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New Name, Same Mission!
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Mike Van Hofwegen, Executive Director
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I am excited to share with you our new agency name:
Monument Impact. This name is the culmination of a three year process starting with discussions in 2011 that a year later merged two organizations, the Michael Chavez Center and Monument Community Partnership. The merger made it possible for us to improve in many ways: serving the community, integrating services, collaborating with schools, government and others, and working with residents to identify and address issues that are vital in our community. After months of input - from our board, staff, Taproot Foundation consultants, and most importantly, program participants and community stakeholders - the new name, tagline and logo were selected.
The name Monument Impact reflects both the population we serve and our goal to make a concrete, positive impact in everything we do. Our new tagline - Together, building a stronger community - conveys our vision to work with others in the community to build people up to overcome social and economic barriers and reach their true potential.
Though our name is new, our mission is still the same! We actively engage with the Monument community to provide training and tools in order for people to become economically self- sufficient, healthy and safe, civically engaged, connected to each other, and committed to life-long learning.
 What this means is captured in our new logo: the different colors represent the diversity of our community, the different sizes convey mentoring and training that result in the growth of individuals and the community, and the connection at the bottom symbolizes the strong community base which defines our work.
Why three figures? They represent the three pillars (program areas) that hold together and connect everything we do: economic development, civic engagement, and healthy community. We have learned from our hard working and resilient community members that we can't be effective in one area without providing support with all three!
Economic Development embraces three programs: day labor, technology and career development. As a result of this work, some people are being trained in specific skills and are getting jobs, others are learning English, and many are crossing the digital divide to connect with needed resources (and helping their children with homework!). In 2013 more than 500 people received skills training, at least 93 obtained temporary work, and 72 gained permanent employment!
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Claudia Velasco, VITA Coordinator consults with Marina Soler a 5 year VITA volunteer and client, preparing tax returns.
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Civic Engagement encompasses the many ways we work closely with community residents and the City of Concord to address issues that impact daily life. This includes everything from education about bedbugs to our youth development "Go Get It!" program. Our staff and volunteers provide free income tax services, support domestic violence and trafficking victims, carry out emergency response training, and facilitate a county wide network for a host of service providers. In all we do, we work with others to build a healthier, stronger Concord! In 2013 we helped 540 local residents to complete income tax returns and also provided tutoring, support and leadership development for 25 high school students working to make college part of their future!
Our Healthy Community program has been especially rewarding. Our approach is to "train the trainer" who then serves in the community as a resource. They work with schools, apartment complexes, and other community partners to provide nutrition and cooking classes, physical exercise opportunities such as walking and Zumba, and a community Health Fair that in 2013 served over 1,100 people! Families are getting healthier, especially as they learn about the risks of obesity and diabetes.
Last year we also collaborated with the San Francisco Giants to launc h a Junior Giants baseball league for 150 Monument Community children ages 8-10! The Giants contributed the equipment but our staff gave many extra hours of their time to organize and manage the program. We are planning to continue this program again this year.We are committed to providing the highest quality programs in the most cost effective way while diligently pursuing a broad base of support from government, businesses, foundations and faith based groups. But a major portion of our funding does come from generous supporters like you who care and invest in the work we do.
Right now our greatest financial need is for our Healthy Community Program, including Junior Giants. In June, a large grant we've relied on for the past three years will conclude.
I am asking for your help to continue this very important work. We need to raise a total of $30,000 to sustain this program through 2014.
Please consider making a donation today that will benefit many families who live and work in Concord. You truly can make a difference ..... Click on the Donation button now and together, we can build a stronger community!
Warm regards,
Mike Van Hofwegen
Executive Director
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The Monument Junior Giants offer fun and so much more to the community.
Last summer we offered the free, non-competitive softball program to 150 children. The Little League taught the kids the four characteristic values of the Junior Giants: 1. Confidence; 2. Integrity;
3. Leadership; 4. Teamwork. Boys and girls, ages 8 to 10, were able to play together and enjoy a summer filled with fun, and most importantly, new friends. Each player had to read a minimum of 750 minutes throughout the summer. Not only did the players meet their requirement, but we ended with a total of 84,000 hours of reading time from all of the children!
This year's league is getting prepped at Oak Grove Middle School. The Concord Police Department and the San Francisco Giants are in full support of us having a second round of the league!
For many parents this was the first time their child had participated in a sports program. One parent joked, "These are future Major League players." He added, "We can now have hope for their future." We also believe that the Monument Junior Giants is bringing hope to these children and a life full of opportunities. " |
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GGI teens bring
Literacy Day to children
This year our 9th generation of " Go Get It! It's your future!" students hosted the 2nd annual Literacy Day in honor of Dr. Seuss's Birthday at Lakeside Apartments on March 8th. The students put their heart and soul into making the event an unforgettable one for the children. The program focused on healthy snacks,
healthy activities and of course the
importance of reading and how fun it
can be.
The goal of "Go Get It! It's your future!" (GGI) teen program is to create opportunities for personal development and civic involvement by providing academic support and mentoring to under served youth and their families.
We serve low-income high school
students -mainly first generation students
of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District -
and their families. GGI has served the community for 9 years, having had 113
students graduate from the program, 52 are now pursuing higher education or training.
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Nati Flores is honored as
a "Woman Working for Justice"
We are pleased to announce that Nati Flores, Day Labor and Civic Engagement Program Manager was recently recognized as a 2014 Women's Hall of Fame honoree sponsored by the Contra Costa Commission for Women. Nati was honored as a "Woman Working for Justice." Nati's dedication to fairness and equality comes across loud and clear in all she does with the Monument Community members! Nati facilitates job connections, and provides training in such areas as worker safety and leadership development. She also works with a host of community projects, which include offering support to tenants, promotora training, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). She has been able to coordinate the work of our Healthy Communities, Career Development, Technology and Youth 'Go Get It' staff as well. She works very closely with resident groups, city staff, the police department, and business owners in facilitating lasting change and progress.
On behalf of our community members and the Board of Directors of Monument Impact, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Nati for this well-deserved recognition!
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Dia Del Nino (Children's Day)
is Here!
Saturday, April 26th, 2014
Ellis Park
11:00am-2:00pm
1760 Clayton Rd. Concord
We will have fun activities, games, craft tables, face painting, resource tables, raffles, fun bike activities for kids, and much more!!!
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