Colton Courier 03/19/26

COLTON COURIER WWe e

Moreno Valley College Connects 21 High Schools to Public Safety Careers, New Bachelor’s Degree

Assemblyman Ramos

Honors Inland Empire Women Leaders, Names Marsha Olguin Woman of the Year

By Manny Sandoval

Under an 85-degree sun, Ken

Hubbs Memorial Little League celebrated its 75th anniversary March 14 with opening ceremonies that combined tradition, community pride and a major financial boost for local families.

The highlight came when Children’s Fund

By Manny Sandoval

The 109th National Orange Show Fair will return to San Bernardino April 15-19, and one of its biggest attractions this year is an art exhibit that organizers say reflects both the fair’s citrus roots and the Inland Empire’s creative community.

The National Orange Show Fair will be held at 689 S. E St. and remains one of California’s historical state fairs, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Robyn Jutzy, the National Orange Show’s director of art and a board member, said the exhibit typically draws about 60 artists and over 100 pieces, an attraction that has drawn thousands of attendees since at least 1949–when the Fair held its inaugural AllSouthern California Art Exhibit featuring 485 paintings.

“We have two categories,” Jutzy said. “We have an open

CEO Cesar Navarrete presented a $26,000 check, eliminating registration fees for every player in the league. Families who had already paid will be refunded, league officials said.

Held at the league’s fields at 305 East E Street, the ceremony featured approximately 10 teams. Players ran the bases clockwise beginning at home plate as more than

category, which is anything they are inspired by, and then the citrus category.”

She said awards are given in both divisions, with first place receiving $700, second $500, third $300, and three honorable mentions at $100 each.

This year, she said, the exhibit will also include a new best in show award.

Jutzy said the exhibit will be open throughout all five days of the fair and will feature not only contemporary entries, but also pieces from the Orange Show’s permanent collection. “It dates back to the first show in the 1940s” Jutzy said, referring to the exhibit’s longrunning history and the organization’s efforts over the years to continue purchasing artwork.

That continuity, organizers said, is important because the art show is directly tied to the fair’s larger mission. The National Orange Show began in 1911 as a celebration of the region’s citrus industry, with a

100 spectators held up phones to capture photos of their athletes crossing home. Navarrete framed the donation through his own childhood experience.

“As a child, I never had the opportunity to play Little League,” Navarrete said. “Not because I didn't want to. Believe me, I was a little kid putting my hands through those

Ken Hubbs (cont.)

- fences, watching all the kids play. But I knew I couldn't go home and ask my mom and dad for money to play Little League.”

He said the barriers extended beyond registration costs.

“I couldn't get the cleats. I couldn't get the ball. I couldn't get the glove,” Navarrete said. “So for me, this is a huge and exciting moment. The reason I do what I do is because I want to make sure that all of our kids in the community have the opportunities that I didn't have.”

Navarrete emphasized that the effort reflects a broader community coalition.

“If you look around, it's not just one group,” he said. “It's a collection of community organizations. Government is here. Nonprofits are here. It's a collection of people who are here to inspire our kids

and make sure they have the support they need to grow into amazing people and one day give back.”

He also thanked parents for their role in making youth sports possible.

“They'll never realize your sacrifice,” Navarrete said. “It's not until they have kids of their own that they'll understand what you’ve done so they can play out here.”

Ken Hubbs Little League President Alex Gago said the donation directly addresses a reality many families face.

“Paying a bill and putting food on the table or paying for your child to play a sport is real, and it’s a hard decision,” Gago said. “I’ve been there, and every single one of us has been there at some point. With the support of Children’s Fund, we’re able to put that money back into your pockets so your kids can play free. We are ecstatic about this.”

The league, founded in 1951, has

served generations of Colton families and reached a milestone with this year’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Local dignitaries in attendance included Assemblyman Robert Garcia, San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., Colton Mayor Frank Navarro and members of the Colton City Council (Echevarria, Gonzalez, and Chastain).

Following his words on the mic, Baca Jr. handed out baseballs and softballs to players, sparking a burst of excitement as children ran across the field cheering and jumping.

As the Spring 2026 season begins, league officials and community leaders said the moment represents more than opening day — it signals expanded access and a renewed commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to step onto the field.

NOS Art Exhibit (cont.)

- permanent (then 43-acre) San Bernardino site selected in 1923, which was purchased with funds raised by a bond issue.

Patrick Garcia, a board member and immediate past board president, said the Fair has been making a stronger effort to reconnect more of its programming to that original purpose.

“That’s our mandate — to promote citrus and promote agriculture,” Garcia said.

That theme is expected to be visible throughout the exhibit, especially in the citrus category, which has historically featured paintings and other works inspired by orchards, fruit and the agricultural landscape that once defined much of the Inland Empire.

Garcia said the exhibit also helps make art more accessible to the public.

“During the exhibit, most of the pieces are for sale,” Garcia said. “At reasonable prices.”

He said younger visitors in particular have increasingly shown interest in buying smaller works, helping introduce a new generation to the exhibit and to local artists.

This year’s show is also expected to include student artwork from San Bernardino City Unified, alongside works from the Orange Show’s own collection. Garcia said that the expanded presentation will give visitors a broader view of artistic talent across the region.

“It’s important to make sure people know about it, come see it and help nurture it,” Garcia said. “Because if you don’t get people in there, they don’t realize how special it is.”

Organizers said the exhibit will be displayed in the Orange Pavilion, one of the major event spaces on the fairgrounds.

Beyond the exhibit hall, Jutzy said visitors may also

notice new art already taking shape around the Orange Show grounds. Local muralist Christopher Mariscal is creating orangeand citrus-themed artwork on metal screening panels along the grounds.

“The beautification of it is becoming so evident, which makes my heart happy,” Jutzy said.

For Garcia, the exhibit is also personal. He said some of his earliest Orange Show memories are of receiving free school tickets as a child and visiting the fair that was once even more visibly tied to the region’s citrus economy.

“That’s all you could see for miles,” Garcia said. “You’d drive through orange groves for miles and miles and miles.”

The goal, organizers said, is not only to showcase art, but to remind the community that the National Orange Show Fair remains deeply connected to the history that shaped San Bernardino.

The National Orange Show has since come a long way since its inaugural fair on March 6, 1911, when it was organized by the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce for a city of just 12,000 residents at Fourth and E streets.

“I am always surprised that people don’t know about all the different types of events that are held here,” Garcia said. “Some people will ask me, ‘Do you guys still have the fair?’”

For those who do attend this year, the answer will include more than carnival rides and food. It will also include a gallery rooted in citrus, community and a tradition that organizers say still matters.

Historical background for this article was sourced from The History of the National Orange Show, 1911–1964 by Kenneth C. Jones, edited by Dr. Ernest F. Garcia in 2013.

By CalMatters

WPockets of Unvaccinated Communities are Driving Measles Outbreaks, Including Riverside

hen a possible measles case is identified in California, a phone rings at the local health department and the clock starts ticking.

Laboratory workers need to process samples as soon as possible to confirm the case. And a public health nurse must call the patient to find out where they’ve been and who they’ve been in contact with recently.

If test results are positive, the communicable disease team has 72 hours or less to identify anyone who has been exposed and may be at high risk of infection or serious illness. Those people must quarantine or take a dose of a post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent spread. For the next 21 days nurses will monitor the group for symptoms.

Measles is the most contagious vaccine-preventable viral infection in the world, and California is fighting multiple outbreaks. In a room where one person is infected, nine out of 10 unvaccinated people will also contract the disease. The viral particles also linger in the air long after the contagious person leaves, risking exposure to those who enter the room up to two hours later.

“That’s ridiculously infectious,” said Dr. Sharon Balter, director of acute communicable disease control with Los Angeles County public health. “It balloons very quickly, and because measles spreads very fast we have to get on it right away. We can’t say we’ll wait until tomorrow.”

California has a high enough vaccination rate — about 95% of kindergarteners — to provide herd immunity against measles, but throughout the state pockets of unvaccinated communities drive outbreaks, experts say.

Shasta and Riverside counties are working to contain localized outbreaks. These are the first measles outbreaks in the state since 2020 and are happening at a time when health departments have less money and fewer staff than in recent years. In total, seven counties have reported a total of 21 measles cases this year, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Throughout the country, 26 states have reported measles cases since the start of the year, including a massive outbreak in South Carolina where officials identified nearly 1,000 cases, mostly among unvaccinated children. It is the largest outbreak since theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles eradicated more than 25 years ago.

“The United States is experiencing the highest numbers of measles cases, outbreaks, hospitalizations and deaths in more than 30 years, driven by populations with low vaccination rates,” said California Public Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan in a statement earlier this month. “We all need to work together to share the medical evidence, benefits, and safety of vaccines to provide families the information they need to protect children and our communities.”

Containment comes with high costs

Investigating any communicable disease is time-intensive and expensive. The first three measles cases reported in L.A. County this year cost an estimated $231,000, according to a health department analysis.

Why does it cost so much? Because a disease investigation often requires a legion of public health nurses, physicians, epidemiologists and laboratory scientists to follow-up with hundreds of contacts, Balter said.

That includes sometimes visiting homes or exposure sites. For example, a recent exposure at a daycare required nurses to wring urine out of used diapers to test babies for measles. County health workers monitored 246 people who had been exposed to those first three measles cases — and the work is ongoing.

On Feb. 19, the county reported its fourth measles case. All of them were related to international travel. Other cases in California also have primarily been related to travel either internationally or to states where there are outbreaks. An unvaccinated child in Napa County contracted measles in January after traveling to South Carolina.

Riverside County health officials reported one measles case where the child had not traveled recently, and Shasta County health officials suspect their first case could be related to travel in Southern California but are waiting for DNA testing for confirmation.

Orange County reported two travel-related cases this year.

Health departments have fewer resources, more cases

Local health departments rely heavily on federal funding to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, but last year, the Trump administration slashed nearly $1 billion of public health funding from California. This year it attempted to claw back another $600 million from California and three other Democratic states.

Pending lawsuits froze the cuts, but local health departments are treating the money as a lost cause because they cannot bear the financial risk if a judge eventually rules in favor of the Trump administration.

Consequently, health departments closed clinics, terminated programs and laid off dozens of workers.

“What we can do with less is less unfortunately,” Balter said. L.A. county is facing a $50 million shortfall due to federal, state and local cuts and recently closed seven public health clinics.

Health departments are also confronting decreased public confidence: The high-profile questioning of vaccine safety and effectiveness by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has complicated public health’s struggle to contain the spread of preventable infections.

California Democratic leaders are aggressively fighting Kennedy’s direction. They sued to block the administration’s new vaccine guidelines, which stripped universal recommendation from seven childhood vaccines. They blame Kennedy and the Trump administration for “dismantling” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and stoking fears over debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.

The state also released its own vaccine guidelines and formed an alliance among four western states to share public health information and recommendations.

“Everything including the outbreaks, the financial

cuts, the questions from the federal government that are arising are making our work very difficult,” said Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, Orange County public health officer.

Twelve years ago, Orange County was the site of California’s largest measles outbreak in decades. An exposure at Disneyland from an unknown source infected 131 Californians and spread to six states, Canada and Mexico.

The outbreak, which lasted four months, spurred state lawmakers to pass some of the strictest childhood vaccine requirements in the country.

But even a single measles case requires “vast amounts of infrastructure” to contain, Chinsio-Kwong said. On average, the department identifies and monitors 100 exposed people per case.

Since the start of last year, Orange County has lost $22 million in federal cuts to public health. The department is trying to protect their communicable disease surveillance work, but it gets harder with every cut.

“We’re trying to prioritize our communicable disease control division,” health officer Chinsio-Kwong said. “There are a lot of different federal cuts, but we’re putting that as front and center: That has to be saved no matter what.”

Measles spread in unvaccinated groups

Six hundred miles north, Shasta County is grappling with its first measles cases since 2019 and the state’s largest outbreak of the year.

In late January, a sick child visited a health clinic in Redding with measles symptoms that laboratory testing later confirmed. Health officials interviewed 278 people and identified six locations where others were exposed: a restaurant, a church basketball game, a gym, a park, Costco and the clinic.

They also identified seven other cases among family members or neighbors who were in close contact with the child.

It can take 21 days from the time of exposure for measles symptoms to develop. On Feb. 19, just before the end of that period, health officials confirmed a ninth case.

That person didn’t recognize the symptoms and visited several places while contagious, including a school, a church service, a basketball game and a clinic, said Daniel Walker, a Shasta County supervising epidemiologist. Now, the contract tracing process has started over. The communicable disease team expects to interview even more people this time.

All cases have been among children who were unvaccinated or did not know their vaccination status.

“It’s a great time to get immunized, because you can’t know when you’re next going to be exposed…especially because we’re in an outbreak situation,” Walker said.

Yugo Shokunin Opens in Redlands With Japanese Fusion, Matcha Ramen and Katsu Fries

By Manny Sandoval

Anew Japanese fusion concept is bringing bold flavors and familiar comfort to the Redlands Public Market, as Yugo Shokunin opened its doors in February with a menu designed to bridge cultures and tastes.

Located at 330 Third St. in Redlands, the restaurant operates daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, offering an approachable take on Japanese-inspired cuisine inside one of the city’s growing culinary hubs.

Led by Chef Daniel Kim and partner Kevin Seo, Yugo Shokunin focuses on delivering bold, crafted flavors while remaining accessible to a wide audience.

“Yugo Shokunin is Japanese fusion food,” Seo said. “It’s crafted, delicious, bold flavors, but accessible to the public.”

The opening marks an expansion for the team behind Shokunin locations in Redlands and Rancho Cucamonga, which focus on sushi omakase — a chef-driven dining experience. In contrast, Yugo Shokunin offers a more casual format tailored to the food hall environment.

Seo said Chef Kim’s deep roots in the Inland Empire play a central role in shap-

ing the restaurant’s menu.

“Most of his concepts in the area are Inland Empire-focused,” Seo said. “He truly understands the community’s flavor profiles and how to blend them in a way that resonates with places like Redlands, Rancho and Chino.”

That localized approach is reflected in dishes that combine familiar comfort foods with Japanese techniques and ingredients. The menu includes ramen, chicken karaage and katsu fries, all reimagined with layered, cross-cultural flavor profiles.

“We’re taking simple ingredients and more complex flavors like yuzu and tonkatsu and making them rich and creamy,” Seo said. “We have items like chicken karaage, which is essentially fried chicken, but we’re pushing those flavors closer to something like Nashville hot chicken — done in a Japanese style.”

Among the more distinctive offerings is the matcha tonkatsu ramen, which blends traditional pork broth with the earthy tones of matcha.

“It infuses the familiar notes of matcha into a pork broth ramen,” Seo said. “It’s a very creamy and rich dish.”

Seo said fusion cuisine is rooted in bal-

ancing familiarity with discovery, especially for diners trying something new for the first time.

“One of the most exciting things about fusion food is introducing new flavors in a way that still feels welcoming,” he said. “You take something recognizable and pair it with something new, and bring them together in a way that serves the community.”

Early demand during the restaurant’s soft opening reflected that balance. On a rainy day, ramen dishes quickly became customer favorites, while katsu fries — topped with chili oil and globally inspired spice blends — also drew strong interest.

“My favorite item right now is the katsu fries,” Seo said. “You’re taking traditional Japanese katsu and layering in new chili flavors. It’s like a flavor ball.”

The menu also features beef teriyaki made with skirt steak rather than more traditional cuts, offering a distinct texture and flavor.

“It’s actually made with skirt steak,” Seo said. “It’s really good — juicy.”

Beyond the menu, Seo said joining the Redlands Public Market was a natural fit for the team as they looked to expand

their presence in the region.

“We love the Redlands team here,” he said. “When we had the opportunity to bring another concept here, we said absolutely yes. We want to add energy to the hall and help create a more dynamic environment for everyone.”

Seo, who lives in Chino, said the Inland Empire’s strong sense of community continues to shape both the business and its approach to hospitality.

“It’s a very family-oriented place,” he said. “For me, family is everything, and community is a big part of that. You really feel that here.”

For first-time visitors, Seo recommends starting with familiar flavors before branching into more adventurous options.

“It’s a fusion menu,” he said. “Start with the proteins you’re comfortable with, then explore from there.”

Yugo Shokunin employs about 15 staff members and has recently held its official grand opening, with partners expressing optimism about continued growth.

“We’re ready to really burst out of the seams here,” Seo said. “We’re excited to welcome the whole community.”

La Bufadora Baja Grill Spotlights Rising Fuel Costs During Rep. Pete Aguilar Visit

Community News

Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA33) visited the La Bufadora Baja Grill food truck, a local, family-owned restaurant chain that has been impacted by the skyrocketing price of gas caused by Trump’s war in Iran. La Bufadora Baja Grill relies on their food trucks to serve customers throughout the Inland Empire. The higher cost of gas in San Bernardino County and the rising cost of other goods, thanks to Trump’s war with Iran and his chaotic tariffs, have put financial pressure on La Bufadora Baja Grill.

“From the gas pump to your favorite lunch spots, hardworking Americans are paying the price for Trump’s war in the Middle East,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar.

“For local restaurants like La Bufadora that rely on their trucks to serve their customers, higher gas prices mean lower profits. Small businesses and working people can’t afford to pay the price for Trump’s war with Iran. It’s time for the President to end this reckless conflict overseas and focus on bringing down costs for people here at home.”

“La Bufadora Food Truck prides itself on bringing the authentic taste of La Bufadora Baja Grill anywhere it is welcomed,” said Ruben Fuentes Jr., Administrative Coordinator, La Bufadora Food Truck. “With rising costs of oil, gasoline, diesel, and produce, increasing our prices without risking customer loyalty is becoming more difficult than ever. Our business is strictly mo-

bile, which is the only major difference from our brick and mortar locations around Southern California. Therefore, maintaining costs similar to those of the restaurants will not continue to be feasible if costs keep increasing. A heavy-duty, diesel-powered truck tows the food truck, and two premium-fuel generators provide power. Gasoline and diesel expenses alone have increased by more than $500 compared to last year. All our produce is delivered from our parent corporation's factory, and naturally, those delivery costs have also increased. If this negative trend continues, we will have no choice but to increase our prices. As a family-owned and operated business, we risk our livelihood by making these decisions.”

Moreno Valley College Showcase Connects 21 High Schools to Public Safety Careers, New Bachelor’s Degree

By Manny Sandoval

Students from 21 high schools across the Inland Empire gathered March 12 at Moreno Valley College’s Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, where helicopters, horses, emergency vehicles and specialized teams turned career exploration into a hands-on introduction to public safety.

About 800 students attended the annual Ben Clark Education Center Public Safety Showcase, connecting them with professionals from CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and American Medical Response while giving them an up-close look at careers in law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services and emergency management.

But beyond the day’s demonstrations, college leaders said the event also highlighted something bigger: Moreno Valley College’s expanding role as a pipeline into public safety careers, including a forthcoming bachelor’s degree in emergency management that officials say will be transformative for the region.

Dr. Rudy Besikof, president of Moreno Valley College, said the showcase gives students an unusually direct and memorable introduction to the field.

“We’ve got officers on horseback. We’ve got our demonstration jail open for students to walk through, as well as obstacle course opportunities,” Besikof said. “This is about as hands-on as a hands-on outreach event can be.”

He said the energy from students was evident from the moment they arrived.

“I’ve never been to a high school outreach event where students are lining up the way they did,” Besikof said. “Just the vibe has been incredible. Students have been asking me questions, stepping out of line to say hello. I sense a genuine desire to learn as I walk around here.”

One of the most significant developments highlighted during the event was Moreno Valley College’s forthcoming Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management, which officials described as a major step forward for both public safety education and economic opportunity in the Inland Empire.

Dr. Charles Wilhite, associate professor of emergency management, said the degree was designed after college leaders asked public safety employers exactly what they want future workers and leaders to know.

“We went to the people, the employers, and said, ‘What do you want your employees to know?’” Wilhite said. “And that’s how we built the program.”

Wilhite said the program was created to fill a major gap. According to Wilhite, most emergency managers need a bachelor’s degree, yet no college in California has offered that specific bachelor’s degree. Private options can cost between $50,000 and $100,000, while Moreno Valley College’s full four-year program is expected to cost about $8,500 before financial aid.

For the Inland Empire, he said, that affordability could open the door to stable, well-paying careers close to home.

“We need opportunities for people in the Inland Empire to get high paying jobs within the Inland Empire,” Wilhite said. “Emergency management starts at an entry level between $80,000 and $100,000 a year with a bachelor’s degree.”

The degree is designed for students entering emergency management as well as working professionals seeking advancement in fire, law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services and related public safety leadership roles. Wilhite said internships and direct ties to agencies will help students build the relationships needed to enter the field.

Besikof said the new program reflects Moreno Valley College’s broader mission to connect students to meaningful careers, not just short-term employment.

“We are the doorstep to opportunity,” he said.

Andrew Graham, Moreno Valley College’s enrollment service coordinator, said the showcase serves both students already involved in law academies, fire academies, cadet programs and explorer programs, and those encountering public safety careers for the first time.

“What gets me most excited about the showcase is that this is an introduction and an enhancement to what students are already experiencing,” Graham said.

Students rotated through law enforcement and fire-emergency services programming throughout the day, but Graham said one of the most important lessons is that public safety reaches far beyond the most familiar roles.

“A lot of people don’t understand that in the field of public safety, there are other careers,”

Graham said. “You even have civilian roles too. So there might be a secretary. We have a dispatch program. For firefighters, you might go into forestry, you might go into media.”

That message was echoed by John Beg, a CAL FIRE captain and fire academy coordinator, who said Ben Clark’s partnership model gives students access to working professionals, specialized equipment and direct workforce pathways.

“The resource availability that we open up with that cooperative agreement is phenomenal,” Beg said.

Beg said the goal is not simply to expose students to public safety, but to prepare them for employment.

“At the end of the day, our job here at the college is to make them ready at the end of this, and we want them to apply and get those jobs,” he said.

He said the field offers far more options than many students and parents may realize, including dispatching, mechanics, inspections, fire prevention and law enforcement roles within CAL FIRE.

“Anything that we consider to be in the compassion, empathy realm — nursing, doctors to a certain degree, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters — I don’t see this field of work diminishing much in the future,” Beg said. “I think there’s always going to be a need for us.”

Bob Fontaine, professor, Emergency Medical Services director and department chair for public safety programs at Ben Clark, said emergency medical services remain one of the clearest entry points into the field, especially for students pursuing fire service careers.

“When people call 911, 85% of the calls are sick people, injured people, car accidents,” Fontaine said. “It’s not structure fires.”

Fontaine said the EMS program is built around both technical preparation and the human side of the profession.

“We have three core values in our program,” he said. “That’s competent, compassionate, and character.”

At Ben Clark on March 12, that opportunity was not presented as an abstract promise. It arrived in the form of live demonstrations, working professionals and a clear message to Inland Empire students: public safety offers many paths, and Moreno Valley College wants to help them reach them.

Ramos Honors Inland Empire Women Leaders, Names Marsha Olguin 45th District Woman

of the Year

Community News

On March 16th, Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) recognized San Bernardino Marsha Olguin as “Woman of the Year” for the 45th Assembly District which he represents and 11 other women leaders from cities in his district.

“It’s my privilege to host this tribute to the women of the 45th Assembly District. This is a small sampling of the many distinguished women in the district. They demonstrate what it means to live a life of service and contribute in a wide array of ways to ensure thriving communities. I thank them all. This year we selected Marsha Olguin as the District 45 Woman of the Year for her “dedication and public service in the city of San Bernardino, including the most vulnerable. Marsha’s compassion and commitment to the community is shared without question and is strengthened by the love from her family and faith.”

The district honorees, in addition to Oguin, were recognized at a luncheon over the weekend. They are:

San Bernardino

Marsha Olguin, 2026 District 45 Woman of the Year

Marsha is the Director of Mary’s Table, overseeing food distribution and outreach services to the homeless after rising through leadership roles at Mary’s Haven and Mary’s Table. A San Bernardino native, she also served 18 years with the County and has taught catechism at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for 20 years.

Daisy Esparza

Daisy Esparza is a first-generation Cal State San Bernardino graduate who began her career with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools while still a student. She now serves as a Homeless Education Program Specialist, helping develop systems and partnerships that support youth experiencing homelessness and foster care across the county.

From Rialto

Shelia Futch

Sheila “Umbaji” Futch is a volunteer and mentor known for empowering youth through leadership programs and community initiatives in Rialto and San Bernardino. A U.S. Air Force veteran and substitute teacher, she continues to support students through programs like Toastmasters, Umoja-Tumanini and mentorship at Bob Murphy Community Day School.

Juanita Chan-Roden

Juanita Chan-Roden has served the Rialto community for 23 years as an educator and advocate for STEM, environmental learning and school gardens. She helped lead the Green Ribbon Schools initiative to state and national recognition while also transforming playground space into food forests to address food insecurity.

From Fontana

Samantha Moreno

Samantha Haylee Moreno is the founder and CEO of Thundar, Lightning & Peace, a nonprofit she launched at 16 to support veterans with trauma and which has since impacted hundreds across the Inland Empire and Los Angeles regions. While pursuing her degree at UC Berkeley, she plans to attend medical school and continue serving veterans through healthcare.

Corporal Katie Clark

Kathryn “Katie” Clark began working for the City of Fontana in 1996 and joined the Fontana Police Department in 2007, later serving in patrol, vice operations, the Detective Bureau and as a field training officer. Now a corporal, she has also served in cold case homicide investigations and continues to mentor new hires while serving on the department’s Honor Guard.

From Highland

Melissa Morgan

Melissa Morgan is the Public Services Manager for the City of Highland, where she oversees public and volunteer services within the Public Works Department. Since joining the city in 2004, she has played a key role in strengthening community programs and improving service for residents.

Caitlin Cifuentes

Caitlin Cifuentes is a 25-year-old community leader, former championship boxer and collegiate athlete who now serves youth across San Bernardino County. Through her work with probation-connected programs, Highlanders Boxing Club and Iron Youth Services, she provides mentorship, emotional support and structured programming for young people facing significant challenges.

From Redlands

Edwina Thomas

Edwina Thomas is a Program Coordinator with Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, where she leads trauma-informed initiatives that support youth and families across San Bernardino County. She is also the founder of Yummy Snacks Treats and Goodies, combining entrepreneurship with service to underserved communities throughout the Inland Empire.

Nora Pulskamp

Nóra Pulskamp, a member of the Navajo Nation, serves as the first Tribal Liaison and Director of Native Student Programs at the University of Redlands. She helped establish the Čañaam Center and has dedicated her work to advancing Native higher education, healing and cultural empowerment.

From Mentone

Jan Forrester

Jan Forrester is a retired fundraiser and longtime Mentone resident who remains active through the Mentone Chamber of Commerce and other local initiatives. She supports community cleanups, public art, film festival sponsorships and new chamber events including its first pub crawl/poker run.

Becky Gidcumb

Becky Gidcumb has taught science in the Redlands area for more than 20 years, including 16 years with the AVID team at Citrus Valley High School. She now also serves on the executive board of the Redlands Teachers Association, advocating for both educators and students.