Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— Two Gates – Two Roads– Two Destinations – Two Groups of People – How You Living? 

You see, in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about two paths of life and the final destination of each one [Matt. 7:13-27]. To emphasize His point, He contrasted small and wide gates, narrow and broad ways, good fruit versus bad fruit, saying versus doing, and the wise man versus the foolish man. In each case, one way led to destruction and the other to life. Considering the Alternatives, How You Living?

The Broad Way….. The way that says it’s my prerogative, I’ll do what I want to do! I’ll live like I want to live; I’ll make my own decisions and not answer to anyone. Go where I want to go, do what I want to do and be what I want to be. It is my life and ain’t nobody going tell me what to do and how to do it! Well, Well, Well. If that is your life, I want you to know that the Bible strongly admonitions you not to travel this path [Proverbs 4:14-15]. “Avoid it, do not travel on it.” “Turn away from it and pass on.”  It enslaves – [John 8:34] it dulls the senses [Ephesians 4:19] it becomes a life of wickedness and violence – [Proverbs 4:17]. Final destination- Hell!

The Narrow Way… Not my will but Your will Lord! [Matthew 7:21-23].  Faith and obedience. Those who hear and do Christ’s commands!  He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me.  Those who walk this road are discipline, practice self-restraint and avoid sinful practices. It’s the way of the few. The narrow way is the path of wisdom. Those who walk it listen and accept instruction from the Lord [Prov. 4:10-14]. It’s the path of following Jesus. Those who enter the small gate believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for their sins. They trust Him as their personal Savior and surrender their lives to Him [2 Corinthians. 5:17]. The consequences of choosing this path”…the years of your life will be many.” – [Proverbs 4:10] “When you walk, your steps will not be hindered” – [Proverbs 4:12]”And when you run, you will not stumble.” – [Proverbs 4:12b] “Keep her, for she is your life.” [Proverbs 4:13] — The path of wisdom is what God would have you take!

Where’s your road taking you? Have you thought it over? Where will you end up when you leave this world? Will it be Heaven or will it be Hell? Will it be the narrow way of walking with God or the broad way of anything goes? Where will you end up? Paul gives us a very important word in [2 Corinthians 13:5], he says, “Examine yourselves!

Hear the Son of God again… “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” [Matthew 7:13-14]

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, choose life… [Deuteronomy 30: 19a]

Study finds 22% of young adults in college cannot afford food, despite working and receiving financial aid

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Food insecurity among college students has become more common in recent years. A recent study entitled “Hunger on Campus: The Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students,” surveyed 3,765 college students across 34 campuses in 12 states and found that 22 percent of the respondents were below the level of food insecurity and were considered to be hungry instead of insecure. The study also found that contrary to common stereotypes, most food insecure students are working and receiving financial aid*. Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) is pleased to announce it has received a $15,000 grant from the Kaiser Foundation to help address this critical issue faced by students who are working diligently to become educated, contributing members of our communities.

CAPSBC CEO Patricia L. Nickols-Butler stated, “Low-income college students need our support while they endeavor to better themselves. We are grateful to Kaiser Foundation for recognizing the importance of nutrition in education and making this investment in our young adults who represent the future of our communities.”

The nonprofit CAPSBC has been operating its Food Bank program since 1984. It is the largest provider of emergency food in San Bernardino County. The growing need of students prompted higher educational institutions to seek help from the Food Bank. As a result, the Campus Cupboard program was launched in January 2018. Current partner sites include San Bernardino Valley College and Chaffey College campuses in Fontana, Chino, and Rancho Cucamonga. Kaiser Permanente’s investment in the Campus Cupboard program will enable us to expand services in areas of high need in San Bernardino County.

The Campus Cupboard Program promotes healthy choices in the foods given as part of the Food Bank’s overall healthy Food Banking initiatives. Health nutrition education information for students will also be made available at the sites.

*Source: “Hunger on Campus: the Challenge of Food Insecurity for College Students” – October 2016 published by the College and University Food Bank Alliance, the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Student Government Resource Center and the Student Public Interest Research Groups.

The newly renamed arts institution will bring enhanced programming and scholarship to downtown Riverside

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA —- UCR ARTS has a new name and a new vision.

Formerly known as ARTSblock, UCR ARTS is comprised of two entities — the California Museum of Photography and the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts — and strives to encourage community engagement and an appreciation of art and photography by providing visitors a diverse range of exhibitions, performances, and educational programs.

“This name change is reflective of a renewed vision that embraces UCR ARTS’ relationship to the University of California, Riverside and a commitment to creating an inclusive and inviting place for the Riverside region and beyond,” said Sheila Bergman, executive director of UCR ARTS.

Housed in a pair of renovated department store buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, UCR ARTS’ history extends to the founding of the Jack and Marilyn Sweeney Art Gallery in 1963 and the California Museum of Photography in 1973. In 2010, the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts opened, offering a new home for the Sweeney Art Gallery and new community space for the Inland Empire.

Now, UCR ARTS has shifted focus from growing in size to growing in reach by enhancing its programming and cultivating a thriving arts community.

Following four months of renovation, the California Museum of Photography, or CMP, has reopened its doors, providing access to its collection of 750,000 objects. With the largest public collection of photographic technology in the western United States and the world’s largest archive of stereoscopic photographs and negatives, the CMP is an important destination for researchers worldwide.

Offering a multidisciplinary creative space, the Culver Center serves as an incubator for bold and artistic expressions. A host of art installations and exhibits, a weekly film program, and music, dance, and theatrical performances, and community events are presented year-round in the Culver’s atrium.

“We are building on our history of exemplary exhibitions and performances by widening our scope,” Bergman said. “UCR ARTS is a place for the Inland Southern California community to convene and engage in robust arts and cultural programming.”

UCR ARTS is located at 3824 and 3834 Main St., Riverside. Learn more at ucrarts.ucr.edu.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- RIVERSIDE, CA— JoJo’s Grill-A-Dog – no MSG, no gluten, no fillers – build-your-own hot dog fast casual dining concept, is now offering franchise opportunities in Riverside. Co-founders Ryan Molnar and Jason Tang kicked off JoJo’s Grill-A-Dog’s humble beginnings with the opening of its Yucaipa location in 2010. Since then, the brand and the business processes have been refined into a successful and proven business operation in Redlands. 

“Hot dogs are an icon of American cuisine that never goes out of style,” said Molnar and Tang. “We are looking for franchisees who have a willingness and commitment to serving people high quality food in a pleasant environment. We’ve already identified a prime location at a reasonable rent, and also provide strong operational, marketing, accounting, audit, and legal support. Our franchisee’s success is our success, and we’re looking forward to growing the business and bringing the unique JoJo’s experience to the folks here in Riverside.”

“Entrepreneurs who have a strong management background, love good food, enjoy serving people, and believe in a ‘customer first’ culture should choose to become a JoJo’s franchisee,” said Molnar and Tang. “Start up cost for a JoJo’s franchise is below average, while the return on investment is above average in a short period of time. Our familiar, yet creative product offering uses quality ingredients, backed by an extremely simplified and streamlined process, national food and paper supply pricing, and relevant décor, design and branding. We want you to succeed!”

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- Progressives and some Black activists have long complained about America’s bail system, which treats people with means differently from low-income people. Under the current cash bail system, people charged with a crime can sit in jail for months, and sometimes years, without seeing a judge simply because they can’t afford bail. 

A good example of this situation is seen in the story of Kalief Browder, a New York teen, who was arrested on charges of petty theft. Because his family couldn’t afford his $3,000 bail, he languished in Rikers Island for three years, before a judge dropped the charges. Two years after his release, Browder committed suicide. His family said his experience in jail, where he had to fight to survive and was placed in solitary confinement, killed him. 

The other side of the American justice system is seen in the case of Cameron Terrell, a white teenager from Palos Verdes Estates, who was behind the wheel in a drive-by shooting. His parents put up $500,000 in cash to secure a $5 million bond. Terrell was acquitted in July. Two black males, who were passengers in the car, are still facing life sentences.

However, a proposed bill suggests taking the setting of bail amounts out of human hands and making the criminal justice system fairer. According to a section of Senate Bill 10 “The California Money Bail Reform Act of 2017,” the new legislation would require the use of a “pretrial risk assessment tool.”

Critics of the bill interpret this to mean using a computer algorithm, that takes into consideration the suspects’ age, location, and criminal record, to set bail. This conjures up images of the automated system used in the Tom Cruise movie “Minority Report.”

More than 100 civil rights and civil liberties organizations have complained about the potential use of an algorithm-based system to evaluate bail.

“Last week, the national ACLU signed onto a statement along with other civil rights, digital justice and community-based organizations, which included a call for important policy reforms to accompany any use of pretrial risk assessment tools. 

 “It’s far overdue for government jurisdictions to end the money bail systems that have kept poor people and people of color locked up while awaiting their day in court. Many jurisdictions, however, are turning to pretrial risk assessments, placing a technological barrier between people and their freedom. Algorithms cannot undo the racial bias that exists in the criminal legal system. These and other high-tech tools will always disadvantage communities of color and threaten to replace mass incarceration with digital prisons. We join the chorus of civil and human rights organizations in calling on jurisdictions to reconsider their use of pretrial risk assessments and adopt solutions that actually set people free,”  Myaisha Hayes, criminal justice & tech organizer for Center for Media Justice, said.

 One of the fears about SB 10 is its reliance on technology. Technology is far from perfect, as shown in Russia’s use of hacked emails to tamper with the 2016 elections. And according to the ACLU of Northern California, Amazon’s face recognition technology, which is currently used by some police departments, has shown signs of bias. White faces were found to generate less false matches than Black faces.

According to Jaivon Grant, writing in the Sacramento Observer, this may encourage opposition to SB 10.

“The local and national civil rights groups have long sought to end the money bail system, and SB 10 is the closest they have come to doing so to date. However, Sen. Hertzberg and Assemblymember Bonta may have a very difficult time persuading enough of their fellow Democrat colleagues to support an algorithm-based bail program in the face of such compelling opposition by a powerful coalition of civil rights organizations opposing it,” he said.

Leaders of the assembly and senate were both reported saying this was a priority before the Aug 31 end of this year’s legislative session.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The PAL Charter Academy teachers and staff returned to work to gear up for their upcoming school year. The school had quite a productive and successful school year in 2017-18. 

Head of Schools, Kim Hawkins, said, ” We had a phenomenal 2017-18 school year. Our goal is to use the momentum from last year and make this year even better. The teachers and staff are motivated, excited and ready to go!”

Under the direction of the Executive Director, Dwaine Radden Sr., the teachers and staff kicked off their Bootcamp week. Radden, a former Teacher, Businessman, Championship coach and Hall of Famer came in true form bringing his winning attitude, and 21st-century approach to education when he delivered a gripping motivational speech.

His infectious message had the teachers and staff chanting, “We Are PAL, We Are PAL!,” Edward Brantley, Director of the Community Outreach Program, said, “Mr. Radden’s message to us was inspiring and motivating, his passion for students to succeed in school and life was spot on.”

The Bootcamp week was extraordinary and full of energy.

Mr. Radden talked to the teachers and staff about rewiring themselves for Next Level Teaching. He said, “Students, today are digitally wired and don’t think and learn the way we did. We must rewire the educational system and teachers for the generations to come. We must prepare our students for real-world challenges and the 21st Century”. His message came from a few chapters out of the book he is currently writing, Rewiring America and the Educational System We Live In.

The teachers and staff attended a series of professional development training sessions, and also participated in several team building exercises. The week was filled with exciting and innovative strategies for teachers and staff.  Dominic White, Director of Student Life, kicked off the first day with her high energy introduction of the school, and she also shared information she and others received from the National Charter School Conference in Texas they attended over the summer. She said, “Coach Radden charged a team of 6 teachers and one administrator to be “Hunters” and bring back innovative and creative ideas that we can incorporate into the school. My excitement and energy was a carryover from the knowledge and ideas that came from the trip”. She also serves as the Athletic Director for the school and was instrumental in securing the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) membership for the school.

Last year, the PAL Academy brought home its first men’s basketball league championship and received a 6-year accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, (WASC), the longest accreditation in school history. They became a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and bridged connections with local community colleges to provide advanced students with the opportunity to participate in the colleges’ concurrent enrollment program. The Academy received a host of other accomplishments and accolades last school year. 

Now Enrolling For Middle and High School 2018-19

PAL Charter Academy is a Free Public Charter school serving grades 6-12. The school is authorized under the SBCUSD and is the first and longest operating charter sanctioned by and in the City of San Bernardino. For more information call 909-887-7002 or visit their website at www.palcharteracademy.com.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy is currently hiring for a Mental Health Specialist to deliver and coordinate services for our High Desert program in San Bernardino. Please see the description below:

Contract position, responsible for implementing case management, facilitating group and individual intervention and prevention services for youth and parents. Population served includes adolescents and parents. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in Social/Behavioral Health, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field or a minimum of two years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the capabilities to perform the described duties. The Mental Health Specialist works directly with clients, under the supervision of the Program Coordinator.  Ability to counsel youth on factors contributing to youth violence (i.e. mental disorders, wellness, life issues, lifespan development, etc.).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned):

• work with adolescents participating in-school and after-school youth program, counseling and case management services;
• assess levels of risk;
• coordinate intakes and carry out needs assessments, including possible home visits;
• work with clients to develop individualized service plans in conjunction with other professionals, with specific goals and objectives, including substance abuse treatment, mental health care, vocational training, etc.;
• implement and facilitate individual and/or group counseling sessions;
• offer information and counseling support to clients and their families;
• maintain confidential client records, files, and prepare reports;
• travel to off sites to provide services;
• other duties as assigned by the Program Coordinator

Minimum Qualifications

• computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• excellent documentation skills;
• some involvement with youth serving organizations and
• understanding of adolescent developmental issues preferred

For more information please contact Terrance Stone, CEO at (909) 723-1695 tstone@yvyla-ie.org.

Download application here: YVYLA Employment Application

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— The Flow is WHAT IT DO! Don’t miss it! Checkout The Flow for LUE Productions 2nd Annual BBW/Plus Size Model Competition and Fashion Show on Sunday, August 26 at 5 p.m.

The night will be like no other. There will be nonstop entertainment with an important message on domestic violence. We want you there! We need you there! Please support the movement by purchasing a ticket.

The event will be held in the beautiful city of San Bernardino at the Women’s Club of San Bernardino located on “E” Street. For more information please text us at (909) 567-1000 or visit us on Facebook @lueproductions. Remember to always report abuse! Your LIFE MATTERS!

The flow of the evening will go something like this: 5 p.m. doors open; 5 p.m. Red Carpet Interviews; 5:30 p.m. – Selfie Winner awarded on Red Carpet; 6:15 p.m.- Show begins; -intro of host ‘Comedian JT Turner” and co-host ‘Lue Dowdy’; welcome; quick blurb-age of the WHY; Intro of judging panel; at 6:30 p.m. will be the 1st Category; Belly Dance Chorography; Model Introduction; Performance by LPM Artist Mack Pepperboy; Fashion Show by Diva Outlaw; 2nd Category will be Disney Princess; Performance by LPM R&B Recording Artists; Section III will be the 3rd Category – 70’s Style;  Fashion Show by Diva Outlaw; 4th Category – Free Style and Special performance by LPM Recording Group (GWAAP FAM); 5th Category – Formal and  Questions; Domestic Violence Skit; Keynote speaker – Ronda Robinson; Final Walk and announcement of the winner.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—SAN BERNARDINIO, CA— While all of the participants of the Little League® Western Regional Tournament enjoy their experience in San Bernardino, there are a handful of notable stars who have gone on to have professional careers. 

Darnell Coles

As a member of one of three local-area teams to ever play at the Western Regional Headquarters in San Bernardino, Darnell Coles led the San-Ri Little League from Rialto and San Bernardino to the West Regionals in 1974. Unfortunately, San-Ri lost in the championship game to a very tough Red Bluff team from Northern California. After a star career at Eisenhower High School, lettering in four sports, Mr. Coles earned a football scholarship to UCLA. Despite his scholarship, Mr. Coles was also drafted by the Seattle Mariners and chose to play baseball. Mr. Coles later starred with the Detroit Tigers, hitting 20 home runs in one season. He is currently the hitting instructor for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ken Hubbs

Ken Hubbs – Colton (Calif.) Little League (1954)

While he never played at the Western Regional Headquarters, Ken Hubbs and the Colton (Calif.) Little League went to the Little League Baseball World Series in 1954. He lettered in four sports in high school, named All-CIF in three sports, and was named an All-American in both football and baseball. After being recruited by John Wooden to play basketball at UCLA, Mr. Hubbs was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and quickly made his way to the majors, setting many fielding records in his brief career. In 1962, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year and became the first rookie to also win the Golden Glove. Unfortunately, his career was cut short as he died shortly later in a plane crash. In his honor, Colton Little League has since been renamed Ken Hubbs Little League and continues to be an active Little League program today.

With thousands of players participating in the West and Northwest Regional Tournament, this select few were also able to take their talent to the ultimate level playing on the professional level.

For more information about Little League, please go to www.littleleague.org.

 (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— SACRAMENTO, CA— Recently on the California State Assembly Floor, Assemblymember Chris Holden recognized Gerald Freeny for his confirmation as the first African American president of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Board of Directors. Freeny will provide leadership for the 130th Rose Parade on Tuesday, January 1, 2019.

“Gerald Freeny’s confirmation as President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a significant milestone in Black History,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “Freeny is an example of the Black excellence that occurs every day and exemplifies the progress Tournament of Roses has made to further diversity and inclusiveness within their ranks.”

Gerald Freeny rose through the ranks of hundreds of “white suit volunteers” to become the 130th president of the Association. He previously worked as the chairman of parade operations, and has been a volunteer member of the Tournament of Roses Association since 1988.

Gerald Freeny announced “the Melody of Life” as this year’s theme for the Tournament of Roses to encourage creativity and music as a way to bring people together.

“Many in the Pasadena community have waited and fought for this moment, and we are all excited about the leadership Gerald Freeny will bring to the Tournament of Roses,” said Holden.