JOIN OUR
GIVING CIRCLE
It's not too late to join the 2009 Giving Circle. Come, join our team of donors and learn first-hand about social justice issues in Ventura County. Enjoy a place at the table, help us set our goals for the year and decide which organizations to support. Contribute $500 by March 31st to become a hands-on philanthropist.
Naturally, we welcome contributions of any size. Every dollar you give to the SJF works toward making Ventura County a better, healthier and fairer place in which to live.
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Arcenio Lopez of Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) speaking at our Grantee Reception.
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Patty Zavala of Big Brothers Big Sisters/One Step a La Vez and Arts for Action interviewing Jose Lopez of Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE).
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Silvia Rodriguez of Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC)
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Our thanks to George J. Sandoval, photographer for this issue.
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PARENTS OF MURDERED CHILDREN
WORKS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE |
Parents of Murdered Children (PoMC) is a national advocacy and awareness organization addressing the health needs--physical and mental--of families who have lost children to senseless violence. In 2007 the Social Justice Fund awarded $5,900 to PoMC's Ventura County Chapter to produce a short film on how a child's murder devastates surviving family members and the community. Through the film PoMC hoped to change youth attitudes, beliefs and behaviors regarding violence.
After securing the SJF grant PoMC forged important relationships with the local school district, police and prosecutors. Nevertheless, the group encountered unanticipated roadblocks. The original film did not meet expectations and reenacting actual cases raised privacy concerns. In mid-2008 SJF granted a six-month extension on the project. Rather than make a short film, PoMC decided to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at preventing violence among teens.
Things fell into place. Actor Edward James Olmos stepped forward to narrate the PSA. Using the SJF grant as leverage PoMC attracted support from local professionals, businesses, foundations and government officials. During a film shoot at a local beach a film technician was drafted into starring as a young man who lowers his gun rather than take the life of another.
On the evening of December 8, 2008, the hard work came to fruition at the Oxnard Plaza Stadium Cinemas at a PoMC event co-hosted by Anya Reyes and Marisa Martinez. PoMC premiered its 30-second PSA along with 30 minutes of behind-the scenes footage. A large audience of teens, preteens and their family members attended along with the PoMC community. There was music, humor, and ultimately sadness during the evening when attention focused on forty young men and women from Ventura County whose voices were silenced by murder.
As the young man in the PSA slowly lowers his gun, the narrator cautions, "Take another teen's life and kiss yours goodbye, too." PoMC members hope to take this message to local schools, churches and youth clubs. MTV's expressed interest in screening the PSA raises the exciting prospect of a mass audience.
SJF is honored to have supported this endeavor.
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SJF RECEIVES GRANTS, TOO
This year we are deepening our commitment to researching social
justice issues in Ventura County and sharing our findings with donors,
activists, and the larger community. Some of the
grants we have received sustain our day-to-day activities, while others will help us to grow. The McCune
Foundation (http://www.mccunefoundation.org/) continues to provide funds to help pay our
operating expenses. Sage, a philanthropic publishing company (http://www.sagepub.com/aboutCommunity.nav ) has joined them this year in supporting our general operations. The
Marisla Foundation grant supports the work we are going to do this year educating ourselves, local organizations and the wider community. The California Endowment (http://www.calendow.org/) will expand and enhance our communication with local organizations, the media, and residents of Ventura County. |
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2008 GRANT RECIPIENTS
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Back row, L to R
Jay Smith (VC Rainbow Alliance); Elizabeth Fernandez (Big Brothers Big Sisters - One Step a la Vez); Mercedes Williams (BBBS - One Step a la Vez); Susan Haverland (MICOP); Tomás Hernandez (Arts for Action); Jose Lopez (CAUSE); Gustavo De Haro (CAUSE); Silvia Rodriguez (CEDC)
Front row, L to R:
Canek Pena-Vargas (Arts for Action); Sam Cruz (BBBS - One Step a la Vez); Nelson Medina (also BBBS - One Step a la Vez); Patty Zavala (both BBBS/One Step & Arts for Action); Arcenio Lopez (MICOP)
Missing from the group photo:
Pastor Erik Goehner (VC CLUE, Ventura County Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice)
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"CREATING CHANGE NOT CHARITY"
Become part of the change and join the Social Justice Fund today!
For more information contact Tricia Keen, SJF's Administrative Director, at socialjusticefund@vccf.org.
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