Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Science of Compassion: Dr. James Doty at TEDxUNPlaza



James R. Doty, M.D. is the founder and director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University of which His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. He collaborates with scientists from a number of disciplines examining the moral, social and neural bases for compassion and altruism.

Monday, July 28, 2014

The 7th Annual Matt Garcia Softball Tournament is August 9th & 10th! Sign Up Today!


Step Up To The Plate And Help Strengthen Our Community!
SIGN YOUR TEAM UP NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY - AUGUST 9TH & 10TH

COMPETITIVE AND COED DIVISIONS
REGISTRATION FEE $325.00
DEADLINE TO REGISTER AUGUST 2nd, 2014

4 Games Guaranteed / 15 Players Per Roster
Home Run Derby

Contact Information

(Team Registrations) Dave Diaz - Cell # (707) 249-9747 / Email: ktdadaved@gmail.com

(Sponsorship Inquiries) Scott Siordia - ktdascotts@gmail.com

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Friday, July 25, 2014

Join Us For Our Monthly Community Clean Up Tomorrow!

When: Sat, July 26, 9am – 11am

Where: We meet at Starbucks Downtown Fairfield Corner of Jefferson & Texas Street

Description: The last Saturday of each month (weather permitting) we meet at 9am @ Starbucks. We clean up different areas and meet the community in neighborhoods throughout our city. All are welcome to join us.

At the Matt Garcia Foundation we don’t want to complain about this, we want to create solutions to problems. It is with this spirit that we began our Monthly Community Clean Ups.

On the last Saturday of every month, volunteers get together and clean up a neighborhood in Fairfield. We pick up trash, work on landscaping paint windows, fix fences – all in an effort to improve our community. This is another example of community coming together to help make a difference.

The Matt Garcia Foundation Dream Team, is all about stepping up and stepping out of ourselves to serve others and our communities to be a part of the solution. Matt would say ” if you see a piece of garbage on the ground, please just pick it up” How simple is that! So, that is what we do. 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

HELP! - Mission Solano Food Supply is Dangerously Low

"Our commitment is to provide food and care for the homeless and hungry on Solano County.  At this moment Mission Solano NEEDS your help to accomplish this goal.  During the summer months we hit the "Summer Slump"  as much of our funding and donations tend to get fewer and further in between.  However, those that we serve do not stop needing our services.  Our hard working volunteers and staff continue to serve and care for the most vulnerable in our county in spite of the "slump".

This summer is particularly challenging and we are asking our great supporters to consider helping supply $50 in canned goods this July.  When your family goes shopping this month would you prayerfully consider purchasing a little more and bringing a bag of canned goods to the Mission Solano Community Outreach Center (740 Travis Blvd)?  

Maybe you can provide a bit more.   Would you consider donating funds at MissionSolano.org?

Or is this the year you, your church, your business or even you family decides to supply a meal for the nearly 60 hungry homeless that fill our building every night?  Contact Nick Fisher at nick@missionsolano.org for more information on hosting a meal at our Community Outreach Center. 

Thank You"
 
-Mission Solano 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

The Importance and Need For After School Activities

Many parents feel that with the pressure on today's students that it might be cruel to consider enrolling their children into after school activities and programs. But there are very good reasons why it is the act of a responsible parent to take this course of action.

After school activity groups and programs have become more and more popular in recent years. The growth has been quite amazing. The primary reason for this is the working pattern of the parents. It is estimated that the average child spends around 15 to 20 hours per week without any parental or even adult supervision. They are left to their own devices and because of this many turn to petty crime as a means to alleviate their boredom and lack of structure. How many of us have seen documentaries of youth gangs where the majority of them say "there's nothing better to do around here" or something similar. After school activities are a superb remedy to this situation.

Crime is generally understood to be at its most prevalent immediately following the school day. I'm not suggesting that this is entirely due to the delinquency of modern day youth although it certainly plays a part. However, this part of the day is also a dangerous time to be a child with many traveling home unsupervised and possibly at risk. After school activities allow the children to be occupied during this time and allows a parent or other trusted adult time to pick them up from school after work.

Another 'big' concern with our children today is how prone they are to obesity. With the advent of computer games, internet communication, junk food and a lack of parental discipline our children s health is at a great risk and must be taken seriously. A well structured and physical after school activity can divert their attention from the desire to be at home and will greatly assist their physical condition and development as well as increasing social skills and abilities and helping to create a more rounded, healthy adult in later years.

There is a lot of pressure from parents and teachers for children to take their studies seriously with academic prowess being a much coveted goal but thought and attention should be given to preparing your child or children for life as an adult and the social, physical and mental benefits gained from after school activities make it an essential part of your child's progress into adulthood.

There is a lot of information that parents should be aware of regarding your child's development. Visit the after school activities hubpage for all the research you need.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Baker

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3801800

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Science of Happiness - Forgive and Forget



Forgiveness, what does it really mean? If you ask for forgiveness, do you lose the upper hand? This week on Science of Happiness we get selfish for minute, and find out what's in it for you.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

The 7th Annual Matt Garcia Softball Tournament is August 9th & 10th! Sign Up Today!


Step Up To The Plate And Help Strengthen Our Community!
SIGN YOUR TEAM UP NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY - AUGUST 9TH & 10TH

COMPETITIVE AND COED DIVISIONS
REGISTRATION FEE $325.00
DEADLINE TO REGISTER AUGUST 2nd, 2014

4 Games Guaranteed / 15 Players Per Roster
Home Run Derby

Contact Information

(Team Registrations) Dave Diaz - Cell # (707) 249-9747 / Email: ktdadaved@gmail.com

(Sponsorship Inquiries) Scott Siordia - ktdascotts@gmail.com

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Thursday, July 10, 2014

NFL Player Gets First-Hand Look at Mission Solano’s Work

James Michael Johnson at Bridge to Life 6_30_14
Mission Solano Operations Director Raymond Courtemanche, center, and Executive Director Ronald Marlette, left, gives Kansas City Chiefs linebacker James-Michael Johnson, right, a tour of the shelter's Bridge to Life Center, Monday. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)

By

FAIRFIELD — Edward Campbell was apologetic when James-Michael Johnson stepped into Campbell’s bedroom at the Mission Solano Bridge to Life Center.

“Don’t mind the (Pittsburgh) Steelers stuff,” Campbell said. “I’m a Steelers fan.”

Johnson, a 2007 Rodriguez High School graduate and linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, graciously accepted Campbell’s confession.

“I’m really a football fan,” Campbell went on to explain.

“I am, too,” Johnson assured him.

Johnson autographed the T-shirt Campbell was wearing. But Campbell wasn’t changing his NFL loyalty. A Steelers fan he would remain, he said.

Ron Marlette, executive director of Mission Solano, and Raymond Courtemanche, operations director, escorted Johnson and his father around the facility Monday morning. Marlette and the younger Johnson would pair up later in a golf tournament benefitting Mission Solano.

Last Thanksgiving,  a fair amount of poultry was pilfered from Mission Solano. When the younger Johnson heard about the missing birds, he took to Twitter with a pledge to help replace them.

His Twitter followers followed suit and donations began pouring in from across the country, Marlette said. The purloined poultry was replaced.

“We got double the number of turkeys,” Marlette said.
Johnson said he couldn’t let the opportunity to help pass by. Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday and he knew he would be gathered, with plenty of food and family, in Kansas City to celebrate the day.

He was pleased so many people stepped forward to help, Johnson said. The impact of his Tweet didn’t hit home until he saw it on the news in Kansas City, he added.

On Monday, Johnson got to see firsthand the work Mission Solano does. He was impressed and particularly touched by staff member Linda Wells, who willingly shared her story.

“I was an addict for 30 years,” Wells told Johnson. “I was in prison for 12 years. When I got out, the first night I slept in a car because I didn’t have anyplace to go.”

Someone told her about Mission Solano. That was three years ago.

Wells has reunited with her family and should be off parole in the next month.

“She went through a lot,” Johnson said. “It’s good to see her come back from 12 years in prison.”

Johnson got the biggest welcome in the veteran’s building, where he was asked for autographs and shook hands.

Marlette could barely finish Johnson’s name when the men began to crowd around Johnson and pose for pictures with him.

“These guys were waiting for him,” Marlette said. “When I dropped his name, everything kind of dropped after that.”

He met a 2-month-old baby in the women and children’s building. Johnson also got to visit a family unit and the kitchen.

Johnson offered praise for the work being done at Mission Solano.

“It’s a good foundation here for people to turn their lives around,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard to get it where it’s at,” Courtemanche told him.

A young boy staying at the center followed Johnson most of the tour. The two threw a few passes to each other, using the football Johnson had autographed.

The professional football player ended his Mission Solano visit by autographing almost 20 color photos for the youths who use the organizations services.

Article Source: Daily Republic 

Monday, July 7, 2014

Denzel Washington on High School Dropouts, At-Risk Youth



The NewsHour launches a new series this week examining America's high school dropout crisis. On Wednesday, actor Denzel Washington talks about making a difference in lives of at-risk youth.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Julian Treasure: How to Speak So That People Want to Listen



Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help you fix that. As the sound expert demonstrates some useful vocal exercises and shares tips on how to speak with empathy, he offers his vision for a sonorous world of listening and understanding.