WSSN Stories

Youth attendees shared educational aspirations during the Wells Fargo and First Generation Films Go College! red carpet community screening of the award-winning documentary, First Generation at LA Live in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES, CA- Wells Fargo Education Financial Services and First Generation Films recently  kicked-off the “Go College!” tour, a national education initiative launching in Los Angeles with screenings of the award-winning documentary First Generation at six Los Angeles Unified School District high schools and culminated with a red-carpet screening at L.A. Live. Go College! Los Angeles was the first of 70 film screenings and a 10-city tour bringing together filmmakers, educators, subject matter experts, civic and community leaders for panel discussions to encourage a national conversation on how students and parents can make attending college a reality.

Filmed over the course of three years, the First Generation documentary is narrated by two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Blair Underwood and explores the problem of college access faced by first generation and low income students. The documentary profiles the journey of four students attempting to break the cycle of poverty and bring hope to their communities as they pursue their college dreams.

The Go College! tour features free screenings for students and educators at local high schools and other locations in select cities. At each screening attendees will have the opportunity to engage the filmmaking team of Adam and Jaye Fenderson, cast members, Wells Fargo private student lending experts and local educational leaders in a dialogue focused on how to make attending college a reality. Free information packets on college application processes, scholarship opportunities, tips to estimate college costs, and how to capitalize on various funding sources to pay for college will be provided at all screenings.

Go College! next tour stops include Las Vegas, Phoenix, Oakland and Washington DC in Spring 2014. In Fall 2014, the campaign will visit the cities of Atlanta, Miami, Minneapolis, Houston, and Dallas. For tour information, please visit www.FirstGenerationFilm.com/gocollege.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- During a 2013 mission trip to West Africa, local non-profit, Women’s Resurrection Ministry (WRM), helped bring electricity to a remote village in Ghana for the first time. Having rallied with government and city officials for over 17 years to bring power to poor communities in West Africa, WRM founder Cassandra Walker was excited to finally see their persistence pay off. In addition to expanding access to electricity in remote villages in Ghana, proceeds from the fundraising breakfast will benefit additional humanitarian efforts such as feeding programs for children and elderly, church planting and transportation in the village.

The 19th Annual Women’s Resurrection Breakfast, will be held Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Hilton Hotel, 285 E. Hospitality Lane, San Bernardino. Registration begins at 8am. Advanced tickets are $30 for single admission, or two for $55 through March 17th. Groups may reserve a table of 10 for $250. Program features guest speaker, Evangelist Marie “Mom” Brewington, Dr. Reginald Woods of Life Changing Ministries, and gospel singer Leon Hawley. Enjoy special performances, experiences and stories from missionary travelers and learn how the local community can become involved in international humanitarian projects.

To register for the Women’s Resurrection Breakfast, or make a donation to the organization, please visit www.womensresurrectionministry.org, or call 909-965-7878 or (909) 547-5572.

Halle Berry is one of the host of the event

LOS ANGELES, CA- Revlon, The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) and Lilly Tartikoff are proud to announce the 21^st annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women.  Revlon Brand Ambassador Emma Stone will host the 2014 event in New York on Saturday, May 3 and Revlon Brand Ambassador Halle Berry, along with Christina Applegate will host in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 10.

Stone will be returning for her third year to host the New York Run/Walk, while Berry is celebrating her eighth year participating in the EIF Revlon Run/Walk, and hosting the Los Angeles event with Christina Applegate.  The Run/Walk was launched in Los Angeles in 1994 through the combined efforts of Lilly Tartikoff, Ronald O. Perelman, Chairman of Revlon, Inc., and EIF with a second event in New York City added shortly after. To date, nearly one million people have participated in the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women and the Run/Walks have distributed more than $70 million to support women’s cancer research, counseling and outreach programs.

The Los Angeles race will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park. Early registration is encouraged and can be done by visiting http://www.revlonrunwalk.org or by calling the event hotline at (855) 434-3779. Registration is also available on site the day of the event.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) honored groundbreaking women from the 47th Assembly District at her annual Women of Distinction event on Saturday, March 29, at the Sierra Lakes Country Club in Fontana. The 2014 honorees were (L to R): City Clerk Eileen Gomez, City of Colton; Jasmine Hall, a member of the board of directors at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (pictured is her daughter accepting the award on her behalf); Sally McGuire, a business owner and president of the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce; Marge Mendoza-Ware, a longtime school board member of the Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD); the Honorable Grace Vargas, City of Rialto; and Vicki Lee, a homeless student liaison at the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – In recognition of Women’s History Month, Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) honored groundbreaking women from the 47th Assembly District at her annual Women of Distinction event on Saturday, March 29, at the Sierra Lakes Country Club in Fontana.

The recognition event was attended by the honorees and their family members and included special guest appearances from Supervisor Janice Rutherford, chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors; Mayor Acquanetta Warren, City of Fontana; and Mayor Carey Davis, City of San Bernardino.

The 2014 honorees were: City Clerk Eileen Gomez, City of Colton; the Honorable Grace Vargas, former mayor of the City of Rialto; Jasmine Hall, a member of the board of directors at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency; Vicki Lee, a homeless student liaison at the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD); Sally McGuire, a business owner and president of the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce; and Marge Mendoza-Ware, a resident of Bloomington and longtime school board member of the Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD).

City Clerk Eileen Gomez, a long time Colton resident, was first elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. As the Colton city clerk, she provides quality public service to her constituents by accurately recording and maintaining the proceedings of the Colton City Council and providing accessibility to official records. As a community leader, she serves as a board member for various community service oriented groups such as the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio, the Inland Empire Scholarship Fund, Youth for C.H.A.N.G.E., and Seeds of Hope, Inc., based in Colton.

Honorable Grace Vargas made history when she became Rialto’s first female mayor in 2000. She was later re-elected in 2004 and 2008. Born in Yuma, Arizona, Ms. Vargas moved to California in 1959 as a 22 year old single mother of seven children. While residing with her sister in the city of Fontana, she joined the California Employment Training Act (CETA) program, which became a major turning point in her life. She landed a job as a clerk for the City of Rialto and that position led her to several other promotions within the city’s administration. She was first elected to the Rialto City Council in 1998 before her election as Rialto’s first female mayor in 2000.

Jasmine Hall, a resident of Fontana, was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency board of directors in 2013. She was employed at Southern California Edison (SCE) for over 27 years as a business and utilities analyst. During her tenure at SCE, she promoted energy conservation initiatives to businesses and community members in the Inland Empire. She has also served on various boards and commissions including the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) Commission, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and the Association of California Water Agencies.

Vicki Lee, a native of San Bernardino, serves as a mentor to at-risk youth as the homeless liaison for the SBCUSD. Prior to this position, she worked with homeless youth and young adults as an evening manager at the Covenant House California for ten years. Ms. Lee is the coordinator of “Our Children Sing,” an annual program that’s held in San Bernardino around September 11. The program seeks to promote peace, unity and commemorate those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Ms. Lee is also an active member at her church, New Hope Missionary Baptist, where she serves as the director of the Drama Ministry.

Sally McGuire, a longtime Grand Terrace resident, currently serves as president of the Grand Terrace Chamber of Commerce. After 25 years of working at General Electric (GE) as a sales executive, Ms. McGuire decided to become a certified senior advisor and open her own business, Helping Hands Companion Care, to provide non-medical in-home support services to seniors. As a community leader, Ms. McGuire is greatly involved in the Grand Terrace Woman’s Club, the Foundation of Grand Terrace and the CJUSD Community Cabinet focusing on students’ mental and physical health.

Marge Mendoza-Ware, a Bloomington resident, is one of the longest serving school board members of the CJUSD. Her most notable accomplishment during her fifteen year tenure includes organizing the ROTC programs for the area high schools. Ms. Mendoza-Ware also worked in various leadership positions at the County of San Bernardino, Harvey Mudd College, the Claremont Colleges, and Bright Beginnings Preschool. As an active community member, she founded the Bloomington After School Program, which provides tutoring assistance to students. She also served on the CJUSD Health Advisory Committee, the Bloomington Save Our Youth, the Bloomington Municipal Advisory Committee, the Bloomington Woman’s Club, and the Republican Women Federated.

For more information, contact Ashley Jones at (909) 381-3238.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

When life fails to meet your expectations, you should expect God to do the unexpected. We become discouraged when life, people and God don’t meet our expectations. We believe that we live in a cause-and-effect world. We believe things are supposed to turn out a certain way. We believe that if we continue to do “A”, eventually it will result in “B” but life doesn’t work that way.

It is in these times that we need to expect God to do the unexpected. We have nothing to lose by expecting God to do the unexpected in our lives. God is always ready to do his greatest work at precisely the moment we begin to think things are hopeless. The moment Moses reached the end of his rope, God stepped in and said, “Don’t worry, I have everything under control. I am going to let Aaron be your spokesman and when I get through, Pharaoh will think you are God.” God’s power is far beyond anything we can comprehend, so why shouldn’t we expect God to do the unimaginable?

God wants your faith to grow through experience. Experience comes in following God one day at a time. We walk by faith and not by sight. God seldom gave extensive details on the front end. When God calls us He doesn’t give us all the details up front. God told Abraham to get out of his country. God’s call wasn’t that specific. Abraham didn’t know where he was going. God simply called him out of his country into a land that God would later show him. He didn’t know the details up front. Initially, the important thing was just to get out. The important thing was to take that first step. Without that step things remain the same. Actually it is much easier to just take one step at a time than it is to know everything beforehand. How many of us would have taken the road to where we are now if we had known about the obstacles in our path beforehand? I don’t think I would have been doing what I do for 15 years if I had known the hardships beforehand.

When you step out one step at a time it allows God to fill your life with His presence. It allows God to work through you to the accomplishing of His will. It will be God at work in you. Moses finally realized God was all he needed. God is all you need. When you follow one step at a time you will find yourself in the center of God’s will for your life. When you follow one step at a time into the will of God you will become more confident with each step.

We Must Believe in God’s Wisdom. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how young you are, there is one lesson we all must learn in life. God can’t do the unexpected with our lives until we do what He says. Even if doing what He says doesn’t make things work as we expect them to. Even if doing what He says doesn’t seem to make sense. Moses realized that when he did what God told him to do things worked “just as the Lord had said.” If we do exactly what the Lord says, things will always work out just as the Lord has said. This is the first great step we all must take in faith. Yes, it is scary to stop trusting in yourself and start believing and following God’s will. However, it is the only way to live beyond what is expected. (Scripture Ref: Exodus 6:28-7:5; James 5:13-18; 1 Corinthians 1:24-29; Ephesians 3:20-21)

Miss Brandy Bulter

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Brandy Butler of San Bernardino was recently selected to participate in the 2014 Miss Teen San Bernardino/Pasadena pageant competition that will take place on Sunday March 30, 2014.  Brandy learned of her acceptance into this year’s competition when the pageant announced their selections following interviewing in the local San Bernardino/Pasadena area.  Brandy submitted an application and took part in an interview session that was conducted by this year’s San Bernardino/Pasadena Pageant Coordinator.

Ms. Butler will be competing for her share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants. She will also be competing in the Miss Teen division, one of four divisions that will have young ladies ages 7 and 19 competing in modeling routines, which include casual wear and formal wear.  Most important, she will display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year’s San Bernardino/Pasadena judging panel.  Personality is the number one aspect that each contestant is judged on during all phases of competition.

If Ms. Butler were to win the title of Miss Teen San Bernardino/Pasadena, she would represent San Bernardino/Pasadena and the surrounding communities at the National Competition that will take place in Orlando, Florida.  Over $30,000.00 in prizes and awards will be presented at the National Competition while each winner enjoys this expense paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando, Florida.

Community businesses, organizations, and private individuals will assist her in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to her.  Through sponsorship, each contestant receives all the necessary training, rehearsals, and financial support which will allow Brandy to become a very confident and well-prepared contestant in this year’s San Bernardino/Pasadena Pageant.

Any business, organization, or private individual who may be interested in becoming a sponsor to Brandy Butler may contact the Miss Teen San Bernardino/Pasadena Pageant Coordinator at (877) 403-6678.

FONTANA, CA- The men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Mu Xi Lambda chapter, President Mr. Kevin Hall and women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega chapter, Ms. Annette Weathington held the 25th annual Oratorical Contest on Saturday, March 22 at Mango Elementary School, 7450 Mango Avenue, Fontana, CA 92336. This event was coordinated by Mr. Kevin Eastman of Mu Xi Lambda Chapter and Mrs. Twillea Evans-Carthen of Eta Nu Omega Chapter. Dr. Tonia Causey- Bush, Principal of Mango Elementary School; Ms. Patricia Yeary, Mango Elementary Third Grade Teacher; and Dr. Ayanna Balogun, Board Member of Fontana Unified School District was present along with Ms. Lisa Blacksher, Field Representative for Assembly Member Cheryl Brown, 47^th District. Mr. Aaron Lash, Jr., student at California State University, San Bernardino and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity provided a special performance of spoken word.

This annual speech contest provides the opportunity for students grades first through twelfth to have a platform to enhance their public speaking skills, promote self-confidence, educational enrichment, and to further facilitate character building in a safe environment. This contest was developed under “The Belford V. Lawson Oratorical Contest, and uses the International Toastmasters Guidelines.”

Competitors came from local schools in the Inland Empire, such as Mango Elementary School, Palm Avenue Elementary School, Parkside Elementary School, Clement Middle School, Summit Intermediate School, Lakeside Middle School, Heritage Intermediate School, Beverly Vista Middle School, Martin Luther King High School, Summit High School, Eisenhower High School, Grand Terrace High School, Diamond Ranch High School and Cajon High School.

All participants were recognized as winners and received a certificate of recognition for participation from Assembly Member Cheryl Brown, along with a gift bag filled with treats and gifts from various partners.  Winners were selected in three groups based on grade level. First place winners received a crystal trophy and a check in the amount of $200.00.  Second place winners received a crystal trophy and a check in the amount of $100.00.  Third place winners received a crystal trophy and a check in the amount of $50.00.

Winners for the following categories were: Group 1 (1^st through 5^th) 1^st Place – Akira Jones; 2^nd Place – Charly Baldeon and 3^rd Place – Samuel Huerta. Group 2 (6^th through 8^th) 1^st Place – Thandiwe Bush, 2^nd Place – Zaylin Jackson, 3^rd Place – Romell McKenzie.  Group 3 (9^th through 12^th) 1^st Place – Raihanna Melock, 2^nd Place – Brandon Watts, 3^rd Place – Cierra Joseph.

Since its formation in 1988, Mu Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has established itself as a cornerstone to the community and continues to do so with its four community service programs: A Voiceless People is a Hopeless People, Go to High School/Go to College, Project Alpha and its annual March of Dimes’ March for Babies. Through such programs and partnerships, Mu Xi Lambda has remained active in community by providing leadership development and mentoring assistance via the fraternity’s national and local initiatives. For more information regarding upcoming Chapter community service or scholarship opportunities, contact the chapter at muxilambda@info.com

In a similar fashion, Eta Nu Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has been serving the San Bernardino and Riverside area for over fifty two years.  Eta Nu Omega has conducted a number of scholarship programs and service events to encourage young women to pursue degrees in higher education as well as providing leadership development, enhanced academic preparation and character building through its well renowned Emerging Young Leaders program. For more information regarding Eta Nu Omega chapter events, visit www.etanuomega.org

John Coleman

RIVERSIDE, CA- The Riverside Branch of the NAACP will be honoring community photographer and journalist, John Coleman, at its ‘Freedom Fund’ celebration which will be held on Wednesday, May 14 at the Riverside Convention Center, 3637 Fifth Street in Riverside. The Theme for this year’s event is “Forward: The Movement That Changed the World”. Mr. Coleman (MSSW, LCSW) is a retired military veteran who served in Korea. He was also employed with the California Department of Mental Hygiene from 1958 to 1968 where he provided ‘in-patient’ services at Patton State Hospital.

From 1968 to 1992, Coleman was recruited to the University of California Riverside where he served as Campus Ombudsman, University Admissions Officer, Placement Officer, Medical Social Worker and Counseling Psychologist. Also during this period of time, the military veteran taught part-time at San Bernardino Valley College in the Community Services Certificate Program, and he briefly served as a Medical Social Worker at the Loma Linda Veterans Hospital.

Mr. Coleman’s has a resume of tremendous community service where he sits on several Boards of Directors, which includes Redlands Humans Relations Council (President); Inland Area Urban League; Arrowhead United Way; National Association of Social Workers; American Cancer Society; and a countless of others. He was appointed and reappointed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to represent the public on the Development Disabilities Area Board, XII (Area 12).

Currently, Coleman continues years of community service as the ‘community member’ on the Institutional Review Board, (IRB) , California State University, San Bernardino,  the organization responsible for protecting the rights & interests of human subjects of University research. Prior to his retirement, he was recognized as the ‘historic’ value of photography in his current role as a ‘community photographer’. He attempts to identify and photograph certain individuals, organizations and events upon submitting them for dissemination to local Black Press and Media outlets. (Rewritten and edited by Naomi K. Bonman)

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

What do you do when you face one problem after another? What do you do when the dust starts flying? When the smoke gets thick and the fire is too hot? What do you do? Do you reason with yourself and say well I’m trying to believe? Or do you say, “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another? “ Now the Bible doesn’t indicate this, but I believe it may have crossed Job’s mind that, “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.”

One thing about trouble is that, it’s one of the few things we don’t have to worry about running out of. If you want trouble you don’t have to go out and look for it, trouble will find you. Trouble is smart, trouble will dial your number, trouble knows your address, and trouble knows your name and the names of your children. Trouble likes to lie down between a husband and wife. Many times trouble likes to clock in with you on your job.  And can I just tell you something, trouble doesn’t even mind getting dressed in its Sunday best. It doesn’t mind walking into the church house. Trouble is a gossiper and sometimes trouble can fool you and make you think it’s your friend and as soon as trouble decides that it’s the right time, trouble will show its true color. Trouble! “If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.”

Job was a man who actually lived on this earth (he was not a mythical character), he was a man of great devotion to God; He was also a very rich man. He was a man who tried his best to avoid evil. Job was a family man, who had seven sons and three daughters. He had land, cattle, and servants. Job had everything a man could ever want. He was successful, but he didn’t let his success go to his head. He knew that whatever he had and whatever he achieved was only because of God’s grace and mercy.

One day (my Bible tells me) in heaven, the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord.  Satan also came along. Imagine that! Where we go, Satan goes. And don’t think that when we go to church the devil is no where around.  He doesn’t mind coming to church. He doesn’t even mind if you yourself show up. Matter of fact, He doesn’t mind you singing in the choir, as long as you don’t believe what you’re singing about. He doesn’t mind you shouting in the church, as long as that shout is just like a sounding brass and a twinkling cymbal signifying nothing. The thing that really bothers him though, is when you get down on your knees and start talking to God about your troubles.

God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” And the devil responded, “Ain’t no use of me fooling around with him, seeing that you’ve built a fence around him.” But if you would just remove that fence and let me have at him, I think we’ll see a horse of a different color. So God gave His permission (with some limitations included) and the devil got started in doing what he does best, tormenting a child of God.

Job received bad news one after another. One man came with a sad report, and while he was yet speaking, another came and another after that. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Job wife said to him, “Why want you cuss God and die!”  But can I tell you, through it all Job praised God.

Sometimes our faith can and will be challenged, one trial after another.  Sometimes, trouble comes in doubles, and sometimes even in triples. But Job, He decided to hold on to God’s unchanging hand. What an example of faith! No matter what happens to us, no matter what the devil has in store, we need to have faith and know WHOM it is that we have placed our confidence in. For He is the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. He rules! Hallelujah!  So be encouraged, and know that the God we serve is much too merciful to leave us with nothing.  Know WHOM you have placed your confidence in.

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It was recently announced by Bluewater Productions of plans to release a new comic book biography on the life of Tyler Perry, who will be part of the popular Fame series.  Fame: Tyler Perry is scheduled to be released on April 2nd and will be 32 pages available in both print and digital.

Mr. Perry is known for wearing many different hats and wigs, such as actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, producer, author, and now comic book character.  His inspiring life story has had dramatic highs and lows that have launched him to super stardom.  Perry ’s signature Madea character continues to entertain and break box office records.

Written by CR Ward with art by Steven Wilcox.  The comic book features two unique covers illustrated by famed comic book artist Mario Gully and Jaume Font.

“There are some celebrities we have done that are just media sensations, then you have someone like Tyler Perry who is a major inspiration to so many people.  I have such respect for him and his story after working on this comic book”, said Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis.

Print copies of FAME Tyler Perry can be ordered for $3.99 at Comic Flea Market here: http://bit.ly/XKXzyo

You can download this title on Wowio, ComiXology, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, My Digital Comics, Overdrive, Iverse, iTunes, Kindle, Biblioboard, ComicBin, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold.

Bluewater has focused on other celebrities in the past such as Jennifer Lawrence, Beyonce, Oprah, 50 Cent and more.