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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— If you don’t know the name Alberto Marzan, you will in the very near future.  A visionary and innovative entrepreneur, Marzan’s latest transformative venture, AfroLife.TV, the world’s first streaming service with content curated for people of color, launches on Thursday, June 14, 2018. 

The genesis for this revolutionary platform began innocuously.  When Marzan’s family immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic, they settled in Davie, FL, where it was not uncommon to see KKK members riding horses down the street.  His refuge from the outside world was watching television shows, but he found it confusing when he didn’t see a lot of people who looked like him or others in his family.  However, there were a few shows that gave him a feeling of connection—shows like Diff’rent Strokes, The Jeffersons, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  Heck, his father had a sweater just like the one that Uncle Phil wore, but what he saw on the screen was a stark contrast to the community in which he lived.  However, the theme of seeking connectivity would follow him throughout his professional career.

Marzan founded and led a few media and marketing agencies in Minneapolis-St. Paul, partnering with giants with multicultural desires such as Disney, General Mills, and Honeywell.  His tenacity and knack for bringing people together landed him the opportunity to become CEO of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, which not only led him back to the Dominican Republic, but also to directing an initiative to bring life-saving pediatric cardiology centers and physician training to the country.  He later founded the Grand Art Group and produced musical events globally featuring world-class performers.  These experiences opened his heart and inspired his vision to seek a more global way to bring people of color together – sharing culture, values, and the multiple representations of their lives.  He wanted to create a destination where these consumers could call home because people looked like them and the entertainment reflected their beliefs.  That destination manifested as AfroLife.TV. 

With the overwhelming success of films such as Black Panther, Hidden Figures, and Girls Trip, it’s clear that there is a huge group of consumers hungry to devour such content—and studios and other content providers realize it as well.  Sony signed on early to become one of AfroLife’s launch partners and Warner Bros. came with a slate of studio content and a subsidiary, Stage13, which has licensed AfroLife exclusive content.  As CEO and Founder of AfroLife.TV, Marzan emphasizes the scale of the platform, “Through the ecosystem, we’re building a destination for people to connect over content to share experiences globally.”  

Marzan sees the on-demand digital space as a blank canvas, with a plethora of opportunities to showcase the diaspora.  Concludes Marzan, “I get energized when I think about the impact our streaming service will have on the African American community and our viewing audience. Our goal is to empower, educate, and entertain our customers while providing another outlet to content creators and studios to sell and license content.”

AfroLife.TV’s launch will include digital streaming of original, classic, popular, emerging, and independent premium content.   The premiere screening of one of its original series, The Incredible Life of Darrell, will be debuted at the American Black Film Festival on June 15^th at 2pm at the Betsy Hotel.

For more information, visit www.afrolife.tv.  To register for the screening, visit www.afrolife.tv/abff-reg.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- More than 5,000 students, alumni and guests came out for Cal State San Bernardino’s annual end-of-the-year party, Coyote Fest, hosted by the university’s Santos Manual Student Union Program Board on Friday, June 8.

This year’s carnival-themed event took place at the university’s athletic fields, changing its location from the John M. Pfau Library lawn, and allowing for a new and bigger layout for attractions.

Among the featured attractions were three carnival rides, zipline, human foosball, interactive inflatables, caricatures and a student-only body marbling station, to go alongside performances from Mad Mask, DJ Ronnie G, DJ Sky High and DJ Wall-E.

Visit the SMSU Program Board website or follow it on Instagram and Twitter, at @SBProgramBoard for more information on future events.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Mary Texeira, Cal State San Bernardino sociology professor, brought attention to intersectionality and the overwhelming issues of sexual harassment at the Yotie Talks presentation “Exploring Race and Class in the #MeToo Movement” on Thursday, June 7.

Texeira wrote her doctoral dissertation about sexual harassment among women in law enforcement and “has been thinking of these issues for a number of years.” When the #MeToo movement started, she said she was impressed by the celebrities who were stepping forward and telling their stories.

“I’m really encouraged by the way people have been responding to this stuff,” she said, “and I think it’s because of the voices of those powerful women in Hollywood and in Silicon Valley and places like that who have insisted that this stop.”

However, she says there are still many groups whose stories we have yet to hear.

“As Oprah pointed out in her speech at the Oscars,” Texeira said, “there’s a whole group of women … who have been left out of this conversation, and so I want to do my part and call attention to their voices also.”

Texeira pointed out that the further away you are from being a heterosexual, white male, the more vulnerable you become in society.

“The marginalized are the most broken because of their, at least, triple jeopardy of race, class and gender,” she said and mentioned that sexual orientation, gender expression and other factors also come into play, making these people increasingly marginalized.

Texeira highlighted documentaries such as “Rape on the Night Shift,” about women janitors, and “Rape in the Fields,” about agricultural workers.

“These are the women who are voiceless, literally because they don’t speak English,” she said, “but also because they’re making life comfortable for us, stuck out in the fields or stuck in office buildings — somebody cleans this space at night, sometimes all alone here at night, which makes her very, very vulnerable.”

Texeira also shared a story about the sexual harassment occurring in public housing in Baltimore, and the victims, who are predominately underprivileged African-American women, are continually ignored.

According to Texeira, the most important part of the presentation was the topic of toxic masculinity. She quoted Niobe Ways, author of “Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection,” as saying: “We essentially raise boys in a culture that asks them to disconnect from … their desire for relationships and all sorts of things the boys articulate that they want.” Way says that this cycle leads to a culture that accepts lonely, aggressive boys, and puts them in positions of power to perpetuate such abuse against women and other men who are perceived as weaker.

Infamous men tied to sexual assault cases were also discussed, such as Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby and Brock Turner, the Stanford student who served only three months for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, and whose judge, Aaron Persky, notoriously said that any sentence longer than six months would “profoundly affect this young man’s life.”

“Let’s have better consequences, let’s have stronger laws and rules that work,” Texeira said, “I don’t necessarily believe in the whole idea that stronger laws are going to take care of everything, but we have certainly been lax when it comes to domestic violence, rape … we have marginalized women victims and women survivors and we should … move them from the margins to the center.”

Texeira, who has taught introductory sociology, critical thinking and classes on race and gender at CSUSB since 1994, has a doctorate in sociology from the University of California, Riverside. Texeira’s research focuses on social inequality with a focus on race and ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality.

The Yotie Talks series was launched in the 2015-16 academic year by CSUSB’s University Diversity Committee to discuss current issues that are critical to the university, with a goal of creating space for dialogue for the campus community.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA-  Four local Rotary Clubs came together Tuesday, May 8 to honor educators with the Character Education Award, and Pacific High School teacher CJ Eastwood took home the trophy.

“There is a literal trophy,” Rotary President and SBCUSD director Chris Tickell said. “It’s a very large, perpetual trophy that the winner’s school gets to display until next year’s Character Education Awards luncheon.”

Local Rotary clubs established the Character Education Award in 1991 to honor educators whose teaching best exemplifies the virtues of character education in the classroom. The Rotary Club of San Bernardino awards the top finalist a $2,000 honorarium and recognition on the perpetual trophy.

Pacific High Principal Dr. Natalie Raymundo said Character Education winner CJ Eastwood “creates a safe and supportive learning community that encourages students to be involved in the community. Overall, (CJ’s) biggest contribution to character education is helping students understand the impact of their words, actions, and inactions on the school and broader community.”

The Character Education finalists were Benjamin Cervantes, Del Vallejo Middle School; Cara Nelson, Curtis Middle School; and Rebecca Robles, Muscoy Elementary School. Finalists each receive a plaque and a $250 honorarium.

The following San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) educators were also nominated for a 2018 Character Education Award:Catherine Cowles, Kendall Elementary School; Eunice Gutierrez, Gomez Elementary School; and Paul Prado, Holcomb Elementary School.

The Character Education Award luncheon is sponsored by San Bernardino Rotary Club, San Bernardino Rotary Club Crossroads-Loma Linda, San Bernardino Rotary Club North, and San Bernardino Rotary Club Sunset.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA-This 4^thof July, come out and support Young Visionaries at their firework stand by purchasing or volunteering starting Sunday, July 1 to Wednesday, July 4.

 The stand will be located at 306 W Baseline Street in San Bernardino in the parking lot of 7-11 (on the corner of Baseline and Arrowhead).

To volunteer please call (909) 723-1695 or email info@yvyla-ie.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Saturday, June 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at La Placita Park located at 685 N Mt Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino, the Pastors of San Bernardino are having a community block party.

The San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) is inviting the entire community to La Placita Park community block party.  There will be a life-saving message delivered by Dr. Michael Owens of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.  The message is simple, “We are here for you; come unto us if you are heavy laden.”

 The Pastors are working together in unity and solidarity to bring the Gospel message into the streets, trying to save lives. They are taking a united stance against crime in our streets and violence in our schools and community. Come expecting a Holy Ghost party with powerful gospel music, prayer and testimonies about the power of God.

The mayor, city council, law enforcement and other agencies will be in attendance. Bring the children for a special program which will include face painting, gifts and much more!

There will be free food, free groceries, free shoes, free games, popcorn, a TV and prizes to be raffled off. SBPU is expecting the attendance to be in the thousands. Preregister or volunteer at (909) 353-7977 or visit www.sbpastorsunited.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)-LOMA LINDA, CA-– In true first responder fashion, local firefighters came out to lend a helping hand at the annual Tip-A-Firefighter at The Old Spaghetti Factory on Wednesday, May 30.

Firefighters from Loma Linda, Redlands and Colton Fire Departments came out to serve lunch and dinner to guests at the Redlands restaurant. All tips collected by the men and women in uniform were donated to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). 

The event raised more than $4,500, which will go toward Vision 2020 – The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow, and the construction of the new Children’s Hospital tower.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Redlands has successfully hosted the annual event for the last seven years, raising nearly $40,000 for LLUCH.

Scott Perryman, MBA, senior vice president/administrator, for the hospital had the pleasure of dining at the restaurant with his family and was served by local first responders.

“These men and women already do so much for our community,” Perryman said, “and to see them come out and do this for our kids reinforces their reputation of heroism. I am truly thankful for their service.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- SAN BERNARDINO, CA- From twin sister valedictorians who have had nearly every class together since kindergarten to a self-driven Latina who was once afraid to speak English and now plans to become a lawyer, San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Class of 2018 has produced many stellar graduates.

There’s Jalen Stevenson, who is making history not because he’s among nine Cajon High School seniors graduating at the top of their class.  Jalen, 17, is the only African-American valedictorian at Cajon High and the District this year.

A native of San Bernardino who attended North Park Elementary and Richardson PREP HI Middle School, Jalen is the first in his family to go to college.  He is headed to UCLA to study psychology, with plans to be a psychiatrist or marriage and family therapist.  Although Jalen never set out to be valedictorian, the achievement has empowered him to be a role model for younger students.

“Humbly speaking, I do feel I am a role model for young African-American males,” said Jalen, who was accepted to nearly every college where he applied.  “I’m a testament to the potential of our city.  The students like me, who graduate from high schools in San Bernardino amid struggles and tribulations, we worked so much harder to earn our diplomas.”

Jalen hopes to return to San Bernardino often while at UCLA to motivate students to work hard for their goals.

UCLA is also where fraternal twins Claire and Caitlin Todd, 18, will go to college this fall, the first time in many years they won’t share the same class schedule.  Claire, who is older by three minutes, will study political science with hopes of holding elected office, while little sister Caitlin will major in biological science.

Since kindergarten, the Pacific High School valedictorians had all but one class together and are now looking forward to carving out their own identities.  Caitlin dreams of designing cutting-edge prosthetics that she hopes will bring movement and freedom to people like her uncle, who uses a prosthetic leg.

“I learned 3D design in ninth grade, and ever since then I’ve been completely fascinated by all the new advancements in science,” said Caitlin, who hasn’t ruled out going to medical school.  “I want to help people who have lost limbs or were born without limbs.”

Claire wants to improve her community by holding elected office at the local level before pursuing a state seat.

“I’ve always been very interested in politics,” Claire said.  “I like debating with people.”

For Middle College High School valedictorian Britney Nicolas, debating was the furthest thing from her mind.  As a child growing up in a Spanish-speaking home, Britney overcame a speech impediment after years of therapy.  No longer afraid to speak English, she will be the first in her family to attend college when she tackles business administration at UC Berkeley before heading to law school.

“Although my parents never read a book to me or helped me with my schoolwork, they’re very proud of me,” said Britney, the oldest of five children. “Without my dad, I wouldn’t know the value of an education.”

Jalen, Claire, Caitlin, and Britney are among more than 3,400 San Bernardino City Unified School District students who will receive their high school diplomas or GED certification this year.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK-ENN) -FONTANA, CA- Sean Flynn for Congress released the following statement after surging to first place in Tuesday’s primary election:

“I am humbled by the support from the voters last night. While there are still votes being counted, last night’s first place finish confirms that this is a winnable district. I want to thank my campaign team and our incredible volunteers who worked hard to make this win a reality.” said Sean Flynn.

“We have a lot of work to do in the coming months, but I am confident we can bring new leadership to this district,” Flynn  added.

Sean Flynn was the only Republican challenger to defeat an incumbent in the State of California on Tuesday night.  The victory has attracted national attention to the race. 

The 31st District includes all or portions of Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton, and Rialto.

Flynn is the best-selling author of Economics for Dummies. He is also coauthor of the world’s best-selling college economics textbook, Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies.  An avid martial arts enthusiast, Flynn is also a former U.S. National Aikido Forms Champion and coach.  Flynn is single and lives in Redlands.

For more information on the Sean Flynn for Congress campaign go to www.SeanFlynnForCongress.com

The General Election is on Tuesday, November 6.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association at Cal State San Bernardino will honor black students in the 25th annual Black Graduation on Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., in Coussoulis Arena.

The ceremony is a cultural recognition for graduating black students, and a great opportunity for family and friends to celebrate with them.

Participating graduates must wear a cap and gown, traditional African or business attire, and arrive at 8:30 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. and ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.

There is no additional cost or tickets required for family and friends. For accessibility or accommodation requests, contact Lori Caruthers Collins at (909) 537-5328 or lcollins@csusb.edu; 72-hour notice required.

For any questions regarding the event, contact blackcsusbgrad@gmail.com.

For safety purposes, all guests are asked to not bring backpacks, large bags, oversized purses, wrapped gifts, balloons, outside food or drinks, silly string, selfie sticks, lasers, chains, fireworks, lighters, matches, weapons or anything that may cause concern.Searches will be conducted at the doors.