Thursday, May 24 marked a day when youth voice was alive at the capitol.   It was the "Annual Shadow a Legislator Day" for foster youth leadership advocacy group, California Youth Connection.  Among the excitement of hundreds of elementary school children on a civics field trip of the state capitol, an important announcement was being made by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Daniel Heimpel, a child welfare journalist and CYC Board Member.   They urged support for two bills, AB 2093 and AB 1712, which will affect the future of foster youth across the state.  In honor of  Foster Care Awareness Month, Skinner's legislation, Assembly Bill 2093 "Foster Youth Higher Education a

When Lily Colby turned 18, she had nowhere else to go. Her foster parents gave her fair warning that she will be on her own. If she did not find a way to survive, she would be homeless. The same fate would have faced her brother, David Colby at 18, but his saving grace was new state legislation AB12, California’s Fostering connections to Success Act, a promise to extend support services to foster youth until the age of 19 in 2012, then to age 20 in 2013. But, a last minute amendment to the original proposal changed the logistics. In an effort to save money when AB12 was passed, legislators phased in the extension of care. With realignment shifting the power from state to counties, 2,16

Old Sacramento welcomed more than 20,000 visitors bustling to the sound of ukuleles, taiko drums, and the aloha of the islands during the Pacific Rim Festival.   The streets came alive with vivrant colors and the lure of barbeque, teriyake chicken, pulled pork, and the sweetness of hawaiian shave ice on Sunday, May 20.  There were many cultures in attendance sharing the arts, food, and roots of an Asian heritage.      This is the 20th iteration of an annual event that has steadily gained popularity among families who live in the region.  The Census Bureau shares that Sacramento County houses the country's 12th largest Asian American population.  

  Tango by the River is facing some harch economic realities.  The studio has been losing money every year since it opened in 2000.   "Visions of Eden can no longer subsidize the studio during these hard times," states owner Donna Tielsch in an email asking for the community's support in upcoming fundraising events to save the studio from closing.   A fundraiser is scheduled on Monday, May 14, a tango pizza party to be held at the studio from 7p.m.  The guest of honor is Eduardo Saucedo.  The suggested donation is $25.  There are special events being held at the Tango by the River studio weekly in Old Sacramento.  To find out more details, please go to their site www.rivertango.com or

There's no use in sugar-coating. Reality hurts. This is the message of a commencement address given by Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye of the Supreme Court of California on Saturday as she painted a dismal outlook of the future, grim with lack of decent paying options for recent graduates of University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. It was the kind of speech where even the most optimistic of parents cringe upon hearing of the lack of jobs available to those armed with newly minted law degrees.  Still, the bleak expectation failed to deter the graduates from pursuing their calling.  Within this class is the mark of resiliency.  Each held their heads high holding on to their