Happily Divorced And After

Loma Linda University School of Dentistry’s 25th “Clinic With A Heart” event will provide individuals with free limited dental care on Sunday, January 11. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and concludes when all patient care times are filled. A limited number of patients will be seen on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Procedures provided may include a cleaning, a filling, or an extraction.  No crowns, root canals, or dentures will be performed. Children under 18 will not be treated without an accompanying parent or legal guardian, who must remain with the child the entire time that care is provided. For directions or more information, please call (909) 558-4697.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.” Tony Robbins said, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got!”  It is insane to do the same thing over and over again knowing it has never worked out well before, but thinking maybe this time will be different…  Like I said, “Nothing for Nothing Leaves… Nothing!” Jesus said, “If new wine is put into old wineskins, then the new wine will burst the wineskin, and both will be lost.” Follow me I’m going somewhere with this.  The reason the old bag could not contain the new wine was that it had already held wine, and had already been stretched as far as it was going to be stretched. It had become dry and cracked and inflexible. It simply could not withstand going through that expansion and fermentation all over again! Jesus said that instead, anyone making wine would see to it that it was poured into a new, fresh wineskin… In other words, “…forget the former things… God is always doing something NEW! His works of grace are always NEW and FRESH!

You know it is so easy as a Christian to get into a rut; to always sing the same songs, always read the same Bible verses, always associate with the same people, and always do the same things – never being challenged by Christ to venture out into the unknown to experience the untold blessings God has reserved for us. We hear about the riches in glory in Christ Jesus but we never really experience them because we are afraid to take a step in a direction we’ve never been before. But to change the results you have to change the path. Different results require different action. If you are going to receive the answer God has for you, you are going to have to do what he says, when he says it and where he says to do it.  You see, in your relationship with God success follows obedience, even when what God is asking you do to seem ridiculous to you. Let me remind you that you are not smarter than God. You can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. You can’t rebel against God, go against what he is telling you, and expect success. You can’t do all the wrong things and expect good things to happen. It doesn’t happen that way. Success comes as you are willing to listen to Jesus and do what he says. This involves humility. The disciples were professional fishermen. They knew all about fishing, so they had to be humble enough to do what Jesus said rather than trusting what they had personally learned about fishing. If you are going to fish, you have to put down your net where the fish are. I told you I was going somewhere with this.

If we seek first God’s Kingdom, his rule and his values, then our current crises fall into perspective. Whenever you want to see a different result, a positive change, you have to do something different from whatever you are currently doing. God’s indwelling grace is active. It leads you and influences you. It brings change to you and within you. When I experience difficulties in my life and in the world around me and the questions I ask leave me empty handed, I find there is always one question that jolts me back to reality similar to the one Jesus ask Peter in Matthew 16:13-20: Who do you say that I am? And Peter responds: You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.” Bottom line: Jesus is God. God is at work. God has not abandoned his people. God has done what God had promised. God is with us! What we have to remember is that God has the blueprint for our whole life already… All we have to do is just fit in with His plans for our lives. There are only two choices in life. Having God to order our steps in His will, or ordering our own steps by our own will.  And we all know what Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 tells us, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death….. “Nothing for Nothing Leaves… Nothing!”

Now the Bible talks about divine direction in the Scriptures. And the declaration of Scripture is that God cares about each of us and wants to direct our lives. Our responsibility by God’s own direction is to entrust our way to Him for His direction and leading. Only the eternal God who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, has the infinite wisdom and power, love and mercy needed to direct the affairs of man’s life. We need to understand that God’s leading is always right. And when you allow the Lord to lead you and guide you there will be peace. There will be power. There will be victory. There will be joy. When you allow the Lord to order your steps, lead you and guide you, you will have something to shout about, because when the Lord order your steps, you will be blessed going in and blessed coming out. You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field. When you allow the Lord to order yours steps, you will be the head and not the tail, you will be above and not beneath. Why would we want it any other way? I tell you, “Nothing from Nothing Leaves… Nothing!”

WHAT IT DO I.E.! Well it’s a NEW YEAR and ya girl is back! I hope you missed me. Being a female in the entertainment game; I am always about girl power. I would like to introduce an upcoming entertainment entity called “DIVA’S BASEMENT”, an internet show catering to urban Culture. DIVA’S BASEMENT was formed in 2012 by sisters Nicole Juniel, known as Nikki, and Nina Martinez, known as Nina B. The team also includes two other women,  Danielle Person known as  Queen D and Mychelen Skinner known as My My.

Divas Basement is a metaphor which means “motivated and driven women working hard to help build platforms that urban upcoming artists could use to build their careers from the bottom up.” Their main focus is to talk about issues women are thinking about, but are afraid to say, as well as showcase and interview up and coming talent throughout California. This group of beauties will be bringing you the scoop on all the happenings. I’ve seen these ladies in action, and let me tell you they WORK!!!!  I’m extremely excited for them and wish them SUCCESS.

Filming for their first show starts soon, so if you or someone you know wants to be on their show please email them at DivasBasement@gmail.com. They are looking for musicians, R&B artists, rappers, poets, dancers, models, fashion designers, hair and makeup artists, athletes, cooks, and  more. Please go like their Facebook page at The Diva’s Basement. Well I’m outta here, until next time. L’s UP!

The County of Riverside Commission for Women is accepting nominations for its 2015 Woman of the Year and Young Lady of the Year awards. The awards are bestowed upon an outstanding woman and young lady in each supervisorial district who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the community by working to improve the status of women, young ladies and families within Riverside County.

The Young Lady of the Year participants must be 10 to 18 years of age. Nominations may be submitted by U.S. mail, email or fax.

Nomination applications are due no later than 5 p.m. Feb. 6 and should be as detailed as possible. To be considered:

1. Nominee must reside/work/attend school in the supervisorial district of Riverside County for which she is nominated.
2. Nomination must outline the areas in which the nominee has made an important and noticeable contribution to her community as a leader who helped make Riverside County a better place for women and/or young ladies to reach their full potential.
3. Nomination must explain the areas in which the nominee has gained the respect of her peers. Is she often called upon for advice, mentoring or decisions in these areas? Is she willing to help?
4. Nominee may have been recommended for a specific achievement, program, project, cumulative volunteerism or professional achievements that demonstrate her impact on the lives of the women and families in Riverside County for the better.

Current members of the County of Riverside Commission for Women are ineligible for nomination. Nominations will be reviewed by distinguished Riverside County leaders and the name of each award winner will be forwarded to the Commission for Women. Each winner will be selected based on her work to bring about social and economic change, promote women’s equality, serve as an outstanding role model to women and girls, work on behalf of women’s issues or outstanding performance within her profession to further advocate women’s rights and improve the status of women in Riverside County.

Award winners will be notified and awards will be presented at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 14 at 9 a.m. The Board’s meeting chambers is at 4080 Lemon St. in Riverside, first floor.

Nominations may be submitted by mail to: County of Riverside Commission for Women

Attention: Sundae Sayles

2015 Woman of the Year & Young Lady of the Year

4080 Lemon St., 7th Floor

c/o Human Resources

Riverside, CA 92501

Faxed nominations may be sent to (951) 955-3479 and email nominations should be sent to CFWEMAIL@rivcocfw.com. For more information, go to www.rivcocfw.com.

Mixed Reviews On How to Solve Some Of The States Most Persistent Problems

By Simeon Gant, California Black Media 

Assembly Members Jim Cooper and Kevin McCarty on the Assembly Floor after Governor Jerry Browns unprecedented fourth inaugural address.
Assemblyman Jim Cooper said California needs to address drug addiction and did not support proposition 47, the ballot measure that releases low-level offenders into the community
Cooper Assembly District 9 is from Elk Grove, McCarty 7th District is from Sacramento.

For the first time in the state’s history California elected one person to the Governor’s office four times. The Honorable Edmund “Jerry” Brown was sworn in today in front of both houses of the legislature, California’s judges and a bevy of state officials. Brown combined the State of the State address with his inaugural speech to include his previous accomplishments and a wish list of upcoming issues addressing California.

Brown quickly spoke to the usual concerns of most Californians – education, crime and public safety, health, human services and overall fiscal stability. The most unique aspect of his speech however, was how little has changed.

Brown recalled his first time in the Assembly Chambers. It was1959 during his father, Governor Pat Brown’s inauguration, “That was 56 years ago, yet the issues that my father raised bear eerie resemblance to those we still grapple with today: discrimination, the quality of education and the challenge of recruiting and training teachers, the menace of air pollution, and its danger to our health; a realistic water program; economic development; consumer protection and overcrowded prisons.”

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus responded to the Governor’s speech with hope and optimism for concerns of education equity and a reduction in health disparities throughout the state.

“The Governor is a visionary and very committed to California,” said Assembly Member Shirley Weber, Ph.D., chair of the Assembly Budget Committee. Focusing on how education equity may play out this year, the San Diego representative lawmaker said, “Local Control Funding Formula is still a work in progress. What they do with the resources they get for those special populations is going to be a challenge because we have already run into some roadblocks in terms of accountability and transparency. I want to see outcomes.”

Governor Brown touted the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) as “a much fairer system of school funding.” He informed the audience LCFF’s shift toward giving local school districts more control, giving the state less power and delivering more money to schools “based on the number of students from foster care, low-income families and non-English –speaking parents.”

Freshman Assembly Member Tony Thurmond, a Democrat from Richmond was also pleased to hear the Governor include an increase in health insurance coverage under the Medi-Cal Program.

As chair of the budget subcommittee on health and human services, Assembly Member Thurmond relates to the relatively silent healthcare crises of hospital and clinic closures, “In my district we have a hospital that could close because of the low reimbursement rate in Medi-cal.” He continued, “We know that people of color and low income people are disproportionally impacted around healthcare disparities and we are going to need to make some expansions around Medi-Cal.”

Governor Brown’s speech covered many of the state’s social and economic bases, confidently including the passage of water projects, environmental protection, a $2.8 billion Rainy Day Fund, driver’s licenses for undocumented citizens, $59 billion investment in roads, highways and bridges, the elderly, pensions and criminal justice.

Freshmen Members of the Assembly Tony Thurmond, left and Jim Cooper right share a moment responding the Governor Jerry Brown’s record fourth inaugural address. Thurmond wants to see an expansion of Medi-Cal. Cooper wants to see an emphasis on drug rehabilitation and criminal sentencing. Thurmond is from Richmond, W. Contra Costa, Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda

Referring back to his father’s 1959 inaugural speech Brown reiterated, “He talked about identifying “’those prisoners who should never be released to prey again on an innocent public,’” but he also said, “’we should also determine whether some prisoners are now kept confined after punishment has served its purpose.’”

Newly minted Assemblyman Jim Cooper served most of his career working in law enforcement in Sacramento. He feels realignment—sending many low-level offenders from state prisons to the local jail systems — “is a good start.” However he proclaims the key is to reduce the number of people hooked on drugs and coming out of prison without a plan to get unhooked.  “One of the big issues is substance abuse,” Cooper said.

Since the recent passage of Proposition 47which released from prison low-level drug offenders throughout the state, Cooper says drug courts now don’t have the same teeth in the law to “hold over their head.”  He says prior to this new law the judges could “make them get clean” but no longer have that option.

Governor Brown doesn’t exactly agree with Cooper’s assessment about Proposition 47. His primary concern is overcrowding of prisons. “In the 1970’s we had12 prisons holding fewer than 30,000 prisoners…our system then grew to a peak of 34 prisons, with an inmate population of 173,000, eating up more than 10 percent of our budget dollars. He said the state dramatically lengthened sentences and added a host of new crimes and penalty enhancements to include more than 5,000 separate criminal provisions and over 400 penalty enhancements.

While it is common knowledge California’s prisons are disproportionally populated by men of color – a large number of African American and Latino heritage – the unemployment lines also see this struggling population as an ongoing challenge to California.

Governor Brown’s speech referred to a shrinking unemployment rate, currently sitting at approximately 7.2 percent in California, it’s still lower than the whopping 13.6 percent nationally for African Americans as reported by the US Department of Labor. None of these numbers include Blacks that have simply quit looking for jobs out of fatigue and futility. Governor Brown’s speech didn’t address a solution to the unemployment issue, but strategically included “California has seen more than 1.3 million new jobs created in just four years.”

Many of the new jobs on the horizon may very well come in what he deems three ambitious goals to be accomplished within the next 15 years.

He reminded the audience of the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and carbon pollution to 431 million tons by 2020. Looking forward to 2030 he said the state should, “Increase from one-third to 50 percent our electricity derived from renewable sources; Reduce today’s petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent; and Double the efficiency of existing buildings and make heating fuels cleaner.”

These new efforts require a new and improved workforce, trained in the development of wind, water, solar and waste conversion into energy, specialist in alternative fuel vehicles and a renewed process of redeveloping California’s infrastructure.

The culmination of his speech addressed the potential for jobs by protecting our environment. He said, “We must build on rock, not sand, so that when the storms come, our house stands.”

Loma Linda University Health will announce a new partnership with Zipcar, one of the world’s leading car sharing networks, to offer a Zipcar car sharing program on campus.  The new program will be launched on Wednesday, January 7, noon, on campus in front of Magan Hall, where two of the new vehicles will be showcased.  The event will feature a large group of curious staff and students, brief remarks from officials, and computerized sign ups, in which the first 100 individuals will receive free one-year memberships.

The convenient transportation option will be available at an affordable rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community ages 21 and over.

Loma Linda University Health will initially offer two vehicles, a Toyota Prius and a Ford Focus. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in a campus lot near the southwest intersection of Anderson and Mound streets (lot P) for convenient pick-up and return.  Zipcars will be available on-demand and easily reserved and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This year, Loma Linda University Health students, faculty, and staff can join for $25, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day.  After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $35. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days.  Loma Linda University students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/llu.

“Loma Linda is pleased to partner with Zipcar to help reduce the number of cars on campus by giving students, staff, patients, and community members mobility without the need for car ownership,” said Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, Loma Linda University Health President.  “Zipcar is becoming a popular option on campuses across the country.  We believe this resource will help us continue to make our campus a more pedestrian and bike friendly place; it fits well with our culture of wholeness.  Some students and others who don’t own cars will no longer need to buy a car when they move to Loma Linda. Enjoy the Zipcar convenience!”

Participating members with smartphones, including iPhones and Android devices, will be able to  download the Zipcar mobile application to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles, and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle.  They will also be able to make reservations over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.

“Together with Loma Linda University Health, we’re enabling this next generation of drivers to experience a new generation of cars and transportation in a way that is both convenient and cost-effective, not to mention fun,” said Katelyn Lopresti, general manager for Zipcar University.

Zipcar has established relationships with more than 400 universities across North America. For more information and to learn how to become a member of Zipcar at Loma Linda University Health, please visit www.zipcar.com/llu.  Additional information and promotions can also be found by following @ZipcarU on Twitter.

By Carmel Ferrer

Higher education and upward mobility are often touted as a ticket to better health. Yet a new study suggests that the positive health effects of a good education are felt less by blacks than by whites.

Consider this scenario: Four adults are sitting in a doctor’s office. Two are black and two are white. One black adult and one white adult have high school diplomas; the other two have college degrees.

You might reasonably expect that the two college graduates would be healthier than the ones who finished only high school, owing to the improved access to health insurance, fresh foods, and safe housing that higher education often brings. But the study shows that the health benefits of educational attainment for African Americans may in fact be offset by racial discrimination and other associated stresses.

Conducted over the course of 15 years, the data set—part of an ongoing longitudinal study—assessed subjects at age 30, and then again at age 45, for levels of inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation has been shown to contribute to a greater incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

One of the study’s authors, Thomas Fuller-Rowell, PhD, puts it this way: “Among whites, the more educated you are, the better off you are in terms of inflammation across adulthood. Among African Americans, we found no health benefit to being more educated.”

Fuller-Rowell is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar whose research examines how differences in race and social class affect health. “In order to solve the larger health disparities issue, we need to understand what it is about educational attainment that is more stressful for African Americans,” he explains.

As the study points out, stress is a prime suspect when it comes to poor immune function, slow healing, and infections. Long-term stress can cause chronic inflammation, which in turn contributes to a greater incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

“Upward mobility and education are put forward as the best way to improve health disparities, but these findings suggest that eliminating educational disparities will not be enough,” says Fuller-Rowell. “We have to address the differential stresses of getting a higher education along with issues relating to white-dominated workplaces.”

One of the study’s recommendations is to increase programs that not only encourage upward mobility among underrepresented groups, but also “acknowledge and seek to mitigate the challenges of navigating educational and workplace contexts that are often racially and culturally insensitive. “

According to Fuller-Rowell, “We need institutional and governmental programs that are designed to remedy group disparities so that we can address the legacy of racial inequity in the United States.” The study, he notes, defines rather than explains the problem.

“We’re now working on research that gets to the explanation,” he says.

Jacob Whitesides

The Internet has helped make stories available of young girls who are struggling with thoughts of suicide and depression. One local Los Angeles teen has set out to spread awareness and hope to those in need. Delila Brown, 14, an eighth-grader at Flintridge Preparatory School, has organized a concert featuring singer/songwriter Jacob Whitesides to benefit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which provides quality mental health care and substance use disorder services in communities where stigma or poverty limit access. The event takes place on January 10^that the school auditorium from 3p.m.-8p.m. There will be a “meet and greet” with Jacob for 200 people who purchase $100 VIP tickets. Location: Flintridge Preparatory School, 4345 Crown Avenue, La Canada Flintridge.

As to how Delila came to host the event and chose Didi Hirsh, she said, “I was thinking about what I should do for my 8^th grade community service project. I didn’t want to just put out a collection box like a lot of other people I know. So I came up with the idea of having a benefit concert. My teacher helped me find some good charities. She knew about Didi Hirsch and what they do with suicide prevention. That sounded good to me. So we did some research to make sure it was a good organization. Then we had to find someone to do the concert. My dad builds stages and has a friend who is a concert promoter. He told me I should find someone who is not too famous, but up and coming, otherwise it would be hard to get the person to come. I found Jacob Whitesides on YouTube a few years ago and have been following him ever since. My dad’s friend helped me reach out to him through his manager (who happens to be his mom). He wanted to make sure it was a legitimate event and did his own research on Didi Hirsch before he told his manager he wanted to do it. He says he knows a lot of his fans have gone through depression and have been suicidal and he wants to help them.”

Jacob is a 17-year old Internet phenomenon who has six million+ views on YouTube and over one million followers on Twitter.

For more information about Delila, click here.

ABOUT DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services provides mental health, substance use disorder and wellness services to more than 74,000 children and adults in 11 locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties each year. Our Suicide Prevention Center’s Crisis Line has English- and Spanish-speaking counselors available 24/7, is one of five centers nationwide to operate the Disaster Distress Helpline, and offers online emotional support, community training and bereavement support groups for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Learn more atwww.didihirsch.org.

Alejandre taking Administration of Oath led by Mr Mark Sumpter, President, S B County Board of Education
(Photo by John Coleman)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-Ted Alejandre took the oath of office becoming San Bernardino County’s 34^th superintendent during a ceremony today at the National Orange Show. Alejandre pledged to form a team among educators, stakeholders, community members and education partners to further academic opportunities for the more than 411,000 students who attend public school in San Bernardino County.

“Together, we will transform lives through education in our county,” Alejandre said.

About 500 community members, family, staff and dignitaries attended the oath of office ceremony. Alejandre was sworn into office by Mark Sumpter, president of the County Board of Education. Starting his career with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools office in 2008 as the assistant superintendent of Business Services, Alejandre brings more than 25 years of experience in public education to his new role as county superintendent. Alejandre is the first-ever Hispanic to serve in the position. Alejandre, who is a native of San Bernardino County, has worked in the Rialto, San Bernardino and Yucaipa-Calimesa school districts as a teacher, principal and administrator, prior to his stint with County Schools.

SPEAKERS

Michael & Regina Winans

Men ‘Only’ Session:
Facilitator:
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Alpha Alpha Chapter

Women ‘Only’ Session:
Facilitator:
Nekisha-Michelle Kee, MSW
(Relationship Expert & Urban Matchmaker and TV Personality)

‘Work family balance and healthy conflict resolution for Married and Couples’:
Facilitator:
Letitia Clark, MPP

‘Depression among Divorced and Widowed’:
Facilitator:
Dr. La Grande Mason

‘Stigma around being Single’:
Facilitator:
Dr. Aesha Roberts

‘Minority Owned Business (e.g. funding, programs, etc.)’:
Facilitator:
Baron Kevyn Jerome Nelson

‘Debt Reduction Strategies’:
Facilitator:
Coach Chris

‘Community Awareness: State of Black America’:
Moderator:
Bert Wright

Panelists:
Dr. E. Lance McCarthy
Kareem Muhammad
Juanita Hamilton