Photo Caption: 2023 Black Rose Award Winners – (From left) Accepted for Linda D. Wright; Arlington Rodgers Jr., President of the Black Culture Foundation; Rose Mayes, Humanitarian of the Year honoree; Gloria Macias Harrison, Black Rose awardee; Jim King, Black Rose Chair; Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson, Black Rose awardee; Accepting for San Bernardino Community Hospital Dr. Ruby Skinner, Medical Director, and Roz Nolan, Chief Nurse Executive Officer, and Foundation Treasurer Genevieve Echols.
“The Black Culture Foundation Celebrates the 31st Annual Black Rose Awards with our call for entries for the 2024 Black Rose Awards,” said President Ezekiel Adeleke
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Some people have made a career helping others. And some have done even more than that.
“If you know someone whose passion is to help and make the community better for others, the Black Culture Foundation wants to know about them. We seek nominations for The Black Rose, Humanitarian of the Year, and Community Service awards,” said Black Culture Foundation President Ezekiel Adeleke.
“We are looking for someone whose volunteer efforts go over and above their job-related activities,” said Carl M. Dameron Co-chair of the 2024 Thirty-first Black Rose Awards. “These are unsung heroes, people who volunteer with multiple organizations or give all of their spare time to one. They never seek their glory but want to make their community a better place to live.”
To nominate someone for a Black Rose Award, email Dameron at blackrose@sbbcfoundation.org, or call or text him at (909) 534-9500. Nominations are due by November 30, 2023.
The awards program focuses on the Black community in the Inland Empire, Dameron says, but an award winner need not be a resident of the IE. Many community leaders in law enforcement, education, and other public venues have been recognized and received an award in honor of the work they’ve done that benefits the Inland Empire.
To become a volunteer or board member, call or text Dameron at (909) 534-9500 or email him at blackrose@sbbcfoundation.org, Nominations are due by November 30, 2023.
The 31st Black Rose Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, February 3, at Rhe Riverside Convention Center.
About the Black Rose Awards
The Black Rose Awards are a complement to Black History Month. The awards are sponsored by the Black Culture Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1968 by a small group of people who were concerned that, “…nationwide, our school systems have not yet incorporated Black history studies into regular school curriculums. Thus, all students miss the opportunity to learn more about a vital part of this country’s history.”
The Black Culture Foundation’s purpose “…is to foster an interest and a greater understanding of Black culture, to heighten community awareness of the accomplishments of Black people, past and present, and to plan, coordinate and direct an annual Black History Month parade and related cultural activities…[and] bridge the gaps across cultural lines by bringing the local community together to celebrate this event in the spirit of unity and brotherhood.”
The Black Rose Awards are the Foundation’s showcase cultural event.
(Moreno Valley, Calif.) Dr. Vivian Joneswhye-Brock was enjoying her retirement after a career in the military and in teaching. With her doctorates in Theology and Psychology, she enjoyed reading, networking, and collaborating with people and children helping them overcome stress through animal ministry. She has been extraordinarily successful in overcoming her post traumatic stress disorder by not just working with animals but with all of God’s creatures and enjoying the beauty of nature. She has been so successful with this technique and our own personal life, she wanted and continued to share her knowledge with others.
Dr. Joneswhye- Brock’s love for her environment, all creatures and nature challenged her to pursue her doctorate in theology and psychology. Now, Dr. Joneswhye-Brock has talked on a radio station, done podcasting, and lectured on the importance of ministering not only to humans but all of the Creator’s creations.
But, in 2019 her kitchen was damaged when a water pipe burst inside a wall of her two-story home affecting her kitchen. She submitted a claim to her insurance company that she has had for over 42 years. Her insurance company sent the plumber to fix the leak, a restoration company to remove the damages caused by the water and allowed her to choose the company to reconstruct the kitchen as it was before the damage.
Things went downhill from there.
She looked around and hired a local firm, Delta Restoration and Construction in Beaumont, also known as exclusive property restoration and construction. Exclusive property restoration and construction is a company that does several things. She said “Had I known that this company was a Jack of all trades and a master of none… I would have never hired them.” After they came out and took pictures to prepare an estimate, they promised to do the job the work correctly and speedily. That didn’t happen.
Instead, she got poor workmanship. Since part of her kitchen tile had to be removed, she was told she would get new counter and backsplash tile since her tile was obsolete. And one small cabinet wall had to be rebuilt.
This company ended up putting tile that did not match her existing tile, building a new wall cabinet to match the cabinet door. Then they changed the estimate order without her knowledge or consent…took all of her twenty-seven other cabinet doors and painted them a glossy white. Leaving all twelve of her drawers a cream color as well as the cabinetry. While removing and replacing the kitchen doors, exclusive property restoration also known as delta exclusive property restoration damaged her penny floor. Did they take responsibility and repair the damage? Not at all.
So, Dr. Joneswhye- Brock paid half of the estimate and wanted to use the remaining to repair the damages and poor workmanship done by exclusive property restoration and construction also known as delta restoration and construction.
Delta Restoration and Construction also AKA Exclusive Property Construction and Restoration said that they would not take part they wanted all of the insurance money and would not accept responsibilities for any damages they did or poor workmanship at all. She said no way, they then slapped a mechanics lean on her property. This company did unauthorized work on an unauthorized change order. Exclusive Property Restoration and Construction also took two months to do what was supposed to be only a two-week project.
Dr. Joneswhye-Brock had told them that time was of the essence, and she was planning a party for her Doctorate graduation in mid-August 2019. She signed the contract on July 3, 2019, Exclusive Property Restoration and Construction did not even send any estimate to her insurance company until July 30, 2019. Her insurance company takes like most insurance company ten business days to process the claim. Her insurance company processed the claim on August 14, 2019, and a check on the claim was issued on August 20th 2019… after her graduation ceremony date.
When Dr. Joneswhye Brock tried to go pro per, the legal system was extremely complicated, and a lawyer was needed. She hired Darren Trone from prepaid legal to assist and that turned out to be a substandard move.
He quoted her a fee of $20,000 to manage her case. The bill currently stands at $37,000 and does not include the latest court appearance. A final verdict is expected by May 11,2022 for the attorneys are presenting written closing arguments. No doubt that will add more billable hours to pad his bill. The court’s presiding commissioner noted that attorney Trone was dragging out the case longer than it needed to be.
This same attorney had actually told Dr. Joneswhye-Brock he would resign if she did not pay additional pretrial fees of $16,000 from her case after one court appearance. Dr. Brock called the agency that had referred her to Trone to complain.
We’ll never know for sure, but to an outsider looking in, it seems that they might have contacted Trone and urged him to reconsider. In fact, he did, and he went to court with Dr. Brock to present evidence supporting her claim.
Included in Trone’s bill is $600 for at least three briefcase to carry all the evidence that Dr. Brock provided in and digital format. For whatever reason, the attorney decided to make it into written format which created books at least 13 to 14 inches thick. There is additional question as to why that was necessary since we are in the age of a paperless society and the courtroom definitely had an Elmo dictation projector to connect to the computer. One wonders how big a collection of briefcases this attorney may have in his closet.
Dr. Joneswhye-Brock is working double time to earn money to fight her case period to satisfy the lien she would have to cash in her stock portfolio and her IRA. This widow a disabled veteran this Navy veteran herself and retired schoolteacher this 74-year-old African American woman who is an upstanding citizen is being taken advantage of by unethical people. Now start up here stop
Some justice may be served soon, but there is more to this ongoing story yet to be told.
WINNING ARTIST—Christopher Lopez, a fashion design student at the Art Institute in San Bernardino holds the gold (ADDY) advertising award he won for his fashion illustrations in the Inland Empire competition earlier this year. On June 13, he won a silver ADDY at the national convention in Las Vegas, becoming the first fashion design student to ever win a national award at the American Advertising Federation competition. The artistic designs are from his award winning HAUS of Wonderland-A Fairy Tale Couture collection of fashion illustrations. Photos by Robert Swapp Photography.
Christopher Lopez, a junior at the Art Institute wins a Silver ADDY, the first national award by a fashion design student from the Inland Empire
(San Bernardino, CA) A local college student has made history for being the first fashion design student from the Inland Empire to ever win a Silver Award in national competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation.
Christopher Lopez, 28, of Moreno Valley won a Silver ADDY award in the student competition at the 2015 National American Advertising Federation Conference at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 13.
Lopez is a third year student in the bachelor of arts program in fashion design at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire campus in San Bernardino.
His creation, HAUS of Wonderland—A c Tale Couture, earned the award for excellence in the Illustration Campaign category. To advance to the national level, Lopez needed to win at two levels of competition. He first won a gold ADDY in local Inland Empire competition, then a silver award at the district level earlier this year.
The American Advertising Awards (formerly ADDY’s) recognize excellence in professional and student artistic work in a three-tier system, starting in the Inland Empire and advancing to district and national competition. Over 40,000 submissions are received for judging every year at the national level in a variety of categories.
“This is a very prestigious award,” said Su Pak, president of the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation. “It’s the first time a fashion design student from the Inland Empire has advanced to win a silver award at the national level. This is a remarkable achievement and we are very proud of Chris!”
As a student artist, Lopez has a passion for design. “I always like to tell a story with each of my pieces. I want my audience to get drawn into a wonderland-like state when exploring each piece with my designs, and great attention to detail, and that’s exactly what I delivered with this fashionably adventurous collection.”
HAUS of Wonderland-A Fairy Tale Couture is a fashion illustration collection that Lopez says was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and present day couture fashion.
His collection features four highly stylized sketches that are designed for a couture runway show or costumes for a film, play or musical. “Each piece is based on four characters from the story, featuring the adventurous Alice, the elaborate yet villainous Queen of Hearts and trouble making duo, the Tweedle Twins, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.”
After graduation from the Art Institute in 2016, Lopez wants be a costume designer for film, TV and the entertainment business. “I love telling stories and making them come to life with my designs. I love working with themes and concepts. I’m an artist at heart and my family says it’s in my blood.” At the Art Institute, career service advisors assist students with job placement as they near graduation.
Lopez is from Los Angeles and grew up in Arcadia where he developed his artistic passion for fashion illustration in high school. Later, he chose the Art Institute in San Bernardino because it was closer to his new home in Moreno Valley and offered everything he wanted to reach his career goals.
What’s his best advice for young aspiring artists? “Achieving this award truly made my Wonderland become a reality,” said Lopez. “Make your Wonderland become a reality by working hard and having true passion for your art and craft.”
For more information contact: John Barry, public relations, AAF-Inland Empire, jpbarry05@yahoo.com (714)457-2279 or visit www.aaf-inlandempire.com to learn more about coming events.
Dr. Judy D. White flanked by band members at the State of the District Speech
“We meet regularly to work together on the issues facing our school district,” said Harold Acord, president of the Moreno Valley Educators’ Association. “This is true whether it’s a problem affecting the entire school district, or one individual teacher’s problem.”
(Moreno Valley, CA) In Moreno Valley both the district administration and the teachers’ union have a common goal. They work together to achieve the district’s mission of preparing students to become productive members of society. “We agree on our mission of learning for all,” said Dr. Judy White, superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District. “We collaborate on best practices that increase student achievement.” “We meet regularly to work together on the issues facing our school district,” said Harold Acord, president of the Moreno Valley Educators’ Association. “This is true whether it’s a problem affecting the entire school district, or one individual teacher’s problem.” “We provide support and communication to each one of our teachers, so they know how much they are valued in our school district,” Dr. White said. An issue affecting the entire district is initiatives the state of California is considering regarding school funding. The 2013-2014 state budget significantly changes how public schools are funded, giving most school districts more money to spend flexibly on student programs However, school districts must now provide more accountability to the state for how they are educating students. The standards for this accountability haven’t yet been set, so school districts statewide are weighing in on what they think will work. “In Moreno Valley, the district administration and its teachers stand shoulder to shoulder on state initiatives related to funding,” Dr. White said. “We are also exploring other ways to focus on students’ and teachers’ learning conditions, so we can make sure the state provides funding mechanisms that meet the needs of our students.” School districts also receive federal funding. This, more than ever, is tied to academic performance. In Moreno Valley, the teachers’ union and the District have stepped up to develop a student-centered evaluation pilot program rather than waiting for grant opportunities which may come with mandates. “Together, teachers and administrators have collaborated on an evaluation instrument that includes the California Standards for the Teaching Profession as a rubric of measurement. This is expressed in a format that structures collaborative conversations, support and high expectations between the site administrator and teachers. This was done because it is the right thing to do,” said Dr. White. Besides working together to develop accountability standards and positions on state and federal legislation, the Moreno Valley Educators’ Association and the district administration also collaborate on other projects. Recently, one of these was planning and hosting a regional leadership conference and access to for teachers and administrators, which had was titled “Collaborate, Coach and Connect.”
Moreno Valley Unified School District superintendent of schools Dr. Judy White and California CTA state president Dean Vogel at 2013 Joint Leadership Summit. Vogel spoke well of the direction the district is taking to increase student performance.
“We had several speakers from the California Teachers Association, and the keynote speaker was CTA President Dean Vogel,” said local president Acord. “It was a great success, and we received high evaluations from those who participated.” Since students are the top priority in Moreno Valley Unified School District, recognizing outstanding student achievement is another way the administration and teachers’ union work together. With a third partner, the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, they provide a “Student of the Month” program to honor and reward one outstanding student each month at each school in the district. They also work jointly with the Chamber to explain how local businesses can support education in Moreno Valley. Even in contract negotiations, the one activity where relationships between school administrations and their teachers unions can be adversarial, they’re not in Moreno Valley Unified School District. Here, the two parties participate in Interest Based Bargaining. In typical negotiations, the teachers’ union asks for as generous a contract as it finds feasible, while the district administration counter offers with something less generous. The contract is successfully negotiated when one or both sides make concessions to the other. But in Interest Based Bargaining, the administration and teachers focus on common interests, and work together to ensure these interests are met. Since attracting and keeping quality teachers is one of their common goals, developing an attractive teachers’ contract becomes a solution.
“We meet regularly to work together on the issues facing our school district,” said Harold Acord, president of the Moreno Valley Educators’ Association. “This is true whether it’s a problem affecting the entire school district, or one individual teacher’s problem.”
“It is supposed to be a win-win situation,” Acord said. “It’s not one side wins, and the other side loses.” Clearly, with everyone working together, there is one big winner in the process. That is Moreno Valley Unified School District students. The Moreno Valley Unified School District’s mission is to prepare all students academically and socially to become productive members of society. For more information on the Moreno Valley Unified School District call the district office at (951) 571-7500 or go to their website at www.MVUSD.net.
Dr. Judy White, superintendent of the Moreno Valley unified School District
(Moreno Valley, CA) Dr. Judy D. White began her tenure as Superintendent for Moreno Valley Unified School District in February 2011, and immediately began connecting with the community, ultimately moving her family to our city. With over 35 years of experience in education she came in with a wealth of ideas, and has embedded her heart and soul to the students and families in this community.
She has procured several outside grants for literacy, volunteerism, and closing the achievement gap. She serves on the Board for National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST), Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Commission, ACCESS to the Future, and United Way of the Inland Valleys and serves on the UCR Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Teacher Education.
She was recently awarded the 2013 Woman of the Year for Moreno Valley by the 61st District Assemblyman, José Medina. Some of her other involvements include Optimists, Relay for Life, Music Changing Lives and Fighting for the Family Ministries. She developed a formal Adopt-a-School program to engage the business and faith communities into the school district to support the students.
Dr. White embraces a united effort of “Excellence on Purpose” and has become known as an inspirational advocate for all students. She has made a name for herself in the community for reaching out, embracing change for the better, and holding the district accountable for student success.
The Chamber would like to acknowledge all those who were nominated and thank them for their significant contribution to the growth and development of the City of Moreno Valley.
2014 Citizen of the Year Nominees
Alicia Berridge, James Baker, Patricia Korzec, Ross Nakatani, Tracy Smith, Richard Tegley, Ruth Van Hala, and Dr. Judy D. White
– Carl M. Dameron, Creative Director Dameron Communications
Project Moving Forward, backed by a $1.9 million federal grant, improved academic scores in two local schools. African American students at Hendrick Ranch Elementary School achieved impressive academic gains, where Academic Performance Index or API scores jumped 51 points
(Moreno Valley, CA) Students in two Moreno Valley elementary schools have become top academic achievers through a simple concept: learning vocabulary the RAP way!
Short for Rehearse, Analyze and Produce, RAP is based on 12 years of research by Dr. Linda Ventriglia-Navarrette, a Harvard educated researcher and professor at National University.
Hendrick Ranch and Armada Elementary schools posted the highest academic scores in their history, becoming the top two achieving elementary schools in 2013 among 23 in the Moreno Valley Unified School District. Both schools are located in low-income neighborhoods where academic achievement has suffered.
African American students at Hendrick Ranch Elementary School achieved impressive academic gains, where Academic Performance Index or API scores jumped 51 points while improvement was up 49 points at Armada. Hispanic students also made significant increases, moving from far below basic skills to proficiency in reading and math.
Based on the recent results, Hendrick Ranch was the only school in the District to achieve the state Academic Performance Index and Annual Yearly Progress scores. Armada was the only school where over 90 percent socially disadvantaged students achieved an academic performance index of 700. Hendrick Ranch achieved a 796 ranking.
How did they do it? By adopting a vocabulary instructional program called RAP, or the Rule of three. Armed with a $1.9 million federal grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the District created a partnership with National University where teachers learned how to increase student’s academic achievement through vocabulary instruction.
The program provided 60 hours of teacher training and coaching, using the Rule of 3 or RAP as ways to teach words across the curriculum.
Research shows that improving academic vocabulary has the highest correlation with success in school.
Other educators agree. E.D. Hirsch, a widely known academic researcher, says, “The achievement gap between Black and White, rich and poor is not due to lack of money. It largely comes down to a vocabulary gap, because words name things.” Hirsch found that poor children have a massive vocabulary deficit that today’s U.S. education system does not address.
In the RAP program, students rehearse words by clicking out, spelling and saying the letters of the words, including focused conversations about the words. They teach vocabulary words to a partner. Students also analyze word structures and produce their own individual meanings for words in their Power Word books.
Many teachers at Hendrik and Armada elementary schools reported that the RAP program was popular with students. They enjoyed learning new words, which became an exciting part of the school day.
Robert Gordon, who was principal of Hendrick Ranch said, “These vocabulary development strategies made a significant difference in students’ achievements.”
Armada principal Jeff Jones said, “Armada’s teachers improved the delivery of consistent, effective and engaging instructional strategies that addressed the critical areas of vocabulary development and reading comprehension.”
At the district, the performance results were well received. “We are extremely proud of our students at Hendrick and Armada,” said Dr. Judy White, Superintendent of Schools in Moreno Valley. “This program demonstrates how students in economically disadvantaged areas can achieve remarkable academic results by focusing on their learning styles. It captures how students learn.”
For more information on the Moreno Valley Unified School District’s call the District office at (951) 571-7500 or go to the website at MVUSD.net.
About the Moreno Valley Unified School District
Moreno Valley Unified School District, with 3,400 employees and 35,000 students.
Moreno Valley Unified School District’s mission is to prepare all students academically and socially to become productive members of society.
Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy Sophomore students. From the left to right: Top row: James Jones, Courtney Thomas, Jason Sanchez, Danny Calderon, Fernando Canales, Gerald Jocson, Jonathan Espinoza, Sabrina Garcia, Stephany Pita, Gizelle Suarez Next row below: Teresa Becerra, Dalvir Kaur, Bobbie Sue Montanez, Jessica Sanchez, Lorena Mejia, Emily Guemez, Jessenia Sanchez, Belen Ochoa (she is kind of standing between the row and has glasses), Tuesday Martin Next row below: Ashley Lopez, Rolando Mena, Brian Sanchez, Maria Gutierrez, Fernando Granados, Agienna Lewis, Brandon Garay, Adolfo Ventura, Anthony Ordinario Front Row; Aileen Ayon, Paola Garcia, Breanna McFarland, Alexis Flores, Savannah Mercier-White, Melisa Franco, Jessica Rodriguez, Khalia Dade, Myra Peña
“The goal of the Health Careers Academy is to graduate students prepared for college and a career in the health care field, said Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy Director Sharon Scott. “Receiving the California Golden Bell award is confirmation that the team’s effort to ensure student achievement is both successful and effective.”
(Moreno Valley, CA) the California School Boards Association recently recognized The Moreno Valley Unified School District as a winner of the prestigious Golden Bell Award for 2013. This award recognizes the academic success of Health Careers Academy on the campus of Canyon Springs High School.
“The selection of Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy as a Golden Bell Awards winner reflects the Moreno Valley Unified School District’s commitment to meeting the needs of students in careers that are needed and relevant,” said Dr. Judy D. White, district superintendent.
The CSBA recognized 59 public school’s programs in the state this year. It created the Golden Bell Awards program in 1980 to recognize innovative and successful programs that make a difference in students’ success, and focus on meeting the needs of all students.
Health Careers Academy is the oldest of several vocational academies Moreno Valley Unified School District has created. While students in these programs receive a well-rounded education, by following a recommended pathway of courses, they can either begin an entry-level career in their area of interest, or more easily transition to a college or university level education in the health career field after high school graduation.
“The goal of the Health Careers Academy is to graduate students prepared for college and a career in the health care field, said Academy Director Sharon Scott. “Receiving the California Golden Bell award is confirmation that the team’s effort to ensure student achievement is both successful and effective.”
Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy students with the simulation Makiken “Annie” are Agienna Lewis and Anthony Ordinario
Students enter the Health Careers Academy as sophomores. In the academies, students have the same core requirements, such as English, social studies, and science as they would in a regular high school program, but take these courses from teachers at the academy.
Students also take vocational education courses through the academy. In the introductory course, Introduction to Health Care, students learn medical technology, learn how to take vital signs, research health careers, develop resumes and are certified in first aid and CPR.
Juniors learn about cultural disparities in health care and biomedical ethics, and participate in mock interviews and job shadowing with the academy’s business partners. In their senior year, students receive even more specialized training in health care, and assistance in completing university and financial aid applications.
More than 60 percent of the current students are “at-risk,” which means they fall into one or more categories that could hinder their educational development. These students may have:
Scored below proficiency on standardized tests as ninth-graders
Completed their ninth grade year with a grade point average of 2.2 or lower
Not earned enough credits in ninth grade to graduate on time
Come from a low-income family
Frequently missed classes as ninth-graders
When they enter the Health Careers Academy, educators assess the students’ skills and immediately begin addressing the academic deficiencies and poor work habits that have hindered their success.
“The results have been exemplary,” Scott said. “Since 2000, all of our students have graduated on time. More than half of the 2013 graduating class had completed all of the requirements to attend a public California University immediately after graduation, and nine of the 31 graduates received college scholarships.”
“The Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy has consistently produced students with a plethora of knowledge, genuine concern about all health issues and most importantly a passion to be proactive and responsive,” Dr. White said. “The level of student engagement and compassion for others has propelled this program above the rest. Students participating in this program live and breathe commitment to health.”
The academy also offers extra-curricular organizations.
The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is a national organization specifically for students in a vocational health careers education program such as the one offered by Health Careers Academy. Part of the school curriculum includes activities related to HOSA. It also meets outside of school hours. Through HOSA, the academy’s juniors and seniors compete against other schools’ health services academies in debates on biomedical ethics, and often win these debates.
Another extra-curricular organization is the Anti-Bullying Club, which Health Services Academy students created after attending a conference on bullying. This club gave a presentation to all ninth- and 10th-graders at Canyon Springs High School, and set up a week of anti-bullying lunchtime activities during the week of Feb. 25 – March 1, 2013.
While Health Services Academy frequently turns a struggling high school student into a successful health care professional, sometimes the results have been even more profound.
Scott recalls a student, who is still in the academy, had been living on the streets as a runaway when she started her sophomore year.
“She was, understandably, credit deficient,” Scott said. “Health Careers Academy created a plan, which included credit recovery, summer school and online courses to put her back on track for graduation on time. This student also has expressed appreciation for having positive role models and serious-minded students in her life through the academy.”
Health Careers Academy students are encouraged to also enroll in courses offered by Riverside County Regional Occupations Program/Career Technical Education, as these lead to certification in health careers. By taking just one ROP course, students can be certified for an entry-level health care profession at the time of high school graduation.
The students usually have between 160 to 240 hours of internship experience by the time they graduate from high school. In the 2012-2013 school year, 27 of the 31 seniors had internships with either Riverside County Regional Medical Center, the Riverside County ROP/CTE, Charter Hospice or medical clinics.
In addition to the internships, all Health Careers Academy must perform 50 hours of community service yearly. Of the 150 total hours required over their three years in the academy, 50 must be in a hospital or other medical setting.
Some students provide more than twice the minimum required, which garners them recognition in the “HCA 300 Club” for their more than 300 hours of community service. Collectively, the school provided more than 6,000 hours of community service.
Although employable at high school graduation, most students in Health Services Academy move on to post-secondary education. The academy gives them a jump-start on that as well.
All of the vocational education courses they take as juniors and seniors, and the anatomy and physiology courses offered at the academy offer dual credit. Students who complete these courses with a grade of B or better can also receive credit at Moreno Valley College.
Moreno Valley Unified School District developed Health Careers Academy in 1995. Before then, it had determined health care careers were of great interest to its students of that time, and these careers would be in high demand in coming years. Now, almost 20 years later, the career field continues to be in high demand, and is an interest of many current MVUSD high school students.
In addition, Moreno Valley Unified School District worked with colleges, universities and employers to develop pathways. These higher learning institutions and medical field employers remain in partnership with Health Careers Academy, offering students mentoring, guest speakers and job shadowing opportunities. UCR provides student mentors who regularly visit Health Service Academy to discuss their university experience, and to help the high-school students with college applications, financial aid forms, SAT preparation, class schedules and time management.
Canyon Springs Health Careers Academy students in the CPR picture are Maria Trejo (compressions), Viridiana Vargas (phoning 911), and Tuesday Martin (giving breaths).
Partners are Riverside County Regional Medical Center, the Riverside County Office of Education, the University of California, Riverside Health Sciences Partnership, Riverside Community College District (of which Moreno Valley College is a part), and Loma Linda University Medical Center.
For more information about Health Careers Academy, contact Sharon Scott at (951) 571-4768.
For more information on the Moreno Valley Unified School District’s call the District office at (951) 571-7500 or go to the website at MVUSD.net.
About the Moreno Valley Unified School District
Moreno Valley Unified School District, with 3,400 employees and 35,000 students.
Moreno Valley Unified School District’s mission is to prepare all students academically and socially to become productive members of society.
Moreno Valley Noon Rotary Club Annual Thanksgiving Feast
Who: The Moreno Valley Noon Rotary Club will be having their annual Thanksgiving Feast on November 26th for those in need.
What: Before Thanksgiving Feast. Valley View and Moreno Valley High School students who are members of the Intereact Clubs will participate in serving the Thanksgiving Feast.
Interact is a club for youth ages 12-18 who want to connect with other young people in their community or school. Interact club members have fun while carrying out service projects and learning about the world. Interact clubs organize at least two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding.
While Rotary clubs sponsor them, Interact clubs are largely self-sustaining, requiring little or no financial support from your club.
The chairperson for the Intereact Club is Ken Sims, and the Chair for the Thanksgiving Feast is Mary Ellen Horspool.
When: Tuesday, November 16, 2013, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Wesleyan Methodist Church, 13300 Indian Street, Moreno Valley, CA
Donations: If you are interested in helping out by donating a turkey, ham or canned vegetables please call: Maria Lozano, Career Technical Education, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Phone: (951) 571-7560.
