Former Assemblyman Steven Bradford was among the honorees of the African American Alumni Association of Loyola Marymount University at its 13th annual awards reception and scholarship fundraiser on March 14, at the City Club Los Angeles.
The award-winning producer of the films “Dear White People” and HBO’s Project Greenlight, Effie Brown, was the host for the event.
The evening featured a special appearance by soul singer-songwriter Goapele.
Bradford, a Democrat, made history as the first African-American member of the Gardena City Council, a position he held for 12 years. He went on to represent California’s 62nd Assembly District that includes Del Aire, Del Rey, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Westchester and Venice Beach for five years.
During his time in office, Bradford was chairman of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce, and the Assembly’s Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color.
Bradford was honored for his community service. Other honorees at the reception were:
- Christian M. DeLarkin, Ed.D., ’06, ’08, ’13, vice principal of Academic Affairs at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower where he directs activities and programs that include: instructional services; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; professional development; and counseling and guidance.
- Honorable Erithe A. Smith, ’79, a judge on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Smith is the first and only African American woman to be appointed to the bankruptcy bench in the Ninth Circuit. Prior to taking the bench, she was a partner in a “boutique” law firm in Irvine, California specializing in corporate insolvency and bankruptcy law.
These awards mark the association’s commitment to academic excellence and the spirit of community service. About 6 percent of LMU’s student body is African-American and the university has been cited by the prestigious Education Trust as one of the most successful universities at graduating African-American students. Proceeds from the reception will go to scholarships for deserving students. In the past 13 years LMU’s AAAA has awarded 250 scholarships and raised more than $1 million in scholarship funds. This year the association has awarded 69 scholarships.
