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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- First 5 San Bernardino is celebrating 25 years of prioritizing young children’s early development in San Bernardino County.  The organization strengthens families with children prenatal through 5 years old through three strategic priority areas – child health, quality early learning and family support.

First 5 San Bernardino was founded in 1998 and funded by Proposition 10 – The California Children and Families Act – through excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products.  The revenue from this tax supports the various programs supported through the organization.

“What began from an effort to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco has evolved into a collective impact where tens of thousands of children, parents and caregivers have been served through our programs, services and partnerships,” said Executive Director Karen Scott, First 5 San Bernardino.  “We have worked hard to build meaningful partnerships with organizations in our county who share in our mission to improve the lives of our children and their families.”

Over the past 25 years, First 5 San Bernardino has built sustaining collaborations with dozens of partner agencies, nonprofits and community stakeholders to help thousands of families. Engagement with programs such as Quality Start, Help Me Grow, Maternal Health Network, Smile SBC, Footsteps2Brilliance and more, ensure that all children in San Bernardino County are healthy, safe, nurtured and prepared to thrive.

Two Inland Empire programs that First 5 San Bernardino has served as a critical partner are Reach Out and Read and Help Me Grow. Marti Baum, MD, pediatrician and medical director of Community Health at Loma Linda University Health, has served as a physician champion for both programs.

“We congratulate First 5 San Bernardino for 25 years of exceptional work on behalf of children in our community,” said Dr. Baum.  “Our region is making significant progress in collaborating on early intervention and prevention goals, so all children are kindergarten-ready by age 5.  Thanks to First 5 San Bernardino, we have distributed over 100,000 books to children during well child visits across 30 pediatric clinics.

“Help Me Grow Inland Empire has screened over 15,000 children since its inception in 2021 and together with First 5 San Bernardino, has created a future where even more children will be screened for developmental and social risks to identify the need for early intervention services,” concluded Dr. Baum.

First 5 San Bernardino’s three priority areas are supported by annual campaigns that launch at different times throughout the year. In the winter, the organization executes an oral health campaign called “Little Teeth, Big Responsibility” that emphasizes the importance of pediatric oral health.  Summer focuses on child safety in the hot months through its “Kid Safe Summer” campaign, and “Gift a Kid a Book” happens each fall encouraging early reading to build developmental learning skills.

In its 25^th year, the organization has a dedicated logo that will be used throughout 2024 to celebrate the milestone.  Other efforts include updated branding, new partnerships and innovative marketing and social media efforts.

The organization continues to grow in its community outreach efforts to meet the needs of families across the large footprint of San Bernardino County, the largest county by geography in the contiguous United States.  First 5 San Bernardino continues to collaborate with partners at community events throughout the year to provide resources and information to families. This includes everything from providing free school supplies and books, to water safety materials and promoting special programs.

For more information on First 5 San Bernardino, visit First5SanBernardino.org.

RIALTO, CA—- Rialto’s commitment to public safety was on full display Monday, May 13, as more than 100 City and civic leaders help break ground on a state-of-the-art, 58,000-square-foot Police Facility. Construction started on the new facility earlier this month and is anticipated to finish by late 2026. The existing police station will remain operational during the construction period, with no interruption in service.

By building the new station now, the city will be able to meet the public safety and quality-of-life needs well into the future. By 2035, Rialto forecasts its population to exceed 111,000, along with continued business expansion that has made it a critical economic and employment hub within the Inland Empire. Police staffing by 2035 is projected to reach 169 sworn officers and 91 civilian staff.

“This has been a long road, but we’ve finally gotten here, with the help of a lot of people. This station is for the men and women of the Rialto Police Department. You are, by far, the finest in this state, if not this nation, and you deserve the finest facility to operate in. This is a new chapter for Rialto and Rialto PD, and I’m thrilled that we can celebrate this together,” said Rialto City Councilmember Ed Scott who was part of the committee that planned the new facility.

Last November, the City Council approved a development agreement with Griffin, Swinerton and a financing agreement that includes the issuing of lease revenue bonds to help cover the projected $83 million cost of the project. The City contributed $26 million from its unrestricted fund balance – money that is not part of the General Fund or other operating reserves as equity toward the project. The balance, estimated at roughly $57 million, is financed through the sale of bonds. The agreement with Griffin Swinerton reflects an innovative public-private partnership which streamlines the development process.

“When I got up this morning to get here for the groundbreaking, I thought about what this means to the people of our community, and the first word that came to me was ‘transformation.’ I’m proud to see to see the transformation that occurring, not just with the police station but with other projects that are improving the quality of life across our city,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson, who also served on the station planning committee.

“On behalf of the Rialto Police Department, we are honored to serve the Rialto community and we’re looking forward to this new police facility to set the standard for law enforcement,” said Mark Kling, Chief of Police who has served in that capacity since 2017, and also served as Chief of Police for Rialto from 2001 to 2012.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA —- Golden Valley Middle School (GVMS) in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is taking center stage as a School to Watch, according to the California Department of Education (CDE), the California League of Middle Schools, the California Middle Grades Alliance and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

“Their focus on health and wellness and the high expectations they place on student achievement are just a few reasons why Golden Valley Middle School SHINES,” said SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano.

GVMS is one of only eight middle schools in San Bernardino County and 52 middle schools statewide to earn this state designation. Golden Valley originally earned the designation in 2018 and was redesignated in 2021. This 2024 redesignation affirms that Golden Valley continues to be:

• Academically challenging and engaging;
• Responsive to the diverse needs of students, including offering quality programs that target the needs of the whole child;
• Socially equitable, providing every student with high-quality educational resources and support.

Among the practices that earned Golden Valley the Schools to Watch designation are its dedication to student and family wellness and activities designed to create a positive school climate.

“Students can’t focus on learning when they aren’t feeling well, when they are dealing with mental illness, when they aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from or when they fear for their family’s health and wellness,” said GVMS Principal Gabriel Diaz. “That’s why we expanded our focus beyond just our students’ academic needs to their social-emotional needs and the needs of their immediate families.”

Teachers work hard to create safe learning spaces by creating maps for successful learning that are clear and understandable. By using a common language for expressing themselves, students know what they need to be successful and how to ask for the help they need, and teachers know where to focus their support. This teamwork approach allows students to feel safe and supported as they learn new concepts and face challenges in and out of the classroom.

School staff and counselors offer a variety of health and wellness resources to students and their families. This includes health screenings, access to therapy and mental health providers, food banks, transportation to access these services and more.

About San Bernardino City Unified School District:

The San Bernardino City Unified School District is California’s eighth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares more than 46,000 students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities.

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) announced last week she is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill to honor Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress.

Butler, the only Black woman currently serving in the U.S. Senate, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA.) proposed the legislation to posthumously endow Chisholm with Congress’s highest award in commemoration of her accomplishments, activism, and legacy.

If the bill passes, Congress will present Chisholm, who was elected in 1968 to represent New York’s 12th District in the United States Congress with the Congressional Gold Medal. A statue of Chisholm will also be erected in the U.S. Capitol in her memory.

“Shirley Chisholm left a mark on our nation’s history that demands its own recognition,” Butler said.

“She was a trailblazer — the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first to run for President — who opened doors for generations of Black women,” Butler added.

Chisholm, a lifelong public servant, worked in education and social services before being elected as the second African American to the New York State Assembly in 1964. She is remembered as a passionate leader who advocated for women and minorities through legislation she introduced and supported.

Warnock said Chisholm’s legacy inspired him to fight for the rights and well-being of Black Americans.

“Shirley Chisholm broke barriers for Black women, Black Americans, and any American who refuses to be confined by injustice,” Warnock said.

“As an educator, and a trailblazing Congresswoman and presidential candidate, she fought for an inclusive democracy, one that lives up to our nation’s highest ideals of equity and justice under law,” he added.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is proud to announce that the nonprofit organization Pure Land Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Education Medal of Honor for its outstanding contributions to the community through its mobile food pantry initiative.

The award was presented on April 29 by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre at the 2024 Spring Awards in recognition of Pure Land Foundation’s dedication to addressing food insecurity and providing essential support to thousands of families in need.

Pure Land Foundation’s mobile food pantry initiative has been a lifeline for families facing food insecurity in our community, particularly during challenging times. Through this initiative, the organization distributes nutritious food items directly to families in underserved areas, ensuring that they have access to healthy meals and essential resources. The mobile food pantry visits various neighborhoods throughout San Bernardino, always operating out of SBCUSD campuses and with support from dozens of student volunteers, serving about a thousand families each month and making a meaningful difference in their lives.

“SBCUSD is honored to have nominated Pure Land Foundation for the Education Medal of Honor, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to them on this well-deserved recognition,” said Superintendent Mauricio Arellano. “We’re working hard to elevate not just our school district but also our community. If we’re able to meet a lot of the basic needs of our families, we believe that’s going to have a monumental impact not just to the district but to the city as a whole. Pure Land Foundation’s commitment to serving our community aligns with our District’s mission to support the well-being of all students and families. We are grateful for their partnership and the invaluable support they provide to our community.”

Pure Land Foundation’s efforts exemplify the spirit of compassion and service that strengthens our community, according to Pure Land Foundation’s founder and CEO Michael Tsai, who accepted the award on the nonprofit’s behalf.

“We as community partners want to help,” Tsai said in a moving acceptance speech. “We believe that education is the great equalizer, however not every family and not every child starts off on the same footing as one another.”

For more information about Pure Land Foundation and their mobile food pantry initiative, visit www.facebook/pureland.ie.

About San Bernardino City Unified School District:

The San Bernardino City Unified School District is California’s eighth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares more than 46,000 students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities.

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

Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) addressed a group of advocates and activists, including formerly incarcerated men and women at the State Capitol last week.  She promised them that she is determined to advance Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 “across the finish line” for voters’ to decide in a November General Election referendum.

Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), was speaking at an April 29 rally at the State Capitol organized to promote “The End Slavery in California Act,” a measure that Wilson authored to amend the California Constitution, abolishing involuntary servitude in prisons across the state.

“For me, it’s a priority to reassert our unwavering commitment to ACA 8 but not just myself as the author but also the entire legislative Black caucus,” Wilson said at the rally held on the southeast end of the State Capitol’s grounds.

“This is not just legislation. It is a declaration of our value and resolve to end all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude in our state. ACA is vital because it proposes to remove the ‘exception’ for involuntary servitude from the state’s constitution, declaring unequivocally that all forms of slavery are prohibited,” she added.

The “Quest for Democracy (Q4D)” rally was hosted by All of Us or None of Us (AOUNOU), a grassroots civil and human rights organization focused on supporting formerly and currently incarcerated people and their families.

AOUNOU members, advocates, justice-impacted leaders, and supporters from all over the state of California attended the rally and other activities organized around the event in Sacramento. Their goal was to educate lawmakers and participants about prison reform and the importance of ACA 8.

In addition to the morning-to-midafternoon rally, an exhibit of 400 black-and-white photos was on display. AOUNOU collected images from family members of individuals who allegedly died “at the hands of law enforcement,” one of the markers at the exhibit stated.

During the rally, many former incarcerated individuals, along with organizers, and supporters took turns performing songs, reading poems, and sharing their experiences working in California’s penal institutions. They also shared stories detailing the repercussions they suffered in prisons when they refused to work.

The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution was ratified in 1865. It prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude with one exception: if involuntary servitude was imposed as punishment for a crime.

John Cannon, a member of AOUNOU, performed his hip-hop song, “No Exception: All of Us or None of Us” at the rally. He revealed that he served time in prison and was forced to work in various roles without the ability to object. He worked in warehouses, as a firefighter, and in other jobs. Understanding that the “prison industrial complex is a well-oiled machine,” he said, his mission is to see that forced labor is no longer an option.

“Sometimes I don’t think my voice is heard but since I’ve become a member of (AOUNOU) my voice has been heard. Especially for Quest for Democracy, for people like me who have been incarcerated before,” Cannon said. “I am able to go to the State Capitol and get our voices heard in a collective fashion. The issue that is really important to me right now is ending and removing involuntary servitude from the State’s Constitution.”

Article 1, Section 6 of the California Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as punishment for a crime.” Former state Sen. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) originally proposed ACA 3 in 2020, when she served in the Assembly, to remove this exception.

The Senate failed to pass ACA 3, the California Abolition Act in July 2022, preventing the measure from being placed on the November General Election ballot for voters to approve or reject.

Following Kamlager-Dove’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2022 to replace Rep. Karen Bass, who is now the mayor of Los Angeles, Wilson took up the cause when she was elected to the Assembly. The Assembly approved ACA 8 last September. It will be heard next in the Senate.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union: California Action, over 65% of the people in prisons reportedly being forced to work are performing essential jobs like firefighting and paving roads.

In 2022, incarcerated workers made up 43% of the state’s firefighters, ACLU revealed. After serving time and being released from prison the formerly incarcerated are often denied public safety jobs such as firefighters.

“Incarcerated individuals can have severe inhumane punishment for not working, including physical violence and solitary confinement,” Wilson said. “This is not justice. This is exploitation. Period. These punishments can be imposed for absences caused by injury or illness. The relations between incarcerated individuals and work should not be one of exploitation but one of rehabilitation and preparation for reintegration in our society.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Omnitrans and the city of Fontana will host an Art @ Transit event on Saturday, April 27, combining a community clean-up day at a popular transit center while recognizing local artists who have been beautifying our community by painting agency bus benches.

“Art @ Transit is a great opportunity to enhance our community by sprucing up one of our busiest Transit Centers and celebrating the artists who have done amazing work to beautify our bus benches,” said agency CEO/General Manager Erin Rogers.

The project represents the culmination of the agency’s popular Beautiful Benches Project, a grant-funded effort (Creative Corps Inland Socal, California Arts Council) in which local artists are selected to paint bus benches utilizing local cultural and historical themes. To date, 32 benches have been painted throughout the 15 cities Omnitrans serves.

All are invited to join the agency at the Fontana Transit Center at 11:00 a.m. on the 27th to participate in a community clean-up effort, followed by a bench artwork display, artist meet & greet, live musical performances, refreshments, and connection with local art organizations from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. For further information, visit Omnitrans.org/art-transit-2024.

It’s National Volunteer Month and not only is the San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) celebrating and recognizing the contributions of its current volunteers, but the museum is also looking to expand its dedicated volunteer team!

Are you interested in history, art, science, or culture? Do you want to give back to your community? SBCM is currently seeking new volunteers to assist with visitor services, special events, educational tours and conducting research in the archives.

This support is essential to the museum’s ongoing operation. But it’s more than that – the knowledge and expertise of our volunteers enriches and deepens the impact of the museum’s programs, educational field trips and school tours, and events. Volunteers help create memorable experiences for our community and inspire the next generation of San Bernardino County history.

A volunteer can be anyone 15 years of age or older that can commit to a minimum of six hours per month.  Many volunteers are high school, college, and graduate students, retirees, or curious individuals looking to learn and serve their community.

Volunteer opportunities are available at both the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands and the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley in the following areas:

• Educational Tours
• Visitor Services
• Special Events
• Collections
• Research Library
• Marketing

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or intern at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands or the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley, you can attend our Volunteer Open House on Tuesday, April 21 at 3:30 p.m. in Redlands. For more information about volunteering, please visit our website at museum.sbcounty.gov/volunteer.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and Museum Foundation members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to people with disabilities.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

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

Although California will have to make significant budget cuts to balance its budget as required by state law, Assemblymember and California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) member Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) said there are still ways to achieve reparations for Black Californians.

Currently, the budget deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year has been projected to be as high as $73 billion.

Bryan said it will be “absolutely difficult,” but the state is still investing in other priority programs, various essential industries, oil companies, and prisons. The 32-year-old lawmaker made these observations at the California Budget and Policy Center (Budget Center) annual Policy Insights conference held April 16 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.

“(California) has the 4th or 5th largest economy in the world. There will be $300 billion coming out of California State government,” Bryan said. “So, you can’t tell me that we don’t have the resources to foundationally begin reparations conversations or to start to make amends to start to do the repair work when we can invest in these institutions.”

The Budget Center is a nonpartisan, research and analysis nonprofit dedicated to advancing meaningful public policies that enhance the lives of Californians. It is also committed to exposing inequities in the state, budget priorities, and public policies that affect low and middle-income households, women, immigrants, American Indians, Asians, Black, Latinx, and Pacific Islander Californians.

The Budget Center’s Policy Insights 2024 conference brought together diverse stakeholders, including community advocates, government officials, nonprofits, and members of the media. The conference featured 11 workshops and plenary sessions covering topics in tax and budget policy, poverty, racial equity, housing and homelessness, child development, and more.

During the conference’s luncheon plenary session, titled “Policy Pathways to Reparations,” discussions were centered around the topic of reparations.

The session explored courses of action for securing reparations, guided by a 2023 task force report that examined the damages endured by African Americans as a result of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and legal and illegal discriminatory practices that were a part of the country’s culture for centuries.

Bryan was joined by Felicia Jones, the Director of Programs and Operations for Social Good Solutions and The Black Equity Collective; James Woodson, from the California Black Power Network and African Americans and the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT); and Don Tamaki, a former member of the California Reparations Task Force and Senior Counsel, Minami Tamaki LLP.  The moderator was John Kim, a member of the Budget Center Board of Directors and President and CEO of Catalyst California.

Woodson acknowledged that it would take more than members of the CLBC to pave the way toward reparations in the state. He said it would take a collective effort from people of all backgrounds to get the public and other lawmakers on board.

Both Woodson and Tamaki are members of AART. The organization’s mission is to raise public awareness about reparations and to build a base of multi-racial and multi-sector supporters in the state.

CLBC members Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) are also associated with ARRT. Both lawmakers were members of the California Reparations Task Force.

“There are hearts and minds we’ve got to change outside the Legislature,” Woodson said. “From a moral standpoint but also a practical standpoint that it just can’t be about Black communities and Black people. We have to have other communities standing with us.”

Several reparation bills presented by the CLBC as a whole or by separate members are working their way through the State Legislature.

Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Chair of the CLBC, stated in January, “While many only associate direct cash payments with reparations, the true meaning of the word, to repair, involves much more.”

Before discussions about financial payouts can take place, considering budget concerns, Wilson said that “a comprehensive approach to dismantling the legacy of slavery and systemic racism” is necessary.

Gov. Gavin Newsom presented a $291 billion spending plan to the California Legislature on Jan. 10. None of CLBC’s package of bills is tied to direct cash payments but Bryan did ask supporters at the conference to keep the conversation going about reparations.

“Don’t let the legislature or the governor off the hook,” Bryan said.

Tamaki, who is Japanese American, was the only non-Black member of the nine-person reparations task force. He told the Policy Insights attendees that “moving the needle” in the direction of public opinion, raising awareness, and passing the CLBC bills are the next steps in the push for reparations.

“Out of 115 (reparations) proposals for repair, only a few of them deal with individual compensation. The rest have to do with policies,” said Tamaki.  “For example, Black infant mortality over 10 years in San Francisco is literally five times the rate for White babies. So, these are the systematic outcomes we are familiar with that need to be addressed.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On April 12, a significant collaboration between the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD), California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), and the County of San Bernardino was formalized to combat student hunger. This collaboration is designed to expedite the qualification process for CalFresh, a critical federal aid program that provides monthly assistance for low-income individuals to purchase nutritious food.

The agreement will allow San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills College, and CSUSB to share specific financial information from student’s FAFSA applications with the San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department which manage CalFresh, with the consent of the students.

The urgency of this initiative is highlighted by findings from the California Student Aid Commission, which estimates that nearly 181,000 college students in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are at risk of facing hunger without CalFresh support. San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. reflected on his connection to the cause, stating, “As someone who has studied at both Valley College and CSUSB, I know the impact of food insecurity first-hand. With today’s economic pressures and high costs, addressing student hunger is more crucial than ever. This partnership is about removing barriers to education by ensuring no student goes hungry.”

SBCCD Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez emphasized the broader impact, noting, “Investing in student nutrition is investing in our local economy. Ensuring that students have consistent access to food not only boosts their academic performance but also prepares a stronger, more capable workforce for the future.”

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales highlighted the critical link between nutrition and learning, saying, “Hungry students cannot effectively pursue their educational goals. CSUSB is proud to participate in the CalFresh Program as it directly supports our students’ well-being and academic success. This data-sharing initiative will help us reach more eligible students and maintain our support throughout their educational journey.”

The MOU is officially effective and will expire on Dec. 18, 2028. CalFresh’s website describes the program as “for people with low income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.”