Bakersfield News Observer 9.6.23

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson Launch Fund with $10 Million for Maui

Heroic Intervention Thwarts Potential Tragedy:

A Tragic Death, Health Fears Add to Concern Over California New Extreme-Heat Reality

By

A Riverside County family is grieving -- and a local community is stunned -- after a 12-year-old boy suffered a fatal medical emergency during an excessive heat wave last week in Lake Elsinore.

On Aug. 29, Yahushua Robinson, a student at Lake Canyon Middle School, allegedly did not “dress out” appropriately for gym class and was consequently punished by running laps in his street clothes. His aunt told NBC4 Los Angeles that he was denied a water break by his Physical Education teacher. His classmates reported that Robinson repeatedly complained of difficulty breathing before collapsing and becoming unresponsive.

Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Robinson was pronounced dead at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta.

The coroner’s report attributed Robinson’s death to cardiac arrest.

On the day of the incident, temperatures reached a high of 106° F. The California Department of Education advises schools throughout the state to assess whether outdoor activities, such as physical education and sports, should continue under such conditions. However, it is still being investigated whether the proper protocol was followed. At 11a.m., Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the school.

“Our hearts are with the family, friends, and our school community,” said Lake Canyon Middle School Principal Gil Rodriquez.

The family has since started a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs and other related expenses for the child they affectionally called “YaYa.”

Around the state, there is a growing concern among Black Californians about how extreme heat could affect elderly family members, impact skin care and exacerbate other health concerns. Authorities have warned that sweltering temperatures will now be a part of life in the Golden State.

Worldwide, July was the hottest month on record, and the California Governor’s office reports that 2023 is “shaping up” to be the hottest year on record.

During an Aug. 29 press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services (EMS) and California’s Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, speakers discussed what’s changed and what we can do to adapt to this new reality.

“These are not your grandmothers’ heat waves,” said Braden Kay, Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program manager for California’s Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.

“We have a critical need to support behavior change

and mind-shift for a lot of people who feel their bodies should just be able to handle the heat, but are not,” Kay continued. “Not just today, not just this summer, not just next summer, but for decades to come.”

According to Kay, “Extreme heat is a climate risk that all 58 counties in California will face,” noting that 90-degree weather now sometimes occurs as early as March and as late as November.

Sara Gardner, a massage therapist in San Diego, said skin care is extremely important during heat waves and everyone should wear sunscreen to protect their skin from dangerous sun rays.

“When it’s hot and dry out, I’ve have found exfoliating and moisturizer to be a must every day. I like to use ice each morning directly on my skin to help close my pores which helps me make sure I don’t let out as much sweat and buildup throughout the day. I also like to lock in my moisture with a cream, typically something with Vitamin C.

Experts who participated in the EMS news briefing

said Black Californians, Indigenous communities and other people of color are the most affected by health disparities worsened by extreme heat and are at a higher risk of heatrelated deaths.

“As doctors, perhaps one of the most useful things we can do is educate the public,” said Sharon OkonkwoHolmes, a doctor of family medicine at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

“Older adults in general don’t feel as thirsty, but I’m telling them, ‘Stay on top of your hydration. Add lime, lemon, cucumber, whatever’s necessary to make you have an incentive for drinking.’”

To combat the extreme heat, California is making historic investments in climate action and public awareness. The state has launched a website at heatreadyca.com

“It is an “all-of-state-government approach” to the challenge, Kay said. The site offers a new grant program to support awareness campaigns and add trees and shade infrastructure.

Last week, the Governor’s Office of Emergency of Emergency Services (CalOES) released a number of online toolkits (in 12 languages) to inform state residents about extreme heat and natural disasters.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include feeling fatigued and tired, said Okonkwo-Holmes. Swelling in the lower extremities and high blood pressure are other signs.

“We really need our bodies to stay cool, 96-99 degrees. If we’re not listening to those warning systems, we can get seizures and death,” Okonkwo-Holmes added.

Bakersfield’s Jordan Love Up Next

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

It’s been a few years in the making but Jordan love will finally be am NFL starting quarterback. The Bakersfield native will enter another segment of his football life.

Love attended Liberty High where he played on the football team. Initially quite small in stature. Love served as the back-up quarterback for the freshman team. Midway through his junior year, he became the starting quarterback for the varsity team, a position he would hold for the rest of his time as a prep player.

As a senior, under head coach Bryan Nixon Love passed for 2,148 yards and 24 touchdowns. and rushed for 806 yards with eight touchdowns. He led the Patriots to the State semi-final that season.

The now 25-year-old is the son of Anna Love and Orbin Love from Bakersfield, California. Orbin was a sergeant at the local police department while Anna worked several years for California Highway Patrol (CHIPS)

Jordan inherited his father’s athletic ability. Orbin was a former high school quarterback who played collegiately and made it to the JC level before joining the police force.

Jordan and his father were close, with Orbin Jr. coaching many of his son’s sports teams. At some point a doctor changed his medication, Orbin’s behavior became abnormal and he committed suicide a short time later. Love was 14 years old when his father died; he contemplated quitting football, but his mother encouraged him to continue for another year to make sure he was not making a rash decision.

Love has three sisters Kami, Emily, and Alexis. The eldest of the four siblings is Kami who is currently 34.

Likewise, his second sister, Emily Love Hough is a Taft College graduate who has worked as a certified dental hygienist since August 2019.

He had a scholarship offer from Utah State that landed him in Logan, Utah. He redshirted his freshman year. As a sophomore in 2018, Love started all 13 games, completing 267 of 417 passes for a school season record 3,567 yards with 32 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was a marvel with the ball-a quick release, hitting players in stride, wide open and also threading the needle perfectly with others. After passing for 359 yards and four touchdowns. His team finished the season with an 11–2 record and ranked No. 22 on the AP poll. Following his sophomore season, he was expected to be a future NFL first-round draft pick.

The dream came true as he was selected the 26th overall pick by the Packers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He served as the back-up quarterback to starter

Aaron Rodgers for three years, before being named the starting quarterback of the Packers for the 2023 NFL.   Rodgers had to go through the same. He had to wait four years behind four-time MVP Brett Favre before he got a shot to start.

New York Jets future Hall of Fame quarterback Rodgers said that ex-teammate and Green Bay Packers signal-caller Jordan Love has “all the talent in the world” amid an exclusive interview with Bill Huber of Packer Central about the four-time NFL MVP’s successor.

“It just comes down to being your own man and do things the way you want to do it. The things that he watched me do that he would do differently, do it differently. Be your own guy, that’s awesome. You should do that. He’s a great kid. He’s got all the talent in the world. They’ve got a really young team, so he’s got an opportunity to be exactly who he wants to be and be the leader that he wants to be.

I’m excited for him.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst had their starting quarterback play in all three preseason contests.

Love appears to be a more relaxed player having a successful preseason by completing 21-of-33 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 32 yards on five carries. Rodgers caught a little of Love’s preseason work and said he “looks great.”

“At this point I think I’m definitely ready for Week 1 and carrying on throughout the season,” said Love. “I think these first two (preseason) games were a lot of good work, obviously getting the practice in with Cincy and with the Patriots as well. But I think playing in that last game with just me getting more reps, just getting more comfortable, seeing new looks, going against a different team, I don’t think would hurt.”

Love has seen some work here and there thus far, completing 50-of-83 passes for 606 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He was particularly good in 2022 in limited action, completing 14-of-21 passes for 195 yards and a score.

The ex-Liberty high and Utah State star will now lead the Packers into the 2023 campaign beginning this Sunday, Sept. 10 against the Chicago Bears.

Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst to have their starting quarterback play in all three preseason contests.

It’s not just an NFL team, it’s a storied franchise. They are the only publicly owned team in the NFL. There is no single owner.   The Packers have the second most players (28) in the

Pro-Football Hall of Fame. The Chicago Bears have the most 30. The Super Bowl Trophy (Lombardi Trophy) is named after the former head coach.

The ball is in Love’s court now. He has plenty of support coming from the football world and the entire city of Bakersfield pulling for him.

Earl Heath has been covering sports in So-Cal and Nationally for 20 years. He can be contacted at sportsla1@ hotmail.com

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Injured California Motorist Trapped at Bottom of Ravine is Rescued After 5 Days

STALLION SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) – A motorist whose truck tumbled about 100 feet (30 meters) down a Southern California bluff was rescued after being trapped at the bottom of a ravine for nearly five days, authorities said.

Rescue crews responded Saturday after receiving a report of a badly damaged pickup at the base of a steep hill southeast of Bakersfield, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

A firefighter who was lowered down with a rope determined that the motorist was injured and had been trapped inside the truck since crashing last Tuesday near Stallion Springs, according to the department`s incident report.

Three more firefighters were then lowered into the ravine and the individual, who has not been identified, was placed in a rescue basket and pulled to safety. The individual was then airlifted to a hospital in unknown condition, officials said.

The California Highway Patrol and the Stallion Springs Police Department assisted in the rescue. The cause of the crash was under investigation Sunday.

Kobe Bryant`s Daughter Natalia Tosses First Pitch on Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium

By BETH HARRIS

AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) –- Natalia Bryant threw out the first pitch on Friday night before the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Atlanta Braves as the Lakers NBA franchise for which her father Kobe starred was honored.

The 20-year-old University of Southern California student tossed the ball from in front of the mound. It took one bounce and into the glove of All-Star Mookie Betts, who was handling catching duties.

A smiling Natalia hugged Betts, who wore her father`s No. 24 jersey over his uniform. Bryant was joined by her mother, Vanessa, and sisters, 6-year-old Bianka and 4- year-old Capri. They all wore Dodgers jerseys. The back of Vanessa`s read Queen Mamba, a nod to Kobe`s nickname. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka also attended. Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in 2020. Bianka gave the traditional pre-game shout of “It`s time for Dodger baseball!” with her mother and sisters at her side.

The Braves and Dodgers lined up along the first and third base sides, with the Dodgers wearing Lakers jerseys and fans chanting “Kobe! Kobe!”

As the Bryants were introduced, Vanessa blew a kiss to the crowd. Natalia carried her youngest sister before handing her off and standing alone on the field to watch a slide show of her father visiting the Dodgers clubhouse.

Natalia was following in her father’s footsteps. Kobe Bryant handled first-pitch duties at a Dodgers game in 2000. The family settled into the owners` box to watch the game, with Bianka hanging over the fence separating the seats from the field for a better look.

Fans who purchased a special ticket package received a black jersey with Dodgers and No. 8 on the front and Bryant and No. 24 on the back, the numbers Bryant wore during his 20-year career in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers presented a $100,000 check to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that provides funding and sports programming to underserved athletes.

The postgame drone show was scheduled to honor Bryant.

Revelers Pack London Streets as Notting Hill Carnival Celebrates Caribbean Culture

LONDON (AP) –– Hundreds of thousands of revelers packed the streets of west London on Monday for the climax of the Notting Hill Carnival, one of the world’s biggest celebrations of Caribbean music and culture.

Organizers say up to 2 million people are expected to take in the music, parades, dancing and food over the two days of Europe’s largest street party, which began Sunday with a children’s parade.

The carnival traces its history back to 1958, when Trinidadian human rights activist Claudia Jones began organizing a gathering to unify the community after a series of racist attacks on Black people in the Notting Hill neighborhood.

Launched in 1964 with a few Trinidadian steel bands, it has grown into a huge annual street party involving colorful floats, thousands of calypso dancers in spectacular feathered costumes, almost 20 steel bands and more than two dozen sound systems.

The carnival returned to the neighborhood’s narrow streets last year after two years when it had to be held online because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year’s event coincides with commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the arrival in England of the Empire Windrush, a ship carrying hundreds of people from the Caribbean to new lives in Britain. The voyage became a symbol of the post-war mass migration that has transformed the U.K. and its culture.

That journey has not always been easy, a fact exposed when some members of the Windrush generation were caught up in a U.K. immigration crackdown that improperly targeted legal residents largely from the Caribbean and other parts of the former British Empire.

Middle School Student Yahshua Robinson collapsed and became unresponsive during PE activities as a heatwave hit Southern California (Photo Credit: From Robinson Family Member Facebook Page)

(Shutterstock Photo)

Mark Hedin, Lila Brown and Edward Henderson

Jordan Love (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Imag es)

Heroic Intervention Thwarts Potential Tragedy:

Gunman Foiled in Attempt to Target Ambridge Black Church

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In the small Ambridge, Pa., community, a quickthinking witness and swift police response prevented a potential massacre at Greater Dominion Church on Sunday morning, Aug. 27. Jeffrey Harris, a 38-year-old white man, now faces a litany of charges, including aggravated assault and making terroristic threats, after attempting to enter the predominantly Black church with murderous intent.

The ordeal unfolded just after 9 a.m. on a quiet Sunday morning when multiple concerned citizens called 911 to report a man clad in a camouflage vest brandishing a long gun and menacingly targeting two women outside the church at 4th Street and Melrose Avenue. According to a criminal complaint, the eyewitnesses watched in terror as Harris threatened the women, all while attempting to gain access to the church.

The frantic 911 calls immediately alerted Beaver County Regional Police to Harris’s presence on the 300 block of Merchant Street, and they promptly informed Ambridge police. As an officer approached the suspect, Harris menacingly pointed his weapon.

Bishop Kenneth Crumb of Greater Dominion Church later spoke to WTAE, revealing the chilling possibility that Harris might have succeeded in entering the church had he arrived just one hour later for his Sunday service. “There is a whole lot of mass murders going on, there are shootings,” Crumb emphasized, “particularly in the African American community, people targeting our communities.” He added that this incident serves as a grim reminder of America’s deeply rooted history of racism and the ongoing racially charged attacks against African Americans, even within the confines of their places of worship.

The horrifying episode at Greater Dominion Church evokes memories of a painful past, with the killing of nine

people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, just one of many attacks targeting predominantly Black churches in the United States. Tragically, several past cases involved the burning of churches by Ku Klux Klan members, highlighting the persistence of racial hatred in some parts of the country. Among these horrific incidents was the burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield, Massachusetts, shortly after the election of President Obama in November 2008. In Knoxville, Tennessee, in January 1996, a fire destroyed the Inner-City Baptist Church, which had racial slurs painted on its walls. Similarly, in February 1996, a group of churches within a six-mile radius in Louisiana were set ablaze on the anniversary of the sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina.

On June 21, 1995, four former Ku Klux Klan members set the Macedonia Baptist Church on fire in Manning, South Carolina. The fire was one of many that plagued predominantly Black churches across the South during that period, and Macedonia Baptist was awarded $37.8 million in a decision against the Klan. A jury believed that the Klan’s rhetoric had motivated the men to commit this heinous act.

This week, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., wrote to the Department of Justice, asking for a federal investigation into the event to see whether Harris had violated any civil rights laws and, if it was determined he committed federal crimes, to pursue him to the maximum degree possible, according to a press release. “With hate crimes on the rise across the country, including against Black Americans, it is understandable that any community would be concerned by an armed individual terrorizing a place of worship,” Deluzio wrote to the federal authorities. “A community not too far away from the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Greater Dominion congregation knows too well the harm that an armed individual filled with hate can do.”

New COVID-19 Variant, “Pirola,” Raises Concerns Amidst Ongoing Crises

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

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Amidst a news cycle that now routinely features wildfires, former president indictments, and extreme weather events, the world is grappling with the resurgence of COVID-19 as a new and concerning variant, BA.2.86, emerges. This variant, informally dubbed “Pirola,” has ignited alarm among public health experts due to its substantial spike protein mutations.

Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases specialist at Yale Medicine, warned that Pirola exhibits over 30 spike protein mutations compared to the previously dominant XBB.1.5 variant in the United States. The spike protein is critical for the virus’s entry into human cells, and such a high number of mutations raises red flags. In an online Yale Medicine article, Dr. Roberts compared the mutation count to the shift from the Delta to the Omicron variant in 2021, which caused a significant surge in cases due to its immune evasion capabilities.

What’s particularly concerning is that Pirola has been detected in at least six countries, and these cases appear unrelated. Experts said that suggests undetected community transmission and international spread, sparking concerns of a potential resurgence.

According to medical experts, BA.2.86 is a designated variant of Omicron, a variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for COVID-19. BA.2.86 stems from BA.2, a previously circulating Omicron subvariant. The variant was first identified in Denmark in late July and made its way to the United States in August. Knowing that cases aren’t linked indicates broader circulation, significantly as COVID-19 surveillance has waned, medical experts asserted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that current COVID-19 tests and medications, such as Paxlovid, Veklury, and Lagevrio, seem effective against Pirola. However, Pirola may be more adept at infecting individuals who have had COVID-19 or have been vaccinated. There isn’t any current evidence that it causes more severe illness.

The increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. is attributed to XBB lineage viruses rather than Pirola. The multitude of mutations in Pirola raises concerns about its potential to bypass immunity from natural infection or vaccination.

Dr. Roberts emphasized that ongoing studies would

reveal the true nature of Pirola’s threat. The unprecedented number of mutations in Pirola is reminiscent of significant shifts seen in other respiratory viruses, such as the 2009 swine flu. However, he noted that these variants sometimes fade away without causing a significant impact.

The critical question now is whether Pirola will follow the explosive growth pattern of Omicron or fade away, as everyone hopes. As of August 30, the CDC has identified Pirola in at least four U.S. states through samples from individuals or wastewater.

Some regions have reinstated mask mandates in response to the spike in COVID-19 cases. Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, is among the institutions requiring masks in clinical areas to protect patients and staff. The CDC reports a nearly 19% increase in weekly new COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S., marking the sixth consecutive week of rising admissions.

The arrival of new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax in mid-September is expected to offer robust protection against variants. Until then, experts stress that masking remains a crucial tool for safeguarding against COVID-19, even for individuals with normal risk levels, depending on their location and contacts.

Dr. Stephen Thomas of the Upstate Medical University in Syracuse told NPR that the facility has reverted to mandating masks.

The increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. is attributed to XBB lineage viruses rather than Pirola. The multitude of mutations in Pirola raises concerns about its potential to bypass immunity from natural infection or vaccination.

“We wanted to, No. 1, protect our patients, and, No. 2, protect the men and women who work in our facility, and take care of them,” Thomas told NPR. “So, we implemented universal masking for staff, visitors, and patients only in clinical areas. So, we’re a university. We’re large. We have a lot of non-clinical regions. Universal masking is not being mandated in non-clinical areas.”

NNPA President Launches Daily Radio Commentary Show in Partnership with USBC Radio Network

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Inside the hallowed halls of the Audacy Studios at the heart of New York’s financial district, National Newspaper Publishers Association President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., a noted Civil Rights Icon, co-founder of the Hip-Hop Summit, and National Director of The Million Man March, formally announced the launch of a new daily radio commentary set to hit the airwaves this fall.

The groundbreaking initiative, titled “The Good News,” will be broadcast on Audacy News/Talk and Urban stations, made possible by the underwriting support of The Good News and U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Radio Network.

In its inaugural season, “The Good News” will feature Chavis delivering concise, impactful 60-second radio commentaries. During a news conference on Aug. 28, Chavis and his partners said the segments will offer a refreshing and timely outlook on positive stories often overshadowed by the headlines dominating the news cycle. Chavis and U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. President and CEO Ron Busby said the show will cast light on positive developments across America and the world and will also spotlight “the commendable local business ventures” fostered by the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. members, a network boasting an impressive 350,000 local chamber participants.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to host ‘The Good News,’ supported by KMG Networks and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.,” Chavis asserted during the press conference that took place as legendary New York radio

station 1010 WINS aired in the background. “We aim to amplify those genuine stories that often go unnoticed in mainstream media. We are dedicated to magnifying authentic narratives that serve as inspiration, fostering positive social transformation, equality, and equity.”

The collaboration between Chavis and the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. marks a turning point, with “The Good News” becoming an integral part of the comprehensive USBC Media Network. The integration will see the highly anticipated USBC Radio Network seamlessly join forces with its media counterpart, creating a dynamic and influential platform.

“For our debut season, ‘The Good News’ and the USBC are investing in important News/Talk and Urban stations, including WCBS/NY, KNX/LA, and KCBS/SF, and other leading News/Talk and Urban Contemporary stations across the U.S. to kickstart his very important audio commentary to a national radio audience,” said Gary Krantz, CEO of KMG Networks.

Busby also added his excitement about the partnership. “We’re thrilled to present the debut program on the USBC Radio Network, ‘The Good News,’ with Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. As we reveal this inaugural show, it marks the initial stride in a compelling series that aims to inspire, educate, and enthrall,” Busby stated. “Our enthusiasm extends to the forthcoming array of impactful programming, set to connect deeply with a diverse range of audiences. Our partnership with KMG Networks has us poised not only to make a significant impact in the realm of media but to transcend its boundaries.”

“The Good News” promises to be “a beacon of

positivity, celebrating stories that deserve the spotlight,” Busby continued. “With its far-reaching impact and the support of influential partners, the show is positioned to uplift and engage listeners nationwide, fostering a renewed sense of inspiration and unity.”

This incident serves as a grim reminder of America’s deeply rooted history of racism and the ongoing racially charged attacks against African Americans, even within the confines of their places of worship.

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson Launch Fund with $10 million for Maui

By THALIA BEATY Associated

Press

Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson have committed $10 million to make direct payments to people on Maui who are unable to return to their homes because of the wildfires, through a new fund they announced Thursday.

The People`s Fund of Maui will give $1,200 a month to adults who are not able to return to their primary residences because of the recent wildfires, including people who owned and rented their homes, according to the fund`s website. The fund will also seek donations to extend the length of time it can provide the support.

“How do we help?” the “Young Rock” star said he and Winfrey asked each other during the wildfires, saying in a video released along with the announcement that they grappled with how to best direct their efforts. “You want to take care of the greatest need of the people, and that`s giving them money.”

They are looking forward to the help of “every person who called me and said, 'What can I do?'” Winfrey said in the video. “This is what you can do.”

The pair were inspired by a similar fund set up by Dolly Parton after wildfires swept through Gatlinburg, Tennessee in December 2016, killing 14 people and destroying 2,400 structures.

Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation, said he consulted with Winfrey`s team multiple times in the past weeks to share the lessons that they`d learned from administrating the fund, which eventually granted $11 million to families who had lost their homes.

“Dolly's idea was that, 'Hey, look, these are my people and I want to take care of them and we trust them to know what recovery looks like for themselves and their families in the days and weeks following this immediate catastrophe here, '” Conyers said.

Parton`s fund, called My People Fund, worked with first responders and a local utility company and asked residents to help them determine which structures were destroyed and who lived in those homes, Conyers said. Around 1,000 families eventually received assistance from the fund, according to an evaluation from the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Social Work. That included a final $5,000 lump sum transfer at the end of six months.

To qualify for the People`s Fund of Maui, applicants must show a government ID and a utility bill in their name for a lost or uninhabitable residence, the fund's website said.

Winfrey, who lives on Maui part-time, visited an emergency shelter on Maui in the days after the wildfire hit

and worried about effectively getting resources to residents. At least 115 people were killed in the fires, though an unknown number are still missing. The fire that ripped through the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8 was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

Forecasters warned Wednesday that gusty winds and low humidity increased the risk that fires could spread rapidly in the western parts of each Hawaiian island, though they were not as powerful as the winds that helped fuel the deadly blaze three weeks ago.

In the announcement, Winfrey and Johnson said they consulted with “community elders, leaders and residents including Hokulani Holt-Padilla, Keali'i Reichel, Archie Kalepa, Ekolu Lindsey, Kimo Falconer, Tiare Lawrence, Kaimana Brummel, Kaleikoa Ka'eo, Brian Keaulana, Kaimi Kaneholani, Henohea Kane, Paele Kiakona, Ed Suwanjindar, Shep Gordon and Jason Momoa.”

The Entertainment Industry Fund, a Los Angelesbased nonprofit that helps celebrities administer their charitable work, is sponsoring the fund, the announcement said.

Johnson and Winfrey hope the fund will continue to make transfers to qualifying residents for at least six months, but Winfrey said it would be up to the American public to determine how long the fund extends, based on their support and donations.

When setting up a direct cash transfer program, it's important to define the objective, said Holly Welcome Radice, the regional representative for the Americas at CALP Network, a collective of organizations that studies and implements cash assistance programs. In this case, $1,200 should correspond to the price of housing or the living costs for an adult in the area or whatever the need is the fund is seeking to meet, she said.

“The objective will be difficult to meet if your transfer value is not connected to the reality of the people,” she said, adding the fund should consider if the local economy can respond to the influx of money and map out what other services people may need.

“If it's feasible and appropriate, then cash is a very direct way for people to benefit and have agency,” Welcome Radice said.

The fund should also spend time communicating the parameters of the program clearly, she said, “so people understand who qualifies and why they qualify and making sure that there is some type of feedback mechanism where people can place grievances.”

In ‘Equalizer 3‘, Denzel Washington’s Assassin Goes to Italy

By LINDSEY BAHR

AP Film Writer

Filmmaker Antoine Fuqua has been dreaming about taking the Equalizer abroad for years. The action franchise (very loosely based on a 1980s television series) starring Denzel Washington as the reluctant assassin Robert McCall had rooted itself in humble domestic beginnings, in Boston. But after two films and $382.7 million in boxoffice receipts in the past decade, the time seemed ripe to travel.

“Denzel is an international movie star,” Fuqua told The Associated Press. “We thought it would be nice to see a man of color in a story that's more international. Why not take this character around the world? Luckily, Sony loved the idea.”

And there was only one place that was ever seriously on the list: Italy. Washington, Fuqua said, goes every summer and has since his kids were babies. He loves the culture, the people, the food. He even speaks some Italian.

“He just feels right there,” Fuqua said.

And for Fuqua, it was the stuff of filmmaking dreams to get to shoot in Cinecittà Studios in Rome and bump up against cinema history walking where Fellini and so many other greats have before him. In Naples, they found an authentically 1970s New York grittiness that required little to no production design for a pivotal showdown. And on the Amalfi coast, they stumbled on the small village of their, and McCall's, fantasies in the picturesque Atrani.

It's the kind of place you'd believe someone like McCall (or anyone really) might feel immediately tied to and protective of, which is what happens in “Equalizer 3,” debuting in theaters nationwide Friday. The difference is McCall is more uniquely suited to take on the Camorra. Single-handedly, of course.

“When we went to that small town, we knew that was the place,” Fuqua said. “The people were so beautiful, we were sitting around and they would just bring us coffee and espresso. We didn't even ask for it. Or big giant lemons because it was so hot. You fall in love with the people in a town like that.”

The only complaint, which isn't even really a complaint, was about the steps. One of the jewels of Atrani is a medieval church perched on the mountainside high above the beach that they decided would be perfect for an important scene between McCall and Dakota Fanning's CIA analyst. But the only way to get there is to climb up over 700 steps. It wasn`t a pleasant journey with all the equipment necessary to shoot a scene, but it was a good reminder of purpose for Fuqua and his cinematographer, three-time Oscar winner Robert Richardson. They wanted to show a real place, not a vacation destination.

“It's not a travelogue,” Fuqua said. “It's beautiful in the Mediterranean, but for the people who live there it's real life. The fisherman live off what they catch. They live in small houses. They walk up those steps every day.”

The film brings together a core team with decades

of history, including producers Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal. In addition to the “Equalizer” films Fuqua directed Washington in “Training Day,” which would win him his first lead actor Oscar, as well as in the recent remake of “The Magnificent Seven.”

And Black has produced all of the films Washington has directed as well as several others. It was Washington who introduced Black and Fuqua for the first “Equalizer”, which all assumed would just be one film, not a franchise.

“You can't think about franchises, or awards, when you're making a movie. If you're making a movie to win an award, or even to get nominated, or have a franchise, you're dead in the water going in probably,” Black said. “Not 100% of the time, but you shouldn`t think that way.”

Instead, they took it one script at a time and “let the audience decide.” The audience, it seemed, liked seeing Washington as McCall more than once. Both the first and second film made over $190 million each against production budgets that didn't exceed $65 million and Sony was interested in a third. It helped also that Black and Fuqua had become friends, with the priceless trust that comes along with it. Both know that on their films, everything will be safe and controlled, whether that's handling an unexpected fan situation for their star or making sure that it's not too dangerous to shoot in Naples at night.

“We've never had an incident at our movies because we are so vigilant,” Black said. “And Antoine really protects

actors.”

Now Black and Fuqua have found themselves in the unusual situation of having to be the primary voices promoting “Equalizer 3” in lieu of their movie stars, who along with Hollywood writers, are deep into a long strike. But while some films released without the help of a star's late-night anecdotes and red carpet appearances have faltered at the box office over the past month, Black feels confident in “Equalizer 3.”

“I have other movies coming out that definitely need my actors to promote them, but everyone knows Denzel Washington is the 'Equalizer,'” Black said. “We're very, very confident, thanks to Antoine for making a gorgeous film that works and that audiences love so far. We're in really good shape.”

Both just mostly miss having Washington by their side for the press tour. The 68- year-old star, Black said, is much “mellower” now than years ago and is fun to do publicity with. Fuqua also observed that McCall in “Equalizer 3” might even mirror a bit where Washington is in his life too. Both are a little more quiet and a little more patient.

“He'll call me and Todd at 4 in the morning to look at the sunrise,” Fuqua said. “That wasn't Denzel before. It`s nice to see him really stopping and appreciating life.”

Legal Notices

Video of Police Fatally Shooting a Pregnant Black Woman Set to be Released

By SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON

Associated Press/Report For America

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) __ Ohio authorities on

Friday released bodycam video showing police officers

fatally shooting Ta'Kiya Young in her car in what her family denounced as a "gross misuse of power and authority" against the young Black mother.

The 21-year-old from Columbus was pronounced dead shortly after the Aug. 24 shooting outside a grocery store in the suburb of Blendon Township. Her unborn daughter did not survive.

The footage, which comes more than a week after her death, shows another officer at the driver's side window, repeatedly demanding that Young "get out of the car. "

The officer by her window tells Young she had been accused of theft. She protests, and he repeats his demand that she get out of the car. She turns the steering wheel to her right and accelerates toward the officer standing in front of it. The officer in front of the vehicle fires through the windshield at Young and seconds later, her sedan drifts until it hits the grocery store`s brick wall.

Officers then break her window, which Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford said was to get Young out of the car and render medical aid, though footage of the medical assistance was not provided.

Young's family members were able to view the footage before its public release and released a statement Friday through their attorney, Sean Walton.

"Having viewed the footage in its entirety, it is undeniable that Ta'Kiya's death was not only avoidable, but also a gross misuse of power and authority," the statement said.

Walton called Young`s death avoidable and said the family is seeking a swift criminal indictment of the officers in Young and her daughter`s deaths.

Walton told The Associated Press on Thursday that the family grew frustrated with delays in the police department timeline of releasing body camera footage publicly. Belford said the delay resulted from a small staff trying to process the video and properly redact certain footage, such as officers` faces and badge numbers, in accordance with Ohio law.

The two officers' names, ages and races were not immediately released. They are on paid administrative leave while the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation examines the shooting, which is standard in cases of police use of deadly force.

Young was expected to give birth to a daughter in November. An online effort to pay her funeral expenses has raised nearly $7,000.

Ta'Kiya's siblings, cousins, grandmother and father have rallied around her sons, 6-year-old Ja'Kobie and 3-year-old Ja'Kenlie, who don't yet understand the magnitude of what happened to their mother, Walton said.

"It's a large family and Ta'Kiya has been snatched away from them," Walton said. "I think the entire family is still in shock."

Family and friends held a private vigil a day after Young was killed, releasing balloons and lighting candles spelling out "RIP Kiya." Her grandmother, Nadine Young, described her granddaughter as a family-oriented prankster who was a loving older sister and mother.

"She was so excited to have this little girl," Nadine Young said at a news conference Wednesday. "She has her two little boys, but she was so fired up to have this girl. She is going to be so missed."

"I'm a mess because it's just tragic," she said, "but it should have never ever ever happened."

California Black Media Political Playback: News You Might Have Missed

Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer Applauds Passage of Gun Safety Resolution

Higher Pay

On Aug. 31, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to improve access to higher paying and more fulfilling careers for students and workers.

The executive order launches the development of a new Master Plan on Career Education designed to prepare students for the workforce of tomorrow, including jobs that don’t require college degrees. Additionally, the executive order directs the state to take further steps to reduce other barriers to state employment.

“All families, students, and workers deserve the freedom to succeed: to build real-life skills and pursue careers — including those that don’t require college degrees,” said Newsom. “California is leveraging billions of dollars in investments to prepare students and workers for good-paying, long-lasting, and fulfilling careers.”

The Master Plan on Career Education aims to create career pathways; prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills; and advance universal access and affordability for all Californians through streamlined collaboration and partnership between government and the private sector.

The executive order also builds on California’s effort to improve the state’s hiring process. Recognizing that many state jobs do not require four-year college degrees for success in a position, the Governor’s executive order directs

On Aug. 31, the Senate Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 7, the Right to Safety Act, legislation that could impact federal gun laws.

“This is not a symbolic gesture,” said Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). “This is a push to have a real national conversation on the issue of gun violence in America and do something about these neardaily horrific acts.”

According to the resolution’s language, “The measure would apply to the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of

“I am confident that this will be a seamless transition, and that Senator McGuire will continue to guide the Senate and California down a path of success. Senator McGuire has been a key member of my leadership team, a trusted confidant, and time after time, the convener who sets the table to get things done,” she said. “The Senate and the people of California will be in good hands with Senator McGuire as their future leader of the Senate.”

The same day, Senate Republican leader Sen. Brian Jones (R-Santee) announced that Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) will replace Sen. Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach) as Senate Republican Caucus chair.

Nguyen is the first Vietnamese American state legislator in the United States. She is stepping down to run for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

“I look forward to working with him on our priorities to fix California. As a retired firefighter, Kelly is a fearless advocate for protecting the public and tackling fentanyl in our communities,” said Jones at a Capitol press briefing.

Anti-LGTBQ Groups Announce Plan to Place Transgender Student Rights on 2024 Ballot

Last week, multiple anti-LGBTQ groups announced an effort to place three initiatives on the November 2024 California ballot aimed at limiting the rights of transgender youth.

The initiatives, which need 550,000 valid signatures each to get on the ballot, are an effort to put policies in place that lawmakers have refused to take up with legislation, the activists say.

and Republican Officials Rally Against Crime

On Aug. 31, Republican lawmakers, businessowners, crime victim advocates and law enforcement officials held a rally at the State Capitol demanding an end to policies, in their view, that have made communities around the state less safe.

The rally took place one day ahead of the Appropriations Committee suspense hearing where the fate of several bills the Republican Caucus prioritized was determined for this session.

California Black Media (CBM) will follow up with more coverage on bills that advanced this session and others that have been put on hold.

“Enough is enough – the Legislature needs to stop excusing and enabling the crime wave that’s turning people around the state into victims,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City).

“Members of the Appropriations Committee have a choice: double down on the pro-criminal policies that got us into this mess or protect law-abiding Californians. I hope they make the right decision.”

Speakers, including trafficking survivor Dominique Brown, of Breaking the Chains, called on the committee to advance Senate Bill (SB) 14, which would make human trafficking of a minor a serious felony.

“SB 14 is a critical step to protect children and young adults from the horrors of human trafficking,” said Brown. “I hope the passage of SB 14 will make a lasting statement that God’s children are not for sale.”

the California Human Resources Department (CalHR) to evaluate whether a college degree is needed for a particular position whenever its classification is reviewed. CalHR is currently engaged in outreach efforts to help more Californians access state employment.

proposing a constitutional amendment relating to firearms, as specified.

Jones-Sawyer says if SJR is approved by the Legislature, it will give California and other states a chance to fight back against an “activist Supreme Court.”

“Poll after poll shows a majority of Americans want action taken to have gun safety laws in place,” JonesSawyer said. “A Right to Safety Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will do exactly that without impeding on the Second Amendment.”

California Senate Sees Leadership Shifts on Both Sides of the Aisle

Both Democrats and Republicans in the California Senate announced changes in their leadership last week.

Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, who made history as the first woman and first LGBTQ+ Californian to hold the Senate’s top job, announced on Aug. 28 that the Democratic Caucus had convened and chosen Sen. Mark McGuire (D-Healdsburg) as the Senate Pro Tem designee. Atkins, who is termed out and must leave the Senate at the end of next year, will step down from her post in January 2024.

One of the initiatives requires that parents be notified if their child identifies as transgender at school. The second would prohibit transgender students from participating on sports teams not aligned with their gender at birth. The third would ban gender-affirming medical care for minors. This includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery.

Similar policies have been put in place in 20 U.S states. Many are currently facing court challenges.

“We need to make sure that the legislation that we’re doing will stand the test of time … and is as robust and appropriate as possible in response to the threats that are out there,” Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego), vice chair of the California LGBTQ Legislative Caucus, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Legislation regarding students’ rights to control the disclosure of their identity or sexuality is being considered in the State Legislature. However, a floor vote in the Assembly or Senate is unlikely before lawmakers go on recess Sept. 14.

Another bill, AB 1314, that would require schools to notify parents if their children self-identify as a gender different from the one on the birth certificate is currently under review in the Assembly Education Committee.

Victim Advocates, Business Owners, Law Enforcement

Attendees also rallied to stop other public safety and crime-and-punishment related bills, including SB 553, SB 94, SB 81, and ACA 4.

September Is National Emergency Preparedness

Month

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) has designated September as Emergency Preparedness Month as part of its public awareness campaign on disaster preparedness.

Last week, the Governor’s Office of Emergency of Emergency Services (CalOES) released a number of online toolkits (in 12 languages) to inform state residents about what they can do if faced with a natural disaster.

As the state gets drier, hotter and wetter – and as more and more residents experience extreme weather conditions every year – officials say the information is lifesaving, and preparation for emergencies is a lot simpler than most people think.

For more information on getting prepared visit Listos California.

How We Can Protect Our Communities From COVID After the Pandemic

California

Black Media

Every Sunday, I look out at the faces of my congregation, and I am grateful that we have overcome the many challenges we have faced over the past few years. At the same time, I am also reminded of all the beautiful souls we have lost to COVID-19. The pandemic has upended the lives of many in our community, and the residual effects are still being felt.

As pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME), the oldest African American church in the city, I have always strived to lead my members to health and prosperity. But nothing could have prepared us for the challenges of the pandemic, which affected every aspect of our church -- from how we conducted services to how we communed with people. But the church leadership and I knew it was our calling to take on COVID-19 and protect our flock. Over the years, we have continued to learn and evolve our approaches to address the overall health, social and educational needs of our parishioners and the larger South LA community.

Although we have made it through the most difficult period of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a threat to our loved ones, especially Black communities in California who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus.

According to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, Black residents in Los Angeles County were twice as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 as white residents, and one-and-a-half times more likely to die from

the virus. These disparities are unacceptable, and we must work to reduce them.

Now, with COVID-19 vaccines and treatments widely available, we have the tools we need to protect ourselves and our loved ones from serious illnesses and deaths. We can return to doing the things and seeing the people we love.

Our initial focus was to prevent COVID-19 exposure, but sometimes this was not always possible. Now, we are shifting priorities to making sure our members know what to do if they test positive. Although they are free, widely available, and effective, COVID-19 medications have been relatively unknown within my community. We are starting to integrate initiatives to raise awareness around COVID-19 medications into our other long-standing programs to support our community members who test positive. Scientific evidence shows that when COVID-19 medications are taken within the first week of testing positive, they can prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death by half or more. Timing is crucial as most of the medications must be taken within the first 5 days for symptoms to work.

To address these issues, we have had to overcome many barriers, one of the biggest being my community’s mistrust of the medical system due to generations of racism and mistreatment. We have worked hard to educate about COVID-19 safety and rebuild trust in the medical system. We have also partnered with other trusted entities and organizations like the University of Southern California

and Jewish congregations to share resources, materials, and knowledge to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We have made it a priority to educate those close to us about the resources and tools available to stay safe and protect ourselves, including vaccines and treatments.

As COVID-19 remains present in our communities, we continue to step up to protect our community. The good news is that we know what works. Our church has worked to increase awareness, trust, and utilization of COVID-19 services, including hosting teachable Thursdays, that highlight influential medical professionals to discuss vaccination benefits, side effects, and other important information about COVID-19. Additionally, we opened a wellness center to create a welcoming and trusting environment for those in the community, operated by community members to provide necessary services that address COVID-19, such as vaccinations, testing, and education around COVID-19 medications.

We invite and welcome all Angelenos who have questions or need support to come and access these services.

Overcoming challenges that Black communities here in Los Angeles and throughout California have faced due to COVID-19 has not been easy. However, through hard work, listening to our community, and the power of prayer, we have found ways to win over the virus. After all, prayers are powerful, but even more so when paired with COVID-19 medications.

The Rev. Edgar Boyd is pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME), the oldest African American church in the city. Under his leadership, FAME is working to address the health, social and educational needs of parishioners and the surrounding community.

Support the Black Community Read the Bakersfield News Observer

(Shutterstock Photo)

Asm. Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), shown at a California Reparations Task Force Meeting on June 29.

Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson California Black Media Gov. Newsom’s New Executive Order Opens Pathway to State Jobs,

Rev. Edgar Boyd

California Black Media, Ethnic Media Services Host Award Show and Conference

Antonio Ray Harvey California BlackMedia

The Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo took place at the Kimpton-Sawyer Hotel in downtown Sacramento on Aug. 31. The event celebrated the work of journalists, podcasters, photojournalists, and investigative reporters whose contributions have been published by media outlets serving ethnic audiences across California.

The awards ceremony, sponsored by Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media, recognized winners selected from over 300 entries republished between January 1 and December 31, 2022.

“We had more awards, we had more submissions than ever, and we had judges saying this was the best we’ve ever seen. “Now, that is against the odds of remarkable,” said Sandy Close, Ethnic Media Services (EMS) Executive Director.

In all, 26 writers, communications specialists, educators, playwrights, and publishers from across the state served as the judges. The award categories were: Breaking news, commentaries, explanatory analyses, feature reports, and photography.

The Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo was a full day event attended by over 300 journalists, publishers, elected officials, business leaders, and others.

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and U.S. Census Director Robert L. Santos opened the conference with messages that underscored the importance and power of ethnic media in California.

“California is the most diverse state in this nation, and it’s reflected in this room,” said Weber. “It’s reflected in our relationships with each other, and it’s reflected in our values. We will always celebrate that.”

California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) Chair Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) and CLBC’s vice chair, Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) made appearances at the event. State Controller Malia Cohen was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony and Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin participated in a plenary session.

Three plenary sessions were held. The breakout meetings were designed to discuss pressing statewide issues and how to develop public awareness campaigns that resonate with and engage all communities.

Rick L. Callender, the President of the California/ Hawaii NAACP State Conference, spoke on behalf of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) about how ethnic media covers issues that the mainstream media often overlook.

“If we cannot rely on the ethnic media and the Black

press to do exactly what they are doing, to continue to report on what’s going on out there, or if we cannot partner with the ethnic media in the ways that we have; we won’t have anyone telling our stories. We need a strong, funded ethnic media,” Callender said.

“I know when I was listening to the folks from the state, we talked about the $90 million that was put into the community. Well, that’s excellent but I need to make sure that these dollars are getting to our ethnic media,” Callender added.

The final session before the presentation of awards was a Reporters Roundtable. A diverse group of journalists discussed the challenges of breaking the silence around community taboos and other sensitive issues that sometimes are left uncovered.

Ethnic media outlets are designed to cater to audiences defined by characteristics such as race, ethnic origin, religious affiliation, or gender identity.

Pan-ethnic media outlets target multiple ethnic audiences (such as pan-Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, pan African diaspora, pan-immigrant, pan people-of-color, pan LGBTQ+).

Integrated into the Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo was the Stop the Hate Campaign (STH). This campaign facilitates cooperation between leaders of community-based organizations and ethnic media to address inter-ethnic tensions and help communities heal

from hate.

Authorized by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the STH program provides funding to qualified nonprofit organizations. These organizations offer support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes, as well as their families. The program also promotes crime prevention measures.

The sponsors of Ethnic Media Conference Awards and Expo were: Pacific Gas and Electric; BMO; SoCalGas; the California Wellness Foundation; the California Newspapers Publishers Association; Stop the Hate, Spread the Love; and Blue Shield California Foundation.

“Every time we come together like this, representing Black-owned and other Ethnic-owned media in California, we display the power we have to effect change in our communities and in our state government,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director, California Black Media.

“The work we do in our communities is based on trust we have earned, commitment we have shown and relationships we have built over decades,” Wilson said. “Organizations can’t just show up, slap an ‘ethnic’ name on a media company and claim that they are serving our state’s diverse communities.”

Andy Wong, representing Cynthia Choi, Chinese for Affirmative Action and Stop AAPI Hate, Manjusha Kulkarni, Stop AAPI Hate, Sandy Close, director of Ethnic Media Services, CalOES representative, Yurina Melara, Connie Nakano, California Department of Aging, Chris Holbein RS-E, Jamie Romas California State Library and Regina Wilson, California Black Media. (Photo by Robert Maryland CBM)

Diana Ding, Ding Ding TV, moderated a panel with Maricela Rodriguez, Senior Advisor for Civic Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Office of the Governor, Michelle Bass, director of the Department of Health Care Services, and Susan DeMarios, director of California Department of Aging. (Photo by Robert Maryland CBM)

Martha Diaz-Aszkenazy, the publisher of The San Fernando Valley Sun, moderated the Stop The Hate panel session, (L to R) Becky Monroe, deputy director office of the Civil Rights, Becky Monroe, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Affairs, Civil Rights Department, Marcela Ruiz, director of the office of Equity for California Department of Social Services, Helen Zia, Vincent Chin Institute, Rick Callender CA State NAACP President, Tazheen Nizam, executive director CAIR, San Diego and Tuyen Nguyen, Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Valley. (Photo by Antonio Ray Harvey/ CBM)

Larry Lee, publisher Sacramento Observer moderated a panel discussion with Secretary Amy Tong, Government Operations and Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. (Photo by Robert Maryland CBM)

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber speaks with Rob Santos, Director for the US Census Bureau, at the 2023 Ethnic Media Awards Luncheon. (photo by Robert Maryland/CBM)

Mckinley Elementary Combats Low Attendance Rates With Walk To School Event

By Dana Carrillo

South Kern Sol McKinley Elementary School students, parents, guardians, and teachers were welcomed to class by Bakersfield High School’s (BHS) cheer team and community volunteers. Friday was a Walk to School event that encouraged students to come to school while gaining community awareness regarding the lack of bus routes to take participating students to school like many other Bakersfield elementary schoolers utilize.

Mary Haynes, a BHS cheer coach, was in attendance along with two other BHS coaches. They stated it was their second year volunteering at the event. For the cheer coaches, it was exciting to see the elementary students arrive at school on time while also providing an opportunity for the cheer team to be positive role models for the younger classes.

Last school year, the community surrounding McKinley Elementary School came together to organize the event for the first time. It instantly garnered town-wide attention, and it helped raise attendance. Many students told organizers that the events encouraged them to go to school.  The main reason for the continued Walk to School event was to show the issues students face when they don’t have bus routes, struggles with post-pandemic circumstances, and how difficult it can be for some families to make the mile– two-mile walk to school.

Jovon Dangerfield is a Media Personality for Forge 103.9 FM and a recognized community activist. As the executive director for Transitional Youth Mobilizing for Change (TYM4Change), Dangerfield is able to connect to youth and be a catalyst for community collaboration.

In a written statement, Dangerfield stated that last year, McKinley Elementary School saw the number of chronically absent students rise to 44.5 percent, with around seventy-five students a day not in school. This new school year has been less than two weeks, and over 200 students have missed at least one day of school so far.

“This is something that is really encouraging the kids to take attendance seriously,” Dangerfield continued.

Dangerfield helped McKinley Elementary School’s Vice Principal Whitney Dirkse in replicating the success of the first event. Exciting elements included prizes like Six Flags Magic Mountain tickets.  “Last time there were kids- one kid was saying this was the best day of his life. He was saying he was going to come every day,” recalled Dangerfield.

Mckinley Elementary School families can start

advocating for solutions by forming a focus group composed of family, administrators, and community members who have an interest or specialization in education, according to Dangerfield.

“I think we come together and have a focus group, and we will talk about some of the barriers and how we want to combat them from a team perspective. Understanding any budget issues that exist with boards and faculties, understanding deeply about how funding is released. What logistical issues exist in these neighborhoods- that matters too,” stated Dangerfield.

Dangerfield told Kern Sol News that the main goal of his activism is to bring diverse people and perspectives together. He finds value in speaking to individuals through panels, forums, boards, organizations, nonprofits, and any groups that bring people together.

Brenda Ramirez, a Bakersfield City School District employee, was able to attend both Walk to School events.  “[This event] increases our student’s attendance, and that’s what we want to promote this year. We want them to be here every single day. This is why I’m here… I tell them I’m here every day because I want to see you every day,” Ramirez said.

Last year, at the first event, Ramirez was able to walk as a volunteer aid, which meant she walked the mile or so to escort groups of McKinley students safely to school. She remarked that more parents and community members got involved this year.

“The first time I walked. We didn’t have that many parents and that many students, but here today, I’m like, wow. It has increased by a lot, and it’s amazing,” Ramirez continued. “I’m looking forward to doing this- hopefully, we’re able to do this every month.”

CERF Program Update on the Governance Council, Opens Applications to Be Placed On Ballot

By Victoria Rodgers South Kern Sol

On August 24, Kern County’s Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) Program leaders provided an update on their status with the Governance Council, what that means for the program, and how the public can be involved and have the opportunity to become part of the council.

The CERF grant is operationalized by five entities which make up the Regional Convener known as the Kern Coalition — these entities are the Kern Community College District (KCCD), Kern Inyo Mono Central Labor Council (KIMCLC), Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), B3K Prosperity, and Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Kern County.

The Governance Council will consist of 17 elected members who will represent the different subregions of Kern County.  The purpose of the Governance Council will be to review and approve CERF proposals as they come in.

If the Governance Council chooses to not approve a proposal, they can recommend it receive further technical

assistance.

According to Doctor Jessica Grimes, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Career Education and Workforce Development for KCCD, the Governance Council will have a serve rubric that is based on whatever tranche of funding is being talked about.

“We are trying to build a system that’s nimble, that actually attracts a lot of investment to current county to have the maximum benefit for different disinvested communities,” stated Doctor Grimes.

As she continued her portion of the presentation, Doctor Grimes discussed the authority that is held by the Governance Council.

“So we’re not sure how often we’ll be receiving proposals. But we’re hoping that there will be a bevy of them. And so those who are voted on to the Governance Council will be committing to meeting two to three times per month to review the proposals that come from the subregional collaboratives,” explained Doctor Grimes.

These meetings, according to Doctor Grimes’s presentation, will be open to the public unless directed

otherwise.

Each Kern County region — North, East, South, West, and Central — will have three representatives, with the exception of Central, which is the most populous of the regions, and has a higher concentration of disinvested individuals.

As she continued speaking, Doctor Grimes explained that the structure of the Governance Council is supposed to replicate the equity and power sharing that is essential to CERF’s DNA. With that being said, the Council will consist of a Chair and Co-Chair and its activities will be reported to the Kern Coalition which will keep minutes of meetings that will be shared out.

Doctor Grimes shared that the eligibility criteria to get on the ballot for each of the subregions of the Governance Council is based on whether a person lives in and or works in one of the sub-regional service areas that were mentioned.  Applications to be placed on the ballot are now available here on the Kern Coalition website. Elections will be done in person during the last week of September.

A full list of responsibilities of the Governance Council was also provided by Doctor Grimes and consists of the following:

Reading CERF grant proposals, work plans, metrics, and regional plansCERF Program Provides An Update On The Governance Council, Opens Applications To Be Placed On BallotReading and reviewing proposals, and reviewing continuous research related to CERF Attending training and onboarding processes (Ex: DEI Orientation, CERF theory of change, and more) Being knowledgeable in economic development and equity in public health, environment, and economy Participating in voting, and offering recommendations for funding or technical assistance

Signing a confidentiality and commitment to equity agreement CERF Program Provides An Update On The Governance Council, Opens Applications To Be Placed On Ballot Disclosing any matters affecting personal financial interests and abstaining from voting