We Take Care of Us, a Virtual Town Hall
Date: November 20, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Registration Required: No
Attachments:
The "We Take Care of Us" virtual town hall, hosted by Sonoma County's Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins was held on November 20, 2024. This event brought together local leaders and community organizations to discuss the vital resources and initiatives available to support West Sonoma County residents.
Key Speakers:
- Supervisor Lynda Hopkins
- Assemblymember Damon Connolly
- A pre-recorded message from Assemblymember-elect Chris Rogers
- A pre-recorded message from Congressman Jared Huffman
We appreciate the local organizations who are dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA folks, health care, our undocumented community members, the socal safety net, mental health services and the environment. The town hall emphasized community resilience, resource sharing, and ways to stay involved during uncertain times. So that you can feel safe. So that you can be taken care of. So that you know where and how to devote your energy to ensure that our community stays vibrant, diverse, beautiful, and kind.
Together, We Take Care of Us!
Community Resources
Positive Images
https://www.posimages.org/
(707) 568-5830
info@posimages.org
Positive Images provides support to the North Bay’s LGBTQIA+ population, with an emphasis on identities and individuals at the margins – including transgender and nonbinary individuals, LGBTQIA+ people of color, Latine families, neurodivergent people, and disabled people. They are dedicated to providing essential services that encompass mental health support, advocacy, and education.
- Drop-In Hours:
- Available Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
- A welcoming "third space" for community members to relax, access snacks, and use high-speed internet.
- Support Groups:
- Groups available for youth and adults, offered both in-person and via Zoom.
- Bilingual and Bicultural Services:
- Newly established bilingual team to better serve Latina community members.
- Additional Programs and Resources:
- Transformation Station: A space for personal growth and exploration.
- Queer Library and Binder Program: Resources to support LGBTQIA+ identity and expression.
- Snack Pantry: Providing food support to visitors.
- Community Trainings: LGBTQIA+ education sessions offered both online and in person.
Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
info@rrsisters.org
A 21st Century order of nuns, the Russian River Sisters’ mission is to spread joy and goodwill through community events, charitable acts, and fundraising, with a focus on the special needs of the Russian River area. They are also actively engaged in safer sex education efforts, political and socio-economic awareness, and community-building initiatives. Their primary goal is to make the Russian River area a better place to live.
They operate as a California 501(c)3 non-profit corporation and are a 100% volunteer-run organization with no paid staff. They are dedicated to raising funds to support charitable causes that often do not receive funding from mainstream sources due to societal prejudices and economic considerations.
Upcoming Events:
- Monthly Bingo:
- Notable, lively events described as “not your grandmother’s bingo.”
- Tickets for January and February 2025 events go on sale December 1, 2024, at noon via their website (above).
- Monthly Peace Rally (Last Saturday of every month):
- Held at 4:00 PM, starting at the rainbow mural at Timberline in Guerneville and ending at the plaza.
- A peaceful, interactive way to engage with the community and promote positivity.
Upcoming Community Programs:
- Holiday Toy Drive:
- Began during the pandemic in 2020, supporting children in the lower Russian River area with gift certificates.
- Partners with local schools (e.g., Guerneville, Forestville, Monte Rio) and associated preschools.
- Donations are welcomed through their website.
- Holiday Storytime with the Sisters:
- Scheduled for December 28, 2024 at Russian River Books and Letters at 1:00 PM, featuring readings of holiday-themed stories.
West County Health Centers
https://www.wchealth.org/
General number: (707) 824-3391
Gravenstein Community Health Center: 707-823-3166
Occidental Area Health Center: 707-874-2444
Russian River Health and Wellness Center: 707-869-2849
Teen Clinic: 707-887-0427
Dental Services: 707-869-2933
Wellness Services: 707-887-0290
West County Health Centers provides quality health services to the whole community, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability to pay or insurance status, and are committed to adapting and evolving alongside community needs.
Additional Resources:
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Access coordinators help patients enroll in health insurance and other services, even if they are not patients of the center.
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The Resiliency Center in Guerneville offers free community space for organizations providing services for the common good.
Humanidad Therapy & Education Services
https://srosahtes.org/
(707) 525-1515
office_admin@humanidadtherapy.org
Humanidad is a Santa Rosa-based organization focused on providing culturally sensitive mental health services to strengthen the Latino community dedicated to transcending barriers and fostering mental health access. They welcome anyone seeking culturally sensitive therapy.
Services:
- Bilingual, bicultural therapy and counseling, including family and marriage therapy.
- Strength-based counseling tailored to the emotional well-being of individuals and groups.
- Community engagement through their Convivencia Model --
- Group therapy sessions addressing emotional well-being.
- School-based programs for newcomer students at Montgomery, Piner, and Santa Rosa High Schools.
Educational Training:
- Provides training opportunities for individuals working toward licensure in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or clinical social work.
Community Health Workers:
- Employs staff to provide linkage and resources for individuals in need, bridging gaps between cultures and reducing barriers to care.
Legal Aid of Sonoma County
https://legalaidsc.org/
(707) 542-1290
144 South E Street, Suite 100
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Walk-ins: Monday and Tuesday
9:15-11:30 AM
1:15-4:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:15-11:30 AM
Thursday:
9:15-11:30 AM
1:15-4:00 PM
Legal Aid provides crisis legal services to low-income families, children, elders, immigrants, other vulnerable Sonoma County residents and Small Business owners. Legal Aid of Sonoma County is the only full-service civil legal aid organization dedicated exclusively to serving Sonoma County residents. Services are provided without regard to immigration status, which is neither screened nor a barrier to assistance. Committed to justice for vulnerable populations such as older adults, LGBTQAI+ individuals and others impacted by systemic inequities.
Areas of Focus:
- Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse: Offers safety protections for survivors.
- Housing Justice: Provides support for tenants and mobile homeowners, including assistance in enforcing protections under the County’s new ordinance for unincorporated areas.
- Veterans’ Benefits: Helps veterans access available support and resources.
- Unhoused and Unstably Housed Populations: Assists in removing barriers to housing stability.
- Guardianships for Vulnerable Children: Advocates for abused, neglected, or abandoned children needing legal protections.
Secure Families Collaborative
https://www.securefamilies.org/
707-856-4988
The Secure Families Collaborative works to ensure access to legal services, education, and advocacy for all immigrants in Sonoma County, particularly in response to threats from federal policies.
- Offers free removal defense services to clients.
- Provides community outreach and education about immigration rights and processes.
- Hosts Immigration Legal Clinics and Resource Fairs:
- Free consultations with pro bono attorneys.
- Collaboration with nonprofits providing social services.
- Locations disclosed upon inquiry to ensure participant safety.
Secure Families Collaborative legal team, in partnership with other Sonoma County organizations and concerned individuals, is organizing a series of immigration legal support clinics. These clinics will be from 1-5pm. They will take place on Sundays across the County on the following dates:
December 15 West County
January 6 Petaluma
January 12 Coastal Sonoma County
Food For Thought
https://fftfoodbank.org/
(707) 887-1647
info@FFTfoodbank.org
Food For Thought provides medically tailored meals and groceries to individuals with serious medical conditions or after an in-patient hospitalization. Food For Thought also runs a Full Belly Program which provides medically tailored groceries and meals for expecting clients and their household, continuing until the baby reaches three months of age. Food For Thought believes in "food as medicine," tailoring dietary plans to each client’s medical, cultural, and personal needs.
- Does not require proof of immigration status, following a "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy to ensure accessibility for all.
- Services aim to reach anyone in need of healthy food for recovery and thriving.
- Provides weekly groceries and medically tailored meals.
- Home delivery for clients.
- Individual nutrition counseling with bilingual and bicultural registered dietitians.
- Regular case management by a largely bilingual, bicultural client services team.
West County Community Services
https://www.westcountyservices.org/
info@westcountyservices.org
(707) 823-1640
- Housing Services:
- Includes emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, and homeless prevention programs.
- The shelter, initially seasonal, now operates 24/7 since the COVID-19 pandemic, serving 44 people
- Keep People Housed program begins December 16, 2024
Provides free financial assistance and legal support to eligible households. Whether you need help with rent, utilities, eviction notices, or other emergency needs
https://keeppeoplehoused.org/, kph@westcountyservice.org or 707-604-7401
- Senior Services:
- Provides mobility and transportation support, meals, and senior peer counseling to prevent isolation.
- Peer Centers:
- Behavioral health-focused centers that offer drop-in services countywide.
- Keep People Housed (KPH):
- This new pilot homelessness prevention program in Sonoma County for individuals and families at risk of losing their housing.
- Any information you share is confidential.
- Interested households can apply starting December 16th at www.keepeoplehoused.org or by contacting West County Community Services at kph@westcountyservice.org or at 707-604-7401.
Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office
600 Administration Drive
First Floor-Room 111J
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
The Sonoma County Public Defender's Office provides free legal representation for those who cannot afford it, focusing on criminal defense, juvenile matters, and post-conviction relief. It also assists with expungements, immigration issues, and education programs like “Know Your Rights.” They emphasize protecting constitutional rights and improving access to justice. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, in Santa Rosa, CA. Visit their website for detailed information.
Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services – VIDAS
https://vidaslegal.org/
418 B Street
First Floor
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 523-1740
Dream Center
1501 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 838-8383
A staff of majority bilingual, first- and second-generation immigrants from all over the world offer life-changing competent and compassionate immigrant legal representation and wellness programs. VIDAS provides a range of direct representation with specializations in:
- Removal defense (pro bono service)
- Asylum
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
- U visas (for survivors of certain crimes)
- DACA
- Family-based petitions
- 601A waivers
- Adjustment of status, naturalization, work authorization
- Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement (DALE)
Correction to information shared during the Town Hall: VIDAS offers both affordable ("low bono") legal services and pro bono (entirely free) services. They are an excellent resource for immigrants and refugees in need of representation. Removal defense services are pro bono, all other services are sliding scale. No one will be turned away for inability to pay. Students, faculty and staff of the Santa Rosa Junior College receive services at no cost.
Sonoma County Conservation Action
https://www.conservationaction.org/
Sonoma County Conservation Action (SCCA) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing environmental priorities through grassroots organizing and political advocacy in Sonoma County. Since 1991, its organizing team has knocked on over 50,000 doors annually to engage residents, distribute information, and mobilize support for environmental issues and candidates. SCCA focuses on creating environmental majorities in local governments by endorsing and supporting candidates, while holding elected officials accountable through political report cards on their environmental voting records. Committed to long-term impact, SCCA continues to build community engagement and environmental stewardship to protect the region’s natural beauty for future generations.