14
Local News for a Global Village | www.VoiceSB.com
COMMUNITY NEWS
Simon-Gersuk Named Domestic Violence Solutions Executive Director MARILYN SIMON-GERSUK has been appointed to serve as the new Executive Director for the nonprofit Domestic Violence Solutions. To this role, she brings more than three decades of nonprofit management, fundraising, and operations experience, most recently working as the Associate Executive Director at the American Friends of the Hebrew University. Her past experiences also include working for the Jewish Federation of Greater SB, and helping found the international myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research organization Open Medicine Foundation. Currently, she also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) with CASA of SB County.
Marilyn Simon-Gersuk www.dvsolutions.org
SBPD Promotes Four Sworn Officers
L
AST MONTH, SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF BERNARD MELEKIAN held a private promotional ceremony honoring four newly promoted sworn law enforcement officers.
United Way of SB County Gift Drive Brings Over 200 Children Holiday Joy
T
AKING THE SPIRIT OF THE “SEASON OF GIVING” TO HEART, United Way of Santa Barbara County spread cheer and presents to more than 200 children across our county with its 2021 Holiday Gift Drive. In order to fulfill the requests of each child’s unique wish list, individuals, workplaces, and attendees of various local holiday events donated gifts. These presents were then distributed to families in need who were identified by participating schools and organizations. “It is such a great feeling knowing how many children in need received gifts thanks to our generous supporters. We could not have been able to bring the spirit of the holidays to so many children without their help,” said Steve Ortiz, President & CEO, United Way of SB County. The 2021 Holiday Gift Drive resulted in heartwarming moments for many children. Local student Alexa showing the Harvard One of this year’s benefitting students was sweatshirt she received through United Alexa, who lives with her six siblings in part of Way’s gift drive a living room that her family currently rents. As her dream is to ultimately attend Harvard Law School and become a lawyer, one of her wish list gifts was a Harvard sweatshirt. One of the Gift Drive donors granted her request, giving Alexa a happy holiday surprise.
www.unitedwaysb.org
SB Maritime Museum to Host Docent Training
A
RE YOU EAGER TO SHARE YOUR LOVE OF MARITIME HISTORY AND THE SANTA BARBARA HARBOR WITH OTHERS? Currently, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is searching for new docents to help welcome visitors, share information, maintain displays, assist with special events, and more. To help prepare new volunteers, SBMM invites interested community members to attend its ten-week docent training program, beginning on Saturday, January 8th, and running through March 12th.
For more information about how to volunteer and become a docent, contact jbaker@sbmm.org To apply, complete a volunteer application at www.sbmm.org/volunteer-application
www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/police/default.asp
BRYAN KERR was promoted from the rank of Officer to Sergeant. A UCSB alumnus, Kerr went on to earn his master’s degree in Public Administration from CSU, Northridge. For the past 12 years, he has served with the SBPD as a Patrol Officer, Tactical Patrol Officer, Beat Coordinator, and Field Training Officer. He has also acted as a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, and the Active Shooter Cadre. Prior to serving as a police officer, Kerr acted as program director for the SB Police Activities League.
Donaldson Joins Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center JOYCE DONALDSON will serve as the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center’s new Outreach Director. In this role, she will direct membership programs, oversee major events sponsored by the Arts Center, coordinate collaborative programs and events with local businesses and organizations, and more. A Carpinteria local, Donaldson brings with her 18 years of Chamber of Commerce leadership experience and is the former President and CEO of the Carpinteria Valley Joyce Donaldson Chamber of Commerce. She also previously managed the internationally recognized Southwest Arts Festival while serving as President/CEO of the Indio Chamber. www.carpinteriaartscenter.org
January 7, 2022
Oscar Gonzalez
Bryan Kerr
OSCAR GONZALEZ was promoted from the rank of Officer to Sergeant. A born and raised Santa Barbara local, he previously was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving one year active duty and five years in the reserves. Since 2001, he has worked with SBPD as a Patrol Officer, Special Enforcement Team Officer, Field Training Officer, Criminal Impact Team Officer, Training Recruitment Officer, Law Enforcement Academy Training Instructor, and Youth Services Detective. He holds his associate of science degree in Engineering from SB City College, and his bachelor’s degree in public sector management from CSU, Northridge.
KASI CORBETT has been promoted from the rank of Sergeant to Lieutenant. She has served with SBPD since 2005, holding the positions of Patrol Officer, Drinking Driver Team Officer, Beat Coordinator, Explorer Advisor, Field Training Officer, and Academy Instructor before being promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2017. She went on to serve as a Patrol Sergeant and the Strategic Operations Sergeant. Currently, Corbett is also an adjunct professor at Moorpark College. She holds her master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. She is married to SBPD Officer Mark Corbett and they have five children.
Kasi Corbett
KENNETH KUSHNER was promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to Commander. He started working with SBPD as a Police Cadet in 1998, being hired as a police officer in 2001. Over the years, he has supported SBPD in a number of positions, including School Resource Officer, a Detective in Youth Services Section and Crimes Against Persons, and Special Events Supervisor. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2015, and proceeded to work as Acting Combined Communications Center manager, Criminal Investigations Lieutenant, and the Assistant Division Kenneth Kushner Commander in Field Operations. He holds his bachelor’s degree in law and society from UCSB, and is married with two children.
SBCC Utilizes Federal Stimulus Funds to Erase Student Debt and Provide Direct Support
D
ETERMINED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AMIDST THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, Santa Barbara City College has utilized its Fresh Start Initiative and amounts received from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide some form of debt relief to about 1,800 students since last August. “The responses we received from our students were filled with hope and gratitude for how we’ve provided access to their future opportunities by paying off their balances,” said SBCC’s Student Finance Manager Nicole Hubert. “It was a unique and incredible experience for my staff and I to provide a fresh start to our students.” Using HEERF funds, which were distributed to institutions to aid students with needs related to the pandemic, SBCC established the Fresh Start Initiative. This program allocated $1 million to be directly distributed to pandemic-impacted students with outstanding balances. This way, all students enrolled in Spring 2020 through Spring 2021 classes with outstanding balances could pay off what they owed. Additionally, Fresh Start funding was provided to students who left SBCC before the pandemic and wanted to re-enroll, but were facing pandemic-related challenges and registration restrictions due to pre-pandemic outstanding balances. SBCC also offered direct relief to students through emergency grants using CARES/HEERF funds. Over $8 million has been distributed to almost 5,000 since the pandemic’s beginning. SBCC students can apply for another round of grants this spring semester, which begins on January 18th. www.sbcc.edu/fiscalservices/cashier/FreshStartInitiative.php