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By Lt. Jill Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A San Bernardino, California, native serves at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville located in Jacksonville, Florida.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Karam Elzein joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Elzein serves as a master-at-arms.

“I was the only one in my family to join the Navy,” said Elzein. “It provides good structure and stability for my family, and for the opportunity to travel the world.”

Growing up in San Bernardino, Elzein attended Cajon High School and graduated in 2013. She also graduated with a bachelor’s degree from California State University of San Bernandino. Today, Elzein finds the values in San Bernardino similar to those needed to succeed in the military.

“I try to do my best at everything I do,” said Elzein. “I was a wildlife firefighter, and that inspired me to join the Navy. After being a firefighter, I learned that I could do anything I want.”

These lessons have helped Elzein while serving at NAS Jacksonville.

On Oct. 15, 1940, NAS Jacksonville was officially commissioned, and became the first part of the Jacksonville Navy complex that would also include NAS Cecil Field and Naval Station Mayport.

According to Navy officials, the mission of NAS Jacksonville is to enable warfighter readiness focused directly on support of operational units aboard the base and throughout the fleet.

NAS Jacksonville consists of more than 100 tenant commands and is one of the largest employers in the area. It contributes to the growth and prosperity of Northeast Florida with an economic impact of more than $2 billion annually.

Serving in the Navy means Elzein is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“Overall, the Navy provides guardians of the sea,” said Elzein. “We are the first line of defense.”

With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.

According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.

“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”

There are many accomplishments that come with military service, and Elzein is most proud of earning a meritorious promotion to petty officer second class.

“I was the distinguished graduate of my school, and I am proud to be an E-5,” said Elzein. “My overall goal is to become a commissioned officer. That’s my drive.”

As Elzein and other sailors continue to train, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“When I first joined the Navy, it was an outlet of my civilian days, I needed something more than living paycheck to paycheck,” added Elzein. “The more that I’ve learned about the Navy, I am proud to serve. It means a lot to my family, and the big puzzle is finally coming together.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—For 17 years, San Bernardino High School has held the Miss Cardinal City Pageant in the fall and the Mr. Cardinal City Pageant in the spring. The COVID-19 pandemic changed that when first the 2020 Mr. Cardinal City Pageant had to be cancelled, then the 2020 Miss Cardinal City Pageant and 2021 Mr. Cardinal City Pageant.

With the 2021–2022 school year underway with in-person learning and in-person Board meetings, pageant director and bilingual school outreach worker Jaime Rios decided it was the right time to bring back the Cardinal City Pageants, but this time as a combined event in the fall.

“Since we missed two Mr. Cardinal City Pageants due to COVID, I didn’t want the students to wait until spring for that event,” Rios said. “Plus, since we’re coming back from an enforced hiatus, it seemed like a great opportunity to rethink the pageants to make them better than ever.”

Being crowned Mr. or Miss Cardinal City is an honor and a responsibility that many San Bernardino High School (SBHS) students desire.

To earn the title, contestants spend hours at rehearsals and mock interviews. They volunteer their free time to read to young children and help the homeless. Even before the young men and women take the stage for the formalwear and interview portions of the competition, they have all proven their dedication to SBHS and their community.

The school is asking local businesses and individuals to help make the pageant a success by donating time and resources. Any donations are welcome, from cash to in-kind donations. To become a sponsor, contact pageant director Jaime Rios at (909) 881-8217.

The combined Mr. & Miss Cardinal City Pageant is Saturday, September 25, 2021, 6 p.m., at Sturges Center for the Performing Arts, 780 North E Street in San Bernardino. Tickets are available from Rios or any Mr. or Miss Cardinal City contestant. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.

SBHS and Sturges will comply with the latest COVID safety guidelines during the event. Due to changing circumstances, safety guidelines may change between now and the pageant.

Did you know that the Family Assistance Program has a free after school program for youth ages 11-21? The FamSpot Youth Drop-In Center, located at 16857 C Street in Victorville, provides a safe and positive environment for youth to get tutoring assistance, mentoring, resume workshops, and more. The center also has a game room and offers free snacks, WiFi and a variety of activities throughout the week. Activities include Movin & Music on Mondays, Tastin’ Tuesdays, World Wednesdays, Teach Me Thursdays, and Fiscal Fridays. Want to learn more? Call (760) 843-0701 or visit them online.

RIALTO, CA— Allanah was honored on August 10 by the City of Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, The State Senate Connie Leyva and the County of San Bernardino Joe Baca for her academic accomplishments. In the words of Madame Mayor “It takes a village.”

“Thank you all so much for demonstrating to my baby that all of her hard work has not gone unnoticed,” Vickie Davis, mother of Ms. Mouton, states. “She has accomplished something that many people will only see on TV or through periodic news stories that make their way into social media pages.”

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She continues, “How blessed we are to have a front row seat. I’ve said it at least a hundred times and I’ll say one hundred more, I COULD NOT BE ANY MORE PROUD. Thanks to the love of my family, the beautiful support and encouragement of my community and unmatched joy that I have the privilege of knowing via watching my children grow I AM RICH. #richblessings.”

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Paulette Brown-Hinds, publisher of the Black Voice News has been named one of 10 recipients of Stanford University’s John S. Knight (JSK) Fellowship. The JSK Fellowship Program made the announcement August 4.

“As a lifelong learner, I’m excited to join the innovative cohort of journalism professionals — and especially excited to have access to some of Stanford’s finest minds and the JSK community of support as I work on my proposed project,” Brown Hinds said.

The JSK fellowship began in 1984 with a $4 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to provide a permanent endowment for the program. Their goal is to empower seasoned and emerging journalism leaders to close the information gap growing within minority communities. Fellows will receive stipends up to $75,000, advising on strategy and execution, cohort membership, and access to Stanford University resources.

“We’re thrilled by the wide range of experience levels, talents and types of local organizations around the U.S. that our new JSK Community Impact Fellows represent,” said JSK Director Dawn Garcia. “Their news and information projects will provide essential information to communities of people who are too often overlooked.”

With nearly 50 years of service to the Black community in Riverside County and surrounding areas, Black Voice News has been a family venture since Brown-Hinds parents, Hardy Brown and retired California Assemblymember Cheryl Brown became publishers in 1980. Brown-Hinds took over as publisher of the company in 2012 and has since focused on transitioning the print publication to a digital leader driven by what she describes as “solutions-based data journalism.”

During her 10-month fellowship, the information challenge Brown-Hinds proposed builds on the work of two Black Voice News data journalism focused initiatives: Mapping Black California and ‘DaHUB’, a data hub and content sharing platform currently in development.

The fellowship affords her the time, Brown-Hinds says, to explore how to make the visualization tools and datasets needed for solutions-focused data reporting on racial justice accessible to the Black Press in California.

Beyond the fellowship, Brown-Hinds is interested in providing assets for interested publishers.

“This includes a toolkit for news publishers on how to identify the right datasets, evaluate sources and translate statistics and numbers into meaningful narratives identifying solutions to systemic racism,” Brown Hinds says. “And drafting a playbook for Black media and Black community-based organizations interested in pursuing story collaborations utilizing data to solve community and systemic issues.

Museum Celebrates JTHAR’s 15-Year Anniversary with Exhibition

Innovative Art Inspired by Regional Desert Landscapes Opening September 18

The San Bernardino County Museum is honored to showcase the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR) 15-year anniversary celebration exhibition from September 18, 2021 – January 3, 2022. The exhibition celebrates this anniversary by showcasing thirty-five artworks completed during the residency.  The artists selected are at all stages of their careers and work in all media, including drawing, painting, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction and non-fiction writing, interdisciplinary, social practice and architecture.

The museum recognizes JTHAR’s important work to engage emerging and seasoned artists in the Joshua Tree experience which allows for remarkable creativity as demonstrated in this upcoming exhibition. They also acknowledge the power of these resident artists and their resulting literal, abstract, and conceptual expressions to serve the cause of environmental sustainability, through influencing public opinion. Museum Director, Melissa Russo shared, “The San Bernardino County Museum is proud to host this 15-year anniversary exhibition of the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency (JTHAR). The museum has a long-standing relationship with artists and art organizations throughout our Southern California region, supporting vibrant and unique creative community through exhibitions and programs.”

Over the past 15 years, JTHAR has hosted 110 national and international artists from Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and over 17 states across the United States. Curator and JTHAR advisory board member Alma Ruiz praised the organization’s achievements, “We can only marvel at what the JTHAR founders have accomplished in a relatively short time. The residency’s reach in its short existence is to be commended and encouraged. Its positive impact on the artists’ professional growth is evident.”

Established in 2007 by founders Fredrick Fulmer and James Berg, JTHAR is a non-profit artist residency that awards an international community of artists the gifts of time and space amidst the extraordinary natural beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. Group and solo residencies of six to seven weeks include scholarship funds, living accommodations, studio space designed to accommodate a broad range of artistic activity and a gallery exhibition.

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 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is free. For more information, visit http://www.sbcounty.gov/museum. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On August 14th, Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted a community dump day in Arrowhead Farms with San Bernardino County Department of Public Works. The event brought in 49 cars/truckloads of household trash and tires, equating to a total of 12.25 tons being hauled off to the landfill with the assistance of Burrtec Waste. The clean-up comes on the heels of previous clean-ups in Little Third, Muscoy, and Bloomington.  Hosting community cleanups, providing additional resources to code enforcement, and infrastructure improvements have been the focus of Supervisor’s Baca’s first year in office.  

“I am honored to work with public works and local residents to improve the quality of life in Arrowhead Farms. I want all County residents to know that my office and county departments are dedicated to ensuring that we are responsive to their needs,” Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. stated.

Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. is the Fifth District member of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The Fifth District includes Colton, Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, Arrowhead Farms, Bloomington, Devore, El Rancho Verde, Glen Helen, Little Third, Muscoy, and Rosena Ranch. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Dr. Scott Thayer has been named the interim president of San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) for the 2021-22 academic year, coinciding with the start of former president Diana Z. Rodriguez’s transition to chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, which includes San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino and Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa. Prior to being named interim president, Dr. Thayer served for four years as SBVC’s Vice President of Student Services and in numerous administrative, leadership and faculty roles at California colleges and universities over the past 23 years.

Dr. Thayer is well-known across the California community college system as an advocate for historically underrepresented students, as well as an authority on student access, retention, equity, success, enrollment management, and K-20 partnerships. He is a founding member of two non-profit organizations: Have Faith, Be Strong (HFBS)—a non-profit organization for childhood cancer awareness—and the African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND), a service organization that promotes the increased involvement and representation of young men of color in higher education. Dr. Thayer also teaches part-time in San Diego State University’s Community College Leadership program, where he mentors the next generation of community college leaders.

 Dr. Thayer received his doctorate in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from the University of Southern California; his Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from Point Loma Nazarene University in California; his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rollins College in Florida, and his Associate of Arts from Normandale Community College in Minnesota.

“I am confident that Dr. Thayer will be leveraging his extensive higher education expertise for the continued benefit, growth, and success of our campus community,” said Chancellor Rodriguez in an email to campus. “His leadership will be instrumental to our campus and district’s successful transition back to in-person instruction and operations during this upcoming academic year.”

SBVC Launches Machinist Training Pilot Program for ?Individuals with Autism   SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Among Americans with disabilities, there is a high rate of unemployment and underemployment — something San Bernardino Valley College and the Uniquely Abled Project are working to change.   This August, Valley College will launch a pilot program providing Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist training to individuals with autism. This first cohort of eight students will receive on-campus instruction and hands-on work experience using SBVC’s state-of-the-art machinist technology, with San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board later providing job placement.   The program will be made possible thanks to a $10,000 award from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, $15,000 from the San Bernardino  Valley College Foundation, and $10,000 from Goodwill. This $35,000 will cover the cost of a job coach who will assist students enrolled in the program.

“We are committed to equity in education and ensuring all students have access to educational opportunities at SBVC that will improve their quality of life,” SBVC Foundation Interim Director Mike Layne said.   The Uniquely Abled Project’s Uniquely Abled Academy Program offers vocational training and job development for high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum and has successfully placed more than 90 percent of its graduates with jobs. Using funds provided by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Goodwill purchased the Uniquely Abled Academy curriculum for SBVC.   “The Uniquely Abled Project is delighted to partner with SBVC to extend the benefits of a Uniquely Abled Academy to the manufacturers and uniquely abled individuals of the Inland Empire,” Uniquely Abled Project Founder and President Ivan Rosenberg said. “Manufacturers get the skilled CNC operators they need, and individuals with Level 1 autism will have good paying career jobs that will enable them to live productive and fulfilling lives. Our hope is that this will be the first of a number of UAAs in the Inland Empire.”   Machinist Prof. Miguel Ortiz first learned about the Uniquely Abled Project in 2017, and thought it would be a good avenue for SBVC to explore. A CNC machinist operates equipment that produce parts and tools made from plastic, metal, and other materials. There is a shortage of qualified CNC machinists in the manufacturing sector, and when students complete the Uniquely Abled Academy, they can get matched with jobs paying anywhere from $33,000 to $54,000 annually.   “For the individual and the industry, it’s a win-win,” Ortiz said. “Being a CNC operator is the most prevalent job and easiest way to get into the industry.”   The California Department of Rehabilitation will provide participant referrals to SBVC, and before starting the Uniquely Abled Academy Program, students will go through a screening process to ensure this is the right fit for them. Layne said the hope is to have a second, larger cohort start in 2022, and because of the key partnerships with the Department of Rehabilitation, Goodwill, and San Bernardino County Workforce Development, SBVC should be able to “successfully launch, grow, and sustain the project in future years.”   Jonathan Weldy, chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board’s Special Populations Committee, said the organization “applauds Valley College, the Uniquely Abled Project, and all of the supporters of this model program that will create great career opportunities for a segment of the population that is often left out. At Workforce Development, we look forward to working with program graduates and our business community in providing job placement services.”