SB American News Week Ending 3/20

President Biden Issues Stirring Call to Action in State of the Union Address

be heard hissing and ranting at the President. “We are the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that draw from old and new. Home to Native Americans whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years. Home to people from every place on Earth,” Biden continued, setting the stage for a heartfelt exploration of the American experience.

President Joe Biden delivered a resounding State of the Union Address, resonating with historical echoes and impassioned calls for unity and action. In a stark departure from his predecessor, Biden underscored his deep understanding of American identity, emphasizing the nation’s unique values and the diverse tapestry that binds its people together.

“Because, unlike my predecessor, I know who we are as Americans,” Biden declared as Democrats in Congress cheered while some Republicans could be heard hissing and ranting at the President. “We are the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that draw from old and

new. Home to Native Americans whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years. Home to people from every place on Earth,” Biden continued, setting the stage for a heartfelt exploration of the American experience.

Acknowledging Americans’ varied origins, Biden remarked, “Some came freely. Some were chained by force. Some when famine struck, like my ancestral family in Ireland. Some to flee persecution. Some to chase dreams that are impossible anywhere but here in America.” He spoke to the shared journey of every American, emphasizing, “That’s America, where we all come from somewhere, but we

are all Americans.”

Transitioning to the contentious immigration issue, the President asserted his readiness to address border challenges. “We can fight about the border, or we can fix it,” he demanded. “I’m ready to fix it.” The commitment to finding solutions underscored Biden’s determination to bridge divides and work toward comprehensive immigration reform.

Biden then pivoted to a seminal moment in the fight for civil rights, commemorating the 59th anniversary of the march in Selma, Alabama. “A transformational moment in our history happened 59 years ago today in Selma, Alabama. Hundreds of foot soldiers for

justice marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, named after a Grand Dragon of the KKK, to claim their fundamental right to vote,” he stated.

The President paid homage to the sacrifices made during this historic march, vividly recalling, “They were beaten bloodied and left for dead. Our late friend and former colleague, John Lewis was at the march. Five months later, the Voting Rights Act was signed into law.” The historical reflection served as a poignant backdrop to Biden’s urgent call to action against contemporary threats to voting rights.

“Voter suppression. Election

All Three Black San Bernardino Councilmembers Not Returning to City Hall

Chris Allen, BVN)

This week’s primary election has left San Bernardino’s Black community pondering its political future with the loss of all three of the current Black city councilmembers.

Less than four years ago, the City of San Bernardino marked

a milestone with the election of three Black city councilmembers. Those elected included Damon Alexander, Kimberly Calvin and Ben Reynoso. Their election came more than 50 years after the city council was first integrated with the

election of the city’s first Black councilman, Norris Gregory. Despite his election coming in the midst of the civil rights era, Norris held on and served two terms. Fate, however, was not as kind to Alexander, Calvin and Reynoso as preliminary results from Tuesday’s Presidential Primary Election showed all three councilmember going down in defeat.

Perhaps their election in 2020 was a sign of the times. It was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black and Brown communities were being impacted disproportionately, the brutal murder of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of police in Minneapolis, MN, stirred the consciousness of the nation, and municipalities were beginning to declare racism a public health crisis. Many viewed the simultaneous election of three Black candidates as a promise

of change.

After the polls closed Tuesday, it looks as though none of the current Black city council members will be returning for the upcoming term. Damon Alexander and Ben Reynoso, despite their past service, did not secure top positions in their respective wards. And Kimberly Calvin, the third Black council member, faced a setback when a campaign error left her off the primary ballot, forcing her to mount a write-in campaign.

With Mario Flores’ win in that race, it is the first time in 57 years — since Norris Gregory’s historic win in 1967 — that San Bernardino’s 6th Ward will not have a Black city council member representing it at city hall.

Longtime San Bernardino resident, former San Bernardino city school board member,

All Three Black San Bernardino Councilmembers Not Returning to City Hall...continued

and publisher emeritus Hardy Brown recalls how long Black representation has been integral to city government. “I was involved in Councilman Gregory’s election by hosting a coffee for him at our home on California Street. We were able to get a stop sign in front of Rio Vista Elementary School for the safety of the children crossing the street.”

“The sign is still here saving children today,” he said, “The ward system was designed to have the citizens select a local voice in the city government. In this election it was Mayor Tran who selected, encouraged and funded the Flores campaign. It’s a sad day because he will be a mouthpiece for the mayor.”

The potential lack of Black voices on the city council raises critical questions about equitable representation and community involvement in the city’s decision-making processes.

“I am dismayed that there is an effort to erase Black representation in a community that has been historically marginalized by the city leadership,” Former Assemblymember and 6th Ward resident Cheryl Brown said.

“I wonder what Norris Gregory would say. It’s also telling that we supported a mayor who has now turned against us and lied about it,” she continued.

Recognizing the significance of Black representation beyond symbolism, community leaders

stress the importance of ensuring that diverse voices are heard and valued in local governance. They emphasized the need for proactive measures to cultivate a leadership that reflects the city’s demographic diversity.

Westside Action Group President Alton Garrett shared, “The voters in San Bernardino have spoken and their voices have been heard loud and clear.” However, he said, the result of Tuesday’s election “is a combination of low voter turnout and people who are eligible to vote not voting. Regardless of the reasons, the voters in San Bernardino have a city council that does not represent their city, and they have to live with until the next election cycle.”

In response to these developments, there is a renewed focus on supporting and empowering Black candidates to participate in the political process. Community initiatives, like BLU Educational Foundation’s Black Public Officials Leadership Training program, aim to nurture a new generation of Black leaders capable of making meaningful contributions to local governance through training in base building, candidate development, campaign development, and connection to a Black political network.

“There is enough blame to go around,”said Mr. Garrett, “we do not need to point fingers, we need to correct the situation so this never happens again.”

Commentary: California Must Invest in Young Men of Color This Budget Season

Michael Lynch | Special to California Black Media Partners

Michael Lynch

College matters. Obtaining a college degree continues to be the most powerful tool we have to combat poverty. College graduates earn more than $1 million more in their lifetime than individuals with a high school diploma. For low-income youth, it is the most promising path out of poverty. Despite the economic value of a college degree, Black and Brown boys are still the least likely group to attend and graduate from college. This disparity is not due to lack of intelligence or work ethic on their part; rather, it’s because school systems often inhibit their ability to be successful.

I co-founded Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) in 2013 with the goal of increasing the number of young men of color attending

and graduating from colleges and universities. Since our founding, IYT has served over 8,000 young men of color in Sacramento and beyond. After two years of participating in IYT, 99% of our students graduate from high school on time, and nearly 80% go on to attend college. If we were a school district, our students would be the highest-performing Black and Brown boys in America. Over the years, we’ve looked to the State, private funders, and others to support our efforts. Two years ago, we joined California’s Student Success Coach Learning Network to share our methods and to learn from other organizations mentoring youth in school systems across the

In

stark departure from his predecessor, Biden underscored his deep understanding of American identity, emphasizing the

unique values and the diverse tapestry that binds its people together.

S.E. Williams | Dr. Paulette Brown Hinds

Damon Alexander, Ben Reynoso, and Kimberly Calvin have lost their City Council postions in this week's primary election. (Graphic by

Free Online Training for California Home Health Workers Ending Soon

By Mark Hedin

If you’re struggling to care for elderly or disabled friends or family, CalGrows has hundreds of free — and paying — online or in-person classes to help.

If you’re struggling to care for elderly or disabled friends or family, CalGrows has hundreds of free — and paying — online or in-person classes to help.

The state program allows home health workers, the backbone of California health care, to earn up to $6,000 for learning and using new skills. However, time is running out for caregivers to sign up, as the program ends in August.

At a March 7 briefing hosted by the California Department of Aging and Ethnic Media Services, speakers described the caregiving and healthcare program, and the paid incentives that go with it, adding a note of urgency.

Renita Polk, of the California Department of Aging, cited estimates that by 2030, a quarter of all Californians — 10.8 million people — will be at least 60 years old and require another 3.2 million caregivers and healthcare workers to provide “varying levels of care.”

“This is a tangible investment in caregivers, acknowledging their vital role and representing

California’s diverse communities and providing people with the quality care they deserve,” said Polk. “This is a massive problem,” Dr. V.J. Periyakoil, director of Stanford University’s GE Research Center and its School of Medicine’s Palliative Care Education and Training program. “It’s not a ‘them’ problem, it’s an ‘us’ problem.”

Constantly improving medical care means sudden deaths are fewer and “most of us are eventually going to live for years with a chronic condition, and die of multiple causes,” she explained.

Already, people are surviving cancer diagnoses for years, living with diabetes, surviving strokes, lung disease, kidney problems and much more.

Just to get through the day, some will need help with simple, basic functions such as showering, dressing and toileting.

But asking people with no training or background in the work to provide such services, she said, is like giving an

unlicensed driver the keys to an 18-wheeler. And those caregivers are also reporting the depression and burnout that can accompany being constantly on call.

So far, the Department of Aging’s Connie Nakano said that about 6,000 people have completed more than 25,000 courses and earned more than $2 million in incentives while becoming better trained and able to provide the support that seniors and their families need.

Those eligible for the program must be unlicensed caregivers, certified home care aids or certified nursing assistants who live and work in California.

Free career-advancement training is open to those providing unpaid care to older adults or people with disabilities — including friends and family — in a home or community setting, though incentives don’t apply.

Caregivers already paid by an employer which is not In-Home Supportive Services may receive incentives for taking the courses. IHSS employees with a second job elsewhere, or employees with

petition to express concern for their mental health and wellbeing. “I wanted to speak out and raise my voice about what was going on within our school district and how it’s kind of oppressive, to not only minority students like me, but students who struggled with their mental health,” Nelms said in an interview with Black Voice News. The staff cuts come just a few weeks after the board voted in favor of eliminating five program specialists and the District Coordinator of MultiTiered Systems of Supports during a regular board meeting on February 21, 2024.

During the special meeting, the board of trustees voted to eliminate the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department, which

an organization under a county contract to provide IHSS care, are also eligible.

CalGrows is “a comprehensive program,” said Anni Chung, CEO of San Francisco’s Self Help for the Elderly organization, which has been operating since 1966 and currently serves more than 40,000 clients annually with health, educational, social and recreational services.

“It allows us an opportunity to train our staff of 411 employees,” she said, and provide the training updates they need to recertify every two years. And, she said, “it’s an excellent opportunity for newly arrived immigrants to develop career paths,” by providing the knowledge they’ll need to pass state-administered licensing tests.

One such person, Mei Guo, arrived in 2005 and began working as an unlicensed caregiver almost immediately.

“I was full of passion, but also felt confused and challenged,” she said through a translator.

But as she began taking courses through Self Help for the Elderly, “I quickly realized this would be a turning point in my career,” Guo continued. “After obtaining my license I was able to provide higher quality care service to the seniors I took care of, not only improving their quality of life but also giving their family members peace of mind.”

Programs such as this, she added, “Help monolingual, nonEnglish-speaking job seekers, immigrants like me, for whom language barriers are a significant challenge … providing not only professional training, but a bridge for communication and learning, allowing us to find our place in this multicultural

The Social Lites Annual Beautillion is Set for March 30

“The Beautillion Knights program guides young men to ensure that our youth are college-bound and equipped to succeed in life and to realize their full potential as young men, career professionals, entrepreneurs and productive outstanding citizens,” said Social Lites spokesperson Marlene Davis.

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.

— The Social Lites, Inc. will award scholarships to deserving Black high school senior young men at its Beautillion Knights event on March 30 at Cal State

San Bernardino. The Inland Empire nonprofit has provided scholarships for 54 years to young men going on to college or technical school.

The 2024 Beautillion Knights are Ali Dphrepaulezz of

Etiwanda High School; Daniel Rivera of Cajon High School; Destyn Maurice of Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy in Moreno Valley; Frank Cox III of Summit High School; Solomon Moore of Citrus Valley High School, Syncere Brackett of Centennial High School in Eastvale, Darvion McGee, The PAL Charter Academy in San

consists of Dr. Casaundra McNair and secretary Helen Stimach. Dr. McNair is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Perris Union High School District.

“If they get rid of this program, and if they get rid of this division, there’s not going to be proper teachings to the students and their families, and administration staff and faculty, including teachers, to understand how to work with students of color and work with students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Nelms said.

Dr. McNair officially began her role last January and works directly for the superintendent of schools. She works within every aspect of the organization, from human resources to budgetary decisions to educational services.

“My role is to ensure that the educators are thinking about the full student body, and not just the ones that they are used to catering to. Additionally, students learn best when they have someone in their classroom that looks like them, or on their campus that they’re able to identify with,” McNair explained.

“The other major part of my role is making sure that our staff is diverse, so that our students can relate and have hope that there is something for them on the other side of high school.”

“If they get rid of the wellness centers, the social workers will not be able to help these children who are in foster care who are on our campus, which is a smaller percentage, but we still matter and we still count.”

Rocco Nelms

Ahead of the special board meeting held on March 9, Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson released a statement urging school districts to consider community input when making budget cuts to educators and programs offered throughout the district. Jackson acknowledged the challenges of making financial decisions, but noted that the Perris Union High School District special board meeting “serves as a cautionary example of moving too hastily without allowing the community sufficient time to respond to potential cuts.”

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs have proven

Perris School District Votes to Eliminate DEI Department & Mental Health Services...continued value add to school districts and communities,” Jackson stated in the press release. The proposal also included the elimination of the District Equity Team (36 staff members made up of certificated, classified employees and managers), student Listening Sessions and other programs and trainings conducted by McNair.

“It’s going to have a tremendous impact. I can tell you that almost all of the positions that are up for elimination (tonight), over 70% of those employees are people of color number one,” McNair said. “So, it’s going to have a tremendous impact on the relatability of staff to students.”

During the 2022 fiscal year, Perris Union High District was identified as a “significantly disproportionate” local education agency (LEA) by the California Department of Education due to the large number of Hispanic students who missed more than 10 days of school. According to the department, LEAs identified as significantly disproportionate undergo trainings that provide schools with knowledge and technical skills to understand the problems and concerns in their schools, and identify actions to address disproportionality.

Perris Union High School District developed a plan to address the disparities in suspensions among Hispanic students and implemented alternative suspension programs that allowed students to stay on campus and access services instead of being sent home. Intervention services and

substance abuse services were also offered at school campuses across the district to support student needs.

“By removing these services to students — just thinking about the behaviorists and the substance abuse specialists — we’re going to see an increase of the fights on campus, altercations, as well as the violations of finding students with controlled substances,” McNair said.

Nelms, who identifies as Black and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, shared that the loss of wellness programs and support staff on campus will have a huge impact on vulnerable students.

“If they get rid of the wellness centers, the social workers will not be able to help these children who are in foster care who are on our campus, which is a smaller percentage, but we still matter and we still count,” Nelms said.

Although the board has ruled on eliminating dozens of positions, this isn’t the end, according to Nelms who shared that students and educators are going to continue to petition and reach out to different organizations to find grants.

According to McNair, all of the cuts to these positions were related to direct student services, which will have a big impact on students across the district.

“If there was something I could say to the board, I’d tell them that they were elected officials, and they made a promise when they became board members, and they have not been following through with that promise,” Nelms said. “We’ve seen it time and time again, and it’s just very disappointing.

National Urban League Unveils 2024 State of Black America Report: A Deep Dive into Complex Realities and Persistent Disparities

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “We are in a world of deep attack by an ideological extreme that wants to erase so much of the civil-rights movement,” said Maya Wiley, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and co-author of the study. Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Justice Department, assured, “We’ve been working across the country to reach underserved communities so that we understand the problems that communities face.”

By Stacy M. Brown

The National Urban League has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 State of Black America Report, a comprehensive benchmark and thought leadership document offering profound insights into racial equality in the United States.

Established in 1976 under the visionary leadership of the late Mr. Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the organization’s fifth president, the report remains a cornerstone for understanding the multifaceted challenges faced by Black Americans across crucial domains such as economics,

employment, education, health, housing, criminal justice, and civic participation. This year’s edition continues the tradition of featuring insightful commentary from influential figures in various sectors, providing a comprehensive view of the complexities of the current landscape. Economic empowerment is central to the National Urban League’s mission, and the Equality Index is a powerful tool to measure progress for Black Americans relative to whites.

SoCalGas Exceeds California’s Supplier Diversity Procurement Goal for 31st Consecutive Year, Purchasing Over 44% of all Goods and Services from Diverse Businesses in 2023

Over $1 billion spent with minority, women, disabled veteran, and/ or LGBT-owned businesses; nearly 87% of businesses based in California

LOS ANGELES (March 6, 2024) – Today, SoCalGas announced the company exceeded the 2023 California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) diverse spending goal* for a 31st consecutive year, purchasing over 44% of all goods and services from 618 diverse suppliers – enterprises owned by minorities, women, LGBT individuals, and disabled veterans, according to the company’s annual Supplier Diversity Report submitted recently to the CPUC. This achievement was reached through the company’s continuing efforts to help increase the pool of diverse suppliers through broad outreach and education.

“As SoCalGas advances its mission to build the cleanest, safest, most innovative energy infrastructure company in America, we are proud that our supplier network reflects the diversity of the customers we serve,” said Scott Drury, CEO of SoCalGas. “With so many diverse business enterprises in California, we are committed to expanding opportunity as we advance cleaner energy innovations. Our strong supplier diversity program increases competitiveness, enhances innovation, and supports our customers.”

“As the Department of Energy prepares to invest billions of dollars in the nation’s energy infrastructure, there is a monumental opportunity for minority businesses to engage in contracts and grants. SoCalGas serves as a leading example in its ongoing partnerships and commitment to fostering and encouraging diverse business enterprises to become eligible

SoCalGas Exceeds California’s Supplier Diversity

Procurement Goal for 31st Consecutive Year, Purchasing

Over 44% of all Goods and Services from Diverse Businesses in 2023...continued

2023 report highlights:

618 diverse suppliers worked with SoCalGas

86.9% of diverse business suppliers based in California

2,693 businesses received technical assistance

152 new diverse firms, totaling $54 million

$716 million Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) –exceeded CPUC’s 15% (about $347 million) minority business enterprise MBE goal for the 25th straight year

$229 million Women Business Enterprises (WBE) – surpassed CPUC’s goal 5% (about $116 million) for 36th consecutive year

$74 million Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) –up 34.5% from 2022

$277 million Diverse Subcontracting

"Our company has provided construction services since 1991, working on major projects throughout the state. As a proud Native American owned business and a certified Minority Business Enterprise, working with companies like SoCalGas allows us to continue expanding our projects and supporting infrastructure that directly impacts California residents," said Kirby Hays, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hal Hays Construction Inc.

"BuildOUT California, the LGBTQ+ community's first construction industry association, shares SoCalGas' mission to expand opportunities for diverse businesses throughout the state. By developing partnerships with small, diverse businesses, we uplift communities leading their industries," said Paul Pendergast, President of BuildOUT California.

suppliers of products and services, which resulted in 44% ($1.02 billion) of its annual spend with diverse suppliers last year. These dollars have a significant impact in helping small businesses grow and in job creation across diverse communities,” said Shalaya Morissette, Chief, Minority Business and Workforce Division, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Justice and Equity.

Over the last seven years, SoCalGas has spent nearly $6 billion with diverse business enterprises.

“With a record of surpassing the state’s supplier diversity goals for 31 consecutive years, SoCalGas has demonstrated a strong commitment to championing diverse businesses. While there is still more work to be done, their partnerships with diverse businesses, from momand-pop catering enterprises to construction firms, have created opportunities, jobs and a positive impact that is vital to California’s economy,” said Senator Steven Bradford.

A graphic of a supplier diversity highlights

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

"The Veterans in Business Network helps connect Veteran businesses with Corporations and Government Agencies for contracting opportunities, we also provide a variety of resources to support owners. We are so thankful that companies like SoCalGas provide us with opportunities that support our mission and uplift Veterans facing the challenges of owning a business," said Rebecca Aguilera-Gardiner, CEO of Veterans in Business Network.

SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy includes a goal of achieving 45% spending with diverse business enterprises by 2025. ASPIRE 2045 sets forth SoCalGas’ goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in the company’s operations and delivery of energy by 2045, as well as goals related to safety, DE&I in the workplace, and investment in underserved communities.

Many companies benefit from business development programs and services offered by SoCalGas’ supplier diversity team, such as:

SoCalGas’ Smaller Contractor Opportunity Realization Effort (SCORE) program helps prepare smaller diverse suppliers with revenues of under $5 million and less than 25 employees, to participate in SoCalGas procurement opportunities.

In 2023, SoCalGas’ expenditures with 107 SCORE suppliers were over $129 million.

Scholarships for 10 diverse business owners to attend the Management Development for Entrepreneurs Program at UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation each year. To learn more about SoCalGas’ supplier diversity programs, visit https://www.socalgas.com/foryour-business/supplier-diversity.

*California Public Utilities Commission Supplier Diversity Program, see General Order 156 https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ supplierdiversity/

President Biden Issues Stirring Call to Action in State of the Union Address...continued from page 1 subversion. Unlimited dark money. Extreme gerrymandering,” he said, squarely pointing the finger at Republicans. In honor of John Lewis and the heroes of the civil rights movement, the President fervently implored Congress, saying, “Pass and send me the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!”

President Biden condemned book banning in a forceful rebuke of actions that undermine core American values, stating, “And stop denying another core value of America our diversity across American life and banning books. It’s wrong! Instead of erasing history, let’s make history! I want to protect other fundamental rights!”

National Urban League Unveils 2024 State of Black America Report: A Deep Dive into Complex Realities and Persistent Disparities...continued

Attributing the mission’s core to economic empowerment, National Urban League President Marc Morial emphasized the nuanced progress revealed by the Equality Index. “Civic engagement and health show improvement among African Americans; however, significant work remains in the areas of economics and social justice,” Morial stated.

The Equality Index visually represents how Black Americans fare in economic status, health, education, social justice, and civic engagement compared to their white counterparts, utilizing whites as the benchmark due to historical advantages. The 2024 Equality Index for Black America stands at 75.7%, indicating that despite notable strides, African Americans still miss approximately 24% of the pie that symbolizes full equality.

Breaking down the Equality Index, categories include economics, health, education, social justice, and civic engagement. Each category is

carefully weighted based on its significance, and nationally representative statistics are employed to calculate subindices that capture the relative well-being of African Americans compared to whites. “Civic engagement and health are areas in which African Americans are doing much better,” Morial noted. “However, economics and social justice still need plenty of work.”

The report delves into the persistent racial income gap, which has remained virtually unchanged for over two decades. Black Americans earn, on average, 64% of the income of their white counterparts. “The Civil Rights Act of ‘64, the Voting Rights Act of ‘65, and the Great Society programs in the middle 1960s probably cut the American poverty rate in half in 15 years,” Morial remarked. Civic participation among Black Americans presents a mixed picture, with increased

Commentary: California Must Invest in Young Men of Color This Budget Season...continued from page 1 state. The two-year, $15 million grant allocated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the Student Success Coach Learning Network was instrumental in expanding our work with students, especially those needing more personalized support beyond regular school hours.

Now, this grant funding is set to expire, and it may not be renewed as California faces a budget deficit of billions of dollars.

To continue our vital work at its current level, we are asking the State of California to include funding for the California Student Success Coach Learning Network and other programs of this kind in its upcoming budget. We urge others who believe in the power of mentorship to join us in our call to action. This funding is not just about supporting our organization; it's about investing in the future of California education and ensuring that young men of color have the resources and guidance they need to succeed.

I recently received an email from Rogel Noel, one of our first IYT alumni. Rogel joined the program as a freshman at Valley High School in South Sacramento. When he started high school and joined IYT, he only spoke English for a few years. As an Afro-Latino male from the Dominican Republic, Rogel had tremendous obstacles to becoming a college graduate. Rogel was being raised by a phenomenal single mother who was working multiple jobs to provide for their family. But unfortunately, he lived in one of Sacramento’s most crime-rife neighborhoods, Valley Hi. Just walking to school was, at times, risking his life.

When Rogel joined IYT, he struggled in school but showed tremendous promise. He was paired with a mentor and started to attend our after-school study halls. A couple of times per year, he visited colleges across

the state. During his junior year in high school, he participated in IYT’s Capital Internship program and interned in the State Assembly. After a couple of semesters in IYT, Rogel became an honor roll student.

Last year, Rogel graduated from Sonoma State with a degree in Psychology, becoming the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university. Now working as a medical consultant, Rogel emailed me to request a letter of recommendation for graduate school to become a social worker!

Because Rogel was mentored and served through IYT, he wants to do the same for others.

The Student Success Coach Learning Network plays a pivotal role in our ability to serve our community effectively. This network connects organizations like ours with valuable resources, and it ensures that we can provide the highest quality mentorship and support to Sacramento's young men of color, helping them overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

We urge policymakers to prioritize funding for California’s Student Success Coach Learning Network and similar mentorship programs. We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for an investment in the future of our students. The community's future depends on the investments we make today in tomorrow’s leaders.

About the Author

Michael Lynch is Chief Executive Officer and CoFounder of Improve Your Tomorrow, Inc., a national nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California. Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) was founded in 2013 with the mission to increase the number of young men of color (YMOC) to attend and graduate from colleges and universities.

The National Urban League said it remains steadfast in its commitment to closing the racial gap. (Photo: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Urban League Marc H. Morial participate in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. (USDA photo by Tom Witham)

New California Campaign Aims to Improve Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Prevention and Detection

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched the Take on Alzheimer’s campaign in late February.

The awareness campaign is aimed toward educating all Californians about brain health, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, and ways to improve communication between patients’ loved ones and health care providers.

Over the next 20 years, the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dimensions (AD/ADRDs) on the State of California will increase dramatically, according to the CDPH. Longer life expectancies and the aging of the baby boomer generation will lead to an increase in the number and percentage of Californians who will be 65 years of age and older.

Since the primary risk factor for AD/ADRDs is older age, a significant increase is anticipated in the numbers of people who will be living with the disease.

“It’s critical to build dementia expertise into programs and services supporting our state’s increasingly diverse older adult

population, including family caregivers and our workforce,” said Susan DeMarois, Director of the California Department of Aging in a press release.

“Widespread prevention, screening and detection will enable more families to make important social, medical, financial, and personal decisions and we want our aging network to be well equipped to meet their needs.”

In 2019, approximately 660,000 Californians over 65 years of age lived with AD/ ADRDs, which accounted for roughly 11% of the disease’s prevalence across the United States (5.8 million people).

Between 2019 and 2040 a doubling in the number of Californians living with AD/ ADRDs is expected. This increase will affect all regions of the state across various demographic groups.

Women are especially impacted by the disease, making up nearly two-thirds of diagnosed Americans. Other groups disproportionately impacted include older Black Americans,

The Social Lites Annual Beautillion is Set for March 30...continued from page 2

Bernardino.

“College-bound 11th and 12th-grade students who are enrolled in the Beautillion Knights program participate in a five-month extracurricular program. During that time, they gain practical knowledge and experience that grounds them with lifelong foundations that benefit their academic and career success,” said Social Lites spokesperson Marlene Davis.

Subjects include leadership development, life skills, and health education. Mentor-tutors work with young men to develop their talents and skills, exposing them to real-world experiences that give them insights into how to solve problems and prepare themselves for success as career professionals, entrepreneurs, and productive citizens.

“The program guides young men to ensure that our youth are college-bound and equipped to succeed in life and to realize their full potential as young men, career professionals, entrepreneurs, and productive

UAB Shares What Millennials and Generation Z Need to Know About Colon Cancer

By Brianna Hoge | UAB News

who are twice as likely to develop the disease. In the next 20 years, the number of people living with AD/ADRDs is projected to triple, growing to 91,071 people.

Latinos are one-and-a-half times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than White older adults.

Additional CDPH estimates indicate that between 2019 and 2040:

California’s population will grow by 16%, while the population of people living with AD/ADRDs will expand by 127%;

• The number of Californians over 75 years of age living with AD/ADRDs will more than double, growing to over 1.3 million.

• The number of Californians between 55 and 74 years of age living with AD/ADRDs will increase 26%, growing to 194,975 people.

• The number of people living with AD/ADRDs in California’s fifteen most populous counties (those with a population of 700,000 or more) will at least double.

• The number of Californians living with AD/ADRDs will increase by 11% for women, growing to 917,482 people; and increase by 8% for men, growing to 609,197 people.

• The number of people living with AD/ADRDs more than double for Californians who identify as Asian American/ Pacific Islander, growing to 241,106 people.

outstanding citizens,” said Davis.

“The Social Lites organize weekly training sessions for their Knights and Court, which feature guest speakers who provide education on various important topics such as public speaking, dressing for success, resume writing, college applications and business skills. The program also encourages Knights to participate in extracurricular academic activities, attend cultural events, engage in community service projects and refine their social skills,” said Davis.

“To date, we have given out approximately $4.5 million in scholarships to more than 500 college-bound local young men. We have seen young men transformed into responsible adults through our program over the years. We encourage you to come meet with us at our weekly meetings held every Sunday in downtown San Bernardino,” said Davis.

For more information, call Marlene Davis at (909) 7095502.

Empowering Women: Championing Reproductive Justice for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Amidst Abortion Bans and Black Maternal Mortality

By Sylvia Ghazarian

As we celebrate Women's History Month focused this year on “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” we pay tribute to the remarkable and courageous women who have tirelessly advocated for equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets of society. Among these champions are those who have dedicated their efforts to advancing reproductive justice,

recognizing its pivotal role in achieving genuine equality and empowerment for women. At the forefront of this movement stand abortion funds such as the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), whose work epitomizes the intersectionality of reproductive justice with broader struggles for social justice.

The Take on Alzheimer’s Campaign aims to reach these disproportionally impacted communities through multilingual and multicultural advertising, partnerships with community-based organizations and engaging trusted ethnic media journalists. The campaign also plans to educate these communities about brain health, the signs of aging, and ADRD symptoms to make a positive impact on them and their loved ones by promoting brain health and benefiting from early detection and diagnosis.

“This campaign will empower our diverse communities to support brain health, better understand and the difference between signs of aging and symptoms of dementia and encourage individuals to have important conversations with their loved ones and health care providers,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, Dr. Tomás J. Aragón in a release.

The campaign also believes starting honest and empathetic conversations with friends, loved ones or a healthcare provider can be critical to improving outcomes and combating fear and stigma associated with AD/ADRDs.

Based on population-level evidence, the sex health conditions and behaviors that increase risk for cognitive decline and AD are midlife hypertension (age 45-64), physical inactivity, midlife obesity (age 45-64), diabetes, smoking (age 45 and older) and poor sleep (less than six hours a night). Visit TakeonALZ.com to learn ways people can help reduce their risk and take charge of their brain health before or after an AD/ADRD diagnosis.

Empowering Women: Championing Reproductive Justice for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Amidst Abortion Bans and Black Maternal Mortality...continued

Equity in reproductive justice entails ensuring that all individuals have the resources, support, and autonomy to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or other identities. Unfortunately, systemic inequalities often deprive marginalized communities of access to essential reproductive healthcare services, perpetuating cycles of oppression and injustice.

Amidst the onslaught of abortion bans sweeping across various states, particularly impacting marginalized communities, abortion funds like WRRAP that provide unwavering commitment and financial assistance for emergency contraception and abortion services becomes even more critical. These bans disproportionately affect low-income individuals and people of color, exacerbating existing disparities in access to reproductive healthcare and perpetuating harmful narratives that undermine bodily autonomy.

Diversity within the realm of reproductive justice acknowledges the unique experiences and needs of individuals from various backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, recognizing that factors such as race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability intersect to shape individuals' reproductive experiences and access to care. In the context of black maternal mortality rates, which are shockingly higher compared to their white counterparts, inclusive advocacy efforts must center the voices and experiences of black women. Systemic racism within the healthcare system contributes significantly to this disparity, with black women facing discrimination, lack of access

With an estimated 53,000 deaths from colon cancer in 2024, one University of Alabama at Birmingham physician explains what people in their 20s and 30s need to know about risk factors and warning signs of the disease.

(Adobe Stock)

Individuals in their 20s and 30s should be aware of the warning signs of colon cancer to know when to seek medical attention. When most people think about colon cancer, they associate the disease with older populations. However, the American Cancer Society reports that one in every five colon cancer diagnoses in 2019 was in someone younger than 55 years old. This is an increase of 9 percent since 1995.

With an estimated 53,000 deaths from colon cancer in 2024, one University of Alabama at Birmingham physician explains what people in their 20s and 30s need to know about risk factors and warning signs of the disease.

Risk factors

Drew Gunnells, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, emphasizes that the biggest concern of colorectal cancer is a strong family history. He recommends seeking out family members and discussing their medical history as this may change the window of screening time.

to quality care, and bias during pregnancy and childbirth. Holistic approaches to reproductive justice, like WRAPP’s, reflect this commitment to diversity by advocating for policies and services that address the specific needs and challenges faced by communities of color, including initiatives to reduce black maternal mortality rates and improve access to prenatal and postpartum care.

Inclusion lies at the heart of reproductive justice, emphasizing the importance of creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to participate fully in decision-making processes. Achieving genuine inclusion requires dismantling systemic barriers and challenging oppressive norms that marginalize certain groups within society. Women with disabilities, for example, often encounter inaccessible healthcare facilities and discriminatory attitudes that undermine their autonomy. In the face of such challenges, it is critical to promote inclusion by advocating for accessible and culturally competent reproductive healthcare services, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their ability, feel welcomed and supported in exercising their reproductive rights.

The intersectionality of equity, diversity, and inclusion in reproductive justice underscores the interconnected nature of social justice struggles. Women's reproductive experiences cannot be divorced from broader systems of power and oppression, which intersect along multiple axes of identity. Recognizing and addressing these intersecting inequalities is essential for building a more just

“Genetics plays a significant role in colorectal cancer, and if you have an immediate family member with colorectal cancer, then you will need to relay this information to your medical providers to start screening earlier,” Gunnells said.

While one may not be able to change their genetics, Gunnells, who is also a member of the gastrointestinal cancer team at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, says small modifications can be made to a daily routine to help lower one’s risk of getting colon cancer.

“Drinking, smoking, eating highly processed foods and meat, and high sugar diets are going to increase your risk factors,” Gunnells said. “That’s not to say that you should not eat anything with sugar or that is highly processed, but be mindful of the amount you are consuming.”

Another way an individual can lower their risk is to incorporate physical activity into their dayto-day routine. This can include: taking the stairs instead of the elevator parking toward the back of a parking lot stretching while watching television

Recently, one UAB researcher found that music can have a positive or negative impact on athletic performance during exercise. Learn more about how to select the right workout playlist, here.

Warning signs

Red flags for individuals in their 20s and 30s are bowel habits, abdominal pain or bloating, weight loss, fatigue, or change in appetite. But, no matter one’s age, Gunnells stresses that blood in the stool and rectal bleeding are never normal.

“Many times, it is not cancer and is likely something minor, like hemorrhoids; but it is something that needs to be evaluated,” Gunnells said.

A primary care provider is central to obtaining necessary screenings and discussing additional risks for colorectal cancer.

Free Online Training for California Home Health Workers Ending

Soon...continued from page 2

society in the United States. Through this training we not only improved our professional skills, but learned how to integrate into this society.”

The courses are offered in nine languages: English, Spanish, Armenian, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Russian and Vietnamese. Topics include Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, cultural diversity, food safety, infection control and selfcare for caregivers, but there are many, many more.

Caregivers can sign up for the program online at calgrows.org, by phone at (888) 991-7234 or by email at help@calgrows.org.

“There’s a course out there that can fit anyone’s schedule,” Polk said. They range from short, quarter- or half-hour one-time brush-ups to longer ones that can be completed online, with pauses as needed, to others that are considerably longer. “It’s really just dependent on how much time the student has.”

While the program remains available, one panelist, retired journalist Joe Rodriguez, said he’s signing up right away.

He’s currently caring for his sister, who devoted herself to their parents’ needs while

Rodriguez was working for the San Jose Mercury News.

He’s single and his sister, who has no other family, can no longer walk, bathe or cook, and needs help getting almost anywhere, sometimes even at home.

“We’re going to be living together for a long time,” he said. “Her needs are going to be getting more profound. It’s quite scary.”

Years ago, Rodriguez said he wrote a column about his sister’s struggles taking care of their parents, and how she deserved a respite.

“I never got so much hate mail,” he recalled, more than for anything else he’d written, from people insisting elder care was a duty. “It’s going to be a tough haul to improve things, just as it’s going to be a tough haul for me personally.”

The CalGrows program in its current state will end at the end of August, due to the rules that came with the federal dollars that support it.

Polk and others expressed hope that somehow the educational opportunities will remain in place, even if the stipend funding dries up, but this remains to be seen.

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Statement By Nareb President Courtney Johnson Rose Honoring HUD Secretary

Marcia Fudge Upon Her Retirement

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) is honored to have worked with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge on a mission to expand affordable housing, increase homeownership for people of color, and reduce homelessness in America. NAREB congratulates Secretary Fudge on her retirement, recognizing that she will continue to embrace these goals as she writes her next chapter in an extraordinary public service career.

As a champion of racial equity, Secretary Fudge has tirelessly advocated policies to eliminate systemic housing discrimination and reduce the racial wealth gap, a cause also championed by NAREB. I personally thank Secretary Fudge on behalf of the NAREB and the millions of Americans her efforts have impacted. During her tenure, she helped more than two million families stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure, removed barriers for people with student loan debt trying to buy a home with an FHA mortgage, and ensured that positive rental history plays a more significant role in determining creditworthiness when trying to obtain a home loan. These efforts embody the Realtist creed and mission of NAREB’s Democracy in Housing and will help NAREB increase Black homeownership. Secretary Fudge has repeatedly committed to making the American dream of homeownership a reality for all citizens.

Further, she played a pivotal role in increasing the HUD budget, allowing more lowincome families to access housing vouchers and reduce homelessness. Secretary Fudge has also prioritized revitalizing public housing infrastructure, ensuring residents live in safe and healthy environments. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing fair housing laws and policies, reinforcing HUD's commitment to building inclusive communities free from

discrimination. Under her guidance, HUD has also intensified its focus on disaster resilience and recovery efforts. Realizing the threats posed by climate change, especially in communities of color, Secretary Fudge initiated programs to make housing infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters. She provided grants to rehab houses damaged by natural events and implemented more rigid building codes to withstand extreme weather conditions. She prioritized the need to prepare communities for the challenges of climate change, demonstrating her holistic approach to housing and urban development.

Specifically, she established a Task Force on Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing, which identifies and eliminates barriers that hinder affordable housing development across the country. It addresses zoning laws, land use regulations, and other policies that may contribute to the high cost of housing. She also prioritized increasing resources for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, which supports organizations that work to combat discrimination in housing. Further, Secretary Fudge supported the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule that requires local governments to address segregation and unequal access to opportunity in their housing policies.

NAREB is incredibly proud of our partnership with HUD to prevent appraisal bias. Under Secretary Fudge’s leadership, the partnership has commissioned training opportunities for housing counselors to understand appraisal bias in home property valuation; held roundtable discussions on appraisal bias at regional HUD Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) meetings around the country; NAREB, and other industry stakeholders, assist OHC in developing and distributing educational materials to combat appraisal bias; the National Fair Housing Training Academy partners with NAREB to train its Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) participants on preventing appraisal bias.

As a Cleveland area member of Congress from November 2008 to March 2021, Secretary Fudge set high standards and committed to ensuring that every American from all walks of life has opportunities to succeed. She continued that path at HUD, where her initiatives are changing America. Our nation is a better place because of her service.

National Urban League Unveils 2024 State of Black America Report: A Deep Dive into Complex Realities and Persistent Disparities...continued from page 3 voter registration (69% in 2020) but a decline in actual voter turnout (42.3% in 2022).

Assessing President Joe Biden’s performance, the report acknowledges achievements such as a record-low Black unemployment rate and efforts to expand healthcare access and affordable housing for Black Americans. However, it points to political opposition hindering the enactment of key policies, including voting rights and policing reform.

“We are in a world of deep attack by an ideological extreme that wants to erase so much of the civil-rights movement,” said Maya Wiley, President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and co-author of the study. Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Justice Department, assured, “We’ve been working across the country to reach underserved communities so that we understand the problems that

Thursday, March

communities face.”

Despite those challenges, the National Urban League said it remains steadfast in its commitment to closing the racial gap. Morial urged accelerated action, emphasizing unrestricted voting access, economic reforms to address poverty and wealth disparities, and crucial support for children, such as the expired child tax credit that significantly reduced child poverty rates.

He asserted that the 2024 State of Black America Report serves as a comprehensive call to action, urging the nation to confront systemic challenges hindering Black Americans’ journey toward genuine equality.

“What’s dramatic is that the Civil Rights Act of ‘64, the Voting Rights Act of ‘65, the Great Society programs in the middle 1960s, probably cut the American poverty rate in half in a 15-year period,” Morial said. “So, can we? Yes, there are ways.”

AVISO-LAS ORDENES DE RESTRICCION SE ENCUENTRAN EN LA PAGINA 2: Las ordenes de restriccion estan en vigencia en cuanto a ambos conyuges o miembros de la pareja de hecho hasta que se despida la peticion, se emita un fallo o la corte de otras ordenes. Cualquier agencia del orden publico que haya recibido o vista una copia de estas ordenes puede hacerlas

Courtney Johnson Rose

OP-ED: Congress Is Right: Federal Reserve’s Reg II Will Hurt Minority Communities in America

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Fed is taking every effort to promote income equality and workplace diversity and inclusion, but Regulation II would undercut its great work in this respect and cause potential harm to millions of minority families. Now that a congressional coalition has drawn the Fed’s attention to this concern, the central bank should respond by taking a closer, harder look at its Regulation II proposal. It is the only right and just thing to do.

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

The Federal Reserve now estimates that six million Americans are “unbanked,” and many more are “underbanked ” — meaning they must use alternative financial products like check cashing services instead of traditional checking and savings accounts to make ends meet. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

I am pleased to congratulate Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) who led a coalition of lawmakers who wrote to the Federal Reserve urging the central bank to withdraw Regulation II — its new proposal to reduce the cap on the debit card swipe fees merchants must pay to debit card processors — out of concern that it will hurt minority communities’ credit access.

I sympathize with the feelings of these congressional members. Having dedicated my life to advancing civil rights and promoting economic advancement for African Americans, I fear that this proposal, while well-intentioned, will create regressive outcomes that will ultimately hurt the very people it is intended to help.

While lowering the current cap on debit card swipe fees may appear like a reasonable measure to take in what has proven to be a lackluster economy for many merchants, my experiences — from coordinating youth activities

with Rev. Martin Luther King to serving on the national board of directors for the NAACP — have underscored the importance of scrutinizing policies for their broader implications. When doing so with Regulation II, I — like the congressional coalition — concluded that lowering the swipe fees would hurt the same small financial institutions that minority communities depend on for credit access, which would thus widen the nationwide racial wealth gap and banking disparities.

Economic history tells this story well.

While reluctant to do so at the time, the Federal Reserve first limited swipe fees on debit card transactions on 2011. Studies, including one from the Richmond Federal Reserve, indicate that most retailers did not pass their savings onto consumers — a significant portion even raised prices. Meanwhile, as Main Street continues to struggle with the policy, Federal Reserve

Empowering Women: Championing Reproductive Justice for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Amidst Abortion Bans and Black Maternal Mortality...continued from page 4 and equitable society where all individuals can thrive. Women who advocate for reproductive justice embody this intersectional approach, leveraging their diverse backgrounds and experiences to challenge systemic injustices and advance the rights of marginalized communities.

As we celebrate Women's History Month and honor the women who advocate for

equity, diversity, and inclusion, let us reaffirm our commitment to reproductive justice as a fundamental human right. By supporting organizations like WRRAP and amplifying the voices of those most impacted by reproductive inequalities, we can create a future where every individual has the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies, families, and futures.

What’s Leading Women to the Polls?

By Selen Ozturk

As women head to the polls this fall, abuse in office, domestic workers’ rights, reproductive rights and gun control are forefront concerns.

As women voters head to the polls this fall, domestic workers’ rights, reproductive rights, gun control and violence against officeholder and election official women are forefront concerns.

Abuse in office

This violence is a pervasive threat for those on the ballots — and a national Brennan Center for Justice report found that abuse of local elected officials and election workers disproportionately impacts women.

Among over 350 state legislators surveyed, over 40% had experienced threats or attacks in the past several years, while

nearly 20% of local officeholders had. Furthermore, 8% of state legislators said they were explicitly intimidated by a member of the public carrying a weapon — which is allowed in legislative chambers in many states. “When you take into account less severe forms of abuse, like harassment, assaults, and stalking, almost 90% of state legislators and over half of local officeholders had experienced some form of abuse,” said Maya Kornberg, research fellow on the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center at a Friday, March 8 Ethnic Media Services briefing on issues guiding women at the polls.

Maya Kornberg, Research Fellow on the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, explains the impact violence and threats of violence have on

studies have found that large corporations have reaped nearly $8 billion annually since this rule was enacted.

Although large corporations benefited from not having to pay as much in swipe fees, this price control hit the small financial institutions that had to subsidize this giveaway for them hard. It gave many of them no choice but to reduce fee-free checking from 75 percent to 40 percent.

The Federal Reserve now estimates that six million Americans are “unbanked,” and many more are “underbanked ” — meaning they must use alternative financial products like check cashing services instead of traditional checking and savings accounts to make ends meet. The debit card cap has contributed significantly to this crisis.

Many financial institutions have also raised customer fees in response to interchange fee caps, with Rule II poised to intensify these challenges. Regulation II

will increase them even further.

According to Nick Bourke, former Director of Consumer Finance at The Pew Charitable Trusts, it may bring up to $2 billion in additional consumer costs. This escalation of fees threatens to sideline even more minority communities from the banking system, impeding their access to essential credit services required for entrepreneurship and homeownership.

The Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve are committed to advancing racial equity. By proposing Regulation II — are not intentionally doing the bidding of large corporations; however, they may be being misled by these companies’ advocacy efforts.

The Fed is taking every effort to promote income equality and workplace diversity and inclusion, but Regulation II would undercut its great work in this respect and cause potential harm to millions of minority families. Now that a congressional coalition has drawn the Fed’s attention to this concern, the central bank should respond by taking a closer, harder look at its Regulation II proposal. It is the only right and just thing to do.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., an African American civil rights leader, is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

He is a former Executive Director and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and a former NC statewide youth assistant to Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

What’s Leading Women to the Polls?...continued

political leadership and ultimately our democracy.

Women and people of color not only experienced more abuse than their male and white counterparts, but different kinds.

“They were likely to tell us that they were subjected to identitybased abusive language about their children and their families, romantic life, appearance, age, race or gender,” continued Kornberg. “Women serving in state legislatures were nearly four times as likely as men to experience abuse of a sexual nature.”

“This is not only a threat to the safety of our officeholders, but also to our democracy,” she said. 40% of local and 20% of state officeholders said this abuse made them “more reluctant to engage with their constituents, either online or in public … Half of women in local office said it was deterring them from running for reelection.”

The threat extends behind the polls, as a previous Brennan Center report found that one in three U.S. election officials — of which over

Seventeen Dollars and Seventy-Four Cents...

continued around central Virginia in hot, tactile humidity.

My mom somehow made possible this character-building foray into hard, rewarding labor. I was fifteen. I still laugh wondering what the adults on our crews must have thought. Here I was, my spindly (but determined!) frame making $7+ an hour alongside hardened men as we cultivated and completed projects on pricey estates. I remember how cool and insufficient I felt, the ribald humor and the sweat, the satisfaction of transforming landscapes.

How was your first wagepaying job? What lessons, values, and red flags did that experience instill in you? How do those things impact your worldview now . . . Oh! My timer just went off.

Since I began writing, I made about $17.74. Not bad for a handful of paragraphs, though a chunk was cut from this final version.

$17.74 is also the amount donated to relief efforts in Gaza by a man named Hamza last November. I don’t need to tell you that amount is not large, but $17.74 was all of Hamza’s savings.

Moreover, Hamza worked 136 hours of hard labor to accrue those funds: 13 cents/hour. That’s because Hamza is incarcerated in a California state prison, where he’s been for 40 years. He was 16 when he was jailed, barely older than me at that first landscaping job.

Is my or your work worth more than Hamza’s? I believe the answer is no. And when we turn to the Jesus we claim manifests God’s dream for humanity, we learn that not only is Hamza’s personhood and work equal to ours, but his sacrificial compassion is worth more.

Many of you know that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery. Some of you will know, however, that the law, ratified in 1865, includes “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” In other words, our country never fully banned

80% are women — were being harassed, threatened or abused because of their job.

To curb this abuse, Kornberg recommended extending to the state level already-existent federal measures like campaign security, officeholder training and mental health support, gun regulations where officeholders and officials interact with the public, and systematically collected abuse data.

Reproductive rights

Another issue ever-more urgent to women’s concerns is reproductive rights, especially since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the constitutional right to abortion.

“Reproductive justice includes the human right to have the children that we want; raise our children in safe communities; to be able to prevent or have pregnancies without shame and with dignity;

continued on page 8

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1194

Seventeen Dollars and Seventy-Four Cents

Seth Wispelwey

[Jesus] said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them, for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:3–4 (NRSV)

Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. – James 5:4 (NRSV)

I’ve set a timer as I sit down to write the first draft of this piece…

Do you remember your first paying job? I mean the one with hourly wage, taxes withheld, and a timecard to punch. Many of us will remember this big personal step into the “real world.” My first “real” job was the summer after ninth grade. I worked for a high-end landscaper, beautifying primarily upper-class properties

slavery. And all of us are “beneficiaries” of this modern-day slavery.

As was recently reported, “hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of agricultural products” come from incarcerated labor, sold by “some of the world’s largest food companies and most popular brands.” Mega-grocer Kroger continues to have (noncarceral) forced labor slavery exposed in its supply chain. Not coincidentally, Kroger is one of the last major holdouts from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program, a proven slavery-eradication initiative the UCC has supported for decades.

Finally, there’s the target of Hamza’s imprisoned compassion: our tax-funded slaughter of Palestinians in what human rights experts defined as an open-air prison even before the current genocide in Gaza.

Do you have $17.74?

Probably! But literally shutting down business-as-usual is the starting point for people of faith and conscience not bound by prison walls.

To acknowledge and name these things is to discomfort and implicate. To admit we are participants in these truths is to compel response. So, we often choose silence to maintain a veneer of fabricated comfort. But silence is denial, and denial enables these evils. In the strong name of Jesus, let us unequivocally refuse to be “beneficiaries” any longer. We don’t have to live like this. A transformed world is possible. God is crying out for willing landscapers.

And be uplifted! Hamza will be released from prison at the end of this month, thanks to a new California law that grants parole opportunities to minors charged as adults. Justin Mashouf, a filmmaker who works with inmates, has known Hamza for 15 years and shared news of his donation. When news of Hamza’s generosity spread, Mashouf set up a GoFundMe to help ease his friend’s transition back into the “real world.” It raised over $100,000.

“End-Time Bible Prophecy!”

By Lou K. Coleman Lou K. Coleman

What has already happened, what continues to unfold, and what is yet to come.

One world government, one world religion, one world economy, [Daniel 2, Daniel 7, Revelation 17, 18, 13:11-18].

Confirming of a 7-year peace agreement with many [Daniel 9:27]. Intoxicating obsession with dividing Jerusalem [Zechariah 12:1-3]. Global cry for peace and security. [1 Thessalonians 5:3]. Increase of lawlessness. [2 Thessalonians 2:1-12]. Increase of wickedness [Genesis 6:6; Luke 17:26-29]. Massive earthquakes increasing in frequency and intensity. [Matthew 24:4-8; Luke 21:10-11]. Allied Invasion of Israel, led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey, [Ezekiel 38-39]. Sudden destruction of Damascus Syria. [Isaiah 17:1, Jeremiah 49: 2327]. Mocking of Bible prophecy and the Lord’s return. [2 Peter 3]. What has already happened, what continues to unfold.

What is yet to come?

Confirmation of the Covenant. When the Antichrist and his world government system confirm

Israel’s right to a homeland in the Middle East from that day, the day that it actually happens, the day that they decide on a plan and implement it and make it stick, where the borders of Israel are drawn and the Temple Mount is shared, and they sign a treaty, there will only be 7 years remaining until the Battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ! What has already happened, what continues to unfold, and what is yet to come.

Watch for increasing demand for international intervention and control over Jerusalem. Watch for the forming of what the Bible calls “the King of the South” arising in the Middle East and Northeastern Africa. Watch Europe—especially Germany. Watch for animal sacrifices to begin in Jerusalem. Watch for a charismatic miracleworking religious leader to rise up in Europe. End Time Bible Prophecy!

Three angels give a last warning to the inhabitants of the earth. The hour of judgment is come. Babylon makes all nations drink of the wrath of her fornication. Those who take the mark and worship the beast shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. This isn't a physical hour of time, it's a figurative statement that a period of time has come. It's the time just before the wrath of God.

EdChoice Empowers Families to Choose the Best Schooling Environment

NNPA NEWSWIRE — On the first day of the conference, Emory Edwards, EdChoice’s Vice President of Outreach, asked the influencers, who had backgrounds in journalism, media, and education, and most of whom were parents, “What can we do to truly support our black kids and cultivate community?”

By Dawn Montgomery Black Press USA Contributor

Austin, TX — Last week, I was one of 10 Black influencers who arrived here ready to discuss the future of education for young people during the Southwest (SXSW) Education Conference.

EdChoice, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to understanding and advocating for a K–12 education system that empowers all families to choose the schooling environment that best fits their children’s needs, organized the gathering at the Thompson Hotel. The hospitality was top-notch.

EdChoice’s Vice President of Outreach Emory Edwards, asked the influencers who had backgrounds in journalism, media, and education, and most of whom were parents, “What can we do to truly support our black kids and cultivate community?”

A few participants shared their educational backgrounds and explained how education started in their homes. This icebreaker

exercise underscored how each person would add value to this layered topic. It was great to hear the range of experiences while everyone held space for others who may not have experienced the same thing in their homes. We were all moms, fathers, or professional aunties finding ways to cultivate community through shared content. It took the group only a short time to understand their value in this room.

There’s value in sharing your experiences with other people and there’s value in being someone who can help amplify or produce these stories. This fight to keep our books in school libraries, remove police and school resource officers from schools, and save Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education while challenging the school choice narrative is pivotal. Advocating for school choice is often perceived as a “Republican

thing,” but after hearing Edwards explain EdChoice’s mission, that mindset shifts instantly.

Many Americans are proschool choice, but are afraid to admit it because of how the Left has weaponized it. Parents need to have the right to choose which school their child attends. There’s power in knowing that a parent has that right. While the SXSW Conference is best known for its interactive sessions and “hip” music festivals, SXSWEDU should also be on your radar. The gathering of educators, businesses, policymakers, community members, thoughtleaders, experts, and influencers shows a vast range of topics that can happen here. However, there’s still room for it to grow. EdChoice’s staff shared how they realized years ago how programming kept the few Black & Brown attendees from supporting each other, so they networked among those attendees to change this.

Several organizations at SXSW are collaborating this year to create, promote, and fund educational programs that center on Black and Brown voices. Understanding that Black educators are overlooked and unrepresented in school choice conversations is crucial. EdChoice invited Black influencers in education to attend this conference to create impactful discussions. With that intention, you know

this experience will shift the narrative.

EdChoice polls thousands of parents nationwide to understand how they feel about the schools their children attend. School districts and legislators should acknowledge parent preferences so that they know how their community feels and what they need. Legislators could create more inclusive bills and discover ways to spread resources across their state if they considered parents’ concerns. Some legislators think they know better or do not care about parents’ preferences.

Finding ways to have conversations across party lines and connect with people wherever they are on their educational journey is essential to EdChoice. Everyone who participated in the discussion was Black and shared similar educational journey stories; however, you could still hear differences in how they approach and view our school systems today.

EdChoice is doing what most organizations fail to do: creating space for Black and Brown perspectives on education. I hope EdChoice will continue to engage Black educators in discussions like this at future SXSW Conferences so that we can do our part to save American school systems that fail our children.

Victorville Truck Driver Receives Goodyear Highway Hero Award

Reaching out with a hometown hero story about a commercial truck driver who went above and beyond to keep others out of harm’s way: Elijah Ramos of Victorville, CA.

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company recognized Elijah as a grand prize winner of its Highway Hero Award for his heroic story:

Elijah Ramos, a driver for Ryder System, Inc., from Victorville, California, was named a winner of this year’s Goodyear Highway Hero award. As he drove through a remote desert area, Ramos witnessed a crash and sprang into action, assessing the situation and comforting an injured woman until help arrived.

Last September, Elijah Ramos, a driver for Ryder Transportation, was on an early morning route through a stretch of sparsely populated and remote desert when a vehicle suddenly lost control in front of him. The car crossed two lanes of traffic, a median and two more lanes of traffic before crashing into a field. Elijah pulled over, rushed across the highway on foot and helped the individual inside until first responders could arrive. Once the driver was safe, Elijah went back to work and finished his route.

· Reflecting on the event, Ramos said, “Since it was such a remote area, it could have been a long time until help arrived. I was glad to be there when it happened and to call for help quickly.”

What’s Leading Women to the Polls?...continued

from page 7

and our human right to make our own decisions about our bodies, our families and our futures,” said Monica Simpson, executive director at Sister Song.

Monica Simpson, Executive Director, Sister Song, explains how the attacks on reproductive rights impact black women more severely.

Increasing U.S. abortion bans after the Dobbs decision have worsened “a maternal health crisis in this country,” she continued.

“Even having the legal right to something does not grant access. Before Dobbs, we had areas or states like Mississippi that only had one abortion clinic, and the Hyde Amendment” banning federal funding through Medicaid to cover almost all abortions.

In the first half of 2023, nearly one in five patients were traveling out of state for abortion care, compared with one in 10 in 2020.

“This is a crisis worsened by additional barriers like contraception deserts, inequitable access to sex education, law enforcement brutality, and preventing Medicaid expansion in states with abortion bans,” said Simpson.

To chart a way forward is to reduce the stigma around abortion, and to do so “we have to be willing to say the word abortion,” she continued. At last week’s State of the Union, “the President could not even say it — though he said the fight would continue in his leadership. We have to not think that this is a bad word. Abortion care is health care, and all that’s on the table for us across our reproductive lives.”

Domestic work

“In the U.S. every day, 10,000 children are born and approximately 10,000 people turn 65. We’re living longer than ever before, and so we need more care than ever,” said Ai-Jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. “Yet, we don’t have a national affordable child care program, a federal paid family and medical leave program or a long-term care benefit.”

Ai-Jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, discusses the dire need for care workers in the United States, and our over-reliance on women to fill gap.

“What we have is 53 million overstretched family caregivers who are mostly women, and over 7 million care workers who are underpaid and are overwhelmingly women — about 90% women, and mostly women of color,” she continued. The median annual income for a U.S. homecare worker is $23,000 per year. “It’s hard to picture supporting yourself and raising a family in this country on poverty wages without benefits, health insurance, child care and paid time off, which is why expanded care access is so urgent,” Poo said. “The 11 million women in the U.S. who are in the generation sandwiched between caring for young children and caring for aging parents are

especially feeling the brunt of this.”

“These are jobs that can’t be automated or outsourced, at least anytime soon; they’ll be a large share of jobs in the future,” she added. “The pandemic exposed our epidemic of low-wage work — how women struggling to make ends meet are essential workers for our health and society. Now, we need to value them as essential.”

Gun control

The national epidemic of gun violence, too, is motivating women to vote for a safer future.

“In America, there’s a gun for every man, woman, child and dog. There are more guns than people and more gun dealers than all Starbucks and McDonald’s combined,” said Shikha Hamilton, Vice President of Organizing at Brady. “It’s not a mental health or domestic violence issue. The problem is easy access.”

In California in the past 30 years, for example, legislation restricting this access has reduced gun death by 50%. If the rest of the country would follow, 19,000 lives would be saved.

Shikha Hamilton, Vice President of Organizing at Brady, says the Million Mom March, one of the largest protests on guns, illustrates the enormous impact women can have on politics and legislation.

In 2000, Brady first held a Million Mom March — the largest gun protest at the National Mall in U.S. history at the time, with over 750,000 people there and thousands more nationwide in 78 cities calling for an end to gun violence.

The impact was nearly immediate, said Hamilton: “stalled gun safety legislation sailed through state houses that November including a referendum to close the gun show loophole, organizers led thousands on another march to the polls, and NRA stalwarts were voted out of Congress in 2000 in two states.”

“Our calls for change more recently have led to the passage of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the creation of the nation’s first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention — which was led by a woman, Vice President Kamala Harris,” she continued. Despite partisan rhetoric, this issue “unites women across the aisle.”

90% of all Americans in 2019, for instance, supported background checks on all gun sales.

A historical record 48,830 gun deaths in 2021 reflected a 23% rise since then, while gun deaths among children and teens rose 50% in those two years — from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021.

“Women continue to lead this movement because we’re horrified to see what this epidemic is doing to us and our children,” Hamilton added. “Women from all walks of life will continue to fight this epidemic until we have created a safer future for the next generation by freeing America from gun violence.”

EdChoice