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By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

California lawmakers are scrambling to find ways to alleviate the housing crisis occurring in the state. Programs and subsidies are in constant development; however, under an obscure tax rule called possessory interest, individuals may be responsible for getting hit with an unexpected tax bill as a result.

In a move to aid the middle class, government agencies (known as joint power authorities) are buying luxury buildings and lowering rent for possible tenants. The discount is possible because these agencies do not need to pay property taxes. Instead of pocketing the extra cash, programs are being implemented to place middle income workers like police officers, teachers and construction workers in these buildings at a discounted rent price.

But, under the tax rule, tenants may need to pay some of the lost revenue in individual tax bills upwards of $1,000 a year. The rule states that if a government owned property leases to a private entity, then that entity can have a “possessory” interest that must be taxed.

Joint Power Authorities involved in these programs do not want to tax tenants. However, unless the Legislature gets involved, they are afraid they will have to abide by the rule. If taxes go unpaid, residents could face liens that would make it more difficult to quality for mortgages and other loans.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The 20th Annual Gardena Jazz Festival, one of the largest events for the city, took place at Rowley Memorial Park in Gardena on Sunday, August 27.

Sen. Bradford (D-Gardena) founded the Gardena Jazz Festival in 2003 and serves as Chair of the Gardena Jazz Festival Committee, which is responsible for putting this event together.

According to Bradford, “This festival began as a free event at a time when the city was struggling financially. As the city faced difficult cuts, the Gardena Jazz Festival signaled new hope. The festival brought Gardena together to enjoy great music and celebrate community pride; all at no cost to the city. Over the years, more than 100,000 people have attended.”

This year, about 7,500 people enjoyed the performances of Boney James, Damien Escobar, Family Stone Band, Brandee Younger, Ragan Whiteside, and The Fernando Pullum Community Arts Band.

On site, there were vendors selling a range of items, including food, clothing, hats, jewelry, and skin care products.

Joining the jazz lovers and local community members at the popular festival were Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and U.S Congress women representing the Los Angeles area, Maxine Waters and Sydney Kamlager.

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

There is a growing body of evidence that disparities in medical treatment in the United States — compounded over centuries by the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow segregation and prevalence of anti-Black biases — have adversely affected the health of Black women in numerous ways, including the birthing process.

In June, the tragic and high-profile death of Olympic Gold Medalist and sprinter Tori Bowie during childbirth brought more national attention to the crisis of Black maternal mortality in the United States.

Aware of the discrepancies in treatment as compared to women of other races and terrified by the potential mental health ramifications of those disparities – which can lead to greater fear and anxiety about pregnancy and childbirth — some Black women are seeking alternatives to hospital births.

Black women die at nearly twice the rate of White Women during labor, according to data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the federal government has launched a civil rights investigation into the treatment of Black expectant mothers at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“Maternal health is a priority for the Biden-Harris Administration and one in which the HHS Office for Civil Rights is working on around the country to ensure equity and equality,” read an emailed statement from HHS to several news outlets.

The federal investigation comes seven years after the 2016 death of a Black woman, Kira Dixon Johnson, who died from internal bleeding following a cesarean section at Cedars Sinai.

Dr. Melissa Frank, Director of the Division of Maternal, Child, & Adolescent Health with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, stated that she has “lived the disparity” associated with maternal healthcare.

During the delivery of her second daughter, Dr. Franklin says she could tell something was wrong and expressed to hospital staff, “I feel like I’m dying,” but her concerns were largely dismissed.

When the hospital staff finally checked on her, they discovered that her blood pressure was dangerously low to which she responded, “I told y’all!”

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, Black women in the U. S. were more than twice as likely as White women to die due to complications related to maternity and the birthing process, according to the CDC.

In California, the risk of death due to pregnancy complications is four to six times higher for Black mothers than any other ethnic group, according to data from the California Health Care Foundation.

Research has indicated that maternal mental health conditions, including prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression, are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

According to the American Hospital Association Institute for Diversity and Health Equity, 12.5% of birthing people will suffer from postpartum depression. However, Black women are about 1.6 times more likely to deal with its effects than White women.  

Hiring a doula is one solution Black women are using to help address some of the mental health issues associated with the birthing process. A 2013 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that mothers who received support from a doula during childbirth were two times less likely to experience complications.

A doula is a trained professional who provides emotional and physical support to pregnant individuals during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Doulas are not medical professionals and do not deliver babies or provide medical care. Instead, they offer support in the form of physical comfort, emotional well-being, information, and advocacy.

According to another study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, doula-assisted mothers were 57.5% less likely to suffer from postpartum depression or anxiety. This confirms that having the support of a doula during the birthing process can have a significant positive impact on the mental health of mothers.

The long history of discriminatory care towards Black women in the healthcare system has resulted in another mental health issue: generational trauma.

“When we speak about Black maternal health, we cannot ignore the fact that the foundation of medicine in this country and many of its early principles were deeply rooted in racism,” said Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and founder and past director of the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.

“Some of the earliest examples of experimental research relied on these racist concepts. The pain of black individuals was not only ignored but assumed to not be experienced to the same degree as White individuals.”

Franklin emphasized the importance of culturally competent care for the mental health of Black mothers.

“The support of doulas as alternative birthing spaces gives Black women the opportunity, the choice of giving birth in a way that’s culturally affirming,” said Franklin. This highlights the significance of providing care that is sensitive to the cultural needs and experiences of Black women during the birthing process.

Franklin also pointed out that doulas alone cannot bear the burden of an unfair healthcare system.  She emphasized the importance of hospitals employing well trained providers who operate in anti-bias and anti-racism spaces. This can help Black women give birth with “the support of a village.”

California has been taking steps to address healthcare disparities and improve outcomes for Black mothers and birthing individuals. The state introduced various policies and initiatives aimed at making culturally competent care a reality.

?For example, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has taken steps to improve access to doula services for expectant mothers. One such initiative is the inclusion of doula services as a preventative care option covered under Medi-Cal. This can help make doula support more accessible and affordable for those who need it.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell has emphasized the importance of doula care in improving pregnancy experiences and birthing outcomes. In a press release, she stated that “Doula care is shown to improve pregnancy experiences and birthing outcomes. We must increase awareness of doula services for mothers and families across the County and expand our workforce to be more representative of our communities most in need.” This highlights the need for greater awareness and accessibility of doula services, particularly for those in underserved communities.

In a meantime, Dr. Franklin’s advice is to listen to Black women when they express concerns about their health. This means taking their concerns seriously and providing them with the care and support they need.

Related Video

Chelsea, an expectant mom, and Danica, her doula, discuss the delicate connection between mental health and maternal care.  Watch the video.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) celebrated the 5oth anniversary of hip hop on Aug. 14, with a tribute to the West Coast pioneers, leaders and innovators who shaped the genre.

The Bring the Peace Movement organized the rally and ceremony where speakers paid homage to the honorees.

Juana Burns-Sperling, co-founder of Rialto/Los Angeles-based all-female hip hop group JJ FAD, told California Black Media (CBM) that the love received from state lawmakers — which included standing ovations on both the Senate and Assembly floors — was a long time in the making, but well worth the wait.

“It was amazing. It was an honor to be there to represent the West Coast and represent my group,” said Sperling, who goes by the stage name, MC JB. “When I first heard about it my thoughts were, ‘finally’ because the West Coast seems to be left out of things that are going on right now. So, the fact that our (lawmakers) were honoring us, we didn’t have to rely on other geographical areas. I was truly happy. We’re finally getting recognized.”

The rap songs Sperling, “Baby D” (Dania Birks) and “Sassy C” (Michelle Ferrens) performed were produced by world-renowned Hip Hop mogul Dr. Dre (Andre Young), and Arabian Prince (Kim Renard Nazel). They group was signed to Ruthless Records.

JJ FAD (an acronym created with the names of the original group members in 1985: Juana, Juanita, Fatima, Anna, and Dana) reached the top of the charts with their signature song, “Supersonic” in 1988.

The program organized by Jamilia Land of the Bring the Peace Movement, featured a voter registration drive and entertainment and was attended by CLBC chair Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Vice-Chair and Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and other officers and members.

“At the time of its founding, hip hop was met with vitriol from politicians. However, today a host of politicians, community organizations and leaders convene to honor the pioneers and architects of the hip hop movement,” Wilson said on the Assembly floor.

Sperling was joined at the State Capitol with West Coast hip hop artists and music producers King T (Roger McBride), Kid Frost (Arturo R. Molina Jr.), Arabian Prince Mistah F.A.B.(Stanley Cox), Micheal Latt, Karega Bailey, Tinish Hollins, Greg Mack, Violet Brown, LaRussell Thomas, Greg Mack, Casual from the Hieroglyphics (Jon Owens), Disco Daddy (Michael Khalfani), filmmaker Deon Taylor, and Alonzo “Lonzo” Williams.

Mickelle “Hayón” Hellon, Leila Steinberg (who was Tupac’s manager), the Magical Rock Band, and retired legislative aid Rory Kaufman were also recognized as honorees.

Known to the West Coast hip hop community as “Grand Master Lonzo,” Williams is the innovator behind the legendary R&B/Rap group “World Class Wreckin Cru,” that found major success with the 1987 hit “Turn Off the Lights.”

“When I called my partner and Senator, Sen. Bradford, and told him we need to do something for hip hop on the West Coast I had no idea that it would end up on the Assembly and Senate floors,” Williams told CBM. “My initial plan was to do something in Compton, get all the homies and OGs together and show some love. But here we are today, and it was a great event.”

Bradford and Williams “go way back” on the music scene of Gardena, Compton, and Los Angeles. They used to promote singing groups, bands, and hip-hop dancing cliques. The artists received a warm welcome from lawmakers in both chambers; thanks to Bradford, Wilson, and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D- Ladera Heights).

“Steve understood what we did back in L.A. back in the day because he was a part of it but only on another level,” Williams said. “Steve was a dance promoter before he became a Compton city councilman, assemblymember, and senator. He was my competition. It just made for a great situation.”

Williams is credited with launching the careers of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson), D.J. Yella (Antoine Carraby) and Eazy E. (Eric Wright), formerly known as N.W.A. The group is credited with ushering in a form of hip-hop music that was coined gangster rap.

The gangster rap genre propelled the careers of Snoop Dogg (Calvin Broadus Jr.), Nate Dogg (Nathaniel Hale), DJ Quick (David Marvin Blake), Above the Law, Warren G (Warren Griffin III), Lady of Rage (Robin Yvette Allen), Yo-Yo (Yolanda Whitaker), E-40’s (Earl Stevens) little sister Suga-T (Tenina Stevens), among others.

The elements of hip hop culture first emerged in the 1970s in Morris Heights, a neighborhood in the Bronx borough of New York City. Hip-hop consists of four elements: “deejaying,” or “turntabling,” “MCing” or “rhyming,” graffiti painting, and the hip-hop dance, style, and attitude of “B-boying.”

The West Coast artists extracted the characteristics and stylings from East Coast hip hop but were able to create their own musical flavor with stories, references and imagery that reflected street life and living in urban centers, mostly in California.

Gangster rap and the “G-funk era” dominated the hip-hop scene in the late 1980s and all through the 1990s from the Los Angeles region to Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area by standouts like Too $hort (Todd Anthony Shaw).

Joel Flatow, Senior Vice President, Artist and Industry Relations, and Chief of West Coast operations for RIAA, said the accolades bestowed on the artists in Sacramento are a tribute to the innovation and foresight they brought to the culture.

“We just have a tremendous wealth of talent in this state,” Flatow added.

RIAA is a trade organization that supports and protects the rights of artists and music labels in the US.

Adding to the cultural weight to the celebration, Land and other community activists issued a proclamation, offered samplings of poetry, gave shoutouts to hip-hop history, and appealed to the audience to become politically engaged champions of peace.

“This is a time of celebration and reflection,” stated Land, who is also the co-founder of the Anti-Violence, Safety, and Accountability Project (ASAP).  “We acknowledge the monumental achievements of West Coast artists and also reflect on the effect of unresolved trauma and violence in the Culture.”

By Pauleanna Reid | FORBES Contributor

In 2022, Kim Carter and the Time For Change Foundation (TFCF) broke ground on the Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center in San Bernardino, California. The 10,350-square-foot space houses a first-of-its-kind economic HUB in the Inland Empire.

Opening its doors in March to 16-hour days, the BBOP Center is home to 14 offices, a cafeteria, shared workspaces, and a children’s play area. Additionally found are fast-pitch rooms where women entrepreneurs can pitch their ideas to in-house venture capitalists. Every woman has an opportunity from there to sign negotiated deals in specially designated one-on-one rooms within the building. Legal guidance is also available for contract review, ensuring the women are getting what they’ve been working for, not just what the market says they deserve.

“I believe that people need to engage and have the opportunity to demonstrate leadership,” Carter remarked in our recent interview. Having founded the TFCF in 2002, the CNN Hero and Affordable Housing Developer is using the BBOP Center to carry on her decades-long work of assisting homeless women and children in their journeys toward self-sufficiency. Formerly incarcerated, exposed to childhood trauma and having battled addiction, Carter has gone from experiencing homelessness herself to advocating for those faced with similar issues.

The same year she broke ground on the BBOP Center, Carter released Waking up to My Purpose, a memoir focused on the themes of recovery, repair, atonement, and joy. “The way that I’ve been successful over the years is with the understanding that great leaders don’t create followers,” she stated. “They create other leaders.” With half of all proceeds from book sales going directly to TFCF, Carter’s passions and vision can be clearly seen in her outreach efforts.

“One thing about leadership is that everyone has their own unique set of qualities,” answered Carter when asked how she carries out her empowering style of leadership. “Instead of trying to replicate your qualities in someone else,” she continued. “The best thing to do is identify their qualities and help show them how those qualities form leadership. Once they believe that they can be a leader, then it’s easy for them to start exhibiting leadership.”

A Lasting Impression of Advocacy

Carter recalled her first encounter with advocacy taking place at around five years old. One of four children being raised by a single mother, she remembers a strike at her elementary school as her earliest memory of the act that has gone on to define her purpose.

“As a child, I didn’t really see it as advocacy,” she explained. “What I did see were women in my community who were having detailed discussions with our public school system. And I can recall my mom and her friends talking about what the school district needs to do to better support teachers. Because our parents didn’t have anyone to stay home with us, they pretty much were very vocal about the school system not supporting teachers, which in turn meant that we could go to school so they could go to work.”

The “trickle-down effect” that Carter says she witnessed but didn’t have a word for at the time, solidified her understanding of her motto, ‘Taking care of those who will take care of the rest.’ In our conversation, the author, speaker, and mother admitted that it wasn’t until later in life that she realized the importance of rest and self-care as part of the emotionally-taxing labor of fighting for equitable rights and justice. Describing the work of a community organizer as one bearing a heavy toll, Carter believes that having access to better resources creates the space for critical decompression and growth. This is especially true for the front-line workers she pinpointed as the reason for the BBOP Center’s groundbreaking development.

Setting An Unprecedented Leadership Example

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carter explained how she’d watched many women who had been overcomers of abuse and other gender-based issues be forced to show up for jobs that were becoming increasingly difficult to do. “They had to figure out child care, how to get the Internet for all the kids, and how to go to work too,” she mentioned of the women she regularly encountered. “The world still needed them to show up to work, but everyone else [was] hiding out from the disease outside.”

“I thought, ‘Why is it that the women who have the least to give are being asked to give the most during this pandemic?’ And I said, ‘What do we need to do as women to create for ourselves an economic platform that will allow us to be in charge of our future?’“ Upset with the growing “local hero” narrative and lack of adequate pay or PPE for essential workers, Carter commenced building a safe space for Black and brown women to establish and scale investable businesses.

Despite having no prior experience in creating a space of the BBOP Center’s magnitude, Carter’s life and experiences are proof that she was the perfect person to spearhead the endeavor. While in prison, it was an innovative drug and alcohol program that Carter quotes as being the stepping stone to the life she lives today. As the President & CEO of the Center for Housing Advancement and Motivational Projects (CHAMP), she’s been addressing the needs of women of color for years with the help of the resources she was exposed to in the 90’s.

“I realize there are so many women right now who are held back by the idea that somehow, some way, we’re responsible for what happened to us when we were younger, when we are not,” Carter exclaimed. “So many people have not had the luxury or opportunity to have a therapist to help them process and go through some feelings and issues. Some have not had an opportunity to even get back into mainstream society.

“My job and my purpose,” she continued, “are to make sure that there’s a door open, to show them that there is light, to show them, ‘here is a path that works for me and might work for you.’” Recently featured in the Italian film, “Tell it Like a Woman,” Carter’s path has been illuminated with help of producer Taraji P. Henson and Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. Showcasing some of her most intimate moments of survival and personal triumph, the included short entitled “Pepcy and Kim” has left Carter feeling seen and astounded. “I get to stand on all of that pain and suffering and actually use it as a part of my passion and purpose to help other women who are entrapped and enslaved the same way that I was,” she insisted.

Looking Ahead To Help Future Generations

Carter shared that she’s been able to assist over 3,500 women in their transition from homelessness and incarceration to lives of self-sufficiency. She’s also helped over 300 children in foster care reunite with their mothers through specialized housing and support services. But it’s the TFCF’s support of legal policies like CA AB570 and ‘Ban The Box’ that are its impetus to change family court systems, employment structures, healthcare, and education across the US.

Having pivoted from corporate America to the nonprofit world, Carter remains adamant that women entrepreneurs lean on support systems, do their best to eliminate distractions, and “stay focused on the vision that’s going to pay you,” she said. “You’re going to need to put your passion, your heart, your love into whatever you’re doing. You can’t do that if you’re distracted.”

For Carter, the next level of her life’s work includes the future of technology. She’s interested in how the businesses created today will be influenced by the artificially intelligent programs and robots of the future. In the meantime, she notes that apps like Salesforce and ChatGPT are being included in offered training and integrated into everyday operations to keep entrepreneurs up to speed with today’s fast-paced technological landscape.

Whatever they’re learning, Carter explained that the women utilizing the BBOP Center can take in the aesthetically pleasing murals of dynamic women of color adorning the building to remind them of how they can rise above inequities and systemic oppression to create, build, and thrive. “It doesn’t matter what your past is,” she concluded. “Your future can still be bright.”

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Clarence Avant, known for his exceptional ability as a “kingmaker” and deal closer in power circles from Hollywood to Washington died at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Avant, born in Greensboro, N.C., was 92.

“Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports,” read a statement released by his children Alex and Nicole Avant and his son-in-law Ted Sarandos.

“Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss,” the statement continued.

In December of 2021, Avant’s wife, Jacqueline Avant, was shot during a home invasion at the family’s Beverly Hills mansion.

A close friend of Quincy Jones, Avant’s influence impacted the careers of a many celebrities and politicians, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; Michael Jackson; Jimmy Jam; Snoop Dogg; Terry Lewis; Whitney Houston; Jay-Z, among others.

National In-Home Care Company Introduces Innovative Model to Serve the San Bernardino Community

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — CareBuilders at Home, a leading national in-home care franchise, is excited to announce the grand opening of its newest location in San Bernardino, California. Sheila Jones-Lilley will be the first franchisee in Southern California.  This expansion brings high-quality in-home care services to the residents of the Inland Empire where the Jones-Lilley family has resided and raised their three children for the past 30 years.

CareBuilders at Home specializes in developing personalized care plans tailored to the unique needs of each client. With services ranging from mobility assistance and medication compliance to hygiene support, CareBuilders at Home ensures that clients receive the assistance they require for daily living.

Jones-Lilley has dedicated her life to helping others. She has been an occupational therapist for more than 30 years as well as a senior care coordinator since 2014.  For her, providing care is second nature, but the need for in-home care became abundantly clear to her when she and her husband, Myron, began caring for his uncle and her mother.

“Taking care of my mom and uncle from a distance made me realize that you need someone in person. You need eyes, ears, and hands to help in the home, to make sure that the care you set up is being provided,” Jones-Lilley said. “I realize there is a great need for in-home care in our area, and nothing gives me more personal satisfaction than knowing I met the needs of someone else, and they can have a better quality of life because of the work I’ve done.”

The demand for in-home care services is rapidly increasing, and CareBuilders at Home is committed to meeting this demand by expanding its presence in local communities across the nation. Jones-Lilley’s new location will provide in-home care and beyond to Southern California—a state that holds more than a dozen metro areas in a recent USA Today list of U.S. cities where people live the longest. IBISWorld reports the U.S. market size for home care providers, based on revenue, was nearly $130 billion in 2022.

CareBuilders at Home offers more than in-home care. Clients can also participate in their innovative Wellness Program, which offers virtual caregiving, allowing family members to connect with their loved ones through a device linked to a standard television.

“We are delighted to welcome Sheila to the CareBuilders at Home family. Her background in the medical field, combined with her commitment to providing outstanding service, makes her the ideal leader for our new location,” said David Savitsky, Founder and CEO of CareBuilders at Home. “We continuously strive to listen to our clients’ needs and find innovative ways to meet them, and Sheila will be instrumental in driving our future success.”

Jones-Lilley said she is opening a CareBuilders at Home franchise to continue her passion for helping others, make a good living and have the potential to leave a legacy for her children. The CareBuilders at Home-Inland Empire franchise will open in the summer of 2023 to serve the community with compassion and expertise.

Join a Growing Franchise Family

CareBuilders at Home is seeking qualified candidates who are mission-oriented and want to help individuals live a better life. With locations currently across the United States, CareBuilders at Home looks to bring on new franchise owners to support the company’s expansion plan.

To learn more about the franchise opportunities with CareBuilders at Home visit https://carebuildersfranchise.com/

Background of a Family Business

More than 30 years ago, David and Stephen Savitsky founded their first home care business, wanting to give back to their community and provide quality care for people in need. Their company was called Tender Loving care, which has evolved over the years through name changes, but the mission for the company and two brothers has always been: To provide dignity and care to senior citizens, people with disabilities, and anyone else who might need the services of qualified home care franchise specialists.

David and Stephen Savitsky now run ATC Healthcare Services, a healthcare staffing franchise system.  CareBuilders at Home is the home care division of their company, allowing the company to grow and provide a wealth of care to individuals across the nation.

The family dynamic at CareBuilders at Home does not stop with the brothers. Avi Savitsky, the son of Stephen Savitsksy, is the Director of Franchise Strategy. It was a position he had to earn through experience. Before he worked in the home office, he was a franchise owner.

About CareBuilders at Home

CareBuilders at Home is a fast-growing national franchise which provides comprehensive non-medical home health care solutions to enhance the lives of individuals across the nation.

The company offers a wide range of services individualized to meet the needs of clients including errands, light housekeeping, and medication compliance. In addition to the support given to older Americans, the company also assists those who are physically or developmentally disabled, recovering from illness or surgery, and new moms.

The CareBuilders at Home franchise opportunity allows entrepreneurs to be a part of the lucrative home care industry, while being able to give back and help clients. CareBuilders at Home franchise partners have access to the company’s exclusive Virtual Caregiver platform.

The company is the only home care franchise in to handle all back-office services for franchise partners including payroll, billing, and collections.

For more information on the CareBuilders at Home franchise opportunity, visit?https://carebuildersfranchise.com/.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The 56th Beautillion Scholarship Program culminated on April 1, 2023, at California State University, San Bernardino. Master of Ceremonies, Raafi Bell, Principal at Hardy Brown College Prep and 2004 Beautillion Sir Knight tied the past fifty-five Beautillion themes into an empowering history of the Beautillion, closing with this year’s theme, “I AM…Changing the Narrative.” Keynote Speaker was Lawrence Charles Hardy, Equity & Targeted Student Achievement Program Specialist/Family Engagement with the San Bernardino County Unified School District. Lawrence emphasized the importance of higher education and giving back to the community in which you live. Russel Ward, Alumni 1984, choreographed the dance routines, propelling the audience to stand, dance, and celebrate.

Jermaine Isaiah Moreno, a San Gorgonio High School senior, was named Sir Knight 2023 at the Beautillion Scholarship Awards presentation sponsored by the Social Lites, Inc. of the Inland Empire. Jermaine received over $15,000 in scholarships, computers, and awards for the prestigious title of Sir Knight. In the fall, he is attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Psychology.

Shannon Williams II was 1st Runner-Up receiving over $10,000 in scholarships and awards. Shannon is a student from the high desert and the first person in his family to go to college. K’Miles Davis was 2nd Runner-Up, receiving over $8,000 in scholarships and awards, and was voted Mr. Congeniality by his peers. Davion Boyd-Phenix received the $4,000 President’s Scholarship Award. Jordan Evans received the $2,000 Beautillion Alumni Scholarship Award.

In addition to scholarships and awards, each young man received a proclamation from Joe Baca, California State Assembly Member, U.S. House Representative Pete Aguilar, Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, Colton Mayor Frank J. Navarro, and San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran.

Social Lites, Inc.’s inaugural Trailblazer Award was presented to Damon Alexander, Seventh Ward City Council Member, and Alaina Matthews was given the Philanthropic Award for her unwavering generosity to the Social Lites, Inc., Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader Award. Also, thank you, San Bernardino County Board Member Dr. Gwendoyln Dowdy-Rogers, San Bernardino Unified School District Police Department, Chief Joseph Paulino, and Battalion Chief of Los Angeles Fire Department David Reddix for their unwavering support.

As we have concluded the 56th Beautillion, The Social Lites, Inc., of the Inland Empire, is preparing for its 57th Annual Beautillion Scholarship Program, “A Moment of Greatness,” to be held at California State University, San Bernardino, on March 30, 2024. The first Beautillion briefing will be held at the Center for Youth and Community Development, on September 10, 2023, from 2 pm-3:30 pm. We encourage high school senior young men to attend and explore opportunities to invest in their future. The program has prepared over five hundred young men to enter the college or university of their choice and has raised and awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships.  For additional information, please contact Stephanie Newman, Beautillion Chair at (909) 990-6462, Donna Little-James, Beautillion Co-Chair at (909) 528-9793, or Marlene Davis, Public Affairs at (909) 709-5502.

RIVERSIDE, CA—- The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Anthony Parnther will present their second annual evening of cinematic music on Saturday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. Entitled “Movies with the Maestro,” this performance will be held at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in downtown San Bernardino. A second performance is scheduled for Wednesday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverside City College Coil School for the Arts in downtown Riverside.

The concert will include repertoire from a variety of movie favorites, and patrons are highly encouraged to become a part of the performance by bringing their light sabers and wave along to John William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars and to Ludwig Goransson and Joe Shirley’s Main Theme from Star Wars-The Mandalorian.

Multi-talented artist Holly Sedillos, who Symphony fans will remember from radiant performances at several previous concerts, will take on two diverse yet equally challenging cinematic pieces: Bernard Herrmann’s Salaambo’s Aria from Citizen Kane (1941) and John Powell and Carlinhos Brown’s Poisonous Love from Rio 2 (2014).

Sedillos is a rare Los Angeles native having grown up in Santa Monica public schools, playing French horn or singing in every possible orchestra, band, choir and musical her schedule would allow. She attributes her ear and sight-reading ability to the stellar education she received there. Holly holds a B.A. in music–with a focus in vocal performance from Dartmouth College. There, she exercised many other musical skills, including arranging, orchestrating, and conducting. After college, Holly took an intensive 2-year Meisner acting program at the Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Acting studio. Holly is one of the few truly versatile sopranos in Los Angeles, being able to switch easily between classical, musical theater, and more popular genres. She is equally comfortable on stage and in front of a mic. She jumps at the chance to tackle difficult new works.

Recent stage highlights include Anaïs Nin in Anais: A Dance Opera at L’Off Theater Festival in Avignon, France, (Cindy Shapiro, composer), Yoruban wailing solos with The Los Angeles Master Chorale in Calixto Alvarez’s Osun Requiem, soloing in the west coast premier of Dylan Mattingly’s The Bakkai with Jacaranda Music (part of LA Phil’s Noon-Midnight), Coachella with Hans Zimmer, and bounding across The Hollywood Bowl stage in a plush tiger costume during Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Richard Kraft.

A recent top recording highlight for Sedillos was the once-in-a-lifetime privilege to sing under John Williams’s baton for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Other highlights include solos for Jeff Russo’s theme to Altered Carbon and Austin Wintory’s Deformers score, featured vocals in a Joey Newman song for ABC’s The Middle and for two Chris Lennertz film scores (Smurfs: The Lost Village and El Camino Christmas), and her first exposed solos in a theatrical release in Mychael Danna’s score for The Man Who Invented Christmas.

Prior stage experience includes the roles of Consuelo in John Adams’s I Was Looking at the Ceiling and the I Saw the Sky, with Long Beach Opera at the Ford Amphitheater, Jasmine in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular! at Disney’s California Adventure, Aquata in The Little Mermaid Live at The Hollywood Bowl, 1st Soprano in Disneyland’s Voices of Liberty, Disney’s D23 in Tokyo, soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah with LAMC, Zappa’s 200 Motels with the LA Phil, and Nancy in Oliver! at Palm Canyon Theater. Prior recordings include Austin Wintory Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (solos), Joe Bishara The Conjuring 2 (trio), La La Land, Minions, Sing!, and many others.

The Symphony will also be joined by a select ensemble from the Riverside City College Chamber Singers under the baton of John Byun. The Singers will perform Simon Franglen’s Suite from the motion picture Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Pinar Toprak’s Slumberland Suite (2022), and Christopher Young’s End Titles from Drag Me To Hell (2009).

Byun received his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Irvine and his Masters in Choral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach. He is the director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Riverside City College, where he directs both the Chamber Singers and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He has been the guest conductor for several district honor choirs, the SCVA Men’s Honor Choir, the Central California Women’s Honor Choir, Texas Honor Choir Region 9, the Clark County, NV Honor Choir, the North Carolina All State Honor Choir, the Southern Invitational Choral Conference in Mississippi, Tennessee All State Honor Choir, and the New Mexico All State honor choir.

The Riverside City College Chamber Singers have performed at the American Choral Directors Association Western Divisional Conference in Tucson 2010, Santa Barbara 2014, and in Salt Lake City 2020. They have also performed at the ACDA National Conference in Chicago 2011, Minnesota 2017, and have been invited to perform at the National Conference in Dallas 2021, and at the NCCO national conference in Fort Collins 2011 and Portland 2015 and at the CASMEC conference in San Jose, CA 2016.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- As the start of the school year approaches, there is good news for high school, middle school, and elementary students all over San Bernardino County.  K-12 students now ride free every day, on every bus system in the County. That includes Omnitrans, Victor Valley Transit, Mountain Transit, Basin Transit and Needles Area Transit.

“We are very excited about this program,” SBCTA Board President Dawn Rowe states. “ It provides a financial break to families and gives them more options. Whether riding to school, for after school fun, or for a weekend outing, kids ride free.”

The free fares are being promoted with the tag line “You’re now free to GO,” emphasizing not only that the fare is free, but that public transit offers youth the chance to gain independence.

The free fare program is being implemented separately by each system. Identification requirements and rules may vary.  Riders are encouraged to visit their local transit system website to learn more:

• Omnitrans – omnitrans.org, 800.966.6428
• Victor Valley Transit Authority – vvta.org, 760.948.4021
• Mountain Transit – mountaintransit.org, 909.878.5200
• Basin Transit – basin-transit.com, 800.794.6282
• Needles Area Transit – cityofneedles.com/transit, 760.326.2113 ext. 115

The K-12 Student Free Fare Program is sponsored by SBCTA and was approved by the Board of Directors in March 2023.  It is a one-year pilot project, funded primarily with Low Carbon Transit Operations (LCTOP) funding which seeks to reduce carbon emissions by increasing transit use.