What's Happening Now: Capacity Building, Housing, Children & Education
Stay Healthy, Stay Updated: COVID-19 Community Resources
Upcoming Thrive Events
Elections Are Fast Approaching: Stay Informed!
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Note From Thrive's Executive Director
Dear Thrive Community,
It's only mid-fall, and we have already had a full season's worth of programming at Thrive. We've tackled housing elements, education partnerships, climate justice, civic participation, and more. This has been made possible by the diligent work of our incredible team, our awesome community partners, and our generous supporters. As we close out an action-packed month of events and new initiatives, we reflect on two questions: How do we offer meaningful learning and engagement both in-person and virtually, and often simultaneously? And how do we pace ourselves when the work feels so urgent - and the possibilities for partnership and action seem infinite?
On top of the many events Thrive put on this month, we were thrilled to attend the signature events of our partners in-person. The Thrive team had fun dressing up and viewing pumpkins at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) annual Be Our Guest event, and we couldn't have been more grateful to experience the stellar workshops at the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County's annual convening. Both were filled with people who care not only about the issues facing nonprofits and the community - but with people who care about each other.
The common thread throughout this busy season has been this: we've been showing up for each other, even when it's tough - because it matters, and we will continue to do so. And in showing up for each other, we help renew each other in this work (through haven't-seen-you-in-forever-hugs, high fives, and yes, difficult conversations).
We are excited to offer you another critical opportunity to show up for each other. Next week, we renew our collective commitment to the Nonprofit Racial Equity Pledge with our Thrive & SVCN Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit. This Summit is a hybrid event scheduled for the week of October 31 - November 3, 2022. Some sessions will be virtual and some will be in person (in both San Mateo & Santa Clara counties). Sign up to gain tools and learn strategies to advance racial justice and equity within our institutions and in our community. We're also thrilled to welcome back Shireen Malekafzali, Chief Equity Officer for San Mateo County, and many other partners to be in conversation with us. We know that this work is more important than ever as we witness the resurgence of antisemitic acts in our community.
In the spirit of making this region a more equitable place for all, Thrive is proud to launch our Translation Services Hub pilot, with the support of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Our vision is to enable nonprofits to offer professional language translation and interpretation services by making this top-of-mind, accessible, and affordable. Learn more and make your request here. We hope that the Translation Services Hub serves as a key resource for nonprofits as well as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity in community services.
We will also be making space for connection at our annual Holiday Mix & Mingle. Save the date of December 14 at 4:00 pm for food, drinks, cookies, and fun!
In Community,
Georgia D. Farooq, Executive Director
P.S. Don't forget to vote: last day is November 8. Show up for your community!
Does Your Nonprofit Need Translation Services?
Introducing the Translation Services Hub
Thrive Alliance is proud to announce the launch of a Translation Services Hub for nonprofits. This resource, made possible through the generous philanthropic support of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), will provide nonprofits access to free language translation and interpretation services.
Our vision for the local nonprofit sector is one that prioritizes community access by consistently and mindfully offering professional language translation and interpretation services for its programs and services. We want to create a culture of practice by making this top-of-mind, accessible, and affordable for nonprofits.
Services will include translation for digital materials and interpretation for in-person and virtual events in either Tagalog or Spanish.
Learn more about the Translation Services Hub and make your request here.
It Was Great To See Many of You at the First Annual Climate Summit for San Mateo County!
Discover Stanford for You: Accelerating Solutions for Global Sustainability
How do Stanford researchers collaborate with partners to solve some of our most pressing sustainability problems? This session is designed to discuss how Stanford faculty from across the university are working alongside practitioners to co-create and scale solutions for climate and sustainability challenges that threaten people globally.
Featuring: Dr. Arun Majumdar, Dean, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability; a panel of Stanford professors and researchers; and Georgia Farooq, Executive Director at Thrive Alliance.
Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit
We believe healing justice is an action and that, as nonprofits, we should actively work to transform the conditions that have caused harm.
The Summit is designed for the region's nonprofit organizations' 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.
The second annual Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit will create an environment for nonprofit leaders across Silicon Valley to:
Renew our collective commitment to fight against systemic racism
Reflect on and learn how we can do better as organizations
Be inspired and move forward to co-create, centered by the community, a racially just community
Gain tools for healing and dismantling institutions and practices that have caused harm
Hear and share compelling examples of how institutions have used healing justice to advance racial equity
The Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit is a hybrid event scheduled for the week of Oct 31 - Nov 3, 2022. Some sessions will be virtual (via Zoom), and some will be in person (in San Mateo & Santa Clara counties).
The Summit is hosted by the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) and Thrive, The Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County (Thrive Alliance).
Regional Pathways to Racial Healing Monday, October 31, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, In-Person
Art Is Healing (San Mateo)
Tuesday, November 1, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, In-Person
Art is Healing (Santa Clara)
Tuesday, November 1, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, In-Person
Breaking Barriers & Building Power
Wednesday, November 2, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm, Virtual
Lived Experience Boards: Why and How
Thursday, November 3, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Virtual
Healing Justice: Applying A Trauma-Informed Model to Create An Anti-Racist Organizational Culture
Thursday, November 3, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Virtual
What's Happening Now
Capacity Building In Action:
Summary of Thrive's Strategic Planning Cohort
Over the summer, nine Thrive member nonprofit organization applicants were carefully selected to join Thrive's Strategic Planning Cohort, led by Eric Ryan, co-founder of Mission Met, along with the Thrive team. This customizable program allows organizations to structure a practical and dynamic strategic plan and process that will lead to a healthy, sustainable, and impactful organization—the ultimate promise of strategic planning.
Housing Element Sign-On Letter
In response to the ongoing housing crisis, the California legislature has passed new laws changing housing elements from local plans for new housing into “a contract with the state.” Jurisdictions are required to acknowledge unmet housing needs within their community, identify the governmental constraints that are causing those needs to go unmet, and implement new policies that remove these constraints and spur affordable housing development.
Regardless of how far along your jurisdiction is in the housing element process, there is still time to solicit feedback and implement recommendations from your housing element. Please take a moment to review and sign Thrive's Housing Element Sign-On Letter. Taking these steps will ensure that your jurisdiction's housing element complies with state law and that all members of our community have access to quality, affordable homes.
County of San Mateo RFP: Job Seeker and Small Business Support Services
The County of San Mateo has posted an RFP requesting job seeker and small business support services in the North Fair Oaks community on their Public Purchase site. These services will be part of the North Fair Oaks Economic Advancement Center, modeled on the EAC in South San Francisco. For more information on the County's Open Bids & RFPs click here.
What We Heard:
Thrive Community Forum:A Summit of Education Leaders on Partnerships in Education
Get Your Booster and Encourage Your Community To Get Theirs!
The new, stronger, most protective booster is available for those ages 5 and up who have completed their initial vaccine series. Everyone 5+ should get the updated booster at least 2 months following a COVID vaccine or booster dose. To find a booster near you visit https://myturn.ca.gov.
San Mateo County Health, COVID-19 Response Unit, Health Equity Team, and Office of Community Affairs are partnering with Thrive Alliance to gather information from the community's perspective regarding their community’s needs and the strategies that would best allow us to meet those needs.
This month, Thrive will be meeting with organizations representing communities that face the most staggering vaccination gaps, such as Black/African Americans, Pacific Islanders, the Latinx community, and Coastside communities, as well as vaccination gaps in youth (0-11 yrs) and the 65+ population. We are so grateful for the valuable insight that Community-Based Organizations can offer so that we can shape our outreach efforts in the future.
If you would like to view updated data from San Mateo County Health, click here. If you have information about your experience at the community level that you would like to share with us, please send an email to Keirstan Schiedeck, Thrive's Programs and Operations Manager.
Request Mobile Clinics in San Mateo County
Based on community feedback, due to location, hours of operation, or other factors, there are still areas of the state that may be a “vaccine desert”. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is committed to overcoming barriers and improving the equitable distribution of vaccines - by providing COVID- 19 vaccination clinic staff and resources to support access at the neighborhood level.
If your organization is willing to host an indoor site for a clinic to support COVID-19 vaccination, please fill out the Vaccination Clinic Site Host Form available in both English and Spanish.