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By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The 2024 State of Black Education: Report Card was recently published by the American Civil Liberties Union California Action (ACLU California Action).

It states that California is the third most segregated state for Black students.

Co-author of the report, policy counsel Amir Whittaker from ACLU Southern California explained the criteria the ACLU use to rank California during the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Education held at the State Capitol the day after the Memorial Day holiday.

“For every state in the Deep South, California (schools) are more segregated,” Whitaker said. “People often think that California is not segregated or unequal as Deep South states and others. The inequalities here (in California) are actually wider.”

New York and Illinois are ahead of California regarding the racial diversity of their student bodies. According to a report May 2022 report by Stanford Graduate School of Education, the Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City school districts are in the top 10 most racially segregated districts for White-Black, White-Hispanic, and White-Asian segregation based on the average levels from 1991-2020.

In bigger school districts, segregation between low-income (students who are eligible for free lunch) and non-low-income students increased by 47% since 1991, according to the Stanford Graduate School’s report.

“That’s why it’s important to look at this data,” Whitaker said. “When you have millions of people living in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, the urban areas are a lot more segregated than the south. That’s a big part of it.

A number of factors contribute to the segregation of schools in California such as parents sending their children to private schools, others optioning for homeschooling, and other reasons, Whitaker said.

The Brown v. Board of Education case declared that separating children in public schools based on race was unconstitutional. However, Whitaker pointed to cases after the landmark decision that circumvented that federal law.

According to a 2014 report by the Civil Rights Project, in the 1990s, decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court decision ended federal desegregation orders in San Francisco and San Jose. In addition, court decisions in the state that ordered desegregation in the 1970s were overturned by the 1990s. Legally, California has no school integration policy to adhere to.

“This is why we did this report. There needs to be a report just on this issue (of school segregation),” Whitaker told California Black Media. “Right now, there’s no task force or anything addressing it. I have never seen the California Department of Education talk about it. This is a pandemic (and) a crisis.”

Linnea Nelson, ACLU Northern California Senior Staff Attorney in the Racial and Economic Justice Program co-authored the eight-page report.

The organization hosted an overview of the report and panel discussion at the State Capitol on May 29. California Black Legislative Caucus member Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and Sen. Steven Bradford were the guest speakers. Parents, students, educators, and Black education advocates from all over the state attended the 90-minute presentation at the State Capitol.

School segregation is the No. 1 issue listed in among the report’s “24 areas of documented inequality,” along with problematic trends of racial harassment, a continuous decline of Black student enrollment, school closures, connection with school staff, chronic absenteeism, low Black teacher representation, and parent participation.

Educator John Hughes alluded to the Black exodus and the decreasing Black student population in California. Hughes, one of the panelists for ACLU’s event at the State Capitol, taught at Warren Lane Elementary School in the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD)for 20 years.

According to IUSD’s 2021 Progress Report, the student population has fallen from approximately 18,000 in 2003-2004 to about 7,950 in 2020-2021. The report predicts that the decrease will continue, with the loss of approximately 400 to 500 students each year. The nearby Los Angeles Unified School District student enrollment has declined by 40% in the last 18 years.

“I believe fear comes into play because of the age-old discriminatory and racial practices that our students have been victims of,” Hughes said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino County, with the support of Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., proudly announces the grand opening of the new waterslides at Glen Helen Regional Park. This exciting addition underscores San Bernardino County’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible recreational options for families, especially in today’s challenging economic climate.

The celebration marks the completion of a $2.5 million project that features two thrilling waterslides, enhanced safety measures, and upgraded amenities to ensure a fantastic visitor experience.

Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., a key advocate for this project, shared his enthusiasm, “We are thrilled to unveil these new waterslides at Glen Helen Regional Park. With the current economic challenges and inflation, we understand that not every family can afford costly amusement park trips. That’s why we’re bringing high-quality, affordable fun right here to our community.”
The waterslides are part of a broader initiative to upgrade Glen Helen Regional Park, including new picnic areas, updated playground equipment, and enhanced landscaping. These waterslides are part of a larger $15 million investment in Glen Helen Park aimed at enhancing recreational facilities and creating a more enjoyable and accessible environment for all visitors.

Supervisor Baca added, “Investing in our parks is investing in our community’s well-being. We want to ensure every family can enjoy safe, affordable recreational activities. These spaces provide a place where families can create lasting memories and enjoy the beauty of Glen Helen Regional Park”

In addition to the new waterslides, Glen Helen Regional Park offers a variety of activities such as fishing, hiking, and picnicking. The park remains a popular destination for both residents and visitors, offering a perfect escape for outdoor enthusiasts.

As the sun gets hotter and the days get longer, it’s time to celebrate summer in the First District. This year, there’s a fantastic lineup of free concerts happening throughout the region, offering a little something for everyone.

Get ready to groove under the stars with genres ranging from smooth jazz and soulful R&B to electrifying 80s rock and toe-tapping bluegrass.

From Town of Apple Valley’s “Sunset Concert Series” to Wrightwood’s “Music in the Pines,” there’s a concert series waiting to be your new Thursday night tradition. On Saturdays from now through September, don’t miss Mountain High Resorts’ free North Lodge concerts.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Victorville’s “Concerts in the Park” at Hook Park in June and Hesperia’s “Bobcat Summer Concert Series” kicking off in August.

Grab your picnic blanket and lawn chairs and get ready for a summer filled with great music and memories in the First District!

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

When Jesus comes at the Rapture, there will be NO WARNING. It will be INSTANTANEOUS. It will be as [1 Corinthians 15:52] says in the “Twinkling of an Eye”. There will be no time to get ready.  There will be no time to repent. It will be too late! What are you waiting for? For as [2 Corinthians 6:2] says – Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of Salvation. Don’t wait until it’s too late! If you do, [Matthew 25:46] says, you will go away into eternal punishment. “You will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might. [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9]. For God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? [Numbers 23:19].

Listen, there will be NO SECOND CHANCES to Repent and be Saved after Death [Hebrews 9:27; Jude 1:13; Matthew 25:46]. Prepare! Give your life to the Lord. Yes, there is an urgency to this message – Jesus is returning soon! Secure your eternal destiny today. Please! And understand that these words are not meant to scare you; they’re a warning about what the future holds if you reject the Lord’s offer of salvation. God has set before you a choice between eternal life and death. What will you choose? [1 John 5:11-13].

Throughout God’s word we see time and again where God warns people of the coming judgment, telling them to prepare. But for some, it’s out of sight, out of mind. For others, it’s business as usual and because of such [Isaiah 5:14-16; Isaiah 14:9] says, “Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

Turn to the LORD before it’s too late. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. [Isaiah 55:6-7]. Time is running out! [Romans 13:11].

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Californians who are Asian American or Pacific Islanders (AAPI) were the targets of an escalated number of hate crimes and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many AAPI people, particularly the elderly, reported being too scared to leave their homes.  Others experienced firsthand hateful incidents stemming from deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes — such as verbal or physical assaults in public. Yet, too many of them were hesitant to voice their emotions, according to Yu Wang, an associate marriage and family therapist at the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center in Los Angeles.

“A space for healing is critically needed,” Wang said, also noting that some Asian cultures don’t put a heavy emphasis on sharing feelings and vulnerabilities. “It makes it difficult to talk about experiences related to racism. Also, many of us lack to the language to express emotions, which exacerbates feelings of isolation and fear.”

The Asian/Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Equity Alliance in collaboration with other Asian American community groups recently launched the Healing Our People through Engagement (HOPE) pilot program in Los Angeles County geared at healing racial trauma experienced by Asian American community members by providing healing spaces and reducing isolation. Based on the successes of the initiative, supporters and organizers believe the “culturally centered” program could become a model for other cities around the state.

Ethnic Media Services hosted an hourlong Zoom press conference on the last day of May, which was AAPI Heritage Month, to allow HOPE program facilitators and allies the opportunity to provide details of the initiative to the media.

HOPE is a healing space for five distinct Asian American communities — Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean — created to make sense of their experiences with racism and recent surges in hate crimes. The psychology of the program is radical healing, a framework that has aided Black people in dealing with years of prejudice-caused trauma. HOPE is funded by a grant from the California Department of Social Services.

More than 11,000 stories of hate have been reported to the California-based online resource, Stop AAPI Hate, since 2020.

AAPI Managing Director of Programs Michelle Sewrathan Wong called HOPE vital and said Asian Americans endured episodes of brutality on a scale not seen in generations in the U.S. during the pandemic.

“They were scapegoated by politicians for transmission of COVID-19, targeted for violent physical attacks, made to feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own communities and bullied and ridiculed by neighbors and strangers alike,” she stated.

HOPE opened healing spaces in Los Angeles County that offer six two-hour sessions conducted in groups by facilitators, who are staff from partner community organizations. The initiative’s curriculum encourages self-reflection and dialogue, and it facilitates connections among participants.

DePaul University Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Anne Saw said the radical healing framework promotes healing over merely coping with the traumatic impacts of racism. She said radical healing is about becoming whole despite racism.

“We believe the radical healing framework provides a powerful set of tools/approaches to help people of color heal from racism,” Saw explained. “Healing may be lifelong because racism is ongoing, yet a program like ours reminds people of the cultural, community, family, and individual strengths they have to resist racism. We believe that healing in a group can be more powerful than an individual engaging in healing on their own because of the support they receive.”

Wang, a HOPE facilitator, recalled a gathering of four Chinese and Chinese Americans people she met.

“The participants shared their feelings of helplessness and fear,” Wang said.

She noted how one of the participants, a woman who grew up in a predominantly White community, was initially reluctant to talk about her feelings because she didn’t grow up in a Chinese majority neighborhood.

“However, after seeing how others shared their stories openly, she felt encouraged and shared her own story,” Wang recalled. “I think because our community tends to internalize traumatic experiences rather than talking about them, this healing space was so powerful and allowed us to express and validate these feelings. The group let us learn how to support each other.”

HOPE facilitator Xueyou Wang, a social services program assistant at Little Tokyo Services Center in Los Angeles, said the center’s officials were uncertain if members of the community they served would benefit from HOPE.

“The participants talked a lot about microaggressions that would build up during the pandemic,” she said.

Wang said the group included new Japanese Americans and multi-generational Japanese Americans, who discussed and bonded over their concerns of loss of culture and history and how to combat gentrification in Little Tokyo.

“It was very interesting to see participants meet each other where they were and hold space for each other,” she said. “Newer Japanese immigrants fearing the loss of culture and Japanese Americans, who have been here for longer, fearing the loss of the history.”

HOPE is meant to empower people and to fight racism.

Next year, the program will focus on outreach to older adults.

“The concept of radical healing can be empowering,” Saw stated.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

SACRAMENTO, CA—Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) today received the 2024 Legislator of the Year Award from the Spirit of Veterans Day nonprofit organization. The award cited the group’s “heartfelt appreciation for your support for California’s 1.6 million veterans and Gold Star Families.”

Ramos said, “This award is a tremendous honor. We owe our veterans so much and their sacrifices are too often overlooked and undervalued. California must do better by those who serve, who sacrifice and the many who have paid the ultimate price for their country.”

Candace Hamilton, Founder and Chair of the 12th Annual Spirit of Veterans Day nonprofit, said the criteria for recognition is based upon making a significant difference in the state legislature in the support of veterans’ issues. Recipients must also honor those who have given their lives during active duty – the loved ones of California’s Gold Star Families. Gold Star Families are those who have lost an immediate family member as the result of active-duty military service.

Hamilton noted Ramos’s legislation to honor Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola. The young man was killed in a suicide bombing on August 26, 2021, at the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport while assisting people during an evacuation. Ramos introduced successful legislation, ACR 139, in 2022 to name a San Bernardino freeway overpass in recognition of the fallen hero. He was also a joint author of AB 1452 that was signed last year. It would create a process to establish an Iraq Afghanistan Kuwait Veterans Memorial monument on State Capitol grounds.

Ramos has also introduced AB 46, a bill granting military retirees and dependents a state tax exemption on their pension revenue. That bill is in the State Senate.

RIALTO, CA– Rialto Middle School held its 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at Wilmer Amina Carter High School on Thursday May 30, 2024, at 5 p.m. In attendance were Board of Education Members: President Joseph W. Martinez, Vice President Edgar Montes, Clerk Evelyn P. Dominguez, Member Nance G. O’Kelley, Member Dr. Stephanie E. Lewis, and Student Member Keiyne Galazo.

School Principal Ricardo Garcia began working at Rialto Middle School three years ago. These graduating students are the first class he has seen all the way through.

Rialto Middle School is celebrating 100 years of service to Rialto students. The school began in 1924 as a Grammar School and for many years was designated as a Junior High School. It is now functioning as a Middle School serving grades 6th through 8th.

RIVERSIDE, CA—- In honor of Juneteenth, Music Changing Lives is thrilled to invite the Inland SoCal out to the first Block Party of the summer, showcasing an evening of music, art, culture, and inspiration, on Saturday, June 15, 2024.  This event will be taking place between Tios Tacos and the Civil Rights Institute in downtown Riverside, located at 3933 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA 92501 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This year there will be a live mural by L’Expression Creative Studios, and many more to be announced, along with Live performances by AJ McQueen, JSQ Sax, and more to come.  Enjoy Tios Tacos, Tikal Bakery, and many other merchants such as Divine 1 Clothing and Muse Maven Collective.  Rounding off the lineup on the one’s and two’s is DJ Achilles Aurelius.

“We are humbled to host this concert in the heart of downtown Riverside,” said Josiah Bruny, CEO and Founder of Music Changing Lives. “Music has always been a powerful tool for change and expression, and this event underscores our commitment to fostering community and honoring the legacy of those who fought for justice and equality.  We want to continue to uplift our young people and inspire them to make history!”

MCL is inviting the whole #InlandSoCal to come out and hang out, have fun, enjoy music, art, food, a beer and wine garden, and more.

Vendor opportunities are still available until June 10th.   To purchase tickets and/or to sign up to become a vendor, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-art-speaks-tickets-867405572417.

Join the community in having a great time with one another and lift the community’s spirits!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, held its inaugural Fast Pitch Competition aimed at investing in Black and Brown women entrepreneurs. Twenty-eight applicants submitted their fast pitch videos, with the hopes of being selected as one of twelve finalists to pitch their businesses for grand prize investments of $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000 cash prizes.

Twelve powerhouse entrepreneurs were selected as finalists based on the criteria outlined prior to the video submissions. Submissions needed to speak to their brand, the business model, value proposition, their competition/market, business model, marketing and sales strategy, just to name a few.  Businesses pitched ranged from a juice bar, wellness brands, event artisans, a seamstress, and loose-leaf tea.  Each finalist shared their business pitch, followed by questions and comments from the judges within a 15-minute time frame.

“Being a judge for the Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit Center’s first annual Fast-pitch Competition was truly inspiring,” said Elvia Rodriguez, owner of Goldamity Insurance Services.  She further expressed, “It was incredible to hear about the different businesses, ranging from newly established ventures signing their first client, to seasoned enterprises looking to scale and advertise.”

This competition provided the unique opportunity for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs to showcase their business ventures, receive invaluable feedback from industry leaders, and compete for a chance to win significant funding and resources to scale their businesses.  The panel of diverse judges were precisely selected to cover a gamut of industries and professional acumen to ensure fair and consistent rating on the finalists’ pitches.  The judges consisted of Angela Myles, CEO of VMA Consulting Group and host of “The Fundable CEO” podcast; Vanessa Casillas, CEO of Changing Lives Staffing; Marla A. Matime founder and CEO of The MAR.M Agency; Elvia Rodriquez, owner of Goldamity Insurance Services; Kimberly Calvin, Councilwoman for San Bernardino Ward 6 and Director of Akoma Unity Center; and Hilda Kennedy, founder and President of AmPac Business Capital.

At the end of the competition, third place business investment of $3,000 went to Roxanne Williams of Roxie Brown Town Productions.  Second place of $5,000 went to Daisy Munguia, CEO and founder of Mastery Blueprint.  The grand prize winner of the $10,000 investment was awarded to La Shaunn Spivey-Angeletti, owner of Dream Cultivators, where she pitched her Reflect, Refresh, Retreats which provides other women entrepreneurs with a chance to get away on a destination retreat to allow for them to heal and release their stresses in order to show up fully for their own lives.

“The competition was a phenomenal learning experience and incredibly empowering. Every participant had such impressive pitches that I found myself wanting to invest in, buy, or sign up for their programs. It was truly inspiring to see so much innovation and dedication, said Daisy Munguia, owner of Mastery Blueprint and winner of the $5k investment.  When asked what her immediate future goals are with her investment, she stated, “With Mastery Blueprint, my goal is to start making a tangible impact on the warehouse industry. I hope to make professional development a new norm for frontline employees, elevating their skills and well-being, and transforming the industry from within.”

Vanessa Casillas left the finalists and attendees with a word of encouragement, “You will struggle no matter where you work.  As an Entrepreneur, you get to choose who you struggle for.”

The BBOP Center’s BBOP Business Academy has ongoing open enrollment.  Black and Brown women entrepreneurs are encouraged to take the courses to learn step by step, how to build, grow, and scale their businesses. To learn more about the BBOP Center or to enroll into the BBOP Business Academy, please visit www.bbopcenter.com, call (909) 530-2267 or email info@bbopcenter.com.

By Bo Tefu, Lila Brown and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman joined hands last week to launch of the first federally recognized Women’s Business Center at the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) in South Los Angeles to help small businesses start, grow and develop in the city.

Bass highlighted the partnership Los Angeles has with the federal government and emphasized her administration’s work to open Los Angeles for business by making more resources like the new Women’s Business Center offers available to more Angelenos.

“This beautifully renovated building will provide a dedicated space for business experts and consultants to meet one on one with entrepreneurs and small business owners to help their business launch, grow and thrive,” said Mayor Bass during the ribbon cutting ceremony. She reminded guests that not only the Olympics, but another Super Bowl and All-Star Week is coming to the city and local business owners should be prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead.

“As the business center develops, we need to partner with organizations like Vermont Slauson to make sure that these events don’t just come to LA and pass us by, but that these events help serve as a catalyst so that our small businesses become larger businesses and everyone in the area prospers from the world coming to this center,” said Bass.

The official opening was among initiatives the mayor led this week to support businesses in Los Angeles through LA Optimized 2.0, a program created to help small businesses build and strengthen their digital presence along with LApreneur, a new online learning platform created to equip entrepreneurs with key skills and information to succeed.

Bass also encouraged residents, small business owners, and other residents who were impacted to apply for the low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration that were recently made available following Mayor Bass’ calls for federal support.

“We are committed to investing in women through our Women’s Business Centers, where knowledge and connections to capital can be deployed to power that next generation of founders, said SBA Administrator Guzman following remarks from Mayor Bass. “The SBA is committed to making sure that they have the funding that they need. We have instituted transformations across our policy, loan, investment, and bonding programs to ensure that the $52 billion that’s put out from SBA every year goes to the people who are starting businesses at the highest rates and that our check writers look like the businesses who are starting businesses at the highest rates. We’ve seen a 70% increase in our lending to women.”

“When women-owned businesses succeed, our economy succeeds,” stated U.S. Congressmember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) in a press release following the event.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation’s launch of its Women’s Business Center, located here in South LA, which will support women entrepreneurs throughout every step of their business journey,” she added.

The South LA Women’s Business Center (WBC) is the first women’s ?business center in South LA and Watts. It will offer support to Black and Latino women ?entrepreneurs.

Marva Smith Battle-Bey founded VSEDC and led the organization for 35 years before her passing in 2016.