WOMEN TRANSFORMING SONOMA COUNTY THROUGH COLLECTIVE PHILANTHROPY | SEPTEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 60 |
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In Memoriam - Victoria Jean Thompson
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We are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of fellow member Victoria Thompson. Vicky was a fully engaged, cherished member of the Impact Grant Committee for the past three years, always quick to volunteer for extra task forces and subcommittees. Our committee and Impact 100 Redwood Circle benefited greatly from her work on many behind-the-scenes projects to strengthen and improve our grant making process. We had great hopes that she would agree to be an Impact Grant co-chair after her retirement.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to her husband, Peter Stanley with whom she worked, played and shared a great passion for philanthropy. Let’s hold him in our hearts and remember what a generous, caring woman she was and how fortunate we are to have known her.
Link to Vicky’s obituary.
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Community Grant: Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative
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The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors established the Sonoma County Secure Families Collaborative (www.sonomacountysecurefamilies.org) to meet the needs of our immigrant community’s increased challenges due to the changes in federal immigration policy and the North Bay wildfires. The immigrant community has been disproportionately hit by wildfires, the pandemic and historic price increases over the past year. Many families shifted from "barely surviving” to "crisis mode". Consequently, they cannot afford to pay the government filing fees for applying for immigration relief. Furthermore, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had increased their fees on August 20, 2020, by an average of 20%, which does not include the additional fees for nonimmigrant workers. With the $10,000 received from Impact 100 Redwood Circle, the Collaborative will assist in covering clients' immigration filing fees. To date, it has been able to serve 1,300 individuals and with this grant, we will be able to help an additional 15-20 families.
The $10,000 Community Grant received will be used to provide funding to partner organizations to assist clients who cannot afford filing fees. Clients include DREAMers or those seeking to renew a Visa. The grant will be used quickly over the next 4-5 months. The majority of clients are from South and Central Americas, speaking dialects of indigenous languages. There is also a smaller number of clients from Afghanistan. Here’s a inspiring client story from the Collaborative:
Sonoma residents Bernardo and Alma finally feel secure in the country they have called home for more than 20 years. The couple immigrated to the United States from Mexico two decades ago in search of a better life. They settled in Sonoma County, where they began their family and raised their three children. With the help of Secure Families’ partner, Immigration of the Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA), Bernardo and Alma are now Green Card holders, and are on the path to United States Citizenship. Bernardo and Alma say they could not have afforded the high price of a private immigration law firm. They are grateful to the Secure Families Collaborative for funding a nonprofit organization like IIBA to make sure all families have access to quality, affordable immigration legal services.
The Collaborative’s key partners include the USF School of Law Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic, Immigration of the Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA, Petaluma), Corazon (Healdsburg), and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
Volunteer opportunities will be available later in the fall when Secure Families Collaborative offers roaming fairs with its partners to provide information on obtaining legal services as well as wrap around social services such as mental health and food support. To volunteer, please contact Margaret McCabe at mmcabe.socosecurefamilies@gmail.com.
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Community Grant: Corazón Healdsburg's FirstGen College Counseling
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Corazón Healdsburg is incredibly grateful to Impact 100 Redwood Circle for the Community Grant to support our FirstGen College Counseling program.
Corazón’s FirstGen College Counseling program works to support and empower promising students of Latin American heritage at Healdsburg High School to be the first in their families to attend a 4-year college. Beginning as early as the summer after 8th grade, students receive one-on-one support, enroll in honors and AP classes, receive tutoring, and begin preparing for the PSAT and SAT exams. Students are required to attend summer learning programs every year. They have completed summer programs on various college campuses including Bucknell University, UCLA, UC Davis, Oregon State University, St. Mary’s College and many more. For seniors, we support students and their families through the entire college application and financial aid process. Our staff hosts parents at the Healdsburg Community Center for bi-monthly potluck dinners where we discuss topics such as financial planning for college and address concerns about students moving far from home. Once students enter college, they continue to receive support from our staff throughout their first year. Staff have monthly check in calls with students, help with scholarship applications, and connect students with on-campus resources. This ongoing support during their freshman year of college ensures students’ persistence and success.
Our FirstGen College Counseling Program currently serves nearly 40 underserved Latin-American Healdsburg High School students and/or recent graduates each year. Our students come from low-income, working poor families and the majority (95%) identify as Latin American. Further, most are bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Our FirstGen Program is entering its fifth year (founded in 2017) and we are proud to report 100% of the students in our
FirstGen College Counseling Program have been accepted to and attend a 4-year college. Impact 100 Redwood Circle’s support ensures we have funding to continue this incredible and meaningful program – thank you for your trust and support in our work at Corazón Healdsburg.
We would welcome the opportunity to host you at a FirstGen Potluck in the autumn and for our 2023 FirstGen Graduation Ceremony.
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New Member Orientation:
September 24,10-11 AM
New members: The next New Member Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the lovely garden of one of our members. Come meet new and seasoned members, learn about grants, the committees, the education program and the incredible impact our organization has on the local community. Watch your email for an invitation to this informative event. Be sure to RSVP!
Contact Charlene Staples, charstaples@gmail.com, if you did not receive an email invitation and/or if you’d like to attend as a not-so-new or prospective member!
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Cocktails & Conversations (C&C):
October 12, 5-6:30 PM
Bring a guest to the La Rosa Tequileria and Grille, 500 4th Street, Santa Rosa, for the next C&C. This is a fun opportunity to introduce friends, co-workers, family members, and/or neighbors to our impact in the local community. You’ll hear from representatives of our Leadership Team, learn about our grants-making processes, and hear how we educate ourselves on the critical needs in our community.
You do the inviting, attend with your guest(s), and the C&C will take it from there! Enjoy appetizers and a No-Host bar while socializing. Attendees must provide proof of Covid vaccination ahead of time or at the door. Masks are welcome if desired.
Capacity is limited to 35 participants, so register early (October 7 is deadline) via the email invitation all will receive soon OR the website.
Contact C&C Chair Bev Curry for more information: 707.571.1672; bcurry@prodigy.net.
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2023 Officer Nominations Update
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Nominations for 2023 Impact 100 Redwood Circle Officers closed on September 6. Please look for an email with the slate of officers by the end of September and be sure to cast your vote. Thank you!
Eloise Tweeten, VP Nominating
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7th Annual Impact Grant Celebration
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ED TALK:
"Substance Use in Sonoma County"
Melissa Struzzo, MPH,CADC
Department of Health Services
Maybe you think it doesn’t concern you but the facts tell a different story. We have all heard about the fentanyl overdoses which get glaring headlines. We don’t hear about pain medication addiction, candy flavored vaping, pills instead of alternative therapies.
Join us for a conversation with Melissa Struzzo who will share information about this topic as it happens across all demographics; no matter the age, culture or family situation. She will revisit ACES with us and relate how early trauma can have a major influence in later life and is associated with the use of addictive drugs.
We will learn about the relationship between the County Health Department, health providers and non-profits doing this work
OCTOBER 20 at 4:30 pm - mark your calendars!
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ED TALK: Recap of Barbara Lee's Ed Talk
On August 16th Barbara Lee, the new director of Climate Action and Resiliency, talked about what's happening in our county to alleviate some of the climate change hardships.
Did you know….
- Sonoma County has a new department to address climate change along with climate justice related issues.
- Climate change is not gradual, it is catastrophic. Those who are most vulnerable will need the most help. Extreme disruption will result in loss of food and displacement of people.
- Barbara's department and the approach of the county is to build climate resiliency by engaging with the community. Input is being sought from residents for the planning of a green corridor that will run east to west through Santa Rosa, for how this public space can best meet their needs.
- In response to a question about grant-making, Barbara had this to say: "Be skeptical of your own passions and look for input from third parties." She emphasized relying upon trusted third party sources for your information, and to look for non-profits who are "teaching people to fish."
It was wonderful to learn from Barbara how our county is taking the lead with climate-related justice and resiliency issues. For a link to the recording of her talk, contact Thea Hensel at: theahensel@gmail.com
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Save The Date: Spring Lake Hike & Potluck
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Celebrate autumn's cooler temperatures and get outside! Join Impact 100 Redwood Circle Founder and Executive Director of Sonoma Parks and Rec, Melissa Kelley, for a hike and potluck at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa.
Pre-COVID, Melissa led monthly hikes for our NextGen group. Now Melissa invites all Impact 100 Redwood Circle members, their families, and prospective members to join her for some outdoor exploration and fun. More than one hike option will be offered to engage all activity levels and after our Spring Lake adventure, everyone is welcome to mingle at the ensuing potluck.
Save The Date:
October 22
10:00 a.m. hike
11:15 a.m. potluck
Picnic Area at the Upper Knoll at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa
An RSVP email invitation will be sent to all members and as soon as registration opens, the website will also contain a registration link.
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