WATTS : 3 Honored With Promenade Plaques

Three more names were added to the Promenade of Prominence last week in a ceremony that organizers called an effort to “blend the races together in recognition of role models.”

New granite-carved plaques were placed in the promenade’s sidewalk Wednesday in honor of Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, educator-philanthropist Sybil Brand and Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center Director Bill Coggins. About 500 people gathered for the ceremony in Will Rogers Memorial Park, which adjoins the promenade on Success Avenue.

“Because of the problems in Los Angeles, we decided to have a racial mix (of honorees),” said promenade co-founder Dr. James A. Mays. “In a way, Sybil Brand (who is Anglo) represents the outsider in the black community, who through her contributions has allowed herself to be accepted. We are trying to set a soothing tone in Los Angeles.”

The promenade was founded in 1988 to recognize neighborhood heroes and others who have contributed to the community. Honorees, who now number 16, include former Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and community activists Mays, Edward Lara and Edna Alewine.

“I went to this park as a child, so it has a lot of sentimental value for me,” Burke said. “I had relatives who lived nearby. I think it’s important that as young people come here for recreation, they also learn about their history.”

The ceremony was held in recognition of Black History Month and to honor women in light of recent attention given to women’s issues in civic and political affairs, Mays said.