Publisher’s Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

Due to last minute complications at the 777 Allen Street venue, the WssNews presentation of “World Class Jazz at 777” scheduled for this Saturday, August 15, featuring the legendary Barbara Morrison has been cancelled.  The venue, the 777 Community Warehouse, recently held a “Save the Warehouse” fundraiser. Apparently under financial pressure, the site manager, Willie Walker, demanded a last minute upfront fee from WssNews in addition to the original income sharing agreement. The fee demand was a deal breaker because paying it would have guaranteed a financial loss for WssNews. We have supported and continue to support 777, and we hope that they can continue operating. We are disappointed that our desire to present a world class show is sidetracked. We are sorry to disappoint the jazz lovers who were looking forward to a world class show.

WssNews will continue the quest to bring “World Class Jazz” to the IE! We thank and apologize to those of you who have purchased advanced tickets to the Barbara Morrison show. We appreciate your support; however, we are in the act of returning your money to you!  If you have not received your refund by the time this is published please call WssNews at (909) 384-8131. If you have any suggestions about bringing “World Class Jazz” to the IE, write me at walleniv@yahoo.com.

Meanwhile you can still hear Mr. Anthony Garcia play spontaneous jazz every Sunday morning on my “Empire Talks Back” radio show. Anthony, while performing the duty of “Mood Master”, plays his bass guitar throughout the talk show. ETB airs at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings on KCAA 1050-AM radio and streams live video via www.kcaaradio.com.

By Naomi A. Riggins

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Charter schools were created in hope of improving the  public school system and offering parents another public school option to better meet a child’s specific needs. Charter Schools were built on the belief that public schools should be held accountable for student learning. In exchange for this accountability, school leaders have the freedom to do whatever is academically necessary to help students achieve success.

The Newman Leadership Academy Charter School has raised the expectation of public school and education standards by fostering partnerships between parents, teachers, students and the community.  Newman Leadership Academy has accredited teachers with smaller class sizes creating individualized instruction, additional academic support and intervention programs. They have hands on training and education in state-of-art technologies and enrichment activities such as basketball, cheerleading and gardening. Newman Leadership Academy has before and after school childcare and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to the students in the after school program.  Please contact the school office regarding space availability. Applications are available online. The NLA is located at 1314 E. Date Street, San Bernardino, 92404. For more info, visit www.newmanleadership.org or call (909) 881-1100. The academy is also currently seeking Teachers and Recreation Aides
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Yolanda Holder

By Yolanda Holder

I walk with experience and I speak from the heart. Losing both my parents to this horrible disease, diabetes, is why I walk EVERY day. Diabetes is a silent killer and 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, 13.2% of African Americans have diagnosed diabetes and the risk is 1.7 times higher compared to non-Hispanic whites. I watched both my parents suffer with type 2 Diabetes and my mom most recent. Three years ago my mom had a massive stroke and passed away.

My name is Yolanda Holder aka “Walking Diva” and I power walked my way into the Guinness Book of World Records not once but twice for the “Most Marathons in a Calendar Year”. I am the first African American to walk or run over 100 marathons in a calendar year and the first woman in the world to ever do it twice but that’s not my biggest accomplishment.

After losing my mom to diabetes complications I wanted to spread the word about Walking & Your Health this is how “Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes” was born. 3rd Annual Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes Gold Coast Challenge will start at beautiful Laguna Beach and end at the famous San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.

It will take me 15 days and over 525 miles. The past two years I was able to raise awareness and funds for American Diabetes Association and this is my biggest accomplishment! Walking is the world’s oldest exercise and today’s modern medicine it has so many health benefits and its easy and very simple to do. I’m also on a quest to set a GWR I’m walking 26.2 miles (marathon distance) or more daily for 365 days. I started January 1, 2015 and today is day 222 consecutive days.

Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes Laguna 2 San Francisco August 24 – September 7, 2015 to be a sponsor or donate visit my website www.yolandaholder.com. You may follower my journey on Facebook Yolanda Holder or athlete page Walking Diva.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Why want you go sit down somewhere! I tell you there are just some people you can’t tell anything. Their minds are like steel traps, tightly shut and difficult to open. They have their mind made up and they’re not going to change for you, me, or even God. That’s pretty much the situation we discover in Jeremiah 44. Jeremiah warned the people that God was upset with their behavior… their response: “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD!” [Jeremiah 44:16].  They had made up their minds. They like what they were doing and they had no intention of stopping for Jeremiah or God.  Many people today tend to think that they are the ones in charge of their lives. They call the shots. They make the decisions. And God is left out of the picture, “It’s my life and I can live it the way I want to. If I wanna do this or that then I’m gonna do it and no one’s gonna stop me!               ”

Let me tell you something; God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. He wants to be quick to bless and slow to wrath. He doesn’t want to go to war with you! You are living on borrowed time and borrowed strength. You better know that you know! You can turn against God and fight or you can turn to Him and be forgiven! But what you don’t want to do is go to war with God because you will surely loose.  [Jeremiah 4:5-6:30]. Now there are two consequences in life – You Can Attend the Feast or You Can Attend the Funeral [Proverbs 9].  Attending the Feast – Wisdom spreads her table for those who enter her house. She strengthens them, she satisfies them, and she sustains them. She gives them all they need for now and for the future. The same is true for the person who chooses the way of God over the way of the world. He spreads His feast for us as we pass this life, 1 Cor. 2:9, and He promises us that we will have a home with Him in His heaven forever, John 14:1-3! Now Attending the Funeral, that’s a whole different story. The context and the contrast. While the wise man goes off to enjoy the feast, the fool goes off to endure his funeral. This truth is vividly illustrated in Proverbs 7:5-27. This is the lot of the fool! Living this life to the full with sinful pleasures, but with no preparation for tomorrow! Fool, God says, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36.

Now Proverbs 14:12 tells us that: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Seems like it’s right, seems like it’s good, but leads to death. That’s man doing it his way.  I want you to know that sin is the transgression of the law of God: it is doing things your way instead of God’s way [I John 3:4]. Now God has all wisdom and He has revealed it to us; but if you insist on doing things your way know that you will reap the consequences. Warnings do come before destruction. Consider yourself warned! You better read about Israel. When Israel rebelled against God, He responded by giving them over to their enemies for punishment. The Bible says He “sold” them. This word means to “turn over; to give up”. In other words, God abandoned them to the life they chose for themselves. You should know that they paid a terrible price for their rebellion, Judges 5:6-7. They were literally driven from their highways and their homes. There is always a high price to pay for disobedience to the will of the Lord. When you choose your ways over God’s ways, you can expect His displeasure. He will send chastisement into your life, Heb. 12:6-11; Deut 8:5; Rev. 3:19. Do not be deceived! God will not be mocked. If you choose to do things your way expect God to touch your life in ways you will not like. Your life can be hell before going to hell if you ignore or reject God’s Word [Pr 13:15; 22:5].

In Genesis chapter 27, four people chose to do it their way. Isaac did things his way by trying to bestow the family blessing on Esau, in opposition to God’s revealed will. Esau tried to take back what he had already sold to his brother Jacob. Rebekah deceived her aging husband into giving the blessing to her favorite son, Jacob. And Jacob lied to his father and outsmarted his brother. They all did it their way, not God’s way. In the end they all came up empty and paid a high price for their selfishness. You see, every person in life has a theme song entitled, “I Did It My Way” or “I Did It God’s Way.” You would think that the lines would be clearly drawn: Every person outside of Christ would sing, “I Did It My Way” every Christian would sing, “I Did It God’s Way,” but I find that many who profess to believe in Christ are really just living for themselves, often using God as the means to self-fulfillment. But Genesis 27 teaches the principle that …When you seek your own way, you never get what we want and you will always pay a high price. So, don’t do it… Don’t do it your way… Do it God’s way… for there are great rewards and blessings promised to us by God if we will just do it His way.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

Ann Clark and Michael

Ann Clark of Rialto doesn’t consider herself a foster care parent as much as a parent to many teens in need over the years. The high school vocational education coordinator and her husband, Michael, a logistics worker, are currently parenting four adolescent girls in their home through Knotts Family Agency.

“It’s very challenging but at the same time it’s very rewarding,” Clark says. “You are able to instill the qualities and values that you would on your own children. What you expect of your own children, you expect of them also.”

Knotts, a foster care and adoption services agency in San Bernardino, will honor the Clarks and other parents at a jazz and wine tasting fundraiser from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 15 at Edwards Mansion in Redlands. The other honoree foster care parents are Deborah Martelly of Highland, Belita Foster of Rialto and Jeannette and Charles Howard of San Bernardino.

Proceeds from the annual fundraiser will help support the Knotts Family Agency Educational and Cultural Enrichment Initiative. The program exposes over 75 foster care youths in the Inland region to fun and educational activities, from Magic Mountain to math and science camps.

More than 2,500 individuals and families are served each year by Knotts Family Agency, which was founded in 1992. They receive critical support for resilience, mental health, care coordination, parenting, youth mentoring and leadership development, financial and environmental literacy and job training.

CEO Gwen Knotts says that education positively changes the direction of a young person’s life. “We really emphasize that with education and tutoring, we’re hoping to change the outcomes when the youth are emancipated or transition back to their biological family.”

Knotts provides social services to foster care families and stay in constant contact during the child’s stay. “They really go the distance to make sure these kids have what they need,” Clark says.

For tickets to the Knotts Family Agency jazz and wine tasting fundraiser, contact Sandy Oquin at (909) 880-0600. Tickets are $50/$65 at the door. Table sponsorships are also available.

Thanks to a new partnership with desertFIAT, 9th–12th graders with perfect attendance for the 2015–2016 academic school year have the chance to win an array of incentives from iPods, iPads, scholarships, up to a NEW 2016 FIAT 500.

It’s a Gas to Go to Class is a school attendance program designed to motivate students. Now in its fifth year in the High Desert, It’s a Gas to Go to Class is coming to San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD). Thousands of students attending District high schools returned to school on Monday, August 3 and heard about the program on the first day of classes. 

Pacific High School students were among the first in the District to see the new car on Monday, when representatives from desertFIAT visited the campus to introduce It’s a Gas to Go to Class. In the coming weeks desertFIAT will visit every District high school to encourage students to maintain perfect attendance.

“Giving students an incentive to be in school has made a tremendous, positive impact in the High Desert, where It’s a Gas to Go to Class started,” said Billy Mack, Director of Sales at Victorville Motors and desertFIAT. “When students miss school, they miss critical instruction time that cannot be made up,” Mack said. “That impacts teachers who have to spend extra time with the student.” 

It’s a Gas is expected to help SBCUSD significantly improve its high school attendance rates, which have been increasing in recent years. Last school year, about 1,500 high school students had perfect attendance. 

The program is a win-win. Higher student attendance means more state funding for SBCUSD, but most importantly, it means students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school. According to the National Association of Secondary School Principals, research shows that missing 10 percent of the school year—or 18 days in most districts—correlates with academic trouble.

For more information about the San Bernardino edition of It’s a Gas to Go to Class, visit www.desertFIAT.com/itsagasSB.htm.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- It was through Steve Jefferson’s work with many illiterate children that he recognized a need for this awareness. The mission of the Urban Literacy Project, a California non-profit organization, is to help close the literacy achievement gap with low performing youths. Many schools across the country are experiencing a high number of students that drop out. Dr. Jefferson believes improving literacy can be the catalyst to change.

The National Buy A Kid A Book Day will be launched in 4 states, California, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia. We are asking people to purchase a book for a child on or before August 31^st, 2015. Our goal is to have 10,000 books purchased for children on that day.

Dr. Jefferson is a graduate of University of Southern California’s (USC) International Public Policy Management Program and has a Doctorate in Education from the University of La Verne. His experience in education ranges over 30 years and has provided workshops for many school districts in the Los Angeles area on differentiated instruction and building literacy with children reading at basic and below basic levels.

Anyone interested in participating in the day to buy a kid a book should sign up on our Facebook Event Page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1607931622815005/ or email us at the urbanliteracyproject@gmail.com. People can buy a child a book on or before August 31^st. The child can be a friend’s child or relative.

Let’s get exited about literacy and learning again! For more information please contact: Steve P. Jefferson, Ed. D.,  urbanliteracyproject@gmail.com

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Last week, Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) and other local officials took the “Ice Bucket Challenge” to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that renders patients unable to use their voluntary muscles. Those afflicted with ALS, including 300,000 people in the United States, lose their ability to walk, talk, move, and breathe. Assemblymember Brown took the challenge in honor of her husband, Dr. Hardy Brown, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2002. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is held annually in August until a cure is found.

AGED Summit Brings Decision Making Africans to Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA- President Obama visited Kenya to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit — a gathering of over 1,000 entrepreneurs from around the world, convening to discuss how small business, with an emphasis on technology, will drive Africa’s economy forward.

This was a meeting that attracted the senior leadership of companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, General Electric, etc. Africa is home to five of the ten fastest growing economies in the world, and Nairobi is considered the Silicon Valley of Africa.

The African Global Economic Development Summit (AGED) will also focus on the African Nations who are the world’s fastest growing economies…  But you don’t need to go to Africa to participate. AGED takes place August 6, 7 & 8 in Los Angeles on the USC Campus.

The Third Annual African Global Economic & Development Summit (AGED) is focused on Africa’s fastest growing economies. It will highlight what is driving them, and how Americans can engage in trade and find prosperity on the mighty continent of Africa. The summit will explore Africa’s fastest growing economies from 2013 to 2015. Africa is home to eleven top GDP producing nations among the World’s Top Twenty Fastest Growing Economies.

The Summit will disclose and highlight the African Nations which have, or are undergoing regulatory reforms to provide an enabling environment and solid footing for foreign investment. The African Global Economic Development Summit assists Americans to uncover and access the hidden investment opportunities in Africa.

The AGED Summit, a comprehensive Africa-focused business event, annually brings business and government officials from African nations to California to showcase their trade-ready projects in need of technical and investment partners. Financial institutions and investors are prepared to offer funding support.  Government entities offer export assistance, and information on public initiatives to help Americans do business in Africa. During the Summit, immediate business matchmaking between U.S. and African businesses occur because the event provides businesses functional access to contracts and potential African partners. Opportunities exist for micro-enterprises, small businesses, multinational corporations and global conglomerates. Financing is available on site. Business representatives in the United States will have a rare opportunity to connect with Africa, right here in America. This event puts decision makers in the same room. Some deals will be made and many doors will be opened!. Follow-up activities include trade missions to Africa, logistical assistance and excursions to local project development sites.

For more information and registration, visit www.agedsummit.com.

Diva’s Basement (Photo Credit: John A. Castro)

By Naomi K. Bonman

It was definitely a night to remember! One that each artist in the Inland Empire will hold dear to their hearts and never forget. LUE Productions made musical history in San Bernardino, and in the Inland Empire as a whole. The first annual Indie Artist Award Show, which was held on Saturday, August 1 in The Sports Center at The National Orange Show, was a phenomenal success. It was definitely a great kick-off to roll into the end of summer!

Each artist that performed truly brought their A-game and executed their talents on stage as if they were the Grammy Awards. Some artists that stated that they didn’t want to put their award down to perform because they were appreciative to receive the honor of making great music and grinding day and night in the studio. This is the stepping stone of seeing their hard work pay off.

Speaker Junkiez (Photo Credit: John A. Castro)

The evening started with a red carpet and networking affair. Each indie artist and business representative were escorted on the red carpet with their team and loved ones suited and booted in the best attire. During this hour there were also a few pre-performances and a fashion show presented by LUE Productions models. This hour concluded with a countdown to the award show.

The recipients that were recognized this year included: Yung Miss, Nya Banxx, Carl Fontaine, Aaron Swift, Teknik Yung Prospect, Official Bizz, Dunamis L1019, Imon, Gwapp Fam, T-Bone, Paul Douglass, Justified Smith, Hannibal Lec, Yung Muuisk, C Dub, Speaker Junkiez, Cali G, Lowla Scott,

LUE Productions models (Photo Credit: John A. Castro)

and Mack Pepperboy. In addition to the artist award recipients, there were special community recognitions of individuals and companies that received “The Allen Award” for their hard work, dedication, and commitment that they do within the community. These individuals were: Wallace Allen of the Westside Story Newspaper, Monivision TV, Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce-Inland Cities, Mike C a.k.a. The Guru of the I.E., The Real dirty Birdy, and Bigg Dee.

Surprise awards were given to Talon “Lata” Wilson Sr., Naomi K. Bonman, and Comedian Anthony Stone. They were given awards for their commitment and dedication to their contributions that make in the community, as well as to LUE Productions. To celebrate everyone’s success there was a after party where Lil Mike Tyson of THAD and LUE Productions models Faith and Cassandra hosted. Radio Base turned out the night during this hour.

If you missed out this year, mark your calendars to for Saturday, August 14, 2016. Follow LUE Productions on Facebook to keep updated with upcoming events.

Lue Dowdy (LUE Productions Founder) and Navarre Bell and Tammy Martin-Ryles of the Black Chamber of Commerce-Inland Cities (Photo Credit: John A. Castro)