Judge Trina L. Thompson of the Superior Court of Alameda County, who is African American, was confirmed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
The United States Senate voted 51-44 to confirm Thompson, who President Biden nominated.
Appointed under Article III of the U.S. Constitution, federal district court judges serve lifetime appointments upon good behavior.
“All of us in the Northern District are grateful and excited to have Judge Thompson join us,” said Chief Judge Richard Seeborg of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
“She brings a wealth of experience as a highly regarded trial judge, which will be most welcome on our very busy Court,” he said.
Since taking office, the Biden Administration has made it a priority to diversify federal courts.
“Our current federal bench is not representative of the diversity of our democracy,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) in remarks on the floor last week. “We have a lot of work to do to rebuild a judiciary that deserves the faith of the American people.”
More than 70% of President Biden’s 92 district and appellate court picks have been women, and a vast majority have been people of color.
Prior to her appointment, Judge Thompson served as a juvenile court commissioner, a criminal defense attorney in private practice for nearly a decade, and as an assistant public defender as well. Thompson holds the distinction of being the first African American woman elected to the Superior Court of Alameda County.
In addition to her work on the bench, she serves as a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 1983, and her juris doctor from the university’s School of Law in 1986.
Thompson has contributed to educating the public and her peers about equity and equal rights under the law. Her work contrasted the tenets of American law with the history and contemporary realities of discrimination when she participated in the ‘Continuing the Dialogue’ series for the Center for Judicial Education and Research Division (CJER) of the Judicial Council of California. She discussed the history of housing discrimination in California effected through illegal racial covenants, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. She has also presented a CJER lecture on wrongful convictions and the learnings judicial officers can adapt to prevent them.
Thompson is a member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers, Inc., (AAACJO). The organization was established in 2017 to address the professional interests of Black state and federal judicial officers presiding in the California. The membership includes Superior Court Judges and Commissioners, Appellate Court Justices, Administrative Law Judges and State Bar Court Judges.
“Given her body of work and her dedication to the community, it is clear Judge Thompson will be an invaluable asset in her new role as District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California,” the AAACJO said in a statement congratulating Thompson.
YUCAIPA, CA— Crafton Hills College’s Class of 2022 veteran graduates were recognized during a lively ceremony on May 17.
Hosted by the Veterans Resource Center (VRC), the event was planned to honor not only each grad’s academic achievements but for their service to the United States.
“These are the veterans who stuck around through COVID, and because of their hard work, we are here today,” remarked VRC services coordinator Steven Rush, to kick off the celebration.
Lisa Mills, a VRC counselor, and Cody Long, a mental health counselor at the center, each took turns sharing stories about each graduate. Each veteran then received a customized stole and cords to wear during CHC’s campus-wide commencement ceremony on May 25.
Alumni in attendance included Michael Hendrix, a Marine Corps veteran focused on business administration, and Steve Rodriquez, an Army veteran studying radiologic technology and recently accepted into a rad tech program to continue his studies.
Jose Aaron Rosales, a Marine veteran who was accepted into Harvard University to study medicine, and Sebastian Romeropreciado, also a Marine transferring to Cal Poly Pomona to continue pursuing his degree in computer science were also recognized.
“The obstacles you overcame were immense,” said CHC President Dr. Kevin Horan.“As you know as veterans, ceremonies are important .We are pleased at this accomplishment, and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.”
Located next to Campus Police, the Veterans Resource Center supports veterans and their dependents in utilizing educational services available to them. In addition, the center provides work-study opportunities, counseling, personal and professional development workshops and career exploration and guidance. To learn more, go to craftonhills.edu/veterans or send an email to veteransservices@craftonhills.edu.
VICTORVILLE, CA— Victorville’s Juneteenth Community Day Celebration, commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the United States, will take place on Saturday, June 18. This family-friendly event will include live entertainment, vendors, and free backpacks for the first 300 kids who register. The event will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 16138 Molino Drive in Victorville. For more information, please call 760-241-9900 or go to ChanHD.com
A multimillion-dollar scholarship program focused on tackling the under-representation of African American students in physics and astronomy over the next five years has been unveiled.
The TEAM-UP Together Scholarship Program will provide financial assistance to those students to help them achieve their bachelor’s degrees.
These awards of up to $10,000 per student per school year aim to reduce the financial barriers preventing many Black students from completing their undergraduate degree programs in physics and astronomy.
Students of North Carolina Central University wait in a long line during a countywide clinch in the Board of Elections’ computer system on November 8, 2016 in Durham, North Carolina.(Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
TEAM-UP Together is a collective impact initiative led by the American Institute of Physics (AIP), American Association of Physics Teachers, American Astronomical Society, American Physical Society, and Society of Physics Students to support the scientific community to take the next bold step in doubling the number of African American students earning physics and astronomy bachelor’s degrees annually by 2030. To learn more, check out teamuptogether.org.
Michael Moloney, CEO of AIP, said: “The American Institute of Physics is partnering with the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Astronomical Society, the American Physical Society, and the Society of Physics Students to build a program of support for undergraduate physics and astronomy students and departments as part of realizing the TEAM-UP goal of doubling the number of African American bachelor’s degree graduates in these fields by 2030.”
The scholarship initiative will help Black students in need with expenses that assist the students in continuing or completing their undergraduate education. The money could be used for tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an educational institution, or for fees, books, equipment, or other related expenses required for courses or internships.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology undergrad Gary Atkins marches with other students and activists during a rally supporting affirmative action held at the MIT student center March 18, 2003 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Douglas McFadd/Getty Images)
“This scholarship program provides a real opportunity to support African American students in completing their degrees by easing the stresses that many have as a result of financial challenges,” said Arlene Modeste Knowles, TEAM-UP Together project manager. “It will hopefully create some mental space for them to engage more fully and thrive in their educational programs.”
During the first year of the scholarship program, students must be attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities or Predominantly Black Institutions to be eligible for the scholarship, but over time, these awards will be expanded to African American students at all institutions across the United States. The scholarships will be administered by AIP’s Society of Physics Students, on behalf of the TEAM-UP Together partner societies.
Students must complete their scholarship application by Nov. 15, 2022. Full details on what is required for application, the criteria for selection, and other information can be found at https://www.teamuptogether.org.
The percentage of African Americans earning degrees in physics and astronomy has been persistently low for more than two decades. According to a survey from AIP’s Statistical Research Center, just 3 percent of physics bachelor’s degrees were earned by African Americans for the class of 2018.
For comparison, African Americans earned 10 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded for the 2017-18 school year. Personal support, including financial support, was one of the five factors identified in the TEAM-UP study as contributing to the persistence of underrepresentation.
Some of the 11 students of the first, and last, graduating class of Livingston High School attend their commencement June 3, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“With the completion of the two-year TEAM-UP study released in 2020, we understand better the factors that have led to the persistent and egregious underrepresentation of African Americans in these fields,” Moloney said.
“We are compelled as a community to take action. Our partners at the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International have fueled the effort with a $12.5 million grant, enabling the launch of these transformational initiatives that will drive systemic change and affect students’ lived experiences.”
In addition to student scholarships, TEAM-UP Together will soon offer grants to undergraduate physics and astronomy departments committed to implementing the TEAM-UP report recommendations at their institutions.
Deontay Wilder is known as “The Bronze Bomber” for winning a bronze medal in 2008 Olympics.
And now he’s been immortalized in bronze.
Last month, Wilder was honored as a black man with a 7-foot tall statue “right down the street from where they used to sell slaves,” he says.
A former heavyweight champion born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Wilder unveiled his bronze statue on May 25 during a confetti-festooned ceremony before hundreds of fans outside the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports building.
The 6-foot-7 Wilder kissed the 7-foot, 830-pound statue resembling the hammer-fisted fighter with its chiseled upper torso and sinewy arms.
“God has truly blessed me. It’s amazing and the perfect timing for me to be immortalized with a bronze statue that looks just like me,” said Wilder. “I’m a black man living in the heart of Dixie, and my likeness is positioned in a place right down the street from where they used to sell slaves back in the day.”
Deontay Wilder (right) scored a 10th-round knockout over previously unbeaten Cuban southpaw Luis Ortiz (left) in March 2018 and came from behind to win their November 2019 rematch by seventh-round knockout. (Premier Boxing Champions)
The symbolism is not lost on Wilder, whose honor came a year to the day from the Memorial Day murder of George Floyd. Floyd was suffocated to death on May 25, 2020, by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who in June 2021 was convicted of murder for kneeling on the Houston native’s neck for nearly 10 minutes.
Wilder was lionized nearly two years after the removal on June 2, 2020, of the 115-year-old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument from Linn Park. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin did so following a week of post-Floyd unrest among citizens of the majority-black city located an hour from Tuscaloosa.
“There are some of the confederate statues being taken down nearby, but there are still certain areas where historical memorials still are standing as representations of racism from the times of slavery and segregation,” said Wilder, a 36-year-old father of five girls and three boys between the ages of 4 and 17.
“For all the sacrifices I’ve made and the time I’ve put into my career and into the community, what a miracle for a black man who is still alive, young, handsome, wealthy and happy to be recognized in public by the local citizens. … I’m continuing to make history.”
“The Bronze Bomber” with the statue of him. (Courtesy of Deontay Wilder)
“The Bronze Bomber’s” career is one of overcoming injuries given his relatively late start in the sport as well as being mostly out-weighed and undersized.
Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs) is 10-2-1 (9 KOs) in title fights and 9-0-1 (9 KOs) in ten consecutive defenses. The ten defenses tie Wilder with Muhammad Ali for fifth all-time among heavyweights.
Wilder had recorded seven straight knockouts before going 0-2-1 in his past three fights with the 6-foot-9 Tyson Fury, twice being knocked out and dethroned as WBC champion.
Fury was twice floored by Wilder during their draw in December 2018 before winning by seventh- and 11th-round stoppages in February 2020 and October 2021.
A comeback is not out of the question for Wilder if it means a fourth bout with Fury or challenging undefeated two-division title winner Oleksandr Usyk, who dominated and dethroned IBF/WBA/WBO champion Anthony Joshua in September.
“I’m considering the resumption of my career if any man out there has the courage to fight me. On the other hand, I’ve worked hard to have the lifestyle I have and the free time to spend with my family,” Wilder said.
“I had a vision from early in my career and was able to establish a foundation, doing the right things to be in the position that I’m in. I’ve got the love of my family and the love of the people in my community.”
Wilder claims to have been “prophesied” to dethrone Bermane Stiverne as WBC champion by unanimous decision on January 17, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, doing so on the 73rd birthday of the late Muhammad Ali and two days after that of Martin Luther King’s on January 15.
A fuller view of former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (far left) with his family on May 25 for the unveiling of his 7-foot, 830-pound replica statue on the campus of the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports building. (Courtesy of Deontay Wilder)
Wilder became America’s first heavyweight titleholder since Shannon Briggs in 2007, fulfilling a vow made to his daughter, Naieya, who was born on March 20, 2005 with the congenital disorder, spina bifida, and told she might never walk.
Wilder said his grandmother, Evelyn Loggins, a minister, repeatedly told him as a child he was “special, anointed and ordained” before her death in 2010 at the age of 76.
A 19-year-old Wilder dropped out of Shelton State Community College to support Naieya, taking one job driving a truck and another at a restaurant. Wilder turned to boxing at a friend’s urging and won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008.
In October 2012, Wilder spent his 27th birthday as the primary sparring partner for Wladimir Klitschko before the then-unified heavyweight champion’s unanimous decision win over Mariusz Wach that November.
Wilder had been invited to Klitschko’s camp by trainer Emanuel Steward, who named Wilder as Klitschko’s successor, calling him “The No. 1 best American prospect for winning the heavyweight title.”
Steward was 68 when he died of cancer on Oct. 25, 2012, three days after Wilder’s birthday.
“I became the world champion just like Emanuel Steward said,” Wilder said. “I am anointed like my grandmother said.”
Wilder is the second-most popular sports figure in his hometown behind the 18-time national champion University of Alabama football team, having fought nine times in his home state, with four of those battles being sold-out title defenses.
Wilder financially supports the Skyy South recreation and boxing facility, which is free for kids in Coffeeville, Ala..
“Deontay’s local influence is so powerful. Deontay’s inspired people across the board, whether you’re black, white, Hispanic or Asian,” said Wilder’s career-long manager and trainer Jay Deas.
“Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Earnie Shavers, Frankie Randall and Tracy Harris Patterson were all Alabama-born fighters, but Deontay is really the first fighter born locally and to accomplish everything while staying home.”
Wilder was at the White House in May 2018 when then-President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned Jack Johnson, America’s first black heavyweight champion. The pardon came nearly 100 years after Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act in 1913 for transporting a white woman across state lines “for immoral purposes.”
Johnson endured racial epithets and death threats while dominating white opponents and living an opulent lifestyle outside the ring. Johnson served nearly a year in and was 68 when he died in a car crash in North Carolina in 1946.
“Jack Johnson certainly had it a lot worse than I, but as a black athlete like Johnson, I want to inspire as a positive role model and motivator,” said Wilder. “It’s my mission to be a hero to my people. That was the mission of people like Muhammad Ali and some of our greatest black innovators and inventors.”
Wilder has had several injuries to his arms and fists throughout his career dating back to a 90-second TKO of Travis Allen in his seventh professional fight in August 2009, yet has knocked down or stopped every man he has faced as a professional.
Deontay Wilder (left) dropped Bermane Stiverne (right) three times in a first-round knockout victory to retain his WBC heavyweight title in their November 2017 rematch. Wilder dethroned Stiverne by unanimous decision in January 2015. (Premier Boxing Champions)
“The Bronze Bomber” required surgery and therapy after suffering a torn left biceps during his initial loss to Fury and underwent a 90-minute surgery nine days after the fight to repair the hand’s metacarpal bone after breaking it in the fourth round even as he twice dropped Fury in that round.
“I’ve always said that my No. 1 goal was to be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but if I return to boxing, it has to be really worth my while, and it’ll be because I want to and not because I have to,” Wilder said.
“Over 90 percent of retired fighters don’t have their faculties or anything to show for their careers after the game is over, but I’ve invested wisely, so I’m blessed to be able to say that I don’t have to ever get into the ring again for the rest of my life. I’ll return to the ring if the money is right.”
United Aviate Academy’s first class of students is 80% women or people of color, outpacing the airline’s goal to train about 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030 with at least half being women or people of color
Unprecedented training commitment will dramatically expand access to lucrative and rewarding careers while upholding United’s world-class safety and training standards
United CEO Scott Kirby, United President Brett Hart, and other officials on hand at Phoenix Goodyear Airport to officially open new school and welcome students
GOODYEAR, Arizona, Jan. 27, 2022 – United, the only major U.S. airline to own a flight training school, officially opened United Aviate Academy today and welcomed a historic inaugural class of future pilots, 80% of whom are women or people of color. United Aviate Academy is a key part of the airline’s goal to train about 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030, with at least half women or people of color. This unprecedented training commitment will dramatically expand access to this lucrative and rewarding career while upholding United’s world-class safety standards.
Last summer, United unveiled its ambitious United Next strategy to revolutionize the United flying experience and introduce more than 500 new, narrow-body aircraft into its fleet to match the anticipated resurgence in air travel. United plans to hire at least 10,000 new pilots by 2030 to meet this need with about 5,000 of those coming from United Aviate Academy.
United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby and United President Brett Hart were joined today by Federal Aviation Administration Deputy Administrator Brad Mims and other government officials at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport to welcome the new students. The group also outlined United’s plan to help break down some of the barriers to entry through targeted recruiting, strategic partnerships and scholarship and financial aid solutions.
“Our pilots are the best in the industry and have set a high standard of excellence,” said Kirby. “Recruiting and training even more people who have that same level of talent, motivation and skill is the right thing to do and will make us an even better airline. I couldn’t be prouder of this first group of students and look forward to meeting the thousands of talented individuals who will pass through these doors in the years to come.”
Unfortunately, for many people becoming a pilot seems not only out of reach financially, but completely unimaginable. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 5.6% of pilots are women and 6% are people of color. Earning a commercial pilot’s license in the U.S. can cost about $100,000 and becoming an Airline Transport Pilot requires 1,500 hours of flight time, which requires a significant commitment.
United and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have renewed last year’s commitment to fund nearly $2.4 million in scholarships for future aviators attending United Aviate Academy. The airline also directly works with the following organizations to educate prospects about the benefits of becoming a pilot and to find candidates for scholarship opportunities:
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals
Sisters of the Skies
The Latino Pilots Association
The Professional Asian Pilots Association
United currently has about 12,000 pilots, and Captains of United’s Boeing 787s and 777s can earn more than $350,000 per year. In addition, United pilots receive one of the highest 401(k) matches in the nation – 16% of base pay.
United Aviate Academy expects to train at least 500 students annually as one part of United recruiting as the carrier works toward hiring at least 10,000 pilots by 2030. Aviation consulting firm Oliver Wyman estimates a worldwide pilot shortage of 34,000 aviators by 2025.
United Aviate Academy’s first class is undergoing a year-long training program that sets them up for a career that reflects United’s high standard of professionalism and deep commitment to delivering a safe, caring, dependable and efficient travel experience. After completing their training at the academy, students can build flight and leadership experience while working within the Aviate pilot development ecosystem at partner universities, professional flight training organizations and United Express carriers on their way to becoming United pilots.
“As a United pilot for more than 32 years, it’s exciting to see these new students earning their wings and beginning their aviation careers, and I’m looking forward to them joining me on the flight deck one day,” said United Chief Pilot Mary Ann Schaffer. “We need more pilots and a more diverse pool of young aviators, and United Aviate Academy will help us achieve both goals.”
United worked closely with multiple organizations, cities, and elected officials to help make the academy a reality for aspiring pilots who otherwise may not have pursued a career in aviation. The airline extends its gratitude to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and his office; the Arizona Commerce Authority; the City of Phoenix and Mayor Kate Gallego; and the City of Goodyear and Mayor Joe Pizzillo and the late Mayor Georgia Lord.
United Aviate Academy
The 340,000 square-foot United Aviate Academy facility at Phoenix Goodyear Airport includes world-class features such as:
Leasing a fleet of late-model Cirrus SR-20 series single-engine aircraft, which feature advanced safety characteristics
Nearly 50,000 square feet of office space
Multiple aircraft hangars
Dormitory rooms for student housing with ample room for expansion
Proximity to many auxiliary airfields in the Phoenix area
Favorable weather for year-round flight training
For more information on United Aviate Academy, please visit unitedaviate.com/academy or @unitedaviate on Instagram. United Aviate Academy is also hiring Certified Flight Instructors – you can read more about it here or apply here.
United Next
United is more focused than ever on its commitment to customers and employees. In addition to today’s announcement, United has recently:
Launched an?ambitious plan?to transform the United customer experience by adding and upgrading hundreds of aircraft as well as investing in features like larger overhead bins, seatback entertainment in every seat and the industry’s fastest available Wi-Fi.
Announced a goal to create 25,000 unionized jobs by 2026 that includes careers as pilots, flight attendants, agents, technicians, and dispatchers.
Announced that United will train about 5,000 pilots by 2030 through the United Aviate Academy, with the goal of at least half being women and people of color.
Became the first airline to offer customers the ability to check their destination’s travel requirements, schedule COVID-19 tests and more on its mobile app and website.
Invested in emerging technologies that are designed to decarbonize air travel, like an agreement to work with urban air mobility company Archer, an investment in aircraft startup Heart Aerospace and a purchase agreement with Boom Supersonic.
Committed to going 100% green by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets.
Eliminated change fees for all economy and premium cabin tickets for travel within the U.S.
About United
United’s shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” In 2019, United and United Express® carriers operated more than 1.7 million flights carrying more than 162 million customers. United has the most comprehensive route network among North American carriers, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.? For more about how to join the United team, please visit?united.com/careers?and more information about the company is at united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.
Eight Black-owned media organizations serving African American audiences across California are among 46 ethnic media news outlets awarded over $5 million in grants by the state.
The grant program is a collaboration between the California State Library and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. It was created to support media outlets serving communities where hate crimes are likely to happen.
The funding will also help raise awareness about a related program: the Stop the Hate campaign that the California Department of Social Services has been spearheading with an initial investment of $20 million over the last year. The campaign funds community-based organizations working to reduce hate crimes and promote intercultural and interracial cooperation and understanding.
“Crimes targeting victims because of their race or ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender or a disability have no place in the state of California,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The six Black-owned media organizations targeting predominantly Black audiences that received grants are: California Black Media ($400,000); The Black Voice News in Riverside County ($100,000); L.A. Focus ($96,000) in Los Angeles County; Pace News in Los Angeles County ($95,150); The Precinct Reporter in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties ($88,000); The San Francisco Bay View ($85,000); The Sac Cultural Hub in Sacramento County ($80,000); and Indian Voices in San Diego County ($59,741).
According to the California State Library the grants will allow ethnic media outlets to hire or contract with “specialized reporters, fellowships, and internships at ethnic media outlets, news briefings and roundtables, digital and social media content, community gatherings and partnerships with grassroots organizations and Community Based Organizations.”
“We live in the state with the most racial, ethnic and cultural diversity in the United States. Yet, the deep tensions and misconceptions among us can trigger violence and rip our communities apart,” said Regina Brown Wilson, Executive Director of California Black Media (CBM).
“This funding is necessary because it equips media organizations with resources we need to educate, inform and connect the communities we serve, encouraging honest conversations, which are believe are opportunities to teach each other and learn from each other,” Wilson continued.
The grant program is a part of the Asian and Pacific Islander Equity Budget, a three-year investment of $166.5 million allocated to address the sharp increase in hate incidents.
“The California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (API Caucus) and I pushed for these funds to help strengthen California’s more than 350 ethnic media outlets,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). “We’re looking forward to subsequent grant awards being even more helpful to more ethnic media outlets around the state.”
Joe Bowers, a Los Angeles County-based researcher, will be working on identifying multicultural communities vulnerable to hate crimes that Black-owned newspapers in the state serve. He says he looks forward to providing data that will be key to helping CBM’s partner publications target their audiences with information that elevates and promotes interracial and cross-cultural relationships in their communities.
“There have been a number of demographic shifts in the state. It is critical for media to understand who their audiences are, where those people live, who they live next to, and what the potential challenges and opportunities may be,” Bowers continued.
Several supporters and news publications said they are pleased with the intention of the program and support the scaling up of it over the next few years.
Most publications are expected to kick off their programs over the next month.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The County’s 2021-22 Adopted Budget was honored this month with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), which the organization states is “a testament to the government’s commitment to producing annual reports that evidence the spirit of full disclosure and transparency.”San Bernardino County can now add the “Triple Crown” for transparent financial reporting to the hundreds of accolades the County has received from peers and professional organizations in recent years.
San Bernardino County has claimed this award 15 times since fiscal year 2006-07. Combined with two other GFOA awards this year – the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award – the County has earned the highly coveted GFOA Triple Crown medallion.
“San Bernardino County has long been a pioneer in government transparency,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “We were the first county to make many important documents available online, including Board agendas and associated reports and contracts, Form 700 Statements of Economic Interests, and campaign finance reports, and much more.”
“The County budget team works hard to make our annual budgets informative and easy to read,” Hagman continued. “We are honored that GFOA consistently recognizes our annual budgets among the many things we do make our work visible to the public.”
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), founded in 1906, represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. The association’s more than 20,000 members are federal, state/provincial, and local finance officials deeply involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions. GFOA’s mission is to advance excellence in public finance.
ONTARIO, CA– Ontario International Airport, in partnership with the County’s Workforce Development Board, will host a career fair on June 8 inside Terminal 1, 1940 Moore Way, Ontario.
Several airport vendors, business partners and cargo airlines will participate in the event, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ONT has been named the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. four years running and is one of the Top 10 cargo airports in North America.For more information, contact CommunityEngagement@flyontario.com.
ABU DHABI—Tyra Banks today announced her Los-Angeles based premium ice cream brand, SMiZE Cream, is set to open its first international location outside of the United States in Abu Dhabi in the fourth quarter of 2022. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with Access Abu Dhabi, a programme powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), designed to engage, enable and empower women and minority-led companies from the United States to fast track their global reach by expanding to the Middle East via Abu Dhabi.
Ms. Banks made the announcement to an audience of business community members, business students and changemakers during the inaugural session of the Access Granted discussion series at Saadiyat Rotana. She was speaking to Eng. Abdulla Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Acting Director General of ADIO, as part of a panel session on her journey and future as an entrepreneur, as well as opportunities for women in business in Abu Dhabi.
H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the government entity overseeing ADIO’s activities, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Tyra Banks and SMiZE Cream to the Access Abu Dhabi programme and are delighted she has chosen the UAE capital for her first international location. The emirate’s growing opportunities are underscored by enabling regulations and 360-degree support that empower global businesses to use Abu Dhabi as a launchpad for growth. ADIO is committed to supporting entrepreneurs in making their dreams for international expansion come to life.”
Tyra successfully launched SMiZE Cream in 2021 as an ice cream brand that delights customers with its unique product range and eye-popping design, incorporates augmented reality into its packaging and champions mentorship. As SMiZE Cream’s first location outside of the US, Abu Dhabi offers a gateway to new markets that will fast-track the brand’s global expansion. SMiZE Cream is also exploring new distribution channels in the region with airlines and theme parks.
Ms. Banks said: “It’s exciting to see the SMiZE Cream dream come to life in Abu Dhabi. SMiZE is about reaching for dreams, and Abu Dhabi is the perfect location to showcase this message as a city built on inspiration and innovation.”
She added, “The cherry on top has been achieving this life-long goal in collaboration with an organisation founded by another African American woman who specifically champions international expansion for entrepreneurs like me. I am grateful to Sarah Omolewu and the Abu Dhabi Investment Offic for the doors they’ve helped open for me to get to this milestone.”
The Access Granted discussion series also featured the Women of Web3 (WoW3), an all-female delegation of leaders in cryptocurrency, blockchain and other Web3 technology who are in Abu Dhabi to explore expansion opportunities as part of Access Abu Dhabi. Panelists Sandy Carter, SVP and Channel Chief at Unstoppable Domains; Olayinka Odeniran, Founder and Chairwoman of Black Women Blockchain Council; Cathy Wu, Director of Investor Relations at Multicoin Capital; Genevieve Bos, Cofounder and Chief Revenue Officer at Poplar; Lisa Mayer, Founder of Boss Beauties; and Janice Taylor, Founder and CEO of EQ Exchange spoke candidly about the challenges, opportunities and future of this space, in which 5% to 7% of all cryptocurrency users are women and just 12% work in blockchain technology.
Access Abu Dhabi is a programme powered by Abu Dhabi government entity ADIO, which recently opened US offices in New York and San Francisco, emphasising its commitment to supporting the expansion of US-based businesses into the Middle East.
The Access Abu Dhabi programme was founded by Sarah Omolewu, an American expatriate who, in just over 10 years living in the UAE, has become a pioneer in entertainment marketing in the Middle East. She now paves the way for others like her to thrive in the region through Access Abu Dhabi, which launched in November 2021 with a mission to support women and minority-led companies seeking expansion to the Middle East via the emirate.
Sarah Omolewu, Managing Partner of Maven Global Access and Founder of Access Abu Dhabi, said: “I first spoke with Tyra about SMiZE Cream nearly a year ago and was immediately captivated by the brand and her vision. The fit with Abu Dhabi was undeniable, so we coordinated several visits for her to the emirate and facilitated introductions with key Abu Dhabi stakeholders. Building bridges between East and West in lockstep with the amazing team at ADIO has been personally rewarding. Tyra’s marketing genius and successes have inspired my work, so collaborating with her to bring this moment to life has truly been an honour.”
Access Abu Dhabi is open to all US businesses. Interested companies can apply to the programme here: www.accessabudhabi.com.
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About Access Abu Dhabi
Access Abu Dhabi was designed to engage, enable and empower companies, particularly women and minority entities, to fast track their global reach with expansion to Abu Dhabi. Maven Global Access Managing Partner Sarah Omolewu founded the initiative to pay it forward to entrepreneurs like her who could benefit from her relationships and experience in the region. Powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, the programme serves as a conduit for companies entering the capital of UAE’s burgeoning business and innovation ecosystem.
About Maven Global Access
Maven Global Access is an entity under the umbrella of award-winning entertainment marketing firm Maven Marketing & Events that marries its strategic marketing know-how and expertise in dynamic global business markets. Through its marquee programme Access Abu Dhabi, the Maven team is harnessing solid connections and deep knowledge of operations in the region to support women and minority businesses looking to expand beyond U.S. borders. From basic business setup to meetings with potential partners and investors, Maven’s turnkey services provide 360-degree solutions.
About the Abu Dhabi Investment Office
As the central government hub supporting private sector investment in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) fosters opportunities for innovative investors and businesses of all sizes, forging connections with relevant stakeholders from Abu Dhabi’s innovation ecosystem. ADIO provides a comprehensive range of tailored services and incentives to promote, attract, and facilitate investment in Abu Dhabi and help businesses achieve long-term, sustainable success in the market and across the region
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