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RIVERSIDE, CA—- On Friday April 21, 2023, the city of Riverside became the first city in the Inland Empire to hold a Reparations Town Hall. The Town Hall was put on by the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as part of a two-day event focused on educating the public on the news of Reparations for African Americans in California.

The event was a debrief of the progress of Congressional Bill AB3121, enacted in September 2020, which established a nine-member Task Force to study and develop a recommendation for Reparations in California.

Following the educational portion of the event was a one-hour Q & A for the audience to get information on the questions they had about Reparations in California.

This historic event was the first of many to be held as part of the Social Economic Justice Advocacy program started by the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce.

The second day of this two-day event was the Reparations Listening Session on April 22, 2023. This event also briefly discussed the progress of the Reparations movement in California. However, the major undertaking of the day was the Listening Session itself. Not only was this session the first held in the Riverside but also the first accessible for those located in the Inland Empire.

The session gave powerful insight on the history of personal injustices experienced by several of the attendees due to race disparities in California following slavery.

The session wrapped up with a few words of encouragement for the audience as well as a call to action on the importance of staying educated and involved with the Reparations Movement.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Robert was the founder Gram’s BBQ in Downtown Riverside in 1987. As a longtime resident of Riverside his life story is one of struggle and ultimately success. He was one of seven children that migrated to California in 1956 from Rock Hill, South Carolina with his parents Josie “Gram” (from whom the restaurant got its name) & Robert “Pete” Bratton, Sr. Life wasn’t always easy, but he made a choice to turn his life around and focused on his goal of building a successful restaurant business. He accomplished that with Gram’s. He developed an award-winning barbeque sauce, which is a blend of family recipes, daily freshness, and southern flare. He has left a legacy that will be around for many years to come.

Services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11:00am at:

The Bridge Church

9904 Bloomington Ave.

Bloomington, CA 92376

Repast Immediately Following at:

Bloomington Recreation and Park

17909 Marygold Avenue

Bloomington, CA 92316

Cards may be sent to:

GRAM’S BBQ

3527 Main St.

Riverside, CA 92501

Send plants in lieu of flowers to:

METROPOLITAN MORTUARY

2902 Rubidoux Blvd.

Rubidoux, CA 92509

Questions can be directed to: Shirion Simmons, 951-525-0394 or Shirion.Simmons@gmail.com

By Angela Coggs
The community is invited to attend the San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Thera Sorority, Inc.’s Black & White Brunch Affair on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the beautiful rolling hills of the Indian Hills Golf Club at 5700 Club House Drive in Riverside.

This event is open to the public and serves to successfully support high school students and sustain meaningful programs and scholarships in our service area. Tickets are $100.00 ($104.12 including PayPal fees). Interested attendees can scan the QR Code or visit www.sbraac-dst.org or mail a check to: SBRAAC, PO Box 7938, Moreno Valley, CA 92552.

There will be delicious food, dancing, a live DJ, 360 Photo Booth, Silent Auction and Vendors. This years honorees include Daphne Hawkins and Neighbors United Political Action Committee.

Please plan to attend this amazing event and support our local programs and scholarships. The deadline to purchase tickets is on Monday, April 24, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Alexander Holt at the email listed above.

We look forward seeing you there.

By Brian Whitehead

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The playground at Vermont Elementary School is much greener these days thanks to five brothers who donated a new soccer field to the Muscoy school and greater community where they got their start.

Well before the McGuire brothers built their successful bail bonds company, Cesar, Danny, Gabriel, Gilbert and Marco lived down the street from Vermont Elementary and played football, tag, baseball and every other outdoor sport on the grass field and blacktop at the rear of the school.

The siblings returned Friday, April 14, to unveil their $250,000 gift to the place they called home.

“For some,” youngest brother Cesar McGuire said to those gathered, “this may just be another playground in a neighborhood. But for others, like myself, my brothers and the people of this community, it’s hope. Hope that the kids who play on this field will be inspired, inspired to become athletes, teachers, entrepreneurs, community leaders or anything else that helps contribute to our society.

“Even if the new field inspires just one kid,” McGuire continued, “it was worth it.”
At 2 acres, the McGuire Family Community Soccer Field is plenty big for hundreds of Vermont students to run around freely.

Avagrow, a Holland-based hydroponics grow shop, installed the grass over three months with an eye toward creating strong root development and retaining water.

Six trees on the perimeter of the field represent the five McGuire brothers and their sister.

The natural and healthy grass is as lush as it is green, a perfect playing surface with “a tremendous number of benefits to the environment and community,” McGuire said. “What we do today will set an example for generations to come.”

Serving a high-poverty, low-income community, Vermont has a majority Latino, Hispanic, Mexican student population, Perez said. No matter the challenges, she added, “it’s also one of the most beautiful communities I’ve ever had the pleasure of serving because it is one of unity, love and support.”

Kayden Bejarano, a Vermont student, spoke to those in attendance Friday of the benefits the new field will provide.

“Soccer can be a chance for kids who don’t know how to play soccer to learn how to play,” he said. “A soccer team can make kids get off their phones and work to be good at sports they like. A soccer team can be an influence for kids to learn that when you lose, it can be a good thing because you learn you need more practice to win.”

A gift that will last a lifetime, Perez called the field.

“This is a way for us, the McGuire family, as a whole, to say thank you for allowing the McGuires to leave their mark on a place that we called home almost 40 years ago today,” McGuire said.

“Muscoy.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Earth Day is April 22, and the High Desert has several cleanups planned in honor of the occasion.

• City of Victorville will host its Community Cleanup Day on April 22. Volunteers work in teams at multiple locations throughout the city from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., picking up litter from roadsides. The city provides volunteers with bottled water, gloves, trash bags and litter sticks, and then disposes of all the trash/litter collected. For more information, call (760) 955-3306.
• Town of Apple Valley is celebrating Earth Day on April 22 with a Community Cleanup. All families, clubs, churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals are welcome to join. Pre-register at Town Hall to receive a free shirt, water, and trash bags, while supplies last. For more information, call 760-240-7880.
• City of Hesperia will host its Community Cleanupon April 22. Hesperia holds two Cleanup Days each year to clean up vacant areas and encourage the community to get involved. Volunteers work in teams at multiple locations throughout the City from 8 a.m. to noon. Volunteers receive a free event t-shirt and clean-up supplies.

Join the Victor Valley Museum on April 22 to celebrate Earth Day. Make wildflower “seed bombs,” and create spring arts and crafts with the family. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. All activities are included with museum admission. For more information, call 760-995-8770.

The National Park Service invites the community to visit Mojave National Preserve for an Earth Day Weekend Campout and Cleanup on April 21-23. The event will include free camping, outdoor barbecues, a night sky program and live entertainment. Learn more and register.

Victor Valley Transit will celebrate Earth Day by providing free rides on all buses on Saturday, April 22. For more information, please call (760) 948-3030.

NEW YORK (AP) — Saying she is ready to share the “unfathomable” experience of being arrested and incarcerated in Russia, basketball star Brittney Griner is working on a memoir that is scheduled for spring 2024.

Griner was arrested last year at the airport in Moscow on drug-related charges and detained for nearly 10 months, much of that time in prison. Her plight unfolded at the same time Russia invaded Ukraine and further heightened tensions between Russia and the U.S., ending only after she was freed in exchange for the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

A WNBA All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury, Griner had flown to Moscow in February 2022 to rejoin UMMC Ekaterinburg, a Russian women’s team she has played for in the off-season since 2014.

“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement released Tuesday by Alfred A. Knopf.

“The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud. After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.”

Griner added that she also hoped her book would raise awareness of other Americans detained overseas, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia last month and accused of espionage; businessman Kai Li, serving a 10-year sentence in China on charges of revealing state secrets to the FBI; and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive imprisoned in Russia on spying charges. Around the time Griner was released, Whelan criticized the U.S. government for not doing enough to help him.

Russia has been a popular playing destination for top WNBA athletes in the offseason, with some earning salaries over $1 million — nearly quadruple what they can make as a base WNBA salary. Despite pleading guilty to possessing canisters with cannabis oil, a result of what she said was hasty packing, Griner still faced trial under Russian law.

Griner’s memoir is currently untitled and will eventually be published in a young adult edition. Financial terms were not disclosed.

In Tuesday’s press statement, Knopf said that the book would be “intimate and moving” and that Griner would disclose “in vivid detail her harrowing experience of her wrongful detainment (as classified by the State Department) and the difficulty of navigating the byzantine Russian legal system in a language she did not speak.”

“Griner also describes her stark and surreal time living in a foreign prison and the terrifying aspects of day-to-day life in a women’s penal colony,” the announcement reads. “At the heart of the book, Griner highlights the personal turmoil she experienced during the near ten-month ordeal and the resilience that carried her through to the day of her return to the United States last December.”

Griner, 32, is a 6-foot-9 two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time All-American at Baylor University, a prominent advocate for pay equity for women athletes and the first openly gay athlete to reach an endorsement deal with Nike. She is the author of one previous book, “In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court,” published in 2014.

In February, she re-signed with the Mercury and will play in its upcoming season, which runs from May through September.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— As the country continues marking the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, which paved the way for women to finally pursue athletic and academic opportunities at the next level, close to 100 girls from high schools across San Bernardino and Highland gathered for the official kickoff of the newly formed Women’s Flag Football League, which was held on Friday, April 7 at the San Bernardino High School football stadium. The evening included a demonstration game with 12 professional female players and an appearance by the Los Angeles Rams, with the team providing team t-shirts, eye black, and USA Football flag belts to players.

The flag football league is part of San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD’s) Expanded Learning—Sunrise/CAPS program and was started in partnership with Athletes for Life (AFL) and former NFL Pro Bowl running back Greg Bell. SBCUSD is the first Inland Empire school district to launch a flag football program for high school girls.

In December 2022, the CIF Federated Council and the state of California elected to make flag football a sanctioned varsity sport for girls starting in 2025. SBCUSD is getting a leg up on the competition by starting its own flag football league for girls.

“We’re always looking for expanded learning activities that allow our students to experience new opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach to them,” said Expanded Learning Director Ann Pearson. “Team sports expose our students to various valuable lessons that will help them now and in the future.”

This summer, AFL will also host its 23rd Annual IAM GIFTED summer football camps with San Bernardino High School alum and Minnesota Viking running back Alexander Mattison, a former camp attendee. The camp is free for all local San Bernardino County youth ages 6 and up. For more information and to sign up to attend, please visit www.AthletesforLife.org or call Barbara Nelson at (888) 675-8884.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is proud to announce the return of one of its own, Mauricio Arellano, as the new superintendent of California’s seventh-largest school district. Arellano, a native of San Bernardino, attended District schools and returns on April 17 to lead SBCUSD as superintendent.

“We are thrilled to have Mauricio back in San Bernardino,” said Board of Education President Dr. Scott Wyatt. “His experience and expertise will be invaluable as we work to ensure that every student in San Bernardino and Highland has access to a quality education.”

Arellano’s career in education spans more than three decades, and he has held a variety of leadership roles in Southern California school districts. Most recently, he served as superintendent of neighboring Redlands Unified, where he oversaw significant improvements in academic achievement.

As superintendent, Arellano is responsible for setting a clear and compelling vision for SBCUSD, including goals and strategies for improving student achievement, creating safer schools, and engaging families and the community. The superintendent oversees the District’s budget, staffing, and facilities, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and efficiently to support teaching and learning.

“I am honored to return to San Bernardino, the place where I grew up and went to school,” Superintendent Arellano said. “I am excited to work with our dedicated educators, staff, and community partners to provide our students with the best possible education and abundant opportunities for success.”

A reception to welcome Arellano and his family back to the community will be held on Tuesday, April 18 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Margaret Hill Community Room, located at 777 North F Street in San Bernardino.

Arellano was selected by the SBCUSD Board of Education in February 2023 in a unanimous vote following a comprehensive community engagement process and national search.

He graduated from San Bernardino High School and started his career in education as a bilingual elementary school teacher in the District more than 30 years ago. Arellano is the son of immigrant parents from Mexico who also worked in SBCUSD schools. He was a first-generation college student when he pursued his undergraduate degrees in sociology and Spanish at the University of California, Riverside. He later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The life and legacy of the late labor leader and activist César E. Chávez was celebrated when the Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County and the Latino Education & Advocacy Days at Cal State San Bernardino recently presented the 12th annual César E. Chávez Memorial Breakfast at the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union South.

The breakfast on April 1 marked the first time since 2019 that the breakfast took place. Traditionally scheduled to commemorate Chávez’s birthday (March 31) and held as part of LEAD Week – a week-long series of events including the LEAD Summit that focused on Latino educational issues – it was canceled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the LEAD Summit has been rescheduled to take place in the fall.

Taking place the day after the state holiday honoring the life and work of Chávez [ufw.org], the breakfast was emceed by Eloise Gómez Reyes [a50.asmdc.org], a member of the California Assembly majority leader who represents southwest San Bernardino County.

Ron Estrada, CEO of Washington, D.C.,-based Farmworker Justice [farmworkerjustice.org], was the keynote speaker. Estrada, a longtime voice in support of underserved people and communities of color in the U.S., has invested decades in issues related to racial and social justice. Prior to joining Farmworker Justice in March 2022 [farmworkerjustice.org], he was the head of government relations at Univision Communications, and also led the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Empowerment initiatives.

Also speaking at the breakfast was Flor Martinez [kqed.org], founder and president of The Celebration Nation Foundation [celebration-nation.org], a San Jose-based nonprofit organization focused on helping the indigenous and Latino community. A former farmworker with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [kqed.org] (DACA) status, Martinez is also now an entrepreneur and social media influencer.

In addition, the event featured the installation of Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County’s new officers, a video by artist Juan Solis, a performance by Ballet Folklorico de Gary Ferrer and presentation of the Muñoz Legacy and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former California Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation in 2002 making Chávez’s birthday a state holiday to promote service to the communities of California in honor of the late labor leader’s life and work.

RIALTO, CA—- The City of Rialto receives $2 million in federal funding to support its Lake Rialto habitat project. Congressman Pete Aguilar secured the funds for the program. The Congressman said, “Ensuring our residents can enjoy safe and clean open spaces for outdoor recreation is necessary to create a healthier, more sustainable community.

“This funding I helped secure will help construct Lake Rialto, 10 acres of lake, wetlands and trails, that will protect vulnerable species and play a vital role in the environmental success for the Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan.” _This brings total funding for the $8 million project to more than $5 million, thanks to additional funding sources.

The environmentally beneficial project includes the creation of wetlands and wildlife habitats on city-owned property adjacent to the City of Rialto Water Treatment Plant, which will provide recycled water for the lake itself, which then flows into the environmentally critical Rialto Channel.

Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson said, “The project design is now 90% complete and we hope to break ground this coming fall.”

The endangered Santa Ana sucker and Arroyo chub swim from the Santa Ana River up the Rialto Channel during cooler weather, but during hotter days, the water can be too warm for the fish. Because of the depth of the lake, much needed cooler water can be taken from the bottom of the lake and discharged into the Rialto Channel, providing potentially significant environmental benefits to critical species. The City of Rialto has worked diligently with potential partnering agencies to explore and maximize all of the environmental benefits of this project.

The lake will also provide a welcome habitat for seasonal wildfowl who migrate to and from Mexico on the Pacific Flyway, providing abundant birdwatching opportunities for the community.

Mayor Robertson said, “Rialto residents can look forward to enjoying the lake’s open spaces, walking trails and environmental education programs. Special programs for children will enable them to get a taste of the great outdoors right in their own city.

We’re so very pleased and honored that Congressman Aguilar has supported this leading-edge project to create an infrastructure that will serve as an environmentally sensitive and attractive recreational facility and wildlife habitat.

Support for this model of an urban water stewardship project is something all of our elected policymakers should be advocating. This needs to be at the forefront of their priorities.”

The City of Rialto has grown a lot in recent years with its ongoing development projects. Now, Lake Rialto adds to an impressive list of commercial and residential projects, a different kind of addition to the City’s assets that demonstrates that it “walks the talk” _when it comes to planning environmentally sensitive development.