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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor, Joe Baca, Jr., hosted a Backpack Giveaway at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School. This initiative supports students from all grades by providing each with a backpack filled with essential school supplies and resources.

“With the new school year upon us, ensuring our students are prepared is a top priority. As a former teacher, I see firsthand the importance of equipping students with the necessary tools at the start of the school year,” says Supervisor Baca, Jr.

The event took place at Mary B. Lewis Elementary School, in Bloomington CA. Supervisor Baca, Jr., along with key community partners including Molina Healthcare, California Highway Patrol, and various county departments, were in attendance to distribute the backpacks and other valuable resources.

Supervisor Baca, Jr. adds, “Our community is coming together to support our students, particularly those who are underserved. This initiative is a testament to our shared commitment to their success. We are excited to start the school year on a positive note.”

By Stacy M. Brown | NNPA Newswire

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) firmly stated that Black Americans are being attacked in various ways nationwide, with Republicans leading these efforts.

“We refuse to be victims, and we will not be silenced,” declared CBC Chairman and Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) during a State of Black America press event held at the Capitol.

“Our fundamental rights are under siege, and our history is being denied.

“But we will not passively witness these actions. Too many people count on us to fight for them.”

Recent GOP-led state actions

Recent events in several GOP-led state legislatures have intensified concerns within the CBC.

Despite a Supreme Court order, Alabama and Louisiana legislatures refused to create an additional district with a majority of Black residents.

The Florida State Board of Education has approved new education guidelines that downplay the harsh history of slavery. Instead, they emphasize the perceived benefits gained from the skills of enslaved people.

Rep. Maxwell Frost from Florida, the youngest member of the House, expressed frustration with his state’s guidelines.

He said these guidelines aim to erase and indoctrinate this generation with white supremacy.

However, Frost warned that Florida officials should not underestimate Black America’s determination to organize and resist.

Members of the CBC said that statements made by their GOP counterparts at the Capitol have deeply disturbed them, adding to the mounting discontent.

Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona made an offensive comment during a House floor debate by referring to Black people as “colored people.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Tommy Tuberville from Alabama defended a controversial statement by denying the racism of white nationalists.

Horsford acknowledged that expectations from Republican leaders are minimal at this point, but Representative Troy Carter (D-La.) demanded that the party’s leaders take a stand against such bigotry.

“The silence from Republicans and others in the face of such egregious statements is deafening,” Carter said.

“We will not condone the erasing of history. We must stand together to put an end to this.”

Recent CBC actions

The CBC has issued a list of demands, calling on the Department of Justice and the Department of Education to launch investigations into education policies. The caucus recently met with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to discuss policies about Black history.

They also sent formal letters to Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging for a “strong legal strategy.”

“Black people did not benefit from slavery; we built this country,” emphasized Horsford.

“Our toil, sweat, and tears went into constructing the very foundation of this nation. Elevating Black America is an elevation for all. We will not tolerate this assault on our rights.”

First time an Inland Empire Orchestra has hosted.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— For the first time in its 54-year history, the Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) has selected an Inland Empire orchestra to host annual conference. The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) will not only host the conference, but will also perform on the opening evening, and it will receive two prestigious awards.

Explained ACSO Executive Director Sarah Weber, “For our first in-person conference since the pandemic, we not only want to showcase the Inland Empire as an arts-rich region of California, but we also want to inspire, revitalize, connect, and support those working in orchestras and the performing arts. We hope that this conference will generate profound and creative ideas about how the work we do and the influence that we have as arts organizations can be used to build a better world.”

This year’s conference theme — Uplift & Amplify — emphasizes the foremost work of the orchestra industry today: to center the needs of audiences, welcome new artistic voices, and use the power of music to serve and connect communities. The conference is being held at the historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, CA from August 16^th to the 18th, 2023.

Shared Dean McVay, ACSO Board Member, conference co-chair, and Immediate Past President of the San Bernardino Symphony Board of Directors, “We at the SBSO have been planning and preparing for this ACSO Conference in the Inland Empire for several years, and in many respects it is a dream come true. Bringing the best and brightest industry leaders, musicians, and artists in the West Coast for this conference is an honor and a privilege, and we look forward to sharing the beauty and talent that is so abundant here in the Inland Empire – with performances from the San Bernardino Symphony, and from our conference partners from the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.”

ACSO is a member service nonprofit with nearly 120 classical music organizations and their 2,000 board and administrative staff in its network. ACSO’s members are comprised of professional, academic, youth, and community-based orchestras, choruses, and festivals in California and the Western United States.

The conference gathers 300 orchestra professionals and leaders to hear from impactful thought-leaders and learn about the big-picture issues and opportunities for the field. The convening includes keynote sessions, peer forums, networking events, and more. Sessions will focus on the vital issues facing California’s orchestras, such as audience regeneration, advancing equity, strengthening partnerships, and building relevance and impact. Bookending this year’s incredible lineup of speakers are opening keynote speaker Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Vice President & Artistic Director of Social Impact for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and closing keynote speaker Lara Downes, classical pianist & cultural activist.

The first night of the conference, the SBSO will reprise their annual subscription concert, “Movies with the Maestro,” at the Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil School of the Arts Auditorium. The concert, which is also available to the general public, will draw from an eclectic mélange of film favorites, including several pieces in which SBSO Music Director Anthony Parnther has either personally conducted or performed in the film score. Repertoire includes John Williams’ “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Born on the 4^th of July”, Simon Franglen’s Suite from Avatar: The Way of Water, Pinar Toprak’s Suite from Slumberland, and Bernard Herrmann’s “Salaambo’s Aria” from Citizen Kane. Young patrons will particularly enjoy Steve and Julie Bernstein’s Suite from Animanics, John Powell’s “Poisonous Love” from Rio 2, and Jerry Goldsmith and Sherri Chung’s “Gremlins” from Gremlins: Secrets of Mogwai.

Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Horn Andrew Bain will be among a number of internationally lauded artists joining the Orchestra and will perform Kris Bowers’ (Green Book, King Richard, and Bridgerton) Concerto for Horn which, under the baton of Maestro, Parnther, premiered in 2021 as part of the Philharmonic’s Reel Change series. As is done at the Orchestra’s annual cinematic performance in San Bernardino, patrons are highly encouraged to bring their light sabers to wave along to William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars and to Ludwig Goransson and Joe Shirley’s Main Theme from Star Wars-The Mandalorian.

This year’s event also includes a trip to the Redlands Bowl summer Music Festival’s 100^th season finale, a visit to the iconic Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, and an opportunity to tour the newly opened Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture.

Among conference happenings are several award presentations, including two to the SBSO. Assistant Conductor Raphaela Correa De Lacerda Campos will receive the 2023 Emerging Professional Award, which recognizes the current contributions and the future potential of an individual who has been in the orchestra/classical music field for less than five years but who has already made significant contributions to their organization and has demonstrated the potential for leadership and continuing professional growth. This individual has experienced early career success in the field, has helped elevate the mission of their organization, and thus is actively making an impact in the community.

“Raphaela has only been with the SBSO a short time, but her work distinguished her as a true emerging professional from the day we met her,” said Anne Viricel, Executive Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. “In December of 2022, she conducted a performance of Bizet’s Farandole from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 to significant community acclaim. We even received phone calls from community members and local music teachers asking when she would be back on the podium! It was the maturity of her conducting ability and demonstrated interest in orchestra operations that brought her to the attention of our Music director and Conductor Anthony Parnther.”

SBSO Board of Directors Member John Rogers will be named Symphony MVP. ACSO launched the MVP Volunteer Award in 1996 to recognize exemplary volunteers, volunteer projects, and volunteer organizations and to thank a few of the hundreds of dedicated, hardworking, and committed volunteers that orchestras and classical music organizations depend on every day.

“John Rogers is the Board Member every symphony wants. He is an incredibly generous and equally active advocate for the SBSO. He always brings guests to concerts and events, including purchasing more than 30 tickets for each of our holiday concerts,” said Anne Viricel, Executive Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. “He has connected us with other arts organizations in his area of residence, thus expanding our regional presence. He never misses a board meeting and is always a greeter at our concerts. And he is always the first to volunteer when extra help is needed.”

Registration for the annual conference is available at various rates for individuals, music organizations, and students. While ACSO primarily serves orchestras in California and the western United States, the conference is open to anyone working in the arts. Further information about the conference, visit ACSO’s website at www.acso.org/conference or contact ACSO at (800) 495-2276 or at office@acso.org.

Concluded McVay, “We are excited to welcome our colleagues in the industry to the Inland Empire and know that all attendees will leave feeling reinvigorated, inspired, and edified in the knowledge and connections they have gained through this valuable conference experience.”

SACRAMENTO—The Ayala Drive overcrossing on State Route 210 in San Bernardino County will be renamed in honor of longtime City of Rialto firefighter, Scott “Buckshot” Schwingel, who died of job-related colon cancer.

President of the Rialto Professional Firefighters Local 3688 Earl Meredith said, “By dedicating the Ayala Drive Overpass in Engineer Schwengel’s honor, we ensure that his legacy lives on, reminding us all of the tremendous sacrifices made by our brave firefighters. This dedication serves as a touching reminder of the risks they face every day to protect and serve our community.”

Meredith added, “The Rialto Professional Firefighters Association Local 3688 extends its deepest gratitude to Assemblymember James Ramos and his staff, as well as the Rialto City Council for their unwavering support and approval of this commemorative gesture. We are privileged to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Engineer Scott “Buckshot” Schwingle, whose dedication and heroism will forever inspire future generations.”

“Scott is the embodiment of public service,” said Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino). “In his 16 years serving the community, he always put the people of Rialto first. It was a tremendous honor to successfully introduce ACR 7, not only to honor Scott, but also for his family who were by his side every step of his career. This overpass renaming is a small way of remembering this man of service and his commitment to the people of Rialto.”

Schwingel joined the City of Rialto Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic in 2001. He was an extremely motivated, tenacious, and determined individual who was soon promoted to the rank of fire engineer in 2006. During his career with the fire department, Schwingel earned the Rialto Fire Department Life Saving Award and the Rialto Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award in 2017.

Schwingel was diagnosed with job-related colon cancer in July 2015 and passed in January 2018. During his illness, he continued to provide service to the Rialto community. Many of his younger colleagues looked to Schwingel for guidance and as an example to follow.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—-Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter Nubian Pearls of Distinction is now accepting debutante applications for 2023-2024 Debutante Season.  High school juniors, seniors and college freshmen are encouraged to complete the candidate application by September 11, 2023.

The Nubian Pearls of Distinction affords young ladies the opportunity to experience a wide array of cultural, academic, and socially enriching activities.

To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter Debutante Nubian Pearls of Distinction and access application for program visit website https://www.etanuomega.org/events.

For more information, email nubianpearls1995@gmail.com.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Theresa Hunter used drugs growing up in the Sacramento area. The 32-year-old smoked weed, snorted cocaine, and popped pills.

Then, as a young adult, the mother of three found a different high: crystal methamphetamine.

“To deal with the trauma and grief in my life at that time, I turned to using drugs,” Hunter recalled. “I was trying to escape from everything.”

For five years, Hunter smoked around two grams a day of the highly addictive stimulant.

Crystal meth causes intense euphoria and negative effects such has depression, psychosis and paranoia, seizures, and other problems that can be fatal. Hunter’s addiction led her to becoming homeless and leaving her daughters’ care to their father.

Hunter tried to quit crystal meth but became lethargic and slept for days when she didn’t smoke. Rehab centers only accept individuals with alcohol or opioid issues.

In 2021, while four months pregnant with her third daughter Kassiani Rich, Hunter told her prenatal doctor that she was an addict.

“This is my time to get clean and sober,” remembered Hunter. “I was scared, but I knew I needed to get clean. I didn’t want to have an abortion or give my daughter up.”

Hunter was admitted to a rehab center for 90 days but relapsed twice after release.

Kassiani was born healthy, but Hunter lost custody and underwent further rehab. Hunter has been clean since June 12, 2021, and now has custody of Kassiani, 2, and her other daughters, Eryneesa Bernard-Wainiwheh, 13, and Jasani Bernard-Wainiwheh, 10.

She credits her daughters and programs such as See Her Bloom, an online project that helps Black women with substance abuse disorders by sharing resources and allowing women to tell their stories, for paving her road to recovery.

“Knowing there is a platform to help women overcome their addiction, having a place women can go to is really helpful,” Hunter said.

See Her Bloom is one of the many organizations and campaigns in the Golden State focused on combatting substance use disorder (SUD).

According to a 2022 report by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), overdose deaths from opioids and psychostimulants, like crystal meth, are soaring, and 9% of Californians met the criteria for SUD — misuse or overuse of alcohol or other drugs, including illicit drugs that lead to health problems — the previous year. Only 10% of the people with SUD received treatment in 2021, despite SUDs being recognized as an illness.

Black Americans have higher rates of illicit drug use (24.3%) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (22.5%), according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in May, revealed that from December 2021 to December 2022 there were 107,573 drug overdose deaths — a decrease of 2% from the previous 12 months.

Elizabeth Keating, Clinical Program Director of CA Bridge, a Public Health Institute focused on expanding addiction medication for treatment in hospital emergency departments, said overdose rates in California increased by around 1% between 2021 and 2022.

“Up is not what we want,” she said. “If not for the COVID pandemic, I would say the opioid crisis is biggest health crisis of our time. Policy matters.”

Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded $5.7 million for opioid and stimulant-use education and outreach in “Two-Spirit/LGBTQ” Communities as part of a $1 billion state initiative.

“Education and outreach are critical tools in our arsenal — to prevent tragedy, to connect people with treatment, and to fight the life-threatening stigma that stops too many people from getting help,” Newsom said.

There are also a host of bills introduced in the State Assembly and Senate aimed at addressing the state’s drug crisis.

However, more needs to be done, said Center for Collaborative Planning at the Public Health Institute Executive Director Connie Chan Robinson, who leads the See Her Bloom initiative. She said lack of research on substance issues among Black women enhances the view that there isn’t a problem in that group.

“There is a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated that strong Black girls and young women are impenetrable, they are not influenced by drugs,” Robinson said. “Their lack of engagement with families, the ability to take about issues, and the denial factor with the family contributes to the further isolation.”

Dr. Jenifer Zhan, an Implementation Leader with CA Bridge, said numbers from her organization reveal that overdose deaths increased in ZIP codes with majority Black populations by 202% from 2018 to 2022. Zhan said prescriptions for buprenorphine, an FDA-approved drug used to treat substance misuse like opioids, are given at a much lower rate to Black patients.

Zhan noted that historically people of color are more likely to be arrested or incarcerated for substance use and that can lead many Black people with addiction problems to mistrust health care providers.

“We do make a policy stance on decriminalizing substance use and we advocate for treatment instead of incarceration,” she said. “We still advocate for treatment in jail, in hospitals. There is a shortage of Black doctors. Patients of color will seek care from doctors that look like them. We need policy changes in the education realm also to fix inequalities in health care.”

Robinson said more work needs to be done to discover the connection between mental health and drug use. She said the people at See Her Bloom say more peer-to-peer outreach is needed to combat illicit substance use.

“They need a space for them to share their stories,” Robinson said.

Second annual cinematic concert August 12

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra 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.

The concert will draw from an eclectic mélange of film favorites, including several pieces in which SBSO Music Director Anthony Parnther has personally participated.

“When I’m not here in San Bernardino with our world-class orchestra, I have the distinct pleasure of leading the Hollywood Studio Symphony on many of the most beloved film and television franchises on the planet,” explained Parnther. “This year’s Movies with the Maestro is personal. We will delve into some of the scores I led from the scoring stages of Los Angeles, London, and Nashville, including blockbuster hits like Avatar: The Way of Water, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and Slumberland.”

In addition to conducting, Parnther performs on numerous movie soundtracks. “I remain active as a recording artist in the studios, and we will also explore some of the scores I have played my bassoon on including Animaniacs and Gremlins: The Secret of Mogwai.”

But that’s not all. This concert will convene some of Southern California’s finest musicians in a way rarely seen.

Explained Maestro Parnther, “This is a truly regional event as we are collaborating with the superstars of our Southern California cornerstone orchestras. We have invited the celebrated principal horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera, and the Principal Trumpet of the Pacific Symphony.”

Parnther was recently recognized by Mark Swed, Classical Music Critic of the Los Angeles Times, who described him as “the quintessential L.A. musician of our day.” Swed states, “…his technique with a baton provides complete confidence. At the same time, he indulges in robustly physical playing and riveting narrative. He enhances this by speaking engagingly to the audience, explaining why he has chosen each work and what it means to him.” Further, “The effect he gets from any size group conveys the concentration that can be felt in a recording studio. There, with the pressure to produce a recording, the outer world’s distractions recede and the music dominates your full attention.”

Full concert repertoire includes John Williams’ “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Born on the 4^th of July”, Simon Franglen’s Suite from Avatar: The Way of Water, Pinar Toprak’s Suite from Slumberland, and Bernard Herrmann’s “Salaambo’s Aria” from Citizen Kane. Young patrons will particularly enjoy Steve and Julie Bernstein’s Suite from Animanics, John Powell’s “Poisonous Love” from Rio 2, and Jerry Goldsmith and Sherri Chung’s “Gremlins” from Gremlins: Secrets of Mogwai. Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Horn Andrew Bain will join the Orchestra to perform Kris Bowers’ (Green Book, King Richard, and Bridgerton) Concerto for Horn which, under the baton of Maestro, Parnther, premiered in 2021 as part of the Philharmonic’s Reel Change series.

Patrons are highly encouraged to bring their light sabers to wave along to William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars and to Ludwig Goransson and Joe Shirley’s Main Theme from Star Wars-The Mandalorian.

Second Performance Added

The August 12 concert will be reprised on Wednesday August 16 at the Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil School for the Arts Auditorium to open the Association of California Symphony Orchestras 54th annual conference. This is the first year the conference has ever been held in the Inland Empire and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra was honored to have been selected as the host organization.

Shared Dean McVay, ACSO Board Member, conference co-chair, and Immediate Past President of the San Bernardino Symphony Board of Directors, “We at the SBSO have been planning and preparing for an ACSO Conference in the Inland Empire for years, and in many respects it is a dream come true. Bringing the best and brightest industry leaders, musicians, and artists in the West Coast for this conference is an honor and a privilege, and we look forward to sharing the beauty and talent that is so abundant here in the Inland Empire – with performances from our own San Bernardino Symphony, and also during the conference from our partners at the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic.”

The public is invited to attend the August 16 concert with tickets purchased through the Symphony Box Office. Registration is still open for the ACSO conference which includes a concert ticket.

Tickets and Location Details

Tickets for August 12 are available at $20-$100 per seat. and may be purchased online at www.sanbernardinosymphony.org or by phone at (909) 381-5388 Monday through Friday. Students and Active Military are always $15. The historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts is located at 562 W. 4th Street San Bernardino. Free, lighted parking is available directly across from the venue.

Tickets for August 16 are available by phone only at (909) 381-5388 and are general admission open seating at $50/pp. The Coil Auditorium is located at 3890 University Ave, Riverside.

Venue box office sales are planned, but the availability of seats cannot be guaranteed.

Citrus Valley High School alumna Clare E. Groninger has been selected for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Internship Program. She is one of just 38 students chosen by Television Academy members from across the country for the 2023 summer program. The Foundation’s annual Internship Program provides eight-week paid internships at top Hollywood studios and production companies to college students nationwide.

Groninger, a senior this fall at California State University, Northridge majoring in television production-narrative, will be a physical production/business management intern this summer at Xpedition Media, a production and consulting agency based in Los Angeles (Table Wars; Pasta Grannies).

“I am deeply honored to be selected for the 2023 Television Academy Foundation Summer Intern class,” said Groninger. “To have my potential recognized by the country’s most successful television professionals is not only reassuring but motivating to continue pursuing my television aspirations.”

The Internship Program also provides professional development sessions with leaders in the television industry and customized seminars covering personal brand-building and navigating the job market ahead for participating students. Interns also become lifelong members of the Foundation’s alumni family, giving them access to events and networking opportunities as they build their careers in the industry.

The Television Academy Foundation shapes the art of creating television by engaging and educating the next generation of television professionals, providing essential resources that help them discover their voices, refine their skills and forge rewarding careers in every sector of the television industry. The Internship Program annually provides 50 students from across the nation with hands-on work experience, mentorships, and opportunities for accelerated career development in more than 30 industry disciplines.

Congratulations to those who have successfully completed the Basic Law Enforcement Academy! It is an incredible achievement. Westside Story News wishes all the graduates well as they embark on their careers. Congratulations Class of 23!

(CNBC)—- After failing to reach a contract resolution with the studio association, more than 11,000 film and television writers remain on strike. Of the many topics under consideration in this year’s Writers Guild of America contract discussions, one nascent technology has fueled dissent among the negotiators: artificial intelligence.

“I hope I’m wrong, but I do think that the use of AI is going to take over the entertainment industry,” said Justine Bateman, a member of the writers, directors and actors guilds. “And I think it’s going to be really bad.”

The implementation of generative AI could mean sweeping changes for the entertainment industry. Advocates for AI technology see it as a tool that will uplift content creators and break down the barriers to entry.

“It’s going to be very soon until we can literally just type in a prompt and see something as a consumer,” said AI filmmaker Caleb Ward. “And you don’t have to have any sort of skills as a visual effects artist or as someone in the entertainment industry.”

Since the last writers’ strike in 2007, widespread consumer adoption of video streaming has exemplified how novel technologies can upheave the entertainment industry. Now, however, the leaders in the streaming space are dealing with the ballooning costs of high-output, high-quality content.

“Today, the only one we know of that is cashflow positive is Netflix,” said Dan Rayburn, a streaming media analyst. “Every other company out there is losing money—Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, losing billions and billions and billions of dollars a year.”

As streaming companies scramble to save their bottom lines, content is being removed from platforms, cutting off creators from being compensated.

“Every time a content deal is done with a streaming platform or distribution, it has a direct impact on those who created the content — distributors, producers, writers, actors — because they’re getting royalties based on that,” said Rayburn.

As the entertainment industry faces another disruptive technology in the form of AI, the Writers Guild of America is demanding that regulatory standards around the technology ensure fair labor conditions and compensation for Hollywood professionals.