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LOS ANGELES, CA—- This Sunday, Mayor Karen Bass, elected officials, over 800 volunteers, and over 50 community groups and nonprofits will lead service projects across the San Fernando Valley as part of Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel’s (D – Woodland Hills) Day of Service. Projects include assembling homeless outreach kits, packing essentials for domestic violence survivors, writing letters to seniors and healthcare workers, planting a new garden, and maintaining our state parks with organizations such as LA Family Housing, Hope The Mission, Haven Hills, ONEgeneration, Jewish Family Services of Los Angeles, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pierce College, located at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m., the San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will present their Spring 2023 concert entitled, “Tales of the City.” The concert will feature traditional and contemporary works for wind band, including “Big City Lights” by Marie Antoinette Douglas, “Halcyon Hearts” by Katahj Copley, “Hounds of Spring” by Alfred Reed, “American Hymnsong Suite” by Dwayne Milburn, and many more.

The concert will be held at San Bernardino Valley College in the North Hall Building, located at 701 S. Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino. Free parking is available adjacent to the building.

Tickets are $10 each and will be available at the concert venue.

The San Bernardino Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble was established in 2020 and serves nearly a dozen unified school districts throughout the Inland Empire. Students in the ensemble range from ages 14-21. The ensemble operates under the direction of Dr. Nicholas Bratcher, director of bands and associate professor of music at Cal State San Bernardino.

For more information about the Youth Wind Ensemble, or to support student tuition scholarships, visit www.sanbernardinosymphony.org/youthwindensemble.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Kindergarten students from across San Bernardino and Highland participated in the KinderCaminata events in March and April, as part of a nationwide initiative that aims to promote college going among young children and their families.

Students dressed in matching, colorful t-shirts visited San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) where they were welcomed by students and staff alike. The students were accompanied by their teachers, parents, and college leaders, all of whom were there to show their support. By the time KinderCaminata finishes in April, close to 2,000 San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) kindergartners will have visited the campus, said Director of Elementary Instruction Amy Coker.

The KinderCaminata is an important event that highlights the importance of early education in a child’s life. Studies have shown that children who attend kindergarten are more likely to succeed academically and socially than those who do not.

By participating in this event, SBCUSD students are sending a strong, early message that they are committed to learning and that they understand the importance of education, Coker said.

“Our kindergarten students had a blast participating in the KinderCaminata,” Coker said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to show their enthusiasm for learning and to get the community involved in promoting the importance of college. We believe that early education is critical to a child’s success and we are committed to providing our students with the best possible start in life.”

RIVERSIDE, CA—- On Friday April 21, 2023, the city of Riverside became the first city in the Inland Empire to hold a Reparations Town Hall. The Town Hall was put on by the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce as part of a two-day event focused on educating the public on the news of Reparations for African Americans in California.

The event was a debrief of the progress of Congressional Bill AB3121, enacted in September 2020, which established a nine-member Task Force to study and develop a recommendation for Reparations in California.

Following the educational portion of the event was a one-hour Q & A for the audience to get information on the questions they had about Reparations in California.

This historic event was the first of many to be held as part of the Social Economic Justice Advocacy program started by the Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce.

The second day of this two-day event was the Reparations Listening Session on April 22, 2023. This event also briefly discussed the progress of the Reparations movement in California. However, the major undertaking of the day was the Listening Session itself. Not only was this session the first held in the Riverside but also the first accessible for those located in the Inland Empire.

The session gave powerful insight on the history of personal injustices experienced by several of the attendees due to race disparities in California following slavery.

The session wrapped up with a few words of encouragement for the audience as well as a call to action on the importance of staying educated and involved with the Reparations Movement.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Robert was the founder Gram’s BBQ in Downtown Riverside in 1987. As a longtime resident of Riverside his life story is one of struggle and ultimately success. He was one of seven children that migrated to California in 1956 from Rock Hill, South Carolina with his parents Josie “Gram” (from whom the restaurant got its name) & Robert “Pete” Bratton, Sr. Life wasn’t always easy, but he made a choice to turn his life around and focused on his goal of building a successful restaurant business. He accomplished that with Gram’s. He developed an award-winning barbeque sauce, which is a blend of family recipes, daily freshness, and southern flare. He has left a legacy that will be around for many years to come.

Services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11:00am at:

The Bridge Church

9904 Bloomington Ave.

Bloomington, CA 92376

Repast Immediately Following at:

Bloomington Recreation and Park

17909 Marygold Avenue

Bloomington, CA 92316

Cards may be sent to:

GRAM’S BBQ

3527 Main St.

Riverside, CA 92501

Send plants in lieu of flowers to:

METROPOLITAN MORTUARY

2902 Rubidoux Blvd.

Rubidoux, CA 92509

Questions can be directed to: Shirion Simmons, 951-525-0394 or Shirion.Simmons@gmail.com

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Congratulations to San Bernardino County Fire’s Station 305, which has officially launched its Large Animal Rescue Team — a project spearheaded by Captain Robert Edie — as part of the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) unit.

The Hesperia station’s large animal rescue trailer is equipped with a variety of harnesses, ropes and flotation devices designed to rescue horses (or cattle) that may fall into the aqueduct, river, or down a ravine. A 400-pound realistic horse prop, used for training, can be manipulated at its joints for a variety of rescue scenarios.
The Large Animal Rescue Team traveled to Muscoy in March, where they rescued 17 large animals stuck in deep mud, along with 30 medium-sized animals.

Thanks to Captain Edie and the County Fire team for adding this valuable resource to our community!

WATSONVILLE, CA—— U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) met with families, small business owners, and farmers in Watsonville and Pajaro impacted by the recent extreme storms in California. During his visit, Padilla surveyed damage near Highway 1 where the breached Pajaro River levee caused devastating flooding to surrounding communities. During the visit, Padilla was joined by Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Mark Strudley, PhD, Executive Director of Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, and Tommy Williams, Deputy Chief of Project Management at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the San Francisco District. The visit comes after Padilla and Lofgren successfully led the California Congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to approve a Major Disaster Declaration for the most recent severe winter storms and atmospheric river systems.

“It’s clear the communities around Pajaro have a long road ahead of them—not just to rebuild the communities affected by this year’s atmospheric rivers, but to protect the region from future natural disasters,” Senator Padilla said. “I am committed to continuing to push for increased federal investments as we work to address the inequities in our infrastructure that have long existed in our most vulnerable communities. The need will only grow as we continue to experience more frequent and more devastating natural disasters due to climate change.”

“As extreme weather events continue to put pressure on the Pajaro River levee, its antiquated embankments will continue to fail causing flooding in the surrounding fields and forcing families to flee their homes,” said Rep. Panetta. “It’s taken persistent political pressure to secure the necessary federal and state funding and solidify the partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project and put it on an expedited path forward. Nevertheless, we must keep up the pressure to start the project as soon as possible so that we can provide the necessary protections to the produce and people of the Pajaro Valley.”

Padilla surveys damage caused by the Pajaro levee breach and is briefed on the damaging effects of the flood waters reaching the nearby Watsonville Wastewater Water Treatment Plant that threatened over 60,000 residents and 4,000 acres of agricultural land

“Families and businesses in California’s 18^th Congressional District have been uprooted by the recent storms, and the Pajaro River levee breach, specifically, caused much devastation. That’s why Sen. Padilla, Rep. Panetta, and I are pushing to accelerate the federally-authorized levee upgrade project. Since the storms, we learned from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that they could use even more funding to fast-track the improvement efforts, so I am now requesting an additional $200 million for Fiscal Year 2024 through the Community Project Funding process. Unfortunately, severe weather events could get worse, not better, because of climate change, and leaders at all levels of government must make sure our communities are as resilient as possible,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren.

“At the local level, as project sponsors, we are ready, willing, and able to start building new levees, said Mark Strudley, PhD, Executive Director of Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency. “We are taking action to remove regulatory obstacles by working with our State and federal partners to hasten project delivery and in the interim to ensure the levees are repaired and ready for next winter.”

“We all continue to quickly respond to this disaster and to ensure sufficient funding is provided for all necessary work,” said Tommy Williams, Deputy Chief of Project Management at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the San Francisco District. “The Army Corps is committed to delivering near term emergency repair work and providing long term, equitable, and sustainable support for this underserved community with the construction of an improved flood risk management system beginning in the Summer of 2024.”

Senator Padilla along with Senator Feinstein, and Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Jimmy Panetta recently sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urging them to accelerate construction of the federally authorized project to reduce flood risks faced by surrounding urban and agricultural areas, and to provide emergency repairs and response for the towns of Pajaro and Watsonville. Last month, Padilla pressed Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young to ensure adequate resources go to historically overlooked and low-income communities like Pajaro, California, which disproportionately bear the impacts of natural disasters due to lack of adequate protections.

Padilla, Feinstein, and Panetta secured $149 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Lofgren’s support to address the urgent flood risks along the Pajaro River, including the modernization of the 74-year-old levee system that was breached before improvements could be made.

SACRAMENTO, CA— Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson has introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 702, the Promoting Youth Success and Empowerment Act (PROMYSE Act), to support community-based youth development services in juvenile justice programs. The bill will reduce the involvement of law enforcement entities in these programs, by shifting resources to Community Based Organizations (CBO) and other non-law enforcement agencies, that provide trauma informed, restorative programs and services for youth impacted by the juvenile justice system.

In 2022, 63% of JJCPA funds were spent on probation salaries and benefits, with half of all California counties spending more than 70% of their JJCPA funds on probation salaries and benefits. Riverside County alone spent 15% more this past year on probation salaries and benefits than in 2021. The record low numbers of youth being referred to probation does not match the JJCPA allocation. Referrals to juvenile probation declined 66% between 2006 and 2020, with an additional 24.7% drop between 2020 and 2021.

According to Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson, “AB 702 (PROMYSE Act) will help ensure that our juvenile justice system is centered around the needs of our youth and their families, rather than punitive measures. By prioritizing community-based youth development services and increasing community representation in the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC), we can create programs that promote healing and restoration for our at-promise youth.”

Co-sponsored and supported by a broad coalition of CBOs (listed below), AB 702 will require programs and strategies funded under these provisions to be modeled on healing-centered, restorative, trauma-informed, and positive youth development approaches in collaboration with community-based organizations. This bill recognizes the critical support and skills that CBOs bring, and the added value that in-community programming provides to not only prevent recidivism, but can address the needs and challenges that youth face in their neighborhoods. To increase the success of this supportive arm, this bill also requires no less than 95% of JJCPA funds to be allocated to community-based organizations and public agencies or departments that are not law enforcement entities. Programs such as those provided by Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ) in Oakland include culturally-competent community healing work, youth leadership development programs catered to systems-impacted youth and young adults, life coaching, violence interruption work, build youth leaders and have shown to prevent violence, crime, and further re-entrenching youth in the criminal justice system.

Breon Hatcher, Leadership Development Programs Associate at CURYJ, and a formerly incarcerated youth who went through CURYJ programming before becoming an employee said, “Through CURYJ, I gained a deeper understanding of how the school-to-prison pipeline affected me directly, and the ways the system could have invested in building us up and giving us a pathway to flourish, rather than using $600k to incarcerate a youth. Being a part of CURYJ, I am able to turn my pain into healing by reimagining how the system works,”

Organizations such as SBX Youth & Family Services provide a variety of programs and services to youth and their families in the Inland Empire. Their prevention and intervention programs offered to young people are restorative, culturally focused, trauma-informed and youth-centered. These include mentoring programs, restorative justice programming, youth civic engagement initiatives, and culturally focused programs that build cultural and historical appreciation of self while also establishing confidence in identity.

Jessica Aparicio, Director of Engagement & Social Impact from SBX Youth & Family Services, also expressed support for the bill, stating that “AB 702 (PROMYSE Act) is a step in the right direction towards creating a more just and equitable juvenile justice system. By promoting healing-centered, restorative, trauma-informed, and positive youth development approaches, we can create programs that empower our youth and their families to thrive rather than continue to punish them.”

Furthermore, AB 702 (PROMYSE Act) requires the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) of each county to provide annual, data-driven reports to the Counties Board of Supervisors and the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) relating to their programs. AB 702 (PROMYSE Act) has been referred to the Committee on Public Safety and is set to be reviewed on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The bills co-sponsors include:

Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, California
California Alliance – Youth & Community Justice
Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
Children’s Defense Fund-California
Community Interventions
Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice
Fresh Lifelines for Youth
National Center for Youth Law
National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives
SBX Youth & Family Services

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 10, 2023) Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Adrian Diaz, left, a native of Hesperia, Calif., and Aviation Electronics Technician Mason Schepf, a native of Winnie, Texas, perform general maintenance on a thermal imaging camera aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Vinson is currently underway conducting Group Sail. Group Sail demonstrates Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group’s ability to rapidly aggregate the strike group units and provides an opportunity to conduct progress training to enhance levels of excellence, increase lethality and tactical proficiency of U.S. Navy units operating in the 3rd Fleet area of operation.

By Angela Coggs
The community is invited to attend the San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Thera Sorority, Inc.’s Black & White Brunch Affair on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the beautiful rolling hills of the Indian Hills Golf Club at 5700 Club House Drive in Riverside.

This event is open to the public and serves to successfully support high school students and sustain meaningful programs and scholarships in our service area. Tickets are $100.00 ($104.12 including PayPal fees). Interested attendees can scan the QR Code or visit www.sbraac-dst.org or mail a check to: SBRAAC, PO Box 7938, Moreno Valley, CA 92552.

There will be delicious food, dancing, a live DJ, 360 Photo Booth, Silent Auction and Vendors. This years honorees include Daphne Hawkins and Neighbors United Political Action Committee.

Please plan to attend this amazing event and support our local programs and scholarships. The deadline to purchase tickets is on Monday, April 24, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Alexander Holt at the email listed above.

We look forward seeing you there.