Local

United Way and the Los Angeles Rams hosted 7,500 WalkUnitedLA participants, who stepped up to fight poverty and honor moms with a special Mother’s Day Celebration

INGLEWOOD, CA— United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Rams, local community, and philanthropic organizations, and 7,500 participants raised nearly $1.2M during WalkUnitedLA 2024 at SoFi Stadium on May 11. This annual family- friendly walk brought communities together from across the county to power the fight to break cycles of poverty and build communities of prosperity in Los Angeles.

This year’s WalkUnitedLA Honorary Chairs were Rams players: Steve Avila, Ernest Jones, Kobie Turner, and Kyren Williams. Andrew Whitworth, 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and Super Bowl LVI Champion, served as the event’s co-host. In addition, Rams fans had the opportunity to meet the Rams 2024 Rookie Class in their first community appearance following the NFL Draft.

“When I signed [with the Rams] in 2017, something was very clear, the Los Angeles Rams wanted to be a leader in making a positive impact in the community of Los Angeles,” said Andrew Whitworth. “I couldn’t be happier to have been a part of what we’ve been able to do over the last few years. WalkUnitedLA has given us this platform to bring thousands of people together, all to help our most vulnerable neighbors. That is the greatest way to live life, for somebody other than just you.”

The event also featured a special Mother’s Day Celebration, including photo opportunities and giveaways that honored mothers and mother figures in attendance, whose love and every day contributions build stronger communities.

“WalkUnitedLA is a powerful and unique event that brings together people from all ages, diverse backgrounds, and walks of life, joining forces to boost affordable housing, help community college students succeed, and ensure economic mobility in low-income communities,” said Elise Buik, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “I am thrilled to see the unlocked power of participants to make a real impact in building communities of prosperity across our region.”

Those joined by their mothers and mother figures were able to capture a memorable photo opportunity with Rams Cheerleaders, gift flowers, and post loving messages to their moms in the big heart-shaped sign. Kids had playing time at the Rams Kids Zone, and participants could enjoy international cuisine from food trucks and the beer garden. Walkers and runners had the opportunity to enjoy live entertainment, dance and stretch routines led by the Rams Cheerleaders, the team’s mascot Rampage, and more.

“Every day we strive to win on the field and to help Los Angeles win off the field. This event has become one of the signatures of our offseason now in its third year,” said LosAngelesRamsPresidentKevinDemoff. “We are so grateful to our partners, our runners, our walkers and our community leaders who helped make WalkUnitedLA so special. Your presence here today at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park sends the message that you care and that you are committed to playing a role in the fight to end poverty.”

Since 2007, WalkUnitedLA (formerly known as HomeWalk) has brought together nearly 150,000 people from across Los Angeles County and raised over $10 million to end homelessness, becoming the single largest annual event to end homelessness nationwide.

WalkUnitedLA was made possible thanks to the support of sponsors including the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; the Annenberg Foundation; East West Bank; The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation; Health Net; SoCalGas; Deloitte, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; PwC; Waymo; Kaiser Permanente; Oaktree Capital Management; Cedars-Sinai; Edison International; ACCO Engineered Systems; City National Bank; US Bank; Enterprise Mobility; Torrance Refining Company and Media sponsor ABC-7/KABC-TV Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit www.walkunitedla.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- First 5 San Bernardino is celebrating 25 years of prioritizing young children’s early development in San Bernardino County.  The organization strengthens families with children prenatal through 5 years old through three strategic priority areas – child health, quality early learning and family support.

First 5 San Bernardino was founded in 1998 and funded by Proposition 10 – The California Children and Families Act – through excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products.  The revenue from this tax supports the various programs supported through the organization.

“What began from an effort to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco has evolved into a collective impact where tens of thousands of children, parents and caregivers have been served through our programs, services and partnerships,” said Executive Director Karen Scott, First 5 San Bernardino.  “We have worked hard to build meaningful partnerships with organizations in our county who share in our mission to improve the lives of our children and their families.”

Over the past 25 years, First 5 San Bernardino has built sustaining collaborations with dozens of partner agencies, nonprofits and community stakeholders to help thousands of families. Engagement with programs such as Quality Start, Help Me Grow, Maternal Health Network, Smile SBC, Footsteps2Brilliance and more, ensure that all children in San Bernardino County are healthy, safe, nurtured and prepared to thrive.

Two Inland Empire programs that First 5 San Bernardino has served as a critical partner are Reach Out and Read and Help Me Grow. Marti Baum, MD, pediatrician and medical director of Community Health at Loma Linda University Health, has served as a physician champion for both programs.

“We congratulate First 5 San Bernardino for 25 years of exceptional work on behalf of children in our community,” said Dr. Baum.  “Our region is making significant progress in collaborating on early intervention and prevention goals, so all children are kindergarten-ready by age 5.  Thanks to First 5 San Bernardino, we have distributed over 100,000 books to children during well child visits across 30 pediatric clinics.

“Help Me Grow Inland Empire has screened over 15,000 children since its inception in 2021 and together with First 5 San Bernardino, has created a future where even more children will be screened for developmental and social risks to identify the need for early intervention services,” concluded Dr. Baum.

First 5 San Bernardino’s three priority areas are supported by annual campaigns that launch at different times throughout the year. In the winter, the organization executes an oral health campaign called “Little Teeth, Big Responsibility” that emphasizes the importance of pediatric oral health.  Summer focuses on child safety in the hot months through its “Kid Safe Summer” campaign, and “Gift a Kid a Book” happens each fall encouraging early reading to build developmental learning skills.

In its 25^th year, the organization has a dedicated logo that will be used throughout 2024 to celebrate the milestone.  Other efforts include updated branding, new partnerships and innovative marketing and social media efforts.

The organization continues to grow in its community outreach efforts to meet the needs of families across the large footprint of San Bernardino County, the largest county by geography in the contiguous United States.  First 5 San Bernardino continues to collaborate with partners at community events throughout the year to provide resources and information to families. This includes everything from providing free school supplies and books, to water safety materials and promoting special programs.

For more information on First 5 San Bernardino, visit First5SanBernardino.org.

RIALTO, CA—- Rialto’s commitment to public safety was on full display Monday, May 13, as more than 100 City and civic leaders help break ground on a state-of-the-art, 58,000-square-foot Police Facility. Construction started on the new facility earlier this month and is anticipated to finish by late 2026. The existing police station will remain operational during the construction period, with no interruption in service.

By building the new station now, the city will be able to meet the public safety and quality-of-life needs well into the future. By 2035, Rialto forecasts its population to exceed 111,000, along with continued business expansion that has made it a critical economic and employment hub within the Inland Empire. Police staffing by 2035 is projected to reach 169 sworn officers and 91 civilian staff.

“This has been a long road, but we’ve finally gotten here, with the help of a lot of people. This station is for the men and women of the Rialto Police Department. You are, by far, the finest in this state, if not this nation, and you deserve the finest facility to operate in. This is a new chapter for Rialto and Rialto PD, and I’m thrilled that we can celebrate this together,” said Rialto City Councilmember Ed Scott who was part of the committee that planned the new facility.

Last November, the City Council approved a development agreement with Griffin, Swinerton and a financing agreement that includes the issuing of lease revenue bonds to help cover the projected $83 million cost of the project. The City contributed $26 million from its unrestricted fund balance – money that is not part of the General Fund or other operating reserves as equity toward the project. The balance, estimated at roughly $57 million, is financed through the sale of bonds. The agreement with Griffin Swinerton reflects an innovative public-private partnership which streamlines the development process.

“When I got up this morning to get here for the groundbreaking, I thought about what this means to the people of our community, and the first word that came to me was ‘transformation.’ I’m proud to see to see the transformation that occurring, not just with the police station but with other projects that are improving the quality of life across our city,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson, who also served on the station planning committee.

“On behalf of the Rialto Police Department, we are honored to serve the Rialto community and we’re looking forward to this new police facility to set the standard for law enforcement,” said Mark Kling, Chief of Police who has served in that capacity since 2017, and also served as Chief of Police for Rialto from 2001 to 2012.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA —- Golden Valley Middle School (GVMS) in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is taking center stage as a School to Watch, according to the California Department of Education (CDE), the California League of Middle Schools, the California Middle Grades Alliance and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

“Their focus on health and wellness and the high expectations they place on student achievement are just a few reasons why Golden Valley Middle School SHINES,” said SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano.

GVMS is one of only eight middle schools in San Bernardino County and 52 middle schools statewide to earn this state designation. Golden Valley originally earned the designation in 2018 and was redesignated in 2021. This 2024 redesignation affirms that Golden Valley continues to be:

• Academically challenging and engaging;
• Responsive to the diverse needs of students, including offering quality programs that target the needs of the whole child;
• Socially equitable, providing every student with high-quality educational resources and support.

Among the practices that earned Golden Valley the Schools to Watch designation are its dedication to student and family wellness and activities designed to create a positive school climate.

“Students can’t focus on learning when they aren’t feeling well, when they are dealing with mental illness, when they aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from or when they fear for their family’s health and wellness,” said GVMS Principal Gabriel Diaz. “That’s why we expanded our focus beyond just our students’ academic needs to their social-emotional needs and the needs of their immediate families.”

Teachers work hard to create safe learning spaces by creating maps for successful learning that are clear and understandable. By using a common language for expressing themselves, students know what they need to be successful and how to ask for the help they need, and teachers know where to focus their support. This teamwork approach allows students to feel safe and supported as they learn new concepts and face challenges in and out of the classroom.

School staff and counselors offer a variety of health and wellness resources to students and their families. This includes health screenings, access to therapy and mental health providers, food banks, transportation to access these services and more.

About San Bernardino City Unified School District:

The San Bernardino City Unified School District is California’s eighth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares more than 46,000 students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY— In a bold move to amplify youth voices and confront the realities of underage tobacco sales, Music Changing Lives (MCL) and the California Health Collaborative – San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program (CHC – SBCTCP) are gearing up for their Youth-Led Community Resource Fair happening on June 1, 2024. This event, slated to take place from 2:00pm – 5:00pm at the United In Christ Baptist Church, marks a significant milestone in the fight against underage tobacco consumption.

The Resource Fair is a follow-up to the recent Community Dialogue events held in February and March, where the organizations revealed alarming findings from their collaborative investigative efforts. The Community Dialogues, attended by concerned community members, served as a platform to dissect the prevalence of underage tobacco sales and strategize preventive measures.

During decoy operations conducted in early 2024, youths aged 18 to 20 were deployed to local tobacco retailers in Apple Valley, only to discover that they could readily purchase tobacco products, including flavored Swisher Sweets, despite California’s ban on flavored tobacco since late 2022 under Senate Bill 793. Patricia Lopez, CHC Program Manager, grimly affirmed, “Our youth were able to purchase tobacco products in Apple Valley even being under 21.”

In response to these findings, the Apple Valley Against Tobacco campaign was initiated at the onset of 2024, fueled by a sense of urgency to safeguard the youth from the perils of tobacco use. Apple Valley Council Member Curt Emick, echoing the community’s concerns during the March event, emphasized the imperative to educate and hold accountable retailers who ignore laws by selling to underage youth. “Let’s let those companies know. Put it on Facebook – this company sells to 18-year-olds,” urged Emick.

While specific retailer names remain confidential, community members are urged to expose offenders to thwart future sales to minors and disseminate vital information to the broader community. A comprehensive report on underage tobacco sales in Apple Valley by the CHC – SBCTCP will be made available to the public in the coming months.

The upcoming Community Resource Fair on June 1 will be a rallying point for community members and youth advocates alike. The youth-led event will be aimed at addressing underage tobacco sales, use, and overdose prevention. Participants will have access to valuable resources, engage in crucial dialogue, enjoy live musical performances and art activities, all while learning actionable ways to combat underage tobacco sales and contribute positively to their community.

Josiah Bruny, CEO & Founder of MCL emphasized the pivotal role of the community involvement, stating, “Through collective action and sustained advocacy, progress can be achieved in preventing access of tobacco products to minors and promoting healthier lifestyles for our youth.”

Join Music Changing Lives and the California Health Collaborative – San Bernardino County Tobacco Control Program on June 1 as they continue their mission to foster awareness, education, and action surrounding tobacco-related public health issues.

For more information and to RSVP, visit www.musicchanginglives.org/upcoming-events . For direct inquiries, please call 951-992-0721.

LOS ANGELES, CA—- Rubyána, a young singer-songwriter in the Latin music scene, is scheduled to release a sizzling new single titled “Luz Verde” penned by the artist herself this summer via her social media channels and streaming platforms.

The LA-based artist recently assembled an impressive team to help launch her career to new heights. Team members include veteran marketing executive and promoter Issy Sanchez, as well as Thiago Machado, founder and CEO of the leading digital marketing company, Ranked Music. Taken together, these creative entrepreneurs have worked with the likes of Anita, Camilla Cabello, Drake, Alicia Keys, and many other prominent artists.

Rubyana recently covered the hit song “La Diabla” by Xavi. Her feminine approach paired with her unique voice and delivery adds a fresh perspective to the mega-hit song. The cover even gained the attention of Xavi, who started to follow Rubyána on Instagram. The video for the song “La Diabla” was filmed in popular landmarks in L. A & Tijuana, Playas de Tijuana, and Rosarito Beach

Rubyána’s career has steadily been gaining momentum, and her new music will surely expand her fan base. Currently, Rubyána is on a high school and middle school tour in Southern California and Baja California. The principal at Cecytebc Grupo LA Mission High School in Rosarito, Mexico was especially thankful for her recent performance. The principal noted that nobody has ever come to his school to do anything like this and was grateful for Rubyána giving back to the community.

Watch the video of the “La Diabla” cover by Rubyána 

 “La Diabla” is available now on all digital platforms.
For more information about Rubyána, please visit https://linker.ee/rubyana

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

California’s permanent housing and emergency shelter capacity programs are struggling to meet the homeless population’s growing housing needs, a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report stated.

California has launched several programs to mitigate its homelessness crisis – the worst in the nation — which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, federal funding helped the state increase emergency shelter beds by 34% during the pandemic. However, the shelters only provided temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness.

The PPIC stated that the increase in homelessness indicates that California needs to expand housing programs to accommodate the growing population.

The “programs that can prevent and mitigate homelessness and housing instability are more urgently needed than ever,” the PPIC stated.

Across California, there remains a shortage of beds in shelters for unhoused people. The report estimates that the state has more than 180,000 homeless people but only about 70,000 beds, accounting for an overall shortage of nearly 110,000 beds.

The state’s struggle to provide permanent housing persists despite establishing partnerships with community-based organizations to tackle the problem.

California’s government has spent billions to increase capacity, but the rising cost of living and limited progress has made it difficult to get rid of homelessness. Local governments have also struggled to track city spending and provide accurate audits of housing programs.

A major concern for the state, according to the report, is that local governments are running out of pandemic-related relief funds. This has led to a decline in the number of beds funded by the Emergency Solutions Grants – Coronavirus (ESG-CV) program. Local governments have urged the state to increase funding for city housing programs, but city officials are yet to establish a reliable method to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs.

LAS VEGAS, NV— This week, Assemblymember Chris Holden joined State and National leaders for the historic groundbreaking of the Brightline West high-speed rail. Assemblymember Holden has been a lifelong advocate of regional transportation and connectivity across the west coast. Last year, as Chair of the Select Committee on Regional Transportation Solutions, Holden hosted an informational hearing last year featuring Brightline West on the panel and they shared plans on the early stages of the production of the historic rail line.

“I am so pleased to see this project come into fruition. Transportation is a key part of opening doors and opportunities. The benefit of better connectivity goes beyond convenience and will impact our regional dedication to environmental health, equity, business opportunity, economic growth, and so much more,” said Assemblymember Holden. “This high-speed rail is a major step, but still only the beginning of great innovation and change for our country.”

The 218-mile system will be constructed in the middle of the I-15 and is based on Brightline’s vision to connect city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive. Hailed as the greenest form of transportation in the world, Brightline West will run zero emission, fully electric trains capable of speeds of 200 miles per hour. The groundbreaking included remarks from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Brightline Founder Wes Edens, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Jacky Rosen, Senior Advisor to President Biden Steve Benjamin and Vince Saavedra of the Southern Nevada Building Trades.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is proud to announce that the nonprofit organization Pure Land Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Education Medal of Honor for its outstanding contributions to the community through its mobile food pantry initiative.

The award was presented on April 29 by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre at the 2024 Spring Awards in recognition of Pure Land Foundation’s dedication to addressing food insecurity and providing essential support to thousands of families in need.

Pure Land Foundation’s mobile food pantry initiative has been a lifeline for families facing food insecurity in our community, particularly during challenging times. Through this initiative, the organization distributes nutritious food items directly to families in underserved areas, ensuring that they have access to healthy meals and essential resources. The mobile food pantry visits various neighborhoods throughout San Bernardino, always operating out of SBCUSD campuses and with support from dozens of student volunteers, serving about a thousand families each month and making a meaningful difference in their lives.

“SBCUSD is honored to have nominated Pure Land Foundation for the Education Medal of Honor, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to them on this well-deserved recognition,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “We’re working hard to elevate not just our school district but also our community. If we’re able to meet a lot of the basic needs of our families, we believe that’s going to have a monumental impact not just to the district but to the city as a whole. Pure Land Foundation’s commitment to serving our community aligns with our District’s mission to support the well-being of all students and families. We are grateful for their partnership and the invaluable support they provide to our community.”

Pure Land Foundation’s efforts exemplify the spirit of compassion and service that strengthens our community, according to Pure Land Foundation’s founder and CEO Michael Tsai, who accepted the award on the nonprofit’s behalf.

“We as community partners want to help,” Tsai said in a moving acceptance speech. “We believe that education is the great equalizer, however not every family and not every child starts off on the same footing as one another.”

For more information about Pure Land Foundation and their mobile food pantry initiative, visit www.facebook/pureland.ie.

About San Bernardino City Unified School District:

The San Bernardino City Unified School District is California’s eighth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares more than 46,000 students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities.

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

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) addressed a group of advocates and activists, including formerly incarcerated men and women at the State Capitol last week.  She promised them that she is determined to advance Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 “across the finish line” for voters’ to decide in a November General Election referendum.

Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), was speaking at an April 29 rally at the State Capitol organized to promote “The End Slavery in California Act,” a measure that Wilson authored to amend the California Constitution, abolishing involuntary servitude in prisons across the state.

“For me, it’s a priority to reassert our unwavering commitment to ACA 8 but not just myself as the author but also the entire legislative Black caucus,” Wilson said at the rally held on the southeast end of the State Capitol’s grounds.

“This is not just legislation. It is a declaration of our value and resolve to end all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude in our state. ACA is vital because it proposes to remove the ‘exception’ for involuntary servitude from the state’s constitution, declaring unequivocally that all forms of slavery are prohibited,” she added.

The “Quest for Democracy (Q4D)” rally was hosted by All of Us or None of Us (AOUNOU), a grassroots civil and human rights organization focused on supporting formerly and currently incarcerated people and their families.

AOUNOU members, advocates, justice-impacted leaders, and supporters from all over the state of California attended the rally and other activities organized around the event in Sacramento. Their goal was to educate lawmakers and participants about prison reform and the importance of ACA 8.

In addition to the morning-to-midafternoon rally, an exhibit of 400 black-and-white photos was on display. AOUNOU collected images from family members of individuals who allegedly died “at the hands of law enforcement,” one of the markers at the exhibit stated.

During the rally, many former incarcerated individuals, along with organizers, and supporters took turns performing songs, reading poems, and sharing their experiences working in California’s penal institutions. They also shared stories detailing the repercussions they suffered in prisons when they refused to work.

The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified in 1865. It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude with one exception: if involuntary servitude was imposed as punishment for a crime.

John Cannon, a member of AOUNOU, performed his hip-hop song, “No Exception: All of Us or None of Us” at the rally. He revealed that he served time in prison and was forced to work in various roles without the ability to object. He worked in warehouses, as a firefighter, and in other jobs. Understanding that the “prison industrial complex is a well-oiled machine,” he said, his mission is to see that forced labor is no longer an option.

“Sometimes I don’t think my voice is heard but since I’ve become a member of (AOUNOU) my voice has been heard. Especially for Quest for Democracy, for people like me who have been incarcerated before,” Cannon said. “I am able to go to the State Capitol and get our voices heard in a collective fashion. The issue that is really important to me right now is ending and removing involuntary servitude from the State’s Constitution.”

Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as punishment for a crime.” Former state Sen. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) originally proposed ACA 3 in 2020, when she served in the Assembly, to remove this exception.

The Senate failed to pass ACA 3, the California Abolition Act in July 2022, preventing the measure from being placed on the November General Election ballot for voters to approve or reject.

Following Kamlager-Dove’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2022 to replace Rep. Karen Bass, who is now the mayor of Los Angeles, Wilson took up the cause when she was elected to the Assembly. The Assembly approved ACA 8 last September. It will be heard next in the Senate.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union: California Action, over 65% of the people in prisons reportedly being forced to work are performing essential jobs like firefighting and paving roads.

In 2022, incarcerated workers made up 43% of the state’s firefighters, ACLU revealed. After serving time and being released from prison the formerly incarcerated are often denied public safety jobs such as firefighters.

“Incarcerated individuals can have severe inhumane punishment for not working, including physical violence and solitary confinement,” Wilson said. “This is not justice. This is exploitation. Period. These punishments can be imposed for absences caused by injury or illness. The relations between incarcerated individuals and work should not be one of exploitation but one of rehabilitation and preparation for reintegration in our society.”