Upcoming Speakers

On May 12, Raul Lozano, founder of Valley Verde will be speaking about Valley Verde. Valley Verde provides low-income families with gardening and nutrition classes and all the materials to start growing organic vegetables at their own homes at no cost.

 

On May 19, Taryn Kearns will discuss Reading Partners. Literacy is the foundation of all successful learning. Without reading, students do not have the skills they need to be successful in their academic careers, and their life options are limited. In this presentation, Taryn will give an overview of the literacy landscape in the Silicon Valley and introduce Reading Partners, a literacy invention nonprofit looking to unlock the potential of elementary students that struggle with reading. She will also explain the integral role that community volunteers play within the organization.

 

On May 26, John Varela, the newest member of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, will present on the current status of water and supply. As the drought continues (even with the latest rains), it is good to keep up with conservation ideas and current status.

 

On June 2, Angela Silveira, program coordinator for Step Up Silicon Valley, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, will discuss the poverty simulator.

The Community Action Poverty Simulation is an engagement tool that raises awareness and deepens understanding of how poverty affects families and individuals in our community. Participants learn how families struggle to make ends meet with only $2000/month and work together to overcome unforeseen economic obstacles along the way. This experience goes beyond role-play as participants hear from those who share their own stories of day-to-day challenges as all attendees reflect on the experience together. This core convening strategy intends to educate and engage our community members toward action.

 

I am sure you agree these talks are important in their own right. But put together over the next 5 weeks, it makes the Thursday meetings of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen the place to be.

 

Please plan on attending the meetings. I guarantee you will come away with a positive feeling for progress being made assisting our neighbors in San Jose East and Evergreen.