Professor Willie Davis, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Loma Linda University’s School of Pharmacy
“Our basic mental health training class teaches people proven ways to approach friends or family members who may seem to be struggling and get them to reach out for professional help,” said Ceseña.
(San Bernardino, Calif.) “I wasn’t sure what I expected to learn from the class I took with the Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health Program,” says Professor Willie Davis, Ph.D., of Loma Linda University’s School of Pharmacy, “but I have to say that it gave me the information I needed to get one of my students the help she needed.”
The Making Hope Happen Foundation offers three free classes through its Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program for people who would like to help someone they know who seem to be having a hard time in one way or another but aren’t sure how to approach them or what to say that can get them started on feeling better.
Program Manager Gerzon Ceseña says, “Our classes teach people how to recognize the warning signs for things like depression and suicidal thoughts, along with the right and wrong things to say to their friends or family members who seem to be preoccupied with a problem or problems that they may be reluctant to talk about.”
“We offer two Mental Health First Aid courses, one that focuses on adults and one on youth, along with an introductory course we call ‘QPR,’ which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer, that provides insights into helping someone who may be thinking about suicide,” said Ceseña.
The day after Professor Davis took the QPR course, he was approached by a student who was feeling down and thinking about dropping out of the program. “I used what I learned in the QPR class to get her to start talking about a recent trauma she suffered and the thoughts of suicide she was having. She agreed to my suggestion that she get some help.”
“I’m happy to say that since that day, she has gotten counseling and is now feeling better and doing better academically.”
The QPR Gatekeeper course takes about an hour to 90 minutes, depending on how many people are enrolled and the number of questions that are raised during the training. It provides basic essentials that prepare attendees to then go on to either the Youth or Adult Mental Health First Aid course.
Making Hope Happen is a nonprofit foundation linked with the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The nonprofit is based on the philosophy of Gallop Senior Scientist Dr. Shane J. Lopez. Hope allows people to envision a better future, design a path toward that future, and take purposeful steps toward it. As a result of a deep commitment to this quest, the San Bernardino Community and School Alliance (CASA was reorganized and renamed the Making Hope Happen Foundation).
The Foundation’s Inland Empire Men’s Mental Health program offers free mental health training for people who would like to be able to help friends or family members that would like to learn effective ways to approach friends or family members who seem to he has emotional or mental health problems but aren’t sure about what to say or do.
For more information on The IE Men’s Mental Health Program go to the group’s web page at IEMensMentalHealth.org or call (909) 347-7234.
(San Bernardino, Calif). The Akoma Unity Center and Northwest Project Area Committee of san Bernardino are hosting an Education & Career Resource Fair. The event takes place on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Education & Career Resource Fair is at 1357 California Street, San Bernardino.
The objective of this event is to connect individuals with employment and, or post-secondary opportunities – colleges, trade schools and Universities.
“There are several education institutions providing information on their services including Cal State San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College, Pasadena City College and Concord Career College,” said Dolores Armstead coordinator for the Education & Career Resource Fair.
Businesses are also attending to recruit employees, including City of San Bernardino, building trades, Stater Bros, and local water departments.
The Education & Career Resource Fair is for high school scholars, parents, recent college grads and those interested in furthering their jobs training, education and furthering their careers.
There are still vendor spaces available. For more information call (909) 217-7956.
Dr. Greg Zerovnik, Ph.D., an award-winning marketing, advertising, and public relations professional has joined the Dameron Communications team as an advertising and public relations professional
(San Bernardino, Calf.)Dr. Greg Zerovnik, Ph.D., an award-winning marketing, advertising, and public relations professional has joined the Dameron Communications team as an advertising and public relations professional.
Dr. Zerovnik has won regional awards for his copywriting and graphic design work including: the redesign of peer-reviewed journals for the Society of Critical Care Medicine, he also led the marketing communications effort that resulted in the passage of a $121 million bond issue for Citrus College.
Dr. Zerovnik has taught marketing and strategic management in MBA programs at several American universities and taught branding and positioning internationally at two universities in the People’s Republic of China on a teaching fellowship. He has also delivered seminars in strategy and marketing to Chinese executives visiting the U.S. in industries as diverse as banking, mining, petrochemicals, and community colleges.
“We are honored to have Dr. Zerovnik join the Dameron Communications team of diverse, talented Communications professionals. His creativity, knowledge and skill in media psychology, strategic management, marketing, advertising, and public relations will help our clients grow and prosper,” said agency creative director and founder Carl M. Dameron.
Dr. Zerovnik belongs to the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Society of Media Psychology and Technology, and has served as a past president for the Inland Empire chapters of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and the American Marketing Association (AMA). He served a term as Governor for District 15 (Southern California and Southern Nevada) of the AAF.
Dr. Zerovnik holds an MA and Ph.D. in Media Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. an EMBA from the Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University and a BFA from the California College of the Arts, majoring in painting and sculpture.
For more information on advertising and public relations call Carl M. Dameron at (909) 534-9500 or email Carl@DameronCommunications.com
About Dameron Communications
Dameron Communications’ is a diverse team of communications professionals delivering inspired advertising: public relations, community relations and government relations. The Agency’s work has won awards and client accolades for more than 30 years. Uniquely, we blend unsurpassed relationships with proven advertising and public relations methods to deliver winning and measurable results.
Shanna Bowen is the Social Media Director at Dameron Communications
(San Bernardino, Calf.)Shanna Bowen, a social media expert with more than 15 years’ experience creating and implementing successful social media campaigns, is the social media director for Dameron Communications. Shanna joined the team in 2020.
“We are pioneers in the social media marketing. Dameron Communcations started working in social media from the inception of the platforms with AOL and Myspace in 2003,” said agency creative director and founder Carl M. Dameron.
While Shanna is too young to be a social media pioneer, she has extensive success and experience in the field. “I develop social media content and plans to advance our clients’ brand identity,” said Bowen.
“Shanna creates consistent, meaningful content on all social media platforms, including writing and editing social media posts, maximizing customer engagement, and promoting social media campaigns,” said Dameron.
She manages a high volume of daily social media posts. She communicates with social media followers, including responding to participant questions. Shanna also develops and manages social influencer programs; and, she creates social media events.
“We are delighted to have Shanna on the Dameron Communications team of diverse, talented Communications professionals,” said Dameron. “Her creativity, knowledge and skill in social media is an asset to the team and keeps our client’s in touch with their clients, while creating new follwers to advance each client’s individual communications goals.”
Shanna uses analytical tools such as Google Analytics, Hootsuite Pro, and other social media insight tools to monitor and evaluate our clients’ social media presence and performance. She prepares weekly and monthly reports on social media marketing efforts.
Shanna constantly adjusts the social media marketing strategy for optimal results. She also stays up to date on best practices and emerging trends in social media.
For more information on social media marketing call Carl M. Dameron at (909) 534-9500 or email Carl@DameronCommunications.com
About Dameron Communications
Dameron Communications’ is a diverse team of communications professionals delivering inspired advertising: public relations, community relations and government relations. The Agency’s work has won awards and client accolades for more than 30 years. Uniquely, we blend unsurpassed relationships with proven advertising and public relations methods to deliver winning and measurable results.
Cheryl R. Brown, Dameron Communications Government Relations Director
Cheryl Brown is a former Assemblywoman, publisher, small business owner and current California State Commissioner on Aging who has devoted the majority of her life on public service.
She has been recognized by countless local, state and national organizations for her work on behalf of the community in various capacities as an elected official and community volunteer.
Cheryl leads the Government team helping clients win their government objectives.
Prior to being elected to the Assembly, she was a publisher of the Black Voice News in Riverside, CA.
Government/Community Relations Proficiencies
Development, implementation and management of strategic plans and programs to achieve the clients’ goals.
Oversee the community organizing campaigns.
Conduct policy advocacy activities regarding development, construction, education, entertainment, environment and public health policy issues.
Implement program evaluation activities and prepare written and oral reports for various purposes.
Serve as the primary spokesperson for the community campaigns to boards, media, business and community leaders, other organizations, elected officials and government agency representatives.
For more information on advertising and public relations call Carl M. Dameron at (909) 534-9500 or email Carl@DameronCommunications.com
About Dameron Communications
Dameron Communications’ is a diverse team of communications professionals delivering inspired advertising: public relations, community relations and government relations. The Agency’s work has won awards and client accolades for more than 30 years. Uniquely, we blend unsurpassed relationships with proven advertising and public relations methods to deliver winning and measurable results.
Carl Dameron, creative director of Dameron Communications. “Sharing your stories is fun. Let me share the secrets behind successful public relations and advertising.
To the people who know and work with him, Carl M. Dameron is a dynamic, hard-driving, award-winning advertising and public relations expert with more than 30 years of success helping organizations and people throughout California meet their goals.
He is also a cancer survivor. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Carl shares the story of starting and growing his company, how he dealt with his cancer diagnosis and offers sage advice for anyone facing a challenge.
Dameron Communications services include: advertising for television, social media, radio, newspaper, magazine, and billboards, web sites, direct mail, mobile web applications, and email. They also deliver award winning public relations press releases, press conferences, media relations, television programs, web sites, opinion editorials, promotions, event creation and management, government relations and community relations.
For more information on Dameron Communications call Carl M. Dameron @ (909) 534-9500.
Jay Diallo, CEO and Founder of First Community Capital, Inc. welcomes certification as the first and only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in Southwest Riverside County. First Community Capital serves Southern California and Arizona.
(Inland Empire, Calif.) The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) has certified First Community Capital, Inc. as the first and only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in Southwest Riverside County. First Community Capital serves Southern California and Arizona.
Community Development Financial Institutions play an important role in generating economic growth and opportunity in some of our nation’s most distressed communities. By offering tailored resources and innovative programs that invest federal dollars alongside private sector capital, the CDFI’s take a market-based approach to supporting economically disadvantaged communities.
CDFI’s can loan money at very attractive rates to help people buy homes, and small businesses.
First Community Capital helps low – and moderate-income entrepreneurs who lack sufficient training and education to gain access to capital, thereby delivering long-term economic strength to communities while helping small businesses become more resilient.
“We often lend to borrowers that may not meet mainstream institutions’ underwriting criteria, helping to bridge the gap between conventional lending standards and the needs of hard-to-reach borrowers,” said Diallo.
Before starting First Community Capital in 2019, Diallo was Vice President – Community Development Lending Officer at Pacific Premier Bank in Irvine, CA. He also served as Executive Director – PPEP Microbusiness & Housing Developing Corporation (PMHDC), in Tucson, AZ.
Diallo earned undergraduate at bachelor’s degree in political science with a Minor in Economics, from Westmont College in Santa Barbara. He also earned a graduate degree in Banking from Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle, WA. His fields of emphasis included: Credit and Enterprise Risk Management, Bank Financial Statements, Bank Financial Tools, Dynamic Leadership, Analysis of Business Conditions, Sales and Marketing.
First Community Capital is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and a certified CDFI governed by an independent board of directors. The board provides fiduciary and organizational oversight, ensuring it achieves its mission of growing businesses and strengthening underserved communities in California and Arizona. The directors are responsible for approving all lending policies and procedures as well as reviewing the financial and programmatic performance of the agency.
For more information on First Community Capital, Inc. go to https://www.fccbi.org or call (951) 249-5767
Board of Directors
Jay Diallo, Chairman, President & CEO
First Community Capital, Inc.
Mark Davis, Vice President-BDO-PM Canyon Community Bank
Vincent McCoy, Vice President Riverside County Black Chamber of Commerce
Fatimoh Muhammed
President & CEO – Wamufat International
First Community Capital Locations
California Locations
Southwest Riverside County
26111 Ynez Rd. Suite B30
Temecula, CA 92591
Inland Empire
2060 Chicago Ave. Suite A13
Riverside, CA 92507
Los Angeles County
879 W 190th St. Suite 400
Gardena, CA 90248
Southern Arizona Market
Pima County
8321 E Broadway Blvd #103
Tucson, AZ 85710
Maricopa County
1510 W McDowell RD #4
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Yuma County
8321 E Broadway Blvd #103
Tucson, AZ 85710
About First Community Capital Inc.
Established in 2019 as an economic development nonprofit agency, First Community Capital has already made significant contributions in helping entrepreneurs to start and grow their small businesses. In leveraging our network of bankers, community development organizations and leaders, we have provided training, seminars, and workshops to about 200 small business entrepreneurs. We strongly believe that with each business financed and each job created and or retained, it represents a critical step in the transformation of a life, a family, and a community.
The nonprofit Family Is All That Matters celebrate their Grand Opening Aug. 21, 2018 at the Galleria at Tyler Mall. Board members, County Officials, mentors and mentees in the program, partners, and many others were present for the celebration. The nonprofit provides academic tutoring support, mentoring and an athletic outlet for children 5 to 18 years old. They focus on integrating academics, athletics and individual empowerment.
(Riverside, Calif.) – Nothing can stop the nonprofit group FIATM from achieving its goal of “Unifying Communities – One Family at a Time.”
FIATM, which stands for “Family is all that Matters,” has already survived a crisis that would have forced many charitable organizations to close their doors.
A late-night fire destroyed the group’s Moreno Valley headquarters on Jan. 1, 2021.
FIATM just put in a computer lab and adjusted its programs to be Covid compliant when the New Year’s fire destroyed their facility and shut down 13 other neighboring businesses.
Despite that setback, FIATM founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kuba Brown, its Chief Operation Officer, David J. Layne, along with the rest of the group’s board members, staff, volunteers and their community partners, never stopped helping needy families with food, utilities and rental assistance.
FIATM COO, David Jordan Layne, Riverside County Second District Supervisor, Karen Spiegel, and FIATM Founder and CEO, Kuba Brown, held its Grand Opening at The Galleria at Tyler recently.
The group continued offering educational and tutoring programs for students from 5 to 18 year olds, and its organizers and youth sports coaches continued working with at promise youths and their families throughout Southern California.
In fact, the challenge may have made the Inland Empire organization stronger than ever.
FIATM recently held an Grand Opening and open house at its spacious new headquarters inside Tyler in Riverside.
The 3,400-square-foot office has enough room for a computer lab, reading lab, homework station where youths can check out Chromebooks, a screening area for thought-provoking family movies, and displays focusing on science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.
The nonprofit group currently serves about 850 youths, ages five to 18. About 600 are from Moreno Valley, and the others come from San Bernardino, Orange and Los Angeles counties.
FIATM also has helped feed and assist veterans at the U.S. Vets transitional housing at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley with its partner So Call Family Support Services.
FIATM was created in 2005 “to aid at-risk-youth, teen mothers, and families in making positive choices to ensure a better quality of life.”
Anyone who gets a chance to talk with Layne and Kuba Brown, the group’s CEO, quickly learns that the statement reflects a lifelong commitment and passion to help struggling youths, their families, and the communities where they live.
“Everything starts with families. Everything starts with youths,” said Layne, who is also FIATM’s chief operating officer. “We refuse to be compromised or diverted from our mission of taking care of families.”
Kuba Brown nodded in agreement.
“We work to create safe places for at-promise kids. You never know what someone is going through at home or what help their families may need until you can sit down, listen and talk with them,” Kuba Brown said.
The new Galleria at Tyler headquarters is a place youths will be able to come in and speak their minds, he said.
It will be open Monday through Friday, but Layne and Brown said it’s not a walk-in office. Youths and their parents will need to schedule their visits.
“FIATM reflects the passion that we have regarding service,” Brown said. “We want to create a place with unrivaled service, a place where we can do our very best, because in our hearts, we’re servants.”
The F.I.A.T.M. Group Inc., is an IRS designated 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
For more information about FIATM and the work the group is doing, visit their website www.FIATMGroupInc.org or call (951) 570-5053.
-end-
FIATM Grand Opening at the Galleria at Tyler in front of the second story entrance right in front of the old Nordstrom’s department store. Left to right, front row, David Thurman, Executive Board Member, Monica Hunter, Executive Vice Chair, President of Advisory Board, Yundra Thomas . Back Row: Donnell P. Layne, CIO and Executive Board Member, Carl M. Dameron, president of Dameron Communications FIATM’s public relations agency, Wayne Brown, Executive Board Member Kuba Brown, CEO, and David, Jordan Layne, COO.
About FIATM – Family Is All That Matters
FIATM programs are implemented to provide Academic Tutoring support, Mentoring and an athletic outlet for students five through 18 years old. FIATM currently focuses on the integration of Academics, Athletics, and Individual Empowerment.
The T.E.A.C.H. PROGRAM
TEACH is the main emphasis if The F.I.A.T.M. GROUP INC. From the ages of five through 18, this program assists in the Tutoring, Mentoring and Nurturing of youth and further sets forth the re-enforcement of Family and Family Values. An after-school tutoring and mentoring program established to serve all youth in our programs as a deterrent to truancy, drug and substance abuse, gang involvement, crime and disruptive behaviors that are prevalent in the community when students are left unsupervised.
Next Level Athletics Alliance (NLAA)
This is a complete youth sports program offering participation in a variety of competitive youth sports all of which may have Olympic ties.
The NEXT LEVEL ATHLETICS ALLIANCE program offers our youth the opportunity to develop positive life skills and memories leading towards a promising future.
These programs in itself will also assist in the edifying and promotion of Family Values that will enrich the community for years to come.
Student Athlete Awareness Program (S.A.A.P)
The structure creates an educational community where student/athletes and faculty share academic goals and join in a common intellectual quest. Teaching and learning, search for knowledge and understanding and the critical examination of ideas, values, and actions are the central activities of the program. The S.A.A.P. Structure is the catalyst where individualism of each person is honored and where courtesy and honesty are practiced.
S.K.A.T.T.
Through S.K.A.T.T. CHRONICLES we will provide a platform for our Youth to learn, train and perfect the craft of Media Arts and Journalism.
S.K.A.T.T. CHRONICLES. S.K.A.T.T. TALES the Animation Cartoon and potential movie will be launched in a collaborative effort with The Lift Entertainment Group. President & COO of S.K.A.T.T. TALES and Executive Limited Partner of The Lift Entertainment. LaShae Brown.
MTS – (MENTORING TO SUCCESS)
MENTORING TO SUCCESS is a program series created to enhance the Tutoring & Mentoring Programs. Our programs are structured to provide tutoring, counseling, cultural awareness, and personal development.
Within the personal development component, we teach self-respect, respect for others, Leadership, Self Esteem and unlock creative and artistic abilities that may otherwise be underutilized in our youth.
We are planning to further enhance the awareness of our youth to the different types of Colleges and Universities and Trade Schools throughout the nation for Academic and Athletic Direction.
How to Foster Inclusion, Diversity & Empowerment in the Workplace
Perhaps the #1 driver of success today, in BOTH the public and private sectors (worldwide), is knowing how to foster INCLUSION and EMPOWERMENT in the workplace. Kathleen Dameron is a leading authority in knowing how to nurture large, medium, and small organizations alike in realizing this objective. She remains on the cutting edge of this process by reaching out to organizations to secure input from people like yourself that allows her to tailor her counsel (as a trainer, coach and facilitator) to the collective needs of organizations like yours. Toward this end, will you kindly take a few moments to respond to this brief questionnaire?
(San Bernardino, Calif). The Akoma Unity Center and Northwest Project Area Committee of san Bernardino are hosting an Education & Career Resource Fair. The event takes place on Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Education & Career Resource Fair is at 1357 California Street, San Bernardino.
