By Dianne Anderson It stands to reason that if African Americans are 13% of the national population, but 40% of the homeless population, then seniors need to be more vigilant than ever when it comes to aging in place. Evictions and sky-high rents are pushing the elderly to the fringe of society. Long time community ...

By Dianne Anderson For years, local educator Dr. Kirk Kirkwood has been watching the data points, worrying that the needle for Black student achievement has hardly budged for the better, specifically around mathematics. It’s almost as alarming as the academic apathy around the numbers that keep showing deep disparities in education between Black and white ...

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr Natl Correspondent Beginning Nov. 1, federal student loan borrowers will have to resume making payments on their loans for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. And, after the Supreme Court smacked down President Joe Biden’s original loan forgiveness program, the administration is targeting another avenue ...

The Regalettes, a legacy organization in Los Angeles County known for its longstanding commitment to education, community service, and excellence is thrilled to announce their 65th-anniversary celebration, “A Royal Affair: 65 Years of Excellence.” The luncheon event will include conferring scholarships to college-age students and honoring five deserving individuals with Crown Awards.  It will be ...

City Manager Tom Modica announced the appointment of Alison King as the Acting Director for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), effective Oct. 28. Currently serving as the Bureau Manager for the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach (Housing Authority), Ms. King brings to the position five years ...

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr Natl Correspondent As the Israel-Hamas conflict escalates, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are issuing warnings of an anticipated surge in hate crimes within the United States. The agencies underscored the need for heightened vigilance not only against antisemitic and Islamophobic ...

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr Natl Correspondent A recent report from the Sentencing Project has revealed significant strides have been made in reducing racial inequities in incarceration over the past two decades. However, the study also warns that ongoing pushback from policymakers threatens to impede further progress. The report, titled “One in Five: ...

By Dianne Anderson Willful defiance suspensions and expulsions that expanded the bulging prison population may ease up a bit under a recent law passed by Gov. Newsom, which comes as good news for local parents and organizations that have pushed against unequal discipline for Black children for decades. “In 2014 there was a lot of ...

By Dianne Anderson Eloise Parker’s new nonprofit only raised about $350 this year through her Long Beach Gives platform webpage, but she said it might as well have been over a million. Her first time experience with the fundraiser allowed her to get some extra money to support the homeless, but the many new contacts ...

By Dianne Anderson Darlene Burke seemed the least likely candidate to be in a relationship with an inmate. She holds her degree from UCLA, is a successful real estate agent of 22 years with a big name company, and is a God-fearing woman. But, she said the heart wants what the heart wants. Women and ...