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ABU DHABI—Tyra Banks today announced her Los-Angeles based premium ice cream brand, SMiZE Cream, is set to open its first international location outside of the United States in Abu Dhabi in the fourth quarter of 2022. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with Access Abu Dhabi, a programme powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), designed to engage, enable and empower women and minority-led companies from the United States to fast track their global reach by expanding to the Middle East via Abu Dhabi.

Ms. Banks made the announcement to an audience of business community members, business students and changemakers during the inaugural session of the Access Granted discussion series at Saadiyat Rotana. She was speaking to Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Acting Director General of ADIO, as part of a panel session on her journey and future as an entrepreneur, as well as opportunities for women in business in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the government entity overseeing ADIO’s activities, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Tyra Banks and SMiZE Cream to the Access Abu Dhabi programme and are delighted she has chosen the UAE capital for her first international location. The emirate’s growing opportunities are underscored by enabling regulations and 360-degree support that empower global businesses to use Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for growth. ADIO is committed to supporting entrepreneurs in making their dreams for international expansion come to life.”

Tyra successfully launched SMiZE Cream in 2021 as an ice cream brand that delights customers with its unique product range and eye-popping design, incorporates augmented reality into its packaging and champions mentorship. As SMiZE Cream’s first location outside of the US, Abu Dhabi offers a gateway to new markets that will fast-track the brand’s global expansion. SMiZE Cream is also exploring new distribution channels in the region with airlines and theme parks.

Ms. Banks said: “It’s exciting to see the SMiZE Cream dream come to life in Abu Dhabi. SMiZE is about reaching for dreams, and Abu Dhabi is the perfect location to showcase this message as a city built on inspiration and innovation.”
She added, “The cherry on top has been achieving this life-long goal in collaboration with an organisation founded by another African American woman who specifically champions international expansion for entrepreneurs like me. I am grateful to Sarah Omolewu and the Abu Dhabi Investment Offic for the doors they’ve helped open for me to get to this milestone.”

The Access Granted discussion series also featured the Women of Web3 (WoW3), an all-female delegation of leaders in cryptocurrency, blockchain and other Web3 technology who are in Abu Dhabi to explore expansion opportunities as part of Access Abu Dhabi. Panelists Sandy Carter, SVP and Channel Chief at Unstoppable Domains; Olayinka Odeniran, Founder and Chairwoman of Black Women Blockchain Council; Cathy Wu, Director of Investor Relations at Multicoin Capital; Genevieve Bos, Cofounder and Chief Revenue Officer at Poplar; Lisa Mayer, Founder of Boss Beauties; and Janice Taylor, Founder and CEO of EQ Exchange spoke candidly about the challenges, opportunities and future of this space, in which 5% to 7% of all cryptocurrency users are women and just 12% work in blockchain technology.

Access Abu Dhabi is a programme powered by Abu Dhabi government entity ADIO, which recently opened US offices in New York and San Francisco, emphasising its commitment to supporting the expansion of US-based businesses into the Middle East.
The Access Abu Dhabi programme was founded by Sarah Omolewu, an American expatriate who, in just over 10 years living in the UAE, has become a pioneer in entertainment marketing in the Middle East. She now paves the way for others like her to thrive in the region through Access Abu Dhabi, which launched in November 2021 with a mission to support women and minority-led companies seeking expansion to the Middle East via the emirate.

Sarah Omolewu, Managing Partner of Maven Global Access and Founder of Access Abu Dhabi, said: “I first spoke with Tyra about SMiZE Cream nearly a year ago and was immediately captivated by the brand and her vision. The fit with Abu Dhabi was undeniable, so we coordinated several visits for her to the emirate and facilitated introductions with key Abu Dhabi stakeholders. Building bridges between East and West in lockstep with the amazing team at ADIO has been personally rewarding. Tyra’s marketing genius and successes have inspired my work, so collaborating with her to bring this moment to life has truly been an honour.”
Access Abu Dhabi is open to all US businesses. Interested companies can apply to the programme here: www.accessabudhabi.com.

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About Access Abu Dhabi
Access Abu Dhabi was designed to engage, enable and empower companies, particularly women and minority entities, to fast track their global reach with expansion to Abu Dhabi. Maven Global Access Managing Partner Sarah Omolewu founded the initiative to pay it forward to entrepreneurs like her who could benefit from her relationships and experience in the region. Powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the programme serves as a conduit for companies entering the capital of UAE’s burgeoning business and innovation ecosystem.

About Maven Global Access
Maven Global Access is an entity under the umbrella of award-winning entertainment marketing firm Maven Marketing & Events that marries its strategic marketing know-how and expertise in dynamic global business markets. Through its marquee programme Access Abu Dhabi, the Maven team is harnessing solid connections and deep knowledge of operations in the region to support women and minority businesses looking to expand beyond U.S. borders. From basic business setup to meetings with potential partners and investors, Maven’s turnkey services provide 360-degree solutions.

About the Abu Dhabi Investment Office
As the central government hub supporting private sector investment in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) fosters opportunities for innovative investors and businesses of all sizes, forging connections with relevant stakeholders from Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem. ADIO provides a comprehensive range of tailored services and incentives to promote, attract, and facilitate investment in Abu Dhabi and help businesses achieve long-term, sustainable success in the market and across the region

By Lou Yeboah

Repent before it is too late! Judgment is Coming! The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, during the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah: Judgment on the Whole Earth in the Day of the Lord – I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked: and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord. I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor enquired for him. I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills. [Zephaniah 1:2-10].

Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready! The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness; the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all of them that dwell in the land. [Zephaniah 1:14-18].

I tell you, the importance of discerning the times and seasons. God’s prophetic time clock is ticking. God’s judgment is coming. Don’t be like the rich famer. The rich farmer had no idea that judgment was coming. He had just decided to build bigger barns and live a good life. God immediately said to him: “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” [Luke 12:20].

Listen, whether Christ returns tomorrow or a thousand years from now, your life may be required of you tonight. Don’t be a scoffer. Wake up and get things right! Live in the awareness of God’s judgment to come. For the Lord is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He is twisting its surface and scattering its inhabitants. The earth will be stripped completely bare and will be totally plundered, for the Lord has spoken this message. [Isaiah 24:1-3].

The importance of discerning the times and seasons. Ye hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth but how is it that ye do not discern this time. Wake up from your slumber! In one hour, judgment will fall, and all will be laid to waste.

Ample warning times – but many will go to hell because they have chosen to ignore the warnings and continue life as usual, what tragedy.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — New high-visibility ladder style crosswalks and pedestrian activated rectangular flashing beacons were installed near Bloomington High School last week at the intersections of Alder/Avenida and Alder/Slover. Additionally, all school zone crosswalks surrounding the high school were freshly painted.

The County’s Department of Public Works participates in the Bloomington Traffic Mitigation Meetings which includes San Bernardino County Sherriff, California Highway Patrol and Colton Joint Unified School District to identify additional countermeasures to improve safety for students walking and biking to school in the Bloomington area. These improvements will serve to calm traffic and enhance student safety.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Last week, the Bay Area Black Housing Advisory Task Force (BABHATF) — a coalition of more than 40 groups with housing and community expertise –unveiled a $500 million plan to make housing more accessible and affordable for Black families.

BABHATF is asking the region’s leaders and residents to support the “Bay Area Regional Black Housing Fund” initiative. The organization is also calling on the Legislature to include funding for the effort in this year’s state budget.

The task force is supported by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun) who was sworn into office April 6 after winning a special election in the 11th Assembly District.

The investment “will help repair the injustices that have shaped the housing experiences of Black people in the Bay Area and in California,” BABHATF leaders said in a letter drafted to bring awareness to a problem that the group says is statewide.

“It will also create new opportunities to expand housing for Black people in places where they have largely been — and are still — excluded. Increasing Black homeownership will benefit our entire region,” said task force members Fred Blackwell and Melissa Jones in the letter.

“The work we do to reduce the rent burden for Black people will provide a way forward for the Bay Area overall,” the letter continued.

Blackwell is CEO of the San Francisco Foundation, a community nonprofit committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion. Jones is executive director of the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative. Her work focuses on health, social inequity, and well-being.

The task force points out that there has been no regional response to California’s housing crisis’ well-documented impact on Black communities. It believes “a targeted solution” is necessary for an “issue rooted in racial injustice,” Blackwell and Jones wrote.

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) reports that Black homeownership rates are the lowest among California’s ethnic groups.

The Black homeownership rate was 50.98% at its peak in 2004. Since then, the homeownership rates for Black Californians have fallen at a steeper curve than those of all other racial and ethnic groups in the state.

During the early 2000s, several mortgage lenders specifically targeted Black homebuyers offering them subprime loans. High default rates on those loans contributed to the Great Recession, which began in 2007 and lasted through 2009. As a result, the Black homeownership has dropped by more than 10% since 2004 and has yet to recover, according to CalHFA.

BABHATF illustrates how affordable housing impacts Black communities throughout the state, pointing out that there is no major ethnic group over-represented in the state’s homeless population than Black people.

Various reports state that 150,000 Californians experience homelessness on any given night and nearly 40% are Black.

“We envision a Bay Area with thriving, healthy and resilient Black communities, where all Black residents have a home. We want a region that rebuilds Black commercial districts destroyed by highway development, regains the Black homeownership losses from the racially targeted lending schemes that drove the Great Recession, and creates the affordable housing our region has failed to deliver over the last two decades,” Blackwell and Jones stated.

The task force is certain that with California’s $98 billion budget surplus, there is a historic and unprecedented opportunity to help right past wrongs and invest in Black communities and housing.

The group is calling for the Legislature to include the fund in this fiscal year’s state budget. The fund will create more affordable housing with a $500 million investment that includes:

No.1, Financial support for initiatives such as down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income Black households, preserving Black housing and neighborhoods, pre-development resources for housing development by Black-led developers, and preserving cultural districts and anchor institutions.

No. 2, Community support for strengthening smaller, Black-led community groups so they can better serve the housing needs of Black communities, plus community planning to develop ideas and blueprints for future projects.

The Black community in the Bay Area has been disadvantaged in the state’s housing market for decades because of discrimination, including redlining, unequal access to wealth and good jobs, and other systemic problems.

All of these issues have been discussed in the last 12 months during meetings conducted by the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans, under Assembly Bill (AB) 3121.

BABHATF says that increased disadvantages will leave Black communities facing multiple systemic barriers leading to massive displacement in the Bay Area

“As a result, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley each lost between 40% and 50 % of their Black residents between 1990 and 2018. In Oakland alone, more than 60,000 Black residents have left. East Palo Alto had a 66 % decrease. This is a profound loss,” Blackwell and Jones stated.

Efforts to combat housing across the state got a partial boost last week. Homeownership for low- and moderate-income moved closer to reality after the California Senate approved a plan to establish a $25 billion fund financed by voter-endorsed general obligation bonds.

Senate Bill (SB) 1457, authored by Majority Leader Emeritus Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), now goes to the Assembly for consideration. It establishes the California Family Home Construction and Homeownership Bond Act of 2022.

If SB 1457 is adopted by voters on the November 2022 ballot, it will authorize the $25 billion bond fund to finance homeownership opportunities and promote new home construction.

Hertzberg stated that “the underlying problem is simple: A lack of supply” and says his plan “tackles this problem head on.”

“California policymakers have a responsibility to create more opportunities for first-time or left-behind homebuyers,” Hertzberg said. “Purchasing a home, attaining a middle-class lifestyle and building generational wealth cannot be accomplished without addressing the severe lack of housing production that is fueling the state’s homeownership crisis.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 5 to 11 -year-olds are now available countywide. Children in that age group are eligible for their booster at least 5 months after completion of a primary series of Pfizer. County residents can make a booster vaccine appointment by visiting MyTurn.ca.gov or vaccines.gov or by calling our COVID Hotline at (909) 387-3911.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Black women leaders in California want to raise COVID vaccine awareness among young people across the state as the number of infections creep back up.

Last week, Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), a statewide political advocacy organization, hosted a town hall meeting via Zoom organized to engage youth through their Young Enough to Know Campaign.

The effort is aimed at educating young people and their families about the importance of being vaccinated to protect themselves against Covid-19.

Vashone Huff, co-director of BWOPA’s Black & Vaxxed campaign, opened the town hall with a welcome message and stated the purpose of the gathering.

“We are focusing and engaging elementary, middle school, high school and college students in conversation and highlighting the voices and lives of those that are not too young to know about the impacts of Covid as well as the actions they can take to advocate and protect themselves and their families,” said Huff.

In East Oakland Council District 7, for example, there have been 1.3 million cases of COVID among youth ages 5-17. Less than 25% of youth in that age range are fully vaccinated.

Experts say there are many factors that contribute to this number including the short time the vaccine has been available for youth.

Last week, 19 California counties were recategorized as “medium risk” from “low risk,” based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) three-level ranking system for tracking COVID hospitalization rates. Thirty-three of California’s 58 counties are now ranked in the “medium risk” category, accounting for more than 75 % of the state’s population, according to numbers compiled by the California Department of Public Health.

BWOPA says that is one reason the organization is working to encourage Black and Brown communities to fight the stigma surrounding the vaccine and encourage youth to become fully vaccinated.

At the beginning of the event, Huff introduced the hosts of the town hall: Lady Ray of iHeart Radio and Tyler Baty, a 7th grade student and athlete at St. Leo the Great Catholic School in Oakland.

Baty, an accomplished student athlete and orator said it is important for kids his age to remain safe and continue to wear masks in public places. He also shared that many of his friends had come down with COVID and wants more youth and their parents to take the vaccine seriously.

BWOPA wants young people to know that that children ages 5-11 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and kids 12 and older are now eligible for boosters.

Patricia-Blue Pharr, 11, shared her experience contracting COVID while at a summer camp last year. Pharr said she began to feel sick shortly after she arrived at the camp and had to return home.

“It just comes to show that Covid can spread really quickly. That’s why you have to be very careful,” said Pharr. “I had a lot of doctor’s appointments and had to stay home and not have contact with anybody. Anytime I wanted to eat, I had to take it to my room and eat it by myself. I couldn’t even sit on my porch which was really upsetting.”

Angela Sou, Program Manager for the Youth Engagement Program of the state’s Vaccinate All 58 Campaign, followed Pharr and shared her support for BWOPA and its efforts.

Vaccinate All 58 partners with BWOPA to providing funding for outreach and engagement within communities disproportionately affected by barriers to healthcare and information.

“These projects nurture a culture of trust, engagement, buy in and civic engagement. We want to make the conversations surrounding COVID-19 more accessible and collaborative,” said Sou.

According to BWOPA, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are eleven times higher in unvaccinated children than fully vaccinated ones. Across the United States, ICU COVID hospitalizations for children are on par with the numbers for adults.

Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid (District 7) also spoke at the town hall, offering encouragement to the youth attending and sharing a message to the people as they prepare for a safe summer.

“As people are going back to their daily activities people are not wearing masks,” said Reid. “Be sure to get involved in these conversations and influencing people in your family and communities. You are young enough to know, you are young enough to advocate as we all work to come through Covid and love each other through it all.”

Other speakers included Dr. Norlisa Cooper of BWOPA, Jessica King and Aldane Waters, who helped produce a public service announcement (PSA) aimed towards youth and their parents about the importance of wearing masks, staying socially distant and becoming fully vaccinated.

Visit blackandvaxxed.org to learn more about BWOPA’s efforts to raise awareness.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Juneteenth, a national celebration of freedom and equity, has become San Bernardino County’s newest official holiday.

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously proclaimed June 19 of each year as Juneteenth within San Bernardino County, encouraging all county residents to take time on that day to reflect upon the freedoms we enjoy and how each of us can practice and promote equity for all people.

The Board also formally granted County employees a corresponding holiday to celebrate Juneteenth and what the observance represents. June 19 falls on a Sunday this year, so County offices will be closed on June 20.

“This time of year holds special significance for San Bernardino County because it was on June 23, 2020 that the Board of Supervisors officially declared racism a public health crisis, added Equity as an element of the Countywide Vision, and established an Equity Element Group to address the underlying causes of disparities in various key aspects of community life,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

“The Board is committed to making equity a focus of everything we do,” Hagman said. “We look forward to continuing to work with our county team, community leaders, our residents, and those who invest in the county to build a prosperous and healthy community that creates opportunity and an outstanding quality of life for everyone.”

Juneteenth, a blending of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” marks the date in 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Texas were informed the Civil War had ended and they were free. Although President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier, countless Americans continued to be held as slaves for the duration of the war. June 19 has become the date that represents the end of slavery in the United States.

“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I encourage everyone to observe Juneteenth as a day to celebrate that race, ethnicity, heritage, or belief must never stand in the way of freedom,” Hagman said.

With the upcoming recognition of Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, the Victor Valley Museum is pleased to embrace the theme of diversity in the Wade in the Water: Art and Quilt Exhibition. Curated by artist Theresa Polley-Shellcroft, Wade in the Water will be on display June 1 through June 30, 2022, featuring twenty-five nationwide artists whose interpretations derive from African American Spirituals containing messages of freedom through mediums such as painting, photography, mixed media, dolls, and quilts. For more information visit https://fb.me/e/1OqhKSYFp.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— As the only Latino History Bee in the nation, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) event is truly unique and the student winners are among an elite group of who have proven that they value the rich culture and history of Latin America.

Last month, students in grades 6–12 from 11 SBCUSD schools competed in three rounds focused on different aspects of the Latino experience. Round one focused on Latino history. During round two, students identified Latino artwork, including the title, artist, and country of origin. New this year for round three, students presented a Latino-inspired dance, skit, monologue, or other performance.

This year’s judges included Dr. Barbara Flores, Dr. Scott Wyatt, Dr. Esteban Diaz, and Dr. Enrique Murillo.

The winners of the middle school division (grades 6–8) were:
1st Place—Alani Guzman, Richardson PREP HI Middle School
2nd Place—Sophia Williams, Arrowview Middle School
3rd Place—Katty Camacho, Arrowview Middle School

The winners of the high school division (grades 9–12) were:
1st Place—Elizabeth Bañuelos, Arroyo Valley High School
2nd Place—Crystal Tello, Arroyo Valley High School
3rd Place (tie)—Stephen Zermeño, San Gorgonio High School, and Valeria Ramirez, Arroyo Valley High School

“We are proud of the hard work that our students put in to prepare for the competition and their ability to perform under pressure,” said Multilingual Department Director Tex Acosta. “Their collective mastery of facts and knowledge of the Latino culture was impressive.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— “66ERS” is teaming up with Riverside Black chambers of Commerce, and Green Smilez Loving Care Foundation to present a community meet and greet tribute featuring the minor league baseball team who will pay a tribute to the 102nd year negro league, along with a recognition ceremony to the Black Excellence and Achievements of individuals and their businesses.

The “SB 66ers Negro League Tribute” Community Meet and Greet & Award ceremony event gives the community the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the talents of African American players during segregation. Their organized efforts became a successful business enterprise generating millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs in the Black community.

The Negro league athletes were inspiring, and a grand success beating the odds, and representing the very best of the sport.

The event will be held on Friday, June 10, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at San Manuel Stadium, 280 S E St, San Bernardino, CA 92401. The event hashtag for social media posts is #66ersblackexcellencetribute. The community is encouraged to attend the event. Admission is $18.00. San Manuel Stadium will sell food and beverages. There will be merchandise for purchase and a small vendor marketplace.

The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium.

The Black chambers of commerce of Riverside Mission is to empower and inspire minority entrepreneurs, in their indigenous communities to be successful, partner with like minded individuals, companies, and nonprofit organizations to achieve that mission. We believe that our greatest opportunity to empower and inspire minority communities and businesses lies in cooperation and collaboration with the industries of tomorrow.

The narrative of African-American playing Professional Baseball has changed sports history. An enterprise of Black ownership launched and funded the Negro National League.

Black Baseball became known for showcasing a style of speed, daring play and showmanship. August 1945, Jackie Robinson shook the baseball world with his official announcement he integrated major league baseball playing for the Dodgers in 1947.

After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier other major league team followed suit and eventually the Negro American league support was stretched thin. As of 2020 many of the founding Negro leagues baseball teams have been declared official major leagues with their players records and statistics counted in baseball’s record books.

Baseball fans around the world garner strong supporters of players, teams, and the BIG games.

The inner-city kids who play baseball in the community spend this time rising above their circumstances, baseball is where young people find a common purpose in the ball parks and in the stadiums.

It is important that the inland empire youth, and many who grow up in challenging neighborhoods with limited opportunities, be exposed to positive events like the 66ers Negro league tribute to honor the legacy of their ancestors and be empowered by the organizations that bring them resources. Public recognition and highlighting the achievements of local businesses and the people who serve, motivate, encourage, and inspire is the icing on the cake for this event. There will also be a fireworks display preceding the Baseball Game. This will be a Family fun event where all is welcome and your support very much appreciated. Purchase tickets at this link.