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Note From Thrive's Executive Director
Dear Friend,
As we appreciate this time of continued growth, we are excited about our growing team at Thrive. We warmly welcome our new Director of Community Resilience Ana Miscolta, a Hazards Geographer by training who is driven by a whole-picture perspective of community resilience that converges hazard mitigation and climate adaptation, safe and affordable housing for all, and holistic community health. Ana will lead Thrive RISE - Resilience In Shared Emergencies, our new COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) for San Mateo County.
We are also excited to continue the Community Space Nonprofit Connection Series and to serve as the lead for the Nonprofit Support Pillar for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Community Space in Redwood City. This series creates a meaningful space for local nonprofit leaders to connect and engage in thoughtful dialogue, co-create solutions to pressing challenges in an ever-changing landscape, form impactful partnerships, and thrive in a joyful community with a sense of optimism for the possibilities of the future. We have been especially grateful to work alongside the CZI team and our wonderful Community Space Pillar Partners, Redwood City Together and Redwood City Parks & Arts Foundation. You can see pictures and summaries from our many recent events in the Community Space in the newsletter below.
Thrive, in partnership with other nonprofits, is also hosting a series of candidate forums to elevate the most pressing issues of nonprofits and their communities in San Mateo County. Sign up for our upcoming forums or watch recordings of past sessions here. A special thank you to Petra Silton, Senior Director of Programs, and Yajaira Ortega, Policy & Advocacy Associate, for leading Thrive's extensive candidate forum efforts.
We are also elated to be offering two special Summits coming up soon! The first is the first annual Climate Summit for San Mateo County, co-hosted with Climate Resilient Communities, Nuestra Casa, and Rise South City, and co-presented with Stanford University. The Summit's goal is to build a collective commitment to ensure climate adaptation and equity. More information about the speakers and agenda as well as registration can be found here.
There is much important work to do this season, and it is an honor to embark on these programs with a dedicated team and so many inspiring organizations. Thank you for your involvement in the Thrive community, and for the incredible work you do.
In Community,
Georgia D. Farooq, Executive Director
Welcome, Ana and Tracy!
AnaMiscolta joins Thrive to lead the San Mateo County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) as the Director of Community Resilience.
Ana’s work is driven by a whole-picture perspective of community resilience that converges hazard mitigation and climate adaptation, safe and affordable housing for all, and holistic community health.
A Hazards Geographer by training, she spent several years in the non-profit sector as a hazards researcher and policy analyst, working directly with hazard-impacted communities. She later worked for Cal OES in their mitigation planning division and has most recently worked for the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability where she managed and supported multiple long-term climate resilience planning efforts.
In Ana’s free time, she and her two-year-old son, Ilio, go to San Mateo County’s beautiful beaches or spend time at home with their cat, Harriet.
Tracy Flor-Figueroais joining us under the AmeriCorps VISTA program. She is passionate about conserving natural resources and securing clean water and air availability for all communities. She graduated from George Mason University, earning a B.S in Environmental Science and Policy. She has worked with the government sector and with nonprofits in the Bay Area, gaining cross-sector collaboration experience in Environment and Sustainability.
Thrive Alliance will be an excellent opportunity to continue working with community-based organizations and focusing on planning and outreach events. She is excited to work as an environmental justice advocate with Thrive and is ready to apply her skills and experiences to capacity-building projects and expanding connections.
Farewell, Michelle!
A Special Message From Michelle Kim, outgoing Americorps VISTA:
"As my time with Thrive comes to an end, I especially want to give my gratitude to the entire Thrive team. Thank you so much for welcoming me into the team and for all of the endless support along the way! Before coming into the VISTA role, I never would have thought I would end up in the nonprofit world. Now, it's the sector where I feel I truly belong and want to continue to work in the future.
Throughout my year at Thrive, I have worked with so many other nonprofits and government entities involved in the environment & sustainability space, some I was completely unaware of, and others I never thought I would get an opportunity to work with. I've learned so much about the importance of nonprofits and the power they hold in advocating for, communicating with, aiding, and creating change in local communities and beyond. I have loved all of the work I have done in creating monthly E&S TAG meetings, talking with leaders and experts, and working closely with environmental justice CBOs to strengthen their voices and create the Climate Summit. With all the knowledge I've gained at Thrive, I'm excited about the next steps as I continue to work in the nonprofit world!"
Michelle Kim has worked with Thrive for a full year, under the AmeriCorps VISTA program, supporting Thrive's Environment & Sustainability Special Initiative, and providing an unforgettable impact and friendship to the team. In August, Michelle transitioned to her new role at Acterra, an environmental organization and regular partner of Thrive. We wish Michelle luck on this next chapter in her career, and we are incredibly grateful for her time with us. We miss you already, Michelle!
Introducing the First Annual Climate Summit for San Mateo County!
Monday, October 3, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Stanford University, Redwood City Campus
Building a Collective Commitment To Ensure Climate Adaptation and Equity
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) and Thrive Alliance are hosting our second annual Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit Oct 31 - Nov 4, 2022, designed for the region's nonprofit organization leadership, staff, and board members to engage in dialogue about how to meet the promises made in the nonprofit racial equity pledge, as well as to gain tools and learn strategies to advance racial justice and equity within their institutions and in our community. This year’s Summit theme is Healing Justice.
The deadline to submit proposals is September 21, 2022. Questions? Email Danna Elneil, for assistance.
This Series provides a meaningful space for local nonprofit leaders to connect and engage in thoughtful dialogue, co-create solutions to pressing challenges in an ever-changing landscape, and thrive in a joyful community with a sense of optimism for the possibilities of the future.
Nonprofit leaders can experience:
Peer learning and problem-solving
Expert practitioners and speakers
Partnership possibilities and facilitation
We envision a space where nonprofit community members can:
Connect with each other in person in a way that helps nourish and sustain them
Be energized by learning and accessing new ideas and resources
Form impactful partnerships
2022 Community Space Nonprofit Connection Launch Event
If you would like to view the presentation from this session, you can do so here. If you have any questions, please email Georgia Farooq Executive Director, Thrive Alliance.
We Loved Seeing Everyone in 3-D!
Thrive's Leadership Circle Luncheon
Arts & Culture Thrive Action Group (TAG)
Thrive's Booth at the San Mateo County Disaster Day
In June, we were joined by Christine Thorsteinson, Director, Early Childhood Development, and Marni Rubin, Silicon Valley Community Foundation's Choose Children Campaign, who lead us through a discussion on voter attitudes toward childcare and early childhood issues. We also discussed the next steps and goals for this group. Save the date for our next event: Thrive Community Forum: A Summit of Education Leaders on Partnerships in Education on Thurs, September 22.
Towards the end of June, Peggy Jensen, Assistant County Executive presented how ARPA funding is being allocated in the proposed San Mateo County Budget. We learned that San Mateo County is receiving $148,897,819 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, with physical and mental health and the expansion of programs that have been successful being prioritized.
This event was a combination of both the Environment & Sustainability (E&S) and the Basic Needs & Safety Net (BN & SN) TAGs and focused on food recovery efforts in San Mateo County. Thrive brought together six speakers from three sectors, each with a different perspective on food rescue: Tracy Weatherby, Vice President of Strategy & Advocacy, Second Harvest, Jack Steinmann, Resource Conservation Specialist-Waste Reduction, San Mateo County Office of Sustainability, Sonia Escobedo, Food Recovery Program Coordinator, Nuestra Casa, Mauricio Cordova, Chief Operations Officer, Loaves & Fishes, Constance La Trice Taylor, Associate Director of Program & Services, Samaritan House, and Ryan Bailey, Food Management Coordinator, Flagship Culinary. Read more here.
During this session, speakers JenniferCheyer, Program Manager, NOVAworks, AmandaAnthony, Program Manager, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, and JoseMunoz, Lead Education Ambassador, Futuro Health shared about opportunities for employees, entrepreneurs, business owners, and healthcare career seekers. Watch the playback on Thrive's YouTube channel or email Keirstan for more information or if you have services or information that you would like to share at our next Thrive Resource Room meeting.
During this follow-up to Policing in San Mateo: Data, Impact, and Discussion, Thrive and Peninsula Family Service were joined by Nick Jasso, Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), Youth Voice Policy Coordinator, Susan Manheimer, Former San Mateo Police Chief, Public Safety & Justice Consultant Dan Mulholland, Chief of Police in Redwood City, and Kalimah Salahuddin, Jefferson Union High School District Trustee. Our panel discussed pathways forward for the community and law enforcement to develop trust, improve community safety, and work toward all community members feeling safer around the police. Watch the Spanish interpretation here.
Thrive and the County of San Mateo Office of Arts & Culture greatly enjoyed sharing ideas, collaborating, and reconnecting with the arts community over lunch. We are excited to reinvigorate the arts sector after the challenges that the pandemic has brought, and we look forward to more regular convening, and exploring how we can better support each other.
Special guest Dr. Mindy Romero, Founder and Director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy (CID) at USC, joined us to provide an analysis of voter turnout by demographic and geography, and we heard your reflections on this election cycle and on your outreach and education efforts to increase civic participation. Register for the next one here.
This month's session featured exercises to help us develop our gratitude muscles, and learn how to incorporate a little more appreciation into our daily lives. Register for the next one here.
In this unique and customizable program, you and your nonprofit’s leaders will create a practical and dynamic strategic plan and process that can result in:
greater fundraising success, clarity of mission, vision, and values, an increased programmatic focus that minimizes mission creep, an improved organizational culture, attraction of stronger board members, and reduced staff turnover.
Find more information and apply for Thrive's Strategic Planning Cohort here.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has approved two grant programs which will allocate $4M for childcare centers and family day care home providers and $2.5M for out-of-school care providers. Watch the replay on Thrive's YouTube channel to get application guidance directly from the San Mateo County Manager’s Office.
Calling All Job Seekers & Hiring Managers!
Are you looking for an opportunity in the nonprofit sector, or do you have a job to fill? Thrive has many new nonprofit job opportunities viewable on ourThrive Job Boardwebpage. If you have a job opening that you would like to share on our website and weekly Job Board newsletter, you can submit ithere. This service is free for Thrive members, with a small fee for non-members.
Ending Homelessness: County Seeks Innovative Ideas
On September 14, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors set up a $2 million fund to kick-start transformational programs to end homelessness, with a focus on assisting unsheltered residents through city/town collaborations with nonprofit partners. Read more in the official press release.
New State Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC)
Governor Newsom’s budget signing marked the formal establishment of the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC). OCPSC will work closely with state agencies, trusted community partners and ethnic media to mobilize coordinated outreach efforts for the State’s most pressing issues, including climate justice and COVID-19.
StarVista Crisis Center Answers 988 Calls
The StarVista Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center are now taking 988 calls as part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network of Crisis Centers. The new 988 dialing code will be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). Lifeline callers with a 650-area code will receive 24/7 free and confidential support through the StarVista Crisis Center hotline program. If you are a San Mateo County resident without a 650-area code and would like to access the StarVista Crisis Center, please call their local line at 650-579-0350.
Stay Healthy, Stay Updated
Get your booster and encourage your community to get theirs!
All county-sponsored vaccine clinics will offer the bivalent boosters; Pfizer 12+ and Moderna 18+.
The County of San Mateo is extending opportunities to partner with local groups to bring Vaccination Pop-up Events to your neighborhood to reduce barriers to getting vaccinated for individuals and families who have been historically underserved and are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Please fill out this form if you are interested in hosting a vaccination event at your site.
Save the Dates!
Thrive Community Forum
A Summit of Education Leaders on Partnerships in Education
Thrive Alliance is a non-endorsing and nonpartisan organization.
Thrive's Election Education Toolkit
Thrive's Election Education Toolkit aims to amplify and strengthen voter outreach and education in traditionally less engaged communities by addressing the lack of knowledge about the process. Give this toolkit to leaders in your community for informal voter education.
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