Topic - Community Services Archive

San Francisco’s “Kindergarten to College” Program Improves the Odds For Students

The first publicly funded, universal children’s college savings account program in the United States has a simple yet ambitious goal: Make sure every child in San Francisco can save for post-secondary education.

By José Cisneros

San Clemente’s “Fun on the Run Fitness” Focuses on Youth

The Fun on the Run Mobile Recreation program visits four low-income neighborhood areas weekly to keep children engaged and active after school with physical activities, games, crafts and nutrition education.

Get Creative: California Arts Council Offers Grant Funding Opportunity

The California Arts Council’s new Creative California Communities (CCC) Program supports innovative projects that harness arts and culture as a key economic development or arts service strategy for cities and communities of all sizes.

By Caitlin Fitzwater

Ontario Provides Homeless With Continuum of Services

The City of Ontario partnered with Mercy House Living Centers to create a full-service continuum of care that would provide the social and capital infrastructure necessary to transition all segments of Ontario’s homeless population into stable housing.

Montclair and Ontario Invest in Future Workforce

Like many cities throughout California, Montclair and Ontario are faced with breaking the cycle of low adult educational attainment, family poverty and workforce development hurdles. An innovative partnership, the Promise Scholars Initiative, offers a way to overcome these community challenges.

How Local Officials Can Support Citizenship and Civic Participation

Approximately 2.5 million “lawful permanent residents” living in California are eligible to become U.S. citizens. Local officials can leverage their leadership to encourage naturalization efforts and strengthen their communities.

Connecting Veterans With Services Benefits the Entire Community

California is currently home to 1.8 million veterans, and an additional 40,000 veterans are expected to return to the state every year for the next several years.

By Carolyn Ballou

On the Record

Santa Maria’s Listos: Disaster Preparedness Program Builds Trust

The City of Santa Maria's Listos program emphasizes sharing emergency and disaster preparedness skills, using a culturally appropriate curriculum that overcomes language and trust barriers.

A Tale of Two Cities: Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek’s Community Service Days

These projects increase civic pride and produce remarkable results.