Well-designed youth programs encourage leadership by promoting self-esteem and confidence.

You've probably been part of programs like the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, or even the Boys and Girls Club of America.

These clubs are some of the most popular and respected afterschool programs for children across the country.

Tonight, I want to introduce you to a new youth program that's bringing the arts to our children right here in Los Angeles.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

From Los Angeles.

This is Kelsey's PBS.

Welcome to everybody.

With Angela Williamson and Innovation Arts, Education and Public Affairs program, everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Ari.

Thank you so much for being here.

Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself.

Of course.

Well, thank you for having me, Angela.

I appreciate it.

Yeah.

So my name is Arianna Angelique, and I'm the founder of the nonprofit organization Rock Era.

Rock stands for regardless of Color.

So I wear many hats.

I am a social activist, I am a youth advocate.

I am a content creator for children's film and television.

And I'm also an athlete, which I'm sure we'll get to all of that in a second.

But I grew up here in Los Angeles, Southern California myself, grew up in a lower income community, grew up with my mother without a father.

He was incarcerated my whole life, and he passed away when I was 11 while incarcerated.

So this is personal for me.

What I do with rock era is is really personal.

So I always tell this story.

I was eight years old and I had a mentor come in and introduce me to the world of the arts.

And Angela, it changed my life.

I don't think I'd be sitting here with you right now had I not had this mentor come in and introduce me to the world of possibilities.

It changed the trajectory of my life.

I don't know where I'd be at this point without those mentors.

So that is my main focus.

And my main goal now is to be that mentor that I had.

So I went to high school performing arts in Orange County.

Then I went moved to New York City and went to a performing arts college.

Then I traveled the world for 12 years and was a professional actress.

I got to see the world experience culture and I wouldn't have had that that opportunity without those mentors.

So that brings me to the rock era.

Well, in even though you were traveling around the world, your heart was still here, of course.

So your heart's here, You've traveled, you come back home.

And what happens next for Ariana?

So once I. I knew there was something else that I had to do.

I knew that that performing was it was fulfilling.

It was incredible.

I played every dream role.

I saw the world.

But like you said, I knew there was more for me.

So I ended my career in the end of 2018 and I decided to create content for children's film and television.

And the reasoning behind that was we're kind of where my activism began was to create more diverse content for children's film and television.

Growing up, I didn't have a character to relate to on TV, and still, in my opinion, there's not enough represents action.

So my goal was to bring diverse character to the forefront.

I have a very exciting project coming up that I can't say much about, but I will say that.

Welcome to Hollywood.

Welcome to Hollywood.

And get, you know, there will be an incredible, fierce character coming out that will be a role model to many and in the animated world.

So once that happens, I'll talk to you about that.

No, that's okay, because I even though you can't tell us all the details, you mentioned something and you touched upon it, But I want to dig a little deeper about it because there's something missing there and there's a reason why you are trying to fulfill that role.

You talked about role models, but what is it about those role models that will make a difference because you had that difference in your life.

So what do you want to bring without telling?

I know telling is all the content.

Can you share a little bit about that?

Yeah, I just think it's important, like I said, for children to see themselves represented, to know that it is normal to be, to be proud of our skin, to be proud of our hair, to see ourselves represented, whether it's, you know, ethnicity, whether it's learning differences, whatever it is, it is important that we tell our children that they matter, that their life is important.

So that's for me why I created this character for this this this feature film.

And my goal is for it is to be around the world for as many children to see it as possible.

So that's kind of what I did with that.

But as far as the mentoring, that's where the birth of rock era and we're only a year old, you know, we just started last year.

So we started during the pandemic.

We started during the pandemic.

How does that work?

I know.

So I mentioned here I'm a social activist as well.

I really care about, you know, justice and equality.

And in the beginning of the movement per se, I knew, you know, I was in the streets as an activist, but I also knew that I was fighting for our future generation.

I always said that.

So and I and I just sat back and thought, you know, what do I want to do with this movement?

And I thought about the kids.

And so immediately we started going out to these different areas in Watts and in Compton, in South L.A. and doing what we could.

We knew the kids were falling back, falling behind, whether it's academically or physically, you know, they weren't getting or socially.

So we would just show up and we would play with the kids for hours, you know, we'd make sure everyone was safe and had their, you know, their their masks on and everything.

But and then it grew and it grew and it grew.

And now we are, you know, all over Watts We have three different community housing projects that we that we are in.

And it's just incredible how fast we have grown.

But for me, it's about the children, you know, really, it's why it's my purpose is to be that mentor and to just instill in their lives that they that they matter and that there is a world of possibilities out there, you know?

So that's really what rock area is.

We are focused on bringing in the untraditional, which I think sets us apart from other nonprofit organizations.

Like I said, I didn't have access to the arts until these mentors came in and showed me showed me the opportunity, showed me what that was.

So we bring in anything from, you know, performing arts to fine arts to untraditional sports.

I also mentioned I'm an athlete and I'm an obstacle course racer.

I know if you know what that is, but it's.

Explain it because after class racing, if I know it, yeah, maybe our viewers don't know it.

So explain it.

So it's obstacle course.

Racing is running mixed with obstacles.

So it's about like, for example, the hardest one I've done is 13 miles of running and then there's 60 obstacles within that.

Within within that 30 miles.

So you know.

Exactly.

And it takes you've got to be strong.

You got to have got to be strong and fast.

So it's, you know, and that so for me, I don't want to just bring in soccer, football and basketball.

They're used to that.

Let's show them something else.

Let's teach our babies how to swim.

Let's teach them, you know, tennis.

You know, there's just so many, you know, an obstacle course racing.

Yeah.

My son's a tennis player.

There you.

Go.

Yes, this is.

Exactly.

And, you know, just teach them about healthy, healthy lifestyles.

We I also believe in committed enrichment.

So not only do we have our kids programs, we also are starting gardens.

We're partnering with different garden organizations and we are going into these communities and we've already started to gardens and are trying to help and create, you know, healthy food and a sense of community and having something of their own and beauty beautifying the area as well.

So we do a lot and we have a partnerships now already with Children's Institute, which is a great organization and we are already kicking off our arts program with them.

And our goal is to I'd love to see rock arts, our arts program in LAUSD eventually.

That's the goal, you know, and it's tailored for our low income, you know, underserved black and brown children.

This is important.

This time is heavy, though.

It's a heavy time for the world right now.

And I feel like we tend to forget that our children are watching, our children are experiencing this.

So that's my passion for everything I do.

You know, and it's I'll tell you this, too, you know, it's important when coming into these communities, you need to build relationships.

So, you know, a lot of organizations, they come in, they give and then they're gone.

And for me, I show up, I show up every day.

I show up as much as I can.

I build relationships with the community members, with the children, with the parents.

And so now any time I come in, I hear, you know, Mishori and I just have kids from every angle just running to me.

And that is why I do what I do, you know, I was that child that had those mentors.

So it's it's definitely, definitely my purpose.

There are so many studies out there regarding to things that your organization's doing about the importance, especially on the emotional health, the children, when they can actually be part of the arts and then you're also addressing something that's very critical, but it's not just for the children, but for the families as well, right?

What you're teaching there about nutrition, about, you know, creating their own gardens, community.

And so are you seen I mean, I know you're very young, but tell me the changes that you're seeing already.

I mean, with a couple of the kids, for example, there's a young, young, young kid named DeMarcus, and he was our only our only boy in our production of Annie, which I'll talk about in a second.

And he was in he's incredible.

He's a he's a singer, he's a rapper, He's a dancer.

And it was hard to get him in at first.

He was only, you know, only boy, you know.

So but then eventually he did the show and it was 200 people there.

And he just he'd killed it, you know.

And so his mom called me the other day and said, Hey, Mazari, I want to know you want to make sure that DeMarcus wants to make sure he hasn't missed your classes.

He's signing up for football, but he wants to make sure that he can do your arts classes.

So can we figure out a time and a schedule to where DeMarcus can do both?

And to me, I got chills knowing that this young child wants to make sure that he has time for the arts now, you know.

And she said, you know, he's he wants to do this now.

He's singing, he's dancing, you know, And I'm just I'm I feel like that's that's an example of of how this is working and how I know that arts, the power of arts is so important.

It is not only is it it's self-expression, but it's a coping mechanism.

It helps with trauma and healing.

And, you know, in these areas, in this demographic, our children need that more than ever.

But we're getting ready to take a break.

But before we take a break, I want you to talk about this project that you're working on, because we're going to be able to see a little bit of it.

Yes, we talk about that.

Okay.

So after doing some rehearsals with the kids at the Watts Empowerment Center in Watts, I thought, let's do it and still show, you know.

And so I told the kids, I said, We're going to do Annie.

So I played them what Annie was.

I'm sure you know, the old, old motion picture, Annie.

And I thought, You know what, we're in Watts.

Why not do something a little more urban, a little more culturally?

Fine.

So we did Urban Annie.

So I have three beautiful African-American girls that split the role of Annie.

And the show was not only just a performance, but it was a a calling a and a bringing awareness to the fact that, as you know, the story is about orphans in the foster care system.

And in my opinion today, the foster care system is still pretty corrupt and it's still targeting our black and brown families.

So this show was not only a performance for the children, but it was also to bring awareness to what's going on.

Part of.

Community Act.

Exactly.

And that's for me.

I found a way to marry my activism with my artistry, and that's what we've done.

So you're going to see Miss Candice, who's eight years old.

She's one of our aunties, and you're going to see Ms.. Priore, who is nine years old.

And these girls, they are just incredible.

And I'm so, so proud of them.

And they're going to they're going to sing a song tomorrow from the show.

Oh, I should have brought Kleenex to the best song.

I'm going to need it.

Oh, my goodness.

Yeah.

Ari.

Yes.

First of all, thank you for everything that you're doing and the community, because I know that you've given so much into it and you've done so much just within a year.

So I cannot wait to see what you do.

Thank you so much.

In 5 to 10 years.

Okay.

Thank you.

And also to thank you for bringing these other two or three incredible guests that we'll see after this segment.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

And you will want to definitely come back because I will introduce you to Dr. Cynthia Mendenhall, also known as Big Mama from Chosun Angels.

But first, members of Rock Era will perform for us.

So go grab your Kleenex and come right back.

Jason, let's go see your.

Room.

And I was to I.

Want to apples and bananas.

I need to eat apples and bananas.

Why can't I eat apples and support the Feeding America Nationwide network of food banks to help provide meals to those in need?

Join us at Feeding America dot org.

The sun comes out tomorrow.

I'll bet your bottom dollar that morale there'll be sun just thinking.

About tomorrow clears away the cobwebs.

And sorrows.

So this will last a good day.

That's great.

And lonely.

I just took off my chin.

And green and said, Oh.

The sun comes out tomorrow so you gotta hang on till tomorrow.

Come with me to morrow.

To morrow I love ya to morrow You're always a day.

When like the day that's gray and lonely I to get.

My chin.

And grin and said Oh, that'll come out tomorrow.

So you gotta go, girl Summer, come let me do mine to morrow I love ya Morrow go.

He said I went to morrow to morrow I love ya To morrow you're always check out when.

Far as your kids might go.

When I was in foster care I never knew when I would have to move.

So I always had my suitcase ready to go.

Then one day I was adopted.

My new parents open their hearts and home to me.

My parents cooked my favorite breakfast for me Every morning.

My parents secured trips.

I never thought I would die.

They gave me a home and an even better reason to use that suitcase.

So my parents aren't perfect, but they're.

Perfect for me and I love you.

Welcome back.

I'm so glad you're here for my conversation with Doctor Big Momma from Chosun Angels.

Big Mama.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

Are doing such incredible work.

And I just want you to start off by just telling us your story.

First of all, I'd like to start off by saying thank you.

After 30 years serving and helping other people, I started off in Haiti, helping people, helping organizations because I. I had control, had the numbers, I had community.

I was doing reentry.

I was doing Plenty Girls Club.

I was doing treating women's group.

I was just doing everything positive domestic violence, trafficking, foster care.

I was doing a lot.

I was going to get the girls at the boys and girls at the gym and the tent poles and the YMCA.

It was three different organizations at time Youth.

It was and Watts and Imperial Courts.

And I was in trouble.

Youth because my mother was on drugs.

So I would come get the girls at each program and take them with me.

And we heard our community, and that's how I started my career.

And I said, What about them?

Get hurt.

We know this.

Every time she peep or come to the door, she she if everybody they follow her.

We get her.

We can get the youth.

And that's what they did.

The next time I came, they said, I got a job for you.

I want you to watch all these baby kids, I say, watching them bad kids.

And she said, I'm gonna pay you.

I want to hire you because I know this.

We don't have no numbers.

You take, you know, and they the their first day.

I like it.

I like disturbing the kids.

They had men mental issues.

They had.

Hey were problems.

They had a lot of things going on in their home.

I learned as aunt became a dope and that started my career.

From there I volunteered for 30 years.

30 years volunteering.

And now I'm here.

And you're here.

Well, we are so honored that you're here because you can add a lot of insight to what has been happening right in our city right now.

And in these 30 years, have you seen any major changes that are either positive or negative that we need to know right now?

A lot of things have changed because you got to come to the leaders.

You got to work with the people in the community.

The reason why a lot of things is not working now because they took it and put a lot of things in the mirror office.

They need to get the intervention programs out.

The mayor is the reason why I worked with us for 15 years, because no politician was involved.

The community, the people in the trenches and people like me in in the trenches.

I'm in the trenches.

I know what the needs are.

The housing authority city of Los Angeles, they have bought racks in different community, but they not on the streets like us.

Even though you have intervention, I'm not in a lane, but when something happened, they come give me like it's a murder.

They say, Go get Big Mama, I'm coming.

Because a couple of weeks ago it was all I read, all Bloods, We are Crip neighborhood.

So they was like, Oh my God, please go get Big Mama.

And I went out there to talk to the mother and told her who I was and the grandmother and she and let her know.

I know you're in shock right now.

Your son is right here on the ground.

But I want to let you know I got you.

I lost two kids in 60 days.

And she turned around and looked at me and said, I know you.

I seen you on TV.

I see you.

I know who you are.

Thank you.

I need you.

Before we end our time today, I mean, just empowering your story is so empowering.

You're still today in the community and you're working with rock era.

What do you think would be a wonderful gift and legacy to all the work that big Mama has done all 30 years?

It's helping foster care.

Yes, I am, dear.

I am dear, I am there.

I walked issues.

I wore other people underwears.

I wore people's clothes when I was growing up.

I cooked.

I cooked food in elementary in a chair and trying to feed my brothers and sisters.

I'm the second oldest.

My oldest took care of.

She really is my mother and I am the foster kids.

If you touch one, then I'll take over the whole family.

So if they have nine kids I meet their first one day.

I deal with the whole family and I help the mother get classes.

I help the mother get furniture, beds, food, whatever she me, I have to hold her hand to get her kids back.

If she don't get her kids back, I help it.

Make sure I go to relative.

If I had to march in front, it says whatever I had to do, they have to.

Brown and black kids in our community and all over the world.

That's where my job is.

It have been done and I just want to say I just need support.

I just thought it showed an angel and I need donations and support to go to court.

Church and quotes from these mothers.

They don't have rights.

They lose custody.

So that's why I'm here today, because I need support for transportation, clothing, domestic violence.

A mother call me.

She just got her house shot up by her her her baby father.

And when I walked at LAPD, say, oh, that's a soldier.

And I said, yes, you call me and I want to put her up in a place I'm not leaving into a God, put her in a safe place, and I'm a stay with her to relocate her.

Okay.

So we're going to help you with chosen angels in your mission to not only look at foster care, but to support women of domestic violence.

How can we reach out to you personally?

Are you on Facebook?

Do you have a website or do we go through rock area?

I would like for you to go to Ed Watts chosen Angels as J. J l Iraq era and engage in the change engagement.

I would love for you to support me because I'm doing reentry.

Foster I'm doing a lot.

I've been spinning my own my support.

They don't know that I'm not working.

They don't know because these old clothes, I know how to wash them, make them look no.

So I don't have an income.

I just got laid off from the workforce.

So my last check, I just have mother upfront about 7 hours.

She came to days ago and I bought her daughter some clothes because the principal called me.

She put me down for mercy and the principal called me, say, I don't want to consider service, but the baby, the daughter is sick and they get your name.

And I say, Please don't go to the service.

I'm on my way.

And our daughter and I talked.

She said, I'm still shut up for when he shot at me and my kids dirty shots and I need your support.

So I need the mental health counseling and I refer services as well.

But the people's got the big organizations and I do homeless.

They get the money, but they're not serving people's income and whatnot.

South Central.

So we're not seeing those funds go with go to the community.

Know me and I feed 15 people.

Someone to the parents last night.

Yeah.

And the mother, Hispanic mother I went knocked on her door because her kids keep coming to my house.

I do free home work club in my yard and I do free snacks all night.

And so the kids keep coming in.

I say, Max, Max, my friend from Social Justice, I said, That's a foster child.

That's a foster child.

That's a foster child.

That's a foster child.

That's a foster child who say their whole life.

I say, yeah.

He said, oh my God.

So as they work with me, they see me struggling, they see me struggling.

I make it now.

We I got the kids and the clown tail and I got the numbers, but I don't have to fund it.

But I don't tell people.

Well, you know, we're telling them now.

And as I close this show, you have been my most inspiring guest so far.

And I just want to thank you for everything that you're doing to make sure our children are taking care of and protecting those who need protection.

So thank you so much.

We are going to make sure we get that information also to on on this air as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you for joining us on everybody with Angela Williamson.

Viewers like you make this show possible.

Join us on Social media to continue this conversation that we had tonight.

Good night and stay well.