Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "cares"

4th Annual Sacramento Homeless Connect this Saturday, May 21 at Sacramento City College

2011-05-16T21:19:36Z

The 4th Annual Sacramento Homeless Connect event will take place this Saturday, May 21 at Sacramento City College from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. It is hosted by Sacramento Steps Forward, with support from presenting sponsor The Salvation Army. Speakers at the event include Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, Mayor Kevin Johnson and Supervisor Phil Serna. Over 1,000 homeless guests are expected; additionally the event hosts 500 community volunteers and over 60 different service providers.

Project Homeless Connect is a national Best Practice model for bringing services directly to homeless folks. Started in San Francisco, it now occurs in over 150 communities across the country. Homeless Connect events are one-day, one-stop, 100% free resource fairs that bring a myriad of services all to one location, thus eliminating many of the barriers homeless folks face in accessing the services they need. Transportation is provided for guests that day (a major barrier for many homeless people), as well as pet care and childcare. Homeless folks get to meet with providers face-to-face, in a warm, hospitable environment. Additionally, the Salvation Army provides BBQ chicken meals for the guests, and bands Guitar Mac and BluSoul Band will be providing all-day entertainment.

500 community volunteers will be donating their time that day, helping with a number of different projects.

This year, over 60 different agencies and service providers will be in attendance, including:

Community housing and shelter providers, including: Sacramento Self-Help Housing; Volunteers of America; Transitional Living & Community Support; Lutheran Social Services, Resources for Independent Living; St. John’s Shelter and Sacramento Area Emergency Housing
Health Services including: the UC Davis Willow Clinic rapid HIV-testing by CARES, Hep-C, STI testing and harm reduction services by Harm Reduction Services and Oak Park Outreach Services; dental screenings by Dr. Charles Newens, and ocular exams by the Lion’s Club Vision Van and UC Davis eye doctors
Free California State IDs provided by the DMV, with help from Francis House
An Employment Triage Station, run by Women’s Empowerment, with an interview-ready clothing closet and help with resume-writing and interview skills
A new Wellness Area, including: free yoga all day, by the Yoga Seed Collective, 20-minute mini-chair massages by the Healing Arts Institute, foot washing & clean socks by Christ Church, Davis, an art therapy station (staffed by AmeriCorps NCCC members) and a Story Table (with professional portraits by Lynette Falls of Three One Photography)
A Mental Health services station, staffed by Guest House Homeless Clinic, Genesis, Social Security Administration, SMART (a brand-new pilot program that helps folks receive SSI), and Clean & Sober
Veterans Services, staffed by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the Sacramento Veterans Resource Center, the Sacramento Veterans Support Network, the Sacramento County Veterans
Sacramento County General Assistance and CalFresh (Food Stamps)
Bike repair provided by Cycles4Hope, who is also raffling off 10 adult bikes
Free haircuts by Federico’s Beauty Institute Salon
And amazing giveaways, including: The Sacramento Public Library is giving away 200 free books; the Bra Recyclers donated 1,300 bras; Restoring Vision provided us with 300 pairs of reading glasses; a Sac State student is giving away 150 pairs of shoes; 2 clothing closets and exit gift bags for each guest.
Other elements: free transportation all day provided by Regional Transit, Paratransit, Volunteers of America and Sacramento County. Free all day pet-care provided by WOOFF and free childcare provided by the Mustard Seed School!

The Salvation Army is our presenting sponsor, for the 2nd year in a row, and they’re providing at least $20,000 of in-kind support.

Additional sponsors: The City of Rancho Cordova, Wells Fargo Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Sutter Health Sacramento Sierra Region, Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, Loaves & Fishes, Sacramento Mutual Housing Association, Councilmember Steve Cohn, The Merchants National Bank, CARES, UC Davis Health System, Sacramento Housing Alliance and Councilmember Jay Schenirer.

Last year's Sacramento Homeless Connect had over 800 homeless adults and 170 homeless children in attendance.

For questions about the event, please contact Kate Towson, ktowson@communitycouncil.org

Kate Towson is an Americorps VISTA serving with Sacramento Steps Forward.

Chris goes to CARES

2011-03-08T19:46:28Z

CARES (the Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services) is across the street from the Townhouse, which is quiet at 4:00pm on a Monday afternoon long before they open up for Open-Mic night. I walk there after my obligatory after-work nap, still a little groggy, stopping at Old Soul for a mocha to keep my hands warm and bumping into customers who find it strange to see me on the other side of the counter. Mocha in hand, I’m heading across Midtown through the alleyways and wondering if the sun-turned-overcast sky is going to turn to rain, which would put a damper on the bonfire plans I’ve set in motion for later in the day. Over at 21st, I make a right and tell a homeless man I’ll help him out with a cigarette on my way back, then follow some fellow into the CARES building with its reflective front windows and No Smoking signs posted on the pale brick walls.

It’s a miniature hospital. Think linoleum floors, Top-40 turned Elevator Muzak playing from the radio, hard plastic waiting room seats with outdated magazines splashed about like an afterthought—Hurricane Katrina on the cover of a National Geographic, posters that say “Compliance is Not A Crime” and rotating towers of pamphlets marked “Women’s Support Groups” and “Addiction Recovery,” a defeated, yet hopeful feeling among the patients waiting in slow-moving lines at the Pharmacy, people idling at the Check-In windows waiting for someone to wave them forward. I check in and fill out my HIV/STD Test form, the same form I filled out last time, and wait for a while near the elevator and watch people come and go, old friends, usually, who catch up with each other in the Pharmacy line. I see a kid getting the same test as me (“My girl, she wants me to get the test, she don’t trust me. I tell her I love her but she don’t believe me,” he tells the Check-In nurse), a woman who tells her entire life story to another nurse, as well as a man who is worried about “Mother missing her appointment.” In the back of my mind I can’t help but think that most of these people, mostly middle-aged men, have HIV or something. They’re here for something, and that makes me sad. Then I realize that they’re probably thinking the same thing about me: Poor guy, so young. I’m glad they—we—have a place like this to go to.

I mean, where would I go? With no health insurance, what would I do?

I’m eventually led upstairs to the same little room where I was taken last time, where I took my cotton-swab HIV test (negative results, thank goodness), and have to explain that I’m not here for another cotton-swab. I'm here to feel good about knowing I'm clean of STD's, and this is the first time I've been tested. My nurse leaves to put my information in the computer, again, I guess, and while I wait I grab a couple more condoms from the party bins in the bookshelf and read about post-Katrina New Orleans, which makes me sad, though the photographs are phenomenal. My nurse comes back and tells me to follow her downstairs, down to the bottom floor.

Now this part of CARES looks even more like a hospital. More official. Here there’s a white-coated doctor off to the side, stuffed away in a cubby full of biohazard signs and computers and centrifuges and urine sample cups and boxes of gloves and a sign that says “Warn Your Phlebotomist If You're Allergic To Latex.” When I arrive, I sign in on a sheet outside of his window and take a seat in the waiting area across from the bathroom. I read a magazine about Sacramento and don’t learn anything new. Makes me want to write for a magazine about Sacramento… Then my name is called, I go into the doctor’s cubby, sit in a padded chair with one of the arms lifted while he looks up information about me in the computer. Nothing shows up. He asks me, twice, my phone number—he was off by a digit—and my date of birth, but there are no results. Like I snuck in or something. So he sends me back upstairs to confirm with the nurses that yes, I was in the system, and the nurse is confused and tells me she’ll take care of it for me. Within twenty minutes, the information has been processed.

So I get my blood taken. Reminds me that I should get back into donating blood again. The Doc takes just a little bit of blood—a little glass vial, “Still warm,” he laughs—and then I hold gauze against my elbow to keep from bleeding out all over the floor. Wouldn’t that be terrible? Next thing, Doc gives me a urine sample cup with my name printed out all official-like on the side, and I pee into it. Good thing I drank that mocha. I leave the warm sample on the metal cabinet near the Doc’s door. Test over.

“When do I hear back?” I ask him. “If you don’t hear anything by Wednesday,” he says, “then that’s a good thing.”

CARES is located at 1500 21st St.

Dyke Night kicks off PRIDE

2010-06-19T06:08:03Z

Sacramento's PRIDE 2010 kicked off with Dyke Night, an evening of music and entertainment on the west Capitol steps to lead into the new location of this year's festivities on Sacramento’s Capitol Mall near between the Tower Bridge and the Capitol building.

Here are some moments:

Two women in the audience respond to the performers on stage.

Allyn Pharo and her dog Sterling.

The crowd filled the lawn in front of the west Capitol steps.

Aurora (top and bottom) played to the crowd.

Emcee and Organizer Hilary Hodge keep the pace going throughout the evening.

Tina Reynolds, Equality Action Now, gave folks an update on Prop.8.

Dancers from Hot Pot Studios (above) moved their bodies slowly to the music and react after falling down (below).

Dean Brian Baker, Trinity Church participated with C. Foster and Jovi Radtke’s “Spoken Word”.

Jace and Brando performed with the Kings of Drag.

Other performers included Der Spazm and Sappho’s Serenaders.

For a copy of the official Sacramento PRIDE program:sacramentopride.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/sac-pride-program-only.pdf

The Sacramento Pride Festival will be held Saturday, June 19, from 10 am to 5 pm along the Capitol Mall Avenue.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Sacramento Pride Grows Up to Role as California's Capital Pride!

2010-06-18T07:46:57Z

With an iconic new location--Sacramento's scenic Capitol Mall, expanded marketing efforts and a growing roster of prestigious corporate sponsors and exhibitors, the 26-year-old Sacramento Pride Festival is expected to break attendance records on Saturday.

The June 19 Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., attracting an estimated 10,000 visitors and bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of economic benefit to Sacramento’s downtown area. Festival admission is $10.

After a number of years at South Side Park, the Festival will move to Capitol Mall in 2010, where a street-festival layout sandwiched between the Tower Bridge and the State Capitol dome is expected to add novelty and cachet to “California’s Capital Pride.” Adding to the buzz are headline entertainers from New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles, a new high-energy Amtrak Dance Pavilion featuring popular regional DJs, and give-aways including $50 in free play at Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel, California State Fair and Village People concert tickets, music downloads from Masterbeat and more.

Featured on two live stages will be “Ru-Paul’s Drag Race” winner Bebe Zahara Benet, singer-songwriter and LOGO Channel star Joel Evan; musical comedy duo That’s What She Said (TWSS); and Kaylah Marin, whose dance remix single “On the Floor (Oh Baby Please)” hit #4 on the Billboard Club Play Charts. Local favorites include songstress Gwen McMillin, folk singer Joshua Macrae, and punk-soul-hip hop band RCWB (Rendezvous w/Cool Beans). A complete entertainment schedule is attached.

The Sacramento Pride Festival will kick off with a Pride Parade at 10 a.m., featuring State Assembly Speaker John Pérez as Grand Marshall. The parade will begin at the intersection of 7th and T streets and proceed on 7th Street to the Festival entrance at 7th Street and Capitol Mall.

An Opening Ceremony and ribbon-cutting will follow the parade at 11 a.m. on the Festival 4th Street Stage, featuring Assembly Speaker Pérez, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and other dignitaries.

Sacramento Pride would not be possible without the support of its generous corporate sponsors, including Title Sponsor Jackson Rancheria Casino & Hotel, Wells Fargo, Outword Magazine, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, HP, Rainbow Pages, Regional Transit, Faces Nightclub, Barefoot Wine, Bud Light, JetBlue, WriteAway Communications Services, Infinite Entertainment, Uptown Studios, SMUD, Amtrak, CARES, Cheer SF, California State Fair, Power of Two Promotions, Lumens Light + Living, Safeway, IKEA, Sacramento News & Review, Curve Magazine and SF Weekly.

Sacramento Pride is produced by the volunteers and staff of the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center and proceeds support Center programs and services, including youth services, adult discussion groups, HIV support services, transgender support services, a free weekly legal clinic, gathering space for local community organizations and more. For more information about Sacramento Pride, visit www.sacramentopride.org.

Sacramento Pride Reinvented

2010-05-09T00:45:50Z

This is not your daddy’s Sacramento Pride!

Sacramento Pride is making big changes in 2010, all aimed at transforming the annual regional celebration of LGBT culture and accomplishments into an event worthy of its new tagline, California’s Capital Pride.

The list of changes begins with the day-long Pride Festival’s move this year to Sacramento’s Capitol Mall. The Festival will be held Saturday, June 19, from 10 am to 5 pm. Sandwiched between the State Capitol dome on the east and the golden spans of the Tower Bridge on the west, the Festival’s move to the scenic city gateway is intended to raise visibility and emphasize the important role of the LGBT community in Sacramento and statewide.

The Festival’s move from Southside Park, where the festival has been held for the past several years, to Capitol Mall has been warmly received by city officials, who awarded the event an $8,100 City of Festivals Grant for the first time this year. “Sacramento’s LGBT community is essential to making this city a great place to live, work and play,” said Councilmember Ray Tretheway. “The State Capitol and Tower Bridge will be the perfect backdrop as thousands of people from throughout the state and nation gather to celebrate our capital’s annual pride festival.”

Also new in 2010:

An amped-up entertainment line-up, featuring several nationally-known acts as well as a robust slate of local talent at two stage locations. Entertainers confirmed to date include:
-- Season 1 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bebe Zahara Benet
-- Recording artist Kaylah Marin, whose dance remix hit “On the Floor (Oh Baby Please)” currently is #4 on the Billboard Club Play Charts
-- TWSS, or That’s What She Said, an L.A. musical comedy duo perhaps best known for the YouTube sensation, “U-Haul: The Music Video”
-- Singer/Songwriter Joel Evan, whose new hit single "Storm" is taking the dance clubs by storm.
A new Sacramento Pride Parade route, featuring a symbolic route reversal, beginning at 10 am at Southside Park (where it used to end)and ending at the entrance to the new Capitol Mall Festival grounds.
The high-energy Amtrak Dance Stage, made possible by a generous sponsorship from Amtrak.
An all-new Dyke Celebration. Scheduled for Friday evening, June 18, at the State Capitol West Steps, the event will feature a twist on the traditional “Dyke March” with a festive line-up of musical, dance, Drag King and spoken-word performances. Participants of all genders are invited to join the celebration of unity and equality.

Sacramento Pride 2010 will have the support of the largest number of corporate and non-profit sponsors in the history of the event, beginning with Title Sponsor Jackson Rancheria Hotel & Casino, Outword Magazine, Wells Fargo, The Hewlett Packard Company, Regional Transit, JetBlue, Barefoot Cellars, Safeway, Rainbow Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento, Rainbow Pages, SMUD, Amtrak, California State Fair, Uptown Studios, IKEA, BudLight, Lumens Light + Living, Infinite Entertainment, WriteAway Communications Services, Power of Two Promotions, CARES, Sacramento News & Review, and Cheer San Francisco. Outword Magazine publisher Fred Palmer, sales and marketing agent for Sacramento Pride, has been instrumental in attaining most of the event sponsors.

As always, Sacramento Pride is produced by volunteers and staff of the Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center, and proceeds support Center youth services, HIV support services, programs for transgender individuals, gay men and lesbians, a free weekly legal clinic and other services critical to the health and wellbeing of the LGBT community.

For more information, visit http://sacramentopride.org, or follow Sacramento Pride on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Benefit Concert for C.A.R.E.S.

2010-04-20T20:38:44Z

Sacramento Women’s Chorus' spring concert, SongBurst, is a Benefit Concert for CARES (Center for Aids Research, Education and Services).

It is on Sat., April 24, 7pm at Central United Methodist Church, 5265 H St., Sacramento, CA 95819.

Songs of Celebration, Courage and Happiness is the theme. Get ready for light-hearted songs such as"A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chapel of Love” ; strong, courageous songs like "Defying Gravity", “Venus” and “Warrior Song"; plus celebrations of life such as “Kore Evohe.”

C.A.R.E.S. was established in response to the devastating AIDS epidemic, and was founded in May of 1989. Since then, they've grown to become the leading HIV/AIDS care provider in the Sacramento area.

Thanks to the generous support of their funders and volunteers, CARES is able to treat thousands of people in need every year.

Tickets are $10 advance/students/seniors/groups of 10 or more; $12 at door; $5 children,12 & under. To reserve tickets, please call

(877) 758-7827.

E-mail: sacramentowomenschorus@live.com
Web site: http://www.meetup.com/Sacramento-Women-s-Chorus/

The chorus is not affiliated with any religious or political group.

Sacramento Women's Chorus makes about a dozen appearances a year on behalf of women, the environment, peace & justice, equal rights, tolerance and the celebration of diversity.

Sacramento Women's Chorus is a non-profit group of women who are building community through our love of music, dedication to musical excellence and commitment to performing music which reflects the lives of women.

Sacramento Women's Chorus is partly supported by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and is a member of GALA Choruses.

Find them on Facebook under Sacramento Women’s Chorus and on Twitter under Sac Women’s Chorus.

Space 07 Salon is Cutting for a Cause

2010-04-13T17:42:00Z

Typically getting your haircut is quite a self-serving experience. Those of you who are familiar with Stockton's famous, or rather not so famous, indie rock group Pavement might recall the "Cut Your Hair" lyrics "Darling won't you go and cut your hair...do you really think it's gonna make any change." It dawned on me that not very often you can get a haircut and can actually be impacting someone else or your own community.

This Sunday, April 18, from 11 AM-5 PM Space 07 Salon (located at 1421 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95814) will be hosting a cut-a-thon featuring 25 of the finest hairstylists in Sacramento. Salon cuts are $25 and barber shop cuts are $15. The event will also include a raffle and silent auction as well. All proceeds go directly to the fundraising efforts of Team Space 07 in their quest to raise $30,000 for HIV/AIDS organizations in the inland Northern CA region.

Space 07 Salon owner Ken Schultz is one of many long term HIV survivors here in Sacramento. He believed he would go years ago. He is motivated by the fact that he is still alive and wants to support CARES, one of the primary beneficiaries of the NorCal AIDS Challenge taking place next month. When asked about his involvement with the charity bike ride, Schultz expresses his reasons for his commitment to expanding the Cause and how he fell in love with cycling. "Five years ago I rode NCAC. Road cycling was a new adventure for me. Now it has become more of a passion. I see it as a spiritual place. Riding with NorCal gives me an opportunity to reminisce and honor those loved ones we have lost to HIV/AIDS over the years. I also get to celebrate living, being alive and concentrating on the joy in life with some of the best friends that I have today."

Schultz has made the cut-a-thon quite an inclusive event by bringing in stylists outside of his own business to support the Cause. He is also taking quite the initiative in helping to expand NCAC by unveiling Team Space 07 in May. Composed of nearly 20 riders, some new and some veterans, the team will join a community of individuals who have helped raise over $700,000 for HIV/AIDS agencies throughout the greater Sacramento area since 2005.

Schultz recognizes how there are so many bicyclists and cycling clubs in the region but not enough of them know about the NorCal AIDS Challenge. "This ride really needs to grow. I totally underestimated NCAC. It is not as much about the exercise and the physical challenge but more about the positive energy that is generated. There is a good message about hope associated with the ride and the few of us long term HIV survivors involved want to put more positive energy out into the universe and promote this wonderful event."

So venture out to Space 07 and get a fresh new look for Spring. Just imagine all of the flattering comments that can go to your head and you can take pride in knowing that the loss of your locks went towards a very good Cause. So even if it is not a must, cut yout hair and be a difference maker to your community.

To find out more about the cut-a-thon visit www.space-07.com or contact (916) 444-7474. Learn more about the NorCal AIDS Challenge on May 20-23rd at www.norcalaidschallenge.net. Register or donate now!

Black Expo inspires Sacramento to go green

2010-02-22T04:59:47Z

As someone who enjoys fun and festive community events, I am more than happy to report on one of the best events in the area that took place over the weekend, the Black Expo. This was my second visit to the annual expo, which is held during Black History Month and provides a means of networking and showcasing the best of black business and culture.

I was eager to see what had changed between last year and this. I heard from some who can remember the expo's past, and it is heartening to learn that it has come a long way since it began 14 years ago.

No longer an obscure event with little fanfare or sponsorship, the Black Expo welcomed thousands of people over the weekend. More than 100 sponsors, exhibitors and vendors participated in the expo at the Convention Center, with its theme "Tapping our Green Power." The goal was to educate and call upon Sacramento’s black community to become more engaged in green technologies and resources, said Cheryl Brownlee, consultant and expo committee member.

“Each year we are trying to find ways to better inform our community about what’s happening, and this is our 14th year of doing this event, so we wanted to reflect what is happening in the future and green technologies reflect that,” said Brownlee. Companies such as SMUD, PG&E, Regional Transit, Caltrans, Los Rios Community College District, and General Mills are among major sponsors of this year’s expo.

“We feel it’s important to be here to increase our diversity efforts and give back to the community," said Holly Brown, Membership Representative of Schools Financial Credit Union in Sacramento. Those efforts toward environmentally friendly energy use are meant to accelerate the understanding of African Americans and others should have about the importance of a green-oriented economy.

The green theme was obvious from the displays in the exhibit hall as well as the countless Black Expo “Tapping Our Green Power” bags on people's arms. What representatives of the expo such as Brownlee want people to know is that the need for more information and a change in environmental policies, investments and funding sources is essential. Such changes, she emphasized, will lead to more jobs and a better economy for everyone.

However, not everything at the expo was about going green. Some highlights: a keynote address by Susan Taylor, the National CARES Mentoring Movement founder and editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazine; the Glory Awards, which honored several spiritual leaders for outstanding service; a community breakfast for leaders under the age of 30; and the Stars of Tomorrow talent show. The weekend’s events also included business and job workshops, kids and crafts activities, and a gospel program on Sunday.

And most important, what is a good community event without good food? There were several options, including Minnie’s Cornbread House, El Shaddai Liberian food, G-Dubbs Barbeque and Healthy Eats. The food lines were never short but kept moving, making for easy sampling of tasty dishes.

Those who missed this year's Black Expo should plan to attend next year's. It's a thought-provoking and community-building event.

Sacramento marks World AIDS Day by advocating for drug funding; memorializing lives lost

2009-12-03T00:14:12Z

Millions of people from around the globe marked World AIDS Day on December 1. In Sacramento, local HIV/AIDS organizations worked hard to make the day about not only remembering lives lost, but also advocating for the 34,000 Californians who have HIV/AIDS. Many of those people are currently at risk of losing funding for their medications.

As California continues to face a state budget crisis, HIV/AIDS organizations statewide are fearful of more cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Funded by the federal and state government, ADAP provides essential anti-HIV medications to low-income people who are uninsured or underinsured. The potential cuts to ADAP come after Governor Schwarzenegger already eliminated $85 million in state funding for other vital HIV/AIDS services earlier this year, including many prevention, education, and counseling programs.

CARES used the annual day to call on the State Legislature to work with the Governor’s Administration and members of the California congressional delegation to devise a plan for averting the public healthcare crisis.

“There are 5,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Sacramento region. Many of them are low-income people who will lose access to essential life-prolonging medications if our Governor eliminates ADAP funding,” said Bob Kamrath, Executive Director at the Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services. “ADAP keeps people alive – that is clearly non-debatable. This issue is not about dollars and cents, it’s about lives that will be lost if full funding is not maintained,” he added.

Many people who have already seen friends and family members die from the disease gathered for a city wide event at Tower Theatre. Speeches remembered countless lives lost, discussed the present epidemic, and focused on ending new HIV infections in the greater Sacramento area.

“I think science has stripped our hearts…We have lost sight of our young people. The vast majority of dollars spent are on drugs, with less than five percent being spent on prevention. My fear is that we’ll continue to see deaths,” said Dr. Donna DeFreitas of CARES.

A current patient at CARES joined Dr. DeFreitas in asking the community to take a stand against HIV. “People who have HIV need to step up to the plate and make a difference,” said Miguel Diaz, who has been infected with HIV for over 25 years.

Attendees were each given a wrapped red carnation with a space to write the name of a person they wanted to remember. After the event many stayed to view portions of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt, the largest community art project in the world. The panels contain names of people from the Sacramento area who have passed away.

Social Media for the Social Good—Non-profits Explore New Methods of Outreach

2009-11-20T04:17:59Z

Three local non-profit organizations were featured in a Sacramento Social Media Club panel on Tuesday evening hosted by the Sacramento State College of Continuing Education. The panel included Celia Cortez, Projects and Event Manager for the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Jordan Blair, Board Member for River City Food Bank; and Jon Benorden, Program Coordinator for the Center for AIDS Research, Education and Service (CARES). Lesley Miller, Media Director for 3Fold Communication, also sat on the panel. Moderator Josh Morgan, principal at Morgan/Dorado and program director for the Sacramento Social Media Club, focused the discussion on how non-profits are using social media to educate, engage, and build lasting relationships with their communities.

Facebook was the unanimous point of entry into social media for all three organizations. Cortez said the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber selected Facebook because it was the most popular platform among their member organizations; Blair choose Facebook for River City Food Bank because it is the platform upon which he spends the most time. “Facebook provides an easy way for people to connect with causes and non-profits thanks to its one-click ‘become a fan’ feature, “commented Morgan. River City Food Bank, where many of their long-term contributors are past retirement age, is finding that Facebook helps them to engage with the next generation of donors. However some of their loyal supporters are stepping out into social media as well; an 85 year old volunteer joined Facebook just so he could “friend” the River city Food Bank. Benorden said that their “old school” supporters are beginning to mesh with the new people they’ve engaged through their group & page on Facebook but that CARES still has a long way to go.

Both the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and CARES are also using Twitter to promote their organizations and causes. Miller said 3Fold encourages their clients to cross post on multiple social media platforms to increase the traffic among all the sites. For example, use Twitter to remind people the organization is on Facebook or create an event on Yelp and ask people to write a review. I frequently use Twitter to drive traffic to SARTA.org’s website or LinkedIn group where more detailed membership and event information is available.

CARES created both a group page and a fan page for its campaign “Are You the Difference” which strives to eliminate new cases of HIV in the Sacramento region by 2015. Benorden plans to expand the campaign to include other platforms like Flickr and YouTube. On YouTube, CARES wants to personalize and promote their campaign by featuring user generated videos about how individuals can be or are the difference in eliminating new cases of HIV.

The biggest challenge for all of the organizations is finding the time to manage and maintain their social media accounts. Cortez shared that she uses cross posting tools to lessen the amount of time she spends managing each platform the Hispanic Chamber employs. Tweetdeck, Hootsuite and Seesmic were mentioned as free services for managing multiple accounts and platforms and Radian6 was recommended as a new professional service for this purpose. Benorden prefers to uniquely post to Facebook and Twitter to keep variety in the CARES messages, but he sticks to a common theme. Blair, who in addition to his responsibilities as a board member of the River City Food Bank works a full time job, schedules time on his weekly calendar to tend to his social media chores. When asked if a volunteer could handle the job, the general consensus among the panelists was that most volunteers and interns do not have enough depth or experience with the organization or its causes to determine social media platform content or to respond to questions and remarks received by followers and friends on the sites. For CARES, sensitivity to and experience with HIV/AIDS is a must for anyone representing the organization on its social media platforms.

The panel wrapped up with a discussion on event promotion using Facebook ads and other tools. All of the organizations are considering using Facebook ads and River City Food Bank has budgeted money for this purpose next year. Benorden pointed out that even if no one clicks through an “Are You the Difference” ad, if enough information is included about the campaign, there is value in people seeing the ad multiple times. Miller said 3Fold advises their clients to put nearly as much energy into post event promotion as they do pre event. Blair followed this advice after a recent River City Food Bank fundraiser, uploading event photos long into the night. The post event promotion is a valuable investment in the success of future events and helps those who attend feel more part of the organization—especially if they are featured in a photo!

After the panel ended, participants informally exchanged ideas on how they are using social media and also had a chance to meet the panelists and ask more questions. The event was live tweeted by volunteer Ira Cohen on behalf of @SMCSac using the hashtag #smcsac. The venue provided by Sacramento State College of Continuing Education is well equipped for meetings and seminars and the Senior Program Coordinator, Toni Ramirez shared that the college is considering offering courses on social media in the future.

Social Media Club, an international non-profit organization, brings together journalists, publishers, communications professionals, artists, amateur media creators, citizen journalists, teachers, students, tool makers, and other interested collaborators. The Sacramento chapter was founded in March of 2009 by local users of social media. Free events are normally held on the third Tuesday of each month, but in December, the group is planning a Holiday Party or “holitweetup” in partnership with SacTweetUp on December 10 at Hot Italian in midtown. In January, the normal schedule of monthly panels will resume. For information about the Sacramento Social Media Club and its events, join their groups on Facebook and LinkedIn and follow them on Twitter.

Photgraphs by Marie Young Photography. For more photos of this event visit her Facebook Page

Sacramento Social Media Club Leadership Team:

Julie Berge, Angela D'Arcy, Laura Good, Suzanne Hopkins, Ronnie Ledesma, Jeff Marmins, Josh Morgan

Finding God on Facebook

2009-11-16T19:42:28Z

Some say God is everywhere but last month, we discovered that social media is everywhere too—even in our churches! On October 20, 2009, the Sacramento Social Media Club held a panel discussion on the use of social media by local churches. The event, “Pray for Social Media”, was hosted by The Sacramento Press, and was moderated by Jeff Marmins of Social Media Path and partnership director for the Sacramento Social Media Club. Panelists included Josh Trevino from the Parish Council of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Roseville; Robert Mees, Director of Evangelism at Sierra Baptist Church in Pioneer in Amador County and CJ Alvarado, Director of Communications and Technology at Bayside Church in Granite Bay.

I was posting live tweets during the event, and was joined by several other tweeting guests in reaching over 50,000 followers on Twitter (Sacramento Social Media club uses the hashtag #smcsac to live tweet all of our events).

In what could have been subtitled “Finding God on Facebook,” panelists agreed that the most active use of social media in their churches is individual members connecting with each other on Facebook which allows them to share more about lives than they could from the pew. Members, they said, are using Facebook to build a stronger internal community.

While none of the churches represented reported having an official social media strategy yet, Bayside Church developed and implemented a campaign to introduce their staff of about 75 people to Web 2.0. Alvarado, their communications and technology director, is charged with the church’s presence online, which primarily centers on their website and “listening” to online dialogue to “improve the church experience.” Mees, from Sierra Baptist Church, said that “internal relationships are growing organically on Facebook”, and Trevino said that at St. Anna, "the church blog is the most effective social media tool being used."

Where the speakers differed most was on the issue of how to use social media for outreach and evangelism. Both Alvarado and Trevino said that face-to-face dialogue is essential. “The single best way to evangelize is through the example of a life lived,” said Trevino. Alvarado commented that there is not a big difference in how he approaches evangelism in person versus online--“It’s always permission based.” Mees articulated a vision for using social media to be present in more lives. “In a world where church members either have no significant relationships outside the church, or segregate their Christian and non-Christian friends,” he said, “all of their friends, churched and unchurched, wind up as their friends on Facebook, followers on Twitter, and contacts on LinkedIn.” All three panelists agreed that spiritual dialogue was important, but Mees was a strong proponent of using of social media to initiate that discussion. Mees said "social media is an effective tool in building relationships that enable spiritual discussions to take place both online and off."

Following the moderated panel discussion, the audience was invited to ask questions. Several wondered if any of the congregations have people tweeting in church. Alvarado answered that Bayside has experimented with tweeting and texting during conferences but not during church service. A question about how the churches monitor their congregation’s online activity led to a discussion about how church youth have embraced Web 2.0. Mees shared that the teens in his church bring their computers and use Google to check facts during youth bible study. The teens are also using Facebook groups to communicate events and to “go deeper” using the discussion features.

After the official program ended, many of the attendees stayed to engage the panelists in additional questions and discussions. There was a tremendous amount of passion around the topic of using social media to share the message of the churches. At my small church, Grace Fellowship Church of San Andreas, we recently created a Facebook Page. We are hoping this outreach tool helps us to better connect with our community. How is your church using social media?

Social Media Club brings together journalists, publishers, communications professionals, artists, amateur media creators, citizen journalists, teachers, students, tool makers, and other interested collaborators. The Sacramento chapter was founded in March of 2009 by local users of social media. Free events are held on the third Tuesday of each month. "Social Media for the Social Good" is the topic of the November 17 event hosted by Sacramento State College of Continuing Education from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Local non profits River City Food Bank, CARES and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will share how they are using social media to educate, engage, and build lasting relationships with their communities. For information about the Sacramento Social Media Club, join their groups on Facebook and LinkedIn and follow them on Twitter.

About the author: Laura Good is a member of the all volunteer leadership team for Sacramento Social Media Club. Follow her on Twitter at @goodlaura. She is also director of programs and operations for SARTA.

Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Gala to Feature TV Host Guy Farris

2009-08-28T18:47:11Z

The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce will hold its 3rd Annual Installation Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento. Guy Farris, co-host of News 10’s popular TV magazine program, Sacramento & Co., will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The evening will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and live auction with auctioneer David Sobon of Maximum Benefit Auctions at 6:30 p.m. Auction offerings will include fine wine and dining packages, exotic travel and other luxury items.

All proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit the Rainbow Chamber Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting programs for at-risk youth and other causes.

The evening program will include Foundation scholarship presentations and installation of the Chamber’s 2009-10 Board of Directors. Tickets are $75 through Aug. 31, $85 Sept. 1 and after. Sponsorship opportunities are available for as little as $100. Visit www.rainbowchamber.com for more information.

Event sponsors include Wells Fargo, Outword Magazine, SMUD, Sacramento Gay & Lesbian Center, Rainbow Pages/VRP.info, CARES, Le Rivage Hotel, Greenberg Traurig, Sestak Lighting Design and Equality California.

Before joining Sacramento & Co., L.A. native Farris began his television career as a production assistant at Sacramento’s KOVR/Channel 13, then traveled to Gold 33 News at Seven and the WB Las Vegas, where his entertainment reports and celebrity interviews aired on Sinclair Broadcasting’s 40-plus stations nationwide. As part of the NorthWest Cable News morning anchor team in Seattle, Farris interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith, Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. His irreverent style has earned him numerous Emmy nominations, culminating in a win for Best Entertainment Anchor in 2002. He also was named Seattle Magazine's “It Anchor.”

Nine Rainbow Chamber 2009-2010 officers and board members will be officially installed at the event:
• President/CEO Fred Palmer, publisher of Outword Magazine, elected to a third term
• Vice President Steven Walker, CEO of Fast Break Tech Inc., elected to a fourth term
• Secretary Stephanie Slagel, State Farm Insurance agent, elected to her first term
• Treasurer Jason Russell, CPA, of accounting firm Marcia Fritz & Company, elected to a fourth term
• Brian Bentzen, Pampered Chef host, elected to a second term
• Gerald Filice, Esq., of Filice Law Offices, elected to a second term
• Roy Guira, stylist, The Associates Salon, elected to a second term
• Dr. Darrick Lawson, owner of The Healing Touch Chiropractic, elected to a first term
• Bonnie Osborn, owner of public relations company WriteAway Communications Services, elected to a second term

Palmer, who was elected Aug. 18 to his third term as Chamber president, said the large field of highly qualified board candidates was a reflection of the Chamber’s recent membership growth and expansion of services. In the past year, the Chamber has doubled its membership to 260 members, hired its first paid administrative staff, and significantly increased the number of networking and professional development events it provides.

The Rainbow Chamber Foundation (www.rcfdn.org) was established in 2007 as a 501c3 organization. In 2008 and 2009, the Foundation donated approximately $5,000 to programs for at-risk gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender youth and their allies, and awarded two $1,000 college scholarships.

The purpose of the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce is to promote networking among the gay and lesbian business community and its supporters; to enhance awareness of political and social issues; and to encourage involvement in charitable causes. For more information about the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, visit www.rainbowchamber.com.

Rainbow Chamber of Commerce elects new officers

2009-08-20T19:44:24Z

On Tuesday evening at the Le Rivage Hotel, the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce held an election of officers and members of the Board of Directors.

Founded in 2002, the Rainbow Chamber, with its 264 members, is one of Northern California's fastest growing Chambers. The Rainbow Chamber serves to promote the Sacramento LGBT business community and its supporters.

In addition, the Chamber is also committed to enhancing the awareness of political and social issues that face the LGBT community each day. The Rainbow Chamber also encourages involvement in charitable causes such as WEAVE, CARES, and Breaking Barriers, to name a few.

The newly elected officers are: Fred Palmer, President; Steven Walker, Vice-President; Stephanie Slage, Secretary; and Jason Russell, Treasurer. Elected as Members at Large to the Board of Directors were: Brian Bentzen, Gerald Filice, Roy Guira, Dr. Darrick Lawson, and Bonnie Osborn.

The public is invited to join for the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce for its Annual Installation Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Radisson Hotel, 500 Leisure Lane, Sacramento.

The evening's Master of Ceremonies will be Guy Farris of News10’s "Sacramento & Co." program. Proceeds will benefit the Sacramento Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides college scholarships to LGBT students and supports other LGBT and charitable causes.

For more information, and to order tickets to the Installation Dinner, visit the Rainbow Chamber's website at rainbowchamber.com.