolm X, has been ignited and is fast moving toward success, as we have garnered the support of over 3000 residents, business persons, and in addition, the support of the five major Neighborhood Councils in our community, they include, Park Mesa Heights, ECWANDC, WANC, UNNC and SLAANC. We expect to submit information to both Council Representatives in the area, (10th and 8th) and that they will then move to garner a vote to codify this effort into history! VI. Everything with Soul, Music & Arts project: This year, we will see EWS enter into the schools and perform concerts for the benefit of students and staff, while teaching lessons bearing historical/cultural value. Also, I will release a few songs, one that will become an anthem for youth programs nation-wide, entitled, See a Man, Be a Man! Moreover, we have entered into a partnership with the famed, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, where our founder, musical artist Torrence, has been offered an artist in residency to perform his original compositions, and produce a monthly television show, entitled, Legendary Nights, the Torre` BRANNON-Reese show. The first show occurs on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 6pm - 9pm, and can be found on Eventbrite.
