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*Rialto Record 03/07/24

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W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD

Vol 22, NO. 26

March 07, 20 24

Rialto’s Avila Br other s Bre ak Glass Ceiling as Fir st Mexican Americans to Musically Produce Super Bowl Halftime Show

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By Manny Sandoval

iecn.com

Rialto Resident Joins Orange County Renewable Energy Organization Pg. 3

IE Veterans Struggle to Find Existing Benefits and Services Across Vast Region

n an extraordinary feat of musical and cultural significance, Rialto natives IZ Avila and Bobby Ross Avila, known collectively as The Avila Brothers, have etched their names in the records of Super Bowl history.

Their collaboration with global superstar Usher for the halftime show of Super Bowl LVIII not only captivated millions of viewers but also marked the event as the most-watched televised telecast in history, with a staggering 202.4 million viewers tuning in. This monumental achievement has made them the first Mexican Americans to musically produce a Super Bowl halftime show, a milestone that resonates deeply with their heritage and the diverse community of the Inland Empire.

For IZ Avila, this accomplishment is a testament to the power of dreams and perseverance. "Growing up in Rialto and embarking on a 30-year journey to the Super Bowl, my brother and I always knew that no box was big enough for us," he shared. "This is a great testament to those in the Inland Empire with dreams and aspi-

rations that may seem unrealistic to others. We are living proof that dreams and belief in yourself can lead to extraordinary achievements."

Reflecting on the day of the Super Bowl, the brothers described it as surreal. "Riding to the venue with our mom and dad, I put my hand on my dad's leg and got emotional as I reflected on the journey," said IZ. "It was a moment to take in and enjoy."

When the Grammy awardwinning brothers first received the news that they would be producing the halftime show, their thoughts immediately turned to their family and mentors. "I called my brother, my mom, and industry legends like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis," said Bobby. "The excitement was overwhelming, especially for our parents. It was a proud moment for all of us."

IZ added, "The calls and texts were great, but what would have been greater was to reach out to folks no longer here. This achievement was in honor of our brother Aaron Spears, who passed away last October. Lighting him high during the Avila Brothers, cont. on next pg.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVILA BROTHERS

IZ Avila (left) and Bobby Ross Avila (right) arriving at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 ahead of Superbowl LVIII.

Redlands Hig h and SBVC Al umni’s F ilm Nominate d f or Tw o N A A C P I m a g e A w a r d s , H o m e t o w n S c r e e n i n g i n R i a l t o

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SanTO Bernardino H OW R E A CH U S County’s Sheriff Inland Empir e ’s Department Enhancess Community Newspaper Law Enforcement Of f ice: (909) 381 -9898 in Editorial: Muscoy iecn1 @mac.com Adver tising: sales@iecn .co m Legals : Pg. 5 iecnlegals@ho tmail.co m

H OW TO R E A C H U S

Inland Empir e Community Newspaper s Office: (909) 381-9898 Editor ial: iecn1@mac .com Adver tising: iecn1@mac .c om Legals : iecnle gals@gmail.com

PHOTO EMMILY THACKER

Dr. Daniel E. Walker hosts hometown reception and screening for mentee Bomani J. Story’s directorial debut, “The Angry Girl and Her Monster” at Cinemark Bistro Renaissance Marketplace and XD in Rialto, California on Monday, February 26.

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Community News

r. Daniel E. Walker celebrated his mentee Bomani J. Story’s directorial debut film, “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster,” Monday with a private hometown reception and screening at Cinemark Bistro Renaissance Marketplace and XD in Rialto, California.

Walker’s intention for the event was twofold: He wanted to recognize the Redlands native’s film, which is nominated for two 2024 NAACP Image Awards this year, Outstanding Independent Movie and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture, and also foster intersec-

PHOTO EMMILY THACKER

(Left to right) William Huston, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bay Street Capital Holdings; Alysia Bonner, Elected General Member of Fresno County Public Employees Pension Fund; Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD, James Irvine Foundation and the Inland Empire Community Foundation; and Walker.

tionality between the finance, entertainment, and education sectors.

Continuing his long-standing mission of connecting creativity and capital, Walker brought key members of the entertainment ecosystem to the Inland Empire to support the work of Story and to explore future investment and collaboration in the field of entertainment, media, and communications (EMC). Some of those in attendance were board trustees representing more than $80 Billion of investment capital, general partners of some of the leading entertainmentfocused investment funds, major production companies, and accomplished actors,

producers and a number of Dr. Walker’s mentees from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, UCLA Film School, AFI, and the USC Thornton School of Music.

Notable attendees included students from the Fontana Unified School District; Miss Black America Gabrielle Wilson; Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD, James Irvine Foundation and the Inland Empire Community Foundation; William Huston, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bay Street Capital Holdings; Alysia Bonner, Elected General Member of Fresno County Public Employees Pension Fund; Gustavo Herrera, Chief Executive Film Screening, cont. on next pg.


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