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Take a look inside the newly renovated Dorothy Inghram Learning Center
By Hector Hernandez Jr.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre and San Bernardino County Board of Education celebrated the opening of their new administrative headquarters, named after San Bernardino educator Dorothy Inghram, on Monday, February 4.
Many in attendance remarked that opening the center, named after California’s first African-American superintendent of schools, was a fitting opening to Black History Month.
The Dorothy Inghram Learning Center, 670 E. Carnegie Drive, San Bernardino, is filled with the latest in audio-visual technology houses County Schools superintendent’s offices, the board of education chambers and offices, the county school’s cyber-security career program and the county’s Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) administration.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Richard De Nava, once the property was purchased in June 2017 the 18-month remodeling the new facilities was a complex project with a tight timeline.
Each of the project’s goals was met in time thanks to the combined efforts of several departments and partners working as a team, he said.
One of the main goals of moving to new facilities was to enable County Schools to make state-of-the-art facilities and programs available to students of all of the county’s 33 school districts whether their home districts can afford or support those type of advanced programs or not, according to County Board of Education President Hardy Brown II.
Prior to cutting the ribbon, a video as well as several guest speakers including former Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown and San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member Margaret Hill shared the history of Inghram.
Longtime friends and former students remembered Inghram, who died in 2012 at the age of 106, as a supremely generous woman who believed every kid had potential and who greatly valued reading and libraries. These traits led the city of San Bernardino to name a city library after her in 1977.
Hill, a Highland resident, befriended Ingrham through bowling and the decades-long friendship was further cemented by a shared passion for education.
In a life full of momentous firsts, Inghram was one of the first students to graduate from San Bernardino Valley College (she wrote the school’s alma mater), one of the first African-American students to graduate from the University of Redlands.
She then became the county’s first African-American teacher, served as principal and then superintendent of the one-school Mill Street School District in San Bernardino. She became the state’s first African-American superintendent in 1953.
“She thought children had to have a future and wanted the library to stay open so the children of the community could have a place to go to dream and find out about the world around them,” said Cheryl Brown.
Photo Recap: IECAAC, 39th Annual MLK,Jr Prayer Breakfast
Photos by John Coleman, Community Photographer
Black History Film Festival at the San Bernardino Public Library
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Public Library will be hosting a film festival in celebration of Black History Month in February. These screenings will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 PM in the Bing Wong Auditorium at the Feldheym Central Library, 555 W. 6th Street.
The series includes films that cover a wide range of stories and cultures. Due to our public performance license, we are unable to list the titles of the movies.
- Tuesday, Feb. 5: A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee. Starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.
- Thursday, Feb. 7: The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role at NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. Starring Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer.
- Tuesday, Feb. 19: A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. Starring David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo.
- Thursday, Feb. 21: A working class African-American father tries to raise his family in the 1950’s, while coming to terms with the events of his life. Starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.
- Tuesday, Feb. 26: A passionate coach helps inner-city kids overcome the racist attitudes around them and become Philadelphia’s first African-American swim team. Starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac.
- Thursday, Feb. 28: The heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda must step forward to lead his people into a new future. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o.
These films are free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 909-381-8235 or visit or visit www.sbpl.org,https://twitter.com/SBCityLibrary, or https://www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends/
Riverside Black History Month Kicks-Off with Annual Reception in Preparation for Annual Black History Parade and Expo
EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN) —RIVERSIDE, CA— “It Still Takes A Village” after 40 Years of Unity. That is the theme for this year’s kick-off reception for Riverside Black History Month hosted by the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation. The reception will be held on Saturday, February 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Central Middle School located at 4795 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.
There will be food and entertainment at the reception. Succeeding the reception will be the Black History Parade and Expo on Saturday, February 9 at 10 a.m. The Parade will begin at Riverside City College and will finish in front of the City Hall in Downtown Riverside, where the expo will also be held.
Sponsors for this year’s festivities include: City of Riverside, Riverside City College, Riverside Unified School District, Raceway Ford, Precinct Reporter, NAACP, Riverside Police Department, County of Riverside, BURRTEC and Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation.
For more information, please visit www.adcrfoundation.org.
26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk-A-Thon
26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Walk-A-Thon: “Walking for Peace and Justice”
Join us on January 21st as we pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! This year our theme is ‘Walking for Peace and Justice’. Our 5K walk will start at Stratton Center and end at the RCC Digital Library with a stop at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on Main Street. Free shuttle services back to Stratton Center will be available every half hour beginning at 11 am.
Registration will begin at 7:30 AM at Stratton Center. The Walk will begin promptly at 10 AM at the entrance of the Center. Free shuttle service back to Stratton Center will be available every half hour beginning at 11 AM.
After the walk join us for a short program (honoring local honorees), booths, entertainment, performances and a contest for the organization with the most number of walkers.
This years Honorees are:
- Assembly Member Sabrina Cervantes
- Judge Irma Poole-Ashberry
- Congressman Mark Takano
- Justice Richard Fields
Proceeds from the Walk-A-Thon will benefit the Riverside African-American Historical Society to support:
The Civil Rights Institute, Clarke & Grier College Scholarships and for the maintenance and upkeep of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue. Click here to register.
Find Out What It’s Like to be a School Principal
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work as a social worker? How about a teacher or maybe a negotiator? How about all three jobs at the same time?
The District invites community members and business leaders to experience the rewards and challenges of leading a public school by participating in Principal for a Day on Thursday, March 14. Since its launch more than two decades ago as a collaboration between the District and the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce, the Principal for a Day program has hosted hundreds of private and public sector professionals.
Participants spend nearly half a day leading a District school alongside the actual principal. Besides a brief gathering first thing in the morning and an afternoon review, little else is scripted. A typical day for a guest principal may include greeting students, meeting teachers, and eating lunch in the cafeteria.
“As a principal, no two school days are alike,” said Hunt Elementary School Principal Kristin Kolling. “Today, I may spend half the day visiting classrooms and training teachers. Tomorrow, we could have a fire drill at the same time I’m comforting a kindergartner whose dog passed away. And then, on my way to a parent meeting, I’ll be summoned to mediate a disagreement between fourth graders. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
If you’re interested in serving as a Principal for a Day, please complete an application at www.sbcusd.com/pfad or call the Communications Department at (909) 381-1250. Applications must be submitted by February 1.
Local bikers join forces for patients at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Approximately 200 motorcyclists and enthusiasts alike came out to support Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital at the 26th annual Quaid Harley-Davidson Toy Run on Sunday, December 16. The event was held to benefit the kids at Children’s Hospital, providing funding, toys and holiday cheer.
Participants in the ride and attendees donated thousands of new toys, enough to fill a small trailer. All proceeds — including registration fees — were given to Children’s Hospital. Many patients and their families attended the event and were greeted by the enthusiastic bikers.
Dealer owner Glenn Quaid spoke on how some of the best people he knew were found on the backs of bikes.
“We take care of our children,” Quaid said. “We take care of our community.”
Loma Linda Fire Department also attended with a classic fire truck for photo ops, before leading riders through the streets of Loma Linda toward Children’s Hospital.
Photo Caption: Children at the event were able to choose from a trailer filled with new, unwrapped toys.
Ontario Reign visits Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
ENN NETWORK)—LOMA LINDA, CA—- — Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital patients had a special visit from the Inland Empire ice hockey team Ontario Reign on Wednesday, December 19.
Approximately 10 team members and their mascot Kingston congregated in a hospital playroom where they signed and handed out jerseys, played games and took photos with patients. Several of the players and Kingston stopped by patient rooms to make sure everyone had the opportunity to meet the team and get an official jersey.
Several of the players and Kingston stopped by patient rooms to make sure everyone had the opportunity to meet the team and get an official jersey.
Exclusive Interview: Danielle Willis Finds Her Purpose in Health, Fitness and Bodybuilding
By Naomi K. Bonman
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- There is only one week left of 2018, which means every gym is about to be packed for the first quarter of 2019. After the first quarter of the year people fall off and disregard any fitness resolution that they had on New Year’s Eve. However, we need to keep that adrenaline pumping.
Female bodybuilder and fitness guru, Danielle Willis, is the true epitome of whatever you put your mind to can be achieve through persistence and consistentency. I was inspired Ms. Willis’ latest achievements in the fitness arena this past year that I had to chat with her. Her story is purposeful and inspiring to all, young and “seasoned”.
Listen to the interview below: