By Rachel Heggen, Community Relations & Development Specialist, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is pleased to announce that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has awarded the organization a grant of $7,500 that will help combat food insecurity impacting vulnerable seniors.  Seniors are the fastest growing segment of the population in the country and the county, and while food insecurity has been an ongoing problem it has become more pronounced since the pandemic.

“Since March, we have been delivering meals to 40% more seniors,” said MOW Diablo Region’s Executive Director, Caitlin Sly. “The problem of food insecurity will continue into the future, but with the help of PG&E we can continue to deliver more meals to more seniors. That will help them continue to remain at home with dignity.”

The awarding of this grant was made possible with the help of PG&E’s Tom Guarino, who recently passed away. He was a strong advocate for nonprofits and his work on their behalf has had a profound impact on the lives of so many individuals.

MOW Diablo Region, in addition to delivering meals, provides life-improving services, such as Fall Prevention, Care Management, Health & Wellness classes and Friendly Visitors, Callers and Helpers.  Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is an independent nonprofit and is the only meals on wheels that delivers both meals and services in the entire county.  If you know someone who needs a delivered meal or a wraparound service, or would like to find out how to become involved, visit www.mowdiabloregion.org.

Raley’s non-profit sets new record with 43% increase in total year-over-year donations raising over $3 million for California, Nevada food banks

By Kevin Buffalino, Public Relations & Partnerships Manager, Raley’s

Raley’s Food For Families Annual Holiday Drive raised over $3 million throughout the 2020 holiday season, the largest amount ever donated in the organization’s 35 years of hosting the event. The donations, which came from customers in-store and online between November 2 and December 31, will provide more than three million meals for those suffering from food insecurity in northern California and Nevada.

One of Raley’s 12 regional food bank partners is the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano, and $483,825.00 was raised for them during this year’s Annual Holiday Drive. The customers at the Raley’s and Nob Hill Foods stores in Contra Costa County donated the following amounts to provide meals for their food insecure neighbors:

Raley’s

• Antioch – $17,932
• Brentwood – $23,100
• Oakley – $17,393
• San Pablo – $21,516

Nob Hill Foods

• Martinez – $26,025
• San Ramon – $17,662
• Walnut Creek – $25,431

“The generosity we have seen this past year within the communities we serve is incredible,” said Becca Whitman, Executive Director of Raley’s Food For Families. “It is no secret that 2020 was an especially difficult year, so we cannot thank our customers enough for their outpouring of support to help their neighbors in need during even the toughest of times. They are the ones who truly deserve the recognition.”

Raley’s Food For Families works every day to alleviate hunger locally by partnering with 12 regional food banks across the company’s footprint in northern California and Nevada. This year’s Annual Holiday Drive was especially important because these partners, which typically serve 1.4 million food insecure individuals each month, saw an increase of an average of 95% in those using their services in 2020.

Although this year’s Annual Holiday Drive has ended, Raley’s accepts donations year-round at check stand pin pads at all store locations and online to support Food For Families. Donations stay local to aid the communities in which they were made, and Raley’s covers all administrative costs for Food For Families, ensuring one hundred percent of donations benefit food bank partners and those in need.

To learn more about Raley’s Food For Families or to donate, visit raleys.com/foodforfamilies.  

About Raley’s Food For Families

Raley’s Food For Families is a registered 501(c)3 organization providing food to Feeding America food banks and their network of partner agencies. The year-round program serves the communities of Northern California and Western Nevada through Raley’s, Bel Air Market, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source stores.

Raley’s Food For Families began as a holiday food drive in 1986 and was founded by Co-Chairman and Owner Joyce Raley Teel and CEO emeritus Charles Collings. In the past 35 years, the organization has raised over $42 million and 40 million pounds of fresh, wholesome food. With a long-standing commitment to local communities, Raley’s Food For Families continues to grow and thrive as an organization dedicated to health and happiness for those experiencing food insecurity. Raley’s covers 100% of the administrative costs for the non-profit, meaning 100% of donations go directly to the food bank partners.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Click here to RSVP.

Speakers include Antioch resident Iris Archuleta

By John Fout, Community & Media Relations Specialist, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

In 2021, fifty-three years will have passed since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  That sobering reminder will serve as a backdrop to Contra Costa County’s 43rd Annual Commemoration of Dr. King’s life and legacy. The Board of Supervisors welcomes the public to watch a virtual community celebration on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 11 am.

“Contra Costa County welcomes the public to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and help us honor a Humanitarian and Student Humanitarian of the Year. These honorees serve the residents of Contra Costa with dedication and heart. Together, we will commemorate Dr. King and commit to continuing our work together to address issues of racial injustice and inequality in our communities,” said Board Chair, Supervisor Diane Burgis.

The theme of the event is “Silence is Not an Option.” Countywide recognition will be given to the Adult Humanitarian of the Year, Velma Wilson from Antioch, and the Student Humanitarian of the Year, Kimyatta Newby, a recent graduate of Middle College High School in San Pablo. Their stories of leadership, advocacy, and service have impacted Contra Costa County, its residents and communities, and reflect the spirit of Dr. King’s work and achievements.

This is the second year in a row that an Antioch resident was honored with the adult award. Last year, now-Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker was the recipient. In addition, former Antioch School Board Trustee Walter Ruehlig was honored with the award in 2004.

About Velma Wilson

In her actions, her words, and her example, Velma Wilson lives her life as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called us to live.

Velma is a selfless, tireless volunteer in the community and the county. She has served by leading her community and many organizations to promote and foster diversity, equality, and justice. She organized food distribution, school supply, and other drives in service to our county’s most vulnerable.

Velma has coordinated the annual Antioch MLK Day Celebration, the Antioch Veterans and Memorial Day observances, in addition to many other events. Her leadership skills and creativity bring together local, state, and federal elected officials, as well as the community-at-large.

Her list of leadership and volunteer roles includes serving as the parent and student engagement liaison for Antioch United School District, Vice President of Legislation and Education for the 32nd District PTA, 1st Vice President of East Contra Costa County NAACP, and Community Member for African American Male Achievement Initiative. Local service organizations have also benefitted greatly from her membership and involvement.

Her commitment to the Census 2020 effort led her to become a Census Bureau field supervisor. Her relationships and understanding of Antioch and Contra Costa County helped to ensure that both our homeless and unsheltered populations counted and our hardest-to-reach residents in some of the toughest neighborhoods.

Speakers

The celebration will feature the voices of inspirational speakers from the community, including Iris Archuleta, Co-founder Emerald HPC International in Antioch, Mike Anderson, former Mayor of Lafayette, Merl Craft, Mayor of Pittsburg, Reverend Phillip Lawson, retired pastor and civil rights activist, and Shanelle Scales-Preston, Pittsburg City Council Member. The program also includes entertainment from the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts.

Iris Archuleta is Co-Founder and Vice-President of Emerald HPC International, LLC and the architect of Emerald’s trademarked, High Performing Communities Framework. She has a degree in Political Science from California State University East Bay and a Law Degree from John F. Kennedy College of Law.

The public can watch the virtual live-stream at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will also be broadcast live on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) channels, Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and WAVE 32. To learn more about the Dr. King Ceremony and past ceremonies, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/5307 in the Community section of Contra Costa County’s website.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

1/12/21 UPDATE: Participation limited to only 75 individuals who either live or work in Antioch and in only one of three “Dialogues”, public comments also limited since not regular council meetings

The Antioch community is invited to participate in a series of discussions entitled “Bridging the Gap” with the goal of increasing understanding of how to address racial injustice and improve police-community relations. They will be hosted by CNA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) with professional experience assisting public agencies in the realm of public safety services. Those who live or work in Antioch are invited to register for one virtual discussion session from the list below.

Dialogue 1: Police Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency

Date:  Tuesday, January 19th

Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Discussion will focus on methods of police oversight, the police conduct complaint and discipline process, and practices that can increase police transparency.

Register here.

Dialogue 2: Racial Disparities in Policing

Date:  Saturday, February 6th

Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am

Discussion will focus on the disparate impact of police practices – such as recruitment and training, and use of force – on communities of color.

Register here.

Dialogue 3: Police-Community Engagement

Date:  Thursday, February 18th

Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am

Discussion will focus on how to improve the ways in which the police interact with young people and vulnerable communities, how police approach crime prevention, and how communities impact policing priorities.

Register here.

Questions About Meetings

The following questions were sent to Mayor Lamar Thorpe, City Manager Ron Bernal and City Attorney Thomas Smith, City Clerk Ellie Householder and Assistant City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore and the City’s Public Information Officer, Rolando Bonilla provided answers.If I understand that correctly, each Antioch resident gets to register for and participate in only one of the three different Bridge the Gap discussions/Dialogues that have different topics. Is that correct?

Q. If I understand that correctly, each Antioch resident gets to register for and participate in only one of the three different Bridge the Gap discussions/Dialogues that have different topics. Is that correct?

A. “Yes. On December 15th, at the City Council meeting, the format for the Bridging the Gap roundtable discussions was held by the Council.”

Q.  Does that mean each resident who wishes to participate only gets to offer a public comment during one of the forums, each of which have different topics? Or can each person who wants submit a public comment during each, but only receive the resource materials for one? Will everyone be able to watch all three?

A. “Thebulk of the meeting times is intendedfor small, facilitated breakout sessions in which intimate discussions about the select topic will occur,” he explained.

Q. Aren’t they going to be public meetings and therefore must allow any and all residents to participate and offer public comments before or after the meeting, as well as on the agendized topic?

A. “It is public in that members of the public can participate, and the larger group convening will be publicly broadcast, but not public in the same way as a City Council meeting. Due to that, those requirements do not apply.”

Q. Also, why are you holding the first one at 5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday when some residents who still are working at jobs outside of the city will still be in the commute at that time?

A. “A pre-eventsurvey was conducted and advertised across several City platforms. Meeting days and times were selected based on the input of respondents.”

Q. Are you trying to limit public participation to fit within your timeframes for each?

A. “No.”

Q. You do recognize limiting each to just 90 minutes on such volatile, controversial topics is not enough time, right?

A. “Your opinion.”

However, Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker doesn’t isn’t waiting for the forums to occur. In a Friday post on her District 1 City Council Facebook page she wrote, “Show up for police reform in Antioch. Tuesday, January 12, 2021 7 PM

We need to address the lack of accountability and transparency of the Antioch Police Department that leads to bias policing, excessive use of force, and harassment in the City of Antioch.

We can’t forget about George Floyd, Tamir rice Freddie Gray, Brianna Taylor, Ahmad Albury, Eric Garner, Jacob blake [sic], Devin Carter, Sandra Bland and so many more.

Ask that the Antioch City Council take action now. Your voice matters

1. Body-worn cameras on every officer.
2. A dashcam in every police car.
3. Independent investigations into civilian complaints regarding the use of force, harassment, and misconduct.
4. The establishment of a civilian police oversight body.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Learn Film Acting, Voice-Overs, Stage Combat, Children’s Theatre, Technical Theatre, Improvisation

Since 2006, El Campanil Theatre has offered El Campanil Children’s Theatre – a tuition-free, performance-based program that has served as a first stepping stone for hundreds of young actors over the years, introduced by Sharon Redman.

As arts programs get slashed everywhere, we asked ourselves what our greater responsibility was: to our students, to their parents, and to the community.

We have expanded Sharon Redman’s original concept into El Campanil Theatre Academy — a tiered, multi-layered program meant to not only educate students in the performing arts, but give them tools for career placement in the performing arts. Classes ranging from acting to design, from directing to playwriting, and from voice to movement–all taught by industry professionals.

Tuition-free and low-tuition classes are available below. Limited scholarships are available by applying here.

These classes have been designed to be taught either virtually or in-person, depending on the COVID regulations at the time that classes begin.

For schedule and more information, click here.