By Max Elramsisy | California Black Media

State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office to begin his second term on Jan. 7 at a ceremony conducted at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Los Angeles.

Thurmond oversees the education of 6 million PreK-12 students in over one thousand public school districts across California.

Although SPI is a non-partisan office, Thurmond drew support from many of the state’s top Democrats in his bid for re-election, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and several members of the California Legislative Black Caucus. He was also endorsed by unions across the state, including the California Federation of Teachers and California Teachers Association.

United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona performed the ceremonial swearing in of Thurmond, who then reflected on his path to the office. The son of a Panamanian immigrant mother and Vietnam veteran father, who did not return to his family after the war – Thurmond and his brother were raised by their cousin and relied on public assistance programs and public schools to make it out of poverty.

“I am standing on the shoulders of those relatives who struggle and sacrifice so that we could have a better life,” Thurmond said after he was sworn in. “It was the sacrifices of teachers and classified staff and childcare workers and school administrators who make it possible for me to stand here today as your public servant fighting for 6 million students in the great state of California.”

Thurmond’s first term coincided with one of the most tumultuous periods in California’s history — a time, he says, that brought with it many unforeseen challenges.

“We all watched it together. The lives lost and impacted and disrupted by the pandemic,” Thurmond said before pointing out other cultural, social and political developments the country endured as the COVID-19 crisis intensified.

“The killing of George Floyd, fighting hate against the Asian American Pacific Islander community, racism targeted directly to African American families, anti-Semitism, the mistreatment of Latino families, immigrant families, we have seen so much hate all in such a short period of time that we would move into a pandemic and find out that, in a state with all the wealth that we have in California, that a million students could be without a computer,” Thurmond added. “That is the most important thing that they needed to be connected in those early days through remote learning.”

Thurmond says his administration stepped up to address challenges presented by the pandemic.

“We know that the impact this has had clearly affected student proficiency levels where they are now compared to where they were a few years before the pandemic and of course, a deep, deep impact on the mental health of our students and our families,” he said.

“We’ve seen a dramatic increase in depression and anxiety and hospitalizations for children and it has been difficult for them,” Thurmond continued. “But our children are more than the sum of their circumstances. They’ve demonstrated their resiliency, and they’re on the path to recovery, and we’re going to help them with that because we just secured enough money to recruit 10,000 counselors for our schools in the state of California.”

The addition of counselors is good news for teachers across the state seeking resources to help their students recover and develop in areas outside of academics where school also plays a crucial role for many students. “I was very excited when superintendent Thurman said that there would be 10,000 counselors coming to the school sites because we need that. The emotional health of our students, that is important, that is very important,” said elementary school math teacher and California Teacher of the Year award recipient Bridgette Donald-Blue to California Black Media.

The SPI does not have any legislative role. But Thurmond, who served in the California State Assembly for two terms, sponsored or endorsed several legislative initiatives that may have a profound effect on the future of education in California and the role that schools play to meet the social and emotional needs of students to provide a positive learning environment.

Thurmond says, beginning in the 2022–23 school year, the California Universal School Meal Program will help all students to reach their full academic potential by providing a nutritiously adequate breakfast and lunch at no charge for all children each school day regardless of individual eligibility.

Thurmond also has initiatives to combat inequities in the school system including universal preschool for 4-year-olds regardless of background, race, zip code, immigration status, or income level. He also launched the Black Student Achievement Taskforce to help quantify the impacts systemic and institutional racism have had on Black students in California.

Thurmond points out that he sponsored legislation to increase funding to the lowest performing students, ban suspension and expulsions in preschools, and secured $90 million for suspensions and chronic absenteeism programming.

“I know the impacts of what happens when our students don’t learn to read by third grade. Sadly, they end up dropping out in many cases and in the criminal justice system, and we’re going to change the narrative and flip the script. We’re going to educate, not incarcerate our kids.” Thurmond repeated a pledge for today’s kindergarteners to be able to read by third grade,” he said.

Recently, some education advocates pointed out that there has been a reported wave of retirements and disincentives that have led to an unprecedented teacher shortage across the nation. In response, Thurmond says he is creating new incentives to draw qualified people into the school system to help students, especially those who are of color.

“We’re offering scholarships for anyone who wants to become a teacher. $20,000,” Thurmond told California Black Media. “I sponsored a bill, HB 520, that was focused on how we get more male educators of color. And that bill turned into funding in the state budget. That now means our residency programs can be used to help have male educators of color as part of the beneficiaries of that program.”

PHILIPPINE SEA—U.S. Navy Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Daniel Lopez Montoya, from Apple Valley, Calif., relays a message during a general quarters drill on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

PHILIPPINE SEA—U.S. Navy Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Jose Flores, from Adelanto, Calif., performs maintenance on a refueling system in the hangar bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) was awarded a $20,000 grant by Stater Bros. Charities to support one of its newest programs, a Mobile Community Kitchen.

Stater Bros. Charities is at the forefront of helping to address food insecurity in San Bernardino County. The mobile program will roll out in 2023 as an expansion of CAPSBC’s other mobile services such as the Mobile Shower, Mobile Laundry, Mobile Offices and Mobile Food Pantry. These services are targeted for remote areas of the county to meet the needs of the most vulnerable residents. The Mobile Community Kitchen will provide nutritious hot meals to food insecure communities. CAPSBC’s goal is to increase the accessibility of healthy hot meal options to food deserts and underserved communities comprised of elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals.

“We are honored to be a recipient of these funds. Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros. Markets have consistently and generously supported our organization with both monetary and food donations,” said Patricia Nickols-Butler, CAPSBC President & Chief Executive Officer. “Partnerships like this help create a lasting impact in our communities. Last year alone, 214,415 individuals had access to nutritious hot meals prepared by our 27 partner soup kitchens and over 16 million pounds of food. Our new Mobile Community Kitchen will help increase the number of hot meals and will help us reach communities in the most remote areas of the county.”

“Stater Bros. Charities appreciates all that CAPSBC does not only to feed those in need but just as importantly, to feed their souls,” said Director of Stater Bros. Charities Danielle Oehlman. “In addition to food, CAPSBC’s mobile services such as Mobile Shower, Mobile Laundry, and Mobile Offices perform the important role of helping every person maintain their dignity.”

Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros. Markets are valued partners in the agency’s work to relieve hunger in local communities and CAPSBC is grateful to receive their support for the newest mobile service program.

About Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County 

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino is the designated Community Action Agency for San Bernardino County and is charged with providing programs and services for over 800,000 low-income individuals and families to help lift them out of poverty. CAPSBC has been serving San Bernardino County since 1965. CAPSBC provides resources and opportunities to low-income residents to improve their lives, contribute to their communities, and offer a return on investment for our county. Core programs include Family Development, Energy, Education and Environmental Services and the Food Bank.

For more information, please call 909-723-1500 or e-mail info@capsbc.org or visit our website www.capsbc.org.

About Stater Bros. Markets 

Communities throughout Southern California look to Stater Bros. Markets for Fresh. Affordable. Community First. grocery shopping every day. Stater Bros. nurtures families and their communities at more than 170 stores and through the helping hands of 18,000 caring employees. While the Stater Bros. meat counter is legendary for its quality and variety, every store department is designed to surprise and delight today’s shoppers. The company lives out its values through the charitable efforts of its non-profit, Stater Bros. Charities. Learn more at staterbros.com.

By Jaivon Grant | California Black Media

Black and other minority-owned small businesses in California have actively fought for decades for more inclusion in California state government contracting opportunities.

Their hard work and patience paid off in September last year, when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2019 into law.

Authored by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), the law took effect on Jan. 1. It mandates that state departments and agencies commit to providing at least 25% of all procurement opportunities to small businesses. Additionally, the bill requires state departments and agencies ensure that minority-owned and women-owned businesses are included in the procurement process, when contracting opportunities are available.

“California has invested billions of dollars to help small businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their California Dream,” said Newsom when signing the bill September 2022. “These new laws build on our efforts to create a more inclusive economy with renewed opportunity for innovation and growth for the country’s largest small business community. I’m thankful for the Legislature’s leadership and support to help the backbone of our economy thrive.”

Newsom signed AB 2019 after it passed in the Assembly unanimously with a 74-0 vote and it passed in the Senate 34-0.

Small businesses employ nearly 7.2 million workers (or 48.8% of all employees in California).

According to AB 2019, more than 39% of California’s 4.1 million small businesses (1.6 million) are minority owned. The bill is projected to have a significant positive impact on the overall economic stability of the state by enhancing state agencies’ ability to support underserved businesses in state contracting and encouraging entrepreneurship.

“Billions of dollars are at stake in our state contracting process and when we make it fair for diverse entrepreneurs, the success of these small businessowners lift up communities all across our state,” said Petrie-Norris, who is Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. “This bill will not only keep the state accountable, but it would give businesses that face systemic barriers an opportunity to succeed, keep families fed, create jobs and vitalize their communities.”

A coalition of minority-owned business advocacy organizations recently produced and released a video emphasizing some of the benefits of working with the state government.

“There are a lot of times where you’re questioning ‘am I going to have enough work for my small company,’” minority business owner Gary Efhan, CEO of Qualis Telecom stated in the video. “Without support, it’s pretty hard, and I’ve seen a lot of people go out of business.”

“Supporting us — and being in our communities –that will make a huge difference for sure,” Efhan added.

In the same video, CalAsian Chamber of Commerce President Pat Fong expressed that are many barriers to full participation for small businesses in California.

“Part of our goal with AB 2019 is to come up with an infrastructure that makes sense for small businesses,” Fong said. “There’s an understanding about what types of opportunities are available that are easy to access. How do we better connect California’s diverse businesses to those opportunities? I think that’s the challenge but also the opportunity.”

The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce represents more than 815,000 Latino-owned business in California — organizations that, in aggregate, contribute more than 7% to the United States’ GDP, the organization says.

“As proud co-sponsors of AB 2019, we are thankful that the bill is now signed by the Governor,” said Julian Canete, President of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. “There are numerous and diverse small businesses who can provide services and products to the State and this bill ensures they at least have a fighting chance to be awarded a contract. Thank you to Assemblymember Petrie-Norris for her work on this bill.”

The bill has garnered strong support from the California Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority, the California African American Chamber of Commerce, the California State Controller, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

By Lou K Coleman-Yeboah

I’ve tried to get you to listen. I sent many people to you, just like I sent prophets to the people of Israel and Judah to warn them of their apostasy and impending judgment, and just like them, you too wouldn’t listen. ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ [Isaiah 6:9]. This is the broken heart of God. This is love disappointed and wounded. This is God experiencing a deep, piercing sorrow over His loved and lost creation.

Listen, things are not what they seem. The world is headed towards the “Abomination that causes Desolation.” The current crisis that is going on right now in the world is developing a scenario that is going to bring into FULL FORCE, SOON AND VERY SOON, the One World Government, One World Religion, and One-World Economic System, the Mark of the Beast, which is already in effect and which when in full force will be a time of incredible darkness that will descend on the world. [Revelation 13: 1-18]. I tell you; it is imperative that you understand the prophecies and remain aware of future events.

As Pope Francis said in a wide-ranging conversation with the editors of European Jesuit publications on May 19, referring to Russia’s attack against Ukraine, “World War III” has been declared. “The world is at war,” he said. This is something that should give us PAUSE FOR THOUGHT. The danger is that we only see this, which is monstrous, and WE DO NOT SEE THE WHOLE DRAMA UNFOLDING behind this war.

Not only that Pope Francis, who stated World War III has already begun, made another chilling comment when in early December he stated: “While the world starves, burns, and descends further into chaos, we should realize that this year’s Christmas celebrations, for those who choose to celebrate, IT MAY BE THEIR LAST. By this time next year, the world will likely be UNRECOGNIZABLE.”

I’ve warned you. The New World Order is about to launch into full swing and the world is going to be turned UPSIDE DOWN as the result! Prepare yourself and loved ones for what is coming. Know and understand the prophecies, so that you will not be deceived!

For, then I heard another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” [Revelation 14:9].

They were warned, they did not listen and then it happened.

REDLANDS, CA—- The theme of Wallace’s monologue is, “Become an anti-bigot!”. On Empire Talks Back show this past Sunday, January 8, Eugene Weems, KOTS (King of the Streets) MMA Underground Heavyweight Champion stopped by, along with Lue Dowdy and Deeveatva Bourne, who are the MLK Parade Coordinators and Parade Marshall. Baby “D” of J.J. Fad, the legendary Female Rappers from Rialto who performed the world-famous Gold Record, ‘Supersonic’ also stopped by the radio station.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- The Westside Story Newspaper is sad to announce that on Monday, January 9, 2023, the Deborah Smith-Gilbert passed away. She was a member of the Inland Empire National Council of Negro Women (IENCNW). More information will be fore coming.