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Ayeisha Gipson, a graduating senior at Gambling State University, has endured an almost unimaginable reality over the last few years. The San Diego, CA. native faced the possibility that her seriously ill mother would not survive – and would never see her graduate from college.

“As bad as I prayed and helped with any medical procedures she went through, she was dying,” she said. “Each semester I came home, it progressed. I struggled to find peace about it while smiling on campus to maintain a front. “

Gipson’s mother passed away in March 2021 leaving her with this advice: “You’re going to have to keep going because time doesn’t stop,” she said. “I lived my life, now you live your own life.”

Gipson took her mother’s words to heart. Even though it feels as if a part of her is missing, she intends to live out her dreams. After graduating from Grambling State with a degree in history, she will pursue a Master of Arts in higher and post-secondary education at Columbia University in New York.

“My mother worked in education for my whole life until she got ill and retired,” she said. “I’ve watched my mother help college students or anyone who needed help, specifically with homework, and/or employment opportunities. I want to be like her.” 

Her goal is to begin a career where she can serve students – especially those who are like her. Raised by a single mom, she grew up in a tough neighborhood in San Diego. Gipson started college when she was well into her 20s and needed help to pay for it.

What started as a discussion about scholarships with a GSU alum and fellow San Diego resident turned into a lesson in paying it forward. Virginia business owner Jeff Motem said that, during that conversation, he was struck by Gipson’s honesty, maturity, and determination.

“I know where she’s from,” he said, adding that he decided to regularly help out with some of her college expenses. “If you’re taking care of your business, I’m going to keep investing in you,” he told her.

It came down to the fact that he had help along the way, Moten said, and he wanted to give back.

“We all need help,” he said. “We all need mentors and guidance.”

Gipson did not disappoint. She excelled academically as well as in service.

While at GSU, she was active in Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education), vice president of the Grambling chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and associate justice and chief justice of the Student Government Association. She was also a contributing writer for The Gramblinite newspaper.

Gipson said she has mixed emotions as she prepares to graduate.

“I am a bit nervous because I am really going to be on my own, transitioning to NYC. However, I am happy – looking forward to a new chapter “

She said she is looking forward to growth and opportunities at Columbia. “I want to be able to connect Grambling students with Columbia University and introduce them to opportunities applicable to them.” 

Gipson compares her college journey to The Wiz or The Wizard of Oz. 

“Dorothy was determined to get to Oz. Yes, she faced challenges, learned from them, and met people along her journey,” she explained. “At the end, she made it to Oz. That’s my story. I went through tough times but learned a lesson out of it and made It to my destination. I met amazing people along the way.” 

Gipson said she’s thankful to everyone who has helped and supported her along the way to completing her degree.

“I want to thank my professors, cafeteria workers, and even maintenance for being there for me when times were difficult,” she said, explaining that she often spent long hours on classwork at the Tiger Den. “They were so nice to me and allowed me to handle my business because I didn’t have a laptop at the time, so I thank them. “

“I also want to tell students that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. It’s about the obstacles you’ve been through and your ability to work through them,” Gipson said. “Remember, the journey is the treasure!”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- On Sunday, April 18, the entire community is invited to join Music Changing Lives in a historic 23-year anniversary celebration and milkweed planting event. The celebration will take place from 9 am to 1 pm and will be held at the Music Changing Lives Resource Center, located at 301 W. 40th St, San Bernardino, CA 92407.

Attendees will have an opportunity to engage in live music performances, unique art activities, award presentations plus plant their very own milkweed in the new Music Changing Lives (MCL) urban plant and butterfly garden. The milkweeds will be the first addition to the urban garden which are known for attracting Monarch butterflies.

Several community partners will be joining in on the fun and hosting activity and resource

booths including Dae Gardens, Catalyst Cares, Arrowhead United Way, Centro Del Inmigrante,

Stronger Together Now, San Bernardino NAACP, Garcia Center for the Arts, JessBeU, Sistas

Making A Difference, NSG, Vizard Marketing & PR, Survive Inc, and Vonzelle Creates with more to be announced.

Music Changing Lives has been a staple in the Inland Empire for 23 years, providing children and youth with music, art, dance, financial literacy, tutoring, civic engagement and much more. In addition to their remarkable art programs, MCL now distributes 30,000 lbs. of fresh produce each week at their newly established Resource Center in San Bernardino as a direct response to community needs related to COVID-19.

This event is free to public and all attendees will be required to practice social distancing and mask wearing. If you would like to join this remarkable celebration you can register for the event by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/join-us-to-celebrate-23-years-of-excellence-tickets-148729438755 or for more information call 951-992-0721.

By Kellie Williams

On Friday, April 9, Earl Simmons, better known as DMX, received his Heavenly wings. The rapper was rushed to the hospital to a hospital in White Plains on Friday, April 2 where he was reported to be in critical condition following a heart attack at his home that may have resulted from a drug overdose.

His family stated, ““We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days. Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized.”

On April 3, his attorney, Murray Richman, confirmed DMX was on life support. Later that day, Richman stated he was off life support and breathing on his own, but he clarified that evening that DMX remained on life support and he had “been given wrong information”.

That same night, it was reported had suffered oxygen deprivation to his brain as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him for 30 minutes.

On April 4, DMX’s former manager Nakia Walker stated DMX was in a “vegetative state” with “lung and brain failure and no current brain activity”.

On April 7, his manager, Steve Rifkind, stated DMX was comatose and that he was set to undergo tests to determine his brain’s functionality which would allow his family to,

“determine what’s best from there”.

DMX was a rapper, songwriter, and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies within its first week of release. He released his best-selling album, … And Then There Was X, in 1999, which included the hit single “Party Up (Up in Here)”.

 DMX has been featured in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, he published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.

Washington, DC—Following the news that Tishaura Jones, former St. Louis City treasurer and a member of People For’s Young Elected Officials Network, has been elected as next mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:

“The news that Tishaura Jones was elected mayor of St. Louis makes this a great and historic day for the city and the nation. With this victory, Jones becomes the first Black woman mayor in the history of the city. As a member of our Young Elected Officials Network for nearly a decade, dating back to her time in the Missouri House of Representatives and as the first woman treasurer of St. Louis, we know firsthand the work she has done and the progress she can make for the people of St. Louis. Jones is exactly the type of leader America needs—bold, compassionate, progressive and ready to lead. We look forward to seeing the advances she makes during her tenure as mayor, especially on issues related to racial justice and criminal justice reform, two issues she has long advocated for. We are so proud to call Jones a member of our People For family and wish her the best.”

Empire News Network

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Board of Education voted unanimously to appoint Harry “Doc” Ervin as Superintendent during today’s Board of Education meeting. Ervin will assume the leadership post on July 1, officially filling the seat vacated by Dr. Dale Marsden.

Ervin joins SBCUSD from Bakersfield City School District, where he has served as superintendent since 2016. He was selected during a nationwide search that resulted in more than 20 highly qualified applicants.

“The Board of Education listened closely to our SBCUSD community about the qualities we should look for in a new superintendent, and Doc Ervin stood out for his passionate commitment to equity and excellence,” said Board President Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers. “We are confident we have found a transformational leader as his experience at all levels of the educational system will help us effectively navigate the opportunities and challenges that come as we recover and grow from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ervin, who is fluent in English and Spanish, has dedicated his career to bringing equity and access to economically disadvantaged students from culturally diverse backgrounds, setting high expectations for their success. He brings more than 25 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in districts across the state, serving areas that include Kern County, Monterey County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County. 

“I am pleased to accept the position of Superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, and I look forward to ensuring every SBCUSD student has the support they need to be successful,” said Ervin, who was present for the Board of Education’s virtual meeting. “SBCUSD has a lot of great programs in place for students, and I look forward to taking what they have to the next level.”

The SBCUSD Board of Education selected Ervin through a locally driven process where the public was offered multiple opportunities for input. Preparation began a year ago with community listening sessions and surveys to capture stakeholder thoughts about the qualities most important for the new district leader. Among these desired characteristics was a successful track record working in a socioeconomically diverse, multicultural community with similar demographics to San Bernardino. Recruitment was disrupted by COVID-19 and resumed in January of this year where community members were again invited to participate by submitting questions for the Board to consider in their interview process.

Ervin is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and Master of Science in Education Administration from Alliant International University and his Administrative Credential from California State University, Fullerton. He is married with three sons and one daughter.

The SBCUSD Board of Education will formally approve Ervin’s contract at its April 6 meeting. Between now and July 1, Ervin will work with now Interim Superintendent Dr. Harold Vollkommer to ensure a smooth transition.

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By Empire News Network

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m., the San Bernardino Symphony will be airing their Spring Concert again on the Symphony’s new SBSOtv platform accessible from their website.

April 10th is the Final Airing of Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and Grieg

Want to know more about the concert?

Concerned you won’t be able to access a digital concert?

Here’s how it’s done:

1. On concert day, go to www.sanbernardinosymphony.org
2. Click on the SBSOtv tab (third white tab from the left just below the purple page header).
3. Input your password at the first prompt, then the same password at the second prompt.
4. Watch the concert from your computer or cast it onto your SmartTV the same way you would other computer-based content.
5. Enjoy the concert from the best seat in Your House!

Remember, even if you’re not right on time, you won’t have missed a thing!

The concert starts for you when you input your password!

See what previous show goers thought

“Breathtaking program, performance, video, sound quality, studio, organ, bassoon – phenomenal details of beauty, curiosity and virtuosity! Wowww!!”

“Another exceptional concert  Loved hearing Anthony on the bassoon all while conducting the orchestra! What a nice surprise to hear the Wurlitzer. Thanks for all that SBSO has been able to present despite the pandemic.” 

“The Golden Era of the San Bernardino Symphony is upon us!” 

“Stunning performance in every way!!! Bravi Tutti, SBSO!! Brilliant!!! And Maestro Anthony, your incredible conducting, commentary and virtuoso bassoon concerto – unreal!! Crying tears of joy of how amazing it was and thinking about the history of your bassoon and its journey back!”

“Extremely moving and beautiful!! “

“Fantastic concert, and especially great to hear Maestro Parnther reunited with his bassoon, singing to us in the Vivaldi concerto. Loved every moment!” 

“This concert was what my soul needed.”

“The concert was so lovely. Hearing our maestro play was so wonderful, a very talented musician in so many ways. The organ pieces were astounding, so many pipes, such amazing ability to play that instrument-our senses were mesmerized. The strings, of course, were angelic-we are so fortunate to have this orchestra for San Bernardino.”

“Another beautiful concert! Loved your brilliant performance, the camera work, and historical background. Well done, everyone!”

“Outstanding concert, the music, the arrangements, the musicians, the videography, the editing, and post production all made for an amazing experience. I look forward to any/all future concerts by SBSO.”

“Sounded really full & the vertical harmonies really balanced about as close to perfect as possible.“ 

“The music brought tears to my eyes it was so beautiful. Thank you for a lovely afternoon!“

Eddie Griffin reflects on a year of COVID, social distancing, and social justice with the live presentation of his new ‘docucomedy’ special, Laughin’ Through Your Mask, premiering Thursday, April 1, 2021 as a sneak peek for fans ahead of its launch on the iTunes and Amazon streaming platforms on Tuesday, April 20.

The acting and comedy legend, who took his successful Las Vegas stand-up show on the road despite a multitude of risks and touring inconveniences during an unprecedented worldwide pandemic, shares his personal experiences of how the events of 2020 impacted his career.

Griffin also delivers razor-sharp, unapologetic observations about nerve-touching subjects of today’s current events, as the special was filmed exactly one day after the storming of the United States Capitol and violent attack against the 117th United States Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

Griffin, who shot to fame with memorable film and TV roles such as Undercover Brother Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, John Q, Scary Movie 3, A Star is Born and Malcolm & Eddie, has built a millions-strong fan following through the power of his stand-up shows, attracting record audiences through touring, his residency at Las Vegas’ Sayers Club, and stand-up specials including You Can Tell ‘Em I Said It, Undeniable, and E-Niggma.

Tickets for the world premiere of Laughin’ Through Your Mask are on sale now for $9.99 exclusively at laughinthroughyourmask.com; watch the official trailer at YouTube.com.  

Become a Griffin Insider and get the latest updates at EddieGriffin.com and through Twitter @eddiegriffincom.

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

This Women’s History Month, California Black Media is profiling three Black women on the leading edge of California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris, California Gov Operations Secretary Yolanda Richardson and Kimberly Goode, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Blue Shield of California. The profiles explore how these exceptional women have brought their experience, knowledge and leadership abilities to driving California’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. It also looks at the challenges they have faced, the successes they have won and how they balance the rigors of their public roles with the responsibilities of their private lives.

Profile: Yolanda Richardson, the Operator

In January 2020, Gov. Newsom appointed Yolanda Richardson as California’s new Secretary of the Government Operations Agency. Now, one year into that role, the governor has charged Richardson with spearheading California’s vaccination distribution. That’s in addition to other COVID-19 emergency response initiatives she leads, including promoting equitable testing and supplying personal protective equipment where needed to keep California’s population of 40 million people safer.

Richardson hit the ground running responding to the COVID-19 pandemic four days after being sworn into office by Newsom. She is responsible for 11 state departments and programs that ensure that the California state government runs smoothly and achieves its goal of overcoming the challenges presented by the pandemic. Richardson’s passion for problem-solving was an effective tool in boosting state efforts to build a coronavirus testing laboratory and establishing a vaccine task force. Her 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry has sharpened her expertise and “get-it-done” leadership style as one of three African American women to lead California’s efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A major challenge for Richardson was, “being thrust into a situation,” to fight the pandemic and find new ways to “get things done in an environment in which we never imagined,” she said.

“The biggest challenge to us has been: How do we keep state government working effectively and continuing to deliver services efficiently,” said Richardson.

Despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, Richardson saw an opportunity to support legislation that enabled Californians to make a smooth transition to work-from-home and homeschooling policies. The operation’s team also implemented the governor’s plans to manage

$7.6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds, $6.6 billion for state schools, and $30 million in grants to support local organizations.

“The biggest win was that people did what they needed to continue moving forward during one of the biggest shifts our state has seen,” said Richardson.

The state of California has partnered with various community-based organizations, leaders, and businesses, a unique approach to the pandemic, in efforts to promote equity, she said.

“In everything we do, we have to be thoughtful about all of the different situations that we find people in,” said Richardson. “I think the state has just done an amazing job of really thinking about being thoughtful and trying to make sure that the approaches and the things that we do meet people where they are.”

The state’s operations team continues to evaluate progress through data-tracking and managing collaborative efforts with community partners to make sure the state achieves its desired outcomes, she said.

Richardson discussed racial equity in the healthcare system with medical experts and leaders in the Black and Latino caucuses, as part of Gov. Newsom’s plans to provide community clinics and health centers with COVID-19 testing and vaccines.

“I’m very passionate about allocating more vaccines to our communities that are mostly populated by Black and Brown people,” said Richardson. “I am very much committed to using my voice and the platform I’ve been blessed with to make sure that I do everything I can to help those in need.”

Vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 has made it hard for the state to reach vulnerable populations in low-income areas, according to state officials. However, community leaders expressed concerns regarding access to adequate health care, COVID-19 testing, vaccine distribution.

“We’re leveraging trusted advisors, using people in the community that the communities listened to the most,” Sec. Richardson said. “We’re looking at all the different strategies we can employ that are most comfortable and familiar to those in diverse communities so that they can feel comfortable about getting the vaccine.”

Among her list of impressive titles, Richardson is a proud mother of two, an enthusiastic dog owner and wife to her husband of 23 years, who are the anchor to her sanity and peace, she said.

“I have an amazing family that is very supportive,” Richardson said. “I am very blessed to have a beautiful family that keeps me balanced.”

Although balance is hard for any leader, Richardson said her operations team has pushed her to accomplish California’s objectives in serving communities statewide. California’s leaders still

have a long road ahead to achieve its goal of overcoming the pandemic and safely reopening the state.

“There’s so much to do, we joke and say every day is Monday in the state of California. But I have the most extraordinary colleagues who have been a huge support,” said Richardson.

By Quinci LeGarye | California Black Media

This Women’s History Month, California Black Media is profiling three Black women on the leading edge of California’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris, California Gov Operations Secretary Yolanda Richardson and Kimberly Goode, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Blue Shield of California. The profiles explore how these exceptional women have brought their experience, knowledge and leadership abilities to driving California’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. It also looks at the challenges they have faced, the successes they have won and how they balance the rigors of their public roles with the responsibilities of their private lives.

Profile: Nadine Burke Harris, the Equity Advocate

Nadine Burke Harris is California’s first Surgeon General, a role that consists of a number of high-level internal governmental obligations as well as a significant amount of public-facing responsibility. In addition to advising the governor on health matters, she is also the state’s “public health spokesperson,” Burke Harris told California Black Media.

“Probably the biggest part of my job is that I translate science into information that people can use to help keep themselves healthy. That’s probably my favorite part of the job,” she says.

When asked what her biggest success has been regarding California’s pandemic-related public-health efforts, Burke-Harris focused on the state’s equity measures. They include equity metrics within the state’s reopening blueprints for counties as well as an equity strategy within COVID-19 vaccine allocation that reserves 40 % of vaccines for socio-economically disadvantaged communities. She also mentioned her role as co-chair of the Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, which is part of the process of determining how California allocates and distributes its vaccines.

“I think our reopening blueprint really demonstrates how seriously California is taking the issue of equity because our whole notion is that we recognize that this pandemic is disproportionately hard on Black communities, and we really want to make sure that when we are reopening that we are doing an equitable reopening,” said Burke-Harris.

Prior to becoming California’s Surgeon General, Burke-Harris treated children as a pediatrician. She is the founder of the Center for Youth Wellness in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. In her decade and a half working in the community, Burke-Harris saw how certain equity and accessibility issues would impact her patients’ ability to receive care

Burke-Harris says, “There are a lot of little things that you realize. For example, I was just on a conversation where we were talking about how close a vaccine site has to be in order to be considered accessible. One of the things that I highlighted is that I live in San Francisco, and I

have a car, so for me, something that’s five miles away is perfectly acceptable. But for the patients that I cared for, I had the experience of seeing how hard it is for someone who’s got two or three kids to take three buses across town to get where they have to go. Five miles away may not be accessible. That has certainly informed my role in the state and how I advise the governor.”

In addition to her work on the COVID-19 response, Burke-Harris has also continued her previous work on raising awareness about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how toxic stress affects children. A training initiative, which she began in January 2020, has now educated almost 20,000 doctors about how to identify and improve healthcare outcomes for people who have experienced ACEs.

As for her biggest challenge during the pandemic, she acknowledged a feeling of exhaustion. Such exhaustion, she says, is common among health care providers and others on the frontline of the COVID-19 response and relief efforts, after a full year of the pandemic.

“It’s been a real sprint. My colleagues in government, and especially in health and human services, have been working around the clock responding to this emergency. It’s a lot, it’s late at night, on the weekends, my family not seeing enough of me. I think that for all of us, just the endurance has been pretty intense,” Burke Harris says.

To help recover from the daily pressures of work, Burke Harris values self-care and family time. She makes an intentional effort to practice meditation as selfcare when life gets hectic. As for family time, she enjoys game nights and snuggles from her children to cultivate joy. Also, her kids are quick to tell her when she seems stressed.

Burke Harris says, “I remember there was one point during the January surge that was really intense. I was having dinner with my family and my eight-year-old said, “Oh no, it looks like Mama lost her giggle.” In that moment, he just held up a mirror for me, and how much the intensity and the pressure of my work was coming into our family life. It just reinforced for me that no matter what I’ve got to keep that sense of playfulness with my kids.”