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Meet Jessica Watkins, the 1st Black Woman Astronaut to Live and Work on the International Space Station

Jessica Watkins, a 33-year-old female astronaut from Lafayette, Colorado, will make history in April 2022 when she becomes the first Black woman to live and work on the International Space Station.

Watkins will serve as a mission specialist on the ISS as part of the SpaceX Crew-4, which is the fourth batch of astronauts on a flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft. She is one of the four members of the crew who will live on the ISS for six months.

Since 2017, Watkins has been an astronaut in NASA where she worked in its research centers, particularly on the Mars rover Curiosity. Her mission next year will be her first mission in space.

As a child, Watkins had always been inspired by iconic astronauts like Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Now, she hopes to be the one to inspire more children of color to pursue space travel.

“I do hope that all young girls, especially young girls of color that are interested in STEM and interested in exploring space, feel empowered to do so,” Watkins said, according to NPR. “I just hope young girls across the country feel that way now.”

After the ISS, Watkins, who had a background in geology and the surface of Mars, said she is also interested in traveling to Mars soon.

Getting Their Kicks In: Urban Initiative Brings Soccer Fields To Underserved Cities


By George A. Willis

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Children in some urban communities in New Jersey are benefiting from new soccer fields aimed at making the game accessible to those who lack the resources or opportunities to play.

The practice fields were built by the Players Development Academy Urban Initiative in collaboration with RWJ Barnabas Health.

The goal of the initiative, founded during the pandemic, is to provide soccer facilities and coaching to children in underserved urban communities to enhance their physical and social well-being. Five turf fields have been built since January: two in New Brunswick, and one each in Newark, Hamilton and Belleville. There are plans for additional fields in other New Jersey communities before duplicating the program nationally.

“There are plenty of soccer fields around, but not in these underserved communities,” Gerry McKeown, the initiative’s director, told Zenger.

“I thought that if we can bring the game to underserved communities, we can help those communities, increase the pool of athletes that are exposed to the game, give kids a chance to fall in love with the game, and perhaps break the cycle of poverty by getting a scholarship to a college or maybe becoming a professional.”

Gerry McKeown (left) and Barry Ostrowsky celebrate the opening of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Community Field at Kossuth Park in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  (Courtesy of RWJBarnabas Health)

Founded in 1998 and based in Somerset, New Jersey, the Players Development Academy is a training program that offers instruction and top-level competition for boys and girls. McKeown is the boys executive director of coaching.

He came up with the concept for the Urban Initiative during the pandemic. He looked at the success of the academy and all the young athletes throughout the years who have received college scholarships to play soccer and some who have gone on to professional careers. But there was something he didn’t like.

“Soccer has become an upper-middle-class sport with all the travel teams and the money needed for that,” McKeown said. “We’re the only country in the world where it has become a game of relative wealth. The better you are, the more it costs you. In every other country, it’s a game for the poor. There is no cost. We’re the antithesis of the rest of the world.”

The Urban Initiative concept is similar to building a neighborhood basketball court that’s open to the public for informal pickup games anytime. Many of the greatest basketball and football players in the country learned their games on public courts and fields in urban communities. McKeown believes the same can happen with soccer.

“Providing soccer fields children can walk to from their house might give them a chance to learn the game,” McKeown said. “Kids are so orchestrated these days. This is an organic environment with not much instruction. It’s peer-learning.”

There are health and social benefits, too, which is why RWJBarnabas Health agreed to fund the majority of the fields. President and CEO of RWJBarnabas, Barry Ostrowsky, was contemplating ways to invest in communities to promote physical activity and recreation, particularly for young people.

“One of the social detriments keeping people unhealthy is the lack of facilities for children and others to get exercise outside,” Ostrowsky said. “Typically, vulnerable communities are not communities in which they build great outdoor recreational facilities. When they told me about PDA’s Urban Initiative, it was just perfect. Their mission and our mission are precisely aligned.”

Seeing the results

When McKeown spends time at one of the fields in New Brunswick, he first sees young kids playing after school. Later in the afternoon, young men and adults start to appear, accompanied by their children and families. The fields, approximately 40 feet-by-70-feet, are much smaller than regulation soccer fields, and teams are usually 5-on-5. The ball is always in play because the field is fenced.

“In these environments, you’re on the ball the whole time,” McKeown said. “The kids get a lot of touches. It’s about having the ability to be creative and sharpen your skills. It’s a lot different teacher than a normal soccer field.”

The  Urban Initiative has teamed with RWJBarnabas Health to build  soccerpractice fields like this one in New Brunswick, New Jersey. (Courtesy Gerry McKeown)

McKeown is not only watching to see how the fields are being used, but he is also searching for the diamond in the rough, who might be an exceptional talent.

“Any kid who shows any promise, our club has agreed to provide a scholarship to the Players Development Academy for that kid to participate free of cost,” McKeown said. “We’ll try to get as many of these kids in our program as we can.”

Ostrowsky grew up in an era when kids met at the neighborhood field or court and played whatever sport was in season.

“If there was a field available anywhere near us, we used it,” Ostrowsky said. “We didn’t have to reserve it or join a league. We just used it. That’s the kind of thing you see with the … Urban Initiative.  You see people coming out because they want to use it.”

A worthy investment

Each soccer field costs an estimated $70,000 to build, which Ostrowsky sees as a worthy investment.

“It warms my heart to know that we’ve actually put resources into something that will not only be used immediately but used happily and to the benefit of those who use it,” Ostrowsky said. “People talk about building recreational complexes with gyms and practice fields costing millions of dollars. These fields are far less expensive and can be done quickly in areas and on land people may not want.”

McKeown, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, moved to Kearny, New Jersey, where he played soccer in high school and then at North Carolina State. He has been with the Players Development Academy for 21 years and is widely recognized for his coaching skills. But he insists “our reach needs to be bigger.”

The next field will be built in Perth Amboy with an individual sponsor.

Camden, Elizabeth, and Paterson are other locations being considered before the program undertakes plans to expand nationally to urban areas in major cities.

“There’s a lot of places that can use these things as a positive influence,” McKeown said. “These fields serve as a distraction from all the negative influences and provide positive socialization as well as promote physical and mental well-being.”

Edited by Judith Isacoff and Matthew B. Hall



The post Getting Their Kicks In: Urban Initiative Brings Soccer Fields To Underserved Cities appeared first on Zenger News.

The Orlando Magic Are Finding Their Frontcourt Of The Future


By Jackson Frank

Thus far, the footprint of the Orlando Magic’s 2021-22 campaign is buried at the bottom. They tout the league’s worst net rating (-11.0) and second-worst record (4-17). Each of their Southeast Division counterparts are above .500 and in the playoff hunt, including a pair of top-three seeds. Along with the Detroit Pistons, they’re one of just two Eastern Conference squads more than two games removed from a play-in spot.

Do not confuse short-term struggles as a harbinger for a rebuild spiraling awry, though. Through the season’s quarter poll, Orlando is cultivating a crystalized vision of future success.

After a troublesome rookie year, Cole Anthony is operating with more poise and shot-making prowess to assert himself as a bona fide ball-handler. Despite a thorny beginning, fifth overall pick Jalen Suggs is establishing some footing in recent weeks. New head coach Jahmal Mosley is diagramming creative schemes and deploying the young guys in predominantly optimal settings.

Aside from Anthony’s newfound exploits, the crux of all these encouraging developments resides in the Magic’s frontcourt of Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba. Together, this trio is showcasing a complementary offensive portfolio to amplify a lead initiator (Anthony or otherwise) and anchor a stingy defense.

Following three years of health setbacks and inconsistent playing time — mixed in with tantalizing two-way flashes — Bamba has snagged the starting center gig. His 29.7 minutes per game are nearly double his previous career-high of 16.3 minutes.

Amid those minutes, he’s exhibiting heightened defensive activity. His 7-foot-10 wingspan dominated mainstream conversations around him pre-draft, and he’s justifying credence in the impact of that physical profile. The dude’s length is mind-boggling, and it enables him to influence so many events that most others are simply incapable of.

On attempts within 6 feet of the hoop, opponents are shooting 7.5% worse than their average when Bamba is the primary defender, per NBA.com. He’s also stamping his mark on passes, where his 1.2% steal rate ranks in the 54th percentile among bigs, according to Cleaning The Glass (CTG). With Carter (4 vs. 5) and Wagner (3 vs. 4) probably playing down one position respectively, Bamba serves as a safeguard of the backline when they’re stretched too thin on the perimeter — though, they’re each quite adept out there.

All this liveliness with a greater minute load hasn’t seen him succumb to foul trouble either. Per 100 possessions, his 4.5 fouls are well below his mark of 6.3 during the first three seasons of his career. He’s both a better and more discretionary defender, altering plays without jeopardizing his minutes.

Bamba has certainly emerged as a loud rim-deterrent and defensive playmaker in Year 4, but he’s not free of significant concerns. He’s prone to unnecessarily biting on shot fakes, as if he forgets about all his height and sprawling length. His fairly delayed load-up period as a leaper prevents him from contesting certain shots.

Similarly, he’s just a slow-moving athlete. While he may identify a rotation, he cannot always execute it in a prompt manner. Even then, his processing of plays lags behind that of foremost defensive centers. Bamba’s been rather valuable defensively, especially for a 23-year-old, but these warts feel like he’s leaving some meat on the bone during his minutes.

Although he’s only drilling 33.7% of his triples, there’s clear confidence in the shot, which broadens his offensive utility and shapes the way defenses view him. Wagner, Carter and Bamba each garner attention as floor-spacers. That opens driving lanes and real estate for guys like Anthony, Suggs and R.J. Hampton to maneuver inside the arc.

Bamba’s intersection of size and shooting touch is evident when defenses try to pin smaller defenders on him and manipulate his floor-spacing duties against Orlando’s offense. His poor center of gravity and underdeveloped core strength mean he’s not a reliable post creator, but he’s exhibited composure on switches and a capacity for firing over the top against smaller mismatches.

If the towering tandem of Carter and Bamba is to suffice long-term offensively, Bamba incorporating consistent scoring outside of the long ball feels paramount, especially when the opposition tries to defend him like a shooting guard in a 7-footer’s clothes.

The more shooting, the better, of course. But with frontcourt players, much of the value can be derived from the mere threat of a jumper drawing rim protectors outside of the paint. If defenses can’t hide smaller players on Bamba or Carter because of possible post exploitation, that will force them to station their center(s) on the perimeter, tailing Orlando’s gargantuan gunners. Bamba looks like he might be on the way to actualizing that dynamic.

Whereas Bamba’s belief beyond the arc is ahead of his results at this juncture, those facets are in lockstep for Carter. Entering the season, Carter had made 29 long balls in his career. He eclipsed that total in the 19th game this year. From 2018-19 to 2020-21, his three-point rate was .096. Now, it’s ballooned to .392, and he’s splashing home 39% of his triples.

Stepping into early-clock threes as a trailer and firing in the face of timely closeouts, he’s operating with a level of aggression rarely before seen from him. When his quick trigger and fruitful production spur defenders to overcommit or run him off the line, he’s displaying off-the-dribble juice and ball skills that have largely been dormant during his NBA tenure, though assuredly were evident at lower levels.

With some shooters, a hurried contest can exile them from the arc and neutralize them. That’s not the case for Carter. He’ll bomb away if the closeout isn’t (nearly) perfect, or drive off the catch when a lane is present. After years of passivity plagued his offense, he’s discovered the requisite conviction to thrive, slapping down a career-high 13.3 points per game on a career-best 60.9% True Shooting percentage (5.8 points above the NBA average, also a career-best). There aren’t that many non-stars doing all this as a 6-foot-10 big man:

Carter has long previewed notable passing chops, but that same passivity would rear its head to mute their equity. He’d often catch the ball near the elbow and be fixated on facilitating a dribble hand-off without glancing toward the hoop whatsoever.

Orlando is still utilizing him as a stationary passer, and he’s more cognizant of the windows that arise after pressuring the defense instead of moonlighting as a statue for a few seconds. He’s also putting the ball on the deck, and has fostered a rapport with Bamba. Teams have to respect his interior scoring touch, and when they do, he strikes via distribution.

Starting at power forward alongside Bamba necessitates a level of defensive mobility that Carter has met. According to Basketball-Reference, more than 70% of his minutes are coming at the 4 this season. In his previous three years, that number never exceeded 20%.

These days, he’s asked to function as a perimeter defender much more regularly. Light on his feet with quick hips, he’s doing so swimmingly, and is instilling hope that the Carter-Bamba pairing can succeed permanently — just as it has through the initial portion of 2021-22.

Perimeter services have solely been a feature of Carter’s defense. Where he’s really shining is in pick-and-roll coverage and as a helper. He plays 1-on-2 scenarios with patience and precision, wields jazz hands to close off passing angles on the interior and is a poster boy for verticality when contesting shots at the rim. Brawny finishers can steamroll through him for buckets, yet by and large, he’s forming a staunch duo inside with Bamba:

Most enticing among Orlando’s youth-laden frontcourt is the rookie, Wagner, who’s averaging 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and a steal on 51.6% True Shooting (.425/.361/.786 splits). As a prospect, he was hindered by a gun-shy nature from deep, which has hardly been the case for him in the pros.

Across 55 contests at Michigan, he averaged 12.5 points and never scored more than 22 points. Since entering the league, he’s averaged 12.7 points and even catalogued a 28-point night.

The Magic have done well to balance his scoring opportunities on and off the ball. They’rve merged areas he already excels in with avenues he might excel in down the line if he’s afforded chances to refine his creation ability.

Because he’s willing to let it fly beyond the arc, Wagner attracts pressuring closeouts and attacks them as a driver by leveraging broad strides and silky touch. Routinely sensing when he’s become an afterthought for defenders, he’s a perceptively brilliant cutter, and his teammates know to feed him on those plays. His off-ball scoring package allows him to drift into the background and puncture advantages generated by others:

Wagner is laying the ground floor of some serious self-creation upside too. Orlando routinely entrusts him with on-ball reps, and he’s handling them capably — especially for a 20-year-old just five weeks into NBA action. What he lacks in burst and a dynamic handle, he compensates by way of his 6-foot-9 frame to dislodge defenders, along with his stoic driving cadence to plan each decision as it arrives.

Only 62.7% of his buckets have been assisted this season, a remarkably impressive rate for a rookie, let alone one not billed for his creation prior to the draft. A wing-sized rookie — who’s a plus passer, defender and off-ball scorer — looking this adept in manufacturing his own points bodes quite well for his prime in half-a-decade and beyond.

Part of Wagner’s initiating potential is linked to his savvy facilitating. Applying his size to title defenses or complete reads over the top, he’s an excellent interior passer, and is willing to take risks in pursuit of points; that’s something many good passers — especially young ones fearful of seeing their playing time reduced — don’t always adhere to. He and Carter have synergy in ball-screen actions, and Wagner sets up the big fella for an easy score most evenings. All of it is yet another example of how Wagner benefits this squad.

Aside from improving as a shot-maker, which is an underdiscussed component of virtually every player’s ascension, Wagner has to better embrace physicality around the rim. While he’s willing to play through it as a driver, contact aversion tends to manifest at the basket, where he’s shooting just 53% (16th percentile among forwards, per CTG). On the positive side, 36% off his attempts occur there, but the results themselves are discouraging, and a refined approach can help bridge that disconnect.

More than any offensive facet of his game, Wagner is a vastly advanced defender. He’s typically Orlando’s designated stopper, and has amassed at least 20 possessions against seven different All-Stars, per NBA.com’s matchup data. Those All-Stars vary in style, too, ranging from Trae Young to Kevin Durant to Julius Randle.

He understands angles to cut drives off, shimmies around screens and brandishes deft hands to force turnovers or nab deflections. The Magic are comfortable playing him at the 3 because of his fluidity and quick hips. His plus-0.7 Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus ranks fifth among all rookies, thanks to that multifaceted aptitude. He’s a very good defender who will soon be superb.

Losing a plethora of games and welcoming a dazzling prospect to the fold for a few seasons does not guarantee prosperity simply because one is patient. The recipe for those prospects to develop beyond prospects — a word rich with promise but short on immediate results — is more nuanced.

They warrant suitable roles that amplify their strengths, teach them to rectify their weaknesses and prompt them to expand their arsenals without eschewing structure altogether. And that is what’s transpiring in Orlando. The victories have conveyed how this team can and will eventually win on a consistent basis.

Anthony may be the brightest gem of the rebuild at this stage (Wagner might object). Yet, none better reflect the importance of stability than Wagner, Carter and Bamba, all of whom, in divergent, well-fitting roles, are making clear that Orlando’s footprint should only temporarily be buried at the bottom of the NBA.

Produced in association with BasketballNews.com.

Edited by Kristen Butler



The post The Orlando Magic Are Finding Their Frontcourt Of The Future appeared first on Zenger News.

Vaccinating kids can help win the battle against COVID, experts argue

By Jenny Manrique, Ethnic Media Services

Nearly one million children ages 5 to 11 have been vaccinated in the United States since the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for this age group on September 20. Efforts to immunize 28 million infants could mark a turning point in the battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, but many parents are still reluctant to vaccinate their kids.

“We received phone calls, emails and text messages from families that were just eagerly awaiting the vaccine for their children,” said Jennifer Miller, a pediatrician with East Bay Pediatrics during an Ethnic Media Services briefing on Nov 12. “But we also have another group of patients who have been more cautious and more hesitant.”

The first group of families, Miller noted, were looking forward to resuming some semblance of normalcy without having to worry about isolating or quarantining their children: being able to send them back to school or traveling together as the holidays come.

The latter, mostly families of color, are afraid to vaccinate their children because they do not know the long-term consequences of the shot, or because they are afraid of side effects such as infertility (denied by scientists) or myocarditis (inflammation in the heart that has occurred exceptionally in men after the second dose and it is very easy to treat.)

Although many parents have been vaccinated, they prefer a wait-and-see approach when it comes to their children because they feel the burden of making decisions on behalf of people too young to decide for themselves.

Dr. Miller cites the mental health impacts she is seeing among her young patients as another reason for ensuring they get vaccines.

. “Not only are we dealing with a pandemic because of COVID, but we are dealing with a mental health pandemic,” she said. “Children and adolescents have been removed from their school routine, their peers, their sports and their clubs. They are depressed and anxious due to the loss of family members to COVID; they experience frequent sadness.

“These children need to get back into school full time,” the pediatrician added. “We have kindergarteners that didn’t learn how to read and kids with special needs who didn’t get their own occupational therapy.” These educational disparities occur much more commonly in families of color. “If those families do not go out and get vaccinated, these kids will continue to fall behind and won’t be able to compete with their peers.”

There have been more than 6 million positive COVID cases in children in the United States since the pandemic began, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), resulting in 64,000 hospitalizations and 650 deaths. That’s why CDC.

Director Rochelle Wollensky endorsed the advisory group’s recommendation on immunization practices to move on mass childhood vaccination.

“There is no doubt that children are less at risk for severe disease from COVID,” said Monica Gandhi, Professor of Medicine at UC San Francisco School of Medicine. “Even though the risk is lower, during the Delta variant surge, COVID was the sixth leading cause of death in children.”

Gandhi cited three reasons why children should be vaccinated: to protect them against the virus; to reduce transmission to others, especially older parents and grandparents; and because thedoseissafe. Thesereasonsareparticularlyrelevantforcommunitiesofcolorwhichhavea higher incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, making them more vulnerable to COVID.

“During the (clinical) trial with 2,268 children, there was a reduction in COVID symptomatic infections of 90.7%.” Gandhi said. Because of the rare cases of myocarditis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizer to provide a 10 mg dose for children ages 5 to 11, in contrast to the 30 mg that adults receive. In Moderna’s case, the dose is higher: 100 mg.

Gandhi suggests that there will be greater efficacy in children if the doses are given more than three weeks apart, based on data from the National Institute of Public Health in Quebec: Canada chose to administer the doses eight weeks apart which was 92% effective versus 82% effectiveness when the doses were given closer together.

“We are still at about 68% for the vaccination rate across the country among eligibles over 12 years of age,” Gandhi said. “With 28 million vaccinated children, the virus will be able to find fewer and fewer susceptible hosts.”

Misinformation and fears

Maria Meraz, Founder-Director of Parent Engagement Academy, works annually with around 3,000 parents in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, 90% of them immigrants and first-generation Latinos. She said that the misinformation spread about the vaccine on networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube is “terrible”.

“These parents are low-income families and many of them don’t have access to (cable) TV… they get their information from sources that are not the best such as friends and family.” Meraz works with several school districts that provide social-emotional support services to guide parents through a dilemma that causes them great anxiety: While many do not agree with vaccination, they know they have no other option.

“They have to send their children to school because they have to go to work,” Meraz said.

Madison Sandoval, a Bay Area school nurse, cited a new fear that children who have not been vaccinated may wind up becoming targets for cyberbullying. “I can definitely see the potential for bullying to happen, and that’s why it’s really important for schools to get ahead of that kind of dialogue and really focus on vaccines’ benefits, not assigning blame or shaming any child because ultimately it is not their decision,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval recalled that masking and ventilation are really effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID within schools and that as long as vaccines are not mandatory to attend classrooms, they should be implemented.

The Luebella’s is What it Do!

By Lue Dowdy

The Ebony Holiday Burlesque Dinner Show is almost here. Our team at LUE PRODUCTIONS is happy, humbled, and honored to announce we have sold out both shows. We only have four tickets left for contest winners.

Get ready to see sexy, talented, and beautiful queens taking to the stage to put on one hell of a show for the people. The show includes all forms of entertainment from singing to dancing, comedy, acting, poetry, live music, and more. Lue Productions is all about the Black performing arts and prides itself on providing platforms for the talented.

This epic event will be taking place Saturday, December 11th and Sunday, December 12th in the City of San Bernardino at the 320 Premier Event Hall from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Below are details on how to win free VIP tickets. This will be one for the books. You should be there, heck we want you there.

To enter our contest, follow LUE PRODUCTIONS on all social media sights at Lue Productions. Visit our website at www.lueproductions.org or contact us by phone at 909.567.1000. Good luck!

And listen to Empire talks back radio with What It Do With Lue! Win a pair of VIP tickets to LUE Productions Ebony Holiday Burlesque Dinner Show for Sunday, December 12th.

How to enter:

  1. Share flyer and tag @lueproductions (your name will be added)
  2. Watch us live on our Lue Productions page and our What It Do with Lue group page Sunday, November 28th. Type (I’m the winner) to have your name added.
  3. Call in to the radio station Sunday, November 14th, and 28th between 10 am and 10:45 am to have your name added

Winners will be announced live on air on Empire Talks Back Radio KCAA Sunday, December 5th between 10am-10:45am

Winners will receive:

  • two event tickets for Sunday, December 12th
  • dinner for two
  • VIP bag
  • meet & greet with cast members

Radio call in number

(909) 793-5222

Calif. Officials: Get Booster Shot; Celebrate Thanksgiving Holiday Safely

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media

Golden State Public health officials are recommending that Californians take COVID-19 booster shots to prevent a resurgence of the disease and to celebrate the holidays safely with their loved ones.

“It’s not too late to get it,” said Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Department, referring to the COVID-19 booster shot. He was speaking at a vaccine clinic in Los Angeles County last week.

“Get that added protection for the Thanksgiving gatherings you may attend,” he said.

Last week, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine boosters for all adults in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC followed with an endorsement of the booster vaccine, recommending it for people over age 50, and anyone18 and older who is at higher risk.

The CDC loosened the language for all other adults, saying anyone over age 18 “may” take the shot.

California officials say the booster shots are plenty and available throughout the state.

“If you think you will benefit from getting a booster shot, I encourage you,” said Ghaly. “Supplies are available. There are many sites across the state – thousands in fact.”

On Saturday, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup  completed a separate review of the federal government’s approval process for the booster shots and also recommended that “individuals 18 or older who have completed their primary vaccination series,” take the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna boosters.

California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington state came together last year and created the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The group, made up of scientists, medical professionals and public health experts, is charged with reviewing COVID-19 vaccine safety.

Over the last two weeks, COVID-19 infections across the United States have increased at a rate of nearly 33 %, according to the CDC.

Officials are encouraging people who took both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago to get their boosters now. People who took the one-shot Johnson & Johnson primary dose at least two months ago, should also schedule their booster shot.

“COVID-19 boosters are available to all Californians 18 [and over]! Walk-in clinics are open statewide with no appointment necessary – like this mobile clinic in Avenal. Find a clinic or pharmacy near you and get yours today,” the governor’s office chimed in on Twitter.

Newsom has pushed hard for the vaccine booster since he received his last month.

“Great news for the rest of the country. The holidays are here — make sure to keep your immunity up and protect yourself and your loved ones. Get your booster,” Newsom tweeted on Nov. 18

According to Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, the booster shots are being administered under an “emergency use authorization.”

California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.

 

Award Winning Stage Production, “The Long Hard Truth”, Returns to Los Angeles Showcasing the Life Cycles and Empowerment of Men

LOS ANGELES, CA—– COVID-19 had put a pause on theater across the Nation, but as things have started to settle down, theater is now back in action! The Award-Winning show, The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth, will be making its way back to the stage on December 4 and December 5 at The Hudson Theatre located at 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., in Los Angeles.

The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth is an unforgettable journey into the minds of ten phenomenal men as they share real, raw, and riveting stories about their innermost thoughts and desires. It is a deeply penetrating performance.

This thought-provoking production is written, directed, and produced by Karen Roberson. Roberson is a prolific writer, actor, producer, TEDx speaker, community activist and an award-winning playwright.

A portion of the proceeds from The Long Hard Truth will benefit Mahogany Stars, a non-profit that seeks to empower at-risk youth in underserved communities of Los Angeles County.

To purchase tickets for the show, please visit www.mgproductionsllc.com or call (310) 291-5315.

“It Is What It Is, and It Will Be What It Will Be!”

By Lou Yeboah

I warned you when you were prosperous, but you replied, “Don’t bother me.” You have been that way since childhood— you simply will not obey me [Jeremiah 22:21]. So, because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; because you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. [Proverbs 1:24-27]

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” [Proverbs 1:28-33]. I tell you, “It Is What It Is, and It Will Be What It Will Be!”

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! [Revelations 14:8].

For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her. In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow. [Revelation 18:3-5]

Therefore, her plagues will come in one day–death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ [Revelation 18:8-10].

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? May it never be! [Romans 6]. As the Holy Spirit led Paul to write in [1 Corinthians 6:9-11]: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Hear what Peter told the onlookers when he healed the beggar at Beautiful gate: “Repent, then, and turn to God. That your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” [Acts 3:19].

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.” “Choose Life” [Deuteronomy chapter 30]

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles… And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting [Romans 1:18-23; 28]. “It Is What It Is, and It Will Be What It Will Be!”

Letter to the Editor: Would You Pressure Your Kid’s Coach to Apologize for Winning by 106-0?

By Kenneth Miller | Inglewood Today

Coaches push the athletes they train to put their all into mastering the mental and physical aspects of their sport, preparing them to edge out competitors and perform at the height of their abilities.

But there are real-life situations, it seems, when attaining excellence proves to be too much – or maybe just not good enough.

This seems to have been the case Oct. 29 when an impressive shutout victory for Inglewood High School in Los Angeles County ended up turning into a bitter crosstown game of guilt, blame and grievances. That day, Inglewood High football coach and former Cleveland Browns defensive back Mil’Von James led his team to a 106-0 victory over rivals Morningside high.

Since that shellacking, education authorities have blasted James and Inglewood High for being too focused on winning that they failed to exhibit a spirit of compassion and sportsmanship.

The California Interscholastic Federation -Southern Section (CIFSS), the governing body of high school athletics in the state, released a scathing statement regarding the wide margin of the game’s final score.

“The CIF Southern Section expects that all athletic contests are to be conducted under the strictest code of good sportsmanship. “We expect coaches, players, officials, administrators and students to adhere to the Six Pillars of Character – Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship,” CIF-SS fired off in a statement.

“A score of 106-0 does not represent these ideals,” the statement continued. “The CIF-SS condemns, in the strongest terms, results such as these. It is our expectation that the Inglewood administration will work towards putting in place an action plan so that an event such as this does not repeat itself.”

James, 38, said it was not his intention to degrade or demoralize the Morningside High team.

“I apologized for the way things turned out,” James said even though, during the game, he benched his defensive starters after the second quarter and most of his other frontline players in the second half.

But Inglewood continued to run up the score on its hapless opponent.

Anyone who knows James personally would know – and can attest to the fact — that his intent was never to bring shame to the game that he loves.

Coaches like James who have played college and pro-football understand the fierce competitiveness it requires for young people to succeed when pursuing careers as professional athletes. They train their students to be warriors, to dominate their opponents. Varsity sports is the highest level of competition in high school. Today, the advancement of training techniques and year-round coaching and development increases the likelihood that schools with the resources will outperform schools with sports programs that are underfunded or under-supported.

Since he became coach at Inglewood High three seasons ago, James has taken the team from a losing streak to being nearly undefeated. During that time, the team has moved from CIF-SS Division 13 to Division 2.

Inglewood student athletes have advantages in coaching and preparation that Morningside and many other schools do not.

James was a star on the football squad at Fremont High School in Los Angeles where he graduated in 2003. In college, he first played for the UNLV Rebels where he led the nation in passes; before transferring to UCLA and playing for the Bruins from 2003-2005.

After brief stints in the NFL and the Canadian Football League on the roster for the Cleveland Browns and the Vancouver Lions respectively, James began coaching high school football.

He is the founder and director of one of most successful 7 on 7 leagues in the nation, responsible for scores of future and current high school, collegiate and professional players.

Chances are, if you have observed any top football program in California, you have you witnessed his impact on young players, their development and their unmatched leadership skills – on the field and off it.

The Inglewood Unified School District also blasted James and Inglewood High.

“Regarding Inglewood H.S. vs. Morningside H.S. Friday night 10/29 game, we at the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) are saddened beyond words by the events that transpired at the football game Friday between Inglewood and Morningside high schools,” the IUSD stamen read. “We will conduct a full investigation and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that a similar outcome never happens again under an IUSD athletic program.”

High school sports, in many schools, is a training ground for college and pro athletes. Schools that have better resources will always have an edge.

It is unfortunate that this incident has placed a dark cloud over a  high school sports program. Inglewood High’s football program should be celebrated for its league championship and undefeated record in a school district that is still in state receivership.

About the Author

Kenneth Miller is the publisher of Inglewood Today.

Don’t Nobody Want to Hear All This Talk About Repentance!”

By Lou Yeboah

Yeah, I know! But while very few people may want to hear this message that does not mean it is a message no one needs to hear. Repentance is difficult. No one wants to think about it. No one wants to contemplate it. No one wants to do it very often, and certainly no one wants to hear about it all the time. But the Word must be in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with great patience and instruction.

All throughout the Bible we see people being called to repentance. God, Jesus, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, Prophet Isaiah, and many others, all were involved in clearly communicating to others to repent. Jesus came on the scene saying “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. [Matthew 4:17]. The fact that you may have a problem with “Repenting” messages, speaks volume.

I write this not to condemn anyone, but this is the urgency we face. The Kingdom of God is at hand! [Matthew 3:2]. The wicked must forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts and seek the Lord while he may be found. There is no time to waste, no excuses to be made. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. [2 Corinthians 6:2].

Because, Jesus, whose way John was preparing, has come. He has accomplished his mission of salvation. He took our place under God’s law and lived a life of perfect obedience. He demonstrated perfect love for everyone, friends, and foes alike, by not telling them what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear. He endured rejection from the very people he came to save. He did not complain when the rulers of Israel unjustly convicted and condemned him to death. He willingly took our place on a cursed cross and endured the hell our sins deserved. He demonstrated his power by crushing Satan’s skull under his foot and ripped the heart out of death by stepping out of the tomb. Everything that Jesus came to do – he did. And all that’s left now is to clear the threshing floor of this world; to separate penitent believers from stubborn, impenitent unbelievers. Wherever God’s Word – his Law and Gospel – are proclaimed, that separation is taking place. Right here, right now, Jesus is busy gathering his wheat and burning up the chaff.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you that you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

I tell you, there are some warnings that we can afford to ignore, some at which we can even laugh, but this is not one of them. Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand! There’s no time to waste. Life or death. Eternal glory or eternal shame. Heaven or Hell.” Whatcha gonna do?

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. [John 6:60, 66].

Repentance – A message No One Likes to Hear!

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