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COLTON, CA— On Thursday, April 14, a ribbon cutting ceremony and mural recognition was held at Elizabeth Davis Park located at 1055 West Laurel Drive in Colton for two newly renovated basketball courts. Project Backboard partnered with City of Colton, Operation New Hope, Five Star Basketball and Blue Shield of California to make the unveiling possible.

This mural is the first step in the much larger project to update and revamp the entire park for the surrounding community. This event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by an open basketball game and a family zone featuring inflatables and games for children. The mural, court renovation, new backboards, and rims were jointly sponsored by Blue Shield of California and Five Star Basketball. This sponsorship is part of Blue Shield of California’s efforts to support community revitalization and resiliency efforts.

VICTORVILLE, CA— This past weekend, Burning Bush Church in Victorville and VaccinateALL58, hosted a ‘Party with a Purpose Easter Extravaganza’. The event was led by Bishop David Denson, Jr. where the community celebrated Easter with a day of family fun, fellowship and wellness. COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and testing were available for ages 5 and older.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Recently, Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted his first “College and Career Day” for over 200 high school seniors that are a part of San Bernardino, Rialto, and Colton Joint Unified School Districts. The event took place at the Workforce Inland Center in San Bernardino and was meant to assist high school seniors explore their options after high school. The event had over 20 vendors that had informative and interactive information regarding both jobs and college education opportunities after high school, for students who were interested in either. They were taught how to create a strong resume, how to dress for an interview, and even explore various jobs with our County Fire, Police, and EMT departments and dozens of other workforce departments and explore post-secondary opportunities.

“Not every student knows what their future is going to look like after high school. Not everyone has a set plan and that is okay. But to sit and have no plan is what is not okay. Opportunities for personal growth in our community, especially in our youth are endless. I hosted this event because I wanted the students in our district to know there are opportunities out there for them no matter what they choose to do. Success after high school is possible for these young adults and all they must do is work hard and set their minds to any goal that they want to personally achieve. This event opened doors for lots of students in our district and let them know that our County is always right behind them every step of the way. We couldn’t have done it without all the vendors who came out to spread the word, so I thank you all for coming out to support our students and their future.” -Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

Inland Empire, CA – Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) is an organization whose mission is to train and develop the capacity of religious and lay leaders in congregations and across the Inland Empire to protect and revitalize the communities in which they live, work, and worship. Throughout the pandemic, this organization has done exceptional COVID education and vaccine outreach through various initiatives, including virtual town halls, outreach campaigns, and vaccination clinics in San Bernardino County.

COPE has established strong partnerships with San Bernardino County, Loma Linda Hospital, as well as San Bernardino High School to conduct COVID outreach and vaccination clinics. COPE also utilizes relationships with local community faith partners to connect regularly and coordinate clinic dates. One such partnership that COPE formed is with Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches (IECAAC). Together, they have been able to reach a broader faith-based community. Another partnership with San Bernardino Unified School District has allowed COPE to host vaccination clinics at San Bernardino High School, reaching the school age community.

Some of COPE’s outreach has been by way of virtual town halls, which allows the organization to reach a greater number of congregations and members of the community through social media. These town halls, which are conducted before their upcoming vaccination clinics, have allowed a direct platform for community members to have their questions and concerns about COVID addressed. This platform has been important for COPE as it has been a vital part of their Education for the community as well as given them the ability to understand what people’s fears are. Dates for upcoming clinics and registration links are also provided during announcements at these town halls. In conjunction with the town halls, COPE was also able to launch their Essential Faith campaign which included African American Faith leaders and churches in San Bernardino County communities, with the mission to further share COVID information and discuss the concerns and importance of getting vaccinated.

Laniea King, an administrator and lead on COVID support for COPE said; “One of the most important aspects of this work is community. And so, I think that in this climate, we still have more work to do. We still have to be diligent and make sure that we’re continuing to take the necessary precautions in order to overcome this virus.” Speaking about COPE itself, Laniea said; “As an organization, COPE is committed to continuing this work and will continue to do our due diligence in educating and vaccinating our community”.

To learn more about C.O.P.E. and Administrative Lead Laniea King, visit: Copesite.org.

San Bernardino County Fire Station 304, located in the City of Hesperia, has welcomed a new water tender into service. According to the department, the new tender carries 1,800 gallons of water and can pump 500 gallons per minute!

Captain Jeremy Kern said that the unit’s multi-use package will allow the tender to function on a multitude of fires. It has a remote joystick in the cab, allowing crews to stay inside while directing the flow of water, nozzle pattern and direction.

“While many of our areas utilize municipal fire hydrants, this new tender will help bring additional water to the scene when a hydrant isn’t nearby,” said Kern. “The high ground clearance, four-wheel drive and rear locker will allow the vehicle to traverse rough terrain and make access like a Brush Engine or Brush Patrol.”

This new tender will be a wonderful addition to our public safety efforts in Hesperia, and the entire High Desert.

Volunteers are still needed for the Community Health & Wellness Holistic Fair. The is event is Saturday April 16, volunteers would be needed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you available to help, please visit https://forms.gle/JxxZECAy2gVY5TZFA to sign up.  And of course, if you cannot attend or volunteer, please share the flyer with your friends, your family, and on all your social media platforms.

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Officials in Sacramento and Washington frequently point to the low unemployment rate in the state and around the country as proof that the U.S. economy has recovered from the downturn experienced during the global COVID-19 crisis.

But the total unemployment rate for Black Californians seems stuck at almost three times higher than the national rate – despite steady increases in overall hiring of African Americans in the state.

A sharp drop in the national unemployment rate for all Americans – down to 3.6 % in February — brings the number of people without jobs across the United States to just one tenth of a point above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5% (February 2020), according to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor.

In February alone, the U.S. economy added a remarkable 431,000 jobs, bringing the number of jobs created since 2021 to 7.9 million.

Cecilia Rouse, Chair of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, told California Black Media that the nation’s Black unemployment rate has drastically decreased since the pandemic related recession.

“At the height of this pandemic, the unemployment rate for Black people was 16.8% and from what we saw this month, it is down to 6.2%,” she said.

Overall, unemployment in California is also down from a pinnacle in 2020 during the peak of the pandemic. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined 10.5 percentage points from April 2020 to February 2022, from 15.9% to 5.4%.

According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the state’s economy has added 2,405,900 nonfarm jobs, “in effect, recovering 87.2% of the nonfarm jobs it lost during the COVID-19 recession.”

Although, Black unemployment in California has seen a decrease during the recovery period as well, it has not dropped to pre-pandemic levels, according to state officials.

Black unemployment was hovering at around 10 percent for the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. At that time, California’s overall unemployment rate was 7.5 %, about two points higher than it was for February.

Although the unemployment rate for Black Californians is higher than the state rate, it continues to move downward.

From April 2020 to February 2022, California increased its number of Black workers by 59,000, going from 1,009,000 in April 2020 to 1,068,000 in February 2022.

Before the Covid-19 recession from February 2020 to April 2020, there were 1,133,000 employed Black workers in California, according to the EDD.

Over the course of the COVID-19 recession, the state lost 2,758,900 nonfarm jobs and the unemployment rate rose from 4.1% in February 2020 to 15.9% only two months later. Over this time period, the unemployment rate for California’s Black workers rose 8.2 percentage points.

Across the country, the unemployment rate for African Americans is also decreasing, dropping from 9.5 % in March 2021 to 6.2 % in March 2022, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

“What we’ve seen is tremendous improvement in the labor market status for Black Americans, Black workers,” Rouse says, attributing the improving numbers to the American Rescue Plan, the Biden administration’s pandemic recovery initiative.

“It provided the resources to help us get through this pandemic,” said Rouse. “The management of the pandemic is fundamental and so integral to this strong labor market recovery that we’re seeing.”

Since 2021, growth in employment for Black Californians has been significant in three industries: Transportation and utilities, services, and the leisure and hospitality industries.

According to the EDD, there has been an increase of over 50,000 Black employed workers in the transportation and utilities industry, over 14,100 in other services, and over 13,700 in the leisure and hospitality industry.

Mother-daughter duo Veronica Loving, and Tahj Crockom hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening for their new business Waisted Laser Lipo Spa and Medical Weight Loss Boutique on March 23rd in the City of Pasadena. “Supporting women-owned businesses can help fight economic inequalities and bridge the gender wealth gap,” says Loving and Crockom.

The grand opening brought out City Officials from the City of Pasadena and local celebrities which included: Dominick Correy (District Rep for Senator Anthony J. Portantino), Savannah Moore (Assistant Field Deputy for Supervisor Kathryn Barger), Ann Marie Hickambottom (Field Rep for Assemblymember Chris Holden), Ed Blount (Former NFL SF 49er and CEO of FAST5), Actress Camille Calvin (Lifetime Movie “Deadly Cheers”), and many others.

Crockom (CEO) and Loving (COO) are both natives of the City of Pasadena. They decided to start Waisted Laser Lipo Spa and Medical Weight Loss Boutique because of their own personal struggles with weight loss and concerns with the many risks associated with plastic surgery.

Crockom has been a licensed vocational nurse for 4 years at a weight loss clinic in Pasadena and Loving has been a registered nurse for 33 years with St. Luke Hospital in Pasadena and Huntington Memorial Hospital. With a combined 40 year experience, these women bring their knowledge and expertise to give their customers a positive experience and outcome.

The non-invasive Laser Lipo Spa is designed to help anyone looking to accentuate their beauty safely and without invasive treatments. In addition, the Medical Weight Loss Boutique is designed to help those who desire to lose weight quickly and safely.

The spa and boutique features include:
· Laser Lipo
· Cavitation Sauna
· Comprehensive Medical Weight Loss Program

Waisted Laser Lipo Spa and Medical Weight Loss Boutique is located at 680 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 108, 2nd floor, Pasadena, CA 91101.

To make an individual appointment, call (626) 406-2850.

The Wonder Woman Virtual Conference presented by My Sister’s Keeper Ministries will take place Tuesday – May 10, 2022, through Friday – May 13, 2022, at 6:30 pm PST and on Saturday – May 14, 2022, at 7:30 am PST. The virtual conference will feature four dynamic speakers and six workshop speakers. Confirmed conference speakers include Dr. Medina Pullings, Prophetess Melissa Smith, Co-Pastor Tawanda Usher, Apostle Rahson Jordan, and hosted by My Sister’s Keeper Ministries CEO, Dr. La Shawn Denise Witt “The Global Strategist.” Confirmed workshop speakers include Attorney Michelle J. Miller, Apostle Gigi Palmer, Dee Edwards, Gisele Marcus, Elder Leandra Green, and Pastor Miki King.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, we decided it would be better for attendees to participate from the safety of their own homes,” said Dr. La Shawn Denise Witt.

Registration is now open. Attendees who purchase their tickets early before Friday, April 22, 2022, will receive a complimentary copy of Dr. La Shawn Denise Witt’s e-book, “Multiple Streams” Don’t Limit Yourself.

Tickets are $47 for the 5-day virtual conference and can be purchased at: https://divinedivaevents.app/.

All conference sessions will be available for replay.

By Manny Otiko | IVN

Fontana Mayor Aquanetta Warren was recently featured on the CBS show “Undercover Boss.” The show features CEOs secretly working as entry-level jobs in their companies.

During the show, Warren donned a disguise and portrayed herself as a new transplant from Los Angeles. She worked alongside Fontana city workers in the sewer, fire, police and parks departments.

Warren was shown helping to unclog drains, picking up trash in city parks, going on a ride-along with a police officer and using a firehose.

During her adventures, Warren learned of some of the challenges the city was facing such as providing services to homeless people and the challenges facing parks workers who sometimes work in a dangerous environment.

She also learned about the personal stories of the workers such as the Black police officer, who joined the police department to make a difference, and the parks department employee who was challenged with dealing with trash left in the park including underwear and condoms.
Warren said she was moved by her experience.

“I have been touched by the stories,” she said. She also said the experience gave her a different perspective on the challenges that workers face.

At the end of the show, Warren rewarded some of the city workers she encountered with gifts such as a $10,000 donation to the Black police officer’s honeymoon and scholarships for his children.

“Undercover Boss” likes to feature heart-warming stories. But according to some comments on the city of Fontana’s Facebook page, some residents were more cynical about the experience.

“Did she go undercover at one of the many warehouses in Fontana, that offers no benefits and only hires through staff agencies?” said a Facebook poster named Karen Elizabeth.