SB American News Week Ending 6/21

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 of injustice and 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 of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress.

—Fredrick Douglass (1849)

Keeping it Real: The Supreme Court Rules on Race and Redistricting or Did It?

by S.E. Williams

Larrea Middle School ready for launch

New school welcoming incoming 7th-graders

Community News

Thursday and in a surprising decision by the conservative court upheld Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Credit: Steven Frame via Shutterstock

The old adage that reminds us even “a broken clock is right twice a day,” recently proved true even for the nation’s currently rightleaning and ultra conservative U.S. Supreme Court.

In a ruling last Thursday that surprised many of the high court’s critics, including myself, by a vote of 5-4, the “justices” ruled in favor of “justice”.

In what has been described as “a major voting rights decision” a majority of justices agreed that Alabama’s new congressional map “likely” violates Section 2 of the seminal 1865 Voting Rights Act.

Now, I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth but when all of Alabama’s Black folks were packed into one of the state’s seven congressional districts it

was hard to see how even this court could ruled otherwise–especially when data shows that about 25.9 percent the state’s residents identify as African American or Black.

Resident Population

Distribution of Alabama in 2021, by race and ethnicity*

Sadly, however, I’m equally as sure the court just as easily could have found some archaic justification to rule to the contrary–fortunately in this instance, it did not.

After the court’s ruling last week, the question remaining on the table is how will this ruling impact states like Louisiana where almost a third of the state’s population identifies as African American/Black and yet, there is only one Black congressional

*This graphic shows a slight decrease in the African American/ Black population of Alabama from the 28.6% reflected in the 2020 Census on which the congressional maps were based. (Graphic source: statista.com 2023)

district in the state while the remaining five are majoritywhite. Or, in Florida for example where the power of the Black vote has also been diluted and at least one congressional seat lost since 2020.

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act clearly bars election practices that result in a denial or abridgement of the right to vote based on race and although it is clear the high court ruled correctly last Thursday, it does not absolve it from its blatant and abysmal failure to do the right thing before the November election last year when it blocked a lower court ruling by a threejudge panel that had reached the very same conclusion reached by the Supreme Court on Thursday–that Alabama’s congressional

map “likely” violated the Voting Rights Act.

By blocking the lower court’s ruling last year, the Supreme Court intentionally opened the congressional electoral door in favor of Republicans.

As a result, Republicans won six of Alabama’s seven House seats in November and gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives by the slimmest of margins.

“In a democratic society, the purpose of voting is to allow the electors to select their governors. Once a decade, however, that process is inverted, and the governors and their political agents are permitted to select their electors. Through the process of redistricting,

VICTORVILLE — With a name chosen and a principal in place, Larrea Middle School is set to welcome incoming 7thgraders for its inaugural school year beginning in August.

Joe Williams has been selected as the principal of the Victor Valley Union High School District's newest school. Williams is a longtime VVUHSD employee who previously served in assistant principal roles at Lakeview Leadership Academy, Silverado High and Goodwill High / Victor Valley Virtual Academy.

not allow a school to be named after someone who passed away less than five years prior (Diaz passed in 2021). The Board and Superintendent Carl Coles said at a recent meeting that they are committed to naming another facility after Diaz in the future.

A mascot will be decided by the 7th-grade students who attend Larrea in the coming school year.

Juneteenth 2023: California Celebrates Black Freedom

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

already been free. And then the years that followed were still filled with violence, hatred and bigotry towards us.”

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of June 19th, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were notified by Union soldiers that they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Even before that national proclamation, Juneteenth had been recognized as a holiday in California.

California Black Media spoke with Ronald Preston Clark, a writer and educator in San Diego. He shared his perspective on the holiday and how, even though he grew up in a family connected to Black culture, he did not really appreciate the full significance of the Juneteenth until he was a student at Hampton University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Virginia.

“I didn't start to look into celebrating it until being surrounded by the excellence at Hampton. As I've gotten older, and further into my teaching

career, I have been more intentional with my celebration and understanding of Juneteenth. I am now sure to educate others on its significance,” he said. Clark is not alone in his experience. For many Americans – including some Black Americans -- Juneteenth was not celebrated in their families or taught in schools. It wasn’t until activists and historians led grassroots movements for decades that the holiday became more widely recognized.

While Clark says he is happy to celebrate Juneteenth with his family and to see the holiday gain national recognition, he doesn’t want it to turn into a commercialized event like other cultural holidays.

“We should always remember that the reason for the holiday is that our ancestors were set freetwo years after they should have

Two and a half years earlier, on December 31st, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes across the country to celebrate what was known as “Freedom’s Eve.”

They were anticipating news that President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation that ended slavery in Confederate States had become official on January 1,1863.

However, not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it could not be implemented in some places in the Deep South still under Confederate control.

As a result, in Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, enslaved people would not be free until approximately 2,000 Union troops led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger arrived

in Galveston Bay on June 19, 1865. and announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree.

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation commemorating Juneteenth in California.

“This Juneteenth, I urge all Californians to reflect on the ongoing cause of freedom for Black Americans remembering that, though General Granger’s announcement in 1865 called for “absolute equality,” that vision was, and remains, far from complete.”

Here is a snapshot of some Juneteenth 2023 celebrations taking place around the state:

The California Black Women’s Collective is joining GirlTrek, a national Black women’s health movement, to celebrate Juneteenth with a walk in solidarity with others across the country.

The organization is encouraging women around the state to organize a local walk in their neighborhoods on June 17, wear blue and amplify their activities online with pin drops, a printable digital poster, and the hashtags #GirlTrek and #WelcomeWalks.

continued on page 4 continued on page 3

“I’m extremely humbled to be named the first principal of the newest school in our district,” Williams said. “As our community grows, so do the expectations of our district to make sure we produce students who are college bound, career tech ready and are productive members of our society. I can’t wait to get started on our next chapter here at VVUHSD!”

Larrea hosted a well-attended enrollment fair for prospective 7th-graders last week, and enrollment is growing quickly, Williams said. To register a student for Larrea Middle School, visit www.vvuhsd. org/enroll for enrollment information and a link to start the online enrollment process.

Larrea is serving only 7th grade in 2023-24, then the campus will expand to include grades 7-8 in its second year.

A committee composed of district staff, district leadership, community members and students convened earlier this year to choose possible names for the new school, with the VVUHSD Board of Trustees making the final choice. The Board settled on Larrea, which is the name of a genus of plants that includes the creosote bush — a native Mojave Desert plant.

Another possible name put forth by the committee was Felix G. Diaz Middle School, in honor of the longtime local resident, community leader, teacher and Army veteran. Though several board members said they favored naming the school after Diaz, the board bylaws do

Larrea is located at the site of the former Cobalt Middle School in Victorville, across from Silverado High School. The campus was renovated by VVUHSD maintenance crews after being mostly unused since 2013, when Cobalt Middle School was expanded to grades 7-12 and renamed Cobalt Institute of Math & Science, moving to another location.

Larrea Middle School’s grand opening on Aug. 7 will coincide with a reduction in class sizes to 25-to-1 for middle school core classes (English, math, history and science) at all three of the district’s comprehensive middle schools, including Hook Junior High and Lakeview Leadership Academy. All three schools will see less-crowded campuses and smaller classes.

“The heart of education is the connection between a teacher and a student,” Coles said. “Smaller class sizes help that connection to flourish; it’s a win-win for teachers and students. We believe this strategy will raise proficiency in core subjects and improve literacy, which is a key to success for all students.”

The school’s attendance boundaries lie mostly west of Interstate 15 between Bear Valley and Palmdale roads. Larrea will serve students who are currently 6th-graders at Brentwood School of Environmental Studies, Discovery School of the Arts, Galileo School of Gifted and Talented Education, Liberty School of Innovation and Creativity, and Park View Preparatory School of 21st Century Learning. Transfers from other areas are also welcome.

The school will offer bussing, and the planned start time is 8 a.m., Williams said. Visit lms. vvuhsd.org to learn more.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Allen v. Milligan on

Micah May Named Omnitrans Director of Information Technology

Community News

experience, along with his performance optimization skill set, will be invaluable as we seek innovative technology to enhance service,” said CEO/ General Manager Erin Rogers.

“I am looking forward to working with the IT team to strengthen and develop systems that benefit internal and external Omnitrans customers,” said May.

Omnitrans Director of IT Micah May

(San Bernardino, CA)

Omnitrans is pleased to welcome Micah May as the agency’s new Director of Information Technology (IT).

As leader of the IT Department, May will oversee agency network systems infrastructure, cybersecurity, emerging technology, and business continuity while managing the agency IT team.

“Micah’s public sector

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino receives a $70,000 Nourishing Neighbors grant from Albertsons and Vons Foundation’s Breakfast for Kids Program!... continued non-perishable food for children to eat when the school district is closed for summer vacation.

Prior to Omnitrans, May served as Deputy Court Executive Office – Technology CIO for the Superior Court of California County of San Bernardino and Assistant Deputy Court Executive Officer for the Superior Court of California County of Riverside. May is a graduate of American Intercontinental University, and currently is working toward his Master of Business Administration degree from West Texas A & M University

Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino receives a $70,000 Nourishing Neighbors grant from Albertsons and Vons Foundation’s Breakfast for Kids Program!

(Riverside, Calif – June

8, 2023) – Feeding America

Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) received a $70,000 grant from the Albertsons and Vons Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program. The grant

was provided by the Albertsons Vons Foundation and will be used to provide the summer meals project, which aims to provide breakfast items and other continued in next 2 columns

“We’re excited to partner with Albertsons and Vons to help our community’s children start their days with a nutritious breakfast,” said Carolyn Solar, CEO of FARSB. “Together with the Albertsons and Vons Foundation, we’ll continue to tackle the ongoing food insecurity issues in our community.”

FARSB is the leading hunger relief and food rescue organization serving the Inland Empire region through partnership with over 250 local nonprofits. The food bank operates multiple nutrition programs and works to create a hunger-free reality for children, seniors, veterans and neighbors in need.

“We’re pleased to partner with FARSB to address hunger

SBCUSD Celebrates Successful Completion Of Forklift Training And OSHA Safety Program For Special Education Young Adults...continued

issues in our community,” said Kevin Curry, Southern California Division President. “Nourishing Neighbors, together with partners like FARSB, is making our neighborhoods better for our most vulnerable community members.”

Nourishing Neighbors is a charitable program of the Albertsons and Vons Foundation. The program aims to eradicate hunger in America by keeping food banks stocked and supporting meal distribution programs at schools. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including over $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

SBCUSD Celebrates Successful Completion Of Forklift Training And OSHA Safety Program For Special Education Young Adults

Community /Education News

In a remarkable display of dedication and determination, a group of special education young adults, ages 18 to 23, successfully completed a free vocational training program in forklift operation and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety.

This significant achievement of the students who participated in the Working on Real Careers

Program (WORC) not only highlights the potential of individuals with special needs but also showcases the power of inclusive education and vocational training in creating meaningful opportunities for their future. The San Bernardino City Unified School District offered the training in collaboration with

continued in next 2 columns

the San Bernardino Community College District Workforce Development and the SBCUSD Bridge to WORC program headed by Special Education teacher Francine Apacible.

Recognizing the importance of inclusive education and vocational training, SBCUSD and the college district came together to support individuals with special needs in acquiring essential skills that give them more opportunities to find skilled work. Through this comprehensive program, these young adults were given an equal chance to develop their talents, gain practical knowledge, and enhance their employability prospects.

The vocational training program centered on two vital areas: forklift operation and OSHA-10 safety regulations. Participants were provided with hands-on training in operating forklifts, which included mastering essential skills such as maneuvering, loading, and unloading. Simultaneously, they learned about OSHA safety guidelines, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of workplace safety practices and protocols, Apacible said.

The WORC program takes a tailored approach, considering the unique needs and abilities of each participant. Trained instructors and educators provided personalized support and guidance, adapting teaching methods to suit the learning styles of individuals with special needs. This inclusive approach fostered a supportive environment that encouraged growth, self-confidence, and skill development among participants.

“The journey towards completing the vocational

training program was not without its challenges,” Apacible said. “But the participants’ resilience, determination, and unwavering commitment shone through as they tackled obstacles and honed their skills.”

In fact, 2 participants achieved full certification in all 4 levels of training, 7 students were certified in operating a pallet jack, and 8 students earned the OSHA-10 safety training.

The recent successful completion of the forklift training and OSHA-10 safety program is a milestone worth celebrating, said SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano.

“It represents not only the accomplishments of these exceptional individuals but also the limitless potential and abilities of the special needs community,” said Arellano. “Their achievements stand as a testament to the power of providing inclusive vocational training opportunities that empower individuals with special needs to lead independent and fulfilling lives.”

Equipped with valuable vocational skills, these special education adults are now better prepared to enter the workforce and pursue meaningful employment opportunities. The acquired forklift operation and OSHA safety knowledge position them for various job roles in industries such as warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing. With the right support and inclusive hiring practices, they have the potential to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the workforce. And since the students completed the training through the community college district, they are also eligible for employment services.

Schools

This June, plan your summer travel with the REAL ID

Nation’s debt limit bill more a financial reprieve than resolution: ...continued candidly. “It could have been absolutely devastating and I think the nation has dodged a bullet.”

For millions of Americans, however, a ‘financial bullet’ will hit home soon – especially for Black Americans, other people of color, and the poor.

“The deal avoids the calamity of default, but weakens environmental protection, IRS capacity needed to collect revenue, and adds burdensome requirements for Americans seeking public assistance,” stated Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “The debt ceiling should never be used to pass legislation that would fail to stand on its own merit.”

Volunteers needed for recycling classes and events

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this change will harm its already financially-challenged population:

“Beginning October 1, 2023, almost immediately after the first change would take effect, the work-reporting requirement would expand further to also apply to 51- and 52-year-olds; it would then expand to apply to 53- and 54-year-olds beginning October 1, 2024. Once fully phased in, this requirement would remain in place until October 1, 2030.”

Carrie Stanton

The REAL ID Delivers Conveniency: Apply for Yours Today

The REAL ID is here, and it’s easier to get than you think. What is the REAL ID and why do you need one?

The REAL ID is an identification card or driver’s license that is also considered a federally accepted form of identification.

Beginning May 7, 2025, federal laws will require air travelers aged 18 years and older to have a REAL ID, valid passport, or another federally approved form of identification to fly within the United States and enter secure facilities such as military bases.

If you haven’t applied for the REAL ID yet now is the perfect time! You can do it online with the necessary documents to complete the application – one proof of identity such as a valid passport, original or certified copy of birth certificate or valid permanent resident card; AND two documents to prove California residency such as a utility bill or bank statement. You can check DMV’s REAL ID checklist to see if your documents qualify as

a REAL ID document.

Once you complete the online application and upload the needed documents, you will receive a confirmation code and be asked to make an appointment online to visit your local DMV office.

Many people have completed the in-office visit in about 15 minutes with an appointment.

Over 15.8 million people in California have their REAL ID as of May 2023. Though the REAL ID isn’t required and is optional, regular California driver’s licenses and identification cards will have limits federally.

When traveling, you want to get through the airport as quickly and as simply as possible. Starting May 7, 2025, if you don’t have a REAL ID you will need to bring a passport to travel domestically.

This may cause some headaches for those who don’t have a REAL ID and aren’t used to traveling domestically with a passport. But when you have the REAL ID, it eliminates having to remember to bring your passport to fly within the United States.

Start your REAL ID application now to avoid the rush when you need it later.

Visit dmv.ca.gov/realid and get started today!

Nation’s debt limit bill more a financial reprieve than resolution:

Concerns emerge on new food stamp work requirements, student loan payments

By Charlene Crowell

For example, 45 million people now carrying $1.7 trillion in student loans will resume monthly payments, including interest charges, beginning in late August. That monthly payment translates into an average of $393, according to the College Investor’s analysis of updated research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This report also states that 45 percent of borrowers still grapple with growing debt balances.

“There’s some concern now that, as those loan repayments restart at the end of August, you’re going to see higher delinquency rates on credit cards and other types of loans. That is one of the big concerns I think economists are paying close attention to,” Michael Jones, an economics professor at the University of Cincinnati, said in a recent interview with New York Magazine.

Additionally, the enacted bill imposes new work requirements for older Americans ages 5054 receiving food stamps, technically known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.

Until now, work requirements for food stamp recipients affected those aged 49 or younger.

“We estimate that almost 750,000 older adults aged 5054 would be newly subject to SNAP’s work-reporting requirement and at risk of losing benefits under this bill, ” continued the Center. “Nearly half (48 percent) of those who would be newly at risk of losing SNAP are women.”

Long-time older American advocates like the National Council on Aging (NCOA)made plain their opposition to this new food stamp requirement.

“NCOA appreciates that the agreement protects Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid, which serve as the bedrock of retirement and health security for tens of millions of Americans, said Ramsey Alwin, its President and CEO. “However, the agreement fails to include revenue to reduce the deficit by requiring wealthy Americans and large corporations to pay their fair share. We live in the same society, and we all need to contribute to it.”

Alwin makes an important point. Unfortunately, public policy trends still tend to shortchange the millions of people who do most of the living, working, and dying in this country. This lack of equity –specifically racial equity – ought to be addressed at every level of government.

NEED HELP WITH YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN?

If you have questions about your pension, 401(k) or profit sharing plan, call the Western States Pension Assistance Project at (866) 413-4911 to get free legal advice. Funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging, WSPAP staff provides free legal assistance to anyone with a question about their retirement plan. CALL US TODAY 1.866.413.4911

This Independence Day, Remember If You Light It, We’ll Write It

Last-ditch negotiations to spare the nation a first-ever debt collapse resulted in Congress passing a legislative remedy that attracted bipartisan support. But exactly what the bill known as the Fiscal Responsibility Act actually accomplished and its effects on America’s people is still largely unknown.

Instead of a final resolution on America’s borrowing ability, the enacted bill provides a twoyear window for the Treasury Department to borrow – as needed – funds to pay the nation’s already more than $31 trillion of debt. When January 2025 arrives, a new session of Congress will face the deferred problem. Until then, according to the Congressional Budget Office, cutbacks on discretionary spending would result in a drop in projected budget deficits of about $4.8 trillion over the next decade, and a savings of $0.5 trillion in interest.

On June 2, President Joe Biden

briefed the nation in a televised appearance.

“No one got everything they wanted, but the American people got what they needed,” said the President. “We averted an economic crisis, an economic collapse. We’re cutting spending and bringing the deficits down at the same time… [O]ver the next ten years, the deficit will be cut by more than $1 trillion. And that will be on top of the record $1.7 trillion -- $1.7 trillion I already cut the deficit in my first two years of office”

“We’re on a much more fiscally responsible course than the one I inherited when I took office,” Biden added. “When I came to office, the deficit had increased every year the previous four years. And nearly $8 trillion was added to the national debt during the previous administration.”

Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal characterized the new law more

Riverside, CA- With the goal of preventing wildfires and injuries resulting from Fourth of July celebrations, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors is continuing the “If You Light it, We’ll Write it” illegal fireworks enforcement activity and education campaign.

“It’s critical that everyone understands that illegal fireworks are just that - illegal,” said Board Chair Kevin Jeffries, First District Supervisor. “These fireworks have serious costs to homes, hillsides and pets. Now there are also serious costs to the individuals transporting or setting them off.”

Enforcement activity targets the sale, transportation, and use of illegal fireworks – with fines ranging up to $5,000. In recent years, the increasing number of displays of dangerously illegal fireworks and explosives prompted calls countywide to stop this dangerous activity.

The public education portion of the campaign launches today and runs through the Fourth of July holiday, will focus on delivering critical messages to the public through multiple mediums, including road signs,

Are you interested in helping the environment? Do you like to compost or recycle? Become an outreach volunteer with the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources and help the earth by helping others become better recyclers and composters. Outreach volunteers assist with classes or events by interacting with the public, answering questions on outreach programs and distributing materials. The ideal volunteer enjoys meeting people, likes to learn new things and is passionate about the environment. The total volunteer commitment is attendance at the orientation and training meeting and ten hours of volunteer time donated each year while participating in the program. Opportunities to volunteer at classes and events exist across the entire county. Plus, the volunteers select the events, dates and times that work best for them. Bilingual volunteers are needed.

Outreach volunteers can also choose to attend extra training and volunteer more hours to become certified as a master composter. Once a volunteer reaches master composter status, the volunteer is allowed to teach classes on their own or work with schools and community gardens as a composting mentor. Outreach volunteers are integral to the success of recycling and composting programs and are recognized by the County annually for their dedication and hours worked. Orientation and training is scheduled for Friday, June 16, from 8 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources, 14310 Frederick Street, in Moreno Valley.

For more information or to register, potential outreach volunteers can visit http://www. rcwaste.org/volunteer or call 951-486-3200.

Juneteenth 2023: California Celebrates Black Freedom...continued from page 1

Los Angeles

LEIMERT PARK JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL (JUNE 19)

4395 Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles 90008

Monday, June 19 - Noon to 9 p.m.

The Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival will feature 300-plus Black-owned businesses, three main stages, two DJs stages, a spoken word stage and more.

You can find a complete list of Juneteenth events in the Los Angeles area here.

East Bay

JUNETEENTH-INBERKELEY

Alcatraz-Adeline Corridor

social media graphics, and public service announcements.

Key county departments in this effort, include the Sheriff’s Department, County Fire Department, Code Enforcement, Department of Animal Services, Veterans Services, and Riverside University Health System.

“Illegal fireworks are dangerous and cause serious injuries - sometimes fatal injuries,” said Riverside County Fire Chief Bill Weiser. “The fires ignited by the ember and remains of these fireworks damage property and cause devastating wildland fires. Across the county, great efforts are made to provide safe and enjoyable public fireworks shows. Please visit www.rvcfire.org to find a safe, professional and public fireworks show near you.”

By local ordinance, Californiaapproved “safe and sane” fireworks are only permitted within the city limits of Indio, Coachella, Blythe, and Desert Hot Springs.

Residents can report illegal fireworks on Riverside County Sheriff’s app, website or by calling their non-emergency tollfree number at (800) 950-2444.

Sunday, June 18 - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Juneteenth-in-Berkeley, held annually in June on Father’s Day, is produced by Berkeley Juneteenth Association, Inc., a non-profit, serving the community since 1986. They rebranded as Berkeley Juneteenth Cultural Celebrations to pursue and sponsor more cultural events throughout the year. You can find more Bay area Juneteenth events here.

Sacramento

SACRAMENTO

JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL 2022

William Land Park

Friday, June 16 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 17 – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sacramento's 20th Annual Juneteenth Festival will kick off on Friday Night with a “Gospel Under the Stars Concert”

featuring two stages of live entertainment. On Saturday, there will be a parade, talent show, Black history exhibits, food vendors and more. You can find more Sacramento Juneteenth events here.

San Diego

Black Biz Flea Market: Juneteenth Celebration

WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Boulevard, San Diego, United States

Sunday, June 18 – 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The Black Biz Flea Market Juneteenth Celebration! will feature 30-plus Black-owned businesses, great eats, music, shopping, giveaways and more. You can find more San Diego Juneteenth events here.

Inland Empire 2023 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM Civic Center Amphitheater, 14075 Frederick Street, Moreno Valley

Saturday, June 17 - 1 to 5 p.m.

The community is invited to celebrate an afternoon full of entertainment, children’s activities, food booths, retail vendors (jewelry, clothing, and art) and local artists.

Contra Costa 2023 LET FREEDOM RING East Contra Costa County JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Contra Costa Event Park 1201 W. 10th Street, Antioch

Saturday and Sunday, June 1719 12 Noon to 5 p.m.

This event will feature carnival rides, food, craft & arts, a job fair, community resources and live entertainment.

Bill Proposes Teaching Media Literacy at Each Grade Level in California

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

Three Voices on What It Takes to Heal From Hate...continued

elements of reconciliation and what reconciliation must include in order to honor human rights and make amends for harm done.

noting that the Japanese American and Jewish communities in San Francisco are among the leading supporters of reparations.

who use the internet at least once a day has increased by 5% since 2014-2015. Many of these teens are active on popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Currently, 97% of teens report using the internet daily, compared with 92% in 2014-15.

“Fix what you broke”

Reparation, not integration, was the first demand of emancipated slaves, according to James Taylor, a professor of politics and African American Studies at the University of San Francisco and a member of the San Francisco African American Reparations Committee.

“They know what it is to be targeted,” Taylor said, adding, “It’s not just Black America, and it’s not asking for a handout. It’s saying ‘fix what you broke’, and it’s actually a global movement.”

Two bills aimed at equipping K-12 students with the ability to discern between accurate and false news -- and teach them media literacy, more broadly –are currently progressing through the California legislature.

Assembly Bill (AB) 873, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), and AB 787 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland) would mandate that schools in California offer instruction at every grade level to promote a more informed and civically engaged society.

As of June 7, both AB 873 and AB 787 are pending review on the Senate floor and have been referred to the Education Committee.

“Children today are being inundated by misinformation and disinformation on social media networks and digital platforms,” Berman said in a May statement. “The last few years have been a terrifying wake-up call to the insidious

nature of online misinformation, from jeopardizing public health, to threatening the foundation of our democracy, to dangerously rewriting history. Anyone who spends much time on social media could greatly benefit from media literacy training.”

Media literacy, also known as information literacy, develops students’ critical thinking skills around all types of media platforms and instructs students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities, and the world.

AB 873 intends to direct the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to incorporate media literacy content into the English language arts/English language development, science, mathematics, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised.

A growing number of states are now requiring schools to educate students in media and information literacy, including

Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com

New Jersey, Illinois, and Delaware.

“This bill is an important step to help ensure young people are equipped with the relevant media and informational literacy skills so critical in the 21st century,” said Nicholas Harvey, K-12 Policy Director for Generation Up.

AB 787 would require, on or before January 1, 2025, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond, in consultation with the State Board of Education, to survey teacher librarians, principals, and technology directors to monitor how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education into their curriculum.

AB 787 would also require Thurmond to share the results of the survey with an advisory committee consisting of specified representatives.

A 2022 Pew Research Report found that the number of teens

Pew Research Center reports from 2018 and 2022 also found that 95% of teens have access to smartphones, and 45% are online more frequently. In addition, the reports stated that 56% of Black teens are online, compared to 55% Latinos, and 37% of White teens.

“If these practices are important and salient to our youth, then it is critically relevant for educators to acknowledge this insight as they teach, and for researchers to write about studies in humanizing ways,” according to a January 2023 International Literacy report titled, “Normalizing Black Students/ Youth and their Families' Digital and STEAM Literacies.”

Common Sense Media’s California policy manager Kami Peer, a nonprofit focused on youth and media, told the Napa Valley Register that Berman's and Gabriel’s legislation would change the way student’s use the media to obtain information and handle ever-changing digital tools.

“We believe these two bills, if signed into law, would bring California to the forefront of this important policy area and ensure our students are well-equipped to face the rapidly evolving digital, online landscape,” Peer said.

Three Voices on What It Takes to Heal From Hate

By Peter White

A journalist and organizer, a former political prisoner and a professor of African American studies share their thoughts on how victims and communities heal from hate.

after the Vietnam War.

Do is co-director of Ethnic Media Services and moderated the Friday panel, which brought together experts including Zia to look at whether and how communities can heal from the experience of hate.

“The idea of reparations goes back to Callie House,” says Taylor.

House sued the United States Treasury for $68 million dollars arguing that former slaves were owed a pension from the government. After the Civil War, a federal tax on Southern cotton was used as a retirement fund for Union soldiers. “So she sued over the right to that taxed cotton that was Confederate cotton that black folks picked,” Taylor said. The Supreme Court ruled against the founder of the U.S. reparations movement.

That bit of history has been largely forgotten and today a new reparations movement is spreading. “But it’s just shown that time has not healed the pain that Black folk had in the 1890s. Here we are in the 2020s, still talking about the same issue,” Taylor says.

Civil rights, affirmative action, welfare are piecemeal efforts that haven’t fixed the fundamental gross economic disparity of African Americans, he says,

There are 14 countries and seven states talking about reparations now. New York, Boston, Detroit, Oakland, San Francisco, St. Paul, Detroit, Amherst and Evanston, Illinois have created funds or formed reparation task forces. California became the first state in the country to form a statewide taskforce in 2020. New York and five other states are also considering reparation programs.

James Taylor, Professor of Politics and African American Studies, University of San Francisco, explains some of the misunderstood points of reparations and says they are key to healing the injury done to Black Americans.

“They say time heals all wounds,” said Zia. “But time is not enough. There must be action, there must be learning. We must know the past… and try to change the past so we don’t repeat it in the future.”

Download the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide to learn more about the movement born in the wake of Chin’s murder. Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Bengali and Korean.

Above: Journalist, author and organizer Helen Zia; Hispanic LA Editor Nestor Fantini; USF Prof. James Taylor, with the SF African American Reparations Advisory Committee.

Across the country acts of hate are on the rise, targeting minority and historically marginalized groups and leaving lasting scars on victims, their families, and their communities. Addressing that trauma is key to healing for individuals and society.

But advocates say documenting the hate impacting diverse communities is a crucial first step.

“We have to be able to show these stories and reach as many communities as possible, because that’s where the healing will begin and it also means empowerment,” says veteran journalist and community organizer Helen Zia, founder of the Vincent Chin Institute, which commemorates the 1982 murder of Chin in Detroit.

Chin, who was Chinese American, was beaten to death by two white unemployed autoworkers who mistook him for being Japanese at a time when Japanese automakers began to make inroads into the US market. Despite numerous witnesses, the judge in the case sentenced the attackers to probation.

Zia, who spent time as an autoworker in the 1980s, says the ruling marked the birth of a “new civil rights movement” among Asian Americans.

“So these two killers actually never spent a single day in jail. But the trauma also triggered a great sense of inequality, of injustice,” Zia said, noting many Asian Americans began to draw connections to the experience of African Americans and other communities of color.

“What made a difference was a community coming together… to tell the world this is something that happens to Asian Americans. This was a terrible thing that happened to Lily Chen’s son, Vincent, and to then begin to do something about it,” said Zia, who spoke during a national press briefing organized by EMS.

Today groups like Stop AAPI Hate have taken up that cause, compiling the alarming spike in hate incidents targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first two years of its existence Stop AAPI Hate documented nearly 11,500 such incidents.

For victims and their families, the trauma inflicted by these attacks often leaves a lasting sense of vulnerability. In Zia’s experience it was when different communities rallied together to denounce the hate that things began to change, and that change is what promotes healing.

Zia says Vincent Chin’s mother, Lily Chin, “became like a Mamie Till for the Asian American community,” comparing the former to the bereaved mother of Emmett Till, who was tortured and lynched by racist whites in Mississippi in 1955.

“And so what happened was that she and the Asian American community were able to channel their grief through action to make a difference, and not just Asian Americans coming together, but reaching out and joining with the Black community – Black, brown, red, white – and coming together,” Zia said.

Helen Zia, author and founder of The Vincent Chin Institute, shares how Vincent Chin’s mother Lily and the Asian American community came together in the aftermath of Vincent’s murder to fight for justice.

“The state can judge, only the individual can forgive”

Still, healing does not mean forgetting.

“There is a huge percentage of people who came to America as a result of war, conflict, and genocide that occurred in their homelands,” says Julian Do, a Vietnamese refugee whose family immigrated to the U.S.

“It’s been well-documented that many immigrants who have been exposed to war and imprisonment are still living with this trauma even decades later,” Do said.

One of those people is Nestor Fantini, who was a 22-yearold student at the University of Cordoba in 1976 when the Argentine military staged a coup d’état. Fantini, who today serves as editor of the Spanishlanguage news site Hispanic LA, was arrested and tortured but never charged with a crime. He spent four years in prison during Argentina’s “Dirty War” from 1976-1983.

“That was pure state terrorism. These victims were kidnapped. They were taken to more than 360 concentration camps and they were systematically tortured and as many as 30,000 disappeared. I mean they were executed. Prisoners were dragged and thrown from planes into the Atlantic Ocean,” Fantini said.

Eventually, more than 900 members of the junta were tried and convicted including 26 military officers who were convicted of crimes against humanity. “The state can judge but only the individual can forgive,” Fantini said.

The offender needs to acknowledge the harm that he or she has caused, and should provide material restitution and symbolic reparations, Fantini added.

Nestor Fantini speaks on the

Keeping it Real: The Supreme Court Rules on Race and Redistricting or Did It?...continued from page 1

incumbent office holders and their political agents choose what configuration of voters best suits their political agenda. The decennial redistricting battles reveal the bloodsport of politics, shorn of the claims of ideology, social purpose, or broad policy goals. Redistricting is politics pure, fraught with the capacity for self-dealing and cynical manipulation.”

– T. Alexander Aleinikoff and Samuel Issacharojf

Despite Thursday’s ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts seemed to contort himself in order to explain his decision that aligned with the lower court ruling. Rather than letting the decision stand on the merits of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act he offered a trifecta of elaborate explanations for his ruling including that the real issue before the court was not whether the lower court had applied existing law, but instead on “Alabama’s attempt to remake our jurisprudence anew” by focusing on computer-generated maps that are created without considering race at all.” It seems like a cop out to me and also a way of leaving wiggle room so he can make an opposite choice the next time a similar issue comes before the court.

But for today, it matters not so much how he got there, we are just glad he did.

I should also note that another notable victory regarding the court’s decision in this case according to experts, is that it declined the opportunity to adopt an interpretation of the Voting Rights Act that could have made it much more difficult to challenge redistricting plans on the grounds that they weaken the collective voting power of Black people.

This is because had the court upheld the new maps it would have sanctioned Alabama’s plan that packed Black voters into a single district in a part of central Alabama known as the “Black Belt,” while at the same time dispersing Black voters in the rest of the Black Belt into several other districts precluding an opportunity to be the majority in any other district.

In the end, just as sure as we know the sun is going to rise tomorrow, we know this is not the end of the epic struggle for Blacks and other minorities to enjoy the full and fair benefit of one of America’s most fundamental rights–fair and equal access to the franchise.

Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.

Concert Under the Stars

Hey, Alexa! What are you doing with my data?... continued AMERICONNED

protection because of its inherent sensitivity and the potential for bias, discrimination, and other harmful uses. The FTC’s settlements with Amazon and Ring underscore that when the FTC says protecting biometric data is a priority, it means what it says – and the Commission will back up that policy with enforcement action.

Concert Under the Stars

@sbvalleycollege on June 17th, 2023 hosted by @ musicchanginglives and @ calworks_sbvc

Location: 701 S. Mt. Vernon San Bernardino CA 92410

Time: 5pm - 9pm

This month we’re having a Holy Voices: Battle of the Choir

***Free For All Ages***

Food, Vendors, Music & Art RSVP via link below eventbrite.com/e/concertunder-the-stars-tickets616697186887?aff=jovita

State of the Youth Conference

2023

@sbvalleycollege June 22-24, 2023

Location: 701 S. Mt. Vernon San Bernardino CA 92410

Time: 9am-5pm musicchanginglives.org/soty

Time: 6am - 8am Volunteer Here: musicchanginglives.org/eventinfo/hunger-relief-program

Changing Lives Showcase

August 18th @ San Bernadino Valley College Location: 701 S. Mt. Vernon San Bernardino CA 92410

Time: 5pm - 9pm changinglivesshowcase.com

Summer Music Classes and Tutoring

@Redlands Community Center Location: 111 W Lugonia Ave, Redlands, CA 9237 cityofredlands.org/post/musicchanging-lives

Hey, Alexa! What are you doing with my data?

By Elisa Jillson

What you say in your home, what you do in your home. It doesn’t get more private than that. But, according to two recent FTC complaints, Amazon and Ring used this highly private data – voice recordings collected by Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant and videos collected by Ring’s internet-connected home security cameras – to train their algorithms while giving short shrift to customers’ privacy. These matters, the first announced since the FTC’s new Biometric Policy Statement, contain important lessons for companies using AI, biometric data, and other sensitive information.

AI and privacy should work hand-in-hand. In this age of AI, developers want more and more data – oftentimes, no matter its source. But be careful when collecting or keeping consumer data. Under Section 5’s unfairness standard, the FTC doesn’t look just at AI’s potential benefits, but also at the costs to consumers. According to the complaints, Amazon and Ring failed that test. The FTC alleged Ring’s data access practices enabled spying and harassment, while Amazon’s permanent retention of voice data and shoddy deletion practices exposed consumers’ voice recordings to the risk of unnecessary employee access. The message for businesses: The FTC will hold companies accountable for how they obtain, retain, and use the consumer data that powers their algorithms.

As the Commissioners put it in their joint statement in the Alexa matter, machine learning is not a license to break the law.

The FTC uses every tool available to protect kids’ privacy. After a series of enforcement actions about kids’ and teen privacy (think Microsoft, Epic Games, Edmodo, Weight Watchers (Kurbo), and Chegg), it should be clear that protecting kids is a top FTC priority. That’s especially true at the intersection of AI and kid and teen privacy.

In the Amazon complaint, the FTC says Amazon was keeping kids’ voice recordings (both audio files and transcripts) permanently and undermining parents’ deletion rights. According to the complaint, Amazon could then use that data

for natural language processing. In the Ring complaint, the FTC describes Ring’s cavalier approach to privacy and security, notwithstanding the fact that its cameras were marketed to watch over kids’ bedrooms. The FTC’s response? No dice. The FTC will use every available tool –including the COPPA Rule and the FTC Act’s prohibitions on deceptive and unfair practices –to protect kids’ privacy.

Want to keep your algorithms and data products? Get the data lawfully. With Ring and Alexa, as well as Kurbo, Cambridge Analytica, and Everalbum, the FTC has obtained numerous orders requiring companies to delete data and delete or refrain from generating data products, like algorithms, models, and other tools derived from illgotten data. These actions make clear that there are no free passes for data abuse. If you illegally obtain or misuse consumer data, you may well pay with your data product.

Directed by: Sean Claffey

Award-winning documentary AMERICONNED will open theatrically in New York (Cinema Village), Los Angeles (Laemmle Monica Film Center) and major cities on June 9 with a VOD release in the US and Canada to follow on major platforms on June 13.

AI and Your Business square

Consumers – not companies – control their data. Some companies think they’re free to use personal data in their possession for any purpose they choose. Not so fast. The FTC complaints against Amazon and Ring make clear that companies

that ignore consumers’ rights to control their data do so at their peril. In its complaint, the FTC says Ring gave all employees and contractors access to customers’ videos to train algorithms (among other things) with only checkthe-box “consent.” But that’s not enough to ensure that users are really in control of what happens to their information. And in the Amazon complaint, the FTC says Amazon undermined parents’ rights under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule to delete their children’s voice recordings. Parents have the right under the COPPA Rule to decide what data about their children is stored by a company, and what data is deleted. The upshot is clear: Any company that undermines consumer control of their data can face FTC enforcement action.

Place special safeguards on human review and employee access to sensitive data. AI developers often rely on human reviewers to tag and annotate the data that trains machine learning algorithms. But do consumers know when their data is under review? In its complaint, the FTC says Ring hid this review from its customers and let reviewers abuse their access to consumers’ videos. As a result, Ring’s customers – who bought Ring’s products for more security – ended up being the target of Ring employees’ spying and surveillance. The Amazon complaint also says that Amazon didn’t use appropriate controls to limit which employees could access Alexa users’ voice recordings, so thousands of employees had access to sensitive voice recordings that they didn’t need. Companies relying on human review are on notice that safeguards for sensitive data, including strict access controls, can’t be an afterthought. They should be the first step.

The FTC protects biometric data. Last month, the FTC issued a policy statement on the protection of biometric data. That statement explains that biometric data – whether fingerprints and iris scans or videos and voice recordings – deserves the utmost

SAVE THE DATE! Bridging The Gap: Safety Symposium & Expo

Lifestyle/Religion News

Fontana, CA, June 9, 2023-

No topic is more important than the health, safety and well-being of a loved one, but especially a loved one with a special need. A variety of health and safety information along with valuable resources will be available at the Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. 1st Annual Bridging The Gap: Safety Symposium & Expo on Saturday, June 24th, 2023 10:00a.m.1:00p.m. at Entrepreneur High School located at 7775 Sierra Ave. Fontana, CA 92336. Sponsors for the event include Neurelis, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), American Medical Response (AMR), and A. Upland Fire Protection.

"The goal of our first annual Safety Symposium is to bring together medical and subject matter professionals to share and demonstrate the latest safety advancements and trends to better serve our communities,” said Executive Director Melanee Stovall. "The event will feature a wide variety of speakers and professionals from first responders American Medical Response Team, San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, Neurologist and Behavioral Interventionist; with the aim of disseminating safety practices to protect our family members in an emergency situation," she added.

The Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc. (LBF) is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit

AMERICONNED: NEW TRAILER:

Embed: https://youtu.be/0zLqjJzDm8o

Download: vimeo.com/817344446

AMERICONNED- NEW CLIP- AI and job loss in America.

Embed: https://youtu.be/ps34wGmmEb4

Download: https://vimeo.com/829404182

AMERICONNED- NEW CLIP- featuring TIME100 recipient Chris Smalls:

Embed:https://youtu.be/wF3wP1SZ_70

Download: https://vimeo.com/829399176?share=copy

AMERICONNED is a film about income inequality in the US and the tragic destabilizing effects to Americans. Radical inequality has led to radicalization at every level of society, and this powerful documentary depicts what happens when America hits its tipping point by looking back through our history at similar critical moments of instability. The labor movement of the past was born in times like these. We must restore the path to the once great middle class that now suffers in silence.

Despite an increase in productivity in recent decades, compensation for the American worker has been stagnant. In addition, 47% of American jobs are at high risk of being lost to automation and A.I. by the mid2030s.

In the United States, there has been an upward redistribution of over $50 trillion from the bottom 90% to the top 1% over the last

40 years. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have created a protection racket for the rich, and corporations are deliberately crushing unions.

In this David vs. Goliath story, Chris Smalls leads a movement to unionize Amazon workers for the first time, after the corporation fired Smalls for speaking up for workers’ rights. They are inspiring legions of workers to, as the late, great Congressman John Lewis said, get into “good trouble.”

Director Sean Claffey has more than 25 years in the film industry spanning feature films, industry documentaries and commercials.

Shine the Light Films was formed in 2020, and is committed to producing quality documentaries that shine a light on injustices around the globe. More information: shinethelightfilms.com

Black scholar Cornel West announces

he’s

running for U.S. president

public benefit corporation founded to support individuals and families living with 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 opportunity to bridge the gap in a fun, interactive and sensory focused space,” said Volunteer Director Melody Solomon. "This event is FREE and open to the public, as all are welcome," she added. Vendor space is limited. For more information or to volunteer, call (951)3740933 or email us at admin@ legacybridgesfoundation.org.

To 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.

Historian and Philosophy professor Cornel West announced Monday that he is running for president in the 2024 election. The 70-year-old scholar disclosed in a video on Twitter that he is running as a candidate for the People’s Party, adding that he had “decided to run for truth and justice”.

“I come from a tradition where I care about you,” West said in the video. “I care about the quality of your life, I care about whether you have access to a job with a living wage, decent housing, women having control over their bodies, healthcare for all, de-escalating the destruction of the planet.”

Some of the activist’s policies outlined on his campaign website include stopping all foreign military aid, banning Nato, abolishing student debt, and introducing Medicare for All. He would also dwell on

fighting to end poverty and mass incarceration, ending wars and ecological collapse, and guaranteeing housing.

West, who is now a professor of philosophy at Union Theological Seminary, previously taught at Princeton, Yale and Harvard. He is against both Democrats and Republicans and in 2016, he threw his weight behind then-Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. A progressive political activist, West’s works have focused on race and class in U.S. society. West’s announcement on Monday comes weeks after Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, announced that he would be running for president. On Monday, former Vice President Mike Pence also launched his campaign. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are running again.

Fixing Healthcare Disparities to Improve the Lives of Latinos and

Blacks

in the death of one who dies," says the Lord. Therefore, turn and live! [Ezekiel 18:30-32]. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" [Romans 6:23].

“Looking for the telltale signs of illness or chronic conditions during a routine checkup requires a high level of doctorpatient communication, along with comprehensive tests that can detect problems before they worsen and become harder to treat,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, pediatrician and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. Preventive medicine works to reduce poor healthcare outcomes for Latinos and Blacks and the underserved when healthcare providers go the distance to make sure their patients get it.

“As a Latino-owned healthcare provider, we use CDC-approved treatment schedules to make sure our patients get the healthcare they need,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga, President and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. A 2019 research paper in the

American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that “Racial/ ethnic mortality disparities persist and are widening for some age groups.” The age groups where disparities trended worse included the youngest and oldest. This trend reversed what had been a lessening in disparities from 2009 to 2012.

Latino-owned LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. works to reverse this downward trend and get Latino and Black patients back on track toward parity in improved health and well-being and this starts with its annual checkup outreach program.

“We believe that improved healthcare for all of our patients begins with a robust outreach program that contacts people to remind them when it’s time to come in for their checkup, annual for adults and more often for children 1 to 4,” said Dr. Albert

10 Overlooked Signs They May Be Bipolar

World/Health News

Arteaga, pediatrician and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.

Looking for the telltale signs of illness or chronic conditions during a routine checkup requires a high level of doctorpatient communication, along with comprehensive tests that can detect problems before they worsen and become harder to treat.

“Many of our adult clients, especially Latinos, seem to think that if they feel okay, they don’t need to see a doctor. Conditions like type 2 diabetes, hepatitis C, and some cancers can be ‘hiding out,’ so to speak, and by the time the patient starts to notice symptoms, it can be too late,” says Dr. Arteaga.

Dr. Arteaga adds that this is especially a problem with infants and young children who are not yet able to communicate clearly. Parents might think their child is just being fussy or going through the “terrible twos” and

put off taking their little one to the doctor until severe symptoms start showing.

Infants need to get examined even more regularly. Heatlh.gov says children from ages 1 to 4 should see a doctor or nurse at 12, 15, 18, 24, and 30 months, and at 3 and 4 years. Early child development needs to be tracked carefully so that any warning signs of developmental problems can be addressed promptly and effectively.

Children all grow and develop at different rates. Some start talking sooner, some later. What’s required is a good overall assessment to determine if the child is on the right track. Health. gov concludes, “If you’re worried about your child’s health, don’t wait until the next scheduled visit—call your doctor or nurse right away.”

For more information or to make an appointment, call 1-855349-6019.

10 Overlooked Signs They May Be Bipolar...continued

Then I heard a loud voice say, Court is now in session! And the Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the Judge, God the Father steps up to the throne. Stunned silence fills the courtroom. Mouths are agape. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. The trials begin. The testimony of the witnesses is clear and irrefutable. You are found guilty on all charges. You are sentenced to everlasting punishment. [Revelation 21:12-15]. Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Matthew 25:41].

Bailiff, take them away! Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place where there are weeping and gnashing of teeth. [Matthew 25:30] I tell you, it would have been better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell to the unquenchable fire, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. [Mark 9:43,48].

Court is now adjourned.

The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’” [Luke 16:22-24] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name. [Revelation 14:9-11].

I tell you, still don’t get it, wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. [Proverbs 4:7].

The Road to Activism

Ward

Rachael

When it comes to mental illness, there are plenty of stereotypes. But in reality, mood disorders can be hard to pinpoint—particularly in people with bipolar disorder symptoms. Don’t believe what you see in movies. You can’t tell just by looking at someone that they might be bipolar. Take beautiful actress Lisa Nicole Carson, who shared her bipolar disorder with the world. Nobody knew before that!

Here are 10 signs that mood problems may be due to more than a quirky or difficult personality:

1. Greater Than Great Mood Bipolar disorder is characterized by up-and-down episodes of mania and depression. During a manic phase, some patients can have a total break from reality. But hypomania, which is also a symptom of the disorder, is a high-energy state in which a person feels exuberant but hasn’t lost his or her grip on reality.

“Hypomania can be a pretty enjoyable state, really,” Dr. Bearden says. A person’s mood can be elevated, they may have a lot of energy and creativity, and they may experience euphoria. This is the “up” side of bipolar disorder that some people with the condition actually enjoy— while it lasts.

2. Inability To Complete Tasks

Having a house full of halfcompleted projects is a hallmark of bipolar disorder. People who can harness their energy when they are in a hypomanic phase can be really productive. Those who can’t often go from task to task, planning grand, unrealistic projects that are never finished before moving on to something else.

“They can be quite distractible

and may start a million things and never finish them,” says Don Malone, MD, the director of the Center for Behavioral Health and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio.

3. Depression A person who is in a bipolar depressive state is going to look just like someone who has regular depression. “They have the same problems with energy, appetite, sleep, and focus as others who have ‘plain old depression,’” Dr. Malone says. Unfortunately, typical antidepressants alone don’t work well in patients who are bipolar. They can even make people cycle more frequently, worsening their condition, or send someone into a break-withreality episode. “Antidepressants can be downright dangerous in people with bipolar because they can send them into mania,” he says.

4. Irritability

Some people with this condition suffer from “mixed mania,” where they experience symptoms of mania and depression at the same time. During this state, they are often extremely irritable. Everyone has bad days, which is one reason this kind of bipolarity is much harder to recognize.

“We are all irritable or moody sometimes,” Dr. Bearden says.

“But in people with bipolar disorder, it often becomes so severe that it interferes with their relationships—especially if the person is saying, ‘I don’t know why I’m so irritable…I can’t control it.’”

5. Rapid Speech

Some people are naturally talkative; we all know a motormouth or Chatty Cathy. But “pressured speech” is one of the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder. This kind of speech occurs when someone is really not in a two-way conversation, Dr. Bearden says. The person will talk rapidly and

if you try to speak, they will likely just talk over you. They will also sometimes jump around to different topics. “What’s kind of a red flag is when it is atypical for the person to talk like this,” doing it only when they are in a manic cycle but not at other times, she says.

6. Problems At Work

People with this disorder often have difficulty in the workplace because so many of their symptoms can interfere with their ability to show up for work, do their job, and interact productively with others. In addition to having problems completing tasks, they may have difficulty sleeping, irritability, and an inflated ego during a manic phase, and depression at other times, which causes excessive sleeping and additional mood problems. A lot of the workplace problems can be interpersonal ones, Dr. Malone says.

7. Substance Abuse

About 50% of people with bipolar disorder also have a substance abuse problem, particularly alcohol use, Dr. Bearden says. Many people will drink when they are in a manic phase to slow themselves down and use alcohol to improve their mood when they are depressed.

8. Erratic Behavior

When they are in a manic phase, people with bipolar disorder can have an inflated selfesteem. “They feel grandiose

By Lou K. Coleman

and don’t consider consequences; everything sounds good to them,” Dr. Malone says. Two of the most common types of behavior that can result from this are spending sprees and unusual sexual behavior.

“I have had a number of patients who have had affairs who never would have done that if they weren’t in a manic episode…during this episode they exhibited behavior that is not consistent with what they would do normally,” he says.

9. Sleeping Problems

People with this condition often have sleep problems. During a depression phase, they may sleep too much, and feel tired all the time. During a manic phase, they may not sleep enough—but still, never feel tired. Even with just a few hours of sleep each night, they may feel great and have lots of energy. Dr. Bearden says staying on a regular sleep schedule is one of the first things she recommends for bipolar patients.

10. Flight of Ideas

This symptom may be something that is hard to recognize, but it occurs frequently when someone is in a manic phase. People feel like their mind is racing and that they can’t control or slow down their thoughts. This flight of ideas sometimes occurs with pressured speech. People with bipolar may not recognize or admit that their mind is racing out of control, says Dr. Bearden.

world to get your act together?

I confess that throughout my life as an evolving queer organizer, I haven’t always been deeply aware of the intersectional components of systemic oppression. It’s easier to walk behind the footprint of another than to make new ones. Perhaps, that is why taking our shoes off in holy spaces means so much more—the footprint can be deeper; more visible for those who come next…

I do believe taking up the road of activism is a part of humanity’s collective charge to tend to one another, and I do know first-hand that it is no easy road.

There are those who wish to violently and oppressively strike the very soul force of your being into non-existence. And yet, those who strike are also those of whom God calls us to love. What a hard both/and balance; what a life-long call to do justice, walk humbly, and love with mercy.

It’s the first full week of June— the honorary designated month when LGBTQIA+ people receive more celebration for being human than they do throughout the rest of the calendar year. Capitalism paints company signs with rainbow colors, Target (kind of) supports Trans artists with their Pride collection, and for just a few weeks, the world seems possibly a little more “out loud” for queer people. But is it?

When the sidewalk paint fades from cities that allocate a minimal part of their fiscal budget to go BIG for Pride, do the footprints of activism remain? Do we stay living our lives “out loud” for queer folks? For trans folks? For Black and brown folks? For …. I could spend all day naming human bodies who need our love to be louder than hate. But what good would that do if you are not willing to take your shoes off and walk this activism road with me?

And finally, a neighbor stops to tend. Taking the injured to an inn, paying for their stay, and continuing to walk the road of activism. This Good Samaritan doesn’t ever get to see if justice is fulfilled. This neighbor decides that in the moment what is just and useful is to try, care, give, and continue onward.

What is just and useful in this moment is to name how I saw the road come to life this week:

Monday, June 5th, thousands gathered outside of Atlanta’s City Hall to give public comment on what is being called “Cop City,” a proposed $90 million+ police training compound backed by the Atlanta Police Foundation and several corporate partners. This facility will take over 300 acres of land stolen from the Muscogee Creek Nation and used for decades of racialized violence against Black and brown folks.

Tuesday, June 6th, after 15 hours of public comment, the Atlanta City Council funded “Cop City."

Among comments was the youngest public commenter yet, a young girl who read a rendition of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. She ended her comments with “Stop Cop City” and handed out 18 pinecones from the very forest “Cop City” would remove to City Council members.

Lou K. Coleman

Thinking you got all the time in the world to get your act together. Well, you don’t! If Jesus came on the scene saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at Hand” why would you think that you got all the time in the

I tell you; the times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent...” [Acts 17:30-31]. Don’t be foolish, repent before it is too late, because contempt against the Lord is a very serious verdict. The consequences are eternal and will not be reversed. So repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure

My favorite Bible story since childhood has been that of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37 (NRSV). Jesus, an activist, is asked how humanity inherits eternal life. Jesus moves right past eternal life as his focus and places us in front of one another by responding with “loving neighbor as you love yourself.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan follows, giving us a first-row seat to the road of activism. The Empire attempts to control the bodies and minds of its constituents to keep walking. Priests contort their spiritual call to care for the sake of capitalism.

Despite Atlanta City Council’s vote to fund the project, thousands of Good Samaritans defended the forest and will continue to. And now we can help by spreading the word on the new referendum proposed by Atlanta activists to let the people of Atlanta decide on "Cop City." Here's a helpful link to share. This is the road to activism. And, if you haven’t seen the overlap yet, the wall behind the text, the road is very queer. Queer as in subversive of violence and hate. And that’s what Pride, for me, is all about. Rebuke of suffering. Embrace of resilience and joy. Reading The Lorax, sharing pinecones and believing in one another.

Take off your shoes. Leave footprints. Do what is just and believe in the ripple of justice that becomes a wave. And, above all else, love out loud, always.

Rachael Ward (they/them) is the Team Lead & Minister for Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries for the United Church of Christ. In addition, Rachael Ward is the Executive Director for UCC HIV & AIDS Network (UCAN).

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1155

“You Still Don’t Get It!”

“You Still Don’t Get It!”...continued

Nurse Elisabeth with gives patient Eduaido Torres age 13 a vaccine.

April Reya a medical assistant, gives the COVID-19 vaccination shot to Vicki Creighton, of Riverside, at the LaSalle Medical Associates medical office located in Rialto, Calif. (Photo by Valda Wilson)

Several Generations Under One Roof

In 2020, 7.2% of U.S. Family Households Were Multigenerational

Written by:,Chanell Washington, Thomas Gryn, Lydia Anderson and Rose M. Kreider

Several Generations Under One Roof...continued

with their grandparents were predominantly in the West, and those with the smallest shares were all in the Midwest.

Table 2. Percentage of Children Under 18 Living in Their Grandparents' Home in Selected U.S. Counties: 2020 Chanell Washington, Thomas Gryn, Lydia Anderson, and Rose M. Kreider are family demographers in the Fertility and Family Statistics Branch of the Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division.

Multigenerational households

— three or more generations under one roof — made up 4.7% of all U.S. households but 7.2% of family households in 2020, an increase from 2010.

Family households are those with at least one person related to the householder by birth, marriage or adoption.

There were 6.0 million U.S. multigenerational households in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to 2020 Census data released recently.

Multigenerational households were more prevalent throughout the South, Puerto Rico and some western states.

Multigenerational households were not equally distributed across the nation and the map below (Figure 1) shows the percentage of all family households that were multigenerational in 2020 by county

Figure 1. Multigenerational Households as a Percentage of Family Households: 2020 While 2020 Census data show that 7.2% of all family households were multigenerational nationwide, county level percentages are wide-ranging, from 0.5% to 31.0%.

Multigenerational households were more prevalent throughout the South, Puerto Rico and some western states. This is consistent with 2010 data that also showed a higher percentage of multigenerational households throughout the South and West.

In 2020, many counties in Alaska, California, Hawaii,

Nevada, Oregon and Washington, for example, had a high percentage of multigenerational households (Table 1). However, other states in the West like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, had many counties with a lower prevalence of multigenerational households. These households were also less common in the Midwest and Northeast.

their grandparents’ home (Figure 2), up from 5.8 million in 2010. Counties in Puerto Rico and throughout states in the South and West tended to have a greater share of children living in their grandparents’ home while counties in the Midwest – particularly in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin – had a smaller share.

Wilk Announces Over $15,000 Awarded to City of Victorville to Support Pet and Veterinary Services for Those Experiencing Homelessness

VICTORVILLE – Senator

Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) is pleased to announce that the California Department of Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has awarded the City of Victorville $15,959 from its Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) program to help support those with pets who are experiencing homelessness.

Table 1. Share of Multigenerational Households in U.S. Counties as a Percentage of Family Households: 2020 Children Living With Grandparents

In 2020, 6.1 million or 8.4% of children under age 18 lived in

Figure 2. Percentage of Children Under 18 Living in Their Grandparents' Home: 2020 The five counties with the greatest shares of children living

“Pets are like family members and for so many who are experiencing homelessness, a pet may truly be their only companion,” said Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).

“I am grateful to HCD for understanding the emotional tie

between our vulnerable citizens and their pets. These funds will help to ensure the homeless in our area have the ability to take care of their pets’ needs.”

According to the HCD, the PAS program provides funding to emergency shelters assisting those experiencing homelessness. PAS grants provide funds for the provision of kennels/crates, pet food, basic veterinary services, and staffing and liability insurance related to providing those services. The intent of the program is to reduce barriers for individuals experiencing homelessness with their common household pets.