“Mental Health Friendly Communities” event kicks off a new statewide initiative in San Bernardino County, harnessing the power of the faith community to address stigma and discrimination.

WHAT: The stigma and discrimination faced by African Americans with mental health concerns will be addressed at the San Bernardino kickoff of Mental Health Friendly Communities (MHFC). The event brings together mental health consumers, providers, and faith leaders to foster the faith community’s important role as a center of support for African Americans. MHFC is being introduced in four regions across California including San Bernardino/Riverside, Sacramento, Solano and Kern counties. It provides culturally focused trainings and resources that dispel misconceptions about mental illness, provides skills for faith leaders as first responders, and speaks directly to the mental health needs of African Americans. The MHFC initiative is administered by CalMHSA, which is funded by the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63).

WHY: A statewide survey of more than 2,600 respondents reports that “72% of African-American mental health consumers and family members across California believe it is appropriate for the public mental health system to address spirituality as a part of mental health care.” Studies show that many African Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental illness but don’t seek help because of fear of judgment, isolation and discrimination. Additionally, mental illness has long been a taboo subject among African Americans and the result is that serious needs for support and treatment often fail to be recognized and addressed.

WHERE:  INGHRAM COMMUNITY CENTER, St. Paul AME Church, 2050 North Mt. Vernon St., San Bernardino, 92411

WHEN: Saturday, June 14, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Program begins at 9:00 a.m.)

WHO: The MHFC Training Team, faith leaders, mental health consumers and community leaders are available for interviews throughout the program.

About CalMHSA

The Mental Health Friendly Communities program, administered by CalMHSA, is funded by the voter approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63). The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. CalMHSA operates services and education programs on a statewide, regional and local basis. For more information, visit www.calmhsa.org.

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) released the following statement in support of President Barack Obama’s new action to help millions of student loan borrowers better manage their debt.

“Our economy is weakened when a generation of college graduates is burdened by large amounts of student loan debt,” said Rep. Negrete McLeod.  “This is why I agree with the President’s new plan to help millions of people across the country pay off student loan debt. We must make college more accessible and affordable for the sake of our nation’s economy and its future.”

The executive actions the president took earlier this week will allow millions more borrowers to better manage their student loan debt, directing the Department of Education to expand the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) program.   PAYE enables student loan borrowers to cap their loan payments at 10 percent of their monthly income.  The new rules will open the PAYE program to borrowers who are currently ineligible because they have loans that originated before October 2007.  The administration estimates that these new rules will mean that an additional five million borrowers can cap their monthly student loan payments in relation to their income.

In addition, on Saturday, President Obama urged Congress to pass the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act (H.R. 4582; S. 2292), legislation cosponsored by Rep. Negrete McLeod that would help 25 million borrowers nationwide refinance their existing federal and private student loans to lower interest rates, similar to those that are currently available to new student loan borrowers. In total, American families would save around $55 billion under the legislation, which they can then reinvest in their local economy.

“I urge House Leadership to bring the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act up for a vote.  Passage of this legislation would help millions of struggling borrowers pay back their student loans at reasonable accommodations,” concluded Rep. Negrete McLeod.

Learn more about the Bank on Students Emergency Refinancing Act here.

Cajon High School is holding a blood drive to benefit LifeStream on Tuesday, June 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each blood donation can help save a life with their blood and raise funds for the Cajon Cowboy football team. Blood donors must be at least 15 years old. Those under 18 years must have permission from a parent or guardian. Cajon High School is located at 1200 W. Hill Drive in San Bernardino. For more information, call Audrey Reisenhofer, Associated Student Body director, at (909) 881-8120. For more information about LifeStream, visit https://www.lstream.org.

THE GRAND OPENING of “THE CLUB, an Interactive theatrical production, invites the community out this Father’s Day, June 15th from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to watch the production. This event will be presented by DeVeaux Entertainment., Sun Lion Productions. and Generations Model Company at the Historical Landmark, Maverick’s Flat, 4225 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles (90008). It features acting, modeling, comedy, poetry, live art, singing and dancing.

The theme is set in 1978 with icons such as Ike and Tina Turner (Ikkor and Felice LeVair), Diana Ross (ALLJAHe), and several others who will be sharing their stories of overcoming adversity on their road to success. This is an interactive, comedic play where guests are encouraged to come dressed in 70’s attire as they blast to the past in this 70’s Theme Production.

The Maverick’s Flat is a  theatrical caravan of 45 cast members performing for One-Night-Only! Tickets start are $20 ($15 in advance). For more information, call or text DeVeaux at (323) 445-8277.

Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier

The greatest gift is not being afraid to question

Husband and Wife, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

Before there was Will and Jada Smith, there was Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. The two of them were a formidable force within the performing arts and civil rights movement. They were the master and mistress of ceremonies at the 1963 March on Washington, and Mrs. Dee was friends with the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  In rewards for her great achievements she was awarded with the Frederick Douglas Award in 1970 from the New York Urban League, and that’s just a little of all that she accomplished.

The arts and civil pioneer paved milestones for others who would soon follow in her footsteps, and for that she will always be remembered and acknowledged. She was called to rest peacefully at her New Rochelle, NY home on Wednesday, June 11 at 91-years-old.

The award-winning actress definitely lived a full and accomplished life. She had a seven-decade career which included several victories on stage and on screen. She was best known for co-starring in the film A Raisin in the Sun (1961) and the film American Gangster (2007), which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In addition to that nomination, she was also the recipient of Grammy, Emmy, Obie, Drama Desk, Screen Actors Guild, and Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Awards, as well as the National Media of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.

“I’m crushed by this bad news and I know Ruby has already been embraced in a warm loving hug from her life partner of 57 years — Mr. Ossie Davis. It has been one of my great blessings in life to work with two of the finest artist and activist — Ruby and Ossie… The both of you told us ‘to always do the right thing.’ — Spike Lee

Other entertainment achievements by Mrs. Ruby Dee included:

• Joining the American Negro Theater as an apprentice where she worked with Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte and Hilda Simms.
• Her first onscreen role was in the That Man of Mine in 1946.
• She received national recognition for her role in the 1950 film of The Jackie Robinson Story.
• In 1965, she performed in lead roles at the American Shakespeare Festival as Kate in The Taming of the Shrew and Cordelia in King Lear, becoming the first black actress to portray a lead role in the festival.
• In the 1960s, she appeared in politically charged films such as Gone Are the Days and The Incident, which is recognized as helping pave the way for young African-American actors and filmmakers.
• She was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, winning once for her role in the 1990 TV film Decoration Day. She was nominated for her television guest appearance in the China Beach episode, “Skylark”.
•  She appeared in Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do the Right Thing, and his 1991 film Jungle Fever.
• On February 12, 2009, Dee joined the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College orchestra and chorus, along with the Riverside Inspirational Choir and NYC Labor Choir, in honoring Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday at the Riverside Church in New York City. Under the direction of Maurice Peress, they performed Earl Robinson‘s The Lonesome Train: A Music Legend for Actors, Folk Singers, Choirs, and Orchestra, in which Dee was the Narrator.

Ruby Dee’s achievements within the civil rights movement included:

• She was a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
• In 1963, Dee emceed the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 
• She was inducted into the New Rochelle Walk of Fame which honors the most notable residents from throughout the community’s 325 year history. She was also inducted into the Westchester County Women’s Hall of Fame on March 30, 2007.
• In 2009 she received an Honorary Degree from Princeton University.

“Standing on the shoulders of your legend and Forever grateful for ur impact on this world and my life Miss #RubyDee. Rest on High.” — Tony winner Billy Porter.

Herbie Hancock

Internationally renowned pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock, will deliver this year’s commencement address for the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Commencement takes place at 4 pm at Dickson Court North (Perloff Quad) on the UCLA Campus.

A 14-time Grammy Award winner and Professor at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music’s Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Hancock has been an integral part of every jazz movement since the 1960s. Born in Chicago, he began playing piano at age seven. As a member of the Miles Davis Quintet, Hancock became one of the pioneers of modern jazz improvisation. His recordings during the ’70s combined electric jazz with funk and rock sounds in an innovative style that influenced an entire decade of music. In 1983, “Rockit,” from the platinum-selling Future Shock album, won Hancock a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental. He received an Academy Award in 1987 for Best Score, honoring his work on Round Midnight and in 2007, Hancock became the first jazz musician in 44 years to receive a Grammy Award for Album of the Year for his 47^th studio release, River: The Joni Letters. As UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, he established and co-chairs International Jazz Day, which is celebrated in every country around the world each April 30. Hancock also serves as Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

“We are absolutely delighted and deeply honored that the great Herbie Hancock will be our commencement speaker this year, ” says Daniel M. Neuman, Interim Director, Herb Alpert School of Music (former Dean of the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost).

This year’s graduating class includes 386 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from across the School’s six academic units: Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design Media Arts, Ethnomusicology, Music and World Arts and Cultures / Dance. The ceremony is open to the public.

For more information, visit UCLA Arts and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Joyce Fairman (wearing white, center) and Members, Hearts of Color, Inc, Board of Directors.

By John Coleman

Following near-fatal, ‘unusual-to-rare’ heart disorder, Joyce Fairman determined to find out everything possible about what went wrong with her heart; what complicated her surgery and other treatments;  and what information is now available to help people to be as heart healthy as possible.  She founded Hearts of Color, Inc. to help publicize availability of information, support,  and other resources for people  before and after experiencing heart disease.

Although focusing on the special needs and risks affecting women of color’s heart and  other health conditions, Ms Fairman’s web site includes men’s health issues as well.

To fund it’s program, Hearts of Color, Inc. recently held it’s monthly fund-raiser breakfast at the Applebees Restaurant in Highland.

Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod with the 2014 35th Congressional District “Public Safety Officer of the Year” honorees.

MONTCLAIR, CA – Today, Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Montclair) recognized public safety personnel throughout the 35th Congressional District at her annual “Public Safety Officer of the Year” event in the city of Montclair.

“The purpose of this event was to identify and award those who work every day in keeping California’s 35^thCongressional District safe,” said Rep. Negrete McLeod.  “They are sworn police officers, firefighters or supporting staff who have one thing in common which is all those honored have made a commitment in serving  their communities. “

Nominations were submitted to Rep. Negrete McLeod’s office by local police and fire chiefs, administrative staff, and members of the community.  The public safety personnel selected for this award were:

Silviane Canaff Evans
Management Analyst
Chino Police Department

Officer Alex Courtney
Chino Police Department

Lieutenant Orbelio “Obie” Rodriguez
Fontana Police Department

Officer Eric Ruziecki
Montclair Police Department

Pamela Martinez
Nurse Administrator
Ontario Fire Department

Corporal Larry Bonomo
Ontario Police Department

Steven R. Chavez
Firefighter Paramedic
Los Angeles County Fire Department

Angela Haddad
Emergency Dispatch Supervisor
Rialto Police Department

Corporal Gregory Marquez
Rialto Police Department

Deputy Corey Reveles
San Bernardino County
Sheriff’s Department

Kellie Hoverman
Firefighter Engineer and Paramedic
San Bernardino County Fire Department

“I applaud their service, dedication and hard work in our community,” concluded Rep. Negrete McLeod.

ONTARIO, CA- All county departments, community and faith based organizations, and community members who are interested in gaining knowledge on Suicide and Bullying as a universal topic and on a multi-cultural dimension in an effort to increase awareness are invited to come out to the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum being presented by the Cultural-Specific Committees of the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) in partnership with Riverside – San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.

The forum will include keynote presentations by Dulce Peña, JD, MAOD, MA, PCC; Arnold Thomas, MSW; and Patti Cotton, MA, MAOD, PCC. Along with the keynote presentations,  ten culturally specific breakout sessions and a treatment based suicide and bullying awareness panel.

The purpose of the Suicide and Bullying Multi-Cultural Awareness Forum is to promote awareness education and further understanding of suicide and bullying on both a universal and multi-cultural level and to encourage mental wellness when dealing with these sensitive topics.

The forum will be held on Wednesday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Double Tree by Hilton – Empire Ballroom located at 222 N. Vineyard Avenue in Ontario (91764). For additional information, questions, or interpretation/translation needs please contact Imo Momoh at (909) 252-4069 or 711 for TTY users.

Cheryl Brown

SACRAMENTO, CA-. With 100 percent of all precincts reporting, Assemblymember Cheryl Brown bested her opponents with 68 percent of California’s 47th Assembly district vote. In the race for the Congressional District 31, Democrat Paul Chabot will face Republican Pete Aguillar. Seven candidates were vying for the job, including San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member, Danny Tillman. During this primary election, voters decided on state office positions from governor to insurance commissioner, as well as a host congressional and legislative seats. Gov. Jerry Brown has won his bid to appear on the November 2014 ballot, along with several other state-level Democratic incumbents. June 3rd, statewide primary election was the first to test California’s top-two primary system. Republican Neel Kashkari will the face the governor on November 4, 2014.

Democratic incumbents Brown, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, state Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones maintained their place on the ballot and each will face Republican challengers in the general election, in November. In the race for the 3rd District seat on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, former Assemblywoman and state Senator Sheila Kuehl will face former Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis cruised to a commanding victory over two rivals, well above the 50 percent threshold that will give her an outright win without need for a runoff campaign.

In Los Angeles County, voters were also deciding many hotly-contested countywide offices, including that of Los Angeles County Sheriff, and two open seats on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Jim McDonnell will face his nearest rival in second place, former Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, this November. Seven candidates were vying for the job. Two ballot measures were before California voters as well. Both passed. Proposition 41 would put $600 million in bonds toward rental housing for low-income veterans; Proposition 42 would require local governments to continue to comply with state open government and public records laws despite no longer getting reimbursed by the state for related expenses.