Monday, December 30, 2013

Diana Nyad: Never, Ever Give Up



In the pitch-black night, stung by jellyfish, choking on salt water, singing to herself, hallucinating ... Diana Nyad just kept on swimming. And that's how she finally achieved her lifetime goal as an athlete: an extreme 100-mile swim from Cuba to Florida -- at age 64. Hear her story.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Monthly Community Service Day Tomorrow!


Please join us for our monthly Community Service Day, this Saturday, December 28th, 2013.  We meet at Starbucks Downtown Fairfield 700 Texas Street @ 9:00AM. We hope to see you all there!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Our Past Doesn't Define Our Future: Kintay Johnson at TEDxYouth@HumboldtBay



In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Boyd Varty: What I learned from Nelson Mandela



"In the cathedral of the wild, we get to see the best parts of ourselves reflected back to us." Boyd Varty, a wildlife activist, shares stories of animals, humans and their interrelatedness, or "ubuntu" -- defined as, "I am, because of you." And he dedicates the talk to South African leader Nelson Mandela, the human embodiment of that same great-hearted, generous spirit.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

David Steindl-Rast: Want to Be Happy? Be Grateful



The one thing all humans have in common is that each of us wants to be happy, says Brother David Steindl-Rast, a monk and interfaith scholar. And happiness, he suggests, is born from gratitude. An inspiring lesson in slowing down, looking where you're going, and above all, being grateful.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Toby Eccles: Invest in Social Change



Here's a stat worth knowing: In the UK, 63% of men who finish short-term prison sentences are back inside within a year for another crime. Helping them stay outside involves job training, classes, therapy. And it would pay off handsomely -- but the government can't find the funds. Toby Eccles shares an idea for how to change that: the Social Impact Bond. It's an unusual bond that helps fund new social services -- especially those where a small investment could create a much larger societal benefit. (And yes, investors, mainly NGOs, get a share of the profit if the service works.)

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Positive Aspects of Doing Volunteer Work

People find themselves motivated to do volunteer work for all different sorts of reasons. Many want to reach out to others to lend a helping hand. They are concerned about the well-being of other members of society and want to contribute in whatever way they can. Those who volunteer can benefit from the experience because it offers them the opportunity to develop new skills and to grow the ones they already have.

The benefits to you when it comes to doing volunteer work are many and are far reaching. You get to spend time working in an environment that is different than what you are used to. This helps to broaden your horizons and it provides you with the unique opportunity to learn more about who you are and what you are capable of. It also helps to increase your level of confidence.

Unpaid work for your community can also be good for your future occupation. The training you receive when you work as a volunteer can help you to achieve a qualification you are aiming for in a particular field of study. Work that you do selflessly to benefit others helps everyone concerned, and it looks great on a resume! Your curriculum vitae and all of the job applications you fill out in the future will look much better if volunteer work is included there.

You can network when you act as an unpaid staff member of an organization that administers to the community at large. By doing so, you can make new friends and acquaintances and you can also make contacts that could help you with everything from looking for a job to working on a personal project down the road. The sector that you are working in can teach you and can offer insight. This is especially useful if it is an industry you may wish to pursue a career in.

The sense of satisfaction that comes from getting involved in the act of volunteering is tremendous. To contribute to a worthy cause is something to be cherished and valued. It offers a broader experience of life that you might not acquire otherwise.

You may wish to choose volunteer work that is in line with the skills and experiences you already have, or you may decide to look for an experience that will challenge you to work as hard as possible and will place you outside of your comfort zone. The choice is yours. What matters the most is that you reach out to others who need assistance and your heart is in the right place.

Find out what opportunities for unpaid work are available in the area you reside in. You may be happy working at a soup kitchen or walking dogs at the local animal shelter. Whatever you choose, find something that will make a difference in other people's lives.

Pay it forward. Read more about volunteer work New Orleans at: http://yrno.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ace_Abbey

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Successful Community Clean Up Event

 
FAIRFIELD CA ‐ Two goals of the Matt Garcia Foundation are to clean the community and to get guns off the streets. Ironically they ended up doing both Saturday during their monthly Community clean up event.
 
The foundation gathered at the Downtown Starbucks at 9:00 AM as it does every month with dozens of volunteers of all ages to go out and clean an area of the city. After meeting together, fellowshipping and receiving basic instructions and clean up tools the groups headed out to clean the downtown area itself.
 
Upon returning, a first time adult volunteer returned with his bucket and told Raymond Courtemanche, Matt Garcia’s stepfather and Clean‐Up coordinator that he thought he found a gun on the 700 block of Jefferson Street during his rounds.
 
Courtemanche carefully removed the other debris from the bucket and found that the volunteer’s thoughts were correct.
 
Courtemanche said, “Upon finding that the volunteer had located and picked up a real gun, I notified Fairfield Police Department asking them to respond to our location and retrieve the weapon.”
 
Teresa Courtemanche, the foundation President and mother of Garcia said, “We teach people, especially youth, that if you ever come across a firearm to leave it where you found it and notify a Police Officer, Fireman or Teacher and not to move or examine it.”
 
This is most important and is why the Foundation conducts an Annual Gun Buy Back Program to remove unwanted guns from the streets after the senseless murder of the Late Fairfield City Councilman Matt Garcia in September 2008.
 
The Matt Garcia Foundation whose mission is to “Support Youth, Stop Crime and Strengthen the Community” the principles that Garcia ran for office and lived his life by.
 
To get more information about the Foundation or to Volunteer, you can visit their website at www.TheMattGarciaFoundation.org.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Peter Doolittle: How your "working memory" makes sense of the world



"Life comes at us very quickly, and what we need to do is take that amorphous flow of experience and somehow extract meaning from it." In this funny, enlightening talk, educational psychologist Peter Doolittle details the importance -- and limitations -- of your "working memory," that part of the brain that allows us to make sense of what's happening right now.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Allan Witt T-Ball Fields

The Matt Garcia Foundation is committed to investing into sustainable resources. That is why we are dedicated to the Fairfield Pacific Little League T-Ball Field’s at Allan Witt Park. We have committed time and money to this cause and will continue to work on this until it becomes a reality for the youth of Fairfield. These fields will be next to our current fields at Allan Witt Park so we can have our whole League playing at the same location. We are working very hard on getting donations to complete our goal and build two new baseball fields that will be the future home for our T-Ball, Farm (Coach-Pitch) Divisions, and our new Challenger Division for children with disabilities.

We really need your help! If you can spare an hour or two to help our League please come down to the Allan Witt fields with your work gloves and any gardening tools you may have so we can make this dream a reality. We will provide our field improvement project days here on our website. Please keep checking our website for the latest dates and events!

You can learn more about the project by visiting the Fairfield Pacific Little League WEBSITE.


Monday, November 18, 2013

Eight Ways to Prevent Youth Violence

A single approach to preventing youth violence is not sufficient. A youth is affected many things in his/her environment and prevention must address those multiple factors.

Reducing Exposure to Violence. As a society, we are much better at protecting partners from a violent significant other today than 30 years ago.

We must now move ahead and protect children from the devastating effects of exposure to domestic violence (DV). DV traumatizes young people and sends them the wrong message about how to engage in interpersonal relationships. Every DV case that comes to the Courts should have a caseworker assigned to assess the well-being of the children in the family.

Excessive use of violent games and movies desensitizes our most vulnerable youth to the horror of violence, making it easier to commit violence. We should limit youth exposure to violent media just a surely as we limit their access to alcohol and tobacco. Community efforts to reduce neighborhood violence, such as neighborhood watch, can be very effective, as well.

School Success. We all need to experience success. A youth's main job is school and he needs to feel successful there. Programs such as Positive Behavioral Incentive System (PBIS), school based mental health, involvement in positive school activities, IEP's, and additional services for learning problems have proven that they can improve many children and teens feelings of accomplishment in school, thus reducing the likelihood that school frustration can contribute to future acts of violence by students.

Skill Building. Many "at risk" youth need help to build the coping skills they need to resist the "pull" of gangs and engage in healthy activities. (When is the last time you engaged in healthy exercise or eating without encouragement?) Youth need mentors that will help them with problem solving, anger management and dealing with the neighborhood bully. Many of us can take 5 or 6 hours out of our week to include a youth in our activities. Additionally, there are many skill building programs that can be used after and during school to teach skills and values and respect for others.

Trauma Therapy. Many youth who are at risk for violent behaviors have been traumatized at some time in their lives. They repeat the trauma they have experienced, sometimes violently, until they resolve it emotionally and cognitively. This can be done more effectively in therapy without the risk that a youth will act out his aggression on others.

Family Supports. Most parents want to be good parents. However, some lack skills and strengths they need to be effective parents. Some are willing to learn new skills, give up addictions, get treatment for a mental illness, get treatment for anger management or domestic violence, go to parenting classes, or enter family therapy for the sake of their children. When parents are willing to do these things, we must provide the supports necessary for them to be successful.

Reduce Bullying. Schools need to have a zero tolerance for bullying. They should to be teaching respect instead of accepting bullying as a normal thing kids do. There are anti-bullying programs that can be used school-wide. Programs like Olweus, "Character Counts," and "Don't Laugh at Me" have materials that can be used throughout a school to build an atmosphere of respect for others.

Put Your Best Foot Forward. In order to be successful, youth need to feel competent and confident. They need to hear praise for what they do well every day. What you pay attention to, will increase. Catch them being good and praise them to the rooftops. Show the goal, the way to go, and praise every step in the right direction. Youth can change their behavior, but they need encouragement to do so.

These are just a few ideas. There are many more. Think about what made you feel good about yourself as a child. These are the experiences that all youth need, especially "at risk/promise" young people. Each of us can play a part. It takes a community to stop violence.

Dr. Kathryn Seifert is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. Dr. Seifert has authored the CARE 2 and "How Children Become Violent, Professional Version." The parent version of How Children Become Violent will be released this fall. She speaks nationally on mental health related topics and youth violence. She is an expert witness in the areas of youth and adult violence and sexual offending. http://www.drkathyseifert.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Seifert

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1034081

Friday, November 15, 2013

Community Service Day

At the Matt Garcia Foundation we don’t want to complain about this, we want to create solutions to problems. It is with this spirit that we began our Monthly Community Clean Ups.

On the last Saturday of every month, volunteers get together and clean up a neighborhood in Fairfield. We pick up trash, work on landscaping paint windows, fix fences – all in an effort to improve our community. This is another example of community coming together to help make a difference.

The Matt Garcia Foundation Dream Team, is all about stepping up and stepping out of ourselves to serve others and our communities to be a part of the solution. Matt would say ” if you see a piece of garbage on the ground, please just pick it up” How simple is that! So, that is what we do.

For more information, please visit http://www.mattgarciadreamteam.org/


 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Importance and Need For After School Activities

Many parents feel that with the pressure on today's students that it might be cruel to consider enrolling their children into after school activities and programs. But there are very good reasons why it is the act of a responsible parent to take this course of action.

After school activity groups and programs have become more and more popular in recent years. The growth has been quite amazing. The primary reason for this is the working pattern of the parents. It is estimated that the average child spends around 15 to 20 hours per week without any parental or even adult supervision. They are left to their own devices and because of this many turn to petty crime as a means to alleviate their boredom and lack of structure. How many of us have seen documentaries of youth gangs where the majority of them say "there's nothing better to do around here" or something similar. After school activities are a superb remedy to this situation.

Crime is generally understood to be at its most prevalent immediately following the school day. I'm not suggesting that this is entirely due to the delinquency of modern day youth although it certainly plays a part. However, this part of the day is also a dangerous time to be a child with many traveling home unsupervised and possibly at risk. After school activities allow the children to be occupied during this time and allows a parent or other trusted adult time to pick them up from school after work.

Another 'big' concern with our children today is how prone they are to obesity. With the advent of computer games, internet communication, junk food and a lack of parental discipline our children s health is at a great risk and must be taken seriously. A well structured and physical after school activity can divert their attention from the desire to be at home and will greatly assist their physical condition and development as well as increasing social skills and abilities and helping to create a more rounded, healthy adult in later years.

There is a lot of pressure from parents and teachers for children to take their studies seriously with academic prowess being a much coveted goal but thought and attention should be given to preparing your child or children for life as an adult and the social, physical and mental benefits gained from after school activities make it an essential part of your child's progress into adulthood.

There is a lot of information that parents should be aware of regarding your child's development. Visit the after school activities hubpage for all the research you need.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Baker

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Saturday, November 9, 2013

The Matt Garcia Learning Center



A wonderful video produced by the Fairfield Suisun School District about The New Matt Garcia Learning Center. www.fsusk.k12.ca.us Matt Garcia, a former student of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, became the youngest city councilman in the state of California in November 2007.

On September 1, 2008, Matt Garcia was murdered in a tragic case of mistaken identity. His death brought about a new commitment to furthering his cause of community service.

Note: The Matt Garcia Learning Center is supported by The Matt Garcia Foundation, but is not a part of the foundation. We are very proud of the wonderful things happening at The Matt Garcia Learning Center.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Rodrigo Canales: The Deadly Genius of Drug Cartels



Up to 100,000 people died in drug-related violence in Mexico in the last 6 years. We might think this has nothing to do with us, but in fact we are all complicit, says Yale professor Rodrigo Canales in this unflinching talk that turns conventional wisdom about drug cartels on its head. The carnage is not about faceless, ignorant goons mindlessly killing each other but is rather the result of some seriously sophisticated brand management.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Abha Dawesar: Life in the "Digital Now"



One year ago, Abha Dawesar was living in blacked-out Manhattan post-Sandy, scrounging for power to connect. As a novelist, she was struck by this metaphor: Have our lives now become fixated on the drive to digitally connect, while we miss out on what's real?

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Fairfield PAL - The Matt Garcia Youth Center

250 Travis Blvd., Fairfield, CA 94533
707-422-MATT (6288)

For hours of operation and more information visit their website @ www.fairfield-pal.org

 
The center was named in memory of 22-year old Fairfield City Councilman, Matt Garcia, who passed away in early September 2008. When Matt ran for city council, one of his campaign promises was to open a teen center. The center was originally to be named the Billy Yarbrough Youth Center, but at the request of the Yarbrough family was re-named.
 
The Fairfield Police Activities League (PAL) Matt Garcia Youth Center builds community by organizing youth sports and healthy activities that develop personal character and foster a positive relationship among police officers, youth and dedicated volunteers.
 
In the past several years, the City of Fairfield was confronted with the growing problem of juvenile delinquency. Through the inspired efforts of Community Leaders, Law Enforcement, and Local Citizens to counteract this trend, the Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center was established. The vision of the Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center is to provide supervised programs such as basketball, boxing, martial arts, music, multimedia, soccer, dance, running, homework tutoring, and more.
 
The Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center reaches out to underserved kids in the City and provides safe, healthy activities which promote teamwork, personal responsibility, self-confidence, exercise and healthy living. At a time when youth are barraged with negative influences and unproductive choices our programs offer safe, constructive alternatives to gang involvement, crime, teen pregnancy, delinquency, video game playing and just plain lethargy.
 
The Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center provides a framework of rules and regulations that serve as guideposts for youngsters while they are growing up and will continue to serve them in later years. Dedicated civilians and police officers serve as coaches, instructors and mentors to youth who participate in the Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center programs. For some youth these adults are the only people in their lives holding them to high expectations while teaching basic fundamentals of sports and leadership.
 
The Fairfield PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center is a community based tax exempt charitable organization that raises funds through individual, corporation and foundation support. We leverage each donation ten-fold by the hundreds of volunteer hours our coaches and program volunteers contribute.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Hetain Patel: Who Am I? Think Again



How do we decide who we are? Hetain Patel's surprising performance plays with identity, language and accent -- and challenges you to think deeper than surface appearances. A delightful meditation on self, with performer Yuyu Rau, and inspired by Bruce Lee.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Alessandro Acquisti: Why Privacy Matters



The line between public and private has blurred in the past decade, both online and in real life, and Alessandro Acquisti is here to explain what this means and why it matters. In this thought-provoking, slightly chilling talk, he shares details of recent and ongoing research -- including a project that shows how easy it is to match a photograph of a stranger with their sensitive personal information.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

The Matt Garcia Home for Women and Children


  • Program supporting 12-18 months, completed November 2009 
  • 6,265 square foot building 
  • Housing for 63 residents 
  • Additional open spaces for family support 
  • Resident assistance residence 
  • Mixed dorm and private family rooms 
  • 2 large lounges for meeting rooms and relaxation 

The Matt Garcia Foundation:

Matt Garcia was a man with a vision. He was the youngest city councilman elected in the state of California in November 2007. Matt was a great young leader and inspiration to all who knew him. Matt was only 22 years old…but he lived more in those short years than many adults can even imagine. He led by inspiration, with integrity and ambition.

Matt’s dream involved supporting the youth and creating places for them to go and things for them to do; Changing a culture of violence and crime in the city through youth involvement. By uniting a community all people will have a sense of belonging and responsibility to the city of Fairfield. Matt’s life was cut short, but his legacy, work and heart live on.
 
The Matt Garcia Foundation was established to carry out Matt’s dream. We are dedicated to the work and efforts that Matt started and hope that we can inspire others to be the change in this world we live in, just as Matt inspired us.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Brilliance, It's In Their DNA: Mike Smith at TEDxYouth@Lincoln



Founder of The Bay and Skate for Change. Mike Smith is a professional speaker who encourages youth to make a difference. In his talk, he challenges both youth and adults to get ready for what this generation will bring to the table.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Gary Slutkin: Let's treat violence like a contagious disease



Physician Gary Slutkin spent a decade fighting tuberculosis, cholera and AIDS epidemics in Africa. When he returned to the United States, he thought he'd escape brutal epidemic deaths. But then he began to look more carefully at gun violence, noting that its spread followed the patterns of infectious diseases. A mind-flipping look at a problem that too many communities have accepted as a given. We've reversed the impact of so many diseases, says Slutkin, and we can do the same with violence. (Filmed at TEDMED.)

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Throwback Thursday - Support Youth, Stop Crime, Strengthen Our Community



Support Youth, Stop Crime, Strengthen Our Community from Chris Jordan-Bloch on Vimeo.

A documentary about the Matt Garcia Foundation. The Fairfield, California-based organization was started in the wake of the tragic death of Fairfield City Councilman Matt Garcia. It's aim is to carry on Matt's mission of building community though supporting youth and fighting crime.

Monday, October 7, 2013

The Matt Garcia Foundation's 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is October 14th!



 
SIGN UP NOW

4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, October 14, 2013

Yocha DeHe Golf Club
at Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 CA-16
Brooks, CA 95606



The Matt Garcia Foundation is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament which will be held on Monday, October 14, 2013.  This is one of our most well attended and exciting events of the year.  The tournament will be held at Yocha Dehe Golf Club (Cache Creek) which is one of the premier courses in our area.  Our fundraiser is an opportunity to ensure that the powerful programs that we support throughout the year will continue.
 
Our late city councilman Matt Garcia was a young man with a vision.  Matt's dream was to make a difference in the community.  Many of his hopes have been realized through the programs we support including youth sports, empowerment programs, community service days, the Gun Buy Back, scholarship programs, the Matt Garcia Learning Center, the PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center, and much more.  The Matt Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization run entirely by volunteers.   100% of your donation goes to fund these programs.
 
With the help of generous individuals and companies such as yours, our foundation has been able to raise the essential funds needed to “Keep the Dream Alive.”  We anticipate another successful event and we hope you will be a part of it.  Would you consider donating gift baskets, concert or sporting event tickets, vacation or spa packages, and other donations to be used for raffle and/or silent auction.
 
We are a high-profile organization with a powerful presence in the community that is associated with positive change.  As a sponsor, your name, business or establishment will be prominently displayed in all our event publicity.  The event itself is an opportunity to network with many potential customers and clients.   Most importantly, your donation will send a powerful message that you are partnering with us to create a world that is safer and more meaningful.  It is our mission to support youth, help stop crime, and strengthen our community. Thank you in advance for your support.  Your contribution will make all the difference!
 
For more information or to donate, please do not hesitate to contact me at (707) 452-9676, or email ktdalesley@comcast.com.

Friday, October 4, 2013

We're Just Different: Landon Beard at TEDxYouth@Lincoln



Landon is a 16- year old senior at Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Landon is very passionate about people being able to achieve their full potential through any medium. He speaks about unleashing brilliance through unseen potential, specifically tackling the issues surrounding the special education system in public schools.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Saturday, September 28, 2013

What is Love? - Brad Troeger



Is love a signal winding through your neural pathways? A cliche? A cult? Love is easy to compare but difficult to define, maybe because we're fundamentally biased; we try to define love while falling in or out of it. And love feels differently to every person who feels it, but this subjective emotion has evolutionary explanations, too. Brad Troeger takes a shot at the definition of love.

Lesson by Brad Troeger, animation by STK Films.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Overcoming Obstacles - Steven Claunch



When faced with a bump in the road, sometimes we forget we have a choice: overcome the obstacle or let it overcome you. Steven Claunch, who was born without fingers on his right hand and with one leg shorter than the other and has excelled in basketball nonetheless, explains why obstacles can provide an opportunity to both inspire others and develop character.

Lesson by Steven Claunch, animation by Avi Ofer.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Matt Garcia Foundation's 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is October 14th!

 

SIGN UP NOW

4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, October 14, 2013

Yocha DeHe Golf Club
at Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 CA-16
Brooks, CA 95606



The Matt Garcia Foundation is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament which will be held on Monday, October 14, 2013.  This is one of our most well attended and exciting events of the year.  The tournament will be held at Yocha Dehe Golf Club (Cache Creek) which is one of the premier courses in our area.  Our fundraiser is an opportunity to ensure that the powerful programs that we support throughout the year will continue.
Our late city councilman Matt Garcia was a young man with a vision.  Matt's dream was to make a difference in the community.  Many of his hopes have been realized through the programs we support including youth sports, empowerment programs, community service days, the Gun Buy Back, scholarship programs, the Matt Garcia Learning Center, the PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center, and much more.  The Matt Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization run entirely by volunteers.   100% of your donation goes to fund these programs.
With the help of generous individuals and companies such as yours, our foundation has been able to raise the essential funds needed to “Keep the Dream Alive.”  We anticipate another successful event and we hope you will be a part of it.  Would you consider donating gift baskets, concert or sporting event tickets, vacation or spa packages, and other donations to be used for raffle and/or silent auction.
We are a high-profile organization with a powerful presence in the community that is associated with positive change.  As a sponsor, your name, business or establishment will be prominently displayed in all our event publicity.  The event itself is an opportunity to network with many potential customers and clients.   Most importantly, your donation will send a powerful message that you are partnering with us to create a world that is safer and more meaningful.  It is our mission to support youth, help stop crime, and strengthen our community. Thank you in advance for your support.  Your contribution will make all the difference!
For more information or to donate, please do not hesitate to contact me at (707) 452-9676, or email ktdalesley@comcast.com.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Derek Paravicini and Adam Ockelford: In The Key of Genius



Born three and a half months prematurely, Derek Paravicini is blind and has severe autism. But with perfect pitch, innate talent and a lot of practice, he became an acclaimed concert pianist by the age of 10. Here, his longtime piano teacher, Adam Ockelford, explains his student's unique relationship to music, while Paravicini shows how he has ripped up the "Chopsticks" rule book. (Filmed at TEDxWarwick.)

Monday, September 16, 2013

Apollo Robbins: The Art of Misdirection



Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner's shoulder while they remain clueless.

Friday, September 13, 2013

From Pain, to Power to Success: Macio Thompkins at TEDxYouth@TheBeltline



Macio Thompkins is a 19 year old employee of the City of Atlanta and a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. Growing up on the Northwest side of Atlanta, Macio had to overcome numerous challenges and hurdles to achieve his dream of graduating high school and being a model of success for his family and friends. However, thanks to Beyond the Bricks program offered this summer at Georgia State University, Macio dreams now include sharing his talent with the world and his message of determination and success.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Chrystia Freeland: The Rise of the NewGglobal Super-Rich



Technology is advancing in leaps and bounds — and so is economic inequality, says writer Chrystia Freeland. In an impassioned talk, she charts the rise of a new class of plutocrats (those who are extremely powerful because they are extremely wealthy), and suggests that globalization and new technology are actually fueling, rather than closing, the global income gap. Freeland lays out three problems with plutocracy ... and one glimmer of hope.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

 
SIGN UP NOW

4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, October 14, 2013

Yocha DeHe Golf Club
at Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 CA-16
Brooks, CA 95606



The Matt Garcia Foundation is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament which will be held on Monday, October 14, 2013.  This is one of our most well attended and exciting events of the year.  The tournament will be held at Yocha Dehe Golf Club (Cache Creek) which is one of the premier courses in our area.  Our fundraiser is an opportunity to ensure that the powerful programs that we support throughout the year will continue.
 
Our late city councilman Matt Garcia was a young man with a vision.  Matt's dream was to make a difference in the community.  Many of his hopes have been realized through the programs we support including youth sports, empowerment programs, community service days, the Gun Buy Back, scholarship programs, the Matt Garcia Learning Center, the PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center, and much more.  The Matt Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization run entirely by volunteers.   100% of your donation goes to fund these programs.
 
With the help of generous individuals and companies such as yours, our foundation has been able to raise the essential funds needed to “Keep the Dream Alive.”  We anticipate another successful event and we hope you will be a part of it.  Would you consider donating gift baskets, concert or sporting event tickets, vacation or spa packages, and other donations to be used for raffle and/or silent auction.
 
We are a high-profile organization with a powerful presence in the community that is associated with positive change.  As a sponsor, your name, business or establishment will be prominently displayed in all our event publicity.  The event itself is an opportunity to network with many potential customers and clients.   Most importantly, your donation will send a powerful message that you are partnering with us to create a world that is safer and more meaningful.  It is our mission to support youth, help stop crime, and strengthen our community. Thank you in advance for your support.  Your contribution will make all the difference!
 
For more information or to donate, please do not hesitate to contact me at (707) 452-9676, or email ktdalesley@comcast.com.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Ken Robinson: How to Escape Education's Death Valley



Sir Ken Robinson outlines 3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish -- and how current education culture works against them. In a funny, stirring talk he tells us how to get out of the educational "death valley" we now face, and how to nurture our youngest generations with a climate of possibility.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Be Part of the Solution: Scott Rechler at TEDxYouth@ColumbiaHeights



Scott Rechler, a Washington DC native, is Director and CEO of LearnServe International, a non-profit organization that prepares high school students as community leaders, with a focus on global awareness and entrepreneurship. Scott graduated from Harvard College with a B.A. in social anthropology. He wrote his senior thesis on social entrepreneurship and social change in southern Chile, and co-founded Harvard's Race, Culture, and Diversity Initiative to improve campus inter-cultural relations

Thursday, August 29, 2013

4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

 

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4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Monday, October 14, 2013

Yocha DeHe Golf Club
at Cache Creek Casino Resort
14455 CA-16
Brooks, CA 95606



The Matt Garcia Foundation is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament which will be held on Monday, October 14, 2013.  This is one of our most well attended and exciting events of the year.  The tournament will be held at Yocha Dehe Golf Club (Cache Creek) which is one of the premier courses in our area.  Our fundraiser is an opportunity to ensure that the powerful programs that we support throughout the year will continue.
 
Our late city councilman Matt Garcia was a young man with a vision.  Matt's dream was to make a difference in the community.  Many of his hopes have been realized through the programs we support including youth sports, empowerment programs, community service days, the Gun Buy Back, scholarship programs, the Matt Garcia Learning Center, the PAL Matt Garcia Youth Center, and much more.  The Matt Garcia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization run entirely by volunteers.   100% of your donation goes to fund these programs.
 
With the help of generous individuals and companies such as yours, our foundation has been able to raise the essential funds needed to “Keep the Dream Alive.”  We anticipate another successful event and we hope you will be a part of it.  Would you consider donating gift baskets, concert or sporting event tickets, vacation or spa packages, and other donations to be used for raffle and/or silent auction.
 
We are a high-profile organization with a powerful presence in the community that is associated with positive change.  As a sponsor, your name, business or establishment will be prominently displayed in all our event publicity.  The event itself is an opportunity to network with many potential customers and clients.   Most importantly, your donation will send a powerful message that you are partnering with us to create a world that is safer and more meaningful.  It is our mission to support youth, help stop crime, and strengthen our community. Thank you in advance for your support.  Your contribution will make all the difference!
 
For more information or to donate, please do not hesitate to contact me at (707) 452-9676, or email ktdalesley@comcast.com.


Monday, August 26, 2013

About The Matt Garcia Foundation

Fairfield City Councilman 2007

 Matt Garcia was a man with a vision. He was the youngest city councilman elected in the state of California in November 2007. Matt was a great young leader and inspiration to all who knew him. Matt was only 22 years old…but he lived more in those short years than many adults can even imagine. He led by inspiration, with integrity and ambition.


Matt’s dream involved supporting the youth and creating places for them to go and things for them to do; Changing a culture of violence and crime in the city through youth involvement. By uniting a community all people will have a sense of belonging and responsibility to the city of Fairfield. Matt’s life was cut short, but his legacy, work and heart live on.
 
The Matt Garcia Foundation was established to carry out Matt’s dream. We are dedicated to the work and efforts that Matt started and hope that we can inspire others to be the change in this world we live in, just as Matt inspired us.

Our Mission:
Support Youth
Stop Crime
Strengthen Our Community

Our Vision:

“Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day…
It doesn’t have to be an “A” the next day, but let’s hope it improves.” – Matt Garcia

Our Values:

To Understand Before Being Understood
Leadership Centered
Hope in Others
Centered on Servanthood
Respect for Individuality
Excellence in All We Do
Support Change
Be a Blessing to Others

Friday, August 23, 2013

Teenagers and Drugs - Two Things That Don't Go Well Together: Julien Finn at TEDxYouth@WAB



Julien Finn, a student at the Western Academy of Beijing, raising awareness about the problems associated with drugs and our youth.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Off the Wall : Andrew Rosario at TEDxYouth@Watsonville



Andrew is an artist with an idea worth spreading: Let's use a particular kind of art to cover the walls of our cities, one that graffiti won't stick to. It is a way to beautify our community and it allows youth to participate in a way that is fun and environmentally friendly.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Annual Gun Buy Back Program

"Help Stop the Violence, No More Children Minus." - Keep the Dream Alive Anthem

The gun that killed Matt Garcia was purchased at a garage sale for $50. In response to this tragic fact the Matt Garcia foundation has organized the The Gun Buy Back Program. Which allows people to turn in their old firearms in exchange for gift cards and a copy of the “Keep the Dream Alive CD.”

The program is an ongoing effort to keep guns off the streets of Fairfield. It is anchored by the annual Gun Buy Back Event.
 
Please call the Matt Garcia Foundation at (707) 372-4160 or the Fairfield Police Department at (707) 428-7373 to learn more about taking the important action to keep our streets safe.

If you would like to donate to this cause or become involved with this program please call or email us though the Contact Page.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Margaret Heffernan: The Dangers of "Willful Blindness"



Gayla Benefield was just doing her job -- until she uncovered an awful secret about her hometown that meant its mortality rate was 80 times higher than anywhere else in the U.S. But when she tried to tell people about it, she learned an even more shocking truth: People didn't want to know. In a talk that's part history lesson, part call-to-action, Margaret Heffernan demonstrates the danger of "willful blindness" and praises ordinary people like Benefield who are willing to speak up. (Filmed at TEDxDanubia.)

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Gavin Pretor-Pinney: Cloudy with a Chance of Joy



You don't need to plan an exotic trip to find creative inspiration. Just look up, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. As he shares charming photos of nature's finest aerial architecture, Pretor-Pinney calls for us all to take a step off the digital treadmill, lie back and admire the beauty in the sky above.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Why Not Send Me to College?: Omar Fabian at TEDxYouth@Watsonville



Omar Fabian is a senior at Harbor High School and is president of his school's Interact Club (Youth version of Rotary, which stands for International Action). Omar will be sharing the experience of many youth known as the "Dreamers" and ask "Why not send me to college?" Using investment statistics, Omar will show that college for young people like him is a good investment.

Monday, August 5, 2013

6th Annual Matt Garcia Softball Tournament 2013 - Deadline to Register is August 9th!

 Step Up To The Plate And Help Strengthen Our Community!
 
SIGN YOUR TEAM UP NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY - AUGUST 17TH & 18TH
COMPETITIVE AND COED DIVISIONS
 
EARLY BIRD ENTRY FEE $325.00 BEFORE JULY 27TH
 
REGISTRATION FEE $375.00
DEADLINE TO REGISTER AUGUST 9TH, 2013
(4 Games Guaranteed / 15 Players Per Roster)
 
Lambrecht Sports Complex off Petersen Rd in
Suisun City, CA 94588
 
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY 
(Jump House, Great Food, Music & Face Painting)
 
Contact Information
(Team Registrations) Dave Diaz - Cell # (707) 249-9747 / Email ktdadaved@gmail.com
(Sponsorship Inquiries) Scott Siordia - ktdascotts@gmail.com

Friday, August 2, 2013

From the Streets to College: Why Not?: Martin Contreras at TEDxYouth



Martin Contreras is a senior at Renaissance High in Watsonville. As a kid, with nothing else to do or anybody to stop him, he headed to the streets. This led to poor school attendance, bad grades and other tragic outcomes. Recently, on a visit to Cabrillo College, Martin realized that someone like him could actually go to college and turn his life around. Martin advocates for after school programs and college pathways for young kids. Early intervention programs, he says, could prevent wrong choices and tragic outcomes for youth.