ACTIVIST DISCUSSES HIS LIFE JOURNEY IN NEW BOOK

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Ratibu Shadidi, entrepreneur, veteran of the Civil Rights movement and activist for African American cultural heritage, is the guest speaker at the Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce (www.ieaacc.com)’s meeting from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, July 24.
The meeting is held in the conference room of Dameron Communications located at 255 N. D. Street in San Bernardino.
Shadidi, also known as Bill Jacocks, talks about his two-year struggle to write and publish his new book “Ratibu Shadidi: Incidents, Struggles and Divine Interventions.”
The book details Shadidi’s life from a small boy in Virginia to a successful business owner in California. Shadidi was active in the Civil Rights movement and has encouraged African Americans to get in touch with their African roots through cultural events such as Kwanzaa.
A community leader for more than 20 years, Shadidi is owner of Elegant Floors, a carpet store, and a former field representative for California State Sen. Ruben Ayala. He is married to California State Assembly member Wilmer Amina Carter (D-Rialto).
“Ratibu’s story serves as inspiration to our members,” said Delores Armstead, vice president of the Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce (IEAACC.) “He has seen it all, from the Civil Rights struggle to the modern-day movement to teach African Americans their true heritage.”
Founded in 1990, the IEAACC helps African American businesses, families and professionals succeed in the Inland Empire.
For more information about the IEAACC call (909) 888-5223 or go online to www.ieaacc.com.

Argosy University Professor Named Head of OC Chapter of The Association of Play Therapy

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Anaheim resident Dr. Kim Vander Dussen has been named president-elect of the Orange County Chapter of the Association Play Therapy. Currently, an officer in the organization, her term goes into effect in January 2008.

The Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy is made up of psychologists, therapists, social workers and counselors who are interested in play therapy. There are 300 members of the California Chapter of the Association of Play Therapists.

“Play therapy is a developmental-based treatment approach to working with children 12 and under,” Vander Dussen said. “Because children process their emotional experiences differently than adults, they can’t verbalize their emotions, the same way. Clinicians are trained to use play activity to help children work through their psychological issues.”

Vander Dussen is a professor in the psychology department at Argosy University’s Orange County campus. An instructor for three years, Sshe teaches courses such as Child and Adult Development, Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Therapy Practicum, and a first-year orientation class.

Vander Dussen has a bachelor’s degreesa bachelor ’s degree in psychology and human services from California State University, Fullerton, and master’s and doctorate degrees from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. She has been a professor at Argosy University for three years and also has her own private practice. Vander Dussen also previously worked as a community mental health provider in Orange County.

“We are very proud of Dr. Vander Dussen’s accomplishments with the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy,” said Dr. Jeb Egbert, president of Argosy University’s Orange County campus. ““It is a testimony to the quality of our campus and programs that we have a faculty member of Dr. Vander Dussen’s stature and expertise.”

As president of the organization Vander Dussen is responsible for overseeing regional and local training for play therapists. “It takes about two years for therapists to become registered play therapists,” Vander Dussen said. She said that certified play therapists have to take 150 educational hours. “There are additional requirements related to supervision and play therapy experience in addition to 150 hours of training, supervision and experience,” Vander Dussen said.

Vander Dussen teaches courses in the doctorate in Clinical Psychology program. “Students graduating from the program are going into careers as clinical psychologist,” , she said. “There is high demand in the career field. ” she said. “Our students haven’t had any issues finding employment.”

The Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy’s next professional education workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 30, at Argosy University’s Orange County campus located at 3501 W. Sunflower Ave., Suite 100, Santa Ana.

For more information about Argosy University’s Orange County campus call (714) 338-6200 or go to http://www.argosyu.edu/orangecounty. For more information about the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy call Debra Solseng at (949) 701-5930.


Argosy University’s Orange County Campus is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in psychology, business, counseling, and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor's degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (800) 621-7440; www.ncahlc.org).

DR. ALBERT ARTEAGA HONORED FOR SERVICES TO CHILDREN

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, has been awarded the San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Arteaga is recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children. (www.lasallemedical.com.)
The award is going to be presented during the San Bernardino County Medical Association’s Installation of Officers and Outstanding Awards dinner at the Mission Inn, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., in Riverside at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21.
“The award represents an endorsement by the medical society of the work we have been doing,” Arteaga said. “It shows we are appreciated and well regarded by our peers.”
Arteaga has offered free health care for Hurricane Katrina survivors, donated funds to local pastors towards hurricane relief and served as commissioner for First 5 and Children and Families Commission.
Born in San Diego, Arteaga grew up in various locations following his father, a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Arteaga’s family also lived in Argentina while his father was doing missionary work. Arteaga spent four and half years in northern Mexico.
As the son of a minister, Arteaga is dedicated to providing the best health care possible for his patients. He also demands his staff, from the receptionist to the doctors, treat people with the dignity, compassion and respect.
“It has always been our policy to help families in need. Since I have been in practice we have never turned away a patient because they could not pay. As the son of an Adventist minister I know that I have an obligation to help whenever I can. That is what we do,” Arteaga said.
This is not the first time LaSalle Medical Associates has been honored by local healthy agencies. The clinics are also recognized for their quality of service. LaSalle Medical Associates was selected by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) as Riverside and San Bernardino’s best health care provider. The African American Health Initiative also selected LaSalle as a model provider in a two-year study of Black healthcare in San Bernardino County. LaSalle is also the state’s no. 1 enroller of Healthy Families, an insurance program for children and teens from low to mid-income families. The program provides medical, dental and vision coverage for children without insurance.
Arteaga opened his first clinic in Fontana and expanded into San Bernardino in 1988. Formed in 1996, LaSalle Medical Associates is currently one of the largest independent practice association’s in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. The company has clinics in San Bernardino, Fontana, Hesperia and Lake Elsinore.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates contact (909) 890-0407. or go to www.lasallemedical.com.

Argosy University Professor Named Head of OC Chapter of The Association of Play Therapy

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Anaheim resident Dr. Kim Vander Dussen has been named president-elect of the Orange County Chapter of the Association Play Therapy. Currently, an officer in the organization, her term goes into effect in January 2008.

The Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy is made up of psychologists, therapists, social workers and counselors who are interested in play therapy. There are 300 members of the California Chapter of the Association of Play Therapists.

“Play therapy is a developmental-based treatment approach to working with children 12 and under,” Vander Dussen said. “Because children process their emotional experiences differently than adults, they can’t verbalize their emotions, the same way. Clinicians are trained to use play activity to help children work through their psychological issues.”

Vander Dussen is a professor in the psychology department at Argosy University’s Orange County campus. An instructor for three years, she teaches courses such as Child and Adult Development, Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Therapy Practicum, and a first-year orientation class.

Vander Dussen has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services from California State University, Fullerton, and master’s and doctorate degrees from the California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles. She has been a professor at Argosy University for three years and also has her own private practice. Vander Dussen also previously worked as a community mental health provider in Orange County.

“We are very proud of Dr. Vander Dussen’s accomplishments with the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy,” said Dr. Jeb Egbert, president of Argosy University’s Orange County campus. ““It is a testimony to the quality of our campus and programs that we have a faculty member of Dr. Vander Dussen’s stature and expertise.”

As president of the organization Vander Dussen is responsible for overseeing regional and local training for play therapists. “It takes about two years for therapists to become registered play therapists,” Vander Dussen said. She said that certified play therapists have to take 150 educational hours. “There are additional requirements related to supervision and play therapy experience in addition to 150 hours of training, supervision and experience,” Vander Dussen said.

Vander Dussen teaches courses in the doctorate in Clinical Psychology program. “Students graduating from the program are going into careers as clinical psychologist,” she said. “There is high demand in the career field. ” “Our students haven’t had any issues finding employment.”

The Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy’s next professional education workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 30, at Argosy University’s Orange County campus located at 3501 W. Sunflower Ave., Suite 100, Santa Ana.

For more information about Argosy University’s Orange County campus call (714) 338-6200 or go to http://www.argosyu.edu/orangecounty. For more information about the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Play Therapy call Debra Solseng at (949) 701-5930.


Argosy University’s Orange County Campus is one of 18 Argosy University (www.argosyu.edu) locations in 12 states. Argosy University offers doctoral and master's degree programs in psychology, business, counseling, and education. Argosy University also offers bachelor's degree completion programs in psychology and business, and associate's degree programs in various health sciences fields. Argosy University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (NCA) (30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, (800) 621-7440; www.ncahlc.org).

DR. ARTEAGA AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, was recently awarded the San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Arteaga is recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children. (www.lasallemedical.com.)
The award was presented during the San Bernardino County Medical Association’s Installation of Officers and Outstanding Awards dinner at the Mission Inn, in Riverside during the San Bernardino County Medical Societies annual installation banquet and awards dinner.
“I accept this award not just for me but for the 124 doctors, nurses, and staff at LaSalle’s five clinics. This is recognition of the entire companies dedication to our patients and our communities,” said Arteaga.
“The award represents an endorsement by the medical society of the work we have been doing,” Arteaga said. “It shows we are appreciated and well regarded by our peers.”
Arteaga has offered free health care for Hurricane Katrina survivors, donated funds to local pastors towards hurricane relief and served as commissioner for First 5 and Children and Families Commission.
Born in San Diego, Arteaga grew up in various locations following his father, a Seventh-day Adventist minister. Arteaga’s family also lived in Argentina while his father was doing missionary work. Arteaga spent four and half years in northern Mexico.
As the son of a minister, Arteaga is dedicated to providing the best health care possible for his patients. He also demands his staff, from the receptionist to the doctors, treat people with the dignity, compassion and respect.
“It has always been our policy to help families in need. Since I have been in practice we have never turned away a patient because they could not pay. As the son of an Adventist minister I know that I have an obligation to help whenever I can. That is what we do,” Arteaga said.
This is not the first time LaSalle Medical Associates has been honored by local healthy agencies. The clinics are also recognized for their quality of service. LaSalle Medical Associates was selected by Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) as Riverside and San Bernardino’s best health care provider.
The African American Health Initiative also selected LaSalle as a model provider in a two-year study of Black healthcare in San Bernardino County. LaSalle is also the state’s number one enroller of Healthy Families, an insurance program for children and teens from low to mid-income families. The program provides medical, dental and vision coverage for children without insurance.
What’s next? Arteaga is currently completing the creation of a nonprofit foundation to further his vision to help underserved communities receive quality healthcare. “We envision that the LaSalle Foundation will help pay for healthcare serves for children and the elderly who cannot be covered by any other insurance program.
Arteaga opened his first clinic in Fontana and expanded into San Bernardino in 1988. Formed in 1996, LaSalle Medical Associates is currently one of the largest independent practice association’s in San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties. The company has clinics in San Bernardino, Fontana, Hesperia and Lake Elsinore.
The father of three adopted children Arteaga lives in Grand Terrace with his with wife _______ son and youngest daughter. The Arteaga’s eldest daughter eldest attend the University of ________ in (city State.) She is studying to be a ___________.
For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates contact (909) 890-0407. or go to www.lasallemedical.com.