We held our annual Scholarship Reception and Executive Recognition on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in the historic Tom Bradley Tower of City Hall. Ten students received awards for books, tuition and related college costs in the total amount of $15,000.00. The students were either children of City of LA employees/LAABP members, or sponsored by such. Most of the students were high school seniors accepted to colleges across the nation, and a few were current university students. The event was co-hosted by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power African American Association (WPAAA), who also honored ten students with scholarship awards.

An Executive Recognition portion of the program highlighted the career achievements of Marla Bleavins, the first Deputy General Manager of the Harbor Department; Dana Brown, Assistant General Manager of Animal Services; and Keith Session, Director of Water Distribution of the Department of Water and Power. Each of our honorees gave moving acceptance speeches, detailing their career successes and struggles, and provided encouragement and advice to the new college students.

LAABP also recognized City employees who are furthering their education. Member education reimbursement awards were presented to three co-workers – Andria Williams of the Harbor Dept. who earned a MP Public Administration from USC; April Hood, Los Angeles Police Department, BS Business Administration, Mount Saint Mary’s University; and Janelva Williams, Department of Water and Power, BS Business Management, Pepperdine University. Congratulations to these recipients who were able to advance their education while holding down what one event moderator called City employment, “a pretty good gig!” This well-attended event was scrumptiously catered by Harold and Bell’s .