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0D\ 6HUYLQJ $ODPR DQG 'LDEOR Sentinels of Freedom Investing in Veterans Futures The Bounty Garden Set to Grow at Hap By Jody Morgan
Opportunity would need to begin at home, San Ramon resident Mike Conklin realized as soon as the Twin Towers fell. Gathering community leaders together, he advised them that they might soon see local youths coming home physically broken from the imminent war. How would the community prepare to support them? Those present shared Conklin’s belief: “The least we can do for those who have served and sacrificed is to assist them in attaining their life goals.” The Sentinels of Freedom plan Conk-
Magee Ranch Park By Jody Morgan
After two years of research and planning, The Bounty Garden (TBG) is in the final stages of preparation to grow organic produce for the 132,000 individuals dependent every month on donations from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. May work on the smaller barn at the garden’s Hap Magee Ranch Park will include re-grading to correct drainage. Raised beds now stacked at the co-founders’ Alamo home will be moved into place in late May or early June. On a day soon to be determined, park visitors will watch the earth move as wheelbarrow loads of soil parade down paths to fill the beds for planting. Heidi and Amelia Abramson, the mother/ daughter duo responsible for creating the concept of a space where community members of all ages can come together to learn about Joey Bozik (top, 2nd from left) enjoys some social time with his Danville support team. sustainable practices while lin devised at their behest was implemented in 2003 when San Ramon Valley High producing food for hungry School graduate Jake Brown became the first beneficiary, the first Sentinel. Conklin Heidi and Amelia discuss TBG plans. neighbors, are eager to see their vision bearing vegetables. Heidi has grown vegrecognized that each Sentinel would need appropriate housing, interim employment, See Garden continued on page 22 transportation, and the education requisite for his or her chosen career. Like most of the 90 plus Sentinels who have since been accepted into the program, Jake came back from the battlefield with only a high school education and no employment experience applicable to civilian life. Crushed by a tank, Brown sustained severe internal injuries and was unable to walk. Emerging from weeks in a coma, he had the determination essential to succeed. Mike Conklin and a core group of community professionals made sure Jake had the means. They found him employment working nights for UPS in San Ramon while he completed a California State University degree and helped him secure all the VA benefits to which he was entitled. Enrollment in an MBA program and a position at Sybase International followed Jake’s college graduation. One step at a time, Conklin and his team of San Ramon Valley volunteers constructed a support system based on the individual aspirations and limitations of each new Sentinel. As a building contractor and real estate developer, Conklin was used to engaging the skills of scores of separate tradesmen to put up a house. He applied the same logistics to coordinating benefits from government and private agencies with resources he could tap through community connections. Local professionals offered their time to provide Sentinels with legal, financial, and career counseling. In 2005, Manny Mendoza came home after losing both legs above the knee. Stone Valley OM Team Heads to Nationals! Placed through Sentinels as a Project Manager at AT&T in San Ramon, Manny A Stone Valley Middle School team received several promotions, purchased a home, and is now totally self-sufficient. took first place at the Odyssey of the Conklin’s recollection of Ron Wilkins, a boy a class or two ahead of him in high Mind (OM) Regional Competition as Volume XII - Number 5 school who sustained similar injuries in Vietnam, fueled his desire to make certain well as first place in the State Competi3000F Danville Blvd. #117, San Ramon Valley veterans had someone to count on. Ron tried hanging out with his tion in their division (Division II, 6-8th Alamo, CA 94507 old friends when he came home, but as a double amputee with no prospect of work, grade) and problem. The classics prob- Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 See Sentinels continued on page 16 lem was “To Be or Not to Be.” The team Fax (925) 406-0547 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher performed their rendition of “To Shave PRSRT STD Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com rd U.S. Postage or Not to Shave.” On May 23 the team Sharon Burke ~ Writer PAID Local will fly to Iowa to compete in the World sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 Postal Customer Finals. Pictured left to right are Hayden The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today Neustadt, Kristian and Kieran Woerner, not is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. Jennifer Sweeney, and Ellery Lewis.