(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Akoma Unity Center to receive $140,000 grant from More Attractive Communities (MAC) Foundation towards the beautification of Anne Shirrells Park on the Westside of San Bernardino. Akoma Unity Center (Akoma) is located in the heart of the Westside in Anne Shirrells Park. The Beautification of Anne Shirrells Park aims to inspire and recharge the community’s spirit, while boosting the financial resilience of this neighborhood —giving residents a sense of pride and ownership.
This project is made possible, largely due to the support of MAC Foundation whose mission is to support San Bernardino’s underserved communities by creating curb appeal to physical local businesses, organizations, parks and recreation facilities. Akoma is seeking additional support from the City of San Bernardino and other stakeholders to contribute to the Beautification Project.
Improvement plans include: refurbishing the basketball court, improving landscaping and irrigation of the Anne Shirrells Garden, creating a Zen Garden inside the gated area of Akoma Unity Center, along with a new volleyball and tether ball court. Each space serves a purpose for the youth and families of the West side of San Bernardino and those who visit Akoma Unity Center. In addition, MAC is sponsoring the painting of a vibrant mural on the building facing California St. Akoma has partnered with a home-grown muralist to create a welcoming art scape that encompasses the culture and values of this neighborhood.
“Murals have been noted to be extremely impactful in bridging communities and creating pride. We at Akoma Unity Center are extremely grateful to the MAC Foundation and all philanthropic organizations who will find it deep in their generous hearts to give to this worthy community project. As Executive Director of Akoma Unity Center, it is my heartfelt mission to bring about change and improvements to the very much marginalized Westside of San Bernardino. It takes strong leadership, insight, and understanding of community development in order to forge revitalization within a community where People feel no hope. Akoma Unity Center welcomes all community collaborations with this Beautification project” says Executive Director, Kimberly Calvin.
Akoma has previously received support from CA ReLeaf through the 2019 Arbor Week Grant which assisted with planting the Shirrells Garden bountiful orchard of fruit trees.
Akoma Unity Center is a 501 C(3) Non-Profit organization committed to providing children with high quality, nocost afterschool structured recreation, and development programs in a safe and supervised environment. If you would like to learn more information about Akoma Unity Center, please visit our website at www.akomaunitycenter.org or call (909) 217-7956.
Pictured: Anne Shirrells Park basketball court. Left, is the basketball court in its current state, right, is mock up image of the newly remodled basketball court.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Three San Bernardino City Schools started the 2019–2020 school year with new principals and two District departments welcomed new directors.
Students at Highland-Pacific, Lankershim, and North Verdemont Elementary Schools met their new leaders in August, while children at E. Neal Roberts Elementary are getting to know their principal a little better after Yosan Hailemariam took the helm just before the last school year ended.
Lauryn Wild is principal of Highland-Pacific Elementary. M. Evette Peters, former principal of Highland-Pacific Elementary, is now the principal of Lankershim Elementary. Kimberly Robel, previously a vice principal at Cajon High, is looking forward to leading North Verdemont Elementary, a tightknit school where staff and students are like family.
“I’m so excited to return to the closeness of an elementary school,” Robel said. “I’m looking forward to creating opportunities for students and teachers to stretch their wings and be their best selves.”
At the District level, longtime principal Ernestine Hopwood, who most recently led Chavez Middle School, was promoted to director of Charter School Operations, a department that oversees more than a dozen charter campuses in San Bernardino and Highland.
Dr. Wil Greer, who most recently taught in the Educational Administration department at Cal State San Bernardino, is the District’s new director of Equity and Targeted Student Achievement. Known as ETSA, Greer’s department is at the forefront of closing the academic achievement gap by promoting equitable learning outcomes for targeted and underachieving student groups.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Chief Jarrod Burguan started his career with the San Bernardino Police Department in 1992 and has served as the Chief of Police for the department since 2013.
Throughout his career, Burguan worked in, supervised or managed every division within the department. His broad range of experience allowed him to become a knowledgeable and effective leader.
Chief Burguan was a source of strength for the department and community throughout his career which included the terrorist attack on the Inland Regional Center in 2015 and the North Park Elementary School shooting in 2017.
He was able to effectively communicate with the national audience and bring the local community together.
The City of San Bernardino and it’s residents would like to thank Chief Jarrod Burguan for his years of service and dedication to the profession.
John M. Futch, Jr. was born June 15, 1950 in Merced, California. He was the oldest of four children; born into an Air Force family with parents who lovingly instilled in him a sense of structure and a strong work ethic.
He was a natural leader as the big brother in a traveling family. He kept the siblings unified as they traveled around the world – imparting in them an unbreakable alliance.
Through all the transitions John, Terry, Lois and Stan relied on each other. They relied on the solid foundation of a loving family. And the kids relied on John’s innate leadership.
John was always in charge. He was the oldest and carried the most responsibility. Mature. Articulate. Brilliant. Confident. These are words that described John at an early age.
It was no shock that John finished high school at the age of 16 without sacrificing extracurricular activities. He played football, wrestled and ran track. He was accomplished at a young age – willing to tackle any challenge. John exemplified a sense of fearlessness and strength that only grew as he did.
John moved across the country to Washington DC to start a position at the FBI at the age of 17. There, he worked as a fingerprint examiner and met his beautiful wife Liz.
On a sweltering day, he stumbled into a police trailer looking for air conditioning and found an employment opportunity. He became a Metro DC Police Officer, who helped ensure safety following the peak of the Civil Rights movement.
He was a peace keeper, a husband and a father who worked diligently to provide for his children; Marcus and Adrienne.
John retired from the police force due to injury and drove his young family back to California with a license plate that read, “Broke.” He continuously played Elton John’s song “Bennie and the Jets” on the eight-track.
John, Liz, Marcus and Adrienne made their home in Southern California, close to his siblings and parents. When John Futch Sr. was on his death bed, he lit a renewed fire in John Jr. He challenged John to further his education. John pursued his academic goals. His intelligence combined with his boldness created a synergy that forged an esteemed community leader.
John enrolled at the California State University of San Bernardino. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science; and his master’s degree in Social Sciences at CSUSB. John continued with his passion for education as an administrator at CSUSB. He dedicated his work to honoring culture and diversity.
John was instrumental in providing a platform for Native American educators, artists and performers. He played a vital role in bringing San Manuel’s California Native American Day Children’s Program to CSUSB. The San Manuel Pow Wow, the Tribe’s largest event of the year, is hosted at CSUSB thanks in large part to John.
His service in education continued when he was elected as a Trustee with the San Bernardino Community College District. The “Friends of John Futch Textbook Scholarship” was launched in 2007 to help provide book scholarships for students, with a preference for students with community service involvement, first generation college students and historically underserved students.
John M. Futch was a name in the community that was synonymous with action, advancement and assurance. He worked as a trusted Chief of Staff to his close friend and, then, Board of Supervisor James Ramos.
Most recently, John was elected as the President of the San Bernardino Branch of the NAACP. He led the group with a focus on communication and service to the community.
John was dedicated to helping others and pursued various avenues of civic engagement, awareness and advocacy.
He served as a liaison to law enforcement as a trusted member of the Sheriff’s Information Exchange Committee. In his role, John fostered in meaningful conversations about community engagement and cultural diversity education.
John provided exemplary motivation for his son and grandson. Marcus Futch Sr. serves as a peace officer with Desert Hot Springs Police; and Marcus Futch Jr. is attending the Fullerton Police Academy. They continue the family legacy of selflessness, service and sacrifice.
John M. Futch passed away on August 11, 2019. He imparted on all of us a duty to participate, to advocate and to communicate. We honor his legacy by serving others and being our brothers’ keepers.
His celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM at CSUSB Santos San Manuel Student Union, located at 5500 University Parkway in San Bernardino.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— You missed it. No one kept count, but, probably more than 100 people, including family and friends of Grand-ma Emma Shaw! They celebrated her 107th birthday with her at the Shirrells Park Community Center in San Bernardino. The party took place on Saturday, August 10, 2019.
Feeling ‘Special’ ‘SPECIAL FEELING !’
The person of honor, Mrs. Emma Shaw, was born on August 9,1912, in rural Louisiana. In her childhood, she often missed school to help her family pick cotton. In her adult years, she gave birth to 13 children (including two who died being born).
Mrs. Shaw worked into her 60s at whatever jobs she could get. She has lived and worked in Louisiana, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and San Bernardino. She also raised six generations of church and community leaders. She is a SHERO!
Mrs Emma Shaw
107th Birthday Cake
Throughout the celebration, Mrs. Shaw sat quietly and attentively, responsive to the constant flow of people wanting to photo-record this moment in history. Her ‘throne’, her wheel-chair at a decorated table soon overflowing with cards and flowers and love.
Many magic moments! You missed it. I’m grateful that I didn’t!
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (“Blue Shield Promise”) collaborates with community organizations and local artist to create “Promise” mural that will be unveiled in the Boys & Girls Clubs Challengers Clubhouse
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— LOS ANGELES, CA— “Speak Life,” “Share Life,” and “Take Flight,” are some of the positive messages on a new colorful mural painted by South Los Angeles at-risk middle school and high school students and community artist Moses Ball.
The 8-week Blue Shield Promise Community Art Therapy program was held in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles, Challengers Clubhouse and Wellnest (formerly Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic). The project helps local youth deal with everyday trauma they face by using their creativity to help design a mural based on their hopes and aspirations.
Mural by Moses Ball, Art Therapy,
Each week, social workers and behavioral health specialists from Blue Shield Promise and Wellnest joined accomplished artist Ball who encouraged youth aged 11 to 17 to lend their creativity as they participated in the program. Art was used as a tool to help the program participants share their feelings and talk about difficult issues in a safe, nurturing space. As part of the program, a “Promise” theme mural was painted on the 20-foot by 60-foot wall outside the playground of the Boys and Girls Challengers Clubhouse.
The design is a brightly colored blue wall representing the faces of the children and showcasing their dreams about future occupations. For example, a young girl inspired by aviator Bessie Coleman is dressed like a pilot with an image of a plane taking flight behind her. Another shows a young girl rapper inspired by Nipsey Hussle’s music as well as his community work.
Mural by Moses Ball, Art Therapy,
“The vision that inspired the mural is to repair the hurt from the challenges the youth face and in turn foster the dreams that still live inside them,” Ball said.
“It gives me great satisfaction to mentor youth both artistically and in life,” said Ball. “I hope to inspire the next generation to become Los Angeles muralists and beautify the community. With the support of Blue Shield Promise that provided resources and staff, I was able to focus on the artistic instruction and guidance of kids who played a key role in creating the mural.”
“It’s exciting to think that every time I come to the center, the mural gives me a sense of pride knowing that I helped paint it,” said Brailyn (12 years old), Boys & Girls Clubs Challenger Clubhouse member.
The
mural is part of the Community Art Therapy Program, which includes guidance
from trained behavioral health professionals. The goal is to help at-risk youth
express their emotions in an invisible form, and assist them in building
relationships with others. This program enables kids who are undergoing
physical, emotional or mental crisis to increase their ability to explore,
discover and interpret reality in a safe space.
“Blue
Shield Promise is committed to investing in the communities where our members
live to ensure they have every opportunity to have healthy and vibrant lives,”
said Dr. Greg Buchert, President and CEO of Blue Shield Promise. “We are
thrilled to have the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles and Wellnest
joining our effort to create community programming like the youth art therapy
that focuses on addressing the health needs of youth using art and engagement.”
“This
was a great program for our youth because it provided them with an opportunity
that they will be able to experience for years to come with the creating of this
colorful new mural at the Challengers Club,” said Calvin Lyons, President and
CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles. “We’re delighted to work
with Blue Shield Promise and Wellnest who understand the needs of healthy
communities and offer their time and resources to boost children’s self-esteem
and confidence through art therapy.”
“Commenting
on the power of art, Charlene Dimas-Peinado, President and CEO of Wellnest
added, “We know that art can be used to engage, educate, express powerful
emotions, and develop creative thinking and problem solving that can contribute
to their future success. We are honored to be a partner on this program to give
these young people those tools.”
When Will More Than $2.7 Billion The State Has Invested in Fighting Homelessness and Building Affordable Housing Reach the People Who Need it?
By Tanu Henry | California Black Media
When Coleen Sykes Ray started an organization with her daughter in 2015 to help homeless women, the Stockton, California resident had no idea she, too, would be homeless four years later.
Now, she, her husband and two children live in an Extended Stay America hotel in Stockton. The family pays a costly $610 hotel bill every week as they struggle to find a place to live.
“When you tell landlords you have a Section 8 voucher, its like saying a dirty word,” says Ray who is African American and works as a Community Outreach Specialist for a local public health organization. “It’s heartbreaking because we’re good people. I’m working and I’m college-educated.”
Ray says she gets why landlords refuse to rent their properties to her family. Some of them explain that they have been burnt many times by people who pay them with vouchers. Other property owners, she says, tell her that it is a hassle to have to deal with the Section 8 administration.
But understanding the landlords’ reluctance – after going great lengths to impress them, only to be rejected in the end – doesn’t make life easier for Ray and her family. They live cramped in a single hotel room, preparing almost every meal in a microwave, with no sign in sight that they will have a new home soon.
From 2017 to 2019, the number of homeless people in San Joaquin County, where Stockton is the largest city and the county seat, tripled, increasing from 567 to more than 1,500. During that same period in the city of Stockton itself, the homeless population skyrocketed, too, reaching 921 from 311 people two years prior, according to a 2018 “point-in-time” census report compiled by San Joaquin County.
“While we certainly understand that the number of homeless people have tripled in the county, that number might not be a true reflection of what has happened over the last two years,” says Adam Cheshire, Program Administrator for Homeless Initiatives in San Joaquin County.
Cheshire says in 2017, there were only 35 volunteers who signed up to help count San Joaquin’s homeless population. In 2019, there were 400 volunteers, which helped his organization achieve a more accurate count, including the unsheltered homeless population.
Homelessness is not just a problem for San Joaquin county. It’s a statewide issue. Every major city in California has been hit by the crisis. Across California, the homeless population jumped by 16 percent between 2018 to 2019. With a total of about 130,000 people without a permanent place to live, California has the largest homeless population in the United States.
The high number of people in California without stable housing or a permanent address poses a serious problem for the state as it takes steps to avoid an undercount in the 2020 Census.
For African Americans, California’s homelessness crisis is even more severe.
Easter Baskets for our Easter Outreach in partnership with Heavenly Hands Food Pantry of Stockton, CA.
“Black Californians make up nearly 7 percent of the state’s general population yet are nearly 30 percent of the homeless population,” wrote Mark Ridley-Thomas, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, in an open letter to Gov. Newsom in June. Ridley-Thomas was reaching out to the governor asking him to address some of the problems specific to African Americans in the state.
As the homeless problem started to become more noticeable in Stockton, Ray says she and her daughter would see women, some of them mentally ill, walking around “free-bleeding” during their menstrual cycles. Disturbed by what they saw, they decided to package bags of women’s sanitary hygiene products – washes, wipes, tampons and napkins, etc. – and hand them out to homeless women.
Soon, what they began as a one-time goodwill gesture grew into a non-profit they started and still run called Bags of Hope. In their first year, Ray and her daughter handed out 30 bags of the feminine products every month. Between 2017 and 2018, as the homelessness crisis spiraled in their city, they donated about 65 bags every month to homeless women in Stockton. This year, Ray says they have been fortunate to reach about 100 women living in shelters and on the streets every month.
Most of the funding they use to buy the products comes from donations from local businesses and individuals and a gala they hold once a year. The biggest gift their organization has received so far came from the Black Employee Network at Proctor and Gamble.
“Doing the work of Bags of Hope is a kind of ministry,” says Ray. “Helping other homeless people, gives me and my family hope now that we find ourselves in the same situation. There is no reason to be ashamed. We are not homeless because we are bad people, bad parents or we are lazy. There are investors, buying up properties in neighborhoods, raising the cost of housing, and pushing people out of places where they have been living for years.”
Ray, her husband, daughter and son, who is autistic, became homeless in May of this year. It was about eight months after Blue Shield of California laid her off last September along with about 400 other employees.
Ray’s husband is a diabetic who became permanently disabled seven years ago after doctors amputated one of his feet following an injury. After her layoff last year, the couple scraped up money together to continue paying their $1,200 monthly rent – until January.
That’s when the landlord increased their rent to $1340, which Ray says they “simply could not afford.” After getting help from her church and making payment arrangements with the landlord for the next couple of months, the family fell behind on rent payments and agreed to move out.
Because every apartment or house they looked at before they left their rented home cost between $1,500 and $1,700 a month, the family decided to move into the hotel where they currently live.
Fortunately for Ray, she landed her current job on June 24, this year.
But with the high weekly hotel cost, almost “every dime we earn,” says Ray, from her salary and her husband’s disability payment, goes toward their hotel bill.
Around the time Ray and her family moved into the hotel in May, Gov. Newsom presented his revised 2019-20 budget to the legislature with unprecedented spending in it to take on the state’s homelessness crisis. The state plans to invest approximately $2.7 billion on shelters, prevention, support services, and more, as well as funding new affordable housing initiatives, according to Christopher Martin, Legislative Advocate for Housing California, a Sacramento-based organization focused on helping to solve California’s homelessness problem.
The budget took effect July 1.
Then, two weeks ago, Gov. Newsom signed into law AB 101, a trailer bill detailing budget dollars and issuing guidelines on how the monies allocated to fight homelessness will be spent. A provision tucked into the bill now prevents local governments from blocking the building of homeless shelters and navigation centers in communities across the state.
A few of the budget items in AB 101 are: a $45.9 million allocation to support Census outreach to hard-to-count communities; $25 million to support housing and benefits for homeless people who are disabled; and $16.4 million in rental assistance for former prisoners .
About $250 million in the state budget will be funneled to counties across the state to fund homeless initiatives.
Together, California’s counties and cities will receive a total of $650 million from the state over the next year for homeless housing, assistance and prevention programs.
Cheshire told California Black Media that his team is coming up with ideas for the most effective ways to spend the new state funding in San Joaquin County so they can help families like Ray’s. But it is still too early, he says, to share those plans because they are not yet finalized and the state has not yet released the money.
Most of the money will start to kick in after April of 2020, says Martin.
As Ray balances adjusting to her new day job with the difficulties of being homeless, and helping other homeless women through the work of Bags of Hope, she remains upbeat and optimistic.
“I can’t go out and preach love, light and strength and have a negative spirit,” she says. “No matter what I’m facing.”
(SAN BERNARDINO, CA)— Assemblyman James Ramos delivers a $3 million check to Mayor John Valdivia and City Councilman Juan Figuroa of San Bernardino. The state of California issued the check as a result of Ramos’ advocacy! The money is earmarked for updating the City Plan for San Bernardino. Mayor Valdivia also presented The Assemblyman with a Resolution thanking him for his support. A series of community meetings will occur to facilitate creating the development document. Call the San Bernardino City Clerk for more information.
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK)—- REDLANDS, CA— Special members of the public were invited to join officials who represent federal, state, county, local communities and business interests in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the extension of the passenger rail service to, and eventually through Redlands. The ceremony was held on July 20, 2019.
For the period necessary for the ceremony, Redlands traffic was diverted from Stuart Street between Texas Street and Orange Street in Redlands. A small number of residents from the area were also in attendance. The event was covered by local, regional and electronic media.
The Redlands Passenger Rail Project (RPRP) describes itself as an advanced regional transportation project designed to connect residents, businesses and visitors to a variety of leisure, education, healthcare and other destinations. The nine-mile rail project provides new transportation choices through the implementation of a new rail service that integrates conveniently with other transportation modes such as auto, bus and bicycle.
The route starts at it’s national and Metrolink rail services base located at the Santa Fe Depot near Downtown San Bernardino then it proceeds locally to the San Bernardino Transit Center where it connects with the (non-rail) Omnitrans, Mountain Transit, Pass Transit, Victor Valley Transit systems and the SB/X route that flows from north of CSUSB to the Loma Linda University and Medical Center and to the VA Medical Center.
The Redlands Passenger Rail Project proceeds through the SBTransit Center, jogs south and east to cross the Santa Ana River, stops at the to-be-built new Tippecanoe Ave Station, runs along-side the 10 freeway and Redlands Blvd to the to-be built station at ESRI , on to the under- construction Redlands Train Station, & University (of Redlands) station.
Congressman, Pete Aguilar, (also the former Mayor, City of Redlands) headlined the list of officials who participated in the Redlands Passenger Rail Project ‘Groundbreaking’ Ceremony. Several other participating officials lauded Congressman Aguilar for the kind & extent of his work in securing the funds & other support required to advance this tranportation project.
Metrolink
Federal,State, & other transportation officials.
Photo Op Finished talking ‘serious business’, officials were ready to go out & play in the dirt! Decorated shovels awaited their Redlands Passenger Rail Project, Ceremonial ‘Groundbreaking’.
Congressman Aguilar; Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Metrolink (SCRRA); Ray Tellis, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region 9; Elissa Konove, (CSTA); & Henry Nickel, Member, San Bernardino City Council, representing Mayor Valdivia.
City of Redlands Staff.
One MORE????
Lifelong Redlands residents; Ms Jean, & Ms Ceciela.
Life ‘Partners’hj ! Long walk ! Where can we cross these tracks ?
Beloved restaurant fires up the grill with refreshed look and feel
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Black Angus Steakhouse, the original American Steakhouse, announced today it will officially re-open the doors of its San Bernardino location on Monday, July 15th. A mainstay in the area since 1979, the restaurant will reveal a renovation that is the second for the chain this year, giving the coveted 55-year-old steakhouse a 21st century refresh.
“There aren’t a lot of restaurant chains with over five decades of history, but Black Angus wears it well,” said Chris Ames, CEO Black Angus Steakhouse. “As our customers evolve, we must evolve with them – paying homage to our roots but in a more modern way. Our newly renovated space will continue to offer a dining place that is at the border between casual dining and fine dining, a lively and approachable restaurant with booths that are home to family dinners, date nights, celebrations and more.”
Traditionally known for tall booths, a cozy bar, and western vibe, the Black Angus remodel will keep the original sensibility, but with larger windows, a lighter palette and more open floor plan. A spacious private dining room, a destination-worthy bar, and the comfortable lounge are new features that bring more cause to dine in for longtime restaurant-goers and new ones alike.
The Black Angus Steakhouse menu its guests know and love will return, including USDA choice, 21 day aged steaks, chops and prime rib. Guests can expect to see a revamped beverage program where flavors are highlighted in classic drinks, new brewery partnerships, trending flavors and robust wines.
The San Bernardino location will be open for both lunch and dinner and is located at 290 E. Hospitality Lane. To learn more about Black Angus Steakhouse, visit www.BlackAngus.com or follow Black Angus on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @BASteakhouse.
Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
