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CSU Dominguez Hills to Bestow Honorary Doctorate Degree on Olympic Gold Medalist Carmelita Jeter during 2019 Commencement Ceremony

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— CARSON, CA— California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and the California State University Board of Trustees will bestow an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on 2012 Olympic gold medalist and CSUDH alumna Carmelita Jeter on May 17, at 6:30 p.m., during CSUDH’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony.

Jeter, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from CSUDH in 2006, will be recognized for her athletic achievements and continued contributions to the sport of track and field, her dedication to her community, and her success as a speaker and businesswoman. She will receive the honorary degree and give the keynote address at the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing ceremony – one of six commencement ceremonies taking place May 17 and 18 in the Dignity Health Sports Park Tennis Stadium, located on the CSUDH campus.

Born and raised in Southern California, Jeter started her athletic career at Torrance’s Bishop Montgomery High School as a member of the basketball team. In order to stay fit during the off-season, she tried out for the track and field team. From the moment she stepped onto the track, her incredible sprinting talent was impossible to ignore.

After graduating from Bishop Montgomery, Jeter enrolled at CSUDH where she became the most decorated female athlete in university history. She set five CSUDH records that still stand and won six All-America awards.

During the 2012 Olympics, Jeter anchored the U.S. Olympic 4x100m relay team to take home gold. She became one of the few U.S. athletes to medal in both the 100m and 200m race at an Olympic Games, earning both the silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m. 

Prior to her Olympic victories, Jeter earned the title “Fastest Woman Alive” for her personal time of 10.64 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in 2009. She continued to live up to that title when she won the 100m race at the IAAF Diamond League in 2010, both the 100m and 200m races in 2011, and by winning the 100m finals at the USA Outdoor Championships and the IAAF World Championship in Athletics. U.S.A Track and Field presented Jeter with the 2011 Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award.

In addition to her success on the track, Jeter is deeply involved in community and philanthropic efforts, particularly those focused on health and fitness. She has organized community track clinics for youth and served as an ambassador for the Healthy Compton initiative, a citywide program designed to promote healthy lifestyle choices.

When her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jeter used her platform as a record-setting athlete to raise awareness, collaborating with Nike on hot pink spikes that she wore in competition. In 2015, she was named the official ambassador for Susan G. Komen’s California Circle of Promise Initiative, designed to promote breast cancer awareness among African American women.

Jeter will be one of six CSUDH alumni to serve as this year’s commencement keynote speakers, bringing words of inspiration to approximately 3,600 baccalaureate and master candidates and 36,000 friends and family.

CSUDH 2019 Commencement Speakers:

Rosemary Diaz (B.S., Physics, 2000), optics engineer for Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Friday, May 17, at 9 a.m., for the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences.

Chiraz Zouaoui Kelly (B.S., Business Administration, 2005), president/CEO of Staffactory.
Friday, May 17, 1:30 p.m., for the College of Business Administration and Public Policy.

Carmelita Jeter (B.A., Physical Education, 2006), Olympic gold medalist and assistant coach for Track and Field at Missouri State University.

Friday, May 17 at, 6:30 p.m., for the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing.

Joseph Herrera (B.A., Labor Studies, 1999), vice president of corporate human relations for Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m., for the College of Arts and Humanities; the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; and the College of Health, Human Services and Nursing.

Jan Vogel (M.A., Education, 1974), executive director/CEO of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board.

Saturday, May 18 at 1:30 p.m., for the College of Business Administration and Public Policy; the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences; and the College of Education.

Ted Ross, CIO for the City of Los Angeles and General Manager of the Information Technology Agency.

Saturday, May 18, 6:30 p.m., for the Graduate Ceremony, which includes graduates from all CSUDH colleges.

The Dignity Health Sports Park is located at 18400 Avalon Blvd. in Carson. Media parking is available at in parking lot 10. To RSVP, please call Paul Browning at (310) 243-2740.

The commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live at http://dhtv.csudh.edu.  For more information, visit www.csudh.edu/commencement.

2019 Empowering Young Women’s Conference Inspires Girls to Feel Worthy, Powerful, Beautiful and Loved

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— RIVERSIDE, CA— In the height of the #MeToo movement, young ladies need to feel empowered and they need safe havens where they can connect with other young women in dealing with their daily struggles. The Empowering Young Women’s Conference gives girls ages 12-21 that space and will be held on Saturday, April 27 at Landis Auditorium at Riverside Community College, 4800 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside.

The one-day conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will consist of workshops on topics such as: achieving your dreams, bullying, human trafficking, career education, suicide prevention, self-esteem, domestic violence, personal health and much more.

A couple of the featured speakers at this year’s conference include Leticia Juarez from ABC7 and Dr. Leita Harris from Nurturing You Women’s Health & Wellness. The conference is FREE and open to the public and is presented by The Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation.

To RSVP, please visit www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-young-women-conference-2019-tickets-56161929844.

TFCF’s, “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” Gala a Remarkable Success!

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK–ENN)— ONTARIO, CA— Time for Change Foundation (TFCF) held their 17th Annual Awards Gala, “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” on April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, CA.  What a beautiful sight it was to see the community come together in honor of local heroes, and to recognize the homeless women and children that have triumphed over trials!  

For 17 years TFCF has created a true pathway for these women and children to reach self-sufficiency. The event welcomed back alumni from over 15 years that have held onto the skills learned while at TFCF, some achieving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, other watching their children graduate from college.  “Oh, the Places She’ll Go!” highlighted the new heights these women have been able to achieve. Events like our gala enable us to highlight the successful journey of these resilient women and the obstacles they have overcome. 

Founder, Kim Carter stated, “We believe in the women! We believe in their ability to come back from devastation and no matter what, a second chance is deserving!”

In light of the amazing accomplishment throughout their 17-year history, TFCF celebrated and more importantly acknowledged the many local heroes who make daily contributions to our society. This year’s honorees included: Carlos & Audrey Martinez – Dynamic Duo Award, BLU Educational Foundation – RISE Award Restoring Inclusivity in Systemic Education Award, Johnson Family Child Care – Child Care of the Year Award, Linda Lindsey – Lady of Justice Award, Mayor Deborah Robertson – Public Service Champion, James & Rowena Ramos – Lifetime Legacy Award, Beatriz Solis – Melinda Gates Inspiration Award, Tim Evans – Ramos Family Spirit Of Compassion Award, and Dr. Roger Hadley – Community Health Champion Award.

Since its humble beginnings in 2002, Time for Change Foundation has demonstrated a remarkable determination towards ending homelessness for women and their children. 

Time for Change Foundation’s 17th Year Anniversary Gala took place on Friday April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Ontario, CA. It was an awe-inspiring, and truly wonderful night for all. To find out more about future events, please visit www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

We accept all forms of donations. To see how you can help make a difference visit us on the web at www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org.

The mission of Time for Change Foundation is to empower disenfranchised, low income individuals and families by building leadership through evidence-based programs and housing to create self-sufficiency and thriving communities.

Celebrating the Life of ‘Nipsey Hussle’: A True Community Activist, Icon and Game Changer

By Naomi K. Bonman

LOS ANGELES – The community celebrated the life of a true change agent. The life celebration of Ermias Joseph Asghedom, better known to the world as Nipsey Hussle, was held on Thursday, April 11 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The center holds 21,000 and it was packed out with every seat filled.

The three-hour long service was a pure reflection of all that Nipsey represented during his 33 years on Earth –from the unity and array of the floral arrangements, to the words that each family member and close friend spoke, to the performances. The service began with a prolific photo of Nipsey Hussle on display with his song, “Victory Lap” playing as family, friends, the Nation of Isalm and the community gathered in the stadium. “Victory Lap” was indeed the perfect song that defined Ermias’ life.

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Here’s Why Eritrea has Taken U.S. Rapper’s Death Hard

By Aanu Adeoye, CNN

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK)— VIA CNN— Rapper Nipsey Hussle’s death in a shooting near his clothing store was greeted with shock and disbelief by celebrities and fans alike.

The 33-year-old musician, real name Ermias Davidson Asghedom, was shot dead in an attack on Sunday that also left two others injured.The city of Los Angeles where he grew up and dedicated his life to helping kids break out of the cycle of gang violence mourned his passing.

But somewhere, thousands of miles away in east Africa, Nipsey’s death was felt even more keenly by the people of Eritrea.

His father, Nipsey once said, fled a war in Eritrea to settle in the US.

Hussle visited Eritrea twice in his lifetime: first as an 18-year-old when he spent three months and most recently in April 2018.

With his brother Samiel and their dad, Hussle met the Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and sat down with the Ministry of Information’s website for a wide-ranging interview about his life and experiences growing up in Los Angeles in a culture of gang violence.

Then he spoke of his love for Eritrea and his desire to connect with his extended family after fourteen years since his last visit.

“I am here to visit my family and reconnect with my grandmother, my cousins and everybody else,” Hussle said during the interview.

“I love to be here. The people, the food, the culture, and the lifestyle are extremely good.

“During his trip back to his father’s country, Hussle also visited a local textile factory in the capital Asmara to explore business opportunities.

Eritrea’s Minister of Information Yemane Meskel led the tributes to Hussle after news of his death broke.

“Extremely saddened to hear the news of the tragic and untimely death of iconic recording artist/entrepreneur Ermias Asgedom (Nipsey Hussle),” Meskel tweeted.

“RIP & condolences to his family.”

Billion Temesghen, the Eritrean journalist who interviewed him last year, wrote on Twitter: “Eritreans worldwide feel sorrow for the loss of a talented star, a loving family man & a compassionate compatriot. Condolences to us all.”

Hussle’s debut studio album, Victory Lap, was nominated for best rap album at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Mayor Deborah Robertson presented the Public Service Champion Award

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN) RIALTO, CA— Time for Change Foundation’s (TFCF) 17th Annual Awards Gala will honor community champions who go above and beyond to help care for our community and contribute to both the health, and happiness of its members.

Deborah Robertson was elected Mayor of Rialto in November 2012 – the latest achievement in a distinguished public service career that has included 12 years on  the Rialto City Council, leadership positions at the Southern California Association of Governments, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, and more than 20 years with the California Department of Transportation.

Under Mayor Robertson’s leadership, Rialto has gained regional and national recognition for innovation in the areas of public-private partnerships, business development and job creation. A leading voice on regional and national infrastructure issues, Mayor Robertson chairs the Public Health Subcommittee for SCAG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council and Metro Economies, and member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

In addition, Mayor Robertson is a founding board member for the NFL/AFL Youth Life Skills Camp, has hosted the annual State of Women event in Rialto for the past seven years, and was recognized by Assembly Member Cheryl Brown as 47th District Woman of the Year.

“Mayor Robertson is a jewel in the Inland Empire, as a woman in leadership she is empowering other women to continue leading our communities, we are happy to honor her this year with the Public Service Champion Award” said Vanessa Perez, Director of Time for Change Foundation.

Other Award Honorees include:

Carlos and Audrey Martinez with the Dynamic Duo Award, BLU Educational Foundation with the Rise (Restoring Inclusivity in Systemic Education) Award, Johnson Family Child Care with the Childcare of the Year Award, Linda Lindsey with the Lady of Justice Award, Mayor Deborah Robertson with the Public Service Champion Award, James and Rowena Ramos with the Lifetime Legacy Award, Beatriz Solis with the Melinda Gates Inspiration Award, and Dr. Roger Hadley with the Community Health Champion Award.

Time for Change Foundation’s 17th Year Anniversary Gala will take place on Friday, April 12, 2019 at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton in Ontario, CA from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. To support TFCF’s efforts to help homeless women and children become self-sufficient, thriving members of society you can become a sponsor, purchase an ad in the event program book or purchase a Gala ticket. 

To purchase tickets for the event or to become a sponsor and increase your business’ visibility in the community, please visit our website www.TimeForChangeFoundation.org or contact Vanessa Perez at (909) 886-2994 or by email at vperez@timeforchangefoundation.org.

Saxey Jazz Evening Features Mark Allen Felton!

Hosted By SoCal Black Chamber/SBVC Black Faculty & Staff

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Saxophonist Mark Allen Felton was impressing folks with his smooth sax sounds before he was in high school. On Friday, March 29 you will be able to share his smooth sax sound, as Mark Anthony Felton, affectionately known as ‘Panther’, brings his horn and talented band to the San Bernardino Valley College Auditorium.

Felton is an accomplished and celebrated saxophonist who has delivered with four well received albums. His fifth album, ‘Soul Real’, is dropping later this month… So those in attendance on March 29th will be treated to an exclusive debut.

Felton points out that this release is different than previous recordings and enthusiastically predicts that fans and soon-to-be fans will love it.

Mark says, “This one is a little more upbeat… And funkier than the last record.”

And though Felton says he really digs the funk. He also says and demonstrates that he loves performing jazz, gospel and obviously soul music.

His ‘hipstrumentals’, as he calls them are sure to hit your senses in all the right places. And many can bear witness.

During his career Felton has played with some of the greats including Grammy Award winner Patti Labelle, the late great Al Jarreau, Bobby Womack, Kirk Whalum to name a few.

On Friday, March 29th, Felton will be performing music from his latest release live in a concert event sponsored by the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Inland Cities East and the San Bernardino Valley College Black Faculty and Staff Association. Included in the night’s festivities is a cocktail social from 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and the concert main event from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.. During the night there will be door prizes, giveaways, and, of course, Mark Allen Felton.

To purchase tickets, visit: blackchamberofcommerce.org

Women History Month Special: McDonalds Franchisee and Community Philanthropist, Kiana Webb, Chats on Serving Others and Entrepreneurship

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— March is Women’s History Month. Women have been making strides for decades now and we continue to make our mark in the community through leadership and service. Local McDonald’s franchises, Kiana Webb is one of those woman who is worth looking up to. She is a true inspiration in our community. 

Ms. Webb, daughter of the local, iconic entrepreneurial legend, Reggie Webb, is a five-restaurant franchisee and is the President of Webb Family Enterprises, which operates a total of 16 McDonald’s restaurants. The company also invests in business incubation opportunities for young entrepreneurs of color. 

Kiana’s passion within the McDonald’s system is people and creating an environment where everyone who enters feels special and appreciated. I chatted with her more on her passion for the community in a recent interview. Listen below:

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Harriet Tubman Biopic Scheduled for Release in 2019

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— Over a century after her death, a Harriet Tubman biopic is finally scheduled for release in the fall of 2019.

The biographical movie, Harriet, will focus on the freedom fighter’s escape from slavery in 1849 and her heroic efforts to free hundreds of slaves as a conductor on the underground railroad.

While many remember Harriet Tubman as an influential abolitionist speaker and a Union Army scout during the Civil War, these aspects of her life will not appear in detail throughout the film. According to the film’s director, Kasi Lemmons, they made the choice to document the earlier portion of Tubman’s life to provide people with a new perspective on the popular historic figure.

“The images that we see of Harriet Tubman and the way we’re used to thinking of her is of a much older person, but to think what she did when she was a young woman is quite extraordinary,” she told Refinery 29. “That period of her life [is what] we often refer to, [but] we don’t really have a lot of [visuals] from that period, when she was really doing her superwoman thing.”

Cynthia Erivo, a British actress known for her Tony and Grammy award-winning role as Celie in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, will be playing the role of Harriet.

According to Lemmons, Cynthia perfectly fit the image she had in her head of how she wants to portray Harriet.

“When I met Cynthia, I already had this picture of who this young woman was: very petite, very powerful and very spiritual, who could sing and who was an incredible mimic, and who had to be an incredible actress,” Lemmons said. “All of a sudden, I’m looking at this woman that is all of these things.”

While other actresses have played tribute to the historic figure in productions such as WGN’S Underground and NBC’s Timeless, Cynthia will be the first actress to represent Harriet Tubman in a biopic about her life.

Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers Honored by State Legislature as 2019 Woman of the Year

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK-ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes honored Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers of San Bernardino as the 2019 Assembly District 47 Woman of the Year. Organized by the Legislative Women’s Caucus, the Woman of the Year award recognizes women from all over the state for accomplishments in their respective fields and for their dedication to improving the lives of others in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

Gwendolyn Lorraine Dowdy-Rodgers, a long-time noted speaker, assistant pastor, board of education member, and founder of the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation was selected to receive this years’ Woman of the Year award based on her work with students and parents.  The Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation empowers young women to reach their highest aspirations via mentoring and scholarship opportunities that support participants from middle school through their first year of college. Gwen also established an annual spring “Girl Talk” conference for young girls along with an annual fall “Healthy Me” wellness conference for women to address chronic health issues.

“It is an honor to recognize Gwen for her commitment and dedication to the communities of the Inland Empire. Her leadership and sacrifice for others is a model we all should aspire to,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Gwen is a champion for the region through her work to empower and uplift young women across the region.  Gwen made a decision to give back to her community with her time, efforts and knowledge and we should look to her as an example of what we can do to help others.”

In total, over 120 women were nominated from throughout the community for the Woman of the Year award which recognizes local women for accomplishments in their respective fields and for their dedication to improving the lives of others in conjunction with Women’s History Month.

Nominees came from a variety of different backgrounds ranging from educators and community advocates to county employees, students, business owners and heads of local non-profits.  After review, 30 finalist were selected before the final selection of Gwendolyn Lorrain Dowdy-Rodgers

2019 Woman of the Year Finalist for the 47th District:

Alexa Sigala – Fontana

Alice Chow Geske – Grand Terrace

Aurelia Renteria – Fontana

Carol Malone – Rialto

Demi Espinoza – Muscoy

Dr. Letitia Wright – Fontana

Elsie Valdivia Robles – Colton

Erika Flores – Bloomington

Francine Blacksher – San Bernardino

Gloria Amaya – San Bernardino

Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers – San Bernardino

Isabel Hunt – Fontana

Jean Kayano – Grand Terrace

Jennifer L. Morris – Rialto

Joyce Chambers Hampton – Rialto

Judith Valles – San Bernardino

Karen Larson Coleman – Fontana

Kathy Williams-Braxton – Colton

Kimberly Calvin – San Bernardino

Kimberly Clark – Fontana

LaKeisha Jackson – San Bernardino

LuCretia Dowdy – Bloomington

Maribel Núñez – San Bernardino

Maricela Soliz-Ferguson – Rialto

Megan Moeskau – Grand Terrace

Pamela Langford – San Bernardino

Paula Beauchamp – San Bernardino

Rebecca Gallegos – Colton

Rev. Bronica Martindale-Taylor – San Bernardino

Rosa Loera – Muscoy

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