"If
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It
will be imposed upon them and these will
The
SAN BERNARDINO, Cali- The IE Choice Awards, a prestigious event dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements in various sectors, highlighting the impact of visionary leaders and their significant contributions to society. This year’s awards celebrated individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional innovation, leadership, and commitment to excellence.
The IE Choice Awards will be jam-packed with a star-studded list of nominees and performers. Plus, some of the biggest philanthropists of the year are being honored for their immense contributions to their respective
genres. Special guess [mma] Heavyweight World Champion; Eugene Weems & singersongwriter and businesswoman Latrice Kristine
“This event is not just about celebrating success; it’s about acknowledging the hard work and dedication of individuals who are making a difference in their communities and beyond,” said Antoinette Pickette. “This Awards is a special ceremony and unique because it puts the power in the hands of the fans, who get to vote for their favorites in each category. By recognizing the outstanding contributions of individuals and businesses,
we not only highlight popular choices but also fosters a sense of community and appreciation.”
As the IE Choice Awards continue to grow in prominence, they remain committed to highlighting the achievements of those who are not only leaders in their fields but also pioneers of change, driving progress and inspiring future generations.
The Ceremony will be hosted by the one and only Moori Richardson, so get ready for an
unforgettable night filled with fun, laughter and entertainment. Tickets available @ https://www. eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annualie-choice-awards-sneaker-balltickets-1047130725187?aff =ebdssbdestsearch. Tune in to watch and see who takes home the coveted honors this year. The IE Choice Awards will be broadcast live from Indian Springs Theatre in San Bernardino on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. PST on TALON36.COM.
Elections 2024: Sec. of State Weber Explains Results, Ballot Counting Process
California is home to the largest voting base in the nation with 22.5 million registered voters. According to the Secretary of State Office (SOS), about 70% of the state’s voters participated in the November Election. So far, 15.2 million votes have been counted, processed and verified. There are still roughly 0.8 million votes to go through the process.
Because California allows voters more time and opportunities to vote than most states, it typically takes longer to finalize the results. Historically, it has taken the state the longest to finalize election
of
California. As
of Nov 14, the closest race is in the 45th Congressional District House race between Michelle Steel and Derek Tran. The two candidates are only separated by 58 votes with 93% of all votes counted.
“California basically makes sure that every vote counts,” said Weber. “We will receive our first actual count from all of the 58 counties on Dec. 6. After that, we have at least one week, which is until Dec. 13, when we will actually certify the state results. Then that becomes the official results for the election.”
If a recount is triggered in the 45th district, official results may take longer than the expected deadline.
The part of the ballot counting process that tends to prolong the official results involves verifying signatures and making sure individuals who obtained provisional ballots the day of the election are all eligible to vote, Weber said.
The SOS goes as far as finding individuals who neglected to sign their ballots so they can complete the process.
“The reason we do this is we respect every vote that comes in. California’s election process is designed with a core commitment to recognizing and basically accurately counting each and every eligible vote that
San Bernardino American News host Town Hall to combat hate crimes in our community
By Clifton Harris
November 14th the San Bernardino American News hosted a town hall via zoom and brought together community leaders to discuss hate crimes in our community and how we can advocate for others and ourselves if we witness or experience a hate crime. San Bernardino county hate crimes are severely under reported and the purpose of this town hall was bring awareness to the tools the community has and may not be utilizing. Leaders from multiple communities including local ones in San Bernardino county joined the call and gave very useful information for anyone to use.
Sponsored by the California State library and California Black Media, the call included guest from various organizations, including: Edwina Thomas, Community Intervention Specialist with the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy in San Bernardino, Oscar Lobos, Program Manager from the Family Assistance Program in Victorville. Gerald Garth, Executive Director of the AMAAD Institute (Arming Minorities against Addiction & Disease) and Gerald is also the board president for LA Pride. Chantel Bermudez, Senior Manager of CA vs. Hate resource line at the California Civil Rights department and also James Williams, community based organization manager from the California Civil Rights Department. Lastly our moderator was Xeron Pledger from the Delivering C.H.A.N.G.E program in Atlanta Georgia.
A hate crime is generally a act motivated by biases of a persons perceived or actual identity. There are two main types of hate crimes, the first is violating civil rights laws and the second is a criminal act that is motivated by a persons perceived or actual identity. Even if you are not sure what qualifies as a hate crime you can always contact 1-833866-4283 to report and also to inquire about something you may have witnessed. Gerald Garth, who works with two
organizations both AMAAD and LA Pride prioritizes safe spaces and also making sure participants and staff know their rights. The California vs Hate hotline non emergency line is unique because you can call for any reason whether or not it is a hate crime. The hotline is available Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm or you can visit CAvsHate.org and report a incident as well. The Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy as well as the Family Assistance program are two local community based organizations that are assisting our local communities needs. Edwina, who is a intervention specialist with the Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy is very involved with the youth in the San Bernardino area. Edwina and the young visionaries are partnering with Mayor Helen Tran on a video for the stop the hate campaign. The Young Visionaries Youth Academy focus on Mental Heath, Mentoring, Academic support, employment development and many more services. Oscar Lobos, program manager at the Family Assistance Program in Victorville are getting their services into schools in the high desert area. They are focusing on education and mental health support of residents of all ages. We can all report hate crimes and we can even report hate crimes anonymous at 1-833-8-No-Hate or visit cavshate.org. The hotline is not law enforcement affiliated and the CA vs Hate hotline is a state agency. Please visit all of the websites and take advantage of the services all of our leaders have to offer below and also watch the replay of our town hall at https://youtu.be/TPNtlIEVqaQ or visit our site.
Edwina Thomas- https://www. yvyla-ie.org/ Chantal Bermudez- https:// calcivilrights.ca.gov/ca-vs-hatepage/ Gerald Garth- https://amaad. org/ & https://lapride.org/ Oscar Lobos- https:// familyassist.org/ Xeron Pledger- https://www. deliverchangeinc.com/
Inland Empire News
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber ,
Photo Caption: Guest pictured on the zoom flyer from left to right starting up top: Xeron Pledger (Moderator/ Delivering C.H.A.N.G.E. Program), Edwina Thomas (Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy), Gerald Garth (AMAAD Institute & LA Pride) Chantel Bermudez (CA vs Hate Civil Rights Dept.) James Williams Jr. (CBO Civil Rights Dept.), Oscar Lobos (Program Manager Family Assistance Program).
OP-ED:
We Must
Work Together to Support the Sustainability of HBCUs in America
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The loss of Title IV funding would drastically affect around 80 percent of the student bodies at HBCUs and would have a consequential negative impact on the future of these vital institutions of higher education. Endowments at HBCUs pale in comparison to those at the U.S.’s top ranked colleges and universities, with the overall endowments at all the country’s HBCUs accounting for less than a tenth of Harvard’s. The gap in funding between PWIs and HBCUs isn’t just because of smaller endowments, it’s also because state lawmakers keep funds off HBCU campuses – in North Carolina, for example, legislators awarded N.C. State an extra $79 million for research while N.C. A&T – the nation’s largest HBCU – was given only $9.5 million.
By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Education sent all colleges and universities across the nation a notice, reminding them that they need to comply with the newly updated cybersecurity regulations published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The regulations – which include specifications such as implementing critical controls for information security programs, maintaining oversight of service providers and designating an individual to oversee a school’s cybersecurity infrastructure –came in response to an uptick in ransomware attacks on schools around the United States.
While these regulations are certainly warranted in an age where personal data is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-criminals, the penalties for failing to comply with the regulations – especially the withholding of federal needsbased funding under Title IV – pose an existential threat to schools operating under tight budgets.
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company who has been doing it right for over 130 years. Take historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which have throughout their existence struggled to find the substantial funding that many state and private predominantly White institutions (PWIs) of higher education enjoy and who are already steeling themselves to deal with an expected surge of applicants following the Supreme Court’s regressive decision to effectively end affirmative action admission programs.
The loss of Title IV funding would drastically affect around 80 percent of the student bodies at HBCUs and would have a consequential negative impact on the future of these vital institutions of higher education.
Endowments at HBCUs pale in comparison to those at the U.S.’s top ranked colleges and universities, with the overall endowments at all the country’s HBCUs accounting for less than a tenth of Harvard’s.
The gap in funding between PWIs and HBCUs isn’t just because of smaller endowments, it’s also because state lawmakers keep funds off HBCU campuses
HBCU Interns Learn Emotional Intelligence
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Lenserf Group’s pioneering “Exceed Your Potential Academy” is an innovative, employer-sponsored training program is designed to help students to navigate the challenges of cultural, geographic, and other changes that could impact their performance, wellness, and ability to build relationships during their internships. Topics covered include time management, building confidence, setting priorities, and overcoming procrastination.
By BlackPressUSA
Navigating the transition into full-time work, as an adult is something most were never taught in school.
Aside from general expectations such as promptness, liability, and meeting job qualifications, there are issues rarely addressed in the workplace that play an important role in one’s quality of work life. Diverse habits, levels of emotional wellness, and racial and cultural differences, for example, also impact the collective work experience.
Over 20 student interns from six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) enrolled in an 8-week virtual course in emotional intelligence, accountability, and growth mindset, designed to prepare for their entry into the workforce.
The Lenserf Group’s pioneering “Exceed Your Potential Academy” is an innovative, employersponsored training program
is designed to help students to navigate the challenges of cultural, geographic, and other changes that could impact their performance, wellness, and ability to build relationships during their internships.
Topics covered include time management, building confidence, setting priorities, and overcoming procrastination.
A diverse group of coaches across North America and Africa facilitate the curriculum, delivering a tech-enabled, multimodal learning experience in a psychologically safe environment.
“Feedback from employees who have completed our programs highlights significant improvements in managing conflict and stress. This heightened awareness enhances their quality of work and consistency and fosters greater engagement,” says Farnia Fresnel, President of The Lenserf Group. “Introducing these students to such training at this juncture is exceptionally beneficial.”
For over a decade, The Lenserf Group has been dedicated to helping leaders
– in North Carolina, for example, legislators awarded N.C. State an extra $79 million for research while N.C. A&T – the nation’s largest HBCU – was given only $9.5 million.
When it comes to access to technology, HBCUs also face an uphill battle with 82 percent of HBCUs being located in socalled “broadband deserts.”
Despite their struggles with funding, and the fact that these schools constitute only 3 percent of four-year colleges in the country, HBCU graduates account for 80 percent of all Black judges, 50 percent of Black lawyers, 50 percent of Black doctors, 40 percent of Black members of Congress and our country’s current vice president. HBCUs truly know how to do more with less, but they cannot be saddled with costly regulations that pose an existential crisis to their ability to operate and be given no help to deflect some of the costs. Fortunately, however, there are businesses and individuals who see the importance of HBCUs to the Black community and are willing to lend their hands – and their dollars – to support them.
The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a non-profit chaired by philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith and funded by major tech companies like Cisco, has raised millions of dollars to help HBUs comply with the Education Department’s mandates. Cisco alone donated $150 million to the SFI with $100 million allocated to bringing HBCU cybersecurity system upgrades and $50 million going to establish an endowment to offer alternative student loans.
With $89 million already distributed to 42 HBCUs across the nation, the initiative has already saved around $1.5 billion in needs-based funding to these colleges and universities and is making strong inroads to helping these institutions meet the new cybersecurity regulations, but more is required if all HBCUs are to be saved.
Given the empowering impact HBCUs have on the nation’s Black community and the future promise of a more inclusive America, it is imperative that more companies support the work the Student Freedom Initiative is doing to ensure these vital higher education schools can continue to educate and inspire future generations.
As Vice President Harris said, “What you learn at an HBCU is you do not have to fit into somebody’s limited perspective on what it means to be young, gifted and Black.”
We in the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) https:// www.nafeonation.org/ stand in strong support of the Student Freedom Initiative. We all should work together to ensure the sustainability of HBCUs in America.
HBCU Interns Learn Emotional Intelligence... continued
and teams cultivate mindsets centered around transformation and ownership. With its latest initiative, the organization continues its commitment to fostering a pipeline of emotionally intelligent, diverse emerging leaders.
Established in 2013, The Lenserf Group (TLG) is a certified woman and minorityowned leadership development, coaching, and consulting firm focused on elevating client performance.
Barger, Artist and Community Leaders Unveil Giant Mural in Sun Village, Honoring Black Heritage
Titled "Lifting as we climb", a new massive tile mosaic is now permanently installed at Jackie Robinson Park
Under a fall blue sky filled with sunshine and crisp morning air, community members of all ages applauded and cheered with pride this past Saturday as a stunning new mural honoring Sun Village’s unique African American heritage and achievements was revealed for the first time.
Measuring 44 feet wide and 11 feet tall, the tile mosaic is now permanently installed on the Jackie Robinson Park
Barger, Artist and Community Leaders Unveil Giant Mural in Sun Village, Honoring Black Heritage...continued mosaic, which was inspired by Sun Village oral histories and archives.
Over the past year, community meetings were held with Sun Village elders and younger generations of residents. Artist
gymnasium wall. Titled “The Light of Many Suns,” the mural was created through a collaboration between artist April Banks, Kounkey Design Initiative, Clockshop, and Los Angeles County’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger contributed a $250,000 commission from Los Angeles County’s Fifth Supervisorial District to fund the magnificent
April Banks conducted a series of presentations on her concept renderings and worked with Clockshop and Kounkey Design Initiative to gather feedback that ultimately informed the mural’s design and content.
“This beautiful mural is a fitting tribute to the rich history and vibrant community in Sun Village,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “It was created in close collaboration with local residents, so this artwork has a lot of meaning and will be a source of inspiration, beauty, and education for future generations of Antelope Valley residents. It will undoubtedly help them celebrate and learn about the people and places that make Sun Village such a special place to live, work, and play.”
Jackie Robinson’s grandson, Aaron Bolden, attended the ceremony at the park named after the American baseball legend who broke color lines and became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. He joined Supervisor Barger in signing a poster commemorating attendees at the unveiling.
The mosaic’s unveiling was also attended by scores of community leaders and residents, ranging from elementary schoolers to nonagenarians. The mood was both celebratory and nostalgic.
The Sun Village community was formed by generations of African American families who, in the first half of the 20th
century, determinedly carved out a home in the high desert, far away from the discriminatory housing practices and laws prevalent in neighboring cities. This fearless community–led by The Civic Women’s Club of Sun Village–built churches, educational institutions, gas lines, sewers, and wells, and established the historic landmark Jackie Robinson Park as a recreational green space for all.
“When African Americans began moving to Sun Village in the 1950s, the area lacked even basic infrastructure”, said Norma E. García-González, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. “Residents paved streets, installed streetlights and gas lines, and built the park themselves. The Women’s Club of Sun Village organized bake sales and other fundraisers to purchase most of the land for the park, and then donated the land to LA County Parks. The park quickly became a hub for a thriving African American community for decades. We wanted to celebrate not only Jackie Robinson, but the inspiring history of these women and the Sun Village community.” The mural celebrates the women of The Civic Women’s Club of Sun Village and their determination and effort to make Jackie Robinson an official park. Legacy events and experiences integral to Sun Village’s identity and history are also depicted in smaller mosaic medallions. For more information regarding The Light of Many Suns project, visit clockshop.org/project/jackierobinson-park.
Jackie Robinson park is located at 8773 E Avenue R, Sun Village, CA 93543.
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA
Community members react to unveiling of new mosaic (Photo credit: Karen Quincy Loberg/LA County)
Supervisor Barger enjoys a laugh with Aaron Bolden, grandson of baseball legend Jackie Robinson (Photo credit: Karen Quincy Loberg/LA County)
Image of "The Light of Many Suns," the new mosaic installed at Jackie Robinson Park (Photo credit: Karen Quincy Loberg/LA County)
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Palm Springs Approves $27 Million Reparations Deal for Displaced Black and Latino Families
Leading up to Thursday, November 14 vote, National civil rights Attorney Areva Martin and Section 14 Survivors, in partnership with Actum, achieve landmark agreement with Palm Springs City Council
The Southern California city of Palm Springs approved a $27 million reparations compensation package for Black and Latino families who were displaced from their homes in the 1960s.
The city council voted on the deal Thursday, following an announcement last week.
The move, which has garnered support from Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), comes as part of a broader push for reparations in California.
Areva Martin acted as lead counsel for the Palm Springs group and represented the impacted families.
“We are making history in Palm Springs,” said Martin. “This agreement demonstrates that it’s never too late to acknowledge past wrongs and take meaningful steps toward justice.”
The reparations agreement targets families from Section 14, a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood demolished in the 1960s to make way for commercial development. Hundreds of families lost their homes in the process, and descendants have been advocating for reparations since the city issued an official apology in 2021. Despite the city’s apology, many were concerned that no payments had been made,
Congresswoman Barbara Lee Honors Veterans Day with Call to Support Veterans’ Well-Being
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (DCA-12) issued a statement on Veterans Day honoring the service and sacrifice of U.S. veterans and their families. Lee, the daughter of Lt. Col. Garvin Tutt, a veteran who served in two wars, emphasized the importance of thanking veterans and actively supporting their needs.
“Our veterans deserve more than just a ‘thank you.’ They need our action. In Congress, I have continued to fight for investment in the well-being of our brave service members,” said Lee.
In Congress, Lee works to uphold commitments to veterans, focusing on essential services like health care, housing, and fair wages. She highlighted the recent PACT Act, which
prompting action from Butler earlier this year.
The deal includes $5.9 million in direct compensation for around 300 survivors and their descendants, well below the $2 billion initially requested. In addition to cash payments, the agreement includes $10 million for a first-time homebuyer assistance program and $10 million for a community land trust aimed at affordable housing.
Other provisions include $1 million for diversity and inclusion initiatives, a renamed park, and a monument to honor the displaced families.
Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein called the settlement a fair and just resolution, expressing hope that the agreement would set a national precedent for reparations. While this follows a similar reparations program in Evanston, Illinois, California’s statewide efforts have faced resistance, especially following Newsom's rejection of a state-level reparations proposal earlier this year.
The Palm Springs settlement is seen as a historic step toward addressing racial injustice, though challenges to similar programs continue elsewhere in the U.S.
California Reports First Case of Mpox in the United States
On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States.
However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.
“This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa,” reads a statement the CDPH released. According to the DDPH, “The affected individual received health care in San Mateo County based on their travel history and symptoms. The individual is isolating at home and recovering.”
Public health workers are also conducting a contact tracing exercise and reaching out to people who have been in close proximity to the affected person.
“The mpox specimens from the traveler are being sent to the CDC for further laboratory testing,” the CDPH press release continues.
Californians can take a number of steps to prevent Mpox. Here’s more information:
Preventing Mpox Infection
It appears clade I mpox spreads in a similar manner as clade II mpox, through close (skin-skin), intimate and sexual
contact. The identification of a potentially more severe mpox version in the United States is a good reminder for individuals who have certain risk factors to take preventive action, including: Getting vaccinated if you may be at risk for mpox. For the greatest protection, make sure you get both doses of the vaccine. Find mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS) near you.
Taking precautions if you were exposed to mpox. Get the mpox vaccine before symptoms develop and consider avoiding intimate contact with others for 21 days. Watch yourself for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Preventing spread if you have been told you have mpox. Avoid contact with others until the rash is healed, clean and disinfect shared areas in the home, and notify people who may have been exposed.
Talking to your sexual partner(s).
Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with those who have a rash or sores that look like mpox.
Not sharing items with someone who has mpox.
Washing your hands often.
Protecting yourself when caring for someone with mpox by using masks, gowns and gloves. Visit the CDPH website to learn more about Mpox with Sexual Health Toolkits and a Campaign Materials Page.
has helped reduce healthcare costs for veterans nationwide.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Lee advocates for sustained funding to ensure veterans receive the benefits they deserve.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ve fought and will continue to fight to provide our veterans with the quality wages, housing, and health care they deserve,” said Lee.
Noting that over 20,000 veterans reside in California’s East Bay area, Lee expressed her ongoing commitment to invest in veterans’ well-being, affirming that real gratitude requires meaningful action.
California to Offer $43.7 Million in Federal Grants to Combat Hate Crimes
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced that 311 California nonprofit and faith-based organizations, including those representing communities targeted by hate crimes, will receive over $43.7 million in federal funding through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
The funding aims to enhance security measures such as reinforced doors, access control systems, and lighting to protect against hate-based violence.
“An attack against any community is an attack against our entire state and our values. We will protect the ability of every Californian to worship, love, and gather safely without fear of hate or violent attacks. California is continuing to safeguard all communities, including those most at risk,” said Newsom.
California receives 10% of the national allocation, the highest of any state. This funding comes in addition to $76 million in state
funding for similar security improvements announced in July 2024. In total, California has invested over $230 million since 2015 to safeguard vulnerable communities.
“California is dedicated to helping our communities stay safe from violent hate crimes and get access to essential financial funding to support those efforts,” said Cal Office of Emergency Services (OES) Director Nancy Ward.
The grants are particularly important as hate crimes, especially against Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+, and Black communities, have seen an increase. In response, California has also launched initiatives like the CA vs Hate hotline and website, providing a platform for reporting hate incidents anonymously. Newsom’s administration continues to prioritize the safety of all Californians, with ongoing efforts to combat discrimination and hate violence.
A Threat to Democracy
By Chuck Richardson
(TriceEdneyWire.com) -
Following a very stunning and dangerous setback for Ukraine, the election of Donald Trump poses even greater obstacles to any favorable outcome in that war.
Because Ukraine is an ally to the U. S. and adheres to the doctrines of democracy and Russia represents a diametrically opposite form of governance the fundamental question for American citizens is, “Who will we support” under a Trump Administration?
After all the circumstantial variables have been considered, are we going to support nations that agree with and confirm the principles grounded in freedom and liberties afforded by a democracy or a nation that will capitulate to the whims and threats of a communist dictator?
No matter what optics are displayed, or the amount of saber rattling is demonstrated publicly, the test of substance is the practical impact of America’s decision on Ukraine’s ability to survive or whether our actions subject them to a defeat?
It is implausible and dangerous to run with the foxes and bay
A Threat to Democracy...continued
term implications of America’s ability to maintain its position of balance and strength in Eastern Europe or areas around Ukraine. The fate of NATO in Europe in this area is the father of American democracy around the world.
Those naive, gullible and misinformed MAGA fanatics have become so immersed in the struggle to insure one man’s quest for power that they have lost sight of a much larger issue. The intensity to ensure the political success of Donald Trump has distorted their view of reality and the much broader view of world circumstances where democracy rivals autocracy and the dominance of tyranny and the aspirations of despots!
Every citizen has the right to support and vote for whom he or she chooses, but when the personal privilege is in direct contradiction with a larger interest of national security of all Americans, we each are duty bound to make alternative choices for the greater good.
At this moment in America’s history, the guns, tanks and missiles across the borders of Ukraine may very well be ships, submarines or planes off the coast of North Carolina, Virginia and Florida. The physical differences
may be thousands of miles apart, but tensions, conflicts and principles that constitute our core values are mutually exclusive and intolerable of each other. It is only a matter of time and space where the contact frictions grind away until we are only minutes or inches from a face-to-face confrontation. For certain, Vladimir Putin will not cease his invasive ambitions in Ukraine, so who will be next? Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, etc.? At what point in this struggle between the freedoms of democracy and the oppression of tyranny will America say, “Enough!”
Do our enlightened leaders possess the insight and visions to see beyond today, or do they hesitate, pause or ponder in confusion until the borders of the mountain on the horizon of Ukraine become the sea escapes off Hatteras, Virginia Beach, or Miami?
Chuck Richardson is a former city councilman in Richmond, Va., a decorated Vietnam veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps and author of his autobiography, “Cease Fire! Cease Fire!Councilman Chuck, A Hero(in) Addiction”.
What Trump’s Immigration Plans Mean for the U.S.
By Selen Ozturk
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history.
This was estimated by Vice President-elect JD Vance to involve one million removals yearly.
with the hounds. This nation cannot function under the pretext of a freedom loving people and yet cave into the demands of a bully.
Far too many Americans have been contaminated by the misinformation and propaganda that says because Vladimir Putin flatters Donald Trump he is America’s friend. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Putin’s political survival is dependent upon this struggle - make no mistake. As a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, we captured North Vietnamese troops that carried Russian-made weapons. Russia was our enemy then and since Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, and now Vladimir Putin, they each have been sternly committed to Khrushchev’s promise to bury America. How can we be so naive or gullible?
How in God’s name can intelligent American citizens entrust their children’s futures to be in the hands of a communist dictator? A communist leader, who is guided far more by the communist loyalists in the Kremlin than his association with Donald Trump. Does Trump or his MAGA followers understand that the struggle for geopolitical balance of world power and dominance has nothing whatsoever to do with friendship, but the strategic maneuvers to conquer territories and then the minds of its populations?
Regardless of any other policy issues with which you may agree or disagree, none will ever reach the significance nor long
Can the U.S. afford these policies? What do these crackdowns mean for undocumented and legal immigrants?
Mass deportation Based on Census data surveys, there are an estimated 11.7 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as of July 2023 — about 3.5% of the total population, and up 800,000 from the previous July. The all-time peak is 12 million immigrants, reached in 2008.
The highest year of deportations from the U.S. interior is 238,000 immigrants, reached in 2009.
“Currently, most people we deport are already in detention. The government just picks them up … and figures out whether they’re allowed to be here and how to get them back, and if the country will take them back,” said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, at a Friday, November 15 Ethnic Media Services briefing on Trump’s promised immigration policies. Greg Chen, Senior Director of Government Relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), explains the ways in which Trump may
Elections 2024: Sec. of State Weber Explains Results, Ballot Counting Process...continued from page 1
comes into our office,” added Weber. “This approach involves a series of rigorous checks and safeguards, including Signature verification machine audits and manual accounts. These measures assure that all votes — whether they are cast in person, cast by mail, or brought the same day registration — are accurately represented in our final count.”
While technology has helped expedite the counting process in some areas, as the voter base continues to grow in the state, additional manual support is needed. For example, vote my mail ballots have to be opened and counted by hand. By Oct. 18, 1.5 million vote-by-mail ballots were already submitted.
Voting over the internet is prohibited by California Law.
This eliminates all possibilities of cyber tampering or electronic
voter fraud
The SOS office also does a hand count of one percent of all ballots before Dec. 13. This is done to verify the fact there is a correlation between the hand counts and what the machines are counting. In addition, each machine is also tested before every election.
“Some people ask the question: ‘Why do we have to be so accurate?’ Lots of people are counting on your vote, and if we had some questions about it; you’d want us to be accurate you’d want us to basically go in and find out if that’s really a signature you want us to make sure that that is our ballot and that our ballot gets counted and we do our best to make sure that every Californian who is registered legally registered to vote will have their vote counted,” Weber emphasized.
4
Three Percent of Calif’s Doctors are Black. Advocates Want Increased Representation
Edward Henderson | California Black
Media
Only 3% of doctors in California are Black, compared to about 5% nationwide.
The California Black Health Network (CBHN), Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in Los Angeles and other health advocates are working to increase that percentage.
On Nov. 14, CBHN hosted its Health Equity Forum titled “Improving Workforce Development for Better Health Outcomes.” The organization — now 40-plus years in existence – refers to itself as “a trusted resource” for Black health equity in California. CBHN utilizes outreach, education, advocacy and policy work to complete its mission.
The forum is the fourth installment in a series of webinars called the “The Health 4 Life: Healthy Black People Campaign.” The effort aims to empower Black Californians with the information and resources they need to navigate the healthcare system; advocate for friends, family, and themselves; and take action when faced with discrimination
“Where there are Black doctors, we tend to see better health outcomes for Black communities,” said Rhonda
Smith, Executive Director of CBHN.
“According to the California Healthcare Foundation, here in California, the state’s medical student education pipeline is not producing enough Black physicians,” Smith continued.
“And, unfortunately, half of California’s black medical students leave the state for residency programs and often don’t return. So, what can we do to ensure that there is a strong pipeline of healthcare professionals that look like the communities they will serve, and that there’s a greater representation of black physicians and healthcare professionals?”
The forum featured Dr. David M. Carlisle, MD, President of CDU.
CDU is one of four Historically Black Medical Schools in the country, and the only one in the West. The session centered on how CDU’s commitment to social justice and health equity prepares more Black and other minority doctors to serve across California while engaging and building trust with underserved and historically excluded communities.
“Our vision is excellent health
continued on page 6
What Trump’s Immigration Plans Mean for the U.S....continued from page 3
attempt to ban certain categories of immigrants, using illegal criteria such as race or religion.
“With mass deportations, however, we’re talking about finding people in their communities,” he continued. “The two branches of the Department of Homeland Security that specifically do that do not have the capacity. It’s extremely expensive … Nor do we have the detention capacity. You’d need a whole new set of asylum facilities and judges before even getting people home.”
Deporting all undocumented immigrants, which represent about 4.8% of the U.S. workforce as of 2022, would cost about $315 billion and have between a 4.2% and 6.8% negative impact on GDP, by conservative estimates.
By comparison, the national GDP fell 4.3% during the Great Recession, from 2007 to 2009.
“For most things Congress will fund, they’ll need 60 votes. Budget reconciliation needs 50. It’s far from clear they can fund these measures … but they can repurpose money from elsewhere,” said Robbins. “It’s possible to use forms like the military, but our resources are already strained.”
The existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget — $107.9 billion for fiscal year 2025 — exceeds all other federal law enforcement budgets combined.
The current daily detention capacity is estimated around 50,000.
Congress has provided approximately $3.4 billion to detain a daily average of 41,500 noncitizens in 2024, of which 60.1% have no criminal record.
For comparison, funds in 2023 were $2.9 billion to detain an
Thursday, November 21, 2024
What Trump’s Immigration Plans Mean for the U.S....continued
2020, according to DHS data; the numbers have shot back up since then to 1,173,000 in 2023.
Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director, American Immigration Council, discusses Trump’s proposal to end birthright citizenship and what it would take to implement it.
“During the first Trump administration, we saw retrogression — meaning it took much longer to process these cases,” Chen continued. “For an employment or family visa that might typically take three to six months, we saw those times typically double.”
He added that these backlogs are often created by understaffing departments and by Requests for Evidence, which are “ways of asking for more information on a case to ferret out fraud. But if used unnecessarily, it simply becomes red tape … and if immigration is unavailable to people who are trying to come here through legal means, we’ll be seeing greater amounts of illegal migration.”
Currently, immigrants arriving at official crossing points on the border can make an appointment through the CBP One app and wait months to be processed into the U.S. with temporary humanitarian parole.
“People who try to enter between those points have a very hard time qualifying to begin the process towards asylum,” said Julia Gelatt, associate director of the Migration Policy Institute’s U.S. immigration policy program. “Under Trump, we can expect that the CPB One process at ports of entry will end, meaning that it will be very difficult for people coming to the border to access legal asylum proceedings,” she continued.
“Instead, we’ll likely see what we’ve seen before: people paying smugglers to sneak them into the United States, rather than to the border, where many people now present themselves to border authorities to ask for protection,” she added.
average of 34,000 noncitizens daily.
Julia Gelatt, Associate Director of our U.S. immigration policy program, Migration Policy Institute (MPI), says Trump’s proposed deportation agenda will impact certain areas and workforces more heavily than others, depending on the jurisdiction’s involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Along with difficulties getting bipartisan Congressional support, “Biden has already maximally deployed existing resources for enforcement,” said Greg Chen, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. “They don’t have the resources to do much more … and contracting with private facilities, or training state and national guards, will mean more expensive delays.”
DHS data from 2023 shows that, in absolute terms, 3.5 times as many people were removed under Biden than under Trump.
Of the 1.4 million arrests made in the 24 months of 2019 and 2020 under Trump, 47% were removed from the U.S.
In the first 26.3 months under Biden, DHS made over 5 million arrests, of which 51% were removed.
Legal immigration
“Trump has been talking so much about mass deportations that we rarely hear about impacts on the legal immigration system, meaning the hundreds of thousands of employment visas, family visas and humanitarian visas coming through every year,” said Chen.
Annual new legal permanent residents fell under Trump from 1,183,500 in 2016 to 707,400 in
eliminate Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on which about 580,000 immigrants rely.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the president can terminate DACA, a policy which gives some people who came to the U.S. illegally as children the right to study and work in the country.
“Most employers want to hire a legal workforce. If their workers lose authorizations like DACA and TPS, they’ll have to let them go,” said Gelatt. “We’re an aging country … and when we lose immigrant workers, it doesn’t necessarily create jobs for U.S. workers. If an employer loses the immigrant workers they rely on, they might contract out their operation or close up shop altogether. Immigrants and US workers are compliments in the labor force.”
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the unemployment rate for U.S.-born workers in 2023 was 3.6%, the lowest on record.
That year, the share of employed prime-age (25 to 54) U.S.-born workers was 81.4%, the highest rate since 2001.
Elizabeth Taufa, Policy Attorney & Strategist, Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), discusses the impacts Trump’s mass deportation plan will have on local communities.
While mass crackdowns on these immigrants “will take more resources than the new administration will have, resulting in economic devastation across the country, they’re still counting on instilling fear in communities,” added Chen. “We have people with legal status calling our attorneys because they’re afraid that they’ll be rounded up because they’ll be profiled. Those are legitimate concerns in this new environment.”
Greg Chen, Senior Director of Government Relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), discusses the ways in which Trump’s immigration plan could damage diplomacy and international relations.
Trump has also suggested that he’ll scale back the use of Temporary Status — which covers over one million immigrants, mostly Venezuelan, Haitian and Salvadoran — and
they are on life’s journey.
Imagine a church shaped after the shape of Jesus’ life: love.
This is bigger than politics or popular ideas or social movements. This is about our faith and belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is about how our faith leads us to take action. Will we be people guided by our fears or people led by love?
UCC biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann shared these encouraging thoughts on November 7 in his blogpost
“Beyond a Fetal Position” in the aftermath of the recent election.
“Like the ancient prophets, we are dispatched back to the good work entrusted to us.
This is the work of peacemaking.
It is the work of truth-telling.
It is the work of justice-doing.
It is good work, but it requires our resolve to stay it, even in the face of the forces to the contrary that are sure to prevail for a season.
We are in it for the long run, even as the Holy One is in it for the very long haul, from everlasting to everlasting.
We do not ease off because it is hard.
We are back at it after the election.”
I think of the courage, boldness, and tenacity of all
of the (unnamed and named) women that followed Jesus. I think about the gospel story of the widow, recently included in the lectionary readings, who came before the rich and powerful people in the temple and gave her small offering. Imagine together a church that faces the powerful and rich with the boldness and big heartedness of the widow. Imagine together a church that goes out into the world emboldened to share our gifts of peacemaking, justice building, and compassion sharing.
God’s love resurrected Jesus from the dead and God can use our love to bring about new life. This is where our hope can be born again—from the generous and bold love of God.
Imagine together what is possible when we love without fear.
Prayer God of Love, protect the most vulnerable in our communities from harm in body, mind, and spirit. Help our churches wisely use power and privilege to work for a just world for all. Create a fierce tenderness in our hearts so that we are open to love, no matter the cost. Amen.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Rev. Sarah Lund serves as the Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice in the national setting of the United Church of Christ.
“Looks Like Another T.K.O. – Think I’d Better Let Them Go!”
By: Lou K Coleman
“What does it look like when that intimidation campaign is working? It looks like kids not going to school because their parents fear being deported, shortages of health care workers because people move to safer states or are removed from the country, like shortages of teachers here on TPS and DACA,” said Elizabeth Taufa, policy attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
“Even if they can’t afford to enforce these policies, they’re unraveling the threads of our American communities,” she added.
WITNESS FOR JUSTICE Issue #1230
Imagine Together
Sarah Lund
This election year registered
voters had the opportunity to take our values to the polls through early voting or election day voting. The election results tell us a lot about the true values of our neighbors. We are a nation divided by vastly different interpretations of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Key questions for all of us to ponder, pray about, discuss, and organize action around: What does it mean to follow Jesus and love your neighbor? Who is your neighbor? How will you love them?
In the gospels, Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors. Loving our neighbors includes loving those who do not vote like we do, who do not look like we do, who do not think like we do, who do not have the same religion as we do, who do not have the same culture as we do, and who do not have the same values that we do.
I know I have family members, neighbors across the street, and church members who did not vote the same as me. God calls us to continue to live a life of love, love of ourselves, love of our neighbors, and love of God.
This is a high, holy, and difficult calling---yet this is what Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was all about—the heart of Christianity is love.
During this time of political and national change, we are invited to “Imagine Together” a world where God’s love is generously shared with our neighbors.
The immigrant neighbor.
The refugee neighbor.
The transgender neighbor.
The single mother neighbor.
The widow neighbor.
The Black neighbor.
The Brown neighbor.
The disabled neighbor.
Imagine together a church that shares God’s generous love, no matter what, to everyone, no matter who they are or where
For they listened not to My prophets nor My servants. It was all in vain. They despised the message, persecuted those who delivered it, and in the sequel put many of them to evil deaths. Their stubbornness is so great that they refuse to listen, no matter how often I warn them. They are bound to their idols. They cling and cleave to them with a morbid infatuation. Their heart is callous, their purpose stubborn, they will never give them up. Looks Like Another T.K.O. – Think I’d Better Let Them Go! For they have set at nought all My counsel and would none of My reproof. Leave them alone! [Proverbs 1:24-28].
Woe to those who sit at ease in Zion, who think that nothing is going to happen to them [Amos 6:1].
I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock you when fear come upon you; you shall call upon Me, but I will not answer; you will seek Me early, but you shall not find Me, for you hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. You shall eat the fruit of your own way and be filled with you own devices [Proverbs 1:25-31].
I tell you, when that day comes, when the Holy Spirit takes His flight from convicting your soul of sin, and no longer beats at your breast and tries to get you saved, then you will be like the people of Israel, the ten tribes, who had been warned again, and again, and again— but refused the message of God, and continued in their sin. At this rebellion, God was going to strike the entire nation down and start a new nation through Moses. It was only through Moses’ pleading with the LORD for mercy that the Israelites were not destroyed
[Numbers 14:5–20].
Understand, God’s warnings are proof of God’s love. If He did not care, He would not warn. God gives grace, He gives mercy, He gives space to repent, but when man is living in rebellion to God, God will not continue forever to give him space. Those who are unrepentant before God will ultimately be identified, weighed, and judged [2 Corinthians 5:10]. Mene, Tekel, and Upharsin. [Daniel 5:24-28].
I tell you; the time is NOW for you to be like Daniel! The time is NOW, to read the Handwriting on the Wall! The Time is NOW to seek the God of heaven and live! Truly the Lord is slow to anger and abound in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression [Numbers 14:18]. Were it not for the Lord’s patience and mercy, judgment would have occurred earlier [2 Peter 3:9]. The Final Plea! [Matthew 24] And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And whoever sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge. The words that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent Me has himself given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” [John 12:4450] Repent for the Kingdom of God is at Hand! [Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15]. They hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord – [Proverbs 1:29-31]. Leave them alone. Looks like another T.K.O. – Think I’d Better Let Them Go!
Lou K Coleman
City Of Barstow Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For New
North First Avenue Bridge
Former Historic Bridge was Demolished as City Prepares for Economic Development Activity among BNSF’s Plans for Major Railway Hub
BARSTOW, CA – Nov. 19,
2024
– After several months of construction, the new North First Avenue Bridge in Barstow has been completed, and its opening was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Several city officials and local community members joined together for the event, which was held at 9 a.m. on the north side of the bridge. The construction of the new bridge was launched in January 2023 following the BNSF Railway announcement of plans to develop the largest railway hub in the western United States in Barstow. The City of Barstow called the bridge construction the first notable infrastructure development during the upcoming planning phases. The bridge has been a main thoroughfare for schools, hospitals and other services, and the new one will now provide a more modern structure and improve goods movement as the
city improves its infrastructure.
“The City of Barstow is thrilled to reach this moment of the new, modern bridge’s completion,” said Interim City Manager Andrew Espinoza, Jr. “Holding the ribbon-cutting today is significant for us. It’s the first major infrastructure change as our city is in the midst of a large transformation due to the BNSF development here. It’s an exciting time for the City of Barstow.”
The new bridge, made of concrete, has a modern appearance. It has a wider sidewalk on one side for a pedestrian walkway, eight-foot shoulders for bicyclists, and a lookout point for individuals to view the prominent railroad. It is about 1,179 feet long, with a width of 50 feet that expands to over 62 feet to accommodate a left turn lane that extends onto the bridge structure. Its aesthetics are similar to the
Three Percent of Calif’s Doctors are Black. Advocates Want Increased Representation... continued from page 4
and wellness for all in a world without health disparities,” said Carlisle. “Our point and why we’re here is to train young people from the communities around our university, which are significantly under-resourced and underserved, and turn them into practicing healthcare professionals. Many of whom will say, ‘I’ll return to the communities I grew up in to make it a better place.”
CDU is ranked #3 in the country as a value-added university by the Brookings Institute for its efforts to take young people from challenging socioeconomic beginnings and turn them into highly effective members of their communities and standouts in their professions by the midpoint in their careers. The medical school says its goal in the short term is to increase enrollment to 1,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students.
“Our medical students are very unusual. About two-thirds of them were Pell Grant recipients when they were in college,” said Carlisle. “ That is more than twice the national average among medical students. At least a third of them are first-generation students. That is more than twice the national average among medical students.
If you stop one of our students on campus and ask them why they came to CDU, instead of going to a UCLA, USC, Stanford, or some
other school,” he continued.
“They will typically say, ‘I came to CDU because the mission at CDU aligns with my personal mission in trying to become a health professional. I can’t get that at any other school.’”
In 2022, there was a total of 260 African American, Latino, Indigenous and other underrepresented students combined in first-year medical school classes across the State of California. About 100 of those students were African American at that time.
Among all CDU’s medical students, about 31 were African American. That number contributed to an increase in the number of first-year African American medical students in the entire state, by well over 20% in that first-year.
Carlisle, who also sits on the board of the California Healthcare Foundation, noted in a recently published survey of Black Californians that trust is still a major issue when it comes to healthcare providers.
“Increasing diversity is one step that we make in the right direction. Sounds like there’s a lot more human kindness that happens with the individuals that go through our medical school program because they are able to better connect and relate to the individuals that they take care of,” he concluded.
city’s well-known Harvey House, comprising antique lighting and quaint touches. Its funding came from various sources, including the Federal Highway Bridge Program, state funds, Measure I funds, and the City of Barstow.
The former North First Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1930 and modified in 1943. It was a two-lane steel and wooden bridge and was a focal point of the railroad industry. It no longer met the structural and functional standards and demands of the city, especially with upcoming plans for spurred economic development activity.
BNSF Railway plans to invest more than $1.5 billion to construct a state-of-the-art master-planned rail facility in Barstow. The Barstow International Gateway (BIG) will be an approximately 4,500-acre new integrated rail facility on the west side of Barstow, consisting
of a rail yard, intermodal facility and warehouses for transloading freight from international containers to domestic containers. The facility will allow the direct transfer of containers from ships at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to trains for transport through the Alameda Corridor onto the BNSF mainline up to Barstow. Once the containers reach the Barstow International Gateway, they will be processed at the facility using cleanenergy powered cargo-handling equipment, and then staged and built into trains moving east via BNSF’s network across the nation. Westbound freight will similarly be processed at the facility to more efficiently bring trains to the ports and other California terminals.
More information on the City of Barstow can be accessed at www.BarstowCA.org.
Press releases & Legal Advertising Submission Deadline 5 pm MONDAY Please email to: mary@sb-american.com
Gov. Newsom Grants Pardons to Veterans, Initiates Posthumous Pardon for Vietnam War Hero
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Gov. Gavin Newsom marked Veterans Day by granting pardons to five veterans. The governor’s directive included a posthumous pardon for Sergeant Richard Allen Penry, a Vietnam War Army veteran and Medal of Honor recipient from Petaluma.
Penry served the country during the war, faced challenges reentering civilian life and struggled with PTSD, leading to drug-related convictions.
Newsom acknowledged the veteran’s contributions and said Penry led by example through, “extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life.”
Newsom’s action highlights his commitment to supporting veterans’ well-being and addressing mental health needs. While the Governor cannot pardon Penry outright due to multiple convictions, he has requested the California Supreme Court’s approval to proceed with the posthumous pardon.
The Governor emphasized clemency as a tool for criminal justice reform, promoting accountability, removing barriers to reintegration, and addressing the health needs of incarcerated individuals. A pardon can aid veterans in rejoining society by restoring rights, preventing deportation, and improving access to employment, though it does not erase convictions.
Newsom’s review process
considers self-development, justice, and community impact, showing a compassionate approach toward veterans who have struggled post-service.
“A pardon grant recognizes the grantee’s self-development and accountability after conviction,” said Newsom’s office regarding the executive clemency.
However, the directive does not erase a conviction or seek to minimize the harm caused by the recipient, the office clarified.
Newsom granted clemency to five veterans with various criminal convictions, recognizing their honorable military service.
The pardoned veterans include: Don Archibald (Army), sentenced in 1966 for robbery.
Marcus Page (Marines), convicted in 1994 for controlled substance transport.
Robert Teagle (Army Ranger, Purple Heart and Silver Star recipient), convicted in 1981 for controlled substance transport.
Alex Zonn (Air Force), sentenced in 1970 for marijuana possession.
Brian Tinney (Navy), convicted in 1994 for grand theft and in 1996 for firearm possession.
These pardons highlight California’s support for veterans’ reintegration and rehabilitation.
During his time in office, Newsom has issued a total of 186 pardons.
L E G A L / C L A S S I F I E D S G O H E R E
City of Barstow News
Op-Ed: Where Do We Go from Here?
NNPA NEWSWIRE – If we have learned anything, it’s that actual change begins at the local level. We need to engage with our city councils, our school boards, our state legislatures, and our communities. These are the places where our work will make the most difference, where we can shape policies that directly impact the lives of those we serve.
By State Representative Ron Reynold
As the dust settles on this election, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Vice President Kamala Harris has lost her bid for the presidency, and for the first time in years, Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. For many of us who have been fighting for equity, opportunity, and justice, it feels like the ground has shifted under our feet. The dreams we nurtured, the policies we fought for, and the progress we celebrated now face new and daunting challenges. But in the midst of this loss, I am reminded that true change has never come easy. It has come through our resilience, our determination, and our commitment to the ideals we hold dear.
The question we face now is, “Where do we go from here?”
Our task is not to retreat or to abandon our vision. Our task is to refocus, re-energize, and recommit to the values that brought us to this fight in the first place. As Democrats, as progressives, and as Americans, we cannot afford to look at this election as the end. We are the voice of millions who still long for justice, healthcare, and education that empowers rather than excludes. Every loss must sharpen our resolve, not weaken it. This is the time for reflection and a recommitment to standing with the people left behind, ignored, and marginalized for too long.
We may face challenges at every level of government, but we are not powerless. Our communities, our neighborhoods, and our grassroots networks
remain a powerful force for change. We can influence the policies that matter most by continuing to organize, to educate, and to mobilize. Think of the Civil Rights Movement, think of the countless movements for social and economic justice that flourished against even greater odds. It was the spirit of ordinary people coming together to demand extraordinary change that moved this country forward. And that spirit is still alive in every one of us. If we have learned anything, it’s that actual change begins at the local level. We need to engage with our city councils, our school boards, our state legislatures, and our communities. These are the places where our work will make the most difference, where we can shape policies that directly
impact the lives of those we serve. Together, we can keep pushing forward with policies that reflect the needs and values of our communities—especially for those who have felt the sting of discrimination, exclusion, and systemic inequality.
So, as we look ahead, let’s remember this: Our fight is far from over. This moment, challenging as it is, is also a call to action. Now, more than ever, we need to come together, to rebuild, and to be relentless in our pursuit of the America we believe in. An America that stands for justice, equity, and opportunity for all. Together, we will forge a path forward, one step at a time, one community at a time. This is our moment to rise stronger and more united than ever before.
Five HBCUs Leading the Charge in Creating Black Excellence
WORD IN BLACK — The 2022 proclamation from President Biden for National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week pointed out their incredible contributions to society: “HBCUs have produced 40 percent of all Black engineers and 50 percent of all Black lawyers in America. Seventy percent of Black doctors in our country attended an HBCU, and 80 percent of Black judges are alumni of these schools.”
They’ve shaped generations of Black professionals. Now HBCUs are working to educate students K-12, particularly in STEM fields.
By Aziah Siid, Word In Black
What do Martin Luther King Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Vice President Kamala Harris have in common? They’re all graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The schools saw a surge in applications from high school seniors after the murder of George Floyd. And along with increasingly being seen by Black high school students and families as havens of safety — both physically and culturally — HBCUs produce nearly 13% of all Black graduates, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
I’m a Morgan State graduate, so I know first-hand these
schools aren’t just academic institutions. They’re a testament to the determination of Black Americans to create spaces of excellence, empowerment, and cultural affirmation in the face of racism. And in the nearly 187 years since the first HBCU — the African Institute, later renamed Cheyney University of Pennsylvania — opened its doors, they’ve become incubators of Black intellectuals, activists, and professionals.
The 2022 proclamation from President Biden for National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week pointed out their incredible contributions to society: “HBCUs have produced 40 percent of all Black engineers
and 50 percent of all Black lawyers in America. Seventy percent of Black doctors in our country attended an HBCU, and 80 percent of Black judges are alumni of these schools.”
The institutions also play a prominent role in maintaining the Black teacher pipeline. They produce 50% of Black teachers, thus boosting the number of Black men entering classrooms and introducing students to the love of learning.
So, this Black History Month, let’s look at the contributions five HBCUs have made, and how their current impact on K-12 education makes a difference.
1. Howard University
Listen, when the school is the alma mater of Carter G. Woodson, the creator of Black History Month, you know it has to be No. 1 on the list. Founded 150 years ago by Army General Oliver Otis Howard, Howard
University has also long been a pioneer in educating Black women at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our first black vice president, Kamala Harris, graduated in 1986. Charlotte Ray, the nation’s first Black woman lawyer — and the first woman admitted to the Washington D.C. bar — graduated from Howard’s law school in 1872. HU continues to make modernday strides as it competes directly with schools in underserved communities through its dual enrollment courses.
2. Spelman College
Graduates of Spelman Voted as the #1 HBCU in the country for 17 consecutive years by U.S News & World Report, Spelman College has earned its distinction for more reasons than one. Founded in
Five HBCUs Leading the Charge in Creating Black Excellence...continued
1881 as Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, the all-women’s campus has been a beacon of education and hope for Black women nationwide. Spelman College was home to visionaries like Martin Luther King Jr’s daughter, peace advocate and CEO of the King Center, Dr Bernice King, politician and activist Stacey Abrams, and the legendary novelist Alice Walker. Walker’s Pulitzer Prize novel, “The Color Purple,” is one of the most frequently banned books in the United States and continues to serve as a staple in Black history and culture. Spelman continues to serve the greater Black education community through partnerships like their initiative with the National Education Equity Lab, a nonprofit that works to boost economic and social mobility for high school students. The program provides free collegelevel courses to low-income high school students to make them confident they can succeed in college and prepare them for higher education. In addition, alumnae of the college are working to make attending the institution more affordable for incoming freshmen and current students.
3. Florida A&M University
Through rhythm and song, FAMU alumni, like musical artist Common, have spoken life into the Black community. In 2018, Common helped launch Art in Motion Charter School in his hometown as a way to, as he told Ebony magazine last year, “bring academics but also artistic expression and holistic living to children that are from Chicago.”
As for Common’s alma mater, the 140-year-old university — which began with only 15 students and two instructors — is currently ranked as the No. 1 HBCU for research and development by the National Science Foundation. The university continues to make immense strides in law, pharmaceutical sciences, and more.
To encourage more young people to pursue STEM, FAMU hosts an annual STEM Day for students in grades 6-12.
The event features academic speakers, hands-on activities, and science demonstrations to give participants a realistic look at what the future holds.
Additionally, the university holds a “Women and Girls in STEM Mentoring Event” each year, introducing nearly 200 K-12 girls to female engineers, scientists, and academics. In 2022, FAMU expanded its STEM Day to include third, fourth, and fifth graders, broadening the
event traditionally aimed at girls in grades 6-12.
4. Morgan State University
Morgan State University
President David K. Wilson recently became the first HBCU president to win the national Harold W. McGraw Jr. Prize in Education, presented by the McGraw Family Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. His efforts to improve retention, graduation rates, and support for degree completion for Black students underscore MSU’s commitment to advancing Black leadership and success.
The university is committed to increasing representation in fields such as STEM and communications by recruiting students as early as their junior year of high school. Since 2021, Morgan has had a partnership with NASA designed to foster interest and retention in STEM among K-12 students. They also have a summer program for rising high school seniors and incoming freshmen interested in actuarial and mathematical sciences. The free, six-week program allows students to take pre-calculus, go on field trips, and participate in professional development seminars.
5. Prairie View A&M University
One thing Prairie View A&M University has said is her name. Sandra Bland. As a 2009 graduate, member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, civil rights activist, and summer school counselor, Bland’s name echoed throughout the university and the Black Lives Matter movement after her death in 2015. Founded in 1876 as the Alta Vista Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the second public institution of higher learning in the state initially admitted only men. Recognizing the need for all Black people to be educated, it soon welcomed women.
PVAMU carries the legacy of inclusivity into its STEM Mobile Road Show. On-board technology allows Prairie View to bring hands-on demonstrations to high schools across the state and enable students to engage in activities.
Leaders of the program hope the mobile show will “play a role in exciting and engaging young minds, in particular underrepresented minorities, in STEM education.”
The university also has a shadowing program where secondary students can sign up to follow a College of Engineering student around for a day to get a feel for what the school’s STEM programs are like.
Howard University Graduating Class of 1900. The photograph was taken outside the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel. Credit: Public Domain.
Kamala Harris takes selfie with students at Howard University in 2019. Office of Kamala Harris, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Medicare plans change every year, so can your health. Visit Medicare.gov to see all your options side by side and compare coverage, costs, and quality ratings.
New in 2025, all Medicare plans will include a $2,000 cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs.
The cap only applies to drugs that are covered by your plan, so it’s more important than ever to review your plan options to make sure your drugs are covered.
Panera Expands in
San Bernardino w/ New Muscoy Cafe | Free Meals for a Year
SAN BERNARDINO, CASan Bernardino will soon be home to the newest Panera Bread cafes in the country. I’m writing to share that a Panera Bread bakery-cafe will be opening its doors at 4268 North Varsity Avenue on Wednesday, November 20. The new location marks the FIRST in the Muscoy area and the 14th in Bernardino County. Additional details on each the new Panera’s follows: Location: 4268 North Varsity Avenue San Bernardino, CA 92407
Bakery-Cafe Hours: Mon-Sat 6am – 9pm, Sun 7am – 9pm
Format: This new bakerycafe features digital ordering and mobile pick-up lane convenience, ideal for orderahead. Service channels include drive-thru, pick-up, delivery and catering with both indoor and
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SoCalGas Shares Five Simple Ways to Reduce Energy Use and Save...continued
effective steps to lower energy consumption, which helps our customers save on their bills and contributes to a more sustainable future.”
Energy-Savings Tips for Customers:
Manage Your Heating Systems: Heating is often the largest energy expense for customers. When away from your home or business, adjust your thermostat by five to eight degrees, if health permits, to help save energy.
outdoor dining options.
Promotion: To celebrate the new location, on opening day beginning at 6AM, the first 100 guests will receive a year’s worth of free “Your Pick Two®” meals.” A You Pick Two® allows guests to select any combination of two half size entrees from the Panera Bread menu including soups, salads, sandwiches and more.
The new location will employ 55-60 people.
Area Operating Partner, Cody Meader shared the following:
“We are thrilled to be opening the new Panera in San Bernardino. We are excited to grow our presence in this wonderful community and look forward to delivering the great tasting food and impeccable service our local guests have come to expect from Panera.”
Optimize Appliance Usage:
Ensure your dryer runs efficiently by checking the ductwork for obstructions and cleaning the lint filter before every load. Dry full loads of laundry but avoid overloading or over-drying. Upgrading to energy-efficient models can result in up to 20% savings.
Install Energy-Saving Showerheads and Other Fixtures: SoCalGas offers no-cost energysaving home improvements for qualified customers. By using less water, less natural gas will be used for heating. Consider installing fixtures such as low flow faucet aerators and tub spouts. Sign up for a nocost Energy Efficiency (EE) Savings kit including low-flow showerheads that can help save up to 15 gallons per shower.
Test for Duct Air Leakage and Seal Leaks: Leaky ducts can lead to 10%-30% higher heating and cooling costs. Check for leaks in ductwork to help reduce energy expenses. Seal any leaks around windows and doors to retain heat and ensure proper insulation to reduce heating needs.
Replace Furnace Filter(s):
Replace your furnace filter(s) monthly during heating season or as often as the manufacturer recommends.
vice president, customer services field and solutions at SoCalGas.
“Together, we can take simple yet
A great way to conserve energy usage is to upgrade older model appliances with new, energyefficient ones. Find eligible appliances at our SoCalGas Marketplace site where you can
purchase, finance, and schedule delivery of your new appliances. For example, replacing an old, inefficient clothes dryer with a new, more efficient model could save customers up to 20% in energy savings. Over the lifetime of the product, energy efficient models that have earned the ENERGY STAR® certification can save around $370 in energy costs.
For a limited time, through Nov. 30, 2024, residential and multifamily customers can get 50% more in rebates to purchase an eligible, qualifying energy-efficient appliance. No extra steps are needed; a customer’s increased rebate will be automatically calculated. Eligibility requirements apply; see participating rebate programs’ conditions for details. *
SoCalGas offers programs and tools designed to help customers track, manage and save on their energy use and bills:
● Ways to Save Tool: The My Energy Profile survey offers a complimentary household energy analysis with personalized tips and information about energyefficient appliance rebates.
● SoCalGas Text Notices: Customers can opt-in for the Natural Gas Price Notice, which sends a text message if there is a 20% or more increase in the monthly natural gas commodity cost—affecting part of their bills. Sign up at socalgas.com/ NotifyMe to receive updates from December 2024 through March 2025.
● Energy Savings Assistance Program: This program provides no-cost energysaving home improvements for income-qualified renters and homeowners, including lowflow showerheads, water heater blankets, attic insulation, and more.
SoCalGas Shares Five Simple Ways to Reduce Energy Use and Save...continued
● CARE: This is a statewide assistance program that provides a 20% discount on natural gas bills for qualifying low-income households.
This fall, SoCalGas launched its newly redesigned website, offering enhanced navigation and improved access to information on billing, energy savings assistance programs, as well as critical and timely customer announcements, safety information, and sustainability initiatives. The update also optimizes efficiencies and enhances secure access to self-service options, making it easier and more convenient for customers to manage their accounts and payments. Learn more about the updated features to “My Account” at www. socalgas.com/my-account. For more information on managing your natural gas usage and accessing available programs, visit Manage Higher Bills | SoCalGas.
* Participating Rebate Programs: Home Energy Efficiency Rebate Program, Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (including Boiler Controllers), and the Multifamily Vended Clothes Washer Rebate Program (applies to only SoCalGas rebates).