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SBVC Launches Machinist Training Pilot Program for ?Individuals with Autism   SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Among Americans with disabilities, there is a high rate of unemployment and underemployment — something San Bernardino Valley College and the Uniquely Abled Project are working to change.   This August, Valley College will launch a pilot program providing Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist training to individuals with autism. This first cohort of eight students will receive on-campus instruction and hands-on work experience using SBVC’s state-of-the-art machinist technology, with San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board later providing job placement.   The program will be made possible thanks to a $10,000 award from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, $15,000 from the San Bernardino  Valley College Foundation, and $10,000 from Goodwill. This $35,000 will cover the cost of a job coach who will assist students enrolled in the program.

“We are committed to equity in education and ensuring all students have access to educational opportunities at SBVC that will improve their quality of life,” SBVC Foundation Interim Director Mike Layne said.   The Uniquely Abled Project’s Uniquely Abled Academy Program offers vocational training and job development for high-functioning adults on the autism spectrum and has successfully placed more than 90 percent of its graduates with jobs. Using funds provided by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Goodwill purchased the Uniquely Abled Academy curriculum for SBVC.   “The Uniquely Abled Project is delighted to partner with SBVC to extend the benefits of a Uniquely Abled Academy to the manufacturers and uniquely abled individuals of the Inland Empire,” Uniquely Abled Project Founder and President Ivan Rosenberg said. “Manufacturers get the skilled CNC operators they need, and individuals with Level 1 autism will have good paying career jobs that will enable them to live productive and fulfilling lives. Our hope is that this will be the first of a number of UAAs in the Inland Empire.”   Machinist Prof. Miguel Ortiz first learned about the Uniquely Abled Project in 2017, and thought it would be a good avenue for SBVC to explore. A CNC machinist operates equipment that produce parts and tools made from plastic, metal, and other materials. There is a shortage of qualified CNC machinists in the manufacturing sector, and when students complete the Uniquely Abled Academy, they can get matched with jobs paying anywhere from $33,000 to $54,000 annually.   “For the individual and the industry, it’s a win-win,” Ortiz said. “Being a CNC operator is the most prevalent job and easiest way to get into the industry.”   The California Department of Rehabilitation will provide participant referrals to SBVC, and before starting the Uniquely Abled Academy Program, students will go through a screening process to ensure this is the right fit for them. Layne said the hope is to have a second, larger cohort start in 2022, and because of the key partnerships with the Department of Rehabilitation, Goodwill, and San Bernardino County Workforce Development, SBVC should be able to “successfully launch, grow, and sustain the project in future years.”   Jonathan Weldy, chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board’s Special Populations Committee, said the organization “applauds Valley College, the Uniquely Abled Project, and all of the supporters of this model program that will create great career opportunities for a segment of the population that is often left out. At Workforce Development, we look forward to working with program graduates and our business community in providing job placement services.”

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

From a pool of nine candidates, Mia Bonta, and Janani Ramachandran emerged as the two frontrunners in a special election held June 29 for the seat representing California’s 18th Assembly District.

A run-off election has been set for Aug. 31.

Bonta, an Alameda Unified School District School Board member, and social justice attorney Ramachandran will vie against each other to fill the seat Bonta’s husband Rob Bonta vacated when Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed him the state’s 34th Attorney General in March.

In last week’s poll, neither candidate reached the 50%-plus majority threshold to stave-off a runoff. As of July 31, Bonta had 22,551 votes (38.2%) while Ramachandran, in a distant second-place position had 14, 030 votes (23.7%).

“I’m honored and humbled by the outpouring of support from the diverse coalition we built over the course of this primary campaign,” Bonta said after preliminary results showed that she was leading Ramachandran by 40%.

“While we did not reach the 50% threshold tonight, momentum is on our side and I know we are ready to continue reaching out to earn every single vote to win in August,” she added.

Ramachandran expressed her gratitude to supporters.

“Thank you for believing that our grassroots movement for justice is winnable, because fearless progressive change is what our District wants and deserves,” said Ramachandran. “You helped us stun the political

experts who didn’t see our grassroots surge coming. Naysayers who didn’t believe in the strength of people-powered movements.”

California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber’s office will certify special election results for Assembly District 18 on July 8.

Malia Vella is currently in third place with 10,049 votes (17.0%), the last candidate in the double-digit range.

AD 18 includes most of Oakland, San Leandro and Alameda. About 65% of voters there are Democrat, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. It is one of the largest bases of liberal voters in the state. Bonta and Ramachandran are both Democrats.

Depending on the results Aug. 31, Bonta, who is Afro-Latina, could join the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) as the group’s 11th member.

Bonta would also be the CLBC’s first member from the Bay Area since Sandré Swanson served in the Assembly. Swanson, who represented the 16th Assembly District from 2006 to 2012, was also former Deputy Mayor of Oakland and served as chief of staff to U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13).

The 16th Assembly District cuts across parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties and covers Orinda and parts of Walnut Creek and the Tri-Valley.

Bonta was elected to the Alameda Unified School District School Board in 2018 and currently serves as board president. She has been endorsed by Lee; California’s junior U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla; California Treasurer Fiona Ma; Secretary of State Shirley Weber; the California Teachers Association; Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California; and Equality California.

Bonta her campaign’s message rests on three key pillars: housing, education, and addressing homelessness.

Between 2015 and 2019, the number of homeless people living in Oakland increased by 86%, according to According to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Point-in-Time (PIT) count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons. That report also reveals that 70% of the East Bay city’s homeless population are African American although Blacks account for 24 % of the general population.

“I will work to secure funding for local homelessness programs in the East Bay and push for the wraparound services it takes to lift our unhoused neighbors out of poverty,” Bonta stated.

Ramachandran’s political platform includes providing affordable housing, addressing “extreme climate events,” and raising California’s wages to $22 per hour, she said.

According to Minimum-wage.org, a website that tracks minimum hourly rates around the country, California’s state minimum wage is $13.00 per hour, which is greater than the federal minimum Wage of $7.25.

The California minimum wage was last changed in 2008, when it was raised $5.00 from $8.00 to $13.00.

The current minimum per hour for employers in California with 26 or more employees, is wage $14.00, Minimum-wage.org reported.

“I will fight to raise the minimum wage in California to $22 per hour by 2022 – with a dedicated plan to support small businesses. Living wages will lift millions of California families out of poverty while strengthening our economy,” Ramachandran stated.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Saturday, June 26, 2021, Café Organix celebrated it’s one year anniversary. The vegan café is co-owned by NBA legend and retiree, John Salley. Their products are primarily made in-house with organic ingredients. “Expect a well-seasoned and tasty vegan cuisine. We will play with the menu to figure out the favorites and the foods we are good at making,” John Salley explained.

In addition to offering drinks and eats, Cafe Organix also stocks frozen packaged goods, tea blends, candles, and other products! There is an art gallery inside the cafe that features new local artist each month. The café also hosts regular events for the community.

Café Organix is located at  420 E Hospitality Ln Suite A10, San Bernardino, CA 92408

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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Founded in San Bernardino, California in 2002, and expanded into the Bay Area in 2018, Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) mission is to empower disenfranchised low-income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs, and housing to create self-sufficient, and thriving communities.

Academy Award winner Taraji P. Henson will direct Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson in ‘Pepcy & Kim,’ a part of Iervolino Entertainment’s star-studded anthology project ‘Tell It Like a Woman’.

This project is seen by the non-profit as a means to expand on their mission. “If Kim could do it, so can other women,” says Time for Change Foundation Executive Director Vanessa Perez, “Kim Carter’s life story will inspire women as it speaks to our mantra, ‘we call it home, others call it hope.'”

As told by Variety Magazine, Hudson, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Effie White in 2006’s ‘Dreamgirls,’ will take on the role of both Pepcy and Kim in the piece, which is inspired by Kim Carter, a former addict who rebuilt her life, founded Time for Change Foundation, and has helped over 1,700 homeless women achieve self-sufficiency, while reuniting over 300 children with their mothers.

Andrea Iervolino, who founded the production company, said: ?”This trio is a marvelous compliment to the spirited filmmakers and talent banding together for this one-of-a-kind film, and their sincerity in delivering a ‘must see’ segment is simply moving. “We can’t wait to show this film to the world.”

Catherine Hardwicke, best known for her directorial efforts ‘Thirteen,’ and ‘Twilight’ has penned the segment—one of seven made by and about women that will make up one film, featuring the likes of Eva Longoria, Cara Delevingne, Margherita Buy, and Marcia Gay Harden.

‘Tell it Like a Woman’ producer Chiara Tilesi—founder of non-profit film production company We Do It Together—added: “‘Tell It Like A Woman’ has been a very long journey, almost six years producing this film, and we couldn’t have asked for a better ending segment in ‘Pepcy & Kim’….”

“I’m still amazed how God could take my pain and use it for my purpose to help so many others,” says TFCF Founder Kim Carter, “It’s a blessing!”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Each Sunday morning Wallace Allen and Guest host Tammy Martin Riles discuss hot topics on KCAA 1050 AM Radio during the “Empire Talks Back” (ETB) broadcast. This coming Sunday they will celebrate the 4th of July with hot pizza slices!

“We will give free pizza slices from 10 AM to 11:30 AM to the first fifty listeners who stop by the KCAA Radio Station! Says Allen, the host of the 30-year-old ETB radio show.  We are featuring slices from Chef Raheem’s “Pies On The Flyy” Food Truck!  He and his family can quickly produce a variety of both Vegan and non-vegan pizzas in their portable clay oven. “  

The KCAA radio station is at 1378 Industrial Park Ave. in the Burlington Mall east of Alabama street, one block south of the 10 freeway. You are encouraged to “Begin the 4th of July with a slice of pizza pie!

CRAFTON HILLS, CA—- Recent Crafton Hills College (CHC) grad Alexander Manjarrez has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Southern California Gas Company. 

Manjarrez is one of the 2021 scholarship recipients of Southern California Gas Company, which selects high achieving graduating high school seniors and transferring community college students with scholarships from $1,000 to $5,000. To qualify, students must live within the SoCalGas service area, maintain a GPA of at least a 3.0 and demonstrate strong community involvement, among other criteria.

“SoCalGas believes that a well-educated workforce makes good business sense and is essential for a vital and economically healthy Southern California,” said Regional Affairs Manager Robert Visconti, who also serves on the College’s Foundation Board of Directors.

In his scholarship application, Manjarrez outlined his future educational and career plans and the need for the scholarship to continue his education. He said the pandemic had significantly impacted his family, slashing their collective income by 25 percent. Manjarrez put his studies first, although doing so interfered with his ability to continue helping his father manage Rainbow Board and Care, an assisted living facility that was also impacted by COVID-19.

“I stopped working with him so I could focus more on my studies,” Manjarrez said. “It will be tough for me to go back and help him run his business since I will be focusing on my upper division course work at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in Fall 2021.”

Manjarrez is goal-oriented when it comes to mapping out a plan for his studies. His long-term goal is to earn a Master’s degree in computer science at UCR and work as a software developer while continuing to do research on tech-related topics. He also wants to work in a field where he can construct large software systems, something that drew him to his major.

“Research is something that has resonated with me ever since I enrolled at CHC,” Manjarrez said. “I conducted research on image blurs for DEKA, company that specializes in complex problem-solving, and I learned how to run algorithms on MATLAB and met the company’s expectations.”

“Research has taught me that being an effective researcher means being passionate, knowledgeable and prepared,” he said.

Southern California Gas Company is focused on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Energy Education to improve and support educational opportunities and workforce development in their communities. 

To learn more about the company’s work, visit www.socalgas.com/our-community/promoting-education-workforce-development.

To learn more about how Crafton Hills College can help you reach your goals, visit craftonhills.edu.

BALTIC SEA—- Logistics Specialist 1st Class Joseph White, from San Bernardino, Calif., takes inventory in supply support aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) during BALTOPS 50, June 15, 2021. The 50th BALTOPS represents a continuous, steady commitment to reinforcing interoperability in the Alliance and providing collective maritime security in the Baltic Sea.