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Jatori Harris

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- When Jatori Harris took the reins of organizing the 2017/’18 Inland Empire Million March from former organizer, Terry Boykins, he wanted to foster an unresolved passion facing him for many years, and that being not having any of his parents take him to the first day of school, especially his father. 

Growing up without a father and later experiencing his mother being sentenced to prison, Jatori found himself placed in foster care at age eight.

After living with relatives for a short period while bouncing from home to home, he finally thought hope was in sight when he had secured a place of consistency with his aunt.  Only to later have his life shift, once again, when she too was sentenced to prison.

By age seventeen, he exited foster care and began his journey and search for life’s purpose and clarity. Of which, would eventually lead to a mentoring relationship and lifelong mission of giving back to the community.

Now, at age 33 and a father of two, Jatori stated, “Fatherhood is important to me because I know how much I needed and wanted my mother and father, but had to go without.  So, my passion of doing right by my children is the most important thing to me as a person, a big brother and now as a mentor myself.”

On Saturday, September 16, Jatori is reaching back and giving back by recognizing foster and father-absent youth, as well as, former foster youth now fathers during a day of fatherhood importance and awareness at the Fiesta Village Family Fun Center in Colton, CA.  Colton’s Mayor, Richard DeLaRosa, will welcome guests and attendees.

He is inviting the entire community to attend and enjoy a special dedication for those students who do not have active fathers in their lives.  Additionally, Jatori is asking anyone who would like to sponsor a foster or father-absent youth to attend and enjoy a Fiesta Village All Day Ride Pass, $14.95, to visit www.streetpositive.com and pledge support.  Or, call him at (909) 520-0286. The event will start at 10 a.m.

Harris says he is looking forward to his new tenure as the I.E. Million Father March organizer, and is adamant about pushing the importance of #FathersForEducation campaign in the years to come. Also, thanks to Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County, there will be very special giveaways for the community to enjoy during the morning kick-off celebration.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

For being chosen to walk the runway in this year “Ankara Fest LA” the biggest African cultural festival in the United States. With her beautiful features and at just 4′ 11″ tall, Krystal proves once again – that you don’t have to be super tall to become a successful model!  As the founder of MKY Petite Modeling Agency, she quotes Napoleon Hill, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.” 

Yes, the Belasco Theater was the place to be September 1 to September 4. Festivities included Red Carpet and Cocktail, Runway Showcase, Artist Performance, Exhibitors/Vendors Showcase, Comedy, Best Dressed Male & Female Awards, dance and food with live music throughout the night and during the fashion show.  It was a fantastic, memorable evening.

“Los Angeles home to one of the largest celebrations of African fashion, culture, heritage, music, dance and art. In its mission to create social awareness for cultural pride, Ankara Festival serves as creative gathering place for fashion designers, models, exhibitors and individuals at the forefront of afro centric innovation.”

Miss Krystal Yvonne, “continue to be like the eagle: soar high, and drop your food onto rocks to crack them open.”  Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for your continued success!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Friday, September 8, the San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation will be hosting its Annual Black Rose and Humanitarian of the Year Community Service Awards Banquet. The annual event will take place at 6 p.m. in the Renaissance Ballroom at the National Orange Show Events Center located at 689 South E Street in San Bernardino.

San Bernardino Black Culture Foundation is proud to announce this year’s recipients which are: Humanitarian of the Year, Gwendolyn Rodgers; Community Service Award, Clarisa Howard; Black Rose Awards, Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Lesford Duncan, and Jamie Rios.

Please join us in congratulating our well-deserved recipients. Tickets are $65 per person for dinner or $750 for a table of ten. To purchase yours, please visit www.sbbcfoundation.com or http://2017blackrose.eventbrite.com/?s=75272501.

Dorothy Inghram

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The San Bernardino County Board of Education voted to name its newest facility after the first African American teacher in San Bernardino County, Dorothy Inghram, during its meeting on September 5.

The board, which voted unanimously (5-0) for the naming, officially will call the new site the San Bernardino County Board of Education Dorothy Inghram Learning Center. The new building is located at 670 E. Carnegie Drive in San Bernardino.

“(Dorothy) was the Harriet Tubman of education for African American students in San Bernardino County,” said Sherman Garnett, president of the County Board. “This is true history right here.”

Inghram, who was born and raised in San Bernardino, graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1923. She graduated from San Bernardino Valley College in 1932 and wrote the school’s alma mater. In 1942, she was hired to teacher second grade at the Mill School, the first African American teacher in the county.

In 1945, she became a teaching principal at the Mill School, becoming the full-time principal in 1951. In 1953, she became the superintendent of the Mill School District, the first African-American in California to be a district superintendent. She lived to be 106 years old before passing away in 2012.

The new facility will serve as an administrative site for Regional Occupational Program and East Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) staff, a cybersecurity career technical education training center, house regular County Board of Education meetings and provide conference rooms for educational leadership workshops and events. 

The board considered 45 names for the new facility before ultimately choosing the name honoring Inghram.

By Naomi K. Bonman

As you drive around Southern California, you can’t help but to notice graffiti. It’s on the freeway bridges, ramps, train cars, abandon buildings, and just about every flat surface that is in attention to the general public.

Graffiti frustrates many because they feel as if it destructs the city unless it is done in a tasteful manner. Over the recent years, we have seen more graffiti artists who have turned their art into something more positive and of value, such as Rialto, California’s own WetPaint Larry.

“I’ve been painting for a long time,” he states on what inspires him to paint. “Everything around me inspires me to go harder. I have a lot of things that I paint that makes me feel good.”

WetPaint Larry started off doing graffiti but now he paints murals for small businesses, cities, and schools. He is known well regionally and has built up an impressive social media following with over 15,000 followers on Instagram. Larry’s accomplishments recently earned him recognition in the “Under 30 Awards” that was presented by Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes. 

“That was a good highlight for this year,” WetPaint Larry discusses his recent achievement. “That was something huge for me because when I went in there and looked around I seen high rank [city officials]. As I sat there, I thought ‘[Man], I’m among great people that are doing great work. So, for me that’s huge from being a graffiti artist to getting that award. I look at it all the time.”

Since his latest city achievement, WetPaint Larry has been on the grind with trying to secure more jobs for himself in the schools. He is looking forward to expanding beyond Rialto and has had school officials from Fontana and San Bernardino call him to do some work for their schools.

You can check out WetPaint Larry’s work on his Instagram page @wetpaintlarry and if you want to collaborate with him on a project send him a direct message via the platform.

Publishers Commentary by Wallace J. Allen

As we are mesmerized by the video visuals of the tragedy in Texas, we are also driven to tears of pride as we witness the heroic response from plain folk volunteers.  The expected first responders are needed and extremely appreciated; however, the truth is that the real first responders are often potential victims that were prepared for an unexpected emergency. The clean water and plastic bags for personal waste go a long way when strangers are herded to a safe-from-danger-spot that has room, but no accommodations for a large gathering of people. Shelters are temporary spaces, such as churches, schools and stadiums that are seldom, if ever, able to accommodate at any level of comfort.

We have seen the Texas tragedy cause people to open their homes to strangers! That is a great storyline that will probably soon be countered by stories exemplifying the other side of human nature.  There will be examples of real looting, not just the “emergency borrowing” that some did survive. There will be stories about folks who were ridiculed by people who could have helped. 

The rain is moving out of Texas into neighboring states where it will eventually normalize. Texans and the nation will feel the ripple effect of the human toll of death and property loss for years! Recovery from the coming health issues will be countered by “economic opportunity”. There will be growth and development, but the memories of pain will remain throughout the lives of some.

I pray that this evidence of unexpected devastation will cause more people to realize the importance of each other! There may come a time of tragedy when the people that you disagree with will be the same people that you will be depending on for help.

We do not have to agree with each other about how we got here, but we do need to respect the fact that we are here together!  Friends do not have to agree, they should only be friendly!

(from left to right) CEO of Black Business Expo, Jerry Green; President of the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, Tammy Martin-Ryles; Black is Lit Founder, Winter Minisee; and Host of “Empire Talks Back”, Wallace.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Sunday’s “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) radio broadcast was amazing as usual.  Their special guest, Winter Minisee, 16-year old founder of ‘Black is Lit’, had no problem tackling all our world issues. Watch the video of the show live at www.ustream.tv/search?q=empire+talks+back.

ETB is broadcast each Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050-AM, 102.3 FM and 106.5 FM Radio, and it streams live at www.kcaaradio.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Last week Assemblymember Eloise Reyes launched her inaugural Senior Advocacy Week from August 14 to 18.  During Senior Advocacy Week Assemblymember Reyes visited 15 senior facilities and met directly with hundreds of seniors to hear about their challenges and to identify ways on how to improve the quality of life for seniors in the Inland Empire.

“With over 200,000 Seniors in San Bernardino County, their specific issues and concerns can’t be ignored,” said Assemblymember Reyes “We will take a proactive approach to address the serious issues that are impacting their daily lives. In the 8 months since I have been in office seniors have shared with me the inequitable policies that diminish their quality of life, including lack of income, public transportation, unnecessary fees, lack of community spaces and affordable housing.”

The next decade is expected to see a boom in the over 65 population in California.  According to the Public Policy Institute of California the senior population in California will grow by four million people.  By 2030 over 1 million seniors are expected to need some assistance with self-care and another 100,000 will require nursing home care which will have a direct impact on state funding for senior care.  This has far reaching implications as the state will need more facilities and trained workers to assist the senior population as well as policies that allow seniors to stay longer in their own homes.  California will need a spectrum of policy responses to protect and advance the needs of aging populations.

RIVERSIDE, CA- On Saturday, August 20, Riverside Community Health Foundation held their annual “My Hair, My Health” conference at Riverside City College. The conference featured speakers, vendors, activities and a documentary screening. Dr. Leita Harris, of Nurturing You Women’s Health and Wellness, spoke on “My Hair, My Hormones”. Dr. Dede Teteh also spoke where she held a dialogue session entitled, “Sister to Sister.”

Kim Carter

SACRAMENTO, CA- On Tuesday, August 15, Time For Change Foundation founder, Kim Carter, traveled to Sacramento for her Governor’s Pardon Review. It has been 24 years in the making. Time For Change’s mission is to empower disenfranchised, low-income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs and housing to create self-sufficiency and thriving communities.

Carter has led an extraordinary life. Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, she overcame a dark past filled with addiction, abuse, homelessness, and imprisonment. During her battle, one choice would change the course of her life forever: she was chosen to participate in rehabilitative program and for the first time in her life she was offered treatment and a solution.

After treatment and counseling, Carter began working as an accountant. She had reintegrated back into society and was able to reunify with her daughter. Life was finally good, but she felt that there was still more for her.

“I knew that my life had meaning and that I had to go through the darkness to get to where I am today,” said Carter.

After starting Time for Change Foundation she knew she had found her purpose. Aside from providing homeless women and children with a place to call home, she became an advocate and started to develop leaders out of the women she was helping.

Over the last 15 years, Carter and TFCF have helped over 1,000 homeless women and children in San Bernardino County achieve self-sufficiency, 227 children have been reunified with their mothers, and in 2015 she was honored as one of CNN’s top 10 heroes of the year.

Her impact on society is evident through her advocacy work and history of awards and accolades from esteemed public figures and organizations. Through her work, she has empowered others to be the agent of change by using their voices and votes to make a difference. She is a published author, motivational speaker, and life coach and trainer. Carter is instrumental in making laws and creating programs that work to end homelessness, which includes emergency shelter, permanent supportive, and affordable housing services. 

When asked why she pursued a Governor’s Pardon, Carter responded, “I want my life to be a testimony and to break the generational cycle of incarceration. I want to leave a positive legacy for my family. This is something that I pray will have an everlasting impact for many generations to come. They will have the freedom and opportunities to make a far greater impact in the world than I.”