A Message from RAP CEO
As we approach the last few weeks of summer 2014, I want to share some news on happenings and activities which show we have definitely not slowed down during the summer.
First of all, the RAP team has been working on the Mental Health Initiative (MHI) adopted by the RAP Board of Directors in May. The MHI will be the focus of RAP resources as we work to implement services that have greater community impact.
In order to acquire evaluative tools to measure impact and to direct future resource distribution, the RAP team has held several Mental Health community forums, met with mental health professionals and enlisted the services of Health Assessment Resource Center (HARC). And RAP will continue to engage collaborators and community partners with an interest in mental health services as we work to prepare the first MHI Request for Proposal (RFP) expected by the end of this year.
Also this summer, were able to congratulate 23 students representing nonprofit organizations for successfully completing the 35 week University of California Riverside- Palm Desert Campus' Nonprofit Certificate Program.
RAP will continue to offer this opportunity to nonprofit organizations which demonstrate interest in this program to increase employee skills and professional development.
Unfortunately, this summer also brought down the curtain on the AmeriCorps program, which provided tutoring services at several Coachella Valley Unified School District middle schools. While we were disappointed to see the program end, we want to thank Joe Ceja for doing a great job in managing it. He provided guidance to the 10 mentors who benefitted from the experience as much as the students they worked with.
Summer also brought to a close RAP's service as fiscal agent for Building Healthy Communities (BHC). I would like to thank Silvia Paz, Adriana Ortiz, Sahara Huazano and Naomi Soto of BHC for their efforts to improve the quality of life for residents in the eastern Coachella Valley. Although RAP will no longer serve as fiscal agent for BHC as of September 1st, we look forward to continuing to working with them in future community projects.
One thing on our summer "to-do" list which didn't get crossed off was our move across town to a new office near Palm Desert City Hall. The move was postponed until late September.
As we pass from summer into the seasons following it, RAP will stay busy. Big items on our plate in the near future include sponsoring the November 9 "Give BIG Riverside County!" online donation campaign and the "Fast Pitch" event which will take place in March. We'll also add an official opening for our new office to the list of events. As soon as we decide on a date, you'll be invited to a grand opening at the Parkview Professional Offices, 73-710 Fred Waring, Suite 102 Palm Desert, CA 92211.
Sincerely,
Leticia De Lara, CEO