NEXT MEETING: March 30, 2018

Today's Youth Matter: Offering Students a Transformational Journey

Today’s Youth Matter (TYM) is a nonprofit that uplifts and engages vulnerable children in under-resourced communities in the Bay Area. These children have often experienced complex trauma, and a large majority are in the foster care system.  TYM has served 10,000+ students across 25 years, and is now ready to launch year-round programming.  TYM offers students a Transformational Journey experience – a learning pathway – that encompasses a reliable and unique blend of mentorship, life skills, and tools to help students build up resilience, character and leadership qualities.  In camp and after-school settings, TYM mentors, counselors and tutors meet students right in the often-messy realities they face. Through guiding, teaching, leading and modeling actions, TYM takes every opportunity to encourage students to thrive, not just cope, and discover their true potential. Recently, TYM partnered with Richmond Police Activities League to create a vital youth development and academic enrichment program.

MEETING OF March 23, 2018

Welcome

Connie Tritt gave her usual warm welcome

Sid Chauvin’s words of wisdom were as follows: Money is the root of all Wealth.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Pam Menzies and Gail Pannos –both with speaker Bob Kagan

Shirley Butt – Richmond’s First Lady

Announcements

• Saturday, March 31, drop in between 10 to 2 pm at Richmond High School – Community Meeting to get feedback regarding the 23^rd Street Streetscape Plan: announced by Darlene Drapkin
• Dave Brown announced Rotary Board approved a $2,500 grant for last week’s speaker, Dirt World Bike Park, to help them complete the course.
• The E.S.C.A.P.E. Club (Environmental Science, Conservation, and Photographic Excursions) is an outdoor education program founded in 1999 at Adams Middle School. Currently the program resides at Lovonya Dejean Middle School. Students are given the opportunity to attend monthly study trips to destinations all over Northern California, including Mt. Diablo, Point Reyes, Ano Nuevo State Park, snow sledding in the Sierras, and camping in Yosemite. Richmond Rotary has been helping to sponsor this program for many years. To check out their latest trip to Ano Nuevo  click this link.  escape-to-ano-nuevo

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Latitude: Update on Laconia's Point Richmond Project

Speaker Bob Kagan updated the Latitude project, a 13-acre waterfront site with 1,200 feet of frontage along Point Richmond’s shoreline. Once complete, the Project will consist of 316 residential units with ample parking and retail space. Condominiums will be for sale between $5500,000 to $1.2 ad will feature “great-room” style living spaces and smart, functional floor plans. The single family homes will start at $1.8 million and as high as $2.2 million. Three quarters will start building in 2018 and the project should be completed in 2020. Project has taken four years to carry out. The timing is right with the housing shortage so it will impact the community positively. Latitude is the chosen name because Chinese investors like the name because it translates well into both English and Chinese.
Latitude will also include a 5.5-acre public park that will serve as the centerpiece of the Project and a public recreational amenity. The existing wharf, built in 1915, will be re-purposed as part of the Waterfront Park. The Waterfront Park will also feature a shoreline extension of the Bay Trail, further activating the waterfront and making the area highly accessible for bicycles, pedestrians and residents of the East Bay area wishing to enjoy the waterfront and spectacular bay views.

NEXT MEETING: March 23, 2018

Latitude: Update on Laconia's Point Richmond Project

MEETING OF March 16, 2018

Welcome

On a rainy/sunny Friday all were welcomed by Prez Connie. Mark Howe led us in the Pledge and Herb Cole offered a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice. Sid Chauvin offered: “Many people are alive today because it is illegal to shoot them”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Dan Tanita had as his guests Tatiana Kvyatkovskaya and Alex Iskander both who have been a part of our Russian Dental Exchange program. Mike Caldwell (without Josh Genser) was also in attendance.

Announcements

• Alan Baer announced that the March TGIFF will be hosted by the El Cerrito Club (and the El Cerrito Chamber) at the Berkeley (Mira Vista) Country Club on 3/23 starting at 5:30pm
• El Sobrante Rotary is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day dinner on 3/17

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Dirt World Bike Park

Our speaker today was Jeanine Strickland from Dirt World Bike Park which is the East Bay’s first public bike park. Located on 2 acres along the Richmond Greenway, the park will feature pump tracks, jumps, obstacles and a mini-BMX track. Built on a brown field that has been capped, this community supported design is currently in Phase I which involves designing the course. Phase II will involve adding amenities like meeting areas and public art. There are also plans to develop programs and have volunteers assist with the maintenance of the park. Dirt World is still in need of funds to complete the park For more information and to donate www.dirtworld.org

NEXT MEETING: March 16, 2018

Dirt World Bike Park

Dirt World is a 2-acre public bicycle terrain park now under development on the Richmond Greenway just East of Unity Park. Designed for mountain bikes and BMX bikes, the park will feature jumps, obstacles and multiple pump tracks for riders of all skill levels at this exciting new neighborhood park. Located on a regional trail and just a few blocks from a BART station, Dirt World will be the largest bike skills park in the East Bay, providing much-needed infrastructure for local bikers.

The park is also an innovative brownfield remediation project combining urban greening, public art, environmental justice and a community-build approach to create a unique recreational opportunity in the Iron Triangle Neighborhood, improving access and equity in one of the most disadvantaged communities in the state.  Find out more at http://www.dirtworld.org/

Dirt World is seeking contributions to help reach the $30,000 construction budget as well as participation and support in the Phase 2 community-build portion of the project to construct other park amenities later this year. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/richmond-bike-park-final-sprint/donate

MEETING OF

Welcome

Prez Connie called the meeting to order on a bright Friday afternoon. Tom Butt led us in the Pledge and Herb Cole provide a silent moment for peace, justice and freedom. Sid Chauvin offered the following from George Burns: “The secret to a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Alan Baer had as his guest his wife Santa, Cecilia Orozco brought her 3 almost 4 year old daughter Ruby, and Tiffany Straus brought her HR Director and Mayor of Hercules Chris Kelley.

Special Events

Prez Connie inducted our newest member Tamara Shiloh to our Club to a standing ovation!

Announcements

• Sid Chauvin let us know that Plumber Union Local 159 is looking for apprentices.
• Josh Genser reminded us about the tree planting on Sunday 3/11

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Stacey Street introduced our speaker, our own Tiffany Straus, Executive Director of Early Childhood Mental Health Program (ECMHP). Started in 1974 as the Therapeutic Nursery School the program serves children from 0-6 years of age in West County. The program helps young children who get kicked out of preschool because of behavior issues. ECMHP works on the physical, emotional, and mental health issues faced by these young children to prepare them for elementary school. Programs include: Individual/Family Play Therapy; Licensed Therapeutic Nursery School; WRAP around services (family support); and Parent Support Groups. ECMHP serves over 500 families per year 87% families of color and 100% low income. Tiffany shared 2 success stories that illustrated the important work being done by ECMHP.

NEXT MEETING: March 9, 2018

Early Childhood Mental Health: An Update

The Early Childhood Mental Health Program (ECMHP) offers a variety of services to support the emotional health of families and caregivers with young children ages birth to six who face challenges in their home, school or community. All services are free to families and provided in both Spanish and English.

Richmond Rotarian Tiffany Straus, is the Executive Director of ECHMP, will provide an update on the organization’s programs, accomplishments and goals. Tiffany holds a Master’s Degree in Health Education and has over 20 years experience in public health advocacy and non-profit management.

MEETING OF March 2, 2018

Welcome

President Connie Tritt presided over the meeting with her usual verve.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• Alan Baer’s guest was his wife, Santa.
• Josh Genser’s guest was Mike Caldwell, Josh’s barber. Josh wants to propose that Mike be inducted to the club but keeps forgetting how to initiate the process. Connie offered to help make it happen!

Announcements

• Stacey Street announced that the West Contra Costa Literacy Coalition will hold a special event at Hilltop on Sunday, March 11, from 1 to 4. Tamarah Shiloh, our club’s newest member, is looking for volunteers for the event to read to children.
• Sid Chauvin announced that the Board of Directors’ Meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, March 15 will instead take place on March 22 at the usual location, La Strada Restaurant.
• The Rotary Club of El Sobrante will host a Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner with all the fixings for $30, on Saturday, March 17, at the Masonic Hall on El Portal Drive. For more information or tickets, contact Scott Maskell at 223-4756 or John Bernardin at 223-8274.
• Richmond Trees will be planting trees on Saturday, March 11, from 9 AM to 12 noon. Meet at Wendell Park, at Esmond and 26^th. Rotary will provide lunch. Wear your Rotary T-shirts.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

What's Happening at the Richmond Art Center

Richmond Rotary’s own Ric Ambrose, Executive Director of the Richmond Art Center (RAC), gave us a refresher on the Richmond Art Center and its many contributions to our city and the Bay Area. Ric took over the reins at RAC, an 81 year-old organization, just over the five years ago when it was in need of new leadership. Ric observed that in every person lives an artist. He cited the motto of Hazel Salmi, RAC’s founder in 1936: “Make. See. Learn.”

RAC is distinguished from other East Bay Art Centers. It provides art curriculum to spur creativity for all ages. The Center offers six different programs including metal, ceramics, painting and sculpture. Sixty different classes are offered each quarter, seven days a week. Scholarships are also available. RAC is pleased to offer after school programs to serve WCCUSD students.

Many renowned artists launched their careers at RAC, burnishing its excellent reputation outside of Richmond.

RAC operates on a $1.4 million budget, which represents a doubling since 2005. Its funding draws from multiple sources, public and private: the City provides 25% and the balance comes from foundation grants, individuals’ contributions and class fees.