March 21, 2024

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By Dwight Brown Film Critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA News Wire

She was a pioneer. A political warrior. A woman who’s earned an esteemed place in “herstory.”

After Frederick Douglas (1848), Edwin Taylor (1904) and Channing E Phillips (1968). Before Jesse Jackson (1984), Alan Keyes (1992) and Barack Obama (2008), there was Shirley Chisolm (1972). All vied to be president of the United States. She was the only Black woman who dared to enter the ring. The first black candidate vying for a major-party nomination. First woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Distinctions that deserve more than just an honorable mention.

Giving Shirley Chisolm her due has been a passion project for actress/ producer Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) and her producing partner

and sister Reina King. Their love and respect for Shirley is in every frame of their bio/drama/history film. Respectively, the movie chronicles

Actor Commemorates Role in Classic Film About Inglewood

By Veronica Mackey

My, how time flies. Seems it was just 25 years ago when Duane Finley made his acting debut in the classic film “The Wood.” The coming-ofage story chronicles the lives of three 20-something friends, reminiscing about growing up in Inglewood on the eve of one the friend’s wedding. The film stars Taye Diggs, Richard T. Jones and Omar Epps.

Since playing the younger version of Richard T. Jones’ character, Young Slim, Duane is now a father and successful business owner with dozens of acting and producing credits. They include “The Script,” a new film starring Brad James and Keshia Knight Pulliam, a short film called “Jeremy,” Netflix’s “Karen,” “L.A. Undercover,” “House Party,” “His, Hers and the Truth,” and many more.

Born and raised in Inglewood, Duane landed the role while attending

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Aide Shakes Inglewood

By Inglewood Today Writer

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — A disturbing incident at a local middle school has left a student and his family in distress. Reports have emerged from Beulah Payne STEAM Academy where a teacher’s aide is accused of brandishing a knife at a student during a playground conflict.

Seventh-grader Ricardo Sandoval recounts the alarming experience, stating his disbelief and ongoing anxiety following the event. According to Sandoval, the altercation occurred during a physical education class when a ball inadvertently struck one of the aides. As he attempted to retrieve the ball, another aide aggressively confronted him, threatening to damage the ball with a pocket knife.

The incident promptly led Sandoval to seek help from a security guard and later inform his father of the frightening encounter. Raul Sandoval, the student’s father, expressed his concern and frustration, noting the impact of

Continued on page 7

the event on his son’s well-being, highlighted by a restless night filled with anxiety and fear.

Following an investigation into the incident, the Inglewood Unified School District confirmed that the aide involved has been apprehended, although details regarding potential criminal charges remain unclear. The district emphasized its immediate response to the situation, involving both school and local police authorities to address the serious allegations.

The Sandoval family has been offered therapeutic support by the Inglewood Police Department to assist Ricardo in coping with the aftermath of the traumatic experience.

This incident raises significant concerns about student safety and staff conduct within the educational environment, prompting a reassessment of security measures and staff training within the district.

Chisolm’s first days in Congress as a U.S. representative from New York City’s 12th district, which includes Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant.

Then recounts her decision to run for president and all the roadblocks that

Inglewood High School. He was selected out of 10 drama students to

Publisher’s Message

Reparation, Compensation

By Willie Brown

“2024 will be a big year for the reparations debate in California.”

This is the title of a recent article on the KPBS.org news blog.

The keyword here is debate. As expected, legislation of this magnitude could take years and years of back-and-forth discussions before anything concrete can be accomplished.

It sounds good on paper. But will it happen?

California Senator Steven Bradford, who represents Inglewood, certainly thinks so. He is a member of the California Black Legislative Caucus and one of nine members assigned to the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans .

hearings, and considered input from more than 100 expert witnesses and the public.

Black Caucus and Women Caucus

Host Sacramento Screening of “Respect My Crown”

On March 12, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the Legislative Women’s Caucus partnered to host a screening of the documentary “Respect My Crown: The Rise of African American Women in California Politics.”

The event, held at the Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento, was followed by a Q&A with the film’s director,

politicians, district attorneys and state officials. The film also touches on local city council persons and mayors such as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. It shows Black women’s footprints on the political landscape of California,” said McKinnor.

California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Marks Equal Pay Day With Website Launch; Renewed Call for Fairness

On March 12, National Equal Pay Day, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom reminded companies

As we all know the wheels of justice turn painfully slow, especially when Black folks are on the receiving end. For 2 years, the panel held 15 public

The result was a report that outlined key areas where Black people suffered racial violence, social and economic injustice. It contains a lot of history that Black Californians may not know.

For example, during the Gold Rush, beginning in 1848, Black people were enslaved by Southern Miners and brought to California to work. Two years later, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act—a law requiring white people in free states to help catch and re-enslave free Black people.

California passed its own Fugitive Slave Law in 1852 to reinforce the federal act, pledging to protect slave holders.

Task force advisors suggested the state owes Black Californians hundreds of millions of dollars for the harm they’ve suffered because of systemic racism. Denying rights to property, mass incarceration, gentrification, redlining, disparities in housing, health care, education, criminal justice and resulting economic losses are among the issues most noted.

Black people are in for a long uphill fight. And with other racial groups also beginning to advocate for reparations as well, there could be quite a bit of opposition. Still, I’m glad to live in a state that is at least considering reparations.

Will Black Californians receive actual dollars?

This is something that remains to be seen. Currently, lawmakers are looking at making amends by compensating families whose property was seized through eminent domain as a result of discrimination; making a formal apology for historical mistreatment; and banning forced prison labor with compensation of less than $1 an hour.

Pamela Bright-Moon, and its producer, Alisa Covington.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) was one of the organizers of the event co-created with the California Black Women’s Collective Institute.

“It was about celebrating and uplifting women for Women’s History Month,” said McKinnor, a member of CLBC. “(This film) itself is powerful and dynamic. It really takes you across California’s history and It takes you across Black women’s political history in Northern and Southern California.”

Respect My Crown” is a featurelength documentary film that explores the significant contributions of African American women in leadership in the areas of politics, labor, and community activism in the State of California.

McKinnor said the film starts with former California U.S. senator Kamala Harris becoming the first Black woman Vice President and ends with labor activist Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), who sworn in as a California State Senator in 2022. Between those milestones, the film traces the rich history of Black women in California politics, including the election of Yvonne Braithwaite Burke, the first Black woman elected to the California Legislature in 1966.

A number of state legislators and elected officials attended the event, including California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, who is featured in the documentary.

“We now have Black women

operating in California of their responsibility to pay women equitably and sign on to the California Equal Pay Pledge, which was first launched in 2019.

Siebel Newsom also announced the launch of a new website, the Equal Pay Playbook, a resource she says is a “key component” of the her gender equity strategy.

“Women are the backbone of their communities and the economy and the breadwinner or co-breadwinner in most households in the U.S., yet the gender wage gap continues to deliver the message that our work and our contributions have less value than men’s,” said Siebel Newsom.

“More than 200 Californiabased companies, organizations, and municipalities have signed the California Equal Pay Pledge -- more than doubling the number of Pledge signatories on Equal Pay Day in 2023,” according to a press release from Siebel Newsom’s office.

The same day, the U.S. Department of Labor released the findings of a study titled “Still Bearing the Cost.” It revealed that Black women lost $42.7 billion in wages compared to White men in 2023.

“These losses are driven entirely by the fact that Black and Hispanic women are concentrated disproportionately in jobs that, on average, pay lower wages than those held by White men,” a U.S. DOJ press release stated.

Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

By Charles Jackson

“This is a majority black and brown city, and I think the message should be that we should work together.”

~Councilwoman Gloria Gray

Nothing is perfect - including city council meetings. A quorum was

No Joy In Mudville

present for the city council successor agency, the housing authority, and the joint powers authority, but due to Mayor Butts’ absence, Eloy Morales was nominated to act as mayor pro tem.

After some important procedural matters, the council moved into one minute public comments. A gentleman

approached the lectern and voiced a complaint concerning his perception of improprieties with the management, and administration of Inglewood’s recently minted little league baseball league. In February the league opened up to reportedly 1500, thirteen and under aged players, but the speaker had questions.

events and schedules.

Other upcoming events announced during the meeting are free fruit trees for our neighbors. Stop by the park at 3400 Arbor Vita St. between 10 AM and Noon and upgrade your garden. On Saturday the 23rd, bring the

His concerns were directed to the city manager for further inspection. Council member Gray mediated the engaging back and forth and steered the meeting back onto positive ground.

For the record, the league registration has closed for this season, but now let the games begin. Contact: www.inglewoodlittleleague.org for

kiddies over to an afternoon of fun at a city sponsored Easter Eggstravaganza. Edward Vincent Jr. Park from 11 AM and 1 PM. Lastly, there is a planned town hall at 6 PM on March 25th, hosted at the senior center on Locust. See you next week.

California Housing Finance Agency Launches Loan Program for First Gen Home Buyers

Henderson | California Black Media

According to the California Association of Realtors 2023 buyer snapshot, 36% of homebuyers were first-time buyers. However, only 3% of homebuyers were African Americans. Nationally, as of last year, the home ownership rate for Black households was 45.9%. This figure is 28.6 percentage points lower than the rate for Whites, at 74.4%.

Historically in America, homeownership has been one of the pillars for building generational wealth. That fact has led some advocates in California to argue that the alarmingly low home purchasing rates for Blacks signify a need to develop more programs and opportunities to expand access to home loans and down payments.

To that end, the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) is rolling out the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan Program for qualified Californians. The program is specifically focused on including firstgeneration homebuyers in traditionally underserved communities.

“There are so many people in California that have a good income, who have good jobs, credit, all that, but haven’t been able to save up for a down payment,” said Eric Johnson, Information Officer for CalHFA

Marketing and Communications Division during a news briefing on the subject hosted by Ethnic Media Services.

“Also, they haven’t had the benefit of that intergenerational wealth. Having parents -- if your parents were able to buy home or your grandparents, even -being able to pass that down. So many members of the Black, Asian American,

Latino and Native communities have not had that advantage. So, a lot of them are first-generation home buyers, the first people in their own families who were able to buy homes. So that’s what we’re really trying to do with this program.”

The program is offering qualified applicants a loan of up to 20% of the purchase price or $150,000, whichever

is less. For example, if a buyer is interested in a $600,000 house, CalHFA may offer them a loan of up to $120,000. It will bring down the amount of their first mortgage from $600,000 down to about $480,000, which would significantly reduce monthly payments.

Continued on page 4

Edward

Serving Ladera, Hawthorne, Westchester, Lawndale, Gardena, Carson

Area Communities Help Low-Income Citizens Keep Their Access to the Internet

By Veronica Mackey

ColorofChange.org

needs your help in urging Congress to pass important legislation that will more people access to affordable internet service.

It’s especially important for Black families because nearly 30% of Black households do not have a broadband connection at home. Black households in dense, urban areas like Baltimore and Chicago are twice as likely to not have a high-speed internet subscription compared to white households.

This is why Congress must act quickly to pass the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program through the Federal Communications Commission that provides $14.2 billion to help ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, health care and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. This program was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) to expand high-speed broadband across 50 U.S. states and territories.

low-income families who have been benefiting from this program will have a harder time paying for internet service. Funding for ACP is set to expire on April 30. That should not and cannot happen.

If this program is discontinued,

Continued from page 3: California...

“Another important thing about that 20% number is a lot of times it will make it so you do not have to pay mortgage insurance on your loan, which can add a pretty hefty amount to your mortgage payment every month,” said Johnson. “Now you do have to pay that 20%. You do have to pay it back when you sell or refinance the home. And what’s going to happen is you pay back that original amount plus 20% of whatever you have gained in the sale of the home.”

Funds received from homes sold or refinanced will go towards funding the

Funding for this program NEEDS to

be a priority for Congress and impacts people regardless of their political party affiliation. With ACP funding set to expire at the end of April, members of Congress regardless of their party affiliation, must act.

You can support this effort by completing the online petition at https://act.newmode.net/action/colorchange/urge-congress-fund-broadbandaccessibility

next round of applicants. The first round of loans issued in April 2023 helped about 2,000 home buyers. With an additional $250 million in funding from the California Legislature, CalHFA is trying to help another 1,600 to 2000 homebuyers in the second round of the program. There are stipulations on the funding received by the Legislature that add emphasis to aiding first time minority homebuyers.

Here are some qualifications for applicants:

•You must be a first-time home buyer.

•At least one person on the loan has

to be a California resident.

•Your parents cannot currently own a home or at the time of their passing if deceased.

•If you were ever in the foster care system you can be part of the program.

•Income limit of $150,000 in Los Angeles County, $185,000 in San Diego, $234,000 in Alameda County

•You must have a credit approval letter from a partnered lender listed on the CalHFA website.

•You must submit your application between April 3 and April 29.

Qualified applicants will be entered

into a lottery. Names will be drawn digitally and those selected to receive the voucher will be notified.

People selected can use the vouchers with the backing of one of CalHFA’s approved lenders. Recipients would be allowed 90 days to find a home and to use the $150,000 towards the mortgage.

You can watch a video on the CalHFA website to get additional information about the program and how to apply or learn more about the qualifications for and the partnering lenders who can aid you with the application process.

2024 MLB Season Opener in

A Grand Slam of Sports, Culture,

By Inglewood Today Writer

As the 2024 MLB season kicks off, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are set to make history in Seoul, South Korea, turning the season opener into an epic international event. The excitement is palpable among Southern California fans, as this is no ordinary season start but a grand celebration of baseball and wanderlust combined. However, diving into this adventure entails a closer look at the financial implications. Our comprehensive analysis lays out the expected costs for airfare, accommodations, game tickets, and explores Seoul’s can’tmiss sights for a well-rounded journey.

Budget Breakdown: Planning Your Seoul Adventure

To ensure a smooth trip from Southern California to Seoul, we’ve prepared a financial overview to help fans budget for this once-in-a-lifetime experience:

Adventure

Note: These estimates are for two adults and can vary based on when you book, your dining choices, and the activities you select.

Discover Seoul Beyond the Diamond Seoul offers a vibrant blend of the ancient and modern, enriching your trip beyond the baseball games.

Highlights include:

Gyeongbokgung Palace: Dive into Korea’s royal heritage at this historical landmark.

Myeongdong Shopping Street: A haven for food lovers and those looking to shop.

N Seoul Tower: Breathtaking views of Seoul’s cityscape await.

Bukchon Hanok Village: Wander through charming streets lined with traditional Korean homes.

Adding these sites to your itinerary enhances your Seoul trip, offering peaceful moments amidst the baseball excitement.

Unforgettable Experiences

The MLB season opener in Seoul represents a substantial investment, combining the thrills of international sports, cultural exploration, and travel into one package. For the devoted fan

Final Thoughts: Balancing Costs with

and the keen traveler, the experiences and memories to be

expenses involved.

As you plan your journey, use this guide as a base to weigh the costs and discover the rich experiences Seoul has to offer. Beyond just attending a game, this trip is an opportunity to dive into a new culture, explore a dynamic city, and celebrate the global impact of America’s beloved sport.

Continued from page 1: Actor...

audition for the part.

“My teacher felt I was a natural because I was born here, I knew my way around Inglewood and I knew the culture and lingo. I’ve been all over L.A. I graduated from Inglewood High, I went to Washington High, Henry Clay and Crozier Jr. High School.”

While at Utah State University, pursuing a degree in business marketing, Duane’s mother called to tell him, “There were billboards with my face all over town.” By the time he returned to L.A. for Spring Break, Duane was a recognizable figure in the film industry.

Thanks to his father, however, Duane grew up to become an entrepreneur as well. After getting laid off from his corporate job, the senior Mr. Finley,

Continued from page 1: Shirley...

ensued.

What it doesn’t do is give the audience her backstory. Early events that would help viewers understand how she got her drive, ambition and keen ability to stand up to bullies. Many biofilms just show a section of their subject’s life. A segment or period that’s usually the most profound. For instance, Bob Marley: One Love concentrated largely on the making of his classic album Exodus. But he’s a world-famous figure. Chisolm is not. Viewers will yearn to know more about her childhood, academic accomplishments (Columbia University graduate) and early career.

opened a business.

“My father parlayed cash from “The Wood,” and got a business loan so we could have something, and I wouldn’t have to worry about ever getting fired,” Duane said.

Some 25 years and 800 clients later, My Mailbox, a full-service mailbox rental company at 3651 La Brea Ave., has expanded to include Fins Livescan, Notary Public and Tax Preparation. “Companies need to be multifaceted in our community,” he said. “We need to use our brick and mortar to house more than just one store.”

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Duane is helping his teenage son build credit “so he’ll be able to buy a building one day, not just a house.” .

When he’s not working on a film or

running his company with his brother, Duane volunteers at local schools, and is currently involved in a financial literacy program at Dorsey High School.

Upcoming films, “Royal Bloodline”

“The Script,” “LA Undercover2” and “The Waterboy” are expected to be released this year.

Duane Finley will make a special guest appearance at the Rooftop Cinema Club in downtown L.A. on March 27 at 7pm for a screening of “The Wood.”. For tickets and more information, visit https://rooftopcinemaclub.com/losangeles/dtla/film/8028-the-wood/

On the first day of Congress in 1969, on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., a new class of freshmen poses for a photo. One member stands out. Shirley Chisolm (King). She’s Black. She’s a woman. The rest are white men. Fighting for her place in the U.S. House of Representatives starts immediately when she’s assigned to the Agricultural Committee. Conventional wisdom says take your first assignment and be grateful. Not knowing anything about a farmer’s life, Shirley fights her way off that committee and onto another. And so, it begins. Conventions thrown out the window. Chisolm finds her own path.

In the paint-by-numbers script, as written by writer/director John Ridley, historical characters are assembled, and Chisolm’s journey is charted. The depth of the characters is never more than surface. The rivalries, jealousies, saviors, detractors, supporters and backstabbers too. Don’t fault the actors, they give solid-to-excellent performances. But none are better than the words on the page. Except King.

When Shirley expresses her intentions to run, her campaign advisor, Wesley McDonald “Mac” Holder (Lance Reddick, The Wire), is blunt: “Shirley if you run you can’t win.” Shirley chides him: “Well not with that attitude!” And so, she builds her inner circle: Arthur Hardwick Jr., (Terrence Howard), who’d served with Shirley in the New York State Legislature helps with strategy. Stanley Thompson

(Brian Stokes Mitchell) campaign manager. Robert Gottlieb (Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea), a white Cornel law student becomes her student organizer. While Barbara Lee (Christina Jackson, Devotion), Chisolm’s young protégée, acts as her liaison to the Black community and a link to the influential Black Panthers. Treachery is sprinkled along the way. Some of the sneaky trickery comes from Black politicians, like Walter Fauntroy (Andres Holland, Moonlight) and Ron Dellums (Dorian Missick).

Add in noted figures George Wallace (W. Earl Brown) and Huey P. Newton (Brad James), and this film becomes a fairly intriguing “Who’s Who” in Black politics and American history.

The direction seems perfunctory. No great artistry was exhibited. No huge mistakes were made. Ramsey Nickell’s (American Crime) camerawork captures the at-home and tense confrontations between Shirley and her overly understanding husband and head of security Conran (Michael Cherrie). An awkward outdoor meeting between Shirley and Huey at the home of Diahann Carroll (Amirah Vann, Underground) is displayed, too. Shirley “I’m going to force all the politicians to earn our votes!” Huey: “You gonna do all that? A schoolteacher from Brooklyn?” Shirley: “Yes I am just a schoolteacher from Brooklyn, and Harriet was just a slave.” In general, the dialogue is thoughtful. But it’s likely these conversations are not verbatim, and at times seem too manufactured.

All production elements are adequate

for a TV movie: production design Dina Goldman; costumes Megan Coates; set decoration Jon L. Bush and Imogene Lee and art direction Danny Brown. That’s minus some parts of the soundtrack that seem like placeholder music, and not a score. A theatrical release would expose flaws. A Netflix release on the little screen is just right. Plot pieces, peaks and valleys are pulled together decently. Slowly it all starts to gel, build momentum and become educational and fascinating. But there isn’t a real climax. No satiating crescendo.

Through it all, Regina King releases a fire that retrieves the spirit of Shirley Chisolm from the less-read pages of history books. The accent, courage and determination are all in King’s bravura performance. She was right to champion this production. For Chisolm’s sake, and as a showcase for her supreme talent. Another acting kudo goes to Terence Howard who shows great restraint as Arthur Hardwick, Jr., the voice of reason. His performance is nuanced. Magnetic in the most subtle way.

This is a history lesson worth learning. A political shero worth knowing. Some viewers will wish Chisolm’s legacy was kept alive in a more unique and distinguished way. While some will be grateful for any introduction to her groundbreaking achievements.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hjBeKNHIdMY

Visit Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.

FOR

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS

Petitioner: Somtoochukwu Gabriella-Tony Muonagor, 735 N. Eucalyptus

Apt 1, Inglewood, CA 90302, has filed a petition with the Superior Court Of California, Torrance Courthouse, 825 Maple Avenue, Torrance, CA 90503, to change the name.

FROM: Somtoochukwu Gabriella-Tony Muonagor –

TO: Somtoochukwu Gabriella-Tony Okpala

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing on, April 12, 2024, 8:30 A.M., Dept. P, to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name change described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the

without a hearing.

Continued from page 2: Political...

Black Caucus Members Participate in Women’s History Month Ceremony on the Assembly Floor

Two California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) members, Assemblymembers Akilah Weber (DLa Mesa) and Mike Gipson (D-Carson)

Gavin Newsom’s California for All initiative, last week announced that it is recruiting hundreds of young people in the across the state to participate in its paid service programs aligned with opportunities to solve some of the state’s most challenging problems

to Los Angeles during her time serving as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development helped bring thousands of Angelenos inside and directly impacted our ability to urgently save lives – and for that, our city is grateful. I’ve spoken with Secretary Fudge about this decision and she has ensured that the transition at the Department will be smooth and that Los Angeles will continue to have a partner at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and especially with the Biden-Harris Administration.”

Bass, who has made addressing homelessness her top priority, said Fudge understands the country’s housing problems and realizes that “a one-size-fits-all approach” is not the solution.

“The country needs policies and programs that can adapt to meet a community’s unique housing and homelessness challenges. Her work has helped us bring Angelenos inside faster and save lives by cutting red tape, helping us secure waivers, supporting our efforts by recognizing Los Angeles as an initial pilot city for ALL INside, and supporting us with millions of dollars in funding, added Bass.

legislation that would standardize active shooter drills in California schools.

AB 1858, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-El Cajon) would ban simulated gunfire and notify students in advance of the drills.

“I was honored to join Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to speak about the importance of AB 1858, which will provide muchneeded standardized guidelines for school shooter drills,” wrote Gipson on Facebook.

“The bill would require, on or before June 15, 2025, the State Department of Education to curate and post on its internet website best practices pertaining to school shooter or other armed assailant drills for use by school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, as provided,” the language of AB 1858 states. “The bill would prohibit a school district, county office of education, or charter school from conducting a school shooter or other armed assailant drill unless it adopts policies that conform to these best practices.”

were among the speakers during a special ceremony organized by the California Women’s Caucus last week to celebrate Women’s History Month.

During the ceremony, lawmakers from different groups in the Legislature and the 50-member strong Women Caucus paid tribute to several remarkable women from California and across the United States and urged their colleagues to pass House Resolution (HR) 72, legislation that declared March as Women’s History Month.

“I rise on behalf of the members of the California Legislative Black Caucus and the incredible women of that Caucus in support of this resolution and thank our colleagues for bringing this very important piece of legislation before us today,” said Gipson during the event held on the floor of the State Assembly on March 11. Last week, Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), also a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), said she was “extremely honored” to escort Sen. Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), before she was honored.

“Your groundbreaking career is unparalleled, and I am proud we represent San Diego County together,” Weber posted on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter.

Gipson paid tribute to the five women mwmvwea of the CLBC: Sen. Lola Smallwood Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymembers Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), Mia Bonta (D-Alameda) and Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood).

The Assembly leadership honored Janette Robinson Flint, founder of Black Women for Wellness, at the ceremony. She was escorted to the floor by Mckinnor and Assemblymember Rebacca Bauer-Kahan (D-Walnut Creek).

California Service Corps Announces Effort to Recruit Thousands of Young People

California Volunteers, part of Gov.

like climate change, hatred, education disparities, and more.

Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson joined Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer at the event organized to celebrate the first anniversary of California Volunteers launch of its Job Corps fellow program in Riverside and to announce the new recruitment.

Lock Dawson said in Riverside alone, 100 California Volunteer college job corps fellows have been placed with a number of organizations.

“Governor Newsom and California Volunteers working in partnership with leaders like Mayor Lock Dawson believe that service has the power to connect us. Service has the power to teach us,” said Fryday.

“We are announcing today here in Riverside to recruit across the State of California over 10,000 members of the California Service Corps,” said Fryday. “We need your help getting the word out about CaServiceCorps.com where you can find out about all the opportunities to fit your needs and your passion.

“You don’t have to let your past define your future. In fact your future is now and it starts today with the Service Corps,” said Lock Dawson.

Mayor Bass Recognizes Outgoing U.S. H.U.D. Secretary for Impactful Contributions to L.A.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass thanked outgoing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Marcia L. Fudge, for her “exemplary service” and impactful contributions to California largest city after she announced her retirement last week.

“Secretary Fudge’s contributions

Asm. Mike Gipson Backs Bill Calling for Standardization of Active Shooter Drills Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) announced last week that he is backing Assembly Bill (AB) 1858,

“When it comes to fire drills in California schools, we are not filling the halls with smoke and turning up the thermostat. We should not be subjecting our kids to fake gunmen and simulated gunfire when it comes to active shooter drills,” said Ward.