The Riverside school board plans to meet with three prominent state lawmakers from the Inland Empire next week to chart an educational path that is more sensitive to Native American students, officials announced late Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Assembly Bill 939, the Denim Day Act of 2021, was co-authored by Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes and signed by Governor Newsom on Oct. 5. Cervantes district includes the cities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and the west side of Riverside. In my 11-minute interview with the assemblymember, she spoke of her motivations to write the bill and shared other bills she authored that Governor Newsom signed.
So far, California’s finances are immune to the coronavirus pandemic.
UC Riverside’s School of Medicine received $25 million in ongoing funding in the state budget signed this week, which school officials say will allow them to double the number of doctors they train, from 250 to 500.
The expansion will be gradual, reaching 125 students in each upcoming class by about 2025 as hiring and building takes off. That will allow the school to help address the Inland Empire’s doctor shortage, said Deborah Deas, the vice chancellor for health sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.
As a new mother to three infants, I immediately hoped for what every parent in our community wants for their children: the best and brightest future for our children.
That is why, when our family’s Census form arrived in the mail, we made sure to count every person in our home, especially our infant triplets.
The school’s largest building now fits 80 students, which is part of the reason the number of incoming students has grown only from 50 the first year to 77 in 2020. Plans are ready for a new, larger building that should be complete by 2023, Deas said.
The funding will also allow the school to hire more full-time faculty and staff and purchase additional state-of-the-art equipment for classrooms and the simulation center.
Senator Richard Roth, Assemblyman Jose Medina and Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, all Democrats based in Riverside, sponsored the increased funding.
Roth, in partnership with assembly members Sabrina Cervantes and Jose Medina, both D-Riverside, introduced legislation last year to spend $80 million on a “dedicated facility” for the medical school, which opened in 2013. A boost in ongoing state funding was part of the bill, but final budget negotiations last summer left that increased support in limbo.
Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, gave birth to two boys and a girl last week, her office announced Monday, Dec. 16.
“My wife and I … are deeply grateful for the love and support from our family, friends, and the medical team who have been with us on this exciting journey,” Cervantes said in a news release. “We look forward to celebrating the holidays with the three newest additions to our family.”
Cervantes and her family are in good health, the release added.
La asambleísta de Corona, Sabrina Cervantes se convirtió en la primera legisladora de California en dar a luz a trillizos, dos niños y una niña.
“Mi esposa y yo hemos sido bendecidos con tres recién nacidos. Estamos profundamente agradecidos por el amor y apoyo de nuestra familia, amigos y el equipo médico que ha estado con nosotras en este emocionante viaje”, dijo en un comunicado.
“Estamos deseando celebrar estos días de fiesta con estos tres nuevos miembros de nuestra familia. Les pedimos sus oraciones y buenos deseos”, afirmó.