L/R Back Row Debutantes: Jordan Brown, Diamond Tabron, Rachel Harris, Sabrina Cook, Alexis Hoxie, Lakaya Hodge, Klarke Scott Cierra Gilmore,, Sydni McKinley-Parson, Makayla Marshall. L/R Front Row Escorts: Andrew Daniels, Kyron Frazier, Erin Owens, Nathaniel Byron, Donjae Owens, Antonio Crosby, Cody Tucker, Jordan Underwood, Jhaen Haynes, and Terrance Robinson.

ONTARIO, CA- The 2015 AKA Debutantes Nubian Pearls of Distinction of Eta Nu Omega Chapter in partnership with the Inland Ivy Foundation were presented to society in a formal presentation on Saturday, April 4, at the Double Tree Hotel, Ontario California.  The Debutantes under the training of Ms. Nancy Ross, Chairman and Mrs. Elizabeth Macon, Co-Chairman of the Debutante program and committee experienced nine (9) months of various activities, workshops and programs to prepare them for social grace, community service, high scholastic achievement, foster cultural awareness and training to dance formally.  The Debutante Ball is a culmination of the debutante program.  Congratulations to the 2014/2015 AKA Eta Nu Omega Chapter Debutantes!

Attention! Attention! Attention! This week the Album Release Party of LUE Productions artist Mack Pepperboy and recording artist Jet Tanner is WHAT IT DO! Two talented forces have united together to bring forth a powerful project!

This Sunday, April 12, is the album release party for their project titled, A.B.S., which stands for “ALL BOUT SALES”. The project features songs such as, “All I know”, “Backpack and Shades”, and “Birthday”. I think the name of the project is perfect for these two artists due to their nonstop hustle. When I say hustle, I’m referring to their push of their album sales. It is no secret how often they go back and forth out of state promoting and networking. They understand the importance of being relevant and staying before the people.

Mack Pepperboy is an artist with that Cali sound and New Orleans flavor. His bars and performance will leave you wanting more while Jet Tanner is an artist that brings that swag through his lyrics and his beats. Are they the modern day Batman and Robin but musically?  Well, I say yes! The chemistry just works. So, with that being said please come out this Sunday and support these two talented artists. Make sure to check out their music links on all media sites under Mack Pepperboy and Jet Tanner. Until next week L’s!

Come Support Please! LUE Productions Presents (The Album Release Party of Mack Pepperboy & Jet Tanner), Sunday, April 12 at the Office Saloon in San Bernardino at 123 N. “E” Street. The night will also include other Performances, live music from DJ Money on the 1z and 2z. There is a $5 cover charge, and a $3 cover for affiliates only. For more information please call (909) 567-1000.

MORENO VALLEY, CA- Holidays are all about giving rather than receiving. The greatest fift that you can give is to show the ones in need that you recognize them and you want to help them. On Easter Sunday, the Navy’s Master Chef Andre L. Harris; Le Cordon Alumni and Executive Chief Basil; and the Chef Nancy from Salvation Army came together to feed over 3,600 Moreno Valley residents.

(L to R) General Manager Butch Araiza, West Valley Water District; General Manager Stacey Aldstadt, San Bernardino City Municipal Water Depart.; Deputy General Manager Robin Ohama, San Bernardino City Municipal Water Dept.; Principal Management Analyst Bob Page, San Bernardino County Administrative Office; Government Relations Director Josh Candelaria, San Bernardino County Administrative Office; Assemblymember Brown; Amanda Saechao, staff to Assemblymember Brown; Division Chief Kenneth Eke, San Bernardino County Department of Public Works; Principal Management Analyst Eric Grubb, Cucamonga Valley Water District; General Manager Robert Young, Fontana Water Company; and Asst. General Manager Josh Swift, Fontana Water Company.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Key water district leaders assembled for a meeting hosted by Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) on Thursday, April 2, to discuss top priorities and funding opportunities following the passage of AB 91 and AB 92, the emergency drought relief package signed by Governor Brown on Friday, March 27.

These new laws were drafted and expedited because of the increasing severity of drought conditions.  The law will allocate over $1 billion, which will fund various water projects in the most impacted areas.

“As a region, we need to work together to secure the dedicated funding to protect our water supply,” said Assemblymember Brown. “If we don’t start looking at how we’re going to maximize that funding across the state, we’re going to be left behind.”

Currently, the legislation will add $72 million to the General Fund, $272 million to Prop 1, $660 million to Prop 1E, and $57 million to various other projects.

“Although this funding is just a fraction of what’s needed, it should help stabilize our existing supplies,” said Assemblymember Brown.

The meeting, attended by county administrative and district leaders from San Bernardino Water Dept., Fontana Water Company, West Valley Water District, Colton Public Utilities, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and San Bernardino County Public Works, also discussed water storage, groundwater replenishment, water efficiency campaigns, water quality for fish and wildlife, and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

“The water agencies have been meeting monthly to go over groundwater levels and talk about strategies for groundwater management,” said General Manager Stacey Aldstadt, San Bernardino City Municipal Water Dept. “We’re going to package together a regional request for phasing in a variety of different projects to supplement the water supply. For us in this region, the critical issue is getting water back into the ground and how we find that water to put in the ground. We’re moving forward with a grant proposal that we’re packaging as a regional approach.”

“Concerning the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, we’ve lost about 20 percent from the State Water Project because of the environmental restrictions in the Delta,” said Water Resources Manager Robert Tincher, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. “Basically, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan just finishes the State Project and moves the intake north.”

“The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is a local benefit to us,” said Aldstadt. “Groundwater has to be replenished, otherwise we have to start lowering groundwater levels. Normally we would get snow melt from Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, but we’re not getting that. We’re all connected to the Delta so if we can’t get water supplies and we don’t have natural recharge, we have to rely on artificial recharge, which is recycled water or the State Project.”

Water conservation efforts continue to be a critical component of water management. On Tuesday, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order mandating restrictive water use. In his document, he directed the State Water Resources Control Board to impose a mandatory 25 percent reduction in state water resources.

“For the past several years, our region has been an innovator in water conservation, turf replacement programs, water efficient products, and the use of recycled water. We need to continue to conserve as much water as possible and address our water needs,” said Assemblymember Brown. “Our future depends on the decisions we make today.”

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

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Last week, world acclaimed investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas met with publisher of the Westside Story Newspaper, Wallace Allen, during a brief visit to Southern California. You can view Anas’ extensive portfolio at anasaremeyawanas.org.

More than 30 Inland Empire youth attended the annual Youth Symposium

RIALTO, CA- More than 30 area youth ages 13 to 17 were treated to a wealth of information by local leaders and a youth panel and received more than $1,200 worth of electronic door prizes at the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Youth Symposium, hosted by the Theta Pi Sigma Inland Empire alumnae chapter.

Using the national theme “Building Partnerships to Support Our Youth,” the event, held at Rialto Middle School, included engaging community partnership speakers. Cynthia “The Tech Diva” Frazier led an interactive segment on proper Internet and social media use, as well as practical tips to avoid becoming a victim of Internet predators. 100 Black Men, Inland Empire president, and senior law enforcement official Damon Alexander’s timely session presented “real talk” on the proper way to interact with law enforcement officers.

Terrance Stone, founder of the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, gave the young attendees vivid examples of how to secure “mountain climbing” life success. Nutritionists Art and Ikssa Giovanni displayed examples of the amount of sugar, salt and fat found in common snacks, fast foods and drinks and the health pitfalls that result from it.

The event also included a youth panel discussion led by local high school and college students. Panelist Manny Gray, a full-time student at Cal State – San Bernardino who also grew up through the foster care system, asked the youth to consider his motto: “I don’t live life to merely exist; I live life to make a great impact.”

Other panelists included Kidisti Daniel, a senior majoring in psychology at the University of California at Riverside and member of Sigma Gamma Rho and Jaire Bowen, a high school senior, most notably known for his lead role in the February 2015 documentary Searching for Mentors.

Every youth attendee was asked to complete questionnaires before and after the event to gauge the level of learning and to secure input that will be used to further improve the event for next year. While several lessons and nuggets of wisdom were made available to all of the attendees, each had their own special takeaways. Door prizes included a flat screen TV, a variety of headphones, Bose speakers, an electronic tablet, a Kindle and other electronics for educational use and pleasure.

Generous donations in support of the youth were provided by the Riverside Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Pi Rho Alumni Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Riverside Kappa Alpha Psi Silhouettes.

Left to Right: Minister Joseph Hearn, Miles Jones, Sir Davis, Arlington Rodgers III, Pastor JJ Mack, Brandon Watts, Anthony Montgomery, DeVon Clay and Khari Bush

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-     The Social Lites Beautillion Knights helped bring cheer to children in the community and families to those in need on Saturday, March 28, at the Frazee Center in San Bernardino by helping serve hot meals to over 400 families, donating groceries and assisting in issuing Easter baskets to children in attendance as the children were greeted by the Easter Bunny, in addition to contributing and hiding Easter eggs for the Easter egg hunt.

The Social Lites, Incorporated 48^th Beautillion Scholarship Ball will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at the Hampton Inn & Suites Resort Event Center located in Highland.  For more information, please contact Mrs. Twillea Evans-Carthen, Beautillion Chairman at (909) 234-4989 or tevanscarthen@yahoo.com or Mrs. Bettye Brewster, President, bettyebrewster@yahoo.com

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Yes, this life’s journey is tough. It gets hard sometimes and it makes many of us want to just walk away, give up. But the devil is a liar! We have come too far to give up now! I decided that come hell or high water, I will not give up! I will not throw in the towel!  The struggle has been too hard and certainly too long, but like Paul, I am pressing towards the mark of a higher calling. I’m reminded of the woman in the Scriptures that had an issue of blood for 12 years. Twelve years of suffering in her life. But one day, Jesus came to town; she pressed her way through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. She was healed instantly. So to Hell with the Devil and his tactics! I’m going to keep on keeping on and I want to encourage you to do the same. Keep pressing and don’t let anybody, anything, situation or circumstance, stop you from pressing towards your blessing. I understand things will stand in your way. I understand that people will mistreat you, and they will lie on you. I understand that things didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to or the way you thought they should have. I understand that you are tied, but keep pressing because God is getting ready to bless you. Be steadfast, don’t give up. Be steadfast, don’t grow weary. Be steadfast, and don’t faint at life’s obstacles.

Scripture tells us that Job faced the crisis of his life. He had lost his entire family, all his possessions, everything. And his body was covered with boils from head to toe. He had come to a place where he could not take any more suffering. And he cried out (Job 6:4, 8-9) and said, “I have only one request – to die! I’ve had it, God. Cut me off!” Scripture testifies that Job had no known sin in his life. He stood as perfect as any man could be before God. And yet God allowed him to go through such despair that his life became unbearable (Job 7:3-4). Job was in anguish because his problems were unsolvable! He couldn’t reason his way out of them. He was completely at wit’s end.  Tied and ready to give up, but knew quitting was not an option!

I believe I am speaking to a number of Godly people who love Jesus with all their heart – and who are at a point of deep despair! Perhaps like Paul, you are being pressed beyond measure – tested beyond your endurance. Your strength is nearly gone, and you are on the brink of giving up. You see no way out. You want to run, but there is no place to go. So- how do you get out of it? What is the way to victory? All I can tell you is how God continues to bring me out. Five important truths He has given me: One, don’t think you are experiencing some strange, unique battle. On the contrary- you are in good company! Recall Job, Jeremiah, Elijah, David, and Paul – even me, God says. What you are going through is common to believers throughout the centuries (1 Peter 4:12-13). Why it seems that when you give your life to the Lord, all you get is suffering in return. No one, within the church or without, has ever understood how a loving God could allow those who have given their all for Him to go through such times of trouble and despair, but what we do know, is that everything works for the good of those who loves Him. Two, when you think you can’t go on another hour – when everything looks absolutely hopeless – cry out to God with all that is in you, “Lord, help!” {Psalm 55:16-18) (18:1-6) (30:2-3) (72:12.) Three, dive into God’s Word, lay hold of your special promise, take it into your secret prayer closet and hold God to it. (Matt 7:9-11) (Ephesians 3:20)…Take this promise to God every day, saying, “Father, You said, you’ll do above everything I ask. Today I’m asking You to answer my prayer.” Four, trust the Holy Spirit, who abides in you. The Father has sent His Spirit to reside in your heart. But you have to acknowledge the Holy Spirit within you! You’ve got to believe that when you cry out, the Holy Spirit abiding in you will answer. That is the secret, plain and simple: As you face your present hour of sufferings and confusion, turn everything over to the Holy Spirit. Say to Him, “Holy Spirit, You know the way out of this mess. I don’t, it’s completely beyond me. So, I’m resigning, right now. And I give up direction of my life to You. And lastly, five, always know that no matter what, God got you!

Listen; Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David and many more struggled, they fought, but they made it. They won. They kept the faith. They laid aside every weight and sin; and endured until the end. They completed the race. They didn’t just start the marathon, they finished the marathon. We too must finish what God has started in us. We can’t quit now. As Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.” We can’t give up now. Decide to “Live Radical” for God. Trust Him. It is only that you do not understand that heaven has commenced an action in your favor and God is at work in your life. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. His Word in Ps 30:5 says, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” There is hope. Keep trusting God. Keep travailing, keep giving, keep rejoicing, and keep fighting until the victory is won…  Hold on! God will bring His promises to pass. I tell you, there are incentives, promises and rewards to those who do not grow weary in doing good. I tell you, Quitting is not an option!

Start declaring and decreeing that it’s your time! You see, the Bible has much to say about the important role our words play in our lives, and all the more when we are speaking the Word of God over our situation. Speaking out your possession of the Word of God will bring about the desired change! Remembering, God’s Word does not return void and He watches over His Word to perform it (Isaiah 55:11 Jeremiah 1:12).  In other words, it is His job to bring it to pass and your job to release the Word into your life by declaring, decreeing and proclaiming. All we have to do is speak in agreement and He performs it. Reflect back over creation and remember how many times God said, “Let there be!” Obviously speaking has great relevance and power. God has given us an abundance of building blocks in the Word and we can choose to use them or not, to speak life or not. Regardless of which we choose to do, speak life or speak death, the Word is clear. We will eat the fruit produce by our labors, our words. Declare decree and proclaim it’s your time to receive. To God be the Glory!

Yasmeen Muqtasid

By Yasmeen Muqtasid

Fox’s new hit series, Empire, broke records and rules during its 10-week introduction to the new world.  Empire revealed a new viewership that shatters all myths that people won’t tune in to see a majority Black cast with its winning ratings and non-stop social media chatter. The Empire has already conquered a viewership of more than 14 million weekly.  However, if Empire producers follow the suggestion of its leading male star—Terrence Howard—a powerful empire of the show’s fans and non-fans alike might strike back and quickly kick-drop what has become a weekly ritual for many African Americans and viewers of all backgrounds.

Recently in March, Terrence Howard in an Access Hollywood interview said that using the N-word in Empire would be more authentic and be in step with keeping true to everyday black life.  In a bizarre series of rationalizations, Howard says “that as long as you remember to take out the “er” then anyone can say it,”—he also said that his white friends use it with him.  This suggestion comes on the heels of Howard’s  nasty divorce in 2011, which he reported in court documents that his estranged ex-wife allegedly “hated black people” and would often call him names such as “monkey” and “n**ger.”  Lucious Lyon—we are thoroughly confused.  Which one is it?  Is it ok or is it not ok?  Obviously, Howard understands the sting of the word from his marital woes, but does he really understand the historical stench that permeates from a word birthed from such a hateful place.

To introduce the N-word to Empire would be to devalue the very power that the cast has established both onscreen and off-screen.  Using the word on Empire would be akin to African slaves tasting their freedom having established new free settlements in the North, only to decide that they miss their Masters and are willing to give up their freedom and to be enslaved again.  And that’s what the N-word does every time we allow others to say it—unchecked, whether one is black or white—it’s a step backward not forward for black people.  Using the N-word is an indication that one is still not free—mentally.  If you were free, you would not desire to use the word, because you would understand that the word takes us as a people back.  The word weakens the empire our ancestors built so that we might exist today.  I wonder if the same people who advocate for using the N-word would dare to say it in the presence of a Dr. King, Malcom X, Rosa Parks, Emmet Till.

Let’s give Howard the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he has not thought about the lasting consequences that such a change in the tone would have if Taraji Henson a.k.a. “Cookie” called him out of his name on the regular with an N-word here and there.  We must ask ourselves what would be the worldwide ramifications of having the N-word on such a popular show that touches the minds of millions of people.  This is a question for all artists on television, film and music—what’s the impact of this word when it’s memorialized in such powerful mediums.  Is that what we want our Black empire to be remembered for—the N-word—and a continual resurrection of the word in pop culture?  We must let this word die.

It’s ludicrous that Howard would even suggest in conversation to Lee Daniels, creator of Empire, that the N-word be incorporated.  I wonder if Jewish actors have ever insisted that Steven Spielberg use the  K-word in his latest production.  Yes, there is a derogatory word for Jews, but guess what–they don’t use it amongst one another, and their community will ensure your demise (as it should) if you try to drop it casually and say, “it’s a term of endearment.”

In the midst of such supreme success with Empire, one has to question Terrence Howard’s mindset to have even thought to share the suggestion that the N-word be used.   What should anger Howard and all of us, is the fact that so many black people past and present were killed and still are being killed by someone (white, black, etc.) who dares to think that we are “N**gers” and feels justified in treating us as sub-human.

The progress of our first black president, our first black attorney general, and our first black female attorney general in waiting way, are all contrasted against the real drama of the daily murdering and terrorizing of unarmed black men and women by police and vigilante American citizens.  Considering all of the recent killings and beatings of unarmed black men and boys from the University of Virginia—where honor student Martese Johnson was brutally beaten to the murder of Anthony Hill, an unarmed, naked U.S. Air Force veteran to 12-year-old Tamir Rice’s execution, why on earth would Terrence Howard think it a good idea to incorporate the most vile word known to black humanity into the Empire storyline.  The N-word is the last word that far too many black souls audibly or symbolically heard on this side of heaven.   Whether they heard it while being sold from their parents, while being lynched, while being beaten, or while being raped—one thing is clear, that the aggressors in each of these very real life horrors thought of black people as sub-human N**gers.

Words have power—and if we think there’s no power in what we call ourselves and allow others to call us—well—therein lies the reason why the only formidable “Black Empire” that will ever be realized is in the fictional world of Lucious and Cookie.

Yasmeen Muqtasid is the founder of Black Women Matter, Inc.  Black Women Matter was founded in 2010 to address matters that are important to Black women.  BWM uplifts, encourages and empowers black women–because WE matter. Yasmeen is a California native and UCLA graduate who loves good conversation, good people and good food.  Find her on Twitter @bwmatter or email her at info@blackwomenmatter.com

Maria Gordon, before and after

In the United States, alone, 37.9 % of non-Hispanic black and African American men over the age of 20 are obese, and 57.6 % of women who are non-Hispanic black and African American over the age of 20 years are obese (CDC, 2009-2012). However, with the rise in more health awareness campaigns and advocates, more people are seeking the desire to live healthier and longer lives.

Out of those health advocates is Maria Gordon. Gordon struggled with obesity and was later diagnosed with Diabetes in 2010 as a result of her weight battles.

“I know personally the struggles that are faced every day,” Gordon states. “From the challenges of eating properly, the motivation needed to continue and the thoughts that are often not expressed for fear of ridicule”.

In September of 2013 something amazing happened, Gordon decided to get serious with getting her health back on track which included eating clean, increasing her water intake and transitioning into a vegetarian.  As a result she has lost over 100 lbs and has successfully reversed Type 2 Diabetes. Now she is on the quest of assisting others to do the same by providing encouragement and being that positive force of reinforcement to ensure that they succeed in their weight loss journey.

“I’m not a fitness person who doesn’t really understand the challenges. I’m a real person with real results and striving for more results in others as well as myself. This is about being able to connect with people on a personal level, building trust and actually living by example,” Gordon said.

Upon changing her own life, Gordon felt inspired to help others by also teaching them that they do not have to give up and accept the diagnosis, we can FIGHT BACK! She is currently a health and wellness coach working towards certification.

Gordon’s overall goal is not only to raise awareness for Type 2 Diabetes, but to also inspire others to make a lifestyle change and commitment. Success is not only on T.V, its real life…. it’s her life and it can be yours as well. If you would love to speak to Maria Gordon in a more in depth conversation, you may reach out to her at MsMariaG1@gmail.com or visit her website www.ProsperouslyYours.com.