Orange County homeowners packed the multipurpose room at Ladera Ranch Middle School to learn proper steps to avoiding foreclosure. Photo by Chris Sloan
(left to right) Kevin Blackburn- Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Assistant Vice President Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Ken Calvert-Member of Congress 44th District of California and Dwight Alexander-Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Vice President Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, provided their services during the free Home Preservation Workshop for homeowners facing foreclosure. Photo by Chris Sloan.
Ken Calvert-Member of Congress 44th District of California addressing audience of concerned homeowners. Photo by Chris Sloan.
Ray Brewer, Acting US Housing and Urban Development Santa Anna Field Office Director, providing his time as panelist and moderator during the workshop. Photo by Chris Sloan.
Panelist Aaron Horvath, representing Springboard Solutions. Photo by Chris Sloan.
Melissa Luna, Paralegal for Legal Aid Society of Orange County, provided consulting services during the free workshop. Photo by Chris Sloan.
(LADERA RANCH, Calif.) More than 300 homeowners gathered at Ladera Ranch Middle School to receive free guidance in saving their home from foreclosure, as part of a Home Preservation Workshop, hosted by Congressman Ken Calvert, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB) and the Orange County Home Ownership Preservation Collaborative.
By partnering with the Housing Opportunities Collaborative of the Inland Empire, Village Presbyterian Church and Ladera Ranch community leaders like Springboard president and CEO Todd Emerson, nearly150 distressed families received face-to-face personal assistance from US Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved housing counseling agencies.
“This is an opportunity for homeowners to communicate one-on-one with the people and agencies that can make a difference,” said Emerson. “With both credit and legal counseling, as well as the major banking institutions all under one roof, I believe we are providing families in danger of losing their homes the best possibility to avoid foreclosure and modify their home loans.”
In fact, for homeowners in need of counseling, a variety of HUD approved counseling agencies such as Springboard, Consumer Credit Counseling Service-Orange County, Fair Housing Council-Orange County and Neighborhood Housing Service-Orange County were on hand to answer questions and provide insight into their current situation.
The event, which attracted local residents from Ladera Ranch and nearby communities, including Mission Viejo, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and as far away as Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, also provided one-on-one counseling by the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and the Public Law Center.
One of the event’s highlights included a presentation on the Keep Your Home California (KYHC) programs, which are focused on assisting eligible families to stay in their homes, when possible, and leveraging additional contributions from participating mortgage servicers.
“One particularly appealing program under KYHC is the Unemployment Mortgage Assistance Program (UMA),” continued Emerson. “This is a unique program that provides direct mortgage financial support for qualified, unemployed homeowners for up to six months.”
One of the things stressed during the workshop, was communication as an essential requirement for what to do when faced with foreclosure. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (also known as Freddie Mac) encourages homeowners to do the following:
DON’T fall victim to a scheme. Unfortunately, some people want to profit by your misfortune by offering to contact and conduct all work-outs and negotiations with your lender on your behalf – for a fee.
DO call your lender immediately. If you have already missed a mortgage payment or predict you will in the near future, call your lender right away. Your lender is your biggest ally and the sooner you reach out for assistance, the more help they can provide.
DO answer the phone and read your mail. Avoiding your lender won’t make the problem go away. In fact, it will only make the problem worse. Your lender may be able to help you, so be sure to answer the phone and read any mail they may have sent you.
DO realistically assess your situation. Are your financial problems temporary? If so, call your lender and let them know the situation. Lenders may be able to offer a forbearance or repayment plan.
DO call a housing counselor for assistance. Housing counselors can help you contact and work with your lender to get help with your mortgage and provide advice to avoid foreclosure – free of charge. For a list of approved counselors call the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) at (800) 569-4287 or visit Hud.gov.
DON’T move out of your home. In order to qualify for assistance, homeowners are often required to be living in their home.
DO protect your wealth. Recognize that you may have significant equity in your property that must be preserved.
DO be aware of certain financial responsibilities. Even if your lender sells your property, you may still be responsible for the difference in the sale price and what you owe, as well as certain taxes when a lender forecloses on your property.
DON’T ignore the problem. It may be possible to keep your home, but if you wait to take action, fewer options will be available. You have certain rights and can take certain actions to help you keep your home; however, you only have a limited amount of time to assert those rights or take those actions.
DO talk to a lawyer or legal aid organization. Your rights vary from state to state. Most states and large cities have legal aid organizations; to find one near you, go to the Legal Services Corporation, a government-sponsored organization that provides high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.
“When you get right down to it, the key is to communicate with your lender to discover what can be done in your situation. Lack of communication will only make things difficult for you to resolve and remove your options to save your home,” said Emerson.
Financial institutions participating in the free Home Preservation Workshop included: the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the Orange County Home Ownership Preservation Collaborative, US Bank, GMAC, American Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, HSBC Bank, PNC Bank, Bank of America and Fannie Mae.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco delivers low-cost funding and other services that help member financial institutions make home mortgages to people of all income levels and provide credit that supports neighborhoods and communities. The Bank also funds community investment programs that help members create affordable housing and promote community economic development. The Bank’s members – its shareholders and customers – are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, thrift and loans, and insurance companies headquartered in Arizona, California, and Nevada.
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Media: If you would like any of the photos in the slide show below please send an email to Chris@DameronCommunications.com with the photo id number and I will have it to you within 24 hours. If you require the photo sooner please call Chris Sloan at (909) 888-0017.
A bulldozer finishes tearing down a dilapidated and abandoned fire station at 1925 N. Riverside Ave. It will now begin a project to upgrade infrastructure on the property, to make it suitable for new development. The City will soon also build a new fire station. Photo by Chris Sloan
The City of Rialto has torn down a dilapidated and abandoned fire station at 1925 N. Riverside Ave. It will now begin a project to upgrade the property’s infrastructure, making it suitable for new development. The City will soon also build a new fire station. Photo by Chris Sloan
(RIALTO, Calif.) An abandoned fire station has given way to what is expected to soon become a hub of restaurants, starting when In-N-Out Burger opens a new location on Riverside Avenue near the 210 Freeway in Rialto.
In-N-Out Burger has already committed to establishing a restaurant at 1925 N. Riverside Ave. Local developer Fernando Acosta is working to bring in two more restaurants.
“Three new restaurants off the freeway at Riverside Avenue will bring economic benefit to the City of Rialto, from the sales the restaurants make, from the enhanced value of the property, and from the jobs many young people will have to work in these restaurants,” said Mayor Grace Vargas. “In-N-Out Burger by itself will create about 60 new jobs.”
“They also make Rialto a better place to live, by giving our residents more options for casual dining,” Vargas said.
“Taking abandoned properties, which are considered blighted, and turning them into something that benefits a city is the key purpose of redevelopment agencies,” Redevelopment Agency Director Robb Steel said. “Without our help, private development of this highly valuable property would have been unlikely for the foreseeable future.”
“The abandoned building is too close to the freeway to be used safely as a fire station,” Steel said. “The property around the fire station was three parcels that had been cut up by the freeway onramp and the reconfiguration of Highland Avenue.”
“No one could use this location without the major infrastructure upgrades taking place, Steel continued. “This property was too valuable to the city to let it simply go to waste. That’s why the Rialto Redevelopment Agency is investing to transform this into a usable location.”
“After we moved forward with our plans to develop this property, In-N-Out Burger committed to coming here. Since then, other restaurants have contacted the Redevelopment Agency to express their interest in doing business at the same location,” Steel said.
The City of Rialto Redevelopment Agency is investing about $2.4 million in the project. It has already purchased some of the property adjacent to the fire station from the California Department of Transportation. It then demolished the fire station and upgraded the infrastructure in the area. The Redevelopment Agency also must relocate a cell tower and utility lines, and install a traffic signal at the property’s parking lot entrance.
To make the property useable again, the Redevelopment Agency had to create a single lot out of the three separate, unusable parcels. Another necessity is to relocate underground utility lines, which had been put in without consideration for future development. And, so that passenger vehicles may safely access these restaurants, a traffic signal must be installed for this project.
“Because of these challenges, this project faced greater expense than normally would be required of a retail project,” Vargas said. “This project must bear the entire cost for public improvements that would normally be borne by a much larger geographic area.”
“Just because this location needed a lot of financial help, doesn’t mean we won’t help other businesses as well,” Steel noted. “For as long as we have a Redevelopment Agency, Rialto will help small businesses who are already here upgrade, expand, or relocate within the city, and we will bring new businesses in, which will increase our economic well-being.”
“We have already provided help to many small businesses, both in downtown Rialto and along Foothill Boulevard, which were seeking to acquire or rehabilitate commercial structures,” Steel added. “Two examples are Coffee Nutz and Johnson’s Hardware.”
In-N-Out Burger restaurant’s property transformation is one of several projects the Rialto Redevelopment Agency is currently funding. Others include:
$30 million to widen the Riverside Avenue interchange at Interstate 10. This project will reduce congestion and improve economic development opportunities at this intersection.
$15 million to extend Pepper Avenue to the 210 Freeway, opening up 175 acres for future economic development.
$5.8 million to replace the fire station that was at 1925 N. Rialto Ave. The new fire station will have modern features, allowing firefighters and paramedics to serve Rialto residents better.
$7 million to improve Fergusson Park, including creating two new football fields.
$2 million for the construction of 75 units of senior housing on Foothill Boulevard at Cactus Avenue.
$1 million to expand the Rialto Library and add a new computer lab.
“The Rialto Redevelopment Agency has an aggressive program to reshape the community and help both businesses and residents,” Steel said.
For more information about how the Rialto Redevelopment Agency can help a business to upgrade, expand, or relocate within the city, contact Robb Steel at (909) 879-1140 or (909) 879-1149.
About Rialto
Although the City of Rialto is located in the middle of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, it has retained a small-town atmosphere and similar quality of life. Rialto is an ethnically diverse and progressive community, which boasts several unique community assets including its own police and fire departments, a city-owned fitness center, a performing arts theater, nine beautiful parks, a community center, and a senior center. Rialto is near mountains, beaches, deserts, and other recreational areas.
Rialto’s housing mix and home costs are some of the most affordable in the southern California region. First-time homebuyers find Rialto more affordable than almost any other comparable community in the region. Executives and those seeking high-end homes also find they can purchase many more homes for their money in Rialto. This lower cost translates into more discretionary income for residents, thus benefiting retailers and service providers.
For more information about Rialto, go to www.ci.rialto.ca <http://www.ci.rialto.ca> or call (909) 820-2525.
Basic hygiene supplies, socks and other items are appreciated as donations to the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army, which gives them to guests of its Hospitality House. Many of these guests lack the resources to provide for their own most basic needs.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps’ Hospitality House emergency family shelter has an ongoing need for personal items to help its residents.
“Our Hospitality House residents are facing especially hard times, so we give them not just shelter and food, but also other necessities that most people take for granted,” said Corps Officer Nancy Ball. “Since the residents have an ongoing need for these items, it is a great help to us when we receive them as donations instead of having to purchase them.”
The needed personal items are:
Diapers (all sizes)
Baby wipes
Feminine hygiene products
Combs and brushes
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dental floss
Body/hand soap
Hand lotion
Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
Shampoo
Razors
Blankets
Towels
Wash cloths
Socks (men’s women’s and children’s)
To make a donation, call the San Bernardino Corps Headquarters at (909) 888-1336 or drop off the donations at the Headquarters building, 746 W. Fifth Street, San Bernardino. About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
(LADERA RANCH, Calif.) On February 26, homeowners facing foreclosure can receive help thanks to a free Home Preservation Workshop, hosted by Congressman Ken Calvert, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLB) and the Orange County Home Ownership Preservation Collaborative, at the Ladera Ranch Middle School in Mission Viejo at 9:00 a.m.
Foreclosures aren’t just happening to people who made bad financial decisions and agreed to a risky loan. In fact, they include homeowners who are getting divorced, facing health issues, needing to relocate for a job, and numerous other reasons.
The workshop provides free one-on-one meetings with housing counselors and lenders giving homeowners an opportunity to either initiate a loan modification or clarify where they are in the process. The goal is to give anyone facing foreclosure the opportunity to learn which options are best for his or her family.
“Due to difficult financial times, many people are forced to deal with the foreclosure process,” said Lawrence H. Parks, Senior Vice President of External Affairs for Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. “Regardless of the reason why you are falling behind on your mortgage, knowing what to do next is very important.”
So what are the things homeowners should do when facing foreclosure? The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (also known as Freddie Mac) encourages homeowners to do the following:
DON’T fall victim to a scheme. Unfortunately, some people want to profit by your misfortune by offering to contact and conduct all work-outs and negotiations with your lender on your behalf – for a fee.
DO call your lender immediately. If you have already missed a mortgage payment or predict you will in the near future, call your lender right away. Your lender is your biggest ally and the sooner you reach out for assistance, the more help they can provide.
DO answer the phone and read your mail. Avoiding your lender won’t make the problem go away. In fact, it will only make the problem worse. Your lender may be able to help you, so be sure to answer the phone and read any mail they may have sent you.
DO realistically assess your situation. Are your financial problems temporary? If so, call your lender and let them know the situation. Lenders may be able to offer a forbearance or repayment plan.
DO call a housing counselor for assistance. Housing counselors can help you contact and work with your lender to get help with your mortgage and provide advice to avoid foreclosure – free of charge. For a list of approved counselors call the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) at (800) 569-4287 or visit Hud.gov.
DON’T move out of your home. In order to qualify for assistance, homeowners are often required to be living in their home.
DO protect your wealth. Recognize that you may have significant equity in your property that must be preserved.
DO be aware of certain financial responsibilities. Even if your lender sells your property, you may still be responsible for the difference in the sale price and what you owe, as well as certain taxes when a lender forecloses on your property.
DON’T ignore the problem. It may be possible to keep your home, but if you wait to take action, fewer options will be available. You have certain rights and can take certain actions to help you keep your home; however, you only have a limited amount of time to assert those rights or take those actions.
DO talk to a lawyer or legal aid organization. Your rights vary from state to state. Most states and large cities have legal aid organizations; to find one near you, go to the Legal Services Corporation, a government-sponsored organization that provides high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income Americans.
“We are here to help you,” continued Parks. “For many of the people that are facing foreclosure, there are solutions that might help save your home. The key is to communicate with your lender to discover what can be done in your situation. That is really what the workshop is all about, communication.”
Financial institutions participating in the free Home Preservation Workshop include: the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, the Orange County Home Ownership Preservation Collaborative, US Bank, GMAC, American Home Mortgage, Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, HSBC Bank, PNC Bank, Bank of America and Fannie Mae.
Homeowners who wish to attend should bring:
· Copies of your recent mortgage statement
· Copies of your two most current pay stubs
· Copies of your most recent 2 years’ W2s
· Copies of your most recent 2 years’ tax returns
· A list of your monthly expenses To get more information or to register for the workshop, call (714) 490-1250 or visit OC.MyHousingForAll.org/
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco delivers low-cost funding and other services that help member financial institutions make home mortgages to people of all income levels and provide credit that supports neighborhoods and communities. The Bank also funds community investment programs that help members create affordable housing and promote community economic development. The Bank’s members – its shareholders and customers – are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, thrift and loans, and insurance companies headquartered in Arizona, California, and Nevada.
Many uninsured families with children under 19 can get help through the Healthy Families program; help is also available to some children and adults through Medi-Cal. For those who don’t qualify for these programs, the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 provides additional options.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A November 2010 study by the Insure The Uninsured Project shows that 25.1 percent of San Bernardino County residents under age 65 – more than one in four – are without insurance. In Riverside County, it’s even worse, as 28 percent of people under age 65 there are without insurance.
This is almost 1 million people, and a good many of them are members of the Inland Empire’s middle class. Another study, released by the California Healthcare Foundation in December 2010 shows more stunning statistics about the state’s uninsured population.
Working people in California are more likely to be uninsured than in the United States as a whole, even if they are self-employed or work for a government entity.
More than half of California’s uninsured children are in families where at least one adult has a full-time, year-round job.
One in three of California’s uninsured have family incomes of more than $50,000 a year.
That means that while many of the 7.2 million uninsured California residents earn an otherwise comfortable living, the rising cost of insurance has forced them to view health care as an unaffordable luxury.
Help for uninsured people making up to $88,200 for a family of four is coming in 2014. The national exchange is a key piece of the federal Affordable Health Care Act of 2010.
“In 2014, people will be able to purchase insurance from a national exchange,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, founder and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates. “This exchange will be similar to California’s Healthy Families program, but it will also be available to adults, and to anyone in families making up to four times as much as the poverty level.”
In San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the poverty level is $22,050 per year for a family of four. Larger families will qualify for the exchange even if they make more than $88,200, while individuals and smaller families qualify at lower incomes.
The provisions of this act don’t fully kick in until 2014, but government entities at the federal, state and local levels are already working with health care providers to make the transition to full implementation of this act.
Dr. Arteaga expects there will be some changes to the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 before it is fully implemented, but is looking forward to the reforms.
“No matter how it is modified, the Affordable Care Act is still a step forward,” he said. “We eventually need to move to everyone having access to health care, whenever they need it.”
The consequences of people being forced to live without health insurance can be tragic.
“Saying someone can live without health insurance is like saying they can live without God in their life,” said Dr. Arteaga. “It may work, until there is a crisis.”
Many health care providers, including LaSalle Medical Associates, help people meet their health care needs by making office visits as affordable as possible.
Dr. Arteaga urges those who must pay cash to do so for annual immunizations and health screenings.
“Prevention is not popular, and I can understand why it may seem difficult to pay money to see a doctor when nothing is wrong,” he said. “But in the long run, it often is much more economical than waiting until something is seriously wrong.”
Often, there are already affordable options to being completely without health insurance. This is especially true for uninsured children.
Perhaps the most startling statistic from the California Healthcare Foundation is: As many as six in 10 of uninsured children are eligible for California’s two largest public insurance programs, Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.
Medi-Cal is for low-income families with children, all children in foster care, and low-income adults who are seniors, disabled, pregnant or coping with certain chronic diseases.
Qualification is based on family size, and ages of the children. County departments of social services determine eligibility.
Both San Bernardino and Riverside counties have multiple branches of their department of public social services. One can find the branch nearest them by calling (951) 955-6400 in Riverside County or (909) 388-0245 in San Bernardino County.
According to Healthy Families’ website. www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov, a family of four (two adults and two children, or one adult and three children) would usually qualify for Medi-Cal if making less than $44,100 yearly. Larger families could make more, and smaller families qualify on a lower income.
Healthy Families partially subsidizes health care for children under 19. This costs their families between $4 and $24 per month per child, up to a maximum of $72 per month per family. These families must also pay co-pays, usually about $5 to $15 per doctor visit, up to $250 per family each year.
Healthy Families is for families whose household income is too much for Medi-Cal but below another state standard, according to www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov. A family of four would qualify if making up to $55,128, with larger families eligible even if they earn more and smaller families qualifying on a lower income.
Families can enroll in Healthy Families with help from their doctor’s office. They have a choice of plans, which in the Inland Empire includes Inland Empire Health Plan, Molina Health Care, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net and Kaiser Permanente.
LaSalle Medical Associates in California, with offices in San Bernardino, Fontana and Hesperia, has enrolled more families than most medical practices anywhere in California.
The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, (909) 823-4454; 1505 West 17th St, (909) 887-6494, and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia, (760) 947-2161.
For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)—Behavioral Health professionals can learn the latest advances in child behavioral health treatment from nationally known speaker Jack Calhoun and a panel of local experts, while receiving continuing education credit for their attendance at a summit hosted by California State University, San Bernardino.
The Behavioral Health Summit begins at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18 and runs through 5 p.m. at Cal State San Bernardino’s Santos Manuel Student Union.
Registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, attorneys and others will be able to receive continuing education credit by attending the Behavioral Health Summit, said Dr. Mark Agars, professor in the Psychology Department at CSUSB and chair of the summit organizing committee . Also u can check more about hair removal Toronto here .
“This is a unique opportunity for professionals in the Inland Empire to learn about cutting-edge practices in child behavioral health and to earn highly affordable continuing education units,” Dr. Agars said.
Registration, which begins at 7:45 a.m. the day of the event, is $150. It can also be made in advance online at bhs.csusb.edu A continental breakfast and sit-down lunch are included in the registration.
“We have purposefully kept the cost of registration as low as possible for this conference, because we believe no Inland Empire behavioral health professional should miss out on the opportunity to attend,” Dr. Agars said.
With Calhoun as the keynote speaker, professionals from mental health, psychology, social work, law enforcement and health will discuss topics related to “Improved Mental Health Outcomes for Children and Their Families: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Treatment.”
“Children and their families impacted by mental health problems have multiple risk factors including family violence, substance abuse, health issues and poverty which contribute to family dysfunction,” said Kent Paxton, director of the San Bernardino Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Violence Prevention, and one of the conference organizers.
Local guest speakers will include:
Allan Rowland, director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health;
Xiomara Flores-Holguin from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services;
Clare Matney, assistant professor of pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine;
Karen Bell of the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s;
Patrick Morris, mayor, San Bernardino.
Speakers and an expert panel will discuss the value of a multidisciplinary team approach to addressing mental health problems. In afternoon presentations, real-world applications of the multidisciplinary approach to addressing mental health problems will be presented by noted researchers and scholars including CSUSB professors Teresa Morris, Laura Kamptner, Faith McClure and Kent Paxton, chair of the Development Council at CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The Behavioral Health Summit is sponsored by CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Local funders including First 5 of San Bernardino, Kaiser Permanente, The California Wellness Foundation and Bank of America will take part in a funder panel during lunch. Representatives of these four groups will discuss their priorities for funding areas including behavioral health.
Additionally, behavioral health providers and interested organizations will be on hand displaying their products, services and literature to summit attendees.
For more information, contact Jackie Carrillo at (909) 537-3676 or hoodj@csusb.edu.
The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) offers programs that explore a wide range of human issues. It is dedicated to the growth and support of undergraduate and graduate education, research, public service, and professional development. For more info please visit : buygarciniacambogiaaustralia.com,
Kathleen Dameron, president and founder of KD Conseil, works to build international partnerships with companies that are going through cultural changes.
Kathleen Dameron returns home to the Inland Empire to be with her family, as they celebrate the marriage of Carl and Malaika Dameron in the summer of 2000. (Left to Right: Crystal Dameron, Sister; Brian Mathis, Cousin; Kathleen Dameron; Carl Dameron, Brother; Malaika Dameron, Sister-in-Law; Cherise Griffin, Sister; Jason Bell, Brother; Denise Dameron, Sister; Shiane Dameron, Niece; Thomas Talbert, Nephew; Alan Dameron, Nephew and Barbara Dameron-Bell, Mother)
Kathleen smiling, as she takes a little time to enjoy a day away from work, as she joins her brother Carl Dameron and his family on a trip to LEGOLAND in San Diego.
(PARIS, France) Almost twenty years ago, an African-American woman living in Paris took stock of the many cultures she had experienced, and of the growing interdependence the world’s cultures had developed, especially in business. Her name is Kathleen Dameron.
The world’s growing multiculturalism fascinated her. However, she saw room for much improvement.
“I want to stimulate people into multicultural competency,” Dameron said. “In many ways, the world is becoming more multicultural, but we also still see people saying ‘There is one right way to do things, and that’s my way; if you don’t do it my way you don’t deserve to be on this planet.’ I want people to use their company’s diversity as a means to accomplish more than they could alone.”
With that in mind, Dameron opened KD Conseil (KDConseil.com) for business in 1992, with the mission of improving communication skills of those whose work brings them in contact with many different cultures.
Dameron actually began to lay the foundation to successfully coach global corporations in bringing their diverse cultures together for common good prior to opening KD Conseil.
The seeds were planted when she studied cross-cultural studies and communication in Southern California at the University of Redlands. It continued when she studied social and economic administration at the Universitè de Paris, a major focusing on law, business, politics and economics.
This foundation really began to take shape when she managed training programs for Thomson Consumer Electronics, the parent company of RCA and Technicolor, and other products worldwide She had also taught English as a second language in the corporate environment.
“A lot of what I do is help people to understand that they have a culture,” she said. “When you are in your own culture, everything goes more or less the same way. When you go to work with a different culture, they will do the same things for very different reasons. And sometimes they will do things very differently; the unexpected is to be expected.”
Dameron’s experiences with different cultures began early. She grew up in East St. Louis, Ill., a neighborhood that today is mostly African-American, suffering from high crime and poverty rates. However, when she lived there in the 1960s to the early 1970s, the neighborhood was very much an American middle class existence. This is what the Dameron family experienced, as her parents were both civil servants, and the family members were leaders in the African American community.
Several years after her father’s death, her mother moved the family to Rubidoux, in Southern California’s “Inland Empire” region. Rubidoux is more ethnically diverse, but there, Dameron encountered people who expected less of her because of her race.
With support from her family, and educators at both Rubidoux High School and the University of Redlands, Dameron proved them wrong.
When she was 18 years old, Dameron moved to Paris, a city that fascinated her from childhood. Although the culture and language was even more diverse than that of the two regions she had lived in the United States, she felt very at ease in France.
“I have always loved Paris,” she said. “It is very diverse culturally, and very open-minded, as well as having amazing architecture and food!”
After completing her college education on two continents, Dameron initially worked as an English teacher, before taking a position with Thomson Consumer Electronics as an in-house trainer. When the company “right-sized” their headquarters, it created an opportunity for her set up her own organization and sign Thomson as her first client.
“I was privileged to start my own business with three year’s worth of contracts in Poland, England, Germany and France dealing with topics ranging from accompanying the French / Polish joint venture to European teambuilding projects to improving communication skills in English,” says Dameron.
Shortly after this, Dameron was hired as the executive secretary for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, which marketed ethnic cosmetics to women in Europe and Africa, and is a subsidiary of Johnson Publishing Company, the publisher of magazines Ebony and Jet.
At Fashion Fair Cosmetics she was responsible for human resources functions, such as motivating employees, hiring and terminations. She was also legally responsible for the organization.
“It was my job to maintain good relations with the French labor inspectors, unions and the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” adds Dameron.
Having launched KD Conseil while starting with Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Dameron recalls those early years as very intense.
“The heads of Fashion Fair were open to me working part-time, while I ran my training and facilitation business,” she said. “In those days, I worked almost seven days a week, and generally 12 to 14 hour days. I was so passionate about working with Black women from the West Indies, Africa and France. Working on the corporate side of business, as well as the training/coaching side, I gained empathy and insights for what my clients experience on a daily basis.”
Demand for someone who could help business grow on a global level helped KD Conseil grow rather quickly into its own international business.
“One of my best work experiences from those days was the Polkolor project at Thomson,” Dameron said. “They signed a memorandum of agreement and I was on the ground the next week in Poland. I was working as an employee when the managing director called on KD Conseil to assist the newly restructured company to work more effectively with its Polish employees.”
For two years, she spent one week a month facilitating and mentoring cross-cultural relations.
“I was there just after Poland had opened up to private enterprise,” Dameron said. “It was fascinating watching the transition of Poland from a Communist economy to a free-market economy.”
Since then, KD Conseil has helped companies based in Europe, America and other continents develop their own cross-cultural relations strategies. One of her recent clients is an Internet networking company with 70,000 employees in 165 different countries, for whom KD Conseil did a multicultural team building. She has also designed and runs a leadership program for high potentials in a Fortune 500 company.
Her other recent clients include:
AGF of the Allianz Insurance Group
Rio Tinto Alcan
BNP Paribas
College de Polytechnic, which is the premier engineering school in France, she trains management/leadership executives enrolled in the continuing education program
ESSEC, the premier business school in France, she trains students enrolled in the Masters of Business Administration and Master of International Affairs programs for executive management
For more information about KD Conseil, call +33(0) 142210073, or go to www.kdconseil.com. About KD Conseil
Established in 1991, KD Conseil helps multi-national firms understand the different cultures within their organization. By understanding and working through cultural differences, KD Conseil helps the firm develop “shared practices” that will be highly efficient ways of delivering their services and products in a global market.
Highland resident Adrian Ayaly, age 2 in December 2010, helped the Salvation Army provide for others' needs by donating to the Red Kettle campaign, with encouragement from Lynda Graham (holding her 2 month old daughter Zoey), his mother Pam Spaun, and Bell Ringer Joy Tornow.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Two major fund raising efforts at the end of 2010 by the Salvation Army Corps of San Bernardino brought in about $160,000, but that’s only the bare minimum it needs to keep services at their current level.
“We met our goal this year,” said Capt. Stephen Ball. “But the goals are set as low as possible. Just because we achieved them doesn’t mean we won’t have additional expenses that will need to be covered as well!”
“There are also expenses we haven’t put into the budget,” Capt. Ball said. “For instance, the roof of our Corps headquarters building needs about $30,000 to $40,000 in repairs, but we will have to defer those repairs until our donations are substantially more than what we received in 2010.”
The Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps receives most of its annual budget through its Fall Fundraiser and its Red Kettle programs. The donations in 2010 were approximately $50,000 from the Fall Fundraiser, and approximately $110,000 from the Red Kettles.
In October, at the Fall Fundraiser Lunch, the Salvation Army had only raised $40,000. This would have required the Salvation Army to cut its budget by $10,000, but Sempra Energy Foundation supplied a grant to make up the shortfall.
In the Red Kettle campaign, people ring Christmas bells, encouraging donations of any size to plastic red kettles with the Salvation Army logo, placed in front of variety and grocery stores.
This campaign started Nov. 15 in San Bernardino and the other communities served by the San Bernardino Corps (Highland, Rialto, Colton and Bloomington) and continued daily, except on Sundays, until Christmas Eve.
This year, the Red Kettle campaign was hampered by a week of rainy weather from Dec. 17-23, which is typically when it receives the most donations. Although donations had gone well prior to Dec. 17, the total given was below the Corps $75,000 goal until Christmas Eve.
“We started before Thanksgiving,” Capt. Ball said. “Last year with Christmas falling on a Saturday, that also gave us more days in the Thanksgiving to Christmas season, which is when we receive most of our Red Kettle donations.”
“Variations in the length of the Christmas season, or more bad weather just before Christmas could cause us to fall below goal in future years,” Capt. Ball said.
Also affecting the Red Kettle donations is the size of the volunteer force the Salvation Army recruits each year to supervise red kettles in San Bernardino, Highland, Colton, Rialto and Bloomington.
If the Salvation Army can’t find enough volunteers, it hires Bell Ringers. This year, the payroll costs for the non-volunteer Bell Ringer force cost about $35,000, bringing the total profit from that fundraiser to about $75,000.
The rest of the income the San Bernardino Corps receives is from various types of smaller donations made throughout the year. This does not include any proceeds from Salvation Army thrift stores, as they are used entirely to fund a different Salvation Army program, the residential drug treatment centers run by the Adult Rehabilitation Centers.
Through these donations only, the Salvation Army provides a variety of ministries, including its emergency family shelter and two daily meals for up to 80 people at once, a residential and educational program called Path to Prosperity serving 27 men who have successfully completed a drug treatment program and are now reintegrating into society, dinners six days a week for up to 300 people, and several youth programs benefiting more than 100 children and teens.
To make sure the Salvation Army doesn’t fall short throughout the year, it encourages donations through other means. One way is to simply visit the Salvation Army Corps headquarters at 746 W. Fifth St., San Bernardino and make a donation there.
“We can accept cash or checks at our Headquarters building,” Capt. Ball said. “Any size donation is welcomed.”
For more information about how to make a one-time donation to the San Bernardino Corps of the Salvation Army, call (909) 888-1336.
Two other ways to donate to the Salvation Army are 21st-century innovations, online giving and text-to-give.
Online donation is possible at any time by going to www.salvationarmy.org and clicking on the Red Kettle icon that is always on the left side of the international organization’s home page. This method allows you to specify a certain amount, and specify the Salvation Army location that you would like to give your donation.
Text-to-give, introduced in November of 2010, allows anyone to make a $10 donation via cell phone by texting the word “give” to 85944. These donations appear on the cell phone bill, and are sent to Salvation Army programs in the same area code as the donor’s cell phone.
The Salvation Army also has methods to accept major donations of cash, corporate stock, securities or real estate throughout the year, and to designate the Salvation Army as a beneficiary on a will or in another planned gift. In either case, these can be designated for a specific local branch of the Salvation Army.
For more information about major donations, contact Nancy Tortorelli at (760) 324-4748 or email Nancy.Tortorelli@usw.SalvationArmy.org. For more information about designating the Salvation Army as a beneficiary in a planned gift, call Greg Mattox at (760) 644-0561 or (888) 861-7125, or email Greg.Maddox@usw.SalvationArmy.org. About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian church and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help call (909) 888-1336.
Catholic Healthcare West, owner of St. Bernardine Medical Center and San Bernardino Community Hospital, recently presented the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps a $17,000 grant to help with the health care needs of men enrolled in the Salvation Army’s Path to Prosperity program. Presenting the check on behalf of Catholic Health Care West were Joanne Claytor, center, a licensed clinical social worker at St. Bernardine’s and Linda McDonald, vice president of San Bernardino Medical Center’s Mission Integration program, which serves as a liaison between the hospital and outside community benefit programs such as Path to Prosperity. Accepting the check on behalf of the Salvation Army were Capt. Stephen Ball, corps officer for the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps, John Fletcher, director of Path to Prosperity, and Nancy Tortorelli, major gifts coordinator for the Salvation Army Corps in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A $17,000 grant awarded recently to the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps will help men who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction start their new lives in better health.
The Salvation Army’s Path to Prosperity program will use the grant to provide additional health care services to the men in its care, including dental exams and treatment, and physical health screenings. It received the grant from Catholic Healthcare West, the owner of both St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino.
Path to Prosperity is a residential and educational program allowing 27 men at a time who have completed a substance abuse recovery program to transition back into society. It has served more than 200 men so far.
“There are many health issues faced by men recovering from drug addiction,” said Capt. Stephen Ball, Corps Officer of the San Bernardino Salvation Army. “Often they have dental problems, because the drugs have damaged their teeth, or they are missing teeth and most of them have not seen a dentist in awhile. Dental problems also lead to many more serious health problems, such as not being able to digest food properly.”
The grant presented to the Salvation Army was one of 14 Inland Empire non-profit organizations to receive a grant from Catholic Healthcare West as part of the two hospitals’ combined Community Grants program.
“Times are tough for everyone, but they may be especially tough for these organizations, who serve people who don’t have many financial resources,” said Steve Barron, president of St. Bernardine Medical Center. “We appreciate the work they do, and are happy to help them.”
Men seeking help to overcome drug or alcohol addiction should call their local Adult Rehabilitation Centers at (909) 889-9605 in San Bernardino County or (951) 940-5790 in Riverside County. Women can learn about Adult Rehabilitation Centers for them by calling the center in Anaheim at (714) 758-0414, or the center in San Diego at (619) 239-4037. About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Radio Network assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.
For local help, call the San Bernardino Corps headquarters at (909) 888-1337.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) An estimated 56,300 Americans are newly infected with HIV (the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS) each year, and 1.1 million Americans live with HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 21 percent of HIV-positive people don’t know they are infected and many did not know they were at risk of contracting the virus.
People of color continue to be at a disproportionate risk for HIV infection. Nearly half of all new infections, 45 percent, were among African Americans, who account for only 12 percent of the U.S. population. Hispanic Americans account for 17 percent of new infections, but only comprise about 15 percent of the U.S. population.
According to the County of San Bernardino Department of Public Health 2009 Morbidity Report, African Americans and Hispanic Americans account for just over half of the County’s population and outnumber any other ethnic group impacted by HIV. Together, they account for approximately six out of 10 of those reported to be living with HIV/AIDS.
“It is important to remember that HIV is transmitted primarily by unprotected sexual behavior and sharing needles for drug use,” said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, Health Officer, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. “Testing is key to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.”
HIV/AIDS now ranks as the third leading cause of death for African Americans and fifth leading cause of death for male and female Hispanic Americans, ages 35 to 44. “Early detection is extremely important for linking people who are HIV positive to medical care, reducing the mortality rate and greatly improving quality of life,” noted Dr. Ohikhuare.
Rapid and Standard HIV Antibody testing is available through the AIDS program at the San Bernardino County Public Health Clinic located at 799 East Rialto Avenue in the city of San Bernardino. Testing is offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Standard HIV Antibody testing is offered by appointment. To make an appointment, call (800) 722-4777.
For more information about HIV/AIDS and testing, call the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health AIDS program at (800) 255-6560, or visit the website at www.sbcounty.gov/pubhlth.
