June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month; June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Deadline to register: June 13 at 8:30 AM
By Susan Kim, Executive Director, Family Justice Center
Did you know…One in ten Americans aged 60 or older experiences some form of elder abuse? Elders who have been abused are 300% more likely to die than their peers.
Emily Milstein , Staff Attorney for Contra Costa Senior Legal Services, will provide training on Elder Abuse Signs and Legal Remedies during a virtual workshop training on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 10:00-11:30 AM.
The Contra Costa Elder Abuse Prevention Project (EAPP) prevents and combats elder abuse through an active community network that raises awareness and coordinates services.
Visit cocoelderjustice.org for more information about EAPP.
To register for the training click, here.
Read MoreSupporting educators, programs, and organizations serving grades K-12. Apply today! Deadline: Oct. 13
By Madelyn Schieder, PR Coordinator, H/L Agency
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Applications are now open for the 2024 McDonald’s Golden Grants program. To apply, eligible entities can visit McDonald’s Golden Grants through October 13.
CORRECTION: McDonald’s Owner/Operators across the San Francisco Bay Area, Eureka, and the Central Coast will be selecting deserving educators, non-profit organizations, and the like, who represent programs that fuel the imagination, education, and growth of students, as recipients of a McDonald’s Golden Grant. Entering its third year, the program has awarded $65,000 in its first two years.
In 2023, 17 grants were awarded throughout San Francisco Bay Area, Eureka and the Central Coast. Amongst these grants was Sonoma recipient, Kid Scoop News.
“With the generous funding from the McDonald’s Golden Grants, we were able to supply 10 classrooms, or 250 students in Contra Costa County monthly copies of their very own Kid Scoop News, providing access to engaging reading materials and literacy-supporting activities is key to a student’s success in reading,” said Kid Scoop News.
This year, grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 based on creativity and hands-on application of projects. Please see below for applicable counties.*
Qualifying activities include arts programs, education initiatives, mentorship and empowerment programs, after-school programs, community service, sports activities, and technology.
Recipients of a Golden Grant will be announced on October 13.
*In California: Contra Costa, Alameda, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma.
About McDonald’s USA
McDonald’s USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.
Read MoreRubicon Programs, Opportunity Junction to receive unrestricted grant funding over 3 years as well as access to nation-wide learning community and network of Community Progress Makers
Part of a collective $9 million in grants to 9 Nor Cal nonprofits working locally in latest expansion of the initiative
NEW YORK – The Citi Foundation (“the Foundation”) announced last month that nine nonprofits based in Northern California have been selected as part of the fourth cohort of the Community Progress Makers initiative, among 50 nationwide. Two of the organizations are located in Contra Costa County, including Antioch-based Opportunity Junction and Richmond-based Rubicon Programs which also has offices in Antioch and Concord.
First launched in 2015, Community Progress Makers provides unrestricted funding to visionary organizations that work locally to connect low-income communities to greater economic opportunity. With this latest cohort, the Foundation has now committed $115 million in grants to Community Progress Makers since its inception.
The current cohort of Community Progress Makers has been selected through an open request for proposals (RFP) process announced this past fall, which focused on organizations working in the areas of affordable housing and access, economic development, financial health and workforce readiness.
“Unrestricted grant support is in high demand and low supply and we have witnessed how transformational this type of funding can be for community organizations,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation and Head of Citi Community Investing & Development. “This is why we are pleased to support the innovative solutions and deep community work that the organizations in this fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers are leading in Northern California through flexible, trust-based funding.”
“These Northern California-based Community Progress Makers are working at the forefront of pressing local issues, from workforce and economic development to housing and financial health,” said Philip Drury, Head of Global Technology and Communications Banking, Citi. “The flexible philanthropic capital that Citi Foundation is deploying will help these social innovators double down and find new ways to advance their work.”
All recipients will have access to a learning community where they can collaborate and share best practices with a network of Community Progress Makers across the country, as well as receive technical assistance delivered by national experts and leading researchers. Combining their local expertise and track record of community impact with a national network of resources and changemakers, these nonprofits are poised to accelerate their community-based work in Northern California.
Opportunity Junction
Opportunity Junction recently celebrated the expansion of its services with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of their Healthcare Career Pathways Training Center. The organization launched a new Medical Assistant (MA) Training program on June 3rd in the new facility.
In addition, Antioch Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe declared May 15th as ‘Opportunity Junction Day” in honor of the organization’s dedication to empowering individuals and building brighter futures.
Driven by the fundamental belief that everyone who works hard deserves the opportunity to succeed, their mission is “to help motivated Contra Costa County job seekers develop the skills and confidence to launch careers that lead to financial security.”
“We’re not just helping people find jobs; we’re transforming careers and lives,” said Brianna Robinson, President & CEO of Opportunity Junction. “Since 2000, we’ve been building foundations for better futures. Our Healthcare Career Pathway addresses the urgent need for healthcare professionals. With a quarter of Californians projected to be over age 60 by the next decade, we’re facing a critical shortage of healthcare workers.
Rubicon Programs
According to Rubicon’s Marketing & Communications Manager Angelica Huerta, This $1 million grant will significantly support Rubicon’s mission to increase economic opportunities for justice-impacted individuals and those disconnected from the workforce over the next three years. Rubicon is one of nine grant recipients in Northern California.
The Community Progress Makers initiative supports local community organizations that connect low-income communities to greater social and economic opportunities. This grant will provide Rubicon Programs with unrestricted funding, access to technical assistance from national experts, and opportunities to share learnings through virtual and in-person convenings.
“It is a big deal for Rubicon to be seen and welcomed as a valuable contributor within an amazing national network of talent and expertise. In addition to the grant support, we are excited to build community and exchange learnings to collectively strengthen the access to opportunity for justice impacted job seekers across the nation,” said Dr. Carole Dorham-Kelly, Rubicon’s President and CEO.
Rubicon Programs serves a diverse community of low-income adults through comprehensive services that address historic and systemic inequities. By maintaining connections with participants for up to three years, Rubicon prioritizes job placement and retention support, legal services, leadership development, wellness services, and financial health coaching.
“If passion and commitment alone were enough to end poverty, we would have already won the war on poverty. This investment from Citi will support the design and implementation of cutting-edge, win-win solutions that leverage the strengths of and address the complex challenges faced by the communities we serve,” said Adrienne Kimball, Rubicon’s Chief Talent Officer. “It will also equip our team with the tools and knowledge they need to increase their capacity. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with Citi.”
The grant will enable Rubicon to address two major community challenges: a lack of access to quality jobs for justice-impacted individuals and those displaced from the workforce, and the need for regional employers to remove barriers to quality jobs. Rubicon will expand its influence over employer practices and public systems standards, creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce.
Participants enrolled in Rubicon’s programs benefit from a holistic approach that promotes long-term self-sufficiency through coaching, systems navigation, and experiential opportunities.
Rubicon’s four pillars—income, assets, wellness, and community connections—form the foundation of its theory of change, aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty.
Seven Other Nor Cal Non-Profit Organizations Receive Grants
The other seven community organizations selected to the fourth cohort of Community Progress Makers in Northern California include six located in the San Francisco Bay Area and one in Fresno:
- ASIAN, Inc.
- ICA Fund
- Mission Asset Fund
- MyPath
- Northern California Land Trust
- Pacific Community Ventures
- Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation
“As an organization working to expand economic mobility for nearly two decades, we’ve learned that it takes innovation and an adaptive multi-pronged approach to address the needs of underserved communities,” said Margaret Libby, Founder & CEO, San Francisco-based MyPath. “That is why the unrestricted support from the Citi Foundation through the Community Progress Makers initiative is so transformational – it puts each nonprofit in the driver’s seat and offers the flexibility and support to maximize impact in our communities.”
About Opportunity Junction
Since 2000, Opportunity Junction has been providing training, support, work experience, and placement assistance, which help motivated Contra Costa County job seekers launch careers that lead to financial security. When we work together, motivated job seekers develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Their success makes their families and our community stronger. For more information visit opportunityjunction.org.
About Rubicon Programs
Rubicon Programs transforms East Bay communities by equipping people to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1973, Rubicon Programs has provided job training and placement, financial education, behavioral health, and other supportive services to low-income people in Contra Costa County, and in Alameda County since 2005, to break the cycle of poverty. Today, Rubicon operates sites in Antioch, Concord, Richmond, Oakland and Hayward. Learn more at www.rubiconprograms.org.
For more information about the grant program, please visit citifoundation.com/cpm and follow the impact these organizations are making at #ProgressMakers on social media.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Near Antioch Target store
By Brentwood Police Department
REAL OR FAKE?
Last Wednesday, June 5, 2024, around 1:45 in the morning, a Brentwood officer was patrolling Lone Tree Way when they observed a parked car near the Target parking lot. Given that the businesses were closed, and it was very early in the morning, the officer conducted a suspicious vehicle stop and contacted the owner, identified as 57-year-old Louis Gonzalez from Pittsburg.
Gonzalez informed the officer that he had a drug pipe. Upon searching his car, the officer found an imitation gun, drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of tear gas.
Gonzalez was placed under arrest, and the imitation gun and tear gas were confiscated.
This incident highlights the dangers and challenges posed by imitation firearms. These replicas can easily be mistaken for real weapons, potentially leading to dangerous situations for both law enforcement and the public.
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The hit-and-run suspect’s car and victim’s dog who was released to family members. Photos by CHP-Contra Costa
Public’s help needed ID’ing, finding suspect
By CHP – Contra Costa
On Sunday, June 9th, at approximately 2:07pm, CHP Contra Costa was advised of a two-vehicle crash on I-680 southbound south of Willow Pass Road. An unknown male adult driver of a dark gray Acura TL was reported traveling on I-680 southbound, south of Willow Pass Road, at a high rate of speed. While weaving recklessly in and out of lanes, the driver lost control of the Acura and crashed into a black BMW 320i. The BMW was driven by a female adult and occupied with one canine passenger.
The driver of the BMW sustained major injuries during the crash and was transported to the hospital where she is expected to recover from her injuries. The BMW’s canine passenger was unharmed in the crash and was taken to a local animal shelter before being released to family members.
After the crash, the driver of the Acura was last seen fleeing the area on foot, heading south towards the Homewood Suites located at 650 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hill.
Upon initial investigation it was determined the driver of the BMW was properly seat-belted. It is unknown whether the driver of the Acura was seat-belted during the crash, and it is unknown if the crash is DUI related.
This crash is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed the crash, the events leading up to, or has information/dash-cam footage of the crash/suspect, please contact CHP Contra Costa in Martinez, (925) 646-4980 or email your contact information to 320Investigations@chp.ca.gov to be contacted by the investigating officer.
Read MoreAllows felony charges and increases sentences for certain theft and drug crimes, including fentanyl
Sacramento, CA – California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D. announced that an initiative became eligible for the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot on June 10, 2024.
In order to become eligible for the ballot, the initiative needed 546,651 valid petition signatures, which is equal to five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 General Election.
A measure can become eligible via random sampling of petition signatures if the sampling projects that the number of valid signatures is greater than 110 percent of the required number. The initiative needed at least 601,317 projected valid signatures to become eligible by random sampling, and it has exceeded that threshold today.
On June 27, 2024, the Secretary of State will certify the initiative as qualified for the November 5, 2024, General Election ballot, unless it is withdrawn by the proponent prior to certification pursuant to Elections Code section 9604(b).
While the proponents of the initiative, Californians for Safer Communities labeled it The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act. But Attorney General Rob Bonta’s official title and summary of the measure is as follows: ALLOWS FELONY CHARGES AND INCREASES SENTENCES FOR CERTAIN DRUG AND THEFT CRIMES. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
– Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs, including fentanyl, and for thefts under $950—both currently chargeable only as misdemeanors—with two prior drug or two prior theft convictions, as applicable. Defendants who plead guilty to felony drug possession and complete treatment can have charges dismissed.
– Increases sentences for other specified drug and theft crimes.
– Increased prison sentences may reduce savings that currently fund mental health and drug treatment programs, K-12 schools, and crime victims; any remaining savings may be used for new felony treatment program.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state criminal justice system costs potentially in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to an increase in the state prison population. Some of these costs could be offset by reductions in state spending on local mental health and substance use services, truancy and dropout prevention, and victim services due to requirements in current law. Increased local criminal justice system costs potentially in the tens of millions of dollars annually, primarily due to increased court-related workload and a net increase in the number of people in county jail and under county community supervision. (23-0017A1)
According to Ballotpedia.com, the political action committee supporting the measure, Californians to Reduce Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft, has raised over $7.2 million to support the effort. Of that amount $2.5 million was contributed by Walmart, $1.0 million from Home Depot, $500,000 from Target, $300,000 each from 7-Eleven and California Correctional Peace Officers Association Truth in American Government Fund.
The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1959 and the Attorney General’s tracking number is 23-0017A1.
The proponent of the measure is Thomas W. Hiltachk of the Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk law firm. They can be reached at (916) 442-7757. The address for the proponent is 455 Capitol Mall, Suite 600, Sacramento, CA 95814.
For more information about how an initiative qualifies for the ballot in California, visit https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures/how-qualify-initiative/
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Good health starts in the community
By Antonia Ehlers, PR and Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
When you think of Kaiser Permanente, you might think of its hospitals and health plan.
What you may not know is Kaiser Permanente is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the health of the communities it serves.
In 2023, Kaiser Permanente invested $1.3 billion dollars in its Northern California communities and $113 million in the Diablo service area to support community health.
A significant part of these investments supported access to quality health care for people in need through Kaiser Permanente’s participation in California’s Medi-Cal program. The investments also supported 98,000 patients who received medical financial assistance to pay for surgeries, prescriptions, and other care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities.
In addition, Kaiser Permanente made significant investments in the education of new health and mental health care professionals, charitable contributions to community partners working to improve conditions for health, and medical research to improve the delivery of health care for all.
Learn more about Kaiser Permanente’s efforts in your Northern California community by going to the Community Health Snapshot and clicking on “Communities We Serve”.
Become a “bone detective” this Wednesday, June 12. Start off California State Parks Week at Mount Diablo with a trip to the Summit to explore something new.
Examine bones and skull replicas and use your powers of observation to solve the mystery of what animals they belong to and to discover the interesting secrets they reveal about how each survives.
Stop by our table outside the Summit Visitor Center any time between 10am and 2pm. Park entrance fee is $10 per vehicle. Note, the South Gate Road is currently closed. Learn more at California State Parks Week.
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One of the historic Benicia-Martinez ferries after operations ceased was docked at the Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline in 1977. Source: EBRPD
Second collection of Martin J. Cooney Series available online during District’s 90th anniversary celebration
By Flora Csontos Acting Public Information Specialist, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is proud to unveil the Martin J. Cooney “Park Landscapes” online photo collection. This digital photo exhibit debuts a rare gathering of beautiful, nostalgic images that capture parkland and open space views of the East Bay from 1965 to 1981. At that time, the Park District was embarking on a period of considerable growth, tripling the number of Regional Parks to over 30. The Martin J. Cooney “Park Landscapes” collection has been carefully researched and curated by Park District Archives staff and volunteers, who have dedicated many hours to the preservation of the District’s history. As part of the ongoing 90th Anniversary celebrations planned throughout 2024, the photo collection is now available on the Park District’s Celebrating 90 Years webpage (www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years).
The release of the Martin J. Cooney “Park Landscapes” collection spans over 14 years of Park District photojournalism from the 1960s to the early 1980s. It memorializes landscapes, historic structures, and new parklands that later became part of the Regional Parks.
The Park District has grown to be the largest regional park district of its kind in the nation, with 73 regional parks available for hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and nature discovery. Wherever you live in the East Bay, there is a beautiful regional park close to you. The Park District manages over 126,000 acres of parklands, 55 miles of shoreline, and more than 1,330 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
In 2016, Martin’s family donated over 15,000 negatives to the Park District, which were taken in the 1960s to1980s when the Martin J. Cooney commercial studio provided professional photography services to the Park District. While Martin took some of the photos, most were taken by Nancy McKay, who became an apprentice of Martin’s in 1968 while working in the Park District’s Public Affairs Department and serving as its primary photographer for over 37 years. Additional Cooney photo collections were donated in association with the Oakland Tribune archives and are housed at the Oakland Museum of California.
The four Cooney photo collections being released this year in commemoration of the Park District’s 90th Anniversary include People in Parks (already available on the Celebrating 90 Years webpage), Park Landscapes, Park District Workers, and Special Events.
Join us in celebrating the East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th Anniversary with online photo exhibits and stories available through the Park District’s website. Explore the interactive photo collections, story maps, timelines, and online exhibits. Additional events and programs celebrating the Park District’s 90th Anniversary also include monthly naturalist-led “Explore Your Parks” adventure programs, among others. For more information about 90th Anniversary activities, visit www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.
Additional Curated Collections and Stories on Celebrating 90 Years Webpage
MARTIN J. COONEY PHOTO COLLECTION – “PEOPLE IN PARKS”
Visit the first in a series of exhibits featuring the Martin J. Cooney photography collection (1964-1980) from the Park District Archives.
FOUNDING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Parks for the People (and By the People) – Explore the historic timeline of the formation of the East Bay Regional Park District (1864-1936).
TILDEN REGIONAL PARK HISTORY
Did you know that many of the Regional Parks have historic features and unique stories? Explore your parks in a new interactive Story Map series, debuting with Tilden Regional Park.
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TV personality Ana Navarro with representatives from Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts Academy of Richmond, CA, a recipient of Lesher Foundation grants. Source: Lesher Foundation
Special 30th anniversary fund to build resiliency, well-being for Contra Costa County organizations
WALNUT CREEK, CA…With gratitude to nonprofit organizations for their continued commitment to elevating the community, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation is pleased to announce the CARE Fund. This one-time $300,000 fund marks the Lesher Foundation’s 30-year history of grantmaking and honors its community partners.
“Organizations rooted in the community are essential to addressing social problems and taking on tough issues. It’s inspiring to see the network of support Contra Costa children and families can rely on for safety, hope, joy, strength, and opportunities,” said Steve Lesher, Lesher Foundation Board President. “Our family is proud to carry forward my grandparents’ vision of enhancing the quality of life in our community, and we will continue to support our community partners for many years to come.”
The Lesher Foundation will award a limited number of one-time grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 to support organizational resilience and nonprofit staff well-being, providing funding for retreats, practices of care, conferences, training and coaching. Nonprofit organizations that are in Contra Costa County or directly benefit its residents and support children and families, education, and arts and culture are invited to apply. Online applications are due by July 19, 2024, and applicants will be notified by August 30, 2024.
“We know many of our nonprofits carry their mission and vision on their shoulders, and that can be a heavy weight day after day and year after year,” said Devorah Levine, Executive Director of the Lesher Foundation. “The CARE Fund supports the strength and wisdom of the nonprofit sector and recognizes the essential need to focus on the care and well-being of staff and organizational resilience.”
The Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation has a clear and simple mission—to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Contra Costa County. Founded in 1989 by the late Dean Lesher and his wife Margaret, the Lesher Foundation continues to uphold this value, giving more than $100 million in grants to programs benefitting children and families, particularly those in underserved and low-income areas.
For more information, visit lesherfoundation.org/care-fund or call (925) 935-9988.
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