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By Tanu Henry | California Black Media
“I really don’t understand how the price of gas can rise so drastically in California,” said a Black woman and 55-year-old Rancho Cucamonga resident who agreed to be interviewed for this article but asked to not be identified.

“Unfortunately, we need to purchase it regardless of the prices and that’s one of reasons, I believe, it continues to increase,” she complained. “Weekly, it is costing me approximately $75 to commute to and from work, which is $35 more than I used to pay.”

The woman, who is a collections officer with a lead abatement company, said filling her tank often means she has to forgo another obligation.

As of Friday, the average gas price per gallon was $5.82 in the state.

Now, news that the state is tacking an extra 3 cent tax on every gallon purchased – which will not be a significant increase – is still absurd, says the woman, considering that California already has the highest gas prices in the nation.

Because Gov. Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature missed the May 1 deadline to suspend an inflationary gas tax increase that is scheduled for July 1, it will still take effect.

Policymakers would have had to act 60 days in advance to avert the increase.
Democratic lawmakers, backed by environmentalists, are digging their heels in, defending their decision not to suspend the inflationary tax increase that they fought hard to approve when they voted to pass Senate Bill 1 in 2017.
“As we’ve said before, suspending the gas tax would reduce critical funds available for road repair and improvement projects,” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood said in a joint statement.
“Additionally, as oil companies continue to rake in record-high profits, there is no guarantee this relief would be passed onto consumers,” Atkins and Rendon continued.
With the tax hike, the average excise tax price per gallon in the state will go from about 51cents per gallon to 54 cents per gallon.
Last month, with the May 1 deadline looming, Newsom’s office acknowledged that it would not be able to convince lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly to suspend the tax increase.
Instead, Newsom’s spokesperson Alex Stack released a statement suggesting that the Governor’s office was turning its attention to providing relief to Californians as the cost of gas, food and other commodities continue to skyrocket.
“We look forward to working with lawmakers on the governor’s proposal for direct payments to Californians wrestling with rising prices,” Stack said in a statement. “Helping offset the impact of inflation on California residents remains a top priority for the governor.”
Legislative Republicans blasted their Democratic colleagues for their “inaction” on the gas tax increase.
“Californians are desperate for any relief at the pump while paying the highest gas prices in the nation, but Democrats have decided to run out the clock and increase the state’s gas tax instead,” read a statement the state Republican Party released earlier this month.
Gov. Newsom and lawmakers in both chambers of the Legislature have still not agreed on how to address the excessive cost of gas in the state.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA — On Saturday, June 18 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at San Bernardino Valley College, the San Bernardino Juneteenth Committee will be hosting the ‘Juneteenth Classic Cars and Bikes Showcase’. San Bernardino Valley College is located at 701 S. Mt. Vernon in San Bernardino.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Since 2017, there has been a 9.8% increase of new small businesses – firms with less than 500 employees — in the United States. Over the past two years alone, over 10 million applications were submitted to start new small businesses across the country, according to the Small Business Administration.

That growth trend is true for California, too, where there are about 4.1 million small businesses, the most in the country. Those companies make up 99.8% of all business in California and employ about 7.2 million people.

But for Black-owned and other minority owned small businesses across the country, there was a steep decline in numbers, almost 41%, due to the pandemic, a Census Population Survey found in 2020. During that same time, nearly 44% of minority-owned small businesses were at risk of shutting down, a Small Business Majority report found.

Although a number of reports suggest that the outlook has begun to be more positive as the U.S. economy continues bounce back defying the odds, and many Black businessowners have also become more optimistic, access to credit and technical support remain a challenge for many who had to dip into their own finances to keep their lights on.

Recognizing the outsized contribution small businesses make to the health of the California economy and the hit many of the smallest of small business have taken during the pandemic, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) has been making grants of up to $25,000 to small business in the state.

In its latest round of funding called the Dream Fund, which is now accepting applications on a rolling basis, CalOSBA has partnered with Lendistry, a Los Angeles-based, minority-led small business and commercial real estate lender to administer the $35 million grant portion of its program. The fund provides $10,000 to each small business that qualifies.

To become eligible, California-based small businessowners will have to complete training at one of the centers run by the state’s Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP) and receive a certificate.
“For the millions of Californians that have dreams of owning their own business, this grant coupled with one-on-one counseling and business expertise from hundreds of counselors at our eighty-seven Technical Assistance Centers, has the power to jumpstart their dreams,” says Tara Lynn Gray, Director of CalOSBA.
Jay King, President and CEO of the Sacramento-based California Black Chamber of Commerce, says he applauds Gov. Newsom for understanding the historic systemic challenges minority businesses face and for “doing something about it.”
But giving Black businesses grants are not a “cure-all,” he says.
“It is like putting a band aid on a bullet wound, if we don’t do more to really fix the problems small businesses face,” King explains. “Ninety six percent of Black businesses are mini or micro that means they make less than $100,000 or less than $35,000 a year, respectively,” King continued. “Only 4 % of our business earn more than $100,000 annually. We have to put more resources and technical support around these businesses.”
King says informing Black businessowners about opportunities like the Dream Fund and making sure they know how to apply for or access the funding is critical to making sure the people who need the help gets it.
“You have to get down into our communities,” he said. “You have to reach people through groups that are plugged into our communities to get the word out. We do not hear about these kinds of programs enough. We definitely don’t benefit from them enough.”
Everett K. Sands, the CEO of Lendistry, says he is excited to help California new businesses access the capital they need to “begin on their journeys.
“Over the past two years, almost 10 million new businesses have been created in the U.S.,” he says. “With record numbers of new small businesses entering the marketplace, many of which are owned by women and minorities, programs like California Dream Fund pave the way for a more robust and equitable economy as these new businesses make the leap from employing just their founders to employing their communities.”

HESPERIA, CA — Dollar General is excited to announce its store at 8149 I Ave in Hesperia is now open!

DG stores are proud to provide area residents with an affordable and convenient store location to purchase household essentials including food, cleaning supplies, paper products, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, baby items and more through its mission of Serving Others. In addition to the national and private branded products customers trust Dollar General to carry, the new Hesperia location includes the Company’s new stylish, on-trend home décor and an expanded party preparation selection. Normal hours of operation may be found through the Dollar General app.

“At Dollar General, we believe the addition of each new store provides positive economic growth for the communities we proudly serve, and the addition of our new Hesperia store highlights our commitment to deliver a pleasant shopping experience that includes great prices on quality products in a convenient location,” said Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “We look forward to welcoming customers to our new store and hope they will enjoy shopping at our new location.”

To commemorate the opening of DG’s new Hesperia location, Dollar General plans to donate 100 new books to a nearby elementary school to benefit students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. In partnership with the Kellogg Company, the donation will be part of a planned donation of more than 60,000 books in fiscal 2022 across the country to celebrate new DG store openings.

Furthermore, DG strives to be a good neighbor and is committed to the communities it proudly calls home, evidenced by unwavering support of literacy and education initiatives through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The addition of the Hesperia store opens the opportunity for schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store to apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants. Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $203 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, helping more than 14.8 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy or continued education. For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.dgliteracy.com.

Dollar General plans to create new jobs in the Hesperia community as the store is expected to employ approximately six to 10 people, depending on the individual needs of the store. The Company provides employees with competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility and Dollar General’s Employee Assistance Foundation, as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees. Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions here.

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For additional information, photographs or items to supplement a story, please visit the DG Newsroom by clicking here or contact the Media Relations Department at 1-877-944-DGPR (3477) or via email at dgpr@dg.com. Updated stock footage and logos are also available on Dollar General’s newsroom.

About Dollar General Corporation
Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for more than 80 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day.® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices in convenient neighborhood locations. Dollar General operated 18,130 stores in 46 states as of January 28, 2022. In addition to high-quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America’s most-trusted manufacturers such as Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

ONTARIO, CA—- To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Healthy Heritage is set to host “Laughing for the Health of It”, a Comedy Show and Mental Health Resource Fair located at the Ontario Improv on Sunday, May 15th, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to all guests 18 years or older.

This special night is one you won’t want to miss! Not only with there be a one-hour hilarious and clean comedy show; guests will have the opportunity to network with the community, enjoy delicious food and drinks, talk to mental health professionals, and gather resources from over 20 participating vendors who are passionate about helping Healthy Heritage end the stigma of mental health in the community.

Be prepared to laugh out loud with these hilarious comedians – Donna Maine, Gayla Johnson, Lamont Bonman, and Richard Weiss! Maine is an LA based comedian whose comedic sets revolve around relatable topics on middle-aged dating and the comical ironies of parenthood. Johnson is a veteran comedian who’s appeared in several ABC hit tv shows including Scandal, Bones, and Grey’s Anatomy to name a few. Bonman is an award-winning comedian who has appeared on shows like BET’s Comic View. Weiss is a long-time recovered addict who has toured the country performing at major comedy venues along with doing “recovery comedy” at 12-step conventions nationwide.

Tickets are selling out fast! Purchase yours online or at the box office theater for only $25! Come crackup, don’t melt down!

Healthy Heritage thanks their sponsors who helped make this event possible for our community: California Department of Public Health, Community Mental Health Equity Project, Riverside University Health System of Behavioral Health, California Reducing Disparities Project, African American Family Wellness Advisory Group and the Broken Crayons Still Color Project.

RIVERSIDE, CA – The San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated will honor two outstanding community leaders during its annual Culmination program this month.

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, Dr. Regina Patton Stell, President of the Riverside NAACP, will receive the 2022 Waudieur Rucker-Hughes Social Action Advocate Award; and Rialto Unified Board of Education Member Dina Walker will receive the 2022 Dorothy Inghram Social Action Advocate Award.

“We are excited to honor these two dynamic women,” said San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter President Erica Shorts. “Both Dr. Patton Stell and Ms. Walker are strong, steadfast advocates for our youth and underserved members of our Inland Empire communities. The fact that they are members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a testament to the ideals of our sisterhood, which is founded on social action and service.”

About the Honorees
Dr. Regina Patton Stell is a longtime educator and champion for social justice in the Riverside community. She started her career as a special education teacher and then served as a principal. She later became a director in the Riverside County Office of Education and was appointed the first Black assistant superintendent of her school district. Dr. Patton Stell’s passion drives her commitment to improve the lives of others and fuels her active engagement in Delta, in which she’s been a member for over 50 years, and the NAACP, in which she has served for over a decade.

Dr. Patton Stell currently serves as President of the NAACP Riverside Chapter. Under her leadership, the Riverside Chapter continually produces programming and events to raise community awareness about mental and physical health impacts, improve Black academic achievement, and encourage civic participation in local, state, and federal government elections and legislative decisions. She was recently elected to serve as the Democratic Party Delegate for District 58.

Dina Walker has been a member of the Rialto Unified Board of Education since 2014, serving over 25,000 students. Her elected position complements Ms. Walker’s over 20 years of experience working with educational, government, and community organizations. As President and CEO of BLU Educational Foundation, a nonprofit she founded in 2001, Ms. Walker leads a team that provides educational and human services programming to youth, adults, and organizations to build healthy, productive communities throughout the Inland Empire.

Motivated by data that validates the disparities that affect underserved communities and the success stories she hears along the way, she fiercely advocates for education justice on behalf of our most marginalized students. Through BLU’s Institute for Civic Engagement, Ms. Walker and her team are creating a leadership pipeline to help those who have historically lacked representation. The Institute is teaching a new generation how to be change-makers.
Our Memorial Recognitions

In 2021 the San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter gave its first Social Action Advocate Award in Waudieur “Woodie” Rucker-Hughes’ name to honor the legacy of an icon who dedicated her life to seeking social justice, equality, and education for all. Her selfless commitment and tireless advocacy still impact individuals locally and nationally. On February 25, 2022, following the passing of his bill H.R. 5983, U.S. Representative Mark Takano joined the community in celebrating the renaming of the City of Riverside post office on 4150 Chicago Avenue after Woodie Rucker-Hughes.

The Dorothy Inghram Social Action Advocate Award recognizes the legacy of another trailblazer who shattered glass ceilings for black educators in 1942 when she became the first Black teacher in San Bernardino County. Later she became the first Black principal and then the first Black school district superintendent in California. Ms. Inghram was also a charter member of the San Bernardino- Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter, which started in 1959.

The San Bernardino-Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter’s Culmination program will be virtual via Zoom on Saturday, May 14, 2022, starting at 10:00 AM. The event is free, but you must register in advance. Click here to register.

Submitted by Sheila Stone

Leilani LaStarr (aka “the star”) Carter was born from a place of miracles and strength! A newborn who fought her way into this life as she punched her way out of her mother’s womb and into this world.  With pure ambition, by the age of right (8), she earned second place in the balance beam event at the Las Vegas Gymnastics Regionals Meet competition.

Though Leilani is active and carries an adventurous spirit, she also thrives in the area of academics.  During the pandemic she continued to strive, exercising her independence, and sustaining a 3.5 G.P.A. while schooling from home.  Now at 11-years of age, Leilani has become a 4-time Principal Honor Roll recipient with earning over seven outstanding achievement awards in the fields of Math, English, and Citizenship.

In addition to being a “student of the month” three times in her elementary journey, she was also a 2021 nominated Class President candidate of her 5th grade class.  As her energy and gifts continue to light up the world around her, we are excited to see what the future holds for this bright star.  A young girl who exudes “Black Girl Magic” with a beautiful heart and a royal spirit, she will indeed be a blessing to many.

Miss Carter will graduate on May 25, 2022, and she will be headed to high school.

If you want to recognize a graduate, send an email to mail@westsidestorynewspaper.com.

Superfit Hero placed third out of ten finalists in a nationwide vote

RIVERSIDE, CA — – Barclays US Consumer Bank today announced Superfit Hero as the third-place winner of its “Small Business Big Wins” promotion and the recipient of a $20,000 prize. The Riverside, California, designer of size-inclusive athleticwear was one of nine other finalists in a nationwide vote to determine which United States-based small business would receive a much-needed financial boost.

In addition to this $20,000 prize, Barclays awarded $40,000 to Nordic-Knot of Reston, Virginia, for second place and $60,000 to Ashland Birth Center of Ashland, Wisconsin, for first place.
Superfit Hero creates quality plus-sized clothing for athletes that also offers complete coverage, moisture wicking technology and a range of compression options.

Through essays and photos, more than 4,750 small businesses from across the country shared their compelling stories of resilience in a landscape forever changed by COVID-19 and how they met the unique demands of 2021 through the “Small Business Big Wins” promotion presented by Barclays. The top 10 were selected and showcased online at BarclaysSmallBizBigWins.com for a public voting period that took place April 13-22.

“Throughout this pandemic, the small business community has been forced to pivot and adapt during unprecedented times,” said Nancy Parnella, Director of US Business Cards at Barclays. “At Barclays, we know that small businesses are the economic engine of their local communities, and we are honored to share their stories of perseverance and provide them with financial support to help them continue to thrive.”

The contest was sponsored by Barclays’ Business Card team, which has long supported business owners of all sizes with its broad range of cards that offer business owners rewards for dollars spent on their business needs.

“This was such a great experience for our team to get to connect with our community over the course of this contest,” said Micki Krimmel, owner of Superfit Hero. “This money will go a long way for us as we produce our new athleisure line for this holiday season.”

In addition, Barclays awarded 50 participants of the contest $2,000 each through a random drawing and $5,000 for each of the remaining finalists in the top 10 totaling $255,000 in support of 60 small businesses across the country.

The full list of finalists includes:
• Ashland Birth Center – Ashland, Wisconsin ($60,000): A parental guidance and support service provider that offers a wide range of midwife services throughout the pregnancy, newborn and postpartum stages of childbirth.
• Nordic-Knot – Reston, Virginia ($40,000): A traditional Scandinavian pretzel baker that uses a traditional “Nordic” dough to create pretzels that are all-natural, fresh-baked and handmade and works with breweries to create pretzels that match their signature beers with specialty grains.
• Superfit Hero – Riverside, California ($20,000): A size-inclusive athleticwear company that delivers quality plus-sized clothing for athletes that also offers complete coverage, moisture wicking technology and a range of compression options.
• Advanced & Innovative Multifunctional Materials LLC (AIMM) – Dayton, Ohio ($5,000): A materials science company and lab focused on water purification and self-disinfecting N95 masks that also works on developing unique materials with antimicrobial properties.
• BoCa Flavor – Baltimore, Maryland ($5,000): A manufacturer of Caribbean-infused seasoning that takes a modern approach to traditional Caribbean seasoning, fusing staple ingredients from the islands to bring an everyday blend to liven up the kitchen.
• Flagstaff Doulas – Flagstaff, Arizona ($5,000): A health care and social support provider that specializes in providing guidance and assistance to new parents, helping them through the questions and decisions that many face before, during and after birth with their new child.
• Nudi Wear – Kaneohe, Hawaii ($5,000): An activewear apparel maker developed with the sustainability of our oceans in mind that also shares a percentage of its profits with organizations who preserve our seas.
• Secret Blessings – Robbinsville, North Carolina ($5,000): A custom inspirational accessories shop that develops blankets, backpacks, pouches and more with inspirational words or encouraging phrases sewn into the fabric.
• Sock It to ‘Em Sock Campaign – Highlands Ranch, Colorado ($5,000): A charitable organization that collects socks that they then donate to homeless shelters in need in the Denver metropolitan area.
• Stitchwitch Alterations – Santa Barbara, California ($5,000): A seamstress and designer that handles a wide range of sewing projects from alterations to suits and dress adjustments as well as interior décor items like pillows, duvets, dust covers and more.

For more information about the finalists, visit BarclaysSmallBizBigWins.com. For more information on Barclays’ business card offerings, visit BarclaysUS.com/Business.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization approved changes to the method in which school board members are elected for Bear Valley Unified, Fontana Unified, Mountain View and Rialto Unified school districts during a series of meetings held on April 13.

“I commend these districts for being proactive and engaging the community for input,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “This level of consistency, dedication and transparency is what makes these districts great.”

Public hearings were held prior to the County Committee’s approval of the district plans for all four districts to transition from an “at-large” to a “by-trustee area” election method. The districts requested County Committee approval in time for the next election in November 2022.

An at-large method allows registered voters of the entire jurisdiction to elect candidates to the governing board.

In a by-trustee area system of election, candidates for the Board must reside within a specific geographic subarea of the district called “trustee area,” and candidates are elected only by the voters of that trustee area.

According to Dennis Mobley, interim acting secretary to the committee, the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 (CVRA) continues to allow an “at-large” method of election, although it can be challenged as unfair depending on community circumstances. By-trustee area electoral systems are not vulnerable to challenge under the CVRA, which prompted the districts to make the change.
The 11-member committee addresses school district organizational issues including possible changes to the number of district trustees, trustee area boundaries, school district boundary changes and unifications.

The San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization maintains a webpage at https://www.sbcss.k12.ca.us/index.php/business-services/business-advisory-services/county-committee
For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Non-profit organizations across California will be able to apply for funding from a pool of cash created with an initial investment of $15 million from two foundations.

The money will help local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) gain access to almost $200 billion in federal and state funding coming down the pike for economic development projects.

The Center at the Sierra Health Foundation, a Sacramento-based organization that promotes health and racial equity, and the James Irvine Foundation, a private San Francisco-based philanthropic nonprofit that advocates for Californians who earn low wages, are the first two foundations investing in the fund called the Community Economic Mobilization Initiative (CEMI).

“CEMI will strengthen nonprofits working in marginalized communities and help them secure and influence the use of public funds designated to reduce economic and environmental inequities,” said Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and The Center.

This year, California is expected to receive close to $200 billion in federal and state funding. The money will be sourced from the American Rescue Plan ($43 billion) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ($56 billion), as well as the state’s Community Economic Resilience Fund ($565 million) and its budget surplus ($46 billion).

“This is a much-needed investment for community-driven organizations particularly those that support the most vulnerable Californians. Historically, they have not been invested in the same manner as larger organizations. Many of them were affected throughout the pandemic and need this fiscal and operational support. My hope is that there will be intentionality to be inclusive of the organizations that can have the greatest impact in our communities,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, Convenor of the California Black Women’s Collective, an organization of more than 1500 Black women leaders in various professions from different regions of the state.

CEMI is expected to begin funding the CBOs in the summer of 2022 with $14 million from the James Irvine Foundation and $1 million from the Center at Sierra Health.

“We have a golden opportunity to make sure these investments reach community-based organizations that best know the infrastructure their communities need for economic growth that is inclusive and resilient,” said Don Howard, President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation.

Howard says the funding from CEMI aligns with the James Irvine Foundation’s mission of supporting low-income workers because it helps grassroots organizations and community advocates participate in the planning and decision-making that goes into the distribution of public funds.

“We need an economy built on inclusion, equity, and dignity for all work and workers — and that starts by making room for diverse leaders to have a say in how these once-in-a-generation investments shape their communities’ futures,” Howard continued.

The CEMI funding will provide technical assistance and training to the CBOs that qualify to build their capacity and infrastructure and build models for what community-driven economic development looks like, according to the Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

The funders of CEMI say they believe the organizations they support will grow into a strong network that can drive more “equitable economic development policy, regulation and accountability at state and local levels.”

The California Endowment (TCE), a private foundation with headquarters in Los Angeles, has also committed to investing in CEMI.

TCE is a 56-year-old foundation that supports programs that improve the health care of Californians living in underserved communities.

“The availability of state and federal funding provides California with an important opportunity to address critical health and economic challenges for the most vulnerable Californians,” said Dr. Bob Ross, President and CEO of TCE.

“This potential can only be realized by investing in community-led change,” Ross added.

Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the foundations for taking a leadership role in making a difference in the lives of Californians who need help the most.

“This initiative will help grow the capacity of committed organizations to continue their important work in communities across the state. This will be especially important as we focus on COVID-19 recovery and creating a healthier, safer, more equitable future for all,” the governor said.

Hewitt says the project will result in “transformative change” in California.

“The past few years have laid bare the impact of long-term disinvestment in poor communities. We must do all we can to position community institutions to grow power and create opportunity for the places and populations they serve,” he said.