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FHL Bank San Francisco Helps Families and Individuals Achieve the American Dream of Homeownership

By Teresa Bryce Bazemore President and CEO Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

Pres. Biden Visits California Community Devastated by Gun Violence

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Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

LONG BEACH, CA - Doris

Ealy, 56, never felt comfortable renting a room under someone else’s roof. The single mother of four children and grandmother to four didn’t like cooking in a shared kitchen or how her landlord insisted on keeping the windows shut, causing a dank smell to waft in the air. Doris especially didn’t appreciate hearing bickering late into the evening, even though her housemates knew she worked the night shift.

For nearly two decades, Doris has had a stable job at a distribution center with a wellknown delivery service. But her uncertain housing situation was an ongoing source of stress. Then things started to truly unravel when the duplex owned by a relative where she rented a room was sold to an investor. Soon she heard a dreaded knock on her door: the new property manager was there to ask for her keys.

“I headed to the bus stop, and sitting there, I just started crying,” Doris recalls. She "was feeling damned-near homeless,” as she prepared to make yet another move to yet another rented room in someone else’s home.

At that point, Doris decided it was time to make a big change.

“Growing-up my dad would say to me, ‘You ain’t grown until you have your own home’,” Doris recalled. “I didn’t want to rent a room from someone else anymore.” She wanted her own place where she could cook in her own kitchen and feel comfortable spending time at home.

Doris’ aspirations of having a home of her own began to come into reach when she was connected a homeownership counseling service. Out of frustration after her latest move, Doris had shared her housing woes with her sister, who had heard good things about Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS), a nonprofit housing counseling agency (HCA) that specializes in helping people prepare for homeownership. She urged Doris to call them.

For a $149 fee, Doris enrolled in NHS’ self-paced online homebuyer education program.

The course, which NHS offers to people across the economic spectrum, opens doors to getting a mortgage pre-approval and accessing special downpayment assistance programs. Through the course, Doris was taught how appraisals and escrow accounts work, got tips for how to work with real estate professionals when shopping for a home, and learned things every homeowner ought to know about how to plan for the costs of home maintenance and repairs.

“NHS educated me stepby-step on how to become a homeowner,” said Doris.

“Once I got my homebuyer education program certificate of completion, I was on a roll.” NHS counselors continued to work with Doris after she completed the homebuyer course, helping her monitor her credit score and establish a personal budget to save for her downpayment, and making sure that she had all the paperwork she needed to apply for a mortgage loan available and organized.

About six months after Doris started working with NHS, her homeownership counseling specialist “ran the numbers” that showed Doris would be preapproved for a mortgage from four different lenders. Getting the pre-approvals was an important achievement for Doris. But in a high-cost housing market like Southern California, coming up with a downpayment large enough to make her mortgage payments affordable over the long-term was yet another challenge.

NHS saw that Doris could be eligible for a matching grant from FHLBank San Francisco’s WISH first-time homebuyer program, which is designed to help aspiring homeowners overcome one of the biggest barriers to achieving their dream and building wealth. The program matches $4 for every $1 a low- to moderate-income homebuyer contributes for downpayment and closing costs.

WISH grants are delivered by the Bank’s member financial institutions. Member Luther Burbank Savings, which approved Doris for her mortgage, has participated in the program since 2013, delivering nearly $1.7 million to 99 homebuyers in their local communities.

Doris was thrilled to receive a call from a Luther Burbank Savings loan officer congratulating her on receiving the mortgage pre-approval and confirming her eligibility for a WISH grant. Doris was able to put enough money down from her retirement and other savings to receive a $22,000 WISH grant, which would significantly reduce her monthly mortgage payments.

“A WISH grant oftentimes is the difference between homeownership being just a dream rather than a reality,” said Simone Lagomarsino, president and CEO at Luther Burbank Savings and chair of FHLBank San Francisco’s board of directors. “We are so happy we were able to finance the mortgage for Ms. Ealy, provide an additional $5,100 in support through Luther Burbank Savings’ own grant program, and award the WISH grant that helped Ms. Ealy obtain a place that she can now call home, where she feels safe.”

Doris closed on her onebedroom condominium in Long Beach, California in May of 2022.

“I’m happy now,” she says. “It feels good to have a key to turn, and be at home. It gives me peace of mind, and I love it.”

(This is one of a series of articles on the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s initiatives to expand racial equity in homeownership to strengthen our communities.)

On his trip to California last week, President Biden first stopped in San Diego to meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The heads of state have formed a strategic alliance to scale up military technology intended to protect interests in the China Sea, an important trade route.

Biden then traveled up the coast to Monterey Park approximately seven miles east of downtown Los Angeles where he met with families of the victims of the mass shooting at Star Dance Studio, where 11 people were killed and nine injured during a Lunar New Year Celebration on Jan. 21.

“I’m here on behalf of the American people, to mourn with you, to pray with you, to let you know you are loved and not alone,” Biden said in the gymnasium of a Boys & Girls Club half a mile from the site of the shooting. “I know what it’s like to get that call. I know what it’s like to lose a loved one so suddenly. It’s like losing a piece of your soul.”

Biden announced an executive order to enhance background checks on firearm buyers.

“My executive order directs my Attorney General to take every lawful action possible to move us as close as we can to universal background checks without new legislation,” President Biden said.

“The Executive Order also expands public awareness red flag laws,” Biden continued. “So, more parents, teachers, police offices, health providers and counselors know how to flag for the court that someone is exhibiting violent tendencies, threating classmates, or experiencing suicidal thoughts that make them a danger to themselves or others and temporarily remove that person’s access to firearms.”

The executive order also aims to hold the gun industry accountable by providing the public and policymakers with more information regarding federally licensed firearms dealers who are violating the law.

“The President is directing the Attorney General to publicly release, to the fullest extent permissible by law, ATF records from the inspection of firearms dealers cited for violation of federal firearm laws. This information will empower the public and policymakers to better understand the problem, and then improve our laws to hold rogue gun dealers accountable,” the White House said in a statement.

The President has also called on the Federal Trade Commission to perform “an independent government study that analyzes and exposes how gun manufacturers aggressively market firearms to civilians, especially minors, including by using military imagery.”

In addition, the Executive Order addresses federal law enforcement’s reporting of ballistics data, and the implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). That law was passed in 2022 after a man with racist ideology killed 10 Black people and injured 3 at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York. Soon after that incident, an 18-year-old lone gunman killed 21 and injured 17 at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

“None of this absolves Congress of the responsibility of acting to pass universal background checks, eliminate gun manufacturers immunity from liability. I am determined, once again, to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Biden told the Monterey Park audience.

Congresswoman Judy Chu(D-CA-28), a former mayor of Monterey Park, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis (1st District), and Sen. Alex Padilla spoke at the event preceding the President.

Several members of Monterey Park’s local government and city council attended the event.

As part of his broader strategy to tackle gun violence, the President announced an initiative to improve federal support for survivors, victims’ and survivors’ families, first responders to gun violence, and communities affected by gun violence.

“We need to provide more mental health support for grief and trauma. And more financial assistance when a family loses the sole breadwinner or when a business has to shut down for a lengthy shooting investigation,” Biden said.

The Executive Order calls for Congress to prevent the proliferation of firearms undetectable by metal detectors by making permanent the Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988, which is currently set to expire in December 2023.

Apply Now: California College Corps Is Offering Students Much More Than $10,000 Stipends

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Apply Now: California College Corps Is Offering Students Much More Than $10,000 Stipends... continued

CSU Long Beach (CSULB). Both are first generation college students. One is undocumented.

According to Ishmael Pruitt, CEO and cofounder, Project Optimism is a non-profit that supports equitable access to nature and environmental justice education to elementary aged children within the Long Beach Unified School District. It focuses on mentorship, empowerment, and uniting community engagement (including food insecurity), and personal development.

“We are big on mentoring the mentor,” said Pruitt. “Every intern and employee gets mentored by myself, one of the other directors, or someone from our board. So, they get direct coaching and support beyond their role working with us.”

Beth Manke is a program lead at CSULB. She matches College Corps students with the non-profit organizations they are assigned to for the program. Manke currently supervises 50 undergraduate students, completing 450 hours of work for 27 different organizations.

“We envision the service they are completing as internships. These are experiences that have proven to be quite transformative for our students,” said Manke. “We honor and draw on the students’ cultural backgrounds by acknowledging their life experiences and how they shape their academic success and wellbeing.”

The briefing also focused on the challenges students are facing on college campuses post-pandemic and how College Corps can help alleviate some of those issues.

Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, a clinical psychologist and Diversity Lead of Student Life at the University of Washington

Ginger Ontiveros Retires From SBCUSD

Community /Education News spoke about some of the mental health challenges students are facing and avenues for healing.

“Anxiety is a leading factor for folks on college campuses,” said Dr. Briscoe-Smith. “There was an escalation for students with mental health challenges pre-pandemic. We are finding we are anticipating beating levels of worsening mental health on campus. Many clinicians are hearing challenges of hopelessness, purposelessness, and isolation. Finding purpose through service is something that can be very helpful. The skills that you’re learning and to be able to see yourself in the folks that you serve is an amazing opportunity for transformation and connection.”

Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer, introduced the College Corps program a year ago and closed the event with remarks about the hope service can provide.

“When it comes to creating and fostering hope, what we know is that it’s so much more than creating a belief. It’s about action. It’s about a plan. It’s about having a real path for change. That’s what people are looking for. We are seeing the impact in the first 9 months. It gives me hope, the governor hope, and we know it’s going to bring hope to our entire state for many years to come.”

Eighty percent of students in the Corps are self-identified students of color and 70% are Pell grant recipients. Five hundred undocumented dreamers throughout the state of California participate in the program. For more information on College Corps and applying to be a fellow, visit California Volunteers.

SBCUSD Offers Support to Families During Spring Break

Community/Education News

Following an illustrious career of public service and leadership, Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer Ginger Ontiveros announced her retirement from the San Bernardino City Unified School District effective March 31.

Ontiveros, who started with SBCUSD more than six years ago, has served on the Superintendent’s Executive Cabinet since she was hired.

During her career as Executive Director of the Making Hope Happen Foundation, Ginger was instrumental in advancing the work of the thriving nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing opportunities, resources, and hope with the students of San Bernardino City Unified.

To date, Ginger is credited with aggressively pursuing a variety of financial resources, bringing millions of dollars in public and private grant funding to SBCUSD. More recently, Ginger supervised the daily operations of the District’s Communications and Community Engagement Departments, leading her team to earn statewide recognition earlier this month by bringing home a prestigious Excellence in Communications Award from CalSPRA for the District’s Welcome to My Kindergarten Family marketing campaign.

The award recognizes superior achievement in meeting strategic goals through high-quality communications and public relations initiatives.

“Ginger not only has years of outstanding service to the San Bernardino and Highland community, but she has also provided strategic leadership through the early days of our Making Hope Happen Foundation and she has a proven track record of providing valuable counsel to the Board of Education and Cabinet,” said Board of Education President Dr. Scott Wyatt. “I want to publicly thank Ginger for her service and dedication to serving our students and helping grow our Making Hope Happen Foundation.”

A resident of the High Desert, Ginger is a graduate of California State University, San Bernardino with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication/Public Relations and earned her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. A product of the Community College system, Ginger was previously inducted into the Victor Valley College Alumni Hall of Fame to honor her legacy of leadership for the High Desert region.

“Those of us who know Ginger personally admire her not only for her fundraising efforts, but also for the amazing person that she is,” Wyatt said. “We wish her well and we’re confident the community will continue to benefit from her valued leadership.”

Damon’s Story: How WDB, InTech and apprenticeship changed one man’s life

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state’s #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program which has so far provided $10,000 grants to some 6,500 low-income college students as a stipend in exchange for their community service work.

Nearly a year after the paidservice program was first announced, the Governor’s office is hailing its impact on communities and the lives of the students who participate in it.

“The program has proven to be a transformative experience for both students and the organizations where they work,” said Sandy Close, director of Ethnic Media Services, who recently moderated a press briefing to inform the public about the program’s contribution and some of the challenges it has faced.

The event, co-hosted by California Black Media, featured stakeholders representing all aspects of the program talking about their experiences.

“I feel like I’ve gone from being a student who once desperately needed a safe space to learn to being the trusted adult who can provide students with a natural learning environment where they each have a deep sense of belonging, knowing they are seen, heard, supported and valued,” said Emilio Ruiz, a 24-year-old student pursuing his teaching certification.

Ruiz shared his experiences as a College Corps fellow, mentioning how his upbringing as a child of divorced parents -constantly moving, experiencing financial distress, and witnessing domestic abuse – spurred his desire for a safe space to learn and grow.

College Corps, Ruiz says, gave him an opportunity to receive his education without the added stress of taking on financial aid debt. Moreover, he gained practical experience while doing service-oriented work in his community.

College Corps is a state initiative that addresses “societal challenges” by creating a generation of civic-minded leaders from low-income families. Its programs focus on challenges facing California like climate resilience and economic inequality.

According to the Governor’s office, Black and Latino students have the highest rates of student loan default and owe an estimated $147 billion in college loan debt.

In Long Beach, Project Optimism, currently hosts two College Corps fellows from

San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) students will be off on Spring Break for two weeks starting March 20 and returning to class on Monday, April 3, 2023.

Middle College High School and Inland Career Education Center (ICEC) students have a single week of Spring Break from Monday, March 20 through Friday, March 24. Expanded Learning—Sunrise/ CAPS, SBCUSD’s beforeand after-school program, is offering The Greatest Spring Break on Earth, a circusthemed intersession program. The free program offers academic enrichment and physical activity opportunities to students in transitional kindergarten through high school from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 61 school sites during Spring Break. That’s more than triple the number of sites compared to Spring Break last year.

Registration has closed for The Greatest Spring Break on Earth, but summer school registration is currently underway. Summer school registration closes March 17 for TK–eighth-grade scholars and April 7 for high school students. SBCUSD sent registration information via the ParentSquare notification system.

“We’re proud to be able to offer this opportunity for students who may need extra support or parents who need a safe place for their children to stay while they work,” said Ann Pearson, Director of Expanded Learning–Sunrise/CAPS.

SBCUSD is providing every student in kindergarten through 12th grade with an at-home COVID test this week. Families are encouraged to test students for COVID before returning to school after the break to help reduce the spread of COVID in our schools.

Community /Education News children grew older. At 41 years old, I grew tired of working two jobs, and realized it was time for a career change,” Bridges said.

Through WDB and the Chaffey College InTech Center, he enrolled in an industrial apprentice program. “There were a lot of long days and long nights, but with the support of Workforce and Chaffey, things just felt right,” he said.

Through the challenges of devastating life events, Damon Bridges needed something to change his fortunes and bring peace to him and his family. He found that, through the support of WDB and an apprenticeship program that prepared him for a life-changing career change.

Bridges’ seemingly impossible journey began as a young man, with dreams of attending a fouryear university but believing it was out of reach. In 2009, his wife died of breast cancer, leaving Bridges to raise two young children while working two full-time jobs to make ends meet.

“The years passed and my

Then tragedy struck again, when, on August 21, 2021, his son Shemar was murdered. “In life, people go through things that will cause you to lose focus, but I knew my son would have wanted me to complete my goal. He was my motivation to complete the program,” Bridges said. He graduated in November 2021, and the next month was hired by Ventura Foods in Ontario as an apprentice. This past December, he was promoted to Maintenance Mechanic. “I wouldn’t call this a success story because it is not a race it is a marathon,” he said. “There is so much I want to do for my community. I’d love to mentor the youth. Help them accomplish their goals and dreams. Show them that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and put in the necessary work.”

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