To impact youth in Antioch and Contra Costa County

As we gear up for the new school year, 4 Ever Me Foundation is excited to announce the 11th Annual Stuff the Bus School Supply Giveaway, a beloved event dedicated to supporting families in need of school essentials. We cordially invite the community to join us for a day of fun, entertainment, food, and invaluable resources.

Date: August 5th, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Dallas Ranch Middle School

Address: 1401 Mt Hamilton Drive, Antioch

For over a decade, our mission has been to ensure that every child embarks on their academic journey fully prepared and equipped with the necessary tools for success. Thanks to the generous contributions from our community and local sponsors, we have been able to provide crucial resources for students year after year. This event, which started in 2012, has grown immensely and garnered support from influential organizations such as the Golden State Warriors, who have been steadfast partners for nearly eight years.

The Stuff the Bus School Supply Giveaway initially began as an AUSD-targeted initiative, identifying the need among students attending Black Diamond Middle School. Originally held at Ivancich and Costis Law Firm in Antioch, the event occurred twice a year – once at the beginning of the school year and another midway – ensuring that students had ample supplies to last the entire academic year. As word spread and families from various school districts began attending, the event transitioned to a one-day gathering serving students from across Contra Costa County. We embrace our commitment to meeting the community’s needs, and this event will continue as long as the need exists.

The 4 Ever Me Foundation is committed to supporting the socio-emotional well-being of youth by providing resources for success, encouraging youth involvement within the community, and nurturing youth leaders. Founder, Claryssa Wilson, recounts how the event became the catalyst for establishing 4 Ever Me Foundation, recognizing the opportunity to make a broader impact on the community. The foundation’s name originated from a longstanding Instagram handle created in 2012, symbolizing the importance of staying true to oneself despite challenges faced during middle school. With the foundation in the process of being established in 2021, after prioritizing personal education, including graduating from Antioch High School in 2019 and recently earning a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University, Wilson leads a dedicated executive team, including former peers and family members.

At the event, attendees can expect the following:

FREE School Supplies: We have stocked up on a wide range of school essentials, including backpacks, binders, notebooks, pens, pencils, and more. These supplies will be available for students to pick out, ensuring they get items they will truly love and use. We provide supplies for Pre-K through College!

Entertainment: Families can enjoy a variety of entertainment options, including games, face painting, and live performances. We guarantee a day full of joy and smiles!

Food: A delicious assortment of food vendors will be available for everyone to enjoy throughout the event.

Resources: Beyond school supplies, we understand the importance of addressing other essential needs. Our event will feature resource booths offering FREE information on health services, community programs, and other support services.

To ensure a smooth check-in process for all attendees, we kindly request that families register in advance by filling out the online form at: [Registration Link]. Additionally, for those interested in donating or volunteering, the QR code on the attached flyer provides convenient access to relevant information and opportunities.

We are determined to make this year’s Stuff the Bus School Supply Giveaway the most impactful one yet! For media inquiries, interviews, or further information about the event, please reach out to Claryssa Wilson at 4evermefoundation@gmail.com or 925-281-7507

Together, let’s create a positive impact on the lives of our children and build a brighter future for our community. We look forward to welcoming you on August 5th at Dallas Ranch Middle School!

Online forums for both on Wednesday, July 26

By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) announces the selection of two finalists for the position of Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The finalists are: Amy Nichols and Dr. Tony Wold.

Two separate online forums have been scheduled for July 26, 2023. Employees, students, and community members are invited to attend the forums via Zoom. Each forum will last 60 minutes, beginning at 1:30 p.m., and will be recorded. A detailed public forum schedule, recordings of each forum, and an online survey to provide feedback on the candidates will be available on the District website at http://www.4cd.edu.

Amy Nichols currently serves as the Chief Business Official of the Roseland Public Schools, overseeing all fiscal and facility services for the Roseland School District and Roseland Charter School. She is driven to ensure that all students who wish to pursue higher learning are provided opportunities to do so. She is committed to fostering practices that construct a foundation of financial stability that will allow 4CD faculty and staff to craft educational and social opportunities that meet the needs of all students.

Amy’s own background was shaped by her time as a student at Diablo Valley College (DVC). She began her studies as a young student when she left high school early in order to pursue paid work. Amy was grateful that DVC gave her the options she needed to continue to learn while also working – an experience that fostered a lifetime love of learning. Twelve years after beginning her studies at DVC, Amy completed her Associate degree at DVC, and then earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Labor and Employer Relations at Penn State University. Amy holds a Master’s of Science in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin, and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Accountancy at California State Sacramento. Amy is also a credentialed teacher and holds the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Chief Business Official (CBO) Certification.

Amy has been a dedicated educator for more than 20 years and has taught and supported curriculum development for adults at San Francisco State University’s College of Extended Learning, Mission Valley Regional Opportunity Program (ROP), and in a correctional education program offered through the Contra Costa County Office of Education. She transitioned to fiscal and business leadership roles in the California K-12 environment with roles as a Director of Technology Projects, Director of Technology and Senior Director of Procurement and Technology in the Acalanes Union High School District, Burlingame School District and Pleasanton Unified School District.

Amy believes strongly that sound financial management in educational agencies is critical for faculty and staff to successfully sustain and develop educational programs that support California’s diverse students.
She strives to provide collaborative, student focused leadership that keeps equity and transparency at the forefront of all activities.

Dr. Tony Wold has served multiple school districts as Associate Superintendent and Chief Business Officer in leadership roles in Business, Labor Negotiations, Student Services, and Student Assessment. His ability to align resources to support improved student achievement has improved student outcomes in diverse districts where over 90% of students received state and federal aid and higher socio-economic communities afforded experience in all district configurations.

Tony brings an extraordinary amount of educational experience both in and outside of the classroom, having also served as a teacher, site administrator, educational services director, and football coach in his educational career. Dr. Wold has a strong sense of the K-14 finance world and has been active in the California School Business Officials Association (CASBO), Coalition of Adequate School Housing (CASH), and serving as a mentor for aspiring Chief Business Officials. For the past year, Tony served as CBO in Residence for School Innovations & Achievement where his focus is on rebuilding systems to bring students back into schools to address the learning loss and changes in attendance behaviors resulting from the pandemic. In addition, Dr. Wold is the principal software design executive with DistrictOS, which is an agnostic SaaS platform that connects school district data systems together to allow for greater transparency in district operations to the public.

Dr. Wold recently served as Associate Superintendent, Business Services in West Contra Costa Unified School District, where he oversaw the daily operations and management of accounting, budget, purchasing, payroll, employee benefits, labor relations, school operations, athletics, safety, warehouse, transportation, nutrition services, and risk management. He was instrumental in the passing of the $575 million Measure R Bond in March 2020 and navigating a $49.9 million structural deficit to restore the District’s budget certification in collaboration with the District’s five labor associations.

A native of Redwood City, Tony received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC). He subsequently completed his School Business Management Certification and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USC. He also earned Chief Business Official certifications from the Council of Great City Schools, and Lead Negotiators certification from the School Employers Association of California (SEAC).

Tony and his wife Lisa have been married for over 27 years and have one daughter who graduated from the University of San Francisco to join the educational system as a teacher.

About 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves a population of 1,200,997 people, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with a campus in Pittsburg, and center in Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

Sponsored by Republic Services

By Paula  McEvoy, Tournament Director and Michael Green, Club President

Rotary Club of the Delta-Antioch will hold its 3rd Annual Corn Hole Tournament for Scholarships on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. at Antioch Community Park, 801 James Donlon Blvd.

We invite you to join us as a community partner for the 3rd Annual Corn Hole Tournament for scholarships and community projects.

It has been possible to carry on this tradition of community support and scholarships through the generous support of sponsors and the tireless energy of volunteers. In the past years, sponsorships have benefited many of our local youth programs, senior citizens, and community projects. We hope that you and your organization will be a part of our dynamic team!

We would appreciate your consideration of a sponsorship by your organization for our 3rd Annual Corn Hole Tournament! The proceeds benefit high school graduates and service clubs. Please review the enclosed sponsorship information. We hope you will join in on the fun!

Click here for sponsorship opportunities.

For more information about the event email Tournament Director Paula McEvoy at candpmac@sbcglobal.net. If you have questions or need additional information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Cathy Brannon at 5brannons@gmail.com. Please send your contribution by check, payable to the “Rotary Club of Delta-Antioch”, and mail to P.O. Box 423, Antioch, CA 94509. The Rotary Club of the Delta-Antioch is a 501(c)(4), tax ID #68-0200106.

Projected to start in January 2024

By Timothy Leong, Director of Communications and Community Relations

At their July 12, 2023, Governing Board meeting, the Contra Costa Community College District trustees announced their decision to move forward with the recruitment of a permanent Chancellor and provided staff with direction to proceed with the recruitment process. The Board is committed to conducting an equitable, inclusive, and transparent search that is consistent with Board policies and district procedures, and that will attract outstanding candidates for this opportunity.

The Board’s goal is to complete the search process and announce the new Chancellor by December 2023, with a start date of January 2024.

“We look forward to the recruitment of our permanent Chancellor,” said Board President Fernando Sandoval. “I join my fellow trustees in welcoming our students, constituency groups, and community’s involvement on choosing the District’s next leader who is equipped to carry on our legacy of affordable and high quality higher education.”

The last chancellor, Dr. Bryan Reece, held the position for just 14 months. He was hired by the board in October 2020, started his tenure in November 2020, placed on paid leave in September 2021 and resigned in February 2022.

Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology Mojdeh Mehdizadeh has been serving as acting chancellor.

Progress reports and updates will be posted on the District website at www.4cd.edu.

For more details about this search, contact Dr. Micaela Ochoa at mochoa@4cd.edu.

About 4CD

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves 1.2 million residents, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with campuses in Pittsburg and Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. Each college is individually accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. For more information visit http://www.4cd.edu.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Celebration of Life August 26

Ronald Joseph Molina

September 17, 1947-May 30, 2023

Resident of Antioch and Discovery Bay

It would be an understatement to say he was just a Music Man. He was also a charming coach, engaging educator, marvelous mentor, fabulous friend and loving husband.

Ron Molina, iconic director of Antioch High School’s Music Masters, passed away at home on May 30, 2023, after a lengthy illness.

Raised by parents Joseph and Dorothy Molina, he started his life at the old hospital in downtown Antioch. The eldest of three (brother to Debi and Susan), he attended AUSD schools, graduating from AHS in 1965.

It was at that school where he formed deep and lifelong friendships, which would eventually pull him back to Panther Country as a much-admired teacher.

When the young Molina wasn’t singing or playing ball, he spent summers fishing, hunting and camping in the Redwoods with his parents and sisters. It was a team effort with Dorothy setting up camp for the summer, Joseph working during the week and all gathering during the weekends. The family also enjoyed visiting and exploring the rich history of California’s missions.

Alter graduating high school, Ron attended Diablo Valley College before transferring to San Jose State University to major in music – the subject he loved most. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he worked in the private sector for several years.

Ron was a natural entertainer with a gift for singing and playing various instruments. He had the voice of an Italian tenor and would captivate audiences with his remarkable personality and melodic voice. He performed in a vast array of venues, including Carnegie Hall, and entertained passengers on many ocean cruises.

In 1986, after years in the spotlight, he returned to Antioch High initially splitting his time between running football plays and leading the music department – both with winning and long-lasting results. It’s nearly impossible to count the competitions, games, performances and student trips to Hawaii.

It’s even more impossible to measure or comprehend how many young people’s lives Mo – as he was affectionally called – helped shape, influence and guide. That was evident during the 2013 surprise concert featuring 150 of Mo’s Music Masters, who gathered to show their love when he retired. It was a mix of choir students from 1988 to 2013.

At the time, Jason Mullen (Class of 1996) said: “It needed to be larger than life because that is exactly what Mo is.”

Ron met and fell in love with his beautiful wife, Darcy Lauck, while teaching at Folsom High School. Their 1993 wedding was in Hawaii – their peaceful place, for which they shared a love. Darcy adored the tranquility of swimming with dolphins and turtles while Ron would enjoy a delicious pina colada or an ice-cold beer.

“I’m deeply touched (by everyone’s) kind words and thoughtfulness,” she said. “I am eternally grateful to each of you.” She added that “Ron is now singing in heaven for the angels, his voice resonating with a harmonious refrain.”

He leaves behind his wife of 30-plus years, son Joe (Dyan), grandsons Mason and Logan, sisters Debi and Susan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Darcy will host a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. Aug. 26 in Antioch High’s Beede Auditorium. In the meantime, those interested can donate to the Ron Molina Memorial Scholarship. Checks may be sent to Antioch High, 700 West 18th St., Antioch, CA 94509.

By Maricela Guerrero, Executive Director, Rocketship California

As community schools, we deeply engage our families in their student’s academic life and build our school community around our families. Our Care Corps is an expansion of Rocketship’s community schools model, allowing us to support the whole child and families inside and outside of the classroom. Our full-time Care Corps coordinators help our families navigate support systems and get the assistance they need by overcoming language barriers, red tape, and lack of internet access to connect them to vital services that are too often cumbersome and complicated. Care Corps coordinators are fully dedicated to helping families meet their basic needs so their children can thrive in school.

Rocketship Education operates the Delta Prep TK-5th school in Antioch, Futuro Academy TK-5th in Concord in Contra Costa County, and 11 other schools in California, three in Tennessee, one in Texas with a second opening this fall, two in Wisconsin and three in Washington, D.C.

We’re so proud to have once again holistically served thousands of families through Care Corps in the 2022-2023 school year. This past year:

Partnering with the Healthy Kids Foundation and K-12 Health East Bay, we provided free health screenings for 5,655 students across the Bay Area and partnered with Vision to Learn to give free eyeglasses to 618 Rocketship students. 

We partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank to feed our families – distributing almost 11,000 food kits to families in San Jose and the East Bay.

We partnered with City Team Ministries to offer a pop-up closet for our families at Rocketship Brilliant Minds, helping clothe over 200 households.

We also partnered with Bay Area Urban Barber College to give over 500 Rocketeers and their siblings free school supplies and haircuts.

Partnering with the State of California and the Santa Clara County Department of Health, we hosted a vaccination clinic and community resource fair for our San Jose families.

And last, but not least, our very own Ms. Elena organized a Rocketship folklorico group of 80 students that performed for the community at the Vietnamese Association in San Jose every Wednesday.

Thank you for your continued support of our Rocketeers. Our Care Corps team is excited to continue this important work the next academic year.

For more information visit www.rocketshipschools.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Please join us! Current, new, and aspiring educators welcome! For more information visit www.antiochschools.net.

Once again, Claryissa Wilson and her Forever Me Foundation has organized the annual Antioch Stuff the Bus School Supply Giveaway. This year it will be held on Saturday, August 5 beginning at 10:00 AM at Dallas Ranch Middle School, 1401 Mt. Hamilton Way in Antioch.

The event will include entertainment and resources for those who attend.

Donations of school supplies which can be purchased on the Amazon Supply Wish List or at local stores. Financial donations can be made and volunteers can also register on the event’s website. See all by clicking https://linktr.ee/4evermefoundation.