Happily Divorced And After

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

Guaranteed basic income isn’t a new idea. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr talked about the idea of low-income people receiving regular checks from the government in the 1960s. It was brought up again during the 2020 presidential campaign when Democratic candidate Andrew Yang, a technology entrepreneur, made it a major part of his platform.

However, Yang was advocating for Universal Basic Income (UBI), which guarantees payments to everyone.

Guaranteed basic income only targets low-income people.

According to Yang, some kind of guaranteed basic income program is going to be necessary for the future when technology makes many jobs obsolete. A 2020 World Economic Forum study predicted that technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics would eliminate 85 million jobs by 2025. However, guaranteed basic income programs are gaining steam across California as poverty alleviation. Several cities are carrying out pilot programs.

Los Angeles County is conducting a guaranteed basic income pilot program called Breathe. The program provides $1,000 to 1,000 LA County residents over a three-year period. The program will be evaluated by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Guaranteed Income Research.

Breathe is overseen by the county’s Poverty Alleviation Initiative. 180,000 residents applied to take part in the program. On a single day during the that process, 95,000 people submitted applications, according to a county press release.

To qualify for Breathe funds, the applicants had to be at least 18 years old, have a single-person household income under $56,000 or $96,000 for a family of four, and have experienced negative impacts due to COVID-19.

One motivation behind the Breathe program was the COVID-19 pandemic, which laid bare the problems of poverty and income inequality.

“The course of this pandemic has revealed the large number of County residents who are living on the brink of the financial crisis, with insufficient savings to weather a job loss, a medical emergency, or a major car repair. This guaranteed income program will help give residents the breathing room they need to better weather those crises,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

Other guaranteed basic income programs are being pilot-tested in California.

Miracle Messages, an outreach program for the unhoused in San Francisco, started to pilot test a program called Miracle Money last year. Miracle Money provided $500 to homeless people. And the initial program seemed to be a success. According to Miracle Messages, about 50% of the people in the test group were able to find housing after they received the cash payments. Miracle Money was funded by a GoFundMe campaign.

Oakland Resilient Families is a Bay Area program that provides a $500 grant to families for 18 months. The program stresses it is different from universal basic income. “Guaranteed income is meant to provide an income floor but not meant to be a replacement for wages. Guaranteed income can also be targeted to those who need it most,” according to the organization’s website. Oakland Resilient Families is funded by donations.

Mountain View, another Bay Area city is setting up a new guaranteed basic income pilot program called Elevate MV. The pilot program promises to give, for two years, $500 a month to 166 low-income families with at least one child or who are currently pregnant. Elevate MV is operated through the Community Services Agency, a non-profit organization.

In San Diego County a guaranteed income pilot program was launched in March 2020. One hundred and fifty households with young children residing in one of the four priority ZIP codes in the county – Encanto, Paradise Hills, National City and San Ysidro — are receiving $500 a month for two years. The $2.9 million program is run by Jewish Family Service of San Diego with funding from Alliance Healthcare Foundation and from the state’s budget surplus.

These programs, including LA County’s Breathe program, are modeled after a universal basic income program that was tested in the city of Stockton. The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) provided $500 to 125 low-income residents for 24 months.

And the research showed that the SEED program worked, according to a National Public Radio (NPR) article.

“Among the key findings outlined in a 25-page white paper are that the unconditional cash reduced the month-to-month income fluctuations that households face, increased recipients’ full-time employment by 12 percentage points, and decreased their measurable feelings of anxiety and depression, compared with their control-group counterparts,” said NPR.

As Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs launched the SEED program in 2019. Following the promising results of the pilot program, in 2020 Tubbs launched Mayors for Guaranteed Income, a coalition of 60 mayors who are advocating for a guaranteed income program to ensure that all Americans have an income floor.

Tubbs lost his bid for re-election in 2020 and is now an adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom who is a proponent of guaranteed income.

By Lou Yeboah

You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. [Acts 7:51]. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [Matthew 11:20-24]. What willful ignorance! You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? [Matthew 23:33] … “where the fire never goes out; where the worms do not die, and where you will be tormented with burning sulfur and the smoke of your torment will rise forever and ever.” [Mark 9:43-48]. Avoid hell at all costs you stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears. For I am shaking all that can be shaken. And what is still to come is too dreadful to think about. Wake up! It is past midnight, and My coming has drawn near. Stir yourself and don’t be slothful. Your salvation is nearer now than when you first believed. [Romans 13:11-12].

Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of your God, ye people of Gomorrah [Isaiah 1:10]. The present world as you watch is undergoing shakings. Governments who were previously unmovable are trembling. Kings and Rulers who were untouchable in the past are being removed from their glorious palaces. It’s time to read the signs of the time and check the historical map. For I am not slow in keeping My promise, as some understand slowness. I am patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Therefore, “look carefully how you walk”, “use wisdom in redeeming the time, and “understand what My will is” [Ephesians 5: 15-17].

Because Hell is populated with people that meant well. They may have heard of God and intended to get their lives right with Him, and then suddenly came a time when they needed to know Him, and it was too late. Like the five foolish virgins who made a big mistake thinking there would be another opportunity when the time came. Do not make the same error. The bridegroom will come at a time you are not expecting Him [Matthew 24:44]. Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” [Matthew 25:1-13].

“Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement, than for that city. [Matthews 10:14-15; Luke 10:11-12].

“And the door was shut.”

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc. (CALBCCF) is offering “game-changing opportunities” for mini micro, micro, and small business proprietors of the state at the Economic Business and Roundtable Statewide Summit 2022.

Under the theme, “Pitch Your Business,” the summit is scheduled to be held in Sacramento on Friday, Sept. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade.

Jay King, the president and Chief Executive Office of CALBCC, said the Economic Summit provides a different outlook and “a bold new journey into the ecosystem of business and how it’s effectively done.”

Startups or established businesses attending the summit will be able to present their services to potential clients on the spot or set up a bidding process in the near future. Interested individuals will be able to explore employment opportunities at the two-day event.

“This is not the same format that it has been in the past,” King told California Black Media. “We’ve been working with California Transportation (Caltrans) and DGS (California Department of General Services), to identify contracts that smaller firms can bid for and win if not at the summit days afterward. We will have workshops but all of them are interactive.”

A workshop on how to pitch a bid will be held on the first day of the summit. The pitch presentation is scheduled to be done in front of a panel of corporate judges with the hope of winning investment capital.

The next day, the participants will pitch their business concept with a chance to land $50,000 in capital. Two second-place winners will receive $25,000 each, and 10 functional businesses each have a chance at $10,000 in cash prizes.

“We are only awarding businesses in the state that have done all the hard work. It’s difficult running a small business,” King said. “Because small businesses are macro (a business that makes less than $100,000 per year) or mini macro (less than $35,000 per year), especially in the Black sector, it’s extremely difficult. About 96% of the African American businesses fit that description.”

The Economic Summit will feature Black chambers of commerce from across the state, including operations from Los Angeles, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego.

Wells Fargo, Lyft, UC Davis Health, the city of Sacramento, the Department of General Services, and the Black Small Business Association are Economic Summit sponsors.

The Economic Summit was created to bring “change makers” together with minority-owned businesses with a mission to create meaningful economic opportunities to increase spending with small businesses and strengthen the conversation of small business diversity, equity, and inclusion, King said.

The Summit is also set up to assist interested homebuyers. King said attendees will have a chance to see if they qualify for a home loan.

The summit will feature guest speakers Chris Horton, National Black Entrepreneur Project, Ann Tompkins, Director of Professional Services at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis); and Mike Condrin, Chief Operation Officer at UC Davis.

The California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc. was created as a public charity dedicated to education, training, community growth, and youth entrepreneurial development. Its mission starts with educating local and state-wide communities about the importance of financial literacy.

“We believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” King said. “We are not excluding any business sector, racial groups, or White, Asian, Latinos business chambers. We know that they have the same challenges. We (CALBCC) are putting on display (an Economic Summit) that we would like to see from other chambers and entities across the state when we talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion. This means everybody to us.”

For more information about the Economic Business Summit, registration, and hotel accommodations, contact Angela Lowe of the California Black Chamber of Commerce at (916) 467-8878 or visit cbcc@calbcc.org.

NATIONWIDE — At the age of 12, Elijah Muhammad has become a freshman at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) making history as the youngest Black college student in the entire state of Oklahoma.

Elijah, who is being homeschooled as a high school senior, is simultaneously majoring in cyber security at OCCC. He is currently enrolled in 3 classes including Computer Technology, Computer Hardware, and Computer Operating Systems.

Elijah recalled his classmates’ reactions when he first met them in class. “A bunch of them were like, ‘how old are you?’” he told KFOR News. “Once I told them my age, they all got surprised.”
Coming from a family of achievers, Elijah’s accomplishment did not come as a complete shock. His older sister, Shania Muhammad, made history just last May as the youngest person ever to graduate from both OCCC and Langston University at the age of 14.

Their father, Elijah Muhammad Sr., said the siblings always have healthy competition amongst them.

“When he sees her accomplish certain things, he’s like I’m up next and I can do it,” said Elijah Sr. “We are the cheering section for our scholars.”

However, Elijah acknowledges that despite them being competitive with each other, his older sister is a big help to him.

“We have a bunch of competitiveness. But she really helps me out with a lot of my studying,” said Elijah, who is on track to surpass his sister’s record of the youngest to graduate in the state.

Aside from being a historic outstanding student, Elijah is also a three-time state champion wrestler and an entrepreneur with his own clothing line called Smart Boy.

The Adrienne Dell & Carmen Roberts Foundation brings Mardi Gras to Riverside with its annual Jazz on the Rooftop Fundraiser

RIVERSIDE, CA—-“Oh, those Mardi Gras Nights!”, that’s the theme for this year’s 4th Annual Jazz on the Rooftop fundraising event hosted by the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation (ADCR). The annual event will take place on Friday, October 21, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Riverside City Hall’s Rooftop located at 3900 Main Street in Riverside.

The entertainment for this year will be Lorie V. Moore and friends, and as usual there will be food and dancing throughout the night. Due to limited seating, attendees are encouraged to get their tickets as early as possible.

Please come dress to impress with your favorite mask. There will be a prize for the best mask. Tickets on sale now and may be purchased at www.adcrfoundation.org.

ABOUT JAZZ ON THE ROOFTOP

Jazz on the Rooftop is an annual fundraiser with the goal of raising funds for the Foundation’s community efforts, which include: the Riverside Black History Parade & Expo, the Young Women’s Empowerment conference, and the Backpack Giveaway for school age students.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

On November 8, San Bernardino County voters will be presented with a choice on their ballot — leave the state of California and create the 51st state or remain the largest county in the nation.

A consortium in San Bernardino is the latest group of people proposing to alter the boundaries of the state of California. The group wants the county to secede from California and create a 51st state that would be called Empire.

According to real estate developer Jeff Burum, a member of the group, San Bernardino County is not getting its fair share from the state of California. The movement is supported by some local mayors such as Acquanetta Warren, mayor of Fontana, and Bill Velto, mayor of Upland.

“We cannot continue to beg, and crawl … to get resources for our county… Let’s step out and be bold about it and let the people decide what they want to do.” Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren told the San Bernadino Board of Supervisors.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said, “I’m frustrated, too. I’m frustrated with the state of California. It’s becoming, more and more, ‘one size fits all’ for the greatest state in the nation.”

Burum claimed the move has “overwhelming” support. But he is basing his assessment on a survey of 400 San Bernardino County residents by Wallin Opinion Research.

There are more than 2.1 million people living in the county. San Bernardino is the fifth-most populous county in California and the largest in the nation by area. Geographically, it is larger than Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island combined.

The issue was first brought up at a meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. And it has continued to be discussed at Board of Supervisors’ meetings over the past few months.

While Board Chair Hagman supports the move, Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., said he disagrees with the effort.

During public comment at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Jane Hunt-Ruble, a San Bernardino County resident, said she opposed the move. But she said it would be popular with people who held anti-government feelings.

“It’s never going to happen,” she said.

A group of Inland Empire-area legislators blasted the move in a joint letter.

“We are shocked with the reasoning behind this initiative, concerned about the cost to taxpayers to essentially ask local officials to do their jobs, and disappointed in the narrative being created regarding our community,” according to a letter signed by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton,) State Sen. Connie Leyva (D-Chino,) and Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona.)

The Inland Empire legislators also pointed out that in 2020, one-third of the county’s revenue came from state dollars.

However, the San Bernardino Board of Supervisors agreed to put the issue on the ballot. The county’s Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to put the secession measure on the 2022 ballot. One supervisor was absent.

According to a press statement, the question will be put on the November ballot.

It asks, “Do the people of San Bernardino County want San Bernardino County elected representatives to study and advocate for all options to obtain the county’s fair share of State funding up to and including secession from the State of California?”

Over the years, there have been several efforts led by various groups to partition California — or secede from the state. So far, none of them have succeeded.

The San Bernardino group’s move isn’t the only recent secession movement. In 2020, a group in northern California lobbied to leave the state and merge with parts of Oregon and Idaho. That group was motivated by dissatisfaction with California’s “liberal policies.”

Also, in 2017, there was gathering momentum for a movement calling for California to leave the Union and create its own country. That movement, labeled Calexit, was headed by Louis Marinelli, an American citizen who lived in Russia. According to Bloomberg, the campaign received financial backing from the Russian government. Marinelli later returned to America, renounced Calexit, and ran for a State Assembly seat. He received 6.4% of the vote.

Creating a new state is a complicated process. For example, secession from California would require approval from state legislatures, Congress and a signature from the president of the United States.

The last states to join the union were Hawaii and Alaska, which were admitted in 1959. And the last state to be formed by splitting away from another state was West Virginia, which was created in 1863.

Juanita Nixon Kelly, a 70-year resident of San Bernardino, California will celebrate her 100th birthday on October 3. She was born in Texas, Texarkana in 1922, raised in Oklahoma, then she moved to Los Angeles, California in 1937 at the age of 15, and later graduated from Jefferson High School in1940.

Kelly moved to the Westside of San Bernardino in 1952, where she raised a beautiful family of eight children, four girls and four boys. She has always had a love and desire to help others which led her to be employed at St. Bernardines Hospital and San Bernardino County Foster Care. She also worked as a clerk with the Voter’s Registrar with the voting polls in the family home for 10 years.

After retirement, she became a volunteer for the San Bernardino County Senior Companion for 27 leaving the program at the age of 90, continuing with her walk and work with God and the Church. Her years in the church she served as Sunday School Teacher, choir member, choir president, choir director, and mistress of ceremonies. God has blessed her to live and witness six generations of her family. Having grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren the number exceeds well over 100.

Kelly’s favorite scripture is Psalm 34:1, which states, “I will bless the Lord at all times his praise shall continually be in my mouth”. Her favorite song is “Because He lives I can face tomorrow”.

She has come this far by faith leaning on the Lord! She was also one of the founding organizers in Bethesda M.B.C with Pastor Fred M.Williams; New Jerusalem M.B.C; and Burning Bush M.B.C with Pastor Solomon Stewart. She is an active member of Living Faith Full Gospel Church with Pastor Shelby Roberts.

She was the recipient of the “First Annual Juneteenth Recognition Award”, The Inland Empire/High Desert Component Choir of the L.A Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Inc in 2022, Dansby Stardivant II, GMWA Asst, Chapter Rep. She has also received recognition and honor from the offices of Joe Baca San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors 5th District, Assembly Woman Wilmer Carter, Mayor Pat Morris, President Bill Clinton, and San Bernardino city council. She her family’s Queen/ Matriarch.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Kaiser High School ROTC color guard started the day off presenting the flags, and Valerie Evans singing the most beautiful rendition of America the beautiful.

Judges Dramond Crawford, Phil Cochran, and R.D. Evans had the hardest job, tasting and judging food from each of the grillers. Making the ultimate decision must have been hard, but somebody had to do it and they were the best men for the job.

Winners of the competition went home with cash prizes, trophies, and plaques. First place chicken, Fontana Police officers’ association, first place ribs San Bernardino County Fire Fighters, second place ribs St Andrews Masonic Lodge #16, and second place chicken went to San Bernardino Police officers’ association.

Parents enjoyed finger licking good barbecue with live entertainment provided by Summit High School band, Route 66 dance studio, Heart and Soul Dancers, and the Tims family praise dancers.

Fontana Kiwanis Key Club students from 3 high schools in Fontana assisted the children in the kids zone with a community service project making cards for kids, that will be delivered to kids hospitalized with chronic illness, and games.

The success of the DAY’S event is due to everyone who participated, and your interest in being “Unity in CommUNITY”.

Our weekly coverage of local news in San Bernardino County is supported by the  Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program supported by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support minority-owned-and-operated community newspapers in California.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA) is awarding a total of $40,000 to distribute to teachers throughout San Bernardino County as part of their annual Back to School Shop with a Cop: Teachers’ Edition event.

“We are extremely thankful to our partners at SEBA, who continue to dedicate their time and resources to reward extraordinary teachers who are dedicated to serving our students throughout San Bernardino County,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “This program is an example of how educational and community partners can unite to enrich the learning experience for our students.”

San Bernardino County Superintendent Ted Alejandre will join SEBA President, Sgt. Grant Ward in visiting 16 school sites as part of this year’s program.

“We are fortunate to have generous donors and a valuable partnership with San Bernardino County Schools,” said Ward. “Together, we are able to make a positive impact in the community we serve and say thank you to our teachers for their hard work and dedication.”

A total of 160 teachers will be recognized, and each teacher will receive a $250 gift card that may be used for classroom supplies, innovative learning resources, teacher tools and other classroom needs.

On Aug. 23, all 14 teachers at Snowline Joint Unified School District’s Wrightwood Elementary School received $250 gift cards each for the first visit of this year’s event. The school held an assembly to celebrate all of their teachers.

With the support from generous sponsors, approximately 4,000 students countywide will benefit from the gift cards awarded to teachers as part of these Shop With a Cop events.

For more news and information, visit the SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. #transforminglives.

The I.E. Live Market Nite group connected the whose who of the Inland Empire. They had dignitaries from all over the I.E., such as Kimberly Calvin, Councilwoman for the 6th Ward, Mayoral candidate Helen Tran, Chief Paulino from San Bernardino City Unified School District, Representatives from Supervisor Joe Baca Jr’s office, and Pam Montana, President of the local Kiwanis Club, and Board member of PAL Charter Academy, just to name a few.
The event was held at the PAL Center one of the longest operating agencies in Muscoy and has a 38-year community tenure in the I.E. Founder Dr. Mildred Henry of the PAL Center stopped by to support the event and promote her newly released book “From the Ashes, I Rise. “I’m so proud of Mr. Radden and his I.E. Live Team for bringing this event to the PAL Center and the Muscoy community Dr. Henry stated”.
The event played host to well over four hundred families and kids. I.E. Live Event Coordinator, Jasmine Jefferson, owner of I.E. Pop Up Events said, “It was just a great day for our community. We gave away free shoes, backpacks, and gifts and raffled off prizes such as Beats by Dre, headphones, a TV, and Clipper tickets.” Tickets were to a game against the Lakers. They were donated by the president of the Knockitoff Youth Foundation, Robin Mckinnon known as Malibu. She was also the host of I.E. Live Event. The music and production were done by DJ Muda. He is known as one of the top DJs in the Inland Empire.
Sistas Making a Difference, delivered a powerful punch to the day by giving out hundreds of free shoes. Founder Ronnie Miller said, “it’s always great when you can put smiles on children’s and families faces. Giving back to the community is what this event and the Founder is all about!” Founder of the I.E Live event, Dwaine Radden Sr. said “music, food, sports, and recreation is always a good recipe for a great event. They had a game truck, jumper, and a water slide for the kids.
Radden assembled a powerhouse group of organizations to be a part of the I.E. Live Market NiteTeam. PAL Center, Sistas Making a Difference, Knockitoff Youth Foundation, 20/20 Vision, Talon36.com, I.E. Pop Up Events. He said “We all had a seat at the table to create this history-making event. Our mission was to create unity in the I.E. Community. We have been plagued with countless murders of men, women, and children throughout San Bernardino and in the I.E. We must find ways to reunify our community if we want to restore the I.E. greatness we once had!”
R&B singer Latrice Kristine of the I.E. was the headliner, and she was accompanied by some dynamic performances by Dre-Lamonte, Kam, and Cornell Lamar, all from the Inland Empire. Vendors came from all over the area to be a part of this event. Reggie Dixon owner of Notorious R.I.B. from Riverside said “it must have been a pretty good day, I’m out of food.” I.E. groups also, partnered with the local Amateur Athletic Union (A AU) Football and Cheerleading organization which conducted plenty of foot traffic for the event. AAU leader MaishaTurner said, “it was a good day. It felt like a big family reunion.”
The next event will be held on November 5th, 2022 at the PAL Center, 2450 Blake Street. For more information on how you can be involved with the upcoming event. Call 909-314-6623 or email them at ielivemarketnite@gmail.com.

Our weekly coverage of local news in San Bernardino County is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program supported by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support minority-owned-and-operated community newspapers in California.