Local

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Saturday, November 11, Women of Worship & Warfare International (WOWW Int’l) held a food giveaway where they gave away over 50 bags of food to women in need for the holiday season. In addition to turkeys and baskets, the organization also gave out hygiene products and purses.

WOWW Int’l is a non-profit, ministry organization that is committed to addressing the needs and well-being of women in the Inland Empire community. The group consists of women from diverse churches and communities. Together they give women with children hope through physical needs like social resources, domestic violence advocacy, clothing and food donations, and job leads. They also extend spiritual needs by sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Praying for women to assist them in overcoming their areas of hopelessness.

Additionally, they offer women support either through one-on-one mentoring, monthly worship services in Chino (1st Friday of the month) or Rialto (3rd Friday of the month) or by their outreach and street team – WOWW in The Streets.

WOWW Int’l has ministered and helped over 10,000 women from vast backgrounds since 1998. They offer Pastoral support as well. Their obligation is to embolden women to live a life that results in overall life success so that they can leave a blessed legacy to their children, and their children’s, children.

By Lue Dowdy

Bringing awareness about violence through music is WHAT IT DO! Violence is everywhere. You see it when you turn on the television and when you walk or drive through certain neighborhoods. So why does it have to be in the schools? School should be one of the safest places for our youth. They should be worried about graduating or who they should ask out to prom. Our youth should not have to worry about SAFETY while learning.

Shout out to R&B artist, Yung Muusik, for having a heart to help our youth by putting on a concert in the City of Adelanto. The focus is to bring people together and this is an all age event. feel free to bring out your family for a day of fun and MUSIC. Edwin Johnson of Chord Youth Enrichment Program will be the guest speaker of the evening. The concert will feature performances by local artist such as: Gaim Ov3r, Yung Muusik, Jada J., Princess Anyia, and more.

There will be activities and free giveaways for families. The concert will take place on Saturday, November 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of the Lord Baptist Church located at 17911 Permain Street in Adelanto. Let’s do our best to spread love and not hate.

Until next week L’z!

Kim Carter

The EBONY Power 100 is compiled by the editors of EBONY magazine. Each selection is considered a leader in his or her field. Over the past year, these individuals have had a positive impact on the African-American community. They are game changers in their respective fields and have consistently challenged the status quo. The Star-Studded list of other honorees includes people like Oprah Winfrey, R & B legend Rihanna and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris to name a few. Kim Carter is being honored as one of the “Community Crusaders” reflecting a collective of liberators and leaders who affirm the lives of the misrepresented, no matter race, gender or creed. Through philanthropic efforts and activism, these honorees galvanize and nurture our communities with the mission of ensuring liberty and justice for all.

Kim Carter founded the Time for Change Foundation in 2002, helping homeless women and children reach self-sufficiency. Today, she is a powerful leader transforming the lives of those impacted by poverty and incarceration. Kim’s innovation created a plethora of evidence-based program models, including 2 shelters, 13 permanent supportive housing units and developing her first affordable housing project, The Phoenix Square.   Today, the organization’s impact and model is being replicated in 2 different states and the Bay Area.

As a policy fellow, she learned how to navigate the political system and influence policy and laws to advance her cause. Using her past experiences with incarceration and homelessness as the fuel to drive her passion, she has excelled as a notable leader. Through her Center for Housing Advancement & Motivational Projects LLC she does consulting and motivational speaking across the country.   Many call Kim the “Real Deal” because she is a powerful voice for change with dynamic skills that propel others to stand up and take action.

The Ebony Power 100 list features men and women who are truly making a difference in their communities and the world through their work, talent and influence,” says Nationwide Chief Administrative Officer Gale King. “Nationwide congratulates this year’s distinguished honorees and looks forward to celebrating their accomplishments and contributions at this year’s gala.

“My purpose is to do what seems impossible, like ending homelessness and developing leaders from  those that are most impacted by negative social conditions,” says Kim Carter. “Harriet Tubman didn’t quit when she found freedom, she went on to free thousands of slaves… that’s my SHERO!”

RIALTO, CA- The story of Freddie Meeks, a California resident, and Port Chicago a time in history; dare to remember…

It’s July 17 in Port Chicago, California, a cool summer Friday night at a munitions naval base 30 miles North of San Francisco. The year is 1944 and World War II is in full swing. According to a United States Navy report, “The actual work of loading ammunition and explosives aboard the ships was performed exclusively by Afro-Americans under the supervision of White officers and Afro-American petty officers,” and the routine assignment of Afro-American enlisted personnel to manual labor was clearly motivated by race and premised upon the mistaken notion that they were intellectually inferior and thus incapable of meeting the same standards as their white counterparts.”

But then the unspeakable happened, explosion after explosion – so fierce, it shook the ground with the force of an earthquake. Knocking out windows and shaking buildings as far east as Boulder City, Nevada. The results of the explosion at the naval facility killed or wounded 710 people, 435 of whom were African American. This single disaster accounted for more than 15 percent of all African American naval casualties during World War II.

What happened next is even more mind-boggling than the explosion itself? Following the explosion, many of the African-American survivors, expected to be granted survivors, leave before being reassigned to regular duty, but that leave was not granted, even for those who had been hospitalized. All African-American men were sent back to work loading ammunition under the same officers as before.

Fifty sailors of the United States Navy, all African-American men, refused to resume loading activities under the same conditions and were ultimately tried and convicted of mutiny for failing to obey orders. Thurgood Marshall, then chief counsel for the NAACP, was reported to state he saw no reason why the men should be tried for mutiny, which implies a mass conspiracy, rather than on lesser charges of individual subordination, and blasted the trial by stating that the defendants were being tried for mutiny “solely because of their race and color.” Virtually all of the convicted sailors were released from prison early in 1946 and were given a general discharge from the Navy “under honorable conditions.”

In 1999, Freddie Meeks was pardoned by President Bill Clinton in recognition of the injustice he suffered as one of the convicted sailors, and at the time of his pardon, Mr. Meeks said, “After all these years, the world should know what happened at Port Chicago. It should be cleared up that we did not commit mutiny, and we were charged with that because of our race”. In July 11, 2016 the Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 was filed with the Secretary of State – it would pardon all of the members of the Port Chicago 50.

Dennis Rowe Entertainment is proud to present Port Chicago 50, a story of love for Country, the American Dream and a quest for Equality and Fairness.

Unbelievable…Emotional…Dramatic…Thought Provoking are some words audiences have used to describe Port Chicago 50. Broadway Producer Woody King, Jr. said “The actors and designers did an excellent job” and Linda Armstrong from New York’s Amsterdam News exclaimed “Everyone should see this show!”

Port Chicago 50 is a must see for everyone and will be a weekend of historical enlightenment! The powerful story is co-written by David Shackelford and Dennis Rowe, and directed by Dennis Rowe. Port Chicago 50 does use some strong language. Port Chicago 50 is presented by Dennis Rowe Entertainment from Los Angeles, California.

The play will kick off on Friday, December 1 in Rialto. To claim you discount on your tickets, please use PROMO code: “IMPROVE.”

Click here to buy your ticket!

By Naomi K. Bonman

In this day of age, the phrase “Unapologetically Me” has been heard over and over; however, it is a true testament to being unashamed of who you are. This is how I would describe Christian recording artist, Sherri Bryant. She is unapologetically bold and unashamed in her worship and passion in praising God. Her boldness in her ministry has helped others worldwide to tap into their purpose and calling in Jesus Christ.

Sherri has released three projects since she has been in her ministry of music. Her first project, “I Found the One,” demonstrates her ability to capture melodies of heaven through her unique vocal arrangements and expressive lyrics. Her second cd, “Made II Praise,” is a collection of contemporary praise and worship that radiates with the passion and energy that flow from Sherri during a live performance, and her latest project which just released this year, “True Worship” also is a collection of contemporary songs, but they are also very testimonial to the struggles that Bryant went through on her life’s journey to her destiny. “You Are Greater” is just one of the songs that captures her testimony from fear to faith and helps the listener to understand that no matter how high their mountain our God is Greater.

Sherri is currently the worship leader at Water of Life in Fontana, California, and in addition to that she travels all over the world ministering her gift of music and winning souls to Christ. She recently traveled to The Congo of Africa where she ministered to a crowd of over 140,000!

In a recent interview that Sherri shared with the Westside Story Newspaper, she explained her experience of being in Africa, as well as what inspired her to take her gift of music to the heights of where it is now. 

Director Katja Bentrah and Producer Tobian Rosen’s award-winning film Watu Wote (All of us), is based on a true story and has won over thirty-five film festival awards, including the Gold Student Academy Award. The film stars Adelyne Wairimu, Barkhad Abdirahman (Captain Phillips), Fasal Ahrmed (Captain Phillips) and Abdiwali Farrah (Fishing Without Nets).

For a decade, Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shaaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, Muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail.

Katja Bentrah started her career as a theatre tailor, but fell in love with filmmaking when she studied acting in Vienna. Her first short films (Babydoll, No one pukes in Heaven & Tilda) have been playing successfully at many international festivals. During her master studies at Hamburg Media School, she directed Where have you been, Secrecies and Watu Wote.

Producer Tobias Rosen was brought up in South Africa. After returning to Germany he worked as an actor at theater and for film, before he joined the producing masterclass of the Hamburg Media School. He supervised the graduation movie Child of Fire as director and producer as well as the historical drama Valentina. Rosen also produced the shorts Secrecies, At the End and Watu Wote.

Just a handful of this must-see films awards include; Best Narrative short at Brooklyn Film Festival, Best Short Film at the Oscar qualifying Bermuda International Film Festival, Best Short & Best Production at the German Newcomer Awards First Steps, the winner of the San Sebastian International Human Rights Film Festival and the Gold Student Academy Award, which qualifies it to be considered for a live action short film Oscar.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- To thank and honor the men and women who have served in our nation’s armed forces, Omnitrans again is offering free bus rides to US military veterans on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11.

Veterans just need to show a veteran-status ID when boarding any Omnitrans bus to get a free ride. Veteran single ride fares also will be free through the agency’s new Token Transit mobile fare app on November 11.  Additionally, veterans can get half off their first purchase of a 7 or 31-day mobile pass through December 31, 2017.  Customers can text “TOKEN” to 41411 to get the mobile fare app.

“We’re pleased to honor our veterans with free rides on Veterans Day,” said Omnitrans CEO/General Manager P. Scott Graham, himself a veteran of the US Marine Corps.   About 10 percent of all Omnitrans employees are military veterans.

Since Omnitrans introduced a veteran fare in January 2015, an increasing number of retired military personnel have taken advantage of the discount.  Boardings attributed to veterans in 2015 averaged 13,061 per month.  By 2017 it has grown to 15,611 per month, an increase of nearly 20%.

Omnitrans offers year-round discounts for veterans.  A single ride is $0.75 for veterans, compared to $1.75 regular fare. Discounted veteran 1-day, 7-day and 31-day bus passes are also available. Accepted veteran IDs include those issued by US Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs, San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

All Omnitrans bus routes will be running regular Saturday schedules on November 11. The veteran free ride offer applies to Omnitrans freeway express and local bus routes, the sbX rapid line, and OmniGo community shuttles; it is not applicable to Access service for persons with disabilities.

Personalized trip planning assistance is available through the Omnitrans information center, at 800-9-OMNIBUS (800-966-6428), or online at www.omnitrans.org.

One good listen to bass singer supreme Los Angeles native Phillip Brandon’s impressive just-released CD, “The Story Begins,” reveals influences from a range of artists stretching from Sammy Davis Jr. and Stevie Wonder to Luther Vandross and Gregory Porter. However, the singer who has been the most consistent inspiration for Phillip all along is his mother Brenda Davis: “Ms. B.” to most! The one-time backup vocalist for “Genius of Soul” Ray Charles as a member of his world renowned Raelettes even guests on a jazzy highlight of her son’s debut album. The love and respect flowing freely between them is a revelation to behold.

“Before I really tuned into the musical aspect of my mother, I was fascinated by the whole experience of her being on the road and on the go,” Phillip shares. “She toured around the nation with a Top 40 band. Her trips to Japan really spoke to me because she’d be there for six months. Hearing those stories and seeing photos always fascinated me.” Gazing upon her son with the beaming eyes of one very proud mama, Mrs. Davis relays, “When we moved into our first house, we would have talent shows in the backyard. My other boys, Jonathan Thomas and Sean Paul, would always do wrestling and acrobatics. Phillip was the one who would sing or lip-sync – to a tee.”

Far removed from lip-syncing today, Phillip Brandon has toured the world for the last 8 years straight as the singing “Narrator” with platinum selling rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra and had a feature role in the staged life story of Gospel legend BeBe Winans “Born For This: The Musical.” When crafting his crucial 10-song debut CD, The Story Begins, primarily produced by the prolific Preston Glass (Aretha Franklin, George Benson), one of the songs Phillip and Preston co-wrote, “Stay in the Moment,” cried out for a second voice. Phillip knew just where to go. “Anytime I do something in the studio, I love to have my Mom come in. Our voices are almost identical – hers is just up a couple of octaves! The blend is heavenly. We sang in the studio together, so we could feed off each other.” Ms. B. adds, “It’s always exciting and a pleasure to work with Phillip. He’s such a perfectionist! I want to do my very-very best for him.”

Perfection is something Ms. B. knows all about. Born Brenda Johnson in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she grew up watching her mother, Georgia Lee Blair, rehearse her gospel groups right there at home. Brenda marveled over the harmonies. One day when Brenda was 9, her mother called her up to sing at a church in Oklahoma City. “I could hardly wait for them to get through my introduction before I started singing `Joy, Joy, Joy’.’” Brenda laughs. “When I saw all the people applauding and crying over me, I loved the feeling.” By the time she got to Manual High School in Denver, Brenda participated in many battles of the bands and talent shows. Among her peers were future jazz singer Dianne Reeves and future Earth Wind & Fire falsetto star Philip Bailey. “My groups either won or came in no lower than second place. That’s when I knew I had something special. I didn’t know how to go any further in Denver, so I went away to college.”

Home on her first spring break, Brenda was helping around the house, dusting, while a woman from Avon cosmetics was signing her mother up to become a representative. “The lady heard me chirping something by Chaka, stopped her presentation and said, ‘Young lady, have you ever thought of singing professionally?’ She told my mom that her niece sang with Ray Charles and that he was looking for another girl. Mom told her for me, ‘Yes, she’d be interested!’

“So, they flew me out to Los Angeles – first class – had a car pick me up and take me to Ray’s RPM Studio on Washington & Westmoreland. General Manager, Don Adams, introduced me to everyone including a man called ‘Bags’ (not vibraphonist Milt Jackson) who auditioned me with the other Raelettes: Susaye Greene (the Avon lady’s niece), Vernita Moss and Mable John. My audition was pretty easy actually. I did everything they asked me to do…but when I was finished, I was sitting there like a deer in headlights! They told me they would be calling. Just before I left, they introduced me to Ray who had been sitting in the back, quietly listening. I flew back home. A week-and-a-half later, I got a call to join them in Jacksonville, Florida. When I got there, standing by the door, Ray said, ‘Come on over here. I’m not gonna bite!’ He took my hand, squeezed my wrist and upper arm. He said, ‘You know what I’m gonna call you? Stallion!’ I was in.”

However, Brenda’s time with Brother Ray was brief. When some gigs popped up overseas, she did not have a passport. Though disappointed, Brenda had so much love for singing that she didn’t go back to college. Instead, when artists like Eddie Floyd, Tina Turner or Quincy Jones came to town, she put vocal groups or warm up acts together for them, eventually touring groups. She moved to L.A. fell in love, married Phillip Davis and had their first son, Phillip Brandon.

Raised in a household filled with love and music, young Phillip reveled in his father taking him to jazz concerts (his first was George Benson with Boney James opening) and the family record collection to which he gravitated toward the soulful strains of the O’Jays, the Whispers and Maze. Brenda kept her eye on his musical interests but never attempted to sway him.

“I wanted him to want to do it himself,” she insists. “I’d never push a kid into a dream of mine. But once Phillip turned 12, I decided I wanted to start singing again. I took my sons and husband to wherever I was performing. At one show, I asked Phillip if he would like to sing. He said, ‘Yes,’ and did Tevin Campbell’s ‘Tomorrow (Better You, Better Me).’ He stood singing with his arms outstretched but would not move an inch from behind the mic stand! When he finished, 250 people were standing, clapping and singing. That’s when he got `the bug.’”

Phillip Brandon only sang for the fun of it until he got to Morehouse College in Atlanta on a partial scholarship that required him to tour with their glee club. “We went on tour every spring singing classical repertoire and Negro Spirituals. I love travel, so a light bulb went off in my head!” Phillip earned a degree in marketing. However, after graduating, he took part in competitions, seeing more of the world singing bass in an a cappella group on cruise ships. “People asked if I would read lines for them which led me to theater. I did ‘The Lion King’ in Hong Kong then a national tour of ‘The Color Purple’ playing the roles of ‘Preacher’ and ‘Ol Mister.’” Capitalizing on his exposure in theater, Phillip is now pursuing recording and touring as a jazzy Soul-Pop artist. Ms. B. for one, is impressed.

“One thing I’ve learned from my son is discipline and business,” she shares. “With the little success I had, I was just having fun – showing up and showing out! My son is light years off the hinges from that. He goes from A to Z in this business. He knows how to deal with people – especially difficult people. He’s so patient and kind yet firm when there is a need.”

Phillip is forever grateful to his mother for all she has done for him, his brothers and 13-year-old sister, Curtise Dejae’. “I give her big props as a Supermom,” he states, “During this difficult time right now, she’s been my father’s caregiver as he is past stage 4 in metastatic liver cancer that has spread throughout his body. This year we went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Angelique Kidjo – our first time without Dad. He was always the one to spearhead those family outings. Yet with all he’s going through, he’s still one of my biggest supporters. There’s an overwhelming amount of love I wanted to publicly give to both my parents – particularly mom for carrying the weight on her shoulders.”

Brenda adds, “My main thing was to make sure that my sons loved each other as much as they loved us. Because when we’re gone, they’re going to have each other to stand on. We all believe in The Most High Creator and know that you have to have love among yourself.”

That lovely sentiment sends her mind back to one of her most precious memories of Phillip of all. “One year, Phillip was singing on a cruise ship. We had dinner with the captain. I had a pretty gold gown and they all had tuxes. After dinner, Phillip asked us to follow him to the top deck to this isolated beautiful glass-enclosed greenhouse oasis – most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. There was a white grand piano he sat us next to as my husband and I held hands. Phillip sat at that piano played and sang a song he wrote just for us. There wasn’t a dry eye in the garden. It was the most thoughtful thing that could ever happen to anyone in their life. First of all, we didn’t even know he could play the piano! Second, he cared and loved us so much that he wrote a song just for us. There are no words for how that made us feel.”

Inspired by the life she has shared with her husband, as well as guesting on her son, Phillip Brandon’s, The Story Begins CD, Brenda has been writing songs to finally record an album of her own. “His not going to be around with us much longer has given me songs in my mind and heart to sing.” When she does, it will be with the nickname, Ms. B. “Kids try to call you by your first name. But, see, I’m from the old school and I demand respect. I tell young ones, ‘You can call me Mrs. Davis or Ms. B. – but you will NOT call me Brenda.’ Ms. B. kinda stuck. Plus, Phillip’s always telling me about branding, so it’s good for that, too.”

THE STORY BEGINS – AVAILABLE NOW!

KEEP UP WITH PHILLIP

www.phillipbrandon.com

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phillipbrandon2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillipbrandon2/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhillipBrandon2

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PhillipBrandonMusic

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes celebrated Veterans Day early with a public screening of the veterans’ appreciation video, which highlights veterans of the 47th Assembly District and their stories of service. The 12-minute video was screened at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 8737 in San Bernardino on Monday, November 6.

Two of the veterans filmed for the video served during WWII – Graciano Gomez and Russel Diehl. Addressing the veterans, Assemblymember Reyes said, “We would not be able to call America the land of the free, if it were not for you, your service and your sacrifice. We want our veterans to experience the appreciation from their community with this video and to know that their sacrifice has not gone unnoticed; we see you, and we thank you!”

The veterans’ appreciation video was developed by Assemblymember Reyes and her team from an idea given to her by Glen Loveless III who served as E-4 Infantry in the U.S Army. Glen was honored as a 47th Assembly District Veteran of the Year honoree earlier this year.

REDLANDS, CA- “It takes a Village to last for 125 Years!”

“It has been a VILLAGE EFFORT to preserve 125 years of history and hard work to preserve a future for the next generations,” explains Bishop Jackie Green. “Our village has been our neighbors, the community, philanthropists, the rich and poor, the preacher and  teacher, businesses, government officials, lawyers, counselors, schools, hospitals, law enforcement, other churches, pastors, the elderly, recreation, the young and even the unborn. Our village welcomes all colors, races and genders.”

The Second Baptist Church history dates back as far as 1889, but is recorded as incorporated in 1892.  The first pastor, Sebron Lee was a stately gentleman, and served as the pastor over the “first colored church” that was later named the Second Baptist Church of Redlands. The first church was located on Orange Street in May 30, 1891.  Then the church relocated to State Street in July 4, 1891 and finally to its present location on 420 East Stuart Avenue in 1924.

The Congregation has been celebrating its birthday the whole year by having monthly focuses on their history and wearing their “125…ALL THE WAY LIVE” t-shirts, which is the theme for the celebration. The month of November will kick off with a Wednesday night Joint Communion Service with the First Baptist Church of Redlands (51 West Olive) at 6 p.m., whom they have fellowshipped 125 years.  Pastor Shawn Zambros of the First Baptist Church (First woman pastor) says, “Our two churches have a special and unique bond that has risen out of our common beginnings and has continued over the generations. The pastors of Second Baptist were among the first to welcome me to the City of Redlands and connect me with other clergy into the community.”

Sunday, November 19, will be the culminating service at 10 a.m.  The speaker will be Dr. Stephen Wilson, M.D. of In Your Best Interest Medical practice in Redlands.  He was a former member years ago and is returning to help celebrate this even.  There will also be several honors and awards presented. There will be a fellowship dinner following service.

The Highlight of this year’s birthday celebration is the publication of the 125th Souvenir Historical Journal to be unveiled on Sunday, November 19, covering the 125 years of history.  These can be purchased through the Church. The public is cordially invited.  The church is located at 420 East Stuart Avenue, Redlands, CA  92374.

For more information, please call (909) 793-l074 or visit secondbaptistredlands.com.