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RIVERSIDE, CA- Starting this month, the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside and UCR Health, the clinical arm of the medical school, have been providing people with more access to medical services through a new office space in downtown Riverside. Located at Citrus Tower, 3390 University Ave., Riverside, the new space had its grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, May 10.

“This really is a milestone for the UCR School of Medicine,” said Deborah Deas, M.D., M.P.H, the Mark and Pam Rubin Dean and Chief Executive Officer for Clinical Affairs. “The new clinic puts a platform in place where we are not just training physicians but also treating patients in the area.”

The new office space at Citrus Tower contains a suite for UCR Health psychiatry and a second suite for UCR Health multispecialty services, which includes neurology, primary care, reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery, and more. There are also plans to add women’s health and pain management in the near future.

The new clinic anticipates 33,000 patient visits each year. Doors opened to patients on Monday, May 1.

For more information, as well as a slideshow, please visit: https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/47024.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Wednesday, May 24, the community is welcomed to come out to a parent meeting for ‘Rites of Passage’ hosted by United Nations of Consciousness. The meeting will take place at Anne Shirrells Park Community Center located at 1367 N California St, San Bernardino, CA 92411.

Rites of Passage is a rigorous program centered in traditional African values and history. Designed to strengthen, guide, and mentor young males between 10 to 14 years old and to assist them in developing character, career, and life skills. 

For more information or register, please visit uncyouth.org. To stay connected, text UNCYOUTH to 31996.

VICTORVILLE, CA- This Saturday, May 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. the National Council of Negro Women will be unveiling the ‘Dorothy Height Forever Stamp’. The ceremony will be taking place at the Hawthorne Suites located at 11750 Dunia Road in Victorville.

Dorothy Height was a civil rights and women’s rights activist focused primarily on improving the circumstances of and opportunities for African American women.

One of Height’s major accomplishments at the YMCA was directing the integration of all its centers in 1946. She also established its Center for Racial Justice in 1965, which she ran until 1977. In 1957, Height became the president of the National Council of Negro Women.

Through the center and the council, she became one of the leading figures of the Civil Rights Movement. Height worked with Martin Luther King Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, John Lewis, and James Farmer, also known as the “Big Six” of the Civil Rights Movement, on different campaigns and initiatives.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- San Bernardino Public Library will host a free performance by Kinderwise at the Rowe Branch Library at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 22. This is the first day of our Summer Reading Program and is the first program in our busy summer of activities.

Kinderwise is an interactive high-energy musical stage production that presents the topics of love, friendship, imagination, and getting along with others, seen through the eyes of Sparkelina (a magical doll), Busybee (a giant bee), and Sophie (a pink elephant).  Join the world of Kinderwise as the dynamic trio suddenly find themselves in the human world. Throughout their magical journey of singing, dancing, comedic skits, outrageous props and interactivity through the help of audience SUPERHEROES, they soon learn how to get along in this wonderful new world.

Kinderwise is the brainchild of a husband and wife team based in Los Angeles.  They noticed that much of what they taught their child could be described as the How-To’s of Life!  They wanted to present a comprehensive list of topics in a way that children would find entertaining enough to read over and over. The first three books of their bilingual emotional intelligence series are intended to help children with the development of empathy, self-awareness, and illustrate simple ways of getting along with others.  These books will be available for purchase at the show.

This free family performance is sponsored by the Friends of the San Bernardino Public Library. For more information call the library at 909-883-3411 or visit www.sbpl.org or  https://www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends/

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- San Bernardino Pastors United (SBPU) is Taking Back our Streets on June 10 at the next enormous community block party.  They are taking a stance against the increasing gang active and other senseless violent crimes in our City.  The Churches of San Bernardino stand together as a united front to REVIVE the communities within San Bernardino and the surrounding areas. “We cannot let poverty, crime or violence define us.  SBPU believes in greater works as stated in John 14:12, as it is our goal to serve 10,000 families.  SBPU is encouraging everyone to come out and join us at San Bernardino High School.”

SBPU is planning to bless the community as they plan on giving away free food, free groceries, free shoes, free backpacks for kids, free clothes and free health checks.  There will also be other organizations helping to bless the community. 

They encourage people to contact SBPU either by phone, email or at their website www.sbpastorsunited.org and pre-register for the free giveaways.  They are asking the community to join them as they bring “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino.

For more information call 909-353-7977 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com.

Estelle for Humanity is now accepting registration for the “2017 Honor Thy Father Awards.” You and your family have the opportunity to honor your father, husband, brother, uncle or male mentor on Father’s Day which is Sunday, June 18.

Early registration is required to ensure full participation. For more information, please call (310) 927-8339 or email estelleforhumanity@gmail.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-   New Hope Missionary Baptist Churches Health Care Ministry will be having their 3rd annual Health Fair on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the church located at 1575 W 17th St, San Bernardino, CA 92411.

There will be a Children’s Corner with games, crafts, food, and dancing. The Arrowhead Medical Center will also have their Breath Mobile to test children for breathing problems, such as asthma and allergy testing for children 5 years and older. Other activities include: dental screenings and blood pressure testing some physical exams and referrals.  

Studio W radio station will be present and covering the event for national coverage along with other vendors, which include but are not limited to: Dr. Milner, Audiologist, who will be conducting a hearing test, Black Nurses, Inland Empire Black Chambers of Commerce, M.A.D.D, Hospice and Home Health Agencies and more.

There will also be a Zuma instructor on-site, dance performances by Heart and Soul Line Dance group, and the New Hope MBC teenagers who will be opening up the event with a special performance.

For more information, please call Dollphernea Gadah New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Health Care Ministry Chairperson at: (951) 834-4053 or church (909) 887-2526. 

MORENO VALLEY, CA- On Saturday, May 13 join Music Changing Lives for an incredible night of student performances at the 6th annual Changing Lives Showcase.  Guests will enjoy an evening filled with fantastic vocal, instrumental and dance performances, a remarkable display of beautiful artworks, great food and more.  The Showcase will be held at the Moreno Valley Conference Center, located at 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Changing Lives Showcase features talented students from Moreno Valley Unified who have worked passionately for 21 weeks on their performance to see ‘Who is the Best at Music and Art.’  The Showcase is no ordinary school competition; this event rolls out the red carpet for its talented performers and artists who will be judged by celebrity guests from the EDMHipHopRebels group ZupaNova.

Music Changing Lives, (MCL) created the Showcase six years ago for youth in Moreno Valley, and since then they have produced several musicians, artists, fashion designers and more.  The program was designed to ignite passion through performance by using music and art as a motivation for students to stay focused on their education and their future.

The Showcase is sponsored by Moreno Valley Unified School District, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Edison International, Wells Fargo Foundation, Niagara Cares Foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation and more.  Visit MusicChangingLives.org today to learn more.

To request tickets or for more information about Music Changing Lives, please contact Josiah Bruny at MusicChangingLives@gmail.com or call (951) 992-0721.  For media or sponsorship opportunities please contact Vanessa Vizard at vanessa@vizardpr.com or (951) 533-6180.  You can also visit them on the web at www.musicchanginglives.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Omnitrans will launch a new freeway express bus route on Monday, May 1, 2017.  Route 208 will operate at peak commute hours on weekdays traveling between the Yucaipa Transit Center, downtown Redlands and the San Bernardino Transit Center.

“Route 208 will cut travel time in half compared to taking local bus routes,” said Omnitrans spokesperson Wendy Williams. “Express buses also have free Wi-Fi on board to help make commuting time more productive.”

At the San Bernardino Transit Center, passengers can connect with 12 other Omnitrans bus routes, the sbX rapid transit line, and routes operated by Victor Valley Transit Authority, Mountain Transit and Pass Transit.  Metrolink commuter rail service will be extended to the San Bernardino Transit Center in fall 2017.

Omnitrans is offering free rides on Route 208 during the first week of service, May 1 – 5.  Regular fares are $1.75 one-way or $5 for a 1-day pass. Discounts are available for youth 18 and under, senior citizens age 62 and up, military veterans and people with disabilities.

Omnitrans operates two other freeway express routes: Route 290 travels the 10 freeway connecting San Bernardino, Colton, Ontario Mills and Montclair; Route 215 travels the 215/91 corridor connecting San Bernardino, south Colton and Riverside.  Ridership on Omnitrans freeway express service is growing with passenger boardings up about 5% year to date.

Personalized routing assistance is available at 800-9-OMNIBUS (800-966-6428) or online at www.omnitrans.org.

Links:

Route 208 map and schedule: http://www.omnitrans.org/schedules/route208/

Trip planner: http://www.omnitrans.org/getting-around/plan-a-trip/trip-planner/

COMPTON, CA- Compton Mayor Aja Brown’s statement on final election results from the April 18 Compton Primary Nominating Election.

“This is already a victory for progress in Compton.  We led the way with 3,248 votes or 47 percent of votes cast in Tuesday’s election. Compton voters made it clear that they want to move forward and not backward and on June 6 we’re sure that message will hold true.

“Throughout this campaign, we witnessed the love that Compton residents have for their city and the interest they have in our shared vision for Compton’s future.  Working families across Compton rallied around our message ‘Let’s Finish the Work’ and demonstrated their desire to stay the course, as we continue to build a better Compton by empowering and restoring our community. Over the last several years, I’ve made it a priority to ensure new internal controls, improve our fiscal accountability and root out corruption and wasteful spending at every opportunity to be good custodians of our resident’s tax dollars. I’ve also led the way with new economic development to strengthen our local economy through new investment and new jobs for Compton residents.

“We’re at an exciting time in Compton as we are prepare to roll out the largest street reconstruction project in our city’s history.  Thanks to Compton voters, we finally have the funds in place to reconstruct Compton streets and ensure that our investment is maintained for years to come.

“I’m also preparing a city reform package for the voters to consider which will include modernizing city government and long-term property tax reform.

“Progress is a process and on June 6 we’re confident that Compton residents will choose to keep up the momentum and finish the work that we’ve started together!”

Mayor Brown led the vote in both vote by mail and with voters at the polls.

Citywide voter registration in Compton is 45,135.  With all precincts reporting and vote-by-mail and provisional ballots counted, the overall voter turnout in Tuesday’s election was 6,977 or 15.4  percent.

Because no candidate for mayor emerged with over 50 percent of votes cast on April 18, a runoff election will be held on Tuesday, June 6.

At 31, Aja L. Brown made history as Compton’s youngest elected Mayor in 2013. A national trailblazer, Mayor Brown’s New Vision for Compton platform is a revitalization strategy centered on 12-key principles that focus on family values, quality of life, economic development and infrastructural growth.

For more information on Mayor Aja Brown’s campaign, please visit ajabrown.com.