Soroptimist International of Capitola By the Sea

Mark your calendars for our next club meeting on May 14th! We'll meet at 4pm at United Way of Santa Cruz County (4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106). Club members will elect officers, they will review a draft of the FY2024-25 budget, and also they will begin planning for the district meeting in October.

SI of Capitola & Watsonville creating swag bags at our Dream It Be It event!

L to R: Watsonville Mayor Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, Volicitie Dodge,Taneesha Dodge, Jackee Bindzi and United Way CEO Keisha Browder

Soroptimist International Clubs of Capitola-by-the-Sea and Watsonville, United Way of Santa Cruz County and Girls, Inc. of the Central Coast, recently teamed up to host nearly 30 teen girls at their “Dream It, Be It,” event at the Watsonville Youth Center. The program is designed to give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.

The teens ranged in age from 13-18 and listened to a welcome and aspirational message from Watsonville Mayor Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, and a three-woman panel discussion featuring a first-year law student, a rookie San Jose police officer and a woman who was educated in the United States and Switzerland and landed a job teaching English in China, which exposed her to a wide variety of cultures and challenges.

Our seventh and final Live Your Dream winner wishes to remain anonymous.

This winner is a single mother of two studying cosmetology. She is dedicated to working with natural hairstyles and is specializing in braiding and loctician services (working with locs). Her goal is to receive a state license which will allow her to work in a professional salon.

“In pursuit of this goal, I proactively sought out education opportunities, participating in numerous classes led by professionals in the natural hair field,” she wrote in her LYD application. “These experiences enhanced my skill set and also earned me the trust of the natural hair community, allowing me to cultivate my own clientele.

Our 6th Live Your Dream winner is Marjorie Jackson.

Marjorie, of Aptos is the mother of one son and is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She is motivated by the fact that she and her family have experienced trauma, poverty and homelessness.

“My education is putting me on the right path for success in my desired field, by teaching me how to work with survivors and clients,” she wrote.

Hailey Gregory is our fifth Live Your Dream winner.

Hailey, of Aptos is the mother of one child and is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. She has dreamed of going to college from a young age, but her single mother with three children meant that the family lived paycheck to paycheck. When she was 14, their dire financial circumstances required her to begin working full-time. After marrying young, having a child and then getting divorced, her educational dreams seemed even further away.

During the pandemic, she lost her job and she felt the panic of not being able to make ends meet. But, her young daughter inspired her to finally pursue her educational dream. She took that as her opportunity to enroll in criminal justice classes, which has opened her eyes to many of the problems in policing.

“My hopes for myself are to be part of the change to help make the world a better, safer place for the generations to come.” She wrote. “I hope to work in the criminal justice system and to help rebuild and reform.”

Our fourth Live Your Dream winner this year is Bianca Lindahl.

Bianca, of Aptos has one child and is studying for a degree in psychology. She has been interested in psychology as a career path since she was 16. She plans to complete a Master’s degree in order to open her own practice.

“My biggest career goal is to become a clinical psychologist,” she said. “On top of my interests in the cognitive aspects of the human mind, I also carry a lot of love for people and helping them is very fulfilling to me.”

Victoria Van Voorst is our next Live Your Dream winner this year.

Victoria, of Capitola is a single mother of one and is studying business administration, specifically in Computer Applications Business Technology. She currently holds a Medical Front Office certification and believes further studies will increase her opportunities for long-term employment.

“My end goal is a permanent position in a doctors’ office setting,” she said. “This work will give my family the stability we need while also being realistic and meaningful to me personally.”

Our second Live Your Dream winner this year is Lenada Hernandez

Lenada, of Santa Cruz is a single mother of one child and experienced homelessness for many years. Her educational goal is to work with at risk youth and those recovering from addiction. She is currently studying psychology and communication to better understand how to actively listen.

“I've learned if a person is not feeling seen or heard they will shut down and potentially stop seeking help,” she said.

Meet our first Live Your Dream winner this year.

Serena McCallister of Santa Cruz is awarded the Gwyn Larson Humanitarian Award in honor of our late beloved and long-serving member Gwyn Larson. This award is given to a student pursuing a Human Services career path and is dedicated to helping others. McCallister, 26, is a single mother of one child who has struggled with medical disorders and is now on a path to recovery. Her primary focus currently is a Substance Use Disorder Counseling Certificate.

“This program is a very direct path to being able to work in the community and help these people,” she wrote in her LYD application. “As soon as I finish this certification it will open many doors into the field of my dreams.”

This year we had the opportunity to honor seven local women with our Live Your Dream Award. Each received a cash award that they can use for anything that enables them to complete their education, such as rent, medical bills, child care and car repairs.

“We’re very excited to be able to increase the number of Live Your Dream awards from the five we gave last year to seven this year,” said Laura Knapp, Live Your Dream program chair. “Our volunteer Club members and some very generous donors responded to our fund-raising efforts and made this possible for these deserving women.”

Stay tuned over the next week as we introduce you to each of our winners.

We're showing our spirit with SI Watsonville President Pat Donohue at Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region Conference in Visalia!

Member Jackie Berset and club Treasurer Therese Malachowski are staffing the club's boutique at the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region Conference this weekend. Any soroptimists in the area should be sure to stop by!

Join us in just over a week at our next Club meeting! We'll meet on November 14 at 4 p.m. at United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola.

Members will pitch new fund-raising ideas and vote on which to pursue in the new year as well as hear proposals for both the holiday get together in December and the plan to distribute holiday cheer to our 2023 Live Your Dream families.

Join us next Wednesday, October 25th from 4-6pm for a mixer! We'll be enjoying great food and drinks in Shadowbrook's Rock Room. Stop by to meet club members and learn more about what we do!

We're having fun at the district meeting in San Luis Obispo! Jackie Berset is being welcomed as a first time attendee!

SAVE THE DATE
Our next club meeting will be held on October 10 at 4pm at United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola.

We will hear an update on the search for Live Your Dream candidates, a report on the district I meeting, and the new fund-raising proposals, and the members will vote on the Club’s FY 2023-24 budget.

Stop by and learn what we're all about!

We are still accepting applicants for our 2024 “Live Your Dream” awards program!

Each winner will be awarded $2,000 that may be used to pay for anything they need to help them complete their educational program such as food, rent, car repairs, child care and health care. The Club typically makes three awards to local women.

“Live Your Dream education and training awards are designed for women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including domestic abuse, poverty, teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol addiction, to pursue an education,” said Laura Knapp, Live Your Dream program chair. “Our winners are typically single moms who want to be able to support themselves and their children and know that a good education makes that possible.”

WHO'S ELIGIBLE:
Women who are enrolled in or have been accepted into a bachelor’s or a technical training program, are heads of their households and have a demonstrated need are eligible to apply for a “Live Your Dream” award.

APPLICATION DETAILS
Deadline to apply is November 15, 2023. Winners will be announced in January 2024 and an awards ceremony will be held in March. Apply online today!

Live Your Dream Awards | Scholarships for Women | Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. Apply for a Live Your Dream Award! Applications are accepted August 1 - November 15. Each year, we give more than $2 million in education grants to over 1,500 women.

A great big WELCOME to new club member Nancy Lewis and returning member Linda Contreras!! We're so happy to have you both in the club! They are joined by Membership Pillar Christina Scherer at the September meeting, pictured here.

Join us tomorrow, September 12th at 4pm for our monthly club meeting! We'll hear the results of our Shakespeare fundraiser this summer, begin planning for our "Live Your Dream" Award this year, and swear in a new member.

The meeting is free and open to the public. We will meet at United Way of Santa Cruz County, 4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola.

Hope to see you there!

We are looking for applicants for our 2024 “Live Your Dream” awards program.

Each winner will be awarded $2,000 that may be used to pay for anything they need to help them complete their educational program such as food, rent, car repairs, child care and health care. The Club typically makes three awards to local women.

“Live Your Dream education and training awards are designed for women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including domestic abuse, poverty, teen pregnancy and drug and alcohol addiction, to pursue an education,” said Laura Knapp, Live Your Dream program chair. “Our winners are typically single moms who want to be able to support themselves and their children and know that a good education makes that possible.”

WHO'S ELIGIBLE:
Women who are enrolled in or have been accepted into a bachelor’s or a technical training program, are heads of their households and have a demonstrated need are eligible to apply for a “Live Your Dream” award.

APPLICATION DETAILS
Deadline to apply is November 15, 2023. Applications are available online at www.soroptimist.org, click on the “Live Your Dream” logo and review the eligibility requirements and application instructions. Winners will be announced in January 2024 and an awards ceremony will be held in March.

Have you had a much fun as we have this Shakespeare season? This is the last week of shows. If you haven't had a chance to see all of these hit shows pick up your tickets today, and be sure to stop by our booth when you get here!

What an amazing festival so far! With closing night for "Book of Will", "The Taming of the Shrew" and "King Lear" a week away, don't miss out! Get your tickets online or call our Box Office: santacruzshakespeare.org/season-2023

📸 ._r._jones_photography

We're excited about these upcoming staged readings! We'll be there renting chairs, blankets, and cushions. Stop by our booth and say hi 👋 on your way in!

Don't miss our Staged Readings! Our first staged reading "Witch" by Jen Silverman is on August 1. Our second staged reading, " 'Master Harold'... and the Boys" by Athol Fugard is on August 8. These special readings are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a play before it takes the full stage. Tickets are pay-what-you-will and support our education programs. Get your tickets today: santacruzshakespeare.org/season-2023

📸 Jana Marcus Photography

Have you gotten your Santa Cruz Shakespeare tickets yet this season? Be sure to book them soon, they've got some great shows in the line up this year.

Make sure to swing by our booth near the parking lot for your show comfort needs. We're renting beach chairs, cushions, and blankets!

Every rental supports two local nonprofits - Santa Cruz Shakespeare and Soroptimist International of Capitola by the Sea.

Join us at the "End Human Trafficking" Forum this Saturday, July 29th!

The forum will run from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz.

Featured speakers are Kenny Besk, who has spent 16 years in law enforcement and has worked on human trafficking issues locally and in Thailand, and Michael Mahan, Santa Cruz County assistant district attorney, who handles sexual assault, human trafficking and homicide cases. They will outline the hidden and invisible ways young people are being recruited by human traffickers.

Parents, teachers, school counselors, social workers and others will be given tools they can use to help prevent their teenagers, students, clients and other vulnerable youth from being recruited.

Besk has had a varied career in law enforcement from patrol deputy, narcotics detective, swat support team member, field training officer to fi****ms instructor. While working as a narcotics detective, he learned about human trafficking and left law enforcement to work with the Zoe International Foundation in Thailand to combat online human trafficking for several years. Throughout his career, Mahan has trained multiple agencies and district attorney staff about domestic violence and human trafficking cases, and has successfully completed dozens of jury trials to verdict.

The presentation is free and open to the public. For more information about this event and human trafficking issues, call AAUWSC at (831) 239-2184.

This free public forum is hosted by the Santa Cruz County Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUWSC), along with the League of Women Voters of Santa Cruz County and SI Capitola as co-sponsors.

AAUW Santa Cruz County (CA) Branch Welcome to the Santa Cruz County (CA) Branch of AAUW! Please join us on July 29th for an End Human Trafficking Forum. For details, click on the image below to enlarge. About Santa Cruz County Branch of AAUW Our members live all over Santa Cruz County, from Boulder Creek to Watsonville. AAUW was foun...

Meet you at the grove!

We will once again be renting cushions, beach chairs, and blankets on cold nights at all 50 of the Santa Cruz Shakespeare shows!

Potential members or others interested in learning more about the Club’s work and activities are invited to visit the rental booth and talk to a member.

Proceeds from the booth are the Club’s major fund-raiser and a portion is shared with SCS.

The shows run July 8th through August 27th.

Congratulations to our 2023-24 board members and President Kate McGuire!! We had so much fun celebrating them at our "A League of Their Own" themed installation - it was a hit!

Kate McGuire and Jackie Berset are having fun at Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region Conference with 300 other Soroptimists! Here's them getting their glow on and enjoying cocktail hour.

Our next Club meeting is coming up on June 13, 2023 at 4 p.m. at United Way of Santa Cruz County! (4450 Capitola Road, Suite 106, Capitola)

We will be planning for the 2023 Santa Cruz Shakespeare festival staffing the rental booth for the shows which will run July 8th through August 27th. This is the club's main annual fundraising event, and volunteering gets you free entry to watch the shows!

Stop by if you think you might want to hear more about volunteering!