Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July as a result of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990. But people living with disabilities have been fighting for full civil rights protections for much longer than that.
Learn more about the principles of disability justice here
Safe Secure and Loved- Resilient Families Celebration
For the last 10 years Sacred Heart Community Service’s Safe, Secure, and Loved-Resilient Families program (SSL-RF) has been educating parents on how to build resilience in themselves and their young children. This community-led, mindfulness based parenting program uses a research based approach which empowers families to give their infants and small children the best possible start in life.
On Friday, June 23 Sacred Heart hosted a celebration to commemorate a decade of successful program delivery. Parent leaders, volunteers, Sacred Heart staff, and local elected officials including Santa Clara County Supervisors Cindy Chavez and Susan Ellenberg were present for this important moment of recognition. Self Sufficiency Director Mercedes Carbajal explains why this event was so important.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES SPOTLIGHT!
Our Essential Services department is a vital part of Sacred Heart as they respond to the immediate needs of our community. This department consists of four different programs:
1: Welcome Center
Our Welcome center team ensure that our members who are walking through our doors are linked to all of our current services, including our food pantry services, baby formula and diapers.
2: Food Pantry
Our Food pantry team provides our members with a three day supply of groceries up to once a week to families. Not only that but we offer non-cooking option for individuals who do not have cooking facility.
3: Clothes Closet
Our Clothes closet allows our member to visit 1x a week and receive five articles of clothing, one pair of shoes, two pairs of socks, and two accessories per family member. We also offer blankets, towels, and other items depending on donations.
4: Donation Station
Our Donation Station is open to anyone who would like to donate clothing or food for our members. We provide all services free of charge and your support makes this possible!
Our Team!
Our Amazing team run these programs along with our great volunteers and because of all of them we are able to run these programs smoothly every day of the week.
Article Spotlight
Tori Truscheit, our Training Director of the Sacred Heart Organizing Institute here at Sacred Heart Community Service speaks about: How Equity Forward builds the power of Silicon Valley communities to lead change. This post highlights two perspectives on building power – or expanding the ability of residents and community leaders to organize for change – a central part of Equity Forward’s goals.
Tori and Jack Mahoney, SVCF’s director of movement- and power-building discuss the importance of building community power to create a region where everyone can thrive.
THANK YOU! PACK A BACK SPONSORS!
We would like to express our gratitude to all those who have participated in our Pack-A-Back campaign through hosting a drive and sponsoring us! We deeply appreciate your ongoing support. Thanks to each and every one of you, 4,000 students in our community will begin the upcoming school year fully equipped with the necessary materials, paving the way for their success. You all are helping create leaders from learners!
SACRED HEART READS
Sacred Heart’s Community Development team is responsible for bringing in resources to support Sacred Heart’s vision of a community united to end poverty. In addition to fundraising, recruiting and managing volunteers, and collecting donations they also make time for reading, watching tv, and listening to music (and podcast)
Here is what the Community Development is doing with their downtime this summer:
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
We need you! Sacred Heart Community Services welcomes you to volunteer with us to join us in helping out our community and creating a positive impact!
There are many ways to volunteer at Sacred Heart. Be part of out community united and register online to volunteer today!
Upcoming Events!
Join us!
Our Economic Justice Network department will be having a workshop on Mental Health and Finances next Tuesday from 6pm-7pm in both Spanish and English. Join us as we cover the importance of looking after your mental health when dealing with finances.
We hope to see you there!
Parents of Preschoolers
Sacred Heart offers parents classes four days a week to improve English skills, gain more parenting skills, and provide a mutual support environment for each other’s families. Simultaneously, their children attend pre-kinder classes in the classroom next door to prepare them for emotional and developmental success in the American public school system.
