Local

A well-known face at the West Valley Water District’s Board meetings, Don Griggs served with honor and integrity as the President of the West Valley Water District Ratepayers Association and Westside Action Group. In addition to his work in the water industry, for 40 years he fought to improve the political and economic condition of Black Americans across the county. Ultimately, his leadership and tenacity for civil rights and equity led to improvements and victories for every resident. His life and legacy of leadership, service and most of all, friendship, will be missed by all.

San Bernardino County Fire Department donates a fire engine as part of an ongoing relationship with the College

YUCAIPA, CA—- Crafton Hills College Regional Fire Academy is the recipient of the donation of a Wildland Type III fire engine from the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The program currently holds two full-time fire academies per year, and the donation of the fire engine will benefit students directly. An integral part of the Fire Academy curriculum is the emphasis placed on wildland firefighting operations.

With a fire engine of this type on site, students will more effectively learn the various manipulative hose evolutions that are required in the curriculum. 

“This generous donation will greatly improve our program as well as bringing industry consistency to the students during their time in the academy,” said Michael Alder, chief of the CHC Fire Academy.

“It is ironic that this particular fire engine was one that I had actually helped develop and build while heading up our apparatus committee with the San Bernardino City Fire Department so I’m very familiar with this fire engine.” 

The apparatus is a 1999 International / Pierce Type III Brush Engine which served the San Bernardino Area for more than 20 years. The four-wheel drive engine carries 500 gallons of water, pumps 500 GPM & has the ability to “pump and roll” which is crucial for wildland firefighting. Besides the engine, it comes with a full wildland compliment of gear consistent with industry standards.  

“With fire season longer, hotter and more than intense than ever before, this engine will be a great addition to their training fleet,” said Michael McClintock, Battalion 7, Division 4.

“California crews are truly ‘all risk’ and remain busy year around. CHC does a fantastic job with getting academy graduates ready for the work force.” 

The relationship between the Fire Technology program at Crafton Hills College and the Fire Department is a rich partnership. More than 100 SBCOFD firefighters have completed CHC Fire Academy, including McClintock. The Fire Academies at CHC are an integral part of San Bernardino County’s “Cradle to Career” program, providing educational training and tracks to a career. Additionally, many instructors are current or retired firefighters from the Department. 

“On behalf of our long running program as well as the Crafton Hills College and the San Bernardino Community College District, I would like to thank the San Bernardino County Fire Department for this great donation and all of the support that they have provided us throughout the years,” said Alder.

“We truly value our great working relationship and the positive impact it has on our communities.” Previously the Fire Department has donated two other Type I fire engines as well as a “Rescue Squad.” 

For more information about Crafton Hills College Fire Technology program, visit  https://www.craftonhills.edu/academic-and-career-programs/divs-and-depts/career-ed-and-human-dev/public-safety-and-services/fire-technology/. 

With COVID-19, businesses have started to scale back a little on their advertising and marketing and other businesses have started to market more within the Black and Brown communities due to the rising social justice issues. It is all about being creative in your marketing approach and screenwriter and playwright, T’ana Phelice is helping businesses get some exposure through her latest film, T. Alexander.

T Alexander is a 30-minute short film about a beloved basketball talent, Tosha Alexander, who lost her basketball scholarship after deciding to move forward with an unplanned pregnancy. Prior to becoming a mother at the age of 17, she was the family’s golden child. Although her mother often speaks of Tosha’s life being ruined, and her sister urges her to make fast money by using her good looks, Tosha is determined to become an actress, a second dream she hasn’t given up on. Her boyfriend Damien works at the local grocery store to support everyone in the household,  but Tosha’s family refuses to respect him.

This film will be a testament to the power of having a positive self image. It will document the struggle of being a young parent while also defying the belief that black men do not honor black women. Voice-overs will be used to set a poetic theme, and allow viewers into the mind of the protagonist as she experiences emotional roller coasters throughout her journey.

The story will not be polished with glamour or cliche’ interactions between its characters. It will be raw and true to the grit that’s paired with anguish, jealousy, substance abuse, illness, resentment, unfulfillment, loss, hustle, setbacks, disagreement, disappointments, ruthlessness, sadness, frustration, heartbreak, confusion, mistakes, choices, and ultimately a small win that pays off the latter.

The ultimate goal is to inspire. The film will accomplish that by demonstrating the odds our young woman is able to move in her favor.

The producer of T Alexander will distribute the motion picture to film festivals, and AmazonPrime. Due to a recent theatrical success tied to the writer, director, and co director, business relationships have been formed to secure the release of the film to the public. To enable wider distribution, we will also place the films promotional materials on public platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Product and/or business will be featured in the film. Business name, brand, and/or product will be showcased in the film by being a visual element in a particular scene. Example; if the sponsor would like business featured, the business, including business name, will be a focal point of a scene. Example two; if the sponsor would like product featured, the product will be seen or used in a scene in the film. Product will also be a focal point. Sponsors/businesses will also be included in the films closing credits.

For those that are interested, please contact T’ana Phelice at Mstanaphelice@gmail.com or at 323-327-9208.

$5 million fundraising goal and an innovative model of philanthropy

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Thanks to the long-standing leadership of Black-led organizations and the power of the cross-racial coalitions they have built, we are seeing tremendous advancements in racial equity in the United States and globally. Countless government agencies, corporations, and foundations have, in a matter of weeks, redoubled their commitments to racial equity and combating anti-Black racism.

Black-led organizations (BLOs) in the Inland Empire are an important part of this story. Capitalizing on decades of patient work and incremental wins to advance racial equity, BLOs in the Inland Empire have scored some significant policy victories in recent weeks. These include getting San Bernardino County as the first in California to declare racism a public health crisis, replicating these victories in several other cities in Southern California, and getting San Bernardino County to include equity as a standalone element in its Countywide Vision.

Continuing in that tradition, the Inland Empire Funders Alliance (IEFA) is proud to partner with the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire in launching the Black Equity Fund—a regional pooled fund with a preliminary goal of raising $5 million over two years and updated thereafter to support long-term investments in Black-led organizations. The Black Equity Fund is being seeded with investments from The California Endowment and the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and has already garnered interest from several foundations and private donors.

The IE Black Equity Fund is the first known regional pooled fund on Black equity that brings together statewide, regional and local funders as well as private donors and corporate philanthropy, working in partnership with leaders of the Inland Empire Black Equity Initiative to advance their priority issues. 

An important innovation of the IE Black Equity Fund is to follow the guiding principles of theTrust-Based Philanthropy Project, which recognizes “the inherent power imbalance between foundations and nonprofits” and approaches grantee relationships “from a place of trust, humility and transparency.” Partners in the regional fund pledge to: 1) give multi-year, unrestricted funding; 2) center IE Black Equity Initiative leaders in decision-making; 3) simplify and streamline paperwork; 4) be transparent and responsive; and 5) offer support beyond the check by participating in peer learning with IE Black Equity Initiative leaders to improve Black equity in funders’ overall grantmaking practice.

Organizers of the Black Equity Fund—including the Inland Empire Funders Alliance, IE Black Equity Initiative, Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the Center for Social Innovation—noted the importance of seizing the moment, and doing so in a way that fundamentally alters power relationships in philanthropy and empowers Black community leaders as much as possible.

 “The Black Equity Fund is being developed through an iterative process based in equity whereby those most impacted and closest to the problems and conditions we need to change are driving the strategy and decision making process.  It’s in those lived experiences where generative and relevant solutions are birthed,” said Margarita Luna, Senior Program Manager at The California Endowment and vice-chair of the Inland Empire Funders Alliance.  

Dina Walker, President & CEO of BLU Educational Foundation noted another innovative aspect of the partnership: “The Black Equity Initiative is a collective impact model with a cultural lens centered on the principles of Kwanzaa,” she noted. “This includes self determination, collective work, and responsibility. It is from this foundation that we work together to create the vision, develop strategy. work the plan and ultimately reap the harvest. We trust and move forward together knowing that our success is intrinsically tied to the success of each other.  This is how we meet the needs and dreams of our community.”

Felicia Jones, Associate Director at Congregations United for Prophetic Engagement, noted that Black led organizations have a powerful track record for leading equity work in the Inland Empire. “Groups began to formally collaborate on issues of educational equity more than a decade ago, moving important reforms in school districts throughout the region,” she noted. “The collaborative, formerly known as the African American Education Collaborative and later renamed the IE Black Equity Initiative, continued to evolve from a group of 10 to now more than 20 Black led organizations and has expanded its collective work into criminal justice reform, higher education, and civic engagement.”

“There is going to be an intentional need for philanthropy to embrace this moment with us, heal with us, learn with us, and see this as a movement building opportunity,” said Pastor Samuel Casey, Executive Director of Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement. “We cannot have a short attention span when it comes to systemic solutions. We will need long-term, general operating support to ensure that the gains and wins that have been, and will be achieved, are sustained.” 

Michelle Decker, CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation and a co-investor in the Black Equity Fund, underscored the need for funders to repair the damage from decades of underinvestment in Black communities. “We need to come together in a manner that honors the expertise of Black-led organizations,” she noted, adding that “the economic and health challenges of COVID-19, as well as the collective trauma of the killing of Black lives, have shown us that the success of the region will rise or fall based on its progress on racial equity.”

Finally, the Center for Social Innovation led by Professor Karthick Ramakrishnan at UC Riverside is a strategic data partner to both the Black Equity Initiative and the Black Equity Fund. It will provide research support to help motivate, inform, and learn from philanthropic investments in Black-led organizations in the Inland Empire. “The Inland Empire is a center of innovation when it comes to advancing racial equity,” Ramakrishnan noted. “Our communities have come together in even more powerful ways after COVID-19 than they did previously, and we are grateful that our data and narrative work can help strengthen regional investments and support the leadership of Black equity organizations in the region.”

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Riverside Arts Council, Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and Music Changing Lives are excited to announce they have formed a regional arts collaborative, Arts for I.E., with the purpose of bridging arts advocacy, empowerment, and access across the Inland region. 

In 2019, Josiah Bruny, CEO of Music Changing Lives, spearheaded the vision of One Inland Empire, a collective of organizations who together would solve pressing issues across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. When COVID-19 began threatening community access to the arts, demanding immediate virtual adaptations, forcing closures and cancelations of events, reducing staff and resources, he realized the need to unite and advocate for the arts was even more pressing than ever before.

Josiah brainstormed creative strategies with Jennifer Kane, Executive Director of Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County and Patrick Brien, Executive Director of Riverside Arts Council to bring more visibility, resources and partnerships to the IE arts community. Online convenings were the first step, but the group felt more was needed. All three leaders felt a regional approach would be greatly beneficial for the Inland Empire and together the idea of Arts for I.E. was born.

“The arts in the inland region have too often been underrepresented,” said Patrick Brien of the Riverside Arts Council. “We have had collective voices in Riverside County and in San Bernardino County, but never a collective voice that brings the two counties together. With the partnerships we have and that we are continuing to build, this is an exciting time.”

Arts for I.E. is committed the following four initiatives:

1. Advocating for the arts locally and statewide as one voice for the Inland Empire, bringing together businesses, organizations, elected officials, and artists at monthly convenings.
2. Increasing access to the arts for vulnerable and underrepresented populations within the Inland Empire through individual and organizational development and mentorship opportunities.
3. Establishing an art fund to serve diverse arts organizations across the region.
4. Creating an online community engagement forum for IE artists and arts organizations to share resources, programs and services, events and ideas to establish deeper connections within the arts.

“For the first time in history we’ve created a platform for artists and arts organizations across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, to have a voice and the opportunity to be trained and paired with mentors to fast track their efforts to create immediate change and endless opportunities. Which is needed now more than ever for diversity to become achievable, and sustainable,” stated Josiah Bruny.

The Arts for I.E. collaborative is already making headway in the region and has a total of twenty-nine partner organizations on board, with more outreach taking place for artists and arts organizations to join. 

If you would like to join the Arts for I.E. collaborative or would like more information, please contact ArtsforIE@gmail.com.

By Quinci LeGardye 

Gov. Newsom says he wants to help small businesses. Combined, they are a major economic engine in the state. He wants them to get online quicker and expand their markets to reach new customers in cyberspace. This is as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer their bottom lines and change the way we shop. 

To that end, the governor declared July 2020 “California for All Small Business Month” in a proclamation issued July 8. 

“With local businesses across the state working to meet unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, California for All Small Business Month is an important time to recognize their essential contributions to our state, and each do our part to help California’s diverse small businesses recover and thrive,” reads the proclamation. 

African American business owners and advocates across the state are optimistic. The much-needed assistance Gov. Newsom has announced in a time of crisis, they say, will enable them to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global marketplace. 

“95% of the world customers are outside of the United States. As small businesses learn to pivot as a result of the Covid pandemic, it is imperative that they have the online presence and access to capital to reach those potential clients,” said Gene Hale, president of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC). “ Supporting local businesses will help stimulate those communities and invigorate job growth.” 

The Small Business Month proclamation coincided with the start of “Calling All Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal,” a new campaign the governor’s office is leading. 

The #ShopSafeShopLocal campaign encourages shoppers in California to help small businesses operate safely during the pandemic. It also provides small business owners with resources to help them improve their online presence, including free website development and digital marketing. 

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has partnered with leading tech companies in the state, including Google, eBay, Square and Yelp, to provide services to small businesses, including free online advertising, free websites, and COVID-19 relief. They will also connect California businesses with under 750 employees to shipping companies that can help them set up e-commerce deliveries. 

“Local has taken on a new meaning and California’s beloved small businesses need our help now more than ever,” said Isabel Guzman, co-chair of the Small Business Subcommittee and Director of the state’s Office of the Small Business Advocate, in an OpEd she co-authored with Sarah Friar, who is co-chair of the Small Business Subcommittee and CEO of San Francisco-based Nextdoor. The Press Enterprise, a Riverside County media outlet, published their statement. 

Nextdoor is a San Francisco-based company that provides a hyper-local social networking platform to connect people with each other and to businesses and resources in their community. 

“Supporting nearby stores, business owners, and local employees, as they modify operations to slow the spread of COVID-19, is an essential commitment to our community,” Guzman and Friar wrote. 

In addition to resources from business partners, the campaign’s website includes links to state and county industry guidance, free business consulting, and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association’s personal protective equipment (PPE) marketplace. The online portal links California businesses with COVID-19 safety equipment. 

“California’s small businesses are adapting to the new marketplace, integrating technology at higher rates than ever, developing creative ways to connect with clients digitally and repurposing to serve their communities with innovations that meet the moment,” said Gov. Newsom. “California remains committed to helping all of our diverse small businesses become more resilient and thrive.” 

There are nearly 4 million small businesses in California. In good times, they make up over 99% of all businesses in the state and employ nearly half of the state’s workforce — over 7.1 million people, according to U.S Small Business Administration’s 2018 numbers. 

Before the pandemic, across the United States, African-American and Latino women-owned businesses were experiencing the fastest growth, according to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau data. 

But COVID-19 is presenting new financial and operational challenges, especially for businesses owned by African Americans and other ethnic minorities in California. 

“According to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, in the last 4 months, there has been a 15 percent drop of active business owners across the nation,” Guzman and Friar shared. “That decrease is nearly double for Black-owned and operated businesses at 26%, and at 19% for Latino, 21% Asian, and 25% immigrant. 

The governor also emphasized the importance of maintaining social distancing protocols while shopping. 

“Critically, amid the ongoing emergency, we must all do our part to keep small business employees, owners, and others safe by wearing face coverings when we go out, practicing safe shopping and following public health protocols.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Congratulations to class of 2020 Social Lites Beautillion Knights who will be celebrated virtually due to COVID-19 on Saturday, July 25, 2020.  We are so proud of these distinguished young men.  A bright future awaits them!

The Beautillion Program was started in the Inland Empire out of concern for the future and survival of the young black men in the community in which they live and serve.  High school seniors who participate in the program are known as Knights.  This program is designed to help young men who are seniors in high school prepare for college through the solicitation of ads, leadership development, accountability, responsibility, etiquette, attire for all occasions, spiritual growth, public speaking, and community service.   The all-around Knight will be identified as Sir Knight on July 25, 2020 along with other awards for academics and other achievements.  

For more information, please telephone chairperson, Mrs. Tina Darling at tribicu2@msn.com or Ms. Lisa Blacksher-Owens, President at lisasocialities@gmail.com or Mrs. Bettye Brewster, Business Manager,bettyebrewster@yahoo.

“How Full Is My Train” Gives Riders More Comfort for Safe Return to Public Transportation 

LOS ANGELES – Metrolink, Southern California’s passenger rail service, today launches an online tool called “How Full Is My Train?”. The tool allows riders to check recent ridership levels of a train they plan to ride and confirm they will have the ability to maintain safe distances on board trains. 

Metrolink’s goal is to keep ridership at or below 30 percent of the available seats per rail car to allow for up to six feet of social distance between riders. Ridership is closely monitored on all trains so when one has consistently reached 30% ridership, Metrolink can add a passenger car or additional train service, as possible, to allow for social distancing. 

“How Full is My Train?” users will be able to view average train ridership before boarding. If their travel plans are flexible, they may choose to take a train that usually has fewer people on it. In many cases, riders will be able to simply move to other cars if one car appears crowded.

“We know that safety is top of mind with our customers,” said Metrolink Board Chair Brian Humphrey. “Safety is foundational at Metrolink – and a shared responsibility.  Riders are required to wear face coverings while on our platforms and on board our trains. This tool empowers the rider to practice social distancing.” 

Metrolink’s recent Customer Survey, found that social distancing and cleanliness are among the top concerns of riders. Close to 81% of survey respondents indicated they would ride with Metrolink again, with 29% planning to return as soon as the stay-at-home measures are lifted. The survey also revealed that popular amenities like electrical outlets and Wi-Fi are now taking backseat to riders’ desire for hand sanitizers on every rail car.
Safety First at Metrolink
Since March, Metrolink has significantly enhanced cleaning and other safety protocols to keep riders safe. These include:

• Enhancing cleaning protocols, which include wiping down regularly touched surfaces such as doors, restrooms, head rests, armrests, handrails, tables and trash areas using disinfecting products, as well as the daily use of electrostatic sprayers that mist hospital-grade disinfectant on all areas of train cars – especially helpful for hidden and hard-to-reach locations.

• Introducing a new Clean Care Crew dedicated to cleaning and disinfecting trains throughout the day.

• Installing hand sanitizer stations on each train car, and ensuring they are filled more often.

• Requiring face masks and coverings for anyone on board Metrolink trains and on Metrolink platforms and providing conductors with a limited supply of face masks for riders who have forgotten their face covering.

Continuing to reiterate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and other health authorities on ways to keep themselves and others safe through personal hygiene and social distancing.
For more information about Metrolink, please visit metrolinktrains.com.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Each year, the  NAACP-Riverside Branch holds its local Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition, open to youth from 9th to 12th grade, competing for a chance to move on  to compete at the NAACP National Convention. Due to Covid-19, this year’s competition was done via Zoom. Nine scholars competed in various categories online. The NAACP National Convention will take place July 22-25 and will be virtual. ACT-SO categories include: Performing Arts, Humanities, Visual Arts, Science/STEM, Entrepreneurship and more. ACT-SO was founded in 1978 by the late Vernon Jarrett. It is designed to recruit, stimulate, improve and encourage high academics and cultural achievement among African American high school students. 

Medals were handed out at a special ACT-SO Award Recognition held at Woody’s Restaurant in Moreno Valley, Calif. Songstress Anyana Arbuthnot opened the event with a performance of ‘Song Rise Up’ by Audra Day. Also, 12-year-old Zaiah Shepard did an amazing and thought-provoking spoken word performance, voicing his perspective of why Black Lives Matter. Although he is too young to compete this year, he said he looks forward to competing next year. NAACP ACT-SO Chair Maudi Wilson expressed her thoughts about this years competition.

“Despite the challenges we had to overcome of not being able to hold this year’s competition in person due to the Corona virus pandemic, I was very pleased and thankful for the support of my team members who helped make 2020 ACT-SO competition a success,” said Wilson. 

The Gold medalist winners who will move on to compete at the NAACP National Competition include: Jibaiana Jakpor (Stem/Mathematics/Medicine & Health), Veritus Miller (Music Composition/Classical Instrumental), Zenmarah Duruisseau (Contemporary Dance/Poetry), Sanaa Jefferson (Modern Dance) and Ayana Arbuthnot (Music Vocal Contemporary).

In order for our us to continue to mold and shape these future scholars and prepare them for the ACT-SO National competition, donations and sponsors are needed. If you would like to support our youth, please contact: Maudie Wilson, ACT-SO Chairperson at 951-640-1650 for additional information.###

About NAACP Riverside Branch #1059 (www.naacp-riverside.org)
The mission of the NAACP is to advocate for political, education, social and economic equality of rights for all citizens, as well as eradicate racial injustice. The NAACP-Riverside Branch has been fulfilling this mission serving the community for over 75 years. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced $3,802,601 in federal funding for the County of San Bernardino Preschool Services Department (PSD). The funding was made possible by the CARES Act, bipartisan legislation passed by Congress to provide relief and resources during the coronavirus crisis, and will allow PSD to offer summer programming to the families it serves.

“This pandemic has presented countless challenges for San Bernardino County families, including new barriers to early-childhood education. I was proud to support the CARES Act to bring this funding to our community so that children throughout the Inland Empire can continue receiving high-quality educational programming throughout the summer,” said Aguilar.

“During a time of great uncertainty, the Preschool Services Department would like to thank Rep. Pete Aguilar and the members of Congress for the funds on behalf of the families that we serve. The CARES Act funds will provide for summer programming for children in need of high quality early learning over the summer. The funds will also be used to address health and safety concerns related to COVID-19,” said Phalos Haire, Director of the Preschool Services Department.

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the committee responsible for allocating funding for federal agencies and programs.