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LOS ANGELES, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Betty LaMarr, Founder and President of EmpowHer Institute, is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with B-STEM Project, a national organization that focuses on engaging young girls and women in business and STEM-related disciplines across various industries. 

On Wednesday, April 25, EmpowHer will host the Girls to Greatness Mentor to Inspire Summit.  The goal of this Summit is to motivate students by exposing them to different career opportunities in various industries. Professional women from diverse industries and companies, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Southern California Gas Company, United Parcel Service (UPS) and Microsoft, will serve as mentors for the day. The Summit will include a full day of activities for 300 middle and high school students including one-on-one conversations with mentors, an interactive STEM project facilitated by B-STEM, panel discussion and Mentoring Luncheon with Keynote Speaker, Los Angeles’ First Lady, Amy Elaine Wakeland.  

“We’re so excited about all the work B-STEM Project is doing. While many STEM programs focus solely on developing computer science skills, they create a gateway into the entire business of the STEM ecosystem,” said Betty LaMarr. 

“If we are to make a dent in the STEM talent gap, we need to mentor and guide young women now.  Organizations need to make it a priority to level the playing field for women and to deliver top-down support and institutional accountability,” said LaMarr.

“It’s not enough that young girls learn to code nor is it realistic that every girl has an interest in pursuing computer science related careers. However, at B-STEM Project, we believe that all girls need to understand and be confident in their knowledge of STEM disciplines to become successful in the 21st century marketplace,” said Tracie Ponder, Founder, B-STEM Project

This year’s sponsors include: JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, UPS, Microsoft, Quest Diagnostics, Lawrence Livermore, Perry Foundation, Bergman, Dacey, Goldsmith, So Cal Gas, VACO, Frontier Communications, Information Management Resources, Inc. and AMC Theaters.  For sponsorship contact Betty LaMarr, President (310) 574-9181 or info@empowher.org.  For more information on the Girls to Greatness Mentor To Inspire Summit visit our website www.girlstogreatness.org.

EmpowHer Institute 

EmpowHer Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2003. EmpowHer Institute’s mission is to empower marginalized girls and young women by giving them the skills necessary through education, training, and mentorship to enable them to become confident, college and career ready. To learn more about EmpowHer Institute, visit our website www.empowher.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

B-STEM Project
B-STEM Project is designed to educate young girls and women about the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math in business and everyday life. We take an interdisciplinary approach by integrating STEM into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real world application in all professional industries. To learn more about B-STEM, visit our website www.bstemproject.org or email info@bstemproject.org.  B-STEM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Legislators and education advocates came together at a press conference Wednesday, April 11, to show support for a bill that they believe will help fix how education is funded for one of the lowest performing subgroups. Advocates say there was a flaw in the five-year-old law that overhauled how education funding is appropriated to school districts through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

Assembly Bill 2635, authored by Assemblywomen Shirley Weber, would target $350 million towards struggling school districts. Many of these districts educate California’s black student population which has historically failed to meet grade-level proficiency in math and reading and perform right above special education students.

According to a press statement, AB 2635 drives equitable funding for California’s lowest-performing subgroup to students not currently receiving funding under LCFF. Additionally, this bill demands greater accountability from both school district and charter school recipients of these supplemental funds over the education outcomes of the lowest performing subgroup.

“We cannot look the other way anymore. African-American kids in California persistently fall behind academically,” said Weber. “And this problem is not limited to low-income students either. Parents have been patiently waiting for something to change, but it has not. Providing additional resources for the lowest-performing students is now no longer an option, but a necessity.”

 Data provided by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and presented to the California Legislative Black Caucus shows the majority of African-American students performed well below state standards. Legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 allows school districts to direct increased funding to failing students in four categories.

“About 260,000 (76 percent) receive a supplement under LCFF because they are low income, foster children or homeless, or English learners,” according to the California Department of Education web site.

Under AB 2635, districts could see possible increases: Los Angeles Unified would receive $50 million, Oakland Unified $12.6 million, Long Beach Unified $10.6 million, Pasadena Unified $7 million, San Francisco Unified $6.2 million, Sacramento City Unified $5.3 million, and Inglewood Unified $4.8 million, according to the press release.

“Our students are the most likely to be disciplined and suspended than any other student as shown in various studies linking to implicit biases and damaging stereotypes,” said Sen. Steve Bradford, vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, “because of this, and their lack of access to the adequate school resources, the future for our next generation looks grim, unless we take meaningful action. We cannot allow African American students to be left behind any longer.”

Students marched in front of CTA to support AB 2635

 Young people have joined the fight to improve the education system.  Students recently took to the front of the California Teachers Association in Sacramento chanting “schools not prisons,” “support AB 2635” and “don’t watch us fail.”

 “We’re here telling them (CTA) to be in support of AB 2635, and don’t watch us fail” said Nailah Dubose, a ninth-grade student at Fortune High School.

CTA sent a letter to Weber, the author of AB 2635, expressing their shared goal for the bill, but highlighting concerns and marked it as a bill CTA will “watch”.

 In the letter CTA wrote:

“We share the goals of this legislation—to provide additional resources to school districts to help close the achievement gap for our lowest performing students. However, we are concerned that as currently drafted, AB 2635 will not meaningfully increase resources to serve our lowest performing students and may have unintended consequences.”

However, speaking at a press conference Margret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune School, called for unity among the education community. She noted that the California Charter Schools Association is often on opposite sides of policy debates and acknowledged California School Board Association’s support for this legislation. Fortune invited all of the education coalition community to join in supporting students that were left out of the LCFF funding.

“The students in the most need are the ones that equity demands that we give support. Isn’t that the reason the Local Control Formula Funding was created in the first place?” Asked Fortune.

AB 2635 passed out of the Assembly Education committee and now heads to assembly appropriation.

Link to full press conference

Student protest CTA video link

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Dozens of community organizers and volunteers are gearing up for the inception of a community space that will provide effective, supportive resources to low income residents.

The co-operative, located at 802 N. E Street, is the only of its kind in the Inland region. A community kickoff will take place on Friday, April 20 to introduce residents to the community service model that utilizes shared governance to resolve social, economic and cultural issues.

Organizations working out of the center are not offering “charity” or “pity” to residents, but instead looking to empower fellow residents living near or in poverty.

“We’re here in this space to be responsive for our community’s needs” said Mary Valdemar, Co-founder of the Chicano Indigenous Community for Culturally Conscious Advocacy and Action (Ch.I.C.C.C.A.A.). “Whether its jobs, education, immigration, or environmental justice, we’re looking for local, grassroots solutions.”

The kickoff will feature live performances from local artists and musicians. Organizations are also hosting a community potluck with the community. Students organizing walkouts across the region are expected to also be in attendance.

The following groups are located at the center: Chicano Indigenous Community for Culturally Conscious Advocacy and Action (Ch.I.C.C.A.A.A.), Sierra Club My Generation Campaign, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, Inland Regional Equality Network, the Indigenous Defense and Resistance Movement, Progressive Alliance of the Inland Empire, Village and Child Co-Op, Mother Earth Co-Op, San Bernardino Valley College LGBTQ+Pride, San Bernardino Valley College Progressives, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.) de San Bernardino Valley College, I.E. Hack Lab, and Team Abigail.

Date: April 20, 2018

Time: 4:20 p.m.

Location: 802 N. ‘E’ Street, San Bernardino, CA, 92410

For more information on the kickoff, contact the core team at chicccaa@gmail.com.

San Bernardino Valley College holds first-ever CyberTech Girls Workshop getting girls more involved with technology on Saturday, April 21

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Sixty middle and high school girls from San Bernardino and Riverside counties are scheduled to participate in the first CyberTech Girls workshop on Saturday, April 21 at San Bernardino Valley College.

The students represent more than 25 schools and 14 districts in the two-county region. At the conference, they will learn about crime scene investigations, how to build a computer and work on constructing a website.

The event is organized by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ (SBCSS) CyberSB and San Bernardino Valley College. Participating schools and districts include: Alta Loma: Vineyard Junior High; Central: Ruth Musser Middle; Chaffey: Alta Loma High; Colony High; Etiwanda High; Ontario High; Rancho Cucamonga High; Colton Joint Unified: Joe Baca Middle; Etiwanda: Day Creek Intermediate, Lightfoot Elementary; Summit Intermediate; Hesperia Unified: Sultana High; Ontario-Montclair; Redlands Unified: Beattie Middle; Clement Middle; Cope Middle; Moore Middle; Redlands High; Redlands East Valley High; Rialto Unified: Kolb Middle; SBCSS; Upland Unified: Foothill Knolls Elementary; Upland High; Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified: Dunlap Elementary, Inland Leaders Charter; Park View Middle.

L/R: Mr. Gilbert D. Brown, Western Province Polemarch; Ms. Joyce Smith, President, Social Lites, Inc.; Dr. Samuel Gibbs, Chairman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Congratulations to Social Lites, Inc. for being awarded the “Johnnie L. Cochran Award” and a $500 donation from Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at the fraternity’s Public Meeting on Friday, April 13 at the Ontario Airport Hotel and Conference Center. 

Social Lites, Inc. have been in the Inland Empire for sixty-one years and has given to many worthwhile community need and presented over a million dollars scholarships and awards to deserving young men who have participated in the annual Beautillion Scholarship Program.

The 52nd Beautillion Program will start in Fall 2018. For more information visit www.sociallitesinc.net.

Lynette Davis

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Saturday, April 21, Lynette Davis will present, ‘It’s Time to Tell Your Story’, a FREE 90-minute interactive workshop to help individuals who desire to tell their (nonfiction) stories. 

This free workshop will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Kellogg Room B of the Norman Feldheym Central Library, located at 555 West 6th Street in San Bernardino. There will be light refreshments, a drawing for Amazon and Starbuck gift cards, and Davis will give away two copies of her memoir, Even Rain Is Just Water.  

Many people have a desire to write a book—tell their story, but they don’t know how or where to start. The primary goal of the presentation is to help individuals, who want to tell their story, to begin writing.

“Memoir,” explains Davis “is autobiographical but it is not an autobiography. There’s a distinct difference between memoir and autobiography.”

The workshop will discuss the differences between memoir and autobiography, strategies for retrieving memories, the two most important elements of memoir, the actual process of writing, and includes a Q&A session. 

For more information on the workshop contact lynettedaviswrites@gmail.com or follow Davis on Twitter @wewalkbyfaith88 or Instagram @Lynettewrites. To contact the library call (909) 381-8235.

HIGH DESERT, CA- High Desert Charitable organization strives to assist homeless residents with providing warm crocheted and knitted hats, caps, scarves etc. for warmth during the cold nights.  Your assistance with providing a financial donation and/or yarn in an effort to complete the projects is very much appreciated and will serve many individuals and families in need. Kindly contact Bonita Merrill via email singerforlife777@gmail.com for more details on how you can help.

By Naomi K. Bonman

The desert, Palm Springs to be exact, got a new a vibe during the weekend of Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 9. Style Fashion Week premiered Spring/Summer 2018 designer lines at the Palm Springs Air Museum.  

Despite the wind that comes along with being in Palm Springs, Style Fashion Week was still a remarkable event with each designer bringing some of their hottest designs for the upcoming seasons. This season, the designers that were featured included: Sweet Talks Swim, Father Akki, Underrated, Richard Hallmarq, Andre Emery, Smock Me, Bohimi Couture, David Tupaz, Merlin Castell, Glaudi, Mario De La Torre, House of Grayling Purnell, Royal Heart by Sergio Davila and Andrew Christian.

In addition to the illustrious designers, Style Fashion Week always incorporates music. Some of the performers this season included: MANN, Sofia Zorian and Chris Stylez.

To view photos from the show, please click here.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

Stephon Clark’s memorial service held Thursday was a chance for both national and local figures to share their opinions about the latest police shooting of an unarmed black man.

Hundreds gathered to mourn the life of Stephon Clark at BOSS Church in South Sacramento, CA. Clark was shot and killed by law enforcement officers that encountered him while responding to neighborhood complaints of car windows being broken on March 18. Clark was mistakenly believed to be in possession of a gun but was found only to be holding his cell phone.

Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, spoke at the memorial. He slammed the media for the way they were trying to frame the story.

“This is not black versus white, this is right versus wrong,” he said.

Photo by Antonio R. Harvey: Matt Barns Former NBA player, friends and family take Stephon Clark to his final resting place.

He also took a swipe at White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders who described Clark’s shooting as “a local matter.”

“This is not a local issue, it’s a national problem,” he said.  “A problem this president wants to ignore.”

Matt Barnes, a former NBA player, spoke after the memorial service. Barnes also organized a rally in Clark’s name. He said the issue hit home with him because he was a parent.

“I’m a father of two young boys, and I fear for their lives,” said Barnes. “Not only in the streets, but also behinds the hands of cops.”

Julie Debbs, a Sacramento resident, said Clark’s death could serve as a unifying force in the black community. She noted that several local gangs had attended the funeral peacefully.

“Everybody came together today. This is beautiful. Maybe this will bring us all together as one,” she said.

RIALTO, CA- Hoping to boost voter turnout for the upcoming mid-term and future elections, a collaborative of local nonprofit service organizations is pooling their resources to educate, empower and motivate residents (ages 16 years and older) to register, vote and become more involved in all levels of government that affect our lives.

The nearly 20 nonprofits — who have named their partnership Inland Empowered — are hosting two “B’CAUSE U” Voter Empowerment Workshops this month on Saturday, April 7 at the Carolyn E. Wylie Center located at 4164 Brockton Avenue in Riverside and on Saturday, April 14 at San Bernardino Valley College located at 701 S. Mount Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino. The workshops will begin at 10 a.m.

An opening performance by members of Youth Action Project will set the stage for the workshops, followed by the first presentation on “What Government Is & What It Is Supposed To Do For You.” Marc K. Fudge, Ph.D., Professor of Public Administration at Cal State University of San Bernardino (CSUSB) will present on April 7, and Dr. Brian Janiskee, Chair of the Department of Political Science at CSUSB will be the April 14 presenter.

Spoken word and dance performances by Destiny Muse, Chelsea Davis, Caleb Collins and others will precede and then follow the second presentation on “Understanding What Propositions Really Mean & Why Your Vote Matters.” Joan Donahue, Vice President of the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Riverside will make the presentation on April 7, and Jill Vassilakos-Long, Co-President of the LWV of the San Bernardino Area will present on April 14.

“Our collaborative chose to design a creative, educational program that will allow people to gain a better understanding of government on local, state, and federal levels and to become more involved in the decisions each level makes that impact their everyday lives,” said Lisha Smith, Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Inland Empire Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., who manages Inland Empowered’s planning meetings.

“Inland Empowered believes that knowledge is power,” she added. “That’s what we are offering through these workshops, knowledge to awaken people to the realization of the power that lies within their vote.”

The workshops are free, but individuals attending are asked to register through Eventbrite.com. Free refreshments will be provided and there will be raffle drawings during the workshops.

Members of Inland Empowered

• 100 Black Men of the Inland Empire
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• BLU Educational Foundation
• Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• Fair Housing Council of Riverside County
• Inland Empire National Pan Hellenic Council
• Inland Empire Section, National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
• Knights of Peter Claver
• Ladies Auxiliary League of Women Voters of Riverside
• League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area NAACP of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties Riverside
• African American Historical Society
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
• The Group, Riverside
• Youth Action Project, Inc.