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RIALTO, CA—- Diana Z. Rodriguez, Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District, and Rialto small business owner Willetta McDowell will be honored as 2023 Jewel Award winners at the City of Rialto’s 17th Annual State of Women conference March 4 at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB).

The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,”And will feature as its keynote speaker KNBC 4 News Correspondent Darsha Philips. California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren will serve as Mistresses of Ceremony. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. at CSUSB’s Santos Manuel Student Union Building.

“We are so proud of this event and the opportunity it presents to honor women leaders and entrepreneurs from across our region. This year’s honorees embody the strength and perseverance that distinguish Rialto and our surrounding communities from any other region,” said Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson.

Rodriguez became Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District in 2021 acfter serving as President of San Bernardino Valley College since 2016. McDowell, owner of Hair Biz Salon, has been a salon owner or stylist for 40 years.

Past winners of the coveted award include former State Assemblymember Amina Carter, Time for Change Foundation founder Kim Carter and Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The Rialto State of Women conference takes place during National Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is aligned with the National Women’s History Association’s ongoing recognition throughout 2023 of women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts and more.

To reserve a spot at the free event, please click here.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mu Xi Lambda Chapter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eta Nu Omega Chapter hosted the 35th Annual Oratorical Contest at the Riverside County Office of Education, Riverside, California on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Young scholars demonstrated their public speaking skills in three different categories: Grade School, Middle School, and High School. Over 30 participants took part in the speech competition.

L/R: Dr. Charles Brown (A Phi A, Mu Xi Lambda Vice President), Twillea Evans-Carthen (AKA Eta Nu Omega Chair), James Kennedy, David Eoff V, Xavier Buffong, Wanda Khan, Sophia Barrett, Lauren Stewart, Isaiah Buffong, BrookeMonae Westbrook, Natalie Castro, Ruth Rembert (AKA Eta Nu Omega President), and Dar’rell Jones (A Phi A Chair).

This year’s theme was “Overcoming Stereotypes.” Young scholars shared some stereotypes and prejudices they have faced and what they have done to overcome them. Participants also shared what they can do to change other people’s prejudices, stereotypes, and discriminatory practices.

Audience included parents, family members, friends, and Riverside County Office of Education executives. All scholars were provided with a certificate of recognition from the organizers and from Assembly Member Corey Jackson, 60th District.

Winners in each category received a monetary award.

Elementary

Xavier Buffong – 1st place – $200.00

David Eoff V- 2nd Place- $100.00

James Kennedy – 3rd Place- $75.00

Middle School

Lauren Stewart – 1st Place- $300.00

Sophia Barrett – 2nd Place- $200.00

Warda Khan – 3rd Place- $100.00

High School

Natalia Castro – 1st Place- $500.00

BrookeMonae Westbrook – $300.00

Isaiah Buffong- 3rd Place- $150.00

Congratulations to these young scholars. The community looks forward to their participation next year as we celebrate the 36^th year of the Oratorical Contest offered to students in the Inland Empire. Students who will be attending college in the fall of 2023, we wish them much success in their educational and career goals.

Oratorical Contest Committee Members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Mu Xi Lambda Chapter and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy for appointment for an unexpired term in the Second Supervisorial District.

Applicants, who must be registered voters in their respective supervisorial district, should apply to the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to be considered for appointment. County Committee members cannot be employed by a school district in any county, community college district or county superintendent office. School board members are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is by 4:00 p.m. on March 10, 2023.

The 11-member committee deals with school district organization issues, including number of trustees, trustee and school district boundary areas, and unification.

The Second Supervisorial District includes the following cities Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Mt. Baldy, and northern Upland. Interested applicants can view the current district maps for the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and look up their address to determine if they reside in the Second Supervisorial District athttps://sbcounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=97eabb32b34c485188edd2009a7d980f

The County Committee or County Superintendent will make the appointment, not the

County Board of Supervisors.

The interest forms for applying for the committee positions can be downloaded from the County Committee website:https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php/en/business-services/business-advisory-services/county-committee

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram andYouTube. #transforminglives.

Less than 24 hours after winning Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs came to the Disneyland Resort in Southern California to celebrate his team’s Super Bowl triumph. Park guests cheered as he cruised down Main Street, U.S.A., in a victory parade with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.

MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates Super Bowl LVII victory with a jubilant cavalcade complete with Mickey Mouse and his pals down Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023. Mahomes visited the Disneyland Resort during the Disney100 Celebration less than 24 hours after the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. (Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort)

Mahomes, his wife Brittany, daughter Sterling Skye and son Patrick “Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III, came to the Happiest Place on Earth for their first family visit. They posed for a photo in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park and took a spin on the new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs poses with his wife, Brittney Mahomes, their children, Sterling, 1, and Bronze, 11 weeks old, in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023. Mahomes visited the Disneyland Resort during the Disney100 Celebration less than 24 hours after the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

Mahomes joins an all-star lineup of heroes from sports and beyond that have come to Disney Parks to celebrate their personal achievements. The list of superstars includes Peyton and Eli Manning, as well as Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, and Magic Johnson.

COLTON, CA—Democratic Majority Leader Eloise Reyes officially launched her campaign for the open 29th Senate District today, where she has represented more than two thirds of its constituents in the Assembly. As a daughter of immigrants, attorney, and dedicated public servant, Eloise Reyes says that she has spent her life standing up for her community and putting people first.

“My top priority is serving our community and putting the needs of everyday people first, not corporations or special interests,” said Majority Leader Reyes. “I’m proud of my 35-year record of getting things done for working people and supporting families, small businesses, veterans, youth, and seniors.”

“As a daughter of immigrants who worked the fields as a 12-year-old and took on three jobs after high school to put myself through college, I know all too well the struggles facing working people,” Reyes continued. “That’s why throughout my career as an attorney, public servant, and Assembly Majority Leader, I’ve worked to deliver results that make a difference for our community here in the Inland Empire, and it’s why I’m committed to doing more in the State Senate. I’m honored to have earned the support of so many of our local and state leaders for this effort.”

Entering the race with a solid coalition of state and local leaders, Majority Leader Reyes appears to be the strongest choice to represent the new and open 29th Senate District. The campaign for Eloise Reyes has enthusiastically announced the following endorsements of 5 state elected officials, 68 current and former legislators, and 15 current and former elected officials from communities within SD-29.

In 2016, Eloise Reyes began her career in the Assembly after she took on an incumbent and won. As an Assemblymember, Eloise has made it a priority to invest in our communities, ensuring clean air, access to healthcare, and good-paying jobs, and securing hundreds of millions of dollars in much needed resources for Inland Empire neighborhoods. In 2020, as a recognition of her progressive leadership and tireless work ethic, Eloise made history by becoming the first Latina to serve as Majority Leader in the Assembly.

Prior to her election in the Assembly, Eloise worked as an attorney, becoming the first Latina in the Inland Empire to open her own law firm and taking on big corporations on behalf of injured workers. Deeply involved in strengthening her community, she regularly volunteered to provide free legal services to struggling families and seniors, and she led a successful effort to stop the construction of a toxic waste dump in a residential neighborhood. Eloise also co-founded the Inland Empire Community Health Center and taught classes at Cal Poly Pomona.

With a 30-year legacy of uplifting the next generation of diverse real estate executives, the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate’s Ross Program announces 18 new graduates for their 2023 winter session. Since its launch in 1993, the program has graduated over 1,000 students and remains a pivotal academic asset to equip professionals with critical real estate development and finance skills.

“Through rigorous curriculum and real-world case studies, the Ross Program prepares real estate professionals with the next steps they need to advance their career or upskill their talents in real estate finance and development,” said Richard K. Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, who oversees the Ross Program. “Program graduates leave with a very practical skill set.”

After the Rodney King verdict and the civil unrest that followed in 1992, USC and the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA) recognized the unprecedented and immediate need for experienced real estate professionals to aid in the rebuilding parts of South Los Angeles. At the time, CRA found a lack of minority developers and joined with community leaders and USC to create a program to help foster diverse talent in real estate development. The name Ross honors the late Stan Ross, a well-known icon in the accounting and real estate industry responsible for funding the program’s endowment and an outspoken role model in the industry for students and professionals alike.

The following graduates for the 2023 winter session received the crucial skills to navigate affordable housing, office, retail and mixed-use spaces. Graduates include:

Violeta Aguilar-Wyrick, founder and principal of Xara Public Affairs

Emmanuel Choice, senior asset manager of Decro Corporation

Matej Dlabal, architectural designer for ZGF

Greg Elliott, president of Anderson Howard

Hugo Escalante, real estate broker and broker associate for RE/MAX Top Producers

Alexander Fung, senior management analyst for the City of Eastvale

Armida Garcia, real property coordinator of the Los Angeles County Development Authority

Landy Joseph, project manager for West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation

Kevin Lee, library district director of the Banning Library District

Maricela Marquez, community development analyst for the City of Santa Ana

Pauline Martinez, administrative assistant to Dr.  Manuel Castells, University Professor for the University of Southern California

Luis Melo, California realtor for Solid Work Properties LLC.

Meredith Sharkey, management analyst for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments / San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust

Rubani Shaw, production designer for IDEO

Terrence Smalls, CA Realtor and founder of Reche Capital

Christina Sutton (PMP, PMI-ACP), founder of  O’thentik Designs

Omar Taylor, president of Nobis Management

Gina Gibson-Williams, community development and public works director for the City of Eastvale

The Ross Program continues to arm professionals with advanced real estate fundamentals and enables members of underrepresented groups and those that invest resources in emerging communities to further their careers. In the program’s 2023 winter session, 38% of graduates were black, nearly half were women and about 33% were Hispanic.

For more information or to apply for the 2023 summer session, please visit https://lusk.usc.edu/ross.

About the USC Lusk Center: The University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate seeks to advance real estate knowledge, inform business practice, and address timely issues that affect the real estate industry, the urban economy, and public policy. The Lusk Center produces relevant and timely real estate research, supports educational programs for students and executives, and convenes professional forums that bring together academics, students, business executives, and community leaders. For more information, please visit www.usc.edu/lusk.

FONTANA, CA— Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes marked the start of the 2023-24 legislative cycle at her Community Swearing-in Ceremony on Saturday, February 11 at the Steelworkers’ Auditorium in Fontana. California Attorney General Rob Bonta administered the oath of office and former State Senator Connie Leyva, now with KVCR, acted as the Master of Ceremonies. The 2023-24 session will be Majority Leader Reyes’ fourth term representing portions of the Inland Empire in the State Assembly, but this will be her first term representing the new 50th Assembly District. All legislative lines were redrawn last year using the most recent U.S. Census data.

“Thank you to my district for trusting me to serve you for another term,” said Majority Leader Reyes. “I will continue to align my work with the Inland Empire’s values. You are my neighbors and I look forward to hearing more from you and taking your words to Sacramento to fight for the resources our region deserves.”

Other event speakers included California Legislative Latino Caucus Chair Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (Corona), San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, Loma Linda City Councilmember Bhavin Jindal, Chaffey College Superintendent Dr. Henry Shannon, Colton Joint Unified School District Board Member Bertha Flores, and UFCW Local 1167 Operating Director and Inland Empire Labor Council President Yesenia Gonzales.

In prior terms, Majority Leader Reyes has championed legislation to increase equity and inclusion in vulnerable communities throughout the state. She will continue to do so during the 2023-24 legislative session.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— In honor of Black History Month, the South Colton Diversity Committee is honoring individuals for their community works on Saturday, February 18. Among those honorees is LUE Productions and Westside Story News contributor, LuCretia Dowdy. She will be honored at the Black History Awards Ceremony alongside the President for the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce-Inland Cities East Chapter and Colton Sherriff, Art Satterwhite III. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at the Crossing located at 165 E. O Street in Colton. There is no charge to attend, and food and drinks will be provided.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Saturday, February 25, the 55th Annua; San Bernardino County Black History Parade will be held starting at 10 a.m. The parade will begin on Citrus and Summit Avenue and will proceed to the Home Depot parking lot on Sierra Lakes parkway in Fontana where an expo will be held immediately following the parade.

This year’s Grand Marshal is the founder of the R&B group “Lakeside”, Captain Mark Woods Jr.  and his lovely wife, Soul Train dancer, Sharon Hill Woods.

Soul Train was an American music variety television show and the first to prominently feature African American musical acts and dancers. It was on air nationally from 1971 to 2006 and was one of the longest-running syndicated programs in American television history. The R&B group “Lakeside” performed their hit song “Fantastic Voyage” by lead singer Captain Mark a Woods Jr.  Woods.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) is pleased to announce the winners of the 40th annual San Bernardino County Academic Decathlon Competition. The awards ceremony honoring 18 high school teams, took place on February 9.

“These incredibly talented and hard-working students committed hundreds of hours preparing for this year’s academic decathlon,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “It is an honor to not only recognize them for all their hard work, but also recognize their support systems and coaches for helping them excel in the competition.”

The three teams with the highest overall scores this year are:

• 1st place: Chaffey High School
• 2nd place: Redlands High School
• 3rd place: Rancho Cucamonga High School

The back-to-back champion team, Chaffey High School of Chaffey Joint Union High School District, will send its top nine scoring decathletes and coach to represent San Bernardino County at the California Academic Decathlon State Competition in Santa Clara from March 25-26. At large teams may also represent the county at the state competition.

In addition to coming in first place, Chaffey High School also won awards for the following team events:

• Art
• Economics
• Literature
• Music
• Science
• Social Science
• Speech
• Super Quiz

The award for the highest-scoring student from the Chaffey High School team went to junior classman, Dylan Ventura. Ventura earned 8,088 points out of a possible 10,000.

This year, nearly 300 students from 18 high schools throughout San Bernardino County participated in the competition.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the San Bernardino County Academic Decathlon Competition was held as a hybrid event with portions of the competition being held virtually, while others were held in person.

This comes after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the competition to transition into a completely virtual format in 2021 and 2022.

The theme for this year’s competition was “The American Revolution and the New Nation.”

Each year, the theme is generated by the United States Academic Decathlon and is provided to SBCSS by the California Academic Decathlon.

The event competition took place over three days in December, January and February consisting of categories in essay writing, both prepared and impromptu speeches, panel interviews, objective testing and culminated with the highly anticipated Super Quiz.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.