By Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

The Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), based in Inglewood, is dedicated to addressing the challenges facing communities of color across Los Angeles County and beyond.

With a focus on education, health equity, and youth empowerment, SJLI runs impactful programs that tackle systemic inequalities and help build stronger communities. In addition to its work in Los Angeles, SJLI has expanded its efforts to Houston, Texas.

California Black Media (CBM) recently spoke with Derek Steele, SJLI’s Executive Director. He discussed the organization’s achievements, challenges, and future plans. Steele, a former engineer who transitioned into the field of health equity advocacy, has been at SJLI for more than a decade. His background in system-building and community organizing has shaped SJLI’s approach to solving critical issues like food insecurity and education disparities.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

What stands out as SJLI’s most impactful achievement in 2024?

SJLI’s Urban Scholars Program remains a bright spot despite our challenges. The program provided students with the academic support they needed to stay on track for graduation.

We maintained a 96% graduation rate across all sites. This fall, we’ve seen a 97% retention rate for students going into their second year of college This achievement is a testament to SJLI’s focus on bridging the gap between high school and college, ensuring that students have a smooth transition.

How has SJLI’s leadership and investments improved the lives of Black and Brown youth in LA County?

We must invest in both education and health. In addition to academic programs, SJLI has made a significant impact through our health equity initiatives, particularly in food access. Just last year, we distributed 1.2 million pounds of produce throughout LA County. This, along with their retreats and college tours, provided much-needed support for students and their families.

What has been the most challenging aspect of SJLI’s work in 2024?

While there was progress in 2020 and 2021 following the social justice movements, many of the commitments made during that time have since been rolled back. This made 2024 particularly challenging as efforts to push forward key initiatives, such as the Black Student Achievement Plan at Los Angeles Unified School District, slowed down.

The challenge has been the full-throated walk back of a lot of those commitments.

What inspired SJLI to continue its mission despite the challenges of 2024?

SJLI’s dedicated team and the support of the community have kept the organization moving forward. Our staff members have a deep commitment to the mission, and they are true believers in what we’re trying to achieve. The involvement of the broader community has also helped. Community members come by on Fridays for our produce distribution, and some even join us at events like the equity social.

What is one lesson SJLI learned in 2024 that will shape its decisions in 2025?

One of the biggest lessons learned is the importance of building strong, aligned partnerships. SJLI has collaborated with the Brotherhood Crusade and BAM LA forming the Bloom Alliance—an initiative that stands for Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunity for young Men which was launched by the California Community Foundation.

Partnership matters, but alignment in those partnerships really matters. Having a clear plan in place allows the organization to stay adaptable when challenges arise. You have to plan the work and work the plan.

What is the biggest challenge facing Black and Brown communities in LA County in one word?

The biggest challenge is displacement. With rising housing costs, many families are being forced out of their neighborhoods, some leaving the state entirely or becoming homeless.  More than 50% of people are housing burdened, spending over half of their income on housing. So, SJLI is working on Sankofa at Centinela, a 120-unit, 100% affordable housing development that will also house our new 25,000 square foot headquarters.

What is SJLI’s main goal for 2025?

SJLI’s main goal is to continue empowering youth leaders of color through education, leadership development, and community engagement. We are here to improve the overall health, education, and well-being of youth leaders of color by fostering leadership and providing resources. SJLI aims to help communities become self-sustaining and thriving.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Come on, put your war clothes on. Time to let go, move on, and close doors. Time to end it once and for all!

You know there’s a famous passage in the [7th Chapter of the Book of Romans verses 14-25] where the Apostle Paul is describing a warfare going on within himself:  He says, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin. O wretched man that I am! Who will free me from this life dominated by sin and death?

Sounds familiar?

I tell you, anyone who reads [Romans 7:14-25] should immediately identify with Paul’s expression of frustration and agony due to the weakness of his fleshly body: “All the things I don’t want to do I end up doing and all the things I want to do I end up not doing. I want to do what’s right, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what’s bad, but I do. It baffles me. My own behavior baffles me. Why do I keep making the same mistakes? Why am I so resistant to change? Why can’t I figure out why I do what I don’t want to do?” I don’t understand myself.

The human dilemma described as a man. Who is carnal, sold under sin. Desires to do good but finds himself unable. Desires to abstain from evil but finds himself unable. Who agrees that the Law is good but finds that sins dwell in him. [Romans 7:14-20].

Well, I want you to know that due to Adam’s fall into sin, mankind is corrupted by sin in every area of his life: mind, emotions, and will, have all been tainted. We think sinfully, we feel sinful, and we choose sinfully. We naturally love darkness [John 3:19], and we do not understand the things of God [1 Corinthians 2:14]. The human condition is lost; we have all wandered astray [Isaiah 53:6]. We are spiritually blind [2 Corinthians 4:4]. We are sinful, having broken the Law of God [1 John 1:8; 3:4]. We are enslaved by sin [John 8:34]. We are morally ruined [Romans 7:18]. We are dying physically and dead spiritually [1 Peter 1:24; Ephesians 2:1].

We are in an epic battle! A battle of good and evil. A battle that spans from our very first breath until our last. It is a close and intimate war! Hand-to-hand combat with our adversary the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, the accuser, the ruler of this world and the god of this age whose aim is to use pain and pleasure to make us blind, stupid, and miserable — forever. [Revelation 12:9–10; John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4]. He will use any method necessary to take advantage of us and get us under his control. [1 Peter 5:8]. But we must use what God has given us to overcome. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Stand firm therefore, and gird your loins with the Belt of Truth, which counters deception, and put on the Breastplate of Righteousness which guards the heart, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace which provides stability. In addition to all, take up the Shield of Faith which extinguishes the enemy’s attacks, and take the Helmet of Salvation which protects the mind along with, the Sword of the Spirit [God’s Word], the Offensive weapon, because I tell you, it’s time to rise up and declare war on the devil. [Ephesians 6:10-18]. No longer will we give the devil a foothold. [Ephesians 4:27]. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, and we don’t have to let the devil run all over us. For the Bible boldly declares, “…Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” [1 John 4:4].

Like the disciples, God has authorized us to stand against the enemy. [Luke 10:17-19].  When we are authorized, we are commissioned, certified, licensed, lawful, legitimate, recognized, sanctioned, warranted, and official. Exercise your authority. Be like David; David was full of confidence that he was going to be victorious. He was so certain of victory the Bible says he ran to the enemy to fight him. There was no doubt in his mind. He wasn’t going to do it by using some great armor or weapon, but by the power of God. And he took a smooth stone, thrust it out, and killed the great giant of Gath. [1 Samuel 17:41-52].

I tell you, it’s time to put the devil where he belongs, under your feet. He may think he has you where he wants you. But don’t be afraid, for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has arrived, for He has become your shield and your exceedingly Great Reward. [Genesis 15:1].

Come on, put your war clothes on. Time to let go, move on, and close doors. Time to tell the Devil to go to Hell! You are not at the mercy of the enemy’s attacks. Don’t put him on a pedestal, as if he has power and dominion over you. He is a defeated foe! Jesus defeated him and gave you power over him [James 4:7] USE IT! For in Christ, you are “far above all principality and power and might and dominion” and every lion and serpent you shall trample underfoot! [Romans16:20]. Time to Declare War!

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. [Revelation 3:21

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) made history on Dec. 2. For the first time, most of its members are women. Nine out of its 12 current members are Black women, the highest number in the organization’s 57-year-history.

During the last legislative session, five out of 12 CLBC members were women.

For the 2025-26 Legislative session, three CLBC women members are serving in the State Senate and six in the State Assembly.

Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood) and Sen. Akilah Weber (D-LaMesa) were sworn in on the first official day of the 2025-26 Regular Session in the chambers of the State Senate by the Hon. Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

“Yesterday, I was sworn in as Senator of the 39th Senate District! I am so honored to do this work and excited to get started, Weber posted on her Facebook page Dec. 3. “I introduced my first bill on my first day, SB 32 to address maternity ward closures in the state. Let’s go Senate District 39.”

Before winning her Senate seat, Weber had served in the State Assembly for three years representing the 79th District in San Diego County.

She was also sworn in as Chair of the CLBC on Dec. 2.

Weber and Richardson are joining CLBC member Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), who had previously been the only Black woman serving in the State Senate. Smallwood-Cuevas was elected in 2022.

“This has been a long journey,” said Smallwood-Cuevas. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you coming together and standing up and supporting this effort to ensure that Black women have a voice here in Sacramento, representing the communities we all care about. We grew our caucus but this is just the beginning of making sure that the California State Legislature is representative of California.”

New CLBC lawmakers in the Assembly — Assemblymembers Sade Elhawary (D-South Los Angeles), Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) and LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) — were also sworn in on Dec. 2 on the Assembly floor.

Elhawary, Ransom, and Sharp-Collins and are joining Richardson as the newest members of CLBC. However, Richardson previously served in the Assembly before being elected to Congress in 2007.

“There are some incredible people here who turned out the vote,” said Richardson at a CLBC reception held to welcome new members. “Call me landslide Laura.”

Richardson paid tribute to the icons in California politics who paved the way for her and other newly elected Black women.

“When I took my portrait, I wore a white turtleneck and a red jacket like Congresswoman Maxine Waters,” added Richardson. All of us women are here because we stood on the backs and shoulders of women who served here capably and are respected and that has translated into giving us a chance.”

Richardson also acknowledged that there would be challenges ahead.

“In times like these, we don’t need to agonize. We need to organize,” she said.

After her swearing in, Sharp-Collins said she is “honored and humbled to represent the people of the 79th Assembly District.

“I plan to continue the work I have done for many years to advance the district — especially in helping support our most vulnerable residents,” Sharp-Collins continued.

Returning CLBC members in the State Assembly are: immediate past CLBC Chair, Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), and Assemblymembers Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) and Mike Gipson (D-Carson).

Outgoing CLBC members include Sen. Steve Bradford (D-Inglewood), who was termed out and is running for Lieutenant Governor. Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), and Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) also left. McCarty did not seek reelection to the Assembly to run for mayor of Sacramento, a race he won. Holden and Jones-Sawyer were termed out.

The CLBC was established in 1967 by Black members of the California Legislature to address the concerns of African Americans and other citizens of color. Mervyn Dymally, who represented parts of greater Los Angeles in the Assembly and State Senate, led the founding. Dymally was also the 41st lieutenant governor of California and served in United States Congress before returning to serve in the Assembly.

The California Legislature is also making history this legislative session with an unprecedented 58 women lawmakers, almost half of its 120 total members.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this outstanding group of new Senators who were sworn in today,” said Senate Pro Tem McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who led the convening session that officially began the upcoming two-year legislative session.

“They’re hard-working, innovative, and ready to tackle the tough challenges ahead,” McGuire added.

Later that evening, the CLBC held a reception to welcome its new leadership and members. Weber and Bryan were elected by the CLBC in August to serve as its next Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.

The new members of the CLBC say there are inspired, motivated and ready to start working on behalf of their constituents.

“I’ve spent my career standing up for people, and I’m proud to represent the people of Assembly District 13,” said Ransom, who served on the Tracy City Council and held leadership roles in various community-based organizations

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue my work to provide economic opportunity for all, reduce costs, strengthen accountability and education, and protect our neighborhoods. I’m ready to get to work and deliver results, she added.”

On her first day, Elhawary, who is the daughter of Egyptian and Guatemalan immigrants, introduced her first piece of legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 37, which proposes solutions to improve mental health services for our unhoused neighbors, especially schoolkids and their families.

“My goal with this bill is to organize all interested parties in a discussion with a goal to aggressively research the hurdles we still face and identify policy or regulatory solutions in providing this essential service,” Elhawary stated.

Sharp Collins stated. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and our Assembly leadership to better the 79th District and the State as a whole.”

“There is so much work to be done,” she said.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—The Educational Results Partnership (ERP) named six San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) campuses to its 2024 Honor Roll for being high-performing schools that improve student academic outcomes.

The award-winning schools are Hillside University Demonstration School, Kimbark Elementary School, Paakuma’ K–8 School, Richardson PREP HI Middle School, Rodriguez PREP Academy Middle School and Middle College High School.

“This honor reflects the dedication of our students, staff and families who work together tirelessly to ensure our students achieve excellence every day,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “We are committed to fostering a learning environment where everyone can learn, and this recognition affirms that we truly are on the right path.”

SBCUSD is focused on creating opportunities where every student can reach their full potential. This honor reflects the District’s multiyear vision to maintain high standards and collaboration so that all learners can succeed.

Except for Paakuma’ K–8 School, five of the schools had previously been honored by ERP.

Kimbark was previously honored in 2015, 2016 and 2023 and Hillside was recognized nine times from 2012–2024. Richardson has been named to the Honor Roll 12 times from 2008–2024. Rodriguez has made the ERP Honor Roll seven times from 2012–2024, and Middle College is a six-time honoree from 2010–2024.

All of this year’s honorees earned the Star Award, which recognizes Honor Roll schools that are high performing and closing the achievement gap despite being high-need schools.

ERP did not publish the honor roll from 2020–2022.

ERP is a non-profit organization that uses public school achievement data to help improve student outcomes and career readiness. ERP Honor Roll schools have demonstrated consistently high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement levels over time and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations.

In California, the ERP Honor Roll is supported by multiple organizations, including the California Black Chamber of Commerce, the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, CALASIAN Chamber of Commerce and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce.

To access the ERP Honor Roll, visit https://www.edresults.org/honor-roll.

By Frederick Joseph

“We write because we believe the human spirit cannot be tamed and should not be trained.”– Nikki Giovanni, National Book Award finalist, NAACP Image Award winner, Langston Hughes Medal recipient, Grammy-nominated poet, celebrated professor, literary legend, revolutionary.

Dear Ms. Giovanni,

I never got to meet you, not in the way some people meet, where hands shake and voices hum their recognition. But I met you, didn’t I? Through the pen you wielded like a torch, like a wand, like a blade when the world needed sharpening. You didn’t just write poems—you built rooms for us to walk into, to rest in, to rage in, to love in. I stepped into those rooms again and again, never leaving quite the same as I entered.

I remember the first time I met you, even if you weren’t really there. I was in middle school, and my teacher handed me your poem, “Ego-Tripping.” I didn’t know poetry could feel like that—like it was climbing out of the page, standing proud, daring anyone to look away. That poem felt like a drumbeat in my chest, like the pulse of something bigger than me but still mine.

I enjoyed it so much that I decided I wasn’t going to be afraid to read aloud the next time my teacher asked. That might not sound like much, but you have to understand—I was always afraid to read aloud. My mind runs faster than my mouth can keep up. It still happens, even now. Words pile up in my head like a traffic jam, and my tongue tries to catch up but can’t. But that day, with your poem in my hands, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t fumbling. I was invincible.

Some days, I still am.

How do I thank you for that? For letting me sit beside you, poem after poem, as you held the mirror to Blackness and said, “Look. See how beautiful, how complex, how infinite we are.” You took your joy and your pain, your fight and your tenderness, and poured it into the pages, and those pages poured it into us. You made it possible to believe that the word could be a home, even when the world wasn’t.

Did you know you were handing us maps, showing us how to find ourselves when we felt lost? Did you know your words would echo long after you were gone, shaping us, challenging us, calling us to be bolder, softer, freer?

Even though we never met, I feel like I knew you. And maybe that’s the magic of what you gave to the world—you let us know you, the way the moon lets you feel its glow even when it’s distant. You were honest in your brilliance, unyielding in your love for your people, uncompromising in your devotion to truth. Your work has always felt like a hand on my shoulder, guiding me through the fog of this world.

Now you’ve passed on, and the earth feels a little quieter. But your words are loud enough to fill the silence. Your legacy beats like a second heart in those of us who’ve read you, who’ve been changed by you. You showed us how to live unafraid, how to write unafraid, and for that, we will never stop thanking you.

I wrote something for you, please let me know what you think of it when we finally meet:

sleep well, Ms. Giovanni

you sat the stars down and taught them how to wink,
wrapped the moon in your laughter, sent it spinning,
a love supreme floating through the quiet corners
of our kitchen sinks and subway cars.

and hot combs, and durags, and cognac,
and linen suits, and church hats, and thug life,
and all the shit they said was too Black.

you made poetry the blood,
made it the marrow—
the way we hold our babies close
or kiss the air when no one’s looking.
you wrote us whole,
even when we were breaking.

your words, a song—soft and unyielding—
Marvin Gaye on sunday mornings
and on protest lines.
you whispered to the shadows,
told them they were still made of light.

you told the south to sing,
told the north to dance,
held the universe in a mason jar,
and said, “look, this is ours.”

somewhere, beneath a magnolia tree,
your voice is still planting itself,
still pulling love out of the dirt,
still teaching us how to bloom.

With love and thanks,
Frederick

By Angela M. Coggs

San Bernardino native and rising NFL star Jayden Daniels returned to his roots on Saturday, December 7, 2024, to host his inaugural toy drive at Cajon High School, his alma mater. The event, held during the Washington Commanders’ bye week, drew over 400 local children and their families, filling the gymnasium with holiday cheer and the spirit of giving.

The toy drive was not only a reflection of Daniels’ generosity but also a celebration of his deep ties to the San Bernardino community. Earlier this year, in January 2024, the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) honored Daniels by naming Cajon High School’s football stadium after him, recognizing his achievements both on and off the field. “This young man continues to be a blessing in so many ways.  His sense of humility and appreciation models what we hope for every young man and young woman to aspire to become,” said SBCUSD School Board Member Scott Wyatt.  “Thank you, Jayden Daniels, for being the amazing young man you are. We LOVE you! We are PROUD of you! And may God continue to Bless you and protect for many years to come.”

Daniels, the rookie quarterback for the Commanders, greeted attendees with his trademark smile and contagious energy. Children lined up to meet their hometown hero, who took time to sign autographs, pose for photos, and personally hand out toys. For Daniels, the event was more than just a moment of giving—it was an opportunity to inspire.

“This is only the beginning,” Daniels said. “I want to make this an annual event, and I hope next year will be even bigger. It means the world to me to come back home and bring some joy to the kids in this community. This is where it all started for me.”

The event was a resounding success, with children and their families’ enjoying games, music, and an abundance of toys, all provided through donations and Daniels’ own contributions. His passion for giving back was evident as he moved through the crowd, sharing laughter and uplifting stories from his journey. “This is one of the best experiences EVER,” exclaimed Rio M., a local student who attended the event. Many were impressed with how he was able recite Daniels stats easily off the top of his head. He walked away with a huge Nerf gun, exactly what he wanted. He was in awe of Daniels and excited to be in his presence.

Cajon High School Principal Melissa Kane praised Daniels’ commitment to his hometown. “Jayden has always been a leader, both on the field and off. His dedication to giving back to San Bernardino shows the kind of person he is. We’re so proud to have his name on our stadium and to call him one of our own.”

This is not an isolated gift to his hometown. On Wednesday evening, Nov. 13, 2024, after their regular practice at Jayden Daniels Stadium, Cajon High School football players received a surprise gift from a surprise visitor.
The stadium’s namesake, former Cajon High quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, and now Washington Commanders quarterback, Jayden Daniels, appeared to the players on the field displayed on a large video screen.
While on screen, Daniels revealed he was gifting each of the athletes a pair of Beats by Dre headphones.
Cajon’s head football coach Nick Rodgers connected with Daniels via facetime, while Daniels’ father, Jay Daniels, attended the practice in person to pass out the 65 pairs of headphones.
On the video call Daniels congratulated the team for making it to the playoffs.
“Congrats to you on your season so far. I’m always watching and I’m always supporting,” Daniels said. “I love Cajon. I love San Bernardino and I love what y’all are doing. Hopefully this year y’all can go get a ring. I got you a little gift for something to lock into the playoffs.”
The players exploded in excitement and enthusiastically thanked him.
Daniels later posted a video of the event to his Instagram account, thanking Beats headphones and Crowd Control Entertainment from Palm Springs who set up the audio equipment for the event.
On the video call Daniels congratulated the team for making it to the playoffs.

According to a video later posted by Daniels to his Instagram account, Beats by Dre Headphones and Crowd Control Entertainment, based in Palm Springs, collaborated, set up and provided the audio equipment for the event.”

Daniels’ impact on the San Bernardino community continues to grow as he establishes himself in the NFL. His toy drive exemplifies his desire to use his platform to uplift others, making him a role model not just for aspiring athletes but for anyone striving to make a difference.

With plans already underway for next year’s event, Daniels hopes to inspire even more people to join him in spreading joy during the holiday season. For San Bernardino, it’s clear that the hometown hero’s star is not only shining on the field but also illuminating the hearts of his community.

As the gymnasium at Cajon High School echoed with laughter and gratitude, one thing was certain: Jayden Daniels’ toy drive was more than just a charitable event—it was a celebration of hope, unity, and the power of giving back.

By Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., California Secretary of State  

Californians can confidently claim this: California has made more significant reforms to our election laws and expanded voting rights than any other state.

The relevance of this accomplishment deepens as we prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act next year. This landmark legislation began to undo our country’s long history of voter suppression, intimidation, and disenfranchisement that far too many Americans experienced at the polls for decades.

My own parents, who were sharecroppers, were denied their right to vote in the Jim Crow era South. Before moving to Los Angeles from Hope, Arkansas, my parents, David and Mildred Nash, could not vote. My father was an adult with six children before he registered to vote and was only able to exercise that constitutional right for the first time here in California.

As California Secretary of State, I do not take the progress we have made over the years lightly. My staff and I hold sacred the obligation to ensure that our elections are safe, free, fair, and accessible to all. Therefore, before certifying the results for this year’s election on Dec. 13, we have taken a number of steps to ensure that every vote is counted. We have also made sure that our ballot counting process is credible and free from interference.

To meet that deadline without a hitch, California requires elections officials in all 58 counties to turn in their official results by a certain date. This year, that date was December 6.

By law, every eligible voter in our state receives a vote-by-mail ballot. This ensures all registered voters can exercise their right to vote.

Whether you placed your ballot in a designated drop-off box, voted by mail, or cast your ballot at a polling center, votes are safe and secure. And we allow voters to sign up to receive text message, email, or voice call notifications about the status of their own ballots by using the Where’s My Ballot? tool. To learn more or to sign up, paste this URL in your web browser: https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/

The ballots of Californians who voted by mail are also protected. The United States Postal Service partners with the State to make sure ballots are delivered on time. All mailed-in ballots are sent by First Class mail with a postage paid envelope provided to every eligible registered voter.

Election Security is our number one priority. That’s why my office designed and implemented a program to back up that commitment.  For more information, visit this URL: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election-cybersecurity

Additionally, California takes preventive actions to make sure our voting technology keeps our elections safe and protects everyone’s votes.

For example, county voting systems are not connected to the internet, which protects them from cyberthreats. The State also performs regular and rigorous testing to make sure the voting systems are working optimally, and only authorized personnel are granted access.

Staff members are also given phishing and cybersecurity training.

VoteCal, the state’s centralized voter registration system, is also key. The system is regularly updated, and it is used as a resource for counties to verify voter signatures.

California also provides security at all counting locations and makes sure ballot drop-off boxes are secured and monitored.

And all election processes are open to observation during specified hours.

In my role as Secretary of State of California, there is nothing more important to me than defending our democracy. I am committed to safeguarding voting rights, and to leading our state in upholding the highest democratic standards by implementing policies and practices that Californians and all Americans can trust and look to for instruction and hope.

You can contact the California Office of the Secretary of State at 1-800-345-Vote or elections@sos.ca.gov with inquiries or to report suspected incidents or irregularities. Additional information can be found at www.sos.ca.gov and the office’s social media platforms:

Instagram: @californiasos_

Facebook: Facebook.com/CaliforniaSOS

X: @CASOSVote

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Frontline Doulas provides African American families in Los Angeles County non-medical professional perinatal services at no cost.

This includes physical, emotional, informational, psychosocial and advocacy support during the pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. Women of ages — with all forms of insurance — are accepted and encouraged to apply for services.

Given that community-based doulas focus on marginalized patients and under-served families, they are more likely to support clients challenged by institutionalized racism and cultural incompetence within the medical setting. While serving past birthing clients in extreme situations, Frontline’s team of doulas strive to act with strength and compassion like soldiers on the frontline of battle. For this reason, supervisors and mentors Dr. Sayida Peprah and Khefri Riley affectionately gave them the name “The Frontline Doulas.”

California Black Media (CBM) spoke with co-founder Khefri Riley. She reflected on Frontline’s accomplishments this year and the organization’s goals moving forward.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Looking back at 2024, what stands out to you as your most important achievement and why? 

In 2024, we are humbled to have been awarded the contract for the Los Angeles County Medical Doula Hub, which means that we are charged with creating a hub of connectivity and support for generating training and helping to create the new doula workforce for the medical doula benefit that went live in California on Jan. 1, 2023.

The major accomplishment of this historical benefit — in which we were part of the co-design team and are currently still working with the DHCS (Department of Healthcare Services) – is to bring equitable birthing services to Los Angeles County, especially for Black and Indigenous birthing families.

How did your leadership and investments contribute to improving the lives of Black Californians? 

We believe that the revolution begins in the womb. What we mean by that is we have the potentiality and the ability to create intentional generational healing from the moment before a child was conceived, when a child was conceived, during this gestational time and when a child is born.

And there’s a traditional saying in indigenous communities where what we do now affects future generations going forward. So, the work that we do with birthing families, in particular Black birthing families, is to create powerful and healthy outcomes for the new generation so that we don’t have to replicate pain, fear, discrimination, or racism. We can replicate joy and happiness and truth and collective liberation, and we can do that in birth. That’s where it starts.

What frustrated you the most over the last year?

Working in reproductive justice often creates a heavy burden on the organization and the caregivers that deliver the services most needed to the communities. So, oftentimes, we’re advocating for those whose voices are silenced and erased, and you really have to be a warrior to stand strong and firm. Our dedication to our communities can sometimes be tiring — repeating the same thing over and over. But you know the statistics, the dire outcomes, can take a lot out of you.

What inspired you the most over the last year?

My great-grandmother. My father was his grandmother’s midwife assistant when he was a young boy. I grew up with their medicine stories — the ways that they healed the community and were present to the community, even amidst Jim Crow. Knowing their resilience and their passion and their incredible gifts, who are we not to continue their lineage and uplift their message of loving the babies, loving the mothers and birthing people and loving the earth.

What is one lesson you learned in 2024 that will inform your decision-making next year?

I find that you have to really reach for your highest vision, and you have to stand firm in your value. The value you have as a sovereign self, the value that you have as a human being. And the value that we have in community and the value that we have in collective liberation. Because oftentimes, when we’re talking about large-scale systems, government, healthcare, politics, they’re not necessarily going to look out for you. You have to raise your voice, speak up and demand, and know your intrinsic value.

In one word, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face?

Amplification. We cannot allow our voices to be silent.

What is the goal you want to achieve most in 2025?

I really would like to see a reduction in infant mortality and maternal mortality within our communities and witness this new birth worker force be supported and integrated into systems. So, that way, we fulfill our goal of healthy, unlimited birth in the Black community, and indeed in all birthing communities in Los Angeles and California.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate program. The program is supported by partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/

The California Attorney General’s Office, in 1968, issued a report titled; Palm Springs Section 14 Demolition. The final paragraph of that document is reprinted here…

“The City of Palm Springs not only disregarded the residents of Section 14 as property-owners, taxpayers, and voters. Palm Springs ignored that the residents of Section 14 were human beings.”

The Civil Rights Act was in effect… And yet, the ‘City engineered holocaust’, as described by the AG’s Report, was classified as not illegal, and allowed to continue terrorizing the surviving Section 14 victims and descendants… Section 14’s homes and personal belongings, were not the only things devastated by the fire! People were devastated… But people were not only devastated by the fire, they were, in many cases, most devastated by the blatant hateful racism that it takes to treat people as non-human!
The painful effects of institutional racism go deeper and last longer than that human to human kind of misunderstanding… Institutional racism is terrorizing because it is considered legal! However, sometimes mistakes are made and a crack is created in the institutional racism shield…
The City of Palm Springs recently offered 4 plus million dollars to the ‘Survivors of Section 14’, an organization representing the 300 plus families and their 1200 plus members, an offer which was refused! I think that the offer was/is an insult, and that the city having enough distain for the survivors to make such a stand is another example of the ongoing hate crime being perpetrated on the surviving victims of the “City engineered holocaust”, the demolition of Palm Springs Section 14!
The coordinated actions designed to take property legally through eminent domain is painful enough. But even worse was the City choosing to hatefully, just snatch the land from underneath its owners ignoring their humanity!
I will be reporting this hate crime via the Stop The Hate recommended method and I will report more regarding the victims as I get back to you next week!
This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, 833-8-NO-HATE 833-866-4283
Listen to Empire Talks Back radio Host, Wallace Allen interview Attorney Areva Martin and Pearl Devers, founder of the ‘Palm Springs Survivors of Section 14’,
The Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors are victims of what the 1968 report from the California Attorney General’s Office describes as “A city engineered holocaust”, as an estimated 200 African American homes were burned, bulldozed… Demolished in the city of Palm Springs by the Palm Springs Fire Department. As community organizations and government entities across the state participate in “Unite Against The Hate” activities, beginning September 21st, we think that it is important to point out that as we voice our distain for hate, our government institutions are in some places still defending it!
As partners in the CA vs Hate Program, what are the Attorney General, the Civil Rights Division, and the Department of Social Services doing about the plight of the Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors of the “City engineered Holocaust”?

NATIONWIDE — High-achieving women searching for clarity and confidence in their dating lives now have a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Dr. Casandra “Coach Cass” Henriquez, America’s Go-To Love Coach, is hosting the “How to Attract Quality Men Intensive” from January 31 through February 1, 2025, in a luxurious Fort Lauderdale, Florida mansion.

Tailored for professional women over 40, this hands-on, immersive weekend helps participants master dating skills through mock dates with real men—and gain live, constructive feedback. With only 12 spots available, this exclusive event is designed to offer actionable insights that help women attract quality men who align with their values and goals.

Why Women Want Real Feedback

For many single, successful women, the dating process can feel frustrating and unclear:

• Am I sending the right signals?
• Why does the connection fizzle after a great date?
• What am I doing wrong—and how can I fix it?

“Too often, women are left guessing about what went wrong,” says Coach Cass. “This intensive provides immediate answers and helps women feel confident about how they’re coming across.”

A Weekend of Practice, Feedback, and Results

Unlike traditional seminars or online courses, the How to Attract Quality Men Intensive combines expert coaching with real-world application. Participants will:

• Learn body language, communication, and flirting techniques in a workshop setting.
• Practice those skills during mock dates with real men in a judgment-free environment.
• Receive real-time feedback from men and Coach Cass to fine-tune their approach.

Test their skills in a public setting to build confidence in real-life scenarios.

“This isn’t just learning—it’s doing,” says Coach Cass. “Women leave this experience with tools they can immediately apply to their dating lives.”

What Sets This Intensive Apart

Coach Cass created the intensive after hearing from women who felt stuck in their dating lives:

• “I don’t know why I keep attracting men who aren’t ready for commitment.”
• “I’m not sure what makes me stand out or how to meet high-quality men.”
• “I’ve worked so hard on my career and life, but I don’t want to grow old alone.”

Through honest feedback and personalized coaching, the event helps women gain clarity about what works in dating — and the confidence to connect with the men they truly want.

About
Dr. Casandra “Coach Cass” Henriquez is a bestselling author, certified love coach & matchmaker, and creator of the Real Love Network. Known for her relatable and results-oriented approach, Coach Cass has helped thousands of professional women break free from dating frustrations to create meaningful relationships.

Her book, Wanted Woman: The Busy Woman’s Guide to Attracting and Choosing a Love That Lasts, has made her a trusted voice for women who want to approach dating with clarity and ease.

Event Details

When: January 31 to February 1, 2025
Where: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Investment: $3,500
How to register: Register online at WantedWoman.com/intensive

This all-inclusive weekend includes accommodations, gourmet meals, workshops, mock dates, and real-time feedback. Applications are now open for only 12 spots.