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2017 Knight Jonathan Rodgers with Mom Gwen Rodgers

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-     Mr. Jonathan I. Rodgers is a senior at Cajon High School who was recognized as Sir Knight 2017 on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino through the Social Lites, Inc., 50^th Beautillion Scholarship Program.  Mr. Rodgers was awarded over $11,000 in scholarships and gifts to prepare him for his future college career.  Among one of the scholarships received was the inaugural Evan T. Carthen “Emerging Leader” Scholarship in memory of Sir Knight 2012 in the amount of $6,000.

Mr. Steven Henderson Jr. was awarded over $4,000 for first place and Mr. Akil Cooper was awarded over $2,500 in scholarships and placed second among his fellow Knights.  Congratulations to all Knights who are our community “Men of Tomorrow Pushing Forward!”

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA- Sacred Sistahs, Inc. will host its 9^thAnnual Shero Awards Recognition and Scholarship Fundraiser: “Embracing the Call to Serve” on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Praise Fellowship Church located at 592 7th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

Sacred Sistahs will honor several outstanding African American women who have significantly impacted the lives of others in the community including the Honorable Cheryl Brown, former Assemblywoman, publisher, and small business owner, Dr. Gloria Morrow, an author and one of the nation’s leading clinical psychologists, and La’Nae Norwood, Founder and Executive Director at United Nations of Consciousness.

Sacred Sistahs will also honor three high school seniors who have completed the rites-of-passage program with a scholarship including Sheba Jennings of Summit High in Fontana, Gye’Nyame Maat of Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, and Raihanah Medlock of Grand Terrace High in Grand Terrace who each will receive scholarships at the start of their fall semester in college.

Sacred Sistahs, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to empower, serve, and improve the overall health, well-being, spirit, and vitality of African American and African women and children by nourishing and elevating the mind, body, and spirit.

For information on how to register, please contact Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush at (909) 910-7564 or  visit www.sacredsistahsinc.org/news_and_events.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento) today named children’s advocate Tamika L’Ecluse as the Assembly District 7’s 2017 Woman of the Year.

Ms. L’Ecluse was born in Sacramento and raised by a single mother. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at American River College in hopes of earning an Associate degree in Science, but later shifted her focus to Early Childhood Education, and attended Sacramento City College. In 2006, she completed her early childhood education certification through the National Center for Montessori Education.

Ms. L’Ecluse became active in her community and social causes at an early age. Following generations of women who took active roles in civil and women’s rights, she began her advocacy campaigning against Proposition 22 (marriage inequality) in 2000. She also became a respected advocate for reproductive health options for women, gender equity, LGBTQ rights, children’s rights and anti-violence measures. Her advocacy has most recently focused on supporting healthy growth in her community by empowering parents and school officials to promote positive discipline practices.

After thirteen years of teaching in Early Childhood and Early Kindergarten, she joined the Greater Sacramento Urban League as a program manager, working toward reducing African-American child mortality in the Oak Park community of Sacramento. Ms. L’Ecluse has served as board member, Vice President and President of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the California Montessori Project, is an appointed member of the Sacramento Promise Zone Resident Council and is an active voice for community members who seek social justice, smart growth, and inclusive practices for all.

“Tamika L’Ecluse is a bright light in the Sacramento region, giving inspiration and hope to people in our community and throughout the 7th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember McCarty.  “I am pleased to honor Ms. L’Ecluse for her commitment and dedication to help students maximize their potential, to build a strong and diverse workforce and to improve the lives of residents throughout Sacramento County.”

The Woman of the Year event was created in 1987 to recognize March as Women’s History Month and to individually celebrate the contributions and unique accomplishments of women in each of the Assembly’s 80 districts.

The 2017 Woman of the Year event took place in the Assembly Chambers of the State Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2017.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Social Lites are an impressive group of women from various professions who have steadfastly dedicated themselves to the youth in the Inland Empire Community.  Over the last 50 years, the Social Lites have made many worthwhile contributions to the needs of the community through various charitable enterprises.

The Social Lites Inc., Scholarship Foundation of San Bernardino will present their 50^th Annual Beautillion Ball, on Saturday March 11, 2017 at the National Orange Show, 689 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408.   The Beautillion Scholarship Program is an event geared to recognize and honor young men within the Inland Empire striving toward greater accomplishments in academic achievements.

The theme for the 2017 Beautillion Scholarship Program is  “Men of Tomorrow Pushing Forward”.  This year the young men have demonstrated personal, business growth, development, and community presentations.   The six young men vying for the title of Sir Knight 2017 are Christopher Fulton of San Gorgonio High School, Akil Cooper, Jonathan Rodgers, Julian Houston, and Steven Henderson, all four Knights attends Cajon High School, and Vonte Walker of Arroyo Valley High School.   They all have participated in various seminars and workshops including Strategic Planning/Goal Setting, Cultural Proficiency, Social Justice, Self Determination, and Business For Profit and Non Profit sessions and the Black College Expo.

The young men have experience the value of community service through donations of holiday food baskets, donations of Christmas bicycles to the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino, also they have participated and volunteer as an usher at the Christmas Kwanzaa Event, the Martin Luther King Breakfast Event, and the 2^nd Annual BCCIE Black History Super Expo.   These young men have canvassed the community soliciting support through the sale of ads from family, friends, church family, and businesses throughout the Inland Empire.   The ads generated for this year Beautilion Scholarship Ball will provide funds for scholarships and gifts to be awarded on the night of the Beautillion Scholarship Ball.

This is strictly a “Formal Attire” event, the no host social hour beginning at 6:30pm and the presentation of these young men will begin at 8:00pm.   For more information, go to www.sociallitesinc.net or contact Lisa Blacksher, Beautillion Chairperson at lisasocialites@gmail.com or Bettye Brewster, President at (951) 204-0022 or bettyebrewster@yahoo.com, and Joyce Smith Vice President at 909-534-2929

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

What do you think about owning a Credit Union? Will you please take the time to respond to the short survey on page three and submit as requested…

Here is what I think…

Credit Unions are owned by their members. Credit Unions are designed to reward their members as opposed to paying dividends to investors. Credit Unions provide regular/normal/customary/traditional banking services for individual, as well as business members. Credit Unions are conveniently accessible via brick and mortar sites, as well as via the internet. 

There are some special services that should be available in our Credit Union; for instance, our churches should be able to access loans. Our small businesses should be able to access loans. Individuals should be able to access auto and home loans. Obviously, checking and savings accounts must be part of the package. All this must be conveniently available at reasonable rates! 

The Credit Union should have Directors that are known members of our community. The Credit Union should run as lean and efficient as possible so that the emphasis is on customer service. Employees and contractors for the Credit Union should be members of our community.

A mission of the Credit Union should be to serve the members and community as an economic support and development resource.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Continuing their efforts to serve, members of the National Council of Negro Women’s Inland Empire Section’s visited Meadowbrook Park and Mary’s Mercy Center in the City of San Bernardino on February 4th to give out over 200 hygiene care bags to the homeless.

“Our Section chose to collect items to prepare and give out ‘blessing bags’ to the homeless as a part of a regional Black History Community Service project initiative started this year by NCNW Southern California Co-Convener Dr. Helena Johnson,” said Inland Empire Section President, Milele Robertson.  “Our members stepped up, donating much needed items for these men and women, but so did our community partners.”

The I.E. Section’s Director of Communication Kimberly Clark secured the help of Sam’s Club in Riverside that enlisted volunteers for the day, Sam’s Club in Ontario that donated 200 bags with giveaway items, and Thrivent Financial in Ontario, which donated funds to support the outreach. “Without their support,” said Clark, “our event would not have been able to serve so many. We appreciate their enthusiastic partnership.”

“We were happy to help,” said Kern Wilson, Club Manager of Sam’s Club in Riverside. “Sam’s Club is always willing to donate our services when needed in our community. In fact, we do this quite often and we look forward to future opportunities to work with NCNW.”

Responding to the NCNW I.E. Section’s Facebook recap of the event, Financial Associate Tara Walker also expressed Thrivent Financial’s pleasure in being part of the event.  With these partners’ help NCNW members collected several hundred blessing bags filled with toothpaste and toothbrushes, chapsticks, socks, wash cloths, soap, batteries, sunscreen, lotion, and a variety of other essential hygiene items.

Having a key partner on the receiving end was equally important to the event’s success. Mary’s Mercy Center provided a great location to connect with people in need. According to Marsha Olguin, director of Mary’s Mercy Center, 250 to 300 people come through the Center each day seeking food, clothing, shelter, showers, and other needs. After enjoying a hot, healthy meal individuals also received a blessing bag from NCNW members and Sam’s Club volunteers.

“We are always willing to work with NCNW to assist the people who come through our doors,” said Olguin. “There is never too much that can be done to help others.”

In talking with the homeless, NCNW members learned how great the need really is. “We discovered there is a big need for blankets, shoes, and food,” said Jernine Williams, NCNW I.E. Section’s 1st Vice President, who led the service project’s coordination. “If anyone would like to donate any of these items, please email us at iencnw@gmail.com. On the subject line type ‘Donations’ and a NCNW member will promptly reply.”

To get a glimpse of the day visit https://www.wevideo.com/view/848077621. Also, to learn more about the local NCNW’s activities, meetings, and events visit us on Facebook at NCNW Inland Empire Section@NCNWIESection or Instagram and Twitter @NCNW_IESection. You can also visit the Bethune Center, located at 141 S. Riverside Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376, or call us at (909) 874-6000.

Members of NCNW prepare table a Meadowbrook Park to deliver care packets to the homeless.

NCNW, in partnership with Sam’s Club and Thrivent Financial, collected and distributed over 200 bags to the homeless.

Volunteers also helped Mary’s Mercy Center give out food, along with care packets that included toiletries, batteries, and other items.

Award honors college and university administrators who go above and beyond their everyday leadership duties and give back to their campuses and communities

By Iqbal Pittalwala

Deborah Deas, M.D., M.P.H

RIVERSIDE, CA- Deborah Deas, M.D., M.P.H, the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean and Chief Executive Office for Clinical Affairs at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, has received the 2017 Giving Back Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The award honors college and university administrators who go above and beyond their everyday leadership duties and give back to their campuses and communities.

Deas will be featured, along with 38 other recipients, in the April 2017 Leadership Support and Giving Back issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Giving Back Award recipients were nominated by their colleagues and selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on their outstanding demonstration of social responsibility; involvement with students, faculty, staff, and the community; and commitment to serving underrepresented populations. Each honoree is recognized for his or her passion, dedication, and support for diversity and inclusion.

“It is a great honor to be selected for this special award,” Deas said. “This is really the result of collective effort – both here at UCR and at my former institution, the Medical University of South Carolina – to inspire and help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their dream of becoming a physician.”

Deas was recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for her leadership in institutional and national efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in medicine, including creating of new student pipeline programs in the College of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and participating in such national initiatives as the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning Working Group.

“The Giving Back Award is being awarded to leaders of institutions of higher education who exemplify what it truly means to give back to others,” said Holly Mendelson, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “These administrators are role models, and we honor their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on their campuses and in their communities.”

Other recipients of the 2017 Giving Back Award include:

• Sefa Aina, Pomona College
• Philip S. Bailey, PhD, California Polytechnic State University
• Andra Basu, PhD, MEd, Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Venessa A. Brown, PhD, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Marc Burnett, Tennessee Technological University
• Marie Chisholm-Burns, PharmD, MPH, MBA, FCCP, FASHP, FAST, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Kathryn B. Chval, PhD, University of Missouri
• Patrick Coggins, PhD, JD, EdS, Stetson University
• Daryll Coleman, PhD, Lane College
• Gail DePuy, PhD, University of Louisville
• William E. Easterling, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University
• Nitza Milagros Escalera, JD, EdM, Fordham University
• Greer Glazer, RN, PhD, CNP, FAAN, University of Cincinnati
• Natalie Gibson, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
• Craig Hillemeier, MD, Penn State Health
• Lisa Kirtman, PhD, California State University, Fullerton
• Paul L. Koch, PhD, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Ming Li, EdD, Western Michigan University
• Elizabeth G. Loboa, PhD, University of Missouri
• Linda Logan, PhD, Olivet College
• Patrice Gouveia Marks, PhD, Raritan Valley Community College
• Shane P. Martin, PhD, Loyola Marymount University
• Maureen A. O’Rourke, JD, Boston University
• Rafael Ortega, MD, Boston University
• Tonantzin Oseguera, EdD, California State University, Fullerton
• Jennifer Rosato Perea, JD, DePaul University
• Clyde Wilson Pickett, MEd, Community College of Allegheny County
• Yasmin S. Purohit, PhD, Robert Morris University
• Fatima Rodriguez-Johnson, SUNY Geneseo
• Paula T. Silver, PhD, Widener University
• William Silver, PhD, Sonoma State University
• Kelli Sinclair, Waubonsee Community College
• Christina Swaidan, EdD, MEd, Westfield State University
• Charles Taber, PhD, Stony Brook University
• David E. Thomas, EdD, MEd, Community College of Philadelphia
• Gregory Townsend, MD, University of Virginia
• Roberta J. Wilburn, EdD, ThD, Whitworth University
• Victor Wilson, MEd, University of Georgia

A call for nominations for the Giving Back Award was announced in October 2016. Award recipients include administrators of both community colleges and baccalaureate-granting institutions.

For more information about the 2017 Giving Back Award visit http://www.insightintodiversity.com/.

O

n  February 16, at a special preview event for the new documentary “American Masters — Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise” at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York, NY), Dr. Maya Angelou’s grandson Colin Johnson (right), Co-Founder and Principal of Caged Bird Legacy, LLC, presented Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) and President Bill Clinton (center) with a plaque of Dr. Maya Angelou’s inauguration poem, “On The Pulse of Morning,” that flew on the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) December 5, 2014.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell

Don’t let her enchanting smile and innocent beauty fool you, Jurnee Smollett-Bell isn’t just another pretty Hollywood face. As the star of WGN America’s hit series UNDERGROUND,the30-year-old actress represents for our enslaved ancestors who never stopped fighting for freedom and fairness.

EBONY goes one-on-one with the actress and activist to learn more about colorism in Hollywood,the second season of Underground and the importance of activism, especially now.  While many celebrities are just now finding their voice on social justice issues, Smollett-Bell was “woke” before it became a popular term. One of the topics she tackles is the reality of bias toward lighter skinned women in Hollywood and beyond.

“There are obstacles and challenges that my dark-skinned sisters face that I will never know,” Smollett-Bell acknowledges. “How they are perceived when they walk in a room of strangers is something I will never truly know. I would be ignorant to say colorism doesn’t exist, it’s gross and disgusting.” Speaking of standing for your sistas in the struggle, the 2017 women’s issue is devoted to uplifting Black women.

“It is no exaggeration when we talk about Black Girl Magic,” says EBONY Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Editorial Kyra Kyles. “Black women truly hold our community together. It is an honor to be able to celebrate ‘us’ in this issue.”

Issue highlights include:

• EBONY Beauty Innovation Awards—In our annual and acclaimed “it” list, EBONY highlights the latest game-changing products and tools you’ll want to try
• A Silent War: The battle between Black women and fibroids
• Women’s Work: Movers, shakers, waymakers—Call it the takeover by 20 brilliant enterprising women who are industry leaders and gamechangers, which include U.S. SenatorKamala Harris, newswoman Soledad O’Brien, White House Champion for Change awardee Kathryn Finney, ESPN’s Jemele Hill.
• ‘In Our Cities’: EBONY’s original new multimedia seriesheads west to the City of Angels for some California love—the cinematic shoot-outs of gang wars of the ’90s are a thing of the past. Today,Los Angelesis considered one of the safest cities in the United States and we give a nuanced and real view of the Black folks who make it great
• Culinary Queens—These kitchen warriors are reclaiming the game for the sisters

Elsewhere in the issue we take a look at Jordan Peele’s latest film GET OUT, Jermaine Dupri welcomes EBONY to Atlanta and innovative Apple exec Bozoma Saint John provides tips on how to be a game changer at work. For more, pick up the March 2017 issue of EBONY, which is coming to a newsstand near you. And to get more Smollett-Bell, watch behind-the-scenes video on Ebony.com. Read and join the conversation on social media using #FantasticJurnee

SASEBO, JAPAN-Capt. Jeffrey Ward, (center) commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and representatives of the ship’s Heritage Committee participate in a cake cutting following an African American/Black History Month celebration on the ship’s mess decks. Bonhomme Richard, forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, is serving forward to provide a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingency or natural disaster.