By Dianne Anderson

For those who know Mary Haynes, or anyone else who asks, her story is no secret. Wherever she goes, she readily shares her painful past in hopes that someone can benefit from her missteps, and learn the way out.

Haynes, who performed professionally as an R&B artist, got off the musical and spiritual path that she grew up within the church, only to end up trapped in a decades-long battle with drug abuse. Now clean for 15 years, she understands what led to the dark places and what it takes to escape  the depths of a 28-year addiction.

The biggest part of what got her through her struggle for sobriety is that she never denied her faith, she said. Many people didn’t know that she was on drugs.

“My life is a story I tell everywhere I go,” she said. “I was never a closet person, but I always let everyone know that I loved the Lord, that I was just going through a struggle.”

Today, she gives back what she’s learned and gained in her journey through song and praise. Everything around her life, especially the hard times, has strengthened her dedication to gospel music. She writes most of the songs she sings, and says it’s the place where she finds comfort.

She sings her life.

“A lot of things that I’ve done, and the places that I’ve been, that’s what my psalms are about,” she said, adding that she wrote “I Got to Make it Somehow” to shed light on her way back to sobriety.

She tried all kinds of methods to break free, she said, “When a person has been on drugs, no matter what you do it’s not going to work. No matter how much your family fights for you.”

Once her mind was made up, she was able to emerge. In December 2004, she woke up one morning resolute. She wanted her parents to see her free.

“You name it, I’ve been through it. I always share my story and I think that’s why God continues to bless me, elevate me and move me,” she said.

On January 18, Haynes is the guest psalmist at a special event where justice activist Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II is featured speaker at a free Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration. Hosted by Ephesians New Testament Church and the city of Fontana, the event will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Westside Baptist Church, located at 15006 Randall Ave. Seating is limited, call (909) 823-2319 for tickets.

Haynes has known Pastor James Emory and his wife since her early teens, and she is delighted to participate at the upcoming event.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it, I love Dr. King,” she said. “He stood for the rights of everybody.”

Haynes started singing in the church at six years old, where her late father, who passed away two years ago, was a renown pastor. Her father had later hired her to play for the choir. She was a quick study, and a natural. Even as a child, people would come around her to hear and see her play.

But much of her psalms and message today revolves around the harder spaces, and how she has been released from bondage through Christ.

These days, she said being church psalmist carries responsibility. She guides the rhythm of the church, assists the pastor who shepherds the church, and helps directs the flow of service. She keys into the anointing of the Spirit, and praise is the highest calling.

She said it’s all about winning is souls and for the people to find comfort to return back to God. She also prepares for service by arranging whatever songs she may have planned to sing, which she usually doesn’t know until the last minute.

“Sometimes you have to wait till you get there. The Spirit will flow and you have to find out what the church needs,” she said. “I still can’t explain it, the anointing comes over me.”

She counts it her greatest privilege to share the Gospel, and use her talents to reach the hard to reach, some who are no doubt dealing with the same struggle that is behind her.

“I know a lot of people, and people that I bump into in church. A lot of people are gone, and I’m still here. I’m on a mission, I understand my ministry now,” she said.

By Bishop Emory B. James, Ephesians New Testament Church

It is my extreme pleasure to host this year’s celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Each year we are challenged to do all that we can to keep the dream alive.

Many have various opinions about the dream of Dr. King which is continually analyzed and interpreted just to meet the diverse opinions that challenge the world today.

I believe that what keeps the dream alive is the fact that it can never be placed in a box nor made finitely interpreted simply because it continues to evolve and is always calling us to a loftier place in humanitarianism.

It would seem that just when we think we have figured out the formula for the dream’s foundation of effectiveness, another door opens to challenge mankind to think and evaluate his place in the social realm of society.

This is the reason that after 50 years the dream is still as fresh as it was the first day that the arrow of moral vicissitude was released and it pierced our hearts and moved us to repent from our immoral spirit of selfish indignation.

As an ever living voice, the dream continues to reach out to the generations of the old, middle aged, young adults and youth. This dream will always call us to live soberly and just as we interact with each other in our social realms. So today marks the 32nd year of celebration here in Fontana, as we remember the fact that it was the spirit of the people inspired by a speech about a dream that has motivated our community to continue to work to provide an overall better quality of life.

We are grateful for the monumental visit of Dr. William J. Barber ll who will join us on January 18^th at the Westside Baptist Church, 15006 Randall Ave. here in Fontana at 3:00pm.  Dr. Barber has been commissioned to be a voice in this era to call the people nationally to a new moral level addressing homelessness and poverty.  I also thank Dr. Barber for reviving “The Poor People’s Campaign” that is now moving to march on Washington D.C., June 20, 2020.  After 52 years of dormancy, the peoples voice will be heard again heralding the advocacy for the Poor.

This year we wanted the spirit of Dr. King to look at the homeless epidemic that has gripped our region and society.  Dr. King’s voice reminds us that none of us are very far from being homeless and compassion is what God calls us to walk in so that we are to continue to challenge governments to legislate and put in place the type of governance that is fair to all in terms of rents, employment, environment,  and medical services that covers the whole man physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

So today, let us resolve to work diligently to keep the dream alive!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Cal State San Bernardino alumni Charles Brown and Wil Greer, who is also a CSUSB assistant professor of education leadership and technology, were honored at the 8th annual Educators’ Prayer Breakfast hosted by the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Rho Chapter on December 8, at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.

Greer earned his master’s degree from CSUSB in educational administration and has been teaching at the university for five years. Greer also earned his bachelor’s in ethnic sociology from UC Riverside and his doctorate in urban educational leadership from Claremont Graduate University.
 
“Being honored is nice, of course, but I know it wouldn’t have happened without my family, without my ancestors, without my community, and without my God,” Greer said.
 
Brown, who is director of Equity and Targeted Student Achievement for the San Bernardino City Unified School District, received his undergraduate degree in liberal studies in 1996 from CSUSB. He recently earned his Ed.D. from Brandman University.
 
Along with Greer and Brown, the sorority honored Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity during the event.
 
The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Rho Chapter was chartered in 1982. Two CSUSB alumna – Margaret Hill ’80 and Joyce Payne ’67 – are members of the chapter. The sorority not only recognizes contributors of education, but also provides scholarships to graduating seniors, partners with San Bernardino Valley College and hosts an annual Teach-A-Rama.

RIVERSIDE, CA— 2020 is a prominent year. Not just because it is a new decade and that it is election year, but it is the 150^th anniversary of the right to vote for Blacks. On Saturday, February 8, 2020, the 41^st Annual Black History Parade and Expo will be paying homage to the anniversary. The theme for this year’s event is, “It takes a Village: Let’s Vote”.

When it comes to voting, the community plays a critical role in deciding who will head counties, states and the country, as a whole. For the past 41 years the Riverside Black History Parade has played an instrumental role in bringing the community, schools and local businesses together.

Prior to the parade, the annual kick off reception will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Central Middle School located at 4795 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside, California. The Emcee for the evening will be Barry E. Knight, of BEK Co. There will also be a dance performance by Bre Dance Studio of Riverside and Kountry Folks Homestyle Restaurant will be the returning as the caterer for the evening.

The kick-off reception is the impeccable moment to come and learn more about the ADCR foundation and the year-round events outside of the parade. This is also the community’s opportunity to support the Riverside Black History Parade monetarily. Space is limited. To reserve your space for the reception, please email riversideblackhistoryparade@gmail.com.

With this being a monumental year for the African American community, the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation has teamed up with the NAACP Riverside Chapter to have their President, Dr. Regina Patton Stell, as this year’s Grand Marshall. Vision Marshalls include: UCR’s Athletic Director, Tamica Jones; Assemblymember Jose Medina; Shauna Gates, Chief of Police at Riverside Community College District’s Board of Trustees; and Community Icons Charles and Elaine Bibbs.

This year, the Riverside Black Chamber of Commerce is assisting in ensuring that the Expo is a success. Tommy the Clown will also be returning as a performer in the 2020 Riverside Black History Parade and Expo. Vendors and parade performers are still wanted. To fill out a vendor application, please visit www.adcrfoundation.org. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education honored 11 students with Outstanding Student Awards at the November 5, 2019, Board meeting. Students were also recognized by the San Bernardino Symphony, which provided them and their families with free symphony tickets, and Assembly member James Ramos, who provided each student with a certificate of recognition.

Outstanding Student Award winners are recognized for achievement in academics, athletics, fine arts, citizenship, or for showing significant improvement in these areas. Students are awarded and inspired to have hope for their future by thinking about long-term educational and career goals.

Hillside Elementary School Outstanding Students

Third-grader Dylan Molina is a model citizen with excellent PBIS skills who is always willing to help his peers. He is inquisitive and loves to share his knowledge with others. Dylan would like to play in the NFL someday. He also wants to be a police officer like his father.

Fourth-grader Josiah Popper has shown a renewed interest in learning, and his motivation to succeed shows in his improved behavior and academic achievement. Josiah wants to attend Cal State San Bernardino and eventually wants to manage a team of salesmen.

Sixth-grader Camelia Romero is a model student. She demonstrates good citizenship, loves to learn, and always tries her best. Camelia wants to attend one of the Claremont Colleges to become an ornithologist or marine biologist.

Riley College Prep Academy Outstanding Students

Fifth-grader Orlando Gomez demonstrates stellar citizenship by supporting others, being a model of the 16 social skills, and just being a good friend. He’s an avid reader and uses his love of books to connect with others. Orlando wants to be a police officer or football player.

Fourth-grader Natalia Guadarrama is a respectful and responsible student who models good behavior at all times. She is on the Honor Patrol and has auditioned for the Odyssey of the Mind Club. Natalia wants to attend UCR or UC Berkeley and become an elementary principal right here in SBCUSD.

Fifth-grader Myala Poynter consistently demonstrates PBIS skills and Restorative Justice practices. She is a high-achieving student who masters new concepts in both English and Spanish. Myala wants to attend CSUSB and become an artist who works in animation.

Del Vallejo Leadership and STEAM Academy Outstanding Students

Eighth-grader Adriane Flores is a model scholar-athlete who exhibits good behavior, completes his assignments, and is a starter on the softball team. Adriane wants to attend UCLA and become a professional baseball player or work in criminal justice.

Seventh-grader Rachel Gonzalez is an example of a student who understands the importance of both arts and academics. She plays baritone in the Advance Band, but her focus is always on maintaining her 4.0 G.P.A. Rachel is excited to become a Pacific Pirate and earn top grades so she can attend a four-year university and become a veterinarian.

Sixth-grader Laylah Johnson stays on task and focused on her studies, as evidenced by her 3.667 G.P.A. She is also helpful and kind, which is why her teachers can always count on her to represent the sixth-grade team. Laylah wants to attend Spelman College and eventually become a professional photographer.

Arroyo Valley High School Outstanding Students

Twelfth-grader Miguel Antonio is a scholar-athlete. He’s taking rigorous IB classes and is the president of the AVHS running club. And as senior class president, he helped create a positive, inclusive school culture. Miguel plans to attend Cal State San Bernardino and major in finance or marketing.

Twelfth-grader Veronica Banuelos is extremely intelligent and motivated. She is an International Baccalaureate scholar with a 4.9 GPA. She is being sought after by many colleges, who have invited her to visit. Veronica plans to major in economics and minor in business.

Tenth-grader Marissa Collins is smart and hardworking. She is willing to do whatever it takes to further her education. She took the initiative to travel to Vietnam over the summer to see how medicine is practiced in other countries. Marissa wants to major in medicine at an Ivy-league college.

In an effort to recognize MLK day and Black History month, Essence Atkins has joined forced with #NotMe to end harassment and discrimination in the workplace and beyond. Stay tuned for her story and why she is passionate about #NotMe, to be posted on MLK Day.

People often think of harassment as only sexual, but the reality is that bullying-related to race and gender discrimination are at the top of the list of workplace harassment. With MLK and Black History Month being right around the corner, we think there is a real opportunity to shed light on this issue and offer people a solution.

The prevalence of workplace discrimination is vast, and it affects black women the most – 25% of black women are harassed compared to 11% for white men. Blacks reported a 60% higher rate of discrimination compared to whites. Black women filed 28.6 percent of pregnancy discrimination charges, despite making up only 14.3 percent of the female labor force. Help us make the change our society needs.

#NotMe is a free and simple to use app that aims to prevent workplace harassment. The platform empowers anyone to safely report misconduct they’ve witnessed or experienced all via their mobile phone in as little as three minutes.

APPLETINIES Tiny & Tasty Chocolates was this year’s gift bag sponsor at Luxury Experience & CO Celebrity Gifting Lounge in partnership with The Vanderpump Dog Foundation and Valerie Beverly Hills during the 77^th Annual Golden Globe weekend on January 4, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. Guest attendees included Chad Johnson(ABC’s The bachelorette; Bachelor In Paradise), Aubury Marquez (NBC’s Chicago Fire), Olden Polynic (Former NBA Player), Sally Kirkland (Best Actress Oscar Nominee, Golden Globe winner, Independent Spirit Award winner, and veteran of over 200 films), and many others.

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APPLETINIES Tiny & Tasty Chocolates is a family owned business by mother and son duo Sonja Wilfling and Lukas Wilfling who hail from Sinabelkrichen, the apple region of Austria, about an hour and a half from Vienna. APPLETINIES are 100% organic, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan & kosher, with no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and 100% made in Austria offering nine different flavours. They are THE healthy sweets alternative with 100% chocolate taste and a particularly high addictive factor.

What are APPLETINIES? Start with organically grown apples, dried with care, and then covered in a wafer-thin layer of melt-in-your-mouth organic chocolate. Available in nine flavors and bundled in award-winning packaging. 

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Organically grown chunks of apple dried with care, covered in delicate, melt-in-your-mouth organic which consists of gently dried apple pieces, covered with a wafer-thin layer of tenderly melting organic chocolate in the flavours whole milk, dark & white chocolate with cinnamon. Once Appletinies – always Appletinies with Chocolate!

APPLETINIES Tiny & Tasty Chocolates are now available on Amazon and can be found under APPLETINIES Sweets.

To read more about APPLETINIES Tiny & Tasty Chocolates, visit their website at http://appletinies.com.

Follow APPLETINIES on Social Media  Facebook Appletines facebook.com/appletinies and on Instagram Appletinies.tinyandtasty instagram.com/appletinies.tinyandtasty

On December 5, 2019, Dr. Deborah Winn gained her heavenly wings. She was 66 years old.

Born on September 24, 1953, Deborah was the second youngest of nine children. She was born in Kansas City, KS and came to Los Angeles, California with her family at a very young age. She attended Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California. She gave birth to four children and then later married Aubrey Winn on September 24, 1988 where he helped raise her children as his own.

Deborah was very instrumental within both Los Angeles and San Bernardino Communities. She accomplished philanthropical deeds through her organization Willing Winn Associations and Missions (WWAM Inc.). Through WWAM she was able to pursue and accomplish her purpose in life by educating and meeting the basic living needs of underprivileged families and individuals with love and respect; thereby, leading them to self-sufficiency.

Some of the major accomplishments that Deborah achieved included: feeding over 15,000 people at the Los Angeles Sports Arena; being honored at the 2014 Unforgettable Foundation’s gala; founding Juneteenth in San Bernardino where she held three celebrations (2013 at Perris Hill Park, 2014 on the block of Wall Street and 2017 at San Bernardino Valley College); and WWAM also adopted Juanita Beckley Elementary School in San Bernardino where Mrs. Winn provided food services and Christmas Toy Giveaways to over 300 students.  

In addition to her community efforts, the Winns also housed seven exchange students from all over the world. These students came from Korea, Japan, Rio de Janeiro, India and Brazil. Through WWAM, the Winns provided children with the opportunities to experience outgoings that they wouldn’t be able to experience without the help of WWAM. These outgoings included: Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers games, Disney On Ice, the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Universal Soul Circus, the L.A. Kings Hockey games, and more.

The community efforts did not stop there though. Upon coming to San Bernardino from Whitter, California, Deborah moved to one of the notorious areas of the Westside of San Bernardino— Wall Street. Wall Street, also known as Operation Phoenix, has since become transformed after WWAM took over. WWAM Inc., provided monthly fish frys, BBQs and community block parties as a means to cease the violence in that area. Because of this, Deborah ‘adopted’ men from the ages of 18 up to 80-years old who referred to themselves as ‘Mommas Boys’.

Dr. Deborah Winn’s legacy will continue to live on. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Buford “Blue” Lewis, Orlando “Bear” Lewis, and sister Donetta “Dee Dee” Witherspoon. She is survived by her husband Aubrey Winn; five siblings; four children: TaMeeka, Dalia, Brittnay and Michael; 31 grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family members and close friends.

A memorial is set for Sunday, January 19 at 4 p.m., at the Winn home on Wall Avenue in San Bernardino. For those that are interested in attending, please email Dalia at daliamac1@yahoo.com.

By Lou Yeboah

Boy, only, if we would take that stance, how different our lives would be. But naw, we want, “Our Will”  to be done. Well, News Flash! It’s not about “Our Will,” it’s about “God’s Will,” and the sooner we register that the better off we will be.  For thus saith the Lord, “You come into the New Year expecting Me to do for you what you want do for Me. Tell Me… What have you done for Me lately? Have you fed the hungry? Visited the sick? Or even entertained strangers? No! Then why do you bother Me? What do you want from Me? You want Me to give you what you want, while all of the time you have neglected, overlooked, and not even considered my will, nor my work. Well forget about it! If you can’t keep My Commandments, why should I let you inquire of me at all? [Ezekiel 14:3]. I tell you, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. For whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one that gets My blessings. So until you obey, don’t expect my blessings, Period!  I told you, “My New is not Your New in 2020, and I don’t care what man has prophesied to you, until you obey, forget about it! The Great I Am has spoken!”

I tell you, just as Haggai’s message was blunt and he pulled no punches and wasted no words, I want you to know that God is withholding His blessing because your priorities are not right. As Haggai said, “Put God’s house first and He will bless you.” Jesus said the same thing: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”  [Psalms 37:4] says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” 

Understand that the blessings of God as promised to all believers do not materialize automatically. There are some things that God says we need to do to activate His blessings. According to [Deuteronomy 28:1-2] “If we will LISTEN diligently to the voice of the Lord our God, being watchful to DO ALL His commandments, THEN the Lord will set you high above all the nations of the earth, and all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.  This is the key to unlocking the blessings of God in your life. [Psalm 112:1].

I believe that every year that God gives us on this earth is to be a year where we are as productive as we can be for His work and as pleasing as we can be for His glory. I hope that the longer you live the more you realize just how fleeting these years are and just how important it is to maximize the potential of each year for being what you ought to be and doing what you ought to do. The truth that obedience to God brings blessing, is the first principle in understanding what it means to be a child of God. Failure to understand this first principle and failure to implement it is to forfeit God’s best  in your life. 

I write this not to condemn anyone, but to remind us all that Jesus who suffered and died for us, expects something from us. We cannot expect to continually take and take from Him and not do something for Him. It is after all, a relationship that we have with Him, and relationships are all about give and take. God wants us to do our part – so He can do His. 

Listen…. Follow… Do…. Blessings Activated by Obedience.  Welcome to the New Year… 2020!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee is hosting a Town Hall and Candidates Forum featuring the two candidates for the city’s 6^th Ward Council Seat: Bessine Littlefield-Richard and Kimberly Calvin. 

The forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, at the Family Life Center located at 1505 Highland Avenue in San Bernardino.  The forum is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to meet the candidates, hear their platforms and find out any recent events affecting the 6^th Ward.

The Northwest Redevelopment Project Area Committee is an oversight organization.  The committee serves as a liaison to the city’s mayor, city council members and various departments.  The organization collaborates with other PACS, public and private agencies on workshops, seminars, and outreach on projects and services benefiting residents and businesses in the 6^th Ward and citywide. For more information, contact them at (909) 913-0831.