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VICTORVILLE, CA- On Sunday, December 20, Recording Artist Justified and Men of Faith In Action, will be teaming up with non-profit organization Living Life After Death, which out to Families who are in mourning after losing a loved one.

“It’s rough during these holidays without my wife,” Justified stated. “I know my kids go through it, and I just want to be a blessing to this charity and help them raise money so they can continue to bless other families going through what I’m going through.”

Together, Justified and Living Life After Death, will be hosting a Holiday Giveaway at the High Desert Performing Arts Center located at 15615 8^th Street in Victorville. They are excepting the community to get involved and come out with unwrapped blessings to bless the less fortunate. Although this is typically a toy drive, Justified and partner Terry Boykins, CEO of Street Positive, want to encourage people to bring out a blessing that can bless other households during this season, these items include the basic necessities, such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, baby supplies, and more.

During the event tickets will be sold for the “Dinner with Dad” event that will be held on Thursday, January 7 at Hometown Buffet located at 14689 Valley Center Drive in Victorville from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Street Positive has agreed to pay for up to 100 children’s meals for “Dinner with Dad”. For each ticket sold at the holiday giveaway event, up to four children’s meals will be covered accompanied by the adult with the dinner ticket. Justified has a strong faith that the community will come out and support both of these events and be a blessing to the City of Victorville.

LOS ANGELES, CA- The California African American Museum (CAAM) is pleased to announce Target Sundays at CAAM – Holiday Remix & Kwanzaa Thaaang! The event will take place Sunday, December 13, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Enjoy classic standards reimagined, with a host of great talent to warm the holidays.  Co-hosted by Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, Target Sundays at CAAM will include live performances, a free art workshop and holiday shopping.

The holiday fete will include performances on CAAM’s main stage from singers Peggi Blu, AEJAYE, Harlem Lee and Ileana Garcia, as well as the Long Beach Dance Academy: Movers & Shakers.  Also, get some holiday shopping done at the Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanzaa marketplace.  Local educator and artist Teresa Tolliver will host a free art workshop where participants can make their own holiday gift for that special someone.  The art workshop is open to all ages and supplies are provided by CAAM.

CAAM encourages all to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Los Angeles Food Bank. This event is free and open to the public. CAAM is located at 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. Parking is $10 and located at 39th and Figueroa Streets.  Take Los Angeles Metro’s Expo Line and exit the Expo Park/USC stop.  For more information on CAAM visit www.caamuseum.org or call (213) 744-7432.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Alen Ritchie was elected as the new president of the San Bernardino County Board of Education during its meeting on December 7.

Ritchie, who was the vice president of the Board, takes over the presidency from Mark Sumpter, who held the position for the past year. In addition, Sherman Garnett was elected vice president of the Board.

Ritchie has served on the Board since 2008. He represents Trustee Area E, which includes the districts of Bear Valley, Colton, Morongo, Redlands and Yucaipa-Calimesa.

Garnett, who was elected to the Board in 2014, represents Trustee Area B, which includes the districts of Alta Loma, Central, portions of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Etiwanda, Mt. Baldy, Ontario-Montclair and Upland.

The Board establishes policy, adopts an annual budget, approves building plans and hears student expulsion, inter-district transfer and charter school appeals. The Board meets monthly, regularly the first Monday of the month.

Damon Alexander

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Damon Alexander accepted the 7th Ward seat on San Bernardino’s Board of Police Commissioners. With his Federal law enforcement background, that includes participation in San Bernardino’s recent violence, and his leadership in community organizations, including the American Legion, he will improve and expand the Board’s effectiveness in fighting crime in San Bernardino.

Community residents gather in San Bernardino during a previous candle light vigil for the victims of last Wednesday’s attack. (Photo courtesy of NBC News).

By Lue Dowdy, of LUE Productions

SAN BERNARDINIO, CA- This Sunday, December 13, local music artists and community members will come together for a candle light vigil and prayer in honor of the victims that were gunned down in the horrific terrorist attack that occurred on Wednesday, December 2 in San Bernardino at the Inland Regional Behavioral Center.

Don’t be afraid to show your love and support openly. There will be several prominent guest speakers and elected officials that will be present and speaking. They include, but are not limited to Benito J. Barrios, 2^nd Ward Councilmember; Gwen Dowdy-Rogers, newly elected San Bernardino County School Board Member; and Tammy Martin-Ryles, President of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire.

The Vigil will begin promptly at 5 p.m. on the corner of Waterman Avenue and Orange Show Road. Please feel free to share your thoughts via social media with the hashtag #sanbernardinostrong.

Did You Know One of The Victims That Were Assassinated ? Please Honor Your Loved Ones by Sharing Your Stories or Pictures with

Covered California Canvassing Neighborhoods – In an effort to enroll eligible African Americans in affordable health coverage, Covered California is launching an aggressive neighborhood canvassing initiative that includes door-to-door outreach, enrollment events at churches, branded outreach vans and educational materials at barbershops and hair salons in high-priority African American

Submitted by Covered California

An important deadline approaches for Californians who want to start the New Year with the protection of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Open enrollment is underway and consumers who want to be covered on January 1, need to enroll by December 15.

Covered California, the agency that administers the ACA in California, has made African American outreach a priority for the year three of the historic program. Since 2014, more than two million people have gotten insurance through Covered California, including African Americans who make up 5 percent of the state’s population that is eligible to receive financial assistance to help them pay for coverage and medical care. African Americans though have been slow to enroll at a rate that matches their share of the population.

“While we have all worked together to dramatically raise awareness about the new law, we have more work to do,” Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee said. “We estimate there are still more than two million uninsured people in California who are either eligible for Covered California or qualify for Medi-Cal.”

Through Covered California, consumers can get financial help, or tax subsidy, that can be worth hundreds of dollars per month and bring health care within reach.

They are spotlighting the fact that more than half of those who have enrolled in Covered California — almost 700,000 — pay less than $100 a month, with the balance being covered by the federal tax credit. That is real affordability.

“You can find out if you qualify for financial help, and examine your plan options, by using the “Shop and Compare Tool” at CoveredCA.com,” Lee said.

Going forward Covered California will be spotlighting enrollment events at storefronts, insurance agent offices, community events and other locations. Go to the agency’s website to “find local help.”

This year’s open enrollment period is three months long, and runs until January 31. However, if you qualify for Medi-Cal, you can enroll at any point during the year. If you or someone you know doesn’t have health care coverage right now, this is the opportunity to enroll in Covered California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches invites the community to the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The Prayer Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 18, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at California State University San Bernardino Coussoulis Arena. Tickets are $25 per person and parking is free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.iecaac.com/events.

There is still time to be a sponsor of this historic event and to buy an ad in the souvenir book. Your support is very much appreciated. For more information, please contact the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches at (909) 474-7036 or by email at IECAAC1998@gmail.com. You may also visit their website www.iecaac.com.

IECAAC membership includes more than 20 churches throughout the Inland Empire. They are committed to addressing the needs, leading change and improving our communities. Their mission is community self-sufficiency and sustainability in spiritually, education, community development and economic development through faith-based efforts.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Brandon Mason attributes his career in healthcare to the opportunities provided to him by the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

The shy, gentle-natured 21-year-old man was raised by a single mother and completed high school with aspirations of becoming a physician.  He enrolled in San Bernardino Valley College where he soon changed course and decided to pursue nursing.

It was the devastating diagnosis of his mother’s breast cancer that compelled Mason to step away from the Certified Nursing Assistant program and find employment to support his mother and two younger siblings.

During his tenure as janitor at a local amusement park, his hopes of pursuing the nursing degree began to fade until he learned of the WIB Youth Program.  This program is designed to help youth ages 16 to 24 enhance job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options and take advantage of paid internships available to help them build experience.

He enrolled in the program through Provisional Accelerated Learning Center in San Bernardino in December 2014 and took the opportunity to complete vocational training at Summit College.  Today, Mason is a Certified Nursing Assistant and employed full-time at Hacienda Heights Healthcare and Wellness.

“The Youth Program helped get me to where I am now,” Mason said.  “I don’t know what I’d be doing today, honestly, if it wasn’t for the program, and I am grateful for all the things people involved did to help me.”

Mason intends to reach out to the WIB in the near future to seek assistance in pursuing a Licensed Vocational Nurse degree back at Summit College.

“We strive to achieve success stories like Mason’s in San Bernardino County, as it reflects our Countywide Vision of a vibrant economy with a skilled workforce,” said James Ramos, Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. “This Youth Program is just one of the innumerable services available to San Bernardino County residents that provide resources and support to realize long-term success.”

Other services provided at no cost include skills assessment, career counseling, job training and placement, resume assistance and interview training, and access to computers, printers, faxes and telephones.

“We have seen a high success rate of participants in our Youth Program securing employment after completing the program,” said Sandy Harmsen, Executive Director of the San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board.  “The program takes a comprehensive approach in helping youth ages 16 to 24 enhance their job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options and take advantage of work experience opportunities.”

By Dwaine Radden Jr. (University of New Mexico Sports Blog) 

The California Raiders captured their fourth Championship in ten years Saturday night with a 24-14 victory over the Las Vegas Trojans. The Raiders started the opening drive with their prolific rushing attack led by running back Eric Marshall who had 15 carries for 105 yards and 1 touchdown. The Raider offense struggled the previous two weeks and had key injuries coming into the Championship game but still managed to put points on the board.

Former Utah State commit Quarterback Robert Fuller threw a 15 yard touchdown pass to Mikael Bowden to put the Raiders up 7-0. The Raider defense came into the game with high expectations and continued to create turnovers against the Trojans. Defensive back Lamar Jones picked off the Trojans quarterback to give the Raiders offense another opportunity to score.

The Raiders who are currently ranked #2 in the Western Rankings according to Amateur Football Power rankings continue to drive the ball down the field with a pass from Robert Fuller to veteran wide receiver Kiyron Brokendough which led to a touchdown, but the Raiders failed to convert the PAT.

The Trojans would not go down without a fight, they continued to move the ball down the field after halftime taking the lead 14-13. Former San Bernardino High school football standout Mike Fields forced a huge fumble giving the Raiders a chance to regain the lead. Running back Eric Marshall who has been a torture for opposing defenses during the playoffs had a huge 60 yard touchdown run to lift the Raiders ahead 21-14. The Raider defense played tough hardnose football to hold the Trojans to 14 points. Kicker/punter Tim Parker put his foot on display again

Saturday night with a field goal to put the Raiders up 24-14 with 2 minutes left for the Trojans to score.

In those classic football movies it’s always that last drive that tells the ultimate comeback story. The Trojans had one last shot to create that comeback story. Raider defensive back Damien Hale created a moment of his own with an interception to seal the deal. Owner Dwaine Radden Sr. said, “I’m proud of the players and the staff for believing and buying into our Franchise and team code, “Discipline, Determination, Dedication Equals Winner always on and off the field.” Raider Head Coach Antonio Marshall said, “We played great, it was a close battled but in the second half we made adjustments.” He also talked about winning the coveted NDPFL Championship, “I feel like a 1200 lb gorilla is off my back, having to follow in the footsteps of Owner and former Head coach Dwaine Radden Sr.”

The California Raiders are ranked #2 only behind the #1 Colorado Greyhawks and will have an opportunity to play for a National championship. Coach Marshall talked about the ranking after the game stating, “It’s a blessing to even be ranked, we could be ranked #1 but we’ll take #2 for now.” The Vegas Trojans finished ranked # 8 but still had a very good season and showed signs of promise. The Raiders have been one of the most dominant semi-pro teams in the state of California, and in the country.