By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

A year ago, K-12 education was closed across California as part of an effort to mitigate the spread of the COVID -19 virus.

At that time, it was assumed that children could be a primary driver of the virus like they are Influenza A. It took a few months, but health officials determined that COVID -19 is not a pediatric driven pandemic.

Young kids can get the virus, but they are not significant transmitters. Most experience mild or no symptoms and while some might have to be hospitalized, death is rare for children. Children under 15 have a lower risk of dying from COVID-19 than dying from the flu or suicide. A side effect of the virus is a serious and rare illness called multisystem inflammatory syndrome or MIS-C, which can be fatal or cause lasting heart damage.

In states where schools have restarted in person classes, data show levels of transmission of the virus is much lower than in the surrounding community when strict safety protocols developed by public health officials have been adopted. The safety protocols include universal masking, basic hand hygiene, classroom ventilation, maintaining increased physical distance, and contact tracing.

While guidelines for the safe opening of schools have been available for months from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the 58 California county health departments, according to federal data California has lagged other states in offering in-person instruction to students. 18 % of California schools offer in-person learning compared to all schools in Florida and 62 % in Connecticut. Schools in California have not been able to open while their county was in the most restrictive purple tier indicating high case rates of COVID-19.

Many school districts including Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified have recently announced plans to make in-person instruction available to students who want it. President Biden has been pushing for all K-8 schools to open by May 1 which is the 100th day of his administration. As part of the push to safely reopen schools the Biden administration is allocating about $125 Billion for K-12 education as part of the American Rescue Plan.

In an effort to salvage what’s left of this academic year and prepare for the 2021-22 school year, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 86 and Governor Newsom signed it, offering a $2 Billion COVID-19 safety fund for school districts in the red tier to share if they manage to offer in-person instruction for grades K-6 and at least one middle or high school grade by April 1. For those that can’t, they will lose 1 percent of the incentive every day they are not open through mid-May.

Newsom said when he signed AB 86, “There is nothing more foundational to an equitable society than getting our kids safely back into classrooms. Our kids are missing too may rites of passage – field trips, proms, and graduations.”

Students and parents are anxious for schools to safely open for in-person instruction. The term “learning loss” has become synonymous with distance learning which was only intended to be used by school districts for a short period of time. For many students, the year that they have been shut up at home has not only taken a toll on their academic progress but affected their mental health and society may be reckoning with the fallout for many years to come.

In general, Black and Latino children have struggled more academically than their Asian and White peers. Keeping up with schoolwork has been complicated by not having access to technology and reliable internet. Concentrating on studies has been more difficult when they live in communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

For many families remote learning created a childcare crisis, forcing some parents to leave their jobs. Many parents became frustrated with balancing jobs and supervising their children’s lessons.

The power to restart in-class instruction is vested in local school boards. It’s their responsibility to develop a plan for the safe opening of their schools relying on direction from the governor and Legislature and following safety protocols provided by the CDC and state and local public health directives.

The willingness of parents to send their kids back to the classroom varies based on their experience dealing with Covid-19 which is related to race, ethnicity and income. White and wealthier families that are frustrated with remote learning and as a group has been least affected by the virus are demanding resumption of in person instruction. They trust that their school district can safely reopen.

Black and Latino parents while wanting their children to return to school have experienced the inequitable impact of Covid-19 and are concerned about exposing their children to the virus in a school setting and bringing it home. While these parents understand their children are not faring well academically and mentally with distance learning they are not willing to risk their safety.

Contributing to the unease that Black and Latino parents have about school reopening classrooms has been their children’s teachers expressing their hesitancy to returning to school without all teachers and staff having the opportunity to be vaccinated. Studies show that transmission in schools appears to be primarily from teacher to teacher, then from teacher to student, but almost never from student to teacher. So vaccinating teachers is important to everyone’s school safety.

While the stance that the teachers took may have delayed in-school learning, Newsom decided that 10 % of vaccines a week would be reserved for teachers and other school staff. Although AB 86 and CDC guidelines have not included vaccinating teachers in the strategy for safe school reopening, school districts have included it as part of their teacher union agreements. In addition, regular testing of students and staff is another strategy being adopted by school districts to detect virus on campus before it can spread.

While zero risk of COVID-19 infection is not possible, results from hundreds of school districts opened across the county and the world show virtually no communal spread of the virus, if safety

protocols are followed. By listening to the concerns expressed by teachers, school districts have made in-person instruction safer for students and given parents more confidence to send their kids back to school.

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About the Author

Joe W. Bowers Jr. is an advocate for education opportunities for all and the education writer for CBM. He is a former corporate engineer and business executive and is a graduate of Stanford University.

By UnitedHealthcare of California

As more individuals across the U.S. become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, there is still widespread confusion about how to secure and prepare for an appointment. With eligibility requirements and sign-up processes differing by state and county, it can be difficult to keep track of current information.

Below are answers to common questions related to COVID-19 vaccines and access, as well as tips and tools for ensuring a smooth vaccination process.

What proactive steps can individuals take to access vaccines?

COVID-19 vaccine availability changes quickly. If you’re eligible to get the vaccine, you’re encouraged to take early steps to secure an appointment or get your name on a local vaccination list.

Here are a few ways to stay on top of the latest news and vaccine availability:

• Stay informed on the latest vaccine information from the CDC
• Visit state or local health department websites to see when it’s your turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine and find information on vaccination providers
• Sign up for e-alerts from your state to get regular updates
• Keep up with their local news for information on where vaccines may be available in their area
• Ask your doctor or local pharmacy about vaccine availability
  • Be mindful of scams and remember that you should not pay to be put on a vaccination list

Once eligible, how can individuals go about finding available vaccine appointments?

UnitedHealthcare has developed an online COVID-19 vaccine resource locator tool, available in English and Spanish for free to the general public. This tool aggregates available public information directly from state and country public health websites, and from the retail pharmacies currently distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

• The site includes all states and territories through a zip-code level search and is updated twice daily.
• It aggregates local and state health department links, as well as external links to retail pharmacies with local scheduling capabilities. Future content will likely include health systems and federally qualified health centers.

What do you need to bring to your vaccine appointment?

• You should be prepared to show your photo ID, such as a driver’s license, to show proof of age. You might also need proof of residency. Your health department website or vaccination provider may also have a list of required documents. 
• Medicare plan members:
  • You will need your red, white and blue Medicare card because Medicare is paying for the member’s vaccine in 2021. If you don’t have your Medicare card, you can find it by logging into your Social Security account. More information on your Medicare card can be found on the CMS site.
  • If you receive the vaccine at a regular provider visit, you will also need your health insurance member ID card.  

• For people with non-Medicare health plans, you will need to show your health insurance member ID card.

Remember to wear your face mask and physically distance at your appointment. Additional information on preparing for a vaccination appointment can be found on the CDC website.

When should you plan on getting a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?

People will need to get both doses within 3-4 weeks to get the protection indicated by the manufacturer. You should make sure both of the doses received are from the same manufacturer and that the second dose is as close to the recommended timing as possible. Follow the vaccination instructions from the manufacturer:

• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: Requires 2 doses, given 3 weeks apart
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: Requires 2 doses, given 1 month apart
• Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine: Requires no second dose

The easiest course of action is to schedule both doses at the same time to meet these time frames and get protection from COVID-19. The vaccination provider should assist you with scheduling the second dose when you receive your first dose. You can also sign up for free text messaging through the CDC’s VaxText to a get a reminder about your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino City Council Member Damon L. Alexander hosts the 7th Ward Homeless Roundtable on Monday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. via Zoom. The topics of discussion will include coordination of services, a strategic plan for the 7th Ward homeless population, immediate and achievable solutions, and COVID-19 vaccinations for our homeless population.

The panel is co-sponsored by Time for Change Foundation, The Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Ecclesia Christian Fellowship &Cathedral of Praise.

By Isabella Bloom for Ethnic Media Services and The Richmond Pulse

Jie Wang owns three rental properties in Oakland. Her whole family relies on income from tenants paying their rent.

Many have lost their jobs during the pandemic. Eviction moratoriums protect tenants who can’t pay part or all of their rent. But small housing providers like Wang still have mortgages, utilities and other expenses. A lack of government support puts pressure on them to sell their properties.

“Nobody can escape from this coronavirus,” Wang said. “I have a very good relationship with all my tenants. I try to help them.”

Wang spoke on a recent panel hosted by Ethnic Media Services along with other housing rights advocates and researchers. The panel discussed the risk of treating all landlords the same.

The word “landlord” stirs up connotations of large real estate corporations, wealthy enough to maintain their properties through the pandemic. However, small landlords, often referred to as mom-and-pop landlords, have been hit hard by losses in income due to tenants who have been at least partially unable to pay their rent during the pandemic.

According to the Urban Institute, individual investors like Wang rather than large conglomerates own more than 75 percent of one-to-four-unit rental properties. In addition, mom-and-pop landlords of color are more likely to own duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.

Their rent rates tend to be cheaper, so they’re also more likely to draw minority tenants.

Maeve Brown is the executive director and founder of Housing and Economic Rights Advocates, a statewide nonprofit law office that provides free legal services to low- and moderate-income Californians. She works with many people of color who have never had any training on how to manage their properties and consistently charge below-market rent rates.

“Another key part of the story here is our failure to appreciate what small landlords are actually providing — our failure systemically to recognize that they really are affordable housing providers,” Brown said. “If localities and our state government actually recognized the truth of that, that should have an impact on the policy choices that they make.”

Mom-and-pop landlords often are also more connected to their communities and tenants.

John Wong, the founding chairman of the Asian Real Estate Association of America, has lived in San Francisco for nearly 67 years and been a realtor for over 40. In the briefing, he described the relationships he’s experienced and witnessed between mom-and-pop landlords and their tenants.

“I talk about this spectrum of housing providers because I think it speaks to our response to COVID,” Wong said.

He added that mom-and-pop landlords tend to know their tenants personally.

“The relationships have typically been very, very amicable,” he said.

Rent relief programs like the $2 trillion CARES Act have primarily benefited larger, wealthier real estate corporations, leaving behind mom-and-pop landlords.

“The policy choices that the state has made have just made no distinction between large landlords and small landlords,” Brown said. “State policy choices have squarely placed the burden of nonpayment of rent on the shoulders of small landlords — of small, affordable housing providers.”

The danger with placing that burden on mom-and-pop housing providers is that it pressures them into selling their properties to investors and real estate conglomerates. The result is that California will lose more and more of its affordable housing.

“If they lose their property, they’re probably going to lose it to an investor who will charge as much money as the market can possibly bear,” Brown said.

Landlords of color are also more likely to have a mortgage and lower income, so the pressure to sell during the pandemic is higher, according to Urban Institute.

There may be new hope for mom-and-pop landlords and their tenants in the form of a new rental assistance program, but it comes with a caveat.

The new California rental relief program intended to help the state’s most vulnerable renters and landlords opened March 15. The program, which comes from Senate Bill 91, extends the eviction moratorium to June 30 and draws from $2.6 billion in federal funds for rent relief.

“The SB 91 moratorium and the state rental assistance program, in my opinion, is the most important thing to have for smaller mom-and-pop housing providers,” Wong said.

Tenants and landlords both have to fill out certain parts of the online application, available on the California state website Housing is Key.

The first group of eligible renters are those with greatest need — households making 50% or less of the area’s median income, or anyone who has been unemployed for at least 90 days.

The next group includes households making 80% or below the area’s median income. Undocumented tenants are also eligible.

Data from Urban Institute shows that, throughout the U.S., less than a third of tenants and less than half of landlords are aware of federal rental assistance programs. This is why John Wong aims to spread information about rental assistance programs to mom-and-pop landlords, especially those who may be linguistically isolated.

“I personally have a heavy focus on making sure that individuals who have English as not their primary language have access to information that these funds are available,” Wong said.

The way the rent relief works is 80% of a tenant’s rent owed between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, will be paid directly to the landlord, so long as the landlord agrees to forgive the remaining 20% of the back rent.

But this new rental assistance program doesn’t distinguish between small and corporate landlords. For mom-and-pop landlords like Jie Wang, absorbing the remaining 20% of unpaid rent can be a crippling blow after a year of unpaid rent.

“I’m open to the low-income renter,” Jie Wang said. “As long as I can survive, I will receive all the tools to help me and to survive this very difficult situation.”

Empire News Network

LOS ANGELES, CA—- Metrolink announced the appointment of Ilyssa DeCasperis as Chief People Officer of the regional passenger railroad that services six Southern California counties. DeCasperis was selected after a national recruitment.

DeCasperis brings more than 32 years of legal experience and 20 years in HR management to the position, including a deep background in healthcare. As Metrolink’s Chief People Officer, DeCasperis will lead strategies and processes to build and retain team members and will serve as the agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer.   

“We are excited to welcome Ilyssa to the team as she brings a fresh perspective to address the changing workplace as our region emerges from the coronavirus lockdowns,” said Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins.  “Her skill and perspective will contribute greatly to the growth of our organization and help continue to develop our most treasured asset: our employees.”

She recently held the position of Vice President of Human Resources at Doctors Hospital in Riverside, where among other responsibilities, she developed and implemented employee experience strategies. Prior to that, she spent two years at New York City MTA in labor relations.

“I am excited to join an organization truly committed to upholding a standard of excellence for employees and customers,” DeCasperis said. “I look forward to aligning with the business strategy and goals of the agency and helping build out key areas for strategic growth including talent acquisition, performance management, and learning and development, with an eye toward diversity and inclusion.”

In addition to her transportation experience, DeCasperis also represented medical schools, healthcare facilities and school districts as a labor negotiator.

By Empire News Network

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m., the San Bernardino Symphony will be airing their Spring Concert again on the Symphony’s new SBSOtv platform accessible from their website.

April 10th is the Final Airing of Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and Grieg

Want to know more about the concert?

Concerned you won’t be able to access a digital concert?

Here’s how it’s done:

1. On concert day, go to www.sanbernardinosymphony.org
2. Click on the SBSOtv tab (third white tab from the left just below the purple page header).
3. Input your password at the first prompt, then the same password at the second prompt.
4. Watch the concert from your computer or cast it onto your SmartTV the same way you would other computer-based content.
5. Enjoy the concert from the best seat in Your House!

Remember, even if you’re not right on time, you won’t have missed a thing!

The concert starts for you when you input your password!

See what previous show goers thought

“Breathtaking program, performance, video, sound quality, studio, organ, bassoon – phenomenal details of beauty, curiosity and virtuosity! Wowww!!”

“Another exceptional concert  Loved hearing Anthony on the bassoon all while conducting the orchestra! What a nice surprise to hear the Wurlitzer. Thanks for all that SBSO has been able to present despite the pandemic.” 

“The Golden Era of the San Bernardino Symphony is upon us!” 

“Stunning performance in every way!!! Bravi Tutti, SBSO!! Brilliant!!! And Maestro Anthony, your incredible conducting, commentary and virtuoso bassoon concerto – unreal!! Crying tears of joy of how amazing it was and thinking about the history of your bassoon and its journey back!”

“Extremely moving and beautiful!! “

“Fantastic concert, and especially great to hear Maestro Parnther reunited with his bassoon, singing to us in the Vivaldi concerto. Loved every moment!” 

“This concert was what my soul needed.”

“The concert was so lovely. Hearing our maestro play was so wonderful, a very talented musician in so many ways. The organ pieces were astounding, so many pipes, such amazing ability to play that instrument-our senses were mesmerized. The strings, of course, were angelic-we are so fortunate to have this orchestra for San Bernardino.”

“Another beautiful concert! Loved your brilliant performance, the camera work, and historical background. Well done, everyone!”

“Outstanding concert, the music, the arrangements, the musicians, the videography, the editing, and post production all made for an amazing experience. I look forward to any/all future concerts by SBSO.”

“Sounded really full & the vertical harmonies really balanced about as close to perfect as possible.“ 

“The music brought tears to my eyes it was so beautiful. Thank you for a lovely afternoon!“

Eddie Griffin reflects on a year of COVID, social distancing, and social justice with the live presentation of his new ‘docucomedy’ special, Laughin’ Through Your Mask, premiering Thursday, April 1, 2021 as a sneak peek for fans ahead of its launch on the iTunes and Amazon streaming platforms on Tuesday, April 20.

The acting and comedy legend, who took his successful Las Vegas stand-up show on the road despite a multitude of risks and touring inconveniences during an unprecedented worldwide pandemic, shares his personal experiences of how the events of 2020 impacted his career.

Griffin also delivers razor-sharp, unapologetic observations about nerve-touching subjects of today’s current events, as the special was filmed exactly one day after the storming of the United States Capitol and violent attack against the 117th United States Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Griffin, who shot to fame with memorable film and TV roles such as Undercover Brother Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, John Q, Scary Movie 3, A Star is Born and Malcolm & Eddie, has built a millions-strong fan following through the power of his stand-up shows, attracting record audiences through touring, his residency at Las Vegas’ Sayers Club, and stand-up specials including You Can Tell ‘Em I Said It, Undeniable, and E-Niggma.

Tickets for the world premiere of Laughin’ Through Your Mask are on sale now for $9.99 exclusively at laughinthroughyourmask.com; watch the official trailer at YouTube.com.  

Become a Griffin Insider and get the latest updates at EddieGriffin.com and through Twitter @eddiegriffincom.

SANTA MONICA, CA—- The Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Monica partners with GUARDaHEART Foundation Partners to present No-Cost COVID-19 Antibody Testing for the Community on March 31 through April 2, 2021(Wednesday- Friday) from 9AM to 4PM at The Calvary Baptist Church located at 1502 20th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

There are three Ways to Register for the No Cost COVID-19 Antibody Test in Santa Monica at:

1. GUARDaHEART Foundation website www.GuardaHeart.org

2. Registration Link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1daf38073da34d758a930e7722c6df8f

3. Walk-ins are welcome on the day of the event, but please be prepared to wait.

More Information:

The SARS-CoV-2 serology antibody test being provided has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.6%.The test being provided is one of the most reliable antibody tests available and far more reliable than many other tests being provided. 

Antibody testing is recommended for asymptomatic individuals, asymptomatic individuals who think they may have had COVID-19 in the past or those who were infected with the virus or anyone who has completed their second dose of the vaccine within the last 2-4 weeks. 

The COVID-19 Serology Antibody Testing is a blood drawn test. Individuals with health insurance are required to bring insurance cards for testing (Testing is covered under the CARES Act to individuals with or without insurance; health insurances are required to pay under the CARES Act).  All patients will have their temperature taken before their appointment.  

Douglas S. Harrington M.D., Fellow of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, and the American Society of Clinical Pathology, an expert in laboratory diagnostic testing. Dr. Harrington is also the Chairman of the GUARDaHEART Foundation 501(c)3 and can talk about the difference between a COVID-19 swab test vs SARS-CoV-2 serology antibody test, including other topics on the SARS-CoV-2 serology antibody test and the correlation of heart disease and the coronavirus.

Organizations interested in partnering with GUARDaHEART can contact Yvette Morales at (949) 244-9769 or at YMoralesY@YM-PR.com

About GUARDaHEART Foundation

GUARDaHEART Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit that provides education to the community, corporations, Native American organizations, unions, and individuals to promote heart disease awareness, detection, and prevention. Our mission is to empower communities through preventative action and to reduce the risk of heart disease worldwide. “LEARN. DETECT. PREVENT.” Website: www.guardaheart.org

GUARDaHEART is the organizer of the community events and all tests provided are performed by two CLIA Certified Laboratories.

About Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Monica

On August 10, 1920, the Calvary Baptist Church Santa Monica California held its first church service and has been a beacon in the Santa Monica community ever since. For over 100 years, Calvary has sought to serve an ever-evolving community and has been involved in the ongoing fight for civil rights for all who have been oppressed, even sponsoring a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1961. To this day Calvary continues a walk-in love and faith to serve the Santa Monica community and beyond. The church motto underscores the unconditional, deliberate, embracing reminder that we are all partakers of God’s love. One Love! One Faith! One Family! One Calvary!  www.calvarysantamonica.org