*El Chicano 05/02/24

EL CHICANo

Music Changing Lives Celebrates 26th Anniversary by Combating Inland Food Deserts with Community Garden Harvesting

By Manny Sandoval

Music Changing Lives (MCL), a nonprofit organization that has empowered youth through arts and education for over two decades, celebrated its 26th anniversary at its community garden in San Bernardino, addressing the region's food deserts through planting and harvesting crops and plants.

The event, held at the Uptown San

Bernardino Urban Garden at 261 W 40th Street, brought together nearly five dozen community members to plant beans and kale, harvest lettuce and cilantro, and celebrate the fruitful collaboration. Food deserts, characterized by limited access to affordable and nutritious food, plague many areas of the Inland Empire, including San Bernardino. MCL's efforts aimed to alleviate these disparities, cultivating a vibrant community of food and creativity.

"We want to thank the community for joining us on this historic moment. We're celebrating 26 years of serving the Inland Empire for arts and creativity,” said MCL Founder Josiah Bruny. "What better way to combat being a food desert than with the artistic expression of planting herbs and native plants? Our garden has over 30 different species of fruit trees surrounding us. And we have over 70 different species of vegetables that we're actually getting to MCL cont. on next pg.

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Community News

On April 28, members of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Youth Advocacy Group hosted the Second Annual 5K walk at California State University, San Bernardino to raise funds and awareness

for an epidemic of violence that has been plaguing Indigenous people and communities for years.

The event held ahead of May, which is recognized as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month in California, raised over $15,000.

Around 200 participants attended the

event and walked to support and learn more about ongoing exploitation and harm against Indigenous people and Native American communities. Proceeds from the event will go to Ohkomi Forensics, a Native American-led nonprofit that offers crucial services such as field and excavation, forensic anthropology, DNA testing,

PHOTO SMBMI

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

Music Changing Lives celebrating its

anniversary at its community garden, located at 261 W 40th Street, San Bernardino.

MCL

harvest and taste today for the first time ever.”

Bruny emphasized the importance of community support in their continued success. The garden not only addresses food insecurity in the Inland Empire but also nurtures local bonds. Attendees enjoyed performances by live artists, showcasing MCL's mission to blend arts, education, and community development.

Tia Youngblood, co-founder of Soulful Soil Farms in Corona, emphasized the importance of community gardens in areas suffering from food deserts. "We’re harvesting lettuce and cilantro today and planting more flowers along the arrow; and just planted beans and kale. Community urban gardens are so important because so many areas of our region are food deserts, with a fast food majority and less fresh produce, and if fresh produce

SMBMI

and advocacy.

Since 2019, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Youth Advocacy Group has been actively speaking out for survivors and victims through public awareness campaigns, legislative advocacy, and fundraising events.

Raven Casas, a San Manuel Youth Advocate said, "Indigenous people matter. No longer will our loved ones go missing or be harmed without justice. Together, with Native-led organizations, legislators, tribal leaders, and law enforcement, we will honor our people, our sisters and brothers, who have been ignored."

The issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People has its roots in the disparity of public safety standards and comprehensive crime reporting, investigations, and prosecutions between tribal, state and federal agencies, available to protect the most vulnerable. Predators use the gaps in comprehen-

is available to our communities - our communities are often priced out. Gardens like this keep people involved locally and regionally and help build friendships.”

MCL began in 1998 when Bruny established a recording studio in his home in Moreno Valley, teaching young musicians how to record and copyright their music. Drawing on his experience working with prominent figures like Master P and Ice Cube, Bruny has transformed MCL into an organization that empowers at-risk youth through arts, music, and entrepreneurship programs.

The celebration marked 26 years of serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties, reaching thousands of youth every year. MCL's efforts continue to make a profound impact on individuals and communities, paving the way for a healthier, more artistically vibrant Inland Empire.

sive jurisdictional coverage to exploit individuals living on and off reservations across the nation and perpetrate crimes which often go unreported, unsolved, and unpunished.

Sadly, a report by the Sovereign Bodies Institute, in collaboration with San Manuel, revealed that 63% of Indigenous people in California have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence. Additionally, the Urban Indian Health Institute discovered that only 153 out of 506 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls were recorded in law enforcement records.

Despite being a largely unknown issue outside of Indigenous communities for a long time, public awareness is steadily growing. Notably, incremental progress is being made with passage of the Feather Alert Bill, which provides access to the California Highway Patrol's state alert system to notify the public of Native American individuals who go missing, and through the efforts of community-based groups such as the San Manuel Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Youth Advocacy Group.

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.

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

A child digging a hole to plant within the garden’s arrow.

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

Tia Youngblood, co-founder of Soulful Soil Farms planting beans and kale.

Public Safety & Government

Rep. Aguilar Presents $963K for San Bernardino’s Safety Camera Project

San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Host Students for Government Day

Community News

On Tuesday, April 23rd, San Bernardino County celebrated Government Day hosted by Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. by welcoming students from Colton Joint Unified and Rialto Unified School Districts to observe a live board meeting. The event featured engaging presentations and direct interactions with representatives from County Administration, Legislative Affairs, and Human Resources, highlighting the importance of local government in enhancing our community.

"These students are our future—who will one day run and work in our county. By inviting them into our government center, we hope to showcase the amazing opportunities our county has to offer," said Supervisor Joe Baca Jr.

"Today is so impactful because it connects the dots between civic engagement and how it applies to the real world. We want to inspire them to recognize they are our community’s future." Diana Alexander, Assistant Executive Officer in the San Bernardino County Administrative Office, highlighted "These students are our future. They're in school now to learn how they can be part of our society. We hope today's experience ignites a passion for public service and encourages them to bring their innovative ideas and

skills to help fulfill the county-wide vision," Alexander noted.

“It’s essential to let our young people know they have a voice in legislation that can profoundly impact our community’s prosperity,” said Megan Kidwell, from the County Legislative Office.

Reflecting on the importance of youth engagement in local government, Jose Mancilla, from the County Human Resource Department, shared, “We are doing the invaluable work of reaching out to the next generations—the future leaders who will run or work for the county. It’s crucial they understand what local government can do for them and the opportunities it holds,”

After the day's activities, students took a moment to reflect on what they learned, sharing insights and ideas. Andrew Boyd, a student from Rialto, found the day to be eye-opening. Sharing that day has inspired him to think about a career where he can help improve our community, like our parks and neighborhoods.

San Bernardino County and Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. are committed to inspiring the next generation, ensuring that today's students become tomorrow's leaders and innovators in our community.

Community News

Rep. Aguilar announced nearly $2 million in federal funding to bolster law enforcement and public safety in the Inland Empire.

Rep. Aguilar secured $1 million for the City of Rancho Cucamonga’s Advanced Traffic Management System. This funding will be used to install of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, communication networking equipment and over 60 traffic signals that will flow into the local Traffic Management Center, reducing traffic congestion and improving roadside safety.

Rep. Aguilar also delivered $963,000 for the City of San Bernardino’s Safety Camera Project. The City will install safety cameras that monitor activity, support local law enforcement and ensure the safety and success of Inland Empire residents and small businesses.

“I am excited to announce nearly $2,000,000 in investments for our community’s safety,” said Rep. Aguilar. “This funding will further support law enforcement as they work to tackle crime in the region, bolster roadside safety for

Brightline

our pedestrians and drivers and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

“Thanks to Congressman Aguilar’s generous support in helping to secure $1 million in federal funding for the City’s Advanced Traffic Management System, the expansion of this system will allow the City to modify signal timing and operations in real time, reducing travel time, improving emergency response times, and improving our community’s air quality,” said Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Kennedy.

“We thank Congressman Aguilar for fighting to include in the budget $963,000 to help fund an integrated security camera system in San Bernardino,” said San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran. “Thanks to this system, our residents, businesses, and visitors will not only feel safer, they’ll be safer.”

Rep. Pete Aguilar helped pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 into law, which included over $17 million in federal investments for 15 local projects across the region Rep. Aguilar represents in Congress.

Breaks Ground on High-Speed Rail Linking Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas

Community News

April 22 marked a historic milestone with Brightline's groundbreaking ceremony for its highly anticipated high-speed rail project connecting Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at the site of the future Las Vegas station, signifies the commencement of construction on this transformative transportation infrastructure.

Representatives from Brightline, local government officials, and community stakeholders gathered to celebrate the start of this monumental project, which promises to revolutionize travel between Southern California and Las Vegas.

The Brightline high-speed rail service will offer passengers a comfortable and convenient travel experience, with state-ofthe-art trains capable of reaching speeds up to 200 miles per hour.

Trains will take passengers form Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga in just 2 hours and 10 minutes, twice as fast as the normal drive time. The 218-mile route will feature premium amenities to exceptional onboard experiences with all the extras.

“I am excited for our residents

to experience convenience of this sustainable travel option," said Supervisor Curt Hagman.

“The Brightline high-speed rail service is expected to stimulate economic growth and create thousands of jobs throughout the region. Construction of the rail will generate opportunities for local businesses and suppliers, while ongoing operations will support jobs in hospitality, tourism, and transportation sectors. Additionally, the zero-emission electric train will remove over 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year," continued Hagman.

Brightline anticipates that the high-speed rail service will begin operations within the next few years, providing travelers with a fast, reliable, and environmentally friendly mode of transportation between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas.

For more information about Brightline and the high-speed rail project, please visit www.brightlinewest.com.

Supervisor Hagman has served as the Fourth District Supervisor since 2014, representing Chino, Chino Hills, Montclair, Ontario, and Upland (generally below 14th St.). He is also proud to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the California State Guard.

PHOTO AGUILAR’S OFFICE

(Left to right) SBPD Commissioner Junior Carillo, SBPD Chief Darren Goodman, Rep. Pete Aguilar, Mayor Helen Tran, Councilman Theodore Sanchez, and Councilman Damon Alexander on April 25, 2024.

PHOTO BACA’S OFFICE

Students from Colton and Rialto engaging in Government Day with Supervisor Baca.

NOTICE CALLING FOR BIDS

Bid No 23-27

Requirements Contract for the Remediation of Lead, Asbestos, and Mold NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the San Bernardino City Unified School District of San Bernardino County State of California, acting through its Governing Board, hereafter referred to as the District is soliciting electronic bid submittals through its OpenGov Procurement web portal in response to Bid No 23-27, Remediation of Lead, Asbestos, and Mold Bids must be submitted electronically up to but not later than May 24 2024 at 1:00 pm at https://procurement opengov com/portal/sbcusd

Bidders who are desirous of securing a copy of the Bid documents may do so by logging into the District's website at: https://procurement opengov com/portal/sb cusd Bid responses must conform and be responsive in accordance with the Bid Documents posted through the District's “OpenGov Procurement” website por-

tal As of April 1 2015 no contractor or subcontractor may bid or work on a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations Proof of DIR registration and compliance is required to be submitted with all bids

https://www dir ca gov/publ i cworks/PublicWorksSB854 ht ml Contract award is contingent upon availability of funds Loca , Minor ty and Disabled Veterans Businesses are specifica ly encouraged to respond

The Distr ct reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals and to accept or reject any item to withdraw a ine item or entire Bid, and to waive any irregularities or informalities in the Bid document(s) The Distr ct may award any all or none of this Bid

By: Paul Ramirez Buyer

Publication: May 02, 2024 Mandatory Bidder Conference May 15, 2024 at 10:00 am Location 793 North E Street San Bernardino CA 92410

Request for Clarification: May 17, 2024 at 11:00 am Virtual Bid Opening: May 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm https://meet google com/jph -rmpt-hrn?authuser 0

NOTE: Late entry will not be permitted CNS-3809045# PUBLISHED EL CHICANO 5/2/24 E-730

NOTICE CALLING FOR BIDS Bid No 23-21

Power WashingDistrictwide NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the San Bernardino City Unified School District of San Bernardino County State of California acting through its Governing Board, hereafter referred to as the District , is soliciting electronic bid submittals through its OpenGov Procurement web portal in response to Bid No 23-21 Power Washing - Districtwide Bids must be submitted electronically up to but not later than Tuesday May 21 2024 at 2:00 pm at https://procurement opengov com/p ortal/sbcusd Bidders who are desirous of secur ng a copy of the Bid documents may do so by logging into the District s website at: https://procurement opengov com/portal/sb cusd Bid responses must conform and be responsive in accordance with the Bid Documents posted through the District s “OpenGov Procurement”

DIR registration and compliance is required to be submitted with all bids

LIEN SALE

Notice is hereby given pursuant to sections 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California the undersigned will sell the following vehicles at lien sale at said address(s) at said time(s) on: Thursday, May 16, 2024 to wit: YEAR MAKE VIN LICENSE STATE 17 NISS

3 N 1 A B 7 A P X H Y 4 0 8 7 8 6

8BHY887 CA

To be sold by: CERTIFIED TOWING, 1135 E STATE STREET ONTARIO SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CA 91761 (10:00 AM)

Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien of the abovesigned for towing, storage, labor, materials and l en charges, together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale Clear Cho ce Lien Service Inc P O Box 159009 San Diego, CA 92175

CNS-3808362# PUBLISHED EL CHICANO 5/2/24 E-725

NOTICE CALLING FOR BIDS Bid No 23-23 Color Paper Stock and Supplies NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the San Bernardino City Unified Schoo District of San Bernard no County State of Californ a, act ng through its Governing Board hereafter referred to as the District s soliciting e ectronic bid subm ttals through its OpenGov eProcurement web portal in response to Bid No 23-23, Color Paper Stock and Supplies Bids must be submitted electronically up to but not later than May 24, 2024 at 2:00PM, at https://proc u r e m e n t o p e n g o v c o m / p o rtal/sbcusd Bidders who are desirous of securing a copy of the Bid documents may do so by logg ng into the District's website at: https://procurement opengov c om/portal/sbcusd Bid responses must conform and be responsive in accordance with the B d Documents posted through the District s OpenGov Procurement website portal Contract award is contingent upon availability of funds Local Minority and Disab ed Veterans Bus nesses are specifically encouraged to respond The Distr ct reserves the right to accept or reject any or al bids and to accept or reject any item, to withdraw a l ne item or ent re Bid and to waive any irregu arities or informalities in the Bid document(s) The District may award any all, or none of this Bid By: Jeanette MartinezCastaneda Buyer Publicat on May 2, 2024 Request for Clarification May 14 2024 11:00 AM Virtual B d Open ng May 24 2024 2:00 PM meet google com/zkr-qxbv-rky CNS-3807932# PUBLISHED EL CHICANO 5/2/24 E-726

LIEN SALE

Notice s hereby given pursuant to sections 503 of the Harbors and Navigation Code the undersigned will sell at lien sa e the following vessel(s) / Tra ler(s) at said address(s) at said time(s) on: Thursday May 16 2024 to wit: YEAR MAKE HULL / VIN LICENSE STATE TYPE

04 POL PLE33165A404

BOAT

79 ZIE Z256763 TRAILER

To be sold by: NEEDLES

AUTO WRECKING 5156

ROUTE 66 NEEDLES SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA 92363 (10:00 AM)

Said sale is for the purpose of satisfying lien of the abovesigned for towing storage labor materials and ien charges together with costs of advertising and expenses of sale

Clear Choice Lien Service, Inc

P O Box 159009 San Diego CA 92175

CNS-3807825# PUBLISHED EL CHICANO 5/2/24 E-727

SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY (SBIAA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services for Passenger Boarding Bridges May 16, 2024

The San Bernardino International Airport Authority (SBIAA) is issu ng this Request for Proposals (RFP) seek ng qualified contractor to provide work items inc uded as part of the Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services for Passenger Boarding Bridges

Qualified contractors are encouraged to submit Proposals to: 1601 East Third Street, San Bernardino, California 92408 attention to the Ass stant Secretary of the Commission Proposals conta ning the orig nal response to the RFP must be marked with the firm’s name and RFP for Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services for Passenger Boarding Bridges in bold etters Responses to this RFP will be received until 2:00 P M on Friday June 14 2024 Cop es of the RFP may be obta ned from SBIAA’s website at h t t p : / / s b i a a o r g / o p p o r t u n ities/bids-rfps/ under RFPs/Bids All nquiries shall be directed via e-mail to Shauntil Carvalho, with the words “RFP FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR PASSENGER BOARDING BRIDGES entered in the e-mail subject line at scarvalho@sbdairport com If modfication or clarification to the solicitation document becomes necessary a written addendum will be posted to the SBIAA website www sbiaa org It is the respons bility of all potential respondents to monitor the SBIAA website for any such addendums

The services being requested are sub ect to comp iance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Bidders are hereby notified that the preva ling rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of Industrial Relations applicable to the work to be done for the localty in which the work is to be performed in compliance with Section 1773 of the Labor Code of the State of California are on file in the AGENCY s principal office at the address isted above and w l be made available to any nterested party upon request All perspective vendors must have registered w th the DIR prior to subm tting any bid documents Any bid where the Vendor does not have the appropriate regstration number w l be returned as non-responsive

The SBIAA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses to the RFP and/or waive any informa ties or rregular ties in any response

NOTICE INVITING PROPOSALS

REQUEST FOR RFQ

24-008 DISTRICTWIDE

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RENEWABLE ENERGY & WATER

CONSERVATION

PROJECT

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (“District”) Facilities Planning & Development is request ng proposals from those interested in providing professional services for RFQ 24-008 DISTRICTWIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY RENEWABLE ENERGY & WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT Copies of the Request for Qualifications ( RFQ ) can be obtained via e-mail, when requested to the email address indicated below or from the District's web sites: www sbcusdfacilit es com OR facilities contracts+RFP240

8@sbcusd k12 ca us

All qualified providers of services described in the RFP including the local firms/individuals are encouraged to participate in this process and submit proposals The District, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to reject any proposals received after the deadline stated herein The proposals must be received at the emai address indicated below no later than Tuesday May 21, 2024 by 4:00 P M Pacific Time

The subject line of your email should clearly state: RFQ 24-008 DISTRICTWIDE ENERGY

EFFICIENCY, RENEWABLE ENERGY & WATER

CONSERVATION

PROJECT

San Bernardino City Unified School District Facilities Planning & Development 956 West 9th Street San Bernardino California 92411 Email: facilities contracts+RFP2408@sbcusd k12 ca us CNS-3807894# PUBLISHED EL CHICANO 5/2 5/9/24 E-729

OF

SALE OF VEHICLE(S)

AT PUBLIC AUCTIONNotice is hereby given pursuant to sections 3071 and 3072 of the Civil Code of the State of California, the undersigned will sell the following vehicles at lien sale at said address(s) at said time(s) on:

Making Hope Happen Foundation to

By Erin Brinker, MHHF VP of Development

On May 9, 2024, the Making Hope Happen Foundation will be holding its annual gala at the Sterling Natural Resource Center in San Bernardino.

This year’s theme will be Springtime in Paris and guests will be treated with delicious, French-inspired cuisine and wine, music from the award-winning Teen Music Workshop, student art auctions (100% of the proceeds from which will be paid to the artists), great silent auction trips, and Raiders gear signed by San Bernardino’s own Alexander Mattison. Trips include Perfect Paris, Ferrari Fantasy in Modena, Italy (complete with a test drive), golf and spa vacations, fly fishing in Montana, and coastal Charleston, South Carolina.

“This event is a party!” says Niki Dettman, CEO of the Making Hope Happen Foundation. “Everything we do at the Foundation is in support of San Bernardino and the gala is our time to celebrate while raising the funds needed to make our work possible. Funds raised will support the four pillars of the Making Hope Happen Foundation: Mentor-Supported Scholarships, Dr. Albert Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS), Innovation in Education, and Uplift San Bernardino.”

Each year, the Making Hope Happen Foundation provides dozens of scholarships that include a $3,000 cash award plus a paid mentor for two years, to graduating seniors from the San Bernardino City Unified School District comprehensive and continuation high schools, and the Inland Career Education Center adult school. For the 2024 graduating class, thanks to the contributions of missioncritical partners and donors, 125 scholarships have been

Celebrate San Bernardino at its May 9th Gala

awarded that, when combined with mentor support, totals $562,500.

Making Hope Happen Foundation scholarships are need-based. Any graduating senior with a 2.0 GPA or higher are encouraged to apply each January. Students are awarded extra points if they are low-income, were raised by single parents, are themselves parenting, have been homeless or in foster care or who would have qualified for the DACA program. Unless otherwise stipulated by the donors, students can use their scholarships at any accredited post-secondary institution from trade schools to universities.

Since most of the awardees are the first in their families to go to college, providing paid mentors is a best practice. Mentors are former Making Hope Happen Foundation scholarship recipients who are now upperclassmen or graduate students. They are all trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and act as knowledgeable friends to help their mentored students navigate the transition to and the first two years of college.

“We don’t have throw away students. Every student is valuable. Every student is important.” Dr. Margaret Hill

This year’s gala will include a very special element. In 2021, AM, LLC, the company that provided COVID-19 mitigation services to the San Bernardino City Unified School District, provided a $50,000 gift to start an endowed scholarship in the name of the late and incomparable Dr. Margaret Hill in support of students graduating from San Andreas Continuation High School, where she served as principal for sixteen years. In order to be fully funded, endowed scholarships must total at least $75,000. At that level, the interest from the fund can be used for

CAPSBC is Hosting Kids In Need of Diapers Day on May 4th

Community News

On Saturday, May 4, Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) is set to host a Kids In Need of Diapers (K.I.N.D.) Day event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event sheds light on the challenges of some families with diaper-wearing children while providing resources for 1500 diaper-age children and their families.

Resources provided as part of the event include diapers, food boxes, clothes, books and other educational resources. Families interested in taking part in the event can register at Eventbrite.com.

CAPSBC anticipates roughly 500 families at its location at 696 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408. With the anticipated crowd, there will be games, story time and

an arts and crafts section for the whole family to enjoy.

The event also coincides with the agency's Community Action Month, which CAPSBC uses an opportunity to reach the community and provide vital resources to families and individuals in need.

More information on the event can be found on Eventbrite, where registration is also taking place. To learn more about CAPSBC, visit capsbc.org.

Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino is the designated Community Action Agency for San Bernardino County and is charged with providing programs and services for over 800,000 low-income individuals and families to help lift them out of poverty.

one more scholarship each year in perpetuity. Thanks to the generosity of local attorney and philanthropist, Bill Lemann, every dollars raised up to $25,000 will be matched, which means a $50 donation becomes $100. If the full $50,000 are raised, two scholarships will be awarded this year instead of having to wait for future interest to accrue.

The Making Hope Happen Foundation scholarships helps students like Xavina, a 2019 graduate of San Gorgonio High School and 2023 graduate of the University of Redlands. Upon graduation from the University of Redlands, Xavina interned for Congressman Pete Aguilar and is now working for the Making Hope Happen Foundation as a Neighborhood Development Program Coordinator where she is working to improve the lives of San Bernardino residents.

“My first generation college experience was made so much more enjoyable, successful, and easier to navigate because of the help of this foundation. The funds from my scholarship were put to good use and helped pay for: all of my books, traveling expenses (gas, Uber [when my regular ride or a student ride was not available], bus tickets), school supplies, and on a few occasions small snacks (with permission from the foundation) on days where I forgot or did not have time to pack food for myself. Honestly, though, if it were not for the foundation's help I would have been even more stressed out my first few weeks of college wondering how I was going to pay for my books, school supplies, and so on. Please know that this foundation is truly a big help for all of us students who received it,” said Xavina.

For more information about the Making Hope Happen Foundation and to purchase tickets to the gala, please visit www.makinghope.org.

PHOTO MMHF

Heri Garcia, Damon Alexander, Niki Dettman, Helen Tran, and Kim Calvin at last year’s event.

PHOTO MMHF

An aerialist at sunset during the 2023 MHHF Gala.