Los Angeles City Council has declared Friday, September 22, Rev. James M. Lawson Jr. Day and with great reason. Lawson, architect of the Civil Rights Movement, turns 95 today. He’ll celebrate his birthday with a teach-in at Holman United Methodist, where he is pastor emeritus, having served as senior pastor for 25 years. The teach-in is scheduled Saturday, September 23, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT. Registration for the event is still open. Please use THIS link to register.

On Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 pm, Dr. Betty Walker will commemorate her husband Dr. Hildreth “Hal” Walker’s contribution to Apollo 11, while honoring young S.T.E.M. achievers. In 1969, “Hal was responsible for operating [a] powerful ruby laser used in the Apollo 11 Lunar Ranging Experiment” (Michael Welzenbach, “Hal Walker, The Coherent Light of Persistence,” Smithsonian Institute). The ruby laser experiment was the first of its kind. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit A-MAN, Inc., STEM International Science Center in Inglewood. To learn more about A-MAN, visit aman.org.

Contact: Caroline McKenzie (caroline@holmanumc.com)

Read: L.A. Board of Supervisors Declares Friday, September 22, 2023 as Rev. James Lawson Jr. Day (L.A. Focus)