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SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Last week, Bank of America awarded Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) a grant in the amount $7,500 to help advance pathways to economic mobility. The funding will support the CAPSBC Food Bank operation, the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County.

CAPSBC CEO Patricia L. Nickols-Butler stated, “There are over 400,000 people living in poverty in San Bernardino County and struggling to meet their basic needs. Food is a necessity and no one should have to worry if they will have enough food to eat. Our Food Bank ensures individuals in need are connected to available resources. Bank of America supports CAPSBC’s Food Bank not only with monetary grants, but they also have a corporate philosophy of giving back to the community through frequent employee volunteer participation at our Food Bank.

“We are honored to partner with Bank of America in alleviating poverty and building thriving communities.” “Fighting food insecurity is a critical stepping stone on the pathway to economic stability,” said Al Arguello, Inland Empire market president, Bank of America. “We are proud to partner with the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County to ensure that our neighbors don’t have to make the difficult choice between paying their bills and putting food on the table.”

The CAPSBC Food Bank program has been operating since 1984. Millions of pounds of food are provided each year at no charge to 175 non-profit organizations to serve the basic needs of San Bernardino County’s low-income community. The Food Bank has provided over 160 million pounds of food since its inception. Programs include:

• USDA Commodities: Commodities are provided through a network of 120 nonprofits for emergency food distribution to eligible individuals and households.
• Salvage Food: The Food Bank collects food and distributes these products to the low-income communities through a network of 80 nonprofit partners.
• Congregate Feeding: A network of community nonprofits that provides nearly 75,000 hot meals each month through soup kitchens.
• Senior Choice Nutrition Program: Fresh produce and additional healthy product is provided to eligible seniors at no-cost to the recipient in a market-style layout at a senior center or low-income senior housing facility.
• Food Policy Advisory Council serving San Bernardino County: A collaborative of San Bernardino County agencies and individuals seeking to improve the food system, healthy food options and advocate for supportive policies.

In 2016, the Food Bank received 11,534,084 pounds of food that was valued at $19,232,871. The Food Bank program assisted 379,663 households with USDA/Salvaged Foods. It supplemented 399,839 pounds of USDA and 736,431 pounds Salvaged Foods to Soup Kitchens/Congregate Feeding Agencies which totals 1,136,298 pounds. This allowed the Soup Kitchens to serve 748,203 meals.

Anyone interesting donating to the CAPSBC Food Bank, may make a check payable to CAPSBC and mail to 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408, or a secure donation can be made on our website at: www.capsbc.org/donate If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail: msalcido@capsbc.org or fill out a volunteer form at www.capsbc.org/volunteer

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- ‘Saving Our Sons’ is the theme for this year’s annual Juneteenth celebration presented by Willing Winn Associates and Mission (WWAM) Inc. After two successful events in previous years, WWAM was called to go even bigger for 2017! This year’s celebration will be kicking off at San Bernardino Valley College in The Greek Theatre on Saturday, June 24 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. To coincide with the theme and location, the afternoon will consist of a lineup that the community cannot miss. Come get educated, enlightened, and of course be entertained.

“They have matters that need to be fixed that they don’t know how to fix themselves,” Dr. Deborah Winn, Founder of WWAM Inc., stated on why she chose this year’s theme.

The issues that our Black men and women, are going through have been plaguing the community for years and when things seem to get better, something else occurs that brings us back. From the shootings to the way we are raising our children, it is as if we are becoming numb to what love is.

“When we love ourselves, we won’t take our lives or anyone else’s lives,” Winn said. “We need to start being responsible and standing in harmony. With effort, we have the remedy; it starts at home.”

This issue along with others, as well as a history of what Juneteenth is will all be introduced and explained throughout the afternoon. The lineup of speakers who will be presenting them include: Dr. Margaret Hill, Professor James Smith, Mr. Thomas “TJ” Loftin, Oliver Petty, and Sharon Smith-Knight. Pastor Dr. Joshua Beckley, of Ecclesia Christian Church, will be opening the event up in prayer. Comedian Lamont Bonman a.k.a. Rev. Monty B. will be the Master of Ceremonies.

The day will be filled with not just education and enlightenment, but there will also be plenty of entertainment. There will be performances by JReal da Realest, Wyel Legend, Lex Lane, DJ Worldclass, Ciotti and Jenice Michelle, Cthree, Royal Believer, Adoration, and more.

In addition to the speakers and entertainment, the community will be able to visit several vendor booths which will include clothing, jewelry, food, children’s activities, voter registration, expungement services, and much more.  This is a FREE event. Free hot dogs and snacks will be served for children 13 and under. There will also be a special grocery giveaway to the first 350 families. Each family MUST have ID.

This event couldn’t have been made possible without the help of the following sponsors: Phoenicia, I.S.A.H. (It Starts At Home), Los Angeles Lakers, WWAM Inc., Community Action Partnership, KOHL’S, S.O.S. (Saving Our Sons), Mary Stewart’s Southern Soul Food, Southern California Edison, Target, Wal-Mart, San Bernardino Unified School District, San Manual Band of Mission Indians, and San Bernardino Valley College.

For more information please call (909) 889-9509 or visit www.wwaminc.org. The college is located at 701 S. Mt Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- As part of the San Bernardino Public Library’s summer events, the Feldheym Library will be hosting a party hat workshop presented by Emmy Lam.  This free workshop is open to ages 10 and up. It will take place on Tuesday, June 13 at 3:00 PM in the Children’s Room at the Feldheym Central Library at 555 W. 6th Street in San Bernardino.

Students will learn to use recycled paper to make creative and unique paper party hats. It is a fun and inventive way to transform unused and unwanted paper into lovely works of art.

Participants in the library’s summer reading game will get credit for coming to the program. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the San Bernardino Public Library. For more information call (909) 381-8235, visit www.sbpl.org  or www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends.

LOS ANGELS, CA-To mark National Dump the Pump Day Thursday, June 15, Metrolink is offering free round-trip tickets good for that day to those who pledge on Facebook in advance to park their cars and ride Metrolink trains.

Metrolink is Southern California’s regional rail system that serves Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and northern San Diego counties and a favorite of long distance commuters tired of driving in worsening traffic. But Metrolink also directly serves many major tourist destinations from beaches in San Clemente and Oceanside to historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. There are also convenient connections to Disneyland and many other venues.

With summer in full swing, Metrolink also is the best travel bargain for tourists, their hosts, or families enjoying staycations, especially on weekends. On Saturday or Sunday, Metrolink offers unlimited rides for just $10.

“There’s no better way to get to work or play throughout the Southland and avoid the stress of driving in the world’s worst traffic than riding a Metrolink train,” said Metrolink CEO Art Leahy. “Once you experience the safety and comfort of train travel on Dump the Pump Day, we’ll likely see you again.”

“There’s no better way to get to work or play throughout the Southland and avoid the stress of driving in the world’s worst traffic than riding a Metrolink train,” said Metrolink CEO Art Leahy. “Once you experience the safety and comfort of train travel on Dump the Pump Day, we’ll likely see you again.”

Pledge to ride on Metrolink’s Facebook post on June 7-9 and get a ticket for a free round-trip ride on Dump the Pump Day. To see full details, click here.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2017 National Dump the Pump Day is a day that encourages people to ride public transportation and to take them where they need to go instead of driving a car saving money, stress and helping the environment.

According to the April APTA Transit Savings Report, individuals in a two-person household can save an average of about $10,000 annually by downsizing to one car.

RIVERSIDE, CA- For 45 years, African Student Programs (ASP) and Chicano Student Programs (CSP) at the University of California, Riverside campus has been providing a home away from home for students.

“‘Our duty in life is to make a difference in others’ lives,’ that was something a mentor once told me,” said Ken Simons, the director of African Student Programs. “That inspired me to do what I do. It’s rewarding to help these students, it’s rewarding to make a difference in their lives, it’s rewarding to provide a space for these students who might otherwise feel alone on a university campus.”

Simons has been the director of ASP for the past 14 years, and he’s been connected to UCR since 1979, when he was a student athlete. He said that, for many of the first-generation black students, ASP becomes the place where they feel comfortable expressing questions and concerns – especially cultural concerns.

“I’m real with the students, I tell them what they need to hear, because I realize they might not hear it from someone else,” Simons said.

Formerly referred to as Black Student Programs, ASP is generally agreed to have formed at UCR campus in 1972, out of the campus’ Black Student Union and Black Studies Department. Over the years, ASP has become a space where students can go to gain confidence, for support, and to feel at home.

“Years after graduating, we have students reflect on the mentorship they received during their time at UCR through ASP,” Simons said. “There are countless stories from students who recall getting through the tough times because of the conversations they had with staff at the organization.”

Since 1972, ASP has been a key component for the success of black students at UCR. Earlier this year, UCR was recognized as one of the nation’s best institutions in successfully graduating black students relative to their white counterparts. While black student graduation rates lag behind white student graduation rates by about 22 percent nationally, UCR graduates black students at a rate 1.7 percent higher than white students, announced The Education Trust, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization that analyzed data from four-year colleges and universities in its report, “A Look at Black Student Success: Identifying Top- and Bottom-Performing Institutions.”

At UCR, 69.5 percent of black students graduate, compared with 41 percent nationally. Simons said that success can be linked to the variety of services ASP provides its students – like, informing them about scholarships, internships, research, and graduate school and career opportunities. ASP also sponsors a variety of events and programs every year, including an academic mentorship program, and the Black Graduation Ceremony – which is Sunday, June 11 at 2 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center.

Estella Acuna has been the director of CSP since 2004, and graduated from UCR in 1999. Acuna’s goal as the director is to give UCR students what CSP provided for her.

“I was a first-generation student, and CSP provided a home away from home for me. I felt safe, I felt connected to my peers and the community – I would have a hard time surviving without the amazing staff,” Acuna said.

Like ASP, CSP was founded in 1972. According to Acuna, the creation of the space stemmed from student and faculty movement aimed at developing an organization that would meet the needs of both Raza faculty and students on campus. They wanted a space that would nourish the growing Latino/a population of first-generation scholars coming to UCR.

“We are truly like a family at CSP. There is a sense of community, and unwavering support for the students,” Acuna said.

In 2015, UCR was recognized by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics as a Bright Spot in Hispanic education. As a Bright Spot, UCR is part of a national online catalog that includes over 230 programs that invest in key education priorities for Hispanics. The university was honored for its student success efforts with the College of Natural and Agricultural Science’s freshman learning communities, as well as for its ethnic parity in campus graduation rates. It is rare in higher education to have little gap between students of different ethnicities.

CSP, like ASP, holds annual events, like Semana de la Raza, the César E. Chávez 5K Run/Walk, and Raza graduation ceremony, which will be Saturday, June 10.

For more information about both student programs, visit their websites: African Student Programs, and Chicano Student Programs.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) is “Taking Back our Streets” on Saturday, June 10, at the next enormous community block party.  They are taking a stance against the increasing gang activity and other senseless violent crimes within our city.  They are asking the community to join us as they bring “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino. The Churches of San Bernardino stand together as a united front to REVIVE the communities within San Bernardino and the surrounding areas.

The afternoon will consist of free food, groceries, shoes, backpacks, clothes, and health screenings. There will also be other organizations helping to bless the community.  They encourage people to contact SBPU either by phone, email online at www.sbpastorsunited.org to pre-register for the free giveaways. For more information call (909) 353-7977 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Once again, San Bernardino Police Department is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. As part of the national seat belt enforcement campaign, law enforcement agencies around the country will be stepping up enforcement May/June, including one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.  SBPD Officers were out in force Memorial Day weekend, as part of the nationwide seatbelt enforcement campaign as well as this coming weekend.

Every day, unbuckled motorists are losing their lives in motor vehicle crashes. As we approach the summer vacation season, we want to make sure people are doing the one best thing that can save them in a crash, buckling up.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly half of the 21,132 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2013 were unrestrained. At night from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., that number soared to 59 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In California, the minimum penalty for a seat belt violation is $161.

Officers will conduct one nighttime’ seat belt enforcement operations during the two week Click It Or Ticket mobilization to help lower California’s traffic deaths. In addition to these special patrols, officers on routine patrol will also be looking for unrestrained drivers and passengers to stop and cite.

California statistics reveal that 500 unrestrained vehicle occupants died in 2013. Almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2013, more than half (54%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 41 percent were not buckled up.

If you ask the family members of those unrestrained people who were killed in crashes, they’ll tell you—they wish their loved ones had buckled up. The bottom line is that seat belts save lives. If these enforcement crackdowns get people’s attention and get them to buckle up, then we’ve done our job.

Funding for these operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-The Career Institute is pleased to announce a new Partnership to offer services to youth ages 18 to 24 in the City of San Bernardino.  The Career Institute will be offering services from Inland Career Education Center in San Bernardino starting July 5. 

These government funding services come from a grant from the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board.  Participants will be recruited from the school and from the community to benefit from this program. Career Institute has provided services to young adults in the County for 23 years. Teresa Taylor, CEO of Career Institute describes the program as the big 5.  It includes: short-term occupational training; paid work experience leading to Employment; work ethic training; college or post-secondary training assistance and; long-term career and education planning to include a career path.

Karen Bautista, Principal of Inland Career Education Center is pleased about the opening of the office and has declared, “Our partnership with Career Institute will extend our services to students who are want short-term training and desire enrollment in a post-secondary experience.”

Yvonne Ivey, the Career Mentor and Coordinator of the program will begin her work there beginning July 5.  Yvonne is excited about offering career training and job services in the San Bernardino location. Yvonne is a graduate of the San Bernardino Unified School District and a lifetime residence of the city.

Interested students can contact Yvonne Ivey beginning July 5 at the center. The Inland Career Education Center phone number is (909) 388-6003 and they are located at 1200 N E Street in San Bernardino.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY- Ten women and young ladies chosen by the Riverside County Commission for Women were recognized on Tuesday, May 23, for their work to bring about social and economic change, for acting as role models and for improving the status of women in Riverside County. 

The Commission for Women’s 2017 Woman and Young Lady of the Year awards were presented at the Board of Supervisors meeting in Riverside. The women and young ladies also were recognized for the efforts to promote women’s equality, and for their work on behalf of women’s issues or providing outstanding performance in their professions to further advocate women’s rights.

Young Lady of the Year

First District: Gina Tran is a junior at Norte Vista High School in Riverside where she is president of the school club portion of the AVID program, historian for the Best Buddies club, involved with the girl’s tennis team, and an active member of the Riverside County Youth Commission program for the first district.  Her selfless attitude and dedication to serving others shines during her work with the community through both the Best Buddies club, an organization that works with developmentally disabled student on the Norte Vista campus, as well as comforting families of fatal patients with SICU at the Riverside Community Hospital. With well over 400 hours of community service on top of taking numerous Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, Gina Tran is a wonderful asset to the community and those she serves.

Second District: Carolina Hernandez is a senior attending Corona High School. She currently holds a weighted 4.02 grade point average and intends to continue her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she plans to study education and pursue a career in teaching. Carolina is the president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters club at Corona High School where she serves as a role model to young women and men her age and younger. In addition, she serves as the Co-president of the AVID Council, Vice President of the Library Club and the K-Pop club, and recently received the UNITY award for her outstanding community service. Carolina is an inspiration to many students and has a bright future ahead of her. 

Third District: Despite life challenges Andrea Mares faced at an early age alongside her mother, she has continued to go above and beyond in both her academics and extracurricular activities. Carolina is a senior at the Western Center Academy and currently holds an overall 4.35 grade point average. She has taken numerous advanced placement and college courses and has continued to excel. Over the course of her high school career, Carolina has held several leadership roles such as Class of 2017 Secretary, Vice President of the Community Service Interact Club, as a member of the Associated Student Body, was named president of the National Honors Society, and recently became a member of the Yearbook Committee. The list of her accomplishments and awards is endless. Carolina is a natural and kind leader who is a role model to young women her age.

Fourth District: Ngan Nguyen arrived in the United States from Vietnam less than six years ago as a seventh grader and before the end of eighth grade she was reclassified from an English Learner to Fluent English Proficiency. This was the beginning of Ngan’s determination to persevere and become a role model to the other students at her school. Ngan is a senior at La Quinta High School where she holds a 4.3 grade point average as an International Baccalaureate student. She has been the recipient of La Quinta High School’s highest academic award honor for three consecutive years, was recently crowned Queen Scheherazade of Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, is an active member of the Knot’s for Tots club, Key Club, and involved in serving her parish. Ngan also works as a server at her family’s restaurant. Ngan has both graciously and successfully maintained her academics, school commitments, and duties as Queen Scheherazade; she has also recently been accepted to both California State University, Fullerton and San Diego State University.

Fifth District: Madison Demaris has a true passion for theatre and arts education. She is a senior at Nuview Bridge Early College High School where she has dedicated the last four years to the arts and mentoring others so that they too can share in the vibrant and lively experience theatre has brought her. Madison developed a Project PART, which partners with the schools troupe, local organizations, and two local elementary schools where she directed and produced “The Little Mermaid Jr.” with minimal adult help. She has been a peer tutor, volunteers her time to help younger high school students with their competition pieces, and was selected to be on the State Board for the California State Thespians, which is an honor society for high school theatre students. Madison is an eloquent problem solver who is dedicated to serving and sharing her passion for the arts with the students around her.

Woman of the Year

First District: Carol Roquemore is the leader and founder of Canine Support Teams, which was established in 1989. She is a firm believer in serving her clients first and her staff second. Carol’s passion for providing independence for individuals with disabilities comes from not only personal physical limitations stemming from early childhood but her selfless want to help others in need. In addition, Carol has been a tireless champion and inspiration for incarcerated women through the life changing Prison Pups Program she created in 2002. She dedicates 10 hours a week to Prison Pups training sessions with her staff, and has also been influential in rehabilitation programs within the California Corrections and Probation Departments. In 2012, Carol established the Paws for Wounded Veterans program that provides Service Dogs to disabled veterans at no charge to them or their families. Carol is a tireless and inspirational leader.

Second District: Kathy Azevedo has been a resident of the Second District for more than 45 years and demonstrated a sincere and passionate commitment to improving the community. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Kathy is the driving force behind the nonprofit organization Support Sisterz. Support Sisterz provides empowerment and moral support to breast cancer survivors as well as raises money for women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Kathy is also a member of the National Grant Review Board for the American Cancer Society, owner and instructor of a Jazzercise franchise for almost 35 years, and a former city councilwoman and Mayor of the city of Norco. She has dedicated countless hours to improving not only the community but to the health and wellbeing of women.

Third District: Alice Sullivan began her career at the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1989. She has worked her way up through every position until becoming the President/CEO in 1994. She has launched several organizations that have tremendously affected and benefited the Temecula Valley, including the Southwest California Legislative Council, the Economic Development Coalition, and the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. Alice initiated the Valley Young Professionals, which provides up and coming professionals with the opportunity to connect with other professionals, share experiences, better understand corporate culture, and identify career growth opportunities. Alice has also served on countless committees and boards that have greatly influenced the Temecula Valley area.

Fourth District: Barbara Keller and her husband Jerry are business owners in the Palm Springs and La Quinta area–LULU a California Bistro and Bistro 60. Barbara is also a trustee of the Palm Springs Art Museum, past president of the Museum Associates Council and co-chaired the museum’s 75th anniversary gala. Her love for the arts goes back to the 70’s and 80’s where she wrote and directed plays at the North Shore Community Arts Center in Great Neck, New York. She has held leadership roles on Humanitarian Boards, LGBT Boards, and Jewish Family Services committees. Barbara is the recipient of several awards such as the Vi Felix Award for Outstanding Volunteer from Jewish Family Service of the Desert, the Jackie Lee Houston Philanthropy Award granted by Palm Springs Women in Film & Television, the 2014 Humanitarian Award from Equality California, and countless others.

Fifth District: Dr. Denise Fleming is a well-known leader in the prosperous and educated Fifth District of Riverside County. She is a personal mentor to many youths in the Inland Empire, including Miss Moreno Valley. Dr. Fleming is the director and founder of the African American Coalition, is an elected member on the School Board for Moreno Valley Unified School District, a docent for the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside, and is one of the facilitators for the “Dream It Be It” program at the Bridges Learning Center. Her career as an educator and business professional expands throughout California including University of California Los Angeles, California State University San Bernardino, and University of Redlands. Dr. Fleming also sat on many non-profit boards serving the Inland Empire communities in public service including Care Conexus, an Alzheimer’s Daycare Center, Harvest Community Development Center, and PSN International. Her dream to educate and empower women is clearly evident by her numerous contributions and dedicated time.

For more information, contact Rebecca Chavez, Commission for Women Liaison at (951) 955-0226.

MORENO VALLEY, CA- Beginning June 9, Pigeon Pass Road will be closed to traffic from Old Lake Road to Meadow Lark Avenue because of the continuing development of the Meadow Creek Community. Pigeon Pass will reopen August 8.

Construction on Pigeon Pass was scheduled to coincide with the school district’s summer break to limit the closure’s impact on neighboring school traffic.

Please contact the City of Moreno Land Development Division at 951.413.3120 with any questions regarding the partial closure of Pigeon Pass.