By Bo Tefu, Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Tanu Henry | California Black Media

Last week, federal and state officials commemorated the launch of a new professional development program for California Service Corps Alumni.

The public-private partnership was created to provide early career job opportunities for young people that worked in the service force. The state’s service force consists of Californians For All College Corps, California Climate Action Corps, Californians For All Youth Jobs Corps, and AmeriCorps California.

California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday said that the skills of the service force alumni are critical to California’s workforce.

Victor Dominguez, President and Chief Executive Officer of YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles said that the program will empower California’s youth to live up to their potential.

“Together, we can create a pipeline of outstanding, diverse talent and most importantly, a pathway to upward mobility?for those who deserve it most,” he said in a statement.

Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary, said that the program will be impactful for young professionals seeking careers in public service.

“California’s greatness has always been driven by its people. Now, young leaders are stepping up across California to confront climate change and other key challenges,” he said.

The program will help the state meet its workforce needs to further economic opportunity and development statewide. Alumni will be paired with jobs that align with their skills, qualifications, and professional experience. The young career hopefuls will be given the chance to network with future employers and mentors in priority sectors such as education, trades, and climate.

Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction,?said that young educators of the service force helped support the needs of the state’s Department of Education.

Many of the service force members, “are a critical pipeline to provide our students across California the diverse, talented educators and mental health school counselors they deserve,” Thurmond stated.

Several alumni recalled that working for the state’s service corps ignited their passion for education. The experience also helped them understand the need for diversity and cultural competence in the classroom.

AmeriCorps California alumnus?Abelardo Juarez said that serving as a tutor sparked his passion for education and helped him gain hands-on experience in the classroom.

“The experience made me realize that we need more men of color in the classroom, which became another piece of encouragement to pursue a career in education,” Juarez said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) and Superintendent Mauricio Arellano are proud to announce the launch of Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES, a transformative initiative aimed at cultivating pride and purposeful futures for students.

“I have always firmly believed that every student is brilliant and that it is our responsibility to discover their brilliance,” said Superintendent Arellano. “Our job is to ensure that every student, that our District and our city shines.”

Approved by the Board of Education on April 2, Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES sets the course for the district’s mission to ensure each student has the skills, resilience and determination to create their path and thrive in school, career and life.

Following a special reception held in the Dr. Margaret Hill Community Room, the vision was unveiled to more than 200 attendees during a meeting of the Board of Education. In attendance were local elected officials, community leaders, leaders of faith-based organizations, representatives of local businesses and nonprofits, and District administrators, many of whom were honored during the Board meeting for their contributions to the vision.

Under SBCUSD SHINES, the District is committed to prioritizing six key areas over the next six years:

1. SBCUSD Strong: Fostering a culture of excellence and resilience to empower students to reach their full potential.
2. High expectations for academics and innovation to be college and/or career ready: Setting rigorous academic standards and promoting innovation to prepare students for success in college and career.
3. Involvement of students, family, community and staff: Engaging all partners in the educational process to create a more collaborative and supportive learning community.
4. Nutrition, health and wellness: Prioritizing the physical, mental and emotional well-being of students through comprehensive health and wellness initiatives.
5. Equity as a foundation: Advancing equity and inclusion to ensure all schools and students have access to equitable opportunities and resources.
6. Safe, secure and attractive learning environments: Creating safe, welcoming and inspiring spaces where students can learn, grow and thrive.

“Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES represents our unwavering commitment to providing every student in San Bernardino and Highland with the support and resources they need to succeed,” said Arellano, who developed the focus in partnership with students, employees and community leaders during his first year as SBCUSD superintendent. “By focusing on these key areas, we will cultivate a culture of excellence, equity and empowerment that prepares our students for lifelong success. Together, we will ensure that every student shines bright and achieves their dreams.”

“One of the most important things that we need to have is a vision to run behind,” said Pastor Dr. Joshua Beckley of Ecclesia Fellowship, who was personally involved in developing the District’s new vision. “Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES represents a bold commitment to excellence and inclusivity in education…We as a community need to run with this, and we need to get behind our District to make sure it happens.”

Beckley credited SBCUSD for giving community leaders, parents, business owners and others who care about the long-term wellbeing of children in San Bernardino and Highland a voice to help develop a collective vision.

Alton Garrett, another community stalwart and leader of the Westside Action Group, urged the community to rally behind Vision 2030.

“What is in here is what we as a community said we wanted,” Garrett said while holding a booklet about the vision. “That is why it is so beholden upon us to make sure that we as a community work with the District to make sure that everything we said in Vision 2030 is done.”

Rodolfina Gamino, whose four children have attended SBCUSD schools, participated in the development of Vision 2030 due to her involvement in the District English Learner Advisory Committee and her advocacy on behalf of families. She encouraged all families to take an active role in the vision’s implementation.

“This vision is not the work of a single person,” Gamino said. “It is like a puzzle. Every single person has to do their part to realize this vision. We need to recognize that unity does give us strength.”

As SBCUSD embarks on this transformative journey, the District will continue involving students, families, staff and community partners to help shape the future of education in San Bernardino.

For more information about Vision 2030: SBCUSD SHINES and how you can get involved, please visit www.sbcusd.com/Vision2030. To receive a copy of Vision 2030, please email communications@sbcusd.com.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Why? Why would you delay? You know one of the most tragic phrases in the English language is “too late.”  It indicates something that once held promise now is without hope.  Listen, I cannot tell you when the door will shut, only that it will shut one day.  I cannot tell you who will be allowed into the kingdom of heaven, only that Jesus is the gatekeeper.  And according to the gatekeeper’s own testimony, there will be those who will be left outside, the foolish ones, the ones who were invited but rejected the invitation or were so negligent and casual about the invitation they failed to prepare properly for it.  Oh, foolish virgin. Don’t you know that the most important thing a person can do in this life is to get prepared for the next. To get ready to meet God. It’s your responsibility to do because one day you will stand face to face with Christ either by death; [Hebrews 9:27] or by rapture; [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17] and you want to be ready because once the master of the house gets up and closes the door, you’ll stand outside knocking and pleading, Lord, Lord, open the door for us. But “He will answer,” I don’t know you or where you come from.

Please don’t wait until it’s too late!  For when the Lord comes again, the time for salvation is gone! Be ready… this is the basic message of the parable. Oh, Foolish Virgins!

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Photographs serve as historical records, framing both big moments and small ones. Those images evoke a range of emotions such as passion, sadness, joy, nostalgia and more, connecting us emotionally to the history captured in them.

L.A.-based photographer and organizer Ron Wilkins, 78, showcases powerful images he captured from the Black liberation movements of the of the 1960s and beyond in his new book “Crook’s Lens: A Photographic Journey Through the Black Liberation Struggle,” published on Jan. 30, 2024.

The book by Wilkins includes photographs of renowned revolutionaries with whom he interacted, including Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis and Stokeley Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture).

“I have a responsibility to our African ancestors who struggled for our liberation, who made sacrifices and committed a lot of time,” said Wilkins. “Some of them lost their lives in that struggle. I felt as an activist/organizer after all these years that since I’m still alive, I have a responsibility. The book is also a reflection of my evolution and ongoing work. I felt it was important I share my history, especially with young people. They can learn something from my example and carry on the struggle.”

Wilkins was born in San Francisco, but his family relocated to Los Angeles in 1959. His peers gave him the nickname “Crook,” which is reflected in the title of his book. Constantly looking for ways to make money, Wilkins often resorted to stealing and reselling things.

He recalls, “On a couple of occasions, guys would look at me and say, ‘you’re quite a crook.’ That’s how I got the name. When I became politically aware and became part of the struggle, people would often call me Brother Crook.”

Eventually, Wilkins started stealing cars.

One fateful night he was arrested and served 8 months in a juvenile detention center. The harsh reality of that experience, he says, shook him to his core, steered him away from crime, and kickstarted his journey as an artist with a revolutionary perspective.

He started to capture images of history-making moments through his lens. His subjects became some of the most influential Black organizers and activists of the time.

“When I was in detention, I noticed how segregated the place was and I spearheaded a movement on the part of Black inmates against those who were holding us, to end segregation in the pen. That was 1963. After I was released and returned to the street, the Watts rebellion jumped off. That was the cauldron that helped me develop a revolutionary consciousness and decide to become a part of a movement to fight the system and do this for the rest of my life.”

In 1967, Wilkins joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) after that group began to embrace the principles of the Black power movement, he told California Black Media.

During his time with SNCC, Wilkins met a professional photographer within the organization. He began to learn more about photography. This chance meeting planted a seed of inspiration within him to capture images of the growing movement he was observing and in which he was participating.

“There is a saying ‘seeing is believing’. I could tell you something but in the back of your mind you would think I’m just talking. But if I show you the image, the picture makes it very plain. That is the power of photography.”

Wilkins’ book chronicles his life story through a diverse collection of photographs, capturing his encounters with historic Black organizers in the liberation movement and his travels to Africa. However, his most prized photo is of 5 Black girls sitting on the porch of the Pyramid Housing Projects in Cairo, Illinois in 1972.

The housing project had been under attack by White supremacists in the area. Wilkins traveled to Illinois to serve as an armed patrolmen tasked with protecting the residents.

Additionally, Wilkins photographed Nina Simone, who was invited to lead a protest march through the heart of downtown, where White business owners were refusing to hire Black employees.

“One morning walking home from patrol, I ran across these five black girls sitting on a step after a night of enduring all of this gunfire. I saw them and said, ‘don’t move.’ I think it was the best picture I ever took. It captured so much feeling. Their facial expressions. Their spirits were still intact. They had a quiet courage that their bodies reverberated with. They could see hope in the future, even though they had endured a night of this intense gunfire.”

Wilkins’ hope is that his book will uplift the spirit of the young revolutionaries he photographed and inspire others to recognize that the struggle is not over. He also hopes it will remind young people that they can aspire to the same heights of passion, intelligence, and bravery that define the lives of the heroes depicted in his photos. 

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Years back Gary and I hired a man with great tree expertise to trim the trees about our home. We chatted frequently and he became a friend while beautifying our trees. He told of his “past life” as an executive with an office in a high rise within a big city.

While sitting at his desk one day he looked from his 7th floor window and saw a tree-trimmer at work. He thought, “That’s the life I want to live.” So after studying how best to do this earthy art, he started this new endeavor of trimming trees–and became superbly good at it.

Then a disabling accident found him depending on a doctor’s prescription for pain medications. He functioned well although everything about life was hard for him. Then came the time when opioids gained national attention due to their overuse by millions of people whose doctors were not closely monitoring the use of them. Many doctors, as well as our friend’s doctor, started warning their patients, as much as possible, about their prescription usage.

Our friend, now living on a “minimal amount” of the opioids as compared to what his doctor had permitted previously, found it far from adequate for managing his constant, agonizing pain. He called me, “Joy, I think as a chaplain you may be able to answer a question for me. What do you think God will do in my case if I take my life?”

I felt tremendous compassion for his plight. Then, without hesitation I told him that we have a merciful God, a loving God—and added that I believe we are to see our challenges on earth as opportunities to grow in our strength and through God’s help to be able to handle them. Yet, there are instances wherein a person has formidable pain and their back is against the wall to the point they can no longer tolerate living and breathing here on earth . . . some do make that final, momentous choice to end their life. Who can know if in that veracious moment the person takes his or her cause to the throne of God in prayer. I would like to believe that our Creator comprehends all and that person who is so sick goes straight into the loving arms of God. Yet, life is such a gift. And all judgement belongs to God.

Our friend was one who talked with us frequently about His love of Christ and of his prayers to be faithful. We prayed with hearts brimming with concern for him. Two years passed when we received a call informing us that our friend had ended his life.

Upon knowing of his choice I thought back on my words to him and prayed to always be helpful, not harmful. Still, in my heart of hearts, I want to believe he is in God’s loving arms and that we will see him again in Heaven. Clearly, there are sicknesses that some of us will never encounter. Therefore some circumstances can only be judged by God.

Life on earth can bring huge challenges, but God’s help is here for us on terra firma. Proverbs 18:10 say, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” The name of Jesus holds power far greater than any other name we can speak. When we ask, the Lord of heaven does hear and He can extend strength beyond any we could have had without His help. Trust it. Try it. Believe!

About the author: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain and author of four books. Her website at www.healing-with-Joy.com carries her blog and books along with an animated video of her children’s book.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans and the city of Fontana will host an Art @ Transit event on Saturday, April 27, combining a community clean-up day at a popular transit center while recognizing local artists who have been beautifying our community by painting agency bus benches.

“Art @ Transit is a great opportunity to enhance our community by sprucing up one of our busiest Transit Centers and celebrating the artists who have done amazing work to beautify our bus benches,” said agency CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers.

The project represents the culmination of the agency’s popular Beautiful Benches Project, a grant-funded effort (Creative Corps Inland Socal, California Arts Council) in which local artists are selected to paint bus benches utilizing local cultural and historical themes. To date, 32 benches have been painted throughout the 15 cities Omnitrans serves.

All are invited to join the agency at the Fontana Transit Center at 11:00 a.m. on the 27th to participate in a community clean-up effort, followed by a bench artwork display, artist meet & greet, live musical performances, refreshments, and connection with local art organizations from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. For further information, visit Omnitrans.org/art-transit-2024.

It’s National Volunteer Month and not only is the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) celebrating and recognizing the contributions of its current volunteers, but the museum is also looking to expand its dedicated volunteer team!

Are you interested in history, art, science, or culture? Do you want to give back to your community? SBCM is currently seeking new volunteers to assist with visitor services, special events, educational tours and conducting research in the archives.

This support is essential to the museum’s ongoing operation. But it’s more than that – the knowledge and expertise of our volunteers enriches and deepens the impact of the museum’s programs, educational field trips and school tours, and events. Volunteers help create memorable experiences for our community and inspire the next generation of San Bernardino County history.

A volunteer can be anyone 15 years of age or older that can commit to a minimum of six hours per month.  Many volunteers are high school, college, and graduate students, retirees, or curious individuals looking to learn and serve their community.

Volunteer opportunities are available at both the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands and the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley in the following areas:

• Educational Tours
• Visitor Services
• Special Events
• Collections
• Research Library
• Marketing

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or intern at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands or the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley, you can attend our Volunteer Open House on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. in Redlands. For more information about volunteering, please visit our website at museum.sbcounty.gov/volunteer.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and Museum Foundation members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to people with disabilities.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

Although California will have to make significant budget cuts to balance its budget as required by state law, Assemblymember and California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) member Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) said there are still ways to achieve reparations for Black Californians.

Currently, the budget deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year has been projected to be as high as $73 billion.

Bryan said it will be “absolutely difficult,” but the state is still investing in other priority programs, various essential industries, oil companies, and prisons. The 32-year-old lawmaker made these observations at the California Budget and Policy Center (Budget Center) annual Policy Insights conference held April 16 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.

“(California) has the 4th or 5th largest economy in the world. There will be $300 billion coming out of California State government,” Bryan said. “So, you can’t tell me that we don’t have the resources to foundationally begin reparations conversations or to start to make amends to start to do the repair work when we can invest in these institutions.”

The Budget Center is a nonpartisan, research and analysis nonprofit dedicated to advancing meaningful public policies that enhance the lives of Californians. It is also committed to exposing inequities in the state, budget priorities, and public policies that affect low and middle-income households, women, immigrants, American Indians, Asians, Black, Latinx, and Pacific Islander Californians.

The Budget Center’s Policy Insights 2024 conference brought together diverse stakeholders, including community advocates, government officials, nonprofits, and members of the media. The conference featured 11 workshops and plenary sessions covering topics in tax and budget policy, poverty, racial equity, housing and homelessness, child development, and more.

During the conference’s luncheon plenary session, titled “Policy Pathways to Reparations,” discussions were centered around the topic of reparations.

The session explored courses of action for securing reparations, guided by a 2023 task force report that examined the damages endured by African Americans as a result of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and legal and illegal discriminatory practices that were a part of the country’s culture for centuries.

Bryan was joined by Felicia Jones, the Director of Programs and Operations for Social Good Solutions and The Black Equity Collective; James Woodson, from the California Black Power Network and African Americans and the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT); and Don Tamaki, a former member of the California Reparations Task Force and Senior Counsel, Minami Tamaki LLP.  The moderator was John Kim, a member of the Budget Center Board of Directors and President and CEO of Catalyst California.

Woodson acknowledged that it would take more than members of the CLBC to pave the way toward reparations in the state. He said it would take a collective effort from people of all backgrounds to get the public and other lawmakers on board.

Both Woodson and Tamaki are members of AART. The organization’s mission is to raise public awareness about reparations and to build a base of multi-racial and multi-sector supporters in the state.

CLBC members Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) are also associated with ARRT. Both lawmakers were members of the California Reparations Task Force.

“There are hearts and minds we’ve got to change outside the Legislature,” Woodson said. “From a moral standpoint but also a practical standpoint that it just can’t be about Black communities and Black people. We have to have other communities standing with us.”

Several reparation bills presented by the CLBC as a whole or by separate members are working their way through the State Legislature.

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Chair of the CLBC, stated in January, “While many only associate direct cash payments with reparations, the true meaning of the word, to repair, involves much more.”

Before discussions about financial payouts can take place, considering budget concerns, Wilson said that “a comprehensive approach to dismantling the legacy of slavery and systemic racism” is necessary.

Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a $291 billion spending plan to the California Legislature on Jan. 10. None of CLBC’s package of bills is tied to direct cash payments but Bryan did ask supporters at the conference to keep the conversation going about reparations.

“Don’t let the legislature or the governor off the hook,” Bryan said.

Tamaki, who is Japanese American, was the only non-Black member of the nine-person reparations task force. He told the Policy Insights attendees that “moving the needle” in the direction of public opinion, raising awareness, and passing the CLBC bills are the next steps in the push for reparations.

“Out of 115 (reparations) proposals for repair, only a few of them deal with individual compensation. The rest have to do with policies,” said Tamaki.  “For example, Black infant mortality over 10 years in San Francisco is literally five times the rate for White babies. So, these are the systematic outcomes we are familiar with that need to be addressed.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino County First District Supervisor Paul Cook today applauded the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) General Policy Committee’s approval of a $762,899 contract with WSP USA, Inc. for the State Route 247/62 Emergency Bypass Study. The Committee voted on the measure on April 10.

“For years, I’ve been raising concerns about the lack of a viable emergency plan for the Cajon Pass,” said Supervisor Cook. “Whether it’s a major earthquake, wildfire, or another disaster, a shutdown of I-15 could isolate our First District communities. I’ve been a strong advocate for a backup plan, and this study is a critical step forward.”

The approval comes after former Assemblymember Thurston “Smitty” Smith secured $1 million in the 2022 state budget for a Cajon Pass I-15 Bypass Study. The focus of this project is to assess the feasibility of utilizing State Routes 247 and 62 as an alternative route during emergencies that force the closure of the Cajon Pass.

“The State Route 247/62 Emergency Bypass Study will explore how to best utilize these existing roadways as a more viable alternative to I-15 during emergencies,” Supervisor Cook continued. “The project’s goal is to minimize the negative impacts of an extended I-15 closure. This includes examining operational strategies to maintain traffic flow for essential services like freight transport, personal travel, and emergency response teams.”

The study will also factor in existing traffic management plans developed by law enforcement, transportation agencies, and emergency service providers for situations involving I-15 closures and major incidents.

The contract, upon approval by the full SBCTA Board in May, will officially greenlight the project.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, Maxim Elramsisy, Lila Brown and Joe W. Bowers Jr.| California Black Media

The 2024 State of Black California Conference, held at UCLA on April 13, brought together about 200 policymakers, advocates, and community members to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Black Californians.

A key focus of the conference convened by The Black Policy Project, an initiative of the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, along with the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) was the launch of the 2024 State of Black California report – Assessing 20 Years of Black Progress in the Golden State written by the Center for the CLBC.

The attendees were welcomed by UCLA Chancellor Dr. Gene D. Block, Dr. Lorrie Frasure, Director, UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, and CLBC Chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City).

The report, presented by Dr. Michael Stoll, Professor & Faculty Director of the Black Policy Project, paints a complex picture: While Black Californians have seen modest socioeconomic gains over the past two decades, a significant racial gap compared to White residents persists. The 2024 report builds on the original State of Black California report published in 2007.

Report Details Mixed Progress

The report utilizes an “Equality Index” to show a 21.7% improvement in Black Californians’ outcomes. However, this progress is overshadowed by the fact that Black Californians still have the lowest index score among all racial groups, lagging 30% behind White Californians.

There were some bright spots. Education showed the most significant improvement, likely due to policies that expanded access to universities. Criminal justice reforms also had a positive impact.

Challenges Remain, Particularly Housing

A concerning trend highlighted in the report is the shrinking Black population in California, down from 2.2 million to 2.1 million. High housing costs are pushing Black residents out of urban centers, with only the Inland Empire and Sacramento showing growth. Homeownership among Black Californians has also declined, while rents have risen significantly.

Conference Tackles Pressing Issues

The conference addressed these challenges through a series of panel discussions. Participants in the panels included members of the CLBC, local and state officials, community leaders, and academics. Topics included:

• Community solutions to Los Angeles’ challenges, featuring local leaders.
• A conversation with Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass on her efforts to promote equity.
• The intersection of artificial intelligence and its impact on Black Californians.
• Legislative solutions with members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).
• California’s leadership in reparations and its potential for national reconciliation. Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, author of California Assembly Bill 3121 that established the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans was a participant.

The conference also provided opportunities for attendees to engage in meaningful dialogue and brainstorm solutions through breakout sessions on topics like civic engagement, criminal justice, and education.

More about the conference can be found at the event website – (https://sobc2024.com/#homepage)