Photo courtesy of NELP.org.

Success Stories and Training for Contra Costa Employers at Fair Chance Employer Summit

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County’s Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD), in partnership with the Office of Reentry and Justice, presents the Fair Chance Employer Summit in Antioch on Wednesday, May 16.  Employers will learn about strengthening their hiring processes, minimizing risk, and maximizing value by hiring formerly incarcerated workers who struggle to find employment.  They will gain understanding about the California Fair Chance Act which took effect on Jan. 1, 2018 and how to take advantage of government incentives such as tax credits, fidelity bonding, and wage reimbursements.

WHO             

• Formerly-incarcerated speakers with their stories of struggle and success
• Current employers and trainers who have hired/trained these workers
• Prospective Fair Chance employers, HR professionals, corporate counselors, workforce development professionals, and other California business leaders who want to learn more

WHEN            Wednesday, May 16, 2018, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE          Antioch Community Center

4703 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA

INFO &                       CC County Workforce Development Board at (925) 602-6800

REGISTRATION       https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fair-chance-employer-summit-tickets-44411504004

PARTNERS                City of Antioch, City of Brentwood, City of Oakley, City of Pittsburg, HealthRight 360, Soutwest Airlines, Checkr

MORE INFO              The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Contra Costa County is a unique public/private partnership providing oversight for federally funded workforce programs in Contra Costa County. The WDB’s primary goal is to support a strong workforce system that is flexible and customer-focused.

VIDEO LINK              https://youtu.be/ys9zTNqj2bE

Narrative: John Krause, formerly incarcerated and owner of Big House Beans; Nilton Serva, formerly incarcerated and college student; Barry Hathaway, The Stride Center, Executive Director describe their stories and successes.

Attend and enter for a chance to win a pair of roundtrip tickets anywhere Southwest Airlines flies in the U.S.  (Must Be present to win.)

For more information about Fair Chance Employment, visit http://www.nelp.org/campaign/ensuring-fair-chance-to-work/.

Contra Costa County Public Works and Supervisor Diane Burgis will host an Earth Day event at Upper Sand Creek on Saturday, April 21 from 9am – Noon.  The event will take place at 6600 Deer Valley road in Antioch.  Antioch High School, Friends of Marsh Creek Watershed, Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and Earth Team interns will also participate.

“I’m excited to see so many people come out to celebrate Earth Day by putting their hands in the dirt, clean up, and then learn about our watershed,” stated Supervisor Burgis.

Spend the morning in the beautiful Upper Sand Creek watershed, exploring an area that is usually closed to the public. In 2013, the Flood Control District held the first planting event to celebrate the completion of the detention basin. Come see for yourself how much the basin has changed!

The students will be showing off the skills they’ve learned over the year they spent interning with Earth Team.

Activities will include:

• Trash Talking Showdown – Join a team to see who can pickup and properly identify, the most trash.
• Help remove invasive species and plant the volunteer nursery with oaks – Since the initial planting in 2013, a lot has changed with the volunteer nursery, but we still need your help to keep it going!
• Learn about your local creeks and why it is important to keep them clean!

You can sign up for this event at uscb2018.eventbrite.com.  Earth Day is celebrated around the world. It is a day celebrating environmental protection and raising awareness of how our actions affect the environment.

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County.   CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sand Bag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.  For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us here.

New Antioch Animal Services Manager, George Harding IV. Photo courtesy of APD.

By Allen Payton

At the April 10, 2018 Antioch City Council meeting, Police Chief Tammany Brooks introduced George W. Harding, IV, the new manager for Antioch Animal Services.

Harding has been in the animal care and control field for 24 years. Most recently he was the Executive Director of the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACCA), and prior to that, spent 19 years as the Manager of Animal Control for the City of Lee’s Summit Police Department. George holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Enforcement, and a Master of Business Administration degree. George is also a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) by the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA).

“I’m glad we were able to steal him away from NACCA,” Brooks said. “He’s had a busy week, getting married, honeymoon and packing up to relocate from San Diego.”

Throughout his career, George has been very active in representing animal care and control professionals on the national, regional and state levels. He served 12 years on the Missouri Animal Control Association Board of Directors, with two terms as President, one as Vice-President, and one as the Conference Coordinator. George is also a past NACA Board Member, a past Board Member for the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Care Facilities Act Advisory Committee, and was appointed by Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon, as a member of the Missouri Spay/Neuter Fund Board.

George currently serves as an Advisor to the Shelter Animals Count Board, as the leader of the animal care and control On-Point Committee for SAWA, and as a Board Member of the National Coalition on Violence Against Animals (NCOVAA).

“I’m excited to be here,” Harding said. “I’m looking forward to putting my 24 years’ experience in the industry to the test here in Antioch.”

Contra Costa County Supervisor Diane Burgis will convene an East County non-profit roundtable on Monday, April 30, 2018 from 10:00AM – 12:30 PM at Kaiser Permanente Sand Creek Conference Center in Antioch, CA.

Supervisor Burgis recognizes the many needs that nonprofits fill in every community, as well as the challenges of running a nonprofit.

It is recognized regionally that nonprofits from other parts of the county receive more funding than in East County and Supervisor Burgis wants to help change that.

“I want to help our nonprofits access the funding that is out there by giving them access to training and learning opportunities locally,” she said.

The first meeting will bring local nonprofits together to identify priorities in how we can best help them meet their goals. We will work to identify common purposes, promote cooperation among groups, and offer opportunities for collaboration. The subject of interest to most nonprofits is fundraising, followed by volunteer, leader and board development.

“We need to support our local nonprofits and strengthen our support base here in East County,” said Supervisor Burgis. “Grant requirements and funding cycles are often changing and building a solid financial foundation can be a challenge for new nonprofits.” 

All local nonprofits (any cause) are encouraged to participate and explore fundraising and volunteer options. The roundtable is intended for groups based in or serving East Contra Costa County and will continue to meet on a quarterly basis.

We have posted an online survey that will help us better understand our local nonprofits and their needs- we would appreciate all nonprofits fill out the survey even if they cannot attend this meeting.

Click for survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYCS3TZ

There is an opportunity to RSVP at the end of the survey as well.

An Eventbrite event has been set up. Please share this event with other nonprofits. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/east-county-nonprofit-roundtable-meeting-tickets-45247371105

If you are interested in more information about the East County Nonprofit Roundtable meeting, please contact District 3 Representative Dawn Morrow dawn.morrow@bos.cccounty.us.

Assemblymember Jim Frazier and the California Contractors State License Board are hosting a free seminar in Antioch to teach seniors how to avoid being scammed.

The Senior Scam Stopper seminar will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Antioch Senior Center, 415 W. 2nd Street in downtown, Rivertown. It is open to seniors, those who care for them and anyone else seeking fraud-prevention tips.

“As many as one in five seniors report that they’ve been the victim of fraud, and new scams pop up every day,” Frazier said. “This seminar is one way to help keep you or a loved one from becoming a victim, too.”

In 1999, the California Contractors State Licensing Board began partnering with legislators, law enforcement agencies and community organizations to teach vulnerable residents how to avoid being preyed upon by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. The program has since expanded to include lessons on protecting residents from identity theft and scams involving auto repair, Medicare, foreign lotteries and mail fraud.

Attendees will have their questions answered and can obtain assistance if they have been scammed.

Drop-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged. To RSVP, or for more information, contact Assemblymember Frazier’s office at (925) 513-0411.

Inside the factory – Left to Right – Cody Quinnell, Owen Loyd, Jillian Barton, Laurel Brooks, Savannah Loyd, Zack Fogel, Alyssa Orrick, Gracee Robertson, Dejah Van, and Emma Jacobs. Photos courtesy of T.K.’s Expressions Photography.

Stage Right Conservatory Theatre, Inc. presents “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company and dramatized by Richard R. George.  Who wouldn’t want to join Charlie Bucket on his adventurous tour of Willy Wonka’s world famous chocolate factory?  Now is your chance!  The classic fantasy based on the book by Roald Dahl is directed by Rio Teixeira and is fun for all ages.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will run for two weekends beginning Friday, April 20 at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, 213 F Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown.  Performance dates are April 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7:00 pm and Saturdays, April 22 and 29 at 2:00 pm.  Adults $10, Students and Seniors $8, Children $5.  Seniors pay only $5 on both Sunday matinees.  For more information call (925) 216-4613 or visit www.srctgrp.org.

Left to Right – Emma Jacobs as Willy Wonka, Owen Loyd as Charlie Bucket, and Cody Quinnell as Grandpa Joe.