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SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The Rites of Passage is currently accepting applications. Directed by Dr. Nana Kweku, Rites of Passage is a rigorous male mentoring program entered in traditional African values and history.  It is designed to strengthen, guide and mentor young males between 10-years and 15-years old and to assist young males in developing character, career and life skills.

Come to the ROP Parent Meeting on Wednesday, May 23 at 6 p.m. at the Akoma Unity Center located at 1367 N. California Street in San Bernardino. Meet the director, Dr. Nana Kweku and learn more about this life changing Male Mentoring program. Light Refreshments will be served.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Board of Equalization Member Jerome E. Horton is working with Assemblyman Miguel Santiago to introduce legislation that will reduce the housing cost for renters.

A full-fledged housing crisis has gripped California, marked by a severe lack of affordable homes and apartments for seniors and middle-class families – as a result of property values climbing to pre-recession levels.  The median cost of a home in California is now a staggering $500,000, twice the national median cost.

“Living in decent, affordable and reasonably located housing is one of the most important determinants of well–being for every Californian. More than just basic shelter, housing affects our lives in other important ways, determining our access to work, education, recreation, shopping, and quality health care.” said Horton.  “If we don’t fix this, seniors and poor to middle income families will be forced to leave California.”

As the Making Home Affordable Program, (HARP), signed into law by President Obama, is set to expire on December 31, 2018, now is the time for this type of legislation.  HARP helped homeowners refinance their mortgage with an average rate reduction of 2.1 percentage points, saving an average of more than $4,100 in interest during their first 12 months, or about $345 every month. Additionally, homeowners who refinance from 30 year fixed mortgages to 15 year fixed mortgages can save up to $145,000. For more information, visit here.

California has the third-lowest home ownership rate and the fourth highest rent in the country.  The decline in home purchases is generally related to higher rents as it becomes a challenge to save enough for a down payment.  There is a direct relationship between high rents and high home prices.  Additionally, studies find that housing costs are a burden on one’s finances when they surpass 30% of income.  According to a Public Policy Institute of California study, nearly one in three California renter households spends at least half of their income on rent.  While incomes have remained stagnant, rents in California continue to soar, resulting in many low- and middle-income workers cutting essential spending, which also hurts the State’s overall economy.

Even with rent control in cities like Santa Monica and Los Angeles, as of March 2018, the average rent for an apartment in Los Angeles is $2554, which is a 0.16% decrease from last year when the average rent was $2558, and a 1.64% increase from last month when the average rent was $2512.

“The cost of renting an apartment or home in California is as high as it’s ever been.  In fact, many millennials are moving from California because the dream of affordable housing seems so unlikely.  It’s necessary we do something to lower the cost of renting one’s residence in this state,” Horton said.

The average rent in California has increased 60% over the past 20 years.  The flat “renter’s credit” amount has not been adjusted since it was enacted in 1972.

Assembly Member Santiago testified at the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation:  “With the rising cost of rental housing in California, the expansion of the renter’s credit can increase access to housing for low-income families.”  The legislation passed out of the committee with a 9-0 bipartisan vote.  The bill now moves to the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations.

This bill will increase the nonrefundable renter’s credit to the greater of $60 allowed under current law or 10 percent of the median rent in the county where the property is occupied for individuals and $120 under current law, or 20 percent of the median rent in the county where the property is occupied for joint filers, heads of households, and surviving spouses.

Member Horton encourages you to call your Congressional representatives and ask that they legislate to renew the HARP program, and the Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations at (916) 651-4101 to support AB 2833 (Santiago) to increase the renter’s credit.

Andre Anderson

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Navy Ensign Andrew D. Anderson has completed his first semester of study at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Martland and is well on the way to becoming a Navy physician. 

Last summer, Mr. Anderson took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and was commissioned as a Navy ensign in exchange for tuition-free medical education at the Uniformed Services University. Upon completing his course of study, ENS Anderson will go on for additional training in a graduate medical education program followed by seven years of service as an active duty Navy physician.   

Anderson is the son of Felton C. Anderson and Elizabeth A. Kennedy of San Bernardino, California; grandson of Betty D. Anderson of San Bernardino; and nephew of Lynne B. Kennedy of Alta Loma, California.

He graduated in 2009 from Cajon High School, San Bernardino, California, and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2013 from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California. 

ENS Andrew Anderson has completed his first semester of study at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University and is well on the way to becoming a Navy physician. Last summer, Mr. Anderson took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and was commissioned as an ENS in exchange for tuition-free medical education at the Uniformed Services University. Upon completing his course of study, ENS Anderson will go on for additional training in a graduate medical education program followed by seven years of service as an active duty Navy physician.

REDLANDS, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- On Saturday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the first Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Israel Beal Park on Riverview Drive off Pioneer, Just East of Citrus Valley High School. The City of Redlands will partner with Unity in the Community in memory of African Americans emancipation from slavery on June 19, 1865.

And why is Juneteenth worth celebrating in Redlands? Every Redlands school child knows about the Smiley Brothers, but few know about Israel Beal, a former slave and African American pioneer who helped build the City of Redlands.

The Juneteenth celebration will have plenty of activities for children, food, entertainment, speakers and opportunities to learn about the city’s history. The theme of the event is, “Safety First, For our Children.”

For more information contact (909) 793-l074, the Second Baptist Church office. Co-chairpersons are Pastor Anthony Green, of the Second Baptist Church of Redlands and Mario Saucedo of North Redlands Visioning Committee.

Noelle Lilley graduates from Arizona State University

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- A BIG Congratulations to our former intern Noëlle D. Lilley on her graduation from Arizona State University where she received her Bachelor of Arts from the Walter Crocknite School of Journalism and Communication. She graduated with a 3.75 GPA, has two post-grad jobs lined up and she did it in four years!

RIVERSIDE, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Balancing school, work and personal issues is a struggle for many of the participants of CCAEJ’s Emerging Young Leaders program.

This is why several participants underwent several presentations from community leaders regarding the importance of mental health on Saturday, May 5.

“Finding stability in your life can be difficult, but it’s essential to have boundaries of what you can and can’t do,” explained Italia Garcia, CCAEJ’s director of Civic Engagement.

“Be forgiving of yourself and create a work environment that aligns with your needs,” she said. “All of this gets real. It’s important to learn to succeed, despite having some dark clouds in your life.”

On Friday, May 11, the Young Emerging Leaders met with Congressman Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Assemblymembers Sabrina Cervantes (D-Eastvale) and Jose Medina (D-Riverside) and Riverside Councilman Jim Perry to discuss local issues and receive insight on college and career readiness. 

The Emerging Young Leaders program will conclude with a graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 19. The ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. and will be held at their headquarters located at 3840 Sunnyhill Drive in Jurupa Valley.

Daz Patterson

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- On Saturday, May 12 at 6 p.m., the Patterson Non-Profit Organization (PNP) is premièring the movie, “Look, I’M Still Here”. This is a red-carpet affair at the Sturges Theatre located at 780 N. E Street in San Bernardino.

The movie is based on a true story of a young girl who had to fight for everything and those fights have continued into her adult life. She learned early in life to depend on God’s grace and mercy.

Daz Patterson shares her story of determination, tenaciousness, surviving cancer four times all without ever considering giving up.

The movie has a tremendous and multitalented cast which include: Sid Burston, Nei-Ce Knight, Susan Lewis, Sebrenia Burt, Bobby Bryant, Linda Davis, Raheem Mitchell, Erica Brown, Anita McZeal, Sharon Hardin, Myron Hester, Michelle Patterson-Peters, Daz Patterson, and a host of supporting cast.

For more information please call (909) 874-3411 or (909) 418-7619. You can also go to Eventbrite.com and search for “Look, I’M Still Here.”

Child Care Provider Explains the Importance of Healthy Environments in Early Child Care

By Ronneisha Davis-Lewis

Ronneisha Davis-Lewis

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- In South Los Angeles, healthy food options are scarce and fast food is far more accessible than fresh fruits and vegetables. As a child care provider at South Los Angeles’ Moore’s Daycare Preparatory School, Inc., I have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of the children who are in my care. It’s important for me that they have an environment complete with healthy foods, opportunity for physical activity and limited time in front of a screen. Parents, who often times work long hours, trust me to provide the healthiest environment available for their children.

And they are not alone.

In Los Angeles County, 50 percent of children 0 to 5-years old spend at least part of their day in child care. They will carry some of the habits they develop in child care throughout life. It is critical to invest in our children’s health via introducing and reinforcing healthy lifestyle choices when they are young. This will reverse some of the poor health trends current youth and adults are experiencing, such as higher obesity rates, increased incidence of diabetes and dental disease.

And meal time is a great opportunity to start.  Many childcare providers like to use meals and snacks to incorporate healthy eating habits, as well as introduce kids to new foods, learn new words, and discover how to share with others. By introducing kids to healthier options, they learn to eat nutritious meals and snacks at a young age, which provides a platform for healthier eating as they mature. Food can be a source to strengthen a community’s health and wellness. By providing and introducing healthier food options, I know it will increase the likelihood these kids will become healthier adults.

Yet, there is more to building a healthier lifestyle than healthier food.  We also need to provide opportunities and space for kids to be more active.  

This investment will allow early childcare providers to purchase items such as tricycles and safe climbing equipment for age appropriate physical activities. We would also invest in resources that allow parents to know how much time their children spend engaged in these healthy habits. For example, a checklist board that shows how many vegetables the children ate that day, how much time they spent playing outside, and how much time they spent watching TV.  This is a tool that would allow the children to help track their engagement, while allowing the parents to see the improvements this investment helped create.

Our community has an opportunity to invest in our children’s future, which in the end is an investment back into our community.  Supporting an increase in funding for family child care homes would allow me and other providers to better incorporate nutrition standards and provide even healthier food options to the young children we look after. These resources would also allow those in low-income communities the opportunity to implement and provide even healthier standards and more access to fresher, healthy food.

Get involved in our campaign to increase state funding that will help child care providers such as me create even healthier environments for our children – yours and mine.  To participate in this campaign, go to http://www.heart.org/HealthyECE. You can also use the hashtags #EarlyCareHealthyHabits and #ECE on social media posts.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is partnering with faith-based organizations and community groups to provide no-cost mental health training designed to equip participants on how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.

Since July 2015, DBH has conducted over 27 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trainings for over 500 individuals ranging in age from 16 to 81. The 8-hour training provides participants with the skills to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, as of May 21, 2017, 1 million people nationwide have been trained in MHFA including former First Lady Michelle Obama, Patrick Kennedy, Dr. Oz and Lady Gaga.

Throughout San Bernardino County, DBH has provided MHFA trainings for the San Bernardino County Unified School District, the University of Redlands and students from Bloomington High School, California State University San Bernardino and Copper Mountain College. DBH has also trained county partners from the Housing Authority, Aging and Adult Services and the Transitional Assistance Department.

Churches who have hosted a MHFA Training include: Way World Outreach, First Baptist Church of Redlands, Congregation Emanu El, The Gate, First Assembly of God-Victorville and Mt. Zion Church of Ontario.

Jeffery and and LaDonya Milner began a mental health ministry at Mt. Zion Church of Ontario three years ago and to date, have held six MHFA trainings for over 100 people.

“Our goal is to educate people, reduce stigma and serve the community,” LaDonya stated. “The training is so helpful and has been well received by the attendees. We have an 87-year old church member who has never missed a training! The Lord has blessed this ministry!” 

“DBH applauds the hundreds of individuals throughout the County who’ve completed MHFA training,” DBH Director, Veronica Kelley, said. “DBH is proud to offer this training at no-cost to the community, made possible through funding provided by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).” 

The MHSA was passed by California voters in November 2014 and is funded by a 1 percent tax surcharge on personal income over $1 million per year. 

For more information on MHFA training, call (909) 388-0884 (7-1-1- for TTY users) or visit www.sbcounty.gov/dbh. 

YUCAPIA, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Inland Leaders Charter School in Yucaipa, California is taking a proactive approach to creating a positive school culture and preventing bullying behavior. For the second year now, teachers and staff members have organized an event they call “GOLD night,” the acronym stands for, ‘Girls Overnight for Leadership and Discovery’. The event provides an intensive and fun overnight workshop for the 6th-grade students who will be transitioning to the school’s middle school program in the fall.

The program was inspired by a need to equip the students with the skills to overcome social and emotional challenges which girls tend to face as they enter their teen years; the kinds of challenges, the teachers observed, that often breed negativity among peers. The event was fully funded and sponsored by the Inland Leaders Charter School Board. Products and services were sponsored by community partners: Parakaleo Crossfit, Jazzercise, Bic Bands, Ocampo’s Mexican Restaurant, Hair stylist, Shannon McVey and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Alyson Foote.

Workshops addressed relevant issues such as body image, conflict resolution, social media pitfalls, personal empowerment, and kindness. The students were also treated to nutritious late-night snacks and valuable information about health and nutrition. Wearing T-shirts which proclaimed, “Strong women LIFT each other up,” the student’s expressed appreciation for the event; one stating, “It is really amazing how we learned to connect with ourselves.I feel better prepared for middle school. I loved GOLD night; you should do this every year!”

A middle school teacher reflects, “It’s extraordinarily valuable for us teachers to be establishing a dialogue and connection with our girls regarding the social issues that impact our students and our school culture. I’m extremely grateful to be working with the caring and dedicated women on our faculty who came up with the idea for this event, and for the commitment of many others which brought it to fruition.”

The “GOLD night” program has been so successful that a “BOLD night” has been created for the school’s 6th-grade boys this year as well. The public charter school’s administration and staff are excited to see how these events will foster stronger leadership through empathy and positivity on the ILCS campus.

What is Inland Leaders?

We are a kindergarten (including TK) through 8th-grade public charter school dedicated to creating leaders for the 21st century. Learn more at www.InlandLeaders.com.