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
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
whom they suppress.
—Fredrick Douglass (1849)One of the most iconic photographs in recent sports history is one of basketball legend Michael Jordan celebrating his fourth NBA championship by holding up three fingers in celebration with a cigar in his mouth.
Like millions of other Black Americans, Jordan enjoys the occasional simple pleasure of smoking a celebratory cigar – a pleasure that the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) wants to eliminate in the name of “equity” and protecting the Black community.
Along with menthol in cigarettes, the agency plans to “[ban] all flavors in cigars”— a move that it claims “will help save lives, particularly among those disproportionately affected by these deadly products” like the African American community.
Flavored cigars aren’t a cause of carnage in the Black community; they are a cause of celebration and cultural expression.
The Black community has led the premium cigar industry for hundreds of years and continues to do so today.
Many Black entrepreneurs own mom-and-pop cigar shops and run some of the nation’s most popular cigars brands like Emperor’s Cut, AS Reserve, Ancestry Cigars, and Tres Lindas Cubanas (a Black women-owned company).
The exact number of African American-owned cigar shops
is unknown. Sean Williams, creator of the popular cigar line El Primer Mundo, told NBC News that his company has “not been able to get great data on specifics of the Black cigar market;” that said, he made it clear that “this number may be substantially larger than anyone knows” and that no one can predict when or if the explosive growth of the African American cigar market will stop.
The CTP’s proposed ban would disproportionately impact these Black-owned businesses and jobs, including black farmers, exacerbating present-day racial economic disparities while stripping the Black community of an important cultural symbol and tradition. So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that they are up in arms over CTP’s proposal.
While Black families and business owners feel that the federal government is unfairly
attacking their customs and livelihoods, other Black political activists fear that CTP’s crackdown will accentuate the racial disparities currently prevalent in the American criminal justice system.
Rev. Al Sharpton has warned that the rule may create a dangerous illicit market on our streets, among other adverse effects, while the late congressman and beloved civil rights activist Rep. Donald McEachin (DVa.) said that the rule will “disproportionately impact African Americans and lowerincome communities while tobacco products commonly used by predominantly White or more affluent populations [go] unchecked.”
Not only has a federal court already ruled the FDA’s efforts to regulate premium cigars to be “arbitrary and capricious,” but a December report from Congress’
Reagan-Udall Foundation also found “fundamental policy and scientific issues” in CTP’s decision-making that “remain unanswered,” which the Center must address.” Why, then, is CTP continuing onward in its quest to regulate flavored cigars?
It is insulting to the Black community that CTP says it’s doing so in the name of correcting health disparities. Black adults should be trusted to make choices for themselves that align with their preferences. It is not the role of CTP to dictate personal habits and preferences when there is no evidence to support such egregiously heavy-handed interventions.
CTP has promised to take the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s recommendations for corrective operational actions seriously, so hopefully, the agency will soon reverse course on this counterproductive regulatory agenda that’s blind to the Black community’s economic, cultural, and social sensitivities. It’s the only right and just thing to do.
David J. Byrd served as the National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This country has never had equitable and inclusive structures, and colorblindness has never been a thing. The national identity built into our structures, laws, practices, and lived experiences is White supremacist. Race and skin color have always had consequences in this country.
Affirmative action was introduced because racist systems and discriminatory practices had for centuries denied Black people and people of color access to socioeconomic opportunities. Through various legislative initiatives, affirmative action assured Black people and other people of color that they would have the same education and employment opportunities as their White counterparts. Institutions were incentivized to achieve racial equity and representation in classrooms, student bodies, and workplaces, giving them good reason to move away from White supremacy. For nearly six decades, education systems and the labor force have shown us the promise and the possibility of dismantling our White supremacist system. The reality is that affirmative
Kerry Mitchell Brown, Ph.Daction is no silver bullet. It has its limitations, like the fact that many of its initiatives are inequitable and disproportionately realized, often only benefiting White people and deepening inequality; but affirmative action has also
been an important tool in raising awareness about and addressing issues of equity in educational and labor systems. The dismantling of affirmative action is a massive setback in our efforts to create an equitable
future.
Arguing to ignore the category of race is a form of White supremacy, and it has historically been used to deny racial equity in all aspects of life. We must recognize and address systemic racism and its consequences. We must work together to build a society where race and skin color really doesn’t matter to your educational and job prospects. Until then, we need interventions like affirmative action. Dismantling it, only serves to reinforce a colorblind society rooted in White supremacy. Black people and other people of color will be worse off because of this.
In her dissenting speech, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that this decision “rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress.” We cannot allow this roll back. I want to move forward, toward a future where we make decisions that allow all people to live with dignity, not back to a past of discord and violence.
Approximately 250 Southern California education leaders attended the first Learn.Lead. Liberate conference, and there were 16 education leaders from San Bernardino County, representing the following schools: New Designs Charter, Provisional Accelerated Learning Charter Academy, Ontario Charter, Myers Elementary, Sierra High School, PAL Charter Academy. Creating education environments that work to eliminate inequity and injustice for students, parents, and staff was the conference’s main focus. These local leaders discussed how to remove barriers to foster communities that support and honor BIPOC individuals through evidencebased educational practices that treat students’ differences and experiences outside of school as assets, so they can be valued and learn, regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic background.
“The conference has been amazing, and the guest speakers are so knowledgeable on their areas”, said Dr. Shelley C-Bradford, Ethnic Social Diversity Lead & Teacher, Sierra High School, San Bernardino City Unified School District.
“As our children change, we need to change with them; we can’t just stay the same. It’s important to keep our children engaged if we want them to learn the content and apply it to their
life. Literacy means freedom.”
The 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) and the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) hosted the conference. LAEP is the Regional Academy providing 21CSLA programming in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
“Our aim is for this forum to bring these leaders together 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.”
Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, gave the keynote address. 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.
“I was proud to help pass the PACT Act to expand eligibility for quality care and benefits for the millions of Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post-9/11 veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving our nation in the Armed Forces,” said Senator Padilla. “I was honored to meet with some of our brave veterans to thank Representative Takano
KerryMitchell Brown, Ph.D, is a cultural architect and equity strategist.
RIVERSIDE, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, hosted a roundtable conversation with local veterans highlighting the Honoring our PACT Act, which expands Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits to those exposed to toxic substances, ahead of the August 9th deadline for backdated compensation. Padilla and Takano were joined by local VA representatives to share more information on eligibility for those exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and other toxic substances.
Leading HBCU scholarship program to provide 132 incoming college freshmen $40,000 awards
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023
The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) is committed to student health and has scheduled 10 free student immunization clinics starting in July and running through September.
Scheduled to take place starting July 27, the free student immunization clinics will be available to all enrolled students with Medi-Cal and those without insurance.
Colleen Williams, Director of Student Wellness and Support Services, encourages parents and guardians to take advantage of this opportunity to bring their children up to date on their immunizations in time for the start of the new academic year, which begins on Monday, July 31. The free student immunization clinics offer a convenient and accessible solution for families to ensure their children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases, Williams said.
“Immunizations are a fundamental aspect of preventive healthcare, helping protect against a range of infectious diseases that can disrupt the learning process and jeopardize the overall health of our students,” Williams said. “By offering free student immunization clinics, we are taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within our school community and ensuring a healthy learning environment for all.”
The immunization clinics will be staffed by qualified healthcare professionals and medical staff from San Bernardino County and the SAC Health System, with expertise in administering vaccines to children and adolescents.
San Bernardino County Immunization Clinics (Families must schedule an appointment. Each clinic location has a specific online appointment link.):
Thursday, July 27, 12 noon–4 p.m., Shandin Hills Middle School, 4301 Little Mountain
Dr., San Bernardino: https://bit. ly/3NFo9uY
Friday, July 28, 12 noon–4 p.m., Serrano Middle School, 3131 Piedmont Dr., San Bernardino: https://bit.ly/43QRCaI
Monday, July 31, 3–6 p.m., Arrowview Middle School, 2299 North G Street: https://bit. ly/3XjXjLO
Friday, Aug. 11, 3–6 p.m., Curtis Middle School, 1050 N. Del Rosa https://bit.ly/3PhVjlu
SAC Health Systems Clinics
(Contact a school nurse or school health aide to book an appointment)
Saturday, July 29, 8 a.m.–12 noon, Cajon High School, 1200 W. Hill Dr., San Bernardino
Monday, July 31, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., Board of Education, 777 North F St., San Bernardino
Saturday, Aug. 5, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., Indian Springs High School, 650 N. Del Rosa Dr.
Saturday, Aug. 12, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., Chavez Middle School, 6650 N. Magnolia Ave.
Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., Arroyo Valley High School, 1881 W. Base Line St.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 8 a.m.–12 p.m., Rodriguez PREP Academy, 1985 N. Guthrie Street, San Bernardino
To participate in the free student immunization clinics, parents and guardians should schedule appointments in advance and bring the student’s immunization record and photo identification for the parent or guardian. Appointment details and registration information can be found on the San Bernardino City Unified School District's website at www. sbcusd.com. Walk-ins will also be accommodated, subject to availability.
For questions or appointments, please call (909) 473-2080 or (909) 880-6839. Families may also call the school nurse or health aide to make an appointment once school starts.
/PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) today welcomed 132 new scholarship recipients from 26 states across the nation. The students will begin school at 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall and will major in more than a dozen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. They join nearly 300 current FOSSI scholarship recipients.
Established in 2020 to help reduce financial barriers to higher education and enhance workforce diversity in the chemical sector, FOSSI provides $40,000 scholarships to students pursuing preferred STEM degrees. Scholarship recipients are individually matched with one of more than 70 corporate sponsors committed to helping them achieve their goals and receive skills training, mentorship, and internship opportunities. Notably, this robust support has led to an approximately 95% student retention rate since FOSSI welcomed its first class in 2021, with those scholars scheduled to graduate in 2025.
FOSSI has an ambitious goal of supporting 1,000 students through 2025 and has raised nearly $30 million to support 595 students to date.
Program leaders welcomed the new scholars during a virtual celebration featuring keynotes from Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Dr. Dietra Trent, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs.
FOSSI Advisory Board Chair
Jim Fitterling, chair and chief executive officer of Dow, shared, "I am proud to welcome these 132 talented and ambitious scholars to the FOSSI family. From their academic performance to the contributions they have made to their schools and communities, these scholars have distinguished themselves as some of the best and brightest across the nation. We can't wait to see what they accomplish in their chosen fields."
Applications for the Fall of 2024 will open September 22, 2024. To learn more about FOSSI, visit www. FutureOfSTEMScholars.org.
Community/ Education News
August 1, 2023, (Riverside, CA) – Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) announced it has received a $250,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Foundation, to launch a 3-year ‘Food as Medicine’ initiative in the Inland Empire. The grant will support FARSB as it collaborates with local healthcare providers to screen patients for food insecurity during healthcare visits. The healthcare partners will then connect patients who screen positive for food insecurity to food assistance resources onsite at healthcare facilities, community-based food pantries, and meal programs.
The ‘Food as Medicine,’ a Feeding America® initiative funded by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, will help connect approximately 9,000 people facing hunger in Riverside and San Bernardino counties to food distribution programs that provide access to healthy food options. The initiative aims to screen between 70,000 and 80,000 patients over the next 3 years with the goal of improving food security and health outcomes.
"At FARSB, our paramount goal is to forge meaningful partnerships, facilitating the equitable distribution of resources to families in need, particularly those who may be hesitant to approach conventional food pantries for assistance. Through the 'Food is Medicine' initiative, families are being introduced to food assistance programs during their health care visits when they need it most," said Carolyn Solar, CEO of Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino. "We wholeheartedly value our collaboration with Anthem, as together, we are bridging the gap between hunger and health."
“We are committed to improving the health of people across California, and we do that by establishing meaningful partnerships and collaborating with organizations like we are doing here in the Inland Empire,”
U.S. rice farmers beginning harvest on largest crop in years
said Beth Andersen, president of Anthem Blue Cross in California. "This partnership will allow clinical staff to conduct universal food insecurity screenings and interventions, helping provide a deep understanding of the healthrelated needs of the populations we collectively serve.”
The lack of access to nutritious foods can have serious, longterm effects on health and wellbeing, and it can make managing existing chronic conditions more difficult for people facing hunger.
[1] The ‘Food as Medicine’ program includes data collection capabilities that will help identify learnings and best practices to enable positive health outcomes in participants. FARSB, a member of the Feeding America network, is one of 21 food banks to receive this funding from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation.
About Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is leading the fight against hunger in the Inland Empire by providing food access, emergency relief, education, and advocacy to families in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. FARSB opened in 1980 as Survive Food Bank in response to the increasing concern about the dual problems of hunger and food waste in the Inland Empire. Today, FARSB is the primary food source for over 250 local nonprofit organizations, distributing over two million pounds of food monthly to emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, high-need elementary schools, senior centers, afterschool programs, and more. With the help of these community partners, they make up the largest hunger-relief organization serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, ultimately making food security a reality for over 1.2 million people every year. Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino proudly holds the 2022 Guide Star Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of transparency achievable through Guide Star. For more information, visit www. FeedingIE.org.
– On the news that market manipulator and largest exporter of rice in the world, India, has slapped an export ban on all nonbasmati rice, people in the U.S. began panic buying of rice. They can rest assured – there’s enough U.S. rice to go around.
This is not toilet paper in the Spring of 2020. This is rice, and U.S. rice farmers in seven states grow rice sustainably on three million acres with more than enough supply to fill rice cookers and pots in every corner of the country.
“This year, rice acreage in the U.S. is up in six of the seven rice producing states,” said Kirk Satterfield, Mississippi rice farmer and chair of USA Rice.
“We export half our crop, but even still the vast majority of the rice we eat here is grown here on family farms. If we need more rice for U.S. consumers, we have plenty to meet demand. There’s no shortage.” Satterfield said U.S. farmers grow all the rice types India is throttling, and even basmati as well.
“We continue to have the safest, most sustainable food supply in the world,’’ he said from his farm in Bolivar County, Mississippi where harvest will begin in just a few weeks. “Consumers can buy long-, medium-, or short
grain, basmati, jasmine, whatever they want and it’s from right here in the U.S. where we have fair and responsible labor and environmental practices.”
The Indian export ban is seen as a cynical ploy to strengthen their domestic market after years of massive over-subsidization that has led to tens of millions of metric tons of rice in governmentheld stocks.
“This is another example of India playing games with global food security,” said Bobby Hanks, Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee. “Countries that depend on India for low priced rice are suffering, and in the end, India is growing their already massive stocks, which they will eventually start dumping back on the world market at dirt cheap prices, again wreaking havoc on global markets and food insecure nations.”
Hanks and Satterfield agreed that consumers can insulate themselves from these bad actors by looking for rice grown in the USA.
“Check the package,” Satterfield said. “Look for the Grown in the USA mark or another indication that you’re supporting U.S. farmers and saying no to this crass attempt at market manipulation.”
July 28, 2023 - The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) was among eight recipients to receive the Safe Kids Champion for Children Award at the Safe Kids Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PrevCon) on Monday in National Harbor, MD. The award honors individuals, businesses, government agencies, and organizations that have made a significant impact in the field of child injury prevention.
“We all want a world where every child has a chance to grow up to become whatever they can imagine,” said Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. “We are proud to honor these exceptional leaders for their passion and commitment to making a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities.”
Safe Kids Worldwide® is a nonprofit organization that works to protect kids from preventable injuries, the number-one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids collaborates with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the
U.S., in addition to partners in more than 30 countries around the globe, to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings, and more. Every two years, Safe Kids Worldwide honors members of the child injury prevention community for their commitment to keeping kids safe.
NFPA has worked with Safe Kids for many years in a shared effort to make children and their families safer from fire. Most recently, NFPA has hosted a series of webinars and other events to help educate Safe Kids coalition leaders about effective ways to better educate communities about home fire safety, equipping them with essential tools and knowledge to maximize their efforts.
"NFPA remains dedicated to working with Safe Kids to further reduce children’s risk to fires and burns," said Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at NFPA. "We are so honored to receive this award, which serves as a testament to our shared goals and efforts."
organize around key votes and issues and build power in order to advance bold policy change.”
Other CLBC lawmakers who are members of the newly formed poverty caucus are Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights) and Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Alameda).
Majority Leader Isaac Bryan (California District 55) and Mayor Michael Tubbs (Founder, End Poverty in California) with Greg Kauffman (EPIC) and Jacob Kornbluth (Filmmaker) at thePoverty and Power Impact Screening and Conversation in Los Angeles
A group of progressive California lawmakers – including three members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) -- have pledged to end poverty in California by advancing more effective policy during the next legislative session – and beyond.
Newly appointed Assembly
Majority Leader Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) announced the formation of the End Poverty in California Caucus last month at a Los Angeles screening of the documentary “Poverty and Power.” The film features former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, an anti-poverty advocate who founded a non-profit that shares a name with the caucus, End Poverty in California (EPIC).
“We're headed towards the
end of the legislative session, but we're in the process of recruiting members to the poverty caucus,” Bryan, who is the chair of the new caucus, told California Black Media.
“We've got about a half dozen members already,” Bryan continued. “As we continue to do outreach in the legislature, I expect that number to grow. By the time we come back together in January to introduce new legislation we should have everything ready to go, to focusing on criminal justice reform and the housing crisis’ systemic nexus to poverty in the state.”
Bryan is the treasurer of the CLBC. The End Poverty Caucus says it will aim to “help lawmakers
Deadline...continued from page 1 for his work on this important legislation and to deliver one simple message: apply today and get the benefits you’ve earned.”
“Already thousands of veterans have applied for benefits since last August when President Biden signed my Honoring our Pact Act into law, and it will take continued outreach to make sure that number continues to grow,” said Representative Takano. “I’m thrilled to have welcomed Senator Padilla to Riverside today to meet veterans in my district, learn about their experiences, and discuss this historic expansion of benefits.”
The PACT Act, originally authored by Representative Takano and signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, is one of the largest health and benefit expansions for veterans in more than 30 years. While there is no formal date by which
veterans need to apply for these benefits, veterans who apply by August 9, 2023 will be eligible for benefits backdated to August 10, 2022, the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law. Last week, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that veterans under 40 who may have been exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their service are now eligible for breast cancer risk assessments and mammograms (as clinically appropriate) at the VA. Since Congress passed the PACT Act, the VA has delivered more than $1.6 billion in PACT Act-related benefits to veterans and their survivors. All eligible veterans and survivors can file a claim — or submit their intent to file a claim — for PACT Act-related benefits now. Visit VA.gov/PACT for more information.
“Part of the reason over a quarter of our state’s residents live at or below the poverty level is because of California’s failed public policies,” said Smallwood-Cuevas in a statement. “Our State Legislature must fight for California’s working families by creating equitable access to quality jobs and doubling down on what Californians earn across the board, particularly for residents from marginalized communities of color.”
Bonta said bills she introduced this year have prioritized the needs of children and families, but she looks forward to working with her colleagues to take bolder and broader action to address those problems.
It’s clear that we need to advance stronger policies that will coordinate effective, placebased delivery of wrap-around services for people most in need to make significant progress in the fight against poverty,” Bonta said. “I look forward to joining forces with our End Poverty Caucus to ensure that
we strengthen our safety net and tackle the racial and economic inequities in our communities.”
Other members of the Caucus are Senators Nancy Skinner (D-Oakland) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Ash Kalra (D-Fresno), Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Luz Rivas (D-Arleta).
Some critics have cautioned, however, that creating a caucus focused on poverty is political showmanship by Democrats that will have little impact on actual poverty reduction. Tim Anaya, vice president of the conservative leaning Pacific Research Institute, says “The new End Poverty in California legislative caucus is not going to foster a serious discussion about helping Californians climb the economic ladder. Rather, EPIC promotes policies that don’t work and would trap more Californians perpetually in poverty.”
Instead, Anaya proposes, lawmakers should support free market reform to support entrepreneurship and small business growth. In an oped titled “Ending poverty in California Requires Good Policy, Not Platitudes,” that several California news outlets published last week, the author,
According to the report, Black women lost out on $39.3 billion in potential wages due to differences in industry and occupations relative to White men.
Racism and sexism are two of the obstacles that Black women face in the workplace. More than half of Black women surveyed for a 2021 National Women Law Center reported facing gender and racial hurdles to opportunity at work.
In 2019, Siebel Newsom launched the California for ALL Women, an initiative to address gender equity at the state level. Through the initiative, she has been an outspoken champion and thought leader on pay equity, working to close the race and gender wage gaps.
That same year, Siebel Newsom announced the California Equal Pay Pledge under California for all Women to build upon California policies such as the Fair Pay Act.
In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act, introduced by Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). This law requires employers to disclose salary ranges on all job postings and to allow public access to pay data broken down by race, ethnicity and sex for direct employees and those hired through third-party staffing agencies.
“As there is more transparency in the hiring and promotion process there will be outcome in closing the pay gap across companies,” said Siebel Newsom.
Mitchell says she is proud to
Jaya Padmanabhan | California Black Media
RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 1, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- Leave the world better than you found it.
Students from North Carolina's Historically Black Elizabeth City State University travel North Carolina's Mountains To Sea Trail to conduct conservation efforts as part of Lenovo's Work For Humankind.
It's a simple yet profound idea that plans for the future while allowing us to leave a positive impact on those who come after us. With this goal, Lenovo launched "Work For Humankind."
The initiative started in a far corner of the world.
In 2022, community volunteers brought Lenovo technology to residents on Robinson Crusoe Island in the South Pacific. It's
a remote island 416 miles off the coast of Chile. For eight weeks, volunteers used a range of Lenovo's advanced technology to work remotely at their day jobs while simultaneously partnering with local leaders and residents on island conservation efforts.
Together they created a WiFienabled technology hub allowing many businesses on the island to have an online presence for the first time and increased the community's internet connectivity speed to 200 mbs.
The Work For Humankind island partnership also captured essential data on the Pink-footed Shearwater, a native bird whose ecosystem was threatened. Volunteers deployed AI-detecting
California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom says, “gender discrimination is the oldest form of oppression,” and America must act urgently to fix it.
Although California has some of the strongest pay laws in the nation and the smallest gender pay gap, Siebel Newsom says the Golden State still has work to do to close the wage gap for all women.
For Black women, the first partner says, closing the wage gap is “most obvious.”
“Black women live at the intersection of racial and gender discrimination leaving them doubly impacted by the wage gap,” said Siebel Newsom. “Pay inequities and gaps in wealth and economic opportunity are deeply rooted in our country’s long-standing history of racism and misogyny.
To mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Siebel Newsom released a video on July 27 along with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and PolicyLink Founder in Residence, Angela Glover Blackwell.
“Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – a day set aside each year to shine a light on the disparity in pay for Black women in this country and the farreaching impacts for families,
communities, and our economy,” said Bass in the video.
“Economic injustice is a problem across the board, and to solve problems effectively and authentically, we have to focus on those most impacted. Together, we will work to close this gap,” the mayor of California’s largest city continued. On average, women earn 84 cents for every dollar a nonHispanic White man does. That breaks down to Black women earning 67 cents; Latinas and Native Americans 57 cents; mothers 74 cents; LGBTQIA women 87 cents and women in leadership positions 72 cents for every dollar a non-Hispanic White man earns. Women are hired into lower paying roles at lower starting salaries and take longer to move into leadership roles.
Black women are overrepresented in industries that experience significant downturns.
A report by the Department of Labor found that in 2020, 12% of Black women were employed in education and health services but a disproportionate number of them (14.9%) experienced job losses. Also, in wholesale and trade, the majority of losses were Black women. In that sector, Black women comprised 5.6% of the workforce but 14.6 % of
stand with the first partner and other women and allies around California and the United States to end racial and gender pay discrimination.
“Intentional and bold action on closing the wage gap among Black women and women of color is needed across every sector and will put us on a path to truly ensuring all women, their families and communities are no longer shortchanged from economic prosperity,” said Mitchell.
Recently, Siebel Newsom convened and moderated a panel on pay equity at Genentech in South San Francisco. Genentech was an early signatory of the Equal Pay Pledge. The panel included Genentech CEO Alexander Hardy, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Cari DeLoa, and representatives from other parts of the business.
In addition to Genentech, there are 130 other companies and municipalities in California that have signed the Equal Pay Pledge. While acknowledging that this is not a significant number, Siebel Newsom said that there are several major global companies, like Apple, Intel, Twitter, Airbnb, Salesforce and Gap, that “are committing to equity and fairness in their policies.”
“Closing the pay gap for Black women is an essential step for economic justice,” said Glover Blackwell. “When Black women and other women of color are paid equally, we'll see the benefits cascade throughout society.”
Jaya Padmanabhan is a freelance journalist and a consulting editor for Ethnic Media Services.
Steven Greenhut, Western Region Director for the R Street Institute, compared the California Legislature to a high school student council setting unrealistic goals they cannot achieve.
“Ending poverty is a large promise – and the Legislature is much better at passing laws that exacerbate poverty (minimum wage, anti-competitive union work rules, onerous licensing requirements) rather than reduce it,” Greenhut writes.
Although poverty, overall, in California has decreased over the last four years, the numbers are still dire. About 28 % of state residents (4.5 million people) are
poor or near-poor, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The state’s homeless and housing affordability crises also compound problems poor and low-income families face in the state, according to policymakers.
Bryan says he looks forward to working with leaders like Tubbs, who has been a leading proponent of progressive economic policies like Guaranteed Basic Income and Baby Bonds.
“The best policy solutions come from listening to the people who are the most affected. I am proud to lead a caucus that is dedicated to doing exactly that,” said Bryan.
Move to Work allows greater flexibility to improve housing choice and self-sufficiency.
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published PIH NOTICE 2023-20 seeking applications for the Overall Impact of Moving to Work Flexibility and Administrative Efficiencies
Cohort of the Moving to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program. The notice outlines the process by which public housing agencies (PHAs) with 1,000 or fewer combined units of public housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) units will be selected for the MTW Expansion. The new cohort will test the overall effects of MTW flexibility on a PHA and the residents it serves, with a particular focus on administrative efficiencies.
"Giving Housing Authorities flexibilities to care for their vulnerable populations under the Moving to Work Demonstration has led to excellent results for low-income families," said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.
"Today, we are pleased to invite additional Housing Authorities to join the program and replicate the successes we've seen across the country."
“MTW reduces administrative burdens for PHAs, which creates tremendous opportunity for innovation that should deliver positive change for residents,” said Richard Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing. “The power of MTW to drive policy change relies on housing authorities with strong leadership and resident-centered vision participating — and that is exactly who we are seeking with this latest notice.”
First authorized by Congress in 1996, MTW is a demonstration that provides public housing authorities (PHAs) the opportunity to redefine how they operate by giving them flexibility to try “outside the box” ideas that address local community continued on page 4
its use of PFAS.
According to Bonta the settlement offer fails to adequately hold accountable the 3M Company (3M) for what he declared is “contaminating Americans’ drinking water supply.”
could be impacted by certain provisions that could force the water providers to reimburse 3M for many costs. Isn’t that bizarre?
This case is currently pending judicial consideration. In the meantime, this is not Bonta’s first dance with 3M.
local parent resource packets, including school supplies. Enjoy free entertainment and light refreshments for the whole family!
“It is critical that we assess sources of PFAS exposure in environmental justice communities and resulting health risks to better inform equitable solutions to protect these communities,” said Max Aung, PhD, USC Keck School of Medicine. Credit: Chris Allen, BVN Among the many silent and invisible dangers lurking in our environment, PFAS stand out.
PFAS or Polyfluorinated Substances are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. They can cause serious health impacts including cancers, developmental defects, infertility, diabetes and liver damage. What makes them most concerning is that they are frequently found in water systems and because water is something fundamental to life— well you can pretty much guess the rest.
In late June, it was announced that the USC Keck School of Medicine in partnership with the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC were awarded more than $433,000 to study what’s been defined as the “PFAS Drinking
Water Crisis in Southern California.”
Max Aung, PhD, and leader of the study in partnership with USC’s Lida Chatzi, MD, PhD. stated, “It is critical that we assess sources of PFAS exposure in environmental justice communities and resulting health risks to better inform equitable solutions to protect these communities.”
I’m grateful this work is being conducted but I also wonder how much damage has already been done to those living in these communities owed to PFAS.
The concerning health implications resulting from PFAS in water is one of the reasons CA Attorney General Rob Bonta is leading a coalition of 22 attorneys general in opposing a proposed class action settlement to hundreds of lawsuits filed by water suppliers against 3M over
Lenovo's Work For Humankind creates lasting impact in communities across the globe... continued from page 3
models on Lenovo's AI Edge Server. Now a data collection process that once took weeks only takes days. That's leaving the world better than you found it.
The island success prompted us to ask "What's next and where?" We landed on our home turf – North Carolina, USA.
For nearly two decades, North Carolina's Triangle Region has housed one of Lenovo's two global headquarters. In that time, we've earned a reputation for supporting education, diversity, innovation, and sustainability.
Bringing Work For Humankind to North Carolina easily matched with our vision and values.
So in April 2023, Lenovo partnered with Elizabeth City State University, a historically black university in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, to demonstrate how students could use technology to complete their schoolwork from anywhere while giving back to the planet.
Fourteen Elizabeth City State students embarked on a life-impacting trip across North Carolina's Mountains to Sea Trail – the highest-elevation long-distance trail in the Eastern United States.
The students traveled more than 2,780 miles in a Sprinter van utilizing resources such as Lenovo Go Wired Speakerphones, Yoga 7i Laptops, and tablets. They completed school work while also helping further key conservation efforts across the state. Every student experienced a part of North Carolina that he or she had never visited before. And they left the world in a better place along the way.
Working alongside Lenovo employees and Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, the students focused on three regions of the state:
Outer Banks: The students spent a week doing a risk/ hazard analysis for different ocean surges using cloud-based software Lenovo developed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The
Under the proposed settlement, water providers would be required to withdraw their lawsuits filed against 3M over its use of PFAS. These chemicals are found in a wide range of consumer products and firefighting foams. They are also referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are considered “stable in the environment, resistant to degradation, persistent in soil, and also known to leach into groundwater.”
I applaud Bonta’s opposition to the settlement because as he noted, in its current form it doesn’t “adequately account for the pernicious damage that 3M has done in so many of our communities.”
In the settlement 3M is proposing to pay $10.5 to $12.5 billion to water providers. Although on its face it appears to be a huge sum of money we must consider that nearly every public water provider in the United States would be entitled to a share including those that have not sued as well as those that have yet to even test for the presence of PFAS in their water supply. All of this in return, of course, for waiving their claims.
In addition, that amount
Last November he filed a lawsuit against 20 PFAS manufacturers, including 3M, for endangering public health, causing irreparable harm to the state’s natural resources, and engaging in a widespread campaign to deceive the public in relation to their use of PFAS. The case is currently working its way through the judicial process.
As the climate changes, drought conditions worsen and jeopardize water imports (as noted by USC), the reality of it all is already having an unnerving impact on the state’s water supply. When you add to that the health dangers posed by PFAS polluting our tenuous water supply, the PFAS issue should serve as an important reminder that we must pay attention to what is happening in our environment and how important it is that environmental issues like PFAS and many others can no longer be ignored—as noted by Bonta, [T]he stakes could not be higher.” At some point, capitalism and the free market must take a back seat to human survival.
Of course this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.
Backpack giveaways contain backpack materials for ages 3-17.
Over 300,000 children in Riverside County are preparing to begin school this upcoming year. As families head out to buy school supplies for the upcoming school year, it can create a financial burden for many. RivCoDCSS is here to help!
This year's lead sponsor of the Backpack Giveaway is Food 4 Less, which generously donated over $5,000 for the pre-packaged children's snacks, food, water, school supplies, notebook paper, pencils, crayons, markers, and more. In addition, Community Action Partnership and Altura Credit Union provided additional backpacks and school supplies. Backpack giveaways contain backpack materials for ages 3-17.
"With many families struggling more than ever because of the pandemic or inflation, it is important that we come together.
work completed here will help to determine where new sections of the trail can be added.
Pender County: Using Lenovo technology, the students captured visuals, personal interviews, and other content to build a web page about the area's rich but near forgotten Black history. The information will be published on the Mountains to Sea Trail's inclusion page, "MST for All," and through a permanent digital trail marker in the center of town for all visitors to see.
Cherokee Region: Students camped alongside the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. While there, students documented key characteristics of the trail to be translated via a mobile app into the Eastern Band's native language – a near-extinct language – that will be accessible to trail hikers.
The North Carolina Trail success prompted us to ask "What's next and where?" So now, Lenovo teamed up with BirdLife International to create a one-of-a-kind 5G-connected super van – a mobile tech lab and living space. As I type, these "citizen scientists'' are driving the van across the U.S. gathering essential birdsong data to support the organization's wildlife protection strategies.
And later this year, our Work For Humankind initiative will extend to India where Lenovo employees and student volunteers will work with community members in Kanthalloor, Kerala, to improve the productivity, opportunities, and lives of millet farmers.
There is no end to the positive world impact we can make one step at a time. It's my hope we leave a lasting legacy through the power of kindness and collaboration, fueled by technology, and embraced by people across the globe. What work for humankind can you do today?
By Gerald Youngblood, Chief Marketing Officer, Lenovo North AmericaHUD Issues Invitation for Public Housing Agencies to Join Moving to Work Demonstration Program...continued from page 3 needs in innovative ways. MTW allows PHAs the flexibility to create customized solutions to their community’s specific challenges. With the addition of the 14 PHAs selected for this cohort, HUD will have added a total of 100 PHAs to the MTW Demonstration Program since January 2021. MTW PHAs are now in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
MTW encourages an entrepreneurial spirit to think of and create solutions in a new way. MTW agencies have directly influenced national policy for over 25 years, paving
the way for the future delivery of federally assisted housing. PHAs in the MTW demonstration have pioneered several innovative policy interventions that have been successful at the local level, and subsequently rolled out to the rest of the country’s PHAs. Examples include requiring less frequent recertifications for those on a fixed income, increasing payment standards for the reasonable accommodation of persons with disabilities, and allowing the owners to maintain site-based waiting lists for project-based vouchers.
Riverside County to Hold Information Session on August 3
The deadline for veterans exposed to toxic substances to apply for back pay from the PACT Act is approaching on August 9. The law helps provide generations of veterans and their survivors with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
Veterans and residents interested in more information are invited to attend an information session on Thursday, August 3 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Riverside County Veterans Services and Housing Workforce Solutions departments are hosting the session at 1325 Spruce St, Riverside, CA 92507.
The PACT Act was signed into law in 2022 and expands Veterans Administration (VA) health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that are presumed to be caused by exposure to these substances.
The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring
our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, known as the PACT Act, will bring these changes: Expands and extends eligibility for VA health care for veterans with toxic exposures resulting from the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and post 9/11 eras.
Adds more than 20 presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures. Adds more presumptiveexposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation. Requires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.
Helps improve research, staff education and treatment related to toxic exposures.
Veterans can file a claim for PACT Act-related disability compensation online at https:// www.va.gov/disability/filedisability-claim-form-21526ez/introduction or get more information by calling 800-6982411.
On Saturday, August 5th, 2023, we will be open from 8 am to 12 pm at our Riverside branch office (2081 Iowa Ave, Riverside, CA). If you are a parent looking for resources and support, we invite you to join us for a day of education, information, and community. We can work towards a brighter future for our children and families. During this event, we will feature various presentations and educational sessions about child support services, community resources, and employment opportunities for ready-to-hire candidates. Each attendee will receive a bag containing Riverside County and
We are committed to partnering with both parents to provide essential child support services to families," said Kimberly Britt, Director of Riverside County Child Support Services. This community event celebrates August as Child Support Awareness Month. RivCoDCSS serves more than 83,000 children and families throughout Riverside County. Last year, RivCoDCSS collected and redistributed over $185 million for families in the community.
All backpacks and school supplies will be on a first-come, first-serve bases. To register and learn about this event or any other upcoming events we have in Riverside County, please visit: www.RivCoDCSS.com
Jazz in Pink Live!
Jazz in Pink
Soul Food Sundays, comin' at ya with R&R Breakfast Spot collab and our EPIC Summer Sundays Brunch Series.
Greetings!!
Brace yourself for the dopest Sunday brunch experience in the Inland Empire!
Presented by Epic Events Center and featuring soulful melodic tunes by Jazz in Pink, this event promises to deliver an unforgettable fusion of smooth jazz and Soul Food Sunday Brunch Vibes. It's the perfect opportunity to indulge in good food, good music, and good company!
DJ Wen will be providing the sounds and if you don't know... You are about to find out!
Here are the event details you need to know:
�� Date: August 6, 2023
�� Time: Doors Open 12 PM | Start Time 1 PM
�� Location: Epic Events Center [Map]
To secure your spot and make sure you don't miss out on this sensational experience, purchase your tickets in advance. Simply click on the button below to access our ticketing platform
For more info Call: 909-353-7596
Get your Summer Jazz Brunch Series Tickets Now, and join us at the Inland Empires’ Premiere Event Center in Rancho Cucamonga [Map] Facebook | Instagram
Soul Food Sunday Brought To You By R&R Breakfast Spot Facebook | Instagram
Epic Events Center - Where Epic Events Happen ��
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice said July 27 it is investigating how Memphis Police Department officers use force and conduct arrests, nearly seven months after the violent beating of Tyre Nichols by five officers after a traffic stop strengthened nationwide calls for police reform.
The in-depth federal probe adds more scrutiny to a city dealing with the aftermath of Nichols’ killing and answers longstanding calls for such an investigation from critics of the way police treat minorities.
Federal authorities will look collectively at the Memphis Police Department’s “pattern or practice” of force and stops, searches and arrests, and whether it engages in discriminatory policing.
Even in the majority Black city of Memphis, the police department may be disproportionately focusing its traffic enforcement on Black drivers, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division, who announced the investigation.
Clarke said the Department of Justice has received reports of officers escalating encounters with people in the community and using excessive force; using force punitively when they perceive someone’s behavior as insolent; and using force against people who are already restrained or in custody.
She mentioned Nichols’ death, but said the investigation is not based on a single event, or a single unit in the police agency.
Caught on police video, the beating of the 29-year-old Nichols was one in a string of violent encounters between police and Black people that sparked protests and renewed debate about police brutality and police reform in the U.S.
“The tragic death of Tyre Nichols created enormous pain in the Memphis community and across the country,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news release.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the patterns or practices of the police department in Memphis, Tennessee, nearly seven months after the violent beating of Tyre Nichols by five officers after a traffic stop. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division made the announcement Thursday, July
27, 2023 in Memphis. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton, File)
The Justice Department announced in March a separate review concerning use of force, de-escalation strategies and specialized units in the Memphis Police Department. Federal investigators also are looking specifically into Nichols’ arrest and death. And, Nichols’ mother has sued the city and its police chief over her son’s death.
Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, told the Associated Press that he hopes the probe will lead to changes in the way police deal with Memphis citizens.
“We’re moving in the right direction, trying to get some justice,” Wells said.
Clarke said investigators will ride along with Memphis police and speak with officers as part of the probe. She said the Justice Department told the police chief and mayor about the investigation, adding that they pledged to cooperate.
However, Mayor Jim Strickland said he was “disappointed that my request was not granted by the Department of Justice to discuss this step before a decision was made to move down this path.”
“I know they discussed the need for such an action with many other individuals. I hope the remainder of the process is more forthright and inclusive than it has been so far,” Strickland said in a statement.
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said officers are expected to follow training and department policies.
“While the officers involved in the Tyre Nichols case demonstrated no regard for these tenets, I am appreciative of the MPD officers that continue to serve our city with integrity,” she said.
Five officers have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges including second-degree murder in the Jan. 7 beating of Nichols after a traffic stop — and his death three days later.
The five officers charged in the case are Black. So was Nichols.
The officers were part of a crimesuppression team known as Scorpion. They punched Nichols, kicked him and slugged him with a baton as he yelled for his mother. Davis disbanded the Scorpion
INVITATION TO BID
unit after Nichols’ death, though members of the unit have been moved to other teams.
In addition to the officers fired and charged with murder, one White officer who was involved in the initial traffic stop has been fired. That officer will not face charges. Another officer, who has not been identified, also has been fired. An additional officer retired before he could be fired.
Activists have been calling for a pattern or practice investigation into Memphis police for years stemming from several encounters with the public, including the fatal shooting of Darrius Stewart, a Black man who was killed by a White officer during a traffic stop in 2015, and a federal court order about improper police surveillance of activists.
“This is a necessary step in ensuring the citizens of Memphis have our civil rights protected and that we are moving beyond tacit political talking points regarding criminal justice reform,” said Memphis activist Earle Fisher.
The Memphis City Council passed an ordinance earlier this year that outlawed socalled pretextual traffic stops, which include minor violations such as a broken tail light. But some activists have complained that the ordinance has not been consistently enforced.
In June, a similar Justice Department probe alleged that Minneapolis police systematically discriminated against racial minorities, violated constitutional rights and disregarded the safety of people in custody for years before George Floyd was killed.
And in March, the department found Louisville police engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community following an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.
The investigations can take years — both the Louisville and Minneapolis probes were launched in April 2021.
Depending on their findings, the investigations can result in agreements that require reforms that are overseen by an independent monitor and are approved by a federal judge. The federal oversight can continue for years.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Coachella Valley Unified School District, acting by and through its governing board (“District”), will receive sealed bids for the CNG Expansion Project - Transportation Site Construction Project. Value of contract is estimated at $1M - $1.1M. The project generally consists of adding two generators to the existing CNG bus fueling station. Work will include new fencing, light poles, power and data, and concrete flatwork.
To bid on this Project, the Bidder is required to possess the following State of California Contractor License: B Each bid must conform and be responsive to the contract documents which may be obtained at: https://colbisecurebids. com/o/cvusd/CNG Please Subscribe to the Opportunity to receive automated emails of any changes.
A Non-Mandatory online pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at https://colbi.zoom. us/j/81405539259?pwd=UVpRTndZQldPZERXdyt6UVozZzJ BUT09 followed by a non-mandatory job walk on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at 87050 Avenue 57, Thermal, CA 92274. All bids will be received by the District online. Bids are due on Thursday, August 31, 2023, no later than 2:00 PM, after which time the bids will be opened and publicly read aloud. See Project Manual for public opening details.
The successful Bidder and its subcontractors shall pay all workers on the Project not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed per sections 1770 et seq. of the CA Labor Code. Prevailing wage rates are on file with the District and are available to any interested party on request or at www. dir.ca.gov/oprl/statistics_and_databases.html. Bidders and Bidders’ subcontractors shall comply with the DIR registration and qualification requirements per CA Labor Code sections 1725.5 & 1771.1.
Each bid must be submitted on the bid form provided in the bid documents and accompanied by a satisfactory Bid Bond executed by the bidder and surety company, or certified check, or cashier's check in favor of the Coachella Valley Unified School District, or cash, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid. The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if it is awarded the contract.
The successful Bidder may substitute securities for any monies withheld by the District to ensure performance under the Contract, in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code section 22300.
The District reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any irregularities or informalities in any bids or in the bidding. No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of 45 days after the date set for the opening of bids. For questions, please contact Joanne Branch at jbranch@colbitech.com
Board of Education of the Coachella Valley Unified School District 8/3/2023, 8/10/2023
Publication: San Bernardino American News
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 legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.
NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede 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.
CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 30-2022-01297756-CU-BC-NjC Judge Craig Griffin
Notice is hereby given pursuant to section 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California, This undersigned, City Tow, 530 W 10th St, San Bernardino, Ca 92410, Will sell at public sale on 08/16/23
The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Orange County Superior Court North Justice Center 1275 North Berkeley Avenue Fullerton, CA 92832
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):
Rick Ma 306994 1120 Huntington Drive San Marino, CA 91108 (626)346-9690 DATE (Fecha): 12/19/2022
of Court (Secretario) by, K. Trent
case
default, and
money, and property may be taken without further warning
the court. There are other legal
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 legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.
NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede 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
You can refer to the full list of child and adolescent vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
Why discuss mental health at your next well-child visit?
health, social and educational needs of our parishioners and the larger South LA community.
Although we have made it through the most difficult period of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains a threat to our loved ones, especially Black communities in California who have been disproportionately impacted by the virus.
When it comes to your child’s overall health, well-child visits are the perfect time to ensure your child’s holistic development is progressing as it should. With back-to-school season ready to begin, now is the perfect time to discuss your child’s physical and mental health with their pediatrician or your family doctor.
What is a well-child visit?
A well-child visit, sometimes referred to as a physical, is an annual appointment in which your child’s physician assesses their growth and development. These check-ups typically consist of:
Physical examination, including assessing their growth and development
Routine immunizations to prevent diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, chickenpox, whooping cough, and other serious diseases.
Hearing and vision tests
An opportune time to have your child’s sports physical forms signed and address any sports-related concerns such as prior injuries
And a mental health screening
When do I schedule a wellchild visit?
Don’t wait, schedule the appointment today as your pediatrician’s schedule will fill up fast in August and September.
For younger children, these appointments typically occur right after their birthday, but as they age, they may begin seeing their doctor closer to the start of the school year, as older kids and teenagers may also need to have physical forms in order to participate in sports.
Additionally, receiving routine immunizations helps your child’s immune system build the antibodies to help protect them from contagious diseases such as Influenza, Mumps, Measles, and Tetanus. Your child’s doctor will know which immunizations are appropriate for their age, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Just as children can learn to understand medical problems that affect their bodies – like how asthma can make their lungs tighten and it can be helpful to use an inhaler to help them breathe more easily -- parents and doctors can help them understand that mental health concerns are just as important has physical concerns. Here’s why that’s so important:
There has been a sharp increase in adolescent mental health issues in recent years. It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic was a source of stress for many. According to a 2022 set of data collected by the CDC, more than 37% of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health during the pandemic, with an additional 44% reporting they felt persistently sad or hopeless over the past year.
Many young people don’t receive treatment. Talking about mental health can seem daunting or confusing, especially for kids. For example, Mental Health America reports that about 60% of youth with major depression don’t receive treatment, even in states with higher access to mental health services.
If left untreated, adolescent mental health issues can carry into adulthood. Mental health during adolescence has a greater bearing on one’s adult life than many people realize. CDC data on children’s mental health show that diagnoses of ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders become increasingly prevalent with age, and behavioral problems are more common among adolescents aged 6-11 than older or younger children.
School is a challenging enough environment as it is, so be sure to talk to your child’s doctor about changes in mood, behavior, academic performance or disposition to better ensure their needs are addressed and their concerns are heard, giving your child the skills to excel both inside and outside the classroom.
Most health insurance plans cover well-child visits. If you have any questions, call the number on your insurance card for more information. To learn more about preventive care for your child or to download a wellchild visit checklist, visit UHC. com.
According to the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, Black residents in Los Angeles County were twice as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 as white residents, and one-and-a-half times more likely to die from the virus. These disparities are unacceptable, and we must work to reduce them.
Now, with COVID-19 vaccines and treatments widely available, we have the tools we need to protect ourselves and our loved ones from serious illnesses and deaths. We can return to doing the things and seeing the people we love.
Our initial focus was to prevent COVID-19 exposure, but sometimes this was not always possible. Now, we are shifting priorities to making sure our members know what to do if they test positive. Although they are free, widely available, and effective, COVID-19 medications have been relatively unknown within my community. We are starting to integrate initiatives to raise awareness around COVID-19 medications into our other longstanding programs to support our community members who test positive. Scientific evidence shows that when COVID-19 medications are taken within the first week of testing positive, they can prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death by half or more. Timing is crucial as most of the medications must be taken within the first 5 days for symptoms to work.
To address these issues, we have had to overcome many barriers, one of the biggest being my community's mistrust
of the medical system due to generations of racism and mistreatment. We have worked hard to educate about COVID-19 safety and rebuild trust in the medical system. We have also partnered with other trusted entities and organizations like the University of Southern California and Jewish congregations to share resources, materials, and knowledge to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. We have made it a priority to educate those close to us about the resources and tools available to stay safe and protect ourselves, including vaccines and treatments.
As COVID-19 remains present in our communities, we continue to step up to protect our community. The good news is that we know what works. Our church has worked to increase awareness, trust, and utilization of COVID-19 services, including hosting teachable Thursdays, that highlight influential medical professionals to discuss vaccination benefits, side effects, and other important information about COVID-19. Additionally, we opened a wellness center to create a welcoming and trusting environment for those in the community, operated by community members to provide necessary services that address COVID-19, such as vaccinations, testing, and education around COVID-19 medications. We invite and welcome all Angelenos who have questions or need support to come and access these services.
Overcoming challenges that Black communities here in Los Angeles and throughout California have faced due to COVID-19 has not been easy. However, through hard work, listening to our community, and the power of prayer, we have found ways to win over the virus. After all, prayers are powerful, but even more so when paired with COVID-19 medications.
To learn more about COVID-19 medications, visit YouCanBeatIt.org.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced a Senate Resolution to declare racism a public health crisis.
“Over generations, racism and its compounding impacts have harmed the health and well-being of communities of color across America,” said Senator Padilla. “Our resolution declaring that racism is a public health crisis is a first step toward bringing more attention to these deeprooted inequities, but there is much more work to be done.
This resolution must serve as a catalyst in the urgent need to address these disparities and deliver justice for millions of Americans.”
AAPI, and other communities of color. Declaring racism a public health crisis is a small, but vital, step toward raising awareness around the racial health disparities in our country and addressing the systemic inequities affecting communities of color.”
Doug Moore (@DMooreUDW)/ TwitterEvery Sunday I look out at the faces of my congregation, and I am grateful that we have overcome the many challenges we have faced over the past few years. At the same time, I am also reminded of all the beautiful souls we have lost to COVID-19. The pandemic has upended the lives of many in our community, and the residual effects are still
being felt. As pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME), the oldest African American church in the city, I have always strived to lead my members to health and prosperity. But nothing could have prepared us for the challenges of the pandemic, which affected every aspect of our church -- from how we conducted services to how we communed with people. But the church leadership and I knew it was our calling to take on COVID-19 and protect our flock. Over the years, we have continued to learn and evolve our approaches to address the overall
“This resolution is an important step toward recognizing the racial disparities in healthcare that have existed for far too long, while also outlining concrete action we can take now to help reverse them,” said Senator Brown. “Your background or the color of your skin shouldn’t determine whether you get quality, respectful care, or whether your air and water are clean, or whether there’s a good hospital nearby. This declaration will help to lay the foundation for change, so that all Americans can live longer, healthier lives.”
“Across the United States, communities of color continue to be disproportionately affected by negative health outcomes, from chronic diseases to maternal and infant mortality,” said Senator Booker. “These health inequities stem from years of discriminatory policies that have disenfranchised, neglected, and disrespected Black, Indigenous,
“For America to reach its full potential we must address the underlying racial injustices that remain deeply embedded in our nation, deepening wounds that have yet to be addressed,” said YWCA USA CEO, Margaret Mitchell. “The introduction of the resolution declaring racism a public health crisis lays the groundwork to continue building a more equitable future for people of color. YWCA applauds the introduction of this critical resolution and looks forward to working with Members of Congress to advance a public health approach that can effectively disrupt and end racial injustice in our communities.”
The resolution acknowledges the history of racism and discrimination within health care and the systemic barriers that people of color continue to face when seeking care. The resolution also highlights the effects of systemic racism on the health and wellness of communities of color, resulting in shorter life expectancy, worsened health outcomes, and enhanced exposure to harmful or dangerous environments. This resolution encourages concrete action to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society.
In addition to Padilla, Brown,
and Booker, the resolution was cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Richard
By Lou K. ColemanBlumenthal (D-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
And you are going about business as usual. If you don’t awake from your slumber and pay attention, you are going to get caught up in the mayhem not prepared. Just a few more steps and Satan Master Plan will be in full force causing your life to become discombobulated. Satan, Master Plan is coming to declare war and to rule by force. He is coming to dominate the globe. First, establishing peace and economic solutions, then he’ll become the ultimate man of war, becoming history’s vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion, dripping with charm and charisma, all why being a horrible, hostile, hateful monster. Wake up! Soon and very soon, Satan Master Plan will be in full force.
Do yourself a favor and read the [second chapter of 2 Thessalonians] which provides a glimpse into Satan’s Master Plan and helps make sense of recent events. Because the current world chaos is too well orchestrated to be a mere coincidence. For there has never been a time like this before
where fear and uncertainty of the future ruled the day, hearing such words like “end of humanity” being proclaimed by the world. Why are they saying these things? Because Satan knows that Jesus Christ is coming back soon to put an end to this wicked world. Satan knows that the judgments and plagues of God are soon to fall, so he is deceiving the world with antics, which just shows how close we are to the return of Christ, and if you don’t recognize this, then you are unprepared for what is to come.
The prophecy of [Daniel 2] alone shows we are in the 'Time of the End', and all the other evidence proves we are in the very end times. Awake from your slumber! Understand, Satan’s ultimate goal is world dominion, who knows his time is short and is determined to kill, steal, and destroy as much of God’s creation as possible before he is thrown into the fiery pit prepared for him and his minions. In the meantime, he is making every effort to drag as many people into hell with him as he can. Grid your loins because he isn’t coming, he is already here unbeknownst to the majority.
I tell you, this world is hearing and seeing the last warning message from God. Whatcha gonna do?
Final Warning and Call of Mercy!
Amy
“I’m leaving my shame here and taking away healing.” These were the words of a participant in a recent ecumenical and interfaith Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith Training. After decades of this holy work at the intersection of faith and sexuality, I have seen this dozens of times. Once people realize they are in a space without shame and stigma, where we encourage open and informed conversation, seeds of healing are planted. Like a flower stretching toward the sun, parts of our souls that have been hidden reach for the daylight and sacred refreshment of acceptance and growth.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) categorizes different types of stigma, including public stigma, private stigma, self-stigma, label avoidance, and structural stigma. All kinds of stigma fertilize shame, which can easily become internalized, and can also result in outwardly shaming others to attempt to counterbalance one’s own shame.
Shame and stigma about sexuality have real health consequences. People avoid seeking care due to embarrassment about body parts and functions. Many experience health inequity by providers and systems due to their gender identity and orientation, as well as racial stereotypes. Too many people attempt to or succeed in taking their own lives because of shame and stigma related to their bodies, identity, or relationships.
Jesus was a shame buster. He hung out with lepers and people who were blind and otherwise disabled. He allowed a so-called shameful woman to wipe his feet with her hair and admonished others who asked what in the world he was thinking. People
Johnsonwho were shamed, stigmatized, and marginalized by society were the very people Jesus sought out as companions, and in the Great Commandment, Jesus told us all to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Loving one another as ourselves means that we need to be able to love ourselves. And loving ourselves means dealing with our own shame. Too often this shame has been embedded by well-meaning religious institutions that end up excluding people from access to God’s love with messages encouraging them to create themselves in society’s image of a Christian, rather than rejoicing in the way the Author of Life created them and called them very good.
Time and again, I witness people come into Our Whole Lives/Sexuality and Our Faith trainings and leave without a big chunk of shame with which they came. Shame about their body, their orientation, their gender, their relationships, their experiences, their faith . . . the list goes on. Over a relatively short time, in community with other people of faith who are not only not shaming or stigmatizing them, but who also delight in the full expression of who they are, people can experience a taste of beloved community and their welcome in it.
I am so grateful the United Church of Christ continues to support the Our Whole Lives and Sexuality and Our Faith ministry in so many ways. Through this ministry, we are walking our talk of justice and inclusion. We are building the kin-dom right here on earth.
Rev. Amy Johnson is the Minister for Sexuality Education and Justice for the United Church of Christ.
Padilla Introduces Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis...continued continued in next 2 columns
“Satan Master Plan Is Almost Ready toDr. Frederick Kuo, M.D
