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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- — San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) facilitated two events this week in an effort to advance computer science education.

“I am thrilled we are creating learning opportunities for both students and our educators and parents,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “Not only is computer science a field that offers various career opportunities, but it’s making an impact in our daily lives. It deals with the process of solving problems, and every part of our world has some sort of problems that need solving. It is critical our students and educators have access to computer science education.”

The events took place before and during Computer Science Education Week, which is celebrated during the second week of December. The goal of these events was to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity in computer science education and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers and partners within the field.

On December 4, dozens of students and guardians participated in a virtual workshop that teaches students how to program a micro: bit and create fun and exciting projects.

The two sessions allowed students to engage with cyber-security related digital escape room activities with physical computing and block-based coding. Volunteer facilitators also served as positive role models for the event.

An eighth-grade student at Wayne Ruble Middle School in Fontana Unified School District says she first learned about micro: bit during last year’s student workshop. She attended this year’s event as well.

“[Computer science] might be something I want to pursue in a career just because of the way it changed my perspective,” said Malani. “When I learned about it, it piqued my interest, and it started to make me more interested in what a micro:bit can do.”

The annual Computer Science Equity Mini-Summit took place Dec. 8. It was a two-hour learning event for educators, counselors and administrators to participate and learn about ways to introduce or advance computer science education as it relates to equity, inquiry and computer science concepts.

The event included spotlight speakers and presentations. Computer Science Equity Advocate Dr. Emily Thomforde painted the big picture of the importance of broadening participation in computer science and provided guidance on where administrators can begin this work.

“Computer Science is a foundational 21st century skill for all students, not only to succeed in college and career, but to find joy in self-expression and make the things that will change the world,” said Dr. Thomforde.

The mini-summit brought together an incredible network to continue the impactful work that is happening in advancing computer science education.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- For ninety-nine years, the Home of Neighborly Service has been a staple on the west side of San Bernardino. How does a resource continue to be relevant and functional while so many others have closed their doors and ceased operations during the pandemic? Staff, supporters and volunteers!

There is no way to sufficiently show appreciation for all they have done, but board president, Vicki Lee, made the effort by honoring them at the Elks Club on Sunday, December 2, 2021. Present were Office Administrator, Charlene Smith, who is contracted part-Time, but volunteers  full-time, and she was working then, too; the faithful members of the Presbytery, Tom Reynard and David Beard with his wife, Carrie; committed board member and ex-City Councilmember, Virginia Marquez; City Council member for Ward 5, Kimberly Calvin; supportive National Charity League members, Katie Smith and Janet Eagan; from Inland Harvest, David and Patty Knudson; and the devoted volunteers: Norma Badden, James Dutton, Salem Dominguez, Cynthia Rosales, Debbie Willis, Wally and Ruther Peterson, Mary Acosta, Ray and Edith Martin and Noel Kaltenbach. There is a list of contributors which includes but is not limited to: Community Action Partnership, Arrowhead United Way and Santa Claus, Inc., Liz Cruz and Ramon Valasco.

Weekly, the volunteers faithfully come to sort, pack and stack contributions on Thursday to distribute on Friday’s food (hygiene products and clothing, if available) to those in need. Whenever there is an event at The Home: Family Fun Day, Christmas event, Back to School…. the volunteers are there to help. So many people have praised the Home of Neighborly Services for being a safe place for children and families to go over the decades to have fun, relax and to have needs met. Pre-pandemic, Resource Thursdays brought 10-15 vendors who supplied referrals for counseling, housing, how to get bills paid, grocery sources, and the like. When several people can gather again, Resource Thursdays will return. The Home has literally helped to save and sustain lives in the community.

Vicki Lee said a nice meal, some gifts, official San Bernardino pins and coffee mugs from City Councilwoman Calvin, certificates from Supervisor Joe Baca Jr and a heartfelt thank you hopefully showed our volunteers and supporters how much they are appreciated for keeping hope alive in the city of San Bernardino.

Supporters left to right Charlene Smith, 6th ward council member Kimberly Calvin; Edna Wade, Tom Renard, Janet Eagen, Vicki Lee, Virginia Marquez, Katie Smith and David Beard.

Volunteers left to right Mary Acosta, Wally Peterson, Edith Martin, Ruther Peterson, Norma Baden, James Dutton, Salem Dominguez, Debbie Willis, and Cynthia Rosales.

The application for the in-person 2022 Congressional Fellowship program is closing soon!

This unique program equips early-career policy professionals who are committed to contributing to public policy with the necessary skills by being placed in the Senate, House of Representatives and other select offices to become the next generation of leaders in public service.

The program is an intensive 12-month policy training and leadership development program which enables fellows to receive hands-on public policy training as full-time legislative aides and policy analysts.

For this particular Congressional Fellowship, priority will be given to those with a health, aerospace, energy and judiciary background, though all applicants will be considered.

Apply here! The application deadline is Monday, December 20, 2021.

YUCAIPA, CA—- Hands-on career training for paramedics at Crafton Hills College (CHC) has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic according to Amanda Ward, director of the paramedic training program at CHC.

“We graduated 62 students from March of 2020 to now, which is a typical number of graduates from before the pandemic hit,” Ward said. “Of those students, only two are not working locally.”

CHC has earned high marks for the way the college connects newly trained graduates to relevant jobs. The program is a “Strong Workforce Star” according to California’s Community Colleges system.

The Inland region is fortunate that hands-on training continued at CHC because the pandemic made the need for skilled clinicians much greater.

Ward said it is the pandemic itself, as well as high 911 call volume, that has increased the need for paramedics and not a shortage of high-quality training programs.

“We are hearing that local ambulance companies and fire departments are looking to hire additional paramedics,” Ward said. “Crafton has heard the need and is answering.”

CHC, which is part of the San Bernardino Community College District, operates two cohorts of paramedic students annually now and will begin a third cohort in the Summer of 2022.

“This is a direct response to the paramedic shortage and our community partners’ vacancies,” Ward said.

She said new applicants are always welcome and financial aid is available for community college students. More information about the paramedic program is available online at www.craftonhills.edu/paramedic.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Title VI American Indian Education program is proud to have been able to bring back Family Culture Nights for the 2021–2022 school year.

Family Culture Nights are geared towards Native American students and their families, but all SBCUSD students and families are invited to attend and learn about Native American culture with hands-on activities.

“Family Culture Nights started as a way to help our Native students connect with their cultural heritage and find pride in their traditions,” said Cindra Weber, an education assistant IV/Native American Culture and descendant of Lakota nation. “And it’s also an opportunity for everyone in the school community to learn about and appreciate the rich cultural traditions of the Native people of not only this area but from across the country.”

Family Culture Nights feature free events and hands-on activities on most Thursday nights from 6–8 p.m. at the SBCUSD Professional Development Center (PDC). Upcoming Family Culture Nights are January 13, 20, and 27; February 3, 10, 17, and 24; March 3, 10, and 17; April 7, 14, 21, and 28; and May 5 and 12, 2022.

Call the Indian Education office at (909) 473-2076 for more information.

Please join League of Women Voters Riverside for a conversation with California’s Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber on Saturday, December 11 at 11 a. m. Secretary Weber was appointed California Secretary of State by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2021. She is California’s first Black Secretary of State.

Weber was born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas during the segregationist Jim Crow era. Although her family moved to Southern California when she was three years old, her family’s experience in the Jim Crow South has driven her activism and legislative work. Her most notable legislative achievements have focused on education, election polices, and criminal justice reform.

Secretary Weber will share her plans to improve California’s election processes, ensure election access for all citizens, and enhance voters’ knowledge of their crucial role in creating a better democracy.

Please send your questions to lwvriverside@att.net and we will be sure to include them in the discussion.

Please register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gmQ0479bTPyXwrj95uXiXw and feel free to pass the invitation along to any interested parties. As you know, whatever the issue may be, it’s all about the power of the vote! Contact Joan Donahue at donahue.joan@att.net or 951.479-2090 with any questions.

By Martin Estacio, Victorville Valley Press

Ammie Hunter, an Adelanto Elementary School District Board of Trustees member who founded a local nonprofit aimed at helping low-income women, died Tuesday.

The district did not disclose a cause of death in a statement but said it was sudden and unexpected. She was 58.

“Ammie was a caring and thoughtful community leader who spent her time and energy for the betterment of our school district and the community,” said AESD Superintendent Kennon Mitchell.

A district spokesperson said Hunter’s family was not ready to provide a statement.

Hunter, who formerly used the last name Hines, was elected to the board in 2018. She served the residents of Region 2 in the southeastern part of Adelanto, which covers Gus Franklin Jr. STEM Academy, Melva Davis Academy of Excellence, and West Creek Elementary.

“She was a loving parent and student advocate. We will miss her caring nature and insight as well as her friendship,” said Board President Christine Turner. “On behalf of the entire school board, I extend our deepest condolences to Mrs. Hunter’s family, loved ones, and the entire High Desert community.”

Her election win roughly three years ago garnered some controversy after a group of district teachers sent a letter to the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters who expressed concerns about past legal troubles.

Records show Hunter had a welfare fraud conviction from Los Angeles County in 1999 and a string of traffic infractions in this county between 2006 and 2018, the Daily Press reported.

Hunter described the conviction as a “total misunderstanding” and questioned at the time why the Adelanto District Teachers Association’s political action committee hadn’t sent the letter until three weeks after the election.

“I’m not ashamed or embarrassed about talking about my past,” Hunter said. “If anybody had a question, I would have welcomed those discussions.”

In December that year, an anticipated protest by teachers at her swearing-in did not culminate. She was sworn in with two other members to standing applause.

Hunter moved to the High Desert in 2004 while working for the Auto Club of Southern California, according to her biography on Voter’s Edge California.

She founded the nonprofit, Another Level for Women, in 2010, which the organization says is “dedicated to providing financial, emotional, and educational support services for women in our community, particularly extremely low-income women with children.”

According to the nonprofit’s “About” section, Hunter’s struggles as an unemployed mother seeking out community resources inspired her to start the organization.

Hunter also served on the boards of several other nonprofits, including the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County and the High Desert Food Collaborative.

The collaborative is a partnership of food providers that started in 2016 and is currently composed of 91 agencies, said Dawn Quigg, Hunter’s colleague on the collaborative’s council.

Quigg said her friend and “treasured partner” was there from the beginning.

“We valued her wisdom and passion for caring for others and will miss her deeply,” she said.

Daily Press reporter Martin Estacio may be reached at 760-955-5358 or MEstacio@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_mestacio.

Hometown hero and undefeated professional boxer Darious “D-Active” Harris was inducted into the Rialto Hall of Fame November 20th. He was honored by the Mayor, Members of Congress and City of Rialto for his success in boxing and humanitarian efforts in Rialto and beyond.

In November, just one day before his 31st Birthday, Harris hosted a successful turkey drive through his nonprofit organization Never Stop Grinding Impact.

“I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish at our turkey drive; we gave away over 300 turkey, 900 boxes of food, and over 100 COVID-19 vaccines were administered to those in Rialto and our surrounding communities. Remember, when we all work together the community is impacted positively,” said Harris.

Harris’s hope is that he inspires other athletes to get involved in the efforts to support their communities as well. His organization will be hosting a toy giveaway at Carter High School in Rialto December 22nd from 12-5pm.

For more information, follow Never Stop Grinding Impact on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.neverstopgrindingimpact.com

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Foundation will receive more than $200,000 in new grants that will be used to support first-year students, provide scholarships and cover the cost of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded a $100,000 grant for Valley-Bound Commitment, a program that aims to reduce economic barriers that may deter academic success. Since 2008, this program has covered enrollment fees and textbooks costs for hundreds of low-income students from local high schools during their first year at SBVC.

“San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a transformative partner for San Bernardino Valley College and Valley-Bound Commitment students, providing almost $2 million to support the program over the past 13 years,” SBVC Foundation Director Mike Layne said.

Edison International has granted the SBVC Foundation two awards: $50,000 for the Clean Energy Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician program and $25,000 for STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) scholarships. Students in the EV Tech program learn the skills necessary to enter the electric vehicle and clean energy field, where technicians who know the latest technology are in demand.

This is Edison’s 11th year working with SBVC to provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in STEM fields like computer science, bioengineering and mechanical engineering.

“For students who begin their studies at SBVC with an economic disadvantage, these grants help to improve training and create scholarship opportunities that represent a lifeline to higher-wage jobs and career advancement opportunities,” Layne said.

An additional $25,000 grant from SoCalGas will make more scholarships possible. This award will provide 20 $1,000 scholarships for economically disadvantaged students enrolled in alternative fuels classes or taking alternative fuels certification exams, and $5,000 to promote these courses and sponsor the SBVC 95th Anniversary Gala.

A $15,000 Careers in Aviation Project grant from Wells Fargo will help aeronautics students soar. SBVC’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Certificate is designed to prepare students to qualify for the Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, which is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and allows recipients to perform 100 hours and annual inspections on aircraft. The Wells Fargo grant will cover the cost of the Airframe and Powerplant Certificate for low-income students.

To learn more about the SBVC Foundation and how you can help, visit sbvcfoundation.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — This holiday season, Sista’s Making a Difference of San Bernardino brings back its beloved annual toy drive to ensure that every family in the area has a Merry Christmas. The organization is collecting toys from now until the event on Saturday, December 18, 2021, from 1 p.m. to 4pm, at Norton Recreation Center, 1554 Art Townsend Drive, San Bernardino.

Sista’s Making a Difference (SMD) began the toy drive in San Bernardino in 2018. It has grown each year as a collaborative community effort. Last year, 3,000 toys were distributed at the giveaway event at Carter High School in Rialto, along with turkeys donated by Feeding America IE.

This year, SMD aims to gift at least 5,000 toys. There will also be information to connect families with essential resources.

Repeat partners and sponsors of the toy drive include nonprofit organizations The Dino Can and Survive; businesses Cellphone Repair & Accessories (Rialto), Hilton Grand Vacations, and Major League Barbers; and the San Bernardino County Public Defender. Children’s Network and Toys for Tots have been annual donors.

“This event is about more than just giving a toy to a child in need,” said Ronnie Miller of Sista’s Making a Difference. “Its main purpose is to keep the holiday spirit alive by spreading love throughout our community.”

Families can find out how to register children for the toy drive by following SMD on Facebook @sistasmd2020 and Instagram @sistasmd. Walk-ups are also welcome.

Businesses, organizations, and individuals interested in sponsoring, donating to, or hosting a drop box for the toy drive can contact smdtoydrive@gmail.com.