Black History: "It Starts with You"

It starts with you. That's the message the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce - Inland Cities East Chapter is getting across as it prepares to host the Black History Super Expo Celebration, with Black History Month in full swing, on Sunday. The 46th annual event, free to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 at Court Street Square, located at the corner of E and Court streets in downtown San Bernardino. "It's great that the Chamber is having this event in downtown San Bernardino. We need to bring people back down to this area,” stated Mickey Valdivia, Director of Parks and Recreation for the city of San Bernardino. Tammy Martin-Ryles, Inland Cities East and West chapters president, said, "We have nonstop entertainment: singing, dancing, spoken word and much more. They’re happy. They want to perform.” The event will feature local and school bands, the Miss Black San Bernardino beauty pageant contestants, dancers, spoken word poets, music groups and 50 or more vendors. This year's event is sponsored by the City of San Bernardino, Hansen Beverage Company, Omnitrans, Brota Productions, New York Life, Young Visionaries, Prudential California Realty, Young Women's Empowerment Foundation, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Youthbuild of San Bernardino and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Free bus passes are available to those who wish to attend and are in need of transportation at the following locations: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1575 W. 17th Street (call 909-887-2526) and Young Visionaries Print Shop, located at 1331 Kendall Drive (call 909-880-3939). To register as a vendor, sign up at https://egwbxilrlj.formstack.com/forms/blackhistoryexpo.org. More information is available by calling the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce at 888-466-7408, extension. 2 or 12. The list of current vendors is as follows: 11 a.m. to noon: 11 a.m.- Arroyo Valley ROTC 11:05 - Pledge of Allegiance- Bailey Ryles 11:07 - National Athem-Apryle Dalmacio 11:10 - Black National Athem- Tanisha Henry 11:15 - Tammy Martin Ryles/Welcome introduce the Board 11:20 - Apryle Dalmacio 11:30 - The Highland Pacific Peace Choir 11:40 -Jimmena Robinson/Sabrina Morgan 11:50 - The Pacesetters Noon to 1 p.m.: Noon: Whitley Porter 12:10 p.m. - Travis Miller 12:20 - Makeda Kumasi 12:30 - San Bernardino HS Band 12:40 - Heart and Soul Line Dance 12:50 - West Side Steppers 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: 1 p.m.- Laquette Milner 1:10 - Anthony Stone 1:20 - Floyd Milner 1:30 - New Hope Choir 1:40 - Dunamis-L1019 1:50 - Adonai Praise Team 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: 2 p.m. - Paul Douglas 2:15 - Surprise Act 2:20 - Keyera J 2:25 - Speaker Junkiez 2:40 - Jamie B-Poet 2:50 - Gospel Talent Search 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: 3 p.m. - Corie Grasser 3:10 - Easy & Vero 3:20 - Carl Fontaine 3:30 - Poetry 3:35 -Nick-ify 3:45 -Gospel Talent Search 3:55 - Closing Remarks (DJ Music)