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RIVERSIDE, CA— More than 60 middle and high school students from California and Arizona came to the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering on Saturday, Sept. 10, to learn how nanotechnology and biology are increasingly being brought together to address important problems in a variety of fields. The event was hosted by UCR and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, or CTY.

The workshop was part of CTY’s Science and Technology series, which offers one-day experiences that connect academically gifted students and their parents with scientists at leading research institutions across the country to encourage their interest in science, technology, engineering and math majors and careers.

The workshop at UCR highlighted how nanotechnology—science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale—is being used to enhance biological systems, as well as the inverse situation, where biology is providing new means for addressing critical challenges in the field of nanotechnology. The event included faculty seminars and hands-on demonstrations, an undergraduate research panel discussion, and tours of UCR’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering Nanofabrication Facility and Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis.

“We wanted to transform our guests into nano-bioengineers for the day so they could experience firsthand how research in this area is addressing many unmet needs, not only in biology and medicine but also in energy, electronics, the environment and numerous other fields,” said Masaru Rao, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering at UCR. “The students were extremely talented, very engaged, and we hope that some of them are inspired to consider pursuing educational paths and eventual careers in nanotechnology and biology.”

“This is the first time UCR has hosted a CTY event, and based on its success, we look forward to the opportunity to do so again in the future.”

Rao hosted the workshop with fellow BCOE faculty and staff, including: Victor Rodgers, professor of bioengineering; Elaine Haberer, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering; Hideaki Tsutsui, assistant professor of mechanical engineering; Monica Wilhelmus, assistant professor of mechanical and chemical and environmental engineering; Jun Wang, director of student development and international initiatives; and Rosie Zhang, professional development officer. The workshop also involved the efforts of more than a dozen BCOE graduate and undergraduate student volunteers, who served as guides, demonstration leaders, and discussion panelists.

Established in 1979, The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth is a non-profit center that identifies and develops the talents of academically gifted K-12 learners worldwide. CTY identifies young people of great academic promise through its annual talent search and nurtures their intellect and personal growth through summer programs, online courses, and other services and resources.

Support for the event was provided by CTY, UCR BCOE, and National Science Foundation grants CMMI-1254999, OISE-1545852, ECCS-1406795, and CBET-1606181.

LOS ANGELES, CA- Real To Reel Global Youth Film Festival showcases works of youth filmmakers ages 14-23 and is spearheaded by 22-year-old co-founder Johna Rivers, an emancipated foster youth from the community of Watts, CA.  Better Youth, a mentoring and creative development agency will host its “2^nd Annual Real to Reel Global Youth Film Festival” from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Los Angeles Film School on Saturday, October 8, 2016. Actress Monique Coleman (“High School Musical”) will serve as a featured speaker for an audience of future youth filmmakers from local media literacy and media production training programs, Actor Melvin Jackson Jr. (BET’s “The New Edition Story”) and Johna Rivers (Real To Reel Youth Producer) will serve as co-hosts.

The festival will screen a diverse slate of short films by youth filmmakers from different countries. In between screenings will be acting workshops, filmmaker panels featuring industry professionals, producer and film financing panels featuring industry experts. This year’s panelists include Meg DeLoatch (Creator of Eve), Shawn Boxe (HBO’s Silicon Valley), and many others.

The festival is created for youth by youth providing an amazing platform for youth filmmakers to showcase their latest work and to receive direct feedback from the film community. The festival is free and open to the general public thanks to its sponsors The National Endowment for the Arts, The Los Angeles Film School, Final Draft, NAMAC, Girl Up, Trader Joe’s and Film Freeway. For more information, visit www.betteryouth.org.

RIALTO, CA- Youth Action Project as part of their role in the Rialto Summer Bridge to Success presented 46 Rialto youth and their parents each with $150 as an incentive/reward for completing four of a twelve week long summer incentive youth and parent development program.

Each family had the opportunity to earn the cash incentive if they agreed to complete each of YAPs youth and parent sessions facilitated by Edward Brantley and Keith Hosea. As part of the agreement each family demonstrated understanding of 7 specific habits of effectiveness and developed and presented a family vision board.

Youth Action Project is a youth development agency founded by Rialto resident Joseph Williams; its mission is to empower youth and young adults in the development of the skills and habits needed to experience economic and social success. Williams also represents the city of Rialto and Muscoy as a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees. 

“The Rialto Summer Bridge program was both fun and inspirational, being able to see not only these young students but their parents also learning how to become more productive in different aspects of their lives.” YAP Member and youth specialist Marisa Gomez

The Rialto Summer Bridge to Success is a 12 week intensive program that targets youth between the ages of 7-16. The program is in its second year of a planned three year initiative. Resilience, culture, discipline and character development are the main tenants of the program.

“This program was great to myself and children, and I will be brining my kids back to participate until they graduate from high school” Alana Rialto Parent

The Rialto Summer Bridge is a collaboration between the City of Rialto, Rialto PD, MHM and Associates, Young Visionaries, Black Voice Foundation, The Bethune, Big Brothers and Sisters, Serge and Youth Action Project.

Joseph Williams stated, “This year’s program was so powerful; youth along with their parents were exposed to habits of effective, they had the opportunity to develop family vision board together. The whole effort was invest in building families capacity to support one another”

 For more information on the next summer session contact MHM and Associates at (951) 682-4MHM(646)  Ext.100.

LaToya Flowers Jones and Rochelle Wright

By Angela M. Coggs

On Saturday, September 10^th Young Women Empowerment Foundation (YWE) hosted their fourth Annual Women’s Wellness Conference at San Bernardino Community Hospital Henderson Auditorium, 1800 Western Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92411, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. YWE welcomed family, friends, students and community supporters to the augural event that focused on emotional and physical health and wellness. It was a free event for women of all ages in the Inland Empire. The event was hosted by Carletta Loflin, who was also speaker at last year’s Wellness Conference.

This year’s theme was Double D’s. Double D’s refers to diabetes and depression. The theme was based on the idea of a dual diagnosis.  Both of these diseases plague all people but especially minority women. The conference focused on the prevention of diabetes and depression as well as learning to live with and maintain it if diagnosed with either. The women in attendance participated in several interactive demonstrations/exercises which included routines by the energetic Harriette Coggs Stuckey from Heart and Soul Dance. Coggs- Stuckey blessed participants for the past two years. “I attended last year and the line dancing was one of my favorite parts. I’m glad that she returned this year,” said one enthusiastic participant. “She’s awesome. I feel renewed and ready to go.”

There were life changing testimonials from women on diabetes and depression. The speakers for the wellness conference will focused on issues that are important and relevant to women, diabetes and depression. The keynote and guest testimonial speakers’ included:

Dee De La Cruz (Diabetes Keynote) of Lue Productions 1st Big Beautiful Woman Modeling Queen Winner 2016, Pasha Fruman, PA-C (Depression Keynote) – Health Educator and Community Health Activist, Deborah Smith (Depression Testimony) Community/Business Relationship Specialist- Personal Banker WFAW, Gloria Dowdy (Diabetes Testimony)-Retired IT Specialist (Programmer)-Department of Veterans Affairs, and Lea Michelle Cash (Depression Informational) President/CEO- The Brightest Star, Inc

LaToya Flowers-Jones and Rochelle Wright (Mary Kay vendor) attended the event for the first time and had a really good time. Both enjoyed themselves and indicated that they intend on returning next year.

In addition to providing useful health and wellness information at the conference, the attendees had their funny bone exercised as comedian Amber Thorney-Croft explored the humorous side of life in general. It was the perfect ending to a successful event. Many reported leaving the event feeling hopeful, informed, inspired and refreshed.

Several vendor booths were available for attendees to visit and gain information and resources. Vendors included: San Bernardino County Nutrition Program, Mary Kay, African American Mental Health, Coalition, Sonnier Beauty, Restaurando Vidas (Restoring Lives), Riverside/San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc., Inland Behavioral and Health Services, Inc. and Inland Empire Black Nurses Association.

“I want to thank you (YWE) for having me as a vendor. I appreciate the fact that I was able to provide the services that my company has to offer and I was also able to be part of this awesome conference that you guys organized,” stated Diana Silva, Outreach Specialist for Inland Behavioral Health Services, Inc. “It was inspirational, educational and empowering.”

One of the most talked about item of the day was the Double D’s t-shirts worn by the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation board members. Although some attendees were able to win a few shirts during the opportunity drawing, many more people wanted to purchase one. In response to the inquiries about how to purchase the Double Ds Diabetes and Depression event t-shirt anyone can visit the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation website donation link at youngwomenempowerment.org to obtain one.

“This event was so informative and impactful for the women in the community,” Rochelle Wright said. “Every woman that presented at the Young Women’s Empowered Conference, blessed my life with their transparent, transformational and inspiration testimonies. The organization has a bright future ahead of them because they are planting great seeds of wisdom in preparing our youth to be successful and healthy global citizens.”

Attendees registered on Eventbrite under “Free Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) 4^th Annual Women’s Wellness Conference.  They were encouraged and invite family and friends to also register and attend the noteworthy opportunity focused on empowering women to live mentally and physically healthy lives. Over 100 women attended the event.

YWE T-Shirt Pic

Kaiser Permanente was a Gold Sponsor for the event. San Bernardino Community Hospital, European Wax Center, and San Bernardino Symphony also provided for the event. Volunteers from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority were also on hand to ensure the conference ran smoothly.

YWE serves to strengthen the character of young women of high school age in the San Bernardino City region of the Inland Empire in Southern California. Young Women’s Empowerment was founded by Gwendolyn Dowdy- Rodgers. The mission of our program is to empower these young women to achieve at their highest potential, particularly in education, and to instill in them a commitment San Bernardino city council member Bessine Littlefield – Richard San Bernardino Community College Trustee Joseph Williams San Bernardino County Superintendent of School Trustee Hardy Brown II Senator Connie Leyva’s Field Representative Micheal Townsend San Bernardino City Unified School Board Superintendent Dale Marsden County Board of Supervisor Josie Gonzales Field Representative Erika Willhite to return to their community as leaders and mentors.

Dignitaries who attended included:

• San Bernardino City Council member Bessine Littlefield – Richard,
• San Bernardino Community College Trustee Joseph Williams,
• San Bernardino County Superintendent of School Trustee Hardy Brown II,
• Senator Connie Leyva’s Field Representative Michael Townsend,
• San Bernardino City Unified School Board Superintendent Dale Marsden,
• County Board of Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and Field Representative Erika Willhite

The Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWE) is dedicated to strengthening the self-esteem, character, integrity and capacity of young women ages 12-21 so that they may achieve their highest potential. YWE accomplishes its purpose through strategic partnerships with other organizations. YWE is guided by ethics and principles which exhibit respect for cultural diversity.

Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation next event: Girl Talk V (March 2017)

Evan T. Carthen

Mr. Evan Tyler Carthen, 22, Pepperdine University Law Student, former California Lutheran University Student Body President, former Arrowhead Christian Academy High School Graduate (2012) and former Social Lites, Inc. Beautillion Sir Knight 2012, passed away on September 5, 2016. He was the son of Tracy Carthen and Twillea Evans-Carthen, twin brother to Eric Carthen and brother to Megan Carthen Jackson (Marcus).

Carthen, 2016 graduate from California Lutheran University with a dual major, BA in English and BS in political science.  Carthen was known for his compassionate heart and deep desire to make the world a better place. As an undergraduate, he served as president of the Associated Students of California Lutheran University Government executive cabinet and was secretary of the Black Student Union of California Lutheran University. Carthen was inducted into the California Lutheran University Scholar-Athlete Society in 2013 and 2014 in recognition of his performance on the men’s basketball team as well as in the classroom. He chose Pepperdine School of Law for its Christian mission and to fulfill his dream of becoming a district attorney.

Evan’s life was celebrated on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in addition to a celebration of life service honoring Evan Carthen on Friday, September 9, at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA and a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, September 6, at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Tributes in memory of a life well lived are welcome by going to www.dignitymemorial.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The deadline to apply for the eighth annual San Bernardino County Operation Recognition Veterans Diploma Project is September 23.

Applications for the Veterans Diploma Project are to award diplomas to men and women whose high school education was interrupted due to military service or internment in a Japanese American camp. The effort is sponsored by the County Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. Diplomas will be awarded to qualified applicants at a ceremony in November.

Applicants will be notified of their status and qualified applicants will be provided with the date, time, and location of the presentation. 

Veterans who served in and received an honorable discharge from World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War; or individuals who were interned in a Japanese American relocation camp and are San Bernardino County residents are eligible to participate. There is no charge to participate.

For assistance with verification of military service and/or discharge papers, contact the County Department of Veterans Affairs at (866) 472-8387 or (909) 387-5516. For more information, contact Samantha Koker at County Schools at (909) 386-2412.

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.