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McDonald’s Supports Reach Higher Organization And Former First Lady Michelle Obama For 6th Annual College Signing Day

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— As May 1st is the deadline by which many high school seniors determine which college they plan to attend in the fall, Reach Higher hosted their annual College Signing Day on Wednesday, May 1 with former First Lady Michelle Obama and over 9,000 students from across California at UCLA‘s Pauley Pavilion.

Reach Higher, started by former First Lady Michelle Obama during her time at the White House, works to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. 

McDonald’s franchisee, Kyle Webb with Wendy Lewis

McDonald’s is a proud supporter of Reach Higher’s mission to empower students to take charge of their future and own their success. McDonald’s and its franchisees bring positive economic opportunities to the neighborhoods they serve in numerous ways, including hiring directly from the community, providing scholarships and engaging in other philanthropic activities that provide access to education, empowerment and entrepreneurship.

The high-energy event featured celebrities such as John Legend, Yvonne Orji and Usher, as well as education influencers, all of whom attended to recognize students’ academic achievements, and to offer encouragement and guidance on how to make the most of their future educational opportunities.



St. Elmo Village’s 50th Anniversary Memorial Day Weekend

St. Elmo Village’s 50th Anniversary
THE ART OF CREATIVE SURVIVAL

Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, 2019

Memorial Day Weekend

12pm-6pm

FREE

Mid-Town Shopping Center4830 St. Elmo Drive
Los Angeles, California 90019-5571

Park and use the Shuttle Bus

4725 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019 (behind Living Spaces / Shuttle Bus Location)

The Village is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this Memorial Day Weekend with outstanding performers and musicians. Amongst them are some of our favorite musicians and cultural symbols of Los Angeles including Dwight Trible, which Bandcamp calls “The Bridge Between Two Generations of Jazz.” And highly respected for her scat ability and “Crystalline Tone,” Sandra Booker pushes the musical envelope to create a unique style and sound. We can’t wait for their performances!

The two-day weekend will also feature cultural dance and spoken word performances, artisan vendors, delicious food trucks, arts and crafts and more – come join the fun and invite your friends! For more info, please visit our website.

The Village is transforming as folks come to paint to courtyard mural. There are two weekends left to participate in our Pay-to-Paint Fundraiser – come add your creative energy to the space and be a part of something beautiful!

For more information visit stelmovillage.org.



Woman of St. Paul Hold Weekend of Praise Prayer and Worship

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Women of St. Paul A.M.E. located in San Bernardino will hold a weekend of Prayer, Praise and Worship May 18 and 19, 2019 at 1355 W. 21st St. The speakers will  include Rev. Laurie McDonald Albert and Rev. Noella Buchanan. The  weekend theme is “Overcoming Life’s Challenges and Living Victoriously.”

The Women’s Prayer Conference on Saturday will focus on the spiritual means of overcoming challenges and living victoriously through Christ. McDonald, former pastor of Greater Harvest AME Church, will bring the inspirational message that will focus on “Overcoming.”  

On Sunday the 10 A.M. worship service will also honor two faithful members Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry and Mrs. Thelma Earl and will feature Rev. Noella Buchanan former pastor of Corona, Allen Chapel Riverside, and St. James AME, St. Louis, MO. Her message will focus on “Living Victoriously.”

The weekend is free and the community is invited to come join them in prayer, anointing, worship and praise in song and dance.

Famous Rodeo Drive in Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Community Renamed Obama Boulevard

By Naomi K. Bonman

This has been an active year for the African-American community, as far as street dedications are concerned. From Nipsey Hussle Square to ‘Ruby Dee Place’ and ‘Ossie Davis Way’, and now Obama Boulevard, this is a positive vibe that appears to be gaining momentum as Los Angeles named a 3.5-mile stretch of road after former President Barack Obama.

After a successful fundraising campaign by Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard co-founder, Thandiwe Abdullah, Obama Boulevard finally became reality on Saturday, May 4 during a block party festival in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw neighborhood. During the festival the renaming of Rodeo Road to Obama Boulevard took place.

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San Bernardino City Unified School District 2019 High School Graduation Information

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—

Anderson School

Graduation: Wednesday, June 5, 9:30 a.m., Anderson School MU Room

Graduates: 7^

Arroyo Valley High School

Graduation: Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Graduates: 576*

Valedictorian: Yoselin Mayoral

Salutatorian: Ismael Banuelos-Romo

Cajon High School

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., Cajon High School, Jack Wilkins Cowboy Stadium

Graduates: 660*

Valedictorians: Zakaria Doueiri, Chloe Cooper, Rocky Rivera, Charlotte Ward, Elizabeth Ortiz, Natsumi Ruiz, and Daniel Gonzalez

Salutatorian: Janay Burks

Indian Springs High School

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., Indian Springs High Athletic Complex

Graduates: 355*

Valedictorian: Jimmy Nguyen

Salutatorians: Steven Huynh, Kevin Nguyen, and Steven Nguyen

Inland Career Education Center (formerly San Bernardino Adult School)

Graduation: Wednesday, May 29, 11 a.m., California Theater, 562 W. 4th Street

Graduates: 200* (includes high school diploma and GED certificate graduates)

Middle College High School

Senior Crossing: Friday, May 17, 6 p.m., Valley College Auditorium

Graduation: Wednesday, May 22, 6 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Greek Theatre

Graduates: 67* (includes 10 students who will also earn an A.A. degree)

Valedictorians: Faith Lauren Falcone and Mariah Yasmin Grajeda

Salutatorians: Karen Fuentes Santana, Angela Lizeth Villalbazo Garcia, Madison Virgina Morrie, Samantha Victoria Spencer, and Jennifer Duyen Tran

Pacific High School

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Football Stadium

Graduates: 261*

Valedictorian: Morgan Diaz

Salutatorians: Paloma Alvarez and Maria Stroud

San Andreas High School

Graduation: Monday, June 3, 6 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Graduates: 320* (includes Destination Diploma graduates)

San Bernardino High School

Graduation: Friday, June 7, 7 p.m., San Bernardino Valley College Football Stadium

Graduates: 330*

Valedictorians: Ivy Garcia Guevara and Johanna Soto

Salutatorians: Jhunelyn Parafina and Guadalupe Lopez

San Gorgonio High School

Senior Celebration: Monday, June 3, 5 p.m., San Gorgonio’s gymnasium

Graduation: Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m., San Gorgonio’s Phil Haley Stadium

Graduates: 458*

Valedictorian: Athena Vo

Salutatorians: Ashley Alvarado, Ryan Chung, Hanh Le, and Leonarda Medina Ruiz

Sierra High School

Graduation: Saturday, June 1, 6 p.m., San Manuel 66ers Stadium

Graduates: 185*

Approximately 3,412 San Bernardino City Unified School District students will receive their high school diplomas or GED certification this year. This does not include those graduating from vocational programs.

4th Annual Black History Super Expo Rewind

It’s a story of struggle, perseverance, and achievement with a legacy that includes art, music, literature, architecture and lasting contributions to the world. Discover the energy and richness of the African American experience throughout the year and join the Black Chamber as we present the Black History Super Expo Celebration Rewind because everyday is black history.

This event is free to the public and will take place May 18th 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Greek Theater inside San Bernardino Valley College.  Enjoy live entertainment, shop local vendors, enjoy food, a kid zone and youth workshops, a fashion show presented by local designers, artist exhibit and so much more.

Come out with the family and enjoy:
Live Entertainment( Bands, Singers, Dancers)
Kids Zone
Youth Workshops
Artist Exhibit Sculptures
Murals and Painting
Fashion Show
Jewelry
Food and Vendors

San Bernardino Valley College
Inside The Greek Theater
701 South Mount Vernon Ave.
San Bernardino, CA. 92470

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE

We invite you to a vendor or sponsor!BECOME A VENDOR / SPONSOR

Click here for info/ limited spacing

For more information, please call 844-332-2243 ext 902 (Tammy)or visit us (click events):bccinlandempire.com

Support San Bernardino Youth by shopping at Macy’s Inland Center Mall

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Akoma Unity Center has been selected at the beneficiary of Macy’s 2019 Your Extra Change Can Help Your Community Round Up Campaign from May 1 – May 15, 2019. Each year, Macy’s chooses a local based charity to support. With Akoma Unity Center serving over 2,500 youth and parents in San Bernardino since its inception in 2017, the choice was made clear.

During the Macy’s Round Up Your Change Campaign customers are encouraged at the register to round up change to .99 cents that will be donated to Akoma.

“The best way to contribute is to purchase each of your items separately and round up with each purchase,” Akoma’s Executive Director, Kimberly Calvin stated. “On Saturday, May 4, 2019 Girl Scouts Troop #1419 will be present to meet with customers and are excited for their first outreach event.”

For an extra 30% off, stop by Akoma to pick up a Friends and Family coupon just in time for your Mother’s Day shopping. Macy’s is also sponsoring the School Cents Program, where customers can shop at any store in the Inland Center Mall and earn points for every dollar spent. Points are then accumulated to a dollar amount that will be donated to Akoma. There are three ways to turn in receipts: turn in receipts into management office, log receipts online at shopandlog.com/inland or drop them off at Akoma. Either way, your receipts will go a long way!

Akoma Unity Center is a 501 C(3) Non-Profit organization committed to providing children with high quality, no-cost after school structured recreation, and development programs in a safe and supervised environment.

If you would like to more information about Akoma Unity Center, please visit www.akomaunitycenter.org or call (909) 217-7956.


Heated Charter School Debates Ignore One Key Fact: Black Students Are Underperforming In Our Schools

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— African-American children are California’s lowest performing group of students, only above students with special needs. Only 2 percent of Black kids in the state attend schools that are considered “high performing.” And only 10 majority African-American schools, located mostly in hard-to-count, high-poverty census tracts around the Bay Area and Los Angeles, score, on average, above the state math and language arts requirements. 

On top of that, nearly 68 percent of all African-American students in California perform below their grade level in English and language arts. In math, about 80 percent of Black students fail to meet the state’s proficiency mark. 

Black children are also three times more likely than Whites to be suspended for similar behaviors, according to a report by San Diego State University’s Community College Equity Lab and UCLA’s Black Male Institute.

When it comes to getting admitted to a California State University or University of California school, only 22 percent of Black high school seniors graduate from schools where a majority of their racial group passes the required courses.

“The critical question is not being asked: ‘what is best for our children?,’” said Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), a member of the  Assembly Education committee. She was speaking at a hearing held earlier this month on three charter school bills – AB 1505, AB 1506 and AB 1507 – before her colleagues voted to move them out of committee.  The package of legislation would place significant restrictions on charter schools, if the full legislature passes them and Gov. Gavin Newsom signs them. 

Then, last week, the Senate Education Committee voted in favor of another charter school bill. This one, SB 756, would place a five-year ban on certifying any new charters. The language in the bill, introduced by Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), states that it is designed to ensure public charter schools do not “replace or undermine” the state’s public school system.

Photo By: Khiry Malik, Roland Martin takes questions from a town hall attendee directed to the panelist.

In California, roughly 52,800 Black students attend charter schools. Although the independent taxpayer-funded schools only account for about 10 percent of public schools, they enroll 3 percent more Black students than the traditional district schools.

Because such a high percentage of African Americans attend charters, opponents of the bills see the package of proposals as a direct attack on Black students.

“Charter schools have been a way within the public school system for African-American and all families to have choice,” says Margaret Fortune, an African-American educator who founded and runs Fortune School, a network of seven charter schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino that focuses on closing the African-American achievement gap and preparing students for college beginning in Kindergarten. 

She says, under current California law, the number one consideration for a charter school to be approved is the academic performance of students. Under the new proposals, one of the criteria would be money – if the applying charter impacts the finances of the local school district. 

The legislators who authored the bills and their supporters say they introduced them to bring about more accountability and that charter school reform is long overdue.

“School board members have a fiduciary duty to ensure the fiscal health of their district. They know the needs of their schools the best and should be able to consider the fiscal impact on their students and district when considering whether to approve a new charter school,” said Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland).

Critics of the legislation have said nowhere in the language of the new bills or public statements about them, have the bills’ legislative sponsors taken a critical look at why Black students are underperforming across the state. 

Last week, nationally recognized television journalist and commentator Roland Martin moderated a town hall in Sacramento focused on school choice.

Martin said charter schools are the only option for African-American families who don’t have the means to move to a better performing school district. 

During the town hall, Martin stated reasons he supports charter schools and has launched a national initiative to explore the issue called, “Is School Choice the Black Choice?” 

“You control the resources,” he told the audience. “You control who gets the janitorial contracts, textbook contracts, IT contracts. So you do not only control the education of our children, you control the economics of our neighborhoods.” 

Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego)| recently proposed making Black students a high-risk group under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) because of low scores on statewide exams. Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Los Angeles), the Chair of the Assembly Education committee, has pulled the bill. 

The education chair’s staff said that this was not the only bill O’Donnell has withdrawn and that he is waiting for a state auditors report before hearing legislation that would tinker with LCFF funding.

 During the town hall, several of the panelists called out Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who is African American and in whose district has three high performing charter schools that are performing above traditional district schools, two of those are Fortune schools. 

“To see Black state legislators, Black city council members, Black county commissioners – who are some of the most ardent opponents of charter schools. Yet, they are representing constituents who have some of the worst academic records,” Martin said. “That to me is an abomination.” 

In McCarty’s legislative area, which covers two school districts, Natomas Unified and Sacramento City Unified, Black students are performing below the state’s African-American averages in both math and English. About 87 percent of students are scoring below their grade level in math and about 78 percent are not meeting the English requirement.


This article is the first in a series of stories on African-American students and public education in California.


Two San Bernardino City Unified Graduates Join Minnesota Vikings in 2019 NFL Draft

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Wednesday, the last day before San Bernardino High School graduate Alexander Mattison headed for the Minnesota Vikings’ rookie camp, he returned to his alma mater one more time.

Walking into the school’s weight room on May 1, Mattison reflected on the remarkable journey from his native San Bernardino to the NFL.

“It feels good to be back in San Bernardino because I feel the love and the energy of my community,” Mattison said. “This is a new beginning for me and for my city.  I want to be an ambassador. I want to help rewrite the narrative because it tends to be negative.  But we have so much talent right here, so many intelligent individuals.”

Mattison is one of them.

He graduated from San Bernardino High in 2016 with a 4.6 GPA and earned the state’s prestigious Seal of Biliteracy, validating his fluency in English and Spanish.  Mattison is a product of the San Bernardino City Unified School District‘s award-winning Dual Immersion Program.  Mattison started in the program at Hillside Elementary, later transferring to Lincoln Elementary and then continuing at Arrowview Middle School.

As far back as elementary school, Mattison knew he was destined to succeed.

“Whether it be through academics or athletics, I knew I would reach my dreams,” Mattison said. “To everyone here in San Bernardino, I would say don’t let your dreams die. Every day you wake up is a new opportunity to chase your dreams, so chase them with 110 % energy and passion.  Don’t let your opportunities go to waste.”

Mattison, a running back, is not the only SBCUSD graduate to take the first big step toward an NFL career this year.

San Gorgonio High School graduate Nate Meadors was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.  Meadors attended Thompson ElementarySerrano Middle School, and graduated from San Gorgonio High in 2015.

Meadors and Mattison are representative of the high caliber of students in San Bernardino, said Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden.

“These young men are proof that if you dream big, hold on to hope, and work hard, anything’s possible,” Marsden said.  “Alexander and Nate are key players in our collective efforts to change the narrative about San Bernardino.”

PCA Football player steps up at HBCU Combine

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— PAL Charter Academy is a small High school located in San Bernadino, California. PCA had a standout player in last weekends HBCU Combine. Donavon Becker received a second-day invite, at the 2nd Annual HBCU event held at Lynnwood High School in Los Angeles.

He was one of the hundreds of football players who came out to compete in a rigorous two-day Combine. All players that met the first-day evaluation received a callback to compete in the second day of the Combine.

Donovan Becker is a 6’6, 220 lb junior player at PCA High school that caught the eyes of HBCU’s and Junior College recruiters, and received a second-day invite.

Coaches came from all over to evaluate players from all over California to showcase their talent and to compete for a football scholarship. It was a robust combine that gave local players a huge opportunity to compete for a scholarship.  PCA’s Head Coach Julian Patrick said. Donovan held his own against Juco and High school players, and that earned him a second-day invite.

The HBCU combine has been an excellent platform for players to receive a football scholarship, quality education and the opportunity to experience college life outside of California.