Thursday, June 24 | Volume 40 No.15

• Volume 40 No. 15
• WSSNEWS
• Sharing the Quest for Excellence

FOR DAILY NEWS AND UPDATES VISIT www.wssnews.com

Thursday June 25, 2026

EEGC Celebrates Juneteenth

RIALTO, CA--- The Economic Empowerment Growth Council (EEGC) recently recognized June- D teenth by participating in Juneteenth celebrations throughout the Inland Em- pire.

The EEGC is a communi- ty-led initiative advancing economic mobility, entre- preneurship, collaboration, and community well-being throughout San Bernardi- no County. The EEGC ad- dresses racial and economic disparities to move equity from conversation to action. Members of the EEGC are shown above during the An- nual Rialto Juneteenth cele- bration recently held at Fer- guson Park. In addition to enjoying the festivities and cultural vibe, the members of the EEGC spent time in- troducing themselves and the mission of the EEGC to the community.

Black Music, Like Black Love, Lives Forever

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The Williams Sisters to Return to Wimbledon!

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WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

Museum Display Asks California to See Black Women “in Full”

PIONEERS

BLACK BOOKS MATTE

EAUTY NCE

By Staff California Black Media In Los Angeles, visitors attending a June- teenth weekend event at the A.C. Bilbrew Li- brary were welcomed by a museum exhibit featuring a wall of faces filmmakers and freedom fighters, Olympians and lawmakers ― honoring Black women's achievement and leadership.

For many of the Black women in the room, the moment landed like a long-held breath fi- nally released.

"The Museum of California Black Women is an invitation to see Black women in full,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, president and CEO of the rutition

TRAILBLAZE

THE MUSE

California Black Women's Collective Empow- erment Institute, who curated the exhibition. Titled “A Field of Beauty and Brilliance," the cultural exhibition opened to the public June 22 and runs through Sept. 30 at the library's Black Resource Center in Los Angeles. Admission is free. Presented in partnership with the Black Resource Center, it uses artifacts, immersive installations and interactive displays to trace the political, artistic, athletic and civic contri- butions of Black women across generations.

The featured names span California's cultur- al landscape: filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Oakland Mayor

THE FIELD BLACK BEAUTY BRILLIANCE

BLACK

Barbara Lee, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D- CA-43), authors Maya Angelou and Octavia Butler, scholar Angela Davis, and athletes Al- lyson Felix (track and field), Venus and Serena Williams (tennis) and Cheryl Miller (basket- ball).

The exhibition also marks the launch of Black California Love Stories, an oral history project collecting the family histories, traditions and milestones of Black Californians for preserva- tion on the library's website.

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100 Black Men of The Bay Area Named 2026 National Large Chapter of the Year

San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Receives Highest National Honor at the 40th Annual 100 Black Men of America Conference in NYC

OAKLAND, CA — 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Inc. has been officially named the 2026 Large Chapter of the Year by its parent organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. The prestigious honor was announced at the organization's historic 40th Annual National Conference, held at the New York Midtown Hilton in New York City, which brought to- gether chapters, corporate partners, and youth leaders from across the globe under the theme "Rooted in Mission, Strengthened by Unity, Shaping the Future.”

The National Large Chapter of the Year award represents the highest level of recognition achievable within the international network of the 100 Black Men. It honors the Bay Area chapter's exceptional execution of the organi- zation's core programmatic pillars: Mentoring, Education, Health & Wellness, and Economic

See "100 Black Men..." page 8

CELEBRATING Rooted in, Mission. 40 Strengthened by Unity YEARS Shaping the Future.

• #SHAPINGTHEFUTURE
• NYC2026
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• BLACK OF AMERICA
• Rooted in Mission

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Wilson & Company, Inc., Engi- neers & Architects has launched a corporate fundraising campaign in partnership with The CARE Proj- ect, Inc., kicking off the initiative with an initial $2,000 corporate donation.

The campaign is open to Wilson & Company employees to drive additional community support. This collaborative effort is part of the firm's annual "Higher Giving" initiative, which pairs regional offices with local nonprofits that reflect the passions of their work- force.

The partnership aims to raise vi- tal funds while inspiring other lo- cal businesses in the Inland Em- pire area to implement similar community-driven philanthropic programs.

Expanding Employee Awareness and Education

A key focus of the partnership is raising awareness about breast

Wilson & Company and The CARE Project Team Up to Support Local Breast Cancer Patients

The partnership aims to raise vital funds while inspiring other local businesses in the San Bernardino area to implement similar community-driven philanthropic programs.

The CARE Project, survivors, and Wilson & Company, Inc., Engi- neers & Architects celebrate Wilson & Company's $2,000 donation to support women and men battling breast cancer in the IE. Diana Jaurigue, Christina Villanueva, Gina Fitzsimmons and Elsa Napole.)

cancer support resources among local professionals. To deepen this connection, The CARE Project will host an upcoming education- al "Lunch and Learn" presentation directly at the Wilson & Company facility. This session will educate employees about the challenges cancer patients face and explain how corporate giving directly im- pacts local families.

"We believe our responsibil- ity extends beyond the projects we deliver. Through our partner- ship with The CARE Project and our Higher Giving program, we are investing in the well-being of the communities we serve. Giv- ing back is not separate from our work. It is a reflection of who we are as a firm and our commitment to making a lasting, positive im- pact where our people live and work."

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Questlove's Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary is a Must See!

• A QUESTLOVE JAWN
• HBO ORIGINAL
• EARTH, WIND & FIRE

(TO BE CELESTIAL vs. THAT'S THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD)

NEW DOC JUNE 7

HBO max

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's documentary, Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World), has been met with massive praise and a must-see following its June 7, 2026, premiere on HBO and Max. Critics and fans alike agree that it is a definitive, deeply moving must-see that goes far beyond a standard music biography. Quest- love focuses heavily on the band's brilliant, complicated founder Maurice White. It explores his childhood trauma, his intense work ethic, and the personal sacri- fices that impacted his family and bandmates. White walked away from being one of the highest-paid sidemen in jazz (with the Ramsey Lewis Trio) to chase an ambitious, genre-blending musical dream.

The film highlights how Earth, Wind & Fire operated as an act of faith. It shares incredible early stories, like the band's response to being heavily booed at Philadel- phia's Uptown Theater in 1972. Instead of playing over the noise, White had the band sit in silence in the lotus position to meditate until they wore the hostile crowd down and won them over. It also reveals a hilarious and piv- otal moment when a raw, wild performance by George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic hum- bled EWF, prompting White to radically "funkifize" their sound and theatrical stage presentation.

The documentary features an elite lineup of interviewees, in- cluding Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Flea, H.E.R., and even Barack and Michelle Obama, sharing memories of slow danc- ing to the band's iconic catalog.

The 119-minute docu/film is cur- rently available to stream on HBO Max.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

The Williams Sisters to Return to Wimbledon!

• THE HIPS
• WIMBLEDON
• SERENA & VENUS
• WILLIAMS
• RETURN TO Wimbledon
• SAME COURT.
• NEW CHAPTER.
• HISTORY
• MADE.
• LEGACY CONTINUES.
• LEGENDS. CHAMPIONS. SISTERS.

THE STAGE. ONCE AGAIN. TOGETHER. BACK WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.

Serena Williams and Venus Wil- liams have officially received a wild card entry into the 2026 Wimbledon Ladies' Doubles Tournament, marking their first time playing together at the All- England Club in a decade.

The historic announcement from Wimbledon organizers solidi- fies Serena's professional tennis comeback after a four-year retire- ment. Serena, 44, noted that her oldest daughter, Olympia, and Venus's recent play inspired her return. Venus, who turns 46 this June, continues her record 33rd consecutive WTA season.

Wimbledon's main tournament begins Monday, June 29, 2026, and the ladies' doubles draw kicks off on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. At a combined 90 years old, they would become the oldest duo to ever win a Grand Slam doubles title if they place first.

Neither sister is currently slated for the singles draw, though one final women's singles wildcard spot remains unallocated.

Rallying Around Sisters

Perinatal Equity in San Bernardino County

But there is hope-and people are taking action. That's where FIMR, the Fetal Infant Mortality Review, comes in.

FIMR is a local group of doctors, nurses, community leaders, and neighbors. They work together to learn why some babies die and how to stop it from happening. They look at real cases (mom's and baby's information is kept private) and share ideas to help make care better for families.

In San Bernardino County, Black babies are almost three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. From 2018 to 2023, the number of babies born too early went up by more than 10%. Black mothers also have a higher chance of feeling sad or depressed during pregnancy, which can affect both mom and baby.

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• CCC
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• EST. 1976
• CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
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Together, we can build healthy beginnings for Black families.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition Responds to Sheriff Bianco's Attack on Grand Jury Oversight Report

Jails, the Community Deserves Transparency tion exists because the state jail inspection

BIANCO

Sheriff Chad Bianco

RIVERSIDE, CA The Riverside Sheriff Accountability Coalition (RSAC) today re- leased a point-by-point rebuttal to Sheriff Chad Bianco's public statement attacking the 2025- 26 Riverside County Civil Grand Jury report, "After a Decade of Record Deaths in County

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COVERED

(iii) CALIFORNIA through Oversight."

The Grand Jury report calls for independent civilian oversight of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office following a decade of jail deaths, millions in settlement costs, and an ac- tive California Attorney General civil rights investigation. In response, Sheriff Bianco is- sued a statement calling the report "worth absolutely nothing," accusing the Grand Jury of being driven by "anti-law enforcement ac- tivists," and disputing the report's findings on oversight, death rates, and accountability. RSAC's rebuttal addresses each of Bianco's claims using the Grand Jury report itself, in- dependent reporting, and public records including the fact that this administration has responded to multiple prior Grand Jury reports on jail operations without objection, and that the Sheriff is now attacking a process his own department screened every juror for, cooper- ated with, and endorsed.

"Sheriff Bianco endorsed this process for eight sand is now calling it illegitimate. He cites studies that Isay the opposite of what he claims. The federal consent decree exists because his jails failed constitutional minimums a decade ago and still haven't fixed it, and the Califor- nia Attorney General's civil rights investigayears

Love built your legacy.

Care should help carry it forward.

You've built something that lasts. Through the way you show up for your family and your community, day after day, generation after generation. Getting healthcare shouldn't make that harder. It should support it.

At Covered California, we help you find health plans that work with your budget, offer real choices, and put you first. Because what you carry forward deserves to be supported every step of the way.

For the love of Californians agency found gaps serious enough to trigger it - yet he points to both as proof everything is fine. Worse, he conveniently excluded the two worst years on record — include them and the death rate he claims nearly doubles," said Nathan Kempe, Operations Director at Start- ing Over Strong and RSAC coalition member. "This pattern of misrepresenting evidence and politicizing accountability has cost taxpayers millions in settlements, 29 people their lives in Riverside County jails since the AG investiga- tion opened in 2023, and Riverside County its reputation as a safe place to live and work." About RSAC: The Riverside Sheriff Account- ability Coalition (RSAC) is a diverse group of Riverside County residents and organiza- tions (including ACLU of Southern Califor- nia, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Starting Over Inc., Starting Over Strong, LWV Riverside, ChiCCCAA, and oth- ers) calling on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to provide much-needed account- ability for the Riverside County Sheriff's Of- fice. We believe independent oversight of law enforcement is good for both deputies and the community they serve, and is important for good government practices. rivcosheriffac- countability.org.

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

John Legend And L.A. Times Short Docs Partner to Release Victor Gabriel's SXSW-Winning Documentary Short, "I Got My Brother," About Foster Care Reform Advocate Jarrett Harper

Brothers Jarrett and Baylon Harper Reminisce with Wry Humor and Deep Personal Insight About Their Young Lives Spent in an Abusive Los Angeles Foster Home Through Candid Memories Rooted in Unimaginable Trauma with an Unbreak- able Brotherly Bond in this True-Life Film That Won the SXSW 2026 Audience Award

LOS ANGELES, CA---- The award-winning short documentary "I GOT MY BROTHER, " directed by Victor Gabriel, launched on June- teenth - June 19 - on the Los Angeles Times' YouTube channel as part of the L.A. Times Short Docs series. This moving and poetic documentary is set as a conversation-style in- terview with brothers Jarrett and Baylon Harper reflecting back on their time spent in a Los Angeles foster home where they were routine- ly abused and neglected. Though the candid memories are rooted in unimaginable trauma, they are woven with elements of magical real- ism, wry humor and an unbreakable brotherly bond that is put to the test when 17-year-old Jarrett is sentenced to life in prison without parole for taking the life of their abuser.

Throughout the film, Jarrett and Baylon re- flect on their candid and often humorous mem- ories of surviving the foster care system and prison, realizing along the way that their path to healing has always been each other.

See "I Got My Brother..." page 8

San Bernardino NAACP, Aguilar Sound the Alarm on Voting Rights

MOTE

VOTE

Vote early. Stay alert. And don't sit out No- vember. That was the message Rep. Pete Agui- lar and a coalition of Inland Empire civil rights and faith leaders carried into a packed room here Thursday, June 18 the day before June- teenth as they warned that the ballots of Black and brown Californians are under coordinated attack.

Aguilar, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus and is the highest-ranking California Democrat in Congress, told the crowd that House Democrats are fighting on every front to beat back efforts to restrict the vote. "We have to fight in every arena that we're in, in Congress and courts, and in the commu- nity," Aguilar said.

In an interview at the event, the San Bernardi- no-raised congressman said his office has cata- loged more than 160 ways the Trump admin- istration and its allies could try to “subvert the will of the people," from immigration agents appearing at polling places to new postal rules that could slow the delivery of mail ballots.

California voters, he noted, return roughly 70% to 80% of their ballots by mail.

His advice to Inland Empire residents was blunt: don't wait. "We might have to tell peo- ple we have to vote earlier than you've ever voted before," he said. “Right when you get that ballot, you have to send that in.” Aguilar said California's defenses remain strong, pointing to Secretary of State Dr. Shir- ley Weber, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom. If the administration tries “shenanigans” in the state, he said, those leaders "will be in federal court within an hour."

He also called for uniformity across Califor- nia's 58 counties so every ballot is counted quickly and securely and pledged that once Democrats retake the House majority in No- vember, they will move to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.

To continue, visit www.westsidestorynewspaper.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026

'Professor' Keke Palmer Joins UCLA's School of Keke Palmer has officially added "professor" to her resume by part- nering with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT).

The Emmy-winning actress, sing- er, and entrepreneur has launched a five-year artist-in-residence pro- gram titled "From Blocking to Broadcast". Starting in the Fall 2026 academic quarter, she will step into the classroom to men- tor the next generation of creative talents. She will travel to the Los Angeles campus every quarter to lead hands-on training sessions. Through this program, Palmer will lead quarterly workshops de- signed to help students navigate the modern media landscape. Top- ics include:

Pitching & Distribution: How to conceptualize ideas and strategically get them to viewers.

Business Ownership: The ins and outs of producing, includ- ing creating your own production pipelines.

Personal Branding & Ca- reer Sustainability: Building a strong digital presence and main- taining a long-term, independent career.

Hands-on Industry Experi- ence: Students will get real-world experience in digital audience en- gagement, marketing, and media packaging through her production company, KeyTVNetwork.

Palmer shared that higher edu- cation is a prestigious and diffi- cult path, noting that UCLA TFT aligns perfectly with the mission of her platform, KeyTVNetwork. Both entities focus on learning through trial, error, and taking projects from script to screen.

Theater, Film, and Television

Black Music, Like Black Love, Lives Forever

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As Black Music Month comes to a close, I hope this series has helped to provide a broader per- spective of black music beyond being entertainment for the moment.

Black music is a lot like black love- rhythmic, resilient, and ev- erlasting. Black music defines and interprets an era, capturing a moment in time and preserving it for generations to come. Long after the performers are gone, the music remains. It tells stories, re- flects culture, and allows listeners to experience moments in time as if they were living within the melodies.

1960; Nashville, TN- eleven- year old Sandra “Dhaima" Mat-

Sandra "Dhaima” Matthews thews walked into the offices of Tree Publishing with a notebook full of songs and a belief that she had something worthwhile to say. Music publishers Buddy Killen and Bob Riley recognized her tal- ent and decided to take a chance on Sandra and her friend, Connie Burns, who performed together as a duo. They introduced them to a young promo man from CBS Re- cords named Carl Davis, and The Buttons became the first female group from Nashville signed to a major record label.

The group recorded a handful of singles, but those recordings trav- eled much farther than anyone

That is the enduring power of could have imagined. Their best- Black music.

known release, “Shimmy Shimmy Watusi," received international at-

See "Black Music..." page

• THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026
• WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER
• Continued from page 6
• I Got My Brother,”

About Foster Care Reform Advocate Jarrett Harper

"As a filmmaker and licensed therapist who has been doing community therapy in Compton, Watts, and South Central, I wanted to invite audiences into Jarrett and Baylon's healing journey,” states director Gabriel. "At the end of the day, it's about two brothers doing what we all do: joking, laughing, reminiscing."

Continued from page 7

Black Music, Like Black

Love, Lives Forever tention and reached the Top 10 in Rita Marley, she moved to Jamaica and immersed herself in reggae music. She started working with Joe Gibbs Records, writing and recording her reggae music de- but, “Inna Jah Children," which spent 13 weeks on the UK reggae charts. Her first duet with Dennis Brown, “A True,” topped Carib- bean charts for 33 weeks. While in Jamaica, Dhaima also started her own company, Ninakupenda Music. She continued to write, produce, and release songs under her own production and publish- ing company through the next two decades. In 1994, she would reunite with Dennis Brown in the studio writing and recording "I Am A Winner" for his GRAMMY nominated album Light My Fire.

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Japan.

The Buttons also shared a remarkable intersection of music history. Before becoming a guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix worked with the group as their session guitarist and is credited with giving the group its name. One of their singles, a B- side titled "My Photograph Book” was penned by Ronnie Wilkens who would go on to co-write the classic Dusty Springfield hit “Son of A Preacher Man." Carl Davis would go on to become one of the most influential record executives in Black music history, working with artists such as Jackie Wilson, Barbra Acklin, and The Chi-Lites. In 1976, after studying art and African Studies in California, Dhaima began a second musical chapter. Encouraged by Bob and Gabriel adds, "The June 19th premiere date coincides with Ju- neteenth and the seventh anniversary of Jarrett's release from prison. With a little hope, maybe this year it will mean a little more than usual."

To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com.

Continued from page .

100 Black Men of The Bay Area Named 2026 National

Large Chapter of the Year and building a brighter future for the next generation in the Bay Area."

The 100 Black Men of America organization was founded in New York in 1963 and incorporated in 1986, with the Bay Area Chap- ter forming in 1988. During their 40th Annual Conference, the Bay Area chapter was lauded for set- ting the national standard for civic engagement and sustainable, met- rics-driven youth empowerment.

For more information about the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, their mentorship initiatives, or upcoming programs, please visit www.100blackmenba.org or fol- low the chapter on social media @100blackmenofthebayarea.

Empowerment.

Led by Chairman Danny Lee Williams, the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area was singled out for its innovative youth initiatives, deeply impactful community pro-

CLASSIFIED / LEGAL SECTION

BRANCH NAME: CIVIL if any, why the petition for COURTHOUSE change of name should not be granted. Any person ob- jecting to the name changes

The address of the court is the same as noted above. A copy of this ORDER to Show Cause must be pub-

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE - CHANGE OF NAME CASE #: CIVSB2616782 PETITIONER OR ATTOR- NEY: ARBELLA KASHTO, 504 TORITO LANE, DIA- MOND, CA 91765 Telephone: (909) 760-8043 E-Mail Address (OPTION- AL): N/A

ATTORNEY FOR (name): PETITIONER IN PRO PER SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO STREET ADDRESS: 247 WEST THIRD ST., SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415 MAILING ADDRESS: SAME

PETITION OF: ARBELLA KASHTO

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner ARBELLA KASHTO has filed a peti- tion with the clerk of this Court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: THOMAS JAMES KASHTO-GREEN to Pro- posed name: THOMAS JAMES KASHTO. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indi- cated below to show cause, described above must file lished at least once each gramming, and a historic mileweek for four successive weeks before the date set for hearing on the petition a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and circulation, printed in this stone of delivering millions of dollars in cumulative academic scholarships to deserving local students.

"This recognition is a testament to the dedication, leadership, and Wss 26-014. 6-11, 6-18, collective efforts of every brother, in a newspaper of general must appear at the hearing county (specify newspato show cause why the peti- tion should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING:

Date: 07/24/2026 Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept: S35 per): WESTSIDE STORY

NEWSPAPER

Date: JUNE 09, 2026 Sign: JOSEPH T. ORTIZ, JUDGE OF THE SUPE- RIOR COURT

6-25, 7-2-2026 mentor, volunteer, and community partner who has helped make the Bay Area Chapter a model of ex- cellence," said Chairman Danny Lee Williams. "Our work embod- ies our foundational motto, 'What They See Is What They'll BeⓇ,' and winning this award serves as a powerful reminder of our endur- ing commitment to changing lives

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