An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. ~Arnold Glasow
GA CUTS TO LEAVE THOUSANDS WITHOUT INCOME County Denies Recipient Pleas to Protect GA
A second rally organized by low-income and homeless recipients of General Assistance, the County’s loan program for people with no other income, was held on Feb. 23rd, 2010, following up on the Dec. 31, 2009 rally. The goal was to urge CountySupervisors to revisit their decision on providing GA just 3 out of 12 months, which will leave thousands without income in the coming weeks.
Over seventy protestors turned out for a demonstration on the steps of the CountyBoard of Supervisors building, and then went upstairs to testify and share their stories at the Supervisors’ meeting. Despite the passion and urgency of the speakers, the Supervisors voted 3-2 to not revisit the GA issue and left the cuts standing.
At this time the County and advocates are working behind the scenes to see what, if anything, can be done to mitigate the situation. Stay tuned. For more information, contact BOSS Executive Director boona cheema at (510) 649-1930 x 225.
DONATIONS SUPPORT UPGRADED COMPUTER LABS
Thank you, ACCRC and Bayer!
The Alameda County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC) recently donated 14 computers to BOSS programs serving homeless men, women, and youth. The donations went primarily to the UrsulaShermanVillage program, our largest housing and services program located in West Berkeley, to upgrade the Village computer lab, with some also going to other programs in BOSS.
All computers will be used by homeless adults, who attend classes to learn specific computer software modules, access email and communicate with service and health providers, do online searching for jobs and housing, and participate in online social justice organizing ~ and by homeless youth, who use computers for online research and study, completing homework assignments, educational programs and games, and practicing computer skills.
In addition, Bayer gave us 20+ printers that were distributed among all sites, replacing old, slow ink jet printers and hopefully reducing our printer cartridge costs.
To learn more about BOSS’s education and training programs or to support BOSS with a contribution of supplies or equipment, contact Sonja Fitz at (510) 649-1930 x 222.
SUPPORT BOSS AT CELEBRITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
Fresh Express Classic April 12-18, 2010
BOSS is a participating charity in the Fresh Express Class being held April 12-18, 2010 at TPC Stonebrae. The tournament is part of the national PGA tour and BOSS will receive 100% of proceeds from all tickets sold to support our programs for homeless people. Tickets are just $20 – buy using the Donation button on our website or contact Sonja Fitz at (510) 649-1930 x 222.
The Fresh Express Classic is a world-wide event, broadcast on April 15-18 to over 110 million subscribers of The Golf Channel. The Classic is more than just a professional golf tournament, it is a community-wide celebration—from the Jerry Rice Celebrity Pro-Am competition to the Junior Clinic, from the evening concert series to the Four Day tournament proper where the next generation of PGA TOUR stars play for $600,000. It’s a one-of-a-kind event, and 100% of the proceeds from tickets bought through BOSS support our programs for homeless people!
