Local

Yawnie

Yawnie, Yawnie, Yawnie is What It Do with the LUE this week. When I think of the word multitask, the artist Yawnie comes to mind. I met this talented lady a year ago at an event and had to book her immediately for one of my own. The energy that she gives during her sets is absolutely refreshing. When Yawnie steps to the MIC the crowd defiantly goes hype.

Kenya Jasnae Garrett, known as Ywanie, knew at a young age she wanted her name in lights. Born in Lynwood, California but now an Inland Empire resident, Yawnie is making a name for herself in the music game. Releasing her first album back in 2012 under the label MEDICI/Interscope Records, Yawnie was inspired by artists such as Keyshia Cole, Eminem, and Trina. By studying them, she was able to develop her own unique sound. She has been performing all over Southern California with big names in the industry. I truly admire her drive and ambition to make it to the top.

Being a rapper isn’t the only thing on Yawnie’s list. Her skills range from hosting, to photography, to acting, writing, DJing, and event coordination. Yep, she does it all! So please do me a favor and check this talent artist out. Catch her live on Thursday, December 10 in Santa Ana at Jaspers Bar and Grill. Prepare yourself for the thrill. You can locate her music on Facebook, Reverbnation, and Soundcloud under “Yawni Mami”. Her songs “Respect My Gangsta”, “Made A Star”, and “It’s a Celebration”, go hard!

Please follow LUE Productions on Twitter and Facebook for more reviews. Until next week peeps, stay STRONG & L’z!

Newman Leadership Academy

By Naomi Riggins

SAN BERNARDINIO, CA- It was only a short six-mile bus ride Thursday morning of December 3 from their school to downtown San Bernardino, but for about 60 third, fourth, fifth and sixth-graders from Newman Leadership Academy in San Bernardino were excited to be going on a field trip to the California Theatre of Performing Arts to see the Inland Dance Theatres, Inc.’s 40th Anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Ballet.

The Inland Dance Theatre has presented the Tchaikovsky’s Ballet to estimated 225,000 children from throughout the Inland Empire. Newman Leadership Academy’s Principle, Mrs. Payne stated, “It was an awe of discovery for many of the students. It was like watching the lights come on and opening their minds to a whole new adventure and opportunity in San Bernardino”. For those that want to see “The Nutcracker”, visit www.californiatheatre.net for times and ticket prices.

After spending the first half of the day at the ballet, the students were loaded onto the bus and headed to Norman Fedhelym Library for lunch and a tour of the facility. The library provided each of the 60 students with library card application. Just in time for the school’s Winter Break Reading Challenge (hoping each student will read at least 30 books during Christmas Break).

In the cash-strapped San Bernardino County Unified School District, the time-honored tradition of class field trips have been dramatically cut back.  Newman Leadership Academy is looking for additional funding and donations in order to be able to continue to leave the confines of their classrooms and continue to build onto the school’s library and resources.  To find out more about Newman Leadership Academy, please visit the website www.newmanleadership.org.

Community residents gather in San Bernardino during a previous candle light vigil for the victims of last Wednesday’s attack. (Photo courtesy of NBC News).

By Lue Dowdy, of LUE Productions

SAN BERNARDINIO, CA- This Sunday, December 13, local music artists and community members will come together for a candle light vigil and prayer in honor of the victims that were gunned down in the horrific terrorist attack that occurred on Wednesday, December 2 in San Bernardino at the Inland Regional Behavioral Center.

Don’t be afraid to show your love and support openly. There will be several prominent guest speakers and elected officials that will be present and speaking. They include, but are not limited to Benito J. Barrios, 2^nd Ward Councilmember; Gwen Dowdy-Rogers, newly elected San Bernardino County School Board Member; and Tammy Martin-Ryles, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire.

The Vigil will begin promptly at 5 p.m. on the corner of Waterman Avenue and Orange Show Road. Please feel free to share your thoughts via social media with the hashtag #sanbernardinostrong.

Did You Know One of The Victims That Were Assassinated ? Please Honor Your Loved Ones by Sharing Your Stories or Pictures with

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Words, Words, Words…  I’m so sick of words, Jesus says.  Don’t tell me you love me…Show me! Talk is cheap! A mere profession is not good enough. Put up or shut up! And let me remind you that “On the day of judgment you will give account for every careless word you speak.” “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:36-37]. But if you love me like you say you do, obey my Word; keep my commandments; feed my sheep.” You see action speaks louder than words. Love on the Cross; remember that….I could not have spoken any louder… “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” [John 15:13]. It is a fact that loving God is equated with obeying His Word. The two are inseparable. Search your heart and honestly answer the question. Do you love Jesus? Because, to love Jesus, means to put Him first. To love Jesus means to obey Him. To love Jesus means to love one another. To love Jesus means to love God. This would exclude putting anything above Him. Loving God is more than just lip service; it is giving over your ALL: all of your mind; all of your heart; all of your soul; all of your strength.

Yeah, many claim to love God; Many say they love God; Many say they love their neighbor; Many, though, do not really understand what it means to love God with our total being—and to really love our neighbor. You see if you truly loved Christ you could not live in direct opposition of a command that He has given you for your life.  The Scripture says in [Matthew 22:37-40], “Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God” this is not a request or an option; it is a command, an imperative. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Listen, if this is God’s will, our heart must be filled with it. Then, we can say we love God with all our heart. God has given us everything – His whole heart, His life and His mind. However, we still do not fully understand His love, nor do we put it into action. I want you to know that today Jesus is saying remember from where you have fallen; return to your first deeds and life to which you were called in Christ.  Go back to that moment when you first met Jesus. Remember the love you felt, the stirring in your heart, the adoration you had for the Savior? Do you remember how grateful you were for the forgiveness of sins? Do you remember how at that moment nothing else mattered, only Jesus? Today, God wants you and me to go back and remember that moment in time. And having that in our memory He wants us to return. He wants us to come back to Him; to come back to our first love, to the place and time in our lives to where He was everything to us.

I tell you every Christian should be aware of the danger of leaving his first love for the Lord. Long ago, the church in Ephesus was busy doing many things for God, yet Jesus said, “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Revelation 2:4). The Lord commanded them, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5). Your love for God should be foremost in your heart, exceeding the bond of any other relationship. If your love for God has grown cold, take steps to renew your relationship with Him. Return to your first love. He waits for you with open arms. Consider some verses about pleasing God and being pleased by Him, the two preceding concepts that help define loving God (Gen 39:9; Job 22:21; Ps 37:4; 44:8; 97:10; 104:34; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matt 5:48; 6:24; Rom 12:1-2; I Cur 10:31).

Covered California Canvassing Neighborhoods – In an effort to enroll eligible African Americans in affordable health coverage, Covered California is launching an aggressive neighborhood canvassing initiative that includes door-to-door outreach, enrollment events at churches, branded outreach vans and educational materials at barbershops and hair salons in high-priority African American

Submitted by Covered California

An important deadline approaches for Californians who want to start the New Year with the protection of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Open enrollment is underway and consumers who want to be covered on January 1, need to enroll by December 15.

Covered California, the agency that administers the ACA in California, has made African American outreach a priority for the year three of the historic program. Since 2014, more than two million people have gotten insurance through Covered California, including African Americans who make up 5 percent of the state’s population that is eligible to receive financial assistance to help them pay for coverage and medical care. African Americans though have been slow to enroll at a rate that matches their share of the population.

“While we have all worked together to dramatically raise awareness about the new law, we have more work to do,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “We estimate there are still more than two million uninsured people in California who are either eligible for Covered California or qualify for Medi-Cal.”

Through Covered California, consumers can get financial help, or tax subsidy, that can be worth hundreds of dollars per month and bring health care within reach.

They are spotlighting the fact that more than half of those who have enrolled in Covered California — almost 700,000 — pay less than $100 a month, with the balance being covered by the federal tax credit. That is real affordability.

“You can find out if you qualify for financial help, and examine your plan options, by using the “Shop and Compare Tool” at CoveredCA.com,” Lee said.

Going forward Covered California will be spotlighting enrollment events at storefronts, insurance agent offices, community events and other locations. Go to the agency’s website to “find local help.”

This year’s open enrollment period is three months long, and runs until January 31. However, if you qualify for Medi-Cal, you can enroll at any point during the year. If you or someone you know doesn’t have health care coverage right now, this is the opportunity to enroll in Covered California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches invites the community to the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The Prayer Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 18, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at California State University San Bernardino Coussoulis Arena. Tickets are $25 per person and parking is free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.iecaac.com/events.

There is still time to be a sponsor of this historic event and to buy an ad in the souvenir book. Your support is very much appreciated. For more information, please contact the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches at (909) 474-7036 or by email at IECAAC1998@gmail.com. You may also visit their website www.iecaac.com.

IECAAC membership includes more than 20 churches throughout the Inland Empire. They are committed to addressing the needs, leading change and improving our communities. Their mission is community self-sufficiency and sustainability in spiritually, education, community development and economic development through faith-based efforts.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Brandon Mason attributes his career in healthcare to the opportunities provided to him by the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

The shy, gentle-natured 21-year-old man was raised by a single mother and completed high school with aspirations of becoming a physician.  He enrolled in San Bernardino Valley College where he soon changed course and decided to pursue nursing.

It was the devastating diagnosis of his mother’s breast cancer that compelled Mason to step away from the Certified Nursing Assistant program and find employment to support his mother and two younger siblings.

During his tenure as janitor at a local amusement park, his hopes of pursuing the nursing degree began to fade until he learned of the WIB Youth Program.  This program is designed to help youth ages 16 to 24 enhance job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options and take advantage of paid internships available to help them build experience.

He enrolled in the program through Provisional Accelerated Learning Center in San Bernardino in December 2014 and took the opportunity to complete vocational training at Summit College.  Today, Mason is a Certified Nursing Assistant and employed full-time at Hacienda Heights Healthcare and Wellness.

“The Youth Program helped get me to where I am now,” Mason said.  “I don’t know what I’d be doing today, honestly, if it wasn’t for the program, and I am grateful for all the things people involved did to help me.”

Mason intends to reach out to the WIB in the near future to seek assistance in pursuing a Licensed Vocational Nurse degree back at Summit College.

“We strive to achieve success stories like Mason’s in San Bernardino County, as it reflects our Countywide Vision of a vibrant economy with a skilled workforce,” said James Ramos, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. “This Youth Program is just one of the innumerable services available to San Bernardino County residents that provide resources and support to realize long-term success.”

Other services provided at no cost include skills assessment, career counseling, job training and placement, resume assistance and interview training, and access to computers, printers, faxes and telephones.

“We have seen a high success rate of participants in our Youth Program securing employment after completing the program,” said Sandy Harmsen, Executive Director of the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board.  “The program takes a comprehensive approach in helping youth ages 16 to 24 enhance their job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options and take advantage of work experience opportunities.”

What it Do with the LUE this week is THANK YOU! I want to say thank you to all the wonderful folks that did their part to make our 3rd annual Feeding the Homeless Project, “PASSING OUT HOT MEALS”, a total success. This year we were able to feed over 400 homeless men and women in downtown San Bernardino. LUE Productions was happy to partner with Big AZ FUK, DRAC Entertainment, K.I.O., RIBS, and the Westside Story Newspaper.

We put the call out for donations of food items and socks, drivers, servers, and packers; the community answered. Individuals formed teams and made it happen. I want to thank the staff at the Norman F. Feldheym Central Library for allowing us to mobilize there and Ribs for allowing us to set up the shop. I loved the fact that we had several community organizations, small businesses, entertainment entities, and artists involved such as singing sensation, Bernice Celetes, Rapper Yawnie, Gospel Rapper Dunamis L1019, Rap Group Gwaap Fam, Rapper Dada Doe, United Nations of Consciousness (U.N.C, Black Collar Entertainment, Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, Rigorous Grind Graphics, Unlimited Tax Service, and many more.

I have to give a major shot out to two amazing ladies Rochelle McCoy and Elizabeth Pinder-McSwain. Next year we will do our best to feed MORE.  We will always out on for our community; it takes ALL of US L’zzz!  Please follow LUE Productions on Facebook, twitter, and Instagram

And before I let ya’ll go, I want to give a major shout out to our hometown boys GWAAP FAM. They are on 99.1 KGGI’S First Listen. Please do me a favor and SHARE the link below. We need for you to help us flood the web site. Once you’re on the website switch to desktop to leave a comment. Support NOW not later. Thank you!

Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

The Chicago Police Department covered up a brutal police shooting. They destroyed and hide video evidence of one of their officers shooting and killing a Black Teenage boy. The officer then continued to riddle the apparently dead body with additional bullets… A total of sixteen bullets!

The officer said he was threatened by the boy… There were at least three other police officers witnessing the shooting… They were on duty, so some will argue, they were really participating.  Their “incident reports” regarding the shooting obviously supported the “boy was threatening” story!

The Chicago Police Department convinced the victim’s family to promise to keep silent about the shooting by quickly offering 5-million dollars in ‘hush mouth” money! One question is, did the Chicago Police Department tell the family how the killing really took place and that there was a video of the entire sixteen shot shooting?  If not, it looks like another lie that the Chicago Police Department is caught in.

A stubborn journalist sued the Chicago Police Department in a “freedom of information” action and was awarded the power to force the release of the video.

The video shows the teenager walking away from the policeman who started shooting the “threatening” boy while he was at least two car lengths away from the officer… The officer shot sixteen times and each bullet ended its journey with body wrenching impact on the dying, and for some of the bullets, the dead body of the teenaged Black Boy.

The Chicago Police Department’s response to being caught in this morass of lies has to this point been to, after a year, finally charge the shooter with murder. However, that arrest occurred only hours before court ordered public viewing of the incriminating video.  Days of community protest and national outrage have initiated the Mayor’s firing of the Police Chief and his request that the citizens of Chicago trust his good intentions.  That would suggest that the mayor had not seen the video and that he was not party to the cover up… Would you drink that Kool-Aid?