Black Workers at Risk as Trump Slows Equity-Focused Job Investments
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — A new 16-page issue brief by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies warns that federal industrial policy investments aimed at advancing economic opportunity for Black communities are under threat, as the Trump administration eliminates key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions and slows the disbursement of funding.
By Stacy M. Brown
A new 16-page issue brief by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies warns that federal industrial policy investments aimed at advancing economic opportunity for Black communities are under threat, as the Trump administration eliminates key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions and slows the disbursement of funding.
Authored by policy analyst
Dr. Gabrielle Smith Finnie, the report, “Shifting the Narrative on Industrial Policy: Opportunities for Genuine Economic Mobility and Good Jobs for Black Communities,” examines how recent federal investments— through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)— offered a historic opportunity to increase Black access to “good jobs” in high-growth industries like manufacturing, clean energy, and technology. “These investments offer a window to increase Black workers’ access to ‘good jobs’—jobs that offer family-sustaining wages, benefits, wraparound supports, and career advancement opportunities,” Dr. Smith Finnie wrote. The IIJA, signed into law in 2021, authorized $1.2 trillion to modernize roads, bridges, and broadband infrastructure.
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 invested $280 billion to strengthen the semiconductor industry and build a skilled
workforce. The IRA, also passed in 2022, used tax credits and grants to support clean energy projects, particularly in lowincome areas and communities harmed by pollution. The report notes that these laws included intentional equity components— such as labor protections, apprenticeship incentives, environmental justice programs, and wraparound workforce services—but many of those components are now being rolled back or underfunded.
“In 2025, the Trump administration eliminated many of the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in industrial policy legislation,” the report states. “Currently, significant funding is being slowly dispersed, paused, or clawed back, impacting the economic mobility of Black workers.”
According to the Joint Center, the programs have already reached over 99 percent of high-poverty counties. Cities with large Black populations, including Baltimore, Augusta, New Orleans, and Raleigh, were among those set to receive millions to improve infrastructure and launch workforce development hubs through community colleges.
In Detroit, IIJA funding is being used for the I-375 Community Reconnection Project to reconnect two historically Black neighborhoods severed by highway construction. Under the CHIPS Act, the Department of Commerce awarded $184
million to six Recompete Pilot Program finalists, including $20 million to Reinvest Birmingham, which is scaling up workforce development and transportation access to reduce the city’s high Black unemployment rate. The IRA directed approximately $55 billion to reduce local pollution and support environmental justice efforts. Seventy percent of clean energy investments under the law have been in counties with lower employment rates, 78 percent in areas with belowmedian household incomes, and 86 percent in regions with belowaverage college graduation rates.
In Prince George’s County, Maryland, a majority-Black jurisdiction, ten communities will receive $20 million through the Environmental and Climate Justice Program to support climate resilience, reduce energy costs, and grow a clean energy workforce. Despite these investments, the Joint Center found that many Black-led and Black-allied organizations remain underinformed and under-resourced.
A foundational network of eight such organizations participated in the project, with 60 percent engaged in federal policy. Yet most expressed unfamiliarity with the industrial policy agenda and cited barriers, including limited staff, insufficient technical support, and a lack of targeted outreach.
Participants had applied for broadband grants and climate-
related funding but struggled to navigate the complex process or receive adequate guidance.
To address these gaps, the Joint Center hosted virtual sessions with policy experts from academia and the Biden administration, providing opportunities to learn about funding pathways, federal priorities, and equity initiatives. The report provides a set of messaging principles for Black-led and Black-allied organizations, including the importance of highlighting Black workers’ economic contributions, addressing historic exclusion from skilled trades, and advocating for place-based investments and better data tracking. “Industrial policy must ensure our communities have clear access to good jobs, high wages, and meaningful training opportunities,” the report states.
It also calls on funders to support Black-led research, researchers to track equity outcomes, employers to implement fair hiring and advancement practices, and training providers to build accessible career pathways in technology and manufacturing.
“Funding and workforce development opportunities must be accessible for Black workers and Black-led and allied organizations,” the brief states.
“Defunding industrial programs now would reduce opportunities for Black workers to thrive and take part in the industrial sector before these initiatives take root.”
Democratic Leader Jeffries Confronts Texas Map Overhaul – Will California Redraw in Response?
By Lauren Burke
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries flew to Austin, Texas, today to address Texas redistricting. Republicans who control the legislature and the Governor’s Mansion in Texas are working to redraw the congressional district lines after President Trump stated that he thought that five more congressional seats could be created. “Donald Trump ordered Governor Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans to race back to Austin for a special legislative session,” Leader Jeffries said, standing in front of a group of congressional and Texas elected officials.
“Our message to the people of Texas and to this great country is simple: You deserve better,” he added. The Democratic Leader spoke on how the special session called to focus on redrawing congressional maps to make it harder for Democrats to win should be focused on how people will be impacted by changes to their health care because of the passage of the Trump tax plan.
The bill was signed into law on July 4. “This session should be about fixing Texas’ broken health care system,” Leader Jeffries, in part, stated. Texas Republicans
gerrymandered a map that revealed a new map that made many congressional maps. Before Texas redistricting, the breakdown on the Congressional map was 25 GOP seats and 13 Dem seats. After the proposed maps, the breakdown would be 30 GOP-leaning seats and 8 Dem-leaning seats. “It is time we all fight hard… If the Republicans say they’re going to gain five seats in Texas, I say we gain 30 seats in New York, California, and Virginia… in Colorado,” said attorney Marc Elias on MSNBC on July 30. Elians has worked on voting rights law at the pro-democracy organization Democracy Docket. The fight over the maps in Texas will likely reverberate in other states. California Governor Gavin Newsom is signaling that he is considering a mid-decade round of redistricting. The Texas Tribune reported yesterday that Gov. Newsom “has told aides he will move forward with a plan to redraw his state’s congressional lines to install more Democrats if Texas Republicans pass their own updated map.”
The redistricting issues could cause other political dominos to fall in other states, such as Illinois.
Feds Slash AmeriCorps Funds; California Steps Up to Save Youthof-Color Programs
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
Following orders President
Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made in April, California recently lost over 5,600 AmeriCorps public service workers and over $60 million in funding.
AmeriCorps members improve community life by tutoring students, protecting the environment, aiding disaster recovery, fighting hunger, and connecting people to essential services.
Luckie Diwa, Program Director at Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT), says her
organization partners with AmeriCorps to help more young men of color get to -- and through -- college. Due to the federal cuts, she says the program will have to scale back the number of mentors placed in schools.
“A lot of the cuts go to the heart of the work that we're doing, making it harder for us to be able to have mentors go out and serve brothers,” Diwa told California Black Media (CBM).
“It seems like a very coordinated attack on the group that we serve, which is young men of color. It's pretty heartbreaking just to watch a program that has had so much support from different parties under such a high level of attack right now,” Diwa added. Jaylen Joyce, 20, was a youth participant in IYT and now serves
In the Industrial Engineering Facility: Portrait of the Smart and Handsome Male Engineer Working on Desktop Computer.
Official Portrait of Rep. Jefferies in 2021. (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Office of Representative Hakeem Jeffries)
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Crisis Point: Spike in Black Youth Suicide Rates Trigger Alarm Among Advocates
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
There has been a sharp rise in suicide rates among Black and other youth of color in California and across the United States.
“Many people assume suicide is a White problem. In fact, suicide rates have increased faster for youth of color than for White youth over the past two decades,” says Dr. Kiara Alvarez, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Alvarez recently made the statement during an American Community Media (ACoM) digital briefing on Generation Z mental health.
“One national survey found that more than one in four Black youth seriously considered suicide in the past year,” Alverez continued. “Suicide rates for Black girls aged 13 to 19 more than doubled between 2003 and 2020.”
Per capita, rates of suicide among Black youth are also increasing at alarming rates, according to KidsData.org.
Generation Z, individuals born between 1997 and 2012, are the most digitally engaged generation. More than 22% of those Gen Z young adults reported having a major depressive episode in 2023, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health. And four out
of in 10 children report persistent feelings of sadness.
While there is no single cause for mental health issues within the Gen Z populace, Dr. Ovsanna Leyfer, a licensed clinical psychologist, believes that growing academic pressure, sleep deprivation, gun violence, the impact of racism and other forms of discrimination, and, of course, social media are key factors. The rise in youth mental health symptoms has also followed the introduction of smartphones and social media platforms. And that includes platforms that use artificial intelligence.
“Social media platforms can lead young people down some very dangerous rabbit holes,” said Dr. Leyfer who also spoke at the ACoM event. “If a young person starts watching or engaging with content about eating disorders or self-harm, the algorithm will start feeding them more and more of the same. That can make a young person feel like this is normal and that everyone is doing it. It can also make it harder for a young person to stop.”
Samuel Gardner, 19, is an Oakland native and recent high school graduate who is keenly aware of the mental health issues and conversations defining his generation. Gardner spoke with
EdTrust Applauds the Senators’ Pushback Against the Great American Heist
Bipartisan Education Funding Bill Rejects Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Public Education
Statement from Denise Forte, president and CEO of EdTrust WASHINGTON – “The Great American Heist — the largest transfer of wealth in U.S. history — has overshadowed the return of students to our nation’s classrooms. However, we received welcome news yesterday, when the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved its latest funding proposal for the Department of Education. Its contents delivered a strong rebuke to both the White House’s budget plan and Secretary McMahon’s vision for education in America, and it was passed out of committee by a 26-3 bipartisan vote.
“The budget committee’s proposal would provide $79 billion in discretionary funding for FY 2026, nearly $13 billion more than what the White House requested. The proposal completely rejects the administration’s vision of a destroyed Department of Education by maintaining funding for dozens of programs that the administration has proposed to eliminate.
Furthermore, the bipartisan bill continues funding for the K-12 and adult education programs the administration tried to shut down through the illegal withholding of funds it just recently released. The bill also funds programs that are currently being held in limbo by the administration with little to no public guidance on their future.
“The bill includes EdTrust priorities like Title I, which received a slight funding increase, but also maintains funding for the maximum Pell grant, several
California Black Media (CBM) about some of the causes he’s seen.
“I feel like, a lot of us are afraid to grow up. They look at other people's lives on social media and try to compare it to theirs. 'Oh, I need to do this, I need to get rich, I need to get a Lambo’ And so social media creates a false reality of people living a lifestyle that you don't.”
Gardner also spoke to the difficult job market and the growing disillusionment among his peers surrounding the viability of attending college has attributed to depression and lacking purpose in life. He spent his first year after high school in the workforce and saw firsthand how it can impact a person’s psyche.
“My co-workers close to my age would always talk about how depressed they were. I don't get how people do this for years and years. It's just a lot more to life than just slaving away for a dollar. But some people my age are forced into that by having kids.”
While Gen Z’s issues with mental health have been well documented, Dr. Leyfer believes their exposure to information and conversation around it has uniquely prepared them to seek solutions.
“More young people are asking for help and accessing therapy. The most studied and effective therapy for youth is called cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. This is not just talking about your feelings. CBT teaches young people skills to deal with negative thinking, social anxiety, and more.”
Additionally, educators are going to be required to understand more about mental health before they can receive their license.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1034, which was signed into law before the California Legislature’s summer recess, expands teacher training requirements to achieve a credential to include modules on mental health issues that impact young people.
“We need more funding for community-based organizations that understand youth culture and youth trauma,” said Dr. Alverez. “We also need more investment in training mental health providers who reflect the communities they serve. This is a systemic problem. But that means we can also build systemic solutions.”
Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order increasing mental health support for young men and responding to the spike in suicide rates among that demographic.
“In California, men aged 15-44 die by suicide at 3 to 4 times the rate of women, often by firearms,” according to the Governor’s office.
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said, “women and men face different challenges — but there are systemic barriers we can take on together. Whether it’s the shortage of male mental health providers, outdated ideas about care work, or boys falling through the cracks in school, this Executive Order is a step toward real solutions,” said
“Our young men and boys are facing a crisis of loneliness and social isolation that is showing up in their mental health, educational outcomes, future economic opportunities, and more. Raising healthy boys will take all of us -- moms, dads, teachers, coaches, and mentors— working together to find new ways forward,” she added.
Poll Downplays Racism, Project 2025 Doesn’t
By Stacy M. Brown
programs to increase the number of teachers, including supporting the development of teachers that look like the students they serve, and pathways programs, like Postsecondary Student Success Grants, which support college students and student parents getting to and through school successfully. Finally, the bill contains language ordering the Department of Education to discharge formula grants on time, maintain adequate staffing levels to implement prior and recent educational policy changes, and prevent Title I and IDEA from being moved to other agencies.
“While this proposal is far from becoming law and contains lower levels of investment in a broad swath of educational programs than our students deserve, we applaud the bipartisan effort to stand up to the Great American Heist and its attacks on America’s students, parents and families, schools, and communities. President Trump and Secretary McMahon want to annihilate public education and the Department of Education via draconian spending cuts and mass illegal firings. This proposal proves a cohort of bipartisan senators are listening to Americans who say they want more investment in education and are willing to chart a different course.
“EdTrust will continue to advance our bold vision for public education. This bill shows that expanding opportunities for low-income students and students of color in every zip code and at every level of education can be part of a bipartisan vision for education in America.”
A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows growing public skepticism toward the effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Conducted July 10–14, 2025, the survey of 1,437 U.S. adults revealed that only about one-third believe DEI efforts reduce discrimination against women, Hispanic people, or Asian Americans. Four in 10 say DEI initiatives help address bias against Black people. Yet nearly 30 percent believe these initiatives increase discrimination, including against white people.
The AP-NORC poll also noted a sharp drop in the number of Americans who acknowledge racial discrimination against Black and Asian people. In 2021, 61% said Black Americans faced a great deal or quite a bit of discrimination. That figure now stands at 40%. For Asian Americans, it dropped from 46% to 30%. Despite this decline in perception, 74% of Black respondents say their communities continue to experience significant discrimination. The polling results come amid escalating concerns about Project 2025,
Poll Downplays Racism, Project 2025 Doesn’t... continued
racism or acknowledge white privilege. These efforts echo past segregationist rhetoric.
In a February 2025 Newsweek opinion piece, Dr. Stephanie R. Toliver of the University of Illinois cited former North Carolina Justice I. Beverly Lake’s 1954 warning that inferior education was preferable to racial integration. Toliver drew a chilling parallel to the present: “Just as Justice Lake once saw inferior education as an acceptable price to pay for preserving racial purity, today’s rhetoric proposes that a substandard education is a small cost for maintaining racism, homophobia, trans violence, and antiblackness”. Human Rights Watch also issued a 2025 statement linking the rollback of DEI initiatives to the broader
global assault on anti-racism efforts. The organization called the Trump-era movement against DEI a “clear example” of mainstreamed racism, urging governments to reckon with the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and apartheid by adopting reparations and structural reforms. As perceptions of discrimination wane and support for DEI programs declines, civil rights advocates warn that these attitudes reflect not progress, but apathy, denial, and a dangerous rewriting of history.
“Our democracy stands at a crossroads,” Nelson said. “A path of infinite promise towards a more inclusive, equitable, and durable democracy on the one hand, and one of immeasurable and, potentially, irretrievable demise on the other”
Feds Slash AmeriCorps Funds; California Steps Up to Save Youth-of-Color Programs...continued from page 1
as a mentor in the program.
a sweeping 900-page policy blueprint published by the Heritage Foundation and widely viewed as a roadmap for a second Trump administration. According to the Legal Defense Fund’s Thurgood Marshall Institute, Project 2025 poses a direct threat to Black communities by proposing to dismantle civil rights protections, privatize education, and expand executive power with minimal oversight.
The LDF’s report, Attack on Our Power and Dignity: What Project 2025 Means for Black Communities, warns that the agenda would eliminate racial data collection in federal agencies, weaken antidiscrimination laws, and roll back protections for workers, students, and voters. “The assault on Black communities envisioned by Project 2025 will almost certainly condemn us to demise,” said LDF President Janai Nelson. Education is a central battleground. Project 2025 calls for eliminating the Department of Education and replacing federal oversight with state control, even in states with a documented history of racial discrimination. It also seeks to defund school programs that address systemic
“When I was in high school, I knew the areas where I needed improvements. Becoming a mentor, I was able to show the brothers in the program how to improve. It was a very reciprocal relationship. Taking that away -- especially at a young age when you're developing and trying to figure out what to do -- is limiting. You’re limiting the number of people that can grow from that opportunity, especially in education, where mentors are placed in high schools and middle schools.”
In June, AmeriCorps won a temporary court reprieve to continue operating for another year. A federal lawsuit challenged Trump’s cost-cutting via the DOGE, which affected $557 million in grants for the AmeriCorps State and National program. The funds remain undistributed, leaving the program’s future uncertain.
Josh Fryday, director of the state’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, shared his frustration about the federal funding cuts and informed CBM about steps the state is taking to deliver some of the services lost or scaled back to the schools and the communities that need them most.
“This has put things into chaos -- as the Trump administration does -- and it's hurting our communities. It's impacting our communities in a very real way. It's making it harder to tutor and mentor our kids who need it,” said Fryday.
Fryday said it’s also hindering the state’s ability to prepare for disasters.
“It's making it harder to tackle some of our environmental climate goals, and it's put not just our members who are serving at the time in a bad place, in a bad position, but it's put our communities in a tough position, which is why we're fighting it,” he added.
Part of this fight includes a lawsuit filed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta last month to have the Trump administration immediately release funds that Congress already allocated for AmeriCorps. In the meantime, Fryday believes other programs the state funds will step into the gap.
“We have a College Corps program that provides debt-free pathways for students who serve while they're in school. We have a Climate Corps program, and then we have a Youth Service Corps program that are all statefunded. So, we’re continuing to support service throughout the state and these jobs programs, and we’re not going to pull back as we wait to see what the Trump administration does.”
As for IYT, the organization plans to shift its focus to more fundraising efforts to continue the work they do in schools across the state.
“Although we had to reduce the number of mentors we can have this year, we’re still taking on that work,” said executive director Ray Green. “This is where we lean in on community. This is where we lean in on partnerships. Impact and investment are critical for brothers to be mentored at a high quality and be exposed to college opportunities.”
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Black Women Are Leading Cities and Shaping the Future of Democracy
By Glynda C. Carr
In 2014, when Higher Heights for America and the Center for American Women in Politics released our first report on the status of Black women in American politics, the data confirmed what we already knew: Black women were underrepresented at every level of government. But we were also organizing, running, and winning , often without the institutional support our leadership deserved.
More than a decade later, our just-released 2025 Black Women in American Politics Report shows how far we’ve come. The United States has seen a steady increase in the number of Black women running, winning, and leading in elected representation. As of this year, eight of the 37 women leading America’s 100 largest cities are Black. That’s more than a third of all women mayors in major cities, clear evidence of not just progress, but momentum.
Black women aren’t just
running for office; we are building power, transforming institutions, and governing through some of our country’s most complex crises. In Charlotte, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, Black women mayors have led their cities through natural disasters, public health emergencies, and historic uprisings for racial justice — with calm, competence, and community at the center of their leadership.
This moment didn’t happen by accident. It is the result of more than a decade of intentional investment in a leadership pipeline designed by and for Black women.
Many of today’s Black women mayors previously served as city council members, council presidents, or congressional representatives. They now stand poised for higher office, backed by a strong, purpose-built pipeline. In Charlotte, Mayor Vi Lyles, a former city council president, is seeking her third
term after decisive re-election victories. In Jersey City, Council President Joyce Waterman is running to become the city’s first Black woman mayor. In Detroit, two Black women, current Council President Mary Sheffield and former Council President Saunteel Jenkins, are vying to lead one of the country’s most iconic cities. And in our nation’s capital and the birthplace of American democracy, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker both began their political careers on city councils before rising to lead their cities.
These women are more than candidates; they are crisistested leaders who govern at the intersection of policy and lived experience. They center equity, engage communities, and address not just the symptoms but the root causes of systemic injustice.
Yet despite this progress, the numbers still don’t match the need. Black women make
up nearly eight percent of the U.S. population but hold a disproportionately small share of elected offices at every level of government. We are leading in spite of the system, not because of it.
So we must ask: What more could Black women do if we were fully resourced? Fully supported? Fully believed in?
The stakes are high. We are at a political crossroads where our democracy demands bold leadership grounded in accountability, justice, and vision. Black women are already doing this work, but we cannot do it alone.
This is a call to action for political institutions, donors, and voters: Invest in Black women.
Not just when we are breaking barriers or making history, but every day in between. Build and sustain the infrastructure that allows us not only to run but to win and to govern effectively.
Because here’s the truth: The future of American leadership is being shaped in city halls across this country by Black women.
And if we stay the course, if we keep building, supporting, and believing, the next decade won’t just be defined by “firsts.” It will be defined by Black women shaping a democracy as powerful, inclusive, and visionary as we are.
Higher Heights for America, a 501(c)(4) organization, and its connected federal political action committee, Higher Heights for America PAC, which works to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation. Learn more at https://www. higherheightsforamerica.org.
Leaders and Advocates Host Eaton Fire Summit Focused on Supporting Black
Elders
By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media
Dozens of community service organizations, local leaders, advocates, and survivors gathered on Aug. 2 at the Pasadena Hilton for the Eaton Fire Senior Summit.
Titled “Rebuilding with Resilience,” the event was held to support seniors whose homes were lost or damaged in the Eaton Fire, which burned more than 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,418 structures in Altadena and Pasadena. The summit was organized by Lena L. Kennedy, CEO of Community Women Vital Voices, a Pasadena native with deep roots in the city. With help from her daughter, granddaughter, and a team of volunteers, Kennedy
brought together faith groups, nonprofits, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.
L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, and Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton delivered updates to constituents during the luncheon.
Kennedy said she hopes the event will inspire more community involvement.
“We want people that could help … to step up,” said Kennedy. “I’m asking people to step up in a way where you talk to people, like myself, and the people that I deal with, so that your money
will live beyond the Eaton fire.”
The day included workshops on rebuilding, state regulations, taxes, soil and water testing, modular homes, and financial assistance. Organizations such as Catholic Charities of California, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the DENA Forward Alliance hosted booths offering on-the-spot resources.
“Seniors were disproportionately impacted by this fire, especially up in Altadena, and it’s important for us to give them hope, because it is overwhelming,” said Barger. “So summits like this are important to not only gather the facts and to make decisions, but also it’s a chance to be amongst others.”
Leaders and Advocates Host Eaton Fire Summit Focused on Supporting Black Elders...continued
Organizers said the summit was also intended to remind those affected by the fire — especially residents in unincorporated Altadena — that they are not alone.
Hampton, a well-known and respected figure in the community, was warmly greeted as he walked through the concourse, shaking hands and consoling seniors still dealing with loss.
One of those seniors was Dianne Lewis.
Lewis was able to get assistance and advice on updating her living will. Like many others who lost their homes, she is overwhelmed— rebuilding her life, coping with grief, and continuing to run the Alkebu-lan Cultural Center, one of the few Black cultural institutions in the Valley. She is also a strong advocate for Black elders. Last year, she traveled with Congresswoman Chu to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Black homeowners in Altadena.
“I lost my will. They’re going to redo it for me. My living trust — they’re going to redo it for me. That’s something I don’t have to worry about,” said Lewis.
“To see my colleagues and the people that I work with in the community here — us together — is positive and helps us to feel like we can get through this.”
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, a longtime advocate for Black elders, served as banquet host and co-organizer of the summit.
She also serves on the Metro Board with Barger and has
been active on the frontlines of recovery efforts in Altadena. For many seniors, navigating emergency services and online forms can be a major challenge. At the summit, affected homeowners were able to schedule meetings with coaches to help guide them through the fire recovery process.
Some Black seniors remain displaced. Chu said she is advocating for FEMA’s Direct Leasing Program to ease housing costs, but according to the Los Angeles Times, FEMA has said the program is not needed in Altadena.
Meanwhile, some homeowners are growing fatigued. They face slow and complicated insurance claim processes, along with the high costs of rent and rebuilding permits.
Organizers said the Altadena Senior Center is another resource, offering information and connections to key services. Gordo and other local leaders reaffirmed their commitment to helping displaced homeowners rebuild on their land.
“We don’t have all the resources we wish we had, but there are certainly resources that we can marshal through the nonprofit and foundation community, as well as through our own communities, to be of assistance,” said Gordo. “So, ask for help if you need it, and we’ll be prepared to give it when asked.”
The next Eaton Fire Senior Summit will be held on Dec. 13.
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Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs unincorporated areas such as Altadena. Barger’s Fifth District includes both Altadena and Pasadena — collectively referred to by locals as “DENA.”
She acknowledged that much work remains and said she is collaborating with city and state officials to rebuild infrastructure that will support the new homes and buildings envisioned for the area. For those unable to attend the summit, Barger recommended accessing services at the Altadena Community Center, which has been designated as a fire survivor hub.
Scammers are still pretending to be the police, calling to say you’ve missed jury duty and need to pay. But in a new twist, some scammers are now telling you to visit a website to enter your personal information — all so they can steal it and your money. It starts with a call that sounds like it’s from an officer in your local police department. (It’s not.) They claim you missed jury duty (you probably didn’t) and will be arrested unless you visit a website to pay a fine (still no). They send you to a site that looks legitimate, with an officialsounding URL and governmentlooking seals (all fake). It’ll ask you to enter your birthdate and Social Security number to “look up how much you owe.” It might ask you to pay up to $10,000 in fines on the site, or send you to a “government kiosk” (no such thing) to pay by cryptocurrency.
But every bit of this is a scam.
Here’s what to know:
Real law enforcement officers won’t call to say you’ll be arrested or threaten to arrest you if you hang up. Even if the caller ID looks like it’s coming from your local police department. (Scammers can fake it.) Only scammers say you can only pay with cash, gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. If you get a call like this, hang up. Then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
By BCP Staff
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker — three of the Black women mayors who rose through the ranks of city councils to lead major American cities, exemplifying the strength of a purpose-built leadership pipeline.
Pasadena Mayor, Victor Gordo, offers a message of inclusivity from the podium at the Pasadena Hilton, Pasadena, CA. Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
Lena L. Kennedy (center), the founder of the summit series, is flanked by helpers: her daughter and her granddaughter. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
Dianne Lewis receives a word of support from Pasadena City Councilmember Tyron Hampton. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
An Eaton Fire victim examines a display of the Black history of Altadena and Pasadena. Photo by Solomon O. Smith
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Thursday, August 7, 2025
Helping Kids Thrive This School Year Starts With Mental Wellness
Dr. Cynthia Olatunji a Pediatrician with Optum located in San Bernardino
Cynthia Olatunji, MD, is board certified in pediatrics and sees patients at the Optum San Bernardino clinic. Dr. Olatunji earned her medical degree from University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. She is particularly passionate about medicine and caring for children. She draws inspiration from her two children and all the exciting developmental milestones they are reaching as they grow.
As families across California are sending their children back to school, most parents are thinking about school supplies, class schedules, and sports tryouts. But behind all the logistical planning, there’s something even more important we need to talk about. It’s our children’s mental health.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness,
one in six children ages 6 to 17 experience a mental health condition each year. Half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. And tragically, suicide is now the second leading cause of death for kids ages 10 to 14, and the third for those ages 15 to 24. These aren’t just statistics. They’re red flags urging us to check in, not just on academic readiness, but on emotional well-being. Children today face intense social pressures, academic stress, and digital overload. As adults, we can help build protective factors by fostering strong relationships, open conversations, and a sense of belonging.
Connectedness Connectedness is an important key. When kids feel close to adults and peers in their lives
WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1267
Moral Injury
Seth Wispelwey
For some time now, I’ve been reckoning with an injury. I know I’m not alone.
I share today in the hope that these words resonate with you and, prayerfully, help provide permission as needed to name the same. I’ve found that naming these things in trusted community helps alleviate the injury and builds solidarity. I’ve also found that I’ve run out of words to talk about much else.
I am speaking of a moral injury.
I’ve spent the better part of two decades working to mobilize people of faith and conscience to “use our voices” on behalf of the poor and marginalized. Most of my work has been focused on Capitol Hill. Inspired by the Gospel, I preached the gospel of “just this many letters/ phone calls/lobby visits” can motivate our leaders to prioritize investment in alleviating injustices in our shared national budget and policies.
I believed and practiced this gospel for so long in part because, in spite of our grotesque over-investment in militarism, enriching the rich, and other racist, capitalistic enterprises, now and then I saw and was part of the fruits of victory when enough people came together to wield our power for good. Many of you have done this work too. Sometimes those in power listened and acted accordingly!
I’ve lost faith in the efficacy of these particular tactics, in large part because what used to sometimes work clearly hasn’t when it mattered most.
A moral injury: “In traumatic or unusually stressful circumstances, people may perpetrate, fail to prevent, or witness events that contradict deeply held moral beliefs and expectations.”
The moral injury I am writing about here is precipitated specifically by our bipartisan, taxfunded genocide of Palestinians, which as of this writing is being accelerated into the “Final Solution” stage by our Middle East proxy state Israel: over 100
at home, at school, and in the community, this feeling can help protect adolescents from poor mental health and other risks like violence and drug use. That’s why regular, meaningful check-ins with your child are so important. And it doesn’t have to feel awkward. At Optum, we’ve created free, digital “Conversation Starter” cards, to move past one-word answers and help families engage in real dialogue. They’re a simple but powerful way to open the door to mental health discussions: https://optumconversation.com/
Well visits and sports physicals Of course, mental health isn’t the only piece of the back-toschool puzzle. Physical wellness plays a major role in a child’s ability to learn, focus, and grow. That starts with routine wellchild visits and keeping up with recommended vaccinations.
Another appointment to prioritize for students in middle school and higher is a sports physical. Even if your child doesn’t play an organized sport, a sports physical exam is still important. Sports physicals can help evaluate issues like heart
conditions, past concussions, or mental health concerns that could impact your child’s activity level. Pediatricians also can look for health considerations unique to female athletes and children with disabilities, helping ensure everyone gets the support they need to thrive.
Nutrition Nutrition is another cornerstone of wellness. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that children aged 2 and older follow a balanced eating pattern filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, a variety of proteins, and low-fat dairy products. Limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium are also part of the proper nutrition equation.
When we think of backto-school readiness, it’s time we expand our definition. A successful school year isn’t just measured by grades or attendance. It’s about setting up every child to feel safe, supported, and healthy in every way. Let’s work together to build a healthier, more connected school year for California’s kids.
Moral Injury...continued
the people. Since late October 2023, the majority will of the people has been unequivocal and overwhelming: stop the slaughter of Palestinians with our money and weapons.
are now killed daily “for sport” (most while seeking food), with an imminent mass death event on the horizon, engineered by the intentional starvation of the remaining Palestinian population in Gaza.
Genocide, we’re taught, is the crime of crimes, and the abject horrors of this current holocaust, live-streamed to the world for going on two years, are ones for which we are running out of words to adequately describe. One needs profanity to rightly name the profane, and even that has felt insufficient for a long while now. Jesus weeps, yes, but also screams at us to stop it. Christ is in the rubble, as Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac says from his congregation in Bethlehem.
Professor Sunny Singh helped give voice to some of my own feelings. She says, among other things: “We are witnessing absolute moral abhorrence in real time, on devices in the palm of our hands … This is unprecedented … We do not know the scale and severity of the moral injury caused by bearing witness to a livestreamed genocide. One where we know the names and lives of the people being wantonly, brutally murdered daily … This moral injury is mass, collective, and knows no borders or age groups or identities. We have no idea how it will impact us in the decades to come. But we know it will! It will also impact those who are silent and pretending they do not know, cannot see … At some point soon we will start seeing the breakdowns, individual and collective. The cracks have already begun to emerge. Because such extreme cognitive, emotional, psychological dissonance is impossible to maintain forever.”
So many of us have fought to stop this genocide. In our thousands, in our millions, we have used the tools we were taught can influence the powerful to manifest the will of
A moral injury: “(1). When someone does something that goes against their beliefs this is often referred to as an act of commission and when they fail to do something in line with their beliefs that is often referred to as an act of omission. Individuals may also experience betrayal from leadership, others in positions of power or peers that can result in adverse outcomes.”
The moral injury I am writing about here is exacerbated by betrayal from leadership.
In spite of our fight, the genocide continues unabated. Countless letters, phone calls, in-person visits, public demonstrations, and direct actions aimed at the entirety of our elected leadership and weapons manufacturers have been ignored at best.
More often, and more alarmingly, the people’s will has been met with gaslighting about our motivations and violent, enthusiastically bipartisan state suppression.
We asked the perpetrators to stop a holocaust. They haven’t. Instead, they attacked us with fascist vigor.
Billions of our dollars continue to be rubber-stamped for genocide, weapons manufacturers are raking in record profits as a direct result, and our government is snatching people off the street who dare to say that’s wrong.– This is all happening with no meaningful opposition from our nominal opposition party, because both parties are responsible for the crime. Indeed, it began with the full-throated blessing and bombs of the previous administration. This is as harrowing an injury to many of our ideas of ourselves as people and country as can be imagined, and one that I believe many of us need strength and internal permission to name out loud if we are to truly move forward into a habitable world. I believe that most if not all of you reading this have been stricken with this injury too. And as painful as it is, there can be no reckoning with this injury, let alone an ability to act towards healing, without clearly naming its cause and symptoms. My prayer is that sharing some
Moral Injury...continued
All of this lays claims on us to imagine and do something differently. If we truly want this genocide to end and for Palestine to be free (and by extension, the world), then our actions must dramatically escalate until we find the right impact points. After almost two years, the fear of God is clearly not in those with the power to immediately stop the bloodshed. Yet.
This past month, in our first allchurch General Synod gathering since 2023, the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly passed a resolution declaring the need to end this genocide. Statements alone do not a genocide end, we know that full well. This is a call to all of us to end it. While it’s important to name and reckon with these things, we also have so little time because the implications are clear: the tools many of us thought would work do not when it mattered most. We need new tools, new training, new solidarity economies, and we need to find, build and use them now if we haven’t already started. There are also communities aplenty already doing this work nationwide, eager for more embodied solidarity. Find them!
My prayer—for self and all of you—is that each day we move forward, somehow, in ways that bridge and heal our moral and spiritual dissonance. I know this will take bold, risky action: new kinds of actions we haven’t tried collectively yet. Even if many past beliefs have been shaken and
of this resonates, and gives you permission to name what may have felt verboten. I personally feel a need to name it (again) as clearly as possible to maintain a grip on something resembling reality:
The worst possible thing is being done in our name, the “never again” is every day, and our leaders—who on paper are supposed to work for us—are actually ignoring or fighting us to keep it going. Genocide is the most bipartisan venture in Washington. Meanwhile, more and more in the United States go hungry, houseless, and spiral into medical debt as worker protections are gutted, entire agencies designed to aid those in need are shut down, and the environment is laid waste by technology foisted on us by billionaires with stated, active contempt for earth and people (PSA: in Jesus’ name, do not intentionally use AI).
In my role as Minister for Economic Justice, I find it impossible to try and advocate for rights like a living wage, universal health care, housing for all and more without fighting to stop the genocide. It’s all intimately connected, from the money being spent for death instead of life, to re-asserting the power of the people, to questions of what rights we even have if the most fascist crime of all can be executed by everyone in power without being stopped. Also, there are no “take-backs” on a genocide and if I know anything it’s that our children and grandchildren are going to ask how or if we truly laid it on the line to stop this.
A government that fights harder to execute a holocaust against the will of its own people is not a government that will bestow our collective needs and rights. The proof has been stacking perilously high for some years. As a fellow pastor and friend kindly reminded me, manufactured consent for mass death and disabling was recently set in motion first with mass acceptance of capitalism’s racist and ableist prerogatives that we return to “normal” in regards to the pandemic. With that obedience came abandonment of so many folks and societal needs amidst the ongoing death and sickness from COVID.
uprooted, I still strongly believe we have power to take actions that matter and can stop, even now, a genocide. “What would you do if you were alive during ________?” We’re doing it right now. The violent power of empire is never ceded without people taking real risks to seize it. As is already the case, there will invariably be real and larger costs to any meaningful action that threatens the stranglehold of genocidaires who have thus far refused to budge. Be encouraged: If enough of us take the risks, the “extraordinary” that’s necessary will soon seem ordinary. The payoff is liberation! As the saying goes, “none of us are free until all of us are free.” For many of us, Jesus of Nazareth is our paramount example of this truth, and for those who claim that truth, we know there is no cost—to reputation, employment, safety, and life— that outweighs the guarantee of our seat at the banquet table of the beloved kin-dom of God on the other side. As we’ve seen, any action that actually pushes the needle will be dubbed “violent,” even “terrorist” (e.g. student encampments). In our faith tradition, take heart that you’re in good company there as well. Every accusation by the empire is a confession. Free Palestine and we’ll be well on our way to free the world. Act accordingly.
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Ontario International Airport again earns prestigious designation as a ‘Great Place to Work’
Lifestyle News
(Ontario, California –August 4, 2025) – For the third consecutive year, Southern California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT) has been certified as a Great Place to Work by the Oakland-based global authority on workplace culture.
The prestigious designation is based on direct feedback from employees and underscores ONT’s continued commitment to building a positive, inclusive and high-performing work environment.
In a July survey conducted by Great Place to Work®, 89% of ONT employees said the airport is a great place to work – far outpacing the national average of 57% for typical U.S.-based companies. The study, part of a global employee engagement initiative, also found exceptional levels of satisfaction in key areas: 97% of ONT employees said people celebrate special events at work.
95% felt welcomed upon joining the company.
94% said they’re proud to tell others they work at ONT.
93% expressed pride in
what they and their colleagues accomplish.
“Our family of employees is dedicated not only to providing the best possible customer experience but also to creating a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive, and inspires creativity and collaboration,” said Atif Elkadi, chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport Authority. “Their success is our success, and something the entire community benefits from. We’re especially grateful to our Board of Commissioners for equipping us with the tools to be an airport by and for the community.”
ONT’s continued recognition as a Great Place to Work coincides with its rise as one of the most remarkable success stories in American aviation.
Since returning to local control in November 2016, passenger volumes have surged by 67%, topping 7 million in 2024. Serving one of the fastest-growing population and economic hubs in the United States, ONT is not only a world-class transportation gateway, it’s a workplace where people thrive.
Cynthia Olatunji, MD
Thursday, August 7, 2025
The retirement gap: Why Black Americans face an uphill battle in saving for the future
By Megan Sayles AFRO Staff Writer
Despite decades of work, Black workers have significantly less savings than White their counterparts when it comes to preparing for retirement. CREDIT: Unsplash /
For many Black Americans, the dream of a secure retirement is increasingly out of reach.
Despite decades of work, a combination of wage disparities, unequal access to employersponsored retirement plans and other economic inequalities have left Black workers with significantly less savings than their counterparts.
This divide can be referred to as the “retirement gap.”
“On average, African Americans have less than half the retirement wealth of White households, and, among those with a retirement account, Black households have less than one third of the median balance of White households,” said Christian Weller, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and public policy professor for the University of Massachusetts, Boston. “There is also no trend toward shrinking those gaps.”
Weller and two other researchers published a report titled, “Retirement Wealth by Race and Ethnicity: Differences, Trends and Contributing Factors,” in April 2024 for the Society of Actuaries. The study found that the average retirement savings for Black households was $188,708, compared to $435,142 for White households in 2022.
Black households have less than half the retirement savings than their White counterparts.
Shown here, a chart showing how Black household retirement wealth was $188,708 in 2022, compared to $435,142 for retirement wealth in White
Nathan Dumlao
households in the same year.
Credit: Chart courtesy of SOA Research Institute; Retirement Wealth by Race and Ethnicity: Differences, Trends and Contributing Factors Report
Weller explained that there are a number of factors that have contributed to the racial retirement gap. He groups them into three buckets: access to an employer retirement benefit, contributions to retirement accounts and the chance of adverse economic outcomes that make it more challenging for African Americans to save for retirement.
According to Weller, Black adults are less likely to work for an employer that offers a retirement plan, like a 401(k), compared to White adults. The study discovered that 74 percent of Black households had access to an employer-sponsored retirement benefit compared to 82 percent of White households. Even if they do work for a company that offers retirement benefits, Weller said they are less likely to qualify for them due to factors like minimum tenure and hour requirements.
One common misconception that the report helped to debunk is that Black Americans, as individuals, save less than their White counterparts. When income levels are similar, Black households often save at comparable rates to White households. Lower contributions for African Americans are not a result of differences in saving habits but rather a result of
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
California Governor’s Race Wide Open After Kamala Harris Bows Out
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
California’s 2026 governor’s race is now wide open after former Vice President Kamala Harris announced July 30 that she will not run, ending months of speculation about her political future following her 2024 presidential loss to Donald Trump. “I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor,” Harris said in a statement. “But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run in this election.” Harris, who previously served as California attorney general
and U.S. senator, said she plans to remain active in public service, though not in an elected role at this time. She expressed interest in campaigning for Democrats nationwide and hinted at future plans, including possible nonprofit or political action committee work.
The decision keeps her national profile intact as she considers a potential 2028 presidential run. A person close to Harris said running for governor would have limited her ability to stay visible on national issues and might have
systematically lower earnings, according to Weller.
One other element that influences the retirement gap between Black and White adults is that African Americans have a higher chance of experiencing costly economic challenges.
“Those adverse economic effects include more unemployment, longer spells of unemployment, greater income instability, higher chances of falling ill or becoming disabled, greater financial demands from friends and family, less stable and more costly housing, less access to healthy and affordable food and more widespread and more costly interactions with the criminal justice system,” said Wellers. “These are some of the most widespread economic risks that impose greater costs on Black households than White households.”
The generational wealth gap makes African Americans even more vulnerable to economic hardships and unexpected expenses, according to Weller.
“The lack of generational wealth means that there is less wealth and thus fewer financial protections among Black households. At the same time, African Americans are more likely than White households to experience adverse economic effects,” said Weller. “They cannot rely on their own savings because they have fewer. They then turn to family and friends for help. Those that provide informal financial support have the money to help. But, they need to forego
higher rates of return to keep that money liquid.”
There is no evidence to suggest that African Americans save less than their White counterparts.
Shown here, a chart created from SOA Research Institute data, showing that Hispanic, Black and White households had similar contribution rates in 2022. Credit: Chart courtesy of SOA Research Institute; Retirement Wealth by Race and Ethnicity: Differences, Trends and Contributing Factors Report
He explained that caregiving responsibilities, which fall more heavily on Black families than their counterparts, create financial obligations that increase the need for liquidity. His study found that African Americans are saving more for retirement when they have to account for support to family and friends. However, this causes them to take out more 401(k) loans and can hinder their ability to build long-term wealth.
Weller recommended several strategies for closing the retirement gap between White and Black households. They include: broader access to retirement savings plans, like automatic individual retirement accounts sponsored by state governments; automatic increases in contributions rates for retirement plans, like the upcoming Saver’s Match; and expanding social programs.
He suggested increasing access to social security, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, paid medical and family leave and affordable health insurance. This can help to aid Black households who face greater economic obstacles.
“An equitable retirement system is one where everybody has the same chances to save for their retirement, including equal access, progressive savings incentives and help in reducing risks and costs of adverse economic events,” said Weller. “For one, this is fair, but it’s also critical in the U.S., since public policy has always expected people to shoulder some of the costs of saving for the future. That expectation then also means that public policy needs to make it possible for people to save for their future.”
California Governor’s Race Wide Open After Kamala Harris Bows Out...continued
conflicted with a future White House campaign.
“This does keep the door open for 2028,” the person said, adding that Harris spent months talking with advisors and was deeply conflicted before deciding not to run.
Harris, the first Black and South Asian American vice president, replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in 2024 after he left the race. Although she carried California by 20 points, she lost the general election.
Her decision leaves a crowded Democratic field vying to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom,
who is barred by term limits from running again in 2026. Among the declared or likely candidates are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, former state Senate leader Toni Atkins, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Despite the competitive field, Democrats are expected to retain the governorship in the solidly blue state.
For now, Harris says she looks forward to reconnecting with Californians as a private citizen.
Record-Breaking UC Freshman Class Includes 6% Black Students
The University of California has admitted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2025, with 100,947 instate freshmen offered admission, which is a 7% increase over last year.
Among them, 6% identify as Black.
The UC system continues to see steady growth in racial and ethnic representation. Latinos
Record-Breaking UC Freshman Class Includes 6% Black Students...continued
Merced boosted admission offers by over 60%, and Riverside increased them by more than 38%. In contrast, UCLA and UC Berkeley admitted fewer California freshmen this year, despite high application numbers.
“This growth is a clear indication that Californians recognize the value of a UC degree,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, who stepped down from the post last month.
James B. Milliken, former University of Texas chancellor, has assumed the role.
The UC system continues to admit large numbers of students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. This year, 42% of California first-year admits come from low-income families, and 42% are the first in their family to attend college.
In total, UC offered admission to 180,382 first-year and transfer
students, including international and out-of-state applicants. International admissions rose 17%, and out-of-state offers went up 9%, despite concerns about federal visa restrictions and tuition hikes. Nonresident tuition increased to $37,602 last fall. UC officials say their admissions process follows all state and federal laws, even as the system faces federal investigations into alleged racebased practices. “We are proud to offer these exceptional young people a place at the University of California,” said Han Mi Yoon-Wu, associate vice provost for undergraduate admissions in a statement.
As students prepare to make enrollment decisions, UC leaders say expanding access remains a top priority. Final enrollment numbers are expected in the fall.
Confronting a Suicide Crisis: California Steps Up for Men and Boys
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order aimed at reducing suicide rates among California’s boys and young men, calling the issue a crisis fueled by isolation, stigma, and lack of support. The order directs the California Health and Human Services Agency to develop recommendations to close gender disparities in mental health care and improve access to services.
“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence,” said Newsom in a statement his office issued last week, highlighting the state’s commitment to providing pathways to purpose, connection, and dignity.
According to the California Department of Public Health, males aged 15 to 44 die by suicide at three to four times the rate of females in the state.
Newsom’s office said harmful stereotypes and a lack of malefocused mental health resources contribute to broader challenges, including increased drug use, crime, workforce disengagement, and school dropouts. The
governor emphasized the need to rethink outdated ideas about care work and improve school and mentorship support for boys. The executive order builds on ongoing state initiatives, such as the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, California Jobs First, and the Community Schools Partnership Program. These programs aim to boost mental health access, economic opportunity, and educational outcomes for youth.
The governor also pointed to Proposition 1, recently passed to modernize the state’s behavioral health system, as part of a wider push to close gaps in care.
Advocates supported the state’s latest move, arguing that it represents a significant step toward addressing gender-specific mental health challenges. Newsom’s office says implementation will involve schools, families, and community leaders working together to ensure young men no longer fall through the cracks.
made up the largest share of admitted students at 39%, followed by Asian Americans at 33%, White students at 18%, and Native American and Pacific Islander students at about 1% or less. The growth comes even as the total applicant pool dropped slightly to 249,824. Much of the admissions increase was driven by UC Merced and UC Riverside.
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Gov. Newsom: California Won’t Sit Idle While Texas “Games the System” in Redistricting
By Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom says California won’t “sit idle” as Republican-led states like Texas manipulate congressional maps to entrench power — even if that means rethinking California’s own redistricting rules.
“We’re not going to play by a different set of rules anymore,” Newsom said last week, after Texas Republicans approved new congressional maps in a special session pushed by former President Trump. He called the move a “five-alarm fire for democracy” and signaled that California may need to respond in kind to help Democrats reclaim control of the U.S. House.
The governor’s office confirmed that four legal and political options are under review, including a 2026 ballot measure that would dismantle the state’s independent redistricting commission and return the power to draw political maps to the Legislature. California voters created the commission in 2008 to insulate the process from partisan influence.
The idea, still in exploratory stages, has sparked sharp backlash from California Republicans, who accuse Newsom and state Democrats of trying to upend a fair system for political gain.
“We win elections by a war of
Elma
Battle
ideas, not by manipulating the lines,” said Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora (R-Ripon).
“This could cost everyone a lot of money and destroy voter trust.”
Other GOP leaders warn the proposal could unravel nearly two decades of bipartisan reform and tarnish Democrats’ credibility on voting rights. They argue that responding to Texas by undermining California’s own democratic safeguards sends the wrong message.
Newsom, however, insists California can’t be passive while other states exploit partisan redistricting to tilt national power. He noted that the state’s independent system was created under different political conditions and may no longer serve California’s strategic interests.
“This could cost everyone a
lot of money and destroy voter trust,” he said.
Still, critics from both parties remain skeptical that California voters — who overwhelmingly approved the redistricting commission — would back a return to lawmaker-controlled mapmaking. Newsom has not ruled out putting the issue before voters in 2026.
As of publishing time, the Texas Legislature had not officially approved the redrawn electoral maps, and Gov. Greg Abott had not signed them into law.
The redistricting debate comes at a critical moment, as both parties aim to lock down control of the U.S. House. Any changes to California’s maps could reshape the national political landscape for years to come.
Vines Summer Health Academy to Celebrate 23rd Graduating Class at Annual Banquet
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — The J.W. Vines Foundation will host a celebratory banquet on Thursday, August 14, 2025, to honor the graduating cohort of the 23rd annual Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA).
The event will recognize college students who completed the intensive five-week program designed to mentor and inspire the next generation of medical professionals from the Inland Empire.
The banquet will take place at 6:00 p.m. and will feature presentations from the students, who will share their experiences and key findings from the program.
This year's academy provided
students with paid opportunities to shadow surgeons, pediatricians, general practitioners, and other medical specialists in the region, offering a unique, hands-on look into the medical field.
EVSHA is a flagship program of the J.W. Vines Medical Society and its philanthropic arm, the J.W. Vines Foundation.
For more than two decades, the academy has been instrumental in creating a pathway for local college students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in health sciences.
“This banquet is not just a celebration of the students' hard work over the summer; it's a celebration of our community's future in healthcare,” said Dr.
A.J. Rogers, Chairman of the J.W. Vines Foundation.
“We invite the community to join us, hear directly from these bright and motivated individuals, and support our ongoing mission to cultivate a diverse and dedicated physician workforce for the Inland Empire,” Rogers added.
The event serves as an opportunity for community members, local leaders, and healthcare professionals to engage with the students and learn more about the impact of the J.W. Vines programs, providing service to Black and other underserved communities.
Event Details:
• What: 2025 Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA) Banquet
• When: Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. PDT
• Where: Canyon Crest Country Club, 975 Country Club Dr. Riverside, CA 92506
• Tickets: Available for purchase online via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite. com/e/2025-evsha-banquettickets-1538360952019
Proceeds from the banquet will support the J.W. Vines Foundation and its continued efforts to fund mentorship and educational programs.
About the Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA): For 23 years, EVSHA has provided a five-week, paid summer immersion program for college students interested in health careers. Operated by the J.W. Vines Foundation, the academy offers invaluable physicianshadowing opportunities, professional development, and mentorship to cultivate future healthcare leaders from and for the Inland Empire.
The graduating cohort of the 23rd annual Elma Vines Summer Health Academy (EVSHA)
The J.W. Vines Foundation board members and leadership team include: Left to Right: Dr. Anthony Fenison, Dr. Leita Harris, Dr. Ernest Levister, Dr. A.J. Rogers, Kamie Taylor, Dr. Michael Nduati