WASHINGTON – Dr. Ben S. Carson, Sr. was sworn in today as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).   Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office with Secretary Carson’s wife Candy and granddaughter Tesora holding the bible.  Secretary Carson will now lead a abinet agency with approximately 8,000  employees and an annual budget totaling more than $40 billion.

Among his first actions in his new role, Secretary Carson plans an ambitious listening tour of select communities and HUD field offices around the country, beginning in his native Detroit.

“I am immensely grateful and deeply humbled to take on such an important role in service to the American people,” said Secretary Carson.  “Working directly with patients and their families for many years taught me that there is a deep relationship between health and housing. I learned that it’s difficult for a child to realize their dreams if he or she doesn’t have a proper place to live, and I’ve seen firsthand how poor housing conditions can rob a person of their potential. I am excited to roll up my sleeves and to get to work.”

For nearly 30 years, Secretary Carson served as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a position he assumed when he was just 33 years old, making him the youngest major division director in the hospital’s history.  Dr. Carson received dozens of honors and awards in recognition of his achievements including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He is also a recipient of the Spingarn Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Dr. Carson has written nine books, four of which were co-authored with Candy Carson, his wife of 41 years.  Together, they co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund, which celebrates young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments. The Fund has recognized more than 7,300 scholars, awarded more than seven million dollars in scholarships, and installed more than 150 Ben Carson Reading Rooms throughout the United States.

Born to a single mother with a 3rd grade education who worked multiple jobs to support their family, Secretary Carson was raised to love reading and education.  He graduated from Yale University and earned his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School.  He and his wife are the proud parents of three adult sons and three grandchildren.  Read Secretary Carson’s full biography.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- In an effort to increase the peace and decrease the violence and to restore hope in the City of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Pastors United will be having another Community Block Party. The purpose of the gathering is to let the community know that the Churches are here for them and to let the community know that hate will not define us, and love conquers all. 

On Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. all roads lead to Jefferson Hunt Elementary in San Bernardino. Dr. Joshua Beckley of Ecclesia Christian Fellowship, will be the special guest speaker, Local area churches The Way World Outreach, ICUC, Life Changing Ministries, Victory Outreach Church, First Baptist Church, Kingdom Culture Worship Centre, 16th Street SDA, San Bernardino SDA, Westside Christian Center, Spirit of Love, Catholics of African Descent, COPE, Life Center Church, Lifeway Church, Church of the Living God, Out of the Pulpit Ministries, and many other churches Unite the City.

SBPU is expecting over 3000 in attendance as we give away Free food, free groceries, free shoes, free health checks.  We are asking the community to join us as we bring:  “Healing, Change, and Progress” to the City of San Bernardino, for more information call 909-353-7977 or email sbpastorsunited@gmail.com. Thank you for showing that San Bernardino is still Strong.

Bryon Tillman

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Westside Story Newspaper would like to thank “Byron Tillman Transport,” for providing the transportation that delivered toys to many children doing the holidays. It is people like you that make the world a better place.  Thank You!

By Lue Dowdy

From Cali to Texas, Grim Reality Entertainment took to the road. Guess what? LUE Productions artist MACK PEPPERBOY joined the tour for the last three shows. The tour host  was Comedian, BRETT AS IS, so you know it went all the way up! With his Cali sound mixed with that New Orleans flavor, Mack Pepperboy delivered knockout performances in Riverside, North Hollywood, and Sacramento.

Finally leaking hits off his new project “IT’S THE PEPPERBOY,” like “GET IT,” “LITT,” and “ON THE BLOCK” had the audience rockin! Our team is extremely proud. We believe that Mack Pepperboy has a lot to offer to the entertainment game. Fans will be able to hear what he’s been cooking up in the booth at CHEF MUSIC STUDIOS, located in the Victorville under the production of CHEF GEO.

No wine is served before its time and it’s TIME. MERCH will be available soon! Please follow our artist on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, and our LUE Productions Reverberation page under MACK PEPPERBOY. We appreciate the support! Until next week L’z.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA- Sacred Sistahs, Inc. will host its 9^thAnnual Shero Awards Recognition and Scholarship Fundraiser: “Embracing the Call to Serve” on Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Praise Fellowship Church located at 592 7th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

Sacred Sistahs will honor several outstanding African American women who have significantly impacted the lives of others in the community including the Honorable Cheryl Brown, former Assemblywoman, publisher, and small business owner, Dr. Gloria Morrow, an author and one of the nation’s leading clinical psychologists, and La’Nae Norwood, Founder and Executive Director at United Nations of Consciousness.

Sacred Sistahs will also honor three high school seniors who have completed the rites-of-passage program with a scholarship including Sheba Jennings of Summit High in Fontana, Gye’Nyame Maat of Rancho Mirage High School in Rancho Mirage, and Raihanah Medlock of Grand Terrace High in Grand Terrace who each will receive scholarships at the start of their fall semester in college.

Sacred Sistahs, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to empower, serve, and improve the overall health, well-being, spirit, and vitality of African American and African women and children by nourishing and elevating the mind, body, and spirit.

For information on how to register, please contact Dr. Tonia Causey-Bush at (909) 910-7564 or  visit www.sacredsistahsinc.org/news_and_events.

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D – Sacramento) today named children’s advocate Tamika L’Ecluse as the Assembly District 7’s 2017 Woman of the Year.

Ms. L’Ecluse was born in Sacramento and raised by a single mother. After graduating from high school, she enrolled at American River College in hopes of earning an Associate degree in Science, but later shifted her focus to Early Childhood Education, and attended Sacramento City College. In 2006, she completed her early childhood education certification through the National Center for Montessori Education.

Ms. L’Ecluse became active in her community and social causes at an early age. Following generations of women who took active roles in civil and women’s rights, she began her advocacy campaigning against Proposition 22 (marriage inequality) in 2000. She also became a respected advocate for reproductive health options for women, gender equity, LGBTQ rights, children’s rights and anti-violence measures. Her advocacy has most recently focused on supporting healthy growth in her community by empowering parents and school officials to promote positive discipline practices.

After thirteen years of teaching in Early Childhood and Early Kindergarten, she joined the Greater Sacramento Urban League as a program manager, working toward reducing African-American child mortality in the Oak Park community of Sacramento. Ms. L’Ecluse has served as board member, Vice President and President of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, serves on the Board of Directors for the California Montessori Project, is an appointed member of the Sacramento Promise Zone Resident Council and is an active voice for community members who seek social justice, smart growth, and inclusive practices for all.

“Tamika L’Ecluse is a bright light in the Sacramento region, giving inspiration and hope to people in our community and throughout the 7th Assembly District,” said Assemblymember McCarty.  “I am pleased to honor Ms. L’Ecluse for her commitment and dedication to help students maximize their potential, to build a strong and diverse workforce and to improve the lives of residents throughout Sacramento County.”

The Woman of the Year event was created in 1987 to recognize March as Women’s History Month and to individually celebrate the contributions and unique accomplishments of women in each of the Assembly’s 80 districts.

The 2017 Woman of the Year event took place in the Assembly Chambers of the State Capitol on Monday, March 6, 2017.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Social Lites are an impressive group of women from various professions who have steadfastly dedicated themselves to the youth in the Inland Empire Community.  Over the last 50 years, the Social Lites have made many worthwhile contributions to the needs of the community through various charitable enterprises.

The Social Lites Inc., Scholarship Foundation of San Bernardino will present their 50^th Annual Beautillion Ball, on Saturday March 11, 2017 at the National Orange Show, 689 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408.   The Beautillion Scholarship Program is an event geared to recognize and honor young men within the Inland Empire striving toward greater accomplishments in academic achievements.

The theme for the 2017 Beautillion Scholarship Program is  “Men of Tomorrow Pushing Forward”.  This year the young men have demonstrated personal, business growth, development, and community presentations.   The six young men vying for the title of Sir Knight 2017 are Christopher Fulton of San Gorgonio High School, Akil Cooper, Jonathan Rodgers, Julian Houston, and Steven Henderson, all four Knights attends Cajon High School, and Vonte Walker of Arroyo Valley High School.   They all have participated in various seminars and workshops including Strategic Planning/Goal Setting, Cultural Proficiency, Social Justice, Self Determination, and Business For Profit and Non Profit sessions and the Black College Expo.

The young men have experience the value of community service through donations of holiday food baskets, donations of Christmas bicycles to the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino, also they have participated and volunteer as an usher at the Christmas Kwanzaa Event, the Martin Luther King Breakfast Event, and the 2^nd Annual BCCIE Black History Super Expo.   These young men have canvassed the community soliciting support through the sale of ads from family, friends, church family, and businesses throughout the Inland Empire.   The ads generated for this year Beautilion Scholarship Ball will provide funds for scholarships and gifts to be awarded on the night of the Beautillion Scholarship Ball.

This is strictly a “Formal Attire” event, the no host social hour beginning at 6:30pm and the presentation of these young men will begin at 8:00pm.   For more information, go to www.sociallitesinc.net or contact Lisa Blacksher, Beautillion Chairperson at lisasocialites@gmail.com or Bettye Brewster, President at (951) 204-0022 or bettyebrewster@yahoo.com, and Joyce Smith Vice President at 909-534-2929

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

You really do need to kneel before God your Maker and appeal to Him for His mercy and forgiveness; because no one born of God makes a practice of sinning. [1 John 3:9]. What’s wrong with you? Claiming to be born again when your life contradicts it.  I tell you there is nothing more damaging, nothing more hurtful as when a person who has been forgiven of sin continues to sin.  Dragging sin where ever you go. Dragging it into the Church. Dragging it into your home. Wearing it around your neck on display. You are really slipping into a lukewarm, careless, presumptuous frame of mind about your own sinfulness. It worries me that many of you are living double lives. I want you to know that Jesus despised the double-mindedness of the religious rulers of His day. In [Matthew 23:27–28], He said, “Woe to you…….you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which looks beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”Repent before it’s too late!  Paul informs us that “these times of [past] ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” [Acts 17:30]. I tell you to live a double life is a discredit to God. Repent before it’s too late! Christianity is not a sinning-repenting religion. It’s a victorious religion. There should be a place where you quit your sinning. Shame on you!

I want you to know that Sodom and Gomorrah were two of the most reprehensible cities known to man.  They were so filled with sin that God could no longer hold back His wrath.  He sent two angels to warn Lot and his family to leave before the destruction of the cities.  “The angels told Lot and his family, “Escape for your life.  Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley.  Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” [Genesis 19:17].  Lot understood and obeyed.  He took his wife and daughters out of the city.  He tried to get his future son-in-laws to flee too, but they thought he was joking.  When they were out of the city, Lot’s wife could not resist the temptation to sin and look back.  Immediately “…she became a pillar of salt.” [Genesis 19:26] Don’t be a fool! Warning comes before destruction. Lot’s wife lost her life because she couldn’t let go of sin.  Scripture is clear: Any compromise with the world, whether in doctrine, morals, or relationships, has disastrous consequences. You better know that you know.  The godly reaction to sin is to recognize it from Scripture, to mourn over it, and to confess it without excuse to the God of mercy. Choose your position – whom will you follow?

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit….” [Ephesians 5:8-18]

Ed Gordon

Bounce and Omnicom Media Group held their second annual Black History Month event to discuss diversity in media and the progress that has been made in recent years. An intimate group of 150 advertising and media professionals and press gathered at the Omnicom offices in downtown Chicago for a discussion centered around the theme of “Recognizing Progress in Diversity.”

A heartfelt keynote speech was delivered by CNN commentator Angela Rye, followed by an insightful panel discussion moderated by veteran broadcast journalist and Bounce newsmagazine show host Ed Gordon. The panel discussion featured panelists Dana Bonkowski (Starcom Chicago), Latha Sundaram (Omnicom), McGhee Williams Osse (Burrell Communications) and Ronnie Dickerson Stewart (Digitas).

Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.

For more information on Bounce and Omnicom Media Group visit bouncetv.com and omnicomgroup.com.

By Lisa D. Kelly

Jerome is a man on a mission! His goal is to use his sultry singing voice as an instrument that will “bring joy through music,” especially to the senior generations.

On his newly released CD, Songs for You Vol. 1, Jerome has written an original song dedicated to seniors called the “Seniors Anthem,” in which he states, “All I want to do is say to you how much I care.”

Having grown up in Newark, New Jersey and raised by his grandparents, Jerome developed a love and appreciation for a generation of people that had devoted their lives to serving others but who are now often overlooked.

After singing the “Seniors Anthem” at a senior facility in Claremont, California, a lady once approached him with tears in her eyes saying, “It feels so good that somebody really cares about us.” Knowing that his music is indeed making a difference, Jerome continues to serve as an “Ambassador” who “will always make time to include Seniors, so they are not forgotten or neglected.”

In August 2015, Jerome Dean was presented with the Certificate of Recognition Senior Citizen Ambassador Award, given to him by L. Dennis Michael Mayor of Rancho Cucamonga, California, for his “commitment and dedication to serve and brighten the day and lives of our treasured Senior Citizens.”

To see more testimonies about the work Jerome is doing and to hear his songs, please visit his website at www.jeromedean.com, or go to www.soundsofsunrise–?entertainment.com.