Esther Gatica 

Letricia “Lea” Michelle Cash, born February 17, 1952, in Fort Benning, GA, and grew up in Brighton, MA, passed away October 15, 2024. 

Cash would eventually relocate to Southern California and in her education endeavors acquire two Masters Degrees. Cash would go on to become a pillar of the Inland Empire foster, education and outreach communities. Her greatest legacy is being the founder, president and CEO of  The Brightest Star Inc.

This organization was founded in 2008, after being an outreach program on the campus of the legendary orphanage, McKinley Home for Boys, aka McKinley Children’s Center, for three years. It would evolve into an award winning charitable 501(c) 3 organization focused on building dreams and self-esteem in at-risk youth. 

The organization focuses on the use of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Character Building as a foundation to prevent and reduce self-destructive behaviors (depression-shame, guilt, grief, drug abuse, alcoholic abuse, risk of suicide, low academic performance, high school dropout, bullying, violence, sexual acting out, delinquency and anti-social behaviors) in an educational setting and environment. This was a lifelong dream of Cash as she was interested in foster care from a young age. 

Cash’s other aspirations and accomplishments included being a reporter and a published author.  

As a journalist she was an entertainment reporter for over twenty years. Her byline appeared in our very own Black Voice News, the Precinct Reporter, Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, Mother’s Monthly News, Inland Valley News, and San Bernardino American News. For years she has received numerous awards for her lifelong commitment to her advocacy and career. Among those awards Lea was most recently the 2024 San Bernardino County Schools Distinguished Service Award honoree. 

As an author she wrote “The Strawberry Pot”, a book for all ages that unfolds as an inspiring and powerful coming of age chapter book, designed to build peace and good character through the eyes of a fifth grade student overcoming difficulties and challenges in her young life. Her radiant smile and bright eyes will be missed by everyone who had the opportunity to be mentored, interviewed and inspired by her and her philosophy that there is beauty to appreciate in all human beings exactly for who they are. She was also a leadership educator at Bob Murphy Community State school. 

Her Memorial Service will be held  November 16, 2024 @4pm at the  Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses  2627 W. Mill St. San Bernardino, CA 92408

Esther Gatica is a Honduran bilingual writer, playwright, actress, director, and translator. She’s a graduate of Teatro Prometeo from Miami Dade College. She’s also obtained a BFA from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She’s taught and performed with/at: Miami Hispanic International Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, the Gluck Foundation, and Fort Worth Fringe. Esther is a recent graduate from the University of California, Riverside with an MFA in writing for the performing arts. She is a line producer for Lime Arts Productions and part of the Playground LA writers pool. She is also a part of the Black Voice News team. Follow her work on IG@esteyg.