Inspiration.

“Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself”

- Maya Angelou

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

Stay safe, don't text and drive!

Every day about 8 people in the United States are killed in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

In the U.S. in 2018, over 2,800 people were killed and an estimated 400,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. 

About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2018 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle.

Read more, here.

Consider activating the "do not disturb" setting on your phone to automatically engage when you are driving. Your life, or the life of someone else is worth the wait.

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

5 Minutes to Start Your Day Right! - MORNING MOTIVATION | Admiral McRave...

US Navy Admiral William H. McRaven delivers one of the Best Morning Motivational Speeches for Success you will ever hear. 

Speaker: Admiral William H. McRaven

“Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present, but those who live in fear of failure, or hardship, or embarrassment will never achieve their potential. Without pushing your limits, without occasionally sliding down the rope headfirst, without daring greatly, you will never know what is truly possible in your life.” 

― William H. McRaven

P.O. Box 3301

Fairfield, CA 94533

Direct: 707.372.4160

Email: info@ffinest.org

Website

Inspiration.

“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forget about the ones who don’t, and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.” 

- Harvey MacKay 

Direct: 707.372.4160
Email: info@ffinest.org
Website

February Community Day Clean-up

February Community Clean-up Day

Students earn community service hours for school credit.

Lunch is provided after the clean up.

Saturday, February 26, 2022 @ 9:00am – 11:00am

Located 'on the green' at the corner of Jefferson

& Texas Streets, Fairfield, CA 94533

The Matt Garcia Foundation will provide gloves, grabbers and buckets for collecting the trash. 

For more information visit our website.

To protect your health and slow the spread of the coronavirus, we will be follow the most recent guidance from the Center for Disease Control.

To receive updated information on volunteering opportunities, sign up for our text alerts. 

Text: 81010 | Enter: @mgfv

Personal safety advice

Constable Steve Ho has some more helpful tips on how to keep yourself safe when you're out and about.

Stay safe and visit our website to Keep the Dream Alive with us.

Personal Safety Tips

Personal Safety—Be Prepared

By taking a few simple precautions, you can reduce the risk to yourself and also discourage those who commit crimes.

• Always be alert and aware of the people around you.
• Educate yourself concerning prevention tactics.
• Be aware of locations and situations which would make you appear vulnerable to crime, such as alleys and dark parking lots.
• Street Precautions
• Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you—especially if you are alone or it is dark.
• Whenever possible, travel with a friend.
• Stay in well-lighted areas as much as possible.
• Walk close to the curb. Avoid doorways, bushes and alleys where someone could hide.
• Walk confidently at a steady pace.
• Make eye contact with people when walking.
• Do not respond to conversation from strangers on the street—continue walking.
• If you carry a purse, carry it securely between your arm and your body. Although a purse-snatcher's intent is to steal the purse, your personal safety may depend on not clinging to it.
• Do not use or wear anything that will impede your vision or hearing (i.e. iPods).

Car Safety

• Always lock your car doors after entering or leaving your vehicle.
• Park in well-lighted areas.
• Have your car keys in your hand so you don't have to linger before entering your car.
• Check the interior of your vehicle for intruders before entering your car.
• If you think you are being followed, drive to a public place or a police or sheriff station.
• If your car breaks down, open the hood and attach a white cloth to the car antennae. If someone stops to help, stay in your locked car and ask them to call the police, sheriff or a tow truck service.
• Don't stop to aid motorists by the side of the road. Make a phone call requesting help for them.

While Waiting for a Bus

• Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you.
• Try to avoid isolated bus stops.
• Don't open your purse or wallet while boarding the bus—have your pass or money already in your hand.
• Keep jewelry out of sight; don't flash jewelry; turn rings around so the stones don't show.

On Board Buses

• During off hours, ride as near to the bus operator as possible
• If someone bothers you or makes you feel uncomfortable, change seats. Inform the driver of the situation.
• Carry your wallet inside your coat, or in a front pocket.
• Keep your belongings in front of you and hold close to your body with both hands.
• Be alert to pick-pocketers on crowded buses; check your purse or wallet if someone is jostling, crowding or pushing you.

Office Security

• Never leave your purse or wallet in plain view or in common accessible areas.
• Don't leave cash or valuables at the office.
• If you work alone or after business hours, keep the office door locked.
• If you work late, try to find another worker or a security guard to walk out with you.
• In an elevator, be mindful that there is a distress alarm on the control panel.
• Be alert for pick-pocketers on crowded elevators.
• Report all suspicious persons and activities to the proper authorities (office manager, building security, law enforcement).
• Be aware of escape routes for emergencies and post the police and fire department numbers near telephones.

Finally, if a crime does occur...REPORT IT! Everyone should consider it his or her responsibility to report crime. Many criminals develop favorite areas for committing crime, as well as predictable methods of operation. When you report all the facts about a crime, it helps the police assign officers in the places where crimes are occurring or where they are most likely to occur, and your report may help prevent a crime from reoccurring. In many cases, it is the information provided by victims and witnesses that leads to the arrest of a criminal. So tell the police as much as you can; no fact is too trivial. The police need the eyes and ears of all citizens.

**At least half of the crimes in the Unites States go unreported, either because people don't think the police can do anything about it, or because people don't want to get involved. If you don't report a crime, this allows the criminal to continue to operate without interference.**

Read more, here.

Support our community, visit us here to find out how.

The Matt Garcia Foundation Downtown Office

THANK YOU to John and Sheila Costanzo, Stonefield Properties LLC for donating an office space to The Matt Garcia Foundation.

Matt talked a lot about our beautiful city of Fairfield being such a great place to live. He emphasized the uniqueness of Fairfield's proximity being located halfway between San Francisco and halfway between Sacramento. 

Matt loved downtown Fairfield and always saw its potential.

Now, thank you to the Costanzo's, we have an office at  719 Texas Street, Ste. C in beautiful downtown Fairfield. We are looking forward to collaborating with Fairfield to help bring more amazing events to our community and our downtown.

Website

Project Based Learning: Why, How, and Examples

Project based learning, PBL, is explained in full detail with examples and instructions for implementation. Teachers, educators, administrators, students, and more will develop a better understand of project based learning. Some of the important reasons for using projects in your classroom such as allowing students to develop communication skills, utilize 21st century life skills, become engage with the content, and share their projects with others in a public matter. 

Visit the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy to learn more about this style of education and how it is implemented in their classrooms.

Want to get more involved with The Matt Garcia Foundation? Visit our website and learn how you can donate or even join us for our Community Clean Up!

More About MGCCA, What is Project-based Learning?

Project-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered pedagogy that involves a dynamic classroom approach in which it is believed that students acquire a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world challenges and problems. Students learn about a subject by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, challenge, or problem. It is a style of active learning and inquiry-based learning. PBL contrasts with paper-based, rote memorization, or teacher-led instruction that presents established facts or portrays a smooth path to knowledge by instead posing questions, problems or scenarios. Read more about PBL.

Visit our website to see how you can get involved with The Matt Garcia Foundation.

Does PBL intrigue you? Check out the Matt Garcia Career & College Academy to learn more about their program and whether its right for you.

Matt Garcia Career & College Academy

Matt Garcia Career and College Academy is named after Matt Garcia; a well-respected Fairfield City Council member, who was tragically murdered in 2008. Matt was a product of the FSUSD schools. He was a visible presence, and powerful role model for many of Fairfield and Suisun’s school age students. The school opened on October 18, 2010 and draws students from throughout the Fairfield and Suisun areas. Matt Garcia Career & College Academy (MGCCA) is a small school of choice, with a family environment, focused on social service and college and community partnerships. This is a 6th through 8th grade program with an emphasis on Project-Based Learning and course offerings, such as AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination). MGCCA focuses on preparing all students for both college and career. With a student body of approximately 200 diverse students, classes in all grades remain smaller than the district average in order to meet the needs of all students and to know every student by name and by need. The mission of MGCCA reads, "As a family of supportive staff, we provide rigorous curriculum, student-centered learning environments, and relevant project-driven curriculum". Additionally, MGCCA is home to the Matt Garcia Foundation, a local non-profit organization focused on providing opportunities for at-risk students and their families. 

Find more information regarding the school, here.

Get involved with us, The Matt Garcia Foundation, here.
Phone 707.372.4160
Email info@ffinest.org