Save Empire Seven Studios

The Empire Seven gallery in Japantown has hosted hundreds of art shows over its 10 year run. Unfortunately, the building will soon be torn down to make room for luxury apartments. Officially, they will be kicked out on January 1st, 2017.

Empire Seven's proprietors are now looking to build a new gallery in the heart of Japantown. The project would create a new four-story building with the gallery on the main floor, a recording studio in the basement, and artist residences on the upper floors. The residences would help keep local artists in San Jose.

They are asking for donations through a GoFundMe campaign over here. Every little bit helps, including getting the word out to as many people as possible. Check out their 8-minute video below and learn more about the project here.

The Hard Truth - live concert to benefit pediatric cancer and team Sofia

1993 Bellarmine Alumni, Matthew Largent (The Hard Truth) and Coach Mike Rodriguez, (father of Sofia Rodriguez currently battling Leukemia) are hosting a benefit concert to help raise awareness and funds for all children and families battling pediatric cancers.

The event will be on Saturday August 27, 2016 at 5:00pm at Bellarmine’s Sobrato Theatre with a short drink reception followed by an hour and a half set played by The Hard Truth. The evening will then conclude with speeches bringing awareness to struggles of pediatric cancer patients and families. The night will end roughly around 7:30pm.

All in attendance will have the opportunity to purchase music and apparel (#teamsofia) in which all proceeds will go directly to Team G foundation honoring Sofia Rodriguez. The money raised will help fund Pediatric Cancer Research at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as well as programs to benefit the well-being and comfort of children battling cancer. We look forward to seeing you there!

REGISTER TODAY: CLICK HERE

For more information:  www.teamsofia.causevox.com, http://posthope.org/team-sofia,
Coach Mike Rodriguez: mrodriguez@bcp.org
Follow: @thehardtruthmusic , @lolasounds , @matthew_largent

May is National Foster Care Month

There are over 6,000 children in foster care in the Bay Area and 60,000 in California. I think foster parenting is one of the most important way you can contribute to making the world a better place and have a tremendous impact on a child's life. This topic is very close to me since my mother participated in foster care for two decades and made the lives of dozens of children better.

Seneca Family of Agencies was founded 30 years ago in the Bay Area. The agency helps at-risk children and families in the region with a multitude of challenges. Below is a profile of one of their San Jose foster parents, Beatriz Alvarez. For more information on how you can get involved, please visit the Seneca Center website.

Beatriz Alvarez is excited about what's to come next in life. That's because she's in the process of becoming a certified foster parent, fulfilling a dream that has its roots in her early childhood. As the second youngest of 14 children, it was a struggle and a bit lonely, as ironic as it seems being in a big family. It's comparable to being lost in a crowd. It was during that time, at about 10 years old, that Beatriz remembers gravitating toward young people in need and learning about orphanages, a term less used now in the U.S., but often still used in many foreign countries. In fact, her mother had been raised in an orphanage in Mexico from age five to nine years old, and learning about it had an impact on Beatriz.

As Beatriz grew up she became involved in volunteer work with kids, the homeless and others in need. She also has a son, now 23 years old. Beatriz also became close to fiancé Marco Vazmendes and he learned of her interest in foster parenting. Without prompting, Marco did some research and learned about Seneca Family of Agencies in San Jose, an organization that was founded in the Bay Area more than 30 years ago to help children and families overcome life's biggest challenges. Not only did Marco learn about foster parenting and advise Beatriz, he enthusiastically joined her in the foster parenting certification program.

They have both enjoyed the process, which includes classes and a wide range of topics to help them learn all the ins and outs of being foster parents. Beatriz and Marco don't have a preference about fostering a boy or a girl, but their current thinking is a child in the age range of seven years old. They are excited about the joys that lie ahead, the opportunity to help a young person have a better life and how it will enrich their own lives.

For more information about foster parenting and foster-to-adoption call Seneca Family of Agencies at 877-380-5300, or attend Seneca's Community Foster Care Day event on Saturday, May 14, Noon-to-3pm at Mayfair Community Center, 2039 Kammerer Avenue, San Jose.

Santana Row News and Events - May through July 2016

San Jose, CA - Silicon Valley’s favorite summer spot swings into the season with new experiences and annual events. In May, the weekly Saturday morning Yoga in the Park and the monthly Mommy & Me and Daddies, too begins again. In June, Santana Row hosts the YWCA Silicon Valley Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an annual event that raises money for comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

lululemon athletica Presents Yoga in the Park, May 7, 14, 21 and 28
Every Saturday through September, 9 a.m. Santana Row Park
Free Yoga on Saturdays, presented by lululemon athletica begins May 7 and is held every Saturday through September, taking advantage of the best weather seasons!
Practice your sun salutations under the sunshine every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Santana Row Park while Park Valencia is under renovation. The complimentary classes are held outdoors, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. each week. For more information, contact lululemon, 408.557.8721.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too, season kick-off event
May 10, 10 a.m. to noon, Santana Row Park
The popular kids’ club returns for the season with free entertainment, interactive games, crafts and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Special guest for the event is Clifford the Big Red Dog. Andy Z will perform. Families can also enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more.
Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Santana Row Park while Park Valencia is under renovation. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

Cielo at Hotel Valencia Seasonal Grand Opening
Thursday, May 12, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Take in breathtaking sunset views overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains at Cielo, Hotel Valencia's 7th-floor rooftop bar as it celebrates the start of the warm-weather season!
Enjoy wine tastings, sangria, paella and an assortment of tapas while listening to live music. Admittance is $30 per person and reservations are required. Please call 408.423.5405. 
*Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

Summer Hair & Fashion Show at Hotel Valencia
Friday, May 29, cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., show begins at 6:30 p.m.
The best summer trends for hair and fashion will be showcased during an evening of cocktails, nibbles and stylish fun! It’s a benefit for Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children and young adults suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
The Hotel Valencia courtyard is the backdrop for the show and partners include Bellarmine Salon with fashions provided by Santana Row retailers.
Tickets are $30 and reservations are required. Please call 408.423.5405.
*Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

Cars & Croissants
Saturday, May 28, 9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row again partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month from March through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

lululemon Presents Yoga in the Park, June 4, 11, 18 and 25
Every Saturday through September, 9 a.m. Santana Row Park
Free Yoga on Saturdays, presented by lululemon athletica is held every Saturday through September, taking advantage of the best weather seasons!
Practice your sun salutations under the sunshine every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Santana Row Park while Park Valencia is under renovation. The complimentary classes are held outdoors, with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. each week. Guests can enter to win a $50 gift card to the store and one winner is selected every week. For more information, contact lululemon, 408.557.8721.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too Free Kids Club
Tuesday, June 14, 10 a.m. to noon, Santana Row Park
The popular kids’ club has returned for the season with free entertainment, interactive games, crafts and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Join us in June for the Pirates & Treasure event! Dress as a pirate and embark on a special treasure hunt through Santana Row. Enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music, balloon art, story time and more. Meet us in Santana Row Park to pick up your activity sheet!
Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Santana Row Park while Park Valencia is under renovation. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

YWCA Silicon Valley Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Wednesday June 22, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Entering it’s 14th year, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes may look like a stunt with men racing in heels, but it’s actually a statement about men's roles in ending violence against women and drawing attention to the issue that is connected to strict gender roles and expectations of men.
For the second time, the annual event will be held at Santana Row.
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event attracts hundreds of spectators and prominent walkers including the mayor and community and business leaders. It’s become an international event that engages men in raising awareness and funds to stop sexual assault and domestic violence.
Funds raised from Walk a Mile in Her Shoes make it possible for YWCA Silicon Valley to provide critical response, intervention, and comprehensive support services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
For more information and sponsorship/registration information, go to www.ywca-sv.org.

Cars & Croissants
Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row again partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month from March through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.

Big Changes Underway at Santana Row’s Park Valencia
An enhanced park and churned-to-order ice cream coming in July!
A transformed plaza is opening this summer with two new food merchants including Smitten Ice Cream, an artisanal ice cream shop. Smitten will offer its cult-favorite frozen treats from classic flavors like TCHO chocolate and Cookie Dough with Pretzels and Chocolate Chips to more innovative seasonal flavors like Strawberry White Balsamic and Nectarine Crisp, in addition to its selection of creative toppings and fun sundaes. 
The lively and family-friendly atmosphere of Park Valencia will be unveiled with plenty of outdoor seating, a dynamic fountain and an interactive playground with a tot-sized climbing structure, mounted in a brightly-colored "lizard-skin" turf. Four lifelike chameleon sculptures will look as if they’re lounging in the new "Chameleon Oasis," fountain. New café tables and seating areas will be added and the popular grass turf will be replaced.

Mommy & Me and Daddies, Too Free Kids Club
Tuesday, July 12, 10 a.m. to noon, Santana Row Park
The popular kids’ club has returned for the season with free entertainment, interactive games, crafts and educational activities designed for parents and their pre-school aged children. Enjoy special guests from classic fairy tales and a special story time. Meet us in Santana Row Park near Left Bank Brasserie!
Details: 10 a.m. to noon at Santana Row Park while Park Valencia is under renovation. Mommy & Me is a free kids’ club held on the second Tuesday of every month from May through December. For more information, call 408.551.4611 or visit www.SantanaRow.com.

Santana Row Beer Walk
Wednesday, July 27, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Stroll The Row and sample 20-plus beers while enjoying the shopping and dining incentives offered during the fourth annual Beer Walk! Cool off with a walk around Santana Row while tasting brews from microbreweries. The beer stops will be stationed in restaurants and shops for easy sipping and strolling and shopping. Tickets are $30 and available online at www.SantanaRow.com.

Cars & Croissants
Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. to noon
Santana Row again partners with 100 OCT to present Cars & Croissants on The Row, a monthly gathering for exotic car owners and car enthusiasts. On the fourth Saturday of the month from March through December, exotic car owners are invited to park on Santana Row Boulevard from Alyssum Lane to Tatum Boulevard, display their cars and mingle with other enthusiasts. The morning meet-up for coffee, croissants and cars drew 400 people and 60 cars during the first event and continues to grow in popularity. This event is free and open to the public.
  
Twitter and Instagram Promotion @SantanaRow invites tweets and IG tags
For a Chance to Win Gift Cards to Restaurants at The Row
Santana Row’s Twitter campaign and photo contest continues through the @SantanaRow Twitter handle. The contest invites anyone at Santana Row to Tweet or Instagram photos of a new outfit, haircut, meal, event or artsy shots and then tag it with the hash tag #LifeonTheRow. Every month, Santana Row will post an album on Facebook with all of the photos with the #LifeonTheRow hash tag. The person who took the best or most original photo will win a gift card to a Santana Row restaurant.

Space Battle San Jose 2016 happening today

I never cease to be impressed by the long list of creative events that keep on popping up in San Jose. Today there is basically a giant lightsaber battle going on in Downtown San Jose. Due to a Lucasfilm lawsuit, they can't actually call it a lightsaber fight--but we all know that is exactly what this is.

The "space battle" goes down tonight at 8pm in St. James Park and part of the proceeds will benefit the Bay Area chapter of Make-A-Wish. For more info (including a video clip), keep reading.

Massive “Space Battles” Set to Explode from Coast to Coast this May

The charitable mock battles will see glowing sword-fighting to benefit 6 local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapters in 4 states

Tour forced to change its “Lightsaber Battle” name by legal settlement with Lucasfilm  

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016 -  Following on the success of their December event tour, which saw 10,000 people come together to have massive battles with glowing weapons, Toronto-based arts organization Newmindspace plans to go even bigger with “space battles” from San Jose to Boston this May. The events are all free, but participants can register online at catsinspacetour.com for $10 to receive a glowing sword, and each tour stop benefits the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter by donating a portion of the proceeds.

“We are excited to get back on the road, put on some huge, family-friendly events, and raise money for the amazing work that Make-A-Wish does,” said Kevin Bracken, tour co-founder. Along with co-founder Lori Kufner, the pair have been organizing free, all-ages events such as giant pillow fights, bubble blowing parties and subway celebrations around North America since 2005.

The tour was recently forced to change its name from “The Light Battle Tour” by a legal settlement with Lucasfilm, which is now owned by Disney. Lucasfilm believed people would too ​​easily confuse the name and the glowing swords offered by the tour with “lightsabers.” The new name of the tour is Cats in Space Tour, and instead of each event being called a “Light Battle,” they will be called Space Battles. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume, whether that is a character from their favorite sci-fi universe, or with cat ears and whiskers.

The May tour will see events in San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Grand Rapids, and Boston between April 30th and May 28th.

April 30 - San Jose to benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area
St. James Park, 8 PM - 11 PM
Register: ​http://bit.ly/SJReg
Facebook: ​http://bit.ly/catsinspace_SanJoseApr2016

Cats in Space Tour 2016 Teaser from Newmindspace on Vimeo.

Health Trust Hike & Bike Silicon Valley taking place this weekend

Join the Health Trust Hike & Bike Silicon Valley to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS and help fund the Health Trust's AIDS services. This is a unique event that combines a 5K walk and a 30 mile bike ride. The event begins at 9am this Sunday, May 1st at Hellyer Park in South San Jose.

For more information and registration, just heard over here.

San Jose winners of the Knight Cities Challenge

The Knight Cities Challenge has announced a list of 37 winners that will share $5 million in grants to make their cities better places. The contest looks for ideas that will help cities keep talented people, expand economic opportunity, and create a culture of civic engagement. San Jose had two winners this year, each taking home $100,000:

Post Street Night Market by Justin Triano | $100,000

Expanding economic opportunity with a recurring night market that features local crafts, food and entertainment.

 

The MayFeria by Mexican Heritage Plaza | $100,000 | submitted by Tamara Alvarado

Increasing civic engagement and expanding economic opportunity in San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood with The MayFeria, which will consist of folk life events, a community task force, and a coordinator to help identify and make better use of cultural and civic assets

Congrats to both of the winners! I'm especially excited about the new night market on Post Street. For the press release, read on.

Knight Cities Challenge awards $5 million for ideas to make cities more successful

 

MIAMI — The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced that 37 innovative projects will share $5 million as winners of the Knight Cities Challenge. Each of the ideas centers on helping cities attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunities and create a culture of civic engagement.

 

The challenge attracted more than 4,500 ideas to make the 26 communities where Knight invests more vibrant places to live and work. It asked innovators of all kinds to answer the question: What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?

 

The 37 winners proposed a host of ideas, from exploring Detroit’s untold history through monthly bike tours that blend storytelling with neighborhood discovery to using hip-hop to provide hands-on business training to members of low-income groups in Philadelphia, from developing a toolkit to create temporary pop-up social spaces at voting polls in Long Beach to creating a new cultural hub in West Palm Beach’s Northwest Historic District.

 

“At its core, the Knight Cities Challenge is about discovering and connecting civic innovators, creative interventionists who inspire positive change,” said Alberto Ibargüen, Knight Foundation president. “The winners reflect this goal. Their ideas have the potential to create stronger communities and spaces that spur learning, engagement and growth.”

Open to any individual, business, government or nonprofit, the Knight Cities Challenge has just two rules: (1) A submission may come from anywhere, but the project must take place in or benefit one or more of the 26 communities where Knight invests and (2) the idea should focus on one or more of three drivers of city success: Talent: Ideas that help cities attract and keep talented people; Opportunity: Ideas that create economic prospects by breaking down divides and making new connections; Engagement: Ideas that spur connection and civic involvement.

Winning projects are based in 19 of the 26 communities where Knight invests including: Akron, Ohio; Boulder, Colo.; Columbus, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit; Gary, Ind.; Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Lexington, Ky.; Macon, Ga.; Miami; Long Beach, Calif.; Milledgeville, Ga.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; Philadelphia; St. Paul, Minn.; San Jose, Calif; State College, Pa; and Tallahassee, Fla.

The list of winners is below and at: http://knightcities.org/winners2016

 

The challenge launched in October 2015. Finalists were announced in January.

 

This is the second year of the Knight Cities Challenge. In March 2015 Knight announced 32 winners of the inaugural Knight Cities Challenge. The 2015 challenge winners have created innovative solutions aimed at connecting people of all backgrounds and incomes, inviting people into active civic engagement and helping keep and attract talented people in their communities. They include: the Pop-Up Pool Project, which reimagines Philadelphia’s city pools as neighborhood assets that attract a broad range of people of all incomes and backgrounds; Re:Brand Detroit, which aims to spark reinvestment in Detroit’s neighborhoods through entrepreneurship; and Minimum Grid Maximum Impact, which improves neighborhood life by creating a network of bike and pedestrian connections between Midtown and Uptown Columbus, Ga.

 

The challenge will reopen for submissions in fall 2016.

 

For more on the Knight Cities Challenge, visit knightcities.org and knightcities.org/winners2016. For information and updates follow @knightfdn and #knightcities on Twitter.

 

 

2016 Knight Cities Challenge Winners

 

San Jose, Calif.

 

Post Street Night Market by Justin Triano | $100,000

Expanding economic opportunity with a recurring night market that features local crafts, food and entertainment.

 

The MayFeria by Mexican Heritage Plaza | $100,000 | submitted by Tamara Alvarado

Increasing civic engagement and expanding economic opportunity in San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood with The MayFeria, which will consist of folk life events, a community task force, and a coordinator to help identify and make better use of cultural and civic assets

 

...

[Josh: to see the list of winners from other cities go to http://knightcities.org/winners2016]

 

##

 

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when  people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

The Dancing Cat partners with Silicon Valley Pet Project seeking location to re-open in San Jose

SAN JOSE, CA - April 7, 2016—Silicon Valley’s first cat adoption lounge, The Dancing Cat, is back better than ever with the announcement of  a new partnership with Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP).  SVPP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal rescue organization that rescues at-risk cats and dogs from the San Jose Animal Care Center, Silicon Valley’s largest municipal animal shelter.

The Dancing Cat was originally conceived as a four-week pop-up lounge in downtown San Jose in May, 2015, designed to help potential adopters meet and become acquainted with adoptable pets.  The Dancing Cat was so embraced by the community, that it remained active and of service to the public for six months. More than 50 adult cats were adopted, 12 community events were held in the space, and over 2,000 visitors passed through the doors.

Building on the organization’s success, The Dancing Cat's founders Mary Rubin and Ann Chasson are joining with Silicon Valley Pet Project to create a permanent space for people to meet, mingle and spend time with adoptable cats. The main goal of the partnership is to find loving forever homes for adult cats who are at risk in the shelter by providing a free-roaming, comfortable and safe space for these cats to be showcased.  Additionally, the project seeks to present a unique venue for social and educational events in the community.

To date, SVPP has primarily focused on foster parents and local adoption events to rehome rescued animals, but that strategy is expanding.

“We were incredibly inspired by Ann’s and Mary’s commitment and passion to feature adoptable adult cats in such a creative way,” said Melissa Lisbon, President of Silicon Valley Pet Project.  “The adult cats SVPP selected to be featured at The Dancing Cat were quickly adopted by wonderful families. We are excited to join forces in our common mission to save more lives in our community through innovative initiatives.  The Dancing Cat represents the Silicon Valley spirit by addressing a challenge with a fresh perspective: the animal welfare challenge of the overpopulation of adult cats in our local shelters.”

The Dancing Cat team is currently searching for a suitable permanent location in the San Jose area.  Anyone with information about a possible available location can contact thedancingcat@svpetproject.org. The project is accepting financial donations towards the reopening of The Dancing Cat on its website.

“It was exciting to see how enthusiastically the space was embraced,  resulting in so many successful adoptions,” Rubin said.  “We in the volunteer and nonprofit arenas can make a bigger impact on a problem like homeless pets when we work together, leverage our passion and learnings.  We look forward to continuing The Dancing Cat with SVPP's contributions of both talent and support.”

About
The Dancing Cat is a passion project developed by a small group of cat lovers and creatives who work to improve the quality of life for the cats in Silicon Valley. We are dedicated to connecting these valuable members of our community with their forever homes in a responsible way. Recognizing that there are many cat lovers amongst us, we also hope The Dancing Cat will provide opportunities for new partnerships among people who are contributing to the vibrancy and creativity of our community. www.thedancingcat.org

Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of volunteers committed to saving local at-risk shelter pets through rescue, community involvement and education. www.svpetproject.org

Vote for Downtown projects that matter to you at #d3decides

San Jose's District 3 is allocating funds for local projects in the most democratic way possible. Residents and visitors can vote on projects that they feel would have the strongest impact to the community. A total of $100,000 is available for investment and the projects range in cost from $600 all the way to $60,000.

Potential projects include interactive artwork, improved lighting, lending libraries, solar mobile-phone charging kiosks. Voting is open until April 15th at 5pm. To make sure your voice is heard and to learn about each proposal, head over here.

Project HEAL - Rock Out for Recovery benefit concert

Instead of having an 18th birthday party, a Santa Teresa High School student named Kristen Pizzo is throwing a benefit concert to raise funding for Project HEAL. This non-profit helps to provide eating disorder treatments for those that cannot afford them, while also promoting healthy body image and self esteem.

The benefit concert will feature several local local bands and take place at the San Jose Woman's Club at 75 South 11th Street on March 12th from 6pm-10pm. You can get tickets at Eventbrite.com for $16 or at the door for a $25 donation. For more information, please check out the press release below.

The Project HEAL San Jose stages a benefit concert for individuals in need of eating disorder treatment

San Jose, CA- The San Jose chapter of the non-profit organization, The Project HEAL ( Help to Eat, Accept, and Live ) will hold its second annual benefit concert, Rock Out for Recovery, on March 12, 2015 from 6-10pm at the San Jose Woman's Club, 75 South 11th Street, San Jose CA 95112. The concert will feature Letter High, Telephono, and Tony Geravesh (singer of Stickup Kid) of San Jose, and End the Fight of Sacramento.

The Project HEAL not only raises money for those who cannot afford eating disorder treatment, but also promotes healthy body image and self esteem, and serves as a testament that full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. It was founded in New York in 2008 by Liana Rosenman and Kristina Saffran.  The organization now has over 40 chapters across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Since its founding, Project HEAL has been able to send 41 individuals,  both male and female, to treatment with the grant program. The San Jose chapter was founded in 2013 by Santa Teresa High School student Kristen Pizzo, who completed treatment for anorexia nervosa in 2012. She hopes to raise enough money at the event to cover one treatment scholarship.

Tickets can be bought at the door for a donation of $25 or on Eventbrite.com for $10-20 (Search 'Rock Out for Recovery'). Donations will also be accepted on the ticket page if you would like to contribute but are unable to attend the concert.  If you have any questions, please email sanjose@theprojectheal.org. For more information on the organization, visit www.theprojectheal.org.

Knight Cities Challenge Names Eight San Jose Finalists

Last week the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced 158 finalists across 26 communities in their second annual Knight Cities Challenge. The contest is a national call for ideas that will make local communities more vibrant places to live and work. The three main themes of the contest are helping cities attract and keep the best talent, expanding economic opportunities, and encouraging civic engagement. 

Eight San Jose proposals made the cut and are finalists. Winners will be announced in the Spring and will receive a share of $5 million. All of the San Jose projects sound fantastic to me. Have a look at the list below and let us know which sound most worthy of funding.

San Jose Knight Cities Challenge Finalists

Urban Food Hub by Veggielution (submitted by Cayce Hill): Increasing economic opportunity with a community hub in Emma Prusch Park that connects food entrepreneurs and residents through a market, classes and other events that celebrate San Jose’s history and culture.

 

Smart Street by San Jose State University (submitted by Jerry Gao): Creating a “smart street” that showcases cutting-edge technology, helps to attract more people to the city and bolsters San Jose’s brand identity.

 

Post Street Night Market (submitted by Justin Triano): Expanding economic opportunity with a recurring night market that features local crafts, food and entertainment.

 

SITability Project by URBAN SPACEship (submitted by Leemor Chandally): Creating a network of modular street furniture designed to encourage interaction between people in public spaces.

 

San Jose Local Maker Incubator by Local Label dba San Jose Made (SJMADE) (submitted by Marie Millares): Increasing economic opportunity with a business incubator for local makers and artists seeking to turn their passion into a full-time job.

 

East Side Linear Park by San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (submitted by Marybeth Harasz): Increasing civic engagement by having residents help convert a public street into a new linear park along Havana Drive in East San Jose.

 

Green Necklace by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (submitted by Shiloh Ballard): Expanding public space and increasing community connections by permanently opening trails along San Jose’s closed canal system to pedestrians and cyclists.

 

The MayFeria by School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza (submitted by Tamara Alvarado): Increasing civic engagement and expanding economic opportunity in San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood with The MayFeria, which will consist of folklife events, a community task force, and a coordinator to help identify and make better use of cultural and civic assets.

Knight Foundation Donating Over $1 Million to San Jose Projects!

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has decided to donate over $1,000,000 to projects that will benefit San Jose. The top priorities were projects that will help with branding and identity, transforming public spaces, and helping the next generation of emerging leaders.

A total of 15 projects were funded. Some are quite interesting such as a new prototyping festival along Paseo de San Antonio, a pop-up park at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, and a new food and community hub at the Taylor Street urban farm. Below is the full list of projects.

Grant Recipients

• California Walks ($30,000): Encouraging deeper resident attachment to San Jose by launching San Jose Walks, a program that encourages urban exploration and celebrates neighborhoods through walking.
• City of San Jose, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services ($150,000): Helping to improve public spaces in San Jose through a "Parks Activation and Prototyping Fund" that will allow people to experiment with new ways to use parks.
• City of San Jose, Office of Economic Development ($125,000): Launching a branding and marketing campaign to attract talented workers, create jobs and bring new opportunities to the city.
• Exhibition District ($20,000): Creating a more vibrant and connected San Jose by expanding the Exhibition District, a public art project.
• Garden to Table ($60,000): Creating a food and community hub at Taylor Street Farm that will include events, workshops and market days, while supporting local food producers and suppliers.
• Groundswell Design ($75,000): Creating a pop-up park at Plaza Cesar Chavez that aims to transform an underused space into a vibrant and engaging public area.
• Local Label ($48,958): Launching a citywide competition to create and promote new branding opportunities for San Jose developed by teams of local artisans and makers.
• National Arts Strategies ($30,000): Supporting a group of San Jose Creative Community Fellows through a nine-month fellowship program focused on creative placemaking.
• Opportunity Fund ($75,000): Helping Downtown San Jose's small businesses (particularly restaurants and retail) comply with EMV chip requirements, a standard for credit card and debit card payments, through a merchant equipment subsidy program.
• San Jose State University ($240,000): Developing a more vibrant and connected San Jose with the launch of a prototyping festival along Paseo de San Antonio, a series of Ed talks, an artists-in-residence program and new activities at the Hammer Theatre.
• School at Mexican Heritage Plaza ($10,800): Connecting people and increasing civic participation by launching ImagineSJ, a monthly event and panel discussion focusing on San Jose's arts and cultural scene.
• Silicon Valley DeBug/NEEBA ($30,000): Creating a "We are San Jose" video series to share the dynamic and diverse neighborhoods and communities of San Jose.
• Sustainable Agriculture Education ($35,000): Supporting research, analysis and reporting focused on developing ways to connect and grow the city's food ecosystem.
• Somos Mayfair ($21,280): Helping people get more involved in shaping their community through Mayfair Community Mini-Grants that will invite local Mayfair residents to develop innovative ideas to make their community better while introducing them to local decision-making and budgeting.
• Transform ($100,000): Supporting more affordable and transportation-friendly housing by creating tools and traffic reduction strategies as part of GreenTRIP, a green building certification program for new residential, mixed-use development.

Source: The Merc

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's 19th Annual Excellence in Education Awards

Just in time for Super Bowl 50, Joe Montana is giving a keynote speech at the Fairmont as part of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's signature event: Legends & Leaders. Also on the agenda is the 19th Annual Excellence in Education Awards where the SJSV chamber will distribute awards for Student, Teacher, and Principal of the year. The event will run from 6-9pm on November 19th and registration is required.

For more information, please read the press release below or head over to http://www.sjchamber.com

San José, CA—The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s 19th annual Excellence in Education Awards will take place Thursday, Nov. 19 at The Fairmont in San Jose. The awards will be given out at the SJSV Chamber’s annual signature event, Legends & Leaders, and will have keynote speaker four-time Super Bowl Champion Joe Montana.

The 2015 Excellence in Education Awards recipients are:

• Alejandra Fraume Valencia, Gunderson High School—Student of the Year
• Christian Rubalcaba, Selma Olinder Elementary School—Teacher of the Year
• Maria Evans, Washington Elementary School—Principal of the Year

Alejandra was our top choice not only because she is a great student academically-speaking but also because both her peers as well as teachers see her as a leader. She helped her school’s Tennis Team become division champions—the school’s first—and through it all, she made personal sacrifices because of her need to financially help her family (she had to quit tennis because of her job).

Rubalcaba also rose to the top of the nominee list. He is not only an effective leader inside his own classroom, but his leadership and passion extend into his district (impacting curriculum, teaching methods, etc.) as well as the parent community (through his home visits to all his students). He is also an innovator, utilizing technology through his monthly Skype sessions to put his classroom in direct contact with business, education and professional leaders from across the country.

Evans, with her endless dedication to her school community and innovative thinking in terms of collaborative partners to help her better her school set her apart from her peers.

“I’m excited to have been invited to be part of this signature Silicon Valley event,” Joe Montana said. “Our local students and educators are an integral part of our communities and celebrating them through the Legends & Leaders’ Excellence in Education awards is a great way to highlight what’s taking place in our classrooms.”

The Excellence in Education awards first began in 1996 and recognize students, teachers and administrators within the County of Santa Clara that embody the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce’s spirit of acting as a convener, collaborator and champion within their community.

Along with public recognition, the SJSV Chamber also offers recipients educational grants. Over the course of the program’s history, these grants have totaled more than $80,000.

“These students and educators have a direct impact on the region’s economy: as the future workforce, and, in many cases, as our future leaders,” SJSV Chamber President & CEO Matt Mahood said. “As the organization trusted to be the voice of the businesses, many of which have a direct impact on our region’s economic health, we want to recognize these individuals and let the greater community know about their fantastic work.”

ABOUT THE SAN JOSE SILICON VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit business association representing nearly 1,400 employers and 250,000 employees throughout the greater Silicon Valley. Its mission is to create a strong local economy, provide premier business connections and visibility, represent the interests of business to government, promote the community and initiate political and community action.

Last Call for 2016 Knight Cities Challenge

Knight Cities Challenge opens in San Jose for applications

Submissions are open from Oct. 1 to Oct 27

SAN JOSE, Calif.— What’s your best idea to help your city succeed? The Knight Cities Challenge opens today calling on innovators of all types in San Jose to answer this question.

Now in its second year, the national challenge is an initiative of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The challenge seeks new ideas to make San Jose and the 25 other communities where Knight invests more vibrant places to live and work.  Winners will receive a share of $5 million and become part of a network of civic innovators; funding will be granted at all levels from small to large amounts. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 27 at knightcities.org. The challenge has two main guidelines:

1. A submission may come from anywhere, but the project must take place in or benefit one or more of 26 Knight communities.

2. The idea should focus on one or more of three key drivers of city success:

·      Talent: Ideas that help cities attract and keep talented people.

·      Opportunity: Ideas that expand economic prospects by breaking down divides and making new connections.

·      Engagement: Ideas that spur connection and civic involvement.

The challenge is open to anyone from anywhere: neighbors, architects, activists, artists, city planners, entrepreneurs, students, educators, city officials, as well as governments and organizations. More information is available on knightcities.org.

The initial application will be easy to complete. You don’t have to be a professional grant writer, but you should be ready with a plan to make your idea a reality.

“Through the challenge we want to find new voices and new ideas that capture the three key ingredients of city success—talent, opportunity and engagement. We see these as essential to the challenge and to building stronger futures for all of our cities,” said Carol Coletta, Knight Foundation vice president for community and national initiatives.

If you have questions about the challenge, you can join us for virtual office hours or in-person events in many of the 26 Knight communities to learn more. The schedule, which is regularly updated, can be accessed here.

Community members and entrepreneurs, as well as experts in urban planning, design, academia and government will help Knight review entries. Knight will announce finalists and winners in early 2016.

The 26 Knight communities include eight that have a resident program director: Akron, Ohio; Charlotte, N.C.; Detroit; Macon, Ga.; Miami; Philadelphia; St. Paul, Minn.; and San Jose, Calif. In 18 cities community foundations guide Knight’s grantmaking: Aberdeen, S.D.; Biloxi, Miss.; Boulder, Colo.; Bradenton, Fla.; Columbia, S.C.; Columbus, Ga.; Duluth, Minn.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Gary, Ind.; Grand Forks, N.D.; Lexington, Ky.; Long Beach, Calif.; Milledgeville, Ga.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Palm Beach County, Fla.; State College, Penn.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Wichita, Kan.

In March 2015 Knight announced 32 winners of the first Knight Cities Challenge. Last year’s winner from San Jose was:

·         San Pedro Squared- bringing life to deadened public space and healing the streetscape fabric by stitching retail into the ground floor of parking structures.

Have an idea? Visit knightcities.org to apply. The challenge closes on Oct. 27, 2015, at 12 p.m. ET.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.

Veggielution: Bounty of Heart's Delight

Each year, Veggielution throws the premier gourmet dining event for vegetarians and veggie lovers--Bounty of Heart's Delight. This year, Matthias Froeschl from Nashmarkt is preparing a five course feast. If you haven't been to Nashmarkt before, it is easily the best restaurant in Campbell and I'm sure Matthias will do an amazing job.

This event includes a tour of the farm, appetizers, the feast (featuring San Jose grown veggies), local beers and wines, hay rides, a silent auction, and even a barn dance. Tickets are not cheap, but you will get what you pay for and the proceeds go towards supporting San Jose's urban farm and their numerous community programs.

Bounty of Heart's Delight takes place on Saturday, August 22nd at Emma Prusch Park. Click here to buy your tickets!

Give Pokebowl a Home

Pokebowl is a popular Poke stand that is a staple of Friday Farmer's Market on San Pedro with a ton of loyal followers. They are are looking to open up a permanent location with both Poke bowls and Brazilian Acai bowls in the SoFA market by the end of the summer! Unfortunately they are about $35,000 short of what is needed to open up shop, so they decided to use Kickstarter to try to raise the remaining funds.

They have a lot of great rewards. For a $10 pledge, you get a limited edition "Stephen Curry" Poke bowl and a cup of fresh watermelon or pineapple juice. For $600 you get a year's worth of Poke. Their ultimate reward comes with a $5,000 Kickstarter pledge: a round trip ticket to Brazil for Carnaval 2016 and a live show, plus an exclusive catering event for 20 people.

Head over to the Pokebowl Kickstarter page to bring them to SoFA!

The Knight Foundation Awards 13 Grants to Improve Downtown San Jose!

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced a total of $620,000 in grants to projects that will make Downtown San Jose a more interesting, fun, and safe place. 13 different projects received funding, and a lot of the recipients should be familiar to readers of this blog. Reading through the grants, I think we all have a lot to look forward to Downtown! Here are the winners:

• Wreck Studios received $10,000 to creating “The Exhibition District,” a project to convert 40,000 square feet of vacant wall space downtown into an outdoor art gallery.
• San Jose Parks Foundation received $75,000 to expanding its “Summer in St. James Park” series of movie nights, concerts, exercise classes and other public events.
• Moveable Feast received $19,200 in support for a monthly pop-up dinner series in city neighborhoods where diverse city leaders will discuss and act in support of the future of San Jose.
• City ID, a New York- and London-based urban planning and design firm, will use a $129,927 grant to develop a “way-finding” strategy including signage and other ideas that would help visitors find the city’s Downtown amenities.
• Content Magazine/Silicon Valley Creates. The magazine received $75,000 to pursue ways to engage the community in city life and develop a sustainable business model.
• CreaTV received $11,250 to expand its “We are San Jose” storytelling campaign that collects video stories of city residents.
• Destination: Home, a project of the Health Trust to find solutions to the county’s homeless problem, received $75,000 for a feasibility study and fiscal plan to identify pathways for housing and employment for the homes.
• Downtown Streets Inc., a nonprofit that provides work opportunities for the homeless, received $25,000 to create a mobile coffee cart in St. James Park that would employ some of the homeless who congregate there.
• Greenbelt Alliance, a nonprofit that protects open spaces in the Bay Area, received $75,000 to help create “urban villages” composed of mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods with housing options across income levels.
• Housing Trust Silicon Valley received $75,000 to establish more affordable and equitable housing policies through educational, community problem-solving and research activities and partnership building.
• Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network/Valley Transportation Authority received $15,000 for “Hack My Ride 2.0,” a three-month online app design challenge open to anyone in the world and focused on transforming mobility in Silicon Valley.
• Metro Newspaper Silicon Valley received $10,000 to pay for a monthly full-page ad promoting SoFa.
• San Jose Public Library received $25,000 to reimagine underused spaces through the “Pop-Up Mobile Makerspaces” project with Okada Design.

Source: SVBJ

Rotary PlayGarden is Now Open!

A brand new two-acre playground built as part of the Rotary Club's 100th anniversary is now open off Coleman in the Guadalupe River Park. The $6 million playground was designed specifically so that all children can play together, even if they have special needs. There are slides, a merry-go-round, teeter-totters, swings, musical elements, sand-and-water play, and climbing structures. It is quite possibly the nicest playground in the Bay Area, so go check it out with the younger members of your family!

For more information on the Rotary PlayGarden, head over here.

San Jose Rotary PlayGarden Ribbon Cutting 2015 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

St. John Vianney Fiesta

The St. John Vianney Fiesta is a long-standing tradition for the East Foothills community. There will be carnival rides, games, live entertainment and a large assortment of delicious ethnic and American foods. The event starts tonight and runs throughout the weekend at 4600 Hyland Avenue. For more information head over to the event's Facebook page over here.

May is National Foster Care Month

There are over 6,000 children in foster care in the Bay Area and 60,000 in California. I think foster parenting is one of the most important way you can contribute to making the world a better place and have a tremendous impact on a child's life. This topic is very close to me since my mother participated in foster care for two decades and made the lives of dozens of children better.

Seneca Family of Agencies was founded 30 years ago in the Bay Area and is headquartered in Downtown San Jose. The agency helps at-risk children and families in the region with a multitude of challenges. Below is a profile of one of their San Jose foster parents, Ryan Adams. For more information on how you can get involved, please visit the Seneca Center website.

Ryan Adams (San Jose) has a passion for youth and a deep commitment to serving others. Prior to becoming a foster parent, Ryan worked with youth in Paraguay for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer and resided for another two years in a Zen Monastery in Monterey. He was also a Seneca employee before becoming a foster parent, and his time at Seneca has been evenly divided among residential, community, and school based programs. He is especially committed to ensuring that all youth receive the highest degree of care, regardless of their level of need. His curiosity and dedication to creating long-lasting, healthy, and impactful relationships with relationships with youth led Ryan to take the lead on permanency related issues, advocating for contact with biological/natural supports. In March 2015, Ryan, with the help of Seneca's Intensive Treatment Foster Care team, successfully transitioned his first foster youth through Seneca's PLUS program - a six month intensive treatment foster program geared toward youth with the highest level of need - from his care back to his home with his biological family. Ryan continues his role as a PLUS Parent and has recently welcomed a second foster child into his home.