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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Westside Story Newspaper extends a congratulations to Lucretia Dowdy for being pinned as the President for the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce. The ceremony took place on Monday, March 28 at 555 N. Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino. This was a great way to end Women’s History Month.

Other women that were honored at the event included: Keyona Dawson, Assemblywoman Elose Reyes Gomez, Krissy Harper, Manal Iskander, Rev. Bronica Martindale, and Robin Mckinnon.

“I know my Creator is ordering my steps!” Dowdy states. “Our chapter is doing a new and different thing. Thank you to my children for attending, my king, family, and friends.”

REDLANDS, CA—- On Sunday, March 27, 2022, Empire Talks Back (ETB) included an interview with the NAACP San Bernardino Chapter President, Cha Che Wright. Westside Story Newspaper Entertainment Writer, Lou Dowdy, brought poetess Moena (see profile below) and singer Ke LaRae to the ETB audience. Both young ladies shared their talent and passion. If you would like to be an ETB guest or to suggest one, send an email to walleniv@yahoo.com.

Moena is a 20-year-old poetess and musician who currently attends California Baptist University in pursuit of her Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition. She has been writing poetry and playing music since the age of 7. From starting to write poetry and her first song in elementary school, the seed of artistic inspiration was already sown in her heart. It was later afternoons spent exploring artistic ideas in her dad’s barbershop that really allowed her to become the artist that she is today.

One of Moena’s first notable poems was about being bored; however, her journey has been anything but boring. Pursuing music has been such an exciting journey for her. It has been her deepest passion since her first piano lesson to now, composing full orchestrated works of music for various musicians to play in many genres.

It was in her middle school band program that Moena found a passion for playing woodwind instruments, and later in high school, when writing melodies became a passion for her. The clarinet, saxophone, and flute are the three woodwind instruments that Moena has focused on in the past nine years of her life and is planning on incorporating them heavily in her music for her debut album.

Moena believes that poetry and music are deeply intertwined, and both complement each other in characterizing her unique artistry. Ultimately, they are the tools that God has given her, to express her destined purpose through. Since Moena is only at the start of her career, she knows that her future is only but a blank canvas of opportunity.

Follow her on Instagram @artxmoena.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Like her devotion to her Catholic faith, Brenda Harris’ willingness to help others, especially disadvantaged people, was consistent and rare, authentic in a way that drew everyone to her, friends and loved ones say.

On March 5, Harris, an outspoken advocate and civil servant who influenced state education policy, died after a brief illness. She was 71.

“I had the honor of knowing Brenda for over 35 years, dating back to when she was a senior advisor at the California Department of Education. She was an extraordinary individual, an expert policymaker in the field of education and a fearless civil rights advocate,” said Dotson Wilson, former Chief Clerk and Parliamentarian of the California Assembly.

“Whether she was speaking to aspiring young students, academicians or elected officials, Brenda remained steadfast in her goal to implement sound education policy,” Wilson continued. “I consider it an honor to have known her as a colleague and friend.”

Wilson, who was the longest serving African American in the State Assembly, retired in 2019 after 26 years.

Before becoming an Education Program Consultant at the California Department of Education, an advisor to the California State Board of Education and a Professor at Sacramento State University, Harris was an elementary, middle and high school teacher in San Francisco.

Harris, who was a resident of Sacramento when she passed, tutored students and taught classes at several after-school programs and community learning centers in Sacramento and the Bay Area.

When Harris was a teenager, her family moved to Marysville, California, a Yuba County town about 50 miles north of San Francisco. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended Gonzaga University in Washington. Later, she transferred to the University of San Francisco (USF) in 1971, where she majored in Communications and Sociology.

“She looked up to her parents as role models, both of whom were active participants in the civil rights movement and had participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the mid-1950s,” said Jack Weinrieb and Meghan Grant, two San Francisco educators who wrote a biography of Harris.

“Harris would listen to her parents discuss the inhumanity of racism, injustice, and discrimination and quickly learned about the importance of doing her part in social movements,” Weinreib and Grant continued. “Harris recalls that her mother instilled an understanding that underprivileged populations have similar struggles, no matter their race.”

While she was a student at USF, Harris became close to other Black students and participated in several social and political activities on campus and in nearby neighborhoods.

She worked in USF’s financial aid office and with the school’s Drama department. And she volunteered, lending her time to community organizations serving several disadvantaged city districts with large Black populations, including the Western Addition, Bayview–Hunters Point, Haight-Ashbury and the Fillmore.

Daniel Hahn, Sacramento’s first Black Chief of Police – who served from 2017 until the end of last year – said he was always impressed by how many people Harris knew and how committed she was to helping others.

“She was extremely engaged in making tomorrow better for all people,” he said. “She was constantly introducing me to people in the city and she was always encouraging me to carry out the things I believed in. She wasn’t just talk. She always followed through with her actions.”

Harris attended St. Ignatius Loyola church in Sacramento and taught classes at the church’s Center for Ignatian Spirituality.

“Gratitude is at the core of my existence. Ignatian Spirituality made me a global citizen. Living at this moment in world history, I am to share Ignatian Spirituality with a diverse ecumenical group globally,” Harris said in a statement on the center’s website.

Regina Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media, said Harris loved the Black press.

“She always wanted to know what was happening in Black communities,” Wilson said. “She was a faithful supporter of Black-owned news outlets across the state.”

“For her, it was more than just representation. It was about informing people, educating people and improving lives,” Wilson said.

A memorial mass for Harris will be held at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Sacramento at 10 a.m. on April l8.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. is happy to announce the 2022 SheRoes recipients in honor of Women’s History Month. The women selected are members of our Fifth District community, in their respective fields who have dedicated countless hours to improving the lives of others. The women who have been chosen to be the recipients of the 2022 SheRoes of the Fifth are:

• Ronecia Miller of San Bernardino, Founder of Sistas Making a Difference.
• Alicia Truelove works in Colton, Nurse Educator at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.
• Dianne Mendez of Bloomington, Municipal Advisory Council volunteer, School Board member for Public Charter School System in San Bernardino County, Staff Analyst at San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
• Karen Suarez of San Bernardino, Director of Uplift San Bernardino.
• Irma Herrera of Rialto, Instructor for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and volunteer at LISTOS, a disaster preparedness organization.

Our 2022 SheRoes WonderWoman is Teresa Escoto of Bloomington, Informational Officer of Bloomington Little League, Bloomington Municipal Advisory Council Volunteer, mother, wife, and friend to all.

“The women that were selected for this recognition are selfless community members who advocate their time and efforts in improving our community and the lives of those who reside here and afar. It is an honor to recognize these strong women for their commitment and leadership. Our district stands strong due to their constant support and efforts.”– Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- More than 160 middle and high school students showcased their acting, dancing, singing talents at the Performing Arts Showcase on March 8.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity for students in arts programs throughout the county to come together for an outstanding performance,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “We have so much talent among our students and to see them in the spotlight in a professional, historical setting was truly incredible.”

The event was held at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino. The student performers represented eight districts in San Bernardino County.

“I’m excited to be with all my friends, especially after COVID, and it’s just a blessing to be able to perform [in person] again,” said Mercedes, a Senior at A.B. Miller High School and a member of the dance ensemble. “It just brings peace of mind that hard times don’t last forever and being able to dance and share this art with other people is a great opportunity.”

The first Performing Arts Showcase took place in 2016 and has been held annually at the California Theatre, except for a two-year break from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols. This year, students, teachers and attendees celebrated a return to in person performances.

San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools hosts the event in collaboration with The California Arts Project.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.#transforminglives.

Both her soul touching music and joyous spirit will truly be missed

The Los Angeles jazz and blues legend, Barbara Morrison died Wednesday at 72. Morrison grew up in the Detroit suburbs. Her father was a doo-wop singer, and she sang too through her young years. Her albums included “I Know How to Do It” (1996) and “Visit Me” (1999). The Los Angeles legend spent more than a decade performing a Pip’s on La Brea Avenue, a jazz club in Mid-City as well as Leimert Park Village, where she opened the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. She will be missed and always loved.

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen IV

Dorjil Apartments is in foreclosure… The San Bernardino west side apartment complex consisting of 34 units was built forty years ago to provide subsidized low-income housing. The foreclosure is based on administrative and financial defaults causing a sales auction to be scheduled for Monday March 21.  It is possible that a thirty-day delay of the sale date may occur. It is possible that the original developer, John Dukes will maintain control of the property.

The dilemma of ownership is a story that must include chapters on property management, property maintenance and customer service… The Dorjils were developed by Vivian Nash and John Duke creating great pride and national accolades for the project and for the Black couple. Dorjil is a great story that deserves to be told, I hope John is writing the book!

The dilemma of homelessness is immanent when one’s housing is in foreclosure.  Where will the people who now occupy the Dorjil apartments, live if the foreclosure sale takes place? Where will they live if present ownership prevails? Those questions both are rooted in the maintenance/condition of the property. The condition of the property is of immediate concern to the residents, and ultimately the responsibility of the owner regardless of who that may be.

Some residents have been withholding rents, they say, because of the property conditions… If new ownership occurs, will the condition of the property be an excuse/reason for tenant displacements during improvements?   If ownership remains the same, will residents pay rents before repairs are made? Will management handle repairs prior to collecting withheld rents? Will residents get evicted? Does the forty-year-old development continue to provide subsidized housing, or will it become the reason for housing trauma that may lead to homelessness?

The residents are organized to withhold rent because of not only maintenance concerns, but also recently about what they consider to be questionable if not illegal rent collection procedures. The management and many of the residents are at odds. I have not heard all the residents but of the dozen or so that I have heard, all of them are upset, saying they don’t trust management!

Distrust is not a good foundation for negotiation. There is a solution… I hope we find it!

By Charlene Muhammad | California Black Media

To mark Women’s History Month, The California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC) honored more than 100 Black women leaders from across the state from different professional backgrounds, including media executives, public health professionals, activists, politicians and more.

The organization also held a series of panel discussions leading up to the celebration and highlighted several policy priorities, including aging and elder care.

The Hon. Cheryl Brown, a retired California Assemblymember and a Commissioner on the California Commission on Aging said 23% of Black women live in poverty, which is the second highest percentage in the U.S. — only behind Native American women.

Brown pointed out that Gov. Gavin Newsom set aside $2 billion for the Master Plan on Aging, a 10-year project, but she questioned, how would the people the money is intended to help access the money. Brown said currently there are not effective systems in place to inform people about the help they need.

The funds, she said, will funnel down through the California Department of Aging down to county agencies.

“That’s why it’s critical to get involved on those levels,” Brown emphasized.

Ahead of Women’s History Month, a group of influential California Black women brought their perspectives together last month in a virtual “fireside chat” to take a broader look at aging and elder care in the Black community.

Whether they were expressing the joys of caring for a loved one or exposing the range of challenges Black women face as they age, the panelists shared useful insights that could shape public health policy or improve ways African American caregivers attend to the needs of aging family members.

“This is our third event as part of the California Black women Empowerment series,” said Yvonne Wheeler, a member of the strategy team of the CBWC. The event was organized in partnership with Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA).

“Our goal is to talk about the issues that are important to Black women in California and today the topic is ‘Black Women Aging With Dignity and Respect.’”

During their remarks, panelists outlined resources Black women need to make sure that their needs are met while elevating some concerning statistics.

“Black women in California have many barriers in their everyday life. As we get older, the issues don’t change. The issues just get more complicated,” said Regina Brown Wilson, moderator of the event and Executive Director of California Black Media.”

“Before COVID-19, we were already experiencing financial hardship, poor health outcomes, and when the pandemic hit, older Black women were among the most vulnerable because of their circumstances, Wilson stated. “Approximately 80% of Black women are breadwinners who earn 40% of the household income. Seventy-four percent of Black women breadwinners are single mothers.”

The panelists were Brown; Sylvia Drew Ivie, Special Advisor to the President, Charles R. Drew University; Delane Sims, Founder and CEO, Senior Moments; and Shavonda Webber-Christmas, Community Benefits Program Manager at LA Care Health Plans. The women helped shed light on issues that Black women experience as they age in their older years.

Webber-Christmas said it is critical to ensure that there are culturally competent providers helping Black women navigate resources available to them and to make sure that they are practicing the self-care they need to maintain long, healthy lives.

“If you’re missing food, your likelihood of being healthy is low. So, we do try to look at the whole person and not just medical needs when we talk about the services that we contract for, or services that we provide grants for. We want those to be holistic,” she said, highlighting some of the wraparound social services LA Care provides to the people it serves.

“I think that when we talk about older women, we’re not talking about someone who just became that person,” Webber-Christmas added.  We’re talking about someone, if you look over the life course of the individual, it’s incremental. What we are doing today determines what we experience in later life.”

Sims spoke about the experiences of Black women who live longer and the various challenges they face as caregivers.  Her own father lived to be 115 years old, she shared. Sims said taking care of him became a challenge as his other caregivers aged.

“It was daunting to say the least, to be sort of thrust into caregiving and not being prepared, but just feeling like it was something I absolutely needed to do to honor my mother and certainly my stepfather. But that is also one of the challenges,” said Sims.

She encouraged Black women caregivers to seek emotional support, avoid missing meals, talk to someone and even join a support group.

Brown said Black families must take a collective look at caring for their aging loved ones.

“We have to look out for each other,” she said. “It has to be an inter-generational thing.”

Kellie Todd Griffin, convenor of the CBWC said there is an emerging trend of communal living among Black single mothers.

“They are buying homes together. Sharing in the costs of daycare and helping each other out. We have to be creative,” she said.

Griffin said it is also important for Black women to organize.

“We have got to raise our voices and knock on doors. When we show up at the Capitol and in those district offices, that’s when they start listening to us,” she pointed out. “It is important to show up to those town hall meetings that legislators have in their communities.”

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— The 3-13-22 ETB Broadcast features two segments: An interview with Yung Muusik, produced by WSS News columnist, Lue Dowdy. The second segment features a conversation with Don Smith, a 25-year IE Housing advocate with the Rent Relief program ending on March 31st, evictions and foreclosures are eminent.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — Approximately 80 students from the High Desert region showcased their talent and hard work during the 2022 San Bernardino County High Desert High School Honor Band Concert on Saturday, Feb. 26.

“I am proud of the collaboration that enables us to support the performing arts and music education in the High Desert region,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “The arts are proven to further successful academic outcomes, so promoting events like this one is vital to helping students reach their fullest potentials.”

Since 1986, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools has collaborated with the San Bernardino County Music Educators Association to host the honor band concerts for students involved in music education programs throughout the county.

This is one of several county student arts performances taking place in person for the first time in over two years due to COVID 19 restrictions. 

“It’s really nice to come together and create a meaningful experience in music and camaraderie and connection,” said Alec, a senior at Serrano High School and clarinet player in the county High Desert Honor Band.  “It’s a very great experience because this honor band is something I’ve been a part of since middle school and elementary school, and it just feels really good to be able to represent my school.” 

Brent Levine conducted students from 10 area high schools at the Barstow Community College Performing Arts Center. Levine, the newly appointed Interim Associate Director of Bands at Northern Arizona University, attended Serrano High School in the Snowline Joint Unified School District, the same region where the performing students are from.

The Basin region’s honor band concert is scheduled to be held on April 16 at the University of Redlands, COVID-19 protocols permitting.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.#transforminglives.