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The School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Sonoma State University (SSU) today issued the following statement from Dean William S. Silver regarding the wildfires burning in the north San Francisco Bay Area, and the SBE’s role as an educational and community nucleus for the region’s economic recovery efforts.

From Dean William S. Silver:

“Our communities have suffered extensive shock and loss over the past week and we remain vigilant and hopeful that the fires burning in our region and throughout California can be contained over the coming days. Amid disaster, the outpouring of caring and support across our shared communities has been vital and tremendous. Now, we begin the process of rebuilding our businesses and communities with a common focus and shared resilience to take this challenge head on. Our success will depend on a spirit of collaboration and entrepreneurship, and the School of Business and Economics is working across student, alumni, faculty, and business communities to facilitate action that ensures a complete and vibrant economic recovery.”

Dean Silver is a founding member of Rebuild North Bay, a 501(c)4 organization dedicated to recovery efforts in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake and Solano counties. The organization is working with both public and private sector leaders to address immediate funding needs, future environmental issues, assessment of recovery efforts, assessment of above ground infrastructure, future legislative reform, and to partner with organizations that are raising funds for those impacted in the various communities.

For information regarding Rebuild North Bay, please email info@rebuildnorthbay.org. The Sonoma State University campus is currently closed to ensure the safety of students and employees. An SBE community support page was created for Facebook users here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/702691229931493/. SSU is providing information regarding fire status updates here: http://news.sonoma.edu/sonoma-county-fires-updates. University officials are preparing a survey for students, faculty and staff to begin to assess the impacts of the fires on our community and to collect information on unmet needs for a donation website to build disaster relief funds.

We have multiple SolarCraft ‘crews’ out in SolarCraft trucks.  We are paying people to help in this disaster, so please – if you, or your family, loved ones, neighbors or friends are in need of assistance (very capable, able-bodied men and women with trucks) please let us know! We can dispatch one of our teams quickly to help on first request first response basis. 

Otherwise we have SolarCraft teams at Shelters, Food Banks and with Red Cross, Santa Rosa Fairgrounds and other places around Sonoma.  We will be reaching out to our clients to see if they are in need of Disaster Recovery assistance.

Be safe and best wishes to everyone helping in so many ways.

Contact:

Ted Walsh

SolarCraft

c: 415-637-0063

In the early morning hours of Monday, October 9, Sonoma County residents awoke to find themselves in the midst of a firestorm. Many had to immediately leave as flames engulfed their homes. And now, some have even lost their lives. I don’t believe we’ll know the full extent of these losses for some time yet, but I do know that through the support of our community, we will persevere and return to being the Sonoma County I’ve come to love.

To the many who have already contacted me asking how to help, thank you so much for your caring and concern. I have received hundreds of emails, texts and Facebook postings from our community college and higher education partners from throughout the state and across the country.

The situation at Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma County/Napa County is relentless and horrific. Much of the fire damage was near both of our Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses. Thus far our campuses have been spared, but unfortunately, not our students and employees. At last count, over 200 students have lost their homes, as have more than 50 faculty, staff and administrators.

Our Foundation has pledged $100,000 to provide our students and employees some support. We know that these funds will quickly run out as more students and employees come forward to report their losses.

I am asking that you consider donating to help leverage our $100,000 pledge. You can donate online to the SRJC Fire Relief Fund at http://firerelief.santarosa.edu.

As I write to you on Thursday morning, the fires have not yet subsided and they continue spreading in some areas of the county. We are never going to be the same and yet I have a great sense of hope. Our community is resilient and generous. We have great resolve and we are not alone. Your concern and contribution will fuel our spirit and hope.

Thanks for being our allies, friends and supporters – #SRJCstrong, #SRJCfuerte!

With gratitude,

Dr. Frank Chong

Superintendent/President

Santa Rosa Junior College

Teen Services Sonoma has been selected by the North Bay Leadership Council (NBLC) to a 2017 Leaders of the North Bay Award in the category of Empowering the Latino Community.

“This honor would not be possible without the love, energy, and expertise of so many amazing people who have been part of our history and our success,” said Cristin Felso, executive director of the Springs-based nonprofit. “I will be accepting this award next month with two of them: Rebecca Hermosillo and Jean Hopeman.”

Hermosillo, (now with Congressman Mike Thompson’s office, was the executive director of the Valley of the Moon Teen Center (originally called El Nido) in 1995. “She recognized the need for a safe haven for Latino youth, a place where boundaries and tough love were coupled with respect and acceptance to help teens make good choices, Feslo said “She instilled a sense of family with her nightly dinners at the center, and guided four young Latinas in the formation of the Lovin’ Oven – TSS’s first micro-business.”

Hopeman, who combined a successful banking career with a Spanish language and literature major and a master’s degree in Latin American Affairs, “became our rock,” Felso said. “Seeing that our teens needed to make money but did not know how to get a job, she started conversations with local employers to see what they were looking for in employees. This was the first step toward what we now call our Ready to Work program.” Hopeman served on the board, and was responsible for writing grants to fund the organization.

The award will be presented at a November 3 luncheon in Santa Rosa. The other 2017 honorees are:

• United We Stand – Community Building: Susan McQuaid, Marin Court Appointed Special Advocates.
• Paint the Community Green – Environmental Stewardship: Pepperwood
• The “Light Bulb” Went On – Innovative/Entrepreneurial Spirit: Pat Harper, Keysight Technologies
• From Red Tape to Red Carpet – Leadership within Government: Kimberly Carroll, Marin Housing Authority

“Many thanks to our forever friend, Steve Page, president of Sonoma Raceway, for nominating us, and to NBLC for selecting us for this honor,” Felso said. “It belongs to many, especially our teens.”

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-leaders-of-the-north-bay-awards-luncheon-tickets-37078390464

A succession of natural disasters over the past two months prompted Kaiser Permanente to make a series of disaster relief commitments totaling $3 million.

Last week Kaiser Permanente announced that it will pledge $1 million to earthquake relief and recovery efforts in Mexico, including support for mental health and wellness needs, and an additional $1 million to provide public health support in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. Earlier in September, Kaiser Permanente committed $1 million to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

In Mexico, Kaiser Permanente is partnering with International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian nonprofit organization established by volunteer physicians in 1984. In Puerto Rico, Kaiser Permanente’s contribution will be made to the CDC Foundation.

The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit created to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to extend the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) lifesaving work. Kaiser Permanente’s contribution to the CDC Foundation will support relief, recovery and rebuilding of public health infrastructure, and longer-term emergency preparedness. Kaiser Permanente previously supported the CDC Foundation after Hurricane Katrina and in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Half of Kaiser Permanente’s $1 million contribution for those affected by Hurricane Harvey goes to the American Red Cross for immediate needs, such as medical care, food, shelter, and clothing. The other half goes to Mental Health America, Greater Houston Chapter, to provide mental health and emotional support for survivors, first responders, and others affected by the storm.