Local

Written by Naomi K. Bonman

RIALTO, CA- Women go through so much in life, especially our young Black women. With recent movies, such as For Colored Girls, women are now feeling the urge and need to step out of their comfort zones and confront their fears in telling their stories in a means to help other women. This is the premise of why T’ana Phelice started writing The Jaded Diamond series.

Phelice’s second book, Pigs & Pearls under the Jaded Diamonds collection explores the lives, trials and tribulations of five women: Veronica, Precious, Nicki, Tia, and Samantha. They each  are used to beauty and scandalous behavior getting them ahead, but God has other things in mind. Twisted affairs leave a couple of the ladies praying for redemption, while true love leaves one facing tragedy, and another with what she has finally become worthy of. Each of them are at a crossroads that will test their faith, or restore the strength that they didn’t know they had. Some will make reality of their dreams, while others refuse to face reality all together.

Pigs & Pearls is definitely one that will have you laughing, crying, screaming, and chatting it up with your closet girlfriends as you flip through pages and recognizing characters and traits that resemble your own life. In a world where women are bombarded by the false misconceptions of what they should be through media and TV, this book is needed to uplift and give our women encouragement to heal their lives and the lives of those around them.

The book is now available for pre-order via tanaphelice.com and will launch January 2016. There will be a special release celebration and book signing on Saturday, January 30 at Raquel’s Jazz Lounge in Rialto. Raquel’s is located at 134 S. Riverside Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376.

Please RSVP today and pre-order the book for $20. You will be able to have your book signed at the event. RSVPs can be made at www.tanaphelice.com.

By Renea Wickman

Last Tuesday, the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches held a community forum with the San Bernardino County Public Defender and District Attorney’s office. The topic of discussion was the diversion program for non-violent misdemeanor offenders. It was implemented as an effort to reduce the case loads of misdemeanors by upwards as 25 percent.

The diversion programs is a four month program at a cost of $400 run by the private company Corrective Solutions. To qualify for the program you must be charged with a misdemeanor, have no prior record, live in Rancho Cucamonga, pay $400 for the Corrective Solutions program and volunteer for the program.  The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved the program last month.

The issue that concerned the African American community included a number of things. The issues at hand are the program’s cost of $400 run by a private corporation; other possible costs could be incurred for drug testing, alcohol and drug classes, anger management classes and other classes if suggested by the Judge, DA or Public Defender to complete the program.  The DA says the cost of $400 to low income families is on a sliding scale, but not the additional classes that may be required. In addition, concerns that the program only applies to Rancho Cucamonga residents and those who have no prior criminal record were also raised because the African American community has a disproportionate number of community members with prior convictions. The DA also mentioned that it is at the discretion of the DA and Public Defender if a person with a non violent record can be allowed to voluntarily enter the program. For this reason the concern was that fair discretion is rarely given to an African American in the criminal court system. Lastly, the concern was that the community members of the City of San Bernardino would best benefit from such a program. However, the DA stated that Rancho Cucamonga had the most misdemeanors of any city in San Bernardino County. The IECAAC asked the Public Defender and District Attorney’s representatives to include racial stats of all qualified cited individuals weather they volunteered for the program or not.

If the program is completed the individual would not have any record of the charge what so ever on their record. The DA added that the program is a pilot program and reviewed every six months and will last 3 years. If you have more questions or concerns about the Diversion Program you can contact the San Bernardino County Public Defender and District Attorney’s Offices.

LOS ANGELES, CA- Music is a part of everyday life! We hear it on TV, radio, even the sounds of traffic produce music. With music all around us, Torrey Adams, founder of KhyKel Music Enterprises and The Beat Series, has started an initiative to expose children to the positivity of music by way of the “Music is a Part of Everyday Life” Campaign.

On Tuesday, December 22, they will contribute to the initiative with a toy drive giving to non-profit organizations, which include House Full of Toys, the Boys and Girls Club of Carson, the Fernando Pullum Community Center and Christ Centered Community Church. Not only will the event tie music to everyday life, but it will also show children the importance of philanthropy.

Held at the Carson Community Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the first annual “Music is a Part of Everyday Life” Toy Drive will include engaging elements such as a talent contest, a photo booth, live performances and more. All attendees are urged to participate in the philanthropic efforts by bringing an unwrapped toy, canned goods, or used musical instrument(s) and/or equipment to donate to any of the participating non-profit organizations.

The campaign was kicked-off last month with a music workshop hosted at Imperial Square Music Studios in Santa Fe Springs, CA. The workshop educated the attendees on the behind-the-scenes magic that happens during the music-making process. All in attendance learned about music terminology, the dynamics of the studio (from its geometric layout to the placement of the instruments) and participated in a live recording session. The next workshop is scheduled to resume early 2016.

VICTORVILLE, CA- On Sunday, December 20, Recording Artist Justified and Men of Faith In Action, will be teaming up with non-profit organization Living Life After Death, which out to Families who are in mourning after losing a loved one.

“It’s rough during these holidays without my wife,” Justified stated. “I know my kids go through it, and I just want to be a blessing to this charity and help them raise money so they can continue to bless other families going through what I’m going through.”

Together, Justified and Living Life After Death, will be hosting a Holiday Giveaway at the High Desert Performing Arts Center located at 15615 8^th Street in Victorville. They are excepting the community to get involved and come out with unwrapped blessings to bless the less fortunate. Although this is typically a toy drive, Justified and partner Terry Boykins, CEO of Street Positive, want to encourage people to bring out a blessing that can bless other households during this season, these items include the basic necessities, such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, baby supplies, and more.

During the event tickets will be sold for the “Dinner with Dad” event that will be held on Thursday, January 7 at Hometown Buffet located at 14689 Valley Center Drive in Victorville from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Street Positive has agreed to pay for up to 100 children’s meals for “Dinner with Dad”. For each ticket sold at the holiday giveaway event, up to four children’s meals will be covered accompanied by the adult with the dinner ticket. Justified has a strong faith that the community will come out and support both of these events and be a blessing to the City of Victorville.

LOS ANGELES, CA- The California African American Museum (CAAM) is pleased to announce Target Sundays at CAAM – Holiday Remix & Kwanzaa Thaaang! The event will take place Sunday, December 13, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Enjoy classic standards reimagined, with a host of great talent to warm the holidays.  Co-hosted by Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Target Sundays at CAAM will include live performances, a free art workshop and holiday shopping.

The holiday fete will include performances on CAAM’s main stage from singers Peggi Blu, AEJAYE, Harlem Lee and Ileana Garcia, as well as the Long Beach Dance Academy: Movers & Shakers.  Also, get some holiday shopping done at the Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa marketplace.  Local educator and artist Teresa Tolliver will host a free art workshop where participants can make their own holiday gift for that special someone.  The art workshop is open to all ages and supplies are provided by CAAM.

CAAM encourages all to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Los Angeles Food Bank. This event is free and open to the public. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. Parking is $10 and located at 39th and Figueroa Streets.  Take Los Angeles Metro’s Expo Line and exit the Expo Park/USC stop.  For more information on CAAM visit www.caamuseum.org or call (213) 744-7432.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Alen Ritchie was elected as the new president of the San Bernardino County Board of Education during its meeting on December 7.

Ritchie, who was the vice president of the Board, takes over the presidency from Mark Sumpter, who held the position for the past year. In addition, Sherman Garnett was elected vice president of the Board.

Ritchie has served on the Board since 2008. He represents Trustee Area E, which includes the districts of Bear Valley, Colton, Morongo, Redlands and Yucaipa-Calimesa.

Garnett, who was elected to the Board in 2014, represents Trustee Area B, which includes the districts of Alta Loma, Central, portions of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Etiwanda, Mt. Baldy, Ontario-Montclair and Upland.

The Board establishes policy, adopts an annual budget, approves building plans and hears student expulsion, inter-district transfer and charter school appeals. The Board meets monthly, regularly the first Monday of the month.

Damon Alexander

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Damon Alexander accepted the 7th Ward seat on San Bernardino’s Board of Police Commissioners. With his Federal law enforcement background, that includes participation in San Bernardino’s recent violence, and his leadership in community organizations, including the American Legion, he will improve and expand the Board’s effectiveness in fighting crime in San Bernardino.

Community residents gather in San Bernardino during a previous candle light vigil for the victims of last Wednesday’s attack. (Photo courtesy of NBC News).

By Lue Dowdy, of LUE Productions

SAN BERNARDINIO, CA- This Sunday, December 13, local music artists and community members will come together for a candle light vigil and prayer in honor of the victims that were gunned down in the horrific terrorist attack that occurred on Wednesday, December 2 in San Bernardino at the Inland Regional Behavioral Center.

Don’t be afraid to show your love and support openly. There will be several prominent guest speakers and elected officials that will be present and speaking. They include, but are not limited to Benito J. Barrios, 2^nd Ward Councilmember; Gwen Dowdy-Rogers, newly elected San Bernardino County School Board Member; and Tammy Martin-Ryles, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire.

The Vigil will begin promptly at 5 p.m. on the corner of Waterman Avenue and Orange Show Road. Please feel free to share your thoughts via social media with the hashtag #sanbernardinostrong.

Did You Know One of The Victims That Were Assassinated ? Please Honor Your Loved Ones by Sharing Your Stories or Pictures with

Covered California Canvassing Neighborhoods – In an effort to enroll eligible African Americans in affordable health coverage, Covered California is launching an aggressive neighborhood canvassing initiative that includes door-to-door outreach, enrollment events at churches, branded outreach vans and educational materials at barbershops and hair salons in high-priority African American

Submitted by Covered California

An important deadline approaches for Californians who want to start the New Year with the protection of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Open enrollment is underway and consumers who want to be covered on January 1, need to enroll by December 15.

Covered California, the agency that administers the ACA in California, has made African American outreach a priority for the year three of the historic program. Since 2014, more than two million people have gotten insurance through Covered California, including African Americans who make up 5 percent of the state’s population that is eligible to receive financial assistance to help them pay for coverage and medical care. African Americans though have been slow to enroll at a rate that matches their share of the population.

“While we have all worked together to dramatically raise awareness about the new law, we have more work to do,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “We estimate there are still more than two million uninsured people in California who are either eligible for Covered California or qualify for Medi-Cal.”

Through Covered California, consumers can get financial help, or tax subsidy, that can be worth hundreds of dollars per month and bring health care within reach.

They are spotlighting the fact that more than half of those who have enrolled in Covered California — almost 700,000 — pay less than $100 a month, with the balance being covered by the federal tax credit. That is real affordability.

“You can find out if you qualify for financial help, and examine your plan options, by using the “Shop and Compare Tool” at CoveredCA.com,” Lee said.

Going forward Covered California will be spotlighting enrollment events at storefronts, insurance agent offices, community events and other locations. Go to the agency’s website to “find local help.”

This year’s open enrollment period is three months long, and runs until January 31. However, if you qualify for Medi-Cal, you can enroll at any point during the year. If you or someone you know doesn’t have health care coverage right now, this is the opportunity to enroll in Covered California.