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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Social Lites, Inc. celebrated its 52^nd Beautillion Ball on Saturday, March 30, at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.  Over 300 guests were in attendance to witness five distinguished young men introduced to society naming Neuman Sneed II Sir Knight 2019 and awarding approximately $30,000 in scholarships and gifts to all Knights. Speakers included Alumni Knight Malichi Davis, Sir Knight 2018, and student at Morehouse University; and Alumni Knight, Harry Le Grande, Interim Vice President, Student Affairs at CSU, San Bernardino.  SBCUSD Chief of Police Joe Paulino received the Social Lites, Inc. Community Service Award.       

Sir Knight Neuman Sneed II was awarded a $6,500 academic scholarship, $1,000 scholarship for participating in the “Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” essay contest, and named “Mr. Congeniality.” The award included a monetary gift along with receiving electronic gifts to prepare for college.  Knight Jordan Dean-Reynoso, First place was awarded a $3,500 scholarship, $9,000 scholarship for winning “The Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” essay contest and provided with additional gifts.  Knight Syree Rucker-Spears, Second place, was awarded a $3,000 Alumni Scholarship and provided with additional gifts. Knight Tynan Currie was awarded $1,100 for earning the President Scholarship in addition to a $1,000 scholarship for participating in the “Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” essay contest in addition to other gifts.  Knight Zamir Subero was awarded the $1,000 Perseverance Scholarship in addition to receiving other gifts.  Congratulations to all young men and best wishes for a bright future!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN) RIALTO, CA— Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) 17^th Annual Awards Gala will honor community champions who go above and beyond to help care for our community and contribute to both the health, and happiness of its members.

Deborah Robertson was elected Mayor of Rialto in November 2012 – the latest achievement in a distinguished public service career that has included 12 years on  the Rialto City Council, leadership positions at the Southern California Association of Governments, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, and more than 20 years with the California Department of Transportation.

Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has gained regional and national recognition for innovation in the areas of public-private partnerships, business development and job creation. A leading voice on regional and national infrastructure issues, Mayor Robertson chairs the Public Health Subcommittee for SCAG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council and Metro Economies, and member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

In addition, Mayor Robertson is a founding board member for the NFL/AFL Youth Life Skills Camp, has hosted the annual State of Women event in Rialto for the past seven years, and was recognized by Assembly Member Cheryl Brown as 47th District Woman of the Year.

“Mayor Robertson is a jewel in the Inland Empire, as a woman in leadership she is empowering other women to continue leading our communities, we are happy to honor her this year with the Public Service Champion Award” said Vanessa Perez, Director of Time for Change Foundation.

Other Award Honorees include:

Carlos and Audrey Martinez with the Dynamic Duo Award, BLU Educational Foundation with the Rise (Restoring Inclusivity in Systemic Education) Award, Johnson Family Child Care with the Childcare of the Year Award, Linda Lindsey with the Lady of Justice Award, Mayor Deborah Robertson with the Public Service Champion Award, James and Rowena Ramos with the Lifetime Legacy Award, Beatriz Solis with the Melinda Gates Inspiration Award, and Dr. Roger Hadley with the Community Health Champion Award.

Time for Change Foundation’s 17th Year Anniversary Gala will take place on Friday, April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Ontario, CA from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. To support TFCF’s efforts to help homeless women and children become self-sufficient, thriving members of society you can become a sponsor, purchase an ad in the event program book or purchase a Gala ticket. 

To purchase tickets for the event or to become a sponsor and increase your business’ visibility in the community, please visit our website www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— ATLANTIC OCEAN— Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Apprentice Jaethomas Smith, from Apple Valley, Calif., hugs his wife aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) before departing for deployment April 1. USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) departs Naval Station Norfolk as part of Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group’s (ABECSG) deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. With CVN 72 as the flagship, deploying strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2) and Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7); as well as Alvaro de Bazan-class Spanish frigate ESPS Méndez Núñez (F 104).

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA— William Chester Jordan, an award-winning historian of medieval Europe, is the Dayton-Stockton Professor of History at Princeton University, where he teaches courses on the Middle Ages. On April 18 and 19, he’ll arrive at UCR as part of the Phi Beta Kappa Society’s Visiting Scholar Program, which gives undergraduate students nationwide the opportunity to learn from leading scholars in their fields.

On April 18 from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Jordan will present a public lecture, “The First Crusade and Jewish Martyrdom.” The presentation is free to attend and will take place in room 335 of UCR’s Arts Building. Jordan will present a second public lecture, “The Lorn Land: A Winter’s Tale,” on April 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The lecture is also free and will take place in the History Department Library, located in room 1303 of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building.

A prolific author, Jordan will publish his latest book, “The Apple of His Eye: Converts From Islam in the Reign of Louis IX,” this spring. His other recent books include “From England to France: Felony and Exile in the High Middle Ages” (2015), “Men at the Center: Redemptive Governance Under Louis IX” (2012), and “A Tale of Two Monasteries: Westminster and Saint-Denis in the Thirteenth Century” (2009).

At Princeton, Jordan has served as chair of the history department, executive director of the Shelby Cullom Davis Center for Historical Studies, and chairman of the Interdepartmental Committee and Program in Medieval Studies. He is past president of the Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages and served as president of the Medieval Academy of America.

Hosted By SoCal Black Chamber/SBVC Black Faculty & Staff

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Saxophonist Mark Allen Felton was impressing folks with his smooth sax sounds before he was in high school. On Friday, March 29 you will be able to share his smooth sax sound, as Mark Anthony Felton, affectionately known as ‘Panther’, brings his horn and talented band to the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium.

Felton is an accomplished and celebrated saxophonist who has delivered with four well received albums. His fifth album, ‘Soul Real’, is dropping later this month… So those in attendance on March 29th will be treated to an exclusive debut.

Felton points out that this release is different than previous recordings and enthusiastically predicts that fans and soon-to-be fans will love it.

Mark says, “This one is a little more upbeat… And funkier than the last record.”

And though Felton says he really digs the funk. He also says and demonstrates that he loves performing jazz, gospel and obviously soul music.

His ‘hipstrumentals’, as he calls them are sure to hit your senses in all the right places. And many can bear witness.

During his career Felton has played with some of the greats including Grammy Award winner Patti Labelle, the late great Al Jarreau, Bobby Womack, Kirk Whalum to name a few.

On Friday, March 29th, Felton will be performing music from his latest release live in a concert event sponsored by the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Inland Cities East and the San Bernardino Valley College Black Faculty and Staff Association. Included in the night’s festivities is a cocktail social from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the concert main event from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.. During the night there will be door prizes, giveaways, and, of course, Mark Allen Felton.

To purchase tickets, visit: blackchamberofcommerce.org

Photos by John Coleman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— FONTANA, CA— The Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana work annually with a wide array of others to plan and present it’s Black History and Culture Program.

Black on the Block will bringing together millennial entrepreneurs of color in an engaging, empowering and entertaining community block party

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— RIALTO, CA— What is a way to empower, educate and entertain young adults of the community all at the same time? This is the premise of what Black on the Block is about. This community block party will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Rialto City Park, 130 E San Bernardino Avenue, Rialto, CA 92376.

“Our intention is to build a legacy,” Vickie Davis, curator of Black on the Block, explains. “This event is more than an expo. This will be the genesis of our narrative as a community: united in love, support, entrepreneurship and determination to define our own destinies.”

Black on the Block, hosted by Tomorrow’s World, will feature local vendors, raffles, prizes, guest speakers and FREE lunch will be provided for children under the age of 12 on a first come, first serve basis.

There will be live performances from artists of Forte Culture Media. The artists include: BduhGod, UhSantay, Saint Wicks and Shi-D.

The event is free to the public, so bring a friend, family member or child and mingle with some of your local neighbors.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), a longstanding leader in dual language immersion, has earned statewide recognition for its commitment to bilingualism.

The group Californians Together will honor the District with the prestigious Multiple Pathway to Biliteracy District Recognition Award on March 22. The award will be presented during the California Association for Bilingual Education’s Seal of Excellence banquet in Long Beach.

SBCUSD’s long history of valuing biliteracy and multilingualism, including the establishment of the successful Dual Immersion Program 19 years ago, are among the reasons for its selection. In addition, Californians Together highlighted the District’s launch of the Multilingual Initiative as a “bold plan to engage all students in high-level multilingual learning opportunities.” The state group also commended the introduction of the innovative, new Trilingual Immersion Program as evidence of the District’s pledge to encourage all students to reach high levels of proficiency in two or more languages. The trilingual program will fully launch at Belvedere Elementary School in August, promoting English, Spanish, and Vietnamese starting in kindergarten.

The community’s rich linguistic diversity is one of our greatest assets because speaking a language other than English is vital in a multilingual workforce, said Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden.

“In San Bernardino City Unified, we have long recognized that bilingualism and biliteracy are strengths that will help our students in college and the workforce,” Marsden said.  “We recognize that a child’s home language is an asset that should be cultivated.  We have an amazing opportunity to capitalize on our community’s linguistic and cultural strengths and position ourselves as leaders in preparing our students for careers in the global economy.”

Marsden lauded the District’s English Learner Programs Department for its work to serve students who have not yet mastered the English language and those who want to learn a second or third language. Lead by Director Ana Applegate, the department is behind the thriving Dual Immersion Program, which is offered at 20 District schools.  In fact, 6,500 District students are enrolled in the District’s 26 biliteracy programs.

“Speaking more than one language is almost an expectation in our multilingual society,” Applegate said. “It makes our students competitive when they enter the workforce, and it opens them up to a whole new world.”

Every year, the English Learners department honors students who are making progress toward English proficiency and those who are working toward bilingualism and biliteracy. The department also supports students’ efforts to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy upon high school graduation.

Grant will fund the Los Angeles County Human Trafficking Task Force Program; since 2015, the task force has made 1,624 arrests in connection to human trafficking activities and rescued 324 victims

Torres previously led efforts to secure nearly $70,000 in federal funding to fight human trafficking and prostitution in the Inland Empire

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $749,982 grant to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to combat human trafficking. The grant will fund the Los Angeles County Human Trafficking Task Force (LACHTTF) Program to develop, enhance, and implement collaborative approaches to identify victims of human trafficking within the County, investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases at the local, state, and federal levels and address the individual needs of victims through the provision of comprehensive array of quality services.

“Human trafficking isn’t something that only occurs in faraway places, it’s happening in our own backyards every single day. To crack down on this horrible crime, we need to ensure that our local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to put perpetrators behind bars and keep our communities safe,” said Congresswoman Torres. 

“This support from the Department of Justice will enable the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to enhance its already successful efforts to thwart human trafficking in the Inland Empire and provide survivors with the justice and services needed to help them reclaim their lives. Local agencies should take advantage of the training opportunities available to them by joining this task force—it’s the first step to make certain that this vital program continues.”

“I would like to thank Congresswoman Norma Torres for her tireless work in the field of combatting the scourge of human trafficking. Her bipartisan efforts as part of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus have helped secure funding for this very important law enforcement and humanitarian effort,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “Today’s grant award will help continue to fund the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.”

Last year, Torres led a bipartisan group of Members of Congress in a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations calling for $50 million in funding nationwide for DOJ grant programs that support anti-human trafficking task forces, such as the LARHTTF. Torres is also a member of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus. She previously helped secure nearly $70,000 in DOJ grants to combat human trafficking and prostitution in the City of Pomona.

Torres is a member of the powerful House Appropriations and Rules Committees.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— More than 225 middle and high school students are scheduled to perform at the fourth annual San Bernardino County Performing Arts Showcase on the stage at the California Theatre of Performing Arts on April 2.

The students represent eight county school districts and cover performances by bands, drumlines, choirs, dance and theater groups. The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. on April 2 at the California Theatre, located at 562 W. Fourth St. in San Bernardino.

The public is invited to attend the free performance.

The Performing Arts Showcase is a collaborative effort between the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and The California Arts Project. Among the participating school groups are:

• Bloomington High vocal ensemble and Grand Terrace High theater group, Colton Joint Unified;
• Chaffey High chamber singers, Chaffey Joint Union High School District;
• Frisbie Middle advanced band, Rialto Unified;
• Pinon Mesa Middle advanced band, Snowline Joint Unified;
• Riverside Prep chamber singers, Oro Grande;
• San Bernardino City middle and high school drumlines, San Bernardino City Unified;
• Vernon Middle advanced dance, Ontario-Montclair;
• University Prep theater ensemble, Victor Valley Union High School District.

For more information about the event, contact County Schools’ Communications office at (909) 386-2413.