Volunteer for the point-in-time Homeless Street Count on Jan. 24, 2013, and make a difference for our community and those in need. The biennial Homeless Street Count is an effort to learn more about the individuals and families experiencing homelessness on any given night in Sacramento County. Information collected helps us better understand why they are homeless, so we can refine existing programs to best serve those in need. The Homeless Count captures a snapshot of those who are unsheltered – literally sleeping outside – on the street, in a car or abandoned building on the night of the canvass. Information collected will also provide important data for the 10-Year Plan to End Homeless

Not everyone has this coming Monday off (alas!) but for those that do, Sacramento has a few options for using your day off to celebrate the man it honors—Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK365 is presenting the 31st Annual March for the Dream, which includes a peaceful march (choose to begin from the Oak Park Community Center, Grant High School, or Sacramento City College) that convenes on the Sacramento Convention Center for an afternoon of celebration. There will be something for all ages and interests—vendor booths, kids’ crafts & activities, entertainment, an art village featuring local artists, and more. The Crocker Art Museum is opening their doors for their free Holiday Monday program. Mo

On May 21st at Sacramento City College, Sacramento Steps Forward will be hosting its 4th annual Sacramento Homeless Connect event. In addition to the over 800 homeless guests and 60 service providers in attendance, 500 community volunteers participate as well. Volunteers provide help at important stations like housing or health services, serving lunch to guests, guiding guests to services, checking guests in at the intake station or participating in the job readiness fair. There are many positions available, and folks can sign up to volunteer at Hands-On Sacramento. This is a very popular event, so sign up as soon as you can! Volunteer positions tend to go quickly. Community volunteers

Less than one month after launching the Sacramento Service Plan, Mayor Kevin Johnson was joined by pilot Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger in kicking off “Sacramento Ready”, the plan’s public safety campaign aimed at engaging residents in emergency and disaster preparedness. “We saw what happened in New Orleans with (Hurricane) Katrina,” said Mayor Johnson to a capacity filled City Council Chamber. “In terms of a flood, Sacramento is the second most dangerous or at-risk community behind New Orleans.” The event belonged to Captain Sullenberger, the Air Force veteran pilot best known for landing US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan nearly two years ago on January 15

Teams of family and friends will race through parks, around landmarks and even inside local businesses deciphering clues to secret locations in Hunt the Grid, an urban adventure presented June 12 by Mastermind Treasure Hunts and Downtown Grid. Partial proceeds from this fun and challenging event will benefit Hands on Sacramento, the Valley’s full-service volunteer action center. With the success of films like National Treasure, and reality shows like The Amazing Race, treasure hunting—solving puzzles to find “secret” locations—is more popular than ever. Hunt the Grid, an information-based urban treasure hunt, challenges players to discover answers that can only be found at specific Sacram

On Aug. 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed to the world, "I have a dream...” His speech was given at the Lincoln Memorial after a quarter million people concluded the March on Washington, which became the largest demonstration for human rights of its time. Martin Luther King, a reverend, scholar and civil rights activist, practiced non-violence and civil disobedience to help change the existence of racial inequalities. During his life he was recognized by being the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, at age 35, but is predominantly known for his leadership in demonstrations and non-violent protests that challenge racial segregation and racial discriminatio

 On Monday at the Boys and Girls Club downtown, I will be joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President of PUSH/Rainbow Coalition, to kick off "Volunteer Sacramento." This new effort is designed to encourage greater volunteer participation in our community. Led by Honorary Chair Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), this will be a "full-court press" with local nonprofits to strategize on how to harness the energy of more Sacramento citizens to held local nonprofits during this challenging economic time. More than 50 nonprofit leaders and agency heads will join us, as we discuss efforts to attract more citizens to participate in making our community a city that works for all of