Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it
will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with
A New Black Migration Rises Under
Trump’s America
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire
As the Trump administration renews its assault on social safety nets—from mental health care to housing and education—young Black Americans are migrating to cities that promise not only economic opportunity but community and freedom. The movement, experts say, reflects a modern Great Migration shaped by politics, culture, and survival. According to Apartment List’s 2025 Best Cities for Black Professionals report, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas lead the nation in economic and professional prospects for Black Americans. The study, developed with the Black employee resource group Black@A-List, used data on employment, income, homeownership, and representation across key professions to determine where Black professionals thrive despite national headwinds.
Washington, D.C.: Power and Prosperity
Apartment List found that Washington, D.C., ranks first nationwide for economic opportunity among Black professionals, with a 92 percent employment rate and a median Black income of $52,988, the highest in the country. Roughly 28 percent of D.C.’s population is Black, and 51 percent of Black households own their homes, placing the District third nationally for Black homeownership. The report also noted that more than one-quarter of businesses in D.C. are Blackowned. With Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia producing a steady stream of graduates, the capital remains a key center for Black leadership and innovation, even
as federal policies threaten to dismantle the very programs that sustain progress.
Atlanta: The Black Mecca Holds Its Crown
Atlanta earned the No. 2 ranking for best cities for Black professionals, leading the nation in “community and representation,” according to Apartment List. The city’s Black population makes up 36 percent of all residents, with a 93 percent employment rate and a 50 percent homeownership rate. Atlanta’s strength, the report said, lies in its deep infrastructure of Historically Black Colleges and Universities that include Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, and Morehouse School of Medicine, all of which have cultivated generations of Black
scholars and leaders. About 37 percent of local businesses are Black-owned, a number that continues to climb despite rising housing costs and gentrification pressures.
Houston and Dallas: Texas’s Twin Engines of Growth
In Texas, both Houston and Dallas ranked among the top five destinations for Black professionals. Houston’s business environment ranked third in the nation, with 21 percent of local businesses Black-owned and a strong representation of Black professionals across industries; 21 percent of the city’s teachers and doctors are Black. Apartment List noted that the median Black income in Houston is several thousand dollars above the national average. Dallas, with
Project 2025’s Mastermind
By Stacy M. Brown
to wage war on equality and democracy. ProPublica’s reporting shows that Vought has consolidated power through the Office of Management and Budget, controlling federal spending, freezing funds, and shutting down entire agencies. He has used his position to block aid for the poor, cancel education programs, and dismantle health and environmental protections that serve Black and brown communities. Inside Washington, even senior officials describe the government as one where Vought, not Trump, is calling the shots.
Vought calls himself a Christian nationalist and says America was “meant to be a Christian nation.” In speeches and documents, he has vowed to “traumatize” civil servants who he sees as part of
an 18 percent Black population and a 93 percent employment rate among Black residents, placed fifth nationally. Its Black median income of $43,632 and increasing share of Black-owned businesses—now 19 percent— shows the city’s growing reputation as a professional hub for young talent.
The Carolina Renaissance Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, also earned spots among the top ten. Charlotte ranked tenth overall for Black professionals, driven by job growth in banking, energy, and technology. Raleigh, part of the Research Triangle, continues to draw younger generations thanks to affordable housing, rising tech jobs, and the presence of HBCUs like Shaw University and St.
Augustine’s. A Home & Texture analysis of the top cities for Black renters in 2025 similarly highlighted the Southeast as a magnet for young professionals, citing Atlanta, Raleigh, and Huntsville, Alabama, for their affordability, cultural richness, and expanding Black business scenes.
Chicago: Culture, Legacy, and Resistance
While Chicago faces economic challenges, it remains a beacon for Black culture and political engagement. The city’s deep legacy, from Bronzeville’s jazz clubs to the organizing power that gave rise to Barack Obama, continues to inspire young professionals determined to preserve and rebuild historically Black neighborhoods rather than
abandon them to gentrification.
A New Great Migration
The pattern of movement is part of what House Beautiful described as a generational shift in its report The Cities Young People Are Flocking to in 2026. The publication noted that Gen Z and younger millennials increasingly choose cities that align with their values, prioritizing inclusion, sustainability, and community over corporate prestige. The trend mirrors the Great Migration of the 20th century, when millions of Black families fled the South for industrial jobs and personal safety. But this time, the exodus is less about geography and more about autonomy.
“Young Black professionals aren’t running from the South. They’re reclaiming it,” said one researcher familiar with Apartment List’s findings. “They’re moving where they can live, build wealth, and be free from the systems that have historically worked against them.” As the Trump administration doubles down on policies rolling back diversity efforts, health access, and economic equity, young Black Americans are charting a new map of resilience. Cities like Atlanta, Houston, D.C., and Raleigh have become what one new resident called “freedom zones,” or places where opportunity, community, and Black excellence are not just preserved but expanded. In a country veering toward authoritarian rule, this migration is both a strategy and a statement. It’s the next chapter in the long journey toward selfdetermination, one city at a time.
a liberal “regime.” His chapter in Project 2025 outlines a plan to let the president control agencies that have traditionally been independent, including the Justice Department. The League of Conservation Voters notes that Vought’s section of the plan pushes mass firings of federal employees and the suspension of funds Congress has already approved. When Trump asked Vought during his first term to “find a way to counter Black Lives Matter,” he delivered. As OMB director, he ordered the cancellation of federal contracts that mentioned white privilege or systemic racism. He replaced diversity and equity training with a new ideology that celebrates racial hierarchy.
That order became one of the first building blocks of Project
2025. ProPublica’s reporting shows that Vought now uses his control over the budget to punish opponents and reward those who fall in line. He has paused or canceled more than $400 billion in funding for programs that support education, public housing, and medical research. Many of these programs are lifelines for low-income families and for Black Americans who have fought for decades to gain access to them. The League of Conservation Voters calls Vought’s agenda a direct attack on democracy. “Vought has promised to traumatize civil servants and shut down agency funding to carry out his dangerous Project 2025 agenda,” said Matthew Davis, the organization’s vice president of federal policy. “We will fight
him at every step and stand with these public servants who protect our communities.” What Vought describes as restoring order is instead the construction of a new Jim Crow system. It strips rights, silences dissent, and rewards loyalty to an ideology that centers white Christian power. ProPublica’s reporting makes clear that Vought is not a bureaucrat carrying out policy but the architect of a plan to reverse more than half a century of civil rights progress. Vought is the man behind the curtain, a figure who uses faith as cover for cruelty and government as a weapon against the vulnerable. As long as he directs this regime, Black America and every community that depends on fairness in government will remain in his crosshairs.
Box, phone call and real estate with black couple moving in to new home for relocation or update. Carry, conversation and property with people in apartment for mobile discussion, packing or planning (Photo by Jacob Wackerhausen)
Official portrait of Russell Vought, acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB))
LWVSB 50th Citizens Achievement and Civic Engagement Event
Celebrating 10 Years of Empowering Students in Moreno Valley!
More
October 12, 2025, at Sterling Natural Resource Center in San Bernardino, California. Citizens of Achievement Honorees included Jocelyn
Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Hosts Third Annual Business Summit
The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its third annual Business Summit in the City of Ontario. Themed Unity in Diversity: Business Summit, the event featured presentations by a number of corporate sponsors as well as a number of agency that touched on the topic of supplier diversity. The three day business summit provided excellent networking opportunities. The business summit also included workshops, seminars and expert instructions on how to become certified to do business with the Federal Government, State Agencies and utility companies. Other important topics covered included the importance of AI educated, tax and accounting tips, along with an impactful panel discussion about the importance of Black Media. The panel discussion included Brian Townsend; Publisher of the Precinct Reporter Group who is currently celebrating 60 years of publishing community news. Wallace Allen; Publisher of the Westside Story and Craig Stover of Network Utopia, which provides streaming platforms. Danetta Johnson; Program Manager with the Department of General Services (DGS) covered the process on becoming certified to be a vendor for a State of California to compete in the RFP process. Alexus Russell; Program Manager, Supplier Diversity with American Water provided a wealth of information that most small businesses weren’t aware of. Russell did a deep dive on
the opportunities and process of doing business with not just American Water, but with water companies as well. Chante Earl did a presentation on AI, and why it’s important for small businesses and minority owned business to become educated in AI. His presentation included cost saving and time saving tips that are beneficial to small business owners. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was also in attendance, and discussed the Clearing House certification process. Holley Joy; Supplier Diversity Manger with Liberty Utilities talked about the millions of dollars that are available to small businesses and minority owned businesses. Joy stressed the importance of being certified and prepared to do businesses with State agencies and utility companies. She talked about the different workshops and events that available for small business to meet with the different companies including Southern California Edition (SCE) SoCal Gas, Liberty Utilities and the different water companies.
Rich Wallace, President of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce and his team did an excellent job at bringing in groups that provided much needed information that many minority owned businesses weren’t aware of. Wallace was very intentional on making sure that Black business owners in attendance would receive knowledge and information that would help
their
Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Hosts Third Annual Business Summit...continued
businesses.
The business summit ended with an elegant gala dinner that included a keynote address by actor/filmmaker Brian Hooks who has appeared in a number of big screen productions and television shows. Hooks, who considers himself an entrepreneur as well talked about why it’s important to be resourceful in the entertainment industry. He discussed some of the independent projects he’s involved with, and why they are so important to him. He touched on the joy
of working on smaller projects opposed to big budget projects. He also touched on how to invest in independent projects. After his presentation he participated in a brief Q&A with the audience. The event concluded with an awards presentation. Wallace, Chamber President recognized and honored small business owners for the work they do in the community. Entertainment was provided by musician Jeff The Great and singer Lue Dowdy of Lue Production.
As Others Retreat as Trump Hits Diversity, MacKenzie Scott Deepens Her Commitment to HBCUs With $63 Million to Morgan State
By Lauren Burke
In the world of major philanthropy, where naming buildings gets all the headlines, MacKenzie Scott is operating differently. Over the past several years, Scott has made hundreds of unrestricted donations to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other Black operated organizations. This week, it was announced that Morgan State University would receive $63 million. President David Wilson described the $63 million gift as not just a financial boost, but an affirmation of the university’s trajectory as a research institution. Wilson announced that Morgan State would be turning into a “fully smart campus,” with new faculty positions and AI research embedded in its future.
MacKenzie Scott gave $70 million to UNCF in September 2025, which added to a previous $10 million donation Scott made in 2020. The 2025 gift was one of her largest single known donations. Scott’s donation was focused on financially strengthening historically Black colleges and universities. The donations by Scott arrive at a moment when Black institutions are deeply underfunded, and the Trump Administration is targeting corporations and academic institutions not to fund anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The impact of Trump’s actions is being felt in the Black community, as so many entities are struggling with a lack of investment. Scott is ignoring that and continues to take action by forging an independent course
without fanfare and grand announcements. Though many philanthropic organizations aim to support equity, few have embraced unrestricted giving at the scale Scott is investing in. Her approach reflects a belief in trust and a focus on marginalized communities and their institutions.
For many HBCUs, this trust may be just as important as the dollars, and the lasting impact is tangible. Study after study shows that HBCU endowments trail other institutions by more than 50-70%. The disparity in access to philanthropic capital has also meant that many Black colleges are more vulnerable to budget shortfalls, declines in enrollment, deferred maintenance, and fewer research resources. Scott’s large donations have the potential to shift the baseline and ensure that Black educational institutions can plan over decades in advance. MacKenzie Scott, 55, was a student of Toni Morrison’s at Princeton, and she first entered public view as a cofounder of Amazon alongside her then-husband, Jeff Bezos. The two divorced in 2019. Scott has now generously given tens of billions to hundreds of organizations, including HBCUs, women’s groups, and community nonprofits. She is known for her anonymity and speed, and her team quietly looks for recipients for unrestricted gifts and keeps it moving. At a time when giving at this scale comes with strings attached,
and
a
Moreno Valley, CA — October 8, 2025 — Ten years ago, Options For Youth (OFY) –San Bernardino’s Moreno Valley Center opened its doors with one mission: to meet students where they are and help them build brighter futures. Ten years later, that same mission continues to change lives. On October 8, that mission came full circle as the center celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony alongside the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce. The event marked a decade of growth, community partnership, and lifechanging impact for more than 2,000 students who have walked through its doors. The celebration brought
together students, alumni, staff, and community leaders to reflect on OFY’s legacy of service and commitment to personalized education. Guests reflected on the students whose lives have been transformed through personalized learning, dedicated staff, and strong community support.
Community leaders joined in recognizing OFY’s achievements, presenting Certificates of Recognition from the offices of Senator Cervantes, Riverside County Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez, the City of Moreno Valley, and the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce— each commending OFY’s ongoing dedication to education and community partnership.
Taste of Soul Marks 20 Years With Food, Culture, Politics — and a New Honor for Founder Danny Bakewell Sr.
Joe W. Bowers Jr. California Black Media
For 20 years, the Taste of Soul festival has brought food, music and community pride to Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. This year’s festival, held on Oct. 18, carried even deeper meaning for organizers and festivalgoers. The day before the celebration, the City of Los Angeles officially named the intersection of Crenshaw and Obama boulevards Danny J. Bakewell Sr. Square, honoring the civil rights leader, businessman and founder of Taste of Soul.
At the dedication, Bakewell reflected on how the festival became something larger than he ever imagined — a celebration created by and for Black Los Angeles. He described Taste of Soul as “a big family reunion,” a day that proves the community can build and sustain something powerful on its own streets.
On the morning of the festival, Crenshaw Boulevard was packed. CBS News estimated more than 300,000 people attended the 20th Annual Taste of Soul. CBS also reported that there were around 300 booths, including more than 100 food vendors. Bakewell and organizers say the number of vendors is now approaching 400. What is certain is that Taste of Soul has grown into one of the most important economic events of the year for small businesses in South Los Angeles.
Food remains the heart of the festival. Barbecue pitmasters, cobbler bakers, seafood stands, lemonade makers and vegan chefs lined the boulevard, many serving family recipes passed down through generations. Alongside them were retail vendors selling clothing, jewelry, beauty products, artwork and handmade goods — most of them Black-owned and local.
Several vendors said they work regular jobs during the week and rely on festivals like Taste of Soul to move closer to full-time entrepreneurship. For them, the festival means visibility, income and community support.
The festival was about more than food. Health organizations provided free screenings and flu shots. Nonprofits offered social services. Political candidates and government agencies set up outreach booths.
California Black Media (CBM) hosted a booth in partnership with the California Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (CRD). The shared space represented two separate efforts — the state-funded Stop the Hate campaign and CBM’s Black Health Journalism Project. Stop the Hate focused on helping people understand how to recognize and report hate incidents. The California Black Health Journalism Project is a separate initiative organized to make accurate health information more accessible and document storytelling focused on the social, environmental and economic factors shaping health outcomes in Black in Black communities. At the booth, Dr. Deidra Beckles and Dr. Imani McElroy held “Ask the Doc” conversations, answering medical questions from attendees. The booth remained busy throughout the day, and every “Ask the Doc” water bottle, stress ball and CA vs Hate tote bag was gone well before the festival ended. Brandon Brooks, CBM’s project manager working with CRD, said the festival was an important opportunity to connect directly with residents about civil rights and hate prevention. This year’s festival also attracted statewide political candidates. Among those present were 2026 gubernatorial candidates California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and professor and community advocate Butch Ware, whose campaign hosted a booth. Local officials also walked Crenshaw — Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (2nd District), State Sen.
Local leaders presented Certificates of Recognition from Senator Cervantes, Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez, and the City of Moreno Valley.
Photograph by Eli Pousson, 2017 April 28 (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Baltimore Heritage from Baltimore, MD, USA)
Scott has forged
unique
revolutionary style with her philanthropic efforts.
than 100 guests attended the League of Women Voters San Bernardino’s 50th Citizens of Achievement and Civic Engagement event on
Photographer: Rodrigo Pena
First Row (Left to Right): Kathy Ervin (President), Keynasia Buffong, Tramaine Mitchell, Jocelyn “Jolly” Harris, Dr. Lisa Henkle, Prince Ogidikpe, Gerry Ramos.
Second Row (Left to Right): Jonathan Buffong, Alise Clouser, Russell Ward, Carolyn Daniels, Alex Avila, Twillea Evans-Carthen (Chairperson), Mayor Helen Tran, San Bernardino.
“Jolly” Harris, Dr. Lisa Henkle, Prince Ogidikpe, Gerry Ramos, Edwina Thomas. Civic Engagement Honorees included
National Black Grads, and Youth Action Project (Yap). Congratulations to all honorees and LWVSB 50th event!
them grow
The Annual Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Summit ended with an awards presentation. Shown above from (left to right) Nikki Granger; Chamber Vice President, Nikisha Bond; Chamber Director of Corporate Relationships, Willie Ellison; Sapphire Marketing Inc. CEO and Rich Wallace; Chamber President. photo: McGlothurn
The Annual Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Summit ended with an awards presentation. Shown above from (left to right) Nikisha Bond; Chamber Director of Corporate Relationships, Brian Hooks; Actor/Filmmaker who delivered the keynote address, Nikki Granger; Chamber Vice President and Rich Wallace; Chamber President. photo: McGlothurn
No Kings Protesters Push Back on Trump Admin Policies -- With Costumes, Color and Community
Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Los Angeles on Oct 18 for the No Kings rally, a march occurring simultaneously in cities across California -- and in all 50 states. Organizers say the protests were organized in opposition to what they say is the growing authoritarianism of the Trump administration.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the Los Angeles protest distinguished itself from typical political demonstrations. While addressing serious issues, the march carried the festive energy of a carnival or block party.
People dressed in inflatable costumes, frog masks, and elaborate outfits carrying American flags marched through Gloria Molina Grand Park. The playful attire reflected the tone of a peaceful protest — a stark contrast to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s characterization of the event as a “hate America rally,” according to CNN.
One costumed supporter, Nikki Hoobler, explained why she wore her inflatable suit.
“It proves the point, this is a fun protest,” said Hoobler. “It fights their narrative.”
Across California, more than 300 protests took place. A crowdsourced study by the
Atlanta newsroom The Xylom estimated that between 4.2 million and 7 million people participated nationwide. In downtown Los Angeles alone, thousands gathered, with roughly 30 rallies in Los Angeles County and 300 across the state, according to Hunter Dunn, press and public relations director for California’s 50501 SoCal, the organization behind the events.
Before the protests, the city’s attorney’s office asked that an injunction on using excessive force against journalists be lifted. The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to withdraw the request, according to an article by Los Angeles Public Press.
At the protests, Dunn remained concerned about police violence.
“We see the LAPD trying to get permission to shoot at journalists with rubber bullets, trying to revoke the press pass protections,” said Dunn. “We’re not seeing a good faith attempt from law enforcement to protect this community.”
The day’s main focus was support for Proposition 50, the November ballot initiative that would temporarily redraw California’s congressional districts to favor Democrats in
Gov. Newsom Signs ‘Wakiesha’s Law,’ – Bill Requiring Family Notification of Inmate Deaths or Serious Injuries
Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media
were just a few organizations with vendor tables or handing out pamphlets -- all asking for support of Prop. 50.
Black political leaders were prominent speakers at the No Kings protests across the country.
Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson, spoke at the Chicago rally. His city has been a target of the Trump administration and Johnson’s message was one of defiance.
the 2026 U.S. House midterm elections.
Supporters of the proposal say it is being pursued in response to gerrymandering efforts in Texas designed to create more
Republican- friendly districts before the midterm elections.
At the rally, Black Lives Matter supporters, Democratic Socialists of America, and the United Teachers Los Angeles
Gov. Newsom Signs ‘Wakiesha’s Law,’ – Bill Requiring Family Notification of Inmate Deaths or Serious Injuries... continued
year on record, the Vera Institute of Justice (VIJ) reported.
Founded in 1961, VIJ advocates for ending the criminalization and mass incarceration of people of color, immigrants, and people experiencing poverty.
“Overcrowding and staff prone to both negligence and flagrant mistreatment towards incarcerated people have continued to make (LA’s Main Central Jail) MCJ, and the county jail system at large, a dangerous, even fatal, place to be,” stated Michelle Parris, director of the Vera California initiative.
The California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) opposed AB 1269, claiming that it understands “the desire to facilitate contact with loved ones when an incarcerated person becomes seriously ill,” but the bill “leaves many open questions,” the CSSA
the coroner's office themselves.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1269 into law on Oct. 13.
Also known as “Wakiesha’s Law,” the legislation, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), requires county and city jails to promptly notify families when an incarcerated individual is seriously hospitalized or dies while in custody.
“If your loved one died in custody, you have the right to know, and you deserve to know,” Bryan told members of the Assembly Public Safety committee in April. In March 2016, 36-year-old Wakiesha Wilson was found unresponsive in her cell at the Los Angeles Police Department Metropolitan Detention Center. She was later pronounced dead. Her family was not notified for four days, forcing them to contact
Bryan created the bill to increase transparency and accountability for law enforcement authorities in cases like Wilson’s. It ensures that families are promptly informed when a loved one dies in custody, providing what supporters call “basic decency and respect”.
An LAPD report noted five incustody deaths in 2023, a 400% increase from the one death reported in 2022, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
In 2018, an investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that 19 people died in LAPD jails between 2012 and 2016, and at least 102 attempted suicide during these five years. As of July 15 of this year, 26 people had died in LA County jails, the second-most deaths to date of any
stated in the Assembly Bill Policy Committee Analysis.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office released a 24-page document stating that neither the LAPD nor the nurses and physicians who rendered medical help were “criminally liable for Ms. Wilson’s death.”
“It is the conclusion of this office that the manner of Wakiesha Wilson’s death was a suicide,” the memorandum stated.
Wilson’s mother, Lisa Hines, also testified before the Assembly Public Safety committee, chaired by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), recounting the painful experience of searching for her daughter.
“It was the longest four days of my life,” Hines said.
ICE Arrests a White Police Officer in Illinois, Says He’s in the Country Illegally
Nationwide — Radule Bojovic, a white police officer from Hanover Park, Illinois originally from Montenegro, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after officials found he had overstayed his visa and been living in the country illegally since 2015.
The Department of Homeland Security said Bojovic first entered the U.S. on a tourist visa that expired a decade ago. He was taken into custody during a targeted immigration operation called Operation Midway Blitz, according to First Alert 4. Bojovic had been working as a police officer in a suburban area northwest of Chicago. His arrest has raised concerns among residents about how he was able to join the police force while allegedly being in the U.S. unlawfully.
“There are those in this country that have decided, at the behest of this president, to declare war on Chicago and American cities across this country,” said Johnson.
“But we are here to stand firm, to stand committed. We will not bend, we will not cower, we will not submit,” he continued
In Los Angeles,
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) spoke about fighting oppression.
“We are tired of starving while the federal government continues to give handouts to billionaires and corporations,” said Bryan.
“And that’s why we’re showing up and we’re marching, because Washington, D.C. doesn’t care about us. And we know that.”
Melina Abdullah, a founding member of Black Lives Matter
Grassroots, and a professor and activist participated, too.
Politicians and political activists were not the only people to come to the No Kings protest in Los Angeles. Hollywood personality Pedro Pascal, who played Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, stood in the crowd listening to speakers. He took a photo with Bryan.
Pascal is known for supporting workers’ rights, unions and Palestinians in Gaza.
Educator and principal of Armstrong Middle School, Lester Powell, was at the protest with his son, Alex. Powell has a doctorate in education and goes to protests in support of his students who he says are newly “invigorated” and ready to get involved.
Sylvia Coleman is from Belize but has just become a naturalized U.S, citizen. Coleman says she participated because she believes that people should stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.
“I have choices, I have a home that I can go back to, but my husband and son are here,” said Coleman. “It’s important that I stand up for people who do not have the same choices.”
ICE Arrests a White Police Officer in Illinois, Says He’s in the Country Illegally...continued
“Background checks performed by the FBI and Illinois State Police revealed no criminal history. If Officer Bojovic did not hold federal work authorization, he would not have been hired,” the president said.
The village also confirmed Bojovic had authorization to carry a firearm while on duty.
“The bottom line is we performed all necessary due diligence and followed the law throughout the hiring process,” the board president added.
Bojovic remains in ICE custody while federal officials review his immigration case. Hanover Park officials said they are cooperating with investigators as the case continues.
Taste of Soul Marks 20 Years With Food, Culture, Politics — and a New Honor for Founder Danny Bakewell Sr. ...continued from page 2
Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson (District 8) and Councilmember Heather Hutt (District 10).
One of the most heavily attended areas at the festival was the LAX/Los Angeles World Airports Pavilion. LAX hosted panel discussions titled “The Essence of L.A.,” “Putting the LA in LAX” and “$30 Billion Worth of Opportunity.”
The final panel focused on business contracts, workforce hiring and how South Los Angeles residents can benefit from the airport’s ongoing modernization. Staff helped residents fill out job applications and learn about contracting opportunities throughout the day.
In response, Hanover Park officials said all proper hiring steps were followed. The village board president explained that both state and federal agencies had verified Bojovic’s eligibility to work before his employment.
Entertainment has been central to Taste of Soul since it began, and the 20th year stayed true to that tradition. Three stages ran all day. Music lovers packed in to hear Cameo, Rolls-Royce, the Mary Jane Girls, and Montell Jordan, who brought the crowd to its feet with “This Is How We Do It.” On the Brenda MarshMitchell Gospel Stage, Karen
Clark Sheard delivered a stirring performance that grounded the day in spirit and tradition. Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish returned as Celebrity Soul Chair, a role she has embraced over the years. Haddish helped host performances, greeted vendors and continued her support of local businesses. Recently, she helped to raise funds for Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen, a longtime Taste of Soul vendor. In appreciation of the community’s support, Dulan’s offered 800 free meals during the event — a gesture that reflected the spirit of giving that defines Taste of Soul.
For 20 years, Taste of Soul has been more than a festival — it’s been a testament to the strength and unity of South Los Angeles. Each year, it runs safely and successfully, supported by churches, small businesses, public agencies, health providers, sponsors and Black media. This year, with more than 300,000 people filling Crenshaw Boulevard in peace to celebrate food, culture and community, that legacy was clear.
Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) listens to the response of the crowd as one of the favored speakers at the No Kings Protest in Los Angeles, Calif. Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
Crowds begin to assemble for the beginning of the march phase at the No Kings Rally. Many people wore colorful make up and clothing to counter the image of a dangerous uprising that Republicans have called the rally. Los Angeles, Calif. Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
Colorful light-hearted costumes were part of the plan at the No Kings protest. Los Angeles, Calif. Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith CBM
Waiting in the shade for the march to start a protester shows her sign. Prop 50 was one of the main issues for protesters. Los Angeles, Calif. Saturday, October 18, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith CBM
Stephanie Jeffcoat, at the microphone, shares her support for AB 1269, 'Wakeisha's Law, at the Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing at the State Capitol on April 8. Seated left to right are Asm. Issac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights) author of the bill; Melina Abdullah, co-founder ?of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (BLMLA); Lisa Hines, mother of Wakeisha Wilson; and Sheila Bates, BLMLA organizer and Policy Team member. CBM photos by Antonio Ray Harvey.
How Babies’ Brains Develop
By Katie Dukes, EdNC
When babies are born, their brains contain billions of neurons. But how those neurons interact — and what they can do as babies grow through childhood into adulthood — is largely shaped by their experiences in the first 1,000 days of life. The architecture of the brain is built in those first three years, creating a foundation that enables thinking, learning, and adapting over time. More than 85% of adult brain volume is built during this critical period. Luckily, we know exactly what infants and toddlers need to develop healthy brains that will set them up for a lifetime of well-being.
Decades of research have identified several building blocks that are essential to constructing strong foundations for the brain in the first 1,000 days. Researchers agree that the cornerstone of healthy brain development is the formation of secure attachments between babies and the trusted and caring adults in their lives.
Whether these caregivers are parents, kin (including friends and neighbors), or trained early childhood professionals, they should be “knowledgeable about how to support (babies’) development and learning and responsive to their individual progress,” says a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Note the connection between caring and learning. Caring adults are crucial to developing the capacity for learning in the brains of infants and toddlers. In early childhood, care and learning are inseparable.
To strengthen the brain’s capacity for learning in the first 1,000 days, the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has identified two key strategies that trusted adults can use — engaging in “serve and return” interactions and minimizing exposure to toxic stress. As researchers at the center explain, serve and return interactions occur when an infant or toddler “babbles, gestures, or cries, and an adult responds appropriately with eye contact, words, or a hug.” Engaging in serve and return with caregivers helps babies and very young children build and strengthen neural connections related to communication and social skills in their developing brains. The absence of consistent serve and return exchanges can release potentially harmful stress hormones into the brains of infants and toddlers. And prolonged exposure to such hormones can result in what is known as “toxic stress.” Minimizing exposure to toxic stress in the first 1,000 days is crucial for healthy brain development.
According to the Center on the
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Why Women Must Stop Putting Themselves Last
The steep personal toll they could pay when they deprioritize their health
By Dr. Lisa Saul, National Medical Director of Women’s Health at UnitedHealthcare
Who Is Our Neighbor?...continued
people who used heroin. Moody mobilized citizens to demand change and formed a grassroots coalition.
BINGO:
Developing Child, typical causes of toxic stress during this period include “physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship.” But the center also points out that trusting relationships with adult caregivers can act as a buffer against these hardships. That’s why child care providers — whether they be friends, family, and neighbors, or licensed homebased or center-based caregivers and educators — can be so essential in the lives of families who may be experiencing economic hardships such as food or housing insecurity.
As Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric specialist and expert in early childhood brain development, writes in her book Parent Nation, “Loving (adults) do not need a PhD or expensive gadgets to do an excellent job at supporting early brain development and building our future citizens. They need easily acquired, basic knowledge about how to best foster critical neural connections.” To that end, The Basics is an initiative that uses a public health approach to educate and empower caregivers about their role in healthy brain development. In addition to a wide array of online resources (some available in multiple languages), The Basics offers a printable one-pager that can be posted in homes, classrooms, pediatrician offices, or anywhere else caregivers may find themselves. Adults — including policymakers — who embrace the basic building blocks of healthy brain development for infants and toddlers are helping build a foundation that will yield benefits well beyond the first 1,000 days.
Why support brain development
Many people, especially educators who work with children in kindergarten through third grade, can point to early learning as crucial for “school readiness,” but that term can be easily misunderstood. In EdNC’s many conversations with elementary educators, the vast majority say school readiness means young children being prepared to participate in group learning. This includes having skills such as developing relationships with trusted adults outside their homes, sitting in a circle or standing in a line with other children, communicating about their wants and needs, sharing objects with others, fine motor control, and knowing a little bit about how to regulate emotions.
If you’ve ever scheduled your child’s checkup before your own, you’re not alone. Women often shoulder the health responsibilities of the entire household — managing pediatric visits, tracking prescriptions for aging parents, and juggling the needs of those around them. But here’s the catch: when women consistently put themselves last, they usually put their own health on the back burner.
Making follow-up care easier
This is especially concerning when it comes to cancer. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer in the U.S. and colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women 18–50. Early detection can be a powerful tool to save lives. Yet too often, financial stress or time pressures prevent women from completing the full care pathway.
One common gap may happen after a screening. If a mammogram or colonoscopy shows something abnormal, the next step is usually a diagnostic test — such as a biopsy or advanced imaging — to help confirm or rule out a diagnosis. These diagnostic tests often come with an out-of-pocket cost, and for many women, that unexpected bill could cause delays or skipped follow-ups.
To help ease that burden, UnitedHealthcare is removing cost barriers for certain diagnostic tests for cancer detection by offering expanded benefits in certain fully insured commercial plans. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, these plans will cover the first diagnostic breast imaging and the first diagnostic colonoscopy at no additional cost to the member when recommended by a network provider.
The hidden health gap
Why does this matter?
According to new insurance claims data from nearly 5 million people, when compared to men, women face a 66% higher risk of behavioral health conditions, are 70% more likely to experience fatigue, and have a 55% higher likelihood of being diagnosed with any type of cancer. These trends show what could happen when preventive care takes a back
seat and follow-ups get lost in the shuffle.
Health care disparities
Cost is just one barrier some women face. Work schedules, caregiving duties, and even fear can often keep women from completing that next step in care. For many women of color, stigma or past experiences with the healthcare system can add to these challenges. Black women have the highest rates of colorectal cancer deaths among women and are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, even though rates of diagnosis are similar. Hispanic women experience breast cancer at a younger age and are more likely to be diagnosed when the disease is more advanced, making treatment more challenging and outcomes less favorable.
Three steps to help protect your health
Make preventive care a standing appointment. Schedule annual visits and screenings like mammograms (starting at 40) and colorectal cancer tests (starting at 45). Put them on the calendar the same way you would a parent-teacher conference or work meeting — non-negotiable. Follow your doctor’s guidance. If your provider recommends a next step after a screening, don’t put it off. Ask your doctor to explain why it’s needed and what your options are, so you feel confident moving forward. Know what’s covered. Preventive and diagnostic benefits can differ. Understanding your benefit plan before you need it can help reduce stress, prevent hesitation, and make it easier to get timely care.
The Bottom Line Women often juggle multiple roles at work, at home, and in their communities. Ignoring conditions that are more prevalent among women, such as fatigue, mental health struggles or necessary follow-up appointments may lead to more serious consequences. This open enrollment season, make yourself a priority. When you take care of yourself, you’re better equipped to care for others.
Who Is Our Neighbor?
Erica Poellot
For the past couple of years, my team and I have been doing street-based harm reduction outreach in Washington Square Park across from our office in Judson Memorial Church. At least twice a week, we pack up carts with homemade sandwiches and baked goods, safer drug use, safer sex, and overdose prevention supplies, hygiene and wound care kits, and walk the neighborhood making connections and engaging in conversation with our neighbors who live in and near the park. Often, a number of our neighbors follow us back to the office to shower, obtain clean clothing, pick up mail they have had delivered to the church, and have the opportunity to dream aloud, receive prayer, or just make small talk.
This past Wednesday, as outreach began we were alerted that one of our unhoused neighbors was being detained, that Parks Department officers were kneeling on his neck while working to zip-tie his hands behind his back. This person, like many of our neighbors, struggles with mental health issues and substance use disorder. All have become targets for violent removal by local homeowners and businesses in partnership
During the 1960s, when abortion was still illegal in the United States, Judson began an initiative that offered abortion referrals to people with unwanted pregnancies. The initiative, called the Clergy Consultation Service, quickly grew from a small group of 21 Protestant and Jewish religious leaders to a movement of thousands of clergy members around the country.
In the 1970s, while vice teams were criminalizing and rounding up people who do sex work throughout New York City, Judson Memorial Church’s Rev. Howard Moody responded by running a mobile ministry using a van, nicknamed the “hospitality wagon,” to provide medical, legal, and emotional support to these same sex workers.
Judson was also a site in the 1960s and 1970s for LGBTQIA+ political gatherings. In 1966, a Greenwich Village protest arose against the Lindsay administration’s “Operation New Broom,” which attempted to “clean up” the Washington Square area by raiding gay bars, restaurants, and bookstores, and by entrapping gay men.
With the emergence of HIV/ AIDS in the 1980s, Judson became one of New York’s first compassionate churches, hosting an AIDS support group and conducting many memorial services. Church members launched harm reduction kit making parties, where church
members make safer sex and safer injecting kits for a local harm reduction organization, Lower East Side Needle Exchange Program (Alliance for Positive Change)—a ministry that is still running to this day.
For nearly two centuries, Washington Square Park has been a place to linger, to play, to celebrate or demonstrate. It functions not only as a public park beloved by locals, but also as a campus green, a crossroads, a performance space, a magnet attracting visitors from around the world, as well as a home and community building space for an increasing number of our most marginalized neighbors and New Yorkers.
The videos that my team recorded of our neighbor being restrained and detained, and ultimately transported to Bellevue Hospital against his will this past Wednesday, was shared with the New York City and New York State Health Departments and the Office of Drug User Health at the AIDS Institute, who is coordinating an investigation. One of a stream of videos showing detentions by police, Immigration and Custom Enforcement Agents, and National Guard deployed to our cities blinding us to the humanity of the people who are being detained, blinding us to the humanity of our neighbors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR The Rev. Erica Poellot serves as the Minister for Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention in the national setting of the United Church of Christ.
California Offers Free Immigration Support for Community College Students
By Selen Ozturk
As immigration crackdowns continue nationwide, California is expanding access to legal aid through Find Your Ally, the first state-funded program of its kind in the nation.
with the New York Police Department.
As long as the park has been in existence, there have been organized efforts to eliminate, remove, and ban particular people from the public square, a conflict rooted in who is perceived to be legitimate humans and neighbors, whose human rights are respected, and who deserves compassionate care.
With Washington Square Park as a front yard, Judson has long used the public square as an organizing space, advocating for the rights of all New Yorkers, as well as providing health and community care in partnership with our most marginalized neighbors in the Greenwich Village neighborhood.
In the 1950s, Judson and its leader Reverend Howard Moody were instrumental in advocating for healthcare and expanded evidence-based treatment access for people using heroin. They rejected the dominant punitive approach in drug policy and advocated for whole person health care instead. Politicians and the public at large overwhelmingly supported laws that removed and incarcerated
Through Find Your Ally, all students, staff and faculty in California’s 116 community colleges can access free immigration legal aid, regardless of income, enrollment status or program type.
California community colleges serve over 2.1 million students, making it the largest higher education system in the U.S. An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 of these students are undocumented, according to California Dream Act and in-state tuition application data.
Alonso Garcia, Senior Manager, Equity, Foundation for California Community Colleges, discusses the Find Your Ally program, which provides free, legal immigration services for students enrolled in the California community college system.
Help through Find Your Ally Services offered through Find Your Ally include in-person and online consultations, help with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal and filing fees, naturalization assistance, advance parole applications, family petitions, guidance for mixed-status households navigating changing immigration laws and help in attending or funding immigrationrelated appointments like doctor’s visits.
Funded entirely by the state at about $10 million annually, the program remains unaffected by the ongoing federal government
shutdown or California’s budget deficit, “with the caveat that depending on how the government shutdown goes, individuals that might be in the process of adjusting status or submitting applications might see a bit of a delay,” said Alonso Garcia, senior manager of equity at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, at a Thursday, October 2 American Community Media briefing. Program access continues even after a student or staff member leaves the community college system, with all case information protected under attorney-client privilege.
For potential applicants hesitating to share their information with the state, “We do not ask for a lot of information. Most of it is contact information,” Garcia explained. “There are a number of firewalls, and we scrub the system within 48 hours of scheduling their consultation. All of the information funneled through Find Your Ally goes directly to the legal service providers. We at the state level do not get to see any of that information. It’s 100% confidential and secure and private.”
Since launching in 2019, Find Your Ally has served more than 30,000 students, including 9,000 in just the past nine months, nearly double its previous yearly average.
Student stories
“Higher education can already be very difficult to navigate on its own, but when you add on top of that, immigration issues under
Sanmariea Mills and daughter Lay-Ahnah Watson at an early childhood education center. Photo by Katie Dukes, EducationNC
Image via Canva.
Tackling Hate in California: Oakland
Kicks off United Against Hate Week With a Mural Dedicated to Unity
Griffin
Jones | California Black Media
Community and civic leaders in Oakland gathered at Chinatown’s Wilma Chan Park on Oct. 16 for the unveiling of a new mural symbolizing unity, strength, and peace as hate crimes continue to rise across the Golden State.
This year, the City of Oakland opted to recognize United Against Hate week by highlighting art, bringing on legendary street art crew the Illuminaries to paint the nearly 40-foot mural. The mural, titled “Together, We Rise,” was unveiled Oct. 16, marking the beginning of United Against Hate week, which runs from Oct. 1925.
The weeklong event was founded in 2018 in response to the sharp rise in hate crimes based on race, gender, religion, disability and sexual orientation across California and around the country at the time.
“Chinatown was the epicenter of troubling assaults and hate crimes that happened to our seniors. The fear continues through today,” Oakland City Councilmember Charlene Wang told the audience.
In every community, she said, “There’s always a feeling of, ‘will anybody care about the issues about my community?’ This event shows that Oakland steps up to the plate. I see all the people in the audience. It's not just one skin color. This is such a fabric that defines our great city. And I could not be more moved and thankful.”
A recent report from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office shows that reported hate crimes across the state increased by 2.7%, rising from 1,970 in 2023 to 2,023 in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, recorded hate crimes targeting religious identity increased — specifically anti-Jewish crimes. According to the report, hate crimes aimed at sexual orientation and gender identity also surged. By contrast, racial incidents went down, with Black and Asian communities experiencing a small decrease in reported hate crimes. Anti-Black events remain the most prevalent, at 494 recorded incidents in California in 2024.
“Together, We Rise” was
presented by a coalition of organizations, including the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, which contains the state’s Civil Rights Department, and a number of local organizations: Oakland Chinatown Improvement Council, Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Clubs, Toishan Benevolent Association, and the San Jose Sharks.
The mural, which spans the side of a three-story building at 10th and Jackson Streets, depicts an intricate dragon known as the “Oakness Monster” rising from Lake Merritt. The dragon holds two objects: a peace sign and a small Earth. A panther, a paper crane and a lantern encircle the dragon, whose scales are coming off, revealing a vivid mosaic that represents Oakland’s rich multicultural history.
The word “Together” is painted along the base of the mural, each letter filled in by third graders at nearby Lincoln Elementary School, who were asked to add their names to the piece.
According to Oakland Illuminaries painter Tim Hon said the scales represent the “shedding of skin, a transformation — coming into a new era.”
At the state level, changes are coming in the next year that will
on Partial Interests
bolster civic response to hate crimes. Tomiquia Moss, secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, told California Black Media (CBM) that, beginning in July 2026, the agency will be split in two: the California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA) and the Business and Consumer Services Agency.
“Now is more important than ever,” Moss said. “We’ve seen such a significant increase in hate. The new agency, she said, “will allow us to take a holistic approach to how we keep our communities healthy and resilient and strong against the hate that's happening.”
A hotline specifically for anonymously reporting hate crimes, called California Vs. Hate, was started in 2023 by the Civil Rights Department (CRD). In 2024, the hotline received a total of 1,200 reports of hate, running the gamut from verbal assaults to physical attacks.
Between 2023 and 2024, 44% of hotline reports mentioned racial or ethnic bias, followed by gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation (23%), religion (13%), and disability status (12%).
“Whatever type of hate occurs, we want to make sure people have resources to access. The anonymous California Vs. Hate hotline allows folks to share what's going on for them and for trained staff to connect them with community resources.” Moss said this includes community-based legal and mental health support for victims who report.
Edreece Arghandiwal, cofounder of the Oakland Roots, and an organizer of the mural, told CBM that “design and beautiful things help shape moral decisions. You walk [the mural] and see it and your day gets better because it's so beautiful.”
“Sometimes it feels like hate comes in waves of relentlessness,” Arghandiwal said. “It's important that positive messages meet the same energy and relentlessness. We need to be completely unapologetic about messaging around unity.”
United Way Annual Fundraiser Supports Worthy Cause With A Great Time
benefiting hunger relief and the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Food Pantry. The fundraiser themed The Magical Music of Motown was held at the historic SBVC Auditorium. The audience was able to dance and sing along to some of
the greatest songs ever produced. The musical trip down memory lane include classics by The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Martha and The Vandellas and many more. This is the type of fundraiser that supporters look forward to supporting every year. Everyone has a great time, they get enjoy some to the best music ever made by iconic, legendary performers and it’s all for a great cause.
SBCUSD and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. Announce "Field of Dreams" Project at Curtis Middle School
to celebrate the Field of Dreams project, a transformative plan to renovate and expand a baseball field for children and families.
(Photo by Steven Moore and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. unveiled the Field of Dreams project before more than 600 students at Curtis Middle School on Oct. 16, a transformative plan to renovate and expand a baseball field for children and families.
The announcement drew cheers from students and staff gathered in the school’s multipurpose room as Supervisor Baca Jr. shared his vision for improving recreational opportunities in San Bernardino. As a gesture of encouragement and community pride, every Curtis student received a custom Field of Dreams T-shirt from Supervisor Baca Jr. to commemorate the
day. And in baseball tradition, Cracker Jack boxes were available as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” played, while hundreds of students cheered.
“As a former State Assemblymember, I had the honor of authoring AB 1497, which made it possible for this land to become part of Curtis Middle School,” said Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. “Today, as County Supervisor, I’m proud to see that vision come full circle. The Field of Dreams project is about more than new fields—it’s about giving our youth a place to grow, play, and dream big. When we invest in our schools, we invest in the next generation of leaders right here in San Bernardino.” Terry Comnick, SBCUSD’s
Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Facilities and Operations, highlighted the strong collaboration between the District and county leadership that made the project possible.
“This project is proof that when we invest in our students, we’re investing in the future of our community,” said Comnick.
“Our students in San Bernardino deserve the same facilities as students in La Jolla or Beverly Hills. The new Field of Dreams gives our kids a place to grow, compete and believe that anything is possible, both on and off the field.”
The Field of Dreams project will include: Renovation of the school’s baseball field for year-round use New energy-efficient lighting to improve safety during evening activities
Shaded seating
When completed, the upgraded baseball facilities will serve more than 600 Curtis Middle School students daily and create additional opportunities for youth sports, after-school programs and neighborhood events.
The Field of Dreams initiative demonstrates the impact of shared investment between Supervisor Joe Baca Jr.’s office and SBCUSD. Supervisor Baca Jr. worked to secure $3 million in funding to support the project, with another $1 million coming from SBCUSD.
United Against Hate mural in Oakland CA, photo by Griffin Jones CBM Oct. 16,
Members of the Curtis Wildcats baseball and softball teams pose with Fifth District San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. (front row, center), SBCUSD Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Facilities and Operations Terry Comnick (back row) and Curtis Middle School Principal Guillermo Guerrero (back row, far right)
CTA Supports Proposition 50 to Safeguard Public Education
and Democratic
Processes
Proposition 50 will authorize the temporary use of new congressional district maps beginning in 2026 and ending in 2030, after which the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will resume districting responsibilities.
CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones said, "Many Republican representatives have refused to meet with local teachers or have supported cuts to schools and healthcare. We stand united in opposition to these attacks on our communities and democracy."
RIVERSIDE, CA--The California Teachers Association (CTA) strongly endorses Proposition 50, a ballot measure aimed at preventing President Trump’s cuts and protecting public education funding. Unions and community leaders are urging voters to vote YES on Proposition 50 on November 4, 2025. In collaboration with a broad coalition of labor, community organizations, state legislators, and Governor Gavin Newsom, CTA is actively supporting Prop 50, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act. This initiative seeks to counteract the Republican party’s efforts in Texas and other states to capture enough seats to take over control of Congress, beginning with the 2026 mid-term election cycle.
“If unchecked, these power grabs will lead to deeper cuts in public education, healthcare, and
essential services, further eroding civil rights,” says CTA President David Goldberg. “From freezing education funds to dismantling vital agencies and programs, various attacks jeopardize our students, families, and immigrant and LGBTQIA+ communities. We must defend our rights and resources.”
Assuming Prop 50 passes, California will pick up five additional Democratic seats in Congress.
Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson emphasized the importance of this measure in upholding Black representation and protecting voting rights.
“This isn’t politics as usual. It’s an emergency for our democracy,” said Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson
supported cuts to schools and healthcare. We stand united in opposition to these attacks on our communities and democracy.”
“Donald Trump and Texas Republicans are making an unprecedented power grab to steal Congressional seats and rig the next election to hold onto power,” says Governor Newsom.” Prop 50 puts our elections back on a level playing field, protects independent redistricting, and gives power to the people by letting voters decide, not politicians.”
https://stopelectionrigging.com.
About The California Teachers Association
California Offers Free Immigration Support for Community College Students...continued from page 4
this administration, it presents even more complex challenges,” said Yadira Gutierrez Vargas, a supervising attorney of college legal services at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), which provides Find Your Ally services to 12 Los Angeles-area community colleges.
DACA applications and renewals remain the most common cases, Vargas said, though renewals are declining as more clients gain permanent status or transfer to four-year universities.
She recalled one East Los Angeles College student who sought help renewing her DACA status, then later applied for advance parole to visit a sick family member abroad.
“After that, she got married to somebody with status, so we were able to assist this particular client on filing a family petition along with a green card application, which granted her conditional residence,” Vargas said.
Soon after CARECEN helped him file the status paperwork in state court, the student had to evacuate Pasadena during the Eaton fire that burned through the city early last January.
Throughout this, CARECEN was able to help the student stay enrolled in school by connecting him to community aid relief funds, and finally help him gain SIJ status approval.
“I was a student very, very, many years ago, and it would have been such a blessing to have access to something like this back then,” said Vargas. “I remember being in my teens, trying to help my mom and my grandmother read through notices and fill out documents and going to various people that had sort of gone through the process, because we just didn’t have that information … We could have asked questions of somebody reliable, instead of having a host of different opinions that were a lot of times incorrect.”
“This measure amplifies our voices and keeps federal and state powers accountable,” he stressed.
CTA Secretary-Treasurer Erika Jones emphasized the union’s commitment: “Many Republican representatives have refused to meet with local teachers or have
Proposition 50 will authorize the temporary use of new congressional district maps beginning in 2026 and ending in 2030, after which the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will resume districting responsibilities. For additional information and resources on Prop 50, visit:
The California Teachers Association (CTA) is a labor union and 501(c)(5)nonprofit organization and the California affiliate of the National Education Association. The organization was founded in 1863. According to its website, the California Teachers Association has “a long and vibrant legacy of fighting for equity, lifting up the voices of those often unheard, winning resources for schools and students, and advocating for the craft of education.”[1]
The California Teachers Association has a political action committee called the California Teachers Association Issues PAC, which makes contributions to ballot measure campaigns.
“Their marriage was not very long … so now we’re in the process of helping her remove those conditions to her green card, and in a few months we’ll be able to assist her with naturalization application so that she can become a citizen,” she added. “She is now transferred over to the CSU system, and we’ve been able to assist in each part of her case over all of these years. I think it’s very reflective of what the program has been able to do.”
Another Pasadena City College student learned during a consultation that he qualified for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Status, a green card pathway for those under 21 who have been abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent.
“My greatest concern is that the actions by the administration are causing a chilling effect, and so a lot of people, even when they are eligible for forms of relief, are very afraid to move forward,” she continued, encouraging Californians eligible for Find Your Ally to “meet with an attorney to weigh their their risks.”
“Hopefully, they can continue to move forward, because cases are still being granted,” Vargas added. “We are still getting approvals. The analysis may just take a little bit longer, and the conversations about the risks may take a little longer.”
Community college students, staff and faculty can access multilingual resources and legal aid in multiple languages at findyourally.com.
New Social Security Rules Could Leave Black
Retirees Further Behind
The country’s most dependable safety net is changing again, and this time, many fear it will fall hardest on the people who have always leaned on it the most. Across the nation, millions are bracing for the next wave of Social Security changes taking effect this fall and into 2026. What Washington calls modernization and reform, others see as a tightening noose around the necks of working people, especially Black Americans, who for generations have been shut out, shortchanged, and forced to survive on the margins of a promise that was never fully kept.
For those born in 1960 or later, the age to receive full retirement benefits will rise to 67. Disability rules are being rewritten to make it harder to qualify, and paper checks, the only reliable method of payment for many seniors and the unbanked, are being eliminated.
All of this is happening under an administration that claims it is saving Social Security. The people who depend on it most say otherwise. Rutgers Law School professor Jon C. Dubin wrote in The Color of Social Security: Race and Unequal Protection in the Crown Jewel of the American Welfare State that the program was never colorblind to begin with.
“The original Act’s complete exclusion of disproportionately Black agricultural and domestic workers from old age insurance programs was grounded in the badges and incidents of slavery and a desire to preserve the plantation-sharecropping economy,” he noted.
That exclusion, born of the Depression years, still echoes today. The data shows that Black retirees receive smaller checks and fewer years of benefits because their work lives are shorter, their wages are lower, and their health gives out earlier. Dubin warned that raising the retirement age again “will have
a foreseeable racially disparate impact on Black workers due to shorter Black life expectancy and resulting shorter temporal benefit-receipt windows.” For those already close to retirement, the new rules are clear. Claim early, and your check shrinks for life. Wait longer, and you may die before you see the benefit of waiting. That is not reform. That is punishment by policy.
The Center on Budget and
The government says it is also saving money by ending paper checks. On September 30, Treasury stopped mailing Social Security payments. Officials call it a modernization effort. But to the five million Americans who still rely on those checks—many of them elderly, disabled, or without bank accounts—it feels like being cut off from the world. “Some people are just not going to be able to manage the steps,” Romig told The Washington Post. A 2024 report by the Center for Retirement Research found that Black retirees receive 19 percent less in Social Security benefits than white retirees. The reason is no mystery. Lower pay, fewer years in the workforce, and health disparities that shorten life all lead to smaller checks. The report
Policy Priorities reported that the Trump administration is preparing what could become the largest cut to Social Security Disability Insurance in U.S. history, potentially slashing eligibility by 20 percent. The rule zeroes in on older workers, removing age as a major factor in assessing whether someone can still work. Kathleen Romig of the Center warned that rejecting older applicants “will cause more hardship for people who would be eligible for benefits under the existing rules.” Most of those workers are 50 or older, many living in the South and Midwest, where the jobs wear down bodies before minds, where the work is with the hands and on the feet. The cut will hit them the hardest.
concluded that “changing Social Security alone seems unlikely to narrow existing racial and ethnic gaps substantially” and that “achieving equity for Black and Hispanic retirees would have to start with expanding opportunity for workers and increasing pay equity.”
So, for Black America, this is not just about benefits. It is about justice. The check at the end of a lifetime of work should not depend on the color of the hands that earned it. Yet here we are again, watching the promise of fairness bend beneath the weight of policy. As Dubin put it, “Our fellow Americans deserve no less than a more equitable means for addressing the consequences of economic insecurity.”