Despite Protests, No FCC Movement on Vote for Standard GeneralTEGNA Deal

By Barrington M. Salmon

protestors were not shy about their desire and intentions.

“I came to support the deal because it would be good for us. (A vote) is of great and historic significance. It is an opportunity to shatter the glass ceiling,” said The Rev. Kirsten John Foy, president and founder of Arc of Justice, a New Yorkbased civil rights organization.

“We have few minority owners at the top. We are locked out and a number of barriers are placed in front of us. We need adequate and appropriate representation of women and people of color...

If we’re at the table, we can influence the narrative, not one imposed on us that’s not true to us.”

Foy was one of more than

When civil rights attorney Pamela Price decided to run for Alameda County District Attorney, her life was already the personification of poet Langston Hughes’ famous poem “Mother to Son” that notes that “Life Ain’t No Crystal Stair.”

Price comes from the type of community she ran for office to serve. She was once on the other side of the law and is an example of how people can change when given the opportunity.

Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Price states she was traumatized, then radicalized with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. at age 11. Raised in group homes and foster care homes, Price describes her childhood as traumatic.

“Raised in group homes and foster care, at age 13 I was in a juvenile justice facility. I walked away from foster care at age 16 to my own accountability, living all over the place,” she recalled. “I rented a truck, went back to my three foster homes, collected the little I possessed, and checked into a ‘fleabag’ hotel that I could pay for by the week. Despite the adversity, I not only survived, I thrived. “ office in total disarray.

Price attributes her ability to thrive to foster moms who “kept their hands on her,” stressing the importance of education as the only true path to liberation.

Managing to graduate from high school, Price got accepted to Yale College on a full scholarship. That scholarship, according to Price, was the game changer. She majored in political science and American studies, and after graduating from Law School, became a civil rights attorney.

According to Price, there were employees with no supervisor, a myriad of unfilled positions despite money set aside, people on payroll making substantial amounts of money who were not working.

And that was just the start, she said. “The computer system was antiquated; no method of communication existed between offices in the nine locations; no human resource for 450 employees and no operational plans or processes in place.”

Standards of accountability were lacking and “absolutely no working oversight.”

The most serious issue she faced, she said, were employees traumatized by fellow members suicides and heart attacks. They were in deep need of mental support.

“The culture in that office was toxic and addressing their trauma was my first priority. I’m happy to report that 90% of the staff stayed.”

After addressing the health and wellness of her employees, the victim witness advocates were next. Price noted that “The DA’s office was understaffed across the entire spectrum despite O’Malley having the funds: she didn’t manage this organization at all.”

Knowing that people voted for her to get the DA’s office in order, Price says the last three months restructuring the office has been formidable but cites a 25% improvement.

Despite best intents, her efforts were thwarted after she placed people on leave, and they became disgruntled and started attacking her office.

100 protestors who lined the sidewalk in front of the FCC in downtown Washington. He and other supporters argue that allowing Standard General and TEGNA to become one entity could be a game changer in terms of minority ownership in America’s current white, maledominated media environment.

Foy emphasized Kim’s commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity to a reporter and said so in a letter of support he drafted on behalf of his organization last year in which he expressed confidence in the deal and Soo Kim, Standard General’s CEO.

“Our confidence in Standard

In 2017, while working with the Contra Costa County Racial Justice Coalition on a number of racial issues around police misconduct, they were successful in getting Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson to resign in disgrace and admit to felonies, which open the door for a new D.A..

People asked Price to run for D.A. in Contra Costa County, but she refused because she lived in Alameda County. When she declined, a young man responded, “Alameda is just as bad.” Upon investigation, Price realized he was right, and no one had challenged Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley in four years.

In June of 2017, Price began her campaign for D.A. in Alameda County, but she lost in 2018.

Still determines, then ran again in 2022 and won.

Walking into the office on January 3, Price describes an

Taking on the culture of the organization, Price hired 35 people to fill vacancies, created a management structure, and addressed dramatic overpayments to some the people who have since have been placed in their correct positions.

Responsible for nine locations, the systemic failure in communications makes Price’s vision of transforming the DA’s office a formidable task, but one she says she’s up to.

“It will take wisdom, patience, grace, courage, compassion, and a sense of purpose with a real commitment to serve the people of Alameda County. I was put in this season for a reason, and I’ve been preparing all my life for this.”

Next Week: Part 2 – A New Vision of Justice.

The post Pamela Price: The Path to the District Attorney’s Office is No Crystal Stair, Part I first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Honored with Educator of the Year Award by Loyola Marymount University

Thurmond Recognized for Leading Efforts to Transform California Schools

LOS ANGELES—State

Superintendent of Public

Instruction Tony Thurmond was honored Sunday, April 30 with the Educator of the Year Award by Loyola Marymount University (LMU) School of Education. The award recognized Superintendent Thurmond’s substantial contributions to the field of education; his advocacy for greater equity in opportunities for future generations; and his significant, lifelong commitment to enriching the lives of all learners.

Superintendent Thurmond has made transforming California schools his priority. His vision and leadership secured 10,000 mental health counselors for schools and billions in dollars for wraparound services to support the whole child through community schools.

Superintendent Thurmond is leading an effort to ensure reading by third grade for all students by 2026, and he has established the first statewide teacher recruitment effort with a Public Service Announcement and a one-stop information and referral system to help connect teacher candidates to scholarships, credentialing programs, and employers with current vacancies. He is also leading a statewide effort to provide a graduation requirement in personal finance for students.

Throughout his tenure, Superintendent Thurmond has fought for all students. He has launched initiatives to close opportunity gaps for African American and Latino students, English learners, students with disabilities, foster and homeless youth, and students from lowincome backgrounds. He is leading an effort to provide universal preschool for every four-year-old as well as providing universal meals—free meals to every student regardless of their ability to pay.

The LMU School of

Education’s Educator of the Year Award is an accolade that has been given annually since 1996. The award is given to individuals who have made transformative contributions to the field of education while advocating tirelessly for more equitable opportunities for future generations. Superintendent Thurmond joined a prestigious list of past recipients of the Educator of the Year Award, including Father Greg Boyle, S.J.; Dr. Carl Cohn; former California State Board of Education President Michael Kirst; Roy Romer; Patricia Gandara; Ana Ponce; and Maureen Kindel.

Superintendent Thurmond speaking at the podium at LMU ceremony.

Superintendent Thurmond provided the keynote address at the event, which also honored numerous LMU graduates with awards in undergraduate and graduate fields of education.

LMU is a top-ranked national university by U.S. News and World Report, which places LMU among the top five Jesuit universities in the country and in the top six private universities in California. Founded in 1911, LMU is a Catholic, Jesuit, and Marymount university with more than 6,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students.

LMU offers 55 undergraduate majors and 58 minor programs, along with 46 master’s degree programs, three doctorate programs, and 14 credential/ authorization programs. LMU’s intercollegiate athletics teams compete in the West Coast Conference with 20 Division I and varsity sports. LMU School of Education is a top 10 education school in California that offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees, credentials, and certificates in more than 20 areas of study.

How Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Spent His First Week in SBCUSD

his first meeting with more than 250 District principals, administrators, and managers this week, Arellano vowed to spend the first 120 days of his tenure immersed in everything SBCUSD to get a feel for the District’s unique strengths and challenges, an effort he referred to as “relearning SBCUSD with humility and an open heart and mind.”

New Superintendent Mauricio Arellano spent his first week at the helm of the San Bernardino City Unified School District reacquainting himself with schools across two cities, where he visited numerous classrooms and spoke with students, teachers, and administrators after arriving at a rousing homecoming.

Arellano also relished meeting families and reconnecting with longtime colleagues. In

In an inspiring speech to his management team, Arellano mentioned his belief in the Zulu tribe greeting ‘Sawubona,’ meaning I see you, I hear you. He urged principals and managers to lead with grace, empathy, and humility while using researchbased strategies.

Superintendent Arellano brings with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to educational excellence that will serve SBCUSD well in the years to come. He has more than 30 years of experience

How Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Spent His First Week in SBCUSD...continued in public education, serving in a variety of roles including teacher, principal, and district administrator. Most recently, he served as the superintendent of the Redlands Unified School District. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong relationships with students, families, and staff, and creating a culture of collaboration and innovation, all of which are part of his plan in SBCUSD.

“We are confident that he has the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills necessary to take our District to the next level, and that’s exactly why the Board of Education hired Superintendent Arellano,” Board President Dr. Scott Wyatt said. “To have a superintendent who was educated in our schools is truly unique and one of Mauricio’s greatest assets.”

California’s next housing crackdown could force cities to plan more homeless shelters

BY MARISA KENDALL

Black-Owned Student Athlete Preparatory Academy Launches LAbased Pilot Program For Summer 2023

“Dual Threat Prep’s inaugural program will equip student-athletes with the skills necessary to make an impact outside of the game,” said Dual Threat Prep Founder and Executive Director Kristina T. Wilson, Esq.

Muhammad, who declined to provide his last name, warms his hands at a fire next to his tent in Sacramento. Feb. 24, 2022.

by

Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

All over California, cities are falling far short when it comes to providing enough shelter for their homeless communities.

More than 69,000 homeless residents live in Los Angeles County, for instance, but that county has just over 21,000 beds in shelters and temporary housing programs.

It’s a similar story in Sacramento County, which counted nearly 9,300 unhoused residents in its last census, but has just over 3,000 shelter and temporary housing beds.

Those massive gaps – which ensure thousands of people remain homeless – are visible in cities throughout California. But despite constant reassurances from Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers that getting people off the street is a top priority, there’s no state requirement for cities and counties to make sure they have enough shelters or housing for homeless residents.

A bill working its way through the Legislature could change that, and potentially lead to sanctions against local governments that fail to plan for the needs of homeless Californians.

Senate Bill 7 would — for the first time — require cities and counties to plan enough beds for everyone living without a place to call home. It would go beyond just temporary shelter, also including permanent housing placements.

Its author, Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, called it a “transformational idea” that could help move the needle on homelessness where other attempts have failed.

“Everything we’re doing currently, it will result in homelessness growing,” Blakespear said in an interview. “It will not result in homelessness going down.”

California cities’ housing goals

Currently, the state makes sure every city and county plans for new housing through a process known as the regional housing

(Black PR Wire) LOS

ANGELES – Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, a Blackowned and operated educational program for student-athletes, is excited to announce the launch of its first summer program, the Blue Chip Academy, set to begin in July 2023.

Dual Threat is an educational program focused on providing student-athletes with the proper tools to excel in their sport of choice and outside of sports as academic and civically engaged young leaders. This educational program will support studentathletes starting in the 6th grade. Each educational program will be based on topics that are applicable to the athlete’s age and sport. The program will cover topics such as Social Justice and Civic Engagement, Financial Literacy, Personal Health, and much more.

Dual Threat’s Founder and Executive Director

Kristina T. Wilson, Esq.

talent and physical skills to be successful in sports, especially as athletes inevitably face some type of adversity inside or outside of sports. We’re excited to welcome 12 6th-grade and 7th grade student-athletes into our program this summer as we launch this curriculum to provide safe and substantive learning for students over the summer” Applications to join the program will be available June 1, 2023 at https://dualthreatprep.org/

Photo

needs allocation. In all, the state requires cities and counties to plan for 2.5 million new homes over the next eight years — about 25% of which must be affordable for very low-income occupants.

But this method doesn’t require cities and counties to plan any housing that is specifically for homeless residents.

If the bill passes, local officials would have to include homeless housing in their plans. How much is yet to be determined, but it would be based on each city’s point-in-time census count of its homeless population. Ideally, Blakespear said, the plans would require a unit for every single person counted.

The idea comes at a time when the state is forcing local governments to take more responsibility for providing housing.

Newsom’s administration sued the Orange County coastal enclave of Huntington Beach earlier this year for failing to adopt a housing plan. And cities that flout state housing law also are subject to the “builder’s remedy,” which allows developers to bypass local zoning laws for certain projects.

Blakespear’s bill has gained some early support from housing activists, and recently passed out of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by a 6-2 vote. While some local leaders are sure to chafe under yet another stateimposed housing requirement, several big-city mayors are tentatively supportive.

Learn more about legislators mentioned in this story

“The final details in the bill matter,” Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said in an emailed statement, “but any bill that moves the state and cities closer to making housing and services for the homeless a mandatory obligation for government is a step in the right direction.”

Data collected by Sacramento

“Dual Threat Prep’s inaugural program will equip studentathletes with the skills necessary to make an impact outside of the game. Far too often, studentathletes are left to grapple with some of life’s most serious obstacles and transitions without the necessary support,” said Dual Threat’s Founder and Executive Director Kristina T. Wilson, Esq. She continues “It takes more than

About Dual Threat Preparatory Academy Dual Threat Preparatory Academy is an educational program that provides student-athletes with the proper foundation to excel in their respective sports while developing them into contributing members of society outside of athletics. By teaching student-athletes the "game" within the game, Dual Threat will instill the knowledge necessary to navigate life as a student-athlete on the high school, college, and professional levels. To learn more about Dual Threat Preparatory Academy, visit dualthreatprep.org

Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival May 20th

WRIGHTWOOD, CA - April

19, 2023 - The Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival is coming up soon, and as if the musicians, poets, and food vendors weren't enough, over 30 talented artists are getting ready to display and sell their original works.From glassblown pieces to handmade jewelry to acrylic paintings to textile art to handcrafted goats milk soaps, there is truly something for every art lover to enjoy. Many of the artists will be selling their unique pieces, giving visitors the opportunity to own one-of-a-kind offerings.

Husband and wife team David and Kazumi Svenson will be presenting a series of blown glass. Kazumi Svenson has been a glass blower and a neon artist for the past 30 years, and has taught furnace glass blowing at “Hot Glass Studio” in Tokyo, Japan where she first began her glass career. David Svenson has taught neon and wood sculpture at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Alaska Indian Arts, Haines, AK, and the Pilchuck Glass School. Through their art, Kazumi and David explore the human relationship with the natural environment that surrounds us.

Amber Calderilla, a.k.a CraftyMantis, is a fiber and textile artisan born and raised in the Inland Empire. Her current artistic style is an evolution of the traditional works of making functional and decorative pieces, like blankets and clothing, that the women of her family have made for generations. Her work has been seen in galleries and artisan events throughout Southern California. She creates freeform crochet fiber art, such as functional crocheted pouches, necklaces, and bottle slings rendered to look like fruits and vegetables, among other pieces.

Jenny Gagnon was a firstgrade teacher for many years. During the last few years of her career, she discovered a passion for gourd art. Reflecting on her process, she explains, "I start by selecting a gourd that has the shape that corresponds to the original design I want to implement...I use a mini jigsaw with a foot pedal to neatly cut the gourd open. I want the interior to be a special space. After cleaning the interior with sanding balls, I have learned through trial and error to use modeling paste to create a smooth interior. I finish by painting the exterior, and putting a couple of clear coats so that the gourd can be handled and preserved."

These talented creators are only a few of the many artists visitors will have the chance to meet at the Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival this spring. The festival draws thousands of visitors each year to its showcase of regional art, food, wine, and music, as well as scenic beauty in a quiet mountain setting. Come experience the creativity and talent of Wrightwood’s unique arts community.

For more information on the Wrightwood Arts & Wine Festival, please contact: Tim Green Festival Communications tgreen@wrightwoodarts.com

For more information, visit: www.wrightwoodarts.com/ festival/