Black history, breast cancer and Motown greats Smokey Robinson and Mickey Stevenson seem like an unlikely combination to affect citizens of Covina - but not if the combination includes the Women's Information Network Against Breast Cancer (WIN ABC).

    Robinson, one of Motown's greatest singing stars, and Stevenson, who wrote many of Motown's early hits, are the creators of "Sang Sista Sang", a musical review of African-American divas including Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Mahalia Jackson, Dinah Washington, Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge.

    The two men are on a mission to bring families in to enjoy some of the finest blues ever written and to educate women about breast cancer and breast cancer prevention.

    From Nov. 19-22, audiences attended benefit productions of the musical "Sang Sista Sang" at the Vision Theater, 3341 43rd Street, Los Angeles. As the cast delighted audiences with seductive stories about the painful drama of each diva's life, the producers hoped a message of survival would shine through.

    Both Robinson and Stevenson have experienced the affects of breast cancer and believe that women need to understand the importance of breast cancer prevention. They donated their time, money and expertise, bringing in breast cancer education resources to be distributed, and they also stepped on stage to speak about the disease.

    "Black women make up the largest portion of women effected by this disease and we believe that knowledge is power," said show co-creator and producer Stevenson. "We know what breast cancer is. Both Smokey and I have lost family members to the disease and we know that some 15 years ago nobody really knew what to do.

    "The disease can be devastating and what we want is for people to come out, see the show, hear the message and be able to directly receive resources that are out there and available to them," Stevenson added. "The message is knowledge and we want to help bring that message to women."

    Hoping to stage a national tour of "Sang Sista Sang," the duo has put their heart and soul into a production about women to help women.

    "We really believe this is a show about women, for women and to women," said Stevenson. "That's who gets breast cancer. If we can educate one woman, then what we are doing is worth it and if we can take it on tour and let a lot of people know about the resources that are out there then we might be able to help more than just one. And that's what it's all about."

    Hoping to tap into resources such as WIN ABC nationally, Stevenson said he believes that women will not only come out and see the performance but go home with knowledge that can save a friend, family member, mother, sister or daughter.

    "We are pleased to be associated with the people involved with this production and believe that this play has a strong message of how women can overcome adversity which is the message that we convey when it comes to women and breast cancer," said Betsy Mullen, president and CEO of WIN ABC.

    "The funds we receive from the benefit productions of 'Sang Sista Sang' will help to provide information to women and their families who are faced with this life altering and life threatening disease," Mullen said. 

    WIN ABC is a non-profit organization that offers a program called the Breast Buddies with more than 125 volunteer peer counselors who help newly diagnosed patients deal with their treatment options.

    The Breast Buddy program has helped more than 1,500 women in Southern California. WIN ABC is currently working with Blue Cross, the California Community Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Entertainment Industry Foundation and other California-based organizations to establish funds and protocols that offer peer counseling to women.