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Tacolist.com, a free on-line classified listing site for the Latino communities in the USA & Mexico, is now entering its second year. It is also the second year that Tacolist is supporting the efforts of La Luz Center by donating twenty prizes for the winners of the Cinco de Mayo poster contest, as well as advertising the May 2nd Fiesta on their site.
Continue reading "La Luz Center has most succesful "Noche de Luna" event in its history!" »
The Day of the Dead has its roots in the indigenous rites held during the Aztez "ochpanizli" and "teotleco" months. In these months there were offerings of "Zimpoaixuchitl" flowers and tamales to the gods of the community right after the harvest (end of October, beginning of November). Today as well as in the Pre-Columbian days, this celebration takes place in a joyful mood, because it has the goal of fertility's renovation.
Come see beautiful Alters made by local residents, the Teen Center and Noestra Voz in honoring loved ones who left us before our time. Visit the Teen Center on Friday October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. to learn how to make Sugar Skulls and Alters all traditional items displayed out of respect for the dead.Don Jose (as he is referred to) Fernandez is selected as the La Luz Center/Vineyard Workers Services 2008/09 Volunteer of the year. Don Jose was presented with his award at Quarry Hill in Sonoma on July 12, his wife Ernistina (shown in photo) attended the award ceremony with him.
Jose Fernandez immigrated to the United States of America in 1977. Jose came from Santa Inez, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico to better the quality of life for both himself and especially his family. Jose left his parents, brothers, sisters and his wife Ernestina to watch over and care for their seven children. While in the California Jose has worked in the vineyards for 15 years and five (5) years for the St. Joseph’s Mobil Health Clinic. Jose has also been the camp manager for the Vineyard Workers Services Migrant Camps in both 2007 & 2008, saying this has been one of his most rewarding experiences.
In 1986 after many years of hard labor and lonliness Jose was able to legalize his immigration status and was able to reunite his family, by bringing his wife and seven children to the United States of America.
According to José “he was inspired to lend a helping hand, because from the moment he came to Sonoma Valley, he noticed the lack of resources for those people who came to work in the wine industry”. As an example he recalls having to walk far distances with his children and wife to buy groceries. He also felt very alone with having the struggles of raising a family in a strange country.
As time went on and while his family began to settle down and become more comfortable in Sonoma, Jose met Lijia Booker in 1991 who founded the La Luz Bilingual Center in 1989. Jose saw this as the perfect opportunity to get involved and give a hand to arriving migrant families and workers. From that moment on Jose Fernandez became a committed volunteer and leader in his new community in Sonoma Valley.
His “legacy” then began, as well as his new nickname of “Don Jose”. Since then Don Jose not only managed to raise all seven of his children to be productive citizens in the community, but he has also managed to be a force, during important changes for Sonoma Valley’s Latino community, including housing, advocacy, education and leadership.
Don Jose feels fortunate to have helped in building the strong foundation of both the La Luz Bilingual Center and Vineyard Workers Services and is proud to continue volunteering, after 20 years of service to his community.
By Stephen Dale — After months of talks, on April 20th the Board of Directors of both the La Luz Bilingual Center and Vineyard Worker Services voted to consolidate the two organizations. Vineyard Workers Services is now a vital program of the La Luz Center. Elizabeth Kemp, VWS Board Chair, assures that “VWS will continue their commitment to provide housing for permanent farm workers (24 low-cost units in the Springs Village), in addition to the camps for seasonal workers.”
All programs of VWS including vintner/grower Assistance Outreach Services, GED Migrant Education, Poder Popular, Vineyard Worker & Day Laborer Meals and Support, Parents Speak Up National Campaign, Student Intern Volunteer Support Network and the Resource Center will continue with no immediate changes.
“We feel that this is the best strategy to serve our community, “ says new Board Chair Martha Rosenblatt. “The consolidation will enable both groups to operate more efficiently with fewer duplications of services.”
Continue reading "La Luz Center Welcomes Vineyard Workers Services! " »
By Noris Binet — La Luz Center is celebrating its twentieth birthday. Li Booker, a Latina woman, planted a seed in the ground of Sonoma with her Anglo friends, and today we have an amazing institution, imbedded at the core of our unfolding and transforming Latino community. It is very hard to find a Latino in this valley that has not been a part of La Luz Center in one way or another, even if they never visited the location. But in their minds they know that La Luz is there, just around the corner!
Latinos feel that La Luz is a safe place where they can go in any kind of crisis or circumstance, and be heard, attended to and helped. They know they will find a friendly atmosphere where they can feel at home—a vital necessity for those who have left their families and villages to embark upon a new life, a process that doesn’t come without an emotional and psychological price.
La Luz can serve as a model to educate others about what is possible, that discrimination can be faced with action and creative responses, that people from separate backgrounds can work together to ensure that cultural and language bridges are the solutions for connecting diverse societies. Through its rich history, La Luz illustrates that a society thrives not only with tolerance for differences but by embracing other cultures and heritages, and demonstrating respect for every race, culture and social class. ❧
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta for Education held each May is an opportunity to bring Sonoma’s two cultures together to celebrate in Mexican style and to raise funds for scholarships to local High School Students who go on to higher education.
One of our great success scholarship stories is Yaqui Magana who tells La Luz, “I was the first in my family to attend college and it would have been impossible to do so with out money to pay for tuition, buy books etc. Like many Latino students, I didn’t have a college fund or parents who could write out a check each month. For me, my scholarship meant I could attend SSU with peace of mind knowing I had the financial support I needed to be successful. I graduated from Sonoma State University in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
I have worked at the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce since 2002, my Junior Year in High School, and all through college. When I graduated from SSU, I was promoted to Membership Manager. I serve as a board member of the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center and am very passionate about helping others in our community. I married the man of my dreams in September and we just bought our first home in Petaluma. If there is one thing I’d like anyone to know about me it is that I would not be where I am today if it had not been for my teachers, professors, and mentors at La Luz who saw me struggle yet believed in me. You just never know how much you can influence a person.” Yaqui is just one of the many students that La Luz has helped. According to Ana Byerly of the La Luz scholarship committee, “Last year we had 13 of the most awesome young people apply (all first in the family to go on to higher education) some accepted at Sac State, Dominican, Berkeley, SFU, SSU, USF, Chico, SRJC. These young men and women are such role models to so many kids on campus, Latino and Anglo.”
We want to thank for the following Sonoma Valley residents and business for supporting our children through the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta for Education.
SONOMA VALLEY BANK, INFINEON RACEWAY, ROTARY CLUB OF SONOMA VALLEY, SONOMA VALLEY FITNESS, SONOMA INDEX TRIBUNE, SONOMA SUN/SOL, SEBASTIANI THEATRE, BETTY POMMON, STEVE & TROY HIGHTOWER, TACOLIST.COM, BLUSH SALON, WHITNEY EVENS, CARNEROS BISTRO & WINE BAR, CONTRERAS JUMPERS, LA CASA RESTAURANT, MARY’S PIZZA SHACK, PALM’S GRILL, SONOMA MARKET, BARBARA BRODERICK, SHARON DELANEY, JAMES & ELIZABETH KEMP, TOM & JAMEL PERKINS, ALAIN PIALLAT, MARY SOLAR, PAUL FEOLA, MARYANNE KOLANOSKI, TOM BYERLY, DAN BYLERY, MARSH NORRIS, ESTELLA VILLASEÑOR OF HENRY L, BEN & JERRY’S OF SONOMA, FINE LINE ART SUPPLY, SADDLES STEAKHOUSE, KIMBERLY & SIMON BLATTNER, READER’S BOOKS. HELEN FERNANDEZ, BOB & CAROLYN WILLIAMS, JIMMY YAMAKAWA, PATRICIA & RICHARD WYNNE, ALICIA & ALVIN CASE, KATHLEEN BROWNE, MONDO, STARBUCKS COFFEE, THE RED GRAPE PIZZERIA, GABRIEL & EMILY JOHNSTON, STEPHEN KARDUM PAINTING, DIANE & RICHARD KAHLER, ORIALIA ZUNIGA-BRIGGS, OLGA & JORGE MORALES, CC SALON, SISTER CITIES, ARTISAN BAKERS, WHOLE FOODS, SONOMA PAINT CENTER, SONOMA TOPS & TROPHIES, NANCY DENNETT & WALTER GARTNER
THANK YOU CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA SPONSORS!!
A special thanks to professional photographer Christine Hansen for providing La Luz with photos.
La Luz Center is proud to present the annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta for Education on Sunday May 3rd. We invite you to join us in the historical Sonoma plaza for food, fun, and entertainment. As with each year, La Luz center’s Fiesta helps raise money for our College Scholarship Program. The community and the city of Sonoma have an opportunity to support this program with sponsorships, for this most worthy event.
La Luz Center is so blessed to have the support of local businesses and churches during this holiday season. There are lots of opportunities for you to get into the holiday spirit and help La Luz continue to reach out to hundreds of families every month.
Check out what your friends and neighbors are doing:
1. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church continues its wonderful holiday concert tradition with La Luz as the beneficiary. The music, under the direction of David Irvine is always heavenly and an offering is taken as a gift to La Luz Center.
If you haven’t stopped by La Luz Center’s office recently, you are in for a pleasant surprise! This summer we looked around and decided a face lift was in order. After ten years of deferred maintenance, the office was definitely a bit down in the heels. Now following two months of packing, moving out and moving back, we are finally settled in to quite spiffy digs: new carpets, walls painted to reflect the vibrant colors of Mexico and a new roof to ensure that this winter’s rains stay outside where they belong. We had lots of help along the way and owe thanks to the following contractors who gave significant discounts to help get the job done:
Barbara Vollmer of Wine Country Images donated wonderful art reproductions to decorate our walls and volunteers Felipe Grow and Gary Stein helped us hang window shades and put up shelving. This December will find the staff snug, dry and happy in our “new” offices. We’re hoping you’ll come by for a visit!
Scholarship applications are now available through La Luz Center for high school students entering college or other higher education programs in the fall. Awards averaging $1,000 each will be granted to students in the class of 2008 who have been enrolled in an English Learners program in one of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Schools.
The award can be used to pay tuition or other related expenses such as books, lab fees, or living expenses. Decisions will be based on the application, an interview with the scholarship committee and on financial need.
Continue reading "College Scholarships Available Through La Luz Center" »
2007 Scholarship Winners: Gerardo Guzmán, Osmaira Marquez, (Board members Alejandra Cervantes & Paco Villaseñor) Kelly Aldana, Janet Baron, Gabriel Castellanos, Sandra Guerrera.
“-to start my own architectural firm”
“-to be a voice for my community.”
“-to encourage Latino people to open their own businesses, be their own boss.”
“- to travel to different parts of the world to help those in need.”
These are some of the dreams held by our 2007 college scholarship winners - dreams that you helped to come true. Last year La Luz presented $10,000 in grants to 6 proud high school graduates so that they could pursue their goals and go on to higher education.
Every year La Luz Center hosts the annual Cinco De Mayo Fiesta for Education in the historic Sonoma Plaza to raise money for scholarships and to celebrate our Valley’s Mexican heritage.
It is a great party - full of vibrant colors, Mariachis, delicious food, activities and games. It is an opportunity to sample a carnitas taco, try elote from the grill, slake your thirst with sweet agua de fresas and tap your toes to the music of local Latino bands.
The annual student poster contest winner is honored by the Sonoma Alcalde and this year we are adding a costume contest for the most authentically Mexican outfit.
Come join us on Sunday, May 4th in the Sonoma Plaza from noon to 5pm and help us support our Valley’s youth.
If everyone who sees this message donates at least $20, it will pay for the best Spring Fiesta in Sonoma and help more high school graduates to achieve their dreams! Donate now by sending a check to: La Luz Center, P.O. Box 1016, Boyes Hot Springs, CA. 95416.
For more information about La Luz and its services, contact the office at 938-5131.
2007 Grant recipients: Arthur Dawson, Sonoma Ecology Center; Harriet Derwingson, Sonoma Valley Fund grants committee chair; Lia Transue, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art; Katie Holden, Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon; Ellen LaBruce, La Luz; Kathy Witkowicki, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Whitney Evans, Sonoma Valley Fund, board chair.
La Luz Center recently received $2,000 f rom the Community Foundation Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley Fund’s Strong Roots Grants. These funds will be used to improve the effectiveness of our client services program, as we help families move toward greater self-sufficiency.
It’s all part of our planned evolution toward an asset-based approach to family support. By tracking an individual or family’s progress in 6 critical areas, we can help clients develop strategies to reach their goals and join them in celebrating their successes.
Training and development of a coaching model will begin this fall. We have already implemented a pilot study with 30 families and anticipate it yielding useful information as we move into the next phase of this project.
Our thanks to the Sonoma Valley fund for helping La Luz develop “Strong Roots”!
For more information about La Luz and its services, contact the office at 938-5131.
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La Luz Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Sonoma Valley by insuring that immigrants to the Valley with limited resources have the opportunity to become productive members of our community.
Office Location: 17560 Greger Street, Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95476. Telephone: (707) 938-5131. Office Hours: 9am-5pm PST.
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