Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Diane Burgis receives Women Improving the Environment Award from the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame

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Diane Burgis, a trustee on the East Bay Regional Parks District Board and Executive Director of Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed received the Women Improving the Environment Award from the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame, Tuesday night in Concord.

The Board of Supervisors established the Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame in October 1997 to acknowledge those exceptional, multifaceted women who have enhanced life in Contra Costa County through their careers and volunteer activities.

The honorees have made a difference through their efforts towards equity, innovation, service or achievement in commerce or community outreach.

Burgis was nominated by Susan Morgan, a Director on the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board.  “Through Diane Burgis’ leadership as Executive Director of the Friends of the Marsh Creek Watershed, the protection of natural resources including creeks, water quality and open space has become a priority to our community and its leaders,” said Morgan.  “Much of Diane’s work has been funded part time and she was able to accomplish great things for our environment and the Watershed by working beyond her paid hours and by recruiting and encouraging support from volunteers in the community.”

Marsh Creek is one of the fastest urbanizing watersheds in California, and the creek flows for 30 miles through the rapidly growing communities of Brentwood, Oakley and Antioch in eastern Contra Costa County and into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the many volunteers who contribute their time and talent to protecting, conserving and restoring the Marsh Creek Watershed,” said Burgis.

Burgis is a candidate for County Supervisor in District 3 in the June election. This is the second honor she has received since entering the race.

Assemblywoman Bonilla honors Clayton resident Collette Carroll as the 14th Assembly District 2016 Woman of the Year

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Collette Carroll with Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla on Assembly floor, Monday, March 14, 2016. courtesy of Susan Bonilla's Facebook page.

Collette Carroll with Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla on Assembly floor, Monday, March 14, 2016. courtesy of Susan Bonilla’s Facebook page.

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) recognized Collette Carroll as the 2016 Assembly District 14 Woman of the Year during the annual floor ceremony, on Monday, March 14, which honors outstanding women making an impact in their local communities and across the state.

Collette Carroll, a resident of Clayton, California is a 2015 CNN Hero and the President and Executive Director of California Reentry Institute (CRI), a nonprofit organization that prepares and supports men through the transition from prison to freedom.  Through her Empowered Reentry Program based out of San Quentin State Prison, Collette provides inmates with the tools and assistance to become contributing members of society, proving that with preparation and support, the cycle of incarceration can be broken.

“It is an honor to recognize Collette for her courageous work and its impact on California,” said Bonilla.  “Her dedication, passion and commitment has transformed the lives of CRI graduates.  The work she has accomplished inside and outside of our prisons for over 16 years proves that change and rehabilitation can happen when given the opportunity and support.”

In 2008, Collette created CRI when she realized the work she was doing was simply scratching the surface and that in order to make a successful transition from incarceration to freedom, men needed a solid and seamless pre-and post-release program. The comprehensive program which Collette runs inside San Quentin is a minimum 20 months and has had a remarkable, zero percent recidivism rate for all graduates of the program.

This past February, Collette held a graduation for a class of 43 and will begin a new class in late Spring.  For more information about Collette and CRI, please visit: http://californiareentryinstitute.org/.

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord) was elected in November 2010 and represents California’s 14th Assembly District, which includes Contra Costa County and Solano County.