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There’s Still Time to Enroll Your Children for the 2023–2024 School Year

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Families who have not yet enrolled their child to attend a San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) elementary, middle, or high school will have a convenient Saturday option to sign up before school starts. SBCUSD will host Enrollment Fairs at Jones Elementary School on Saturday, July 15 and Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

“We know many families work during the week, so we’re offering Saturday enrollment to make the process easy and accessible for everyone,” said Linda Bardere, SBCUSD’s Interim Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer. “Our schools have so much to offer families and students, including free breakfast and lunch and free after-school programs that provide students a safe place to learn and play on school days.”

SBCUSD’s Saturday, July 15 Enrollment Fair will be held at Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street in San Bernardino. Students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through high school are eligible to enroll at the Fair. Families can also enroll their children online.

In addition to completing online enrollment, parents and guardians will need several documents to enroll their child in school:

• Child’s birth verification (i.e. birth certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal certificate, passport)
• Child’s immunization record
• Parent/guardian photo identification
• Address verification (i.e. utility bill dated within 60 days, lease/rental agreement, or affidavit from landlord)
• Court documents (if applicable)

Children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the 2023–2024 school year. Transitional kindergarten (TK) is available for students who will turn 5 years old from September 2, 2023, to April 2, 2024.

SBCUSD families may visit the online School Site Locator to determine their child’s home school. For more information about determining your child’s home school or how to enroll, contact Enrollment and Placement Services at (909) 889-7576 or enrollmentcenter@sbcusd.k12.ca.us.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On June 29, The California Legislative Renters Caucus – a group of five lawmakers who are all renters — held a press conference to announce a package of bills aimed to protect the rights of tenants in California.

The Renters’ Caucus was formed in 2022 in response to the state’s dire housing crisis. This unique caucus is committed to ensuring that the interests of California’s 17 million renters are represented in state government.

Each member of the caucus is responsible for introducing a bill for consideration. Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Caucus, hosted the press conference and introduced Senate Bill (SB) 555. The bill aims cap limit security deposits to no more than one month’s rent.

“Each of the pieces of our legislative agenda is addressing a different challenge that renters are facing,” said Haney. “

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D- Ladera Heights), Vice Chair of the Caucus, introduced AB 1248. This bill limits independent redistricting to fight gerrymandering.

Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) introduced AB 309. The bill would set eligibility criteria for residents of social housing and establish a lottery system for selecting residents.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) introduced AB 548, which protects renters by giving more authority to inspectors to insure safe living conditions.

Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) introduced SB 555 which creates a practical data driven masterplan that outlines a plan to produce 1.2 million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.

By Mark Hedin | Special to California Black Media Partners

As the first three-digit temperatures of 2023 arrive with the start of summer and the Fourth of July, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is taking steps to ensure the safety of residents through any potential emergencies.

At a June 29 press briefing hosted by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services, Cal OES and Listos California unveiled a package of safety guidelines prepared in expectation of climate extremes.

Alf LaMont from LaMont Digital introduced a collection of “Summer of Safety” graphics providing advice on keeping people ready for and safe during potential summer emergencies: wildfires, flooding, power outages and high temperatures. These graphics are available in English, Spanish and more than a dozen other languages, and available at listoscalifornia.org.

“In California, we don’t actually see a lot of our record all-time temperatures until late in the season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said, citing “June gloom, no-sky July and ‘Fog-ust’ for a good portion of August.”

“Usually, our strongest heat impacts wind up being more toward late August going into September,” he said. But high temperatures lead to low winds, he said, “so we don’t get that sea breeze that helps us cool down.”

“Think of it more as a marathon than an individual sprint.”

And the end of 2023’s relatively cool temperatures so far, he said, will now bring increased snow melt in the Sierra. Already, the state has closed off some river stretches.

“Summers are becoming hotter and drier, and families are going to want to cool down in the water,” said Cal OES Assistant Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, “but it is very dangerous right now, we have already seen too many people that have lost their lives. So do what you can to stay indoors to stay cool!”

Cal OES is making mutual-aid arrangements between state and local fire agencies “on a huge push to train swift water rescue teams,” she said.

“So, if you do head out on the water, many local teams will be out there, but we don’t want them to do those rescues! It’s very dangerous for them and for you.”

Crofts-Pelayo cited five keys for people to focus on for summer safety:

• Get alerts: org.
• Make a plan: “Have that conversation with your family to ensure that your little ones, your older ones, all know what they would do during an emergency. What emergency routes they would take, where to meet if separated.
• Pack a “go bag” in case you need to leave your home very quickly: important documents, medication, food, water, for instance.
• Similarly, make a “stay box” in case you need to stay home. “It doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive,” she said. “Think about it ahead of time and put everything together that would be necessary.”
• And finally, Crofts-Pelayo said, “help others. This is a community movement.” She suggested sharing only official resources, but doing so via familiar networking channels: phone calls, social media posts and emails.

Joining Crofts-Pelayo, Murdock and LaMont at the briefing were three Listos California community partners who shared experiences from previous encounters with extreme weather conditions.

Jacqueline Nushi, of Project Camp’s emergency preparedness center, manages pop-up camps for kids during disasters, providing support and a safe environment for families.

She said a key lesson she and other emergency managers learned was the value of empowering children with knowledge and coping skills — “a great way to build mindfulness and preparedness.

“Children are the best when it comes to learning preparedness and taking it home to their families. They’re very resilient. It’s amazing to see them make it through what they have to make it through.”

Nushi also wanted to endorse the printed materials Listos provides, via listoscalifornia.org.

She spoke about how, years ago prior to the Slater Fire in Happy Camp (Siskyou County) in 2020, she’d distributed some of their material.

“After that fire, I was at a local assistance center,” she said, when a survivor she’d counseled before the fire approached. “This information saved us!” she said. Other survivors there then chimed in with similar stories.

“The Listos materials, the disaster guides, are very easy to read, very, very to the point and cover the information in very simple language” she said. “This material is super easy, it’s not hard to read, it’s not hard to understand.”

CORE – Community Organized Relief Effort – has worked globally from Ukraine, Turkey and all around the U.S. George Hernandez Mejia, CORE Director of Emergency Operations, said that in doing wildfire preparation in Siskyou County last year, it turned out that some of the greatest needs were simply for clear information on evacuation zones or where wildfires were burning.

He also agreed with Nushi’s testimony about the importance of educating children on these matters.

“100% of our clients have experienced natural disasters,” said Peter Thao, of the Fresno Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, which provides disaster relief training and preparedness for farmers and small businesses.

“It’s not if, but when, a natural disaster will happen. “Always be prepared; have a plan.” “Take pictures,” he said, “and keep your insurance agent informed of your concerns.”

Along with efforts to prepare Californians for extreme weather conditions, the state has also allocated $200 million to help communities  build “resilience cooling centers.

This article is provided to you by California Black Media in collaboration with Ethnic Media Services.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature reached an agreement on a state budget totaling $310.8 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It came into effect July 1.

The agreement includes provisions for trailer bills that support clean transportation, expanded Medi-Cal coverage, expedited judicial review, advanced mitigation by Caltrans, the conversion of San Quentin into a rehabilitation center and wildlife crossings on I-15, among other initiatives.

“In the face of continued global economic uncertainty, this budget increases our fiscal discipline by growing our budget reserves to a record $38 billion, while preserving historic investments in public education, health care, climate, and public safety,” said Newsom.

Negotiations had been delayed because the of the Governor’s demands, including an infrastructure proposal that lawmakers opposed. A compromise was reached by limiting the types of projects eligible for expedited approval permits and excluding a proposed water conveyance tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“We started our budget process this time around with tough economic challenges, but one overarching goal: to protect California’s progress,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego).

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

This past weekend, on July 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 1655, which declares Juneteenth an official California state holiday took effect.

AB 1655, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, was signed into law by Gov. Newsom last September.

On June 19 of next year, California state employees can elect to take the day off work to commemorate the holiday celebrating the emancipation of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

Uniting the Community in Support of Human Rights and the LGBTQIA2S+ Community

FONTANA, CA— On Saturday, July 1, 2023, a Pride decorated vehicle caravan led by Fontana Residents was started in both the north and south of Fontana, California. The two caravans moved throughout the city raising awareness and merged into a Fontana’s first Pride Rally in the center of the city at Fontana City Hall. The purpose of the event was to unite the entirety of the city behind Human Rights and bring together people from different walks of life to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

The event provided an opportunity for residents and visitors to share their stories, their struggles, and paint a future where “love conquers all and belonging is unconditional.” Participants pledged to go beyond support: the attendees vowed be accomplices to the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the fight to maintain their civil rights. The spontaneous chant by the crowd, “Pride is Every Day!” was a reminder in a time where civil rights are being threatened, and intolerance is rearing its ugly head, standing by or giving passive support is no longer enough, and Pride should not be a single month of visibility —but a shared mission, every day.

The event was a joint effort by several community organizations, including the Fontana Dems Club, Ontario Democratic Club, the San Bernardino County Young Democrats (SBCYD), GROW Fontana, the Fontana Good Neighbor Coalition, and the Progressive Alliance of the Inland Empire, as well as Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes’ (AD-50), whose district includes Fontana and surrounding cities.

Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes spoke at the event and later tweeted, “Today, I joined up with the @fontanadems to celebrate our LGBTQ+ family at the Inaugural Pride Care-A-Van and Rally! I want to thank the individuals who shared their story and I want you to know we are here standing with you -as accomplices!”

Organizers of the event were thrilled with the turnout and the positive response from the community. They believe that the success of the event will encourage more people to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community, not just during Pride Month, but throughout the year.

“It was an amazing experience to see so many people come together to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community and to feel the love and support from so many as we drove through the city,” said Bobbi Jo Chavarria, President of the Fontana Dems and one of the event’s organizers. “We hope that this event has helped to raise awareness and show people that Fontana is filled with a community of support and solidarity with our LGBTQIA2S+ brothers and sisters, cousins and friends.”

Organizers felt hosting the caravan and pride rally in Fontana was crucial and has proven that a community can come together to support and celebrate diversity. It is a reminder that everyone can play their part in creating a more inclusive society regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, and organizers are already planning next year’s event!

The High Desert Open Arts Exhibition is an annual exhibition organized and curated in partnership with Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County that features traditional and contemporary art celebrating the landscapes, wildlife, people, cultures, and history of the High Desert—a region that stretches as far west as Lancaster, as far northwest as Palmdale, and north to the Barstow desert. The juried exhibit will run from from July 8 to Oct. 8 and features work by twenty-four local High Desert artists.

A reception open to the general public is scheduled for July 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by the Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino.  Regular museum admission applies.

The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 & under and Museum members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit the San Bernardino County Museum website.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans delivered its final report to the California Legislature two days before the July 1 deadline.

The nine-member committee submitted a 1075-page, brown-and-gold hardcover book with a comprehensive reparations plan that includes more than 115 recommendations and a survey. Published by the California Department of Justice, the report documents the harms enslaved ancestors of Black Californians experienced during chattel slavery and due to the Jim Crow laws that followed. It also details the history of discriminatory state policies in California.

Attorney Kamilah V. Moore, the task force chairperson, provided a summary of the group’s activities over the last two years leading up to the compilation of the first-in-the nation report addressing the effects of slavery.

“As you all know, this illustrious nine-member California reparations task Force has been working diligently over a course of two years, not only to study the enumerable atrocities against the African American community with special considerations for those who are descendants of persons in slavery in the United States,” Moore said.

“Obviously, we’ve been working diligently to develop on numerous policy prescriptions to end what we consider to be lingering badges of slavery in California as well,” Moore added.

Ironically, the Task Force’s last meeting happened the day the U.S. Supreme Court prohibited the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions. A couple of task force members addressed the decision before the meeting but stayed focused on the release of the report.

Each page of the report offers an explanation of reparations, evidence of past aggressions and systemic racism, and recommendations for restitution and atonement.

The report is 40 chapters, beginning with an Introduction; followed by evidence of Enslavement; Racial Terror; Political Disenfranchisement; Housing Segregation; Separate and Unequal Education; Racism in the Environment and Infrastructure; Pathologizing the African American Family; Control Over Creative, Cultural, and Intellectual Life; Stolen Labor; and Hindered Opportunity.

“I would like to commend Governor Gavin Newsom for making this Task Force a reality, Secretary of State Shirley Weber for authoring the legislation creating this Task Force, and each and every Member of the Reparations Task Force who have worked tirelessly over the past two years,” said Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus in a statement.

“The findings are clear. Lawmakers must take direct and determinative action to address the vast racial inequality which exists in California today. The California Legislative Black Caucus looks forward to partnering with the Newsom administration and our colleagues in the Legislature as we look towards the coming Legislative Session.”

Additionally, recommendations made by the task force include a request for a formal apology from the state and acknowledgment of discrimination against the descendants of enslaved Blacks.

“This work has been relentless, has been meticulous (and) it is unsaleable,” Oakland-based civil rights attorney and task force member Lisa Holder said. “It has been a work of a collective. We partnered with the Department of Justice, we partnered with hundreds of scholars, and we partnered with the community. Public commenters and participants in listening sessions who poured out their hearts and souls told us some of the most devastating stories of racial discrimination. They shared their pain and made themselves vulnerable during this process.”

The task force decided on March 30, 2022, that lineage will determine who will be eligible for compensation, specifically, individuals who are Black descendants of enslaved people in the United States. If reparations become law, a proposed California American Freedmen Affairs Agency would be responsible for identifying past harms and preventing future occurrences.

The specialized office, with additional branches across the state, would facilitate claims for restitution, process claims with the state, and assist claimants in proving eligibility through a “genealogy” department.

Marcus Champion, a board member of the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants Los Angeles (NAASDLA) and the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California (CJEC), is a longtime reparations supporter and one of the activists who worked with Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber when she was an Assemblymember to make Assembly Bill (AB) 3121, the law that established the task force, a reality.

Speaking at a CJEC gathering in North Sacramento after the final task force meeting, Champion said now is the time to persuade the legislature to make reparations law.

“For us, on the ground as grassroots (organizations), we are about to start putting the pressure on the legislators to make sure that the words are right,” Champion told California Black Media. “We’re about to make sure the community’s eligibility is right, make sure that there are cash payments, and make sure that this is not watered down and that this is real reparations.”

The 16^th and final Task Force meeting was held in the First Floor Auditorium of the March Fong Eu Secretary of State Building in Sacramento on June 29. The facility was filled with an overflow of people waiting in the lobby and outside of the building.

All nine members of the task force were present as well as some of the speakers who testified before the panel over the last two years. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, and Weber also spoke during the three-hour event.

“The policies and laws of this nation have affected every state and many instances beyond the state. It’s important to let people know that reparation is due whether you’re in Mississippi or you’re in California,” Weber said. “Reparation is due because the harm has been done. And we need to begin to repair the harm and stop patching it up as we’ve done for many years.”

INLAND EMPIRE, CA— The Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective (IEIYC) is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated Undocumented Mentorship Academy Photovoice Art Exhibit, a transformative event that aims to amplify the narratives of BIPOC, first generation immigrant youth residing in the Inland Empire. This remarkable exhibition will take place at the San Bernardino County Museum on Friday, July 28, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Recognizing the power of artistic expression, IEIYC has curated an exceptional art exhibition that provides immigrant and undocumented youth with the creative freedom to delve into their identities, foster a sense of community, and employ photography as a means of personal and political expression. The event promises to be a truly cultural experience, shedding light on the unique stories and experiences of BIPOC, first generation immigrant youth, while making art accessible and inclusive for those interested in the arts.

The exhibit will serve as a celebratory space, offering attendees an opportunity to rejuvenate, connect with loved ones and friends, and cultivate moments of learning and connection within the larger community. It will be a platform for immigrant youth living in the Inland Empire to share their experiences and perspectives.

To attend the event and support the ongoing efforts of IEIYC, tickets can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/UMAExhibit. While general admission is free, donations are being accepted for an upgraded experience which includes unlimited appetizers and beverages, with contributions ranging from $15-$25 per person. Donations of any amount are also being accepted to support the organization’s programming, stipends for youth, wellness materials, and emergency mutual aid.

“We are honored to curate the UMA Photovoice Exhibit, providing a profound platform immigrant youth in the I.E. to share their powerful stories through the art of photography,” says Angel Fajardo, IEIYC Executive Director. “This event embodies the spirit of resilience, cultural expression, and community connection. We invite the community to witness the transformative narratives of these talented youth and stand alongside them in support.”

For more information about the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective and its initiatives, please visit www.theieiyc.org or call (951) 800-3006.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Last week, the California Senate voted 39-0 to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 76. This measure recognizes June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth. During the session before the vote, Senators Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights) spoke about why the commemoration is important for all Americans.

Bradford highlighted the historical significance of the color red for formerly enslaved people.

“Many times, people stereotype African Americans as great lovers of watermelon, red soda pop, or other things of that nature. But if they knew our history, they would know the significance of ‘red’,” Bradford told his colleagues before they cast their votes in favor of California commemorating the 158th Anniversary of Juneteenth.

“It is the significance of the watermelon, the significance of hibiscus tea, or as my old man used to say, ‘red velvet cake’,” Bradford continued. “The red was reflective of the blood that we shed in this country. The blood that we shed for over 250 years of slavery. That’s why those items are so significant to a Juneteenth celebration if you’ve ever been to one.”

Smallwood-Cuevas reminded her colleagues that Black Americans were enslaved longer than they have been free.

“It is a celebration, historically, of how America became the “Land of the Free” for everyone in this country on Juneteenth,” said Smallowood-Cuevas. “An estimated $20 trillion was amassed on the backs of enslaved labor, making the U.S. the largest economic power in the world.”

Authored by California Black Legislative Caucus (CLBC) members Bradford and Smallwood-Cuevas, SCR 76 urges lawmakers and Californians to celebrate the anniversary of the day in 1865 when some of the last enslaved African Americans in America were told they were free through the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln more than two years earlier in 1863.