Hello,
We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. We are all hoping for a less tumultuous year and a year that brings healing and justice for all. Here are some of this month’s highlights:
- First of all, thanks to all for your generosity in 2020. The Social Justice Fund for Ventura County had its best fundraising year in many years. With this money we are poised to continue our Fellowship Program and support emerging leaders become new voices for social justice in our community. Your contributions are helping our Social Justice Fellows introduce new ideas to bring fairness and justice.
- Check out 2 new videos attached below. You will see two clips from a zoom conference we co-sponsored with the Chalice Newbury Park. The first is Rabiah and I introducing the Fund and our Fellows. The second – – which is not be missed – is Kavita Rai from Justice in the Classroom, one of our Fellows, describing her new organization and her personal motivation for change. These videos are the start of a “Get to Know” series we will be releasing of the Social Justice Fellows you have funded to make change. They are very inspirational!Michael and Rabiah Intro (4:10)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWn-ZmXY2_0
Kavita Rai Presentation & Q&A (15:58)
Fellowship Highlight: Sara Guillen, a 2020 Fellow, organized a team to get 100 interviews in one evening just before the holidays. These interviews are providing data to identify the healthy food Westminster Free Clinic and food banks in Oxnard can provide, and will be used to help families create a better diet in the home and address food insecurity. Initial results show the pandemic has had a more of a devastating impact on the diets of low income workers due to layoffs and or cuts in hours than originally thought.
- The SJFVC had great success in starting a new program in 2020, the Social Justice Fellowships. We funded five great projects, organizations and Fellows. We believe these new leaders and organizations are key to getting our community on track to accessing better health, greater economic and racial justice. Each of these projects will ensure we are taking steps towards creating an inclusive and equitable community we are all dedicated to achieving. We hope you will continue to support us in our efforts. We are committed to sharing our efforts and accomplishments not only because your support for our programs is necessary to continue in these difficult times, but we know that stories of young leaders are inspiring and give us all hope in a better tomorrow.
Again, thanks to all for your support! Please get back to me with any comments and thoughts – or if you want to get involved!
With much gratitude,
| Michael Teasdale,
Chair, |
Rabiah Rahman
Vice Chair, |
