The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in partnership with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad, will be closing US Route 395 (US-395) at Kramer Junction for five days to allow BNSF workers to replace concrete panels, rails and re-ballast the tracks crossing US-395 immediately north of the intersection of State Route 58 (SR-58). The railroad work is a portion of the completion work for the Kramer Junction project which began in late 2017 to realign Old State Route 58 to the new expressway east and west of “Four Corners” in San Bernardino County.

The full closure on US-395 will begin on Sunday, May 17 at 5:00 a.m. and continue through Thursday, May 21^st at 5:00 p.m. at Kramer Junction. A 10-mile detour will be in place for traffic on US-395.

• Northbound US-395 traffic will be diverted from US-395 westward onto Old State Route 58 (Old SR-58) to Twenty Mule Team Road. At the intersection of Twenty Mule Team Road and Old SR-58, westbound motorists will make a left turn onto Twenty Mule Team Road, continue to Boron Road making a right turn to head north to the new section of SR-58, then head east on SR-58 back to US-395.
• Southbound US-395 traffic will be diverted from US-395 westward onto the new section of SR-58, exit Boron Road and turn left, travel south on Boron Road to Twenty Mule Team Road, then turn left to head east back to US-395.
• SR-58 will remain open in both directions on the new alignment to bypass the closure.

Motorists are advised to use SR-58 west from I-15 as an alternate route to avoid delays (DETOUR MAP ATTACHED). Changeable message signs and detour signage will be in place to alert motorists to use alternate routes to avoid delays. Remember to reduce your speed in the work zone. Be advised, weather conditions may affect this operation.

Know before you go! To stay on top of roadwork in the Inland Empire go to Caltrans District 8 and sign up for commuter alerts. Follow us for the latest information on Facebook and Twitter. To assist in planning your commute, view live traffic conditions using QuickMap and planned lane closures. For those with sensory disabilities requiring alternate formats (i.e. Braille, large print, sign language interpreter, etc.) and those needing information in a language other than English, please contact Kimberly Cherry at 909-383-6290 or TTY 711 by May 18, 2020.

For months, ESSENCE – the leading media, technology and commerce company serving Black women and communities – had planned an impressive schedule of activities and celebrations to launch in May 2020 in honor of its 50th anniversary.  Then, the COVID-19 global pandemic hit – with Black communities being most disproportionately impacted in the United States.  Still, demonstrating how it has been able to thrive for five decades, ESSENCE has continued with a relentless commitment and innovation in service to its community – providing critical content, digital and virtual offerings, a new streaming platform and more to inform, empower and inspire during these times. 

That same sense of purpose compelled ESSENCE to shift its 50^th anniversary strategy amidst the pandemic and launch its Golden Anniversary Collector’s Edition issue entirely remotely for the first time ever — paying homage to the incredible legacy of its community, while also capturing the current realities brought on by a global pandemic.  In honor of ESSENCE’s milestone year, iconic supermodel Naomi Campbell partnered with ESSENCE to grace the magazine’s first self-shot and styled cover.  In Campbell’s cover story, At Home With: Naomi Campbell, the supermodel prepares to celebrate her own milestone 50^th birthday later this month and takes readers inside her life with an intimate self-portrait during COVID-19 social isolation.  Using an iPhone, Campbell shot and styled all the photos herself — marking the first time she has ever photographed herself for a cover.

ESSENCE’s special Golden Anniversary issue also takes a look at some of the joys, pains, laughter, triumphs and stories that have impacted the Black community over the past half-century—including the novel coronavirus and its effects on the lives of Black women and the community at-large today.  Throughout this special edition, readers will be able to travel through time for some of the most inspiring, stirring and significant moments shaping and shaped by Black culture throughout ESSENCE’s 50 years—as well as look to what’s ahead, particularly post-COVID-19.  ESSENCE is also inviting its community into the coverage and conversation by sharing their own COVID-19 stories for ESSENCE.com.  Click here for details.

“Our nation and our world are enduring a crisis at a scale that our generation has never seen, but this time also reminds us of the power of our resilience, innovation and community – which have sustained ESSENCE for 50 years and will help ensure it thrives for the next 50 advancing global Black culture, economic inclusion and ownership,” said Richelieu Dennis, founder and chair of Essence Ventures, parent company of ESSENCE. “We could not be more excited to mark the 50th Anniversary of ESSENCE as a 100% Black-owned business that has not only revolutionized the publishing and media industries, but that has also become a cultural institution and home for Black women and communities globally.  Since its inaugural issue in May 1970, ESSENCE has expanded beyond the pages of a ground-breaking flagship magazine to multi-platform stages, experiences, and digital and brand extensions including the unparalleled ESSENCE Festival of Culture, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood, ESSENCE.com, ESSENCE Studios, industry-recognized podcasts, television specials, books and more.  We have been able to do this because of our uncompromising focus on the evolving needs of our community and our community’s unyielding support of us.  While we have shifted the majority of the ESSENCE 50^th Anniversary activities and engagements to 2021, this incredible special collector’s edition issue marks the beginning of our milestone celebration of Black culture, community, achievement, progress and the work that remains to be done.”

Additional 50^th Anniversary Collector’s Edition editorial packages include:

• COVID-19 Essay Feature: ESSENCE editors share their personal journeys of adjusting to the new reality of social isolation in these challenging times.  Despite differing experiences, the essays have a common thread of what ESSENCE staff and the world are looking to for hope.

• ESSENCE Uncovered: 50 Years: ESSENCE compiles its most iconic covers along with an essay/timeline on its evolution over the last five decades. The package illustrates ESSENCE’s impact, as well as the impact of those whose stories graced its pages.

• Power—State of Black Women: By the Numbers: ESSENCE takes a deep dive into how Black women are doing and how their lives have changed over the last five decades across its key verticals—Fashion, Beauty, Culture, Power (News + Wealth) and Thrive (Lifestyle, Wellness + Love).

• Ageless Beauties: #ThisIs50: In this fan-favorite feature, ESSENCEinvites eight readers from across the nation who, like ESSENCE, are turning 50 this year for an exclusive photoshoot and beauty spread.

“For 50 years ESSENCE has showcased the brilliance, beauty, power and resilience of Black women, and now more than ever, in these unprecedented times, that is on display,” said MoAna Luu, ESSENCE Chief Content & Creative Officer.  “In our Golden Anniversary issue, we are taking the best of the past, bringing it to the present and showing what our future looks like beyond the pages.  By creating a meaningful multi-channel ecosystem that entertains with impact, we continue to reimagine ourselves to reach Black women everywhere and provide a seamless content experience across mobile, tablet, desktop and of course, our signature magazine.  At ESSENCE, our approach to what we do and how we serve is timeless – reflecting and celebrating our culture and telling the truth with open hearts and open minds.”

For more on the 50^th Anniversary Collector’s Edition/May-June issue, visit ESSENCE.com. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD), the largest school district in the county, has partnered with local organizations as part of concerted efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate its impact in the region.

When Loma Linda University Health put out a call for 3D printers, several SBCUSD campuses responded by loaning state-of-the-art 3D printers. Loma Linda University will use them to manufacture personal protective equipment.

“When we say that we’re all in this together, we really mean it,” said SBCUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Harold J. Vollkommer. “It is our privilege to work with our partners to flatten the curve for our community and our state.”

Soon after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a stay-at-home order and school closures in mid-March, the District began providing meals to thousands of children, ages 18 and younger. The District’s effort was bolstered by the California Charter Schools Association, which also provided free meals to children, as has the PAL Charter Academy.

T-Mobile donated $25,000 to the District’s Nutrition Services Department, which will fund efforts to distribute student meals.

Produce grower Lucky Farms donated thousands of face coverings to the District, which have been used by essential employees working to provide meals and electronic devices to SBCUSD students.

The District is also partnering with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health to provide parking lot space for drive-through COVID-19 testing at Arroyo Valley High School in the weeks ahead.

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 56,212 confirmed cases and 2,317 deaths.

Testing in California

As testing capacity continues to increase across the state, the California Department of Public Health is working to expand access to COVID-19 testing. Testing should be used for medical evaluation of persons with symptoms of COVID-19 as well as for efforts by public health agencies and essential employers to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. Individuals prioritized for testing include:

• Hospitalized patients
• Symptomatic and asymptomatic healthcare workers, first responders, and other social service employees
• Symptomatic individuals age 65 and older or symptomatic individuals of any age with chronic medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 illness
• Individuals who are tested as part of disease control efforts in high-risk settings
• Asymptomatic residents and employees of congregate living facilities when needed to prevent disease transmission
• Symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in essential occupations such as grocery store and food supply workers, utility workers and public employees
• Other individuals with symptoms consistent with COVID-19

As of May 4, 779,902 tests have been conducted in California and reported to the California Department of Public Health. This represents an increase of 32,028 tests over the prior 24-hour reporting period. These numbers include data from commercial, private and academic labs, including Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, University of California and Stanford, and the 25 state and county health labs currently testing. The Department is now reporting all tests reported in California, rather than the total number of individuals tested.

New Data Portal
The state has launched a new, user-friendly data portal at update.covid19.ca.gov that tracks COVID-19 cases statewide and by county, gender, age and ethnicity. The portal also outlines statewide hospitalizations and testing efforts. The data presented on the portal will be updated daily and will include additional information as it is available.

Racial Demographics – A More Complete Picture
The California Department of Public Health is committed to health equity and collecting more detailed racial and ethnic data that will provide additional understanding for determining future action. Health outcomes are affected by forces including structural racism, poverty and the disproportionate prevalence of underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease among Latinos and African American Californians. Only by looking at the full picture can we understand how to ensure the best outcomes for all Californians.

The differences in health outcomes related to COVID-19 are most stark in COVID-19 deaths. We have nearly complete data on race and ethnicity for COVID-19 deaths, and we are seeing the following trends. Overall, for adults 18 and older, Latinos, African Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are dying at disproportionately higher levels. The proportion of COVID-19 deaths in African Americans is about double their population representation across all adult age categories. For Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, overall numbers are low, but there is nearly a four-fold difference between the proportion of COVID-19 deaths and their population representation. More males are dying from COVID-19 than females, in line with national trends. More information is available at COVID-19 Race and Ethnicity Data.

Health Care Worker Infection Rates
As of May 4, local health departments have reported 6,167 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 33 deaths statewide.

How People Can Protect Themselves
Every person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense: 

• Staying home except for essential needs/activities
• Practicing social distancing.
• Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Covering a cough or sneeze with your sleeve, or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
• Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath), call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

For more information about what Californians can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit covid19.ca.gov.

California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance web page.???

www.cdph.ca.gov

Does California have a “legacy of unequal treatment” of minorities and women? That’s language from Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 (ACA-5) introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson). Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) want their colleagues in the legislature to consider that question and examine whether affirmative action is the right response for redressing that history of inequality. 

The Opportunity for All Coalition is a group that has formed in support of ACA-5, which would repeal Proposition 209. 

In 1996 voters passed the controversial amendment to the state constitution. It banned discrimination or preferential treatment based on race or gender in public education, employment, and contracting. 

“It’s been 24 years — 24 long years — since Prop. 209 was promoted as a civil rights initiative,” said Weber. 

On May 1, the Opportunity for All Coalition held a virtual seminar. More than 100 people logged on to take part in a discussion about the ethnic disparities of the COVID-19 crisis. Coalition member and the Chair of the California State Board of Equalization, Malia Cohen, said data revealing that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus crisis highlights inequities in society and the need for affirmative action. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report confirmed that death rates for African Americans and Latinos “were substantially higher than that of white” people. 

Coalition member Vincent Pan is the Co-Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA). During the discussion he referenced recently-released California Department of Public Health (CDPH) data that showed Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians are also dying at a higher rate than their representation in the population. CDPH numbers show, as of April 30, 2,073 people have died in California from COVID-19. 

Coalition members said Proposition 209 exacerbated disparities. While people from communities of color are more likely to be hospitalized for the virus, they’re 

less likely to have healthcare coverage and more likely to work essential service jobs. ACA-5 supporters also said this population is less likely to have access to public job opportunities, and women and small business owners who are Black or from other minority groups are less likely to earn government contracts. “Proposition 209 cost women- and minority-owned businesses $1.1 billion each year,” Weber said in a written statement. 

Prop. 209’s impact on admission at California’s most competitive public universities has remained a flashpoint in public debate about the policy. Ethnic minority groups have mobilized on both sides “… with the intent to divide the various ethnic communities to fight over the scraps at the University of California,” said Weber at the March 10 press conference announcing ACA-5. 

The movement against reestablishing affirmative action in the state is also virtual. “No On ACA-5″ is the name of a Change.org petition being circulated by a Silicon Valley-based Asian American group that campaigned to block past repeal efforts in 2014. As of May 2, more than 22,000 people have signed the petition. One supporter wrote that “race-based” policies are “unconstitutional” and are not fair to Asians. The Asian American Coalition for Education (AACE) used similar language in a press release encouraging Californians to join the fight. The national organization known for accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asians wrote: “ACA-5 will surely result in racial discrimination against Asian Americans in California.” 

Groups opposed to ACA-5 argue that race-conscious policies favoring other groups take opportunities away from qualified Asian American students. In a written statement, the Opportunity for All Coalition said the state’s ban on affirmative action hurts everyone, citing a decrease in college-educated workers and lost wages. 

“We can’t have shared success without shared opportunities to get ahead,” The Opportunity for All statement read. “We refuse to let the rich and powerful use race and lies to divide us when so much is at stake. We’re not going to rebuild a stronger California unless we come together to end discrimination and ensure real equal opportunity for all.” 

The number of Asian students enrolled in the University of California (UC) system increased in the absence of affirmative action. While post Prop 209, Black, Latino, and Native American enrollment at UCLA and UC Berkeley dropped by 60 percent. The same UC Institutional Research and Academic Planning report found an overall decline in diversity. 

Race-neutral programs targeting students from disadvantaged communities have helped to increase enrollment for some minority groups. The number of Latino students also increased as the population grew statewide. Still, African American enrollment at the UCs hasn’t rebounded. In the fall of 2019, Black students made up 3.8% of the student body systemwide. Asian students made up 36% while accounting for about 15% of the state population. 

UC research also finds a denial letter can derail a student’s life trajectory. Applicants shut out of UCs are less likely to earn a degree or high wages. This might help to explain some of the emotion driving the dispute that has gone before the nation’s highest court. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the use of affirmative action in college admissions only to achieve diversity. The Court also ruled that race cannot be the deciding factor in admission. California is one of eight states that has barred affirmative action altogether. 

Opponents of the ban argue affirmative action is not preferential treatment. Instead, they say, it removes barriers. Supporters of ACA-5 say, in the absence of affirmative action, historically excluded groups are denied opportunities for upward mobility. They argue public organizations should reflect the communities they serve — and point to data that shows that diverse environments foster understanding and respect for others. 

Though less often discussed, Prop. 209 has impacted public contracts and hiring for nearly a quarter of a century. “This law served as an impediment to state contracting, hiring and legislative policies addressing economic and social disparities experienced by women and people of color,” said Weber. One example is the state’s efforts to increase the number of Black and Latino teachers to address the achievement gap between Black and Latino students and their white and Asian peers. 

In a statement appealing to Asian American business owners, CAA wrote, “repealing Proposition 209 would unlock billions of dollars in economic opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) small business owners. In cities where affirmative action is legal, like Chicago or Atlanta, AAPI-owned businesses earn much more in public contracts than in San Francisco or Los Angeles.” 

In addition to virtual meetings, the Opportunity for All Coalition is encouraging supporters to tweet Assemblymembers Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), Freddie Rodriguez (D-Pomona) and Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) to encourage the Democratic lawmakers to vote for ACA-5. It would take a two-thirds majority vote to repeal Proposition 209. 

Opponents are working to stop the bill in its tracks. The campaign against affirmative action includes drumming up support mostly online and encouraging people to contact their state representatives. 

Organizers on both sides say they’re fighting for equality. ACA-5 is set to be discussed Tuesday May 5 in committee when the state Assembly reopens for sessions this week. If the constitution amendment passes and meets all requirements by June 25, voters could once again have a chance to weigh in on a ballot measure in November that decides whether affirmative action is the right answer for California.

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Due to the statewide stay-at-home order and guidance on physical distancing, seating for this hearing will be very limited for press and for the public.  All are encouraged to watch the hearing from its live stream on the Assembly’s website at 10:00 a.m. https://www.assembly.ca.gov/todaysevents.

Via New York Post

Some Americans could be suffering from “quarantine fatigue” and leaving home to go out more frequently, according to a new report.

A study by the Maryland Transportation Institute at the University of Maryland showed a subtle shift toward people making more outdoor trips – ones expected to rise with some states starting to reopen, according to The Washington Post.

The study tracks more than 100 million people monthly using “privacy-protected data from mobile devices.”

The study had noted six weeks of the staying-home percentage increasing or holding steady – until April 17, when the numbers staying home dropped from 33 percent to 31 percent, the report says.

Although a small change, it is statistically significant because the sample size is so large, lead researcher Lei Zhang told The Washington Post.

“We saw something we hoped wasn’t happening, but it’s there,” Zhang told the paper. “It seems collectively we’re getting a little tired. It looks like people are loosening up on their own to travel more.”

Dr. Wilbur Chen, an associate professor at the university’s School of Medicine, told the paper that it is too soon to know whether the findings are the start of an ongoing trend or just a one-week blip.

Researchers also won’t know for weeks whether the change has any impact on the contagion spreading, he said.

“If people are out and about, there’s more risk of transmission, and when there’s transmission, you have more cases of hospitalizations and deaths,” Chen told the paper.

By Lou Yeboah

Ain’t that ‘bout a pickle. You have sown the seeds of your own destruction. I tell you, you ought to mimic Paul approach to sin: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.” You see, the disillusionment of sin always promise far more than it delivers. Sin is a yoke of bondage, an enslavement that holds you, hostage. An entanglement that wraps itself around your very soul and hijacks your identity. Sin kills and destroys everything it touches. This is the purpose behind everything Satan does. Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” You can’t dabble in sin without being swept away.  Sin will cause you to hook, line, and sinker. Sin is divisive, deceptive, destructive and deadly. Sin thrill, then it kills. Sin fascinates, then it assassinates. Sin always destroys lives, both for time and eternity. Scripture constantly reminds us of this truth. Sin ain’t no joke!

Listen, Satan is the enemy of our soul,  he doesn’t give a cramp about us. He is not our friend. Satan is a con artist and he will con you straight to Hell. He has been seducing for years and the results have always been the same. He seduced Adam and Eve and the result was the fall of mankind.  He seduced King David and the result was the death of his son and the division of his kingdom. He seduced Judas Iscariot and the result was the betrayal of Jesus and Judas committing suicide. He seduced Ananias and Sapphira and the result was that they dropped dead. He tried to seduce Jesus and the result was the destruction of the Devil himself. Jesus forever proved that Satan could be defeated and that man did not have to bow down to his seduction. You can be victorious against the seduction of Satan. 

You see, I also once were foolish myself, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending my life in malice and envy. As an unbeliever, I was the pawn of Satan, under his dominion, carrying out his dictates. I was unaware of this because he controlled me through the influence of the world and the flesh.  But now that I have been born again, in Christ I have been raised from my dead state spiritually to newness of life. And because of this, I am to renounce to the world and its dominion over us. We are to “put off” fleshly things and “put on” the things of the Spirit. Even, though the power of sin seems so strong at times, the tug, the pull, the pressure, the battle, the struggle. Even though it can get to the point where it seems and feels overwhelming. You must put forth effort to do what is right.  Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. Sin shall not be your master….” Romans 6:12-14.

Jesus said that He has come to set the captives free. Sin doesn’t have the power to hold you prisoner. God has broken the chains. It’s what Jesus had in mind when he cried those last words on the cross: “It is Finished!” God’s will is for you to overcome.  You can be free from bondage by admitting your sin to God and giving Him control of your life through Jesus Christ. Only He can untangle you from the tangled web of sin that you have weaved. In Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. Nor are you a servant to its power or choke-hold. Your body belongs to Christ. You are His treasure, He has paid for you with His Blood. He has set You free. Out of bondage comes freedom. Out of surrender comes victory. Submit yourself until the Lord and be free!

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains… Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. — Psalm 107:10, Psalm 107:13-16

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors may cancel all local public health orders in an item that will go before the board on Tuesday (May 5). Signaling the need to transition the county to an economic recovery, the potential rescission of the orders will position the county to reopen businesses once the governor eases statewide restrictions.

The agenda item recommends the rescission of the closures of schools, ending limitations on short term lodging, removing restrictions on golf course use, and eliminating the requirement to wear face coverings and engage in social distancing. Golf courses may remain open and continue to operate.

“The local public health officer orders significantly slowed the spread of the disease within our county. This is shown by our current hospital capacity and the lengthening of our case doubling rate,” said Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. “I want to thank our residents and our county team, whose actions to this unprecedented pandemic have helped us get to this point. Now, we must continue to prepare for our economic recovery and get people back to work.”

If approved by the board, the rescission of these orders will not replace any city, state or federal orders or recommendations, including the governor’s executive stay at home order.

“We’ve successfully bent the curve of the disease. Sadly, the rise of unemployment sharply continues,” said Vice Chair Karen Spiegel, Second District Supervisor. “These actions will ensure that we are ready to reopen business as soon as the governor lifts the statewide restrictions.”

The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and county public health officials continue to recommend the use of face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand washing to reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease.

Read the agenda item here.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans is pleased to announce that Jerome Rogers has been named Director of Safety and Security.

Rogers will immediately began work on the agency response team handling the COVID-19 health crisis and will lead implementation of Omnitrans’ Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan as well as its ongoing efforts to maintain the agency’s award-winning safety and security programs.

“Omnitrans has no higher priority than the safety of its customers and employees, so this director position is crucial,” said Interim CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers. “Jerome’s expertise and leadership will keep our agency at the forefront of industry safety initiatives.”

“My vision for Omnitrans is to become the safest agency in the state of California, through innovation, training and ongoing commitment to our customers,” said Rogers.

Rogers has 15 years of experience in the safety field, including seven years in transit. Most recently, he served as Regional Safety Director with the Transdev mobility company. Rogers is an American Society of Safety Professionals Board Member, is an OSHA Authorized Certified Instructor, and is a Certified Safety Professional and Associate Safety Professional certified.

Rogers is a graduate of DeVry University, and will earn his master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University in 2021.

Since early April, the NAACP and BET have hosted a series of virtual town halls focused on the health, economic, and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the African American community.

The coronavirus has hit hard across the U.S. It’s particularly dire in rural areas and communities of color. Disparities have stressed millions of people, from economic hardships and limited access to health services to slow internet speeds and lack of internet access at home. These problems didn’t surface overnight. They’ve existed for decades, filtering into classrooms and hurting students along the way.

In part three of their four-part “Unmasked: A COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall Series,” NEA Vice President Becky Pringle, along with other top, national leaders, discussed the rising educational inequalities and how legislation can mitigate the burden African American students and other students of color face.

The hour-long call was part analysis of the current realities with an enhanced understanding of the problem, but also part solution to help move the nation toward a future that is equitable and fair for everyone.

With approximately 20,000 people on the line, Pringle was quick to call out the underlying problem that has disproportionately impacted communities of color.

“Here’s the reality,” she says, “structural racism [is] the pre-existing condition that [has] destined us to be where we are—where our communities of color are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. We shouldn’t be shocked.”

Research has long pointed to the inequitable conditions, from past to present, that many people of color have experienced: housing, financial, healthcare, education, and more. When the pandemic hit, “We [knew] this virus was destined to impact these communities more than others, and when that has a greater impact on our community, it has a greater impact on our students,” adds Pringle.

The State of the Union

NEA members across the country have witnessed and experienced these disparities first hand, which is why they moved quickly to ensure students were, first and foremost, safe, and then had access to the tools they needed for learning to continue at home.

Pringle pointed to the efforts in California, where educators delivered meals to students. She underscored the work in Florida, where teachers delivered learning packets, and in Wisconsin, where bus drivers drove to parking lots to set up hotspots for students who didn’t have access to the internet.

“We are working to try to make sure our students are safe.” Watch Becky Pringle, Vice President of National Education Association explain what urgent issues we are addressing:#COVIDUnmasked https://t.co/BIf2n1GwE9 pic.twitter.com/tM6gNaLZNn

— NAACP (@NAACP) April 23, 2020

Additionally, members have been providing students and their colleagues with resources on trauma to cope with the fear, isolation, and loss felt from the coronavirus, as well as dealing with the death of family and friends. To address the digital divide, some NEA affiliates have partnered with local TV and radio stations to allow teachers to broadcast lessons for students who don’t have internet access or devices at home.

During the call, Pringle emphasized that while educators and their unions have focused on the “right now” to keep students safe and keep them learning, the education community must use this experience to help build a future that is equitable and fair. “Where all of our students, every one of them, have access and opportunity,” Pringle says.

That’s why, for the past two years, educators have marched in the streets to tell decision makers to address the lack of resources that plague America’s public schools, from school nurses, school counselors, and updated technology to overcrowded classrooms and even the lack of access to recess time for young students. These #RedForEd actions have won critical support for students, with massive community involvement.

But more needs to be done, as educators on the call shared their personal stories and asked tough questions to panelists, which included Bobby Scott, chairman of U.S. House Committee on Education; Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts; Arthur Claiborne, a student leader at North Carolina A&T State University; and Tiffany Dena Loftin, youth and college director of NAACP. The call was moderated by Marc Lamont Hill, an award-winning journalist and host of BET News.

Pringle emphasized that while educators and their unions have focused on the ‘right now’ to keep students safe and keep them learning, the education community must use this experience to help build a future that is equitable and fair.”

Tiffany, a classroom public school teacher from Texas, asked how to truly hold people accountable to get the funding her students need without having to go through a pandemic. Noni, an educator from Rochester, N.Y., brought attention to her area by addressing how students in the suburban areas have laptops, while many students who live in the city have no computers. This “makes it hard to teach…and…[it’s] frustrating,” she shares.

And then there was Joyce Morely, a member of the DeKalb County School District school board in Atlanta, Ga., who shared her disappointment in “Betsy DeVos, the proclaimed person who is the secretary of Education, [who wants to give] all the dollars to charter schools and for more charter schools to come about.”

Morely explained that in her area, educators are feeding 18,687 students a day and 81 bus drivers are going out and putting their lives at risk. Students with special needs are still being taught despite the unfilled promise of fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Yet, DeVos continues to support schemes that siphon money from public schools.

What educators described on the call is happening all around the country, and to address these shortfalls and other challenges, several solutions were discussed. Top contenders: organize and vote.

While short-term solutions have been put in place to ensure many students get the resources they need, the long-term solution will involve elections.

“When I became a teacher…I had no idea that I could not just step into my classroom and teach my students. I had no idea that I had to have an impact beyond the confines of my own classroom….We have to organize and vote…but not just that, once we vote, we do have to hold people accountable because every single decision that is made about our classrooms and made about our students is a political one—from the school board all the way up to the White House,” says Becky Pringle.

“We have to make sure that people in positions of power and authority are those who care about our kids and are going to do what’s right so every single one of them can live into their brilliance.”

NEA Urges Congress To Take More Action

Congress has so far passed three major pieces of legislation to combat the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. NEA is asking for more to be done. Discussions around a phase four of a stimulus bill have begun, and NEA’s top asks includes:

• Provide at least$175 billion for the Education Stabilization Fund to distribute to states, allocated by formula, for public pre-K through post-secondary education to fill budget gaps caused by declining state revenues due to the COVID-19 national emergency.
• Reject Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ “microgrants” and other voucher schemes that siphon funding from public schools and undermine accountability.
• Provide at least $56 million for personal protective equipment for teachers, education support professionals, and other school staff who interact with students and their families, including food service workers who prepare and distribute meals, custodians who clean and disinfect buildings, security officers, and technology specialists.

NEA continues to urge the Federal Communications Commission to implement emergency measures to make changes to E-rate programs, which since 1996 has expanded internet access to the nation’s schools and libraries. These changes would allow school officials to buy Wi-Fi hot spots and equip existing equipment with Wi-Fi if it already doesn’t have it, ensuring all K-12 students have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close.

Approximately $2 billion has been used from the program’s $4 billion cap, leaving up to $2 billion to schools for wi-fi hotspots, adding wi-fi to existing devices sent home?with students.

In a letter led by NEA, more than 30 organizations urged congressional leaders to include student loan debt cancellation in any future COVID-19 relief package. The average educator begins a career with about $35,000 in student loan debt.

The Student Debt Emergency Relief Act (H.R. 6363), introduced by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), would cancel at least $30,000 of outstanding student loan debt, boosting consumer spending and reducing the financial strain on educators and other borrowers.