SB American News Week Ending 8/2

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)

Senators Carper and Cassidy and Representatives Ruiz and Wenstrup Take Action to Combat the Obesity Epidemic

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Eta Nu Omega Chapter Now Accepting Debutante Applications

The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act has widespread support from stakeholders across the healthcare industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) reintroduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) to combat the obesity crisis in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diseases associated with obesity such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer are the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would work to directly prevent these comorbidities through expanded coverage of new health care specialists and chronic weight management medications for Medicare recipients. It will also work to mitigate the obesity epidemic by providing regular screenings.

“With obesity rates on the rise in our country, we must do more to combat this epidemic head on. Too many of those in need are being denied care because of the high cost of medications or inaccessible treatment options,” said Senator Carper. “We cannot stand idly by while this

disease continues to claim lives through related illnesses that are preventable and treatable.

I’m proud of our bipartisan and bicameral legislation to open the door for Medicare to provide Americans with every available treatment and tool for reducing obesity’s physical, social and financial costs.”

“There is a clear need to address obesity,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Expanding Medicare coverage to the treatments patients need enables them to improve their health and benefits us all.”

“Obesity is a complex chronic disease and a public health epidemic that costs our nation billions of dollars. As an Emergency Physician, I cared for many patients with complications from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that stemmed from their obesity,” said Congressman Dr. Ruiz. “The bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, would help seniors who suffer from obesity gain Medicare coverage and access to vital medications and behavioral therapies that would help them live a healthier and longer life.”

“As a physician, the prevalence of obesity in our country deeply concerns me. I believe it is important that we work to keep Americans healthier for longer, and when patients go without

obesity treatment, which is multifaceted, it is more difficult to treat later down the line,” said Congressman Dr. Wenstrup. “By tackling obesity head on, we can better prevent numerous additional diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, helping lengthen Americans’ health spans while also saving taxpayer and Medicare dollars over the long run.”

The Senate legislation is cosponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The following organizations have endorsed TROA this year: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pas, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Group Association, American Psychological Association,

American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, American Society for Nutrition, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Black Woman’s Health Imperative, Boehringer-Ingelheim, CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (CDCDNPAO), ConscienHealth, Currax, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, Eli Lilly and Company, Endocrine Society, Gerontological Society of America, Global Liver Institute, Healthcare Leadership Council, HealthyWomen, Intuitive Surgical, MedTech Coalition for Metabolic Health, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, National Consumers League, National Council on Aging, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, Novo Nordisk, Obesity Action Coalition, Obesity Medicine Association, Ro, Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, The Obesity Society, Trust for America’s Health, WW Weight Watchers International, and YMCA of the USA.

As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Carper has been a leader in the fight to lower health care costs, especially for the treatment of obesity. Since 2013, he has led the introduction of TROA, working across the aisle and with dozens of outside stakeholders. Senator Carper has also introduced legislation to combat childhood obesity and prevent the spread of this disease early on. Under the Affordable Care Act, Senator Carper worked to secure $70 million to help states address the root causes of chronic diseases like obesity, and he has repeatedly advocatedfor legislation that would increase health care access and affordability for older Americans to ensure that everyone ages with dignity.

Governor signs Ramos measure in honor of dedicated public servant

Rialto Firefighter to be honored with highway designation

SACRAMENTO—The Ayala Drive overcrossing on State Route 210 in San Bernardino County will be renamed in honor of longtime City of Rialto firefighter, Scott “Buckshot” Schwingel, who died of job-related colon cancer.

President of the Rialto Professional Firefighters Local 3688 Earl Meredith said, “By dedicating the Ayala Drive Overpass in Engineer Schwengel’s honor, we ensure that his legacy lives on, reminding us all of the tremendous sacrifices made by our brave firefighters. This dedication serves as a touching reminder of the risks they face every day to protect and

serve our community.”

Meredith added, “The Rialto Professional Firefighters Association Local 3688 extends its deepest gratitude to Assemblymember James Ramos and his staff, as well as the Rialto City Council for their unwavering support and approval of this commemorative gesture.

We are privileged to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Engineer Scott "Buckshot" Schwingle, whose dedication and heroism will forever inspire future generations.”

“Scott is the embodiment of public service,” said Assemblymember James C.

Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

“In his 16 years serving the community, he always put the people of Rialto first. It was a tremendous honor to successfully introduce ACR 7, not only to honor Scott, but also for his family who were by his side every step of his career. This overpass renaming is a small way of remembering this man of service and his commitment to the people of Rialto.” Schwingel joined the City of Rialto Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic in 2001. He was an extremely motivated, tenacious and determined

individual who was soon promoted to the rank of fire engineer in 2006. During his career with the fire department, Schwingel earned the Rialto Fire Department Life Saving Award and the Rialto Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award in 2017. Schwingel was diagnosed with job-related colon cancer in July 2015 and passed in January 2018. During his illness, he continued to provide service to the Rialto community. Many of his younger colleagues looked to Schwingel for guidance and as an example to follow.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter Nubian Pearls of Distinction is now accepting debutante applications for 2023-2024 Debutante Season. High school juniors, seniors and college freshmen are encouraged to complete the candidate application by September 11, 2023.

The Nubian Pearls of Distinction affords young ladies

the opportunity to experience a wide array of cultural, academic, and socially enriching activities.

To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter Debutante Nubian Pearls of Distinction and access application for program visit website https://www. etanuomega.org/events

For more information, email nubianpearls1995@gmail.com

OP-ED: Anything Banned Becomes a Policing Issue:

Under federal guidelines, tobacco-related incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), an agency that works both independently and in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to combat tobaccorelated offenses.

Why the FDA Menthol Ban is Not Good for Communities of Color

By Elliot T. Boyce, Sr. (Ret.), Former Director of the New York State Police Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

With the FDA’s pending ban on menthol cigarettes growing ever closer, it’s important that policymakers contemplating passing legislation that will impact the interactions between Black and Hispanic Americans and law enforcement better understand the unintended consequences of this decision.

For Those Who Are Uninformed

This August, the FDA could announce a nationwide ban on all menthol cigarettes, ending the legal sale and purchase of menthol-flavored tobacco. Some advocates falsely claim that menthol products are more harmful, but research shows that menthol cigarettes are no more dangerous than any other cigarette. A JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute study found that “menthol cigarettes

are no more, and perhaps less, harmful than nonmenthol cigarettes.” Toothpaste, gum, and other products can add menthol, but this does not make the products more harmful or addictive. Moreover, menthol cigarettes are not the preferred cigarette in America; nonmenthol cigarettes are. So why would the FDA aim to ban only menthol-flavored tobacco products, especially considering the majority of Black and Latino smokers prefer menthol? The reasoning behind the ban is misguided, non-scientific, and rooted in the historical targeting of people of color.

For Those Who Claim That the Ban is Solely Motivated by Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diseases associated with obesity such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer are the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S.

In Fight Against Substance Use Disorder, Calif. Health Advocates Focus on Mental Health, Education

McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

psychostimulants, like crystal meth, are soaring, and 9% of Californians met the criteria for SUD — misuse or overuse of alcohol or other drugs, including illicit drugs that lead to health problems — the previous year. Only 10% of the people with SUD received treatment in 2021, despite SUDs being recognized as an illness.

Black Americans have higher rates of illicit drug use (24.3%) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (22.5%), according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Director Connie Chan Robinson, who leads the See Her Bloom initiative. She said lack of research on substance issues among Black women enhances the view that there isn’t a problem in that group.

“There is a stereotype that continues to be perpetuated that strong Black girls and young women are impenetrable, they are not influenced by drugs,” Robinson said. “Their lack of engagement with families, the ability to take about issues, and the denial factor with the family contributes to the further isolation.”

At Historic Graduation Ceremony, Gallaudet University Honors 24 Black Deaf Students, Four Black Teachers and Their Descendants From 1950s-era Kendall School Division II for Negroes...continued and injustices or the impact of them, it is an important step to strengthen our continued path of healing."

History and Louise B. Miller: A Trailblazing Hero of Education Justice for Black Deaf Children

Theresa Hunter used drugs growing up in the Sacramento area. The 32-year-old smoked weed, snorted cocaine, and popped pills.

Then, as a young adult, the mother of three found a different high: crystal methamphetamine.

“To deal with the trauma and grief in my life at that time, I turned to using drugs,” Hunter recalled. “I was trying to escape from everything.”

For five years, Hunter smoked around two grams a day of the highly addictive stimulant.

Crystal meth causes intense euphoria and negative effects such has depression, psychosis and paranoia, seizures, and other problems that can be fatal. Hunter’s addiction led her to becoming homeless and leaving her daughters’ care to their father.

Hunter tried to quit crystal meth but became lethargic and slept for days when she didn’t smoke. Rehab centers only accept individuals with alcohol or opioid issues.

In 2021, while four months pregnant with her third daughter Kassiani Rich, Hunter told her prenatal doctor that she was an addict.

“This is my time to get clean and sober,” remembered Hunter.

“I was scared, but I knew I needed to get clean. I didn’t want to have an abortion or give my daughter up.”

Hunter was admitted to a rehab center for 90 days but relapsed twice after release.

Kassiani was born healthy, but Hunter lost custody and underwent further rehab.

Hunter has been clean since June 12, 2021, and now has custody of Kassiani, 2, and her other daughters, Eryneesa Bernard-Wainiwheh, 13, and Jasani Bernard-Wainiwheh, 10. She credits her daughters and programs such as See Her Bloom, an online project that helps Black women with substance abuse disorders by sharing resources and allowing women to tell their stories, for paving her road to recovery.

“Knowing there is a platform to help women overcome their addiction, having a place women can go to is really helpful,”

Hunter said.

See Her Bloom is one of the many organizations and campaigns in the Golden State focused on combatting substance use disorder (SUD). According to a 2022 report by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), overdose deaths from opioids and

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in May, revealed that from December 2021 to December 2022 there were 107,573 drug overdose deaths — a decrease of 2% from the previous 12 months. Elizabeth Keating, Clinical Program Director of CA Bridge, a Public Health Institute focused on expanding addiction medication for treatment in hospital emergency departments, said overdose rates in California increased by around 1% between 2021 and 2022.

“Up is not what we want,” she said. “If not for the COVID pandemic, I would say the opioid crisis is biggest health crisis of our time. Policy matters.” Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom awarded $5.7 million for opioid and stimulant-use education and outreach in “Two-Spirit/ LGBTQ” Communities as part of a $1 billion state initiative.

“Education and outreach are critical tools in our arsenal — to prevent tragedy, to connect people with treatment, and to fight the life-threatening stigma that stops too many people from getting help,” Newsom said.

There are also a host of bills introduced in the State Assembly and Senate aimed at addressing the state’s drug crisis.

However, more needs to be done, said Center for Collaborative Planning at the Public Health Institute Executive

Dr. Jenifer Zhan, an Implementation Leader with CA Bridge, said numbers from her organization reveal that overdose deaths increased in ZIP codes with majority Black populations by 202% from 2018 to 2022. Zhan said prescriptions for buprenorphine, an FDAapproved drug used to treat substance misuse like opioids, are given at a much lower rate to Black patients.

Zhan noted that historically people of color are more likely to be arrested or incarcerated for substance use and that can lead many Black people with addiction problems to mistrust health care providers.

“We do make a policy stance on decriminalizing substance use and we advocate for treatment instead of incarceration,” she said. “We still advocate for treatment in jail, in hospitals. There is a shortage of Black doctors. Patients of color will seek care from doctors that look like them. We need policy changes in the education realm also to fix inequalities in health care.”

Robinson said more work needs to be done to discover the connection between mental health and drug use. She said the people at See Her Bloom say more peer-to-peer outreach is needed to combat illicit substance use.

“They need a space for them to share their stories,” Robinson said.

At Historic Graduation Ceremony, Gallaudet University Honors 24 Black Deaf Students, Four Black Teachers and Their Descendants From 1950s-era Kendall School Division II for Negroes

Students, families receive high school diplomas; Gallaudet apologizes for past injustices

Howard (Miller), Robert Lee Jones, Richard King Jr., Rial Loftis, Deborah Maton, William Matthews, Donald Mayfield, Robert Milburn, Kenneth Miller, Willie Moore Jr., Clifford Ogburn, Diana Pearson (Hill), Doris Richardson, Julian Richardson, Charles Robinson, Christine Robinson, Norman Robinson, Barbara Shorter, and Dorothy Watkins (Jennings) for the wrong done when they were denied their diplomas."

From 1898 to 1905, Kendall School, a K-12 program on the campus of what is now Gallaudet University, enrolled and educated Black students. In 1905, white parents complained about the integration of races, and Black Deaf students were transferred to the Maryland School for the Colored Blind and DeafMutes in Baltimore or to the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Philadelphia. This eliminated altogether the presence of Black students at Kendall School.

Several decades later, Louise B. Miller, a District of Columbia resident and the hearing mother of four children, three of whom were deaf, asked that her oldest son Kenneth be allowed to attend Kendall School. Her request was denied because Kenneth was Black. In 1952, Mrs. Miller, joined by the parents of four other Black Deaf children, filed and won a civil lawsuit against the District of Columbia Board of Education for the right of Black Deaf children like her son Kenneth to attend Kendall School.

The court ruled that Black Deaf students could not be sent outside the state or district to obtain the same education that white

students were provided. This led to – rather than the acceptance of Black Deaf students into Kendall School outright – the construction on the Gallaudet campus of the segregated Kendall School Division II for Negroes, an inferior building with fewer resources than those made available to white students. In 1954, the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka made school segregation illegal across the nation, and Kendall School Division II for Negroes closed. The students began to attend school with their white deaf peers.

To honor Mrs. Miller's story, the 24 Black Deaf students and the four Black teachers, and as part of its ongoing work to confront its role in past wrongs and injustices, Gallaudet University has committed to building The Louise B. Miller Pathways and Gardens: A Legacy to Black Deaf Children. This memorial will provide a space for reflection and healing through remembrance of all who have fought for the equality that Black Deaf children deserve.

Gallaudet University, federally chartered in 1864, is a bilingual, diverse, multicultural institution of higher education that ensures the intellectual and professional advancement of deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals through American Sign Language and English.

State Superintendent Thurmond Forcibly Removed from CVUSD Board Meeting for Taking Stand to Protect LGBTQ Students from Forced “Outing”

Community/Education News

M. Chism, Under Secretary for Education, Smithsonian Institution; Christopher D. Johnson, President of the District of Columbia National Black Deaf Advocates; and Zachary Parker, District of Columbia Council member.

CHINO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was invited by students and traveled to Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) on Thursday, July 20, to speak against a policy before the board that would out an LGBTQ+ student to their parents even if the student is not yet ready to share that information. Students had reached out to the Superintendent to request help due to feeling bullied and mistreated. Thurmond took the mic to oppose the policy as antithetical to how trans students should be supported in our schools. His remarks were abruptly interrupted, and he was berated by the CVUSD Board President and then forcibly escorted out of the meeting by security.

personal details about who they are or who they love, including with their parents and guardians, families, friends, and others at school. LGBTQ+ youth and their parents—not politicians— should decide when to have these conversations.

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallaudet

University, the world's premier institution for deaf and hard of hearing students, held a historic graduation ceremony today on its campus to honor the 24 Black Deaf students and four Black teachers of the Kendall School Division II for Negroes, which operated on the Gallaudet campus from 1952 to 1954.

The graduation ceremony at Gallaudet University honoring the 24 Black Deaf students, their teachers and families from the Kendall School Division II, 1952-1954 |

University

Credit: Gallaudet

At the ceremony, the 24 students and their descendants received high school diplomas conferred by Gallaudet's Laurent Clerc National Deaf

Education Center. Importantly, the university proclaimed today "Kendall 24 Day" and issued a Board of Trustees proclamation acknowledging and apologizing for its role in the grave injustice committed against the 24 students. Included in the proclamation: "Gallaudet deeply regrets the role it played in perpetuating the historic inequity, systemic marginalization, and the grave injustice committed against the Black Deaf community when Black Deaf students were excluded at Kendall School and in denying the 24 Black Deaf Kendall School students their diplomas. Gallaudet sincerely apologizes to Mary Arnold, Janice Boyd (Ruffin), Irene Brown, Darrell Chatman, Robbie Cheatham, Dorothy

Five of the six living students – Janice Boyd (Ruffin), Kenneth Miller, Clifford Ogburn, Charles Robinson, and Norman Robinson – attended the graduation ceremony with their families. Also honored at this ceremony were the four Black teachers, all now deceased, of Kendall School Division II – Mary Britts, Rubye Frye, Robert Robinson, and Bessie Thornton – who were represented at the event by their family members.

The ceremony, attended by more than 300 people and livestreamed to many more, was hosted by Gallaudet University's Center for Black Deaf Studies, the first center of its kind in the world dedicated to honoring Black Deaf history, Black Deaf contributions and Black Deaf culture.

Several special guests greeted the graduates at the event, including Dr. Monique

Dr. Carolyn D. McCaskill, founding director of the Center for Black Deaf Studies, said, "Today's Kendall School Division II graduation ceremony was one of the most profoundly moving events here at Gallaudet during my 37 years here. It was bittersweet for the graduates and their families. It is my hope that Gallaudet will continue to heal, and that we will arrive at a place of true belonging and equity for all. "

"Today is an important day of recognition and also a celebration long overdue," said Roberta J. Cordano, president of Gallaudet University. "Today is also an important step in the university's ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence, equity and belonging. Acknowledging and owning the university's role in past injustices is a key part of this journey and we must continue to confront our institutional history. The 24 Kendall students, their teachers and their families are central to this. While today's ceremony in no way removes past harms

After the meeting, Thurmond shared with reporters: “The actions of this board are deeply troubling—and I’m not talking about being thrown out of a public meeting—I am talking about the blatant disregard for student privacy and safety. Forced outing policies harm everyone—students, parents and guardians, families, and school staff. What CVUSD has done may be in violation of state law. We will be working closely with the State Attorney General’s office to verify and enforce California law."

“Choosing when to come out and to whom is a deeply personal decision that every LGBTQ+ young person has the right to make for themselves. This policy is taking away a student’s ability to seek comfort, safety, and security in our schools and from trusted adults and peers. As educators and education leaders, we should always be putting students first and doing all we can so they can learn and thrive.”

Superintendent Thurmond noted that while some parents and guardians are advocates and allies, not all are or ever will be.

Like all young people, LGBTQ+ youth have the right to decide when and how to share their

Thurmond has been at the forefront of fighting for inclusive education for California students. He has fought for budget funding to secure 10,000 new mental clinicians for California schools and has been actively working with the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom to pass Assembly Bill 1078 (Jackson), legislation he is sponsoring that would impose fines on any school district that withholds books or instructional materials for discriminatory means. Recently, Thurmond secured commitments from textbook publishers to diversify instructional materials and work with his task force on inclusive education. He sent a joint letter with the Governor and Attorney General to local educational agencies cautioning against book bans and outlining legal mandates they are required to follow to preserve freedom and ensure access to diverse perspectives and curricula. The joint letter follows guidance issued from Thurmond’s department addressing this topic.

On the legislative front this year, Thurmond is also sponsoring Senate Bill 760, AllGender Restrooms (Newman), which requires all K–12 schools in California to provide appropriate and equitable access to all-gender restrooms for students to use during school hours, and Assembly Bill 5, The Safe and Supportive Schools Act (Zbur), which requires all K–12 schools in California to provide training to support LGBTQ+ pupils. Thurmond also hosted a ceremony on June 1, 2023, marking the first time the Progress Pride Flag was raised above the California Department of Education in honor of Pride month.

Community/Education News

Courtesy photo: Theresa Hunter and her daughters Kassiani, 2; Eryneesa Bernard-Wainiwheh, 13; and Jasani Bernard-Wainiwheh,10.

Calif. Atty Gen. Rob Bonta Takes Action to Protect Section 8

Renters

Lila Brown | California Black Media

It took authorities in Los Angeles 12 years to process and approve Delsean Keys’ Section 8 housing application.

After finally being accepted into the federal government’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program for low-income households, the 41-year-old Keys was informed that he had only 90 days to find an apartment before his housing voucher would expire.

"Most landlords wanted to do a background and credit check along with income verification,” Keys, who lives in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles, told California Black Media (CBM).

After securing Section 8 housing at his current residence, where he’s lived for five years, Keys’ challenges did not end.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, our landlord tried to raise rent, but we as tenants petitioned against it, pushing back that they couldn't do that,” Keys said. “We were facing a global pandemic at no fault of our own. Many of us were on unemployment and they even attempted to receive back rent.”

Keys eventually accepted a minimal rent increase due to a change in his income which is allowed as income must be reported to the local Housing Authority.

For many tenants like Keys, who receive rental assistance through the HCV program, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that it is common for landlords to raise their rents in violation of the law, while adhering to established rent caps for renters who pay market rates.

On June 30, California

Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a letter to all housing authorities in the state, reminding

Attorney General Rob Bonta

them that tenants who receive Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are protected under California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA).

According to the DOJ’s Housing Justice Team, there have been numerous complaints about some local housing authorities approving rent increases that exceed the TPA’s rent cap.

Landlords receiving approvals for rent increases may think they are in compliance with state and local law, but Bonta clarified in his letter that any rent increases outside of the guidelines of the TPA violate state or local laws and are “plainly wrong” and that the DOJ is taking those violations seriously.

Bonta emphasized that recipients of Section 8 vouchers are equally protected under laws that establish rent caps.

“As California grapples with an unprecedented housing crisis, it’s critical that we work together to protect those most at risk of losing their homes,” said Bonta. “Section 8 recipients are some of the most vulnerable of California’s tenants and subjecting them to illegal and burdensome rent increases is unfair and may contribute to homelessness.”

In the letters, Bonta explained that California’s TPA, which bars landlords from raising rent for most tenants by more than 5%, plus inflation, or 10% total each year, whichever is lower, applies to recipients of the Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers and other similar housing assistance programs.

“Unfortunately, there are some shady landlords who are not in compliance with how Section 8 operates,” says Joel Green, 38, a landlord who provides permanent and supportive

San Manuel Orange County Golf Tournament Raises $425,000 For Five Tribal, Local And National Nonprofits

24th Annual Tournament Recognizes O.C. based Meals on Wheels and Radiant Futures Among Others

HIGHLAND, Calif. (July

24, 2023) – The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Tribal leaders, business and community partners united for this year’s annual golf tournament to raise $425,000 for tribal, local and national nonprofits, making it the largest year for funds raised at the annual event. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated more than $3 million to 50 nonprofit organizations as a result of its annual golf tournament. The tournament was the first Tribal event at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club since the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians acquired an interest in the property earlier this year.

The annual event commenced on July 16 with a celebration and a check presentation of $85,000 each to five inspiring tribal, local and national nonprofits. Recipients included Lakota Waldorf School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota dedicated to providing an exemplary education to reservation students while incorporating their culture;

housing for the elderly at Abode Communities. “Some private landlords discriminate, or they judge tenants based on their previous experiences, which is not fair. We need to shine light on what's actually going on with those landlords who are doing things that are not compliant with Section 8 rules.”

The federal government’s Section 8 HCV program – whose waiting list is currently closed for public registration due to a backlog of applicants -- is the country’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are allowed to find their own housing. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

Housing subsidies are paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

Another landlord who spoke to CBM off the record said sometimes landlords do not intend to increase rents, but “problematic” tenants give them few options.

She said those tenants sometimes ill-treat or damage the properties they rent, which

leads to “harsher-than-normal wear and tear, leading to host to exorbitant maintenance and repair costs.

As more cities across the United States struggle with the housing affordability and availability, the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program is in high demand. In densely populated cities such as Los Angeles, the waitlist can be abnormally long, authorities point out.

Recently, Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass pleaded with local property managers and private landlords to take at least one to two vouchers during the city's State of Emergency against homelessness, which she declared in January. California’s housing affordability problem is a major contributing factor to the state’s homelessness crisis, which is having a disproportionate impact on Black Californians. About 30 % of the state’s approximately 160,000 homeless people are African American. Blacks make up less than 6 % of the state’s population.

Last week, Bonta provided legal guidance to local governments, warning them that the DOJ is willing to take legal action against cities that “frustrate” the state’s efforts to increase housing supply by enacting “emergency zoning ordinances.”

“Under California law, urgency zoning ordinances can only be enacted if a high bar is met. Unfortunately, we are seeing urgency zoning ordinances that fall short of meeting that high bar,” said Bonta. “Every community must do its part to build housing. I encourage local governments to take a good look at their urgency zoning ordinances for compliance.”

San Manuel Orange County Golf Tournament Raises $425,000 For Five Tribal, Local And National Nonprofits...continued

Padilla Urges OSHA to Implement Federal Heat Protections for Workers...continued face record-breaking and life-threatening extreme heat conditions, the health and safety of our workers must come first. We urgently need an enforceable federal heat standard that holds employers accountable and protects workers,” said Senator Padilla. “I urge the Administration to act quickly to protect our workers as temperatures across the country soar.”

The lawmakers urge Acting U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su and Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas L. Parker to establish an enforceable federal standard to ensure workers and employers can recognize and respond to the signs of heat stress.

The standard, modeled off of Padilla’s Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatalities Prevention Act, should require employers to provide the following: adequate hydration; rest breaks; areas for rest breaks that are shaded (in the case of outdoor work) or air-conditioned (in the case of indoor work); medical services and training to address signs and symptoms of heat-related illness; and a plan for acclimatization to high-heat work conditions.

The letter also urges OSHA to incorporate the best practices from states who have taken a proactive approach to protecting works from extreme heat, including California.

“This year is expected to be the hottest on record, demonstrated by the hottest days on record on Earth in the first week of July, following the hottest ever month of June. Heat waves are associated with increases in death rates, driven not only by deaths directly caused by extreme heat but also by increases in deaths from heart attacks, respiratory illnesses, and cerebrovascular diseases. Heat waves are also associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory disorders. As you know, many workers whose jobs require prolonged exposure to extreme heat are not afforded paid time off or sick days. Thus, any health complications caused by heat exposure can lead to missed work, missed wages, and financial instability for families,” wrote the lawmakers.

The letter is signed by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (OH), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Bernard Sanders (VT), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory A. Booker (NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Mazie K. Hirono (HI), Ben Ray Luján (NM), Edward J. Markey (MA), Robert Menendez (NJ), Jeffrey A. Merkley (OR), Jack Reed (RI), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Ron Wyden (OR), and Representatives Greg Casar (TX35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Robert C. “Bobby”

Why

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Voices for Children which serves children in Riverside and San Diego County who are in foster care by providing court appointed special advocates; Citrus Counseling Services located in Redlands which provides mental health services at low or no cost; Radiant Futures of Orange County provides crisis support, services for survivors, and education to prevent domestic violence and human trafficking; and Meals on Wheels OC which provides programming to nourish the wellness of senior citizens in Orange County.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairwoman, Lynn Valbuena, says she is moved by the community’s commitment to providing a hand up to nonprofits that are dedicated to making a difference regionally and throughout Indian Country.

“Each year I stand in awe of the thoughtfulness and generosity of our sponsors and partners to continue San Manuel’s mission of supporting organizations that are truly the boots on the ground for making our world a

better place,” said San Manuel Chairwoman, Lynn Valbuena. “These five nonprofits are improving the lives of so many Native Americans, as well as local communities, and we are proud to help. The tournament is one of the many ways San Manuel demonstrates its value of giving back.”

This year, golfers teed off on ocean-view golf courses at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach and Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point from Monday, July 17 to Thursday,

July 20.

Presenting sponsors of the tournament included Imagine This and PENTA Building Group. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino was also joined by its sports partners from the LA Dodgers, LAFC and the Anaheim Ducks.

Supporting nonprofit organizations is part of the Tribe’s commitment to their Giving Pillar also known as “San Manuel Cares.” For more information on San Manuel Care’s Program, please visit: www.sanmanuelcares.org

Padilla Urges OSHA to Implement Federal Heat Protections for Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, amidst record-breaking temperatures across the country, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (IVt.) and Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA28), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), led one-hundred and twelve members of Congress in calling on the Biden Administration to implement an Occupational

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace federal heat standard as quickly as possible. The letter urges OSHA to model the standard after the provisions in the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatalities Prevention Act, legislation previously introduced by Padilla, Brown, and Cortez Masto to establish an enforceable federal standard to ensure workers and employers can recognize and respond to the signs of heat stress.

“As millions of Americans

The best solution for a public health issue like tobacco smoking is education, treatment, and counseling. The government knows this approach well, as it’s led to tremendous declines in smoking since the 1960s. According to Statista, from 1965 to 2019, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the U.S. has decreased from about 42 percent to 14 percent. Resources like quit-smoking websites, hotlines, medications, and text message programs contributed to this decrease, as well as common tobacco control policies like warning labels, advertising bans, and smoke-free environments.

For Those Who Don’t Understand That Prohibitions are Police Matters

The federal government has not yet released its blueprint for enforcement of this proposed ban; however, under federal guidelines, tobaccorelated incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), an agency that works both independently and in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to combat tobacco-related offenses. For advocates and policymakers to tell the public that the health department will enforce the ban, they are ignoring one key fact: anything banned becomes illegal and, therefore, a police matter.

Ban advocates acknowledge that there will be an increase in the trafficking of unregulated cigarettes nationwide. This creates a roadmap for organized criminal enterprises to expand their operations within Black and brown communities where individuals will be seeking their tobacco product of choice due to the ban. History has

shown that nothing is better for expanding organized crime than prohibition. In addition, this could force traditionally law-abiding citizens, particularly elderly individuals, who prefer menthol products to the streets to seek illegal, unregulated tobacco products, and in turn, increase their risk of being victims of street crime.

Police officers I have spoken with say this will become one more reason for officers to stop individuals in communities of color impacted by the ban, leading to more negative interactions and less community trust where it’s already sorely lacking. This means a proactive police approach to solving the trafficking concerns will target individual possessors of contraband and illegal cigarettes to get the larger organized criminals. This is a police tactic that will, unfortunately, target individuals whose only crime is their choice of cigarette.

As a Former Director of the New York State Police Employee Assistance Program (EAP), I travel the nation speaking to policymakers, citizens, and other distinguished law enforcement professionals to further clear up misconceptions about the unintended consequences of the menthol ban. Many smokers and non-smokers (like myself) are unaware of the ban, and many are perplexed by the rationale behind banning products that are not the most widely smoked but instead are preferred by Blacks and Hispanics.

In conclusion, please remember that information is power; we must understand the unintended consequences of the menthol ban. Health concerns are more effectively managed through education, treatment, and counseling, not by police.

2023)

How the West Coast’s Only Heat Officer is Cooling LA

By Selen Ozturk

Black Borrowers May Be Biggest Beneficiaries of Biden Student Loan Forgiveness ...continued

said President Joe Biden on announcing the action.

Foremost among these resources are cooling centers; in Los Angeles, currently 119 are open. “We’ve established cooling centers and hydration resources throughout the city in facilities like libraries, senior centers and community centers,” said Segura.

LA Chief Heat Officer Marta Segura is responding to the heat waves scorching Southern California as a public health crisis.

LOS ANGELES — As tripledigit summer temperatures sweep Southern California, Marta Segura is treating extreme heat as a public health crisis.

Segura, LA’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Director, also became its first Chief Heat Officer (CHO) in June 2022. As the region has seen record July heat with little relief, she has prioritized accessibility to cooling resources, particularly for underserved LA communities.

Extreme heat, the country’s top weather-related killer, is generally defined as at least two to three days of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

On an extreme heat day, there’s an average of 8,222 more emergency room visits across California for related issues. Of these, 1,510 are in LA County alone. An estimated 16 additional people there die on the first day of extreme heat, with 40 more deaths a day by the fifth.

These hospitalizations and deaths disproportionately affect communities of color living

in low-income, historically redlined neighborhoods, said Segura, “where the houses don’t have AC or air filtration.

When you start approaching heat vulnerability that way, it’s not only a sustainability issue — it’s public works, building development, water and power, tree shade and park access, and certainly a matter of public health.”

Heat is the top public health risk in LA, which experiences heat waves five times more often than it did 10 years ago.

As extreme heat waves in Los Angeles become longer, more frequent and more intense, public outreach becomes ever-more crucial. Across her Heat Relief 4 LA social media campaign, Segura emphasizes that “It’s not your typical summer anymore. Extreme heat can run from June to November. As this means our bodies have less time to recover, we also distribute information on symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and resources to cool off before hitting that point.”

“We also made an app, Cool Spots LA, where you can find where and when they’re open, alongside other cooling spots like shade structures, hydration stations, and bus shelters.” Currently, only a quarter of all LA Metro bus stops are shaded.

The need for heat interventions like these can vary drastically from neighborhood to neighborhood, partly because of the region’s coastal and inland microclimates. Accordingly, the city’s emergency alert system now uses National Weather Service data to identify heat wave severity in specific parts of LA.

However, these stark regional heat differences also owe to shade inequity. Research shows that with each 10% of canopy cover, trees keep ground-level temperatures about 2 degrees cooler. In a city where over half the surfaces are dark concrete or asphalt — which absorbs up to 90% of solar radiation — 20% of tree canopies are concentrated in four neighborhoods where less than 1% of the population live.

To address this inequity, 65,000 trees have been planted citywide in continuation of a 2019 plan by former Mayor Eric Garcetti to increase canopy coverage 50% by 2028 across LA’s least green neighborhoods. The aim is 90,000 trees by 2028.

Environmental inequity is a testament to why extreme heat is a public health issue, said Segura. “LA’s least green areas are historically disadvantaged neighborhoods where we not only see more heat-related illnesses but also more pollution and exacerbated chronic illnesses like asthma.” Hence, life expectancy in wealthy areas with ample green space like Beverly Hills is as high as 90, while that in disadvantaged south LA neighborhoods less than 15 miles away is as low as 77.

Thus, she continued, when heat policies “coordinate with departments across the city, the county, and” — under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s historic $800 million Extreme Heat Action Plan — “the state, the result can be life-saving.” Nevertheless, CHOs remain rare. Segura is joined by only two in the nation — in Phoenix, Arizona and Miami, Florida — and seven worldwide.

However, she continued, it’s becoming a matter of course for cities to develop not only general climate plans, but also heat action plans. These are largely a matter of “short-term planning for public engagement and emergency response, and longterm planning for public health and resilient infrastructure,” she added.

The heart of her work as LA’s CHO, Segura said, is aligning climate equity gaps with public health results: “to treat one is to improve the other. We can see the results all over the world — if we have no plan, it’s only going to get hotter and hotter.”

Black Borrowers May Be Biggest Beneficiaries of Biden Student Loan Forgiveness

804,000 federal borrowers to receive $39 billion in cancellations

By Charlene Crowell

Southern California Education Leaders to Address Inequities and Remove Barriers for BIPOC Students, Parents, and Staff

The first ‘Learn.Lead.Liberate’ conference will be held on July 27th

WHAT: The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) and the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) will host a one-day conference for Southern California education leaders in to discuss ways to create educational environments that work to undo inequity and injustice. The conference will be free, and those interested in attending can register Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties here.

These leaders will also learn how to remove barriers to foster communities that support and honor BIPOC students, parents, and staff, through evidencebased educational practices that treat the differences and student’s experiences outside of school as assets, so they can be valued, regardless of socio-economic or ethnic background.

Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, will be the keynote speaker. She is a curriculum developer, consultant, and coach who has spent the past 15 years translating the latest research and teacher experiences on equity, literacy, and culturally responsive teaching into practical tools and

strategies. Hammond started her career in the classroom, where she began to understand how important literacy was to equity, and how neuroscience and culture should inform our instructional practice.

“Our aim is to provide a forum where these leaders can gather to network and share information about what is working in their communities,” said Michele Broadnax, President, and CEO, Los Angeles Education Partnership. “We want to emphasize that these leaders don’t need to do this alone, as 21CSLA and LAEP are here to support them. We see and appreciate the dedication these educators have to this important work.”

WHEN: Thursday, July 27th, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: The Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside, CA, 92501

MEDIA CONTACT: Berry Brady, berry_brady@yahoo. com, 703-609-6643 LAEP is the Regional Academy providing 21CSLA programming in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

When the Biden Administration announced its latest initiative to reduce the nation’s unsustainable trillion-dollar student debt, both borrowers and advocates rejoiced. In the coming weeks an estimated 804,000 student loan borrowers will together receive $39 billion in federal loan debt cancellations.

These unprecedented debt cancellations are available due to systemic corrections that will now ensure all borrowers receive full credit for qualifying payments under the Department’s Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans.

More importantly, these developments signal one of the very few times that Black student loan borrowers stand to become the initiative’s biggest beneficiaries. Recent data analyses underscore the extra student debt borne by Black America.

To paraphrase President Biden’s reaction to national health being passed when he served as President Barack Obama’s Vice President, ‘This is a big deal’.

According to the Education Data Initiative:

Black college graduates owe an average of $52,000 in student loan debt;

Over half of these borrowers say their net worth is less than their student debt;

“By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, and borrowers with permanent disabilities, including veterans,” added Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

Borrowers receiving notifications in the coming days include those with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the Department (including Parent PLUS loans of either type) who have reached the necessary forgiveness threshold as a result of receiving credit toward IDR forgiveness for any of the following periods:

Any month in which a borrower was in a repayment status, regardless of whether payments were partial or late, the type of loan, or the repayment plan;

Any period in which a borrower spent 12 or more consecutive months in forbearance;

Any month in forbearance for borrowers who spent 36 or more cumulative months in forbearance;

Any month spent in deferment (except for in-school deferment) prior to 2013; and

Any month spent in economic hardship or military deferments on or after January 1, 2013.

Discharges will begin 30 days after emails are sent. Then, borrowers will receive a second notice – from their loan servicer - after their debt is discharged. Those receiving forgiveness will have repayment on their loans paused until their discharge is processed, while those who opt out of the discharge will return to repayment once payments resume.

“My Administration has worked hard to secure the largest increases to Pell Grants in a decade, fixed broken loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and created a new income-driven repayment plan that will cut undergraduate loan payments in half and bring monthly payments to zero for low-income borrowers,” said President Joe Biden on announcing the action.

“By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, and borrowers with permanent disabilities, including veterans,” added Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) applauded the Administration for forgiving hundreds of thousands of loans through the improved incomedriven repayment program. It commended the action as a critical step but highlighted the need for more work to be done.

“We look forward to working with the Administration to develop additional programs and regulations that will make the repayment of federal student loan debt fairer and more affordable,” said Jaylon Herbin, director of federal campaigns at CRL. “Hard-working Americans pay for a broken student loan system that was supposed to be designed for them. Instead, banking and education industry lobbyists turned it into a cash cow for themselves, skyrocketing tuition costs and telling low-andmiddle income families not to worry, ‘the debt will pay for itself.’ More than two decades later, these borrowers were still paying their loans.”

“Working people with student loan debt have been made collateral damage by a dysfunctional student loan system,” said Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director and Managing Counsel with the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Tom Shapiro, a Brandeis University professor and author of several reports examining the nation’s nagging racial wealth gap, offered in earlier research a succinct summary of Black America’s financial disparities.

“As somebody who has looked at racial wealth inequality for a long time, I didn’t have to think long and hard about why that would be the case,” Shapiro says. “African American and Latinx student borrowers finish higher education at a lower rate and come out with higher debt. So, they pay more for college and get less out of it.”

Black student loan borrowers are the most likely to struggle financially to make a $250 monthly payment; and

Four years after graduation, Black loan borrowers owe an average of 188 percent more on their debt than whites.

Further, as of June 1, 2021 –long before this new initiative, only 157 borrowers received forgiveness from the Education Department, despite the fact that thousands more were also eligible, according to the federal Government Accountability Office (GOA). This office also found that about half of more than $1 trillion in outstanding federal student Direct Loans are being paid by borrowers using IDR plans.

Now, federal loan borrowers who have reached the equivalent of either 20 or 25 years of qualifying months will be benefit. Additionally, loan payments made prior to a loan consolidation will also be counted toward forgiveness.

“My Administration has worked hard to secure the largest increases to Pell Grants in a decade, fixed broken loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and created a new income-driven repayment plan that will cut undergraduate loan payments in half and bring monthly payments to zero for low-income borrowers,”

Padilla Urges OSHA to Implement Federal Heat Protections for Workers...continued on page 4

Scott (VA-03), Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Colin Z. Allred (TX-32), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA44), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY16), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Cori Bush (MO-01), Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (CO-08), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Troy Carter (LA-02), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL20), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Chris Deluzio (PA17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Valerie P. Foushee (NC04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA34), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Daniel T. Kildee (MI08), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL08), Rick Larsen (WA-02),

Barbara Lee (CA-12), Summer Lee (PA-12), Mike Levin (CA49), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Betty McCollum (MN04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Robert J. Menendez (NJ-08), Grace Meng (NY-06), Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Donald Norcross (NJ01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Katie Porter (CA47), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-11), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Haley M. Stevens (MI11), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Norma J. Torres (CA35), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lori Trahan (MA-03), David J. Trone (MD-06), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Marc A. Veasey (TX-33), Nydia Velásquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

Experts: California Needs Information and Infrastructure Upgrades to Connect Millions More to Broadband

Antonio Ray Harvey| California Black Media

A report the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released in June found that access to fast and reliable home internet continues to increase in the Golden State, but many households eligible for broadband access assistance are still without service.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that at least 3.7 million California households are eligible for digital-access funding, but as of March 2022, only 1.2 million households were participating in programs created to offset high access costs for low-income households.

Therefore, the FCC says it is seeking community-based organizations connected to local communities to engage in outreach and education.

“We have issues nationwide with access, availability and affordability,” Sanford Williams, Special Advisor to the Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and Deputy Managing Director of the Federal Communications Commission, said at a PPIC virtual conference on July 18.

“The one thing we’ve found on the government level is that folks listen to us, but they trust people they know. So, the biggest thing for us, from my perspective and the FCC, we get community organizations involved to get the message out,” he added.

Williams was one of the panelists at a three-day virtual conference the PPIC hosted from July 18-20 to discuss internet access, California’s unprecedented investments in broadband, and barriers to digital access across California’s diverse communities. The conference looked at how deficits in both infrastructure and information keep Californians disconnected from the internet.

According to PPIC, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), found that 85% of California households had high-speed internet at home in 2021-- a slight improvement from 84% in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2019, access to broadband at home has become more common for most demographic groups. But racial and ethnic gaps persist: 81% of Latino, 83% of Black, 87% of White, and 88% of Asian households reported having broadband access at home in 2021, the PPIC shared.

PPIC explains that in 2021, slightly fewer California households (10%) did not have access to a desktop, laptop, or other computing devices at home than in 2019, when 11% lacked access. Nationally, approximately 40% of Black American households— as opposed to 28 % of White American households—don’t have high-speed, fixed broadband, according to the Mckinsey & Company article, “Closing the Digital Divide in Black America,” published on Jan. 18, 2023.

One of the first federally funded initiatives, the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, launched in 2021, offered a discount of up to $50 per month for broadband services to eligible households.

The EBB expired on Dec. 31, 2021, and was replaced by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers long-term support for households. The maximum monthly ACP benefit is $30, and eligibility criteria expanded to include a household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee, another panelist that participated in the “Bridging California’s Digital Divide,” virtual conference, warned that the ACP funding will eventually run out and could present more access problems for low-income and rural households.

“The ACP came out of the emergency broadband program, a pandemic-relief program that has had exponential growth,” Tuner-Lee continued. “I think 19 million have subscribed across the U.S., but there are challenges. When it expires in 2024 or when it runs out of money, the same 19 million people that subscribed will have these same challenges.”

Turner-Lee’s portfolio includes leading research and policy work at the Brookings Institution. Her book on the digital divide titled “Digitally Invisible: How the Internet is Creating the New Underclass” is scheduled to be published in 2024.

“We have to keep talking about affordability, but we need to talk about it in a more permanent way,” Turner-Lee said. “It’s not necessary to give people access to shiny objects and devices but to connect them to a world of opportunities. That should justify and validate why this has to be a long-term program.”

continued

U.S. Department of Education to Host National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education on July 26

Convening marks a key next step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to advance diversity & opportunity in higher education following the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action

On Wednesday, July 26, the U.S. Department of Education will host the National Summit on Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, a one-day summit that will bring together senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and national educational institutions and leaders to discuss innovative strategies and resources for colleges and students to expand access to higher education in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action.

The recent Supreme Court decision on college affirmative action programs has limited a vital tool that many institutions of higher education and postsecondary institutions have used for decades to help create vibrant, diverse campus communities.

As the country grapples with the recent decision, the BidenHarris Administration remains committed to educational opportunity for all Americans and to promoting diversity in higher education consistent with the law, and the Administration has taken swift action to support our Nation’s colleges and universities so they can continue building pathways to upward mobility and preparing students from all backgrounds to thrive in our workforce.

The National Summit -which is a key next step in the Administration's efforts to promote educational opportunity and diversity in colleges and universities -- will focus on

the strategies higher education leaders are pursuing for reimagining admissions, building affordable college pipelines, and creating inclusive campus communities that support student success and completion.

Participants will include U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, White House Domestic Policy Advisor and Assistant to the President Neera Tanden, White House Office of Public Engagement Director and Assistant to the President Steve Benjamin, U.S. Department of Education Under Secretary James Kvaal, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke, advocates, student leaders, college and university administrators, researchers, and state, local, and Tribal leaders.

More information on the work the Biden-Harris Administration is doing to continue building success for all students to thrive can be found here. A full list of the agenda can be found here.

There is limited space for inperson media coverage. If you are interested in covering this event, please email pressRSVP@ ed.gov, and include name, outlet, and position. Media should arrive no later than 8:30 am ET for set up.

The event will also be livestreamed. Members of the public can register for the event here: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/nationalsummit-on-equal-opportunityin-higher-education-registration680809077277?utm_

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CO. NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free

decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Superior Court of California, County of SONOMA 600 Administration Drive, #100J, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Tristan P. Espinosa, Esq. (CA Bar No.: 312481) , REESE LAW GROUP, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No. 290293), DATE (Fecha): 2/15/2023 8:00 AM, Robert Oliver, Clerk (Secretario), by Misty Aguillo, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL), NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served . 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17/23 CNS-3722738# THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN

FOR

VICTORIA BENNETT be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

Date: 8/10/2023 Time: 09:00 a.m.

Dept: S37 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO

247 West Third St San Bernardino, CA 92415 -0212 San Bernardino District-Probate

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four

Sanford Williams Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee

OP-ED: Why I Am Fighting for Greater Visibility for Diabetic Men and Women

Diabetes is often invisible to everyone except those living with it, and for too long, minorities have gone without better access to better healthcare technology.

By Patti LaBelle

just so I could better control my food intake.

Has it been easy? No. But has it paid off? Absolutely.

Black people and diabetes

OP-ED: Why I Am Fighting for Greater Visibility for Diabetic Men and Women

likely to develop diabetes than white people, and in 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that Black people were twice as likely as

“Taking the Lord Grace for Granted You Will Be Sorry!”

white people to die from diabetes. Lots of things are making this true, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

continued on page 8

Experts: California Needs Information and Infrastructure Upgrades to Connect Millions More to Broadband...continued from page 6

By Lou K. Coleman

More than 25 years ago, I collapsed onstage while performing. I had no idea what was happening, but that night in the hospital, when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, my life was forever changed. At first, I was angry, and I was terrified. I watched my aunt and uncle lose their sight, and my mother lost both her legs before she died in her 60s due to diabetes. I know firsthand the toll that this disease can take. It took me a while to do something about my diabetes. I was in denial. I kept my old unhealthy eating habits. If it was battered or fried, I ate it!

Eventually, I realized my glucose levels weren’t getting any better, and I knew it was time to do something. I made a conscious choice to prioritize my health and change my way of living. I turned to my love of cooking to overhaul my diet. It meant I had to put down the butter and pick up the vegetable steamer. I would even take my pots and pans with me on tour and cook in my suite with ingredients from the local farmer’s market,

The more attention I pay to my health, the better I feel. Exercise and I are not friends, but I started becoming more active – whether walking my dog and exercising in my pool or hopping on the elliptical machine. I use my Dexcom continuous glucose monitor (or CGM) to stay on top of my glucose levels throughout the day, without the need for painful finger pricks. It lets me know where my glucose levels are and where they’re headed, all with a glance at my iPhone. I can even share my levels with members of my family and my physician so they can keep a close eye on them, too.

I am proud of how far I have come on my health journey, and I am blessed and privileged to have an incredible support system in my doctors, family and friends. But millions of Americans in this country are not as fortunate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes (34 million), and approximately 90% of them have Type 2 diabetes.

Black people are 60% more

continued in next 2 columns

PPIC is a nonprofit organization that provides objective and nonpartisan research to guide California’s public policy. Its aim is to produce high-quality analysis that promotes dialogue and inspires sustainable policy solutions.

“We looked at the research on what’s barring folks from enrolling in the ACP and one of those barriers is just simply being aware that the ACP exists,” Ji Soo Song, Digital Equity Advisor for the US Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology said during a session at the PPIC conference.

“It seems like in low-income households, less than 50% knew that it existed. That's why we’ve been working with the FCC to launch a national campaign online to make sure that folks take advantage of it,” Song told the panelists.

On the final day of the virtual conference, panelists discussed the importance of digital equity in enhancing access outcomes across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and the economy.

The panelists agreed that building a digital infrastructure based on equity is crucial for an inclusive recovery from the

pandemic. But Mei Wa Kwong, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), the federally designated National Telehealth Policy Resource Center, said equity won’t be a “one-size-fitsall” solution.

“It’s going to take us a while to get there because when you are talking about digital equity, there’s a lot of infrastructure involved,” Kwong said. “Infrastructure does not move that quickly. It takes a while to build up things.”

Only a third of eligible California households receive federally subsidized internet. Most eligible households have not received the ACP internet subsidy, PPIC reports. Only 36% of over eight million eligible households had enrolled by April 2023, according to the California Department of Technology.

“Part of this conversation around affordability is not about whether people can get access to competitive providers but more so whether or not people understand the relevance of broadband in their lives,” TurnerLee said.

“It’s important that we connect the dots to improve the outcomes for people,” she added.

Covered California to Launch State-Enhanced Cost-Sharing Reduction Program in 2024 to Improve Health Care Affordability for Enrollees

World/Health News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is set to continue its legacy of building upon and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, as its Board of Directors approved enhanced benefit designs that will ensure over 600,000 Covered California enrollees see reduced out-ofpocket costs in 2024.

“Covered California is proud to be a part of another visionary program that strengthens the Affordable Care Act,” said Jessica Altman, executive director of Covered California. “California made history with the State Premium Subsidy program in 2021, and we appreciate the continued leadership from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature to make health care access and affordability a priority in our state.”

The new budget package passed by the state Legislature and enacted by Gov. Newsom appropriates $82.5 million of the Health Care Affordability Reserve Fund (HCARF) to Covered California to support a program of financial assistance for coverage year 2024. Per the budget agreement, funding for the program is planned to increase to $165 million starting in coverage year 2025.

Many Consumers Will Spend Less on Health Care Services

The Affordable Care Act requires health plans to reduce cost-sharing amounts and out-ofpocket maximums for consumers at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Consumers can access these benefits by enrolling in cost-sharing reduction (CSR) plans built on Silver-level coverage.

The new state-enhanced cost-sharing program will strengthen these Silver CSR plans, increasing the value of Silver 73 plans to approximate the Gold level of coverage and increasing Silver 87 plans to approximate the Platinum level of coverage. Silver 94 plans already exceed Platinum-level coverage. About 40 percent of Covered California’s 1.6 million

enrollees will be eligible for these cost-sharing reduction benefits.

Deductibles will be eliminated entirely in all three Silver CSR plans, removing a financial barrier to accessing health care and simplifying the process of shopping for a plan. Other benefits will vary by plan but will include a reduction in generic drug costs and copays for primary care, emergency care and specialist visits and a lowering of the maximum outof-pocket cost.

To help ensure that the greatest number of people can take advantage of these cost savings and richer benefits, Covered California plans to automatically move about 35,000 enrollees from other metal tier plans into Silver CSR plans if they qualify and if doing so will provide more generous benefits at the same or lower monthly cost. Many more enrollees will be able to switch to a Silver CSR plan to take advantage of the new benefits. Eligible consumers will be contacted by Covered California and will be able to make changes online, by calling the Covered California Service Center at (800) 300-1506, or through one of our 11,000 enrollment partners once the renewal period begins in October.

Reducing Barriers to Health Care

The new state-enhanced costsharing reduction program was designed to strengthen Covered California’s patient-centered benefit designs, which are crafted to help reduce financial barriers to health care.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey in March of 2022 found that even among those Americans who have health insurance, just under half worry about affording their deductibles. One-third of American adults stated that they or a family member have skipped a recommended medical treatment due to cost, while four out of 10 say they have delayed needed care.

“Recognizing that cost is still the key barrier to proper health care for too many Californians,

Lou K. Coleman

Many people, having heard all their lives about the grace and mercy of God, take His grace for granted. They decide on courses and actions which they know are contrary to God’s will, but figure that “God will forgive me anyway” and plunge foolishly into their rebellious way. They assume there will be no lasting damage once they are forgiven. These people exhibit the spirit of Esau — and unfortunately may well discover his end as well. For Hebrews tells us that when “later” came, and Esau wanted to repent of his actions, it was too late. “He found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.” [Hebrews 12:17].

This sad story should be a warning to each of us, not to

take for granted the grace of God, as well as to realize that there are irreversible decisions in life. As devastating as the loss of such things on earth can be, the weightiest application here is that one day it will be too late for repentance. As [Hebrews 9:27] says, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” When death comes, it will be too late for repentance.

The Rich Man in [Luke 16] discovered that too late. His destiny was now fixed and like in Esau’s case “there was no place for repentance.” May each of us learn from him, and from Esau, and not wait until it is too late to consider the cost of our decisions and actions.

Be as the wise man who said, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near.” [Ecclesiastes 12:1].

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! Repent now before it’s too late!

Settler Colonial Policies Still Seek the Eradication of Native People

Tracy Howe

our goal is to improve affordability for our enrollees in every aspect of their health care,” Altman said. “Combined with federal support for premiums under the Inflation Reduction Act, this will be the highest level of affordability support that has ever been available to our enrollees.”

Increased Benefits for Consumers Transitioning From Medi-Cal

With the end of the federal continuous Medicaid coverage requirement put in place to help Americans maintain coverage through the COVID-19 pandemic, in April, Medi-Cal resumed the renewal process for its more than 15 million members. The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) estimates that between 2 and 3 million people will no longer be eligible for coverage.

The state-enhanced costsharing reduction program will assist many of these Californians because historically, more than 75 percent of individuals determined eligible for subsidies after losing Medi-Cal have been eligible for cost-sharing reduction plans.

While many Californians will transition to other forms of health insurance, such as coverage offered through their job or a family member’s employer, others will be eligible for coverage through Covered California, and they may receive financial help to lower the cost of their coverage. Covered California offers quality health plans, all of which provide many of the same benefits and services that Medi-Cal does, including free preventive care, doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays, behavioral health care and more.

Many people transitioning from Medi-Cal to Covered California will be eligible for quality coverage for little to no cost, including the increased benefits from the enhanced Silver CSR plans.

In the throes of climate change and after generations of extractive and unsustainable water use in the Southwest United States, there is huge water crisis. States and different interest groups are trying to secure what they need, but last month, the Supreme Court ruled the United States is not responsible for supplying the Navajo Nation with drinking water, which they desperately need to live. Though we are dependent on and made of the same water, the Diné people have been sequestered to land without water rights, and much of their groundwater has been polluted by uranium mines.[1] This is not an isolated unjust ruling— it is part of settler colonial policies that continue towards the eradication of Native people. Most contemporary generations of settlers—that is, those of us with European settler ancestry— cannot imagine partaking in the kind of gruesome violence we read about in a limited number of history books, in which settlers killed communities and families en masse and forced people from homelands their parents and ancestors are buried on. Since we cannot imagine participating in this kind of explicit violence, we view ourselves as more evolved. But it was whiteness that evolved, not us.

Growing up, I was made to believe that colonization was something that happened: the violence was tragic, but now it is done, and we are left to make the world better with socially conscious capitalism! I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in fifth grade through a white gaze and knew it was a sad story, but it was in the past. I learned about the Massacre of Sand Creek in school growing up but was never told it was carried out in large part by a volunteer militia of influential Boulder settlers who were squatting on Indian land and who eradicated the Native people because they wanted to keep the land and other valuable resources, like water. Water was plundered like timber and gold. These settler colonial capitalist policies are still in place. They connect our modern water economy

and crisis to the earliest settler colonial claims in Colorado and the rivers that originate there, which supply the desert cities and industrial agriculture of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and more still.

Sand Creek was one of many massacres that blurred together in a single sad history of Native people I felt no connection to or responsibility for growing up in present day Boulder, Colorado. This is the spiritual violence we—the ancestors of colonizers, the current settlers of the land—inherit. We are dead to our relationships with the land and water and people past, present and future, who we are deeply interconnected with. Jesus calls us to living relationships. To understand continuing settler colonialism in the United States—or more importantly, our relationship to and role in it—we must understand the machinations that power and sustain colonization and know it is still an ongoing project. It needs us, but we can repent. We can turn and make another way. In the process, we must supply clean drinking water to all people and undo and repair these violent settler colonial policies.[2]

[1] https://www. washingtonpost.com/ politics/2023/06/22/supremecourt-navajo-nation-watersupply/ [2] There are historians and theorists who illuminate and analyze with much more detail and eloquence the structures and histories of settler colonialism and Indigenous resistance and self-determination. Three that have been very helpful and valuable to me, and are more accessible to a non-academic audience are

1) Raoul Peck’s 2021 HBO documentary series, Exterminate all the Brutes, 2) Sai Englert’s Settler Colonialism, an Introduction (2022, Pluto Press), and

3) An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2014, Revisioning American History). Rev. Tracy Howe is the Minister and Team Leader for Faith Education, Innovation and Formation for the United Church of Christ.

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1161

Table 1: Comparison of Silver CSR Plans with State-Enhanced Cost-Sharing Reductions

Patti LaBelle publicity photo.

Luvina Beckley, CEO of M.H.M. & Associates and Grant Writing Professional

OP-ED: Why I Am Fighting for Greater Visibility for Diabetic Men and Women...continued

from page 7

Patti LaBelle lost three sisters to cancer. Now, she’s telling adults to ‘take heed and get checked’

Living with diabetes has never been easier; insulin pumps talk directly to continuous glucose monitors and automatically deliver insulin, and you can keep a close eye on your glucose levels from your smartwatch or phone without pricking your finger – no one likes to do that!

But this amazing technology is still not in the hands of people in Black communities and communities of color. A recent survey of people with insulin-treated diabetes found that most believe they deserve new technology to manage their disease, and I couldn’t agree more.

Why are so many of us out here fighting diabetes with the

SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano Embarks on the First Day of School at Highland-Pacific Elementary School

Diabetes is often invisible to everyone except those living with it, and for too long, minorities have felt invisible in this country. They deserve to feel seen and heard. I am proof that you can not only live with Type 2 diabetes but also live well with it. I am not a diabetic, I’m a divabetic! And I am proud of it. That is why this November, along with the Global Movement for Time in Range, I am sharing my story to amplify this important topic, and advocating for better access to diabetes technology and asking that decision-makers take action for communities of color to receive the care they need.

Whether you have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, care for someone with diabetes, or you simply believe that people with diabetes deserve better, you can take action too by joining the

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is pleased to announce that Superintendent Mauricio Arellano will kick off the new school year by spending the first day at Highland-Pacific Elementary School on Monday, July 31, 2023. This visit signifies Superintendent Arellano's commitment to engaging directly with students, teachers, and staff to understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the District.

Arellano will tour the campus, observe classrooms, and interact with students, teachers, and staff members. He will also take the opportunity to engage in conversations with parents and community members, reinforcing his commitment to collaboration and open communication.

Luvina Beckley (shown above) was a featured speaker at the Re-stored Brunch & Summit held recently. The event catered to fe-male leaders and activists who hold mindfulness in high regard. The attendees and speakers included influencers, industry pro-fessionals and change makers. The summit topics included networking, having a health mindset as well as health and well-ness. Ms.

Beckley addressed the need for Black women and women over color being better represented in business. Ms. Beckley is the CEO of M.H.M. & Associates (M.H.M.). She is one of foremost grant writers in the nation. Her company a 77% suc-cess rate in getting grants funded. Ms. Beckley’s newly develop patten pending e3p3 software is sure to be a game changer in the grant writing industry.

same old tools that have been around since my aunt, uncle and mother were diagnosed? If today’s health care system provided more coverage for (and access to) these technologies, millions of lives could be saved.

A ‘divabetic’ advocating for others

conversation at wheninrange. com.

It’s time that we all truly #SeeDiabetes, because we can’t help change what we cannot see.

Patti LaBelle is a singer, actress, author and advocate. Follow her on Twitter: @ MsPattiPatti

Superintendent Arellano's visit to Highland-Pacific Elementary is part of his broader initiative to re-familiarize himself with the schools and communities within the District he previously attended and served, which covers San Bernardino, portions of Highland, and the unincorporated communities of Muscoy and Devore.

Most SBCUSD campuses start the 2023–2024 academic year on Monday, July 31. And, the first day of school marks the start of the new late-start time implementation, with middle schools starting at 8 a.m. and high school students starting at 8:30 a.m. Elementary students will remain on the same schedule as last year.

During his visit, Superintendent

"I am thrilled to begin my first full school year as the Superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District by spending the first day of school at Highland-Pacific Elementary,” said Superintendent Arellano, who was hired in February by the Board of Education and officially began his tenure in April. “It is crucial for me to personally experience the energy and enthusiasm that comes with the start of a new academic year. By connecting with the students, teachers, and staff at Highland-Pacific, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and aspirations, and work collaboratively to ensure the success of every student in our District.”

Superintendent Arellano brings a wealth of experience and passion for education to his new role. With a proven track record of implementing innovative educational programs and fostering inclusive learning environments, he is wellpositioned to lead SBCUSD toward continued growth and success.

SBCUSD is excited about the positive impact Arellano’s leadership will have on the District. His visit to HighlandPacific Elementary on July 31 marks the beginning of a new chapter in the District's journey to provide exceptional education to its students.

Four ways to talk about depression with your partner

By Black Health Matters

Talking to your partner about your depression can be intimidating because you have no control over how another person will respond. Will your partner regard you with disdain, judge you or perhaps end the relationship? No matter how you think your partner will react, if you are experiencing depressive symptoms, you must come clean and tell your significant other.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have a healthy relationship when half of a couple suffers from mental illness. An essential part of mental health is connection, which can improve symptoms. Telling your partner how they can support your treatment can be a major part of your healing.

But how do you address depression with your partner? Try these four tips:

Make sure your partner is ready for a serious discussion. Start by sharing you have something difficult you need to communicate. Make sure you don’t have this talk when you’re angry or stressed.

Be honest about your depression. Be open about what you’ve been experiencing. Don’t sugarcoat the issue or try to downplay your symptoms. The more honest you are, the better they’ll be able to support you. Most partners will be understanding. However, if your partner does not understand, it may be helpful to meet with friends or a counselor to discuss the issues and work through them together.

Discuss your treatment. Let your partner know how you are managing your depression. Be as specific as possible. If you aren’t receiving therapy, be upfront about that, too. Left

unchecked, depression can get worse. Share information about your illness. Depression can change over time, so emotional support is crucial. Let your partner know what he or she can do to help you. Share resources with them so they can learn more about depression.

For more information on depression and other mental health challenges visit the following websites:

BlackHealthMatters.com

Blackmentalhealth.com

Nimh.nih.gov

Samhsa.gov

This article was originally published by Black Health Matters.

SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)

(Photo courtesy of Unsplash / Farrinni)