The Buzz - December 2021

DECEMBER 2021

ALAMEDACOUNTY COUNTYSOCIAL SOCIALSERVICES SERVICESAGENCY AGENCYEMPLOYEE • OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNITY RELATIONS EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER ALAMEDA NEWSLETTER • A PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICE • OF PUBLIC INFORMATION

A Message from the Agency Director

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s you spend time with friends and family this holiday season, remember your authentic presence may be the only present you need to give. I wish you, your family, and loved ones the very best.

If you are traveling, I wish you safe passage to and from your destination.

I can’t end this message without reminding you that we are still in a pandemic. You should enjoy all that the holiday season has to offer, but do so safely, while wearing a mask and practicing sensible COVID-19 protocols.

Happy Holidays, -- Lori

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IN THIS ISSUE

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1 Agency Director’s Message 1 One Warm Coat & Many Smiles 2 SSA Staff Share Holiday Traditions They Look Forward To Most 2 Adopt An Angel Fills Wish Lists of 112 DCFS Children & Youth

3 East Bay Job Fair & Expo Attracts Nearly 1,000 Job Seekers 3 Great California ShakeOut 2021 4 Final Chance: Volunteer with VITA! 4 Sharing from the Heart: SSA Staff Cookbook

One Warm Coat and Many Smiles

hrough the generosity of the organization One Warm Coat, SSA’s Department of Workforce and Benefits Administration received approximately 1,600 coats, sweaters, and hoodies for toddlers, children, and adults to distribute at Self-Sufficiency Centers. Even through the masks, you can see the smiles on clients’ faces!

Above: Clients at the North Oakland Self-Sufficiency Center. Photos by Regina Dean.

Below: Clients at the Eastmont Self-Sufficiency Center. Photos by Rochelle Baxter-Green.

County of Alameda Social Services Agency

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Bright Moments Ahead: SSA Staff Share Holiday Traditions They Look Forward to Most

or a second year in a row, the holiday season still looks and feels different due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic. However, with increased knowledge, availability of vaccines, and vigilance, many of the traditions that we have enjoyed in years past are now possible again. And some traditions never faltered, even in the face of the pandemic.

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his year, I wish for changed hearts and attitudes. Most are only concerned about things that do not really matter. We are in a pandemic; for many of us, this is the first time we have ever experienced this. This season, we need to be kinder and think of others before we act.

Remember to love thy neighbor as thy self.

hat I look forward to most this season is the positive feelings that come from thinking about the all love and merriment I will share with my family and friends. Also the obscene amount of eggnog I will get to enjoy!

Ken Kennedy III, Supervising Clerk II Office Services

Dana Hodge, Social Worker III Workforce & Benefits Administration

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ast year, in an effort to keep our family safe, we decided it was best not to celebrate Christmas together.

However, this year, I’m looking forward to continuing our tradition and with a new appreciation and gratefulness for all that we’ve endured. I’m also looking forward to watching the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker! I just love the holiday tradition, the wonderful music, and costume design. I especially appreciate the skill and hard work that’s been put into the production to deliver a beautiful memorable holiday experience!

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very year I look forward to the holiday season because it is my favorite time of the year. I love winter, cold weather, fuzzy slippers, warm blankets, good books and shows, and seeing happy people outside. This year, I look forward to spending time with the people I cherish and trying caroling for the first time!

Charles Balderama Sanchez, Administrative Specialist I Office of Public Affairs

Sabrina Jean, Management Analyst Government and Community Relations

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ne thing I always looking forward to during the holidays is what we called the Simbang Gabi (9 novena masses in early morning): the sacrifice of waking up early and going to church to be prepared for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a Roman Catholic tradition. I’m praying for the peaceful environment and end of pandemic.

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​know this time of year can be stressful for some, so one ​ of the things I enjoy doing during the holiday season is every year I make a silly goofy Photoshop holiday card of me, my wife, and our dogs to send out to friends, family, and coworkers in order to add some levity to folks’ lives.

Jake Leenerts, Service Support Specialist In-Home Supportive Services

Honeylet Bautista, Financial Services Officer Finance Department

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Adopt An Angel Fulfills the Wish Lists of 112 DCFS Children and Youth

or many of SSA’s foster children and youth, this holiday season will be brighter, thanks to Adopt An Angel, a local non-profit organization that gives holiday gifts to foster children, lowincome homes, and shelter children. Since 1994, the organization has been led by realtor Georgia Butterfield and making holiday dreams come true, with the help of community donations and support.

This year, Adopt An Angel fulfilled the wish lists of 112 children and youth receiving services through SSA’s Department of Children and Family Services. Adopt An Angel also provided many more boxes of new toys as well as gift cards that will be distributed to other DCFS children and youth.

Photo by Melissa Fegurgur 2

East Bay Job Fair and Expo Attracts Nearly 1,000 Job Seekers

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early 1,000 job seekers attended the in-person East Bay Job Fair and Expo on December 2, 2021 at RingCentral Coliseum. The event was sponsored by the Oakland Private Industry Council (Oakland PIC), Alameda County Social Services Agency, Oakland Housing Authority, Roots Community Health Center, and RingCentral Coliseum.

Additional community partners included the City of Oakland, Unity Council, Lao Family Community Development, and West Oakland Job Resource Center, among others.

The event promoted the Oakland Jobs and Infrastructure Initiative. Forty-five employers were on hand to recruit job applicants. Employers included Caltrans, Southwest Airlines, Oakland Zoo, and the United States Postal Service. “Oaklanders are ready to work. Employers are ready to hire Oaklanders,” said Germaine Davis, job developer and office manager at Oakland PIC.

“I believe that we’re going to see the murders and the violence go down,” said Mr. Lankford. “Oakland is going to become a better and healthier city because Oaklanders are now going to be employed.”

Recruiters from UPS, one of the participating employers, were pleased to generate more than 40 inquiries of interest. In the following week, they were in the process of filling more than a dozen positions with candidates who attended the job fair.

“We want people to be hired,” said Raymond Lankford, newly appointed interim CEO of the Oakland PIC. “We’re going to work together to bring jobs, jobs, and more jobs to Oaklanders.”

Check out the photos published in the Oakland Post’s December 1-7, 2021 edition.

The Great California ShakeOut 2021 10-21-21 @ 10:21AM: SSA Dropped, Covered, and Held On!

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WRITTEN BY: Michael Osborn, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (DPEM)

n October 21 at 10:21AM, our Agency took part in the Great California ShakeOut. We were among over 7.5 million participants throughout the state of California. Earthquakes can strike at any time; however, they don’t have to be devastating. This annual drill provides an opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes: DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON! Practice and preparation, as demonstrated by your colleagues in these images, are keys to our survival and quick recovery from a quake. THANK YOU! To learn more on earthquake preparedness visit DPEM’s webpage or ready.gov.

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A Gift for the Community and for You: Be a Part of SSA’s 2021-2022 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

here is a Chinese proverb that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Take the leap for 2022, and join a group of dedicated, passionate volunteer tax preparers as part of SSA’s longstanding Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

No prior tax preparation experience is necessary; all that is needed is a desire and willingness to help others. We will provide IRS-certified training to all volunteers. At the end of the training, volunteers will officially bear the moniker of “IRS certified tax preparer.” Training sessions are still available in January 2022.

COVID safety protocols will be observed throughout the tax season. We will offer virtual tax preparation services with limited in-person appointments. Tax services are offered Monday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturdays, January - April 2022.

For VITA volunteer information, contact Charles Balderama Sanchez at 510-271-9141 or charles.sanchez@acgov.org.

To register as a volunteer: https://public.alamedasocialservices.org/VITA/home

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Sharing from the Heart: the SSA Staff Cookbook Connecting us through recipes, stories, and family traditions Barbara’s Cheesy Breads

efore the pandemic, staff potlucks, bake sales, and luncheons connected SSA staff beyond department mission statements and daily work tasks.

These communal food experiences were as important to sustaining our common mission as our policies and procedures. Taking the time to share a meal with a coworker or organizing a potluck was a form of self-care, that fostered a sense of community and connection through service and nourished our sense of hope.

Shared by Kimberly Little, Supervising Clerk II, South County Workfore & Benefits Administration “Back in the day, Barbara Bugay, the (now retired) Hayward Division Secretary, brought some lovely cheesy breads to many potlucks. I swiped her recipe.”

INGREDIENTS

• 16 ounces grated

In 2018, SSA published a staff cookbook, Sharing from the Heart: Connecting us through recipes, stories, and family traditions, to highlight the diverse collective traditions and histories that our employees bring to the table. From crowd-pleasing party favorites to quick go-to recipes for a workday breakfast or lunch, the cookbook is a celebration for the taste buds and the heart.

sliced (if you purchase the loaf at Safeway, the bakery will often slice the bread for you if you ask. I recommend the #3 setting)

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl. The mayonnaise is mainly to hold the cheese and chiles together.

2. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Put a teaspoonful of cheese mixture onto each baguette slice and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

3. Broil the cheese bread in the oven for 2-3 minutes, depending on your broiler. Keep an eye on them – they can go too crispy quite quickly. They need to be melted and slightly toasted.

Check out the digital edition of the cookbook and try out a new recipe this holiday season—or revisit an old favorite.

It might seem like there is a big contingent keeping this hive alive, but there are only two people behind the scenes here at The Buzz! We don’t want to do it alone! We welcome new creative approaches and ideas. Please reach out to Sylvia Soublet to discuss how you can be a part of the editorial team.

Sylvia Soublet, Director Office of Public Affairs

• 1 sourdough baguette,

Monterey Jack cheese • 1 medium can diced green Ortega chiles • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise • Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

Andrea Wong, Program Specialist Office of Public Affairs

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REACH OUT TO THE BUZZ Send comments to Sylvia Soublet

ssoublet@acgov.org

Content and Design Editor: Andrea Wong