By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

On October 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom, California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, educational leaders, community organizations, and the California Volunteers Commission administered the service oath to the first #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Fellows.

Over 3,200 student fellows during the 2022-2023 academic year will receive up to $10,000 for completing a year of community service. College Corps is a statewide paid service program that provides meaningful work to college students that helps, them graduate on time with less debt while benefiting the local community.

The oath is a solemn promise to perform voluntary work with the intention of helping people and improving communities.

“Part of the California way is giving back to help uplift others, and that is a core principle of the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps,” Newsom stated. “College Corps is about restoring the social contract between the government and its citizens. This public investment builds upon California Volunteers’ army of service members, which is larger than the Peace Corps and exemplifies the spirit and idealism I see in young people across California.”

The oath was taken in front of Newsom at the California Natural Resources Agency Building in downtown Sacramento, a few blocks from the State Capitol.

Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was in attendance.

Over the next four years, College Corps will engage 13,000 California undergraduates to make a positive difference in their communities. This service and career development program will help build a diverse class of leaders set to transform California for the better.

Funding was made possible by the efforts of Newsom and the Legislature. The program is the first opportunity for Assembly Bill (AB) 540 CA Dream Act students to earn support for college in a state service program.

“I decided to apply because I am pursuing a career in education, and #CaliforniansForAll College Corps is a way for me to earn as I learn,” said Tia Rowe, a College Corps Fellow from Sacramento State University. “I’m looking forward to working in my community and playing an active role in bringing people together.”

Rowe, along with other College Corps fellows, will take part in community service projects across the state. Fryday said College Corps is an opportunity to “begin a life of service” to benefit the masses. The program is a collaboration of over 600 community organizations, including 46 partnering colleges and universities across the state.

The objective is to address issues pertaining to climate change, tutoring and mentoring, low-income students, and distributing meals to those facing food insecurity. Once the fellows finish their assignments, they stand to receive $7,000 for 450 hours of community service. An additional $3,000 is provided as an education award.

“You and I are going to be part of a movement toward change,” Rowe said before the oath was administered in the auditorium of the California Natural Resources Agency Building. “We’re going into our own communities and playing an active role in building them up.”

College Corps represents the first and largest state-level investment in a college service program in the country, with $146 million earmarked for up to 6,500 students over the next two years. About 80% of fellows are students of color, 58 % are first-generation college students, 68% are Pell-Grant eligible, and 500 fellows are AB 540 Dream Act.

A virtual briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media was held on Oct. 11 featuring Fryday, President and CEO of FIND Food Bank Debbie S. Espinosa, and student fellows. The discussion centered around the vision that inspired the program, how it works, who is eligible, how to apply, and where students will do their community service.

“This is a win-win-win: Helping to pay for college, gaining valuable work experience, and having a meaningful impact on your community,” Fryday stated.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at the auditorium of the California Natural Resources Agency in regard to #CaliforniansForAll College Corps:

Governor Gavin Newsom.mp4

Tia Mowry and her children take a spin on the Mad Tea Party attraction at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California during Halloween Time on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Halloween Time continues at the Disneyland Resort now through October 31, 2022.

PASADENA, CA— Assemblymember Chris Holden presented his legislative update to the Pasadena City Council which included local budget victories, $5 million to the Pasadena Central Library and $3 million to Rose Bowl Stadium.

The Pasadena Central Library was founded years before Pasadena was incorporated as a city. It first opened its doors to the public on February 26, 1884, located on the south side of Colorado St. between Raymond St. and the Santa Fe tracks. The library’s mission is to provide a basic municipal service, as an information center for the Pasadena community in order to preserve and encourage the free expression of ideas essential to an informed citizenry.

“These funds will be able to support the necessary retrofitting of the library,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “It makes me happy to be able to support local art and education programming by helping this community staple thrive.”

On June 30th, the Legislature and Governor Newsom approved $5 million for the Pasadena Central Library for their infrastructural improvements, retrofitting needs and ADA amenities for building access, inclusivity, and usage.

The Rose Bowl Stadium opened its doors to the public in 1922 and is currently celebrating its Centennial Celebration. The Rose Bowl will turn 100 later this month on October 28th. Between 1996 and 2002, the Rose Bowl was the home of the LA Galaxy and has been selected as the host site of the men’s and women’s soccer matches during the LA28 Olympic Games

Designated as a National Historic Landmark the Rose Bowl Stadium is as vibrant as ever, welcoming over 1 million people annually.

“The Rose Bowl is a San Gabriel Valley community landmark, and I am proud to say that through this grant we are able to help this historic stadium live on with audiences from all over the country and from our local communities,” said Assemblymember Holden.

On June 30^th, the Legislature and Governor Newsom approved $3 million for the Rose Bowl Stadium for gas and water infrastructure improvements and the historical preservation of the iconic venue.

“We thank Assemblymember Holden for his continued support of the Rose Bowl Stadium. As we celebrate our centennial, we look back to those that have made this amazing accomplishment possible, and forward to those that will ensure another 100 years of relevance for this iconic building and grounds. Assemblymember Holden represents the best of both of those groups having been a champion of the stadium for many years, and one of the biggest advocates for future investments in this historic place. He continues to step up for the Rose Bowl Stadium, the City of Pasadena, and the entire San Gabriel Valley,” said Jens Weiden, Chief Executive Officer of the Rose Bowl Stadium.

The Republican Party has found it hard to convince Black Californians to join them. But for Black Republican candidates running for Congress in California, it’s about running winning campaigns, which means getting voters to accept the Republican Party platform.

What that platform is, however, depends on which Republican you ask.

Republican Joe Collins III is hoping that the second time is a charm. A 13-year Navy veteran, who spent his early years in South Central LA, Collins ran against Maxine Waters for her Congressional seat in 2020. Now he is running against Ted Lui to represent California’s 36th Congressional district after making it onto the November 8 ballot with 14% of the vote — well behind Lui’s 66%.

Collins sees the race as a referendum on both parties. He asserts that the Democratic party, which has controlled much of California for the last few decades, has failed Black constituents. He believes the ideologies of the Republican party are more in line with traditional African American values, but the party needs to reach out.

“We don’t have a lot of people that are Black that are in the Republican Party speaking to the everyday stuff of Black America, it just doesn’t happen,” says Collins

Craig De Luz, a longtime Republican advisor in California, explains that more is needed than just trying to get African Americans to register as Republicans. It is about getting them to see the Republican platform as aligned with their own values. DeLuz, and other Black Republicans are trying to reframe their political positions to correspond with those values.

For DeLuz and Collins how a person votes at the end of the day is what is important.

The idea that neither party has performed well for its members is a distinct part of the pitch that Black Republicans are trying to make. Pastor Brian Hawkins’ website express his views upfront in the motto, “We the People vs the Establishment.”

Hawkins is the Republican on the November ballot in the race to represent California’s 25th Congressional district. He advanced through his primaries with 16.4% of the vote and will face Democrat Raul Ruiz who received 56.4%, according to Ballotpedia.

Hawkins served on the Jacinto city council. He also served time in prison during his youth. According to Hawkins, he chose to turn his ten years in prison into an opportunity to change his life. He created mentorship programs to help other inmates. His unique background echoes many of the issues facing some Black Americans. A lifelong Republican, he joined the party based on the positions it held during the mid-1980’s, “not so much where the party is right now.”

The current Republican party is difficult for Hawkins to explain. He admits that he has occasionally supported Democrats because he votes with the platform and not necessarily the party. In 2016 he voted for Hilary Clinton.

“Even as a pastor, when we did precincts at our church, I never encouraged anyone to vote any particular party. I encourage people to vote with what speaks to their issues,” says Hawkins. “And, you know, both parties can be off from issues that are concerning the everyday person. I voted for Democrats in the last election, and I have never just said, ‘Hey, I’m going red all the way down my ticket.’”

Hawkins admits that there are some in the Republican party that adhere to what he describes as “anger and racism.” He has even encountered voters who were concerned that his long beard would make him look “too Muslim.” Hawkins thinks this is holding his party back and that those who pretend not to see it are “just fooling themselves.”

Hawkins describes discussing Trump as sad because it makes the party about one person. He thinks Trump should not run in 2024 and that there should be more space made for new leadership with different perspectives like himself. He wants to look beyond this to what he thinks the party can be.

“I really kind of have a hard time getting behind him [Trump] because I really want to see this country move forward. We want to see people get uplifted and get access to equal opportunities,” said Hawkins. “You know, things like that, it just irritates me.”

Tamika Hamilton is a mother and wife to Ray Hamilton, a police officer. She spent 14-years active service in the U.S. Airforce and is currently an Air Force Reservist. She is running as a Republican against Ami Bera to represent California’s 6th Congressional District.

Hamilton says her candidacy is more about policy than party. If she is elected, it’s possible she would be the only Republican Black woman in Congress, and the second in history after Mia Love, who served Utah’s 4th district from 2015 to 2019.

Like Hawkins and Collins, Hamilton is trying to defeat an incumbent Democratin what is considered to be a safe Democratic district.

Her strong Christian values are imbedded in her platform and in a 2020 Good Morning America profile she talked about what being a Republican means to her.

“Republicans offer a space for you to uphold the values that this country was founded upon,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton, Hawkins and Collins all describe themselves as favoring platform over party, but they are devotedly Republican. They all see personal connection as a way to bridge the gap between the Black community and the Republican party.

November 8 is election day.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Wednesday morning, Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. hosted his second College and Career Day event for 300 high school juniors and seniors from San Bernardino City Unified School District and Rialto School District. The event took place at San Bernardino Valley College and was meant to assist our current high school students to explore their opportunities after graduation. Over twenty community partners had both informative and interactive booths for students to engage with. The students were taught how to create a strong resume, engage in a technology presentation by Amazon, and explore various job opportunities with County Fire, Law enforcement, EMT departments and dozens of other workforce departments and post-secondary educational opportunities.

“It’s very normal to not know exactly what your future is going to look like after high school. Not everyone has a set plan and that is okay. But what is not okay is to not have any plan or be aware of what opportunities are surrounding you to grow. My plan is to host this event at least twice a year to assure that all the high school juniors and seniors in the Fifth District have been personally reached to broaden their horizons on what opportunities they have after high school. Success is always possible, and it is up to these young people to work and or study hard to achieve their goals. This event was meant to let our students know that the county is behind them every step of the way, cheering them on. This event would not be made possible without all the support from our local schools and community partners, so I thank you all for all the help and support you have shown our fifth district students.”-Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in San Bernardino, California will take the Gospel to the street on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing in a new season of ministry with its Fall Family Festival on the parking lot that wraps around the church edifice at 1575 W. 17th Street. The theme for the event is “Imitating the Model of Christ: Teaching, Preaching, and Healing” (Mt. 9:35-38).

The Church family, neighbors, and the community at large are invited to share in a celebration of faith, worship, fellowship, food, taco trucks, fun and games, music, and educational resources. A key offering in the day’s activities will be a COVID-19 Workshop and Vaccination Clinic, offering educational resources, first and second vaccine doses and booster shots.

The purpose of our Vaccinate All 58 Neighborhood Partnership Program inclusion in their Fall Family Festival is to educate community members on safe practices for the prevention of COVID-19.  They will host a COVID-19 educational Continental breakfast seminar at 10 a.m. for anyone interested.  Come learn the importance of “herd immunity” and the best ways to protect seniors and others who are vulnerable.  They are delighted for the partnership and opportunity to encourage the importance of vaccinations. They recognize that they are trusted messengers in their community and as a Faith-based institution, they can reach their membership and neighborhoods in effective and unique ways.

Dr. Michael Andrew Owens, Pastor of New Hope, says the festival is a continuation of the collaboration of the church with government and health care agencies to extend vaccine and testing opportunities into the heart of the community, in easy reach of vulnerable populations, where trust and access to care may be challenging.  Healing is central to the Gospel message of Christ, and a theme that will be amplified in an atmosphere of thanksgiving for being able to come together in person, as the COVID – 19 threat wanes and relationships are renewed.

For more information on the day’s activities and vendor applications, call 909-887-2526.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Miss Black awareness scholarship pageant contestants enjoyed an afternoon of sisterhood at Fiesta Village in Colton, California, as they prepare for the race to the finish line.  The Miss Black Awareness Scholarship Pageant will be held on Saturday, December 17^th at the Cypress Neighborhood Community Center in Fontana. Doors will open at 5 p.m.  Get your tickets early and save $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Aarons succeeds Margaret Redd as NAAIA’s executive director.

WASHINGTON, DC—- The National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) announces the appointment of Omari Jahi Aarons as its Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. Effective October 1st, Aarons is responsible for the strategic development and execution of the organization’s goals and objectives. Most recently, Aarons was hired by NAAIA as its National Program Director to manage national office functions following the vacancy created by the organization’s former executive director, Margaret Redd’s, departure. Over the last two years, Aarons has worked as an independent management consultant specializing in workplace equity and inclusion.

Prior, Aarons served as Employee Enablement Strategy Leader for Liberty Mutual’s Global Retail Markets U.S. Division. In that role, Aarons led a rewards and recognition team and an employee culture team that targeted specific interactions in the employee experience to accelerate and deepen customer-centric efforts. Aarons also served as an advisor to senior leaders on workplace inclusion strategies as the national co-chair of the African descent employee resource group where he is credited as a key influencer in crafting the company’s conversation on race and race relations.

Aarons also spent 10 years at Macy’s after completing their executive development program in the credit and customer service division and progressing to senior manager and director roles in stores learning and development, leadership development and human resources

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

Last week, I wrote a commentary marking 10 years since the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) Board of Education lost control of Inglewood schools. I requested that it not be printed when I was informed that Dr. Erika Torres had announced she was stepping down from her position as IUSD County Administrator because she had a recurrence of breast cancer.

The commentary was very critical of Torres’ administration so under the circumstances I decided to rewrite it removing the focus from her. I wish her well as she concentrates on her health and her family’s wellbeing

On Oct. 3, 2012, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tom Torlakson met with the IUSD School Board and told them that he was assuming all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board. At the same time, he introduced Kent Taylor as his State Administrator that would be acting as both the governing board and superintendent.

Senate Bill (SB) 533 authored by Sen. Rod Wright (D-Inglewood) and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 14, 2012, approved an emergency appropriation of up to $55 million for IUSD to avoid fiscal insolvency.

The School Board asked Wright to write a bill requesting pre-approval for a state loan in case they needed it to cover a cash flow shortfall projected to occur in March 2013.

Wright said to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, “Mr. Chair, this bill does not require that they take the money. Inglewood will spend the next few months attempting to work out their financial issues. We need this bill in place today to provide the authorization for up to $55 million. If they don’t need it, they don’t have to take it. If they need less than that, they can take less.”

Two days before Brown signed SB 533, the Board approved a resolution cutting teacher salaries and benefits up to 15 %, which would allow IUSD to avoid borrowing any state money.

But SB 533 gave Torlakson immediate authority over Inglewood schools as a condition of state receivership. That was not what the Board asked for or expected in Wright’s bill.

Torlakson wasted no time exercising that authority at the urging of the California Teachers Association acting on complaints from Inglewood Teacher Association President Peter Somberg and CTA Inglewood representative Jeff Good who were upset by the Board resolution and proponents of the state taking over IUSD.

The IUSD School Board never asked the state for money authorized in SB 533.

The first thing Taylor did was rescind the Board resolution cutting teacher salaries. He borrowed $19 Million from the state without financial necessity and the loan he initiated put IUSD into receivership.

Torlakson appointed six administrators (two were interim administrators) over six years and borrowed $29 Million without financial justification from the state’s General Fund.

Dr. Don Brann was Torlakson’s least effective appointee. He failed to balance the budget, failed to maintain school facilities, and failed to secure millions of dollars in state and federal grants that Inglewood qualified for before it went into receivership.

Community advocates outraged over Brann’s ineffectiveness convinced the Legislature to spend about $300,000 to audit IUSD. The audit findings persuaded Torlakson to appoint experienced and accomplished administrators.

He terminated Brann’s employment and replaced him with Dr. Vincent Matthews who had been superintendent at Oakland Unified and San Jose Unified School District.

Matthews balanced IUSD’s budget and repaired confidence in the school district damaged by Brann. He resigned from IUSD when offered the opportunity to lead the San Francisco Unified School District.

Following Matthews, Torlakson appointed Dr. Thelma Meléndez. She had been Pomona Unified superintendent, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education (Obama administration), Santa Ana Unified superintendent, Mayor Garcetti’s chief education adviser and a senior administrator at Los Angeles Unified School District.

Meléndez engaged the IUSD community in developing a strategic plan for Inglewood students. She invited the community to meet at the “Fabulous” Inglewood Forum to express their thoughts and ideas so they would be included in the plan. She used bond money that was not being utilized to repair and upgrade the schools.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1840 enacted in 2018 to provide financial relief to IUSD and Oakland Unified School District also transferred responsibility for managing IUSD from the SPI to the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) and L.A. County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo.

Duardo selected Deputy Superintendent Torres to lead LACOE staff assigned to work withMeléndez. To Duardo’s credit, she provided support staff that Torlakson didn’t when he was in charge.

After a few months of working with Duardo and Torres, Meléndez surprised the community when she announced plans to retire before her contract expired.

Torres was selected to be Inglewood’s seventh administrator under receivership after a number of candidates were interviewed.

Torres’ appointment was a tremendous drop off from the administrative experience Melendez brought to IUSD. At the time, it appeared that Duardo hadn’t learn from the mistakes Torlakson made with his early appointments.

Torres had never led a school district or even been a school principal or teacher.

Unlike Torlakson who visited Inglewood several times, Duardo ignored advice to introduce herself and Torres to the community. Their failure to connect has contributed to community mistrust of actions taken by county administration.

A few weeks ago, trying to pacify the IUSD community’s frustration and anger with a number of their bad decisions, Duardo and Torres conducted their first ever town hall meeting. Missing from their presentation was a list of accomplishments made during their four years of running IUSD schools.

It is clear that ten years of state intervention is not a guarantee that a school district in receivership will be better managed. While Los Angeles County school districts operating under local control like Los Angeles Unified, Culver City Unified, and Compton Unified have advanced academically and improved their facilities, similar progress at IUSD has been stunted under state and county administrative malpractice.

Of seven administrators appointed under receivership only two had resumes showing the level of experience needed to be effective IUSD administrators. Duardo’s appointee was not one of them.

The Inglewood Board of Education has served patiently in an advisory role for 10 years. That’s longer than any school district with a state loan.

As the search for Torres’ replacement begins, Duardo should assign the IUSD Board responsibility for recommending the next County Administrator from the list of vetted candidates. Otherwise, the Board when it regains local control will likely select a new Superintendent.

My next commentary will provide a guideline on what the IUSD community should do to regain local control.

By Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

A leaked audio recording of a meeting between Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, Council Members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo and L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera revealed that a number of racially insensitive comments were made.

The revelations have forced the four Latino leaders to make public apologies as calls from the Black community for them to resign their positions increases.

Councilman Mike Bonin’s son was referred to by Martinez as “ese changuito,” which means little monkey, and “su negrito,” which is a derogatory term for a Black person.  Bonin is White and his son is Black.

Bonin is calling for Martinez to be removed as president of the city council and for her and de León to resign.

“We are appalled, angry, and absolutely disgusted that Nury Martinez attacked our son with horrific racist slurs, and talked about her desire to physically harm him,” Bonin wrote in a statement with his partner Sean Arian. “It’s vile, abhorrent, and utterly disgraceful. The City Council needs to remove her as Council President immediately, and she needs to resign from office. Any parent reading her comments will know she is unfit for public office.”

The racially insensitive comments and uncomplimentary remarks about their city council colleagues were made during an October 2021 meeting convened to discuss the redrawing of council district boundaries to reflect the 2020 U.S. Census.

Martinez’s comment about Bonin’s son were directed at his behavior during a Dr. Martin Luther King Day Parade in 2017. She claimed his son nearly caused a float she was on during the parade to tip over and said that someone need to “parent that kid.”

“They’re raising him like a little white kid,” Martinez said. “I was like, ‘this kid needs a beatdown. Let me take him around the corner and then I’ll bring him back.’”

All of the participants in the meeting have issued public apologies.

“In a moment of intense frustration and anger, I let the situation get the best of me and I hold myself accountable for these comments. For that I am sorry,” Martinez stated.

“The context of this conversation was concern over the redistricting process and concern about the potential negative impact it might have on communities of color,” the statement said. “My work speaks for itself. I’ve worked hard to lead this city through its most difficult time.” Martinez also said.

De León who called Bonin the council’s “fourth Black member”, was also caught saying “Mike Bonin won’t (expletive) ever say peep about Latinos. He’ll never say a (expletive) word about us.”

“There were comments made in the context of this meeting that are wholly inappropriate; and I regret appearing to condone and even contribute to certain insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private. I’ve reached out to that colleague personally,” de León stated in his apology.

Cedillo said, “While I did not engage in the conversation in question, I was present at times during this meeting last year…. Clearly, I should have intervened.”

Herrera in his statement said, “I didn’t step up to stop them and I will have to bear the burden of that cross moving forward.”

The three current Black city council members, Curren Price, Heather Hutt, and Marquees Harris Dawson, issued a joint statement about the recording that said, “This is a dark day for LA politics for African Americans, the LGBTQ+community, Indigenous people and Angelenos who have put their faith and trust in local government……The actions of our colleagues should not be tolerated and a vapid tongue has no place in City Hall. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever”

Karen Bass who’s been endorsed by Martinez for LA mayor responded to the recording by stating “Let me be clear about what was on those tapes: appalling, anti-Black racism…. All those in the room must be held accountable, and I’ve spent the day speaking with Black and Latino leaders about how to ensure this does not divide our city.”

Bass’ opponent, Rick Caruso’s statement on the racially charged comments said, “Everyone involved in this should be held accountable.” Caruso has been endorsed by Cedillo.

Jasmyne A. Cannick, who has worked as a political spokesperson and is a City Hall veteran tweeted, “I’m watching how long it’s taking all of our allies to disavow their comments and call for their resignation. I told y’all Los Angeles was an anti-Black city.”

The California-Hawaii (CA/HI) State Conference of the NAACP and the Los Angeles Branch of the NAACP are calling for the immediate resignation of Martinez, Cedillo, de León, and Herrera.

“This kind of overt racism has no place in political discourse,” said Rick L. Callender, President of the CA/HI State Conference of the NAACP.

“We will not sit idly by and allow our elected representatives to engage in these kinds of disgusting and racist behaviors,” said Latricia Mitchell, President of the Los Angeles Branch of the NAACP.

Both the NAACP State Conference and the LA Branch are asking for the City of Los Angeles to investigate, how far the racial animus has impacted hiring and other decisions of the City Council.

Story Update:

Nury Martinez, resigned as Los Angeles City Council president

Her resignation is effective immediately. However, she will remain a member of the council. She is up for reelection in 2024.

Martinez represents the city’s 6th district, which includes Hollywood, Panorama City and other parts of the San Fernando Valley.

Martinez said in her statement announcing her resignation as president that, “Going forward, reconciliation will be my priority. I have already reached out to many of my Black colleagues and other Black leaders to express my regret in order for us to heal. I ask for forgiveness from my colleagues and from the residents of this city that I love so much. In the end, it is not my apologies that matter most; it will be the actions I take from this day forward. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to make amends.”