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Congratulations to the 59 deputies, first responders and community members who were honored during last week’s Sheriff’s Exceptional Service Awards Ceremony!

Throughout the past year, these individuals displayed extraordinary acts of bravery. Stories included saving families from burning buildings, public outreach to help those in need, and the incredible efforts to save local Sheriff’s Deputies Dustin Whitson and Carlos Velasco.

Thanks to all the awardees for your willingness to help others in a time of need. You are all heroes!

YUCAIPA, CA — When Maria Cristina Valencia tried to convince her son Alder to stay in school, she never anticipated the question he would then ask her:

How could she insist he continued his studies when she did not have a high school diploma herself?

That moment in 2014 sparked the beginning of Valencia’s return to school. The now 50-year-old realized her son was right.

“So, I enrolled at (Yucaipa) Adult School and got my high school diploma,” explained the Yucaipa resident.

But she was not done yet. With encouragement from her family and the Yucaipa Adult School (YAS), Maria enrolled in her first class at Crafton Hills College (CHC) in the summer of 2019 to continue her studies.

In May 2022, Valencia graduated from CHC with an Associate in Arts in Spanish. Alder graduated alongside his mother in May with his Associate in Arts in Business Administration. Together, they will attend California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). Valencia said she plans on pursuing a bachelor’s in early childhood development. She said her primary motivation continues to be her children.

“It was a family goal,” she continued. “(Alder) was the one who inspired me. He was the one who kicked my butt.”

Valencia migrated to the United States after leaving El Salvador during its civil war. She worked while raising her two sons, who are now in their 20s, and added school to her already busy schedule to prove that she could do it.

“Maria was one of my hardest working students,” said Marcia Stewart, a YAS teacher. “She completed her schoolwork every week, even as she was working two to three jobs, and has always inspired me and other students with her great work ethic.”

“Maria is the embodiment of perseverance and determination,” Stewart continued. “She is an incredible woman, and I am so honored I got to witness part of her journey.”

Her children also took notice.

Valencia said she knows she still has plenty of work ahead, but she is ready to face her challenges head-on.

“Before starting (my public speaking class), I was in a bit of a panic that I couldn’t speak in front of someone because of my English,” she explained. “But everybody, every single person encouraged me not to be afraid and to not be afraid of my accent.”

Valencia’s most significant piece of advice for students following in her footsteps: persist.

“Never give up, because right now, there’s a lot of help out there. But if you don’t ask, you will never get that help,” she said. “I never thought I could graduate from Crafton, but otherwise, I would just be sitting down doing nothing.”

Each year, Crafton and YAS partner to help students pursue higher education. Last semester, Roadrunner officials worked closely with 22 YAS adult learners by providing them with the necessary resources to make their educational goals a reality. Eight YAS learners are currently enrolled in either Crafton’s summer or fall semester credit courses, while two YAS students are participating in the site’s Adult Summer Bridge Program.

To learn more about the program or Crafton Hills College, go to craftonhills.edu.

To access a PDF of the press release, and to download Maria Cristina Valencia’s photo, click here.

If you’ve ever received care at one of the County’s Health Centers such as immunizations, health screenings, physical check-ups or pediatric care for your children you’ll be pleased to know that the county’s health centers passed a thorough federal audit by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

San Bernardino County has four Federally Qualified Health Centers located in San Bernardino, Ontario, Hesperia and Adelanto.

The County’s Federally Qualified Health Centers and the Community Health Center’s Governing Board completed their audit the week of April 11, 2022, after a three-month notice was given to the centers to prepare for an audit. The audit is based on over 90 areas of review.

Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. The centers must meet a stringent set of requirements to maintain funding, including providing care on a sliding-fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients. If the requirements are not met, the health centers could potentially lose this financial support and the ability to continue to provide primary care services to the community.

“We are incredibly grateful to Josh Dugas, director of Public Health, Jennifer Osorio, assistant director, the County’s Administrative Office and the Board of Supervisors for their unwavering support,” said Melanie Bird-Livingston, chief of Clinical Health and Prevention Services. “The staff of our health centers remained committed to serving the residents of San Bernardino County, despite the challenges of a pandemic.”

To learn more about San Bernardino County’s health centers and the clinic services available, visit  wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/programs/clinics or call (800) 722-4777.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The officer-involved shooting of 23-year-old Rob Marquise Adams in San Bernardino on July 16 has put the spotlight on a law that requires state prosecutors in California to investigate such incidents.

Authored by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Secretary of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Assembly Bill (AB) 1506 requires the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate “incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian.”

While an investigation would appear to be warranted in the Adams shooting case, DOJ stated in a July 22 email to California Black Media (CBM), “We’re aware of the incident. However, our office is not currently involved under AB 1506. At this point, local authorities are best-positioned to comment on the matter.”

That’s because the San Bernardino Police Department (SBPD) is claiming Adams had a gun, so an unarmed civilian was not involved.

Adams was shot multiple times in the back while running away from SBPD officers. The officers arrived in an unmarked sedan after receiving information that a Black man armed with a handgun was in the parking lot of a business known to house an illegal gambling operation.

Adams ran toward two parked vehicles with the gun in his right hand, according to a video statement SBPD Chief, Darren Goodman posted on the department’s website. “The cops briefly chased Adams, “but seeing” that Adams had no outlet, “they believed he intended to use the vehicles as cover to shoot at them,” Goodman said, describing his understanding of the events that preceded the shooting.

While SBPD says that Adams had a gun in his hand as he ran from the officers, the attorneys for the Adams family, Bradley C. Gage, and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump say he was holding his cell phone.

Gage said, “There are millions of Black men so any one of them could be a suspect. When you’re holding a cell phone it could look like a gun especially when you think it’s one.”

“They needed it to be a gun because God help them if they shot an unarmed man running away,” Crump said of the officers who shot Adams.

Adams’ mother, Tamika Deavila-King, said the shooting was not necessary and the officers’ version is untrue. “I’ll say it again, it was not a gun. I have proof on my phone the exact time that they killed my son that I was on the phone with him.”

As of July 1, 2021, it’s been DOJ’s responsibility to investigate officer-involved shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian. A published public report on each investigation must be released, pursuant to AB 1506.

DOJ states on its website that “when an officer-involved shooting occurs, transparent and open communication is critical to maintain public trust.”

Currently, Attorney General Rob Bonta and DOJ have 21 officer-involved shootings under investigation in jurisdictions such as Anaheim, Salinas, Fontana, Adelanto, San Francisco, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles and Riverside counties.

More than 42 law enforcement officers are being investigated and their cases are under review for potential criminal liability, according to the DOJ.

The DOJ recently opened up an investigation of a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed an unarmed man in Adelanto on June 21 following a vehicle stop.

DOJ said in a written statement. “Following notification by local authorities, the California Department of Justice’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team for Southern California deployed to the scene of the incident. Alongside other law enforcement partners, the California Department of Justice is investigating.”

What concerns the Adams family, according to their attorneys, is from what they viewed in the video shared widely on social media, is that Adams appeared unaware that police officers were in the unmarked car. Adams could have believed that he was about to be robbed or attacked.

The officers’ version of the events declares that when they exited their vehicle, they gave Adams verbal commands before opening fire. He immediately ran toward “two parked vehicles with the gun in his right hand,” Goodman said.

The gun the police recovered at the scene of the shooting, was a black 9mm Taurus G3C with a round in the chamber, and 10 rounds in the magazine

Goodman said SBPD is conducting an administrative investigation to ensure department policies and procedures were followed. He also stated that the SB County District Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and is conducting a parallel investigation, which is ongoing.

“Our goal is to be transparent with the community and share as much information as possible when critical incidents occur,” Goodman said. “It is unfortunate that our efforts to keep the community safe through proactive police work occasionally results in encounters with armed felons. Our officers face this danger daily in an effort to help make our community safer.”

Goodman asks the public and the media to allow his department to complete its investigation and gather all the facts. Adams family lawyers say they will file a lawsuit on behalf of the Adams family.

“Make no mistake about it, this is not the first time that we’ve seen them unjustly kill a young Black person. They shoot first and ask questions later,” Crump said. “And then after they assassinate our bodies…they then assassinate our character. They’re going to say all kinds of lies and innuendos to say, ‘Hold on, Rob wasn’t worth it.’ Well, we want you to know that Rob’s life mattered.”

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Sorensen, Navy Office of Community Outreach

PEARL HARBOR – A 2018 San Gorgonio High School graduate and San Bernardino, California, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Petty Officer 3rd Class Javier Reyes is a mass communication specialist aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.

A Navy mass communication specialist is a public affairs and visual information expert. They present the U.S. Navy story to audiences in the Navy and to the rest of the world through a variety of media.

Aircraft carriers provide unique capabilities and survivability. They are a powerful exhibition of the American Navy’s legacy of innovation, technological evolution, and maritime dominance, according to Navy officials.

Since USS Langley’s commissioning 100 years ago, the nation’s aircraft carriers, such as USS Abraham Lincoln, and embarked carrier air wings have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.

“The aircraft carrier is our U.S. Navy’s centerpiece, our flagship, and a constant reminder to the rest of the world of our enduring maritime presence and influence,” said Rear Adm. James P. Downey, USN, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Aircraft Carriers. “These ships touch every part of our Navy’s mission to project power, ensure sea control, and deter our adversaries.”

Today, Reyes uses skills and values similar to those learned in San Bernardino.

“From family life, I learned to work hard no matter how unlikable the job may be,” said Reyes.

As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

The theme of RIMPAC 2022 is Capable, Adaptive, Partners. The participating nations and forces exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as amphibious, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.

“During RIMPAC, I’d like to see all the countries interacting with each other,” said Reyes. “It shows the world how we can all work together.”

Serving in the Navy means Reyes is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy can be anywhere at any time to provide defense and humanitarian relief,” said Reyes.

With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.

According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.

“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”

Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2022 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. Christopher Robinson will serve as deputy commander of the CTF, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Toshiyuki Hirata as the vice commander, and Fleet Marine Force will be led by U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Joseph Clearfield. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Paul O’Grady of the Royal Australian Navy, who will command the maritime component, and Brig. Gen. Mark Goulden of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who will command the air component.

“I’ve made my parents and family proud,” said Reyes. “Being a Navy sailor gives me a sense of accomplishment.”

During RIMPAC, a network of capable, adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2022 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict.

As a member of the U.S. Navy, Reyes and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy means I’m able to do the job the Navy has given to me, no matter how difficult the conditions can be,” added Reyes.

Additional information about RIMPAC is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino area Salvation Army Summer Meals Program is in full swing and ready to help area residents enjoy good-tasting and healthy hot meals. Because the Salvation Army’s operations are so efficient, a gift of just $1.28 is enough to provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child, homeless adult, or struggling senior.

“The Summer Meals Program at our San Bernardino Hospitality House served 5,000 to 7,000 meals per month last year, and we expect that because of inflation and a slowing economy, we will be serving more this year”, says San Bernardino Corps Major Isaias Braga.

As one retired healthcare worker put it, “All the food here is excellent and balanced. I feel much better, more energetic, and healthier. A million thank-yous!”

Because of the current COVID situation, sit-down meals are served only to Hospitality House residents, located at 925 West Tenth Street in San Bernardino. Nonetheless, to-go hot meals in boxes are being distributed to community members in need at that location. Community meals are served from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. six days per week, Sunday through Friday, and closed Saturday.

In addition to the to-go hot meals offered at the Hospitality House, the Salvation Army also distributes non-perishable food items and fresh meat through a community food distribution program on the first, second and third Thursdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:30 am.

On the first Thursday, this takes place at the Redlands Corps facility, 838 Alta St., Redlands, 92374; on the second and third Thursdays, at the San Bernardino Corps warehouse facility at the San Bernardino Airport, 295 North Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino, 92408.

To find out more about the Salvation Army’s Summer Meals Program and other Salvation Army programs, visit their website at https://sanbernardino.salvationarmy.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The British may have invented the “afternoon tea”, but on Saturday, August 6, the Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School will host a much more diverse variation on this old English tradition, with the American Girl Doll collection, thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.

The tea starts at 12 p.m. at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, 1250 W. 14th Street, San Bernardino. Refreshments and an educational program will be delivered by the University of California’s local Master Gardner/Master Preserver program.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, youngsters will indulge in tea and snacks being served by dutiful adults who stand ready to ensure that the children have a delightful time. The annual event attracts children and their parents from the Greater San Bernardino Area.

“American Girl dolls represent the cultures of San Bernardino. Each one is unique, and the variety always finds favor with attendees—both kids and adults,” said Cheryl Brown, San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member.

Brown adds, “The library’s American Girl Doll collection reflects the ethnic diversity of our community and youngsters can check out dolls that look like them. They can even customize them using the accessories that come with each doll.”

All year round, children can check out an American Girl Doll kit, at San Bernardino City Library’s that includes one of several ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll, and a journal.

The program provides an engaging learning experience that provides a glimpse into different time periods in American history through each doll’s story and a chance for children to write about their own adventures.

The doll collection and the annual tea are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino that take delight in giving children entertaining educational experiences.

San Bernardino City Library Foundation partners include Edison International, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, the Irvine Foundation, the San Gorgonio Girl Scouts, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

“We had to suspend our in-person tea event during the Covid pandemic, but now that things have calmed down, we are eager to again welcome the public to our version of ‘afternoon tea’,” says Foundation President Arlington Rodgers.

A reservation is required to attend. To make your reservation call (909) 381-8211, by August 3, 2022, and leave your contact information and how many reservations. If you miss the deadline, you are encouraged to still attempt to reserve, and if there is space available, you can be added. The final deadline is Friday. August 5th Participants are requested to call as early as they can.

The California Mortgage Relief Program helps families impacted by COVID-19 save their homes

By Tiena Johnson Hall | Special to California Black Media

For many African American and other Californians of color, housing instability and inequity did not begin with the COVID-19 pandemic. Discriminatory housing and lending policies have long prevented communities of color from exercising their right to stable housing. The gateway to homeownership – proven to be one of the most effective ways to build intergenerational wealth in America – has only drifted farther and farther out of reach for people of color in America and especially in California.

While the pandemic did not create these issues, it has compounded them, forcing more families into vulnerable positions and putting their homeownership at risk.

It is no surprise that Black and Latinx communities are disproportionately impacted by the societal challenges created by the pandemic especially to those who are familiar with our country’s history. The Little Hoover Commission found that over the course of the pandemic, Black and Latinx homeowners were more than two times as likely as White Americans to report being behind on their housing payments.

California is distributing $1 billion in federal assistance to support homeowners at risk of losing their homes due to lost work, increased medical costs, and other hardships brought on or exacerbated by COVID-19 and its associated economic challenges.

Launched in December 2021, the California Mortgage Relief Program is making available grants of up to $80,000 to eligible homeowners from socially disadvantaged communities, including families of color, who have fallen behind on their housing payments.

Over the past six months, relief funds have been distributed to more than 2,600 households. Recent expansions to the program’s eligibility guidelines have opened the opportunity for even more homeowners to get caught up on missed housing payments. In July 2022, the program celebrated distributing $100 million in relief to California homeowners.

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has made it a point to be embedded in our local communities and connecting with vulnerable homeowners by speaking in language that they can understand. As these families work to recover from the ongoing financial burdens of the pandemic, there should be no additional barriers for them to access these resources.

A home goes beyond four walls and a roof. It is security. It is peace of mind. For many families, buying a home represents the unraveling of a system entrenched in inequality and lays the foundation of opportunity for future generations.

This housing relief cannot undo a history of exclusionary practices, nor fix the problems the global pandemic created, but it can ensure that whatever progress these families have made toward intergenerational wealth is not erased due to circumstances beyond their control.

And that is the work we will continue to do for these families. For anyone suffering from inequality, we must always strive for better.

For Californians who lost wages, lost jobs, or faced the tragedy of a lost loved one during this terrible pandemic – and especially for those who have faced the additional challenges of historical housing discrimination – the California Mortgage Relief Program is here to alleviate some of the burden. Apply today at CaMortgageRelief.org.

About the Author

Tiena Johnson Hall, Executive Director, California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA)

By Voice Media Ventures/Black Voice News Staff

This week the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships named Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures, publisher of Black Voice News in Riverside, CA, and a leader in community news media, as a 2022-23 JSK Senior Journalism Fellow.

Brown-Hinds will spend her senior fellowship at Stanford exploring ways to empower smaller newsrooms serving diverse communities in California to use solutions-focused data reporting through training, highlighting resources for journalism and seeking strategies to sustain those efforts.

“With such innovative programs and initiatives at Stanford, like Big Local News, The Starling Lab, and digital repositories at the Stanford Libraries, being on campus presents a unique opportunity to tap resources in data reporting for smaller independently-led news organizations — especially those serving diverse communities. I am excited by the possibility of connecting interested news organizations in California with these resources and opportunities.” said Dr. Brown-Hinds.

Will join 13 other veteran and emerging journalism leaders
Brown-Hinds will be joining 13 John S. Knight Journalism Fellows previously announced for the Class of 2022-2023. It is the first cohort to return to a residential fellowship program on the Stanford University campus since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. JSK fellows for 2022-2023 are veteran and emerging journalism leaders who will work on practical solutions to address the industry’s long-standing neglect of underserved communities. The international JSK Fellows for 2022-2023 are accomplished journalists from five countries who will pursue a range of innovative ideas that seek to champion press freedom in a world where journalists and independent media are increasingly under attack.

The fellowship runs from Sept. 6, 2022, to June 2, 2023. The fellows will document their work publicly throughout the year, highlighting key strategies and lessons learned.

Brown-Hinds was a 2022 JSK Community Impact Fellow, a remote fellowship program for U.S. journalists working to address news and information gaps in their local underserved and underrepresented communities. During the past two years, JSK supported 21 local journalism leaders with stipends, coaching and peer-to-peer learning via Zoom as they worked in their communities.

Building on previous work
In her senior fellowship, Brown-Hinds will build on work she began remotely as a JSK Community Impact Fellow. Her project included identifying data sources, resources, and datasets with the goal of making solutions-oriented data reporting on racial justice accessible to the Black press in California. During her impact fellowship, she learned the resources at Stanford were many, quite accessible and could enhance reporting, especially for news organizations serving communities of color, not just the Black press.

“There’s a real need for a connector between available resources – including data training opportunities and funding – and local news organizations who serve the information needs of diverse communities in California. Paulette has deep experience and is perfectly situated at the intersection of community journalism serving diverse communities, data innovation and philanthropy. We are thrilled that she’ll be doing this work at Stanford, and hope she might create templates that could be used by local news organizations across the country.” said Dawn Garcia, JSK director.

Second generation legacy publisher
As a second-generation publisher of Black Voice News, Brown-Hinds is transforming the 50-year-old weekly print outlet into a digital, solutions-oriented data journalism and justice-focused community news organization. She is leading the transformation to data reporting through two projects: Mapping Black California and DaHUB. Structured within a community mapping framework, Mapping Black California encourages community collaboration around data and information by bringing together community media, community based organizations, and educational institutions.

As past president of the California News Publishers Association and current board member of the California Press Foundation, she works to strengthen the state’s information ecosystem as an essential part of the civic and community infrastructure. In 2019 she co-founded Media in Color, a philanthropically funded initiative designed to assist legacy media outlets serving communities of color with digital transformation. She has also led an effort to create a guidebook for California-based community foundations, community media, and philanthropy to financially support local journalism.

Brown-Hinds has been awarded Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge funding, was a Knight Digital Media Fellow and a Salzburg Seminar in American Studies Fellow. She is a member of the American Press Institute, James Irvine Foundation, and Inland Empire Community Foundation boards of directors.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—Come and get enlightened at the Victor Valley Museum on Saturday, July 30 at 1 p.m. for an Artist Talk with Barbara Gothard who will speak about her visual interpretation, Contradictions – Bringing the Past Forward exhibit honoring the legacy of 23 African American homesteaders who settled in the far eastern Mojave Desert in 1910.

She will be joined with special guest, Mojave National Preserve archaeologist David Nichols, who will be onsite to provide insight on some of the objects discovered in the Mojave Desert occupied by the African American homesteaders.

The exhibit will continue to be on display through Aug. 10, 2022. Read more about it here.