Sen. Scott Wilk recognizes 3 leaders during Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, State Sen. Scott Wilk recognized prominent Black leaders from Senate District 21, including one woman from the Victor Valley.

“Black History Month is an acknowledgment and celebration of the Black experiences, achievements and contributions that define this nation and make it great,” Wilk said.

The senator added that he’s honored to highlight three “exceptional individuals” for making it their mission to see their loved ones and communities thrive.

“Congratulations to this year’s recipients Barbara Dew, Kei Kei Lee and De’chane “Dey” Yusef,” said Wilk, whose district includes the Victor Valley in San Bernardino County and Antelope and Santa Clarita valley in Los Angeles County.

Barbara Dew

Dew is an educator with the Victor Elementary School District and a nearly 60-year resident of the Victor Valley.

Dew attended Hook Jr. High, then attended Victor Valley High School, where she graduated in 1966 before enrolling at Victor Valley College.

She graduated from Chapman College with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, and also earned a multiple-subject credential from the University of California, Riverside.

She also has her master's in boardsmanship from California State University, San Bernardino.

Growing up in a military family allowed Dew to live and travel throughout the U.S. and Europe.

It was those influences and experiences that cultivated her passion for history and led her to establish “Old Families,” an African-American and Hispanic Pioneer Exhibit that was featured at the Victor Valley Museum.

Dew’s advocacy for education extends beyond her classroom. She has been instrumental in getting scholarships for young adults who attend VVC. She also selected the location of the San Bernardino County SELPA building on Highway 18 in Apple Valley.

In 1967, Dew was the first African American to be crowned Miss Victorville and in 1996, she was also the first African American Woman to be elected Governing Board Member of the Victor Valley Union High School District. Two years later, she would become the board’s first president.

In 2020, Dew was honored as School Board Member of the Year by the California African American Superintendents and Administrators.

“Barbara continues to be a reliable presence, working hard for the district, its students and their families,” according to Wilk, in a written statement. “And as a member of the California School Board Association Legislative Committee, she is proud to help craft education legislation on both the state and federal levels.”

Barbara Dew is married to Air Force veteran Lionel M. Dew, with whom she has a son, Nicholas.

Lionel Dew, who arrived in the High Desert while serving at George Air Force base in 1976, has a background in governance, including serving his 2014 appointment to the Victorville Planning Commission.

In 1996, Lionel Dew ran for state Assembly as a Democrat against Keith Olberg, a Republican. Olberg won the 34th District seat with more than 63% of the vote.

Since 2014, Lionel Dew has come up short four times in his bid for a Victorville Council seat.

He also served with several organizations, including the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Information Exchange Committee, 28th District Agriculture Association and Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District.

In addition, he was vice president of the VESD Board of Trustees and president of the board for Excelsior Education Center, among others.

De’chane “Dey” Yusef

After graduating high school, Yusef studied computer science and went on to earn her liberal arts associate's degree from Chaffey College.

She went on to earn dual master’s degrees in public administration and political science from California State University, Los Angeles.

Yusef also earned bachelor's degrees from California State University, San Bernardino in liberal studies, political science and paralegal studies. She also obtained a law degree from Loyola Law School.

In addition to her continuous educational pursuits, Yusef cared for her mother during a battle with cancer while managing to raise four children.

Despite those challenging experiences, she was able to set a positive example of how to live with a purpose and be a benefit to one’s community.

As the Founder and Executive Director/CEO of E&E Love Foundation, Yusef works to help foster youth and struggling families by putting loved ones to rest, usually in the form of grief support, burials, celebrations of life and financial obligation assistance.

The E&E Love Foundation also supports the foster youth community by helping them with housing, daily necessities and other services.

A firm believer in the saying “it takes a village,” Yusef wants to help “motivate, protect, and shelter all of God’s little ones”

“It is necessary that we teach, protect, and increase the children of this generation and the next,” Yusef said. “I am a protector and I guard with excellence and love.”

In addition to her work with E&E Love Foundation, Dey serves on several Antelope Valley nonprofits and organizations.

Kei Kei Lee

Californian born and raised, Kei Kei Lee has spent her life using her personal and professional experiences to be a people's champion.

Whether leading strategy and operations in the corporate world, or providing support and resources for underserved communities with her nonprofit Coco Moms, she is a true proponent of helping people reach their full potential.

Lee’s hobbies include reading and spending time with her husband and three children.

As Founder/Executive Director of the nonprofit Coco Moms of Santa Clarita Valley, Lee works to support Black mothers and their health by raising awareness on several issues.

Events like last October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Workout, done in partnership with Circle of Hope, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Remedy Athletix, aimed to do just that.

“Black women are four times more likely to have breast cancer and get the most aggressive metastatic breast cancer than any other race,” Lee said. “So it’s important that we’re fighting for our health, moving these bodies and doing all these things… we need to continue to spread awareness, get resources out to your friends, invite people to events like this and keep the conversation going.”

With Coco Moms, Kei Kei also strives to support the emotional and social development of young children by helping them communicate their emotions more effectively, self-regulate and make friends.

For more information on the nominees, visit wilk.cssrc.us.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Sen. Scott Wilk recognizes 3 leaders during Black History Month