Karen Bass

LOS ANGELES, CA – United States Congresswoman Karen Bass, now in her second term representing California’s 37th Congressional District, will continue her steadfast support for innovative job creation and economic development in both the U.S. and Africa, when she delivers a keynote address to a historic assemblage of African business leaders, bankers, entrepreneurs, investors, high-level government leaders and regulatory officials, along with their American counterparts, at the African Global Economic and Development Summit (AGED Summit), which will be hosted by Global Green Development Group (GGDG) at the University of Southern California (USC) from August 7 through August 9, 2014.

Experts agree that Africa is on the brink of an expansive economic growth period.  In recognition of this, the AGED Summit returns for its 2nd year at USC by welcoming Rep. Bass to participate in a unique three-day gathering among a diverse and synergistic group of stakeholders in African economic development, which is profoundly impacting the prospects for job creation and entrepreneurial opportunities in California and elsewhere in the U.S.   As Rep. Bass notes, “Africa is currently home to 6 out of the 7 fastest growing economies in the world and is viewed by investors from Europe, Malaysia, China, India, Turkey and Brazil as a priority region for investment.”  She went on to say that investment in Africa helps Americans as well.  As the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Rep. Bass recognizes that U.S. trade agreements with Africa, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), are “critically important for many reasons. First it supports jobs across the continent. There are some 300,000 jobs attached to AGOA and many of those are jobs that go to African women. If you count the jobs that are indirectly linked to AGOA that number rapidly approaches one million or more jobs.”  Regarding the impact of AGOA in the U.S., Rep. Bass pointed out that, “AGOA can only serve to facilitate greater trade and investment with the United States.  It can be a win-win for both African nations and the U.S. if we truly recognize and seize the opportunity.”

Unique among forums on Africa, the AGED Summit presents an enabling environment, which demystifies the process of doing business in Africa by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, financiers, investment guarantors and other necessary linkages in order to actually position transactions to be structured and completed in a manner that maximizes safety without compromising profitability. “Whether you’re a multinational corporation or a small entrepreneur, everything required to put together a business deal with Africa will be available through the AGED Summit”, says Mary Flowers, CEO of GGDG. This year’s theme is “Walking the Talk”.

Among other outstanding agenda items, the AGED Summit will highlight ways for attendees to tap into the U.S. Government’s “Power Africa Initiative” that has committed over $7 billion to add more than 10,000 megawatts of clean, efficient electricity generation capacity to sub-Saharan African countries. The need is tremendous since the installed power capacity of all of sub-Saharan Africa is less than that of Delaware.  Regarding Power Africa, which she has championed since its announcement last year, Rep. Bass says, “Power Africa and Trade Africa, ultimately are aimed at strengthening the capacity of Africa to trade locally, regionally and internationally.”

REDLANDS, CA- The Redlands Police Department and Micah House, with help from local businesses, churches, community groups and City and County agencies, will give away bicycles and backpacks during a Back2School Jam and Community Resource Fair at Sylvan Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 2. There will be free snacks and music provided for the community.

The giveaway is held in conjunction with the Community Clean Up day from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday, August 1, at a number of neighborhood locations, including Post Street and Brockton Avenue, Cook Street and Cero Court, the Micah House (Oxford Avenue and Brockton), and Second Baptist Church, 420 E. Stuart St. Each participating child or teen giving one hour or more of community service will receive a free backpack and school supplies.

Organizers hope to match last year’s donation of more than 1,200 backpacks and school supplies to children and youth. Donations were funded by various groups including the Redlands Police Officers Association, Trinity Church, Walgreens Stores, Tom McGrath School Supplies, Fox Banquets and Events Inc., Kiwanis Club of Redlands Morning and grants from the Redlands Police Department.  Toyota of Redlands assisted in raising supplies by offering 10 percent discounts on services in exchange for donated school supplies. Sponsors from Music Changing Lives also donated backpacks and school supplies.

Few contemporary albums bare as particular a narrative as The Lagos Music Salon. The new album by the superb chanteuse Somi, finds her breaking new ground with a hybrid style of music that organically integrates the essence of jazz and soul with the musical depth of her African heritage.

The Lagos Music Salon (available Tuesday, August 5^th) marks Somi’s major label debut for Sony’s OKeh Records and features a range of originals that are sublimely melodic, percussively textured.  A socially informed and adventurous vocalist, Somi sings with a soulful beauty about her experiences in Lagos. While there, she kept a journal of her observations and collaborated with a community of musicians, writers and artists who helped her to envision what would become The Lagos Music Salon.

The album covers a broad swath of styles and features a number of carefully matched guest performances. These include a fast-paced groove with Afro-pop sensibilities on the Fela Kuti-inspired “Lady Revisited” with Angelique Kidjo, and a rap-inflected cinematic reflection on Africa’s pollution, “When Rivers Cry,” that features Common.

For more information on Miss Somi, please visit www.somimusic.com.

Monty B. Sharpton a.k.a. Lamont Bonman

TORRENCE, CA- Legends of Motown presents, “Komedy Slamm and Singles Dance”, August 9at 7:30 p.m. This event will be hosted by Monty B. Sharpton from TBN’s Comedy Specials. Featuring comedians from HBO’s Def Comedy Jam; tributes to musical greats like Diana Ross, Al Green, and Lionel Richie; and smooth jazz recording artists from 94.7, this will be a night to remember. Come out to the Alpine Village Center in Torrance, CA as the event will also include free parking! Seating is on first-come, first-serve basis so be early! Dinner is also available and the dance begins at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available now for $25 or $35 at the door. The Singles after party dance (couples welcome) are $5 if you purchase now or $10 at door. Bring your dancing shoes and have a night filled with music and laughter! For more information visit www.alpinevillagecenter.com/events.(By Noelle Lilley)

LOS ANGELES, CA-The Los Angeles office of UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) will step out for students at the 32^nd annual UNCF Walk for Education on Saturday, August 2 at Exposition Park (South Menlo and Coliseum) in Los Angeles. The event, which takes the theme “Building Better Futures: The Value of a UNCF Investment,” is a celebration of education that will bring together an estimated 900 community supporters to raise vitally needed funds to help students get to and through college.

Families, teachers and the community at large are invited to participate in the UNCF Walk for Education.  Participants can walk or run a 5k course. Members of the community are invited to support UNCF and its students by forming a Walk for Education team or registering as individuals. UNCF is encouraging everyone to register early.  

A $60 donation will qualify participants for a 2014 UNCF Walk for Education T-shirt and a $25 donation will qualify all students with I.D. for a 2014 UNCF Walk for Education T-shirt.Honorary Co-chair for the Los Angeles UNCF Walk for Education is Tarrance Frierson, Supplier Diversity and Development Program Manager, Southern California Edison.Event sponsors include Title Sponsors Southern California Edison, Superior Grocers, and Tesoro.  Start/Finish Sponsors include Union Bank of California, UPS, and Xerox.

UNCF Walk for Education participants will also enjoy food, music, a Kids Play Zone and more.For more information on the Los Angeles UNCF Walk for Education or for sponsorship packages, please contact UNCF at 213.639.3800, or visit UNCF.org/LAWalk.

Antonique Smith singer

LOS ANGELES, CA – The YEL Program in association with “Play Well, Live Better!” will be hosting their 9^th annual community Health & Wellness Fair Saturday, August 2 in Los Angeles. The block party will be held at 3747 West Boulevard beginning at 10 a.m.

The event will provide access to health workshops, such as disease preventative services including immunizations, as well as medical and dental check-ups and access to free and reduced cost health insurance for community members that have been unable to access and/or qualify. The fair also aims to inform youth and their families about the importance of health and wellness at all ages through games, interactive activities, panels, and seminars. The fair will provide free school supplies, nutritional and home-cooked meals to all attendees as well, provided on behalf of the Youth Edutainment League (YEL Program).

Founded by Darius Farrelly, The Youth Edutainment League or YEL Program was created after Mr. Farrelly observed youth in the area that were disenfranchised, disconnected and struggling to find a place in their individual communities. Deciding to take the initiative to bridge the gap, Mr. Farrelly created the YEL Program, an interactive after-school workshop that interfaces with young adults to help expedite possible career opportunities in areas that they are interested in; such as sports and entertainment.

Additionally, each year, live performances by some local and celebrity talent grace the stage of the Block Party to provide an exclusive soundtrack to the event. This year performances will include music by the Wylde Bunch, Antonique Smith, Justin Hunt, La Fonz and Tia P, as well as stand-up comedy from G-Thang, and Kevin Tate will serve as the live entertainment for the duration of the fair.

To help donate, sponsor or participate as a partner, in addition to more information and/or media inquiries, please call DF Enterprizes at (213) 380-0457 or send an email to darius@dfenterprizes.com.

Calvin Howard Pierce of San Bernardino passed away on Sunday, July 27, 2014 in Loma Linda, California after a short illness.  He was 85 years old.  Calvin retired from the San Bernardino County Marshal’s Department in 1989 after more than 30 years of service.  At retirement he received the designation of honorary captain.  During his career as a Marshal he also served as a bailiff in the Superior Court system and earned several awards and commendations for improving court system operations. In fact, his initiative resulted in Marshals being assigned department vehicles.  One of the first African American Marshals in the department, he also designed the Marshal’s department badge.  Before joining the Marshal’s department, Calvin was a mechanic for Santa Fe Railroad.

A lifelong resident of San Bernardino, he was born January 11, 1929 to Emmett Caldwell Pierce and Eula Mae Carter, the second of three sons.  He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1947.  That same year he married his sweetheart– the love of his life! – Barbara Pulliams.  To this union three children were born:  Francis, Brenda, and Valerie.

Throughout life, Calvin had many interests including architecture, photography, jewelry making, and beaded walking sticks.  Another of his favorite hobbies was fishing (including deep sea) with his buddies.  He also enjoyed cruising on a motorcycle with Barbara.  A remarkable athlete, he was nicknamed “Windmill Cal” in recognition of his cake walk style of running, which he used to return kickoff returns of up to 99 yards.  He was an award winning sprinter, runner (Loma Linda Lopers), cyclist, and bowler who participated in multiple marathons and tournaments.  A leader and generous by nature, he was a member of San Bernardino Kiwanis.

Calvin was tremendously loved by his family.  He is remembered for his sharp and charming sense of humor.  Calvin was a calming and steady presence in the lives of his family members and friends; and will be always remembered as loving, humorous, and dependable.

Calvin is survived by his wife of 67 years Barbara Pulliams Pierce; three children: Francis Howard Pierce of Grand Terrace, Brenda Joyce Lilly of San Bernardino, and Valerie Ann Futch (Terry) of Grand Terrace.  An adored grandfather, he is lovingly remembered by four grandchildren:  Tiffany Hinton (Glenn), Cherysa Cortez (Jerome), Corey Futch, and Shandyn Pierce; seven great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.  Also left to cherish his memory are his brothers Mr. Tyree Pierce of San Bernardino and Dr. Robert Pierce of St. Louis, Missouri.  He was also a favorite uncle, cousin, and nephew in a large extended family rooted in California, Arizona, and Missouri. Calvin also will be remembered by a host of friends he held dear.

A memorial to honor him will be held Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 10 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1575 W. 17^th Street, San Bernardino, California 92411.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

If you live this life of yours like you are going to live this life forever… then you are playing the fool! If you are duped into thinking that there must be another way to Heaven (even amidst the knowledge of Jesus’ words that He is the “Only Way”)… then you are playing the fool! If you come and go service after service, time after time, all the while God extends His saving grace unto you, and you keep resisting His offer of salvation… then you are playing the fool! If you are deceived into thinking you have all of your life to get right with the Lord… then you are playing the fool! And if you think you can have all the pleasure now and think about eternity later… then you are playing the fool!

Listen, life is filled with choices each and every day. Choices produce consequences, and actions produce reactions. Saul life stands as a warning to us that we cannot rebel against God and get away with it. Your choices and actions will catch up with you—maybe not today, maybe not even tomorrow. But sooner or later, the Bible says, “Your sin will find you out unless you repent.”

I don’t think any of us can comprehend the great conflict right now that exists in the Spirit realm. Nor do we realize how determined Satan is to destroy us. In Ephesians 5:15 Paul tells us, to walk circumspectly. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” He warns the Church to wake up from their dead state. The goal of Proverbs is to impart wisdom…To know wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:1-3.) One way to learn about something is to consider its opposite… Want to understand what is wisdom? Then know what folly is! Want to be wise? Then don’t be a fool!

Peter warned, “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the Devil as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). BEWARE! The devil is out to steal your soul, and he will use any deceit in his arsenal. (2 Cor 2:11) So be warned and be on guard every single day, and if you should fall for one of his devices, repent and turn back to the Lord. Remember the greatest sin is not falling for the devices of the Devil, but the reluctance to turn from it and back to God.

If you’re tired of living your life being hoodwinked, bamboozled, ran amuck, led astray, tricked and trapped, and/or tied of people leading you down a wrong path, do like Paul did and take the scales off your eyes so you can see! Once you start seeing you become a better person than you were before. Things that you use to say, you don’t say anymore. Things you used to think about, you don’t think about anymore. Things that tripped you up, you walk around them, you step over them, and you go under them now. I hear Jesus saying, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy: I come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”

Look, it is a fact that we are all going to slip up in life. We are all going to make mistakes. We are all going to sin. But you don’t want to look back on your life one day and think I threw my life away by the stupid choices I made. The question is, can you learn from your mistakes? Can you say, “That was such a bitter experience, such a hard pill to swallow, I pray that I will never do that again?” If so, you have learned something. Something good will have come out of something bad. But if you go back and do the same thing again and again, then you are falling backward, and ultimately, you are going to play the fool again. Don’t do it! You can’t trifle with God.

Jesus asked this question in Mark 8:36, 37: “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” It is an awful thing to fall into the hands of a sovereign and angry God, who shall consign men to Hell. The rich man woke up, but it was too late. Lots of people are awakened out of their lethargy, but it is too late. He awoke, but it was too late. He came face to face with the inevitable fact that God was taking charge now. “Thou Fool, this night I am going to require thy soul . . .”

Suppose God should say to you, “You have played the fool, and today thy soul shall be required of thee.” What would you do? Where would you spend Eternity? That is the question: Who are you today? Are you a Fool or are you Wise?

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Yesterday, the Rail to Redlands Working Group held its fifth meeting in a continued effort to bring awareness and build public support for the Redlands Passenger Rail Line project.

Committee members heard a special presentation from the Deputy Executive Director John Standiford of the Riverside County Transit Commission and the lessons they have learned during the expansion of their Perris Valley line. “I wish we had formed a working group like this one before we started our expansion,” stated Standiford. “Finding champions such as you have found in ESRI founder, Jack Dangermond is crucial in being successful with such a major infrastructure expansion.”

Supervisor Ramos was pleased to have RCTC present at the meeting. “I think it is important to collaborate with Riverside County in finding common ground on ways to address some of our transportation challenges.  We need to look at our infrastructure needs from a regional viewpoint and work together to find solutions.”

The working group also viewed a short video clip from Mr. Dangermond where he expressed his strong support of the Redlands Passenger Rail Line. This video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PPrhTxpH1s.  Also in progress is the development of a website for the working group as well as social media outlets.

Mitch Alderman, Director of Transit/Rail Programs at SANBAG, provided an update on the status of the rail project.  In the upcoming months, public hearings will be conducted on the Environmental Impact Statement and the Environmental Impact Report where public comment will be requested. More information can be found at http://www.sanbag.ca.gov/projects/redlands-transit.html.

As always, members of the public were able to provide comments and ask questions at the end of the meeting. Ryan Berk, founder of A La Minute in Redlands, was present at the meeting where he offered support for this project. “As local business owners, I feel it is our job to beautify the City of Redlands and bring a sense of uniqueness to attract visitors to our downtown area. I am very much in support of this project and what it will do for our local economy.”

The next Rail to Redlands Working Group meeting will be held on November 13, 2014, location TBD.  To contact the Rail to Redlands Working Group, please send an email to rail2redlandsworkinggroup@gmail.com.