Local

RIALTO, CA— Allanah was honored on August 10 by the City of Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, The State Senate Connie Leyva and the County of San Bernardino Joe Baca for her academic accomplishments. In the words of Madame Mayor “It takes a village.”

“Thank you all so much for demonstrating to my baby that all of her hard work has not gone unnoticed,” Vickie Davis, mother of Ms. Mouton, states. “She has accomplished something that many people will only see on TV or through periodic news stories that make their way into social media pages.”

She continues, “How blessed we are to have a front row seat. I’ve said it at least a hundred times and I’ll say one hundred more, I COULD NOT BE ANY MORE PROUD. Thanks to the love of my family, the beautiful support and encouragement of my community and unmatched joy that I have the privilege of knowing via watching my children grow I AM RICH. #richblessings.”

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Paulette Brown-Hinds, publisher of the Black Voice News has been named one of 10 recipients of Stanford University’s John S. Knight (JSK) Fellowship. The JSK Fellowship Program made the announcement August 4.

“As a lifelong learner, I’m excited to join the innovative cohort of journalism professionals — and especially excited to have access to some of Stanford’s finest minds and the JSK community of support as I work on my proposed project,” Brown Hinds said.

The JSK fellowship began in 1984 with a $4 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to provide a permanent endowment for the program. Their goal is to empower seasoned and emerging journalism leaders to close the information gap growing within minority communities. Fellows will receive stipends up to $75,000, advising on strategy and execution, cohort membership, and access to Stanford University resources.

“We’re thrilled by the wide range of experience levels, talents and types of local organizations around the U.S. that our new JSK Community Impact Fellows represent,” said JSK Director Dawn Garcia. “Their news and information projects will provide essential information to communities of people who are too often overlooked.”

With nearly 50 years of service to the Black community in Riverside County and surrounding areas, Black Voice News has been a family venture since Brown-Hinds parents, Hardy Brown and retired California Assemblymember Cheryl Brown became publishers in 1980. Brown-Hinds took over as publisher of the company in 2012 and has since focused on transitioning the print publication to a digital leader driven by what she describes as “solutions-based data journalism.”

During her 10-month fellowship, the information challenge Brown-Hinds proposed builds on the work of two Black Voice News data journalism focused initiatives: Mapping Black California and ‘DaHUB’, a data hub and content sharing platform currently in development.

The fellowship affords her the time, Brown-Hinds says, to explore how to make the visualization tools and datasets needed for solutions-focused data reporting on racial justice accessible to the Black Press in California.

Beyond the fellowship, Brown-Hinds is interested in providing assets for interested publishers.

“This includes a toolkit for news publishers on how to identify the right datasets, evaluate sources and translate statistics and numbers into meaningful narratives identifying solutions to systemic racism,” Brown Hinds says. “And drafting a playbook for Black media and Black community-based organizations interested in pursuing story collaborations utilizing data to solve community and systemic issues.

Museum Celebrates JTHAR’s 15-Year Anniversary with Exhibition

Innovative Art Inspired by Regional Desert Landscapes Opening September 18

The San Bernardino County Museum is honored to showcase the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR) 15-year anniversary celebration exhibition from September 18, 2021 – January 3, 2022. The exhibition celebrates this anniversary by showcasing thirty-five artworks completed during the residency.  The artists selected are at all stages of their careers and work in all media, including drawing, painting, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and non-fiction writing, interdisciplinary, social practice and architecture.

The museum recognizes JTHAR’s important work to engage emerging and seasoned artists in the Joshua Tree experience which allows for remarkable creativity as demonstrated in this upcoming exhibition. They also acknowledge the power of these resident artists and their resulting literal, abstract, and conceptual expressions to serve the cause of environmental sustainability, through influencing public opinion. Museum Director, Melissa Russo shared, “The San Bernardino County Museum is proud to host this 15-year anniversary exhibition of the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR). The museum has a long-standing relationship with artists and art organizations throughout our Southern California region, supporting vibrant and unique creative community through exhibitions and programs.”

Over the past 15 years, JTHAR has hosted 110 national and international artists from Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and over 17 states across the United States. Curator and JTHAR advisory board member Alma Ruiz praised the organization’s achievements, “We can only marvel at what the JTHAR founders have accomplished in a relatively short time. The residency’s reach in its short existence is to be commended and encouraged. Its positive impact on the artists’ professional growth is evident.”

Established in 2007 by founders Fredrick Fulmer and James Berg, JTHAR is a non-profit artist residency that awards an international community of artists the gifts of time and space amidst the extraordinary natural beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. Group and solo residencies of six to seven weeks include scholarship funds, living accommodations, studio space designed to accommodate a broad range of artistic activity and a gallery exhibition.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is free. For more information, visit http://www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On August 14th, Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted a community dump day in Arrowhead Farms with San Bernardino County Department of Public Works. The event brought in 49 cars/truckloads of household trash and tires, equating to a total of 12.25 tons being hauled off to the landfill with the assistance of Burrtec Waste. The clean-up comes on the heels of previous clean-ups in Little Third, Muscoy, and Bloomington.  Hosting community cleanups, providing additional resources to code enforcement, and infrastructure improvements have been the focus of Supervisor’s Baca’s first year in office.  

“I am honored to work with public works and local residents to improve the quality of life in Arrowhead Farms. I want all County residents to know that my office and county departments are dedicated to ensuring that we are responsive to their needs,” Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. stated.

Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. is the Fifth District member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The Fifth District includes Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, Arrowhead Farms, Bloomington, Devore, El Rancho Verde, Glen Helen, Little Third, Muscoy, and Rosena Ranch. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Dr. Scott Thayer has been named the interim president of San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) for the 2021-22 academic year, coinciding with the start of former president Diana Z. Rodriguez’s transition to chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, which includes San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino and Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa. Prior to being named interim president, Dr. Thayer served for four years as SBVC’s Vice President of Student Services and in numerous administrative, leadership and faculty roles at California colleges and universities over the past 23 years.

Dr. Thayer is well-known across the California community college system as an advocate for historically underrepresented students, as well as an authority on student access, retention, equity, success, enrollment management, and K-20 partnerships. He is a founding member of two non-profit organizations: Have Faith, Be Strong (HFBS)—a non-profit organization for childhood cancer awareness—and the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), a service organization that promotes the increased involvement and representation of young men of color in higher education. Dr. Thayer also teaches part-time in San Diego State University’s Community College Leadership program, where he mentors the next generation of community college leaders.

 Dr. Thayer received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from the University of Southern California; his Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from Point Loma Nazarene University in California; his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rollins College in Florida, and his Associate of Arts from Normandale Community College in Minnesota.

“I am confident that Dr. Thayer will be leveraging his extensive higher education expertise for the continued benefit, growth, and success of our campus community,” said Chancellor Rodriguez in an email to campus. “His leadership will be instrumental to our campus and district’s successful transition back to in-person instruction and operations during this upcoming academic year.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Saturday, June 26, 2021, Café Organix celebrated it’s one year anniversary. The vegan café is co-owned by NBA legend and retiree, John Salley. Their products are primarily made in-house with organic ingredients. “Expect a well-seasoned and tasty vegan cuisine. We will play with the menu to figure out the favorites and the foods we are good at making,” John Salley explained.

In addition to offering drinks and eats, Cafe Organix also stocks frozen packaged goods, tea blends, candles, and other products! There is an art gallery inside the cafe that features new local artist each month. The café also hosts regular events for the community.

Café Organix is located at  420 E Hospitality Ln Suite A10, San Bernardino, CA 92408

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Founded in San Bernardino, California in 2002, and expanded into the Bay Area in 2018, Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) mission is to empower disenfranchised low-income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs, and housing to create self-sufficient, and thriving communities.

Academy Award winner Taraji P. Henson will direct Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson in ‘Pepcy & Kim,’ a part of Iervolino Entertainment’s star-studded anthology project ‘Tell It Like a Woman’.

This project is seen by the non-profit as a means to expand on their mission. “If Kim could do it, so can other women,” says Time for Change Foundation Executive Director Vanessa Perez, “Kim Carter’s life story will inspire women as it speaks to our mantra, ‘we call it home, others call it hope.'”

As told by Variety Magazine, Hudson, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Effie White in 2006’s ‘Dreamgirls,’ will take on the role of both Pepcy and Kim in the piece, which is inspired by Kim Carter, a former addict who rebuilt her life, founded Time for Change Foundation, and has helped over 1,700 homeless women achieve self-sufficiency, while reuniting over 300 children with their mothers.

Andrea Iervolino, who founded the production company, said: ?”This trio is a marvelous compliment to the spirited filmmakers and talent banding together for this one-of-a-kind film, and their sincerity in delivering a ‘must see’ segment is simply moving. “We can’t wait to show this film to the world.”

Catherine Hardwicke, best known for her directorial efforts ‘Thirteen,’ and ‘Twilight’ has penned the segment—one of seven made by and about women that will make up one film, featuring the likes of Eva Longoria, Cara Delevingne, Margherita Buy, and Marcia Gay Harden.

‘Tell it Like a Woman’ producer Chiara Tilesi—founder of non-profit film production company We Do It Together—added: “‘Tell It Like A Woman’ has been a very long journey, almost six years producing this film, and we couldn’t have asked for a better ending segment in ‘Pepcy & Kim’….”

“I’m still amazed how God could take my pain and use it for my purpose to help so many others,” says TFCF Founder Kim Carter, “It’s a blessing!”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Each Sunday morning Wallace Allen and Guest host Tammy Martin Riles discuss hot topics on KCAA 1050 AM Radio during the “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) broadcast. This coming Sunday they will celebrate the 4th of July with hot pizza slices!

“We will give free pizza slices from 10 AM to 11:30 AM to the first fifty listeners who stop by the KCAA Radio Station! Says Allen, the host of the 30-year-old ETB radio show.  We are featuring slices from Chef Raheem’s “Pies On The Flyy” Food Truck!  He and his family can quickly produce a variety of both Vegan and non-vegan pizzas in their portable clay oven. “  

The KCAA radio station is at 1378 Industrial Park Ave. in the Burlington Mall east of Alabama street, one block south of the 10 freeway. You are encouraged to “Begin the 4th of July with a slice of pizza pie!