Environment & Sustainability + Basic Needs & Safety Net TAG
COAD Updates
Upcoming at Thrive
COVID-19 Updates
In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
Dear Community,
This is a time for reconnecting and reflecting.
Our Arts & Culture TAG is ready to reconnect. Together with the San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture, we will be hosting a lunch to share stories and advice as we look toward the future.
Our Basic Needs and Safety Net TAG is reconnecting with our Environment & Sustainability TAG for a cross-sector conversation about how SB1863 is at the intersection of food recovery and the environment, what our Community stands to gain, and how to get involved as the law is implemented.
Our Children & Education TAG reflected on the candidate forum on children's issues that we hosted and how we can continue to focus policymakers on children's issues.
At our VEOAC meeting, we will reflect on our voter outreach and education efforts, including candidate forums and the low voter turnout for the most recent election. This was an issue statewide, but we'll assess how our county compares and which of our voter outreach strategies were effective.
We will be reconnecting with Assistant County Manager Peggy Jensen and offering a special virtual session next week on the San Mateo County Budget and ARPA funding.
Thrive will be closed on Monday in recognition of Juneteenth, continuing this period of reflection.
Please join us as we reconnect and reflect!
With gratitude,
Petra Silton, Director of Advocacy & Education
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For more Thrive and Community events, visit Thrive's Event Page.
Election Reflection!
A few voters have greater decision-making power when there is a lower turn out. Wednesday, the elections office released their Semi-Official Results. Voter turnout is estimated at about 37%, which is significantly higher than the statewide number of 28.5%. We will continue to track this and discuss who is turning out to vote and how we can increase engagement at our VOEAC meetings. One race is currently separated by only 26 votes!
Elections Outreach: Partners in Action
League of Women Voters of South San Mateo County
What are your reflections on the voter outreach for this election? What did you learn? Who were your partners and supporters? How did you succeed? What learnings will we bring to the November election? Join us in person or virtually. for the next Voter Education and Outreach Advisory Committee (VEOAC) meeting on Wednesday, July 13, 9:30-11:00 am.
Join Thrive and Peggy Jensen, Assistant County Executive, for an update on the San Mateo County Budget, ARPA funding, and nonprofits next Thursday from 9:00-10:30 am. There will be a short presentation and then time for Q & A.
County Executive Officer Mike Callagy released a $3.4 billion recommended budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year that focuses on ending homelessness, continuing economic recovery efforts focused on socially vulnerable populations, children and families, housing needs, and support of local business communities. Callagy will present his recommendations to the Board of Supervisors over three days of public hearings starting June 28, 2022.
Arts & Culture TAG
Arts & Culture organizations have had a rough few years. Thrive and the San Mateo Office of Arts & Culture invite you to reconnect with us, and each other, over lunch and exchange ideas and stories. How can we help you in promoting and supporting arts and culture organizations across the County? Are you participating in OAC’s Celebration of Arts and Culture in August?
Performing arts nonprofits will soon be able to apply for $49.5M in grants from the new California Nonprofit Performing Arts Grant program. Nonprofit theater, dance, music, and other performance companies can seek funds to promote workforce development, helping eligible organizations support their current and potential employees. Eligible organizations include registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits with no more than $2M in annual gross revenue and projects operating under fiscal sponsorship. The application window is expected to open on Wed, June 29.
Children & Education TAG
Our last C & E TAG focused on Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Choose Children Initiative and getting policymakers to prioritize children’s issues, not just through candidate forums but also through research and political pressure. We are now turning our focus to preparing for our September Partnerships in Education Convening by creating the specific outcomes the CBOs are looking for in their relationships with school districts.
Environment & Sustainability + Basic Needs & Safety Net TAG
According to the California Department of Social Services, since January 2020, San Mateo County saw a 41% increase in the number of people relying on CalFresh, the monthly food benefits program, and around 31,000 people received CalFresh benefits in April 2022. Senate Bill 1383, also known as California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Law, targets short-lived climate pollutants such as methane by limiting organic wastes while also increasing food rescue and thereby addressing food insecurity. This bill, which went into effect on January 1 of this year, requires a 20% recovery of edible food for human consumption that would otherwise be disposed of or be composted, by 2025.
Join Thrive as we address both sides of this bill: environmentally, how food rescue in the County has reduced pollutant levels, and socially, how nonprofit organizations have been receiving and distributing the recovered, edible food to our local communities. Find out how both sides have been working together and how more organizations and businesses can participate in recovering food while reducing organic waste.
This meeting will be an opportunity for connection building between those involved in the Environment & Sustainability and Basic Needs & Safety Net Thrive Action Groups (TAGs) and to find out how your organization can participate in these programs.
Plans for the San Mateo County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) are moving forward! If you haven't already filled out this survey, please do now.
The practice of gratitude has been scientifically proven to provide tremendous benefits. Join Thrive and the County of San Mateo Employee Wellness Team as we explore how to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude" in our virtual series: Thrive Wellness Wednesdays. This month will feature exercises to help us develop our gratitude muscles and learn how to incorporate a little more appreciation into our daily lives.
Second Round of Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests Now Available
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 2 sets of 4 free at-home tests. If you already ordered your first set, order a second today. If you need help ordering your tests, you can call 1-800-232-0233 (1-888-720-7489 for TTY). Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
If you need a COVID-19 test now, please see other testing resources for free testing locations in your area.
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