4/25/01

LC010425

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> FOLKS HAVE BEEN BICKERING OVER A COASTAL MARSH IN ORANGE COUNTY FOR AS LONG AS MOST OF US CAN REMEMBER.

JIM HILL>> IN THE PAST 110 YEARS, BOLSA CHICA, SPANISH FOR "LITTLE POCKET", HAS BEEN HOME TO A GUN CLUB, A 400-WELL OIL FIELD, A WORLD WAR II ARMY ARTILLERY REGIMENT, AND, BY THE 1960'S, HAD BECOME A COVETED PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.

CINDY CROSS>> THIS HAS BECOME A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO'VE MADE THEIR POLITICAL CAREERS ON THIS ONE ISSUE.

VAL>> SHE GREW UP AS AN ORPHAN IN WAR-TORN BEIRUT AND EVENTUALLY BECAME A STAR AT UCLA. IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE'LL MEET WITH THIS REMARKABLE WOMAN ABOUT HER REAL WORLD MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

JESS>> YOU MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER BRAND NEW CATHEDRAL IN LOS ANGELES. IT MAY DRAW LESS ATTENTION THAN THE ONE DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S NO LESS GRAND. WE'LL TALK WITH THE PASTOR OF THE NEW WEST ANGELES CATHEDRAL.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
UNDERWRITING THE SPANISH LANGUAGE TRANSLATION OF LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW. OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, A LITTLE POCKET OF LAND KNOWN AS BOLSA CHICA. THIS STRETCH OF COAST BETWEEN SEAL BEACH AND HUNTINGTON BEACH INCLUDES THE LARGEST WETLANDS COMPLEX IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> NOW DEVELOPERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE BATTLED OVER BOLSA CHICA FOR THREE DECADES. TWELVE HUNDRED ACRES OF WETLANDS HAVE BEEN RESTORED SO FAR, BUT AS JIM HILL REPORTS, THE BATTLE NOW MOVES TO HIGHER GROUND.

JIM>> FOR THE GREAT BLUE HERON, IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO CRANE YOUR NECK AND STRETCH YOUR LONG LEGS ON A MORNING STROLL. NEARBY, A LEAST TERN FINDS GOOD HUNTING IN THE TIDAL SHALLOWS WHILE A SNOWY EGRET CHASES A MEAL OF MINNOWS. HERE AT THE BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS A FINE DAY FOR A HIKE.

JIM>> WHAT DO YOU FEEL? WHAT DO YOU EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE OUT HERE?

MARGE ALLEN>> OH, THE THRILL OF THIS OPEN SPACE. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRESERVE THE WETLANDS IS JUST REMARKABLE. THIS COULD BE THE ONE AND ONLY REPLICA OF WHAT THIS WAS LIKE 200 YEARS AGO, THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA AND FROM EVERY OTHER STATE COULD COME HERE AND SEE WHAT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST WAS LIKE.

JIM>> THERE IS A HISTORY OF LAND USE BATTLES HERE ALONG THE COAST BETWEEN HUNTINGTON BEACH AND SUNSET BEACH, THE LATEST TIFF OVER PLANS TO BUILD HOUSES NEARLY A MILE AWAY ON A BLUFF, OR MESA, OVERLOOKING THE RESERVE. CINDY CROSS HAS LIVED IN THE AREA FOR 30 YEARS AND THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

CINDY CROSS>> THIS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND REDESIGNED AND THE BEST EXPERTS HAVE WORKED ON THIS TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S REALLY STATE OF THE ART. IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED AS A MODEL IN THE FUTURE TO BUILD DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS IN AREAS LIKE THIS.

JIM>> BUT OPPONENTS SAY ADDING HOMES TO THOSE ALREADY THERE COULD DESTROY THE WETLANDS BELOW.

JIM>> WHEN I LOOK OFF HERE, THAT'S GOT TO BE, IT'S GOT TO BE, WHAT, THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE AWAY. YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WOULD SAY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH BUILDING HOUSES WAY UP THERE?

PAUL HORGAN>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SUCH A -- IF I MAY SAY IT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WRONG NECESSARILY. IT'S JUST NOT THE CORRECT THING TO DO, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS SPECIAL AREA. BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS, FIRST OF ALL, IF WE BUILD HOUSES UP THERE, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME FROM HOUSES, MOTOR OIL, PESTICIDES, ETC., GO INTO THE MARSH.

JIM>> IN THE PAST 110 YEARS, BOLSA CHICA, SPANISH FOR "LITTLE POCKET", HAS BEEN HOME TO A GUN CLUB, A 400-WELL OIL FIELD, A WORLD WAR II ARMY ARTILLERY REGIMENT, AND, BY THE 1960'S, HAD BECOME A COVETED PIECE OF REAL ESTATE. OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN NO SHORTAGE OF PROPOSALS ON HOW TO BEST USE THIS LAND. AMONG THEM, A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, A MARINA AND A MAJOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. BUT ALL OF THEM LOST OUT TO PRESERVATION. SIGNAL LANDMARK CORPORATION, THE LAND OWNER, AGREED TO SELL PART OF THE 2,000-ACRE TIDAL MARSH TO THE STATE AND DEVELOP THE REST. PLANS WERE MADE TO RESTORE THE COASTAL SAGEBRUSH, MONKEY FLOWER AND QUAIL BUSH THAT ONCE THRIVED IN THE MARSH.

MARGE ALLEN>> WE DON'T HAVE AN ACRE TO WASTE. IT COULD ALL BE NATURAL, AS IF YOU'D WALKED BACK IN TIME.

JIM>> BUT SIGNAL LANDMARK AND SOME CITIZENS COMPLAIN THAT PLANS TO PROTECT THE WETLANDS KEEP EXPANDING TO PUT MORE AND MORE NEARBY LAND OFF-LIMITS TO BUILDING. SIGNAL LANDMARK SAYS IT SPENT $90 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ON ITS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ONLY TO HAVE PLANS THAT WERE ONCE OKAYED LATER OVERTURNED. NOW IT IS SUING THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR STOPPING A PREVIOUSLY OKAYED DEVELOPMENT ON THE MESA. IN ITS LAWSUIT, LANDMARK SAYS THE COMMISSION MADE A RADICAL AND ARBITRARY U-TURN AND, IF IT LOSES, SOME FEAR IMPROVEMENTS THE DEVELOPER HAD PROMISED TO PAY FOR WILL ALSO BE LOST.

CINDY CROSS>> THERE WAS A NEW FIRE STATION, A SCHOOL, AN ADDITIONAL BLUFF-TOP PARK, MONIES -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CAME INTO IT -- BUT MONIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 405 AND 22 FREEWAY INTERCHANGE.

JIM>> WHETHER THE BEHOLDER SEES THEM AS MUDDY SWAMPS OR AS BEAUTIFUL WETLANDS, THEIR VALUE IS SIGNIFICANT. THE WETLANDS ARE HOME TO A WIDE RANGE OF CREATURES FROM SHORE BIRDS TO HAWKS AND MIGRATING WATER FOWL THAT USE THEM AS RESTING POINTS ON THE PACIFIC FLYWAY. FLUSHED BY DAILY TIDES, THE MARSH IS FILLED WITH NUTRIENTS THAT FORM THE ECOLOGICAL BASE FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS ALIKE, PART OF A DIVERSIFIED ECOSYSTEM SOME HAVE CALLED CALIFORNIA'S VERSION OF THE RAIN FOREST. SO THE BATTLE OVER BOLSA CHICA CONTINUES. A CORPORATION SUES COASTAL REGULATORS SOME 30 YEARS AFTER IT BOUGHT THE LAND IN HOPES OF DEVELOPING IT.

JIM>> PEOPLE MIGHT SAY YOU'RE JUST ONE STEP AFTER ANOTHER TAKING MORE AND MORE AND MORE. WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?

PAUL HORGAN>> WELL, I SUPPOSE THE CONVERSE OF THAT IS THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT YOU JUST KEEP BUILDING MORE AND MORE AND MORE UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT. SO I GUESS WE'RE THE MIRROR IMAGE OF THAT.

JIM>> AND, LIKE SHORE BIRDS SQUABBLING OVER A FAVORITE ROOST, CITIZEN GROUP BATTLES CITIZEN GROUP.

CINDY CROSS>> I THINK THAT, AFTER 30 YEARS, IT BECOMES A CASE OF ANY KIND OF FEUD WHERE EVENTUALLY YOU FORGET WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING ABOUT. YOU JUST WANT TO WIN.

JESS>> JIM, I ASSUME THE COASTAL COMMISSION DOES VIEW THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES ON THAT BLUFF AS BEING THREATENING TO THE REFUGE?

JIM>> YES, IT DOES, AND THAT'S THE RULING THAT'S NOW BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT BY THE LAND OWNER, SIGNAL LANDMARK. I THINK THAT THIS KIND OF EPITOMIZES ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES THAT WE SEE AGAIN AND AGAIN AROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS HIGHLY FUSSED-OVER LAND. THE DEVELOPER DID, IN FACT, SELL LAND TO BE PRESERVED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COULD DEVELOP LAND NEARBY.

JESS>> IT WAS A TRADE-OFF.

JIM>> IT WAS A TRADE-OFF. IT'S NOW FEELING BETRAYED. AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTENT ON PRESERVING THIS SAY WHY IN THE WORLD, AFTER HAVING DONE THIS TO PRESERVE IT, WHY SHOULD WE THREATEN IT NOW BY ALLOWING NEARBY BUILDING? EACH SIDE HAS WHAT IT BELIEVES IS A COMPELLING ARGUMENT AND NEITHER SIDE WANTS TO BACK DOWN. THIS PIECE OF LAND EXISTS IN THE MIDST OF ORANGE COUNTY, A VERY FAST-GROWING AREA, AND INDEED IT'S A PIECE OF OPEN SPACE AND THAT'S RARE IN THAT AREA.

VAL>> AND WITH A HOUSING SHORTAGE, HOW MANY HOMES ARE THEY PROPOSING TO BUILD, MORE OR LESS?

JIM>> THE TOP NUMBER WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,200 HOMES.

VAL>> THAT'S A LOT.

JIM>> AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF HOMES POINT TO, JUST AS YOU SAY, THAT HOUSING IS CRITICAL IN ORANGE COUNTY. IT HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST HOUSING PRICES AROUND AND THAT, IN ADDITION TO PRESERVING THINGS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY AND PEOPLE NEED TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

JESS>> HUNTINGTON BEACH HAS GOT TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE ISSUE OF ANY SORT OF RUN-OFF BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE OF THEIR BEACHES FOR SO MANY TIMES LAST SUMMER.

JIM>> THAT'S RIGHT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLLUTION, SOMETHING RUNNING DOWNHILL, YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THAT IN THIS AREA. THEY UNDERSTAND, YES, THIS CAN HAPPEN. THIS IS NOT JUST A FALSE ISSUE. IT DOES HAPPEN. THEIR BEACHES HAVE BEEN CLOSED. THEY'VE SUFFERED FOR IT. SO WHEN PEOPLE MAKE THEIR ARGUMENTS ON EITHER SIDE, PEOPLE AROUND ORANGE COUNTY, AND HUNTINGTON BEACH IN PARTICULAR, IDENTIFY WITH THOSE ARGUMENTS VERY STRONGLY.

VAL>> JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL WATCH FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THE LAWSUIT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, WE TALK WITH ANNA DEVERE-SMITH, THE ACTRESS WHO INVENTED A NEW FORM OF THEATER TO TELL US THE STORY OF THE L.A. RIOTS.

ANNA DEVERE-SMITH>> AND WE SORT OF WOVE IN FOOTAGE FROM THE RIOT WITH PARTS OF THE PLAY, ME PLAYING PARTS OF THE PLAY. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE KIDS WHO ARE 12 NOW WERE, WHAT, THREE WHEN THE RIOT HAPPENED?

VAL>> A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE FILM "TWILIGHT LOS ANGELES". THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M.

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, A MESSAGE FROM A SURVIVOR. SHE IS A WOMAN WHO LOST HER PARENTS AS A TODDLER AND GREW UP IN AN ORPHANAGE IN BEIRUT DURING THE VIOLENT CIVIL WARS THERE.

VAL>> SHE ARRIVED IN THE U.S. AT THE AGE OF 17 WITH ONLY $160 IN HER POCKET. WELL, FIVE YEARS LATER, SHE GRADUATED FROM UCLA AT THE TOP OF HER CLASS. HOW DID SHE DO IT? JOINING US NOW IS ANNA OUROUMIAN. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. SO NICE TO SEE YOU.

JESS>> HOW INDEED DID YOU DO IT?

VAL>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENING TO BE AN ORPHAN IN BEIRUT. WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> IT WAS REALLY HARD. VERY LONELY. JUST DEPRESSING. I REALLY NEVER THOUGHT, AS A KID, THAT I COULD EVER COME OUT OF IT.

VAL>> HOW DID YOU BECOME ORPHANED?

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> WELL, I HAVE ONE PARENT. MY MOM IS STILL ALIVE, BUT SHE WAS SICK, SO MY UNCLE -- I LOST MY DAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR AND MY UNCLE, SINCE MY MOTHER WAS SICK, PUT ME AND MY SISTER IN AN ORPHANAGE. ACTUALLY SENT US OFF IN A CAB TO AN ORPHANAGE. IT REALLY WAS LONELY TIMES. I REMEMBER THINKING -- I WAS JUST A VERY ALERT CHILD. I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON AND I FELT THAT I REALLY NEVER HAD MY CHILDHOOD BECAUSE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO BE DIFFERENT. SO IT WAS REALLY --

VAL>> -- AND THE CIVIL WAR WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME.

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> -- I'M SORRY.

VAL>> THAT'S OKAY. I KNOW IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TALK ABOUT, YEAH. I REMEMBER YOU WROTE ABOUT BULLETS LITERALLY FLYING OVER THE HEADS OF THE CHILDREN THERE, BUT SOMEHOW YOU ESCAPED TO THE UNITED STATES.

JESS>> WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, THOSE TO WHOM YOU SPEAK THESE DAYS? WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM AND HOW DO THEY RESPOND TO IT?

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> ACTUALLY, THE MESSAGE THAT I LIKE TO BRING AND THAT I DO BRING IS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE. I CAN RELATE FIRSTHAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU REALLY CANNOT SEE BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS. BEING IN AN ORPHANAGE, BEING IN THE INNER CITY, BEING SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE ACCESS. YOU DON'T KNOW THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE THERE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO GIVE UP AND NOT TO BELIEVE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BELIEVE IN TERMS OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU'RE NOT. 

THAT'S ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY, LIKE, IN TERMS OF HOW I DID IT, I NEVER LOST HOPE INSIDE OF ME, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE TOLD ME. MY RELATIVES, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WERE NOT VERY KIND PEOPLE AND WOULD REMIND ME AND MY SISTER CONSTANTLY -- WHENEVER, WHICH WAS VERY RARELY, LIKE ONCE A YEAR WHEN WE'D GO OVER FOR CHRISTMAS -- OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE DESTINED TO BE, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT EVER GOING TO COLLEGE, WHY DON'T YOU GET A JOB? I WAS A TEENAGER. I THOUGHT I WAS 40 YEARS OLD. I MEAN, I BELIEVED EVERYTHING, BUT ONE THING I DID NOT BELIEVE, DID NOT LET ANYONE LET ME BELIEVE, WAS THAT I CANNOT BE ANYTHING. I FIGURED, YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM DESTINED TO DO GREAT THINGS AND SOMEHOW GOD, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO HELP ME GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

SO I TELL THE KIDS, IF I COULD DO IT COMING FROM BELOW NOTHING, THEY COULD DO IT TOO. I TRY TO TELL THEM TO FOCUS ON WHAT YOU HAVE, FOCUS ON THE OPPORTUNITIES. YOU LIVE IN A COUNTRY -- WHICH IS EASIER FOR ME PROBABLY TO SEE IT BECAUSE I CAME FROM THE OUTSIDE FROM WHERE I HAD NOTHING AND WHEN YOU'RE IN IT, IT'S HARD TO FOCUS ON ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE ABUNDANCE. IT'S HARD TO SAY AND HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TRULY THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE COUNTRY.

VAL>> WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT? YOU CAME HERE, YOU HAD VIRTUALLY NO MONEY, PROBABLY YOUR ENGLISH WAS MAYBE PARTIAL --

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> -- MY FOURTH LANGUAGE.

VAL>> HOW DID YOU GET -- FOURTH LANGUAGE?

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> YES.

VAL>> OH, WELL, YOU HAVE A KNACK FOR LANGUAGES. BUT HOW DID YOU GET INTO UCLA AND WHY --

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> -- HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

JESS>> YOU WENT TO THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BEIRUT, DIDN'T YOU?

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> YES. I FINISHED -- I WAS A GOOD STUDENT AND I KNEW ACTUALLY EARLY ON THAT MY TICKET OUT OF POVERTY, THAT CYCLE OF HOPELESSNESS AND JUST TRAPPED WHERE I WAS, WAS GOING TO BE THROUGH EDUCATION AND I WAS A PRETTY GOOD STUDENT. WHEN I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, I CONTACTED THE NUNS FROM THE ORPHANAGE WHERE I WAS STAYING. IT'S A VERY INTERESTING STORY AS TO HOW I ENDED UP HERE, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER TIME TO TELL.

THE NUN AT THE TIME, SISTER IDA, FROM THE ARMENIAN SISTERS ACADEMY OF LOS ANGELES INTRODUCED ME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVERNE AND THE AMERICAN ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE AT THE TIME. SO WHEN I CAME HERE, I WAS SLEEPING IN THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR ME AT THE ARMENIAN SISTERS ACADEMY OF L.A. IN GLENDALE AND I DIDN'T CARE. I DIDN'T CARE BECAUSE I KNEW I'D BEGAN -- I'M ALIVE. THE FACT THAT I WAS ALIVE, TO ME, I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT I WASN'T HEARING BULLETS ANYMORE BECAUSE I ESCAPED AT THE WORST EPISODE OF THE WAR. SO THE NUNS HELPED ME GO TO LAVERNE, I WAS A PRETTY GOOD STUDENT, GOT MYSELF EVEN INTO A SORORITY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN LIFE. OF COURSE, I DID LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN LIFE. (LAUGHTER)

FROM THERE, I DECIDED -- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WAS A PRETTY GOOD SCHOOL AND LAVERNE WAS A VERY GOOD SCHOOL, BUT I WANTED TO GRADUATE FROM A BIGGER SCHOOL. I APPLIED TO UCLA, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO IT, SOMEHOW GOT IN, BOUGHT MYSELF A FESTIVA AT THE TIME ON A CREDIT CARD THAT I GOT AND DROVE MYSELF TO UCLA. BASICALLY, I GUESS I'M A VERY, VERY CURIOUS INDIVIDUAL AND I ALWAYS TRY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A WAY. I ALWAYS SOMEHOW HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEEK OUT PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE HELPED ME. THERE HAVE BEEN REALLY SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MY LIFE AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO TELL THE KIDS. THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO HELP OUT AND TO FOCUS ON THOSE PEOPLE AND, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HELP YOU, JUST HOLD ON AND DON'T LET GO. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> WE SHOULD MENTION, YOU KEEP MENTIONING TALKING TO KIDS. THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE IS THIS ACADEMY OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP WHICH IS BASICALLY A WAY TO TEACH POOR INNER CITY KIDS, DISADVANTAGED KIDS, ABOUT PRACTICAL BUSINESS OVER THE COURSE OF A SUMMER AND IT'S GROWN ENORMOUSLY UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

JESS>> ENTREPRENEURSHIP ISN'T NEW TO YOUR CULTURE.

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'M PART LEBANESE, PART ARMENIAN, AND I KNOW THE PHOENICIANS WERE THE BIGGEST MERCHANT ENTREPRENEURS IN THE WORLD IN THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF HISTORY. VERY ENTERPRISING. I THINK KIND OF LIKE MY FIRST ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTERPRISE WAS COMING OUT OF LEBANON HERE, PLANNING THAT AND EXECUTING THAT AND GETTING MYSELF OUT OF THAT SITUATION, AND IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT. COMING HERE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.

WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT ABL -- I STUDIED ECONOMICS AT UCLA AND I WAS THINKING AT THE TIME TO GO INTO INVESTMENT BANKING, BUT THE TURNING POINT FOR ME WAS TRULY WHEN I SOMEHOW READ THROUGH THE DAILY BRUIN AT THE TIME AN AD ABOUT AMERICORPS. IT WAS THE SERVICE OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND IT SEEMED INTERESTING. SO I APPLIED, GOT INTO AMERICORPS AND, FROM THERE, I GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE ACADEMY OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP. WHAT WE DO THROUGH ABL IS WORK WITH KIDS TEACHING THEM ABOUT BUSINESS, FINANCE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP. WE TAKE THEM TO VISIT WITH MAJOR CORPORATIONS, EXECUTIVES FROM THOSE CORPORATIONS, WHO TELL THEM THEIR STORIES, HOW THEY GOT TO BE WHERE THEY'RE AT.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN EXPOSURE. WHEN A KID -- THESE KIDS ARE PRACTICALLY NOT DOING VERY WELL, MOST OF THEM, I WOULD SAY, IN THEIR SCHOOLS. WHEN THEY GO ON THESE FIELD TRIPS AND THEY GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THEY LEARN IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE DON'T HAVE TO PREACH TO THEM TO STAY IN SCHOOL. IF THEY WANT THAT CORNER OFFICE, THEY NEED TO DO WELL, SO THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY DO BETTER AND, FROM THERE, THEY --

JESS>> -- STRONG MESSAGE.

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> YES.

VAL>> IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND I REMEMBER SPEAKING THERE. THOSE KIDS --

ANNA OUROUMIAN>> -- YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

VAL>> OH, THEY ARE EXCITED. YOU'VE GOT THEM REALLY PUMPED. ANNA OUROUMIAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BY THE WAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE ACADEMY OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP, YOU CAN DO SO BY ATTENDING THEIR FIRST ANNUAL BANQUET. IT'S TUESDAY, MAY 1. THERE'S THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

[626-302-3650]

THERE WILL BE ERIN BROCKOVICH THERE, DEBBIE ALLEN, THE ACTRESS, AND EDWARD JAMES OLMOS. A STAR-STUDDED EVENING.

SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OR ANY OF THE STORIES HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE'S HOW YOU CAN REACH US:

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS, L.A.'S NEW CATHEDRAL. NO, NOT THE ONE THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE IS BUILDING DOWNTOWN. THIS ONE AT CRENSHAW AND EXPOSITION BOULEVARDS IS FOR THE WEST ANGELES CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.

VAL>> NOW CHARLES E. BLAKE BECAME PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN 1969 WHEN THERE WERE ONLY 50 MEMBERS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WELL, BISHOP BLAKE HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN, AS YOU WILL SEE. HIS CONGREGATION NOW NUMBERS 18,000, MAKING IT THE LARGEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHURCH IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND BADLY IN NEED OF A NEW HOME.

JESS>> JOINING US IS BISHOP CHARLES E. BLAKE. YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL SINCE 1970 --

VAL>> (LAUGHTER)

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- I WISH I HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL --

JESS>> -- DOING FIVE SERMONS A DAY ON SUNDAY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS HUGE CONGREGATION YOU HAVE NOW, BUT NOW YOU'VE GOT THE FACILITY FOR IT, HAVEN'T YOU?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO IT THIS COMING SUNDAY. THIS PAST SUNDAY WAS THE LAST OF OUR FIVE-SERVICE SUNDAYS AND, THOUGH I DID NOT PREACH, I LITERALLY ALMOST BROKE DOWN JUST FROM THE EMOTION OF IT, JUST WALKING OUT OF THAT AUDITORIUM REALIZING THAT, AFTER 11 YEARS OF PREACHING FOUR TIMES ON SUNDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN ON SUNDAY NIGHT, AND MANY TIMES BECAUSE I PRESIDE OVER CHURCHES OF GOD IN CHRIST IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I'D HAVE TO GO OUT ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND DEDICATE A CHURCH OR INSTALL A PASTOR, SO SOMETIMES I'D PREACH SIX TIMES. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT TWICE ON SUNDAY, BUT IN A CHURCH THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE THAT KIND OF CROWD. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FEATURES OF THIS NEW CATHEDRAL YOU'RE BUILDING.

VAL>> IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST EDIFICE IN LOS ANGELES, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT'S THE FIRST, AND SEATS MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE. THE STAINED GLASS TOWER AND CROSS WILL RISE 235 FEET TALL. I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO A KIND OF A RECORD.

JESS>> GUINNESS WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS INDICATES THAT'S A RECORD.

VAL>> AND THE MOSAIC TILE WALL WILL BE MADE OF 700,000 PIECES OF GLASS. WOW. LET'S SEE WHAT THESE PICTURES ARE. PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PLANS AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE. WHAT'S THIS HERE?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> THAT IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS. INCIDENTALLY, THIS DESIGN WE KIND OF JUNKED AS A BID BY $80 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT WE HAVE MAINTAINED --

JESS>> -- WELL, NOW, THE ONE YOU'RE BUILDING IS $60 MILLION, ISN'T IT?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> YES. IT'S $50 MILLION FOR THE BUILDING AND $10 MILLION FOR THE PROPERTY --

VAL>> -- THAT'S A BARGAIN.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- ON WHICH IT IS LOCATED. WE MAINTAINED THE SAME BASIC FOOTPRINT AND THAT'S A MODERN REPLICA OF THE DESIGN THAT WE ARE USING NOW. IT'S CLOTHED IN GRANITE. THIS IS, AGAIN, THE OLD MODEL. SOMEONE'S REALLY BEEN EDITING OUR MATERIAL. (LAUGHTER) THIS IS THE BASIC SHAPE OF THE AUDITORIUM --

VAL>> -- AMPHITHEATER STYLE.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- AND THERE IS A BALCONY IN THE AUDITORIUM. THIS ONE DOES NOT SHOW IT, BUT THE STAGE IS PRECISELY THE SAME SIZE AND THE WALL BEHIND THE STAGE HAS BECOME A BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC. THAT, AGAIN, IS IN THE ORIGINAL, BUT WE DO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL LOBBY WITH A BEAUTIFUL MEZZANINE AND TWO ELEVATORS INVOLVED. IT IS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. THE LOWER LOBBY IS ALL GRANITE AND MARBLE, AS IS THE MEZZANINE LOBBY ABOVE THAT LOBBY. BEAUTIFUL GRANITE AND MARBLE WALLS.

VAL>> HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN TO CONSTRUCT?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> WELL, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS TEN YEARS AGO. THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE STARTED THE FOUR SERVICES IN THE MORNING, WE DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO PROVIDE A LARGER FACILITY. OUR OLD AUDITORIUM SEATS ABOUT 1,300 AND THEN WE'VE GOT 1,000 SEATS OF OVERFLOW. IN THREE OF OUR SERVICES, WE'RE ABOUT 2,300 PEOPLE AND IN THE EARLY SERVICE, WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORIUM. BUT WE STARTED PLANNING ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, RAISING MONEY, STARTED BUILDING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

VAL>> WOW, THE BUILDING IS FAST.

JESS>> YOU HAVE A LIVELY CONGREGATION. GREAT REPUTATION --

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- OH, LIVELY AND NOISY.

JESS>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME VIDEOTAPE THAT WILL SHOW US THAT.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IS THAT YOUR CHOIR SINGING?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS. (LAUGHTER) IT MAY BE OUR CHOIR.

JESS>> DOES HAVE A FAMILIAR SOUND ANYHOW. (LAUGHTER)

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> IT SOUNDS LIKE MY CHOIR.

JESS>> THIS IS A BISHOP WHOSE MITER IS A HARDHAT.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> OH MY, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MYSELF IN THAT PARTICULAR OUTFIT. CAUGHT ME OFF-GUARD. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS COMING ONSCREEN --

VAL>> NOW PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT YOUR CHURCH MAKES ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY IN THE COMMUNITY --

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- WELL, IT'S ESTIMATED FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF CONSTRUCTION MONEY THAT YOU SPEND, IT CIRCULATES TWICE IN THE COMMUNITY. IF WE SPEND $50 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE BUILDING, THE IMPACT WOULD BE ABOUT $100 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE COMMUNITY. WE STIPULATED EARLY IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THOSE WITH WHOM WE DEALT THAT THERE HAS TO BE MINORITY CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS ON THE JOB. SO WE HAVE SEEN TO IT THAT THERE HAS BEEN STRONG MINORITY REPRESENTATION IN THIS FACILITY.

JESS>> AND THAT'S YOUR ANSWER WHEN FOLKS SAY, BISHOP, WHY ARE WE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CHURCH WHEN THERE ARE POOR WHO NEED HELP?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> WELL, WE WERE SPENDING THE MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO, WITHOUT IT, MIGHT HAVE BEEN POOR. WE'VE JUST REALLY WORKED TO GET A LOT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CATHEDRAL. SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO THE LABOR THERE ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY, SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT IMPACT UPON OUR COMMUNITY. WE HIRED 200 PEOPLE AT THE CHURCH ITSELF AND THEY ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY ALSO.

VAL>> AND YOU HAVE HOW MANY MINISTRIES WORKING OUT OF YOUR CHURCH?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> WELL, ABOUT 80 DIFFERENT MINISTRIES THAT WORK OUT OF OUR CHURCH. WE HAVE A COUNSELING CENTER. WE HAVE THE ARTS CENTER, A 500-SEAT THEATER THAT USED TO BE THE OLD EBONY SHOWCASE THEATER, AND ALSO LATER ON, FOR THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, THE OLD [INAUDIBLE] THEATER, BUT NOW WE USE IT TO MAKE CHRISTIAN PRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY PRODUCTIONS IN THAT THEATER. WE GOT A BOOK STORE, WE HAVE A YOUTH CENTER, WE HAVE TWO HIV-AIDS PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION THAT DOES MEDIATION AND HOUSING AND --

VAL>> -- AND, OF COURSE, ALL THE BASIC THINGS LIKE SERVING HUNDREDS OF MEALS A DAY AND --

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> -- SIXTY MILLION -- 60,000, I BEG YOUR PARDON -- 60,000 MEALS A DAY THROUGH OUR SKID ROW MINISTRY. JUST A HOST OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

JESS>> WE'RE TOLD THAT MOST OF THE CHURCH, THAT MOST OF THE CATHEDRAL, HAS BEEN BUILT WITH SMALL DONATIONS, BUT YOU'VE HAD SOME PRETTY GENEROUS, PRETTY WELL-KNOWN FOLKS, TO HELP YOU TOO.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> ABSOLUTELY. THE CO-CHAIR OF OUR FUNDRAISING DRIVE IS MAGIC JOHNSON AND DENZEL WASHINGTON AND THEIR LOVELY WIVES. THEY HAVE BEEN SO INSTRUMENTAL AND HELPFUL TO US AND THEY'VE GIVEN VERY, VERY GENEROUSLY. BUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDS HAVE COME FROM JUST MIDDLE-CLASS AND LOWER MIDDLE-CLASS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR DOLLARS OVER THE YEARS TO HELP US TO DO THIS.

VAL>> BISHOP BLAKE, THAT IS FANTASTIC. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU MUST BE SO EXCITED AFTER SO MANY YEARS' WORK. AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL IS INVITED TO COME AND HELP YOU DEDICATE THIS, YES?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> YES. WE'RE GOING TO DEDICATE THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 12 NOON.

VAL>> WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THERE.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> WE WILL START AROUND 11:00 AT THE OLD FACILITY AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEW.

VAL>> AND THERE'S THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN FOR PEOPLE TO CALL IF THEY WANT MORE INFORMATION. IF NOT, JUST GO AHEAD AND HEAD DOWN FOR THAT WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EVENT ON SATURDAY.

[323-733-8300, EXT. 210]

JESS>> IT'S A BLOCK FROM THE OLD CHURCH?

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> YES, JUST A BLOCK. WE JUST DEVELOPED IT INTO A LARGE CAMPUS CENTER.

VAL>> CONGRATULATIONS.

BISHOP CHARLES BLAKE>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, TAKE CARE. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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