(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK, ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Congressional Candidate Sean Flynn attended the San Bernardino Pastors United Annual Community Block Party at La Placita Park on Sunday.

“It was an incredible event filled with food, fun, prayers, and celebration,” said Flynn.  “I enjoyed meeting and talking to families and community leaders from Ecclesia, New Hope, Temple, and the Black Chamber.”

Sean Flynn is running for the 31st Congressional District representing all or portions of Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, San Bernardino, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace, Colton, and Rialto.

Sean Flynn is the best-selling author of Economics for Dummies.  He is also coauthor of the world’s best-selling college economics textbook, Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies.  An avid martial arts enthusiast, Flynn is also a former U.S. National Aikido Forms Champion and coach.  Flynn is a small business owner and founding board member of a local non-profit, Employment Means Success.

The General Election on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

For more information on the Flynn campaign go to www.SeanFlynnforCongress.com.

Left to Right: Sean Flynn, candidate for the 31st Congressional District, poses for a picture with Carl Dameron Founder and CEO of the Dameron Communications at the Pastors United Community Block Party on Sunday in San Bernardino.

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— And yet, still, you are in need of milk. Shame on you! “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God…” [Hebrew 5:12-14]. I tell you, you got to grow up! Over and over we are told that God wants us to grow up. [Ephesians 4:14-16] “For we can no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ-…”

You know the author in Hebrews was desperately concerned about those who were lagging behind in their spiritual growth: The Hebrew Christians were lazy. The writer of Hebrews expected them to grow up, learn the foundational truths, and be well on their way to maturity. But by their own choices, they’d quit. They were stymied, moving backwards on their spiritual journeys.

Paul was both brokenhearted and angry at the many Corinthian Christians who had decided to remain spiritual babies: “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly…[1 Corinthians 3:1-3].

I tell you, there is a clear and present danger in not growing up. You see, Satan never bothers with half-hearted people who are content with a ho-hum spiritual existence. As long as you live with one foot in the world, living according to the world’s values and for the world’s goals, Satan won’t trouble you. You can go to church and even pray and read your Bible, and he won’t mind. But the minute you wake up from your spiritual lethargy, shake off the worldly mindset, and commit yourself to radical obedience to Jesus Christ, you will not only encounter spiritual opposition, but you will know that you have chewed meat.

I tell you, as a believer you must move beyond the basics of the Christian faith and grow up in Christ. God’s plan is birth, growth, and maturity. The Word of God: It corrects, it convicts, it cleanses, it equips, and it confirms to us what the Lord has said. The days of coming to church and not understanding the Word is over. Why sit in church just to die on the vine? Grow up!

By Lawrence Carey, III

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— UPLAND, CA— On behalf of the men of Victory Community Church and Pastor Tommy Morrow, I’d like to personally invite you to share in our upcoming 2^nd Annual Men’s Forum and Youth Leadership Summit.  This one-day empowerment for men and youth boys will take place on Saturday, July 21 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Victory Community Church and the Inland Valley News Conference Center located at 2009 Porterfield Way, Suites C, D, E & F in Upland.

The theme for this year’s Forum is “Men Pressing for the Prize”, Philippians 3:13-14. Attending this Forum can be beneficial, considering our current social and political climate toward African American Men and Youth. This Forum will empower, encourage and strengthen the Men and Youth Boys in our communities.

We will have experts leading workshops in the areas of Family, Health, Wealth, Mental Health, Business and Faith. The workshops for teenagers will be on Social Responsibility, Decision Making, Manhood and Respect. One of the highlights will be our panel discussion on What It Means to Be a Man. Our keynote speaker will be Mr. Ed Taylor, CIF Hall of Fame Coach and community leader.

Come and meet other Brothers who will be recharged, refreshed and renewed. This one-day of workshops, panel discussions and fellowship will go a long way in the lives of those who participate. The cost is $45 for Adults and $25 for Junior High & High school students. The cost is all inclusive and includes catered lunch, workshop materials, panel discussions, the keynote address and other amazing activities. 

Also, new this year, we’re proud to present a special Women’s panel discussion entitled, “What We Really Wish the Men in Our Lives Knew about Women.”  This frank and candid discussion is designed to explore issues that are at the very heart of women at various stages of life and how they wish to be loved and respected. You don’t want to miss it!

Take a moment to look at the website www.vccmensforum.org . Please be kind enough to come and be a part of this extraordinary day for Adult Men and Young Men. Please encourage the men in your experience, friends and family to join with you in attending.

For more information and to RSVP please contact Joann Washington at Victory Community Church at (909) 981-1195 or email info@vccupland.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Hundreds of children all across the Inland Empire are starting their Summer Break with brand new books to enjoy! They are having fun reading with their families and friends while keeping their academic skills sharp during the school break.

Children from San Bernardino, Rialto, Fontana, Highland, Redlands, Loma Linda and other regions of the county attended the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) Summer Book Fest 2018 and Resource Fair on June 9 at CAPSBC.

Assemblymember Elois Gòmez-Reyes stopped by to support the event and presented a certificate of appreciation stating, “This event celebrates the joy of reading and reinforces important skills that will prepare our students for successful futures.”

Thousands of new, colorful children’s storybooks and activity workbooks were given to kids for pleasure reading and family learning time during the Summer break from school. The books feature fun Disney themes and characters, including “Frozen,” “Star Wars” and “Snow White.”

10,000 new books ? enough to fill a library shelf the length of two football fields ? were granted by the Molina Foundation to CAPSBC as part of their “Launch into Learning” campaign. The books, valued at $84,000, provide free educational resources to help children, parents, and caregivers create word-filled homes this summer through reading and learning together.

CAPSBC Board Chairwoman, Dr. Margaret Hill stated, “With this wonderful donation from Molina Foundation, we were able to provide books to children in families for whom a book purchase would otherwise not be financially feasible. These books go a long way in helping children in our disadvantaged communities to learn and read with their families.” 

The Molina Foundation, based in Southern California, believes that book distributions can be an effective way to reinforce storytelling at home and create opportunities to build home libraries.

“We care deeply about helping children in their academic and personal achievement,” said Foundation President and Founder Dr. Martha Bernadett about the Launch into Learning initiative. “We know that giving out books and learning materials can have a wonderfully positive impact on the kids and their families.”

At the event, children were able to choose free age appropriate books and parents received a free Thermos travel mug. A resource fair with over 30 agencies were on site to give goods, services and information to help families. Kids were entertained by reading butterflies, got their faces painted, did crafts with Home Depot, and participated in the Super Raffle of prizes. There were lots of smiles and fun which can be seen on both CAPSBC and Molina Foundation Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/capsbc and www.facebook.com/MolinaFoundation

The event was designed to fight the “Summer Slide” when children are out of school for summer break, and are not as academically active. According to Oxford Learning, students lose 2 months of reading skills over the summer and 2-3 hours of reading per week is needed to prevent any learning loss.  CAPSBC wants parents to have the resources to help their kids achieve success.

Research shows that there continues to be significant academic achievement differences between children in poverty and their more affluent peers. In San Bernardino County, 26% of children under 18 years of age live in poverty. 

The Molina Foundation is dedicated to the mission of reducing disparities in access to education and health. Since its inception in 2004, the Foundation has partnered with more than 2,000 organizations and schools around the country to promote literacy and wellness. In addition, it has donated more than 5 million new children’s books in English and Spanish, and hosted hundreds of free workshops and programs for educators, families, and children.

CAPSBC, which was established in 1965, works with our low-income communities to address barriers to economic stability. This is accomplished under an array of services and assistance including food/nutrition, home energy and family development.  For more information about CAPSBC, visit www.capsbc.org

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— REDLANDS, CA— On Saturday, June 16, the City of Redlands held its first annual Juneteenth celebration at Israel Beal Park. To commemorate the momentous occasion, the city unveiled the memorial honoring the late Israel Beal, who was an African American who helped in founding the city.

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- JUNTEENTH BLUES… America became great because of slave labor! The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery and America became the beacon of opportunity for people all over the world!

People have come from all over the planet, migrating to the “land of the free and home of the brave”! Taking their lumps and squeezing through any crack leading to an opportunity for advancement!

The heat in America’s melting-pot, easily blended the white-skinned European, but could not generate enough heat to meet the challenge of accepting and absorbing the people wrapped in the hues of red, black or yellow.

Racism is a prominent member of the same family as slavery. However, racism is more efficient if not as blatant, an expression of hate! The language of racism is guised in, ‘We need to build boarder walls!” The idea of racism occurs when we hear where the wall is to be built. When we hear the POTUS say that we need more immigrants like Norwegians or that Nazis are good people!

Racism is a dehumanizing tool that allows people to rationalize that separating children from their parents is OK! Racism encouraged slavery to capitalize by selling children!  Racism is separating Brown babies/children from their parents at America’s Southern boarder today!

We are experiencing the same brand of racism that allowed slavery to flourish as an American beauty mark, instead of the hideous cancerous sore that it is! A birthmark that still defies makeup!

It is obvious racism when Black professional athletes are distained by POTUS for taking a knee in protest. Distained for protesting the lack of equal protection for young Black men! Distained for protesting police shootings of Young Black men! Shooting young Black men, the descendants of the same enslaved Black men whose unpaid labor-built America! 

The unpaid labor from forced immigrants that made America great, did create a debt! Protest is a simple reminder!

America owes itself and world observers an explanation for the obvious hypocrisy that finds Black Americans in a “State of Emergency” in the country that was made great by the labor of their ancestors! That same explanation just might expose why the POTUS is so determined to keep Brown migrants from crossing our borders.

“Walk together children, and don’t you get weary!”

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Industry Connections is WHAT IT DO! Tonight, come see what it do with ya’ girl in L.A. as we get it in.

It ain’t nothing like a networking party to kick things off for the BET weekend extravaganza. The event is sponsored by DRS Da Radio Show (LA 10510 AM) and will be hosted by ‘DJ 6PAC’ and ‘Dundee’.

The evening will consist of performances from artists all over. There will be a special guest performance by international recording artist ‘Iakopo’. Performing live out of the LUE Productions camp we have ‘Mack Pepperboy’. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show will be held at Habesha Lounge located at 5066 W Pico Blvd in Los Angeles. For tickets please visit www.daradioshow.com. Tickets are $15. Attendees must be 18 and older to enter.

Hope to see you there. Until next week L’s!

By Deborah Griffin and Ed Johnson

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— New disruptive creative technologies to SHAPE the new upcoming tech world that will catapult these next and current young generations to a world we never experienced before. The world and the industry are heavily investing in the new and upcoming minds to give access to the creators, innovators, film and sound producers.

Shape .. Saturday   … media … executive round table ….

There were many people from all over coming together to experience and contribute to this expo! The first order of business on Saturday June 2, was the executive round table panel with AT&T executives David Christopher (Pres, AT&T Mobility & Entertainment), Kevin Petersen (SVP, Device, Network & Services Marketing), Val Vargas (SVP, Advertising & Creative Services), and Wayne Purboo (SVP Video & Internet Product Management) to field questions from the media pool and comment on what’s next and how AT&T will play a role.

A question asked that came from the media audience regarding T Mobil inroads in the industry, with their impressive 2018 results from an industry mobile experience reporting site OpenSignal. The site measures data speeds and wireless coverage mapping side by side unbiased comparisons of the major carriers.

One of the panelist stated that ATT is including and innovating new services to be more diverse and strengthening infrastructure to close the speed gap. Also Introducing innovative content not exclusivity to lead the market in the development of the upcoming 5g (evolution) protocol now live in more than 100 markets.

Another question, how are you going to take advantage of the opportunities that 5g brings?  The response was, through advertising, marketing, transparency guiding principles of authentic customer experience. 5G and VR& AR will bring a whole new dimension to the market and how we experience our near future.

The different areas that will become common place with the advent of 5G, customer space, virtualized networking, how you will interact with your content. New platforms for businesses to gain effectiveness efficiency utilizing mix reality, a new computerized platform with less or no latency, content everywhere. AT&T is assisting with development of creators and the content creation and delivery for new customer experiences…Linear tv now is that limitation to be address … eliminate the satellite. dependency vs content download …

An issue was mentioned regarding concerns over use of phones and tech addiction? By giving consumers controls so that they can better manage their lives and use them as tools for productivity and resources of entertainment. By giving consumers a choice of controls and a set of assets to choose from, while not removing consumer choice.

Some technologies that are being put in place such as anti-bullying software, monitoring data consumption, and presenting messaging and notices specific to the user and their data consumption.

Check out additional photos from the event below:

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA —- In March 2018, San Bernardino Valley College was awarded 17 silver and bronze “Strong Workforce Stars” by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office to recognize it for increasing graduate earnings by up to 551%, as well as for helping students to attain a regional living wage and find employment in their field of study.

“Strong Workforce Stars” is an annual recognition for career education programs within the California Community Colleges system whose graduates show significant gains in factors important for advancing social mobility: a substantial increase in earnings, attainment of a living wage and a job closely matched with the field of study. The 2018 Strong Workforce Stars were given to programs throughout the state that met one or more of the following thresholds:

• An increase in earnings by 50 percent or more, based on a match to the state wage file, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2015-16.
• Attainment of the regional living wage by 70 percent or more, based on a match to the state wage file, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2015-16.
• 90 percent or more are employed in a job similar to their field of study, according to the Career Technical Education Outcomes Survey, for students who earned a certificate or degree and were last enrolled in 2014-15.

Among the stars awarded, SBVC’s psychiatric technology program was lauded for increasing student earnings by 551%, with 96% of graduates attaining the regional living wage. SBVC’s nursing program increased earnings by 53%, with 83% of graduates attaining the regional living wage.

Graduates of San Bernardino Valley College’s Psychiatric Technology Class of 2017 attend a graduation celebration on campus.

Other SBVC programs recognized included:

• Electronics and Electric Technology: 54% increase in earnings.
• Welding Technology: 53% increase in earnings.
• Diesel Technology: 56% increase in earnings.
• Automotive Technology: 137% increase in earnings.
• Automotive Collision Repair: 162% increase in earnings.
• Real Estate: 66% increase in earnings.
• Child Development (Early Care and Education): 58% increase in earnings.
• Environmental Control Technology: 79% of students attained the regional living wage.
• Construction Inspection: 73% of students attained the regional living wage.
• Water and Wastewater Technology: 79% of students attained the regional living wage.
• Pharmacy Technology: 207% increase in earnings.
• Alcohol and Controlled Substances: 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study.
• Radio and Television: 84% increase in earnings.
• Graphic Art and Design: 107% increase in earnings.
• Administration of Justice: 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study.

San Bernardino Valley College graduates prepare to participate in the college’s 91st Commencement procession on May 25, 2018.

For more information on the Strong Workforce Program and the California community colleges that have been recognized statewide, visit http://doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu/StrongWorkforce.aspx.