*El Chicano 06/22/23

E L C H I C A N o

WWe e eekkllyy

By Manny Sandoval

Th e S a n B e r n a r d i n o

Juneteenth Committee hosted its second annual Juneteenth Celebration of F r e e d o m : S t o m p t h e Ya r d Edition, drawing approximately 1 , 0 0 0 a t t e n d e e s a t t h e S a n Bernardino Valley College on

Saturday, June 17, 2023

The event filled four parking lots with vehicles and saw a bustling outdoor event space f e a t u r i n g l i v e p e r f o r m a n c e s , artisan and food vendors, and free clothing distribution for t h o s e i n n e e d T h e v i b r a n t atmosphere was filled with high

spirits and hope for the future

" I t ' s o u r S e c o n d A n n u a l

J u n e t e e n t h C e l e b r a t i o n o f

Freedom and our Stomp The Yard Edition There are many vendors, tons of people, and lots of food, and we're out here

r e c o g n i z i n g a n d c e l e b r a t i n g

J u n e t e e n t h , " s a i d C E O a n d

Founder of Sista's Making a Difference Ronnie Miller

Juneteenth, celebrated nationwide every year on June 19, acknowledges the emancipation of African Americans The holiday provides an understanding of the Black community's past Juneteenth cont on next pg

By Manny Sandoval

The Bloomington High School baseball team made history this season as they emerged as the San Andreas League Champions, making it to the CIF and State semifinals, a feat the school has yet to accomplish in the past 40 years

U n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f Va r s i t y H e a d

Coach Carlos Contreras, now in his sixth season, the team's 2022-2023 season was nothing short of exemplary Comprising twenty players, they broke records and redefined the culture and spirit of baseball in the community

" T h i s s e a s o n , w e p l a y e d s i x g a m e s through the CIF and State Tournament We are proud of our boys for their grit, determination, and team spirit," said Contreras

The Bloomington Bruins' journey ended in the CIF semi-finals against Castaic High School on May 16th with a final score of 6 to 1, and they lost to Ganesha High School (Pomona) in the state semifinals on June 1st

"The support from our coaching staff, grounds crew, parents, and community have been instrumental in our success," Contreras added "When the field looks good, and players feel good, they perform

better This is our first year with immense parental involvement, and they've been vital in facilitating uniforms and other l o g i s t i c s M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, o u r b o y s believed in themselves and worked relentlessly towards their goal "

The team's impressive season saw them rack up 26 wins against just five losses, a record Contreras believes can be improved next season With 16 players returning and the entire pitching staff, the team has a robust foundation for another successful season Their overall run average of 2 21 and a defensive percentage of 945 kept

PHOTOS MANNY SANDOVAL

(Left photo) Ronnie Miller (center) is founder and CEO of Sista's Making a Difference and vice-president of the San Bernardino Juneteenth Committee (Right photo) I Love San Bernardino Founder Robert Porter and his family celebrating Juneteenth and bringing awareness to the national holiday

PHOTO MARISA GARCIA

The 2022-2023 Bloomington High School Bruins are the San Andreas League Champions

Juneteenth

struggles and triumphs that continue to bring hope today

The Celebration of Freedom Committee, founded by Edwin Johnson, the Committee President, and co-founded by Lue Dowdy, Operations Director, aims to raise awareness about the Juneteenth holiday The event began with a libation ceremony led by Reverend Bronica Martindale and a song selection by Marla Matime Performers included Yaddida Page, Amore the Songstress, The Bromatics, D D C , and more

The celebration also recognized fathers within the community who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and integrity in an awards ceremony Natasha McPherson, UCR History Professor, facilitated an educational seminar, with Ms Tanya Humphrey, Chair of the Black Women's Leadership Forum, and keynote speaker Dina Walker, founder of BLU Educational Foundation DJ Muda hosted the event with co-host Jae Chanel

The event was sponsored by a wide range of organizations, including Health Net, Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), First 5 San

Bernardino, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), San Bernardino Valley College, Chase Bank, The City of San Bernardino, Empire Talks Back, The Competitive Edge, YouthBuild Inland Empire, Westside Story Newspaper, and Lue Productions Community Umbrella Services

The San Bernardino Juneteenth Committee is a community effort consisting of organizations like CHORDS, Sista's Making a Difference, Young Visionaries, Lue Productions, San Bernardino Valley College, Inland Congregations United for Change, Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce -Inland Cities East Chapter, First 5 San Bernardino, Off The Chain Alliance, San Bernardino Pacesetters, 123 Mobile Training, San Bernardino (CA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, The Conquerors Insurance Advocates for Families, SoCal Trash Army, Bryce Hudson, The MAR M Agency, DGK, Empowering Girls Network, Dream Nycce, and Jae Chanel Productions

The Celebration of Freedom offered an educational experience for all attendees, regardless of race, age, and ethnic and cultural differences, reinforcing the spirit of unity and understanding inherent in the Juneteenth celebration

Baseball

them in every game they played

The community rallied around the team Mike Ashman, a Bloomington High School Alumni who played on the CIF team in 1975 and is now a coach for the Los Angeles Angels, offered his support before each game "The community must support because it keeps everyone together and provides opportunities for interaction,"

Contreras emphasized Andrew "TJ" Tejada, a senior and the team's star pitcher, reflected on the season's highs and lows "The most impactful memory was our game against Rim of the World at San Manuel Stadium for County Clash," he recalled "At one point, we were down 7-2, but we didn't let it get to us We battled to the end; the final score was 7-8 That's a testament to our spirit and resilience We're all looking forward to the next season and hope to go beyond the semi-finals and win it all "

The team's achievements were also reflected in the numerous awards they received With a 30scoreless inning streak, Tejada was named league MVP and selected as All Inland Empire David Barajas, a senior first baseman, was chosen as the League MVP for the San Andreas League A junior and right

fielder, Dylan Buzard made All League, All CIF, and was All Inland Empire

Seven team members made All-League, All-CIF, All-Inland Empire, and the California Baseball Coaches Association Southern California Second Team Assistant Coach Alexander Estrada praised the team's cohesive spirit, "This team played for each other They all understood their roles, and everyone contributed It was their combined efforts that brought us this success "

Contreras received the Coach of the Year award in recognition of the team's achievements

Looking forward to the next season, Contreras added, "Our 2023-2024 baseball season will start in August We'll start doing pre-tryout workouts, and the official tryouts will be held in September, which will coincide with the start of fall ball "

Historically, this victory holds significant importance for Bloomington High School, where sports have always been a focal point for student engagement This achievement refers to the glory days of the mid-'70s when the school's sports teams were dominant, instilling renewed pride and energy into the school and the wider Bloomington community

PHOTO BHS BASEBALL

The Bloomington High School Bruins elevate their headspace before a game against Rim of the World at San Manuel Stadium

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

One of the local artisan vendors includes Shi Williams 16 who paints as a therapeutic outlet and can be found on instagram @the blume child

PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL

San Bernardino City Unified School District Board Member Gwen Rodgers and friends connecting with vendors, non-profits, and the community

PHOTO BHS BASEBALL

Varsity pitcher and now high school senior Andrew Tejada is the star athlete who is known for having a 30 scoreless inning streak

By Inland Empire Water Partnership

After a multi-year drought, record winter storms have brought California back from the brink of catastrophic drought conditions but uncertainty still remains – how long will this new water need to last us? Just until next winter? Two years? Three years?

Most of the state is now considered to be out of drought, as our reservoirs are full to the brim and we begin replenishing our groundwater basins This is exactly what we needed this winter season, and it will be essential in supporting our communities, farms, and businesses throughout the year However, we cannot count on record-setting wet years as the state's longterm water supply management plan, especially as the Colorado River supplies, which are essential to Western States and Southern California, remain uncertain

California will continue to experience longer, hotter, and drier weather conditions, punctuated by intense, fast-moving storms that overwhelm the state's existing water systems Boom or bust weather extremes – such as rainstorm flooding and long droughts – create unpredictable scenarios for the State's water systems that can no longer count on a steady pace of water replenishment throughout each winter For the last 40 years, average temperatures have steadily increased and will continue to do so, causing a multitude of issues for our water supply, including shorter bursts of intense rainfall, earlier snowpack melt, an increased need to take from groundwater reserves, and more

It will become all the more important in the coming years to couple individual water efficiency efforts with regional and statewide infrastructure investments to make the Inland Empire more resilient in the face of future droughts

Water efficiency is a way of life for Southern California throughout all weather and all seasons Our region has proven it can collectively work together and rise to the occasion to stretch supplies and ensure water for future generations We want to acknowledge and send our appreciation to our local water super-savers who

have worked diligently to help us meet our goals, preserve our water supply for current and future generations, and successfully get through the drought As local water providers, we are calling on residents to keep up the water efficiency efforts that are now a symbol of Southern California culture The Inland Empire took initiative during the drought and, while the urgency isn’t as dire today, we need to continue to embrace a water-efficient lifestyle year-round Implementing a water-efficient lifestyle when it rains helps prolong our water supply when it is dry Water use efficiency, especially outdoors where 60% of water use occurs, is crucial to extending water supplies captured during wet years

We also need to make investments to ensure our regional and statewide infrastructure are able to meet the future water supply needs of the region In an effort to capitalize on these intense weather conditions, Inland Empire water agencies are collaboratively investing in significant infrastructure projects and initiatives to capture precious water when it’s available and we are urging our state counterparts to do the same

We continually work to advance large-scale stormwater, recycling, and water quality programs to further our water supply goals For example, Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) completed work on its Mountain Avenue West Groundwater Replenishment Facility, which will serve as the home for EMWD’s Water Banking program as part of its Groundwater Reliability Plus initiative

In addition, Western Water is advancing water supply reliability through a series of efforts, including preparing to purchase excess water available this year and storing it in its local groundwater basins for future dry years Western Water is also taking action through investments in innovative infrastructure projects, including groundwater wells, treatment and conveyance facilities

Similarly, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency is growing its recycled water supply with multiple projects and partnerships including the expansion of its Re-

gional Water Recycling Plant No 5 and the development of the innovative Chino Basin Program (CBP), a water banking program that will address challenges caused by climate change As a part of this effort to increase local supply reliability, through the CBP, IEUA and its partners will design, construct, and operate an Advanced Water Purification Facility, groundwater injection facilities, pump stations, new wells, and connection lines

The Inland Empire Water Partnership is united in our commitment to maintain and build reliable, high-quality water supplies that are more resilient against an uncertain water future

Our partnership has come together as the regional voice of the Inland Empire to raise awareness about the conditions impacting your water supply, advance solutions, deliver high-quality, clean and safe water supplies, and promote water efficiency as a way of life

As we continue highlighting the need for water solutions, advance statewide infrastructure improvements and water quality programs, we rely on and thank our customers for embracing efficiency to ensure a collective approach is taken to resolve these larger-than-life issues

Joe Mouawad, General Manager of Eastern Municipal Water District; Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager of Inland Empire Utilities Agency; Heather Dyer, General Manager of San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District; and Craig Miller, General Manager of Western Water, unite as the regional voice of water issues in the Inland Empire through their partnership, The Inland Empire Water Partnership

The Inland Empire Water Partnership consists of four unified water districts – Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and Western Water –representing the water resources of 3 4 million Southern Californians To learn more about the partnership and its efforts, visit: iewaterpartners com

By The Red Brennan Group

In a May 25th ruling, the 4th District Court of Appeal (4DCA) ruled San Bernardino County Measure K valid in every major aspect

Measure K, an effort to reform both compensation and term limits for San Bernardino County elected supervisors, was overwhelmingly approved by county voters in November of 2020 The measure proposed a single fouryear term, along with setting elected supervisors’ compensation on par with the county’s median household income

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors ignored this clear message from voters Rather than aggressively implementing the voters’ will, the board circled the wagons and sued the county’s Clerk of the Board in order to halt implementation of Measure K and ward off the voters’ intent

While San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Ronald Alvarez agreed with the Board of Supervisors, the 4DCA was having none of it Justice P J Ramirez’s opinion:

• Upheld the voters’ right to establish a single, four-year term

• Upheld the voters’ right to establish compensation limits for elected supervisors via initiative

• Ruled Measure K was valid as of December 18th, 2020

• Orders the

lower court to ensure certification and filing of Measure K

The appeal court also ruled that AB 428, a bill designed and sponsored by Assemblyman Chad Mayes to torpedo Measure K via state law, does not apply to charter counties AB428 altered state law to ensure voters could set no less than two, four-year term limits for county supervisors Despite being approved by Governor Gavin Newsom, Justice Ramirez’s ruling limits AB428 to general counties only San Bernardino County is a charter county and is therefore exempt from AB428

In a statement released Monday The Red Brennan Group, a local non-profit dedicated to “Big-Hearted Communities and Small Government” said “It has been our privilege to support Measure K’s sponsor Nadia Renner While this ruling solidifies San Bernardino County voters’ right to initiative, the status of real political reform in the county remains clouded because of Measure D This measure was placed on the 2022 ballot by the five sitting supervisors and was specifically designed to target Measure K Every aspect of the county supervisors’ initiative was designed to trick county voters Presented to voters as tax reform,

Measure D instead guaranteed continually increasing compensation for county supervisors, reset the baseline for the current supervisors allowing them to serve an additional 12 years if reelected, and overturned the voterapproved Measure K The supervisors partnered with

local developers, public unions, and a variety of other special interest groups to spend over $1 2 million to pass Measure D Despite being labeled as “The most despicable, deceptive campaign we’ve seen in a long time,” by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the immense amount of money invested by the county political elite successfully carried the deception and Measure D was approved by the voters ”

The Red Brennan Group spokesmen went on to say “Our organization has challenged Measure D on the basis that it was intended to mislead county voters While the trial court ruled against us, we trust the Appeal Court will be as equally clear-eyed when considering Measure D as they were with Measure K The California Constitution states

‘All political power is inherent in the people Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require ’

For far too long the county ruling class has misused and abused both the legal and political process to stymie real reform of government County voters must hold local government accountable and ensure the political class acquiesces to voter-approved reform ”

For more information please visit https://redbrennan org/court-agrees-with-sanbernardino-county-voters

San Ber nardino Symphony Concer t Under the Star s with Fir ewor ks, Jul y 1 at SBVC

Community News

The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther, will present their second annual evening of music under the stars Saturday, July 1, on the San Bernardino Valley College football field Repertoire includes a wide variety of musical genres and will culminate in Tchaikovsky's bombastic 1812 Overture and Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever performed to a dazzling fireworks display!

Explained Maestro Parnther, "After last summer's electrifying response to a taste of opera, we decided to expand on that this year and invite the colossal vocal talents of Jennifer Lindsay, Orson Van Gay II, and by popular demand, the return of Ashley Faatoalia So in addition to our patriotic fare, we'll explore the best in opera, including that of Gershwin, Bizet, Massenet, Gounod, Verdi, and Puccini I'm also excited to invite the brilliant duo of Jamie Carganilla and Drew Tablak as they perform some of my personal favorite Broadway hits from iconic productions like Chorus Line, Wicked, Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables, and Moulin Rouge "

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early with their picnic baskets or visit one of the many food trucks that will be on campus for Valley College's free SUMMERFEST event which begins at 5:30 p m SUMMERFEST will feature campus tours, information booths, and family activities

The concert begins promptly at 7:30 p m Both assigned table seating and general admission lawn/bleacher seating are available for purchase Children under age 12 are free, as is parking campus-wide

“San Bernardino Valley College is thrilled to host the highly anticipated 'America, the Beautiful' event, presented by the renowned San Bernardino Symphony once again," said Diana Z Rodriguez, Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District "I extend a heartfelt invitation to our esteemed alumni, beloved families, and passionate music lovers to join us for an enchanting summer evening under the stars Prepare to be captivated by the beautiful melodies of a live orchestra and make new memories that will last a lifetime ”

Tickets and Location Details

Assigned Table Seating at tables of eight is available at $30-$100 per seat General Admission grass/bleacher seating is also available at $10 per person (don't forget your lawn chairs and blankets!) Tickets may be purchased online at www sanbernardinosymphony org or by phone at (909) 381-5388 Monday through Friday Children under 12 are free and do not need a ticket

San Bernardino Valley College is located at 701 S Mt Vernon Avenue, San Bernardino The football field is located on the south side of campus

Inlandia Institute and River side Public Librar y Pr esent: “A Jour naling Jour ney fr om A-Zine: A Writing and Drawing Adventur e f or Kids Ages 9-12”

Community News

Calling all kids ages 9-12! This summer, join Inlandia Institute for a writing and drawing adventure, “A Journaling Journey from A-Zine,” at the Sgt Salvador J Lara Public Library in Casa Blanca The workshop will meet in person for six consecutive Fridays beginning July 7, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, with daily writing prompts delivered to parents’ inboxes via email Throughout the program, participants will learn how to create a blank “’zine” using materials supplied by Inlandia The daily prompts will provide new guided activities related to a letter of the alphabet – with a special focus on items that can be found in the Kathleen M Gonzalez Garden at the Lara, engaging their senses and activating their creativity

The program meets over the course of six Fridays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4 & 11, 2023 These Friday check-ins will help keep kids connected to their peers, and allow time for participants to share what they’re created Four facilitators with differing artistic skill sets will collaborate to develop activities and rotate through the weekly check-ins, with all participating in the culminating event on August 11 If your 9-12 year old is seeking a creative outlet this summer, Inlandia’s “A-Zine Writing and Drawing Adventure” could be the journey they’re looking for!

The Sgt Salvador J Lara Public Library is located at 2985 Madison Ave, Riverside, CA 92504

This workshop is free and open to children ages 9-12 A parental release and consent form is required: https://tinyurl com/A-Zine2023

Funding for this program has been provided by the E Rhodes and Leona B Carpen-

ter Foundation Additional funding is provided by the City of Riverside and the California Arts Council, a state agency Learn more at www arts ca gov

The Riverside Public Library system serves the City of Riverside Originally established in 1888, the library began in two upstairs rooms in the Hardy Building, located on what is now University Avenue It has now grown to a total of eight branches throughout the city The 10,000 square foot SSgt Salvador J Lara Casa Blanca Library opened in 2003 and houses close to 30,000 books, DVD’s, CD Books, Music CD’s and Spanish-language items In 2009, the Library was remodeled with new shelving units and computer stations to accommodate 18 adult and 12 children’s computers

SSgt Salvador J Lara Casa Blanca Library is now a “Family Place Library” and a center for early childhood information They have a collection of books, toys, DVDs, music CDs and other materials for babies, toddlers, parents, and service providers Additionally, they offer a PAL (Play and Learn) island and four Early Literacy Stations All items were funded by a grant from the E Rhodes and Leona B Carpenter Foundation

Inlandia Institute is a regionally focused literary and cultural arts nonprofit and publishing house whose mission is to promote literary activity in all its forms throughout Inland Southern California and to celebrate the region in word, image, and sound During the pandemic, Inlandia launched Inlandia at Home, a virtual events series, and continues to offer many workshops and events online For more event listings or to learn more about Inlandia, visit http://inlandiainstitute org

PHOTO SB SYMPHONY LIBRARY

The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert under the stars – with fireworks - July 2 at 7:30 p m on the San Bernardino Valley College Football Field

Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s Golf Classic R aises $200,000 f or the Redlands Community Hospital Center f or Cancer Car e

Community News

Golfers participated in the 41st Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s Golf Classic for the Ken Corwin Cup this month raising $200,000 for the Redlands Community Hospital Center for Cancer Care The tournament was held at the Redlands Country Club with 140 golfers participating

The annual tournament has evolved into Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) Foundation’s largest and most visible fundraising event The event raised vital funds through sponsorships, a live auction, raffles, and participant fees The tournament was managed by 60 volunteers from the Redlands Community Hospital Auxiliary, hospital staff, the community at large, and the Redlands Country Club

Live auction items included: Los Angeles Angels tickets donated by Tom Rochford, Dodger ’s tickets and a Lake Arrowhead cabin getaway donated by Golf Classic committee member Tom Cutler Bidding was lively for a one week stay at a cabin in Montana and a whiskey tasting party donated by Bob Driessnack, RCH Foundation board member The daylong event was co-chaired by Redlands residents Tom and Karen Kaney

“The Golf Classic is a fun day that brings the community together along with hospital staff and vendors to raise money for our Redlands Community Hospital,” said Kaney I have had surgery at RCH in 1978, 2008 and 2018 and my experience was excellent each time This is a day for everyone to support our hospital and have some fun,” Kaney said

Proceeds from the tournament will support the RCH Center for Cancer Care Can-

cer patients are now able to be treated close to home for diagnosis, infusion and radiation treatments

An award was given to the medical staff at RCH, who collectively are the largest financial contributors spanning the tournament’s history Dr Evan Houck, medical director of the emergency department at RCH, accepted the award on behalf of his colleagues

Hatfield Buick served as the hole-in-one sponsor, and offered a chance for golfers to demonstrate their excellence and win $35,000 towards the purchase of a new Buick on the par-3 third hole

“This tournament is so important to the hospital,” said Jan Opdyke, president of the RCH Foundation “Not only does it give the community and hospital staff an opportunity to enjoy a day of golf and friendship, but it raises a significant amount of money for important hospital programs that ultimately save lives We look forward to the tournament each and every year, and this year was no exception ”

The Ken Corwin Cup memorializes Kenton W Corwin, longtime president of the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation and a prime mover in the tournament’s creation Forty years later, his dedication and commitment continues to be reflected in the Golf Classic’s success

To learn more about the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation, visit: www redlandshospital org/foundation

Childr en and Famil y Ser vices Honor s 125 Foster Youth at Graduation Cer emony

Community News

On Friday, June 9, San Bernardino County Children and Family Services’ Independent Living Program (ILP) recognized 125 foster youth graduating from high school at the masquerade themed 2023 Senior Celebration ceremony

“I am so proud of each and every one of our graduates,” said Children and Family Services Director Jeany Zepeda “They will continue to be resilient and the best at whatever they put their minds to ”

Children’s Fund Chief Executive Officer Caesar Navarrete recognized the valedictorian, salutatorian and ILP honorees with scholarships from San Bernardino County Children’s Fund Each honoree was nominated by a Children and Family Services social worker

Many of the graduates achieved 4 0 grade

point averages and will be attending college this fall, including the University of Southern California, Chapman University and Crafton Hills Community College

The Independent Living Program serves foster youth in San Bernardino County between the ages of 16 and 21

The program is designed to support youth in successfully transitioning out of the foster care system Throughout the year, ILP offers foster youth life skills trainings, career exploration, job readiness and college preparation workshops

ILP staff includes Peer and Family Assistants who have lived experience in the foster care system and understand the challenges foster youth face

For information about San Bernardino County Children and Family Services please visit hs sbcounty gov/cfs

PHOTO RCH

Left to right: Neal Waner, RCH Board Member and Auctioneer; Kathy Meredith, RCH Foundation Board Chair; Tom Kaney, Honorary RCH Foundation Golf Classic Co-Chair; James R Holmes, Redlands Community Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer; and Jan Opdyke, RCH Foundation President receives $200,000 for the Redlands Community Hospital Center for Cancer Care

SBCUSD, Elected Of ficials and Employer s Celebrate Two Gold-Cer tified Linked Lear ning Pathways at San Andr eas High

Community News

San Andreas High School is excited to announce that it has been awarded prestigious Gold Certification by the Linked Learning Alliance, making it the first continuation high school in the nation to receive this national distinction

The Linked Learning Alliance, an organization that accelerates the adoption of high-quality educational pathways that engage adolescents, strengthen workforce readiness, and advance equity, recognized San Andreas High for its commitment to preparing students for both college and career success through its two innovative Linked Learning pathways

The Linked Learning Alliance, the SBCUSD Board of Education, and San Andreas High School will celebrate this groundbreaking recognition on Tuesday, June 20 at 5:30 p m at the Dr Margaret Hill Community Room, 777 North F Street in San Bernardino

Linked Learning integrates rigorous academics with real-world learning and strong support services to prepare students for success in college, career, and life Linked Learning pathways are designed to train high school students in fields that pay well and don’t necessarily require a college degree

San Andreas High School's Linked Learning pathways provide students with immersive, career-themed educational experiences that align with their interests and aspirations By connecting rigorous academic coursework with work-based learning and early college opportunities, San Andreas High School ensures that students are well-prepared for the full range of postsecondary options

The two Gold Certified pathways that prepare San Andreas High School students for postsecondary opportunities in the business and medical field are now national models of excellence Certification is based on a series of standards identified by leaders in the Linked Learning field as crucial for improving student outcomes and preparing all students for college and career

Gold Certification validates the quality of the college and career pathway and signifies high-quality implementation of core components and equitable opportunities for all students In total, San Bernardino City Unified has 7 Gold Linked Learning pathways and 15 Silver Linked Learning Pathways

Quality is key to Linked Learning experiences that prepare students to succeed in college and career Independent evaluation shows that students in certified Linked

Learning pathways have decreased dropout rates, higher graduation rates, more credits earned, more college preparatory courses completed, and improved workforce skills compared with similar peers in traditional high schools

“SBCUSD’s trailblazing Linked Learning efforts and continued commitment to high-quality practice have generated insights, inspiration, and, importantly, evidence on what really works for students,” said Anne Stanton, president, and CEO of the Linked Learning Alliance “We are proud to honor the potential and ambition of San Andreas students’ and celebrate the community’s progress toward a future where every young person is connected to purpose and prepared for the future they deserve ”

This seal of excellence comes six years after San Andreas High set out to establish its college and career pathways Linked Learning Program Specialist Roberta Figueroa, who has been at the forefront of establishing the school’s pathways, said San Andreas had to overcome hurdles that other mainstream high schools don’t have “This is a dream come true for us,” Figueroa said “When we first started this six years ago, a lot of people said it couldn’t be done ”

As part of the Business and Technology Pathway, students learn to grow produce hydroponically, which is then sold to local restaurants Students in the business academy will leave San Andreas with valuable credentials like a food handlers permit or forklift certification

Students who enroll in the Health Sciences Pathway train alongside staff from AMR, giving them hands-on exposure to careers in health care and earning credentials like American Heart Association Basic Life Support, first aid, and OSHA

“We are incredibly proud to be the first continuation high school to achieve Gold Certification from the Linked Learning Alliance," said Principal Dorie Stratton “This recognition validates the hard work and commitment of our educators, students, and community partners who have all contributed to the success of our Linked Learning pathways We believe in the potential of every student, and through our robust career-themed programs, we are preparing them for a bright future beyond high school ”

The Gold Certification is a significant milestone for San Andreas High School and serves as an inspiration for other continuation high schools across the region and state By demonstrating that even in non-traditional educational settings, students can receive a comprehensive education that prepares them for both college and ca-

reers, San Andreas High School is leading the way in redefining what is possible for young people

The Linked Learning Alliance is a statewide coalition of educators, employers, and community organizations that are committed to improving education outcomes for all students

Their Gold Certification is a rigorous process that evaluates and recognizes Linked Learning pathways for meeting the highest standards of excellence in four key areas: preparing students for college and careers, integrating academics with real-world experiences, fostering relationships with industry partners, and providing comprehensive support systems

The Linked Learning approach, piloted in nine California districts a decade ago, is now embraced as the high school strategy for a growing number of districts across the state

Currently, California lawmakers are considering $500 million in funding for college and career pathways critical investments in youth during their decade of difference, a period from ages 14 to 24, when research shows young people develop their identities, dispositions, and lifelong aspirations

These planned investments offer the opportunity to scale Linked Learning pathways like those offered at San Andreas, to even more underserved students throughout the state

San Andreas High School's Gold Certification from the Linked Learning Alliance not only highlights the exceptional achievements of the school but also underscores its commitment to transforming lives and providing equitable opportunities for all students

Through its innovative Linked Learning pathways, San Andreas High School is nurturing the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and professionals who will shape our community and society

San Andreas High School is a leading continuation high school located in Highland, California Committed to providing high-quality education for students who have faced various challenges in traditional educational settings, San Andreas High School offers a supportive learning environment that empowers students to succeed academically and personally With its innovative Linked Learning pathways, the school prepares students for both college and careers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary for future success