The Santa Monica YMCA hosted the Santa Monica Black Lives Association (SMBLA) and representatives of other local groups for a Black History Month kickoff event on Feb. 1.
The event included guests from the Santa Monica Police Department, including Chief Ramon Batista, Santa Monica Fire Department, Santa Monica College, the Santa Monica Travel and Tourism Board, along with Santa Monica City Councilmember Gleam Davis.
As part of SMBLA’s commitment to showcasing Black businesses in the city, Andrian Driscoll set up a station with several virtual portals to business pages, such as King’s Celebrity ATA Martial Arts at 2110 Wilshire Blvd.
Along with small business support, SMBLA services include mental health and wellness resources, housing and homelessness assistance, youth and family programs, as well as career building.
The organization can be reached at 310-310-8066 or at 520 Arizona Avenue.
thomas@smdp.com