SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Oh what a majestic evening for the thirteen Knights of the Social Lites, Inc. 51st Beautillion Ball presented to society on Saturday, March 24 at the National Orange Show of San Bernardino. Over 400 guests witnessed over $45, 000 in scholarships and gifts presented to these young men. An additional $8,500 was awarded from “The Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” Scholarship sponsored by the Social Lites, Inc.
Sir Knight Malachi Davis of Highland California who attends Citrus Valley High School and a member of Life Changing Ministries received a $9,000 academic scholarship, $800 scholarship from “The Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” Scholarship and various gifts. Jonathan Moreno was first runner-up and awarded a $7,000 scholarship plus gifts; Tyree Walk was second runner up and awarded $5,500 plus gifts, $6,000 scholarship for winning “The Evan T. Carthen Emerging Leader” Essay Contest in addition to sharing the title Mr. Congeniality with Devin Clay. Kamau Osonduagwuike was third runner up and awarded $3,000 in scholarship plus gifts. Scholarships awarded to all Knights of various amounts to help fulfill their future educational career and gifts.
LA QUINTA, CA- La Quinta residents and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC) laced up their shoes and came together in support of critically ill children and their families at the annual Inland Empire Walk for Kids, a fun, family-friendly 5k (3.1 miles) event that raises funds for the life-changing services provided by the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House. The walk took place at a Quinta Civic Center Park.
This year the fundraising goal was $250,000 with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to serving local families right here in the community, continuing its mission to provide a “home away from home” when it’s needed most – enabling families to stay near their hospitalized child at little to no cost. No eligible family is ever turned away due to inability to pay.
KMIR-TV’s Kitty Alvarado was the emcee of the walk-a-thon this year. Other special guests included The Hernandez Family, La Quinta Walk for Kids Ambassador Family; and Karen Hooper, Executive Director of Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House. The Walk had on-site experiences including family-friendly carnival games, activities, Kids Zones, food, music and more.
SACRAMENTO, CA- Countless activists and protestors swarmed Sacramento City Hall in an effort to voice their concerns and feelings over the shooting of Stephon Clark.
On March 18, law enforcement officers encountered Clark while responding to neighborhood complaints of car windows being broken. Clark was then shot and killed by officers who mistakenly believed he was in possession of a gun but was found to only be holding his cell phone.
Community members protested last week, shutting down I-5 freeway in downtown Sacramento and the Sacramento Kings games on the evening of March 18. Nearly 300 or so individuals signed up to speak at the meetings that initially started at 1 p.m. earlier in the day.
Young kids at the march prepare to participate in the candlelight vigil.
Early in the forum, Stevante Clark, Clark’s younger brother, jumped on the council’s platform chanting his brother’s name. After Stevante stood on top of the podium and used obscene language, Mayor Darrell Steinberg called for a recess to appease tensions.
Crowds of people arrived well before the scheduled 5 p.m. start time to secure seats inside the chamber and others waited patiently outside and lobby. During the meeting, echoes of various chants filled the City Hall’s lobby and bled outside the building and carried thought out the block.
“Indict, convict, send those killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell. Say his name! Stephon Clark.”
An adjunct group of protesters, who were not able to able to enter the City Hall, were returning from their protesting at the Golden 1 Center during the Kings game that was initially scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Stevante Clark,left, the brother of Stephon Clark, hoist up a t-shirt with the image of the 23-year-old man who was shot by Sacramento police officers in the backyard of his grandmother’s home, which was nearby where the protest took place at 29th Street and Florin Road in South Sacramento.Stevante Clark, who was riding in an SUV, blocked the intersection at 29th Street and Florin to thank the supporters. “I love you all he said.”
Many turned to social media to record the event and share their experiences. There were countless minors with their guardians and young adults that made the bulk of the crowd. The atmosphere was a mixture of angst and anxiety. Those that did not chant stood in silence holding signs and wearing Black Lives Matter or apparel that commemorated those that were lost in similar circumstances.
Protester Alexander Johnson stood stoically in the middle of the lobby, holding up a poster with #StephonClark and said, “I think this protest is a step. It’s working, and we just need to keeping taking small steps.”
Mother and Son, April Robison and James George, wore complimentary shirts standing hand-in-hand.
“I have already lost one son this way. I’m scared for my second son, I don’t want to lose another one,” April somberly spoke.
“I have a legacy I want to live and leave behind. I can’t do that if I’m dead,” said her son, James, who appeared to be a minor.
The counsel’s evening community forum, starting at 5 p.m. on March 27th, was initially schedule to last till 11 p.m. but was cut short an hour when a man was detained during the council meeting. There are plans that the forum will continue on Wednesday, March 28 that 1 p.m. allowing those that were not able to speak to do so.
Breaking the Silence is WHAT IT DO! Domestic violence is on an all-time rise. It seems like every other day you hear about a young lady being killed by the hands of her spouse or lover. Just recently a friend of mine loss his daughter due to domestic violence. Although I didn’t know the young lady personally, it hit home.
LOVE and FEAR are two of the main reasons individuals suffering from abuse stay silent. I myself have experienced physical, mental and verbal abuse. I never said a word. I just suffered in silence praying that it would stop because I was in love with my abuser; it made things more difficult for me.
I didn’t have the nerves or the guts to speak out and seek help. I kept finding excuses not to leave. It would be days which I would literally go into work battered and bruised with a big smile on my face in order to masquerade what I went through last night. I was ashamed and embarrassed that this was happening to me, a woman that is supposed to be strong and unshakable. But I got out, I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to escape before things took a darker turn. I’m grateful to the Creator that I no longer suffer from abuse.
I want to encourage anyone dealing with domestic violence or know of a person going through it to please seek help. Domestic violence against men exist too. People need to realize that abuse can happen in a heterosexual relationship or same sex relationship. Research the signs of an abuser to see if you may have a potential abuser in your life.
According to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence statistics show that on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. For one year this equates to more than 10 million women and men. There are free community agencies that can assist you with referrals for shelter and resources such as ‘211’.
This has been a PSA from LUE Productions. Please share this message. At the end of the day you may be closer to saving a LIFE! Until next week L’s!
Sacramento resident Stephon Clark became the latest unarmed Black male to die in a police-related shooting. The story has spread across the national media to become the newest flashpoint amongst African-American activists and community leaders and the families who demand action on police violence.
According to reports, Clark, a father of two, was in his grandmother’s backyard as Sacramento police were following up on a call that a man was breaking car windows. The Sacramento Sheriff’s helicopter was providing air coverage while directing Sacramento officers on the ground.
Upon encountering Clark, officers are heard on police body cam footage saying “gun, gun” and within seconds, immediately shot 20 rounds killing the father of two.
“Prior to the shooting, the involved officers saw the suspect facing them, advance forward with his arms extended, and holding an object in his hands. At the time of the shooting, the officers believed the suspect was pointing a firearm at them. After an exhaustive search, scene investigators did not locate any firearms. The only item found near the suspect was a cell phone,” according to a Sacramento Police Department news release.
Civil Rights Leaders
In response to the shooting, Black Lives Matter and other Sacramento area activists staged a public protest shutting down a section of the I-5 later to form a human blockade preventing over 10,000 people from entering Golden One arena. The Kings and the Boston Celtics both wore shirts featuring Clark’s name before their Sunday game.
Press Conference for Clark Family
A Coalition of community activists in support of the Clark family convened a press conference on March 26 at Sacramento City Hall calling for “justice, reform and healing.”
Clark’s grandmother Sequita Thompson recounted the night when she heard gunshots in her backyard. She recalled sitting on her computer and crawling on the floor to her 7-year-old granddaughter who was asleep on the couch when the shots started.
“They didn’t have to kill him like that,” said Thompson. “They didn’t have to shoot him that many times. Why didn’t you shoot him in the arm? Shoot him in the leg? Send the dogs, a taser … why? Over a cell phone? I just want justice for my grandson.”
President of the Sacramento chapter of the NAACP Betty Williams met with Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn and put calls in to Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert for regular updates.
“The unanswered question remains does the justice system have the capability of dispensing justice for all its citizens?” Said Williams.
The family retained Attorney Benjamin Crump who handled high-profile cases including Travon Martin and Michael Brown.
“Since 2015 over 73 families have had to endure similar experiences. Over 70 Black Men have been shot and unarmed. This is oh to often a pattern in America,” said Crump.
Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network President, will attend Clark’s funeral on Thursday and deliver the eulogy. Sharpton has sent his West Coast representative Rev. Shane R. Harris, president of the San Diego chapter of NAN to provide counsel to the family.
“NAN will stand hand in hand with the groups on the ground to ensure legislation is changed,” said Harris.
“We will not let his name die, his name will live.”
Harris expressed frustration last year with what he says is California’s lack of action on police shootings. He said that California is the bluest and most progressive state in the union, but other states are more advanced on prosecuting police violence. Harris challenged State Attorney General Xavier to take action on this issue.
Sharpton and other members of NAN have lobbied for Assembly Bill 284, the Deadly Force Act, which would have required all police shootings to be investigated by an independent team from the State Attorney General’s office. The bill has stalled in the legislature.
Harris argued AB 284 is needed because local district attorneys cannot be trusted to conduct objective investigations of police shootings.
“It’s like students grading their own papers,” said Harris.
Whitney Ashley, graduate of J.W. North High School and former Olympian, will be the keynote speaker at the “I Am Enough” women’s conference.
RIVERSIDE, CA-“I Am Enough” is the theme for the 17th Annual Empowering Young Women Conference, a collaborative effort of the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation, Riverside Community College District, the Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, Riverside Police Foundation, Blumenthal Law Offices, and Dr. Kathy Wright. The conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 in the Landis Auditorium located on the Riverside City College campus at 4800 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.
This free conference, geared to young women ages 12 to 21 and their mothers/guardians, will feature informational workshops about health, nutrition, domestic violence, human trafficking, cyperbullying, social media issues, self-image and dress, college and careers as well as a fashion show, a poetry contest and a talent competition.
The morning keynote speaker, Whitney Ashley, is a J.W. North High School graduate and a former Olympian, whose specialty is the discus throw. She represented the United States at three consecutive Global Championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Dr. Leita Harris, professor at UC Riverside’s School of Medicine, and Obstetrician-Gynecologist, will be one of our afternoon keynote speakers.
The afternoon career panel includes Virginia Blumenthal, Member of the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees and one of the top 100 lawyers in the nation; Dr. FeRita Carter, Vice President, Student Services, Riverside City College; Carmen Cuevas, Senior Field Representative for California State Assembly Member, Jose Medina; May Lynn Davis, Founder of the Asian Lunar Fest; Commissioner Belinda Handy; Ninfa Delgado, Vice President and COO Riverside Community Health Foundation; and other notable female leaders and entrepreneurs. These dynamic and accomplished women will share their experiences and the steps they took to achieve their personal and career goals with the conference participants.
“We are very excited about this year’s conference as we have a cadre of excellent keynote and workshop speakers willing to share their knowledge and personal experiences with the young women,” said Conference Chair Wanda Scruggs. “Participants will receive breakfast, lunch, a goodie bag and information on everything from how to defend themselves to identifying human traffic perpetrators — all at no cost, thanks to the generosity of our wonderful sponsors.”
Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz praised the conference for its excellence. “The Empowering Young Women Conference is a wonderful opportunity to expose young women to inspiring role models. The participants also receive practical advice for academic and professional success,” said Chief Diaz. “I am proud that the Riverside Police Department is able to contribute to the conference”. All conference participants will receive a free continental breakfast, lunch, a goodie-filled tote bag and opportunities for great door prizes. Participants are requested to pre-register no later than Wednesday, April 11 at www.empoweringyoungwomenconference.com.
About The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation (formerly Riverside Black History Parade Committee) is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization established in honor of founders Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts. The foundation focuses on the development of events and activities such as: the Riverside Black History Parade, Expo and Car Show; Empowering Young Women’s Conference, and the Back-to-School Back Pack Giveaway event, which promotes positive family and cultural interaction in a cross section of communities.
Dr. Juli Grigsby, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Haverford College, Pennsylvania (photo: Haverford College).
SAN BERNARDINO, California—On Tuesday, March 27, San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) will host renowned anthropologist and university professor Dr. Juli Grisby for a lecture addressing a variety of pressing socio-cultural topics that may hit closer to home for some students than their traditional textbook studies. The event, which is free and open to the public, starts at 6:00 p.m. in SBVC’s Business Building, Room 100.
Originally from the Inland Empire, Dr. Grigsby is a socio-cultural anthropologist who has lectured at universities across the country on issues regarding critical race theory, feminist and queer theory, women’s health and violence, and U.S. social movements. She is also a noted photographer, and author of her current book project, “Grim Sleeper: Gender, Violence, and Reproductive Justice in Los Angeles.” She currently serves as the assistant professor of Anthropology at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
SBVC sociology professor Anthony Blacksher said Dr. Grigsby can provide valuable insight for young scholars into the practical applications of anthropology today. “The work she is doing right now highlights the unique oppression of Black women and how that can be rendered invisible when things are seen as merely women’s issues, Black issues, or issues in our society at large,” he said. “To this point, Dr. Grigsby’s latest work connects the structural and economic conditions faced by Black women with the very real violence that is enacted upon them, politically and physically.” He hopes Dr. Grisby’s lecture will inspire more students to consider fields in the social sciences, especially anthropology.
SBVC’s Arts, Lectures & Diversity Committee is happy to announce this special event.
After all Jesus did for you, you spit in His face by continuing in your sin. You ingrate! You have failed to appreciate the purpose of God’s forbearance with you. Showing contempt for God’s forgiveness. You done lost your mind! Dead towards God, but alive to Satan’s power. You better wake up and come to your senses. It would have be better if you had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command you were given to live a holy life. [2Peter 2:21]. God is a Holy God and He requires that we be Holy. “Be ye Holy for I am a Holy God,” saith the Lord. [1 Peter 1:15-17]. This I say therefore and testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen do in their perverseness of their minds. [Ephesians 4:17-19]. You have been freed from that vile prison. Don’t you dare go back and live like you used to live. If you do, sin will take you further than you ever wanted to stray, keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay and cost you more than you ever dreamed you would pay. Let the daily conduct of your life conform with your new life in Christ. Make a clean break with your old life and stop living by the standards of behavior of the pagan people. For you have heard and accepted “the truth as it is in Jesus”; now you must live, act and speak according to this new standard. There can be no compromising alliances, no stultifying reserves, and no divided interests.
As Paul reminds us in Titus… “We also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. [Titus 3:3]- As unbelievers, we were the pawns of Satan, under his dominion, carrying out his dictates. We were unaware of this because he controlled us through the influence of the world and the flesh. We once walked “according to the course of this world” and in accordance with the “lusts of our flesh” But now that we have been born again, in Christ we have been raised from our dead state spiritually to newness of life. And because of this, we are to renounce the world and its dominion over us. We are to “put off” fleshly things and “put on” the things of the Spirit. Being born again is meant to reverse the way we once were, apart from Christ. Do not use the grace of God as an excuse and a license to keep on sinning. Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God–I say this to your shame. [1 Corinthians 15:34.]”
For these are the words of the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” [Revelation 3: 14-22].
SIN NO MORE. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:1-5) I admonish you to no longer live and wallow in sin. God’s grace has set you free from sin and the power it use to have over you. Even, though the power of sin seems so strong at times, the tug, the pull, the pressure, the battle, the struggle. Even though it can get to the point where it seems and feels overwhelming. You must put forth effort again to do what is right. So DO NOT let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. DO NOT offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Sin shall not be your master….” [Romans 6:12-14]. The command is not merely to flee evil but to hate evil, just like the command is not merely to do mercy but to love mercy, to love righteousness. This is not optional. It’s commanded in the Bible, not suggested. Knowing that you are free from the power and penalty of sin, reckon yourself to be dead to sin and alive to Jesus. Consider it a done deal!
May God grant that you have knowledge of what God has done to save sinners, that you may reckon on its truth and reality in your life, and may you yield your body to serve the living God!
SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Sacred Sistahs, Inc. 10th Annual Shero and Scholarship Fundraiser Breakfast was held on Saturday, March 17 at Immanuel Praise Fellowhip Church. Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush, Founder and Chief Executive Officer was pleased to honor Shero Twillea Evans-Carthen, University Ombuds Officer and Director of Ombuds Services at California State University, San Bernardino; Shero Cherilynne Hollowell, Educator for Riverside Unified School District; and Shero Gail Martin-Mathews, Retired Assistant Superindent of Curriculum and Instruction.
Congratulations to the following 2018 scholarship recipients: Thandiwe Bush, Summit HS; Alondra Duncan, Summit HS; Jada Simone Gray, St. Bernard HS, and Kandace Simmons, Summit HS.
The mission of Sacred Sistahs, Inc. is to empower serve, and improve the overall health, well-being, spirit, and vitality of African American and African women and children by nourishing and elevating the mind, body, and spirit. For more information visit www.sacredsistahsinc.org.
Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
