SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - One of the students had a little trouble reaching the foot pedals on his wheelchair.  The break was a bit of a challenge too. As he tried rolling it out on to the blacktop at the California Montessori Project, American River Campus in Fair Oaks, a trail of fellow fourth graders followed, bringing up the rear.

This was exactly the kind of learning experience intended: hands on, real time, fumbling through it kind of learning.  It was only for practice however, practice for what it really feels like to be wheel chair bound.  Once the students tackled the wheel chair they got a shot at walking blindfolded with a white cane, punching out their names backward in Braille, learning about how prosthetic limbs work and what it feels like to have the not-so visible kinds of disabilities, such as autism and dyslexia.

“It’s not as easy as it looks,” said Alaina Lawrence, 9 of Carmichael working at the Braille learning table.  She and some of her schoolmates were participating in an onsite sensitivity and awareness workshop led by volunteers with the Granit Bay-based nonprofit organization, A Touch of Understanding (ATOU).  Officially launched in 1996 by Leslie DeDora and her father, Edward Ennis, ATOU marshals the wisdom and experience of volunteers, many with disabilities themselves, and, along with a truck-load of props, heads into schools across many portions of the Northern California region to conduct onsite workshops for school age children in an effort to minimize bullying, social isolation and discrimination against those living with disabilities. 

“We know children are curious and they will ask questions if they feel comfortable doing so,” said DeDora.  “What we do is provide a safe space for them to learn how to talk to and accept someone who is different from them. I think in many cases kids in schools mistreat others because we don’t give them the information they need to truly understand what it means to walk in someone else’s shoes.”

Dwight Lunkley, who sports two prosthetic arms and is partially disfigured from a near-death off-roading accident in 1994, handled a portion of the speaker sessions that accompany the hands-on activities.  He says there’s nothing more impactful than one-on-one interaction with children as a way to teach tolerance and educate them about what happened to him and how it has impacted his life.  

“I love coming in to the schools and talking to kids,” said Lunkley.  “You’d be amazed at how smart, compassionate and inquisitive they are about me.  So we work together to teach them about what is going on with us, why and how we are really just like them and that even with a physical disability we can have happy lives.  But we show them, we don’t just tell them.  That’s how they learn the compassion.”

DeDora said her aunt had intellectual disabilities that were initially difficult for her to understand until she was taught by her parents about the importance of celebrating, not rejecting someone because of their differences.

“I remember inadvertently making my aunt cry because I didn’t understand why she looked like the adults in the room, but acted like the kids,” said DeDora.

DeDora parlayed that early education in compassion into a career working as a tutor of students with disabilities in the public schools system.  Realizing more could be done to provide young people with tangible opportunities for breaking down misconceptions about people with disabilities, she launched “Walk a Mile In Their Shoes” in 1996.  After conducting 60 successful “pilot” presentations, ATOU was formed.  Today, the organization has an annual budget of approximately $400,000, three staff members and an army of volunteers, including interns from Sacramento State College working on degrees in adaptive recreation, nursing programs or other related fields.

Much of ATOU’s funding comes through grants and the sensitivity workshops, the fees for which $1,200 each are split between ATOU and the participating campus.

ATOU also relies heavily on funds raised during its annual “Art from the Heart” gala, now in its fifth year.  This year’s gala is slated for April 20.  Donated artwork is displayed and available for purchase.  The event includes silent and live auctions, a raffle, wine, appetizers and likely some of the most inspirational speakers you’ll ever have the pleasure of hearing from.

“It will be a fun, informative and inspirational evening, celebrating art in its many forms and embracing those among us with disabilities,” DeDora said.

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Carmichael’s oldest school will host centenary celebrations on May 9. Established on Sutter Avenue in 1917, the school aimed not just to educate farm children but also to attract more families to developer Daniel Carmichael’s new colony. Carmichael School, as it was then called, began in a wooden building that was uprooted from nearby Winding Way.

Because many pupils rode to school, the campus included a horse shed. Farm kids provided hay for their mounts. At recess, impromptu derbies tore up the playground.

Though the 100-year milestone was reached last year, festivities are designed to fit into the 2018 spring semester.  Principal Brandei Smith promises some things old and many things new. “We’ll have a history museum, a then-and-now video and student performances,” she says. “The choir will sing our famous “Cougar Song,” which is all about building character and reaching goals.”

Administered by the San Juan Unified School District, Carmichael Elementary has 400 pupils from kindergarten to Fifth Grade. Students come from all over the world: in the school office, ‘welcome’ is written in English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Arabic and many other languages.   “Our diversity reflects what’s happening all over America,” notes Principal Smith. “We feel exposure to many nationalities enriches children’s education.”

Centenary festivities will showcase a campus whose 10 original acres were a gift from Daniel Carmichael. Near neighbor since 1931, the Crossroads Church will provide hotdogs and treats for the children.  A volunteer group from Del Campo High School will supervise a kids’ zone with face-painting and crafts.  Fitness professional and children’s author Sami Kader will present a program that includes an exercise circuit. An event show-stopper, predicts the principal, will star kindergarten pupils singing Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful Word,” complete with sign language.

“We’re opening our doors to show the community how we’ve evolved,” says Smith. “People who attended here love to come back. They’re nostalgic and enjoy sharing memories. We hope they’ll join us on May 9. They’ll be amazed to see how our classrooms have changed.”

Centenary planners hope to borrow old photos and memorabilia associated with the school. A 1972 time capsule will be unearthed before the celebrations. “We’ll also bury a new capsule,” says Principal Smith. “Sometime in the distant future, students will dig it up and see what we were like.”

Anyone may attend the May 9 celebration at 6141 Sutter Avenue. The program begins at 5 pm. For information, and to contribute historical items, call (916) 971-5727 or E-mail the campus representative: stacy.boyd@sanjuan.edu

DOVIA Annual Awards Shines a Light on Outstanding Volunteers

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - How do you inspire a team of volunteers not to roll their eyes when asked to do perhaps the most humble of tasks - scooping up dog waste?

With a lot of patience and a willingness to meet them where they are at, says Janice Wagaman, who was selected by the Directors of Volunteers in Agencies (DOVIA) March 8 as the agency’s 2018 Outstanding Volunteer Coordinator of the Year.  

DOVIA Sacramento is a non-profit organization providing support, workshops and trainings for professional volunteer managers at agencies across the county.

For the last five and a half years, Wagaman has served as the director of volunteers at the Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento.  Wagaman is tasked with the job of overseeing roughly 2,400 volunteers at the shelter, which range from high school students to elderly adults with retirement time on their hands - all of whom come in with various levels of passion and commitment for service and, of course, an unwavering dedication to helping animals.

“It’s a tough job, lots of passion there, and often it is very emotional,” said Wagaman.  “But I absolutely would not have any other job in the world,” said Wagaman.  “In my case, one of the biggest challenges is inspiring new volunteers who are starting out at the first level to understand the importance of some of the more menial tasks we have to get done, which is go and pick up poop.  And the other challenge is that, with so many people and so many different levels of compassion and passion for being of service at the shelter, I don’t always have the time I would like to have to get to know all of my volunteers on a personal level.”

Under her directorship, Wagaman has created a new volunteer program called “SMART (Sacramento Missing Animal Response Team) Pet Alert, which has played an instrumental role in helping to boost the number of the shelter’s lost animals who are returned to their owners from 23 percent to nearly 30 percent. 

“My volunteers are really pushing this at an amazing level,” said Wagaman, one of three volunteers nominated for the award. “They are using social media aps and programs, like Next Door and Facebook to help reconnect lost animals with their owners and it is having a huge impact.  I’m super proud of them and this program.”

In addition, the shelter’s overall “Leave Live Rate” under Wagaman’s direction is at 87 percent - that means 87 percent of the animals brought in to the shelter due to separation from their owners, abandonment or other reasons, are being rehomed each year.

“That’s a good number,” said Wagaman.  “Of course, we’d love to see 100 percent, but we are proud and always working toward the goal.”

The annual awards also include recognition for Outstanding Youth Volunteers.  Taking that award for 2018 was Janae Bonnell, 18, a senior at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills.  Bonnell has worked as a volunteer at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento since 2016.  One of 14 young volunteers nominated for the 2018 award, she plans on a career in pre-med.  She has clocked hundreds of hours as a volunteer working in, among other places, the hospital’s pre-operation unit, post-anesthesia care unit, operating rooms and admissions department.

“Really, this is amazing, but I am very impressed with all of the other nominees who are volunteering out there like me,” said Bonnell, as she posed for photos alongside her parents and sister.  “I love working with people and of course being at Shriners gives me valuable experience that goes along with what I want to do, which is pre-med.”

Bonnell took home a scholarship for $500 as part of her award.

Included among the list of nominees for the Outstanding Youth Volunteers is Carmichael resident and El Camino High School senior, Konark Mangudkar, honored for his volunteer work at Eskaton Village Carmichael since 2016.  He is interested in a career in neuroscience and technology and has an infinity for working with seniors and in the arena of memory care.

“I get a lot out of working with the elderly, especially those with memory loss issues,” said Mangudkar.  “I know they often don’t know who I am, but sometimes they do. It’s a very rewarding place to help out.  I know I am getting more out of this than I expected at first.”

The other nominees in the Outstanding Youth Volunteers category were Ivori White, with the Sacramento Public Library, North Natomas branch; Adrian McCauley, Sacramento Public Library; Rachel Neches, Reading Partners Sacramento; Cassandra Ng, City of Sacramento Volunteer Program; Cassidy Schreiner Girl Scouts, Friends of Meals on Wheels; Jihad “Gigi” Hamid, Sacramento Public Library, Arden Dimick; Cecilia Uribe-Smith, Sacramento Public Library-Arden Dimick; Celio Gonzalez, Sacramento Public Library, Galt; Isabel Nguyen, Kaiser South Sacramento; Hadley Nevin, Fairytale Town; Isabel Gatdula, Angelique Ashby’s Youth Action Corps and Emily Chin-Ito, ACC Senior Services.

The two other nominees for Outstanding Volunteer Coordinators adult category are Jordon Powell, American River Parkway Foundation and Katie Curler, Alzheimer’s Association.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Roseville Rock Rollers 56th Annual Gem, Jewelry, Fossil, and Mineral Show will take place at the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville March 24-25. Hosted by the Roseville Rock Rollers, also known as the Roseville Gem and Mineral Society, this year’s show features gemstones, jewelry, fossils and minerals and has something for the whole family.

The group was established in 1960 as a group of local “rockhounds,” according to show chair James Hutchings. That group, deeply interested in the science and art of the earths' natural beauty in rocks and minerals, first met in homes and then as their numbers grew, expanded to the use of a local school room.

This year’s show has dozens of exhibits for attendees, such as jewelry, metal, wire and glass beading arts, fossils, crystals and minerals, but that’s not all. So that attendees aren’t rushed, the show also provides a cafeteria. “A very fine hot lunch is available at our own kitchen in Johnson Hall,” states Hutchings. The group has put together a menu of very reasonably priced food and beverages will also be available at the show’s cafeteria.

In addition to exhibits, classes and demonstrations, show goers can pan for gold, purchase equipment, buy raffle tickets, have rocks, gems and mineral identified by experts or make purchases at a silent auction.

Wishing to share the art and science of the mineral world, in the tradition of gem and mineral shows around the world, the Roseville Rock Rollers established their own gem and mineral show around 1962. The society grew, the show grew, and the show and the Society moved to the Placer County Fairgrounds where it continues today.

“As the Roseville Gem and Mineral Society has expanded, the show expanded to support the costs associated with its programs, such as the Rookie Rock Rollers, juniors program, the Annual Scholarship program to Geology Students at Sacramento State Geology Department, and our year round Lapidary shop on the fairgrounds,” said Hutchings. “The lapidary shop on the Fair Grounds is the heart and soul of our Society, where we teach lapidary arts, jewelry fabrication, conduct mineral identification and mini tail gate rock sales.”

Hutchings developed his love for “rockhounding” at an early age. “Personally, I as most young people, was fascinated with rocks minerals and crystals. My parents encouraged me with my first Golden Book of Rocks and Minerals, a book still in current print, and my first rock pick.”

At the age of 38, he became seriously interested in rockhounding and gold mining, attending a mineral identification course at Sierra College, next pursuing an in depth understanding the chemistry and physics that form “these miracles in the earth.” He has put that knowledge to good use today providing what he refers to as a “mini lab” during the show to test rocks, minerals, and gems to provide guest an idea of materials they have in their possession.

While the Rock Rollers must generate funds to keep their programs operating, the primary purpose of any Gem and Mineral Show is to promote the Art and Science of the mineral world, according to Hutchings.

Like many of the group members, an early exposure to rockhounding and lapidary arts often provides a genesis of interest that often blossoms later in life, Hutchings said. “We really work hard, to attract the parents who want to expose their children to the natural world and foster that spark.”

There are presentations and activities for youngsters on identifying and handling specimens of all kinds. Students and Scouts can reinforce their California Rock Cycle curriculum and merit badge information. Scouts can have their mineral finds evaluated for rock type or mineral and validated for their required collection.

Hutchings suggests visitors come early and plan on spending the day at the show. “We take over the entire fairgrounds with exhibits, demonstrators, and vendors.” 

Not to be missed are real treasures the group will have on display. “Folks tend to walk by the display cases,” he said. “These simple, well lighted boxes contain the best of the best of personal collections of minerals in variety or by theme. The displays are, ‘literally’ miniature museums showcasing specimens in the possession of individuals who have spent a lifetime collecting the best of the best of their favorite species of rock or mineral,” said Hutchings.

“We are looking for the general public who are looking for gem stones, set and unset, handmade, and fine art jewelry, and mineral specimens from every corner of the world! We find the single most striking comment from folks who, by accident, end up at our show is, “I had no idea such things existed in the world!’’

For more information, tickets and coupons, visit the group’s website at www.rockrollers.com

Contributed by James Hutchings, Roseville Rock Rollers Show Chair

 

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - President Donald Trump visited the great state of California to inspect border types near San Diego on Tuesday. He took time out of his visit to express his feelings regarding Governor Jerry Brown’s lack of control over the state.

“Governor Brown does a very poor job running California,” Trump said. “They have the highest taxes in the United States. The place is totally out of control. You have sanctuary cities where you have criminals living.”

Trump’s long-awaited, highly anticipated visit to California did not come without a firestorm of adolescent tweets from state leaders in attempt to retaliate against the president’s claims.

Brown responded by tweeting, “Thanks for the shout-out, @realDonaldTrump. But bridges are still better than walls. And California remains the 6th largest economy in the world and the most prosperous state in America. #Facts”

#Facts or not, Trump still claims that political leaders in California are actually in favor of walls, saying, “The state of California is begging us to build walls in certain areas, they don’t tell you that.”

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom responded with a tweet of his own: “California is not "begging" you for this wall. Your wall is a waste of money and is literally impossible to complete. It will look more like a piece of swiss cheese than an insurmountable barrier. It's nothing more than a 6th century solution to a 21st century problem.”

Despite all of the animosity, Trump’s visit to California lasted just one day. After spending time inspecting wall prototypes built to his specs, he later spoke at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar before traveling to a Beverly Hills fundraiser that was expected to raise $5 million for the Republican National Committee.