With one million COVID-19 cases confirmed in California to date, a new travel advisory just issued, and health officials concerned about the surge we are experiencing, NOW IS THE TIME to help educate Californians about specific ways they can pitch in and do their part to slow the spread, starting with your own African American community.
There is an urgent need to educate the public about what they CAN AND SHOULD DO to protect their families and their communities. We respectfully urge you in the news media to help inform on this front.
Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of the Sierra Health Foundation, is available to provide perspective regarding the following guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) which can help members of our community plan safer gatherings and help loved ones reduce potential harm. Please share these guidelines for small gatherings and tips for a healthier holiday season with your readers to help educate and inform your community.
Here are some specific tips to share and that Chet can also speak to:
Check your county’s status to find out what types of activities and gatherings are permitted in your county based on the current spread of the virus.
Wear a mask in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, shopping and in stores, and anywhere you will be around people who do not live with you.
Wear a mask not only with people you do not know, but with anyone you don’t live with including close friends and family. While we feel safe and can easily let our guard down around loved ones, the risk of transmission is still there.
Keep your distance – Stay six feet apart from individuals outside your household, especially from older family members and those with chronic health conditions.
Do not gather indoors with other households if your county prohibits it. Indoor gathering is prohibited in purple tier counties.
If you are in a county where indoor gathering is permitted, when indoors, keep windows and doors open so fresh air circulates and continue to practice safe behaviors like wearing a mask, washing your hands, and using all the space you can indoors; spread things out.
Avoid sharing utensils or drinks with anyone.
Commit to keeping gatherings short (under two hours), whether inside or outside. The longer the duration, the higher the risk of spreading COVID-19.
People at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 (such as older adults and people with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged not to attend any gatherings, especially indoor gatherings. If you gather with older people or those with chronic conditions, make sure they wear a surgical or N95 mask.
It is safest to celebrate the holidays with the people who already live with you, but if you invite others, invite no more than two other households to your gathering.
Minimize mixing – Participating in multiple gatherings with different households or groups is strongly discouraged. Keep the households that you interact with stable over time. By spending time with the same people, risk of transmission is reduced.
Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading the virus. Incoming travelers from out of state and Californians returning to the state should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival before mixing indoors and with others.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
After a rare diagnosis, Aubrey Glencamp began the fight of his life — and won.
October was dedicated to breast-cancer awareness. Pink symbolizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This potentially deadly form of cancer claims more than 42,000 lives a year. Usually detected in women, there are rare cases when the disease is discovered in men.
Aubrey Glencamp is one of them.
According to research, only 1 in every 833 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. After a double mastectomy and chemo in 2016, Glencamp, who was diagnosed at 33, is now cancer-free. He credits early detection as the key to beating the disease.
(In fact, mammograms are one of the best forms of prevention and early detection of breast cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.)
Glencamp, who lives in Northern Florida, hopes his experience serves as a reminder that no one is exempt from breast cancer. He encourages other men to share their story, rather than suffer in silence. Helping to remove the stigma that breast cancer is a “woman’s disease,” is a part of his mission.
His story is one of inspiration and determination — he even had a miracle baby along the way.
Zenger: How are you doing today?
Aubrey Glencamp: I’m feeling fine. I’m still taking the medication Tamoxifen. I have some side effects, usually weight gain. I’m not having the hot flashes I first had. Next year, I should be done it.
Zenger: Has Covid affected your recovery?
Glencamp: No! Since I’m four years out, it hasn’t really affected it, but at the same time, I’m still careful and try not to congregate because I’m at high risk.
Zenger: In 2016, your wife actually discovered the lump in your chest. You were dieting and working out a lot, so at first you were not concerned because you thought it was some sort of fatty tissue. When did it become real and how?
Glencamp: In February 2016, I was laying a certain way and she happened to touch that exact spot. “What is this bump on your chest?” she asked. I had no idea. It didn’t even register to me. I went to the doctor that same week and got checked. Even my doctor was thinking it was fatty tissue. We weren’t thinking breast cancer. He didn’t think it was anything to really worry about and told me to continue living my life.
I was getting ready to do a Fitness Bootcamp at the time. He said: “Continue to do what you’re doing. Don’t worry about it.” Probably four weeks later, I went for my first appointment, which happened to be a mammogram.
Zenger: Aside from the lump that your wife discovered, you didn’t feel sick or any other symptoms, correct?
Glencamp: No. I had no other symptoms. Some guys will get some kind of blood or discharge, or inverted nipple. I didn’t have anything like that. At that time, I didn’t even feel it.
According to research, only 1 in every 833 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Glencamp credits early detection as the key to beating the disease
(Photo courtesy of Aubrey Glencamp)
Zenger: After you were diagnosed and did your research, I’m sure you discovered that a male being diagnosed with breast cancer was super-rare.
Glencamp: It’s pretty rare. As far as percentages are concerned, it’s a 1% net, depending on where you do your research.
Zenger: What was the most difficult part of your cancer ordeal?
Glencamp: It may have been just getting over the stigma. Here you are as a male being diagnosed with breast cancer. And there wasn’t a lot of information out there. So, prior to me being connected with The Men’s Breast Cancer Coalition, I had no idea of any male that had breast cancer, other than Richard Roundtree. (Roundtree is the actor who played private eye John Shaft in the 1971 film “Shaft.”)
Even in my family, no one had breast cancer. I didn’t have any reference as to what to expect. And most things were geared toward women.
Zenger: Were you able to maintain some of your normal way of living?
Glencamp: It definitely changed. Prior to that, I was doing half-marathons, Spartan Races, 5K’s, 10K’s, you name it. Even leading up to my surgeries, I had a race every weekend, because I didn’t know when I was going to be able to race again. Once surgery happened, I actually had a double mastectomy. I had both removed just in case. And my levels went down. My bones were a lot sorer. Just going through chemo and trying to get back in that lifestyle. I haven’t been as active as I was prior to the diagnosis. That part of my life has changed.
Zenger: And there was a fear that you wouldn’t be able to produce children.
Glencamp: Yeah! They said once you start chemo, there’s no telling if chemo is going to make you sterile or what chemo is going to do to you. They were trying to get us to go to a fertility clinic, but by the time we got work figured out and made all the doctor’s appointments, I just never got a chance to go. And then God blessed us two days before my surgery with the news that my wife was pregnant. My daughter is definitely our miracle baby.
Zenger: Does she know that she is a miracle baby and why?
Glencamp: She’s only three, so it’s still early. She sees the scars, but as far as me having cancer, she has no idea.
Zenger: What does it mean to you to be a survivor?
Glencamp: It means a lot. The reason why I share my story is because I wanted other men to know that it was OK, that there are other guys out there supporting them. I’m working on a blog to let them know what to expect — and that there is life afterwards. You always have that thought that something could come back. I was Stage 2 HER2 positive, so it was aggressive, and by the time I had surgery, it had reached my lymph nodes. So, I’m constantly worried if something may come back, but while I’m here, I definitely want to share my story and hopefully save a life or two for somebody that may not have checked. They may start checking and be able to find something through early detection.
(Photo courtesy of Aubrey Glencamp)
“The reason why I share my story is because I wanted other men to know that it was OK, that there are other guys out there supporting them,” Glencamp said.
Zenger: I also read you mentioned not realizing what women went through in terms of how uncomfortable a mammogram is. I’m sure that was a teachable moment, as well.
Glencamp: It’s not a fun process. Now when I go for check-ups, it’s more of the physical feeling around trying to make sure there are no bumps. That process was definitely different and just going through that procedure shed the light on what women have to go through, and that pressure and how uncomfortable it can be.
Zenger: What advice would you give anyone diagnosed with breast cancer?
Glencamp: Have faith and a great support system around you. The biggest thing for me and something I have always shared was, don’t treat us any different. If someone is going through cancer, don’t cry around me. I’m going through this, if I’m smiling and putting on a brave face, then I want you to, as well.
What you do in private is completely up to you, but while I’m smiling and joking, I want you to do the same thing or stay away from me (laughing). I would say, just have a positive outlook. Know that you can, while you’re here, do the best that you can to enjoy life to its fullest.
Zenger: You are a true inspiration, brother. Always stay in the fight, and I appreciate you sharing your story with me.
Glencamp: Thank you. I appreciate it.
(Edited by Fern Siegel and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)
By Black Men for Educational Equity | Special to California Black Media Partners
The school to prison pipeline starts as early as preschool for our youngest Black learners.
According to the U.S. Department of Education (2016-2017), Black children face issues with preschool access and exclusion, and are prone to receive harsher discipline than non-Black students who display the same behavior.
Statistics show that Black children are 15% of the K-12th?grade student population; however, they are 36% of students suspended at least once. Too many Black early learners are bounced around between multiple preschools or childcare programs like urban nomads.
During the height of the George Floyd protests, a group of?African American men with professional experience in education, policy, research and social work formed?Black?Men for Educational Equity (BMEE) to address implicit bias in early education. Over the last five months, BMEE examined the disparities and inequalities that exist in the system for young Black children and have created a plan of action for addressing these systemic issues.
To combat this problem, BMEE is calling on the California Legislature to ensure that Black preschoolers are not excluded from important educational components and success through implicit bias and structural racism.?Having access to quality preschool, fair treatment in the classroom, and equal opportunity for success are all crucial components in helping our Black preschool students succeed now, and for generations to come.
Too often, the three “B’s” predict a preschooler’s risk of expulsion: “big, Black and boy.” Black children are expelled at twice the rate of white children, particularly if they are bigger or taller than their peers. Research reveals this is less about the physical characteristics of the child and more about what is going on in the teacher’s mind, than what the child is doing.?Although there is great need in California for preschool and childcare services, preschool is not compulsory.?
Preschools in California currently can exclude students prior to even attempting to teach them based on subjective behavioral expectations. These unfounded behavioral expectations are often fraught with implicit bias and hidden from research as providers are not required to track or report reasons for exclusion, expulsion, or suspension.?It is tantamount to expulsion without any process or notice of rights, and contrary to long term public policy.?
Young Black children, particularly Black boys, are too often victims of an education system that fails them and stifles their potential to succeed. When Black children are held to different standards for learning and behavior and even worse, higher standards are seen for them in preschool, it furthers the systematic racial divide.
“It is important early education staff shift from destructive approaches to discipline and towards research-informed best practices,” commented Dr. Judy D. White, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools. “The Research is clear that when teachers are supported with resources and evidence-based training, preschool can help young children build crucial social-emotional and pre academic skills. A child’s ability to successfully navigate social and emotional learning at a young age is a major factor in educational success.? Exclusionary discipline such as suspension isolates the children most in need of social-emotional development, and results in poor educational outcomes. We want all preschoolers to experience an inclusive and welcoming learning environment.”
While legislators have made efforts to address preschool accountability, such as?AB 752 by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) which proposes?a series of interventions and referrals before expelling a child,?there remains a hole the size of Mount Everest in California’s early learning accountability and teacher training system.?? ?
California should establish developmentally appropriate policies and structures to provide support to preschool providers by clarifying definitions for suspension and expulsion in preschool and providing due process.? Due process should come before any sort of expulsion to help ensure?disciplinary?practices are not abused. It is long past time for California to take measurable action to eliminate exclusionary practices that contribute to the preschool to prison pipeline.
Preschool providers should collect and track data on rates of expulsion and suspension in early learning and preschool settings. At a minimum, four dominant categories should disaggregate the data.?They are:?sex, race, ethnicity, and disability status.?Information could be housed locally and by the state. Preschool providers should also be required to provide due process before kicking a student out.
“California’s early learning and care system continues to suffer from historic and structural racism and sexism,” according to Dr. Mary Ann Dewan,?Santa Clara County Superintendent of schools.?”Policies and procedures such as?incentivizing?providers to expel children who are deemed ‘problematic’, paying a higher reimbursement for part-day preschool than full-day preschool and directing CalWORKS recipients to lower-quality childcare programs serves to perpetuate the inequities caused by structural racism and sexism.? Now that we know better, it’s time to do better.”
“BMEE is here to shake up the system and not maintain the status quo,” said Khaim Morton, owner KRM Strategies and BMEE Member. KRM strategies specializes in the advancement and application of comprehensive legislation and government affairs strategies. “All Black children deserve an opportunity to succeed. Research shows that implicit bias demonizes Black children before they get to kindergarten. BMEE’s vision is to remove stigmas that Black preschoolers are subjected to and support policy solutions.”
About the Authors
BMEE is a group of?African American men with professional experience in education, policy, research and social work.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) will celebrate the Thanksgiving Break November 23–27, 2020. Students are not expected to participate in distance learning but may have homework or other assignments that are due when they return to online instruction on Monday, November 30, 2020.
Middle College High School students follow the San Bernardino Valley College schedule.
Due to the holiday closure, Grab and Go meals will only be available on Monday, November 23, 2020, from 8 to 11 a.m. at 10 meal distribution sites. Families will be able to pick up seven days’ worth of breakfast and lunch per child. Children do not need to be present when picking up meals. Snacks and dinner will not be provided during the Thanksgiving Break. Only the following sites will be open for Grab and Go meals on November 23: Cajon High School, Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy, Golden Valley Middle School, Indian Springs High School, King Middle School, Muscoy Elementary School, Pacific High School, Richardson PREP HI Middle School, San Bernardino High School, and San Gorgonio High School.
Absolutely no food will be distributed the remainder of that week. Regular meal distribution will resume on Monday, November 30, 2020.
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.
Receive a free livescan, Prop 47., record expungement, and learn how to navigate barriers with a record from Sahaba Initiative representatives and Starting Over’s Participatory Defense specialists.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
