ATTAIN+ celebrated a successful second year of brand design, graphic production, and marketing support materials for the Better Brothers of Los Angeles (BBLA) “Truth Awards”.
Since it's inaugural awards event in 2015, BBLA has lived up to its mission to develop a stronger sense of community and advocacy for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community . Impacting this awareness was the changing legal status of those identifying as LGBTQ, as well as the benefits (and consequences) of marriage, along with the obligations of tax preparation and all the duties faced by everyone, regardless of gender or orientation. Other activities taken up by BBLA include fund drives to benefit Covenant House, the privately subsidized childcare agency for homeless youth, along with other mentoring programs. Last year, the group awarded two scholarships to students attending USC and West L.A. College. This year the group gave four scholarships— three to students enrolled at USC, and one to a young person at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science.
One could only be astonished at the level of achievement attained by those present, including entertainment diva Sheryl Lee Ralph, founder of the 501 c(3) DIVA Foundation designed to spread awareness and offer education about HIV/AIDS; honorees Gregory Bunn and Demetrius McCoy, who received The Mentoring Award for developing Angels Plight, which feeds the homeless and supports women and children in shelters; Bishop Yvette Flunder, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award in part for founding City of Refuge; Darrin P. Gayles, who was given the History Maker Award—the first openly gay African American federal judge appointed; Darryn Harris was given the Passing the Torch Award for helping Rep. Karen Bass organize and on policies that help African Americans meet economic empowerment, health and needs; Rev. Jenenne Macklin, a motivational speaker and wealth coach received The Mentor Award; Gerard McCallum received the Business Leadership Award for his work as project manager at Wilson Meany, which is working to transform Hollywood Park into the Los Angeles Rams home stadium, and advertising executive Aaron Walton who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with the Walton Isaacson agency.
“I believe I have an obligation . . . to encourage others to be their own truth,” Walton said.
Walton calls himself an “angelic trouble maker,” in the vein of civil rights pioneer Bayard Rustin. Heading an advertising agency with partner Cory Isaacson in tandem with Magic Johnson, Walton embraces the challenges of marketing to a multicultural client base with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and soon Dallas.
For more information on Better Brothers of LA, visit their website at: www.betterbrothersla.com.