Tag Archives: Black History Month

SASEBO, JAPAN-Capt. Jeffrey Ward, (center) commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and representatives of the ship’s Heritage Committee participate in a cake cutting following an African American/Black History Month celebration on the ship’s mess decks. Bonhomme Richard, forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan, is serving forward to provide a rapid-response capability in the event of a regional contingency or natural disaster.

Valley Star Community Services is pleased to invite the community to its first annual Black History Month presentations at three different schools in the San Bernardino Unified School District from February 25-27. This program is being offered as part of a contract with the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health to promote resiliency among African-American students and their families. Services are funded through the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63).

Students will perform African dances in traditional attire that were choreographed by “Sista” Jewel Jackson, the choreographer for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams and a professor at Cal Poly Pomona. Reverend Dennis Morgan Brown will perform an oratory of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Black Voice will have an African-American artifacts show as well.  The students will also share more about the inventors, educators and scientists that they have learned about.

The schedule for the program is: Wednesday February 25, at 2:30 p.m. at Del Rosa Elementary School, 3395 Mountain Ave, San Bernardino; Thursday, February 26, at 10:00 a.m. at Jones Elementary, 700 N. F Street, San Bernardino; and Friday February 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Hunts Elementary, 1342 Pumalo Street in San Bernardino.

“We look forward to continuing our great relationships with these schools, parents and students and rewarding them with a day of pride and recognition for their hard work,” said Wandalyn Lane, Program Manager of the Promoting Resiliency in African American Children (PRAAC) program.  PRAAC has served more than 500 youth in its first year. “This program is making a difference in kids’ lives.  I had one girl tell me that this program is making a big difference for Black kids like her younger brother and that she wished there was a program like this when she was in school.”

For more information about the Black History Month programs through PRAAC, call (909) 388-2222 or 711 for TTY users.  Valley Star is a program of Stars Behavioral Health Group:  www.starsinc.com

Tremaine Mitchell (second from left), director of Operations for the Youth Action Project, receives the Community Partnership Award from Southern California Edison (SCE) during SCE’s recent Black History Month celebration. SCE President Pedro Pizarro (second from right), Tammy Tumbling, director of Philanthropy and Community Involvement (right) and Qiana Charles (left), local public affairs manager, presented the award to the organization for successfully helping youth and young adults in the development of skills and habits needed to experience economic and social success. Since 2007, it has hired and trained more than 200 local college students, provided more than 90,000 work experience and community service hours and provided tutoring and mentoring to more than 1,000 high school students within the San Bernardino Unified School District.

Photos by:  Southern California Edison

Edison Scholar Kyanne Parchment, 18, spoke at Southern California Edison’s 13th annual Black History Month celebration. A graduate of Henry J. Kaiser High School in Fontana, Kyanne engaged the audience by discussing how the $40,000 Edison Scholarship she received last year to pursue her studies in the STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) fields has provided her with much more than the funds needed to attend and graduate from college. Before entering college, the college freshmen dreamed about developing programs and apps. But now, she strives to create a virtual classroom to make STEM classes more readily available to diverse students. “I think we need more ‘Edisons’ to help give a greater number of minorities a chance to succeed and explore the STEM fields,” she said. “There are many other students with tremendous abilities who just need a helping hand.”
More of her story can be found at Edison’s newsroom.

ROSEMEAD, CA- Southern California Edison (SCE) will honor the Compton Unified School District, the Inglewood Unified School District, the Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and the Youth Action Project at its 13^th annual Black History Month celebration today at SCE’s Energy Education Center in Irwindale.

A crowd of 300 is expected at the event, which honors the achievements of local African-American businesses and leaders, their contributions to economic growth, service to the community and participation in energy-efficiency programs.

“This celebration recognizes the importance of African-American contributions to our communities, our state and our nation,” said SCE President Pedro Pizarro.  “SCE serves one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the country and serving our customers means embracing and incorporating diversity into everything we do.

Bonnie Boswell, a reporter, producer, commentator and talk-show host, served as keynote speaker during Southern California Edison’s recent Black History Month event focused on “Celebrating Business and Community Partnerships” with the theme of “Giving Back.” She is executive producer of “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” a film about her uncle that first lady Michelle Obama presented at the White House during the 50th anniversary celebration of the March on Washington.

“Our partnerships with our business and community leaders are the foundation of the service we provide to our customers,” added Lisa Cagnolatti, vice president of SCE’s Business Customer Division.  “Southern California Edison’s annual Black History Month event is an opportunity to show our appreciation to them and to the communities we serve.”

Bonnie Boswell, a reporter, producer, commentator and talk-show host, will serve as keynote speaker. She is executive producer of “The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights,” a film about her uncle that first lady Michelle Obama presented at the White House during the 50^th anniversary celebration of the March on Washington.

The Compton and Inglewood school districts will be honored with SCE’s Energy Efficiency Participation Award for energy conservation at their respective school sites. Their participation in the School Energy Efficiency Program has saved both school districts money on electricity consumption and helped create more comfortable learning environments for students.

Alvin Jenkins, director of Facilities for the Compton district, and Joe Dominguez, chief deputy superintendent for the Inglewood district, will accept the award for their school districts.

The Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce is the recipient of SCE’s Diverse Business Enterprise Award for its commitment to the economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial and educational interests of the area. Linda Wright, president/CEO/founder of the chamber, will accept the award.

The Youth Action Project will receive SCE’s Community Partnership Award. It has successfully helped youth and young adults in the development of skills and habits needed to experience economic and social success. Since 2007, it has hired and trained more than 200 local college students, provided more than 90,000 work experience and community service hours and provided tutoring and mentoring to more than 1,000 high school students within the San Bernardino Unified School District.

Tremaine Mitchell, director of operations for the project, will accept the award.

Kyanne Parchment, a 2014 Edison Scholar who attends the University of California, Davis, will give a testimonial highlighting the difference her $40,000 scholarship has made in her life. The West Covina resident, who graduated from Henry J. Kaiser High School last year, is majoring in engineering and computer science.

This year’s event theme is “Giving Back” and the focus is “Celebrating Business and Community Partnerships.”

Chris Schauble, a co-anchor for the KTLA 5 Morning News, will serve as emcee.

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

Linda Wright (middle), president/CEO/founder of the Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, shares a moment with Southern California Edison (SCE) President Pedro Pizarro (left) and Lisa Cagnolatti (right), vice president, Business Customer Division during SCE’s annual Black History Month celebration. The chamber was the recipient of the Diverse Business Enterprise Award for its commitment to the economic, civic, commercial, cultural, industrial and educational interests of the area.

Compton Unified School District Director of Facilities Alvin Jenkins (fourth from left) and Superintendent Darin Brawley (third from right) accepts the Energy Efficiency Participation Award for energy conservation at schools in their district during Southern California Edison’s recent Black History Month celebration. SCE President Pedro Pizarro (second from right) and Lisa Cagnolatti (right), vice president, Business Customer Division joined other company representatives in honoring the district for its commitment to save money on electricity consumption and create a more comfortable learning environment for students.

Inglewood Unified School District Chief Deputy Superintendent Joe Dominguez (fourth from left) accepts the Energy Efficiency Participation Award for energy conservation at schools in his district during Southern California Edison’s recent Black History Month Celebration. SCE President Pedro Pizarro (third from right) and Lisa Cagnolatti (second from right), vice president, Business Customer Division joined other company representatives in honoring the district for its commitment to save money on electricity consumption and create a more comfortable learning environment for students.

Some of the Media representatives (Photo courtesy of Charles Jackson, City Pride Magazine)