Welcome!
Here are some of the Measure K investments that I have recommended to make a difference in District 4 and beyond. These investments are aimed at reducing poverty and enabling individuals a measure of independence and dignity by providing a safe place to sleep, educational support, access to nature and a pathway forward in life.
I’m also proud to say that all of these investments are collaborative. Think of the adage, “Many hands make light work.” That’s one of our values—we join with our partners to share costs and expertise and do together what we couldn’t do alone.
I hope you’ll read through the stories that put a human face of our Measure K investments. Moreover, I hope you’ll be as proud of the work undertaken as I am.
While most Measure K initiatives are approved by the Board through a two-year RFP process, Supervisors may recommend one-time loans or grants to cover unmet or unforeseen needs. These are programs and projects I recommended. Let me close by saying thank you for your support of Measure K. For more about Measure K, click here.
Best,
Warren Slocum
4th District Supervisor
A Playground for Everyone
The Board of Supervisors in October 2016 committed $50,000 in Measure K funds to build a new playground for children and adults of varying ages and physical and cognitive abilities. The playground, to be built in Red Morton Park, will be designed by the Magical Bridge Foundation to meet the needs of the visually and hearing impaired, physically limited and the aging population, among other individuals with special needs. A fund-raising campaign is currently under way. Learn more.
Expanding Opportunities
The California Clubhouse, located in San Carlos, is a non-profit organization that provides support for adults living with a severe mental illness. This $30,000 grant of Measure K funds approved by the Board in November 2016 finances the purchase of a 12-person passenger van that will be used for grocery shopping, field trips and other uses. The recommendation for the grant was made in conjunction with District 3 Supervisor Don Horsley. Learn more.
Improving After-School Services
The Board of Supervisors on Nov. 1, 2016, approved a one-time $50,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula to better serve 200 students from East Palo Alto and surrounding communities. The funds will help the club install a new commercial-grade kitchen that can serve fresh food and expand cooking classes. Learn more.
The Cooley Landing Education Center in East Palo Alto will provide educational opportunities and will help preserve the area's rich history.
Cooley Landing Park and Education Center
This grant, approved on March 29, 2016, provides $40,000 to the City of East Palo Alto for the Cooley Landing Park and Education Center, designed to promote the environment by educating and engaging visitors in the rich history and environmental lessons of the area. The grant will support the design, fabrication and installation of signs. Learn more.
North Fair Oaks Youth Initiative
This one-time grant of $5,000 to the St. Francis Center of Redwood City supports sending 30 youth ages 14 to 22 years of age to a leadership field trip in spring 2017. Learn more.
Dignity on Wheels
This $50,000 grant, matched by a grant by the County of Santa Clara, allowed Project WeHOPE to purchase the first mobile trailer offering free showers and laundry service for homeless people living in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The trailer will be located in Redwood City two days each week. The grant was approved on June 23, 2015. Learn more.
Sponsored Employment as a Gateway to Work
One East Palo Alto’s Sponsored Employment Program provides low-income youth and young adults a gateway to the working world. Participants learn job skills and receive mentoring for 30 hours a week for six weeks. For many participants, the program provides them with their first paycheck. The $30,000 grant was approved on July 7, 2015. Learn more.
Tools to Support Education
Familias Unidas, a nine-week program provided by the Redwood City School District, provides parents with the information and the support they need to help their children achieve academic success. More than 500 families have completed the program as of February 2016. The $20,000 grant was approved on Sept. 1, 2015. Learn more.
The Service League's Hope House offers comprehensive treatment and provides counseling and educational support for women, pregnant women and women with small children.
Heating and Food Storage for Transitional Housing
The Service League of San Mateo County provides substance abuse treatment for 16 residents at Hope House for Women and Infants and transitional housing for 24 people at the Hope House for Men and Women. The $55,000 grant, approved on Nov. 3, 2015, allows for the purchase of new heaters and refrigerator/freezers at Hope House for Women and Infants and new heaters at Hope House for Men and Women. Learn more.
Connecting Families to Services
This $60,000 grant provides funding for the Ravenswood City School District’s six-week Parent Academy, which provides support and connects participants to community services. Nearly 60 local parents completed the program's first training cycle in May 2015. The grant was approved on Aug. 4, 2015. Learn more.
Youth Leadership
The Lewis and Joan Platt YMCA Youth & Government Leadership Program teaches youth about the democratic process and builds an awareness of social issues. Participants are encouraged to volunteer, advocate for causes and participate in civic discussions. The $40,000 grant, approved on Aug. 4, 2015, allows 30 participants to participate. Learn more.
English Classes, Homework Support and Driver's Training
This $24,500 grant allows the Rosalie Rendu Center to expand English language classes for adults, provide tutoring and learning aids for special-needs youth and additional driver’s training. Earning a driver’s license can help youth gain and employment and pursue higher education. The grant was approved on Nov. 17, 2015. Learn more.
Mentoring At-Risk Teens
Since 2008, 100 percent of participants in the Lemo Foundation's Playmakers academic and mentoring program for at-risk youth have graduated from college. The LEMO Playmaker curriculum covers three disciplines: academics, athletics and life skills. The $50,000 grant, approved on Aug. 4, 2015, is for services and equipment for 20 participants. Learn more.
Improving Housing for Low-Income Families
The St. Francis Center of Redwood City operates St. Leo’s Apartments, a 15-unit complex that serves very-low and extremely-low income residents. This $30,000 grant allows the St. Francis Center to purchase, deliver, and install furnishings for its community room and two study centers. The grant was approved on Dec. 15, 2015. Learn more.
New hot water heaters can make a big difference for families struggling to regain independence in transitional housing.
Repairs for Veterans 'Hoptel,' Family Homeless Shelters
This grant to InnVision Shelter Network (now LifeMoves) funds: $13,715 for a new roof at the Veteran’s Hoptel in East Palo Alto, which serves homeless veterans; $32,000 for five hot-water heaters and roof repairs at Haven Family House in Menlo Park; and $8,500 for asphalt repairs at Redwood Family House in Redwood City. Both shelter homeless families. The grant was approved on Dec. 15, 2015. Learn more.
Enriching Lives in Redwood City and North Fair Oaks
This one-time grant of $18,152 supports two separate programs operated by Peninsula Family Service: early learning centers in Redwood City and the Fair Oaks Adult Activity Center in North Fair Oaks. The grant, approved on May 24, 2016, will provide educational materials and support for roughly 80 children and for the purchase of computer equipment and other services for adults age 55 and older. Learn more.
Celebrating Latino and Hispanic Culture in Redwood City
This $46,000 one-time grant to Casa Circulo Cultural de Redwood City will allow the nonprofit organization to improve access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, expand the music and art rooms and make better use of space. The grant was approved on Sept. 6, 2016. Learn more.