Happily Divorced And After

By Lou Yeboah

Listen, God sent warning through Ezekiel conveying that He was finished with disobedience and hard hearts, and He was ready to judge and punish His people for their rebellious spirit and actions. For Thus saith the Lord, “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places; And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and bring all your abominations upon you. My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you; then you will know that I am the Lord!” [Ezekiel 7: 4-9].

Listen, God gave Ezekiel three specific prophecies regarding how the people will be punished—one-third will die by plagues or famine; one-third will fall by the sword; one-third will be scatted to every wind.

But the people could not believe God would punish or hurt them, so they ignored the prophecies which instructed them to repent and turn to their own. [Ezekiel chapters 4-7]. Don’t you do it! Don’t you be like disobedient Israel. God’s patience was all used up and the penalty for their disobedience was coming no matter what. [Ezekiel 23:35]. Instead of trusting God, they refused to enter the Promised Land. As a result, they missed settling in their own homeland and instead wandered in the desert for 40 years until that generation died.

You see all throughout the Bible, God has tried to get us to do right, but naw, we want to do what we want to do. Well, I got news for you; continue to do you boo, boo, and see what happens. Soon and very soon you will regret your rebelliousness toward the Lord. God desire is for us to “learn and turn.” Don’t be a hard head like the rebellious Israel who died after wandering in the desert for 40 years. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. [Matthew 7:13]. So, if your hand cause you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched–where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched–where ‘Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire–where ‘Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched. [Mark 9:43-48].

I tell you every day God is doing everything possible to keep us from going into that awful, inconceivable place. God wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Timothy 2:4]. So repent before it’s too late! As the Apostle Peter says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise . . . but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” [2 Peter 3:9]. So, I ask you what will it take before you heed the word of God? Keeping in mind that there could come a time when God says, “Enough is Enough!”. Shudder at the thought. Do not take God’s forbearance for granted, for if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall you escape if you neglect so great a salvation, which at first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. [Hebrews 2:1-3]. You ought to know that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but would rather that we should turn unto Him and live. [Romans 2:4]. Turn and be saved, for Jesus says of those who refuse to be saved, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment [Matthew 25:46] and be lost forever.

A Voice from Hell. [Luke 16:19-31]. “In Hell, he lifted up his eyes being in torment” It is an awful cry, “Cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Concerned Citizens for the Development of North Fontana invite you to the Mommy and Me fashion show and tea. You can show your support to the young ladies who are doing something positive and their mothers who are leading by example!

The afternoon tea is a fundraiser to sponsor the 54th Miss Black Awareness Scholarship Pageant to be held December 17, 2022.

The tea will be held on Saturday, August 27 from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Josephine Knopf Senior Center located at 8384 Cypress Avenue in Fontana. To register for the tea, visit www.missblackawarenesspagent.webs.com.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On August 15 on what would have been his 37th birthday, the late Grammy-nominated rapper, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Nipsey Hussle’s was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He is the 11th rapper to have a Walk of Fame star.

Hussle’s fans, family and friends from the industry attended the ceremony.

“I think I speak for the entire city of LA when I say that we’ve known Nip was destined for greatness,” said Lauren London, Hussle’s longtime girlfriend who spoke at the ceremony. “This moment only amplifies that for us. Nip would have been honored by this moment. I think he would want everyone to remember that you can’t get to what’s possible unless you commit to moving forward. It doesn’t mean forgetting where you come from, but it requires acknowledging the reality you were born into and the power you must change that reality for the better.”

Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson declared Aug. 15, Nipsey Hussle Day in Los Angeles.

“Today, on his born day, we finally got him a star on the walk of fame. Rest in Paradise Nip” Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) a guest in attendance at the 30-minute ceremony posted on Twitter.

Born Airmiess Joseph Asghedom, Hussle was a Los Angeles native who rose to fame in the mid-2000s. After gaining notoriety locally following the release of a string of mixtapes, his gritty sound and inspirational spirit captivated listener’s imaginations.  He became more famous as he sold physical copies of his mixtapes for $100 each, an unheard-of strategy given the music was available digitally for free. This declaration of self-worth caught the attention of his fans and the music industry at large. Jay-Z famously bought 100 copies of the mixtape in a show of respect and support.

Hussle’s crowning musical achievement was the release of his 2018 album ‘Victory Lap’. The effort received a Best Rap Album Grammy nomination in 2019. In 2020, at the 62^nd Grammy Awards, he posthumously earned three more nominations and took home two wins for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap/Sung Performance.

His impact on the community impact grew with the opening of his Marathon clothing store in the heart of the Crenshaw commercial district. The store gave customers access to exclusive music along with the clothing. Hussle would go on to buy the entire shopping mall that surrounded the Marathon clothing store, in which he invested in STEM technology workspaces and housed other local entrepreneurs.

On March 21, 2019, Hussle was killed outside of his Marathon store by Eric Holder who last month was found guilty of first-degree murder. Following his death, there was an outpouring of tributes. People in his community, across California and around the country honored his life with murals, vigils and other remembrances, reflecting the impact Hussle had on California and the hip hop community worldwide.

While the Marathon store has closed, the location remains a memorial to Hussle where fans pay daily tribute to his memory. There are plans to open a second store on Melrose Avenue. However, no date has been set for its opening.

Writer and sports media personality Justin Tinsley narrated an ESPN 30 for 30 special about Hussle and his close relationship with athletes and the sports world, particularly LA Sports.

“That star on the Walk of Fame is symbolic of so much,” said Tinsley. “Nipsey is one of those people who will always be remembered, yes, as an incredible rapper. But even more than that, he was a man who had a vision for himself and his people. He put that into action and the result of which will keep his name alive for generations of Black folk. That’s so beautiful and it’s inspiring that he cared so much to do everything he did. But that star is also symbolic of everything we lost with him to. Everything he was yet to think of. Everything he was supposed to do and accomplish.”

Tinsley said he feels the sadness following the senseless murder of Hussle still lingers amongst his supporters but that the joy, pride and motivation he brought to many cannot be forgotten.

“Losing Nipsey in the physical sense will never truly make sense. It’s something God — or whomever you pray to — can truly answer. But it’s such a blessing that we were all given the time to be impacted by him whether up close and personal or from afar. And through all the pain that’s still there — and will always be there — that’s how we got to look at it. Grief is a very real emotion. But it shouldn’t be the only one when we talk about Nipsey Hussle.”

The concept of ‘The Marathon’ was a staple in Hussle’s music. Persevering through obstacles to reach your goal and enduring the pain that inevitably comes when striving for greatness. At the conclusion of London’s Walk of Fame induction speech, she referenced this concept and left a message for everyone visiting Hussle’s monument.

“Whenever you’re in the City of Angels and you see this star, I hope it encourages you to break away from whatever might be holding you back and for you to run your marathon until God says that it is finished,” she said.

By Lue Dowdy | LUE Productions

Once again folks it’s ya’ girl LUE DOWDY here to tell ya’ about an amazing talent. I’d like to congratulate Recording Artist, ‘LJ Savvy’ on taking Second (2^nd) place at ‘LUE Productions Community Umbrella Services’ Youth Talent Competition and Showcase. Straight out of ‘P TOWN’ (Pomona) and a senior at The School of Arts and Enterprise, this young man had the stage LITT with his energy, and the Mic on fire with his dope lyrics.

My first encounter with LJ Savvy was back in April at San Bernardino Valley College. He was one of the youth performers performing at a youth showcase presented by ‘CHORDS YOUTH ENRICHMENT CENTER’, overseen by Founder/CEO Edwin Johnson. From the moment the beat dropped he had me hooked. LJ Savvy has several gifts and he’s been performing since the age of 12. He plays instruments and writes poetry. Currently, Savvy is working on designing his own show and will be dropping new music throughout the year. His team is working on a music video for his song, titled, ‘Getting It’.

“Drake and Kendrick are two of my biggest influences musically and Kyle influences my performances. I also get inspiration from my need to grow and impact people through my music, and of course, having fun”! Savvy states.

This aspiring rap artist, under the guidance of his parents, is one to watch for. Make sure you look him up on all social media platforms under, ‘LJ SAVVY’.

For more information on events and showcases provided by LUE Productions please visit our website at lueproductions.org, or visit us on social media. Please call or email us at 909.567.1000 lue.info@yahoo.com

RIVERSIDE, CA—- The much-anticipated 11th annual My Hair, My Health Festival will be back in-person on Sunday, August 28, 2022, from 2pm-6pm at Fairmount Park after being virtual for the last two years.  The event, located at 2601 Fairmount Blvd., Riverside, CA 92501 will feature music, dancing, hair demos, dynamic guest speakers, historical reflections, interactive activities, a kids’ corner, contests, raffles, food, and more.

This powerful festival is a celebration of beauty from the inside out and aims to raise awareness about hair and health as well as empower African American girls, teens, and women to be proud and confident in their crowns.  The goal of the event is to remove the stigmas impacting mental health, as it relates to women’s hair within the black community.

“There’s a lot of healing that needs to be done with how black women across several generations have cared and felt about their hair than most even realize,” My Hair, My Health Committee Member, Reverend Bronica Martindale emphasized.  “We want to create a safe space that encourages one another to look at the beauty within ourselves and each other and leave this event feeling empowered inside and out.”

The event is open to the entire community, as this sponsored event is free to attend and open to all ages. To reserve your tickets, visit www.MyHairMyHealthCali.com.

The festival will feature a Royal Welcoming by vocalist Mirraje and dynamic keynote presentations by two leading mental health and wellness educators, Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson, Psy.D and Dr. Janiel L. Henry, Psy.D. The conversation will touch on how women can take care of their hair in active settings, inform them on the harmful ingredients to avoid in black hair products, and share resources and apps like DeTox Me, Environmental Work Group, Think Dirty, and ClearYa that help women make healthier decisions when buying products and caring for their hair.

Hair demos will be provided by two My Hair, My Health Champions, Linita Hawkins, M.E.A. CEO of Lovely Locs, and Shor Denny, MS Founder & CEO of Community Now with her presentation entitled “Breaking Down the Lie”.

Committee Member Terri Akens shared, “My Hair, My Health is a breath of fresh air, in a society that pushes a standard of beauty that denies the natural beauty we were born with. This event was created to remind us of our greatness allowing us to tap into what is really important, positive self-image, living a healthy lifestyle, sisterhood, and love for one another.”

Entertainment will be provided by DJ Mystique and the Unspeakable Praise, who will delight attendees with a Circle of Life praise dance.  The Kids’ Corner will include coloring, drawing, and storytelling.  The coloring pages will depict African American girls rocking their natural hair with positive affirmations displayed.  Storytelling will include a reading of “Timmy Tut and the Pyramid Adventures”,  read by Davil Jackson. This book is co-authored by James Woods, aka “Dat Yoga Dude” and Davil Jackson.

This event is sponsored by the Riverside Community Health Foundation and IEHP, and made possible by the My Hair, My Health committee members including founding members Phyllis Y. Clark, Founder & CEO of Healthy Heritage Movement, Terri Akens, Director of Community Health Programs at Riverside Community Health Foundation, Eryn Young, MPH, Program Director for Just Muv Consulting, Rev. Bronica Martindale, and Teslyn Henry-King, MPH, MPA, RD, Program Coordinator for San Bernardino County Department of Public Health Nutrition along with, April Gillis, Project Coordinator at Healthy Heritage Movement, and the new 2022 committee members Carla Towns and Shavon Johnson, both from Delta Sigma Theta San Bernardino Riverside Area Alumnae Chapter.

My Hair, My Health is a celebration of beauty and wellness from the inside out.  It is a movement encouraging African American women to define and promote a standard of beauty that is uniquely theirs.  If you need mental health services or for more information about My Hair, My Health please contact Healthy Heritage at (951) 293-4240 or visit them on their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Myhairmyhealth. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- More than 110, daughters, sons, granddaughters, parents, and grandparents from throughout the Inland Empire enjoyed canapés, tea, and cake at the first American Girl Doll “Tea Party” in two years, thanks to the San Bernardino City Library Foundation.

The multi-generational American Girl Doll Tea Party took place recently at Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, complete with a book signing from the school’s namesake and author Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry herself.

In opening his school to host the Tea Party, Dr. Christopher Tickell, Principal said he plans to make this a signature event of his school for the foreseeable future. “ I was so excited to be a part of such an amazing event. To see so many people working so hard together to make something special for our community. I look forward to hosting this tea again and again and again.”

San Bernardino City Library Director Ed Erjavek, and Library Foundation President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., welcomed the families to the celebration. San Bernardino City Council member Kimberley Calvin, School Board member Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers and Kim Knaus, Senior Field Representative for Board of Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. joined the festivities.

Families—complete with fathers, mothers, and grandparents—came from San Bernardino, Riverside, Rialto, Hesperia, Redlands, and Rancho Cucamonga to attend the American Girl Tea Party in San Bernardino. Four children won American Girl Dolls and books in the event’s free raffle.

Cheryl Brown former Assemblymember (retired) and San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board member and committee chairperson and President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., served as emcees and led the afternoon with information, food, and fun.

Canapés and tea were served by youth and adult volunteers including Black Voice newspaper publisher Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, Jordan and Peyton Brown, Isabell and Olivia Lee ,San Bernardino City Library Foundation board members Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Vice President, Operations, Debra A. Fields, Secretary, and Arlington Rodgers, Jr., President. The annual event attracts children and their parents from the Greater San Bernardino Area.

Lynn Summers presented the University of California’s local Master Gardener/Master Food Preserver program members who taught the children the oldest secrets on food preservation, making seed paper, pickled vegetables and gave all participants free milkweed plants.

Milkweed plants are the favorite food of Monarch butterflies. The children were asked to plant them to draw butterflies to their yards and help renew the butterfly population.

Angela Encinas , Children’s Librarian described how The San Bernardino City Library allows children to check out an American Girl Doll kit. It includes ethnically diverse dolls, a carrying case, accessories, a book about the doll and a journal. Children checking out the dolls are encouraged to write about their playing with the dolls in a journal. She included a reading of one of the journal pages and the author was in the audience, imagine the surprise on her face after hearing her words two years after she wrote them.

“Another great success of the day included The Girls Scouts obtaining enough sign-ups to start a new Girl Scout Troop in the Mt. Vernon area, the first new one in many years,” said Knea Hawley, Girl Scout executive.

The doll collection and the annual tea are both made possible thanks to the generous support of the people and organizations of San Bernardino that take delight in giving children entertaining educational experiences.

Foundation President Arlington Rodgers, Jr., says, “Our deepest gratitude to our generous Foundation Partners who made the afternoon tea possible: Dr. Christopher Tickell, the Irvine Foundation, Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, the University of California Cooperative, Extension Master Food Preservers and Master Gardeners of San Bernardino, the Westside Action Group, Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Debra Fields, Edison International, Amazon, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Friends of the Library, Johnnie Ralph, Shelby Obershaw, Dameron Communications and Evy Morales.

Planning for next year’s American Girl Tea Party begins next week. If you are interested in joining the planning, please call Stacy at (909) 381-8211.

About the San Bernardino City Library Foundation

The mission of the San Bernardino City Library Foundation is to make sure that our public libraries continue to be places where everyone in the community can gather, learn, grow, and interact.

Since 1995, the San Bernardino City Library Foundation has provided the San Bernardino Public Library system with the financial support it needs to provide new books for patrons, offer free tutoring for all academic levels, provide patrons with access to e-books and audiobooks, and provide innovative programs like a Makerspace and the American Girl Doll program.

https://play.americangirl.com/

Board members include Arlington Rodgers, Jr., President; Cheryl R. Brown, Vice President, Community Relations; Mary Kay DeCrescenzo, Vice President, Operations; Debra A. Fields, Secretary, Dr. Chris Tickell, Treasurer Evy Morales and Timothy Prince, Director.

YUCAIPA, CA— For Lauren Valdez, Crafton Hills College was the perfect place for her to make connections and discover opportunities. About two years ago, the now 18-year-old Redlands resident made the choice to take the California Proficiency Exam and start her college career at the Yucaipa-based college.

“I was going to Redlands High School and just felt it wasn’t the best choice for me,” said the youngest member of the Class of 2022. “But I couldn’t go to a four-year university because I did not have the A-G requirements needed, so the plan was to do my general ed courses at Crafton and then transfer to a four-year university.”

But Valdez found more at Crafton, she said, including that sense of belonging that she did not experience while attending RHS. Crafton, she explained, “was the closest community college to me, but when I got here, I absolutely loved it here and there were so many opportunities for me.”

Those opportunities included having her first two years of college paid for through the CHC Promise Program and diverse course offerings, including Chicano studies.

“It was just balanced,” she said.

Valdez has plans to attend UCLA in the fall and hopes to receive a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in gender studies. But what she really wants to do is become a poet.

As for others who might want to follow in Valdez’s footsteps, she has some words of wisdom for you. “I think my advice would be to try it. It couldn’t hurt because it can only help you if you go for it,” she said. “If you work hard and stick with it, you’ll see the reward at the end.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Starting Saturday, August 20, San Bernardino’s westside community now has a free, monthly food distribution opportunity that runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Arroyo Valley High School. Saturday’s event is the first of three taking place through Monday at locations across the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) boundaries as part of partnerships with non-profit organizations.

For months, Chief Communications Officer Ginger Ontiveros worked hand in hand with representatives from the Pure Land Foundation to bring this much-needed distribution to a segment of the school district community not currently served by other food distributions.

“Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for our community and many of our students,” Ontiveros said. “We hope by partnering with Pure Land, our families and our students will have a new opportunity to receive healthy food once a month right in their neighborhood.”

SBCUSD currently partners with Pure Land Foundation, Tzu Chi Foundation and Loma Linda University CAPPS for regular food distributions at Pacific High School, Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy, and other locations. The Arroyo Valley High site adds both a new location and additional days to the District’s efforts to ensure our families have access to healthy food.

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

At its last meeting, the California Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board (RIPAB) discussed the discrepancies in the racial profiling data reported by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).

RIPAB co-chair Melanie P. Ochoa told her board colleagues that there is “sufficient evidence” that data concerning police stops are not being reported by LASD as required by Assembly Bill (AB) 953.

Ochoa said that “over 50,000 self-initiated stops” were “not captured as Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) data.” Deputies “failed to report over 18,000 consent searches,” and “over 25,000” or 37% of backseat detentions were not filed.

“It’s a big deal,” said Ochoa, a staff attorney for Criminal Justice and Police Practices at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. “The overall trends may be accurate but it’s really scary how much certain communities are impacted by this.”

The Los Angeles County Office of the Inspector General (OIG) confirmed data was missing in its June 10 Underreporting of Civilian Stop Data to the California Attorney General report.

OIG reported that LASD’s Sheriff’s Automated Contact Reporting System (SACR) which supplies data to RIPA and its Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) which tracks patrol-related contacts run independently and do not communicate information.

The SACR system underreported observation-based stops by at least 50,731 entries and underreported reasonable-suspicion stops by 8,625 entries. Reasonable suspicion stops are made by deputies when they suspect a person is engaging in criminal activity.

RIPAB learned about the LASD missing information about 6 months after it released its fifth annual report that found Blacks or African Americans were searched 2.4 times more than Whites in 2020.

Information from agencies reporting data showed law enforcement officers used force against Blacks 2.6 times more than White people.

Board member Lawanda Hawkins, founder of Justice for Murdered Children (JMC) said, “I am concerned that the data received from the biggest (law enforcement) agency in the state is inaccurate. It makes you question all of it. If they are not giving us all the stops…. there’s a problem. And what is the repercussion if they don’t do it?”

AB 953, the Racial and Identity Profiling Act of 2015, requires California law enforcement agencies to report data to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on all vehicle and pedestrian stops, and citizen complaints alleging racial and identity profiling. AB 953 was authored by Assemblywoman Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), currently the Secretary of State.

On July 1, 2018, the eight largest law enforcement agencies, began collecting stop data and reporting the information to DOJ. According to Attorney General Rob Bonta California is now one of the leaders in the country in collecting and analyzing police traffic stops.

“To date, the state has provided the public with an in-depth look into nearly 9 million police stops. This information is critical and these annual reports continue to provide a blueprint for strengthening policing that is grounded in the data and the facts,” Bonta said.

RIPAB is a diverse group of 19 members representing the public, law enforcement, and educators. Their charge is to eliminate racial and identity profiling, and improve diversity and racial and identity sensitivity in law enforcement.

Ochoa said the missing RIPA data could have a “significant” effect on people’s lives in terms of litigation, policy change, and potential intervention programs, and implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 2542, the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA).

CRJA prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction, or from imposing a sentence, based upon race, ethnicity, or national origin.

“There should be an acknowledgment of missing data and the direction this missing data is probably (going). It’s just not randomly missing. It’s just missing in a way to suggest that there are more certain things happening than being reported,” Ochoa said.

Bill Ayub, Ventura County Sheriff and the California State Sheriff’s Association representative on the Board said there could be many reasons why the absent information was not entered as RIPA data.

The report shows that in December 2020 LASD was aware of issues with SACR system data and assured OIG that “steps would be taken” to prevent misreporting of stop data to the DOJ.

But a year later, LASD “conceded” that the department was not “in compliance with RIPA requirements” due to the system being outdated. The CAD system was implemented in the 1980s and is running on hardware and software that are no longer supported by the manufacturer.

Ayub warned that there should be “a word of caution” when considering the data.

“If you look at arrests by my agency you would see far fewer RIPA entries for arrests than arrests that actually occur. Court-ordered remands, warrants that appear for people that are already in custody, and in-custody incidents that result in arrest are all incidents that would not trigger RIPA reporting,” Ayub told the Board.

RIPAB’s latest report analyzes millions of vehicles and pedestrian stops conducted Between Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, by 18 law enforcement agencies. All state and local law enforcement agencies will be required to report stop data to the California DOJ by April 1, 2023.

About 40 million people live in California, according data from the state’s Department of Finance. 2.25 million African Americans live in the state (about 6.5%).

Reporting agencies made over 2.9 million stops during the stop data collection period, with the California Highway Patrol conducting the most stops of any single agency (57.7%). Law enforcement officers searched 18,777 more people perceived as Black than those perceived as White

The law enforcement agencies reporting 2020 RIPA data were the Police Departments serving Bakersfield, Davis, Fresno, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose; the Sheriff’s Departments of Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County; and the California Highway Patrol.

LASD is the largest sheriff’s department in the world with nearly 10,000 deputies serving almost 10 million people. San Francisco has a population of 888,305 with 2,140 sworn officers and San Diego has 1,415 residents and 1,887 sworn officers.

SACRAMENTO, CA— Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) announced that he has selected Cafe Aficionado, a family-owned coffee shop in Northridge, as the Small Business of the Year for California Small Business Day 2022.

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities across California, and Cafe Aficionado is the perfect example of why these establishments are so valued,” said Assemblymember Gabriel. “I’m proud to be honoring such an incredible small business that does so much to enrich the lives of those in the West Valley, both through its delicious food and coffee, and even more so through its commitment to serving our community.”

After Reggie Cua returned from service in the United States Coast Guard, he and his wife, Abby, opened Cafe Aficionado in 2018 with a vision to bring coffee culture to the San Fernando Valley and to create a space that all members of the community could enjoy. The cafe frequently hosts trivia nights, meetings for local non-profits, speed dating events, art shows, fundraisers—anything that makes the cafe “feel like home,” as Abby and Reggie have stated.