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Artist Orlando "MC Zeps" Molina mentors students in Sacramento’s HeART and Mind program.
HEART AND MIND
STREET FOOD GRANT
The Sacramento City Council recently approved funding for Sacramento HeART and Mind, a new program that combines artists, community mentors and mental health support specialists to assist students affected by COVID-19 and school closures. “The pandemic brought about… abrupt adjustments to the ‘new normal’ of distance learning, and forced students to physically isolate—something that our kids have really struggled with mentally and emotionally,” says Councilmember Jay Schenirer, who spearheaded the effort. “The program will provide a creative outlet for these students and make sure our artists and community organizations have the mental health training to support our kids during this challenging year.” “Participation (in the arts) can reduce anxiety levels, improve selfesteem and allow students to express emotions and experiences that are otherwise difficult to put into words,” explains Megan Van Voorhis, the city’s cultural and creative economy manager. The Office of Arts & Culture is working with the Sacramento City Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District to finalize the schools that will participate in the program. A support team that includes a mental health specialist, community mentor and artist will work with each site. For more information, visit arts. cityofsacramento.org.
The Midtown Association has announced the recipients of its Street Food Sacramento grant, designed to celebrate and amplify Sacramento’s diverse street food culture, while reducing entry barriers of historically underrepresented populations. Christopher Boone Argyros of Boone’s Red Onions, Celine Callejon of Épicée and Carla Vazquez of La Minerva won booth space at the Midtown Farmers Market and the Wednesdays at Winn evening market for one year, including infrastructure, marketing support, insurance and startup funds. “As someone whose day job is working to help communities connect and thrive more equitably, I know that the access to opportunity designed specifically for communities of color, immigrants and the LGBTQIA are critical pathways to success and inclusion,” says selection committee member Monica Hernandez of Sacramento Area Council of Governments. “The expertise offered by these Street Food Sacramento grants are the practical supports needed to help these businesses and communities grow and thrive.” For more information, visit exploremidtown.org/streetfoodsac.
MLK ESSAY CONTEST The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is calling all middle and high school students in Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado and Sutter
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Please Drink Responsibly. ©2020 All Rights Reserved • Bogle Vineyards, Inc., Clarksburg, CA counties to submit an essay for its annual essay contest celebrating Dr. King. This year’s theme: “Congressman John Lewis was an African-American politician and civil rights leader who fought to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis preached ‘get in good trouble, necessary trouble’ with an emphasis on non-violence. Congressman Lewis encouraged peaceful protests to achieve goals, such as guaranteeing the right to vote for all Americans. Congressman Lewis encouraged others to stand up for justice. With COVID-19 health guidelines in mind, describe an injustice that you see in today’s society and what you can do to address the issue and advancement of John Lewis’ call to action.” Deadline to submit is Monday, Dec. 21, at 5 p.m. Essays can be sent as an attachment in Word or PDF format to mlkessaycontestsac@gmail.com or by mail to MLK Celebration, 2021 Essay Contest, 885 University Ave., Sacramento, CA 95825. Essays will be judged on creativity, clarity, content, coherence and adherence to the theme. Winning essays will be published on the MLK
Committee website, recognized as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event in January 2021 and published in the February edition of Inside Sacramento. For more information, visit mlkcelebrationsacramento.org.
DIAPERS TO DIPLOMA Many readers will remember our popular Momservations column written by Arden Oaks writer Kelli Wheeler. “I wrote the monthly columns to share my parenting wisdom as I followed my children from diapers to diploma,” Wheeler says. The award-winning family columnist and author took her readers on a parenting journey for 16 years as her kids grew up. “They grew from toosmart-for-their-own-good toddlers to typical, patience-testing teens,” Wheeler says. “My goal was to promise mothers that no matter how worried you might be about a parenting fail, raised with love, laughter and room for mistakes… most kids turn out okay!” Just four months into her Inside column Wheeler was discovered by fellow mother and then-California First Lady Maria Shriver, who hired Wheeler
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