Local

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- In an effort to increase the peace and decrease the violence and to restore hope in the City of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Pastors United will be having another Community Block Party. The purpose of the gathering is to let the community know that the Churches are here for them and to let the community know that hate will not define us, and love conquers all. 

On Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. all roads lead to Jefferson Hunt Elementary in San Bernardino. Dr. Joshua Beckley of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, will be the special guest speaker, Local area churches The Way World Outreach, ICUC, Life Changing Ministries, Victory Outreach Church, First Baptist Church, Kingdom Culture Worship Centre, 16th Street SDA, San Bernardino SDA, Westside Christian Center, Spirit of Love, Catholics of African Descent, COPE, Life Center Church, Lifeway Church, Church of the Living God, Out of the Pulpit Ministries, and many other churches Unite the City.

SBPU is expecting over 3000 in attendance as we give away Free food, free groceries, free shoes, free health checks.  We are asking the community to join us as we bring:  “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino, for more information call 909-353-7977 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Thank you for showing that San Bernardino is still Strong.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA- Sacred Sistahs, Inc. will host its 9^thAnnual Shero Awards Recognition and Scholarship Fundraiser: “Embracing the Call to Serve” on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Praise Fellowship Church located at 592 7th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

Sacred Sistahs will honor several outstanding African American women who have significantly impacted the lives of others in the community including the Honorable Cheryl Brown, former Assemblywoman, publisher, and small business owner, Dr. Gloria Morrow, an author and one of the nation’s leading clinical psychologists, and La’Nae Norwood, Founder and Executive Director at United Nations of Consciousness.

Sacred Sistahs will also honor three high school seniors who have completed the rites-of-passage program with a scholarship including Sheba Jennings of Summit High in Fontana, Gye’Nyame Maat of Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, and Raihanah Medlock of Grand Terrace High in Grand Terrace who each will receive scholarships at the start of their fall semester in college.

Sacred Sistahs, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to empower, serve, and improve the overall health, well-being, spirit, and vitality of African American and African women and children by nourishing and elevating the mind, body, and spirit.

For information on how to register, please contact Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush at (909) 910-7564 or  visit www.sacredsistahsinc.org/news_and_events.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento) today named children’s advocate Tamika L’Ecluse as the Assembly District 7’s 2017 Woman of the Year.

Ms. L’Ecluse was born in Sacramento and raised by a single mother. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at American River College in hopes of earning an Associate degree in Science, but later shifted her focus to Early Childhood Education, and attended Sacramento City College. In 2006, she completed her early childhood education certification through the National Center for Montessori Education.

Ms. L’Ecluse became active in her community and social causes at an early age. Following generations of women who took active roles in civil and women’s rights, she began her advocacy campaigning against Proposition 22 (marriage inequality) in 2000. She also became a respected advocate for reproductive health options for women, gender equity, LGBTQ rights, children’s rights and anti-violence measures. Her advocacy has most recently focused on supporting healthy growth in her community by empowering parents and school officials to promote positive discipline practices.

After thirteen years of teaching in Early Childhood and Early Kindergarten, she joined the Greater Sacramento Urban League as a program manager, working toward reducing African-American child mortality in the Oak Park community of Sacramento. Ms. L’Ecluse has served as board member, Vice President and President of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the California Montessori Project, is an appointed member of the Sacramento Promise Zone Resident Council and is an active voice for community members who seek social justice, smart growth, and inclusive practices for all.

“Tamika L’Ecluse is a bright light in the Sacramento region, giving inspiration and hope to people in our community and throughout the 7th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember McCarty.  “I am pleased to honor Ms. L’Ecluse for her commitment and dedication to help students maximize their potential, to build a strong and diverse workforce and to improve the lives of residents throughout Sacramento County.”

The Woman of the Year event was created in 1987 to recognize March as Women’s History Month and to individually celebrate the contributions and unique accomplishments of women in each of the Assembly’s 80 districts.

The 2017 Woman of the Year event took place in the Assembly Chambers of the State Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2017.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Social Lites are an impressive group of women from various professions who have steadfastly dedicated themselves to the youth in the Inland Empire Community.  Over the last 50 years, the Social Lites have made many worthwhile contributions to the needs of the community through various charitable enterprises.

The Social Lites Inc., Scholarship Foundation of San Bernardino will present their 50^th Annual Beautillion Ball, on Saturday March 11, 2017 at the National Orange Show, 689 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408.   The Beautillion Scholarship Program is an event geared to recognize and honor young men within the Inland Empire striving toward greater accomplishments in academic achievements.

The theme for the 2017 Beautillion Scholarship Program is  “Men of Tomorrow Pushing Forward”.  This year the young men have demonstrated personal, business growth, development, and community presentations.   The six young men vying for the title of Sir Knight 2017 are Christopher Fulton of San Gorgonio High School, Akil Cooper, Jonathan Rodgers, Julian Houston, and Steven Henderson, all four Knights attends Cajon High School, and Vonte Walker of Arroyo Valley High School.   They all have participated in various seminars and workshops including Strategic Planning/Goal Setting, Cultural Proficiency, Social Justice, Self Determination, and Business For Profit and Non Profit sessions and the Black College Expo.

The young men have experience the value of community service through donations of holiday food baskets, donations of Christmas bicycles to the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino, also they have participated and volunteer as an usher at the Christmas Kwanzaa Event, the Martin Luther King Breakfast Event, and the 2^nd Annual BCCIE Black History Super Expo.   These young men have canvassed the community soliciting support through the sale of ads from family, friends, church family, and businesses throughout the Inland Empire.   The ads generated for this year Beautilion Scholarship Ball will provide funds for scholarships and gifts to be awarded on the night of the Beautillion Scholarship Ball.

This is strictly a “Formal Attire” event, the no host social hour beginning at 6:30pm and the presentation of these young men will begin at 8:00pm.   For more information, go to www.sociallitesinc.net or contact Lisa Blacksher, Beautillion Chairperson at lisasocialites@gmail.com or Bettye Brewster, President at (951) 204-0022 or bettyebrewster@yahoo.com, and Joyce Smith Vice President at 909-534-2929

Ed Gordon

Bounce and Omnicom Media Group held their second annual Black History Month event to discuss diversity in media and the progress that has been made in recent years. An intimate group of 150 advertising and media professionals and press gathered at the Omnicom offices in downtown Chicago for a discussion centered around the theme of “Recognizing Progress in Diversity.”

A heartfelt keynote speech was delivered by CNN commentator Angela Rye, followed by an insightful panel discussion moderated by veteran broadcast journalist and Bounce newsmagazine show host Ed Gordon. The panel discussion featured panelists Dana Bonkowski (Starcom Chicago), Latha Sundaram (Omnicom), McGhee Williams Osse (Burrell Communications) and Ronnie Dickerson Stewart (Digitas).

Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.

For more information on Bounce and Omnicom Media Group visit bouncetv.com and omnicomgroup.com.

By Lisa D. Kelly

Jerome is a man on a mission! His goal is to use his sultry singing voice as an instrument that will “bring joy through music,” especially to the senior generations.

On his newly released CD, Songs for You Vol. 1, Jerome has written an original song dedicated to seniors called the “Seniors Anthem,” in which he states, “All I want to do is say to you how much I care.”

Having grown up in Newark, New Jersey and raised by his grandparents, Jerome developed a love and appreciation for a generation of people that had devoted their lives to serving others but who are now often overlooked.

After singing the “Seniors Anthem” at a senior facility in Claremont, California, a lady once approached him with tears in her eyes saying, “It feels so good that somebody really cares about us.” Knowing that his music is indeed making a difference, Jerome continues to serve as an “Ambassador” who “will always make time to include Seniors, so they are not forgotten or neglected.”

In August 2015, Jerome Dean was presented with the Certificate of Recognition Senior Citizen Ambassador Award, given to him by L. Dennis Michael Mayor of Rancho Cucamonga, California, for his “commitment and dedication to serve and brighten the day and lives of our treasured Senior Citizens.”

To see more testimonies about the work Jerome is doing and to hear his songs, please visit his website at www.jeromedean.com, or go to www.soundsofsunrise–?entertainment.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On the morning of February 15, 2017 parents, students and community members took a journey to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. The trip sponsored by the Inland Kwanzaa Group is an annual pilgrimage to discover Black History, and interact with docents dressed in period attire.  The township established by Colonel Allen Allensworth and four friends represents the only town in the state of California completely founded, owned and developed in 1908 by an ex-slave. The self-governed town grew rapidly and prospered prior to World War II, with a school house, a huge store for commerce, a church and many beautiful affluent homes for this time. It was truly a great experience and for many of our students it was their first time out of the city, being in farm country with chickens running free.  

We had the honor of meeting a direct descendant of Colonel Allensworth, and he shared the importance of preserving the rich history that made this place so great. One of the students commented: “I really had fun, and I learned something I never knew existed.” There were food vendors, music, and arts and crafts activities for the whole family to enjoy. Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is very unique as it preserves for us the great possibilities of what can be done for future generations. The PAL Charter Academy students were excited to learn the ethnically diverse contributions that have made our country great, and look forward to the opportunity for future trips.  

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Continuing their efforts to serve, members of the National Council of Negro Women’s Inland Empire Section’s visited Meadowbrook Park and Mary’s Mercy Center in the City of San Bernardino on February 4th to give out over 200 hygiene care bags to the homeless.

“Our Section chose to collect items to prepare and give out ‘blessing bags’ to the homeless as a part of a regional Black History Community Service project initiative started this year by NCNW Southern California Co-Convener Dr. Helena Johnson,” said Inland Empire Section President, Milele Robertson.  “Our members stepped up, donating much needed items for these men and women, but so did our community partners.”

The I.E. Section’s Director of Communication Kimberly Clark secured the help of Sam’s Club in Riverside that enlisted volunteers for the day, Sam’s Club in Ontario that donated 200 bags with giveaway items, and Thrivent Financial in Ontario, which donated funds to support the outreach. “Without their support,” said Clark, “our event would not have been able to serve so many. We appreciate their enthusiastic partnership.”

“We were happy to help,” said Kern Wilson, Club Manager of Sam’s Club in Riverside. “Sam’s Club is always willing to donate our services when needed in our community. In fact, we do this quite often and we look forward to future opportunities to work with NCNW.”

Responding to the NCNW I.E. Section’s Facebook recap of the event, Financial Associate Tara Walker also expressed Thrivent Financial’s pleasure in being part of the event.  With these partners’ help NCNW members collected several hundred blessing bags filled with toothpaste and toothbrushes, chapsticks, socks, wash cloths, soap, batteries, sunscreen, lotion, and a variety of other essential hygiene items.

Having a key partner on the receiving end was equally important to the event’s success. Mary’s Mercy Center provided a great location to connect with people in need. According to Marsha Olguin, director of Mary’s Mercy Center, 250 to 300 people come through the Center each day seeking food, clothing, shelter, showers, and other needs. After enjoying a hot, healthy meal individuals also received a blessing bag from NCNW members and Sam’s Club volunteers.

“We are always willing to work with NCNW to assist the people who come through our doors,” said Olguin. “There is never too much that can be done to help others.”

In talking with the homeless, NCNW members learned how great the need really is. “We discovered there is a big need for blankets, shoes, and food,” said Jernine Williams, NCNW I.E. Section’s 1st Vice President, who led the service project’s coordination. “If anyone would like to donate any of these items, please email us at iencnw@gmail.com. On the subject line type ‘Donations’ and a NCNW member will promptly reply.”

To get a glimpse of the day visit https://www.wevideo.com/view/848077621. Also, to learn more about the local NCNW’s activities, meetings, and events visit us on Facebook at NCNW Inland Empire Section@NCNWIESection or Instagram and Twitter @NCNW_IESection. You can also visit the Bethune Center, located at 141 S. Riverside Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376, or call us at (909) 874-6000.

Members of NCNW prepare table a Meadowbrook Park to deliver care packets to the homeless.

NCNW, in partnership with Sam’s Club and Thrivent Financial, collected and distributed over 200 bags to the homeless.

Volunteers also helped Mary’s Mercy Center give out food, along with care packets that included toiletries, batteries, and other items.

Award honors college and university administrators who go above and beyond their everyday leadership duties and give back to their campuses and communities

By Iqbal Pittalwala

Deborah Deas, M.D., M.P.H

RIVERSIDE, CA- Deborah Deas, M.D., M.P.H, the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean and Chief Executive Office for Clinical Affairs at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, has received the 2017 Giving Back Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The award honors college and university administrators who go above and beyond their everyday leadership duties and give back to their campuses and communities.

Deas will be featured, along with 38 other recipients, in the April 2017 Leadership Support and Giving Back issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Giving Back Award recipients were nominated by their colleagues and selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on their outstanding demonstration of social responsibility; involvement with students, faculty, staff, and the community; and commitment to serving underrepresented populations. Each honoree is recognized for his or her passion, dedication, and support for diversity and inclusion.

“It is a great honor to be selected for this special award,” Deas said. “This is really the result of collective effort – both here at UCR and at my former institution, the Medical University of South Carolina – to inspire and help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their dream of becoming a physician.”

Deas was recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for her leadership in institutional and national efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in medicine, including creating of new student pipeline programs in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and participating in such national initiatives as the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning Working Group.

“The Giving Back Award is being awarded to leaders of institutions of higher education who exemplify what it truly means to give back to others,” said Holly Mendelson, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “These administrators are role models, and we honor their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on their campuses and in their communities.”

Other recipients of the 2017 Giving Back Award include:

• Sefa Aina, Pomona College
• Philip S. Bailey, PhD, California Polytechnic State University
• Andra Basu, PhD, MEd, Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Venessa A. Brown, PhD, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Marc Burnett, Tennessee Technological University
• Marie Chisholm-Burns, PharmD, MPH, MBA, FCCP, FASHP, FAST, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Kathryn B. Chval, PhD, University of Missouri
• Patrick Coggins, PhD, JD, EdS, Stetson University
• Daryll Coleman, PhD, Lane College
• Gail DePuy, PhD, University of Louisville
• William E. Easterling, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
• Nitza Milagros Escalera, JD, EdM, Fordham University
• Greer Glazer, RN, PhD, CNP, FAAN, University of Cincinnati
• Natalie Gibson, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
• Craig Hillemeier, MD, Penn State Health
• Lisa Kirtman, PhD, California State University, Fullerton
• Paul L. Koch, PhD, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Ming Li, EdD, Western Michigan University
• Elizabeth G. Loboa, PhD, University of Missouri
• Linda Logan, PhD, Olivet College
• Patrice Gouveia Marks, PhD, Raritan Valley Community College
• Shane P. Martin, PhD, Loyola Marymount University
• Maureen A. O’Rourke, JD, Boston University
• Rafael Ortega, MD, Boston University
• Tonantzin Oseguera, EdD, California State University, Fullerton
• Jennifer Rosato Perea, JD, DePaul University
• Clyde Wilson Pickett, MEd, Community College of Allegheny County
• Yasmin S. Purohit, PhD, Robert Morris University
• Fatima Rodriguez-Johnson, SUNY Geneseo
• Paula T. Silver, PhD, Widener University
• William Silver, PhD, Sonoma State University
• Kelli Sinclair, Waubonsee Community College
• Christina Swaidan, EdD, MEd, Westfield State University
• Charles Taber, PhD, Stony Brook University
• David E. Thomas, EdD, MEd, Community College of Philadelphia
• Gregory Townsend, MD, University of Virginia
• Roberta J. Wilburn, EdD, ThD, Whitworth University
• Victor Wilson, MEd, University of Georgia

A call for nominations for the Giving Back Award was announced in October 2016. Award recipients include administrators of both community colleges and baccalaureate-granting institutions.

For more information about the 2017 Giving Back Award visit http://www.insightintodiversity.com/.

By Naomi K. Bonman

After a long but rewarding two year journey, on October 2016 San Bernardino based author, T’ana Phelice brought her books to life on the stage with a 6 woman cast in “The Diamond Monologues”.   This heart-wrenching and life changing production received high reviews and praises that Phelice had to start a tour.

“The Diamond Monologues” will be coming back to Ontario, California on March 11, 2017 with a bigger cast and two powerful motivational speakers that will be giving the audience a dose of inspiration and motivation on how they can achieve the best in their lives no matter what struggle they may be going through, because your struggle is your testimony that will help and build up others.

As Ms. Phelice gears up for the next show, I wanted to get a little more insight on what inspired her to take things to the next level to become more than just a writer.

What was your inspiration behind bringing your books to the stage?

It started as a way to promote my books and reach a greater audience, but it soon became an additional passion. As I began to take the words from the books I saw the characters expressing themselves in a whole new light, with more depth and passion. I wanted the audience to connect with them and understand that my fiction is someone’s reality. I became more inspired because I knew that the protagonist would inspire the fans.

What do you hope the audience gets from watching this production?

I want the audience to see themselves. I want anyone watching to think about past mistake and learn to forgive themselves and others that have done them wrong. When I write I always want to drive my audience closer to redemption.

What can people except to see on March 11?

People will see monologues that are full of honest emotions. They won’t get the happily ever after that we tend to see in the movie theaters, they’ll get the reality that a lot of us live in every single day. The audience will be in tears as they watch but they will also laugh. March 11th will be a moment of empowerment.

What is next for you? What else are you working on?

I’m currently working on a web series called “Loving T’ana Phelice”. It will give the audience insight on who I am behind the scenes. It will showcase my day to day life as an up and coming writer. It’s an awesome way to promote my brand as well as show that I can write for television.

Get your tickets here