Vol. 64 No.13 Thursday, March 28, 2024

so her cousin suggested they head to a nearby 10th District police station.

Some say it’s simply a mother’s intuition: a lump in the throat or a throb to the heart that warns their child is in danger, even when police suggest otherwise.

It guided Latonya Moore when her 26-year-old daughter Shantieya Smith still wasn’t home as night fell on May 28, 2018. It was out of character for her to not reach out, especially on a school night. Moore worried officers would be dismissive if she called in,

“I wanted them to see my face so that they could understand my concern was real,” remembers Moore.

It guided her even as the officer at the front desk told her not to worry, she remembers. Maybe she is with a boyfriend, the officer suggested. It wasn’t uncommon for young women like Smith to run off with a man. “Give it 48 hours” before filing the report, Moore remembers the officer saying.

See MISSING page 2

San Diego’s Promise Zone Criticized As “Broken”

The promise zone program has invested millions of dollars into Southeastern San Diego, but are residents feeling the effects?

By Macy Meinhardt VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF WRITER

Since 2016, much of Southeastern San Diego has been among the twenty-two communities in the country that received a “Promise Zone” designation by the federal government. The designation helps strategically target systemic disparities in an area historically burdened by the highest con-

See

Hope for Refugees Found in the Alliance for African Assistance

By Emily Kim Jenkins CONTRIBUTING

PHOTO:

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

MISSING

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But Moore didn’t want to give it 48 hours. She thought about 15-year-old Sadaria Davis, another girl who had gone missing in the neighborhood that spring, who later was found decomposed in a trash-strewn abandoned building. It was the latest in a spate of missing women and girls; in fact, the whole neighborhood was on edge.

Moore’s cousin, part of their tight-knit family group, was adamant the officer accept the report and said they would not leave the station without one. They mentioned Smith’s bipolar disorder, which — unknown to the family at the time — meant police could have immediately characterized her case as “at-risk” and started an investigation.

Finally, officers told Moore her request was accepted.

“If she shows up, give us a call,” officers told Moore. She wouldn’t hear from them for the next four days.

In Illinois, it’s against state law for any law enforcement official to refuse an in-person missing person report on any grounds, regardless of the missing person’s age, affiliation, lifestyle, or amount of time missing. Nowadays, the first 24 to 48 hours after someone goes missing are widely understood as the most vital part of

BROKEN

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However, in the backdrop of long lasting aches and frustration at government bodies for the January floods, the report did not go without criticism from the public; ultimately highlighting how much work really will need to be done to win back public trust.

“The goals of the Promise Zone were to create and preserve affordable housing. Yet the city of San Diego allowed low income and very low income housing to be located there without any market rate development. Naturally, without any market rate development. There is no growth in economic development. There are food deserts in that area. There is a lack of interest in building, there are no companies and organizations that are building there and operating there to create jobs. This is not the Promise Zone but rather more of the Forgotten zone,” said resident Maria “Mia” Severson.

The San Diego Promise Zone program is a 6.4 mile area designation that is home to over 80,000 residents, spanning from East Village and Barrio Logan east to Encanto. The area captures the City’s most culturally rich and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. But, it also has historically high unemployment rates, low educational attainment, insufficient access to healthcare, higher crime rates, and the least available affordable housing compared to the City as a whole. To target these areas, the “promise” of the program is “To co-create an ecosystem of opportunity and investment through collaboration that addresses systemic racism and inequities to improve the quality of life of promise zone residents.”

One caveat to the program is that it does not come with any federal funding attached to support it, so responsibility of administering the goals falls in the hands of the City of San Diego, particularly the City’s Economic Department. However, as one of only 22 promise zone designations declared in the whole country, the federal recognition opens the door to a lot of grant opportunities. In addition to partnering with community based organizations, the program provides five full time Vista AmeriCorp volunteers to work within these communities. Working groups for the program also help leverage funding opportunities from a variety of sources, including federal, state, local, corporate, and philanthropic. Over the years partners have pursued more than 200 grant opportunities, resulting in over $100 million in funding.

Below is a list of the program’s goals, and the funding that has been dispersed since then.

REFUGEES

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After coming to the United States as a Ugandan refugee in 1986, Lam sought out immigration and refugee support and struggled to find any services specifically for Africans. In 1989, he founded the Alliance for African Assistance in San Diego, a resource for immigrants and refugees that serves all nationalities. With offices

a police investigation — critical to finding leads, collecting evidence and, in some cases, saving lives. The Chicago Police Department even collaborated with the network A&E on a show called “The First 48: Missing Persons,” showing (as research confirms) those crucial early hours can make or break a missing person case.

And yet, Moore clearly remembers an officer telling her to wait before filing a missing person report. City Bureau and the Invisible Institute spoke with multiple people who had similar experiences. In an analysis of police complaint records from 2011 to 2015, City Bureau and Invisible Institute found 17 complaints against officers for allegedly refusing to file missing person reports. None of the officers named in these complaints were disciplined. Black women made a majority of the complaints against officers, often when attempting to report their children missing.

Additionally, at least three complaints alleged that officers at stations where they tried to file a report in-person told them to instead call 911, even though Illinois law clearly states police cannot refuse in-person reports. One father, who asked to remain anonymous, told City Bureau and the Invisible Institute that police would not allow him to report his 17-year-old daughter missing in 2020 because police told him she was an adult and could move freely in the world.

“They were saying you have to wait 48 hours before you can actually report the person missing,” says the Rev. Robin Hood, who remembers hearing this from police officers

MAIN GOALS:

1. Increase access to quality and affordable housing…$159.5 million

2. Promote access to healthcare and healthy foods…$52.2 million

3. Create a priority of safety…$750 million

4. Improve educational opportunities…$16.3 million

5. Increase economic activity and creating jobs…$1.6 billion invested

Despite the economic investment snapshot shared, disappointment and frustration with the San Diego Promise Zone were expressed by several participants, who argued that it has failed to deliver on its promises of economic development in historically neglected communities.

“The promise zone sits on top of the Encanto and Southeastern community plans, statistics shows the area is as segregated, economically deprived, redlined, as ever…it is a concentrated poverty program, it is a broken promise,” said resident Mike O’ Geary, in regards to the report.

Indeed, a recent redline report conducted by local researcher David Oddo, does highlight for instance, the premise of redlining in Southeastern San Diego, and the devastating generational economic impact it has had. For instance, in terms of home ownership, Latino and African Americans in these identified communities are greatly under-served in terms of receiving home purchase and refinance loans.

Furthermore, as poverty also intersects with health outcomes recent data produced by the County of San Diego, shows Southeastern San

in California, Uganda, Kenya and Italy, the Alliance has resettled nearly 15 thousand refugees, helping them find work and housing. It offers translation services, medical and dental assistance, in-home care and more resources.

Immigrants and refugees face challenges that may seem insurmountable at first glance. There are crucial technical aspects of building a life in America, such as finding work, knowing how to get a doctor’s appointment or

starting in the 1990s. The West Side activist preacher has raised awareness and led community searches for missing Black girls and women on the West Side for decades.

In response to this accusation, police spokesperson Thomas Ahern wrote in an email statement: “The Chicago Police Department takes each missing person report seriously and investigates every one consistently. Under state law, CPD is required to take every missing person report regardless of how long the person has been absent or who is submitting the report.”

In some cases, families believe if police had acted more urgently, their loved ones might still be alive. While it’s impossible to prove a hypothetical, these heartbreaking stories demonstrate how important urgent police response can be.

On July 24, 2016, Shante Bohanan called her sister and said she was being held against her will. Bohanan’s boyfriend had recently died in a shooting, and the 20-year-old had gone to her boyfriend’s family’s house in order to grieve, family members told City Bureau and the Invisible Institute. A police document stated that during the phone call, Bohanan told her sister that she had a “gun held to her head.”

Bohanan’s mother, Tammy Pittman, says she went to the boyfriend’s house herself the same evening, but residents of the home said Bohanan had already left. Worried for her daughter’s safety, she attempted to report her missing. Instead, officers suggested Bohanan had run

diego consistently ranked disproportionately in areas such as: behavioral health conditions, asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Yet, In terms of unemployment, according to an SDPZ statement, their data shows that “since 2016, the unemployment rate has decreased from 14.9% to 9.9%, and the poverty rate has fallen from 38.3% to 20.3%”.

away, and urged Pittman to wait another 24 hours before reporting her daughter missing, against state law and their own policy. Police did not search the boyfriend’s home until the next evening, and they found nothing.

Three days after her mother first tried to file a missing person report, Bohanan’s naked body was found inside a black plastic garbage bag on 92nd Street in Burnside. As of 2023, Pittman says she hasn’t heard from detectives in five years.

Ultimately, whether it’s a refused report, confusion about whether or not they can file a report, or a delay in investigation, the process leaves families in limbo as leads are lost and cases go cold. Tammy Pittman talks about her experience with police after filing a missing person report for her daughter Shante Bohanan.

“The police failed me,” Pittman says. “Even though she’s dead, she’s gone, I don’t have no answers and that’s what hurts most of all. It hurts more than anything.”

CPD media affairs did not respond to a request for comment.

City Bureau Editor’s Note: In this article, anonymous sources have their names and credentials checked and double-checked by reporters and editors, though their identities are not revealed to the public. This story is part of the Chicago Missing Persons project by City Bureau and Invisible Institute, two Chicago-based nonprofit journalism organizations. Read he full investigation and see resources for families at chicagomissingpersons.com

“We recognize there are many factors that contribute to these numbers. We do know that in the 7 years since the designation, targeted efforts from the city and community-based organizations have supported some improvement in these areas, however, we recognize there is still plenty of work to do to continue improving the lives of our Promise Zone residents.”

While other comments during public comment accused the presentation of being a “propaganda update” and using “false data”, councilmembers for the most part accepted the report positively, emphasizing that although the work put in since 2016 has been vital, the road to full equality for the region is still long.

“Although the promise zone has been helpful, the decades of neglect by the city and private development are still extremely evident,” said District 8 Councilmember Vivian Moreno.

In addition, Couniclmember Moreno also challenged the division to seek new potential CIP projects that can be targeted and come into fruition before the designation ends.

For feedback from Council President Sean Elo-Rivera on the item, his suggestion was to focus more on gathering survey data from residents in the designation—are they seeing and feeling the improvements of the investments?

Representatives from the division said that the designation outlines one survey in the beginning of the program, which was completed, and one at the very end which will be in 2026.

“How do you specifically measure the outcomes and the results? And if our homelessness crisis is accelerating, and deaths are accelerating of people who are forced out of housing, then all of this money being spent, over a billion dollars?

finding housing. Lam notes that the Alliance helps people with the tasks and basic privileges Americans often take for granted, such as showing people how to use electric kitchen appliances.

What do we have to show for it in the end?” said resident Lori Saldana.

Meanwhile, in regards to the program ending in two years, other statements submitted for public comment consisted of a plea from the Urban Collaborative Projects for the city to keep a strategic focus on this area.

“We would like the City Council and the Mayor’s office to understand that just because the Promise Zone is going away, it does not mean our needs are going away. We propose that the city fund a community driven promise zone model once the federal designation is lost to ensure a smooth transition of activity and continued investment.

“Our hope is that we begin this conversation sooner, rather than later. Because of the recent flooding (see attached map), we have been reminded of the importance of infrastructure improvements that affect both the residents and businesses in our community.”

In essence, while the Promise Zone initiative has yielded tangible improvements, its conclusion marks not an end, but a call to action for sustained commitment, collaboration, and investment in fostering lasting equity and prosperity for Southeastern San Diego residents.

To learn more about the San Diego Promise Zone Program visit: www.sandiego.gov/ economic-development/san-diego-promise-zone

What is your viewpoint on the progress of the San Diego Promise Zone Program? We want to hear from you! Email us your thoughts at: News@sdvoice.info

These are not the only roadblocks to success in American life, however. In recent years, presuppositions have been fueled by partisan socio-political messaging. That can create hostile environments for those seeking refuge, Lam says. A 2023 National Institute of Health (NIH) study of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in San Diego found that, in the wake of 2017’s “Muslim ban” which restricted migration for Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) refugees, Islamophobia spiked in the United States and led to significant health challenges for Arabic-speaking refugees, whether they were Muslim or not.

See REFUGEES page 19

San Diego Promise Zone “community at a glance” demographic profile. IMAGE: Courtesy of the City of San Diego

By Dr. John E. Warren PUBLISHER, THE SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT

While the month of March has been set aside as Women’s History Month, we should be saluting and remembering Black women in particular who bore the burden of racism and humiliation that went with being seen as chattel when other women were still

CONCERNING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

seen as women, even without the recognition of citizenship. The real cause for the celebration of Black women in particular is that they still rose to raise children and much of the time as single parents because of racism so often removing the father from the home by design. So often these Black mothers spent their best hours each day taking care of other people’s children and families, at the expense of their own.

Their lives were often a reflection of Langston Hughes statement: “life ain’t been no crystal stairs” for most. But like Maya Angelo wrote, these Black women could say, “but still I rise.”

The women that we acknowledge in this issue are but a small sample of so many who have done so much. We were among the Daughters of the American Revolution before they decided that they didn’t want Marian Anderson to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. because of her color, yet Thomas

Jefferson had Sally Hemmings in his bloodline. From slavery to the United States Senate and the Vice Presidency of the United States; from parent and educator to the California Secretary of State as well as C. Delores Tucker becoming the first Black Secretary of State of the State of Pennsylvania, to Scientists, Doctors, Astronauts and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to now allowing every Black girl to realize that she too can rise and become a woman of substance, if she chooses to do so.

Yes, Women’s History Month, for many, is limited to the Month of March. But our recognition of Black women must be ongoing as well as reflective of those who paved the way to a future yet to be fully realized.

Black Women, we remember your struggles. We love your strength and beauty. We lift you up as the true beacon of all we hope to be as “still you rise”.

SEVEN BLACK EMPLOYMENT MYTHS CRUSHED BY RECENT GENERATIONS

SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN

IN SPORTS HISTORY

By Willie Brown EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER, INGLEWOOD TODAY

As we reflect on the great female athletes during Women’s History Month, we are reminded, sadly, of the gross pay inequities between men and women. While top-tier NBA players like Lebron James will reportedly earn $128M for the 2023-2024 season, highest paid WNBA player, Jackie Young will earn $252,450.

Fortunately, women aren’t competing just for the money. They are in it for the love of the game, and the opportunity to blaze trails for women behind them.

The victories won by Serena Williams go far beyond the tennis court. She is an inspiration and an icon. From her humble beginnings in Compton until her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, the tennis legend and her sister Venus are considered pioneers of a new era in tennis—one shaped by wealth, fame, celebrity and recordbreaking wins.

Danica Patrick paved the way in a

sport that is hard-pressed for female representation. Danica accomplished multiple firsts for open-wheel car racing and was the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300. She is credited with inspiring more women to enter auto racing and motorsports.

Professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, Ronda Rousey is not one to mess with. The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist is the only woman to win both a UFC and WWE championship and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.

WNBA player Candace Parker cut her teeth as a dominant player with the Los Angeles Sparks for 13 seasons. One of the league’s most celebrated players, Parker earned the title of Rookie of the Year and WNBA MVP in 2008. She led the Sparks to a championship in 2016. At 37, she’s now a player for the Las Vegas Aces. The resilience of women in sports— or any field for that matter—is truly remarkable.

By Markeith L. Porter LOCAL SAN DIEGAN

In the 70s/80s, Black unemployment doubled that of whites. Today, Black unemployment is at an all-time low. There are several reasons why this has taken place. First, there has been an enlightenment amongst the races that people are people and most just want to take care of their families. There is no hidden agenda in this notion. This article will describe seven reasons why the author has come to the realization that most of us have each other’s back in times of difficulty and with our youth, they are killing the myths of the past.

1. Blacks are Unqualified Myth. After the Civil Rights Act was signed, many Blacks with higher education desired employment in institutions that previously only hired Whites. Many Blacks lack the credentials to be hired by Wall Street, so they took lower positions and worked those positions until they became subject matter experts. Today, Wall Street is inundated with Black leadership.

2. Blacks do not have the Personalities to be CEO/COO Myth. Understandably, Blacks have much growth to be had in this arena to be CEO of Fortune 500 companies. The key here is most Blacks are building their own companies. Take for instance BETV owner and self-made Billionaire Robert Johnson. There have been others to join this club such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Tyler Perry. These people are killing the myth that Blacks don’t have the personalities to be CEO.

3. Blacks are Ugly Myth. This goes to the highest on Black Beauty. For years Black Beauty played second fiddle to other ethnic groups, especially on television. Now a day Blacks are often displayed on the television much to others chagrin. Beauties such as Beyonce are the gold standard for others to acquire and meet. She is simply amazing with her movies and talented voice. Angela Bassett with her strong cheekbones is of-

ten displayed as a standout in movies and television. Black beauty is not short on intelligence Tamara Hall and Oprah Winfrey demonstrate this every day.

4. Blacks cannot carry the Conversation Myth. This by far is one of the greatest myths that have been crushed. This myth plays straight into our ability to be bosses and points men in the direction of the workplace. Morgan Freeman played a Black President in a movie and then there was a Black President. President Barack Obama not only carried the conversation, he was the conversation.

5. Blacks are too loud. I believe Black are a bit loud, but this comes from a history of not being heard. Most were taught the squeaky wheel gets the oil so, some must make sure they are heard. Most Blacks have been brought up in a time where when the family gathers, children are to be seen and not heard. This brought some setbacks to Blacks having easygoing conversations. I think today’s youth are crushing this myth, they will speak their God given minds.

6. Blacks are lazy. This cannot be further from the truth. It was understood that during Jim Crow and slavery that the Black worker would want a siesta after his noon meal. To the landlord, this made him lazy and unwilling to work. Welfare is another reason why the Black worker has received this unfair description. Black unemployment is below 10%, the lowest it has been in decades. Blacks are still complaining that they do not have jobs but have evaporated the notion that Blacks are lazy.

7. Blacks are apathetic. Blacks do not show interest in work or this country. By far the people that are keeping this country democratic are Black women leaders. Recent ideology to take this country in the direction of oligarchy has had a foothold. Blacks’ leadership in the House and others have stood up for democracy. Blacks will always stand for the rule of law, even though the law once stood with its feet on our throats.

Markeith L. Porter is a local San Diegan and Program Management Representaitive

By Darrel Wheeler CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On March 21, 2024, Mark Jenkens of Preferred Cremation and Burial hosted a very special appreciation dinner for Mr. Leon Cole, retired funeral professional.

Mr. Cole worked for over 70 years in the funeral profession with Ragsdale and Preferred Cremation. Despite his retirement, Mr. Leon Cole is just a phone call away from occasionally assisting on funerals at the young age of 90.

Many funeral professionals from various mortuaries attended the appreciation day of honor. Mr. Cole’s wife Geneva, his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews also showed up to celebrate the big day, including some out of town travelers.

MR . L E O N COLE 'S

AP P R E C I AT I O N DAY

Mr. Derick Ragsdale spoke of Leon’s devotion to assisting his grandparents, Hazel and Hartwell Ragsdale, in the day-to-day operation of the Ragsdale funeral home.

By Past Master Dearcy Long 32” CHAIRMAN OF THE EASTER EGG COMMITTEE

On March 23, 2024, the place to be was the beautiful Jackie Robinson YMCA (JRYMCA) where the 18th Annual Easter Egg Eggstravaganza was being held. Under the clouds and the potential forecast of rain over, 100 children of various ages were running around collecting the many colorful candy-filled eggs scattered across the multipurpose field.

other activities included the Balance Egg contest, the Hula Hoop contest, Bubble Guns, Peep Kabobs, Cake Walk, Sack Race, and the Monster Truck Jumper.

The nonprofit organization, Our Kings, which supports African American mothers in nurturing young boys in their growth into manhood and Officer Christopher Jones and his Young & Prosperous

The smiles of excitement among the children were displayed on every face as they watched the eggs being tossed, hoping to glance the elusive golden eggs which would award them a special prize like an Easter basket, gift card, or swimming lessons. The

Foundation youth group were in attendance. Cali Venture provided the jumper, and special guest Miss Black California, Roushaun Knox, came out again to show little ladies how graceful a Beauty Queen can be.

The Fourth District Council presented a proclamation recognizing the significance of his career, naming March 21st “Leon Cole Day”.

“I appreciate my wife, family, friends, the District Council, and the mortuary community for coming here today and celebrating with me. I’m truly blessed,” Mr. Leon shared.

Mr. Mark Jenkens expressed sincere gratitude to Mr. Cole for his unwavering professionalism.

Congratulations to Mr. Leon Cole!

at the Jackie Robinson YMCA E ggs trava ganza Fun

Our faithful DJ, Antwan Adams, who has been bumping the music since we’ve been at the YMCA, and the JRYMCA staff of April, Jasmine, and Consuelo were outstanding with their assistance in the planning and coordination of this yearly endeavor. Prince Hall FreeMasons from Fidelity Lodge #10 and Ruth Chapter #11 of the OES (Order of Eastern Stars) strive to perform community service activities, feed and clothe the homeless, assist with trash pickup along the roads and freeways, and assist the senior citizens whenever possible. Another team of Prince Hall FreeMasons and Shriners, members of Azeem Temple #91 also visited the McDonalds Rady’s Children’s Hospital and donated Easter Baskets for the many children being cared for there.

Family and co-workers also took turns on the microphone to express their love and share their favorite stories about the most famous man in the room.

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

PHOTO: Pexels

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Survey Results Will Impact Women Across San Diego

To advance gender equality and a supportive environment, the City of San Diego’s Commission on the Status of Women is launching a new Women’s Survey on International Women’s Day, according to a statement released by the city earlier this month. This comprehensive survey, which will be sent out annually, aims to gather valuable insights into the experiences, challenges and aspirations of women in our vibrant communities.

“With women’s rights under attack across the nation, it is critical that we listen to women’s voices more than ever,” said City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert. “The results gathered from the Commission on the Status of Women’s survey will provide essential information to help the City understand how we can take action to empower women and girls throughout San Diego.”

The survey covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

• Workplace Equality: Evaluating opportunities, pay equity and workplace policies.

• Health and Well-Being: Assessing access to housing, healthcare, mental health awareness and wellness initiatives.

• Education and Training: Identifying educational gaps, training opportunities and skill development programs.

• Safety and Security: Understanding perceptions of safety and addressing concerns about public spaces.

• Social and Cultural Participation: Exploring opportunities for civic engagement, community involvement and cultural inclusion.

San Diego women are encouraged to participate in this survey to share their valuable perspectives. All responses will be confidential, and participants will remain anonymous. The results will be compiled, analyzed and presented to the public in a comprehensive report.

The survey is now open and will close on Friday, June 7, 2024. To access the survey, visit datasd.typeform.com/womenandgirls.

Mayor Todd Gloria Appoints Next Chief of Police

MAYOR GLORIA SELECTS 25-YEAR VETERAN ASSISTANT CHIEF SCOTT WAHL

Mayor Todd Gloria announced today that he is appointing current Assistant Chief Scott Wahl to be the next Chief of Police for the San Diego Police Department. The appointment follows an extensive national search and interview process that included vetting by community and law enforcement leaders, the Mayor’s office said in a statement released this morning.

Wahl helped launch the department’s Neighborhood Policing Division, which handles some of the city’s most challenging issues such as homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction.

“I am honored by the trust our Mayor, Todd Gloria, has put in me to lead the San Diego Police Department,” said Assistant Chief Scott Wahl. “Together, we will build a department that is reflective of our city and worthy of your trust and collaboration.”

San Diego Police Department, overseeing Special Projects and Legislative Affairs.

“The City of San Diego is one of the safest big cities in America—and, as Mayor, it is my highest priority to keep it that way,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “Assistant Chief Wahl shares my commitment to ensure every San Diegan in every neighborhood is safe, while also bringing about the necessary changes to the Department in order the build trust and meet our community’s expectations of today. As a 25-year veteran of SDPD, I know he is up to the job, and that’s why I am proud to appoint him as our next Police Chief.”

In his current role, he is responsible for implementing federal, state, and local legislative changes throughout the organization. He served as the department’s spokesperson for three years, boosting transparency and giving a voice to police initiatives in the community. As captain of Northern Division, which includes some of the city's largest coastal communities, he worked collaboratively with community groups to reduce gun violence and residential burglaries.

City of San Diego Launches Annual Women’s Survey Funding Approved for 19 Park Projects Across San Diego

Many of the projects are in park-deficient neighborhoods and communities climate-equity concern

All of Us initiative.

Approximately $15.9 million in capitalimprovement funding and an additional $363,000 in community-based Developer Impact Fee (DIF) funds will go to 19 park projects in the City of San Diego as part of

Parks for All of Us provides for a more equitable funding process that helps ensure everyone has access to safe, clean, and thriving park spaces. It is the first initiative to update the City’s Park Plan in over 65 years, which includes a “big change in how the City uses Developer Impact Fees (DIF). Previously, DIF funds could be spent only in the communities where the fees were collected. Ultimately this is aimed to make the funding system more flexible and equitable so parks can be built and improved upon in neighborhoods that need them the most.

“All San Diegans deserve easy access to high-quality parks,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, in a press release earlier this month.

Many of the neighborhood park projects are located in a park-deficient community and in communities of Climate Equity Concern. Projects include:

• Beyer Community Park in San Ysidro

• Carmel Mountain Ranch Pool Facility ADA in Carmel Mountain Ranch

• Chollas Creek Oak Park Branch Trail in Oak Park

Wahl, a lifelong resident of San Diego, is the son of a San Diego police officer. He and his wife, Stephanie, have four children.

Mayor Gloria’s appointment of Assistant Chief Wahl comes following an extensive recruitment process that began in November 2023. It consisted of community forums in each of the nine City Council Districts (plus an online survey), a national search, and vetting by 21 community leaders of the finalists. The recruitment effort netted a total of 56 applicants.

Mayor Gloria announced the appointment of

Assistant Chief Wahl as the City’s next Chief of Police at a press conference today at San Diego City Hall. He was joined by City Council President Pro Tem Joe LaCava, City Councilmember and Chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee Marni von Wilpert, City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, Chief Operating Officer Eric Dargan, and current Chief of Police David Nisleit.

Assistant Chief Wahl is being appointed to succeed Chief David Nisleit, who will retire in June after 36 years of service to the San Diego Police Department.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Mayor Gloria sent a memo to the City Council informing them of his appointment of Assistant Chief Wahl as the next Chief of Police. In accordance with Council Policy 300-08, the City Council is required to convene a Committee of the Whole at which the Mayor will officially present his appointment to the Committee, which consists of the full City Council. This will allow the City Council to interview Assistant Chief Wahl for the position of Chief of Police as well as receive public comment. Following the Committee of the Whole, the City Council will docket the Mayor’s appointment of a Chief of Police for a vote.

• Chollas Triangle Neighborhood Park in City Heights

• Clay Neighborhood Park improvements in Rolando

• Ellen Browning Scripps Park Expanded Walkway in La Jolla

• Golf Course Drive improvements in Balboa Park/Golden Hill

• Hard court improvements across four communities in Council Districts 4 and 8, such as Emerald Hills, Encanto, Southcrest, Skyline and Otay Mesa

• Howard Lane Park in San Ysidro

• John Baca Park in Linda Vista

• Land acquisition for parks across six communities in Council Districts 4, 7, 8 and 9

• Marcy Neighborhood Park improvements in University City

• Memorial Community Park field and security lighting in Logan Heights

• Montezuma Neighborhood Park in College Area

• North Chollas Community Park improvements in Oak Park

• Rancho Bernardo Dog Park in Rancho Bernardo

• Robb Field Park GDP Amendment in Mission Bay / Ocean Beach

• Southcrest Community Park Lighting in Southcrest

• Sunshine Berardini Park GDP in City Heights

The projects approved for funding as part of today’s action are in various phases of the design, engineering, bid, or planning processes.

Additionally, as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget process, Council members included 46 park projects (existing and new projects) in their Council priority memos. The Parks and Recreation Department currently has 187 existing capital improvement projects in its inventory with a funding need of over $500 million. There are numerous other projects that will be candidates for Citywide Park DIF funding once they reach a project phase that requires additional funding.

Wahl is currently serving as Assistant Chief with the

Mayor Todd Gloria’s Parks for

VOICE

PHOTO: Courtesy of San Diego Mayor’s Office

Encanto Playground, one of the locations set for a revamp by the City of San Diego. PHOTO: City of San Diego

Five SDCCD Students Named Semifinalists for Prestigious Transfer Scholarships

Fi ve students at San Diego Colleges have been named as semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cook Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship that provides a tuition-free pathway to a fouryear degree at a college or university of their choice. The award, which covers unfunded institutional aid, can reach as much as $55,000 each year. Finalists for the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship will be announced in May.

This year’s semifinalists include:

Nick Lazaris is aiming to transfer to UC San Diego and ultimately earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology to engage in research, open his own practice, and one day teach psychology at the college level. Being named a national semifinalist brought him joy and validation. “It means that what I am doing matters in a real way.”

Grace Perez is majoring in both theatre and musical theatre at City College and is intent on transferring to San Diego State University for a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts. “I

would love to teach visual and performing arts in K through 12 within the San Diego Unified School District,” said Perez.

Husna Ayoubi of Mesa College is majoring in cognitive science. Ayoubi has served as an interpreter at Fort Bliss, Texas, Afghan refugee camp clinic and also has tutored English language learners in the Cajon Valley Union School District.

Namod Pallek Kankanamge is a Miramar College standout who has served as student body president and student trustee on the SDCCD Board of Trustees. “Coming from underrepresented communities, I faced many adversities, from discrimination to living on the street. I decided to major in prelaw political science to become an advocate and make changes that will help more students like me.”

James Nguyen is a Miramar College scholar on track to earn an associate of science degree in earth science studies. He participated in the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience Academy, serves in a City of San Diego internship program and volunteers at the San Diego Library.

Racial Disparities and Environmental Factors Influence Sarcoidosis Risk in U.S. Population

By Stacy M. Brown

New research published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Soc-

iety reveals significant racial disparities in sarcoidosis incidence in the United States. Based on data from the Optum health care database covering 15% of U.S. residents over three years (2010–2013), the

Study Reveals Successes and Struggles For Women of Color

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

With the observance of Women’s History Month in full swing, the music world has finally begun to recognize female artists’ vast contributions.The latest report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reflected on the strides forward and the persistent obstacles women’s professionals in the music industry face.

The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and Associate Professor of Communication Stacy L. Smith conducted the study, which included 1,200 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts and provided a detailed analysis spanning 12 years. Its scope encompasses the roles of artists, songwriters, and producers while delving into Grammy Award nominations across six major categories.

The study’s findings painted a nuanced picture of progress and disparities within the industry. Notably, there has been a marked increase in the representation of women artists, reaching a 12-year high of 35%.

Researchers said this surge, particularly evident in the rise of individual female artists claiming over 40% of spots on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart in 2023, signaled a positive shift. However, despite the gains, the study authors noted that it’s crucial to recognize that women still occupy less than a quarter of artist roles overall, underscoring the need for sustained efforts toward greater inclusivity.

Behind the scenes, there have also been advancements. The study revealed a significant rise in the percentage of female song -

writers, climbing from 14.1% to 19.5% in 2023. The increase is largely attributed to the contributions of women of color. Similarly, while the number of women producers reached a modest high, significant challenges remain in achieving equitable representation in these roles.

The study’s key findings center on the crucial role that women of color have played in advancing change within the sector. Accounting for a staggering 65% of female artists on the charts in 2023 and making significant gains in songwriting roles, women of color have been instrumental in shaping the industry’s trajectory. Jay-Z’s Grammy speech, in which he questioned why his wife, Beyonce, hadn’t won Album of the Year honors despite being arguably the most successful female music star in history, underscored the lack of recognition for women, particularly in prestigious award nominations.

The study authors wrote that efforts such as “She Is The Music,” “Spotify Equal,” and “Girls Make Beats” have been crucial in fostering inclusivity and providing platforms for women, including women of color, to showcase their talent. However, they said there remains a need for collective action to dismantle systemic barriers and biases that hinder women’s progress, particularly those from marginalized communities.

“As the industry continues to evolve, it must strive to amplify women’s voices, focusing on women of color and ensuring that diversity and representation remain at the forefront of its agenda,” the authors concluded. “Only then can the industry truly reflect the richness and diversity of talent within its ranks and pave the way for a more inclusive future.”

study sheds light on the impact of environmental exposures on sarcoidosis risk, mainly focusing on the variations among ethnic groups.

This revelation comes more than 15 years after the disease gained attention because of the untimely death of actor-comedian Bernie Mac, who battled sarcoidosis for 25 years before dying in 2008 at the age of 50.

While Mac’s publicist attributed his death to pneumonia, not sarcoidosis, medical experts claim the interconnectedness of the two conditions cannot be ignored. They argue that individuals with sarcoidosis are predisposed to pneumonia, which places emphasis on the significance of understanding and addressing this complex disease.

The latest study utilized the Optum health care database covering three years from 2010 to 2013 and identified 29,372 adult patients with sarcoidosis. Notably, 55% of these patients were over 55 years old at the time of diagnosis, challenging previous assumptions about the peak age of the disease.

Among the key findings, the incidence and prevalence rates of sarcoidosis were notably higher in African Americans compared to

other ethnic groups. African Americans exhibited an incidence rate of 17.8 and a prevalence rate of 141.4 per 100,000, while white individuals had rates of 8.1 and 49.8, Hispanics at 4.3 and 21.7, and Asians at 3.2 and 18.9, respectively.

The data provides a comprehensive snapshot of sarcoidosis in the United States, challenging prior estimates of 150,000 to 200,000 cases. The study’s findings underscored the need for heightened awareness, early detection, and tailored treatment strategies for different ethnic and demographic groups.

The research also explored the impact of environmental exposures on sarcoidosis risk. Exposure to mold, musty odors, various metals, and farm animals increased the odds of sarcoidosis, with African Americans showing stronger associations between environmental factors and the disease compared to European Americans.

The study emphasizes the need for a more thorough understanding of the etiology of the disease, even though granulomas form and grow during sarcoidosis without known pathogens. The data challenges prior estimates of sarcoidosis cases in the U.S. and highlights the importance of considering environmental factors and racial dis-

parities in future research and healthcare initiatives related to sarcoidosis prevention and treatment.

“The present study adds further support to multiple exposures as risk factors for sarcoidosis identified in the National Library of Medicine’s “A Case Control Etiologic Sarcoidosis Study” including, but not limited to, protective effects of tobacco exposure and risk-increasing effects of metals and insecticides,” Albert M. Levin, PhD, director of the Center for Bioinformatics at Henry Ford Health, and colleagues wrote.

“In trying to understand the underlying causes of exposure effects that differ by race, one cannot overlook the potential of racial bias in the diagnostic workup of sarcoidosis cases and even in the exposure assessment that could lead to spurious results,” Levin and colleagues wrote.

“Reports of disparate disease outcomes for low-income African Americans support this possibility, and future studies should be appropriately designed to minimize or eliminate such biases and explore measures of structural racism as potential contributory exposures to the differences in risk of sarcoidosis between African Americans and European Americans.”

PHOTO: Courtesy of NNPA

ARTS & CULTURE / SPORTS

Descendants of 1811 Revolt Preserve Black History

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr National Correspondent

Jo Banner and Joy Banner, founders of The Descendants Project, have taken a significant step towards preserving the historical legacy of Black Americans by acquiring the Woodland Plantation in LaPlace, Louisiana. According to TheGrio, their unwavering commitment stems from a deeprooted understanding of the plantation’s pivotal role in history and a determination to authenticate its story.

Raised on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, Jo Banner and her sister Joy Banner were steeped in the tales of their grandmother, who recounted the harrowing events of the 1811 revolt by enslaved people. The uprising, often overshadowed in historical narratives, saw the brave resistance of individuals like Charles Deslondes and approximately 25 others who sought freedom amidst the brutal oppression of slavery.

The Banners’ acquisition of the plantation marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle to preserve Black history. After years of discussions with the previous owner, Timothy Sheehan, about safeguarding this heritage, the sisters finalized the purchase in January for $750,000. With the transaction completed, they now hold stewardship over a property that witnessed one of America’s largest uprisings of enslaved people. Their nonprofit organization, The Descendants Project, focuses on preserving and protecting the Black descendant community in Louisiana’s River Parishes. The Woodland Plantation, nestled in St. John the Baptist Parish, holds immense historical significance, encompassing 4,000 square feet of space on four acres of land.

According to Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, an associate professor of history at Xavier University, the Banners’ initiative is profoundly impactful. It provides an opportunity for descendants of the enslaved to reclaim their narrative, offering a counterbalance to historical accounts that often marginalize their contributions.

In addition to preserving the plantation’s his -

Aaliyah Gayles is Behind USC's Rise in Women's NCAA Tournament

By Beth Harris AP Sports Writer

Helping revive USC's women’s basketball program — which won back-to-back national championships in 1983 and ’84 — was attractive to Gayles “because I’m always going to love the underdog. I feel like this is where you grow, this is where you become stronger.” “I feel like we’re proving a lot of people wrong right now,” she said.

The Trojans' rise to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after being ranked all season and winning the Pac-12 Tournament coincided with Gayles' first year back on the court.

Gayles averaged 1.4 points while appearing in seven games this season, most recently on Feb. 9 against Arizona State.“She brings so much leadership and just positive energy to the team every day, and we need it. She’s a part of this family and we couldn’t do what we do without her,” said Watkins, an Associated Press All-American.

“She’s never comparing herself to somebody else. She just always has a great mindset and that’s definitely something that I admire about her. It’s very rare to find in people.”

–Watkins

Gayles surprised herself by recovering in a year’s time after doctors told her it was going to take longer than that and warned she could lose a leg. “I just feel like my energy and my demeanor, I didn’t want to give up, I didn’t want to stop playing basketball,” she said. “I pushed myself so hard to stay who I am, it’s like my body reacted to that."

She suffered fractures in both arms and legs and endured multiple surgeries to repair the damage. Last season, she didn’t play. Instead, she followed a relentless schedule of physical therapy, rehab and followup surgeries.

A couple weeks later, Gayles hit

her first 3-pointer and the USC bench erupted again. “She’s faced so much adversity and she still has a smile on her face,” Watkins said. “She’s never comparing herself to somebody else. She just always has a great mindset and that’s definitely something that I admire about her. It’s very rare to find in people.”

Gayles resists any depiction of herself as a victim. She doesn’t seek sympathy, yet knows “these wounds are not going nowhere so I got to tell them one day why I got wounds on my legs and arms.”

Already injury prone before the shooting, Gayles’ injuries have helped inspire her ambitions beyond basketball. She wants to eventually work in sports medicine after seeing the work done on her by athletic trainers and physical and occupational therapists. “They really do a lot for athletes and I feel like they don’t get enough recognition, so it’s more of me just wanting to be in their shoes and maybe help another athlete that was probably

in my boat, too,” she said. She’s already assisting others through her NIL. Gayles offers a mental health check-in and motivational coaching. “Mental health is a big, big reason why some of the athletes are hurting inside but no one knows it,” she said. “That needs to be talked about.”

On Gayles' left abdomen is a vertical tattoo with the word blessed and a red cross. The phrase ‘Everything happens for a reason’ is tattooed on her left arm. “I just want people to know me for who I am and not the girl who obviously got shot numerous times. I’m still a human and not a superhuman, but I try,” she said.

Gayles is looking ahead to next season with a plan to hit the weight room to increase her strength and body mass. Eventually, she sees herself playing in the WNBA or overseas. “It’s still never lost on me what a joy it is to see her every day,” Gottlieb said. “She is a walking miracle.”

tory, the Banners said they intend to use the space as a hub for community engagement. By offering genealogy resources and facilitating discussions on environmental justice, they aim to create a welcoming environment where Black voices are heard and honored.

The fight against environmental degradation in the region, epitomized by Greenfield Louisiana LLC’s proposed construction of a grain elevator export plant, underscores the ongoing struggle for justice. For Jo Banner, the significance of their ownership extends beyond mere property rights. It represents a reclaiming of space and identity, ensuring that future generations connect meaningfully with their heritage. As they embark on this journey, the Banners said they are determined to ensure that the Woodland Plantation remains a beacon of hope and empowerment for all who visit.

“Knowing that home’s history and everything that happened, that our names are going to be put in the paperwork of this home, that you’re going to see it going all the way from the 1700s and white ownership and all of a sudden that they got more melanin on that title history, we’re already seeing how impactful that is for us to be in this space just as Black women,” Jo Banner told The Grio. “We’re going to provide access to the history in a way that Black people can feel welcome in the space.”

Former Lincoln High Standout Returning To Play For Cal State San Marcos

By Michael West Contributing Writer

Kyelin King, 2022’s Lincoln High School basketball prodigy, committed to Cal State San Marcos in January and will sign his National Letter of Intent on April 17 this year. The All-City prospect led the Hornets to the 2022-2023 Section 2 CIF Title before deciding to attend school in Greenville, South Carolina at Legacy Early College, an East Coast College Prep School loaded with college prospects. King drew statewide attention in 2023 as a Junior, leading Lincoln High to their first Division 2 title since 2011. The six feet, five-inch lefty made a name for himself by helping transform the Hornet from a middling 14-15 team in 20212022 to a powerhouse 30-3 champion in 2022-2023. He averaged eighteen points per game, and played in twelve games, scoring at least ten points, and grabbing ten rebounds in the same game. The crafty guard collected Player of the Year honors in the San Diego City League.

Known as a gritty player, King excelled on both offense and defense. Coaches praised his athleticism, and his slashing style as a shooting guard in high school. Leading the charge with multiple

double digit scoring performances, he peaked at Lincoln with a career high of 30 points and 13 rebounds against Culver City in the Division 2 playoffs. He also notched 2nd Team honors in the ALL-CIF San Diego Section, and 3rd Team California Section 3 CIF.

King enhanced his skills over the summer of 2023 by joining West Coast Elite AAU Basketball - a collection of high school players from the 31 top West Coast High Schools. He ultimately moved to Greenville, South Carolina where he played for Legacy Early College his Senior year- in one of the most competitive High School leagues on the East Coast. King did not disappoint-averaging 20 points per game and 11 rebounds a game.

San Marcos came calling in August with an offer to play for the Cougars, after an eye-opening performance at the CSUB Men’s Basketball Elite Camp in late July.

King also garnered interest from UC Riverside, Cal State Bakersfield, Lamar University, and the University of Tampa, before deciding to return home to San Diego to play in his hometown. Best of luck to another High School standout.

Source: Twitter (X), Fieldlevel.com, ncsasports.org

PHOTO: Courtesy of

Black Dads are More Likely to Be More Attentive They Play, Dress and Share a Meal With Their Child, Data Shows

By Madeline Holcombe CNN

As he was growing up, Jeremy Givens says the narrative he heard around Black fathers was different than the one he lived.

Now a father himself, Givens is president and executive director of the Black American Dad Foundation, an organization aiming to counter biased perceptions of Black fathers with firsthand accounts.

Fathers are important for helping their children see all they can be, said Dr. Jennifer Noble, a licensed psychologist based in Los Angeles.

Seeing both moms and dads changing a diaper, nurturing a child and engaging in play helps boys and girls relate to both of their parents, she said.

Often, good fathers can offer les -

sons in playfulness, care, support, courage and discipline, Noble said. And data shows that Black dads are doing so regularly. Seventy percent of Black fathers who live with their children were most likely to have bathed, dressed, changed or helped their child with the toilet every day, compared with their White (60%) or Hispanic (45%) counterparts, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2013 National Health Statistics Report.

Those Black fathers were also most likely to have eaten a meal with their children, the data showed. This involvement is important for many reasons, one of which is that data shows that children with involved fathers are at lower risk for developing disruptive behavior and mental health difficulties.

Often, movies, TV shows and news

stories about Black fathers come from secondary sources — not by Black dads or those who have been raised by them, Givens said. As a result, the father of a Black family can be portrayed as either absent

or not a very good dad.

Given the history of racism in the United States, some Black fathers may face disproportionate incarceration rates or have difficulty in

Why Are Bullies So Mean?

A Youth Psychology Expert Explains What’s Behind Their Harmful Behavior

By Sara Goldstein Prof. of Human Development University

Being bullied can make your life miserable, and decades of research prove it: Bullied children and teens are at risk for anxiety, depression, dropping out of school, peer rejection, social isolation and selfharm.

Adults can be bullied too, often at a job, and they may suffer just as much as kids do.

First, let’s define what bullying is: It’s mean-spirited, harmful behavior by someone with more power or status – like a popular kid at school or a supervisor at work –who repeatedly picks on, harasses, irritates or injures a person with less power or status.

Bullying can take many forms –physical, like pushing, shoving and hitting; relational, such as spreading rumors, keeping somebody out of a friend group or just rude re-

marks; or sexual harassment and stalking behavior.

Sometimes, bullies target someone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation or appearance.

People from the LGBTQ+ community, or who are overweight, or with a physical or developmental disability are more likely to be bullied. As a result, they may develop mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and self-harming behavior.

So why do bullies do it?

People learn how to bully others early on through what psychologists call modeling and social learning. This means bullies see other people bullying and they essentially model, or copy, this aggressive behavior.

Media is a big culprit here. When mean or violent conduct is glamorized and gamified in music, video games, TV and movies, bullies will imitate what they see and hear, especially if it seems cool or if it’s

rewarded.

Family is also an influence. If children grow up in a home without kindness and closeness, but with plenty of physical punishment and heavy conflict – including parents fighting with each other – then children view this behavior as acceptable. They can go on to treat their peers this way.

A similar thing happens when a kid falls into a group of friends who are bullies; they become more likely to bully others themselves. To say it another way, they bully because they think it makes them look cool in front of their friends.

And bullies bully for lots of other reasons. Some do it because it makes them feel better about themselves when they put other people down. Other bullies discovered that force and intimidation worked for them in the past, so it’s a go-to strategy to get what they want. Still others simply have difficulty controlling themselves and can’t calm down when they’re angry.

And with some bullies, it’s just a way to get ahead. For instance, an adult bully in the workplace may spread an embarrassing rumor about a coworker to keep a rival from being promoted.

How to handle bullies

obtaining jobs to provide for their families. But such hardships are only part of the story of Black fatherhood.

For a narrative that better represents Black fathers, we need to emphasize who is telling the story, Givens said. The Black American Dad Foundation and other groups are trying to put out stories from Black fathers themselves. Givens wants more primary sources for the cultural understanding of Black families. He also encourages dads to think about the behavior they are modeling for their children.

“I think it’s important to show your children that you are human and that you make mistakes and it’s OK that you find ways to get through them,” Givens said. “Not only do you show them your successes but show them your failures as well.”

Fortunately, there are lots of ways to stop a bully.

If you’re a child or teenager, talk about what has happened with a trusted adult – a parent, teacher, principal or counselor. They will help you figure out your next move. Schools are familiar with this sort of problem; they have policies in place to protect victims of bullying.

If you’re an adult who has been bullied in the workplace, talk to your human resources department or a neutral supervisor who can advise you on next steps. You are also legally protected – employment laws prohibit harassment and discriminatory behavior.

Whatever your age, it’s a good idea to talk to friends or family members who may not be involved in the incident but who will offer support. Engaging in coping activities – like exercising, or relaxing with a walk – may also help.

You can also use the Crisis Text Line, available 24/7, by texting 741741. Or call the Stop Bullying Now Hotline at 1-800-273-8255; the link also provides international numbers. Or call 988 to reach the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

And a final word: Bullying is not acceptable. It’s not just “kids being kids,” or that you’re “too sensitive.” If a bully is bothering you, don’t try to handle it alone – getting help is the way to get through.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.

Caring for Adults with Long COVID

Listen with compassion

• Taking steps to understand the person’s experience might make them feel less isolated.

• When listening, give feedback that acknowledges and validates what they are going through.

Start a conversation to gain understanding

• Start by asking them to talk and ask questions about their experiences.

• Begin with an open-ended question, like “How’s it going for you these days?” Then, work to narrow down what you can do to help.

• T ake time to compassionately listen to their responses, directly ask what they need or what you can do to help.

Determine how you can help

• Some people may want someone to listen to their experiences more frequently.

• O thers may need more physical support

(help with household chores, running errands).

• When you may not be able to support a person exactly as they need, just be direct in saying what you can and can’t do.

Caring for Children or Adolescents with Long COVID

• If your child has Long COVID and it impacts their usual activities, it may be helpful to discuss possible accommodations with your

child’s healthcare provider and school.

• School administrators, school counselors, and school nurses can work with families and healthcare professionals to provide learning accommodations for children with Long COVID, particularly those experiencing thinking, concentrating, or physical difficulties.

Self-Care for Caregivers is Important

• Take care of your body.

• Make time to unwind and try to do some activities you enjoy.

• Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

• T ake breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.

If you are a caregiver, remember that maintaining healthy behaviors and seeking additional support is an important part of helping other people.

Source: CDC

PHOTO: Freepik

By Tihut Tamrat

6th Annual F.A.N.C.Y. Awards Celebrates Local Teens Making A Difference

Racquel Vasquez, spoken word performances, dance performances, awardee presentations, and the F.A.N.C.Y. Fashion Show hosted by TrendiReds; not to mention the wonderful food served.

On Saturday, March 23rd, DETOUR Empowers celebrated nine F.A.N.CY. girls that graduated and accomplished what the program set out to do: give girls of color tools to become successful in life. The awards luncheon, The 6th Annual F.A.N.C.Y. Awards, celebrated all the accomplishments the girls have achieved while also uplifting their stories on their path to higher education. This was done beautifully through the inclusion of pre-recorded videos of goals the F.A.N.C.Y. girls set out at the beginning of the program.

The theme, “She Believed She Could, So She Did!”, was present all throughout the event from the uniquely stylized awards given to the girls all the way to the stylish dresses worn. The event included introductions of the nine F.A.N.C.Y. Girls being celebrated, a hearty welcome from the County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and City of Lemon Grove Mayor

Academy, “is rooted in the belief that every young girl deserves equal access to education and employment opportunities, regardless of their background.”

She continues, “The F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Awards Scholarship Luncheon serves as a testament to the dedication of our mentors, the resilience of our mentees, and the unwavering support from our partners and supporters.”

The community partners, sponsors, DETOUR Staff, DETOUR Board, volunteers, and interns all made this event a success for the community. They not only nurtured academic excellence but also instilled confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose in the nine girls being celebrated, serving as a beacon of inspiration for others to follow. As their mission states, DETOUR’s efforts last Saturday, and everyday, are what allow “Little Girls With Dreams To Become Women With Vision!”

DETOUR F.A.N.C.Y Expo & Leadership Academy stands for “Focused And Naturally Confident Youth”, something DETOUR does through curriculum and mentorship to young women and girls focused on building confidence, healthy relationships, and leadership skills. The academy also offers girls a paid internship

program that provides work-readiness training, leadership development, and opportunities to explore career pathways to prepare girls for success in the real world.

Founder and Executive Director of DETOUR Empowers, Tinesia Conwright, states that the vision of the F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo &

PHOTOS: Tihut Tamrat

From left to right: Eva M. Bryant, Assistant Vice President; Dr. Lupita Moncada, Board President; Tinesia Conwright, Founder and Executive Director; Ady Huertas, Board Vice President; and Deona “Dee” Dorsey, Board Secretary.

Women’s History

Outstanding Black Women To Know

During Women’s History Month, we want to highlight the incredible Black women who spearheaded the civil rights movements, education, government/ law, the arts and many other life-changing improvements to the world. The American education system focuses on history from the white male’s perspective, which fails to showcase the great women who were often at the forefront of these

Gerri Warren

Publisher (1946-2009)

Gerri Warren, Publisher, Pastor, Entrepreneur, Businesswoman, made outstanding social and civic contributions on both the East and West Coast. Born and raised in Florida, she moved to San Diego and raised two daughters while serving as President of the local NAACP, Field Representative to President of the State Senate, Delegate to the Democratic Convention, and later Elected member of the D.C. Statehood Constitutional Convention, Vice President of the D.C.C Chamber of Commerce, and returning to San Diego and becoming Co-Publisher of the Voice & Viewpoint newspaper, Founder of the San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and, Chairperson of the California Black Chamber of Commerce and Creator of the Gold Coast Classic Football event as President of the African American Sports Association.

Barbara Jordan

Lawyer, Educator, and Politician (b. 1936-1996)

Barbara Jordan served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1973–79), representing Texas. She was the first African American congresswoman to come from the South. She attended Texas Southern University in Houston (magna cum laude, 1956), and attended Boston University Law School, where she was one of only two women—both African Americans from Houston— to graduate. Her keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National

By Voice & Viewpoint Staff

movements. This year’s list of incredible women is a reminder to look more closely at the history that is fed to us instead of just consuming it, and to also support and celebrate the Black women you see making strides every day.

olores an Rensalierarren

Activist (b. 1940)

DConvention confirmed her reputation as one of the most commanding and articulate public speakers of her era.

olores Van Rensalier-Warren, Founder and President of the Huntoon-Van Rensalier Underground RailRoad Foundation, where, once a vacant lot, she led the development of what is today the Huntoon-Van Rensalier Underground Railroad Monument, now listed as one of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom sites. She is the author of Bridge Street to Freedom, which tells the story of her great grandfather, William Van-Rensalier, and his white friend, Josiah Huntoon, who jointly operated the underground railroad site for runaway slaves at Huntoon’s home. The site contains over 161 personalized bricks from across the nation, and the rare 1871 Freedom Bell rang at the passage of the 13th Amendment. A 21 year City of Los Angeles employee, with over 40 community, City, State and National awards, Dolores conceived and founded the Watts Senior Center Rose Garden, a nationally accredited rose garden and heritage site. She was a Red Cross Volunteer in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, is the recipient of four Who’s Who In America national honor inductions and four awards for authorship, and provides philanthropic donations of the proceeds of Bridge Street to Freedom to the Paterson-Passaic Community College as part of the archival history of the Huntoon-Van Rensalier Underground Railroad Monument.

eborah Wolfe

Educator and Minister (b. 1916-2004)

Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe was an African American educator, minister, and Education Chief of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. Humbly self-described as a “teacher and preacher,” Wolfe was a pioneer who challenged racial and gender barriers. She held three advanced degrees, a B.S from New Jersey City University, and an M.S. and a PhD from Columbia University. She was awarded twenty-six honorary doctorate degrees, and a number of edu-

cational institutions have named buildings in her honor. Her papers are held by Schlesinger Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Marian Anderson

Opera Singer (b.1897-1993)

Marian Anderson was a popular African-American opera singer in the 1930s from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As an African American in a predominately white profession, she faced even more challenges than most to gain her success. But with talent and perseverance she became the first African American to perform as a member of the New York Metropolitan Opera and to perform at the White House, invited by Eleanor Roosevelt. When she was barred from performing at a segregated concert venue, it set off a firestorm of negative press and led to a debate about segregation in DC. On Easter Sunday 1939 Marian Anderson performed to an integrated crowd of 75,000 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Millions of listeners tuned in. It was a landmark moment in civil rights history. The National Mall, and all National Parks, were integrated at this time. Anderson’s performance was not only hugely popular, it resulted in the Lincoln Memorial being used as the standard backdrop of Civil Rights protests on the Mall, most famously with the 1963 March on Washington.

PPhillis Wheatley

Author (b. 1753-1784)

hillis Wheatley’s first name was derived from the ship that brought her to America as a slave, “The Phillis.” Her enslavers, The Wheatley family of Boston, Massachusetts, educated her and within sixteen months of her arrival in America she could read the Bible, Greek and Latin classics, and British literature. In 1773, Wheatley traveled to London with the Wheatley’s son to publish her first collection of poems, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral —the first book written by an enslaved Black woman in America. She was emancipated shortly thereafter. Wheatley’s poems and letters, studied by scholars and many institutions to this day, reflected her thoughts on liberty and freedom. Many institutions have honored her legacy, including the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in Washington, D.C.

Photo credit: Voice & Viewpoint

Photo credit: Voice & Viewpoint

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

PHOTO: Britannica

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

PHOTO: Public Domain

bbie Mitchell was an African soprano born on the Lower East Side before audiences around the world at private gatherings for wealthy families such as the Astors, Goulds, performed in over two dozen plays including The Count of Monte Cristo, The Emperor Jones, and The Little Madame X in the play by that name. department at the Tuskegee Institute’s and continued to perform, giving The Skull Boat.

PHOTO: Blackpast.org

Inspirational Women Month

Daisy Bates

Activist (b.1914-1999)

Daisy Bates was co-founder of The Arkansas Weekly , one of the only African American newspapers solely dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement. Bates worked as an editor there, and regularly contributed articles. After the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, Bates began gathering African American students to enroll at all white schools. Bates used her newspaper to publicize the schools who followed the federal mandate. When the national NAACP office started to focus on Arkansas’ schools, they looked to Bates to plan the strategy. She took the reins and organized the Little Rock Nine, the nine teens who became the first African American students to enter Little Rock Arkansas’ Central High School, driving the students to school and

ane Bolin

working tirelessly to ensure they were protected from violent crowds. In 1962, she published her memoirs, The Long Shadow of Little Rock. The book won an American Book Award. For her work, the state of Arkansas proclaimed the third Monday in February, Daisy Gatson Bates Day. She was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1999.

Zora Neale Hurston

Author (b.1891-1960)

Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist and Harlem Renaissance writer who celebrated African American culture of the rural South. Her most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God is considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston attended Howard University and subsequently won a scholarship to Barnard College, where she studied anthropology under the famous GermanAmerican anthropologist, Franz Boas. In 1930 Hurston collaborated with Langston Hughes on the play Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts (published posthumously 1991). In 1934 she published her first well-received novel, Jonah’s Gourd Vine, acclaimed for its portrayal of African American life uncluttered by stock figures or sentimentality. For several years Hurston served on

Attorney and Judge (b. 1908-2007)

Jane Bolin was the first Black woman graduate of Yale Law School and the first Black female judge in the United States. Bolin clerked in her father’s law office until she passed the New York bar in 1932. In 1937, she was named Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, serving on the Domestic Relation Court. Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia appointed herJudge of the Domestic Relations Court in 1939, where she served for 40 years. During her tenure, she helped to achieve two major advances: the assignment of probation officers to cases without regard for race or religion, and a requirement that publicly funded private childcare agencies accept children without regard to ethnic background. After retiring from the bar, Bolin served on the New York State University Board of Regents, where she reviewed disciplinary cases. Bolin was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, and the Child Welfare League.

Joy Buolamwini

AI Researcher and Advocate (b. 1989)

the faculty of North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University) and worked at the Library of Congress. Dust Tracks on a Road (1942), an autobiography, is highly regarded. Her last book, Seraph on the Suwanee, a novel, appeared in 1948. Despite her early promise, by the time of her death in 1960 Hurston was little remembered by the general reading public, but there was a resurgence of interest in her work in the late 20th century.

Abbie Mitchell

Opera Singer (b. 1884-1960)

American teacher, actress, and Side of New York City. She performed world including the Soviet Union and New York socialites hailing from Goulds, Morgans, and Vanderbilts. She plays during the 1920s and 1930s Cristo, Othello, The Chocolate Soldier, Little Foxes. She was best known as name. She was the head of the vocal Institute’s Vocal Department in 1931, giving her last performance in 1947 in

C. Delores Tucker

Civil Rights Leader (b. 1927-2005)

C Delores Tucker was a civil rights trailblazer who fought for women of color and, toward the end of her life, fought against profane and misogynist lyrics in hip-hop and rap music. She attended Temple University and by the 1960s gained national prominence when she led a Philadelphia delegation on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By the decade’s end, Tucker was appointed chair of the Pennsylvania Black Democratic Committee. In 1984 Tucker and New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm founded the National Political Congress of Black Women. In 1990 she co- founded African American Women for Reproductive Freedom.

r. Joy Buolamwini’s research, speeches and publications are helping to shape the way world leaders and technology executives handle equity and accountability in the emerging world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the new technology everyone is talking about that enables machines to learn from experience and perform humanlike tasks. A self described “poet of code”, her bestseller Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines and featured TED Talk on algorithmic bias has taken the AI world by storm. She founded the advocacy group, Algorithmic Justice League, and her spoken word visual audit AI, Ain’t I A Woman? demonstrates the AI failures on the faces of iconic women, including Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Serena Williams. A

graduate of Oxford University and MIT (PhD, Doctor of Philosophy), her MIT thesis methodology uncovered large racial and gender bias in AI services from major corporations like Microsoft and Amazon. She has championed the need for algorithmic justice at the World Economic Forum and the United Nations. Fortune Magazine in 2019 called her “the conscience of the A.I. Revolution.”

SOURCES:

AAva DuVernay

Filmmaker, Producer and Screenwriter (b. 1972)

va DuVernay was 32 when she first picked up a camera, yet she has achieved many “firsts” as an African American female in the film industry: several Emmy nominations, a Best Director Golden Globe nomination, a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and as director of a $100 million-plus budget Hollywood film (A Wrinkle in Time). The Compton, CA native’s Middle of Nowhere (2021), won her Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, a first for an African American woman of color. DuVernay’s critically acclaimed work includes: I Will Follow, Selma, 13th, Queen Sugar, When They See Us and her 2023 biographical film Origin based on Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

PHOTO: womenshistory.org

PHOTO: Courtesy US Library of Congress (LC-USF344- 007933-ZB)

PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain

PHOTO: LinkedIn

PHOTO: John Matthew Smith (CC BY-SA 2.0)

PHOTO: usbotschaftberlin/Wikimedia Commons

Excitement Builds As Senegal Votes For Change

By Lisa Vives

It’s Ramadan when most people are resting at home, fasting during the day. But in the West Africa nation of Senegal, people are out in force, excitedly choosing a new president to bring economic growth, jobs and peace in this normally quiet West African nation.Once seen as one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent, its financial benefits, many believe, have not been equally shared in what has been called “wealth hoarding by the political class.”

With about a third of the population living below the poverty line, a growing number have tried to leave the country on leaky wooden boats. Nearly 1,000 died in the first six months of 2023, according to the Spanish migration website covered with photographs, called “Walking Borders.” More than 60 percent of Senegalese believe that the economic situation in the country is bad, nearly double compared with the previous year.

This time around, voters will choose among 19 candidates - starting with opposition leader Bassirou Diomaye Faye who replaced Ousmane Sonko, a popular leader but disqualified from running because of a ques -

tionable conviction for defamation by the nation’s amnesty court.

Both men are tax administrators who promise to tackle corruption, push for accountability and promote a fairer distribution of the country’s resources, including the renegotiation of mining and energy contracts.

The reputation of a tax inspector can be beneficial but also harmful, Guillaume SotoMayor, a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute, said skeptically. The job is seen as “the quickest way to become a millionaire”, and some see it as a corrupt position.

Pathe Thiam, a 22-year-old Senegalese student, told Al Jazeera that for him, tax inspectors represent a “certain elitism that is rife in the country because these inspectors were trained in the most prestigious schools and are often colleagues, friends and relatives”. Further, they often refuse to declare their assets and explain the origin of their campaign funds.

Others running for the top office were former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, appointed by the outgoing president Macky Sall as the ruling party’s presidential choice and former Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne, who has called himself the “presi -

U.S. Military ‘no Longer Justified’ In Niger, Junta Leaders Say

By Lisa Vives Global Information

The West African nation of Niger has suspended military cooperation with Washington after high-level talks to break recent tensions between the two parties collapsed.

Speaking for Niger’s military junta, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane announced on state TV that the U.S. military presence was no longer justified and that U.S. flights over the country’s territory in recent weeks were illegal.

United States largely suspended military aid to Niger, with activity at the base limited to surveillance for protection of U.S. forces.

Summarizing the talks held recently with U.S. officials, Col. Abdramane said the Americans had accused Niger of making a secret deal to supply uranium to Iran. He described the accusation as "cynical" and "reminiscent of the second Iraq war".

Further, the US had raised objections about the allies that Niger had chosen. "The government of Niger strongly denounces the condescending attitude combined with the threat of reprisals by the head of the American delegation against the government and the people of Niger," Col. Abdramane said.

U.S. officials were hoping to resume their friendship with Niger, having spent over $100,000 to build a base where more than over 1,000 U.S. soldiers have been stationed.

Following a coup last year that removed Niger’s president, Mohammed Bazoum, the

dent of reconciliation” and Idrissa Seck, a former prime minister from the early 2000s. Two-time mayor of Dakar, Khalifa Sall, is running for the fourth time.

Supporters of Mr. Ba called him a “safe pair of hands” who would continue on the same steady trajectory as outgoing President Macky Sall, whom many perceive as having overseen orderly progress.

Businesswoman Anta Babacar Ngom – the sole woman candidate - is a political newcomer who runs Senegal’s largest poultry company. According to Alioune Tine, a political analyst and founder of the think tank

At the Agadez base, Americans train Niger’s military, conduct surveillance and target Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked militants operating in the Sahel region. The airbase cost about $100 million and was completed in 2019.

Air Base 201 in Agadez is the most expensive construction project ever undertaken by the US government. It’s there for war on terror operations but it’s really there also for great power projection against countries like Russia and China, said Al Jazeera correspondent Shihab Rattansi.

The U.S. and France had more than 2,500 military personnel in the region until recently, and together with other European countries had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in military assistance and training. Shutting down the base is “a huge blow to the US,” Rattansi said.

AfrikaJom Center, the country’s institutions need reform. “Power is too concentrated in the hands of the president and this can cause institutional crises,” he said. No candidate is expected to win more than 50% of the vote, which means a runoff between leading candidates is widely expected. These include Amadou Ba, a former prime minister, and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is backed by popular opposition figure Ousmane Sonko.

Meanwhile, Cheick Diara, a young Senegalese man interviewed by Aljazeera, commented: “Sonko represents hope for the entire nation. Look what is happening around the youth, they want change – we want Sonko in power.”

Rescue Of Kidnapped Nigerian Children Reported

By Lisa Vives

The nightmare is over for some of the 287 Nigerian school children seized from their school and marched into the forests by an armed group.

Nigeria’s military said in a statement that 76 girls and 61 boys had been freed in the northern state of Zamfara, and were being taken back to Kaduna. The military did not confirm the total number of children abducted on March 7, or provide further details about the operation.

The children were abducted by motorcycleriding gunmen on March 7 from their school in Kuriga, a small town in the state of Kaduna. Terrified families watched helplessly as the children, aged 12 or younger were driven away. It was the latest in a long series of kidnappings that have plagued Africa’s most populous nation.

“We saw motorbikes on the road. We thought they were soldiers before we realized they had occupied the school premises and started shooting.”

–Musa Garba (not his real name)

President Bola Tinubu had vowed to rescue the children “without paying a dime” as ransom. But ransoms are commonly paid for kidnappings, often arranged by families, and it is rare for officials in Nigeria to admit to the payments. According to Sahara Reporters, the kidnappers were seeking one billion naira for the students’ release.

Since the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Borno state, town of Chibok, by Boko Haram, an armed group, many of the girls were released, reportedly in exchange for ransoms, but 98 of them are still missing, according to Amnesty International.

The latest abduction comes days after some 200 people were kidnapped in Nigeria’s Borno state - at the center of the Boko Haram insurgency. The victims, who had ventured into the countryside to collect firewood, have not been rescued yet.

The armed men on motorbikes - referred to locally as bandits - had been menacing the community for some time, with the security forces said to be unable to deal with the threat. Kuriga had been persistently attacked by gangs seeking to kidnap people and make

money from ransom payments. The scale of this latest abduction and the fact that it involved children as young as seven has been overwhelming for many here. "We watched them carrying our children away just right here and there's nothing we could do. We don't have military, we don't have police in the community," a mother was quoted to say through tears.

Kidnap gangs, known as bandits, have seized thousands of people in recent years, especially in the north-west.

Chris Ewokor of BBC News in Kuriga managed to get more of the story from 17 year old Musa Garba (not his real name). The teenager said he had to slither on the ground like a snake to avoid being detected by his kidnappers. "We saw motorbikes on the road. We thought they were soldiers before we realized they had occupied the school premises and started shooting," Musa told the BBC reporter. "We tried to run away, but they chased us and caught us.” Musa said he kept looking for ways to escape and tried to encourage others to join him but they were too afraid. "After all was quiet, I started dragging myself like a snake on the ground." Once it was totally dark, he got up and walked off until he got to a village where he got help.

In the last decade and a half, people in north ern Nigeria have come under intense attack by armed militant groups. A second force, linked to the Islamic State group, has also emerged.

Here are nine factors directly affecting the racial wealth gap, according to the experts.

1 Minorities have more wealth than ever, but not enough to shrink the racial wealth gap

Data from the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances shows AsianAmerican households have a median net worth that is 1.8 times greater than white households at $536,000. Their net worth is 8.7 times greater than Latino households and 11.9 times greater than Black households.

2 Black Americans earned 34% less than all racial and ethnic groups combined

As of 2022, the median U.S. household income across racial and ethnic groups was $74,580. Black households earned around $52,860, but white households earned $81,060, and Asian households brought in $108,700. Half of Black households’ total income was between $15,000 and $75,000.

3 Higher education is important, but it does not guarantee better economic mobility for Black graduates

Black students borrowed around $58,400, and after four years, they still owed 105% of it, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

4 Unemployment is still higher for Black workers

“Their unemployment rate took longer to peak and also longer to subside back to that normal baseline relative to other workers,” said Anthony Barr, research and impact director at the National Bankers Association. It’s also why “periods of unemployment, even if relatively brief, can have outsized effects”

like taking on more debt.

5 Black households are less likely to own a home and more likely to be undervalued

While homeownership is another driver and indicator of wealth, the Black homeownership rate has never reached 50%.

Homeownership “is a very illiquid form of wealth,” Barr said. “And so even if, during the pandemic, your on-paper wealth went up, that doesn’t necessarily translate to better financial health in a month-to-month period.”

6 Thinking About Their Financial

Futures Differently

There are several ways to build a nest egg for retirement: employer-sponsored retirement savings plans, Roth IRAs, and pensions, to name a few. Yet as of 2022, just 35% of Black workers had some type of retirement account, and those that did had saved only around $117,530, according to the Survey of Consumer Finances.

7 Lower Access and Higher Distrust in Traditional Banking Systems

Black people are overrepresented within the “unbanked” group at 13%.

“We do know there are disparities in terms of where branches are located, for example,” Barr said. “A Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago working paper finds that banks are less likely to be located in Black-majority neighborhoods, even relative to low-income neighborhoods.”

8 Black Households Rely on Credit Cards

Credit cards’ popularity is due to their direct effect on credit scores. A higher credit score

Broady points to the U.S. Census Bureau that found Black-owned businesses with employees were “least likely to have earned a profit and most likely to have taken on losses in 2022.”

Anual del Año Fiscal 2025 De acuerdo con el Título 1 de la Ley de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario de 1974, y sus enmiendas, la Ciudad de San Diego (Ciudad) invita a cualquier parte interesada a participar en la preparación del Plan Consolidado para los Años Fiscales 2025-2029 (Plan Consolidado) y el Plan de Acción Anual para el Año Fiscal 2025 (FY 2025 AAP). El Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (HUD) exige que las jurisdicciones locales preparen un Plan Consolidado para recibir los fondos del programa de prestaciones federales. El Plan Consolidado debe abordar las metas y los objetivos de la Ciudad para cuatro programas de prestaciones federales:

(HOPWA). El AAP para el Año Fiscal 2025 es la actualización anual del Plan Consolidado de Cinco Años e identifica los proyectos y programas propuestos que serán financiados con fondos del Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) y HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME). El AAP para el Año Fiscal 2025 está sujeto a revisión y aprobación por parte del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (HUD).

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que los documentos mencionados se debatirán durante una reunión pública del Comité de Servicios Comunitarios y Vecinales del Consejo de la Ciudad de San Diego el 11 de abril de 2024, a las 9:00 a. m. y durante una reunión pública del Consejo de la Ciudad de San Diego el 22 de abril de 2024, a las 2:00 p. m., en el Edificio de Administración de la Ciudad, Cámaras del Consejo, piso 12, 202 “C” Street, San Diego, CA 92101. El Plan Consolidado y el AAP para el Año Fiscal 2025 también se debatirán durante una reunión pública de la Junta Asesora del Plan Consolidado (CPAB) el miércoles, 10 de abril de 2024 a las 10:00 a. m. en 1200 Third Avenue, piso 14, Sala de Conferencias Grande, San Diego, CA 92101.

POR LA PRESENTE

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que el Plan Consolidado y el AAP para el Año Fiscal 2025 estarán disponibles para la revisión del público por un periodo de 30 días a partir del 1 de abril de 2024. Las copias impresas estarán disponibles para la revisión en ciertas bibliotecas públicas (Central, Valencia Park/Malcolm X, San Ysidro, Logan Heights, Linda Vista y City Heights/Weingart). Los documentos mencionados también estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la ciudad (www.sandiego.gov/cdbg). Favor de dirigir cualquier pregunta o comentario con respecto al Plan Consolidado y el AAP para el Año Fiscal 2025 por escrito a: cdbg@sandiego.gov o por correo postal a la siguiente

dirección: City of San Diego, Economic Development

Department, Attention:

Consolidated Plan and FY 2025 AAP Comments, 1200 Third Avenue, Suite 1400, San Diego, CA 92101. El período de comentarios cerrará el 30 de abril de 2024 a las 5:00 p. m. Según lo exige la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA), las solicitudes de información en formatos alternativos y toda petición de modificaciones o adaptaciones relacionadas con una discapacidad para facilitar la participación en las reuniones, incluidas las solicitudes de formatos alternativos para observar las reuniones y ofrecer comentarios públicos, pueden hacerse comunicándose con el Secretario de la Ciudad

las solicitudes de accesibilidad para maximizar la accesibilidad. 3/28/24 CNS-3796730# VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWS

SUPERIOR

330 W.

To All

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice

37-2024-00013162CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

Hosein

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

a petition with this court for a

PRESENT NAME: Deborah Hosein

PROPOSED NAME: Deborah Mary Claret Hosein

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this

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: May 07, 2024 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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

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

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 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice

37-2024-00010517CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Marc Hyman

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Marc Hyman filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Marc Hyman

PROPOSED NAME: Marc Harmony

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: May 06, 2024 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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)

ATTACHMENT TO ORDER

TO SHOW CAUSE FOR

NAME CHANGE (JC FORM #NC-120)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a substantial risk to the health and welfare of court personnel and the public, rendering presence in, or access to, the court's facilities unsafe, and pursuant to the emergency orders of the Chief Justice of the State of California and General Orders of the Presiding Department of the San Diego Superior Court, the following order is made:

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.

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.

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

(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

SUPERIOR

The address of the court is:

To

PRESENT

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: April 29, 2024 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice

37-2024-00011523CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

Ezra Eunice Delloro Detal

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Ezra Eunice Delloro Detal filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Ezra Eunice Delloro Detal

PROPOSED NAME: Ezra Eunice Ingham

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 25, 2024 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)

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 non-

parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2024-00010208CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Norma Elizabeth Perez

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Norma Elizabeth Perez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Norma Elizabeth Perez

PROPOSED NAME: Norma Elizabeth Flores

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 18, 2024 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-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

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.

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 3/14, 3/21, 3/28, 4/4

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Courthouse

37-2024-00009566CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Samantha Arianna ArceFuentes

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Samantha Arianna ArceFuentes filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Samantha Arianna ArceFuentes

PROPOSED NAME: Samantha Arianna Sanchez

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 16, 2024

Time: 8:30 A.M.

Dept. C-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

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 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2024-00006899CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Gregorie Kay Hedgley-Garber

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Gregorie Kay Hedgley-Garber filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Gregorie Kay Hedgley-Garber

PROPOSED NAME:

Angela Kay Hedgley-Garber

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 2, 2024 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

10. COMMUNITY AND QUASI- COMMUNITY PROPERTY b. Determine rights to community and quasicommunity assets and debts.

All such assets and debts are listed in Property Declaration (form FL -160)

11. OTHER REQUESTS

b. Petitioner's former name be restored to (specify): SUSANA VALLIN

Date Filed: March 6, 2023 8:oo AM By: R. Corona, Deputy 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18 SUMMONS (Citation for Freedom from Parental Custody and Control) ATTORNEY OR PARTY

proof of service form, such as Proof of Service of Citation (Adoptions) (SDSC Form #JUV-300), telling when and how the other party was served and file that with the court.

If you wish to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter, you should do so promptly so that your pleading, if any, may be filed on time.

DATE 03/07/2024 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

SUMMONS (Citacion Judicial)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO)

Ma Del Rosario Renteria Garcia

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (Lo Esta Demandando El Demandante): Vu Hoang Nguyen

Case Number: 37-2023-00036547-CL-PANC

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es):

San Diego Superior Court 325 S. Melrose Drive Vista, CA 92081

325

RESPONDENT(S)

Edgar Osvaldo Zuniga

JUDGE Kelly Mok

CASE NUMBER 24AD000054N

To (name): Edgar Osvaldo Zuniga

You are ordered to appear in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego, in Department N-24 at the court location indicated above on May 16, 2024, at 8:30 AM, to show cause, why (names) Trevor Elias Zuniga should not be declared free from parental custody and control (for the purpose of placement for adoption) as requested in the petition.

This hearing will be conducted by video or telephone through the

325 S. Melrose Drive Vista, CA 92081.

IMPORTANT: Edgar Osvaldo Zuniga please call the court promptly for instructions on how to attend this hearing. (760)201-8720

Monday - Friday 8:30am -11:30 PST

At the hearing, the judge will read the petition and, if requested, will explain the effect of the granting of the petition, any term or allegation contained therein and the nature of the proceeding, its procedures and possible consequences, and may continue the matter for not more than 30 days for the appointment of counsel or to give counsel time to prepare.

The court may appoint counsel to represent the minor whether or not the minor is able to afford counsel. If any parent appears and is unable to afford counsel, the court shall appoint counsel to represent each parent who appears unless such representation is knowingly and intelligently waived.

Someone over the age of 18 - not the petitioner - must serve the other party with all the forms and complete a

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www. courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no

The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff 's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es):

John P. Le Phong Esq. 7711 Summer Day Dr. Corona, CA 92883; T: (626) 536-0368

Date: (Fecha): 08/29/2023

Clerk,

Temporary

Case Number: 37-2023-00027686-PR-GPCTL

Case

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www. courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado.

Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is:

(El nombre y dirección de la corte es):

Pomona Courthouse South

400 Civic Center Plaza Pomona, CA 91766

The name, address, and telephone number of the plaintiff 's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Marc Katzman Law 15250 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1010 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; T: (818) 670-8408

Date: (Fecha): 03/07/2023

David W. Slayton, Executive Officer/ Clerk of Court Clerk, by (Secretario) J. Gonzalez 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28

PROBATE

NOTICE OF PETITION TO

ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Rachael Green

Case Number: 37-2023-00047756-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Rachael Green

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Cassandra Yvonne McMillian in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Cassandra Yvonne McMillian 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: on May 22, 2024, at 1:45 PM in Dept. 502 Room: C located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101

Central Court House

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

You

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Barbara Schaeffer

Case Number: 37-2023-00043726-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Barbara Schaeffer

A Petition for Probate has been filed by James Schaeffer in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that James Schaeffer 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: on April 23, 2024, at 10:30 AM in Dept. 504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Central

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: Samuel G. Lockhart 41856 Ivy Street Suite 201 Murrieta, CA 92562 (951)-461-8878 3/21, 3/28, 4/4

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Joan Estelle Malone Case Number: 37-2023-00053309-PR-PWCTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Joan Estelle Malone

A Petition for Probate has been filed by

REFUGEES

Continued from page 2

“There was a time where the word ‘refugee’ was interchangeable with ‘terrorist,’ as well,” Lam said. “That was a very, very difficult time. But the important thing for me is that I don’t mix and mingle with people that I know have that mentality. Why waste my time? They have already made up their mind.”

Discrimination can be a significant factor in the poor health of refugees in America, according to a PubMed analysis of over 300 studies done on the

subject. Quantifying ‘hate’ is a difficult task, and when seeking to understand hate’s presence in a community, hate crime data alone is not enough to get a complete picture. Many hate crimes go unreported, according to researchers at the National Institute of Justice, and instances of discrimination and

we ask ‘where is that freedom?’” He asked with a laugh. “We are so divided… the position that you are either with me or you’re my enemy… It’s a difficult time but I still see that it is much better in America compared to places where we have fled from.”

Such an outlook is crucial. Lam remains optimistic, despite the mounting challenges of an increasingly divided political landscape. He looks to the future with bright eyes.

Our Negro National Anthem Something That Everyone Should Know?

prejudicial behavior are not included in this data. Making sure these needs are met and issues addressed often falls on groups like the Alliance.

Luckily, these groups often can rely on each other, sharing resources and staff. With an influx of refugees from

Afghanistan and Ukraine in recent years, the Alliance keeps very busy, seeing people from all walks of life. As an affiliate of the Ethiopian Community Development Council, it is connected to over 20 organizations with similar missions across the country. Despite the ongoing challenges both inside and outside of the borders of the United States, the heart of the “American Dream” remains the same as it did centuries ago.

“To a lot of us refugees, it is freedom. That’s what brings us here. Because we have come from an oppressive system that, if we had not left, probably we would be dead. So the dream here is freedom,” Lam said. “Right now,

“Hope is what keeps me going,” he said. “For me the most important thing is just hoping and praying that we will keep our doors open to refugees. These are people that have gone through so much. [We want to] allow them to start their new life.”

To get in touch with and support the Alliance for African Assistance, visit www.alliance-for-africa.org/, call (619) 286-9052 or email info@alliance-for-africa.org. The Alliance also owns and operates Safari Seconds, a thrift store where quality donations are accepted and all proceeds go towards the Alliance.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/.

The Alliance for African Assistance is located on El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego. PHOTO: Emily Kim Jenkins

The Alliance Health Clinic offers low-cost primary care, mental health and dental care for low-income, immigrant and refugee families in San Diego.

PHOTO: Emily Kim Jenkins

TODAY IN

BLACK HISTORY

1949

TRACK STAR RONNIE RAY SMITH IS BORN

BENJAMIN MAYS, PRESIDENT OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, PASSES

Benjamin Mays was a distinguished African American minister, educator, scholar, social activist and longtime president of Morehouse College in Atlanta. He was also a significant mentor to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and was among the most articulate and outspoken critics of segregation before the rise of the modern civil rights movement in the United States. Mays also filled leadership roles in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the World Council of Churches, the United Negro College Fund, the National Baptist Convention, the Urban League, the Southern Conference for Human Welfare, the Southern Conference Educational Fund, and the Peace Corps Advisory Committee.

In 1940 Mays became the president of Morehouse College. During King’s years as an undergraduate at Morehouse in the mid-1940s, the two developed a close relationship that continued until King’s death in 1968. Mays’s unwavering emphasis on two ideas in particular—the dignity of all human beings and the incompatibility of American democratic ideals with American social practices— became vital strains in the language of King and the civil rights movement. After his retirement in 1967 from Morehouse, Mays remained active in several social and political organizations of prominence and was in demand as a speaker and lecturer. He died on March 28th, 1984.

Ronnie Ray Smith, American olympic athlete, was born in Los Angeles California on March 28th, 1949. Ronald Ray Smith was the winner of the gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He attended San Jose State College during the "Speed City" era, coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter and graduated in sociology.

At the 1968 AAU Championships, Ronnie Ray Smith equaled the 100 m world record in the semifinal, repeating the same time of 9.9 which was run by Jim Hines in the same race and Charles Greene in the other semifinal of the same competition. At the Mexico Olympics, Smith ran the third leg in the American 4 × 100 m relay team that won the gold medal and set a new world record of 38.24 seconds. After retiring from competitions Smith worked at the Los Angeles Parks and Recreation Department. He was inducted into the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame. Smith died in a hospice facility in Los Angeles, California, on March 31, 2013. He was 64.