Happily Divorced And After

By Edward Henderson ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The Supreme Court Ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade has opened the eyes of the public to how much representation matters when it comes to decision makers in courtrooms across America. This revelation has raised awareness on the local level as well.

On the November 8th General Election ballot will be two African American Women running for judgeships on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.

Holly Hancock is running for judge seat no. 70 and Melissa Lyons is running for judge seat 90. Both won their June primary races taking 47% and 35% of the vote respectively.

Hancock is a unique candidate for judge because she is a public defender with significant trial experience. A vast majority of individuals running for a judicial seat have been prosecutors.

“There has never been a public defender elected in Los Angeles County,” said Hancock. “Black, White, Male, Female, nothing. It says a lot about how the bench is very unbalanced. We are trying to balance the bench.”

In California, 9 out of 10 judges are appointed by the governor. For example, Gov. Newsom, just selected Pamela Dansby to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and she is a former public defender.

A graduate of Southwestern Law School, Hancock believes her 16 years of experience as a public defender gives her a unique perspective when it comes to making rulings. Because defense attorneys are always negotiating, they look for solutions instead of simply handing out harsh penalties and imposing high bail amounts. Hancock has represented homeless and mentally ill individuals and believes these things need to be in consideration when examining a case.

“The county did not have the resources to give the clients the kind of treatment that they needed in lieu of sending them to jail or prison. The prosecutors continued to file for jail and prison and continued to file these cases as if the person was perfectly sane. That was always a problem for me from the very beginning … Once I was in felonies and people were getting really long sentences, I just felt like there should be more and better discretion used.”

This will be Hancock’s second time running for a judge’s seat. She suffered a narrow defeat in 2018 and believes this time around the outcome will be different because she has gained the trust of the community through her grassroots campaign.

With the small number of Black judges in the Los Angeles Superior Court compared to the number of Black defendants in court, Hancock believes more qualified people need to see this route as a possibility.

“It’s 4% of black women on the bench and 3% of black men on the bench. That’s 7% total. I can safely say that it’s about 38% of black people in criminal courts in LA County. That’s a huge amount. We’re not talking about who’s behind the bench. It’s not the same look behind the bench than in front of the bench.”

Lyons offers the unique perspective of being an immigrant from Jamaica. Her family moved to the United States when she was 11 years old and settled in a small farming town in Iowa where they were the only black family. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and then attended Loyola University law school because of her desire to be a voice for others and to speak out where injustice and inequality exist.

“I’m an immigrant and I personally understand the generational impact a single decision can have,” Lyons said. “That’s the mindset I’m coming into my decision making with. There is no decision that’s too small. It might be the 3000th traffic ticket of the day but for that person that’s in front of me that traffic ticket can mean the difference between rather or not they eat. Those are things you have to think about, obviously while still operating within the law.”

Lyons has been a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney since 2006. She is currently in charge of juvenile prosecutions at the Superior Court’s Compton branch. She has completed more than 85 trials. She was assigned to the District Attorney’s Sex Crimes Division, including a two-year tenure at Stuart House, where she exclusively prosecuted sexual crimes against children.

Lyons understands the impact electing a Black woman a judge could have on fellow judges in the Superior Court. “I also think it is important behind the scenes in terms for judicial officers as well. People act different when other people are in the room. I think diversity on the bench is just as important for the public as it is for judicial officers because the more interaction you have with diverse people you get to learn things that you may not have had an opportunity to do before.”

Lyons believes that the greatest challenge her campaign has had to overcome has been bringing awareness to voters of how important voting for judgeship is and getting her name out there enough so people can make an informed decision. There are limitations on what stances candidates can take while campaigning, but Lyons does her best to leave a lasting impression when she attends events.

Hancock and Lyons hope to join Judge Carol Elswick in the Superior Court who retained her seat by receiving 68% of the vote during the June primary.

HOUSTON, CA — Starting in October, The Black Man Project will launch free group Therapy for Black Men to create a safe space for men to share openly, begin their wellness journey and build community. Over the past few years, The Black Man Project has toured the country, hosting conversations focused on the Black male experience in contemporary society, engaging more than 100 men in Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA, Tulsa, OK, and New York, NY. The upcoming Black Men Healing sessions will take place bi-weekly at The Black Man Project studio in Houston’s Third Ward community. For those interested in participating remotely from all parts of the country, there will also be free virtual sessions held. The first session will take place on October 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

“This series of events was inspired by my own story, growing up as a Black man, and also by the people I’ve captured over the years through the organization,” said Brian Ellison, Founder of The Black Man Project. Research shows that only one-in-three African Americans who need mental health care receive it. “We’ve spent years asking men to be vulnerable, and this is my way of supporting them during their healing journey. It’s my responsibility to provide tools once someone has opened the door to engage. We do a disservice to communities when we simply empower them; this is our work in action,” Ellison added.

Licensed Professional Counselor Femi Olukoya will guide the sessions, operating from his belief that every client deserves peace and freedom to be their authentic self. The series will kick off with an intro session focused on accountability, and thereafter, the session topics will include grief, father figure issues, trauma, coping skills, anger management, and sessions dealing with the inner child.

“We’re addressing issues that we commonly see within Black households, and we hope to normalize conversations like this taking place wherever we gather, beyond this space,” said Ellison.

According to Mental Health America, Black men are particularly conscious of stigma when seeking help from an expert such as a psychologist. For that reason, The Black Man Project offers year-round programming and events focused on health and wellness, such as a gardening session, in-school programming with youth, a podcast, and an upcoming wellness festival. The events are hosted by The Black Man Project and funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and the BIPOC Arts Network and Fund. Registration for the Black Man Healing sessions is open now at theblackmanproject.com.

ATLANTA, GA— The Power of Technology Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, is pleased to introduce the Inaugural Black Tech Gala taking place on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 8:00 pm EST at the Hyatt Regency Villa Christina – Atlanta Perimeter. This immersive formal black tie tech affair will feature an elegant night of live entertainment, dining, dancing, fundraising, and an awards ceremony for those who have initiatives supporting the black tech community.

In the US tech sector, 62% of careers are held by white Americans. Black Americans only hold 7% of tech careers, Latinx Americans hold 8%, and Asian Americans hold 20% according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The goal of this event is to help raise funding for scholarships, bring more awareness towards high-tech careers, and increase economic development for local and global underserved communities.

The high-tech sector has become a major source of economic growth fueling the U.S. economy. As an innovation industry, the high-tech sector has impacted how everyone communicates and access information, distribute products and services, and address critical societal problems. A major issue facing this high growth segment is the lack of representation of women and minorities in tech roles. Global tech pioneers and entrepreneurs Jamila Brown and Cameron Hairston founded the Power of Technology Foundation Inc to help address these critical issues. Brown and Hairston’s goal are to advise and educate the community while helping to increase the participation of women and minorities in the fast-growing field of technology.

“The statistics regarding women and minorities in tech are alarmingly low, and since technology is the future, it is more important than ever to get involved in these high paying careers,” says Brown. “Development of a high-tech workforce has long been a source of concern; it is a major growth sector that requires workers with specific skills. It is often believed that tech talent is in short supply among U.S. workers.” “This is proof that the time is right for women and minorities to increase their skills and seek out quality technology training and personal development”, says Hairston.

The Black Tech Gala is the leading fundraiser for the Power of Technology Foundation and all contributions are 100% tax deductible. Limited tickets, sponsorships and tables are available for corporations, small businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, and local communities by visiting www.blacktechgala.com.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

The COVID-19 virus was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. To date, over 90 million cases have been recorded and more than 1 million Americans have died from the disease. After more than two years, COVID-19 doesn’t look like it’s going away.

President Joe Biden’s positive test last month for the disease illustrates that COVID-19’s transmissibility is an ongoing and persistent problem.

Biden, who was treated with the antiviral drug Paxlovid, isolated himself for 5 days and returned to work after testing negative. Then, a few days later, he tested positive again and went back into isolation until he tested negative about a week ago.

Because the President is vaccinated, he suffered mild symptoms. However, the rebound positivity he’s experienced shows more needs to be done to eliminate coronavirus.

While vaccines and past infections have enabled the U.S. population to develop what is described as substantial COVID-19 immunity and those who get sick have a number of effective treatments options, cases of people being infected with new mutations of COVID-19 continue to be reported.

Dr. Ben Neuman, professor of Biology and chief virologist of the Global Health Research Complex, Texas A&M University, has studied the coronavirus and found that it’s constantly changing. That is a major reason people continue to be infected with the disease, he says.

During a recent Ethnic Media Services COVID-19 panel discussion with other medical scientists and researchers, Neuman said that people vaccinated against previous variations of the virus are not fully protected against the new variations. According to him, immunity to the current versions of the virus depends on how recently someone had been vaccinated.

“We are still vaccinating against the 2019 virus, and it is now late 2022. We have a problem……This is a virus that will continue changing,” he said.

Infections caused by Omicron sub variants have been reported to be not as dangerous as ones caused by earlier coronavirus strains, but they appear to be more transmissible.

If Neuman’s predictions are correct, by the time a vaccine is developed to fight the BA.5 subvariant, which is currently responsible for 85.5 % of infections in the US, there will already be a new subvariant spreading the disease.

Neuman added that it is still important to protect yourself with masks and by washing your hands. While he has been vaccinated, he recently tested positive for the coronavirus while after being on an airline and failing to adhere to proper masking protocol.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, who specializes in treating infectious diseases, stressed the importance of continuing to follow preventative measures when he spoke during the panel discussion.

Chin-Hong pointed out that one problem with implementing a mask mandate is political will. He cited the example of Los Angeles County, which recently considered reintroducing a mask mandate because of rising infection numbers, but cancelled implementation when cases declined. Had the mandate been
imposed, the County sheriff said they would not enforce it which would have been problematic.

Unfortunately, the mask issue has become a political problem and few politicians want to take it on and risk the wrath of voters.

Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville discussed how prevalent the disease is and how strict adherence to preventative measures does not assure protection against mutations of the coronavirus.

Schaffner and his wife tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and were treated with Paxlovid and, unlike Biden, they did not experience a rebound occurrence of the virus.

Chin-Hong said the pandemic will eventually end. But that will only happen when we create the conditions where there are no new host bodies to develop variations of the coronavirus.

Currently, about 400 people are dying every day from COVID-19. That averages out to more than 100,000 deaths every year.

“Right now, we have too many deaths,” he said. “We shouldn’t accept that.”

Chin-Hong also predicted that in the future we might see an annual COVID-19 shot to ward off the disease.

Schaffner agreed and said that we should learn to manage the disease with vaccinations, medications and preventive measures.

“COVID will be with us for the foreseeable future,” he said.

REDLANDS, CA— “I have been asked many times, how and why did The Salvation Army start ringing those silver bells during the Christmas season to encourage donations,” said Major Isaias Braga, Commander of The Salvation Army of San Bernardino. “Well, this is how it all began…

Captain Joseph McFee, serving with the San Francisco Salvation Army Corps in 1891, wanted to serve Christmas dinner to the poor in his neighborhood. But he didn’t have money to do so.

As a sailor in Liverpool, England, Captain McFee saw people on the docks throw money into a large kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” to help the poor. He decided this might work in California too.

Captain McFee set up a kettle at the Oakland Ferry Landing, which operated a ferry that was, in those days, the only way across San Francisco Bay. He put a sign on the kettle saying, “Keep the Pot Boiling” and raised enough money to serve the Christmas dinner.

His idea spread quickly, and by 1897 Salvation Army Corps nationwide were collecting money in kettles to serve the needy in their communities. Among the Salvation Army Corps collecting money this way before the turn of the 20th Century was The Salvation Army of San Bernardino, which was formed in 1887.

Lynn Valbuena, Chair of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, is the keynote speaker at this year’s Red Kettle Kick-Off event for The Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle 2022 Christmas campaign on Thursday, November 17^th at 5:30 PM.

Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. For local information call (909) 792-6868.  Donors may drop off turkeys, hams other food, cash or gift cards at the Salvation Army’s Corps Office at 838 Alta Street, Redlands California 92373

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church and offers holistic programs for individuals of all. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world.

The Salvation Army has served San Bernardino since 1887, and Redlands since 1885, supporting those in need without discrimination.  They serve the cities of: San Bernardino, Redlands, Highlands, Rialto, Loma Linda, Colton, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Bloomington, Mentone, Grand Terrace, Muscoy, and the mountain communities.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, the Board of Education presented the Outstanding Achievement Awards to students, parents, and staff at Cajon High School, Holcomb Elementary School, the Kendall-Harmon School complex, and Shandin Hills Middle School.

The Board recognizes Outstanding Student Award winners to build self-esteem and honor excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts, citizenship, and most improvement. The Board also presents the Outstanding Parent/Grandparent/Volunteer Award and Outstanding Employee Award to individuals who embody the district’s dedication to student achievement and well-being.

The September 20 Board meeting marked the first time since the COVID pandemic that the awards have been presented in person.

Cajon High School, Principal Teenya Bishop:
Zoe Campbell is a senior and Outstanding Student. Zoe takes so much pride in her work and always gives her best. In addition to her academic excellence, she has the most amazing personality! She is loved by the Cajon staff, and her peers look up to her. Zoe aspires to create and produce films. She plans to attend NYU, Spelman College, or Clark Atlanta University.

Jorge Ramos is a junior and Outstanding Student. In his time at Cajon, Jorge has made his mark as an award-winning member of two academic teams. He has ranked nationally in Speech & Debate since his freshman year and was named Outstanding Delegate his first year in Model UN. He’s clearly on his way to being a future leader in San Bernardino.

Outstanding Parent Award winner Micaela Escobar has been an active parent and advocate for her own child and all Cajon children, particularly in ensuring students have access to rigorous courses and the social emotional support they need to persevere and do well in those courses. Whenever Micaela sees a need, she works to develop solutions to make Cajon better.

Secretary I Tanisha Slaughter is an Outstanding Classified Employee. Tanisha’s commitment to Cajon is untouchable. When she sees a need, she is always willing to fill in the gap. She is resourceful, customer friendly, solution oriented, and adaptable. Throughout her career, she has served in different capacities, and she uses her skills to enhance the overall school program.

Outstanding Certificated Employee Roger Light develops student leaders through his rigorous auto shop program, building their skills and knowledge to run an auto repair shop for staff. Roger’s program is set to receive Silver Certification through the Linked Learning Alliance this winter, and one member of the certification team stated Roger’s auto shop is one of the best he has seen in the nation.

Holcomb Elementary School, Principal Eva Haddad:
Connor Leedom is a 1st-grader and Outstanding Student. Connor works hard and shows empathy for others both in and out of the classroom. He is always willing to patiently help those who need support, once again demonstrating kindness to others. Connor’s academics are so strong in all areas that the Holcomb team believes he can and will achieve any goal he sets for his future.

Shawn McKenzie is a 4th-grader and Outstanding Student. Shawn is a caring and kind scholar, always willing to help his teacher and classmates without being asked. He gives 100% every day and actively participates in classroom discussions. Shawn’s dream is to become an astronaut, but if that doesn’t work out, he wants to be a fireman or a police officer.

Outstanding Parent Award winner Elaheh Karimi is an active member of Holcomb’s English Language Advisory Committee. She participates and shares ideas. Staff can always count on her for support. She is a very actively engaged parent and participates in all parent events, family nights, parent workshops, and more. Elaheh is a vital member of the Holcomb team.

Secretary II Patricia “Patty” Quinonez is an Outstanding Classified Employee. Patty has a positive attitude toward her work and comes in with a smile every morning. She has a strong sense of professionalism and provides excellent customer service. She has helped create positive and lasting relationships with the Holcomb community and is a mentor and role model. Holcomb is a better place because of Patty.

Program Facilitator and International Baccalaureate Coordinator Krista Bjur is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. She is committed to always doing what is best for the Holcomb community whether she is serving as admin designee, collaborating with teachers, working with students, or any of her many assignments. She puts her heart into everything, and Holcomb is better for it.

Kendall-Harmon School complex, Principal Megan Silva:
Pre-kindergartener Kairen Brown is an Outstanding Student. Kairen is being honored for his citizenship, academics and for most improvement. He loves books and is always ready to learn something new! He takes great joy in the results of his efforts. Kairen may become a professor or scientist when he is older.

Airie Kaya Phomello is a transitional kindergartener and Outstanding Student. Airie is becoming more independent and self-sufficient. She is able to follow routines and directions and wait patiently. Airie’s communication skills have also improved significantly. Airie likes to be the teacher in class and takes the lead at circle time. It’s safe to assume she’s a future teacher.

Fifth-grader Emily Soria is an Outstanding Student. Emily is always on task and volunteers during class. She assists her classmates, even volunteering to help them at home to catch up on missing assignments. She is reading above grade level and understands all the math concepts so far. Emily would like to be an artist and attend California State University, San Bernardino.

Charles Michael Sullivan is a 5th-grader and an Outstanding Student. Charles has great hospitality skills. He has a wonderful personality, a warm smile, and is a great classroom helper. He is helpful and willing to assist all of his classmates. Charles loves pretending to be a fast food worker, so he may own his own fast food restaurant or become a fast food manager.

Eddy Garcia is the Outstanding Parent Award winner for Kendall and Harmon. Eddy is a dedicated parent and member of the Harmon School Site Council/Leadership Team. He has represented Harmon on a few District-level task force groups. His input, knowledge, and overall commitment to supporting Harmon are valued assets to the school community.

Outstanding Grandparent Janice Wall is an active member of the Kendall-Harmon community. She serves on the School Site Council and is a member of the African American Parent Advisory Committee. We admire and appreciate her commitment to Kendall and Harmon and her input, as well as her commitment to her grandchildren.

Recreation Aide Yvette Carranza is an Outstanding Classified Employee. She volunteers to provide support wherever it is needed. She assists teachers with setting up classrooms and the librarian assistant with inventorying District-issued devices. Yvette has worked collaboratively with the community to ensure the school supports families in need during the holiday season.

Randie Zamudio is an Education Assistant III–Severe Impairment and an Outstanding Classified Employee. Randie is a true team player and goes above and beyond to support her Harmon team, as well as the needs of her Kendall colleagues. When called upon to provide support with any task or event, she never hesitates and always puts in 100% effort and pride.

First-grade Inclusion Teacher Catherine Cowles is an Outstanding Certificated Employee. She has a positive passion for helping students and goes above and beyond to embody Kendall and Harmon’s vision of providing a safe, productive, and innovative learning environment for all students. Catherine takes the time to learn what each scholar needs and makes it happen.

Cecilia Quintero is a SH/SDC Special Education Preschool Teacher and an Outstanding Certificated Employee. Her positive passion drives her instruction. She celebrates her scholars’ achievements every day, and her enthusiasm is evident as soon as you enter her learning environment. Cecilia establishes positive home-school connections and families to take an active role in their scholar’s education.

Shandin Hills Middle School, Principal Victoria Flores:
Eighth-grader Bradley McGee is an Outstanding Student and the sunshine of Shandin Hills. He is always happy, respectful, caring and has a zest for life. Bradley is an exceptional individual, so it is no surprise he is being honored for his citizenship and congenial nature. For a long time, Bradley wanted to be a YouTuber, but now he is considering other options.

Ellie Negrete is a 7th-grader and an Outstanding Student. Ellie has a strong work ethic, incredible grit, and a drive to improve. She is a student athlete, and after she completes her school work, she puts that same grit and determination into her athletic journey. Ellie has a twin with exceptional needs. This drives Ellie to want to be either a special education teacher or a therapist.

Tiffanie Guinane is an Outstanding Community Member. Tiffanie is without a doubt the most encouraging individual one will ever meet. She is friendly and brings out the best in everyone she comes into contact with. She encourages not only her own child but all the students at Shandin Hills. She does not allow anyone to walk past without giving them a greeting, a hug, a word of encouragement or sound advice, and always with a huge smile. Everyone needs a Tiffanie in their life.

Secretary Debbie Turley is an Outstanding Employee and the mama Trojan. She knows what everyone needs and is always one step ahead of the game. She is quick to get her hands dirty or just lend an ear when someone needs help. Without Debbie in the front office, things would just not run as smoothly. Debbie always puts the community first.

Anel Ortega is a Counselor and Outstanding Certificated Employee. She understands the needs of the students and works tirelessly to meet their needs and the needs of the families she works with. Anel is a problem solver and a team player. She is committed to her job as a counselor and works diligently to make a difference in the lives of others.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Board of Education of the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) presented the inaugural Outstanding Community Partner Award to Loma Linda University Health for its longstanding support of the district’s 46,000 students.

Loma Linda was honored on Tuesday, September 20 during the Board of Education meeting. Dr. J.C. Belliard, representing Loma Linda University Health, received the award, a custom, mahogany plaque made by students in the Bing Wong Elementary School iSTEAM Lab.

Loma Linda’s steadfast support touches all corners of SBCUSD. Doctors and medical students have provided training for hundreds of SBCUSD students. And at least one of those students used the knowledge she gained from Loma Linda’s training to save the life of a loved one who was having a medical emergency.

Loma Linda also supports our families through free immunization clinics and food pantries. And this past weekend, Loma Linda University Health kicked off a new effort to get young people and families more involved in outdoor recreational activities.

“Partners like Loma Linda University Health are invaluable because they help us better serve families and students,” said Ginger Ontiveros, the District’s Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer. “We are grateful to have them in our corner.”

Loma Linda University Health has also worked closely with students in the Indian Springs High School’s Academy of Manufacturing and Product Development Design pathway to help students gain experience in designing and making prosthetic limbs.

SBCUSD launched the Outstanding Community Partner Award as a way to recognize the contributions of its many educational partners. The award will be presented monthly to a deserving organization.

Nationwide — Meet Sam Ayeni, founder and CEO of Afrikare Life, a Black-owned company that has developed an easy life insurance platform and other financial solutions to help working-class people of African descent and other people of color in America.

Mr. Ayeni, with his founding partners, Maureen Marcus and Andrew Fyneboy, are celebrating the launch of their new interactive modern technology for life insurance quotes and applications. The company started with the vision to uplift individuals, families, and tribes living in America from financial captivity and help them escape generational poverty. Afrikare Life aims to achieve this vision by caring for its clients through practical financial education and offering personalized and affordable financial products, including tailored life insurance plans.

“Utilizing interactive modern technology for ease and access, we are dedicated to ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to financial security,” said Ayeni.

There is a misconception among people of color that life insurance is expensive, unaffordable, and only makes caucasian agents rich. However, AfriKare Life is changing that wrong perception! For example, a 42-year-old with average health can get $300,000 worth of coverage starting at $85 per month with one of their premium A++ prestigious carriers.

One of the reasons why some people of color shy away from buying life insurance is because they feel pressured and hounded by agents who are just in the market to make a commission. Through engaging modern technology, prospects can easily run their own quotes from the comfort of their home on any device, without talking with any agents. In some instances, the entire application can be completed with ease. There is a wrong perception that life insurance is expensive and also robs people of color of creating generational wealth. While their caucasian counterparts are using life insurance products and other financial products to create generational wealth for their unborn children, people of color shy away due to a lack of knowledge and neglect these opportunities that are opened to all when it comes to building generational wealth.

Regardless of the income range, with just one hour of paycheck per week, AfriKare Life agents can customize life insurance that meets any family’s financial needs and budget. The ultimate goal of AfriKare Life is to terminate the cycle of generational poverty among people of color and uplift the next generations into wealth creation and prosperity.

With years of experience in the life insurance industry, AfriKare Life is uniquely positioned to provide its clients with the best life insurance plans and financial services available. The CEO of AfriKare Life has a unique ability to understand and connect with his clients, which he has developed through his previous career as an Army combat veteran.

“My military experience taught me that I needed to be flexible and adaptable when working with different individuals. My goal is to apply that same principle to the business world,” said Mr. Ayeni.

During his years serving in the military, Ayeni lost a few friends in combat, and since all of them had life insurance plans, their families were financially taken care of afterward. This led him to the idea of doing something for the Africans who come to the U.S in hopes of building a better future but don’t earn enough to save for bad times.

Much more than traditional life insurance, AfriKare Life offers multiple financial services products for different financial situations and income, that include Premium Financing. People of color generally use leverage, that is borrowing from banks to buy a house or car, or even finance an education but very few are aware that they can use leverage for Life Insurance, especially for retirement planning purposes.

Mr. Ayeni comments, “The best part with the premium financing product we offer is that there is no credit check, no loan documents, no personal guarantees, and no interest payments. The policy secures the loan, providing our clients with the potential for an additional 60-100% more for their retirements without the typical risks associated with leverage.”

“Through Afrikare Life, we aim to equip all our fellow Africans and people of color in America with the knowledge and tools to ensure their families are safe from financial struggles should anything happen to them,” he adds.

To know more about Afrikare Life or to procure their services, contact them at 877-560-2099 or visit their official website at AfrikareLife.com.

NATIONWIDE — Stacey Woodson, a registered dietitian, food activist, and HBCU graduate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has partnered with her 10-year-old daughter, Paige, to write and release Grow. Eat. Repeat. A Love Letter to Black-Eyed Peas, a beautiful children’s book that centers on the beauty of Black culture by displaying the intimate relationship between generations of family, Black history and their garden. An educational and inspiring read that is sure to evoke appreciation for growing your own food.

The new book aims to illustrate the beauty and value of growing your own food – especially black-eyed peas. Written to nourish the mind, body and soul by exploring nutrition, science, family, and Black history while artfully highlighting the special bond between daughters, their mothers and their gardens.

Grow. Eat. Repeat. A Love Letter to Black-Eyed Peas combines whimsical alliteration while celebrating diversity, and the multigenerational tradition of growing food. This heartwarming story is the perfect addition to any library or classroom as it entertains and inspires young readers to have a deeper appreciation for the many gifts provided by Mother Earth.

Stacey is a registered dietitian that believes all people should have access to nourishing foods and culturally sensitive nutrition education. She is also is a proud graduate of Hampton University. She also earned her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University.

Stacey and Paige enjoy gardening, yoga, and frolicking in nature. The new book caters to readers that grow or wish to grow their food and those interested in nutrition. “We will never have to worry about going hungry as long as we grow our own food,” says Stacey.

For more information and/or to purchase the book, visit her official web site at StaceyWoodson.com/books.

By McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

Clint Thompson, a Santa Monica resident in his 30s, wouldn’t say he has been inundated with advertisements supporting or denigrating Propositions 26 and 27, but he sees an ad focused on one of the legislations each time he turns on his television.

“I usually watch the news during the day — NBC — and on NBC, Prop 26 or Prop 27 comes on every other commercial break per show,” said Thompson, an actor, who admitted he hasn’t researched the sports gambling propositions. “Both of the props seem to have good things with them. The commercials seem to have reasons why you should say ‘yes,’ or ‘no.’”

Prop 26 would legalize roulette, dice games, and sports betting on Native American tribal lands if approved by voters in the Nov. 8 election. It is backed by over 50 state Native American tribes.

Prop 27, supported by sports books DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, PENN Entertainment, and WynnBet, would give those sports betting companies the reins in sports gambling in the Golden State and allow online gambling.

If people like Thompson feel the advertisements from the campaigns for and against the propositions seem to be flooding the television and radio airwaves — and to be ever-present on social media (Watched a YouTube video lately?) — they might be right.

The dueling propositions have raised a combined $400 million for advertising leading up to Election Day this November. That has led to ads backing and slamming the two propositions to be front and center in all forms of media Californians consume.

Dinah Bachrach of the Racial Justice Allies of Sonoma County, a group supporting Prop 26, said the proliferation of ads supporting Prop 27 is concerning.

“They are all over the place,” Bachrach said. “Gambling is already a pretty big business, but to be able to do sports gambling online is dangerous because it hurts what tribal casinos have been able to do for their communities in the state.”

According to Bachrach, Prop 26 protects the sovereignty of native tribes. “It’s a really important racial justice issue,” she said. “Indian casinos provide a tremendous amount of financial support for the casino tribes and the non-casino tribes, and they contribute a lot locally and to the state.”

Bachrach’s organization is one of several civil rights or African American organizations that have thrown its support behind Prop 26.

Santa Clarita NAACP spokesperson Nati Braunstein said in an email, “The NAACP supports Prop 26, which would legalize retail sports betting at California tribal casinos only and opposes Prop 27 which would allow online sports betting via mobile sportsbooks.”

Kathy Fairbanks, speaking for the Yes on 26/No on 27 coalition, composed of California Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and other partners, said winning the approval of every potential voter, including Black Californians, is their goal.

Yes on 27 – Californians for Solutions to Homelessness, the campaign arm of Prop 27 backers, had not returned California Black Media’s requests for comment for this story as of press time. Prop 27 proponents say in ads and the Yes on 27 website repeats that the initiative would help solve California’s homelessness crisis.

Prop 27 imposes a 10 % tax on adjusted gross gaming revenue. Eighty-five percent of the taxes go toward fighting California’s homeless and mental health challenges. Non-gaming tribes get the remaining 15% of tax revenue.

Organizations such as Bay Area Community Services, Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness, San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, and individuals including Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Bay Area Community Services CEO Jamie Almanza, and Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians Chairman Jose “Moke” Simon are listed as Prop 27 supporters on the Yes on 27 website.

On the campaign’s Facebook page, commenter Brandon Gran wrote under an advertisement photo that voting for Prop 27 was a “no brainer.”
“People are already gambling using offshore accounts,” he typed. “Why not allow CA to get a piece of the pie … money that will (hopefully) go to good use.”

However, a statewide survey by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), conducted between Sept. 2 and 11 and released on Sept. 15, revealed that 54 % of California voters would vote “no” for Prop 27, while 34 % would vote “yes.” Twelve percent of the respondents were “unsure.”

The survey’s authors wrote that a strong majority of Republicans wouldn’t vote for the proposition, compared to half of Democrats and independents.

“Regionally, majorities in the Inland Empire, Orange/San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area would vote ‘no,’ while likely voters in the Central Valley and Los Angeles are divided,” they wrote. “At least half across most demographic groups would vote ‘no.’ Likely voters age 18 to 44 (52%) and renters (51%) are the only two demographic groups with a slim majority voting ‘yes.’”

The survey, titled “PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government,” did not ask participants about Prop 26. The Yes on 26/No on 27 coalition, said in a news release that the PPIC’s research confirmed what Prop 26 supporters have said for some time.
“Despite raising more than $160 million for a deceptive advertising campaign, California voters are clearly not buying what the out-of-state online gambling corporations behind Prop 27 are selling,” the statement read.