Abigail Medina, school teacher, member of the San Bernardino School Board, and candidate for election to the 40th Assembly District of the California State Assembly (representing greater San Bernardino) hosted a reception on Sunday, October 23, for Kamala Harris, JD, California Attorney General, (California’s Chief Legal Officer), and current candidate for election as the United States Senator, representing California.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The League of Women Voters provided a review and discussion of California’s seventeen voter initiatives last Saturday, October 30, at the Ingrahm Community Center in San Bernardino. The forum was organized by the Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee. The 9 a.m. to noon meeting was attended by committee members as well as the general public. Each proposition was discussed as well as the San Bernardino Measures. Though no recommendations were made, the general consensus was that the event and information was very helpful. For more information about the NWPAC, call (909) 913-0831.
Tammy Martin-Ryles
RIVERSIDE, CA- Extraordinary leaders and community programs will be recognized and awarded at the Theta Pi Sigma Inland Empire alumnae chapter observance of the 94th Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Founders’ Day on Saturday, November 12, 1 p.m., at the Christ’s Church of the Valley’s Etiwanda Gardens in Etiwanda. It is co-sponsored this year by Children’s Resources Inc. and the Turn It Around Foundation.
Tonia Causey-Bush
To be honored at the event are: Tonia Causey-Bush, Ph.D., a 23-year public education veteran and president/CEO and founder of Sacred SISTAHS (Sisters in Solidarity Teaching And Healing our Spirits) Inc.; Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers, a 20-year finance management professional, serving as a Community Development Specialist Civic/Government Relations for Uplift Family Services and a member of the San Bernardino City Unified‘s Board of Education; Cynthia “The Tech Diva” Frazier, a 25-year master of the power of creative thinking and business development and a leader and author in the area of STEaM and Digital programming and instruction for youth and teens; Tammy Martin-Ryles, president and CEO and a founding member of the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Inland Empire, as well as an educator with the Corona-Norco Unified School District. Each of this year’s honorees has established impactful local community movements geared toward equipping and inspiring women and youth to dream more, learn more,
Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers
do more and become more.
“As an international organization, we believe that authentic leadership is evidenced through work that is
Cynthia Frazier
intentional, impactful and measurable,” says Deborah Moore, president of the Theta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho. “And the achievements of each of these honorees speaks volumes to their standing as authentic leaders in the Inland Empire.”
Tickets are $55 each for the Founders’ Day observance and can be purchased through Eventbrite.com by entering “Faith & Fashion”; by contacting the chapter at thetapisigma1922@yahoo.com or 951.777.4148; or by contacting any of the chapter members directly. Proceeds will help fund scholarships for Inland Empire youth. Donations can be made via Eventbrite as well.
The festive event will also feature Minister Larry E. Lowe as emcee and songstress Pamela R. Olivia. Fashions are by Casonna.
SAN BERNARDINO — Twenty-two veterans — who served in the military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as had their high school completion interrupted — will receive their diplomas during a ceremony organized by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.
This will be the eighth graduation class for the Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project, which is held in partnership with the County Department of Veterans Affairs. This year’s ceremony will be held at Serrano High School in the Snowline Joint Unified School District on Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. The school is located at 9292 Sheep Creek Road in Phelan.
Veterans in this year’s graduating class are:
Following the graduation ceremony, veterans and their guests will be honored at the 22nd annual Veterans Dinner taking place in the Serrano High School gymnasium. The dinner will be hosted by the Snowline Joint Unified School District and the Tri-Community Kiwanis Club.
Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project provides veterans and internees, who were unable to complete high school due to military service or internment, the opportunity to receive a high school diploma, according to the state education code. Veterans who served in and received an honorable discharge from World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War; or individuals who were interned in a Japanese American relocation camp and are San Bernardino County residents are eligible to participate.
For more information, contact County Schools at (909) 386-2412.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The foundation that was laid at last year’s inaugural Black-Brown Conference will be built upon on Friday, Oct. 28, when Cal State San Bernardino brings back to campus about 350 African American and Latino ninth-grade young men for the second annual conference.
Designed to increase the number of African American and Latino males who enroll and graduate from college, the students, representing five Inland Empire school districts, will receive critical college information, get connected with CSUSB students and have the opportunity to talk about relevant issues facing young students today.
Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino and Victorville school districts will be sending youths from about 20 schools to the free conference, which will be held at CSUSB’s Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The conference also will provide lunch for the students.
Raising the percentages of black and brown male students who graduate from high school and complete a college degree is vital for the social and economic prosperity of the area and the U.S., say conference organizers.
Only 21 percent of black males and 25 percent of Latino males graduated from high school two years ago in San Bernardino County having met the A-G requirements. At the same time, young black females graduated high school at a rate of 31 percent, Latina females at 33 percent, white males 33 percent and white females 43 percent having taken more challenging courses and being better prepared to attend college.
The National Center for Education Statistics has reported that only 12.4 percent of Latino men and 20.8 percent of black men ages 25-29 have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 37.7 percent of white men.
The conference focuses on this ninth graders because early college awareness and access is critical to improving college enrollment and degree completion for historically underrepresented students. In ninth grade, said Olivia Rosas, CSUSB associate vice president for enrollment management, students are pondering the college prep courses they need to enroll at a university.
CSUSB is nationally recognized for its leadership role in changing the face of U.S. higher education. A reflection of the region’s dynamic diversity, CSUSB, which has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire, and the second-highest African American and Latino enrollments of all public universities in California, is considered a model of access and excellence in higher education.
For more information about the Black and Brown Conference, email blackbrown@csusb.edu.
Reverend Floyd Lofton
Reverend Floyd Lofton who was born on June 2, 1935, in Crystal Springs, Mississippi to Louis and Eliza Lofton. He was the youngest of eleven children. After graduating from high school in 1954, he entered the United States Air Force where he proudly served 30 years as a Security Police Officer.
He received many outstanding awards, one of which was the Outstanding Security Police Officer of the Year. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. After his separation from the USAF, he was employed as a Classified Destruction Manager with Northrop-Grumman for 15 years.
In 1968, while station at March Air Force Base, he met Betty, the love of his life. They were united in Holy Matrimony in 1971. With this union, he also married Kenneth, DeJuan and Esther (Betty’s sister). Rev. Lofton and Betty have had a happy and blessed union for 45 years.
He accepted his call to the ministry in 1989 under the late Bishop Dr. Herman Hubbard. in 1994. He united with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where it was evident he had a passion for praying, worshipping, visiting and praying for the sick and shut-ins. His favorite declaration was, “…God will never leave you, no forsake you” Hebrews 13:5. He was appointed the Assistant Pastor at New Hope MBC in 1998, and served faithfully until his retirement in November 2015.
On September 6, 2016, Rev. Lofton became ill and was hospitalized. On October 17, 2016, God, in His infinite wisdom, gently and peaceably called him home from his journey as a preacher, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, godfather and friend, to his eternal rest.
He was preceded in death by his parents ,Louis and Eliza Lofton, and all his siblings.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Betty, sons: Kenneth (Wynolia) and DeJuan; six grandchildren: Stephanie (Kenneth), Tanya (Dewaan), Phylicia, Destiny (Edward), Mark (Leslye), and Jol (Bracchell); 11 great-grandchildren: Aaliya, Troy, Josiah, Mycah, Lexi, Angelique, Mya, Kolby, Kylee, Amiah, and Markie; 6 goddaughters: Joi, Tammy, “Starr” (Leon), Krystal, DeNae and DeJahna; 3 sisters-in-lw: Alice Jaqueline and Esther (John); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.
God sent His Son into the world; God didn’t tell Jesus to be partially committed to His will. God didn’t have His Son embrace only part of the cross or only go part way up Calvary’s hill. When Jesus came to earth, He gave His life completely for you. There was no holding back, no turning back and no going back in Gods plan or in the obedience of Jesus. Reverend Lofton was obedient to these teachings and faithfully followed Jesus’ example fully in his dedication to preaching, helping and being a true reflection of God’s grace and love.
LOS ANGELES, CA- Autistic teen chef Chase Bailey from Orange County, CA, who hosts his own hit cooking show www.chasenyurface.com launches his first cookbook this autumn to raise money to enable other people with autism to follow their dreams.
The official launch takes place at Santa Monica’s popular and award-winning Upper West restaurant in Santa Monica, CA. on November 10. Executive Chef Nick Shipp has been a huge fan of Chase since they cooked together at Autism Speaks’ Hollywood Celebrity Chef Gala in 2015. Between them they will be creating a five-course tasting menu based on The Official Chase ‘N Yur Face Cookbook. On hand to film the event will be Joey Travolta with a crew from his Inclusion Films company. The company teaches adults with developmental disabilities the practicalities to film making and many go on to work in major entertainment organizations.
Featuring over 75 recipes 15-year old Chase has developed, supported by mouthwatering photography, fun facts and anecdotes, The Official Chase ‘N Yur Face Cookbook (Chase ‘N Yur Face Media LLC, $24.95) includes an endorsement from Chef Mario Batali, who Chase appeared with on ABC’s top cooking program The Chew.
Using part of the book’s proceeds, Chase has decided to set up his own foundation www.chaseyurdreams.org to assist people with autism who are working towards their dreams of living independently.
“When Chase was little, he had some serious food aversions, which is common among people with an autism diagnosis. One day I noticed how drawn he was to TV cooking programs. Soon food became his world – he started overcoming his aversions and even started trying exotic foods,” Mary, Chase’s mom states. “The show began simply enough with me filming Chase cooking at home and posting the results on YouTube. People loved it! Chase started inviting chefs and foodies to join him – Roy Choi, Becky Reams, Galia Orme, Anne Scioscia, Fuschia Sumner, and famed chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are just some of the stars who’ve shared their recipes with him on Chase ‘N Yur Face.”
Tickets for the event, which starts at 7pm, cost $70 (plus tax & tip), and includes a signed copy of Chase’s cookbook plus a gastronomic goody bag. Tickets are available from www.upperwest.com or by calling the restaurant direct on 310-586-1111
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On October 14, the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Foundation’s 90th Anniversary Gala brought hundreds of alumni, dignitaries and philanthropists to campus to celebrate SBVC’s 90th anniversary and to raise funds for student scholarships. At the end of the night, donors had contributed over $135,000 to help support programs ranging from athletics to music, as well as to provide low-income students with textbook vouchers.
“We disburse around $200,000 in scholarships to our students each year,” said Karen Childers, the foundation’s director. “The amount we have raised tonight has significantly exceeded our goal, so we are very excited.”
Augmenting the support raised by donors in attendance were two larger donations: $25,000 from Kitchell / BRJ and Associates and $300,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The latter contribution was earmarked for Valley-Bound Commitment, a unique SBVC program which grants thousands of local high-school graduates a free first year of college, and which the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has supported since the program’s inception in 2008.
“I am proud to be affiliated with this community treasure,” said Emmy Award-winning actress Lindsay Wagner, a former SBVC professor who was the guest emcee for the event.
The gala was held in SBVC’s newest and biggest building: its 3-story, 108,000 square foot Kinesiology and Athletics Complex, which first opened to students in August 2016.
For more information and pictures, visit www.facebook.com/sbvalleycollege.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA-One of the largest marches and rallies in the history of San Bernardino will be led by faith-based, political, business and community leaders on October 22, 2016 in the wake of an unprecedented year of crime and an alarming increase in homicides.
LOS ANGELES, CA- Acclaimed Author Felecia Poolé, releases her thought-provoking Stormi Girl Series. These powerful coming of age novels have everything you could ask for, thrills, tension, and tender moments. They touch on issues involving sex, mental illness, suicide, and religion, just to name a few.
IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM: THEY CALL ME STORMI volume one, is a riveting story of a young girl’s journey through love, sex, and betrayal, and her fight to keep her sanity. NO MERCY: THEY CALL ME STORMI volume two is the continuation of the young girl’s journey through revenge, lies, and secrets.
Poolé gives readers a glimpse of how life-altering situations can push some teens over the edge. Stormi, the teenage protagonist, is trapped between the spirits of good and evil, but only one spirit can win.
The author’s characters are skillfully developed and you are walking in their shoes as they blindly move through life. You are reminiscent of your life as a teenager and parent. You’re reminded of the lies that you told and of the secrets that you hold. These cautionary tales will cause many parents to pay more attention to their teens and their associates. Parents will see that being open and honest about their life experiences as a teen, may help their teen when confronted with tough decisions. Teens will learn that trying to become an adult to fast, can put them in situations they are not prepared to handle.
Felecia Poolé is a mentor with My Sisters Keeper, a non-profit organization for youth girls ages 8-18. She advocates and encourages mentorship. She believes everyone has a story that needs to be told. Her slogan: “You Don’t Know My Story” resonates in the hearts of women young and old. Her passion to inspire others has made her a sought-after inspirational speaker.
For more information, please visit www.theycallmestormi.com.
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