Board members and staff at Knotts Family Agency stand outside for a picture after their fundraising soiree that was held at Edwards Mansion on Saturday August 15 in Redlands. The evening consisted of Jazz, food, and wine. Pictured from left right are: James Knotts, founder/board member; Gwen Knotts, founder/CEO; and board members Danielle Mackey, Kay Fangerow and Ernestine Brown. Funds were raised support a cultural and educational enrichment program for youths in foster care.
LOS ANGELES, CA- The California African American Museum (CAAM) invites the community to attend CAAM’s fifth annual Shorts at CAAM Showcase and Industry Writers Panel on Sunday, August 30, from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Shorts at CAAM Showcase will feature 15 short films created by independent filmmakers. During the Industry Writers Panel we will hear from series creator, producer and director Issa Rae of the upcoming HBO comedy Insecure; actor, writer and executive producer Gary Lennon of the Starz series Power; and series creator, producer and director Diarra Kilpatrick of the NBC comedy-drama The Mysteries of Laura. Dayna Lynne North, the writer and executive producer of VH1’s Single Ladies, will moderate the discussion. Each panelist will share their stories of how they were able to enter the Hollywood writer’s room. Additionally, they will discuss their experiences writing for projects that include film, television, online and stage.
This event is free and open to the public. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. Parking is $10 and located at 39th and Figueroa Streets. Take Los Angeles Metro’s Expo Line and exist the Expo Park/USC stop. RSVP is encouraged at 213.744.2024. For more information on CAAM visit www.caamuseum.org.
Kathleen and Carl Dameron
By Kathleen Dameron
Hello my name is Kathleen Dameron and I am initiating this fundraiser. Carl is my little brother. OK he is taller than me, but he is still my little brother. In December of 2014, Carl was diagnosed with fourth stage cancer. To be specific he has CLL Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia.
Carl has spent the majority of 2015 in the hospital. In March of 2015 after his first round of chemotherapy Carl caught a wicked infection and became septic. All of his organs shut down and he went into coma and almost died. Carl was put on a ventilator and had many IVs and dozens of medicines.
Through his long months of illness, Carl was put on dialysis, lost the ability to walk and to feed himself. After weeks of rehabilitation he can feed himself and walk short distances again.
Carl has a huge heart and a strong sense of helping others. He has volunteered for the Salvation Army providing free public relations services for 11 years. He has been very active in his community helping & serving on many boards and providing free PR services to dozens of non-profit organizations. Carl is credited with helping to bring about positive changes in the Inland Empire.
Wife Malaika and Carl at Loma Linda Universiy Medical Center
Yet, it must be a man thing, he is reluctant to ask for help in his fight against cancer and lung infection. It seems to be a challenge for his ego.
Carl had a near death experience. In fact, Carl had several near death experiences between March and June. He has prayed and battled to stay alive. He is slowly healing and contemplating going back to work.
In addition to cancer, he has black mold in his lungs because toxic mold is in his house. It was discovered after he was back in the hospital with a critical lung infection.
I respectfully ask you to come together and assist me in creating a safe home environment conducive to healing for Carl.
He should not be living in his home because of the toxic mold. No one should. It is even more dangerous given that CARL has a very LOW IMMUNE system as he is on Chemotherapy and battles Stage 4 Cancer – Leukemia.
So Carl needs $20,000 to make his home safe to live in…. A home he can live in and not die in. The family’s savings are gone and Carl hasn’t worked since February. This means the family does not have the resources to fund this project themselves.
The black mold is in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, hall and bedroom ceiling. So that’s what needs to be torn out, cleaned out, then redone. The leak in the roof must be fixed, the carpets must be replaced and the walls painted.
To begin the process Carl and his family must move out all of their belongings and live somewhere else for a month. Volunteers with the Salvation Army will help with moving out. Tom Brickley, president of Brickley Environmental has agreed to help with the mold remediation. He needs materials. Habitat for Humanity will help with rebuilding after the mold removed.
What does Carl need to create an environment conducive to building his health and vanquishing the cancer and lung infection?
To Donate Click here:http://www.gofundme.com/7d24xnfw
Every 4th Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. there will be a FREE community health and wellness fair at The Waterman Gardens in San Bernardino. Featured each Saturday there will be a mobile health care unit onsite from IEHP and Molina. There will also be groceries, food, and clothing giveaways. Mission 4Him Radio station will also be playing live music for your entertainment. The next event will be held this Saturday, August 22.
Marlo Wells
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA- Women with Voices is pleased to announce its first annual book fair featuring acclaimed authors, speakers, and entertainers. The fair will take place Saturday, September 26 from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Rancho Cucamonga Community Center, David Dreir Hall East and West located at 11200 Base Line Road. The fair is free to attend and open to the public.
“We’re thrilled to bring this caliber of book fair to the Inland Empire Region,” said Rena Neal, founder of Women with Voices. “We’ve received overwhelming response and look forward to a great event highlighting a roster of phenomenal authors and inspiring speakers.”
Confirmed authors include Angela Alexander (“Miracles in Action”); Annette Hubbard (“Oh! Sing Praises!”); Torrian Scott (“Running After Destiny”); Shamilla Pennington (“From Waiting on God to Waiting in God-My Faith Journey”); and Lori Bryant (“Anthology of Stories – When Life Happens”).
The fair will also feature live performances by comedian Mel Austin
Mel Austin
and gospel jazz artist Marlo Wells. Inquiries regarding vendor space or requests to read from published material as an author, poet or spoken word artist may be submitted to womenwithvoices@outlook.com.
The Chino Fire Foundation will be receiving a Black Rose Award this year. (Photo courtesy of Chino Fire Foundation)
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation is happy to announce the winners of the 26th Annual Humanitarian of the Year, Commitment to Community Service and Black Rose Awards.
The Humanitarian of the Year award will be given to Kim Evette Anthony. Kim gives tirelessly of herself, using her skills and abilities to help others. Much of her work is on a pro bono basis because of her unrelenting commitment to serving her community. She provides countless number of volunteer hours servicing nonprofit and community based organizations including Stop the Violence Foundation and the establishment of the Regional Violence Prevention Coalition.
Kim volunteered with the Red Cross in Houston, TX serving and supporting displaced Hurricane Katrina survivors. A product of the foster care system, Kim spent fourteen months during her reign as Ms. California delivering motivational speaking and raising funds and awareness for the plight of foster children and at-risk youth.
Davis Clark will be receiving the Commitment to Community Service award. David, a retired military person, volunteers his time at March Air Force Base assisting retirees with their retirement and other benefits. He also assists the families of the deceased, making sure they get the paperwork needed for proper burial. In addition, he mentors students at San Gorgonio High School as well as the youth and young adults at his church. He transports church members and neighbors to doctor appointments and the grocery stores and is involved in the food and toy outreach for the citizens on the west side of the city. He ministers to the residences of Highland Palms Residential Living and when the senior citizens ask for special food and clothing, he purchases them with his own funds.
The Black Rose Charles Burris 1st Responders’ Award will be given to Chief Joseph Paulino. Chief Joseph Paulino makes sure that over 50,000 students are safe each day; and has implemented an explorer program for the middle and high school students in the district. He still finds time to provide service to his community. He is a member of 100 Black Men of the Inland Empire and recently, he hosted a Searching of Mentors Summit at California State University San Bernardino. He volunteers his time with the annual Christmas toy giveaway, safety fairs, and positive tickets program.
The Chino Fire Foundation and Officer Marcus Pesquera will both be receiving the Black Rose Award. The Chino Fire Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the safety and welfare of the public through educational programs, direct assistance, and financial support of charitable organizations, victims of tragic events and injured firefighters. Officer Pesquera was in training when early one morning, he and his fellow officer approach a few individuals who appeared to have suspicious behavior. Officer Pesquera’s quick thinking saved the lives of both men. Unfortunately, his fellow officer was critically wounded but Officer Pesquera was able to save both lives. He volunteers in his community at the firing range and his skills enabled him to protect the citizens of San Bernardino.-
By McKenzie Jackson and Tanu Henry/California Black Media
For the past couple of weeks, America has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights act with events all around the country.
Last Thursday evening, many statewide and local organizations joined the commemoration with an event on the steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento. Legislative Black Caucus members partnered with the Sacramento branch of the NAACP and Urban league, civil groups, other elected officials from around the state and Californians from all walks of life to mark the historic legislation many regard the most important achievement of the Civil Rights Movement.
“As we see attempts to roll back voting rights in a number of states, it’s a good time to reflect on the widespread disenfranchisement of minorities and the struggle that led to passage of the Voting Rights Act,” said
Assemblymember Cheryl Weber (D-San Diego) who was an official host of the event about 100 people attended. “We need to revisit the history and heroes of that struggle and recommit ourselves to honor their sacrifice by exercising our right to decide who makes the decisions that affect our lives.”
For many voting rights advocates, California’s decision last week to restore voting rights to tens of thousands of felons serving sentences under community supervision makes marking the golden jubilee of the historic legislation even more special. California’s new policy comes at a time when there is growing support across the country among liberals, conservatives and moderates for extending voting rights to ex-felons.
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla made the announcement last week after the state settled a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and a number of Civil rights groups on behalf of 60,000 felons.
“If we are serious about slowing the revolving door at our jails and prisons, and serious about reducing recidivism, we need to engage – not shun – former offenders,” Padilla said. “Voting is a key part of that engagement; it is part of a process of becoming vested and having a stake in the community.”
All across the state there were Voting Rights celebrations honoring the efforts of civil rights activists half a century ago whose actions led to former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act into law on Aug. 6, 1965.
At the largest commemoration in Los Angeles, Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely, a civil rights activist since she was a teenager in the 1960s, was the keynote speaker. Organizers held the event titled “ The 1965 Voting Rights Act 50th Anniversary Tribute Call-To-Action Mass Meeting” at Holman United Methodist Church Thursday evening.
Preacely, who was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, urged blacks to continue to fight for equal voting rights.
“I speak to all of us, all of you, about how critical it is that we each find our voice and stand for something,” she said. “This is the time; this is the place to work for equal rights.”
The landmark legislation outlawed the discriminatory voting practices taking place in the Deep South after the Civil War. The act was designed to enforce the voting rights cemented by the U.S Constitution, but voting advocates say more work needs to be done after U.S. Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in the Shelby v. Holder case.
The case’s verdict nullified the Section 5 protections in the Act. The section required certain states and jurisdictions to get approval in advance from the Department of Justice when it made electoral changes, such as changing voting requirements.
Empowered by the Supreme Court’s ruling, over the last two years several states have enacted laws requiring certain types of identification to vote, cut back on early voting days and limited who can register voters.
Over a dozen speakers took to the pulpit at the historic Black church on the west side of Los Angeles and spoke of the importance of making sure everyone, particularly African Americans, have a right to step into the ballot box.
The speakers at Holman UMC included U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Los Angeles City Council members Marqueece Harris-Dawson and David Ryu; SCLC-Southern California President Pastor William D. Smart Jr.; Holman UMC Pastor Kelvin Sauls; CORE California Chair Adrian Dove; and Bend the Arc National Chair Stephen Rohde.
Other speakers were Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin, Los Angeles Urban League President and CEO Nolan Rollins and SCLC-Southern California Board Chairman Alice Golf.
The event was organized by a number of voting and civil rights groups and hosted by award-winning actor and singer Keith David. SCLC Freedom Singers and the Own Your Voice|Own Your Vote Ensemble performed during the two-hour tribute.
Congresswoman Bass, the Democrat whose district is in the greater Los Angeles area, called the Supreme Court’s judgement two years ago a mistake. She is supporting the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015. The bill aims to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with a key provision that would limit the power states have to amend federal voting laws. This bill is making its way through the United States House of Representatives.
Roxanne Williams
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Tuesday, August 11, Roxanne Williams, educator and candidate for the ward six seat on the San Bernardino City Council announced her plan for her first 100 days in office.
The plan is geared toward ensuring communities in San Bernardino feel safe, get vital services and that San Bernardino has a revitalized economic environment. Williams will be a voice for working families. As a member of the city council, she will fight to create jobs in San Bernardino, and restore fiscally sound management to the city –including improved basic services, stopping the threats of the closure of our community centers, libraries and parks, and fixing the potholes and street lights. Her detailed 100 day plan is the first and only among contenders for Ward 6 and is designed to address these critical problems.
“Obviously, we can’t solve everything in the first 100 days, but we can certainly have real conversation and create plans in order to put San Bernardino back on track,” said Roxanne Williams. “We have so much potential in San Bernardino, but we can’t lift our people up if we don’t protect our families, fix our finances and balance our budget, which I hope to bring my experience balancing budgets to this office.”
Williams was a Teacher of the Year in 2001, was a Top 10 Teacher in 2011, nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), and continues to work as a Program Specialist in San Bernardino City Unified School District. As a single mother with five children, ages 13 to 24 years old, she knows how hard San Bernardino families work and what it’s like to struggle. She also knows how to succeed in a tough moment.
You can view Roxanne’s 100 day plan at www.roxannecanwin.com/issues. For more information, visit RoxanneCanWin.com and hear what she’s up to at Facebook.com/roxannewilliamsforcouncil.
Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen
Due to last minute complications at the 777 Allen Street venue, the WssNews presentation of “World Class Jazz at 777” scheduled for this Saturday, August 15, featuring the legendary Barbara Morrison has been cancelled. The venue, the 777 Community Warehouse, recently held a “Save the Warehouse” fundraiser. Apparently under financial pressure, the site manager, Willie Walker, demanded a last minute upfront fee from WssNews in addition to the original income sharing agreement. The fee demand was a deal breaker because paying it would have guaranteed a financial loss for WssNews. We have supported and continue to support 777, and we hope that they can continue operating. We are disappointed that our desire to present a world class show is sidetracked. We are sorry to disappoint the jazz lovers who were looking forward to a world class show.
WssNews will continue the quest to bring “World Class Jazz” to the IE! We thank and apologize to those of you who have purchased advanced tickets to the Barbara Morrison show. We appreciate your support; however, we are in the act of returning your money to you! If you have not received your refund by the time this is published please call WssNews at (909) 384-8131. If you have any suggestions about bringing “World Class Jazz” to the IE, write me at walleniv@yahoo.com.
Meanwhile you can still hear Mr. Anthony Garcia play spontaneous jazz every Sunday morning on my “Empire Talks Back” radio show. Anthony, while performing the duty of “Mood Master”, plays his bass guitar throughout the talk show. ETB airs at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings on KCAA 1050-AM radio and streams live video via www.kcaaradio.com.
Ann Clark and Michael
Ann Clark of Rialto doesn’t consider herself a foster care parent as much as a parent to many teens in need over the years. The high school vocational education coordinator and her husband, Michael, a logistics worker, are currently parenting four adolescent girls in their home through Knotts Family Agency.
“It’s very challenging but at the same time it’s very rewarding,” Clark says. “You are able to instill the qualities and values that you would on your own children. What you expect of your own children, you expect of them also.”
Knotts, a foster care and adoption services agency in San Bernardino, will honor the Clarks and other parents at a jazz and wine tasting fundraiser from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at Edwards Mansion in Redlands. The other honoree foster care parents are Deborah Martelly of Highland, Belita Foster of Rialto and Jeannette and Charles Howard of San Bernardino.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser will help support the Knotts Family Agency Educational and Cultural Enrichment Initiative. The program exposes over 75 foster care youths in the Inland region to fun and educational activities, from Magic Mountain to math and science camps.
More than 2,500 individuals and families are served each year by Knotts Family Agency, which was founded in 1992. They receive critical support for resilience, mental health, care coordination, parenting, youth mentoring and leadership development, financial and environmental literacy and job training.
CEO Gwen Knotts says that education positively changes the direction of a young person’s life. “We really emphasize that with education and tutoring, we’re hoping to change the outcomes when the youth are emancipated or transition back to their biological family.”
Knotts provides social services to foster care families and stay in constant contact during the child’s stay. “They really go the distance to make sure these kids have what they need,” Clark says.
For tickets to the Knotts Family Agency jazz and wine tasting fundraiser, contact Sandy Oquin at (909) 880-0600. Tickets are $50/$65 at the door. Table sponsorships are also available.
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