Black educators and schools can get a helping hand with $1 million in grants from The 1954 Project, a philanthropic venture to support those working on new approaches to schooling black children.
Applications are being accepted for the second cohort of Luminaries — educators who may seek grants in three categories: economic mobility, diversity in education, and innovation in teaching and learning. The first five Luminary Award winners were honored in a virtual ceremony in April.
The 1954 Project is named to mark the year the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown vs. the Board of Education ruling barred segregation in public schools, said Liz Thompson, president of the philanthropic CAFE Group. One unintended consequence of the ruling was that “young black kids and brown kids went to white schools, but there was very little appetite to have white children taught by black teachers,” she said.
One of the speakers in a webinar about The 1954 Project states that “the students were integrated, but the teachers and administrators were left out. … Of the 82,000 teachers in the South, half were fired.” Those who weren’t fired suffered relentless discrimination, which drove more black educators out of the field.
“We have never recovered from that tremendous loss,” Thompson said.
The 1954 Project aims to honor those educators from the past and to support those who are working today on new approaches to schooling black children, Thompson said.
“We want to increase the pipeline of talent that is teaching our children — educators, districts, superintendents. We also want to increase the number of people that are working toward economic mobility. And finally, we want to increase the innovation in education, in teaching and learning,” she said.
The presence of black teachers in the classroom can make a lifelong difference for black children, said Sharif El-Mekki, one of the five inaugural Luminary grant recipients. “Black students with a single black teacher in elementary school can be up to 39 percent less likely to drop out of school. And if they have two black teachers, they are 32 percent more likely to go to college,” he said.
El-Mekki is founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, which aims to increase excellence in all stages of teacher education and recruit people who share cultural and socio-political kinship with their pupils.
“As W.E.B. DuBois said, regardless of the school that black children attend, they need exceptional teachers,” El-Mekki said.
Black educators receive less than 2 percent of the financial and capacity-building dollars available, and women get less than 10 percent, said Don Thompson, co-founder of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education. “When we look at that, we say, well, obviously, the field is uneven, and there’s less of an opportunity for success.
“Someone needs to be intentional,” he said. “And we’re very intentional about it. Seventy-five percent of these funds will go to the south and west sides of the city of Chicago; 75 percent of these funds will go to people of color; and 50 percent will go to women.”
The 1954 Project is part of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education, which was founded in 2014 and aims to raise $100 million. It launched with seed funding from The CAFE Group, the Walton Family Foundation (founded in 1987 by Walmart founder Sam Walton and his wife, Helen) and other investors and partners. The CAFE Group is an offshoot of Chicago-based venture firm Cleveland Avenue, which focuses on supporting entrepreneurs of color.
The love from a dedicated and committed spouse that truly sees you, is invested in honoring you, and puts you before them will cause you both to soar in ways unexpected. When you give completely of yourself, your spouse will do the same. No need to worry if you’ll be taken care of.
People are watching. They may never say a word. Some are judging you and waiting for you to fail. Many are cheering you on. Some are using your example to model or as a what not to do guide for their own marriage or future marriage.
What other people think does not matter. It is you two.
Loving your spouse how they receive love is crucial to the survival and overall health of your marriage.
Happy wife does in fact make a happy life. When the wife has joy and is fulfilled, the home runs more smoothly. The kids and the husband bask in that joy and peace she creates because she is at peace. But the husband is not responsible for this happiness. He can and should add to it. Spouses should add to each other’s happiness. But neither should lose themselves.
Both spouses need to be fulfilled individually. Hobbies, trips, alone time –each needs to factor that in because life is hard and we need breaks from everyone, even our beloved.
When a million things come at you all at the same time, you must look to God and keep your eye on your spouse. Both of you cannot drown. You will take turns being the “strong” one.
The perfect marriage for you and your spouse is created by investing in one another. The kids do not come before the marriage. Date nights where you turn distractions off and tune in to one another are essential.
The way your spouse experiences can for them feel different than what you intend. You can truly think you’re giving your all but if that’s not how your spouse sees it or can receive it, conflict and resentment can arise. Checking in to discuss how your spouse is feeling tended to by you are important.
People change, dynamics change but the vows you took never change. The commitment expectation does not either.
Victor Valley Station is looking for youth ages 14-21 to join their Sheriff’s Explorers. Interested applications must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, a clean record, and the ability to volunteer at least 8 hours per month.
Duties include ride-alongs with deputy sheriffs, attending community service events, providing administrative support, and participating in yearly explorer competitions and the summer Explorer Academy. The Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station is located in the city of Adelanto.
For more information, contact Staci Parks at 760-552-6845 or email sparks@sbcsd.org
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Would you like to learn more about local government as a career? Our First District Office is seeking college students to join our Fall 2021 internship program. Students will work flexible hours (roughly 10 hours a week) at the San Bernardino County Government Center, where they will tackle important issues including homelessness, behavioral health, law enforcement, education, public health and more.
Interns will work one-on-one with First District constituents and assist with handling constituent casework. They will also have the opportunity to get hands-on training in government social media management, graphic design, photography/videography, website administration and newsletter writing. Deadline to apply is October 1, 2021. For more information, please contact Julia Robles at Julia.Robles@bos.sbcounty.gov
After completing a massive $1.5 billion expansion in May, the Javits Center in Manhattan hosted its first in-person trade show since suspending such events in the midst of last year’s pandemic lock downs. From Aug. 8-11, wholesale vendors convened in the city for the NY NOW show for specialty buyers and retailers.
The show featured hundreds of consumer product categories sorted into 10 sections: accent on design; accessories; artisan resource; baby + child; gifts + stationery; handmade designer makers; handmade global design; home design + tabletop; luxury lifestyle and wellness.
Gauging by feedback provided by vendors at the trade show, it’s clear that virtually every business was affected in some way — both positive and negative — by the ongoing COVID crisis. Here are the stories of several businesses on the tradeshow floor:
Mary Althoff, founder/owner of Mierco Fine European Linens, has been exhibiting at NY NOW for over 20 years, and noted that the number of vendors was significantly down from previous, pre-pandemic years. This year, exhibits were limited to one section of the Javits. She recalls her early days in the industry, when there were 5-year wait lists, and the entire complex was filled with exhibitors.
“The pandemic caused many businesses to close — both wholesale and retail. So those that remain are in a position to weather the storm, and do business,” said Althoff. “Buyers came to buy, not kick the tires.” Nonetheless, she predicts that there will be more fallout before it’s over. Businesses were in drastic decline because specialty shops were closed for at least two to three months while international shipping from Asia more than doubled in cost.
“Not even a global pandemic could stop our customers from getting treatment. Freezing operations for us was never an option. We need to be available,” said Chemo Beanies co-founder Angelle Albright. (Lisa Chau)
Jaime Windau, owner of Love Bubby, said that although most stores are open again, they have been impacted by many factors, including issues with supply chain, limited tourism travel, etc.
The pandemic halted Windau’s wholesale business from March-May in 2020, but once stores started opening again they had steady sales. By pivoting focus to their retail website and more consumers shopping online at home, it was a win. The company — a childrenswear brand that specializes in gender-neutral designs— first exhibited at NY NOW in 2018, and returned this year in order to connect again with current wholesale customers and meet new customers.
“It is our favorite show and like a having a presence there. Most of the buyers and brands we interacted with were excited to be back in person seeing products live,” Windau said. “Some buyers did comment that the show was smaller and some of the brands they wished they were able to meet were not attending. We reminded buyers we were still in a pandemic… some brands were international and impacted by travel concerns, some brands have supply chain issues crippling their business. The list goes on.”
Chemo Beanies, which manufactures head coverings for people being treated for cancer with chemotherapy, managed to operate during the pandemic, even as wholesale business noticeably dropped off due to traffic cessation in hospital gift shops. In order to combat the wholesale loss, the company made up the difference by beefing up online retail sales, joining additional e-commerce sites, as well as increasing ad dollars.
As 2021 approached, Chemo Beanies co-founder/president Angelle Albright searched for in-person trade fairs specifically to reconnect with wholesale customers and reach out to new customers. “Not even a global pandemic could stop our customers from getting treatment. Freezing operations for us was never an option. We need to be available regardless, so we found the best way to find our customers online and meet them wherever they were,” said Albright.
Some companies experienced organic sales growth in response to the pandemic. Just My Type Letterpress relaunched its wholesale offerings at the start of 2021, and the response has been encouraging. The stationery industry in general had a good year, as people were mailing more cards.
“Those that I spoke to in the stationery industry were very surprised at how well things had gone in the last year. I get the feeling that buyers are being cautious, whether they are wholesale buyers for a store or retail consumers,” said company owner Lynn M. Jones. Nonetheless, she notes that “the recent uptick in Delta variant COVID-19 cases has made it clear that we’re not done with the pandemic yet.”
HeadsUp Design Company, which does business as custom candlemaker 54Celsius, also saw a dramatic increase in sales over the past year, said Daniel Koval, founder and managing director. With offices closed and no service or fashion industries competing for disposable income, spending on home décor and accessories experienced a major boost. On the flip side, global logistics issues cut off growth due to an inability to get product or raw materials.
Beauty brand noyah saw demand for its lip products fall due to quarantines and masks, so the company expanded into moisturizers and bath bombs. (Lisa Chau)
This was 54Celsius’ second time exhibiting at NY NOW.
”Retailers who did venture out to the show came to buy, and we had a fabulous show. While the aisles were quiet, we had customers in our booth virtually non-stop… last year was also very strong in my part of this industry. People have cash to spend, and the home has taken on a whole new importance as companies rethink the ‘where’ of the workday,” said Koval. “Home-accessory sales and candle sales are continuing to exceed our expectations. I’ve hired two new customer service team members since the pandemic began and am now looking to add more. Many stores have moved online, and others are finding that as vaccination rates increase, consumers are excited to go out and shop at their local stores again.”
The one macroeconomic development that would help boost 54Celsius’ prospects is a solution to the global shipping container shortage. The company ships its candles in refrigerated containers from Europe and Asia to the U.S., as well as from America to Europe. The shortage means that supply is extremely difficult to get these days, resulting in lost sales and angry, frustrated customers.
“When we do get a container the cost has tripled or even quadrupled. One container route that last year would cost $6,000 is now costing $26,000. The system is broken,” Koval said. “If there is a silver lining to the container shortage, it’s that it has reinforced our commitment to manufacture locally. We have shifted production of a number of lines to the U.S. this past year, and we will continue those efforts in each of the markets where we sell. It reduces our carbon footprint, increases jobs here, and helps us to be more responsive to our clients.”
“We do think wholesale and retail industries are certainly in recovery mode, but on a sliding scale, as this crisis has affected every business differently. The ones that want to survive are working hard to ‘will it’ to happen. Until the veil is lifted on open doors again, retailers and wholesalers alike are skeptical. Overall investments are down, and we don’t think we will see larger, confident buys until we know what direction things are moving in. It’s a tough spot to be in, but from what we experienced, buyers are planning ahead with caution, as are we.”
For example, Dr. Joshua Gordon’s New York-based beauty and personal care company, noyah, saw demand for its lip products fall thanks to quarantines and masks. In response, Gordon expanded to include moisturizers and bath bombs. His team believes the recovery will be slow and vary by product category and sub-category.
“Just as lipstick sales went down during the pandemic and moisturizers and sanitizers went up, reopening, returning to work, etc., means that there’s another shift in terms of which products are gaining steam, with certain categories doing better than others, and some doing even better than before the pandemic,” Gordon said.
The New York International Auto Show is always a popular draw at the Javits Center, but this year’s has been canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
At Fortune & Frame, business increased by over 300 percent since March 2020.
“The retail industry is resilient,” Principal Kieran Powell said. “A large part of that is because it is constantly evolving. Consumers want the discovery and social element of going into stores. This is resulting in stores stepping up their game, as well as a number of digital-first brands successfully opening new physical stores. It’s also creating a more competitive wholesale industry — brands have to create better products to compete, and showrooms and trade shows have to deliver the best brands to retailers, so they can best cater to their customers.”
But there are still far too many unknown and unpredictable factors to solidly predict the rate of a retail recovery.
Strong evidence of such uncertainties surfaced just days before the NY NOW show began its run. On Aug. 4, the producers of the 2021 New York International Auto Show that was set to run at the Javits late this month announced it was canceled. The reason: “… the growing incidences of the COVID-19 Delta variant and the increased measures announced recently by state and local officials to stop its spread,” a statement for the organizers said.
Xavier Elder-Henson and Roy Williams Jr. have a bond born of their chaotic childhoods and an altruistic, therapeutic desire to end familial cycles of abuse.
Together, Williams and Elder-Henson are traveling a cathartic path and have transformed their childhood trauma and personal substance-abuse issues into an inspirational “Family Unit” clothing line.
“With ‘The Family Unit,’ we knew we wanted to give back,” the duo said.
In this Zenger Q&A, the duo describes their sojourn from calamity to serenity and how their musical backgrounds served to quiet Elder-Henson’s inner demons, ease Williams’ depression and forge a noble union.
Xavier Elder-Henson, with 6-year-old son, Cameron, said a percentage of the profits from “The Family Unit” clothing line are donated to support advocacy organizations. “We knew we wanted to give back,’” said Elder-Henson. (Courtesy of Roy Williams Jr.)
Zenger: What is the origin of “The Family Unit” concept?
Elder-Henson: I have thrown a few things at the wall, but The Family Unit is the one that stuck. The story of two black fathers trying to build a legacy for their children while also trying to overcome their own pasts is very compelling, powerful, useful and inspiring.
When we decided to take the leap with The Family Unit, we knew we wanted to give back. So we made a commitment to find organizations in the DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia area) and donate a percentage of our monthly profits to them.
There is also a section of our websitethat spotlights these great organizations. We have direct links to them if you prefer to donate directly, and we also encourage people to donate their time toward being at the forefront of uplifting their communities.
Williams: Xavier and I had always been in touch here and there, but it was always with music, which is a complement to something else that was greater. Xavier challenged me on it and we both agreed that it was family. I kept bringing up the family unit, and he said, ‘Yeah.’ The broken homes we came from were a big factor.
Xavier and I decided together that we can break the curse by creating something great. We want to inspire and keep families together, prevent division, divorces, domestic abuse and encourage people to raise their children the way they’re supposed to be raised. It’s the moral and Biblical way, and that’s why we came up with ‘The Family Unit.’
Zenger: What different types of clothing do you offer, how can you be contacted, and how does one go about ordering?
Elder-Henson: Visit us at the www.thefamilyunit.shop shop to place an order. Our ‘Box Logo’ T-shirts are our go-to item, coming in a variety of colors for adults, youth, toddlers and babies. Our brand is geared towards family, so when you wear our clothing, we hope you feel a sense of transformation.
We hold and attend events, and you can sign up to our mailing list on the website, message and follow us on Instagram (@thefamilyunitbrand), or email us at thefamilyunitcs@gmail.com. We also encourage you to send us pictures of you and your family in your gear, so we can show your love for family to the world.
Zenger: How were your childhoods?
Elder-Henson: My parents divorced when I was a toddler. I grew up in two different worlds. There was a small period of time that my mom and I were staying in a shelter and time when I watched my mother work hard trying to raise three children.
One day I remember waking up in the backseat of a taxi with my dad heading from Maryland down to North Carolina. It was a weird ride to the train station. I remember feeling numb, unsure whether to cry or jump for joy. I was in the third grade.
It was a hard pill to swallow. My dad was strict, remarried, and I had a sister I hadn’t met. Before I set foot in their home, I harbored resentment toward him, my mother and my stepmother. Part of it was me wondering if it was my fault this all happened; the other part felt like I didn’t get to make the decision on where I wanted to live.
Looking back, I wish I gave my new situation more of a chance. I spent the majority of my childhood in North Carolina, where I graduated from high school. I jumped into the workforce, bouncing around and into a few different lines of work. Right now, I’m a stay-at-home dad. Eventually I came to a point where I wanted to start my entrepreneurial journey.
Roy Williams Jr. (left) with daughter, Ariella, 8, said he and partner, Xavier Elder-Henson, created their “Family Unit” clothing line to try to keep families together. (Courtesy of Roy Williams Jr.)
Williams: My childhood was rough. My dad was on drugs. I experienced seeing him smoking crack. But I also experienced him turning himself over to God as a minister who was really involved in the church. I went to church with him and my mom. Those were the best times I had with him.
But when he went to drugs, it all went downhill. I experienced my dad abusing my mom. Abuse among family members was cousins fighting cousins, cousins fighting aunts. When my mom remarried, my stepfather was very emotional, took it out on us and beat on us.
Karate was one thing I was good at and was my way of coping. My grandmother put me into karate, but my mom took me out of it. I was very upset with that, and ever since then, all of my life, I would start something and not finish.
When it came to the family foundation, everything was all bad, and I had nowhere to learn anything good from. I didn’t learn how to deal with adversity because I wasn’t taught by my parents how to. I turned to drugs.
I went into the military to get away from my stepfather. I later realized making an emotional choice like that isn’t always the best thing to do. I was 18 or 19 years old in Japan, not knowing how to deal with life, depressed and homesick.
I ended up being kicked out of the military due to drugs, came back home and hit rock bottom about four times in my life. The turning point was in my mid-30s, when I stopped smoking weed for the time since I was 14.
Elder-Henson: I tried weed and alcohol as a coping mechanism. I knew right away that that was not me. Ultimately, church, family and music were my ways of working through. It’s still an ongoing process, and as a father myself, I realized that the good and bad are what have molded me into the man I am today.
But I made a lot of bad decisions by projecting my anger and hurt at people who didn’t deserve it. Over time, I realized that all my parents wanted was the best for me. I am still looking back and remembering the lessons that I was taught by all three of them, and I am truly grateful for their continued presence in my life.
Williams: I grew up in southeast Washington D.C., up to the third grade, then moved to Fort Washington, Maryland. I graduated from high school, went into the military, then studied to be an electrician and doing odd jobs after that. For five years, I was a stay-at-home father. I had gained everything back as far as my job and everything.
But I had to get my soul back, because I had left my identity behind. I wanted to go back to school, but then COVID hit; I decided to go all out trying to be an entrepreneur. I also went to TESST College of Technology for computer networking and also got a few certificates from Google in 2020.
Zenger: Didn’t the two of you meet as musicians?
Elder-Henson: Music was a way for me to deal with my inner demons, and it became an instrument for healing and personal growth. As far as ‘The Family Unit,’ Roy and I crossed paths while performing at a show. It was a small event in Waldorf, Maryland.
My plan was to talk to at least one person before I left. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I had to psych myself up to tap Roy on the shoulder. We clicked right away, became really good friends and kicked off our relationship as entrepreneurs.
Williams: I work full-time as an armed protective officer at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. I wrote my first song when I was 8 years old, was a part of a music group in 1998, started producing music in 2001 and engineering in 2015.
I did a few talent shows, including one at the Smithsonian Museum. Music was a way for me to cope with depression, and during my venture, Xavier and I crossed paths, and the rest is history.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD’s) executive cabinet has undergone several changes over the past few months, all designed to better serve students and families.
The Board of Education held a reception in honor of the two newest additions to the cabinet and the promotion of Dr. Rachel Monárrez. The reception began at 4:30 p.m. at the Dr. Margaret Hill Community Room in the Board of Education building, prior to the August 17 Board meeting.
The newest addition to the cabinet is Dr. Ricardo Esquivel. As the assistant superintendent of Equity, Access, and Innovation, Esquivel will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of new Superintendent Doc Ervin‘s vision of providing equity, access, and innovation for all students.
Esquivel, who holds both a master’s and doctorate degree in Urban Education and Leadership, has several years of experience as an educational leader. Most recently, he served as superintendent of the Elk Hills Elementary School District. Prior to that, he was the executive director of the Wonderful College Prep Academy in Kern County. Esquivel also has more than four years experience serving as a school administrator.
Esquivel is filling the assistant superintendent position left open when Dr. Rachel Monárrez was promoted to deputy superintendent.
Monárrez joined SBCUSD in August 2016 as the assistant superintendent of Student Services, and was later named the assistant superintendent of Continuous Improvement. That position has been renamed to assistant superintendent of Equity, Access, and Innovation.
Monárrez has spent her 27 years in education focusing on the success of students. She spent almost two decades as a classroom teacher and instructional leader. In 2004, she earned recognition as a National Board Certified Teacher, something that only a small percentage of teachers earn and only after proving their effectiveness in the classroom through a rigorous, lengthy process.
In 2020, the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators named Monárrez as the Central Office Administrator of the Year for her distinguished leadership and excellence in advocating on behalf of Latino/Latina/Latinx children.
Monárrez earned her M.A. in Education in 1995 and her Ph.D. in Urban Education in 2010.
Harold Sullins joined SBCUSD as the associate superintendent of Business, Facilities, and Operations on July 8, 2021.
Sullins served as the assistant superintendent of Administrative Services for Rosemead School District prior to joining SBCUSD. He has also served as the assistant superintendent of Business Services for Upland Unified School District and the executive director of Business Services for San Jacinto Unified School District.
Sullins earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has certifications in school management negotiations and as a chief business official.
The executive cabinet are the top-level division and department heads directly reporting to the superintendent. They meet regularly to advise the superintendent, and they help run the District’s daily operations.
Yesterday, I woke up to fatigue. No, not your regular just dragging that coffee can fix. The overtired feeling that does not get quenched by a regular night of sleep. Yes, that! Pure exhaustion. I felt like I needed a nap. All. Day!
But that’s a dream for empty nesters. As a mother of young children, there’s no all-day naps unless on a personal, kid free vacation or a planned weekend at Grandmother’s. So, I had to break out my supermom ninja tricks in order to brave the day because children do not take time off.
Mom hack number 1: Yes-spaces.
Yes-spaces are essential to a mom’s peace. These spaces are available for your child to roam freely without having to worry about them getting hurt by chemicals or dangerous object, and staying out of your no-no items. If you like, you can sit back, relax and even rest your eyes for a second but the point is you do not have to worry about danger or having to move things. The sockets are covered, entrances are child proofed as well, and there are enough toys and non-breakables to keep your child entertained without you having to constantly hover. Yes, to yes-spaces.
For years I didn’t have a yes space and the stress of not having things properly locked down wore on me in a way I hadn’t even realized. The relief that a yes-space offers is priceless.
Mornings can be pretty exciting and a bit hectic. This hack saves the time of a sit-down breakfast but your car will not thank you for this mom hack. But I’d rather and unhappy car than hangry children any day.
Mom hack number 2: Portable breakfast
baked oatmeal (I recently got the tip to put these in a muffin tin! It’s even better than baking a large pan and cutting into bars. And less crumbs)
Pigs in a blanket
Breakfast sandwich with eggs, cheese and bacon
Waffles (folded like a sand which. Hold the syrup)
These work for us. We pair one of the options above with a piece of fruit or a yogurt smoothie.
Food is important in our home as my next tip also has to do with food. Time to educatie the children, run successful businesses, and relax (it’s essential for productivity), is also important. Time management and dispersing my energy wisely is essential.
Mom hack number 3: Cook once per day
This has saved me on those days where I’m too tired at the end of the day. Too many times we have eaten fast food instead of a home cooked meal because I needed something quick.
Cooking dinner either completely or the main dish while I cook breakfast or lunch has helped me ensure that my kids get a healthy meal at dinner time.
If you prepare lunches at night or before work, you can start something in your crock pot right before you get started. Anything to maximize time at the end of the day is helpful.
Those 3 hacks have saved me sanity and time each week for years.
Whether you incorporate these or other mom-hacks such as meal-prep or chore charts, implement ideas that will help your home work for you.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Friday, August 20th Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes honored two of the 2021 Minerva Scholarship recipients. The program awards up to eighty-seven California residents a $2,500 scholarship.
The Minerva Scholarship program was established by Women in California Leadership to support the advancement and empowerment of women. This foundation awarded two scholarships to students from the 47th Assembly District.
The 2021 scholarships were awarded to Veronica Banuelos, San Bernardino and Destiny Lopez, Rialto. Both have shown a commitment to their communities and higher education.
“It is an honor to present these two scholarships to women in our community who have gone above and beyond to serve their community and strive for more knowledge,” said Assembly Majority Leader Reyes. “Congratulations to Veronica and Destiny and good luck on your studies.”
Veronica Banuelos, San Bernardino
Veronica is a first year student at Pomona College, graduating Arroyo Valley High School in 2020 during the pandemic. During high school, she served as academic decathlon president, varsity tennis captain, Pomona College Academy of Youth Success Student Advisory Board, and teaching assistant.
Additionally, she was an organizer for Bloodstream Blood Drive and Adopt-A-Family for her local community. Veronica was also part of the third Assembly District 47 Young Legislators, where she actively participated in each of our meetings, and went beyond the expectations of the program by volunteering at several of our District events.
Her commitment to her scholastic and athletic excellence and to her community’s success is what shaped her into the leader she is today, and the leader she will be in the future.
“I would like to thank the Minerva Scholarship program for making this scholarship possible and available for students like myself. I can humbly say, from the bottom of my heart, that I am honored, and grateful to use this to continue my education. Thank you to Assembly Majority Leader Reyes, Maha Rizvi, and the rest of the team for introducing me to such wonderful opportunities,” said Veronica Banuelos.
Destiny Lopez, Rialto
A recent graduate of Eisenhower High School, Destiny is planning to attend California State University, San Marcos. While attending school, she was an active student in her school district, where she had the opportunity to serve as the student voice on Rialto Unified School District’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Her involvement continued to high school where she served as ASB President, ASB Vice president, District Strategic Planning Committee-Student Member, Key Club President, Varsity Cheer Captain, and Equity and Access Team Member.
Surrounded by the uncertainty of the pandemic and the devastation of losing a year on campus, she applied and was selected as Student Board Member for RUSD, where she advocated for social emotional programs for students affected by the pandemic.
“It was an honor to be able to take part in this experience that so few women are able to I couldn’t begin to express how grateful I am. I promise to make you proud,” said Destiny Lopez.
For more information on the complete scholarship requirements and details, go to the Foundation’s website at https://wicl.us/scholarship-program/
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
By Lt. Jill Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A San Bernardino, California, native serves at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville located in Jacksonville, Florida.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Karam Elzein joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Elzein serves as a master-at-arms.
“I was the only one in my family to join the Navy,” said Elzein. “It provides good structure and stability for my family, and for the opportunity to travel the world.”
Growing up in San Bernardino, Elzein attended Cajon High School and graduated in 2013. She also graduated with a bachelor’s degree from California State University of San Bernandino. Today, Elzein finds the values in San Bernardino similar to those needed to succeed in the military.
“I try to do my best at everything I do,” said Elzein. “I was a wildlife firefighter, and that inspired me to join the Navy. After being a firefighter, I learned that I could do anything I want.”
These lessons have helped Elzein while serving at NAS Jacksonville.
On Oct. 15, 1940, NAS Jacksonville was officially commissioned, and became the first part of the Jacksonville Navy complex that would also include NAS Cecil Field and Naval Station Mayport.
According to Navy officials, the mission of NAS Jacksonville is to enable warfighter readiness focused directly on support of operational units aboard the base and throughout the fleet.
NAS Jacksonville consists of more than 100 tenant commands and is one of the largest employers in the area. It contributes to the growth and prosperity of Northeast Florida with an economic impact of more than $2 billion annually.
Serving in the Navy means Elzein is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Overall, the Navy provides guardians of the sea,” said Elzein. “We are the first line of defense.”
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
There are many accomplishments that come with military service, and Elzein is most proud of earning a meritorious promotion to petty officer second class.
“I was the distinguished graduate of my school, and I am proud to be an E-5,” said Elzein. “My overall goal is to become a commissioned officer. That’s my drive.”
As Elzein and other sailors continue to train, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“When I first joined the Navy, it was an outlet of my civilian days, I needed something more than living paycheck to paycheck,” added Elzein. “The more that I’ve learned about the Navy, I am proud to serve. It means a lot to my family, and the big puzzle is finally coming together.”
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