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INLAND EMPIRE, CA— The Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective (IEIYC) is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Undocumented Mentorship Academy Photovoice Art Exhibit, a transformative event that aims to amplify the narratives of BIPOC, first generation immigrant youth residing in the Inland Empire. This remarkable exhibition will take place at the San Bernardino County Museum on Friday, July 28, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Recognizing the power of artistic expression, IEIYC has curated an exceptional art exhibition that provides immigrant and undocumented youth with the creative freedom to delve into their identities, foster a sense of community, and employ photography as a means of personal and political expression. The event promises to be a truly cultural experience, shedding light on the unique stories and experiences of BIPOC, first generation immigrant youth, while making art accessible and inclusive for those interested in the arts.

The exhibit will serve as a celebratory space, offering attendees an opportunity to rejuvenate, connect with loved ones and friends, and cultivate moments of learning and connection within the larger community. It will be a platform for immigrant youth living in the Inland Empire to share their experiences and perspectives.

To attend the event and support the ongoing efforts of IEIYC, tickets can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/UMAExhibit. While general admission is free, donations are being accepted for an upgraded experience which includes unlimited appetizers and beverages, with contributions ranging from $15-$25 per person. Donations of any amount are also being accepted to support the organization’s programming, stipends for youth, wellness materials, and emergency mutual aid.

“We are honored to curate the UMA Photovoice Exhibit, providing a profound platform immigrant youth in the I.E. to share their powerful stories through the art of photography,” says Angel Fajardo, IEIYC Executive Director. “This event embodies the spirit of resilience, cultural expression, and community connection. We invite the community to witness the transformative narratives of these talented youth and stand alongside them in support.”

For more information about the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective and its initiatives, please visit www.theieiyc.org or call (951) 800-3006.

By Pilar Marrero

Many are vowing to continue the fight to protect diversity in higher education and warn policy makers and educators not to overreach in interpreting the controversial ruling.

Civil rights leaders joined together to denounce last week’s Supreme Court decision ending Affirmative Action. Many are warning of the negative effects the ruling will have on students of color.

“Race is still relevant, racial discrimination is still relevant,” said Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).

Saenz pointed to the majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, which states that college admission programs can consider how race has affected an applicant’s character specifically, but that race cannot be a general consideration in admissions.

“That is a clear indication that this is not a mandate or even an invitation to ignore race in the context of higher education,” explained Saenz in an interview with Ethnic Media Services.

The June 29 decision overturned 45 years of precedent by ruling that Affirmative Action policies violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Saenz and others warned policymakers and higher education leaders not to overreach in their interpretation of the ruling. They also urged students of color not to “adjust their ambitions in any way” because of this decision.

“That is a clear indication that this is not a mandate or even an invitation to ignore race in the context of higher education,” explained Saenz in an interview with Ethnic Media Services.

The June 29 decision overturned 45 years of precedent by ruling that Affirmative Action policies violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

Saenz and others warned policymakers and higher education leaders not to overreach in their interpretation of the ruling. They also urged students of color not to “adjust their ambitions in any way” because of this decision.

“Policymakers cannot use this decision as some excuse to ignore racial disparity or to ignore the imperative to address it,” said Saenz. “This doesn’t change regulations under the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), notes that race can still be taken into account for college admissions, as it relates to an applicant’s life experience.

Racial gaslighting

Colleges and universities across the country – particularly those states where, before this decision, race was still used as part of the criteria in college and university admissions – should evaluate their practices for equity, said leaders in the higher education access arena.

“We know that Affirmative Action was one of the best tools to ensure there was a diverse student body,” said Michelle Siqueiros, President of the Campaign for College Opportunity. “SCOTUS should have also banned legacy (admissions), which makes up more than a quarter to a third of the class at some selective institutions, including Harvard.”

She added the practice of granting admission to the sons and daughters of alumni, along with early decision admissions and the extensive use of standardized tests, “do not expand opportunities to low-income Black, Latino and Asian American Students.”

Several groups in Boston filed a complaint with the Education Department on Monday requesting that it review the practice of legacy admissions, arguing it discriminates against students of color by favoring the children of alumni at elite schools, most of whom are white.

Author and education scholar J. Luke Wood described the ruling as “racial gaslighting at its best.” Wood is the incoming president at Sacramento State University.

“If they are concerned about discrimination, they should move away from standardized testing, which is a better indication about a student’s resources” and not his or her capacities. “This will definitely have an impact on access to colleges and universities by students of color,” said Wood.

Sending a message to students of color

Marita Etcubañez, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), discusses the Asian American response to the ban on affirmative action and notes that Asian Americans did not initiate the lawsuit, nor were there any student plaintiffs in the case.

All of those interviewed said they worried about students getting the wrong message from the ruling and the impact this could have on students of color already in higher education institutions.

“We want to make sure that students of color know that they still belong, that we will be fighting for you, and we encourage you to apply to the school of your choice, don’t be scared off by this opinion,” said Marita Etcubañez, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives with Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC).

Etcubañez, like other Asian American civil rights leaders, also expressed concerns about arguments that Affirmative Action policies unfairly discriminated against Asian students. “This is simply false,” she said.

“The District Court examined all the evidence and found no evidence to support the claim that there was discrimination against Asian Americans,” said Etcubañez. “I also want to make sure people know that Asian Americans were not behind this case.”

In fact, the case was brought forward by a group called Students for Fair Admissions led by conservative activist Ed Blum, who Etcubañez noted “has engaged in a campaign to systematically take down Affirmative Action for years. This was not an organic case to right a wrong.”

Blum is a Republican financier who was also behind the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, which gutted Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, eliminating the requirement that states with a history of racial discrimination targeting voters of color seek federal preclearance for any changes to their election laws.

In a scathing dissent to the majority’s ruling, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote: “The three Justices of color on this Court graduated from elite universities and law schools with race-conscious admissions programs, and achieved successful legal careers, despite having different educational backgrounds than their peers.”

In her opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined Sotomayor in her dissent, offered a fiery exchange with conservative justice Clarence Thomas, who is also African American and leads the ultra-conservative wing of the court.

‘We will be watching’

Michele Siqueiros, President of The Campaign for College Opportunity, says affirmative action advocates will continue to fight for fair admissions to colleges and to ensure that campuses remain diverse.

“Thomas went to Yale Law School, my alma mater, at a time when almost certainly the law school was using an Affirmative Action system that benefited him,” said Saenz from MALDEF. “This indicates how much of a limitation this could be for our future. Future justices, future leaders, elected leaders, and future professionals will be diminished in their ranks by the court’s wrongheaded decision.”

Michelle Siqueiros, President of the Campaign for College Opportunity, said that her organization and many others would fight to counteract the effects of this ruling as they have done in California and other states where local laws limited the use of race in admissions over the years.

“We won’t accept a return to the 1940s and 1950s when colleges blatantly discriminated against women, African Americans, Jewish Americans, Latinos, and Indigenous folks at their campuses,” said Siqueiros.

“We will be watching,” she added, noting that at a time when more than 50% of students in K-12 schools are students of color, “we are hopeful that college leaders know and support and value providing opportunity for all Americans.”

ONTARIO, CA— Five legends of the field and a renowned local TV broadcaster were inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame during a gala event at the Ontario Convention Center Sunday night.

The six joined more than 100 other inductees who have been honored as California Sports Hall of Famers since the Hall was founded 15 years ago by former NFL star Christian Okoye.

The evening began with the posthumous induction of the late UCLA football coaching legend Terry Donahue, whose award was accepted by his friend Carl Peterson, former president and general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Other inductees were:

• Former Los Angeles Laker and Clipper Norm Nixon
• Former UCLA and NFL standout Kenny Easley Jr.
• Former Major League Baseball pitcher and team executive Dave Stewart
• Former soccer star and World Cup hero Alexi Lalas
• Retired Southern California TV reporter Rick Lozano

“These inductees were chosen not only for their outstanding performance in their respective fields, but also for the impact they have had in their communities,” said Okoye, who serves as president of the nonprofit California Sports Hall of Fame.

Plans are underway for a physical structure near the Toyota Arena in Ontario to memorialize each of the inductees from over the years.

Groundbreaking Recognition is the First in the Nation for a Continuation High School

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- San Andreas High School is excited to announce that it has been awarded prestigious Gold Certification by the Linked Learning Alliance, making it the first continuation high school in the nation to receive this national distinction. The Linked Learning Alliance, an organization that accelerates the adoption of high-quality educational pathways that engage adolescents, strengthen workforce readiness, and advance equity, recognized San Andreas High for its commitment to preparing students for both college and career success through its two innovative Linked Learning pathways.

The Linked Learning Alliance, the SBCUSD Board of Education, and San Andreas High School celebrated this groundbreaking recognition on Tuesday, June 20 at the Dr. Margaret Hill Community Room.

Linked Learning integrates rigorous academics with real-world learning and strong support services to prepare students for success in college, career, and life. Linked Learning pathways are designed to train high school students in fields that pay well and don’t necessarily require a college degree.

San Andreas High School’s Linked Learning pathways provide students with immersive, career-themed educational experiences that align with their interests and aspirations. By connecting rigorous academic coursework with work-based learning and early college opportunities, San Andreas High School ensures that students are well-prepared for the full range of postsecondary options.

The two Gold Certified pathways that prepare San Andreas High School students for postsecondary opportunities in the business and medical field are now national models of excellence. Certification is based on a series of standards identified by leaders in the Linked Learning field as crucial for improving student outcomes and preparing all students for college and career. Gold Certification validates the quality of the college and career pathway and signifies high-quality implementation of core components and equitable opportunities for all students. In total, San Bernardino City Unified has 7 Gold Linked Learning pathways and 15 Silver Linked Learning Pathways.

Quality is key to Linked Learning experiences that prepare students to succeed in college and career. Independent evaluation shows that students in certified Linked Learning pathways have decreased dropout rates, higher graduation rates, more credits earned, more college preparatory courses completed, and improved workforce skills compared with similar peers in traditional high schools.

“SBCUSD’s trailblazing Linked Learning efforts and continued commitment to high-quality practice have generated insights, inspiration, and, importantly, evidence on what really works for students,” said Anne Stanton, president, and CEO of the Linked Learning Alliance. “We are proud to honor the potential and ambition of San Andreas students’ and celebrate the community’s progress toward a future where every young person is connected to purpose and prepared for the future they deserve.”

This seal of excellence comes six years after San Andreas High set out to establish its college and career pathways. Linked Learning Program Specialist Roberta Figueroa, who has been at the forefront of establishing the school’s pathways, said San Andreas had to overcome hurdles that other mainstream high schools don’t have. “This is a dream come true for us,” Figueroa said. “When we first started this six years ago, a lot of people said it couldn’t be done.”

As part of the Business and Technology Pathway, students learn to grow produce hydroponically, which is then sold to local restaurants. Students in the business academy will leave San Andreas with valuable credentials like a food handlers permit or forklift certification. Students who enroll in the Health Sciences Pathway train alongside staff from AMR, giving them hands-on exposure to careers in health care and earning credentials like American Heart Association Basic Life Support, first aid, and OSHA.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first continuation high school to achieve Gold Certification from the Linked Learning Alliance,” said Principal Dorie Stratton. “This recognition validates the hard work and commitment of our educators, students, and community partners who have all contributed to the success of our Linked Learning pathways. We believe in the potential of every student, and through our robust career-themed programs, we are preparing them for a bright future beyond high school.”

The Gold Certification is a significant milestone for San Andreas High School and serves as an inspiration for other continuation high schools across the region and state. By demonstrating that even in non-traditional educational settings, students can receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for both college and careers, San Andreas High School is leading the way in redefining what is possible for young people.

The Linked Learning Alliance is a statewide coalition of educators, employers, and community organizations that are committed to improving education outcomes for all students. Their Gold Certification is a rigorous process that evaluates and recognizes Linked Learning pathways for meeting the highest standards of excellence in four key areas: preparing students for college and careers, integrating academics with real-world experiences, fostering relationships with industry partners, and providing comprehensive support systems.

The Linked Learning approach, piloted in nine California districts a decade ago, is now embraced as the high school strategy for a growing number of districts across the state.

Currently, California lawmakers are considering $500 million in funding for college and career pathways critical investments in youth during their decade of difference, a period from ages 14 to 24, when research shows young people develop their identities, dispositions, and lifelong aspirations. These planned investments offer the opportunity to scale Linked Learning pathways like those offered at San Andreas, to even more underserved students throughout the state.

San Andreas High School’s Gold Certification from the Linked Learning Alliance not only highlights the exceptional achievements of the school but also underscores its commitment to transforming lives and providing equitable opportunities for all students. Through its innovative Linked Learning pathways, San Andreas High School is nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and professionals who will shape our community and society.

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About San Andreas High School:
San Andreas High School is a leading continuation high school located in Highland, California. Committed to providing high-quality education for students who have faced various challenges in traditional educational settings, San Andreas High School offers a supportive learning environment that empowers students to succeed academically and personally. With its innovative Linked Learning pathways, the school prepares students for both college and careers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for future success.

About the Linked Learning Alliance:
The Linked Learning Alliance leads a movement to connect all youth to college, career, and purpose. We partner with education systems to accelerate the adoption of high-quality Linked Learning educational pathways that engage adolescents, strengthen workforce readiness, and advance equity and economic justice. Our actions drive rigor and improvement in the Linked Learning practice, research that establishes evidence and informs learning, communications that enhance public understanding and center the voices of students and educators, and the supportive policy and resources required for success.

 

 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Sunday, June 25, 2023, Fred Louis Person Sr., celebrated his 100th birthday. Person was born Monday, June 25,1923. He was the youngest of eight children (four sisters and three brothers).

Mr. Fred Person is a WWII Veteran who served in England during the war. In 1943, his battalion, the 452nd Air Battalion, was sent to Cheltenham, England. This base was the central location for all the Western Europe supplies, under the command of General Eisenhower. He served in the army for two years, nine months, and 22 days in addition to serving in the California National Guard for three years. He was also employed for 40 years at Norton Air Force Base as a Quality Control Inspector. In addition to his military career, Person worked at the Sun Company as a security officer for 28 years.

Person Sr., moved to San Bernardino in 1940 where he then married his wife Vermont whom he has been married to for 70 years. Together they raised three children and have nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Fred enjoys a variety of hobbies, which include: Ping Pong, Horse Shoes’, playing pool, trips to Las Vegas, 500 Rummy (card game), BBQing (his family states that his BBQ cannot be beat!), and last but not least, he is and has always been a die-hard Dodger fan.

Mr. Person is the oldest member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of San Bernardino. When asked what the secret to longevity is his answer was, “Work hard and take care of the family”.

SACRAMENTO, CA— On California Nonprofits Day, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Riverside) honors the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation as the 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 58.

“For many years, the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation has worked tirelessly to create opportunities, foster empowerment, build unity, and promote equity within our Inland Empire communities,” said Assemblymember Cervantes. “The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation has been a pillar of our region and it is a great honor to name them as California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 58!”

“The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation is committed to providing the Riverside community’s diverse population with cultural-based programs, provide unique, stimulating, and thought-provoking cultural presentations to awaken and inform our community of the future, while reflecting on our past. We are extremely grateful, deeply humbled, and appreciative for this great opportunity to be recognized by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes as a nonprofit of the year,” said Adrian “Dell” and Carmen Roberts.

The Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation (ADCR Foundation) consists of dedicated volunteers focused on empowering Riverside County residents through cultural activities, education, and economic development. ADCR Foundation showcases Riverside County’s rich cultural diversity with colorful, inspiring, and authentic cultural activities throughout the year. Notably, the Foundation has successfully organized and coordinated one of the longest-running Black History Month Parades in California. Other activities include the Black History Month Expo, Backpack Giveaway, and the Empowering Young Women’s Conference. The Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation is committed to “bringing communities and opportunities together,” rewarding academic achievement and excellence with scholarships, and nurturing an awareness of “giving back to the community” within today’s youth.

Learn more at adcrfoundation.org.

By Lue Dowdy | LUE Productions

Calling all my old school music lovers. The Bromatics along with a few other amazing acts will be hitting the stage on Saturday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Haven City Rancho Market, located at 8443 Haven Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga.

Get ready as Stone Gas Entertainment Production presents the Inland Empire’s Old School 70’s Summer Jam featuring the BROMATICS-Performing Motown Hits. There will be Special performances by: The Five Tempting Men; The SoulTones -Harold Melvins Blue Notes; Melodik-singing the hits of the Marvelettes; and Kim Caffey-A Gladys Knight Tribute.

Doors Open at 5:00 p.m., and the red carpet will be provided and hosted by LUE PRODUCTIONS. We are looking forward to seeing you there with your dancing shoes on!

You may purchase your tickets on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inland-empires-old-school-70s-summer-jam-tickets-634369806167?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

FONTANA, CA—- No topic is more important than the health, safety, and well-being of a loved one, but especially a loved one with a special need. A variety of health and safety information along with valuable resources will be available at the Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. 1st Annual Bridging the Gap: Safety Symposium & Expo on Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Entrepreneur High School located at 7775 Sierra Avenue in Fontana. Sponsors for the event include Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Neurelis, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), American Medical Response (AMR), and A. Upland Fire Protection.

“The goal of our first annual Safety Symposium is to bring together medical and subject matter professionals to share and demonstrate the latest safety advancements and trends to better serve our communities,” said Executive Director Melanee Stovall. “The event will feature a wide variety of speakers and professionals from first responders American Medical Response Team, San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, Neurologist and Behavioral Interventionist; with the aim of disseminating safety practices to protect our family members in an emergency situation,” she added.

“This is a unique opportunity to bridge the gap in a fun, interactive and sensory focused space,” said Volunteer Director Melody Solomon. “This event is FREE and open to the public, as all are welcome. The first 50 people will be entered into a raffle for awesome prizes. There will be face painting, balloon artists, refreshments, giveaways and much more. This is an event you do not want to miss,” she added.

The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. (LBF) is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit corporation founded to support individuals and families living with epilepsy and other seizure related disorders. LBF’s mission is to raise awareness of the disease of epilepsy and other seizure related disorders, shine a light for those individuals and families affected, and partner with other organizations to find a cure.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, “epilepsy affects 1 out of every 26 individuals; 3.4 million people nationwide, more than 65 million people globally, and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.”

For more information or to volunteer, call (951)374-0933 or email us at admin@legacybridgesfoundation.org.

To make a monetary contribution today, visit www.givebutter.com/LegacyBridgesFoundation-Donations. Support the foundation’s mission to raise awareness, shine a light and partner to find a cure. All contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

By Antonio Ray Harvey| California BlackMedia

In California, an increasing number of Japanese, Jewish and other non-Black groups are expressing their support for reparations to Black American residents of the state who are descendants of enslaved people.

Around 100 grassroot organizations, motivated in part by the efforts of the Japanese American Bar Association and John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, have endorsed the work of the task force, and are calling on California to compensate Black residents for historical wrongdoings.

Donald Tamaki, an attorney, and the only non-Black member of the nine-member state reparations task force panel, stated that the groups supporting the task force are mostly Asian, Latino and Jewish.

“They didn’t need whole lot of persuasion,” Tamaki said. “Why? Because they know the healing power of reparations. I think that, in itself, is a news story: that there’s a multi-racial group of both big and small organizations representing different constituencies.”

The United States government has previously approved reparations for other ethnic groups to address historical injustices. For instance, Native Americans have been given billions of dollars in compensation for land that was unlawfully taken from them. Japanese Americans received billions in compensation and some of their property was returned for being placed in internment camps during World War II.

Many of the injustices experienced by Japanese Americans occurred after President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s issued Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942, responding to Japan’s aerial bombing of U.S. Military installations at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec.7, 1941.

In the months following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, approximately 122,000 men, women, and children of Japanese descent were forcibly relocated to “assembly centers.” Nearly 70,000 of these evacuees were American citizens. They were then evacuated to and confined in 75 isolated, fenced, and guarded “relocation centers,” known as “incarceration camps.”

According to the National Park Service (NPS), 92,785 Californians of Japanese descent were put in temporary detention camps called “Assembly Centers.” The cities of Sacramento, Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco, metropolitans with the largest Japanese contingents, were incarcerated without legal recourse.

Japanese Americans were imprisoned based on ancestry alone. There was no evidence that they had committed any crimes against the U.S. or presented any danger, NPS explained in its “A History of Japanese Americans in California: Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II.”

Three Japanese Americans who were involved in and knowledgeable about the Japanese American Redress Movement (JARM) testified at the California reparations task force’s public meeting held in Los Angeles on Sept. 24, 2022. They educated attendees about efforts Japanese Americans made to obtain restitution for their forced removal and confinement during World War II.

Mitchell Maki (President and CEO of the Go for Broke National Education Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy and lessons of the Nisei World War II veterans) and Ron Wakabayashi (former Executive Director, Japanese American Citizens League) provided historical context on how Japanese Americans achieved a rare accomplishment in U.S. history by passing the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

They received an official apology letter from the President of the United States and 82,000 surviving Japanese Americans were compensated with $20,000 payments, which totaled to $1.6 billion. Executive Order 9066 was officially rescinded by U.S. President Gerald Ford on Feb. 16, 1976.

Miya Iwataki – a special assistant to former California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) member and U.S. Congressmember Mervyn Dymally who represented the state’s 31^st District in Congress during the 1980s – was a member of the National Coalition for Redress/Reparations for Japanese Americans.

Iwataki says she drew inspiration from the activism of Black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Black Panther Party member Fred Hampton, the Tuskegee Airmen, the Brown Berets, among others. She explained that it was Black leaders such as Dymally and former Oakland mayor and U.S. Congress member Ron Dellums who supported the passage of the Civil Liberties Act.

Maki, Iwataki, Wakabayashi and other Nisei (second-generations Japanese Americans) and Sansei (third generation) are urging the state to compensate Black descendants of chattel slavery and provide a formal apology for harms suffered in California.

“First, I want to acknowledge the difference in our fight for reparations for the injustice of the (incarceration) camps and the 400 years history of enslaved people,” Iwataki testified. “We’re not here to make recommendations or to prescribe lessons learned. I am here to share the experiences of NCRR and all volunteer grassroot organizations that fought for reparations and to express our continued solidarity for Black reparations.”

In September 2022, the San Francisco Black and Jewish Unity Coalition held reparations teach-ins at Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco. Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who authored the legislation, Assembly Bill 3121, that created the task force when she was an Assemblymember, was one of the speakers.

Congregation B’nai Israel hosted a 90-minute reparations information session in Sacramento on June 11. Presented by Sacramento Jewish opera singer Lynn Berkeley-Baskin, over 20 people – Jewish and Japanese — attended the event to hear Chris Lodgson from the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California share his experiences as one of the grassroots leaders driving California’s movement for reparations.

Germany has openly acknowledged past aggressions committed during the Holocaust. According to a June 202 report by Steven J. Ross in the Jewish publication the Forward, the German government has paid out $92 billion to Holocaust survivors over seven decades. In the United States, the country has “failed to reckon with the consequences of centuries of slavery,” Ross writes.

“As laws advancing revisionist history sweep our nation’s state legislatures, Americans who favor a national reckoning with our own complicated past would do well to take a lesson from Germany,” writes Steven J. Ross, a history professor at the University of Southern California (USC).

“If we want to truly heal as a nation, we must first acknowledge both the long history of slavery and the pain its legacy still causes – and take tangible steps to right our collective wrongs,” Ross stated.

The task force will hold its final meeting and submit its final report to the California legislature on June 29.

The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m., in the First Floor Auditorium of the March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building, located at 1500 11th Street, downtown Sacramento.

“If there are helpful takeaways from our experience, I hope that they will contribute,” Wakabayashi said of Japanese Americans’ fight for reparations. “It would help repay a great debt. The Black civil rights movement generated the Japanese American Redress Campaign and led the struggle for human rights in this country.”

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Even before that national proclamation, Juneteenth had been recognized as a holiday in California.

California Black Media spoke with Ronald Preston Clark, a writer and educator in San Diego. He shared his perspective on the holiday and how, even though he grew up in a family connected to Black culture, he did not really appreciate the full significance of the Juneteenth until he was a student at Hampton University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia.

“I didn’t start to look into celebrating it until being surrounded by the excellence at Hampton. As I’ve gotten older, and further into my teaching career, I have been more intentional with my celebration and understanding of Juneteenth. I am now sure to educate others on its significance,” he said.

Clark is not alone in his experience. For many Americans – including some Black Americans — Juneteenth was not celebrated in their families or taught in schools.  It wasn’t until activists and historians led grassroots movements for decades that the holiday became more widely recognized.

While Clark says he is happy to celebrate Juneteenth with his family and to see the holiday gain national recognition, he doesn’t want it to turn into a commercialized event like other cultural holidays.

“We should always remember that the reason for the holiday is that our ancestors were set free – two years after they should have already been free. And then the years that followed were still filled with violence, hatred and bigotry towards us.”

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19^th, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were notified by Union soldiers that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation.

Two and a half years earlier, on December 31^st, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes across the country to celebrate what was known as “Freedom’s Eve.”

They were anticipating news that President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation that ended slavery in Confederate States had become official on January 1,1863.

However, not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it could not be implemented in some places in the Deep South still under Confederate control.

As a result, in Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, enslaved people would not be free until approximately 2,000 Union troops led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay on June 19, 1865. and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation commemorating Juneteenth in California.

“This Juneteenth, I urge all Californians to reflect on the ongoing cause of freedom for Black Americans remembering that, though General Granger’s announcement in 1865 called for “absolute equality,” that vision was, and remains, far from complete.”

Here is a snapshot of some Juneteenth 2023 celebrations taking place around the state:

The California Black Women’s Collective is joining GirlTrek, a national Black women’s health movement, to celebrate Juneteenth with a walk in solidarity with others across the country.

The organization is encouraging women around the state to organize a local walk in their neighborhoods on June 17, wear blue and amplify their activities online with pin drops, a printable digital poster, and the hashtags #GirlTrek and #WelcomeWalks.

Los Angeles

LEIMERT PARK JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL (JUNE 19)

4395 Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles 90008

Monday, June 19 – Noon to 9 p.m.

The Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival will feature 300-plus Black-owned businesses, three main stages, two DJs stages, a spoken word stage and more.

You can find a complete list of Juneteenth events in the Los Angeles area here.

East Bay

JUNETEENTH-IN-BERKELEY

Alcatraz-Adeline Corridor

Sunday, June 18 – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Juneteenth-in-Berkeley, held annually in June on Father’s Day, is produced by Berkeley Juneteenth Association, Inc., a non-profit, serving the community since 1986. They rebranded as Berkeley Juneteenth Cultural Celebrations to pursue and sponsor more cultural events throughout the year.

You can find more Bay area Juneteenth events here.

Sacramento

SACRAMENTO JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL 2022

William Land Park

Friday, June 16 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 17 – 11 a.m.  to 6 p.m.

Sacramento’s 20th Annual Juneteenth Festival will kick off on Friday Night with a “Gospel Under the Stars Concert” featuring two stages of live entertainment. On Saturday, there will be a parade, talent show, Black history exhibits, food vendors and more.

You can find more Sacramento Juneteenth events here.

San Diego

Black Biz Flea Market: Juneteenth Celebration

WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Boulevard, San Diego, United States

Sunday, June 18 – 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The Black Biz Flea Market Juneteenth Celebration! will feature 30-plus Black-owned businesses, great eats, music, shopping, giveaways and more.

You can find more San Diego Juneteenth events here.

Inland Empire

2023 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM

Civic Center Amphitheater, 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley

Saturday, June 17 – 1 to 5 p.m.

The community is invited to celebrate an afternoon full of entertainment, children’s activities, food booths, retail vendors (jewelry, clothing, and art) and local artists.

Contra Costa

2023 LET FREEDOM RING East Contra Costa County JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Contra Costa Event Park 1201 W. 10^th Street, Antioch

Saturday and Sunday, June 17-19 12 Noon to 5 p.m.

This event will feature carnival rides, food, craft & arts, a job fair, community resources and live entertainment.