SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Friday April 30th, 2021, student leaders with Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) and Inland Empire Prism Collective (IEPC) will host a youth-led conversation with San Bernardino Unified School District board members around access to mental health resources on their school campuses. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. via Zoom at: https://bit.ly/3mUluhK.
Now more than ever, students need support for their mental health needs. Covid 19 has proven to increase anxiety and depression in adults and children due to the mandatory social distancing, stay at home orders, and home circumstances youth have no control over. Youth leaders have been vocal advocates for properly equipped mental wellness centers to aid students in need within SBCUSD. Prior to Covid 19, students have been pressuring district leadership to allocate more funding to mental health resources because of the fear of mass shootings at schools across the nation. Over the past year, youth have also experienced trauma at large rates. From Covid 19 to police brutality, it is evident that students need these resources available to them to effectively handle the emotional impacts that these crises have had on them.
Many students within SBCUSD come from low income and marginalized backgrounds where access to mental health resources is often beyond their reach. By pushing forth this conversation, youth leaders are continuing to pave the way for the implementation of mental wellness centers by holding school board members accountable to allocating money towards the creation of these programs on all high school campuses and continuation schools within the district.
“As youth, we experience many forms of oppression that directly affect our mental health. Having mental wellness resources, such as therapists, available to us at our schools is a necessity for many of us that needs to be implemented as soon as possible.” – Scarlett Juarez, ICUC and IEPC Youth Leader
Being accepted by just one major university is a life-changing event for many high school students. Monique Vobecky is in a very different position.
Monique Vobecky a 17-year-old senior at Glendora High School, recently received her 18th acceptance letter, this one from another Ivy League University. Many of the universities offered her full scholarships.
“This completed 18-for-18 high profile universities that accepted her as a freshman for the 2021 school year,” said her mother, Bianca Vobecky.
Monique is an excellent student with a 4.67 grade-point average, as well as an athlete and philanthropist.
“This is unreal!” said Monique, who is 17. “I cannot believe all the letters said, ‘accepted.’”
Monique plans to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.
“I want the world to see that Black Girls are capable of amazing things. We must be recognized and accepted for who we are and the talents, skills and passion we bring to the world…no matter how different we are… doctor, scientist, artist, musicians, or even a young poet like Amanda Gorman!”
How did Monique become such a sought-after student?
“She earned it,” said her father, Pete Vobecky.
Monique fell in love with sports and started playing soccer at an early age. She’s been a captain on the Glendora High soccer team where she excelled as the 2017-18 “Defensive player of the year,” and she was selected MVP of the Soccer team for the 2019-2020 school year.
In 2018, Monique, then 14, created the Little Sunshine Foundation. Her start-up was selected by the Glendora Chamber of Commerce as the ‘Nonprofit of the Year’ in 2019.
The Little Sunshine Foundation’s mission is to provide underserved youths with the necessary resources to improve their quality of life through tutoring, increased access to sporting gear, civic engagement and leadership.
Monique said she started the foundation because she believes “that every child deserves a little sunshine!”
Her parents said Monique gets to decide which university she’ll attend since she is the one who put in all the work. Although Obama did go to Harvard, one noted.
“We don’t know all the reasons why all the universities accepted her. What we know is that my daughter, a Black teenager from Glendora, California, put in the work to excel academically and take time to shine light in the lives of so many others,” said her mother, Bianca.
Her father, Pete, said, “Maybe it is time for Monique to be given an opportunity to have the light shine brightly on her for a while.”
Monique said she wants to major in medicine and become a doctor “to heal people and help them lead longer, happier lives.”
Pressed to name the lucky university she’s chosen, Monique said she doesn’t know yet. She said she’ll let friends, family and the universities know when she decides.
Young Miller Tha Don tasted music success early. As a teenager, he was part of Romeo’s Rich Boyz group. Romeo, the son of Master P and cousin of Young Miller Tha Don, formed the group that produced the hit “You Can’t Shine Like Me.”
Master P’s influence took Young Miller Tha Don from New Orleans to California, where he’s working to keep the legacy going. After taking a break in 2020 due to COVID-19 (including losing his father to the coronavirus), Young Miller Tha Don is ready to provide his fans with the sound they have grown accustomed to. But his new sounds are different, as he has removed all profanity from his music in order to appeal to a wider audience.
Using the experiences gained by being in a musical family and learning the rap game from every aspect, he feels now is the time to strike. He will be releasing a new single, “Easy Flow,” in the coming weeks and plans to drop the visuals shortly afterward. He’s also planning to have a full album by the end of the year.
During a recent conversation with Zenger News, Young Miller Tha Don expands on why he took a break from music, explains why he expunged explicit language from his verses and talks about Master P’s influence on his career.
Percy Crawford interviewed Young Miller Tha Don for Zenger News.
Percy Crawford interviewed Young Miller Tha Don for Zenger News. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)
Zenger: It looks like you’re getting back to the music. What kept you away?
Young Miller Tha Don: Definitely getting back to the music. It was COVID-19-related, including losing my dad in April of last year from COVID, so that kind of put a stop to everything. I just wanted chill out and get my mind right. Now I’m ready to get back into it.
Zenger: How did the success that you enjoyed at a very young age being with the Rich Boyz impact your career and your approach?
Young Miller Tha Don: I use it as fuel to move forward. Everything I soaked up being around my relatives; you know they are pioneers in the game, so I’m just using that as fuel to keep going. Everybody looks at me as the boss, so I gotta keep it going and show them how to get it going.
Zenger: You come from a musical family, Master P is your uncle, Romeo is your cousin. Obviously we know the Miller family well. What experiences did you gain being around them and entering their field?
Young Miller Tha Don: I got a lot of experience on the business side, the studio side, the video production side, photo shoots, clothing … you name it. I learned a lot and everything that I learned at a young age, I’m applying that to what I’m doing now.
Zenger: What took you from New Orleans to California?
Young Miller Tha Don: In 2000, I had moved with [Master] P to Houston, and he was telling my mom [that] the next year he was going to move to Cali because that’s where all his business was at, and he didn’t wanna just keep flying back and forth from Cali to Texas. So in 2001 we moved to Beverly Hills, and I’ve been there ever since. It was a humbling experience coming from New Orleans and moving to Beverly Hills. That’s why some of my people call me “The Real Fresh Prince” — instead of Bel-Air, I’m the “Fresh Prince of Beverly Hills.”
Zenger: Was it difficult to adjust?
Young Miller Tha Don: I kind of struggled going into it. Because you know in New Orleans, we like to crack jokes. I was doing that with the kids, they were sensitive and crying and all this. I just had to learn their culture. It was a great experience because some of those kids I was going to school with, their parents were big dogs, doing big things. I went to school with Nicholas Cage’s son and James Worthy’s daughters. I went to school with a lot of people’s kids, and just started building relationships with them. I still have relationships with some of those kids today.
Young Miller Tha Don moved from New Orleans to Beverly Hills two decades ago. (Photo courtesy Robby)
Zenger: Given the fact that you have been in the industry for so long, you have witnessed the transitions in music from tapes, to CDs to streaming. What has that adjustment been like for you?
Young Miller Tha Don: P always told me, if you’re a hustler, you can adapt to any environment. I just had to figure it all out and get the streaming going. I do good with my streaming, so I just had to map it out, market stuff and plan. Get with my team and just treat the internet like the streets now. They used to have the street teams go out; now you have to go out and do that on the internet.
Zenger: Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
Young Miller Tha Don: I was heavy on Jay-Z, B.I.G. Pac, Nas, of course my family, Fat Joe, Big Pun. I listened to a lot of that.
Zenger: A lot of East Coast influence.
Young Miller Tha Don: Yeah, I definitely listened to a hell of a lot of that music growing up, bro.
Zenger: What can we expect from you musically?
Young Miller Tha Don: My vibe right now, I stopped cussing in my music, but I’m still talking that talk. I’m just challenging myself not to cuss and use more words, so my music can be played anywhere. But I’m bringing that good party music. I like to make records for the ladies, the R&B music, hip-hop records. That’s kind of my lane that I’m staying in.
Zenger: What prompted you taking profanity out of your lyrics? Was it just a matter of the radio being able to play it freely or something else as well?
Young Miller Tha Don: It was a combination of things. One day I was playing my music for these people and a little kid said the word that I said, and I was like, “Oh nah!” And then another reason, when you listen to music on the radio for those that still listen to the radio, I don’t want my voice to be distorted for every cuss word or to have entire blurred out lines. I just challenged myself not to cuss, and I’ve been doing that for like two years now, and it’s been working for me.
Zenger: That’s a major change and adjustment to pull off at this stage of your career, so the fact that it’s working for you says a lot about you as an artist. That’s big time.
Young Miller Tha Don: Yeah man, and a lot of people book me for that. I get a lot of gigs because of that, because some people don’t want to hear all of that. We are in a very sensitive era. So, calling women out and stuff like that don’t necessarily fly like that anymore. So, I’m just glad I made that change and people still vibin’ with it. And I’m not saying the ‘N’ word because I’m trying to break that barrier too.
Zenger: When can we expect a single from you?
Young Miller Tha Don: Man, I’m getting ready to drop my single, “Easy Flow,” and a video right behind it very soon, and then the follow-up will be right behind that. I’m just about to start dropping work consistently every month or every other month. Just drop a song, a video, and then I’m going to put out a full body of work around November.
Young Miller Tha Don plans to soon release a new single. ( Photo courtesy Robby)
Zenger: Sounds the key for you right now is to live in the studio.
Young Miller Tha Don: I feel like, if you make a crazy record and everybody is vibin’ to it, that should be your motivation to go back in the studio and make an even crazier record. So that’s how I do it. I just made a crazy record. Everybody on my team is feeling it and other people in the industry who I sent it to, they feel like this is going to be that one. But to answer your question, staying in the studio is key because you have to keep the music going. You can’t run out of product when it comes to that music. You gotta keep dropping consistently. Give the people what they want. Music is different now. There are rappers born every day now. You have to keep being hot and winning.
Zenger: We lost a great one earlier this month with the death of DMX. Before I let you go, I wanted to give you the opportunity to speak on “The Dog.”
Young Miller Tha Don: That’s who I forgot to mention when you asked me earlier who I listened to. Definitely was a DMX fan. What he meant to the game was a lot. His unique style, his raw gutta flow — and he had the capability to jump from rapping to acting. We took a major loss. God bless X and his entire family, friends and fans. X would want everybody to keep his same energy going.
Zenger: I appreciate the time, is there anything else you want to add?
Young Miller The Don: World Fusion LLC is my label and DMG is my partner label. I want all the artists to keep going hard out there and keep pushing because eventually I’m going to want to sign some of them. That’s what me and my family are about, giving back and giving opportunities to the people that want to do it.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Dameron Communications has been retained by the RDCIO partnership of Renaissance Downtowns USA and ICO Real Estate Group to serve as the public relations firm for the development and reuse of The City of San Bernardino’s 48.2-acre Carousel District site in the heart of downtown San Bernardino.
The development is expected to serve as a catalyst for Downtown San Bernardino by building upon the pre-existing foot traffic brought in by the Regal Cinema and California Theatre.
“We are very excited to work on this epic project. This bold development will launch San Bernardino into a prosperous 21st century,” said Carl Dameron, principal of the 30-year-old San Bernardino agency, Dameron Communications.
“The plan includes housing for all and business opportunities for all,” said Don Monti, Renaissance Downtowns President and CEO.
On March 3, 2021, the San Bernardino City Council selected RDICO to redevelop the Carousel Mall. The RCICO plan is the best way to launch San Bernardino’s short term, mid-term and long-term growth, said Dameron.
For more information on RDICO and San Bernardino’s new Downtown Development, go to www.SanBernardinoDowntown.com.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed interim Public Defender Thomas Sone to serve as the county’s new Public Defender.
“We are very fortunate to have someone with Tom’s credentials, experience, and dedication on our team,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.
Sone has served as interim Public Defender since December and previously served as Assistant Public Defender. He joined the Public Defender’s Office in 2001 after briefly working for a private law firm in Los Angeles. Sone began with the County as a Deputy Public Defender I and worked his way up to the position of Lead Deputy Public Defender V before being named Chief Deputy Public Defender in 2013 and Assistant Public Defender in 2018.
Along the way, Sone litigated serious and complex felony cases, trained and mentored newer attorneys, assigned cases, participated in community programs, and collaborated with various agencies to develop programs that better deliver services to our community.
“The Public Defender’s Office and this county hold a very special place in my heart,” Sone said. “For the past 20 years within the department, I’ve grown not just professionally but also as a person. Both the leadership of this department as well as this county have shaped who I’ve become. I am humbled and honored by the appointment.”
Sone is the county’s first Asian American and Pacific Islander Public Defender. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego, School of Law and holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Washington State University. He is also a graduate of the San Bernardino County Management and Leadership Academy.
The Public Defender provides legal representation to criminal or civil commitment defendants who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The office represents adults and juveniles charged with misdemeanor or felony crimes, and persons facing involuntary civil commitment for mental disorders or commitment under the Sexually Violent Predator statute.
In addition to attorneys, the San Bernardino County Public Defender employs investigators to fully investigate cases handled by the department. The Department also has a staff of social workers and support staff to provide the best representation for clients.
Using a holistic approach, the Public Defender seeks to increase client opportunities for achieving self-sufficiency. In addition to providing legal defense, the office also seeks to arrange client access to social service programs and assistance with receiving alcohol and drug rehabilitation services and counseling for mental health issues.
WASHINGTON — As a 20-year physical therapist in Washington, D.C., Dr. Jason Henderson has worked with many disabled people.
But there is another reason why shaking Henderson’s hand feels like squeezing a brick. In a Southeast Washington church, twice a week, Henderson becomes the Sensei for a group of young men.
“Love reaches out. My love reaches out!” sang Henderson during a recent demonstration he held with some of his students. “I play that song because it is featured in my new film about how martial arts can benefit kids with autism. And how important it is for me, as the CEO of a health-care company, to give back to the community.”
Henderson teaches martial arts to help his students cope with autism. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)
Henderson’s documentary, “I AM A Martial Autist,” was previewed on Oscar night in a virtual event.
Henderson is president of Ergo Solutions, located in the capital, but much of his work is devoted to the young men who have lost their lives to gun violence. His techniques give them nonviolent alternatives to conflicts.
“It is important for our community to reach out and share love,” Henderson said. “Every beautiful black child in here deserves our love. So when we see kids being diagnosed, called dumb, called stupid, call retarded, the community has to change the way we see our babies.”
“Martial arts accepts you for who you are,” and that has been a blessing for six of Henderson’s students. They snapped to attention at their sensei’s commands as he took them through their martial-arts warm-up routine.
Born in Philadelphia, Henderson graduated from high school and was admitted to Florida A&M, where he earned his degree in physical therapy. He earned a doctorate in PT from Alabama State and then an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.
“When I got out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, so I headed South,” said Henderson. “While many big schools accepted me, I got a track scholarship to Florida A&M.
Jason Henderson earned a doctorate in PT which he uses to develop his martial arts programs. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)
“My focus is to continue to fight health disparities through my practice and to develop this martial program for children and young adults in person and at home with our online program, which was developed during the pandemic.”
In addition to his medical and martial programs, Henderson has published a book, “A complete 180,” about business executives putting their companies back on track after disappointments.
“In my life, I had to restructure my health-care company. There is no difference between what I had to do and parent who has autism,” Henderson said. “There are times in life you have to redirect things. Sometimes, we get off course, and God is there to redirect us.”
The San Bernardino City Unified School District’s (SBCUSD) Positive Youth Development department is organizing another Operation Student Recovery (OSR) on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 9 a.m. to noon, the third operation of the 2020–2021 school year.
OSR takes a proactive approach to reversing attendance issues, with administrators personally visiting the homes of truant students to invite them back to school and offer assistance in overcoming whatever barriers are preventing good attendance.
Past events have helped students, and their families, address the problems that prevented good school attendance. During the February 23 OSR 1000 event, more than 165 volunteers wearing personal protective equipment assisted 102 homeless students, 14 foster youth, 234 English learners, and 360 African-American students. A total of 40 students received immediate technical assistance. Other students received medical and mental health referrals, and some families received food assistance.
For more information about the April 27 OSR event or past OSR efforts, contact Positive Youth Development at (909) 880-6812.
Kit Enters Digital Age with Online Version of Resource-Packed California Parent Guide
SACRAMENTO, CA—- In 2001, First 5 California debuted its informative and resource-packed Kit for New Parents to millions of families and caregivers throughout the state. However, many parents of young children, especially families from under-resourced neighborhoods, are not aware of this free and valuable tool.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of children under the age of 5 who face barriers of literacy, poverty or disability experience difficulty accessing valuable information and resources that are essential during this time,” said First 5 California Executive Director Camille Maben. “The Kit for New Parents fills that gap by delivering essential parenting resources right to their doors.”
The Kit contains everything from practical advice and parenting tips to child development and finding childcare information. It also includes information about health and safety best practices during the current global pandemic. The Kit’s contents include:
California Parent Guide
What to Do When Your Child Gets Sick book
Numbers Touch and Feel children’s board book
California Poison Control brochure and magnet
Colorful, reusable First 5 California “Talk. Read. Sing.” tote bag
First 5 California developed the Kit as an innovative evidence-based approach to reach new families with information about parenting practices and community resources. Over the years, it has evolved with technology and the needs of parents and is continuously updated to include information relevant to today’s families and childcare providers. For example, the California Parent Guide is now available online at parentguide.first5california.com for parents to access with their smartphones and mobile devices.
Parents and organizations can receive the physical Kit by visiting First 5 California’s ordering page at https://apps.ccfc.ca.gov/First5ParentingKits or by contacting their local First 5 county commission.
To date, First 5 California has distributed more than 5 million Kits for New Parents, including approximately 145,000 in 2020. To learn more about First 5 California, visit ccfc.ca.gov.
The garden will support healthy eating, active living
ONTARIO, CA— On Saturday, April 17, the Carmel Connections Foundation (CCF) and the City of Ontario hosted a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the Seeds of Joy Community Garden. The benefits and positive impacts that come from gardening inspired the name “Seeds of Joy” – meaningful to describe the garden itself, as well as those who will be tending to everything, and everyone, that will grow here.
Phase 1 is complete, and it is because of the efforts of all of the community. A special thank you to Hap Kellogg and Kellogg Gardening Products for helping the foundation to tend their garden by donating Kellogg Organic Products to Seeds of Joy.
Caramel Connections Foundation would like to thank all of our volunteers, sponsors, and community partners that have made great strides to bring the Seeds of Joy Community Garden to this point. Partners include San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair Curt Hagman, West Side News, United Way of the Inland Empire, American Beverage Association, First 5 San Bernardino and the Inland Empire Health Plan. Additional supporters include UC Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP), Master Gardener Program (MFP), and Master Food Preserver Program (MFP).
CCF was established in 2016 to empower families in the Inland Empire to access healthier food and lifestyle choices. Through educational and enrichment programs for children and adults, CCF offers low-income families opportunities to grow, cook and eat healthy food and participate in fitness activities that address the high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure that are prevalent in the community.
The Seeds of Joy Community Garden is located at 1240 W. 4th Street in Ontario, California.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes and the County of San Bernardino announce that the California Transportation Commission has voted to approve funding for the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements Project. This funding will come from the state’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 5 and will provide the project with a $1.88 million grant. The grant will be matched with funding from the County of San Bernardino.
The approval of the funding for the project represents the culmination of several years’ worth of collaborative efforts to improve the area. The project was first conceived at the “DREAM BIG IE” Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by Majority Leader Reyes in 2017. At the summit, parents and students from Muscoy advocated for improved sidewalks and safer route infrastructure around the two elementary schools: Vermont Elementary and Muscoy Elementary.
A community partnership was formed at the summit to ensure that Muscoy’s children and their families could safely walk to and from school. This promise led to the formation of the student-led group known as SOAR IE, which created a diverse coalition known as the Sidewalks for Muscoy Coalition. This coalition consisted of community members working together to improve the sidewalks, crosswalks, and other infrastructure around the schools.
“The idea for this project came from high school students who used to walk to school in Muscoy. I honor their work, and I am so proud that they have worked with us to make it a reality. Our community deserves safer routes to school,” said Majority Leader Eloise Reyes.
“When walking the streets of my community, I’m afraid of what can happen, I’ve seen how kids struggle to walk on our streets, risking getting hurt because of a lack of sidewalks,” said former Vermont student Angela Loera.
“The County is proud to receive this grant and we are eager to get to work on these projects,” said San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “People deserve to feel safe when they walk through their neighborhoods. We are thankful to be part of a collaborative effort.”
The Sidewalks for Muscoy Coalition served as the initial wave of improvements for the Muscoy community. The coalition rallied their community as they built sample crosswalks, bus shelters, and curb extensions using funding from Southern California’s Association of Government’s (SCAG) Go Human Campaign.
This initial collaborative effort led by SOAR IE would in turn become the Muscoy Safe Area Routes To School Pedestrian Improvements Project, which sought out and received a commitment from the County Public Works to make streets safer for residents to walk and bike. By 2019 the coalition was hosting events such as the first “Walk to School Day” for National Clean Air Day to promote safe routes.
In 2020, the San Bernardino County Public Works Department submitted the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvement Project for funding consideration for 2021 under the state’s Active Transportation Program. The funding will allow the project to upgrade existing crosswalks to more visible ladder-style crosswalks; install pedestrian flashing beacons, signage, red curbs, and sidewalks.
“When I went to the Youth Empowerment Summit, the Assemblymember asked for legislative ideas. We suggested protection for our siblings who attend elementary school in Muscoy. Assemblymember Reyes believed in our idea, and now we are excited to see the idea become a reality,” said SOAR IE member Guadalupe Tellez.
After unsuccessfully applying for a similar project in Cycle 4 of the Active Transportation Project, the Department of Public Works improved the application this year by adding more safety improvements and agreeing to a collaboration with the Department of Public Health and local CBO Mental Health Systems to provide educational and encouragement programming.
The Safe Routes Partnership assisted the applicants with the application process, which is well known for its difficulty. The Active Transportation Program is heavily oversubscribed, with fewer than 11% of applications funded in most cycles. “Let Muscoy’s victory serve as a reminder of the urgent need to prioritize funding in environmental justice communities and rural communities of color across the Inland Empire and the state,” said Demi Espinoza from the Safe Routes Partnership. Jonathan Matz, also from the Safe Routes Partnership, added: “We’re incredibly proud of the agencies, NGOs, and most importantly community members who worked so hard to make this application stand out among the hundreds that were submitted. It’s a testimony to the need for safe walking infrastructure in Muscoy, and the community’s unity behind achieving it.”
Ultimately, the Muscoy Area Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements Project represents what can be achieved through collaboration.
“If we want to improve the quality of life in a particular community, we cannot pretend to know what’s best. The only way to do it is to bring the community together and ask “What do you need? How can we help?” And only then can we work together toward a goal of making life easier and better for the community. In this case, it was the students and then the parents who voiced the dream for Muscoy. And they helped make it come true.” .said Majority Leader Eloise Reyes.
“Margaret Mead once said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’ This quote defines Muscoy, a community of leaders that refuses to give up, engaged in collaborative dialogue to create a vision of a better future that includes safer conditions for youth en route to school. A job well done,” said Mirza Martinez, Mental Health System prevention specialist.
Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47, which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
