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by Robbie Jackson
In history, the love of a child has inspired people to do what may seem like the impossible. Many have used that love to truly transform their lives as well as the community around them. When Donald Lacy began the LoveLife Foundation on Nov. 1, 1997, he wanted to create a world his child envisioned. He wanted to prevent the sadness that inspired his child to want more not just for herself, but the people she held close. “The inspiration for the LoveLife Foundation was my 16-year-old daughter LoEshe’ – pronounced LO-E-SHAY– which is Ibo/Nigerian and means Love Life in English.
I gave her that name because I delivered her on the freeway while driving. I had one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand between her mother’s legs, pulling. I did this while driving over 70 mph. On her birth certificate it says place of birth: 580 Freeway. Attending Physician Donald Lacy, B.D., which stood for Baby’s Daddy.”
The summer of 1997 is a season he will never forget. A friend of his daughter, James Valery, was murdered. Grief has a funny way of bringing underlying feelings to the forefront of your mind. Children are naturally honest beings so the truth tends to come in its purest form when it’s delivered from them. “She came to me and said, ‘Daddy, I am tired of all this violence,’” Lacy recalls as he describes the moment of inspiration. “‘Can you help me write a play to honor my friend?’ That’s where the seeds of the LoveLife Foundation were planted.”
It wouldn’t be until the fall of that year Donald started the foundation. His daughter unfortunately wouldn’t be alive to see that dream come to life. Sixteen-year-old LoEshe was an innocent bystander when she was senselessly murdered across the street from McClymonds High School, where she was a student.
“When she was murdered a few months later, I took her vision and started the LoveLife Foundation, which was founded on Nov. 1, 1997, and for 26 years we have been serving predominantly Black at-risk youth and their families,” says Lacy.
“The motto of the LoveLife Foundation is: ‘Love Life Don’t Take Life.’ Due to our dedicated years of service, after years of organizing and petitioning, the Oakland City Council adopted ‘Love Life’ as the official motto of the City of Oakland. Every entering Oakland sign is inscribed with ‘LoveLife’ to honor all victims of violence. Those signs also serve as a reminder to all of us to love and respect the gift of life. I firmly believe my daughter’s mission in life was to come to this planet to remind us all to love and respect the gift of life.”
So what exactly does The LoveLife Foundation provide to the community? When asked, Lacy lists a host of accomplishments. From training middle and high school students in radio, television and performing arts to producing programs and live events that affirm life and speak out against violence! The foundation has received plenty of noteworthy awards from The U.S. Congress, the Red Cross, the Take Wings Foundation, Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Cable Ace Award and several prestigious others.
For 26 years the LoveLife Foundation has mobilized thousands of community members for Town Hall meetings. “On Dec. 18, 1997, we were the first community group to be given access to the City Council Chambers to conduct a Town Hall meeting on stopping violence. A week before Christmas there were over 800 people in attendance in the overflowing Oakland City Council chambers. Jan. 24, on my daughter/’s birthday, we mobilized over a thousand people in a peace march from the spot where my daughter was slain, through West Oakland.”
Over the years we have broadcast live Town Hall meetings from Everett and Jones Barbecue and The Java House which were simulcast on KPOO and KPFA radio. One of those was one of the last radio interviews given by journalist Gary Webb, who exposed the Dark Alliance of the CIA selling and distributing crack cocaine in the Black community.” says Lacy, and the foundation has no plans of slowing down!
On Oct. 21 they are hosting an event, and everybody who is somebody in the Bay Area will be in attendance! “Our annual Oakland’s Finest Black Tie Gala and College Scholarship Drive raises funds to give college scholarships to deserving Black youth to attend four-year colleges,” says Lacy. The local star studded event includes live music, great vibes as well as a silent auction. “I grew up in Oakland and I remember vividly the rich culture, pride and Black Power Movement that I was exposed to as a small child. Oakland was back then a city of love and unity.
“On Oct. 21 we will celebrate our glorious past by saluting legends like Black Panther Emory Douglas, Dr. Amos Brown, City Councilmembers Treva Reid and Carroll Fife, Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr, as well as Reginald Lyles, Kevin Blackburn, Kevin Smith, Darryl Stewart, Iris Merriouns, Kev Choice, Ahmed Al-Bob and Grammy Award winners Tommy Shepherd Jr. and Tommy Shepherd III.”
I asked Donald if he could give any hints for what to expect for the auction items. I was able to squeeze a couple details out of him. “The silent auction items include sports memorabilia, vacation trips which include travel and accommodations, pictures of legendary Black leaders and sports figures, art work which includes paintings and sculptures,” says Lacy.
In addition to the stars you may know, the stars of the future will shine the brightest that night. Lacy describes the event saying, “You will see why the future is in good hands with our beautiful, intelligent and talented youth. Along with great food, entertainment will be provided by award winning Ariel Marin, James Early and their award winning band, followed by dancing with DJ Most Funkiest. It’s gonna be a great night.
“Tickets can be purchased at http://www.lovelifefoundaiton.org. Thank you all for your support. Let’s put LOVE back in our communities LOVELIFE!”
This is an event you don’t want to miss. Come witness how love can truly inspire change. The future is bright and will be on display. Get dressed nice, show up on time and bring good energy as we collectively celebrate the past, present and future in love.
Robbie Jackson is a graduate of the San Francisco Bay View’s Community Journalism Class, which is funded by the California State Library.
