"We are all connected...we impact one another in different sections of life. As we are reaching out to them, they realize that we're reaching out in the spirit of love."

Ruett Stephen Foster is a native Californian, born and raised in south Los Angeles. He is a graduate of Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. Pastor Foster has over thirty years of experience serving children, youth, and families in the Los Angeles area through concerted community advocacy. He has worked as a teacher, counselor, and mentor with many diverse groups and individuals in need. The people that Pastor Foster has endeavored to help include foster children and youth offenders while employed at the Institute for Black Parenting; the developmentally disabled at the Harbor and South Los Angeles Regional Centers; and preschool children to teens in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

"We try to break myths, to step away from repeating the idea that African American history should only be about oppression...and examine what we have done around the world and for the world."

Charmaine Jefferson is the Executive Director of the California African American Museum, located in Exposition Park, and she has served as director since 2003. She is deeply dedicated to enriching her community and the lives of others through the promotion of all artistic endeavors. Her innovative advocacy of arts education and programming has earned her wide acclaim in both the private and public sectors.