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Category: Education

  • Five women earn Soroptimist cash awards

    LYD2025

    From left, Jennifer Penrose, Jessica Garcia, Molly Malm and Madeline Duncan were four of the five Live Your Dream Award winners for Soroptimist International of Davis. They were recognized at a club meeting on April 16 in Davis. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

    Soroptimist International of Davis awarded $12,000 in grants this spring through its signature Live Your Dream program, providing cash and mentorship to women seeking education and training.

    Women are encouraged to apply for the annual awards if they are the primary wage earners for their families, and need financial assistance to further their education or training. Recipients often persevere through hardships or challenging circumstances.

    This year, SI Davis gave a boost to five women, with cash awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. These unrestricted grants may be used to offset costs that a scholarship would not cover, such as child care, transportation or other financial obligations that hinder a woman’s ability to reach her goals. Soroptimist International of Davis members remain in contact with the recipients, offering them mentorship and support.

    The club’s top 2025 awardee is Molly Malm, 36, of Yolo County. Soroptimist International of Davis members offer her support and an award of $5,000. Her application was selected for another $3,000 award at the Sierra Nevada Region, which covers all clubs in Northern California and Nevada. Malm has four children between the ages of 11 and 5. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College, Woodland Community College and Sacramento City College, earning an associate’s degree. In December, she expects to complete her bachelor’s of science in nursing from Sacramento State.

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  • Nonprofits: Apply to partner with Soroptimist

    (From press release) Soroptimist International of Davis is accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations for a chance to share profits from its next Soup Night & Silent Auction.

    Soup Night & Silent Auction is one of Soroptimist International of Davis’ largest fundraisers. It includes popular soups from local restaurants, salads, breads, desserts, local beer and wine, live music, and a silent auction. This year’s event is Thursday, Oct. 23 at Veterans Memorial Center in Davis. Last year, about 150 attended, and the club anticipates that number to grow.

    Each year, the club offers one local nonprofit the opportunity to partner with it in this endeavor. This organization should align with the Soroptimist mission, and must agree to support the event by:

    • Providing publicity through its mailing list and social media.
    • Providing at least 12 volunteer hours (minimum six people, two hours each) during the event.

    The partner organization will receive:

    • 20 percent of the net profit (estimated to be $3,000 but possibly more).
    • The opportunity to bring visibility to your organization by tabling and speaking at the event.

    The applications are available at https://www.sidavis.org/community-partnerships/partnership-application/. To apply, submit the completed application by April 15 to SI Davis, PO Box 472, Davis, CA 95617 or email to fundraising@sidavis.org.

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  • Tree Davis and Central Park Gardens Seek Volunteers to Help Grow Public Green Spaces!

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    Master Gardener Peggy Smith teaches volunteers about propagating perennial plants in Central Park Gardens

    Application Deadline: January 10

    (From press release) Are you passionate about the environment and looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community? Tree Davis, in collaboration with Central Park Gardens, is excited to announce its Green Volunteer Training program, inviting individuals to take an active leadership role in nurturing sustainable green spaces in Davis.

    Through this program, volunteers will have the unique opportunity to contribute to the beautification and sustainability of local parks, gardens, and trees. Tree Davis and Central Park Gardens welcome all who want to make a positive environmental impact, whether they are an experienced gardener or someone eager to learn.

    Following a Zoom orientation session on January 23rd from 6-7 pm, the training will be held on Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm on January 26, February 2, and February 9. Hands-on training with expert instructors will include planting, pruning, and weed management for the care of young trees and a variety of native and drought tolerant garden plants. Trainees will also learn leadership skills and tips for engaging volunteers in landscape improvement and stewardship projects.

    After completion of the training, volunteers will be asked to commit to volunteering at least once a month for a year with either Tree Davis or Central Park Gardens. Both organizations offer flexibility in scheduling with options for assisting as a team leader for weekend events or working more independently on weekdays.

    Apply today

    Don't miss out on this opportunity—apply now to secure your spot and be part of this impactful program! Have questions? Contact Hope from Tree Davis at hope@treedavis.org.

    Become part of the Central Park Gardens and Tree Davis volunteer teams and help maintain and enhance the city’s greenspaces, playing a key role in creating vibrant urban landscapes across Davis.

    Learn more and apply by January 10 at https://www.treedavis.org/green-volunteer/. A $20 training fee is requested to cover materials.

  • Join the UC Davis Campus Safety Lighting Walk

    Help Brighten Our Community!
    When: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, 5-8 p.m.
    Where: UC Davis Memorial Union (MU) Quad Flagpole
    RSVP: UC Davis Campus Safety Lighting Walk

    (From press release) UC Davis Facilities Management invites all students, faculty, staff, and community members to participate in the annual Campus Safety Lighting Walk on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, from 5-8 p.m.

    For 15 years, the Campus Safety Lighting Walk has been a proactive community tradition at UC Davis.

    Participants assess lighting conditions around campus, identifying areas with low light, non-functional lighting, or obstructed light sources — such as those hidden by plant growth. Insights gathered during the walk will help guide repairs and improvements.

    Why Attend?

    • Make a Difference: Your observations will contribute to safety upgrades and future planning.
    • Free Food & Swag: Enjoy complimentary pizza (while supplies last) and snag free swag if you’re among the first 100 participants.
    • Volunteer Hours: Earn volunteer credit—perfect if you’re looking to meet service requirements.
    • Community Spirit: Join fellow Aggies in a fun and purposeful evening outdoors.

    The evening will kick off at the Memorial Union Quad Flagpole. Teams will be organized to cover various zones of campus, equipped with flashlights provided by event organizers. Please wear comfortable shoes and a warm jacket for the walk.

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  • Letter to Chancellor May from Fossil Free UCD

    The following was emailed to Chancellor May on December 11, 2024.

    Dear Chancellor May: 

    We write with appreciation for the actions campus staff are taking to reduce UC Davis’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to ask you to ensure that UCD sets strong goals for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reductions in response to UCOP’s call for campus targets for all UCs to be submitted by 1/1/2025 (for background see here).

    Specifically, we would like UCD to officially establish targets of 75% reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions below the 2019 baseline by 2030, 81% by 2035, and 95% by 2040, which are the feasible potential reductions identified by our own Fossil Fuel-Free Pathway Plan (FFFPP).

    We view the strong intermediate 2030 target from our campus FFFPP as particularly important, given the urgency of the climate crisis. Communicating around near-term goals that are meaningful for our undergraduate students will show them our commitment to leading on the climate crisis. 

    We would also like to encourage campus to accelerate the process for tracking and reducing Scope 3 emissions (those generated off-campus, for example by travel and commuting). The state is requiring public and private companies to submit annual reports of such emissions by 2030 (a date which may be moved up to 2027), and strong near-term Scope 3 reductions will be needed to set us on a track toward UCOP’s goal to “reduce total emissions (scope 1, 2, and 3) at least 90% by 2045 without relying on carbon offsets.” We would like to be a part of campus discussions around Scope 3 targets and processes.

    Finally, we would like to let you know that a group of us has formally asked the Academic Senate to consider a detailed proposal for a Climate Crisis General Educational (GE) Requirement so that all UCD undergraduates will graduate with some background in climate science, action, and justice concepts. This one-course requirement would probably be allowed to overlap with other GEs so as not to increase time-to-graduation. We are happy to provide further details, and hope we can count on your support to make UCD a climate education leader. UC San Diego adopted such a requirement last year, starting for the class entering Fall 2024.

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  • Free climate lecture on UCD campus, Tues Oct 22

    Storer Lecturship in the Life Sciences: How Decades of Climate Denial, Disinformation and Doublespeak by Big Oil Fueled the Climate Crisis

    ClimateLectureTuesday October 22, 4:00 – 7 pm ARC Ballroom (and Zoom)

    Register here: https://bit.ly/102224StorerReg (or use QR code in flyer).   All are welcome.  Please register soon to help ensure an accurate headcount.

    Speakers:

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  • Soroptimists giving women education grants

    (From press release) Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to further their education or training are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women.

    The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 15. This year, Soroptimist International of Davis will present one or more awards ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. The top recipient’s application will advance to regional and possibly the international level, where she could receive up to $15,000 more. Recipients may use the Live Your Dream Award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This may include tuition, books, childcare, transportation or other education-related expenses.

    Applications are available at https://bit.ly/LYDA-apply.

    The Live Your Dream Award provides more than $2.8 million in cash awards to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $35 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.

    Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more at https://www.sidavis.org/.

  • Soroptimist Soup Night is Oct. 24 at Vets Memorial Center

    (From press release) Soroptimist International of Davis invites community members to join its annual Soup Night and Silent Auction, Thursday, Oct. 24 at Veterans Memorial Center. The event benefits two programs that serve local women’s causes: SI Davis and Thriving Pink.

    Due to the event’s popularity, organizers moved it to a larger venue: Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St., Davis. The Soroptimist Soup Night and Silent Auction features unlimited soups from local restaurants as well as sides and dessert. Each ticket comes with a beverage ticket for a local beer, glass of wine or nonalcoholic drink. Music will be provided by the youth jazz band Lucky Strike.

    What makes the silent auction so popular? It’s the meticulously crafted themed baskets, each a labor of love from dedicated Soroptimists and generous local businesses. From artisanal gifts to unexpected experiences, the auction is a celebration of community generosity and creativity. It’s a great chance to get a jump start on holiday shopping too.

    General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Students or children ages 6-17 are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Children 5 and under are free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Auction bidding ends at 7:30 p.m. and the event concludes at 8 p.m. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit https://www.sidavis.org/soupnight.

    The evening’s proceeds benefit SI Davis programs, and Thriving Pink’s work bettering the lives of breast cancer survivors and their families. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Learn more about the service club at https://www.sidavis.org/ and about Thriving Pink at https://www.thrivingpink.org/.

  • Natalie’s Corner is topic of Sept. 4 Soroptimist talk

    (From press release) Former State Sen. Lois Wolk will be the speaker at the Wednesday, Sept. 4 meeting of Soroptimist International of Davis. She will discuss her work chairing the committee for Natalie’s Corner, the Central Park renovation named in memory of Davis police officer Natalie Corona.

    Officer Corona lost her life in the line of duty in 2019, not far from the park. The talk will be from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the conference room at University Inn and Suites, 1111 Richards Blvd., Davis. Learn more about Natalie’s Corner at https://nataliescornerdavis.com/.

    The event is open to the public. Lunch from Dos Coyotes is available for $15. First-time attendees are free. Please RSVP by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2 for lunch by emailing president@sidavis.org. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch.

    Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. It was founded in 1921 in Alameda County. Soroptimist International of Davis was chartered in 1954. Local members join some 75,000 Soroptimists in 122 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls. Its core values are gender equality, empowerment, education, diversity and fellowship.

    SI Davis offers cash Live Your Dream Awards to female heads of household seeking education or training, and assists King High students through its Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls program. It also funds high school scholarships, and grants to nonprofits that align with the Soroptimist mission.

    SI Davis members meet twice a month on Wednesdays – once at lunchtime and once in the evening – and connect for other fun activities and service. Learn more at https://www.sidavis.org/.

  • Sierra Club Presents Awards to Diana Almendariz and Adelita Serena for Outstanding Service to Communities and the Environment

    Diana and Adelita

    Diana Almendariz and Adelita Serena (Photo credit: Juliette Beck).

    (From press release) The Sierra Club, the nation’s largest and oldest environmental organization, is pleased to recognize two outstanding environmental justice leaders – Diana Almendariz and Adelita Serena – for their dedication to protecting and enhancing the local environment for people and nature in the Yolo bioregion.

    The Sierra Club Yolano group’s geographical reach extends from Southern Colusa County through the entirety of Yolo County to Northern Solano County and is within the ancestral homeland of the Patwin-Wintun people. The awards were granted by the Yolano Group to the two indigenous women for their work to engage community members in protecting the ecological health and sustainability of the region.

    Diana Almendariz is a Cultural Practitioner of Maidu/Wintun and Hupa/Yurok traditions, heritage and experiences. She is a visionary culture-bearer, storyteller, naturalist, educator and visual artist who has been dedicated to the cultural and ecological revival of her Native homelands for over three decades.

    Almendariz teaches homeland-based ecological stewardship using traditional materials such as tule – a wetland reed – to make baskets, mats, cordage, dolls, and boats, blending arts, culture, and ecology into the learning.

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