I N THE NEWS
Leading with Heart and Making North Park Apartments A Better Place to Live
Albert Einstein once said, “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason mastery demands all of a person.” If this is true, then Leighann Clark is a true master of building community. With her leadership, the community of North Park is thriving.  

Leighann Clark is the Property Manager for the North Park apartments in Oildale –a census-designated place in Kern County, 3.5 miles northwest of downtown Bakersfield. For Leighann, North Park is not only a place of employment, it’s home.

Leighann and her husband Charles (Chuck) first moved to North Park back in 2000 with a one-month-old baby girl and a 2.5-year-old toddler. “It was hard. Yes, we were on welfare, we had food stamps and we didn’t have a vehicle,” said Leighann. “I remember having to walk a long distance to get groceries in the middle of the summer with both my kids and a double stroller. It was hard but we did all that.”  Read More.
Leadership Institute Develops Water Management Knowledge & Expertise
Residents of disadvantaged rural communities in California’s San Joaquin Valley often find it challenging to participate and effectively lead their communities in regards to water quality and quantity issues that they face. To help build leadership capacity and gain water management tools, Self-Help Enterprises’ Community Engagement and Planning team launched the first-of-its-kind 2019 Rural Communities Water Managers Leadership Institute for community water board members and staff, water leaders, and residents from rural communities.

The six-month Leadership Institute program, offered at no charge thanks to the generous support from the Central Valley Community Foundation, USDA Rural Development, and the State Department of Water Resources... Read More .
300+ Fresno County Students and Staff Now Have Lead-Free Water
After about 6 years of discussion, planning and coordination, Orange Center School-- with the help of Self-Help Enterprises and the City of Fresno-- underwent the process of replacing the entire water distribution system to eliminate lead that leached from the old plumbing. The school serves about 300 low-income children in addition to teachers and staff. Today, students, teachers and staff now have safe, lead-free water. Self-Help Enterprises is working with several schools to ensure that students have safe water to drink at school.
A Collaborative Discussion between the Sierra, Central Valley Ag and Disadvantaged Communities
On September 24th, the Clovis Veterans Memorial District, The Chronicles Group, Inc., and Self-Help Enterprises held an expert panel discussion on possible collaborative efforts between Sierra watershed stakeholders, Valley farmers, government and disadvantaged communities. Prior to the discussion, attendees had an opportunity to view the documentary “California's Watershed” which focuses on the water and food nexus and its evolving implications for national security through the lens of the Sierra Watershed and the California Central Valley, a microcosm of this global crisis. Discussions touched on the watershed, water sources, groundwater, the representation of disadvantaged communities, existing research and more. There are plans to host another panel discussion in the near future.
Board Member Highlights
Richard Barron

Richard Barron is a skilled litigator and attorney in Visalia with more than three decades of experience. After graduating from law school in 1976, Mr. Barron came to Tulare County as a VISTA volunteer planning to work at the local Legal Aid office for one year. He stayed at Legal Aid for five years and then went into private practice in Visalia, primarily in Probate and Civil Litigation. He has served as the former director and past president of the Tulare-Kings Legal Services and has been affiliated with Community Services Employment Training (CSET), the local Tulare County community action agency, as well as FoodLink of Tulare County.
Yamilet Valladolid

Yamilet Valladolid works for Golden Valley Health Centers, a non-profit organization that offers health care to families in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties regardless of language, cultural and financial barriers. Through her profession, Ms. Valladolid builds relationships with community and elected officials by creating bridges and collaborations and stays updated on health policies and issues that have an effect on the communities served. Ms. Valladolid is an advocate for social justice, health and equity in education. She enjoys mentoring first generation college students. She is also the president of The Hispanic Leadership Council of Stanislaus County.
Upcoming Events
O PEN HOUSE IN CORCORAN
Date: October 5 , 2019
Time: 1pm-3pm
Location: 1509 Arnold Ct. Corcoran

4 bedroom, 2 bath single family home that contains 1,356 sq. ft. and was built in 2019.
Secondary financing available

EMAIL: melissav@selfhelpenterprises.org for more info.

Date: October 5 , 2019
Time: 9am- 1pm
Cost: $30
Location: Bear Creek Apartments - Community Room
1509 N. Plainsburg Rd. Planada, CA 95365
MUST CALL (559) 651-1000 to reserve your seat.

Date: October 7, 2019
Time: 5pm - 8pm
Cost: $125-175
Location: Sand Creek Apartments
41020 Rd. 124 Orosi, CA 93647
MUST CALL (559) 651-1000 to reserve your seat.