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San Bernardino Valley College Breaks Financial Barriers with Free Tuition and Textbook Rentals for Summer 2023

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.

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 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."

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 Yucaipa and is funded by COVID-19 relief money aimed at supporting the community. The free tuition program covers the state community college tuition rate of $46 per unit, while student registration fees, ranging from $34 to $44, are not included.

Interim President Dr. Linda Fontanilla commented, "Our hope is that by offering free tuition and book rentals, more students will take advantage of SBVC cont. on next pg.

Rep. Aguilar Announces $4 Million for Affordable Housing and Supportive Services in San Bernardino

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Community News

Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced a total of $4,000,000 in federal funding he secured to support sustainable affordable housing and supportive services in San Bernardino.

Aguilar secured $1,000,000 for the

Sustainable Communities Catalyst Project—a program designed to create and preserve affordable housing while revitalizing local neighborhoods.

This funding will help transform vacant lots into energy efficient homes for low-tomoderate income families. He also secured $3,000,000 to support the creation of a

resource center at the Arrowhead Grove housing community. This multi-faceted health campus will provide easy access to supportive services to any San Bernardino resident.

“Now more than ever, we need to make it

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

An SBVC student, Samantha, taking advantage of the state-of-the-art resources at SBVC during the Spring 2023 Semester.

PHOTO COURTESY OF REP. AGUILAR

Rep. Aguilar’s press conference for a resource center at the Arrowhead Grove housing community on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

SBVC

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.

Tribes, Lawmakers, Advocates Outline Obstacles, Solutions To Confronting Violence Against State’s Native Americans; Commemoration on May 5 as Two California Tribes Under State Of Emergency

Community News

Tribal leaders, law enforcement representatives and others shared concerns at an informational hearing and a news briefing today about the continuing Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis with lawmakers and shared that despite new resources to address the issue, California now has two tribes so disturbed by violence against their members that they have declared states of emergency.

Round Valley Indian Tribes declared a State of Emergency in April, after two members were founded murdered, the latest victims in Northern California of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People. The tribal action was preceded In December of 2021 by the Yurok Tribe, in Humboldt County. The Yurok Tribe action followed seven women reported being approached by possible traffickers and the still unsolved case of Emmilee Risling, reported missing in October 2021.

The Yurok Tribe has been at the forefront in confronting the crisis and called for a summit of California Tribes and others held last year to address the issue. Summit participants called for implementation of a public notification alert when Native Americans go missing—the 2022 “Feather Alert” law (similar to the AMBER Alert) authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino).

Ramos said, “The July 2021 Year 2 Progress Report about Missing and Murdered people, reported that more than 150 cases were documented throughout the state, which places California

among the top 5 states with the highest number of cases.”

He added, “The National Crime Information Center reported 5,712 missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls in the U.S. with only 116 of cases logged by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. We can’t stop the violence with that lack of scrutiny and awareness.”

James, who testified at the hearing, stated at a Day of Action to raise awareness on the MMIP issue, ““We got some work to do and again, that’s why we’re here today. It’s us and we are moving this forward as tribes, as a state, as advocates, as organizations coming together, ringing that bell.”

Hearing participants included tribal chairpersons from around the state including James and Britton, Rhonda Pope Flores of the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, and others as well as Catalina Chacon Commissioner on the California Commission of the Status of Women and Girls, Yurok Tribe Chief Judge Abby Abinanti, Dorothy Alther, Legal Director, California Indian Legal Services.

Ramos said this year’s commemoration of MMIP Day included historic observations such as the Capitol Dome illuminated in red from May 2 to May 5 and the first ever Candlelight Vigil scheduled for May 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the Capitol’s West Steps. “We can’t stop pressing for solutions to this crisis. Too many lives have already been lost.”

Make-a-wish Orange County And The Inland Empire Awarded $375,000 Grant From San Manuel Band Of Mission Indians

Community News

Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire, a local chapter of the nationally recognized organization that grants wishes to critically-ill children, has been awarded a $375,000 grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The funding will allow MakeA-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire to expand wish granting capacity in Riverside and San Bernadino counties, where over 300 wishes are waiting to be granted.

“Over the last two years, our wish granting program has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, and this gener-

ous grant could not have come at a better time,” said Gloria Jetter Crockett, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire.

“Two-thirds of our wish kids live in the Inland Empire, and we are so grateful to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for their generosity in support of our mission. This funding will allow us to further expand into this region and serve more wish kids and their families.”

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is a federallyrecognized Indian tribe located on the San Manuel Indian Reservation, and supporting non-profit organizations is part of the Tribe’s commitment to their Giving Pillar, which supports education, self-determination for all and community

Housing clear to our community that addressing our growing homelessness crisis is our number one priority,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Securing housing is one part of tackling this crisis. This funding will help precure and preserve affordable housing, while ensuring residents are able to access legal services, financial literary training, immigration services, childcare and other supportive services.”

“As part of a broader strategy to help revitalize neighborhoods throughout the City of San Bernardino, this Community Project Funding award will help revitalize vacant lots, creating transformational opportunities for affordable homeownership,” stated Clemente Mojica, NPHS CEO. “On behalf of the many families that will benefit from this investment, we thank Congressman Pete Aguilar for directing these much-needed resources to the City of San Bernardino.”

“We are thankful to Congressman Aguilar for his unwavering continued support of our community and of the Housing Authority’s mission,” said Maria

Razo, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino. “Together, we envision a community in which all individuals have access to resources and opportunities that empower them and enrich their lives. The development of the Arrowhead Grove Community Resource Center is a big step towards that vision and will bring meaningful resources and opportunities to the heart of the City of San Bernardino. We could not do this work without the support of leaders like Congressman Aguilar. Thanks to the Congressman’s efforts, he was able to secure $3 million in Community Project Funding to help fund the development of the Community Resource Center, demonstrating his continued commitment to the residents of San Bernardino. We are proud to work alongside the Congressman and so many community partners to make our vision a reality.”

On April 26th, 2023, San Bernardino County announced homelessness in the area increased by 26% in the last year. Additionally, almost 40% of county residents experiencing homelessness became homeless for the first time in the last year.

Empower Small Inland Empire Businesses at Highland Chamber's Enchanting Evening Under The Stars Gala

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.

development.

Since its inception, Make-AWish has understood that when a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope.

According to Make-A-Wish’s Wish Impact Study, 90 percent of medical providers saw an increase in compliance with treatment from children after learning they would receive a wish. A wish makes a lasting impact, bringing hope and strength to families who need it most.

To learn more about Make-AWish Orange County and the Inland Empire, visit wish.org/ocie.

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.

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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APRENDE NUEVAS HABILIDADES AYUDA A LOS DEMÁS GANA DINERO AYUDANDO

AS ABOVE

(4) The names and bus ness address of the Buyer(s) are: VICTOR M GONZALEZ AND VERONICA V GONZALEZ 7977 WILLIAMS RD FONTANA, CA 92336 (5) The ocation and general descr ption of the assets to be sold are: CERTAIN FURNITURE FIXTURES EQUIPMENT GOODWILL INVENTORY AND OTHER ASSETS of that certain business ocated at: 17670 FOOTHILL BLVD FONTANA CA 92335

(6) The bus ness name used by the se ler(s) at sa d locat on is: PEPPI S RESTAURANT

The antic pated date of the bulk sale is MAY 22 2023 at the office of: GLEN OAKS ESCROW 184 N CANON DRIVE, SUITE B, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210, Escrow No 130-7059-RK Escrow Officer: ROBIN KIM (8) Cla ms may be fi ed with Same as 7 above