*Colton Courier 05/04/23

COLTON COURIER W W e e e e kkllyy

Bright Futures Celebrated at Colton High School’s Avid Stole Ceremony

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Over Pg. 4

PHOTOS CLAUDIA S. AVALOS

On

By Manny Sandoval

San

Bernardino Valley College

(SBVC) is

making education more accessible to students in the region by offering free tuition for the Summer 2023 semester. In addition, the college is extending its Books+ program until Spring 2024, which provides free textbook rentals and course materials for students.

help you build the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve your career goals, and with experienced faculty to guide you, you'll have the support you need every step of the way."

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SBVC Chancellor Diana Rodriguez said, "Imagine having the opportunity to pursue your career dreams without worrying about the financial burden. With our free tuition and textbook rentals initiative, Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College are enabling you to access the high-quality education you need to succeed. Enrolling in summer classes can

Chancellor Rodriguez also emphasized the importance of making higher education more accessible for all students, regardless of their financial background. "Initiatives like free tuition and textbook rentals are critical in opening doors of opportunity to everyone in our community. By removing the financial burden of higher education, we are helping to level the playing field and giving every student a chance to succeed," she added.

This initiative is also available at Crafton Hills College in

SBVC cont. next pg.

SBVC Breaks Financial Barriers with Free Tuition and Textbook Rentals Summer 2023

April 26, over three dozen Colton High School AVID seniors participating in the Stole Ceremony; revealing their universities, which many include UCR and CSUSB.

SBVC

Interim President Dr. Linda Fontanilla commented, "Our hope is that by offering free tuition and book rentals, more students will take advantage of this limited-time opportunity to earn their degree or certificate and enter a rewarding career in our globalized economy."

Rodriguez further explained the personal significance of the initiative for her, saying, "As someone who personally understands the struggles faced by low-income, first-generation families, I can appreciate how difficult it can be to break the cycle of poverty. One of the biggest challenges is the financial burden that higher education can pose, which often forces students to work long hours to make ends meet. This can make it nearly impossible to focus on their studies and build the skills and knowledge required for long-term career success."

The Books+ program has received widespread praise from

students for helping them save on textbooks and course materials. By extending the program until Spring 2024, SBVC aims to ensure even more students can benefit from this resource.

Chancellor Rodriguez encouraged students to seize the opportunity, stating, "We are grateful for the COVID-19 relief funding that has made this initiative possible and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our community. We encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity and pursue their educational goals at Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College this summer."

All students are eligible for free tuition by registering for classes this summer. The college has developed a special portal to help new students navigate applying and registering for courses at www.valleycollege.edu/go. More information about free tuition and the Books+ program is available at www.valleycollege.edu/free.

Comic Con Revolution to Bring Together

Unprecedented Cast of Avatar, Massive 12K Person Experience in the IE

By Manny Sandoval

The Inland Empire’s premier family-friendly comic convention, Comic Con Revolution (CCR), is gearing up for an unprecedented, star-studded event at the Ontario Convention Center on May 20 and 21, 2023.

The event promises a diverse, action-packed weekend featuring comic book legends, actors, wrestlers, voice actors, celebrities, cosplayers, writers, and more—all in the Inland Empire’s backyard.

“We wanted to build a familyfriendly show and bring the best of the industry to the Inland Empire. So we settled upon the IE in 2017 after doing shows in Long Beach, Chicago, Florida, and New York. It’s a way for fans to come out and express themselves, and it’s right in the heart of Southern California,” said Drew Seldin, co-founder, and co-owner of Comic Con Revolution.

Headlining the event is the first-ever reunion of the entire cast of the critically acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. This groundbreaking gathering has fans flying in from all over the world to witness this historic event. In addition to the cast reunion, attendees can expect panel discussions, photo ops, and an unforgettable experience.

“The panel will be packed out,” Seldin shared. “We have people coming in from as far away as Australia, and it’s just inspiring to see someone that much of a fan of something.”

The event features a stellar

By Dr. G (Dr. Luis S González), Community Writer

On Friday, April 27, 2022 Council Member Dr. G (Dr. Luis S González) presented the CITY TALK “Community Impact Award” to Bruno Gutierrez, long-time Colton resident, Veteran, and major supporter of the Immaculate Conception Church Dinner Hour Ministry.

This presentation was made in recognition of the numerous contributions by Bruno Gutierrez, who through his generous support, has allowed the Dinner Hour ministry not only to thrive, but sustain itself over several years. “Without Bruno’s help, we would not be able to continue,” commented Eloy Sanchez, Coordinator of the program.

stepped-up to help.

As the changes were happening, the need for larger quantities of food was growing, and subsequently, the need for transportation, hauling, storage, and refrigeration were becoming a necessity.

With Bruno’s help, the program acquired a truck to haul produce, canned goods, and dry goods from the Food Bank. Then, as dairy products, meat, and vegetables became available, additional refrigeration became necessary as well as the need for several freezer units.

of volunteers.”

lineup of first-time attendees, including Mercedes Varnado, better known as WWE superstar Sasha Banks and Koska Reeves from the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian; Scott Grimes and J. Lee from The Orville; and Sean Kanan, the bad boy of karate from Cobra Kai. In addition, comic book royalty like John Romita Jr., Chris Claremont, Jim Starlin, Whilce Portacio, and Marv Wolfman will also attend.

“We’ve carefully curated a guest list that not only celebrates the best of the industry but also provides a truly unforgettable experience for fans of all ages. In addition, our family-friendly focus means everyone can enjoy this incredible event,” added Seldin.

Comic Con Revolution’s commitment to a family-friendly environment is apparent in its ticketing policy, which allows up to two children aged 12 and under to attend for free with every adult ticket purchased.

“We pride ourselves on all being family men. So it can be affordable for a family,” Seldin emphasized.

The event also boasts appearances from Power Rangers stars Catherine Sutherland and Walter Jones and Carla Perez, who portrayed the villainous Rita Repulsa. With such a diverse guest list, fans are sure to find something to suit their interests.

With an expected attendance of over 12,000 people, Comic Con Revolution 2023 is set to be an unforgettable experience for fans and guests alike. For the latest information and to purchase tickets, click comicconrevolution.com/ontario.

Thirty years ago, the Dinner Hour Ministry began by providing meals to individuals needing a good meal to sustain themselves with no other means available. Over time, the Dinner Hour evolved into a public dinner that was open to anyone who not only needed a meal, but wanted to come for fellowship and social networking.

When the pandemic started in 2020, everything changed, and the continued service to those in need had to change as well. After many discussions, and a re-working of the process, Eloy and his volunteers eventually transformed the Dinner Hour into a food distribution operation, which in turn evolved into a full-blown drive thru service. This is where Bruno Gutierrez

To date, Bruno Gutierrez, not only provided funding for the purchase of a truck, but several refrigerators, freezers, and ice machine as well, including, all of the needed maintenance. As it stands, the Dinner Hour Ministry has grown today to a fullblown food distribution operation.

This includes approximately 30 volunteers, food donations from several sources, a walkup service for individuals to pickup food bag, and a very popular drive thru service that not only is the core activity of the program, but generally serves 200-300 cars each week.

“The door is always open,” explains Eloy who expects the program to continue to grow, and more volunteers to step-up. Doug Blinkinsop, one of the leadership team volunteers, added, “Bruno has helped make this food distribution possible, and continues to be a respected member of our team

With his help, Bruno is not only regarded as an official sponsor of this event, but is still one of the working volunteers who work each week to sort, package and distribute the food. Because of his efforts, and strong support, Bruno is also recognized as a valuable community partner in receiving the CITY TALK “Community Impact Award.” The purpose of this presentation was to officially recognize Bruno’s support, not only to the Immaculate Church Dinner Hour, but to the community. The CITY TALK “Community Impact Award” was established in 2020 by Dr.G to recognize the great efforts that people make “behind the scenes” to make our community, the City of Colton, a better place. Mr. Bruno Gutierrez is a great choice for this recognition. His effort in supporting the Immaculate church Dinner Hour Ministry, and thus the community, is exactly what this award is about. Dr G is a Council Member and well-known community advocate.

For more information about CITY TALK, various community groups, Colton history, the trash clean-up project, the GTeam, prayer list, history briefs, Veteran Spotlight, Church Spotlight, Business Spotlight, U.S. flag watch, neighborhood meetings, community projects and events, or the online live-stream programs, contact Dr. G @ 909213-3730. Questions and comments are always welcome.

Empower Small Businesses at Highland Chamber's Enchanting Evening Under The Stars Gala - Reserve Your Spot Today!

By Manny Sandoval

The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce (HCOC) invites you to join them for a dazzling night under the stars at its Annual Evening Under The Stars / Preakness Stakes Night Gala on May 20th, from 6-9:30 PM at the East Valley Water District.

Experience a spectacular evening filled with specialty food, drinks, comedy, live music, and friendly competition on Preakness Stakes Night.

HCOC President Jane Bouch encourages the community to join and support local businesses, "The success of Evening Under The Stars is truly a testament to the City of Highland's unwavering support of small

business in the City and its surrounding areas."

Don't miss out on the Best Hat contest for men and women, live music by the Stan Watkins Trio, and a one-hour comedy show by a local comedian.

In addition, savor delicious Hors D'oeuvres from Highland's finest dining establishments, such as Bear Springs Bistro and Lounge, Two Guys Pizza & Pasta, Donut Town, Rosa Marias, Stater Bros, and Thai Spoon, and participate in an exciting auction featuring exclusive items.

Executive Director Chris Nielsen highlights the importance of the Chamber's sponsors, including the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, East Valley Water District, San Bernardino

County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Assemblymember James Ramos, Inland Empire Community News, and UpDog Media. "Our chamber could not host such an extravagant event without our invaluable sponsors," Nielsen said. "A portion of the funds raised at this year's Gala will also benefit local non-profits, including Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council and The Unforgettables Foundation."

Don't wait - secure your tickets for this unforgettable event now. Register today at highlandchamber.org/event-5211009. Individual tickets are available for $60 or gather your friends and neighbors for a table of 8 for just $450. Be part of this exceptional night and help support local businesses and non-profits in the Highland community and beyond.

Bruno Gutierrez Presented with CITY TALK Award

American political activist Angela Davis shares thoughts and experiences with CSUSB community

Community News

The Cal State San Bernardino and local community gathered in the Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) North and virtually on Zoom to listen to the thoughts and experiences of Angela Davis, American political activist, philosopher, academic and author.

Topics during the April 17 event were wide ranging: feminism, intersectionality, social justice, environmentalism and racism were all discussed through a discussion

moderated by Angie Otiniano Verissimo, CSUSB associate professor of health science and human ecology, and Alexandra Thambi, biology major and chair of the SMSU board of directors.

“I like to construct feminism as broadly as possible. But at the same time, I like to be specific. … I say this because there was a time I did not identify with feminism,” Davis said, noting that when she published a book called “Women, Race and Class,” people started referring to her as a feminist.

“I was writing about Black women,

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of color. And my response was, ‘I’m not a feminist. I am a revolutionary Black woman.’”

Davis said she had initially associated feminism with middle-class women and white women.

“But what I want to say to you this afternoon is that working class women, women of color from many different ethnic and national backgrounds have helped to shape feminism,” she said.

The term most linked to feminism, she said, is intersectionality.

“(That term) came largely from women of color, radical women of color and also working-class white women who wanted to think about feminism as connected to the transformation of our social, economic and political worlds,” she said. “So, when I say I want to think broadly, I want to be very inclusive, but at the same time, I want to insist that the feminism that is most valuable is the feminism that is anti-racist. And the feminism that is anti-capitalist. And the feminism that is internationalist.”

“I tend not to want to pull one issue out and just say, ‘This is the most important,’” she clarified. “Because I think feminism methodolog ies urge us to grasp, to apprehend relationships, relationalities. That’s what intersectionality is about. It’s about recognizing that one cannot fully understand what gender means without taking race into consideration. One can’t understand race without taking gender into consideration.”

Davis said that if she was compelled to choose one issue, it would be the environment, noting the need to rescue the earth from “the onslaught of the billionaire capitalists who see profit as more important than saving the plants and saving the animals,” which includes humans.

“If we can’t save the earth, then none of the work we are doing around justice for workers, justice for women, and gender nonconforming people, justice for trans people, none of that will matter,” she said. “So, let’s keep that in mind. I always like to talk about the environmental movement and environmental justice as ground zero of social justice. If we can’t achieve that, then none of our progress in other areas will ultimately be significant.”

Davis said her motivation stems from her family, including her mother and her mother’s best friend, and the many people she has connected with over the years.

“I know a lot of people who have devoted their entire lives to struggles to make life more livable for all of us,” she said. “So, I guess am motivated by that. And the fact is I don’t know how to be any different. I wouldn’t know how to live if I weren’t also attempting to help make the planet a better place.”

Students, faculty and members from the community, including Ben Reynoso, councilmember for the city of San Bernardino, participated in the question-and-answer session, which introduced a wide variety of topics of discussion, including afro-pessimism, voting and the Palestinian struggle.

Following the discussion, a book signing with Davis was held in the SMSU South Fourplex.

This was Davis’ second visit to CSUSB. She last spoke on campus in February 2010 at an event hosted by the Women’s Resource Center, which was attended by more than 700 students and guests.

Through her activism and scholarship over many decades, Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world. .

Davis’ teaching career has taken her to San Francisco State University, Mills College and UC Berkeley. She also has taught at UCLA, Vassar, Syracuse University, the Claremont Colleges and Stanford University. Most recently she spent 15 years at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she is now Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness – an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program – and of Feminist Studies.

Davis is the author of 10 books and has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. In recent years, a persistent theme of her work has been the range of social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination.

She draws upon her own experiences in the early ’70s as a person who spent 18 months in jail and on trial (she was acquitted by a jury), after being placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List.” She also has conducted extensive research on numerous issues related to race, gender and imprisonment.

PHOTO CSUSB

Angela Davis discussing a variety of topics at the April 17th event, including feminism, intersectionality, social justice, environmentalism and racism at CSUSB.

Over 181,000 College Students May be Going Hungry in the Inland Empire

Community News

The international flags around the room on the Crafton Hills College campus made it look like a United Nations summit. But a two-hour roundtable discussion on Friday organized by the San Bernardino Community College District and the California Student Aid Commission resulted in commitments of cooperation on getting better access to food for hungry students.

Chancellor Diana Z. Rodriguez of the San Bernardino Community College District spoke passionately about the issue, saying, “I never thought that student hunger would rank so high on my list of educational priorities. But it does. Students don’t learn when they are hungry.”

Those around the table included:

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office Assemblymember Corey Jackson’s office San Bernardino County Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s office Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel’s office Roundtable co-hosts included: Cal State University San Bernardino Community Action Partnership of Riverside County Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Riverside Community College

District

University of California, Riverside

U.S. Senator Alex Padilla sent a video message to the group, in which he stated, “We can’t let students sacrifice their health to afford a higher education.”

In his opening remarks, RCCD Chancellor Wolde-Ab Isaac noted, “The U.S. is the wealthiest nation in the world. California has the fourth largest

economy. But, a disproportionate number of college students in the Inland Empire lack the basic necessities.” He observed, “We need to expand access to CalFresh and eliminate hunger as a barrier to higher education. Over the long term, we must wage war against poverty and inequity.”

They all agreed that mapped boundaries and privacy laws become hurdles for hungry students, as each program requires a new application. Even when students successfully jump the bureaucratic hurdles, the benefits come on EBT cards, and only 10 percent of college cafeterias accept them.

“We need to increase student access to CalFresh on and off campus,” said SBCCD Chancellor Rodriguez, referring to a program that helps low-income people in California buy healthy food. It is also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at the federal level.

Marlene Garcia, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, called it a historic meeting. She said it is rare to have so many public agencies making time to be in the same room to talk about finding solutions to student hunger. It is a big problem in the Inland region, where over 181,000 college students may be going hungry without CalFresh assistance. Statewide, nearly 750,000 are eligible for CalFresh, but only 1 in 6 receive help.

“College students have historically been left out of food support because people assume that they are only temporarily poor,” Garcia said. But students fill out the federal financial aid paperwork and it contains so much information.

One policy change that might help is to make that one application apply to more programs. “Let the FAFSA pre-populate applications for other public as-

sistance programs,” said Catalina Cifuentes, an executive director at the Riverside County Office of Education who also serves as California Student Aid Commission chair and commissioner.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government made applications for food aid easier. As the pandemic emergency orders expire next month, those benefits will become more limited.

There is a June 9 deadline for students to reapply for food aid, and they could get up to one more year of benefits, according to Allison Gonzales, an assistant director at the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.

San Bernardino Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. said his office could help make more information available to colleges about who has applied to county programs, to try to streamline other applications.

According to Angel Rodriguez, an associate vice chancellor at San Bernardino Community College District and California Student Aid commissioner, Baca Jr.’s pledge to share county data may catalyze a chain of collaboration within the group.

“It is mind-boggling that we have not been able to put this together,” said Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes. “We are leaving half a billion federal dollars on the table. We are going to team up to bring that money back to our students.” Reyes is proposing two bills this year, AB 1514 and AB 928, which the California Student Aid Commission considers vital in improving access to food aid for students.With the commitment and collaboration of the group, the issue of college student hunger in the Inland Empire may finally receive the attention and action it deserves.

Commemorates the Battle of Puebla which was fought on May 5, 1862. A small contingent of Mexican soldiers, outnumbered 3 to 1, defeated an elite French army. French forces had not been defeated for almost 50 years. While the French would go on to win the war, it kept the full force of the French army from going to the aid of the Confederate States of America in the American Civil War. Ultimately, the French occupation of Mexico would end in 1867.

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