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Monday, August 3 is the first day of the 2020–2021 school year for San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) students.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, SBCUSD made the decision back in June to start the school year in a distance learning model. In a recent video address, Interim Superintendent Dr. Harold Vollkommer explained some of the changes facing families as the school year starts and what to expect from the District moving forward.

New SBCUSD students who do not have an electronic device should contact their school directly. If a District-provided device is not working, call the CyberTech technical support hotline daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at (866) 223-8685 or email studenttechhelp@sbcusd.com so students are ready for the new school year.

Students will be expected to participate in distance learning classes every day. Teachers will be taking attendance and grading both classwork and homework. Distance learning will be a factor in each student’s final grade for the year. Parents who have not already been contacted about the specific hours of their child’s distance learning class should contact their child’s school directly.

The majority of District staff are working from home, but parents and guardians can still connect with their child’s school by leaving a phone message or emailing staff using the link on the school’s webpage. Staff will return phone calls and emails as quickly as possible. Families of Special Education students are also encouraged to reach out via email if they have any questions or concerns. Email address links are available on the Special Education Department’s webpage. The District has also set up an Enrollment Hotline, (909) 891-1010, specifically to address questions about online student enrollment.

Families can check their child’s class schedule and more via the Aeries platform. Parents are strongly encouraged to create an Aeries Parent Portal account by visiting sbcusd.com and selecting Aeries Parent/Student Portal under Parent Resources. The Parent Portal allows parents and guardians to keep track of student attendance and academic progress. The District is aware that the unprecedented need to access the system has caused some technical issues, and it is working to improve access.

Recognizing that families are dealing with much more than just a change in school, the District continues to offer additional support for students and parents, sometimes in partnership with community organizations. Hazel Health provides District students with no-cost, non-emergency telehealth services, including assistance with cold and flu, asthma, prescription medications, and long-term health issues. Families can access medical care for children from a laptop, phone and other devices. Hazel Health does not provide emergency services. Check out the Peachjar flyer for more information or sign up for Hazel Health at http://my.hazel.co/patient/signup.

SBCUSD will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student during the school year as part of the Grab and Go Meal program. The to-go meals are available for pick up Mondays and Wednesdays only from 9 to 11 a.m. Families will need to provide the student’s name and ID number, also known as the lunch number, when picking up meals. Beginning August 3, Chavez Middle School will no longer be a Grab and Go Meal distribution site, but meals will continue to be distributed at 15 other school sites. Questions and concerns about the Grab and Go Meals can be directed to (909) 381-1224.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—– On Friday, July 17, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored two of the 2020 California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship Recipients. Now in its 6^th year, the foundation received 1,266 scholarship applications this year throughout California, awarding 52 recipients a $5,000 scholarship each.

The program was established to assist deserving students by offering financial assistance to meet educational expenses. Two of the 52 students are from the 47^th Assembly District. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship, recognition from the California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation and recognition from Assemblymember Reyes.

This year’s scholarships from the 47^th Assembly District were awarded to Carla Castillo from Rialto and Katherine Rodriguez from Fontana.  Both Carla and Katherine are part of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and have excelled in their educational endeavors.

“With so many applicants, it is always a difficult choice to select the finalists.  We have many worthy students in our District.  These $5,000 competitive scholarships are essential to help our students thrive in higher education,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Congratulations Carla and Katherine for being selected. The community is proud of who you are and who you will become.  You are both extraordinary examples of the greatness of our Inland Empire Community.”

Carla Castillo, Rialto

A fourth-year student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Carla Castillo is studying International Marketing. She has been involved in the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Womxn’s Resource Center, and has presented to the Cal Poly Pomona’s University President’s Cabinet Leadership Council about the undocumented experience.

During her four years at Cal Poly, Carla has advocated for various communities on campus and held various leadership positions. She is an inaugural Associated Students, Incorporated (ASI) Officer of Diversity and Inclusion representing undocumented students and currently sits on five university-wide committees including: the Transportation Advisory Committee, Search Committee for the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships and Strategic Communications and the Campus Definitions Committee for the CPP Inclusive Excellence Council.

As an undocumented student, Carla has struggled financially due to lack of scholarship opportunities.  The CLLCF Scholarship will alleviate her financial situation and help her focus on academics, civic engagement and professional development.

“With this scholarship, I am able to continue towards the completion of my degree and show to my community that with hard work and support from organizations such as CLLCF, our dreams can cross borders,” said Carla.

Katherine Rodriguez, Fontana

Katherine Rodriguez was 13 years old when she found out about her undocumented status. Since that day, she knew her goal to obtain a future education would be difficult, but that did not stop her from pursuing her dreams.

A recent A.B Miller High School graduate, Katherine was an active member of AVID, Health Service Academy, Science Club and Key Club, while also taking several Advanced Placement (AP) classes and competing on the schools Cheer Team. She also kept active in her city by volunteering at the Fontana Public Works Department to beautify the local parks.

Katherine will be attending California State University of San Bernardino this fall with a major in Sociology with a final goal to be a Dermatologist.

“Thank you to the California Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation and Assemblymember Eloise Reyes for this opportunity,” said Katherine. “School is incredibly important to me and receiving this scholarship is a step closer to my career goals. I want the American Dream opportunity, where I am able to show my biggest potentials to the world.”

For more information on the complete scholarship requirements and details, go to the Foundation’s website at www.CLLCF.org

LOMA LINDA, CA—- The City of Loma Linda in partnership with Mary Erickson Community Housing is selling four homes in the prestigious city. The estimated mortgage of $176,000 is based on a household size of four and other qualifications.  Due to high demand, all applications must be submitted by July 20th 5PM PST, 2020.

These three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,290 square foot homes are built to high construction standards designed for comfortable living including: granite counter tops in the kitchens and bathrooms. Soft close cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms, beautiful LED lighting, a two-car garage with dual garage door openers, ADA adaptable, energy efficient, solar ready and front yard landscaping.

The average price for a home in The City of Loma Linda is $477,000.

“We built these homes to support our Veteran first time home buyers.  We have two VA Hospitals in Loma Linda and the City of Loma Linda understands Veterans’ housing needs.  This initiative offers Vets a chance to be homeowners,” said Loma Linda City Manager, T. Jarb Thaipejr.

All income qualifying first time homebuyers are welcome to apply with preference given to U.S. Veterans or active-duty military.  

“This development is made possible by the generosity of CIT who provided the lead capital contributions that allowed this project to move forward.  We applaud the vision and commitment that CIT has for first time, low income homebuyer and Veteran opportunities in the Inland Empire,” said Susan McDevitt, executive director for Mary Erickson Community Housing.

The grants from Wells Fargo Foundation and CIT help to build new homes for sale to deserving families with a preference for US Veterans in a market with housing prices well above what low income families can afford.

MECH is also collaborating with Neighborhood Housing Services Inland Empire (NHSIE) for homebuyer education, down payment assistance and realty services.  Another non-profit GRID Alternatives will offer no cost solar panels.

The generosity and collaboration from all our partners, the City of Loma Linda, CIT, Wells Fargo Foundation, Citi Bank, USAA and our non-profit partners will make the dream of homeownership come true for four deserving first time homebuyers. We are grateful and proud of this accomplishment.” said Susan McDevitt.

“Wells Fargo is committed to the importance of home for everyone in our nation—especially veterans and their families,” said Region Bank President Alice Juarez, who leads the company’s Community Banking teams in San Bernardino County.  “Having a safe, healthy and affordable place to call home is essential to help lay the foundation for wellness, dignity and economic opportunity.”

In addition to financial support from Wells Fargo Foundation, local Wells Fargo employees contributed 120 volunteer hours to help complete the project. “Our teams are part of the fabric of this community, and proudly invested some of their own sweat equity to help these four families purchase their first home,” said Juarez. “A new home means a fresh start and a place to make new memories, and we are honored to help make that possible.”

The low home payment is available because of Down Payment Assistance options up to $154,000 including soft mortgages from the City, CalHOME and/or WISH available to qualified homebuyers.

Loma Linda’s Down Payment Assistance, is based on need, is zero interest, the buyer makes no payments on this, and is due in full in year 30.  CalHOME Down Payment Assistance based on need is 3% simple interest, the buyer makes no payments on this, and is due in full in year 30.  WISH funds are based on need and forgivable in five years.
For a tour or more info call Fabian Casarez, NHSIE Realty 951-377-7152 or go to www.nhsie.org.

It’s with deep sadness Reverend Dr. Rose Nelson announces the passing of her husband Reverend Dr. Jules Nelson, the Senior Pastor of New Vision Foursquare church. He passed on July 3, 2020. The bereaved family is requesting continued prayers of comfort. Funeral Arrangements will be announced soon. 

Yusef Tahiru was an explorer. An adventurer. A traveler and collector of experiences who loved humankind and built a community everywhere he went.

He grabbed a passport, secured a visa, and lived overseas as soon as he was able — quietly but forcefully using his gifts to live out an enduring truth: the idea that few things match the power of creating and nurturing connections. He dreamt of setting foot on new worlds, but never left the roles that mean the most on this one: loving son, brother, cousin, friend, mentor, teacher, teammate, motivator, and confidant.

Yusef — son of Abdur and Evelyn Tahiru, brother of Zachari — departed this life on July 5, 2020 in Vietnam. Born in Bellflower, California on May 9, 1991, and raised in Corona, Yusef’s childhood was spent cultivating the deep curiosity and championship-level athleticism that brought him joy throughout his life. He could often be found riding his bike around the neighborhood or playing basketball and soccer with his brother and friends. He enjoyed taking things apart to see if he could put them together again — often with mixed results.

A voracious reader whose eyes were never far from the pages of a book, Yusef was a thinker whose thirst for knowledge and love for culture would never be contained. He could not resist good music, enjoyed anime and was fascinated by movies and television shows about science and animals.

He was a seeker of God who was raised in the church — attending Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ in his early years and Greater Victory Church of God in Christ as an adult.

Yusef excelled in the classroom, graduating in 2009 from Santiago High School — where he ran track all four years and cemented his love of athletics, including soccer, which he began playing before he entered kindergarten. He continued his track and field career at Riverside Community College — where he ran the 800 meters and was a member of the 2010 state championship team. In 2011, Yusef transferred to Cal State San Marcos, joining the track team and choosing a major that combined his passion for athletics with his devotion to helping people. He described the decision in his senior project:

“Kinesiology is my passion and it has been since I began playing soccer at the tender young age of 4 years old. Sports have been a major part of my life ever since the second I touched the soccer ball and my interest in sports only expanded as I grew older to include football and most recently in my life track and field.”

Yusef graduated in 2015 with a degree in kinesiology and exercise science. After practicing as a physical therapist, he set out for Vietnam to become an English teacher and start seeing the world. Yusef excelled in every aspect of his life there: claiming first prize in 5K runs, leading teams to victory in soccer tournaments, and being named Teacher of the Year. He fulfilled his love for going fast — which many will remember from the passenger seat in his Mazda 3 — on the motorbike he loved to race through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.   

He accomplished so much on his own in 29 years, but Yusef had a talent for bringing people together. Everyone he encountered was drawn to his encouraging attitude, signature smile and incomparable laugh. He always had an empathetic ear ready to listen, a joke for those in need of a laugh, and wisdom to share with anyone who needed clarity and guidance. He inspired all who knew him — a man whose light shone brightest in the fulfillment he found in helping others. There is no higher calling in life, and no better way to live.

Yusef was preceded in death by his father, Abdur. He is survived by his mother, Evelyn, and brother, Zachari, Godparents Ida and George Martin Aunt Beverly, Uncle Sidney(Hazel),Uncle Myles and Uncle Byron(Regina) and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.  A private funeral service will be held on July 22 at Greater Victory Church of God in Christ. In lieu of donations to the family, his survivors ask for seed contributions to a scholarship fund that has been established in his name. The Yusef Tahiru Scholarship Fund can be found at https://gf.me/u/yfw95h

A well-known face at the West Valley Water District’s Board meetings, Don Griggs served with honor and integrity as the President of the West Valley Water District Ratepayers Association and Westside Action Group. In addition to his work in the water industry, for 40 years he fought to improve the political and economic condition of Black Americans across the county. Ultimately, his leadership and tenacity for civil rights and equity led to improvements and victories for every resident. His life and legacy of leadership, service and most of all, friendship, will be missed by all.

San Bernardino County Fire Department donates a fire engine as part of an ongoing relationship with the College

YUCAIPA, CA—- Crafton Hills College Regional Fire Academy is the recipient of the donation of a Wildland Type III fire engine from the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The program currently holds two full-time fire academies per year, and the donation of the fire engine will benefit students directly. An integral part of the Fire Academy curriculum is the emphasis placed on wildland firefighting operations.

With a fire engine of this type on site, students will more effectively learn the various manipulative hose evolutions that are required in the curriculum. 

“This generous donation will greatly improve our program as well as bringing industry consistency to the students during their time in the academy,” said Michael Alder, chief of the CHC Fire Academy.

“It is ironic that this particular fire engine was one that I had actually helped develop and build while heading up our apparatus committee with the San Bernardino City Fire Department so I’m very familiar with this fire engine.” 

The apparatus is a 1999 International / Pierce Type III Brush Engine which served the San Bernardino Area for more than 20 years. The four-wheel drive engine carries 500 gallons of water, pumps 500 GPM & has the ability to “pump and roll” which is crucial for wildland firefighting. Besides the engine, it comes with a full wildland compliment of gear consistent with industry standards.  

“With fire season longer, hotter and more than intense than ever before, this engine will be a great addition to their training fleet,” said Michael McClintock, Battalion 7, Division 4.

“California crews are truly ‘all risk’ and remain busy year around. CHC does a fantastic job with getting academy graduates ready for the work force.” 

The relationship between the Fire Technology program at Crafton Hills College and the Fire Department is a rich partnership. More than 100 SBCOFD firefighters have completed CHC Fire Academy, including McClintock. The Fire Academies at CHC are an integral part of San Bernardino County’s “Cradle to Career” program, providing educational training and tracks to a career. Additionally, many instructors are current or retired firefighters from the Department. 

“On behalf of our long running program as well as the Crafton Hills College and the San Bernardino Community College District, I would like to thank the San Bernardino County Fire Department for this great donation and all of the support that they have provided us throughout the years,” said Alder.

“We truly value our great working relationship and the positive impact it has on our communities.” Previously the Fire Department has donated two other Type I fire engines as well as a “Rescue Squad.” 

For more information about Crafton Hills College Fire Technology program, visit  https://www.craftonhills.edu/academic-and-career-programs/divs-and-depts/career-ed-and-human-dev/public-safety-and-services/fire-technology/. 

With COVID-19, businesses have started to scale back a little on their advertising and marketing and other businesses have started to market more within the Black and Brown communities due to the rising social justice issues. It is all about being creative in your marketing approach and screenwriter and playwright, T’ana Phelice is helping businesses get some exposure through her latest film, T. Alexander.

T Alexander is a 30-minute short film about a beloved basketball talent, Tosha Alexander, who lost her basketball scholarship after deciding to move forward with an unplanned pregnancy. Prior to becoming a mother at the age of 17, she was the family’s golden child. Although her mother often speaks of Tosha’s life being ruined, and her sister urges her to make fast money by using her good looks, Tosha is determined to become an actress, a second dream she hasn’t given up on. Her boyfriend Damien works at the local grocery store to support everyone in the household,  but Tosha’s family refuses to respect him.

This film will be a testament to the power of having a positive self image. It will document the struggle of being a young parent while also defying the belief that black men do not honor black women. Voice-overs will be used to set a poetic theme, and allow viewers into the mind of the protagonist as she experiences emotional roller coasters throughout her journey.

The story will not be polished with glamour or cliche’ interactions between its characters. It will be raw and true to the grit that’s paired with anguish, jealousy, substance abuse, illness, resentment, unfulfillment, loss, hustle, setbacks, disagreement, disappointments, ruthlessness, sadness, frustration, heartbreak, confusion, mistakes, choices, and ultimately a small win that pays off the latter.

The ultimate goal is to inspire. The film will accomplish that by demonstrating the odds our young woman is able to move in her favor.

The producer of T Alexander will distribute the motion picture to film festivals, and AmazonPrime. Due to a recent theatrical success tied to the writer, director, and co director, business relationships have been formed to secure the release of the film to the public. To enable wider distribution, we will also place the films promotional materials on public platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Product and/or business will be featured in the film. Business name, brand, and/or product will be showcased in the film by being a visual element in a particular scene. Example; if the sponsor would like business featured, the business, including business name, will be a focal point of a scene. Example two; if the sponsor would like product featured, the product will be seen or used in a scene in the film. Product will also be a focal point. Sponsors/businesses will also be included in the films closing credits.

For those that are interested, please contact T’ana Phelice at Mstanaphelice@gmail.com or at 323-327-9208.

$5 million fundraising goal and an innovative model of philanthropy

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Thanks to the long-standing leadership of Black-led organizations and the power of the cross-racial coalitions they have built, we are seeing tremendous advancements in racial equity in the United States and globally. Countless government agencies, corporations, and foundations have, in a matter of weeks, redoubled their commitments to racial equity and combating anti-Black racism.

Black-led organizations (BLOs) in the Inland Empire are an important part of this story. Capitalizing on decades of patient work and incremental wins to advance racial equity, BLOs in the Inland Empire have scored some significant policy victories in recent weeks. These include getting San Bernardino County as the first in California to declare racism a public health crisis, replicating these victories in several other cities in Southern California, and getting San Bernardino County to include equity as a standalone element in its Countywide Vision.

Continuing in that tradition, the Inland Empire Funders Alliance (IEFA) is proud to partner with the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire in launching the Black Equity Fund—a regional pooled fund with a preliminary goal of raising $5 million over two years and updated thereafter to support long-term investments in Black-led organizations. The Black Equity Fund is being seeded with investments from The California Endowment and the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and has already garnered interest from several foundations and private donors.

The IE Black Equity Fund is the first known regional pooled fund on Black equity that brings together statewide, regional and local funders as well as private donors and corporate philanthropy, working in partnership with leaders of the Inland Empire Black Equity Initiative to advance their priority issues. 

An important innovation of the IE Black Equity Fund is to follow the guiding principles of theTrust-Based Philanthropy Project, which recognizes “the inherent power imbalance between foundations and nonprofits” and approaches grantee relationships “from a place of trust, humility and transparency.” Partners in the regional fund pledge to: 1) give multi-year, unrestricted funding; 2) center IE Black Equity Initiative leaders in decision-making; 3) simplify and streamline paperwork; 4) be transparent and responsive; and 5) offer support beyond the check by participating in peer learning with IE Black Equity Initiative leaders to improve Black equity in funders’ overall grantmaking practice.

Organizers of the Black Equity Fund—including the Inland Empire Funders Alliance, IE Black Equity Initiative, Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the Center for Social Innovation—noted the importance of seizing the moment, and doing so in a way that fundamentally alters power relationships in philanthropy and empowers Black community leaders as much as possible.

 “The Black Equity Fund is being developed through an iterative process based in equity whereby those most impacted and closest to the problems and conditions we need to change are driving the strategy and decision making process.  It’s in those lived experiences where generative and relevant solutions are birthed,” said Margarita Luna, Senior Program Manager at The California Endowment and vice-chair of the Inland Empire Funders Alliance.  

Dina Walker, President & CEO of BLU Educational Foundation noted another innovative aspect of the partnership: “The Black Equity Initiative is a collective impact model with a cultural lens centered on the principles of Kwanzaa,” she noted. “This includes self determination, collective work, and responsibility. It is from this foundation that we work together to create the vision, develop strategy. work the plan and ultimately reap the harvest. We trust and move forward together knowing that our success is intrinsically tied to the success of each other.  This is how we meet the needs and dreams of our community.”

Felicia Jones, Associate Director at Congregations United for Prophetic Engagement, noted that Black led organizations have a powerful track record for leading equity work in the Inland Empire. “Groups began to formally collaborate on issues of educational equity more than a decade ago, moving important reforms in school districts throughout the region,” she noted. “The collaborative, formerly known as the African American Education Collaborative and later renamed the IE Black Equity Initiative, continued to evolve from a group of 10 to now more than 20 Black led organizations and has expanded its collective work into criminal justice reform, higher education, and civic engagement.”

“There is going to be an intentional need for philanthropy to embrace this moment with us, heal with us, learn with us, and see this as a movement building opportunity,” said Pastor Samuel Casey, Executive Director of Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement. “We cannot have a short attention span when it comes to systemic solutions. We will need long-term, general operating support to ensure that the gains and wins that have been, and will be achieved, are sustained.” 

Michelle Decker, CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation and a co-investor in the Black Equity Fund, underscored the need for funders to repair the damage from decades of underinvestment in Black communities. “We need to come together in a manner that honors the expertise of Black-led organizations,” she noted, adding that “the economic and health challenges of COVID-19, as well as the collective trauma of the killing of Black lives, have shown us that the success of the region will rise or fall based on its progress on racial equity.”

Finally, the Center for Social Innovation led by Professor Karthick Ramakrishnan at UC Riverside is a strategic data partner to both the Black Equity Initiative and the Black Equity Fund. It will provide research support to help motivate, inform, and learn from philanthropic investments in Black-led organizations in the Inland Empire. “The Inland Empire is a center of innovation when it comes to advancing racial equity,” Ramakrishnan noted. “Our communities have come together in even more powerful ways after COVID-19 than they did previously, and we are grateful that our data and narrative work can help strengthen regional investments and support the leadership of Black equity organizations in the region.”

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Riverside Arts Council, Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and Music Changing Lives are excited to announce they have formed a regional arts collaborative, Arts for I.E., with the purpose of bridging arts advocacy, empowerment, and access across the Inland region. 

In 2019, Josiah Bruny, CEO of Music Changing Lives, spearheaded the vision of One Inland Empire, a collective of organizations who together would solve pressing issues across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. When COVID-19 began threatening community access to the arts, demanding immediate virtual adaptations, forcing closures and cancelations of events, reducing staff and resources, he realized the need to unite and advocate for the arts was even more pressing than ever before.

Josiah brainstormed creative strategies with Jennifer Kane, Executive Director of Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County and Patrick Brien, Executive Director of Riverside Arts Council to bring more visibility, resources and partnerships to the IE arts community. Online convenings were the first step, but the group felt more was needed. All three leaders felt a regional approach would be greatly beneficial for the Inland Empire and together the idea of Arts for I.E. was born.

“The arts in the inland region have too often been underrepresented,” said Patrick Brien of the Riverside Arts Council. “We have had collective voices in Riverside County and in San Bernardino County, but never a collective voice that brings the two counties together. With the partnerships we have and that we are continuing to build, this is an exciting time.”

Arts for I.E. is committed the following four initiatives:

1. Advocating for the arts locally and statewide as one voice for the Inland Empire, bringing together businesses, organizations, elected officials, and artists at monthly convenings.
2. Increasing access to the arts for vulnerable and underrepresented populations within the Inland Empire through individual and organizational development and mentorship opportunities.
3. Establishing an art fund to serve diverse arts organizations across the region.
4. Creating an online community engagement forum for IE artists and arts organizations to share resources, programs and services, events and ideas to establish deeper connections within the arts.

“For the first time in history we’ve created a platform for artists and arts organizations across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, to have a voice and the opportunity to be trained and paired with mentors to fast track their efforts to create immediate change and endless opportunities. Which is needed now more than ever for diversity to become achievable, and sustainable,” stated Josiah Bruny.

The Arts for I.E. collaborative is already making headway in the region and has a total of twenty-nine partner organizations on board, with more outreach taking place for artists and arts organizations to join. 

If you would like to join the Arts for I.E. collaborative or would like more information, please contact ArtsforIE@gmail.com.