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By Austin Gage | California Black Media

After a 3-year hiatus, the 12-member California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) held its “African American Leaders for Tomorrow Program” (AALT) on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills CSUDH.

From July 20 to 23, the CLBC brought together high school students from throughout California for a series of workshops and social activities aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders in African American communities in fields such as business, government, and non-profit advocacy.

According to the CLBC website, the primary goal of the program “is to “build a bench” of young leaders who will lead California in solving issues of protecting voter rights, increasing access to higher education and career training through dual enrollment, reducing poverty rates, increasing living-wage employment, participating in criminal justice evolution, increasing quality and equity in healthcare, and reducing high infant mortality rates, in the lower-socioeconomic communities.”

Sixty high school students whose applications were chosen to participate in the program were provided an on-campus immersion experience. They lived in the CSUDH dorms and ate in the campus dining common.

State Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) and CLBC Chairman welcomed the students to the program and reiterated the reasoning for the program’s existence.

“I learned long ago that your education is the most important investment you make in yourself,” said Bradford, “We hope that our students learn and evolve from this opportunity. That they leave with skills and knowledge that they find useful in their educational and future endeavors. Our commitment is to prepare the next generation of African American leaders for whatever the future holds.”

Also welcoming the students were CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham and California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber. Los Angeles mayoral candidate and Congresswoman Karen Bass, who represents California’s 37^th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and actress and comedian Kim Whitley provided video messages to the students.

Actress and dancer Debbie Allen and retired professional basketball player Norm Nixon gave the opening remarks at the program’s dinner to the students.

Six major workshops were held where the students interacted with CLBC members and experienced professionals from corporations such as The Education Trust-West, Snap Inc. and J.S. Held. The workshop topics were civic engagement, dual enrollment, STEM/technology as a career, leadership development, financial education and college knowledge.

Faculty at CSUDH and the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute also played key roles a huge role in the execution the program. Parham along with Dr. Justin Gammage, and other members of the university lectured the students on topics such as mental wellness and selfcare in addition to the workshops and panels. On the last day of the program, students participated in a mock committee hearing about AB3121, the bill that established California’s Reparations Task Force.

CLBC members Assemblymembers Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) and Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) helped wrap up the program and handed out certificates of recognition to participants in the program.

CLBC member Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D- San Diego), reflecting on the program said “For three days, high school students get to stay on a college campus and get immersed in a unique learning environment that will prepare them for successful transition to higher education, job seeking, budgeting and leadership.”

The AALT serves as a cultivating ground for the youth and helps them understand what they may want to focus on for their future careers. Another CLBC member attending the program, Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), shared Weber’s perspective.

“The African American Leaders of Tomorrow program was created to prepare the youth of today for their careers by exposing them to legislative process, encouraging critical thinking and helping them discover their passions,” Holden said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Six San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) campuses will begin the 2022–2023 school year on Monday, August 1 with new principals who are eager to work with families to foster collaborative relationships that put students on a path to success.

SBCUSD invests in growing its own crop of qualified educators and leaders, especially those who were educated in our schools, like Anton Elementary School’s new principal, Melanie McGrath, who attended Barton Elementary, Del Vallejo Middle School, and graduated from Pacific High School.

McGrath, formerly a coordinator in the District’s Multilingual Programs Department, is excited about leading Anton Elementary.

“It’s extra special to me because when I stand in Anton’s playground I can see my high school, and it renews my commitment to bettering my local community,” McGrath said. “I was born and raised in San Bernardino, and it made me who I am today. A lot of people underestimate San Bernardino and the people who come from here, but we have so much potential.”

McGrath is looking forward to forging strong, collaborative relationships with Anton Elementary families.

Anton is one of several SBCUSD schools starting the school year with new principals. Others are:

• Heather Bjornberg, North Park Elementary
• Tamara Brown, Davidson Elementary School
• Khaleelah Lewis, Parkside Elementary School
• Christine Ramirez-Shows, Brown Elementary School
• Anna Sosa, San Bernardino High School
• Raul Pedraza, Inland Career Education Center

Gomez and Hunt Elementary Schools will also have new principals, who have previously led other District schools. Assigned to Gomez is Maria Martinez, and Breanna York will lead Hunt Elementary.

Ana M. Applegate, the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, who is serving as the District’s administrator in charge in August, recommends that families find opportunities to engage in the school community as soon as possible, making sure to make connections at Back-to-School Night or Open House events.

Parents and guardians have many reasons why they should meet the staff at their children’s schools, especially because establishing a personal relationship makes it easier to be connected to a host of school resources, Applegate said.

“Maybe a parent is nervous because they have a little one starting kindergarten and they still have questions,” Applegate said. “Or a parent may want to know more about program options being offered at the school. Open communication with the school is important and highly encouraged.”

MUSCOY, CA.- On the morning of August 1st, Muscoy Elementary School Students were welcomed back to their first day of school with a backpack giveaway from Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. and other community partners. The backpacks were full of school supplies, hygiene kits, t-shirts, socks, books, and more for all the students. San Bernardino County Fire and Sheriff, and California Highway Patrol brought their cars and K-9 Units out to have the children interact with them.

“Seeing the smiles on these children’s faces yesterday as they were receiving some of these everyday life essentials was truly priceless. Assisting these underserved children in our community is the least we can do to encourage them to come to school every day prepared and ready to learn. This day would not be possible without the assistance of Medline, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Fire, Sherriff, and Probation Department, Code Enforcement, Department of Public Health and Behavioral Health, and San Bernadino County Children’s Fund for supplying these children with items that are necessary to assist them with their educational journey through the new school year,” Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., stated.

YUCAIPA, CA — Norma Viveros wears a lot of hats.

To her students at Victoria Elementary in San Bernardino, she’s known as Ms. Norma. At home, she’s Mom. At Crafton Hills College (CHC), she’s a proud graduate of the Class of 2022.

The San Bernardino woman was one of more than a thousand to celebrate their educational accomplishments during a campus-wide commencement ceremony on May 25. But her path to receiving an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Development was not always easy, but one that was etched when presented with a challenge.

“I was working as a campus monitor at Victoria, and there was a teacher who told my son that he was going to ‘end up like his mother.’ I didn’t like that,” explained the 46-year-old. “The neighborhood I live in is not in the best area, but it is just home to me, and I didn’t like (my son) looking at me and saying, ‘I’m not going to graduate.’ So, I made it my mission to get my diploma and show him that if his mom could do it, he could do it.”

Looking also to prove the doubters wrong, Viveros enrolled at Redlands Adult School (RAS) to earn her high school diploma. After crushing that goal, she began her CHC journey and will continue her studies at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) in the fall.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d get my high school diploma,” she said with a chuckle. “I asked (staff) at Redlands Adult School ‘what’s next.’ And they replied, ‘What about college?’ I was 45 years old at the time. How am I supposed to go to college? That’s for young kids. There’s no way.”

With RAS officials’ encouragement, Viveros registered for CHC Summer Bridge Program, a five-week course that helps students from Redlands and Yucaipa adult schools transition into college. She then tried taking two classes and then more –until she graduated with her degree.

Balancing it all – work, home and school – was tricky, but Viveros credits her robust support system, which includes her four children, ages 26, 22, 17 and 14, for cheering her on, even if it meant missing family occasions.

And as she continues to make her goals a reality, Viveros knows that support will continue, which is a huge motivational boost. Another reason: she wants to set a positive example for the students of Victoria and those who live in the same San Bernardino neighborhood.

“My plan is to get my master’s in counseling and encourage ‘my kids’ to stay in school and help them be productive because I believe if we keep our kids busy, you won’t have them running these streets,” Viveros explained.

“I’m the first in my family to graduate from college. I’ve been through some crazy things in life, but no matter what I’m doing, no one knows what I’m going through because I’m always smiling. I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor. And when you put a challenge in front of me, I’m going to run with it.”

The Adult Education Program is a partnership between the community college and the local adult schools provided by the California Adult Education Program and the Inland Adult Education Consortium.

The program aims to facilitate the transition between adult school and college by providing adults with resources to advance their careers and education to improve their overall quality of life.

For more information, visit craftonhills.edu/adult-education-program.

For a PDF version of this release and to download Norma’s photo, click here.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—” I’m very happy to have been promoted to being an instructor by the Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program,” says Yamileth Monarrez, “because the courses address issues that I’ve personally experienced and now I feel I can do something to make things better.”

The Making Hope Happen Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental program offers free classes that educate people on how to recognize signs of mental distress in people they know and love and teaches them how to get friends and family members to be willing to talk about what’s going on.

Program manager Gerzon Ceseña says, “Men—especially minority men—tend to be very reluctant to talk about problems they’re having. Instead, they often shut themselves off, which can make things worse. Our program is all about getting rid of the idea that real men don’t need help and instead, that real friends can help friends when things are tough.”

“Promoting Ms. Monarrez to our training staff allows us to accommodate more students for our suicide prevention and mental health first aid classes,” says Ceseña.

Yamileth Monarrez is a senior at UC Riverside and will be graduating in December. She spent a semester abroad at London South Bank University, taking a variety of courses, and psychology is an area she has been interested in for some time. The exposure to a different culture broadened her horizons while at the same time, showed how people everywhere often need to deal with the same problems.

Monarrez says, “At UCR I’ve served as a mentor to freshmen. I really enjoy helping people and I wanted to work for IE Men’s Mental Health because the program emphasizes the need to de-stigmatize mental health issues so that people can get the help they need.”

For more information or to sign up for a course, visit. https://www.mhhfmentalhealth.org/dult.htm or call (909) 347-7234. Class schedules are updated monthly.

About Making Hope Happen Foundation

Making Hope Happen is a nonprofit foundation linked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The nonprofit is based on the philosophy of Gallop Senior Scientist Dr. Shane J. Lopez. Hope allows people to envision a better future, design a path toward that future, and take purposeful steps toward it.  As a result of a deep commitment to this quest, the San Bernardino Community and School Alliance (CASA was reorganized and renamed the Making Hope Happen Foundation).

The Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program offers free mental health training for people who would like to be able to help friends or family members that would like to learn effective ways to approach friends or family members who seem to he has emotional or mental health problems but aren’t sure about what to say or do.

For more information on The IE Men’s Mental Health Program, go to the group’s web page at IEMensMentalHealth.org or call (909) 347-7234.

SOUTH CHINA SEA—- Ensign Keith Masnec, from Chino Hills, Calif., shoots a bearing through the sextant on the bridge wing of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) during a replenishment-at-sea with Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202). Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and is assigned to Commander, Task Force 70, a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of its allies and partners in the region.

RIVERSIDE, CA—- Riverside Community Health Foundation is proud to announce the in-person return of Riverside’s 11th annual Pink on Parade breast cancer awareness walk on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Ryan Bonaminio Park located at 5000 Tequesquite Ave, Riverside, CA 92506) from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pink on Parade brings Inland Empire residents together to celebrate, honor and bring awareness to those impacted by breast cancer. Participants are welcome to walk either the 5k Mt. Rubidoux route or 1.8k Family Fun route around Ryan Bonaminio Park.

Registration for the walk is now open. The first 100 registrants will receive a free 2022 Pink on Parade t-shirt, which was inspired by Pink on Parade’s 2021 virtual art contest winner D. Alexander.

Food, drinks, and merchandise will be available for purchase at the event.

Virtual participation is also available from the comfort of your home. No matter where you are located, all are welcome to join the virtual Art on Parade contest by creating any art piece inspired by breast cancer awareness in any medium. Contest submissions will be accepted beginning on September 18. 

A special survivor ceremony will be held during the event to celebrate and honor the journey of breast cancer survivors. A VIP area will also be dedicated to survivors filled with relaxation, community, and gratitude. The first 100 survivors who register for Pink on Parade by October 3 will receive a free t-shirt.

A new element of fun will be added to this year’s event— the Pink on Parade Classic Car Show. This is a classic car show guaranteed to take you down memory lane! People from all over the Inland Empire and surrounding areas will bring their classic cars from 1940s – 1970s. The Pink on Parade Classic Car Show will feature both import and domestic classic cars. All makes and models are welcome to join! Friendly competition will be underway, and Car Show participants can win in the following categories:

• Best Domestic Classic
• Best Import Classic
• Best Overall

With only 60 spots available, car enthusiasts are encouraged to register for the show starting August 15.

Join us as we kick off the Pink on Parade season at our virtual and in-person Team Captain Kick-Off events where you will have the opportunity to learn more about the event, The Pink Ribbon Place, and tips on how to get your team started! Rallying a team means helping a mother, daughter, sister, or even neighbor receive vital support.

Virtual Team Captain Kick-Off
August 2  |  12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMod-mpqTwpG9H5_U1lI77RGs_HU4ABWUAK

In-Person Team Captain Kick-Off and Happy Hour
August 23  |  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Escape Craft Brewery: Downtown
Oasis 440 Oriental Ave, Redlands, CA 92374
Registration Link: https://rchf.salsalabs.org/2022PinkonParadeInPersonTCKOEscapeOasis/index.html

Each year, Pink on Parade raises awareness and funds to support the programs and services of Riverside Community Health Foundation’s cancer resource center – The Pink Ribbon Place. The Center offers hope to individuals and families impacted by cancer through a variety of resources, such as counseling, support groups, wigs, and nutrition classes.

Pink on Parade is proudly sponsored by Altura Credit Union, and supported by Riverside Community Health Foundation’s Corporate Sponsors: Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), Molina Healthcare, Pacific Premier Bank, Riverside University Health System.

For more information or to register for Pink on Parade, visit pinkonparade.org.

Helpful Registration Links/Dates

• Art on Parade Contest Submissions Begin September 18
• Classic Car Show Registration Opens August 15
• Registration for Pink on Parade: www.pinkonparade.org
• Registration for VIRTUAL Team Captain Kick-Off: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMod-mpqTwpG9H5_U1lI77RGs_HU4ABWUAK?utm
• Registration for IN-PERSON Team Captain Kick-Off: https://rchf.salsalabs.org/2022PinkonParadeInPersonTCKOEscapeOasis/index.html

Congratulations to the 59 deputies, first responders and community members who were honored during last week’s Sheriff’s Exceptional Service Awards Ceremony!

Throughout the past year, these individuals displayed extraordinary acts of bravery. Stories included saving families from burning buildings, public outreach to help those in need, and the incredible efforts to save local Sheriff’s Deputies Dustin Whitson and Carlos Velasco.

Thanks to all the awardees for your willingness to help others in a time of need. You are all heroes!

YUCAIPA, CA — When Maria Cristina Valencia tried to convince her son Alder to stay in school, she never anticipated the question he would then ask her:

How could she insist he continued his studies when she did not have a high school diploma herself?

That moment in 2014 sparked the beginning of Valencia’s return to school. The now 50-year-old realized her son was right.

“So, I enrolled at (Yucaipa) Adult School and got my high school diploma,” explained the Yucaipa resident.

But she was not done yet. With encouragement from her family and the Yucaipa Adult School (YAS), Maria enrolled in her first class at Crafton Hills College (CHC) in the summer of 2019 to continue her studies.

In May 2022, Valencia graduated from CHC with an Associate in Arts in Spanish. Alder graduated alongside his mother in May with his Associate in Arts in Business Administration. Together, they will attend California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). Valencia said she plans on pursuing a bachelor’s in early childhood development. She said her primary motivation continues to be her children.

“It was a family goal,” she continued. “(Alder) was the one who inspired me. He was the one who kicked my butt.”

Valencia migrated to the United States after leaving El Salvador during its civil war. She worked while raising her two sons, who are now in their 20s, and added school to her already busy schedule to prove that she could do it.

“Maria was one of my hardest working students,” said Marcia Stewart, a YAS teacher. “She completed her schoolwork every week, even as she was working two to three jobs, and has always inspired me and other students with her great work ethic.”

“Maria is the embodiment of perseverance and determination,” Stewart continued. “She is an incredible woman, and I am so honored I got to witness part of her journey.”

Her children also took notice.

Valencia said she knows she still has plenty of work ahead, but she is ready to face her challenges head-on.

“Before starting (my public speaking class), I was in a bit of a panic that I couldn’t speak in front of someone because of my English,” she explained. “But everybody, every single person encouraged me not to be afraid and to not be afraid of my accent.”

Valencia’s most significant piece of advice for students following in her footsteps: persist.

“Never give up, because right now, there’s a lot of help out there. But if you don’t ask, you will never get that help,” she said. “I never thought I could graduate from Crafton, but otherwise, I would just be sitting down doing nothing.”

Each year, Crafton and YAS partner to help students pursue higher education. Last semester, Roadrunner officials worked closely with 22 YAS adult learners by providing them with the necessary resources to make their educational goals a reality. Eight YAS learners are currently enrolled in either Crafton’s summer or fall semester credit courses, while two YAS students are participating in the site’s Adult Summer Bridge Program.

To learn more about the program or Crafton Hills College, go to craftonhills.edu.

To access a PDF of the press release, and to download Maria Cristina Valencia’s photo, click here.

If you’ve ever received care at one of the County’s Health Centers such as immunizations, health screenings, physical check-ups or pediatric care for your children you’ll be pleased to know that the county’s health centers passed a thorough federal audit by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

San Bernardino County has four Federally Qualified Health Centers located in San Bernardino, Ontario, Hesperia and Adelanto.

The County’s Federally Qualified Health Centers and the Community Health Center’s Governing Board completed their audit the week of April 11, 2022, after a three-month notice was given to the centers to prepare for an audit. The audit is based on over 90 areas of review.

Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the HRSA Health Center Program to provide primary care services in underserved areas. The centers must meet a stringent set of requirements to maintain funding, including providing care on a sliding-fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients. If the requirements are not met, the health centers could potentially lose this financial support and the ability to continue to provide primary care services to the community.

“We are incredibly grateful to Josh Dugas, director of Public Health, Jennifer Osorio, assistant director, the County’s Administrative Office and the Board of Supervisors for their unwavering support,” said Melanie Bird-Livingston, chief of Clinical Health and Prevention Services. “The staff of our health centers remained committed to serving the residents of San Bernardino County, despite the challenges of a pandemic.”

To learn more about San Bernardino County’s health centers and the clinic services available, visit  wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/programs/clinics or call (800) 722-4777.