I am writing in my capacity as the Supervising Judge of the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury.  I’d like to invite you to pass along the following information to anyone you think might be interested in serving as a Civil Grand Juror.  I am hoping that through your contacts, we can extend our usual outreach and have a great pool of potential grand jurors.

 The Santa Cruz County Superior Court is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Civil Grand Jury.  The Civil Grand Jury is a 19-member body responsible for investigating and reporting on local government performance.  Service on the Civil Grand Jury is for a one-year term, with an expected time contribution of about 20 hours per week.  Prior members of the Civil Grand Jury have described the pride and satisfaction they experienced in working together to closely examine local government functions, write reports on their findings, and make recommendations that have improved our community.

 Our Civil Grand Juries have accomplished incredibly important work.  Previous investigations have covered topics such as wildfire preparedness, government websites, the county jail, homelessness, school safety, county elections, water districts, law enforcement agencies, and the public library system.  The Civil Grand Jury’s recommendations following its investigations help improve all of the public agencies and greatly benefit our community.

 The importance of having a Civil Grand Jury that reflects our entire community cannot be understated.  The Civil Grand Jury needs people from all parts of our county and from diverse backgrounds.  The Civil Grand Jury should consist of people who will bring a variety of perspectives to the important work of ensuring that our local government agencies are providing services in a fair, just, and transparent manner.  It is my great hope that we are flooded with applications from all over the county, from people of all backgrounds, from citizens with a strong commitment to the community. 

Applications are due by April 28, 2021.  A flyer with information about upcoming Zoom information sessions is attached.  Further information and the application itself can be found at the following websites: 

http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Departments/GrandJury.aspx

 https://www.santacruzcourt.org/divisions/jury/grand%20jury

 Thank you so much for your help in spreading the word about this opportunity to perform a valuable service to the community.

 Judge Syda K. Cogliati

Supervising Judge of the Civil Grand Jury

Santa Cruz County Superior Court

“Our hearts are shattered tonight. The horrifying shooting that took place in Atlanta this evening is a disgusting and disturbing example of how the spread of domestic terrorism has been allowed to torment communities. These acts are the visible manifestation of hateful words birthing hateful acts. An attack on one is an attack on all. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.”

Peace BE still
(An ode to Breonna)

A being so prolific
Although I never met her
I picture her as impeccable
Being devine and brilliant
We should NOT ignore her light
Or her divine sacrifice
They came for her while she slept
In the stillness of her dreams
She embodied what's right*

A delightful being to be seen surely
She was a unique part of this world
And yet, They have ignored her LIFE
Those trifling thieves in the night
Death came knocking at her door
As the battering ram kicked it in ...
And in the blink of an eye
Eight bullets extinguished her light*

She still put UP a valiant fight
Not going easily into the dark of night
But the overseers oversight
Had taken a grave toll
And the soul left the body
So, She lost her LIFE*

They came for her
Like some thieves in the night
Those cowards stole her LIFE
And I gotta tell y'all
Something just ain't right
The death of another innocent being
At the cowardly hands of the overseer
This shit just don't sit right
They could never ignore her light*

And yet, The arrogant pig said:
They did everything right
Demonstrating the COLD and callous
Nature of the beast we're up against
With a bold and straight face
And a clearly warped mind*

He sat down and typed
... We did everything right
Excuse ME, Mr. Overseer
You found NO drugs, NO money
And no viable suspect for the warrant*

Showing no remorse for taking a life
Those thieves in the night
Another innocent LIFE taken
Our community once again shaken
It's core rattled, and mind's tattered*

To them she was obviously
Just another BLACK girl
Let's just BE totally honest today
Who amongst US really thought
Justice would be served for one of US?
So continue to shout her name loudly
As we stand bold and proudly
Never forget Breanna Taylor...
Never forget Breanna Taylor!!!

*Black Lives still...
Still and will always MATTER*

GMS - Grown Man Scriptures

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

An excerpt from Democracy Now:

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, whose election in January helped bring the chamber under Democratic control, used his first speech on the floor of the Senate this week to assail Republican efforts to restrict voting rights. He called the raft of voter suppression bills being introduced in states across the country “Jim Crow in new clothes,” denounced false claims of voter fraud spread by Donald Trump and others, and called on Congress to pass the For the People Act, also known as H.R. 1, a sweeping voting reform bill that would greatly expand access to the ballot. “Make no mistake: This is democracy in reverse,” said Warnock, who is the first Black senator elected in Georgia. “Rather than voters being able to pick the politicians, the politicians are trying to cherry-pick their voters.”

Photograph: Alexander Drago/Reuters

       March 13th, 2021

The NAACP of Santa Cruz County honors the life of Breonna Taylor, who died a year ago today. She was a strong 26 years oldBlack woman who died senselessly, when officers answered a “no knock” warrant. She worked for the University of Louisville Health as a full-time Emergency Medical Technician and was a former emergency medical tech. But Breonna was so much more than her job. She was a talented and dedicated 26-year young person who loved her family and her community. She was a daughter, sister, niece, and friend to many. She dedicated her life to helping others. She was the kind of person you would want as your neighbor: responsible, caring, skilled, and community minded. Service was her standard. She received accolades and awards for her work. She was an extraordinary person living an ordinary life- like most of us. Her mother recalled that when Breonna was a child she was computer literate, loved to play double-dutch and wanted to be a nurse. Breonna was filled with hopes and dreams for the future.

We all suffer for a loss such as this. We all need to understand this does not have to happen. We all need to understand this happens toooften to African American womenand men. We all need to say enough is enough, it is too much. Change is not inevitable, it is created. Such “means facing a system that does not lend itself to (our) needs and devising means by which (We) can change that system.” (Ella Baker). Breonna Taylor. WE love you. We honor you. We carry your name with us daily. The work We do to bring about peace is in your memory. The work We do to bring about forgiveness is in memory of you.

Even as We honor Breonna’s memory, the work continues. Brenda Griffin, the president of NAACP has an open dialogue with Santa Cruz Police Chief Mills on criminal justice issues. Chief Mills says that the department has made several policy changes, one of them being the banning of the “no knock” warrants in Santa Cruz. This policy comes in the aftermath of the shooting of Breonna Taylor. Our local NAACP branch andother Black community leaders continue to meet with local law enforcement to bring about policing policy change in the Santa Cruz County community.

Without changes in policing policy and accountability, what happened to Breonna will continue to happen to others. The NAACP Santa Cruz County branch continues to strive to make change to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race, and don’t have to live in fear for their lives. We have hopes and dreams for our collective future. We say your name Breonna Taylor. We say your name!!

Sat, Feb 27, 2021, 5:00 PM PST

Musical Soulmates presents a gorgeous and intimate livestream: classical art songs, poetry, and solo piano; much music by Black composers.

Please join the community online tomorrow evening beginning 5 pm for a musical treat organized by the amazing Kate Alm as part of her Musical Soulmates series, featuring live soloists Leberta Lorál, Soprano, and Diane Syrcle, Soprano, both supported by Kate Alm, piano.

Musical Soulmates again lovingly welcomes Danusha Laméris, former Poet Laureate of Santa Cruz, contributing prerecorded video of her poems.

Additionally, Musical Soulmates is absolutely thrilled to welcome Victoria Theodore: past pianist for Stevie Wonder, current pianist for Beyoncé, singer, songwriter, and director. Ms. Theodore will contribute a prerecorded performance, just for us, of classical music by a Black woman composer and she will speak to her experience growing up as a Black Classical artist.

This event is a fundraiser for the Santa Cruz County NAACP Branch!

Victoria Theodore, Pianist

Danusha Laméris, Poet

A February 2021 discussion with UCSC African and African American History Professor, Dr. David Anthony III.

Bookshop Santa Cruz, in partnership with The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz, Marcus Books, and the NAACP Santa Cruz County Branch, present author Heather McGhee in conversation with Alicia Garza, Principal at Black Futures Lab and co-creator of #BlackLivesMatter

 McGhee's new book, The Sum of Us, is a powerful exploration about the self-destructive bargain of white supremacy and its rising cost to all of us—including white people—from one of today’s most insightful and influential thinkers.

“Racism is not merely destructive to people of color. It is self-destructive to many white people. Racism is anti-American and anti-human as Heather McGhee expertly and judiciously proves in The Sum of Us. This is the book I’ve been waiting for. The Sum of Us can help us come together to build a nation for us all, with policies that benefit us all.” —Ibram X. Kendi, bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist

Justice, Reconciliation & Reparations

NAACP Santa Cruz County held a virtual event to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

Community Foundation CEO Susan True and nonprofit leaders shared more about racial equity and impacts locally. In this online event, we discussed what racial equity means, local racial disparity data, and why your giving and involvement matters. 

Participants met four local leaders advancing racial equity in Santa Cruz County and had the opportunity to listen to their stories, the impact their work is making, their dreams for 2021, and how you can get involved. 

IN THIS ONLINE EVENT WE CONNECTED WITH:

• Brenda J. Griffin, President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Santa Cruz County
  

• Maria Elena De La Garza, Executive Director of the Community Action Board Santa Cruz County’s Thriving Immigrants Collaborative.
  

• Cat Willis, Founder and Executive Director of the Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center and leader in the Black Health Matters Initiative.
  

• Gina Castañeda, Founder and Director of Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy.

Black/African American Spotlight

December 4, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT

United Way of Santa Cruz County
Keisha Browder, CEO – kbrowder@unitedwaysc.org

New Report Provides Valuable Insights about the Local Black/African American Population

“Making the Invisible Visible” will help the community improve equity for marginalized people.

Santa Cruz, Calif. – United Way and Applied Survey Research (ASR), together with the NAACP, Black Health Matters and the Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity Advisors, have just released a data snapshot addressing the health of Black/African American people in Santa Cruz County. “Making the Invisible Visible” includes local data that builds on the Community Assessment Project and shares data on the social determinants of health impacting this historically underserved population. These include economic stability; education; health and health care; neighborhood and the built environment; and social and community context. The data for local Black/African American residents are compared with that of the county’s Hispanic/Latino and White residents.  

In August 2020, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution designating racism as a public health crisis. Using this data snapshot as a starting point, additional research and data collection are planned for publishing a more in-depth report in Spring 2021. The resulting insights will help local agencies, organizations, and the community understand how to address the inequities facing marginalized people, improve their well-being, and thus make living conditions more equitable for everyone.

“We know that what gets measured gets done,” said Keisha Browder, executive director of United Way of Santa Cruz County. “Our goal is to use the collected data as an opportunity to partner with local elected officials and community leaders. Together, we can begin to address the disparities outlined in our county’s declaration that racism is a public health crisis. This is our moment to include the diverse and vibrant voices of the Black community as we work together to create a healthy, thriving, and safe Santa Cruz County for all of us.”

Susan Brutschy, president of ASR, said, “At Applied Survey Research, we appreciate the opportunity to tell a data-based story of Black/African American well-being guided by the most recent Community Assessment Project and the Black Health Matters team. We now have a chance to seek additional data where possible and to continue developing improved data. This will help us tell a more robust story, make it more meaningful, and take effective action. We can do that by facilitating equity-based collective action.”

Next steps will focus on diving deeper and making meaning of the data, pursuing the data development agenda together, and then using the data to drive change. By working together, the community can best determine how to change inequities revealed by the data.  

Valuable information is revealed.

The report states that, although the Black/African American population in California is 7%, here in Santa Cruz County it is only 1.7%. However, the local percentage has nearly doubled since 2013. 

Regarding economic stability, the report found that the median Black family income is $78,381. For Hispanic/Latino, it’s $77,307; and for White it’s $123,248 (latest figures from 2019). 

It’s estimated that 54% of the Black/African American population completed high school or greater, compared with 72% of the White population. 

Data from Santa Cruz High School’s 11th grade (2018-19) showed that 38% of Black/African American students said they experienced chronic sadness or hopelessness. For Hispanic/Latino and White students, the percentage was 32% for each group.

Copies of “Making the Invisible Visible”, which has more detailed information, are available for free download at https://www.unitedwaysc.org/.

About United Way of Santa Cruz County – United Way of Santa Cruz County ignites the community to give, advocate and volunteer so our youth succeed in school and life, our residents are healthy, and our families are financially independent. The mission of the United Way is to improve the lives of the people of Santa Cruz County by convening the community to identify and seek solutions to their needs and by efficiently raising funds for the human care programs we support. We are an organization of community-based volunteers, and we carry out our mission guided by the principles of excellence, empowerment, leadership, equal opportunity, and partnership. https://www.unitedwaysc.org/ 

About ASR:  Applied Survey Research (ASR) is a social research organization helping people build better communities since 1980. Serving the western United States, ASR helps communities measure and improve quality of life while helping organizations measure and improve the impact of their services. Headquartered in Watsonville, Calif., it has branch offices in Santa Clara and Sacramento. Visit www.appliedsurveyresearch.org 

About the NAACP - Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons

About Black Health Matters – Black Health Matters Initiative focuses needed attention and community partnership to address the social determinants of health in our local Black community. We lead this effort through the arts and culture, which speak to the tradition of gathering, of sharing, and our human need to have fresh air, community, and joy at the heart of a healthy life. In addition to being high-risk for COVID-19 infection, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reports serious and negative effects “across different areas of [Black] people’s lives, including...with household finances, jobs, health care, housing, transportation, caregiving, and well-being.” https://tanneryworlddance.com/countyparks/ 

About Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity Advisors – The Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity Advisors is comprised of local members of the Black Community working together to advocate for equity policies that promote justice in the areas of education, health, economics, public safety and well-being.

About the Social Determinants of Health – The World Health Organization defines the Social Determinants of Health as the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.

The SDH have an important influence on health inequities—the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. In countries at all levels of income, health and illness follow a social gradient: the lower the socioeconomic position, the worse the health. For more information, visit https://www.who.int/ 

Moderated by CNN Commentator Angela Rye, the event will include:

• Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors,

• Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO

• and other leaders.

Harris will discuss the national reckoning on racism, the global pandemic and her vision for the future of America. The conversation is a premier event of the NAACP’s 111th national convention, and will take place starting at 1:45 pm ET / 10:45 am PT.

On Friday, September 25, the NAACP will host a conversation with Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kamala Harris. Moderated by CNN Commentator Angela Rye, the event will include Leon W. Russell, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, and Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO, and other leaders. Senator Harris will discuss the national reckoning on racism, the global pandemic and her vision for the future of America. The conversation is a premier event of the NAACP’s 111th national convention and will take place starting at 1:45 PM ET / 10:45 AM PT.

“We are excited to have a real conversation with Vice Presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris about the current climate and where we need to go,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “In the closing of our national convention, we are eager to discuss her plans for the safety and well-being of our communities in America.”

Join us for this critical conversation on naacpconvention.org.

“The NAACP recognizes the overwhelming significance of having the first black woman as a vice-presidential candidate of a major political party,” said NAACP Board of Directors Chairman, Leon W. Russell. “We know that this pivotal moment sets the stage for our continued work to achieve equal justice and now is the time to engage in these conversations as the world faces unprecedented times and new realities during this global pandemic.”

WHAT: Conversation with Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kamala Harris

WHERE: naacpconvention.org

WHEN: Friday, September 25, 2020, @ 1:45 pm ET / 10:45 am PT

WHO:

• Senator Kamala Harris, Vice Presidential Candidate

• Angela Rye, CNN Commentator

• Leon W. Russell, Chairman, NAACP National Board of Directors

• Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP

“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed...
”

— Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Dear Friends,

Not even 24 hours after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, began their plans to compromise our democracy by hastily filling her vacant Supreme Court seat ahead of election day.

We cannot let this happen.

For months, we’ve known that our very lives were at stake with this election, and now this administration is desperately bent on setting the stakes even higher. RBG left behind a legacy that upheld equity, fairness and the elimination of discrimination.

President Trump's record speaks for itself – with two Supreme Court appointees who have already proven to be hostile to civil rights, his next pick is all but sure to be an extremist. We have to stop him now.

The Senate has a duty to hold the Supreme Court seat open until the next president is sworn in. This was RBG’s dying wish, and it is also what Mitch McConnell forced the Senate to do during President Obama’s last year.

Contact your Senators today and urge them to keep RBG’s seat open until after inauguration day next year.

The presidential election is already underway, and our community is already voting. President Trump should not use the Supreme Court seat as a last ditch attempt to further pull this country away from progress. We can’t let him.

Friend, this is one of the most urgent requests I’ve asked you for this year. The conscience and integrity of our democracy hang in the balance, and it’s up to us to save them.

Contact your Senators today and demand that the seat stay open. It is the right thing to do.

Fighting Forward,

Derrick Johnson
@DerrickNAACP
President and CEO
NAACP  

We discuss how Congressman Panetta plans to advance selected  NAACP legislative priorities.

We hope you are well and safe during this challenging time. Our families are now faced with two crises. Our community is strong - especially when we come together to care for each other - so let’s keep it up. 
Please help us continue to share these resources with local families

•  September Family Resource Calendar
  Monthly calendar of food distributions and essential resources. Call Second Harvest Community Food Hotline for the latest updates 831.662.0991
  *Food pantries in Davenport and the Santa Cruz Mountains are not open due to the fires. I will update this page once they are reopened. 

•  Santa Cruz County Fire ResourcesResources for fire evacuees includes information on shelters, resource centers, FEMA, housing, mutual aid, loans, legal aid, and crisis counseling.
  *A link in Spanish will be posted here by Monday.

•  COVID-19 testing sites 

• CLICK HERE to access a flyer for an upcoming event Thursday September 3rd 7-8:30PM organized by COPA with the Community Action Board, Families in Transition, and the Watsonville Law Center for families to learn about rental assistance and the eviction moratoriums. 

ONLINE EVENT Sunday, August 9,  2020
11 a.m.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment and stand at the threshold of a presidential election, we invite you to join us for "Celebrating Woman Suffrage + the Struggle for Voting Rights," a panel discussion examining the complex history of enfranchisement in the United States and its relevance to the ongoing anti-racist struggle against voter suppression.
 

A dynamic group of speakers includes Gail Pellerin, Santa Cruz County clerk/registrar of voters, as our moderator; with presentations by Judge Marla Anderson, judge of the Superior Court of California, Monterey County; Bettina Aptheker, scholar-activist and distinguished professor emerita of the Feminist Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz; and Professor Aida Hurtado, chair of the UCSB Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies. The event will be followed by a live Q&A and precedes an evening concert featuring the orchestral world premiere of The Battle for the Ballot by composer Stacy Garrop, inspired by the centenary of the 19th Amendment and pivotal figures in the woman suffrage movement.

You may view this event and participate in the live Q&A directly via the Festival's website. The countdown clock will apprise you when the event is about to begin. No registration necessary.

This event is sponsored by: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz, The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation Presidential Chair in Feminist Studies, and Bookshop Santa Cruz

Co-Sponsors: NAACP, Temple Beth El, and Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County

Dear Members, 

This project, shaped by data scientists, is laser-focused on influencing voter participation in 6 key states: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The national office is seeking phone banking volunteers willing to make 20 calls each day over the next 2 weeks. The goal is to help identify potential volunteers who will influence people in their communities to vote in primaries and the upcoming national elections in November.  

For more background and training information, please see the webinar slides HERE

If there ever was a year that underscored the importance of collective action, and the significance of civil rights activism, it is the year 2020.

After months of protests, online petitions, campaigns, and boycotts, we’ve seen firsthand the power we have to bring about systemic change if only we demand it. And although we’ve made some progress, we can’t stop now.

In commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, the NAACP will lead a virtual March on Washington on August 28, 2020 alongside civil rights leaders, activists, and families of those who died at the hands of law enforcement, to call for police accountability reform and mobilize voters ahead of the November elections.

THE CALL: Thursday, August 27, 8-10pm ET: There will be virtual programming carried on television networks and key social media platforms, including musical performances, remarks from young activists and emerging organizations, and other entertainment.

THE MARCH: Friday, August 28, 11am – 3pm ET: Convened by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, the Commitment March will gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to restore and recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined in 1963. The March will be streamed across multiple social media platforms.

THE CHARGE: Friday, August 28, 9-11pm ET: The event will conclude with a night of virtual programming, including a major keynote address and musical performances by award-winning artists.

The 2020 Virtual March on Washington is about asking everyone — from protesters in the streets to elected officials at all levels of government — to commit to pursuing a new agenda that prioritizes equity, justice, and equal opportunity for all. As we approach the November elections, we must mobilize to vote we’ve never done before.

This is our opportunity to set forth a bold new Black agenda. On August 28, we will make history, the question is, will you be a part of it?

In Solidarity,

Derrick Johnson
@DerrickNAACP
President and CEO
NAACP  

Late last night, I received the terrible news that Congressman John Lewis, one of the most inspiring civil rights heroes of our time, had passed away.

Today, the NAACP family, and the entire nation mourn his passing with sorrow in our hearts, but a conviction in our knowledge that his legacy will live on for generations to come. 

Often called “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” John Lewis dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. By 1963, Lewis was dubbed one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. At the age of 23, he was an architect and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. He went on to become a United States Congressman and had served as U.S. Representative of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District since 1986.
 

John Lewis is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. He received the NAACP Spingarn Medal in 2002 and the NAACP Chairman’s Award in 2020.

We are deeply saddened by his passing but profoundly grateful for his immense contributions to justice. A national treasure and a civil rights legend for the ages, he used every waking moment of his 80 years to push this country toward more representative democracy and left behind a remarkable model. It is up to us to pick up his mantle and carry on, and we urge the entire nation to join us. As people of all colors are in the streets seeking racial justice, we urge all that can to speak louder and stay a little longer to honor the best warrior for democracy our nation has ever known.
 

The NAACP extends our sincerest condolences to the family of Congressman Lewis and sends prayers of comfort and strength now and always.

 

“Every generation leaves behind a legacy. What that legacy will be is determined by the people of that generation. What legacy do you want to leave behind?” -- John Lewis
 

In Solidarity,

Derrick Johnson
@DerrickNAACP
President and CEO
NAACP