FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 23, 1998

ACTIVIST CLEO MANAGO ELEVATES A COMMUNITY’S AWARENESS:

HIS AMASSI CENTER CELEBRATES BLACK DIVERSITY

WITH FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Cleo Manago has always worked in and for the community. A native of South Central Los Angeles, he began a vocation in social services at the age of 16. His heart, spirit, and soul have always been grounded in a deep conviction for empowering the community. As founder and CEO of the AMASSI Center, located in the heart of Inglewood, one of L.A.’s predominantly Black communities, Manago has continued to carry on his quest. As the center celebrates its fourth year anniversary as the only community-based, self- help, health education and affirmation center, Manago remains a man true to his original vision. That vision encompasses, impacting the individual in a effort to uplift the whole.

Housed in an intimate cultural setting, AMASSI is defined as a health wellness and cultural affirmation center, addressing Black diversity in the community, including issues of sexuality. It is here that Manago has been able to successfully bridge a gap, offering cultural support, empowerment and lifestyle issues as central components to providing effective health, wellness and informational services.

Understanding and recognizing the impact of issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia, Manago has effectively created a haven, via the AMASSI Center, to directly combat issues of anxiety, low self-esteem, emotional conflict and issues that increase the HIV/AIDS threat in the community. In addition to HIV/AIDS services, AMASSI offers a wide variety of other services, programs and events.

Programs include a Black Health Circle and a community “edutainment” series, as presented by “Conscious Comedy” duo The Mooney Twins; Black on Black Love which addresses inner healing and male and female relationships; the Kemetic Study Group which explores historical events accomplishments; and Generation X, a youth empowerment program. The Black Men’s Xchange and Sister to Sister sessions offer a comfortable, nurturing, healing, networking environment for same-gender-loving (SGL) individuals. With diversity emphasized as a predominant theme, AMASSI’s services, programs and events become a vital resource for a sexually, socially and ethnically mixed community.

“Something more culturally embracing, attuned and fluid had to be done in response to issues of interpersonal and social conflict and the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” explains Manago. “The African American and Latino communities are dealing with issues and phobias that are culturally based. The AMASSI Center not only recognizes but incorporates these dilemmas within our agenda. The Black community in particular has historically been very cautious around sexuality and internalized oppression issues. There is a lot of “sexual hiding” going on. This “hiding” helps to not only spread HIV, but breaks up families and causes fragmentation within the community at large.”

AMASSI has been recognized by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the City of Inglewood, and the City of Los Angeles for being among the more innovative health, wellness, and risk-reduction programs in the country. AMASSI, under the direction of Cleo Manago, is breaking important ground as it heralds the onset of the next millennium. With a continued emphasis on social change, mental and public health, AMASSI stands apart as a special place for cultural healing and comfort. Contact the AMASSI Center at (310) 419-1969.