NOTE: Many events may have been cancelled and the City of Fresno has issued a shelter in place. Contact event first.
The City of Fresno Wednesday issued a “shelter in place” order for residents to limit the spread of corona virus.
The order allows residents to leave their homes for essential services, such as grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, picking up medications or going to work. When people do leave their homes, the order instructs them to practice social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet away from others and wear a mask. The order urges the elderly and people with illnesses to stay home as much as possible.
KFCF Community Calendar: Updated 9/11/20
To post an event on our calendar e-mail the information to
calendar@kfcf.org, at least 2 weeks before the event.
DAILY CALENDAR
(Multiple Day and Ongoing Events are at end of posting)
Please Note: In light of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of so many public events, we recommend contacting the venue to confirm that any listed event is still scheduled. We will note below any cancellations we are aware of.
For those with children who are out of school during the Covid-19 pandemic, you can go to this site to find out where your children can get free school lunches:
https://www.healthyeating.org/Schools/School-Wellness/School-Feeding-Locations.
Month of September, 2020
Madera County is offering free COVID testing for Madera residents. For more information and to see the calendar for local testing sites, go to www.maderacounty.com/covid19testing.
Announcement: For those affected by the Creek Fire:
The Clovis Rodeo Grounds is at capacity and is no longer accepting animals evacuated from the Creek Fire at this time. The Fresno Fairgrounds (1121 S Chance Ave, Fresno, CA 93702) is set up to receive evacuated animals and has capacity. Those transporting animals there are asked to please contact the Central California Animal Disaster Team (1-888-402-2238) to finalize arrangements so you can be received at the Fairgrounds.
Friday, September 11th
Santa Cruz’s Resource Center for Nonviolence is holding a virtual discussion on race. In response to the recent directive by the Federal government that "all agencies ... divert Federal dollars away from these un-American propaganda training sessions," explicitly naming "critical race theory" and training addressing "white privilege." Their Beloved Community Cafe discussion today will be dedicated to Kimberlé Crenshaw, the leading critical race theorist of our time. The discussion will addess color blindness, intersectionality, and the need to continue to learn about and discuss racism/antiracism. You can watch “An Overview of Critical Race Theory” with Kimberlé Crenshaw, author of "Race, Gender, Inequality and Intersectionality," by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-SffJkUt_U. Read “The Intersectionality Wars” at https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination. Then, join the conversation at 12pm by clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83284422890?pwd=MnhFU1U3MVZyQzNGK1lqSFR6QXBkZz09#success. Meeting ID: 832 8442 2890, Passcode: 634221.
Friday, September 11th
The Reedley Peace Center is in the process of scheduling monthly “Zoom” presentations, starting with a presentation by Katherine Smith, West Coast Mennonite Central Committee. As the Border and Migration Outreach Coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, Katherine will share about the state of immigration in the U.S. Since March 20th, the ability to seek asylum and the processing of asylum applications has been suspended. As the current administration uses the CDC guidelines to justify this suspension it is also achieving a long-standing goal of dissolving the asylum system. This presentation will speak to the history of asylum, the pre-pandemic policies that restricted access to asylum, and the current policies that have effectively brought the asylum system to a halt to migrants at the border. To register for this meeting, follow the link: https://tinyurl.com/y6k9vjz9. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Saturday, September 12th
The Fresno State Ethics Center will kick off its fall 2020 series with the annual Celebration of Ethics Leadership Awards ceremony hosted by CBS47 morning news anchor Megan Rupe. The program will air from 7 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, on CBS47 (KGPE-TV) and stream live on Facebook. The ceremony features Nikiko Masumoto, an organic farmer, memory keeper and artist. Masumoto is a fourth-generation Japanese American who farms the same land her great-grandparents worked. The Masumoto Family Farm grows organic nectarines, apricots, peaches and grapes for raisins. She co-founded the Yonsei Memory Project, which seeks to archive Japanese American history through arts, storytelling, memory-mapping and intergenerational dialogue. She is the co-author of “The Perfect Peach: Recipes and Stories from the Masumoto Family Farm” and “Changing Season: A Father, A Daughter, A Family Farm.” The fall 2020 Ethics Center lineup also includes:
● Democracy Discussion with student leaders Elizabeth Rocha Zuniga and Hisham
Qutob — 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15, on Zoom.
● Constitution Day Discussion with Brandi Orth, Fresno County clerk and Lisa
Bryant, professor of political science at Fresno State — 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 17, on Zoom (see below)
● Human Rights Day — Thursday, Dec. 10, details to be announced.
To supplement their live events, the Ethic Center is creating short "Ethics Conversations" on its YouTube page. Conversations include:
● "Gandhi, Race, and the Gandhi Statue at Fresno State" by Dr. Veena Howard,
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Fresno State
● "Hiroshima at 75 and A Tree Planting for Peace" by Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi,
Fresno State College of Social Sciences interim associate dean
● "Public Art and Monuments in the Black Lives Matter" by Dr. Cindy Urruta, Center
for the Creativity and the Arts director
● "Civil Unrest and Structural Violence" by Dr. José-Antionio Orosco, Professor of
Philosophy at Oregon State University, which will be posted soon.
More ethics conversations will be posted over the course of the fall semester.
Wednesday, September 16th
Amazon Studios is releasing the upcoming documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” on Amazon Prime Video on September 18th. With the Presidential election just two months away, this is an extremely timely film that deals with the issue of voter suppression here in the United States. In anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know are threats to their basic rights as citizens of the United States. They will be having a ‘virtual" advance screening of this film on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:00pm. To download a screening pass, visit www.AmazonScreenings.com, click on the orange “Redeem Pass” button & enter the code: FresnoWOM0916. Once someone clicks on the above link and registers for the screening, they will receive an email confirmation. Be sure to check your spam/junk folders for this email (as they are notorious for going into spam). Then, one hour before the start of the screening they will receive another email with their “individual” screening link - they will need to click on that link to be placed into the virtual waiting room. The film will then begin to screen at 7:00pm. If folks click on their link after 7:00pm, they will not be able to screen the film.
Thursday, September 17th
Don't let Constitution Day Zoom by you this year! Join San Joaquin College of Law Professor Jeffrey G. Purvis on Thursday, September 17th at 5:30 p.m. as he marks another Constitution Day. Register in advance for this lecture at: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkcuCqpzkjEtQq3dw8TNdk3uWJkGBS3-9q.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining. It promises to be another thought-provoking evening with Professor Purvis. In the past, his Constitution Day topics have included titles such as “Death Panels Are Trying to Kill My Grandma,” “Virtual Mayhem: Why Does the US Supreme Court Want Our Children to Become Violent Killers?” “Having Destroyed Marriage, What Are The Gays Up To Now?” and “Is It Constitutional for Me to Scream at Town Hall Meetings so that No One Else Can Be Heard?”
Thursday, September 17th
Diniz Borges, founding director of the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at Fresno State, will give a public lecture titled “Alfred Lewis: A Valley Writer from the Azores” at 7 p.m., on Zoom. Lewis was born on the Azores island of Flores and lived all his adult life in California’s Central Valley, becoming a municipal judge in Los Baños. During his life, he wrote nine books, 43 short stories, six plays and about 200 poems. Borges' talk is based on his book “Alfred Lewis: Escritor de Emoções,” written in Portuguese and published by the Azores Regional Directorate for Communities. The lecture will be in English. To register, go to https://fresnostate.zoom.us/j/94156778328?pwd=UXBNVkRCamZsQUpsVGNjRTl2WFA2UT09#success.
Friday, September 18th
Dr. Ohannes Kılıçdağı, the 2020-21 Henry Khanzadian Kazan visiting professor, will give his first public talk at Fresno State, titled "Living Together Requires Dying Together: Conscription of Armenians into the Ottoman Army after the 1908 Revolution" at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The July 1908 revolution, which overturned Hamidian despotism, restored the constitution and parliament. It was greeted with joy and hope as people, especially Armenians, regarded it as the end of oppression and the beginning of a new era. One of the essential indicators of equal citizenship was the conscription of Christians and Jews. They had been exempted from military service in exchange for paying a special tax until that date. This talk focuses on these debates and how different Armenian circles reacted to this idea. For more information contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559-278-2669.
To register, go to https://fresnostate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_iUzWG9e9QuCIrxf-ONivew.
Saturday, September 19th
The Parkinson’s Foundation is hosting an exclusively Spanish-language Parkinson’s disease education event online on Saturday, September 19, from 9:30 am – 12 pm.
Presented by the Parkinson’s Foundation, the “Hacia Adelante: Navegando el Mar del Parkinson” event is for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. The event features an interactive agenda of Parkinson’s specialists, families, exercise demonstrations, Q&A, and more. This year’s topics include advanced health care directives, caregiving, treatment options for PD, and exercise. Esta conferencia gratuita en español se transmitirá en vivo vía internet utilizando la aplicación de videollamadas Zoom. Le enviaremos instrucciones después de registrarse. 9:30 a.m. PT/ 10:30 a.m. MT/ 11:30 a.m. CT/ 12:30 p.m. ET (duración: dos horas y media). Las personas con enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), sus familiares y cuidadores están invitados a esta conferencia virtual en español. ¡Es una oportunidad única para aprender y compartir como comunidad! Podrán escuchar, preguntar e interactuar con expertos en la enfermedad de Parkinson en un ambiente lleno de información y diversión. La conferencia cubrirá cómo prepararse para el futuro, cómo hacer decisiones médicas, y la manera en que la familia puede brindar un mejor cuidado. También tendremos un panel de discusión, sesiones de preguntas y respuestas, demostraciones de baile y ejercicios. ¿Necesitas ayuda o más información, o es un nuevo usuario de Zoom? ¡Estamos aquí para ayudar! llame o envíe un mesaje de texto al (661) 384-6139, o envíe un correo electrónico a aramirez@parkinson.org.
Sunday, September 20th
The Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization will celebrate World Meditation Day, is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. "With Music and Meditation, Healing Our World." With Harp, Flute and more, BK Sister Kyoko will guide you into meditation to experience peace within, and to send our vibrations for healing and harmony to our World. Sister Kyoko is a teacher and practitioner of Raja Yoga Meditation at the Brahma Kumaris San Francisco Meditation Center. She is also a Music Teacher for San Francisco Unified School District. Please join us on Zoom ID 964 8668 0865, Pass code: 330168. For more information, e-mail rajayoga108@gmail.com or call 559-435-2212.
Wednesday, September 23rd
The Red Cross Central Valley Virtual Volunteer Fair takes place from 4-5 p.m. virtually via Microsoft Teams. Be ready to help your local community! Due to predictions for an active hurricane and wildfire season and the complexities of COVID-19, the Red Cross will need thousands of volunteers to care for people when disasters strike. We will need volunteers to help support emergency shelters by staffing different areas including reception, registration, feeding, health services, information collection and other vital tasks. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. Will you be ready to roll up your sleeves and help? This Volunteer Fair is ideal for community members new to the Red Cross, those looking for a volunteer opportunity in their community during disasters, or looking to learn more about how Red Cross will shelter community members affected by disasters. To register for the Virtual Volunteer Fair, contact Taylor Poisall at taylor.poisall2@redcross.org or call (559) 513-1656. You can also register online at https://redcross.org/CCRvolunteerfair.
Thursday, September 24th
The Fresno Art Museum’s annual Member Only Meeting takes place on line this year. All members will be invited to attend the upcoming Zoom-based (online) Members-Only Annual Meeting. See what the Museum has planned for the upcoming year, meet the Volunteer of the Year, and participate in the election of board members. If you wish to become a new FAM member or if you wish to renew your membership in advance of this Members-Only Meeting, please go to: https://fresnoartmuseum.org/support/membership/join-or-renew-now/?utm_source=Copy+of+Copy+of+Amend-Wyatt&utm_campaign=MuseumsFromHome&utm_medium=email.
Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th
The Monterey Jazz Festival will present a virtual version of its 63rd festival, September 25-27, 2020. Musical content from the Festival’s archives will be featured over three days, including legendary contemporary and historic performances. The Virtual Festival’s content will be streamed online each day beginning at 5PM Pacific Time on the Monterey Jazz Festival’s YouTube channel. Featured artists and performances will be announced beginning July 21, 2020. Donations to support MJF’s 2020 Virtual Festival, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund can be made during the three day event on https://montereyjazzfestival.org/mjf365/Contribute.
Wednesday, September 30th
Save the date for Ecological Farming Association’s Virtual Wine Tastings with a kickoff event sponsored by Frey Vineyards on 9/30/20. At EcoFarm’s interactive, virtual wine tasting parties, you can kick back and enjoy great wines while learning about the sustainability practices, philosophies and wine-making stories from our featured vintners. There is much more in store for you, but we don’t want to ruin the surprise!
To learn more about participating in this EcoFarm fundraiser go to www.freywine.com and www.eco-farm.org. More information coming soon!
Saturday, October 3rd
United Cerebral Palsy Central California is holding their annual fundraiser, “Pulling Strings.” Chef and UCPCC board Vice President Keith Allen and his wife, former ABC30 news anchor Liz Harrison, will be creating a three-course meal that can be picked up for takeout at their Arts and Technology Center, 4224 N. Cedar Ave., Fresno, from 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The meal includes Allen's famous stuffed New York steak for two topped with mushrooms; Ensalada de Choclo, a salad of carmelized corn with spinach, roasted bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic and red onion in a lime and honey sauce; sides of roasted rosemary garlic potatoes and seasonal Italian squash medley; and cannoli from Famous Ray's Northside Deli for dessert. The price of dinner is $35 per person; $60 for two people; and an additional $20 if you would like to add a chef's choice of wine. To purchase tickets, visit www.ucpcc.org/pulling-strings or call (559) 221-8272 by September 21st.
Thursday, October 8th
Robert Costa, a national political reporter with The Washington Post and moderator and managing editor for PBS’s “Washington Week,” said "Fresno, California is a hotspot on the political map this year.” Costa will be the featured speaker for a first-ever virtual version of the President’s Lecture Series at Fresno State, less than a month before the 2020 presidential election. The President’s Lecture with Costa is scheduled from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Thursday, October 8. It’s free to participate, by visiting Zoom at the time of the event. Following his presentation, Costa will address inquiries from the audience in a question-and-answer session to be moderated by Patti Waid, director of University Communications, based on questions submitted by audience members. The appearance is co-sponsored by the Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust, with the following media partners: The Fresno Bee, KSEE24 and Valley PBS. For more information, email diralls@csufresno.edu.
Friday, October 9th
The Reedley Peace Center holds its next “Zoom” event with Presenters Ted Loewen, Jerry Linscheid, and Joleen Siebert on the topic of “What’s on the ballot?” Ted and Jerry will provide insight into the propositions on the California 2020 ballot. Joleen will discuss the logistics of voting in the 2020 election. To register for this 6 p.m. meeting, follow the link: https://tinyurl.com/yxn23hs7. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Monday, October 19th
This is the deadline for applying for ACTA’s (Alliance for California Traditional Arts) Apprenticeship program. The Apprenticeship Program encourages the continuity of California's traditional arts and cultures by creating opportunities for the one-on-one learning that is critical to the transmission of traditional arts in our state. Each $3,000 contract will support a period of concentrated learning for apprentices who demonstrate a committed engagement with and talent for a specific folk and traditional art form or practice. Contracts of $3,000 will be made with California-based mentor artists to cover mentor artist’s fees, supplies, and travel. The apprenticeship will begin on or after January 1, 2021, and must be completed by December 31, 2021. The apprenticeship must total at least six months, but may last up to one year, depending on the conditions of the particular mentorship. For more information, go to https://actaonline.org/. To apply, go to https://actaonline.submittable.com/submit/bde113e2-a011-4294-bdf1-db544e1ba4dc/apprenticeship-program-2021. To discuss your proposal before applying, contact Jennifer Joy Jameson, Program Manager, at (760) 805-8002 or jjameson@actaonline.org.
Saturday, October 31st through Tuesday, November 3rd
Election workers are needed! Get paid for serving your community! The Fresno County Clerk – Elections Office needs your help as an Election Worker. Available positions include:
Election Worker and Coordinator:
• Must be available to work October 31 - November 3 and work the entire shift (no partial days or hours), as well as training days
• Hourly pay
• Must apply online at FresnoCountyJobs.com
• Masks are required
• Bilingual skills highly needed
• Valid, DMV - issued Driver’s License or ID card required(Student ID card is not an accepted form of identification)
• Social Security Card (original, no copies)In addition to the list above,
Student Election Workers:
• Must be 16-18 years old
• Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher
Can only apply as Election Worker
For more information, visit us at FresnoCountyJobs or call 559-600-1830.
Sunday, November 1st
Join the American Cancer Society for “A Night At The Chef’s Table, at the Kings River Winery, 4276 S. Greenwood Ave. Sanger, from 6:00 – 10:00pm. A Night At The Chef’s Table is a gourmet dining experience featuring Le Cordon Bleu trained Chef Aaron Nielsen of Southern Hospitality Company benefiting the American Cancer Society. Join us for an evening of delicious food, entertainment, live and silent auctions. The event will be indoor/outdoor held at Kings River Winery, with dinner served in their beautiful indoor, air-conditioned facility and evening entertainment outdoors in their string lit terrace. It is open to adults 21 and over. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at https://acsfresno.ejoinme.org/chefstableca. For more information, contact Leticia Ramirez at leticia.ramirez@cancer.org or 559-500-6801.
Saturday, November 14th
Save the Date for KFCF’s Virtual Banquet: “Food for Thought,” with guest speaker Jim Boren, Fresno State Journalism professor and Fresno Bee Journalist, talking about the role of the media in these times.
Wednesday, January 20th 2021 through Saturday, January 23rd 2021
Join the virtual Eco-Farm Conference 2021: Reimagining Our Future! Mark your calendars for January 20-23, 2021. Get ready for an EcoFarm Conference unlike any before as they will convene online for their 41st event! They're sad that they won't be able to get together in person, due to the pandemic. But they're also excited about the possibilities that this year's event will bring. There will still be inspiring keynotes, educational workshops, skill-building pre-conferences, epic networking, and even a virtual trade show where you can connect with exhibitors. There will be meaningful opportunities for all – whether you join in as an attendee, sponsor, exhibitor, speaker, or volunteer. And it will be more affordable than ever. Save the date, be sure you're subscribed to their e-newsletter, and stay tuned for more exciting details to come! For more information, go to www.eco-farm.org.
ON LINE EVENTS AND RESOURCES
The Fresno Commission for Police Reform, which was formed following a demonstration of local outrage response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, is presenting the public with a rare opportunity observe and interact with its important work. The commission's website, https://www.fresno-cpr.com, is an excellent resources for all who want to learn more, respond to a survey created by Fresno State's Sociology Department and participate in some of the Commission's discussions. It is also an opportunity to observe local leaders grappling with the important and challenging task of police reform.
The Film “Economics of Happiness” can be viewed on line for free at https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the-economics-of-happiness/?link_id=8&can_id=32c6c32bbda29a00eef53b1184d86952&source=email-where-do-we-go-from-here-22&email_referrer=email_888883&email_subject=where-do-we-go-from-here.
In commemoration of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima, watch the animated movie “Barefoot Gen” about a Japanese family in Hiroshima in the days before and after the bombing. Warning: THIS IS NOT FOR CHILDREN. It is very graphic but dispells any illusions about the effects of nuclear war. If you don't subscribe or can't find the movie with dubbed English voices on Netflix or other movie sites, you can buy it on Amazon for $20 or watch it for free with English subtitles on YouTube. Click on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqDQd1wkDj0&utm_source=BenchmarkEmail&utm_campaign=200724_Some_good_news&utm_medium=email.
Central California Legal Services is offering a virtual workshop on services available during the pandemic. This workshop is in Spanish, and can be accessed by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADb6D7IIUDo. Clínica Virtual: Programas de asistencia y política de servicios públicos durante la pandemia (Utility & Telecom in Spanish). ¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con Jennifer Ramirez, Secretaria Legal, Programa Pro Bono al (559) 570-1245 o jramirez@centralcallegal.org.
San Francisco Black Film Festival
This year’s festival is on line! You can participate virtually, by going to www.sfbff.org and follow the prompts for information and tickets.
Medically Trained Personnel Needed During COVID-19 Pandemic in Fresno
To help support ongoing COVID-19 response efforts, Fresno County is seeking registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), certified nurse assistants, and other medically trained personnel to help meet potential staffing needs at local hospitals, skilled nursing care facilities, and/or alternate care sites. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Fresno County and across the country, the demands for resources and support continue to increase in healthcare settings and local health departments. In order to be as prepared as possible, the County is building a pool of medically trained personnel to be activated when needed at hospitals, skilled nursing care facilities, or at an alternate care site. In addition to individuals with healthcare experience, there may be additional opportunities for those with experience in the following areas:
nutrition,
administration,
customer service § social work,
case management,
office assistance,
information technology, and many more.
Fresno County understands the value of persons coming together in public service in order to help fight the spread of COVID-19 in our community. To help in this pandemic, sign up for volunteer and paid positions by visiting www.fcdph.org/covid19 and fill out the information under the Volunteer tab.
COVID 19 Testing Available in Madera:
Madera County has launched a new testing site in the City of Madera at the Madera Fairgrounds as of Wednesday, May 27, 2020. This new site is one of the many testing sites across the state offered through a partnership with OptumServe, the federal government health services business of Optum, a leading health services innovation company. Appointments are now available for symptomatic and asymptomatic adults over the age of 18 and can be made by visiting https://lhi.care/covidtesting. The Fairgrounds site is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday from 7am – 7pm. To watch a video about the free COVID-19 testing now available at Madera Fairgrounds to those with or without symptoms, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/MaderaCountyPublicHealth/videos/2386035735022659/. For more information on testing options in Madera County visit the Madera County Dept. of Public Health testing webpage at https://maderacounty.com/covid19testing.
Spring, 2020:
The Census has begun! The 2020 Census is open for self-response online at 2020Census.gov, over the phone by calling the number provided in your invitation, and by paper through the mail. To fill out the 2020 Census: https://www.2020census.gov/.
Why the 2020 Census Is Important: Census data determines federal funding for the next ten years. Rural California counties are among the poorest in the United States. Every person living in rural California should complete the Census so their communities do not lose funding for health services, schools, emergency services, and other programs. What could happen if people don’t complete the Census in your community?
• A business looking for a location to open their next store or warehouse might skip your community because the incomplete census results make it look like there aren’t enough people to work or shop there.
• A school district might not open a new school because the incomplete census results make it look like there are not many families with children in your community.
• A city might cut back on fire fighters or other emergency service staff in your neighborhood because the incomplete census results make it look like fewer people live there.
• Your nonprofit or other community program might get less federal funding because the incomplete census results make it look like there are not as many low-income people living in your community.
• The 2020 Census will also decide how many Congressional members and Electoral College votes California will have.
• If everyone completes the census, it could mean more people in power who represent and advocate for our communities.
• Please take a few minutes to talk to your friends, family, coworkers, or other community members to make sure they’re counted, too.
You do not need to be a citizen to complete the census. Your census responses are confidential and cannot be shared with other governmental agencies or used against you in any way. There are three ways to respond: by phone, online, or by mail. The census can be completed by phone or online in 12 languages besides English as well as Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. You can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative if you suspect fraud or a scam. For more information, visit www.californiacensus.org or www.2020census.gov. People can still take the census online up to Oct. 31st: https://californiacensus.org/.
Education Justice Webinar:
On behalf of Central Valley Movement Building, thanks to those who joined their first
Education Justice webinar of 2020. You can view the webinar video here: https://cvmb.org/covid19webinar/ They had an inspiring and necessary discussion about the movement of Black and Brown parents throughout the Central Valley and the state of California toward Education Justice—including the removal of police from schools. Now more than ever, solidarity matters. The movement matters. Black lives matter. Follow them on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter: @centralvalleymb and subscribe to our newsletter at cvmb.org for timely updates and invites. They also encourage you to review the DSC California Parent Demands for Racial Justice which can be found at cutt.ly/stoppushout. Questions can be directed to our Regional Connector Carrie Lorraine Ayala at cvmbconnector@gmail.com.
Fresno Philharmonic and Fresno Art Museum Collaborate to Present World Premiere Performance that was cancelled due to COVID 19. YouTube Live Broadcast of Robert Morris' Landscape Greeting (Video Features Images from FAM Exhibition): The Fresno Philharmonic, in collaboration with the Fresno Art Museum, presents a YouTube Live performance of the world premiere of Robert Morris' Landscape Greeting. Fresno Philharmonic musicians Pamela Ellzey (flute), Laura Porter (harp), Caitlin McSherry (violin), Heather Gardner (viola), Alicja Blanquart (cello), Elisha Wells and Richard Hembree (horns) will perform this atmospheric work, which was scheduled to be performed live at the Fresno Art Museum on March 12 as part of the Philharmonic's Proxima: Music for the Next Century concert. The free concert had been fully rehearsed, but was cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic. For the YouTube Live broadcast, the musicians have each recorded their individual part on video while under shelter in place orders. Fresno Philharmonic Music Director Rei Hotoda, instead of conducting Landscape Greeting as she had planned to do in the live concert, worked with her husband, conductor Brian Dollinger, to edit the musicians' videos into a performance of the entire piece. The video also includes images from the Fresno Art Museum exhibit GIFTED: Collecting the Art of California at Gardena High School, 1919-1956, which was on display in March and served as inspiration for the composer. The performance is made possible in part by a gift from Orpheus Fresno.
This special performance is available for viewing on the Fresno Philharmonic's YouTube channel by clicking https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg7YZOJciK3XSdaYzD88bXg.
17th Annual Fresno County Fruit Trail
Fruit Trail Stands and Farmers Markets remain open as essential businesses
The 2020 Fresno County Fruit Trail is now underway. While COVID-19 has required some adjustments, Fresno County Agriculture is essential and Fruit Trail Stands and Stores are open and employing healthy market practices allowing customers to buy fresh picked produce direct from the farm. Currently visitors can enjoy strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and much more. While the Fruit Trail members and communities are unable to join together in person to celebrate the start of this Fruit Trail season, they have created a short video to provide a virtual sample of the Trail offerings, which is available to enjoy online at www.gofruittrail.com. Appropriate COVID-19 health and safety measures are in place, so visitors are invited to come out and safely experience the trail in person. The Fresno County Fruit Trail map identifies locations in eastern Fresno County where visitors can purchase the very best local produce fresh from the farm. Updates for Fruit Trail restaurants, wineries and other ag-related businesses impacted by COVID 19 are available on the Fruit Trail website. Visitors can also get updates by following the Fruit Trail on twitter (@gofruittrail). Fruit Trail maps are available online, by request, at member locations and at chambers of commerce in eastern Fresno County.
The May Community Alliance newspaper is online now.
You can see all of their articles here: https://fresnoalliance.com.
“Planet of the Humans,” a new documentary from Michael Moore, is now available on U-Tube for free viewing during this time of “sheltering at home.” Happy Earth Day! Here’s the link: https://planetofthehumans.com/.
Arte Americas: The show at Arte Americas “!Adelante, Artistas y Danzantes!” continues even with the COVID-19 temporary closure and is viewable through their 3D Virtual Tour of the galleries link here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=7YbMYJCe9in. Enjoy the tour!
Fresno Art Museum: FAM would like to share more from the exhibition GIFTED: Collecting the Art of California at Gardena High School, 1919 to 1956. To see the exhibit on-line, go to www.fresnoartmuseum.org/exhibitions/current-exhibition/museumsfromhome/. For a video tour of their exhibits, go to: https://munroreview.com/2020/03/21/take-a-tour-of-fresno-art-museums-gifted-in-extended-interview-with-curator-sarah-vargas/.
CreateCA has created this great website to help you and your children get through these challenging times. Go to https://createca.org/createathome/. You can also find some additional lesson plans that can be done at home on the Fresno Art Museum website, along with tips on how to teach a visual art lesson. Just go to https://www.fresnoartmuseum.org/agc.
The Central Valley Justice Coalition is offering new online class, “Understanding Human Trafficking.” This new online class is a self-paced class. Unlike a webinar, there is no live instruction, which means you can watch this at your own pace and your own timing. To participate, go to https://ce.fresno.edu/educator-workshops/ceu-certificates/central-valley-justice-coalition/hbm-050?utm_source=Central+Valley+Justice+Coalition+News&utm_campaign=c8b95fbf0a-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_02_07_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4276ed74b3-c8b95fbf0a-129645965&mc_cid=c8b95fbf0a&mc_eid=190c576061.
Free On Line Courses for First Responders and Essential Workers
In support of those who continue to work and provide service to the public during the COVID-19 situation, Fresno State’s Division of Continuing and Global Education will offer three online, professional development courses free of charge for local first responders and essential workers. The online courses are available for essential workers such as teachers, grocery store employees, food service providers or janitorial staff, certified or licensed health care professionals or first responders such as EMTs, paramedics, police, fire, correctional or probation officers. Other essential workers may be considered as well. The three online courses available are:
· Teaching Online: From Surviving to Thriving
· Functional Spanish for Emergency Medical Responders
· Project Management for the Workplace
For information or to register for the free courses, visit fresnostate.edu/essentialworkers.
On-Line Learning for Children: David Hunter, a transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher at Ericson Elementary School near Chestnut and Clinton avenues, wanted to increase the connectivity between teachers and students. He knew some parents were overwhelmed with the stay-at-home order and school closures, and he wanted to create a resource his 5-year-old students could navigate themselves. With the help of his fellow TK teachers, he collected a variety of educational videos created by the teachers that aligned with the learning curricula for his students. Students can see their own teachers guiding them in a learning activity. Hunter wanted to create a website where his students could access these videos and navigate their way through the site. As a father himself, he recruited his 13-year-old daughter, Amelie, to build the site. Together, they created the Fresno TK website:
https://sites.google.com/view/fresnotk/home.
Housing for At-Risk Individuals in Madera County:
In response to Governor Newsom’s Project Roomkey, Madera County has formed a partnership to identify at-risk members of our community who need shelter during the pandemic. That partnership consists of Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC), Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), Madera County Department of Social Services (MCDSS), Madera County Department of Corrections, Madera County Road Department, and Love Madera, a non-profit volunteer group.
At-Risk clients access this program through referrals from local shelters, healthcare providers, and law enforcement. The information is forwarded to uniformed MCSO, who respond with MCDPH and CAPMC personnel to the potential client’s currently known location.
Once in contact with the client, this team determines if the client is exhibiting symptoms, has had contact with a known COVID-19 patient, has proper medical care access and appropriate shelter for possible quarantine and/or isolation. The team also assesses what support services this client may need such as food, housing, childcare, medication, or animal care. Depending upon the client’s ability to meet their own needs and health risk factors, they are placed in local hotels for shelter and other needs are addressed.
Once placed within a hotel, Love Madera Volunteers deliver food, provided for by Madera County Department of Corrections. Madera County Social Services facilitates childcare, and medication. Animal care needs are met by Central California Animal Disaster Team. Madera County Department of Public Health facilitates any testing needed. The Madera County Road Department is providing Madera County Connections busses for transport.
Hotels participating in this project are doing so under a county contract for services. As contact information for these hotels becomes available, we will provide that. The funds for this program are provided through FEMA Disaster Assistance Funding with the county and state general funds providing the remaining 25%. For more information, call (559) 675-7700.
Starting Now:
Effective today, all County of Fresno parks and campgrounds are open to the public. To protect the health and safety of the entire community and promote social distancing, parks and campgrounds will operate at approximately 50% capacity. The public is asked to limit group gatherings to 10 people or less and wear face masks whenever social distancing cannot be maintained. Play structures and group picnic shelters within the parks and campgrounds will remain closed until further notice. Social distancing guidance signage will be placed throughout the facilities. Parks hours are 7am-10pm.
For additional information please email parks@fresnocountyca.gov or call (559) 600-3004.
Starting Monday, May 18th
The Fresno County Public Library (FCPL) will reopen and provide limited services at most of its branches beginning Monday, May 18, 2020. Services will include the ability to place holds by phone, checkout material and obtain printouts via mobile printing options. The exact details for the delivery of these services will vary from branch to branch depending on factors such as the design of the building and the availability of staff. FCPL will be serving the public, but in a limited capacity out of an abundance of caution for all members of the community. At this time, only library staff may enter the buildings. Patrons may still reserve books and other library materials and staff will have it ready to pick up at a designated time and place outside of the branches. If printed copies are needed, the same arrangement can be made via mobile printing options.
A schedule of all open branches and the new hours of operation will be posted on FCPL’s website, fresnolibrary.org. Please check the library’s website for exact hours of operation and please call your local branches during these hours for assistance and details regarding materials checkout and printing capabilities. As always, the 24/7 online services of FCPL remain unchanged and available during this time of crisis.
Starting Monday, May 25th
The first ears of Fresno State’s popular sweet corn will go on sale at 8 a.m. Monday, May 25 at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.). Due to COVID-19 and the need to maintain social distancing, a number of new measures will be in place to keep consumers and Gibson Farm Market staff safe. Following government health guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited number of customers will be allowed inside the store at a time. Sweet corn will initially be sold both inside and outside to encourage social distancing practices. Pre-bagged corn in quantities of 10 ears will be available outside for $7 while supplies last to accommodate anticipated crowds. To facilitate social distancing during this year’s corn sales, a number of measures will be different from previous years:
● A new temporary outside mobile purchase station will accommodate shoppers who only want to purchase corn, on the north side of the market for the first few days after corn goes on sale. Only one customer at a time will be allowed to shop per bin, and corn will cost 50 cents per ear.
● Customers are asked to wear face masks while shopping, indoors or outside, per government guidelines.
● Shoppers who want to shop the market’s wide variety of Fresno State student-made products will be allowed inside in smaller increments in relation to government ordinances, and corn will be sold inside, too.
● Customers are required to use sanitizer stations before they can pick corn out of bins at either location, and are asked not to shuck or peel back the corn, or put corn back in bins.
● Organized waiting lines for shopping will be staged outside the store in wrap-around fashion as in the past, but with more predetermined spacing to facilitate social distancing and customer safety.
● The store requests that only one member per family shop at a time to help shorten wait times.
● The market has implemented other measures since the state and county-issued COVID-19-related business health orders in March. Student workers continue to frequently sanitize the store daily and wear face masks. Plexiglas sneeze guards have also been installed at each cash register.
● We encourage customers to stagger their shopping. The market will begin to operate on a seven-day schedule for the summer starting Monday, May 25, and will be open each day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through the Fourth of July holiday.
● Yellow corn will be available opening day, and white corn will be available in early June.
● A similar supply of corn is expected throughout the summer compared to past years. Approximately 70 acres of the 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory are devoted to its most popular product, grown by student workers and staff.
MULTIPLE DAY EVENTS:
Now through 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau is now hiring workers for 90 temporary jobs in Fresno County Calif., in advance of the 2020 Census for the following positions:
Supervisors $18.00 per hour
Non-supervisors $16.50 per hour
Applicants can apply online at 2020census.gov/jobs. Applicants can also learn about available jobs at the Census Bureau’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. They may also contact the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY/ASCII.
During Flu Season 2019-2020
The Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) is offering its vaccination clinic schedule for the 2019-2020 flu season. The first flu vaccination clinic will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at the American Legion Hall located at 3509 N. First Street Fresno. The no cost flu vaccination clinics will be held throughout the season at multiple locations across the county. The 2019-2020 flu vaccine is designed to protect against the viruses that are most likely to cause disease this season. While it cannot prevent all cases of the flu, the vaccine is the best defense against the disease and the potential serious complications from it that can include pneumonia and or death. After receiving the vaccine, it takes about two weeks for protection to develop and protection lasts several months to a year. If a child nine years or younger is receiving their first flu vaccine, they should receive two vaccines this season separated by a timeframe of four weeks. Health officials are encouraging everyone over the age of 6 months to get vaccinated regardless of age or health status. Fresno County residents with insurance coverage should contact their health care provider regarding flu vaccination availability. Vaccines may also be available at physician offices, clinics, pharmacies and at special flu vaccination events promoted in retail stores. Information regarding flu vaccination opportunities can be found at www.flu.gov. For dates, times and locations of the FCDPH flu vaccination clinics for Fresno County residents, please visit www.fcdph.org/flu or call the toll-free immunization information line at 1-888-993-3003.
For additional information regarding the flu season, please contact the FCDPH Immunization Program at (559) 600-3550.
Election Season 2020
Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters, Brandi Orth, is seeking Fresno County residents interested in actively participating in County elections as Election Workers and Election Outreach Coordinators. These part-time paid positions will help to support elections activities throughout the County during peak election season. The Elections Office is currently recruiting for the following two positions:
Elections Outreach Coordinator (Extra Help)
An Elections Outreach Coordinator plans, organizes and coordinates a specific election activity during an election period. These individuals will troubleshoot vote center equipment; assist with the preparation of supplies for set-up and storage at a vote center; operate modern office equipment used in voter registration and election activities; and perform related work as required.
Elections Worker (Extra Help)
Elections Workers provide support to elections activities during peak election periods. These individuals will assist the public with inquiries related to voter ballots and the voting process; perform data entry of voting information; process and/or resolve electronic record issues; operate extraction machines to open and extract ballots for processing; and perform other duties as required.
The Elections Office recently produced a recruitment video to encourage participation. The video may be found at https://videopress.com/v/BsJi4AQB. More information may be found by calling (559) 600-1620 , by emailing Clerk-Elections@fresnocountyca.gov or online at http://votefresnocounty.com.
Saturday, January 25th through Saturday, November 7th
The Merced County Department of Public Works, in coordination with each Municipal Advisory Council, announces the annual Community Clean-up Event schedule. Community Clean-ups allow local residents to dispose of tires, appliances, and other common throwaway items for a greatly reduced fee (see rates and details on the next page). All Community Clean-ups will start at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m. The Community Clean-up schedule is as follows:
El Nido: January 25, 2020 County Library Parking Lot
Stevinson: February 1, 2020 Hwy. 165, ¼ Mi. s/o Hwy. 140
Delhi: February 15, 2020 Fourth Street & Gordon Street
Santa Nella: March 7, 2020 West Comet Road and Venus Crl.
Snelling: March 14, 2020 Henderson Park
Winton: March 21, 2020 Santa Fe Drive and Winton Way
Hilmar; March 28, 2020 Community Center/Faulke StreetS.
Dos Palos: April 4, 2020 Reynolds Ave & Shain Ave
Le Grand: April 11, 2020 Santa Fe Ave & Jefferson Street Franklin/Beachwood: April 25, 2020 Santa Fe Business Parkway
DP-Y: October 3, 2020 DP-Y Auction Yard
McSwain: October 17, 2020 Quinley Avenue s/o Moran Ave.
Planada: November 7, 2020 Broadway between Mills/ Fremont.
The following will NOT be accepted:
•Household Chemicals Or Liquids Of Any Kind
•Oil Waste Or Automotive Fluids
•Heavy Equipment And Tractor Tires
•Treated Wood -- Railroad Ties, Pressure Treated Lumber, Etc.
•Commercial Loads
Cleanup hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. sharp, NO EXCEPTIONS. In order to offset the cost of the annual clean-up events, there will be a small charge for most items. The Merced County Solid Waste Division has obtained a grant from the State of California for the disposal of passenger tires. This allows them to offer FREE disposal of up to four (4) passenger tires per load. Additional passenger tires beyond the limit will cost the participant $1.00 each. The grant does not cover commercial loads or tractor tires and they will not accept these at the Community Clean-up Events. However, they will accept truck tires, from 16.5 to 20 inches in size, at a cost of $2.00 each. Carloads of discards will be charged $1.00 while pick-ups, vans, and station wagons will be $2.00. Smaller single axle trailers less than 8 feet will be $3.00, while trailers 8 feet and 1-ton trucks will be $4.00. Trucks over 1-ton or trailers over 8 feet will not be accepted, no exceptions. For more information, call (209) 826‐1163 or go to www.mcrwma.org.
Monday, June 29th through Monday, August 17th
CANCELLED: In an effort to help keep students, staff and the community safe and healthy, the CSU Summer Arts program has made the difficult decision to suspend the 2020 season at Fresno State due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation. For more information, visit www.csusummerarts.org.
ONGOING
Every Friday
Would you like to be a part of this year's Teatro Inmigrante production? Agustin Lira and Patricia Wells will produce short skits about the disparities that exist in our own community and across the country preventing poor people from climbing out of poverty and achieving a more just, healthy and secure way of life. Expect the skits to include a healthy dose of humor. Agustin and Patricia invite those who are interested in participating (all ages) or learning more about this new project to contact them by phone at 559-485-8558 or e-mail agustinlira1@gmail.com. They are gathering virtually once a week on Fridays at 5:00-6:30 p.m. Everyone can support this engaging, enriching, local effort by donating at https://teatrotierraonline.org/donate.
Every weekday from noon to 1 p.m.:
KFCF will be airing Governor Gavin Newsome’s Press briefings.
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m.:
KFCF will be airing the County of Fresno’s Corona Virus updates.
Every Day
Fresno County’s Public Library and Department of Public Works have teamed to offer a first-of-its-kind recycling program. Starting September 5, 2017, county residents can drop off used compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, alkaline and rechargeable batteries at eleven different Library branches. These items contain hazardous substances and must be deposited at approved facilities, sometimes for a fee. This new service is being provided free of charge to County residents to encourage and ensure proper disposal of universal waste. Public Works will provide approved hazardous material collection containers at eleven Library branches: the Central Library, Betty Rodriguez Regional Library, Clovis Regional Library, Fig Garden Regional Library, Sunnyside Regional Library, Woodward Park Regional Library, Mendota Branch Library, Orange Cove Branch Library, Reedley Branch Library, Sanger Branch Library and Selma Branch Library. This program might be expanded to other branches in the future. For more information about Library programs, services, and specific branch hours, please go to www.fresnolibrary.org, or call the Library at (559) 600 – READ (7323).
Every Monday
The Poor People's Campaign/Moral Mondays launched nationally on May 14 with many people visiting their state capitols to do protest/vigil work. WILPF US is a partner in this campaign and the Fresno WILPF branch is inviting all peace and justice groups to join them in Fresno Mondays from 3-4 P.M. in front of the Coyle Federal Court House, 2500 Tulare (at P St.). This Campaign is more than a 40 day or one-year effort. Rather, it is a multi-year undertaking to unite tens of thousands to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation, and the nation’s distorted morality. It is a commitment to build a broadly diverse movement based on acknowledging the validity of the many issues and “silos” we are each committed to personally and organizationally, yet acting together to create a people-centered and mutually supportive fusion movement. Please join them as they begin our Moral Mondays. All are welcome. You may want to bring a sign that reflects the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation. Raging Grannies will sing! You can join in! For more information, call Teresa at 559-360-8054.
Every Tuesday
There is a Vigil, at Devin Nunes' Clovis Office, 3rd and Clovis Ave. from 11:45am to 12:45pm. Dave and Bev Derby hold a weekly, hour-long quiet vigil of peaceful prayer and reflection in the pursuit of "justice, tolerance, fairness, inclusion, actions and laws that protect all people." Although signs are welcome, they are not coming here to yell at motorists, scream, and demonstrate wildly on the sidewalks and streets. For more information, e-mail dderby@cvlaweb.com.
First and Third Thursday of each month:
ArtHop occurs the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. It’s one of the most active and successful programs organized by the Fresno Arts Council. Art lovers and enthusiasts from all walks of life flock downtown Fresno and the Tower District on the first Thursday of each month, and the rest of ArtHop venues in the Fresno metro areas on third Thursdays, to meet and greet with the artists and enjoy the reception and music. Museums, studios, galleries and other venues open their exhibitions to the public at 5:00 p.m. and run the free event until 8:00 p.m. ArtHop has received a remarkable response from the Fresno community. Over 50 participating artist studios, galleries, museums, and other venues exhibit art and artists reception during ArtHop, and it has become both a cultural and special event for the community with a great deal of media coverage. For the complete list of venues go to fresnoartscouncil.org.
Every Tuesday through Thursday
The Fresno County Department of Public Health offers free confidential rapid HIV testing at the Fresno County Department of Public Health building at 1221 Fulton Mall, Specialty Clinic Area, First Floor, from 8:30 am – 11:00 am and 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
For more information, contact Jena Adams, Supervising Communicable Disease Specialist, at (559) 600-3434.
Every Wednesday and Friday
Patricia Wells Solorzano and Agustin Lira, founders of El Teatro Campesino), have formed a theatrical group with Fresno youth that will raise awareness of the problems negatively affecting the health of boys and young men of color, such as drugs, gangs, obesity, teen pregnancy, high numbers of youth incarcerated or expelled from schools, unemployment and poverty. The Theater for Boys and young Men of Color will be composed of youth ages 16-28 who will be trained in acting to the extent that they will be capable of performing before general audiences. The participants will be engaged in the creation of skits, one-act plays and in the development of a one and a half hour theatrical production with music to be performed toward the end of this year long project. Along with theater, musical presentations will also take place performed by the participants who will also receive musical training. This project will be taking place at The Cecil C. Hinton Community Center, 2385 South Fairview Ave., 93706, on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Gwen Morris at (559) 412-7118.
Every Friday
Join Fresno Ideaworks, Fresno's community workshop for prototyping, building, designing, and building our community of makers, for 'Fabrication Fantasy Friday'. This is about letting your inner maker-nerd out. From sub culture to pop culture cosplay has boomed in the past decade and is continuing to grow. Fresno Ideaworks is proud to recognize prop makers and cosplayers as part of the maker movement. We have experts to help you put your kit together for whatever your passion is. The event is free for members, a suggested $5 donation for non-members. Fresno Ideaworks is located at 1742 H St (temp during remodel), Fresno. For more information, call (559) 840-8749.
Every Friday
California Employment Development Dept. invites you to attend the Resume Preparation Assistance program with one on one assistance provided to all job seekers with CalJOBs registration, creating a strong and effective resume, obtaining job leads and referrals, information on training and education opportunities and other helpful resources. The workshops are every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fresno EDD office at 2555 S. Elm. No appointments are necessary. Bring a valid ID and social security card. For more information, call (559) 445-6747.
Every Saturday
There is a medical clinic for the homeless, actively injecting drug users and prostitutes every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. or until the last patient is served. You can find them near Hughes and Olive Ave. The clinic is staffed by Dr. Marc Lasher and volunteers. Financial donations are accepted. For more information, call 266-0444.
Every Saturday
Food Not Bombs feeds the hungry from 1 - 2 p.m. near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park. If you would like to help them prepare the meal, they meet every Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church (1343 E. Barstow) at 10am. For more information email fresnofnb@hotmail.com or visit the official FNB website, foodnotbombs.net.
Most Saturdays
Most Saturdays there is a Fresno Free Bicycle Repair Clinic from 1- 3 p.m. near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park, beside Food Not Bombs. Donations of bicycle parts, inner tubes, and blinky lights are welcome. Volunteers are needed to help with minor repairs. For more info and to arrange donations, e-mail: garza.reyes@live.com.
Saturdays
Harmony & Balance School of T’ai Chi Ch’uan is offering $5 weekly classes in the Yang style 37 posture short form. Join Francisco Alvarez, certified instructor, every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Central Valley Center for Spiritual Living, 723 W. Clinton Ave. Fresno. For more information, call 559-549-3989.
1st Saturday of each month:
The South Valley Peace Center holds a demonstration for peace at Mooney and Walnut in Visalia, from 1-2 p.m. For more information visit southvalleypeacecenter.org.
2nd Saturday of each month:
Divorce Options Workshops are offered on the second Saturday of every month by Central Valley Collaborative Law Affiliates. This program provides information about the divorce process and the options available to anyone considering divorce. Each workshop is presented by an interdisciplinary team of legal, financial and mental health professionals on the second Saturday of each month at the Fresno Ramada Inn, 324 East Shaw Avenue, Fresno, California from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It is offered at NO CHARGE to attendees as a public service of Central Valley Collaborative Law Affiliates. Pre-registration is recommended due to limited seating. Further information and pre-registration may be obtained at divorcefresno.eventbrite.com, or contact John McDaniel at (559) 226-4420.
Every Sunday
Food Not Bombs serves free food at Courthouse Park to anyone who is hungry. They start cooking at 1 PM and serve the food at 3 PM (meet at the Tulare side of the park). For more information go to http://cafefresno.org.
Every Sunday
It’s Sawdust Sunday at Fresno Ideaworks. If you have an interest in woodworking, woodturning on a lathe, carving, or any other means of sawdust production, join us. This is a good way to get some pointers on an existing project or gather information on how to get started in the exploration of the infinite possibilities of carpentry. This event is open to the public and requires no fees. Some experience is necessary for equipment use. No experience is necessary to explore the possibilities. Fresno Ideaworks is located at 1742 H St, Fresno. For more information on this event and what Fresno Ideaworks has to offer, go to http://www.fresnoideaworks.com.
First Wednesday of each month:
A Women in Black Silent Vigil takes place from noon to 1 p.m. at the Fresno County Courthouse, 1100 Van Ness Ave. Show your support for peace and negotiated settlements of current U.S. military actions. Stand silently and advocate for peace. For more information, call 559-278-7140 or 559-225-2850. This vigil takes place the 1st Wednesday of each month.
The “Goodie Bag Project” is collecting small toiletry items brought home from hotels and vacations to provide gifts for women incarcerated in Central Valley Women’s Prisons. This is a collaborative effort of the CCWF Inmate Family Council, the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno Social Justice Committee, and the United Methodist Church of Merced. They are seeking sample/travel size bath gels, body soap, lotions, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, small combs and pocket sized packages of tissues (no food, candy, edibles, drinkables, mouthwash or anything containing alcohol). They are also collecting all kinds of greeting cards, wooden pencils and clear, colorless pens, as well as paper scratch pads and picture postcards. Items may be dropped off at the Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., south of McKinley, during open hours, M - F, 11 AM - 3 PM. Checks can be made out to "FCNV Prison Ministry - Goodie Bags," and mailed to the Center at the above address, or dropped off in person. Receipts will be given. All donations are tax-deductible. For additional information or to see if an item is allowable under prison rules, call Maria Telesco at 559-255-9492. Please remember all items must be SMALL.
Volunteers Needed: Collective for Arts, Freedom, and Ecology (CAFE) Fresno, whose mission is to provide a safe space for all people and provide programs and events that provide enrichment and information to Fresno and the Central Valley, is looking for volunteers, especially for Food Not Bombs, an organization that provides a nutritious meal to anybody that would like and need one. Food Not Bombs is in dire need of physical and financial help, and will accept anything that might go to waste that is still useful. This includes but is not limited to: clothing, toys, tools, and furniture. All of these items will be redistributed to others that need them. Food Not Bombs meets on Sundays at CAFE Infoshop (935 F. Street in Fresno) at noon sharp, to chop and cook until 3. At 3 p.m., they serve at the courthouse park. For more information call Vanessa at (559) 485-3937 or e-mail vanpadilla@gmail.com.
Host an International High School Exchange Student
High school students from around the world come to the US to spend a year or a semester in American schools. Your family can learn about Germany, China, Finland, Italy, or another country by hosting a student. International Experience is a non-profit that helps you connect with an exchange student hoping to study abroad and invites you to share your home with a student who will become a part of your family. Students in the International Experience program must meet strict guidelines and complete multiple screenings in their home countries. During their stay they are covered by their own health insurance and provide their own spending money. These students want to come to the US to practice English and learn about our culture. As a host family, you simply provide a bed, family meals and invite your student to participate in your family’s traditions and introduce them to our American culture. To learn more about the opening your heart and home to an exchange student contact International Experience at 888-266-29 21. or visit ie-usa.com.
Ongoing:
The AMVETS Call of Duty Endowment Career Centers provide FREE career training and employment assistance to veterans, active duty service members, National Guard, and Reserve members and spouses. For additional information please call 877-726-8387, once again that is 877-726-8387.
Fresno County Public Library is recruiting skilled volunteers to assist teens and parents fill out applications for college and financial aid. When schools are closed, rural students throughout the county often find it difficult to access materials and computers that can help with this milestone in a student’s life. The Fresno County Public Library not only provides a safe and welcoming environment for these students and families, but also has the needed technology and print materials to help them navigate the college and career path. Those with Spanish language skills are encouraged to apply. By becoming a College Prep Coach, volunteers will dedicate a few hours each week to help families unfamiliar with the task of completing important applications. "All students must have direct access to materials and technology to succeed in life,” says County Librarian Laurel Prysiazny. “By staffing several rural branches with trained volunteers, the Library’s College Prep Program will assist students and families with laying the groundwork for making college a reality.” If you would like to help a teen go to college visit http://www.fresnolibrary.org and click on the volunteer banner, or call Elizabeth Finkle at (559) 600-9230.
The Artists' Loft group at The Studio Community Center in North Fork presents an ongoing Arts & Crafts program of classes for young and old. The classes are affordable and help support The Studio. To view the calendar go to nfstudio.org. You can click on Artists' Loft @ The Studio from the Home page to learn more about the group.