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.

Derron Smith, Fresno State University

Re-edited by Naomi K. Bonman

FRESNO, CA- Derron Smith, Banning, California native, was recently named by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to the 2014 Loft IMPACT Trophy watch list. He was one of 42 players on the list. He plays football for the Fresno State Bulldogs in the position of safety. Every year the IMPACT trophy goes to the college defensive player who has the biggest IMPACT on his team both on and off the field. IMPACT stands for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.

In addition, Smith is a two-time first-team All-Mountain West selection and enters his senior year as the nation’s active leader in career interceptions with 14. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2013 Mountain West championship game, which was the second-straight conference championship Smith has helped lead the Bulldogs to. Smith was also a quarterfinalist for the award last season where he tied for second in the nation with seven interceptions, one of which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl against USC. He had 18 tackles in the game against USC, which set a new Mountain West record and tied the Fresno State record for tackles in a bowl game.

For those that would love to listen in to Smith and his teammates during football season, the official Fresno State Bulldogs station is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.

Re-edited by Naomi K. Bonman

For the past 63 years, JET Magazine has been providing positive and introspective news for the Black Community on a weekly basis. Now that the digital age as transformed the way the Journalism world operates, JET released its final print issue on Monday, June 9. The cover of the issue salutes JET magazine’s iconic history with images of previous covers throughout the years. Inside, readers will find a retrospective of the news covered in the magazine dating from 1951 to the present.

Jet will be launching a new weekly digital magazine app later this month, which is scheduled to launch on June 30,and will be available on all tablet devices ad mobile platforms. It will feature weekly updates on entertainment, sports, and news of importance to the readers, as well as an enhanced functionality for the Beauty of the Week.

University of California Riverside (UCR) Black Grad
(Photo Credit: John Coleman)

Photo and Write Up by John Coleman

RIVERSIDE, CA- For several years the African Student Programs office at the University of California Riverside have arranged a graduation ceremony for graduating seniors, their families, friends, and several others who have contributed to their academic success. The ‘Black Graduation’ ceremony is held prior to the campus-wide commencement celebration.

LA QUINTA, CA- The La Quinta Resort and Spa comes alive on Saturday, June 14 when the Family Health and Support Network, Inc. presents the Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Pioneer Awards. The venue will resonate with the sounds and performances of gifted and talented area youth and young adults, as well as a performance by Ms. Alfreda James. The emcee of the evening will be actress Gye Nyame Maat. This premier event is a “White Soiree” for those who cannot resist a fabulous night out enjoying live music and dancing while celebrating our talented youth.

The keynote speaker this year is Mr. Oronde Miller, Senior Director of Strategic Consulting at Casey Family Programs and Operator of the Institute for Family and Child Well-Being. In addition, a live band will be playing smooth R&B for guests dance the night away.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a V.I.P. Reception at 6 p.m. The main event begins at 7 p.m. V.I.P. tickets are $85 and general admission is $65. Tickets can be purchased online at www.juneteenthcv.com or by calling (760) 340-2442. All of the proceeds from this event will directly benefit the early intervention services and enrichment programs provided to children in foster care and at risk youth serviced by the FHSN.

This year’s Celebration promises to excite, motivate and move you with these energy filled performances and presentations. Saxophonist Chase Huna. The La Quinta Resort and Spa is located at 49499 Eisenhower Drive in La Quinta (92253).

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Don’t you see what the enemy is doing in your life?  He has you so bound up that you think that the way it is, is the way it will always be. “To Hell with the Devil!”  Understand that the mission of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn’t care anything about you, he just wants to try to abort God’s plan for you. He wants to keep you bound, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually because He knows that if you ever realize the potential God has placed in you, and if you ever wake up from your slumber,   you will turn this world upside down and he does not want that.

I stand up in front of people all the time and see different ones that are so bound that it is a wonder that they are even able to move and breathe, and the only reason that they are bound and are suffering is because they are “allowing it,” and thinking that they can’t do anything about it. They think that that’s just the way it is. That is a lie from the pit of Hell, and Satan is selling you a bunch of crap, and you are buying it hook, line, and sinker. “To Hell with the Devil!”

Satan is a liar and deceiver and uses deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who are ignorant of the limitations of his power. When Jesus gave His life on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world, He also redeemed us from Satan’s power and dominion over us. {Col. 2:15}.  Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross. So take your stand and tell the Devil, “To Hell with You!”

As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and exercise the authority which God has given you over him. You have the right to use the authority of the name of Jesus to repel and drive Satan out of your territory and to break his grip over spiritual strongholds {2 Cor. 10:4}. Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command Satan to leave {Mark 16:17}. Slam the door in his face! Let him know that he has been given a pink slip and his termination date is on the calendar when he will once-and-for-all be cast down to the most intense of judgments.  Do not give place to the devil!

I want you to know that the devil can be brought into subjection and commanded to go when authority is taken over him using the name of Jesus Christ as a realm of authority. He has to obey!

Think on these things—look them up in the Bible…. Study them…. Believe them….and know that God is the victor! Decide today to deal the death blow to an enemy that has been plaguing your life, breathing down your neck, making your life miserable. Decide today to put something that has been over your head, under your feet. “To Hell with the Devil!”