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City of Grand Terrace Mayor Bill Hussey, City Council Members and others Celebrate the Grand Opening of the Condor Energy Storage Project in San Bernadino County, California

GRAND TERRACE, CA-– Arevon Energy Inc., a leading renewable energy developer, owner, and operator, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion and start of operations of its 200 megawatt (MW)/800 megawatt-hour Condor Energy Storage Project in San Bernardino County, California. The project will annually power up to 150,000 homes for up to four hours during peak electricity demand periods and will provide an estimated $25 million in property tax payments over its lifespan, supporting the county as well as the local school district.

With the project stakeholders in attendance, the ribbon-cutting event not only celebrated the project’s completion but also the community support for helping San Bernardino County meet its Climate Action Plan goals. Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Arevon, provided remarks at the event, along with Mayor Bill Hussey, City of Grand Terrace; Council Member Jeff Allen, City of Grand Terrace; David Lincoln, Senior Vice President at Rosendin Electric, Inc.; and Charles Neighbours, Principal at Grand Terrace High School.

“The Condor Energy Storage Project signifies our ongoing commitment to energy storage technologies and to advancing clean, renewable energy across the nation,” Smith said. “As California looks to achieve its sustainability goals and brings more renewable energy online, battery storage is an essential component to ensure grid reliability and facilitate further renewable energy adoption. Our projects here provide viable economic revenue, cleaner air for the community, and reliable energy access throughout the state.”

“The government has identified the need for clean renewable energy, and Arevon has come up with a solution for that need,” said Mayor Hussey. “Basically, don’t waste the watts and save them when needed. So, (Waste Not! Watts Not!) I am also looking forward to working with Arevon on our energy needs and on our educational needs for this technology.”

The Condor ribbon-cutting ceremony recognized the efforts and collaboration of the project’s commercial partners and local labor organizations who contributed to bringing the facility online. Condor features Megapack 2 XL, Tesla’s state-of-the-art, utility-scale battery energy storage system, which is the most advanced technology available on the market today and provides superior safety and protection for both the project and the surrounding community. Tesla has also been contracted to provide operations and maintenance services for the project. Southern California Edison (SCE) has purchased the project’s capacity under a long-term agreement. As one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, SCE is committed to delivering reliable, affordable, and clean energy today and in the future. Rosendin served as the engineering, procurement, and construction provider and hired local electrical workers from IBEW Local 477, Operators Local 12, Iron Workers Local 433, Laborers Local 1184, and Carpenters Local 909 to build the facility.

“Rosendin values every member of these hardworking, collaborative teams that dedicated 280,000 work hours on this project that will help power local businesses, schools, and homes when energy demand is at its peak,” Lincoln said. “As a longtime partner with Arevon, we are proud to work with them to deliver energy projects that strengthen local communities while providing jobs and building our future workforce.”

As the long-term owner of the Condor Energy Storage Project, Arevon is committed to supporting the local community and its worthy initiatives. During the event, Arevon was privileged to present donations to the Women’s Club, Lions Club, and Grand Terrace Foundation. In addition, Arevon partnered with Grand Terrace High School and Riverside-based Industrial Metal Supply to initiate the creation of a 3D metal sculpture, which was on display during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Grand Terrace High School (GTHS) students owned the entire process, from conception and design to welding the sculpture, which measures 15 feet in length. Each element was carefully separated out to ensure that no material was wasted, and Arevon worked with Industrial Metal Supply to order the steel for the sculpture. In addition, the Condor Energy Storage Project has committed to a contribution of $200,000 to provide shade for students at Grand Terrace High School along with a donation to the GTHS School Site Council.

Arevon is a renewable energy leader in California with nearly 2,500 MW in operation and more than 1,200 MW under construction. The company has recently issued various announcements celebrating achievements at several of its California projects, including offtake agreements for the Cormorant Energy Storage Project and the Avocet Energy Storage Project. Arevon also closed financing on the Eland 2 Solar-plus-Storage Project, the Condor Energy Storage Project, as well as the Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project, the nation’s first utility-scale solar peaker project which was the recipient of IJGlobal’s Renewables Deal of the Year – Energy Storage Award.

About Arevon

Arevon Energy, Inc. is a leading renewable energy company, supplying clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy to utilities and businesses, while powering the energy transition across the United States. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and with a regional office in New York City, Arevon’s more than 250 mission-driven employees use innovative approaches and leading-edge technology to develop, build, finance, own, and operate renewable energy projects. Arevon owns and operates more than 4,000 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale solar, storage, and solar + storage hybrid projects as well as distributed generation assets in 17 U.S. states. The company is currently constructing more than 2,000 MW of new capacity and has a robust development portfolio of more than 6 gigawatts. For more information, visit www.arevonenergy.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Pastors United –SBPU has been providing spiritual leadership in San Bernardino County since 2016. The organization was founded by a group of Pastors in San Bernardino, expressing a desire to work with the chief of police to help stop and prevent violent crime in the city.

Over the years the organization has had several presidents. The first was Dr. Joshua Beckley, Ecclesia Christian Fellowship. The next one was Pastor Robert Cuencas of The Way World Outreach Church, and then Dr. Reginald Woods of Life Changing Ministries. These extraordinary men of God, did extraordinary work.

A new era has begun as Pastor Marco Garcia, Sr. Pastor of the Way World Outreach Church, leads the organization. Continuing the mission to combat murders, engage our civic leaders, and provide support to families through community engagement activities.

Many community members attended the 10:00 a.m. ceremony held on Wednesday, August 14, at 4835 Hallmark Parkway, in San Bernardino.

According to Pastor Reginal Young, a spokesman for the group, “The organization is excited about the next chapter as it continues to battle crime, homelessness, drug additions, youth runaways, political corruption, and the economy. Pastor Garcia has been an advocate for the residents in San Bernardino for years. He has a strong faith and belief in the people of the community. He believes, each church must grow and reach the lost. As we help more people who are hurting, restoring more lives; our love will show the world.”

Reverend Young finalized, “Join the movement as we work in unity with the power of God’s favor. May God continue to bless you. Visit our website at www.sbpastorsunited.org for more information email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Thank you for your prayers of support!”

More Than 3,000 Attended in the First Hour

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) held a record-breaking, annual Back-to-School Extravaganza (BTSE) July 24 at San Bernardino Valley College to help District families get ready for the start of the new school year.

There were more than 60 booths providing information and free school supplies. Families could collect stamps from select SBCUSD booths on a special passport to get a free backpack for their school-aged children. Other SBCUSD booths offered free books, three-ring binders and other school supplies that students will need for the first day of school on Monday, August 5.

“The Extravaganza provides our SBCUSD families with standard back-to-school items like backpacks, but it does so much more,” said Dr. Beatriz Barajas-Gonzalez, Director of Family Engagement, the department that organizes the yearly event. “We want the Extravaganza to provide families with important information on everything from the music and arts programs in our schools to the career pathways available to our high school students. We also want our families to know there are many free and low-cost resources available to support the physical and mental health of the entire family, not just through SBCUSD but also through city and county programs and local nonprofits.”

One of the biggest community partners was the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) and Power of Sight. The organization set up an entire section to provide families with free vaccinations, sports physicals, eye exams and glasses.

A total of 55 community partners participated in the Extravaganza, including:

• IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan)
• Costco
• Stronger Together Now
• Avva Dental
• Option House Inc.
• Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
• Mother’s Nutritional Center
• Omnitrans
• YMCA of the East Valley
• County of San Bernardino Child Support Services
• Imagine Learning
• City of San Bernardino
• AI Bonds
• Amazon Air KSBD
• Asian American Resource Center
• Dignity Health Community Hospital of San Bernardino
• First 5 San Bernardino
• Making Hope Happen Foundation
• Molina Healthcare of California
• San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
• Assistance League of San Bernardino
• Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective
• San Bernardino Valley College
• Bright Life Kids
• Children’s Choice Dental Care
• Great Clips
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire

“I cannot thank our community partners enough for stepping up and helping to make sure our students and their families have what they need to start out the school year on the right path,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Sandra Rodriguez. “Our community came together today to show how much they support and care about our students. When we work together, our students, our families, our community and our city will thrive!”

25th Anniversary San Manuel Golf Tournament raised nearly $500,000 for charity

HIGHLAND, CA — For 25 years, the San Manuel Golf Tournament has delivered an impact that extends far beyond the golf course. Since 1999, San Manuel has invited tens of thousands of golfers to answer the call of Yawa’ – a Serrano concept that means “to act on one’s belief” – by playing in the San Manuel Golf Tournament and contributing to impactful charities across the nation. Together, San Manuel Golf Tournament participants have raised more than $3.5 million in donations benefitting over 70 charities.

This year’s proceeds exceed previous records totaling $480,000 to benefit eight charities representing local and national causes. Each charity received $60,000 in unrestricted funds.

Proceeds benefited this year’s chosen nonprofit partners:

Elevate Navajo strives to develop genuine connections with Navajo youth that will strengthen individuals’ confidence, classroom engagement, provide lifelong skills, and lift the community. Elevate Navajo’s four primary program focuses are accredited classes to provide life and professional skills, mentoring available 24/7, adventures to inspire grand aspirations, and career & college prep.

Firefighter Cancer Support Network provides critical assistance for career, volunteer, active or retired firefighters, emergency medical service providers and their family members who are diagnosed with cancer.

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is a collective impact organization created to improve the long-term economic outlook of the Inland Empire by improving educational attainment rates among the region’s underrepresented groups. With an equity-framed approach, GIA connects more than 150 educational institutions, community-based organizations and workforce partners to create a network for K-20 students to provide strategic support for Black, Latinx, Native and other marginalized groups while removing barriers for all individuals.

Junior Achievement of Southern Californiainspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. Volunteers from the professional sector help youth explore the business of life through hands-on dynamic programs that teach skills related to managing money, starting a business and entering the work world.

The Lindy Waters III Foundationenhances and supports Native American youth and Indigenous communities through sports, health and wellness, and leadership programs. The foundation is committed to providing a platform for individual improvement, opportunity, exposure, and access for all Native youth.

Phenix Gateway empowers adults with disabilities to secure full-pay employment through innovative job training programs and advocacy to remove barriers and promote equitable opportunities for all. Phenix Gateway has a unique ability to see what others might overlook and empower individuals to embrace their skills.

Social Work Action Group(SWAG) advocates for, educates and inspires marginalized individuals and families in the Inland Empire achieve sustainable independence through community support. SWAG believes the resources to address homelessness already exist in each community, and the missing component is communication and coordination of existing resources to address the different aspects of homelessness.

Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalitionprovides critical services to all 22 tribes in Arizona to work towards a future of safe indigenous communities. This Native-led coalition helps Native communities develop their capacities to address and respond to violence through education, training, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and culturally sensitive and supportive services.

Each organization was selected for their ability to bring tangible and practical impact to their communities.

More than 850 golfers were in attendance to take part in the four-day event that spans three exclusive golf venues: Monarch Beach Golf Links at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Pelican Hill Golf Club and Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Photos and b-roll of the event are available here.

About the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians 

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation near Highland, California.  San Manuel exercises its inherent sovereign right of self-governance and provides essential services for its citizens by building infrastructure, maintaining civil services, and promoting social, economic and cultural development.  As the Indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys, mountains and high deserts, the Serrano people of San Manuel have called this area home since time immemorial and are committed to remaining a productive partner in the San Bernardino region. For more information, visit http://www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov

By Rhonda Smith | Special to California Black Media

Having spent more than 25 years advocating for equitable healthcare, I’ve listened to countless stories from individuals whose lives have been forever changed by the historic inequities that exist within our healthcare system.

I’ve heard mothers share their heartbreak over traumatic birth experiences and outcomes, and families recount the devastating complications from surgeries. These stories, though deeply personal, often feel like whispers lost in the wind because our current data doesn’t capture the full picture. We know that racism impacts the type of care and quality of care, but without demographic data, we can’t fully understand or address these issues. It’s crucial that we find a way to connect these personal stories to the larger narrative of healthcare equity, ensuring that every patient’s experience is acknowledged, and that there’s transparency and accountability, so that every community’s needs are addressed.

For communities of color, racism in the healthcare system can have a devastating impact, affecting not only the quality of care that patients receive but also their overall well-being. Research shows that these communities experience higher rates of patient adverse events — incidents that cause permanent harm, necessitate life-saving interventions, or potentially lead to death at greater frequencies than White patients. Disturbingly, these trends disproportionately impact Black women and other communities of color.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that a third of Americans see racism as a major problem in health care, compared to over half (52%) of Black people surveyed. Disparities in maternal health outcomes and overall distrust of the medical system are historic and well-documented. According to the California Health Care Foundation’s “Listening to Black Californians” research report, nearly one-third of Black Californians say they have been treated poorly by healthcare providers just because of their race or ethnicity. Additionally, a significant number of Black Californians overall (38%) and of Black women in particular (47%) say there has been a time when a provider did not treat their pain adequately.

While we know this to be true, right now, no demographic information is collected for patients who experience things like negative birth outcomes, surgery complications, patient safety events, or other adverse experiences in hospital settings. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) tracks these events, but doesn’t collect information like the age, race or gender of these patients. As a result, the state doesn’t know who is suffering the most from these avoidable mistakes, and therefore how to prevent them from happening in the future.

This is why we are working in partnership with the California Pan Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN),  Black Women for Wellness Action Project, and the office of Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) to advance Assembly Bill (AB) 3161, legislation that will seek to collect demographic data on patient complaints and safety incidents. It is our hope that a bill that collects this important demographic data can be a step toward in capturing evidence-based data on racial bias trends in California’s healthcare system and the impact they have on the safety, health, and well-being of patients.

AB 3161 would require the collection of self-reported patient demographics when receiving complaints regarding hospitals and long-term care facilities.  It will assist in compiling, reviewing, analyzing, and publishing trends of patient safety events. This bill would also require the publication of adverse event trends based on demographic data in a manner that is consistent with patient confidentiality.

Critics, such as the CDPH, have raised concerns over the cost of updating their forms to accommodate demographic data collection. The department estimates the annual cost for updating, modifying or creating a new system for this demographic data collection could cost at least $1.6 million each year for the first two years.

While we appreciate the state’s estimate, the cost of doing nothing, when health and lives are at stake, is far greater.

Understanding and addressing health disparities is not just about statistics; it’s about real people with real stories. By collecting demographic data, we take a significant step toward true transparency and accountability in our healthcare system. This will allow us to see the full picture and make informed decisions that can save lives and improve the quality of care for all Californians. Let’s ensure that every patient’s experience is acknowledged, and every community’s needs are addressed, inclusive of their race or ethnicity.

About the Author

Rhonda Smith is the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network.

This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates and patients.

By Dianne Anderson

Reginald “Reggie” Webb was well revered for decades as a McDonald’s mogul, and not just for his personal wealth and business acumen.

For those who knew him, he brought more to the table than many people realize, and his vision lives on.

Bishop L. Kirk Sykes said Dr. Webb took up the mantle to speak out about the need for economic development, and to reach like-minded people about growing wealth in the Black community.

“As pastors, we have the pulpit. We lay down the foundation for our church members, that they need to participate in this not just for their sake, but for their children’s sake, it will continue to grow. I’m committed to seeing his vision through,” said Pastor Sykes of CrossWord Christian Church in Riverside.

Dr. Webb passed away on July 20. He was 76.

Bishop Sykes described Webb as a friend and a selfless man who wanted everyone to be empowered, and later, Webb became a member of his church.

Although Dr. Webb was affluent, Sykes said the vision for CEEM, Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement, was to restore the community by recycling Black dollars.

“He was blessed in the financial arena, but wanted to give back, not just African Americans, but those who are downtrodden and those who needed a hand up. That’s why I loved and appreciated him,” he said.

Webb was a stalwart, he said, and always pressing the need for the Black community to support each other, and get children educated about financial responsibility.

Although recycling Black dollars is not a new concept, it was his heart.

“Not to keep wealth to himself but make sure that all those that wanted to go to the next level have an opportunity to do it through CEEM,” he said.  “[His message] was to save that money, invest and leave a foundation for our children’s children, so our children don’t have to struggle the way we struggled.”

In the 1980s, Webb was one of just a handful of Black McDonald’s owners nationwide. He grew his small venture into a thriving family franchise spanning 16 Los Angeles and Inland Empire locations. In recent times, the enterprise sold the chain and started CEEM to teach the Black community about financial educational strategies.

In a relatively short time, CEEM has grown to include hundreds of members throughout the region.

Dr. Judy White recalls meeting Webb when she served as Superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District. In the early phases of CEEM development, she was tapped for Webb’s vision to champion his goals within the educational sphere.

She said his passion was to create a legacy to benefit the entire community.

While she understood all things about academics from preschool through college, she said Webb taught her things she didn’t know, like empowering community economics in education, and how to reach and teach others.

Everyone involved in the project wanted to grow and collaborate.

Some of her best memories in serving the CEEM board was when Webb asked her to identify educators in the Inland Empire, San Diego and San Bernardino County to honor them at the L.A. County Fair on stage for fighting for students of color. Many had never been recognized before.

It was clear to her that Dr. Webb was not just satisfied with his own success, but serving others in need. She said it takes someone special to pull from their personal resources for the betterment of the community.

“We always thought education was key, critical and important, but not if it doesn’t impact your economics,” she said. “It is personal, I changed as a human being. His presence brings out the best in you. I saw him as a pure soul.”

CEEM categories of outreach, called Pillars, held regular board meetings where nonprofits, faith-based, business and education partners came together. Annually, they pulled about 400 participants for a full house.

Jonathan Buffong, who also works with CEEM and the local Youth Action Project, counts Dr. Webb as a close friend and mentor of the past ten years, for himself and many other young Black men in the Inland Empire.

Early on, he said Webb was a unifying force for other Black franchise owners to learn best practices to grow their businesses. In those times, Blacks were purposely placed in locations where they wouldn’t succeed. He said Webb’s strategy also boosted McDonald’s stocks and owners became extremely successful.

Parity, today a term commonly used to indicate equity for the community, was a concept that began with Dr. Webb.  In many ways, that blueprint for parity is now being carried forth to this generation.

Through Youth Action Partnership, Buffong worked the “Pathways to Parity” project, powered by CEEM with the help of Webb’s initial investment. That effort was to get workers into solid opportunities without college, particularly in cybersecurity, transportation and clean energy, where salaries easily reach $100-150,000 a year.

“Dr. Webb saw that and seeded $1 million to get started on that project. Then, we found funding from other places, but a lot of people don’t know that Dr. Webb is behind a lot of things,” he said.

Eliminating a hefty $23,000 community cost to host an annual celebration of Black graduates at CSUSB Coussoulis arena over the years was another major success. Today, those monies are now directed toward Black students in the form of scholarships. He thanks Dr. Webb and his daughter Kiana for working out that solution with President Tomás Morales.

Buffong said it’s just a few of many things that Dr. Webb brought to the table.

“When we declared racism as a civil right violation for both Riverside and San Bernardino counties, it was Reggie Webb that had a strong message that the county supervisors really respected,” Buffong said.

He had also had an enormous capacity for discipline, integrity in life and business, and was a man of his word. He also had boss communication skills.

“He had the business side to him, he would be behind the scenes on political figures, particularly for folks with African American best interests. He made sure they were taken care of,” he said.

Watching Dr. Webb’s high level of integrity and behind-the-scenes work demonstrated what it takes to be successful. It’s something that many young people in the community never experienced before.

“In some aspects, he was a father-like figure. We had not seen an example of how wealth could be transferred down to your kids. He was that first person for us and very accessible,” he said.

To learn more about CEEM, and Dr. Webb, see https://www.ceemcoop.com. 

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) introduced a bill in January that requires lock-up facilities to provide menstrual products to incarcerated persons without requiring a request.

The bill will be reviewed by the Senate Appropriations Committee after the Legislative recommences in August.

Assembly Bill (AB 1810), “Incarcerated Persons: Menstrual Products,” passed with a 5-0 vote in the Senate Public Safety Committee in June after advancing from the Assembly on May 21 with a 71-0 floor vote.

Bryan told California Black Media (CBM) that he was “comfortable” with the bill’s progress.

“AB 1810 will bring our state closer to the menstrual health equity that other states are seeing that require that menstrual care products are free and readily available for all incarcerated people,” Bryan said. “It will also bring our state into parity with several other states such as Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida – all of which do not require their incarcerated people to request these basic necessities from their correctional officers.”

Bryan and Bonta are members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). Fellow CLBC members, Assemblymembers Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) signed on as the bill’s co-authors Assemblymembers Eloise Reyes (D-Colton) and Rick Zbur (D-West Hollywood) have also joined as co-authors.

Under existing law, individuals incarcerated in state prison or confined in a local detention facility, or a state or local juvenile facility, and “who menstruates or experiences uterine or vaginal bleeding” entitled to request and receive personal hygiene products for their menstrual cycle and reproductive system, according to the bill language.

The materials include but are not limited to, sanitary pads and tampons.

By imposing additional duties on local detention facilities, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

“There are currently incarcerated women and formerly incarcerated women who brought this bill before us,” Bryan said. “Anyone, any person who menstruates deserves that care. It’s not a luxury, it’s not a privilege. It’s a right.”

The California Constitution mandates that the state compensate local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. AB 1810 would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill “contains costs required by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions,” the bill language states.

Tatiana Lewis, a member of All of Us or None (AOUON), testified in support of AB 1810 in front of the Senate Public Safety Committee on June 11. Lewis says she spent time in a juvenile facility and said that some correctional officers delay providing menstrual materials as a punishment or intimidation.

Lewis said she has heard from countless former and current incarcerated women about how they had to create makeshift tampons or how their prison-issued uniforms would be covered with blood. AOUON is a statewide, grassroots civil and human rights organization that fights for the rights of formerly- and currently incarcerated people and their families.

“That power is in their hands,” Lewis said of requesting menstrual products from correctional officers. “This bill needs to pass. It’s essential for incarcerated individuals who need these products as soon as possible instead of going through someone who intimidates them. We’re already humiliated by strip searches and searches of your (cell). It would also give us some type of liberty should this bill pass.”

According to a Feb. 16, 2023, report, “The 2023-24 Budget: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation,” by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the state is currently operating 32 state prisons and one leased prison.

As of Jan. 18, 2023, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) was responsible for incarcerating a total of about 95,600 people — 91,300 men, 3,900 women, and 400 nonbinary people. CDCR provided that transgender, nonbinary, or intersex are mandated to be housed in a men’s or women’s facility based on their preference.

Not everyone is on board with the specifics of AB 1810. Some family-oriented organizations and members of religious institutions across California say they have an issue with the word “person” in the bill. They want it to be amended to refer to only biological females.

California Family Council’s (CFC) Outreach Director Sophia Lorey testified in front of the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Feb. 27. CFC’s vision and mission statement says the religious organization Advances “God’s Design for Life, Family, and Liberty through California’s Church, Capitol, and Culture.”

Lorey said AB 1810 replaces all mentions of “females and women” in the current statute. The bill attempts to “to obscure obvious biological distinctions between males and females,” Lorey stated.

“I urge you all to vote no on AB 1810 unless this bill is amended to only provide birth control and menstrual products to actual women,” Lorey told the committee. “To vote yes or abstain on this bill further advances the erasure of women and ignores basic biology. Oh, and if men menstruate…I am intrigued. Where does the tampon go?”

The bill passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee with an 8-0 vote. Committee members Reyes, Zbur, Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove), Juan Alanis (R-Palmdale), and Tom Lackey (R-Modesto) all voted in favor of AB 1810.

“I appreciated the wording (in AB 1810),” said Wilson, the chairperson of CLBC. “It says ‘a person who menstruates or experiences uterine or vaginal bleeding’ will have access to what they need and be able to take care of that. That is a beautiful thing. It’s empowering to those who have that issue.”

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday took a significant step toward ensuring consistent protection for San Bernardino County’s many unincorporated communities.

Supervisors voted unanimously to place the San Bernardino County Law Enforcement Staffing and Community Protection Act of 2024 on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot. If approved by a majority of voters, the act will establish a funding formula for law enforcement resources in unincorporated communities and make it difficult for future boards to reduce law enforcement funding.

“We went through an era, that actually still to some degree exists, of ‘defund the police.’ This is an opportunity for us to communicate to our residents that we see, hear and understand that they would like to have minimum levels of staffing to ensure that we do have community protections,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe.

The act would require the board to allocate a minimum amount of funding in its annual budget to fund patrol personnel’s direct salary and benefit costs for operations in the unincorporated areas of the county. The minimum amount would be the average of actual patrol personnel salary and benefit costs in the unincorporated area of the county in the three preceding fiscal years.
The board could suspend the requirement for no more than 12 months only if it declares a fiscal emergency by at least a four-fifths vote. Funding during a fiscal emergency would not be factored into future three-year averages unless authorized by a five-fifths vote of the board. The act would also ensure competitive compensation for the Sheriff and District Attorney by modernizing the formula used to set their base salaries. The existing formula is based on the salaries paid in Kern, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and Ventura counties. The act would delete Kern County and add Los Angeles County to the formula. The change would also apply to San Bernardino County’s Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk and Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—The Educational Results Partnership (ERP) named four San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) campuses to its 2023 Honor Roll for being high-performing schools that improve student academic outcomes. The award-winning schools are Hillside, Kimbark and North Verdemont Elementary Schools; Richardson PREP HI Middle School and Rodriguez PREP Academy Middle School.

All but Kimbark Elementary also made the Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019. Kimbark was last honored in 2016. In fact, Richardson has been named to the Honor Roll 11 times and Hillside 8 times. All five schools earned the Star Award in 2023 and in previous years, which recognizes Honor Roll schools that are high performing and closing the achievement gap despite being high-need schools. This is the first year ERP has published the Honor Roll since 2019.

“I already know that our schools SHINE, that they are preparing SBCUSD scholars for success in school with high expectations that make them college and career ready,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “But it is certainly nice when outside organizations recognize our schools’ efforts.”

ERP is a non-profit organization that uses public school achievement data to help improve student outcomes and career readiness. ERP Honor Roll schools have demonstrated consistently high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.

In California, the ERP Honor Roll is supported by numerous businesses and organizations, including the California Black Chamber of Commerce and the Campaign for Business & Education Excellence.

Associated Press

The third-grade students at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School had only a few days until summer vacation, and an hour until lunch, but there was no struggle to focus as they filed into the classroom. They were ready for one of their favorite parts of the day.

The children closed their eyes and traced their thumbs from their foreheads to their hearts as a pre-recorded voice led them through an exercise called the shark fin, part of the classroom’s regular meditation routine.

“Listen to the chimes,” said the teacher, Kim Franklin. “Remember to breathe.”

Schools across the U.S. have been introducing yoga, meditation and mindfulness exercises to help students manage stress and emotions. As the depths of student struggles with mental health became clear in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year endorsed schools’ use of the practices.

Children nationwide struggled with the effects of isolation and remote learning as they returned from the pandemic school closures. The CDC in 2023 reported more than a third of students were affected by feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness.

“We know that our teenagers and adolescents have really strained in their mental health,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told The Associated Press. “There are real skills that we can give our teens to make sure that they are coping with some big emotions.”

Approaches to mindfulness represent a form of social-emotional learning, which has become a political flashpoint with many conservatives who say schools use it to promote progressive ideas about race, gender and sexuality.

But advocates say the programming brings much-needed attention to students’ well-being.

“When you look at the numbers, unfortunately, in Georgia, the number of children of color with suicidal thoughts and success is quite high,” Cooper said. “When you look at the number of psychologists available for these children, there are not enough psychologists of color.”

Black youth have the fastest-growing suicide rate among racial groups, according to CDC statistics. Between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black children and teens ages 10 to 17 increased by 144%.

“It’s a stigma with being able to say you’re not OK and needing help, and having the ability to ask for help,” said Tolana Griggs, Smith Elementary’s assistant principal. “With our diverse school community and wanting to be more aware of our students, how different cultures feel and how different cultures react to things, it’s important to be all-inclusive with everything we do.”

Nationwide, children in schools that serve mostly students of color have less access to psychologists and counselors than those in schools serving mostly white students.

The Inner Explorer program guides students and teachers through five-to-10-minute sessions of breathing, meditating and reflecting several times a day. The program also is used at Atlanta Public Schools and over 100 other districts across the country.

Teachers and administrators say they have noticed a difference in their students since they’ve incorporated mindfulness into their routine. For Aniyah Woods, 9, the program has helped her “calm down” and “not stress anymore.”

“I love myself how I am, but Inner Explorer just helps me feel more like myself,” Aniyah said.

Malachi Smith, 9, has used his exercises at home, with his father helping to guide him through meditation.

“You can relax yourself with the shark fin, and when I calm myself down, I realize I am an excellent scholar,” Malachi said.

After Franklin’s class finished their meditation, they shared how they were feeling.

“Relaxed,” one student said.

Aniyah raised her hand.

“It made me feel peaceful,” she said.