WSSN Stories

A Press Statement from Advancement Project –

Julian Bond

WASHINGTON – The Southern Poverty Law Center announced earlier this week that Mr. Horace Julian Bond succumbed to a brief illness on Sunday, August 15. The national racial justice organization, Advancement Project, released the following statement regarding the passing of the long-time civil rights leader:

“A man of wisdom, courage and strong conviction, Mr. Bond was an iconic jewel who will be sorely missed,” said Advancement Project Co-Director Judith Browne Dianis. “From co-founding the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Poverty Law Center, to serving as a state legislator in the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives, to his decade-long tenure at the helm of the NAACP, Mr. Bond was an impactful leader, educator and civil rights activist. While many were never his formal students at the many colleges and universities where he taught and lectured — Harvard, American University, Drexel, The University of Pennsylvania – we are all beneficiaries of his enduring lessons on organizing against injustice and structural racism.”

“In all respects, Julian Bond was legendary. In 1968, he was the youngest person, and the first African American, to have his name placed into nomination for Vice President,” said Advancement Project Managing Director and General Counsel Edward A. Hailes. “He withdrew because he didn’t meet the constitutional requirement of being at least 35 years old. Regardless of the formal title he held, Julian Bond continued fighting for marginalized communities. It is on his shoulders that young leaders, who have ushered in unprecedented focus and attention on police interactions with communities of color, stand.”

“Many people recognize Mr. Bond as a civil rights activist, but to me, he is revered as a strategic communicator, having served as communications director for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and host of America’s Black Forum, one of the longest running syndicated television shows in history,” said Advancement Project Managing Director for Communications Jennifer R. Farmer.

What it do I.E.! Nipsey Hussle will be live this Saturday, August 22! If you’re a lover of Hip Hop, Rap, and R&B then I got something special for you this Saturday. A little birdy told me that Nipsey Hussle the rapper will be live in the Dino at the Sports Center located at the National Orange Show Fair Grounds. Females are truly putting it down in the industry which is considered to be a male dominated market. Several years ago you wouldn’t have seen so many out front as you do now; not that we haven’t always been here. I wonder why that is. Well, in my opinion, it has a lot to with fear; fear that a woman can do just as well if not better than a male when it comes to making moves and getting things done.

I have to give props to Latisha Rushing, CEO of Black Collar Entertainment and Jacquetta Green, CEO of Cali All Stars Entertainment. These two talented ladies have linked up with Jessie Green, CEO of JoeRee Muzik to bring amazing entertainment to the I.E. If you haven’t had a chance to purchase your tickets you still can all links are located below. Last week it was Casey Veggies. Oh, and by the way, our LUE Productions artists GWAAP FAM will be performing live along with Staxx Hughes, Skater Dee, and many more talented artists. Hope to see you there.

Please follow LUE Productions on twitter and Instagram and like our face book page under LUE Productions. We appreciate the support and love. Until next week, Keep It Movin’ as we do. L’z!

For event tickets call (909) 252-2359 or (818)943-0544 . You can also purchase tickets online at milseries.eventbrite.com. The Sports Center is located at 930 S. Arrowhead GATE 10, in San Bernardino. Doors open at 9 p.m.

: International Fashion Designer Malan Breton (middle) with former supermodel Beverly Johnson (right). (Photo by Naomi K. Bonman)

By Naomi K. Bonman

It is not often that fashion and film collide, but it should more often. The evening of Monday, August 17 was just perfect. The weather was warm with a slight breeze as models, actors, actresses, and producers walked the red carpet in their best ensembles to support Taiwanese designer, Malan Breton, during the premiere of his documentary, “A Journey to Taiwan”.

Each celebrity guest filled the Regent Landmark Theatre in Westwood, Los Angeles to get first dibs on watching Breton lifted the veil on his recent and most uniquely inspirational journey to his homeland. Throughout the film he discussed his knowledge of his deeply intense love affair with the country of his birth. He also revealed his Spring/Summer 2015 women’s and men’s collection on screen, and some of his collections were seen on the red carpet guests.

Guests of the evening included Amanda Fields, Project Runway; Katie Clearly, actress/model; Julie Garnye, actress; Beverly Johnson, Top Model/actress; Matt Raimo, actor; Bert Keeter, Prect Runway; and a host of others.

Actress and former supermodel Beverly Johnson (Naomi K. Bonman)

Katie Clearly (Credit: Naomi K. Bonman)

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Now I know that this week message might sound similar to last week message, but to the Spirit direction. Amen!

Now that we got that out of the way… How many of you remember the movie, Lady Sings the Blues…. Diana Ross was superb and did she not sing that song…  Ain’t Nobody’s Business…. like it was nobody business…. Oh yes, she did!  She sang that song. She said, I’m gonna do just what I want to anyway, and don’t care if you all despise me. If I should take a notion to jump into the ocean, it ain’t nobody’s business if I do. If I go to church on Sunday and I shimmy down on Monday, It ain’t nobody’s business if I do, Lord no….” and Bobby Brown echoed, its “My Prerogative, why don’t they just let me live? I don’t need permission. Make my own decision, that’s my prerogative. I can do what I wanna do.” Cold parts about it….They are right. God has given you free will, “choice” and you have the right to accept Him or reject Him, but what I want you to know today is what you don’t have is His right to His judgment. But go ahead and enjoy your life; be happy, do what you want to do, and follow your heart desire, just remember though, that God is going to judge you for whatever you do; but don’t let that worry you or cause you pain because, “Ain’t nobody business if you do!”

Now because I don’t want you to be blind to the consequences of your choices; but want you to have a clear understanding about your choosing;  why you are still young before dismal and years come when you will say I don’t enjoy life; before the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars begins to grow dim for you; before the time comes when the rain cloud will never pass away; before your arms that have protected you begin to tremble and your legs which are now strong begin to grow weak; before your teeth become too few to chew your food and your eyes too dim to see clearly; before your tears become deaf to the noise of the streets; before you are barely able to hear the mill as it grind or music as it plays; before the songs of the dead awake you from your sleep; before you become afraid of high places; before your walking becomes dangerous for you; before your hair turn white and before you are hardly able to drag yourself alone… I want you to know that everybody got their business. You got yours and God has His. Do not be deceived. God will not be mocked!  [Ecclesiastes 11:10; 12:1-8].

I tell you, you better ask Eli [1Sam 2:27] did not God clearly reveal Himself to his father house when they were in Egypt? Yes, he did! Why? Because, “Ain’t Nobody Business” really is “Somebody Business,” God!  I tell you, we are so short-sighted, we choose wrong. We choose the world over choosing God. Careful!  Paul the apostle made a statement. [Eph 5:15-17] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil, wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Did you hear what he said- be careful how you live – redeem the time; (make the most of every opportunity). I want you to know that the Bible talks a great deal about wisdom and contrasts it with foolishness. Proverbs declares that there is nothing in the world that is more valuable than wisdom: Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7, NIV)

So often, we are encouraged to “follow our hearts” or to do what “feels right” or “live in the moment.” This is the epitome of foolishness! When you choose to think only about your present desires without really weighing the consequences of your actions, you act foolishly. Wisdom is about seeing the big picture and living based on what you know to be true rather than on what you feel. Paul says that since we have been made new by God, we must be careful to live wisely instead of living foolishly. In other words, be careful how you live, and walk in the way of wisdom as opposed to the way of foolishness. Remember that the choices you make have consequences—often consequences that you may not be able to anticipate. Paul wants you to understand that walking wisely is intended to protect you and to guide you along the best path for your life. Therefore, be deliberate in your choices, and choose to walk in the way of wisdom because there is a great deal at stake… If you didn’t know, now you know, “Ain’t Nobody Business is Somebody Business –God!”

Professor Low

What it Do! What it Do! So ya’ girl is still riding the wave from our 2015 Indie Artist Award Show, “My Music, My MIC”. I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that participated in helping to make the event a success; we look forward to next year’s.

This week I’d like to highlight artist, Professor Low, of Onmymama Records/OnmymamaTV. Straight out of the City of Rialto, music has always been a big part of Professor Low’s life.

When he was a little boy he used to love to dance and listen to music, he even played instruments. Taking up the trumpet in elementary school and playing the drums for the San Bernardino Pacesetters, his hunger for music took off. Professor Low wrote his first rhyme at the tender age of 11 and landed his first gig in the choir at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.      Influenced greatly by Hip Hop, he studied artists such as, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Twista, Crucial Conflict, Nas, Outkast, KRS-one, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Teddy Riley, Timberland, Kris Kross, Fiend, Mystikal and a few others. Forming  his own style in high school, one day during lunch a friend of his named, A.N.T. introduced him to another  friend by the name of Aaron Block,  A.K.A. as Aaron Swift. They started rapping to each other in the lunch room and liked what they heard and just like that they formed a group called, Way 2 Much.

Never giving up on his music, Professor Low was able to record his first LP, entitled, “Mass Confussion”. Now Professor Low is the Vice President of Onmymamatv, and an Artist on Onmymama Records. Be on the lookout for his upcoming album titled, “My Chemistry Set”, due to release late November, with the follow up sequel titled, “Chemical Combustion”, set to release next year. LUE Productions wishes this talented artist much love and success and a big congratulations on his New Marriage. Until next week peeps!

Follow LUE Productions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. L’z!

By Naomi A. Riggins

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Charter schools were created in hope of improving the  public school system and offering parents another public school option to better meet a child’s specific needs. Charter Schools were built on the belief that public schools should be held accountable for student learning. In exchange for this accountability, school leaders have the freedom to do whatever is academically necessary to help students achieve success.

The Newman Leadership Academy Charter School has raised the expectation of public school and education standards by fostering partnerships between parents, teachers, students and the community.  Newman Leadership Academy has accredited teachers with smaller class sizes creating individualized instruction, additional academic support and intervention programs. They have hands on training and education in state-of-art technologies and enrichment activities such as basketball, cheerleading and gardening. Newman Leadership Academy has before and after school childcare and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to the students in the after school program.  Please contact the school office regarding space availability. Applications are available online. The NLA is located at 1314 E. Date Street, San Bernardino, 92404. For more info, visit www.newmanleadership.org or call (909) 881-1100. The academy is also currently seeking Teachers and Recreation Aides
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Yolanda Holder

By Yolanda Holder

I walk with experience and I speak from the heart. Losing both my parents to this horrible disease, diabetes, is why I walk EVERY day. Diabetes is a silent killer and 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, 13.2% of African Americans have diagnosed diabetes and the risk is 1.7 times higher compared to non-Hispanic whites. I watched both my parents suffer with type 2 Diabetes and my mom most recent. Three years ago my mom had a massive stroke and passed away.

My name is Yolanda Holder aka “Walking Diva” and I power walked my way into the Guinness Book of World Records not once but twice for the “Most Marathons in a Calendar Year”. I am the first African American to walk or run over 100 marathons in a calendar year and the first woman in the world to ever do it twice but that’s not my biggest accomplishment.

After losing my mom to diabetes complications I wanted to spread the word about Walking & Your Health this is how “Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes” was born. 3rd Annual Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes Gold Coast Challenge will start at beautiful Laguna Beach and end at the famous San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.

It will take me 15 days and over 525 miles. The past two years I was able to raise awareness and funds for American Diabetes Association and this is my biggest accomplishment! Walking is the world’s oldest exercise and today’s modern medicine it has so many health benefits and its easy and very simple to do. I’m also on a quest to set a GWR I’m walking 26.2 miles (marathon distance) or more daily for 365 days. I started January 1, 2015 and today is day 222 consecutive days.

Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes Laguna 2 San Francisco August 24 – September 7, 2015 to be a sponsor or donate visit my website www.yolandaholder.com. You may follower my journey on Facebook Yolanda Holder or athlete page Walking Diva.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Why want you go sit down somewhere! I tell you there are just some people you can’t tell anything. Their minds are like steel traps, tightly shut and difficult to open. They have their mind made up and they’re not going to change for you, me, or even God. That’s pretty much the situation we discover in Jeremiah 44. Jeremiah warned the people that God was upset with their behavior… their response: “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD!” [Jeremiah 44:16].  They had made up their minds. They like what they were doing and they had no intention of stopping for Jeremiah or God.  Many people today tend to think that they are the ones in charge of their lives. They call the shots. They make the decisions. And God is left out of the picture, “It’s my life and I can live it the way I want to. If I wanna do this or that then I’m gonna do it and no one’s gonna stop me!               ”

Let me tell you something; God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. He wants to be quick to bless and slow to wrath. He doesn’t want to go to war with you! You are living on borrowed time and borrowed strength. You better know that you know! You can turn against God and fight or you can turn to Him and be forgiven! But what you don’t want to do is go to war with God because you will surely loose.  [Jeremiah 4:5-6:30]. Now there are two consequences in life – You Can Attend the Feast or You Can Attend the Funeral [Proverbs 9].  Attending the Feast – Wisdom spreads her table for those who enter her house. She strengthens them, she satisfies them, and she sustains them. She gives them all they need for now and for the future. The same is true for the person who chooses the way of God over the way of the world. He spreads His feast for us as we pass this life, 1 Cor. 2:9, and He promises us that we will have a home with Him in His heaven forever, John 14:1-3! Now Attending the Funeral, that’s a whole different story. The context and the contrast. While the wise man goes off to enjoy the feast, the fool goes off to endure his funeral. This truth is vividly illustrated in Proverbs 7:5-27. This is the lot of the fool! Living this life to the full with sinful pleasures, but with no preparation for tomorrow! Fool, God says, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36.

Now Proverbs 14:12 tells us that: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Seems like it’s right, seems like it’s good, but leads to death. That’s man doing it his way.  I want you to know that sin is the transgression of the law of God: it is doing things your way instead of God’s way [I John 3:4]. Now God has all wisdom and He has revealed it to us; but if you insist on doing things your way know that you will reap the consequences. Warnings do come before destruction. Consider yourself warned! You better read about Israel. When Israel rebelled against God, He responded by giving them over to their enemies for punishment. The Bible says He “sold” them. This word means to “turn over; to give up”. In other words, God abandoned them to the life they chose for themselves. You should know that they paid a terrible price for their rebellion, Judges 5:6-7. They were literally driven from their highways and their homes. There is always a high price to pay for disobedience to the will of the Lord. When you choose your ways over God’s ways, you can expect His displeasure. He will send chastisement into your life, Heb. 12:6-11; Deut 8:5; Rev. 3:19. Do not be deceived! God will not be mocked. If you choose to do things your way expect God to touch your life in ways you will not like. Your life can be hell before going to hell if you ignore or reject God’s Word [Pr 13:15; 22:5].

In Genesis chapter 27, four people chose to do it their way. Isaac did things his way by trying to bestow the family blessing on Esau, in opposition to God’s revealed will. Esau tried to take back what he had already sold to his brother Jacob. Rebekah deceived her aging husband into giving the blessing to her favorite son, Jacob. And Jacob lied to his father and outsmarted his brother. They all did it their way, not God’s way. In the end they all came up empty and paid a high price for their selfishness. You see, every person in life has a theme song entitled, “I Did It My Way” or “I Did It God’s Way.” You would think that the lines would be clearly drawn: Every person outside of Christ would sing, “I Did It My Way” every Christian would sing, “I Did It God’s Way,” but I find that many who profess to believe in Christ are really just living for themselves, often using God as the means to self-fulfillment. But Genesis 27 teaches the principle that …When you seek your own way, you never get what we want and you will always pay a high price. So, don’t do it… Don’t do it your way… Do it God’s way… for there are great rewards and blessings promised to us by God if we will just do it His way.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

Thanks to a new partnership with desertFIAT, 9th–12th graders with perfect attendance for the 2015–2016 academic school year have the chance to win an array of incentives from iPods, iPads, scholarships, up to a NEW 2016 FIAT 500.

It’s a Gas to Go to Class is a school attendance program designed to motivate students. Now in its fifth year in the High Desert, It’s a Gas to Go to Class is coming to San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD). Thousands of students attending District high schools returned to school on Monday, August 3 and heard about the program on the first day of classes. 

Pacific High School students were among the first in the District to see the new car on Monday, when representatives from desertFIAT visited the campus to introduce It’s a Gas to Go to Class. In the coming weeks desertFIAT will visit every District high school to encourage students to maintain perfect attendance.

“Giving students an incentive to be in school has made a tremendous, positive impact in the High Desert, where It’s a Gas to Go to Class started,” said Billy Mack, Director of Sales at Victorville Motors and desertFIAT. “When students miss school, they miss critical instruction time that cannot be made up,” Mack said. “That impacts teachers who have to spend extra time with the student.” 

It’s a Gas is expected to help SBCUSD significantly improve its high school attendance rates, which have been increasing in recent years. Last school year, about 1,500 high school students had perfect attendance. 

The program is a win-win. Higher student attendance means more state funding for SBCUSD, but most importantly, it means students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school. According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals, research shows that missing 10 percent of the school year—or 18 days in most districts—correlates with academic trouble.

For more information about the San Bernardino edition of It’s a Gas to Go to Class, visit www.desertFIAT.com/itsagasSB.htm.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- It was through Steve Jefferson’s work with many illiterate children that he recognized a need for this awareness. The mission of the Urban Literacy Project, a California non-profit organization, is to help close the literacy achievement gap with low performing youths. Many schools across the country are experiencing a high number of students that drop out. Dr. Jefferson believes improving literacy can be the catalyst to change.

The National Buy A Kid A Book Day will be launched in 4 states, California, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia. We are asking people to purchase a book for a child on or before August 31^st, 2015. Our goal is to have 10,000 books purchased for children on that day.

Dr. Jefferson is a graduate of University of Southern California’s (USC) International Public Policy Management Program and has a Doctorate in Education from the University of La Verne. His experience in education ranges over 30 years and has provided workshops for many school districts in the Los Angeles area on differentiated instruction and building literacy with children reading at basic and below basic levels.

Anyone interested in participating in the day to buy a kid a book should sign up on our Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1607931622815005/ or email us at the urbanliteracyproject@gmail.com. People can buy a child a book on or before August 31^st. The child can be a friend’s child or relative.

Let’s get exited about literacy and learning again! For more information please contact: Steve P. Jefferson, Ed. D.,  urbanliteracyproject@gmail.com