WWe e eekkllyy

he 12th Annual Cesarfarmworkers The event was emceed by Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes a n d f e a t u r e d s e v e r a l d i s t i ng u i s h e d s p e a k e r s , i n c l u d i n g F l o r M a r t i n e z , F o u n d e r o f C e l e b r a t i o n N a t i o n a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r, a n d A n a G o n z a l e z f r o m t h e C h i c a n o L a t i n o C a u c u s o f S a n Bernardino County

F l o r M a r t i n e z o p e n e d h e r speech by encouraging everyone to stretch and shared a p o i g n a n t q u o t e f r o m C e s a r Chavez, stating, “It's ironic that those who till the soil, cultivate and harvest the fruits, vegetables, and other foods that fill y o u r t a b l e s w i t h a b u n d a n c e have nothing left for themselves ”

Martinez went on to address the irony of farmworkers experiencing the highest level of f o o d s c a r c i t y i n t h e n a t i o n , despite being responsible for providing food for others

Martinez also touched upon the challenges posed by artifiChavez cont on next pg

By Manny Sandoval

LAmazon Future Engineer program Over 5,100 students in the Inland Empire will be impacted, as part of the company's commitment to invest more than $25 million annually to increase student access to computer science opportunities nationwide

Amazon,

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

Amazon

Chavez cial intelligence (AI) and agricultural automation, which threatens the livelihoods of many Latino and Indigenous farmworkers "Who is familiar with AI?" she asked "It’s important to [pursue] comprehensive immigration reform If [farmworkers] don’t have a social security card, they need that to take on another career "

She urged attendees to take action, offering three steps to support farmworkers and their communities: 1) advocating for immigration reform, 2) contributing financial resources, and 3) sharing stories on social media to inspire others

Ana Gonzalez echoed the importance of community advocacy and action "It's so important to have the brave voices like you in our community and thank you for those action items of what we can do today," she said Gonzalez also addressed the need to end systemic injustices and racism, stating, "Racism is a public health crisis [We must] make intentional change [in] our educational system, our water boards; that is violence to our communities "

Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes emphasized the importance of honoring Cesar Chavez's legacy while continuing to advocate for farmworkers "As we remember the tremendous contributions of Cesar Chavez to agriculture labor laws and social justice reform, we must also recognize the ongoing struggle for fair working conditions, wages, and opportunities for farmworkers in California," she said

Platinum sponsors of the event included CSUSB LEAD Dr Enrique Murillo, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes, Assemblymember James C Ramos, Catalyst Cannabis Co , and TODEC Legal Service

Over 25 local and regional dignitaries were in attendance, such as San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, San Bernardino Councilmember Kimberly Calvin, and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr , among many others

The Cesar Chavez Memorial Breakfast served as a platform for community members, advocates, and leaders to come together in solidarity, reflecting on the progress made and the work that lies ahead in the fight for farmworker rights and social justice

Amazon students eligible for free or reduced lunch Amazon seeks to work with districts that prioritize computer science education, focusing on schools that serve students from underserved and historically underrepresented communities

Amazon Future Engineer increases student access to computer science education in three ways:

Funds high-quality computer science curriculum and educator professional learning to help school districts implement sustainable K–12 computer science initiatives As part of this effort, Amazon funds the development of customized curriculum that accounts for the unique cultural perspectives, interests, and experiences of Black, Latino, Native American (BLNA) students For instance, Amazon Future Engineer committed $2 25 million to support Indigenous schools in accessing culturally responsive computer science curriculums

Offers virtual class chats, career tours, and project-based learning modules that bring role models to classrooms to help students explore computer science through real-world experiences Provides college scholarships, paid internships, and industry mentors, so students can conceptualize their path forward in the industry

Reinoso emphasized that computer science skills are foundational for many future careers, particularly those in the STEM field With a high concentration of careers in STEM and increased earning potential for those in computer science, Amazon believes that equipping students with these skills will enable them to thrive in any career they pursue

To inspire students to consider various career paths and broaden their horizons, Amazon offers ca- reer tours on their website, amazonfutureengineer com These tours showcase a range of careers, from transportation and logistics to robotics and AI, data science, and roles in Amazon Prime Video Reinoso stated that it is less about the opportunities at Amazon and more about inspiring students to explore new possibilities and achieve success in their education and careers

The Amazon Future Engineer program focuses on three key aspects of computer science education: funding high-quality computer science curriculums, providing virtual class chats and career tours, and offering college scholarships, paid internships, and industry mentors This academic year, Amazon will award $16 million in college scholarships and industry internship offers to 400 U S -based high school seniors pursuing degrees in computer science or engineering Since the program's launch in 2019, Amazon has awarded over $22 million in scholarships

Reinoso emphasized Amazon's long-term commitment to building strong communities, stating, "Our interest is to help build strong communities now and in future generations in the communities that we serve We have an immense amount of confidence in the potential of future generations Lots of problems that exist in the world can be solved from critical thinking that comes from computer science education It's a long-term investment in these communities We want residents in communities to thrive over the long term "

By investing in SBCUSD and RUSD, Amazon aims to create a lasting positive impact on students in the Inland Empire The company is dedicated to providing ongoing support and resources to teachers, students, and families in these districts, ensuring that they have the necessary tools to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world

San Ber nardino Developing a New Par ks Master Plan, Seeking Public Input

Community News

The City of San Bernardino is developing its first parks master plan in fifteen years to identify current and future facility needs, as well as youth, senior and recreation programs for the City’s parks, community centers, and senior centers City officials stated that community participation will be an important part of the process and have launched a website for residents to stay updated and provide input

“Our entire team is committed to ensuring the most inclusive planning process for a parks master plan”, said Parks and Recreation Director Lydie Gutfeld

“Everyone in San Bernardino who wishes to participate will have a chance to share their vision for the future ”

To lead this process, the San Bernardino has hired Next Practice Partners, a national strategic planning firm with extensive park system master planning experience in California, including with the cities of Chino, Carlsbad, Fremont, San Clemente, and Temple City

“We believe that inclusion is not optional but the very foundation of a planning process” said, Neelay Bhatt Founder & CEO of Next Practice Partners “Over the next 18 months, we will work with the City to engage the San Bernardino community across all ages, in English and Spanish, both in person and online This will help us ensure that the community’s values and unmet needs drive the plan’s vision and recommendations,” said Bhatt

Ongoing project updates, community meeting schedules, and additional feedback opportunities are available at the newly launched, mobile friendly, ADA accessible and multi-lingual website: www MySBParks com