Arts & Culture Archives

Community members celebrate Juneteenth at the Rialto Juneteenth Jam at Alec Fergusson Park on June 19, 2025, in Rialto, California. This year's theme,“Its a Family Affair” reinforced building positive spaces for family-oriented entertainment through games, shared resources, and opportunities for community building. The organizations Stronger Together Now, Black on the Block, and Fentwood Hoops, collaborated to throw the event.

Black Voice News Uplifts Inland Empire Stories Through Visual Journalism in 2025

by ievoice December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

Photographer Aryana Noroozi has been building community partnerships to uplift stories across the Inland Empire, and her work has been featured in Black Voice News and the IE Voice, celebrating the region’s resilience and strength.

Education

Redlands School Board Restricts Access to Toni Morrison Novel, Removes ‘Push’ by Sapphire

by Breanna Reeves December 11, 2025December 11, 2025

A photo of Debbie Dee, author of “Moments: A Guided Gratitude Journal Designed to Reveal Your Happiness”.

Arts & Culture

Author Debbie Dee Sets the Tone for Gratitude During the Holidays with Her Book, Moments

by Alyssah Hall November 30, 2025December 2, 2025

Rev. Dr. Queen Shamala Ifawuyi Bessie Davis Smith poses for a portrait featuring her art during a solo exhibition and book signing, “Initiation The Books of Love” on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Art by Wash Community Center in Compton, CA.

Arts & Culture

Rev. Dr. Queen Shamala Smith Celebrates Art and Healing at Solo Exhibition

by Ellen Perrault November 25, 2025November 26, 2025

The Full Circle Players cast of Mojada thanked the crew and audience on their closing night at the Box Theatre in Riverside on Oct. 4, 2025.

Arts & Culture

Full Circle Player’s Mojada Play Highlights Current Issues with American Immigration

by Alyssah Hall October 20, 2025October 20, 2025

Danielle (left) introduces Yazmin Monét Watkins (right) before her book reading of “A Vessel Born to Float,” on Sept. 6, 2025.

Arts & Culture

Get Lit Books & Things Celebrates Their 1st Anniversary with Community Love and Support

by Alyssah Hall September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

Lisa Henry poses for a portrait at the Riverside Art Museum on July 9, 2025. Henry became a curator at the Riverside Art Museum in 2023 focused on organizing exhibitions and developing permanent collections after serving as a guest curator there for seven years.

Arts & Culture

Meet Riverside Art Museum Curator Lisa Henry

by Alyssah Hall and Aryana Noroozi August 5, 2025August 21, 2025

Lillith Van Buren performs in the DIVACON talent show at St. John’s Community Health in San Bernardino on July 12, 2025.

Arts & Culture

DIVACON Drag Show Celebrates LGBTQ+ Joy in San Bernardino

by Aryana Noroozi July 15, 2025July 23, 2025

Performers act in the opening play of the Summer Solstice 2025 New Play Festival – where community members of all ages and identities gathered – hosted by the Solstice Theatre IE, an arts program focused on creating shadow puppetry plays to uplift diverse voices, land and diaspora, at Sandalwood Farms in Rialto, California on July 12, 2025.

Arts & Culture

IE’s Summer Solstice 2025 New Play Festival Celebrates Individuality and Roots

by Aryana Noroozi July 15, 2025July 23, 2025

Sisters Delnita Brown, 55, (right) and Le’Era Boyd, 44, (left) share a moment outside of their home in Riverside, California, on October 9, 2024. Brown has been caretaking for various family members and outside clients for over 28 years. For the past 19 years she has been the caretaker of her sister, Boyd. After giving birth, Boyd suffered neurological and other complications from her existing disability. Shortly after, Brown officially became Boyd’s caretaker, helping her raise her son who is now 19 and attending college. Brown says she encourages her sister and supports her to be independent and a mother to her son. “I look at her and I know where she came from,” Brown said, adding that one of the most rewarding parts of caretaking is seeing her sister’s success.

Arts & Culture

Reporter’s Notebook: Visual journalism: The power of presence in the Inland Empire

by Aryana Noroozi July 1, 2025July 1, 2025