SB American News Week Ending 3/22

Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount

—Fredrick Douglass (1849)

Damaging

Storms and Power Outages:

injustice

whom they

wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits

California

Prepares for More Severe Weather

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is asking all residents across the state to prepare for another round of severe weather systems and potential power outages this week.

In a public information campaign driven by Listos California, a program of Cal OES, safety checklists and other resources are being shared with all Californians.

Diana Crofts-Pelayo, Cal

OES Assistant Director of Crisis

Communication and Public Affairs said during a March 13 briefing that the state is offering “life-saving resources” and providing an update on the states’ “comprehensive effort to protect California communities during these rounds of storms.”

“Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated the State’s Operation Center, which is essentially the full weight of the State,” CroftsPelayo said. “The state has to be able to have tightly coordinated

responses and rapidly deploy resources to protect impacted communities.”

Cal OES is reporting that so far this year California has experienced multiple large and damaging storms in the form of snow, gusty winds, lightning and torrential rain. It is warning that storms continue to be dynamic and pose a threat to communities throughout the state.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated the State Operations Center to bring state support to county-led emergency response efforts and coordinate mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions.

To elevate the state’s response, Newsom has declared a state of emergency in 40 counties: Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo,

San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yuba, Calaveras, Del Norte, Glenn, Kings, San Benito and San Joaquin counties have been warned that disaster may occur.

According to Crofts-Pelayo, the impact of the “extreme weather has been significant.” There are 33 shelters opened in 14 counties, about 15,800 people are under evacuation and 6,800 people in 16 counties are without power.

“Our climate is changing and at the end of the day the hots are getting hotter, the wets are wetter, and the dry dryer,” Crofts-Pelayo

said. “So, with that we are having to rapidly evolve our response and preparedness messaging to really fit a whole host of different communities. I think that we never really went away from the January storms.”

On March 13, President Joe Biden approved the Governor’s emergency declaration request and has authorized federal assistance to support the storm response effort in California.

Listos California has provided “Preparedness Tips” that the office says will play a critical role in keeping communities safe.

Californians residing in affected counties are encouraged

Statement from the National Bankers Association on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank

BlackPressUSA

a place to bring your deposits and have greater impact, bring your deposits to minority banks” said Nicole Elam, President and CEO of the National Bankers Association.

The National Bankers Association is the nation’s leading trade association for the country’s minority depository institutions (MDIs).

“In light of recent industry events, the National Bankers Association wants to assure consumers that your money is safe with minority banks. Minority depository institutions are very different from both SVB and Signature Bank which had high concentrations in crypto deposits and volatile venture capital.

Minority banks are not exposed to riskier asset classes and have the capital and strong liquidity to best serve consumers and small businesses. If you’re looking for

“The Biden-Harris Administration, FDIC, and Federal Reserve worked hard this weekend to make sure that these bank failures are the exception, not the rule, and that all Americans can continue to have confidence in our banking system. I also applaud bipartisan leaders in Congress for keeping stakeholders informed about how hard-earned deposits are being kept safe.” said Robert James, II, Chairman of the National Bankers Association, President & CEO, Carver Financial Corporation

The National Bankers Association is the nation’s leading trade association for the country’s minority depository institutions (MDIs). MDIs have always focused on safety

and soundness as a part of our conservative, relationship-based business model. We continue to monitor SVB’s impact on large corporate deposit concentrations, fintech, tech companies, and larger financial institutions that have partnerships with MDIs or who have made investments in MDIs.

MDIs are in the strongest position ever to support their customers and here’s why:

Traditional Banking

Model with Diverse & Secure Assets: MDIs are diversified in terms of their assets, predominately focused on wellcollateralized loans, and are not exposed to riskier asset classes.

Unlike both SVB and Signature Bank, MDIs have very limited exposure to the venture capital industry and crypto.

Well-Capitalized and Strong Liquidity: MDIs are in the strongest position ever. The sector is exceptionally well capitalized, enjoys substantial

liquidity overall, and has grown by 33% over the last three years in total assets. Nearly $4 billion in new, permanent capital has flowed to MDIs and currently, the median MDI common equity ratio is 16.4% versus 14.8% for non-MDIs.

Positioned for Impact: 77% of MDI branches are in areas with a higher average share of minorities compared to 31% for all FDIC-insured depository institutions. According to a Dallas Fed Study in 2022, MDIs originate almost 40% of their mortgages to minority borrowers, versus only 10% by other banks. Additionally, MDIs originate 30% of small business loans to low- to moderate-income communities in comparison to 20% at community banks and 24% at large banks. Customer deposits are not only extremely safe in an MDI but are far more likely to have a positive impact in the community.

to sign up for their local community's warning system at CalAlerts.gov. Use Television, radio, and county emergency services social media channels to get the information to be safe, authorities say.

If asked to evacuate, do so immediately and know that personnel at emergency evacuation centers cannot ask for identification. Everyone is welcome at emergency evacuation centers. Never drive around barricades and never drive into flooded areas. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.

resources to help Californians in need. Additional

Fearless Foundation and Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator Award $1 Million Dollars for their Black Women Entrepreneurs Grant Program

The program offered seventy-five Black women-owned, productbased businesses with monetary grants, enrollment into Amazon's Black Business Accelerator (BBA), and a Professional Selling Account in Amazon’s store.

(Black PR Wire)

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS

WIRE)-- Fearless Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund built by women of color, for women of color, has partnered with Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator for a multi-phase grant program that will bolster Black womenowned, consumer product-based business. Through this unique cohort, Black women-owned businesses are receiving grants in amounts between $10,000 - $20,000, in addition to enrollment in Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, which is dedicated to providing growth opportunities for Black-owned product-based businesses selling in Amazon’s store. This marks a significant opportunity

for greater representation in retail as only 6 percent of US retail businesses have a Black owner, despite Black Americans representing 14 percent of the US adult population as of data from 2020 (Hello Alice). “We are excited to enroll business grant recipients in Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, giving each brand access to an unparalleled network of mentors that will allow them to reach their professional goals,” says Arian Simone, Co-Founder and General Partner of Fearless Fund. “Mission-driven partnerships are critical to stimulating economic growth. We are excited to partner with the Fearless Fund to support 75 incredible Black women

Social Lites, Inc. 56th Annual Beautillion Program

I Am…. Changing the Narrative Knights Conclude 2023 Program Thousands to

Uplifting Our Community, One Note At A Time

The time has come to the last few weeks of the Knights training and completing of our 6 month culminating program. Together they have learned, volunteered, persevered and staying the course. Through this process they have maturing and are ready for the next journey in their lives. Our goal since 1968 has been to prepare these young men to understand the struggles and opportunities involved in the journey to succeed in college and

in life. We are recognizing these outstanding 5 Knights whom are on their way to prestigious colleges across the country and will return to serve our communities. We invite you to join us for the 56th Annual Beautillion Scholarship Program on April 1st 2023 at California State University San Bernardino in the beautiful San Manuel Student Union Building. The black tie formal events’ tickets

Jordan Evans

can be purchased for $50.00 at the door as you will witness the crowning of our Sir Knight 2023. If you have questions, please contact our Business Manager, Brenda Daniels at (909)856-6341 or our President, Sheri Lewis at (909) 320-0799. We hope to see you at this glorious event so you can congratulate them on a job well done.

Dear Press,

I want to thank you for your continued support through our 2023 year of blessing our program. These past few years have been very difficult for our young men to understand and know where they can make a difference in this world. We honor these young men who have an extremely bright life ahead of them.

Thank You, Marlene Davis, Social Lites, Inc., Public Relations Director

BUILD SKILLS HELP OTHERS EARN MONEY

Music Changing Lives Seeks to Empower Our Youth & Serve Surrounding Communities San Bernardino, CA Ongoing Programs - With nearly 25 years of service, Music Changing Lives (MCL) has made it its ultimate goal to offer the highest quality music and art enrichment programs to underprivileged and at-risk youth. MCL serves children and youth ages 5 to 19, helps them improve their chances of achieving a positive and successful future, and helps transform them into active and knowledgeable civic participants. MCL aims to engage musically and artistically talented individuals to stay in school

and focus on their education for their future, by providing key programs including music, art, film, tutoring, civic engagement and financial literacy as incentives. Music Changing Lives aims to continue to change students' negative perception of school.

"Arts experiences boost critical thinking, teaching students to take the time to be more careful and thorough in how they observe the world. The arts provide challenges for learners at all levels. Art education connects students with their own culture as well as with the wider world."

- Americans for the Arts

We operate out of several

locations to improve access to the students we serve. To serve students’ developing needs, MCL developed a coalition entitled Production Over Power, (POP), a community collaborative that focuses on establishing partnerships with corporations and service providers that offer programs to help fulfill the advancement in the needs of our youth and their surrounding communities. No matter the program or location, however, the MCL experience remains the same. When our children and teens thrive, it positively impacts every one of us - in our homes, schools, communities, and workplaces.

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino Annual Curbing Hunger Event Raised Awareness about Food Insecurity and Recognized Community Volunteers

(Riverside, CA – March 10, 2023) – On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) hosted their annual Curbing Hunger event, formally known as the Ladles of Love luncheon. This in-person lunch was for community partners, volunteers, board members, and donors. A special thanks to the fantastic sponsors Molina Healthcare, Enterprise Rent-aCar, Hodgdon Group, Cardenas Market Foundation, Wild Goose Coffee Roasters, and Norms Restaurant.

Carolyn Solar, FARSB CEO, made an empowering yet informative speech acknowledging our partners!

“These partners do fantastic work and serve in direct communityfacing roles, often with minimal resources. When our inventory becomes limited, you can probably guess that our partners are impacted, too,” stated Solar. It is estimated that 400,000 people, or 1 in 10 people, in the Inland Empire face food insecurities daily; half of those are children. “Food insecurity remains present due to barriers like unemployment, inflation, and the general cost of living in California,” stated Solar. By 2024, FARSB, in collaboration with our community partners, will feed more people, provide more nutritious food, and remove food barriers while preserving and expanding resources to

improve infrastructure and capacity building.

Evelen Ramirez, FARSB Volunteer Services Supervisor, recognized our top volunteers for 2022 in specific categories. The Breakout Corporate Volunteer award went to Louis Vuitton, Chase Bank won the Top Corporate Volunteer award, and Mark and Cindy Jessen won the Top Individual Volunteer award!

“Every day, I am amazed at our volunteers who show up – rain or shine, to help us with our mission of assisting those that face food insecurities every year,” stated Ramirez.

At the end of the ceremony, Angela Jugon, FARSB Development Director, thanked select high schools from Riverside Unified School District, including Arlington, Ramona, Riverside Poly, North, and Martin Luther King, for donating handmade ceramic bowls made by the art students to raise funds for our community, before the Development Team offered guests guided tours of the food bank.

For more information on upcoming fundraising events, please contact Angela at: ajugon@feedingamericaie.org

Davion Boyd- Phenix Jermaine Moreno

K’Miles Davis Shannon Williams II

Feeding America Riverside/San Bernardino Curbing Hunger 2023

Photo credit: Michael Elderman

Women’s History Month: Asm. McKinnor Joins Panel of Legislators at

Sacramento Event

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media

Silicon Valley Bank and your life savings

Dr. Glenn Mollette

If you have worked hard and saved money all your life you may have over $250,000 in a bank. Or, maybe one of these days you might if you keep working and saving.

You most likely know that only $250.000 of your money is federally insured. In other words, if you bank fails you might lose any amount above $250.000.

Bankman-Fried’s FTX exchange, as well as its sister hedge fund Alameda.

BlockFi’s money in SVB is not FDIC-insured because it was in a money market mutual fund, the company learned from its bankruptcy trustee early this week. (Source CNN.Com) Move the calendar from last Friday to this past Sunday.

Last week, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) joined a diverse panel of women legislators at the “Women in California’s Legislature: 2023 Speaker Series on California’s Future” luncheon to discuss the essential roles they play in shaping governmental policies benefiting Californians.

The event was hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.

This year’s class of legislators includes the largest number of women in state history– 18 senators and 32 assemblymembers. Joining McKinnor on the panel by were state Senators Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro).

McKinnor said she made the decision to get into politics after seeing the video of police officers beating motorist Rodney King in Los Angeles in 1992.

Over the years, Mckinnor said, a major influence on her policy decisions are the learnings she gleans from raising a family.

“I think (women) bring diversity to the table because we are about taking care of our families,” McKinnor said. “So, the legislation that you see coming out of this (panel), I believe, will be around housing, jobs, equity, and public safety. The women here are going to

make a tremendous difference because we take care of our families differently.”

Before McKinnor was elected to the California State Assembly in June 2022, she served as civic engagement director for the nonprofit LA Voice and previously served as operational director for the California Democratic Party and chief of staff to several members of the State Assembly. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from California State University Dominguez Hills.

McKinnor is currently chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee. She serves on other policy committees, including the Business and Professions Committee, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, and the Governmental Organization Committee.

McKinnor’s legislative priorities include California’s continued COVID-19 recovery, increased funding for public education, expanded universal access to healthcare, the state’s housing and homelessness crisis, and reforming the state’s criminal justice system.

“I never thought I’d be in politics in 1992. I thought I had better get off the sofa and pay attention to what’s going on,” McKinnor said. “After that, I didn’t sit down, and I got involved in the community.”

Black women are 7.7% of the

total U.S. population and 15.3% of the total number of women in the country, according to the U.S. Census.

In 2021 study, the State Innovation Exchange (SIE) – a group that advocates for representation in state legislatures -- and the National Organization for Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women) took a deep dive into their analysis of women serving in government.

SIE and NOBEL Women reported that Black women fill just 4.82% (356) of 7,383 state legislature seats across the United States. That same year, eight state legislatures convened without a single Black woman in their ranks: Vermont, South Dakota, Hawaii, Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota – all places with Black populations falling in a range from 2 to 6%, the study revealed.

Currently, there are five Black women in the California Legislature: McKinnor and Assemblymembers Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda), Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) and Sen. Lola Smallwood Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights). They are also members of the California Legislature Black Caucus.

Smallwood-Cuevas is the lone Black woman among 40 state

senators.

“I am the 20th Black woman to be elected to the (California) legislature,” McKinnor said at the event held on International Women’s Day. “Sen. Lola Smallwood became the 21st Black woman. So, we still have a lot of work to do.”

PPIC, the nonprofit that organized the event, bills itself as nonpartisan think tank with a mission to inform and improve public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. Former California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is PPIC’s president and chief executive officer.

Ophelia Basgal, an affiliate at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at University of California, Berkeley, and a senior executive consultant for Inclusion INC, provided the opening remarks.

All the women legislators who participated in the event are members of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, a political body that represents and advocates on the behalf of the diverse interests of women, children and families.

The panelists discussed gender diversity in state politics, how personal interests play out in politics, legislation they are

Deal That Could Increase Minority Media Ownership Hits ‘Brick Wall’ FCC accused of bowing to bigoted perceptions

By Hazel Trice Edney

Let’s say you have one half million in your bank. The assets of the bank would eventually be liquidated. If enough money was collected you might receive the rest of your half million or you might never see a penny above the federally insured amount unless you are in Silicon Valley.

The second largest bank failure in U.S. history occurred March 10 in Santa Clara, California. The Silicon Valley Bank failed after a bank run on its deposits. The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation revoked its charter and transferred the business into receivership under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

SVB is the country’s 16th largest bank with $209 billion in assets and more than $175 billion in deposits.

A number of businesses had millions of dollars in the bank.

Roku had just under $500 million of its 1.9 billion dollars of cash assets in the bank.

Roblox, a video game company said 5% of it’s 3 billion in cash was held at SVB.

Toronto-based AcuityAds Holding had US $55 million in SVB, and just US $4.8 million elsewhere. That means more than 90% of the company’s deposits were held in SVB.

Aerospace manufacturer Rocket Lab held almost 8%, or approximately $38 million, of its total cash at the collapsed bank, it said in a Friday filing.

Crytpo lender BlockFi, which filed for bankruptcy in November, disclosed it held $227 million with SVB in a bankruptcy filing Friday. BlockFi said in November it had halted withdrawals after facing “significant exposure” to Sam

State Treasurer Fiona

Ma Issues Statement

Reassuring Taxpayers Following Banking Industry Volatility

SACRAMENTO – California

Federal regulators stepped in Sunday March 12, to back all Silicon Valley Bank deposits, resolving a key uncertainty surrounding the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history hours before global stock markets resumed trading.

The U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said the government would back Silicon Valley Bank deposits beyond the federally insured ceiling of $250,000. The decision addressed concerns around the fate of uninsured funds held at the Santa Clara, California-based bank.

“Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13,” the agencies said in a joint statement Sunday evening. “No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer.” (Source NBC.COM) If you have a half million dollars in a bank, you might consider dividing it up into two banks. Maybe the U.S. Treasury will treat you and the people at your bank the same as the millionaires of Silicon Valley. Don’t risk your life savings on this hope.

Visit GlennMollette.com to subscribe, learn about his books and more additional biographical, Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

A major acquisition that civil rights leaders and advocates for Black-owned media had hoped would increase media ownership, opportunity, and participation by African-Americans and other minorities has apparently “hit a brick wall.”

Following months of advocacy and public support for a $5.4 billion acquisition of Tegna by Standard General, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has essentially killed the deal by sending it to an administrative judge for a hearing, a process that could mire it down in red tape. Standard General is led by Soo Kim, a Korean American immigrant who moved to Queens, N.Y. when he was just 5 years old. Soo Kim’s vision for the future of local broadcast news is one where diverse voices are escalated and heard to better represent the communities they serve.

“As part of the FCC’s mission, we are responsible for determining whether grant of the applications constituting this transaction serves the public

interest. That’s why we’re asking for closer review to ensure that this transaction does not anticompetitively raise prices or put jobs in local newsrooms at risk,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a Feb. 24 press release announcing the decision.

“The additional review will allow us to make a more informed assessment on whether proposed safeguards are sufficient to protect the public interest, and we will take the time needed to address these critical questions.”

The FCC’s decision will have a chilling effect on minority ownership, as this action aims to kill the deal by delaying it past the May 22 deadline by which it must close.

The NAACP New York State Conference issued a strong rebuke to Rosenworcel’s announcement. NY NAACP President Hazel Dukes responded to apparently bigoted perceptions that because of Soo Kim’s Asian heritage, he is not the kind of racial minority being sought to increase media ownership.

“I understand that Chairwoman

Rosenworcel has bowed to the pressure of those who accuse Soo Kim of not being the “right type of minority,” wrote Dukes in an open letter to Rosenworcel and the FCC Commissioners March 1. “I am appalled that we still use this type of incendiary language to define a person of color who attempts to enter a particular ‘club’ [of which] they are not traditional members.”

She concludes that the assignment to an FCC administrative judge was intentional to kill the deal.

“This action was deliberate

and malicious and only happened because some deemed Soo Kim is considered not to be the ‘right type of minority,’” Dukes writes. “Standard General has not only publicly pledged to invest in local broadcasting and to preserve jobs, but they have also committed to directly impacting our communities to have a voice and to empower community journalism.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the New York-based National Action Network, was also riled

State Treasurer Fiona Ma today issued the following statement after the closure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB):

"Despite recent uncertainty in the banking industry following the closure of Silicon Valley Bank, I want to reassure taxpayers that the State Treasurer’s Office has no exposure to SVB, and all State of California and local government funds managed by my office are safe and secure. I’m pleased to see the swift action taken by President Biden and continued efforts by Governor Newsom’s administration to limit the fallout and to ensure that depositors are made whole. My office will continue to monitor the situation and report on any developments."

Depositors or anyone affected by Silicon Valley Bank’s closure should contact the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at fdic.gov or 866799-0959. An FDIC-operated bridge bank was created to hold all assets and deposits of SVB following its closure on Friday by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

Women’s History Month: Asm. McKinnor Joins Panel of Legislators at Sacramento Event... continued

currently working on, setting better policy for the state, and offered advice to women who are interested in running for office.

“In addition to the vision and experience, we bring that voice into the room that is often unheard and unseen,” said Ortega, a longtime labor leader and activist from an immigrant family. “We will make sure we are seen and heard and deliver (policies) for all in the state of California and the United States.”

The Sheraton Ballroom in downtown Sacramento was filled with women and men listening to the 60-minute conversation between the women that was at times passionate, thoughtprovoking, reflective and lighthearted.

“We’ve been truly inspired by this distinguished panel for their questions, insight, and answers,” Cantil-Sakauye said to the audience. “Thank you for making this (speakers series) memorable.”

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) speaks at the Women in California’s Legislature event in Sacramento on March 8. The Women's History Month event was hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Left, Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, PPIC’s president and chief executive officer, was the moderator of the event. Left to right, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), state Sen.Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove), District 36; Assemblywoman Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), District 20; and Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) of District 9. The Women in California’s Legislature event was hosted by PPIC in Sacramento, Calif., on March 8, 2023. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Al Sharpton

Hazel Dukes

Roland Martin

Soo Kim Dr. Ben Chavis

The American Rescue Plan Continues to Deliver

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

Padilla Urges Retail Pharmacies Across the Country to Provide Strongest Possible Legal Access to Mifepristone

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

speed broadband. The American Rescue Plan included $350 billion to help state, local, and tribal governments fight the pandemic and build a strong and equitable recovery through investment in long-term growth and opportunity.

When President Joe Biden took office, the economy was in crisis, millions of Americans were out of work, and Main Streets were shuttered. Two years later, it’s clear that his economic plan is working. The Biden administration has created over 12.4 million jobs during his presidency. Our nation’s unemployment rate is at the lowest since 1969 and the deficit has fallen by $1.7 trillion. That success is due in part to the transformational American Rescue Plan.

Enacted just 50 days into his term, the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was the first step in President Biden’s strategy to stabilize families, reopen schools, make COVID-19 vaccines readily available, and get people back to work. Saturday, March 11 marks two years since the enactment. Its success could not be more apparent than in our progress in expanding access to health care, reducing childhood poverty, and closing the digital divide.

President Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to call for health care reform over 100 years ago. President Barack Obama sought to meet that call with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA provided subsidies for private

health insurance for many lowand middle-income Americans, while strongly incentivizing states to expand Medicaid to provide coverage for those with lower incomes.

The ACA was just the first step toward making health care accessible and affordable for all Americans. The American Rescue Plan was the next one. The American Rescue Plan temporarily enhanced ACA health insurance subsidies to make coverage more affordable, resulting in millions more Americans signing up. Over 31 million Americans now have access to affordable, quality health insurance through the ACA and the average family is saving $2,400 a year on their premiums. The enhancements in the ARP have since been extended by the Inflation Reduction Act.

The American Rescue Plan also enhanced the incentive to expand Medicaid for the 12 states that had yet to do so. Since then, two of these states, South Dakota and North Carolina, have decided to move forward, which will expand coverage to more than 300,000 uninsured Americans living in poverty. Nearly 2 million Americans in the 10 remaining non-expansion states, including more than 100,000 in my home state of South Carolina,

still find themselves in the socalled coverage gap without any assistance. I urge these states to take advantage of the ARP’s incentives to expand, which will not only provide many lowincome families with access to health care, but it will also help support our rural hospitals and create jobs.

The American Rescue Plan’s financial lifelines include the expansion of the Child Tax Credit. The expanded Child Tax Credit, paid monthly, increased per-year payments from $2,000 to $3,000 per child and provided an additional $600 per child under the age of 6. This became a lifeline for hardworking families throughout the pandemic. Nearly 4 million children were lifted out of poverty and the child poverty rate declined by 46% in one year.

Although the expansion expired at the end of 2021, it should be reinstituted and made permanent. U.S. Census surveys show that families used the Child Tax Credit to afford basic life necessities such as childcare, food, and medicine. Making this assistance permanent would help ensure our most vulnerable have the means to provide for their families. Families’ success in the 21st century is also dependent upon access to affordable, high-

These funds have created a pathway to making high-speed internet service both accessible and affordable for every South Carolinian. The state was recently awarded $185.8 million from the American Rescue Plan’s Capital Projects Fund for highspeed broadband deployment, and the state has already set aside another $214.2 million of their allocation from the American Rescue Plan’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to further expand affordable, high-speed internet service.

Taken together with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other federal funding programs, South Carolina now has the $600 million needed to bring universal access to high-speed, affordable internet service by 2026. This will connect our children to education. It will ensure our rural communities have access to telehealth and job opportunities. Most importantly, it will open a world of possibilities to every South Carolinian, no matter where they live.

I often say the 117th Congress was the most productive since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society. President Johnson admonished that the “…Great Society is not a safe harbor, a resting place, a final objective, a finished work. It is a challenge constantly renewed, beckoning us toward a destiny where the meaning of our lives matches the marvelous products of our labor.”

After the gross negligence of the previous Administration, the American Rescue Plan put us back on track. Two years after its enactment, it continues to be the linchpin of President Joe Biden’s progress toward making our nation’s greatness accessible and affordable for all.

Deal That Could Increase Minority Media Ownership Hits ‘Brick Wall’ FCC accused of bowing to bigoted perceptions...continued from page 3

by what appeared to have been a decision based on Asian bias.

“Who determines who is the ‘right minority’ and who is the ‘wrong minority’?” Sharpton questioned in a Tweet. He added that Soo Kim’s Standard General and TEGNA would be “a 300 pct increase of minority owned tv stations.”

This disappointing announcement was made by the FCC despite strong support from civil rights leaders and media diversity advocates for the acquisition throughout the year long review process.

The FCC decision follows months of pushing for the transaction. In her letter, Dukes listed a string of her civil rights associates, who publicly supported the acquisition, including Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Steven Horsford, civil rights leaders including the iconic Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rev. Sharpton, Transformative Justice Coalition President Barbara Arnwine, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president/ CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Chavis was among the first to support the acquisition and to explain the benefits of an Asian American taking ownership of TEGNA.

“I know some of you would ask me why I am speaking up and out about other persons of color to own media businesses in America in addition to African American

ownership of media businesses. There is, I assert, only one clear answer. If you are, as I am, for equality, equity, and believe in the oneness of all humanity, then we must practice what we preach. This is why I am publicly and forthrightly supporting the efforts and leadership of Soo Kim, founder and managing partner of Standard General. Kim is an effective and outstanding Korean American business leader, and he is on record supporting greater Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in our nation’s media ownership landscape,” Chavis wrote in an op-ed published in NNPA and other newspapers Dec. 2. “The multimedia publishing and communications industry is a trillion-dollar business sector in America. Yet the disparities and inequities of ownership of media industry businesses by persons of color remains glaringly inequitable.”

Black Star Network host

Roland Martin, an avid supporter of Black Media ownership, announced that the deal has now “hit a brick wall.” Interviewing Kim on his You Tube talk show, he asked how it felt to Kim to be assumed “not the right kind of minority?” Kim responded with a quote from former First Lady Michelle Obama, “‘When they go low, I go high.’” He said, “It’s not a great” feeling. Adding that the Black participation in his network would be huge, Kim shows no sign of giving up.

"This deal has taken a long time. We're in our eleventh month of review here. And so, yes, we have made concessions and basically addressed each of the concerns that have been put up," Kim told Martin on the show. "We've actually gone in and said we're willing to address each of these concerns. What I'd hoped from the very beginning is that we'd be treated like everybody else. I would say that maybe that was too much to hope for. But we're still optimistic that we've put together a series of responses to each of the concerns that we've heard."

Rev. Jackson, as president/ CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, sent a letter to the Commission in support of the acquisition.

“After meeting with Soo Kim and upon careful and scrupulous review of his record on diversity and inclusion, my team and I wholeheartedly support the purchase of Tegna,” Jackson wrote. “Soo Kim, being KoreanAmerican, is sensitive to the plight of racial justice, equity and inclusion…It is my strong belief that Soo Kim would be committed to inclusion which leads to growth in the America of our dreams. He will honor the spirit and the law representing the best in American ideals.”

If the deal now fails, the FCC’s decision will no doubt call into question its seriousness about

Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and 15 of their colleagues in sending letters to the nation’s largest pharmacies—including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, Walmart—urging them to ensure their policies provide the strongest possible legal access to mifepristone, an FDA-approved abortion medication.

In their letters, the lawmakers ask companies to fully assess the laws in each state they operate in and ensure their policies provide the widest legal access to critical patient care, as well as clarify how they will inform customers about access to the medication.

In their letter to Walgreens, the Senators called out the company’s confusing announcement about its plans to dispense mifepristone to customers, writing: “At a time of great confusion about abortion access, your company has done the disservice of adding to it.”

The Senators demanded clarifying information about Walgreens’ plans to dispense mifepristone, and rebuked the company for caving to extremist demands: “While we are well aware of threatening letters you received with regard to the distribution of mifepristone in certain states, the response to those pressures was unacceptable and appeared to yield to these threats—ignoring the critical need to ensure patients can get this essential health care wherever possible.”

“As you continue with the FDA certification process and fully comply with state and federal law, it is critical that your company also provides the strongest possible access to this vital medication and communicates clearly about this,” the Senators added.

Senators Baldwin, Klobuchar, Cantwell, Merkley, Schatz, Padilla, Blumenthal, Sanders, Wyden, Cortez Masto, Reed, Whitehouse, Welch, Smith, and Duckworth joined Senators Murray and Stabenow in sending the letter to Walgreens.

to hearing back from you about your intentions to ensure access to this critical FDA-approved product.”

Senators Baldwin, Klobuchar, Cantwell, Merkley, Schatz, Padilla, Blumenthal, Sanders, Wyden, Booker, Reed, Whitehouse, Welch, Smith, and Duckworth joined Senators Murray and Stabenow in sending the letters to the companies.

In letters to CVS Health and Rite Aid, the Senators applauded the companies’ plan to seek certification to dispense mifepristone where able and urged them to ensure they provide the strongest possible legal access to the drug and communicate clearly about their plans to prevent confusion for customers.

“As you continue with the FDA certification process and fully comply with state and federal law, it is critical that your company also provide the strongest possible access to this vital medication and communicate clearly about this,” the Senators wrote.

Senators Baldwin, Klobuchar, Cantwell, Merkley, Schatz, Padilla, Blumenthal, Sanders, Wyden, Cortez Masto, Booker, Reed, Whitehouse, Welch, and Smith joined Senators Murray and Stabenow in sending the letters to the companies.

increasing ownership by minority media, one of its stated goals. And the civil rights community will once again feel like their voices are not being heard.

“Enhancing media diversity is a primary objective at the FCC, but it has a lot of work to do,” wrote Barbara Arnwine in an op-ed published in January. “The FCC just reported that Blacks account for only 3% of majority interests in fullpower TV stations with Asian Americans at only 1%. Now it has a chance to really show that it cares about this goal as the Standard General transaction would radically enhance minority media ownership of broadcast channels.”

The issue of Black media ownership matters greatly and will continue as a top priority for the civil rights activists. Unrelated to the Standard General/TEGNA acquisition, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has, for years, been on top of the issue of diversity in media ownership.

The Leadership Conference concluded in a recent report: “At a time when more people, particularly Black people, are distrustful of the media, diversity in media ownership has become more important than ever for the functioning of our democracy. Diversity in ownership is part of that solution.”

In letters to Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart, the Senators expressed frustration that the companies have not yet announced their intention to dispense mifepristone at their pharmacies—and urged the companies to pursue policies to provide the strongest possible access to their customers.

“We write with great frustration that [your company] has not indicated whether it plans to allow your customers to access mifepristone through your pharmacies,” the Senators stated. “Pharmacists are one of the most trusted health care providers, and your customers rely on [your company] to help them access their prescribed medications. We look forward

In the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, access to medication abortion is more vital for patients than ever. Across the U.S., medication abortion is the most common way women get abortion care, and mifepristone is one of two drugs used in most medication abortion care. Approved by the FDA more than 20 years ago, mifepristone’s safety and efficacy have been affirmed time and again by scientific evidence, research, and clinical experience. But antichoice activists and Republican elected officials have repeatedly sought to deny patients across the country access to the FDAapproved drug. In addition to threatening pharmacies seeking to dispense the drug legally, anti-choice activists have filed an unprecedented lawsuit to try to effectively ban the drug nationwide and have enacted bans and medically-unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone in a number of states.

Senator Padilla believes in a person’s fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, and is a staunch advocate for reproductive rights. As a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, Senator Padilla is fighting to protect and increase access to abortion services throughout the United States. While Republican-led state legislatures work to further strip away reproductive rights, he’s also fighting to protect a patient’s right to travel freely between states to access abortion care.

Congressman James E. Clyburn

Mae Whitman Joins Avatar The Last Airbender Cast Reunion At Comic Con Revolution

Fearless Foundation and Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator

all underserved businesses,” says Danyel Surrency Jones, Director, and Head of Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator.

Grant Recipients: Kimberly Shamsiddin, Al Shams Abayas Roshonda Coleman, Anointed Hands Salon & Products Brittny Phillips, Articulate Hands Ife

New College

John Dorhauer

Ontario, California (March 14, 2023) - Actress Mae Whitman will be a guest at the upcoming Comic Con Revolution this May 20 & 21, 2023. Whitman completes the full Team Avatar cast from the Avatar: The Last Airbender. Mae Whitman, the iconic voice of Katara, joins the previously announced Team Avatar cast members Dante Basco, Jack De Sena, Zach Tyler Eisen and Jessie Flower. Also appearing are fan favorite cast members Greg Baldwin, Grey DeLisle, Olivia Hack, Jennie Kwan and Cricket Leigh.

Whitman, who began acting as a child, has a long list of credits including, Independence Day, One Fine Day, The Duff, Hope Floats, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Good Girls & the upcoming Hulu streamer Up Here. Additionally, her voice acting work includes Owl House, Tinker Bell, Batgirl, and of course, Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

“Having Mae complete the full Team Avatar Cast Reunion and Panel marks the first ever chance to meet the entire Team Avatar cast together for autographs and photo ops,” said Comic Con Revolution co-founder Mike Scigliano. “And the ATLA Cast Reunion Panel is a must attend for both hardcore and casual fans.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender Panel Wristband Distribution will begin promptly at 11:30AM until capacity is reached.

Distribution of wristbands is free to attendees with a valid Saturday or weekend admission to CCR. Wristbands will be first come first served as supply is limited. Once you receive a wristband, your admission into the panel is guaranteed as long as you arrive at Panel Room 203 in the Ontario Convention Center on Saturday May 20 before 12:45PM.

Those who do not arrive before the designated cutoff will forfeit their place in the panel room, no exceptions will be made. There will be a standby admission line that will begin at 12:30PM. Standby admission is not guaranteed. Panel room will be cleared at 12:00PM, no camping or seat holding will be allowed from the morning panel sessions. We will begin allowing wristband holders to enter Panel Room 203 for seating to the ATLA panel at 12:30PM. Seating for wristband holders is first come first served with the exception of ADA seating.

If a wristband holder requires an ADA seat, we ask that they please let us know when picking up their wristband. ADA seating is limited. Wristbands are valid only for admission into the Avatar: The Last Airbender panel and will not be honored at any

other special events or admission to Comic Con Revolution.

Visit CCROnt.com for show information, tickets and the latest updates about CCR 2023.

Guests scheduled to appear include:

Karl Altstaetter, Greg Baldwin, Dante Basco, Dwayne Cameron, Sandy Chris Campana, King Carpenter, Ming Chen, Chris Claremont, Brandon Cutler, Jackie Dallas, Amanda Deibert, Jack De Sena, Amanda Deibert, Grey DeLisle, Danielle

DeNicola, Neo Edmund, Zach

Tyler Eisen, Carlos Ferro, Jessie

Flower, Donald Fullilove, Joel

Gomez, Scott Grimes, Olivia Hack, Matt Hawkins, RayAnthony Height, Walter E. Jones, Sean Kanan, Jennie

Kwan, J. Lee, Cricket Leigh, Dr. Drea Letamendi, Livesay, Jymn Magon, Jonboy Meyers, Raychul Moore, Dustin Nguyen, Peter Nguyen, Eric Palicki, Carla Perez, Whilce Portacio, Norm Rapmund, Darick Roberston, Kenneth Rocafort, Natalie Rodriguez, Tone Rodriguez, John Romita Jr, Peter Shinkoda, Christie Shinn, Beth Sotelo, Cat Staggs, Jim Starlin, Charlie Stickney, Catherine Sutherland, Bobby Timony, Mercedes Varnado, Angi Viper, Dave Wagner, Tommy Walker, Brian Ward, Claudia Wells, Billy West, Mae Whitman, Marv Wolfman, Decorah Ann Woll, Timothy Zahn & many more!

Comic Con Revolution

For the latest information, and to purchase tickets visit https:// www.comicconrevolution.com/ ontario/

Follow us on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/

ComicConRevolution

https://twitter.com/

ComicConRvltn https://www.instagram.com/ comicconrevolution

Location

● Ontario Convention Center 2000 East Convention Center Way Ontario, CA 91764 Admission

● Weekend Adult Premium $99

● Weekend Adult $45

● Weekend Teen $35

● Saturday Adult $30

● Saturday Teen $25

● Sunday Adult $30

● Sunday Teen $25

● Kids 12 and under are free with a paying adult Hours

● Saturday, May 20, 2023

- 10am (9am with advance ticket purchase) - 6pm

● Sunday, May 21, 202311am (10am with advance ticket purchase) - 5pm

Fearless Foundation and Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator Award $1 Million Dollars for their Black Women Entrepreneurs Grant Program...continued from page 1

knock down barriers for Blackowned businesses, through those learnings, we unlock the door for all small businesses to thrive. We stand firm in our vision to target systemic barriers and leverage our entire community to create sustainable pathways to equity that build generational wealth for not only Blackowned businesses and Black women-owned businesses, but

Obi, Back To You by The Fit In Sophia Danner-Okotie, Besida Kimba Williams, KUSHAE Kelli Palmer, Breedlove Beauty Co. Myriam Simpierre, Buy Better Foods Corporation Dana Harris, Coffee Treasures In A Box Felicia Jackson, CPRWrap, Inc. Karen Flowers, Curl House Iyonna Woods, Fancy Free Hair & Skin Melissa Samuel, Finesseyourclaws LLC Gineen Cargo, Gavin Christianson Bridal Kristen Dunning, Gently Soap Melaina Glanton, Goddess Beauty Skincare Keicha Danzie, Good Boy Goodies Colette Glover-Hannah, Hannah's Shoebox, LLC Ashley Milligan Nesbit, Healthy Muhf#@kin Hair Hope Webb, Imani Girl Boutique LLC Tyler Clark, Inspire by Tyler Nikia Londy, Intriguing Hair Krystle McKay, K.Lorayne Apparel Abena Slowe, Karité LLC Keya Martin, Keeyahri Keva Johnson, Keva J Swimwear Kimo Bentley, Kimo Bentley MedSpa Mia Campbell, KING ME Custom Jewelry Sherrie Wilson, Krowned Arah Sims, Kyutee Beauty Kimberley

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Pavement Cynthia "Cindy" Tawiah, Shades Of U Shika Myrickes, Shika and Company Extensions Jasmine "Symoné" Gates, Sincerely, Bädé Skye Loy, SkyeLight Tenita Strand, Status Co. Leather Studio Tamekia Geer, TamGee Artistry Studio Erika Collins, The Hanan Project Jade Akinrolabu, The Lazy Hat Erika Massaquoi, THE OULA COMPANY Kamilah Campbell, The Pink Locket Ashli Goudelock, The Tsuri Company Markea Dickinson-Frasier, Thermaband Valerie Blaise, VAVVOUNE Jasmine Lewis, Vie Beauty Leah Hernandez, Young Authors Publishing Donnya Negera, YUUMA About Fearless Foundation Fearless Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Fearless Fund and a 501(c)(3) organization; with a mission to advance the progression for people of color by reducing racial inequities and providing access to capital. Through strategic partnerships, grant programs, educational programs, and college scholarships, the Fearless Foundation creates opportunities to encourage and aid those who are in need of equitable and sustainable support. We are dedicated to the advancement of those in need by supporting other foundations, organizations, and missions that align with this important work. https://www. fearless.fund/foundation-2 About Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator In 2021, Amazon committed $150M over four years to launch the Black Business Accelerator designed to help build sustainable growth for Black-owned selling businesses by providing access to capital, business guidance, mentorship, and marketing support. Developed with guidance from Black selling partners, mentors, and advisors, the BBA can help grow Black-owned businesses by providing access to a suite of benefits and tailored resources to meet their unique needs and help Black business owners succeed as sellers in Amazon’s store. To learn more about BBA, visit amazon.com/bba. Source: Fearless Fund

“You Tell Them… Judgment Has Been Unleashed!”

By: Lou K. Coleman Lou K. Coleman

They wouldn’t listen, they wouldn’t see, they wouldn’t believe, and now they can’t!

Like the Old Testament Israelites and the Jews of Jesus’ day, He said, “It’s too late! Judgment is already in motion, because you wouldn’t listen, you wouldn’t see, you wouldn’t believe, and now you can’t.

Understand, God allows all nations to “go their own way.

[Acts 14:16]. Both Isaiah’s generation and Jesus’ generation “had their opportunities, but for both it became too late. The whole system ended because they wouldn’t listen, they wouldn’t see, they wouldn’t believe. Don’t let that be said about you. Pay attention! Give the more earnest heed to the things you have heard, lest you drift away.” For this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts; “Beware, I am against you.” I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again" [Nahum 2:13].

Many people, having heard all their lives about the grace and mercy of God, take His grace for granted. They decide on courses

In 1959, the UCC helped found and fund New College of Florida in Sarasota with this mandate: “The college shall be open to all students qualified for its academic program. Race, creed, national origin, or cultural status shall not be considered as a basis for denial of admission.”

Over the past few months, Governor Ron DeSantis removed seven Board members and replaced them with his own minions who now form a majority. They then proceeded to fire the school’s president— the first woman to serve—and replaced her with a puppet president of their own, who is now being paid five times the amount the woman the board fired was being paid. The board voted this week to—wait for it— close the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office. Here is the ultimate irony. DeSantis is using the mandate we gave in founding the school as the reason for closing the office.

His twisted, cruel, Harvard and Yale–educated mind—much like the Grinch—came up with a Seussian ‘wonderful, awful idea’: “Hey, let’s argue that the only way to even measure diversity, equity, and inclusion is to notice race, creed, national origin, or cultural status—which we are not allowed to do.”

As I said on campus at a student protest rally, never trust a white bully who tells you he is colorblind and doesn’t see race. White men invented the social construct that is race and have used it to advantage and privilege themselves with wealth and power that accrues only to them. When they say they don’t see race, they are now saying they don’t want you to use your race as a means of leveling the playing field.

As founders of a college that has, in the true spirit of our ‘no matter who you are or where you are’ mantra and fully in keeping with its founding principles, become one of the most richly and beautifully diverse campuses in the country, the United Church of Christ owes those students a robust show of support and advocacy. We are both a part of their birthing story and aware of the larger implications of an effort like this succeeding in a religious and cultural context

in which zealots want entire curricula rewritten through the filters of Christian Nationalism. Silence in the face of this kind of evil will create the conditions in which this virus spreads. We cannot, we must not let that happen.

I really encourage us all to learn everything we can about what DeSantis is doing in Sarasota on the campus of New College. Then find a way to respond.

Write a letter to their Board of Directors, chaired now by Debra Jenks—a woman who wants to defund public schools. Tie up the phone of their President, Richard Corcoran, with voice mails and messages expressing your outrage and your interest as a member of the founding denomination. Write to students on campus expressing your solidarity and support, asking them what you can do that will be of value to them in their struggle to maintain education freedom and personal safety.

When I spoke on campus, hundreds of UCC members from over a dozen local churches were there on campus to listen to student leaders, to demonstrate resistance before the new President and Board, and to pledge their ongoing support to keep the vision and mission alive. It made me proud. Now, we must all take on the role of preserving what are our core values: inclusive excellence, extravagant welcome, changing lives, sustaining hope, courage in the struggle, and unconditional love. No bully gets to take that away from us, or from those we love.

Below is contact information for New College: New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL 34243

Richard Corcoran, Interim President: rcorcoran@ncf.edu / (941) 487-4100

Maura Galvao, Assistant to Interim President: mgalvao@ ncf.edu Media and Communications Coordinator: ablinkhorn@ncf. edu

Exec. Dir. of Communications & Marketing: chelean@ncf.edu

John Dorhauer is the General Minister and President for the United Church of Christ.

and actions which they know are contrary to God’s will, but figure that “God will forgive me anyway” and plunge foolishly into their rebellious way. They assume there will be no lasting damage once they are forgiven. Oh, how wrong you are. For you know that even afterwards, when he [Esau] desired to inherit the blessings, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” [Hebrews 12:17]. Let this verse be a sobering reminder that there are times when it is too late to reverse the damage done by your decisions. Do not take God’s grace for granted. The Lord will utter his voice and the impact will be terrific in this generation, so said Amos.

Just look around, the events happening around the world, these events are not random. They are not “natural disasters.” They are acts of God. “These trails are a wake-up call, and they are a foretaste of the greater and final judgment still to come. “Do not be deceived! Judgment is already in motion. Wake up! They would not accept my counsel; they spurned all my reproof. So, they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” [Proverbs 1:30-33].

Award $1 Million Dollars for their Black Women Entrepreneurs Grant Program...continued entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams. By participating in Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator, founders will access a suite of resources, including financial assistance, business education and coaching, and marketing support. BBA supports the success of Black-owned businesses by providing a place for their businesses, to start, scale, and create a community to encourage and inspire them along the journey. We believe, when we

Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood Celebrates Legacy of Black Comedians

LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When you bring together four legendary comedians, their friends who are also comics, and some of their most loyal fans, you get a room filled with unbridled laughter and, surprisingly, a few tears. That is what Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood award ceremony attendees experienced Wednesday night at the Sunset Room Hollywood. Lexus UPTOWN Honors

Hollywood honored Cedric the Entertainer, Kym Whitley, Deon Cole and Guy Torry.

The luxury car brand and the culture publication honored Cedric the Entertainer, Kym Whitley, Deon Cole, and Guy Torry for their contributions to American culture, arts, and entertainment. The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of hip hop, as Guy Torry's iconic documentary "Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy" explores the intersection of the music genre and Black comedy during a significant time in the 1990s.

"I want to thank Lexus for honoring Black comedians," Guy Torry said during his funny and sometimes emotional acceptance speech. The "Phat Tuesdays" creator also thanked his older

brother, comedian Joe Torry, for paving a path to success for him.

Anthony Anderson was on hand to present Cedric the Entertainer his award. "The Neighborhood" actor/comedian kept the crowd in stitches while paying homage to the comics he idolized, like Richard Pryor, Redd Fox, and Eddie Murphy. Whitley, the only woman honored, expressed her gratitude through laughter and tears. She told the audience that after 35 years in the business, this is the first time she has been recognized or honored.

Honoree Deon Cole shared how he and his fellow comedians felt about being recognized for their hard work. "This means something to us. We're excited to be here because we're probably not going to get this again."

Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Chris Spencer and award-winning media personality Tai Beauchamp hosted the event. Presenters included Bill Bellamy and Affion Crockett. Other notable attendees were Len Burnett, co-founder and CEO of Uptown Media Ventures, Richard Brooks, Lil Rel Howery, Mona Scott-Young, Salli RichardsonWhitfield, Dondre Whitfield, and more.

Further From Coverage and Closer to Profit, Health Insurance Giants Must Take Accountability

By Jessica Ann Tyson

Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield) collectively generated a profit of over $720 billion in 2022 alone. The largest of the five insurance companies, United Health Group, raked in over $324 billion dollars this year and is projected to bring in more than $360 billion in 2023. These record-breaking profits are an embarrassment to our healthcare system as hospitals are struggling to keep the lights on and patients are unable to cover these absurd costs.

Roger B. Sweis Joins Essential Access Health as Chief Financial Officer

shown that in parts of the US, people living in communities of color are four times more likely to have medical debt compared to those living in predominantly white communities. The racial disparities in healthcare continue to devastate minority groups and the price gauging of health insurance companies is of no help.

Jessica Ann Tyson

As the incessant flu and covid outbreaks continue to plague the US this winter season, it is not unheard of to take further precautions to keep your health in good shape. Whether that’s getting your flu shot, taking essential vitamins, or even washing your hands a few more times a day, lots of people are taking the extra step to avoid the seemingly never-ending sicknesses being passed around. While these rituals seem to work for the majority, few find that not even their daily multivitamin can protect them from coming down with something.

In the 2021-2022 flu season, there were more than 4 million medical visits and over 10,000 hospitalizations for the influenza virus alone. Combining the 10,000 hospitalizations from the flu alongside of covid

hospitalizations for the 20212022 winter months, the number of people visiting and staying at healthcare facilities in this short time frame is pushing well into the millions. As these numbers continue to rise, so does the cost of healthcare. Since 2010, individual insurance premiums have risen over 58 percent, and family insurance premiums have risen more than 63 percent. Despite these skyrocketing numbers, health insurance still manages to cover less and less each year.

While health insurance companies are moving further from coverage and closer to profit, more and more Americans are drowning in medical bills, struggling to make ends meet. The top five health insurance companies, (United Health Group, Anthem, Centene,

Casa Colina Hospital Receives Outstanding Patient Experience Award for Fourth Consecutive Year

POMONA, Calif., March 14, 2023 – Casa Colina Hospital has received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ for the fourth year in a row. The award recognizes hospitals that provide an overall outstanding patient experience based on patient survey data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), placing Casa Colina among the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for patient experience.

Survey questions focus on patients’ perspectives of their care in the hospital, from cleanliness and noise levels in patient rooms to medication explanations and hospital staff responsiveness to patients’ needs. The measures also include whether a patient would recommend the hospital to friends or family and their overall rating of the hospital.

For this analysis, Healthgrades evaluated hospitals that submitted at least 75 patient experience surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering patients discharged from January 2021 through December 2021.

Of those hospitals evaluated, 419 hospitals outperformed their peers—based on patients’ responses—to achieve this award.

“At Casa Colina, we offer an outstanding patient experience by prioritizing safety and best practices and using state-of-

the-art technology,” says Kelly Linden, Casa Colina President and CEO. “However, nothing is as critical to our success as our people. I am proud of our staff and physicians for their unwavering dedication to highquality, patient-first care. This wonderful recognition belongs to them.”

Casa Colina continually seeks to improve the patient experience through a variety of ways. In addition to participating in surveys such as the HCAHPS, Casa Colina invites former patients to tell their stories and help improve the patient experience through its Patient & Family Advocacy Council (PFAC). The PFAC gives patients and their families or caregivers the opportunity to educate Casa Colina clinicians and administrators about their own real patient experiences in an effort to increase the overall quality of care at Casa Colina.

“We applaud all recipients of the Healthgrades 2023 Outstanding Patient Experience Award for putting patient experience front and center within their organizations,” says Brad Bowman, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Data Science at Healthgrades.

“We commend these hospitals for their ongoing commitment to prioritizing an exceptional patient experience, while ensuring the health and safety of their patients.”

The powerful private organization putting a price on life -- again and again

By Sue Peschin

For the millions of families living with Alzheimer's disease, new therapies offer a glimpse of hope in an otherwise heartbreaking disease process.

But over and over again, a nongovernmental organization -which markets itself as the arbiter

In 2017, with full control of Washington, Republicans worked to repeal Obamacare only to come up short. Now that they have the majority again, we need to encourage the new leadership to offer a bold new vision that puts patients over profits and offers legislation that would protect American patient’s access to affordable care. This is an opportunity for Congress to finally implement policies that will hold insurers accountable.

A survey taken in 2019 shows that Americans collectively owe around $195 billion in medical debt and that number will only continue to rise. The US healthcare system is clearly no friend to anyone; however, this system is especially cruel to minority groups. While Americans owe around $195 billion in medical debt, the burden is unevenly distributed among American citizens. 28 percent of Black households hold medical debt compared to 17 percent of white households. Surveys have

As year 3 of the COVID-19 pandemic begins and flu season is in full throttle, health insurance companies need to start becoming our allies rather than our enemies. These insurance companies are bringing in enough profit to wipe out all medical debt several times over, yet millions of Americans, and especially minorities, are consistently losing sleep over how to pay off surprise medical bills and monthly premiums. A system put in place to help patients get the health care they need is now strictly serving big insurance. It’s time for health insurance giants to be held accountable, and work for their patients instead of against them.

Jessica Ann Tyson is President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation Michigan Chapter. Tyson has been listed as one of the Most Influential Women by Grand Rapids Business Journal. She was appointed to Building the 21st Century Economy Commission and Michigan Board of Nursing Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Health Care Services by former Governor Rick Snyder in 2014.

Award-winning Chief Financial Officer Roger B. Sweis

LOS ANGELES (February 22, 2023) — Essential Health Access welcomes Roger B. Sweis to their Executive Leadership Team as a Chief Financial Officer. Roger will lead the Essential Health finance team in fulfilling the commitment to equity in expanding and protecting sexual and reproductive health care for all.

The Wheelhouse Project, in addition to serving as Executive Vice President or Co-Founder.

Team awards Roger has been recognized with include American Health Data Conference’s Top 5 AHIMA Startup of the Year, Robinhood Foundation’s Social Impact Award and PepsiCo Challenge’s Innovation Grant Award.

of which medical treatments are worth insurance coverage -- has erected barriers between patients and potentially life-changing medicines.

The organization, the Institute

The powerful private organization putting a price on life -- again and again...continued for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), issues value assessments on new, FDAapproved therapies, usually for conditions where patients either have no treatment options or have run out of them.

One of many obstacles that patients and the groups that advocate on their behalf must overcome in their fight to secure coverage for new medications are ICER's duplicative, burdensome "requests for public comment."

Patients and advocacy groups like mine can't simply ignore these requests, since ICER's reports influence whether health insurance providers, both public and private, make medicines available to patients. Even the Department of Veterans Affairs and state Medicaid agencies rely on ICER assessments.

If we don't respond, the patients we represent run a real risk of losing access to medicines, especially since ICER's methodology -- and its recommendations -- undervalue treatments for populations that have fewer expected years of life left or shorter average life spans than the overall population.

Consider how ICER's reports rely on a metric known as a Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY).

In a QALY analysis, a year of so-called "perfect" health is more valuable than a year in which a person experiences health problems. By the same reasoning, a drug that returns a patient to that supposedly perfect state is considered more costeffective than an identically priced one that merely prolongs life or alleviates symptoms.

The fundamental problem with this rating tool is that it

discriminates against any group of people who are sicker or older than the general population. That includes people with disabilities, as well as groups who experience poorer health because they face inequities in access to care.

A recent ICER request for comment concerned lecanemab, a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease that was approved under accelerated approval by the FDA in early January.

The older age demographic and large number of people impacted provides plenty of fodder for ICER's QALY-based assessment to assign Alzheimer's treatments a lower cost-effectiveness.

This kind of cold valuation of whose life is worth living can play out terribly for people who face long-term health challenges as they age.

Yet, the private health insurance companies that cover tens of millions of Americans are relying on ICER, which uses QALY-based methodology, to help them decide whether to cover new FDA-approved treatments for cancer, rare diseases, Alzheimer's and other life-threatening conditions.

No one elected ICER or appointed it to a government role -- at least not yet. Payers have simply handed them the power to make life-or-death decisions. The Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to set prices for prescription drugs starting in 2026, and left the door wide open to how it will be operationalized. ICER is at the front of the line, standing by -- and that should concern all of us.

Sue Peschin is the president and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research

Roger is an award-winning Chief Financial Officer with 20 years of leadership experience. In his career, he has helped mission-driven organizations take their operations to the next level. He is a Founder/CoFounder of 13 social enterprise organizations and special assistant to founders of over 100 organizations, nonprofits and real estate investment groups with a proven track record of successful government grant and contract management As Essential Access Health’s CFO, Roger will lead and oversee the organization's financial, accounting, tax compliance, employee benefits, contracts and facilities. He will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the finance, accounting and administrative functions, and provide financial strategy, budget management and forecasting needs to the organization. This drives the Essential Access mission to advance health equity through a wide range of programs and services including clinic support initiatives, provider training, advanced clinical research, advocacy and public awareness campaigns. Most recently, Roger served as the CFO of Community Health Councils in Los Angeles. In this role, he successfully managed a multidisciplinary team and the organization’s first large-scale federal audit. In addition, he led business process improvements in the HR, IT and Legal & Compliance divisions to help navigate 300% growth in revenue. Roger has also held CFO positions for organizations like Startup For America, SmarterHealth.io and

Roger received his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Psychology from the University of Illinois. He received his master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance & Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago, where he was a Capstone Award Recipient. Roger is a founding team member of Impact Hub Nashville and a member of the Nashville Social Enterprise Alliance and Disruptive Innovation.

For more information on Essential Access Health, please visit www.essentialaccess.org.

About Essential Access Health

Essential Access Health champions and promotes quality sexual + reproductive health care for all. We achieve our mission through a wide range of programs and services including clinic support initiatives, provider trainings, advanced clinical research and advocacy + consumer awareness. Essential Access leads the Title X federal family planning program in California and Hawaii. Essential Access was established in 1968, grounded in the belief that the ability to plan our families and futures and make informed, autonomous choices about our sexual and reproductive health are essential for overall health and well-being. More than fifty years later, Essential Access is committed to making access to high-quality, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and information a reality for everyone – regardless of income, race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or health insurance or documentation status.

SATURDAY MAY 6TH 2023 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Growing Environmental Justice Concerns Surround Proposed Rail Merger

By Hazel Trice Edney

wasn’t right before disaster in East Palestine, and it feels even more negligent now in the face of such clear evidence of the stakes of the rail safety debate.

The primary adverse impact identified by the EPA in its analysis of the environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared by the STB was noise. Certainly, noise is no small concern. Those living in communities adjacent to busy freight rail lines can attest to the disruption that comes along with a massive train rattling windows at all hours. But noise isn’t the only consideration. Minority communities adjacent to the Canadian Pacific/Kansas City Southern lines would face a host of other impacts, from poor air quality to increased congestion and reduced emergency response time due to traffic at crossings.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) -

It’s an unfortunate truth that over the course of our nation’s history, progress has often come at the expense of Black and other racial minority communities. From heavy manufacturing to busy rail lines, too often, communities of color are expected to pay more than their share of the cost of development.

The ongoing fallout from last month’s derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio illustrates in no uncertain terms just how crucial the question of environmental justice is to the future of rail safety in America.

This writer has reported multiple concerns in past columns that a pending merger between two large railroads— Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern—would be the next example of minority

communities being asked to bear the brunt of development. New comments submitted to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have only added fuel to that fire.

Regulatory agencies aren’t typically known for their brevity. So, in its paraphrased comments to the STB, the EPA suggested that those reviewing the merger proposal conduct further analysis to determine the “disproportionate adverse impact the proposed acquisition would have” on poor neighborhoods – also known as environmental justice communities.

Put another way, the EPA is worried that this proposal will— like so many that came before it—have a greater negative impact on minority communities than on the nation at large. This simply isn’t right. It

The stakes have only grown higher following the East Palestine tragedy. The nation has seen what can happen to communities along rail lines. The risk of an incident has always been there, but that risk feels significantly more tangible in light of the images of dark chemical clouds looming above a small town in Ohio.

What’s more, one of the local elected officials in East Palestine recently wrote to the STB urging concern over the merger’s impact on the movement of hazardous materials across the country noting that the proposed acquisition would result in a staggering two million additional tank cars moving on the nation’s rail lines filled with the same hazardous materials that derailed and created such an

This Spring Declutter Your Home And Donate Your Items To Support A Good Cause

environmental calamity in Ohio.

Minority communities shouldn’t be expected to simply accept these risks. The EPA is clear: More study is needed to determine just how severe the impact on environmental justice communities tied to this acquisition would be.

There’s a reason so many concerned observers have spoken up in opposition to this proposal.

From local officials in Houston, Texas, and Ohio to Senators Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, and Tammy Duckworth, the acquisition has sparked concerns about safety and competitiveness. The Department of Justice even wrote in opposition due to concerns associated with antitrust laws.

Freight rail is, without question, crucial to the overall economic health of the U.S. But focus on economic health should not come at the expense of focus on the health of minority communities.

There is no doubt that supporters of this acquisition would prefer to move quickly. Those seated in board rooms rarely welcome calls for further study and analysis. But, to those who live and work along the rail lines in question—the idea of rushing approval of such a project is difficult to comprehend.

The STB should listen to the EPA, the DOJ, members of Congress and those on the front lines of the disaster in Ohio. Rushing approval benefits few outside of the aforementioned board rooms.

Further study could very well save lives.

San Bernardino, CA, March

14, 2023-Are you overwhelmed with clutter or excess of personal items occupying your space and don't know where to begin organizing it? There's no time like the present to clean out your closets and cupboards and donate your old gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, books, blankets, small appliances and other home goods to the Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. Clothing Donation DriveThru Event on Saturday, May 6th, 2023 10:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. at the New Hope Family Life Center located at 1505 W. Highland Ave. San Bernardino, Ca 92411.

"Drive-up and we'll unload your vehicles,” said Executive Director Melanee Stovall. "So many of us have an abundance of clothing that we no longer wear or an overflow of shoes, accessories and other items that we just don't know what to do with. Here's an opportunity to give those unwanted items a new home. Sort through your closets and cupboards and set aside these items in preparation of the largest donation drive-thru event in the Inland Empire," she said.

The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. (LBF) is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit corporation founded to support individuals and families who suffer from epilepsy and other seizure related disorders. LBF's mission is to raise awareness of the disease of epilepsy and other seizure related disorders, shine a light for those individuals and families affected, and partner with other

organizations to find a cure.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, "epilepsy affects 1 out of every 26 individuals; 3.4 million people nationwide, more than 65 million people globally, and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year."

“This is a unique two-fold opportunity that we strongly encourage you to participate in, as it will free up space in your homes and allow you to support a local nonprofit organization doing tremendous work,” said Volunteer Director Melody Solomon. "Items we accept include: gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, books, blankets, small appliances and other home goods. We cannot accept the following: encyclopedias, hazardous or construction materials, or weapons. Please use bags for clothes and textiles and tightly packed boxes for small household goods. All items must be in clean condition," she added. Unable to make this event?

Contact us to coordinate pickup or drop-off of donations. For more information or to volunteer, call (951)3740933 or email us at admin@ legacybridgesfoundation.org.

T make a monetary contribution today, visit www.givebutter.com/ LegacyBridgesFoundationDonations. Support the foundation's mission to raise awareness, shine a light and partner to find a cure. All contributions are fully taxdeductible to the extent of the law.