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Newly retired, Deborah Robertson drove around Rialto and quickly decided what she would do with all that “free time.” She put all her efforts in running for mayor.

Four years later and one term as mayor, Mayor Robertson is still working to keep Rialto moving in the right direction. During her first term, which began in 2012, economic opportunities went up while crime went down. Her collaboration with neighboring cities along the Interstate 10 corridor will result in better traffic flow, even as more industrial jobs take root in the area.

“I feel the role of mayor is a calling, not just a title,” said Mayor Robertson, who was a three-term city councilwoman before her first term as mayor. “When I took office, my goals were to stabilize our financial future, improve the economic and business development in Rialto, create greater job opportunities, hire the local workforce and make Rialto a safe place to live, work and play.”

“Today, our businesses are on the rise, a greater number of residents are part of the local workforce, crime statistics are down and we as a community have made a tremendous commitment to improving our streets and roads.”
In working on the needs of the city, Mayor Robertson leaned on her vast experience. A native Californian, Mayor Robertson holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and a master’s degree in Public Administration. Before retiring, she was the Deputy District Director of External

Affairs for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Partnering with the cities of Fontana, Colton and San Bernardino, the focus has been on economic development and the creation of jobs in the fields of technology, transportation along with commercial endeavors.

“A major accomplishment has been attracting businesses to this city and the surrounding communities,” Mayor Robertson said. “We focus on where we are (geographically). The footprint has been cast. Anything that goes from the ports to the rest of the United States – 90 percent of it has to pass through the Inland Empire. We need to see the technology of moving goods and make sure the skill sets for these jobs are transferred into our community so our people are competitive.”
The biggest project for the city is the Renaissance at the north end of Rialto, formerly Rialto Airport. Through legislation, the city was able to redirect aviation activity to San Bernardino International Airport (Formerly Norton Air Force Base). More than 1,500 acres are being redeveloped into housing, commercial, industrial and entertainment areas, also bringing tax revenue and jobs.

“Rialto is the jewel of the Inland Empire,” Mayor Robertson said. “I have a plan and I want to continue to execute the plan to move Rialto forward.”

For more information about Mayor Deborah Robertson go to www.DeborahRobertson.org.

About Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson

Deborah Robertson was elected Mayor of Rialto in November 2012 – the latest achievement in a distinguished public service career that has included 12 years on the Rialto City Council, leadership positions at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), and more than 20 years with the California Department of Transportation. Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has gained regional and national recognition for innovation in the areas of public-private partnerships, business development and job creation. The City’s refinancing and restructuring of its water and wastewater operations has become a model for other communities in California, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.

Mayor Robertson retired from Caltrans in 2011, as Deputy District Director of External Affairs. A native Californian, she holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning from the University of California, San Diego, a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the City University of New York Bernard Baruch College and is a National Urban Fellows recipient. She is also a scholarship recipient and past participant of the Southern California Leadership Network.
Mayor Robertson has two children and six grandchildren, that are the joy of her life.

The fifth annual Community Gathering for Excellence will bring together about 1,000 people representing diverse agencies to use collective impact principals to develop a plan that will help today’s youth and young adults compete in tomorrow’s job market.

The gathering, held at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, will set a course of action for how local government, higher education, and community partners can help local youth succeed beyond high school. Key partners include the University of California, Riverside; California State University, San Bernardino; Loma Linda University; San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; San Bernardino Valley College; San Bernardino County; and the City of San Bernardino.

These organizations are already working together to lay the groundwork for a skilled regional workforce that will bring about a thriving and adaptable economy. During the gathering, keynote speaker Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup <http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx> , will address the coming jobs war. Clifton believes that with the increasingly global economy, when today’s students are ready to enter the workforce, they will be competing against people from across the country and the world for the best jobs. As technology improves, work and collaboration are less and less restricted by physical location, especially in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, which offer high-paying jobs. That means obtaining a good job will be less about where you live and more about what you know.

SBCUSD and its partners believe the best way to prepare students is to increase the graduation rate  and the college preparation rate, as well as make sure all students are on a pathway towards a viable career <http://ca-sanbernardinoschools.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=639> . An example of this is the Academy of Manufacturing and Product Development at Indian Springs High School where students apply the math, technology, and business skills they learn in class to design and create products using industry-approved software, including CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machining devices. Salaries in the high-tech manufacturing industry are competitive with salaries in many fields that require a four-year degree.

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden launched the Gathering for Excellence in 2012 as a way to engage parents, employees, and community members in meaningful dialogue about local educational reforms. Among the ways education and instruction has evolved in SBCUSD since then has been a focus on Linked Learning, which provides opportunities for students to explore careers from manufacturing to medical that are integrated with their academic lessons.

“We are stronger when working in unison rather than in isolation,” Marsden said. “The power of collaboration allows us to have a greater impact that will benefit members of our community for generation to come.

“Developing a shared vision means we have a greater collective impact that leverages the best that each of our partners has to offer. When we engage in mutually reinforcing activities, our entire community reaps the benefits,” Marsden added.

Spots at the Community Gathering for Excellence are still available for members of the community who want to contribute their ideas. Attendance is free, but you must register by October 31 at http://bit.ly/2bq526s. Doors open at 8 a.m. on November 10 for a continental breakfast. The program is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“The SBCUSD Gathering of Excellence has focused in on the fact that education is the path to success for our youth,” said San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis. “The partnerships forged in developing this program have benefitted our students by creating a network of support for our students.”

If you plan to attend and require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the SBCUSD Affirmative Action Office at (909) 381-1122 or mike.medina@sbcusd.com at least 10 business days before the Community Gathering for Excellence.

Spanish interpretation will be provided during the event. Daycare will not be provided.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Seventeen-year-old Ariel Parker has looked beyond Instagram, Snapchat and “Juju On That Beat” and envisions being a leader one day.

The Fresno County teenager isn’t sure what type of leader she wants to be when she gets older, but the Clovis North High School senior sees a national landscape that features African-American students struggling in school, and black people being gunned down by the police, and wants there to be change.

Parker said if she and other young, black millennials feel a call to incite change, they should heed it—especially with cognizance of the injustices that take place.

“We are looking for opportunities to change things,” she said. “We are always talking about possibilities to bring awareness to situations like Black Lives Matter.”

Black Students of California United (BSCU) held three Senatorial District Leadership Forums this month, and will hold one more in November. BSCU envisions African-American youth receiving quality education, training, tools and experiences to become engaged participants in California’s civic and economic life.

Fresno County Office of Education Coordinator Angie Barfield, one of BSCU’s founders, said the three-month-old group’s forums are being held to bring youth leaders together to talk about issues they are experiencing and form solutions.

“Our black students are not satisfied with how things are in our schools, communities,” she said. “The idea of the forums is to talk these things out – student union issues, school district issues – and come up with plans to deliver back to their authority figures to progress things.”

Barfield, Dr. Angelo Williams, retired educator Jacky McFadden and California Alliance of African American Educators Founder, and Executive Director Debra Watkins founded BSCU in August. The group’s values include instilling excellence and self-determination, independence and perseverance, critical cultural consciousness and active mental and physical health maintenance habits and practices in black youth.

The idea for BSCU sprang from an African-American youth rally earlier this year, and since its beginnings the group has established links with African-American clubs and student unions in various parts of the state.

Williams said BSCU wants to teach black students about advocacy and civic engagement.

“Youth are facing significant challenges in education and economically, but they are organizing,” the college professor said of some black youth. “They are one of the most active groups that I have seen. The beautiful thing is these young people are fired up and ready to go.”

The Oct. 29 forums were held in Stockton, Sacramento and Fresno. The fourth event, Nov. 19, will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose.

The discussions on what is working right for black youth in their communities and schools and what is going wrong. There will be a guest speaker and a lunch.

Parker, the Clovis student who wants to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu or Baylor University in Texas, is a member of BSCU’s student advisory board and a forum attendee —along with student’s affiliated with the program from schools in Sacramento, San Jose, Stockton, Oakland and Los Angeles.

She said anything she learns at the event will be beneficial.

“It’s very important for black kids my age to want to be leaders because we are such a powerful people,” Parker said. “We have such influence in everything – music, art. Black people have so much power, so black kids should strive to be leaders in the community and eventually on the national level.”

Barfield said the African-American community can’t have excuses to address economic, education, and civic issues.

“We don’t want another generation of disengaged, uninformed youth,” she said. “We are going to allow the students to formulate their voices and go after elected officials and board members and let them know these kids have a voice and hear is your solution.”

Williams said in a year BSCU hopes to have expanded to more students across the state and have an annual civic engagement program running.

“We want to have students in the 40 Senatorial Districts across the state,” Williams said. “We are trying to produce future leaders. We want them to study those districts, so if they decide they want to be an official they are starting early in getting that knowledge.”

The student Parker said learning leadership is important and bringing her generation of black millennials together is a part of that.

“There seems to be a lot of division in our generation,” she said. “We need to come together.”

Around 60 students will be admitted to each event.

RSVP is required for the Senatorial District Leadership Forum in San Jose.. . Contact Watkins at 408-829-0590 to register.

For more information, email blackstudentscaliforniaunited@gmail.com.

Abigail Medina, school teacher, member of the San Bernardino School Board, and candidate for election to the 40th Assembly District of the California State Assembly (representing greater San Bernardino)  hosted a reception on Sunday, October 23,  for Kamala Harris, JD, California Attorney General, (California’s Chief Legal Officer), and current candidate for election as the United States Senator, representing California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The League of Women Voters provided a review and discussion of California’s seventeen voter initiatives last Saturday, October 30, at the Ingrahm Community Center in San Bernardino. The forum was organized by the Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee. The 9 a.m. to noon meeting was attended by committee members as well as the general public. Each proposition was discussed as well as the San Bernardino Measures. Though no recommendations were made, the general consensus was that the event and information was very helpful. For more information about the NWPAC, call (909) 913-0831.

Tammy Martin-Ryles

RIVERSIDE, CA- Extraordinary leaders and community programs will be recognized and awarded at the Theta Pi Sigma Inland Empire alumnae chapter observance of the 94th Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Founders’ Day on Saturday, November 12, 1 p.m., at the Christ’s Church of the Valley’s Etiwanda Gardens in Etiwanda. It is co-sponsored this year by Children’s Resources Inc. and the Turn It Around Foundation.

Tonia Causey-Bush

To be honored at the event are: Tonia Causey-Bush, Ph.D., a 23-year public education veteran and president/CEO and founder of Sacred SISTAHS (Sisters in Solidarity Teaching And Healing our Spirits) Inc.; Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers, a 20-year finance management professional, serving as a Community Development Specialist Civic/Government Relations for Uplift Family Services and a member of the San Bernardino City Unified‘s Board of Education; Cynthia “The Tech Diva” Frazier, a 25-year master of the power of creative thinking and business development and a leader and author in the area of STEaM and Digital programming and instruction for youth and teens; Tammy Martin-Ryles, president and CEO and a founding member of the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Inland Empire, as well as an educator with the Corona-Norco Unified School District. Each of this year’s honorees has established impactful local community movements geared toward equipping and inspiring women and youth to dream more, learn more,

Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers

do more and become more.

“As an international organization, we believe that authentic leadership is evidenced through work that is

Cynthia Frazier

intentional, impactful and measurable,” says Deborah Moore, president of the Theta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho. “And the achievements of each of these honorees speaks volumes to their standing as authentic leaders in the Inland Empire.”

Tickets are $55 each for the Founders’ Day observance and can be purchased through Eventbrite.com by entering “Faith & Fashion”; by contacting the chapter at thetapisigma1922@yahoo.com or 951.777.4148; or by contacting any of the chapter members directly. Proceeds will help fund scholarships for Inland Empire youth. Donations can be made via Eventbrite as well.

The festive event will also feature Minister Larry E. Lowe as emcee and songstress Pamela R. Olivia. Fashions are by Casonna.

SAN BERNARDINO — Twenty-two veterans — who served in the military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as had their high school completion interrupted — will receive their diplomas during a ceremony organized by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.

This will be the eighth graduation class for the Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project, which is held in partnership with the County Department of Veterans Affairs. This year’s ceremony will be held at Serrano High School in the Snowline Joint Unified School District on Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. The school is located at 9292 Sheep Creek Road in Phelan.

Veterans in this year’s graduating class are:

• Louis Avilez of San Bernardino, World War II, Marines (posthumous);
• James Bezenah of Phelan, Vietnam War, Navy;
• Shelvere Black of Colton, Vietnam War, Marines;
• Edward Cervantes of Victorville, Vietnam War, Army;
• George Cervantes of Loma Linda, Vietnam War, Marines (posthumous);
• Leonardo Contreras of Hinkley, Vietnam War, Marines;
• Allen Cronk of Apple Valley, Vietnam War, Marines;
• Lewis Gayle of Highland, Korean War, Air Force;
• Jacob Hall of Landers, Vietnam War, Army;
• Carlos Holguin of Rancho Cucamonga, World War II, Army;
• Stephen Jacobs of Hesperia, Vietnam War, Navy;
• Melvin Larsen of Phelan, Korean War, Navy;
• Jerry Martin of Phelan, Vietnam War, Marines and Navy
• Allen Miller of Apple Valley, Vietnam War, Marines
• John Miller of Yucca Valley, Vietnam War, Marines;
• Wilburn Milligan of Fontana, World War II, Marines;
• Stephen Morrow of Hesperia, Vietnam War, Marines;
• Ricky Reyes of Yucca Valley, Vietnam War, Army;
• John Rivera of Wrightwood, Vietnam War, Army;
• Fred Romero of Hesperia, Korean War, Navy;
• Roy Rubio Jr. of Upland, Vietnam War, Marines;
• David Villafana of Barstow, Korean War, Army.

Following the graduation ceremony, veterans and their guests will be honored at the 22nd annual Veterans Dinner taking place in the Serrano High School gymnasium. The dinner will be hosted by the Snowline Joint Unified School District and the Tri-Community Kiwanis Club.

Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project provides veterans and internees, who were unable to complete high school due to military service or internment, the opportunity to receive a high school diploma, according to the state education code. Veterans who served in and received an honorable discharge from World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War; or individuals who were interned in a Japanese American relocation camp and are San Bernardino County residents are eligible to participate.

For more information, contact County Schools at (909) 386-2412.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– The foundation that was laid at last year’s inaugural Black-Brown Conference will be built upon on Friday, Oct. 28, when Cal State San Bernardino brings back to campus about 350 African American and Latino ninth-grade young men for the second annual conference.

Designed to increase the number of African American and Latino males who enroll and graduate from college, the students, representing five Inland Empire school districts, will receive critical college information, get connected with CSUSB students and have the opportunity to talk about relevant issues facing young students today.

Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino and Victorville school districts will be sending youths from about 20 schools to the free conference, which will be held at CSUSB’s Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The conference also will provide lunch for the students.

Raising the percentages of black and brown male students who graduate from high school and complete a college degree is vital for the social and economic prosperity of the area and the U.S., say conference organizers.

Only 21 percent of black males and 25 percent of Latino males graduated from high school two years ago in San Bernardino County having met the A-G requirements. At the same time, young black females graduated high school at a rate of 31 percent, Latina females at 33 percent, white males 33 percent and white females 43 percent having taken more challenging courses and being better prepared to attend college.

The National Center for Education Statistics has reported that only 12.4 percent of Latino men and 20.8 percent of black men ages 25-29 have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 37.7 percent of white men.

The conference focuses on this ninth graders because early college awareness and access is critical to improving college enrollment and degree completion for historically underrepresented students. In ninth grade, said Olivia Rosas, CSUSB associate vice president for enrollment management, students are pondering the college prep courses they need to enroll at a university.

CSUSB is nationally recognized for its leadership role in changing the face of U.S. higher education. A reflection of the region’s dynamic diversity, CSUSB, which has the most diverse student population of any university in the Inland Empire, and the second-highest African American and Latino enrollments of all public universities in California, is considered a model of access and excellence in higher education.

For more information about the Black and Brown Conference, email blackbrown@csusb.edu.

Reverend Floyd Lofton

Reverend Floyd Lofton  who was born on June 2, 1935, in Crystal Springs, Mississippi to Louis and Eliza Lofton. He was the youngest of eleven children. After graduating from high school in 1954, he entered the United States Air Force where he proudly served 30 years as a Security Police Officer.

He received many outstanding awards, one of which was the Outstanding Security Police Officer of the Year. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. After his separation from the USAF, he was employed as a Classified Destruction Manager with Northrop-Grumman for 15 years.

In 1968, while station at March Air Force Base, he met Betty, the love of his life. They were united in Holy Matrimony in 1971. With this union, he also married Kenneth, DeJuan and Esther (Betty’s sister). Rev. Lofton and Betty have had a happy and blessed union for 45 years.

He accepted his call to the ministry in 1989 under the late Bishop Dr. Herman Hubbard. in 1994.  He united with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where it was evident he had a passion for praying, worshipping, visiting and praying for the sick and shut-ins.  His favorite declaration was, “…God will never leave you, no forsake you” Hebrews 13:5. He was appointed the Assistant Pastor at New Hope MBC in 1998, and served faithfully until his retirement in November 2015. 

On September 6, 2016, Rev. Lofton became ill and was hospitalized.  On October 17, 2016, God, in His infinite wisdom, gently and peaceably called him home from his journey as a preacher, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, godfather and friend, to his eternal rest.

He was preceded in death by his parents ,Louis and Eliza Lofton, and all his siblings.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife, Betty, sons: Kenneth (Wynolia) and DeJuan; six grandchildren: Stephanie (Kenneth), Tanya (Dewaan), Phylicia, Destiny (Edward), Mark (Leslye), and Jol (Bracchell); 11 great-grandchildren: Aaliya, Troy, Josiah, Mycah, Lexi, Angelique, Mya, Kolby, Kylee, Amiah, and Markie; 6 goddaughters: Joi, Tammy, “Starr” (Leon), Krystal, DeNae and DeJahna; 3 sisters-in-lw: Alice Jaqueline and Esther (John); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and church family.

God sent His Son into the world; God didn’t tell Jesus to be partially committed to His will. God didn’t have His Son embrace only part of the cross or only go part way up Calvary’s hill.  When Jesus came to earth, He gave His life completely for you. There was no holding back, no turning back and no going back in Gods plan or in the obedience of Jesus. Reverend Lofton was obedient to these teachings and faithfully followed Jesus’ example fully in his dedication to preaching, helping and being a true reflection of God’s grace and love.

LOS ANGELES, CA- Autistic teen chef Chase Bailey from Orange County, CA, who hosts his own hit cooking show www.chasenyurface.com launches his first cookbook this autumn to raise money to enable other people with autism to follow their dreams.

The official launch takes place at Santa Monica’s popular and award-winning Upper West restaurant in Santa Monica, CA. on November 10. Executive Chef Nick Shipp has been a huge fan of Chase since they cooked together at Autism Speaks’ Hollywood Celebrity Chef Gala in 2015. Between them they will be creating a five-course tasting menu based on The Official Chase ‘N Yur Face Cookbook. On hand to film the event will be Joey Travolta with a crew from his Inclusion Films company. The company teaches adults with developmental disabilities the practicalities to film making and many go on to work in major entertainment organizations.

Featuring over 75 recipes 15-year old Chase has developed, supported by mouthwatering photography, fun facts and anecdotes, The Official Chase ‘N Yur Face Cookbook (Chase ‘N Yur Face Media LLC, $24.95) includes an endorsement from Chef Mario Batali, who Chase appeared with on ABC’s top cooking program The Chew.

Using part of the book’s proceeds, Chase has decided to set up his own foundation www.chaseyurdreams.org  to assist people with autism who are working towards their dreams of living independently. 

“When Chase was little, he had some serious food aversions, which is common among people with an autism diagnosis.  One day I noticed how drawn he was to TV cooking programs.  Soon food became his world – he started overcoming his aversions and even started trying exotic foods,” Mary, Chase’s mom states. “The show began simply enough with me filming Chase cooking at home and posting the results on YouTube.  People loved it! Chase started inviting chefs and foodies to join him – Roy Choi, Becky Reams, Galia Orme, Anne Scioscia, Fuschia Sumner, and famed chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are just some of the stars who’ve shared their recipes with him on Chase ‘N Yur Face.”

Tickets for the event, which starts at 7pm, cost $70 (plus tax & tip), and includes a signed copy of Chase’s cookbook plus a gastronomic goody bag. Tickets are available from www.upperwest.com or by calling the restaurant direct on 310-586-1111