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(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- LOS ANGELES, CA— On Wednesday, August 8, Majestic Hearts and I Am… teamed up to host their First Annual back-to-school drive.

The recipients were inner-city youth of The Robert J. Irmas Activity Youth Center in South Los Angeles. The two organizations provided over 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to the attendees to prepare them for the upcoming school year. The students’ ages ranged from seven to 17 years old.

“Our goal was to supply 200 scholars with the tools needed to excel this school year. Unfortunately, many of the students started school the day of the backpack drive,” says Majestic Hearts CEO, Kanishia L. Jackson.

Jackson, alongside Majestic Hearts’ Vice President, Ricsyhelle Davis who’s also the Chief Visionary Officer of I Am…, opened the event by introducing themselves and their organizations followed by breathing exercises. These exercises revealed that nearly half the students meditated on a regular basis with immediate family.

“I was surprised to see how many children exercised meditation,” expressed Davis.

Davis educated the children on inflation, interest, taxes, meditation and savings. Many of the students were familiar with the topics. One 12-year-old, in particular, was knowledgeable of all five topics.

“I’ve never come across a 12–year-old who knew inflation, interest and taxes…,” exclaims Davis.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, up to 99 percent of domestic violence victims experience economic abuse…and finances are often cited as the biggest barrier to leaving an abusive relationship. With these statistics at hand, Majestic Hearts deemed it necessary to provide school supplies to students as they may be amongst the 99 percent.

“With economic abuse statistics being a dominant form of abuse, we find it highly important to support the students that may contribute to these stats by providing them with the tools needed to excel in school,” says the Majestic Hearts CEO. 

About Majestic Hearts:

Majestic Hearts seeks to be a refuge in the fight against domestic violence & sexual assault. We provide a safe-haven for victims, including programs that include counseling & mentoring, shelter & housing and education. Learn more at www.majestic-hearts.org

About I Am…

I Am… Provides pertinent information to disadvantaged communities via motivation and inspiration, byway of education, advancement opportunities and outreach services. Our mission is accomplished by focusing on the power of the voice “I AM.” Visit www.iamthatweb.org for more information.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—ROTA, SPAIN— A 2005 Colony High School graduate and Ontario, California native is serving in Spain at Naval Hospital Rota in support of ballistic-missile defense ships forward-deployed to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota. 

Petty Officer 2nd Class Allen Sinclair is a Navy hospital corpsman working at Naval Hospital Rota and is responsible for the health care of the service members and their families.

“I was taught to set goals and work hard towards them,” said Sinclair. “If you work hard you’ll get to where you want to be.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Pastors United is having their first All Church Unity Service. The Pastors are inviting the community to come together and worship, pray together and fellowship in solidarity.

The purpose is to bring together and unite cultures, bring together denominations; to re-ignite our Passions to win more souls, restore more people, and spiritually revive the City of San Bernardino.

Their theme is, “Whole Body, Working in Love”.  The special guest speaker is Dr. Rob Zinn, from the Immanuel Baptist Church, other churches include Pastor Robert Cuencas The Way World Outreach Church Family, Dr. Reginald Woods, Life Changing Ministry, Pastor Andrea King, 16^th St SDA Church, Dr Joshua Beckley and Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, Pastor Jose Medina, Living Waters Church, and many other churches will be in attendance.

The event is being hosted by Pastor Alan Rosenberg of Christian Missionary Alliance at 340 E Evans Street in San Bernardino on August 24, Friday at 6 p.m.

For more information call (909) 885-0012 or to volunteer go to sbpastorsunited.org and register. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Thank you in advance for working together to Unite God’s People.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— As part of its process for selecting new history/social science textbooks, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) invites all stakeholders to review the books and give input.

The books are available for review now through September 14 at all Family Engagement Centers and high school libraries. The books are also available for review during business hours at the Professional Development Center (PDC) located at 4030 Georgia Blvd. in San Bernardino, and the Welcoming Resource Center located at 781A West Second Street in San Bernardino.

In addition, the publisher will make two presentations to showcase the books and answer questions. The presentation for 6th- through 12th-grade textbooks is on Tuesday, August 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the PDC. The presentation for kindergarten through 5th-grade textbooks is on Thursday, August 23, also from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the PDC.

This is the first time that SBCUSD has adopted history/social science text books since 2006. For more information about the new textbook adoption, please call the District at (909) 473-2077.

Eta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the Inland Ivy Foundation join forces in supporting higher education through scholarships

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, June 9, Eta Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and its charitable affiliate, The Inland Ivy Foundation held its Scholarship and Graduate Recognition Luncheon at the Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino.

The organizations presented eight scholarships to students graduating from local high schools in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The students selected demonstrated high scholastic achievement and active involvement in giving back to their communities through volunteering their time in community service and various extracurricular activities.

The scholarship recipients are Mya Biggers of Valley View High School, Hannah Chum of Hesperia High School, Kennedy Francis of Martin Luther King High School, Jervaughn Gaines of Vista Murrieta High School, Elani Hunter of Henry J. Kaiser High School, Serena Jimerson of Vista Murrieta High School, Gabrielle Stewart of Eleanor Roosevelt High School,  and Jaden Taylor of John W. North High School. A scholarship in memory of the late Hazel Hawkins-Russell, Ph.D. a local educator from Riverside known for her contributions to the field of education, and a member of the sorority was awarded for the first time this year.  The recipient Gabrielle Stewart  will be attending  Howard University, a historically black college and university (HBCU) in Washington D.C.

These high school seniors are all college bound and were selected from a pool of outstanding candidates.

In addition to awarding scholarships, Eta Nu Omega Chapter members from the  University of California Riverside, Kappa Theta Chapter,  California State University San Bernardino, Rho Delta Chapter and the children of members graduating from high school or college were recognized  and  presented  with certificates for their achievements.

Eta Nu Omega raises funds throughout the year through its charitable arm, The Inland Ivy Foundation to support community programs and to provide scholarships for college-bound students in the Inland Empire. Its annual fundraiser, “Pearls, Pumps and Fashions” will be held on November 18, 2018 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® was founded in 1908, and  is the oldest Greek- letter organization established by African American, college-educated women, and has a current membership internationally of 300,000.

Washington, DC – The national anti-hunger campaign No Kid Hungry has announced five winners of its 2018 Summer Meals Hero contest. This year’s inspiring line-up of local champions is proof that it really does take a village to feed kids in the summertime. The winners include individuals from school districts and community organizations across the country who were nominated by members of their local community. Whether they spend their workday in a church, a hospital, or a food truck, these No Kid Hungry summer heroes go above and beyond to change the lives of kids in need.

One of the five recipients of the national award is Betty Crocker, Food Nutrition Director at Redlands Unified School District. Before Betty came to the district two years ago, Redlands did not have a summer meals program. She quickly developed partnerships with the city and local community centers, launching the program in 2017. Thanks to Betty’s creative marketing and commitment to overcome challenges, the program saw significant growth this summer.

“She only cares about one thing, and that’s serving the kiddos!” says Daisy Munguia, a Senior Program Director for No Kid Hungry California. 1 in every 5 kids in San Bernardino County face hunger.

Summer can be the hungriest time of year for many children from low-income families. When schools close, students no longer get school meals, and families struggle to put food on the table. Summer hunger can have a long-term impact on a child’s health, ability to learn and general well-being. No Kid Hungry and its partners focus on connecting kids to the national Summer Meals Program as a critical way to end childhood hunger.

“Reaching kids during the summer months can be a tough nut to crack, but I’m so inspired by the work that’s happening in communities all across the country,” said Lisa Davis, Senior Director of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. “Thanks to everyday heroes like the amazing folks we’re recognizing today, many more kids will return to school this fall well-nourished and ready to learn.”

Study finds 22% of young adults in college cannot afford food, despite working and receiving financial aid

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Food insecurity among college students has become more common in recent years. A recent study entitled “Hunger on Campus: The Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students,” surveyed 3,765 college students across 34 campuses in 12 states and found that 22 percent of the respondents were below the level of food insecurity and were considered to be hungry instead of insecure. The study also found that contrary to common stereotypes, most food insecure students are working and receiving financial aid*. Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Kaiser Foundation to help address this critical issue faced by students who are working diligently to become educated, contributing members of our communities.

CAPSBC CEO Patricia L. Nickols-Butler stated, “Low-income college students need our support while they endeavor to better themselves. We are grateful to Kaiser Foundation for recognizing the importance of nutrition in education and making this investment in our young adults who represent the future of our communities.”

The nonprofit CAPSBC has been operating its Food Bank program since 1984. It is the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County. The growing need of students prompted higher educational institutions to seek help from the Food Bank. As a result, the Campus Cupboard program was launched in January 2018. Current partner sites include San Bernardino Valley College and Chaffey College campuses in Fontana, Chino, and Rancho Cucamonga. Kaiser Permanente’s investment in the Campus Cupboard program will enable us to expand services in areas of high need in San Bernardino County.

The Campus Cupboard Program promotes healthy choices in the foods given as part of the Food Bank’s overall healthy Food Banking initiatives. Health nutrition education information for students will also be made available at the sites.

*Source: “Hunger on Campus: the Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students” – October 2016 published by the College and University Food Bank Alliance, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Student Government Resource Center and the Student Public Interest Research Groups.

The newly renamed arts institution will bring enhanced programming and scholarship to downtown Riverside

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA —- UCR ARTS has a new name and a new vision.

Formerly known as ARTSblock, UCR ARTS is comprised of two entities — the California Museum of Photography and the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts — and strives to encourage community engagement and an appreciation of art and photography by providing visitors a diverse range of exhibitions, performances, and educational programs.

“This name change is reflective of a renewed vision that embraces UCR ARTS’ relationship to the University of California, Riverside and a commitment to creating an inclusive and inviting place for the Riverside region and beyond,” said Sheila Bergman, executive director of UCR ARTS.

Housed in a pair of renovated department store buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, UCR ARTS’ history extends to the founding of the Jack and Marilyn Sweeney Art Gallery in 1963 and the California Museum of Photography in 1973. In 2010, the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts opened, offering a new home for the Sweeney Art Gallery and new community space for the Inland Empire.

Now, UCR ARTS has shifted focus from growing in size to growing in reach by enhancing its programming and cultivating a thriving arts community.

Following four months of renovation, the California Museum of Photography, or CMP, has reopened its doors, providing access to its collection of 750,000 objects. With the largest public collection of photographic technology in the western United States and the world’s largest archive of stereoscopic photographs and negatives, the CMP is an important destination for researchers worldwide.

Offering a multidisciplinary creative space, the Culver Center serves as an incubator for bold and artistic expressions. A host of art installations and exhibits, a weekly film program, and music, dance, and theatrical performances, and community events are presented year-round in the Culver’s atrium.

“We are building on our history of exemplary exhibitions and performances by widening our scope,” Bergman said. “UCR ARTS is a place for the Inland Southern California community to convene and engage in robust arts and cultural programming.”

UCR ARTS is located at 3824 and 3834 Main St., Riverside. Learn more at ucrarts.ucr.edu.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- RIVERSIDE, CA— JoJo’s Grill-A-Dog – no MSG, no gluten, no fillers – build-your-own hot dog fast casual dining concept, is now offering franchise opportunities in Riverside. Co-founders Ryan Molnar and Jason Tang kicked off JoJo’s Grill-A-Dog’s humble beginnings with the opening of its Yucaipa location in 2010. Since then, the brand and the business processes have been refined into a successful and proven business operation in Redlands. 

“Hot dogs are an icon of American cuisine that never goes out of style,” said Molnar and Tang. “We are looking for franchisees who have a willingness and commitment to serving people high quality food in a pleasant environment. We’ve already identified a prime location at a reasonable rent, and also provide strong operational, marketing, accounting, audit, and legal support. Our franchisee’s success is our success, and we’re looking forward to growing the business and bringing the unique JoJo’s experience to the folks here in Riverside.”

“Entrepreneurs who have a strong management background, love good food, enjoy serving people, and believe in a ‘customer first’ culture should choose to become a JoJo’s franchisee,” said Molnar and Tang. “Start up cost for a JoJo’s franchise is below average, while the return on investment is above average in a short period of time. Our familiar, yet creative product offering uses quality ingredients, backed by an extremely simplified and streamlined process, national food and paper supply pricing, and relevant décor, design and branding. We want you to succeed!”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The PAL Charter Academy teachers and staff returned to work to gear up for their upcoming school year. The school had quite a productive and successful school year in 2017-18. 

Head of Schools, Kim Hawkins, said, ” We had a phenomenal 2017-18 school year. Our goal is to use the momentum from last year and make this year even better. The teachers and staff are motivated, excited and ready to go!”

Under the direction of the Executive Director, Dwaine Radden Sr., the teachers and staff kicked off their Bootcamp week. Radden, a former Teacher, Businessman, Championship coach and Hall of Famer came in true form bringing his winning attitude, and 21st-century approach to education when he delivered a gripping motivational speech.

His infectious message had the teachers and staff chanting, “We Are PAL, We Are PAL!,” Edward Brantley, Director of the Community Outreach Program, said, “Mr. Radden’s message to us was inspiring and motivating, his passion for students to succeed in school and life was spot on.”

The Bootcamp week was extraordinary and full of energy.

Mr. Radden talked to the teachers and staff about rewiring themselves for Next Level Teaching. He said, “Students, today are digitally wired and don’t think and learn the way we did. We must rewire the educational system and teachers for the generations to come. We must prepare our students for real-world challenges and the 21st Century”. His message came from a few chapters out of the book he is currently writing, Rewiring America and the Educational System We Live In.

The teachers and staff attended a series of professional development training sessions, and also participated in several team building exercises. The week was filled with exciting and innovative strategies for teachers and staff.  Dominic White, Director of Student Life, kicked off the first day with her high energy introduction of the school, and she also shared information she and others received from the National Charter School Conference in Texas they attended over the summer. She said, “Coach Radden charged a team of 6 teachers and one administrator to be “Hunters” and bring back innovative and creative ideas that we can incorporate into the school. My excitement and energy was a carryover from the knowledge and ideas that came from the trip”. She also serves as the Athletic Director for the school and was instrumental in securing the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) membership for the school.

Last year, the PAL Academy brought home its first men’s basketball league championship and received a 6-year accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, (WASC), the longest accreditation in school history. They became a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and bridged connections with local community colleges to provide advanced students with the opportunity to participate in the colleges’ concurrent enrollment program. The Academy received a host of other accomplishments and accolades last school year. 

Now Enrolling For Middle and High School 2018-19

PAL Charter Academy is a Free Public Charter school serving grades 6-12. The school is authorized under the SBCUSD and is the first and longest operating charter sanctioned by and in the City of San Bernardino. For more information call 909-887-7002 or visit their website at www.palcharteracademy.com.