MORENO VALLEY, CA (April 29, 2024)—Residents are invited to take part in The Art of Wellness, free, family-friendly events hosted by Riverside University Health System—Behavioral Health (RUHS-BH). Held in May as part of Mental Health Month, the fairs will spotlight mental health with a variety of engaging activities aimed at enhancing wellness and providing education.  “RUHS is deeply committed to promoting well-being through education, support, and the dismantling of mental health misconceptions,” said Dr. Matthew Chang, Director of Behavioral Health at RUHS. “We aim to build a communit ..read more

Traffic moves through Ontario on Interstate 215 north on April 4, 2023. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local) Aryana Noroozi While Earth Day may have come and gone, the fight for environmental equity continues as local community organizations and activists address the importance of protecting the environment all year long. The impacts of an expanding warehouse industry are one of the top environmental equity concerns of communities in the Inland region.  Last year, a coalition of more than 60 environmental and social justice groups and organizations wrote a letter, as par ..read more

The crowd at the SBCUSD NFL Draft Party cheers for Jayden Daniels when he is drafted by the Washington Commanders. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD) Cajon High quarterback Evan Powell, a longtime admirer of Jayden Daniels, attends the NFL Draft Party on April 25. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD) SAN BERNARDINO, CA—The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) hosted a thrilling NFL Draft Party on April 25 at Cajon High School, where the anticipation was palpable as more than 100 attendees eagerly awaited the selection of 2023 Heisman T ..read more

Los Angeles – Today, St. John’s Community Health – a network of community health centers serving South, Central, and East Los Angeles; the Inland Empire; and the Coachella Valley – announced they have been awarded $10 million by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to help build a community resilience center in South Los Angeles.  “To protect communities made most vulnerable to climate change by racist policies and practices, we must be proactive in treating environmental disparities and implementing climate preparedness plans,” said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John’s Co ..read more

By Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds We need DEI programs to help remedy decades of Jim Crow policies that led to underinvestment in Black and Brown students. As a lawmaker, a parent, and a member of a community that has felt the sting of systemic injustices, it’s time to confront the uncomfortable truths of our past and pave the way toward a more just future, especially in our education system. Centuries of discriminatory policies stemming from systemic racism have left lasting scars on Black and Brown communities. State-sanctioned policies have deprived generations of students of the ..read more

Santa Clara County Wildlife Officer Laura Decker was named 2023 Wildlife Officer of the Year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced. Wildlife Officer Decker began her career with CDFW in 2018. In the short time on patrol, Decker became relied upon as an exceptionally dedicated officer, investigator and a true asset to CDFW. Decker had a tremendous year in 2023, conducting investigations related to inland fishing, ocean fishing, hunting, abalone, Dungeness crab, unlawful streambed alterations and penal code violations to name a few. Although Decker is assigned to the ..read more

Credit: Shutterstock Bo Tefu and Joe W. Bowers Jr.| California Black Media Last week, a group of lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 2236 and Senate Bill 1053 which will address plastic pollution statewide. The bills will remove the option to receive an unwoven plastic bag at grocery, retail, and convenience stores. The bills authored respectively by Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) and State Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) are backed by a coalition of environmental advocacy groups and organizations like the California Grocers Association. Bauer-Kahan said that California tried ..read more

Sponsored by JPMorgan Chase According to a recent LIMRA and LIFE Foundation study, more than 50 percent of American respondents overestimated life insurance costs by three times or more than the actual amount. Most policies average between $40 and $55 a month, depending on the coverage type. This discrepancy in cost expectation can lead to putting off coverage or dismissing life insurance as an unaffordable luxury exclusively for the wealthy.    Life insurance provides a financial safety net for your family in the event of an untimely death. If you need coverage, the two primary opt ..read more

Spelman College recently launched a cosmetic science program, a first-of-its-kind offering at an HBCU. (Image by DC Studio on Freepik) By Ariyana Griffin Special to the AFRO Spelman College has found a way to bridge the gap between the growing beauty industry and the creators of the products. According to the institution, research shows that Black women spent more than $7.4 billion on cosmetics and personal care products in 2022. However, Black beauty brands comprise a mere 2.5 percent of the market. Spelman College recently launched a cosmetic science program, a first-of-its-kind offering at ..read more

[San Bernardino, CA]  — On Saturday, April 27, 2024, BLU Educational Foundation is hosting its 3rd Annual Inland Empire Black Education Congress.  Marked as “A gathering to create the educational goals for the Inland Empire’s Black Education Agenda and Black student success,” this convening is designed to bring the decision-makers, educators,  local elected officials, state representatives, and community members, into one space to focus on identifying goals, strategies, and partnerships. The IE Black Educational Agenda has identified five priority areas to improve Black student ..read more