Local Children’s Author and Illustrator Hold Book Signing for “JOSIAH the GREAT”

“I’ve been inspired to do art my whole life. From a young age I really enjoyed drawing. I also watched my father draw a lot. I feel it ’ s extremely important for children to see images that look like them in books. It inspires them to do anything they want,” Harbison said.

It is very important we see positive images that reflect who we see in the mirror. It helps build self-esteem, self-confidence and inspires us to greatness. An African proverb says, “Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero.” It is time for the lion to tell its story of greatness.

By Malachi Kudura CONTRIBUTING WRITER

2023, local author

Rochelle Dawson and illustrator Kaelyn Harbison hosted a book signing event for their new children’s book, “Josiah The Great”. This event had music, face painting for the kids and food was provided by Chicken Shack.

“Josiah is an amazing young boy who has been introduced to many new experiences. Through those experiences he takes the reader on an adventurous journey where he discovers what it means to be Great!,” said Dawson. The book inspires the reader to believe in their inner greatness.

“Books like these are so important to the children of our community. They need to be exposed as much as they can to images that look like them. It makes the stories more relatable to our children and inspires them to read more,” said Eleanor Hamilton, a retired San

Diego Unified School District Counselor who attended the event.

Rochelle Dawson is a native of San Diego and graduated from Morse High School. She was inspired to write this book for my grandson, Josiah. Her hope is that children can read her book and see that it is the simple everyday things they do that make them great.

“This book teaches that kindness, being thoughtful and having confidence are great qualities to have. My childhood was from a time when children played outside, drank from the water hose and lived for summer breaks. I wanted to show the reader that there is so much more to experience outside of the virtual world,” Dawson said.

The book’s illustrator, Kaelyn Harbison, also a local San Diegan, has been drawing ever since she can remember.

Complete your ballot in the comfort of your home. Sign and date your return envelope, seal your completed ballot inside, and return it through the U.S. Postal Service – no stamp needed!

Return your ballot to any of the Registrar’s official ballot drop boxes around the district starting Tuesday, July 18 through Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Avoid long lines by taking advantage of early voting! Starting Saturday, Aug. 5, seven vote centers will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 15, fourteen vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Find a ballot drop box or vote center near you at sdvote.com

college:

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“Far too many foster youth want to go to college, and are unable to afford it,” Ashby, who authored the bill, said in a statement. “This funding will ensure that California’s most vulnerable young people can take agency over their lives by seeking higher education."

There are approximately 60,000 children in the state's foster care system and lawmakers say the vast majority of them, or 96%, want to

DOJ:

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"Most landlords wanted to do a background and credit check along with income verification,” Keys, who lives in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles, told California Black Media (CBM).

After securing Section 8 housing at his current residence, where he’s lived for five years, Keys’ challenges did not end.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, our landlord tried to raise rent, but we as tenants petitioned against it, pushing back that they couldn't do that,” Keys said. “We were facing a global pandemic at no fault of our own. Many of us were on unemployment and they even attempted to receive back rent.”

Keys eventually accepted a minimal rent increase due to a change in his income which is allowed as income must be reported to the local Housing Authority.

For many tenants like Keys, who receive rental assistance through the HCV program, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that it is common for landlords to raise their rents in violation of the law, while adhering to established rent caps for renters who pay market rates.

On June 30, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a letter to all housing authorities in the state, reminding them that tenants who receive Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are protected under California’s Tenant Protection Act (TPA).

COUNTY:

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In Person:

• Imperial Beach Library

Monday, August 7 5:30-6:30pm 810 Imperial Beach Blvd., 91932

• Fallbrook Library

Tuesday, August 8 5:30-6:30pm 124 Mission Rd., 92028

• Del Mar Library

Wednesday, August 9 4:30-5:30pm

1309 Camino Del Mar, 92014

• Spring Valley Library

Thursday, August 10 5:30-6:30pm 836 Kempton St., 91977

• Lakeside Library

Monday, August 14 4:30-5:30pm

12428 Woodside Ave., 92040

Afrofuturism:

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Afrofuturism Lounge took place at the University Club in Symphony Towers, 750 B. Street, 6-10 p.m., July 20. Afrofuturism Lounge Guests were invited to come in cocktail, cosplay, or evening wear consistent with the University Club’s dress code. Tickets are $10-$30 with food and drink/cocktails available for purchase.

“Afrofuturism Lounge is a gathering for San Diego Comic-Con visitors, including Black artists, writers, publishers, and creative thinkers in a culturally responsive environment,” Dr. LaWana said. “Afrofuturism Lounge 2023 guests help advance GrioNeers’ inclusive work that focuses on liberating Afrofuturist creative and intellectual power; connecting individuals with their own agency and efficacy in contributing to a more equitable future; and achieving sustainable growth through collaborative investment opportunities and resources for artists, scientists, and the masses.” receive higher education. While 64% of foster youth graduate high school in California, only 4% currently obtain a four-year college degree, according to Ashby.

The bill became law as part of a budget agreement signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday.

"For foster youth who have lost everything, this bill provides hope that they can attend college without crippling debt—taking one critical step toward our state’s goal of making college attainable for all, and making foster

According to the DOJ’s Housing Justice Team, there have been numerous complaints about some local housing authorities approving rent increases that exceed the TPA’s rent cap.

Landlords receiving approvals for rent increases may think they are in compliance with state and local law, but Bonta clarified in his letter that any rent increases outside of the guidelines of the TPA violate state or local laws and are “plainly wrong” and that the DOJ is taking those violations seriously.

Bonta emphasized that recipients of Section 8 vouchers are equally protected under laws that establish rent caps.

“As California grapples with an unprecedented housing crisis, it’s critical that we work together to protect those most at risk of losing their homes,” said Bonta. “Section 8 recipients are some of the most vulnerable of California’s tenants and subjecting them to illegal and burdensome rent increases is unfair and may contribute to homelessness.”

In the letters, Bonta explained that California’s TPA, which bars landlords from raising rent for most tenants by more than 5%, plus inflation, or 10% total each year, whichever is lower, applies to recipients of the Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers and other similar housing assistance programs.

“Unfortunately, there are some shady landlords who are not in compliance with how Section 8 operates,” says Joel Green, 38, a landlord who provides permanent and supportive housing for the elderly at Abode Communities. “Some private landlords discriminate, or they judge tenants based on

Virtual:

• Session One

Tuesday, August 8 10:00-11:00am

Virtual Meeting Link

• Session Two Tuesday, August 15 5:00-6:00pm Virtual Meeting Link

If you cannot attend one of the 2024-2025 Annual Plan Strategy community forums, more information and engagement opportunities will be available on the San Diego County Engagement Center the week of August 7.

HCDS administers four U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs to support the region’s low- and moderate-income households throughout the region. Those federal entitlement programs include:

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

These funds are used to improve community youth the first to achieve debt-free college in California," Ashby said. their previous experiences, which is not fair. We need to shine light on what's actually going on with those landlords who are doing things that are not compliant with Section 8 rules.”

Shane Harris, a former foster child who now leads the nonprofit People's Association of Justice Advocates told KFMB-TV the funding is "a tremendous victory for foster youth across California."

"Who wouldn't want to go to college for free, and especially when you're in the situations many of us have been in?" said Harris, a San Diego resident who has supported the bill as it moved through the legislative process.

The federal government’s Section 8 HCV program – whose waiting list is currently closed for public registration due to a backlog of applicants -- is the country’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are allowed to find their own housing. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs).

The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

Housing subsidies are paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

Another landlord who spoke to CBM off the record said sometimes landlords do not intend to increase rents, but “problematic” tenants give them few options.

She said those tenants sometimes ill-treat or damage the properties they rent, which leads to “harsher-than-normal wear and tear, lead- development by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment for lowto moderate-income households. Potential projects include park development, sidewalk construction, and supportive services such as nutrition assistance. Applications for CDBG funding will open in September 2023.

Areas Served: Unincorporated San Diego County, Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach.

HOME Investment Partnerships Program

These programs fund affordable housing opportunities such as the County’s FirstTime Homebuyer Program and multi-family affordable housing. Notices of HOME funding availability are posted as money becomes available.

Areas Served: Unincorporated San Diego County, Carlsbad, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, and Vista.

"When you lose your parents, you don't have the support system, you're trying to make it through all these different challenges, and then you go to pay for college?"

Harris told the station he plans to launch an outreach campaign to spread awareness about the new program.

"In the state of California, your dreams are possible, you can become anything you want to be, and now you can go to college for free," he said. This article first appeared in The Messenger.

ing to host to exorbitant maintenance and repair costs.

As more cities across the United States struggle with housing affordability and availability, the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program is in high demand. In densely populated cities such as Los Angeles, the waitlist can be abnormally long, authorities point out.

Recently, Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass pleaded with local property managers and private landlords to take at least one to two vouchers during the city's State of Emergency against homelessness, which she declared in January. California’s housing affordability problem is a major contributing factor to the state’s homelessness crisis, which is having a disproportionate impact on Black Californians. About 30 % of the state’s approximately 160,000 homeless people are African American. Blacks make up less than 6 % of the state’s population.

Last week, Bonta provided legal guidance to local governments, warning them that the DOJ is willing to take legal action against cities that “frustrate” the state’s efforts to increase housing supply by enacting “emergency zoning ordinances.”

“Under California law, urgency zoning ordinances can only be enacted if a high bar is met. Unfortunately, we are seeing urgency zoning ordinances that fall short of meeting that high bar,” said Bonta. “Every community must do its part to build housing. I encourage local governments to take a good look at their urgency zoning ordinances for compliance.”

Emergency Solutions Grants

These funds are for improving the quality and number of emergency housing solutions, including shelters and transitional facilities for the homeless and supportive services to prevent at-risk families or individuals from becoming homeless.

Areas Served: Unincorporated San Diego County, Coronado, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway, and Solana Beach.

Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS

This funding is for housing and supportive services for those living with HIV/ AIDS. Potential projects include housing operations assistance, tenant-based rental services and supportive services such as nutrition assistance.

Areas Served: All San Diego County.

A mixer with an Afrobeat vibe, Afrofuturism Lounge 2023 was an opportunity to mingle with Black creatives including: Ytasha Womack, author of Afrofuturism; Uraeus of Black Heroes Matter and creator of Jaycen Wise comics; Eugene Young, art professor and designer of Afromancy; Aubree Rose VanSluytman of Broken Chalice Studios; Obichukwu Udehm of Kola Nut Productions; Tony Washington, Veteran Artist and Music Producer; Naseed Gifted of Jazen Comics; Marcus Newsome, Creator of Lightning Strike Comics; Tim Fielder, OG Afrofuturist, Illustrator, concept designer, cartoonist, author and animator; as well as other Afrofuturists and Black creatives. This all took place in the gorgeous Helm room at the Univerity Club Atop Symphony Towers.

In addition to Afrofuturism Lounge, Dr. LaWana brings the community together for Afro Con and Afrofuturism Dream Tank. Check out Afrofuturismlounge.com or Grioneers.org for more information.