Local

By Dania DeRamon, CCAEJ Communications Intern

Mariana Lopez

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—— Canvassing in the scorching heat, knocking door-to-door, talking to residents to get pledge cards, and testifying during public hearings. Sounds extensive, doesn’t it? These sorts of actions are typical for local volunteer, Mariana Lopez.

A recent 23-year-old graduate from the University of California at Irvine, Lopez triple-majored in international studies, sociology, and political science. She’s been a resident of Rubidoux for the majority of her life–a community she says she “wouldn’t leave at all.”

“You can empower and uplift your community when you truly understand the issues affecting people.”

Because of Lopez’s efforts, industry led efforts like Proposition 70 (Cap and Trade Vote Amendment) are being defeated at the ballot box. She was also CCAEJ’s top signature getter in our efforts to repeal Proposition 13. Lopez obtained 55 signatures, more than twice the number volunteers were asked to get.

CCAEJ Civic Engagement Director Italia Garcia notes that Lopez took “a lot of self-initiative” in the process, going above and beyond to attain signatures.

“Mariana really stands out among volunteers because she has great leadership skills and work ethics,” Garcia explains. “She really cares about making a change in her community.”

Civic engagement has always been an important aspect of Lopez’s life. She began volunteering at St. John’s Church, supporting her father’s weekly food pantry program. Interacting with others in the community, especially those from low-income backgrounds, motivated Lopez to dedicate herself to making a difference. While studying abroad in Barcelona, she organized students for a Sisters/Women’s march–where she became truly passionate for “advocating and uplifting everyone’s voices, especially those of women.”

“If you’re truly passionate about what it is you are supporting, I think that will be reflected when you’re communicating with people,” Lopez says about her experiences.

Shortly after returning from Barcelona, Lopez learned about a controversial incident at Rubidoux High School, in which various teachers made derogatory comments about students who chose to participate in the ‘Day Without Immigrants’ protest.

“I was so mad that teachers we looked up to could make racist comments and mock those who participated,” she said about the incident at her alma mater.

With the help of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Lopez learned how to “mobilize the community” in a manner that was non-violent, yet direct.

Through phone banking, Lopez contacted community members–urging them to attend and testify at public hearings to demand action against the teachers. Lopez also testified at one of these hearings, an experience she admitted was frightening for her.

“[My siblings and I] had a close relationship with one of those teachers…so for me it was really scary to go out and testify…but that didn’t hold me back,” she recalls.

In fact, Lopez is now helping lead an effort to bring further resources to undocumented students. The goal, she explained, is to have DREAM Resource Centers at all three Jurupa Unified School District high schools.

“To me, I know that the little action I’m taking will hopefully impact or motivate others to volunteer or help out in the community,” said Lopez. “It’s like voting. If you truly want to see a change within your community, go out and do something. Be relentless about it.”  

Gylbert Eusebio, 16, Lake Elsinore, with Brandon Carlson of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, picks out some school supplies before going to the clothing section of the store.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—LOMA LINDA, CA— More than 30 Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital patients and their siblings were each given $200 to purchase school supplies, new clothes and healthcare items. Each child was accompanied by a law enforcement officer from the community during the bi-annual Shop with A Cop event on July 29.

The event, organized by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association, was designed for families who don’t have the time or resources to prepare for the back-to-school demands.

“It gives parents of patients one less thing to worry about,” said Mike Tulisiak, the association’s events director. “It also shows the kids that officers are there to help and protect them.”

This is the first year the Shop with a Cop event has included siblings, in addition to the patients.

“This is a chance for us to get the supplies we need to start the next chapter in our lives. It’s something I didn’t expect, but something I’m so glad I get to be a part of,” said patient Gylbert Eusebio, 16, from Lake Elsinore. Eusebio shopped with Brandon Carlson of the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department.

Carlson said he loves the program because it gives the children the school supplies they need so when they go back to school, they feel prepared. “I hope it gives them confidence in a time when their lives are unsure.”

By Naomi K. Bonman

The Swansons (Photo credit: Ricardo H. Photography)

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— A true artist creates music that can cross over into any dynamic. The Swansons have been selling out shows across the coast performing hit songs from their latest album, “Country This”, capturing the likes of fans from all demographics.

The husband and wife duo are an Alternative County Rock-Pop band founded by Joe and Angie Finley. They released their third album entitled, “Country This” which is a 14-song record featuring songs such as, “Let’s Talk” and “Where Did Everybody Go.”

The duo will be receiving an award for “Outstanding County Duo” in Las Vegas on November 7. Check out the interview session below:

Naomi: Can you guys give the readers a brief bio of who you guys are, etc?

The Swansons are an alternative country rock husband wife duo, Joe and Angie Finley.  

We have been making a big splash by performing at the hottest venues all over Southern California for the past 5 years.  Along with some performances in Nashville TN & Chicago IL. 

Joe writes All the songs and we send it to our producer Bill Watson (Nashville Trax)  in Nashville TN for production.  We are so blessed to have the best musicians in Nashville playing on our albums. (Jim Riley~ Drums Rascal Flatts, Bill Watson~ Bass, Brent Mason on Guitar, Jenee Fleenor~ Fiddle Blake Shelton Band, Steve King~ Keyboards formerly on tour with Keith Urban, Michael Douchette~ Harmonica zztop)

When you listen to The Swansons music, you’ll experience something you’ve never heard before in country music.  We guarantee that you be dancing & singing along.  And when you see us in concert, you can expect an incredible live performance with abundance of love & positive energy!!

You guys recently had a big show last month. How was that? How was the crowd?

We performed on Friday, July 6 at The Study in Hollywood. It was our first time performing there and it is a beautiful venue. We have never seen anything quite like it as it is set up like a library with hundreds of books all over the walls. The sound was great, and the audience was very receptive and enthusiastic. We made and met a lot of new fans!!! 

You also recently released your third album, “Country This”. For those of us who have not heard of it, what can we except?

‘Country This’ is country music with a NEW Flavor. It’s a little bit country and a little bit rock n roll. You can expect a variety of songs with strong lyrical content intended to move our listening audience in a positive way. The combination of our voices combined with inspired material and brilliant Nashville musicians resulted in an extremely original country record.

What other projects are guys working on?

Besides continuing to promote ‘Country This’, performing live concerts and releasing new music videos as much as possible. We have been working on our follow up album to ‘Country This’ which is untitled and our 4^th album to date.  The music is done and in June we travelled to Nashville to lay down our vocals.   We have 12 new songs recorded so far and are working on a couple of new additions. We are planning another trip to Nashville before summers end to completely finish production and prepare it’s release.  We are hoping to release the beginning of 2019!

What inspired you guys to get into music?

We inspire each other, and that inspiration has carried on in to our music. We feel blessed to be able to express our love for one another and this world through our gift of music. We literally owe this entire experience to God. That faith has inspired us to take the leap and trust that we will sooner or later achieve our musical goals.

Who are some of the artist that you have opened for and or shared the stage with?

• Wayne Newton
• Berlin
• The Motels
• Pato Banton
• XEB (3rd Eye Blind)
• Missing Persons
• Malo
• The Dan Band
• Live Dead Riders 69 (some original members of the Grateful Dead)
• Stan Bush
• Robert Tepper

Where could our readers find your calendar of events?

The Swanson Music Website Tour Page and The Swansons Music Event Page.

Stay Connected

Website | Facebook | Twitter (Angie) | Twitter (Joe) | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | Reverbnation

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— She ain’t fat ya’ll, just a little thick! Porscha Dillard is an aspiring model with a lot of drive and ambition.  

Stepping into the world of modeling with only a few years of experience, she’s definitely making a name for herself. Ms. Dillard possess a natural beauty which shines through her photos. Her uniqueness allows the relationship between her and the photographers to create magic. This is just a sneak peek of my girl, ‘Porscha Dillard’ the model. Wait for it! L’s!!!!!!!!!! 

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen

LeBron James’ gift to the children of Akron, Ohio is a template for what wealthy folk can do to help America benefit from the potential that is unlocked when our children are supported in their quest for excellence!  Educating children in grade school and guaranteeing their college tuition/education is really a gift to America.  It also lifts our vision beyond the typical distractions that haunt Black Americans and empowers our children with education and hero images that look like them! 

I encourage other affluent people who are concerned with America’s mistreatment of the Black descendants of the enslaved Africans who built the wealth of America; to replace protest with pro-activism!

I have supported the NFL Players kneeling in protest of police shootings of Black People and would support the protest now, were it not for King James’ royal proclamation and commitment. His action has set a new standard for activism by prosperous people.

I suggest that the NFL players who really want to make a difference, redirect their energy from protesting during the National Anthem to pro-action with their paychecks! Affluent Black men dedicating money towards educating our less fortunate will make a powerful impact. Affluent Black men supporting businesses that create job opportunities for our disenfranchised will make a powerful impact!

Kneeling has made a powerful noise that has not only been compromised by haters, but also threatens the income of those who choose to kneel in protest.  I suggest that we encourage our concerned NFL players to protect their source of income by rejecting protest and to demonstrate pro-action by investing in strengthening the Black Family and community. Stay Woke!    

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—ANAHEIM, CA— More than 4,500 students from 48 Anaheim elementary schools participated in the second year of Happiest Class on Earth. The program, which will run over a 10-year period, encourages sixth-graders to give back to their schools and communities by completing a service project, earning tickets to visit the Disneyland Resort as a class.

Through their participation in the program this year, students collected cans of food, planted trees and recycled bottles, just to name a few of their efforts.

Assistant Principal Suzanne Nichols from Thomas Edison Elementary School noted, “Because of the hard work and dedication of the students through Happiest Class on Earth, many people have been positively impacted by the community service!”

Thomas Burrell, President of BFAA, will be the “EMPIRE TALKS BACK” (ETB) guest this Sunday. ETB, hosted by Wallace Allen, WssNews Publisher, is broadcast each Sunday at 10:00 AM on KCAA 1050-AM, 102.3 FM and 106.5 FM.  ETB streams live video via http://www.kcaaradio.com

By Tom Charlier, Commercial Appeal

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Black farmers, whose numbers already have dwindled precipitously over the past century, face new hardships after suffering poor crop yields last year because they were sold “fake” soybean seeds, an association alleges in a lawsuit.

Leaders of the Memphis-based Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association have filed a class-action lawsuit against Stine Seed, the nation’s largest independent seed-producer, accusing the Adel, Iowa, firm of targeting African-Americans for sales of defective seeds.

The suit alleges that black farmers who attended the 67th Annual Mid-South Farm & Gin Show in Memphis last year bought more than $100,000 worth of “certified” seeds. But the lawsuit alleges the seeds were switched for inferior ones at a warehouse near Sledge, Miss.

Stine, in a statement, strongly denied the allegations and said it would mount a vigorous defense against the “meritless” lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the latest action by the BFAA, which also has represented some of the African-American farmers claiming widespread discriminatory practices by the Department of Agriculture.

Following an initial class-action lawsuit against the USDA, nearly 16,000 growers had collected settlements totaling $1.06 billion by 2011. Congress has appropriated $1.2 billion to pay for a second wave of settlements.

You may hear more about this case on Sunday, August 5 as Thomas Burrell, President of BFAA, discusses the lawsuit on ‘Empire Talks Back’ with Wallace Allen at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050-AM, 02.3 FM and 106.5 FM. Listen onine at www.kcaaradio.com.

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—That’s right! Your rejection of the gospel will be inexcusable. You have heard the gospel. Your unbelief is not out of ignorance, but out of rebellion against God and against His Word. I tell you, you are just like Israel, who knew the truth, but chose not to obey it. You are guilty before God just as Israel was and deserving of divine wrath. This is the essence of [Romans 1:18-32]. For God says, “All the daylong I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” [Romans 10:21]. It’s not that God just displays His truth in the heavens, it comes home. It’s received. We get it, but we suppress it, that’s why the apostle Paul said that every mouth will be shut on that day because there is no defense against this [Romans 3:19]. You know it, yet you suppress it. You are created in the image of God, yet you are ungodly. You have the law of God written on your heart, yet you are unrighteous.

“Woe to you Chorazin and Bethsaida, for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you [Matthew 11:21-22] because to disobey God’s commands is a spiritual and eternal death. You see, the more evidence you have of Christ’s reality, the more severe your judgment for not repenting. Your doom will be more miserable than the pagans. I tell you it would have been better for you to have never known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to you.” There is no excuse for unbelief. There is never an excuse for unbelief!

When you stand before the judgment seat in the last day, God will not judge you on the basis of what you did not know but on the basis of what has been revealed to you. Just imagine standing before God and trying to make excuses for your stubborn disobedience of His Word. What will be your excuse? Have you not heard? Indeed you have [Romans 1:19-23]! For the righteousness of God has been revealed to everyone through nature [Psalms 19]. You have no excuse. Your conscience knows the righteousness of God as you see God in nature. You have “heard” of God’s righteousness. How dreadful it will be to be without excuse! [2 Thess. 1:7-9].  

The end of the matter: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.

I tell you Paul certainly does not tell us what we want to hear, but rather what we need to hear. The Bible does not sugar coat the message, but tells it in a straightforward fashion. There is no fine print hidden at the end of the Bible. This truth is made known in large print at the beginning. I would remind you; this teaching is placed at the very beginning of the book of Romans. Paul does not hold back this news until the end because it is so unpalatable. Rather, he front-loads the subject of divine wrath at the very outset of the book of Romans. This mention of divine anger against sin is very direct, emphatic, and even abrupt. The apostle makes no apologies. There is no attempt to tone down this reality that threatens all who are without the gospel. This is the sheer, unvarnished truth from God coming through the pen of the apostle Paul.

^“But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lordthy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lordthy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it… [Deuteronomy 30:14-20]

Kelli Cluqué and Alfredo Cruz. Photo by Robert A. Whitehead/CSUSB

 (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERBARDINO, CA— The College of Arts and Letters at California State University, San Bernardino has hired two widely recognized media experts to manage the university’s Coyote Radio and Advertising: Alfredo Cruz and Kelli Cluqué.

Cruz is a recent general manager for KVCR TV, KVCR FM, and for the First Nations Experience television network. During his earlier career, Cruz was president and chief executive officer of jazz station KUVO in Denver, and station manager at KRTU in San Antonio.

Cluqué is the recent associate program director and air personality at KCAL FM/KOLA in Redlands. Cluqué has more than 50,000 hours of live, on-air experience. She has managed broadcast facilities in Corpus Christi, Texas; Chico, California; San Diego, California; and in the Inland Empire, where she has managed KCAL FM, KCXX and KATY.

School receives funding for the 16th consecutive year

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA —- Loma Linda University School of Dentistry was awarded for the 16th consecutive year $298,848 in federal funding by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F, to provide community-based HIV/AIDS training for dentistry, international dentistry and dental hygiene students. 

“We’re extremely proud of the funding we have received the past 16years,” said Eun-Hwi Euni Cho, DDS, Director of Educational Assessment at the School of Dentistry. “It’s important that we educate our students to look beyond just a patient’s mouth, but treat the whole person, and this Grant provides another training opportunity to do that with our medically-compromised patients.”

According to Cho, who is also the Program Director of the Grant, 20 percent of HIV positive patients don’t even know they have the infection. In fact, 45-50,000 new infections occur every year in the U.S. The funding supports clinical training, oral health services for patients with unmet needs and the development of innovative models in dental care for people living with HIV/AIDS. 

Students are required to participate in eight hours of training over the course of two days. Their studies include take-home case studies, mini-lectures, classroom role play and live patient interviews. 

More than 2,000 dental, hygiene and international students at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry have received this valuable training to treat community patients who are HIV positive. 

“The Loma Linda University School of Dentistry is a world-class learning institution, which is why they have been selected to receive federal funding through the Community Based Dental Program for 16 consecutive years,” said U.S. Congressional Representative Pete Aguilar, who represents California’s 31st Congressional District. “I’m glad that this funding is coming to the Inland Empire, and that it will give our dental students experience working with patients who live with HIV/AIDS while also providing a specialized treatment option for members of our community who deal with these tragic diseases.” 

Patients are currently seen at the SAC Health System – Norton, but next month will transfer to SAC Health System – San Bernardino. According to Cho, patients travel from the Los Angeles, Orange County and Palm Springs areas for treatment. Many of the patients also willingly allow Loma Linda University School of Dentistry students to treat them in the clinic, and work with them in the classroom.

“It’s great to see that our patients understand that we are doing something at the front end to deliver better healthcare, by training future dental professionals,” Cho said. 

Student feedback over the years has shown that their knowledge, skills and attitudes have improved when it comes to helping patients, and according to Cho, has helped to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS. 

The funding supports the school’s initiatives for the next five years, while once a year the institution will apply as a non-competitor to maintain funding. 

For more information on Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, visit their website online.