Ubuntu Green Joins With Community Members to Groom Future Leaders

On Monday, June 13, Ubuntu Green joined with a coalition of local leaders to encourage Sacramento residents to take a leadership role in creating a more healthy community.  The day-long workshop was led by Carl Anthony and Dr. Paloma Pavel of Oakland-based Breakthrough Communities, and featured celebrated community organizer Mary Gonzales.  The workshop focused on the landmark law SB 375, which requires communities to include ways to reduce carbon emissions in their land use and transportation planning processes. 

A key to achieving this goal is to provide equitable funding for public transit and to create livable communities that serve the needs of all residents.  Workshop attendees included a cross-section of stakeholders including academic researchers, union members, advocates for the disabled community, and transit and housing supporters.  The goal is to train these leaders to be more effective advocates in achieving public policy goals.  Mary Gonzales stressed the need for advocates to be aggressive with decision makers, stating, "Power is not something that is given, it is taken."       

Mary Gonzales engages the audience

GREEN SPOTLIGHT:

 Uptown Studios Named "Small Business of the Year"

Easy, Fun and Popular!  This is the motto of Sacramento web and graphic design firm Uptown Studios - and it has more than lived up to its tagline.  The company is known for its green business practices, such as utilizing interactive PDFs instead of mass print jobs; environmentally-safe inks; and 100% recycled paper.  Recently, Uptown Studios was named "Small Business of the Year" by California State Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg.      

Tina Reynolds, owner of the progressive company, stated:  "This award makes me so proud of all the work that we do as a team; fighting for equality, changing the face of homelessness and connecting with many other nonprofit groups and working together on so many issues.  This will only make the way we do business better." 

Among Uptown's clients are Safe Ground Sacramento, a homeless advocacy organization; Francis House, a resource and counseling center for the poor; and Pregnancy Consultation Center, among many others. 

Tina Reynolds (center with glasses) and the Uptown Studios team

Aging In Place May Leave Seniors With Few Travel Options 

The Sacramento region ranks near the bottom in a new study on access to transit by our senior citizens.  This week, Transportation for America released a report that examines the effects of limited transit options on our aging population.  According to the report, by the year 2015 only 41 percent of Sacramento seniors will live in areas with poor access to public transit.  With the huge baby boom generation turning 65 this year, and many of its members expected to live well into their 80s, the demographic changes and challenges they present will last for decades.  Reliable transportation options are essential for seniors to age in place and enjoy a meaningful quality of life.  While the report identifies the dire consequences of failure to address senior mobility issues, it does highlight a number of best practices nationwide including designing communities for residents of all ages; allowing transit agencies to partner with nonprofit human services providers; and improving pedestrian safety through Complete Streets programs.

Bicycle Sharing Program Comes to Midtown

Beginning this month, visitors to Midtown Sacramento will have another reason to leave the car at home and enjoy the city on two wheels.  A pilot program sponsored by the Midtown Business Association, will allow people to swipe their credit card and rent a bicycle at their leisure.  The first half-hour is free, the second half-hour is $2, and each subsequent hour is $4.  Riders can also rent bikes for $30 per day.  The bikes are equipped with security devices to prevent theft of parts.  The pilot program will last for six months, after which the program will be evaluated to determine if there is sufficient interest for it to continue.  For more information, visit www.RideYourOwnWay.org.

Soil Born Farms Seek Youth For Green Corps Job Program

Soil Born Farms is hiring youth interested in learning about food, farming, health, and the environment.  We seek youth leaders who wish to make a difference in their community and build job skills in sustainable farming, health education, and cooking.  You will receive work experience, job training, and mentorship.  Following are the requirements for the program:

• Youth must be 16-18 years old;
• Youth must be in their senior year of high school working towards their diploma;
• Youth must live in Sacramento County;
• Youth must meet federal low income requirements in WIA Eligibility Requirements.

Submit your applications today, spaces fill up quickly!  Applications are available at www.soilborn.org.   For more information, contact Jennifer Whelan at (916) 363-9685.

Announcements

6/18 - 9 am to 1 pm - Oak Park Farmer's Market, McClatchy Park, 35^th Street and 5^th Avenue, Sacramento.  Our award-winning market features a diverse group of vendors selling locally produced and delicious fruits and vegetables, specialty plants and sprouts, breads, cheese, tamales, fresh flowers and more! EBT and WIC benefits are gladly accepted-ask us about our EBT incentive!  For more information, visit http://www.nwsac.org/oakparkfarmersmarket/.

6/22 - Summer Youth Access Lounge, Broadway Career Center, 915 Broadway, Sacramento.  Asian Resources and the Broadway Career Center are excited to announce the Summer Youth Access Lounge. We'll be open every Wednesday from 4-6PM at the Broadway Career Center on 915 Broadway to provide enrichment workshops with a range of topics. We also provide one on one job/ college counseling.  Contact:  Fong Tran, fong@asianresources.org, (916) 324-6216.   

6/25 - 3 pm to 4:30 pm - Sacramento Building Healthy Communities - Healthy Food Access Focus Group, Stockton Resource Center, 5625 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento.  Alchemist CDC is hosting a series of focus groups to learn more about options for improving access to healthy foods within the Building Healthy Communities area of Sacramento.  Contact: Davida Douglas, davida@alchemistcdc.org, (916) 204-8260.