SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Volunteers and staff from the San Bernardino Boys & Girls Club packed Thanksgiving food baskets for the underserved community on Tuesday, November 26. Over 500 food baskets were prepared and given away. Director of the Boys & Girls Club, A. Majadi, said that he was extremely proud of the volunteers and very thankful to the sponsors, and that this event was successful because of the support from the Community Action Partnership, The Westside Action Group and Stater Bros.

MORENO VALLEY, CA – The California School Boards Association (CSBA) recently recognized the Moreno Valley Unified School District as a winner of the prestigious Golden Bell Award for 2013. This award recognizes the academic success of Health Careers Academy on the campus of Canyon Springs High School. The CSBA recognized 59 public school programs in the state this year. It created the Golden Bell Awards program in 1980 to recognize innovative and successful programs that make a difference in students’ success, and focus on meeting the needs of all students. Health Careers Academy is the oldest of several vocational academies Moreno Valley Unified School District has created.
While students in these programs receive a well-rounded education, by following a recommended pathway of courses, they can either begin an entry-level career in their area of interest, or more easily transition to a college or university level education in the health career field after high school graduation. Students enter the Health Careers Academy as sophomores. In the academies, students have the same core requirements, such as English, social studies, and science as they would in a regular high school program, but take these courses from teachers at the academy. Students also take vocational education courses through the academy.  In the introductory course, Introduction to Health Care, students learn medical technology, learn how to take vital signs, research health careers, develop resumes and are certified in first aid and CPR. The academy also offers extra-curricular organizations.
The students usually have between 160 to 240 hours of internship experience by the time they graduate from high school. In the 2012-2013 school year, 27 of the 31 seniors had internships with either Riverside County Regional Medical Center, the Riverside County ROP/CTE, Charter Hospice or medical clinics.
“The Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy has consistently produced students with a plethora of knowledge, genuine concern about all health issues and most importantly a passion to be proactive and responsive,” Dr. White said. “The level of student engagement and compassion for others has propelled this program above the rest. Students participating in this program live and breathe commitment to health.”

LOS ANGELES, CA-  Transitioning to college will be a bit easier for 30 Los Angeles-area students as they receive a $1,000 college scholarship and a tablet, courtesy of Aio Wireless’ 30 Days, 30 Dreams program, designed to reinvigorate nonprofit programs that create opportunities for future leaders in the communities it serves, 30 Days, 30 Dreams enables Aio to collaborate with community-based organizations to identify the recipients. For more information visit www.aiowireless.com, www.facebook.com/aiowireless and www.twitter.com/aiowireless.

ROSEMEAD, CA — Thanksgiving Day is usually full of food, family and football. Southern California Edison (SCE) reminds its customers to add safety to the list since cooking fires are three times more likely on Turkey Day than any other day, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Cooking equipment, overloaded circuits and extension cords are leading causes of electrical accidents and home fires during the holiday season, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. About 2,000 fires occur annually in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day, causing an average of five fatalities, 15 injuries and $21 million in property damage, said the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).
“An increase in indoor activities combined with cooking and entertaining family and friends can cause many customers to forget basic home safety,” said Bill Messner, principal manager of Health and Safety at SCE. “Safety should never take a holiday.”
The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking, said the USFA. Never leave cooking equipment or appliances, such as toaster ovens, unattended. Turn them off if you leave the room. Another key precaution is to check for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) mark on appliances. UL is the leading independent product safety organization and is a trusted symbol among consumers and manufacturers.
SCE recommends some other safety tips for Thanksgiving:
•         Plug countertop appliances into Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)-protected outlets.
•         Replace appliances that have frayed electrical cords. Contact with them can cause electric shock and serious injury.
•         When using electrical appliances, keep electric cords out of reach of children.
•         Do not overload outlets with multiple adaptors or power strips.
•         Do not use extension cords with major appliances.
•         Unplug appliances that aren’t in use, preventing them from being turned on accidentally.
•         Locate all appliances away from the sink. Remember that water and electricity do not mix.
•         Never fight an electrical or grease fire with water. Keep a fire extinguisher, UL listed and rated for electrical fires and grease, nearby.
For more on electrical safety at home, visit www.sce.com/safety. Follow SCE on Twitter and Facebook.
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Young Visionary Youth Leadership Academy in partnership with the Black Voice Foundation have been awarded a major grant by the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health to provide a resilience promotion in African-American children and their families within San Bernardino County targeting students primarily within the San Bernardino  Unified School District (SBUSD). The three year funded grant, Successfully Motivating  African-Americans in Resiliency Training (SMAART), is a 12-week, multi-year, intensive K-8 program that will be a hub of high expectations. The program will directly support the SBUSD strategic plan.
“Our goal is to support community organizations, parents and students to achieve the goal of inspiring families toward their successful future” Terrance Stone, CEO of Young Visionaries, said.
SMAART is partnered with the Department of Equity and Targeted Student Achievement, and the African-American Parent Advisory Council from the San Bernardino City Unified School District and Hardy Brown College Prep, a charter school located in downtown San Bernardino.
The program’s goals and objectives include:   reducing the risks of juvenile justice involvement; weekly lessons completed in collaboration with SBUSD schools; conflict resolution among students; effective Black parenting; mentor workshops; history and heritage that will bring greater understanding to families; and health and wellness workshops to increase awareness.

Linda L. Smith

A Profile of Courage: Linda L. Smith. On Saturday, December 21 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Hour Glass Wine and Art Gallery, 8200 Haven Avenue, Suite 103, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730; the screening of independent filmmaker, Reginald D. Brown’s documentary “A Profile of Courage: Linda L Smith” will be screened. Smith is the Founder and CEO of Four-D College, a vocational nursing school in Colton and Victorville.  Today, she remains the only African American to have a fully accredited career college offering vocational nursing and other allied health programs in the State of California. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. For tickets please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/a-profile-in-courage-linda-l-smith-tickets-9251474409.

East and Be Well is back this Thanksgiving season.

FONTANA, CA – A follow up to its successful experience last year, East and Be Well is back this Thanksgiving season. The second annual, one-day event will be held on Wednesday, November 27  from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Seville Park and Cypress Neighborhood Center, 8380 Cypress Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335. Led by a socially conscious steering committee from the Inland Southern California’s business and non-profit communities, including co-founders Christopher A. Suchánek (CEO/Firm Media) and Ana Karina Suchánek, Eat and Be Well supports the underserved of San Bernardino County. Not only does this occasion provide a hearty Thanksgiving meal to the community, it provides participants access to free health and wellness resources. Last year’s  event was a success right off the bat, pulling in over 20 nonprofit, for profits, and county and government agencies together to work together to serve 1,600 plates and provide health services. The steering committee’s objective for this year’s event is to serve 2,500 plates, while maintaining the overall goal and vision of being able to “establish consistency”. According to Josiah Bruny, a member of the Eat and Be Well steering committee and founder of Music Changing Lives (MCL) the second annual event will be “bigger and better!”

ETA NU OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INC

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-  In partnership with St. Paul A.M.E. Church, High Calling Christian Church and New Focus Community Development Outreach Corporation, the Eta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., will be providing Thanksgiving meals and food baskets for the Inland Empire community on Saturday, November 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Inghram Community Center, 2050 North Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino. This is a free community event where there will be health and medical services provided along with children’s activities and a clothing give away. Free mammogram screenings will be provided for women.  Please call ahead for appointments 1-714-871-4488 ext. 210.  Other health screenings offered will be blood pressure checks, blood sugar and diabetes, cholesterol, hemoglobin, vision, dental hygiene, lupus, obesity, WIC, mental health services, resources for pregnant women, and information on the Affordable Care Act.

teen dating

LOS ANGELES, CA – On Saturday, November 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Positive Results Corporation (PRC) will be hosting its 3rd Annual ‘STOP THE PAIN’, a teen summit on dating violence, sex trafficking and bully prevention, at California State University Dominguez Hills, 1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747. This is a free community event designed for youth and young adults ages 12 to 24, and their families. Sessions and workshops include Bully Prevention; Sexting and Texting; Dating Violence Prevention; Sex Trafficking Awareness; Teen Exploitation Warning Signs and several others. Each workshop and session will also feature  interactive networking opportunities and honest and helpful tools for creating healthy relationships. Students will also earn 10 community service hours for their participation.  PRC’s 3rd Annual Teen Summit will also feature a performance from singer and songwriter, RaVaughn, known for her hit single, “Best Friend.”  Youth can register for the event by visiting stopthepain-3rdannual-es2.eventbrite.com. A continental breakfast, lunch and gift bags will be provided. For more information about PRC, sponsorship opportunities or how to get involved, please contact Kandee Lewis, Executive Director at 323-787-9252 or by email at kandeele@prc123.org.

Marques Houston

UPLAND, CA-  United Swag of America will be presenting a special one night only performance featuring  music sensation Marques Houston on Sunday, November 17 at The Palace, 1276 W. 7th Street, Upland, CA 91786. In addition to the music performance by Houston, there will be $3 drinks, $2 shots, food and hookah. Platinum producer Tony Touch will also be spinning Hip-Hop, R&B, Latin and Top 40 jams throughout the night. Cover charge is $15 before 10 p.m., and all guests must 21 and over to enter. Concert tickets can be purchased at www.marqueshoustonlive.eventbrite.com. For VIP tables and bottle service please call 702-409-5388.