WSSN Stories

A Warm Sendoff for E. Dotson Wilson, the Nations First And Longest-Serving African American Legislative Clerk

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

On January 6, 1992, the California Assembly elected E. Dotson Wilson as its Chief Clerk and Parliamentarian.

The Berkeley native made history that day, becoming the first African American to be voted into that all important, non-partisan role at any legislative body in the United States. 

Since then, he has been re-elected to that office every two years by all 80 members of the state Assembly for 26 back-to-back terms.

“It has been an honor working for the Assembly,” said Dotson, who is retiring this month. “I am humbled to have had a front row seat as policy is being made in the world’s fifth largest economy. California has always been at the forefront of policy change in the United States.”

When the state Assembly held a special tribute on the chamber floor August 29, to thank him for 27 years of service as Chief Clerk, Wilson had gained another history-making notch on his belt. The 64-year-old, who now lives in the Sacramento area, is currently the longest-serving Chief Clerk in the history of the state of California.

“He has given us the gift of his wisdom, expertise, acumen, temperament and deep commitment to fairness over the decades,” said Assembly Speaker Pro-Tem Kevin Mullin (D-San Mateo). “Institution above party. Service above self.”

Later that evening, the California Legislative Black Caucus hosted a reception at the Grand Sheraton in Sacramento to recognize Wilson’s service to the Assembly and the inspiration he has provided to countless African-American elected officials and staff members.

Almost everyone CBM interviewed for this article mentioned the example of professionalism Wilson set for colleagues at the Capitol.   

“Your name will take you places, because of your integrity,” said Assembly Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.  “You can’t buy it, you can’t market it, its who you are. And your name speaks volumes in this house and across the nation.”

Wilson first joined the California Assembly as a fellow in 1979. He worked his way up to deputy chief of staff for former Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr., who served in the lower house’s top leadership role for 15 years and later became the first African-American mayor of San Francisco in 1996.

Brown nominated Wilson for Chief Clerk.

“He was one of the greatest politicians in the history of the state, said Wilson, talking about his experience working for Brown. “You’re only as strong as the people’s whose shoulders you stand on and Willie Brown is one of those people for me. At the time California was going through a lot of social and political changes and Brown showed extraordinary leadership.”

Wilson says Brown is one of those Californians who does not get enough credit – “ not only for his broad knowledge of the, law but also his razor-sharp understanding of policy.”

Wilson, who grew up in Albany near Berkeley, says, from childhood, he has always been fascinated with history, law, the legislative process and how they impact ordinary people. 

“I was not old enough to be a part of the civil rights movement,” says Wilson. “But growing up in the Berkeley area, I got to see a lot of that activism and the change that followed up close.”

Wilson retells a story his parents told him about not being able to buy a house in the 1950s because there were laws in California that allowed sellers to discriminate against people based on race and religion. Then the legislature passed the California Fair Housing Act (AB 1240), also known as the Rumford Act, that outlawed that practice.

“That to me, as a young person, was a turning point,” says Wilson. “That’s when it was clear to me that politics and the fight for civil rights and equality were all intertwined.”

During his 27 years as Chief Clerk, Wilson worked with about 500 Democrat and Republican elected lawmakers, overseeing a staff of 30. He made sure members followed parliamentary procedure and that the legislative process ran smoothly, efficiently and fairly. He was also in charge of publishing all official documents of the Assembly and keeping a record of all bills and proceedings.

For Wilson, one of the most important ways a leader can make an impact is to “reach back” and mentor others.

“As African Americans, it is critical to help others grow professionally,” says Wilson. “Be an example. Provide leadership. Share advice. I grew up in a household where education was the focus. And my mom was one of the first Black teachers in Berkeley. She always emphasized that her job was not only to educate young minds, but to also equip them so that they can mentor others down the road.”

The Assembly elected its first Chief Clerk in 1849. Wilson was the 37th person elected to the office, which is one of three elected non-member positions in the legislative body. The other two are chaplain and sergeant-at-arms.

Over his years of service, Wilson says it has been remarkable to watch landmark legislation pass in the Assembly and to see how much the demographics of the legislature has changed in terms of race, gender, ethnicity and even political ideology.

 “To see more diversity in the make-up of the membership is the most significant change I’ve seen,” he says.

And for young African-Americans in government, Wilson has some mentoring advice.

“Always operate from a place of integrity,” he cautions. “You’ll benefit from it.”

TEDx Comes to the San Fernando Valley—Announcing TEDxResedaBlvd

The All-Day Event Features Speakers and Performers Highlighting the theme of Being Connected

Topics include UFO’s, can we opt out of aging?, making the world happier, cyber-security, technology trends, and performances about rhythm and communication with dancing, drumming, and singing.

RESEDA, CA – TEDxResedaBlvd takes place November 17, 2019 at the historic Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys, California. The all-day event features a luncheon, speakers and performers, and plenty of opportunities to make new connections in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The program will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a mid-day break for lunch and a networking mixer for attendees after the event.

This is a public TEDx event and early bird tickets are on sale now for $79.00. Regular tickets are $99.00 and go on sale October 3, 2019. Only 100 tickets are available for this TEDx event, making it an intimate and memorable experience.

The theme of TEDxResedaBlvd is CONNECTED. TED and TEDx are renowned for this theme, and it was selected because Reseda Boulevard is a connecting artery in the San Fernando Valley. Reseda Boulevard runs approximately 12 miles from the Santa Monica Mountains to Porter Ranch, passing through the communities of Tarzana, Mulholland Park, Reseda and Northridge.

The Airtel is also a connecting hub. Situated on the property of the Van Nuys airport, the hotel was built for the 1984 Olympics which connected the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles with the entire world.Speakers and performers include:

  • Manoj Arora, CEO of Difenda, cyber security firm in Canada. Topic: Combating the ultimate cybersecurity breach.
  • Pierce Brooks, former college athlete and current national field marketing director. Topic: Pivoting in the face of social pressure.
  • Jonathan Brown, drummer, writer and fitness trainer. Performance: Rhythm is more than music—it drives communication and connects us.
  • Greg Fahy Ph. D., cryobiologist and biogerontologist with a Ph.D. in pharmacology. Topic: Can we opt out of aging? Reversing immunological and epigenetic aging in middle-aged men.
  • Mark Goulston M.D., Founder of What Made You Smile Today and author of Just Listen. Topic: Making the world happier, one smile at a time.
  • Phil Hendrie, actor, broadcaster and social satirist known for assuming personas of both host and guests on radio talk show. Topic: A journey from self-hate to media star.
  • Dr. Donald Prothero Ph. D., Adjunct Professor of Geology, Cal Poly Pomona. Topic: UFOs and aliens—what science says.
  • Damien Rider, multiple world-record athlete, author, documentary producer and creator of One Breath Meditation. Topic: The world’s toughest endurance event.
  • Baisakhi Saha, author, speaker, dancer and actor. Performance: Reciting the Story of the River with an accompanying dance.
  • Aaron Samson, award-winning storyteller, marketer, currently at Facebook. Topic: How to avoid becoming a zombie scroller and passive cell phone user.
  • Justyna Sanders, M.D., CEO and Founder of Prescription Lifestyle. Topic: Dieting has nothing to do with true health.
  • Lori Schwartz, principal at StoryTech and host of The Tech Cat Show. Topic: The future is hopeful, not dystopian—leveraging storytelling to explain tech.
  • Susan Shofer, certified divorce coach, agency-licensed private investigator and author. Topic: Never give up on your child—navigating parental alienation.
  • Theresa Stroll, singer, actress and co-creator of My Big Fat Blonde Musical. Performance: singing song from the musical.

For more information about our speakers, performers and volunteer organizers, or to obtain details about the event and sign up for email updates, visit the TEDxResedaBlvd website.

TEDxResedaBlvd is organized by Desireé Duffy, Founder of Black Château. “On behalf of the entire team of volunteer organizers, we are all honored to present this amazing array of speakers and performers. Many of them have roots in the area or are speaking about a universal theme to drive home the concept of being connected. We’re excited to lift these ideas into the spotlight at TEDxResedaBlvd.”

The event will be emceed by Antonia Gutierrez, a TV creative executive (formerly at Nickelodeon), a writer and a nationally-recognized public speaker through Girl Scouts of the USA. A.G. Billig, author of I Choose Love, serves as the event’s audience energizer.

Sponsors of TEDxResedaBlvd include Books That Make You and The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society.


About TEDx, x = independently organized eventIn the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized and subject to certain rules and regulations.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, including our annual gathering in Vancouver, as well as TEDWomen, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of the talks from TED2019 will also be published to TED’s podcast TED Talks Daily, available on Apple Podcasts and all other podcast platforms. TED’s open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; theTED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; the Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TEDSummit, which gathers the most engaged members of the global TED community for brainstorms, discussions, performances, workshops and an eclectic program of mainstage talks; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also has a library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, Sincerely, X, and one of Apple Podcasts’ most downloaded new shows of 2018, WorkLife with Adam Grant.

Follow TED on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED, on Instagram at https://instagram.com/ted and on Snapchat at tedtalkshq.

Gov’s Wife: Stop Paying Women Less Than Men for Doing the Same Jobs

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Diane Shelton was proud of her professional life. For more than 25 years, she held steady government jobs with the state Assembly as a legislative consultant, capitol office director, legislative director and chief of staff for seven different Assembly members, starting in 1984.

When she got her first job with the Assembly, there were only 7 Blacks out of 120 members of the state legislature, and just a handful of African-American staffers.  

During that time, Shelton – who is African-American and lives just south of Sacramento in Elk Grove – said she earned more than $30,000 less than her White counterparts.

Then in 2011, Shelton, who is now 62, became a trainer with the Capitol Institute, the lower house’s professional development unit. That office operates under the supervision of the Assembly Rules committee.

In that new role, Shelton earned a salary of about $67,000. At the same time, the Assembly paid a White male counterpart almost 40 percent more money than she made: around $105,000. He had the same job title, comparable experience and performed similar duties.

“I loved my job as a trainer,” says Shelton. “I enjoyed using my skills to create original training for an increasing number of new staff. However, after seven stressful years of pursuing more equitable pay and watching decision makers devalue my work, I reluctantly retired.”

Shelton says when she asked her supervisor for pay on par with her peers, he responded with only a 7.5 percent increase. After exhausting administrative options to get an annual salary equal to her White male counterpart, in 2017, Shelton decided to sue the State Assembly. She cited racial discrimination, unlawful retaliation and violation of the California Fair Pay Act, among other claims.

She is not alone.

Even though California has the slimmest gender pay gap in the United States, on average, women still earn about 89 percent of the total money men are paid in the state, according to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG).

That’s about $.89 for every dollar men earn, which adds up to a loss of nearly $78.6 billion every year for women in the state.

For Black women, the pay gap is wider and has a more deep-reaching impact on African-American families across California. Black women – 80 percent of whom are the sole or primary breadwinners in their households – earn only about $.61 for every dollar a White, non-Hispanic man makes.

California has the strongest equal pay laws in the country. Yet, women with masters degrees working full time make only $.72 for every dollar men with masters degrees earn.

“It’s humiliating, its unjust and just plain wrong,” said first partner of California, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, speaking at an event on Black Women Equal Pay Day (August 22) in Sacramento. Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, other lawmakers and guests joined the governor’s life partner to bring attention to the issue.

In April, Siebel Newsom announced that her office was partnering with the CCSWG, California Labor Agency Secretary Julie Su and TIME’S UP, an organization focused on fair, safe and dignified work for women. Together, the coalition launched a statewide initiative called #EqualPayCA.

“We all win when women win,” Siebel Newsom said. “Women are the backbone of our families.”

In 2015, former Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the California Fair Pay Act. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) sponsored the bill she wrote to give teeth to the state’s existing labor law, the California Equal Pay Act, which was passed in 1949, first affording equal pay to women in the workplace.

Besides requiring equal pay for men and women in “substantially similar jobs,” the new ammendment included race and ethnicity, too; outlawed retaliation against employees who complain about unfair pay; and allowed for equal pay salary claims for the same kind of job – even when located in different places.

Since then, California’s equal pay law has inspired similar legislation in 41other states and Jackson is putting forth a new bill that will require organizations with 100 employees or more to make annual salary reports to the state broken down by gender, race and ethnicity.  

In California, where there remains a gaping wealth disparity between Blacks and other racial groups, any equal pay effort that takes into account gender and race takes on much greater significance. In 2014, in Los Angeles and Orange counties, the median household net worth of US-born Whites was $355,000 compared to just $4,000 for US-born blacks, according to the California Budget and Policy Center.

Last week, Gov Newsom signed AB 467, also known as the “Equal Pay for Equal Play” bill, into law. The measure, introduced by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Oceanside) requires sports teams to pay women equal to men in all sporting competitions held on state land in California.

Since launching her equal pay campaign, Seibel Newsom says 27 California companies have taken the equal pay pledge, including Gap, Intel and Cisco.  And even though the state has a strong equal pay law on the books, more work needs to be done.

“Its about education, implementation and enforcement,” she says. “I  applaud these businesses for stepping up and doing their part to ensure pay equity within their companies, and I encourage all other businesses in California to follow suit. Together, we can close the pay gap and create a more equitable California for all.”

“I Tell You…. If Your Preacher Is Always Preaching Prosperity…. You Best Run and Don’t You Stop!”

By Lou Yeboah

You hear me… Because, “they’re trying to bamboozle you!” Don’t be took, and don’t buy into the lies! You see, there are some Pastors preaching prosperity and blessing sermons that are not Scriptural. Scriptures are very clear about the subject of financial prosperity in the New Covenant. You have simply to look at what the Word of God teaches, not the way that man says it will happen. I tell you, if your pastor is always preaching prosperity, you best run and don’t you stop, because prosperity gospel makes a mockery of Christianity.

Woe to you, false pastors, prophets and teachers. Luring people to Christ to get rich. Don’t you know that it is both deceitful and deadly. (Luke 14:33). (1 Timothy 6:9). Why would you develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven? Why would you develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can’t be?  Confess your sin, repent, and get cleansed by the blood of Jesus from all covetousness, or you will surely be swallowed up by damnation from the pit from whence your false doctrines come!  For thus saith the Lord, “I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” [Jeremiah 23:1]. This is God’s verdict! It is a woe pronounced on you by the God you say you serve! Your words will fall like a sword of judgment upon your own necks. You have prophesied lies to the people.  You have taught them after the imaginations of your own hearts and you have not heard from God.  Why do you insist on taking Scripture out of context to make it appear as if your lies are God’s truth, [2 Tim 2:15] and expositing Scripture in context, [Nehemiah 8:8]?

God is not fooled, and He does not want His people to be fooled either. What God unfolds for us is the right way to judge hidden things!  Do not be quick to embrace every teaching that comes from the pulpit. Learn to sift the teachings that have been given to you through the filter of the Scriptures. The Word of God will expose that which is error and that which is truth. You must pay attention to what God’s Word is saying. If what you are hearing is not lining up with the Word of God, you would save yourself from deception and heartache if you would just learn how to spit out the bones [Hebrews 13:9.] I tell you, there are few things more important to hear than the warning Jesus gives us in [Matthew 7:15-20]. He begins with the word “Beware . . .” and we should always take it very seriously whenever Jesus tells us to “beware” of something. If your pastor is always preaching prosperity, you best run and don’t stop!

So what are we to do? Preach the gospel “whether they hear or refuse to hear” [Ezekiel 2:4], and trust the power of the Word of God to do again and again what it has always done: convert the soul, enlighten the mind, break the yoke of sin and bring joy to the entire person. Run Forrest run!

CEEM Takes Over LA County Fair, Continues Legacy of Economic Empowerment within the African-American Community

Interview by Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Economic empowerment and wealth building is a major necessity in the African-American Community. According to the founder of Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (CEEM) Reggie Webb, in the Inland Empire, as in Greater Los Angeles area, African Americans are 7 percent of the population but own less than 1 percent of revenue from business ownership.

CEEM is bringing awareness to this issue in a fun and engaging way during the weekend of September 13 to September 15 at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, California. This will be the second year that CEEM is “taking over” the fairgrounds.

The 2nd Annual CEEM Weekend at the LA County Fair will feature a “Tribute to Black Influence on Popular Culture!” The lineup includes musical acts and special celebrity appearances including:

  • Live Entertainment
  • Inspiring panel discussions led by African-American entrepreneurs and business owners
  • A student-led pop culture art exhibit
  • A fun and interactive Kids Zone
  • Delicious soul food and fare from a variety of Black-owned businesses and vendors
  • Inspirational Gospel Sunday

Listen to the interview click here.

The LA County Fair is located at the Pomona Fairplex at 101 W. McKinley Avenue in Pomona. Use promo code CEEM2019 to receive $8 tickets at lacf.com/buy-tickets.

For a detailed schedule and more information, visit www.CEEM.coop/LACF, or follow CEEM on Instagram and Facebook @CEEMCoop and Twitter @ceem_ie.


Become a CENSUS Taker; Get Paid to help YOUR Community

By John Coleman, Community Photographer

Every 10 years the US Census Bureau HIRES people to help complete it’s  vitally important ‘POPULATION RESEARCH STUDY.

THE U S CENSUS: HIRING HAS STARTED.   STILL TIME TO APPLY & GET HIRED.   

Openings for FULL time and/or  PART time JOBS.     

No special education or experience required.

Get PAID while training.  

Competitive WAGES.   

Be  Paid for WORK-RELATED Expenses

FLEXIBLE HOURS:   DAY,  EVENING,  NIGHT   WEEKEND,   Can WORK CLOSE to HOME.

WORK SCHEDULES  DEPEND  ON YOUR POSITION.     

POSITIONS ARE STILL OPEN.

BE A CENSUS TAKER. 

VARIOUS JOBS.    ONE  APPLICATION      EASY TO APPLY

APPLY ON LINE:  2020census.gov/jobs   or call:1-855-562-2020  or 1-800-877-8339 forTTY/ASCII

Congress Representative, Pete Aguilar, encouraged Census job applicants.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® to Raise $1 Million in One Day For Second Consecutive Year in Support of HBCUs

Endowment Fund has distributed $1.6 Million to 32 HBCUs

CHICAGO, IL—- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® seeks to raise $1 million in 24 hours for a second consecutive year during HBCU Impact Day on September 16, 2019.  As part of a four-year $10 million fundraising goal, AKA International President Dr. Glenda Glover is leading the challenge for contributions that can help to secure fiscal sustainability and success across all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“This year, we are simultaneously launching a ten-month campaign to secure larger corporate giving matches, corporate pledges and donations to our AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund, while continuing our efforts to support these all-important educational institutions,” said Dr. Glover, who is also president of Tennessee State University, and an HBCU graduate.

On September 16, as part of the sorority’s recognition of HBCU week, chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will host fundraising events around the globe. Donors can make contributions by texting AKAHBCU to 44321, giving by mail or online at http://aka1908.com/hbcus/donate-hbcu during the 24-hour campaign. Money raised through HBCU Impact Day will assist in providing financial support to these schools over the next three years. 

“Last year, our members and supporters surpassed our million dollar goal in one day, and we began distributing funds almost immediately to support HBCUs around the country,” added Dr. Glover.

“This was a historic moment for Alpha Kappa Alpha, but it was also just as historic and meaningful for our HBCU families.”

In February, AKA gifted $1.6 million from their AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund to 32 HBCUs. Presidents from these institutions joined Dr. Glover and sorority leadership at a special Black History Month program at the Ivy Center International Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. 

Organizations that provided the largest corporate matches to the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund in 2018 were Caterpillar, General Electric, Hilton, Houston ISD, IBM, SAP America, State Farm Companies Foundation, UnitedHealth Group, and Wells Fargo Bank.  

These endowment funds can help schools reduce student debt through scholarships, fund industry-specific research, recruit and retain top faculty, and much more.According to The Network Journal, roughly a quarter of all African Americans with bachelor degrees graduated from an HBCU (22%). HBCUs have historically served all people regardless of race or economic standing and continue to do so. These schools are often the largest employer in rural areas, and educate students from pre-K through college via teacher education programs, charter schools and early college high schools housed on their campuses.  AKA believes the importance of these environments of higher learning and the need to support them has never diminished.  

For a complete list of institutions funded in the first cycle from the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund, and more information on the sorority’s commitment to HBCUs, visit our online pressroom at www.AKA1908.com/news-events/.

Dynamex Law Will Gut Black Newspapers in California

By Regina Brown Wilson | California Black Media

This is a direct appeal to Governor Newsom, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez and our entire state legislature. I’m writing this on behalf of the more than 20 African American-owned newspapers that operate in cities and towns across California.

As the leaders we’ve elected to represent and protect the interests of all Californians, we are asking each of you to search your hearts, look beyond blind spots, step in, and do the one thing that will prevent Assembly Bill 5 from putting the Black press in California out of business.

That is: Exempt the contract couriers who deliver our newspapers from being reclassified as employees under AB 5.

The bill Assemblymember Gonzalez is proposing intends to bring definition to our Supreme Court’s Dynamex decision and defend the rights of working Californians.

But in our push to create a more equitable California for all, we must not lose sight of the specific needs and priorities of our most vulnerable communities. Our best intentions may sometimes harm some Californians while uplifting others. We must always be as cautious and fair as we are forceful and deliberate in approaching our most challenging problems.

Shouldn’t AB 5 be helping to narrow the immense wealth gap that exists in the richest state of the nation? The disparity between the ultra-rich and the almost 20 million people in California who live below the poverty line – or who fight to hover just above it –  is growing. In Los Angeles and Orange counties, for example, the average household wealth for U.S. born Whites was $355,000 in 2014. For U.S. born Black families that same year it was only $4,000, according to the California Budget and Policy Center.

For African-American newspaper owners surviving in an industry the emergence of the internet has almost put on life support, Assembly Bill 5 would do the exact opposite of what Gonzalez wants it to achieve. She might as well just pull the plug on our businesses.

Although our publications reach almost 2 million Californians of all races, most of our operations are still family-owned businesses. We are small shops with multi-tasking staff members who struggle to attract advertising, grind to meet deadlines and tighten belts to remain profitable. None of our papers can afford to offer full-time jobs with benefits to the part-time delivery people who work, on average, about four hours on the days our newspapers are published. Many of our papers are weeklies.

My dad, Hardy Brown, former publisher of Black Voice News in Riverside, remembers a time when he had to gather the news stories, type them, take the copy to the printer and then deliver the published papers by himself throughout the Inland Empire at night. He would drop them off at churches on Sunday morning, too, because he could not afford to pay a courier. AB 5 would take Black newspapers back to those difficult days. 

Although some of our publications in California have websites, more than 60 percent of them still publish only print editions.

We’ve done the math. Having to hire couriers as full-time employees would force us to limit our circulation areas or raise the prices of our papers. Either option would hurt our revenue so bad, it would no longer make sense to stay in business.

We all know the backbone of our democracy is a free and independent press providing truthful, objective and balanced information critical to the lives, health and overall wellbeing of all our citizens. 

Since Freedom’s Journal, the first African-American newspaper, was published in 1827, the Black press in the United States has played a central role in the lives of Black Americans as an advocate, trusted source of information and rallying point for issues (often life-and-death ones) directly affecting our communities. From the years of legal slavery to the Emancipation Proclamation, through the Civil War and the eras of Jim Crow and lynching – on to the fight for civil rights  and economic improvement – we have always depended on the Black Press for news crucial to keeping our families safe, informing our decisions and shaping our opinions.

Today, Black newspapers across the country have a combined circulation of about 15 million.

Americans read Black publications even though mainstream newspapers exist. Those national or citywide papers often overlook or under-report very important issues vital to the lives of African Americans. Our papers bring unique perspectives to the news, pointing out how news stories may affect Black Americans differently. We expand the base of knowledge on every topic we cover and bring untold stories to the historical record.  Most of us also write in familiar and relatable voices, and from points of view, that resonate with our readers.   

In California, the cost to live in our coastal cities has become unaffordable for the majority of African Americans. More and more, we see our families migrating to distant suburbs or inland cities and towns east of Los Angeles, the Bay Area, the Central Coast and San Diego. While many of our papers are still located in historic Black neighborhoods near or our around those major metropolitan areas, our drop-off points have become more far-flung and the radius of our circulation areas have dramatically increased. Now, more so than ever before, the role of our contract delivery drivers is an essential aspect of our businesses.  

We understand the importance of passing AB 5 to introduce guidelines for implementing the Dynamex decision. But we also need your intervention to protect the legacy and livelihood of our publications as we live up to the responsibility upon us that we never take lightly: That is to strengthen and maintain freedom and democracy in our state and across our country.

In the words of educator and journalist Ida B. Wells, “The people must know before they can act and there is no educator like the press.”




Are we ready?

Dear Community,

I don’t normally send emails to share my feelings so please hear my heart as you read this note.

Probably like you, I have been watching the devastation that hurricane Dorian has wreaked on the Bahamas and now on the east coast.  In spite of our natural and human caused disasters, I believe we have been truly blessed in southern California. 

Every time something occurs in another part of this country or globally I do at least three things:

  • I pray for everyone who is impacted and all who are risking their lives to help.
  • I give to help those affected.
  • I thank God that we have not seen the wide spread devastation like other areas including northern California.

The next thing I do is ask these questions:  What will we do when that type of devastation does occur in southern California?Are we ready?  After eight years of helping faith and community based organizations prepare to respond and recover, I still do not believe we are ready for what we are seeing in the Bahamas or what happened during hurricane Harvey or Irma or the fire in Paradise, CA or any of the others.  No, we probably won’t see a hurricane but one day San Andreas or another fault will shake and we will see similar devastation.

Debra Williams, CEO

Please prepare your homes, houses of worship, community centers, businesses and schools for all types of disasters!  Every mass shooting that has occurred has left people saying, “I never thought it would happen here.”

Please get ready to help your local community!  I am asking everyone to make a renewed commitment to identify how you can help.  If you have not done so, please:

1.  Connect with the local emergency management for your city, town or county.  Develop a relationship with them and work together to identify how your organization can help.  Let me know if you are not sure who to contact for your area.

2.  Get connected with an organization that is approved to help with response and recovery such as your local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).  Here’s the contact information for Riverside County VOAD (Michelle Kelly, michelle,kelly@rivco.org, 951-955-5665) and San Bernardino County VOAD (Yomar Cleary, sbcountyvoad@gmail.comhttps://www.sbcovoad.org/, 909-492-0185) or a VOAD member agency such as Building Resilient Communities.

3. Complete the proper training to help with the services that will be most needed like emotional and spiritual care, donations management and volunteer coordination.  The state level donations and volunteer management class is being held in Rancho Cucamonga on September 18 & 19th.  This is a critical class for any house of worship or community based organization that wants to help with these services. Please see the flyer for further details.  Register at  https://ruasi.org/EBForms.aspx?EBID=112&EBType=WLR&RefID
  Please plan to attend the 7th Annual Ark of Safety Forum on Thursday, October 10th.  Join other faith, community, government, education and business leaders to discuss preparedness, response and recovery for the Inland Empire.  This is an opportunity to talk about how we can work together for the good of our communities.  It’s an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and relationships with one another before the next disaster strikes!
There will be several agencies providing information on how you can get involved, including Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) groups from some of the cities, towns and counties.

Now is the time for us to plan, train and exercise our plans.  Let’s not wait until the devastation happens.  It will be too late!

Register at https://7tharkofsafetyforum.eventbrite.com

Thank you for listening!  Thank you for taking action!  We can all make a difference when we work together.

I pray peace and safety over you and your household.

Debra Williams, CEO
Phone: (909) 283-6872
info@buildingresilientcommunities.org
www.buildingresilientcommunities.org

Honoring the Legacy of Cynthia (the Tech Diva) Renee Frazier

By John Coleman, Community Photographer

A large gathering of family, friends, students, supporters, & others met, August 22, 2019, at the Ontario Beverly Banquet Center, to remember, honor, share stories & memories about, mourn, & celebrate the life of Cynthia Renee Frazier, widely recognized as: ‘the Tech Diva’.

For all of her working career Cynthia had been immersed in education & technology,  She developed  her own teaching styles  & areas of competence   which formed her field of practice  in working with entrepreneurs, organizations, & communities;   and  developed skill in teaching different populations, including young children, even pre-schoolers.

Cynthia’s home live reflected her love for family;  From early in his life she showered love & attention on her grandson, Isaiah. even as she maintained her community activities.  Remarkable in so many ways he not only participated in many of her community tech/education events,  Isaiah’s early learning’s in math, tech, & science enabled him to model &/or demonstrate what  she taught.  Kids who ‘attended’ (brought by parents to) her events became interested when they saw what Isaiah was able to do with tools & ‘toys’.   Her partner, Ed Williams, was there, providing support.

Cynthia’s work proceeded over a span of years;  covered a range of STEM subject fields;  were held in different Inland locations;  possibly met a lot of people’s expectations;  & likely contributed to some of the progress people of color are making & receiving in the world that Cynthia Renee Frazier envisioned.

But….Cynthia Renee (the Tech Diva) Frazier also was a woman,  calm   soft spoken,  respectful,  but also militant,  aware of the continuing gross under-representation of women in STEM careers.  We Celebrate the Life, Labors, & Contribution’s Her Life represented…..that: 

 “GIRLS GET GEEK” !!!