Wage War: Four California State Employee Unions Are Demanding Pay Increases

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Four California government employee unions are demanding salary increases from the California Department of Human resources (CalHR) and the State Legislature to keep up with the high cost of living in California. When compared to their peers in the private sector, the employees say, there is a significant disparity in salaries.

Representatives of the unions say they are frustrated with stalled negotiations with the state over disparities in pay. Last week, one of the Unions, the American Physicians and Dentists, authorized a strike.

The other three unions are the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000 – California’s largest labor union; the California Correctional Peace Officers; and the California Association of Professional Scientists.

In June, the SEIU employees initially demanded a 30% wage increase in their next three-year contract. The legislature countered with an offer of a 2% annual increase over three years. That offer – which union members view as a move to low-ball them — sparked a demonstration at the State Capitol in June that has been followed by an ongoing stalemate between the parties.

“It’s moving slowly,” said Local 1000’s Vice President of Bargaining Irene Greene. “We’re severely disappointed in the state’s movement to get this contract negotiated with bargaining team members.”

According to the bargaining update, the state also rejected the union’s request for paid time off to observe Juneteenth.

Local 1000 represents approximately 100,000 workers in jobs as diverse as prison librarians, janitorial staff and educators at California’s schools for the deaf and blind.

In response to the state’s 2% initial offer, the Union lowered its wage request to a 26% raise.

Greene believes the union’s 26% compromise is reasonable, considering the high cost of living in California.

“We have a large number of members that are unable to maintain a living wage in the state of California. They love the positions that they work in, however we’ve been delayed in our salary increase for a number of years,” she said.  “The reason we felt that the 30% and 26% were justified is because of the low income we are finding ourselves getting.”

Greene said union jobs once ensured a comfortable standard of living, but this is no longer the case.

“We used to be able to have these jobs as middle class jobs, purchase a home, be able to provide for our families and retire with dignity,” she added. “At this point, those who we represent are really struggling.”

California Black Media contacted CalHR for comment, but Camille Travis, deputy director of communications for the state’s human resource agency, said the department does not comment on or share proposals for ongoing negotiations.

For nearly three years now, the California Association of Professional Scientists have been in negotiations with the state, demanding up to 43% increases in pay.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) introduced a bill Assembly Bill (AB) 1677 that would commission the UC Berkeley Labor Center to assess the salary structure of scientists employed by the state. The Assembly Appropriations Committee is currently reviewing the bill.

Another study commissioned by Local 1000 and conducted by the UC Berkeley Labor Center released in March found that many Local 1000 members, particularly women, Black and Latino employees were struggling financially. The study also found that nearly 70% of the union’s members did not earn enough to support themselves and at least one child.

While the majority of Local 1000’s contracts will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached, members enrolled in CalPERS health insurance plans lost their monthly $260 health care stipend on June 30.

Some consider this as an additional reduction in pay that workers must endure. Local 1000 proposed a new monthly payment of $320 to cover those losses, but the state rejected that request, according to the bargaining update. Instead, the state countered with a three-tiered stipend — $30, $70 or $140 — depending on the employee’s chosen health plan.

Despite the complications and setbacks during current negotiations, Greene remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached that will benefit the workers she represents.

“I’m still optimistic. I still believe in my state, I believe in this negotiation process, and I still have hope that the state is going to live up to their end and that they’re going to be there for those who work for them,” she said. “My hope is still there. I believe we are going to get this done.”

M.H.M & Associates Announce Four City Symposium Tour And e3p3 Software

M.H.M & Associates recently hosted an exclusive fundraising event focusing on garnering sponsorship to assist CEO Luvina Beckley, and the National Resources Development Council (NRDC) take her message on a four-city symposium tour. The focus is to reach Black women and Women of color-led organizations to change the dynamics in the trillion-dollar-a-year grant funding industry. The fundraiser was also intended to help raise investment funds the Beckley’s newly developed (patent pending) e3p3 software model. Which is sure to create some of that change.

The event was held at Fox Pointe Manor in Anaheim Hills, the private home of Dr. Howard and Linda Knohl, and featured a who’s who list of current and former elected California officials and other guests.

Beckley addressed her audience and laid out the problems with the grant funding industry. She discussed her inspiration and mission in great detail and closed by addressing the solutions that would rectify the situation. Beckley·s presentation was supported by a couple of people she successfully wrote grants for the in the past. Kim Carter, CEO of Time For A Change Foundation explained to the audience what Beckley and grant funding did to elevate her program to the next level. Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson discussed the work Beckley did for the City of Rialto.

“I thought the event was very classy and very well put together,” said Londie Pratt, who was an invited guest. “(Luvina’s) message really resonated and connected with the intimate audience,” added Pratt.

The event was a prelude to the Rising Tide/ Impacting the 1 % symposiums that Beckley will take across the country on a four-city national tour. The first symposium is scheduled for Saturday, September 9th in the City of Pasadena The symposiums are expected to draw up to 200-250 attendees.

M.H.M & Associates is a leader in the grant writing space having garnered more than $125 million in funding since its founding. Among its missions is to positively affect the wealth gap by assisting Black women and women of color-led organizations to get grants and investment funding to help their organizations reach their goals.

You can hear more about Beckley’s story and inspiration during her exclusive interview airing Sunday, August 6 at 4:00 p.m. on Channel 9 KCAL Los Angeles on the YABA TV Show.

Meet the Vocalists for “Movies with the Maestro”

RIVERSIDE, CA—- The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Anthony Parnther will present their second annual evening of cinematic music on Saturday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. Entitled “Movies with the Maestro,” this performance will be held at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in downtown San Bernardino. A second performance is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverside City College Coil School for the Arts in downtown Riverside.

The concert will include repertoire from a variety of movie favorites, and patrons are highly encouraged to become a part of the performance by bringing their light sabers and wave along to John William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars and to Ludwig Goransson and Joe Shirley’s Main Theme from Star Wars-The Mandalorian.

Multi-talented artist Holly Sedillos, who Symphony fans will remember from radiant performances at several previous concerts, will take on two diverse yet equally challenging cinematic pieces: Bernard Herrmann’s Salaambo’s Aria from Citizen Kane (1941) and John Powell and Carlinhos Brown’s Poisonous Love from Rio 2 (2014).

Sedillos is a rare Los Angeles native having grown up in Santa Monica public schools, playing French horn or singing in every possible orchestra, band, choir and musical her schedule would allow. She attributes her ear and sight-reading ability to the stellar education she received there. Holly holds a B.A. in music–with a focus in vocal performance from Dartmouth College. There, she exercised many other musical skills, including arranging, orchestrating, and conducting. After college, Holly took an intensive 2-year Meisner acting program at the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting studio. Holly is one of the few truly versatile sopranos in Los Angeles, being able to switch easily between classical, musical theater, and more popular genres. She is equally comfortable on stage and in front of a mic. She jumps at the chance to tackle difficult new works.

Recent stage highlights include Anaïs Nin in Anais: A Dance Opera at L’Off Theater Festival in Avignon, France, (Cindy Shapiro, composer), Yoruban wailing solos with The Los Angeles Master Chorale in Calixto Alvarez’s Osun Requiem, soloing in the west coast premier of Dylan Mattingly’s The Bakkai with Jacaranda Music (part of LA Phil’s Noon-Midnight), Coachella with Hans Zimmer, and bounding across The Hollywood Bowl stage in a plush tiger costume during Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Richard Kraft.

A recent top recording highlight for Sedillos was the once-in-a-lifetime privilege to sing under John Williams’s baton for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Other highlights include solos for Jeff Russo’s theme to Altered Carbon and Austin Wintory’s Deformers score, featured vocals in a Joey Newman song for ABC’s The Middle and for two Chris Lennertz film scores (Smurfs: The Lost Village and El Camino Christmas), and her first exposed solos in a theatrical release in Mychael Danna’s score for The Man Who Invented Christmas.

Prior stage experience includes the roles of Consuelo in John Adams’s I Was Looking at the Ceiling and the I Saw the Sky, with Long Beach Opera at the Ford Amphitheater, Jasmine in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular! at Disney’s California Adventure, Aquata in The Little Mermaid Live at The Hollywood Bowl, 1st Soprano in Disneyland’s Voices of Liberty, Disney’s D23 in Tokyo, soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah with LAMC, Zappa’s 200 Motels with the LA Phil, and Nancy in Oliver! at Palm Canyon Theater. Prior recordings include Austin Wintory Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (solos), Joe Bishara The Conjuring 2 (trio), La La Land, Minions, Sing!, and many others.

The Symphony will also be joined by a select ensemble from the Riverside City College Chamber Singers under the baton of John Byun. The Singers will perform Simon Franglen’s Suite from the motion picture Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Pinar Toprak’s Slumberland Suite (2022), and Christopher Young’s End Titles from Drag Me To Hell (2009).

Byun received his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine and his Masters in Choral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach. He is the director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Riverside City College, where he directs both the Chamber Singers and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He has been the guest conductor for several district honor choirs, the SCVA Men’s Honor Choir, the Central California Women’s Honor Choir, Texas Honor Choir Region 9, the Clark County, NV Honor Choir, the North Carolina All State Honor Choir, the Southern Invitational Choral Conference in Mississippi, Tennessee All State Honor Choir, and the New Mexico All State honor choir.

The Riverside City College Chamber Singers have performed at the American Choral Directors Association Western Divisional Conference in Tucson 2010, Santa Barbara 2014, and in Salt Lake City 2020. They have also performed at the ACDA National Conference in Chicago 2011, Minnesota 2017, and have been invited to perform at the National Conference in Dallas 2021, and at the NCCO national conference in Fort Collins 2011 and Portland 2015 and at the CASMEC conference in San Jose, CA 2016.

CLICK to Purchase Tickets
Second Performance to Open the ACSO Conference

The August 12 concert will be reprised in its entirety on Wednesday, August 16 at the Riverside City College Coil School for the Arts auditorium to open the Association of California Symphony Orchestras 54th annual conference. This is the first year the conference has ever been held in the Inland Empire and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra was honored to have been selected as the host organization.

Shared Dean McVay, ACSO Board Member, conference co-chair, and Immediate Past President of the San Bernardino Symphony Board of Directors, “We at the SBSO have been planning and preparing for an ACSO Conference in the Inland Empire for years, and in many respects it is a dream come true. Bringing the best and brightest industry leaders, musicians, and artists in the West Coast for this conference is an honor and a privilege, and we look forward to sharing the beauty and talent that is so abundant here in the Inland Empire – with performances from our own San Bernardino Symphony, and also during the conference from our partners at the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.

The public is invited to attend the August 16 concert with tickets purchased through the Symphony Box Office. Registration is still open for the ACSO conference which includes a concert ticket.

Tickets and Location Details

Tickets for August 12 are available at $20-$100 per seat. and may be purchased online at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by phone at (909) 381-5388. Students and Active Military are always $15. The historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts is located at 562 W. 4th Street, San Bernardino. Free, lighted parking is available directly across from the venue.

Tickets for August 16 are available by phone only at (909) 381-5388 and are general admission open seating at $50/pp. The Riverside City College Coil School for the Arts is located at 3890 University Avenue, Riverside.

Venue box office sales are planned for both venues, but the availability of seats cannot be guaranteed.

San Bernardino County Students (K – 12) Ride Free on Public Transit

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- As the start of the school year approaches, there is good news for high school, middle school, and elementary students all over San Bernardino County.  K-12 students now ride free every day, on every bus system in the County. That includes Omnitrans, Victor Valley Transit, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit and Needles Area Transit.

“We are very excited about this program,” SBCTA Board President Dawn Rowe states. “ It provides a financial break to families and gives them more options. Whether riding to school, for after school fun, or for a weekend outing, kids ride free.”

The free fares are being promoted with the tag line “You’re now free to GO,” emphasizing not only that the fare is free, but that public transit offers youth the chance to gain independence.

The free fare program is being implemented separately by each system. Identification requirements and rules may vary.  Riders are encouraged to visit their local transit system website to learn more:

The K-12 Student Free Fare Program is sponsored by SBCTA and was approved by the Board of Directors in March 2023.  It is a one-year pilot project, funded primarily with Low Carbon Transit Operations (LCTOP) funding which seeks to reduce carbon emissions by increasing transit use.

San Bernardino County Supports Mary B. Lewis Elementary School Students with Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor, Joe Baca, Jr., hosted a Backpack Giveaway at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School. This initiative supports students from all grades by providing each with a backpack filled with essential school supplies and resources.

“With the new school year upon us, ensuring our students are prepared is a top priority. As a former teacher, I see firsthand the importance of equipping students with the necessary tools at the start of the school year,” says Supervisor Baca, Jr.

The event took place at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School, in Bloomington CA. Supervisor Baca, Jr., along with key community partners including Molina Healthcare, California Highway Patrol, and various county departments, were in attendance to distribute the backpacks and other valuable resources.

Supervisor Baca, Jr. adds, “Our community is coming together to support our students, particularly those who are underserved. This initiative is a testament to our shared commitment to their success. We are excited to start the school year on a positive note.”

California Lawmakers: Smarter Policy Can End Poverty

By Lila Brown | California Black Media

A group of progressive California lawmakers – including three members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) — have pledged to end poverty in California by advancing more effective policy during the next legislative session – and beyond.

Newly appointed Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) announced the formation of the End Poverty in California Caucus last month at a Los Angeles screening of the documentary “Poverty and Power.”  The film features former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, an anti-poverty advocate who founded a non-profit that shares a name with the caucus, End Poverty in California (EPIC).

“We’re headed towards the end of the legislative session, but we’re in the process of recruiting members to the poverty caucus,” Bryan, who is the chair of the new caucus, told California Black Media.

“We’ve got about a half dozen members already,” Bryan continued.  “As we continue to do outreach in the legislature, I expect that number to grow. By the time we come back together in January to introduce new legislation we should have everything ready to go, to focusing on criminal justice reform and the housing crisis’ systemic nexus to poverty in the state.”

Bryan is the treasurer of the CLBC.

The End Poverty Caucus says it will aim to “help lawmakers organize around key votes and issues and build power in order to advance bold policy change.”

Other CLBC lawmakers who are members of the newly formed poverty caucus are Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights) and Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda).

“Part of the reason over a quarter of our state’s residents live at or below the poverty level is because of California’s failed public policies,” said Smallwood-Cuevas in a statement. “Our State Legislature must fight for California’s working families by creating equitable access to quality jobs and doubling down on what Californians earn across the board, particularly for residents from marginalized communities of color.”

Bonta said bills she introduced this year have prioritized the needs of children and families, but she looks forward to working with her colleagues to take bolder and broader action to address those problems.

It’s clear that we need to advance stronger policies that will coordinate effective, place-based delivery of wrap-around services for people most in need to make significant progress in the fight against poverty,” Bonta said. “I look forward to joining forces with our End Poverty Caucus to ensure that we strengthen our safety net and tackle the racial and economic inequities in our communities.”

Other members of the Caucus are Senators Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Ash Kalra (D-Fresno), Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Luz Rivas (D-Arleta).

Some critics have cautioned, however, that creating a caucus focused on poverty is political showmanship by Democrats that will have little impact on actual poverty reduction.

Tim Anaya, vice president of the conservative leaning Pacific Research Institute, says “The new End Poverty in California legislative caucus is not going to foster a serious discussion about helping Californians climb the economic ladder.  Rather, EPIC promotes policies that don’t work and would trap more Californians perpetually in poverty.”

Instead, Anaya proposes, lawmakers should support free market reform to support entrepreneurship and small business growth.

In an op-ed titled “Ending poverty in California Requires Good Policy, Not Platitudes,” that several California news outlets published last week, the author, Steven Greenhut, Western Region Director for the R Street Institute, compared the California Legislature to a high school student council setting unrealistic goals they cannot achieve.

“Ending poverty is a large promise – and the Legislature is much better at passing laws that exacerbate poverty (minimum wage, anti-competitive union work rules, onerous licensing requirements) rather than reduce it,” Greenhut writes.

Although poverty, overall, in California has decreased over the last four years, the numbers are still dire.  About 28 % of state residents (4.5 million people) are poor or near-poor, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The state’s homeless and housing affordability crises also compound problems poor and low-income families face in the state, according to policymakers.

Bryan says he looks forward to working with leaders like Tubbs, who has been a leading proponent of progressive economic policies like Guaranteed Basic Income and Baby Bonds.

“The best policy solutions come from listening to the people who are the most affected. I am proud to lead a caucus that is dedicated to doing exactly that,” said Bryan.

California’s First Partner: Gender Pay Gap Is “More Obvious” With Black Women

By Jaya Padmanabhan | California Black Media

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom says, “gender discrimination is the oldest form of oppression,” and America must act urgently to fix it.

Although California has some of the strongest pay laws in the nation and the smallest gender pay gap, Siebel Newsom says the Golden State still has work to do to close the wage gap for all women.

For Black women, the first partner says, closing the wage gap is “most obvious.”

“Black women live at the intersection of racial and gender discrimination leaving them doubly impacted by the wage gap,” said Siebel Newsom. “Pay inequities and gaps in wealth and economic opportunity are deeply rooted in our country’s long-standing history of racism and misogyny.

To mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Siebel Newsom released a video on July 27 along with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and PolicyLink Founder in Residence, Angela Glover Blackwell.

“Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – a day set aside each year to shine a light on the disparity in pay for Black women in this country and the far-reaching impacts for families, communities, and our economy,” said Bass in the video.

“Economic injustice is a problem across the board, and to solve problems effectively and authentically, we have to focus on those most impacted. Together, we will work to close this gap,” the mayor of California’s largest city continued.

On average, women earn 84 cents for every dollar a non-Hispanic White man does. That breaks down to Black women earning 67 cents; Latinas and Native Americans 57 cents; mothers 74 cents; LGBTQIA women 87 cents and women in leadership positions 72 cents for every dollar a non-Hispanic White man earns. Women are hired into lower paying roles at lower starting salaries and take longer to move into leadership roles.

Black women are overrepresented in industries that experience significant downturns. A report by the Department of Labor found that in 2020, 12% of Black women were employed in education and health services but a disproportionate number of them (14.9%) experienced job losses. Also, in wholesale and trade, the majority of losses were Black women. In that sector, Black women comprised 5.6% of the workforce but 14.6 % of the job losses

According to the report, Black women lost out on $39.3 billion in potential wages due to differences in industry and occupations relative to White men.

Racism and sexism are two of the obstacles that Black women face in the workplace. More than half of Black women surveyed for a 2021 National Women Law Center reported facing gender and racial hurdles to opportunity at work.

In 2019, Siebel Newsom launched the California for ALL Women, an initiative to address gender equity at the state level. Through the initiative, she has been an outspoken champion and thought leader on pay equity, working to close the race and gender wage gaps.

That same year, Siebel Newsom announced the California Equal Pay Pledge under California for all Women to build upon California policies such as the Fair Pay Act.

In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act, introduced by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). This law requires employers to disclose salary ranges on all job postings and to allow public access to pay data broken down by race, ethnicity and sex for direct employees and those hired through third-party staffing agencies.

“As there is more transparency in the hiring and promotion process there will be outcome in closing the pay gap across companies,” said Siebel Newsom.

Mitchell says she is proud to stand with the first partner and other women and allies around California and the United States to end racial and gender pay discrimination.

“Intentional and bold action on closing the wage gap among Black women and women of color is needed across every sector and will put us on a path to truly ensuring all women, their families and communities are no longer shortchanged from economic prosperity,” said Mitchell.

Recently, Siebel Newsom convened and moderated a panel on pay equity at Genentech in South San Francisco. Genentech was an early signatory of the Equal Pay Pledge. The panel included Genentech CEO Alexander Hardy, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Cari DeLoa, and representatives from other parts of the business.

In addition to Genentech, there are 130 other companies and municipalities in California that have signed the Equal Pay Pledge. While acknowledging that this is not a significant number, Siebel Newsom said that there are several major global companies, like Apple, Intel, Twitter, Airbnb, Salesforce and Gap, that “are committing to equity and fairness in their policies.”

“Closing the pay gap for Black women is an essential step for economic justice,” said Glover Blackwell. “When Black women and other women of color are paid equally, we’ll see the benefits cascade throughout society.”


Jaya Padmanabhan is a freelance journalist and a consulting editor for Ethnic Media Services.

75+ Black-Owned Businesses in Los Angeles Participate in Prosperity Market’s Third Annual Black Business Scavenger Hunt (August 1-25)

In honor of Black Business Month, Prosperity Market–the mobile farmers market featuring Black farmers and entrepreneurs–hosts a month-long activation raising visibility for local businesses and awarding prizes to the top participants

LOS ANGELES, CA—- This August, Prosperity Market–the mobile farmers market spotlighting Black farmers, food producers, chefs, and entrepreneurs in Los Angeles–hosts its annual Black Business Scavenger Hunt that takes Angelenos on a journey across the city to discover new restaurants, and retail stores. In honor of Black Business Month (August), Prosperity Market founders Kara Still and Carmen Dianne have created an interactive map with 75+ Black businesses across food, fashion, wellness, and entertainment, encouraging participants to visit and support local shops, cafes, galleries, and more.

Winners of the 2022 Black Business Scavenger Hunt receiving their prizes.

Participating businesses include:

  • Restaurants & Food – Alta Adams, Poppy & Rose, Honey’s Kettle, Sky’s Gourmet Tacos, The Serving Spoon, Harold & Belle’s, Planet Health Compton, ILÉ Bistro, Say Cheese, All Chill, South LA Café
  • Bookstores – Reparations Club, The Salt Eaters Bookshop, Octavia’s Bookshelf, Malik Books
  • Coffee – Bloom and Plume, Hilltop Coffee & Kitchen, Obet & Del’s, The Lazy Rose Cafe
  • Retail – Jungalow (home), Our Culture Hub (retail store featuring Black-owned brands), High Fidelity (vinyl), Pineapple Mama Boutique (vintage), Bricks & Wood (clothing)
  • Beauty & Wellness – Nappily Naturals (health and beauty), Curly Gurl Luv (hair products), G-Train Fitness (gym), Emerald City Nail Bar (nail salon)

“This year, we have a new interactive map of all the participating businesses so people can search by neighborhood or by category, and map out the perfect itinerary,” says Kara Still, co-founder of Prosperity Market. “There are Black-owned businesses in every corner of Los Angeles, and we hope people will discover new places in their own backyard and beyond.”

“It has been incredible to see the evolution of the Black Business Scavenger Hunt since we started in 2021–the number of businesses and participants involved continues to grow, along with our impact on the economy and community,” says Carmen Dianne, co-founder of Prosperity Market.

How the Scavenger Hunt Works

On August 1, Prosperity Market will reveal the list of participating businesses via their website and Instagram. People can text #BBSH23 to the number 323-417-0465 to participate, and earn points by texting the unique code for each business when they visit. Extra points can be earned by making a purchase at each location. The participants with the most points at the end of the month will win special prizes, which include Hollywood Bowl concert tickets to John Legend as well as Snoop Dogg & Friends, and other items that may include gift cards, services, merch, movie tickets, and food and beverages, to be revealed at Prosperity Market’s pop-up event on August 27 at Hollywood Park.

August 27 Pop-Up Market

To conclude Black Business Month and the Scavenger Hunt, Prosperity Market (along with partner ComeUp LA, a marketplace that showcases Black creatives, brands and entrepreneurs in the fashion space) will host a pop-up market at Hollywood Park, the new sports and entertainment complex in Inglewood adjacent to SOFI Stadium. The event will feature music, activities for kids, plus vendors from across food, fashion, and beyond. The winners of the Black Business Scavenger Hunt will also be announced, and prizes will be distributed during the event. Throughout the week leading up to the pop-up (August 21-25), Prosperity Market will open their Virtual Market, which allows people to shop the vendors online and receive their goods via local pick-up, local delivery, or national shipping. Scavenger Hunt participants can also earn points by shopping the Virtual Market.

Letter to the Editor: More Californians Should Know About Lifesaving COVID Meds

By Doug Moore | California Black Media

While I would like nothing more than to put the pandemic in the rearview mirror, I’ve accepted the fact that COVID-19 is still a part of our lives. We’re a far cry from where we were in the summer of 2020 – we now know what works to keep us safe and how to mitigate the worst of the virus. Tools like COVID-19 medications can help us keep the worst of the virus at bay, if only more people knew about them.

In my role as the Executive Director of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, a union fighting for the rights of domestic care workers, I’ve seen COVID-19 have a disproportionate impact on our members. Many come from vulnerable communities, and the fact that they were often given little to no protection and did not qualify as essential workers heightened the impact of the pandemic on them. Vaccines were essential in establishing safe homecare environments as the pandemic raged on. But domestic workers were (and still are) entering potentially dangerous settings every day, often without access to vital PPE, and we needed to find ways to keep themselves safe, even when they did test positive. COVID-19 medications have helped bridge that gap.

It can be hard to dodge COVID-19 even when we take precautions to stay safe, especially for workers whose workplaces are other people’s homes. Fortunately, medications that treat COVID-19 became available in 2021. They are safe and effective at stopping the virus from multiplying in the body and scientific evidence shows that taking COVID-19 medications within the first week of testing positive can lower the rate of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 by half or more.

COVID-19 medications can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why I’ve been advocating tirelessly to make sure that domestic workers are getting vaccinated and tested, and that they’re aware of and can easily access COVID-19 medications if they test positive. Even though medications have been free and available, regardless of insurance or citizenship status, for over a year. Many people are surprised when they find out that they’re actually eligible for these medications, when in fact, they’re recommended for most adults.

At UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, we’ve launched initiatives to educate and empower our workers – including resource fairs, clinics, and food drives – that provide information about and access to these medications. Our meetings have been vital times for us to spend time with the community and spread relevant treatment information. These member-centered, community-driven initiatives have created a united front against COVID-19 among the domestic worker community – allowing the people I represent to stay safe, protect their families, and continue their work helping others.

The public at large can benefit from COVID-19 medications, not just our union’s domestic workers, especially as life returns to a new normal. As we enjoy summer by traveling, attending events, and spending time with friends and family, it’s inevitable that people will continue to test positive for COVID-19.  But the key is understanding how to move forward when you test positive. So, let’s continue doing the things that we love, worry-free, by normalizing testing and treating COVID-19.


About the Author

Doug Moore is Executive Director of UDW Homecare Providers Union/AFSCME Local 3930, a union that advocates for domestic care workers and their communities.

The Change Maker List 2023 features creative pioneers who disrupt the status quo in the areas of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

“It’s important to shine the light on a wide variety of people and brands who are making a positive difference in the world, so others can see it and be it,” says International Black Heritage Month founder Bruce Reynolds

CHANGE MAKER LIST 2023

EQUITY CHANGE MAKERS:
Change Makers whose past actions disrupted the status quo and addressed Equity:

Grace Jones (Acclaimed Singer, Songwriter, Actor, and Model)
A creative genius whose fearless approach to fashion, music, and film has shaped her extraordinary career and influenced other global artists. www.gracejones.com.

Clive Davis (Music Mogul)
A legend in the music industry, he launched the careers of Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, and many more. He also collaborated with producer/entrepreneur Sean “Puffy” Combs to create Bad Boy Records. www.clivedavis.com.

Joakim Jonason (Creative Director)
While at the ad Agency DDB Stockholm, Sweden, he created the Diesel Jeans Advertising campaign: (The Daily African) in 2000. Spotlighting wealth inequality and showing young wealthy, jet-set Africans enjoying life while former rich nations need help. www.adsspot.me/campaigns/diesel-the-daily-african-8cb6dd4d7e87.

United Colors of Benetton (Brand)
United Colors of Benetton is part of Benetton Group, and for decades the fashion brand has broken the rules of the status quo with its brand messaging. Featuring diverse models and social issues that affect the World. www.benettongroup.com.

DIVERSITY CHANGE MAKERS:
Change Makers whose present actions disrupt the status quo and address Diversity:

David Oyelowo (Actor, Producer, and Businessman)
A highly accomplished actor and producer, he co-founded the recently launched Mansa, a new streaming platform for curated global Black cultural content. www.mansa.com

Jada Pinkett Smith (Actress and Producer)
Jada Pinkett Smith is a highly accomplished actor, producer, and Executive producer of African Queens, a docudrama series streaming on Netflix. The series focuses on female monarchs from the continent of Africa netflix.com/queencleopatra, 

Pat McGrath (Makeup Artist and CEO)
Widely recognized as “the most influential makeup artist in the world,” She disrupted the industry, launching her own inclusive and innovative makeup line Pat McGrath Labs. 
www.patmcgrath.com

Mikaela Loach (Author and Climate Justice Activist)
The bestselling author of “It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action To Transform Our World” and co-host of The Yikes Podcast, she reframes the climate crisis and makes it relevant for all ages. www.mikaelaloach.com

INCLUSION CHANGE MAKERS:
Change Makers whose early-stage actions disrupt the future status quo and address inclusion:

Briana Marbury (CEO and Social Impact)
As President and CEO of The Interledger Foundation (ILF), she leads efforts to use innovative technology to enable digital financial inclusion for vulnerable populations around the World. www.interledger.org

MK Boston (CEO, Engineer, and Environmentalist)
As Atlas Water and Electric Company (AWE) CEO, he’s driving change and is at the forefront of renewable power and water technology. www.the-awe.com

Jaden Smith and Drew FitzGerald (Environmentalist and Social Impact)
This dynamic duo created JUST Water, sold in cartons, as a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bottled water. And to help communities, they created Waterbox, which can provide 10 gallons of Water in 15 seconds. 
www.waterbox.org, www.justwater.com

Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti (Environmentalist)
Founder of the Green Generation Initiative, which encourages young people to love nature and be environmentally conscious at a young age. This pioneering youth environment and climate activist champions solidarity and compassion for the World’s growing climate and ecological crises. www.un.org/en/climatechange/voices-of-change-elizabeth-wathuti

Adebayo Oke-Lawal (CEO and Creative Director)
As Creative Director and CEO of Nigerian fashion brand ‘Orange Culture,’ he also created a mentorship program that helps young fashion entrepreneurs across the continent of Africa.
www./orangeculture.com.ng/  www.instagram.com/orangementorship/?hl=en

Mag Rodriguez (CEO and Entrepreneur)
Mag Rodriguez is the CEO and founder of EVEN.biz, an innovative new creative platform that helps artists sell music directly to fans. It positions itself as “sell music first, stream second” and a pre-release stop before streaming platforms. 
www.even.biz

People around the globe can enjoy International Black Heritage Month (IBHM) curated content and virtual events all year long at: www.internationalblackheritagemonth.com/

International Black Heritage Month (IBHM) 2023 focuses on Jamaica and the 75th anniversary of Windrush, the vibrant Yoruba people, and the inspiring Creative Pioneers who have shaped our World.

Another of this year’s highlights is the 24-hour IBHM curated Spotify playlist, which features Japanese reggae, Indian hip hop, Afro beats from Mexico and Portugal, and acclaimed artists from around the globe, such as C4 Pedro, Libianca, Koffee Gunna, Chozen Lee, Usher, Missy Elliott, Bob Marley, Erykah Badu, Africa Unite, Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Soul II Soul, and more. Listen Here:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4BSxQT8Lmekp1cJheSK0El?si=6bca2c60daa2484a