42 minute read
SDUSD CELEBRATES 2021 GRADUATES – see
Morse High School graduates posed with school principal, Dr. Cynthia Larkin
Yoseif Abraham, Valedictorian of Hoover High School, Plans to Attend Stanford University on a Full Ride Scholarship
Hoover High School graduates celebrate Crawford High School_s graduating football team sing the alma mater for the final time
Photos by Cori Zaragoza via Zoom
SDUSD Celebrates 2021 Graduates Celebrates 2021 Graduates at Petco Park
By Cori Zaragoza
Contributing Writer Many graduating high school students were afraid that an in-person commencement ceremony would be impossible due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and state rules on large gatherings. The San Diego Unified School District, however, had an alternate plan. Graduating high school students from the 19 high schools in the district were allowed to have a safe and socially distanced commencement ceremony in Petco Park, home to our local baseball team, the San Diego Padres. Each student was given four tickets for family members to enjoy the ceremony from the stadium’s stands. Students sat behind home plate, enjoying speeches from other students, school administrators, and school board members. As each student’s name was called, the graduates walked across the baseball field to receive their diplomas and take photos before exiting at first plate. The occasion was joyous as many students met with friends they hadn’t seen during the pandemic and were happy to be together for one, final time.
Crawford High School graduate David Robinson played the National Anthem on cello
Crawford High School Valedictorian plans to attend Harvard University on a full ride scholarship
A Crawford High School Graduate poses with Principal Dr. Froylan Villanueva
Students of Lincoln High School Prepare for Graduation
Meet a Few Preuss School Graduates
96% of the local charter school’s graduates were accepted to a university
Voice & Viewpoint Newswire
Preuss was named the #1 high school in San Diego by U.S. News and World Report in their 2021 Best High Schools report, and #6 in California among nearly 3,000 schools. The charter middle and high school enrolls a diverse low-income student population from over 40 neighborhoods in San Diego County, with the majority from south of Interstate 8.
“The Preuss School offers a transformational pathway to college for local students from underserved communities,” said Executive Director Helen V. Griffith. “We are so proud of our Class of 2021 seniors who, in the midst of a global pandemic and year of remote learning, were able to achieve exemplary college acceptance rates. Their special talents, resilience, and drive will take them far.”
Stories from The Preuss School Class of 2021
become a physical therapist to help those who have suffered from strokes or become a registered nurse. What Delke valued the most from attending The Preuss School is the way extracurricular activities and internships are integrated into the curriculum. In addition, she felt very supported during remote learning by having online tutoring sessions and individual meetings to discuss questions about college. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, every staff member at The Preuss School trusts and believes in you and the future you decide on,” said Delke. “I strongly believe that if I went to any other high school, I wouldn’t be as prepared as I am right now. Preuss not only helped me get prepared for college, they helped me figure out what I wanted to be after college.”
Vyvy Nguyen
Vyvy Nguyen looks forward to making new friends, participating in study abroad and being a part of student organizations when she enrolls at UCLA in the fall. She will major in biology, which is the first step in her plan to attend medical school and become an OB-GYN doctor who specializes in women’s health. Nguyen’s vision is to empower and support women throughout their pregnancies.
Christopher Santiago
Christopher Santiago is excited to begin a new chapter, which may involve going to space. This fall, he will move to Connecticut to attend Yale University with a full scholarship. He will study astrophysics with a goal of pursuing a career as an astrophysicist and dreams of becoming an astronaut. Santiago credits The Preuss School’s rigorous learning environment for preparing him for college. “Preuss definitely set me up for success; it taught me the value of routine, the need for rigor, and overall, the need to be proud,” said Santiago. The Preuss School graduates will be celebrated at an in-person Commencement ceremony this Thursday, June 17, at 4pm. At press time, it was reported that the ceremony would feature a pre-recorded keynote address by California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber.
Graduates of Lincoln High School Arrive to Petco Park
FRAUD ALERT: How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Scams
By Dena Vang
Milwaukee Courier
The increased demand for COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States, along with the need to educate various groups and communities about the vaccine, has created opportunities for fraudulent activity. Dr. LaShawn McIver, director of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Office of Minority Health, addressed the scams related to COVID-19.
“We’re asking that people please don’t share your personal or financial information if someone calls, texts, or e-mails you, promising access to the vaccine for a fee,” Dr. McIver said.
To protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 scams, remember the following: Do not give your personal, medical, or financial information to anyone claiming to offer money or gifts in exchange for your participation in a COVID-19 vaccine survey. Be mindful of how you dispose of COVID-19 materials such as syringes, vials, vial container boxes, vaccination record cards, and shipment or tracking records. Improper disposal of these items could be used by bad actors to commit fraud. Offers to purchase COVID19 vaccination cards are scams. Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination can only be provided by legitimate providers administering vaccines. Photos of COVID-19 vaccination cards should not be shared on social media. Posting content that includes your date of birth, health care details, or other personally identifiable information can be used to steal your identity. Be vigilant and protect yourself. You will not be asked for money to enhance your ranking for vaccine eligibility. Government and state officials will not call you to obtain personal information in order to receive the vaccine.
Beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their personal, medical, and financial information. Medicare will not call beneficiaries.
Be suspicious of any unexpected calls or visitors offering COVID-19 tests or supplies. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not respond to or open hyperlinks in text messages about COVID-19 from unknown individuals.
Ignore offers or advertisements on social media sites for COVID-19 testing or treatments. If you make an appointment for a COVID-19 test online, make sure the location is an official testing site. Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone claiming to offer HHS grants related to COVID-19. Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare number or financial information, or attempt to set up a COVID- 19 test for you and collect payment information for the test.
If you suspect COVID-19 healthcare fraud, report it immediately online, or call 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447- 8477).
When It’s OK to Let Your Good Credit Score Drop Score Drop
By Bev O’shea
NerdWallet
If you’ve worked hard to achieve and maintain a good credit score, it can be upsetting to see it drop. People lose jobs, cars break down and pipes leak. Credit may be your safety net. Painful as it may be, there are times when taking actions that hurt your score are prudent for your overall finances. WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY EXPENSE
If you have a big, unexpected expense that exceeds your emergency savings, using your credit cards to cover it can be a decent option. You may have some temporary score damage from having a high balance on your card for a while. It’s generally best to keep balances below 30% of your credit limit, and of course, paying in full every month is ideal. But the damage from a high balance should fade as new, lower balances are reported to credit bureaus. Don’t beat yourself up.
WHEN YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO COVER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES
If you have to choose between paying your credit card on time and keeping the utilities on, keeping your family safe is more important. If possible, try to make the minimum payment on your credit card before it’s 30 days overdue. Your credit card issuer won’t be happy and you’ll probably have to pay a late fee. But creditors can’t report you to the credit bureaus until your payment is 30 days past the due date. If you don’t pay in that 30-day window, the creditor can report your account
See CREDIT page 14
Black Business Registrations Increase During COVID Pandemic
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA
By Lauren Victoria Burke
NNPA Newswire Correspondent
Several states have shown that the number of registered businesses has “more than doubled” according to analysis by the New York Times.
In the month after the CARES Act was passed by Congress in March 2020, business registrations increased by 60 percent. Though the economic downturn caused by the COVID pandemic is likely to damage entrepreneurship and put many small businesses in a financial hole or out of business entirely, there are signs that many have turned to creating businesses after losing employment elsewhere. Andre Perry, a Brookings Institution fellow, told the Times that some of the surge in Black business registrations could be a signal of personal economic trouble. “This is more about survival than it is about wealth creation. There’s lots of people who have lost their jobs and lost their businesses. People are starting to realize that side hustles are businesses,” Perry said. Additionally, Google Trends data reported an “uptick in searches related to Blackowned businesses” in June of last year during the start of the pandemic. According to Google Trends data, searches for “How to find black owned businesses in your area” saw a 300% spike and searches for “Black owned restaurants near me” tripled.
An app that is a guide to Black owned restaurants, called EatOkra, witnessed a 4,450% increase in downloads of new users in May 2020. Many believe that activism after the murder of George Floyd coupled with the COVID19 pandemic spurred manny to think about economic activism and Black owned businesses.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM
Women Business Owners Beating the Odds
Overwhelmingly impacted by the pandemic, 71% of women-owned small businesses reported a loss in revenues or sales in 2020, according to a recent study. Beyond cutting costs and applying for federal resources, women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs of color have had to get more creative than ever to navigate the uncertain economy. Consider these four lessons learned from women entrepreneurs who are beating the odds.
1.Seek alternative fund ing sources: In addi tion to tapping traditional bank loans, connect with a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI, which offers low-cost capital with friendly repayment terms.
2.Make time for PHOTO SOURCE: (c) Drazen Zigic / iStock via Getty Images Plus a business plan: 2020 taught us to plan for the unexpected, reinforcing that a business plan is critical for any small business. Tamil Maldonado Vega and her husband, owners of Raíces Brewing Co., say they don’t regret opening a Latino craft brewery right before the pandemic. While they have had hard times like everyone else during closures and due to limits on seating and space, they felt prepared thanks to a strong business plan, which they developed with the help of their banker. 3. Pivot from crisis to opportunity: Looking for new income streams? Being flexible while staying true to your business can help increase the chances of success. Kadijatu Ahene, owner
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
of Dija’s Touch Designs, specializes in African print designs. During the pandemic, she shifted to an online model and expanded into making stylish personal protection equipment for first responders. 4. Find strength in community: Ranjana Hans, owner of Raw Roots Turmeric, says her community has supported her health and wellness business throughout the pandemic, and she’s learned the benefits of asking loyal customers to promote her products in their social networks. “I have always thought that having strong connections enriched my life, and over the course of this year, that’s become even more evident.”
(StatePoint)
SPORTS Biles Claims Another US Gymnastics Title
By Will Graves
AP
Simone Biles toned it down. A little anyway. And soared even higher. The 24-year-old gymnastics superstar claimed her record seventh U.S. title Sunday night on June 6th, delivering another stunning — and stunningly easy — performance that served little doubt the pressure surrounding her bid to become the first woman to win backto-back Olympic championships in more than 50 years is only pushing her to even greater heights. Shaking off a somewhat sloppy start the previous Friday, at least by her impeccable standards, Biles put on a four-rotation showcase that highlighted why a GOAT emblem — a nod to her status as the Greatest Of All Time — has become a fixture on her competition leotard.
Her two-day total of 119.650 was nearly five points better than runner-up Sunisa Lee and good friend and teammate Jordan Chiles. Biles’ all-around score of 60.100 was her highest since 2018 and served notice she is only getting better with the Tokyo Games less than six weeks away. It helped that she managed to stay inbounds (mostly) during her floor routine after stepping out three times on that Friday. Blame it on the rush she gets when the lights are on and a crowd is in the palm of her hands. She was far more precise in finals save for one tumbling pass where one of her feet stepped over the white border.
Oh, well, something to work on for the Olympic trials later this month in St. Louis.
Simone Biles acknowledges cheers from fans after being awarded first place in the all around following the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
“It’s so crazy because in training I never go out of bounds and I never have this much power,” Biles said. “But with the adrenaline, that’s where it comes.” While Biles’ victory was never in doubt — it rarely has been during her nearly eight-year reign atop the sport — she remains in no mood to coast.
And to think she didn’t even bother with her latest innovation, a Yurchenko double-pike vault she drilled twice at the U.S. Classic last month that caught the attention of everyone from LeBron James to Michelle Obama. Instead, she opted for two with slightly lower difficulty that she completed so casually it was hard to tell if she was in front of an arena that screamed for her at every turn or just fooling around at practice back home in Houston.
Not that it mattered. She still posted the top score on vault anyway. Just like she did on beam. Just like she did on floor. Just like she’s done everywhere she’s saluted the judges since the 2013 U.S. Championships. The Yurchenko double-pike will return at trials and likely in Tokyo, where if she completes it during competition yet another element in the sport’s Code of Points will be named for her. Just add it to the list of what they call “#SimoneThings.” Biles has been a lock for Tokyo from the moment she returned to training in late 2017. Chiles and Lee may also be nearing that territory. The top two all-around finishers at trials will earn an automatic spot on the Olympic team, though U.S. national team coordinator Tom Forster allowed Biles, Chiles and Lee have separated themselves from the pack. The picture behind Biles and Chiles and Lee, however, remains crowded with only two weeks to go before the team is unveiled. That’s not a bad thing. “I do think the field has gotten better,” Forster said.
By Rob Maaddi Associated Press
Former NFL star Warrick Dunn is hosting a conversation centered on diversity and inclusion as part of his charity’s Juneteenth celebration. Dunn, a three-time Pro Bowl running back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, will sit down with NFL Network host Steve Wyche last Thursday evening for a virtual chat featuring guest appearances from various players past and present. “It’s important to have a conversation just about diversity and inclusion,” Dunn said. “We want to be able to educate companies on the topic but also give them solutions. I just think the biggest step toward that would be starting a dialogue. A lot of times people don’t want to talk about a lot of the issues, but you have to be open and honest and have an open dialogue about the issues. Then, come with how can we solve these problems and make diversity and inclusion and corporation equal for all and not just for the upper echelon.” Juneteenth is the celebration of what occurred June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned they had been emancipated. The second part of Warrick Dunn Charities’ Juneteenth celebration is a virtual wine, dine and cigar event on June 25 featuring various players, including Hall of Famers and celebrities. Dunn’s mission is to empower families to break the cycle of generational poverty. “It starts really with housing,” Dunn said. “That’s the quickest way to build wealth in this country for families, but also having stability creates opportunity for kids to live a better and stable life, to perform better in school, to want to thrive and just want to be better. Having stable housing is key to that.” Dunn founded the “Homes for the Holidays” program as a rookie in the NFL to fulfill his mother’s dream of home ownership for single-parent families, and it has since helped 189 homeowners and 512 dependents in 24 markets. His mother, police officer Betty Smothers, was killed in the line of duty in 1993, two days after Dunn turned 18. He helped raise his five siblings while going to Florida State.
Over the years, Dunn’s home-building program has transitioned to also helping families and children learn financial literacy and teaching them how to eat healthy and affordable meals.
“There’s so many issues and inequalities that families face when it comes to home ownership, the opportunity to help advance their families with education,” Dunn said. “When you live in low-income communities, usually the schools are not high-performing schools. They just don’t have the same resources and access to health care and so forth in these low-income, moderate communities. For me, it’s really supporting those families and those individuals along that journey of home ownership, but also pushing them to do their part. We don’t give handouts. What we do is we really assist families and give them a hand up.”
The NBA has fined Miami Heat president Pat Riley $25,000 for tampering comments regarding LeBron James. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Pat Riley fined for comments
about LeBron James
By Michael “Ice-Blue” Harris
The NBA doesn’t play when it comes to “tampering,” and even complimenting another player can get you into hot water, too. The NBA has fined Miami Heat president Pat Riley $25,000 for tampering comments regarding LeBron James. Riley recently was a guest on Dan Le Batard’s podcast and was speaking of LeBron James’ greatness and that he’d be willing to have James come back to Miami if the opportunity ever presented itself. “I would leave the key under the doormat if he would call me and let me know that he’s coming. I would do that, but I doubt very much that key… that key is rusted now. […] LeBron, look, he’s one of the greatest of all time, and for four years down here, if we want to go back and remember what those four years were like, it was four years in the Finals, four years of excitement, two world championships… It was the best time for the Heat. So I wish him nothing but the best, and if he ever wanted to come back, I’ll put a new shiny key under the mat,” Riley said. The comments could be taken as Riley trying to initiate a trade, which he wasn’t, but the NBA still had to keep Riley in check. In other LeBron news, he will be switching jersey numbers again, according to ESPN, and will change from No. 23 to No. 6 for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season.
King James initially requested the jersey number change when Anthony Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. James was hoping to give Davis No. 23 at the time to welcome him to the squad, but Davis elected to remain No. 3 despite LeBron’s gesture. James wore No. 6 in the Olympics, then professionally as a member of the Miami Heat where he won two NBA titles with the team.
The article originally appeared on Rolling Out.
ARTICLE CONTINUATION
Credit:
continued from page 12
delinquent. That negative mark on your credit report will badly damage your score, and only time will undo the damage. It will stay on your credit report for up to seven years, although the effect fades over those years. Get in touch with creditors and explain what happened, when you will be back on your feet and how you plan to repay them.
WHEN MONEY IS ON THE WAY
Exercise caution against an over-reliance on credit. Make an exception for when income is imminent but bills are already here. A tax refund or payment for freelance work falls into this category. If you know money is coming, credit can be a bridge until it arrives. Be prepared for a score ding, then look for a rebound as you get it back down.
WHEN STARTING OR INVESTING IN A BUSINESS
Investing in a business is another time you may choose to use your credit, but keep the risks in mind. There should be a clear, detailed business plan that’s much more specific than a great idea. It can be tempting to go all-in, but don’t let a business idea threaten your overall financial health.
HIP HOP ICON
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Sr. Correspondent
Hip Hop and business icon Dr. Dre said he lasted just two weeks in a college program and believed that many young ones don’t want to attend school because it’s boring. “You keep flipping the same thing over and over and over again, year after year, with the same curriculum, the same teachers,” demanded Dre, whose real name is Andre Young. The star, who reportedly has a net worth of more than $1 billion, revealed he and music mogul Jimmy Iovine are establishing the “coolest high school in America.” “I want to reach the inner-city kid, the younger me,” Dre told the Los Angeles Times. “Here’s a place that you can go where there’s something that you can learn that you’re really interested in,” he continued.
The concept has been approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest school system. The Times reported that more than 80 percent of students are Latino and Black and about the same number come from low-income families. According to the Times, Dre and Iovine’s school will be located at Audubon Middle School in Leimert Park, a longtime Black cultural hub, but in a larger community where many Black and Latino students have struggled with low achievement. The newspaper reported that the new school would be a “magnet,” meaning that students can apply from across the sprawling district. Transportation will be provided for those outside the local area.
The school will enjoy hightech equipment and projects with private industry. “A task could have something to do with music or incorporate an element of music,” the newspaper reported. But as Iovine said, this is no music school or Hip Hop High. “This is for kids who want to go out and start their own company or go work at a place… like Marvel or
Hip Hop Icon and Business mogul Dr. Dre has teamed with music impresario Jimmy Iovine to launch a new high school in Los Angeles/Jason Persse via wikimedia commons
Apple or companies like that,” Iovine stated.
“Working successfully in these areas means breaking down silos between different jobs and skills — and disrupting familiar patterns with creativity and purpose,” Iovine continued.
“This is nowhere near a music school,” he said. Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Austin Beutner said the district must find new, better, and more engaging programs. He said the new venture could create “the coolest high school in America.” “We can better connect what a student learns in a high school today with a job opportunity in the future,” he said.
Q&A:
Leslie Grace Lives Full-Circle Moment ‘In The Heights’
By Sigal Ratner-Arias
AP
Like her Nina character in “In The Heights,” Leslie Grace says she’s struggled to fit in as an Afro-Latino woman and artist.
“All the time,” the 26-yearold singer said in an interview with The Associated Press. “In so many parts of my life I’ve felt that — not being Latina enough, not being American enough, being first-generation the same way that Nina is. So a lot of the themes in Nina’s character I really related to.” The just-released “In the Heights” is an adaptation of the Tony-award winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes about the dreams and struggles of the Latino community in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood.
Grace, a Latin Grammynominated singer who started her professional career at 16, was born in the Bronx borough of New York City to Dominican parents but grew up in Davie, Florida. Last year, she left the family home to move to Los Angeles — the same gest Latino movie in recent history, and the full-circle moment the film represents to her family. Answers have
Afro-Latina actress Leslie Grace arrives at a screening of "In the Heights" for the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on Friday, June 4, 2021, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
way that Nina left her dad in their beloved Washington Heights to attend Stanford University, where she doesn’t feel that she belongs. Grace talked about making her acting debut in the bigbeen edited for brevity and clarity. AP: You’re not just making your acting debut in any movie, but in the biggest possible Latino release. How are you feeling now that it is finally opening? Grace: I just feel so blessed. I feel fulfilled to be a part of something that not only is so beautiful and so big and was so incredibly challenging and fun to make, but that also gives back and pays homage to the stories of my mother and my grandmother and my family, my dad, you know, the people that I really know that have brought me up and that have supported me in so many ways. It’s a full-circle experience for all of us for so many reasons, but for me it’s really close to home because of the story. AP: How did you get the role of Nina?
Grace: I had been auditioning for maybe three years — I kept this little dream to myself, like a little secret, that I really wanted to act. And I thought that my first role would be a guest role as a music artist on some show, since I was just getting started. Then the opportunity for “In the Heights” came along and I was like, “I need to audition for this! I need to be a part of this!” It was my first in-person audition. AP: We’ve seen you singing, dancing and acting in music videos. What was the biggest challenge of doing that now in such a huge motion picture? Grace: I think that we all felt like Nina: She doesn’t want to let anybody down. We knew this was the biggest job that we’ve ever heard of for a Latino leading cast to tell the story and tell it in all of its brilliance and splendor, and also do good on the neighborhood that Lin loves so much. The challenges for me were to feel like I had something of value to bring when I’d never ever been on a movie set, and doing it with such brilliant people. So you’re overcoming your own insecurities to see what you can bring to your character. And then, the dancing. Man! As a music artist, I’ve done choreography, but never like this before. AP: I read that your mother owns a beauty salon. Grace: Yeah! She doesn’t run a salon anymore, but she has been a real-life salon lady all her life.
AP: What did she think of the salon ladies and your salon scene in the movie?
GRACE: It was another full-circle moment. My parents had come to visit me on the set. She arrived just as we were going to rehearse “No Me Diga.” So she walks in and she sees the front desk and the hair dryers and she’s like, “¡Este es como mi salón!” (“This is like my salon!”) The crazy thing is, this is the place where my parents’ stories are lived. My mom’s first salon business was a couple blocks away from where we were shooting... I get to be a part of a story that’s cherishing my mom’s story and my mom gets to witness it by coming to visit her little girl on set while she’s living her own wildest dreams.
Grammy Winner Stephanie Mills Releases New Music Decrying Racial Injustice, Police Violence
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Sr. Correspondent
Music lovers, prepare yourself for one of the most anticipated comebacks in history. The legendary Grammy Award winner Stephanie Mills has announced her new single, “Let’s Do the Right Thing,” an anthem not unlike Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” of 50 years ago, where the late Motown great crooned disenchantment over the state of America. Mills’ longawaited new music drops appropriately on Saturday, June 19 – Juneteenth. “It’s all me. I am not doing this through a [traditional] record label,” Mills told the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) in an exclusive interview.
Mills’ team said the new music brings fans back to her traditional soulful sound infused with an empowering message that challenges the listener “to take an introspective look at oneself to create love and peace.” A native of Brooklyn, New York, Mills has proven to be a treasure embedded in music’s fabric. Her illustrious career spans a half-century. The singer, whose voice knows no peers, began her professional career at the age of 11 with a Broadway run of “Maggie Flynn,” followed by the leading role of Dorothy in the Tony Award-Winning play “The Wiz.” After conquering the Great White Way, Mills recorded some of the most memorable songs in music history, including “Never Knew Love Like This,” “Putting a Rush on Me,” “Power of Love,” and “Home.” Along with her singing and actor career, Mills is a lifelong social justice and civil rights activist and philanthropist. She has earned multiple Grammy, American Music, and NAACP Image awards. “My new music is a reflection of the sadness and heartache I’ve been feeling over the pandemic and George Floyd and the systemic racism that plagues our people,” Mills asserted. “Let’s Do the Right Thing’” is my personal plea for all people to rise up and come together,” she said. Along with releasing her new single, Mills will debut the accompanying music video and perform her Billboard hit “Home” from The Wiz during the Juneteenth Celebration in New York with the historic Riverside Church and Middle Collegiate Church. “The evening will embody Juneteenth’s spirit of freedom, celebration two Black-led faith institutions historically and presently
Stephanie Mills, pictured here in Tennessee at the 3rd Annual Black Music Honors on Thursday, August 16th, 2018 (AP Photo/Earl Gibson III)
Ernest E. Jones
SUNRISE 5/7/1942
SUNSET 5/5/2021
Carolyn Corinne Smith
SUNRISE 12/22/1945
SUNSET 5/27/2021
Freddie M. Jackson
SUNRISE 2/14/1929
SUNSET 6/1/2021
ERNEST EUGENE JONES affectionately known as “Ernie” was born in Devers, TX, May 7, 1942 to Prentice and Emma Lee Jones. He was the eldest of two sons and was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ronald Jones. In 1954 Ernie moved with his family to San Diego. Ernie attended Lincoln High School. He was smart and had a great sense of style. He was a sports enthusiast and he enjoyed playing football and running track. Ernie graduated from Lincoln High School in 1960 and enlisted in the United States Navy where he served for five years. Ernie would go on to retire with twenty years of service to the city of San Diego Parks and Recreation in 2009. Ernie loved life, he loved the Lord and his family. He Enjoyed watching TV, specifically sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. He was a Chargers fan until they moved to LA and a Lakers fan for life. He loved all of his grandkids and attended their sporting events often. His favorite pastime was Horse Racing. He loved the Kentucky Derby; it was always around his birthday. He also loved playing the penny slots at his favorite casino in San Diego, Barona, and the Orleans in Las Vegas. Ernie was loved by so many his infectious smile was a warm welcome to everyone he met. Ernie is survived by: his lovely wife of forty-six years, Marlene Jones; three beautiful daughters, DeVonne Thomas, April Jones, and Jasmine Jones; only son, Aaron Jones; wonderful grandkids, Devyn Jones, Trevon King, Melanie Bohannon, Isaiah Clemons, Mark Clemons, Emma Renee Childs, Maximus Jones and Roland Childs II; and a host of family and friends. Ernest Jones will be missed
Alma Lee Mitchell
SUNRISE 5/1/1935
SUNSET 5/22/2021
ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY
A “walk-through” viewing was held on Wednesday, June 9th 2021 at AndersonRagsdale Mortuary. Services were held on Thursday, June 10th 2021. Send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alma Lee Mitchell. ALMA MITCHELL was born to Willie and Leola Burton in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 1, 1935, Alma lee Mitchell was called to rest in eternal peace, May 22, 2021. She married William F Mitchell in 1955 and from that union came Michelle Renee and William Benjamin Mitchell. Alma went to cosmetology school at Flavio Beauty school to further her education. She received her cosmetology license and she loved working with people and being creative with new and old hairstyles. She was a fantastic cook she had the best peach cobbler in the world. Alma was a loving mother to not only her own children but many others. She was called mom by many because she had a heart of gold. Her home was always open with her love and kindness which will truly be missed. Alma was a woman of God who accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at an early age. She was a faithful daughter, family member and friend. Whatever she did, she did it whole-heartedly. She would never leave a job half done. She stood steadfast in her faith and demonstrated the fortitude to carry on despite the circumstances She was an usher, choir member, pastor’s aide throughout her life. Alma will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her. On Saturday, May 22, 2021, the Lord sent His angels to her Nursing Center on a special mission. At the age of 86, she was called home to her mansion in heaven. Her laughter and quick wit, hugs, and kisses will no longer be a part of our day-to-day reality. However, the legacy of her love and happy memories will forever linger in our hearts. Alma was preceded in death by her parents and siblings. Those left to cherish her memories are her son, William B (Tammy) Mitchell, Daughter Michelle R (Augusta) Newson, Grand Children Charles P (Cheree)Murria, Branden Mitchell and a host of great grandkids, great great grandchildren, nephew and other relatives and friends. CAROLYN CORINNE COLEMAN-SMITH, was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 22, 1945, and crossed the bar into the heavenly kingdom on May 27, 2021. Mother Carolyn or Grandma as she was known was one of two children (brother John Danforth Coleman) born to the late Jesse John Coleman and his wife Thelma (Doby) Davis. At about the age of thirteen, Carolyn moved to the city of San Diego where she attended Lincoln High School and San Diego Community College. Carolyn was a Navy wife for eighteen years as the spouse of the late Jack Smith. Her “first set” of offspring, Renee Bianca, Dana, Danny and Creta were children of this first marriage. On Thanksgiving Day, 1985, Carolyn married the love of her life, Richard F. Smith Jr., who brought five additional offspring as her “second set” into her role as mother. These were Robert, Richard III, Russell, Renee Francine and Yralinoska. On marrying, the couple agreed that there were to be no “your children”, “my children”, only “our children.” Carolyn had several employment opportunities prior to marrying Richard including working as a veterinary assistant, a full charge bookkeeper for a bread company and the office manager for Dr. Saul Goldston at the Euclid Medical Center. It was he who actually introduced her to Richard. Once married Carolyn became an integral part of the family business, Quality Tax & Financial Services Inc. as a California Certified Tax Practitioner and handler of all administrative and personnel tasks of the corporation. She performed those tasks for 35 years while simultaneously serving as a founding member of the Southeast Alano Club and a Board Member and Treasurer of the Lemon Grove Alano Club. Carolyn sponsored over 200 women in the Alcoholics Anonymous program during her 38 years of sobriety. In addition to advice and council she and her husband often provided a sober living environment in their home for those battling the disease. She was a well known speaker for AA, known up and down the West Coast.
Carolyn was a member of Bethel AME Church here in San Diego when she met her husband Richard. However, on the advice of her then Pastor Ellis Casson, she moved her membership to join her husband at St. Stephen’s COGIC where she not only sang in the Sanctuary Choir but served as Treasurer and as President of that group. She later teamed with her husband, by then Elder Smith, in planting the Fruit of the Spirit COGIC, continuing the work of guiding and counseling persons in the way of life Holiness and the Joys of walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. She was designated a Mother in the church by Superintendent Sidney Buggs III and was dedicated as a Missionary/ Evangelist by the Jurisdiction’s Supervisor of Women, Gloria Lynch. In addition to her husband of 35 years, Mother Carolyn leaves behind her mother, her brother seven living children, twenty two grandchildren and twelve greatgrandchildren to celebrate and emulate a life well lived. The family extends its thanks to all of those who have reached out to comfort us in this time of grief and sorrow. Your gifts, your tributes, your prayers and your kind words are truly appreciated.
“ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelations 21: 1-4
ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY 5050 Federal Boulevard San Diego, California 92102 (619) 263-3141
www.andersonragsdalemortuary.com
H.W. “Skipper” Ragsdale, III Valerie Ragsdale Kevin Weaver
Owner Owner General Manager
(In Memoriam)
ARRANGEMENTS BY ANDERSON-RAGSDALE MORTUARY
Services and Visitation were held June 13, 2021, at Christ United Presbyterian Church. Freddie M. Jackson was born on February 14, 1929, in Tyler, TX, the fourth of Ira and Cora Brown’s nine children. Freddie’s parents and siblings proceeded with her in death
Freddie relocated to San Diego, she joined Christ United Presbyterian Church. She served many roles as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Director of Vacation Bible School, an ordained Deacon and Elder. Freddie matriculated through local Tyler schools. She graduated Texas College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Freddie was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in 1948 while at Texas College. Freddie attended San Diego State University, graduating with a Degree in Education, and Administrative Credential. Freddie resolved to honor the need of children to learn, and take pride in oneself. Freddie believed that the three most important institutions in our society are the home, the church, and the school. She had the privilege to be a vital part of each of these institutions. Freddie chose education as a career; she taught in Illinois and California. Freddie was a successful educator, vice-principal, principal, and mentor. In 1991, Freddie retired as principal of Gage Elementary School. One of her many accolades comes from Gage. After retirement, she continued her commitment to education through volunteer work in the church, schools, and community. In 1989, she was named Ambassador for the United Negro College Fund for work with T.V. viewing Parties. Freddie also supported and marched in the picket lines in front of the Grant Hotel and Bank of America to allow people of color admission. Freddie was recognized by the Salvation Army as their Woman of Dedication, Nordstrom Department Store, and San Diego Links, Inc. for community service. Freddie organized an annual Walk for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, raising over $30,000 as Team Captain. Freddie coordinated fundraising activities for Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary by selling the Kids News Day Papers. She was also a member of Southeastern San Diego Women, Inc. She leaves to cherish her precious memory; Dr. Robert (deceased) Ardelle Matthews, Al and Joyce Kercheval, Carl and Dorothy Smith, Dr. Gene and Juel Moore, Mary and Albert McClain
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Bishop / Pastor Adlai E. Mack, Pastor
Christians’ United in the Word of God
7965-B Broadway Street Lemon Grove, California 91945
Conference Call Worship Service: SUNDAYS 10:30 AM Call: 1-701-802-5400 Access Code 1720379#
All are Welcome to Join Us.
Pastor Milton Chambers, Sr. & First Lady Alice Chambers
New Hope Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
2205 Harrison Avenue San Diego, CA 92113
619-234-5506 • Fax 619 234-8732 Email: newhopeadm@gmail.com
10 A.M. Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube, Sunday School Lesson Immediately following service.
12 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Live Stream on Facebook, 2P.M. on Youtube
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Psalms 122:1
Lively Stones Missionary Baptist Church
605 S. 45th Street San Diego, CA 92113-1905
619.263.3097 • t.obie95@yahoo.com Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Prayer 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Rev. Dr. Eugenio Raphael
St. Paul United Methodist Church
3094 L Street San Diego, CA 92102
619.232.5683 10 A.M.Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook - www.facebook.com/stpaulsumcsd
Food distribution Monday walk up noon-3 P.M., Wednesday drive up noon-3 P.M., Thursday walk up noon-3 P.M. Diaper Program Thursday Noon - 2 P.M.
Pastor Rodney and Christine Robinson
New Assurance Church Ministries
7024 Amherst Street San Diego, CA 92115
619.469.4916 • NABC.ORG Email: newassurancebaptistchurch@yahoo.com
10 A.M. Sunday Service Live Stream Facebook 6:30 P.M. Wednesday Live Stream Bible Study “A new Hope, A new Life, A new Way through Jesus Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17 A change is coming”
Pastor Jerry Webb
Phillips Temple CME Church
5333 Geneva Ave. San Diego, CA 92114
619.262.2505 Sunday School 8:30 a.m. Morning Worship 9:45 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:00 p.m.
Rev. Harvey L. Vaughn, III
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of San Diego
3085 K Street San Diego, CA 92102
619.232.0510 • www.bethelamesd.com
9:30 A.M. Sunday Service Live Stream on Facebook, Youtube and on bethelamesd.com
Mesa View Baptist Church
13230 Pomerado Road Poway, CA 92064
858.485.6110 • www.mesaview.org Email: mvbcadmin@mesaview.org
We are using YouTube under our website of www.mesaview.org or www.YouTube.comPastor Dr. Darrow Perkins Jr. 8:45 A.M. Sunday School Class - Via Zoom Call Contact Office for details 10 A.M. Sunday Service • 7 P.M. Wednesday Bible Study Visit our site for previous sermons: www.mesaview.org
Pastor Jared B. Moten
Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
1728 S. 39th Street San Diego, CA 92113
619.262.6004 • Fax 619.262.6014 www.embcsd.com
Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 12 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
“A Life Changing Ministry” Romans 12:2
Pastor Dennis Hodge First Lady Deborah Hodges
The Church of Yeshua Ha Mashiach Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”
1819 Englewood Dr. Lemon Grove, CA 91945
619.724.6226 • www.coyhm.org Sunday In the Know Bible Study 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Saturday Shabbat Service 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Dr. John W. Ringgold, Sr. Pastor
Bethel Baptist Church
1962 N. Euclid Ave. San Diego, CA 92105
619.266.2411 • www.bethelbc.com bethel@bethelbc.com
Sunday Morning Prayer 6:00 & Worship 7:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship Youth & Children’s Church 11:00 a.m. Community Prayer (Hemera) Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat. 7:30 a.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 7:30 p.m. Mid Week Prayer Wednesday 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m.
Suffragan Bishop Dr. William A. Benson, Pastor & Dr. Rachelle Y. Benson, First Lady
Total Deliverance Worship Center
138 28th Street San Diego, CA 92102
www.totaldeliverance.org
Fax: 619.303.2008 Mail: 7373 University Ave. Suite 217, La Mesa, CA 91942 Sunday Early Morning Worship Service 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. “It Takes Team Work to Make the Dream Work”
Pastor Dr. John E. Warren
Eagles Nest Christian Center
3619 College Ave. San Diego, CA 92115
619.266.2293 • jwarren@sdvoice.info www.facebook.com/EaglesNestCenter
Sunday Services: Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. • Worship: 11:00 a.m. Join Us via Zoom Meeting:
Online or Dial: 1(669) 900-6833 Meeting ID: 747 601 3471 • Passcode: 626024 _ https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7476013471?pwd=O GdGbnVMZ0xORzVGaENMa203QWVNQT09 Meeting ID: 747 601 3471 • Passcode: church
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We are a non-denominational full fellowship of believers dedicated to reach our community with the gospel and providing a place for believers to workship, learn, fellowship, serve and grow into the fullness of Christ Jesus. This ministry is to build people of Purpose, Prayer, Power, Praise and Prosperity. This mandate is being fulfilled by reaching the reality of the gospel in a simplistic fashion, and a result, learning how to apply it in everyday life. Eagles Nest Christian Center
Pastor Antonio D. Johnson
Mount Olive Baptist Church
36 South 35th Street San Diego, Ca 92113
619.239.0689 • mountolivebcsd.org Sunday First Worship 9:30 a.m. Second Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study & Prayer 7:00 p.m. Cox Cable Channel 23 / 24 Real God, Real People, Real Results.
Minister Donald R. Warner Sr.
Church of Christ
580 69th Street, San Diego, CA 92114
619.264.1454 • warnerdt1@aol.com Sunday Bible Study 8:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 10:00 a.m. Sunday Bible Class 5:00 p.m. Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Class 7:00 p.m. Friday Video Bible Class 7:00 p.m.
Calvary Baptist Church
719 Cesar E. Chavez Pkwy San Diego, CA 92113
619.233.6487 • www.calvarybcsd.org calvarybaptist1889@gmail.com
Sundays Bible Discovery Hour 9:30 a.m. Mid Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Noon Day Bible Study 12:00 noon Wednesday Discipleship Training 7:00 p.m.
Pastor Donnell and First Lady Sheila Townsend
Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church
4995 A Street San Diego, CA 92102
619.264.3369
Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Morning Service 10:45 a.m. New Membership Orientation BTU 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Eve Prayer Service 6:00 p.m.
“To Serve this present age” Matt: 28:19-20
Pastor Rev. Julius R. Bennett
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
625 Quail Street San Diego, CA 92102
619.263.4544
Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Prayer Meeting 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Youth Bible Study 6:30 p.m.
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