Baby, It’s Hot Outside!

California braces for

a hot

At a June 29 press briefing hosted by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services, Cal OES and Listos California unveiled a package of safety guidelines prepared in expectation of climate extremes.

Alf LaMont, of LaMont Digital, presented a package of “Summer of Safety” graphics providing tips on keeping people ready for and safe during potential summer emergencies: wildfires, flooding, power outages and high temperatures. They’re printed in English, Spanish and more than a dozen other languages, and available at listoscalifornia.org.

No Sky July

“In California, we don’t actually see a lot of our record all-time temperatures until late in the season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said, citing “June gloom, no-sky July and ‘Fog-ust’ for a good portion of August.”

“Usually our strongest heat impacts wind up being more toward late August going into September,” he said. But high temperatures lead to low winds, he said, “so we don’t get that sea breeze that helps us cool down.”

“Think of it more as a marathon than an individual sprint.”

Hot, Dry Summer Ahead

And the end of 2023’s relatively cool temperatures so far, he said, will now bring increased snow melt in the Sierra. Already, the state has closed off some river stretches.

“Summers are becoming hotter and drier, and families are going to want to cool down in the water,” said Cal OES Assistant Director of Crisis

Communications and Public Affairs, Diana Crofts-Pelayo. “But it is very dangerous right now. We have already seen too many people that have lost their lives. So do what you can to stay indoors to stay cool!”

Cal OES is making mutual-aid arrangements between state and local fire agencies “on a huge push to train swift water rescue teams,” she said.

“So if you do head out on the water, many local teams will be out there, but we don’t want them to do those rescues! It’s very dangerous for them and for you.”

Tips for Summer Safety

Crofts-Pelayo cited five keys for people to focus on for summer safety:

Get alerts: calalerts.org.

Make a plan: “Have that conversation with your family to ensure that your little ones, your older ones, all know what they would do during an emergency. What emergency routes they would take, where to meet if separated.”

Pack a “go bag” in case you need to leave your home very quickly: important documents, medication, food, water, for instance.

Similarly, make a “stay box” in case you need to stay home.

“It doesn’t have to be costprohibitive,” she said. “Think about it ahead of time and put everything together that would

University of California statement on Supreme Court’s decision regarding Biden administration’s student loan relief program

UC Office of the President

The University of California is disappointed with today’s Supreme Court ruling rejecting the Biden administration’s plan to discharge billions of dollars of student loan debt. This historic relief program would have made a significant impact on the lives of college graduates, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds who are more likely to take on debt to complete their education. It also harms society as a whole: Those with student loans are less likely to earn advanced degrees, purchase a home, start their own business or make other investments that benefit their communities.

In light of the ruling, the University of California strongly encourages its students and alumni to consider all the loan repayment options that the Department of Education has developed for borrowers who are struggling to pay back their loans. Those include plans with lower interest rates, plans that set payments based on a borrower’s income, and some plans that forgive loans for those who work in public service.

College affordability is among the University’s highest priorities. As such, the University offers a robust financial aid program designed to ensure that a UC education remains accessible to all academically eligible California students, regardless of their financial resources. Sixty-one percent of UC’s resident undergraduates complete their degrees without any student loan debt, and 54

Black Voice News Juneteenth Panel: A More Inclusive Water Industry by Aryana Noroozi be necessary.”

And finally, Crofts-Pelayo said, “help others. This is a community movement.” She suggested sharing only official resources, but doing so via familiar networking channels: phone calls, social media posts and emails.

Joining Crofts-Pelayo, Murdock and LaMont at the briefing were three Listos California community partners who shared experiences from previous encounters with extreme weather conditions.

Children Are Resilient

Jacqueline Nushi, of Project Camp’s emergency preparedness center, manages pop-up camps for kids during disasters, providing support and a safe environment for families.

She said a key lesson she and other emergency managers learned was the value of empowering children with knowledge and coping skills — “a great way to build mindfulness and preparedness.”

“Children are the best when it comes to learning preparedness and taking it home to their families. They’re very resilient. It’s amazing to see them make it through what they have to make it through.”

Disaster Guides Easy to Read

Nushi also wanted to endorse the printed materials Listos provides, via listoscalifornia.org.

She told of how, years ago prior to the Slater Fire in Happy Camp (Siskyou County) in 2020, she’d distributed some of their material.

“After that fire, I was at a local assistance center,” she said, when a survivor she’d counseled before the fire approached. “This information saved us!” she said. Other survivors there then chimed in with similar stories.

“The Listos materials, the disaster guides, are very easy to read, very, very to the point and cover the information in very simple language” she said. “This material is super easy, it’s not hard to read, it’s not hard to understand.”

Facing Down Natural Disasters CORE – Community Organized Relief Effort – has worked globally from Ukraine, Turkey and all around the U.S. George Hernandez Mejia, CORE Director of Emergency Operations, said that in doing wildfire preparation in Siskyou County last year, it turned out that some of the greatest needs were simply for clear information on evacuation zones or where wildfires were burning.

He also seconded Nushi’s testimony on the value of informing children.

“100% of our clients have experienced natural disasters,” said Peter Thao, of the Fresno Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, which provides disaster relief training and preparedness for farmers and small businesses.

“It’s not if, but when, a natural disaster will happen. “Always be prepared; have a plan.” Take pictures, he said, and keep your insurance agent informed of your concerns.

In addition to its work preparing Californians to prepare for extreme weather conditions, the state has also dedicated $200 million to communities to build “resilience centers.”

The Weingart Foundation Endorses The Groundbreaking Work And Report By The California Task To Study Reparation Proposals For African Americans

Community/ Education News percent have their tuition fully covered by financial aid. At the University of California, we are committed to helping students make payments more economical and less burdensome. That is why we are arranging webinars with the Department of Education for UC alumni and students later this year to inform them of their obligations and options when paying off their debt. By doing so, we hope that all our borrowers will understand how to scale their monthly payments to their current income, rehabilitate any loans they may have defaulted on, and qualify for discharge under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While today’s court decision is disheartening, it also underscores the importance of UC’s efforts to make college financially accessible to all students.

Background:

As cost is typically the primary concern for families considering college, UC’s goal is to provide a path to a debt-free education by 2030 to any California undergraduate student. And we’ve made major strides in that direction. For example, tuition is predictable. UC Regents adopted a tuition model that sets the cost of tuition for each incoming class. Our Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan covers the overall cost of tuition and fees for families with incomes of $80,000 or less. And we’ve expanded aid for middle-class families.

June 29, 2023 (Los Angeles, CA) — Miguel A. Santana, President and C.E.O. of the Weingart Foundation, a private grantmaking foundation that partners with communities across Southern California to advance racial justice, released the following statement related to the release of the report by the California Task Force to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans (Task Force).

"On the day the Supreme Court rules against affirmative action in higher education, the Weingart Foundation strongly affirms its support for the California Task Force to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans (Task Force). As Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor stated today, we live in an "endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter.” The data in the Task Force’s report clearly demonstrates this point.

“The Weingart Foundation’s commitment to racial and socioeconomic equity is grounded in our understanding of this country’s history of Indigenous genocide, theft of land, enslavement, and the subsequent decades of government practices that not only excluded Black Americans from equal and meaningful participation but also inflicted generational harm that continues to this day. Today we also recognize that the source of the wealth that we steward benefited

"Utilities represent one of actually the least diverse industries in the U.S. today, being 85% white and 80% male,” shared Amber Bolden, Strategic Communications and Development Coordinator for Voice Media Ventures as she opened the Juneteenth panel discussion on the the role an Credit: wvwd.org

In celebration of Juneteenth, Black Voice News held a virtual panel conversation, Water and the Black Community: Jobs, Justice and Equity. The panel focused on the ongoing need for inclusion and diversity within the water and conservation industries. Water access policymakers and community leaders joined the dialogue and examined particular barriers of entry into the water and conservation industry.

Moderator Amber Bolden, Strategic Communications and Development Coordinator with Voice Media Ventures, set the stage for the conversation by sharing that the water industry remains one of the least diverse industries nationwide.

Noting further how the utilities industry is not known for diversity, she advised, “Utilities represent one of actually the least diverse industries in the U.S. today, being 85% white and 80% male,” she said. “Our panelists are blazing the trail.” significant history.

“People don’t know that starting water operator jobs make $27 to $28 with full pensions and benefits,” Hawkings said. He added that some workers receive a raise between 4% to 7% per year.

“A lot of it starts with awareness,” Hawkings said.

West Valley Water District Board Director Kelvin Moore agreed.

“I think I knew one person of color who was in water at that time,” he said, reflecting on when he entered the workforce. “I just never even thought about it.” from racist policies and practices.

Moore and other panelists echoed an issue of not only awareness, but lack of opportunity to enter the workforce even if one wanted to. He said that partnerships are a viable solution to bridge these gaps and get the word out to the community.

Moore said that it is critical that programs are sustainable, funded and successful in approaching students and supporting them to foster hope, encouragement and desire for a respectable profession.

“As a Foundation committed to addressing structural racism and the legacy of anti-Blackness, long-term investment in Black leadership and organizing in Black communities is a core part of our grantmaking to individual nonprofits and through collaborations like our $5 million commitment to the California Black Freedom Fund. However, this does not and cannot replace the transformational power of government sponsored reparations for the generations of state sponsored harm to Black Californians.

“We applaud the Task Force’s research and report that outlines in great detail the compounding and ongoing harms specifically experienced by Black Americans in California including enslavement, exclusion from political participation, racist housing policies, prohibiting education, racial terror, disproportionate justice system involvement, exclusion from employment, and the racial wealth gap. This history, including the specific role of California’s state and local government, is not fully taught and not well known - such as its support of enslavement, even as a free state. We simply cannot achieve true racial justice if we are not honest about the legacy of racial injustice that led to the harmful conditions so many Black and other Americans face today.”

Director of West Valley Water District, Channing Hawkings, stated Blacks have reached a significant capacity working within city and county departments, but when it comes to utilities there is not a significant history. (image source: votersedge.org)

Bolden asked panelists what they see as the major barriers to Black people gaining and maintaining jobs in utility fields. West Valley Water District Director Channing Hawkings said that “Black folks” have reached a significant capacity working within city and county departments, but when it comes to utilities there is not a

Inland Empire Utilities Agency Board Member Jasmin Hall said she is a self-proclaimed “volunteer by heart and nature,” who makes it her mission to help families utilize their tax dollars. When discussing the idea of forging partnerships that help establish and foster opportunities, she encouraged her community to pick her brain and “take advantage” of her leadership role, welcoming them to lean on her for the support that Moore previously mentioned.

“We always want to hear what goes on at the street level,” said Dr. Nosakhere Thomas, Executive Director at the Inland Empire Black Worker Center. He has done so by implementing listening sessions to hear from and engage with the community by “inviting people in to see what’s happening; what’s good and what’s not good.”

County Waste Resources Department to offer Master Composter Certificate Training

The Riverside County Department of Waste Resources has offered Backyard Composting classes and workshops for 30 years to provide residents with the basic knowledge on how to compost organic waste from home, safely and efficiently. In addition to these basic composting classes, the department will be offering a Master Composter Certificate Training program with a more advanced look at home composting and a variety of methods that can be used, more study of the composting process, and learning more about the waste stream in Riverside County.

There are two methods of training available, virtual online or in-person. Virtual online course will begin July 1 and will allow 6 months for participants to study and complete the course from home through online study materials and quizzes to earn the Master Composter Training Certificate. The In-person training class will be on Saturdays from 7:00 am to 1:00 p.m. in Moreno Valley, beginning July 8 through July 29. Books and study materials will be provided by the department. Instructor will guide students through the course and students will build a compost pile and build their own vermicompost bin. Limited seats are available for the in-person training course. Registration is required for either training course: https://rcwaste.org/freeclasses#2392643287-388834543

The Department of Waste Resources offers a variety of FREE environmental education classes related to waste reduction and sustainability. Class instructors provide attendees with professional learning and resources for instructional materials.

For more information about the Master Composter Training course, please contact Riverside County Department of Waste Resources (951) 486-3200 or by email to: waste-volunteer@ rivco.org

Supreme Court rules independent state legislative theory is unconstitutional

by Reginald Williams Special to the AFRO

Bad Affirmative Action Decision Won’t Sop Equal Rights Progress...continued

has quantified the consequences. Relative to Whites, Blacks earn 24% less, live five fewer years, and are six times more likely to be incarcerated on a given day.

Hispanics make 25% less than Whites and are three times more likely to be incarcerated. At the end of the 1990s, there were onethird more Black men under the corrections system's jurisdiction than those enrolled in colleges or universities.

Idris Elba launches content agency aimed at ‘fun,’ diverse marketing

society where Blacks, Native Americans, and other people of color are forced to confront bias daily in their everyday life, at school, at work, at play, and in their communities.

by AFRO Staff

On June 27 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a North Carolina Supreme Court ruling against North Carolina’s Republican lawmakers with a 6-3 decision.

The dispute pertained to an attempt to redraw a congressional state map.

The Democratic Party raised concerns that the new map would have likely given Republicans 10 out of 14 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled the actions by the GOP were biased against Democratic voters.

The Republican Party responded to the state’s Supreme Court decision by attempting to use the independent state legislative theory presented in Moore v. Harper. The idea proposes that the state legislature should be given broad power to practice partisan politics. If upheld, would have given unencumbered power to state legislatures nationwide when dealing with federal elections.

“Adopting the theory would have granted unchecked authority over voting laws and elections, creating a worrisome landscape where state politicians could dictate election results and ignore the state constitution,” National Coalition on Black

Civic Participation (NCBCP) released in a statement.

While elections for congress and the presidency are held at the federal level, the state legislatures design the nuances for cases on constitutional rights on a state level. It isn’t uncommon for delegates to attempt to steer policies that keep them in power by participating in polarizing practices like gerrymandering or voter suppression.

“Today, our nation’s highest court affirmed our democratic system’s checks and balances and rejected this dangerous effort to sow chaos and doubt in our federal elections,” explained Melanie L. Campbell, president, and CEO of the NCBCP.

“This decision prevents state legislatures from granting themselves exclusive power to establish the rules for voting and elections, without having to deal with state constitutional limits and state court intervention.”

State legislatures are officially subject to congressional override through a system of checks and balances. The decision by the SCOTUS on June 27 upheld the constitutional stronghold that, “one branch of government would not garner excessive power.”

Statement by Dr. Gail C. Christopher, Executive Director, National Collaborative for Health Equity

Bad Affirmative Action Decision Won’t Sop Equal Rights Progress

Despite improvement by Blacks and Hispanics, there remain stark differences in access to quality education and opportunity that education affords. In a recent NCHE recent paper, Susan Eaton, Director of the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy at the Heller School for Social Policy at Brandeis University, cited the racial disparity in poverty nationwide. About 24% of Native Americans, 20% of Blacks, and 17% of Latinos live in high-poverty neighborhoods compared to just 4 % of Whites. Disparities in schools are even more extreme, with 74% of Black and Latinos, 70% of Native Americans, and just 32 % of Whites attending schools where at least half of the students qualify for free and reduced lunches.

Clearly, American society remains far from a colorblind state where equity and equality are spread across all communities, rich and poor, Black, White, and Brown. It’s astounding that the Supreme Court chose to ignore centuries of racism that has created a

But there is hope for America. This Supreme Court is not a reflection of the people. This Court represents the opinions of a minority of our population. That has been demonstrated by the political uprising after the Court’s rejection of a woman’s right to her own reproductive decisions. We may see a similar reaction to this Court decision limiting access to the nation’s top educational institutions to people qualified to attend but have faced discrimination because of their skin color every day since birth. NCHE has conducted research, which will soon be released, demonstrating that the American people want to put racism and political divisiveness behind us and move forward to create equitable communities.

America made tremendous progress after the murder of George Floyd. A watershed of honesty and sincerity opened up to address the realities of police brutality and the legacy of denial of humanity. Anytime there is a moment creating a seismic wave in society, one representing a transformation from the norm, there will be resistance. In this case, the opposition has a high level of authority and power, but it contradicts the minds and hearts of the majority of America. The march towards an equitable society will continue.

Padilla, Durbin Ask Sec. Becerra for Answers Regarding Reports That Warnings of Threats to the Safety and Well-Being of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Were Dismissed

Senators seek information related to alleged “whistleblower chilling” by HHS against staff who reported concerns about the risk of labor exploitation and trafficking of unaccompanied children

CALIFORNIA — U.S.

Actor Idris Elba and Miroma founder Marc Boyan have partnered to launch a new marketing company SillyFace, which promises to put the fun back into content creation and branding. (Image courtesy Twitter. com/WeAreSillyFace)

Hollywood megastar Idris

Elba has teamed up with Miroma Group founder Marc Boyan to launch a content creation and marketing company that aims to re-inject fun and creativity into brand-building and also “deliver authentic campaigns with cultural value.”

Named SillyFace, the business aims to shake up the industry by amassing a team of creatives from different cultural backgrounds and experiences to inject a more diverse range of perspectives into long- and shortform content for brands, which they will also distribute.

The agency’s first three offices will be based in London, New York and Los Angeles.

“On a daily basis, I work alongside global brands who are struggling to understand the intersection between modern cultural trends, brand identity and its consumer base. It is creating apprehension and hindering creative storytelling,” Boyan said, according to Adweek.

“SillyFace has been created to lean into culture and new global trends, offering a fun environment to get creative rather than be afraid,” he added. “Idris and I are both from underrepresented backgrounds, and we see the world a little differently. We’re aiming to bring our thinking to brands to give people a voice and share stories that resonate with the consumer, whilst keeping the brand safe from criticism.”

Elba also is well acquainted with the advertising landscape, serving as the face of Sky’s advertising campaigns for 12 years and appearing in ads for Booking.com and Stella Artois. He has also worked with such international brands as Gucci, Christian Louboutin and Tanqueray, and recently launched skin care brand S’Able Labs with his wife, Sabrina Elba.

“I’m at my creative best when I am relaxed, not anxious or considering all the whatifs. However, this isn’t always the atmosphere that creatives are faced with when brand building. SillyFace is here to bring back that feeling of creative excellence,” the Golden Globe winner said.

“We want more voices, more views and open, mutually respected ideation,” he added. “This new venture will give me the ability to create powerful marketing campaigns. Campaigns that will truly resonate and engage with the people I want to connect with.” Elba is among the latest celebrities to spearhead a marketing agency. Ryan Reynolds, of “Deadpool” fame, pioneered the wave with Maximum Effort. And actor, “America’s Got Talent” host and former NFL player Terry Crews also recently launched his outfit, Super Serious.

Dr. Gail Christopher

The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to end affirmative action in higher education is much more than just a bad ruling; this is an embarrassment on a global scale.

It’s based on the misguided notion that the Constitution, and even our society today, is colorblind. That’s so far from the truth. In reality, what we have is a judicial authority that is in denial, denial of racism, denial of facts, denial of the consequences of this decision, denial of the harm to the people affected, and denial of the hierarchy of human value that this nation was built upon and still reigns supreme in too many minds and institutions today. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts concluded that the approach used by Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the 14 Amendment and “cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause.”

That is duplicitous - that clause was designed to remedy the harm caused by denying rights and protection to people of color over centuries. For this court to use it to deny educational opportunities to people of color in the 21st century is hypocrisy at best and cruel at worst. Their decision lacks empathy and compassion for millions.

Our Constitution was conceived in an environment of racial hierarchy. It was dedicated to the proposition that some people were not human. Blacks could be enslaved and had no human rights. During the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention, the infamous Threefifths Compromise relegated enslaved people to be counted as 3-5ths of Whites in a state’s population.

That created an inequitable and unfair American society. Harvard Professor Roland G.

Fryer, Jr.

Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting information related to reports that HHS received warnings that unaccompanied children were being released from HHS custody into situations that presented a risk of labor exploitation and trafficking. Rather than heeding these warnings, HHS allegedly engaged in retaliation against staff who reported concerns and created an environment that the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) described as “whistleblower chilling.”

In the letter, the Senators outline their oversight responsibilities to protect these children’s safety: “As Chairs of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight over implementation of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and ensure that HHS is meeting its legal obligations under that Act with respect to the care and protection of unaccompanied children.”

The Senators close their letter by outlining the vulnerability of our most recent arrivals, before outlining the information sought: “We also appreciate the challenges your agencies have faced at the border with the influx of unaccompanied minors crossing the border in recent years, as well as ORR [Office of Refugee Resettlement]’s ongoing efforts to provide care and timely release for children in their custody. The Committee is tasked with ensuring that HHS is meeting its legal obligations to protect the safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable recent arrivals. Oversight of the placement and care of unaccompanied children is particularly necessary today, as some states are loosening child labor laws and others are refusing to ensure that unaccompanied children have any mechanisms to report exploitation, abuse, or trafficking.”

The Senators’ letter concludes by asking for a series of documents and communications by July 20, 2023.

Earlier this month, Padilla co-chaired a committee hearing where he condemned the labor exploitation of migrant children in the United States and called on the federal government to enforce the law and hold employers unlawfully exploiting migrant children accountable. Padilla also led a letter with Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) to the CEOs of the major companies accused of child labor exploitation, calling on them to take full responsibility for the actions of their companies.

In March, Senator Padilla questioned U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Oversight of the Department of Justice (DOJ) following a New York Times report in February detailing abuse and exploitation of migrant children.

NAMAD Expresses Concern Over Supreme Court Affirmative Action Decision, Urges Reevaluation for Fairness and Equity

The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court of the United States

1 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20543

Dear Chief Justice:

On behalf of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD), we write to express our strong disagreement with the recent Supreme Court decision to disallow affirmative action in college applications. We firmly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion have always been vital elements in building an America that is fair, equal, and representative of its rich multicultural fabric.

NAMAD, as an organization that supports minority entrepreneurs in the automobile industry, recognizes the value of affirmative action not only in higher education but also in business. The decision to eliminate this policy in college admissions threatens to hinder the progress we have made in creating diverse academic environments. By considering race as a factor among many others, affirmative action has provided opportunities for historically marginalized communities and leveled the playing field for qualified students who may have faced systemic disadvantages.

Diversity in educational institutions fosters critical thinking, cultural understanding, and prepares students for the realities of a globalized society. It ensures that all voices are heard, perspectives are respected, and innovative solutions are generated. Moreover, affirmative action has proven effective in dismantling deeply rooted structural inequities, leading to greater social cohesion and a more harmonious nation.

As representatives of minority entrepreneurs across the automobile industry, we respectfully urge the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision on affirmative action in college applications. Let us continue to build an America where equal opportunities are available to all, irrespective of their background.

Together we can strive for a society that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusivity in all aspects of life. We are hopeful this esteemed court will reexamine and re-consider the benefits of affirmative action as it deliberates on issues of national importance.

Regards,

Damian Mills Chairman Damon Lester Vice Chairman