Local

By Naomi K. Bonman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Thursday, November 17, Willing Winn Associates and Mission (WWAM) Inc., held its annual food giveaway. This year they gave out 180 meal boxes to families in need.

The event was came to fruition with the assistance of volunteers and sponsors. Fargo Delivery Systems donated a truck for the giveaway that WWAM will have access to until the New Year for more holiday activities. Living Word of God Ministries in San Bernardino also donated food to last week’s event. The church has been allowing WWAM to use the church vans throughout the month of November to do work throughout the community.

“If it wasn’t for the church and the deacons at the church, we wouldn’t be able to feed people in between the holidays,” Dr. Deborah Winn, WWAM Founder, said.

The San Bernardino Food Bank was supposed to donate the organization turkeys, but once again they failed to do so, but WWAM always seems to pull through loyal volunteers and community sponsors to assist in its mission of serving the community and transforming the ‘Operation Phoenix’ area of the city.

“If we would come together as a community, we would be better off because the remedy is in us,” Dr. Winn stated.

For those that missed out on previous events and would like to get involved with Living Word of God Ministries or WWAM, drop down to the church on a Sunday morning service. It is located at 952 S Lincoln Avenue in San Bernardino (92408). To volunteer or support WWAM, please call (909) 889-9509. WWAM is still in need of a truck after being the victim from last month’s hit and run incident.

If there is anyone that needs logistics, deliveries, or carrier services, please contact Jose with Fargo Delivery Systems at (951) 858-6898.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Tuesday, November 22, LUE Productions a long with the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, fed those in need throughout the City of San Bernardino. This was their second annual Thanksgiving food giveaway.

RIVERSIDE, CA- Twelve African-American middle schoolers from Building Resilience in African American Families Rites of Passage (BRAFF) program in Perris took to the track this weekend.

The men of the Cochér Car Club of Riverside in collaboration with the staff at Adams Race Track sponsored a racing day for the African-American boys receiving guidance and support in leadership, self-awareness, and coming of age through the program. The BRAFF ROP has a strong history across the country and anticipates great successes in the Perris and the greater Inland Empire area.

For more information on the Building Resilience in the African American Families Rites of Passage program, contact Pepi Jackson, President of Riverside Chamber of Commerce, at (951) 310-2325 or James Woods, Director of BRAAF, at (951) 823-0175.

Dear President-elect Trump,

We, a group of diverse journalism associations representing thousands of journalists from the nation’s capital to every corner of the country, begin this letter on a hopeful note. Your administration is a blank slate and we are eager to work with you to perpetuate one of this nation’s great strengths: our freedom of the press.

As the new leader of the free world, we expect that you will preserve longstanding traditions that ensure coverage of the Trump presidency. The idea of a press pool that covers all of the president’s movements is one that dates back to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration. Every president of both parties has treated this important tradition with respect. The role of the press pool is critically important to our country, whose citizens depend on and deserve to know what the president is doing. This isn’t about access for the press itself, it’s about access for Americans in diverse communities across the country. Your constituents receive information from a variety of platforms to learn about what our president is doing.

Being president is an enormous responsibility and working with the White House Correspondents’ Association to ensure journalists’ access is one small but important part of that. We call on you to commit to a protective press pool from now until the final day of your presidency. We respectfully ask you to instill a spirit of openness and transparency in your administration in many ways but first and foremost via the press pool. 

We also call for access to you via regular press conferences and pool sprays and to your key decision-makers. You have an opportunity as incoming president to set the tone for your staff speaking on the record for the sake of transparency. We also hope your administration will improve response rates to FOIA requests as a way to show the American people, and the world, that the republic belongs to the people.

A great America depends on having sunlight on its leaders. We expect the traditions of White House press coverage to be upheld whether in Washington or elsewhere. Again we, a joint group of diverse journalism associations, speak as one as we respectfully ask that you take these steps to ensure access to our members covering your administration.

Thomas Burr
President
The National Press Club

Barbara Cochran
President
National Press Club Journalism Institute

Lynn Walsh
President
Society of Professional Journalists

Mizell Stewart III
President
American Society of News Editors

Mike Cavender
Executive Director
Radio Television Digital News Association and Foundation

Delphine Halgand
US Director
Reporters Without Borders/RSF

Courtney Radsch
Advocacy Director
Committee to Protect Journalists

Sandy K. Johnson
President
National Press Foundation

Sarah Glover
President
National Association of Black Journalists

Brandon Benavides
President, Board of Directors
National Association of Hispanic Journalists

Bryan Pollard
President
Native American Journalists Association

Paul Cheung
President
Asian American Journalists Association

Jen Christensen
President
National Association of LGBTQ Journalists

Elisa Lees Munoz
Executive Director
The International Women’s Media Foundation

Allison Sherry
President
Regional Reporters Association

FONTANA, CA- Fontana High School has been re-designated as an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School, retaining the status it has held since 2006 as a high- achieving academic organization and exemplary learning center for other schools and districts across the nation to model after.

Fontana High is one of about 5,600 AVID schools in 44 states, the District of Columbia and 16 countries and U.S. territories to achieve the elite status, demonstrating its proven ability to employ AVID tools school-wide to boost the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges and universities.

“It is a tremendous honor to be re-selected as a National Demonstration School and sustain a strong program that has helped catapult our students to post-secondary success and opened up a wealth of opportunities,” Fohi Principal Ofelia Hinojosa said. “We are proud of our teachers, counselors and staff who constantly work to engage and empower our students and are committed to ensuring a college- ready student body.”

Fohi was among 75 schools in the nation to be recognized earlier this year as a Schoolwide Site of Distinction, a new honor given to a select few AVID schools for their extensive commitment to providing students with college preparation resources. The distinction put Fohi’s college and career readiness program in the top 2 percent of all AVID programs in the nation.

RIALTO, CA.– The West Valley Water District (WVWD) recently announced the modification of its recruitment practices to include a Veterans’ Preference component.

The program, modeled after the State of California’s program, will automatically place eligible veterans applying for WVWD jobs in the top ranking for consideration for employment with the agency. 

“This is something that has long been a goal of mine personally,” stated WVWD Board Member Rafael Trujillo, “Helping our veterans find gainful employment when they return home is the least we can do as a grateful nation.”

Veterans will be granted preference under the program as follows: Any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran, who achieves a passing score in an entrance examination, shall be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list. 

All open exams/eligibility lists will award Veterans’ Preference, regardless of the classification.

Any veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released is not eligible for Veterans’ Preference.

Veterans’ Preference is not granted once a person achieves permanent status.

WVWD Board President Dr. Clifford O. Young, Sr. noted, “The Board of Directors is pleased to partner with our veterans and honor their sacrifices for our country.”

LOS ANGELES, CA- A Gospel Stage Explosion that will keep you on the edge of your seats from beginning to end is coming to Los Angeles Thanksgiving Weekend. On Saturday, November 26, Unsung Reporter Tyrone DuBose will be bringing his talents to the stage along with special guest Ernest Thomas from “What’s Happing Now.” The show will kick off at 7 p.m. at the beautiful West Angeles Theater located at 3020 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. There will also be a red carpet arrival is about one hour before the show.

Tickets can be purchased at Box office or by phone at (323) 733-8707 (With Credit Card). For more information on tickets, please call (310) 665-0125.

This Production is produced, directed, and written by veteran of stage/films, Johnny Cox Jr.

By John Coleman

The Riverside Branch, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(s) celebrated its 46th Annual Anderson Copeland Memorial Veterans Recognition Luncheon on Veterans Day/Armistice Day, Friday November 11, 2016.

To accommodate the increasing attendance, the event was relocated from the facilities of the Kansas Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church to the auditorium, John W North High School, Riverside.

Waudieur “Woody” Rucker-Hughes, President, NAACP Riverside Branch offered the welcome and introduced the Master of Ceremonies.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Inland Area Kwanzaa Group with San Bernardino Valley College will host the 50^th Anniversary Kwanzaa Karamu 2016 on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 4 p.m. at San Bernardino Valley, Business Building Room B-100.

The Karamu celebrates family, community and culture with an African feast of fine foods, dance, song and poetry. This year’s event will be held in memory of Ratibu Jacocks, the Kwanzaa Group’s Co-Chair.

Kwanzaa is an African-American Cultural Holiday, celebrating family, community and Culture and is celebrated throughout the world African Community December 26 to January 1. As an African American and Pan African holiday celebration, the ancient and cultural traditions reflect the best in African and African American thought and practice.

To purchase tickets for $10 each and/or reserve a table for ten, please contact Sheila Umbaji Futch at umbaji@me.com (951) 235-5123 or Wilmer Amina Carter at amina@ef-cbs.com (909) 820-4406.

Tom Friend

By Earl Heath

Lt. Col Robert J. Friend is the ultimate Veteran having served his country during WWII. A brief overview of his life goes like this:

Robert J. Friend was born in Columbia, South Carolina on February 28, 1920.  In 1939, he became a student at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a private pilot certificate in the Civilian Pilot Training Program.  In 1942, Mr. Friend joined the Air Force and was sent to Tuskegee Institute for pilot training.

After receiving his wings as an Air Force Pilot, Mr. Friend was promoted to a Lieutenant and at that time was assigned to the 332^nd Fighter Group as a pilot under Col. B.O. Davis, Jr.  He was then sent to Schlfridge Air Force Base in Michigan for flight tactical aircraft transition before his combat tour.  In 1943, Lieutenant Friend reported to the European Theatre of War as a member of Tuskegee Airmen’s Distinguished 322^nd Group, which was a Fighter Pilot Organization.  As a skillful pilot of the P47 and P51 single engine planes, Lieutenant Friend flew as the wing man for the Commander of the group, Col. B.O. Davis.  Lt. Col. Friend also served as Combat Operations Officer at the Squadron and Group levels.

Friend in 2015 turning 95 years old, holding the record as one of the oldest living original Tuskegee Airmen. President Barak Obama, former President George W. Bush and General Mark Welsh III of the United States Air Force acknowledged the occasion by sending their personal birthday wishes to Friend.

“On behalf of the men and women of the United States Air Force, happy 95^th birthday! You belong to a treasured generation of selfless Airmen and your service continues to inspire our Airmen today. The Tuskegee Airmen, especially Red Tail pilots, proved time and time again to be among the most courageous trailblazers of America’s “Greatest Generation,” and we celebrate your role in that elite group.”-General Welsh

This year Friend was recognized at A USC  home game a Hero.inf front of 90.000 at the LA Coliseum.t. Col. Friend is a master bridge player who is well known and respected nationally, and often competes in national tournaments in his spare time. 

Lt. Col. Friend resides in Irvine California.  He has 7 children and numerous grand, great-grand, great-great grandchildren.