FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: More than 1000 Richmond families and dozens of community-based partner organizations will come together on Sunday, April 29, in Richmond, California, for the third annual Richmond Tales Fest: An Afternoon of Family Literacy and Healthy Living. The event will take place, rain or shine, from 12 PM to 4 PM at the Richmond Civic Center, (located at 27th St. and Nevin Ave.) Activities are scheduled for the outdoor plaza, the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, and the Richmond Public Library--that will hold special open hours for the event. This major community collaboration focusing on family literacy and healthy living features a wide range of educational and fun, family activities. Dignitaries, including Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) Superintendent Bruce Harter, and Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, will also participate with remarks.
Now in its third year, the event is inspired by the local history and healthy living as documented in the beloved book, Richmond Tales: Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle, by Summer Brenner. Students and families across Richmond and throughout the region have embraced Richmond Tales since its publication in 2009 (Time & Again Press.) "I really like this book," said Brenda S., a WCCUSD sixth grader. "It’s the one I read the most! I think it’s important for kids because it’s a good story talking about Richmond, and if the kids come to know about it, then they will learn about Richmond, and learn more about what it means to be here."
At the festival, attendees will have the opportunity to "visit" several places inspired by the sights, smells, and sounds in Richmond Tales--such as an organic garden and the Ohlone Village—as well as map their "travels" through time and across these geographies. "The festival affirms that the book belongs to the youth, the families, the teachers, and the diverse communities of Richmond. It's their book. I’m tremendously proud to have been its midwife," stated Summer Brenner, author of Richmond Tales.
RCF Welcomes New Staff!
As part of our ongoing transition, RCF has added two key positions to the Staff Team: Chief Development Officer and Controller.
Chief Development Officer, David Snyder, most recently served as Executive Director of the Berkeley Public Library Foundation. He comes to Richmond with over twenty years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience. Click for Full Bio
Controller, Pam Horan, comes to the Foundation with over 25 years' experience in the areas of accounting, compliance and finance. Prior to coming to the Foundation, Pam was the Executive Director and Director of Finance for the California State Railroad Museum Foundation in Sacramento, CA. for eight years. Click for Full Bio
Be the Change You Wish To See: Promotion of RCF Staff Member and Community Advocate Monica Boyd
The Richmond Community Foundation is delighted to announce the promotion of staff member Monica Boyd to the position of ‘Operations Coordinator'!
In her new role, Ms. Boyd facilitates office efficiencies and reception, serves as a community liaison, provides administrative support to the Board of Directors and staff team, and maintains the RCF physical space. Deeply committed to the community, she will also remain the staff representative at the Santa Fe and Coronado Neighborhood Council meetings.
Enhancing Organizations, Transforming Lives: RCF Awards Capacity Building Grants to Local Nonprofits
Eleven nonprofit organizations that serve Richmond residents have been awarded Fall 2011 Capacity Building Grants by Richmond Community Foundation (RCF). RCF works to leverage philanthropic and community resources to build a healthy, sustainable community through investments, leadership, and community engagement.
Decreases in funding across sectors and geographies have significantly hindered the ability of agencies and nonprofit organizations to serve Richmond residents. RCF launched the Capacity Building Grants initiative in early 2011 intent on addressing these economic challenges at a root-level. This year's Request for Proposals (RFP) represented the second "round" of the grant initiative and a third round will be offered in Spring of 2012.
Today, Tuesday, November 15, Richmond Community Foundation will receive a Proclamation from the Richmond City Council commemorating Community Foundation Week and recognizing RCF's role and impact in Richmond.
Hearing the name "Rosalind Randle" brings forth warm feelings in many people. A community activist, leader and mentor, "Roz"--as she is affectionately known--has lived and worked in North Richmond and Richmond for more than 50 years. Her roots in the community run deep.
Ms. Randle's interest in the Maritime Center restoration is personal. The Maritime Center, located at the corner of Harbour Way South and Florida Avenue, was one of the first child development centers in the country, started as a place for the children of women who worked in the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Following the war, it continued to operate as a school for more than sixty years. Ms. Randle's grandmother worked in the Kaiser Shipyards in the 1940s. Her niece attended school at the Maritime Center in the 1970s. Her granddaughter now attends kindergarten at Richmond College Prep Schools (RCPS), a public charter school located on the site that serves primarily students from Santa Fe, Coronado, and Iron Triangle neighborhoods.
While Ms. Randle's commitment to the Maritime Center renovation comes as no surprise, the way she got involved in the actual rehabilitation is unusual. Rosalind Randle balked at conventional retirement after serving 15 years as a Recreation Specialist for the City of Richmond. In the vein of another "double-R" name, (that is, "Rosie the Riveter,") she became a construction worker at the Maritime Center. "I wanted to change my career field, and use my skills in building to be creative," she stated. "I was excited to work with my hands."
United Way of the Bay Area and Richmond Community Foundation are pleased to announce that Chevron has contributed $1 million to United Way to help establish the SparkPoint West Contra Costa Center, which opened on Thursday, June 2, in the City of Richmond. The program was held at the Richmond Art Center, followed by a ribbon-cutting and tour at the SparkPoint offices on Macdonald Avenue.
Created by United Way of the Bay Area, SparkPoint Centers are one-stop, financial-education centers that offer access to a full range of services that can help families and individuals achieve financial stability. SparkPoint West Contra Costa Center's new Site Director, Betty Geishirt-Cantrell, stated that SparkPoint in West Contra Costa will allow for the residents of the greater Richmond area to have one place where they can go to enhance their financial security. She explained that instead of going to several different organizations, they can receive services from multiple service providers in one place.
