Edith Lara-Trad, information officer at Covered California, welcomes representatives from Inland community groups to the first Covered California regional meeting at Loma Linda University Health.

LOMA LINDA, CA – Representatives of community groups working to enroll more San Bernardino County residents for affordable health insurance through Covered California kicked off their first regional meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 12) at Loma Linda University Health (LLUH).

About 40 people, representing dozens of community groups, stakeholders, health organizations, elected officials, and local health officials, took part in the gathering, hosted by LLUH.

“One of the objectives of the regional meeting is to focus on increasing partnerships and collaboration within the region, and to share lessons learned from the first weeks of enrollment,” said Edith Lara-Trad, information officer at Covered California, and the regional coordinator for the effort.

“It is about the people who are in dire need of health coverage. We have 47 days to continue mobilizing our efforts and enroll them now. One focus is to use in-person assistance to maximize enrollment,” she said.

LLUH, in partnership with Community Clinic Association of San Bernardino County, is one of 48 lead organizations that received grant awards totaling $37 million from Covered California to help residents access affordable health coverage.  Covered California is the state’s new health care insurance marketplace responsible for reaching out to 5.3 million Californians in need of individual insurance, many of whom may be eligible for financial assistance with the premiums.

“LLUH wants to ensure the residents of the Inland Empire are informed regarding the historic changes in our health care system and we are getting our residents the coverage they need to improve and maintain their health,” said Gerald Winslow, Ph.D., vice president for mission and culture at LLUH, and director of the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, the organizational entity responsible for administering the grant.

The regional meeting provided opportunities for grantees, certified counselors, providers, community and health agencies, and elected officials to mingle and work in partnerships in existing enrollment events. Covered California partners and the health community have played an integral role to accomplish enrollment to many people thus far and Covered California is providing specific support to the community and partners to drive the regional effort.

Lara-Trad said the challenge is to encourage more people to enroll by March 31, which is the deadline for open enrollment and for obtaining premium assistance and guaranteed health coverage. She said, “We are focusing on key gaps. Latinos, African Americans, and other under-represented communities and young adults are especially targeted for enrollment.” More information is available at www.CoveredCA.com

Rosie Salazar, Covered California certified counselor at Inland Behavioral Health Services, attended the event because she wanted to expand her network and get ideas for getting more people to sign up for health insurance.

“We are in a community where we deal with many homeless and low-income people,” she said. “We do not want them to be left out of affordable health care.”

The members of Riverside
Alumni Chapter celebrate Founders Day at Clayton home.

On January 5, the brothers of the Riverside Alumni Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi F?raternity, Inc., gathered at the home of Brother Larry Clayton to celebrate the 103rd year of the fraternity. Over 25 Brothers and their Silhouettes attended. The Loving Cup
was passed and provided a chance for Brothers initiated in 1956 through the 2013 Neophytes to rededicate themselves to achievement in every field of human endeavor.

Chapter Polemarch, Dr. Samuel Gibbs, sliced two cakes prepared for the occasion. Chapter Historian, Alvin Stephens, summed up the history of the chapter saying, “The March and Norton Air Force Bases were going strong in our history and Brothers would be stationed in and mustered out but we were successful in gaining great recognition in the community for our service projects.”

On the heels of this auspicious celebration, over 20 members of the chapter traveled on January 25 to co-sponsor the Los Angeles Metro Founders Day Event. Baseball great Brother Don Buford provided the keynote and encouraged all as he told of his path to achievement in the field of sports.

RIVERSIDE, CA- On Saturday, February 8, The Riverside Black History Committee held the 35^th Annual Riverside Black History Parade and Expo in Downtown Riverside. This year was a very special one because the event also recognized Dell Roberts for his philanthropic efforts and civic leadership that he provides to the community.  For more photos of the parade, please visit www.wssnews.com.

Audrey Matthews

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The County of San Bernardino Workforce Investment Board, which oversees the use of federal dollars to train local job seekers and support employers, has announced the appointment of two new members and a vice chair.

The Board has named Audrey Mathews as interim Vice Chair. Mathews was honored in 2013 for more than 35 years of work in local and state governments as a professor, budget director, planning commissioner and consultant. She received the American Society for Public Administration’s Elmer B. Staats Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to serving on the Workforce Investment Board, Mathews works with the County’s Planning Commission and sits as a legislative advisor to the National Association of Workforce Boards, and the California Workforce Association.  She has written multiple workforce initiatives and testimony that was submitted to Senate and House subcommittees on workforce issues.

Audrey is CEO of Mathews and Associates, an organizational behavior and diversity management-consulting firm.  She will be Interim vice Chair until elections are held in March.

Dr. Dale Marsden, newly appointed member of the Board, is Superintendent of San Bernardino City Unified School District. He is well known for his work in engaging employers and community partners to help students graduate and pursue college and a successful career. With the Alliance for Education, a partnership between businesses and educators, he played an integral role in a national initiative, called STEAM, to ensure more students enter careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.  The father of four began his teaching career in 1985, working his way up to Superintendent of Victor Elementary School District before being appointed to his current role in 2012. He also served in the US Air Force, where he earned several awards.

Gary Watson, Deputy Director of the Employment Services Program (ESP) for the County of San Bernardino Transitional Assistance Department, was also appointed as a member of the Board.  The ESP helps clients receiving cash aid remove barriers to employment, develop self-esteem, and prepare to find and retain employment. Watson has more than 20 years of human services experience including programming, budget and operations to provide support to needy families in San Bernardino County.

“The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board has a national reputation for excellence due to the active leadership and team work of its members,” said San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Rutherford. “These dedicated individuals, collectively representing business, government, and community organizations, bring their best to the table.”

The Workforce Investment Board partners with the County’s largest industry sectors to identify the needs of the workforce and employers and to support training programs that prepare residents to enter careers in growing industries.

“Our Workforce Investment Board has become a national model due to the efforts and creativity of our members,” said Sandy Harmsen, Executive Director of the Board. “Their decisions impact the lives of thousands of at-risk youth through our Workforce Investment Act Youth program as well as adults and veterans who find career and training opportunities through our three America’s Job Centers of California.”

(l-r) Vanessa Williams, PAFF Celebrity Juror Erica Gimpel, PAFF Life Time Achievement Award recipient Charles Dutton, Kristoff St. John, Jamil XT Qubeka, CCH Pounder, Nicki Micheaux & “Of Good Report” Co-Star Petronella Tshuma (Venus Bernardo)

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) held its opening night gala on Thursday, February 6 at the Rave Cinemas in Los Angeles, with the premiere of the film ‘Of Good Report’ directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka which starring Mothusi Magano, Petronella Tshuma, Thobi Mkhwanazi, Nomhlé Nkyonyeni and Tshamano Sebe. After the film, a question and answer session was held with the cast and filmmakers.

The film is about Parker, a shy and mysterious high school teacher, who arrives at his new assignment in a rural school. While he is earnest in his passion for teaching, his extra-curricular attentions are drawn to a gorgeous young girl. When he realizes she is a student at his school, and forbidden fruit, he grows increasingly obsessed. She ends up missing and a female detective comes snooping around, fueling Parker’s unstable, dangerous behavior. ‘Of Good Report’ won Best Feature Film in the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Nigeria.

SAN BERANRDINO, CA- Las Vegas Entertainment will be returning to the Inland Empire for a special Valentines show on Saturday, February 15 at The American Legion, 863 N. “D” Street in San Bernardino, at 8 p.m. All throughout the evening, there will be legendary guests which include “Las Vegas Al Green impersonator”, David Prescott, Mr. Melody, Johnny Brown, H-Len, and many more. This year’s show is dedicated to San Bernardino’s own Mr. Show-in-Tell, Al Wilson, and the late Ms. Mattie Davis. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $25 per couple. For more information, please call 909-384-0782.

INGLEWOOD, CA– Aio Wireless collaborated with A-MAN, Inc. to host a teen rap session entitled “Moving Black History Forward,” at its dealer-owned store at 1295 S. La Brea Avenue. The session enabled students from A-MAN, Inc. to share their perspectives and experiences, as well as their plans to play a positive role in advancing their communities. A-MAN, Inc. is one of three local community organizations which, through Aio’s “30 Days, 30 Dreams” program, provided 10 college-bound students with $1,000 scholarships and tablets.

Aio Wireless (pronounced A-O) was created for today’s value-conscious connected consumers who want it all. We created a new class of service for individuals who expect a first class wireless service at a value price – one with no-annual contract, friendly service, uncomplicated plans and the mobile phones and tablets you love.  All of Aio’s phone plans include unlimited talk, text, and data, with taxes and fees included – the price you see is the price you pay. Aio Wireless is a subsidiary of AT&T Inc.  Visit www.aiowireless.com to find out more.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the fatal officer-involved incident involving Christopher Jordan Dorner, 33, of La Palma, on February 12, 2013.

Under the facts, circumstances and law applicable to this case, the use of deadly force and non-deadly force by law enforcement personnel was in response to an immediate threat of death and serious bodily injury to themselves and to members of the public posed by Christopher Dorner’s actions, and was therefore legally justified under the laws of self-defense, defense of others, and laws of arrest.

The report of the written case evaluation is available at www.sbcountyda.org by selecting Press Releases under the Newsroom tab at the top of the home page. The identities of the involved law enforcement officers are not included in this memo as a result of security concerns for the officers and their families.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) is seeking nominations to identify and honor outstanding women whose successes and contributions to the 47^th District have set the pace for our region’s future. A selection committee will use the nomination forms and independent research to make final selections to be recognized as Woman of the Year.

Nominees should be innovative leaders who are making waves with their energy, ideas, achievements, and commitment to excellence in the 47^th District. In addition, the nominee should reflect a woman who is of exemplary professional excellence and is a role model for others; a woman who has broken down barriers and helps create connections and new opportunities for other women while continuing to be a respected resource in the community.

One nomination per person will be accepted. For each submission, one nomination form describing the nominee’s qualifications and reasons for making the nomination is required. The deadline for entries is Friday, February 21 at 5 p.m.

The nomination form can be retrieved by visiting the district office at 290 N “D” Street in San Bernardino or by going online to www.asmdc.org/members/a47/ and clicking on the “Woman of the Year” button.

Please email your submission to Lisa Blacksher at lisa.blacksher@asm.ca.gov. Contact 909-381-3238 for more information.