WSSN Stories

SACRAMENTO, CA—- With a signature on Assembly Bill 29 authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), Governor Gavin Newsom hammers the final nail in the coffin for the 710 tunnel.

“This is a historic moment for the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles ending this 70 year old battle,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden who represents Pasadena and South Pasadena that lie in the 710 North Corridor. “Now is the time for the region to lead the way in implementing transportation solutions that move us past a car centric approach to reduce pollution and improve health and safety.”

Assembly Bill 29 specifies that State Route 710 is from Route 1 to Route 10, abolishing the freeway tunnel once and for all. The legislation will close loopholes in both Caltrans’ Final Environmental Impact Report and the 2017 Los Angeles Metro motion that drops the tunnel concept for strictly financial reasons.

The legislation marks the second time a freeway option was eliminated for the 710 North Corridor. In 2013, a bill authored by former State Senator Carol Liu and coauthored by Assemblymember Holden, SB 416, eliminated the surface freeway as an option. This bill that was signed into law allowed Caltrans to sell the homes it owned to private owners. 

“It is gratifying to see Assemblymember Holden’s Bill, AB 29, pass out of the Legislature and onto the Governor’s desk,” said Carol Liu.  The odyssey of the 710 Freeway extension overlapped the turn of the century, imposed hardships on homeowners and renters, and disrupted communities for decades.  I was pleased to play a role during my tenure in the Legislature and to partner with Assemblymember Holden and our constituents on the way to what I hope will now be the end of this journey.”

Assembly Bill 29 is the result of a three year legislative effort by Assemblymember Holden that began with the introduction of AB 287 in 2017 as well as AB 533 in 2018. Numerous discussions with Caltrans, Metro, and most importantly, members of the community, led to the passage of AB 29. The idea for changing the state’s highway code came directly from a South Pasadena resident.

Holden’s attempts to impact the region’s transportation future is not limited to Sacramento. In 2017 he urged LA Metro to remove the tunnel from consideration as an alternative, and to immediately begin allocating Measure R funds to projects in the area that would benefit the community. In September he sent a letter to LA Metro urging them to use Measure R dollars to best move people in the region, improve health and safety, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Changing the Highway Code makes it clear and unequivocal that there is no place for the 710 surface or tunnel route,” said Joanne Nuckols, longtime activist and South Pasadena Preservation Foundation Board Member. “But our fight is not over yet, we must make sure the projects implemented in the region improve air quality and don’t encourage more people to drive – which is why we fought the freeway extension in the first place.”

“As our state and cities integrate smart growth and transit oriented development into our evolving transportation infrastructure with an eye towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, this victory against the freeway tunnel represents a critical shift in how we envision our new transportation future,” said Holden. “I look forward to supporting local cities as they move forward with their proposals to improve the corridor and generate jobs.”

With the immediate success at the launch of the I Love Teachers network and benefits platform, I Love Teachers continues to make strides in teacher recognition. The latest addition to the I Love Teachers appreciation arsenal is the inclusion of two contests: Teacher of the Month and Classroom of the Month. Beginning in November 2019, winners of these two contests will be featured in the monthly ILT Bulletin.  These two contests serve to show teachers that they are seen, appreciated, and recognized for their hard work and creativity.

The Teacher of the Month contest consists of nominations submitted by friends, family, and colleagues via an online form. Winners are chosen each month, featured in our ILT Bulletin, and awarded a Target gift card of $100, a Teacher Appreciation gift box (that includes 4 items chosen by the winner from over 8,000 combinations), and a one year membership to the I Love Teachers’ Benefits platform. This platform provides access to over 1.3 million nationwide offers. 

In order for Classroom of the Month contest submissions to be viewed and admired by all, the submission process differs slightly from that of the Teacher of the Month contest. Teachers submit photos of their own classroom, or the classroom of a teacher they believe should win, via the Lounge, a publicly-visible social platform. Each month’s winning classroom submission will be awarded a Target gift card of $100, a Teacher Appreciation gift box, and a one year membership to the I Love Teachers’ Benefits platform. 

What makes these a great addition to I Love Teachers? They are a vessel for direct interaction with the ILT family of teachers across the US, and a way to continue to show support and appreciation for teachers. Recognizing the efforts and creativity of teachers helps to remind each and every one how very special, unique, talented and important they are. 

Learn more about the contests and for more information, contact Katherine Ward at I Love Teachers at katiew@iloveteachers.com or visit https://lounge.iloveteachers.com. 

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media 

On Oct. 10, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 539. The legislation puts restrictions on predatory lending practices in California he says “creates debt traps for families already struggling financially.” Critics say lenders who offer these high-interest loans target disadvantaged people, large numbers of them Black and Brown consumers living in some of the most underserved census tracts in the state. These are Californians who are typically denied traditional bank loans because of poor credit or lack of collateral. However, the high interest rates on these loans can be crippling.  According to documents provided to California Black Media, a LoanMe Inc. loan for around $5,000 would require a payback of $42,000 over seven years at a 115 percent annual percentage rate! Tacking interest rates on loans as high as 200 percent sometimes,  in addition to hidden fees, predatory lenders, critics tell us, typically structure their loans in ways that force people who sign up for them to constantly re-borrow money to pay off the mounting debts they already owe.  “Many Californians living paycheck to paycheck are exploited by predatory lending practices each year,” said Newsom.  “Defaulting on high-cost, high-interest rate installment loans push families further into poverty instead of pulling them out. These families deserve better, and this industry must be held to account.” The new legislation restricts the amount of interest that can be levied on loans ranging from $2,500-10,000 to 36 percent, plus the federal funds rate.  “Gov. Newsom’s signature on AB 539 sends a strong message that California will not allow lenders to thrive on high-cost loans that often leave consumers worse off than when they started,” said Assemblymember Monique Lim?n (D-Santa Barbara,) co-author of the bill.

“I am grateful to the broad coalition of community groups, faith leaders, local governments, and responsible lenders who supported this historic achievement and helped us achieve strong bipartisan support of this legislation.” Limon has been campaigning for the passage of AB 539 for more than two years now. She is also a champion for financial education that informs consumers about the dangers of high-interest loans.  Assemblymember Timothy Grayson (D-Concord), a co-author of the bill, says the governor signing the bill signals the end of the worst kinds of abusive loans in the state. “Californians deserve real access to capital, not exploitative loans that trap them in perpetual payments and compounding debt,” said Grayson. “We must do more to protect financially vulnerable, hardworking families from predatory lenders who profit off their devastation.” Figures from the California Department of Business Oversight (CBO) reveal that in 2016 the total dollar amount for payday loans in the state was $3.14 billion. The CBO also stated that seniors now represent the largest group taking out payday loans and more than 400,000 consumers in the state took out 10 payday loans in 2016. A third of those high-cost loans ended up in default.  Not everyone is cheering the passage of AB 539. Those opponents say the bill is restrictive and undermines the values of free-market capitalism.  The California-Hawaii chapter of the NAACP  opposed the bill, arguing that it limits options for poor African Americans who need to borrow money in emergencies.  “We are deeply concerned about the impact AB 539 will have on small businesses and consumers. As proposed, AB 539 will limit lenders’ ability to provide a variety of short-term credit options to borrowers in need.” said the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in an interview with California Globe.

• Survey of 5,000 divorcees.
• 1/2 of Californian divorces have ended amicably.
• 1 in 5 do not know if their spouse has included them in their will.
• Interactive map included showing results across the nation.

In life, circumstances change over time – as do the people in it. You will go through friendships ending, break-ups or divorces and this could interfere with your plans when deciding to whom you will leave your estate in the event of your death. It may seem somewhat redundant to bequeath your stuff to your ex but in many circumstances, this might be the most convenient case. Perhaps you have children together or spent decades as spouses before breaking it off, or maybe you have simply chosen to remain friendly in one another’s lives. Whatever the reason, sometimes your past is part of your present.
 
USAWillGuru.com – a provider of will & testament information– surveyed 5,000 divorcees which found that 16% of Californians have included their ex-spouses in their wills.  
 
The survey also asked divorcees if they had experienced an amicable breakup, and it was revealed that almost half (46%) of Californians said their breakup ended on good terms – this was roughly in line with the national average of 45%.
 
However, Nevadans were the least likely to go through a harmonious breakup with only 15% saying they ended their relationship amicably. Comparatively, Utahns had the highest percentage of amicable breakups in America with a whopping 79% of respondents saying this was the case.
 
You can see a breakdown of results across America with this interactive map:

Do you consider yourself to be ‘in the loop’ with what your partner’s financial affairs? USAWillGuru.com’s research also discovered that in fact, nearly one-fifth (18%) of respondents admit they do not know what their partner has included in their last will and testament.
 
Equal expectations: 85% of people say that if they included their spouse or domestic partner as a beneficiary in their will, they would expect the same from their significant other.
 
Respondents were also asked who they plan to include as beneficiaries in their last wills & testaments and close to 3/4 said they would pass their assets on to their family. 21% said they would gift proceeds to charity and just 2% said their assets would go to their friends.
 
It is well known how close Americans are to their pets. So it was unsurprising that over 1 in 10 pet owners (12%) said they have included provisions for their pets in their wills. While it is not possible to leave physical assets to your furry friend, you can put measures in place to ensure your pet is adequately cared for after your death.

Useful information:

https://www.usawillguru.com/california

https://www.usawillguru.com/separated-but-not-divorced-yet

https://www.usawillguru.com/excluding-a-spouse

https://www.usawillguru.com/changing-a-will-after-divorce

For more information, please contact us on the details below:
cherry digital | lifestyle | info@hellocherrydigital.com | 971-266-4667

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The founder of Provisional Accelerated Learning –PAL Center Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry will be honored at the upcoming Community Block party on Saturday October 26, 2019; 12PM – 3PM  at Dr. Mildred Henry Elementary, located at 1250 W 14^th Street, San Bernardino. Dr. Henry is a Portrait of an Achiever, she is still active within our educational system, educating young minds and mentoring and being an example for many to follow.

And yet, in San Bernardino, the residents are still being plagued with gun-violence, crime, and shootings. We encourage the community to not lose hope.  This is why the San Bernardino Pastors United -SBPU and community leaders come together, to take a stand in solidarity. The theme for the historic block party, “Our God Will Provide” Gen 22: 11-14.    

We are expecting thousands to be in attendance, Come early. At the event, there will be free food, free groceries,  free gifts and prizes for the kids, free clothes and free health checks, job resources. The host church will be Victory Outreach Church, located at 990 W Mill Street, San Bernardino, CA 92410. Pastor Rick Alanis Jr. will deliver a life-changing message. The SBPU is asking the community to join us, as we remain strong, through providing:  “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino, for more information call 909-353-7977 or contact the Victory Outreach Church 909-884-1921 email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Register by phone, or go to our website www.sbpastorsunited.org! 

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— What’s wrong with you? Vengenance is mine saith the Lord! “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;  and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.   Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Matthew 5:28-38]

Yes, it is hard not to desire retaliation when someone has wronged you. It is hard to “let it go” and move on or “forgive and forget.” But you have Me [Jesus] as your example. When I was “reviled, I did not revile in return; when I suffered, I did not threaten” because I trusted completely in My Father, [God], who is the One that can righteously seek vengeance [1 Peter 2:23]. Therefore, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. And if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” [Romans 12:17-21]. No more Tic for Tac! Because violence that begets more violence will not eventually end in peace. It will ultimately end in full destruction of all parties involved. 

So, the next time the serpent’s seed of revenge tries to implant itself in your soul, rebuke it in My name J[esus’] and pray for the one who is persecuting you. It will be healing to your soul, a balm to your heart, and a light to the world. No more Tic for Tac! Vengenance is Mine!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Victor Valley Museum is proud to host a remarkable conversation featuring Richard Allen Collins Diggs and Hardy Brown II, two historians with powerful stories about different aspects of the African American experience. The presentation takes place this Saturday, Oct. 19, 3 to 5 p.m. at the Victor Valley Museum, 11873 Apple Valley Rd, Apple Valley.

The emergence of a family bible in 1985 led Richard Diggs to the discovery of 150 years of documents — birth, marriage and death records — to piece together the pre- and post-slave experiences of the Collins family, from Africa to the Americas. Beginning in 1618, Diggs recounts the remarkable family trajectory including the first people to be taken as indentured servants until 1720 when they were forced into chattel slavery. The Collins family bible is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.

Hardy Brown II is the Executive Director of the Black Voice Foundation and Curator of Footsteps to You: Chattel Slavery, Objects from the Gore Collection. This award-winning exhibit tells the story of chattel slavery in America through the objects collected by Jerry Gore, a historian whose lifelong goal was to expose the horrors of slavery so that visitors to his hometown of Maysville, Kentucky could appreciate the daily perils experienced by enslaved people as well as the strength it required to fight for their freedom. The collection is now owned and stewarded by the Black Voice Foundation, and will be exhibited at Victor Valley Museum thought December 22.

Event ticket includes a reception of light hors d’oeuvres and tour of the exhibit Footsteps to You: Chattel Slavery.

The Victor Valley Museum and the County Museum’s other exciting events and exhibits reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating the arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The Victor Valley Museum is a branch of the San Bernardino County Museum located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. Regular museum days and hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the talk is included with general admission: $5 (adult), $4 (senior or military), and $2.50 (student), EBT cardholders are $1. Children under 5 and the San Bernardino County Museum Association members are free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

In third world countries – let’s take Nigeria and Haiti as examples – electricity blackouts are routine.

Power outages sometimes last for more than a week in Haiti, where only about 25 percent of the Caribbean nation’s 10.9 million people are connected to the power grid.

And in Nigeria, a country more than 200 million people call home, power companies provide electricity to only 45 percent of households. Losing power about once a day in the West African nation is the norm.

But in the United States, 100 percent of households have access to electricity. More than 95 percent of power outages are weather-related – and they only last, on average, between 4 to 7 hours, according to the United States Department of Energy.

That’s one reason, the recent massive, pre-planned Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) blackout two weeks ago in California, the wealthiest state in the nation, was not only upsetting to most people, but also hard to accept and widely criticized.

 “For years, PG&E has done a poor job on maintenance and tree clearing, and they’re still not even close to where they need to be,” said Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa), whose district was impacted by the blackout. “That fact, along with breakdowns in communication, are unacceptable. Sadly, poor performance by PG&E is par for the course, so it’s not surprising.”

The company is the largest electricity and natural gas power provider in the state serving some 16 million people from Santa Barbara and Kern counties in the South, up north to the Oregon state line, and east to the Nevada and Arizona borders.  

The P&G power outage, which lasted from Oct. 9 through Oct. 12, has been linked to three deaths. It affected more than 700,000 Californians in 35 counties and cost residents, businesses and the public sector over $2 billion dollars.

The blackout, the seventh scheduled one this year, impacted 39 hospitals, too.

PG&E resorted to cutting power, company spokespeople and executives explain, in designated areas of the state. Because the National Weather Service predicted heavy winds, high temperatures and dry air, the company feared those conditions would lead to disastrous wildfires if power lines – many of them supported by aging, worn-out transmission towers – were downed. They could spark, setting the dry vegetation ablaze, which could result in deaths and the destruction of property.

Last week, Gov. Newsom called the power outage “unacceptable.”

“Californians should not pay the price for decades of PG&E’s greed and neglect,” said Governor Newsom last week, slamming the investor-owned utility. “We will continue to hold PG&E accountable to make radical changes – prioritizing the safety of Californians and modernizing its equipment.”

Even as the utility company, one of the largest in the country, faces sharp criticism from state officials, it is defending its decision to cut power as a safety measure. PG&E also cautions that it may have to schedule rolling blackouts for the next 10 years while it updates equipment.

In a hearing before the California Utilities Commission (CUP) Friday, PG&E CEO Bill Johnson, along with nine other company executives, admitted the company’s shortcomings  during the blackout and apologized for them. They also assured state officials that PG&E is taking measures – including updating its equipment, using technology to limit the target area of future blackouts and trimming trees near transmission towers –  to minimize outages and prevent wildfires.

“We recognize the hardship that the recent public safety power shutoff event caused for millions of people and want to continue working with all key shareholders to lessen this burden going forward,” Johnson wrote in a letter to the PUC. “At the same time, we ask our customers, their families, and our local and state leaders to keep in mind that statistic that matters most: there were no catastrophic wildfires.”

PG&E is currently facing a number of uphill battles in California.

The utility provider is taking steps to emerge from bankruptcy after facing more than $30 billion in liabilities for wildfires (far more than its total revenue in 2017, which was $17.4 billion). The worst was last year’s Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state’s history, which resulted in the deaths of 86 people, gutted more than 18,000 buildings and ravaged more than 150,000 acres of land, including the town of Paradise in Butte County.

Under California’s Inverse Condemnation rule, utility providers like PG&E are held fully liable for wildfires or other public or personal damage their equipment may cause whether that company acts negligently or not. And if a power company tries to share the burden of its liability with customers through rate increases, it must prove under California Public Utilities Code 463 that it did not incur those costs because of an “unreasonable error” in its planning, construction or operation.  

Then, two weeks ago, a California judge ruled that PG&E will no longer have exclusive control over its bankruptcy process, a decision that caused the price of its shares to tank by about 32 percent. In January, when it filed bankruptcy, stocks dropped by about 52 percent.

Since the blackout began, Gov. Newsom, state officials and customers have continued to express frustration with how much the blackout has cost customers. In fact, the governor is urging the company to pay each of its residential customers $100 and each small business $250 through automatic credits or rebates.

Critics are also blasting the utility company for the way it handled not only the disruption of service but also its customer service response and public relations activity related to the blackout.

At Friday’s hearing, Marybel Batjer, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, echoed the governor’s irritation.

“You guys failed on so many levels on pretty simple stuff,” Batjer said, pointing out that the company’s website, which many of its customers were relying on for information pertaining to the blackouts, crashed.

“What we saw play out by PG&E last week cannot be repeated,” she said. “The loss of power endangers lives.”

Many PG&E customers who lost power say the lack of updates from the company was appalling, and they are now worried that blackouts could be more frequent in the state.

“I’m not happy with PG&E at all,” Santa Cruz County resident Satya Orion told local KSBW TV News. “We did not get notified after the first warning. What if someone has a medical device that needs to keep running?”

National Teen Driver Safety Week is Oct. 20-26

This week, October 20-26 is National Teen Driver Safety Week and it is a great time for California teenagers and parents to talk to one another about how teenagers can travel safely on the roads, streets and highways. Parents are encouraged to talk to their teenagers about the importance of good safety habits when operating a vehicle. Self-reported surveys show that teens whose parents set firm rules for driving typically engage in less risky driving behaviors and are involved in fewer crashes.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is reminding all young motorists to focus on the road to help increase safety for everyone.

The greatest dangers for teen drivers are alcohol consumption, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and driving with passengers in the vehicle.Throughout the week (Oct. 20-26), the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) offers tips to parents and caregivers on how to talk to teens about the consequences of making dangerous and illegal choices behind the wheel.

According to OTS

• The number of California teen motor vehicle fatalities (age 16-19) increased 2.7 percent from 219 in 2015 to 225 in 2016.
• The number of California teen driver fatalities (age 16-19) increased 12.3 percent from 98 in 2015 to 110 in 2016.

“All of us can play a role in helping to bring these tragic numbers down by encouraging teens to practice safe driving habits and really focus on the road,” says ABC Director Jacob Appelsmith. “ABC Agents are doing their part by conducting compliance checks at ABC licensed establishments throughout California in the effort to reduce youth access to alcohol.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens 15 to 18 years old in the United States. In 2017, there were 2,247 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver (15 to 18 years old) and an estimated 93,000 teen drivers injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Parents can help protect their teen drivers by talking with them about these risks.

To help reduce the risks for teen drivers follow these basic rules:

1. Impaired Driving: All teens are too young to legally buy, possess, or consume alcohol. However, nationally in 2017, 15 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their system. 
2. Seat Belt Safety: Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest ways for teens to stay safe in a vehicle. Yet too many teens aren’t buckling up. In fact, there were 539 passengers killed in passenger vehicles driven by teen drivers, and more than half (60 percent) of those passengers who died were NOT buckled up at the time of the fatal crash.
3. Distracted Driving: Cell phone use while driving is more than just illegal, but also risky — it can be deadly. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.
4. Speed Limits: Speeding is a critical issue for all drivers, especially for teens. In 2017, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of all teen drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
5. Passengers: The likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers.

Whether it’s impaired driving, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving distracted or with friends in the car, it’s important for parents to let their teen know that driving is not a right, but a privilege. It can be taken away when they don’t follow the rules. For more information about National Teen Driver Safety Week and to learn safe driving tips to share with your teens, visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving.

The mission of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is to provide the highest level of service and public safety to the people of the State through licensing, education, and enforcement.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency

On Friday, October 18, the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub “The Black Hub” launched the My Black Counts campaign, an outreach, education, and communications initiative to target Black hard-to-count communities in preparation for the 2020 state census and redistricting process. Time for Change Foundation is participating in the Black Hub to lift up the voices of those we serve and make sure our communities are represented in the upcoming census. Together, we encourage greater participation among Black, Latinx and immigrant populations in six key regions throughout the state, dispel myths and help ease fears about the 2020 census process.

My Black Counts is an educational awareness and persuasion campaign designed to help explain how government officials use census data to allocate federal funding for the state of California. The Black Hub is a growing alliance of 30 grassroots community-based organizations that includes a coalition of groups such as Alliance San Diego, Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Community Coalition (CoCo), Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), LA Community Action Network (LACAN), Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA), andTime for Change Foundation.

Time for Change Foundation has been on the frontlines, since our inception in 2002, to lead advocacy and civic engagement activities that address the disenfranchisement of black and brown communities. For far too long our communities have been underrepresented and underserved which is why TFCF makes it a point to engage our base. They support women of color during the process of re-entering their communities and reuniting with their children after incarceration.

“If we don’t get an accurate count of the Black population, we will be misrepresented in our political representation,” stated Sereeta Reid, Policy Advocate at Time for Change. “It is critically important for our communities to be counted so that we receive adequate funding for our areas.”

Since 1980, Black and immigrant populations have had below-average participation in the census. More than 1 million residents in California live in non-traditional homes, lack access to the internet or have been formerly incarcerated, which My Black Counts categorizes as hard-to-count communities. The My Black Counts campaign wants to make a point that Black is not a monolith, and all representations of the Black count matter, especially during the 2020 Census survey.

For more information about the campaign, please visit www.myBlackCounts.org or visit our social media pages at Facebook.com/myBlackcounts and Twitter and Instagram @myBlackCounts.