The Community Voice - June 2021

THE COMMUNITY VOICE A Quarterly Newsletter by Community Services Employment Training

June 2021

Dear Community Partners, This year CSET celebrates 45 years of Community Action work in Tulare County.

Community Action work changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. Our newsletter features program highlights and program participant success stories and our Employees of the Year who we are extremely proud of.

We continue to offer pandemic relief services through rental and energy assistance, employment services, family safety net support, and senior meal deliveries. CSET 's Community Initiatives team joined forces with countywide agencies through the Community Care Coalition to link community residents to resources and vaccination sites.

I hope the stories and program highlights featured in the newsletter shed light on the resilience and perseverance of our community during this challenging year. Thank you to our board of directors, volunteers, partners, funders, and staff for your collaboration and support of our mission.

Sincerely, Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner, CSET Executive Director

CSET CELEBRATED 45 YEARS OF COMMUNITY ACTION CSET's showcased its impact on the community by highlighting participant success stories, impactful accomplishments, and honoring our employees of the year. This year’s honorees are: Monica Carroll, Robert Almares, Bernardo Zavala, Celia Segovia, Raelene Scott, Antonio Costa, Christian Lozoya, Lucia Islas, Jessica Gabriel, Marianela Fraga, Bonney Parks, Jessica Loza, and Sara Besson. On May 26th, CSET presented awards to this year's employees of the year. Join us in congratulating their extraordinary commitment and service to Community Action. Stay tuned through our YouTube channel for videos featuring department highlights and honoree interviews.

Photo: CSET’s 2021 Employees of the Year pose with their awards at The Woodlands in Visalia.

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ABOUT CSET'S NEW FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER IN EARLIMART, CA The Earlimart Family Resource Center (FRC) recently opened its new location 176 N. Front St. The new site is equipped with a computer lab, conference room, and multiple cubicles for staff and community partners to provide comprehensive services. The FRC provides families with nutrition and health education; housing and utility assistance; and employment training.

Throughout the pandemic, FRC staff worked tirelessly to ensure its doors remained opened to provide vital services. FRCs are proud partners of the Photo: Luz Castillo (right) assists a local resident at the CSET Tulare County Family Resource Center Earlimart Family Resource Center. Click here to view a Network. virtual tour of the new site.

VITA VOLUNTEERS RETURN $5.4 MILLION TO TULARE COUNTY DURING 2021 TAX SEASON Thank you to our incredible VITA volunteers for your commitment to equity in Tulare County. Yearly, devoted VITA volunteers, like Janet Valencia (quote and photo to the right), serve as IRS certified tax preparers during the tax season. This year, VITA tax preparers have assisted 3,642 local taxpayers to file their taxes. With their support, low and moderate-income families gained access to state and federal tax credits (e.g., California Earned Income Tax Credit, Young Child Tax Credit) and the COVID-19 stimulus payments during the pandemic. Additionally, more than 120 ITIN filers - including undocumented workers - were able to file their taxes with VITA's support.

“I am very grateful to have served as a volunteer in VITA. It was amazing to give back and serve individuals that I grew up with and to support them in this manner. The knowledge and experience I was able to gain will definitely help me as I aspire to be a tax professional in the future. Overall, VITA was an extraordinary experience.”

PORTERVILLE’S MURRY PARK RECEIVES A FRESH LOOK

BY CSET’S SEQUOIA COMMUNITY CORPS

Photo: Sequoia Community Corpsmembers leveling paths at Murry Park project. View project video here.

CSET’s Sequoia Community Corps completed a Murry Park expansion project in partnership with the City of Porterville Parks Department.

The Corps’ Public Works crew removed dead trees and brush while also clearing the center island in the ponding basin. They constructed a river rock waterway, which the City of Porterville Parks Department will use to fill the ponding basin and plant the pond with fish. Additionally, they installed a decomposed granite pathway around the perimeter of the project for people to access the ponding basin.

Crews will landscape the area behind the curb on the northside of Putnam Avenue directly across from Murry Park. Landscaping will include drought-tolerant plants and a drip irrigation system.

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LOCAL YOUTH TUNE IN VIRTUALLY FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL REGIONAL EDUCATION YOUTH SUMMIT 2021 HIGHLIGHTS On April 2nd, participants from CSET’s youth leadership programs including Youth@Work, Youth Transitions, R2Y, Sequoia Community Corps, Tech Connect, and #LEAD attended the 2021 Regional Education Youth Summit. The day-long virtual conference highlighted the industries of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). More than 80 young people and partners tuned in to the virtual event through Zoom.

Photo: Regional Education Youth Summit attendees engaging in a virtual activity facilitated by guest speaker Arel Moodie.

Thank you to the Belay Foundation for contributing to this year's event. Thank you to our keynote speakers - Arel Moodie and Jessica Janniere - for joining us and amplifying the event with your words of wisdom. Attendees were also appreciative of the STEAM guest speakers - Lionel Moreno, On Man Lau, Mike Steck, Astrid Acuna, Shane Guffogg, and Dianis Pimentel - for sharing their career paths to STEAM careers. Kudos to the CSET Youth Department and REY event committee for organizing an amazing and thoughtful virtual event for the young people we serve. We look forward to next year’s annual event.

BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES $20,000 TO SPARK ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR CENTRAL VALLEY YOUTH CSET is honored by the recognition and funding received from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Thank you to Bank of America for your $20,000 contribution to CSET’s Youth Internship programs. Now more than ever, these contributions are essential in creating economic opportunity for young people in Tulare County. Through this partnership, youth and young adults will gain valuable work experience through our network of local business partners while exploring future career paths and earning good wages to help break the cycle of poverty.

Thank you!

Learn more about ways to give and make an impact in the lives of many in Tulare County at www.cset.org/donate.

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LETY'S INSPIRING JOURNEY OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELESSNESS TO NOW PAYING IT FORWARD AS A SOCIAL WORKER IN HER COMMUNITY

Visalia CSET 312 NW 3rd Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 Tel. 559.732.4194

Lety was chronically homeless in the streets of Visalia for nearly a decade. In 2015, she was linked to a program that assisted individuals experiencing homelessness and disabling conditions. With the support of CSET’s Permanent Supportive Housing program, Lety was placed in a studio apartment where she began to regain her health and confidence.

While in the program, Lety was able to seek the medical attention she needed and obtain a part time job. Through this process, she reconnected with her daughters which granted her the opportunity to become a legal guardian for her granddaughter.

Visalia Employment Connection 4025 W. Noble Ave. # B Visalia, CA 93277-1631 Tel. 559.713.5000 Tulare Family Resource Center & Employment Connection Affiliate 304 E. Tulare Ave. Tulare, CA 93274 Tel. 559.684.1987 Porterville Employment Connection 1063 W. Henderson Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Tel. 559.788.1400

In 2019, Lety was committed to going back to school and focusing on her career. Having the support of CSET and her family, she paid off old debts, cleared up her academic records, and secured part-time employment. During this time, Lety also started her own non-profit, Hood Outreach, an organization that provides resources to the homeless community in Visalia. Her desire to achieve greatness landed her at Fresno Pacific University where she is currently obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. Today, Lety is working at a local prison providing substance abuse counseling. She is stably housed and has set her next goal of homeownership.

Earlimart CSET 176 N. Front St. Earlimart, CA 93219 Tel. 661.849.2960 North County Youth Site 40802 Road 128, Cutler, CA 93615 Tel. 559.315.3223 Pixley CSET 927 Center St. Pixley, CA 93256 Tel. 559.575.0098

Lety exemplifies the possibilities that can be achieved through CSET’s Permanent Supportive Housing program. She is thankful for all the support CSET provided and shared the following about her journey: “CSET has impacted my life in so many ways. I regained my life back and I have achieved employment, housing, stability, and most importantly family reunification. I have come so far because of CSET’s case manager (Rocio Duran) who believed in me long enough for me to believe in me again.”

CSET Senior Services 1.800.321.2462 Cutler-Orosi, Earlimart, Exeter, Farmersville, Goshen, Lindsay, Porterville, & Woodlake

View more stories at www.cset.org/client-success-stories.

CSET inspires youth, families, and communities to achieve self-reliance through innovative pathways and collaboration.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Community Voice newsletter, send an email to: csetmarketing@cset.org Discover more information about CSET’s programs and services at: www.cset.org Follow us on social media for the latest updates:

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