WCCC Blog

All County residents are invited to this community meeting sponsored by the Tsunami Ready Program of Santa Cruz County.  View the latest inundation area maps for your neighborhood!

When: May 4th, 2011 7:00-9:00pm
Where: Civic Plaza Community Room (4th Floor), 275 Main St, Watsonville

For more information call: 454-4733

To view a downloadable flyer, click on this link: tsunami flyer watsonville

Mark your calendars for this important event – everyone can play a role in improving the lives of children in foster care. Contact Melissa Herceg (763-8857 or Melissa.Herceg@hsd.co.santa-cruz.ca.us) to let her know if you will be attending.

The City of Watsonville’s Neighborhood Services Division is working with the U.S. Census Bureau to improve census coverage and increase public participation in Watsonville. Already the Bureau has opened offices throughout state regions to begin operations for conducting the 2010 Census.

Although you will be hearing much more from us about this very important undertaking, what we want you to know now is that there are many census job opportunities that the Bureau hopes can be filled by our local residents. Applicants must take a short test for most positions, and the Bureau has graciously agreed to accommodate our residents for these testing sessions by coming to us here in Watsonville. Applicants can take the test as many times as it is offered, and there are practice census tests on their website.

For now, spread the word to your family, friends and our community. Have them visit www.census.gov, and when they’re ready to take their test, ask them to contact Neighborhood Services, 763-5678.

Just to leave you with a sense of the magnitude of Census 2010, for every person undercounted, the City will lose $2,500 in state and federal funding to programs and services vital to Watsonville!

Yes, the economy is bad, but there’s something you can do about it locally. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) brings a million dollars from federal and state refunds into our county. You can volunteer to help. Contact Santa Cruz Community Credit Union at 460-2347 or Project SCOUT at 724-2606 or toll-free 1-877-373-8297. Training and orientations are starting now.

This isn’t your usual charity; this activity helps people claim the refunds and credits that they deserve for working. The only limit to the number of low-income Santa Cruz and Monterey County families who are assisted next tax season is the number of volunteers who join now. Spanish speakers are needed.

Depending on income and the number of children, a family can receive up to a $4,824 Earned Income Tax Credit. When added to other credits, like the Child Tax Credit, this boosts a family’s earning power. Think about this: Working for $8.50 an hour, a full-time working single parent with two children ends up with an $11.00 an hour job when the Credits are added back in.

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have formed a coalition to promote this valuable service.With e-filing and direct deposit, people can have their hard-earned funds within ten days. Because it’s fast and free, there’s absolutely no reason for cash-strapped families to not use VITA. No reason, that is, unless there aren’t enough volunteers to serve the need. If you have wondered what one person can do in the face of this economic crisis, think about giving ten weeks of volunteering to bring in a total $45,000 in refunds and credits to low-income wage earners. Consider making VITA your gift of time to your community.

thanks,
Ellen F. Murtha
Program Manager
Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
(831) 460-2345
emurtha@scruzccu.org
www.scruzccu.org

• In addition to a summary of state and federal issues of concern to immigrant communities in California there will be workshops on the following topics:
• Immigrant Eligibility for Benefits in California
• Assisting Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence and Trafficking
• Addressing Barriers to Public Benefits for Immigrants
• Coping With a Broken Immigration System: Challenges to Obtaining Legal Status for Immigrants & Responding to Immigration Enforcement & Raids
• Immigrant Issues in the Media – Basic Skills and Preparing Clients
• Advancements and Model Programs in Language Access

Click here to register for the OAKLAND Regional Training – PDF form

October 7, 2008 – 1233 Preservation Park Way – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm (Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.)

Registration fees are based on organization budget and include materials, breakfast and lunch. A 10% discount will be given to organizational groups of five or more.
Organizational Budget under $500,000 – $50/person
Organizational Budget Above $500,000- $80/person
_________________________________________________________________________________________
APALC has been approved as a continuing education provider of Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of California. This training will qualify for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 6 hours.
For more information about CIPC’s Regional Trainings Please Call Garrick Wong at (916) 448-6762
A STATE WIDE PARTNERSHIP OF: APALC (Asian Pacific American Legal Center, CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, NILC (National Immigration Law Center, SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network)

Urgent Notice Regarding Families In Transition Waiting List

September 1, 2008

Unfortunately due to staffing and funding cuts combined with an overwhelming demand for services Families In Transition will no longer be taking referrals to our agency effective September 15th.

This is a very difficult step, but will allow us to work through our waiting list of 200+ families and develop a new system that will better address the needs of homeless families in our community. We are projecting that we will be able to implement an improved and more direct referral system for homeless families around the beginning of 2009.

Thank you for your patience and for spreading the word to families and community providers. Please refer to www.helpscc.org or the Shelter Hotline – 457-8741 for appropriate referrals for families.

If you have any questions please send an email to:
fitsantacruz@yahoo.com

Understanding the Watsonville Cannery Strike through Art

“Remembering the Struggle” is a series of free community events that uses art to facilitate an understanding of the Watsonville cannery strike and its impact on the community.

Art Exhibit

All events are being planned around an exhibition of artwork that will express the experiences felt by the strikers and their community. The struggles of one thousand Watsonville cannery strikers will be remembered and honored through this unique art and historical exhibit.

Opening Events on August 1
5pm to 6:30pm – Watsonville Downtown Plaza
Viernes Cultural Community Remembrance Celebration with Speakers, Songs, Poetry, and more!

6:30pm – Procession from Plaza to Gallery
Procession with former Watsonville cannery strikers and the community

7pm to 9pm – Pajaro Valley Gallery37 Sudden Street, Watsonville
Pajaro Valley Arts Council hosts the Exhibit Opening ReceptionMeet and mingle with contributing artists and get a “taste of Watsonville” through local food and celebrationWe look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Carmina at (831) 536-4436 or pvacStrikeExhibit@gmail.com

To view the full schedule of events, go to http://www.rememberingthestruggle.org/.