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SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Westside Story News sends out special congratulations to two of our interns. Miss Noelle Lilley graduated from Arroyo Valley High School, and Mr. Mitchell Young graduated from San Bernardino High School. We wish them both much success and blessings has they embark on the career journeys.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Thursday, May 15, at the Santos Manuel Student Union on the campus of California State University San Bernardino, Youth Action Project (YAP), the Black Voice News Foundation, Young Visionaries and Buffong Consulting Solutions came together to present the 4th Annual Inland Empire High School Black Graduate Recognition Ceremony. The evening was filled with cultural celebration and community connectedness. It ended with a mantra from the students who pledge to continue to support each other, be responsible family members, and leaders within the Inland Empire.

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Will Greer. He challenged the students to look at the crucial role that education has played in the history of African Americans, as well as a tool to achieve any desired dreams. There were approximately 200 students that were recognized and awarded Kente Stoles that symbolized academic excellence, community leadership, and personal reasonability. In addition, there were eight $500 scholarships awarded based on essays, G.P.A., community service and recommendations. Carolyn Tillman was awarded the Dorothy Ingram Award which signifies a celebration of youth, accomplishment, and culture through the advancement of higher education among underserved population. Tillman represents a drum major that connects and creates opportunities for students of the Inland Empire to ensure their success in college and to develop their potential.

(Front): Shayla Calleros, Hollie Woods, Jahnel Denise Walker, Cierra Joseph, Mysha Ross (Back): Nicole Swearingen, Angela Nelson-Swearingen, Constance Yvanna Ann Logan, Rodniesha Angel Griffin, Christina Antionette Francis, Kiana Janae Landrum, Annette Weathington, President

RIVERSIDE, CA- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega chapter, gathered with family, friends, and members of the local community to honor high school and college graduates this past weekend of Saturday, May 31. The celebration was held at Creola’s Restaurant in Riverside. The 2014 accomplished scholarship recipients included Shayla Calleros, Alta Loma High School;  Cierra Joseph, Eisenhower High School; Mysha Ross, Eisenhower High School; and Hollie Woods, Canyon Springs High School. They each were awarded $1,100.

Each student expressed their gratitude for the scholarship as they prepare to pursue undergraduate work at institutions as prestigious as UC Berkley, UC Davis, and Fisk University in fields varied from pre-med, education and law. Ms. Jahnel Denise Walker of Kappa Theta, University of California Riverside (UCR) was awarded the “Sharon Thomas of Eta Nu Omega” scholarship for holding the highest grade point average within the undergraduate chapter.

Additional graduates were awarded a certificate of recognition and gift from Eta Nu Omega chapter. Honorees included graduates of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Theta chapter at UCR: Christina Antionette Francis (B.S. Sociology); Rodniesha Angel Griffin (B.A. Business Administration); Ta’Neill Marche Hope (B.S. Sociology); Constance Yvanna Ann Logan (B.A. Psychology); Janelle Cherise Prothro (B.S. Biology); and Jahnel Denise Walker (B.A. Political Science/Law and Society).

Graduating members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Eta Nu Omega chapter included Angela Nelson-Swearingen (M.S. Organizational Leadership).  Children of Eta Nu Omega Chapter graduating from high school included: Chelsie Blacksher, Aquinas High School and Kiana Janae Landrum, Eisenhower High School.

Children of Eta Nu Omega chapter graduating from college included: Kierie Steward (B.S., Alabama State University); Richard Blacksher (B.A., California Baptist University); Brandon A. Brooks (Juris Doctorate in Law, Cooley School of Law); Nicole Swearingen (M.A., Brandman University); and Malcolm Thomas (M.S. California State University, San Bernardino) Keynote speaker, Dr. Mallanie Harris provided a motivational message to “Construct Your Educational Journey.” For future events, please visit www.etanuomega.org.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“For I heard the Lord tell Jehoshaphat in 2 Chron. 20:17 “You shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD….”  In other words, the “solution” is already on the premises. God is on the scene, Hallelujah!

Many times we find ourselves in situations that we just don’t understand. In these times we often find ourselves asking, “WHY Lord?” Can I just tell you that it is in these times that we are called upon to exercise our faith and just TRUST in the LORD.  I know that it’s not always easy for us to give our cares to God and trust Him completely, but when life presents itself with ever-changing variables, we have to realize that we serve a God who is stationary in His Goodness.

So many times we look all over for folks to have our back, but during my sojourn on this Christian walk, I have discovered some things about folks, discovered some disheartening and discouraging news about folks, found out that folks will fade away when the fire gets too hot, and discovered that family and friends will forsake you when times get hard, but I heard the Lord say; “I will never leave you, nor forsake you…”  I tell you, it’s good to know that “God got your back!”

You may be in a situation that looks hopeless, it may look like the end is near and it’s time to give up. It may look like you’ve lost the battle, but I want you to know that it doesn’t matter what it looks like, “God got your back!” Don’t lean to your own understanding and think that just because it looks like it’s over, that it’s over. It’s not over until God says it’s over. So don’t throw in the towel, don’t pull the plug, don’t surrender, and don’t give up. Others may even count you out and the enemy may tell you you’ve lost and the chance for victory may look impossible, but know that God has everything under control, even when life seems to be out of control.

I want you to consider “The Source,” God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, so what you are experiencing, “It too shall pass.” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, and by all means, don’t let the devil fool you into believing that you’re taking a step backwards in life or that you’ll never make it out of your situation because you will.  What you’re going through is temporary, so stop stressing yourself out,  losing sleep, being weary, anxious, worried, depressed and sad, “God got your back!”

Choose to trust God! He has brought you through and has done great things. He is forever faithful and true. Choose to walk by faith, believing that “With GOD ALL Things Are Possible.” Choose to believe for your miracle. Choose to believe for your breakthrough. Choose to walk by faith and not by fear.

The truth I want to give to you is simple but profound, “God has it all under control!“ It does not matter the situation, God has the solution. It does not matter the hurt, God can heal. It does not matter the desperation, God has the deliverance. It does not matter the sin, God is the soul-ution. It does not matter the Hell, God is the Help. Encourage yourself in the Lord daily, read His word, pray without ceasing and seek His face; and the next time you find yourself in a position where you are stressed and worried about what God is doing in your life remember to, “Consider the Source.”

The results are in from the 2014 Statewide Primary Elections. Please view them below.

Election Results

By John Coleman

The Armed Forces Assn., was recognized at the 21st Anniversary Celebration of “Armed Forces Day” during Sabbath Services at Kansas Ave SDA Church in Riverside. Awards were presented to outstanding members of the Association, Church, and community.

BLOOMINGTON, CA- On Saturday, May 24, Rialto Cub Scout Pack 103 joined Boy Scout Troops 105 and 110 to honor veterans buried at Green Acres Memorial Park by placing a flag on their grave. The boys ranged in age from 7 to 13. Over 200 flags were placed.

“We saw graves from World War I, World War II, US Army, and US Navy,” said ten year old WEBELOS Scout Izaiah Frazier.

The scouts have been placing flags at Green Acres for over twenty years now.  Scout leaders wanted the boys to learn that every soldier who fights for freedom is someone’s brother, sister, father, daughter, son, or daughter. It all started with Troop 105 and Pack 103. When Troop 110 was formed, they worked with Pack 103 to keep the tradition alive.

“It is our duty as Americans to educate our children about the sacrifices that others have made for all of us,” said Rialto Pack 103 Cubmaster Steve Bartel

The scouts had help from teachers, veterans, parents and siblings of the scouts, dependents of active and retired military, and public service workers.

Hillside University Demonstration School has earned prestigious, back-to-back awards for its work to ensure all students succeed academically.

The California Department of Education recently recognized Hillside with a Title I Academic Achievement Award for demonstrating that all students are making significant progress toward proficiency on California’s academic content standards.

The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given to schools receiving federal Title I funds as authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Title I, the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education, assists schools in meeting the educational needs of students living at or below the poverty level.

In March, the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) named Hillside one of the nation’s top urban schools that achieve exceptional academic results. To compete for the 2014 National Excellence in Urban Education Award, schools had to serve predominantly low-income students. They also had to meet a long list of student performance criteria, including high achievement scores, high attendance rates, and low suspension rates, among other requirements. In addition, each racial, ethnic, and income group served had to demonstrate rates of proficiency that exceeded the proficiency rates for all students in the state. Schools also could not use any selective admission criteria to screen out less-capable students.

Hillside, which earned a Bronze Award from NCUST, was 1 of just 16 schools around the nation that demonstrated the greatest evidence of rigorous content, engaging instruction, and positive relationships among students, teachers, parents, and administrators. The only other California school to be recognized is a charter school in El Cajon. All of the award-winning schools were recognized at a special ceremony during the NCUST Symposium on Thursday, May 22 in San Diego.

“We are fortunate to have very dedicated teachers who put students first,” said Principal Tommie Archuleta. “Everyone, from our parents to our community partners, has high expectations for our students. And, our students have shown us that they can meet and often exceed those high expectations.”

Hillside Elementary is a University Demonstration School, where California State University, San Bernardino students who are preparing to enter the educational field work with master teachers. The school, which serves more than 700 students in grades kindergarten through six, offers the sought-after Dual Immersion program.

Hillside is a testimony to the transformation that is taking place across San Bernardino City Unified, said Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden.

“Our schools are where hope is born,” Marsden said. “If our students, our employees, and our schools have hope, then our entire community has hope.”

Shequeta Smith

LOS ANGELES, CA- Hollywood is chalked full of great Directors and the alumni of talented African American Directors such as Steve McQueen, Lee Daniels, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, and John Singleton is growing. However, what we are not seeing is an equal presence of female African American Directors, but one woman hopes to change that and that woman is Shequeta Smith, CEO of Rayven Choi Films.

A graduate of North Carolina State University, Smith possess a professional resume that includes working on shows such as VH1’s Flava of Love, the CW’s Everybody Hates Chris, and a handful of successful short films she has directed. She now has her sights on feature films and has a hilarious comedy in the works and has launched a crowd funding campaign to get it off the ground.

The film is titled The Gestapo vs. Granny and is a comedy set inside a retirement home that centers around Agnes Monroe, a no nonsense eccentric senior citizen who has been kicked out of eighteen retirement homes and been arrested nine times for bad behavior while leaving a trail of outspoken victims from her shenanigans. In a hilarious twist Agnes is recruited to take on the shrewd owner of a retirement home that the residents have nicknamed The Gestapo. Agnes’ major “Senior Moment” is never realizing she is a senior…not even for a moment.

Smith launched her crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo with a goal of $75,000 that her team is marketing as Agnes’ bail money and promoting on social media as “Free Agnes Monroe”. Confident the campaign will succeed, Smith plans to shoot the film this Fall in Los Angeles with a dream cast and if all goes according to plan, Betty White will star in the film as Agnes Monroe. Smith has even initiated an online fan petition for Betty White to star in the role of Agnes.

To support The Granny vs. The Gestapo’s Indiegogo campaign, log on to www.FreeAgnesMonroe.com. Follow the campaign and film on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FreeAgnesMonroe and on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/FreeAgnesMonroe.

Danny Tillman

I am Danny Tillman and I am running for United States Congress for District 31. We are just days away from determining who will represent our community in Washington D.C. I am humbly asking that you vote for me on Tuesday, June 3, and elect me as your Representative for Congressional District 31.

Please allow me the opportunity to tell you a little about myself and just a few of my personal and community accomplishment in my 51 years of life. I am a lifelong Democrat born and raised in our district, right here in the City of San Bernardino and never left. I know what we need to grow our economy and I will work hard to make our district a better place for us all. I am a product of the San Bernardino City Unified District. I graduated from San Bernardino High School, San Bernardino Valley College and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an Information Technology concentration from California State University San Bernardino.

I have worked for the County of San Bernardino for 34 years and presently as the IT Department manager for Human Services. I was raised in New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where I play the drums in the Men’s adult choir. I have been a mentor for 30 years, serving as President of the Black Future Leaders. In addition, I served as Vice President to the San Bernardino NAACP for 2 terms and sat on the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation. I have been on the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board for the past 19 years and was re-elected this past November to my fifth term. After locating 40 million dollars my first year as a school board member, I have led my colleagues in effectively balancing the multi-million dollar budget, building 17 new schools, along with  creating thousands of new jobs in our area.

Now it is my desire to go to Washington and fight for jobs, education, seniors, safety and to make sure we continue and expand Obamacare. This election is VERY important and your vote does count! Today, I am asking for your vote to assist me in fighting for our community in a much larger capacity than I have ever done before. If you have not had the opportunity to visit my website, visit it at www.dannytillmanforcongress.com.

We have been blessed to have a campaign office for the past two months. I need you to help me cross the finish line by making a donation and volunteering to call voters and walk door to door these last few crucial days of my campaign. Our Campaign phone contact is (909) 888-7042 or (909) 567-0222. We are located at 577 North ‘D’ Street, Suite 103—104 in San Bernardino (92401). Our hours are Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

If you have not voted yet you can vote early at the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters Office at 777 East Rialto Avenue in San Bernardino, May 5 – June 2  Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday June 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you have questions as to where your polling location is you can call the Registrar of Voters Office at (909) 387-8300.