Proposed McDonald's Sparks Opposition

A proposed McDonald's restaurant at the corner of 2^nd Avenue and Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento is being greeted with skepticism by some Oak Park neighborhood residents. Residents have raised a number of concerns about the project, including unhealthy food choices, plummeting home prices and traffic safety and congestion problems if the project goes through. In an ironic twist, the proposed restaurant would be located across the street from the UC Davis Medical Center, which among its many services, studies childhood obesity.  The Oak Park Neighborhood Association and the Oak Park Neighborhood Land Use Committee recently came out against the project, and developed a matrix to quantify the detrimental effects it could have to the area's quality of life.     

 According to Frankie Hansbearry of Healthy Development for Oak Park, more than 1400 signatures have been collected to be presented to the City's Planning Commission at its meeting next month.

Proposed site of McDonald's restaurant at 2nd Avenue and Stockton Blvd.

Over 100 Gather to Build Power in Sacramento for Public Transportation

On Saturday, August 13, over 150 committed Sacramento residents gathered at the Sierra 2 Community Center to learn how to build power in their communities to fight for public transportation.  The purpose of the training session was to share with residents a number of organizing tools, including:  power and its relationship to faith and values; finding one's self-interest, which inspires and moves us to act; tools to build relationships; and the elements of a power organization.  

The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including unions, youth groups, the faith community, the disabled community and others.  The training was facilitated by the power couple of Mary Gonzales and Greg Galluzzo of the Gamaliel Foundation.  The Chicago-based foundation trains leaders nationwide to be community organizers and change agents, and counts President Barack Obama as one of its early students as he trained to be a community organizer as a young man.  As a result of the training, the diverse community groups that were represented intend to form a powerful organization that uses its strength in numbers to advocate for change.

Greg Galluzzo of the Gamaliel Foundation exhorts training participants to build power in their communities

Green Home Services Partnering with Ubuntu Green to Raise Funds!

Ubuntu Green is partnering with Green Home Services, a green cleaning company, to raise funds for its Home and Community Gardens Project.  Green Home Services is a Sacramento-based green company that specializes in all types of home cleaning: green carpet cleaning, upholstery, rugs, air duct systems, and even tile & grout!   They are affordable, professional, 100% Green, and community-oriented. All their products are green, bio-degradable, and approved by the EPA. 

This year Green Home Services is joining with community organizations to raise money for green projects in our region, and has selected Ubuntu Green!    When you make an appointment and have a cleaning service done in your home, Ubuntu Green will receive 20% of the total cost of that service!  Greener Homes = Greener Communities.