Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Programs Aim to Rehabilitate Rather than Incarcerate



In America's juvenile justice system, experts say girls, who make up a larger portion of incarcerated youth than in the past, have often been victims of trauma and abuse. Now, programs in Jacksonville, Florida, aim to rehabilitate rather than incarcerate. NewsHour's Megan Thompson reports.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Join FFINEST 4 A Cure Team at This Year's Relay For Life!



Join FFINEST 4 A CURE Team at this years Relay for Life 

July 16th, 2016

FFINEST 4 A CURE: Inspired by the History of Dr Gordon Klatt's and his Heroic 83.6 Miles of continuous running & walking which brought awareness to a day in the life of a person dealing with cancer, and to generate resources 4 A CURE. 

The MATT Garcia Foundation, FFINEST 4 A CURE Team is committed to Strengthening our Communities, and is simply following the example of Dr Klatts, "Keep up the Fight" as we run 365 continuous accumulative Laps (90.4 miles) to represent each day in a calendar year. 

Please join our Team or invest in FFINEST 4 A CURE, "Running to Raise Resources" and pledge a lap sponsorship; i.e. $1.00 per lap at 10 laps, equals a $10 contribution. 
Visit our Booth during the Relay for cash prizes, gift cards and so much more.

Looking forward to seeing you at Armijo High School July 16th-17th to rally the support of all the Teams...walking & Running Laps.

Email Raymond info@mattgarciadreamteam.org or call/ preferably text him at 707 310-4152.

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Join Us For Our Monthly Community Clean Up on Saturday!

 
When: Saturday, June 25th, 2016 at 9am 

Where: Starbucks Downtown Fairfield 700 Jefferson St Corner of Jefferson & Texas (map)

Description: We meet every last Saturday of each month (weather permitting). We clean up different locations and neighborhoods. Please join us. All are welcome

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.

Monday, June 20, 2016

S.T.A.N.D. - Support



The Matt Garcia Foundation supports various youth organizations throughout the community by providing sponsorship to local youth sports teams and other nonprofit groups that benefit the young people of Solano County.

The Foundation has given thousands of dollars to the PAL Youth Center here in Fairfield, which provides after-school activities to local teenagers. This money has helped to purchase computers, a recording studio, roller skates, and much more.

The Foundation also gives out several college scholarships a year to graduating seniors through the Assist-A-Grad program.

 https://www.grouprev.com/standwithffinest

Friday, June 17, 2016

Can You Really Tell If a Kid is Lying? | Kang Lee



Are children poor liars? Do you think you can easily detect their lies? Developmental researcher Kang Lee studies what happens physiologically to children when they lie. They do it a lot, starting as young as two years old, and they're actually really good at it. Lee explains why we should celebrate when kids start to lie and presents new lie-detection technology that could someday reveal our hidden emotions.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

S.T.A.N.D. - Advocate


In a direct effort to curb the violence in our community and advocate for peace, the foundation has sponsored several successful gun buy-back programs that have taken hundreds of unwanted guns off the streets.

The president of the Foundation, Teresa Courtemanche, has also advocated by going into the prisons and speaking to prisoners serving life sentences about the impact of Matt’s murder on her family and community.

These prisoners are a part of a program that helps them improve their lives and take responsibility for their actions. As a result, the Foundation has received letters and checks from some of these prisoners whose lives have been changed as a result of the program and her visits.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Message to Matt Garcia Graduates: Strive for Excellence

Matt Garcia Career and College Academy Craig Dixson hugs friends after the school's graduation ceremony at the Fairfield City Council Chambers, Wednesday. (Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic)

By

FAIRFIELD — The Matt Garcia Career and College Academy graduated its first class Wednesday. The school was formerly known as the Matt Garcia Learning Center.


Five teens, dressed in black caps and gowns, received their diplomas.

“You not only represent Fairfield-Suisun Unified (School District),” Superintendent Kris Corey told the students, “you represent Fairfield’s finest because you are Matt Garcia graduates.”

Corey shared a brief history about Garcia, one of the youngest people ever elected to public office. He was killed in a case of mistaken identity in 2008.

“Keeping the Dream Alive” is a theme of the foundation that bears Garcia’s name.

Corey spoke of researching what it means to have a dream about graduation.

“Your dream is a reality,” she told the students.

Commencement speaker Ariday Fuentes told her fellow graduates they started school as children and were leaving as adults. She noted each will follow their own path now but should hold their heads high and keep their hearts full of hope.

“Strive for excellence in every task, large of small,” she said. “The future is truly in our hands. Let’s make the most of it.”

Principal Jacqueline Kearns held back a few tears after the graduates received their diplomas.

“I am so proud of each of you,” she said. “You have gone through tremendous struggles to be here.”

She also shared some words of wisdom for teachers that included everything from “smile” to “little things make a big difference.”

Graduate Paola Silva-Ramirez came to the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy having earned all F’s in high school. She found an environment to thrive in.

“The people care,” she said of the staff and students. “They get to know you.”

Holding her diploma, a gift bag, balloons and congratulation signs, Silva-Ramirez said she was looking forward to more learning, possibly becoming an ultrasound technician.

“This day means the world to me,” she said. “It’s opened new doors and opportunities. I know if I’ve made it this far, I can make it further.”

Craig Dixson, who called himself a “super senior,” said graduation was best summed up in one word: Accomplishment.

“I’ve been in (high) school five years,” he said. “I never gave up and now it’s done.”

He plans to work in the summer and head off to the Job Corps in the fall.

“That’s the beginner’s plan,” he said.

Todd and Kristy Neal watched as their son Bret Neal finished high school. He’s the youngest of four children.

“I’m so proud of him,” Todd Neal said.

“Matt Garcia gave him the opportunity,” Kristy Neal said. “He went from a 1.6 (grade-point average) to a 4.0.”

The Matt Garcia Career and College Academy serves sixth through 12th grades and focuses on project-based learning.

Article Source: Daily Republic 

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Why Not Put the Gun Down?: Yoni Hernandez at TEDxYouth@Watsonville



At the age of seven, in Chiapas, Mexico, Yoni was shot during the uprising of the Zapatistas. Immigrating to the United States, Yoni was bullied at school and sought protection from a gang when he attended Watsonville High. Yoni's life story and message: Why Not Put the Gun Down? is relevant for youth involved in gangs and adults involved in war. Yoni's life is a story of triumph and courage.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Pam Warhurst: How We Can Eat Our Landscapes



What should a community do with its unused land? Plant food, of course. With energy and humor, Pam Warhurst tells at the TEDSalon the story of how she and a growing team of volunteers came together to turn plots of unused land into communal vegetable gardens, and to change the narrative of food in their community.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Support The Matt Garcia Foundation Through AmazonSmile!

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