SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Affairs Office
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
(707) 664-2057
e-mail: jean.wasp@sonoma.edu
University Affairs Office
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609
(707) 664-2057
e-mail: jean.wasp@sonoma.edu
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2003 File #334
Contact: Julie McClure, Director (707) 664-4232
Community Looks to Children's Health on Cesar Chavez Day
Health needs of Latino children and families in the Southwest Santa Rosa area will be addressed by the efforts of the Sonoma State University Service Collaborative and 325 Sonoma State University AmeriCorps members, who are organizing the Third Annual Cesar Chavez Health Fair to be held at the Roseland Elementary School, 950 Sebastopol Road, on March 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The Collaborative is working with the Roseland Children’s Health Center, the Latino Service Providers, and a broad community coalition to produce an event that is expected to draw over 700 children and families. The Health Fair will offer bilingual health information and free vision, hearing, and anemia screenings.
Attendees can be tested for diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as receive immigration and elder care information. A popular dental clinic for children, which provides cleaning, appointments and referrals for care, will be a highlight of the fair.
The event marks the third year of the new California State holiday known as the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning. A focus of the fair will be sign-ups for free or low-cost health insurance to continue to reach Sonoma County’s 8,000 eligible but uninsured and underinsured children documented in a recent Children’s Health Alliance Coalition report. Over 45 health providers and agencies are participating.
The fair will also include entertainment and a healthy lunch. AmeriCorps members along with parents and community volunteers will make and serve over 1200 tamales for the free meal.
The Cesar Chavez holiday not only celebrates his life and leadership on the day of the holiday, but also encourages children to participate in service throughout the year. The 500 children of COOL SCHOOL, one of the programs of the Collaborative, have been doing student-initiated service-learning projects throughout the school year through their service-learning after school clubs. The results of their exciting and thoughtful projects will be featured in display and dance.
Cesar Chavez believed in service to the community. To honor his legacy, opportunities for service will be offered throughout the neighborhood on the day of the fair.
Opportunities include gardening, painting, a creek clean up, and vacant lot clearing. Community volunteers who wish to join the AmeriCorps members in service projects please call Pamela Nirdlinger at (707) 664-2044
NOTE TO MEDIA: If you wish to cover the children’s preparation in the days before the fair, please contact Pam Nirdlinger (707) 664-2044 for arrangements at the schools.
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