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By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Some members of the California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC) joined Assemblymember Susan Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) and the Women’s Legislative Caucus at a press conference on April 3 to demand justice and fairness for incarcerated woman in California.

CLBC members Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Sade Elhawary (D-Los Angeles), Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), and prison reform advocates outlined their plans for justice reforms related to the health and wellbeing of incarcerated women.

“Our justice system has long overlooked the unique needs of incarcerated women, and it’s time for a change,” Quirk-Silva said. “When we incarcerated women without addressing underlying causes, we are not just punishing them, we are punishing their children and destabilizing their families.”

Assemblymembers Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) and Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-Burbank) also participated in the event held at the State Capitol. During the conference, the lawmakers announced legislation they have introduced to back their demands.

Elhawary is the author of Assembly Bill (AB) 1231, which would give judges the discretion to connect individuals on trial to treatment and services instead of spending prison time.

“But policy alone isn’t enough,” Elhawary said. “I’m fighting in this year’s budget to expand investment in reentry housing education and rehabilitation program because a sentence shouldn’t have to be a life sentence to poverty and instability.”

California operates 32 prisons and one leased prison, including 29 men’s prisons, two women’s prisons, and one prison that houses both men and women in separate facilities, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO). 

Quirk-Silva, Bonta, Smallwood-Cuevas, and advocates speaking at the conference all agreed that to effectively reform California women’s prisons, the state must institute gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and strength-based approaches.

Advocates insist that the initiatives should address the specific needs and experiences of incarcerated women, including considering alternatives to incarceration, and ensuring access to education, vocational training, and mental health services.

Menjivar introduced Senate Bill (SB) 337 that expands the rights of incarcerated people, including requiring a third-party advocate for searches, a documentation of searches, and extending the window for women inmates to report sexual assaults.

Smallwood-Cuevas’ SB 75 would require the California Workforce Development Board to establish a Reentry Pilot Project in the counties of Alameda, Los Angeles, and San Diego to provide workforce training and transitional support to formerly incarcerated individuals committed to careers in the skilled trades.

Ortega, the author of AB 800, said it would deal with price gouging in prisons. Families that visit their loved ones pay an enormous amount of money to purchase food out of vending machines, she said.

“I’m learning about facilities that are charging up to $15 for a tiny frozen hamburger. That’s not okay,” Ortega said.

According to the California Public Policy Institute (PPIC), women make up about 50 % of the state’s population but 4% of the prison population. Black men and women account for 28% and 23%, respectively of prisoners.

On April 2, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released an 81-page recidivism report showing that the recidivism rate for people released in the fiscal year 2019-20 declined by 2.8 % points over the previous year to 39.1%. The data reveals rehabilitative programming may be instrumental in reducing recidivism, the CDCR reported.

“With the limited resources that we’ve applied to rehabilitation reentry efforts, we’ve seen a decrease in recidivism markedly over the course of three years in the study just published,” Bonta said. “Imagine what we do if we applied more resources to the basic concept of suppling women rehabilitation rehab reentry.”

According to (CDCR), in 2022, there were 3,699 people incarcerated in women’s prisons in California, about 175 of whom have a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Close to 929 people in women’s prisons are Black — 25% of the state’s overall prison population in 2022.

California is one of the few states in the country where the number of people incarcerated in women’s prisons is significantly decreasing — from 12,668 people in 2010 to 3,699 people in 2022, a 70.8% reduction, according to Ending the Harm of Women in Prisons (EHWP). About 54.3% of the women’s prisons in California have at least one child.

Quirk-Silva is the author of AB 923. The bill would authorize a pregnant or postpartum defendant to request a stay of execution of their sentence by filing a written request to the court if the individual is detained or incarcerated in a county jail for any length of time through the end of the pregnancy.

“Individuals housed in county jails used to be there a short time. Now they can be there one, two, three, four, five years,” Quirk-Silva said. “Do women need to go to jail while they are pregnant?”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Applications for the San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury are now being accepted. Successful applicants will serve as Grand Jury for the 2026 calendar year beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.

The Civil Grand Jury is charged by the California Penal Code to investigate all aspects of the county, including cities and special districts, and potentially hear information on certain criminal investigations. All communications to the Grand Jury are confidential and every signed citizen complaint is responded to after investigation. Service as a Grand Juror involves an average of three to five full working days per week, which is compensated at $60 per day with appropriate mileage. The regular Grand Jury meeting place is located in the City of San Bernardino.

To be eligible for selection, a person must be at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen, and a resident of the County of San Bernardino for at least one year prior to appointment. Other requirements include: sufficient knowledge of the English language, possession of natural faculties, of ordinary intelligence, sound judgment, and good character. By law, elected public officials are not eligible to be a Grand Juror.

Interested citizens are encouraged to apply online here. The application deadline is July 31, 2025.

Please refer to the recruitment timeline for important dates and information. For further questions or comments, please visit the Grand Jury’s website at http://wp.sbcounty.gov/grandjury/ or contact the Grand Jury Coordinator at (909) 382-3971.

The “Hands Off” protests marked the biggest day of demonstrations yet against the policies of Pres. Donald Trump and his biggest campaign donor and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

By Viji Sundaram

BERKELEY, CA— Thousands turned out Saturday in front of the North Berkeley Bart station in protest over what they decry as the Trump administration’s “hostile takeover” of their rights and freedoms.

“Our country and the world are at stake,” said Julia Bavar from her wheelchair with a sign leaning against it that said, “Death By a Thousand Cuts.”

Bavar was among the estimated 2,200 men, women, and children on hand for the April 5 protest, part of a series of similar protests across the country. “If we don’t speak up now, there may not be a later,” she said.

“I, as a disabled person, may not survive this administration because of their drastic cuts and their disregard for most human life,” said her friend, Peni Hall, 76, who was also in a wheelchair beside Bavar.

The “Hands Off” protests marked the biggest day of demonstrations yet against the policies of Pres. Donald Trump and his biggest campaign donor and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

Signs denounced Trump’s actions threatening health care, Social Security and education, and accused the president of making it harder for the average American to live, while benefiting his richest friends.

The demonstrations were organized in more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations such as the Invisibles, LGBTQ+ advocates, labor unions and election activists. The Berkeley protests stretched for blocks along Sacramento Street.

Through chants and raised fists, protestors expressed anger over Trump’s steps to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in the workplace and other institutions, steps experts warn will threaten a range of sectors, healthcare among them. Advocates of DEI programs say they have provided a framework for the fostering of a more just and equitable society.

Protestors also denounced Trump’s mass deportation of immigrants, including those in the country as legal permanent residents, and of students stripped of their visas and detained by ICE because of their First Amendment activities.

Some voiced anger over the Trump administration’s scaled back protections to transgender people. In his first days in office, Trump ordered the removal of any mention of transgender people on government websites and passports.

Musk, a Trump adviser who runs Tesla, Space X and the social media platform X, has played a significant role in the downsizing as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

With Trump cheering him on, the chainsaw wielding tech entrepreneur has made recommendations to those in charge of federal agencies as to who should be laid off and who should remain. Thousands of federal employees have been shown the door in the last several weeks.

Trump insists he is saving taxpayers billions of dollars, though reporting by the New York Times has found numerous accounting errors in DOGE’s public ledger.

“All of my outrage can’t fit on this sign,” said one protestor and a Hands-Off organizer, pointing to her emoji-filled sign of angry faces. “They are tearing down the pillars of our democracy.”

Some of the signs were funny. One said, “I’ve seen smarter cabinets at Ikea.” Another said, “Fight Tooth Decay.”

A number of Pro-Palestinian supporters who began their protest rally from the El Cerrito Plaza Bart station parking lot joined the Berkeley protestors. Some of them carried the Palestinian flag. Some wore the black-and-white Palestinian checkered scarf. “Today, we are in solidarity with the various struggles,” said El Cerrito resident Leslie Adams. She said she opposed the idea of her tax dollars being used to fund the war on the Palestinian people.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Last week, President Donald Trump appointed Assemblymember Bilal Ali (Bill) Essayli (R-Corona) United States Attorney for the Central District of California.

The lawmaker, an outspoken critic of Gov. Newsom, accepted the appointment.

Essayli, who in February introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 1315, a reparations bill in the State Legislature, took the oath of office for his new job on April 2.

“I am honored that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed their trust in me to serve as United States Attorney for the Central District of California,” Essayli said in a statement.Now, reparations advocates, who had been working along with Essayli, say they are looking for a sponsor for the bill in the Legislature.

Kamilah Moore, a Los Angeles-based attorney, who served as chair of the state’s reparations task force, says the effort has not stalled.

“This is a full job position for him. The U.S. Central District of California is the largest federal judiciary district in the country,” said Moore. “But I do appreciate his efforts and being helpful along the way, getting us certain names and contacts of legislators (who could carry the bill). I also appreciate that he kept the conversations (of reparations) going. He definitely played his part, and I cannot be mad at him at all.”

Essayli, who is Lebanese American and proponent of stricter immigration laws and enforcement, says he won major victories during his two-year-plus tenure as a lawmaker.

“When I joined the Assembly, parental rights, illegal immigration, and voter IDs were peripheral issues. We’ve made them centerpieces of our Party. This past election, we added true fighters, and I am confident they will continue the important work needed in the Legislature to make Republicans start winning in California,” Essayli said.

In February, Essayli introduced AB 1315, also known as the California American Freedmen Affair’s Agency (CAFAA) bill. If approved, this legislation would create a state agency responsible for verifying the identities of descendants of slavery using genealogy.

The agency would also contain the Office of Freedmen Legal Affairs and a registry of American Freedmen residents to support future direct services and resources, as recommended by the task force when the nine-member body completed its two-year study in June 2023.

Essayli, a former Riverside County prosecutor and the first Muslim American elected to the California Legislature, said he introduced the bill with the full support of members of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC), the state’s leading reparations advocacy group.Essayli says he supports the creation of the agency even though he does not advocate for cash payments, stating on X last year, “I’m very much opposed to CA taxpayers paying reparations.”

Essayli has also said that he does not believe that California was involved in slavery, but he is totally behind programs that would acknowledge and address atrocities that descendants of Slavery suffered in the United States.

“For too long, the Democrat Party has lied to Black voters and delivered nothing decade after decade,” Essayli told CBM on Feb. 22.

Months later, reparations advocates declared they would work with any lawmakers who would adhere to their cause and made it clear that the “movement to recognize and support American Freedmen residents is a non-partisan effort” that ranks “policy over political affiliation,” CJEC shared in a February statement.

CJEC is a statewide organization made up of various associations, community groups, and individuals united by a commitment to fight for reparations.

Moore says she is working with CJEC, seeking clarity on the status of the bill and identifying another lawmaker –Republican or Democrat – to sponsor the legislation.

AB 1315 was first read in the Assembly chamber on Feb. 24.

Civil rights attorney and reparations advocate Chryce Cryer told Dominique di Prima on her KBLA Talk 1580 radio show that Essayli’s departure could be a blessing in disguise.

Cryer said Essayli’s position in the federal government “bodes well for the reparations movement.”

“It’s probably what he was aspiring to become,” Cryer said of Essayli on the Los Angeles-based radio show. “I would say for reparations in general, especially in California, it shines the spotlight on what we’re trying to do. Reparations is a non-partisan issue.”

Cryer continued, “The bureau, the agency, that’s also non-partisan. But now, as it stands, we have a friend and not a foe in the Trump Administration.”

Relief fund offering critical financial assistance to help ease the burden and restore hope for affected students and families—donate today

WASHINGTON, DC—In the wake of the devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires, UNCF and the UNCF Los Angeles office are stepping in to provide a lifeline for HBCU students and children of alumni, ensuring that education remains a beacon of hope amidst the crisis. With critical financial support from partners and donors, UNCF is making it possible for affected students to continue their education and families to stay on track with their rebuilding process.

To help alleviate hardships confronting impacted students and families, UNCF has launched the UNCF Los Angeles Area Wildfire Relief Fund through three specific programs, offering critical financial assistance to eligible students and alumni. To date, more than 300 students have already applied for assistance, demonstrating the urgent need for support during this crisis.

The relief fund is available to undergraduate and graduate students attending HBCUs; the children of HBCU alumni who have suffered losses due to the wildfires; students attending any accredited, four-year college or university whose families have been directly impacted by the wildfires.

Also, there is an opportunity for donors to support the relief fund. Donations—no matter the size—will play a vital role in ensuring these students can recover and continue their education. With the generosity of donors, together we can provide the stability and support these students need to rebuild their future.

UNCF is committed to ensuring that HBCU students and alumni affected by natural disasters receive the financial support necessary to stay on track with their education and move on with their lives. By providing emergency aid, UNCF aims to ease the burden on students and families, helping them to recover and focus on academic success.

“UNCF’s Los Angeles Area Wildfire Relief Fund is more than just financial assistance; it’s a lifeline for students and families striving to reclaim their dreams after the devastation of the LA wildfires,” said Dr. Veda Ramsay Stamps, regional development director, Los Angeles, UNCF. “In the face of adversity, the spirit of community shines brightest. Our fund will help us to restore hope and opportunity for those students and families affected by the wildfires.”

What Does the Fund Cover? 

Eligible recipients may receive financial assistance for tuition and fees, housing, books, meals and other essential education-related costs.

When to Apply 

Applications are now open! Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis through the

2025 admissions cycle.

Eligibility Criteria 

Program #1: HBCU Undergraduate and Graduate Student Aid 

• Student or custodial/contributing parent(s)/guardian(s) living in a wildfire-impacted area and who has suffered a wildfire-related loss.

• No financial need required, but FAFSA completion (2024-25 or 2025-26) is necessary.

• Must be currently enrolled in good academic standing or admitted for fall 2025 enrollment at an accredited UNCF-member institution or other four-year, accredited HBCU.

Program #2: HBCU Alumni Emergency Aid 

• The child of a graduate or a graduate of a UNCF-member institution or other accredited four-year HBCU.

• Has suffered wildfire-related losses.

• Currently enrolled in good academic standing or admitted for fall 2025 enrollment in a graduate or professional degree program at any accredited college or university.

• Resides in the impacted area and is a custodial/contributing parent/guardian to a current college student in good academic standing or a student admitted for fall 2025 enrollment at any HBCU or four-year accredited college or university.

• FAFSA completion required (2024-25 or 2025-26).

• Priority is given to students attending UNCF-member institution or other four-year HBCUs.

Program #3: General Undergraduate and Graduate Student Aid 

• Student or custodial/contributing parent(s)/guardian(s) living in a wildfire-impacted area and who has suffered a loss.

• No financial need required, but FAFSA completion (2024-25 or 2025-26) is necessary.

• Must be currently enrolled in good academic standing or admitted for fall 2025 enrollment at any accredited four-year college or university.

Additional Information 

• Students with no financial need are still eligible as long as they complete the FAFSA (2024-25 or 2025-26).

• No cap on the amount of financial assistance requested.

• UNCF will provide resources to help students navigate institutional emergency aid programs.

• Any unexpended funds will go to UNCF’s general disaster relief fund.

For more information on eligibility, the application process, and how to apply, click here.

To donate to UNCF’s Los Angeles Area Wildfire Relief Fund, click here.

By Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose

My grandparents, despite many barriers, worked, saved, and eventually bought a house. My grandfather was forced to drop out of school in the fifth grade to work and help care for his younger siblings. But their determination to own a home, a dream shared by many in their generation, was unwavering. Families worked, prayed, and, like my grandparents, many others managed to turn their dreams into reality and own a home.

Today, too many Black families and individuals have the means to purchase homes but are discouraged by the limited inventory and high interest rates. I understand their frustration: they defeat the odds and get approved for a loan, only to discover that there are few homes on the market and none that meet their specific needs. For too many Black consumers, that has been a signal to back off, and they get stuck at that point.

At the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), we refuse to stand idly by as our community faces challenges in homebuying. My grandparents, despite having only limited formal schooling, owned a home. This is the kind of inspiration NAREB aims to instill today, especially among Black millennials. We’re here for the 1.75 million of them who earn over $100,000 a year but haven’t yet bought a home.

Our community needs to understand the significance of homeownership in wealth building. It’s much more than just a place to live. It’s also the best way to save for retirement, the most effective savings plan you can set up, and the most efficient way to pay for your children’s college education. If you want to start a business, the equity in your home is a quick way to become an entrepreneur. These are the many financial benefits that homeownership can bring, and it’s crucial for our community to be aware of them.

Yes, buying a home is more complicated than it was four years ago. However, it remains just as vital as it was 60 years ago. That’s why NAREB isn’t a passive observer. We are on an active mission to increase homeownership in Black communities. We are here to support the Black community, and we believe that with the right resources and knowledge, homeownership is within reach for families and individuals in our community.

On April 12, 2025, NAREB will present its second annual National Building Black Wealth Day in 100 cities nationwide. Seminars, workshops, and one-on-one sessions will empower communities with steps towards homeownership, property investment, starting a business, and other wealth-building opportunities. Among the workshops are:

• What to do with Big Momma’s House?
• ABCs of Homebuying
• Real Estate Investing
• Down Payment Assistance
• Explore Careers in Real Estate
• Free Career Fair
• Free Health Screenings
• One-On-Ones with Real Estate Attorneys
• One-on-Ones with Housing Counselors

To register for the local events around the country, visit www.narebblackwealthtour.com. There will also be virtual sessions. To register for the virtual sessions on Zoom, click HERE.

The Wealth Tour is designed to provide guidance on how to start the journey towards homeownership for those who need assistance. But we are also there for those with the financial means to buy a home but haven’t taken the leap. We are also reaching out to these Black consumers. Our partners in the Wealth Tour, including organizations like the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities, help us connect with this demographic. It’s our biggest challenge.

We teach people how to improve their credit scores, explain how to obtain renovation loans, and help them assess their housing needs. But changing the mindset? Convincing them of the importance of homeownership is the real challenge.

However, our partners step up and lend a hand. We collaborate with the National Baptist Convention and the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities. Many of their members are millennials, the target audience we aim to reach. Our partners are providing platforms for us to connect with demographics that have the means to be homeowners.

Often, millennials don’t realize the pain and struggle that their parents or grandparents endured in their quest for homeownership. They remain unaware of issues like redlining or government programs that discriminated against Black individuals, such as the GI Bill and the Federal Housing Administration. Additionally, with owner-financed notes, there was the pressure that a missing or late payment could jeopardize the sale, risk your investment, or lead to eviction.

These struggles are often overlooked by younger generations. We want them to understand the past and open their eyes to the future. High-homeownership communities are locations where they and their families can thrive. That’s the reality NAREB strives to create.

Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose is a developer in Houston and President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

By Lou Coleman

Standing at the edge of a vast ocean. The waves crash against the shore, each one unique, each one a testament to the power and majesty of the Creator. The ocean is vast, its depths unknown, its breadth immeasurable. It is both beautiful and terrifying, a source of life and a force of nature.

Well, our lives are like this ocean. Each day, we stand at the edge of the unknown, faced with choices that shape the course of our lives. Each choice is like a wave, unique and powerful, capable of carrying us closer to our destination or pulling us further away.

The question before you, then, is this: Will you choose to ride the waves of God’s will, allowing Him to guide you and direct you? Or will you choose to fight against the current, to go your own way and chart your own course?

Think long and hard. This is not a decision to be made lightly. It’s not a decision to be made once and then forgotten. It’s a decision that needs to be made daily, hourly, even moment by moment. It’s a decision that will shape your life, your relationship, your future. It is the most important decision you will ever make in your life because it will determine how you will live your life; how you will die; and where you will spend eternity.

You know French theologian and poet Alain de Lille said, “All roads lead to Rome.” Well, all roads may lead to Rome, but not to Heaven. Jesus tells us there are two roads, two ways. There is God’s way, the narrow road which has only one lane and leads to life, Heaven above, and then there is the broad road, which has many roads which leads to destruction, Hell below. Jesus makes it clear that you must choose which road you are going to travel.

God has given you the choice! Life or death, blessings or cursing’s. [Deuteronomy 30]. What’s it gonna be?

Adam and Eve Chose Death, [Genesis 30].

Annanias and Saphirra Chose Death, [Acts 5].

The Rich Man Chose Death, [Luke 16] … BUT

Lazarus Chose Life. Abraham Chose Life. Paul Chose Life, Peter Chose Life, Nathaniel Chose life! Which way will you chose?

Remember, there are two prospects: “Life” or “Death.” There are two paths: The “broad road” that leads to Hell, and the “narrow road” that leads to Heaven. Which will it be? Choose consciously and intentionally. Eternity has but two ways. Eternity with God in Heaven or eternity with the Devil in Hell. Today is a matter of decision making.

Consider your response in light of your life, which road will you choose? Where will you end up when you leave this world? Where’s your road taking you? Will it be Heaven or will it be Hell? Will it be the narrow road of walking with God or the broad road of anything goes?

Jesus says, “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.” [John 10:9]. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. [Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24].

God in all ages has shown man the way of salvation, [John.3:16–17] but man has always chosen for himself his own choice of way. [Genesis 3:1-6].

Imagine If You Will!

Dr. Calvin Mackie, Founder and CEO of STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action, has been named the recipient of Tulane University’s Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The honor was presented at the Albert Lepage Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards Gala, held at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. The award recognizes individuals whose entrepreneurial efforts have made a significant and lasting impact on their communities.

Dr. Mackie was honored for his trailblazing work in transforming STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and creating pathways for students in underserved communities. His contributions have been instrumental in bridging the diversity gap in STEM fields and providing young students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

Along with Dr. Mackie, restaurateurs Emily and Alon Shaya were also celebrated at the event as Entrepreneurs of the Year for their innovative contributions to the restaurant industry. The gala, an annual event presented by Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, celebrated the transformative power of entrepreneurship in New Orleans and beyond.

A Vision to Change Lives

Dr. Mackie, alongside his wife Tracy Mackie, a registered pharmacist, founded STEM NOLA in 2013 with the goal of inspiring young students to pursue STEM careers. Since its inception, STEM NOLA has expanded nationally through STEM Global Action, reaching over 200,000 students across the United States. The organization’s hands-on STEM programs help students develop critical skills, gain confidence, and ignite a passion for learning. In 2024 alone, STEM NOLA engaged 40,961 students in 14 states and 36 cities, offering programs such as STEM Fests, STEM Saturdays, Tech Camps, and the STEM Fellows program.

“We want to make STEM part of every child’s life,” Dr. Mackie said. “Our dream is a future where a million kids engage in STEM every Saturday, after school, and every weekend. These kids will grow up believing they can change the world and become the next generation of innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs.”

Why Dr. Mackie’s Work Matters

Dr. Mackie’s efforts directly address the lack of diversity in STEM fields, especially among underrepresented groups. Through STEM NOLA, students are exposed to high-demand fields such as technology, healthcare, and engineering—industries that offer high-paying, high-growth opportunities. By equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in these fields, STEM NOLA | STEM Global Action helps build a robust pipeline of talent to meet future workforce needs.

Impressive Growth and Impact

• Over 200,000 students engaged since 2013
• 40,961 students engaged in 2024 across 14 states and 36 cities
• STEM NOLA | Global Action provides free and low-cost STEM programs to thousands of families
• Large-scale hands-on programs like STEM Fests and STEM Saturdays bring together students for engaging STEM activities
• Volunteer STEM mentors, including college students and STEM professionals, amplify the organization’s outreach and impact

Breaking Barriers and Building Futures

Dr. Mackie’s leadership is breaking down barriers and creating inclusive programs that are culturally relevant for students of all backgrounds. By introducing STEM to children as young as four, STEM NOLA ensures that STEM education becomes an integral part of their lives. This early exposure lays a strong foundation for future academic and career success.

VIDEO Introduction of Dr. Calvin Mackie 2025 Social Entrepreneur of The Year

Dr. Mackie’s programs challenge the status quo by providing opportunities for those historically underrepresented in STEM fields. His work is empowering students to pursue careers in these high-demand sectors, while transforming the landscape of STEM education.

Looking to the Future

Dr. Mackie envisions a future where millions of students engage in STEM activities every weekend, equipped with the tools to shape their futures and transform the world. Beyond teaching technical skills, his work is about empowering students to dream big and become the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

With chronic absenteeism and low performance among students nationwide, a growing number of educators are reshaping the school day — and what it means to be a successful graduate.

By Selen Ozturk

A growing number of educators are reshaping the school day — and what it means to be a successful graduate.

In the face of chronic absenteeism and low performance among students nationwide, these initiatives include a restructuring of yearly credit hours, or Carnegie units — developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 1906 — to include career goal-based learning, work experience internships and early college classes.

“One of the positive things that came out of the pandemic is that everybody wanted to get back to school … then we saw chronic absenteeism rates reach record levels,” said Louis Freedberg, former editor of EdSource and current executive producer of education reform podcast Sparking Equity, at a Friday, April 4 American Community Media briefing.

“This reinforced that our current learning opportunities are not sufficient for young people to get up every morning and want to go to school,” he added.

In the 2021-22 school year, 29.7% of U.S. students — nearly 14.7 million — were chronically absent, compared with 16% in 2019, before the pandemic; in 2022-2023, 27.9% were chronically absent.

The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the “nation’s report card”, also saw that for the first time, a third of eighth grade students scored below “basic” in reading levels, being 5 points lower on average compared to 2019; math scores were 8 points lower compared to 2019.

“Keeping kids engaged in school presents a crisis for all forms of education,” said Freedberg. “The notion that we should shoehorn learning into these six-hour daily bites doesn’t work for all kids.”

“Many other skills may be more important for how students succeed in the workplace and in life after they graduate, like critical thinking, being able to work collaboratively or independently, being able to stick with a task,” he continued, adding that many states are now “figuring out how to measure these durable skills.”

In Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, the same Carnegie Foundation that had developed credit hours nearly 120 years ago is now working with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to create pilot projects testing students’ skills.

Last October, for instance, North Carolina was awarded nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Education to pilot a Skills for the Future assessment project.

North Carolina, alongside at least 16 other states, are also outlining these skill goals in “graduate portraits” that are influencing education policies across the country’s school districts.

“This is something that’s definitely picking up steam across the country,” said Freedberg: “What do we want our graduates to leave school with? Not just whether you got A’s or B’s, but broader descriptions of a variety of skills” including networking abilities, communication, cultural competence, civic engagement and conflict navigation.

“When modern public schools were started, Carnegie developed credit units to fuel the workforce. But in order for people to be really good workers, they need to be well-rounded,” said Shalonda Gregory, principal of Metwest High in Oakland, California — a non-traditional school which has implemented this skills-based models through Big Picture Learning (BPL).

BPL, a network of over 140 schools nationwide and over 100 more worldwide, encourages students to learn skills for the careers they want through field internships and mentorships up to two days a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays at Metwest — alongside core curriculum classes the rest of the school week.

Every student entering ninth grade at Metwest creates an Individual Learning Plan with actionable goals not only for “careers or education beyond high school, but also for who the person is that you want to be, how you want to show up in this world,” Gregory explained.

“If a student is really interested in wanting to become an architect, even in

standard classes like English, math and science, for instance, we try to find ways to engage them by connecting the content to that interest … while also helping them find internships with architect firms,” she continued, “so they’re not just graduating with their diploma but career-ready life skills, and some of our students have graduated with their associate’s degree as well.”

One current graduating senior, Johnny, “is really passionate about skateboarding. He’s been interning at a skateboard shop, and in prior years, at auto shops, doing collision repairs and regular fixes,” Gregory explained. “Because of those opportunities he’s going to work at the skateboard shop in May, and work on cars as a side hustle to fuel his future.”

Although Metwest is only 23 years old, its work-based educational approach — also known as Linked Learning — have already spurred similar initiatives across the Oakland Unified School District, including internship programs, pre-college support and a year-long graduate capstone program.

“High school is not the end game,” said Anne Stanton, president of the Linked Learning Alliance (LLA). “In the very recent past, we had a very bifurcated ’50s model where students were sorted into vocational or college tracks … but young people at this period in their lives, as their brains are continuing to develop, can contribute in so many ways, and in our country, we think a lot less of what a 16-year-old can do than we should.”

In California alone, the San Francisco-based LLA is implementing work-based learning initiatives in 80 school districts and 250 schools serving 330,000 youth statewide thanks to $500 million that the state legislature invested in Golden State Pathways, a college and career readiness program.

Across its total 977 school districts, California has approximately 5,496,271 students.

“We’d like to get 600,000 young people in California having these experiences,” said Stanton. “But for young people to apply their academic learning in the real world requires a deeper engagement in that social contract by the employers providing these opportunities.”

“Even school district superintendents often turn over every two years,” she continued. “It’s about who owns this vision of engaging youth. If it’s owned by students, families, communities, employers, you can’t break it down, no matter who the leadership is.

“The core of our work to support young people in the real world requires that it’s never just one teacher or one part of their lives doing it,” she added.

MORENO VALLEY, CA— The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness announces an African American Tea for the Soul. In this supportive environment, Black women can explore essential practices of self-care, mental health, wellness, and healing. The Tea is Sunday, May 4, 2025, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at CrossWord Church, 21401 Box Springs Road, Moreno Valley, CA. Doors will open at 2:30 PM, and dinner will be served at 3:15 PM.

Sharron Lewis, the Behavioral Health Committee chair, said, “The highlight of the afternoon will be renowned guest speaker Jewel Diamond Taylor, affectionately known as ‘The Self-Esteem Dr.’ Jewel has been a leading motivational speaker since 1984, empowering millions with her holistic approach to faith, culture, psychology, emotional well-being, and personal success.”

As the author of bestselling titles such as Success Gems and ShiFt Happens, Jewel utilizes humor and storytelling to encourage resilience and inner peace among her audience. In addition to receiving an honorary doctorate in divinity in 2019, she also garnered an Emmy Award in 2021 for her work on a documentary about race relations in Norway.

This event is sponsored by the Coalition for Black Health and Wellness, Behavioral Health Committee, Riverside Community Health Foundation, and Dameron Communications in collaboration with CrossWord Church.

Empower You Edutainment provides entertainment for the event. Upon arrival, participants will be welcomed by African drumming. The entertainment also includes spoken word performances, a live band, storytelling, participatory dancing, a theatrical presentation, and dancers.

“Join us for an inspiring afternoon of growth, connection, and empowerment as we support the mental and emotional well-being of Black women in our community.  You don’t want to miss Jewel Diamond Taylor, who brings her transformative message from stages across the globe, sharing strategies for overcoming self-doubt and building confidence,” said Lewis.

Space is limited for this sponsored opportunity, so we encourage everyone to save their spot at https://bit.ly/tea4thesoul25?r=qr.

The Coalition for Black Health and Wellness Behavioral Health Committee members are Sharron Lewis, Chair; Phyllis Clark, Dr. Carolyn Murray, and Shor Denny.

For more information or to become a vendor, text Sharron Lewis at 213-359-8639.  For more information on Jewel Diamond Taylor, go to https://jeweldiamondtaylor.com/