(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) held a press conference to highlight Assembly Bill 1510 which will give victims of sexual assault occurring at a student health center an additional year to file their civil claims. Last year, a series of articles revealed the 30-year history of gynecologist, Dr. George Tyndall’s acts of sexual assaults and mistreatment of patients at the University of Southern California’s student health center.  The pattern of behavior revealed in the media coverage and the subsequent witness testimonies provided shocking details of sexual assault and harassment inflicted on patients while he served as USC’s sole gynecologist at its student health center.  AB 1510 will give victims of his conscious-shocking behavior an additional year to file their claims in court.

“As women, we are keenly aware of the pervasive culture that fails to value and protect women — a culture that lives in the shadows and thrives off fear,” said Assemblymember Reyes.  “This culture was unfortunately extended to the most intimate part of our lives — at student health centers — where the sacred patient-doctor relationship was violated.” 

It is estimated that over 14,000 female students were impacted by Tyndall since the start of his tenure in 1989. More than 30 women joined Assemblymember Reyes in solidarity, including speakers such as Nicole Haynes, a Tyndall survivor and broadcast journalist, and Aly Raisman, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and survivor of former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar.

“The system is broken when the university seems more intent on putting out propaganda against the women who suffered the abuses of Dr. Tyndall than fully accepting institutional responsibility,” said Nicole Haynes.  “The systemic failure continues when we try to bring our case in a California court of law, and are met with antiquated deadlines and a statute of limitations law that threatens to extinguish our rights and voices.  AB 1510 will give survivors like me a chance to hold those who harmed us accountable.”

It gives us a choice. We can choose our own path to justice” said Haynes.

Before the story was revealed in the media, USC had found in an internal investigation that Tyndall’s behavior during medical exams amounted to sexual harassment of students.  The outcome of the investigation allowed Tyndall to quietly resign with a payout and keep his medical license.  Recently, USC agreed to a tentative settlement to pay $215 million to former patients.  The settlement calls for a minimum $2,500 payment to any USC students treated by Dr. Tyndall and up to $250,000 to those who were sexually assaulted or harassed.  The settlement would only apply to a federal class action lawsuit and not hundreds of other patients suing in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Raisman stated “When a physician abuses that power and trust, it is the worst sort of betrayal.  When authorities who could put a halt to the abuse instead turn a blind eye, the betrayal grows even larger still.  But we are not victims. We are survivors. And part of survival means seeking justice and accountability. It means that we as a society put aside antiquated time limits that would mute the voices of survivors in these worst kinds of cases.  What we saw with USA gymnastics and Larry Nassar we are seeing with USC and George Tyndall:  A sexual predator hiding behind a medical coat, and a powerful institution that for too long tried to hide the truth – and that now deserves to be held to account.  Full accountability will only come if our justice system is allowed to work.”

AB 1510 creates a one-year window to revive time-barred civil actions, but only for claims for damages “arising out of sexual assault or misconduct by a physician occurring at a student health center.”  Specifically, victims whose claims had expired prior to January 1, 2020, would have until January 1, 2021, to file their lapsed claim for damages.  This one-year revival window would not apply to any claim litigated to finality in court, or to any case settled to finality, before January 1, 2020.

Assemblymember Reyes concluded the press conference by reiterating the much needed cultural shift society must take to create a safe, transparent, and accountable environment.

AB 1510 passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee by a vote of 9 to 0.  It will next be considered by the full Assembly.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— OAKLAND, CA— Amid ongoing labor disputes over outsourcing, income inequality and alleged illegal labor practices, the University of California’s largest employee union announced today that it is calling for a boycott of University speaking engagements. AFSCME Local 3299’s announcement comes as the 10-campus system has begun naming guest speakers—such as former First Lady Michelle Obama, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis—ahead of Spring commencement ceremonies.

The announcement also comes just days after UC workers mounted an Unfair Labor Practice strike and just weeks after a concurrent charge alleging illegal workplace intimidation and incidents of violence was filed against the University.

“The University of California has used intimidation tactics to keep workers from protesting over outsourcing and income inequality instead of negotiating in good faith,” commented AFSCME Local 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “We do not tolerate bullying. If invited speakers feel the same way, then they’ll honor this boycott of UC events.”

This is the second call for a boycott since the start of the 25-month long dispute between workers and the University. Last year, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris and Congressman John Lewis withdrew from speaking at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego after workers announced a previous boycott last April.

“When our publicly-funded institutions fail to meet basic standards of fairness, equality and respect, it’s our duty as responsible citizens to hold them accountable,” added Lybarger. “The decision of invited guests to withhold their participation at University events sends a clear message that the public does not condone UC’s illegal behavior.”

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA— In the height of the #MeToo movement, young ladies need to feel empowered and they need safe havens where they can connect with other young women in dealing with their daily struggles. The Empowering Young Women’s Conference gives girls ages 12-21 that space and will be held on Saturday, April 27 at Landis Auditorium at Riverside Community College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.

The one-day conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will consist of workshops on topics such as: achieving your dreams, bullying, human trafficking, career education, suicide prevention, self-esteem, domestic violence, personal health and much more.

A couple of the featured speakers at this year’s conference include Leticia Juarez from ABC7 and Dr. Leita Harris from Nurturing You Women’s Health & Wellness. The conference is FREE and open to the public and is presented by The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation.

To RSVP, please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-young-women-conference-2019-tickets-56161929844.

Successful program brings sickle cell disease treatment to the Inland Empire

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA— Doctors at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital recently conducted the institution’s first stem cell transplant in a sickle cell disease patient, effectively curing her of the inherited blood disease. The successful procedure offers hope and accessible treatment to those suffering from the disease in the Inland Empire and surrounding regions. Children’s Hospital doctors had worked for nearly a year to build a program focused on helping hematology patients, specifically those with hemophilia and sickle cell disease.

Akshat Jain, MD, pediatric physician specializing in hematologic disorders at Children’s Hospital, said he is pleased with the outcome of the transplant and what it means for future patients suffering from sickle cell disease.

“We created a successful program so children and their families suffering from this disease don’t need to look elsewhere for treatment — it’s available to them right here in the Inland Empire,” Jain said.

The procedure was also Children’s Hospital’s first haploidentical transplant, meaning the stem cells donated — by the patient’s father — were only half a genomic match to the patient’s own stem cells. The transplant team infused the father’s cells directly into the patient after conditioning chemotherapy to replace the unhealthy blood-forming cells.

The patient, 11-year-old Valeria Vargas-Olmedo, had lived with sickle cell disease since birth. Her family began seeking treatment last year after she became incapacitated, unable to continue daily activities such as attend school, get in a car or even walk. Doctors said she had debilitating chronic pain, bone loss and bone necrosis.

“She is now disease free and can go back out into the world to do what an 11-year-old should be doing,” Jain said.

Clara Olmedo, Valeria’s mother, said, “Firstly, we want to thank God. We also want to thank Dr. Jain and his entire transplant team. Finally, thanks to Valeria’s father — he did everything he could in order to save her life and give her health through being a donor. My daughter is much more animated now — she’s begun walking, she’s eating and gaining weight, she’s happy. Little by little she is living a normal life like before.”

Sickle cell disease causes a shortage of red blood cells and thus an oxygen deficiency in one’s body. This can cause chronic pain and other serious complications, such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. Without oxygen, any organ has a high likelihood of dying off.

Jain said the disease is generally found in populations like those in the Inland Empire, such as Hispanic and African American populations.

Jain said he and his team treat approximately 250 to 300 sickle cell patients in Children’s Hospital’s comprehensive sickle cell program — more patients than in some of the largest programs on the west coast.

The Vargas-Olmedo family wants to encourage others families who are struggling with sickle cell disease. “For the parents who see the news of this transplant and deal with this sickness, I hope they are encouraged and know that Children’s Hospital is a great hospital,” Clara Olmedo said. “There are many good doctors, professionals and excellent nurses. I encourage them to ask more questions about this procedure and our experience. They’ve helped us tremendously, and we have our trust in them.”

By Lou Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Think you’re getting away with something; you ain’t getting away with nothing! I want you to know that there is a God that sits high and looks low…. “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do [Psalm 33:13-15]; Proverbs 15:3]. Thinking you’re getting away with something; you ain’t getting away with nothing! God knows all about you. God is watching you, and the God of justice will judge both the righteous and the wicked according to what they have done.

What difference does it make to know God is always watching you? Knowing God is watching should make you think twice about doing wrong. If someone is keeping an eye on me, my behavior improves; and the fact that the Bible warns that the people, who are not conscious of God and commit evil with wicked thoughts, will be tormented in the lake of fire forever and ever.

When you know somebody is watching you, you tend to think twice before doing something you ought not to. That’s just human nature, isn’t it? If you’re on the interstate running 90 miles/hour, you tend to slow down when you see a state patrolman. Why? Because you know if he sees you, he will pull you over and give you a ticket. Knowing somebody is watching you makes you think twice about doing wrong. Make no mistake about it, God see all the good things people do, but also all the evil things people do as well. There is no way to hide our dirty deeds from the Lord. You better know that you know! I tell you Scripture was written to warn and to encourage. Consider yourself warned!

In the beginning when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, what did they do? They hid. Somehow they thought they could hide their disobedience from the Lord. But God already knew where they were and what they had done. He’d seen it all. In the days of Noah and his famous ark, the Bible clearly says [Genesis 6] then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. I want you to know that God’s vision hasn’t dimmed one iota since the days of Noah.  God not only sees the evil deeds we do, but also the evil thoughts in our minds, and the evil desires of our hearts. He sees what we do behind closed doors, the things we do in the dark, the things we try to hide from everybody else. He sees the thoughts we try to cloak behind our smiling mask of hypocrisy, the thoughts we never share with another soul, the thoughts that would shock the people who closest to us, if they really know what we were thinking, how we are feeling. He sees the secret desires of our heart: the covetousness, the envy, the jealousy. You cannot hide what you do from the Lord. You cannot escape the eyes of God. He is watching you, when you do what’s wrong, and when you do what’s right. So the next time you are tempted to cheat, lie, or steal, or do anything that’s not right, remember: God is watching you!

Luke 8:17 warns us, “For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light” so we won’t get away with sin.

Zachariah 4:10 – “The eyes of the Lord run to and from through the whole earth.”

Job 34:21 – His eyes are upon the ways of man and he sees all his doings.

Proverbs 5:21- For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord and He ponders all his goings.

Numbers 32:23 – …you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Let us never forget the fact that we serve a God who sees everything. Somebody’s watching you!

Playroom in new hospital tower to be named in charity’s honor

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOMA LINDA, CA– Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital received $257,500 from the Walter’s Children’s Charity Classic Committee on March 26. The funds will support Vision 2020 – The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow and the construction of the new Children’s Hospital tower.

Funds were raised at this year’s 23^rd annual Walter’s Children’s Charity Classic golf tournament. The committee has raised more than $4 million over the past two decades.

During the check presentation, Scott Perryman, senior vice president and administrator for Children’s Hospital thanked Walter’s Automotive Group for their generosity.

“I want to express my gratitude for this amazing partnership, and its impact on the community,” Perryman said. “Your organization just gives and gives. I continue to be amazed by your spirit of generosity.”

Steve Kienle, president of Walter’s Automotive Group and founder of the committee, expressed his joy in being able to support children throughout the community.

“If we’ve done anything at all, we’ve helped one child,” Kienle said. “For us, it’s the love of doing what we do for the children. There are so many worthy causes in the Inland Empire, but for us, there’s no cause more worthy than supporting the children at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.”

Majestic Hearts’ 1st Annual 5K Walkathon in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)— INGLEWOOD, CA— In the cannabis culture, April 20 (known as, “Four-Twenty”) is an International holiday of cannabis consumption. However, this year Majestic Hearts will raise awareness about sexual assault. The organization will host its 1st Annual 5K Walkathon in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to raise $5K toward its shelter and counseling programs. Taking place at Darby Park in Inglewood, from 8 – 11 a.m. (registration opening at 8:45 a.m.), Majestic Hearts will educate attendees about the subject matter, while raising funds to assist and enrich the community. 

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives.

“This alarming statistic must be exposed and it’s our organization’s duty to ensure the community is properly educated,” says Majestic Hearts’ Founding CEO, Kanishia L. Jackson.

“We must also take in to account that this statistic is solely based on reported data. There are numerous victims/survivors who have never reported their sexual abuse encounter(s). It’s an uncomfortable subject that needs to be addressed,” she concludes.

The event will be hosted by comedienne and founder of LesTalk Radio (@LesTalkRadio), Chelley Chelle and food will be catered by WoodMasters Smoked Meats & Fixings (@WoodMastersSMAF). The fundraiser will attract male and female attendees ages 18-75 who have been affected by sexual assault personally, or byway of a loved-one. Registered attendees will receive a Majestic Hearts medal and a water bottle from B.A.L.L. (Build A Lasting Legacy: @BuildALastingLegacy), founded by Pinique Singleton, one of Majestic Hearts’ continued supporters. 

“Sexual assault is not just a woman’s issue,” explaines Wendy Talley, Majestic Hearts’ licensed therapist of KW Essential Services (@KWEssentialServices). “The physical pain of sexual assault eventually goes away, but the heart and the mind will never forget,” the Licensed Clinical Social Worker further exclaims. Talley will be providing additional insight about sexual assault at the event. Her expertise will provide attendees with the tools needed to identify and cope with sexual assault.

Register, today to reserve your perks! Registration is $35 per person and children (under 18) are free! Go to www.majestic-hearts.org to RSVP.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)—JOSHUA TREE, CA—On Monday, community activists, caregivers, and seniors and people with disabilities visited San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s district office in Joshua Tree urging her to support the county’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program — an in-home care program that low-income seniors and people with disabilities depend on to survive. While a group of activists went inside the office to speak to Supervisor Rowe, others leafleted outside to bring public awareness of the efforts to hold County Supervisors accountable to the well-being of seniors and people with disabilities.

The action, planned by IHSS caregivers who are members of SEIU Local 2015, is the first action targeting Supervisor Dawn Rowe and comes after activists shut down parts of Arrowhead and Fourth at a rally outside the Board of Supervisors meeting last month demanding that the county support and invest in the county’s IHSS program that over 30,000 seniors and people with disabilities currently rely on to survive.

“The county has refused to support the in-home care that our loved ones depend on,” said Kim Evon, Executive Vice President of SEIU 2015. “Supervisor Rutherford event went so far and told caregivers that the county has other priorities. Well, our priorities are the seniors and people with disabilities that need the IHSS Program to survive. We will continue advocating for and demanding that the county prioritize the care our loved ones need and deserve.”

San Bernardino County’s IHSS Program allows low-income seniors and people with disabilities to receive life-saving care in the comfort of their home from people they trust. Caregivers provide services such as: bathing, toileting, administering medication, and accompanying care recipients to critical doctor appointments.

“Providing a livable wage to our in-home caregivers is not only cost effective for the County but good for our local economy,” said Sara Lee, a Joshua Tree resident and educator.  “Too often, our politicians push for development projects that provide short term jobs for out-of-district workers that end up threatening our local economy and environment.  By investing in long term healthcare workers, we not only provide local sustainable jobs that can help our residents get off government assistance but can also provide cost savings and loving and humane care for those with disabilities and our growing senior population.  A contract with a livable wage is the right thing to do for our workers, for our seniors, for our local economy and the County’s bottom line.”

Activists plan on targeting the district office of every Board of Supervisor in the coming months. They are determined to continue to hold actions until the Board responds to their demands.

The action at Supervisor Rowe’s office was live streamed on Facebook here: SEIU 2015

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)— ONTARIO, CA— Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) held their 17th Annual Awards Gala, “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” on April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.  What a beautiful sight it was to see the community come together in honor of local heroes, and to recognize the homeless women and children that have triumphed over trials!  

For 17 years TFCF has created a true pathway for these women and children to reach self-sufficiency. The event welcomed back alumni from over 15 years that have held onto the skills learned while at TFCF, some achieving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, other watching their children graduate from college.  “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” highlighted the new heights these women have been able to achieve. Events like our gala enable us to highlight the successful journey of these resilient women and the obstacles they have overcome. 

Founder, Kim Carter stated, “We believe in the women! We believe in their ability to come back from devastation and no matter what, a second chance is deserving!”

In light of the amazing accomplishment throughout their 17-year history, TFCF celebrated and more importantly acknowledged the many local heroes who make daily contributions to our society. This year’s honorees included: Carlos & Audrey Martinez – Dynamic Duo Award, BLU Educational Foundation – RISE Award Restoring Inclusivity in Systemic Education Award, Johnson Family Child Care – Child Care of the Year Award, Linda Lindsey – Lady of Justice Award, Mayor Deborah Robertson – Public Service Champion, James & Rowena Ramos – Lifetime Legacy Award, Beatriz Solis – Melinda Gates Inspiration Award, Tim Evans – Ramos Family Spirit Of Compassion Award, and Dr. Roger Hadley – Community Health Champion Award.

Since its humble beginnings in 2002, Time for Change Foundation has demonstrated a remarkable determination towards ending homelessness for women and their children. 

Time for Change Foundation’s 17th Year Anniversary Gala took place on Friday April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Ontario, CA. It was an awe-inspiring, and truly wonderful night for all. To find out more about future events, please visit www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

We accept all forms of donations. To see how you can help make a difference visit us on the web at www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org.

The mission of Time for Change Foundation is to empower disenfranchised, low income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs and housing to create self-sufficiency and thriving communities.

Photos and write up by John Coleman, Community Photographer

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) celebrate the month of March, annually, as Social Work Month,  & hold an event where they give recognition to a special individual Social Worker, a Social  Work Educator of the Year, or exemplary Social Service Agency/Organization of the Year.

For over 60 years  the non-profit Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County has worked with & on behalf of low income people throughout the county;  providing support,  advocacy,  and empowerment,  towards the goals of self reliance and economic stability.

The Inland Empire (Riverside/San Bernardino) Region, California Chapter, National Association of Social workers (NASW)  was proud to recognize & honor the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County for the “Community Agency of the Year Award”.