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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.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- A special exhibit about the creation of the upcoming December 2nd “Curtain of Courage” Memorial opens at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2 at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands.

The exhibit will display models of the “Curtain of Courage” Memorial, currently under construction at the County’s Government Center. In addition, the exhibit will feature the project’s renderings and video, and introduce Walter Hood, a world-renowned landscape architect and artist who worked on its creation with the families of the 14 victims of the Dec. 2, 2015, terrorist attack and members of the December 2nd Memorial Committee. The special exhibit runs through Dec. 19.

Thursday is the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. Fourteen people were killed and 22 were physically injured during a training meeting for employees of San Bernardino County’s Environmental Health Services division. A private event will be held for the families and survivors.

The December 2nd Memorial Committee formed in 2016 and held several meetings to establish an overall vision for the memorial based on shared values. The committee determined the memorial should recognize the broad diversity and lives of the victims as well as those who stepped up to preserve and protect life. The memorial would also provide enduring recognition of the County employees who witnessed the attack, many of whom were physically injured and all of whom were emotionally impacted. The committee expressed that the memorial would be a place for quiet reflection and would result in a space to appropriately and eternally reflect the many important and unique people, stories, and lessons of December 2nd.

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman shared, “The Curtain of Courage Memorial will be a place of reflection where the community can unite in spirit with the families of those lost and injured in this unimaginable tragedy. We will never forget their stories and are honored to have Mr. Hood work on this project which will serve as an enduring reminder about the courage and impact each individual had in this county.”

Hood, a landscape architect, is the creative director and founder of Hood Design Studio in Oakland. He is also a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and lectures on professional and theoretical projects nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award for Landscape Design (2009), the Academy of Arts and Letters Architecture Award (2017), a Knight Public Spaces Fellowship (2019), a MacArthur Fellowship (2019, commonly referred to as the “Genius Grant”), and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2019).

In 2021, Hood was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Architectural League presented to Hood the highest honor given to an individual for their exceptional achievements in architecture, urbanism, art, design, and the environment, where Architectural League President Paul Lewis declared that Hood is “one of the most influential designers of public space of our time…”

Hood’s notable large-scale projects across the country include the grounds for the M. H. de Young Museum, in San Francisco, with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron (2005), Rendezvous Park, Jackson, Wyoming (2011); Oakland Waterfront Master Plan, in Oakland (2011); Viaduct Rail Park, Philadelphia (2016); “Witness Walls,” Nashville, Tenn. (2017); Rosa Parks Neighborhood Master Plan, Detroit, Mich. (2018); the garden redesign for the Oakland Museum of California (2021); Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, Jacksonville, Fla. (in progress), and the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C. (in progress).

Hood’s book “Black Landscapes Matter” will be available in the County Museum store during the exhibit.

The “Curtain of Courage” Memorial is under construction on the east side of the San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino and is expected to be unveiled in the spring.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture, and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

The San Bernardino County Museum is at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

By Carrie Stanton

The holidays are here, and families are excited to get together and celebrate for the first time in over a year. Amid the pandemic, we’ve missed far too many Sunday and holiday dinners that have been a tradition for many families for generations. For our community, family dinner is about creating memories. For those families who will be traveling this holiday season, I encourage you to consider adding a REAL ID upgrade to your checklist when making your travel plans.

The California DMV suggests changing your driver’s license or identification card to a REAL ID as federal laws will soon make it necessary to have either a passport, REAL ID, or other federally accepted forms of ID to board local flights and enter federal buildings.

While getting a REAL ID isn’t required, it does make it easier to continue using your driver’s license to board a local flight or visit loved ones on military bases. To help make this change, the California DMV is offering free upgrades to people who renewed their license or ID card between March 2020 and July 2021 from now until Dec. 31, 2021.

Protecting the health, safety and security of our communities is what’s important and the REAL ID provides an extra layer of protection when traveling. Applying is easy and can be started safely online at CaliforniaREALID.org. Complete your application, upload the required forms, and plan your DMV office visit to finish. Don’t forget your documents and confirmation code– they will be needed for your visit.

Whether you are applying for a first-time California driver’s license or identification card or are up for renewal, a REAL ID may be the best option, especially if you plan to travel soon. Get back to creating those memories with your family. With shorter wait periods and an easy application process, now is the perfect time to start your REAL ID application so you’re ready to go when the time is right.

As we continue to recover from the pandemic, many things in our lives are changing. In our community, many have started businesses, changed their lifestyles for the better and found new passions in life. Whatever is helping you get through these rough times is also playing a part in figuring out our new normal. Make the REAL ID part of that new normal.

By Lue Dowdy

It’s a Love Jones type of vibe every last Wednesday of the month in Temecula at Shooter Sports Bar and Grill!

Tap in for “SO YOU SAY”, a night of Poetry and R&B music in your ear. Lue Productions showcases amazing artists from all over. If you would like to perform, please contact Lue Productions immediately for your spot.  Doors open at 8:00 pm, open mic starts at 8:15 pm ending at 9:15 pm, and main acts begin at 9:30 pm. There’s no performance fee and there’s no entry fee. We vibe out till 1:00 am with DJ TAI and your host LUE Dowdy. Grown and sexy only!

Remember Shooters Sport Bar and Grill every last Wednesday of the month. For Booking information, text 909.567.1000 or email Lue.info@yahoo.com.

YUCAIPA, CA— In October, Crafton Hills College (CHC) student leaders attended the annual summit conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Attendees met and shared ideas about promising practices in the education of Hispanic and Latinx students and opportunities in furthering their education and finding rewarding employment.

The conference invites HACU member institutions to collaborate, form alliances and partnerships and share strategies for promoting greater educational equity and achievement for Hispanic/Latinx students.

CHC is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), with 50 percent of its students identifying as Hispanic or Latinx. The college was recently recognized as a 2021 Equity Champion for Excellence in Transfer for Latinx students, an award given to California community colleges that confer high rates to associate degrees for transfer to Hispanic/Latinx students.

The college sent a handful of its students to attend the conference, including English major and Executive Assistant to the Student Government Sean Ceballos. He said he was excited to participate in the forum and learn about his options as a Latinx student in higher education. Ceballos started college a decade ago but soon dropped out. He returned recently to complete his education after becoming “flooded with ambition and an urge to make a change somewhere in the world.”

“Attending the conference allowed me to rub elbows with business professionals and learn what opportunities are present for someone in my situation,” he said. “I was able to get a lot of tips and advice, as well as make connections with people who could help me in my journey. I want to break so many generational curses and stigmas that follow someone like me with my background. I’m a disabled, queer minority with a troubled past, but a bright future.”

Students were given the opportunity to network and learn about internships, scholarships and job opportunities. The conference offered many workshops and panels with practical and soft skills, including tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence in others.

Ceballos said the conference “emboldened” him and created new relationships that he hopes to someday develop into mentorships.

“With the knowledge, connections, and experience gained from the HACU conference, I know I can move forward with my professional goals at full steam and know that the opportunities are endless and that the professional world is becoming so much more inclusive,” said Ceballos. “There’s a place for me out there, and the conference has made me understand that.”

Ceballos said that all Hispanic/Latinx students should consider attending the HACU conference, especially if their goal is to create better opportunities for future generations.

An entrepreneur’s and job fair event called ‘Black on the Block’ will be held on from 12 noon-4:00pm on Sunday, December 12, 2021. It is brought by Tomorrow’s World Non-Profit Organization.

For vendors wishing to participate and sponsor the event have until 5:00pm Monday, December 6, 2021, to register.

You can register for the event at the link below.

• Black on the Block Expo and Job Fair

Free Dental Services, Live Music, Food Trucks, and More

The event features a vaccination clinic, resources for free dental services, live music, food trucks, a 3 on 3 basketball
tournament, a community painting project and local business vendors.

Other NPO (Non-Profit Organizations) are also trying to conduct inclusive growth events such as My Brother’s Keeper Alliance supported by the Obama Foundation. It is an independent, corporate sponsored, non-profit group that looks to find creative ways to help African American and Hispanic boys and young men find a clear path to jobs and a happy life, among other things.

About Black on the Block

Black on the Block is organized and spearheaded by 100% volunteer community partners and is supported through donations which fund venue, activities for children and families, and a free lunch for children under the age of 12.

All event proceeds are donated to Tomorrow’s World, a local non-profit 503(c)3 organization serving homeless and mental health patients via providing safe living spaces and life skills since 2001.

Tis’ the season to join us for some Holiday fun! Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes personally invites you to our Holiday Drive-Thru Event on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm. As we celebrate the holidays a little differently this year, we still can make a difference in the lives of the children in the community. Help us by donating a new, unwrapped book or toy!

This is a great opportunity to receive information on services the assembly office provides.

Holiday Drive-Thru Toy and Book Collection

Tuesday, December 14th

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Court Street Square

349 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92401

RSVP: bit.ly/AD47HOLIDAY

For more information, contact maha.rizvi@asm.ca.gov or by calling our office at 909-381-3238

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Giving Tuesday is a Global Day of Generosity that will take place on Nov. 30. This is the second year that the San Bernardino City Library Foundation, Inc. (SBCLF) is participating in this online event.

The SBCLF seeks to meet its goal of raising $6,000 by encouraging your families, friends and neighbors to help support the public libraries.

Unleash your power by donating to the SBCLF, which supports local residents of all ages and backgrounds through free programs such as the K-adult education, online tutoring program Brainfuse and the online e-book and audiobook lending service Overdrive.

Online donations may be made by using the link below or send a check to the SBCLF, address below, and include “Giving Tuesday” in the memo line to indicate it is for the fundraiser. 2021 Giving Tuesday Fundraiser | Giving Tuesday (mightycause.com) . Donations can be made through December 31.

The SBCLF is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation created to provide funding for areas of education, programming, materials, capital improvements and special projects that are beyond the usual and customary funding received by the Library from the City of San Bernardino.

Information is available at 909-381-8211.

Mrs. Lisa Blacksher Owens was called home to be with the Lord on November 18, 2021.  She was fondly known as Lady Lisa, First Lady of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and spouse of Dr. Michael Andrew Owens, Senior Pastor.  Lisa was the former Chief of Staff for the Honorable Wilmer Amina Carter, Assembly Member of the 62nd District and Chief of Staff for the Honorable Cheryl Brown, Assembly Member of the 47^th District.  Also, she was an educator and principal for Temple Learning Center, former business owner, and worked in the banking industry as project director.  Community service and being a voice for the voiceless was taught at an early age.   Lisa grew up attending Temple Missionary Baptist Church where she served over the years on the usher board, youth choir, mentor, technology team, and performing missionary work. Over the years, Lisa advocated for causes in the community holding various positions with Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. Eta Nu Omega Chapter, The Inland Ivy Foundation, San Bernardino NAACP, and former president for Social Lites, Inc.  She enjoyed fellowshipping with friends and family, traveling, shopping, reading, and helping those in need.

As an undergraduate, Lisa became a member of the oldest black Greek letter organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Lambda Alpha Chapter on the campus of California State University, Long Beach where she majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance followed by graduating with an MBA Degree from Arizona State University.  Also, Lisa graduated from San Bernardino High School where she met and married the late Pastor Anthony Blacksher.

Lady Lisa has been awarded a crown of life.  She will live in our hearts forever.  The family invites the community to a memorial service in her honor.

Viewing will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on December 2, 2021, at Temple Missionary Baptist Church. 1583 W. Union Street, San Bernardino, California 92411.  Dr. Raymond W. Turner, Sr. Pastor. Tributes, reflections, and remarks of Lisa’s kindness are welcomed at the viewing.

Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on December 3, 2021, at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1575 W. 17^th Street, San Bernardino, CA  92411.  Dr. Michael Andrew Owens, Sr. Pastor.

Interment will be held at a later date at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA  92518.

Donations can be made to any of the following scholarship funds:

• Wilmer Amina Carter Foundation
• The Social Lites, Inc. Scholarship Foundation
• New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
• Temple Missionary Baptist Church
• The Inland Ivy Foundation
• San Bernardino NAACP