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Submitted by Sheila Stone

Leilani LaStarr (aka “the star”) Carter was born from a place of miracles and strength! A newborn who fought her way into this life as she punched her way out of her mother’s womb and into this world.  With pure ambition, by the age of right (8), she earned second place in the balance beam event at the Las Vegas Gymnastics Regionals Meet competition.

Though Leilani is active and carries an adventurous spirit, she also thrives in the area of academics.  During the pandemic she continued to strive, exercising her independence, and sustaining a 3.5 G.P.A. while schooling from home.  Now at 11-years of age, Leilani has become a 4-time Principal Honor Roll recipient with earning over seven outstanding achievement awards in the fields of Math, English, and Citizenship.

In addition to being a “student of the month” three times in her elementary journey, she was also a 2021 nominated Class President candidate of her 5th grade class.  As her energy and gifts continue to light up the world around her, we are excited to see what the future holds for this bright star.  A young girl who exudes “Black Girl Magic” with a beautiful heart and a royal spirit, she will indeed be a blessing to many.

Miss Carter will graduate on May 25, 2022, and she will be headed to high school.

If you want to recognize a graduate, send an email to mail@westsidestorynewspaper.com.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

On June 7, California will conduct a primary election — the first opportunity for voters to elect candidates in newly drawn districts based on the 2020 US census. Registered voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot no later than May 9, with the option to return it to a secure drop box, or vote in-person up to 10 days before the election for those living in Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) counties.

For those not registered to vote, same day registration is possible up until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

The candidates running to fill eight statewide constitutional offices (Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State (SOS), Attorney General, Controller, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer) and one California US Senate seat will be listed on all primary ballots. The primaries for the four positions on the Board of Equalization, the 52 US Congressional, 80 State Assembly, and 20 State Senate seats are listed based on district.

There are 40 State Senators. They serve staggered four-year terms. Twenty of them representing even-numbered districts are up for election this year.

Statewide, there are 145 elections being held to fill these state and federal offices.

California Black Media (CBM) reports that 55 Black candidates are running in 37 of the elections. That’s 25.5% of the races. Blacks make up 5.8% of California’s population.

In nine of the contests more than one Black candidate is competing. Party affiliations represented are: 36 Democrat, 11 Republican, 4 No Party Preference, 2 Nonpartisan, 1 Green and 1 Peace and Freedom.

In six statewide contests, 12 Black candidates are on the ballot. Two candidates are incumbents. One is Dr. Shirley Weber, who was appointed California’s first Black SOS by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021, replacing California’s current junior U.S. Sen Alex Padilla. This will be the first time Weber has run for office statewide. The other is Tony Thurmond, California’s second Black State Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was elected in 2018 in a close contest.

There are no Black candidates on the ballot running for Attorney General or Treasurer.

Governor

Running for re-election as the state’s chief executive officer, Newsom faces 25 other candidates on the ballot. Four of those candidates are Black. Shawn Collins is a Republican, an Attorney, and a Navy combat veteran. He says, “We can and will make California the best place to start a small business, give parents a real voice in their children’s educations, and bring compassion and law and order together to end the human tragedies on our streets.”

Serge Fiankan is an entrepreneur and has a No Party Preference designation. He says, “As your governor, I will change the status quo and address the real problems we are facing with measurable actions.”

Woodrow “Woody” Sanders III is an Entrepreneur/Director/Engineer and has a No Party Preference designation. Sander’s passion is for restoring California’s “crown as the best state in the union.”

Major Williams is a Republican Businessman. He ran as write-in candidate during Gov. Newsom’s recall election and received 8,965 votes. His campaign slogan is, “It’s time to think major.”

Lt. Governor

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis is running against field of seven candidates. Angela E. Underwood Jacobs is a Black Republican Businesswoman/Deputy Mayor running against her. Jacobs was the first African American woman elected to serve on the Lancaster City Council.

Secretary of State

Shirley Weber has six opponents for SOS. Before her appointment, Weber served four terms as an Assemblymember representing California’s 79th Assembly District. She is committed to making California the national leader in running inclusive, trustworthy, and transparent elections – expanding the franchise to more of our citizens, ensuring election security and empowering voters to make informed decisions. She is the only Black candidate running for SOS.

State Controller

State Controller Betty Yee is termed out this year. Among six candidates running to replace her is Malia Cohen the first African American woman to serve on the board of Equalization. Cohen wants to make sure the tax code is fair, that people understand tax incentives are out there to benefit the working class. “I am running because I am committed to equity, empowerment, hope and opportunity for all Californians,” Cohen told CBM.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

There are six candidates running to replace incumbent Tony Thurmond as State Superintendent of Public Instruction. As the chief of K-12 education in the state, Thurmond was instrumental in marshalling the efforts of the Department of Education to help school districts deal with systemic inequities that the pandemic put a spotlight light on. He is running to achieve his vision that by 2026 all California students will be literate by third grade. For Thurmond, Black student achievement and student achievement in general have been major priorities. Among his challengers is Black public and charter schoolteacher Ainye E. Long.

California Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Ricardo Lara has eight challengers vying to be the next Insurance Commissioner. Three of his opponents are Black. Veronika Fimbres is a transgender nurse running as the Green Party candidate. Fimbres, a Black Navy veteran, has pledged to use the bully pulpit that would come from being insurance commissioner to push for universal health care in the state.

Jasper “Jay” Jackson is a paralegal running as a Democrat. His goal is to deliver transparent and speedy services to the people of California.

Vinson Eugene Allen is a medical doctor and businessman running as a Democrat. Allen says, “I will personally address consumer issues and work with insurance carriers for a fair solution to disputes.”

US Senator

The office of US Senate will have two separate contests on the June 7 ballot. One contest is the regular election for the full six-year term beginning January 3, 2023. The other contest is a special vacancy election, to complete the unexpired Senate term of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Sen. Alex Padilla who was chosen by Gov. Newsom to replace Harris will be competing in both contests. In the full-term contest, he faces 22 opponents. Five are Black. And in the special vacancy contest he has seven opponents. Two are Black.

Black candidates in the full-term US Senate race are: Akinyemi Agbede a mathematician and Democrat; Myron L. Hall Podiatric Physician and Republican; Daphne Bradford, an education consultant and No Party Preference candidate; Deon D. Jenkins also has No Ballot Designation and No Party Preference; and John Thompson Parker, a Social Justice Advocate representing the Peace and Freedom Party. Candidates Hall and Bradford are also running in the partial/unexpired term contest.

In the June 7 primary election, the two candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote (at least 50 % plus 1), a general election must still be held.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— More than 160 students competed in the 40th Annual San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono Counties Science and Engineering Fair (SIMSEF).

“This year’s virtual competition showcased incredible projects that required creativity, knowledge and commitment,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “I am extremely proud of the many engaging and complex projects our students have developed. It’s exciting to see our students cultivating an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

This regional science fair features science projects designed, developed and displayed by elementary, middle and high school students from schools in each county. Individual and group projects were judged in 21 various science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) categories.

Students competed in three different divisions: Elementary (Grades 4-5), Junior (Grades 6-8) and Senior (Grades 9-12). Submissions from students within the three counties totaled 137 projects, with 115 individual entries and 22 group entries. The awards ceremony took place virtually on March 17, 2022.

Nearly 30 students from the Junior and Senior divisions advanced to the California Science & Engineering Fair, held virtually on April 12, 2022.

Four projects were named 2022 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Finalists. The five students will have the opportunity to travel to Atlanta, Georgia in May and compete with over 1800 students from across the world.

Regeneron ISEF Finalists:
• Makena Bailey & Kyra Phaychanpheng, Chino Hills High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “The Effects of Varying Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium (NPK) Ratios on Algal Growth in Wetland Water”
• Ellery McQuilkin, Lee Vining High School, Eastern Sierra Unified School District, “Eastern Sierra of the Dana Glacier Using Observed Melt Rate and 3D Modeling”
• Varun Srivastava, Redlands High School, Redlands Unified School District “Predicting the onset of Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning.”
• Snow Cameron, Upland High School, Upland Unified School District “Why can’t gamma see? It’s probably AMD.”

Students also earned various Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) Regional Awards:
• American Meteorological Society Award – Makena Bailey & Kyra Phaychanpheng, Chino Hills High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “The Effects of Varying Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium (NPK) Ratios on Algal Growth in Wetland Water”
• American Meteorological Society Award – Isabelle Pinto, Los Osos High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, “Need a Little Space?”
• American Psychological Association Award – Varun Srivastava, Redlands High School, Redlands Unified School District, “Predicting Onset of Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning”
• ASM Materials Education Foundation Award – Lidia Diego, Colton High School, Colton Joint Unified School District, “Can plastic be made differently?”
• Association for Women Geoscientists Award – Ellery McQuilkin, Lee Vining High School, Eastern Sierra Unified School District, “Projecting Disappearance of the Dana Glacier Using Observed Melt Rate and 3D Modeling”
• Mu Alpha Theta Award – Varun Srivastava, Redlands High School, Redlands Unified School District, “Predicting Onset of Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning”
• NASA Earth System Science Award – Ellery McQuilkin, Lee Vining High School, Eastern Sierra Unified School District, “Projecting Disappearance of the Dana Glacier Using Observed Melt Rate and 3D Modeling”
• National Geographic Society That’s Geography! Award – Ethan Chang & Kyle Huang, Upland High School, Upland Unified School District, “Breaking Wind”
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award – Elina Kim, Silverado High School, Victor Valley Union High School District, “Microplastics in the Tissues of Farm-Raised Tilapia, Swai, and Salmon”
• Office Of Naval Research U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Award – Mason Young, Inland Leaders Charter School, “Which damper will tamper with the vibrations?”
• Office Of Naval Research U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Award – Michael Flynn, Moore Middle School, Redlands Unified School District, “How Does Viscosity Affect the Protection of a Fragile Object?”
• Office Of Naval Research U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Award – Elina Kim, Silverado High School, Victor Valley Union High School District, “Microplastics in the Tissues of Farm-Raised Tilapia, Swai, and Salmon”
• Office Of Naval Research U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps Award – Ko Er (Carol) Rau, Chino Hills High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Fat Digestion with Digestive Supplements: Ox Bile and Pancreatin”
• Regeneron Biomedical Science Award – Varun Srivastava, Redlands High School, Redlands Unified School District, “Predicting Onset of Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning”
• Ricoh USA, Inc. Award – Srinivas Gollapudi, Upland High School, Upland Unified School District, “The Effects of Temperature and pH solutions on Microbial Fuel Cells”
• Society for In Vitro Biology Award – Ko Er (Carol) Rau, Chino Hills High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Fat Digestion with Digestive Supplements: Ox Bile and Pancreatin”
• The Lemelson Foundation Early Inventor Award – Daniel Chien & Arjun Wazir, Country Springs Elementary School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Light Heating”
• U.S Agency for International Development Award – Mason Young, Inland Leaders Charter School, “Which damper will tamper with the vibrations?”
• U.S. Department of Defense STEM Leadership Award – Abigail Espinoza & Isabel Servin, Sacred Heart Academy, “C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation”
• U.S. Metric Association Award – Sofia Vega, Paul J. Rogers Elementary School, Colton Joint Unified School District, “Alkaline Grass Water”
• U.S. Stockholm Junior Regional Water Prize Award – Elina Kim, Silverado High School, Victor Valley Union High School District, “Microplastics in the Tissues of Farm-Raised Tilapia, Swai, and Salmon”
• U.S. Stockholm Junior Regional Water Prize Award – Ellery McQuilkin, Lee Vining High School, Eastern Sierra Unified School District, “Projecting Disappearance of the Dana Glacier Using Observed Melt Rate and 3D Modeling”
• United States Air Force Award – Wyatt Browning & JC Cervantes, Cameron Elementary School, Barstow Unified School District, “Payload to Mars”
• Yale Science and Engineering Association Award – Arul Loomba, Rancho Cucamonga High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, “Characterization of pathogenic enhancer data using computational analysis”

Professional Engineers of California Government (PECG), Inland Empire Sector Local Community Awards recipients are:
• Elementary Division – Andrew Lee, Gerald F. Litel Elementary School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Earthquake Resilient Building”
• Junior Division – Hannah Chaix, Charlotte Mason Schools Co-op, “Testing Potassium Carbonate as a Fire Retardant in House Paint”
• Senior Division – Ko Er (Carol) Rau, Chino Hills High School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Fat Digestion with Digestive Supplements: Ox Bile and Pancreatin”

Project Scientist is a non-profit that aims to increase diversity in STEM fields by empowering girls in pursuit of STEM careers. Three students were awarded the Project Scientist Ignite Award:
• Elementary Division – Ava Utterback, Edwin Rhodes Elementary School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “How Does Music Rock the Brain?”
• Junior Division – Hannah Chaix, Charlotte Mason Schools Co-op, “Testing Potassium Carbonate as a Fire Retardant in House Paint”
• Senior Division – Jessie Lin, Los Osos High School, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, “Padding Down Plastic?”

The Sweepstakes and Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) Award recognizes projects that are unique and outstanding in their respective divisions. The Sweepstakes and STEP Award winners are:
• Elementary Division – Elementary Division – Andrew Lee, Gerald F. Litel Elementary School, Chino Valley Unified School District, “Earthquake Resilient Building”
• Junior Division – Hannah Chaix, Charlotte Mason Schools Co-op, “Testing Potassium Carbonate as a Fire Retardant in House Paint”
• Senior Division – Varun Srivastava, Redlands High School, Redlands Unified School District “Predicting the onset of Depressive Disorder using Machine Learning.”

County SIMSEF 2022 Gold Medalists in Elementary, Junior and Senior Divisions, by District:

Barstow Unified
Rylan Dokie, Elementary Division
Wyatt Browning, Junior Division
JC Cervantes, Junior Division
Xavior Collado, Junior Division

Chaffey Joint Union High
Arul Loomba, Senior Division

Charlotte Mason Schools – Homeschool Co-op
Hannah Chaix, Junior Division

Chino Valley Unified
Andrew Lee, Elementary Division
Lavith Raj, Elementary Division
Ava Utterback, Elementary Division
Daniel Chien, Junior Division
Arjun Wazir, Junior Division
Makena Bailey, Senior Division
Kyra Phaychanpheng, Senior Division
Ko Er (Carol) Rau, Senior Division

Colton Joint Unified
Audrina Calderon, Elementary Division
Ava Firnkoess, Junior Division

Eastern Sierra Unified (Mono COE)
Ellery McQuilkin, Senior Division
Etiwanda
Ishaan Iyer, Elementary Division
Alexander (AJ) Pesetski, Elementary Division
Shaurya Varshnay, Elementary Division

Inland Leaders Charter School
Samantha Amick, Junior Division
Abigail Espinoza, Junior Division
Isabel Servin, Junior Division
Mason Young, Junior Division

Redlands Unified
Matthew Li, Elementary Division
Jayden Lui, Elementary Division
Amelia Rush, Elementary Division
Michael Flynn, Junior Division
Benjamin Jordan, Junior Division
Varun Srivastava, Senior Division

Upland Unified
Ethan Chang, Senior Division
Srinivas Gollapudi, Senior Division
Kyle Huang, Senior Division
Snow Cameron, Senior Division
Maria Watkins, Senior Division

Victor Valley Union High
Elina Kim, Senior Division

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

With a 7-0 vote, the Assembly Education Committee approved legislation that would require California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction to identify — and provide targeted funding for — the lowest-performing pupil subgroup in the state.

That sub-group is Black students.

Assemblymembers Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) and Chris Holden (D-Los Angeles), both members of the California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC), co-authored the legislation: Assembly Bill (AB) 2774.

AB 2774 also requires school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education (COE) to be held accountable to provide additional services and improve academic performance.

Weber and Holden say they wrote the bill to remedy existing racial equity gaps and ensure that all Black students regardless of socio-economic status have the resources they need to succeed.

“This is one of our priority bills,” Weber said of the effort to enhance educational resources for Black students. “We think it is time for California to invest and focus on closing the academic achievement gap. (This bill) will add a new sub-category for the sole purpose of achieving improved test scores.”

The bill is headed to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Holden.

Before the vote, educators, students, and faith leaders held a rally at the State Capitol in support of AB 2774.

If approved, the legislation would provide $400 million per year in additional funding for the lowest-performing subgroup.

In 2019, testing data showed that Black students are the lowest-performing subgroup on state standardized tests with 67% not passing English Language Arts (ELA) and 79% not meeting the Math standard.

The legislation, the authors say, is designed to address longstanding equity issues with the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which was created to provide additional funding for the highest need students in California. The LCFF was enacted in 2013.

Supporters of AB 2774 say that over one-quarter of Black students are not receiving supplemental funding through LCFF.

“This is not the first time this bill has been introduced. It was previously introduced by my mother Dr. Shirley Weber who is now our Secretary of State,” Weber said. “Although we did not get everything that we wanted, our persistence will ensure this time we will get it passed. We fought hard to make sure we got this hearing.”

The language in AB 2774 states that the subgroup identified for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, based on the 2018-19 the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) scores “shall be included within the ‘unduplicated’ pupil count until its scores equal or exceeds the highest performing subgroup (Asians).”

Existing law provides school districts, charter schools, and County Offices of Education (COEs) with a base level of funding based on the enrollment of pupils who are either English learners, low income, or in foster care. But students that fall into more than one category are counted only once for LCFF purposes, hence the term “unduplicated pupil,” AB 2774 language explains.

Along with Weber, other advocates for Black students attending the rally included Dr. Margaret Fortune, Founder and CEO of Fortune School of Education, a network of seven charter schools in Sacramento and San Bernardino; Dr. Ramona Bishop, co-founder of Elite Public Schools, a charter school focused on technology based in Vallejo and former Superintendent for Vallejo Unified School District; the Rev. Tecoy Porter, Executive Director of National Action Network Sacramento; and the Rev. Jonathon Mosley, Director of National Action Network Western Region.

Other attendees were Joette Spencer Campbell, NAACP San Bernardino; Tak Allen, International Faith Coalition; Dondrell Swanson, Alpha Community Education Initiative; and Bina Lefkovitz, Trustee Sacramento County Board of Education; and Tracie Stafford Chair of the Sacramento Democratic Party.

Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), chairperson of the CLBC, and Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento) also attended the rally.

“This is going to be a collective effort to show that we all care, and all are accountable for the achievement of Black students,” Fortune said. “This is the third time we’ve gone after this bill, and the third time with Dr. Akilah Weber it is going to be the charm.”

RIVERSIDE, CA—- Renee Hill, a 28-year educator at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has taught at all levels and been an exemplary leader for the region. In less than one year of taking the job, her tenacity, vision, and commitment to public education have helped navigate RUSD through some serious crises and challenges.

It’s no wonder why Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) has announced Superintendent Renee Hill as the 2022 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 61.

Superintendent Renee Hill is the first person of color to lead Riverside schools where she has implemented the promise of high-quality education for all students. Through C.A.R.E. (Care, Academic achievement, reducing service gaps, and Excellence every time), students are the priority to make sure they are developing their full potential through excellence from staff and community.

“Ms. Renee Hill is an exemplary leader and advocate for RUSD students, and I would like to celebrate and thank her,” said Assembly Member Jose Medina.

Renee Hill, a 28-year educator at Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) has taught at all levels and been an exemplary leader for the region. In less than one year of taking the job, her tenacity, vision and commitment to public education have helped navigate RUSD through some serious crises and challenges.

It’s no wonder why Assembly Member Jose Medina (D-Riverside) has announced Superintendent Renee Hill as the 2022 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 61.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Each region of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) annually recognizes the outstanding performance and achievement of individual school administrators and classified managers in several categories.

This year, three San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) administrators were honored by ACSA Region 12 for their exceptional leadership in managing school programs, commitment to professional growth, commitment to educational quality and student achievement, and creativity in addressing issues facing public education.

The Region 12 Student Services Administrator of the Year for 2022 is Dr. Marlene Bicondova, the Director of Positive Youth Development for SBCUSD. Dr. Bicondova has a proven track record of creating positive outcomes for youth. As a principal, she transformed Curtis Middle School from one of the lowest-performing middle schools in the county into a high-performing school by implementing a proactive approach to student success that focused on daily assessments that informed teacher instruction. For the past four years, Dr. Bicondova has worked at the District level to reduce chronic absenteeism and suspension rates. Her signature accomplishment has been the creation of the SBCUSD Bullying Intervention System, which uses restorative practices and Undercover Anti-Bullying Teams as the key components, which work to change school culture to stop bullying before it starts and stop bullying when it does happen.

Pacific High School Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo is the ACSA Region 12 Secondary Principal of the Year. Raymundo has been a principal since 2009 when she took the helm of Richardson PREP HI Middle School. She believes that education can change lives and even entire communities, especially when educators demonstrate respect for students, families, and stakeholders. Her leadership has helped create a safe and welcoming environment for students and instilled in them a desire to become leaders in the community, as evidenced by Pacific High winning the Civics Leadership Award in 2017, 2019, and 2020. She also implemented the fourth-period advisory program, which provides students with social-emotional learning activities, grade checks, goal setting sessions, and other academic and social development every Monday.

Shana Smith, Assistant Director of the Employee Development Department for SBCUSD, is Region 12’s Personnel Director of the Year. Smith began her SBCUSD career in 1995 teaching first grade. She began supporting teachers as a program specialist and new teacher mentor in 2000. After 17 years leading the Teacher Induction Program, she earned her place as the assistant director of Employee Development. In that position, she can combine her love of teaching with her love of mentoring the next generation of educators as she helps develop programs and instruct new teachers so they can be successful SBCUSD educators.

ACSA, which is one of the largest organizations for school leaders in the nation, is dedicated to developing and supporting educational leaders who meet the diverse needs of California students. ACSA Region 12 specifically serves educational administrators working in San Bernardino County.

MONTCLAIR, CA— One day shy of her 18th birthday, Gabriela Jimenez-Ramirez received a gift she will never forget – a new car courtesy of three local auto dealers.

Gabriela was among 68 Montclair High School seniors who qualified for a drawing to win the 2022 Nissan Altima SR. Qualifications were based on a variety of factors related to attendance and academics. Her name was drawn from a raffle drum during the school’s Senior Awards Night on Thursday, April 21.

“I came for an award from school, and I came out with a brand new car,” an exuberant Gabriela said as she and her parents stood in disbelief next to the dark blue sedan. “I was crossing my fingers during the drawing – and so was my Mom.”

The graduating senior plans to commute to Cal Poly Pomona next fall, and said her parents were planning on buying her a car. “You made it possible,” she said in thanking representatives of the three stores that came together to purchase the vehicle; Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge of Ontario, Empire Nissan and Ontario Hyundai – all part of the OREMOR Automotive Group.

“We’re excited about a Drive for Excellence program – to help a local high school, give back to our community and incentivize students to get through school without missing class,” said Jillian Romero Chaves, Marketing Director for OREMOR.

Josh Cho, Principal at Montclair, commended the 68 qualifying seniors for the perseverance during these past couple of years, as schools have moved back to in-classroom learning.

“The pandemic created a lot of disruptions to the learning environment, but these students all showed tremendous will and commitment, and we’re so proud of them,” Cho said.

Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, thanked OREMOR Automotive Group and its local dealerships for supporting student success.

“We’re so grateful for their generosity and their commitment to our District and our students. The message that the Drive for Excellence program sends to our entire school community is a powerful one,” Dr. Holton said.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) summed up what he viewed as the reason for low turnout and public engagement at the ninth meeting of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans.

“Rudimentary, basic communications of alerting the community about meetings must be mandatory. That’s the part where we failed. We have a great story to tell but we are not telling it,” Bradford said April 14 during the second session of the two-day meeting.

“Frankly, I thought we’d have standing-room only these two days. I thought everybody in California wanted to be here. I think we missed the mark in promoting the first in-person meeting. That’s where the frustration is and where it is with me.”

Held at the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, located in the city’s historic Fillmore District, the first in-person meeting since the task force convened in June 2021 was hosted by the Rev. Amos Brown, who is vice chair of the task force.

Brown, who is also president of San Francisco’s NAACP branch, said the panel’s communication’s strategy, or lack thereof, “has been compromised.”

The few dozen attending the meeting had no difficulty finding a seat in the large sanctuary of the historic church, which is a city landmark.

Founded 170 years ago, the Third Baptist has been a spiritual and cultural hub for local community leaders and hosted national icons, including WEB DuBois, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Josephine Baker, Adam Clayton Powell Jr, and Paul Robeson.

Leading up to the April meeting, there were simmering disagreements about the public relations strategy of the task force. The tensions came to a head when task force chair Kamilah Moore expressed her “concerns” with the firms contracted to handle communications at the March 29 meeting.

For nearly two hours at that meeting, the panel discussed challenges it has experienced with the contracted communications teams.

The Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA); Young Communications Group, a Los Angeles-based PR firm; and A/B Partners, a national social impact firm — were contracted to run the task force communication shop through the California Department of Justice.

No representative from the communication firms showed up at last week’s meeting, which was attended by six of the nine task force members on the first day. Eight task force members were present the second day.

Due to the high levels of tension that surfaced at the meeting in March, task force member Dr. Cheryl Grills said A/B Partners “resigned,” fearing harm to its reputation and the “vote of no confidence” in the company’s work as reflected in the statements of some task force members.

Concerns about the Bunche Center and two communications firms were related to “seven anchor organizations” charged with conducting community listening sessions.

Aside from the task force meetings, the anchor organizations are responsible for hosting public-engagement sessions in April, May, and June.

Grills, a professor of psychology at Loyola Marymount University, defended the Bunche Center, citing unique structural challenges hindering the organization because it functions under the umbrella state government. Grills said those problems delayed the center from performing its duties although it was “operating at warp speed” to make good on deliverables.

The bottom line, Grills shared, is that the Bunche Center has to abide by UCLA’s snail-paced process of handling contracts. The staff at the center missed two important “deliverables” in January and February waiting for greenlights from higher ups.

“The approval process is not under the purveyance of the Bunche Center,” Grills said. “We must understand that UCLA is a high-level bureaucracy of the state of California, which means that nothing happens quickly.”

Task force member Jovan Scott Lewis, chair of the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley, supported Grills’ explanation by providing his experiences with the UC system of schools.

UCLA’s Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review and approve proposals and contracts before a research project is conducted. And each anchor organization is required to submit applications to be categorized as “vendors” by the university.

“I think that there is something to be said for the complications of getting something out of this process,” Lewis said. “When you add in the actual intellectual limits of the (anchor organizations), the requirements are typical for IRB. It’s quite reasonable to think about the delays. That’s the UC system’s (process).”

Michael Stoll, professor of public policy and urban planning, the new director of the Black Policy Project, which is housed at the Bunche Center, addressed some of the panel’s concerns by phone.

Grill said it has not been a smooth experience but offered assurances that the Bunche Center will respond to the anchor organizations’ needs and provide guidance for listening sessions.

“I think we’ve been fairly responsive,” Stoll said of addressing the anchor organizations’ needs. “Our goal was to plan and execute the listening sessions to their best potential as possible, and I think we are doing it fairly well.”

Young Communications Group (YCG), a Los Angeles-based public relations firm, did not attend the meeting in San Francisco.

While operating without financial resources, Grills said the task force, YCG and A/B partners were in the process of finalizing contracts and were ready to proceed with directions from the nine-member panel.

“Everything came to a halt at our March meeting,” Grills said. “Unfortunately, we may have put a negative spin on the reputations of communications firms that have spent years building credibility.”

Since the start of 2022, national media coverage of the task force has increased, including Moore’s appearance on MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross Show to discuss the panel’s decision to use lineage over race as the factor that determines who is eligible for compensation. That decision squeaked through with a 5-4 majority vote.

Lewis was interviewed by NBC Nightly News for a reparations-related clip involving Black Gold Rush pioneers who may have lost their land to the state in the 1940s. Other members of the task force have made their media rounds as well.

Members of the task force say they want the community-engaged listening sessions to happen without a hitch.

Seven anchor organizations will host public listening sessions that will help the task force hear various perspectives of Black Californians as it assesses the state’s involvement in slavery and Jim Crow discrimination.

Chris Lodgson, a founding member of the Coalition for A Just and Equitable California (CJEC), one of the host organizations, told the task force in San Francisco to add more communications firms.

“I gotta keep it business with you but the performance of the communications firms has been subpar,” Lodgson said. “I want to encourage (the task force) to find additional firms to get the word out to the community.”

Before the April meeting ended, Moore who is listed on the ballot as a candidate for the 28^th District Senate seat, was officially appointed the task force’s spokesperson. She and Grills will serve on the “solutions-oriented” Advisory Board Committee working directly with the Bunche Center and Young Communications to “triage” media and public affairs activities, Moore said.

“What we’re dealing with can be complex and convoluted,” task force member Monica Montgomery-Steppe said. “And getting that across on a national stage, because we are the example of what we hope for this nation, does need a larger strategy…a level of experience.”

By statute, the task force will issue a report to the Legislature by June 1, 2022, which will be available to the public.

Bradford said the communication shop can be instrumental in writing press releases and speeches, conducting research, problem-solving and disseminating information.

“This (Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations) will sell itself if we get it to the right people,” he said.

VICTORVILLE, CA— This past weekend, Burning Bush Church in Victorville and VaccinateALL58, hosted a ‘Party with a Purpose Easter Extravaganza’. The event was led by Bishop David Denson, Jr. where the community celebrated Easter with a day of family fun, fellowship and wellness. COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and testing were available for ages 5 and older.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Recently, Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted his first “College and Career Day” for over 200 high school seniors that are a part of San Bernardino, Rialto, and Colton Joint Unified School Districts. The event took place at the Workforce Inland Center in San Bernardino and was meant to assist high school seniors explore their options after high school. The event had over 20 vendors that had informative and interactive information regarding both jobs and college education opportunities after high school, for students who were interested in either. They were taught how to create a strong resume, how to dress for an interview, and even explore various jobs with our County Fire, Police, and EMT departments and dozens of other workforce departments and explore post-secondary opportunities.

“Not every student knows what their future is going to look like after high school. Not everyone has a set plan and that is okay. But to sit and have no plan is what is not okay. Opportunities for personal growth in our community, especially in our youth are endless. I hosted this event because I wanted the students in our district to know there are opportunities out there for them no matter what they choose to do. Success after high school is possible for these young adults and all they must do is work hard and set their minds to any goal that they want to personally achieve. This event opened doors for lots of students in our district and let them know that our County is always right behind them every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without all the vendors who came out to spread the word, so I thank you all for coming out to support our students and their future.” -Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.