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By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to recognize a true ‘shero’ of mine who is an extended family member, or as we now use the term ‘framily’. Niya Santos was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, at the young age of 24 and right before her 25th birthday.

Some may say, “Wow, so young!” According to American Cancer Society, women should start routine checks for breast cancer by the age of 40. Instead, they should start as early as possible because breast cancer sees no age. Despite being so young and a mother to three awesome, handsome and intelligent sons, Niya never gave up.

Finding her purpose.

Upon being diagnosed, Niya explained how she had found her purpose, which was to inspire the community. Her purpose grew even more after she was diagnosed with again with a harsher form of breast cancer.

On April 26, 2018, she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer; it had also spread to her lungs. However, that still didn’t stop the fight. She fought harder and continued to live her best life and to continue fulfilling her God given purpose.

Niya lived out the purpose of telling others about God’s grace. She inspired many to get to know Him for themselves and to grow even closer to Him. She prayed for a countless number of people—no matter how she was feeling at the time, she would say a prayer for others. As we we’re praying and fighting the fight alongside her, she was praying for others as well.  She was living the testament of an unselfish life.

Niya gained her wings on July 16, 2018 at the age of 26. So, in honor of Niya the others that we have lost to the disease, as well as the breast cancer survivors, ladies let’s get our mammograms and educate others about breast cancer awareness. #NiyaStrong

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— More than 700 individuals of all ages, enjoyed the entertainment and down home fun presented by Akoma Unity Center at the 1^st Annual Sunday Jazz in the Park on Sunday, September 30^.  hosted by Akoma Unity Center.

Sponsors for the event included: American Health Coalition, C.O.P.E, Del Valejo Middle School, Empire Management, Image Source USA, Plan B Printing, Westside Story Newspaper, and Sacred Sistahs.. Jazz in the Park unified and reignited a sense of community to over five generations on the West side of San Bernardino. Families enjoyed an evening full of joy, laughter, and love of good music. While continuing the legacy of Dr. Anne Shirrells

“The goal of this event was to deliver a sophisticated, family oriented community event that brought over five generations out to enjoy,” Jennifer Xicara, Operations Manager at Akoma Unity Center stated.

Akoma Unity Center has delivered! This event transformed Anne Shirrells Park into an oasis of premier music, election awareness, food, and fun, creating an ambiance like no other in the Inland Empire.

“Akoma Unity Center did a great job!”Jim Tickemyer, Director, Parks, Recreation and Community Services stated. “Seeing the community come together to just kick back and enjoy themselves was a great way to start the week. Please extend my gratitude to all of Akoma. Thank you for your vision and commitment to seeing it through to fruition.”

The stellar line up included genres for every jazz lover featuring: Inland Empire’s native, Amore the Songstress, who gave vibes of the amazing Anita Baker and Jill Scott intertwined in one; Johnny Meza and Company, whom had his original song Dirty Martini hit number 23 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts; and the closing performances by Gee Mack, a legendary guitar player and The Hottest Cats featuring Asia Raye. When musical groups were not on stage, DJ Wen provided old school music that inspired everyone to get up out their seats and dance.

Akoma Unity Center is a 501 C(3) Non-Profit organization committed to providing children with high quality, no-cost afterschool structured recreation, and development programs in a safe and supervised environment.

If you would like to learn more information about Akoma Unity Center, please visit our website at http://akomaunitycenter.org or call (909) 217-7956.

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen IV

My brother/uncle/nephew/son, be careful! The chickens are coming home to roost!  We have sometimes/often/always miss-treated the women in our lives! Notice that I did not say, “our” women! I did not use the term “our” because that is the road to miss-treatment!  The women in our lives do not belong to us… They are not our property!

However, there is an attitude that prevails among some men, a secret society of “We Who Stand 2P” that regards “Those Who Sit 2P” as a slave-gender! The membership of that secret society ranges from the very rich and powerful to the poor and weak.

Their mistreatment of women is the common thread. Many men have paid mistreatment dues to the society and now, thanks to social media, the books have been hacked and all of the receipts reflecting payment to the club are becoming public knowledge.

The time/era that overtly embraced sexism has passed but the memory/damages of that treatment is in our world-face.  The last ditch stand to legitimize the society is being led by President Donald P-Grabbing Trump!

My brother/uncle/nephew/son, you are being solicited every day to maintain your membership in WWS2P!   President P-Grabber wants you to believe that sexism is alive and well… Don’t! Our war is not the boys against the girls… It is/should-be about good vs evil!

Inequality & Outsourcing Spur Continued Unrest at University of California

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— Stalled labor negotiations between the University of California and its largest employee union, AFSCME Local 3299, reached a boiling point at Wednesday’s UC Board of Regents meeting when union leaders publicly announced that their members will be voting on whether to go on strike for a second time this year.

The forthcoming vote follows a 3-day walkout by 53,000 UC workers last May over the University’s outsourcing practices, which research shows is driving growing income, gender, and racial inequality within California’s 3rd largest employer.

“UC’s employment data shows that women are getting paid far less to start than men and that Black workers are vanishing,” said AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “It’s because the University has stopped investing in career ladders and outsourced good middle-class jobs to low-wage contract companies that pay workers dirt.”

At issue for UC workers is the University’s practice of outsourcing career positions to independent contracting companies that pay workers less. In fact, data shows that the staffing ratio at UC San Francisco has been as high as 1 contractor to every 6 directly employed workers. UC workers say that the practice has the effect of taking jobs that once paid living wages with full benefits and turning them into low-wage contractor positions with few benefits and a higher risk of abuse. In the past, UC contract companies have been found to arbitrarily slash worker pay and pay full-time workers under multiple names in order to skirt overtime rules.

Research also shows that AFSCME Local 3299 represents the most diverse workforce segments at UC—resembling the demographic makeup of California as a whole more than any other workforce segment at the University. As such, workers argue that outsourcing has the effect of destroying career pathways for people of color and trapping them into low-wage positions. UC Davis Medical Center has even gone so far as to deny outsourced contract workers career Patient Care Technical Unit positions when they apply, despite the fact that the “temporary” terms of their contracts have been extended multiple years, in some cases.

“Outsourcing is pioneering a future of more inequality,” said Rosalyn Williams, an MRI Technologist at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center who spoke during public comment on Wednesday. “We will not allow UC to normalize a reality where darker skin means lower pay.”

UC’s Patient Care Technical Unit will be voting on October 9th and 10th to authorize a strike while its Service Unit workers will be voting on whether to join a strike in solidarity.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— FONTANA, CA— About 1,500 middle and high school students, including about 850 from San Bernardino County, will take part in the annual Manufacturing Day Expo at the Industrial Technical Learning Center (InTech) in Fontana on Friday, October 5.

Students will have the opportunity to meet with local manufacturers and participate in hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. There also will be tours of the InTech facilities.

Participating school districts from San Bernardino County include Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Chino Valley Unified, Colton Joint Unified, Fontana Unified, Victor Valley Union High and Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified.

The event is organized and sponsored by Chaffey College’s Economic Development Department, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Alliance for Education and the California Community College Chancellor’s Doing What Matters Campaign.

For more information about the event, visit www.mfgday.com.

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen IV

Judge Kavanaugh’s schoolmates have declared that while in high school he was drunk enough to puke his guts several times with witnesses… Judge Kavanaugh says he does not remember being drunk as stated. He has additionally stated that he did not attempt to forcefully disrobe Dr. Ford at a party while they were both drunk.  The judge has indicated that he was never drunk while in high school. However, Judge Kavanaugh and his classmates have exposed their affection for wild drinking parties in their yearbook, casual and income generating writings and in recent conversations… Enough has been said about their drunken conduct to suggest that someone is lying… Either the judge when he says he did not get drunk at all, or his classmates when they say that he did. If all of the classmates are lying, we need to know!  If the judge is lying, is he qualified to sit on the highest court in the land?…

What if the judge is lying? At this point that seems to be a serious possibility!  I think that the drunken acts of high school students should not be held against them for life… However, lying about  things that seriously affect and effect other people is extremely serious, especially if the lying one is being considered for a lifetime job that depends on that person’s honesty as well as their passion for the law and their compassion for the good of our country!  

There needs to be an independent investigation of each of the charges of sexual abuse regarding Judge Kavanaugh. The endorsement of Judge Kavanaugh by President Donald P-Grabbing Trump adds to my concern!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, September 22 at MLK Middle School in San Bernardino approximately 1,000 city residents attended SB Pastors United Block Party. Prior to the ‘block party’, nearly 100 people marched in unity to encourage and bless the community.

The Community Block Party was filled with guest speakers, meet and greets with law enforcement and public officials, food and clothing giveaways performances and plenty of family activities.

(Photo Credit: Bill Sandefur)

6th Annual Women’s Wellness Conference was a success!

By Angela M. Coggs

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— On Saturday, September 8, Young Women Empowerment Foundation (YWE) hosted their sixth Annual Women’s Wellness Conference at San Bernardino Community Hospital in the Henderson Auditorium located at 1805 Western Avenue in San Bernardino from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. YWE invited family, friends, faith-based organizations, students and community supporters to their augural event that focused on emotional and physical health and wellness. It was a free event for women in the Inland Empire, although there were several men in attendance.

1. Gwen Rodgers (YWE Founder and CEO) and Eloise Gómez Reyes (California’s 47th Assembly District)

This year’s theme was Tragedies to Triumph. It refers to recovery and resiliency. When horrific things happen, how a person responds can make a difference in the rest of one’s life. During the wellness conference attendees learned how some individuals triumphed in the face of unspeakable tragedies. Another component of the event was acknowledging the importance of self-care.

The featured speakers included Spring Eatmon, Nina Torres, Tina Darling, Patricia A. Gonzales (Natural Health Educator) and Wendy Whitmore (LMFT/ Clinical Life Coach/CEO Truth Healing Evolution Counseling). The diverse group of speakers provided the perfect combination of knowledge and resiliency. They represented the most effective group of women who could deliver their message with compassion and decorum. Each speaker allowed time for questions at the end of their segments and they did not disappoint.

2. Speaker Spring Eatmon and Gwen Rodgers (YWE Founder and CEO)

Vickie Lee and Madeline Freeman performed an emotional and riveting dialogue that centered on a real-to-life situation regarding health issues and grief and loss. Lee’s performance brought many of the attendees to tears because so many resonated with her familiar story. It took the engaged audience into a deep and personal look inside a medical issue that is preventable yet so many of us ignore the warning signs.

“Their stories were so impactful. Sadly, I’ve experience both,” exclaimed one of the attendees at the conference.

It was an eventful and interactive conference. The women in attendance had the opportunity to participate in interactive demonstrations and hear life changing testimonials from other women about self-care, tragedies, and triumphs.

3. Attendee Tamika Casey and Dr. Margaret Hill, San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member

In addition to providing useful self-care and wellness information at the conference, the attendees was also invited to get physical during the live line dance demonstrations by Heart and Soul’s Linda Gibbs. The line dance demonstrations has been a huge success for the past three years and this year was no different. Gibbs energetic personality match her energetic performance. Everyone participated in the dancing segment and enjoyed the heart pumping activity.

The event was sponsored by San Bernardino Community Hospital and Kaiser Permanente. Special acknowledgement to The San Bernardino Symphony for donating several sets of tickets to the eager audience and Crown Wigs & Beauty Supply for donating several big gift baskets filled with hair accessories and products for raffle prizes. Nebu & Co. raffled off a beautiful wig to an excited and thankful attendee. Additionally, gift cards and the beautiful centerpieces from each table were also given out as raffle prizes.

There were several vendors at the event that provided samples, information, as well as products for purchase, as the attendees visited the booths thought out the conference. The vendors included:

• Shalikah Skeete- Mindful Complexions
• Dorothy Jarmon- Artistic Flow (jewelry and clothing)
• Ipyani Lockert- Motivational Realizations/ Mama’s Tea Cakes
• County of San Bernardino Workforce and Employment
• Ceara Holloway- Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian Health, Inc.
• Staci Leak- Nebu & Co.  
• Valley Star Counseling Services
• William Long – Option House San Bernardino
• Brenda Sutton- Paparazzi Jewelry/ Sutton Insurance Services

YWE serves to strengthen the character of young women of high school age in the San Bernardino City region of the Inland Empire in Southern California. Young Women’s Empowerment was founded by CEO Gwendolyn Dowdy- Rodgers. The mission of our program is to empower these young women to achieve at their highest potential, particularly in education, and to instill in them a commitment to return to their community as leaders and mentors.

The Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) is dedicated to strengthening the self-esteem, character, integrity and capacity of young women ages 12-21 so that they may achieve their highest potential. YWE accomplishes its purpose through strategic partnerships with other organizations. YWE is guided by ethics and principles which exhibit respect for cultural diversity.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Sunday, September 9, Empire Talks Back (ETB) discussed emergency preparedness with guest Debra Williams of “Building Resilient Communities”. She discussed the “Arc of Safety”, the county wide organization of churches that is prepared to provide resources in emergency situations.  ETB is broadcast each Sunday AM at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050-AM, 102.3 FM and 106.5 FM radio. The podcast of Sunday’s show is available by clicking the “Empire Talks Back” icon on the KCAA Weekly Schedule at http://www.kcaaradio.com.

10/17/2003 – New Laker Bryon Russell brings the ball up court during a preseason game between Phoenix Suns and Lakers.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— REDLANDS, CA— The Board of Directors of Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) announces the Master of Ceremonies for its 2018 Piano Recital and Gala event is Mr. Bryon Russell former NBA Star. Mr. Russell is a native of San Bernardino and attended San Bernardino High School.

The NBA career of Bryon Russell spanned from 1993 to 2006 and included playing for the Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Utah Jazz. Mr. Russell is best remembered for guarding Michael Jordan at the end of Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Jordan made the game-winning shot over Russell, although many fans believe Jordan pushed off Russell during the play.

Mr. Russell has been a volunteer at the CAPSBC Food Bank Program for the past several years and is excited to be hosting this year’s Gala event. The event will take place on Saturday, October 6 at 4 p.m. at the University of Redlands, located at 1200 E. Colton Avenue in Redlands. On the grounds of the University of Redlands campus, the Recital will be held at the beautiful Memorial Chapel as a fundraiser for the CAPSBC Food Bank which serves 40,000 food insecure San Bernardino County households every month. Since its inception in 1984, the CAPSBC Food Bank has distributed over 200 million pounds of food at no charge to fight hunger.

Mr. Russell will host the elegant Recital, Gala Reception and Dinner which includes the presentation of the Community Action Legacy Awards honoring agencies and individuals who have made great strides in addressing poverty and hunger in our county. The efforts of all who are working to improve our communities is critically needed as 26% of San Bernardino County children live in poverty and there are 36,886 homeless children in our public schools.

The Piano Recital will feature “Two Piano Journey” with Michelle and Christopher Kuo, an incredible world-class piano ensemble team. They will perform music from the classical works of Sergei Rachmaninoff. Every single concert is performed, in full or in part, for the benefit of a nonprofit organization. They have performed in locations such as Carnegie Hall – NY, The Green Room – San Francisco, The Lighthouse Guild – NY, Rutgers University – NY, Friday Musicale – FL, Drew University – NJ, Old Dominion University – VA, and countless premier international sites.

Join us for a magical evening of music and fine dining. For tickets visit our website at www.capsbc.org Special pricing for seniors 55+ and students (all ages) will be available for the Piano Recital. For more information, call (909) 723-1523 or e-mail info@capsbc.org