Charlie Walker, who recently starred in a film starring Luke Cage's Mike Colter, has died aged 89.

In the 1960s, Walker led protests to open public construction jobs to black contractors, who were excluded and intentionally discriminated against and passed over in favor of white truckers and white-dominated unions.

He later became one of the most successful truckers in the United States and was highly regarded for cleaning up San Francisco Bay after an oil spill in the early 1970s.

The post Charlie Walker, San Francisco's Black Contractor Hero, Honored by Biopic Star Mike Colter in Face of His Death appeared first on Blavity.

Walker's legacy was immortalized in the recent biography I Am Charlie Walker.

“Charlie Walker was a true original. Cut from the same cloth as men like my own father and uncles,” Colter said. Men from the 70s who seized the opportunity. Charlie was unapologetic about his ambition and his desire to carve out a place for himself in the world. He paved the way for his family and set an example for future generations. He was a character who moved through the world with a certainty and pride that made people notice him. He deserved to have his story told. It was an honor to portray him. He will never be forgotten. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones. May he rest in eternal peace.”

Mike Regan, producer of I'm Charlie Walker, said: “On behalf of our executive producer Bill O'Keeffe and our entire cast and crew, we are all devastated by Charlie's death, but at the same time we are here to celebrate his amazing To celebrate life.” Our thoughts are with his beautiful wife Annette, his entire family and his beloved community of Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco. We could talk endlessly about Charlie's achievements and the impact he had on so many, but we also know that Charlie would tell us to get back to work. And that’s exactly what we will do to continue to honor his legacy and wonderful life.”

“Like many others, I had the honor and privilege of spending a lot of time with Charlie as he reveled in stories and wisdom,” said Patrick Gilles, director of “I’m Charlie Walker.” “He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.”

In 2022, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to honor Walker by naming a street in Bayview Hunters Point “Charlie Way.”

Walker is survived by his wife of 63 years, Annette Walker, his daughters Charlette Carnegia and Ruedell Walker, his son Charles Walker Jr., his eleven grandchildren, including his eldest grandchild, Geoffrea Morris, whom he helped raise, and his Family 13, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well as friends from the community.

The post Charlie Walker, San Francisco’s Black Contractors’ Hero, Honored By Biopic Star Mike Colter In Gentle Of His Dying appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Charlie Walker, who recently starred in a film starring Luke Cage's Mike Colter, has died aged 89.

In the 1960s, Walker led protests against opening public construction jobs to black contractors, who were excluded and intentionally discriminated against and passed over in favor of white truckers and white-dominated unions.

He later became one of the most successful truckers in the United States and was highly regarded for cleaning up San Francisco Bay after an oil spill in the early 1970s.

The post Charlie Walker, San Francisco's Black Contractor Hero, Honored by Biopic Star Mike Colter in Face of His Death appeared first on Blavity.

Walker's legacy was immortalized in the recent biography I Am Charlie Walker.

“Charlie Walker was a true original. Cut from the same cloth as men like my own father and uncles,” Colter said. Men from the 70s who seized the opportunity. Charlie was unapologetic about his ambition and his desire to carve out a place for himself in the world. He paved the way for his family and set an example for future generations. He was a character who moved through the world with a certainty and pride that made people notice him. He deserved to have his story told. It was an honor to portray him. He will never be forgotten. My condolences go out to his family and loved ones. May he rest in eternal peace.”

Mike Regan, producer of I'm Charlie Walker, said: “On behalf of our executive producer Bill O'Keeffe and our entire cast and crew, we are all devastated by Charlie's death, but at the same time we are here to celebrate his amazing life celebrate.” Our thoughts are with his beautiful wife Annette, his entire family and his beloved community of Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco. We could talk endlessly about Charlie's achievements and the impact he had on so many, but we also know that Charlie would tell us to get back to work. And that’s exactly what we will do to continue to honor his legacy and wonderful life.”

“Like many others, I had the honor and privilege of spending time with Charlie as he reveled in stories and wisdom,” said Patrick Gilles, director of “I’m Charlie Walker.” “He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.”

In 2022, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to honor Walker by naming a street in Bayview Hunters Point “Charlie Way.”

Walker is survived by his wife of 63 years, Annette Walker, his daughters Charlette Carnegia and Ruedell Walker, his son Charles Walker Jr., his eleven grandchildren, including his eldest grandchild, Geoffrea Morris, whom he helped raise, and his family of 13, great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well as friends from the community.

The post Charlie Walker, San Francisco’s Black Contractors’ Hero, Honored By Biopic Star Mike Colter In Mild Of His Dying appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

———- Forwarded message ———
From: NewMusicals Inc
Date: Wed, Jan 26, 2022 at 9:12 PM
Subject: a new musical webseries honoring ordinary local heroes – starting with North Hollywood!
To:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Guy, Executive Director
New Musicals Inc.
818-506-8500
admin@nmi.org

LOCAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HANDYMAN HONORED IN A NEW MUSICAL

(Los Angeles, January 26, 2022)

Geoff Davis never thought he would be the subject of a musical. He’s a revered handyman in North Hollywood, California, and adored by everyone on the block.

New Musicals Inc. just created a digital musical about Geoff, as part of a new musical web series honoring “ordinary neighborhood heroes” whose perspective on life is interesting and enlightening.

Sponsored in part by a grant from the North Hollywood North East Neighborhood Council, this episode is part of NMI’s newly launched Neighborhood Heroes Project.

“The Neighborhood Heroes Project puts focus on the ordinary person to show us how much we can learn from each other,” said NMI Executive Director and series producer, Scott Guy. “In these extraordinary times, many of our neighbors have shown astonishing resilience, tenacity, and determination to stay true to their personal pathways.”

When NMI was awarded the grant in early 2020, and began looking for the right subject for the first episode in the series, they realized the perfect subject was working to replace some old lighting ballasts in their own building. “Geoff started telling us how many folks were depending on him, at the height of the pandemic,” says Elise Dewsberry, NMI’s Artistic Director. “He told me he scrounged up so much handyman work that he was employing several OTHER handymen as well. I was so impressed and moved, I began asking him whether we could honor him with a musical.”

The resulting musical, “What Gets Thrown At Us”, tells the true story of Davis’ difficult turbulent past, how he mended his family, built his own business, and is still giving back to his community. It has book by Douglas Haverty (Artistic Director of North Hollywood’s own Group Rep Theatre); music and lyrics by James A Goins; it is directed by John Mitchell, and features performer Jimmer Bolden. The episode can be viewed for free here: https://nmi.org/neighborhood-heroes/

Additional episodes in the project will begin by identifying an “ordinary hero” in a particular neighborhood, and then pair them with a creative team to dramatize and musicalize some aspect of their life, with the final result of a 7-12 minute musical film.

“I loved meeting and experiencing Geoff,” says bookwriter Douglas Haverty. “I am honored to help in the telling of this tale and the helping to illustrate the wonder of this man.”

Composer James Goins says “It has been a high privilege and an honor working on the Neighborhood Heroes Project … to create this musical work about the remarkable, touching, and true life of Mr. Geoff Davis.”

“While we may not all have personal experience, most of us know someone who has been a victim of addiction, seen a close friend or family take a very wrong turn in their lives or been in a situation where hope seemed to be a distant memory says director John Mitchell. “The spirit of this gentleman, the loving nature of who he becomes, is contagious and offers us hope in what has been a very bad few years for most of us. The twist ending took my breath away, and made me wonder how it will all turn out.”

“Geoff Davis’s story really resonated with me because I am drawn to the stories of redemption of everyday people”, says performer Jimmer Bolden. “He could have easily given up on himself and simply faded away, but instead he faced his fears and his past and became a marvelous example for those in despair and a great contributor to his community.”

Ironically and tragically, as this musical was being created and filmed, Geoff Davis was diagnosed with cancer, and doesn’t know how much time he has left. Davis himself, in this episode, says, “Yes, does life continue to overload me with situations to test my ability to survive and endure. Yes, daily. The good thing is I no longer run or nor I will run. I stand up every morning with a face of gratitude and a humble heart and I go and provide a service to strangers to make their life simpler and problem-free.”

The North Hollywood Northeast Neighborhood Council serves one of Los Angeles’ most diverse areas, and is committed to working with families, businesses, organizations to help build a more engaged and exciting community in The Valley. https://www.nhnenc.org/

Their NPGs, or Neighborhood Purpose Grants, are a way for neighborhood councils to partner with and support non-profit organizations and public schools on projects that provide a public benefit to the community. NPG activities build community, enhance the neighborhood, and are open, accessible, and free to the general public.
New Musicals Inc. develops and produces musicals for both live and digital stage. They have a similar web series, “So Proudly We Hailed”, which focuses on the life stories of veterans. There are currently seven episodes available for viewing, with three more to be released over the next three months, and plans for another round by the end of 2022. https://nmi.org/veterans/

“Our little musical films celebrate the life choices someone has made, for better or worse,” says NMI Artistic Director, and series dramaturge, Elise Dewsberry, “and perhaps along the way we learn from someone else’s triumphs and/or failures.”

For more information about NMI, visit www.nmi.org/online or email admin@nmi.org

##

New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA, 91601 818-506-8500 admin@nmi.org www.nmi.org

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The post Native North Hollywood Neighborhood Handyman Honored In A New Musical appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.