Category: Local & Community

LOS ANGELES   The Licensed Adult Residential Care Association (LARCA) has been awarded $500,000 in Technical Assistance Funding to launch a pilot project to connect hundreds of underutilized licensed care facility beds to Los Angeles County’s affordable housing and homelessness prevention system, Bennie Tinson, Executive Director, announced. “Four years ago, I was hired with a…

RIALTO, CALIFORNIA — June 19, 2026 — What happened at Fergusson Park on Juneteenth was more than just an event — it was a movement. From 3 PM to 9 PM, thousands poured into Fergusson Park in Rialto, transforming the park into a sea of joy, celebration, unity, and hope. Families arrived from across the…

June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage. Formerly called National Black Music Month, this celebration of African American musical contributions is re-established annually by presidential proclamation. Though by no…

Join us for the World Faith Vision Church Juneteenth Community Fair & Concert on Friday, June 19th from 4 PM to 8 PM! This family-friendly celebration honors freedom, culture, and community with live music, food, local vendors, and activities for all ages. We are currently seeking vendors and volunteers to help make this event a…

DIANA LAMBERT A superintendent from a tiny school district in Kern County, working with only a dozen volunteers over three months, garnered at least 670,000 votes in her bid for California superintendent of public instruction, despite taking no campaign contributions.  Wendy Castañeda Leal, 42, superintendent and principal of Semitropic Elementary School District in Wasco, came…

As California continues counting ballots weeks after the primary election, some political leaders are raising questions about election integrity. But election officials say the lengthy process reflects safeguards designed to ensure every eligible vote is counted accurately — not evidence of fraud. California’s vote-counting process has come under renewed scrutiny after some Republican leaders questioned…

Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media Matthew Parham, a professional voice actor, was among dozens of artists and creators from across California who traveled to Sacramento to witness the Senate Privacy, Technology and Consumer Protection Committee vote in favor of legislation that would require developers of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models to disclose the…

Juneteenth Jam strengthens the village mentality within our community by creating a space where residents, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and leaders from all sectors, at every level, come together. We unite to foster a deeper understanding of humanity and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our community,” said Davis. Rialto, CA — The City of Rialto…

Back In The Day Super Show (Saturday, June 27): Head over to the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds (14800 7th St, Victorville) for a massive West Coast music celebration featuring DJ Quik, Frankie J, and Luniz. Tickets start at $27.50.  Juneteenth Concert in the Courtyard (Friday, June 19): Celebrate freedom and Black musical heritage with live…

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CalRecycle is partnering with the 40 Acre Conservation League to launch Black Conservation Week 2026 with a youth-focused land tour and hands-on composting experience designed to connect Sacramento-area students with California’s natural spaces and the everyday actions that help protect them. During the tour, middle and high school students will explore the…

Silverado High School teacher Lydia Lane has received the 2026 Guiding Light Award from the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), recognizing her exemplary commitment and outstanding leadership in mental health awareness through the Directing Change Film Contest. DBH leadership proudly visited Lane at Silverado to underscore the transformative impact of creative expression…

By National Women’s Law Center The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow. The report serves as a…

Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ ‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌ The California Civic Media Program’s grants will open in the summer of 2026, with the first round of award decisions and funding distributions expected to be officially announced in the fall of 2026, according to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Referred to as the…

Megan Thomas, President and CEO – Catalyst of San Diego and Imperial Counties Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO – Sierra Health Foundation, Founder and CEO – The Center at Sierra Health Foundation California communities are once again grappling with the deadly consequences of hate. In May, a shooting at the Islamic Center of San…

Ontario, CA — Recently, business leader and funding strategist Luvina Beckley was honored with the Innovator of the Year Award during the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Dinner in Ontario, CA The award recognized Beckley’s years of work helping businesses, nonprofits, and underserved communities gain better access to funding opportunities, federal grants,…

Zaidee Stavely Assemblymember James Ramos has a persistent memory from his childhood in San Bernardino County. A teacher at his elementary school played a drum song and asked students to stand up if they were Native American and interpret the song for the class. “That’s not our culture,” Ramos told his teacher. He grew up…

Raven Jones-McKinney Across California, at least 5,000 school employees received preliminary pink slips this spring as districts scramble to close budget gaps caused by falling enrollment and rising costs. Oakland Unified plans to eliminate counselors, case managers and attendance clerks as part of sweeping layoffs to address a $103 million deficit. Counselors and mental health…

By Sunita Sohrabji Black, Latino, and Native American households face greater food uncertainty than the population at large, according to data from the Congressional District Health Dashboard. During a period marked by soaring food prices, more than 3 million people have lost access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — SNAP — over the…

Program powered by Gymshark provides a welcoming, Judgement Free environment for teens to prioritize physical and mental health  HAMPTON, N.H. (May 20, 2026) – Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing fitness center operators with more members than any other fitness brand, announced the return of its annual High School Summer Pass® program. Now…