Vol. 65 No 4 Thursday, January 23, 2024

ONE BLACK FAMILY'S LOSSES IN THE LA FIRES

The Turner Family, Altadena Fire Survivors

By Emma Fox CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Darran Turner moved to Altadena when he was 12 years old. Up until that point, he had lived in an area of L.A. with a gang presence and he recalls, “It was a place where I was bullied at school everyday for who I am.” Around the sixth grade, Turner was getting into a lot of altercations and, he said, “My grandma put on her cape and saved me.”

His grandmother, Yolanda Bailey, bought a house in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles called Altadena in January 1999. “She bought her dream home. It was a real

big step for our family. I hate to say it but she got us out of the hood,” says Turner.

See FIRES page 2

MAYOR GLORIA'S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

By Macy Meinhardt

STAFF WRITER/

LOCAL NEWS FELLOW

Grappling a $258 million budgetary deficit, Mayor Todd Gloria vowed in his fifth annual State of the City address to squeeze every penny in the next year in order to protect core services including homelessness, roads, housing development, and public safety.

Maintaining core functions “with a quarter billion dollar budget deficit will be

an immense challenge,” the mayor said, demanding “responsible stewardship of every dollar and clear eyed decisions about our priorities.”

The backdrop of this year’s state of the city, held on Jan. 15, signified this approach. Gloria traded the flashy Balboa Theatre production he has used in previous years for a bare bones address held in city council chambers.

See MAYOR page 2

Publisher John E. Warren Honored as Distinguished Human Dignity Award Recipient

By Macy Meinhardt

See JRYMCA page 7

NEW COIN CELEBRATES IDA. B WELLS

The American Women Quarters honor a diverse group of notable American women who made significant contributions in a variety of fields, including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts. The women honored are from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds.

Ida B. Wells was a prolific educator, investigative journalist, suffragist, and civil rights activist. She fought for justice and equality throughout her life and used her powerful voice to expose violence against African Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The back design features Ida B. Wells as she gazes

courageously and p roudly toward the future. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “IDA B. WELLS,” “25 CENTS,” “JOURNALIST, SUFFRAGIST, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST.”

The front design depicts a portrait of George Washington. This design was originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser as a candidate entry for the 1932 quarter, which honored the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. Inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2025.”

Daughters of Darran Turner, Angelize and Aurora Turner. PHOTO: Courtesy of the Turner Family

Mayor Todd Gloria speaking to city staff and media at City Hall during his 2025 State of the City Address, Wednesday, Jan. 15.

PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint

John E. Warren accepting the 2025 Human Dignity Award.

PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint

The 40th Annual Jackie Robinson YMCA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast brought together over 1,500 residents and community leaders on Jan. 17, uniting to honor King’s legacy and rally morale amid looming challenges to civil rights.

Ida B. Wells (back), George Washigton (front). PHOTO: usmint.gov

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

FIRES

It was a family home with a big backyard. This was a place where their family came together to celebrate their best moments and where they came when they had nowhere else to go.

“She took in all of her grandkids and children. Even when the world rejected them. She always made space for them. And, that’s including myself,” said Turner.

Turner described going to school in Altadena as “an entirely different dynamic.” Though Darran might not have had a choice in coming to Altadena, he chose to stay. He went to high school in town, he raised his two daughters there, and he stayed there from the age of 12 years old until the fire.

Moving to Altadena was a turning point for Darran. He says that it was all thanks to the community members.

“They are very supportive. They are very loving, accepting, and open. Not really those who want to judge.”

They built their community on a foundation of acceptance and that allowed for families like Darran’s to bloom and flourish.

“The summer was so beautiful. The birds, the butterflies, the lemon trees. You could go across the street and ask someone for a lemon and they would be more than happy to give you a basket.”

“It was kind of like the Discovery Channel, like you could see a bird pick a worm out of the dirt and fly away. It was magnificent. And, to see it all… you know, look like hell… Hell on earth.”

Turner woke up in the middle of the night on January 8th to his beloved neighborhood in flames.

Around 3:30 am Turner received an alert to evacuate on his phone. He was grateful that he even received the alert because the electricity had been out for two days prior and he had been charging his phone in his car.

MAYOR

State of Our Budget

During the address, Gloria, who secured 55% of the vote for a second term, poised himself as a mayor set to fix the faults left by previous administrations, particularly focusing on resolving the looming structural deficit.

In previous years, the city has used American Recovery Act funds and other one time expenditures in order to stay afloat. That can no longer happen anymore, the mayor asserts.

“The task ahead of us is to right our city’s budget, not just for this year, but for the long term,” said Gloria.

The failure of Measure E on the November ballot was a huge blow to the city’s plans for addressing the structural deficit. Measure E, a half cent sales tax, would have brought up to $400 million annually for the city to fund services including public safety, emergency response and neighborhood and park services.

Gloria cautioned city departments to prepare for “deep cuts” in the near future. Additionally, residents could expect to see fees on trash services in the coming year as well as an increase in parking rates as the city tries to increase revenue.

State of Homelessness

The state of homelessness is another critical concern as roughly 11,000 San Diegans live on the street, with 64% of them directly in the city.

Throughout the last four years the city assisted over 25,000 people through programs and secured permanent housing for 4,700 residents.

But Gloria sent a strong message to county leaders that this is not a burden the city should be carrying alone.

“My fellow San Diegans, it is my hope that, anytime you see a person on the street suffering from extreme mental illness or addiction, you think of the County of San Diego and ask them: When will they step up to provide the services needed to end this crisis?”

The mayor pointed to how closely intertwined mental health and addiction are to homelessness. Serving as the regional Health & Human

“When we had to evacuate we just assumed it was because of the smoke in the area. Nobody expected it to be everything ablaze. Unfortunately, we left our cat and I’m just praying to god that she made it out,” he says.

“I think she was in the house when we left. It was abrupt. We just grabbed a few papers and the clothes on our backs and went to another family’s house to wait it out. We thought we were going to come back to a home. Then, two hours later…”

Two hours later, Turner’s home was gone.

As for the wildlife and livestock Altadena is known for, he mentioned that he hopes that his neighbors who have horses made it out safely. “I was really worried about the wildlife too. The squirrels that used to steal the fruits off our trees…” He wonders where the wildlife went and if they might ever come back.

“We have been through four fires and we never

thought that this one would be the one to take everything,” he said.

The Eaton Fire demolished a community that treated each other with respect and love, and not just that, they practiced the art of showing it. Over the years they celebrated all of the wins and supported one another through hard times because they knew if they needed it, the town would do the same for them.

“Compared to where I was, Altadena was like a heaven. The celebrations, the events, the New Year's Rose Parade. Everything about it was so tight knit and expressed beautifully,” said Turner.

The town has been home to artists like Charles White, who devoted his life to creating art that put African American people front and center. “Images of dignity,” he called his art. White and other Black and Brown artists like him believed in the power of art as a way to address the needs

Services Agency, behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment should be services the county provides—not the city.

State of Our

Infrastructure & Housing

Exacerbating San Diego’s financial dilemma is the approximate $6 billion backlog in structural improvements needed such as stormwater upgrades, road repairs, sidewalks, parks and libraries.

Devastation caused by the January 2024 floods in underserved communities brought urgent calls to revamp the city’s aging stormwater system. Since the flooding event, the city has cleared out 18 miles of stormwater channels in flood prone areas.

Regarding the state of housing, Gloria highlighted efforts to increase affordable housing production, including policy reforms he initiated that boosted annual permits to nearly 10,000 in 2023 and 8,500 in 2024.

Plans for 2025 will include a focus on starter homes to promote first-time homeownership and generational wealth, he stated.

State of The People

The flip slide of Gloria’s expedited housing goals is the impact it is having on underresourced communities in which these projects

of all people. Because they invested into art as a medium for real change, they laid the groundwork for a community that values art just as much as any other subject.

“My daughters, who are 8 and 6, went to Altadena Elementary and specialize in art. I was grateful that they were able to understand more about music and that they really focused on creativity,” Turner says.

For a small town, up against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just beyond the reaches of the discriminatory housing practices that historically plagued L.A., there was so much room to grow.

Turner’s message to his neighbors is that he hopes they can come back and rebuild. Though he knows a lot of people are struggling to navigate home insurance. “My grandmother’s insurance doesn’t cover everything that she’s lost,” he said. “I wish I could hit the rewind button. I just wish I could restart. It was without warning and it was absolutely unimaginable.”

As he imagines the green grass and lush trees, he mourns his “beautiful Altadena.”

He fears the worst as he hasn’t been able to contact his neighbors due to losing his phone in the fire. His efforts are now going toward securing shelter and funds to rebuild a life for his daughters who lost everything they knew.

Because of what he witnessed that night, the elderly and disabled people waiting for the first responders to get them out, Turner emphasized the importance of looking out for your neighbors.

“Everything I lost is replaceable but my family is not.”

You can donate to Darran and his daughters, Angelize and Aurora, through his GoFundMe linked here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ aid-for-denises-family-starting-over

are being proposed, residents say. In the past few months, residents of Southeastern and city leaders have been embroiled in controversy over a discriminatory housing code, known as footnote 7, that gave way for large density housing projects in the neighborhoods of Encanto and Emerald Hills.

“We are not a dumping ground for the mayor,” said Encanto resident Yolanda O’Donnell

Despite arriving over an hour early, many citizens from southeastern communities were denied entrance to the event. While the event was streamed online and residents watched from the overflow room, the optics of Mayor Gloria addressing a room primarily composed of city employees raised concerns about inclusivity and equitable access into the event.

“We just wanted the mayor to see us. We’re encouraged to come down to share our voice, to let these things become aware, and then to just be ignored, it is disheartening,” said Lisa Becerra with Neighbors for Encanto, a newly mobilized community group to raise awareness against ADU projects in their area.

“He likes to say he is for the people but he is screwing the people who live here,” said Encanto resident Saige Gonzalez.

Before the Pasadena/Altadena fires. PHOTO: Courtesy of the Turner Family

After the Pasadena/Altadena fires.

PHOTO: Courtesy of the Turner Family

PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint

Southeastern residents watching the state of the city from the city council overfill room.

PHOTO: Rob Campbell, Chollas Valley Community Planning Group Voice & Viewpoint

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY/OPINION

THE BLUEPRINT KING HAS LEFT TRUMP

Lessons in Leadership and Integrity

By Wim Laven

On January 20th, 2025, the Presidential Inauguration will [fell] on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Reflections on King reveal truths on the progress and challenges that have faced the American public: reminding people of the central role of unity (not necessarily agreement) in civic life, and hopefully inspiring future generations to do the work of serving their communities and striving for a just and equitable world. One could imagine the advice he would give Trump about his role as a leader; one could then contrast King’s wisdom with the vision and administration that Trump has promised.

Martin Luther King Jr. remains one of the most powerful moral voices in American history, known for his unyielding commitments to justice, equality, and moral high ground. He is revered in large part for his leadership during the Civil Rights Movement, which transformed the nation by advancing civil rights, challenging systemic racism, and calling on Americans to live up to the highest ideals and promises of the founding fathers—“all men are created equal.” Today, America continues to grapple with division, inequality, and polarized politics. King’s vision is as relevant in 2025 as it was when the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964.

Trump’s leadership has been controversial, marked by divisiveness, rhetoric that dismisses empathy, and a lack of accountability.

On January 20, 2017, he described “American carnage.” By contrast, King’s leadership style was built on the pillars of integrity, nonviolence, and compassion—values that stand in stark contrast to many of the tactics and attitudes Trump has employed throughout his career. Yet, King’s words and actions provide a clear blueprint for anyone aspiring to true leadership, no matter their political background or affiliations. The question remains: What might King’s wisdom teach Trump and other leaders about the kind of leadership that moves a nation forward?

Integrity Over Ego

King’s leadership was grounded in a deep sense of moral integrity. He did not seek to advance his own personal power or glory; rather, his work was rooted in the pursuit of justice for all Americans, particularly marginalized com-

munities, like the millions of migrants Trump promises to deport. In his speeches and writings, King emphasized the importance of serving the greater good, even when it was inconvenient or unpopular. He famously said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” King called the Vietnam War an enemy of the poor in the US, Trump quietly sat out with bone spurs and said avoiding STDs was his personal Vietnam.

For Trump, who often operates with a transactional self-promoting leadership style, King’s emphasis on integrity offers a powerful contrast. King’s leadership was never about the pursuit of self-interest or the manipulation of public opinion for personal gain; it was about speaking truth to power, even at great personal risk. Trump, on the other hand, has frequently been accused of leveraging his position for personal and political benefit, routinely disregarding the ethical standards that should govern leadership.

If Trump were to take King’s blueprint to heart, he would be compelled to lead with honesty, humility, and a focus on the collective wellbeing of all Americans, not just his supporters or himself.

The Power of Nonviolence

One of King’s most enduring legacies is his unwavering commitment to nonviolence as the method for social and political change. In a time when violence, both physical and rhetorical, has often been used to intimidate or silence opponents, King’s nonviolent resistance stands as a beacon of hope. King believed that “we must meet hate with love” and that durable change could only be achieved through peaceful protest, dialogue, and collective action.

Trump’s political rhetoric, by contrast, has often been characterized by inflammatory language, insults, and a tendency to escalate conflicts rather than seek peaceful resolutions. From his early campaign speeches to his time in office, Trump’s approach to leadership has frequently been marked with a disregard for the dignity of his opponents and a willingness to dehumanize and engage in combative, even violent rhetoric.

King’s example offers a stark reminder that true leadership doesn’t thrive on divisiveness

or hatred. It thrives on unifying people around common principles, even in the face of opposition. A more King-like approach would encourage leaders to build bridges and bigger tables, not walls: to seek unity or common ground, not division.

A Commitment to Justice for All

At the heart of King’s vision for America was a commitment to justice for all, regardless of race, background, or station in life. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech encapsulates this ideal: a vision of a nation where people are judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. King’s call for justice was not limited to civil rights but extended to economic equality, social justice, and the dismantling of all systems of oppression. We can still aspire to the message: “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”

Trump’s policies, particularly during his presidency, favored the wealthy and powerful. His administration’s approach to immigration, healthcare, and social services often drew criticism for exacerbating inequality. If Trump were to take King’s lessons to heart, he would recognize that true leadership requires advocating for the most vulnerable and working toward a society where opportunities and protections are equally accessible to all. Yet, as Trump takes back power, safety nets are among the many social programs threatened with the chopping block.

A Call for Unity, Not Division

King’s leadership was also characterized by a belief in the power of unity. He recognized that lasting social change could only happen if the American people, regardless of race or background, came together to address the injustices that plagued the nation. His call for unity was not naïve; he understood that real progress requires the cooperation and the real work of many people from diverse walks of life.

Trump’s leadership, however, has often been marked by divisive rhetoric, which has exacerbated tensions between different groups as demonstrated by the increases in hate crimes while he was campaigning and in office. King’s blueprint would urge Trump to move beyond the politics of division and toward a vision of unity—one where common purpose and shared values can heal a fractured nation.

In the end, Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy of leadership rooted in community, compassion, justice, and respect. If Donald Trump were to embrace these principles—especially the call for nonviolent leadership, commitment to justice, and unifying rhetoric—he could help heal the wounds of a nation too often torn apart by partisan animus and hatred. King’s blueprint offers a path forward for any leader seeking to resist polarization and rise above self-interest to leave a positive, lasting impact on the world.

Wim Laven, Ph.D., teaches courses in political science and conflict resolution.

HONORING THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

the entire neighborhood becomes blighted. https://sandiegouniontribune.com

By David G. Oddo

I have been an active supporter of racial and social justice causes for almost five decades. Shortly after graduating from the University of San Diego in May 1976, I enlisted in the program Volunteers in Service to America; the domestic version of the Peace Corps.

While assigned to the Legal Aid Society of San Diego in 1977, I read a newspaper article on redlining in San Diego County. Its headline: “Low-Income, Minority Home Loans Avoided. 98% of Funds Go Elsewhere in Area.” The report revealed widespread home-lending discrimination against African American and Latino communities; as well as low-income neighborhoods in general. Another key finding of the report: When an area cannot access home loans, property values decline and

Upon consulting with local civil rights groups, I was asked to organize and lead a new “San Diego Coalition Against Redlining,” a multiracial organization comprised of representatives from marginalized communities. In June 1978, our coalition released a report that once again revealed widespread redlining of minority communities in San Diego County. Although our conclusions were accurate, the financial institutions denied the existence of redlining. As leader of the fair-lending coalition, I was labeled an “outside agitator.” As well, there was a lack of community support for our efforts. And the large financial institutions threatened to defund SDCAR’s nonprofit sponsors if we continued the anti-redlining campaign. Therefore, our coalition decided to fold in July 1978.

However, I continued my struggle for justice as a legal aid paralegal, defending the rights

of the poor. And for nine years, I served as a bilingual educator in a low-income elementary school in the border community of San Ysidro, California. I was also involved with Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers movement. Recently, I have resumed my efforts to abolish redlining. For example, I have authored ten reports on the topic from 1996 through 2024. Unfortunately, racial discrimination in home-lending remains widespread in San Diego County and nationwide, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. https://ncrc.org

Consequently, African Americans and Latinos have much lower rates of home ownership and household wealth than non-Hispanic whites. Racially discriminatory housing and lending policies also keep a disproportionate share of Blacks and Latinos in high-poverty, segregated neighborhoods, with substandard housing and poor air quality. Many in the Asian and Native American communities are also negatively impacted by the aforementioned practices.

As well, homes in predominantly white neighborhoods are routinely assessed at twice the value of comparable homes in communities of color, according to researchers at Washington University. https://cnn.com This systemic discrimination allows homebuyers in white areas to secure more favorable financing options. Lastly, a dual credit market exists in which low cost, mainstream financial institutions are concentrated in predominantly white areas. Meanwhile, high cost financial institutions such as payday lenders and check cashing stores are concentrated in predominantly African American and Latino neighborhoods, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance. In conclusion, it saddens me that little progress has been made since I began my fair lending campaign forty-eight years ago. However, I am proud to have made the effort. To quote Martin Luther King, Jr.: “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

David G. Oddo is an activist and retired educator living in Chula Vista, California.

IMAGE: Unseen Histories

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Kathy Jo

Jeffery

SUNRISE 09/26/1965

12/18/2024

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.

Kathy Jo Jeffery was born Kathy Jo Branch to Joel Branch Sr. on September 26, 1965, in San Diego, CA. Kathy Jo received her formal education in the San Diego Unified School District and attended San Diego City College in 2010; she also worked in the San Diego Unified School District Cafeteria department in the early 2000s.

Kathy Jo met and married Danny Paul Jeffery when they were teenagers. They had two children from this union, Lamicia Jeffery and Danny Jeffery Jr. Kathy Jo later divorced but kept the Jeffery last name. Kathy Jo had three more children, Tyrone Branch, Saquita Williams, and Markicia Branch. Kathy Jo then met Eric Hickson, and the two were married. Kathy Jo and Eric welcomed a baby boy, Derrick Hickson.

Kathy Jo was lovingly called “Katjo” by her parents, siblings, and other family. Kathy Jo was a positive person; she loved others and being of service. She volunteered at organizations in San Diego County and spent 20 years as a Toys for Tots sponsor, where she made sure she did her part to help children and families in need for Christmas.

Kathy was a devoted church member; she loved the Lord and loved to sing his praises. Kathy Jo sang for the Lord in church and at funerals. Most importantly, Kathy Jo had a relationship with God through her prayer life.

Kathy Jo loved her family and cherished her children; she had a special relationship with each one of them. In addition, she was so happy to become a grandmother; she cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent time with them at every opportunity she could.

Kathy Jo was a cancer survivor and had several medical challenges in her later years, but she always kept a positive attitude and kept her faith in God. Kathy Jo loved to laugh and have fun; she did not take life for granted. She was the life of the party, lighting up a room with her beautiful angelic voice, her big smile, and a heartwarming laugh.

Kathy Jo Jeffrey was preceded in death by her father Joel Branch Sr., brother Joel Branch Jr., sister Cornelia “Kelly” Branch, son Derrick Hickson, first husband Danny Paul Jeffery, and brother-in-law Gary Jones Sr. Kathy Jo Jeffery answered her heavenly father’s call on December 18, 2024. She Will Be Greatly Missed!

Nhiy’je Davion

SUNRISE 12/05/2002 SUNSET 12/04/2024

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Service was held 1/16/25 at St. Stephens Cathedral C.O.G.I.C. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.

Nhiy’je Davion Roberson, known to his grandma Sondra as Papa and the rest of the family as Doodoo, was born on December 5th, 2002, to his loving parents, Phylicia Allen and Fredrick Roberson Jr. in San Diego, CA. Nhiy’je was baptized by bishop George McKinney at St. Stephen’s C.O.G.I.C. Nhiy’je was an only child, but was always surrounded by his older cousins, uncles, and aunts who all loved him very deeply.

Nhiy’je attended various schools between San Diego and Las Vegas. While attending Vista Del Mar Middle School in San Diego, he was given an award for being an Honor Roll student. At an early age, Nhiy’je enjoyed Taekwondo under the training of master Larry Spears. His advanced skills afforded him the wonderful opportunity to compete and win tournaments in Hawaii. He loved music, skateboarding, parkour, and other sports. He often would discuss his plans of becoming a truck driver and pursuing a career in real estate. Nhiy’je was very ambitious and outgoing and will be missed by many. Nhiy’je was called home on December 4, 2024.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Fredrick Roberson Sr., maternal grandparents; Thomas and Sondra Allen, uncle Leo Price III, and his cousin Caiden Allen.

He is survived by his loving mother Phylicia Allen, father Fredrick Roberson Jr., paternal great grandmother Algeredia Roberson, paternal great grandparents; Earl and Debra Pryer, paternal grandmother Alisa Holston, paternal uncles; Demetrius and Stephan Roberson, and Rajee’ Alexander, maternal aunts; Sherry Allen and Michelle Price, paternal auntie A’lissa Green, God sister Davionnah Craig, and a host of cousins and extended family members who loved him very much.

T he Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Linda Faye

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Service was held 1/15/25 at Christian Fellowship United Church of Christ. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.

***************************************************************************

Linda Faye McDowell, a beacon of kindness and intelligence, embarked on her final journey on December 23, 2024, in San Diego, California, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and accomplishment. Born on July 23, 1950, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Linda’s early years were a testament to her thoughtful nature and her unyielding commitment to personal growth and family values.

Linda’s life was rich with love and joy, shared with her beloved husband, Eddie McDowell, married 56 years, and their cherished children, Larry and Esha. Her role as a grandmother to Breelyn, Delontay, Zaria, Tykeus, and Tyere, was filled with moments of laughter, learning, and unconditional love. Linda’s family was her pride and joy, and she instilled in them the values of kindness, intelligence, and thoughtfulness.

Linda’s interests were as diverse as they were passionate. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as spending time with her grandchildren, sharing moments with Eddie, and indulging in her love for real estate by looking at houses. A competitive spirit, she delighted in card games, which were often accompanied by the sounds of laughter and friendly banter. To describe Linda as kind, intelligent, and thoughtful only scratches the surface of the remarkable woman she was. Her life was a living example that one can face adversity with grace, pursue dreams with tenacity, and cherish every moment with loved ones. Linda’s journey may remind us that life’s truest success is found in the relationships we nurture, the joy we share, and the difference we make in the lives of others.

As we celebrate Linda Faye McDowell’s life, let her story serve as a beacon for us all. May we approach each day with the same zest for life, the same commitment to family and community, and the same unwavering spirit that Linda embodied.

Linda’s departure is not an end, but a transition into a realm where her spirit will forever dance in the hearts of those she touched. Let us carry forward the lessons she imparted and the memories she gifted us, for in doing so, Linda Faye McDowell will continue to live on, a cherished soul whose life was a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the human spirit.

Rosalind Marquice

SUNRISE 02/07/1957 SUNSET 12/19/2024

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Service was held 1/14/25 at Bethel Baptist Church. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial. ***************************************************************************

Rosalind “Lanette” Vinson was born February 7, 1957, to Roy Lee Vinson Sr. and Norvell Dean Word in San Diego, at Mercy Hospital, she was the first born of three children. Lanette accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Zion Baptist Church. She later joined Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. John W. Ringgold. Lanette attended John F. Kennedy Elementary, Collier Junior High, where she participated in Track and Field, Lincoln High School, where she participated in Choir and ROTC, and went on to receive her diploma from Point Loma High School.

After the birth of her daughter LaTroya and son Walter, Lanette was employed at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla in the dietary department for over 14 years. She served with provision both physically and spiritually, making a lasting impact on many lives throughout her career.

Lanette was a devoted member of Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. John W. Ringgold, where she served in the church’s choir, girls ministry and a faithful participant in the 12 Fruits Ministry.

Lanette’s selfless service was completed on December 19, 2024, when God called her home. Her legacy of love, kindness and compassion will forever live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind.

She was preceded in death by her father Roy Lee Vinson Sr., son Walter Taylor Jr., grandparents; Trustee Cornwallis and Deaconess Lydia Dean, and Nephew Arnold Adkins Jr. She leaves to cherish her memory daughter LaTroya Horn, grandson Troyon Lucas, granddaughter A’leiyah Woods, mother Norvell Dean Word, sister Lorrie Vinson, brother Roy Vinson Jr., and a host of nieces, nephews and special family and friends that will miss her dearly.

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL

Service was held 1/21/25 at Grace Church. Arrangements entrusted to Preferred Cremation and Burial.

***************************************************************************

Marquice Wallace was born in San Diego on July 10, 1974, to Vincent L. Wallace and Denise Carter. His life was one of transformation and resilience. In 1998, he was incarcerated–a pivotal moment that would later become a powerful chapter of his personal growth. While in prison, Marquice embraced his faith, earned multiple certifications, and worked tirelessly to rebuild himself. His journey led him to a deep connection with God, which would define the man he became.

Marquice was determined to make the most of his second chance. He married Nickole Ellis on November 5th, 2016, and together they created a life filled with love, faith and hope for the future after his release in 2022.

On December 31, 2024, Marquice passed away.

Marquice is survived by his loving wife Nickole, his stepdaughter Seyanah, his grandchildren; Kyren and Aleia, and his siblings; Demond, Charles, Desale, Denise “Deshay”, Nickolas, Deon, and Christian. He will also be deeply missed by his best friend Kevin, whose unwavering friendship was a constant throughout his life.

Marquice’s legacy is one of faith, love, and the power of redemption. He will be remembered for his strength, kindness, and the example he set of overcoming adversity.

In lieu of flowers and cards, the family requests that condolences be sent to Preferred Cremation and Burial (6406 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92115).

“... I promised myself that I would live life and not take a day for granted... So I’m thanking God for positioning us to live and give Him the glory as we do... We’ve only just begun!!!” - Marquice Wallace July 30, 2022

“ Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ” †¢

NATIONAL/LOCAL/STATE NEWS

HUD Offers Aid to California Disaster Victims

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the implementation of federal disaster assistance for the state of California and ordered federal assistance for state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in areas affected by wildfires and straight-line winds beginning on January 7, 2025, and continuing.

President Biden issued a major disaster declaration in the State of California, which makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Los Angeles County.

Effective immediately, HUD is:

• Providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as well as foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. There is also a 90-day extension granted automatically for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. The moratorium and extension are effective as of the President’s disaster declaration date.

Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately for assistance. Conventional mortgage holders may also be eligible for additional relief through their mortgage holder. Call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-3049320 for additional information. To learn

more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners visit the FHA Disaster Relief site.

• Making mortgage insurance availableWhen homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that required reconstruction or complete replacement, HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims. Borrowers from participating FHA approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing including closing costs.

• Making insurance available for both mortgage and home rehabilitation - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program also allows individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. Homeowners can also finance the rehabilitation of their existing homes if damaged.

• Sharing information on housing providers and HUD programs - Information will be shared with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties, including Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

• Providing flexibility to Community Planning and Development GranteesRecipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Housing

Opportunities for Persons With HIV/ AIDS (HOPWA) Program, Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, HOME Program, and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program funds can apply for needed administrative flexibility in response to natural disasters, California /DR 4856. For more information on applying for a waiver or suspension of program requirements, contact your local Community Planning and Development Program Office here.

• Providing flexibility to Public Housing Agencies - Public Housing Agencies can apply for needed waivers and flexibilities for disaster relief and recovery. For detailed information on applying for a waiver, click here for the latest Federal Register Disaster Relief Notice guidance. The Department also released PIH Notice 2021-34, which advises the public of HUD's expedited process for waivers and flexibilities from HUD regulatory and administrative requirements for various Public Housing and Voucher Programs. As a reminder, to be eligible to receive a disaster waiver, the PHA must be located in an active Presidentially declared Major Disaster Declaration area and submitted within four months of an MDD.

• Providing flexibility to Tribes - Tribes and their Tribally Designated Housing Entities can apply for needed administrative flexibility through regulatory waivers. For detailed information on how to apply for a waiver, Tribes and TDHEs should contact their

local Office of Native American Programs or email Codetalk@hud.gov.

• Ensuring HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are ready to assist - HUDapproved housing counseling agencies have counselors available to assist those impacted by natural disasters to determine assistance needs and available resources. Find a HUDapproved housing counseling agency online or use our telephone look-up tool by calling (800) 569-4287. Telephone look-up includes access to information in more than 200 different languages. You do not have to have an FHA-insured mortgage to meet with a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. There is never a fee for foreclosure prevention counseling.

• Assisting with housing discriminationHousing discrimination sometimes occurs when people attempt to find and access housing following a disaster. HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is available to assist people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination. If you think your rights have been violated, you should file a fair housing complaint with HUD. You can file a complaint by calling HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or visiting How to File a Complaint on HUD's website. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact the Department using the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. You should file a complaint with HUD as soon as possible.

Property Tax Disaster Relief Available to Victims of the Los Angeles County Wildfires

VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

Property owners who have been impacted by the current wildfires in Los Angeles County may be eligible for various property tax disaster relief.

Affected properties in Governor-proclaimed disaster areas or properties that have experienced a misfortune or calamity may qualify for property tax relief so long as the loss estimate is at least $10,000 of the current

market value of the property. The damaged or destroyed property will be eligible for a temporary reduction in property taxes, with some taxes refunded to the property owner if already paid. Once rebuilt, the property’s pre-damaged value will be restored. To qualify for property tax relief, property owners must file a claim with their County Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date of damage or destruction or the time specified in their county’s ordinance, whichever is later. Eligible property owners may also apply for a deferral

Tips and Resources

1. Sign up for alerts - listoscalifornia.org/alertsEach county has its own alert system. This easy to use, free tool allows you to search by zip code.

2. Prepare a go bag - in the event your family needs to evacuate, have essential items ready to go. This should include important documents (birth certificate, insurance policies, passports, etc), prescription medications, protective gear (masks, sturdy shoes), backup battery, cash, pet supplies, food, and water.

3. Don’t wait, evacuate - Plan multiple evacuation routes ahead of time. Listen and watch for evacuation warnings and orders. An evacuation warning means get ready to leave or leave if you need extra time (elderly, people with disabilities, young children, large animals). An evacuation order means leave immediately.

4. Wildfire and wildfire smoke resources available in 12 languages - listoscalifornia. org/resources/ - Explore valuable resources

(guides, videos, and posters) that can be shared with those in your community to prepare for, respond to and recover from wildfires.

5. Prepare for power outages - even if you are outside active wildfire areas, there may be power disruptions. In addition to these practical tips, be sure to charge cars, cell phones and portable radios before the power goes out.

6. Shelters are available for everyone - emergency shelters are open to all Californians regardless of immigration status. Contact your local county emergency services office for information about shelter locations.

Additional Helpful Links

• National Weather Service (NWS) Fire Weather Alerts: www.weather.gov/fire

• Air Quality Monitoring (AirNow): www.airnow.gov

• American Red Cross Wildfire Safety Tips: www.redcross.org/wildfire-safety

• Animal Evacuation Support (ASPCA): www.aspca.org/disaster-preparedness

of their next property tax installment without penalties or interest.

The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is constitutionally and statutorily responsible for the oversight of California’s property tax system, and the BOE’s Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate Office recently published a new publication, Information Guide for Disaster Relief for Damaged or Destroyed Property. It outlines the various types of property tax relief—from the date the property was damaged or destroyed

and then later, once the property is rebuilt or if a different property is purchased.

Affected property owners in Los Angeles County are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang to begin their claim for property tax relief and review Property Relief for Properties Impacted by a Disaster. Additional resources for Californians impacted by the Los Angeles Fires are also available at ca.gov/LAfires/.

& VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

The National Civil Rights Museum joins the world in mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter. A giant among leaders and a true example of the highest ideals of public service, President Carter’s legacy will forever be etched in history. As a recipient of the Museum’s 1994 Freedom Award and the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, his life’s work reflected unwavering dedication to peace, justice, and human dignity.

President Carter was a man of humble service, one who understood his life’s purpose and was fortunate to live long enough to carry it out. His leadership, both in the White House and beyond, was marked by compassion, wisdom, and an unshakeable commitment to humanity. Whether mediating international conflicts or advocating for affordable housing, he always placed the needs of the marginalized at the forefront of his actions.

In a time when strong-handed responses were often expected, Carter chose a path of reconciliation and understanding, never wavering

from his core belief in the power of kindness, humility, and faith. He worked tirelessly to build bridges between divided communities and was a steadfast advocate for those who often lacked a voice in the halls of power.

President Carter’s legacy is not just one of words but of deeds — a lifetime of actions that continue to inspire all those who strive for a world of peace, justice, and opportunity for all. Even in the face of adversity, he showed us the true meaning of leadership by embracing the inherent worth of every person and encouraging the belief that redemption and hope are possible for all.

The National Civil Rights Museum is deeply grateful for the lessons President Carter imparted through his actions, and we mourn his passing with both sorrow and deep appreciation. His life and work serve as a shining beacon of hope, reminding us that the struggle for a more just world is a call we must continue to answer.

The world is a better place because of President Jimmy Carter, and for that, we will be forever grateful.

PHOTO: Freepik

Jimmy Carter receives the National Civil Rights Museum's

VOICE

40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Breakfast

Here is an excerpt of Hart’s award-winning poem:

Adazzling blend of performances by local singer Carmelia “Toot” Bell, the Heart Beat Music and Performing Arts Academy, and the presentation of colors by the Buffalo Soldiers kickstarted the morning with a cheerful bang.

Shortly after, California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and District 4 County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe gave a special presentation to the audience, commending the work the state and region has done in increasing African American representation in elected positions across the county.

“I am so proud today that for the first time in the history of San Diego there are nine African Americans in elected positions… who are not [just] “DEI” but are hard working individuals who have credentials and degrees from our local institutions," said Dr. Weber.

“When someone asks if I believe in DEI, I say, ‘I am D-E-I !’” said Weber, followed by an enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience members.

“

Brown skin, but Black at home Only 12, but in a grown man’s body

African American, Mexican, Caucasian, Those are the races in my family

Dr. King hoped would be a possibility,”

Additionally, Voice & Viewpoint publisher Dr. John E. Warren was honored as this year's esteemed Human Dignity Award recipient.

Carl Giovingo Hart, an 8th grader from Healing Journeys Academy read out loud his award winning poem written in honor of Dr. King.

Each year, a committee bestows the award to an individual or group who has exhibited a lifelong dedication in serving the San Diego

By Macy Meinhardt

Aboard the hangar deck of the historic USS Midway ship, residents and pillars of the community came together to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and spotlight regional leaders who bravely carry on his legacy in the world of today.

“Today, [January 15, 2025] marks Dr. King's 96th birthday. We not only celebrate his birthday, we celebrate the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America,” said Peggy Cooper, a trustee member of the ship's DEI committee.

Soulful music, fellowship, delicious food, and honorable sentiments of King’s messages filled the space of the Midway Museum stationed in San Diego's downtown harbor. The Midway’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee has honorably hosted a celebration event for the civil rights leader for the last eleven years.

The ships’ rich legacy of unity, bravery, and freedom serves as a perfect backdrop to reflect on the memory of King. Distinguished veteran, healthcare leader, and advocate for

As the publisher of San Diego Voice & Viewpoint , Dr. Warren was proud to contribute over 1,500 copies of the publication's annual special Martin Luther King issue placed on each attendee seat. The annual issue is a labor of love for the publication, showcasing the in’s and out’s of the life and legacy of the adorned civil rights leader for the community to learn and reflect on.

community with the spirit and teachings of Dr. King. The late Rufus Dewit, who served as the first African-American executive director of the Jackie Robinson YMCA in the 1960s, was the inaugural recipient of the Human Dignity Award when the event began in 1986.

Other notable recipients within the community over the years have included Rev. George Walker Smith, Leon Willams, Dr. Shirley Weber, and Michael Brunker.

While accepting his award, Dr. Warren reflected on his time meeting Dr. King and hearing his infamous ‘I Have A Dream Speech’ live during the March on Washington August 28, 1963.

“I believe as long as we come together and achieve the work that Dr. King spoke of in his dream, then it is up to us to make that dream a reality,” said Dr. Warren.

“I thank you for this opportunity and I invite all of us to make a prophecy of the dream into a reality in our own lives,” said Warren, as he closed.

The second winner of the Human Dignity Award this year went out to the Southeastern Disaster Response Team. The response team is a coalition of eight community based organizations who came together to provide critical support services for flood victims after the January 2024 floods. Establishing a command center at the Jackie Robinson YMCA, the Southeastern Response Team mobilized in a time when local government was stalled—working together to bring the community essential supplies, debris cleanup assistance, hotel stays, food, clothing, and health services to residents of District 4. The group was honored during last year's Voice & Viewpoint gala for their notable achievements, and a plaque for their recognition hangs at the JRYMCA today.

The annual breakfast serves as a staple in the community to not only celebrate the remarkable achievements of its honorees but also serves as a reminder of the work needed to uphold King’s legacy in today's age.

As voices from local leaders, pastors, and community activists championing Dr. King’s cause echoed through the hall, the message of the breakfast was clear: the dream of equality, equity and justice for all lives on, and it is through action, resilience, and togetherness that it will continue to thrive.

health equity, Captain Kelly O. Elmore, delivered this year's keynote address.

“When you assess the midway’s mission to preserve history, honor those who serve and inspire future generations, it beautifully aligns with Dr King's vision of justice, equality and freedom; the vision to be America's living symbol of freedom,” said Capt. Elmore.

Drawing from her career and former experience as a leader of military hospitals, Capt. Elmore emphasized the critical nature of protecting and pushing for healthcare equity for veterans and people of color, specifically women.

Meanwhile, each year, the DEI committee selects three individuals in the community to be awarded with the Outstanding Community Service Award, and Community Bridgebuilder award.

This year's Bridgebuilder Award recipient was nothing short of remarkable.

Dr. Edith Edger is a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor who has gone on to become a world-renowned psychologist specializing in trauma and resilience. In 1944, Edger and her mother were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Shortly after their arrival,

they were separated, and her mother was tragically killed in the gas chambers. Edger was eventually rescued and recovered by American soldiers; she was sixteen years old.

Her rescue spurred a deep love and appreciation for men and women in uniform. In 1949, Edger moved to America with her daughter and husband to begin a new life. While receiving her award, she shared her perspective on seeing “colored” rest-room signs upon shortly arriving into the States.

“I came to America, and I worked in a factory, and then I saw that there were two bathrooms, and one of them said, “colored”-where do you think I went? I always went to the colored bathroom.”

Edger joined the NAACP shortly after, sharing how she attended the March on Washington and met with Dr. King. You could hear a pin drop in the audience as she spoke, with some remarking–” She is my hero”. Throughout the dinner and ceremony, en-

Other awards given out, including the community service award, were presented to Rafael Castellanos, former Port of San Diego Commissioner, and Dennis Michael Broussard, a humanitarian leader in San Diego.

Overall, the event was filled with the spirit of the beloved civil rights icon on the eve of his birth date, drawing a crowd of individuals and distinguished guests whose contributions have made San Diego a more equitable and vibrant community.

tertainer Floyd Smith charmed the crowd with his interactive singing performance. Singer Victor Norris also wowed audience members with a powerful national anthem performance and closing rendition of “The Impossible Dream.”

Meanwhile,

Heart Beat Music and Performing Arts Academy. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint

Carl Giovingo Hart. PHOTO: Macy Meinhardt/ Voice & Viewpoint

Viewpoint

PHOTOS: Macy Meinhardt/Voice & Viewpoint

Captain Kelly O. Elmore, keynote speaker.

Dr. Edith Edger accepting the 2025 Bridgebuilder Award.

43rd Annual

DR. MARTIN LUTHER

By Tihut Tamrat CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade took place on Sunday, January 19th, 2025, in San Diego, celebrating the life and legacy of the iconic civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The parade, which began at 11 a.m. on Harbor Drive and Grape St. and continued along the Embarcadero all the way to the Embassy Suites Hotel, attracted hundreds of spectators and participants from across the region.

This vibrant event was organized by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter, and featured a colorful procession of floats, marching bands, community organizations, and cultural groups, all honoring Dr. King’s vision of equality, justice, and service.

Earlier in the day, at 9 a.m., participants kicked off the festivities with the MLK 5K Walk/FunRun, which brought together individuals and families

for a fun and active way to pay tribute to Dr. King’s enduring impact. The celebration continued with the Harmony Health Festival, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering attendees a range of health services, wellness resources, and entertainment in support of community well-being.

“We are so happy to see the city of San Diego come out and support us because that Dr. Martin Luther King weekend is so important to us and freedom still needs to go forth. So , thank you San Diego,” states Dr. Robert Walker President of the Zeta Sigma Lambda Chapter.

This year’s event was a heartfelt reminder of the progress made and the ongoing work toward social justice, fostering unity and positive change. It was an inspiring day, bringing together diverse groups in honor of Dr. King’s powerful message of peace, love, and equality.

PHOTOS:

AROUND TOWN

DATE:

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A Startup City In Kenya Tries To Tackle Africa’s Urbanizing While Poor

By Adrian Blomfield Associated Press

“Tatu has more law and order than other places,” said Valerie Akoko, a digital content creator who moved in two years ago. “I’ve never seen Tatu City dirty.”

Situated on 5,000 acres, Tatu City aspires to be what its name suggests: a city, privately owned, that its designers hope will eventually have a population of 250,000. It is already home to 88 businesses employing 15,000 people. They include CCI Global, which operates a 5,000-seat call center, and Zhende Medical, a Chinese medical supply manufacturer.

History suggests that as people move into cities, productivity increases, wages rise, exports grow and a country gets richer. But in Africa, urbanization has rarely unleashed such economic transformation.

But sub-Saharan Africa is urbanizing while still poor.

“Towns and cities in Africa today simply lack the tax base needed to invest in the urban infrastructure needed to accommodate the tsunami of people being added to their ranks in a short period of time,” said Kurtis Lockhart, director of the Africa Urban Lab, a research center at the African School of Economics in Zanzibar.

Last year, Tatu City’s Kenya head, Preston Mendenhall, took the unusual step of accusing the governor of the county where the development is based of extortion, saying he had demanded land worth $33 million in exchange for approving its updated master plan. The governor denied it and is suing Tatu City and Mendenhall for defamation. No ruling has been made.

Still, the case for building new cities, complete with new infrastructure, is compel -

ling to some. The Charter Cities Institute, a Washington-based nonprofit, argues that, done properly, such projects could drive growth, create jobs and “lift tens of millions of people out of poverty.” The institute sees Tatu City as a model.

Yet building new cities is hard. Africa is littered with failed projects.

A handful have shown promise. Angola’s Quilamba city, whose construction began in 2002, is arguably the most successful, with a population of more than 130,000. It was built by CITIC, a state-owned Chinese company, but is owned by the Angolan government.

A one-bedroom apartment in Tatu City sells for $45,500, still beyond the means of most Kenyans, but within reach of some in the emerging middle class. Kenya’s per capita GDP was $1,961 in 2023, according to the World Bank.

The development collaborates with Kenya’s government, which has designated Tatu City a special economic zone. That means companies setting up there are eligible for tax benefits and other incentives, making it a model of private-public partnership, experts say.

According to Lockhart with the Africa Urban Lab, new city projects usually succeed if they are close enough to a major urban center and house both a high-quality anchor tenant — CCI Global in Tatu City’s case — and good schools. They should operate under effective management and respond to market demand.

Tatu meets these criteria and, unlike many grandiosely conceived African city projects, it has grown organically like Rendeavour’s other city projects in Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia and the Congo, according to Mendenhall.

“We are building what the market needs,” he said. “We are not putting all the infrastructure on day one.”

Amputees In Sierra Leone COMBAT DiSCRIMINATION THROUGH FARMING

By Jack Thompson Associated Press

Lahai Makieu struck the bamboo with a machete until it cracked and fell. Balancing on his crutch, he reached to pick it up. But colleagues pulled the bamboo’s other end, and he tumbled into the dense grass.

“They forgot I had one leg,” the 45-yearold said, laughing. The trainer at a center for amputee farmers picked himself up and added: “We fall and we rise.”

“No one cares about you as an amputee in Sierra Leone.”

–Lahai Makieu

The phrase encapsulates his journey since the civil war in Sierra Leone. From 1991 to 2002, conflict in the West African country created some 28,000 amputees like him. Amputation by machete was one terror tactic by rebels.

But even now, amputation rates remain high in Sierra Leone due to motorbike accidents, poor medical care and delayed treatment by traditional healers, according to medical researchers. The government doesn’t collect data on amputees, but the United Nations estimates there are about 500,000 disabled people in the country.

Makieu’s left leg was amputated as a child after rebels shot him and he received no medical attention for a week.

More than 20 years later, in a nation ranked near the bottom of the U.N. development index, amputees still face discrimination, often regarded as a shameful reminder of the civil war. Many resort to begging and live in the streets.

“No one cares about you as an amputee in Sierra Leone,” Makieu said.

The Farming on Crutches initiative where Makieu works near the capital, Freetown, offers a rare refuge. It aims to restore amputees’ confidence and independence by teaching them skills to start a farm business. They’ve trained 100 amputees and want to expand their work.

At a displacement camp for 270 amputees in Freetown, he met Mambud Samai, the founder of Farming on Crutches and a pastor. First, Samai organized beach football matches for amputees in Freetown, boosting their confidence. During a visit to Sierra Leone, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon saw the project and funded a site for an amputee football club outside the capital.

But Samai decided football was not enough. As a farmer, he saw agriculture as a path to self-sufficiency. In 2020, he set up a demonstration farm to teach amputees how to farm and become rural leaders.

Makieu was one of the first Farming on Crutches trainees in 2022. He learned how to use farm waste for organic fertilizer and bamboo sticks for fences. He set up a small farm operation this year with his wife, Zanib, also an amputee. They met during the training and now have a child.

Sierra Leone’s National Commission for Persons with Disability told AP that discrimination towards amputees has improved in the last decade since the Disability Act in 2011 aimed to provide equal opportunities and punish discrimination.

Only 1,300 out of 32,000 have received a full reparations package due to lack of resources, according to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.

There currently is no specific support for amputees from the government, the National Commission for Persons with Disability said.

Come Home, Ghana Told the African Diaspora

By Annie Risemberg Associated Press

Flipping through a family album, Keachia Bowers paused on a photo of her as a baby on her father’s lap as he held the 1978 album “Africa Stand Alone” by the Jamaican reggae band Culture.

“When I was 10 years old, I was supposed to come to Ghana with him,” she said. A day earlier, she had marked 10 years since her father’s death. Though he was a PanAfricanist who dreamed of visiting Ghana, he never made it here.

Bowers and her husband, Damon Smith, however, are among the 524 diaspora members, mostly Black Americans, who were granted Ghanaian citizenship in a ceremony in November.

Bowers and Smith moved to Ghana from Florida in 2023 after visiting the region several times between them since the ’90s. They now run a tour business that caters to Black

people who want to visit Ghana or elsewhere in West Africa, or like them have come to consider a permanent move.

The November group was the largest one granted citizenship since Ghana launched the “Year of the Return” program, aimed at attracting the Black diaspora, in 2019. It marked 400 years since the first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619.

Ghana’s Tourism Authority and the Office of Diaspora Affairs have extended the program into “Beyond the Return,” which fosters the relationship with diasporans. Hundreds have been granted citizenship, including people from Canada, the U.K. and Jamaica.

Bowers said moving to Ghana gave her family a certain feeling of ease they didn’t have in the U.S.

“When we see Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, all these stories of people being murdered just in

their home, living in their home and being murdered at the hands of police brutality, hearing about it creates trauma,” she said.

Americans face few obstacles to living in Ghana, with most people paying an annual residency fee. But Bowers said getting citizenship signified more than simply living in Ghana.

“I didn’t need (citizenship) to tell me that I’m African. Anywhere that I go in the world and someone looks at me, I’m melanated,” she said.

“But my ancestors who wanted to return and come back home, those ancestors who never made it back,” she said, “that passport, for me, is for them.”

As memorials to the slave trade become tourist destinations across West Africa, painful reminders of its brutality are easily accessible. From Ghana to Senegal to Benin, one can visit variations of the “Door of No Return,” haunting

doorways that open to the Atlantic Ocean where slaves left Africa, and their families, for the last time.

Citizenship also can pass to the next generation. The children of Bowers and Smith received it automatically after their parents’ ceremony.

Bowers’ father, like her husband and children, was a follower of

the Rastafari faith. “Part of the Rastafarian tradition is to repatriate. We see repatriation as the ultimate experience that you can have on this earth,” she said.

She believes that her father is proud of her. “I really feel like he’s smiling, where he is. He wanted to experience this for himself, so he’s experiencing it through me.”

PHOTO: Instagram via voaafrica

Sandy Umaru, farmer and amputee footballer in Bo, Sierra Leone. PHOTO: Facebook via BBC Media Action Sierra Leone

PHOTO: Instagram via iloveafrica_media

Alcohol Consumption Increases Cancer Risk

Urges New Warning Labels

By Stacy M. Brown

Th e U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has issued an advisory linking alcohol consumption to an increased risk of cancer, calling for updated

warning labels on alcoholic beverages to inform consumers better. Alcohol is listed as one of the leading preventable causes of cancer in the United States, contributing to 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths each year.

Current warning labels on alcoholic beverages focus on general health risks, impaired driving, and pregnancy-related concerns but omit the established connection to cancer. Dr. Murthy urged Congress to mandate updated labels that address the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption—a move like requirements for cigarette packaging.

Research Confirms AlcoholCancer Connection

Decades of research confirm that alcohol is causally linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, liver, colorectal, and throat cancers. For example, stud -

ies show that consuming even one drink daily raises the risk of breast cancer by 10 percent compared to non-drinkers, while the risk of mouth cancer increases by 40 percent for the same level of consumption.

The advisory explains that the lifetime risk of breast cancer for women rises from 11.3 percent for those drinking less than one drink per week to 13.1 percent for those consuming one daily and 15.3 percent for two daily beverages. Among men, the risk of developing alcohol-related cancers increases from 10 percent with less than one drink per week to 11.4 percent for one drink daily and 13 percent for two daily beverages.

The Surgeon General noted that cancer risk increases with higher alcohol consumption but added that even low levels of drinking are not without risk. Health officials have noted that there is no safe limit for alcohol consumption, which aligns with the World Health Organization’s findings.

Mechanisms Behind Alcohol-Related Cancers

The Surgeon General’s advisory notes several

ways in which alcohol contributes to cancer development. Dr. Murthy noted that alcohol breaks down in the body into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that damages DNA and interferes with cellular repair processes. He said it generates reactive oxygen species, leading to inflammation and further DNA damage. Additionally, alcohol alters hormone levels, including estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development.

Global Perspective and Recommendations

Globally, alcohol was linked to over 740,000 cancer cases in 2020. While countries such as South Korea and Ireland have begun implementing cancer-specific warnings on alcohol labels, the United States lags. Ireland, for instance, reportedly plans to introduce labels by 2026 stating a direct connection between alcohol and fatal cancers.

Dr. Murthy recommended strengthening public education campaigns to increase awareness of the risks associated with alcohol. He also encouraged healthcare providers to inform patients about these risks and incorporate alcohol screening into routine care.

Microschooling has emerged as a transformative educational model, particularly for Black students in the United States. According to a recent news report, Microschools have experienced a boom in popularity since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The tiny schools, which have a median student body size of 16, have been described as a modern reinvention of the one-room schoolhouse, where children of varying ages receive personalized instruction from a teacher in the same room,” the report stated.

Microschools address the unique challenges and disparities students face within traditional school systems. With its focus on smaller class sizes, personalized learning, and community-driven curricula, microschools offer tailored educational experiences that foster academic excellence and cultural relevance.

To bring awareness to this issue, Nicole JonesStewart founded an organization that would guide in equipping individuals desiring to aid in closing the educational gaps that many Black students in this country encounter.

The microschooling approach not only empowers students by providing a supportive environment that prioritizes their individual needs and strengths but also cultivates a sense of belonging and identity. By bridging the educational gap and promoting equity, microschooling serves as a vital tool for enhancing the educational outcomes and overall well-being of Black students, enabling them to thrive both academically and socially in an increasingly complex world.

With the elections just behind us, Stewart believes that the incoming administration has an opportunity to prioritize fair funding, school choice, and parent empowerment.

“My concern is that education policy often overlooks innovative models like microschools. For marginalized communities to truly benefit from school choice, we must be equipped to meet the demand. Failing to do so will only allow systemic barriers to persist, continuing to harm our communities. To overcome this, it’s essential to increase the number of Black-led schools,” she said.

To learn more about the association, visit: https://bit.ly/SchoolChoiceForum

20 Inspirational Quotes to Start Black Students Strong in 2025

By Quintessa Williams

2024 was a challenging year for Black students, teachers, and language. Some school districts banned books, others restricted how classrooms discussed Black history, and others tried to curb Black kids from using cultural slang. Outside of the classroom, many young Black people were and still are discouraged by the return of President-elect D onald Trump, —a candidate who openly used racist language in his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to lead a major party’s presidential ticket. It has all shown that words still matter.

rison, Nobel Prize-winning author and educator.

7. “Y ou have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” — Angela Davis, civil rights activist and educator.

8. “W e may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou, author and educator

9. Knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.” — Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and educator.

10. “L earning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins.” — former President Barack Obama.

Buy Self-Tests (At-Home Tests)

Buy self-tests (at-home tests) online or in pharmacies and retail stores. If you have health insurance, it may reimburse the cost of purchasing self-tests. Visit fda.gov for a list of authorized tests.

Go To A Testing Location

• Visit a community-based testing location, such as a pharmacy or health center

• These locations may offer NAAT, including PCR, or antigen tests, and provide low- or no-cost testing. Free NAAT or antigen tests may also be available through your local health department.

• Talk to a doctor or healthcare provider about other testing options that may be available to you.

Order Your 4 Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won't even pay for shipping. Go to fda.gov to sign up to receive email alerts when you order.

But the start of a new year brings a clean slate, a fresh opportunity to use words for inspiration and goal-setting. For Black students, messages of encouragement and wisdom — especially from educators and leaders who share their cultural heritage — can foster an empowering sense of identity and pride.

As we welcome 2025, here are some inspirational quotes that aim to uplift and start Black students off strong:

1. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X, activist and educator.

2. “When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions.” — Dr. Carter G. Woodson, scholar, historian and the father of Black History Month.

3. Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington, educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute

4. “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes, poet and educator.

5. “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader.

6. “You are your best thing.” — Toni Mor-

11. I did what my conscience told me to do, and you can’t fail if you do that.” — Anita Hill, attorney and educator.

12. “ To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.” — civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

13. “Freedom is never given; it is won.” — A. Philip Randolph, labor leader and civil rights activist.

14. “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” — scientist and educator George Washington Carver.

15. If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.” — Rep. Shirley Chisholm, a New York Democrat and the first Black woman to run for president.

16. “C hildren are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.” — Jess Lair, educator and philosopher.

17. “History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” — former First Lady Michelle Obama.

18. “T he whole world opened to me when I learned to read.” — Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of Bethune-Cookman University.

19. “I believe a child going without an education is a crime.” — Vice President Kamala Harris.

20. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — South African President Nelson Mandela. This first appeared in Word in Black.

PHOTO: Freepik

CLASSIFIEDS / LEGAL NOTICES

11/01/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Daly Inc P.O. Box 20491 El Cajon, CA 92021 State of Incorporation/ Organization

California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 10, 2024 This fictitious business name will expire on December 10, 2029 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9001288

Fictitious business name(s): Aroyd Thai Kitchen 2 Located at: 3425 Hancock St. Unit 19 San Diego, CA 92110 County of San Diego --4737 Ladner St. San Diego, CA 92113 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Married Couple

The first day of business was: 03/01/2024

This business is hereby registered by the following: Sounine Senethachith 4737 Ladner St. San Diego, CA 92113

ViengnaKhone Soulikham 4737 Ladner St. San Diego, CA 92113

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 21, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 21, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000358

Fictitious business name(s): The Living Nook

Living Nook Located at: 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd. Ste. 120 #1057 San Diego, CA 92111

County of San Diego

intending to submit a Bid must be prequalified. Please refer to the solicitation for instructions. Project Name JOC Sitework Project Number: K-25-2364JOC-3 Estimated Value: $60,000,000.00 Bid Opening Date: 2/11/2025, at 2:00 P.M. License Requirement: A It is the policy of the City of San Diego to encourage equal opportunity in its Construction and Consultant contracts. Bids or proposals from local firms, small, minority-owned, disabled, veteran-owned, and womenowned businesses are stronglyencouraged. Contractors are encouraged to subcontract with and/or participate in joint ventures with these firms. The City is committed to equal opportunity and will not discriminate with regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, disability, medical condition or place of birth; and will not do business with any firm that discriminates on any basis. Bids shall be received no later than the date and time noted above at: City of San Diego's Electronic Biding Site PlanetBids at: https://www.planetbids. com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=17950

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 1/02/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Yvonne Gao 4240 Kearny Mesa Rd. Ste. 120 #1057 San Diego, CA 92111

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 7, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 7, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000922

Fictitious business name(s): Jenkins Mitigation & Restoration (JMR) Located at: 559 Ballantyne St. El Cajon, CA 92020 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Charles Anthony Jenkins 559 Ballantyne St. El Cajon, CA 92020

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 15, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 15, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000437

1/1/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Kachi Ventures Inc. 1010 Singing Ridge Rd. El Cajon, CA 92019 State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 08, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 08, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000513

Fictitious business name(s): Kundalini Bianco

Located at: P.O. Box 815

Borrego Springs, CA 92004

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Cherie Fremlin Bianco MS P.O. Box 815

Borrego Springs, CA 92004

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 09, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 09, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000949

Fictitious business name(s): Catalyst For Change Located at: 2216 55th St. San Diego, CA 92105

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 1/14/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Willie Scott Graham 2216 55th St. San Diego, CA 92105

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 15, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 15, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000777

Fictitious business name(s): The Finest International Private Security Located at: 770 First Ave. Suite 250 San Diego, CA 92101

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 5/7/2016 This business is hereby registered by the following: The Finest International Private Security Corp. 10726 Porter Terrace Spring Valley, CA 91978 State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 13, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 13, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000593

Fictitious business name(s): San Diego Climate Comfort Located at: 320 Trousdale Dr.

the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 10, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 10, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000321

Fictitious business name(s): Jennie K Interiors Located at: 10850 Montego Dr. San Diego, CA 92124

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 1/6/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jennifer Marie Knox 10850 Montego Dr. San Diego, CA 92124

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 07, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 07, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000479

Fictitious business name(s):

Rising Tide Resin Designs Located at: 963 Archer St. Pacific Beach, CA 92109 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 03/13/2020

This business is hereby registered by the following: Lisa Duffy Inc. 963 Archer St. Pacific Beach, CA 92109

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 8, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 8, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2024-9024256

Fictitious business name(s): Bridge Community Center Located at: 3714 Teak St. San Diego, CA 92113

County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 5/21/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: Bridge Inc. 3714 Teak St. San Diego, CA 92113

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on December 10, 2024

This fictitious business name will expire on December 10, 2029 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000678

Fictitious business name(s): Butter And Bites Located at: 4945 La Portalada Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92010 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A General Partnership

The first day of business was: 1/5/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Hannah Marie Cheadle

4945 La Portalada Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92010

Jean S Alfafara Laszuk

4945 La Portalada Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92010

Monica Kuchman

4945 La Portalada Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92010

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 10, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 10, 2030

1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000291

Fictitious business name(s): Daniel's Landscaping Located at: 19259 Rangeland Rd. Ramona, CA 92065 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 6/1/2020

This business is hereby registered by the following: Daniel Lopez Martinez 19259 Rangeland Rd. Ramona, CA 92065

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 07, 2025 This fictitious business name will expire on January 07, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000647

Fictitious business name(s): Tactical Baseball Located at: 11183 Socorro St. San Diego, CA 92129 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual

The first day of business was: 1/1/2025

This business is hereby registered by the following: Tyler Dalton Meick 11183 Socorro St. San Diego, CA 92129

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 10, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 10, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000249

Fictitious business name(s): Sprinter Mobile Repair

Sprinter's Bay Located at: 13350 Pacific Pl. Unit 2104 San Diego, CA 92130 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Mikalai Kasareuski 13350 Pacific Pl. Unit 2104 San Diego, CA 92130

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 06, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 06, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000520

Fictitious business name(s): SDJJ Painting Located at: 4517 54th St. San Diego, CA 92115 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following: Jacob A. Rosas 4517 54th St. San Diego, CA 92115

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 09, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 09, 2030 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000447

Fictitious business name(s): Kitchenware Essentials Located at: 1741 Eastlake Pkwy., Ste 102 PMB 1029 Chula Vista, CA 91915 County of San Diego

FICTITIOUS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 2025-9000641

Fictitious business name(s): Agape Childcare

Agapelove Childcare Center Located at: 4765 Home Ave #56 San Diego, CA 92105 County of San Diego 342 Euclid Ave #406, Box #331 San Diego, CA 92114 This business is conducted by: An Individual The first day of business was: 07/01/1996 This business is hereby registered by the following: Janice Laster Wallace 342 Euclid Ave #406, Box #331 San Diego, CA 92114 This statement was filed

FICTITIOUS

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above This business is hereby registered by the following: Alison Andrea Peterson 1741 Eastlake Pkwy., Ste 102 PMB 1029 Chula Vista, CA 91915 This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on January 08, 2025 This

San Diego County on January 03, 2025

This fictitious business name will expire on January 03, 2030 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

Fictitious

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 01/01/2018

This business is hereby registered by the following: Israel Enterprises Inc. 5025 La Dorna St. San Diego, CA 92115

State of Incorporation/ Organization California

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on November 19, 2024 This fictitious business name will expire on November 19, 2029 1/02, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

1100 Union St. San Diego CA 92081 Central Courthouse Case Number 25CU002863C

Petitioner or Attorney: Paul Torres

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

PRESENT NAME: Paul Torres

PROPOSED NAME: Paul Ignacio Enamorado

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: March 5, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order

with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 1100 Union St. San Diego, CA 92101 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 325 South Melrose Driv Vista, CA 92081 25CU000573N

Petitioner or Attorney: Suzanne Kathleen Helfrick To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Suzanne Kathleen Helfrick filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Suzanne Kathleen Helfrick

PROPOSED NAME: Suzanne Kathleen Canaday

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: February 21, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 25

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate

(JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are

seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 325 South Melrose Drive Vista, CA 92081 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 25CU000050C

Petitioner or Attorney: Brian Matthew Slater To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Brian Matthew Slater filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Brian Matthew Slater

PROPOSED NAME: Brian Matthew Marino

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: February 19, 2025 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 before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 24CU029873C

Petitioner or Attorney: Amber Serena CastroKilloran + Maria Guadalupe CastroKilloran

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Amber Serena CastroKilloran + Maria Guadalupe CastroKilloran filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

a. Amber Serena CastroKilloran

PROPOSED NAME: Amber Serena Killoran Castro-Waldek

PRESENT NAME: b. Maria Guadalupe CastroKilloran

PROPOSED NAME: Maria Guadalupe CastroWaldek

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: February 11, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection

has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 24CU027136C

Petitioner or Attorney: Marshall Kerry Landrum

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Marshall Kerry L Whitlock Sr. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Marshall Kerry Landrum

PROPOSED NAME: Marshall Kerry Landrum Whitlock

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: January 29, 2025 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 W.

in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Paul Perez 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: February 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM in Department 504 Room: C-504 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Central Courthouse

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of 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.

Petitioner: Paul Perez 3112 Grizzly Peak Dr. Broomfield, CO 80023 (415) 810-5639 1/9, 1/16, 1/23

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Herbert James Baker Case Number 24PE003316C

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

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

The Petition for Probate requests that Alicia Valdes 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: February 5, 2025 at 1:30 PM in Department 502 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Probate Division

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: Alicia Valdes 2579 Old Quarry Rd. 2321 San Diego, CA 92108 (619) 929-0336 1/9, 1/16, 1/23

Standard Classified: $3.75 [per line]

1976

PAUL ROBESON PASSES AWAY

Paul Robeson, celebrated athlete, singer, actor, and human rights advocate, fought for racial justice throughout his career. Born on April 9, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, to a former slave and a mother from a prominent mixed-race family, Robeson overcame early hardships to excel as an athlete, scholar, and performer, graduating as valedictorian from Rutgers University.

Robeson’s career spanned theater, film, and activism. He starred in notable works like Othello and The Emperor Jones, choosing roles that challenged racial stereotypes. Despite backlash for his socialist views, he championed equality and peace until retiring in Philadelphia, where he died on January 23, 1976, at 77.

2003

NELL HARDY CARTER PASSES AWAY

Nell Carter, an acclaimed actress and vocalist, had a 25-year career spanning film, stage, television, and music. Born Nell Ruth Hardy on September 13, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama, she was raised in a low-income neighborhood with eight siblings. Carter began singing in church and on a local radio show at 11. After graduating from A.H. Parker High School in 1966, she moved to New York City, performing in nightclubs before landing her first Broadway role in Soon (1971). She gained fame with her Tony-winning performance in Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978) and later won an Emmy for its televised version. Carter achieved widespread recognition as Nell Harper in the sitcom Gimme a Break! (1981–1987), earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Despite her success, she faced personal struggles, including addiction, health issues, and professional setbacks like her controversial replacement in Annie (1997). Carter died on January 23, 2003, from heart and diabetic complications, leaving behind two adopted sons.

Rashida Jones Stepped Down As MSNBC President On The Eve Of Trump Inauguration

By David Bauder Associated Press

MSNBC President Rashida Jones says she is stepping down after four years leading the liberal news network, her move coming on the eve of a second Trump administration and after changes in corporate ownership.

Jones, in a memo to staff on Tuesday, said that she is leaving to “pursue new opportunities.” She’ll be replaced on an interim basis by Rebecca Kutler, a former CNN executive who joined MSNBC in 2022.

In Jones’ tenure, MSNBC has generally displaced CNN as the second-rated cable news-focused network behind Fox News Channel. Its ratings are sharply down since Donald Trump’s election.

MSNBC’s lineup has remained fairly consistent since Jones, the first Black executive to lead a cable news network, moved from NBC News to take over there in 2021. Former Biden administration press secretary Jen Psaki is her highest-profile addition.

In November, Comcast announced it was breaking MSNBC and CNBC away from NBC News into its own company, led by executive Mark Lazarus, meaning Jones was answering to new corporate leadership.

At a morning meeting on Tuesday, Jones said she was “excited about what we’ve done. I’m excited about what comes next.” She shed little light on the timing, although corporate changes and political transitions often trigger changes in the news business.

“When Rashida shared this with me at the end of last week, I was surprised,” Lazarus said in the meeting, according to MSNBC. “I was a little saddened for the company but very happy for her to be able to come to grips with a hard decision — a very personal decision.”

No name change for MSNBC Lazarus also told employees Tuesday that MSNBC will keep its name. There had been some talk that it would be changed under new corporate leadership; the name was a result of a partnership with Microsoft when the network started in 1996. There have been few other indications of visible change for viewers yet due to the uncoupling from NBC News.

Jones generally kept a low public profile as MSNBC leader. She made considerable

changes to the network’s weekend lineup and, during the weekday, extended the length of two of MSNBC’s more popular shows: “Morning Joe” and Nicolle Wallace in the afternoon.

She had to deal with the internal fallout over NBC News’ decision last year to hire former Republican National Committee head Ronna McDaniel as a paid contributor, which was reversed after an open mutiny among many MSNBC personalities.

MSNBC’s viewership has dropped 57% since Trump’s election. The network notes that the post-election audience for cable networks closely associated with a losing candidate typically sinks, and that there are already signs that things are picking up again. Whether it will to the extent that it happened for MSNBC in 2017 is an open question, particularly with more people eliminating their cable service.

MSNBC announced on Monday that its most popular personality, Rachel Maddow, is returning to host her show five nights for the first few months of the new administration. Since 2022, she has generally done her show one night a week.

Fictitious Business Name: $25 [4 weeks] Name Change: $85 [4 weeks] PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIEDS... By Phone: (619) 266-2233

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) released a study entitled “Heirs’ Property in the United States - Its Destabilizing Structure and Contribution to Black Property and Wealth Erosion.”

By Fax: (619) 266-0533

By Email: ads@sdvoice.info

Conducted by a team of experienced researchers, the study meticulously documents the discriminatory policies and practices that have facilitated the loss of property, farmland, and generational wealth for African Americans from the end of slavery to the present day.

When land is maintained as heirs' property, all descendants hold fractional ownership, making the property vulnerable to legal challenges, forced sales, and exploitation by developers or outside parties. Exploitative and illegal actions resulted in Black families losing 90% of the land held in 1910 because of limited access to legal advice, discriminatory actions by federal, state, and local governments, and violence and hate crimes.

“As this comprehensive study demonstrates, public policies have aided private and public entities in the unscrupulous and predatory acquisition of land owned by Black families, creating a long history of land theft from the Black community,” asserts Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose, NAREB’s President. “Heirs’ property issues disproportionately impact Black households, thereby making the need for urgent reforms as important today as they were a century ago.”

The study, conducted by James Carr and Michela Zonta, finds that historical and contemporary loss of Black heirs’ property is a significant contributor to the Black-White racial wealth gap, joining federally mandated housing discrimination and other damaging

federal urban policies in contributing to the loss of billions of dollars of Black wealth.

It states that farmland once owned by Black farmers has routinely been absorbed by White owners and has often merged into larger estates that would attract the attention of Wall Street investors.

As in the case of federally mandated discriminatory homeownership practices against Black households, the study maintains that the loss of Black heirs’ property has frequently been supported or carried out by government entities.

The study also finds that:

• Blacks owned millions of acres more land a century ago than they hold today.

• The largest share of property owned by Blacks was farmland throughout the South, some of which is today among the most expensive property in the U.S.

• D iscriminatory actions by the United States government over the past century contributed to the loss of Black land and wealth on a level comparable with that inflicted by the discriminatory lending practices of the federal housing finance agencies established in the 1930s.

• The disproportionate loss of Black property continues today due to heirs’ property issues, including the lack of accurate estate planning documents ensuring the efficient transfer of Black property owners’ rights to their heirs.

“The loss of that property has stifled the economic mobility of millions of Black Americans,” says Dr. Rose. “The amount of property lost by Blacks translates into millions of acres, and the consequences extend beyond individual families to entire communities. The majority of land lost has been farmland that was painstakingly acquired by Blacks in the years immediately following the emancipation of enslaved Black people. Agricultural lands represent a significant economic asset, a cultural legacy, and a path to generational wealth.”

Dr. Rose says that NAREB recognizes the collective effort needed to address this issue and vows to work with other organizations to help Black families reclaim and preserve their land and reverse decades of inequity. NAREB supports the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, which makes it easier to pass family wealth to the next generation, and the National Heirs’ Property Protection Legislation, the Empowerment and Inheritance Rights (HEIR) Act, the Heirs’ Estate Inheritance Resolution and Succession (HEIRS) Act, and The Good DEED Act. NAREB has also partnered with the National Bar Association (NBA) to help Black families understand the laws related to heirs' property and get legal representation. As part of NAREB’s Black Wealth Tour, NAREB hosted NBA’s “What to do with Big Mama’s House” course in cities nationwide to inform families about heirs’ property issues and provide resources.

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