Local

The California-inspired taco shop introduces the #TacoLife to San Bernardino, CA

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Chronic Tacos is excited to announce the successful opening of the fast casual chain’s newest location in San Bernardino, California. The new taco shop opened on March 1, 2021, for take-out and 3rd party delivery.

To ensure the safety of all guests and employees, the brand is taking precautions including social distancing, enforcing masks and the removal of tables.

Founded in 2002, the California-based company has over 50 locations operating across North America and is committed to serving only the highest quality menu items, made with fresh ingredients and 3rd generation recipes.

Chronic Tacos is located at 806 Tippecanoe Avenue in San Bernardino and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Best-known for its line of innovative head-to-toe grooming products developed to meet the needs of Black men, Bevel, a Walker & Company Brand, is introducing two new Hair stylers: Ultra-Defining Curl Creme and a 2-in-1 Pomade for Waves & Beards. The new stylers, designed to moisturize, define, style and shape beards, waves, curls, and coils, join their award-winning Hair line up featuring a Shampoo, Conditioner, Beard Oil and Beard Conditioner.

In addition, to increase access to their products and offer men a simpler way to shop, Bevel is expanding its partnership with Walmart, bringing their new stylers and Hair, Body, Beard, and Skin lines to additional Walmart stores across the country, starting in February 2021.

“Expanding our partnership with Walmart is incredibly exciting. Bevel’s mission, to make health & beauty simple for Black men and women, truly drives everything we do. The opportunity to bring Bevel’s award-winning Hair (including our new hair stylers), Body, Beard, and Skin products into select Walmart stores represents another great step in making our mission a reality. Our community truly matters to us and we’re not done yet.”
– Tia Cummings, VP Marketing, Walker & Company Brands

The Bevel Hair collection ranges from a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner designed to cleanse and moisturize hair, to a nourishing beard conditioner to soften and tame, an ultra-hydrating beard oil that sculpts and locks in moisture, a 2-in-1 Pomade for Waves & Beards that locks-in moisture and gives a lightweight shine with a butter-based formula, and the all-new moisture-rich and defining Curl Creme that offers all-day hold. 

The new products and expanded retail access reflect the company’s on-going mission to deliver high-quality head-to-toe grooming products, made with only the best ingredients, to Black men, men of color, and those with curly, coarse, and textured hair, whenever and wherever they need them.

Bevel is committed to creating solution-based products that work to solve the unique health and grooming issues faced by Black men.

Products available at Walmart (in-store and online) will include:

Bevel Curl Creme ($11.95; 7 fl oz) 
The curl creme enables your hair to lock in moisture, while the ultra-hydrating formula leaves your curls lightweight, manageable and frizz-free.

Bevel 2-in-1 Pomade ($11.95; 1.7 oz) 
The unique blend of coconut oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter and cocoa butter locks in moisture, helps nourish hair textures from within, maintains a lasting hold and a grease-free finish. 

Bevel Sulfate-Free Shampoo($9.95; 12 fl oz)
A moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo that gently cleanses thick and textured hair without stripping it of its natural oils or altering the hair’s natural pattern.

Bevel Sulfate-Free Conditioner($9.95; 12 fl oz)
The best cuts come after the conditioner. This sulfate-free formula moisturizes, conditions, and detangles your hair so your lineups and styles are always fresh and clean.

Bevel Beard Conditioner($9.95; 4 fl oz)
The best cuts come after the conditioner. This sulfate-free formula moisturizes, conditions, and detangles your hair so your lineups and styles are always fresh and clean.

Bevel Beard Oil ($14.95; 1fl oz)
Formulated with a non-greasy lightweight solution of ingredients, this premium oil blend packs all the punch without clogging your pores.

For more information on Bevel visit getbevel.com or follow Bevel on Instagram.

By J. Adalberto Quijada, U.S. Small Business Administration’s District Director for the Orange County / Inland Empire covering all of Orange County, Riverside County and San Bernardino County

During Black History Month, we celebrate the achievements of African Americans and recognize the important role they have contributed to U.S. history. At the U.S. Small Business Administration, our role is to support entrepreneurs in achieving their dream of owning a business and our goal is to work with Black entrepreneurs to overcome today’s challenges and come back stronger than ever.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black owned businesses show they have been hit particularly hard across demographic groups as outlined in the SBA’s Office of Advocacy Report.  The decline in business activity among Black owners has been nearly three times the decline among other owners. When an entrepreneur starts their own business, they create new jobs in the community. In fact, small businesses generate two of every three net new jobs and deliver essential goods and services to our community.

Here are the top resources that small business owners can utilize today to leverage all available financial resources to be not only resilient but come back stronger:

1. Funding: The small business community faced unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus. SBA provides several relief funding options through the Payroll Protection Program. The PPP is a forgivable loan if 60 percent is used to payroll.  Independent contractors, self-employed and workers part of the gig-economy can apply.  The PPP has a First Draw and a Second Draw, meaning two loans that can be 100 percent forgiven. You can apply for a PPP Loan until March 31, 2021.
2. Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is a separate program from PPP and delivered through SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Applications can be submitted through December 31, 2021.
3. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program will be available soon for live venue operators/promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organizations, some museums, zoos and aquariums, and other entities. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
4. Lender Match is our online program that connects entrepreneurs with financial institutions to provide business loans backed by the SBA. Small business are encouraged to find a local lender that meets their needs.
5. Business Counseling: The Orange County Small Business Development Center Network offers free, Covid-19 resources, one-on-one counseling, training services, market research and more. Assistance is free or low-cost.
6. Mentoring: SCORE provides free mentoring, Covid-19 resources and education to business owners to learn from others who have been through the entrepreneurship journey. SCORE is a network of thousands of volunteer business counselors around the country who mentor and educate small business owners. SCORE provides online counseling as well as educational webinars. We have three chapters in our district to assist you: Orange County SCORE; Inland Empire SCORE; Coachella Valley SCORE.
7. Scaling Up their Business: SBA’s Emerging Leader’s program is a no-cost “mini MBA,” that assists entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level. The Orange County / Inland Empire District Office is proud to offer this program in 2021. Stay tuned for upcoming details on the application process!
8. Assistance to Woman Entrepreneurs: Across the U.S., Black women start their own business at record rates. Women’s Business Centers assist women in starting and growing small businesses. They provide a full range of services for women entrepreneurs at all stages of planning, implementation and growth. We have two centers in our district: Inland Empire Women’s Business Center; Coachella Valley Women’s Business Center. Additionally, SBA recently launched Ascent, a first-of-its-kind, free digital e-learning platform geared to help women entrepreneurs grow and expand their businesses. 
9. Support to Veterans with Starting their Own Business: Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial education and training program available to active duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve), veterans and their spouses in starting or growing their business. Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide business development services to transitioning active duty service members, Guard, Reserve, Veterans and military-connected family members.
10. Taking their Business to the International Market: Export Assistance Centers help small businesses entering the international marketplace. Entrepreneurs can learn how to export, participate in foreign trade missions and trade shows, translate websites, and design marketing campaigns.
11. Accessing Government Contracts: The 8(a) Business Development Program helps provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities. Women-owned business certification helps women business owners, as the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses certified as women-owned. Our office presents informational webinars to help understand the programs and application process.
12. Online Resources: SBA.gov includes online resources and information about upcoming webinars to assist entrepreneurs in overcoming common business challenges.
13. Local Support: The SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District Office can connect you to local SBA resources, mentors and training. Visit https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ca/santa-ana for more information.
14. Join our office on February 25, 2021 along with SCORE, the Orange County Black Chamber of Commerce and the Riverside NAACP where we will share resources available to Black owned small businesses. Register at https://score.tfaforms.net/17?EventID=a105a000006dG4d

As the director for the SBA Orange County / Inland Empire District, SBA recognizes the contributions of the Black community, the job-creating entrepreneurs and their families for their daily hard work in keeping local economies thriving. We encourage you to reach out to SBA.

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SBAs’ participation or support is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services of any Co-sponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.  All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!   This is a great place where ideas and information are shared with the small business community.  Your feedback, questions, and comments allow us to better serve the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs.

The annual event will resume as a virtual conference throughout the month of March 2021

“Her Story” is the theme for the 20^th Annual Empowering Young Women’s Conference, a collaborative effort of the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation and Howmet Aerospace. In previous years, the conference was held at Riverside Community College where over 200 girls would consistently attend.  

This year, due to the pandemic, things have changed, but the conference is still continuing—-virtually. The FREE conference will be held EVERY Saturday in March from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Girls have until March 3 to register, but they must register by February 20 to receive a mailed STEM Kit. 

The conference consists of activities for the girls and special guests that speak inspiration into them. This year’s keynote speaker is LeShuana Evans. Evans supports the U.S. Department of Defense in STEM education, outreach and workforce development as a contractor in Alexandria, VA.

Video guests of the conference include Sydney Barber, Midshipman 1^st Class-US Naval Brigade Commander; Valorie Burton, President and CEO of CaPP Institute; Dr. Yolanda Harold, Anesthesiologist; Alesia Martin, Sr. Project Engineer, King’s Hawaiian, Western Region; Dr. Lauren Mathews, General Dentist and Owner of Mathews Dental Group; Lee Rodriguez, Actress and Model; and Monica Stockhausen, Founder and CEO of Nerdy Girls and the Proven Method. 

The conference is catered to girls 12 and 21. To register for the conference, please visit http://bit.ly/EYW2021. If you want to donate to support the Adrian Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation a 501 (C) 3; Non-profit Organization, visit www.adcrfoundation.org. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. has invited community stakeholders to join a virtual town hall called “Community Conversations on COVID-19”. The town hall will focus on the current state of COVID-19, provide facts regarding vaccination and give specific resources to local communities. Over a dozen organizations representing faith-based leaders, essential workers, and nonprofits who work in Latino and African American communities will participate in the Community Conversation. This town hall will serve as a bridge to mitigate vaccine hesitancy and ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.ThetownhallwillbeheldonWednesday,February24th at7pmandbroadcastonFacebooklive and YouTube live.

“The County is making significant progress in combating the spread of Covid-19,” Supervisor Baca said. The next step is to expand equitable access to the vaccine among populations disproportionality impacted by the disease. We must roll our sleeves up and get to work by ensuring all communities have the resources necessary to defeat the scourge of COVID-19. It will take all of us to safely reopen schools and restore our economy and a return to normalcy.”

The Community Conversation on COVID-19 will feature industry professionals Dr. Sharon Wang, an infectious disease specialist from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), County Public Health Director Corwin Porter, and County Assistant Executive Officer Diana Alexander — all of whom will provide expert, up-to-date information.

Supervisor Baca will moderate the conversation covering the following topics:

• Vaccine myth busting
• Expert medical advice regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine
• Resources available to learn more about vaccines
• How and when to schedule an appointment for the vaccine
• How we’re helping hard-to-reach and diverse populations

There are three ways to participate in the Community Conversation on COVID-19 town hall:

• Via Facebook Live: @SupervisorBacaJr
• Via YouTube Live: https://tinyurl.com/bacajr
• Via telephone in English: 669-900-9128; Meeting ID – 824 5205 1039
• Via telephone in Spanish: 609-663-4744

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The California-Hawaii Conference of the NAACP is applauding outgoing California Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s decision to conduct a probe of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

Last week, Becerra announced that he has opened a civil rights investigation to determine whether there is a pattern of unconstitutional policing practices involving the country’s largest sheriff’s department.

“I applaud Attorney General Becerra for his commitment to looking at public institutions and to ensure that our civil rights are not being violated,” NAACP president Rick L. Callender told California Black Media.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the investigation responding to allegations of excessive force, retaliation, and other misconduct, including a number of reported incidents involving LASD management and personnel.

“We’ve done a number of these,” Becerra said, referring to the multiple investigations his office has opened. He was speaking during in a virtual news conference Jan. 21.

“The action we’re taking is the result of having received credible information, reports, from a number of sources over a period of time,” Becerra said. “(It) led us to a point where we now believe it is important to move forward with the investigation. We are undertaking this investigation to determine if LASD has violated the law or the rights of the people of Los Angeles County.”

Becerra said that the LASD probe is “not a criminal investigation,” and his office has not made any determination about “specific” complaints. The DOJ’s action is also prompted in part by the absence of sustained and comprehensive oversight of LASD’s operations.

Callender said he believes the investigation will force other law enforcement officers in the state to think twice before from breaking the law or violating established codes of conduct.

“It’s efforts like this which allow us to not only fight individual acts of bigotry and racism; but this puts on notice other statewide institutions and systems that perpetuate racism and inequity that they will not go unchallenged,” he said.

LASD isn’t the only law enforcement agency in the state under the DOJ’s microscope for allegedly engaging in activities that went against their departments’ policies. The cities of Stockton, Vallejo, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Sacramento, and the county of Kern have kept the DOJ busy since Becerra became AG in 2017, replacing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Last month, President Joe Biden nominated Becerra to join his Cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is expected to be replaced by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who Gov. Newsom has selected for the role, once she is confirmed by the legislature.

Awaiting confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Becerra has been making an effort to improve public safety and the criminal justice system up and down the state.

Last month, following an extensive investigation, the AG secured an agreement to reform a wide range of practices at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Earlier last year, following several reports of misuse – including falsification of records — the DOJ rescinded LAPD’s access to CalGang, a statewide database that tracks individuals who may be connected to gangs.  

In Northern California, Becerra also launched a review of the Vallejo Police Department after officers allegedly destroyed evidence related to the June 2020 officer-involved shooting of Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old unarmed Latino man.

The year before, the DOJ secured an agreement with the Stockton Unified School District and its police department to address system-wide violations of the civil and constitutional rights of African American and Latino students, as well as children with disabilities. 

Then in 2018, Becerra stepped in at the request of the City of San Francisco and the San Francisco Police Department to provide independent oversight of reform initiatives in that city.

Last summer, the DOJ introduced a broad statewide agenda for police reform aimed at improving use-of-force procedures, addressing issues around bias in policing, and increasing accountability and transparency. Many of the proposed reforms stem from a set of policing best practices and recommendations made to the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) by the Attorney General in January of 2019. The AG issued 66 policy recommendations to SPD following the shooting death of Stephon Clark, a 22-year-old unarmed African American man in Sacramento, by two officers in 2018.

Regarding the LASD, Becerra says he has made no determinations at this time about specific complaints or allegations.

However, one violation stands out. In March 2020, LASD announced that eight of its deputies were responsible for sharing images taken at the site where retired NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna “Gii” Bryant died in a helicopter crash. The action of the deputies and other first responders at the scene prompted Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson) to author AB 2655, the “Invasion of Privacy: First Responders” Act.

L.A. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he welcomes the probe.

“I look forward to this non-criminal pattern and practice’ investigation,” Villanueva said in a statement. “Our department may finally have an impartial, objective assessment of our operations.”

The Center for Juvenile Law and Policy (CJLP) at Loyola-Marymount’ Loyola Law School released a comprehensive report documenting how “deputy gangs” have negatively impacted public safety in Los Angeles.

“The concern is that these subgroups foster a culture that resists police reforms, such as community policing and constitutional policing, by encouraging and even celebrating aggressive tactics and excessive use of force against minority communities,” the report stated.

Starting this year, State prosecutors in California must investigate all police shootings that result in the death of an unarmed civilian, under a new law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1506. It took effect Jan. 1.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced the legislation which will override local prosecutors’ authority in investigations of fatal shootings by police. That responsibility now falls under the AG’s office. It also requires that a detailed report is created and publicly released on each investigation.

McCarty says he was motivated to push the law after he learned that more than 800 people had been shot and killed by police in California since 2015. Only one independent investigation had been carried out.

“Now more than ever there needs to be a uniform standard for local law enforcement officials and district attorneys to call for independent investigations into police killings,” McCarty said. “Police shouldn’t police themselves, and the current system is fraught with conflicts of interest.”

They say what would the world be like without the sound of music. In my opinion the same goes for the art of dance. Just imagine the world without it. I mean even in the Bible King David danced. In 2 Samuel 6:14, it says, “And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod”. Dancing is another way to communicate feelings through movement. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen and Asia online due to a LUE Productions virtual talent competition, ‘GONGED ME’. The moment they began dancing, I was blown away. 

Stephen and Aisha are a freestyle/improvisation duet collective that has been exploring/, performing, training, and collaborating together since 2016. As a duet, they want to express the importance of creativity and individuality through dance.  Stephen and Aisha work well together because they love what they do and want to express how powerful dance is to as many people as they can as a duo, as well as solo artists. Representation Matters! As Black artists, we hope to inspire others to be bold and have the confidence to share their sunshine too.

The Riverside based duo has performed in much of the Inland Empire area and have sprinkled out into areas of Los Angeles, California performing at the Shut Up and Dance Festival 2018 (Licia Perea) and Under the Spotlight Showcase (2018) at multiple occasions (Maxine Silfvergen), San Diego, California, performing at the Pop-Up Showcase (2017-18)  on multiple occasions (Omeed Simantob), and Phoenix, Arizona where the pair was invited out to perform at the Blaktinx Festival PHX 2018 (Licia Perea and Liliana Gomez).

Aisha is a recent graduate from Cal State Long Beach receiving her BFA in Dance. She is currently working as a guest teaching artist for an elementary school and involved with other online dance projects. Stephen is currently performing for company parties via Zoom and learning the art of DJing.

As a duo, Stephen and Aisha are currently training and exploring together and cultivating new work. They also host a bi-weekly dance session in Riverside CA to provide space for ALL dancers to express themselves and learn from each other. The sessions are currently taking a break and will be back April 2021. To keep up with Stephen and Aisha, you can follow them on Instagram:  @aishabuttersctoch and @stanner300.

Make sure to following the talented duo and book them for your next gig. If you’re a dancer or a part of a dance group, make sure to check out LUE Productions upcoming event ‘JUST DANCing’ in September honoring the world of dance along with their $500.00 Dance competition. Details can be located on the LUE Productions website at www.lueproductions.org. Now with that being said, don’t be afraid to BUST A MOVE of your own. Until next time L’s!

We’ve been spending way more time than we prefer stuck inside lately, and unfortunately it doesn’t seem like that’s going to change any time soon. That doesn’t have to stop us from creating meaningful moments with the loved ones we live with.

Here are 5 Black-owned and operated game companies you and your family can shop with this holiday season. Once you play them, you won’t mind staying in! Let’s have FUN while circulating your dollars within our community. 

Did you know there’s hundreds of games made by black creatives? You can learn more and demo some of them FREE when you register to attend the Black Game Makers Association Expo.

Brilliant or BS?

Brilliant or BS? is the hilarious trivia party game for people who love to call folks out. Get ready to flex your brilliance and your bluffing skills. This family friendly game will test your knowledge and your ability to tell when your fam’s lying to you. The crew will be entertained for hours with 80+ trivia questions in fun categories like Sports, Entertainment and Food & Drink. Be sure to check out the new Brilliant and Black expansion pack that celebrates everything we love about Black culture. 

Financial IQ

Financial IQ has designed a fun and engaging financial flashcard game to help break the generational cycle that hinders us from building generational wealth which is discussing money. When is the last time you had a conversation with your family and friends about finances on income, savings, credit, debt, investing, or expenses? The FiQuestions financial flashcard game comes with 69 questions to help normalize the discussion of finances. Break the cycle! Tradition stops with you! 

Verified The Game

Verified takes social media & flips it into a hilarious & entertaining party card game. The game is simple, be the first player to collect 50K LIKES and 50K FOLLOWERS to win, & become Verified! Time to get your game nights LIT. Answer questions based off Viral Sensations, Hashtags to doing those off the wall & entertaining Challenges we all have come to love on social media.

Trap Wars

Trap Wars® is what your game nights are missing. Unlike most games you play, Trap Wars celebrates black culture. Get your team to guess the word on your card the quickest without using trap words…or your card might get snatched! Trap Wars is a family friendly, travel-size game that is non-stop fun. Pick up The Original Edition or The Black History Edition today! 

Black Wall Street The Board Game

Black Wall Street The Board Game helps your family increase your Financial Literacy and Black History Knowledge at the same time. This game was inspired by the real businesses and events from early 1900’s Tulsa, Oklahoma Black Wall Street— one of the most economically successful communities in American History.

 

 

The West Coast Premiere of an ambitious filmed song cycle dedicated to the celebration of Black artistic voices, Breathing Free. One man’s experience with being Black in America, and the fight for racial justice…Still. Blake Hill-Saya talks about her biography of her great, great grandfather, Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, co-founder of Durham, North Carolina’s famed Black Wall Street.

The Broad Stage Presents The West Coast Premiere of
Heartbeat Opera’s Breathing Free

An ambitious filmed song cycle dedicated to the celebration of Black artistic voices.

Wednesday, February 10 at 7pm PT
Saturday, February 13 at 7pm PT

Featuring 9 interconnected music videos with music from
Beethoven’s Fidelio, Negro spirituals and works by Harry T. Burleigh, Florence Price, Langston Hughes, Anthony Davis and Thulani Davis.

Each screening will be followed by a live panel discussion with artists and advocates highlighting themes surfaced in Breathing Free relating to incarcerated populations.

Tickets and info at thebroadstage.org/breathingfree.

Heartbeat Opera, the radical indie opera company “leading the charge in online opera” (Parterre) with “groundbreaking” virtual content (Operawire) that is “hacking the corporate contours of Zoom into a postmodern proscenium” (Washington Post)—announces the West Coast Premiere of Breathing Free, an ambitious filmed song cycle dedicated to the celebration of Black artistic voices.

Breathing Free builds on Heartbeat’s 2018 collaboration with 100 incarcerated singers in six prison choirs, part of a contemporary Fidelio told through the lens of Black Lives Matter—a production that left Alex Ross of The New Yorker “blindsided by its impact.” Created in a time of George Floyd’s murder, a pandemic which is ravaging our prison population, and the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth—Heartbeat has curated a song cycle brought to life in vivid music videos, mingling excerpts from Fidelio with songs by Black composers and lyricists, which together manifest a dream of justice and equity.

This 45-minute “visual album” features three singers, three dancers, eight instrumentalists and a robust creative production team. Rehearsed remotely on Zoom, the cast has recorded their individual audio tracks at home, with the music team then layering the tracks together. Heartbeat’s filmmaker Anaiis Cisco collaborates with cinematographers to film the performers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The presentation will be livestreamed along with live opening remarks and post-screening panel discussions with artists and activists highlighting the timely themes surfaced in Breathing Free. Audience Q&A will follow the panels. Participants for each panel are TBD. The Broad Stage provided additional support for the creation of this work.

CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Ethan Heard
Filmmaker: Anaiis Cisco
Creative producer: Ras Dia
Co-Music Director and Arranger (Fidelio): Daniel Schlosberg
Co-Music Director: Jacob Ashworth
Movement Director: Emma Jaster

Director of Photography: Kathryn Boyd Batstone (Los Angeles)
1st AC/Gaffer: Celine Layous (Los Angeles)
Director of Photography: Jacob Mallin (New York & Chicago)
1st AC/Gaffer: Matt Iacono (New York & Chicago)
Associate Movement Director: Tamrin Goldberg
Arranger (Malcolm X, Balm in Gilead) & Associate Music Director: Sean Mayes
Stage Manager: Jessica Emmanus
Assistant Director: Mar Cox
Sound Editor: Gleb Kanasevich
Sound Mixer: Sam Torres
Music Assistant, Orchestra Manager & Copyist: Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh

CAST
Derrell Acon, bass-baritone
Curtis Bannister, tenor
Kelly Griffin, soprano
Randy Castillo, Tamrin Goldberg, Brian HallowDreamz Henry, dancers

Also featuring the voices of more than 100 incarcerated singers and 70 volunteers 
from six prison choirs: Oakdale Community Choir, KUJI Men’s Chorus, UBUNTU Men’s Chorus, 
HOPE Thru Harmony Women’s Choir, East Hill Singers and Voices of Hope

BAND
Jacob Ashworth, violin 
Marika Hughes, cello 
Miki Sasaki, trumpets
Kyra Sims, horn 
Thomas Flippin, guitars 
Britton-René Collins, percussion 
Daniel Schlosberg, piano 
Jason Thomas, piano

Prisoners Chorus features: Laura Weiner (horn), Nicolee Kuester (horn), Clare Monfredo (cello), 
Daniel Hass (cello), Euntaek Kim (piano) and Ben Cornavaca (percussion)

More Information:

Tickets are “Pay What You Wish” starting at $10 and can be purchased at thebroadstage.org.

For further assistance, call Patron Services at 310.434.3200 or email patronservices@thebroadstage.org.

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One man’s experience with being Black in America,
and the fight for racial justice…Still.

In a time of civil unrest, political uncertainty and the inability to produce on stage, Pasadena Playhouse has launched PlayhouseLive with Still., a very personal performance sharing the experiences of a Black man at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, commissioned by the Pasadena Playhouse. Written and performed by spoken word artist Javon Johnson and directed by Donny Jackson, Still. blends powerful imagery witty prose and beautiful lyricism in this timely, powerful theatrical experience. 

“This is an unprecedented time for our nation,” stated Danny Feldman, producing artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He continues, “At times of national reckoning, the arts have played a major catalyst in sparking conversation. After the tragic murder of George Floyd and all the other countless Black men and women who have come before and after, the arts have been challenged to find a way to bring people together in a safe, socially distant way to talk about these issues. In that spirit, we launched PlayhouseLive, a nonprofit streaming platform, to use our art to speak to the nation and give voice to those in our community when it is needed the most. Still. brings support for the Black Lives Matter movement front and center; it is a  condemnation of systemic racism in our nation through Javon’s powerful words.”

When asked about the title, Still., award-winning artist Javon Johnson stated, “What I love about the title of the show is the way in which is calls for the fact that Black folks, that Blackness that the Black liberations efforts are still ongoing. That we’re still dealing with racism, racial inequality and injustice.  That we’re still dealing with the things that we thought, at least some of us, thought we were past. That we are still fighting. That we are still marching in the street. That we are still demanding for fairness, for equality. But even more than that, that we are still joyous. That Black folks still love. That we still laugh. That we still persevere in spite of the fact that some of the ways in which the world exists has tried to announce us dead upon arrival. But that we are still here living and engaging one another. That we are still giving the system graciously the opportunity to prove itself to us.  And even more, I think of still in the very biblical sense of ‘be still and know.’ That’s not a be still and know and not do anything, that’s to stand righteousness in the position that you are and just know that tomorrow will come. That something better will come with the work that so many people are putting in…still.“

More Information:

Still. can be rented through PlayhouseLive for $19.99 and is available. After the initial purchase, Still. can be watched on any of the PlayhouseLive apps including Apple OS, Android OS, Roku, FireTV and more. Closed captioning will be available in both English and Spanish.

Additional information about PlayhouseLive and its programming, including new announcements and pricing specials, is available at www.playhouselive.org.

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For Black History Month
Caltech launches Behind the Book, their new author series

Blake Hill-Saya
talks about her biography of her great, great grandfather,
Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, co-founder of Durham, North Carolina’s famed Black Wall Street

Monday, February 1 at 5:00 p.m. PT

Registration required for this online event:
https://events.caltech.edu/btb_blake

CaltechLive! is excited to begin Black History Month with biracial author Blake Hill-Saya as she discusses her recent nonfiction book, Aaron McDuffie Moore: An African American Physician, Educator, and Founder of Durham’s Black Wall Street, live on Monday, February 1 at 5 p.m. PT.

This event is the first in the Behind the Book authors series, which facilitates conversations with authors who explore the intersections of the arts, science, and society through the lens of family histories. Hill-Saya will be interviewed by Monique Thomas, program coordinator at the Caltech Center for Inclusion & Diversity.

Moore, who was Hill-Saya’s great-great-grandfather, was a physician, businessman, humanitarian, and co-founder of Durham, North Carolina’s famed Black Wall Street. He was a primary figure in establishing the city as the capital of the African American middle class in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Aaron McDuffie Moore: An African American Physician, Educator, and Founder of Durham’s Black Wall Street is published by University of North Carolina Press (May 18, 2020). It was co-written by G. K. Butterfield, U.S. representative for the 1st District of North Carolina, and C. Eileen Watts Welch, president and CEO of Durham Colored Library, Inc.

More Information:

Free and open to the public. Information at events.caltech.edu

Advance Zoom webinar registration is required.
Register at: https://events.caltech.edu/btb_blake

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) knows that some students and families are still adjusting to distance learning. To help support students, SBCUSD has been offering a free, virtual CAPS Expanded Learning experience that includes homework assistance every school day.

Although different from in-person CAPS, the virtual program continues to offer educational support for students of all ages and academic levels. In addition to homework assistance, CAPS staff provide students with fun enrichment activities that can be especially beneficial for students’ emotional and mental health during the COVID lockdowns.

CAPS sessions begin at 2:30 p.m. for middle school students and select high school students and at 3:30 p.m. for elementary school students, with homework assistance offered from 5 to 6 p.m. After logging in, students directed toward Zoom breakout sessions to provide support geared toward their needs.

Every week, students should receive an invitation with a Zoom meeting link via Google Classroom sent to their District-provided email address. Each school provides its own CAPS Zoom link, so students need to check their own email address for the link and not just use a sibling’s meeting link. “Join CAPS” will be in the email subject line.

For more information, visit https://sbcusd.com/district_offices/student_services/caps.