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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—– On Friday, July 17, Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored two of the 2020 California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation Scholarship Recipients. Now in its 6^th year, the foundation received 1,266 scholarship applications this year throughout California, awarding 52 recipients a $5,000 scholarship each.

The program was established to assist deserving students by offering financial assistance to meet educational expenses. Two of the 52 students are from the 47^th Assembly District. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship, recognition from the California Latino Legislative Caucus Foundation and recognition from Assemblymember Reyes.

This year’s scholarships from the 47^th Assembly District were awarded to Carla Castillo from Rialto and Katherine Rodriguez from Fontana.  Both Carla and Katherine are part of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and have excelled in their educational endeavors.

“With so many applicants, it is always a difficult choice to select the finalists.  We have many worthy students in our District.  These $5,000 competitive scholarships are essential to help our students thrive in higher education,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Congratulations Carla and Katherine for being selected. The community is proud of who you are and who you will become.  You are both extraordinary examples of the greatness of our Inland Empire Community.”

Carla Castillo, Rialto

A fourth-year student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Carla Castillo is studying International Marketing. She has been involved in the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Womxn’s Resource Center, and has presented to the Cal Poly Pomona’s University President’s Cabinet Leadership Council about the undocumented experience.

During her four years at Cal Poly, Carla has advocated for various communities on campus and held various leadership positions. She is an inaugural Associated Students, Incorporated (ASI) Officer of Diversity and Inclusion representing undocumented students and currently sits on five university-wide committees including: the Transportation Advisory Committee, Search Committee for the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships and Strategic Communications and the Campus Definitions Committee for the CPP Inclusive Excellence Council.

As an undocumented student, Carla has struggled financially due to lack of scholarship opportunities.  The CLLCF Scholarship will alleviate her financial situation and help her focus on academics, civic engagement and professional development.

“With this scholarship, I am able to continue towards the completion of my degree and show to my community that with hard work and support from organizations such as CLLCF, our dreams can cross borders,” said Carla.

Katherine Rodriguez, Fontana

Katherine Rodriguez was 13 years old when she found out about her undocumented status. Since that day, she knew her goal to obtain a future education would be difficult, but that did not stop her from pursuing her dreams.

A recent A.B Miller High School graduate, Katherine was an active member of AVID, Health Service Academy, Science Club and Key Club, while also taking several Advanced Placement (AP) classes and competing on the schools Cheer Team. She also kept active in her city by volunteering at the Fontana Public Works Department to beautify the local parks.

Katherine will be attending California State University of San Bernardino this fall with a major in Sociology with a final goal to be a Dermatologist.

“Thank you to the California Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation and Assemblymember Eloise Reyes for this opportunity,” said Katherine. “School is incredibly important to me and receiving this scholarship is a step closer to my career goals. I want the American Dream opportunity, where I am able to show my biggest potentials to the world.”

For more information on the complete scholarship requirements and details, go to the Foundation’s website at www.CLLCF.org

Global AIDS organization salutes Georgia congressman, a leader and icon in the civil rights movement and one who also pushed for funding for global access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment 

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today sadly mourns the death of United States Representative John Lewis (D-GA), an icon in the civil rights movement. His family announced his passing in a statement Friday, July 17, noting Congressman Lewis was “…honored and respected as the conscience of the US Congress and an icon of American history, … a stalwart champion in the on-going struggle to demand respect for the dignity and worth of every human being.  He dedicated his entire life to non-violent activism and was an outspoken advocate in the struggle for equal justice in America.  He will be deeply missed.”

According to CNN, Lewis “…died after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 80.”

“We mourn and thank Congressman John Lewis today for his tireless, lifelong work—on civil rights, social justice, health care and more—far beyond the reach and accomplishment of most men,” said Michael Weinstein, president of AHF, the largest global AIDS organization. “In tribute to this powerful but humble man, I share a photo of Congressman Lewis meeting with several of AHF’s medical providers, staff and patients from Africa when they came to Washington years ago to join us in lobbying Congress to reauthorize PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief. Congressman Lewis graciously invited us into his office—not a staffer’s, but his own—and listened intently to our stories and shared his own. He was an American, but truly a man for all seasons—and all nations—truly irreplaceable. Rest in peace kind sir.”

“I am saddened and want to send my condolences to Congressman Lewis’ family and close friends. The African American community and country have lost a stalwart from the ‘Civil Rights Movement and A Giant Among Men.’  Congressman Lewis was a good friend of AHF. I remember meeting him when AHF held the ribbon-cutting ceremony at our new medical clinic in Washington D.C., on K Street, in the mid-2000s. He was so gracious, down-to-earth, unassuming and his presence was awe-inspiring. May his passion for civil rights, social justice and health equity live on and continue to affect the hearts and minds of a new generation of social and political activists.” said Cynthia Davis, MPH, Chair of AHF’s Board of Directors.

“Congressman Lewis was beyond a politician, he was a servant-leader,” stated Imara Canady, Chair of AHF’s Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, based in Atlanta. “I was blessed to personally know the Congressman and have directly witnessed the impact that his leadership had on the constituents of metro Atlanta. No matter the issue, no matter your sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, he represented all people. Even with all that was on his plate, he never missed an opportunity to be with his constituents and had a unique ability to make everyone he encountered feel Important.  He was relentless in the ongoing fight for justice for all people, stood up against foolery and gave new meaning to the transformative impact of fearless advocacy.”

“I had the honor to participate with Congressman John Lewis in a panel discussion in Atlanta on the impact of HIV in communities of color at a forum for the faith-based community. I shared my profound admiration for him, and he then told me how important my own advocacy was as a man of color living with HIV. It meant so much to me coming from a living legend. I spoke first and he followed with such a passionate call out to the pastors and audience members to embrace the fight against HIV as a ‘moral and civil rights issue’ where lives are valued, free of stigma, free of judgement and access to treatment is prioritized over greed—remarks that were greeted with standing ovation. Rest in Power, Mr. Lewis,” added Joey Terrill, Director of Global Advocacy & Partnerships for AHF.

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.4million people in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare.

Yusef Tahiru was an explorer. An adventurer. A traveler and collector of experiences who loved humankind and built a community everywhere he went.

He grabbed a passport, secured a visa, and lived overseas as soon as he was able — quietly but forcefully using his gifts to live out an enduring truth: the idea that few things match the power of creating and nurturing connections. He dreamt of setting foot on new worlds, but never left the roles that mean the most on this one: loving son, brother, cousin, friend, mentor, teacher, teammate, motivator, and confidant.

Yusef — son of Abdur and Evelyn Tahiru, brother of Zachari — departed this life on July 5, 2020 in Vietnam. Born in Bellflower, California on May 9, 1991, and raised in Corona, Yusef’s childhood was spent cultivating the deep curiosity and championship-level athleticism that brought him joy throughout his life. He could often be found riding his bike around the neighborhood or playing basketball and soccer with his brother and friends. He enjoyed taking things apart to see if he could put them together again — often with mixed results.

A voracious reader whose eyes were never far from the pages of a book, Yusef was a thinker whose thirst for knowledge and love for culture would never be contained. He could not resist good music, enjoyed anime and was fascinated by movies and television shows about science and animals.

He was a seeker of God who was raised in the church — attending Gospel Memorial Church of God in Christ in his early years and Greater Victory Church of God in Christ as an adult.

Yusef excelled in the classroom, graduating in 2009 from Santiago High School — where he ran track all four years and cemented his love of athletics, including soccer, which he began playing before he entered kindergarten. He continued his track and field career at Riverside Community College — where he ran the 800 meters and was a member of the 2010 state championship team. In 2011, Yusef transferred to Cal State San Marcos, joining the track team and choosing a major that combined his passion for athletics with his devotion to helping people. He described the decision in his senior project:

“Kinesiology is my passion and it has been since I began playing soccer at the tender young age of 4 years old. Sports have been a major part of my life ever since the second I touched the soccer ball and my interest in sports only expanded as I grew older to include football and most recently in my life track and field.”

Yusef graduated in 2015 with a degree in kinesiology and exercise science. After practicing as a physical therapist, he set out for Vietnam to become an English teacher and start seeing the world. Yusef excelled in every aspect of his life there: claiming first prize in 5K runs, leading teams to victory in soccer tournaments, and being named Teacher of the Year. He fulfilled his love for going fast — which many will remember from the passenger seat in his Mazda 3 — on the motorbike he loved to race through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.   

He accomplished so much on his own in 29 years, but Yusef had a talent for bringing people together. Everyone he encountered was drawn to his encouraging attitude, signature smile and incomparable laugh. He always had an empathetic ear ready to listen, a joke for those in need of a laugh, and wisdom to share with anyone who needed clarity and guidance. He inspired all who knew him — a man whose light shone brightest in the fulfillment he found in helping others. There is no higher calling in life, and no better way to live.

Yusef was preceded in death by his father, Abdur. He is survived by his mother, Evelyn, and brother, Zachari, Godparents Ida and George Martin Aunt Beverly, Uncle Sidney(Hazel),Uncle Myles and Uncle Byron(Regina) and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.  A private funeral service will be held on July 22 at Greater Victory Church of God in Christ. In lieu of donations to the family, his survivors ask for seed contributions to a scholarship fund that has been established in his name. The Yusef Tahiru Scholarship Fund can be found at https://gf.me/u/yfw95h

A well-known face at the West Valley Water District’s Board meetings, Don Griggs served with honor and integrity as the President of the West Valley Water District Ratepayers Association and Westside Action Group. In addition to his work in the water industry, for 40 years he fought to improve the political and economic condition of Black Americans across the county. Ultimately, his leadership and tenacity for civil rights and equity led to improvements and victories for every resident. His life and legacy of leadership, service and most of all, friendship, will be missed by all.

On Wednesday June 24, 2020, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the agency’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C., will be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first Black American female engineer at NASA.

Jackson started her NASA career in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of the agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Jackson, a mathematician and aerospace engineer, went on to lead programs influencing the hiring and promotion of women in NASA’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. In 2019, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Administrator Bridenstine said, “Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology…we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building. It appropriately sits on ‘Hidden Figures Way,’ a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA’s history who contributed to this agency’s success. Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made NASA’s successful history of exploration possible.”

The work of the West Area Computing Unit caught widespread national attention in the 2016 Margot Lee Shetterly book “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.” The book was made into a popular movie that same year and Jackson’s character was played by award-winning actress Janelle Monáe.

In 2019, after a bipartisan bill by Sens. Ted Cruz, Ed Markey, John Thune, and Bill Nelson made its way through Congress, the portion of E Street SW in front of NASA Headquarters was renamed Hidden Figures Way.

“We are honored that NASA continues to celebrate the legacy of our mother and grandmother Mary W. Jackson,” said, Carolyn Lewis, Mary’s daughter. “She was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, mother, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at NASA, but throughout this nation.”

Jackson was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia. After graduating high school, she graduated from Hampton Institute (an HBCU) in 1942 with a dual degree in math and physical sciences, and initially accepted a job as a math teacher in Calvert County, Maryland. She would work as a bookkeeper, marry Levi Jackson and start a family, and work a job as a U.S. Army secretary before her aerospace career would take off.

In 1951, Jackson was recruited by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, which in 1958 was succeeded by NASA. She started as a research mathematician who became known as one of the human computers at Langley. She worked under fellow “Hidden Figure” Dorothy Vaughan in the segregated West Area Computing Unit.

After two years in the computing pool, Jackson received an offer to work in the 4-foot by 4-foot Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000-horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound. There, she received hands-on experience conducting experiments. Her supervisor eventually suggested she enter a training program that would allow Jackson to earn a promotion from mathematician to engineer. Because the classes were held at then-segregated Hampton High School, Jackson needed special permission to join her white peers in the classroom. 

Jackson completed the courses, earned the promotion, and in 1958 became NASA’s first Black female engineer. For nearly two decades during her engineering career, she authored or co-authored research numerous reports, most focused on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes. In 1979, she joined Langley’s Federal Women’s Program, where she worked hard to address the hiring and promotion of the next generation of female mathematicians, engineers and scientists. Mary W. Jackson retired from Langley in 1985.

In 2017, then 99-year-old Katherine Johnson was there to personally dedicate a new state-of-the-art computer research facility the bears her name at Langley. Johnson, another original member of the West Area Computing Unit, also was honored as a trailblazer and given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. In addition, Johnson was part of the group honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, and NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation facility in Fairmont, West Virginia, also bears Johnson’s name. 

“NASA facilities across the country are named after people who dedicated their lives to push the frontiers of the aerospace industry. The nation is beginning to awaken to the greater need to honor the full diversity of people who helped pioneer our great nation. Over the years NASA has worked to honor the work of these Hidden Figures in various ways, including naming facilities, renaming streets and celebrating their legacy,” added Bridenstine. “We know there are many other people of color and diverse backgrounds who have contributed to our success, which is why we’re continuing the conversations started about a year ago with the agency’s Unity Campaign. NASA is dedicated to advancing diversity, and we will continue to take steps to do so.” 

The Trump Administration’s History of Honoring “Hidden Figures” and Promoting Black Americans at NASA

• In 2018, Vanessa Wyche was appointed as the first Black American to serve as Deputy Director of Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
• In 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act that posthumously awarded the honor to Jackson, who passed away in 2005, and her “Hidden Figures” colleagues Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden.
• In 2019, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced Clayton Turner as the first Black American to serve as Director of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

• In 2020, Vice President Pence visited NASA’s Langley Research Center and honored the “Hidden Figures” women and met with some of Katherine Johnson’s family members.   
• For Black History Month 2020, First Lady Melania Trump hosted Deborah Tulani Salahu-Din, an educator and researcher in African American studies, and faculty members and students from Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C. in the Family Theater of the White House for a private screening of the movie “Hidden Figures.”

With COVID-19, businesses have started to scale back a little on their advertising and marketing and other businesses have started to market more within the Black and Brown communities due to the rising social justice issues. It is all about being creative in your marketing approach and screenwriter and playwright, T’ana Phelice is helping businesses get some exposure through her latest film, T. Alexander.

T Alexander is a 30-minute short film about a beloved basketball talent, Tosha Alexander, who lost her basketball scholarship after deciding to move forward with an unplanned pregnancy. Prior to becoming a mother at the age of 17, she was the family’s golden child. Although her mother often speaks of Tosha’s life being ruined, and her sister urges her to make fast money by using her good looks, Tosha is determined to become an actress, a second dream she hasn’t given up on. Her boyfriend Damien works at the local grocery store to support everyone in the household,  but Tosha’s family refuses to respect him.

This film will be a testament to the power of having a positive self image. It will document the struggle of being a young parent while also defying the belief that black men do not honor black women. Voice-overs will be used to set a poetic theme, and allow viewers into the mind of the protagonist as she experiences emotional roller coasters throughout her journey.

The story will not be polished with glamour or cliche’ interactions between its characters. It will be raw and true to the grit that’s paired with anguish, jealousy, substance abuse, illness, resentment, unfulfillment, loss, hustle, setbacks, disagreement, disappointments, ruthlessness, sadness, frustration, heartbreak, confusion, mistakes, choices, and ultimately a small win that pays off the latter.

The ultimate goal is to inspire. The film will accomplish that by demonstrating the odds our young woman is able to move in her favor.

The producer of T Alexander will distribute the motion picture to film festivals, and AmazonPrime. Due to a recent theatrical success tied to the writer, director, and co director, business relationships have been formed to secure the release of the film to the public. To enable wider distribution, we will also place the films promotional materials on public platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

Product and/or business will be featured in the film. Business name, brand, and/or product will be showcased in the film by being a visual element in a particular scene. Example; if the sponsor would like business featured, the business, including business name, will be a focal point of a scene. Example two; if the sponsor would like product featured, the product will be seen or used in a scene in the film. Product will also be a focal point. Sponsors/businesses will also be included in the films closing credits.

For those that are interested, please contact T’ana Phelice at Mstanaphelice@gmail.com or at 323-327-9208.

$5 million fundraising goal and an innovative model of philanthropy

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Thanks to the long-standing leadership of Black-led organizations and the power of the cross-racial coalitions they have built, we are seeing tremendous advancements in racial equity in the United States and globally. Countless government agencies, corporations, and foundations have, in a matter of weeks, redoubled their commitments to racial equity and combating anti-Black racism.

Black-led organizations (BLOs) in the Inland Empire are an important part of this story. Capitalizing on decades of patient work and incremental wins to advance racial equity, BLOs in the Inland Empire have scored some significant policy victories in recent weeks. These include getting San Bernardino County as the first in California to declare racism a public health crisis, replicating these victories in several other cities in Southern California, and getting San Bernardino County to include equity as a standalone element in its Countywide Vision.

Continuing in that tradition, the Inland Empire Funders Alliance (IEFA) is proud to partner with the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire in launching the Black Equity Fund—a regional pooled fund with a preliminary goal of raising $5 million over two years and updated thereafter to support long-term investments in Black-led organizations. The Black Equity Fund is being seeded with investments from The California Endowment and the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and has already garnered interest from several foundations and private donors.

The IE Black Equity Fund is the first known regional pooled fund on Black equity that brings together statewide, regional and local funders as well as private donors and corporate philanthropy, working in partnership with leaders of the Inland Empire Black Equity Initiative to advance their priority issues. 

An important innovation of the IE Black Equity Fund is to follow the guiding principles of theTrust-Based Philanthropy Project, which recognizes “the inherent power imbalance between foundations and nonprofits” and approaches grantee relationships “from a place of trust, humility and transparency.” Partners in the regional fund pledge to: 1) give multi-year, unrestricted funding; 2) center IE Black Equity Initiative leaders in decision-making; 3) simplify and streamline paperwork; 4) be transparent and responsive; and 5) offer support beyond the check by participating in peer learning with IE Black Equity Initiative leaders to improve Black equity in funders’ overall grantmaking practice.

Organizers of the Black Equity Fund—including the Inland Empire Funders Alliance, IE Black Equity Initiative, Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the Center for Social Innovation—noted the importance of seizing the moment, and doing so in a way that fundamentally alters power relationships in philanthropy and empowers Black community leaders as much as possible.

 “The Black Equity Fund is being developed through an iterative process based in equity whereby those most impacted and closest to the problems and conditions we need to change are driving the strategy and decision making process.  It’s in those lived experiences where generative and relevant solutions are birthed,” said Margarita Luna, Senior Program Manager at The California Endowment and vice-chair of the Inland Empire Funders Alliance.  

Dina Walker, President & CEO of BLU Educational Foundation noted another innovative aspect of the partnership: “The Black Equity Initiative is a collective impact model with a cultural lens centered on the principles of Kwanzaa,” she noted. “This includes self determination, collective work, and responsibility. It is from this foundation that we work together to create the vision, develop strategy. work the plan and ultimately reap the harvest. We trust and move forward together knowing that our success is intrinsically tied to the success of each other.  This is how we meet the needs and dreams of our community.”

Felicia Jones, Associate Director at Congregations United for Prophetic Engagement, noted that Black led organizations have a powerful track record for leading equity work in the Inland Empire. “Groups began to formally collaborate on issues of educational equity more than a decade ago, moving important reforms in school districts throughout the region,” she noted. “The collaborative, formerly known as the African American Education Collaborative and later renamed the IE Black Equity Initiative, continued to evolve from a group of 10 to now more than 20 Black led organizations and has expanded its collective work into criminal justice reform, higher education, and civic engagement.”

“There is going to be an intentional need for philanthropy to embrace this moment with us, heal with us, learn with us, and see this as a movement building opportunity,” said Pastor Samuel Casey, Executive Director of Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement. “We cannot have a short attention span when it comes to systemic solutions. We will need long-term, general operating support to ensure that the gains and wins that have been, and will be achieved, are sustained.” 

Michelle Decker, CEO of the Inland Empire Community Foundation and a co-investor in the Black Equity Fund, underscored the need for funders to repair the damage from decades of underinvestment in Black communities. “We need to come together in a manner that honors the expertise of Black-led organizations,” she noted, adding that “the economic and health challenges of COVID-19, as well as the collective trauma of the killing of Black lives, have shown us that the success of the region will rise or fall based on its progress on racial equity.”

Finally, the Center for Social Innovation led by Professor Karthick Ramakrishnan at UC Riverside is a strategic data partner to both the Black Equity Initiative and the Black Equity Fund. It will provide research support to help motivate, inform, and learn from philanthropic investments in Black-led organizations in the Inland Empire. “The Inland Empire is a center of innovation when it comes to advancing racial equity,” Ramakrishnan noted. “Our communities have come together in even more powerful ways after COVID-19 than they did previously, and we are grateful that our data and narrative work can help strengthen regional investments and support the leadership of Black equity organizations in the region.”

By Khalil Abdullah, Ethnic Media Services

If Willie Sutton were alive, he wouldn’t be robbing banks, more likely he’d be a scam artist, siphoning off a portion of the almost $70 million that Indiana consumers alone have reportedly lost to fraud even before the COVID-19 pandemic opened up a pandora’s box of new scam opportunities.

“At the Federal Trade Commission, we always say the fraudsters follow the headlines,” explained Todd Kossow, Director of the Midwest Region of the FTC. “They take advantage of the major news stories of the day and find new ways to access consumer’s personal financial information. The corona virus pandemic has been no exception to that.”

Kossow’s remarks were delivered at an on-line convening for ethnic media primarily covering Indianapolis and nearby regions. In addition to FTC staff, presenters included representatives from state and local agencies responsible for consumer protection, as well as from non-profits like the AARP, the Better Business Bureau, and others on the frontlines of battling scams and deceptive marketing practices.

“Scammers are like vampires who bleed their victims not just of money but of hope and self-respect,” said conference moderator Sandy Close, director of Ethnic Media Services. Close urged media participants “to shine a light on these activities through your media coverage and your community service.”

Susan Bolin, from the Better Business Bureau, concurred with the need for increased media coverage and involvement. While acknowledging active media participation in Fort Wayne and Evansville, “we still need more help. Just imagine the impact that we can have if every media outlet partnered with us.” Ultimately, Bollin said she wants to make Indianapolis a scam-free zone.

The goal is a daunting one.

Scams that have proliferated since the pandemic include large up-front money payments to companies claiming they can assist homeowners to renegotiate mortgage payments they missed because of COVID linked job layoffs; or scams that promise small businesses an inside track to securing federal paycheck protection funds to retain employees.

“So what are the main types of COVID-19 related scams that we’re seeing?” Kossow asked. “Scammers who are pitching so-called treatments and cures for COVID-19 without any proof that they work… The FTC has sent warning letters to nearly 250 companies making such claims.”

Presenters cited several “red flags” typically associated with scams: run out and buy a gift card to make a payment; a money wire transfer is required; an upfront payment is necessary before a prize can be claimed; authentication of your bank account number or verification of your Social Security number as mandatory in order to speed or complete the application or funding process.

Several speakers said that humiliation over being scammed often discourages victims from reporting what happened. There’s also a sense that trying to recover the money is a hopeless task. This is particularly true with gift card transactions. At least with payments made on credit cards, victims have a bank record to point to in filing a fraud claim. Moreover, victims have a self-interest in reporting scams, Andrew Johnson, Chief of Staff of the FTC’s Division of Consumer Affairs, emphasized

“Since July, 2018, In just a two-year period, the FTC mailed $23.6 million to almost 140,000 people in the state of Indiana, which is pretty remarkable,” Johnson said. “Generally, when the FTC settles or wins a case, and we get money that we can return back to consumers, one of the main ways we determine who to send money to, is we look back at our database of who reported to us.”

One net result of the pandemic’s advent is a decrease in face-to-face counseling that would encourage reporting to the FTC.

Cheryl Koch-Martinez, who works at Indiana Legal Services, said her organization assists low-income residents in understanding their financial options and advising them on consumer fraud cases. Given the imperative for social-distancing, “face-to-face communication is just not there,” she said. Telephone and e-mail are inefficient substitutes for the sensitive conversations that need to occur.

Reverend David Green, Senior Pastor, Purpose of Life Ministry, shared the experience of a maintenance engineer at his church. Originally from El Salvador,

he immigrated to the United States 20 years ago and obtained citizenship. He sent $1,000 to purchase a trailer in Kentucky and then sought to make arrangements with the sellers to personally pick it up. “They said, ‘no,’” Green reported. “They said they needed to deliver it and that if he would go to PayPal and send $600 for the insurance on the delivery of the trailer, that when the trailer got delivered, he would get the $600 back.”

In this case, Reverend Green encouraged his church’s employee to file a report with the FTC and the Better Business Bureau after the seller would answer phone calls but promptly hang up.

Several speakers highlighted the debilitating effects of scams that prey on people’s loneliness. While romance scams come readily to mind, scammers also have used a victim to become unwitting money mules, someone who moves money to a third-party. The use of third parties makes the origin and movement of financial transactions more difficult for authorities to trace.

Such was the case Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryAnn Mindrum described of an elderly woman who was told she’d won the lottery and had to pay fees before she could secure her winnings. She did not win the lottery, lost a substantial amount in so-called fees, “but,” Mindrum explained, “she talked to the scammer for two years!” Mindrum said her office stepped in to end the relationship, extradited the scammer to the U.S. and successfully prosecuted him. The woman was not charged.

INLAND EMPIRE, CA—- Riverside Arts Council, Arts Connection – the Arts Council of San Bernardino County, and Music Changing Lives are excited to announce they have formed a regional arts collaborative, Arts for I.E., with the purpose of bridging arts advocacy, empowerment, and access across the Inland region. 

In 2019, Josiah Bruny, CEO of Music Changing Lives, spearheaded the vision of One Inland Empire, a collective of organizations who together would solve pressing issues across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. When COVID-19 began threatening community access to the arts, demanding immediate virtual adaptations, forcing closures and cancelations of events, reducing staff and resources, he realized the need to unite and advocate for the arts was even more pressing than ever before.

Josiah brainstormed creative strategies with Jennifer Kane, Executive Director of Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County and Patrick Brien, Executive Director of Riverside Arts Council to bring more visibility, resources and partnerships to the IE arts community. Online convenings were the first step, but the group felt more was needed. All three leaders felt a regional approach would be greatly beneficial for the Inland Empire and together the idea of Arts for I.E. was born.

“The arts in the inland region have too often been underrepresented,” said Patrick Brien of the Riverside Arts Council. “We have had collective voices in Riverside County and in San Bernardino County, but never a collective voice that brings the two counties together. With the partnerships we have and that we are continuing to build, this is an exciting time.”

Arts for I.E. is committed the following four initiatives:

1. Advocating for the arts locally and statewide as one voice for the Inland Empire, bringing together businesses, organizations, elected officials, and artists at monthly convenings.
2. Increasing access to the arts for vulnerable and underrepresented populations within the Inland Empire through individual and organizational development and mentorship opportunities.
3. Establishing an art fund to serve diverse arts organizations across the region.
4. Creating an online community engagement forum for IE artists and arts organizations to share resources, programs and services, events and ideas to establish deeper connections within the arts.

“For the first time in history we’ve created a platform for artists and arts organizations across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, to have a voice and the opportunity to be trained and paired with mentors to fast track their efforts to create immediate change and endless opportunities. Which is needed now more than ever for diversity to become achievable, and sustainable,” stated Josiah Bruny.

The Arts for I.E. collaborative is already making headway in the region and has a total of twenty-nine partner organizations on board, with more outreach taking place for artists and arts organizations to join. 

If you would like to join the Arts for I.E. collaborative or would like more information, please contact ArtsforIE@gmail.com.

By Quinci LeGardye 

Gov. Newsom says he wants to help small businesses. Combined, they are a major economic engine in the state. He wants them to get online quicker and expand their markets to reach new customers in cyberspace. This is as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer their bottom lines and change the way we shop. 

To that end, the governor declared July 2020 “California for All Small Business Month” in a proclamation issued July 8. 

“With local businesses across the state working to meet unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, California for All Small Business Month is an important time to recognize their essential contributions to our state, and each do our part to help California’s diverse small businesses recover and thrive,” reads the proclamation. 

African American business owners and advocates across the state are optimistic. The much-needed assistance Gov. Newsom has announced in a time of crisis, they say, will enable them to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global marketplace. 

“95% of the world customers are outside of the United States. As small businesses learn to pivot as a result of the Covid pandemic, it is imperative that they have the online presence and access to capital to reach those potential clients,” said Gene Hale, president of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC). “ Supporting local businesses will help stimulate those communities and invigorate job growth.” 

The Small Business Month proclamation coincided with the start of “Calling All Californians: #ShopSafeShopLocal,” a new campaign the governor’s office is leading. 

The #ShopSafeShopLocal campaign encourages shoppers in California to help small businesses operate safely during the pandemic. It also provides small business owners with resources to help them improve their online presence, including free website development and digital marketing. 

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development has partnered with leading tech companies in the state, including Google, eBay, Square and Yelp, to provide services to small businesses, including free online advertising, free websites, and COVID-19 relief. They will also connect California businesses with under 750 employees to shipping companies that can help them set up e-commerce deliveries. 

“Local has taken on a new meaning and California’s beloved small businesses need our help now more than ever,” said Isabel Guzman, co-chair of the Small Business Subcommittee and Director of the state’s Office of the Small Business Advocate, in an OpEd she co-authored with Sarah Friar, who is co-chair of the Small Business Subcommittee and CEO of San Francisco-based Nextdoor. The Press Enterprise, a Riverside County media outlet, published their statement. 

Nextdoor is a San Francisco-based company that provides a hyper-local social networking platform to connect people with each other and to businesses and resources in their community. 

“Supporting nearby stores, business owners, and local employees, as they modify operations to slow the spread of COVID-19, is an essential commitment to our community,” Guzman and Friar wrote. 

In addition to resources from business partners, the campaign’s website includes links to state and county industry guidance, free business consulting, and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association’s personal protective equipment (PPE) marketplace. The online portal links California businesses with COVID-19 safety equipment. 

“California’s small businesses are adapting to the new marketplace, integrating technology at higher rates than ever, developing creative ways to connect with clients digitally and repurposing to serve their communities with innovations that meet the moment,” said Gov. Newsom. “California remains committed to helping all of our diverse small businesses become more resilient and thrive.” 

There are nearly 4 million small businesses in California. In good times, they make up over 99% of all businesses in the state and employ nearly half of the state’s workforce — over 7.1 million people, according to U.S Small Business Administration’s 2018 numbers. 

Before the pandemic, across the United States, African-American and Latino women-owned businesses were experiencing the fastest growth, according to 2012 U.S. Census Bureau data. 

But COVID-19 is presenting new financial and operational challenges, especially for businesses owned by African Americans and other ethnic minorities in California. 

“According to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, in the last 4 months, there has been a 15 percent drop of active business owners across the nation,” Guzman and Friar shared. “That decrease is nearly double for Black-owned and operated businesses at 26%, and at 19% for Latino, 21% Asian, and 25% immigrant. 

The governor also emphasized the importance of maintaining social distancing protocols while shopping. 

“Critically, amid the ongoing emergency, we must all do our part to keep small business employees, owners, and others safe by wearing face coverings when we go out, practicing safe shopping and following public health protocols.”