LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL— Talk show host Tamron Hall kicked off Black History Month at Walt Disney World Resort on Saturday by leading her family on a festive day of Disney fun along with “Celebrate Soulfully” offerings, culminated by a jubilant parade at Magic Kingdom Park.

Hall, known for her work as a TV talk show host, journalist and author, served as the grand marshal in the parade down Main Street, U.S.A., that featured Disney characters, energetic music and cheering guests.

Hall and her family also experienced the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction, met Princess Tiana and posed for photos with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, as well as Disney cast members.

The parade marked the start of Black History Month celebrations at Walt Disney World, where guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” with a vibrant mix of music, art, entertainment and food throughout February and beyond.

• Four Black artists are showcasing their work this month at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, a celebration of artistic expression. The artists appear on various days through mid-February. Also, several Black artists are performing onstage at America Gardens Theatre during the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series on select nights during the festival.
• The Disney Springs Art Walk features colorful murals by Black artists that celebrate Black culture and expression, including a new mural by Washington D.C. – based artist Brandon Hill that debuts this month.
• Throughout Walt Disney World, there are food and beverage items from Walt Disney World’s “Celebrate Soulfully” menu, which feature classic comfort foods prepared by a diverse group of Walt Disney World chefs, such as blackened salmon and peach cobbler.
• And guests can always interact with a variety of popular and diverse Disney characters, such as Princess Tiana at Magic Kingdom, Ariel from the live-action story “The Little Mermaid” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Asha at EPCOT.

Like Hall, guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” throughout the month and all year long through a wide variety of ticket, dining, and hotel options as well as promotional offers for families. More information is available at www.DisneyWorld.com/offers.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA–– For the past three weeks, staff members from the San

Bernardino Animal Services Department have been assisting their counterparts in Los Angeles following the devastating fire that hit the Pacific Palisades and Malibu areas.

On January 15, the City received a formal request for animal control assistance from the City of Los Angeles in response to the Palisades Fire.

The San Bernardino Department of Animal Services joined teams from Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Mission Viejo by sending animal control officers to the area affected by the fire to search and rescue pets and wild animals that were lost, left behind, or injured.

“Helping other jurisdictions in need following a disaster is not only the right thing to do, but our staff gain crucial skills that can help San Bernardino’s residents if something were to happen here,” said San Bernardino Animal Services Director Kris Watson.

City of San Bernardino Animal Services Supervisor, Arianna Gonzalez, Lead Animal Control Officer, Eduardo Alvarez as well as Animal Control Officers Patrick Galvan, Jasmine Torres and Estevan Barajas worked in shifts travelling to Los Angeles to assist in the effort.

“Seeing the devastation was heartbreaking and the conditions were difficult, but locating lost pets and returning them to their grateful owners was very rewarding,” said Animal Services Supervisor Arianna Gonzalez. “The appreciation from local residents, including comedian Jay Leno, made the hard work worth it.”

The Animal Control officers would start the day with a list of addresses and pet owners hoping to either find or receive an update on pets they had to leave behind.

In one case, the San Bernardino team was able to let a relieved homeowner know that the 28 fish in one of her koi ponds had survived the fire. Although her house was destroyed, staff were able to locate and evacuate the fish from the disaster area, and they are now recovering in a pond at DreamWorks Studios.

“She was so happy that their fish were ok,” added Gonzalez. “It gave them hope in what was a terrible situation. The City of San Bernardino will be reimbursed for staff time by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer John Salley was the Grand Marshal of the 46th Annual San Bernardino Black History Parade and Festival on Saturday, February 1. making a memorable appearance alongside this year’s Black Rose Award winners.

“It was an honor to participate in the San Bernardino Black History Month Parade. Whenever I can celebrate the lives and accomplishments of Black individuals, I do so with pride. This parade allows me to honor past visionaries and those actively advocating for our rights today,” said Salley.

The San Bernardino City Police Department proudly led the annual parade with its dedicated motorcycle officers, showcasing their commitment to community engagement and public service.

The Department’s esteemed Mounted Unit joined the procession, adding a unique touch to the event. Police Chief Darren Goodman participated by driving a striking convertible Corvette, symbolizing leadership and community spirit. Captain Nelson Carrington also contributed to the festive atmosphere by cruising in a convertible Corvette.

The parade celebrated our community, emphasizing safety, unity, and the invaluable service provided by our police officers.

Parade coordinator Russel Ward noted, “Five marching bands performed during the event. The Cardinal Marching Band from San Bernardino High School led the parade, followed by San Gorgonio High School, Indian Springs High School, and Arroyo Valley High School marching bands, who concluded the parade and directed everyone to Arrow Vistas High School for the festival.”

Last year’s Black Rose Award winner, James Baker, designed an exceptional float. The float featured Grand Marshal Salley and his daughter, alongside Black Rose Award winners: Dr. Shene Bowie, Dr. Teri Davis, Elizabeth Cochrane-Benoit, Dr. Arlington Rodgers Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles “Chuck” Singleton, Richard Wallace, Lawrence Hardy, and Deborah Franklin.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

If you haven’t already done so, get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW to keep yourself safe from the impact of what is about to happen. Maximum readiness and an immediate response is required. Be vigilant. Dangerous times are imminent and inevitable. Follow the advice of the Almighty God. Repent NOW before it is TOO LATE!

The Bible makes it very clear that there is a time coming when you won’t be able to be saved. [Hebrews 12:17]. Do not to take for granted the grace of God. These are the End Times, the Time of Great Tribulation, when God will pour out His wrath and judgment on an unbelieving world. The Bible says God will give them up. They will curse God as they are being scorched with hailstones. [Revelation 16:9-11]. They will try to hide from His wrath in vain, they will seek death, but death will flee from them. [Revelation 9:6]. This is GSWS – the Official God Severe Warning Service. Follow the advice of the Almighty God. Repent NOW before it’s TOO LATE! Don’t gamble with your soul. God hand is outstretched, find grace in the eyes of the Lord today.

For thus saith the Lord, If you do not repent, when you spread out your hands in prayer, pleading for My help because of your rebelliousness and stubbornness, I will hide My eyes from you; I will not be listening. It will be too late! [Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 8].

Don’t be like Belshazzar. [Daniel 5]. When Belshazzar saw the writing on the wall, he realized that judgement had been declared. It was TOO LATE! That night Babylon fell, and Belshazzar was slain. The Bible records his trembling, his fear, his knees smote together in terror. He found no place of repentance, he found no mercy, he found no grace. God was done with him forever. You think you have all the time in the world to decide. Not so! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. [James 4:14]. The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. [Mark 1:15]. Repent NOW!

In Genesis, when the angels came to Sodom, judgment had already been declared. Their fate was sealed. The angels came to save Lot and destroy the city. All the inhabitants were dead men walking even before the angels arrived in Sodom.

The longsuffering of God in Genesis with the old story of Noah. The invitation to be saved and avoid judgement was extended for many, many years. But one day, the offer was withdrawn. It was over, even before the raindrops began to fall, before the fountains of the deep were broken up, before there was any sign of the impending deluge. One can only imagine the icy hand of terror which took hold of their hearts as the rain fell and the water exploded up from underneath. Pleading to be let in. Noah, Noah, let us in! Noah, Noah, we believe you now! The door was shut forever. They took God’s grace and longsuffering for granted.

The sheer terror of realizing one having refused God one too many times. Listen, if God did not spare the angels, nor Sodom, God will not spare this current world. [2 Peter 2:45; Genesis 18:16-33; Romans 11:21]. God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]. Don’t delay coming to Christ. Satan whispers “some other time”—but the Bible says, “NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation.” [2 Corinthians 6:2].

Jesus says of those who refuse to be saved, “These shall go away into everlasting punishment and be lost forever.” [Matthew 25:26].

God has commanded you to repent. [Acts 17:30]. Surrender your life to Jesus immediately and be saved. [Revelation 3:19]. If you do not, know that He has bent His bow and made it ready. [Psalms 7:12] and you shall go away into everlasting punishment and be lost forever. [Matthew 25:26].

This is GSWS ? The Official God Severe Warning Service – State of Alert! Defcon 2! God’s Army is ready and prepared.

Like the boy who cried “wolf,” the people dismiss God’s warnings. They say, “Time passes on, but these threats never happen.” They felt quite justified in ignoring the Word of God because they thought it would be no downside for disobedience.

To this God says “Enough.” He will withhold their punishment no longer and will fulfill all that He said. There will be no more delays. [Ezekiel 12:21-28; Revelation 10:6; Jeremiah 30:24].

Defcon 1 – War is imminent!

Though “they sought for it with tears”, they discovered that no matter how “sorry” they were, like Esau, “there was no place for repentance” — it was too late. [Hebrews 12:17].

COLTON, CA— On January 30, 2025, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) awarded Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) with its Gold Beacon Award for Excellence. The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this award with gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

The Gold Beacon Award for Excellence, earned by ARMC’s 4-North Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), signifies an effective and systematic approach to policies, procedures and processes that include engagement of staff and key stakeholders; evaluation strategies for continuous process improvement; and performance measures that meet or exceed relevant benchmarks. The 4-North team earned a gold award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

• Patient Outcomes
• Work Environment
• Nursing Workforce

Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call (800) 899-2226.

PASADENA, CA— In a heartfelt tribute to the brave emergency workers who battled the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Jelly Roll headlined a benefit concert at the iconic Rose Bowl. The free event brought together an impressive lineup of artists, including Public Enemy, Marshmello, Lainey Wilson, and many others, all uniting for a common cause.

L-R Latrice Kristine, Eugene Weems, Tycoon62 raising funds for LA wildfire victims.

The concert served not only as entertainment, but also as a platform to honor the first responders who faced the devastating fires head-on. Attendees were treated to powerful performances while also contributing to a noble cause.

Among the special guests was World Heavyweight Champion Eugene V.I.P Weems, who engaged with the crowd, emphasizing the importa

nce of community support. Singer-songwriter Latrice Kristine and rapper Tycoon62 also made their presence felt, promoting their charity single “Burning Memories,” which aims to raise funds for wildfire victims through its accompanying music video.

This event followed another benefit concert held on January 30 at L.A.’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, where Jelly Roll shared the stage with an array of renowned artists, including Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Katy Perry. The performances captivated audiences and raised significant funds, with all proceeds directed to designated beneficiaries supporting those affected by the wildfires.

The fundraising efforts were broadcast and streamed widely across various platforms, including Apple, DirecTV, Disney+/Hulu, and more, ensuring that the message of support reached as many people as possible.

As communities continue to recover from the impact of the wildfires, events like these highlight the power of music and solidarity in helping those in need.

By Good Black News

Born in 1875 in Virginia to formerly enslaved parents who were never taught to read and write, Carter G. Woodson often had to forgo school for farm or mining work to make ends meet, but was encouraged to learn independently and eventually earned advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard.

It was at these lauded institutions of higher education where Dr. Woodson began to realize these new educational opportunities for Negroes were potentially as damaging as they were helpful, if not more so, as much of the curriculum was biased and steeped in white supremacy.

In 1916, Dr. Woodson helped found the Journal of Negro History with Jesse E. Moreland, intent on providing scholarly records and analysis of all aspects of the African-American experience that were lacking in his collegiate studies.

As Dr. Woodson researched and chronicled civilizations in Africa and their historical advancements in mathematics, science, language and literature that were rarely discussed in academic circles, he also criticized the systematic ways Black people post-Civil War were being “educated” into subjugation and self-oppression:

“The same educational process which inspires and stimulates the oppressor with the thought that he is everything and has accomplished everything worthwhile, depresses and crushes at the same time the spark of genius in the Negro by making him feel that his race does not amount to much and never will measure up to the standards of other peoples. The Negro thus educated is a hopeless liability of the race.”

In 1926, Dr. Woodson began promoting the second week of February as Negro History Week. He chose this week in February intentionally, as it overlapped the birthdays of abolitionist activist Frederick Douglass (February 14) and President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) aka “The Great Emancipator.”

Supported and cross-promoted by several African American newspapers in the U.S., recognition and celebration of Negro (or African-American) History Week was slowly adopted through state departments of education (eg. Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia) and in city schools (eg. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City).

Dr. Woodson spent decades advocating for excellence in the education of Black students and demanding school systems across the U.S. eliminate curricula designed deliberately to “mis-educate” Black children while promoting the fallacy of white superiority.

In 1933 he published a collection of his articles and speeches titled The Mis-Education of the Negro (available to read for free in the public domain), spreading his message and mission for unbiased and expansive education even further.

“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it.”

By the time Dr. Woodson died in 1950, a significant amount of mayors across the U.S. supported and acknowledged Negro History Week.

By February 1969, more than a decade into the Civil Rights Movement and less than a year after the assassination of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students and educators at Kent State University proposed the first Black History Month — then celebrated it in February 1970.

Six years later, after meeting with civil rights leaders Vernon Jordan, Bayard Rustin, Dorothy Height and Jesse Jackson, as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebrations, it was President Gerald Ford (a Republican!) who officially acknowledged and co-signed the significance of Black History Month for all U.S. citizens:

“In celebrating Black History Month, we can take satisfaction from this recent progress in the realization of the ideal envisioned by our founding fathers. But, even more than this, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

So, even though this year the current administration has dusted up a pause on the celebration of Black History Month within federal agencies (don’t let the doublespeak of a Proclamation fool ya), Dr. Woodson’s good and lasting work of a lifetime will continue to be acknowledged, shared and celebrated this year, on its official centennial next year, and for all time — for the people, by the people.

Sources:

• https://goodblacknews.org/2022/02/02/gbn-daily-drop-podcast-carter-g-woodson-the-father-of-black-history-listen/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/us/politics/trump-holiday-mlk-black-history-dei.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/history-of-black-history-month.html

RIVERSIDE, CA—- Master horseman, Mike Jones, will be riding and performing stunts and tricks at the Charlie Sampson Rodeo, which will be held on June 28, 2025, in Norco, California. Charlie Sampson and other Black cowboys and cowgirls will be appearing in the Riverside Black History Parade and Expo in Downtown Riverside on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and the Expo begins at 11a.m.  The public is invited to meet Charlie and take pictures with him and his horses, as well as pet the horses, and request an autograph from Charlie. Charlie’s crew also will hold a drawing during the Expo to give away some free tickets to the June Rodeo!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino County, in partnership with the San Bernardino County Equity Element Group (SBC Equity Element Group), has retained the firm of Equity & Results, a multiracial learning organization expert in supporting organizations in advancing racial equity and liberation through institutional change. A co-principal and co-founder, Theodore B. Miller, Esq., leads the engagement.

“The SBC Equity Element Group is tasked with determining where there may be racial disparities among our residents in San Bernardino County, recommending campaigns and programs to address those issues, and identifying initiatives that are already underway within county government or in the community that can be highlighted and supported,” said San Bernardino County Assistant Executive Officer Diana Alexander.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis. It tasked the county with forming an equity group to represent the 11th element of the Countywide Vision.

Discussions that led to the declaration and equity group were inspired by the national conversation taking place in the wake of the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The SBC Equity Element Group comprises Black community members who can review the other 10 elements of the Countywide Vision with an equity focus. Eventually, the group will grow to include representatives from other county communities and include an equity focus for all people.

Miller brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in tackling equity issues within the Black community. With more than 20 years of experience, he has dedicated himself to developing community and neighborhood solutions for some of the world’s most challenging problems.

An expert facilitator and educator on racial inequity and social change for Equity & Results, Miller has taught in university, criminal justice, corporate, and community environments worldwide.

Previously, Miller was recently a senior advisor to three consecutive mayors in San Francisco and the director of HOPE SF, the nation’s first large-scale partnership to transform dilapidated and segregated public housing neighborhoods into vibrant, racially equitable, mixed-income communities without mass displacement of residents.

Many long-standing underserved families, especially African Americans and Pacific Islanders, have found new ladders of opportunity thanks to Miller’s efforts. This has come through significant investments in mixed-income housing, fostering community leadership and resident voice networks, and enhancing education, health, and employment services.

A graduate of  Yale University and Harvard Law School, Miller was inspired in college by the youth residents of New Haven, Connecticut, where he worked as a community organizer and mental health counselor.

Throughout his career, he has advised and led businesses, universities, hospitals, and elected officials in urban areas nationwide to redesign policy, create new collaboration models, and achieve dramatically better results for low-income communities of color.

Before his appointment to the Mayor’s Office by the late San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Miller managed community benefits for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, was a corporate attorney at the firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, a commercial broker and real estate developer, and a lecturer and Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African American Research at Harvard University.

Miller has served on the San Francisco Bar Association’s Board of Directors, lives in Oakland, and has two daughters.

For more information on the Equity Element Group, email Info@SBCEEG.org.