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At Fremont School for Adults, State Cuts Take a Casualty

2012-06-21T14:10:16Z

Editor's note: The Fremont School for Adults closed on June 18. The author of this story, Amabelle Ocampo, is working on a follow-up article.

Foster youth students who may have fallen through the cracks in the Sacramento City Unified School District always had one last hope at the end of the education continuum: The Fremont School for Adults. Fremont’s fully accredited High School Completion program provides the opportunity to earn credits necessary for high school graduation, and includes two classes specifically for youths who age out of the foster care system.

Barring a financial miracle, the school will close permanently on June 18.

The FSA closure will displace 2,000 students in the fall. More than 15 classes will be dropped including two classes serving ”aged out” foster youth who use the facility for accelerated credits to graduate from high school.

“The students are the same kids who failed in community college due to weak English skills, or have dropped out of high school, ” said Victoria Hass, a concerned ESL teacher who works for Sacramento Unified School District. (SCUSD)

“Many want to improve their English to get a better job, to finish high school with a GED. Their options are limited.”

SCUSD held the hearing to alert the public on Tier III school closures transferring $5,093,862, in unrestricted general funds to instructional K-12 programs according to Patricia A. Hagemeyer, the School District’s Chief Business Officer.

Fremont is not the first school in the state to close. They are among the 200 statewide facing financial trouble, the largest in state history, according to the California Department of Education. In comparison, Oakland Unified School District is closing five elementary schools. While Long Beach Unified School District made more than $20 million in cuts in an effort to balance their 2013-2014 budget, eliminating Head Start preschool programs and 300 employee layoffs.

Fremont provides ESL and Citizenship education, high school GED equivalency tests, and accelerated credits towards a high school diploma.

It has helped young adults such as Jordan Buell, an 18-year-old former foster youth in an independent living program (ILP), earn credit through FSA’s concurrent enrollment. Buell graduated on Monday, June 11, from American Legion Continuing High School with his class.

A high school diploma is required to be eligible for the first year of the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant. The Cal Grant increases the GPA requirement from 2.0 to 2.7 under Governor Jerry Brown’s 2012-13 budget proposal, which creates a climb for students who fell behind in high school.

The dropout rate in Sacramento County is 19.7 percent over a four-year period, slightly above the state average of 18.2 percent. The rate is far worse for students of color. In Sacramento County, more than one of every four black or Latino students dropped out of school during the last four years

Gustavo Arroyo, a board member was especially strained by the decision to close the school. He later discussed with Fremont students a way to possibly keep basic ESL open in another facility, but the foster youth program will cease.

“We are scrambling with emergency fundraising to raise $1.5 million,” said Susan Lytle Gilmore, Director of Adult Education at Sacramento City Unified School District. A car wash and rummage sale was the student’s last effort to keep their classes going.

Watch what the students and teachers had to say here.

Local business owners of Celia’s, 3 Sister’s Restaurant, Zocalo, Dos Coyotes, La Fiesta Bar & Grill are donating a portion of their profits on June 21 and 24 with little help to the budget shortfall.

Perhaps, the only way the school can remain open is if the voters pass the Governor’s November tax initiative designed to fund education.

Disclosure: Author is a Journalism for Social Change Fellow. Article was first printed in the Chronicle of Social Change. http://chronicleofsocialchange.wordpress.com/

A lesson in civics, a lesson in life

2012-05-26T01:22:36Z

Thursday, May 24 marked a day when youth voice was alive at the capitol.

It was the "Annual Shadow a Legislator Day" for foster youth leadership advocacy group, California Youth Connection. Among the excitement of hundreds of elementary school children on a civics field trip of the state capitol, an important announcement was being made by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and Daniel Heimpel, a child welfare journalist and CYC Board Member.

They urged support for two bills, AB 2093 and AB 1712, which will affect the future of foster youth across the state.

In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Skinner's legislation, Assembly Bill 2093 "Foster Youth Higher Education and Support Act," was introduced to provide post secondary education support to foster youth who attend California's public colleges and universities by designating a foster care service coordinator.

The passage of the legislation would help raise the devastatingly low college entry and graduation rates of foster youth.

Consider the statistics, for the 80,000 foster youth in California, less than half will graduate from high school. Only ten percent will pursue a college education. Of those only 2 percent will actually earn a degree.

Still, a second, more urgent bill, AB 1712 authored by Assemblymember Jim Beall echoed through the halls, to the I-5 freeway, to the lives of 2,166 youth turning 19 this year in California.

The problem is that it forces youth out on the streets on their birthday. Foster youth like Julio Quezada, 18 who graduated from Modesto High School last week. His birthday is coming up on December 6.

In January of 2013, he will need to reapply, if AB1712 is not passed. The process is disjointed and with county funds in flux, the likelihood of youths finding themselves homeless is high.

A hearing for AB1712 is set to remedy the funding gap created by Assembly Bill 12, which extends support services to foster youth until age 19, in 2012, then 20 in 2013. The last minute amendment is what pushed out a generation of foster youth who are turning 19 this year out.

Quezada didn't do anything wrong -- his biological mother was only thirteen, when she got pregnant. She was dealing with mental health issues, mixed with drugs, and weaved in and out of jail.

As luck would have it, if only his birthday was a year later, he would not have to leave foster care, then reapply, then try to come back in the system for help.

The lack of safety net for foster youth in transition could make them vulnerable to homelessness, incarceration, or poverty.

"My great grandparents raised me till they died. A social worker placed me in foster care for 3 years. I live in group independent living now. They told me to go to ILP classes. That's when I found CYC. I'm learning to put it all together now. I need some time. I'm afraid. By December, I won't have a place to go." said Quezada.

Despite some tough obstacles, Quezada's stride is moving forward. In the fall, he wants to go to Modesto Community College, transfer to Sacramento or San Jose State to become a social worker then maybe a legislator.

Disclosure: Author is an ex foster and a journalism for social change fellow. She has a local blog http://istreetbridgeproject.tumblr.com/

Siblings struggle to bridge the gap

2012-05-23T14:42:16Z

When Lily Colby turned 18, she had nowhere else to go. Her foster parents gave her fair warning that she will be on her own. If she did not find a way to survive, she would be homeless.

The same fate would have faced her brother, David Colby at 18, but his saving grace was new state legislation AB12, California’s Fostering connections to Success Act, a promise to extend support services to foster youth until the age of 19 in 2012, then to age 20 in 2013.

But, a last minute amendment to the original proposal changed the logistics.

In an effort to save money when AB12 was passed, legislators phased in the extension of care.

With realignment shifting the power from state to counties, 2,166 youths will find themselves on a funding bubble, potentially losing services on their 19th birthday.

This leaves it up to cash-strapped, individual counties to fill in the gap. Every county is dealing with its “bubble” kids differently, a Northern California ILP Coordinator’s Council discussed on May 17. Some opted in allowing them to choose to stay past age 18, while others like Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, and Fresno were unable to keep youth in care.

This year, there are 123 foster youths aging out of foster care in Sacramento County, 19 in Yolo County, 19 in Sonoma County, 9 in Solano County, and 6 in El Dorado County according to data from Child Welfare Services reports. Here is an interactive map by Anna Jacobi.

A rally by current and former foster youths will be held at the North Steps of the State Capitol on Thursday, 9:15 a.m. to urge state legislators to pass two bills that will affect outcomes for transition age youth across the state.

We can support these youths in transition by coming to the rally, May 24.

Assembly Bill 1712 remedies the funding gap created by Assembly Bill 12 which previously was created to help the “bubble” kids. AB 1712 is a prime opportunity for state leaders to fix this unintended and unfair consequence of AB 12.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee will decide if Assembly Bill 1712 and 2093 are necessary bills to act on Friday.

In the mean time, many kids like Lily and David Colby are struggling to bridge the gap. They are left out in the cold, without the basic necessity of shelter after age 18.

Disclosure: Author is a Journalism for Social Change Fellow.

McGeorge graduates growing responsibility

2012-05-14T05:46:45Z

There's no use in sugar-coating. Reality hurts.

This is the message of a commencement address given by Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye of the Supreme Court of California on Saturday as she painted a dismal outlook of the future, grim with lack of decent paying options for recent graduates of University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

It was the kind of speech where even the most optimistic of parents cringe upon hearing of the lack of jobs available to those armed with newly minted law degrees.

Still, the bleak expectation failed to deter the graduates from pursuing their calling. Within this class is the mark of resiliency. Each held their heads high holding on to their dream. Many walked with their children strutting close to their side.

In all, 308 Juris Doctor degrees and 38 Master in Law degrees were presented to the graduating class of 2012 by Dean Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker on May 12th, a significant day for many to celebrate a lifelong achievement.

Here is photo montage of some the graduates and their families at the commencement ceremonies held at the Memorial Auditorium on 15th and J Street in Sacramento, California.

Film Festival fosters creativity

2012-04-09T22:22:31Z

The 48-hour film challenge took place on the weekend of March 30, for the Sacramento Film Festival at The Artisan. All the 32 registered teams had to make a creative sprint that began 7:30 p.m., March 30 and ended at 7:30 p.m., April 1. Only 26 teams completed their project according to Martin ~~Ayala~~ Anaya, the event organizer.

Mine was one of them.

As an aspiring multimedia journalist, writing stories for a year, then following my friends on their film projects in the last three. I decided to attempt the challenge for myself.

After all, the best way to learn is to just do it.

My vision was to have a crew of all foster children who have turned 18 – and “aged out” of the system that I met at LaVerne Adolfo, a transitional living center in Mather. I've met many of them last year. In many ways, we grew up together because for many, Adolfo is as close as you can get to what you would call a family.

We didn’t have all the bells and whistles or fancy equipment, or even an Apple computer, but I did have an understanding of how to bring resources together for good storytelling.

As soon as the Sacramento Film Festival organizers handed out rules to the aspiring filmmaking teams, we said go!

The organizers required all the teams to add a character named Kamel Attaboy, a frisbee, and a line “These aren’t the droids you are looking for” and a random genre out of a hat.

My team was the novices among those who had greater experience, but this did not deter us from our goal.

We brainstormed for at least three hours throughout the night. It took eight hours to take the stills at the Capitol, California State University, light rail, and Adolfo. It took another seven hours of editing on a borrowed computer.

The most difficult part was coordination from one location to the next, especially when our only transportation was light rail, bus, and walking. The other difficult part was putting together the sound, so we used a fusion song “I Know The Truth,”by Pretty Lights to fix the weak link.

Also, one of the young guys on our crew had his phone cut off, so we couldn’t connect later in the day. We did what we could to scramble with what we did have.

Though the film has some missing elements, the fact that it is finished is in itself the accomplishment. It is the journey not the destination. What I learned is that youth, especially foster youth, in general, greatly benefit from the support of mentors, not just in film or writing, but every profession in the community.

Hopefully, this idea resonates in our film to be shown at Crocker Art Museum at 7 p.m. on April 28 along with the shorts made by the other 25 teams.

We’re lucky to get into the film festival. Most of the movies that will be shown are by veteran indie producers and directors, including many who won awards.

The film festival takes place from April 21-29. The main venue is The Artisan, 1901 Del Paso Blvd.

Here are a few of the festival highlights:

The Pink Room Documentary, Directed by Joel Sandvos, Written by Fernanda Rossi – A documentary about child sex trafficking in Cambodia and how one young woman overcomes affliction with the help of her community, a heart wrenching epic battle to end sex slavery from rescue to prevention.

California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown - Award winning filmmaker Sascha Rice creates an intimate, inside look at the iconic California governor of the 1960s, the father of Governor Jerry Brown — and the making of a political dynasty.

The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 – This film examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in the black community and Diaspora from 1967 to 1975. The film combines music, startling 16mm footage and contemporary audio interviews from leading African-American artists, activists, musicians and scholars.

Pig – Directed by Mark Stolaroff A man (Rudolf Martin) wakes up in the desert, a black hood over his head, his hands tied to his back. He is saved by a woman (Heather Ankeny) and her son, and when he recovers he realizes he’s suffering from total amnesia. The only clue to his identity is a scrap of paper with the name Manny Elder on it. He leaves the woman and her son and goes on a journey to discover who he is – or was.

For the full schedule, click California Film Foundation.

Editor's note: Edits have been made to this article after publishing.

Young Leaders on the Metro Edge

2012-03-09T17:45:41Z

The Park Ultra Lounge on Thursday was standing room only with more than three hundred fifty young leaders converging for one mighty night on the town at the 2nd Annual Young Leaders connect sponsored by Metro Edge.

There are no strangers - just bright engaging people out for a typical happy hour. While there was the usual attendance of capitol state workers, lawyers, financial analysts, and lobbying professionals, the company also included teachers, engineers, and cattle ranchers grazing from as far as Lodi and Rio Vista.

You’ve heard of the “six degrees of separation” theory, right? Pick anyone on the planet, and chances are you already know them through no more than six acquaintances. Nowhere is this theory truer than now.

"As the Sacramento economy picks up and recent graduates pound the pavement for their dream job, the key to finding the right fit is face to face networking. The edge provides the avenue to do that." says Jason Andalora, project manager at University of Phoenix.

When things fall apart

2012-01-30T09:40:37Z

Every morning 1,800 employees enter the California State Board of Equalization Building. Past the sliding glass doors, security, then up the elevators to get to work. Most never notice the 2 by 5 signs taped to the glass doorways upfront.

Warning: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, may be found in the facility. California Health and Safety Code Section 25249.6

Though it's not only harmful chemicals, that has plagued the safety of the buiding in the past. Two weeks ago, on January 11, pieces of broken glass fell eight stories to the sidewalk on 5th and N Street.

The sidewalk is still blocked with caution tape and orange cones although the gaping hole between the 8th and 9th floors has been secured with plywood according to the Department of General Services.

Sooner or later the cones and yellow tape will also go away and the employees won't remember a thing. They will go on with their lives, remaining apathetic because, they're just too busy to think about it.

After all, a day without work means no revenue for the State of California. The staff is there to complete the work, not to complain about their environment.

"It's dangerous, really dangerous," exclaimed Phillip Robinson, an IT professional who has worked in the building for more than 8 years. "In the past, they had scaffolding on all four sides. I'm surprised they only blocked off the side where the window fell off."

He glances up at the high rise pointing to where the piece fell off. There were more random pieces that fell down in the afternoon. This prompted the guards not only to close the sidewalk but also the traffic lane adjacent to the building on 5th Street to close.

"We don't know if other debris will fall. There's no guarantee. Watch your head, " a security guard warned.

Tax professionals slaving away at their desk received an email from the union in the afternoon to encourage letters of concern to media.

"No one wants to say anything. Most are afraid to be fired if they did," states Luz Susa who works in the returns support unit. Silence is golden for the golden state.

While it is true. Management does have every intention to move the employees out of the place, they just do not have the funds to do so. The money for relocation would come from the general fund because the owners of the building is the Department of General Services.

With California holding the bag for a $17.5 Bilion deficit, and already cutting jobs and social service programs, there is just no room to renovate the building to code.

Even if civil servants end up with tumors after serving their time, it looks like management will still be at this gridlock.

Historically, the building has had it's string of flaws. People have reported getting trapped in elevators, plumbing breaks leading to floods on the 9th floor, and front glass sliding doors coming loose almost falling on innocent bystanders. Other red flags wave at poor air quality, freezing temperatures that force employees to work with their winter coats on, mold scares, and strange odors that forced entire floors to close.

Still, the managers, tax representatives, and support staff continue to work in hazardous health and safety conditions like it's not any more dangerous working in the BOE building than Fukushima.

Why do they do it? They do so because they have hungry families to feed, because they have no other place to go, and the State of California urgently needs this money. This money that they can't even touch.

The irony is that state workers file in to work with more pressure to collect needed tax dollars so California can be restored to a fully functional budget, not factoring in their own risk in the equation.

After all, is it worth losing a job when your family, sanity, and long term health is really what is at stake?

Maybe we should take the action of the vendor who used to run the cafeteria's example. One day , they just up and left without notice to the Department of General Services.

If it looks dangerous, it probably is.

Run away, really fast. DGS obviously does not care about the people who work in the building. In fact, they're careful to make them stand under more danger while they wait for their lunch to cook.

Disclosure: Author is a civil servant. She also worked in commercial and residential real estate for 7 years prior to joining the state.

Window falls off downtown high rise

2012-01-11T19:18:05Z

A window fell off the 8th floor of the State Board of Equalization Building on N and 4th Street. The cause is still under investigation. A section of the street was closed off at 10:30am.

Amtrak train stops on I Street Bridge

2012-01-02T05:19:07Z

A west bound Amtrak train suddenly stops on the I Street Bridge on January 1, 2012 at 12:35 p.m. The train was detained for twenty minutes then was pulled back to the Sacramento train station. A few minutes later, the bridge swiveled over to let a Hornblower cruise ship past through.

To see the train being rolled back, click video.

A day in Sacramento

2011-12-20T04:00:47Z

Yes, there are a few gems in Sacramento. Times when you can honestly say, living here can be good after all. The thing is you have to know is where to look.

This Sunday, we decide to share some of the glow.

Bank Protest and the Why of Occupy 2

2011-11-07T08:58:02Z

It’s cold out there. It never stops raining. Despite some chilly conditions, the weather was not cold enough to deter the warmth heralded by the protestors of Occupy Sacramento who kept marching on Nov. 5 in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street for bank transfer day.

Some are people whose homes have been taken away due to foreclosure. Others are disappointed because their children’s favorite teacher has been cut from lack of funding in their public school. Some just can’t get the health insurance they need. Others are sick and tired of the lies fed by government.

Others are aging and their basic Social Security check no longer covers their necessities. Others are people on disability whose earnings can’t cover all the medication for their health.

Another set are newly minted college graduates who just can’t get jobs in their field. There are none.

There is a couple needing help because a layoff resulted in one spouse not working. Now they both have to pack up and live with their parents. Worst, their parents are barely making ends meet so they can’t help them either. Now, they are out in the street.

Each face at Cesar Chavez Park has its own story. Why do they choose to be there on a cold rainy day? Some say they no longer have a choice.

While the focus of Saturday’s march from the north side of the State Capitol through downtown financial district and on to Caesar Chavez Park was to encourage people to “Move their money” from big banks into local credit unions or small banks in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, every person there also had their own grievance.

Occupy Sacramento remains a leaderless organization – a group of people drawn together by the common thread of frustration with the economic system. They hold long meetings, called assemblies, to attempt to develop a consensus on issues. There are facilitators who bring together committees to function but really they are people from the middle class needing things to change in the world that they live in.

The occupiers in Sacramento have lately been drawn into a long conflict with the Sacramento City Council over whether or not they can get a permit to stay overnight in the park. The fight with the City Council has sucked energy away from the group’s goal of reforming the U.S economy.

The grim reality is that the choices are shrinking. The bigger choices like where we choose to work and how we earn are disappearing.

A Chancellor’s professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, Robert B. Reich, explains the problem with our economy best in this two minute video.

Reich’s analysis boils down essentially to one issue: The richest Americans have gotten a lot richer – in part by paying less in taxes than they did in 1980s – while most of the middle class has lost ground economically. The result, Reich states, is that the institutions of democracy are strained because they are starved of resources.

It’s not that the protestors want your money. Heck, Occupy Sacramento’s entire budget is less than one person’s bank account. Their reason for protest is for the rest of us to stop and think.

Two blocks past the Citizen Hotel on the sidewalk of the Sheraton paints a contrast. A line of powerful people in suits, and women with tall boots and Prada purses waive taxis or wait for valet in conspicuous consumption. Tonight, they all go home to the security of their own warm bed.

So are these people the middle class? Are these the people the Occupy movement is fighting for? If it is, they haven’t a clue. I asked and another lady had to explain to her friend what I was talking about.

And life in Sacramento goes on.

As the occupiers organize late into the night, with a barely working electrical generator fighting for their life, a future, this park, a symbol of hope for the day we once were invincible.

To View More pictures of the bank protest and videos please go to this link by Ed Fogle.

Disclosure: Normally, I would try to be a tottally objective and fair journalist but this bank protest painfully reminded me of my own experience when I faced foreclosure and lost my home because the bank refused to call me back.

It's a hard knock life

2011-11-06T16:47:52Z

Raymond and Sylvia Munoz did not know what they were getting into when they first signed up to be foster parents. They nearly called it quits after helping 30 foster kids then the arrival of Sean opened their hearts to the possibility of adoption.

"It's been 13 years of bliss," said Sylvia recalling the day.

When Sean's adoptive father, a military veteran and Americorp volunteer passed away in 2010, Sylvia was left on her own to raise a teen.

She was at the adoption orientation for National Adoption Awareness Day at the State Capitol on Nov 3 to find out how to adopt two older foster siblings.

It's a hard knock life for 60,000 foster kids living in California. Though, 25,000 of these children are eligible for adoption. The thought of a caring role model and a permanent place to call home is really all they need.

In the greater Sacramento region alone, there are over 3,400 foster kids in the system. 1,000 of these children need a permanent family. Many are teens who will otherwise age out of the system with daunting odds.

Studies conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Services from 2009, show that within 2-4 years over 50% of these young adults will struggle with outcomes as homelessness, drug addiction, or imprisonment.

Given the trauma they experience when the kids are separated from their families and removed from their home for their own protection. Too many live in uncertainty, unsure of what is happening and who is committed to them for a lifetime.

An intimate panel with EMQ Families First, Lilliput Children’s Services, and Sierra Forever Families, as well as Sacramento County Child Protective Services addressed The Need, Myths, and Reality about adoption.

Here are some common fears and realities that they shared:

It’s not too expensive to adopt from foster care. While domestic infant adoption and international adoption vary in cost from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, there is little or no cost to adopt from foster care.

The parents of the children will come back to reclaim them. Once parental rights have been terminated by the court, the parents have no further recourse for gaining custody of the children. The adoption is final.

Children in foster care are not all juvenile delinquents. Children enter the foster care system through no fault of their own, they may have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, and deserve every effort to help them find a permanent loving home.

Single parents cannot adopt. Single parents can and do, adopt. Last year, from the children adopted from foster care, 31% were adopted by single parents.

“The first thing to do is to find a foster care parent support group and talk to those who have adopted. They can share with you their experience, hope, and candid advice on adoption and parenting a child who is a survivor of foster care,” said Bob Herne from Sierra Families.

If interested in adopting, please begin with organizations listed in this Sac Press article.

Disclosure: Author is an ex foster kid.

The Why of Occupy Sacramento

2011-10-21T06:32:57Z

Why Occupy?

Right now, regular folks ― young, smart, educated young people ― are frustrated because they don't see a way to claim their piece of the American dream.

For Julio Escobar, 19, a Sacramento City College student who grew up in Oak Park, the decision to stay and offer himself up for arrest by not leaving Cesar Chavez Park was one of principle.

The issue with the park started on Oct. 6, when 19 protestors elected to stay after closing at Cesar Chavez Park on behalf of the 99%. The nineteen took the bullet for the majority refusing to leave in civil disobedience despite repeated warnings by the police to disburse or be taken to jail.

A video of the events unfolding can be seen here.

Hundreds of people have protested in Sacramento’s downtown financial district in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, a movement that started in New York’s Zuccotti Park now renamed Liberty Plaza. The movement has many people fueled with discontent over the country’s economic woes, the disparity of “have” and “have nothing” as evidenced by the people in the "99%."

The Cesar Chavez Park arrests is merely a sign of the times, a thermometer heating up the people’s economic conscience. As of October 15, 2011, 951 cities and 82 countries have joined together in this new form of democracy in action, a single global protest. Government by the people, not at the hands of elected officials who failed their expectations by catering to the few who control the majority of the nation's resources. The net effect is an ever shrinking middle class.

In Sacramento, the Occupy movement continues to gain traction, showing up at City Council meetings, and growing influence into neighboring cities like Davis. Davis launched their version of Occupy about a week ago. Tents are strewn in Central Park just like Cesar Chavez Park except there is not an ordinance in place to keep demonstrators from meeting at night.

"We are love on the frontlines," said Kevin Carter, an activist from Oak Park who led the march to a recent City Council meeting. “When you see a brother down, you’ve got to help them back up. We’re not complaining, the signs explain what we do. We need to take responsibility for our community.”

Contrary to the belief that Occupy is a leaderless organization, at general assembly facilitators take matters into their own hands by appointing leads for committees on finance, education, park clean-up, media, and other special needs.

“There is no reason why an Occupy movement should not exist in every city in America,” said a young mother who attended the open forum on Monday with her baby and asked that her name not be used. “Knowledge is power. We need to get in front of the politicians.”

General assembly had over one hundred participants meet in the park, brainstorming ideas to fix the ills of a broken society, the exemption to the no camping overnight ordinance was one of the first order of business but not the only issue they grappled with.

The park has been inhabited by demonstrators every day since Oct. 6 and arrests are up to 58. It’s one way to let others know of the urgency to correct what is wrong and have the elected politicians work for us not the other way around.

There are bigger problems plaguing the middle class besides holding on to a park. Protesting is one way to take the power back to the people as implied by the Constitution. The people need to feel safe to express their First Amendment rights not just in the park, but in their everyday lives.

Because governments have adopted policies that compromise the well-being of the middle class, millions now suffer a debt that is creating havoc for the 99% of American families who are not very wealthy. Banks were bailed out by government but there is no bail out for these families. Many are fighting for homes that they may no longer have if they lose the battle to foreclosure. The banks were bailed out but the people are the ones stuck with the bill.

Other consequences include rising tuition costs, program cuts in schools, veterans losing benefits, lack of jobs, and adequate health care, the "Why" of Occupy is about economics.

Without reform America is headed to a lifetime of servitude. See it as a wheel, without affordable education, the middle class is ill prepared to take on better paying jobs. Jobs that help pay for basic needs of our families - like food, health care, and education. Without change, the next generation will suffer a nationwide poverty cycle much like the depression of the 1930's.

Ironic, because America used to be one of the few place in the world where immigrants could work and break through the status quo by building a business.

The opportunities are slipping away taking our best and brightest overseas where cost of living is still affordable. One such example is some UC Davis students who are opting for studies abroad to finish their college degree. Countries like Spain and the Philippines offer a college education for a fraction of the cost in California.
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“You can dissolve corporations, but you can’t dissolve the people,” said Steve, who asked not to use his full name. Despite losing a home that housed eight students barely getting their start in life in West Sacramento to a loan-modification scam by Bank of America, Steve lifted himself up by giving time to mentor a high school student.

“It’s going to take more than occupying a park to rebuild the dream. Everyone needs to support each other. That's one way to make a difference”.

Occupy Sacramento holds open forum at Cesar Chavez Park on a regular basis, come visit with the volunteers under the blue tent or check the website for meeting times.

*This is a photo documentary of Occupy Sacramento from October 6th to present.

Disclosure: Unfortunately, I am not rich enough to be part of the wealthiest 1 percent.

Crawling the great paper trail

2011-10-04T14:16:39Z

It was like a pub crawl for history buffs – without the crawl.

Saturday was the first ever Archives Crawl in Sacramento, an event where four leading historical research facilities highlighted their offerings to the general public.

For five hours the California State Archives, the California State Library, the Sacramento Central Library and the Center for Sacramento History opened their doors, their files and their secret vaults to the general public.

All of the information on display Saturday, can be seen for free but other than serious historians few people ever take advantage of the resources.

For those who missed the crawl, here were some of the highlights:
Mugshots: One of the popular features in the California State Archives are the prison mug books. There you can flip through a 100 years worth of mugshots of every inmate who ever did time at San Quentin or Folsom state prisons, which at the time also included women. In 1913, there were three mug shots of every inmate: one with a hat on in street clothes, one hatless in street clothes and one shaved and in prison stripes. (Female prisoners did not get their heads shaved) There was a tough looking convicted murderer from Oakland, next to an attractive 18-year-old woman who was convicted of bigamy.

It’s not just morbid curiosity that draws viewers to the mugshots, said Jessica Herrick, an archivist.

“It’s important for genealogical research,” she said. Many people have an ancestor who served time in prison. He could be the black sheep that no one talks about. “Often the only remaining photo of their ancestor is in the mug book.”

RFK assassination: All the evidence and testimony from the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy are available for viewing. Not only can you view records from the trial of his killer, Sirhan Sirhan, but you can even examine bullet fragments and other forensic evidence. Note: If you want to actually hold Sirhan’s handgun, you have to make an appointment because a CHP officer has to be present.

Flipping pages from 1493: One oldest and most unusual books at the California State Library is a history of the world compiled in 1493 by a historian from Nuremberg, Germany. The book, which is all in Latin, is an amazing early example of the hybrid form fine books of that era. It was printed on movable type, which was still relatively new to Europe after the Gutenberg Bible was printed in 1439. Then artists went back through and painted in all the illustrations which were printed from woodcuts. So the book is a hybrid between the old hand-illustrated manuscripts and newfangled mass printing.

The book is also an example that copyright theft has been around for hundreds of years – it’s not just illegal downloads of music. The history was so popular, said Gary Kurutz, principal librarian of the special collections, that other nobility from other cities had the book copied word for word. “They just substituted name of their town instead of Nuremberg,” Kurutz said.

Heroes of the American Red Cross

2011-09-16T19:11:13Z

Did you know there is a hero in all of us?

A parole officer, two teen lifeguards, a one hundred year old senior citizen, a doctor, and a scientist were among those recognized by the American Red Cross for their life changing efforts in the capital region.

Nominated by their peers, these honorees exemplified the characteristics of a hero such as courage, selflessness, and perseverance. They were recognized at a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel in Arden on Thursday, September 15, 2011.

Here are the award recipients and their deeds.

Good Samaritan Adult Hero – Sean Ferguson, 43, called upon his 15 years of American Red Cross training to rescue a teen boy who was struck by oncoming traffic.

Animal Rescue Hero – Patty Letawsky, co-founded the We Pay to Spay program. She is the driving force behind a local dog rescue program, and has personally saved more than 100 dogs from euthanasia.

Military Veteran Hero – Sacramento Patriot Guard Riders banded together to protect soldiers from protesters. They also regularly attend welcome home, send-offs, and funerals of soldiers totaling nearly one hundred missions annually.

Good Samaritan Youth Hero – Wayne Batchelor, 16, used his recently completed ARC lifeguard training to courageously dive into a pool to pull a young girl out of the water to safety.

Law Enforcement Heroes – Deputy Mark Limbird and Deputy Matt Silvey worked together to face down a heavily armed man in a residential neighborhood who was endangering the lives of officers and residents.

Spirit of the Red Cross Hero – Todd Reiners volunteers to help women and children stricken by homelessness in the region and helped reunite a homeless man with his family after 13 years.

Professional Rescuer Hero – Brittany Martin, 16, courageously performed CPR to save the life of a 4-year-old boy using her ARC lifeguard training.

Medical Professional Hero – Dr. Mark Drabkin, a Sacramento ophthalmologist performed many sight restoring operations and trained local doctors in developing countries including Ghana, Nicaragua, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Good Samaritan Senior Hero – Bob Fletcher, who just celebrated his 100th birthday, gave up his job as an agricultural inspector to temporarily care for three Japanese owned farms during World War II, preventing the mortgage from lapsing and protecting the families’ livelihood. Bob received his award citing his wife's support of sixty six years and received a standing ovation from the hundreds of attendees present.

Workplace Hero – Anita Turley rescued a coworker who was suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. She is now traveling the country teaching others the life saving techniques she used to save a life.

Hero of the Year – Selena Li, dedicated more than 1,000 hours of her free time since freshman year in high school to develop a potential alternative treatment for liver cancer. Because of her work, she was able to develop a potential alternative treatment that is more widely available and more efficient than existing transplant and chemotherapy treatments.

Military Hero – US Army Corporal Jarus Perez was awarded the Purple Heart for pulling an unconscious comrade to safety after their unit was attacked while he was injured by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. While he received the best of care in the military for his injuries, he realized that local school children do not have the same care. In order to raise awareness and funds for health care for kids, he persevered a fifty-mile run recognizing each of the fifty states that require substantial healthcare reform.

“We all have potential to be heroes,” Perez says. “There are many ways to act. Get involved locally with organizations like the Red Cross. Be prepared with first aid/CPR training and give generously with your time, energy, and resources to help others.”

So what are we waiting for? The hero is in all of us.

Be the change you want to see.

Disclosure: Kati Garner is an American Red Cross volunteer. Amabelle Ocampo is trained in First Aid/CPR and is an emergency first response volunteer in her workplace.

Fashion's Night Out: Sexy Shoes, Swag, and Mayor Johnson

2011-09-10T05:46:43Z

The line between runway deities and real people was blurred on Thursday night.

That’s because the global Fashion’s Night Out show at Pavilions on Howe and Fair Oaks featured real people from all walks of life, not just magazine covers. Movers, shakers and other people of influence in Sacramento's community gathered to restore consumer confidence and support the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

The night’s theme: When you look good, you feel good. When you have the feeling of fulfillment, you won’t have the tendency to give up. Whatever you decide to do with your life, do it with style.

For the 38 inspiring real-life role models on stage, how looking good, leads to feeling good, and being motivated is the common thread. Backstage, preparations were underway for the 100-foot plus catwalk lined with VIP spectators under the white sparkling lights of the trees. Photographers were ready for action. The synergy of a good life with style was infectious.

Here are some quotes from the models when asked how the clothing enhanced their lives:

• “I think it’s a great to gather new ideas using what you may already have in your own closet.” Skylar Mundy, 19, a fashion student and blogger who works part-time at Starbucks for survival in this tough economy.

• “I feel young, vibrant, and a true woman,” shared Ashley Andrews, 31, whose husband, Todd, runs a dental practice near McKinley Park.

• “I felt incredibly luxurious and special,” added Daniel Farley, 47, Vice President of Hamilton Jewelers.

• “I feel like a bohemian princess. Love the feathers. How you feel, your attitude is brought out in what you create for yourself,” said J.J. Fox, 42, a life coach; as she showed off the feather necklace she wore during the show.

• “I was comfortable with myself even with the ascot. It was great to support the cause,” said Sean O’Brien, 28.

• “It was lovely,” said a smiling Jodi Hicks, 40, VP of Governmental Relations for the California Medical Association. “I had a lot more fun than I expected, a really good time. I never had clothes, make up, hair done up before.”

Outfits coordinated by shops and stylists of Pavilions reflected personal style & attitude. The stores are Calla Lily, Franco Ferrini Shoes, Hamilton Jeweler, It’s a Small World, Pavilion Salon Shoes, Madam Butterfly, Patrick James, Julius Clothing, Daitaro, and Lucy. They were backed by Bella Bru, Piattis, and Ruth Chris Steak House who served appetizers and drinks for themore than two hundred VIP guests in the evening.

Those who came to cheer on friends and savor outfits paired with sexy shoes were just as fashionable as the models strutting on the catwalk. A short video clip of the finale can be viewed here.

“We came to support our friend Kara Turner, to shop one of our favorite boutiques Madam Butterfly, and hang out with Kevin Johnson,” says Stefania Aragon, 41 from Roseville.

On a girl's night out with Melinda Yodar, 43 from Fair Oaks and Stephanie Ferre, 41, from Roseville, the trio enjoyed the festivities and look forward to a glimpse of Fashion's Night Out in 2012.

Fashion's Night Out Countdown

2011-09-06T19:23:16Z

From Manhattan to Milan, Atlanta to Australia, the after-hours shopping extravaganza Fashion’s Night Out is counting down to its September 8, 2011 debut. Celebrities, designers, and stars will perform and mingle with shoppers as they take part in the FNO-exclusive event to snap up special designs.

The 2011 edition of the fashion party will be even better this year heading locally to boutique shopping mecca, Pavilions on Howe and Fair Oaks. Check out all the ways to shop and have fun on this flier.

Highlights include Celebrity DJ Joel Madden spinning tunes for fashionistas. Also, there will be a special appearance by Mayor Kevin Johnson.

Pavilions will provide live music throughout the night and a limited supply of Fashion’s Night Out registered merchandise including t-shirts and baseball caps. Come early from 6-8pm to take advantage of the free event.

Stores will provide exclusive discounts, free gifts with purchase, trunk shows, stylist advice, informal modeling, wine, hors d’ oeuvres, art exhibitions and more.

In keeping with the Fashion’s Night Out tradition, participating stores will hold extended hours on Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Proceeds from the VIP seating in the Runway After Party from 8-11pm benefit the UC Davis Children's Miracle Network.

Gov. Brown at Working Families Labor Day Picnic

2011-09-06T07:15:53Z

Labor Day honors the contribution of working people commonly enjoyed as an end of summer celebration with picnics, parades, and a long weekend.

At Land Park, the annual Labor Day Working Families picnic came with lunch, light hearted laughter, and an appearance by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Gov. Brown spoke on jobs and the economy. A short clip of what he said at the picnic is here.

Many noteworthy political leaders were also at the picnic including Sen. Darrell Steinberg, Assembly member Mariko Yamada, and Assembly member Richard Pan. In this clip, they sing an ode to the working folks and their unions.

We do have unions to thank for giving us the weekend known as Labor Day.

It's a good time to reflect and honor workers whose sacrifices and contributions have gained the working class benefits like pensions, adequate health care, and over time pay. These are great gains for some but the struggle continues for others.

"It is not just a fight for fairness and inequality- it is a fight for our children and grandchildren." says Yvonne Walker, President of SEIU Local 1000.

United Farm Workers & Union March: Soles for SB 126

2011-09-05T04:48:02Z

Reminiscent of Cesar Chavez's 300 mile pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento in 1966, more than 5,000 farmworkers, their families, and supporters marched the final steps of a 13-day, 167 miles pilgrimage through California’s Central Valley, to the north steps of the capitol on Sunday, September 4, 2011. The farmworker's call to action is for Governor Jerry Brown to sign SB 126, a bill that would make it easier for farm workers to join unions and speak up for fair labor rights.

The last leg of the walk for civil liberties in Sacramento began at Southside Park at 10am and ended with an urging of support for Governor Brown to sign the bill that is making its way through the California Legislature.

SB 126 penned by Senator Darrell Steinberg includes a revised version of the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act (SB 104), a bill that would have made it easier for farm workers to join a union and speak up for their rights, previously vetoed by Gov. Brown and legislation to would allow farm workers the right to be paid overtime after 8 hours of work per day.

This comes at a time when safety conditions for the state's nearly 400,000 agricultural workers who spend long days in the hot sun each summer to harvest fruits and vegestables is at its worst. At least 16 California farm workers have suffered from heat related deaths since 2005 and State Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating two other California farm worker deaths - one in April in Imperial County and one in June in Riverside County.

Francisco Estrada, a migrant farm worker recalls the last day of his wife's life, Lillia Estrada while working in the farms. “She complained of dizziness. The ambulance did not come until an hour later”, a translator noted in Spanish. “We came in as two and I came out as one.” There is not a day that passes where he does not think of his wife and the two sons she has left behind.

“There will come a day, when farmworker rights will be left at the hands of our children,” Becky Chavez, the daughter of Richard "Ricardo" Chavez urged in her speech.

The philosophy of The United Farm Workers, brothers Richard "Ricardo" Chavez and Ceasar Chavez’s legacy continues. The movement behind the Delano Grape Strike of 1966 still continues. Equity has not been reached for low paid workers as long as the struggle by farm workers continue.

Watch the her very moving speech by clicking here.

Today, unions appear to be the vehicle of choice to level the playing field for low paid workers otherwise deemed silent. Fewer than 5% of the farm workers have the protection of union contracts. A day before labor day, the walk is symbolic of those farm workers who continue to struggle for their rights to unionize and receive equitable labor practices.

Organizers say they want Americans to know that the fresh food we take for granted on our tables were hand picked by human hands.

"My grandparents were farm workers. My dad started out working in the fields. I'm here because I understand the importance of these jobs especially for immigrants and their families. These are hard jobs and the people who work these jobs...deserve more protection, " urged Rebecca Gutierrez, 23 a student from Fresno State.

Buddhist Festival embrace 1940's Japantown

2011-08-12T08:14:07Z

In honor of 66,000 lives lost at Hiroshima. In honor of 39,000 lives lost at Nagasaki . In honor of 110,000 Japanese Americans eradicated to internment camps in 1942. In honor of 20,739 lives lost in this year's tsunami earthquake.

A Sacramento Buddhist Church embrace a 1940's Japantown tradition.

It's going to be big.

Over 40,000 people will come for the 65th Annual Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar on August 13-14, 2011.

The festival unites past and present residents of Sacramento’s Japantown neighborhood to the 112 - year old church located on the corner of 2401 Riverside Boulevard and X Street.

Many families have moved away from the neighborhood but return yearly to support the fundraiser for the Japanese community.

The festival is one of the few traces left of the original Nihonmachi. Sakura Gifts, Osaka Ya, June’s Café are the few remaining businesses in Southside’s dwindling Japantown.

The Japanese American Civil Liberties wall asserts, “1958 - forced removal due to redevelopment, led to the final demise of Sacramento’s Japantown.”

After Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the effects of Executive Order No. 9066 still resonate for those who lived through the ordeal.

U.S. Representative Robert Matsui, husband of current U.S. Representative for California‘s 5th congressional district Doris Matsui was a prominent advocate for redress and reparations for Japanese Americans following the incarceration and exclusion of Japanese Americans during World War II. As a child, Matsui's family was forced to eradicate from their Sacramento home and was held in an internment camp at Tule Lake for a year.

“Today, we celebrate the freedom to keep tradition alive even after many trials," shares Sherman Iida, festival organizer.

The food for the event requires10,000 pounds of chicken, 1500 pounds of beef for teriyake, 400 pounds of shrimp for tempura and sushi dishes, 500 pounds of sugar and salt for seasonings, and six tons of ice for cool drinks. It take over 700 volunteers to prepare the place for the occassion.

The free festival is open to the public. Neighbors work side by side in harmony to present the vibrancy of The Koyasan Spirit of Children Taiko Group, the grace of the Japanese Folk Song & Dance Society(odori), the teachings of Buddhist Philosophy, the old school funk, soul, R&B, and classic rock sound of The East Wind Band, the peace of gardening with the Sacramento Bonsai Club, the beauty of Ikebana (floral art) by Ikebana School, and the joy of Japanese calligraphy among the many activities. Here is the full schedule.

The festival is the church’s annual fundraiser that supports many programs including sports, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, youth groups, adult and senior support, and the Japanese language school.

In honor of those who have lived before us. Don't miss two fantastic days of remembrance.

It takes two to tango – or Ten 22

2011-07-30T20:46:22Z

Hungry for tango?

Whether you are a tango dancer who loves to eat, connoisseur of South American cuisine or perhaps just a couple feeling romantic, this new Ten 22 and Tango by the River collaboration had something for you. A visit to Argentina without the airfare

Chef Jay Verregge prepared a three-course meal while dance studio owner Donna Williams, lined up the entertainment as Argentine tango singer Ernesto Rassi set the mood for couples on a night out this week.

Chef Jay Verregge’s authentic Argentine meal began with Chorizo empanadas, followed by plates of green salad drizzled in red wine vinaigrette. The main entrée was the highlight, Barbacoa with Salsa Criolla - - slices of steak and chicken marinated in lime seasoned with slivers of garlic paired with Chilean merlot. Rassi’s voice and tango intertwined with the meal. Finally, caramel dulche du leche with whipped crème served with black coffee savored the sweet tooth.

The meal, the music, and the lovely dancing provided just the romantic equation for a South American couple, Jorge and Susan Escobar, who were celebrating 38 years together

“Our favorite part of the meal was the empanadas. We missed them while living in Paraguay,” shares Susan Escobar, who was there with her husband Jorge.

A fairy tale South American romance.

The couple was thrilled with the experience. They’re new to tango dance but not to the romance of South America. Their fairy tale romance began in Stockton and included Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.

The couple met at University of the Pacific in Stockton in the early 1970s. Jorge studied biology as an exchange student and Susan was completing her teaching credential.

We are interrupted by two women laughing and sipping their wine as they waive for attention for Ernesto Rassi to help demonstrate close embrace in tango. We hear the light clicking of their high heels and the bandoneons in the background as they sway to the sounds of an "orchestra tipica".

After graduation, Jorge returned to Paraguay. Susan on the other hand, taught English in a town in Chile called Temuco. After Jorge got a job with a bank in Paraguay, he decided to surprise Susan with a visit. What he didn’t know was that she was away on holiday in Santiago.

“We literally crossed paths. I stopped by Santiago to get to Temuco in Chile,” he smiles recalling the day. He recalls losing her address. He didn’t give up, instead knocked on all the doors in the neighborhood in Temuco until he met a family who knew Susan. One of the sisters phoned a relative in Santiago. Susan then returned to the village to meet her love.

Just then, Ernesto Rassi breaks out in the finale. Three couples dance in harmony around him, as he sings “Cambalache”. The song is about the life of unpredictability and disorder like the hustle and bustle of bazaars and open marketplaces in Argentina. Rassi’s wife, Cecilia, a Humphrey's scholar from UC Davis translates the final stanza,

Que es lo mismo el que labura
noche y dia, como un buey
que el que vive de los otros,
que el que mata o el que cura
o esta fuera de la ley.

In English,

It's the same the one who works,
day and night like an ox,
than the one who lives from the others,
than the one that kills or heals
or than the one who lives outside the law.

Social media biz success: All a function of brute force

2011-06-03T14:40:02Z

98 percent of the people using social media do not know what they are doing, but the 2 percent who do know what they are doing are rapidly expanding their businesses and making money.

That’s the message from, Patrick Schwerdtfeger, an author and new media marketing guru, who spoke this week to a group of about 40 small business people at the Sacramento Speakers Network.

“Most people practice trial and error and fail their way to Success,” Schwerdtfeger says. The ground floor method is to attempt campaigns, and see what happens.”

Schwerdtfeger, 40, a native of Ottawa, Canada now based in the Bay Area, spoke to the group the very day his new book – titled “Marketing Shortcuts for the Self Employed: Leverage Resources, Establish Online Credibility & Crush your Competition – came off the presses.

Wearing a navy blue suit, light blue tie and an engaging ear-to-ear grin, he wowed the standing-room only crowd at the Doubletree Hotel with stories of companies or individuals who did something unique in the “raging river” of social media that went viral and drew thousands of eyeballs to their product or project.

Schwerdtfeger singled out campaigns where people did fairly simple things that earned attention. The first was a case study on the new Wizardly World of Harry Potter Theme Park. The vice president of media marketing of Universal Orlando Resorts invited seven bloggers, who all write for Harry Potter fans, to an exclusive on-line midnight preview of the theme park. The seven bloggers wrote about the park and lots of their followers re-posted their stories on their own blogs, Facebook pages or tweeted about it on Twitter. Within 24 hours the “exclusive” scoop for seven fan bloggers grew to over 350 million.

Bringing it home, he suggested that business owners build their online identity via a blog and connect that blog to Facebook, LinkedIn, and other sites. Nobody will be listening unless your content is shared. There are thousands of article directories to link your blog to. If blogging becomes too boring, record a podcast and post your idea to iTunes, then after that post several videos where you are demonstrating what you are remarkably good at and post the link to YouTube. Schwerdtfeger credits the numerous videos linked to his blog as the interface that brought About.com and then eventually Wiley to agree to publish his book.

“Learn to demonstrate your expertise in the midst of a raging river,” he says. The river being the infinite number of conversations going on in Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other popular social media networks.

He also pointed out other examples, Dave Carroll, a musician from Nebraska who got ticked off when United Airlines baggage handlers broke his beloved Taylor Guitar and then the company refused to accept responsibility. He wrote a song about it then posted it to YouTube “United Breaks Guitars” – which has been viewed 10, 467,000 times.

Another inexpensive way to increase awareness and build expertise is to provide a free pdf e-book on your site. He pointed to Dr. Helaine Smith’s blog. She provides a free eBook on her blog called “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Sex.” Providing something free gives an incentive for readers to come to your site. You can even place a limited time offer like a 10 percent discount for services if people provide comments on your Facebook.

Another example is Naked Pizza in New Orleans who gave 10 percent discount to customers ordered a pizza by tweeting Naked Pizza.

As for reverse marketing, Jet Blue he says has people doing searches on their competition finding people unhappy with their current airline service, and tweets a response providing a slightly better alternative in real time.

Overall, social media networking provides the ability for your product to expand the frame. For instance if you are selling wine jelly, it’s not just about selling wine jelly. It’s about selling the benefits and privileges that goes with buying that product. On Facebook, you can offer a tour of the winery where that wine jelly is made, provide pairings, options for other uses for the product, and then take photos of the participants who may agree to be tagged so they can share the product with their friends on Facebook. At that point, it’s not just wine jelly. It is an experience to be shared.

Robert P. Weaver, a Folsom CPA, was inspired by the lecture and plans to “provide useful content to his site.”

While members of the audience reacted enthusiastically to Schwerdtfeger’s presentation, some were not sure how his lessons would apply to their businesses.

“It’s a great idea but probably not for me,” Colleen Watters, a Roseville attorney who specializes in estate planning.

Others like, Susan Rueppel, already practice some of Schwerdtfeger’s tips and are eager to utilize more.
Rueppel, who describes herself as a “chief intuition officer” of her Midtown business devoted to helping people and firms “create a bigger vision and have a clear path forward.”

Sacramento Speaker Network regularly meets on the first Wednesday of the month with the next meeting is July 6 at 6:30pm at the Doubletree Hotel. The speaker will be Donna Hartley, a DC-10 plane crash survivor.