B Ruth Allen was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1948, the youngest of four children. After graduating high school, B Ruth decided to move to California. In 1966, B Ruth arrived in downtown Los Angeles with a money belt her mom had tied around her waist. Her mom, a traveling missionary, sent her to the downtown YWCA on sixth and Spring Street.  B Ruth was very happy living at the “Y” and eating as much fried chicken as she wanted. She attended the Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, founded by J. Vernon Mcgee, and later joined the fellowship of Bethany Baptist Church of West L.A.

In 1968, B Ruth enrolled in Cal State University at Fullerton, CA, in the first Education Opportunity Program-named New Education Horizons. In 1970, The Rotary Club of Orange County sponsored two students to participate in the World Campus Afloat Initiative, in collaboration with Chapman College. B Ruth Allen and Carolyn Slaughter were selected from CSUF. She graduated in 1972 with a B.A. degree in Communications.

After graduation, B Ruth accepted a position as an Eligibility Worker in the Foster Care System. She became a tutor and mentor and trained others to assist children in the system with their reading. She established her Real Estate business, Rapid Action, in 1984. Five years later, B Ruth would open her heart and home to two young African American boys who are both successful citizens in society.  In the early 2000s, B Ruth established Ascending Voices, Inc. to serve a wider network of vulnerable children and families in South Los Angeles.

Born in New Orleans and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Woodrow Bailey has a connection to the  community. As one of the founders of Healing & Hope 4 Homeless, he believes that the South Los Angeles area is in need of resources and empowerment. Bailey feels truly blessed to be a part of villages of elders and mentors who taught him to be a “Man for Others”. Being a positive influence on his community is how Bailey honors those who invested in him. He has taught these values to his children, Skylarr and Spencer, with his wife, Tahnda. His family is heavily involved in his philanthropic work. He will teach his grandson, Talon, these important life lessons. Bailey has degrees from the University of Southern California, California State University Los Angeles, and is currently working on a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles. “Everything I do has a connection to God so I can make society better.”

Billy Curl is a native of Nacogdoches, Texas.  His scholastic ability and talent afforded him a seat in the graduating class from E.J. Campbell High School. In 1960, he entered Southwestern Christian College where he was baptized into Christ. After graduating from Southwestern in 1962, Curl earned a degree in Speech Pathology from Abilene Christian University.

Curl served as a missionary and preacher in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for six years and founded a school for the deaf population there.  He has established more than 30 congregations that have grown to well over 30,000 members. Curl speaks locally and nationally at numerous Christian conferences, organizations, and educational institutions. He continues to serve on various boards for institutions and organizations such as Normandie Christian School, Southwestern Christian College, Abilene Christian University, National Crusade for Christ, and United Christian Women’s Conference, among others. Additionally, he taught for numerous years at the Los Angeles Bible College and was a regular panelist for five years on the local television program, The Way of Truth.

Upon his retirement on December 31, 2013, Curl served for over 40 years as the minister and evangelist of Crenshaw Church of Christ in Los Angeles, CA.  Under his leadership the Crenshaw congregation grew from a handful of members to nearly 600 members.

Billy Curl has been married for over 50 years to Mary Davis Curl. They have two sons, Charles (deceased) and Michael, as well as five grandchildren.

Joan Guinses (“JoAnn”) was born on January 10, 1949 in Los Angeles, CA. JoAnn was the only child of Myrtice Johnson, a Registered Nurse, and Jonathan Johnson, a FreeMason, Medal Polisher, and Sergeant in the Army. JoAnn married her husband Vernel (“VG”) Guinses on October 1, 1966. VG was a respected community activist and educator. JoAnn and VG had three children, Carmella Guinses Blackmon, Kathleen Myrtice Guinses, and Milton Leroy Guinses. As a wife and caregiver, JoAnn served as the nurturing backbone of the family and community. 

Alongside these responsibilities, JoAnn realized she wanted more for herself. As a graduate of Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles with early dreams of becoming a doctor, JoAnn began studies in art design at West Los Angeles College. She designed and crafted musical instruments, jewelry, and prize-winning dolls. She taught herself how to sew and play the instruments she made. JoAnn’s aptitude in the arts was further reflected in her culinary genius and in dance. She was a longtime member of the legendary African-American Guys and Dolls Square Dancing Club of Inglewood.

JoAnn would like to be remembered for her love for God, spirituality, and dedication to community service. JoAnn was baptized at the Crenshaw Church of Christ, which has been her church home for over 30 years. JoAnn especially loves hand-making gifts for church members, those in nursing homes, and her family and friends. JoAnn Guinses puts God first and ensures those in her life know exactly where her blessings come from.

Loretta Randle’s life is marked by fifty years of service to God, family, and community as an advocate and goodwill ambassador for vulnerable children and families in urban cities, from South Los Angeles-Watts to Johannesburg, South Africa. 

From 1973 to 1993, Ms. Randle’s steps were ordered from Executive Director of Teen Post Youth Information Center in South Los Angeles to Associate Director of United Way of Greater Los Angeles-Kellogg Training Program. This led to her participation in the Women in Management Exchange with the former Soviet Union. 

Hearing the call to go wider and deeper in service, Ms. Randle accepted the role of Associate Director of a World Vision International youth summit. This included missions to Mexico City in 2005. A 2007 visit to The Royal Children's Institute in Chennai, India sparked the formation of the 2008 Children’s Prayer Initiative Prayer Summit in Los Angeles. The following year, Ms. Randle participated in the United Nations Ambassadors Prayer Breakfast.

At age 67, she completed her M.A. in Global Urban Leadership with Bakke Graduate University. Ms. Randle organized When 1000 Grandmothers Pray in 2010. Since 2012, she has served as a volunteer foster grandparent with Pepperdine University Foster Grandparent Program in partnership with the Girls Club of Los Angeles. 

At age 75 Ms. Randle published her first book, Reflections of a Radical Servant Leader. In her book she notes, “Grands are God’s secret weapon.” The book is a call to action to older, seasoned adults to be present in the life of a child. 

Michael Dalton Smith was born on September 18, 1958 in Los Angeles, CA. He was placed in foster care along with his younger brother, Patrick, by age 5. After a difficult start, Michael adjusted well to a second foster home he moved into at age 9 and started to excel in school. He was Student Body Vice President at Horace Mann Jr. High and then attended Crenshaw High (Go Cougars!). At Crenshaw, Michael served as sports editor of the school newspaper, played on the varsity volleyball team, and was elected senior class president. 

In Michael’s two years at Pepperdine, he was offered management jobs from Jerry Buss. In his senior year, Michael began working at the Forum Arena and worked his way up to the management level over the next 18 years. After a stint at the Greek Theatre, Michael helped open Magic Johnson’s TGI Friday’s and then became a partner at the Bayou Grille restaurant in Inglewood. Michael has been in business at the Bayou Grille for 25 years and is now the sole owner.

Michael is married to Kathy Smith. They have one daughter, Samantha, and several step-children including rapper/community activist Nipsey Hussle as well as a grandson, Khalil. Michael has been connected to the Normandie Church of Christ for 55 years of the church’s 60 year history. Michael cites his biggest influence as the founding minister, Pepperdine College religion professor, and his uncle, Carroll Pitts, Jr. Michael believes God has, and still is, blessing him. 

Dr. Carl C. Baccus is the minister of the Southside Church of Christ in Los Angeles, California, a position in which he has served since 1956.

Dr. Baccus began preaching at an early age at the Lawrence and Marder Church of Christ in his hometown of Dallas, Texas. He obeyed the gospel in 1948, under the teachings of Evangelist R. N. Hogan, minister of the Figueroa Church of Christ in Los Angeles. It was Bro. Hogan and the leadership at Figueroa who, in 1956, asked nineteen-year-old Baccus to work with a small group of recently converted Christians in Watts. That small congregation was the beginning of what is now known as the Southside Church of Christ. Under Dr. Baccus' constant leadership, Southside has grown and developed into a dynamic and hard working congregation in the community.

Dr. Baccus attended Pepperdine University in Los Angeles and obtained his bachelors, masters and doctorate degree from California Graduate School of Theology in Glendale, California. His accomplishments are vast as a radio and television minister and he now endeavors to utilized the 21st Century media of the internet to minister to lost souls around the world! He has not been alone in his work. This man of God has had the support of his now deceased wife, Geraldine for almost 40 years. He is the father of three adult children and the proud grandfather of twin girls who are all strong in the faith and committed to seeing the Church of Christ prosper.

Bernice Pitts was born Bernice Carr on May 21, 1928 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. With her parents, she became baptized by a Church of Christ minister in Phoenix, AZ in 1936. After Bernice finished high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1945, she moved to California to enroll at George Pepperdine College. Bernice graduated from Pepperdine in 1949 with a degree in Secretarial Science. She met Carroll Pitts at her church in Oklahoma and they were married in 1947, after Carroll finished his service in the Navy. Carroll worked with A.L. Cassius in Los Angeles and enrolled at Pepperdine to pursue a degree in theology in 1949. Carroll and Bernice Pitts were the first Black couple to live in Normandie Village, Pepperdine’s married and family housing. Carroll began his work as a minister at a Church of Christ in Bakersfield, CA in 1955. In 1962, R.N. Hogan and Calvin Bowers recruited Carroll to become the minister at Normandie Church of Christ in South Los Angeles, where he preached until he passed away in 1987. Carroll was also hired as a professor of religion at George Pepperdine College in 1968. Bernice actively supported Carroll’s work by speaking at Church of Christ events, working with United Christian Women ministry, and working with the Associated Women for Pepperdine. Bernice and Carroll adopted two children, Pamela and Phillip.

Dr. Bettye Davis Walker grew up in Washington, D.C. and received her Bachelors' Degree in Education from the University of the District of Columbia and completed a Major in Music from Howard University. She earned a Master's Degree from Chapman University, Doctorate Degree from Western Colorado University, and Certificate of Completion from the Orff Institute de Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Dr. Walker is a former Assistant Professor at Howard University and visiting Professor at Dillon College, University of Arkansas, UCLA, Cal Poly Pomona, and Pepperdine University and conducts teacher training and implements Astronomy Clubs in government schools. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the International STEM Educator Award, the Medal of Honor named for President Nelson Mandela, Woman of the Year by the California State Senate in 1999, and the California Community Service Award from Dorothy Height, President of the National Council of Negro Women.

Born in New Orleans, Professor Hildreth (Hal) Walker moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1945. He graduated from Pacific Christian College with a degree in Business Technology Management. In 1959, Professor Walker worked with the RCA Corporation’s Ballistic Missile Early Warning System in Alaska. He began working at KORAD Laser Systems in 1964 where he led the manufacturing, testing, and operation of the KORAD K-1500 ruby laser system during the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing. In 1974, Professor Walker joined the Hughes Aircraft Company and helped develop the first Tactical Laser Target Designator System in the U.S. Army. After retiring in 1989, he served as president and CEO of TECH PLUS, a laser technology consultant group. Professor Walker was appointed to be a JPL/NASA Solar System Ambassador in 2000, promoting public education around space technology and deep space future exploration. He is also a Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Educator Association. 

Bettye and Hal Walker co-founded the African American Male Achievers Network, Inc. (A-MAN) in 1991. A-MAN is dedicated to the nurturing of young African American and other minority students with particular emphasis in science and mathematics. The A-MAN, Inc. Center has graduated over 10,000 students from Universities and Colleges in the US and abroad. At the invitation of President Nelson Mandela, the Walkers established A-MAN, Inc. in South Africa. They oversaw the establishment of more than a dozen state-of-the-art Computer Literacy Labs in schools throughout South Africa and founded this first-ever chapter of the National Space Society (NSS) on the African Continent: The Cape Town Space Society (CTSS).