Happily Divorced And After

WASHINGTON, DC- On Monday, January 29, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) is attending the State of the Union address with Cal Poly Pomona student veteran Sommarani “Mayra” Chan as her guest. Mayra’s family fled from the Khmer Rouge Genocide in Cambodia and sought protection in a Thailand refugee camp. In 1985, the family resettled in the U.S., where Mayra became a first-generation American.

“It is an honor to have veteran and Cal Poly Pomona graduate student Mayra Chan as my guest to the State of the Union. Mayra’s incredible story and commitment serves as a shining example of the value and strength that immigrants, refugees, and their children bring to our nation,” said Rep. Torres.

“I am grateful to be here.  As a veteran and first-generation college student, to be here representing something greater than myself is truly an honor.  It is a once in a lifetime experience to be able to attend tonight’s State of the Union as a guest of Congresswoman Torres,” said Chan.

From 2006 to 2014, Mayra served in the United States Army Reserve where she did one tour in Afghanistan and a humanitarian mission in Panama in 2009. During her time in Cal Poly Pomona, Mayra has kept busy by focusing her work on serving the student veteran community on campus as a student employee at the Veteran Resource Center. Mayra earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Food and Nutrition last year and is currently working on her Master of Science in Agriculture, concentrating her thesis research on combating obesity amongst the veteran community.

Congresswoman Torres’ guest is a personification of the policies she continues to push for in Congress that ensure that the Inland Empire remains a welcoming place for all and that veterans have access to the tools they need to thrive when they return home.         

By Evan Wheeler, Contributor of Purposely Awakened

My enemies acting friendly distorting my past,

We know history needed generations of great Black men.

Stop portraying this illusion that won’t last,

Years of lies and stripping origins from our ken.

You are not without sin but the first stone was cast,

Eyes were blinded to your trash but that was then.

I woke up putting your fallacies on blast,

I refuse to lose and remain sleep with you pigs in this American pen.

By Word of Mouth Ministries 

Have you ever had a dream you wanted to fulfill, or a goal you wanted to achieve, but just didn’t know how to get there?   Me too.    My dream at Word-­?Of-­?Mouth Ministries is to spread the Word of God by helping other God-­?centered businesses or individuals do the work that God has called them to do (Based on Ephesians 4:10-­?16).   

In order to do that though, I need to know where the God-­?centered individuals and businesses are and what they are doing.  That’s where you come in.  If you are an individual with a dream, a small business, a new business or even a big business that has been in operation for many years and you love the Lord, I want to help you spread the Word.   

Spreading the Word does not necessarily mean that you are preaching or handing out tracts. It means that God is the priority in whatever you do. Your customers and the people around you can feel God’s presence through you and God is blessing what you are doing because you are doing what He wants you to do. 

Here is an example of what I do. A lady who used to go to my church had prepared some homemade soaps and body butters for a trade show she was going to. She told me that after I had sampled her products and told her friends and family how soft and bouncy my hair was (after I used the body butter on my hair), she sold out of all the products she had prepared for the trade show. Since people don’t usually put body butter on their hair, it gave her a different way to promote her products.                  

If you’d like to give Word-Of-­Mouth Ministries a try, then please send your bio, a photo of yourself and your  products  and  a  brief  description  of  the  work  you  are  doing  and  why  you  are  doing  it  to wordofmouthministries777@gmail.com. Include  in  your  description  what  you  believe  are  your strengths  (what  you  are doing well),  the  weaknesses  (what  you need to do better), your opportunities (what doors God has opened for you) and the threats (what has kept you from moving forward). 

Once  I  receive  your  information  and  it  is  something  I  can  help  you  with,  I  will  pray  for  you  and  your business,  send  you  some  helpful  suggestions  on  ways  to  improve  either  your  product  or service,  your pricing, your place of business or your promotions.  I will also give you a supportive Scripture from the Bible  and spread the word to  let people know what you are doing, so you can increase your customer base.   All  I  ask  is,  if  God has blessed you with the  means  to do so,  then please sow a seed  of  $20  into Word-­Of-­Mouth Ministries so the ministry can continue to grow and be a blessing to others.  

HELP ME TO FULFILL MY DREAM, SO I CAN HELP YOU TO FULFILL YOURS!  

HAVE A BLESSED DAY, EVERYBODY. 

RIVERSIDE, CA- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire is partnering with barbershops across Riverside and San Bernardino counties to recruit volunteers for its one-to-one youth mentoring program. The Shaping Up for the Future campaign runs from February 3 to February 24 and aims to find mentors to serve as positive role models for the more than 200 boys currently on the waitlist.  

On February 3, current mentors in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program will participate in campaign kick-offs at the six participating barbershops, including: Gentlemen’s Barber Club, Thee Latest Barbershop and Good News Barber Shop in Rancho Cucamonga; and Shaves and Fades Barbershop, Expensive Habits Barbershop and The Hair Doctors in Riverside. Each shop is tasked with educating its patrons about the significant impact of youth mentoring. The barbershop that brings in the most potential volunteers will receive the Champion for Change trophy, presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters on February 28.

“As a former professional athlete, it means a lot to me to give back to the community that I grew up in and help young men stay out of trouble,” said Terrell Thomas, a retired NFL Giants player and owner of Thee Latest Barbershop. “You see kids all the time getting in trouble, going to jail and just following the crowd. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a way for these kids to have a better future.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches volunteer mentors one-to-one with youth facing adversity (“Littles”), building friendships that help them overcome challenges such as having an incarcerated parent, exposure to substance abuse, gang violence, human trafficking and growing up in the foster system. The organization supports more than 1,000 children annually in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. As a result, many local youth are becoming the first in their families to earn a high school diploma, go to college and build a career to achieve sustainable independence—creating lasting generational change throughout the Inland Empire. 

“There are hundreds of boys in our community growing up without a positive male role model, so we are excited to have these local businesses be part of our inaugural campaign that will provide them with life-changing friendships,” said Jennifer O’Farrell, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire. “The patrons our partner barbershops recruit will be matched with children to help them explore new interests and provide consistent support as they navigate the challenges of growing up.”

Traditional program volunteers must be 18 years or older, sign up to mentor a child for one year and have a vehicle, current driver’s license and proof of auto insurance. For more information about the Shaping Up for the Future recruitment campaign, visit barbershopbigs.org.

Comedian T.K. Kirkland

By Lue Dowdy

The Evans presents “Stand-up Comedian T.K. Kirkland” is WHAT IT DO! So, you know the saying, “Laughter is good for the soul,” well prepare to wet your pants on Wednesday, February 7 because the very funny and talented T.K. Kirkland will be taking the stage at the Ontario Improv.

The show will be hosted by comedian Arae Sherwin and the line will consist of Julio Gonzalez and Brian Monarch.

Born in New Jersey but raised in Compton, T.K. Kirkland is not just a comedian. He’s also an actor and writer known for Strays (1997), New Jersey Drive (1995) and The Champagne Gang (2006). Possessing several talents, T.K. Kirkland is a writer, singer, radio host and musician. Being able to connect and work with Rap Legend Eazy–E allowed his career to flourish and the opportunity to share the stage with other great artists in the game.

I will be in the house taking notes and conducting interviews. I’m totally excited about this show! Please if you’re available come join me. The show starts at 8 p.m. Early arrival is suggested. Tickets can be purchased on the Ontario Improve website at https://ontario.improv.com. Remember, make sure you always do you because can’t nobody do it better. Follow me @lueproductions on Facebook and all social media sites.

Until next week L’s!

NATIONAL- In a speech riddled with lies and half-truths distorting the performance of his administration, Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address to the nation.

In response, Black Lives Matter Global Network released the following statement:

“It’s no surprise that Donald Trump would double down on his racist, xenophobic, misogynist agenda in his first State of the Union address.

Trump’s first year in office has been marked by instability and policies reflective of its leader. Our people have been forced to endure travel bans. We’ve been stalked by ICE agents in public and in our homes. We’ve heard our countries called shitholes in the Oval office. Trump’s repeated attacks have forced millions to contend with possibly losing their healthcare, women in our cities and small towns have lost access to care, and millions of children lost coverage for more than three months.

This is Trump’s America.

Black people, immigrant and Indigenous people, the poor, women, our LGBTQ family, you name it, are the ones paying the biggest price. Surrounded by enablers bent on wiping out our existence, we’ve seen it all. We can no longer allow Trump’s dangerous policies to harm our families and our communities.

Our people are rising up. From Jemele Hill to Jay-Z to Colin Kaepernick, we will not give up our dignity without a fight. We will continue to show up and show out for restoring our communities, whether it’s ensuring our communities are free from police overreach and outright murder, to economic opportunity and justice in this capitalist system, to the fight to ensure our Black mothers get the care, time and space they need to survive childbirth.

Trump will not deter us from achieving the liberation our people deserve.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-  The Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire will be hosting the 3^rd Annual Black History Super Expo Celebration on Saturday, February 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Court Street Square located at 349 N. E Street in San Bernardino. The event is FREE to the public.

There will be live entertainment, vendors, great food, a veggie connection pop-up, and a kids’ zone. Free rides to the expo will be provided by OmniTrans. You can pick up bus tokens from the Akoma Unity Center located at 1367 N. California Street in San Bernardino.

For more information, please contact Tammy at (714) 292-0205 or visit www.BCCInlandEmpire.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-  On Friday, February 2, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes and community partners; San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation and California Department of Transportation District 8 will be unveiling the Rosa Parks Statue at the Rosa Parks Memorial Building located at 464 W. 4^th Street in San Bernardino. The unveiling starts at 10:30 a.m.

The Rosa Parks Statue was made possible by funding contained in the 2017 state budget. “Working together with community partners and the Governor, I was able to secure the final funding needed for this iconic statue,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “The 47th Assembly District is honored to recognize the first lady of the civil rights movement and we are confident her statue will be a beacon of hope for those yearning for change.”  

Join us as we unveil the bronze Rosa Parks Statue and recommit ourselves to justice.

For more information or to RSVP contact District Representative Daniel Peeden or call the District Office at (909) 381-3238.

REDLANDS – This year’s 35th annual San Bernardino County Academic Decathlon competition will take place over two weekend dates – January 27 and February 3 – at Redlands East Valley High School.

With close to 400 high school students competing, this year’s scholastic competition features 41 teams that represent 25 high schools. Both weekends of the competition will take place at Redlands East Valley High, located at 31000 E. Colton Ave. in Redlands.

Students receive points by competing in 10 academic events. There are written tests in the areas of math, economics, music, art, language/literature, science and social science. Students also write an essay, face a panel of interviewers and give impromptu and prepared speeches.

For the finale on February 3, teams compete in a Super Quiz, a college bowl-style event consisting of multiple-choice questions. This year’s overall competition theme is Africa. Chaffey High School from the Chaffey Joint Union High School District is the six-time defending county champion of Academic Decathlon.

Teams consist of nine students, three from each grade-point category: “A” (Honors), “B” (Scholastic) and “C” (Varsity). Students compete for individual and team awards.

This year’s participating high schools and their districts are: Alta Loma High, Chaffey High, Colony High, Etiwanda High, Los Osos High, Montclair High, Ontario High and Rancho Cucamonga High, Chaffey Joint Union High; Ayala High, Chino Hills High and Don Lugo High, Chino Valley Unified; Bloomington High, Colton Joint Unified; Kaiser High, Fontana Unified; Citrus Valley High, Redlands East Valley High and Redlands High, Redlands Unified; Eisenhower High and Rialto High, Rialto Unified; Arroyo Valley High, Pacific High, San Bernardino High and San Gorgonio High, San Bernardino City Unified; and Cobalt Institute of Math and Science and Victor Valley High, Victor Valley Union High. Aquinas High School, a private school, also is participating.

The public is invited to attend the Super Quiz, which begins around 2:30 p.m. on February 3.

Winners and finalists from the Academic Decathlon will be announced at an awards banquet on February 8 at the National Orange Show Events Center. The winning team and possible other qualifiers will represent the county at the statewide Academic Decathlon competition in March.

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, extortioners, liars , lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, blasphemers, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, disobedient, arrogant, revilers. [1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5]. Don’t you know that the Day of the Lord is at hand?” [Joel 1:15; 2:1]. Wake up! Stir yourself and don’t be slothful. “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Walk properly, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. [Romans 13:11-14]. Be zealous and repent! [Revelation 3:19]. If you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. [Isaiah 1:20].

I tell you we are seeing the signs that will precede Christ’s return. We are experiencing the birth pangs that will come before Christ’s return. We are being shaken, as prophecy warned. And even though we don’t know the day or the hour, Jesus said we would know the season and we should be living as though His hand is on the door ready to come back. [Matthew 24:42-44.] Repent now while it is still day! For, “He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” [Revelation 21: 6-8].  Don’t wait too late!

“Repent Now Every One of His Evil Ways and Evil Doing…” [Jeremiah 25:5].

“For the Kingdom of God is at Hand!” [Matthew 3:2].

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live…” [Deuteronomy 31: 19}