R I A L T O R E C O R D WWe e eekkllyy

Strategic

IECN Staff

Ahappy student's surprise is a joyous occasion for all

Ariel Gonzalez, W J C Trapp Elementary School third-grade student, had tears of joy in her eyes as she was revealed as the winn e r o f t h e n a t i o n a l S C J o h n s o n

Professional’s Happy Hands hand sanitizer d i s p e n s e r d e s i g n c o n t e s t i n t h e Kindergarten through Fifth Grade category

According to SC Johnson Professional representatives, the company had a record number of entries from across the United States in this year ’shand sanitizer design contest, which promotes creativity and good hand hygiene In the end, Gonzalez was voted as the grand prize winner Representatives from the company arrived on Timberwovles campus and surprised Gonzalez with news of her win at a school assembly on April 14

A s s t u d e n t s g a t h e r e d o u t s i d e , Tr a p p E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l B e r e n i c e Guiterrez hinted that this assembly would be “a little different ” Gonzalez stood s h o c k e d f o r a m o m e n t a s a b a c k d r o p a n n o u n c i n g h e r a s t h e H a p p y H a n d s

C a r o u s e l M a l l D e m o l i t i o n C e r e m o n y U s h e r s i n a N e w E r a f o r S a n B e r n a r d i n o ' s R e v i t a l i z a t i o n , A f t e r 6 Y e a r s o f A b a n d o n m e n t

By Manny Sandoval

Ov e r 3 0 0 n o s t a l g i c community members gathered at the main e n t r a n c e o f t h e s h u t t e r e d C a r o u s e l M a l l o n M o n d a y, April 24th, to commemorate the demolition of the severely dilapidated building, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a promising rebirth for downtown San Bernardino

At the Demolition Ceremony, San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran stated, "Many of us have w o n d e r f u l m e m o r i e s o f t h e Carousel Mall Unfortunately, over the years, activity slowed due to the changing economic environment, competition from a n e a r b y m a l l ( T h e I n l a n d Center), and the closure of the anchor stores On August 18th,

2 0 1 7 , t h e C a r o u s e l M a l l closed "

C o u n c i l m e m b e r T h e o d o r e Sanchez, Ward 1, reminisced his memories of the mall, saying, "I grew up coming to this mall It was once a beautiful place and a beacon of commerce Finally, the city is taking assertive action to do something to give back to the people of San Bernardino Some people said this is in bad taste But, no, it takes a lot of power and a lot of will to be strong enough to tear this down and promise people that something better is on its way "

Echoing similar sentiments, Councilmember Fred Shorett, 4th Ward, shared his connection to the mall "This is a milestone There are a lot of memor i e s h e r e I r e m e m b e r Christmas Eve nights scrambling around here shopping for gifts, so my wife would have a gift to open on Christmas morning," he said Shorett also mentioned that his great-grandfather, a councilman in the town, opened his lumber company in 1926, and some of the lumber used in the mall's construction in 1927 came from his company

Tran acknowledged the mall's subsequent decline, becoming a s a f e t y i s s u e r i f e w i t h t r e spassers and homelessness and plagued by a series of fires "We need to take immediate action," Tran declared "While this demolition symbolizes the end of an era that holds many Mall, cont on next pg

Contest winner came down Her classmates in Teacher Ms Shirley Lee’s third-grade class began to celebrate, and then as reality set in, Gonzalez began to walk up in front of her school Soon Gonzalez’s mother, Shirley Quintero, joined her and gave her daughter a big hug

Gonzalez was still in a state of surprised joy even after the assembly concluded

“I just feel happy,” Gonzalez said, with a smile “I didn’t know I was going to win I was surprised when the sign came down I was surprised that they were going to talk about the Happy Hands Contest I didn’t expect to win, and I just don’t know what happened?”

Gonzalez’s design features a bright pink and purple backdrop with two hands surrounded by soap bubbles It’s an excellent reminder for everyone to practice good hand hygiene

As the winner of the contest, Gonzalez receives a $300 general-use gift card, and Trapp Elementary School received a $1,000 towards the school Additionally, the Rialto Unified School District, home to Trapp Elementary School, receives up to 1,000 manual soap/sanitizer dispensers for their schools featuring Gonzalez’s award-winning design

“Today is a very festive day, a day of celebration,” stated Guiterrez “We are so excited because Ariel Gonzalez is the grand prize winner of the Happy Hands Contest Today we are celebrating her, her accomplishments, and her creativity Ariel created an amazing design and we are so excited that she was voted the winner of this national contest Our students loved getting involved in this year ’s Happy Hands contest Combining creativity with the importance of handwashing is an excellent reminder for us all to help keep each other safe ”

Trapp Elementary School has had a finalist for the Happy Hands Contest for three years running: Clemmie Taylor in 2021, Ricardo Gonzalez (who is actually Ariel’s brother) in 2022, and now Ariel

The annual contest promotes the importance of hand washing at school by encouraging K-12 students to use their creative skills and imagination to design a custom soap/sanitizer dispenser The five finalists in each of the K-5 and 6-12 categories were announced on February 1, and the public was able to vote for their favorite designs until the end of the month Staff from across the Rialto Unified School District joined in to vote for Gonzalez’s design while voting was open

Dr Rhea McIver Gibbs, RUSD Lead Strategic Agent and former Principal at Trapp Elementary School, was at the assembly and congratulated Gonzalez for her outstanding accomplishment

“Trapp Elementary is where students' creativity is nurtured and praised by excellent teachers,” Dr Gibbs stated “Congratulations, Ariel Congratulations to your family, teacher Ms Shirley Lee and thank you to SC Johnson for recognizing her innovative idea In recent years we have been reminded how important hand washing is Keeping stu- dents, teachers, and staff healthy is our number one priority We hope you see these special dispensers and it will remind you to practice good hygiene ”

Gonzalez submitted her design in the fall She said she did the best with the tools she had at her disposal The markers she used weren’t the freshest, but she managed to make it work to create a captivating design

“Some of them were dry, but I just had to squeeze hard,” Gonzalez smiled

Her dad, Ricardo Gonzalez, is a professional tattoo artist, and helped give her a few pointers on the design Ariel's talents took over from there

“I personally feel excited for her as an artist,” Ricardo said “I see her working hard at painting and drawing every day along with me It’s great to see something like that so that it can motivate her further She sees me drawing all the time By her own nature, she draws everywhere If we stay somewhere for a while she is bringing her pencils It’s just amazing to see ”

Her parents were informed that Ariel was the winner just days before the assembly and had to keep the news a secret Finally, as she was revealed as the winner, they got to celebrate alongside their daughter

“Contests like Happy Hands encourage kids to push even harder for the things they like, and we’ve noticed Ariel really likes art,” Quintero, her mom, said “I really hope she pursues it as an adult ”

Comic Con Revolution to Bring Together Unpr ecedented Cast of Avatar : T he Last Airbender & Power R anger s, Massive 12K Per son Experience in the IE

By Manny Sandoval

The Inland Empire’s premier family-friendly comic convention, Comic Con Revolution (CCR), is gearing up for an unprecedented, star-studded event at the Ontario Convention Center on May 20 and 21, 2023

The event promises a diverse, action-packed weekend featuring comic book legends, actors, wrestlers, voice actors, celebrities, cosplayers, writers, and more all in the Inland Empire’s backyard

“We wanted to build a family-friendly show and bring the best of the industry to the Inland Empire So we settled upon the IE in 2017 after doing shows in Long Beach, Chicago, Florida, and New York It’s a way for fans to come out and express themselves, and it’s right in the heart of Southern California,” said Drew Seldin, co-founder, and co-owner of Comic Con Revolution

Headlining the event is the first-ever reunion of the entire cast of the critically acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender This groundbreaking gathering has fans flying in from all over the world to witness this historic event In addition to the cast reunion, attendees can expect panel discussions, photo ops, and an unforgettable experience

“The panel will be packed out,” Seldin shared “We have people coming in from as far away as Australia, and it’s just inspiring to see someone that much of a fan of something ”

The event features a stellar lineup of first-time attendees, including Mercedes Varnado, better known as WWE superstar Sasha Banks and Koska Reeves from the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian; Scott Grimes and J Lee from The Orville; and Sean Kanan, the bad boy of karate from Cobra Kai In addition, comic book royalty like John Romita Jr , Chris Claremont, Jim Starlin, Whilce Portacio, and Marv Wolfman will also attend

“We’ve carefully curated a guest list that not only celebrates the best of the industry but also provides a truly unforgettable experience for fans of all ages In addition, our family-friendly focus means everyone can enjoy this incredible event,” added Seldin

Comic Con Revolution’s commitment to a familyfriendly environment is apparent in its ticketing policy, which allows up to two children aged 12 and under to attend for free with every adult ticket purchased “

The event also boasts appearances from Power Rangers stars Catherine Sutherland and Walter Jones and Carla Perez, who portrayed the villainous Rita Repulsa With such a diverse guest list, fans are sure to find something to suit their interests

As the excitement for Comic Con Revolution 2023 reaches a fever pitch, Seldin and his team are already looking ahead “We’re already planning for 2024 Our goal is to continue bringing the best of the industry to the Inland Empire while creating unforgettable experiences for our fans,” Seldin concluded

With an expected attendance of over 12,000 people, Comic Con Revolution 2023 is set to be an unforgettable experience for fans and guests alike For the latest information and to purchase tickets, visit comicconrevolution com/ontario

Mall fond memories, rest assured that the redevelopment of this property promises a rebirth of downtown San Bernardino "

The demolition process is set to commence in May and conclude in November 2023 Crews are currently working inside the building, cleaning out trash, debris, cables, and wiring The phased project will begin with demolishing the old Montgomery Wards building, followed by the old JC Penney Building, before destroying the main body of the structure

The Harris Building, which shut down in 1999 after opening on November 7th, 1927, will not be demolished, as it is privately owned by El Corte Ingles S A , a retail company based in Madrid, Spain, and reports have stated that they do not wish to sell the property However, several entities in San Bernardino are actively trying to negotiate a sale

Mayor Tran envisioned a brighter future for the space, saying, "Today, we look ahead This space will allow for new offices, commercial spaces, and affordable housing "

Although there was no explosion at the event, the council commemorated the start of the demolition by destroying an original Carousel Mall planter with a gold-plated sledgehammer, symbolizing the breaking of old barriers and the ushering in of new opportunities

Rialto Students Get an Up-close Educational Experience

on the Impor tance of Water and Water Conser vation

Community News

More than 800 3rd graders from across Rialto took part in a unique, immersive opportunity Wednesday to learn about water, and water conservation, as part of the City of Rialto’s annual Earth to Table Event

Classroom after classroom of students toured a state-of-the-art 1,000-square-foot bio-diesel science museum on wheels, featuring a 40-person multi-sensory theater and seven interactive stations

The Wyland Foundation Mobile Learning Experience features a running water display and provides classroom lessons tied to state standards

“What a wonderful opportunity this was for students across our city to learn about how water and the Earth impact every part of our lives, and the vital role they play in protecting our natural resources,” said Mayor Deborah Robertson, an annual supporter of the Wyland National Mayor ’s Challenge to Water Conservation Earlier this month, U S Rep Pete Aguilar visited Rialto and pledged his support of the Mayor ’s Challenge

“Making water conservation a way of life starts with our children,” Robertson said “With programs like this, students are inspired to share what they have learned with their parents and siblings I want to thank the Wyland Foundation, our schools and all of the City and community volunteers who brought this program to life ”

The Earth to Table Event took place alongside the City’s weekly Farmer ’s Market, and included educational booths on how the Earth provides the food we eat, the water we drink and the minerals and stones used to make household objects

The City holds this event each year around Earth Day, but this year ’s has special meaning, Robertson said

“The heavy rainfall we have received this year does not mean that our community should be lax about conserving water It is more important than ever that water conservation is viewed as a lifestyle of our community and that Rialto understands the value of each drop of water by not wasting it,” she said

The Wyland Foundation is named for the artist Wyland, whose life-sized murals of marine life span 12 countries on four continents

American political activist Angela Davis shar es 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, women 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 methodologies 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 Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – has always emphasized the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial and gender justice

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

Like many educators, Davis is especially concerned with the general tendency to devote more resources and attention to the prison system than to educational institutions Having helped to popularize the notion of a “prison industrial complex,” she now urges her audiences to think seriously about the future possibility of a world without prisons and to help forge a 21st century abolitionist movement

Making Hope Happen Foundation to Celebrate Local Her oes with the HOPE & K ar nig Awards

Community News

On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Making Hope Happen Foundation will be hosting its annual gala at the Sterling Natural Resource Center

They are throwing a party and honoring those who make their work possible with the HOPE Awards and the Karnig Award This year ’s gala theme is Mardi Gras and includes Cajun and Creole gourmet food, a hosted bar, awards, live music, magicians, Cirque du Soleil style acrobats, networking, opportunity to bid on student art, and a guarantee that your participation will make hope happen Experience it all in a unique, state of the art facility with amazing ponds, gardens, and lawns

“We are looking forward to a great event designed to bring people together to celebrate, network, and support the important work of the Making Hope Happen Foundation ” says Niki Dettman, executive director “We also want to recognize and honor the organizations and individuals who make San Bernardino stronger ”

This year’s HOPE and Karnig Awardees are:

Hero for Hope Award: Alexander Mattison, San Bernardino High School Alum & Minnesota Viking

Opportunity Makers Award: Inland Empire Community Foundation

Patron Award: Marilyn Karnig

Empowering Hope Award: Tomorrow’s Talent

Karnig Award: Latashia Kelly, Director of Child Development for the San Bernardino City Unified School District

“We are so grateful for the contributions each of our awardees has made to grow a vibrant San Bernardino We all have a role, and, together, we are working to uplift our city’s children, families, adults, businesses, neighborhoods and communities”, says Karen Suarez, Director of Uplift San Bernardino, a collective impact initiative for which the Making Hope Happen Foundation is the backbone, “and this work is so important for our future ”

Tickets are on sale now and sponsorships are still available For more information, please visit www makinghope org, email Gerzon Cesena at gerzon cesena@makinghope org or call (909) 245-1454