Brown’s talk will include a display of local newspapers including the Colored Citizen, Tri County, Precinct Reporter, Riverside Reporter, Westside Story, Black Voice, and American News. In her discussion, she will speak about these and other newspapers and their importance in the community.

 

Cheryl Brown is a graduate of California State University at San Bernardino with a BA degree in Geography. In 1980, Brown became co-publisher of the Black Voice News. An active community member she has been involved in the National Council of Negro Women as President of the Inland Empire Section and a Life Member. Brown has also served as a Planning Commissioner for both San Bernardino County for 12 years and the City of San Bernardino for five years. She has also been involved in the Urban League, Arrowhead United Way, YWCA, San Gorgonio Girl Scout Council, and NAACP Pioneer Dinner Chair.

 

Brown and her family have received the Family of the Year Award from the National Council of Negro Women and the Kiwanis and were awarded Publisher of the Year by West Coast Black Publisher's Association. She received a Unity in Media Award from Lincoln University in Missouri and awards from area 7th Day Adventist Churches, Life Changing Ministries, Church of Christ , Inland Empire, Women in Work Award, Quinn and St Paul A.M.E. Businesswoman of the Year, Riverside YWCA Woman of Achievement 2000, NAACPer of the Year, Alumni of the Year, Cal State University, Riverside Black History Committee Award, Spirit of Nonprofit Award, the Amazing Hero Award from Columbus Times Newspaper in Columbus, GA, the Elites Myrtle Robinson Humanitarian Award, the Minority Media Cornerstone of the Year by Inland Empire Minority Development Center, and others. On March 13, 2009, she was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award from Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod.

She and her husband of 43 years, Hardy Brown have been recognized as the only living publishers to be included in the 175th year anniversary of the Black Press in America. They were included with such historic publishers as Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Carlotta Bass, Robert Vann, John Sengstacke and others who overcame great obstacles to publish the truth or to tell the other side of the story.

 

This program is part of a series of guest lectures offered at no charge by the county museum. The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.