By Dianne Anderson

Growing up low-income in Los Angeles, April Watkins knows firsthand about the impact of poverty on young children, remembering what it was like worrying whether there would be enough to eat or how the rent would be paid.

When she participated in a health program about a year ago, even health providers understood the connection between high stress and families trying to meet everyday needs.

Being a Black woman with numerous financial challenges in her lifetime, she knows that the community would be more stable if only families had access to affordable housing and reliable food.

“I learned those things are connected, it would be less stress if we had enough money to afford the necessities. It’s hard to afford a place to stay these days,” she said.

On September 13, she’s hosting a free appreciation event giving back to the community with food, resources, and some kid-friendly fun with games, inflatables, and giveaways. The event celebrates five years since starting her small party rental business, and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 624 W. 4th Street, San Bernardino, CA.

She is asking everyone to register so organizers know how much food is needed.

“We’ll have bounce houses, a mechanical bull, we’re going to feed people in the community. My church is making sack lunches for the homeless. We’re going to have comedy there, and Ipyani Lockert will do spoken word,” she said.

As a business owner, she said that it’s still tough to make ends meet. She said starting her business was grueling. She worked two jobs, which barely covered rent, childcare, food, and utilities. Currently, she works with a behavioral health program serving people with disabling autism and also works at another caregiver job to support her own family’s stability.

Looking around the community, she feels the upcoming reductions or elimination of SNAP food stamps will hit hard for many families.

“There’s not enough pantries to go around to feed everyone,” she said.

For her event, she is calling on any nonprofits or individuals who can share resources to come out and participate.

“I’ve reached out to a lot of people, but a lot are saying they don’t have the funds,” she said.

Ipyani Lockert, community advocate, said that lack of resources, including food and stable housing, stresses folks out, but he said it’s the lack of policies and resources that cause stress.

“It’s not necessarily correlated with a mental health crisis,” he said. “We all go through peaks and valleys. Because I might be unemployed last month doesn’t mean I’m going through a mental health crisis, it just means I need to find sustainable employment.”

For struggling families, he said that approach is especially important in education. Children can’t learn when they’re hungry, and these days, many health and food programs are being stripped away under the current Trump Administration.

Years ago, Lockert, formerly an outreach worker with the African American Health Coalition, campaigned to alleviate mental health stigma, which still looms large in the Black community.

He commended the program’s founder, Linda Hart, for bringing the most effective way to reach the people where they live.

Today, Lockert is regional program director for a statewide nonprofit in California that provides legal assistance to asylum seekers, criminal justice system reform, and supports the formerly incarcerated in getting a fresh start.

“One thing I always loved was Linda’s pathways of peace, and the relationship with food distribution. She would come in [to apartments] with boxes of food and vegetables,” he said. “We would do mental health presentations, get data, and people would go through the line and pick out their own food.”

Health advocate Linda Hart reaches hundreds of Inland Empire families with resources. Her recent program, Healthy Perspectives, is in partnership with San Bernardino County Superintendents of Schools.

“The program is 12 weeks, but they will be provided financial scholarships. We’ll be providing food, resources and vouchers and they gain parenting skills related to the program. And, it’s free,” said Hart of the African American Health Coalition.

Champion “Mzazi,” meaning parent in Swahili, is held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at New Hope Family Life Center, located at 1505 W. Highland Avenue in San Bernardino.

She wants parents to come out, learn, and get access to more resources.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with other parents. The program is related to supporting each other as parents. At the end there’s going to be a graduation, and we want parents to get involved,” Hart said.

While they mostly work with Black parents, she said they are open to all parents who are caregivers of African American children, including foster and adopted parents.

Coming up September 30, she is hosting another program on suicide awareness, and said that the community must learn to spot the signs of at-risk teens, youth, friends, and adult loved ones. That event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in collaboration with Reachout.org.

Also coming up, San Bernardino County welcomes the Black community to get involved with solutions for mental health.

Dr. Georgina Yoshioka, Director of Behavioral Health, said their African American Subcommittee is working to reduce stigma and improve access for community voices to shape local mental health programs.

“Our goal is to create a space where the African American community can talk openly about mental health, connect with resources, and be heard,” she said, adding, “We welcome community members, faith leaders, and organizations to share their experiences and help shape programs that truly meet local needs.”

One example is the Resilience Promotion in African American Children program, which partners with local schools, offering activities and screenings to connect students and families with mental health services.

She said subcommittees offer a safe space to share ideas and collaborate on initiatives. Anyone interested can attend meetings, participate with DBH to help improve behavioral health services.

“Through dialogue, feedback, and partnerships, we work to reduce stigma and make behavioral health services accessible and relevant,” she said.

For Linda Hart’s events, see https://theaamhc.org/ or email hartl.aamhc@gmail.com

For the SBCounty African American Awareness Subcommittee, see https://wp.sbcounty.gov/dbh/event/african-american-awareness-subcommittee-5/2025-08-18/