Tags >> Sonoma County
Dec 22
2009

Crisis at Home

Posted by Voice of Youth in youth , Sonoma County , poverty , nonprofit orgs , news , KRCB , journalism , jobs , housing , homeless , food , finances , families , economy , community engagement

Voice of Youth

Ten teenagers from Santa Rosa, California-based Community Action Partners explore the impact of the national economic crisis on our local communities.  These young "citizen journalists" explore a wide range of topics such as housing, food, and unemployment, and meet many individuals facing these unprecedented challenges.

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Watch Monday Night at 7:30 p.m. on KRCB-TV

Dec 21
2009

Kinship Center

Posted by Bruce Robinson in youth , teens , students , Sonoma County , seniors , resources , recreation , planning , nonprofit orgs , families , education , community , children

Bruce Robinson

In addition to the usual parents-plus-kids households, modern families can be cross-generational, or blended in other ways. However these households may be structured, the Sonoma Kinship Family Center exists to provide them with assistance and support.

Patricia Morrow (left), Program Director for the Sonoma Kinship Family Center in Santa Rosa, says that the organization gets many of  their clients through Child Protective Services and other law enforcement related bodies, although referrals are a growing source of contacts as well.

{play}http://media.krcb.org/audio/nbr/kincontact.mp3&autoplay=0&autoreplay=0" width="200" height="20" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> Patricia Morrow (left), Program Director for the Sonoma Kinship Family Center in Santa Rosa, says that the organization gets many of  their clients through Child Protective Services and other law enforcement related bodies, although referrals are a growing source of contacts as well.

{play}http://media.krcb.org/audio/nbr/kincontact.mp3&autoplay=0&autoreplay=0" />

Morrow adds that, whenever possible, the Kinship Center will extend their efforts to assist individuals who may not be part of the immediate family group, but are still concerned for the welfare of the children involved.

The Center is located at 411 King Street, near downtown Santa Rosa (see map below) and is open M-F, 9-5.  (707) 569-0877.  Their services are also available in Spanish.

 

 

 

Dec 17
2009

Copenhagen Climate Conference

Posted by Bruce Robinson in water , waste , technology , Sonoma County , resources , research , protest , politics , policy , planning , nonprofit orgs , news , media , legislation , law enforcement , justice , journalism , international , Ideas , Green , government , go green , events , environment , economy , design , corporate responsibiliyt , conservation , Congress , climate change , carbon , California , business , alternative energy , activism

Bruce Robinson

Sonoma County’s delegation to the Copenhagen Climate Summit will be heading home with some ideas they hope to apply locally.

There was a considerable backlash when it was announced that Sonoma County was sending seven delegates to the Copenhagen conference. Tim Anderson, a spokesman for the Sonoma County Water Agency, says those concerns were understandable, but notes that nearly half of those travel expenses have been picked up by other agencies from outside the county. And he believes the trip will prove worthwhile to the county, over time.

{play}http://media.krcb.org/audio/nbr/copbenefits.mp3&autoplay=0&autoreplay=0" width="200" height="20" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">

There was a considerable backlash when it was announced that Sonoma County was sending seven delegates to the Copenhagen conference. Tim Anderson, a spokesman for the Sonoma County Water Agency, says those concerns were understandable, but notes that nearly half of those travel expenses have been picked up by other agencies from outside the county. And he believes the trip will prove worthwhile to the county, over time.

{play}http://media.krcb.org/audio/nbr/copbenefits.mp3&autoplay=0&autoreplay=0" />

Anderson, who is also attending the Copenhagen conference, says that while he has not been directly affected by any of the numerous protests that have been staged in and around the Danish capital, it’s impossible not to be aware of them.

Rohnert Park city councilman Jake McKenzie is one of the local elected officials attending the Copenhagen conference. In this video clip, filmed earlier this week, he shares some of his ideas and inspirations from the event.

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Also attending is Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown, who explains that her primary focus there is being an advocate for local governments.

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Dec 15
2009

Climate Change and Vineyards

Posted by Bruce Robinson in wine , weather , water , trees , Sonoma County , politics , planning , Ideas , Green , government , go green , farms , environment , climate change , chemicals , carbon , California , business , alternative energy , agriculture

Bruce Robinson

Global warming poses a real and serious threat to California’s wine industry, but vineyards throughout the state—and other agricultural lands—can also take steps to blunt the pace of climate change.

It is increasingly clear, says Ted Lemon (right) , co-owner of Littorai Wines in Sebastopol, that the dominant business model in American agriculture, needs to change.

Monoculture farming has not succeeded in feeding the world. Lemon observes, so a new approach is clearly needed.

 

The Littorai Winery is an informal demonstration site for the practical application of principals of agroecology. The Wine Institute of California has also intiated a proactive program in support of sustainable vineyard practicies, which you can read about here.