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SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Monday, January 16, 2023, the Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches hosted their 43rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The community thanks Bishop Kevin Simmons and IECAAC for their leadership and dedication to the community throughout the years.

The highly respected non-profit executive makes history by becoming the first woman Chief

LOS ANGELES, CA—- Cynthia Mitchell Heard, a highly respected leader in nonprofit, has joined the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). The announcement was made by Ambassador Michael A. Lawson, President and CEO of the perennial civil rights organization. The appointment is a historic one for the iconic organization, with Ms. Heard becoming the first woman to hold this leadership position at LAUL.

“We are excited to have Cynthia Heard as our new Chief Operating Officer,” said Ambassador
Lawson. “Ms. Heard has an extensive background and experience in the non-profit world and her accomplishments in bettering the lives of disenfranchised communities in Los Angeles are admirable and remarkable. We are looking forward to her leadership as we move the Los Angeles Urban League into its second 100 years of service.”

Cynthia Mitchell Heard previously served as Vice President of Business Development and Communications for the YWCA Greater Los Angeles (YWCA, GLA), creating and helming unprecedented social impact campaigns which serve as a blueprint for systemic change. Ms. Heard created a myriad of public/private, state, local and federal partnerships to design innovative community and operational collaborations throughout Los Angeles County to fund supportive services. During the COVID 19 pandemic, she developed key funding mechanisms through her steadfast efforts and assisted with promoting economic stability through public private workforce development, community engagement and securing resources to improve disenfranchised communities that experienced lack of access.

Prior, Ms. Heard served as Senior Executive Vice President of Programs for Children Uniting Nations (CUN) where she developed national collaborative stakeholder partnerships and created statewide bi-partisan advocacy initiatives that focused on new avenues to break down the barriers that surround at-risk/foster youth and marginalized families.

“It is my honor to join President & CEO, Michael Lawson, and the entire team at the Los Angeles Urban League,” said Cynthia Heard. “I am truly looking forward to embracing the mission of LAUL and the commitment of this stellar team as we continue the advancement of the ongoing community engagement programs, economic stability/self-reliance, civil rights advocacy and the workforce enrichment of our marginalized and disenfranchised communities throughout Los Angeles.”

By Aryana Noroozi

This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the city of San Bernardino gathered at “Living the Dream,” a Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza sponsored by the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce and hosted in West San Bernardino. The event held space for the community to watch performances, hear from elected officials and explore vendor booths.

Highlights of the day included a performance from the Grammy nominated group hailing from Rialto, J.J. Fad, and an inspiring message to the community from newly elected Mayor Helen Tran.

“[MLK] never led alone. He led with community. And that is what I will do as your newly elected mayor, show that we lead together and that we lead with truth, light, and unity, because we deserve it,” Tran said.

Grand Marshals for the 2023 San Bernardino MLK Parade and Extravaganza were James Ramos, California State Assemblymember; Eloise Reyes, California State Assemblymember; Joe Baca, Jr., San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District; Helen Tran, San Bernardino City Mayor-Elect; and our new African American Chief of Police for the City of San Bernardino Darren L Goodman.

“[MLK] never led alone. He led with community,” said newly elected Mayor Helen Tran at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza event sponsored by the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce in San Bernardino. Credit: Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local

The San Bernardino PaceSetter Team drill team lines up to perform at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza at Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. The event was hosted by The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce and featured guest appearances by the region’s elected leaders, including Mayor Helen Tran and Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and a performance by Rialto natives, J.J. Fad. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

The San Bernardino PaceSetter Team drill team begins their performance at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Rialto natives, J.J. Fad perform their hit song “Supersonic,” at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. “Supersonic” reached #10 on Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Songs and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989, making J.J. Fad the first all-female rap group to be nominated for a Grammy award. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

The crowd cheers and dances to J.J. Fad’s performance at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom / CatchLight Local).

The crowd watches and sings along to J.J. Fad’s performance at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom / CatchLight Local).

J.J. Fad members, Juana Burns “MC J.B.” and Dana Birks “Baby D” and former NWA member, producer and rapper, Arabian Prince pose for a portrait at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom / CatchLight Local).

Elected officials join the celebration

Councilwoman of San Bernardino’s Sixth Ward, Kimberly Calvin thanks the public for their service at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. “Raise your hand if you contribute to the City of San Bernardino in any capacity, because we are here to serve you and we thank you for all that you do,” Calvin said before introducing a group of elected officials including San Bernardino Mayor Tran . (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Newly elected Mayor of San Bernardino County, Helen Tran, addresses the crowd at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. Tran is the first Asian mayor of San Bernardino and the first Vietnamese mayor in the nation. “What really inspired me from Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was that he never led alone. He led with community,” Tran said. “As your mayor I will make sure we lead together.” (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom /CatchLight Local).

Councilmember Damon Alexander speaks to the crowd at the Martin Luther r. King Parade and Extravaganza in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. Alexander is the first Black council member in the seventh ward. “Unity requires action,” Alexander said. “So I need everyone here to work in unity.” (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (right), who represents the Inland Empire, thanks the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event on January 16, 2023. Senator Ochoa Bogh presented award certificates to the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s parade committee and YouthBuild Inland Empire. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Dr. Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers, a newly elected member of the San Bernardino County School Board speaks to the crowd at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. “[MLK] said togetherness, we have to learn how to live together, or together we will perish as fools,” Dr. Dowdy-Rodgers said, quoting MLK. “Today we have defied those odds. We are here together living as one.” (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom /CatchLight Local).

Assemblymember of the 47th District, James Ramos speaks to the crowd at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. “Look at the diversity on this stage. When I grew up, you wouldn’t see this diversity representing families,” said Ramos who grew up on San Manuel tribal lands. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

A community comes together in celebration

A Martin Luther King Jr. statue sits in the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio booth at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza in San Bernardino on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Ashley Dial and her daughter Imani Dial pose for a portrait at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Celebration-goers walk through the parking lot of Arroyo Valley High School where the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza was held on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Tia Woods performs a song she wrote during the pandemic about getting through difficult times at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Members of the San Bernardino PaceSetter drill team pose for a photo at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/ CatchLight Local).

Felicia Alexander, Brigitte Kilpatrick and children, Destinee Kilpatrick and Dexter Kilpatrick pose for a portrait at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Dexter Kilpatrick poses for a photo taken by his sister, Destinee Kilpatrick at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Liyah Belvins, who was named 2022-23 Miss Black Awareness in Fontana during the annual ceremony in December, poses for a portrait at the Martin Luther King Parade and Extravaganza on January 16, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi, Black Voice News Newsroom/CatchLight Local).

Collaborators for The San Bernardino MLK Day Parade and Extravaganza include: First Five San Bernardino, The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services, Dameron Communications, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Chords Youth Enrichment Program, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino Airport, Off the Chain Alliance, Westside Story Newspaper, Empire Talks Back and Black Health Coalition.

For more information go to BlackChamberofCommerce.org or call (888) 466-7408.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Saturday, January 14, 2023, the Southern Black Chamber of Commerce held its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Gala Service Awards. Honorees included dignitaries from around the Inland Empire which included Wallace Allen, Wilmer Amina Carter, Danny Tillman, Hardy and Cheryl Brown, Jimmy Jews, Damon & Felicia Alexander, and Darren Goodman. The evening was filled with a cocktail hour, live entertainment, dinner, and awards and recognitions that was held at the San Bernardino International Airport.

PHILIPPINE SEA—U.S. Navy Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Daniel Lopez Montoya, from Apple Valley, Calif., relays a message during a general quarters drill on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

PHILIPPINE SEA—U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jose Flores, from Adelanto, Calif., performs maintenance on a refueling system in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) was awarded a $20,000 grant by Stater Bros. Charities to support one of its newest programs, a Mobile Community Kitchen.

Stater Bros. Charities is at the forefront of helping to address food insecurity in San Bernardino County. The mobile program will roll out in 2023 as an expansion of CAPSBC’s other mobile services such as the Mobile Shower, Mobile Laundry, Mobile Offices and Mobile Food Pantry. These services are targeted for remote areas of the county to meet the needs of the most vulnerable residents. The Mobile Community Kitchen will provide nutritious hot meals to food insecure communities. CAPSBC’s goal is to increase the accessibility of healthy hot meal options to food deserts and underserved communities comprised of elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals.

“We are honored to be a recipient of these funds. Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros. Markets have consistently and generously supported our organization with both monetary and food donations,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC President & Chief Executive Officer. “Partnerships like this help create a lasting impact in our communities. Last year alone, 214,415 individuals had access to nutritious hot meals prepared by our 27 partner soup kitchens and over 16 million pounds of food. Our new Mobile Community Kitchen will help increase the number of hot meals and will help us reach communities in the most remote areas of the county.”

“Stater Bros. Charities appreciates all that CAPSBC does not only to feed those in need but just as importantly, to feed their souls,” said Director of Stater Bros. Charities Danielle Oehlman. “In addition to food, CAPSBC’s mobile services such as Mobile Shower, Mobile Laundry, and Mobile Offices perform the important role of helping every person maintain their dignity.”

Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros. Markets are valued partners in the agency’s work to relieve hunger in local communities and CAPSBC is grateful to receive their support for the newest mobile service program.

About Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County 

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino is the designated Community Action Agency for San Bernardino County and is charged with providing programs and services for over 800,000 low-income individuals and families to help lift them out of poverty. CAPSBC has been serving San Bernardino County since 1965. CAPSBC provides resources and opportunities to low-income residents to improve their lives, contribute to their communities, and offer a return on investment for our county. Core programs include Family Development, Energy, Education and Environmental Services and the Food Bank.

For more information, please call 909-723-1500 or e-mail info@capsbc.org or visit our website www.capsbc.org.

About Stater Bros. Markets 

Communities throughout Southern California look to Stater Bros. Markets for Fresh. Affordable. Community First. grocery shopping every day. Stater Bros. nurtures families and their communities at more than 170 stores and through the helping hands of 18,000 caring employees. While the Stater Bros. meat counter is legendary for its quality and variety, every store department is designed to surprise and delight today’s shoppers. The company lives out its values through the charitable efforts of its non-profit, Stater Bros. Charities. Learn more at staterbros.com.

By Jaivon Grant | California Black Media

Black and other minority-owned small businesses in California have actively fought for decades for more inclusion in California state government contracting opportunities.

Their hard work and patience paid off in September last year, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2019 into law.

Authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), the law took effect on Jan. 1. It mandates that state departments and agencies commit to providing at least 25% of all procurement opportunities to small businesses. Additionally, the bill requires state departments and agencies ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses are included in the procurement process, when contracting opportunities are available.

“California has invested billions of dollars to help small businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their California Dream,” said Newsom when signing the bill September 2022. “These new laws build on our efforts to create a more inclusive economy with renewed opportunity for innovation and growth for the country’s largest small business community. I’m thankful for the Legislature’s leadership and support to help the backbone of our economy thrive.”

Newsom signed AB 2019 after it passed in the Assembly unanimously with a 74-0 vote and it passed in the Senate 34-0.

Small businesses employ nearly 7.2 million workers (or 48.8% of all employees in California).

According to AB 2019, more than 39% of California’s 4.1 million small businesses (1.6 million) are minority owned. The bill is projected to have a significant positive impact on the overall economic stability of the state by enhancing state agencies’ ability to support underserved businesses in state contracting and encouraging entrepreneurship.

“Billions of dollars are at stake in our state contracting process and when we make it fair for diverse entrepreneurs, the success of these small businessowners lift up communities all across our state,” said Petrie-Norris, who is Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “This bill will not only keep the state accountable, but it would give businesses that face systemic barriers an opportunity to succeed, keep families fed, create jobs and vitalize their communities.”

A coalition of minority-owned business advocacy organizations recently produced and released a video emphasizing some of the benefits of working with the state government.

“There are a lot of times where you’re questioning ‘am I going to have enough work for my small company,’” minority business owner Gary Efhan, CEO of Qualis Telecom stated in the video. “Without support, it’s pretty hard, and I’ve seen a lot of people go out of business.”

“Supporting us — and being in our communities –that will make a huge difference for sure,” Efhan added.

In the same video, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce President Pat Fong expressed that are many barriers to full participation for small businesses in California.

“Part of our goal with AB 2019 is to come up with an infrastructure that makes sense for small businesses,” Fong said. “There’s an understanding about what types of opportunities are available that are easy to access. How do we better connect California’s diverse businesses to those opportunities? I think that’s the challenge but also the opportunity.”

The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce represents more than 815,000 Latino-owned business in California — organizations that, in aggregate, contribute more than 7% to the United States’ GDP, the organization says.

“As proud co-sponsors of AB 2019, we are thankful that the bill is now signed by the Governor,” said Julian Canete, President of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. “There are numerous and diverse small businesses who can provide services and products to the State and this bill ensures they at least have a fighting chance to be awarded a contract. Thank you to Assemblymember Petrie-Norris for her work on this bill.”

The bill has garnered strong support from the California Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority, the California African American Chamber of Commerce, the California State Controller, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

REDLANDS, CA—- The theme of Wallace’s monologue is, “Become an anti-bigot!”. On Empire Talks Back show this past Sunday, January 8, Eugene Weems, KOTS (King of the Streets) MMA Underground Heavyweight Champion stopped by, along with Lue Dowdy and Deeveatva Bourne, who are the MLK Parade Coordinators and Parade Marshall. Baby “D” of J.J. Fad, the legendary Female Rappers from Rialto who performed the world-famous Gold Record, ‘Supersonic’ also stopped by the radio station.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- The Westside Story Newspaper is sad to announce that on Monday, January 9, 2023, the Deborah Smith-Gilbert passed away. She was a member of the Inland Empire National Council of Negro Women (IENCNW). More information will be fore coming.