Los Angeles, CA, DECEMBER 18, 2009 — Clarence Avant, Vice–Chairman of The Alliance for Digital Equality™ (ADE) presented Brenda Marsh-Mitchell, President of Mothers In Action in Los Angeles, and a local computer center in the 15 District with a donation of 10 computers for the 2010 school year. ADE Spokesperson Monica Cabbler was on hand in Los Angeles to assist with the presentation to Ms. Marsh-Mitchell and the computer center at the Lillian Mobley Manor housing complex in Watts of the much needed equipment. The Christmas donation to the computer center will help to service 67 neighborhood youth, ages 5-18 years of age.

“Our donation clearly demonstrates that we are committed to providing needed resources to communities who have far less than adequate access to computer technology – in this case public school students living in one of the nation’s most violence-prone and impoverished areas," said Vice-Chairman Avant. "Today's computer donation aims at enhancing student performance, literacy and self-esteem.”

Mothers In Action (MIA) clearly understands that “building a better tomorrow today” must begin with our youth. MIA provides free services to at risk youth. Services include: tutoring, mentoring, internships, scholarships, self-esteem building, teen pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, goal setting, educational and career planning. Field trips to college fairs, community service projects, cultural awareness, recreational, and career development activities are regularly conducted. Tutorial services are available every second and fourth Saturday of every month.

The Alliance for Digital Equality™ looks forward to its continued work in underserved and un-served communities such as this, and reaffirms the importance of bridging the digital divide to ensure brighter futures for tomorrow’s leaders.

About The Alliance for Digital Equality: The Alliance for Digital Equality™ is a non-profit 501 (c) 4 consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved and un-served communities. The Alliance also serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives. For more information on The Alliance for Digital Equality, please visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

About Mothers In Action: Mothers In Action - (MIA), a Los Angeles Brotherhood Crusade sponsored agency, is a non-profit organization committed to the continued care and growth needed to facilitate an improved quality of life in our community. Mothers In Action came into existence as a result of the 1992 civil unrest. Mothers In Action brings community mothers together who are devoted to God, family, community and the power of their “one” vote. These women have and continue to explore creative ways to support, improve and motivate our elderly, youth and less fortunate residents of our community, while facilitating self worth, dignity and respect. Mothers In Action is an active group of over 5,000 members and volunteers composed of concerned citizens, businesses and community agencies who roll up their sleeves to execute established MIA projects and services. These projects and services bring valuable and much needed resources to families in need. Please visit www.mothersinaction.org.

We Prayed, We Voted, We took care of our families And We took care of our community with your help…

In keeping with our mission “dedicated to improving the quality of life for our children and community” Mothers In Action has successfully implemented a community based approach to defusing some of the disparities of preventive health care through several annual health fairs for the underserved, at risk community residents. Every year, (for the past 15 years) with the help of sponsors and volunteers, like you Mothers In Action has faithfully attempted to close the widening gap of health disparities by providing access to preventive health services and valuable health related resource information in a festive full fun atmosphere.

Listed below are the vehicles used by Mothers In Action to provide an estimated 500,000 plus with food, “FREE” immunizations, eye screenings, hearing exams, TB testing, blood pressure screenings, cholesterol testing, diabetes testing, dental check ups, STD and HIV testing, eligible children in the Healthy Families Program and other low cost insurance plans, and mental health resource information as well as other valuable resource information to the underserved, devastated, and homeless in our community since our 1992 inception. These community based events include, but are not limited to:

• Friends Serving Friends Skid Row Homeless Feed Over the past 15 years MIA has served hot meals to Downtown Los Angeles, Skid Row homeless residents in a festive atmosphere. In addition to hot meals, various “Free” health screenings, agency referrals, haircuts, hygiene kits, some clothes, and other giveaways are provided for the men, women, and growing population of children.
• Back to School Health and Family Festival During the past ten years MIA has provided 61,000 at risk, underserved youth in greater Los Angeles with lunch, ancillary giveaways (i.e. school supplies, clothing, hygiene kits, etc.), various “Free” health screenings, and educational and health and fitness resource and referral information.
• Senior Lunches and Grocery Giveaway MIA provides hot lunches and grocery giveaways in a banquet luncheon type setting. Many needy and disabled seniors receive the hot nourishing meal in addition to supplements to their limited food resources, thus allowing them to reallocate other resources for other necessities.
• Taste of Soul Health Pavilion During the past four years MIA has successfully provided an estimated 50,000??? “Mega Extravaganza” attendees with every imaginable health screening for “Free”. Additionally, valuable resource and referral information is provided.
• Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner Over the past fifteen years MIA has successfully provided and delivered a formal Thanksgiving dinner meals to senior, sick and shut in on Thanksgiving Day . This service provides a smiling caring face and a nutritious meal to many that are so often forgotten.

Other Projects were, but were not limited to:

• Emergency Relief to victims of the 1992 Civil Unrest and the 1994 Earthquake. During these emergency situations, MIA successfully provided 3 meals a day for a total of 650 people in three different locations in Los Angeles and Compton for a total of eight months between these two crises. In addition to the meals provided, three large tents were utilized to provide shelter for 500 people per night over a period of time in two Los Angeles and one Compton location.
• 2003 Eastside Village Flood similar emergency relief (food and shelter) was extended to the tenants at the property.
• 2005 Hurricane Katrina Victims estimated at 105 individuals received food, clothing, furniture, and assistance with temporary relocation, jobs, and medical referrals, and resource information as requested.
• Health and Wellness Celebration was a block party where attendees received free health screenings, and a well balance fish dinner in a party atmosphere. Over 3,500 received services provided.
• Take a love one to the Doctor was an invitation/opportunity for those who know someone in need of health care to bring them to “outdoor Doctor’s office”. Free health screening, holistic medicine and referral information are available for all who attend.
• Emergency Food Distribution and Referral Services Mothers In Action provides emergency food vouchers and shelter referrals for individuals and family in need.
• Angel Tree Christmas Project Over the past ten years MIA has provided Christmas gifts and a party for less fortunate, at risk youth, college students and senior citizens.
• Job and Career Fairs Over the past eleven years MIA has actively partnered with EDD, Work Source, The Urban League, and other State of California entities to provide varies fairs throughout the year.
• Mentoring Program Over the past thirteen years MIA has and continues to mentor at risk youth, providing educational field trips, community activities including volunteer opportunities, life skills training and motivational speakers, intervention and academic assistance.
• Jena 6 Trails /March Three buses of concerned citizens went to Jena to protest.
• Test A Million Mothers In Action hosted a AIDS Testing during the Campaign.
• Blood Drives Mothers in Action hosted Blood drives for Children Hospital.
• Respect Me Coalition was launched in the face of the music industry total disrespect for women. Activities included town hall meeting, marches on recording companies, media outreach, and sister to sister family business conferences for the empowerment of the women in our community.
• WIA Program a collaboration with EDD that provided 500 plus with life skills, computer and job training, and job placement and follow up to ensure their success. The program had a 97% success rate.
• Kingdom Day Parade Every year Mothers In Action’s at risk youth experience the pageantry and excitement of Martin Luther King and the MLK Parade.
• Vote 2008 Be Counted! Mothers In Action provided transportation for Senior Citizens and the Disabled to the Norwalk County Recorder Office for early voting.
• Tutoring Program provided academic assistance to school aged children six for seventeen, individuals attempting to secure their GED, seeking entrance into the military and US Postal employment.
• Town Hall Meeting and Forums Mothers In Action hosted as well as partnered with concerned Community Activist and politicians in an effort to education t and inform the community about relevant issues.
• College Student Internships/Scholarships/Seasonal Gift Cards for College Students
• Prison Pen Pal Mothers In Action staff and volunteers faithfully write to those incarcerated and attempted to assist them with valuable resource information and employment.

L.A. County, the city, most business entities, the State of California as well as the federal government are facing the largest economic crisis that we have seen in decades. We know that this crisis is not going away overnight and neither is our responsibility to at risk, underserved community residents that are and continue to be most affected by lack of health resources and the soaring unemployment rates.

We have an obligation to our community. We have and will continue to roll up our sleeves to meet the increased demands of underserved community who are always the first and most affected by our current economic crisis.

Can we continue count on you ?

“It takes a village to raise a child”, and we are honored to have you as a part of our village.

 

Brenda Marsh-Mitchell
President/CEO