Happily Divorced And After

Front L/R: Joyce Smith, VP Social Lites, Inc., Cynthia Wilhite, Social Lites,, Inc. Member and Chairman, Edna Wade. Back Row L/R: Zonte Walker, Julian Houston, Donovan Ferguson, Tyree Walk, Courtney Wilson, Terrance Bradshaw, Brigitte Shaw, Twillea Evans-Carthen, Linda Hart, Ariella Houston, and Madison Gill

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Social Lites, Inc. under the leadership of Bettye Brewster, president, held its inaugural healthy living seminar on Saturday, April 2, at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.  According to the chairperson of the event, Cynthia Wilhite, “Healthy leaving is a lifestyle that needs to be developed and practiced.”  Daily monitoring of healthy choices will help to develop a healthy habit in balancing, nutrition, exercise, and rest.

Brigitte Shaw educated attendees to pay attention to their mental health as well as their physical health.  Dr. Steve Wilson of “In Your Best Interest Medical Clinic,” was among the guest speakers who inspired attendees to work towards preventive care to avoid sickness and illnesses, including heart disease by way of making healthy food choices.

Healthy leaving is more than diet and exercise.  Rest and creating healthy habits is key.  “The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.” Educational information both oral and written were provided to all along with healthy snacks. Participants left the event expressing the morning seminar was time well spent in a relaxed environment to “Learn, Grow and Live Healthy!

By Lue Dowdy

Public Relations is vital in the entertainment world. This week, Publicist, Naomi K. Bonman is WHAT IT DO WITH THE LUE! For those of you don’t know of her well you need to know. I’m so proud of this talented young Queen.

The first time I met Naomi it was through a shared mentor of ours, Mr. Wallace Allen, Owner and Founder of The Westside Story Newspaper. It was something about her drive and passion that made me connect with her. Please catch Naomi live on our radio show this Sunday titled, “Listening with LUE”.

Check out more about this Diva below:

Over the span of 10 years in journalism which has given her several opportunities to interview some of the top entertainers and elected city officials, Naomi K. Bonman has remained true to her calling and purpose in Journalism. Even in the demise and downfalls of print journalism and having to pick up a “regular” day job on the side, Bonman never gave up her first true love and continued to pursue and live out her passion and purpose, no matter what the odds were.

Bonman is currently the editor of a San Bernardino, California newspaper; a contributor of CBS Local’s Best of section; and she also runs her own digital publication Sophisticated Relations and Posh & Tailored where she is at the forefront of creating opportunities for millennials of color in business, lifestyle, and entertainment. With her years of experience in the field, she is ready and is seeing the green light to emerge full-time into a major news station where she can expand her horizon and grow even more into her field. She believes that the sky is the limit and knows that ‘No’ is never the answer.

A graduate of Clark Atlanta University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Masters of Public Administration from DeVry University, Ms. Bonman has ensured that she is equipped with multiple talents which make her more marketable in claiming her career path. During the span of her Journalism career she has been blessed with the opportunities to interview some of the top entertainers, which include but are not limited to Kelly Rowland, Charli Baltimore, David Ruffin Jr., son of Temptation’s lead singer, David Ruffin. She also has experience in reporting in sports, fashion, business, community, finance, health, fitness, and relationship issues.

In addition, Bonman has covered major events such as Style Week LA, NAACP Awards Luncheon, Pan African Film Festival, and several community and corporate events. She is also a publicist where she has clients in literature, music, acting, and management. Bonman is a firm believer in giving back to her community which is why she emerged into doing public relations on the side in helping others achieve their dreams.

Some of the organizations that Ms. Bonman is involved in is the Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, and several blogging societies where she participates in campaign branding opportunities.

When Ms. Bonman is not on the red carpet covering an event, networking, or elevating her career to new heights, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, spending time with family, hanging with her girls, and traveling to see new places and doing new things.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-      Mr. Donovan D. Ferguson, senior at Grand Terrace High School was recognized as Sir Knight 2016 at the 49^th Social Lites, Inc. Beautillion program among approximately 200 guests at the formal event held at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino on Saturday, April 2.  Mr. Ferguson has participated in this annual program as a “Page,” (elementary school) a “Squire,” (middle school) and now a “Knight.”  Also, during this Beautillion season, Mr. Ferguson held the office of president and was awarded “Mr. Congeniality” among his peers.   Mr. Ferguson will be attending Bendict College in Columbia, South Carolina in the Fall and will major in Psychology to work towards becoming a High School Counselor.

This year’s event included guest speaker, Dr. Edward Bush, President of Consumnes River College in Sacramento.  Dr. Bush shared with the “Young men of valor: from vision to reality” to be more than ordinary men, and that they should  strive to become successful men and an asset to society.

All Knights were awarded various scholarships and gifts to help with their future college expenses.  Congratulation to Sir Knight, Donovan D. Ferguson and all participants in the Beautillion program!

For more information for future events and activities, please contact Mrs. Bettye Brewster, President at bettyebrewster@yahoo.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-During National Boys & Girls Club week, which was held from March 7 to March 12, Wells Fargo Cajon District employees participated in the “Blue Jeans for Blue Doors” campaign, a campaign that raises funds by allowing employees to wear jeans to work in exchange for a small donation to the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino.

On Monday, March 28, Shirli Driz, District Manager; and Deborah Smith, Community Business Relationship Specialist, presented a check for $1,255 to the Boys & Girls Club of San Bernardino. The funds were raised entirely by Wells Fargo employees.

By Naomi K. Bonman

For some time now, many African Americans have complained that there were no Black owned hair supply stories and that the Asians were dominating the hair industry. Through the midst of the complaints, no one was doing anything about it until now.  Two young entrepreneurs from Moreno Valley, California decided to quit talking and to be about it!

The Davis sisters, Kayla (19) and Keonna (21), have opened KD Haircare Supply located at 24453 Sunnymead Blvd. Although the city has a high population of Blacks, there is not a large mass of Black owned businesses, so KD Haircare Supply is definitely a major milestone for both the city and for other millennials who aspire to work for themselves and making a living while doing it.

We salute these two! If you’re in the area make sure you stop by and tell them that Westside Story Newspaper sent you. Also be sure to follow them on the social networks @kdhaircarellc or visit www.kdhaircaresupply.com.

By Lou Coleman

Recently I spoke with a young lady. She is a Christian, but she refuses to go to church anymore. You know what her excuse for not going is, “Everybody there’s a hypocrite,” she says. They are so phony. They live one way all week and another on Sunday’s.” Please tell me you’re not the one she’s talking about?  You see one of the biggest excuses the world uses to rationalize why they don’t come to church or are not Christians is the hypocrite excuse. “I don’t go to church because it’s full of hypocrites.” “Who needs church if the people in it are no more genuine than the people outside it?”

Listen, we cannot be phony Christians who nullify our witness by our deeds. William Barclay once said, “A man’s message will always be viewed in context with his character.” In other words, your message don’t mean squat if your actions don’t follow suit. [Titus 1:16] says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions deny Him.” You’re not the one this verse is referring too are you? I want to know; because there is probably no greater a curse on the church than that of hypocritical [phony Christians]. You see the world is not so much turned off by what we preach. They are turned off by the fact we don’t practice what we preach. We don’t walk the talk we talk. That’s why [1Peter 2:1] instructs us to, “rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” We cannot be phony Christians who turn the world off because we fake our relationship with God. Just going through the motions! They aren’t fooled. We must be aware that our deeds affect the lost. [1 Peter 1:21] says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

You know a few years back the Coca Cola Bottling Company decided to start a new campaign to sell Coca Cola. They called it the “Real Thing.” Because they found that people are searching for authenticity. And so it is in our world; people are looking to see if we are the “Real Thing.” Authentic followers of Christ! I tell you we must live our life of authenticity and character so that there will be no doubt in their minds about who we are and Whose we are.

Let me tell you a story. “Once upon a time a grouchy old Deacon was teaching a boy’s Sunday school class. He wanted to help them understand what a Christian was, so he asked them a question. He asked, “Why do people call me a Christian?” There was a moment of silence and then one of the boys said, “Maybe it’s because they don’t know you.” Just like that little boy, Jesus always told it just like it was. He told the Pharisees and the scribes exactly what they were. He told His disciples exactly what resided within the hearts of men. Pretending to be something they were not! I don’t know about you but I would rather be called anything than a hypocrite! Therefore as [Titus 2:7-8] instructs us, “In everything [let us] set the world an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you.”

I tell you, our day-to-day living must become genuinely more and more Christ-like, and not just fake it. We should never be false or defeated Christians. Even if everyone around you seems hypocritical—or even if no one else around you is a Christian—you need to be a real Christian. That is your calling. You need to stand out from the

Panelist Zumar Zamaan (back center) pictured with students who work closely with Dina Walker

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – – BLU Educational Foundation (BLU) launched a thoughtful dialogue this month with the community screening of the award-winning provocative news documentary, The Souls of Black Girls. The screening was held Thursday, March 24 at San Bernardino Valley College and included a post-screening panel discussion with thought-leaders from the Inland Empire Region. The panel also included local students who work closely with Dina Walker, founder of BLU.

Dina Walker, Founder of BLU, pictured with community leaders (l to r) Hardy Brown II and Jonathan Buffong

“Our objective was to provide a safe environment where the community could come together to discuss socially relevant issues facing African American girls and women,” said Walker. It’s important for all women to have a healthy self-image. We’re optimistic that this discussion will extend well beyond Women’s History Month.”

Panelists included Zumar Zamaan, a local writer; Dr. April Clay, a counseling consultant; Faith Ellis, an English teacher; and students Davina Clay, Raihanah Medlock, and Breanna Smith. They each shared personal experiences and how they’ve chosen to navigate issues such as family dynamics, dating relationships and public perceptions of black women.

The screening also served as a precursor to BLU’s Soul Sister’s Leadership Academy and Conference slated for this summer and fall respectively. T-shirts bearing the slogan #BlackGirlsMatter can be purchased to support the Academy and participant scholarships.

Produced by rising filmmaker Daphne Valerius, The Souls of Black Girls raises the question of whether or not women of color may be suffering from a self-image disorder as a result of trying to attain the standards of beauty that are celebrated in media images. The candid piece features interviews with young women discussing their self-image as well as social commentary from Rapper/Political Activist Chuck D, Actresses Regina King and Jada Pinkett Smith, PBS Washington Week Moderator Gwen Ifill and Cultural Critic Michaela Angela Davis, among others.
 

Dennis M. Brown

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Memorial services for Pastor Dennis M. Brown will be held on Friday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at Temple Missionary Baptist Church located at 1583 Union Street in San Bernardino. Pastor Brown was called “The Voice of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” When he would sing, members of the community caked him the Black Elvis.

Pastor Dennis was called home to be with The Lord on Thursday, March 24 at 4:35 p.m. For more information on the services, please call Bishop Leroi Lacey at (949) 705-8191 or Bishop Daniel Frazier at (909) 534-1383.

Front row: Mayor Carey Davis, City of San Bernardino; Supervisor Josie Gonzales, 5th Supervisorial District; San Bernardino Councilman Fred Shorett, 4th Ward; Assemblymembers Eric Linder (R-Corona), Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona), Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino), Jose Medina (D-Riverside),Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga), and Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia); Senator Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga); San Bernardino Councilman John Valdivia, 3rd Ward; and San Bernardino Councilwoman Virginia Marquez, 1st Ward.

Back row: Robert Duarte Gutierrez, American Medical Response; Captain Jack DeJong, San Bernardino County Fire; Chief Mark Garcia, Redlands Police Department; Annemarie Teall, San Bernardino Police Dept. Dispatch Unit; Deputy Sheriff Shaun Wallen, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept.; Chief Jarrod Burguan, San Bernardino Police Dept.; San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon; Chief Thomas Hannemann, San Bernardino City Fire; Ryan Starling, San Bernardino City Fire; Eric Sherwin, San Bernardino County Fire; anonymous lady John Chamberlain on behalf of Kathleen Opliger, San Bernardino County Fire; and Dr. Michael Neeki, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center/San Bernardino County Department of Probation.

By Lue Dowdy

Our YOUTH IS WHAT IT DO WITH THE LUE. This Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the PAL Center come out and support our youth as they perform live! The showcase will be hosted by Comedian, Anthony Stone. The day will consist of a FREE community resource fair opened to the public. “Bring the entire family out for FUN! Until next week, L’z!