LaSalle Medical Associates Awarded for Helping more than 100,000 people obtain health insurance

Dr. Albert Arteaga threw out the opening pitch at a recent Inland Empire 66ers baseball game, part of an honor he received for helping thousands of people to obtain health insurance.

(San Bernardino, Calif.) - Together Rx Access honored Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. at a recent Inland Empire 66’ers baseball game for helping more than 100,000 people obtain health insurance. His honor included throwing the first pitch of the game during the Inland Empire 66’ers vs. the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes game.

“This was the first time I’ve ever pitched a baseball in my life,” said Dr. Arteaga. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the 13 doctors and 113 staff members of LaSalle Medical Associates. We are pleased to help Rx Access give more people low cost prescriptions.”

The Together Rx Access program is sponsored by leading pharmaceutical companies; it gives help to hardworking uninsured Americans and their families, by granting them immediate access to savings on prescription drugs at their neighborhood pharmacy. This help comes in the form of a card that is free to obtain and free to use.

Together Rx Access enrolls nearly 10,000 uninsured individuals every week nationwide. Over 1.5 million Americans have already enrolled in the program and 260,000 of those are children. Current cardholders have already saved nearly $68 million on their prescriptions.

Rex, the Together Rx Access mascot, was at the game to assist in passing out information and to direct fans to Together Rx Access representatives that were located throughout the stadium. These representatives assisted fans in determining if they were eligible for the program, as well as enrolling anyone that qualified for the program onsite.

LaSalle is also one of the top enrollers in California for the Healthy Families program, a low-cost health insurance for children 0 to 18 years old. The program provides medical, dental and vision coverage for children.

The LaSalle staff is trained to enroll uninsured patients into one of the many government-sponsored health insurance programs including Healthy Families. If patients do not qualify for a health insurance program, instead of billing a large fee, then sending the patient to collections, LaSalle charges the patient $25.

As the son of an Adventist minister Dr. Arteaga is dedicated to deliver the best healthcare possible for his patients. He also demands all staff from the receptionist to the doctors treat patients with the dignity, compassion and respect we all deserve.


“LaSalle has created a system that delivers quality healthcare regardless of ethnicity or income,” said Dr. Arteaga.


LaSalle has also received other awards for its commitment to quality health care for all. These include:

* The San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Dr. Arteaga was recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children.
* Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) as Riverside and San Bernardino’s best health care provider.
* The African American Health Initiative as a model provider in a two-year study of Black healthcare in San Bernardino County.


This is the third year Together Rx Access has sponsored minor league baseball games, in an effort to raise awareness about the program to more Americans. The program has been reaching out to minor league baseball fans in hopes that they will pass along the valuable information they have gained about the savings card.

“We have helped more than 1.5 million individuals obtain their medication at little to no cost and we are pleased to work with the 66’ers to raise even more awareness about our program within San Bernardino and its surrounding counties,” said Roba Whiteley, executive director of Rx Access.

The average Together Rx Access cardholder saves 25 to 40 percent on more than 300 brand-name prescription products included in the program. There are also savings available on a wide range of generic prescription products. Medicines in the program include those used to treat asthma, depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and many other common conditions.

To qualify for the free Together Rx Access Card, applicants cannot be eligible for Medicare or have public or private prescription drug coverage, must have a household income of less than $30,000 for a single person or $60,000 for a family of four (income eligibility is adjusted for family size). Applicants must also be legal residents of the United States or Puerto Rico.

Those who are eligible for the Together Rx Access Card may also qualify for additional savings on prescription medication or even free medication, through other patient assistance programs affiliated with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA).

For more information about the Together Rx access or to enroll in the program call 800-966-0407 or visit TogetherRxAccess.com. The website also has the most current list of brand-name medicines and products.

The 66ers are part of the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league farm system. The team competes in the California League against other teams from throughout the state who are at the “A” level of the minor league system.

A-level players are usually two years or more away from playing with the Dodgers or another major league team. An exception is current Dodgers third baseman Blake Dewitt, who played with the 66ers for part of last season before moving up to the Dodgers “AA” team in Jacksonville, Mo.

The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 17th St. and 565 North Mount Vernon in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia.

For an appointment or more information or to sign up for The Healthy Families health insurance program with maximum monthly premiums of $48 per month, per family call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407.

DESPITE THE RECESSION THERE ARE STILL BILLIONS FOR COLLEGE

Richard Macias, a student at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, discusses financial aid options with Bola Soyemi, Director of Financial Aid.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “Yes, the nation is in an economic crisis,” agrees Bola Soyemi, Director of Student Financial Services for the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire. “But funds for college are still available. It’s just that parents and students don’t realize it.”

Students considering an education at an Art Institute school most likely have a definite career goal, as the education they provide focuses on training people to work in creative fields. But, as with almost all careers, these students need to prepare for their goals with a college education.

“I hope to have a job doing what I love, so when I awaken each morning my job is something more of an adventure, rather than something to just pay the bills,” said Alurra Hughes, a senior at Redlands High School who hopes to attend The Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire after graduation.

Alurra seized a great opportunity earlier this year, when she entered and won The Art Institute of California --Inland Empire’s annual poster contest. She has already won a $3,000 scholarship, and has an opportunity to increase that amount to a full scholarship if she wins a competition of first-place winners from participating schools of The Art Institutes.

But even if she doesn’t win the full scholarship, the financial aid staff of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire will help Alurra find the resources she needs to pursue a degree at their school. They did the same two years ago for Alyssa Mees, who is now one of the school’s first graduates and works full-time in her dream job as a graphic designer.

The Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire has helped most of the more than 750 current students put together financial aid packages so that they too can pursue their education and career goals.

In some cases, Soyemi states, parents aren’t clear on the value and opportunities a higher education provides. This leads to a lack of parental support and commitment towards sending a child to college.

“I believe that more families should change their mindset towards education and embrace the opportunities that come with having a college degree,” Soyemi said. “The opportunities do come with cost, of course, but funds for college are still available.”

On the Internet, Google’s search engine spells it out. There are five million hits under “scholarship search,” two and a half million sites for “student financial aid” and in our state alone there are 700,000 sites under “California student financial aid.”

The United States Department of Education provides more than $83 billion in loans and non-repayable grants for higher education. That makes up fully 60 percent of the nation’s student aid funding. More than nine million students are dependent on this aid for their college education. And, experts point out, millions of available dollars go unused every single year.

Soyemi, who heads a staff of 10, says, “Approximately 90 percent of the students at our school were on some financial aid program last year, ranging from hundreds of dollars in support to many thousands.” These might take the form of federal, state or institution grants, depending on current budget allocations.

“My biggest task,” Soyemi adds, “is encouraging students and their parents to not disqualify themselves by simply failing to apply for aid. Particularly the parents, who may not realize that funds are available.”

“All the student or parents have to do to start the financial planning process is go to any college or university financial aid office and fill out the FAFSA form. That stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Then you simply ask what else is available.”

Every year The Art Institute of California -- Inland Empire gives over $150,000 in scholarships from $3,000 to $15,000 each. For details, go to www.artinstitutes.edu/Admissions/FinancialAid.aspx

There might be scholarships from local businesses or service organizations, state supplied grants, funds from the college itself and numerous student loan programs in which interest rates are low and repayment doesn’t begin until the education years are completed.

There are basically two categories of financial aid: achievement-based, which encompasses a student’s skills, abilities or talent, qualifying him or her for scholarships; and need-based, looking at the family’s financial condition.

Within those areas, four types of financial assistance are offered:

Scholarships are essentially “gifts” not requiring repayment. There are those, of course, for high-achieving academics, but there are additionally scholarships for exceptional skill in, say, the medical arena, and for standout talent that might include athletics or theater.

In the U.S., there are more than 1.5 million scholarships available, providing in excess of $1 billion in educational assistance.

Then, there are grants, which also do not need to be repaid, for a student’s unique or proven abilities.

Loans exist as well, primarily from the schools, lending institutions, individuals or organizations. These funds do need to be repaid, but at low interest rates over a number of years, beginning when the student completes or terminates his or her education.

And fourth, schools frequently offer work-study programs in which the student takes on part-time employment to supplement income while at the same time gaining valuable experience in the workforce, what many consider the “real world.”

Soyemi stresses that if a student has the family support and the personal drive for a college education, this should never let a difficult financial situation stand in the way.

Financial aid still exists, in the billions of dollars.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion & Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin Aug. 21, with offerings in the days, evenings and on weekends for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

Learn Techniques From Disneys' First African-American Animator

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) In 2001, Dr. Joshua Sweet made his debut on the silver screen in the movie Atlantis: Search For The Lost Empire, and made history as the first African-American human character in a Disney animated film.

Dr. Sweet had a lot of the heart and soul of another African-American who made Disney history. Thirty years ago, Ron Husband, who worked as the supervising animator in the development of Dr. Sweet, was the first African-American animator hired by Disney.

Friday, July 11 Husband will share his animation techniques as part of The Invasion of Infinite Creativity, an event hosted by The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire. His presentation from noon to 2 p.m. will describe to guests how he approaches the process of animation, and specifically, how he approaches a scene.

Husband also will show examples of his work. Besides Atlantis: Search For The Lost Empire, Husband has done animation for dozens of Disney films and television shows, and he currently works as an illustrator in Disney’s publishing group.

“Ron Husband’s experience makes him one of the top animators in Southern California,” said Santosh Oommen, academic director for the Media Arts & Animation program of The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire. “Success such as his requires incredible talent, but breaking Disney’s color barrier 30 years ago proves he also has great determination. He will certainly motivate and challenge anyone entering the field of animation.”

Other guest speakers during The Invasion of Infinite Creativity will be April Greiman, a pioneer in the use of technology to create graphic design, and Alexander Manu, who is the author of The Imagination Challenge: Strategic Foresight and Innovation in the Global Economy,” and an expert on developing innovation and creativity in business environments.

While The Invasion of Infinite Creativity includes presentations by three guest speakers who are especially well known in their areas of design, it is primarily an opportunity for the public to learn the latest design techniques through workshops led by the award-winning faculty of The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire. They will present workshops in Interior Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Media Arts & Animation, Culinary Arts and Game Art & Design.

Most of these workshops are free.

Interior Design workshops cover making computerized 3-D renderings with the SketchUP program; balancing mind, body and spirit with color; and marker rendering (a $30 materials fee for the marker rendering workshops will include 12 AD markers, marker paper samples and a DVD showing how to render wood, glass and metal).

Graphic Design/Web Design & Interactive Media workshops cover print graphics using InDesign, web design basics and how to publish a design portfolio online, web design with CSS Frameworks, Flash Object-Oriented Programming, AfterEffects for motion graphics, and search engine optimization.

Media Arts & Animation/Game Art & Design workshops cover figure sculpting (participants will sculpt a female form using a live model), life drawing, character design for film and television, storyboarding and comic books, digital character painting, history and future of animation, how Heavy Iron Studios (developer of various computer games) has approached level design, using ZBrush to develop and create characters, and digital character animation,

Culinary workshops cover healthy cuisine and international cuisine along with baking and pastry techniques and artistry.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion & Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire), a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.


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Environmental Stresses Bring Serious Health Consequences

(SAN BERNARDINO, California) Blacks in the Inland Empire live with environmental stresses that could have serious consequences for their health, including premature death.

Dr. V. Diane Woods, founding president and CEO of the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County, has tried to persuade people of this for years. Dr. Woods designed and conducted a countywide health planning project from 2003 to 2005, funded by The California Endowment, called the African American Health Initiative Planning Project.

The study was to investigate from the perspective of Americans of African ancestry in San Bernardino County why they have the poorest health outcomes of all ethnic groups. More African Americans die from the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and HIV/AIDS than any other group. Even African American infants die two to three times more often than other infants.

Statistics for San Bernardino County show that Americans of African ancestry die 13 years earlier than Whites. “Simply put African American males die at an average age of 56, and African American females die at an average age of 62,” said Dr. Woods. Since then, the African American Health Institute was created in January 2006, and has been working to combat this statistic.

Now, two documentary filmmakers, Larry Adleman and Llew Smith, have taken a look at health data affecting all races from across the country. The result of the filmmakers’ investigation, a four-part series called Unnatural Causes, airs soon on the PBS network.

Unnatural Causes concludes that lower incomes, racism and other external stresses put people at the greatest risk of health problems. These causes that are outside of a person, and can’t easily be changed by one’s own initiative, are more likely than biology or bad choices to make a person sick.

San Bernardino affiliate KVCR is scheduled to show the documentary starting July 2, and air at 8 p.m. July 9, July 16 and July 23.

“What I like about this series is we have collected our local data. Our results overwhelmingly point to multiple factors in San Bernardino County other than biology and bad choices that lead to persistent trends of premature death for Americans of African ancestry,” said Dr. Woods. “Now public health experts across America support our findings with mounting scientific evidence. Our local situation mirrors the nationwide situation.”

Dr. Woods learned of this film in 2006, and immediately signed the African American Health Institute to be a partner organization with the filmmakers. Many health care organizations in the country have joined this partnership, as have national organizations such as the Health Policy Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the American Public Health Association (APHA). The complete list can be viewed at www.unnaturalcauses.org.

As one of the partner organizations, the African American Health Institute held a preview screening of the documentary on Thursday, April 20 at the Norman C. Feldheym Library in San Bernardino. The segment Dr. Woods chose to preview shows how environmental changes over the 20th Century led to a high increase in diabetes and other health problems among two Native American tribes, the Tohonos and the Pimas, on reservations in Arizona.

At the preview, Dr. Woods discussed concerns both the series and her organization have raised. There are similarities between the health problems of the Native Americans now living on reservations, and those of Blacks living in the Inland Empire, she said.

Historically, the Native Americans in Arizona lived off their land, the Tohonos eating native vegetation that grew abundantly and the Pimas developing an elaborate irrigation system to draw water from a nearby river for their crops. Both tribes ate healthy and got lots of exercise. There was absolutely no diabetes among them during this time.

But starting in about 1890, White settlers in Arizona had increased the demand for water so much, the river by the Pimas had run dry and the Tohono’s area was a desert wasteland. A dam built during the Calvin Coolidge administration promised more water for the Pimas, but they saw very little. Instead, because of overt discrimination practiced then, most of that water was diverted to resorts, golf courses and wealthy Whites-only suburbs.

“This is a part of the sad history of America,” said Woods. “The ultimate travesty is that most people do not stop to think about the physical and mental devastation this environmental change has brought to a proud, self-sufficient people, the Native Americans.”

The Native Americans, stripped of their livelihood, had to rely on surplus commodities distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Usually these commodities are white flour, cheese, lard or other fats, and canned food. “Not foods for a healthy diet,” Woods said.

The video points out that while “fry bread” is now regarded as traditional Native American cuisine, it is not. It is what the early 20th Century Arizonans living on the reservations often made with their commodities, which was all they had. Their typical diet was much healthier.

“Here in the 21st Century Inland Empire, some Americans of African ancestry also rely on USDA surplus commodities to put food on their table,” Dr. Woods said. “African people were brought to America against their will. They were stripped of their dignity and treated lower than animals. The mental and physiological damage done to Americans of African ancestry is unspeakable. Even today, our people are led to believe that our culture is unhealthy, and bad, which is not true.”

“Think about the potlucks we have after church,” she said. “These social gatherings represent collective energy for positive fellowship, nurturing of our young, encouragement for the struggling, and general support for good will, honesty and integrity. This is the core of the African village, a fundamental premise for the health of Americans of African ancestry.”

Most Inland Empire residents suffer from a lack of exercise, Dr. Woods said. Some live in neighborhoods that aren’t safe for children to play outdoors. And others live in newer suburbs, that while safer; still have only small front and back yards, and almost no space between homes.

“This crowded condition tends to herd people together. When the African American family gathers it is often in large open spaces, such as the back yard at a relative’s home. We are a people of movement, energy, and laughter. We enjoy family gatherings. We love people to people interaction. We like space. Mentally, the new environmental changes and housing developments in the Inland Empire tend to be stressful. They take away space.

“Continual stress and negativism are environmental factors that put Black people at even greater health risk than bad diets and lack of exercise, as was demonstrated in Unnatural Causes,” Woods said. “The stress factor has been documented in scientific studies as a killer.”

While overt race-based discrimination has been illegal for more than 40 years, many Black people grew up with that oppression and still live with these covert factors, which causes ongoing accumulated stress.

“For instance, some people with rental homes will turn a Black person’s application down even though the home is vacant,” Dr. Woods said. “Likewise, some mortgage companies will invent reasons to deny a “prime” loan, or any loan to a Black person, or give high interest loans instead of lower interest loans.”

“Another way Blacks are discriminated against,” Dr. Woods said, “is in health and healthcare. Within the last five years inequities against Blacks, the poor and under-represented minorities (URM) have been overwhelmingly documented in the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) report, studies by RAND, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and many other scientific academies.”

As a health professional, she has often seen Blacks wait a long time for their doctors and insurance companies to approve a necessary surgery or treatment, while Whites with the same insurance coverage and same health provider obtain the necessary care quickly. “This is a case of inequity and unequal treatment, not inferior providers or a lack of insurance,” Woods said.

This type of stress is created for poor people, irrespective of ethnicity. The results are still the same, sickness or death. This is why everyone should view the PBS series Unnatural Causes. “We as health professionals need to target root causes of premature death and poor health outcomes in our society. We need to use our scarce money and human resources to change what is wrong in our society. And, what is terribly wrong are stress factors,” Woods said.

As Dr. Woods has been saying for several years, these risk factors create an intolerable situation.

“At this point in America, and other places around the world we are in a crisis, a global crisis,” she said. “A crisis requires an aggressive approach and we at AAHI-SBC are committed to following through with what is needed and to work with anyone who truly wishes to eradicate root causes for poor health outcomes.”

What San Bernardino County needs to do most of all, she said, is commit significant money to preventative health and healthcare. We need major change. We need to stop making excuses and stop trying to look good.

“Our County needs to give money and support to those community organizations that are truly working with their people. Organizations need to demonstrate with hard facts that they are working directly with people who need the help. Our County needs to stop using ‘token’ responses to life and death issues. Our County decision-makers need to stop playing with the lives of people they are responsible for protecting and preserving their health. We need to get about the business of not maintaining the “status quo.”

“Our County decision-makers can not afford to casually look the other way, or ‘play make believe,’ or pretend to create elaborate ‘less than honorable’ attempts in addressing serious societal issues, when people are dying needlessly from preventable conditions. Our County leadership needs to move aggressively ahead and get about the business of investing money and people power into saving lives of all people, and preventing one more needless death not just saving the lives of the chosen few,” said Dr. Woods.

She hopes the Unnatural Causes PBS national series will prick the “moral conscious” and further convince local policy-makers and decision-makers in the health industry of this need. “This is not a time to “just” stay in business but, to change for the good of the people, or we will all be dead shortly. Unfortunately, when death touches your family, the sting is great. The recovery is slow.”

“Unnatural Causes is not a feel-good production,” she said. “It is not entertainment, as usual. It is about a national movement forward to tear down false ideologies, and build up systems in America that will be fair, just, and equal for all. Unnatural Causes is about saving lives of Americans.”

The first episode is entitled In Sickness and In Wealth and it will air on Wednesday July 2 at 8pm on KVCR channel 24. This episode will address as to why some of us become sick more frequently than others, as well as why some die sooner.

The second airing, Wednesday July 9 at 8pm on KVCR channel 24, will show two twenty-five minute episodes entitled: When the Bough Breaks and Becoming American. The first twenty-five minutes segment, episode two, will focuses on: infant morality rates among African Americans that remain twice as high as that of white Americans, as well as investigate possible causes researchers determine add to the burden of racism as a long term-risk factor.

The third episode showing within the second airing will focus on recent Mexican immigrants and their tendency to be healthier than the average American. The longer they are here, however, the worse their health becomes, even as their socio-economic status improves. This is “Hispanic Paradox,” places their children at high risk for obesity, heart disease and mental illness.

The fourth episode, entitled Bad Sugar, will air July 16 at 8pm on KVCR channel 24 and will provide viewers with an in-depth look at the Pima and Tohono O’odham Indians of southern Arizona, which are marked with the distinction of perhaps the highest rates of Type 2 diabetes in the world.

The fifth episode, which will also be air July 16 at 8pm on KVCR channel 24, entitled Place Matters, tells of recent Southeast Asian immigrants, along with Latinos, increasingly moving into what have been neglected black urban neighborhoods and how their health is now being eroded.

The final airing of Unnatural Causes, showing July 23 at 8pm on KVCR channel 24, will include the sixth and seventh episodes. The sixth episode, Collateral Damage, will follow patterns of uneven development that mark the Pacific Islands and diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney diseases and tuberculosis. These diseases are taking a growing toll on Pacific Islander populations.

For more information about AAHI, please call us at (909) 880-2600.

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About the African American Health Institute of San Bernardino County (AAHI-SBC)
AAHI-SBC is a community-based resource focused solely on improving health among Americans of African ancestry, the poor and under-represented (URM) ethnic minorities in the Inland Empire. Please visit our Web Site at www.AAHI-SBC.org and learn more about what self-help groups and others are doing to improve the conditions of Blacks. You will also find the history of AAHI-SBC, an extensive list of partners, and activities underway.

Innovation & Creativity = Business Success

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “What if?”

This question, in infinite variations, is the foundation for discovering something new. It’s a question Alexander Manu, the author of “The Imagination Challenge: Strategic Foresight and Innovation in the Global Economy,” encourages corporations worldwide to ask as they seek new business opportunities.

By challenging corporate America to use its collective imagination for almost three decades, Manu has ignited a passion among creative individuals for developing and sharing new ideas. He has given more than 200 lectures on creativity and innovation in 23 countries, attended by thousands of people.

Monday, July 7, he brings his innovative thinking to San Bernardino, when the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire hosts The Invasion of Infinite Creativity. This series of lectures and workshops is designed to both stimulate people’s creativity and to showcase the quality instruction students at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire already receive from leaders in creative industries, such as design and animation.

As one of the keynote speakers for The Invasion of Infinite Creativity, Manu will give three presentations about his “Imagination Challenge” at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. These take place Monday, July 7 at 12 noon and 6 p.m.

Manu, who lives in Toronto, Canada, is the senior partner and chief imaginator at InnoSpa International Partners, a worldwide consulting firm that helps large corporations to use innovation and strategic planning to be more competitive. He previously was the founder and executive director of the Beal Institute for Strategic Creativity, which helped businesses to be more effective by using creative thinking.

Manu was born in 1954 in Bucharest, Romania. He obtained a Master of Decorative Arts degree from the Institute of Fine Arts in Bucharest in 1978, and served on the faculty there before coming to Toronto in 1980.

Besides lecturing, authoring and serving as a design and planning consultant for large corporations, Manu currently serves as an instructor for the Ontario College of Art & Design, and at the Rotman School of Management, both in Toronto. He also is a past president of the Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (Canada), and served twice on the board of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design.

Other guest speakers during The Invasion of Infinite Creativity will be April Greiman, a pioneer in the use of technology to create graphic design, and Ron Husband, who was the first Black animator hired by Disney Studios.

While The Invasion of Infinite Creativity includes presentations by three guest speakers who are especially well known in their areas of design, it is primarily an opportunity for the public to learn the latest design techniques through workshops led by the award-winning faculty of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. They will present workshops in Interior Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Media Arts & Animation and Game Art & Design.

Most of these workshops are free.

Interior Design workshops cover making computerized 3-D renderings with the SketchUP program, balancing mind, body and spirit with color, and marker rendering (a $30 materials fee for the marker rendering workshops will include 12 AD® markers, marker paper samples and a DVD showing how to render wood, glass and metal)

Graphic Design/Web Design & Interactive Media workshops cover print graphics using InDesign, web design basics and how to publish a design portfolio online, web design with CSS Frameworks, Flash Object-Oriented Programming, AfterEffects for motion graphics, and search engine optimization.

Media Arts & Animation/Game Art & Design workshops cover figure sculpting (participants will sculpt a female form using a live model,) life drawing, character design for film and television, storyboarding and comic books, digital character painting, history and future of animation, how Heavy Iron Studios (developer of various computer games) has approached level design, using ZBrush to develop and create characters, and digital character animation,

Culinary workshops cover healthy cuisine, international cuisine, and baking and pastry techniques and artistry.

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion & Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire), a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.

Law School Expands in San Bernardino

Stephan Cutler, dean of the School of Criminal Justice & Public Policy for American Heritage University, gives remarks at the school's grand opening at 255 N D Street. Also on the stage with Cutler are Robin De-Ivy Allen, keynote speaker for the grand opening, and American Heritage University's management team: Registrar Margaret Espinosa, Law School Dean Pamela Gressier, Chief Academic Officer Jay Deb and President Tony Ogiamien.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Aspiring lawyers and other professionals have new opportunities to earn their degree, with the expansion of American Heritage University into its new quarters at 255 North D Street, Suite 403.

“A law school! Right here in San Bernardino County! I am excited about this,” said Robin De-Ivy Allen, one of the guests at American Heritage University’s Grand Opening ceremony, held Tuesday, June 24.

De-Ivy Allen was the motivational speaker for the Grand Opening, but other guests shared the enthusiasm. Many agreed, the Juris Doctorate and other programs American Heritage now offers in downtown San Bernardino will motivate many people to pursue higher education.

President Tony Ogiamien noted that since American Heritage University moved into its new building, its enrollment has grown significantly. Many men and women work in the courthouse and other professional buildings nearby, and noticed the sign outside the building.

“This is a great new location for us,” he said.

The 255 North D Street address is also considerably larger than its old offices a few miles away. With the expansion, American Heritage University moves from a purely online school to a hybrid program, offering students a choice of online or in-class instruction.

“If you have not completed your degree, you have a new opportunity to do so here at American Heritage University,” Ogiamien said. “Our instructors are seasoned professionals.”

“But you do not have to sit in a classroom,” he said. “We also have quality online instruction.”

Undergraduate degree programs at AHU are designed to allow students to proceed at their own pace. They also are specifically tailored for students who started a degree elsewhere, but left college before graduating.

They are required to complete a minimum of two courses per session, and must finish their undergraduate program within two years. Undergraduate students must have already completed 60 units.

The postgraduate work must be completed within one year. The Juris Doctorate degree is a four-year program for those seeking California State Bar eligibility.

The School of Law offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Law and the Juris Doctorate. Courses cover such subjects as contracts, criminal law, criminal procedure, legal writing, torts, Constitutional law, civil procedure and real property law.

American Heritage University also offers bachelor’s degrees in business administration, film studies, social studies and computer information systems, master’s degrees in business administration, public policy and computer information systems and a doctorate degree in business administration. It offers certificates for nursing assistants and English as a foreign language.

American Heritage University has been granted full approval to operate by the California State Bureau for Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

For more information, call (909) 888-0321.

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Life Drawing Class at Art Institute of California-Inland Empire

(SAN BERNADINO, Calif.) Knowing how to draw from a live human model is important for any artist. The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire will show attendees how to do this at its Life Drawing workshop on Saturday, July 19, from 1 - 5 p.m. The workshop will be open at no charge.

“These classes to give budding young artists the instruction they need to improve in their drawing abilities,” said Santosh Ooomen, academic director of animation of the Art Institute of California – Inland Empire .”We are committed to helping artists in the Inland Empire grow.”

The Life Drawing workshops are usually offered on the third Saturday of every month. There are 21 seats available in each class. Students must bring their own pencils and drawing papers. The workshop is open to the public, those 15 years old or above, and the classes are offered at no charge.

“Many people have great creative talents,” Oomen says. “The workshop offers people a chance to focus that raw creative talent into directed creativity. Our goal is to help make better artists.”

Oommen says the workshop involves drawing from a live figure and covers topics such as anatomy and gestures. To sign up for the Life Drawing workshop, or for more information, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100.

Healthy Relationships, A Healthier You

(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) – A young Black woman who survived breast cancer at an early age will highlight a conference that will motivate other African-Americans to take charge of their health.
Nikia Hammonds Blakely is the keynote speaker for the free Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference, taking place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 26 at California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia St., Riverside. The conference offers speakers, information booths and interactive sessions aimed at improving the overall health and well being of the Black community.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Healthy Relationships, A Healthier You.”
“Good relationships are essential to our happiness and emotional well-being,” said Phyllis Clark, event organizer. They influence everything from hypertension to age-related health issues.”
Hammonds Blakely was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer when she was just 16 years old. She spent that summer undergoing radiation treatments and several surgical procedures, but after several months the cancer went away and has not returned.
“I was terrified when I learned I had cancer,” she said. “After God delivered me from this, motivating other people to take care of their health became my passion.”
Now 29, Hammonds Blakely is a member of the Susan J. Komen Foundation’s Young Women’s Advisory Council and speaks throughout the world on the issue of women’s health and African-American health. She also serves as a national ambassador for Circle of Promise, a division of the Susan J. Komen foundation working to improve the high incidences of and poor survival rates for Black women with breast cancer.
And she does this all while serving as an assistant director for marketing and alumni relations at Ivy Tech Community College in Crown, Point, Indiana and pursuing her Ph.D. in organizational management.

“Maintaining healthy relationships is not easy, but it can be done,” Clark said. “The Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference 2008 will provide tools and resources to help develop and maintain these relationships.”
According to a San Bernardino County Department of Health report, African
Americans in San Bernardino County die 13 years younger than whites. Many African American lives are shortened by illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, HIV/AIDS and cancer.
The Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference features speakers who bring a wealth of
knowledge from the medical, emotional health, faith, and Afrocentric worlds.
Other speakers are:
• Dr. E.M. Abdlulmumin, a psychologist at the University of California – Riverside Counseling Center and psychology professor for the Thomas Haider UCR/UCLA Program in Biomedical Sciences at UCR. Dr. Abdulmumin is also the founder and executive director of the DuBois Institute, a recreational and educational program for youth at the Bobby Bonds Sports Complex in Riverside.
• Charles Fossett III of Montclair, a sociology professor and author of Heartbrokers and Marriagebrokers, two books that explore personal relationships.
A wellness panel includes Dr. Stephen H. Barag, a physician at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, speaking on hypertension and the doctor-patient relationship, Dr. Dave Williams, coordinator of the Riverside County Wellness Program, speaking on the holistic approach to wellness, Chef Anthony Stemley, owner of French Quarter Catering, sharing his techniques to prepare healthy meals and a representative of the Black Women’s Health Project, speaking on Twelve Commandments for Mental Health.
There are also free screenings for HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer and blood sugar levels, clinical breast examinations and more Clark said.
The free Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference is organized by a committee, which includes staff members from Riverside County Public Health Department, the American Cancer Society, the Southern California Witness Project, a breast cancer awareness group, Inland Agency, Dameron Communications and many volunteers.
Sponsorships for this year’s conference are still available. They will include The American Cancer Society, Pharmaceutical and Research Manufacturers of America, Southern California Edison, the Riverside County Health Foundation, Inland Agency, Dameron Communications and Novartis.
For more information or to attend the Healthy Heritage Wellness Conference call (951) 565-4431 or e-mail hhwcmovement@yahoo.com.

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Digital graphics pioneer April Greiman coming to Art Institute in July

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) April Greiman, a world-recognized leader in the evolution of post-modern graphic art, will give a rare guest presentation at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire on July 10 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

“She was one of the first women in graphic design to break through what had been a male-dominated field, and make a name for herself,” said Micheal Swank, academic director of the Graphic Arts and Web Design & Interactive Media departments of the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. “She also pioneered the use of technologies that changed the essence of what graphic design is today.”

Greiman, 60, of Los Angeles, was one of the first graphic designers to embrace the computer as a graphic design tool. Shortly after McIntosh computers were made public in 1984, she purchased one and began incorporating applications such as McDraw into her work.

One of her most well-known works which she used these early computer technologies to create was Issue #133 of Design Quarterly, published in 1986. Instead of the usual magazine format, this issue was a large poster, with a life-size digitalized photo of her naked on one side, with layers of image and text interspersed, and video images and text on the other side. The focus of the issue was “Does It Make Sense?” and addressed her thoughts on the emerging field of digital graphic design.

In 1986, technology wasn’t adequate to easily integrate video images and text, so Greiman’s work on the Design Quarterly issue was considered an astounding technical feat, according to the website for AIGA, the top professional organization for graphic designers.

This website also noted that Design Quarterly #133 was a departure artistically from widely-held notions of graphic design at the time. Her digital images and type were clearly pixilated, a distortion most graphic designers of the day considered unacceptable., but that could hardly be avoided when using computers. New technologies have since been developed to greatly reduce pixilation to the point it is not visible in most finished works, but Greiman embraced and greatly expanded on the distorted look, causing many graphic designers to rethink their approach to graphic arts, both artistically and technologically.

Today, Greiman continues to stay on top of new technologies and design ideas. Her design firm, Made In Space, creates images using a variety of media, from traditional photography to the latest technology. She’s also developed an interest in architectural design, and has collaborated with architects to develop signs, interior spaces and more.

When Greiman began working in Graphic Arts, there weren’t as many uses for it, and graphic designers tended to only work in one area of expertise. Now, there are many uses for graphic design, and different types of designers must work together to bring about the much more complex projects today’s technology is capable of producing.

“In the tradition of graphic design of the 20th Century, you could either be a great typographer, a great designer or illustrator, or a great poster designer,” she said. “Now we are confronted with motion graphics, the World Wide Web, and interactive applications. The world has changed and the field is changing to meet it.”

And so is the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, which is training designers to work in the most modern techniques of Graphic Design, and all of the fields that have emerged from graphic design. It offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, Culinary Management, Web Design & Interactive Media, Fashion & Retail Management, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Media Arts & Animation; and Associate of Science Degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts.

For more information, or to arrange a tour, call (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.
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Art Institute adds counseling staff

Sara Reilly counsels a student at the Art Institute of the Inland Empire. Photo by Robert Swapp.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) She was a Business major at Azusa Pacific University, until she took an “Introduction to Counseling” class. “And immediately,” says Sara Reilly, “I knew the business world wasn’t for me. My heart just wasn’t in it.”

Reilly, who now lives in Redlands, is the new Counseling and Disability Service director at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire.

She did complete her B.A. in Business. but with her goals and passion having found new direction, she obtained her Masters last December in Educational Counseling.

“I found a new and very strong desire to help students,” she adds, “and my life took on a whole new meaning.”

Working under the Student Affairs Department these past three months has been excitingly active. Reilly had one-on-one sessions with 54 Art Institute students in May, each with a different need, a different problem. “I love that about this job. The student contacts and situations vary each and every day.”

Reilly doesn’t only rely on students coming to her, however, and “outreach” programs are high on her agenda. There are workshops she directs in stress management, avoiding procrastination, handling success and more.

“I bring in a lot of guest speakers, too,” she says. “A big part of my job is letting students know what assistance and resources are out there in their own communities, available to anyone in need. Students may be introduced to rape centers, to drugs and alcohol programs, to child care assistance. There’s so much help available that students might otherwise never know exists.”

Reilly does double-duty, though, with Disability Services a very important part of her responsibilities. In this capacity, she works with teachers who may have students with specialized needs. “For instance, some students may require additional test time,” she explains. Others may not be able to arrive at their next class right on time, some may need to sit extra close or at a distance from the classroom teacher, still others may have unique nutritional needs. Whatever student disabilities call for, it’s her job to handle them.

“There’s an added benefit to being at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire,” Reilly notes. “In the public school system you drown in paperwork, cutting into potentially meaningful time with students. Here, at a private school, I can spend my time as an academic counselor one hour and a personal advisor the next. I’m here for our 750 students, not simply for the administration or the government.”

Already, Sara Reilly has her eyes set on more ways to assist students. “We’ve done some reaching out to them, but there has to be more. I can’t simply wait for a student to come to me. Some are too embarrassed to admit they need help, others just may not even know our office exists. In the future I’ll spend more time to introduce them to the vast resources at the school and within the community, for example. I’ll expand the number of workshops, too.” There’s a great deal that any school can do to help their students, but not all administrations realize its importance. The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire does. That’s why they brought in Sara Reilly.

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion and Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is only one of more than 40 educational institutions within The Art Institutes system, located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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Hotel guests will work so they can teach others

The Riverside Marriott has some extra help the week of June 23-27, as teachers job-shadow the hotel staff as part of a workshop on teaching hospitality and tourism to students enrolled in Home Economics Careers and Technology courses at high schools and Regional Occupation programs.

(RIVERSIDE, California) – Home Economics Careers and Technology teachers from throughout California will convene at the Riverside Marriott Hotel for a week June 23-27, but this is no vacation for them – they’ll all be put to work.

These teachers will spend part of their week working as reservation clerks, receptionists, food and beverage servers, and as part of the housekeeping, catering, room service, concierge, and security and maintenance staff. Then they will return to their own high schools and Regional Occupation Programs, better equipped to prepare their students for careers in tourism and hospitality.

“California’s reputation for breathtaking landscapes and friendly people have put the state on the map as the number one travel destination in the United States,” said Janice DeBenedetti, consultant for the California Department of Education’s Home Economics Careers & Technology program. “This means there is hardly a better place for young people to begin a career in the hospitality, tourism and recreation industry, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.”

The hospitality/tourism industry employs about 900,000 people as of 2008, and is expected to grow 4.5 percent each year through 2014, DeBenedetti said. Some of the best-paid jobs within this sector are theme park directors, hotel managers, caterers and event planners

“The growing demand for hospitality and tourism has convinced many high schools and ROP programs to add specialized courses in hospitality and tourism,” DeBenedetti said. “This workshop is for the instructors who will teach those courses.

Before they take on the roles of hospitality providers for the Riverside Marriott, the teachers will “job shadow” people who actually hold these jobs. They will also tour other hotels in the area, to learn about how they provide hospitality.

On-the-job experience is only part of the course for teachers taking part in this professional development workshop offered by Home Economics Careers & Technology. As with any part of the California educational system, there are State Board of Education-approved standards for Hospitality/Tourism programs, which the Department of Education expects all schools to follow. Members of the Home Economics Careers and Technology staff, along with guest instructor Michael Lao of Glendale Community College, will train teachers in how to develop a program that follows those standards.

The standards for all Home Economics Careers and Technology courses were developed with the input of industry leaders and educators.

Teachers will also learn strategies to help students learn the material, how to develop tests and other assignments to measure the students’ grasp of what they have learned, and about resources to help them financially or enhance the training they will provide. As Home Economics Careers and Technology instructors, they will also learn how to use the FHA-HERO leadership and career development program, as a co-curricular organization for students enrolled in Home Economics Careers & Technology courses.

“We are pleased to partner with the California Department of Education and its Home Economics Careers and Technology program in support of the hospitality industry,” said Tom Donahue, general manager of the Riverside Marriott Hotel. “Marriott as a corporation, and the Riverside Marriott, are in full support of partnerships to assist teachers and school districts in the development of this type of specialized training in our schools.”

Home Economics Careers and Technology courses prepare students to work in three industry sectors: Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation (including Culinary Arts); Fashion & Interior Design; and Education, Child Development & Family Services. The courses, which focus on both leadership and career development, are offered in high schools, Regional Occupations Programs and some middle schools.

In the 1970s, California began expanding its home economics courses, taking the focus off traditional homemaking. The program now has a dual focus. One program Consumer and Family Studies, prepares students with personal and life management skills. The other, Home Economics Related Occupations, prepares students for high-skill, high-wage careers in the related industries.

While culinary, fashion and child development courses remain staples of most schools’ home economics curriculum; programs now address broad topics like tourism and hospitality, consumer affairs and energy conservation.

For more information, call Janice DeBenedetti at (916) 323-5025.

Creativity Invading the Inland Empire

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Creative professionals and industry leaders will bring their talents to The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire July 7-11 when it hosts The Invasion of Infinite Creativity.

“We want everyone to see the amazing faculty, talented students, and the kinds of opportunities we are creating in the Inland Empire,” said Micheal Swank, Academic Department Director for Graphic Design and for Web Design & Interactive Media, just two of the disciplines hosting the Invasion of Infinite Creativity.

“The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is building community through creativity,” Swank said. “Creativity is more relevant then ever before in the working world, and the workshops held during The Invasion of Infinite Creativity will highlight our resources to the public and help revitalize the innovative spirit of the Inland Empire.”

While The Invasion of Infinite Creativity includes keynote speakers well known in their industries, it is also an opportunity for the public to learn the latest design techniques in hands-on workshops led by the award-winning faculty of Ai with specialized industry experiences. They will present workshops in Interior Design, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Culinary Arts, Media Arts & Animation, and Game Art & Design.

All keynote speakers are open to the public, and a majority of the workshops are free. However, pre-registration is necessary with limited space, so you have the true hands-on learning experiences of the Art Institute. Call (909) 915-2100 to register or check out the RSVP page on www.invasionofcreativity.com.

Interior Design workshops cover making computerized 3-D renderings with the SketchUP program, balancing mind, body and spirit with color, and marker rendering (a $30 materials fee for the marker rendering workshops will include 12 AD® markers, marker paper samples and a DVD showing how to render wood, glass and metal)

Graphic Design/Web Design & Interactive Media workshops cover print graphics using InDesign, web design basics and how to publish a design portfolio online, web design with CSS Frameworks, Flash Object-Oriented Programming, AfterEffects for motion graphics, and search engine optimization. Special guests include award winning April Greiman, John McCarthy of Web Metro, Jack Cardinal of Intomotion.com, and xTine Burroughs on culture jamming.

Media Arts & Animation/Game Art & Design workshops cover figure sculpting (participants will sculpt a female form using a live model,) life drawing, character design for film and television, storyboarding and comic books, digital character painting, history and future of animation, how Heavy Iron Studios (developer of various computer games) has approached level design, using ZBrush to develop and create characters, and digital character animation.

Culinary workshops cover healthy cuisine, international cuisine, and baking and pastry techniques and artistry. Spaces are limited by the kitchen size and there is a material fee of $25 due for confirmed reservation.

Guest speakers are April Greiman, who may be the most well known female graphic artist in the world, Ron Husband, who was the first African-American to work as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and Alexander Manu, who is an international leader in industrial design, strategic innovation and design research.

Manu is the Senior Partner and Innovator for InnoSpa, International Partners, an international consulting in Toronto, Canada specializing in reshaping business thinking. He is also the author of “The Imagination Challenge: Strategic Foresight and Innovation in the Global Economy and a professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design, and the Rotman School of Management, both in Toronto.

His “Imagination Challenge” encourages people to seek creative solutions for developing new business opportunities and innovations.

“The most innovative products and services arise out of the imaginative and the creative behaviors of play—the ability to imagine, without limits, the question "What if…?" reads an introduction to his book on the Beal Institute’s website.

As one of the keynote speakers for The Invasion of Infinite Creativity, Manu will give three presentations about his “Imagination Challenge” at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. These take place Monday, July 7 at 12:00 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Greiman, who will give a lecture from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 10, was a pioneer in the field of digital graphic arts. She is most known for unique design creations on Macintosh computers. Companies such as PacTel, Esprit and the US Postal Service have commissioned her work.

Husband’s animation works can be seen in many Disney films produced between 1978 and 2005. Since then, he has worked as an illustrator in Disney’s publishing group.

Some of Husband’s recent movie credits include Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, Fat Albert and Mickey, Donald Goofy: The Three Musketeers. Earlier, well-known works are a segment of the movie Fantasia 2000, in which he was the supervising animator for the Elk, and his animation of Dr. Sweet in Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

In a seminar from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m Friday, July 11, Husband will discuss the animation process, especially how he approaches a scene, and will share examples of his work.

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion & Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of the Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire), a system of more than 40 locations throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call (909) 915-2100 or go on line to www.artinstitutes.edu/InlandEmpire.

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American Heritage University sets Grand Opening

American Heritage University has expanded to this office at 255 N. D Street.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) After merely five years American Heritage University of San Bernardino is adding to its facilities, expanding into its new space at 255 North D Street, Suite 403.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 24 at the new location’s entrance. There will be refreshments, facility tours and guest speakers highlighted by corporate trainer and motivational speaker Robin De-Ivy Allen.

Allen, an author, consultant and business woman, has dedicated herself to “helping others to successfully balance work, family, interests and obligations,” she says. She has appeared before such national organizations as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and Riverside County’s Center for Governmental Excellence. “My brief remarks will focus on achieving one’s goals and accepting success,” she explains.

As lawyer and AHU President Tony Ogiamien says “The objective of the American Heritage University is to help mid-career adults who are personally motivated and self-directed complete their education and achieve their university undergraduate and graduate degrees. Using both traditional and online classrooms, and a combination of both, AHU offers degrees in Law, Public Policy, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Media Studies, Criminal Justice and General Education.”

“Some adults have full-time jobs, but still need their degrees,” notes Ogiamien. “For others, an active family life may have prevented them from continuing their university studies, or a single parent may had had to postpone their work toward a degree. Regardless of the reason, American Heritage University can help them reach this important milestone.”

Undergraduate degree programs at AHU are designed to allow students to proceed at their own pace. They are required to complete a minimum of two courses per session, and must complete their program within five years. The postgraduate work must be finished within four.

In the case of the popular Doctor of Jurisprudence program offered online by the School of Law and Public Policy, the California Bar requires four years of continuous study.

The School of Law and Public Policy also offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and a Master of Arts. in Public Policy, with courses covering such subjects as contracts, criminal law, criminal procedure, legal writing, torts, Constitutional law, civil procedure and real property law.

At the doctoral level, there are also required classes in wills and trusts, corporations, agency and partnership, evidence and professional responsibility. Electives include bioethics and the law, religious freedom, income taxation and medical law and ethics.

For the convenience of fully employed students, American Heritage University provides a full online curriculum. Faculty-student communication is available via computer, and there are 90-minute weekly chat room sessions with main topics covered in question and answer formats, accessible at any time during the course.

Additionally, via the Discussion Boards students can post questions of their own and answers to previous questions at any time of the day or night.

E-mail communication is important, too, and those addressed to instructors are to be answered within 24 hours. A weekly Grade Book is posted as well, and students can access not only their test grades, but can also review any errors while studying the correct answers. Online, students are graded based on test results, quality of work and their demonstration of knowledge through the assignments.

“We pride ourselves in providing adult students with the in-depth courses they need to complete their university education,” notes Ogiamien. “Our online program even permits them to do their work at any time from anywhere there’s a computer with Internet access. And in the classroom we have instructors who have reached the highest academic levels of their professions.”

American Heritage University has been granted full approval to operate by the California State Bureau for Postsecondary and Vocational Education.

For more information, call (909) 884-9000.
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Learn How To Stimulate Your Creativity

Interior Design student Alysha Cintas and Graphic Design students Michelle Cossota and Tachunna LaCour prepare a Power Point presentation they will give in a course at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. Learn about the courses offered to students interested in design, media arts and culinary arts during an Open House the campus will hold June 21.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – Is a creative career for you?

Learn about careers in fields such as fashion, design or culinary arts at an open house at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21 at The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire campus located at 630 E. Brier Dr., San Bernardino.

“Prospective students will learn why we are America’s leader in creative education,” said Monica Jeffs, senior director of admissions.

“We are presenting information about all of the majors we offer such as our new fashion design program, as well as fashion & retail management, game arts and design, culinary arts, interior design, graphic design, web design and interactive media, and media arts and animation. We hope many will want to apply for our next term, which begins July 14 with day, evening and weekend courses.”

At the open house, participants will learn about “The Invasion of Creativity,” a week-long series of workshops The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is sponsoring July 7-11 to help the public learn more about artistic techniques, and the types of courses offered through the campus.

“The community will have many ways to explore the majors The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire offers, through our Invasion of Creativity seminars,” Jeffs said. “These will mostly be directed by our dynamic, award-winning faculty, but we are also bringing in some renown industry leaders to facilitate some of the seminars.”

At the open house, there will also be hands-on workshops to acquaint visitors with all The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire programs, and a more extensive introduction to the new Fashion Design program.


The open house is also an opportunity to meet The Art Institute’s faculty, many of whom are also working in the industry, Jeffs said. These include Robert Delgadillo, who instructs both graphic design and fashion courses at The Art Institute, and also designs ads that have appeared in magazines like In Style and Vogue.

Jeffs said members of the public can tour the facility and meet with representatives from the university’s academic, student life and financial aid departments.

“Get the facts on how financial aid works, how you qualify and what you could be eligible for,” she said. “You may be surprised at how much is available for students with the desire to succeed.”

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100 or visit www.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

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Summer Studio '08 begins

San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson inspects a mural created by participants in The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire’s Summer Studio ‘07, for the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino. Summer Studio ‘08 has begun. This year participants will create a poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

(SAN BERNARDINO Calif.) For more than six years the Art Institutes throughout North America have conducted their Summer Studio program for high school juniors and seniors, giving them a sample of both advanced academic life and work in the “real world.”

Starting Monday June 16, the Inland Empire campus in San Bernardino at 630 East Brier Drive launches its third Summer Studio program, creating a 20th Anniversary poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

The week begins with students being taught about the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity to learn the project’s objectives and challenges. Then they get to work under the guidance of the Academic Director of Foundations Stephen Bautista.

The Summer Studio plan is a multi-faceted one: Aiding the community’s nonprofits while introducing high school juniors and seniors to hands-on experiences instead of the traditional academic classroom work. Admissions Director Monica Jeffs adds, “The Summer Studio program is just four days, but it’s a brief yet intense way to show students what their interests are really like in a professional working environment.”

Jeffs adds, “The Summer Studio ‘08 program provides them the opportunity to discover if they have a passion for the arts, and prepares them for their future careers.”

Enrollment opportunities are still available, and at least 35 students are expected to take part. The fee for the four-day workshop is $150.00, and $350.00 with housing accommodations chaperoned by Art Institute staff.

High school juniors and seniors interested in more information or to enroll may simply call the school at (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fashion and Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, with offerings in the days, evenings and on weekends for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.


The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu ), a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.



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San Bernardino City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson inspects a mural created by participants in The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire’s Summer Studio ‘07, for the Boys and Girls Club of San Bernardino. Summer Studio ‘08 has begun. This year participants will create a poster and other projects for the Habitat for Humanity of Riverside.

First Art Institute grad climbing to new heights as graphic designer

Alyssa Mees, the first graduate of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, is now climbing to new heights as a graphic designer for FiveTen, a Redlands sports apparel manufacturer.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Alyssa Mees, the first graduate of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, is now putting her degree to good use as a graphic designer.

The 19-year-old Mees is working for FiveTen, a Redlands manufacturer of rock-climbing apparel and sports shoes. As part of the company’s art department, she is designing packaging, t-shirt illustrations, advertising layouts and logos.

“I’m having a blast there,” she said of her new job, which she started April 21. “They have given me lots of projects to work on, and I have applied everything I learned at The Art Institute to them.”

Some of her training from The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire helps her to be more efficient in her work, she said. For instance, she learned there to date all work she does, a practice that now helps her to be more organized at work.

She also learned about many software programs for graphic design, and is now using these on the job. These are Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.

And, this job has one cool perk most companies don’t.

“They have a rock climbing wall in the back of their office,” she said. “On my lunch break, I can climb it.”

Mees graduated from The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire on March 28, with an Associate of Science degree in Graphic Design. With the Institute’s year-round program, Mees was able to obtain her Associate degree less than two years after she graduated from high school.

“Alyssa Mees is a remarkable young woman, and we are proud to have our first graduate using her skills in the graphic design industry,” said Emam El-Hout, interim president of The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire. “We expect more students to graduate with associate degrees and begin working in the graphic design industry by the end of this year. We also will have students completing our other programs in 2009, and we are confident they too will be contributing to their industry shortly thereafter.”

The Art Institute of California–Inland Empire offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Game Art & Design, Culinary Management, Graphic Design, Web Design & Interactive Media, Interior Design, Fashion and Retail Management and Media Arts & Animation. There are also Associate of Science degrees in Graphic Design and Culinary Arts. Each program is offered on a year-round basis, allowing students to work uninterrupted toward their degrees.

It’s not too late to start classes. Courses begin July 14, offering day, evening and weekend classes for new and reentry students. For details or a tour of the campus call (909) 915-2100, or go on line to artinstitutes.edu/inlandempire.

The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire is only one of more than 40 educational institutions within The Art Institutes system, located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

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Art Institute offers life drawing class

Find out what drawing from a live model is like when The Art Institute of California-Inland Empire holds a life drawing class Saturday, June 21.

(SAN BERNADINO, Calif.) Ever wondered what drawing from a live human model is like? The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire will show attendees of its Life Drawing workshop this process on Saturday, June 21 from 1 - 5 p.m. The workshop will be open at no charge.

Santosh Oommen, academic director of animation at The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire, says, “We created these classes to give budding young artists the instruction they need to draw better. We are committed to helping artists in the Inland Empire improve their talents.”

The Life Drawing workshops are usually offered on the third Saturday of every month. There are 21 seats available in each class. Students must bring their own pencils and drawing papers. The workshop is open to the public, those 15 years old or above, and the classes are offered at no charge.

“Many people have great creative talents,” Oommen says. “The workshop offers people a chance to focus that raw creative talent into directed creativity. Our goal is to help make them better artists.”

Oommen says the workshop involves drawing from a live figure and covers topics such as anatomy and gestures. To sign up for the Life Drawing workshop, or for more information, call The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire at (909) 915-2100.

The Art Institute of California – Inland Empire is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with more than 40 educational institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

A Single Dad's Devotion Inspired Father's Day

Gourmet goodies packaged in a wagon is one of the many gift baskets The Bountiful Basket can make to please Dad on Fathers' Day

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – It’s tough being a single parent today, but one’s dad’s success in this role helped in creating this special day for all fathers.

Several websites credit Sonora Smart Dodd, a young mother in Spokane, Washington with organizing the first Father’s Day celebration. Her father, William Jackson Smart, had raised Mrs. Dodd and her five siblings after her mother died giving birth to the couple’s sixth child.

As Mrs. Dodd sat listening to a Mothers’ Day sermon in 1909, she thought of how her father had been both mother and father to her family. She set about to establish a new holiday recognizing the important roles fathers play in their children’s lives.

The next year, her church held the first Father’s Day celebration. By 1926, the word had spread and people were celebrating Father’s Day across the country.

For dads in 2008, a great way to say “thanks for all you do” is to order him a customized gift container from The Bountiful Basket in Highland. This company can take orders from anywhere in the world through its website, www.thebountifulbasket.com

“Whatever a dad is interested in, we can make a basket or other gift to help him enjoy his hobby more thoroughly,” owner Marilyn Taylor said. “And we have other baskets that just say thanks for being a good dad.”

Taylor and her team have come up with some new ideas just in time for this year’s holiday, which falls on June 15. One sure to be a hit with most dads is her “Father’s Day Toolbox.”

“It’s a good-sized orange and black toolbox filled with tools and snacks,” Taylor said.

For a new dad, who probably won’t have quite so much time to play with tools, there is the Daddy’s Diaper Dootie Tool Belt. Instead of tools, this gift package is filled with diapers and other baby products, and for dad, rubber gloves, safety goggles and a clothes pin for the nose.

If tools aren’t your dad’s favorite things to play with, and his little ones are past the diaper stage, The Bountiful Basket can design a gift with his interests in mind.

The company has several examples displayed on its website for sports fans, especially for those dads who like golf. New baskets are in the works for baseball fans, NASCAR and Harley-Davidson enthusiasts. There are also gift baskets for movie and music lovers.

And what dad wouldn’t love a little pampering? The Bountiful Basket has a line of bath products, Bountiful Spa Therapy, that have been a hit with both men and women, due to its universally appealing unisex scent. The company will gladly make a gift basket featuring the products men love.

The Bountiful Basket has more than 250 different baskets to choose from, ranging from $10 to $500. These are grouped by themes, such as holidays, corporate, children’s and teenagers’ baskets, college students’ designs, and gifts with different varieties of products within.

But, if none of those designs are exactly what you’re looking for, The Bountiful Basket can custom-make the perfect gift that you will be proud to give and will fit within your budget.

For more information, go to their website, www.thebountifulbasket.com or call Taylor at (909) 425-2203 for help with your selection.