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February 17, 2022 | Issue 4
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A message from our President
Lisa Wright, M.Div., CFRE
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Hello Friends,
Allow me to start with a huge thank you to everyone who helped make last Friday's Real Cost Measure virtual event a huge success: Sen Connie Leyva, Henry Gascon of United Ways of California, elected officials from across the region, and the entire team at ISCUW.
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We were joined by over 115 participants to learn about this important report that shows what it really takes to make ends meet in our region and throughout California. Over a third of households in Inland Southern California struggle to afford the basic needs for their families. We learned a family of four requires almost $77,000 - more than three full-time minimum wage jobs - to truly make ends meet. This report can serve as a useful resource as we work together to craft policies, collaborate with partners, and build programs.
The Real Cost Measure also highlights how vital your support of our work at ISCUW is. The 211 Contact Center continues to provide thousands of referrals and direct support services to those struggling with economic mobility. Partnerships with funders, agencies, and employers have allowed us to expand 211 Careers, providing workforce development services to place individuals with good-paying, local jobs. And collaboration with corporate partners, schools, and donors has meant that low-income families and districts continue to receive the nutritional assistance and supplies they need through Kids Pack and School Tools. Together we can build even more opportunities to lift families out of poverty for the long term.
Thank you for all that you do,
Lisa
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Fighting for Black Futures in the Inland Southern California Region: Celebrating Black History Month
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During Black History Month we are celebrating influential leaders and impactful moments from the past four centuries.
“No one seems puzzled by the fact that there is no time correspondingly devoted to examining, celebrating, or imagining the black future,” wrote Jemisen.
Inland SoCal United Way and 211+ continues to work toward a future where Black Americans have equitable access to employment, education, health care, and housing. We continue in creating a community where everyone has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive.
Our work includes:
- Fighting for improved access to health care coverage
- Supporting middle and high school students through graduation
- Providing free tax preparation services for middle- and low-income families
- Offering financial education and coaching
- Building pipelines for Black leadership and businesses in our community
- Supporting our Black staff, partners, and community members
You can join this fight for equity and equal opportunity for all people within the Inland Southern California region! A donation today will contribute to our work removing systemic barriers, fighting discrimination, and supporting Black community members and other people of color so they can live the full life they deserve.
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211 provides unmatched, critical services in 2021 |
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211 is a vital service leveraged by hundreds of thousands of people in the Inland Region with over 427,620 calls in 2021. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and rental payment assistance, utility payments assistance, employment services, and childcare and family services.
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BOARD MEMBERS ON THE MOVE |
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The following is from the California League of Schools regarding our own Board Member, Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, Superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District |
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Dr. Kedziora, a Servant Leader in Action |
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You’re an educator. You move mountains for kids. And when you can’t anymore, when you need to rest, you know your colleagues will stand in for you and help your students when they can.
That’s why we were so excited to see CLS’ very own chairman, Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, on the news this week. Dr. Kedziora is a superintendent and former special education teacher. He is famous for going big, for making educators and students feel appreciated, celebrated, and welcomed.
So this month, as Omicron moves through his district, he is out there subbing
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"The biggest thing is having an adult in every classroom, making sure that there is someone there that greets [the students], that cares about them, and that wants to teach them while they're there," he said. "Everyone is pitching in and helping and making sure that the students at school get everything they need."
CLS thanks you, Dr. Kedziora, and all the teachers, administrators, and classified staff who are doing their best to keep school normal and positive for students in an extraordinarily difficult time.
You rock!
~ California League of Schools
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UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES |
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Annual Golf Classic
April 12, 2022
Sierra Lakes Golf Club
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Annual Gala
May 14, 2022
University of Redlands
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Mardi Crawl
July 15, 2022
Downtown Riverside
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Stay tuned for upcoming information to your inbox and on social media for more exciting events as we rebuild our community stronger and more resilient. Follow us! |
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LIVE UNITED STAFF SPOTLIGHT |
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Meet Jeannette Sepulveda, Director of 211 |
Jeanette Sepulveda is the Director of 211 with Inland SoCal 211+. She started with our local 211 system nearly nine years ago and brought over 20 years of experience in commercial contact centers. Over her career, she has been a board member for various organizations and has a passion for adult literacy programs. |
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While volunteering, she discovered that she could continue in her field while meeting community needs.
“If I can take my energy and use it for the greater good and make a difference differently, that would be a better use of my time.”
She has maintained her focus on quality assurance to meet the community’s needs. In her previous career, this was to the rich and famous in resorts, but that same level of service is now focused on those with the greatest needs in our community who call 211.
Jeanette said that just as our community changes, so does 211. She shares that Inland SoCal 211+, remains flexible enough to meet the community’s needs while maintaining quality assurance levels. 211 staff have regular "just-in-time" training to provide services effectively to the community, even when there are times of distress, such as the pandemic. 211 maintains a comprehensive and living database of health and human service resources to meet community needs, with a team dedicated to excellence. This allows every community member to find local resources to meet their needs.
When not working with Inland SoCal 211+, Jeanette is a leader with the Girl Scouts and appreciates their focus on making the world a better place and using resources wisely.
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DAISY: THE BLIND CAREGIVER
Daisy called 211 needing help for her sister. Daisy is blind and is struggling as a caregiver to meet the needs of her sister who is recovering from addiction. Her sister was experiencing severe pain following a medical procedure. Our 211 Community Resource Advisor had recently completed additional crisis intervention through our Crisis Helpline training just weeks prior. Realizing the situation needed immediate medical attention, the CRA and Daisy agreed that connecting with 911 was essential. There was a conference call between Daisy, 911, and 211. Emergency services were en route to her location.
After 911 released the call, the advisor remained on the phone until emergency services arrived to support Daisy and her sister. The advisor completed that call and told their supervisor that they were grateful for the crisis intervention training provided to 211 staff as they are unsure how they would have handled the call if it were not for the knowledge she had recently gained.
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MEDI-CAL ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE
A mother called 211 for access to health resources. She was receiving treatment for a health-related issue but no longer had any insurance due to a separation. This led to a fear that if she did not continue her treatment, she would lose her job and be unable to provide for her son. After learning she qualified for Medi-Cal, she realized she was confused by the application process and needed help. Our 211 Medi-Cal Enrollment Navigator was able to assist. The Navigator was able to walk her through each step of the application process and successfully applied. The mother was grateful for the help and hoped to be able to continue her treatments once again.
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The pandemic heroes you've never heard of.
Thank and support the 211 team who helped hundreds of thousands of people connect with essential services during the pandemic.
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Day and night, the advisors in 211 talk to people who are scared, frustrated, and confused while curators ensure resources are up-to-date and ready for referrals. They have served as essential workers throughout the pandemic, answering calls around the clock and helping more people than ever before.
Last year 211 Community Resource Advisors fielded more than 470,000 calls, connecting struggling people with essential resources to solve their health care, housing, and food problems while Database Curators ensured resources were available internally and online. From the first hello, 211 Community Resource Advisors offered comfort and hope.
As one 211 staff member, Mercy Magu said:
“People who contact 211 want someone who can listen to them, provide them with resources, and assist them in keeping hope alive.”
Join us in thanking the 211 team who helped our community navigate a crisis with compassion.
Show your gratitude by joining the conversation on social media under #211Team. Make sure you tag us at
Facebook: @inlandsocaluw211
Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter: @inlandsocaluw
You can also support their critical work with a donation to 211, ensuring that these heroes can keep up the good work.
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Did you miss the "The Real Cost Measure in the Inland Region" webinar on Friday, February 11, 2022? No problem, we recorded the webinar! Feel free to watch above and learn more at https://inlandsocaluw.org/articles/rcm2021
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For many, the economic crisis of COVID-19 continues.
You can help everyone get the support they need to recover.
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Thank you to all our donors. It is because of you that we can continue to provide essential services to the community. You can donate throughout the year below. |
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If you are a corporation and would like to make a gift for the new year, discuss sponsorship, or schedule your own workplace campaign for 2022, email Jacob below.
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