RIVERSIDE, CA— Starting Over, Inc/Riverside All of Us or NONE are planning a free reentry legal clinic for people with arrest and conviction records in partnership with the Sahaba Initiative.

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What are the benefits of getting a livescan?: Livescan fingerprinting is a background check that allows you to obtain your record of arrest and prosecution (or RAP sheet). It’s important to get access to your RAP sheet so you can check your record for any inaccurate information. If there is, we will work with you to get it corrected or expunged.

Sign up today and make 2021 better by getting your record cleaned before the end of the year! To sign up email office@startingoverinc.org or call (951) 208-7879

By Dr. Arabia Mollette

Recently, many of my friends and relatives have asked me questions and expressed their concerns about hosting Thanksgiving celebrations in their homes. Some of the questions included: “How should we handle Thanksgiving dinners as the numbers of coronavirus cases rise?”; “Is it possible to host a safe Thanksgiving dinner at home?”; “Is it safe to have them at all?”; “Are there ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus while sharing meals?”; “How many people is it safe to invite to dinner during a global pandemic?” 

While it is important for families to create memories together, if you decide to host Thanksgiving dinner this year, it is important to consider and implement proper safety precautions, as uncertainties that exist around the pandemic remain. Please find tips below on how to remain safe in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The safest measurement is to grant yourself time to understand the risks, plan ahead and/or participate in a virtual Thanksgiving gathering. The good news is food has not been shown to be a risk factor in transmission. However, the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 stems from person-to-person transmission. Therefore, I strongly recommend you know the infection rates in your community and the communities your guests live in. This varies from state-to-state and even within counties. If the community spread is high or growing, you may want to consider doing a virtual dinner or postponing it. I urge you to talk with your elders and relatives who are in high-risk groups about not attending the in-person Thanksgiving dinner because of the possibility of becoming sick with the novel coronavirus.

Require guests, who would like to attend dinner, to schedule a COVID test with their PCP, at a local drug store or an Urgent Care at least two weeks in advance. This would not only allow everyone to know their status, but it would provide comfort in knowing no one is at risk of contracting the virus if the result is negative. Be kind and explain the significance of taking these safety precautions. If you receive a negative test result, be sure to implement two weeks of strict social distancing before attending the celebration. If your test result is positive, you should inform your friends and/or relatives, quarantine for 14 days, then get retested.

In the event a Thanksgiving gathering is scheduled, guests should still be required to wear a mask, practice physical distancing and regularly wash their hands. Advise your guests to keep their face masks on when food and drinks aren’t being consumed. Please avoid sharing utensils, food or drinks at all times. I suggest using disposable and environmentally safe service ware, utensils and tablecloths, to avoid the exchange of bodily fluids.

If you live in an area where the weather is warm and you have a backyard, take advantage of that space for physical distancing. If you live in a colder climate, consider how many people you can accommodate safely indoors. Keep it intimate, since being close to others can potentially put one at risk and touching common surfaces is the second-highest risk in contracting COVID-19.

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ABOUT DR. ARABIA MOLLETTE

Dr. Arabia Mollette is the embodiment of strength, perseverance and empowerment. She is living proof that you can overcome adversity, as she is a product of the foster care system, homelessness and poverty. In the span of six years, Dr. Mollette witnessed her mother attempt suicide, experienced domestic violence and suffered the traumatic loss of her four-month-old son at the hands of his father. Six years later, her youngest sister was murdered while riding in a friend’s car. These traumatic incidents, in addition to countless others, fueled Dr. Mollette’s desire to study medicine in order to make a difference in her community, a community plagued by crime and poverty. 
 
After receiving a full scholarship to study medicine at the Latin America School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba, Dr. Mollette relocated to Cuba, where she studied and lived for seven and a half years. After she matriculated from medical school, Dr. Mollette completed her residency as an Emergency Medical Resident Physician at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She is now an Emergency Medicine Physician in New York.
 
Every other year, Dr. Mollette travels to Sierra Leone to volunteer and assist in medical efforts. In addition to her health care efforts, Dr. Mollette has the opportunity to give back to her community through her podcast, The Visit with Dr. Arabia Mollette. Past guests have included Vivica A. Fox, Vanessa Simmons, Rolonda Watts, Selena Hill and Teresa Weatherspoon and more.

Dr. Arabia has been featured on CNN, Dr. Oz, NY Daily News, Cheddar TV, PIX 11 and a host of other media outlets. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Board of Education of the San Bernardino City Unified School District on Tuesday voted to keep all students in distance learning for the remainder of the current school year, which ends in June 2021.

The governing body of California’s eighth largest school district took action on November 17 after carefully weighing local COVID-19 figures that show the virus is spreading at alarming rates and families living in its attendance boundaries are especially at risk. San Bernardino County is among those in the state that have experienced drastically increasing COVID-19 cases, forcing it to remain in the purple tier. The Board’s decision is consistent with its steadfast commitment to safety for students and employees. This decision will enable District staff to focus greater resources toward strengthening distance learning while also allowing families to better plan.

SBCUSD will hold a 1 p.m. virtual press conference to provide more information about the Board’s decision. Media representatives interested in attending the press conference should email Communications Officer Maria Garcia at Maria.garcia@sbcusd.com for an invite. 

As part of their decision, in-person accommodations for small groups of students with specifically identified educational needs will be offered when the Board deems it safe to do so. This in-person support is allowable under public health guidance from the state.

This is the second time since the March statewide closure of schools that the SBCUSD Board of Education has put the health and safety of its 47,000 students and close to 8,000 employees at the forefront of its decision to keep schools in distance learning.

Watch a rebroadcast of Tuesday’s Board meeting

SACRAMENTO, CA— The California Department of Motor Vehicles is extending driver’s license permits with expiration dates through May 31, 2021, to give student drivers more time during the COVID-19 pandemic to complete the prerequisites needed for a provisional license, including 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction with a driving school and 50 hours of supervised driving practice.

Eligible permits are extended six months from the date of expiration or to a date 24 months from the date of application, whichever is earlier. The DMV previously extended permits expiring between March 1 and November 30, 2020. The DMV has alerted law enforcement of the extensions, which require no individual action on the part of drivers.

The DMV resumed behind-the-wheel drive tests with new health and safety protocols on June 26, and appointments to take the test are available.

Commercial learner’s permits expiring between March and December have been extended through December 31, 2020, to align with federal guidelines.

Summary of California driver’s license extensions

	Expiration month	Status
Learner’s permits (noncommercial)	March 2020-May 2021	Extended six months or to a date 24 months from the date of application
Age 69 & younger (noncommercial)	Beginning March 2020	Expanded eligibility to renew online or by mail for licenses expiring during the emergency
Age 70 & older (noncommercial)	March-December 2020 Beginning March 2020	Extended one year from original expiration dateExpanded eligibility to renew online or by mail for licenses expiring during the emergency
Commercial (all types, all ages)	March-December 2020	Extended to  December 31, 2020

Californians interested in applying for a learner’s permit can do so by filling out the online application and uploading the required documents. Customers who have completed this process can visit a DMV office to finalize the transaction and receive their permit – no appointment necessary.

DMV field office employees are assisting customers with appointments and walk-ins as time and space permit. The DMV continues to recommend that customers use its online services, expanded virtual services and other service channels to complete transactions, including eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals. Customers can use the Service Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

By Dana Givens, Black Enterprise

Fast-food giant McDonald’s is moving toward making their senior leadership more diverse. This week, the corporation announced the appointment of Tiffanie Boyd to assume the role of senior vice president U.S chief people officer.

The former General Mills human resources manager brings a vast amount of experience working in a range of roles including human resources leadership, supply chain, and foodservice. The Minnesota resident worked for the company for 23 years before transiting to McDonald’s.

In a company memo written by EVP, Global Chief People Officer Heidi Capozzi, McDonald’s expressed how Boyd’s appointment was a part of its larger mission toward its commitment to its consumers.” As part of our 2021-2022 U.S. Own the Ambition plan, Crew Experience is our most important growth priority,” the company wrote. “In partnership with owner/operator leadership, we intend to make bold moves for our people as we roll out our Employee Value Proposition and People Purpose throughout the System.”

The news comes after the company recently announced the appointment of Reginald Miller to serve as the company’s global chief diversity equity and inclusion officer.

“I’m proud to join a company with such a powerful brand and broad presence across our country. I look forward to working with franchisees to bring the McDonald’s values to life through our people and their employee experience, as well as the communities in which we operate,” says Boyd in a statement sent to BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“My goal is to ensure that McDonald’s is a place where people love the work they do, have opportunities to grow, and can make a meaningful contribution to society. As I step into my role, my first priority will be to spend time with employees, managers, crew, owner/operators, and other partners who bring the iconic McDonald’s brand to life.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The SBMLK DAY planning committee of decided to cancel their physical parade for 2021, to ensure the safety of the community and its members. Faced with challenges, it was decided to push forth with a virtual event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

A collective of community organizations along with YouthBuild Inland Empire, is excited to present, ‘Facing Adversity During the Storm’ a one-day virtual parade & extravaganza celebration scheduled to take place Monday, January 18, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This virtual celebration will be an informative and educational event featuring a short film, panel discussion, entertainment from local artists, storytelling, and celebrity guest appearances and more.

The committee is seeking your participation as one of their Story Tellers. They will be shooting at a theater located in the City of Ontario on Saturday, January 9. If available, the address and time will be forwarded to you. Story Tellers will have a total of 4 minutes to share with the community. Please note that they will take every precaution to maintain social distancing. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information or assistance, please call the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce at 1.888.466.7408 ext. 11 or email Lue@blackchamberofcommerce.org or YouthBuild Inland Empire 909.890.9106 or email info@blackchamberofcommerce.org.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored Shirrell McCarey as the 2020 Veteran of the Year for the 47th Assembly District, during the 4th Annual event held virtually this year due to COVID-19.

Shirrell McCarey served in the U.S. Navy, both active duty and reserve, from 1977 to 2012 as a Naval Commander. During this time Shirrell McCarey would serve in the final stages of the Vietnam War and she would also serve in the Gulf War. Her military career would see her be deployed to Vietnam, Grenada, Chernobyl, and the Middle East. After her time in the military, she would become a mental health advisor for the Loma Linda Mental Health Advisory Board for fifteen years.

In addition to her service and leadership, she maintains a membership with the California Leadership for Women, Cal Vets, Disabled American Veterans, and is the Lecture Knight for the Elk Lodge in Victorville. Mrs. McCarey’s primary interest is serving as a mental health advisor for veterans across the country. As a mental health advisor, Mrs. McCarey acts as a counselor to veterans suffering from things like PTSD, other mental health issues, and physical issues. This role also allows her to act as a mediator between veterans and their doctors regarding their mental and physical needs. 

After a review of the many nominations, twenty-five veterans were selected as finalists from throughout the community for the Veteran of the Year award which honors veterans who live, work, or volunteer in the 47th Assembly District who have served our country, protecting our freedoms, and who continue to serve our community. “I congratulate Shirrell McCarey for her selection as the 2020 Veteran of the Year for the 47^th Assembly District. Mrs. McCarey served our country honorably during her time in the U.S. Navyand she was honorable discharged in 2011. Mrs. McCarey has received several awards over her illustrious career including the Unit Citation Award and Good Conduct Medal but the award she is most proud of is the one she received from Loma Lima VA clinic. She received her award on May 25, 2016, after saving the lives of three veterans during a hostage situation where she was able to get the suspect to surrender peacefully via negotiations. The dedication she has demonstrated in supporting her fellow veterans is just one example of how tries to fulfill her life’s mission to uplift others. I’m proud to honor a good soldier and a good friend,” said Assemblymember Reyes. 

Veteran of the Year Finalists for the 47th District:

Heather Lee – Grand Terrace

Toshiro Henry “Hank” Kanbara – Grand Terrace

Hector Reynoso – Colton

Raymond Gómez – Colton

Julie Calderilla Porter – Colton

Eloy Sanchez – Colton

Bob Amaro – Colton

Arlie Hubbard – Colton

Mike Humphrey – Colton

Steven Miranda – Bloomington

Ben Munoz – Bloomington

Artist Gilbert – Rialto

Agustin Ramirez – San Bernardino

Gil Narvarro – San Bernardino

Judy Bryant – San Bernardino

Cynthia La Verne Epps – San Bernardino

Reverend Ching Lee Trenchard – San Bernardino

Basil Kimbrew – San Bernardino

Shirrell McCarey – San Bernardino

Joseph Mosely – San Bernardino

Martin Daly – Fontana

Kylee Quintanilla – Fontana

Howard Eckert – Fontana

Dennis Acron – Fontana

For more information on the Veteran of the Year and finalists contact District Representative Daissy Arteaga at (909) 381-3238 or email at Daissy.Arteaga@asm.ca.gov

Assemblymember 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.

By Lou Yeboah

“Listen carefully, and read with discernment,” says the Lord. For something important is about to be uttered.” [Revelation 13:9]. Remember, I told you that Satan is an imitator. Right now, he has the world right where he wants it; eating out of the palm of his hand. And by his words, he has stirred up a nation and convinced them that they could rule the world. He has convinced them that they are superior to all others, and like a fool, they have bowed before this hellish king, and given him what they have steadfastly refused to give Me. [Revelation 12:10]. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” Not knowing that the leader is Satanically empowered. Not knowing that Satan has raised him up so that he can receive worship. [Revelation 13:4-10]. Not knowing that because they have chosen to worship him, I will abandon them to their choice, with all the consequences that come with such a decision. If anyone has an ear, let him hear.  

Two beasts are described in the Book of Revelation chapter 13, one from the sea [vs. 1] and one from the land [vs. 11]. With the beast out of the sea, the one from the land, although he claims that he is the peace maker, he is not. He comes as a great source of darkness into the world. He comes not to save the world, but to damn the world. Listen and listen carefully! There is an urgency in the world that has never existed before. Your entire life is about to change. Events will unfold soon to destroy the Western world’s way of life as you know it. Soon, mankind will suffer through the most devastating, bloody war in human history—called, in biblical terminology, the “Great Tribulation.” A war such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. [Matthew 24:21-22]. Yes, a major war in the Middle East is coming soon, and it will be massive. The players are in place and this coming war will be the birth pangs of the Gog-Magog Wars as foretold by God to the prophet Ezekiel. “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass.” [Luke 21:36]. Because nothing in the past can even remotely compare to what is about to take place. Listen, and listen carefully!

The Book of Daniel was written for your time. Its prophecies speak with increased meaning to your generation. The Bible prophet, Daniel, outlined in vivid detail world events now unfolding before your eyes. They provide “inside information” on the enemy’s plans. They reveal the last-day delusions Satan uses to deceive the world’s population. They also carefully outline God’s strategy for the end time. The days ahead will be difficult. A crisis of unimagined fury will break upon the world. Read and understand the Book of Daniel, for it contains truth for your time. In it, the stories reveal how to be ready for earth’s final days. The prophecies reveal when these last-day events will occur. Understand the significance of today’s news and where it is all leading. Learn to discern. Yearn to discern. For the failure to discern the times and the threat is detrimental. [2Peter 3:3-4]. The exhortation, “Listen carefully and read with discernment!”

Dr. Leslie Ray Matthews was recently on with ABC News to talk about how vitamin D can be effective in fighting against COVID-19. Dr. Matthews is a retired trauma surgeon who has spent most of his career researching the complexities of vitamin D. Dr. Matthews is an inductee at the Royal House of Medicine and has spoken at the FDA and CDC previously on this same subject.

Dr. Matthews encourages the use of vitamin D especially among those who are melanin rich and have a harder time absorbing the sun’s rays.