WSSN Stories

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

In the unseen realms. It will be more powerful than an atomic burst, yet Silent, Invisible! Suddenly! Inexplicable! A moment coming soon that will change everything and everyone forever. Billions of people will be gone in a flash [1 Thessalonians 4:17; Matthew 24:40-42]. Two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill the one shall be taken, and the other left. Some will look for those who are missing and wonder what has happened. It will be chaos like never before experienced in the earth. I tell you; something is about to happen in the skies, in the unseen realms.

Don’t be left behind. Repent and turn to God right now! Do not delay another moment. The matter is urgent! After the Rapture, all Hell is going to break loose and according to the Bible, those left behind after the Rapture will experience a seven-year period of tribulation, suffering on earth. This period will include wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famine, plagues, military invasion, enslavement and other hardships, culminating in a battle involving the Antichrist and Armageddon. Billions, of people, at least a third of mankind will die. There will be loud voices deceiving many. New laws, old lies. New dilemmas. False religion. Plant life and sea life will be destroyed. There will be no escape.  [Revelation 6:8; Rev 9: 15, 18; Revelation 8:7-13; Revelation 9:1-21; Revelation 16:1-21].

Hear the message. Something is about to happen in the Skies, in the unseen realms and if you haven’t trusted Jesus as your Savior, if you don’t have the life of God in your soul, the Rapture will happen and you will  be left behind. What a sad and tragic thing that would be.

Hopefully, many will read, believe, seek God, repent and be saved. Because what we are witnessing today are but a glimpse of future tribulation [Daniel 12:1] [Matthew 24:21-22; Revelation 6:12-17].

God warns the world to repent and change [Ezekiel 33:11; Isaiah 58:1]. He opens the prophetic scroll with seven seals to reveal the events to occur before His return [Revelation chapter 5; Revelation chapter 6].

But –

As it was in the days of Noah, they were eating, drinking, marrying,  and giving in marriage. They were going on like the world was never going to end, like life would be fine, everything  hunky-dory. Then the flood came and swept them all away.

I tell you, Something is About to Happen in the Skies!

By Nataki Garrett and Clyde Valentín

In this pivotal election year, as Americans face unprecedented health and social challenges, a groundbreaking new campaign is centering joy and redefining how we view the arts: not just as a form of expression or representation of culture but as a key component of community wellness. In just one day, Arts For EveryBody, a national initiative led by One Nation/One Project, showcased the power of our collective joy.

The project sought to answer one question: How can arts participation in communities influence social cohesion and well-being? On July 27th, hundreds of artists from 18 cities and towns across America worked together to find out.

Arts For Everybody brought unlikely community partners together— artists, government officials and community health leaders— to produce participatory arts projects seeking to bridge the arts with the health and well-being of our communities. The activation part of “One Nation/One Project” spanned 18 communities across the country from Hawaii to Washington state to Texas to Florida to Illinois to New York and to the nation’s capital Washington, DC and beyond to share, to create, to perform in celebration of health, community, belonging, and togetherness. Each project sought to address the unique challenges of their city, from access to clean water to access to lost customs and culture—issues that, many times, disproportionately impacted Black and brown and low-income communities. These same communities face the biggest barriers when it comes to access to the arts and health care.

At the heart of Arts for EveryBody is a commitment to addressing the deep inequities that disproportionately affect Black, brown, rural, and marginalized communities. These communities often face the greatest social challenges, from systemic health disparities to economic insecurity, yet have the least access to the healing power of the arts and quality healthcare.

At the heart of Arts for EveryBody is a commitment to addressing the deep inequities that disproportionately affect Black, brown, rural, and marginalized communities. These communities often face the greatest social challenges, from systemic health disparities to economic insecurity, yet have the least access to the healing power of the arts and quality healthcare.

Arts For EveryBody seeks to close this gap by bringing large-scale, participatory art projects directly into underserved neighborhoods, fostering not just creativity, but also mental and physical well-being. By prioritizing these communities, the project acknowledges that the arts can be a powerful tool for resilience and healing, particularly where they are needed most.

Part of the growing emphasis on participatory arts projects is research that shows a direct link to our health. In a recent paper looking at the tie between participatory art and health Dr. Jill Sonke, PhD, director of research initiatives in the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida specifically looked at “One Nation/One Project”.

 “ONOP is a multifaceted initiative designed to engage the arts to strengthen the social fabric of U.S. communities on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative leverages collaborations between the arts, public health, and municipal sectors to build health, health equity, and well-being.”

Looking further at the reach and the impact of hundreds of artists coming together in communities all across the country shows the potential and the possibilities of arts and expression to center health and wellness for diverse groups in diverse communities. In Chicago Healing Arts Chicago hosted a citywide creative summit focused on creating, doing, and performing to highlight how artists could be trained as community health workers. In Edinburg, Texas, the community premiered an original musical, Despierta, which featured 75 community members.

Also, it explored the legacy of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo as a way of looking at important things such as healing and belonging. In Kansas City, Missouri, the community hosted Celebrate AMERI’KANA a music and arts festival bringing together locals of all ages to celebrate the diverse history of American music. In Rhinelander, Wisconsin community members came together for a Walk Against Social Isolation, hosted a community meal, and unveiled a public art installation as their way of looking at well-being and belonging and togetherness. In each example breaking down barriers and silos and exploring inclusivity were seen as key to making sure that health equity, fair and just access to healthcare and resources, was an overarching theme.

At the center of this work is a desire to make participatory arts something that communities commit to on an ongoing basis and to bridge that work directly to the local health sector and/or the local municipality. We have a deep commitment to community engagement and accessibility, and we hope to inspire a movement where on an ongoing basis communities explore art as a way to make communities healthier, stronger, safer, and more united, thus improving the lives of everybody.

During a consequential election year, art is more important because of its ability to spur conversation about the state of the union and remind us that our commonalities should be a powerful enough force to combat ignorance and intolerance. And for the messages of the art being created and shared across the country to help us better truly, we also cannot give in to indifference.

The day’s actions demonstrated the strength of American plurality, diversity, and expression in the most hyperlocal and culturally nuanced ways. The inclusion of $210.1 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget underscores the government’s recognition of the arts as a vital component of community well-being and equity.

This funding aligns with initiatives like “Arts For EveryBody,” which emphasize the role of arts in addressing systemic health disparities and social cohesion. The budget further promotes the transformative power of participatory arts in underserved communities by ensuring greater access to arts and health resources.

At a time in America where communities are sometimes divided, uncertain, and disjointed, here is an opportunity to unite people and communities. This is a chance to improve people’s everyday lives, whether you’re an artist or creator, a healthcare worker, a government official, or a philanthropist seeking to make positive change.

Together with a common focus, there are ways not just to have participatory arts be part of a moment, but to make participatory arts a movement, where the message is clear arts is for everybody and it really does have the power to transform lives and communities and bring us together.

What July 27 proved is that local leadership has the power to bring together factions of communities that would not ordinarily do so—from health care providers to artists and arts organizations to local elected officials. From these unlikely alliances have sprung powerful partnerships and possibilities to identify critical and unique needs in communities across America.

Arts for EveryBody is led by some of our country’s most creative thinkers. Together, they’re working to coordinate a movement guided by healing, equity, and community. https://www.artsforeverybody.org/joinus

ATLANTA, Ga., Oct. 17, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In a powerful show of civic engagement, state and local leaders converged upon the C.T. Martin Recreation Center polling location on Tuesday for a press conference in support of “Overload the Polls,” a statewide voter mobilization effort kicking off the first day of early voting. Spearheaded by Georgia Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda (People’s Agenda), RISE, Black Youth Vote, and other advocacy organizations, the initiative rolled out in 32 counties across the state, aiming to drive a surge in voter participation.

This widespread effort underscored the growing influence of women and young voters, and surely contributed to the historic turnout, with over 300,000 people casting their ballots on the first day of early voting-more than double the record set in 2020.

Helen Butler, executive director of People’s Agenda and convener of GA BWR, energized the crowd with her passionate call to action.

“We are here today to overload the polls. We’re here to make sure our voices are heard, Black women and women in general are the highest voting demographic in Georgia. Today, we have 32 counties of women participating in this event across Georgia, and we’re all overloading those polls,” Butler declared. “Our ‘Power of the Ballot’ bus will continue touring the state to encourage voter participation.”

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin emphasized the urgency of the moment.

“Now it’s time to do what we said we’re going to do. It’s time to show up, stand up, and to vote – and to get everyone else out to vote. We’re starting on day one and going to finish on Nov. 5. We’re not leaving any stone unturned,” Franklin said.

Atlanta City Councilwoman Andrea Boone encouraged community involvement saying, “We want our neighbors to pick up their neighbors, text their church members, and ask businesses if they’ve voted. Then, we’re going to party at the polls.”

Highlighting the stakes of the election, Congresswoman Nikema Williams exclaimed, “Our freedoms are on the ballot. Our future is on the ballot. Today we are gathered with 32 counties across the state to overload the polls because we understand that when we vote, we win,” said Williams. “That means winning for our future and winning for our freedom.”

State Rep. Inga Willis, representing the Divine Nine, reflected on the legacy of the civil rights movement. “I stand before you today as the daughter of a 97-year-old father who walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. I stand before you today as the fruit of an HBCU,” Willis said. “We are here to overload the polls, vote early, and ensure that everyone in our communities does the same.”

Warning voters about potential challenges on Election Day, State Rep Shelia Jones, representing DeIta Sigma Theta Inc, asserted, “I encourage all of you to early vote because we don’t know what is going to happen to our votes on Election Day.”

Civil rights activist and attorney, Rose Sanders, who traveled from Selma, Alabama to help mobilize voters, galvanized the crowd by leading the crowd in freedom songs. She was joined by Betty Boynton and other foot soldiers who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, symbolizing the ongoing fight for voting rights.

The event concluded with a critical reminder from Butler about checking voter registration and knowing where to vote. “Check your status at MVP.sos.ga.gov, and if you need a ride to the polls, visit ridetothepoll.com or call 1-877-524-8683,” Butler urged.

The People’s Agenda (thepeoplesagenda.org) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to year-round voter registration, education, and mobilization in Black communities throughout Georgia. Founded by the late civil rights leader Dr. Joseph Lowery, the organization is led by board chair Rev. J. A. Milner and executive director, Helen Butler. It operates with headquarters in Atlanta and offices in Athens, Albany, Macon, Augusta, LaGrange, Rome and Savannah. The organization’s women’s initiative, Georgia Black Women’s Roundtable, is an affiliate of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s Black Women’s Roundtable.

NATIONWIDE — Cherry and Sherry Wilmore, African American twins from Houma, Louisiana, who grew up in foster care, are now giving back to their community in a big way. Determined to pay it forward, they have launched Cherish Times Two, their very own non-profit that helps foster kids who come from vulnerable communities.

Raised in Houma, Louisiana, the Wilmore sisters are affectionately known as “everybody’s favorite twins” for their positive energy and generous spirits. Their journey from foster children to community leaders has inspired many, including Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet, who shared, “I love them both dearly, and I’m very blessed that they’re part of our community.”

Cherry and Sherry’s childhood was marked by challenges, as they spent 12 years in foster care, moving between two families. Despite the difficulties, they fondly remember their foster parents, Anna and Albert McMahon, who provided them with love and stability. “We didn’t even realize we were in foster care until we left their home at 10,” the twins said. Though they were up for adoption a few times, it never worked out, but their foster families made a lasting impact.

According to CBS News, at 10 years old, the sisters were separated and placed in group homes, where a psychologist once labeled them a “danger to society.” But thanks to the love and guidance of their later foster mother, Louise Navy Wallace, the twins reunited and flourished. Wallace’s belief that twins needed family and structure helped shape their path. Her words, “Foster care is just a chapter, not your story,” stayed with Cherry and Sherry throughout their lives.

One of the key initiatives of their non-profit organization is donating laptops to college-bound foster care youth, helping them succeed in school. Describing themselves as innovators, educators, and influencers, their friends see them as much more. Ariel Triggs, a close friend, called them “a ray of sunshine.”

The twins have been featured on several shows including the Jennifer Hudson Show where they spoke about their foster care experience and how it shaped their mission to give back. During their interview with CBS News, their half-brother, Jeremy Wilmore, surprised them after 10 years apart. He expressed pride in his sisters’ resilience and accomplishments, saying, “It’s a blessing to see what they’ve done with their lives despite all the struggles.”

As Cherry and Sherry continue to inspire others, they remind people that support can come from unexpected places. “Sometimes, your family may not be biological, but find those people, and they’ll definitely be your family,” they said.

By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

On Sept. 29, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) that ensures babies in neonatal intensive care units receive donor breast milk vital for their health.

Under new guidelines set by Assembly Bill (AB) 3059, medical facilities will provide families donor milk for their babies regardless of restrictions their medical insurance might have.

Weber said that the bill represents the final step in expanding access to donor milk for all families, making a difference in health outcomes for newborns and their families.  AB 3059 defines donor milk as “essential” under commercial insurance coverage – a designation that Medi-Cal requires as well for payment.

“Addressing disparities in health care starts with ensuring access to essential nutrition,” said Weber. “With the mortality rate for Black infants being three times higher than that of white infants, it’s crucial we address health care inequities beginning at birth.”

Dr. Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California, thanked Weber and Newsom for their leadership.

“Creating greater access to donor milk is vital for the health and well-being of newborns and their families,” said Drake.

Drake said that the University of California looks forward to supporting vulnerable families and their babies.

According to UC data, breast milk reduces some health risks in infants such as necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening bowel disease that occurs 60% more frequently among Black and Latino children.

AB 3059 lifts a restriction that required hospitals to have a license to give donor milk to patients. The new law only requires that the milk be obtained from accredited sources such as the University of California Health Milk Bank.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Jesus said to them, don’t you understand this parable? The deception of distractions? [Mark 4:1–8; Mark 4: 13-17; Mark 4:21–25; Mark 4:26–32]. All that you are seeing and are hearings are distractions from the real reality. Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise [Ephesians 5:15-16].

Remember what the Weeping  Prophet Jeremiah said in the Old Testament [Jeremiah 9:6]… “You live in the midst of deception.” So  be like, Nehemiah and see through their ploy [Nehemiah 6:3]. Let no one deceive you [Matthew 24:4] because distraction from reality will lead you to Hell.

Understand how the devil wages war. First, he will turn your attention from God through distractions, and second, he will make you doubt through deception. Know that distractions and subtleties are one of the major tools that Satan uses to get as many souls that he can. Satan is a master deceiver. He deceived one third of the angels to follow him. He deceived Eve. He deceived Judas and many others. I tell you, we must choose to focus on following the Lord, no matter the distraction.

If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear [Mark 4:23].

We have a supernatural enemy whose aim is to use distractions and deceptiveness to make us blind, stupid, and miserable — forever. The Bible calls him “the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world . . . the accuser” [Revelation 12:9–10], “the ruler of this world” [John 12:31], and “the god of this age” [2 Corinthians 4:4]. He is our “adversary who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [1 Peter 5:8] and yet, in the most appalling and unwitting bondage, the whole world willingly “follows the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” [Ephesians 2:2]. At his most successful, his subjects march obliviously to destruction and take as many with them as they can. Distractions – deceiving, divisive, and deadly!

I admonish you, do not believe everything you see or hear. While we ought not be cynical, we ought to be sober and seek to verify what we see and hear with God’s revealed truth. Do not be deceived.

Life moves very fast. We have only a short time before it’s over. Let us not get caught in the distractions.  Be alert and discerning because the Time is Near!

God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. Every one of them has turned aside [Psalms 53: 2-3].

Jesus Weep!

Distractions  – Deceiving, Divisive,  and Deadly.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr.  | California Black Media

In 2024, the 12-member California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), introduced nearly 600 bills aimed at improving the lives of all Californians, many with a particular focus on addressing inequities faced by Black citizens. Of these bills, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 230 into law and vetoed 50. The remaining bills either failed to pass out of committee, were rejected in one of the chambers, or were withdrawn by their authors for possible re-introduction later.

CLBC’s legislative victories reflect their commitment to creating a more equitable California for Black residents across areas like education, healthcare, housing, and criminal justice reform. The following are some of the key bills taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Education Reform for Black Students

Senate Bill (SB) -1348 by CLBC vice-chair Sen. Steven Bradford (D- Inglewood) designates California Black-Serving Institutions (BSIs), a groundbreaking effort to provide additional resources and support to higher education institutions that primarily serve Black students. This bill will help ensure that Black students have access to culturally relevant and equitable educational opportunities.

Assembly Bill (AB)-51 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) makes sure that Black families from low-income communities have access to critical early childhood education.

AB-1113 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D–Sacramento) expands the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) to include data on expanded learning opportunity programs. This bill improves the state’s ability to track student outcomes and offer targeted support to underrepresented students, including Black students, addressing systemic inequities in the education system.

Health and Human Services: Improving Health Outcomes for Black Californians

AB-2319 by CLBC chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D– Suisun City) mandates implicit bias training for healthcare providers, addressing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, especially affecting Black women.

AB-3059 by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D–La Mesa) requires commercial health plans to cover medically necessary pasteurized donor human milk for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). This bill also simplifies the process for hospitals to distribute donor milk by removing the need for a tissue bank license, ensuring that families, particularly in Black communities where infant mortality rates are disproportionately high, have access to life-saving nutrition for their newborn.

Tackling the Job Security

Job security is a critical issue for Black Californians, and the CLBC introduced several bills addressing these challenges. SB-1089 by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D–Los Angeles) requires grocery stores and pharmacies to provide advance notice to workers and the community before closures, addressing the issue of food deserts and limited access to essential services in vulnerable communities.

AB-647 by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D–Pasadena) strengthens grocery worker protections by preventing mass layoffs and ensuring that trained and skilled grocery store and pharmacy workers are rehired. This bill supports job security for workers in essential sectors and helps maintain consistency in food safety and pharmaceutical access in their communities.

Environmental Justice for Black Neighborhoods

Bonta’s AB-2851 mandates air quality monitoring near metal shredding facilities, protecting the health of Black communities often located near industrial areas from harmful pollutants.

Bradford’s SB-1130 prevents low-income Black families from being left out of the Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) program, which helps subsidize electricity costs. It would also require the state’s three largest investor-owned utilities to report on enrollment of customers in the FERA program.

Criminal Justice and Civil Rights Advocacy

Criminal justice reform remains a top priority for the CLBC given the overrepresentation of Black individuals in California’s criminal justice system. AB-1986 by Assemblymember Issac Bryan (D–Ladera Heights) bans certain books in state prisons, addressing concerns over materials that perpetuate racial stereotypes and divisive ideologies.

AB-3089 by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D–South Los Angeles) issues a formal apology for California’s role in chattel slavery, calls for systemic reforms and reparative justice for Black Californians.  This bill was a key component of the CLBC’s reparations package.

AB-2975 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D–Compton) known as the Secure Hospitals for All Act, focuses on increasing hospital safety by requiring the installation of weapon detection systems at key entrances, such as those for Labor and Delivery and Emergency Departments. The bill aims to reduce workplace violence in hospitals, which disproportionately affects healthcare workers, including many from Black communities

AB-672 by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D – Moreno Valley) would ensure that Black Californians and other underrepresented communities are able to alert authorities in a timely way regarding alleged violations of civil rights. This bill enhances the state’s civil rights enforcement capability and provides service and support to affected constituents.

Economic Justice and Worker Rights

Economic justice is still a pressing issue especially as Black Californians continue to face higher unemployment rates and economic disparities. Bradford’s SB-1177 ensures that minority-owned businesses, including Black-owned businesses, are prioritized for public utility contracts, helping to create more economic opportunities for Black entrepreneurs.

AB-1 by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) strengthens collective bargaining rights for workers in the California Legislature, protects Black employees, and ensures they are given equal opportunities to advocate for fair treatment and wages.

A Continued Fight for Equity

The 230 CLBC bills signed into law represent tangible progress in education, healthcare, housing, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform.

As the CLBC looks ahead to the next legislative session, Black Californians can expect continued advocacy on the issues that matter most to their communities, with a clear focus on equity, social justice, and economic empowerment.

By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Community Colleges’ ICanGoToCollege.com campaign has launched the second season of its EDUCATE. ELEVATE. podcast series, which focuses on promoting Black student enrollment and retention. Season 1 had over 60,000 listeners, and the new season aims to build on this success by featuring inspiring student stories and expert advice.

The first episode of the new season brings together former foster youth Kevion Louis-Hernandez, Mt. San Antonio College alum; and Junely Merwin, a NextUp Project Expert, with host Danny Morrison. The conversation explores the challenges foster youth face and highlights the transformative impact of community college programs like NextUp, which help students overcome obstacles to reach their higher education and career goals.

“This season continues our commitment to addressing barriers faced by Black students and increasing equitable access to higher education,” said Paige Marlatt Dorr, Director of Communications and Marketing for California Community Colleges.

EDUCATE. ELEVATE. is part of a broader initiative to reverse the significant enrollment declines experienced by Black students during the pandemic. Black student enrollment dropped by 25% system-wide between 2019 and 2022, but outreach efforts and support services have helped increase enrollment by nearly 15% over the last two years, bringing the total to almost 114,000 Black students in the 2023-24 academic year.

The podcast series features candid discussions on overcoming systemic barriers, educational resources, and strategies for student success. Season 2 offers a new visual style and will release episodes every two to three weeks through May 2025.

To listen to the podcast and learn more, visit the Black Student Success page at ICanGoToCollege.com.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

As Native Americans celebrated 100 years of citizenship and the right to vote at the State Capitol, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation declaring Native American Day and signed several bills aimed at pushing tribal priorities forward.

The package of bills, which includes policies to enhance laws for vulnerable Native American youth and increase access to social supports, was signed on Sept. 27, while hundreds of people attended the event commemorating the 57th annual California Native American Day.

“I’m proud of the progress California has made to reckon with the dark chapters of our past, and we’re committed to continuing this important work to promote equity, inclusion, and accountability for Native peoples,” Newsom stated. “As we celebrate the many tribal communities in California today, we recommit to working with tribal partners to better address their unique needs and strengthen California for all.”

Newsom signed seven tribal-related bills introduced by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), including Assembly Bill (AB) 2695, which helps California track trends in domestic violence and collect accurate information concerning violence in tribal lands.

AB 2695 will require the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to align its records and data with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to assist law enforcement agencies and other entities with identifying where incidents related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) are taking place.

In addition, the bill requires law enforcement to document whether domestic violence incidents took place in Indian Country.

Ramos is the first Native American elected to the California legislature and the chair of the California Legislative Native American Caucus (CLNAC).

“This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs,” stated Ramos, a member of the Serrano-Cahuilla tribe.  “That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases.”

According to Ramos’ office, “the National Institute of Justice 2016 report discovered that 84% of American Indian/Alaska Native women (1.5 million people) experience violence in their lifetimes, 67% feared for their own safety, and 41% had been physically harmed from physical violence by intimate partners, stalked, and sexually assaulted.

Underreporting, racial misclassification, bias, and lack of resources to follow through and properly close cases are also obstacles when working on MMIP cases. The DOJ will now have the assets to address those issues.

“For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office,” Attorney General Rob Bonta stated. “(AB 2695) will help all of us develop data-driven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens.”

As part of the CLNAC’s priority package, Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2795 authored by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Ramos is the co-author of the legislation.

AB 2795 lowers administrative barriers to CalWORKS and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) services at Indian health clinics in the state. Currently, the law authorizes California to fund clinics that provide substance abuse and mental health treatment services. Despite the law, reporting and reimbursement requirements have made the funds almost unreachable to these clinics.

“It is vital that we ensure members of tribal communities have equitable access to safety net programs when needed,” Arambula stated.

The day of the signing of the bills by CLNAC, Newsom proclaimed Native American Day, a decree that commemorates 100 years ago when Native Americans were conferred citizenship in the United States and the right to vote in California. Native Americans have dealt with generational hate and policies that resulted in the taking of their land and resources. Native American Day is a moment of reckoning, the proclamation declares.

“This important milestone is not without controversy – Congress’ act was in furtherance of assimilationist policy during a period marked by the forced removal of Native children from their families, the seizure and sale of Native lands, and prohibitions on languages Native people spoke since time immemorial,” the Newsom’s decree stated.

“This California Native American Day, I encourage all Californians to learn more about the ways California Native peoples throughout the state are cultivating a new generation of leaders and empowering their communities to build a sustainable future for all.”

Native American Day began in California in 1939, when Gov. Culbert Olson dedicated October 1 as “Indian Day.”

In 1968, California Tribal Leaders and Gov. Ronald Reagan rebranded the fourth Friday of September as “California Indian Day.” The celebration was renamed “Native American Day” in 2015 under the Jerry Brown Administration.

Facilitated by the Native American Heritage Commission and the California Tribal Chairperson Association, the 2024 version of the event attracted hundreds of people for a full day of activities. It was a great opportunity for all to celebrate the rich history, culture of California Tribes, and its first people.

To further the acknowledgment of California Native Americans, Newsom signed Ramos’ AB 1821, a bill that requires California public schools teach the history of the impact on California Native Americans during Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras.

Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instructions, co-sponsored AB 1821.

“This legislation will help ensure curriculum on California’s Spanish Mission and Gold Rush eras accurately captures the treatment and impact of Native Americans during these significant eras in state history,” Thurmond stated. “This initiative supports California’s diverse students to be seen, heard, and understood in their instructional materials, and to foster a deeper appreciation for our Native communities’ history and cultures.”

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

August marked the start of a new academic year as California’s K-12 students headed back to freshly decorated classrooms.

While some parents may welcome the fact that summer vacation has ended, not all parents can be certain their children are safe in our public and private schools. According to recent reports, many low-income families and their children may be exposed to dangerously unsafe water in public schools. This month, reports of high levels of lead in the historically Black neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles came to light by a local environmental group. No amount of classroom décor can mask the reality of poor water quality in children’s homes and schools.

That’s why it’s important for state and local lawmakers to address the underlying infrastructural gaps perpetuating the problem – like old water pipes, dams, and spillways – instead of pursuing ineffective solutions that often impose significant unintended consequences for low-income families, leaving them in the same situation they’ve faced for decades.

We believe that everyone has the right to clean water, clean air, and life in a clean, safe environment, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or income.

Environmental Justice is a key part of the California Black Health Network’s Health Equity Framework, and it is why we work to address the root causes of health inequities, sometimes referred to as Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). Research shows that SDoH contribute to 80% of health outcomes. So, improving access to a community’s basic needs, like clean water, can have a significant impact – not only on just health outcomes, but life expectancy as well.

Water quality and safety are nothing new in the Golden State. A decade after California declared access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water a human right, roughly one million California residents are still forced to rely on poor-quality water served by sub-standard water infrastructure systems. The state’s struggle is underscored by the fact that nearly 400 water systems are at risk of failing new, stringent testing requirements.

A 2020 CALPIRG Education Fund survey found that 53% of reporting school districts tested positive for lead in over 2,100 water fountains at 1,300 schools throughout the state. One school reported lead at 1,100 parts per billion (ppb) in one water fountain while another reported 2,000 ppb in a single classroom’s water fountain. These numbers far exceed the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of no more than 1 ppb of lead in water.

The problem goes beyond schools, putting even our youngest, and most vulnerable at risk. The lead present in the drinking water at nearly 1,700 licensed child care facilities across California also exceeds the amount allowable for infants and preschool-age children. A sample from one facility tested last year was found to contain a lead level of 290 ppb — 58 times the state limit.

Exposure to lead is dangerous and can impact kids’ ability to learn and grow. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), low levels of lead exposure in children “have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.” This is an unacceptable risk for our children while they’re at school and at home, but it’s an everyday reality for millions of low-income Californians across the state.

To effectively tackle water quality issues, increased funding for water infrastructure projects and less restrictive regulations on bottled water are essential. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal for a $130 million annual fund until 2030 underscores the state’s minimal commitment to improving water systems. However, this investment must be coupled with supportive regulatory frameworks that facilitate, rather than obstruct, access to alternative water sources like bottled water.

This balanced approach must also consider currently available tools for families to mitigate their risk. Ordinances prohibiting the sale of bottled water products, as proposed by multiple municipalities across California and implemented by others in the state, only reduce available supplies of safe drinking water for families at home or children at school. For low-income communities with compromised water quality, bottled water can provide a short-term alternative that is a necessity, not a luxury.

It should not go unnoticed that August also marked Water Quality Month, which highlights the importance of clean water to our “individual health, our collective agricultural needs, and the needs of our environment.”  The irony of children returning to schools with water contaminated by lead during a month recognizing the importance of clean water should not be lost on all any California lawmaker — nor should the irony of banning the very product that offers them a safe drinking option.

In communities and schools across the state, parents and teachers are raising and educating the next generation of Californians. They deserve no less than access to basic needs such as a clean drinking water supply — and it’s up to policymakers to ensure that this happens.

About the Author

Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network (CBHN).