WSSN Stories

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Tuesday, April 5 to Thursday, April 7 at 7 p.m., New Hope Baptist Church will be holding its annual spring revival. The theme this year is entitled, “God’s Called, God’s Sent and God’s Righteous(ness).-Isaiah 6:8 and Romans 10:9-15.”

Dr Jerry M. Carter, Jr., Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Morristown, New Jersey, will be the guest evangelist. Guest lecturers include: Dr Warren Stewart, Pastor of First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix, AZ and Dr. Frederick Fairley, SR., Pastor of Berean Bible Church, in Phoenix, AZ. This will be a revival you will want to come and invite your neighbors and friends. Let their prayers during their 21-day fast be for a spirit-field, renewing and restoring, worship service each night of our revival.

The public is invited. The church is located at 1575 W. 17^th Street in San Bernardino. Please call (909) 887-2526.

Submitted by Stephanie Liggins with the assistance and information corrections and additions of Betty Hempstead.

The Ricks family historian has blessed New Hope Missionary Baptist Church the past several years with mementos of several generations of her family.  Annually, the Mission Department has a Black History Display which highlights contributions and accomplishments of our people.  Sister Betty Newbern-Hempstead has a quarter of the room to display the relics of her family history.

Raised by her maternal aunt, Rebecca Ricks-Winston, and her husband L. J. Winston (whom she called Mama and Daddy), she has collected many things that belonged to her mother, aunt and uncle – things many would have long since thrown away and forgotten.

In her collection are Western Union telegrams delivering bad news reading, “Your father died suddenly.”  Another read, “Your mother died yesterday.  Funeral on Thursday.”  If the younger generation never understood why Western Union was dreaded, these notices clearly reveal the reason. There is also a receipt for funeral expenses from 1928 for her uncle’s brother in Detroit.  One could still afford to die back then and be properly buried for under $300.  Certainly, the price might have been considered high then, but looking back and comparing, there is no way that it could have been as exorbitant as the cost is today.

Also among her collection are original N.A.A.C.P. membership cards from 1923.  Her beloved uncle, known as Happy Winston in the city of Decatur, Illinois, was very active in the organization and often served as President of the Decatur Branch – so much so that his activities were often published in the Crisis Magazine. In her archive of pictures is three year old Betty with her Uncle Happy Winston among the officers and delegates’ First Annual Conference of Branches of Illinois N.A.A.C.P. Meeting at Springfield, Illinois (1934) where the organization began. Yes, she is the only child in the picture, but somehow she is not out of place.

One of the most interesting items in the collection is the high school diploma from “The Colored High School of Tuscumbia, Alabama.”  Her Aunt Rebecca was able to leave “the country” and stay with a relative in the town of Tuscumbia and graduate from the high school in 1910.  That was an extraordinary opportunity during a time in history when many of our people could not attend school at all– especially not high school. In 1921, the name of the high school was changed to Trenholm High School.  One of her school mates was Harper Councill Trenholm who went on to become the fifth president of what was then called Alabama State University – now known as H. Councill Trenholm State Community College at Montgomery, Alabama.

At eighty-five years young, Sister Hempstead has stories of historical events, ways of life and relics that helped shape the way we live and operate today.  There was an old toaster, a popcorn popper, a bottle capper, a Remington watch and a grooming kit unlike I have ever seen. But more pertinent than the artifacts, are the people of yesterday that opened a  door for our present opportunities.  We must learn of them.  We must know who they are and we must know who we are.  Next year, when New Hope’s Mission Ministry has the Black History Display, make your way to see it and be enlightened and inspired– and ask Sister Hempstead to tell you a bit about her family.

Arie Vee

By Lue Dowdy

New female R&B/HIP-HOP artist, “Arie Vee,” making major noise in the Inland Empire is What it Do With The LUE this week.

So the first time I heard this Queen sing was at our 1st Indie Artist Award Show last year. We were short a female singer and were down to the last minute of preparation for our Red Carpet performances. I reached to Aaron Swift, owner of On My Mama Recordz, a local record company based out of the Inland Empire. He sent us his talented artist Arie Vee. I fell in love with her voice. Bringing back that old school R&B vibe, this Queen is the real deal.

Arie Vee, born on December 1, 1988, is a Hip Hop/R&B artist on On My Mama Recordz. Some of her musical influences are Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott and J Cole. Arie Vee began singing in church at the age of 5 and began writing her own music at the age of 13. She shared her first written song at her High School talent show, “I Wanna Be,” and won. Since then she kept writing and wrote her first rap at the age of 18. She has been featured on albums and mixtapes such as, “Dear IE” by Valencia Stacks and “Grandma’s Porch,” by Valencia Stacks and Swift. Her debut song “High School Dance,” which is one of my favorites has been taking the IE by storm and her first album “Lost Child,” was released on February 29, 2016.

Make sure to check her out. You can catch her music in rotation on our show “Listening With LUE Radio,” Sundays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please tune in with me and Comedian Anthony Stone. Until Next week L’z and keep supporting Indie artist. www.kcaaradio.com1050 AM/106.5 FM CALL IN at (909) 888-5222 BOOKING: (909) 567-1000.

By Lou Coleman

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing… Pretending to be something they are not…. Invoking the name of Jesus; calling Him, “Lord”, dressing to kill, brandishing angelic smiles, speaking with confidence and eloquence, carrying large bibles, peppering sermons with cries of “Hallelujah!” “Praise the Lord!” and “Amen!” Woe unto you Jesus declares, “Destroying and scattering the sheep of [His] pasture!” Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD.… [Jeremiah 23:1].  You must know that those who do not faithfully preach and teach only Christ will be cut off, discarded, and cast into the fire. This is God’s verdict. The word from the LORD that the prophet Jeremiah wrote down is extremely clear, straightforward and plain.” Sound the alarm!

This message is not for God’s sheep in the pews but for the false prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers, preachers, bishops and priests themselves.  It is a woe pronounced on you by the God you say you serve! “By your words you are justified and by your words you will be condemned.” 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.  You have taught false doctrines.  You tell the people that no evil will come upon them; they will be ruptured out before the end time; before bad things start to happen–the fall of the one world system.  But that is a lie! Why do you insist on taking Scripture out of context to make it appear as if your lies are God’s truth, instead of obeying [2 Tim 2:15] and expositing Scripture in context, [Nehemiah 8:8]? Woe unto you!

Listen, God is not fooled by a false prophet and He does not want His people to be fooled by them either. The section of the Sermon on the Mount found in [Matthew 7:15–20] deals with this very critical need for all believers. What God unfolds for us is the right way to judge hidden things! A false prophet does not wear a sign that declares his status. Instead, he masquerades as one of God’s faithful while sounding forth a message that he claims comes from God. What is a believer to do? How can a believer preserve himself from the snares set by any false prophet? How can you judge the hidden things?

First, accept The Challenge found in [verse 15 of Matthew chapter 7]. Beware! Christ’s command is to be discerning. The challenge for the “sheep” is to detect every hidden wolfish intention and nature disguised as God-fearing morality and demure harmlessness. Second, take a lesson from Common Sense found in [verse 16]. Third and fourth, observe what Every Man Can Only Do found in [verse 17] and what Every Man Cannot Do in [verse 18]. Man can only produce fruit that is generated by their inner nature and they cannot produce fruit that is not descended from their nature. A false prophet is one who claims to speak for God but, in his word or deed, diminishes the incomparable majesty of God or downplays the superlative sacrifice of Christ, thus showing his true nature.

Recall Jesus warning that false teachers would be on the rise through history, culminating in the vast and powerful deception of the last days [Matthew 24:24-25]. Beware! “See,” Jesus said, “I have told you beforehand.” He was warning us to be prepared. 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.

I want you to know that God’s true prophets had a practical office to discharge. It was part of their commission to show the people of God their transgressions and the house of God their sins. This means that they functioned as both pastors and ministerial monitors of the people of God. It was their duty to admonish and caution, to denounce prevailing sins, to warn the people of the terrors of divine judgment, and to call them to repentance. They also brought the message of consolation and forgiveness. They were the watchmen set upon the walls of Zion to blow the trumpet to timely warn of approaching danger. Beware: Not everyone who claims to teach the truth really does.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

God says, [Revelation 3:15-16], “[He] knows thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: [He] wish thou were cold or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, [He’s] going to spew you out of [His] mouth.” “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other [Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13]. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Walking with God, and holding hands with the Devil. Shame on you! How long will you be caught between two opinions, two lifestyles, two beliefs, two directions, two mindsets, two masters, two desires. “If it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day Whom ye will serve…” [Joshua 24:15]. It’s all or nothing! You can’t be 50% Christian and 50% worldly. It doesn’t work that way. Jesus stated: “He that is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30). Not only is indecision a dangerous thing. It is repugnant to God mouth. [James 4:4] says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Trying to live for God and mammon at the same time! The Bible says it cannot be done. You must take sides. You are either following Jesus or you are following Satan.  There is no middle ground.  Trying to keep one foot in the world, and one foot in the church.  Ain’t gonna work!

The problem is you don’t want to give up your sin. You don’t want to give up your status in the world.  Naw, you’re having too much fun…. You want your cake and ice cream too. Well you can’t have it! Ain’t no mixing of allegiance to God with other gods! You got to choose! Either God is your daddy or Satan! Who’s your daddy? Time to decide! You cannot remain neutral. You cannot straddle the fence and you can’t just give Jesus lip service. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” [Matthew 15:7-8]. Choose this day Whom you will serve.

Listen, you cannot, and must not, compromise to any of Satan’s conditions. Ultimately, everything you have and ever hope to be, must be laid on the altar. Make the transition from declaration to discipleship. That is, declaration to dedication. Don’t let Satan deceive you and rob you of the greatest blessing man has ever known: salvation from sin through Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer. Stop straddling the fence. Liberty is not a license to compromise. You are either with Jesus fully, or you oppose him. Which is it? The record of choice: life or death, blessings or cursing.  God wants wholehearted dedication or nothing! That is the clear message of this passage. It’s time to make up your mind! And, it is! Are you ready to serve the Lord? The application could not be clearer: “Choose for yourselves this day Whom you will serve.” There is no room for neutrality. Make your choice. Cast your vote. Choose your God. I pray you will make the right choice. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

By Angela M. Coggs

On Wednesday, March 9, over 100 community members and parents gathered at Life Center Church in San Bernardino for a town hall meeting to address public officials about a crisis of imprisonment that is fueled by the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and high rates of prisoner recidivism. The meeting began with an outstanding dramatic monologue from actor and C.O.P.E.’s resident artist, Mr. Amad Jackson. His performance focused on ending the cycle of mass incarceration. The audience was encouraged by his noteworthy delivery.

The community concerns addressed in the meeting were: Challenging the use of citations that prevent students from getting a driver’s license and enlisting in the military, ensuring that San Bernardino county spends money on intervention/prevention programs and not prison, and making sure that school funding serves those most in need of academic support. The goal was to make the community voices heard with decision-makers who have the authority and power to do something about the community’s concerns.

San Bernardino County Supervisors, Josie Gonzales and San Bernardino County School Board Members, Hardy Brown Jr., San Bernardino County Schools Earl Smith, San Bernardino City Unified Director of Student Services Ray Culberson, and San Bernardino City School Board Members, Barbara Flores, and Gwendolyn Rogers, and Danny Tillman were all in attendance.

The town hall meeting, organized by Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE), intended to keep public officials focused on the school-to-prison pipeline and concerns that the excessive use of citations and arrests that could otherwise be handled apart from law enforcement involvement, could keep students in a never ending school-to-prison trap.  As school board members in San Bernardino City Unified School District continue to press for a new discipline policy that would, among many things, reform the district’s practices on school citations and school-based arrests, the town hall illuminated citations as a county—wide crisis.

Testimonies from two parents from the Rialto Unified School District highlighted the need for a county-wide look at discipline policies involving school citations.  Charnice Miller, shared a story about her daughter who was cited for a fight in which she defended herself after notifying the school administrator that she was being bullied.  The parent and student were never provided with an alternative to suspension and expulsion, nor adequately informed about the citation process but was mandated to pay a $400 fine. A similar story shared by another Rialto parent highlighted the pain and trauma her son experienced as a result of an incident in which he was ultimately found innocent but that landed him a ten day suspension. San Bernardino City School Board Member Barbara Flores agreed that the problem lies in “the way we (the district) communicate with our parents because right now it is unacceptable.”

Another parent shared a heart wrenching story about how her son, a SBCUSD graduate from Cajon High School, is still dealing with the effects of a school citation while away in college.  From the campus of Howard University, Brandon Watts shared a video testimony of how a citation issued in the 8th grade, may now impact his eligibility for a summer internship in the White House.  He urged public officials to take a different approach because citations can do a lot of harm. The SBCUSD motto is to “Make Hope Happen” but the constant issuance of citations to students is not giving the students hope, it is in fact discouraging the students. They are not feeling hopeful.

When questioned about what the San Bernardino City Unified School District board members intend to do to ensure that San Bernardino Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) money is earmarked for school funding , alternative discipline, as well as other intervention programs such as mental health programs so that students are adequately supported, SBCUSD Board Member Rodgers responded without hesitation. “What we are making sure is that funding is targeted to support necessary for the specific students that  are more at risk, which we all know is the majority of all of our students. The targeted funding what we have and we know that funding is on a limited bases but we have to make sure we maximize it in every way that we can.” She spoke about specific line items that are set for the specific needs and for the specific things that the community and parents have brought to the Board’s  attention.

“This is a critical time because once that money is allocated it definitely can change from year to year,” SBCUSD Board Member Tillman also added. The school district has been making positive changes on behalf of the students. “Two big things that we (the school district) did do was to ensure that all students have the ability to have access to a computer and the internet. Every student in our district can get one computer per household.” He also stated that school pays the monthly payment for the internet access. Secondly, Tillman stated that they also eliminated the wait list for the CAPS Program. “This past year the wait list went away. That cost us about three or four million dollars.”

On the other end of the pipeline, a testimony from a formerly incarcerated female, who is now drug free, working, and giving back to community, shares a story of redemption and what is possible when there are resources available.  Demita Burgess, a San Bernardino resident, urged the County to make sure that Proposition 47 meets its intended outcomes and give people a second chance to be productive citizens.  In 2014, California voters passed Proposition 47, a ballot measure to reduce some felony records to misdemeanors and uses the savings from prison spending for intervention and prevention services such as drug treatment and mental health services.  The savings may also be directed to youth intervention and prevention programs.  However, according to Governor Brown the savings from prison spending only amounts to approximately $29 million when the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) says that the savings is closer to $100 million dollars.  Community members urged County Supervisor Josie Gonzalez and other officials to join a statewide effort urging the Governor to adopt the LAO’s calculations so that resources can be properly utilized for adult and youth intervention and prevention efforts. The collective voices have the power to dismantle the pipeline.

The break  a cycle imprisonment, community members want public officials to take action by instituting policies that undo the cycle and place youth and adults in a better position to be productive citizens.

This effort was organized by Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement in partnership with Inland Congregations United for Change, Youth Action Project, Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches, African American Mental Health Coalition, and members of the African American Education Collaborative.

“I was very inspired to become more involved in the community and school boards to ensure our children has the same chance and opportunities as their neighboring peers,” said Alondra Ladison, San Bernardino County Site Supervisor Preschool Services Department. She left the meeting enlighted and ready to stand up for all of our children.

With the input and feedback from the community hopefully the San Bernardino City Unified School District will depart from its current code of conduct, which is based on a zero-tolerance approach, and make a strong commitment to an approach that is grounded in teaching and learning, interventions and restorative practices.

RIALTO, CA – NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) welcomed 21 Rialto students who toured the facility for President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Initiative. Students had visited the Spacecraft Assembly Facility, Space Flight Operations Facility, and the “Mars Yard” to see the twin of the Curiosity Mars Rover.
“I was so excited,” said Rialto Frisbie Middle School eighth grader and year one Summer Bridge graduate Cassandra Alvarez, “I’m looking forward to learning more about the Mars Rover.”
The initiative, launched in February 2014, addresses persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and their sisters in reaching their full potential. A goal of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative is to instill a passion for Computer Science, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM.)
“This is an awesome day for the youth of Rialto, we are one of only four organizations visiting JPL today, and the only group selected from San Bernardino County,” said Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, who went with the students to JPL.  ”It was so exciting to see the joy in the children’s faces as they learned about space and space technology.“

The City of Compton, Long Beach Neighborhood Services Bureau, and LA County Supervisor Solis’ students also attended. Each group brought youth who do not traditionally have the opportunity to visit local NASA Labs and Centers to JPL.
The Rialto Police Department’s Officer Javier Pulido and several other community-based organizations were instrumental in identifying youth from last year’s e3p3 GIP’s Summer Bridge program that showed promise and interest in STEM.
Ten of the students selected to go on the trip are distinguished graduates from year one of the Rialto’s e3p3 Gang Intervention and Prevention (GIP) program.
“The Rialto’s GIP project targets twelve-hundred Rialto Unified School District elementary and middle school students to receive classroom instruction and become Resilient, Empowered, and Directed. This field trip advances our efforts of helping youth become directed, immensely!” said Nate Van Cleve, project manager from M.H.M. & Associates.
The Rialto e3p3 GIP program receives grant funding from the Board of State of Community Corrections and is currently in its second year.   A select group of approximately 100 youth take part in a rigorous and highly interactive 12-week e3p3 Summer Bridge program, each summer.
For more information, contact City of Rialto, Office Javier Pulido, at (909) 421-4944

  Sponsorship contract is What It Do with the LUE! Congratulations to hometown artist’s Gwaap Fam on their new sponsorship deal with Chef Music Studios.
This is a major, major move for the group as they embark on a new journey. Currently putting together their new project is clearly the group’s number one priority. Providing Quality Service, Chef Music is one of the hottest recording studios in Southern California with three locations to select from. Our company is excited about working directly with the team of Chef Music. We hope ya’ll ready for what’s COOKING in the studio with GWAAP FAM. They’re ready to make magic! Until next week L’z Up!
More on Chef Music:
Chef is an acronym for “Creativity is Heard and Emotion is Felt” with creativity and emotion being what they believe to be the ingredients for making good music. They are a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in quality vocal recordings, useful resources, and superior customer service since 2009.
Their main office is located in Burbank, California. Book your session with their recording engineer at your studio or choose from a list of Southern California locations that are sure to be creative, professional, and productive. Call them toll-free at 1-844-484-CHEF (2433)
Other Studio Locations include Victorville and North Hollywood. For more information, please visit chefmusic.com/musicservices.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Those two words may not mean anything to you, but if you happen to be in a hospital and hear those words, the whole atmosphere changes. Nurses and Doctors go on high alert, and their pace quickens, because somebody has an emergency, somebody’s life or lives are hanging in the balance and what those doctors and nurses do in the next few minutes will make the difference between life and death.  Code Blue: Because of sin, your life is hanging in the balance. Something has to be done quickly! Choose this day Whom you will serve [Joshua 24:14-15]. The wages of sin is death [Romans 6:33].

Face to face with death [2Kings 20:1-7]. How would you handle this situation if you received a word from God to “Set your house in order, for you shall die?” Set your house in order – beginning with your own soul, your family, business affairs.  How would you handle this? I tell you, facing death has a way of putting things into perspective. Not everyone gets a warning – for many, it comes by surprise.  Can you hear the voice of Christ showing you the way of deliverance, “I Am the Way…?” [John 14:6] “I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses… Choose life…” [Deuteronomy 30:19]  “… “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him for the dead, you shall be saved” [Romans 10:9]. The indicator here is about repentance.

Every day the Lord calls us to admit and renounce our sins and to turn to him. Don’t wait until it’s too late! The alarm is sounding, “Code Blue” signified by the sounding of a trumpet. Do not ignore the warning! Take heart, confess, and repent. For God is gracious, and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. If you choose to do nothing, it will be like playing Russian roulette? Do you know what Russian roulette is? Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which participants place a single bullet in a revolver, spin the cylinder, place the muzzle against their head and pull the trigger.  If you are lucky, the cylinder will come to rest on an empty chamber and nothing happens when the trigger is pulled.  If you are unlucky, you will be dead!

Sinner man, observe — the day of execution is really set. God will not pass over it. When it arrives it will be too late. Now, Jesus stands at the door and knock [Revelation 3:20] He came to set you free.  If your spiritual ears are opened, you would hear the chariot wheels rolling — the great judge coming in His car of thunder; you would see the sword of death gleaming in the air and ready to smite down the hardened sinner.  Lift up your cries while yet mercy lingers and pardon can be found; for the wages of sin is death — Think a moment; “What is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” [James 4:14]. You are being offered mercy. What will you say?  What will you do? And what shall I say to God when it comes to report the matter; must I bear my testimony that you would not hear? You have a decision to make…. What will it be? NOW is the day of salvation!

Bill Norwood (left) and Tony Marshall (right)

By Cynthia Frazier

RIALTO, CA- Tony Marshall is on a mission to expose minority youth to opportunities available in the aviation industry, and there is no shortage of opportunities for the foreseeable future. According to a Boeing forecast, worldwide, there is a need for more than half a million new commercial airline pilots over the next couple of decades. In the U.S. the need is more than 95,000 new commercial pilots. Plus, airline pilots can command a salary between $100,000 and $200,000.

Looking back a few decades, the number of African American commercial pilots across all airlines was too small to count. In fact, it wasn’t until a landmark Supreme Court Case in 1963 that the color barrier was smashed and Marion Green became the first black pilot hired by a major U.S. Passenger Airline (Continental). A few years later, Marshall experienced the lack of opportunity for black pilots first hand. Although he hadn’t thought about it much at first, as a young newly hired pilot, Marshall realized that none of his fellow coworkers shared his cultural experiences as a black man.

While on one of his early flights, Marshall, along with his coworkers, walked proudly through an airport in uniform. Much to his surprise, another black pilot in uniform tapped him on the shoulder. It turned out to be Bill Norwood, the first black pilot hired by United Airlines. Mr.

Norwood welcomed Marshall to the company and congratulated him on getting hired. What happened next left a lasting impact on Marshall and continues to influence how he conducts his life today.

Mr. Norwood pulled Marshall to the side and reminded Marshall that other black pilots paved the way to open doors for young black men to get hired. Norwood continued, “Without the sacrifices and determination of men like the Tuskegee Airmen and myself, who fought to cross the color line, you would not have been lucky enough to have this opportunity. So now, it is up to you to make it your mission to help others succeed in this industry.” Mr. Norwood told Marshall that whenever he was in uniform, he should make time to talk directly to young black kids at the airport.

Tony Marshall said, “I took this advice to heart.”

Today, Marshall runs the California Shades of Blue Aeronautics Academy. With the support of Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, Shades of Blue completed two successful classes of middle school students in 2015. Participants in the Academy attend a five week academic course, and they get to meet aeronautics professionals like local Cessna Airplane owners. The Fall 2015 class was introduced to Jet Fighter Pilot Lt. Malone from San Diego.

One very exciting part of the course includes an orientation flight at Flabob Airport where students actually get to take control of a Cessna plane while in the air. “At first, I didn’t think I would like the class because it was early in the morning on a Saturday,” said 6th grade student Izaiah Frazier. “It turned out to be a great experience. I will never forget it.” Frazier continued.

Frazier attended the Fall 2015 session. In spite of the low diversity numbers that continue to plague the aerospace industry – only 4 percent women pilots, less than 3 percent African-American pilots, 2.5 percent Asia pilots, and 5 percent Hispanic pilots — there is good news for young minority students like Frazier. Going forward, the airline industry as a whole is preparing for tremendous growth. In addition to the large number of commercial airline pilots needed over the next 20 years, there will also be a need for over 600,000 additional commercial airline maintenance technicians, aircraft manufacturers, equipment trainers, and training delivery organizations. Marshall believes that helping students to discover these opportunities at a young age could have a big payoff somewhere down the line. He is determined that minority youth are poised to take advantage of the abundance of aviation opportunities to come.

It couldn’t come soon enough for Marshall. Today, only 4 percent of airline transport pilots are women, just under 3 percent are African-American, 2.5 percent are Asian, and 5 percent are Hispanic.

The Spring 2016 Academy opened on Saturday, February 20, 2016 in Rialto with words of wisdom from Mayor Deborah Robertson and Rialto School District Superintendent Dr. Cuauhtemoc Avila. Both shared personal stories of their life experiences, challenges, and successes. Students were advised to take full advantage of every opportunity that crossed their path.