SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Synergy is created when two or more come together to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects.

The District held its second Synergy Day at San Gorgonio High School on Wednesday, March 21.

Synergy Day teaches students how to be more compassionate, build leadership and communication skills and have a greater sense of self. During the daylong event, students learned to create more authentic relationships, so they can unite in a common goal of making their school campus a better place for everyone.

More than 65 students from different backgrounds, social groups and grade levels came together in the San Gorgonio gym to participate in team-building exercises and personal experiences. Students practiced active listening skills, discovered how much they have in common with students outside their usual social circles and most importantly, learned to respect themselves and others in their daily interactions with friends and strangers.

“I hope this small group of students will share what they learned, by word of mouth and by example, with their friends and those students will share it with their friends and take flight to create a positive, long-lasing shift in our school culture for years to come,” said San Gorgonio counselor LaShawn Jackson.

Synergy Days are scheduled for all SBCUSD high schools.

LOS ANGELES, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The Opening Premiere & Cocktail Hour of New Stage Play “Feeding A Monster” was a success as many celebrities walked the red carpet, enjoyed hosted cocktails and smooth jazz by saxophonist Cal Bennett. The premiere & cocktail hour for Feeding A Monster was held on Friday, April 20, inside the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles. Celebrities and guests filled the theater in support of the evening’s theme “Standing with Survivors of Sexual Assault.” Those in attendance included Garrett Morris (The Jamie Foxx Show), Roger Mosley (Magnum P.I.), Glynn Turman (A Different World; House of Lies; Queen Sugar), Ralph Farquhar (Moesha; Married With Children), Rahvaunia (ABC’s For The People), Neko Sparks (The Woods), Ty Granderson Jones (ER), Judyann Elder (Family Time; Martin), John Cothran (Murder In The First), Petri Bryd (Daytime Emmy Award Show Judge Judy), Janeshia-Adams Ginyard (Black Panther), Diana Popick (All Wrong; Criminal Minds), Thomas Wright (Fruitville Station), and many others.

April being Sexual Assault Awareness month, author Veronica Loving and co-author Jazzmine Jackson are using their new stage play to help victims and survivors affected by sexual assault start the road to physical healing. The play is a genius blend of comedy tragedy and lessons they learned along the way. 

April being Sexual Assault Awareness month, author Veronica Loving and co-author Jazzmine Jackson are using their new stage play to help victims and survivors affected by sexual assault start the road to physical healing. The play is a genius blend of comedy tragedy and lessons they learned along the way.

Written by Loving, La Darrion Williams, and directed by actor Art Evans best known from the movie “Die Hard 2,” the play is based on Loving and Jackson’s memoir “Feeding A Monster.” The memoir details Loving’s 21-year marriage to her husband who was a minor-league baseball player. Their marriage took a turn when Loving learned that the man, husband, father and athlete she loved was a sexual assault predator living in her home.

The book is unlike any other book that addresses sexual assault, it follows the dramatic real-life story of authors Loving and Jackson who were victims of a predator who happened to be the husband and father of the mother and daughter duo. The book describes the abuse inflicted by the man who was to protect, love, and keep them safe. The women in this book speak candidly about their personal experience with sexual assault and other issues such as date rape and domestic violence. Cast members include actors Fayley Patrice (playing Veronica Loving), DeJuan Christopher (playing Kenneth Crockom King), Doyin Domingo (paying Jazzmine Jackson), Conisha Wade-Dorsey (playing Rhea), and Andre K. Jefferson (playing Eli).

The play is scheduled to run for one more weekend on April 27 through April 29th at the Hudson Theater, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA.

For show times and tickets, go online to HudsonTheatre.com or call 323-960-4420. You can purchase the book online at Amazon.com.

By Charlene Muhammad | California Black media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Two African-Americans have been appointed to the California Complete Count Committee for the 2020 federal census. Governor Edmund Brown Jr. announced creation of the diverse 25-member committee on Friday, April 13.  The panel of community members will guide outreach to help ensure every Californian is counted in the upcoming census. 

“It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census,” said Governor Brown. 

Regina Brown Wilson of Sacramento brings her skills as executive director and chair of California Black Media, and a former statewide education and faith-based outreach manager for Census 2010. Wilson is a graduate of Wilberforce University with a degree in communications. 

“I thank the governor for getting a jump start on the census and understanding all that is at stake in the form or representation and resources. In particular, the African-American community has been a vulnerable population and it’s my desire to ensure this community and other hard to count communities are informed, organized and engaged for the 2020 Census,” said Wilson. 

Alex Johnson of Los Angeles, managing director at Californians for Safety and Justice, has served as executive director at Children’s Defense Fund-California. He was assistant senior deputy for education and public safety in the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, where he also served as deputy for education and public safety. 

“Honored to be appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as a member of the California Complete Count Committee. This body is tasked with devising an outreach strategy for the 2020 Census and ensuring that ALL Californians are counted by the federal government,” said Jones on his Facebook page.

Johnson was an attorney at the New York City Department of Education and an assistant district attorney in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

Johnson is president of the Los Angeles County Board of Education and a member of the Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network Board of Directors and the Wiley Center for Speech and Language Development Board. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the American University College of Law.  The California Complete Count Committee will be coming together to have its first public meeting in May.

Popular airline begins non-stop service to New York in September

ONTARIO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Ontario International Airport (ONT) officials heralded news from JetBlue that the popular airline will return to ONT this fall, beginning with nonstop service to New York. JetBlue is the third carrier in recent months to announce new service at ONT, the fastest growing airport in Southern California.

“One of the biggest questions we get is when JetBlue will come to Ontario. Now we know that day is September 5,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA). “We can’t wait to welcome JetBlue, its crew members and customers. They can expect quick, easy access to our first-rate facilities and the hassle-free experience for which ONT is known.”

JetBlue will launch its new service with a daily roundtrip to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Flight 355 will depart JFK at 7:12 p.m. local time, arriving ONT at 10:39 p.m. Red-eye service back to JFK will depart ONT at 11:59 p.m. with arrival in New York at 8:24 a.m. JetBlue will serve the non-stop route with 160-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.

OIAA CEO Mark Thorpe noted that ONT has room to grow and that there will be ample opportunity for JetBlue to initiate new routes as the airport adds services and amenities that are popular with airlines and air travelers.

“Ontario is the place to be in Southern California aviation,” Thorpe said. “Domestic and international carriers are quickly seeing the great value ONT provides for their airlines and their customers.”

JetBlue operated at ONT from July 2000 to September 2008. It suspended service as Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the previous operator of ONT, reconsidered its approach to regional air transportation and began emphasizing growth at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The OIAA took control of ONT from LAWA on November 1, 2016.

OIAA Vice President Ron Loveridge said JetBlue’s return is testament to the tremendous growth that’s occurring throughout Inland Southern California.

“This is seen as a region to invest in, and ONT plays a such a vital role in making sure that continues,” Loveridge said. “For business and leisure travelers, JetBlue’s new non-stop service to New York couldn’t come as more welcome news.”

ONT is the fastest growing airport in Southern California with passenger and cargo volumes increasing by 10% and more than 16 %, respectively, in the first three months of 2018 compared with the same period last year. ONT welcomed 4.5 million passengers in 2017, 7% more than the year before.

Frontier Airlines initiated operations at ONT last October with service to its home base in Denver, Austin and San Antonio. Flights to the Texas airports continue to Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, enabling ONT passengers to reach the East Coast without changing planes. In March, China Airlines began daily service to Taiwan, the first trans-oceanic service in ONT’s history.

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Quality Entertainment in San Bernardino is WHAT IT DO! On Saturday, April 28 from 8.m. to midnight, come enjoy comedy, live funk music, Rap and Hip Hop, R&B, poetry, live interviews, a fashion show, shopping, food and drinks.

LUE Productions, along with a few other local entertainment entities, have come together to provide a wonderful evening of entertainment. Our team is all about comfortability. You will feel the positive vibes soon as you walk through the door. Zorbas Lounge is a hidden jewel in San Bernardino.  It’s such a beautiful venue with amazing people helping to run it, like my girl Monibee Henley. The event will be hosted by Comedian Mac Rome and Queen LUE of LUE Productions. 

Make it a date night or a night with friends.

Get your $10 ticket now. Remember they will be $20 at the door. Get there between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and receive a FREE raffle ticket.

A few items we’ll be raffling off include: drinks, Improv tickets, dinner for one drink not included ($10 minimum), BBW/Plus Size Competition ticket for 1 and more.

For more information, please text (909) 567.1000. Until next time L’s!

‘The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth’ presents the authentic, raw truths that men face in their everyday realities

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- How many women empowerment events do you run into? Probably more than you can count, right? Now how many men empowerment events do you come across? Yeah, not that much. When it comes to our men, especially our Black men, there are not many outlets out there that give them a voice. This is why playwright Karen Roberson created ‘The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth’. She wanted to create a space for men to voice their concerns and feelings.

I recently attended one of the rehearsals for the upcoming show on May 19^thand May 20^th, and the rehearsals put me in awe, so I only know that the actual production is going to be remarkable! The writing of this monologue is astounding! Each cast member is in touch with character because they can relate to the stories in their everyday lives. The stories that are in this stage production are REAL and RAW. There is no sugarcoating with this one and it all comes from the male’s perspective.

After the rehearsal, Mrs. Karen Roberson sat down with me where we chatted on her inspirations to bring this creation to life and where she envisions to take it in the future.

What inspired you to write this production?

What inspired me to write ‘The Penis Monologues’ is that I feel like our men lack a platform for them. As I was telling you earlier, I can easily go to a woman’s empowerment situation like almost every weekend. There is nothing going on for our men; there is nothing that they have where they can say, ‘We are a brotherhood, we are together, and we are going to empower each other; and we are going to uplift each other, and we are going to talk about some serious issues so that we can become better.

Men don’t have that. I’m not talking about an every now and then men’s conference, I’m talking about what do they have. And so, with ‘The Penis Monologues’ I hope that I can start a movement; a movement for men. A brand for them.

After the stage production is all said in done, what else do you envision for ‘The Penis Monologues’ or for our men in general?

I would like to do conferences, tours and panel discussions. ‘The Penis Monologues’ goes way beyond the stage.

From being able to witness just a snippet of what to except from the show tonight during rehearsal, I can tell that each male resonated with their character, so for casting how did you pick out each character?  

Well, for Reggie and Idrees, the dual monologues, I wrote those specifically for them. But for casting, I’m the type of person that is a feeler, I like to feel and be moved. If I’m not moved when I’m casting, then you don’t have a job. I need to feel it in my soul and these guys just came in and blew me away!

What can people except from this show? I know you did 6 previous shows last year, which all sold out, so what can we except? Did you had some twists and turns this go around?

I did add some elements of surprise. Every time I do the show I try to elevate it a little bit more. If you are a person that is returning to see the show, you’re going to see something a little different. I just feel like that’s our way of keeping our audience on their toes and looking forward to seeing what we have.

We’re going to take you on a rollercoaster ride! These guys are going to strap you in for an hour and 30 minutes and you are going to have to hear what they say, but I promise you when you [women] leave that you will have a greater appreciation for men, specifically our Black men.

And when men leave, they will feel empowered and knowing that they have a voice and a platform to be heard. That’s what ‘The Penis Monologues’ is about.

How can people get tickets?

People can get tickets at thelonghardtruth.brownpapertickets.com. They can follow us on social media @thelonghardtruth on Instagram and Mahogany Girl Productions on Instagram and Facebook. You can also get tickets from the website at mgproductionsllc.com. All the information is there on the website and you can also read up on the cast and you can see what upcoming events that we have.

But listen, I want Uncle Steve Harvey to see this. I need my Aunty Oprah to see this and I just need some heavy hitters to really rally behind me to help get this on the global platform where it needs to be. If the Vagina Monologues became huge like it was, I know clearly that the messages that we’re sending can spread like wildfire!  

Can you see yourself making a film from ‘The Penis Monologues’?

Yes, I do! We are in talks about film. I would love to speak with Showtime, HBO or Starz to do an actual special. I’m excited. There is no limit to what we could do. We’re going to take it to the stage, to the big screen, to the community—everywhere that it needs to hit the people, so they can be changed, uplifted and empowered. That is where this message needs to go.

As we wrap things up, I know you said this is the first play that you have done, so how was it being behind the scenes as the director and writer than from being in the spotlight? Which one do you like better?

I know right! I really like this side because I feel like, don’t get me wrong I love acting and I love singing as well but when you become the playwright and you become the creator, now I have the voice, the control and the creativity to create the things that I want people to hear and see. So, I’m really like that and it has inspired me to continue to create other content to keep bringing the people. You can always except it REAL and RAW.

I feel like it’s easy to have those feel good conversations, right? But what about the long-hard truth? What about those uncomfortable conversations that no one needs to have? So, you can always except me to keep it REAL.

Awesome. I’m looking forward to more!  

The show is on May 19 and May 20 at Cal State Dominguez Hills where I’m an alumnus of their theater department, so it’s always fun bringing my stuff home and allowing the community to come out. We don’t always have to go to Hollywood to see good quality stuff. I can put my stuff in the hood and let them come and be blessed by it as if we were anywhere else.

I’m happy that it is at Dominguez. We’re going to have a good time. Come ready! All I can say be ready for an unforgettable ride.

‘The Penis Monologues’ features: Tobyus as ‘Angry Penis’; Lamont Young as ‘Broken Penis’; Samuel Simmons as ‘Devoted Penis’; Lucky Conner as ‘Loving Penis’; Marwan Granville as ‘Disappointed Penis’; Louis Kameron Jack III as ‘Empty Penis’; Reggie Myles as ‘I Don’t Penis’; Idrees Degas as ‘I Do Penis’; DeJuan Christopher as ‘My Penis Matters’; and Mike Strong as ‘Erotic Penis’.

The show premieres Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 at 5 p.m. at California State Dominguez Hills Theater located at 1000 E Victoria Street in Carson. Tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/PenisMonologuesLA. For more information, please call (310) 291-5315.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The SB Pastors United will be hosting another Community Block Party on Saturday, April 28. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Highland Pacific Elementary School located at 3340 Pacific Street in Highland.

“We are bringing God back into our schools and community,” Reginald Young explains. “The Pastors in Unity and solidarity is taking a stance against violence on our youth and in our community. We invite the community to come out and join us.”

There will be free food, free groceries, free shoes, free clothes and free health checks. There will also be a life-saving message by Bishop Ernest Dowdy of Church of the Living God, as well as powerful gospel music, dancing and good fellowship, face painting, free prizes, much fun! 

The SB Pastors United will also be in attendance at the San Bernardino 2018 State of the City address, on Friday, April 27 at the SB International Airport. Along with two other agencies, SBPU will be recognized for making a difference in the community. 

SBPU has been devoted to making a difference in the lives of the residence in the City. You are invited to come out and see what’s going on in your city and be a part of the solution. Let us join together in unity and solitary; let’s not just talk about it but be about it.

 “It’s going to take the whole village to turn our community around.  SBPU is here to help make a difference in our community by providing “Healing, Change and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino. Good things are coming out of San Bernardino,” Young said.

Please preregister by phone, email or visit www.sbpastorsunited.org. To volunteer call (909) 353-7977.  

Lou Coleman-Yeboah

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Talking ‘bout you sorry, and you ain’t going to do it no more!  Just be honest. You like getting high. You like drinking. You like fornicating; committing adultery. You like the way Sin makes you feel. Going around singing, “Ooh, baby, baby…  The way you make me feel, you really turn me on. You knock me off of my feet.  I’m in ecstasy. I bet you are! But I got news for you Mr. Feel Good. “Thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourself for nought” [Isaiah 52:3]. You have traded your soul for nothing!  You have come up empty! “Oh, I say and I say it again, Ya been had! Ya been took! Ya been hoodwink! Bamboozled! Led astray! Run amok!” [Malcolm X 1992]

You know when Lysimachus, king of Thrace, was very thirsty he offered his kingdom to the Getae for a drink of water. After he had drunk he said, “Ah! Wretched me, who for such a momentary gratification, have lost so great a kingdom.”  Esau who traded his soul for fleeting pleasure, sold his birthright, which included not only material benefits and family privileges, but spiritual blessings as well, for a bowl of soup. It says that “he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way” [Genesis 25: 29-34; Hebrew 12: 16-17]. He didn’t have a second thought about what he had done. He did it, it felt good, and only much later did he come to regret it.

How applicable this is to him who, for some earthly pleasure, loses conviction of sin, conversion, and the Kingdom of Heaven! Selling your soul for very little, for mere trifles, for nothing of value! For one bowl of pottage, a momentary gratification, a few moments of pleasure. The truth of the Bible is that sin may bring short-term pleasure, but it always brings long-term misery and pain. What great consequences are sometimes connected with little actions. For one morsel of meat, for one sin, under certain circumstances, Heaven is given away, and the soul is forever lost in the bargain.

Listen, every day you’re trading your life, your soul, for something. The question is, For what?When it’s all over and you’ve cashed in all the time and abilities which have been allotted to you, what will you have to show for it? If you trade it in for fleeting pleasure, to gratify your immediate needs, you’ll come up empty. But if you trade your life for God’s kingdom and righteousness, to fulfill His purpose, you’ll be satisfied with that which no one can take from you.

Paul reminds us that the stories God includes in the Old Testament are there to help us avoid making the same mistakes (I Corinthians 10:11-12). No matter how temporarily enjoyable and satisfying any sin is in that moment, it cannot begin to measure up to the eternal rewards of God’s birthright promises. Sin is pleasurable but only for a time and that time is passing.  What then? “The wages of sin is death.” [Romans 6:23]

Trading your soul for what? Don’t do it!

^” For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [2 Timothy 3:2-7]

LOS ANGELES, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Betty LaMarr, Founder and President of EmpowHer Institute, is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with B-STEM Project, a national organization that focuses on engaging young girls and women in business and STEM-related disciplines across various industries. 

On Wednesday, April 25, EmpowHer will host the Girls to Greatness Mentor to Inspire Summit.  The goal of this Summit is to motivate students by exposing them to different career opportunities in various industries. Professional women from diverse industries and companies, including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Southern California Gas Company, United Parcel Service (UPS) and Microsoft, will serve as mentors for the day. The Summit will include a full day of activities for 300 middle and high school students including one-on-one conversations with mentors, an interactive STEM project facilitated by B-STEM, panel discussion and Mentoring Luncheon with Keynote Speaker, Los Angeles’ First Lady, Amy Elaine Wakeland.  

“We’re so excited about all the work B-STEM Project is doing. While many STEM programs focus solely on developing computer science skills, they create a gateway into the entire business of the STEM ecosystem,” said Betty LaMarr. 

“If we are to make a dent in the STEM talent gap, we need to mentor and guide young women now.  Organizations need to make it a priority to level the playing field for women and to deliver top-down support and institutional accountability,” said LaMarr.

“It’s not enough that young girls learn to code nor is it realistic that every girl has an interest in pursuing computer science related careers. However, at B-STEM Project, we believe that all girls need to understand and be confident in their knowledge of STEM disciplines to become successful in the 21st century marketplace,” said Tracie Ponder, Founder, B-STEM Project

This year’s sponsors include: JP Morgan Chase, US Bank, UPS, Microsoft, Quest Diagnostics, Lawrence Livermore, Perry Foundation, Bergman, Dacey, Goldsmith, So Cal Gas, VACO, Frontier Communications, Information Management Resources, Inc. and AMC Theaters.  For sponsorship contact Betty LaMarr, President (310) 574-9181 or info@empowher.org.  For more information on the Girls to Greatness Mentor To Inspire Summit visit our website www.girlstogreatness.org.

EmpowHer Institute 

EmpowHer Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2003. EmpowHer Institute’s mission is to empower marginalized girls and young women by giving them the skills necessary through education, training, and mentorship to enable them to become confident, college and career ready. To learn more about EmpowHer Institute, visit our website www.empowher.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

B-STEM Project
B-STEM Project is designed to educate young girls and women about the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math in business and everyday life. We take an interdisciplinary approach by integrating STEM into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real world application in all professional industries. To learn more about B-STEM, visit our website www.bstemproject.org or email info@bstemproject.org.  B-STEM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Legislators and education advocates came together at a press conference Wednesday, April 11, to show support for a bill that they believe will help fix how education is funded for one of the lowest performing subgroups. Advocates say there was a flaw in the five-year-old law that overhauled how education funding is appropriated to school districts through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF).

Assembly Bill 2635, authored by Assemblywomen Shirley Weber, would target $350 million towards struggling school districts. Many of these districts educate California’s black student population which has historically failed to meet grade-level proficiency in math and reading and perform right above special education students.

According to a press statement, AB 2635 drives equitable funding for California’s lowest-performing subgroup to students not currently receiving funding under LCFF. Additionally, this bill demands greater accountability from both school district and charter school recipients of these supplemental funds over the education outcomes of the lowest performing subgroup.

“We cannot look the other way anymore. African-American kids in California persistently fall behind academically,” said Weber. “And this problem is not limited to low-income students either. Parents have been patiently waiting for something to change, but it has not. Providing additional resources for the lowest-performing students is now no longer an option, but a necessity.”

 Data provided by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and presented to the California Legislative Black Caucus shows the majority of African-American students performed well below state standards. Legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 allows school districts to direct increased funding to failing students in four categories.

“About 260,000 (76 percent) receive a supplement under LCFF because they are low income, foster children or homeless, or English learners,” according to the California Department of Education web site.

Under AB 2635, districts could see possible increases: Los Angeles Unified would receive $50 million, Oakland Unified $12.6 million, Long Beach Unified $10.6 million, Pasadena Unified $7 million, San Francisco Unified $6.2 million, Sacramento City Unified $5.3 million, and Inglewood Unified $4.8 million, according to the press release.

“Our students are the most likely to be disciplined and suspended than any other student as shown in various studies linking to implicit biases and damaging stereotypes,” said Sen. Steve Bradford, vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, “because of this, and their lack of access to the adequate school resources, the future for our next generation looks grim, unless we take meaningful action. We cannot allow African American students to be left behind any longer.”

Students marched in front of CTA to support AB 2635

 Young people have joined the fight to improve the education system.  Students recently took to the front of the California Teachers Association in Sacramento chanting “schools not prisons,” “support AB 2635” and “don’t watch us fail.”

 “We’re here telling them (CTA) to be in support of AB 2635, and don’t watch us fail” said Nailah Dubose, a ninth-grade student at Fortune High School.

CTA sent a letter to Weber, the author of AB 2635, expressing their shared goal for the bill, but highlighting concerns and marked it as a bill CTA will “watch”.

 In the letter CTA wrote:

“We share the goals of this legislation—to provide additional resources to school districts to help close the achievement gap for our lowest performing students. However, we are concerned that as currently drafted, AB 2635 will not meaningfully increase resources to serve our lowest performing students and may have unintended consequences.”

However, speaking at a press conference Margret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune School, called for unity among the education community. She noted that the California Charter Schools Association is often on opposite sides of policy debates and acknowledged California School Board Association’s support for this legislation. Fortune invited all of the education coalition community to join in supporting students that were left out of the LCFF funding.

“The students in the most need are the ones that equity demands that we give support. Isn’t that the reason the Local Control Formula Funding was created in the first place?” Asked Fortune.

AB 2635 passed out of the Assembly Education committee and now heads to assembly appropriation.

Link to full press conference

Student protest CTA video link