WSSN Stories

Adrena Ifill Blagburn

Adrena Ifill Blagburn is the 2015 recipient of the J. Franklin Jameson Archival Advocacy Award given by the Society of American Archivists (SAA). The award was presented at a ceremony during the SAA Annual Meeting in Cleveland, August 16–22. The award honors an individual, institution, or organization that promotes greater public awareness, appreciation, or support of archival activities or programs.

Since founding the strategic communications firm, Ifill/DoubleBack Global Group in 2002, Ifill Blagburn has been a leading advocate for the preservation of archival records documenting African-American Congressional history. As a result of her efforts to educate Black lawmakers about record retention policies, Ifill Blagburn has increased public awareness on the importance of not only preserving these records, but of the benefits of utilizing them for educational and historic programs. As a consultant, she directs the Avoice Project of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. As Chief Strategist for DoubleBack, she has developed exhibits, videos and events for various organizations to reach diverse audiences and empower them “to take history off the shelf.” Ifill Blagburn’s many strategic partners include the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, the Robert J. Terry Library at Texas State University, the DC Archives and the Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives.

Ifill Blagburn is a graduate of Williams College and received her MBA from Howard University. With roots in the Caribbean and North Carolina, she learned firsthand the importance of preserving history and its global impact. Gaining access to “lost” collections and being able to double back with the descendants of unfamiliar historic figures to devise, creative ways to communicate these stories is one of Ifill Blagburn’s favorite things. Her advocacy is partly mission driven, tied closely to providing excellent customer service and assembling a team with in-depth knowledge of her clients’ specialty areas that produces innovative and timely results.

HAWTHRONE, CA— October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Richstone Family Center is hosting a community event honoring the victims, survivors, and advocates who inspire change on Tuesday, October 6 at 8:30 a.m. The event will be held at The Richstone Family Center located at 13634 Cordary Avenue in Hawthrone, and will include special guest speakers, such as: Victor Rivers the National Spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Along with Victor, speakers include Steve Tabor, Associate Superintendent of Pupil Services; Lieutenant Meehan LA County Sheriff’s Department; and Jenny True, Crisis Counselor of Centinela Valley Union High School District.

For over 40 years, the Richstone Family Center has been dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse and trauma; strengthening and educating families; and decreasing violence in families, schools and communities. Each year, Richstone serves thousands of children and families through programs including: Counseling, home visits, and case management. They also provide Early childhood education programs; an After-school enrichment program; Domestic violence support groups; Parent education; anger management classes; and Transitional housing for young women exiting from foster care.

Kim Carter

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) under the leadership of Kim Carter has been named a 2015 CNN Hero!  The CNN Heroes initiative is a year-long initiative that honors everyday people for their selfless, creative efforts to help others.  The campaign is now in its ninth year.

In the past eight years, CNN Heroes has received more than 50,000 nominations from more than 100 countries.  Since 2007, the campaign has profiled more than 200 CNN Heroes.  They‘re working in more than 80 countries around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of people.  Follow CNN Heroes on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  To view the CNN Hero Award video please visit www.Timeforchangefoundation.org and click on the CNN Heroes button.

“I’m happy that CNN is shining an International spotlight on our organization.” says Phyllis Scott, TFCF Case Manager. Kim Carter, Founder and Executive Director of TFCF stated, “I am so grateful that I answered God’s call on my life.  My homelessness, substance abuse and incarceration experiences fuel my passion to help others succeed.  It’s that calling that started Time for Change Foundation.”

To celebrate, the organization is hosting a “CNN Watch Party” to celebrate the success of the community. The event will be held at the Feldheym Library at 555 West 6th Street
in San Bernardino on October 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided by Kim Carter and the TFCF Team.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” [Matthew 7:4].  I want you to know that in my years of ministry I have seen church folks judging each other, criticizing each other, running each other down, talking on the phone about each other and the list could go on and on. Just because you say you know the Lord, dress up on Sunday, go to church, read Scripture, sing and shout does not mean you are totally right with God. You do all of these activities on Sunday then turn right around on Monday and judge and criticize one another. That should not be! We are to have judgment that only comes through the Spirit of God. We have wrongly judged another person and have sinned in the process. In our rush to judgment, in our haste to make sure someone else takes the blame, in our zeal to find the guilty party, we have violated the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” The words are simple and clear. They are plain and unambiguous. But because they are familiar we tend to forget about them. Listen, we are not to be faultfinders.  Proverbs 11:12 tells us, “It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.”  The Message is even more pointed: “Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.” Don’t you know that faultfinding is the “venom of the soul?” It destroys your joy, drains your happiness, and prevents you from having close friendships. Truth be told, you criticize others in order to bring them down to your level. Or worse, you try to tear them down to prove they are really beneath you. What a spiritual vulture you are. Like the vultures of the air that live off dead, rotting flesh, you thrive on the mistakes and sins of others. You ought to repent!

Jesus said, “Judge not!” But oh, how we break this command: Blowing small things all out of proportion; Maximizing the sins of others—their faults, foibles and their petty ways. Coming to quick, hasty, negative conclusions; Making mountains out of molehills. Getting involved in situations where you should not be involved. Passing along critical stories to others; having a strong bias to find others guilty; adding aggravating remarks when telling a story. Dismissing an unkind remark by saying, “I was only joking.” Saying something critical and then trying to cover it up. Being unkind and then quickly changing the subject. Telling too many people about what others have done to us; Taking pleasure in condemning others; Telling the truth in order to hurt, not to help; Putting others down in order to make yourself look better; Minimizing your sins while magnifying the sins of others. That’s why Jesus said in verse 5, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Judge not lest you shall be Judge!”

Hey, who can argue with Jesus—right? The verse is taken to mean nobody has the right to judge anybody for anything at any time. The problem… The verse has a context. When Jesus spoke these words on the slopes surrounding the Sea of Galilee, He wasn’t saying never to judge. He simply warned about doing it the wrong way—by telling us how to make judgments the right way. And believe me, it ain’t easy. Christian love is not blind. God never says, “Ignore the faults of others.” But He does say, “Take care of your own faults first.” Look in the mirror! Ask God to show you your own sins. The familiar words of Psalm 139:23-24 come to mind: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” If we would pray that way and mean it, we would do a lot more confessing and a lot less judging. And that my friend is God’s message for us today!

Lou Coleman (left) and Executive Director of SBETA, Mr. Ernest B. Dowdy, Jr. (right)

By Lou Coleman

As a Christian, what do you do when life is coming down on you hard; when there seems to be no way out? When you are worried or afraid? When you are in distress? What do you do when you are facing such monumental obstacles? How do believe beyond your ability to understand how your problems can be solved? The answer lies in the Word of God.

In [2 Chronicles 20] Jehoshaphat was the King. As King everything would fall on his shoulders. When a great multitude came against Judah to do battle, Jehoshaphat determined to seek God for help. Key Verse: 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

The reason I am writing this is to remind you that the battle you are facing is not yours, but God’s. Yes, the battle is the Lord’s, but we have a part – and that is to trust and believe His promises in the face of hopelessness and what seem to be impossibilities.  Faith demands that we turn over all our problems – all our critical situations, all our fears, all our anxieties – into the hand of the Lord.  When we have done all we can do and we know our battle is beyond our power, we must submit all into His hands.

If you will hold fast to your faith – trusting Him, resting in His promises, rejecting all lies of Satan coming into your mind – then expect God to come by His Spirit into your situation and bring an expected end to your particular battle.  He will move heaven and earth to deliver you and make a way.  The way out is to trust, trust, trust!  “He makes wars to cease” (Psalm 46:9).

I want you to know that God’s testimony was on the line at the City Council Meeting on Monday, September 21^st in reference to whether or not the City will continue to run SBETA or the County. God had made promises to the nation of Israel.  Jehoshaphat claimed the promises that God made. On this day the Executive Director of SBETA, Mr. Ernest B. Dowdy, Jr., claimed the promises that God made. Jesus said, “Come to Me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest,” (Matt 11:28). “I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth,” (Matt. 28:20). He said that His words will not pass away (Mark 13:31). He said that He would raise you up on the last day. (John 6:40). He said that whatever you asked in His name would be given to you. (John 14:14).  Because of whom God is and what He has already done for you, you can trust Him even more for the future and have no fear that He will continue to uphold you, love you, and continue His wonderful loving plan in your life. To God Be All The Glory! United We Stand…. Divided We Fall!

By Naomi K. Bonman

LOS ANGELES, CA—Like the old saying goes, laughing is a good source of medicine. It has the magic tip in making one forget about their current worries. On Sunday, September 27, The Mentortainment Group will be collaborating with Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California, AEOM PR, AND Crack Em’ Up Comedy to present the 2^nd Annual Comedy for a Cure: A Benefit and Awareness Show for Sickle Cell Disease. The show will be held at The Comedy Store located at 8433 W. Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood.

The host for the night is comedian and sickle cell survivor, Six Foota Slim. He will be telling his story as well as keeping you entertained between each set of comedians. Those that will be blessing the stage for the evening include London Brown, HBO Ballers; Edwonda White, Def Comedy Jam; and DC Ervin, NBC Last Comic Standing. In addition to laughing your butt off, there will also be a special what’s Da Count Awards Presentation as well as a red carpet hour hosted by Lacora Stephens.

Patrons interested in attending must be 21+ to enter the building. You can get your tickets now and save 5 bucks at $25 or purchase your tickets at the door for $30. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California. For more information, please contact Melinor Moore at nmoore@aeompr.com, Nichelle Murdock at nichellemurdock@gmail.com, or Kelvin Taylor atthementortainmentgroup@gmail.com.

PASADENA, CA- Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. is co-sponsoring a free college fair at the Pasadena Convention Center on Wednesday, September 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Local students and parents will have the opportunity to meet with over 200 college and university representatives. They can attend college prep workshops on SAT versus ACT, college sports recruiting and writing a personal essay for college applications.

Jack and Jill of America Foundation, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.  Since 2008, the Pasadena Chapter of the organization has brought representatives from several colleges, including historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), to Pasadena to expose more area residents to a broader array of college options.  The Jack and Jill-sponsored events have always included information regarding admission requirements and financial aid.

“While we are an organization for mothers, when we started out, it was our fathers’ auxiliary that took the lead on organizing our college fair,” says Annette Starks, Foundation Chair for the Pasadena Chapter.  “As our event grew, we moved the venue from Polytechnic High School to Pasadena City College to the Pasadena Convention Center.”

In recent years, Jack and Jill has expanded the number of students reached by partnering with Pasadena Unified School District on the event.  Additional sponsoring partners for this year’s event include the City of Pasadena, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Educational Foundation and Pasadena Learns.

Ida Elizabeth Verrett Newell

Ida Elizabeth Verrett Newell, 76, of San Bernardino, CA, passed away on September 4, 2015 in Moreno Valley, CA. Born in New Orleans, LA on November 14, 1938; she was the daughter of the late Leo Sr. and Lilla Verrett and sister to the late Darryl, Gloria, the late Leo Jr., Lynn, Merlin and the late Michael Kevin.

She graduated from J. S. Clark High School, New Orleans, LA, in 1956 and married the late Cleve Newell, Jr. in 1959. They lived together in New Orleans, LA, and gave birth to their first son, Cleve III in 1960 before relocating to San Bernardino, CA. Their second son, Tyrone LaMarr, was born in 1962.

In addition to being a full-time mother, she earned her Associate Degree from San Bernardino Valley College and dedicated herself to St. Anthony School and Church where she was the President of the Parent and Teacher Association and head coach of the girls’ basketball team. Ida loved music and dancing and was an avid sports fan.

For recreation, she enjoyed bowling, watching thoroughbred horse racing and hanging out at casinos and with her dearest friends. After her sons completed college, Ida dedicated herself to community service where she was elected to the Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee and worked for Catholic Charities and the City of San Bernardino.

She is survived by her sons, Cleve III of San Bernardino, CA, and Tyrone LaMarr of New York, NY; two sisters, Lynn Riley and Gloria Moore, both of Shreveport, LA; one brother, Merlin Verrett of New Orleans, LA; dearest friends Maria Wilson of Rialto, CA and Cynthia Green of San Bernardino, CA; and many other relatives and dear friends.

The Memorial Service was held on Monday, September 21 at Mark B. Shaw Mortuary, 1525 N. Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

And don’t nobody know better than you which you are. So what you need to do is be honest with yourself and stop playing; and stop thinking that you are fooling everybody else; because you know what they say… “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” So do yourself a favor and just admit that you like what you are doing. You like the way sin makes you feel.  Don’t worry we all are to some extent a hypocrite. Everyone has their own little treasure box… guilty as charged; and if you say that you are without sin, then you are unsaved and calling God a liar [1 John 1:8-10]. God calls all men sinners [Romans 3:10, 19-23]. Let God be true and every man a liar! Listen, as I told you before,  God has called me to teach against sin, not people. I teach against sin, many times stepping on my own toes as well.  It is “Woe is me! For I am undone” as [Isaiah 6:5] said, and as Paul said “Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” [1Tim 1:15] so as [Ephesian 4:15] encourages us “Express the truth in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, and living truly.”  Refuse to wear a mask and play games. Set yourself free!  Be honest; because if you don’t live authentically, you live a lie. You live phony. You try to be somebody you’re not. And that becomes comical. [2Cor 4:2]. Tell the truth and make the devil mad! You or either a Saint or an Ain’t! I’m talking to the almost Christians. “Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian” [Acts 26:28]

I tell you it is a tragedy that the church is as carnal as can be. But then again, there is nothing new under the sun. In [1 Corinthians 3:1-3] they were just as carnal back in New Testament times; yet the world has never witnessed apostasy as we are seeing it today everywhere. I want you to know; God is not pleased! “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.” [James 4:4].  How sad; the same mentality that drive the world today has invaded the church. We live in a day of half-hearted service, when people serve the gods of self, materialism, recreation and pleasure more than they serve the God of Heaven. Shame on us! Listen, it’s time to get right with God and have a pure heart. It’s Time to Stop Playing Church!  God wants you to know today that He is still Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and one day He is coming back for a church without spot or blemish and like He called Israel back to Himself on Mount Carmel, He is calling you back to Him today.

You know in [1King 18:21] Elijah Challenged the People – A Question – Simply put, “How long are you going to waiver or vacillate between two ways of life?” These people were guilty of trying to hold hands with God and Baal. They wanted the best of both worlds! My friend that will never work! You might as well come to understand right now that divided allegiance is as wicked as open idolatry! This is proven by Christ’s condemnation of the church at Laodicea, [Rev. 3:14-22]. A person is either for Christ as he is against Him! You cannot be neutral! You cannot occupy the middle of the road! Jesus said it this way, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathered not with me scattered abroad.” [Matt. 12:30].  I ask you…. Where do you stand in regard to Christ?

I want you to know that Elijah presented the people with the problem. He told them that they were being contradictory. If God is Lord, then Baal cannot be. If Baal is Lord then God cannot be. Elijah told them there was room in the universe for only one Lord and one God! They were challenged to choose who they will follow. This is the same challenge before you right now. Many who claim to love the Lord are also holding hands with the world, the flesh, material possessions or whatever. This is a contradiction! Either God is Lord or He isn’t. If He isn’t, then those other things you hold to must be. The bottom line is this: you have to make a choice! Who will you serve? Who is really the Lord of your life? You can’t have it both ways! If you say you love the Lord and deny Him by your life, you actions and your activities, then you really don’t love Him at all! Be honest with yourself!

I leave you with a divine and profound paradox.  We are all sinners who miss the mark and who are in need of God’s lavish grace to forgive us and save us.  And the other side of the paradox is this:  “I beg you, I plead with you, and I implore you:  Lead a life worthy of the high calling that you have received in Jesus Christ.” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

DALLAS, TX- Original Tuskegee airman and fighter pilot, Lieutenant Calvin Spann, passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 90 years old.

Lt. Spann was an original Tuskegee Airman and fighter pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. Spann received his wings from the Tuskegee Flight School as a part of the graduating class of 44G, an elite squadron of African-American pilots. As a member of the United States Army Air Corps, he served in Europe during World War II, where he flew 26 combat missions, including a 1,600-mile round trip mission on March 24, 1945 from Ramitelli, Italy to Berlin, Germany to destroy the Daimler-Benz manufacturing plant, according to the Dallas Love Field Frontiers of Flight Museum.

On February 28, 2006, the U.S. Congress approved a bill authorizing President George W. Bush to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen, the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States. The 2012 Hollywood blockbuster movie, Red Tails, was based on the African-American pilots in the Tuskegee training program.

Prior to his death, Lt. Spann was still very active in his community, speaking at schools, churches and organizations about the Tuskegee Airmen experience and how their courage and valor helped them to triumph. During these speeches, he encouraged students to make a commitment to excel in the study of mathematics and science, reminding them that through preparation and perseverance, they can succeed.