Corporate America’s retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments is already having significant repercussions, with consumer boycotts, stock fluctuations, and mounting legal battles reshaping the f inancial landscape for major firms. Companies that once championed DEI efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder have begun to abandon these initiatives under mounting conservative pressure, only to face economic and public relations consequences of their own.
Target is at the center of a lawsuit alleging it misled investors about its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and DEI policies. The lawsuit argues that Target’s messaging led to widespread boycotts following its 2023 LGBTQ+ Pride campaign, which extended into a 2024 backlash. The impact on the retailer’s bottom line has been undeniable, with Target’s stock price experiencing a sharp decline. On a recent trading day, shares dipped another 28 cents. Further, Blue Chip Partners LLC reduced its holdings in Target by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, selling more than 10,000 shares.
See DEI PLEDGES page 2
Chandra Reid, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Reid has served as a Commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2021. She served as a Deputy District Attorney in several roles at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office from 2005 to 2021. She served as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Diego City Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2004. Reid received a Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kenneth Medel. Reid is a Democrat.
THE POWER OF A CALL: RING YOUR REPS!
In an era where digital messages can be easily ignored, a ringing phone remains one of the most powerful tools for holding lawmakers accountable. To get ahold of your local, state, and federal politicos, a phone call far surpasses sending an email or a long-winded social media rant. Ringing lines can force congressional offices to take immediate notice.
Now, more than ever is the time for resistance, voice, and action.
Whether you're urging action on an issue or holding officials accountable, persistence is key—here’s how to get in touch with your local officials.
Call Your Members of Congress: For the “big stuff”
Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. government, consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
See RING page 2
By NNPA
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign across the nation in direct response to those corporate entities that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing. NNPA Chairman Emeritus Danny Bakewell Sr. explained, “Now is the time for the Black Press of America once again to emphatically speak and publish truth to power.”
See NNPA page 13
Kate McKinnon
On the night of July 1, 1839, 53 enslaved Africans revolted aboard the slaving schooner La Amistad — Spanish for “Friendship” — while they were being shipped to a plantation in Puerto Príncipe, Cuba.
Kidnapped and trafficked from modern-day Sierra Leone to Havana on a larger vessel, they had been transferred to the smaller La Amistad to reach Puerto Príncipe.
A 25-year-old man named Sengbe Pieh led the rebels, who suffered 10 fatalities in the fray. They still managed to kill the captain, Ramon Ferrer, and take control of the ship, ordering the surviving crew to return them to Sierra Leone. But the crew instead sailed the vessel north, where it was captured in Long Island Sound.
With the rebels detained in Connecticut, their fate would be decided by the state’s legal system.
See AMISTAD page 2
ARTICLE CONTINUATION
dei pledges
Despite dropping its own DEI initiative, Walmart has fared better than Target, even as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund recently divested from the retailer. On Feb. 14, Walmart’s stock slipped from $105.30 per share opening to $103.60, a minor dip compared to the larger financial instability seen elsewhere.
Other corporations abandoning DEI commitments are feeling the strain in different ways. Ford, which eliminated its DEI program, is now facing what many argue is the karma of a staggering $2.5 billion in punitive damages from a recent jury verdict in Columbus. McDonald’s has seen its stock continue steadily declining, falling to $308.55 per share, with Blue Chip Partners LLC also selling off its holdings in the fast-food giant. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, preparing to comply with executive orders to dismantle DEI programs, have also taken hits. Coca-Cola’s stock dropped by more than 63 cents, while PepsiCo saw a more than $1.19 per share decline.
California has two Democratic senators, Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla. Both senators represent the state’s interests by drafting and voting on federal laws, approving presidential appointments, ratifying treaties with other nations, and advocating for federal resources and policies on behalf of constituents.
Adam Schiff, Democrat, DC Office: (202) 2243841
Alex Padilla, Democrat, DC Office: (202) 2243553, San Diego Office: (619) 239-3884
California has 52 representatives in the U.S. House. State representatives create laws, propose bills, and advocate for their district’s interests at the federal level.
There are five members of the U.S. House of Representatives whose districts fall within San Diego County.
• Sara Jacobs, Democrat, District 51, San Diego: (619) 280-5353
• Juan Vargas, Democrat, District 52, Chula Vista: (619) 422-5963
• Darrell Issa, Republican, District 48, San Marcos: (760) 304-7575
• Mike Levin, Democrat, District 49, Oceanside: (760) 599-5000
• Scott Peters, Democrat, District 50, San Diego: (858) 455-5550
Not sure which district you are in? Look it up: https://www.house.gov
AMISTAD
A remarkable set of 22 drawings reveal the faces of these rebels, providing a rare glimpse into their humanity when they were affirming their right to live free.
I served as the lead historian and researcher for an exhibition where three of these portraits are now on display, “In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World,” at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Few images exist
In 1808, the United States, along with a host of other countries, banned the participation of its citizens in the transportation of enslaved people from Africa to the Americas. Nonetheless, at least 2.8 million Africans were brought to the Americas between 1808 and 1866, primarily to work on sugar plantations in Brazil and Cuba. Shippers, plantation owners, merchants and crews reaped massive profits.
But historians know very little about the individuals aboard these slave ships. More often than not, their existence was reflected in numbers on ledgers and spreadsheets. Their birth names, birth dates, family histories — anything that would have humanized them — were hard to come by.
Portraits of enslaved people from the 19th century were also unusual. Enslavers often viewed them as mere chattel and not worth the expense and effort of commissioning a painting. If they
Some companies that have retreated from DEI, such as Meta and JPMorgan Chase, have managed to hold their ground. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has cozied up to MAGA figures, shielding the company from harsher backlash. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has long advocated for diversity, recently downplayed DEI training programs, insisting the bank’s approach to minority communities remains unchanged. The company’s stock has remained steady at $276.59.
Citigroup and Morgan Stanley have also largely avoided financial fallout, maintaining relatively stable stock prices despite walking back their diversity commitments. However, Citigroup’s decision to remove or alter its public-facing DEI language has drawn criticism. Goldman Sachs took a similar step, scrapping a requirement that companies it takes public must have at least two diverse board members, citing legal developments.
The entertainment and media industries are not immune. Disney has overhauled its DEI initiatives, dropping its “Reimagine Tomorrow”
Call Your State Legislator
The California State Legislature includes the California State Senate and the California State Assembly.
The California State Senate has 40 members with 4-year terms, representing larger districts. There are four members of the California State Senate with districts in San Diego County. Find out who your state senator at https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/.
• Akilah Weber Pierson, Democrat, District 39: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4039, San Diego: (619) 688-6700
• Steve Padilla, Democrat, District 18: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4039, Chula Vista: (619) 409-7690
• Brian Jones, Republican, District 40: Sacramento Office: (916) 651-4038, Escondido, (760) 796-4655, San Diego, (858) 547-3818
Meanwhile, The California State Assembly has 80 members with two-year terms, representing smaller districts on more local and specific issues. There are seven assembly districts within San Diego County.
• LaShae Collins, Democrat, District 79: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2079, La Mesa: (619) 465-7903
did appear in art, it was in the background as loyal servants, helpless victims or stereotypical brutes.
Putting faces to the names
That’s what makes these drawings, created by Connecticut artist William H. Townsend during the trial, so remarkable.
Historians don’t know exactly why Townsend decided to draw them, only that he lived locally and sat in the courtroom during the trial. In 1934, these portraits were donated to
website and adjusting diversity-related content warnings. While Disney’s stock has fluctuated, it recently slightly increased by 79 cents. Meanwhile, PBS has shuttered its DEI office, citing the need to comply with anti-DEI executive orders.
Corporate compliance with Trump-aligned policies is also apparent in the beverage and consulting industries. Bloomberg reported that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are adjusting their policies to align with federal contract regulations. Deloitte has told U.S. employees working with government clients to remove pronouns from their email signatures, rolling back its DEI goals. Accenture, another major consulting firm, has eliminated diversity targets in hiring and promotion, citing the Trump administration’s stance.
Retailers and financial institutions are also responding. Lowe’s has merged its employee resource groups under one umbrella and cut its participation in external diversity events.
Truist Financial Corp. recently trimmed its stake in Lowe’s, selling off over 39,000 shares. Meanwhile, Amazon omitted DEI language
from its latest SEC filing, signaling a broader shift in corporate strategies. Boeing has dismantled its DEI department, folding those responsibilities into human resources.
Consumer and activist backlash has been swift. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, has launched a national public education and selective buying campaign in response to corporate America’s retreat from DEI. The NAACP has also issued a spending guide identifying businesses that have abandoned or upheld diversity commitments. Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta has called for a 40-day economic fast against Target, urging 100,000 people to halt spending at the retailer. Bryant noted that Target had pledged $2 billion toward Black-owned businesses but rescinded that commitment in January.
“Black people spend $12 million a day at Target,” Bryant said on the Black Press’ Let It Be Known news program. “Because of how many dollars are spent there and the absence of commitment to our community, we are focusing on Target first.”
• Carl DeMaio, Republican, District 75: Sacramento Office: (916) 3192075, San Diego: (858) 566-7538
• Darshana Patel, Democrat, District 76: Sacramento Office: (916) 3192076, San Diego: (858) 675-0760
• Christopher Ward, Democrat, District 78: Sacramento Office: (916) 319-2078 , San Diego: (619) 280-7801
• David Alvarez, Democrat, District 80: Sacramento Office: (916) 3192080 , Chula Vista: (619) 498-8580
Finding the right words to begin your call may be challenging, especially with so much happening. Civic organizations, such as Five Calls, have created an app to guide constituents through the process. With the motto “Spend 5 minutes, make 5 calls,” the platform provides issues, scripts, and contact information for politicians for users based on their location.
In an interview with the Washington Post, app developer and owner Rebecca Kaufman, shared that the app has generated 700,000 calls in the past week.
A phone call is more than just a message—it’s a call to action. Ring your reps today!
Yale University’s Beinecke Library by one of Townsend’s descendants.
While his motivations for drawing these portraits remain unclear, the humanity he depicted is clear. The expressions of his subjects often evoke both their resistance and their desire for freedom.
Fuli, one of several captives who had stolen water on board the vessel and had been ordered flogged by Captain Ferrer during the voyage, gazes at the viewer with a solemn, self-possessed air. It’s easy to imagine him as a leader steeled by all the suffering he experienced over the course of his journey.
Marqu — or Margru — was one of the three young girls who were aboard the Amistad. In her portrait, she gently smiles – a glint of a personality that’s persevered despite the trauma of the voyage and her time spent in prison awaiting trial.
Grabo — or Grabeau — was second-in-command to Pieh in the revolt. He was a rice planter and was married at the time of his capture, and was enslaved to repay a debt his family owed. In his portrait, he gazes with his eyebrows raised — inquisitive, proud and at ease.
Lights of freedom
Despite their different facial expressions, the three appear to be united in their collective determination to be agents in their own liberation. In Pieh’s words: “Brothers, we have done that which we purposed… I am resolved it is better to die than to be a white man’s slave.”
The lawyers hired by abolitionists to represent the 53 surviving rebels – Roger S. Baldwin, Theodore Sedgwick and Seth Staples – argued that they rebelled because “each of them are natives of Africa and were born free, and ever since have been and still of right are and ought to be free and not slaves.”
Eventually, the case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court found that because the captives aboard the Amistad were free at the time of their capture in Long Island, they could not be considered property of Spain.
The verdict became a landmark case for litigating the illegal slave trade, which continued to expand over the next two decades until finally ending in the 1860s. The Amistad rebels inspired other captives: In 1841, as the American ship Creole traveled between Richmond, Virginia, and New Orleans, those on board revolted, wresting control of the ship and sailing it to the Bahamas, where they eventually gained their freedom.
These portraits, like the testimony in court and the revolt onboard the Amistad, bring the massive, messy, contested story of slavery down to the scale of individual humans. Their visages call upon present and future generations to collectively imagine not only the horrors of the slave trade, but also the power of individual dignity and collective resistance.
They light the darkness — in the 1840s and in the world today.
This originally appeared on The Conversation.
IMAGES: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint
By Jasmyne Cannick
OWHEN HIP-HOP SOLD ITS SOUL FOR A STACK
The Hijacking of Hip-Hop: Money Over Morals
nce upon a time a long time ago in a land not that far away, hip-hop was the voice of the streets. It was a movement, a message, and a megaphone for Black empowerment and communal struggle. Born from block parties and sound systems in the Bronx, it was raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically Black. It wasn’t just music, it was a blueprint for survival. But somewhere along the way, the cipher got hijacked by the almighty dollar, and now we’re left wondering: when did hip-hop trade its soul for a stack?
They Caught the Vapors
Let’s talk about some names—Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, Nelly, and the Doggfather himself, Snoop. These are the same artists who once rode waves of Black creativity, who stood on the shoulders of a community that built them up, only to later moonwalk into Donald Trump’s inaugural events like it was a VIP lounge. And yes, Black people have every right to critique that. These men owe their fame to the culture we created. The beats, the bars, the slang—none of it exists without us. But when the culture needed them to stand for something bigger than their bottom line, they cashed the check and danced anyway.
The hypocrisy is staggering. These Black hiphop artists celebrating the election of Donald Trump is baffling enough, but the timing adds insult to injury. In Trump’s very first hours in office, the man they were hyping up wasted no time signing executive orders that directly harmed the same Black and Brown communities that built these artists’ careers, including his pardoning of leaders from extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers— organizations tied to white supremacist ideologies and violent white-power movements. The communities that bought these artists’ albums, filled their concert venues, and turned them into icons deserved loyalty—not performances for a man who championed policies and alliances that screamed contempt for those same fans. It’s a betrayal that makes their actions not just tone-deaf but outright disgraceful.
And it must be mentioned that Snoop Dogg’s decision to perform at a Trump-related event directly contradicts his outspoken criticism of Trump in 2017. Back then, he didn’t mince words. He was vocal about rejecting Trump and everything he stood for, position-
ing himself as someone who wouldn’t sell out for any price. Fast forward to now, and his involvement in a Trump celebration feels like a complete 180, leaving fans questioning his authenticity and commitment to the principles he once preached.
That’s why we’re upset.
The Crossover
We’ve seen this coming for a while now. The slow but steady shift from hip-hop as a movement to hip-hop as a money-making machine has been happening for decades. It was only a matter of time before we hit this inevitable and embarrassing moment—seeing artists like Snoop, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy performing at Trump inauguration events. This didn’t happen overnight–it’s the result of years of prioritizing profit over principles, where the culture that once stood for resistance and truth now bends to the highest bidder.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Trump’s inauguration wasn’t some neutral gig. It was a stage built on policies and rhetoric that harm Black and Brown communities. To stand on it as a Black artist, pocket the money, and then retreat to your mansion feels like the ultimate betrayal. It’s the kind of betrayal that comes when money stops being a means to an end and becomes the entire purpose of existence.
And this isn’t just about a few performances–this has been an ongoing systemic shift. Today’s hip-hop lyrics have gone from rallying cries of resistance to open love letters to luxury. Rappers used to talk about surviving the struggle–now it’s all about thriving in excess. If it’s not sex or drugs, every other line brags about a Birkin bag, a private jet, or a stack of cash that’s apparently so heavy it’s a workout just to hold it.
It’s not just irritating—it’s downright toxic. When every verse worships wealth, it creates a culture where having money is more important than how you got it or what you do with it.
When asked what does it mean when a rapper is called a sellout, Soulja Boy told Genius, “Basically selling your soul, doing something that you wouldn’t normally do.”
Sadly, performing for a Trump inauguration event is right on brand for Soulja Boy. In his n-word and profanity-laced tirade on
social media, he bragged about how Trump put money in his pocket while “Obama” and “Kamala” never called him . By his logic, the devil himself could show up with a check, and as long as he’s getting paid, Soulja Boy would gladly sell everyone out.
C.R.E.A.M.
Soulja Boy and artists like him have normalized moral bankruptcy as long as it comes with a seven-figure deposit. Meanwhile, the communities that gave hip-hop life are still struggling. The inequality that hip-hop once called out is still very much alive, but you’d never know it from scrolling through Instagram feeds full of Lambos and diamond chains.
The saddest part? The shift wasn’t inevitable. Hip-hop didn’t have to go this way. The genre’s pioneers built something that was powerful, authentic, and rooted in the idea of collective progress. Money was never the enemy, but it wasn’t the goal either—it was a tool. A means to uplift the community, to build something lasting. Somewhere along the line, that message got drowned out by the sound of clinking champagne glasses.
We’re not saying artists can’t make their money. We’re not saying success is a bad thing. But when the pursuit of wealth becomes the defining characteristic of a genre that was built on community, it’s time to pause and reflect.
The Message
Hip-hop is supposed to be bigger than flexing on the gram. It’s supposed to be about truth, resilience, and resistance. Those of us old enough to remember the history and evolution of hip-hop know this better than anyone. We remember when it was a lifeline, a mirror for the struggle, and a call to action—not just a showcase of wealth. But for younger generations, some of whom have only ever known this new iteration of hip-hop obsessed with money and status, it’s a different story.
So yes, folks have every right to question when the moves don’t align with the culture. It’s not just music—it’s our culture. And if we don’t hold it accountable, who will?
A member of hip-hop generation, Jasmyne Cannick is based in Los Angeles and is an award-winning journalist and political commentator who writes to challenge, critique, and hold the culture accountable
Letter to the Editor
Marie Wideman Park Still in Limbo
San Diego Urban Warriors and the community are still celebrating the historic and long-time coming accomplishment of an officially designated nine-block corridor with a park as San Diego’s first Black Arts Cultural District. It’s been official since June 14th, 2022. San Diego City Council approved the designation of the Black Arts & Culture District. The emerging hub for Black art, culture, and business is progressing and we thank the leadership of the Black community for its growth and development.
However, the activation of the Cultural District’s Marie Wideman Park is still in limbo with no explanation to date, returning us to the historic feeling of not being valued, invisible, voiceless, and disrespected. Not having our tax dollars respected enough by the City of San Diego to receive acceptable, same services, and communication as the rest of the San Diego residents.
It’s been 2-1/2 years and San Diego Urban Warriors is still NOT able
to begin activating the park as a creative space for healthy, active, fit, activities, and resources for our minds, bodies, and spirit. [We have been] uniquely promoting well-being, mental health, traumas, and social isolation reduction and continuing 33 years of using unity, entertainment, health education, and cultural enrichment to raise the level of access and appreciation for the art, heritage, and culture of the Black diaspora.
Please help San Diego Urban Warriors and Dajahn Blevins encourage our city official leadership to help reduce the stress and support Black art and culture and give the community access to our park in the 9 Blocks for creative healing and stress reduction through cultural enrichment, community support, hospitality, edutainment, and creative rejuvenation space now!
Daj’ahn A. Blevins CEO and Founder San Diego Urban Warriors Inc. SDUW.Org
By April Ryan
“When you erode trust you lose your democracy because it is based on trust,” according to Black Obama Administration Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. She is responding to the United States Senate’s confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer is the new face of healthcare in America. He was confirmed by the US Senate in a vote split along party lines, 52-48. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voted with Democrats opposing the nomination. The Alabama-based former Surgeon General declares, “We’ve had anti-vaxxers for years, but they became prominent during COVID,” creating “new” trust issues.
From Benjamin’s professional understanding, “that’s when we started to see people not trust science.” Her position is that as health matters changed over time, so did the medical responses. Controversy swirls around Kennedy’s anti-vaccination stance, however, he is lauded for his posture on preventative medicine. Benjamin is hopeful Kennedy will focus on prevention as she denotes it is “the key to solving many problems in our healthcare system.”
When Benjamin was the nation’s top doctor from 2009 to 2013, the Obama administration released a national prevention strategy, which she deemed “a roadmap.” During that job, she worked to move Americans “from sickness and disease to one of health and wellness.” Benjamin is hopeful that this new administration will “focus more on prevention.”
One of the pressing issues Secretary Kennedy will face is the shortage of healthcare professionals. “We’ve had workforce issues for a long time. The number of doctors, the number of nurses and we don’t have enough to cover everyone.” Benjamin points out there are regional issues with a lack of healthcare professionals. “You see those decreases particularly in rural areas.”
There is a short-term fix according to Benjamin. “We have to turn to telemedicine because we don’t have [enough] doctors.” She cautions, ”It will get worse before it gets better.” With February being American Heart Month, Benjamin recommends, particularly for those in the Black community to “be as healthy as you can…so you can be resilient and respond to things.” She acknowledges that overall when it comes to our health and wellbeing, “We have to train ourselves where to go for trusted information.”
How to reach us
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Letters to the Editor
The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint P.O. Box 120095 • San Diego, CA 92112 news@sdvoice.info
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Jacqueline Ann Gregory Thomas James
Jones
SUNRISE 04/24/1956
SUNSET 01/30/2025
ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL
Service was held February 13, 2025, at North Park Apostolic Church. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.
Jacqueline Ann Jones was born on April 24, 1956, in Pensacola, Florida, to Marvin and Rosamary Jones. She was their only child. At the age of eight, she moved with her parents to San Diego, California, where she would go on to shape a remarkable life that touched many.
Jackie, as she was affectionately called by her family and friends, was a woman of quiet strength. She attended Emerson Elementary, Roosevelt Middle School, and Lincoln High School in San Diego, where she was a proud member of the Drill Team. After graduating from high school, Jackie pursued her education at Job Corps in Los Angeles, California, where she studied nursing and became a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), a career she would dedicate herself to for several years.
Jackie has three girls: Tiffany, Twyla, and Tramaine. She made them her top priority and encouraged them to explore extracurricular activities, helping them discover their passions and develop new skills. After earning her Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from San Diego City College, she became a registered nurse (RN). She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), then continued her studies and earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from United States University. Her career at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center spanned over four decades, where she earned respect and recognition for her exceptional, compassionate care. Jackie was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost in her preteen years. Jackie’s spiritual journey was foundational to who she was, and she carried that faith into every aspect of her life. She was a dedicated member of Truth Apostolic Community Church where she directed the children’s choir. Whether it was her meticulous quilting, her sewing, or her baking—especially her famous 7-Up cake, Jackie’s craftsmanship reflected her warmth and thoughtfulness.
She passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025, but her memory will forever be a guiding light for those who knew and loved her.
Jackie is survived by her loving daughters; Twyla and Tramaine, her daughter Tiffany’s beloved dog Lucy (Lulu), and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren, extended family, and friends, all of whom celebrate her homegoing and cherish the legacy she leaves behind.
Jacqueline Ann Jones will be deeply missed, but her spirit, strength, and love will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Roosevelt
Stewart
SUNRISE 03/17/1949 SUNSET 01/11/2025
ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL
Service was held February 12, 2025, at Preferred Cremation and Burial. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.
Gregory Stewart , 75, passed away on January 11, 2025, in San Diego, California. Born on March 17, 1949, he was the second child of Mabel Stewart and David Stewart. Gregory was known for his generous heart, his hardworking nature, and his deep love for his family and community.
Gregory was previously married to Ida Gaskell.
Gregory was a proud graduate of San Diego High School and worked in industrial and maintenance fields throughout his life. He was widely known in the neighborhood and affectionately called the “Mayor of Island Street”. Whether riding bikes, enjoying music, or just being present in his community, Gregory’s warmth and presence brought people together. He had an infectious spirit and was loved by many, earning the nickname “Goofy Grapes” from his family.
He leaves behind his cherished daughters; La Shawn Mitchell and Tisha Stewart, and his beloved grandchildren; Trendale, Tamiqua, and Teyona. He was also a proud great-grandfather to Anthony, Bradyn, and Rya. Gregory is survived by his siblings; Gary Stewart, Kenneth Stewart, Yvonne Thomas, Anthony Thomas, Craig Smith, and Cynthia Smith, family members include Damita Ward, Eric Grant, Keith Earl, Ronald Jones, Dinette Patterson, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Mabel Stewart and David Stewart, his step-father James Smith, and his siblings; Deborah Ann Smith, Wendle Smith, Patrick Thomas, Robert Thomas, and Ralph Thomas. He was a good man with a heart full of love, a dedicated father and grandfather, and a friend to all who knew him. His spirit will live on in the memories of those he touched and in the legacy of kindness and joy he left behind. Eternally loved, deeply and forever missed.
Wilson
SUNRISE 06/13/1952
SUNSET 01/28/2025
ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL
Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.
Roosevelt Wilson was born June 13, 1952, in Los Angeles, California, to Roosevelt Sr. and Tommie Mae Wilson. He was the 5th oldest of six children. Roosevelt attended Ritter Elementary School, Markham Jr. High, where he was a part of the glee club and loved to sing, and David Starr Jordan High School, where he graduated and attended Trade Tech Community College. In 1975, he accepted the Lord and was baptized. He was a member of Crenshaw Christian Center for 8 years.
Motown was his favorite, he loved going to concerts. He loved watching old cowboy westerns, going to the beach, as well as taking his boys to air shows and fishing.
Roosevelt worked for Southern Union Pacific for 39 years and UPS for 28 years. He retired at the age of 60.
Roosevelt answered the call from the Lord on January 28, 2025. He was preceded in death by both parents, two older sisters; Gloria and Mary, and his son Rovel.
He leaves to mourn his loving wife Kim, his sons; Laurence and Douglas, step-son Matthew, his sisters; Ann, Betty, and Denise, brother-in-law Jonas, sister-in-laws; Lisa and Tracy, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. He will be truly missed.
Love
Edna Belle
Thierry Robinson
SUNRISE 09/14/1927
SUNSET 02/04/2025
ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL
Edna Belle Thierry Robinson sun rose on September 14, 1927, in Eunice, Louisiana, and set on February 4, 2025, in San Diego, California. She was an energetic child, adolescent, and adult, always achieving success in her goals.
Her family moved to San Diego when she was a teenager, and she quickly learned the Creole language she spoke was not the language spoken in California. With a push from her mom telling her “You can do it,” she learned to speak, read, and write English by the time she graduatedfrom Kearny High School in 1945. In later years, she continued her education, finishing her AA degree and Bachelor of Business degree.
In 1946, she married the love of her life, Charles T. Robinson. They grew and loved one another while raising their two daughters, Lori and Leah Robinson. She also devoted her life to helping people in any way she could. She was a devoted member of the 31st Seventh Day Adventist Church and served in many ministries. She believed every child should have access to education and lead the Christian Education Ministry at 31st for 48 years, while working full time for San Diego Unified School District, and being a mom and wife.
She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and church family.
Those we love are never really lost to us
Reynolds, Jr.
SUNRISE 08/18/1945
SUNSET 01/17/2025
ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL
Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial. **************************************************************************
Thomas James Reynolds, Jr. was born on August 18, 1945, in San Diego, California, to the late Thomas and Bettye Lee Reynolds. He attended Horton Elementary, Gompers Middle School, and graduated from Lincoln High School before continuing his education at City College for two years.
In 1964, Thomas proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving with honor until his discharge in 1968. After his military service, he worked at National Steel and Shipbuilding Company before joining the family business, Reynolds and Sons Plumbing. From 2006 to 2013, he worked as a general manager at BP West Company. In 2013, he returned to Reynolds and Sons Plumbing, where he remained until his health began to decline.
Thomas had a passion for football, track and field, and classic old movies. He was a dedicated family man and a loyal friend, known for his hard work, kindness, and sense of humor.
Thomas passed away on January 17, 2025.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Thomas and Bettye Lee Reynolds, sisters; Alnita Welch, Tommie Lee Patterson, Valadia Walker, Inez Pearson, Sylvia Richardson, and Ewania Harper, and one brother William Reynolds. He is survived by his sons; Jamal Dupree, Marlon Demond, Thomas Dupree Demond, and Lamar Demond, two grandsons; Josiah Dupree & Jeremiah Dupree, one sister Bettye Jo Reynolds, Lynda Reynolds, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Thomas will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His legacy of dedication, love, and resilience will live on in the hearts of those he leaves behind.
“ Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ” †¢
we feel them in so many special ways through friends they always cared about and dreams they left behind, in beauty that they added to our days… in words of wisdom we still carry with us and memories that never will be gone… Those we love are never really lost to us For everywhere their special love lives on.
Lives On A. Bradley
Healing in the Soil
Honoring Black History and a Cleaner Future for California
By Barbara Lawson FOUNDER OF MEET ME IN THE DIRT
We all face moments when life feels overwhelming, especially after losing someone close. When I lost my mother, Nita, I sought peace and balance. Surprisingly, I found solace in the soil. Digging my hands into the earth and spending hours in my garden wasn’t just a distraction—it became a path to healing.
As we celebrate Black History Month, I reflect on how gardening has long been a tool of resilience in Black communities. From the Victory Gardens of the 1940s to today’s urban farming movements, gardening represents survival, growth, and selfdetermination.
This connection inspired Meet Me in the Dirt, not just as a business but as a sanctuary where healing happens naturally. Through gardening, grounding, and mindfulness, I’ve reconnected with myself and witnessed how these practices nurture others in my community.
I was inspired to learn how the mission of Meet Me in the Dirt aligns with Caltrans’ Clean California initiative, which aims to restore and beautify shared spaces by transforming areas plagued by litter into places of pride and healing. Litter affects us all, turning public spaces into sites of neglect and harm. Clean California works to break this cycle by removing litter, creating jobs, and educating communities—empowering everyone to help keep our state clean.
This Black History Month, I encourage my community to honor the legacy of resilience and stewardship in Black communities by protecting and beautifying the spaces we call home.
Here are three simple ways to connect with nature, improve your environment, and make a difference:
Start Small: Plant a houseplant or begin a garden bed. Tending to something living fosters patience and presence.
Clean Up and Ground Down: Pick up litter in your neighborhood, then take a moment to ground yourself—stand barefoot on grass or soil to calm your mind.
Reflect and Plan: Keep a journal to track your thoughts while outdoors. Write one small step you can take to beautify your surroundings.
Change starts with each of us. Together, we can transform parks, lots, and roadsides into spaces of beauty, community, and restoration, as the Clean California initiative reminds us.
Visit CleanCA.com to learn more, and for more about Meet Me in the Dirt, visit Meetmeinthedirt.com.
Barbara Lawson is a creative entrepreneur and founder of Meet Me in the Dirt, a statewide platform dedicated to healing through gardening, mindfulness, and expressive arts. Through her work, Barbara fosters growth and change through meaningful connections with nature.
City News You Can Use
Parking Meter Rates Increase in the City of San Diego Parking meters will cost $2.50 effective January 31, 2025.
There are 5,332 parking metered spaces in the city, located in the neighborhoods of Downtown, Uptown, Mid-City and Pacific Beach.
Meter fees are used to fund maintenance of transportation infrastructure like streets, sidewalks and streetlights in areas with parking meters.
According to city records, it has been at least 20 years since park-
ing meter fees have increased. Even with the rate increase, city records show, San Diego’s parking meter fees remain among the lowest in the state of California. Oakland’s parking meters cost up to $4 an hour, Los Angeles charges up to $6 an hour, and San Francisco’s meters cost up to $11.
Rates will not change for waterfront parking meters operated by the Port of San Diego, which are already set at $2.50 an hour. The Stormwater Department is Working on Two Capital Improvement Projects
• The Jamacha Drainage Channel Upgrade, which focuses on improving stormwater infrastructure to enhance flood protection and environmental resilience.
• The Beta Street Storm Drain Improvements project, which focuses on upgrading aging stormwater infrastructure to enhance drainage capacity and reduce flood risks in the surrounding area.
Jacqueline Jackson Reappointed to CA Commission on Disability Access
Governor Newsom announced last Tuesday, February 11th, the appointment of Jaqueline Jackson, is to be reappointed to the California Commission on Disability Access, where she has served since 2020. Jackson has been a NonProfit Management Consultant since 1994. She was Development Director and Consultant for the San Diego Center for the Blind from 2002 to 2004.
Commissioner Jackson is a community advocate and an advocate for differently-abled people. She has thirty-eight years’ of experi-
ence working in the non-profit business sector. Commissioner Jackson has served as the Representative for the Blind and Low Vision on the Public Utilities Commission Deaf and Disabled Telecommunication Program. She was on the Advisory Committee for the State Independent Living Council, and a member of the State Rehabilitation Council.
Jackson was Director of Charter School Development for Norman and Norman Inc. from 1996 to 2005. She was an Education Consultant for the School Futures Research Foundation from 1994 to 1996. Jackson was the Director of Education for Health and Family
Support Services at the San Diego Urban League from 1988 to 1994. She is a member of the City of San Diego Accessibility Advisory Board, City of San Diego Senior Affairs Advisory Board, and the County of San Diego Registrar of Voters Accessibility Advisory Committee. Jackson earned a Master of Education degree from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, San Diego.
Commissioner Jackson is a mother of two extraordinary daughters and the grandmother of three fantastic grandchildren. Jackson is a Democrat.
CA Atty General Bonta says DOGE’s Access Blatantly Violates Americans’ Right to Privacy
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to expand access to data maintained by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS). In the February 7 lawsuit, 19 attorneys general argue that this executive action has allowed people associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access Americans’ personal and private information, including bank account and social security numbers. The lawsuit seeks to immediately halt improper access to this sensitive information while litigation proceeds.
Since Inauguration Day, Bonta said in the February 7th press release, DOGE has infil-
trated executive agencies with the goal of eliminating federal funding, services, and personnel. Starting [three weeks ago], there have been reports of billionaire Elon Musk and his DOGE associates gaining an unprecedented level of access to vital payment systems of the U.S. Treasury, which provide access to Americans’ extremely sensitive information, like social security numbers.
The Treasury Department payment systems — managed by BFS — are responsible for trillions of dollars in U.S. government payments. Millions of Americans rely on the support of these payments for services like health care, childcare, and other essential programs, like Social Security, Medicare benefits, veteran’s benefits, salaries for federal employees, and tax
refunds. The Treasury Department’s payment systems are critical, sensitive, and incredibly vital. Given their critical importance to U.S. government operations, these systems have been highly regulated and tightly guarded — but with the election of Donald Trump, are no longer safe.
In the complaint filed, the attorneys general allege the Trump Administration has no constitutional, statutory, or regulatory authority to widen access to the BFS payment system for political appointees or special government employees, including members of DOGE.
Since filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of New York, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut,
copy of the complaint can be found
This position requires Senate confirmation, and according to the Governor’s office, the compensation is $100 per diem.
Pictured here: Barbara Lawson. PHOTO: Courtesy of Clean CA
PHOTO: City of San Diego
Ms. Jacqueline Jackson. PHOTO: Public Domain
FDSRC’s “A CELEBRATION OF LOVE”
Black History Month Event Celebrates Our Seasoned Elders
Last Friday, February 14th was a special day for George L. Stevens Senior Community Center.
Seniors, who honored their “Seasoned Seniors” with awards, opportunity drawings, music, dance, and reminiscing. It was a day filled with love and a special Black History Month tribute to celebrate Black History Month while rekindling friendships. All net proceeds of the day’s special event benefited the Fourth District Seniors Resource Center, which serves the Southeastern community with educational and recreational classes, special events, and social services Wednesday through Friday each week.
AI Transforms Tech At CES 2025
By Barbara Smith Contributing Writer
AI's role in tech industries was a central theme at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas, showcasing how this pervasive technology is now embedded in the simplest and most complex technologies that are part of today’s world.
Heralded as the world’s largest trade show, CES delivered groundbreaking innovations in technology, ranging from an auto-flying aircraft that packs up into the trunk of a car to TCL’s massive 115-inch television, reputed to be the world’s largest, to humanoid handshaking and somersaulting robots. Tech executives, inventors, and consumers from over 150 countries, all with a passion for how advances in technology are transforming industries and our lives, gathered for the 4-day confab where 45,000 exhibitors showcased their wares.
Product launches of AI-controlled devices with special appeal included a robotic window cleaner for home and business; a fold-up home projector, the size of a deck of cards, that can project 90 minutes on one charge; and smart glasses that project textual information, such as translations, notifications, and incoming messages. With the U.S. pet industry spending projected to surpass $150 billion this year, pet lovers came in droves
for demos of AI-controlled devices used for health monitoring, disease diagnosis and treatment, dog and cat multifunctional grooming tools and even a self-flushing smart cat toilet. Some of the cool debuts in robotics included the Mirokai robot designed for elderly care and Tombot's realistic puppy robot, endearing in its scientifically based work with dementia patients.
Educational displays promoted the San Diego Festival of Science, scheduled for March 1 at Petco Park, as part of the innovative Curiosity Cube, a mobile interactive science lab that aims to increase access to science education for diverse youth, exposing them to real-life scientists to explore STEM careers.
CES always offers center stage to celebrities and this year was no exception. Oscarwinning actress Viola Davis spoke of the promise of technology bringing diverse populations together at Delta Airlines' 100-year celebration at the spectacular Sphere venue, where CEO Ed Bastian unveiled groundbreaking aviation milestones and the airline’s commitment to innovation. Musician and tech entrepreneur Will.i.am headlined a conversation on AI’s impact on music.
First-time CES attendee Samantha Johson was excited to learn about new technologies in the area of communication. A graduate of San Diego’s O’Farrell Charter School, the CSU San Marcos student was excited to see a revolutionary AI-powered sign language translation device that bridges communication barriers for the deaf and hearing impaired.
impressed with Delta Airlines’ many personalized customer service innovations, which she saw as possible additions to her own work as a small business owner. For Hart, a retired LVN, of special interest was a new non-invasive glucose monitoring device.
With DEI programs being rolled back in the federal government, CES maintains its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the stated mission that “different voices, backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, and perspectives must be blended into the workforce.”
“It was a huge thing for my career goal of working with American Sign Language,” she said. Johnson was accompanied by her mother Tammy J ohnson and grandmother Kalinda Hart. Johnson was
Aisha Bond, President of the Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce, participated in a panel discussing ways to leverage AI to address skill gaps and prepare employees for emerging roles in the AI-driven economy. Studies estimate that by the end of 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by automation, necessitating the need for businesses to adapt while ensuring equitable opportunities for all workers. Recognizing that bias awareness must be part of the AI revolution, potentially affecting Black workers with job displacement, Bond looked at ways to create new career paths.
“We need to consider what this is going to do for us rather than to us,” she said, “and help redefine what AI can mean for our future in positive ways.”
While there is still room for growth, the African American presence appeared slightly higher than in past years. Raytheon engineer Curtiss Miller, with a special interest in gaming, found NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote fascinating in the tech exec’s vision for how his company’s products will drive gaming, robotics, personal computing, and even self-driving vehicles forward. “But even if you’re not interested in technology,” he said, “it’s great to be here because it makes you a more educated shopper. Seeing all the exhibits gives you a more knowledgeable perspective for TVs, cameras, computers and all that is part of our daily life.”
VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF
Robot
Xpeng AeroHT Electric Land Aircraft Carrier.
Aisha Bond speaking at the panel reinventing the workforce.
EyeBliss
Celebrates Black-Owned Businesses
By Tihut Tamrat CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Southeastern San Diego’s Encanto neighborhood came alive last week end, February 16th, with the 5th Annual Daygo Eatz, a vibrant cel ebration of Black culture, entre preneurship, and community.
O rganized by Black San Diego, co-founders Tinicia Smith and Sheri Jones brought together an impressive showcase of Black-owned businesses. The event drew a younger demographic and attracted attendees every hour in honor of Black History Month.
In a conversation with Voice & Viewpoint , Tinicia Smith explained how Black San Diego started, “In 2016, I made a post on Facebook asking where the Black-owned businesses are in San Diego because we are a heavily impacted city with military, and a lot of times when folks are coming from other cities, they are looking for the Black people in San Diego. The response was overwhelming. We hosted a networking event, and from there we kept growing.”
BLACK COM!X DAY AT WORLDBEAT!
The community came out to celebrate Black History Month last Saturday and Sunday, February 15th and 16th, at The WorldBeat Center's Black Com!x Day celebration.
This event featured over 50 food vendors and Black-owned businesses, offering an array of delicious eats and handcrafted goods. From authentic Jamaican cuisine and refreshing smoothies to decadent desserts, there was no shortage of flavors to savor. Popular food vendors like The Chicken Shack and Chef Budda Blaisan Soul Food had long lines of eager guests ready to indulge in their mouthwatering dishes.
On right, Candace Davis, owner of Ethicity’s Unique Boutique, an apparel and jewelry store. Left: helper and longtime friend of Ms. Davis
PHOTOS: Malachi Kudura
DAYGO EATZ
Businesses in Southeastern San Diego
Beyond the food, Daygo Eatz delivered an energetic and familyfriendly atmosphere. The Kids Zone kept young attendees entertained with games and activities, while music and dancing set the stage for a joyful celebration amongst the adults, where dance circles and lines were formed, everyone joining to the rhythm of Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, and other songs alike. Adding a wellness component, Movement Matters Collective led a community yoga class, promoting the importance of health and self-care within the Black community.
Taking in the lively crowd at Daygo Eatz, Smith stated, “It’s beau-
tiful. We’ve been here when there’s only been about 10 vendors, so now to see it grow to where it is right now, we’re absolutely killing it.”
For the past five years, Daygo Eatz has continued to grow, strengthening its mission to uplift and support Black entrepreneurs. Events like this not only spotlight Black excellence but also cultivate a deeper sense of unity and empowerment within the community. With another successful year in the books, attendees and organizers alike are already looking forward to next year’s Black History Month to see what’s in store for Daygo Eatz 2026.
3 SUMMERS OF LINCOLN
Above: Founders Sheri Jones and Tinicia Smith with Black San Diego staff and organizers.
Center: Business owner Lex of Rugs to Riches, with her supportive friends on the left and right.
PHOTOS: Tihut Tamrat and Charles Warren Voice & Viewpoint
69. *“Go ___ It On The Mountain”; John W. Work, Jr. Christmas spiritual
70. *Freedom ___; John Lewis, at times (1961) Down
1. *___ Lightfoot; Chicago’s mayor (since 2019)
2. *Sacred bird of Egypt
3. *“The ___ King of Scotland”; Forest Whitaker Oscar winning film (2006)
4. *African Methodist Episcopal (abbr.)
5. *___ Moseley Braun; U.S. senator (Illinois)
6. *Legendary Cathaginian (African) general almost toppled Roman Republic (218 BC)
7. *“Selma” movie director DuVernay
8. “Abbreviation after Gen. Colin Powell’s name
9. Telephone Relay Service: initials
10. *NBC veteran weather forecaster
11. *British-born singer; “Crazy” 1991 hit
12. *“___ to the chief !”: BHO
Official Firings
Endanger South Sudan Peace, Deputy President Says
By Deng Machol Associated Press
South Sudan’s deputy president says a Cabinet reshuffle this week that saw the removal of multiple senior officials threatens a fragile peace agreement reached with the president in 2018.
Riek Machar, whose political rivalry with President Salva Kiir has in the past exploded into civil war, called for the reinstatement of Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng and Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, governor of Western Equatoria state.
Other officials sacked by Kiir include two other vice presidents and the spy chief.
Machar said Tuesday [February 11] that the unilateral dismissals violate the 2018 power-sharing agreement following which he returned to Juba, the capital, with the title of first vice president of South Sudan. Kiir’s “persistent violations through unilateral decisions and decrees threaten the very existence” of the agreement, his statement said.
There was no immediate comment by Kiir or his government.
South Sudan has five vice presidents, according to the 2018 agreement, which ended five years of civil war and was reached with the help of the U.S. and others.
There were high hopes for peace and stability once oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011. But the country slid into civil war in December 2013 largely based on ethnic divisions when forces loyal to Kiir started battling those loyal to Machar.
The 2018 peace agreement is yet to be fully implemented. Challenges include the government’s failure to implement promised reforms such as completing the unification of the army command. Presidential elections, repeatedly postponed, are now scheduled for 2026.
United Nations experts have previously warned that the stability of South Sudan remains at risk because of missed deadlines and political gridlock on key issues in the unity government’s agreement.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Zimbabweans Outpace Death At Exercise Club In A Cemetery
By Farai Mutsaka Associated Press
At dawn, 65-year-old Nelly Mutandwa swapped her pajamas for leggings, a T-shirt and sneakers. She grabbed a bottle of water before heading to an unconventional workout spot: a cemetery in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
Surrounded by rows of graves, she joined other members of the Commandos Fitness Club in an hour-long session of squats, lunges and stretches as upbeat music blared. For Mutandwa, the daily routine is more than exercise. It’s her lifeline in managing diabetes.
“They are resting,” she said, pointing to the graves. “I just don’t want to join them yet. That means I have to do the hard work here.”
With limited fitness facilities such as gyms in their neighborhoods, older Zimbabweans are exercising wherever they can to combat Africa’s growing problem of non-communicable diseases like heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes. Other groups exercise along highways or disused railway lines.
Non-communicable diseases currently account for about 40% of deaths annually in Zimbabwe, according to its ministry of health and child care.
Previously associated with older people, non-communicable diseases are increasingly spreading to children and young adults due to smoking, frequent alcohol use, unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity.
This has sparked huge concern among experts and governments on a continent that is experiencing the world’s fastest population growth and is home to its youngest population.
Dr. Johannes Marisa, a public
health specialist in Harare and president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association, said doctors are witnessing “a rapid change” as more children and young people are diagnosed with NCDs.
He attributed it partly to sedentary lifestyles as many people spend much of their time glued to their smartphone screens at the expense of physical movement, as well as growing substance abuse and unhealthy diets.
In response, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube in the 2025 national budget imposed a “modest” 0.5% tax on sales of doughnuts and other foods including tacos, pizza, hot dogs, shawarma, fries, chicken and burgers by retailers to encourage “healthier dietary choices” and mitigate the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
Meanwhile, some older Zimbabweans are taking up physical exercise.
For Mutandwa and her Commandos Fitness Club crew, the surroundings of the cemetery suffice. Coached by Joseph Nekati, whose mother’s stroke in 2023 inspired him to help others, the free club
has become a sanctuary for older fitness buffs. Eight of the club’s roughly 20 members are older people, Nekati said.
“I weighed 86 kilograms (189 pounds) and struggled to stand up. I would struggle to breathe just walking in my house. Now, I’m down to 76 kilograms (167 pounds) and I can walk long distances,” said Susan Gomo, a 64-year-old grandmother managing high blood pressure and arthritis.
Mutandwa said she picked up the habit of power walks when she visited her daughter in the United Kingdom in 2022. She decided to try it back home in Zimbabwe, but the roads in her township were potholed and crowded. She went for solo walks on a nearby hill, but she felt unsafe.
Last year, she noticed the fitness club in the cemetery, where a wide and well-maintained path provides a convenient workout spot. With three of her neighbors, she approached the coach, who happily took them in.
Now the cemetery has come to symbolize Mutandwa and others’ quest to live healthier and outpace death — one step at a time.
From Teen Mom in Detroit to Ghanaian Queen
By Joshua Korber Hoffman
Kennedy Johnson was 15 years old when she gave birth to a baby girl in a Detroit foster home for teen moms, in February 1996. Twenty-five years later, when Johnson found herself in northern Ghana being made a queen, she couldn’t quite believe where life had led her.
In front of an adoring crowd in Tamale, the largest city in northern Ghana, Johnson was given her honorary title of “Zosimli Naa” in October 2021. It was conferred on her by the Dakpema, Fuseini Bawa, a local spiritual leader, with Zosimli Naa roughly translating as “Friendship Queen” — effectively making her the Dakpema’s head of development in the area.
“I’m still pinching myself,” Johnson told CNN. “It feels very surreal.” ‘I had to abandon a lot of my childhood goals’
Johnson’s journey began as a young mother in 1990s Detroit, a time she remembers as “a bit of a challenge.” It’s an understatement. She recalled a relative dropping her off, a pregnant 15-year-old, at the foster home, and promising to pick her up when the child was born. They never returned.
When her daughter D’Kiya was 11, Johnson started taking her on trips abroad — first to the Bahamas, then Hong Kong, then South America. The pair fell in love with seeing the world, and Johnson began documenting her trips online “to show people that minorities can travel.”
Years later, once D’Kiya had left home, Johnson took a DNA test that determined that she had Nigerian and Ghanaian heritage. For the first time, her travels took her to West Africa. Her arrival there — which she describes as a “return” — “felt like a huge sigh of relief,” she said.
Soon after her first journey, Johnson founded Green Book Travel in 2018, a company that organizes trips to West Africa for members of the diaspora. Named after the annual travel guide that provided Black people with information to keep them safe in Jim Crow America, Green Book Travel takes people to historically significant locations including sites of deportation in the transatlantic slave trade.
On her second day in the region, she was asked to pay a customary visit to the Dakpema and his elders in Tamale. She quickly realized that this was no ordinary meeting.
“They started consulting amongst each other,” she said, “and then they said ‘we want you to go to prepare to be the Queen.’”
Becoming royalty
Four months later, with her daughter and best friend alongside her, Johnson was “enskinned” in Tamale — officially recognized as Friendship Queen — before being introduced to the community in a parade at the annual Damba festival, in which she rode on a horse to cheers from the crowd.
The role of Friendship Queen comes with an elevated status and practical responsibilities to the community. Johnson works together with elders of the Dagbon Kingdom, which dates back to the 14th century and comprises around five million people, to run positive initiatives in Tamale, where she now lives. So far, together with her charitable foundation Kith and Kin, she has worked to provide clean water, sanitary products, and shoes to the community, and is working on a scheme to support orphans. Locally, she is revered.
In November 2024, Johnson was granted full Ghanaian citizenship. In the same month, she was also included in the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) class of 2024 top 100 futurists and innovators.
‘Swagger Queen’
Johnson is especially popular with the young people of Tamale, who call her “The Swagger Queen,” due to her striking fashion sense that makes full use of colorful Ghanaian fabrics. But no one admires her more than her own daughter, now 28. “It’s the story of a person with everything against them being blessed with everything from the universe,” D’Kiya said. “You can say you’ve seen everything when you’ve seen your mom grow up with a lack of family, and then grow to gain millions of people as her family.”
And what would the teenage Kennedy Johnson in Detroit think of the current Queen in Tamale? “I think she would feel inspired,” Johnson said. “If the young version met the current me, she would know to keep going and to keep pushing.”
Arrival of President of South Sudan, H.E. Mr Salva Kiirmayardit at OR Tambo International Airport and is received by Minister Joe Phaahla, ahead of the XV BRICS Summit taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 22-24 August 2023. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons
PHOTO: X via @DrStephanChan
CNN
California Flu Rates are Highest in 4 Years: Here is How to Protect Yourself
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
Fl u cases in California have surged to the highest levels the state has seen in years.
By the end of January, 26% of tests sent to state laboratories had come back positive for influenza. This is a significant increase compared to flu season peaks over the past 4 years, according to the most recent data captured by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on respiratory viruses.
Flu-related deaths in California are also on the rise. As of Jan. 25, 2.4% of deaths in the state (484 people) were attributed to influenza this season, compared to 1.6% last season.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Dr. Jerry P. Abraham, a Los Angeles-based Physician and Public Health advocate who currently serves as the Director & Chief Vaccinologist of the CDU-KEDREN Mobile Street Medicine program in Los Angeles. He explained why cases of the flu may be increasing and what preventative measures people can take to protect themselves until the flu season ends next month.
“Be fully vaccinated. It's not too late to get the flu shot for this flu season. We stop giving it out about March every year,” said Abraham. “Be fully boosted with COVID-19 vaccines as well. This is a very tenuous time because people are not fully vaccinated,” he continued.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that
“everyone 6 months or older get a flu shot — ideally by the end of October to boost protection against the disease during high-circulation winter months.
Dr. Scott Flinn, regional medical director for Provider Partnerships at Blue Shield of California, says people should be aware of flu symptoms and be able to recognize them.
“These symptoms can come on suddenly and hit hard,” says Flinn. “If you start feeling unwell, it’s important to rest and monitor your condition closely, especially if you are in a higher-risk group, including elderly individuals, pregnant women, young children, or those with chronic health conditions.”
Typically, those symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and, some people – especially children – may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu symptoms typically last five to seven days, though fatigue and cough can persist for two weeks or longer in some cases.
If contracted, Flinn recommends getting plenty of rest, using over-the-counter meds, and taking steps to not spread the flu like staying home for 24 hours after avoiding close contact with others. He also advises that people fighting the flu should get plenty of rest; use over-the-counter medication; and consult a healthcare professional.
Benefits of Getting Vaccinated
COVID-19 continues to cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States. It was the 10th leading cause of death in 2023. COVID-19 vaccines can help keep you from getting sick from COVID-19. If you do get COVID19, vaccines can make the illness shorter and less severe.
COVID-19 vaccines:
• Reduce your risk for critical illness (admission to intensive care unit or death)
■ F or adults ages 18 and older, the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of critical illness from COVID-19 by almost 70% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. During the 10 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced critical illness risk by about 50%.
• R educe your risk of being hospitalized
■ F or adults ages 18 and older, the 2023 –2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of
COVID-19 hospitalization by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. During the 10 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced hospitalization risk by about 30%.
• Reduce your risk of getting sick and needing to go to urgent care or the emergency department
■ For adults ages 18 and older, the 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 urgent care and emergency department visits by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time, with little protection remaining at 4–6 months.
• R educe your risk for Long COVID
■ S tudies show that people who got vaccinated against COVID19 and later get COVID-19 are less likely to have Long COVID, compared to people who are unvaccinated or not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.
Important for people at higher risk from COVID-19
• If you are 65 years or older
■ The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of criti -
cal illness (admission to intensive care unit or death) among older adults by about 67% in the first 2 months after vaccination. During the 4–6 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced critical illness risk by about 40%.
■ The 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization among older adults by about 50% in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection from vaccination wanes by 4–6 months after vaccination. Because adults ages 65 years and older have a higher risk for severe COVID-19, they are recommended to receive a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after their first dose.
• If you are pregnant
■ G etting a COVID-19 vaccine while you are pregnant helps protect you. It also helps protect your baby from severe health outcomes due to COVID-19 before they become eligible for COVID-19 vaccination when they are 6 months old.
Abraham also recommends wearing masks when out in public if you are exhibiting flu symptoms. He also urges individuals who have insurance to schedule appointments with their primary physician as emergency rooms and urgent cares have become overcrowded.
While the cause of the spike in flu cases is still unknown, Abraham attributes some of the causation to changes in climate and rising temperatures across the state.
“That is why these bugs, these viruses, these bacteria are behaving in these new novel ways because we're just not used to living amongst them like this; living in these warmer temperatures, getting more infected. There's more of us too, and we're interacting in different ways. We're interacting with animals in different ways, industry, all those things. They're all coming together and so we've got a perfect storm,” he said.
The Bay Area is reporting the highest rates of flu-related hospital admissions in the state at 9.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 9.1 in Southern California, 7.5 in Los Angeles, 7.3 in the Greater Sierra-Sacramento region, 5 in Central California, and 2.8 in the rural northern part of the state, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“It really is incumbent upon us and each other to do what we did during COVID when no one came for the Black community to help us. We need to look after each other. If you're sick, stay home. Remember, there are elders and there are cancer patients and people living with all sorts of conditions that they cannot afford to get sick.”
■ D uring October 2022–April 2024, 1,470 infants less than 6 months old were hospitalized with COVID-19.
■ M aternal vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization by around 54% among infants during the first 3 months of life.
• C hildren
■ Around 65% in children ages 9 months to 4 years in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time.
• About 70% in children ages 5–17 years in the first 2 months after vaccination. Protection decreased over time. At 4–6 months after vaccination, the vaccines reduced risk by about 50%.
PHOTO: Freepik
Small Businesses Scorched by Disaster? Here’s Where to Find Aid
By Mae Anderson Associated Press
Th e fires in California have been devastating for many small business owners and others who saw their homes, businesses or livelihoods go up in smoke.
“With payroll, rent, and taxes due, the loss of inventory and revenue from being closed for nearly a week can be financially devastating.”
–Raquel “Rockey” Smeir
Raquel “Rockey” Smeir started My Friends Café in Sierra Madre, California, in 2021. While the fires spared her building, she dealt with power outages, the mandatory evacuation in the area of staff, customers and the entire community. When she got back to the building, she had to deal with lost revenue, spoiled food and a devastated community.
“Many people may not realize the significant financial strain that a small business like ours faces when
dealing with unexpected events,” she said. “With payroll, rent, and taxes due, the loss of inventory and revenue from being closed for nearly a week can be financially devastating.”
While private fundraising has proliferated on sites like GoFundMe and elsewhere, there’s also a variety of aid at the national and local levels for small business owners and other affected by the fires. A freeze on federal loans and grants was announced on Tuesday, but it is unclear if that applies to disaster aid. Applications for disaster aid are still available on the Small Business Administration’s website.
The SBA did not return a request for comment.
Typically, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by a disaster, even if there’s no physical damage. Those loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that would have been met if not for the disaster. Businesses can apply for loans of up to $2 million.
Disaster loans of up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters also are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace dam -
aged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Locally, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce created a fund for small businesses affected by the fires. The $1 million fund will give grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 to directly support affected small businesses. It will also offer disaster recovery webinars and business advising support.
Another place to turn to are non-profit Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, which offer grants and loans to small businesses, often at better rates than traditional banks.
That’s the option that Smeir turned to. She applied for an SBA loan and two grant programs, but said she doesn’t expect to hear back about those until February or March. She did receive a grant from LiftFund, a CDFI headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, for an undisclosed amount, to help get the business back on its feet.
“It’s like reopening a new business, but this time with valuable experience and lessons learned,” she said.
There is also industry specific aid. Austin Manuel, who owns record store and event space Healing Force of the Universe in Pasadena, California, hasn’t applied for any
aid yet as he deals with wind damage that blew ash and smoke into his building. He has had to cancel events and postpone music classes.
He plans to look for music industry-specific aid at organizations like MusiCares and Live Nation and is also considering an SBA loan.
“We expect many of our upcoming events to be fundraisers for the community,” he said. “We hope to show up for them as best we can for as long as we can.”
As small business owners assess which aid to apply for, however, its important to be on the alert
Plan for a Secure Financial Future
A bumpy economy and rising cost of living have Americans rethinking their finances.
Although short-term pressures and demands can make it difficult, developing a financial strategy based on both literacy and resilience is key to establishing a solid financial future.
more financially sound future.
Review Your Current Financial Situation
Most households believe the day-today cost of living is a key short-term financial priority. While meeting your immediate needs is essential, so is plan-
To many, financial literacy and financial resilience mean the same thing. In fact, financial literacy refers to knowledge, while resilience means you are more likely to be prepared for unexpected financial events.
Here are some tips to help build a
ning for the future. Determining what money is coming in and what you owe each month tells you how much is left for discretionary spending and saving.
Start Saving Now
Even a modest amount set aside every
month will grow into a more meaningful account balance over time. A common rule of thumb is 20% of your overall income. You can stretch your income further by taking advantage of options like employer retirement savings programs that deduct funds before taxes, especially if the employer matches your contributions.
Consult a Financial Professional
Financial professionals can help design a strategy tailored to your specific needs. They specialize in helping individuals and families find financial confidence through life insurance, retirement and wealth-building strategies. You can take a financial literacy quiz to assess your financial resilience and measure your readiness to withstand economic challenges.
Prepare for Unexpected Expenses
Creating an emergency fund, separate from a savings account, can help offset the impact of unexpected expenses.
Safeguard Your Family
Different types of life insurance are designed to help safeguard your finances and can accommodate different budgets and lifestyles. Most permanent life insurance policies also offer some type of savings component that builds cash value over the life of the policy.
Family Features
“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” stated NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. “The Black Press of America continues to remain on the frontline keeping our families and communities informed and engaged on all the issues that impact our quality of life.”
At a recent convening of NNPA member publishers and edi tors, a united resolve was reached that each member publication of the NNPA will begin a national public education campaign coupled with the release of research
data on those American com panies that are engaging in efforts to sanction racial injustice, inequitable policies, divisive leadership, and eco nomic apartheid in America.
“We note forthrightly that Black Americans spend $2 trillion dollars annually as consumers of products and services throughout the United States,” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. emphasized. “We now must evaluate and realign to question why we continue to spend our money with companies that do not respect us,” Chavis continued. “This now must come to an end. These contradictions will not go unchal lenged by 50 million Black Am-
ericans who have struggled for centuries to ensure equality, fairness, and inclusion in our nation’s democracy.”
A selective buying campaign involves exercising the right to select what we spend our money on and who we spend our money with. We are starting with targeting TARGET.
The following are some of the major American companies that have publicly retreated from Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: TARGET, Lowe’s, John Deer, Walmart, Meta, Tractor Supply, Amazon, McDonald’s, and Ford
for scams. Scammers often target the vulnerable. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. Owners should be careful when sharing information.
“Small businesses in situations like this are always targeted by predatory lending, those looking to exploit businesses with type of cash flow or taking advantage of the situ ation,” said Carolina Martinez, CEO of CAMEO Network, a statewide micro-business network. So business owners should make sure they’re being “extra vigilant and are very clear in their understanding of any terms of anything they might find,” she said.
PHOTO: Freepik
PHOTO: Freepik
CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 6, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 6, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002878
2/27, 3/6, 3/13
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002789
Fictitious business name(s): Becoming Known Therapy Located at: 3111 Chicago St. San Diego, CA 92117
1310 S Riverside Ave. #3F-324 Rialto, CA 92376 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above
This business is hereby registered by the following: Esther Pui Men Chau 1310 S Riverside Ave. #3F-324 Rialto, CA 92376
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 10, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 10, 2030 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002894
Fictitious business name(s): Spot Light Event Center Located at:
6244 El Cajon Blvd. #18 San Diego, CA 92115
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by:
An Individual
The first day of business was: 02/11/2025
This business is hereby registered by the following: Kim Ann Foster Spot Light Event Center
6244 El Cajon Blvd. #18 San Diego, CA 92115
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 11, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 11, 2030 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002895
Fictitious business name(s): The Boulevard Studio Suites --Boulevard Studio Suites Located at: 6244 El Cajon Blvd. #16 San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A General Partnership The first day of business was: 02/11/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Kashauna Shinae Heard 7251 Peter Pan Ave. San Diego, CA 92114 Kim Foster 7251 Peter Pan Ave. San Diego, CA 92114
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 11, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 11, 2030 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002607
Fictitious
Fictitious business name(s): Massage Thai La Jolla Located at: 7742 Herschel Ave. La Jolla, CA 92037
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 11/01/2024
This business is hereby registered by the following: Kanchana K. Jimenez 7742 Herschel Ave. La Jolla, CA 92037
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 11, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 11, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001408
Fictitious business name(s): Lollapoolooza Pool And Spa Located at: 3610 Via Picante La Mesa, CA 91941
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 02/15/2014
This business is hereby registered by the following: Michael Anthony Ciullo 3610 Via Picante La Mesa, CA 91941
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 22, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 22, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001464
Fictitious business name(s): RWS Publishing Located at: 4275 Executive SQ #200 La Jolla, CA 92037 County of San Diego
3135 F Street San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Corporation
The first day of business was: 01/01/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Retirement Wealth Solutions Corp. 4275 Executive Sq., Ste 200 La Jolla, CA 92037 State of Incorporation/ Organization
California/Retirement Wealth Solutions Corp.
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 22, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 22, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002101
Fictitious business name(s): Humanum Clinic Located at: 11364 Nawa Way San Diego, CA 92129 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 01/01/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Humanum Clinic Inc. 11364 Nawa Way San Diego, CA 92129 State of Incorporation/ Organization California
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 30, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 30, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
2025-9002562
Fictitious business name(s): LT Handy Services Located at: 5203 Naranja St. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 02/05/2025
This business is hereby registered by the following: Luis Miguel Tinajero 5203 Naranja St. San Diego, CA 92114
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 05, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 05, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
2025-9002298
Fictitious business name(s): Cali Mex Cocina
Located at: 2605 Lemon Grove Ave. Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego 8014 Palm St. Lemon Grove, CA 91945
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above
This business is hereby registered by the following: Sandra Elubi Teo Ramirez 8014 Palm St. Lemon Grove, CA 91945
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 03, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 03, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002102
Fictitious business name(s):
American Construction
Located at: 7007 Deerhurst Ct. San Diego, CA 92139 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Corporation
The first day of business was: 05/01/2024
This business is hereby registered by the following: MKA Services Inc. 7007 Deerhurst Ct. San Diego, CA 92139 State of Incorporation/ Organization
California
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 30, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 30, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002389
Fictitious business name(s): Cotton Candy Creations
Cotton Candy Co
Cotton Candy Concepts
Located at: 9951 Eubank Ln. Spring Valley, CA 91977 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A General Partnership Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above
This business is hereby registered by the following: Jose Trejo 9951 Eubank Ln. Spring Valley, CA 91977
Jack Jackson 3556 Del Sol Blvd., Unit C San Diego, CA 92154
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 3, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 3, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002266
Fictitious business name(s): Kitchen 4 Kitchen 4 Bakery Located at: 4515 3rd St., Apt 2 La Mesa, CA 91941 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Irma Patricia Ziga Colin 4515 3rd St., Apt 2 La Mesa, CA 91941
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 31, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 31, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002042
Fictitious business name(s): San Diego Home Lender My Life Lender Located at: 4629 Cass St. #154 San Diego, CA 92109 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Corporation
The first day of business was: 02/14/2015
This business is hereby registered by the following: San Diego Home Lenders, Inc. 4629 Cass St. #154 San Diego, CA 92109 State of Incorporation/ Organization California
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 29, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 29, 2030 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001972
Fictitious business name(s): TBE Consulting Located at: 870 Gage Dr. San Diego, CA 92106 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 01/06/2025
This business is hereby registered by the following: Terrance Irybea Mims 870 Gage Dr. San Diego, CA 92106
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 29, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 29, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002292
Fictitious business name(s): Strive to Thrive Psychology Located at: 7945 Mission Bonita Dr. San Diego, CA 92120 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 12/27/2024
This business is hereby registered by the following: Polina Bryson 7945 Mission Bonita Dr. San Diego, CA 92120
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 03, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 03, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002309
Fictitious business name(s): Oneoak Media
Oneoak Web Design Located at: 647 Penelope Dr. Chula Vista, CA 91910 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under the name(s) above
This business is hereby registered by the following: Jeremy Rojas 647 Penelope Dr. Chula Vista, CA 91910 State of Incorporation/ Organization
California
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on February 03, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on February 03, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002147
Fictitious business name(s): Brisa mrtz services Located at: 9090 Gramercy Dr. Apt. #151 San Diego, CA 92123 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 03/01/2024
This business is hereby registered by the following: Brisa Anahi Martinez Manriquez 9090 Gramercy Dr. Apt. #151 San Diego, CA 92123
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 30, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 30, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9002096
Fictitious business name(s): McCole Marketing Strategy Located at: 4438 34th St. San Diego, CA 92116 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual
The first day of business was: 01/30/2025
This business is hereby registered by the following: Michael W. McCole 4438 34th St. San Diego, CA 92116
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 30, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 30, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001765
Fictitious business name(s): JJC97 Located at: 5908 Tooley St. San Diego, CA 92114
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 12/19/2024
This business is hereby registered by the following: Anthony Kevin Murphy 5908 Tooley St. San Diego, CA 92114
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 27, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 27, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001801
Fictitious business name(s): ISZM ENT LLC
ISZM Entertainment Located at: 590 Via Armado
Chula Vista, CA 91910
County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company
The first day of business was: 01/10/2025
This business is hereby registered by the following: ISZM ENT LLC
590 Via Armado Chula Vista, CA 91910
State of Incorporation/ Organization California
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 27, 2025
This fictitious business name will expire on January 27, 2030 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000786
Fictitious business name(s): ITG Property Investing LLC Located at: 3400 Cottage Way, STG G2 #27610 Sacramento, CA 95825 County of San Diego PO Box 1304 Spring Valley, CA 91979 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under
FICTITIOUS
Fictitious business name(s):
Strings Inc.
Strings
at:
Centre Dr. Ste 705 #1435 San Diego, CA 92130 County of San Diego This business is conducted by: A Corporation The first day of business was: 01/02/2025 This business is hereby registered by the following: Eliana Strings Inc. 3930 Valley Center Dr. Ste 705 #1435 San Diego, CA 92130 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 23, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 23, 2030 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001626
Fictitious business name(s): KVZ Enterprises, LLC Located at: 423 Morrison St. San Diego, CA 92102 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company
Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: KVZ Enterprises, LLC 423 Morrison St. San Diego, CA 92102 State of Incorporation/ Organization California This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 23, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 23, 2030 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001456
Fictitious business name(s): LIT Forged
ADM Forged Located at: 7603
Fictitious business name(s) to be abandoned: Massage Thai La Jolla Located at: 7742 Herschel Ave. Unit M La Jolla, CA 92037 County of San Diego
This business is conducted by:
An Individual The Fictitious business name referred to above was filed in San Diego County on: 12/11/2023 and assigned File no. 2023-9024799
The fictitious business name is being abandoned by: Rungnapa Sirichockmawin 7742 Herschel Ave. Unit M La Jolla, CA 92037
This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County February 11, 2025 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice
Case Number 25CU006901C
Petitioner or Attorney: Elizabeth Irene Legg
To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Elizabeth Irene Legg filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
PRESENT NAME: Elizabeth Irene Legg
PROPOSED NAME: Elizabeth Irene Blake
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.
Any person objecting to the name changes 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 petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: April 1, 2025
Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61
(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order
Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a
certified copy is required.
A certified copy of Decree
Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT
OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date
Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.
The address of the court is:
330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice
Case Number 25CU006886C
Petitioner or Attorney: Paola Esther Herrera
To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Paola Esther Herrera filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
PRESENT NAME: Paola Esther Herrera
PROPOSED NAME: Paola Esther Blake
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.
Any person objecting to the name changes 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 petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: April 1, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61
(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
To change a name on a legal document, including a birth
certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree
Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.
A certified copy of Decree
Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT
OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN
OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date
Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.
The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse
Case Number 25CU006461C
Petitioner or Attorney: Olivia Mancuso and Jordan McClanahan on behalf of minor child
To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Olivia Mancuso and Jordan McClanahan on behalf of minor child filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
PRESENT NAME: Leah McClanahan
PROPOSED NAME: Leah Mancuso
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes 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 petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: March 27, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61
(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE
SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of
Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.
A certified copy of Decree
Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree
Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT
OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date
Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.
The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse Case Number 24CU022148C
Petitioner or Attorney: Quoc Tuan Tran; Huyentrang Thi Pham and on behalf of minor child
To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Quoc Tuan Tran; Huyentrang Thi Pham and on behalf of minor child
filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:
a. PRESENT NAME: Gia Khang Tran Pham
PROPOSED NAME: Jason Gia Khang Tran [first][middle][middle][last]
THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons
be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: March 10, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61
(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)
NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.
The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).
If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.
To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.
A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.
If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.
If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.
A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date
Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.
The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20
PROBATE
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Euzelia Cooper Griffith
Case Number: 25PE000380C
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate or both, of Euzelia Cooper Griffith
A Petition for Probate has been filed by Nell Griffith Forge in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.
The Petition for Probate requests that Nell Griffith Forge be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
The Petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: March 18, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. in Department 504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union St. San Diego, CA 92101 Central -Probate Division
If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner: Antoinette Middleton, Esq. Law Offices of Antoinette Middleton 1761 Hotel Circle South, Suite 115 San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 235-9501 2/20, 2/27, 3/6
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Donna Gail Walker, aka Donna G. Walker, aka Donna Walker
Case Number 25PE000217C
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Donna Gail Walker, aka Donna G. Walker, aka Donna Walker
A Petition for Probate has been filed by Donald L. Walker in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
The Petition for Probate requests that Donald L. Walker be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless
they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: March 05, 2025 at 1:30 PM in Department 1603 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Central DivisionCentral Courthouse
If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of
