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MORENO VALLEY, CA- On Saturday, May 13 join Music Changing Lives for an incredible night of student performances at the 6th annual Changing Lives Showcase.  Guests will enjoy an evening filled with fantastic vocal, instrumental and dance performances, a remarkable display of beautiful artworks, great food and more.  The Showcase will be held at the Moreno Valley Conference Center, located at 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Changing Lives Showcase features talented students from Moreno Valley Unified who have worked passionately for 21 weeks on their performance to see ‘Who is the Best at Music and Art.’  The Showcase is no ordinary school competition; this event rolls out the red carpet for its talented performers and artists who will be judged by celebrity guests from the EDMHipHopRebels group ZupaNova.

Music Changing Lives, (MCL) created the Showcase six years ago for youth in Moreno Valley, and since then they have produced several musicians, artists, fashion designers and more.  The program was designed to ignite passion through performance by using music and art as a motivation for students to stay focused on their education and their future.

The Showcase is sponsored by Moreno Valley Unified School District, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Edison International, Wells Fargo Foundation, Niagara Cares Foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation and more.  Visit MusicChangingLives.org today to learn more.

To request tickets or for more information about Music Changing Lives, please contact Josiah Bruny at MusicChangingLives@gmail.com or call (951) 992-0721.  For media or sponsorship opportunities please contact Vanessa Vizard at vanessa@vizardpr.com or (951) 533-6180.  You can also visit them on the web at www.musicchanginglives.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Omnitrans will launch a new freeway express bus route on Monday, May 1, 2017.  Route 208 will operate at peak commute hours on weekdays traveling between the Yucaipa Transit Center, downtown Redlands and the San Bernardino Transit Center.

“Route 208 will cut travel time in half compared to taking local bus routes,” said Omnitrans spokesperson Wendy Williams. “Express buses also have free Wi-Fi on board to help make commuting time more productive.”

At the San Bernardino Transit Center, passengers can connect with 12 other Omnitrans bus routes, the sbX rapid transit line, and routes operated by Victor Valley Transit Authority, Mountain Transit and Pass Transit.  Metrolink commuter rail service will be extended to the San Bernardino Transit Center in fall 2017.

Omnitrans is offering free rides on Route 208 during the first week of service, May 1 – 5.  Regular fares are $1.75 one-way or $5 for a 1-day pass. Discounts are available for youth 18 and under, senior citizens age 62 and up, military veterans and people with disabilities.

Omnitrans operates two other freeway express routes: Route 290 travels the 10 freeway connecting San Bernardino, Colton, Ontario Mills and Montclair; Route 215 travels the 215/91 corridor connecting San Bernardino, south Colton and Riverside.  Ridership on Omnitrans freeway express service is growing with passenger boardings up about 5% year to date.

Personalized routing assistance is available at 800-9-OMNIBUS (800-966-6428) or online at www.omnitrans.org.

Links:

Route 208 map and schedule: http://www.omnitrans.org/schedules/route208/

Trip planner: http://www.omnitrans.org/getting-around/plan-a-trip/trip-planner/

COMPTON, CA- Compton Mayor Aja Brown’s statement on final election results from the April 18 Compton Primary Nominating Election.

“This is already a victory for progress in Compton.  We led the way with 3,248 votes or 47 percent of votes cast in Tuesday’s election. Compton voters made it clear that they want to move forward and not backward and on June 6 we’re sure that message will hold true.

“Throughout this campaign, we witnessed the love that Compton residents have for their city and the interest they have in our shared vision for Compton’s future.  Working families across Compton rallied around our message ‘Let’s Finish the Work’ and demonstrated their desire to stay the course, as we continue to build a better Compton by empowering and restoring our community. Over the last several years, I’ve made it a priority to ensure new internal controls, improve our fiscal accountability and root out corruption and wasteful spending at every opportunity to be good custodians of our resident’s tax dollars. I’ve also led the way with new economic development to strengthen our local economy through new investment and new jobs for Compton residents.

“We’re at an exciting time in Compton as we are prepare to roll out the largest street reconstruction project in our city’s history.  Thanks to Compton voters, we finally have the funds in place to reconstruct Compton streets and ensure that our investment is maintained for years to come.

“I’m also preparing a city reform package for the voters to consider which will include modernizing city government and long-term property tax reform.

“Progress is a process and on June 6 we’re confident that Compton residents will choose to keep up the momentum and finish the work that we’ve started together!”

Mayor Brown led the vote in both vote by mail and with voters at the polls.

Citywide voter registration in Compton is 45,135.  With all precincts reporting and vote-by-mail and provisional ballots counted, the overall voter turnout in Tuesday’s election was 6,977 or 15.4  percent.

Because no candidate for mayor emerged with over 50 percent of votes cast on April 18, a runoff election will be held on Tuesday, June 6.

At 31, Aja L. Brown made history as Compton’s youngest elected Mayor in 2013. A national trailblazer, Mayor Brown’s New Vision for Compton platform is a revitalization strategy centered on 12-key principles that focus on family values, quality of life, economic development and infrastructural growth.

For more information on Mayor Aja Brown’s campaign, please visit ajabrown.com.

LOMA LINDA, CA- Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) doesn’t just treat kids, it also teaches them. The 32^nd annual Children’s Day, sponsored by Farmer Boys, will offer hands-on learning and fun Wednesday, May 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dorothy Brooks from LLUCH’s child life department, which coordinates the event, said Children’s Day focuses on educating children about healthy and safe living choices.

Recommended for kids ages 3 to 8, the free event will provide children with non-threatening exposure to a health care setting with activities such as a teddy bear clinic, pretend finger casting, and a dental health clinic. Other interactive activities include fire safety, Dr. Hayes’s venomous animals, and many other booths and activities aimed at kids.

SafeKids Inland Empire will have a booth demonstrating crosswalk safety and the dangers of leaving kids alone in a hot car. 

All children must be accompanied by an adult, and large groups are encouraged to register in advance.

Parking will be available in the parking structure on Campus Street. For more information or to register call 1-800-825-KIDS (5437).

RIVERSIDE, CA- The 17th Annual Riverside Juneteenth Celebration will be held, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Bordwell Park-Stratton Community Center, 2008 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Riverside, CA, from 12 Noon to 6 p.m. 

This FREE family festival will feature live entertainment, health and historical information, along with great food, merchandise and community service vendors. All are Welcome to this Great Family and Community Celebration.

For additional information please call (888) 752-1619 or visit www.JuneteenthSoCal.org or email info@ juneteenthsocal.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Tuesday, April 25, PAL Charter Academy students participated in a Youth and Law Enforcement Listening Session held at the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino.  Hosted by Young Visionaries, the event provided excellent dialog about relations between law enforcement and the community. 

Students voiced their concerns and gave personal accounts of their experiences with the law: good and bad.  The mediator inquired how relations can be improved and one student replied, “I’ll never trust the police.”  

The listening session allowed for real discussion on real issues, and helped change perceptions.  We can improve relations by opening this type of dialog with the community and law enforcement.  This event and the Live 2 Learn community forums are part of a national push in improving these efforts and utilizing the information gathered to create change.

On Friday, April 21, the PAL Center and PAL Charter Academy hosted the second “Live 2 Learn Community Forum”. The purpose of the forum was to proactively improve communications between the local community and law enforcement. 

Chief Joseph Paulino of the San Bernardino City Unified School District Police Department has spearheaded this event in response to the negative connotations associated with law enforcement in current media. The vision of the community forum is to increase positive awareness and engagement between law enforcement and community. In many cases, reluctantly, the crowd gathered unsure of what to expect and defensive due to personal bias. Officer Ryan Tillman of the Chino Hills Police Department put spectators at ease and began to shift perspective as he shared his own personal testimony prior to joining the department. The officers who shared at this event empathized with community concerns as they began to illustrate their daily responsibilities through conversation and role-play.

Allowing students to role play with fake weapons and real life scenarios was an eye-opening experience. Student participants shared the following thoughts:  “Police wouldn’t pick on you for no reason; there’s probable cause for everything they do and I saw that in action.” Alfredo Perez, PAL Sophomore.  

“I think there are good and bad officers but I’ve only experienced bad ones before today. This was educational and informative. I appreciate good officers taking the time to share their stories and experience with us,” Jeremiah Cook, PAL Junior, stated.

Many of the myths to law enforcement were addressed by officers who are engaged in the trenches of this work daily. The question was asked, “How important is it for kids to grow up and become police officers in their neighborhoods?” The response was simple and echoed by the entire panel of officers, “There is no better option than for an officer to return and serve in the neighborhood they knew as home.”

Mr. Radden, CEO of PAL Center and Academy, reminded the audience, “Community builds community, not police. The police are there to helps us maintain law and order in the communities we build. If we want change in our community we must have knowledge and understanding about the things we need to change. This event was a great platform for students and community to get firsthand knowledge from officers, to aid in our efforts to make change in our communities and lives.”

PAL Charter Academy is providing solutions for student success by supporting students through an individualized approach to learning. PAL is currently enrolling for 2017 summer and fall sessions as well as PCA Middle School, 6th – 8th grade scheduled to open fall 2017. For more information visit the website at www.palcharteracademy.com or call 909-887-7002. 

This season, Omnitrans riders have the chance to root for the Inland Empire 66ers at any Wednesday home game, for FREE!

We have partnered with our local minor league baseball team to sponsor Winning Wednesdays. Present your Omnitrans bus pass or receipt at any Wednesday home game and get two FREE tickets to the game!

To view this season’s IE66ers schedule, click here.

Sharon Nevins, a licensed social worker with a wealth of knowledge and experience, has been appointed as Director of the San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services.

Nevins has been the interim director of the department, which includes the Office of the Public Guardian, since October 2016. As the sworn Public Guardian, Nevins manages the affairs of people deemed by a judge to be unable to properly care for themselves or their finances. 

“I am honored to be able to serve our County’s seniors and adults in this new position and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our state, county, and community stakeholders to improve the quality of life of those we serve,” said Nevins.  

Nevins began her career with San Bernardino County in 2012 as a deputy director for the Department of Behavioral Health following a 22-year career with the California Department of Mental Health. While with County Behavioral Health, she authored, implemented and managed more than $30-million in grant-funded programs with various agencies and stakeholders. Additionally, she led the design, development and implementation of several innovative National Association of Counties award-winning programs.

Nevins is a licensed clinical social worker and holds dual master’s degrees in social work and public administration from Ohio State University.  During her tenure at the state, Nevins promoted from social worker to clinical administrator for Patton State Hospital and, more recently, served as the executive director of Metropolitan State Hospital. 

“Sharon brings with her nearly three decades of experience in the field of social work and health care services administration,” said CaSonya Thomas, Assistant Executive Officer, Human Services. “For the past six months, she has led the staff of Aging and Adult Services and serving as our County’s Public Guardian. We look forward to her continued service.”

From creating the latest smartphones to making self-driving cars, tech jobs are among the highest paying and fastest growing in the U.S. economy. There are currently 500,000 open jobs in computing, but the number of computer science graduates falls short—just 50,000 each year, and, of those, only one in five are women.

A new program created by the University of California, Riverside and Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) aims to introduce coding and computer science to local high school students and promote diversity, and notably female participation, in these fields. The program is inspired by CS For All, an initiative developed by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Education to empower all American students to become active citizens in our technology-driven world. The program will launch this summer, providing free one-week courses to 80 high school students from RUSD. The intensive courses will run twice, from June 19-23 and from June 26-30. Applications are due by April 26 and students can apply online or by calling 951-790-2633 (English speakers) or 951-878-0411 (Spanish speakers).

Angelov Farooq, founding director of the UCR Center for Economic Development and Innovation in the Office of Research and Economic Development and a member of the RUSD Board of Education, is leading the effort. He said similar programs in other parts of the country have been shown to increase the number of students, particularly girls and underrepresented minorities, who study computer science and go on to earn undergraduate degrees in the field.

“We have to emphasize technology and coding as an attainable career path for all students and encourage diversity in these fields because these are future-proof fields that will continue to grow and offer a wide spectrum of fulfilling and high-paying jobs,” Farooq said.

Farooq said he is particularly concerned about the lack of women from underrepresented and low-income families in the technology industry, a loss that would be acute in the Inland Empire. Today, less than 5 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in computer science are awarded to minority women.

During the program, attendees will get a hands-on, intensive programming experience, including building apps from scratch, touring engineering labs, and meeting with computer science professors in UCR’s Bourns College of Engineering.

“This is especially a great opportunity for girls to learn a new skill, be introduced to different fields in computer science, and make new friends, all in a comfortable environment,” said Kelly Downey, a computer science lecturer and lead instructor at the camp. “I am excited to teach the next generation of problem solvers computer programming skills that they can use in inventive and creative ways.”

Downey said at the end of the week, participants will walk away with new programming skills, a portfolio of apps they made, and an excitement for what can be done in the field of computer science. For more information, visit the CS For All website.