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The 10-year grant is a gift from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

By Tess Eyrich

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- RIVERSIDE, CA— Over the past 13 years, more than 500 Native American high school students from across the country have gotten a taste of college life courtesy of a one-of-a-kind summer experience held at the University of California, Riverside.

Known as the Gathering of the Tribes Summer Residential Program, the eight-day initiative is organized by UCR’s Native American Student Programs, or NASP. According to NASP Director Joshua Gonzales, between 30 and 50 students attend each year, with about 30 percent of them coming from out of state. With the exception of transportation to and from UCR, most costs associated with attending are covered by NASP.

Over the past 13 years, more than 500 Native American high school students from across the country have gotten a taste of college life courtesy of a one-of-a-kind summer experience held at the University of California, Riverside.

Known as the Gathering of the Tribes Summer Residential Program, the eight-day initiative is organized by UCR’s Native American Student Programs, or NASP. According to NASP Director Joshua Gonzales, between 30 and 50 students attend each year, with about 30 percent of them coming from out of state. With the exception of transportation to and from UCR, most costs associated with attending are covered by NASP.

The program was designed to help American Indian youth get acclimated to a university setting by living in on-campus residence halls and immersing themselves in a variety of academic, cultural, and personal development workshops. During their time at UCR, participants attend daily writing sessions geared toward responding to essay prompts on the University of California’s standard undergraduate application. They also hear from UCR-affiliated guest speakers — including faculty — and tour research hubs like the School of Medicine.

So far, Gonzales’s approach has been a fruitful one. A UCR alumnus, he first came to campus on a cross country/track and field scholarship. He was active as a student in the NASP office and became a program assistant there in 2005 — the same year the Gathering of the Tribes initiative was activated by former NASP Director Earl Dean Sisto. Since then, Gonzales said, 93 percent of the summer program’s participants have gone on to attend community colleges or four-year universities, with many later receiving master’s and doctoral degrees.

In recent years, the success of the initiative caught the attention of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland, at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains. San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said San Manuel targets four key areas to support through charitable giving, with education-related causes comprising one of those areas.

“The tribe is aware that the number of Native American high school graduates across the country who go on to college is relatively small, and we intend to increase that number both regionally and nationally,” Valbuena said.

With addressing those concerns a top priority, in June the San Manuel Band of Missions Indians awarded $1.28 million to NASP. Gonzales said the grant is the largest NASP has received in its 38-year history. It will be used to support the office’s long-term goal of expanding efforts to reach college-going Native American students and better serve them as they earn their degrees. Over the next 10 years, the grant will fund:

• Hiring a full-time staffer to support Gonzales’s student and community outreach efforts, further develop NASP’s educational programming, and create a roadmap for a larger initiative called the Native Pathway to College Program.
• The continuation and growth of the Gathering of the Tribes Summer Residential Program.

A series of 40 academic scholarships — four per year, at $6,000 each — reserved primarily for Native American students in need.

Gonzales, who serves as NASP’s sole permanent, full-time staffer, likened the grant to a life-giving element.

“Our office is like a plant; if you give us enough resources, like sunlight and water, we’ll be able to grow and flourish,” he said. The addition of a second full-time staffer, in particular, he said, will allow NASP to dedicate as many of its resources to student retention as it currently does to recruitment.

He also plans to devise new means of drawing applicants to the Gathering of the Tribes Summer Residential Program and tracking and building relationships with students who have attended in the past. By doing so, NASP hopes to play an integral role in guiding students through the more challenging aspects of tasks like choosing a university, applying for financial aid, and selecting a course of study.

“Here at UCR, we’re surrounded by more than 30 different tribes in the Southern California region, and many indigenous peoples who are affiliated with tribes throughout North America,” Gonzales said. “There’s so much potential to reach more American Indian students in this region — so much opportunity we look forward to developing.”

Fulbright Scholar Roberto Rivera looks to Jamaica as a model of restorative justice

By Tess Eyrich

Roberto “Bobby” Rivera

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- RIVERSIDE, CA—- Roberto “Bobby” Rivera spent 20 years as a police officer in Southern California before a medical injury prompted his early retirement in 2011. What he couldn’t have predicted at the time was that the injury that ended one career would also open a door to global research.

Now a doctoral candidate in the sociology department at the University of California, Riverside, Rivera channeled his prior experience in law enforcement into studying criminology. Through his research, he seeks to build a framework for more holistic approaches to policing that consider the larger environments in which crimes occur rather than just the crimes themselves.

“I had numerous Ph.D. offers around the country,” Rivera said of his academic journey. “As a scholar, I wanted to move away from traditional theories of criminology, such as the broken windows theory. I had read Alfredo Mirandé’s book ‘Gringo Justice’ and was influenced by his critical examination of criminology. He, along with other professors from the Department of Sociology, made it quite easy for me to choose UCR to pursue researching alternative policing methods.”

Rivera described holistic policing as a process in which law enforcement perceives and engages those policed with respect and understanding, noting that such a model is an ideal method to focus on human potential and achievement rather than social disorder.

In January 2019, he’ll begin a 10-month term as the Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Jamaica. With the University of the West Indies at Mona as his base, Rivera will conduct in-depth ethnographic research geared toward better understanding Jamaica’s success as a model of restorative justice.

Restorative justice differs from retributive justice in that it views crime as a violation of relationships between individuals rather than as a violation of the law or the state. Communal in nature, it emphasizes rehabilitation through personal accountability and encourages offenders to take responsibility for their actions by seeking reconciliation with both victims and communities, usually in mediated discussion sessions.

Rivera said that although criminal justice practices in the U.S. traditionally have skewed toward retributive, police departments are increasingly starting to examine and incorporate alternative methods used around the world.

In Jamaica, restorative justice techniques have been in practice since 1994. The country has historically had high levels of violence, resulting in a “traumatized population with lower levels of trust in the criminal justice system,” Rivera said.

In response, the country’s Ministry of Justice piloted its National Restorative Justice Programme in 2012 and formally passed the Restorative Justice Act in 2016. As of this year, the ministry announced that more than 200 restorative justice sessions had taken place across the island, with 1,662 people benefiting from the sessions and plans in place to expand the system to schools, among other environments.

“Restorative justice, for me, is a system where everyone has an equal opportunity to access a criminal justice system that’s fair and impartial,” Rivera said. “To go to Jamaica gives me the opportunity to research and advance areas that I’m concerned with, and to see if we can bring back any of Jamaica’s more successful methods to the U.S.”

During his time in the country, Rivera plans to interview at least 30 Jamaican criminal justice practitioners as well as 30 community members, including local representatives from social services and mental health, alcohol, and substance abuse programs.

His main aim is to return to the U.S. with the foundation for a new methodology of holistic policing that prioritizes improving trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. In the future, he hopes to use his Fulbright research to influence policymaking that could see restorative justice practices become more common stateside.

Underscoring his research is a belief that current tensions between police officers and marginalized communities in the U.S. could be greatly improved by increasing trust between the two parties.

We now have issues of higher arrest rates, higher sentencing rates, and mass incarceration of people of color,” Rivera said. “We have the highest rate of incarceration of any other country in the world. How did we do that? Who benefits from it?

“For many in law enforcement, the prototype of a good police officer is someone who goes out and makes a lot of arrests,” he added. “But the reality is that mindset — and associated behaviors — isn’t working for communities of color, and profound changes are needed within police practice.”

Rivera said fostering trust between police forces and racial minority communities, in particular, will help ensure the safety of those communities for years to come.

“When people who live in communities of color lack trust, they become much less likely to report crimes or to come forward and communicate with law enforcement,” he said. “Maybe they’re afraid of being deported, maybe they have a loved one who’s incarcerated, or maybe they’ve experienced police brutality in their communities or against them personally. But once that trust is eroded it usually never comes back, and the effects become generational.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— IDYLLWILD, CA—- Call it an early Christmas present, or a Thanksgiving blessing, but Idyllwild residents have a beautiful new mural to visit.

Third District County Supervisor Chuck Washington, joined by firefighters and law enforcement, presided over the unveiling on Tuesday, November 20 of the community’s newest piece of art at the Idyllwild Public Library. The “Heroes Mural” pays tribute to firefighters, notably those who protected the Idyllwild community after a fire broke out in July along State Route 74.

The Cranston Fire, as it was called, ultimately blackened more than 13,000 acres in the San Jacinto Mountains, burning homes and structures and forcing the evacuation of Idyllwild, Lake Hemet, Mountain Center and Pine Cove. The scars of the fire remain visible.

“The mural represents the hard work that both law enforcement and the firefighters do to keep the community safe,” said Supervisor Washington, who was joined by Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Leonard Purvis of the Valle Vista station and members of CalFire.

The mural by artist Keith Blum spans the back-exterior wall of the library, which is part of the Riverside County Library System. The painting depicts firefighters from multiple agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, CalFire and Idyllwild Fire. Blum was originally inspired to paint a mural while attending an art show in Idyllwild. When the Cranston Fire broke out, Blum watched the fire and smoke from his home in Palm Springs.

“I saw the smoke coming off the mountain, thick and dark, often blocking out the sun and dropping ash on us,” he said, adding that he was moved to donate his mural after seeing the “valiant efforts of the firefighters” to protect homes in Idyllwild.

Blum spent a month painting the tribute with local businesses donating supplies, meals and lodging. He included a special thank you to his supporters in the mural.

“We are so excited to have this. We are so blessed to have this in our town,” Chief Reitz said. “We all come together for a common cause and that is to help our fellow human beings.”

The Idyllwild Branch Library is located at 54401 Village Center Drive.

The Third Supervisorial District includes the cities of Hemet, Murrieta, San Jacinto and Temecula. It also includes the unincorporated communities of Aguanga, Anza, Cottonwood Canyon, French Valley, Gilman Hot Springs, Green Acres, Homeland, Idyllwild, Lake Riverside, Mountain Center, Murrieta Hot Springs, Pine Cove, Pinyon Pines, Poppet Flats, Rancho California, Soboba Hot Springs, Twin Pines, Valle Vista and Winchester.

Visit www.supervisorchuckwashington.com for more information.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Earlier this month, home care workers of the In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS) represented by SEIU Local 2015, clergy, and community leaders united for a prayer service and action at the Board of Supervisors office in appreciation and recognition of caregivers who are fighting for a contract that offers a livable wage.

County leaders offered a $0 wage increase to the county’s IHSS caregivers after months of negotiations and delivering over 13,000 petitions of support from community members.

“Caregiving is hard work,” said Pastor Harold Hines. “It isn’t easy to fully dedicate your time and energy to someone who depends on you to survive, and in San Bernardino County we are blessed to have over 26,000 people who are willing to step up to the plate and be caregivers to our community’s seniors and people with disabilities. We are thankful for them and the work they do. They deserve more than minimum wage.”

The event started with an invocation at St. Bernadine’s Church and ended with an action outside of the Board of Supervisors building.

Afterward, clergy leaders, caregivers and their care recipients walked up to the Board of Supervisors office and demanded the county create a pathway out of poverty for the county’s IHSS caregivers.

The next bargaining session between IHSS caregivers and the county will be December 12, 2018.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- NATIONAL— National Director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, Tiffany Dena Loftin was awarded the Rising Star Award on Friday, November 16, at the 2nd Annual Black Girls Vote Ball.

The Black Girls Vote Ball celebrates the accomplishments of Black women in politics and activism who are making a difference not only in their community but around the world. The Rising Star Award is bestowed upon a person for their clear demonstration and dedication to changing the world we live in for the better.

Black Girls Vote, Inc. was launched on what would have been Shirley Chilsolm’s 91^st birthday, November 30, 2015 in Baltimore, MD. Through nontraditional engagement efforts that focus on meeting people where they are, Black Girls Vote has registered more than 16,000 voters. Black Girls Vote is also supporting the next generation of leaders and engaged voters through their High School and Collegiate Ambassador Program where BGV Ambassadors activate their student body while bringing BGV’s mission, vision and values on their campus.

This midterm election cycle, under the leadership of Tiffany Dena Loftin the NAACP Youth and College Division completed ahighly successful Vote 2018 campaign in just a few short weeks. They were able to mobilize 5,800 students, recruit and maintain 2,607 new activists, host 232 “vote specific” events, organize at 174 schools across this nation and engage 33 of the 50 states, proving that young people are rising to the occasion and answering the call.

“I dedicate this award to everyone 35 and under who constantly prove this country wrong. I dedicate this award to those who can’t vote. I dedicate this award to every black woman who says I told you so;” stated Loftin while accepting her award “Every year we have an opportunity to not only change government to not only advance legislation but to redefine democracy. I know we’re winning because it’s getting harder, but I am encouraged and inspired, and I’m committed to our communities.”

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RUNWAY MODEL CALL is WHAT IT DO!
KD The Stylist is looking for you! Women only and no experience is necessary. All that are interested must wear a size 4 to 16, must bring a pair of high heels, must wear comfortable fitted clothes and must come rip the runway.

The start time is at 2 p.m. at 555 W. 6th Street in San Bernardino. This could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Catch me next week with more from the streets. L’s!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—-SAN BERNARDINIO, CA— Provisional Accelerated Learning Center hosted their 4th Annual Pals of PAL Community Feast. The local community was invited to participate in an event that was established out of a desire to meet community needs.

The Pals of PAL Community Feast has attracted many families, friends, and individuals from all backgrounds throughout the community.  Each year this event aims to provide hope and joy for those who may have fallen on hard times.

PAL Center, an established non-profit organization for over thirty-two years was founded by Dr. Mildred Henry who saw a need to provide students and the community with a quality education. Birthed from her legacy, the PAL Charter Academy was established over 20 year ago and was designed to provide “Education with an Individualized Approach.” Her successor Dwaine Radden Sr., Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the PAL Center & Charter Academy saw a need to provide a “Feast” style luncheon for the Community and students for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  PAL as also has hosted community gatherings, and food drives to support the needs of the community.

Radden said, “This event and other PAL outreach program has filled a huge void in the community. We believe in taking a holistic approach when it comes to addressing community and PAL students’ needs. There’s nothing greater than breaking bread and fellowshipping with the community, staff and students. We have been blessed with an incredible Board, Staff and Student Body here at the PAL Center and PAL Academy. They love giving back to the community!

Mr. Brantley is one heck of a cook. He is the true catalyst behind our Community Feast and I salute him for his efforts and generosity.”

Students, teachers, and administrators shared good food, laughter, and music with their community and helped those in need. A display board at the entrance of the PAL Community Center was covered with statements from students that read what they themselves were thankful for, providing inspiration to those who attended the luncheon. A PAL Middle School student wrote,

“I’m thankful for my mom because she works hard to provide for me”. “I’m thankful for the food that is placed on the table”, another student writes.

About 80 people from the community were served a spread of delicious foods. Students who volunteered served their community members while doing so with thanksgiving in their hearts. Smiles filled the room as the families ate and laughed as they shared stories with one another.

Director of Special Projects, Nicole Mitchell, said “If we aren’t here to serve then why are we here? We are meant to serve and help meet the needs of others. I’m thankful to see the smiles on the faces of our community here on our campus. I hope our acts of kindness will create a ripple effect in our community. I believe our actions are seeds planted that can grow and change hearts around our community for the better!”

Every Tuesday at 2 PM the PAL Center offers a Community Food Bank Program, which serves approximately 100+ community members. All students, staff, and parents are invited to be of service.

PAL is currently operating at two High School and Middle School locations in San Bernardino, a local Resource Center, as well as an online PAL Adult High School (PALAHS) diploma program. PAL is now enrolling for the 2018 – 2019 school year. For more information about any of the PAL campuses or services, please visit the website at www.palcenter.org or contact the main office at 909-887-7002. www.palcenter.org

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- LOS ANGELES, CA— LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS has announced that Keisha N. Brown (KB) has been appointed to the position of president, a role held by the founder since its inception in 1990. In this new role, Keisha will utilize her more than two decades of experience to focus on client services and new business development. She will continue as the chair of the Health and Wellness Practice. Mr. Kim L. Hunter, former president and CEO, will remain the Chairman & CEO of the agency.

“LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS is my first enterprise and I feel now is the right time to pass the torch to a long-standing and dedicated employee that I trust will continue to move the agency forward”, stated Hunter. “KB brings a tremendous understanding of client service and new business development experience to this position and I look forward to working with her as we both focus on our new roles at the agency.”

KB will be responsible for identifying and securing new business and providing integrated and innovative client service to all of the agency’s clients.  In this role, she will lead teams in developing and executing creative oriented solutions communication programs for the firm’s advertising, marketing and public relations accounts; manage a team of client-focused and results oriented individuals; create a thriving environment of collaboration and creative problem-solving that is responsive to and inspired by new ideas; and oversee the firm’s creative and media planning and buying teams.

As the chair of the Health and Wellness Practice, KB will rely on her keen understanding of health disparities and cultural nuances amongst African American and Hispanic communities to concentrate on new business development targeting entities such as hospitals, healthcare plans, not-for-profit, government, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.  Her healthcare experience includes working with clients such as the Ad Council, American Cancer Society, California Department of Public Health, Covered California, L.A. Care, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital, Novartis, the Office of National Control Drug Policy, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, among others.

“I am excited to start this new chapter of my career as president of an agency that has fulfilled me in so many ways and allowed me to make contributions to clients that target consumers (African American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ) that are important to me”, stated KB.  “I look forward to partnering and  collaborating with Kim in this new role to build upon the agency’s accomplishments and to continue developing and executing creative solutions for clients that position us for success in the future.”

In addition to client service and new business development, KB will partner with the CEO to raise the firm’s profile and position the agency as a premier multicultural agency.

A 23-year veteran of the agency, KB is an integrated marketing communications (IMC) specialist with hands-on knowledge managing advertising, marketing and public relations accounts on a local and national basis for clients striving to effectively communicate to both African American and Hispanic consumers. She has worked with corporate, not-for-profit and government clients throughout her time at the agency including Carnival Corporation, California Department of Insurance, City of Los Angeles, Community Health Councils, MetLife, Southern California Edison, U.S. Army, and Verizon.

“I have worked with Kim and the agency for more than 10 years, and they have always provided me with excellent client service dating back to when I was at American Airlines and now at Carnival,” said Roger Frizzell, senior vice president and chief communications officer of Carnival Corporation.  “KB currently leads the team that works on our Carnival business, and the leadership and strategic counsel she provides our team has been an essential component in generating results.”

KB began her career at the agency and has held various positions that have led her to this position of being president of an IMC agency, such as an account manager, Vice President/Media & Promotions Director, and Senior Vice President/Chief Creative & Innovative Officer.  All of these positions have allowed her to have a keen understanding of client service, account management, creative, media planning and media buying.

The Los Angeles native has been recognized for her work and expertise in multicultural communications through awards and invitations to speak on panels.  Most recently, KB led the project launch of the L.A. Care Covered Campaign, which received the Healthcare Public Relations & Marketing Association (HPRMA) Golden Advocate Award. Additionally, the agency was awarded with the Sabre Award for Multicultural Marketing for Verizon Wireless, a team in which Keisha also led.  Johnson Publications, the publishers of Ebony and Jet magazine, named Keisha “One of the Most Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications” and PRWeek Magazine featured her in a roundtable discussion regarding diverse viewpoints on multicultural communications.

KB holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in business administration from Howard University in Washington, DC.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— … You best put them on.  Because the devil, as a roaring lion is going about this world seeking whom he may devour. His mission is to kill, steal, and to destroy.  He doesn’t care who you are or where you come from. He doesn’t care where you’ve been or where you hope to be going. His motive is to disrupt and to dismantle any and all associations that you may have with God. Just like He did Job, the Devil is confronting God about you. His intent is to make you a lie.

If you are a Christian, you are in a fierce war. In fact, you’re in a life and death battle for your faith. Satan is determined to shipwreck and destroy the faith of all of God’s elect. And the stronger your faith, the greater will be his attack against it. Why? Because, unshakable faith in the Lord causes Hell to rage. Nothing poses a greater threat to Satan’s kingdom than a Christian who is unmovable in faith. By faith, righteousness is born and demonic fires are quenched. By faith, God’s promises are obtained and the mouths of lions are shut.

Your adversary has studied you and has coordinated a plan of attack. And his scheme is so widespread that if he cannot destroy you, he’ll aim his attacks towards the people closes to you and the interests that are near and dear to your heart.  Therefore, you have to fight not just for yourself, but spiritual warfare involves praying the devil off of your kids, praying him away from your spouse, taking authority over the devil on your job, defeating the enemy that’s trying to take your mind. I tell you, “This Means War!” If you ain’t got your war clothes on you best put them on!

I don’t know about you, but I ain’t going out like this.  I ain’t going out without a fight! I’m going to keep the devil where he belongs – under my feet.  We are no longer under Satan’s power, but are empowered by God Almighty to defeat the devil when he comes against us!  It is high time we learn that we have power and authority, through Jesus Christ, to walk in victory over the enemy. Jesus gave us that power, and as long as we humble ourselves before God, and submit ourselves to Him, the enemy cannot defeat us. We can keep the devil in his place, right where God put him: under our feet. It’s up to us to put the devil on the run by using our authority, standing firm in our faith, and thanking God for what He has wrought for us.

I tell you, the next time the devil tries to get in your way or block your path, lift your feet high, stomp loud, and let everyone know you are coming through town. The sound of the stomping and pounding of your feet is the signal to let everyone know they need to get out of your way.  If the enemy is stupid enough to challenge you and tries to hinder your plans, just keep walking! If the devil tries to stop you, just raise your feet high, pound down as hard as you can, and stomp all over him as you march forward. Crush and bruise him beyond recognition!”

However, it is important to point out that this smashing and crushing of Satan must be done in cooperation with God. Alone you are no match for this archenemy. That’s the reason Paul says, “…The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet….” In other words, this is a joint partnership between you and God. By yourself, you could never keep Satan subdued. But with God as your Partner, the devil has no chance of ever slipping out from under your heel! [Romans 16:20]

Never forget – the only place that rightfully belongs to the devil is the small space of ground right under your feet! Jesus accomplished a total, complete, and perfect work through the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead. The victory is already yours… FIGHT! Don’t allow the enemy to ruin you or anyone else that you know. Your family is worth fighting for. Your health is worth fighting for. Your peace of mind is worth fighting for. If you have to roll up your sleeves and go hand to hand, fight for it. Because if one can put a thousand to flight and two can put ten thousand to flight, then sooner or later, everything around you will be covered by the power of God!

Declaring War on the Devil!  Are there any believers left who are indignant at the assault of the enemy? Where are the redeemed who are still proud of their God and still mad at the devil?  We are called and equipped to be soldiers of Christ. God has given us everything we need to win; he has assured us of victory, and those who overcome shall reign with Jesus forever. Therefore arise, fight, and never give up!