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Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program and White House Partner to Launch Historic Program to Improve the Hollywood Pipeline

Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program and the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities launch HBCUs in L.A. Internship Program. Hosted by SAG-AFTRA on Friday, November 4.

SAG-AFTRA is honored to host the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program (EICOP) and the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (WHI-HBCU) to showcase the talented young men and women produced by our nation’s HBCUs with the launch of this historic internship program.

The first program of its kind to take on Hollywood’s pipeline problem, the HBCUs in L.A. Internship Program inaugural class will include White House HBCU All-Star students and a select group of the best, brightest and diverse student leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation.

Launching in the Summer of 2017, the program will provide students with an immersive, real world work experience designed to supplement their academic curriculum and prepare them for careers in the entertainment, media and communications industries. The internship program stems from many of President Obama’s initiatives, such as A Call to Arts and My Brother’s Keeper, which aim to engage and mentor the next generation regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Special guests will include Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Acting Executive Director White House Initiative on HBCU’s; David White, National Executive Director, SAG-AFTRA; and Stacy Milner, founder of the Entertainment Industry College Outreach Program and author of Leveraging UP! The Key to Launching Your Entertainment Career; Federal officials; HBCU Presidents and Community Leaders; and other special guests.

The event will take place at SAG-AFTRA Plaza, James Cagney Boardroom – Lobby Level, located at 5757 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Parking will be validated. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will resume until 9 p.m.

Please email Alexandra Tashman at alexandra.tashman@sagaftra.org to RSVP. As space is limited, only CONFIRMED media will be able to attend. For more information please contact: Pamela Greenwalt, SAG-AFTRA Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at (323) 549-6872 or pamela.greenwalt@sagaftra.org.

Newly retired, Deborah Robertson drove around Rialto and quickly decided what she would do with all that “free time.” She put all her efforts in running for mayor.

Four years later and one term as mayor, Mayor Robertson is still working to keep Rialto moving in the right direction. During her first term, which began in 2012, economic opportunities went up while crime went down. Her collaboration with neighboring cities along the Interstate 10 corridor will result in better traffic flow, even as more industrial jobs take root in the area.

“I feel the role of mayor is a calling, not just a title,” said Mayor Robertson, who was a three-term city councilwoman before her first term as mayor. “When I took office, my goals were to stabilize our financial future, improve the economic and business development in Rialto, create greater job opportunities, hire the local workforce and make Rialto a safe place to live, work and play.”

“Today, our businesses are on the rise, a greater number of residents are part of the local workforce, crime statistics are down and we as a community have made a tremendous commitment to improving our streets and roads.”
In working on the needs of the city, Mayor Robertson leaned on her vast experience. A native Californian, Mayor Robertson holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and a master’s degree in Public Administration. Before retiring, she was the Deputy District Director of External

Affairs for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Partnering with the cities of Fontana, Colton and San Bernardino, the focus has been on economic development and the creation of jobs in the fields of technology, transportation along with commercial endeavors.

“A major accomplishment has been attracting businesses to this city and the surrounding communities,” Mayor Robertson said. “We focus on where we are (geographically). The footprint has been cast. Anything that goes from the ports to the rest of the United States – 90 percent of it has to pass through the Inland Empire. We need to see the technology of moving goods and make sure the skill sets for these jobs are transferred into our community so our people are competitive.”
The biggest project for the city is the Renaissance at the north end of Rialto, formerly Rialto Airport. Through legislation, the city was able to redirect aviation activity to San Bernardino International Airport (Formerly Norton Air Force Base). More than 1,500 acres are being redeveloped into housing, commercial, industrial and entertainment areas, also bringing tax revenue and jobs.

“Rialto is the jewel of the Inland Empire,” Mayor Robertson said. “I have a plan and I want to continue to execute the plan to move Rialto forward.”

For more information about Mayor Deborah Robertson go to www.DeborahRobertson.org.

About Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson

Deborah Robertson was elected Mayor of Rialto in November 2012 – the latest achievement in a distinguished public service career that has included 12 years on the Rialto City Council, leadership positions at the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), and more than 20 years with the California Department of Transportation. Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has gained regional and national recognition for innovation in the areas of public-private partnerships, business development and job creation. The City’s refinancing and restructuring of its water and wastewater operations has become a model for other communities in California, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.

Mayor Robertson retired from Caltrans in 2011, as Deputy District Director of External Affairs. A native Californian, she holds an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning from the University of California, San Diego, a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the City University of New York Bernard Baruch College and is a National Urban Fellows recipient. She is also a scholarship recipient and past participant of the Southern California Leadership Network.
Mayor Robertson has two children and six grandchildren, that are the joy of her life.

The fifth annual Community Gathering for Excellence will bring together about 1,000 people representing diverse agencies to use collective impact principals to develop a plan that will help today’s youth and young adults compete in tomorrow’s job market.

The gathering, held at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, will set a course of action for how local government, higher education, and community partners can help local youth succeed beyond high school. Key partners include the University of California, Riverside; California State University, San Bernardino; Loma Linda University; San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; San Bernardino Valley College; San Bernardino County; and the City of San Bernardino.

These organizations are already working together to lay the groundwork for a skilled regional workforce that will bring about a thriving and adaptable economy. During the gathering, keynote speaker Jim Clifton, CEO of Gallup <http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx> , will address the coming jobs war. Clifton believes that with the increasingly global economy, when today’s students are ready to enter the workforce, they will be competing against people from across the country and the world for the best jobs. As technology improves, work and collaboration are less and less restricted by physical location, especially in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, which offer high-paying jobs. That means obtaining a good job will be less about where you live and more about what you know.

SBCUSD and its partners believe the best way to prepare students is to increase the graduation rate  and the college preparation rate, as well as make sure all students are on a pathway towards a viable career <http://ca-sanbernardinoschools.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=639> . An example of this is the Academy of Manufacturing and Product Development at Indian Springs High School where students apply the math, technology, and business skills they learn in class to design and create products using industry-approved software, including CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machining devices. Salaries in the high-tech manufacturing industry are competitive with salaries in many fields that require a four-year degree.

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden launched the Gathering for Excellence in 2012 as a way to engage parents, employees, and community members in meaningful dialogue about local educational reforms. Among the ways education and instruction has evolved in SBCUSD since then has been a focus on Linked Learning, which provides opportunities for students to explore careers from manufacturing to medical that are integrated with their academic lessons.

“We are stronger when working in unison rather than in isolation,” Marsden said. “The power of collaboration allows us to have a greater impact that will benefit members of our community for generation to come.

“Developing a shared vision means we have a greater collective impact that leverages the best that each of our partners has to offer. When we engage in mutually reinforcing activities, our entire community reaps the benefits,” Marsden added.

Spots at the Community Gathering for Excellence are still available for members of the community who want to contribute their ideas. Attendance is free, but you must register by October 31 at http://bit.ly/2bq526s. Doors open at 8 a.m. on November 10 for a continental breakfast. The program is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“The SBCUSD Gathering of Excellence has focused in on the fact that education is the path to success for our youth,” said San Bernardino Mayor R. Carey Davis. “The partnerships forged in developing this program have benefitted our students by creating a network of support for our students.”

If you plan to attend and require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the SBCUSD Affirmative Action Office at (909) 381-1122 or mike.medina@sbcusd.com at least 10 business days before the Community Gathering for Excellence.

Spanish interpretation will be provided during the event. Daycare will not be provided.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Seventeen-year-old Ariel Parker has looked beyond Instagram, Snapchat and “Juju On That Beat” and envisions being a leader one day.

The Fresno County teenager isn’t sure what type of leader she wants to be when she gets older, but the Clovis North High School senior sees a national landscape that features African-American students struggling in school, and black people being gunned down by the police, and wants there to be change.

Parker said if she and other young, black millennials feel a call to incite change, they should heed it—especially with cognizance of the injustices that take place.

“We are looking for opportunities to change things,” she said. “We are always talking about possibilities to bring awareness to situations like Black Lives Matter.”

Black Students of California United (BSCU) held three Senatorial District Leadership Forums this month, and will hold one more in November. BSCU envisions African-American youth receiving quality education, training, tools and experiences to become engaged participants in California’s civic and economic life.

Fresno County Office of Education Coordinator Angie Barfield, one of BSCU’s founders, said the three-month-old group’s forums are being held to bring youth leaders together to talk about issues they are experiencing and form solutions.

“Our black students are not satisfied with how things are in our schools, communities,” she said. “The idea of the forums is to talk these things out – student union issues, school district issues – and come up with plans to deliver back to their authority figures to progress things.”

Barfield, Dr. Angelo Williams, retired educator Jacky McFadden and California Alliance of African American Educators Founder, and Executive Director Debra Watkins founded BSCU in August. The group’s values include instilling excellence and self-determination, independence and perseverance, critical cultural consciousness and active mental and physical health maintenance habits and practices in black youth.

The idea for BSCU sprang from an African-American youth rally earlier this year, and since its beginnings the group has established links with African-American clubs and student unions in various parts of the state.

Williams said BSCU wants to teach black students about advocacy and civic engagement.

“Youth are facing significant challenges in education and economically, but they are organizing,” the college professor said of some black youth. “They are one of the most active groups that I have seen. The beautiful thing is these young people are fired up and ready to go.”

The Oct. 29 forums were held in Stockton, Sacramento and Fresno. The fourth event, Nov. 19, will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose.

The discussions on what is working right for black youth in their communities and schools and what is going wrong. There will be a guest speaker and a lunch.

Parker, the Clovis student who wants to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu or Baylor University in Texas, is a member of BSCU’s student advisory board and a forum attendee —along with student’s affiliated with the program from schools in Sacramento, San Jose, Stockton, Oakland and Los Angeles.

She said anything she learns at the event will be beneficial.

“It’s very important for black kids my age to want to be leaders because we are such a powerful people,” Parker said. “We have such influence in everything – music, art. Black people have so much power, so black kids should strive to be leaders in the community and eventually on the national level.”

Barfield said the African-American community can’t have excuses to address economic, education, and civic issues.

“We don’t want another generation of disengaged, uninformed youth,” she said. “We are going to allow the students to formulate their voices and go after elected officials and board members and let them know these kids have a voice and hear is your solution.”

Williams said in a year BSCU hopes to have expanded to more students across the state and have an annual civic engagement program running.

“We want to have students in the 40 Senatorial Districts across the state,” Williams said. “We are trying to produce future leaders. We want them to study those districts, so if they decide they want to be an official they are starting early in getting that knowledge.”

The student Parker said learning leadership is important and bringing her generation of black millennials together is a part of that.

“There seems to be a lot of division in our generation,” she said. “We need to come together.”

Around 60 students will be admitted to each event.

RSVP is required for the Senatorial District Leadership Forum in San Jose.. . Contact Watkins at 408-829-0590 to register.

For more information, email blackstudentscaliforniaunited@gmail.com.

Abigail Medina, school teacher, member of the San Bernardino School Board, and candidate for election to the 40th Assembly District of the California State Assembly (representing greater San Bernardino)  hosted a reception on Sunday, October 23,  for Kamala Harris, JD, California Attorney General, (California’s Chief Legal Officer), and current candidate for election as the United States Senator, representing California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The League of Women Voters provided a review and discussion of California’s seventeen voter initiatives last Saturday, October 30, at the Ingrahm Community Center in San Bernardino. The forum was organized by the Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee. The 9 a.m. to noon meeting was attended by committee members as well as the general public. Each proposition was discussed as well as the San Bernardino Measures. Though no recommendations were made, the general consensus was that the event and information was very helpful. For more information about the NWPAC, call (909) 913-0831.

Janet Kirtley

Janet Kirtley is What It Do Inland Empire. She is the Founder of S.E.S. Management (5 yrs), Founder of S.E.S. Music Group (3 yrs), Founder of S.E.S. Street Team (2 yrs), and Founder of Put Down Your Guns – The Cali Movement (1 yr). Read all about this amazing lady right here in my column.

S.E.S. stands for “Something Extra Special”. They’re in the business of helping others achieve their goals and dreams in the music industry in the fields of Stage Management, Artist Management and Artist Branding and Promotions. Keeping with the philosophy of taking care of the independent artist, S.E.S. only works with upcoming local talent, promoters and businesses. S.E.S. is contracted with OutDaHouse Productions, Observatory and Novo to run all Hip Hop & R & B Shows for the following venues: The Observatory Orange County & San Diego, The Novo formerly Nokia, Pomona Fox Theatre and The El Rey Theatre.

S.E.S. Management has done a lot of their own independent shows, as well as Stage Management, running and booking acts and opening up for Tech N9ne, DJ Quik, E40, RJ, Lupe Fiasco, Desiigner, Snoop, Asher Roth, Mac 10, WC, Kurupt, 2 Chainz, Nipsey Hussle, Jarule & Ashanti, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Young Thug, Juciy J, Iamsu, DMX, Hopsin and Psycho Realm just to a name a few. S.E.S. has become the premier stage management company for major and small promoters to run their shows with expertise and professionalism. SES has also played a major role with headlining acts that come to town in booking and stage management for the recent 2 Pac Tribute Show.

Trust me artist Janet Kirtley is someone you want to know. Until next week keep them L’zzz in da air!

Publisher’s Commentary By Wallace J. Allen

San Bernardino L & M; Charter Change… FOR… City Clerk Treasurer, City Attorney not elected   AGAINST want to vote for those positions   Measure O, Repeals S B Ban on sales N;   & P; Regulates growing and sales of MJ…

51… School Bonds, K-12 & Community College Facilities…   YES!

52… Medi-Cal Hospital Fee…       YES! BENEFITS Total Healthcare in Ca…

53… Revenue Bonds Statewide Voter Approval     YES! Though investor money develops, resident use is the ultimate payback to investors! Work done in phases is more transparent and efficient, especially when done with public money!

54… Legislature, Legislative Proceedings… YES! Requires 72 hour internet before legislation can be voted on… Video and record all Legislative meetings.

55… Tax Extension…   YES! Taxes people earning $250,000 per year to aid Education & Healthcare… (We should all look forward to qualifying to pay this tax)

56… Cigarette Tax … NO!  This 2-dollar tax is a misguided attempt to stop poor people from smoking… It is targeting poor and mentally challenged people who would probably stop smoking if they had a job with a living wage… Jobs and mental services would probably be a better means of producing the next wave of Tobacco Use Reduction… And a tax on luxury items would probably raise more money than the cigarette tax! (Possibly)

57… Criminal Sentences…   YES!     Court assignments for juveniles will be made by Juvenile Court Judges… Parole for non-violent convictions! Will not release prisoners convicted of violent crimes as defined by the California Penal Code! See page 143 of your large California Official Voter Guide

58… English Proficiency Multilingual Education… YES!     Allows parents/schools to locally determine the bilingual teaching methodology…

59… Corporations, Political Spending …   YES!   Gives California an Official Billboard stating opposition to “Citizens United”! It speaks against creating a “Corporate Humanity” class as super political contributors.

60… Adult Films, Condoms… Requires Condom use during filming… NO!   This provides no additional protection for workers and creates right to sue for uninvolved entities…

61… State Prescription Purchasing, Pricing standards… YES!   Do not worry about Big Pharmacy raising the price on the VA and thus on everyone else! The VA contract is for all 50 states! Big Pharmacy cannot raise prices in California ONLY!

62… Death Penalty Repealed… YES! Saves Money, Eliminates executing the innocent and coddling the guilty!

63… Firearms, Ammunition Sales…   NO!   How much is too much ammunition? Too expensive to enforce and is potential result worth it? One can make his own ammunition as well as build his/her own firearm… How it that going to be regulated

64… Marijuana Legalization… NO!   This Prop is too complicated… possession of one ounce is all ready legal for adults. Need a bill to decriminalize… Legalization is an economic opportunity that needs transparent regulations that allow for equal access to the industry.

65… Carryout Bags Charges (Directs funds)   NO!   Plastic bag companies need your vote to keep selling bags…

66… Death Penalty… Mend It Don’t End It…   NO!   Lawyers are the main beneficiaries of a “yes”!

67… Ban on Single Use Plastic bag Sales… NO!    Let your city decide!

Tammy Martin-Ryles

RIVERSIDE, CA- Extraordinary leaders and community programs will be recognized and awarded at the Theta Pi Sigma Inland Empire alumnae chapter observance of the 94th Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Founders’ Day on Saturday, November 12, 1 p.m., at the Christ’s Church of the Valley’s Etiwanda Gardens in Etiwanda. It is co-sponsored this year by Children’s Resources Inc. and the Turn It Around Foundation.

Tonia Causey-Bush

To be honored at the event are: Tonia Causey-Bush, Ph.D., a 23-year public education veteran and president/CEO and founder of Sacred SISTAHS (Sisters in Solidarity Teaching And Healing our Spirits) Inc.; Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers, a 20-year finance management professional, serving as a Community Development Specialist Civic/Government Relations for Uplift Family Services and a member of the San Bernardino City Unified‘s Board of Education; Cynthia “The Tech Diva” Frazier, a 25-year master of the power of creative thinking and business development and a leader and author in the area of STEaM and Digital programming and instruction for youth and teens; Tammy Martin-Ryles, president and CEO and a founding member of the Black Chamber of Commerce of the Inland Empire, as well as an educator with the Corona-Norco Unified School District. Each of this year’s honorees has established impactful local community movements geared toward equipping and inspiring women and youth to dream more, learn more,

Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers

do more and become more.

“As an international organization, we believe that authentic leadership is evidenced through work that is

Cynthia Frazier

intentional, impactful and measurable,” says Deborah Moore, president of the Theta Pi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho. “And the achievements of each of these honorees speaks volumes to their standing as authentic leaders in the Inland Empire.”

Tickets are $55 each for the Founders’ Day observance and can be purchased through Eventbrite.com by entering “Faith & Fashion”; by contacting the chapter at thetapisigma1922@yahoo.com or 951.777.4148; or by contacting any of the chapter members directly. Proceeds will help fund scholarships for Inland Empire youth. Donations can be made via Eventbrite as well.

The festive event will also feature Minister Larry E. Lowe as emcee and songstress Pamela R. Olivia. Fashions are by Casonna.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“…. Let my distress and the tears I shed in consequence of it be ever before thee, 0 Lord” [Psalms 18:6].

For those that don’t understand why it is hard for a mother to let go of her child no matter what they do, I want you to know that a mother called by God will never relinquish the title. Mothers never relinquish the title, even if the child is rebellious, harsh, and cruel or has gone wayward. Her heart just will not allow it; not when she is called by God. A mother loves her child no matter what they do or have done. Yes a foolish son brings sorrow to his mother, and the pain of seeing so much time, expense, effort, and affection go to waste sucks the life from her soul. It tears at her heart and spirit. Like David, she cries for her foolish son and wept, “O my son, my son, my son” [2 Sam 18:33]. Like Mary, she just doesn’t stand stoically and passively by at the foot of the cross, as if she were already made out of stained glass. No, she crumples at the cross. She falls down to the depths there, moaning and wailing and begging the God of heaven to stop her hell on earth. If a son will consider these things and be wise, his father will rejoice. [Proverbs 27:11] and his mother will have gladness in her heart [Proverbs 23:25]. But a Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble [Job 14:1].

How many mothers’ hearts have been broken by willful and wayward children? My hand is raised! But only the LORD knows such large numbers! The heart that almost daily burst with pleasure and affection caring for the newborn is torn deeply by the willful disobedience and foolishness of the sinful child. Mothers shed many tears. When you look into any mother’s eyes and see them glistening with tears, when you look into any mother’s eyes and see them about to brim over, remember that the love there is a reflection of a much higher love. It is a reflection of the love of God, “love divine all love’s excelling.”

Some of you know all too well what I’m talking about, or perhaps I am the only one with a prodigal son… by his own admission, he chose the path of worldly pleasure. The grief that I feel – grief over the foolish choices that bring consequences to him, pain to others, and reproach to God’s name. The fear – fear of the future and what will happen to him and to my family. If you know the sorrow of a wayward child may I encourage you to — lift up your eyes and look to God? Receive his comfort in your grief, His joy for your fear, His forgiveness for your sin, His righteousness for your shame, His hope for your future. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one recipe for the curing of all their ills, ‘Bring him unto Me” says the Lord.

I tell you we must never cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No matter how far gone they may seem do not give up hope for them. Lay them at the feet of Jesus, and then intercede for them! Go to God on their behalf, and plead with Him for their lives! Don’t give up, and thereby miss the opportunity to see God work a miracle! Regardless of their age; from young to old, unsaved to backslidden, rebellious stricken to criminal, or indifference, prayers based on God’s Covenant Promises will prevail because the Lord has bound Himself to the Word of His own lips… So don’t let Satan drag your kids through Hell… or to Hell. You have a covenant with God! FIGHT IN PRAYER [Nehemiah 4:14]. Ever since God announced in the Garden of Eden, that the woman’s seed would be against the serpent, Satan has been trying to steal and destroy the seed of God’s people. He is so terrified of our children that he often works overtime against them. This is because he knows that the next generation might just be the generation that is his undoing, ushering in the return of Jesus. The need of the hour is for parents to become skilled in SPIRITUAL WARFARE! There are times when the only thing standing between our children and the enemy is prayer, the key to winning the battle. No matter what the enemy determines to do in the lives of our children, he is no match for our Almighty Father. “The battle for our children’s lives is waged on our knees. When we don’t pray, it’s like sitting on the sidelines watching our children in a war zone getting shot at from every angle. When we DO pray, were in the battle alongside them, appropriating Gods power on their behalf. It’s time to go to War! Pray without ceasing!