Local

The Social-Lites Inc., of San Bernardino 50^th Beautillion Season will start on Saturday, October 8.  Mentoring Young Men toward a better future is there Mission.

The Beautillion Scholarship Program is designed to assist the Young Men of the Inland Empire and surrounding Communities, who are High School Seniors, College Freshman and boys of ages 8 years through 15 years old in reaching their Educational Goals.  Also the program helps to provide scholarship funding, as well as computers, gifts and awards to the young men.

All young men interested in participating in the Annual Beautillion Scholarship Program are encouraged to attend along with their parents, to the Beautillion informational briefing on Saturday October 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the New Hope Family Life Center, 1505 West Highland Ave, San Bernardino CA 92411.

For additional information please contact Mrs. Bettye Brewster, Social-Lites President at (951) 204-0022 and Ms. Joyce Smith, Social-Lites Vice President at (909) 534-2929.  Application available via email at Sociallites@msn.com or www.socialitesinc.com.

Author T’ana Phelice will be coming to the San Bernardino Public Library to discuss her books and present workshops on Saturday, September 17. This free program will take place in Kellogg Room A at the Feldheym Central Library at 555 W. 6th Street in San Bernardino from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Phelice is the author of Jaded Diamonds, Pigs and Pearls, and a children’s book, Bratty Tatty: Liddo Kiddo’s Raps&Riddles.

Ms. Phelice will also be doing presentations on self-esteem, resume-building, and interview preparation following the book discussion. Her books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. 

 For more information on the author, visit www.tanaphelice.com. For more information on this presentation call the library at 909-381-8238 or visit www.sbpl.org or   www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends.

LOS ANGELES, CA – LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS (LC), a multicultural integrated marketing communications agency, announces the promotion of Keisha N. Brown (KB) to executive vice president and chair of the new Health and Wellness Practice. As chair of the practice, KB will drive creative solutions for all of the agency’s healthcare clients. With more than two decades of healthcare experience working with clients on a local, regional and national level, LC is excited to launch their Health and Wellness Practice with a skilled professional that works across all disciplines and cultures.

“I look forward to leading the new Health and Wellness Practice at the agency and utilizing my experience and passion to make a difference in the lives of African Americans and Latinos,” said KB. “I have worked on health care accounts for more than 20 years, and understand the challenges that impact behavioral change to make our communities healthier and people live longer.”

KB brings a wealth of experience, insight and maturity to the Health and Wellness Practice. She has worked with corporate, not-for-profit and government clients, including American Cancer Society, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Novartis and the Office of National Control Drug Policy, to name a few. Relying on her keen understanding of health disparities and cultural nuances amongst African American and Hispanic communities, KB has successfully executed award-winning campaigns with multi-million dollar budgets and led multidisciplinary teams. She now manages the advertising and marketing account for Covered California, educating African American consumers about their services and maximizing the number of Californians enrolled in health insurance coverage. In addition, under KB’s leadership the team will focus on entities such as hospitals, healthcare plans, not-for-profit, government, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies

“KB is the biggest success story of the agency’s internship program,” said Mr. Kim L. Hunter, President and CEO of LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS. “She is the epitome of what an IMC specialist is and does. KB is one of the few communicators that has a good understanding of the three disciplines (advertising, marketing and public relations) and how they intersect with one another to create a truly holistic campaign.”

As a 21-year veteran of the firm, KB is an integrated marketing communications specialist that has successfully executed integrated advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns for clients such as L.A. Care Health Plan, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Martin Luther King Jr., Community Hospital.

Throughout her career, KB has been recognized for her work and expertise in multicultural communications. Most recently, the firm received the Healthcare Public Relations & Marketing Association (HPRMA) Golden Advocate Award for the launch of the L.A. Care Covered Campaign, a project headed by KB. Johnson Publications, the publishers of Ebony and Jet magazine, also named KB “One of the Most Outstanding Women in Marketing and Communications” and PRWeek Magazine featured her in a roundtable discussion regarding diverse viewpoints on multicultural communications.

The Los Angeles native holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in business administration from Howard University in Washington, DC.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – On Friday, August 26th, 2016, United Nations of Consciousness hosted Artivism: Activism Through the Arts for Safer Communities at their new facility, Anne Shirrells Park Community Center. This event was part of the #SchoolsNotPrisons campaign to bring awareness to school discipline policies and to advocate for prioritizing prevention over punishment for safe and healthy communities for our youth. 

They were honored to have shared the night with over 250 guests including community members, families, youth, community leaders and partnering organizations such as COPE, BLU Education Foundation, Time for Change Foundation and YAP. The night began with a gallery viewing, followed by powerful performances from local youth artists of the Inland Empire, who set the stage ablaze with poetry, music and dance. The room was filled with much diversity, and various forms of artistic expressions.

UNC would like to thank each and every person for coming out to support their event and contributing to make it a success.

“You all left a positive impact on our community through your contributions of partnership, performance, art and/or volunteering,” LaNae Norwood, President and Founder of UNC, said. “Together, we have spread the message of the importance of funding education, youth, intervention and prevention programs to help create safe and healthy communities for all.”

The work does not stop here! Please join them by continuing to support #SchoolsNotPrisons ensuring that we end the “School to Prison Pipeline” and to give our youth opportunities for a brighter future. For more information, please visit www.unitednationsofconsciousness.com.

In partnership with Metro, this year marks Metrolink’s 24^th year of providing Southern California residents with a special stop at the Los Angeles County Fair. Starting Sept. 3, San Bernardino Line weekend trains will stop at the Pomona Fairplex platform except for trains 351, 352 and 353.  A free shuttle service is offered to the yellow gate entrance. The Fairplex Station is located just west of the Pomona Station on the San Bernardino Line.

Travel with ease with your family and friends by skipping traffic while avoiding the hassle and cost of parking. Riders can purchase Metrolink’s $10 Weekend Day Pass and take the train to the fair on Saturday or Sunday ONLY. The L.A. County Fair is offering Metrolink riders a special online price of only $12 for a single day admission ticket. Those interested in purchasing these tickets in advance should visit www.lacf.com.

Metrolink is also adding a train to provide later service from the fair back to Los Angeles. The train, 391, will depart the Fairplex stop at 8:30 p.m. and make all stops into Los Angeles Union Station.

As a result of the modified schedule to support the L.A. County Fair, Metrolink trains may operate late into other stops along the San Bernardino Line on weekends in September.

For real-time service updates or to get more information please visitwww.metrolinktrains.com or follow @Metrolink on Twitter.

 On September 6th, Omnitrans will begin offering direct bus service to Ontario International Airport (ONT), via Route 80 making stops at both passenger terminals. Due to customer demand, the transit agency also will increase hours of service on its Route 290 Freeway Express.

Route 80 will be realigned from its current path to continue south on Vineyard to Airport Drive then head east to the airport, instead of traveling on Holt to the Ontario Civic Center Transfer Center. Holt Blvd. between Vineyard and Euclid will continue to be served by Omnitrans Route 61.

“We are pleased to partner with the airport to provide a more convenient transit connection for air travelers,” said agency spokesperson Wendy Williams. “For the future, we are pursuing development of a high-frequency circulator route that would serve the airport, nearby hotels, shopping centers and the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station.”

Omnitrans is also planning an sbX bus rapid transit line for the cities of Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Montclair and Pomona that would include a stop at ONT passenger terminals.

Route 290, a freeway express route launched a year ago, will add early morning and mid-day trips in response to customer requests. The route will begin running at 4:30 am, an hour earlier, and operate throughout the midday, instead of just at morning and afternoon peak times. Route 290 travels on the I-10 and I-215 freeways with stops at Montclair Transit Center, Ontario Mills, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and the San Bernardino Transit Center.

Another transit agency will be arriving at the San Bernardino Transit Center next month. On September 14, the city of Beaumont’s Pass Transit bus route 120 will begin service to the regional hub, joining Omnitrans, Mountain Transit and Victor Valley Transit Authority. More information at: Pass Transit

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

LOS ANGELES, CA- In the height of the #BlackLivesMatter and #BuyBlack movements, it is becoming more pivotal than ever to support Black owned businesses. On Saturday, September 3 at The Reef in Downtown Los Angeles, LaTanya Alexander, founder of Afrowear, will be presenting the First Annual End of Summer Fashion Show. It will be a day filled with plenty of entertainment, food, and fashion as some of the latest designers from the L.A. area showcase their lines.

“I am extremely excited for the fashion show, as well as all the activities we have planned for the day,” Alexander states. “Growing up in Watts with a burning passion for fashion and no real outlet, this event is very near and dear to my heart.”

She continues, “I want to create a space for designers, performers and small businesses to come together, support one another and enjoy what I have been working so hard to plan. I am taking a huge risk and have devoted much of my personal funds so I am really counting on my community to support me and help the Black dollar circulate in the Black community. I cannot wait until September 3rd!”

Some of the designers that you can catch on the stage include Afrowear, Styled by Jay Taylor, CT Montgomery of Pearl Girl, and Janell of Power of Pretty. Sponsors include Poise Cosmetics, Stephanie Danine Hair, Universal Beauty Products, and Jay Taylor.

The festivities are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. and will go into the early evening of 7 p.m. This is family friendly event that will also feature food vendors, retail vendors, musical performances, and much more. Think of it as an End of the Summer Block Party infused with fashion.

The Reef is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased via Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.com/e/afrowear-presents-end-of-the-summer-fashion-showexpo-tickets-19992308533

LOMA LINDA, CA- Officers from Colton Police Department assisted D.A.R.E. with a distribution of toys to young patients to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital’s Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Clinic on Friday, August 26.  

Isaiah Cooper

By Ellen Turner

Isaiah Cooper, the 16-year-old World Record breaking pilot from Compton, CA will visit Fontana at the Fontana Park/ Jessie Turner Center on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The City of Fontana and the Concerned Citizens   for the Development of North Fontana will hold their 1st ‘Unity in Community Day’ and The “Chillin’ and Grillin” Bar-BQ Cook-off.

Isaiah Cooper and Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum’s (TAM), Executive       Director Robin Petgrave, will attend this event and speak about the record     breaking flight around the continental United States. Isaiah is the youngest African American to ever make this flight. It was an Epic journey and he had to overcome a serious challenge and became a real-life hero.   He is now   preparing to break the Guinness World Record as the first African American to fly solo around the world when he turns eighteen.

Robin Petgrave is the founder and Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum (TAM) and has helped Cooper through this process. His program helps inner city youth expand their vision and dreams. Despite running a busy flight school and tour company, he made time to bring kids from around South Los Angeles to his hangar at Torrance Airport to teach them about flying.

Recognizing the positive effects of learning aviation on kids considered at-risk, Robin felt he could have more of an impact. So in 1998, he established Torrance Aeronautical Museum and made it his personal mission to engage at-risk youth in aviation as an alternative to the negative influences in their          environment. TAM is now operated out of the Compton Airport.

Robin first started by reaching out directly to students at their schools. Instead of just guest speaking at school functions, he did something unheard of at the time: landing his Robinson R44 helicopter directly on school grounds. He    would speak to students about the importance of their education in becoming    successful in life and achieving their dreams.

The Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana invited these   pilots to the Unity in Community event because of the positive impact that it  can bring to young people in Fontana.  Isaiah will have an opportunity to     speak to the people in attendance and share his 8,000 miles and fourteen day journey around the continental United States.

There will be lots of activity at the Chillin’ and Grillin’ BarBQ Cook-off. Several community organizations will compete to see who cooks the best BarBQ Ribs and Chicken. There will also be live entertainment and fun for the kids. The   event will be held at Jessie Turner Center and tasting starts at 10am. Ticket are $10 and are available by calling (909) 333-9950.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – This week’s “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio show features Wallace’s interview of Dr. Denise Fleming, candidate for Moreno Valley Mayor, and a conversation with Debbie Forte, a Paralegal, who explains the importance and difference between a Trust and a Will (read her column inside).

ETB is broadcast and video recorded each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on KCAA-1050 AM radio. The program streams live video via www.kcaaradio.com  and can be heard on the phone by dialing (832) 999-1050.

See the recording of Sunday’s show on the web at www.ustream.tv/recorded/90868983.