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Four organizations receive the prestigious Yawa’ Award from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

HIGHLAND, CA— The 2024 Forging Hope Awards, hosted by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, recognized four outstanding nonprofit organizations for their exemplary contributions to the quality of life in the Inland Empire.

Recipients of the 2024 Yawa’ Award, the Tribe’s highest honors, included California Indian Nations College; Keres Children’s Learning Center; National Indian Child Welfare Association; and The Salvation Army.

“Each Yawa’ Award recipient embodies extraordinary dedication to their communities. In our Serrano language, Yawa’ means to ‘act on one’s beliefs.’ We will never forget the kindness extended to our Tribal family before we had the means to envision a brighter future,” said Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. ”It is an honor to stand with these community heroes.”

San Manuel partners with hundreds of organizations each year, giving nearly $400 million since 2002 to organizations serving Inland Empire and Indian Country communities, to reinforce the spirit of Yawa’ and empower positive change.

To learn more about the Tribe’s giving program, visit sanmanuelcares.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans is pleased to welcome Piyumie Wickramasinghe, Ph.D. as the agency’s new Director of Safety & Security.

As leader of the Safety & Security Department, Wickramasinghe will oversee agency safety compliance and initiatives and internal and external security efforts.

“Piyumie’s extensive safety, health management and emergency response experience will be key as she leads Omnitrans’ safety culture and enhanced security efforts,” said CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers.

“I am looking forward to working with the Safety & Security team to enhance customer and employee security and fulfill Omnitrans’ goal of putting safety first in everything we do,” said Wickramasinghe.

Prior to Omnitrans, Wickramasinghe served as Regional Director of Health and Safety for National Express LLC and Regional Safety Manager for Reyes Holdings. She has also held positions in Environmental Health and Chemical Safety at the University of Southern California, where she earned a doctorate degree in Chemistry.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) 22nd Annual Awards Gala will honor outstanding individuals and organizations that go above and beyond for our communities and continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

Dawn Downs is a beacon of humility and compassion, quietly making an indelible impact in the healthcare field. Behind her unassuming demeanor lies a wealth of achievements and a profound commitment to the well-being of others.

Armed with multiple degrees, including Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Dawn’s expertise is matched only by her unwavering dedication. Her exemplary service has earned her accolades such as the Spirit of Caring award from Sharp and the Guardian Angel award, testament to her exceptional contributions to the field.

Dawn is also a successful entrepreneur, overseeing operations at several healthcare companies, including Symbiosis Ambulance, Symbiosis Urgent Care, and Care Ambulance. Facing her own medical challenges, Dawn navigated a labyrinth of misdiagnoses before advocating for her own health and discovering a rare genetic heart disorder. This deeply personal experience ignited her passion for patient advocacy and instilled in her a fierce determination to ensure that no patient’s concerns go unheard.

Dawn’s story is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of empathy. Her own struggles have fueled her unwavering commitment to providing compassionate care to all those she serves. As she continues her journey, Dawn’s legacy of compassion and dedication will undoubtedly continue to inspire those around her.

“For Dawn, true success is measured not in accolades or titles, but in the lives she has touched and the difference she has made in the lives of her patients,” says Mrs. Kim Carter-Tillman, Ambassador at the Time for Change Foundation.

Other Award Honorees include: 

Bobby Wagner, football player of the NFL, with the Philanthropist of the Year Award; Laurena Bolden at San Manuel Band of Mission Indians with the Community Champion Award; Dr. Rita (Faridah) Ali from We 2 Matter with the Humanitarian Award; Rev. George Lamb at F.A.C.C.T with the Lifetime Achievement Award; Kellie Todd Griffin at CA Black Women’s Collective with the Michelle Obama Courage Award; Pastor Craig Hadley from Paradox Church with the Nancy Varner Angel Award; and Rialto ROTC with the Ramos Family Spirit of Compassion Award.

Time for Change Foundation’s 22nd Annual Awards Gala will be held on Friday, April 19th, 2024, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California at 6:00 p.m. PST. To support the work of Time for Change Foundation, you can become a sponsor, purchase an ad in the event program book, or purchase a Gala ticket.

To register for the event or to become a sponsor and increase your business’s visibility in the community, please visit our website at www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org, or contact Florence White at (909) 886-2994 or by email at fwhite@timeforchangefoundation.org.

By Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media 

California Volunteers, part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California for All initiative, last week announced that it is recruiting hundreds of young people in the across the state to participate in its paid service programs aligned with opportunities to solve some of the state’s most challenging problems like climate change, hatred, education disparities, and more.

Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson joined Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer at the event organized to celebrate the first anniversary of California Volunteers launch of its Job Corps fellow program in Riverside and to announce the new recruitment.

Lock Dawson said in Riverside alone, 100 California Volunteer college job corps fellows have been placed with a number of organizations.

“Governor Newsom and California Volunteers working in partnership with leaders like Mayor Lock Dawson believe that service has the power to connect us. Service has the power to teach us,” said Fryday.

“We are announcing today here in Riverside to recruit across the State of California over 10,000 members of the California Service Corps,” said Fryday. “We need your help getting the word out about CaServiceCorps.com where you can find out about all the opportunities to fit your needs and your passion.

“You don’t have to let your past define your future. In fact your future is now and it starts today with the Service Corps,” said Lock Dawson.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched the Take on Alzheimer’s campaign in late February.

The awareness campaign is aimed toward educating all Californians about brain health, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, and ways to improve communication between patients’ loved ones and health care providers.

Over the next 20 years, the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dimensions (AD/ADRDs) on the State of California will increase dramatically, according to the CDPH.  Longer life expectancies and the aging of the baby boomer generation will lead to an increase in the number and percentage of Californians who will be 65 years of age and older. Since the primary risk factor for AD/ADRDs is older age, a significant increase is anticipated in the numbers of people who will be living with the disease.

“It’s critical to build dementia expertise into programs and services supporting our state’s increasingly diverse older adult population, including family caregivers and our workforce,” said Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging in a press release.

“Widespread prevention, screening and detection will enable more families to make important social, medical, financial, and personal decisions and we want our aging network to be well equipped to meet their needs.”

In 2019, approximately 660,000 Californians over 65 years of age lived with AD/ADRDs, which accounted for roughly 11% of the disease’s prevalence across the United States (5.8 million people).

Between 2019 and 2040 a doubling in the number of Californians living with AD/ADRDs is expected. This increase will affect all regions of the state across various demographic groups.

Women are especially impacted by the disease, making up nearly two-thirds of diagnosed Americans. Other groups disproportionately impacted include older Black Americans, who are twice as likely to develop the disease. In the next 20 years, the number of people living with AD/ADRDs is projected to triple, growing to 91,071 people.

Latinos are one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than White older adults.

Additional CDPH estimates indicate that between 2019 and 2040:

California’s population will grow by 16%, while the population of people living with AD/ADRDs will expand by 127%;

• The number of Californians over 75 years of age living with AD/ADRDs will more than double, growing to over 1.3 million.
• The number of Californians between 55 and 74 years of age living with AD/ADRDs will increase 26%, growing to 194,975 people.
• The number of people living with AD/ADRDs in California’s fifteen most populous counties (those with a population of 700,000 or more) will at least double.
• The number of Californians living with AD/ADRDs will increase by 11% for women, growing to 917,482 people; and increase by 8% for men, growing to 609,197 people.
• The number of people living with AD/ADRDs more than double for Californians who identify as Asian American/Pacific Islander, growing to 241,106 people.

The Take on Alzheimer’s Campaign aims to reach these disproportionally impacted communities through multilingual and multicultural advertising, partnerships with community-based organizations and engaging trusted ethnic media journalists. The campaign also plans to educate these communities about brain health, the signs of aging, and ADRD symptoms to make a positive impact on them and their loved ones by promoting brain health and benefiting from early detection and diagnosis.

“This campaign will empower our diverse communities to support brain health, better understand and the difference between signs of aging and symptoms of dementia and encourage individuals to have important conversations with their loved ones and health care providers,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Tomás J. Aragón in a release.

The campaign also believes starting honest and empathetic conversations with friends, loved ones or a healthcare provider can be critical to improving outcomes and combating fear and stigma associated with AD/ADRDs.

Based on population-level evidence, the sex health conditions and behaviors that increase risk for cognitive decline and AD are midlife hypertension (age 45-64), physical inactivity, midlife obesity (age 45-64), diabetes, smoking (age 45 and older) and poor sleep (less than six hours a night).

Visit TakeonALZ.com to learn ways people can help reduce their risk and take charge of their brain health before or after an AD/ADRD diagnosis.

BLOOMINGTON, CA – Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., Dodger Alumni Mickey Hatcher and Derrel

Thomas, and Assembly Member Eloise Gomez Reyes marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighting community spirit and a commitment to recreation and youth development. It was a day of celebration in Bloomington as local families and little league teams gathered for the start of the Bloomington Little League’s new season.

The refurbished Kessler Park features newly installed modern lighting to brighten evening events, a decorative iron fence to enhance safety and security, and a revitalized snack bar. These improvements aim to enhance infrastructure and give the Bloomington community a sense of pride.

Supervisor Baca, Jr. stated, “The upgrades to Kessler Park represent our commitment to our families and our youth. By investing in our parks, we are investing in our future. San Bernardino County is laying the groundwork for a healthier, more vibrant community.”

The Fifth District also announced a generous $10,000 donation to the Bloomington Little League. This contribution will facilitate the league’s efforts in organizing sports programs, purchasing new equipment, and ensuring all children could engage in healthy physical activity.

Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. added “We’re building an open space where our kids can just be kids—run around, play ball, and laugh. We’re making sure every hardworking family has the chance to just have fun.

Kessler Park Revitalization marks a significant moment for the Bloomington community, opening new possibilities for families and children to experience joy and community spirit together.

By Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey, and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media 

Gov. Gavin Newsom is committed to creating more jobs, faster, and increasing pathways to higher paying careers for Californians from all backgrounds, according to his office.

To achieve these goals, on March 8, Newsom announced the formation of a new state-level committee focused on increasing jobs called the California Jobs First Council. He also awarded $182 million in grants to 13 organizations around the state involved in developing viable economic development projects that will stimulate employment and attract significant government and private sector investments.

Gov. Newsom has appointed Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to Governor Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development to co-chair the council. She will work alongside co-chair Stewart Knox, California Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development.

“I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to align strategic investments that further economic growth and job creation in every region of California,” said Myers.

Other members of the council are the Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research; Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency; Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency; Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency; Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs; and the President of the Public Utilities Commission.

“California has created more opportunities, more jobs, and more businesses than any other state, but we need to ensure that we’re all moving forward together,” Newsom said in a statement. “Through this new council and these investments, we’re aligning all of our economic resources to create more jobs, faster for Californians in every community.”

APRIL 26, 1948 – FEBRUARY 9, 2024

On February 9, 2024, Dumas Martin, Jr., passed away at the age of 75-years-old. The community will gather to say their final farewell on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11 a.m. at The African American Museum of Beginnings located at 1460 E Holt Avenue, Suite 188, Pomona, CA 91767. Everyone will start assembling at 10 a.m. prior to the start of the memorial at 11 a.m.

APPLE VALLEY, CA— On Saturday, March 23rd, Music Changing Lives (MCL) and the California Health Collaborative – San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program (CHC – SBCTCP) will hold a powerful community dialogue to address underage tobacco sales taking place in the Town of Apple Valley. This exclusive event is a call to action for parents, students, and residents to join the conversation and discover how they can play a part in standing against tobacco. The event will be held from 12pm – 2:30pm at the United In Christ Baptist Church located at 13580 Nomwaket Rd., Apple Valley, CA 92308.

More than an informative session, this event is an invitation for residents to actively engage in a meaningful and creative dialogue about cultivating a healthier community. Exciting activities include the Apple Valley Against Tobacco poster art contest, the premiere of a compelling music video by MCL youth sharing their perspectives on the impacts of tobacco, and presentations from key speakers representing MCL and CHC.

Josiah Bruny, CEO & Founder of Music Changing Lives, emphasized, “One of the key reasons MCL is part of this campaign is to protect our youth.  Cities and towns across our region need tobacco retail licensing (TRL) policies to prevent retailers from selling tobacco products to underage youth, potentially exposing them to a lifelong nicotine addiction. Local TRL policies can be adapted to meet the unique needs of our communities such as restricting them from selling tobacco products within 1000 feet of youth sensitive areas. As we continue to survey tobacco retailers in different cities, we continue to find stores willing to sell tobacco to our kids. This is unacceptable and detrimental to the health and well-being of future generations.”

To attend the event, community members can RSVP at https://1l.ink/BXB4H7D. A complimentary and delicious lunch will be provided for all guests who join in on the conversation.

The March 23 conversation marks the second event in a 3-part series hosted by Music Changing Lives and the California Health Collaborative -San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program in the campaign, Apple Valley Against Tobacco. The first event took place in February and served as a significant platform for advancing campaign initiatives by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, disseminating crucial information, and mobilizing community support for tobacco prevention efforts. The recent event featured key speakers, including Bruny, who discussed the impact of music programs on youth development and substance abuse prevention, while CHC highlighted the importance of community collaboration in addressing underage tobacco sales.  The California Health Collaborative – San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program participated and shared strategies on how to combat sales to youth and enforce regulations.

Ms. Jones, a past event attendee stated, “[I] truly enjoyed the event’s impact on increasing awareness, empowering youth to make healthy choices, and fostering a sense of unity in the community’s commitment to combatting underage tobacco sales.”

For more information about Music Changing Lives and its initiatives, visit www.MusicChangingLives.org or call 951-992-0721.

About MCL and California Health Collaborative:

Music Changing Lives stands as a catalyst for positive change, dedicated to addressing youth advocacy, social injustices, and health disparities within communities. Leveraging the transformative power of music and art, the organization strives to create impactful initiatives that resonate with individuals, fostering positive transformation and community well-being.

The California Health Collaborative is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization committed to enhancing the quality of life and health of the people of California, particularly the underserved and underrepresented. Learn more at www.healthcollaborative.org.

RIVERSIDE, CA— Join the “Dancing with the Leaders of the Inland Empire” project! There will be auditions and an information meeting on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., held at 6377 Riverside Avenue, Suite 120, Riverside, CA 92506.

This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, as part of the Creative Corps Inland SoCal Arts Project. The “Dancing with the Leaders of the Inland Empire” multi-media production will be touring this Summer 2024 with three shows in three locations! Victorville 6/8/24, San Bernardino 6/15/24, and Riverside 6/22/24.  More information is coming soon.