COLTON COURIER WWe e ee
By Manny Sandoval
In a groundbreaking move poised to revolutionize the media and journalism landscape of the Inland Empire, leaders from local community news organizations gathered at ESRi to announce the launch of the Journalism Innovation Hub+ Fund.
This initiative, established in 2022 through the Inland Empire Community Foundation, aims to support local and regional journalism, fostering a sustainable and reliable news ecosystem in the face of rampant disinformation and the decline of local news outlets.
The kickoff event featured prominent figures from various news organizations, including Inland Empire Community News, KVCR Public Media, Black Voice News, and Frontline Observer, among others. The highlight of the event was a keynote address by Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD, Chair of the Journalism Innovation Hub+ Fund and Publisher of Black Voice News.
“Both media and philanthropy play a crucial role in advancing
a multi-racial democracy and serving the public good. I’ve been particularly excited by philanthropy’s response to the crisis in local news media,” Brown-Hinds said. “As a fund, we are focused on the future, committed to building a stronger news ecosystem by thinking creatively about improving the civic health of our region through community engagement and solutions reporting on vital conditions for thriving communities.”
The Journalism Innovation Hub+ Fund is designed to support innovations in community news, expand reporting on essential conditions, and invest in sustainable models for local news and civic information. The initiative aims to combine philanthropic efforts to enhance impact, connect donors and funders committed to amplifying community voices, and foster more active, informed communities.
The fund’s establishment comes at a critical time. Since the explosion of the pandemic in early 2020, at least 85 local newsrooms in the U.S. have closed. Others have barely
By Manny Sandoval
This Juneteenth, the City of Rialto and IEHP, in collaboration with Never Stop Grinding Impact (NSG), is set to host an extraordinary celebration of culture, highlighting the untold stories of African American history through the exclusive screening of "Sweetwater." The event is being Friday, June 21, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM at Margaret Todd Park, located at 201 N. Willow Ave. The centerpiece of the cele-
bration is the award-winning film "Sweetwater," a compelling biographical movie about Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African American to sign an NBA contract. Directed by Martin Guigui and starring Everett Osborne, Cary Elwes, and Jeremy Piven, the film captures the pivotal moment in 1950 when Clifton broke barriers and forever changed the landscape of professional basketball.
Journalism remained in operation, cutting staff, salaries, and work hours. About 1,800 newspapers have shut down across the country since 2004. These closures have left many communities as “news deserts,” lacking reliable local news sources.
“Study after study shows how local news fosters informed communities and civic engagement,” Brown-Hinds continued. “We are proud to announce that the Inland Empire has become one of the first regional chapters in California to benefit from this initiative.”
The event also featured remarks from Dean Baquet, former editor-in-chief of The New York Times, who emphasized the critical role of local journalism in maintaining a healthy democracy. “There is an absolute crisis in local news,” Baquet stated. “I’ve visited newsrooms that once had hundreds of journalists and now have just a handful. Collaborative journalism is the way forward. None of these news organizations have the resources to do big investigative stories alone, but together, we can.”
Baquet, who reported on cases of corruption and money laundering between 1990 and 1995, also
discussed the need for news organizations to move forward from competitors to collaborators. “Competition was good for journalism when we could do it, but it can’t be sustained anymore. It’s time for us to collaborate to survive and thrive.”
During the Q&A session, Evan Sanford, executive director of the Redlands Area Chamber of Commerce, asked Baquet about his thoughts on whether there are two sides to every story. Baquet responded, “No. There’s no two sides to racism and anti-Semitism. Some stories do have two sides, but most don’t.”
Baquet highlighted the importance of embracing technology in journalism. “We should not run away from tech,” he said. “While there are challenges, there are also tremendous opportunities. Newsrooms must learn to drive change and adapt to the fast-paced demands of the digital age.”
The Journalism Innovation Hub+ Fund aims to support local journalism through collaborative reporting, resources, and innovative solutions. By fostering partnerships and investing in media infrastructure, the initiative seeks to ensure the longterm sustainability of local news and bolster civic engagement.
Advocates Demand Fix to Harmful California Fuel Program
Community News
Frustrated with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), clean air advocates and community members from across California hosted a “People’s Workshop” last week to share how the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is harming health and driving investment toward polluting fuels.
The workshop was planned and produced by advocates and community groups who felt the CARB was not listening to their concerns, resulting in an unfair process for rulemaking at one of the most powerful regulatory agencies in the nation. CARB members and staff heard testimony from people across the state living and breathing next door to factory farms and massive dairies, mega warehousing and diesel truck operations, or in the flight path of major airlines who regularly dump toxic fuel on their homes.
The LCFS program has been under scrutiny by clean air, environmental justice, and elec-
trification advocates for years because of the program’s investment in methane from manure collected from factory farms and diesel made from crops that should be used for food. These fuels, largely made from food crops like soy and canola or from manure at factory farms, pump out pollution in overburdened communities and have dubious climate benefits.
To date over 80 percent of LCFS funding has gone to combustion biofuels rather than cleaner alternatives like electric cars and trucks. According to one study, if the LCFS is not reformed the state would be locked in to spend about $27 billion on dirty fuels and false solutions over the next decade.
The advocate’s have four main messages, based on a letter they submitted to CARB.
Ending incentives to factory farms across the country to produce methane and factory farm gas that California does not need.
Capping the rise of biofuels,
which pose grave risks to climate and ecosystems.
Enhancing support for truly zero-emissions solutions, like electric school and transit buses, that deliver multiple long-term benefits, like decreasing air pollution.
Not relying on offset projects like direct air capture and factory farm gas to decarbonize the transportation sector, as this is a way for the oil industry to justify its continued operations and pollution in communities.
Advocates hope that reforming the LCFS will ensure that California is directing investments to transportation technologies that dislodge rather than reinforce Big Oil’s role in the state’s transportation sector. Likewise, they say reforming the LCFS will save the state money, by cutting financial incentives for biofuel and fossil fuel companies who are already making record profits.
The CARB is expected to vote on the LCFS later this year in November.
Juneteenth
Sweetwater, released in April 2023, was previously available in select theaters and streaming platforms but has been temporarily pulled from streaming, as a big announcement lies in the weeks to come. The Juneteenth celebration in Rialto will be the only place to watch "Sweetwater" before the forthcoming announcement. The screening will begin at sundown.
NSG Impact CEO Darious Harris shared his personal connection to the film, reflecting on the revelation that there was a time when African Americans were not allowed to play in the NBA. "I was never aware that blacks at one point could not play in the NBA. Growing up in California, I never realized I was a minority until adulthood. This sentiment resonates with many minority youth and young adults here," Harris said. Harris, a former boxer, first connected with Osborne on the set of a Honda commercial in 2017 and has been inspired by Osborne's journey from sports to the silver screen.
Everett Osborne, who portrays Sweetwater in the film, emphasized the significance of Juneteenth and the film's representation of liberation and breaking barriers. "Juneteenth, known as African American Freedom Day, and 'Sweetwater' symbolize the future of all possibilities and the change in history marked by the first black NBA player being signed. When one person breaks the chain, it brings hope and freedom," Osborne stated. He also highlighted the importance of understanding history to appreciate the progress made and the work still ahead.
The event promises a vibrant atmosphere with food vendors, music, youth activities, games,
giveaways, and community resources. The LA Rams cheerleaders will make a special appearance, adding to the celebratory spirit. Osborne will also conduct a free basketball clinic, providing an opportunity for youth to engage and learn from a professional athlete. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance to receive free giveaway items for adults and children, which are available on a first-come, firstserved basis while supplies last.
This exclusive screening of "Sweetwater" aligns with the celebration's theme of empowerment and education. "It's more than just a movie; it's a story that needs to be told and heard, especially by our young generation," Harris added. "We have come a long way, but there is still work left to be done."
The Juneteenth Celebration of Culture is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance here.
In addition to the Juneteenth event, NSG Impact is currently running a Summer Boxing Program at Frisbee Middle School, operating from June 6th to June 20th. The program focuses on fitness through noncontact boxing, social-emotional learning, and bully awareness. Each student receives custom NSG gloves and a T-shirt. The program, cofounded by Harris and COO Tameka Grayson in 2021, is available year-round to schools interested in participating.
For more information about the Summer Boxing Program or the Juneteenth Celebration of Culture, visit neverstopgrindingimpact.org or contact NSG Impact at info@neverstopgrindingimpact.org.
Community News
