Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar |
Week of Mon August 10th through Sun August 16th, 2020 |
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About the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar
The purpose of the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar is to connect the Black Community of CSU Monterey Bay with the local Black Communities of the Greater Monterey Bay Area. The Calendar is edited by Steven Goings, MSW and is entirely voluntary and looking for institutional support. To submit an event for possible inclusion, please send to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com. The plan is to send out the Calendar every Monday at 9 AM for those who wish to receive it. The deadline for Monday submissions is midnight of the previous Thursday.
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Supporting the Monterey County Branch NAACP!
The Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar is dedicating the month of August to fundraising for the Monterey County Branch NAACP!
Click Here to become a member of the Monterey County Branch
Monterey County Branch Website: http://montereynaacp.org/
Options for Contributing to the Monterey County Branch NAACP
Please donate to one of the following funds. Make your check out to the NAACP Monterey County Branch #1049 and send it to P.O. Box 782, Seaside, CA 93955. In the lower-left area of your check, please indicate which fund you want to donate.
Or
Click on one of the links below to donate via PAYPAL or with credit card.
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Know Your Local NAACP
2019-2020 Officers and Executive Committee
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NAACP Leadership Not Pictured:
- Pat Spencer Secretary
- Linwood Eady: Labor & Industry Chair
- Steven Goings: Education Chair
- Victoria Lee: Health Chair
- Ruthie Watts: Member (Former President)
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Candidate's
Corner
Jon Wizard Challenges Ian Oglesy in Run for Seaside Mayor
In his own words, Seaside City Councilman Jon Wizard makes his case for becoming Mayor of Seaside.
"As the pandemic lingers, it’s clear we need new leadership to address the tremendous, continuing hardships in our community.
I joined the council in 2018 following more than a decade of public service on both city and county boards, working as a first responder, and mentoring school-age youth as a middle and high school basketball referee and coach. In June 2020, the council held two meetings to develop and set the budget for this fiscal year. After receiving almost 400 emails, hearing live comments from more than 100 speakers, and almost eight hours of deliberation that pushed the meetings past midnight, the current mayor said, “I’m not sure if the city or community has spoken,” then led the council to approve a status quo budget. Now, as Seasiders wait in line for hours to get help from the food bank and as the threat of eviction looms overhead for households who have been out of work for months, there are no city funds available for anti-poverty and relief programs that would help keep our community fed, housed, and safe.
I have been a champion for affordable housing in our community, obtaining $1 million in state money to build granny units and saving a low-income apartment at the Ascent project (near the post office) after city staff made an error in their calculations that almost cost the community that home. I’ve also demonstrated my ability to hit the ground running and lead when, just two months after the 2018 election, I worked with the council, county officials, and local nonprofits to get the first ever overnight shelter on the Peninsula approved in Seaside, bringing stability and housing security to women and children experiencing homelessness. I also coordinated with city staff to bring the Great Plates program to Seaside, providing three hot meals a day to seniors and injecting federal disaster relief funds into local businesses. Additionally, I have been the leading voice on the council in supporting Seaside businesses during the pandemic, voting to allow outdoor dining when the current mayor voted to block it.
We are currently facing extraordinary challenges that most people alive have never witnessed, and our community will continue to suffer until we adapt to the new normal. These unprecedented times require new leadership and new ideas, not a business as usual mindset. Vote for Jon Wizard this November, because if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got. Thank you for your support!"
@electwizard on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter"
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Candidate's
Corner
Vanessa Robinson Runs for Salinas City Council District 6 Seat
In her own words, Ms. Robinson makes her case for joining the Salinas City Council.
"California Teachers Association and twice elected California Delegate for the National Education Association’s Representatives Assembly. Vice President of my local union chapter and consistent department lead of grade level curriculum. Additionally, a member of the Guiding Coalition team within our district. I’ve successfully developed long term relationships not only within academia but including political, governmental, policy, and direct community intaties, through direct engagement. I have advocated for my students, teachers, and communities will commit to doing the same for the city of Salinas.
Throughout my career, I have obtained valuable skills and developed leadership abilities to gather information, assess data, and develop plans that will directly impact the growth of classrooms and organizational institutions. I know I have left an impact on the students I have served, the communities they live in, and schools I have worked in, yet I know I can do more. Through research based practices and data driven discussions, I know I can help move the city of Salinas forward. If elected, I will help create policies and regulations that are informed and impactful, and serve all residents. I humbly ask for your supporting in helping me receive the vote for Salinas City Council District 6."
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In the Spotlight
Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton
Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Health, Human Services, and Public Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) where she oversees the Collaborative Health and Human Services program.
With more than two decades of leadership and management experience, Dr. Lopez-Littleton actively participates in designing innovative graduate and undergraduate programs, contributes to the assessment of learning outcomes, and works with diverse teams to develop inclusive classroom and academic practices. Dr. Lopez-Littleton’s research interests include health inequities, social determinants of health, and social equity. Dr. Lopez-Littleton has co-authored several publications on social equity and ethics in healthcare, conducted numerous research studies, and developed policy papers and research reports for state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions.
Dr. Lopez-Littleton serves on the Board of Directors of the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center , the Academic Senate of the CSU, the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and in various leadership roles at CSUMB including (but not limited to)
- California Faculty Association, CSUMB Chapter President
- Center for Black Student Success, Advisory Committee
- Super Saturday Community Forums, Co-Facilitator
- Super Saturday Community Workshops, Facilitator
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Vanessa's Take
Now is the Time for Necessary Trouble:
The Life and Legacy of Congressman John Lewis
by Dr. Vanessa Lopez Littleton
John Lewis Quotes
“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
“If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.”
“Our struggle is a struggle to redeem the soul of America.”
On July 17, 2020, the United States lost a national treasure in Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon whose life and legacy represent the perils and the promise of democracy. Lewis is often heralded as a one of the most courageous heroes of the Civil Rights era. He fought against the manifestations of white supremacy that relegated Black Americans to second class citizens. He railed against the perils of the segregated south, voter suppression and inequalities of opportunity. Lewis was known as the conscience of the Congress, giving voice and perspective to the pain and suffering experienced by countless Black Americans who have been systematically denied fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. Lewis lived his life fighting for the rights for all citizens, and was a drum major for change in the lives of Black Americans.
As a young 25-year-old, John Lewis was brutalized on the streets of Selma, AL on Bloody Sunday (March 7, 1965). The pain and suffering Lewis endured, alongside more than 600 hundred others, was done fighting for the rights of Black Americans to exist in a society free of subjugation. Lewis’ life and legacy are a testament to the long suffering of Black Americans in their quest for rights guaranteed to Americans under the United States constitution.
Nearly sixty years after the brutality that happened on the Edmund Pettis Bridge...
Click Here to Continue reading Dr. Littleton's article in PA Times (American Society for Public Administration)
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NAACP
Recognizes Senator Kamala Harris's Appointment to Major Party Ticket as "Defining Moment in U.S. History"
On Aug 11, 2020, NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson released the following statement on the significance of Kamala Harris' pick as Democratic candidate for Vice-President of the United States:
"Throughout the history of this nation, Black women have been at the forefront of moving us toward a more representative and unified society. From the voting booth to grassroots movements, Black women have fought for and uplifted this country with their vote and voice. But their representation in the highest levels of government has never matched their unwavering participation in our democracy. Today’s announcement of a Black woman, Sen. Kamala Harris, as the first vice-presidential candidate of a major political party, breaks down one of these barriers in historic proportions. That it comes at a time in which Black Americans face dueling threats from a global health crisis and ingrained racism is all the more powerful.
This moment is long overdue. For far too long, we have undervalued Black women’s political power and their role in shaping our culture, communities, and country. The selection of Sen. Harris as a vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket is the culmination of the tireless work of..."
Click Here to Continue Reading NAACP statement on Kamala Harris
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In the News Profile:
Kamala Harris
The first Black and Indian American woman to represent California in the United States Senate, Kamala Harris grew up believing in the promise of America and fighting to make sure that promise is fulfilled for all Americans. Kamala’s father immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica to study economics and her mother immigrated from India. Kamala’s mother told her growing up “Don’t sit around and complain about things, do something,” which is what drives Kamala every single day.
Kamala started fighting for working families in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where she focused on prosecuting child sexual assault cases. From there, she became the first Black woman elected as San Francisco’s District Attorney. In this position, she started a program to provide first-time drug offenders second chances with the opportunity to earn a high school degree and find a job.
In 2010, Kamala became the first Black woman to be elected...
Click Here to Continue Reading "Kamala's Story" on the Biden-Harris Campaign Website
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Useful Links:
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Here is something the Monterey County Branch NAACP is working on. You can send your entries directly to lbogene@yahoo.com
- Check out the list and add your bio and photo to it.
- We all know the so-called criminal justice system treats our folks much more harshly than others, sometimes just having community members show up at court can make a difference in how things turn out.
- Check it out or add your favorite to the list
- With so few African Americans working in our K-12 and higher education systems, our kids have too few opportunities to see professionals and role models who look like them. We are looking for Black community members and professionals who can be called on to be occasional guest speakers in local classrooms.
Black Voices and Photo Portrait Project
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Local photographer Nic Coury has launched this Black Portrait Project and looking for subjects. If interested in posing for a professional picture message him on Facebook or send me (africanquazar@gmail.com) your contact info for me to forward.
- Just the basic public contact and position info
- Click on this google document to share your thoughts about what is needed in the Black community. We will prioritize them for further action.
- Check out the current list of churches, update existing entries or add new ones.
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Monterey Bay Black Folks Weekly Event Calendar
Submit to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com
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