DesertArc

Longtime staff member, Tonya Chiu, Desert Arc’s Morongo Basin Community Coordinator who works out of our Yucca Valley program location, was honored with the “Above and Beyond” accolade at the Basin Wide Foundation's recent Annual Dinner & Awards Celebration in Joshua Tree. She also serves as the Chair of the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce!

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!
Thank you Palm Springs City Government for showing us all the amazing ways we can celebrate and honor our vibrant Hispanic community!

🌟 Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in Palm Springs! 🌟

We invite all residents of Palm Springs to join us in honoring the rich culture, history, and incredible contributions of the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15). From art and music to cuisine and community leadership, the Hispanic community has played a vital role in shaping the vibrant spirit of our city.

Throughout the month, there will be events, performances, and activities celebrating this long-standing heritage. Let’s come together to recognize the lasting impact and celebrate the diversity that makes Palm Springs so special. Check out some ways you can participate here: https://www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/blog/post/national-hispanic-heritage-month/

For more information about this national month of recognition, visit https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources/hispanic-heritage-month-resources



Visit Greater Palm Springs

SEEKING CANDIDATE TO LEAD OUR MISSION - ACCEPTING RESUMES FOR PRESIDENT/CEO POSITION

Desert Arc is seeking a visionary President/CEO to advance its mission, expand impact, and deliver the highest quality services to individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The President/CEO will lead strategic initiatives, manage operations and finances, develop social service programs, and maintain strong community and board relations.

Ideal candidates will have proven senior leadership experience in nonprofits or public organizations, preferably in the IDD sector. A Bachelor’s degree is required - a Master’s in Nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field preferred. This role offers a competitive salary and is based in Palm Desert, California, reporting to the Chair of the Board of Directors.

For the full position description, visit www.desertarc.org/desert-arc-employment. Please submit resumes and cover letters to [email protected] by October 15, 2024.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Desert Arc is a proud member of California Disability Services Association (CDSA), a statewide association that represents more than 100 community-based organizations that support and empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Desert Arc will be sending some representatives to CDSA’s Annual Meeting this week in Monterey, CA. There they will be involved in a panel, showcase the work we do here, and learn directly from peers in our industry.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DESERT ARC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Richard Balocco, President/CEO, to retire January 31, 2025

CDSA-sponsored bill AB 2423 passed the Senate earlier last week and is now on the Governor’s desk and he has until September 30 to pass or veto all bills. We need to show our support as early as possible to make sure our community is heard. Click on the link and send a letter supporting AB 2423!

Act Now! Urge Governor Newsom to Sign AB 2423 into Law to Regularly Update Rates for Disability Services URGENT ACTION ALERT! Contact Governor Gavin Newsom and urge him to sign AB 2423 into law! AB 2423, introduced by Assembly Member Devon Mathis, would require the state to update rate funding rates and data for vital disability services every two years. Californians with disabilities, their families &...

ACTION ALERT! Urge your Senator to vote YES on AB 2423, which would require the state to review and update rate models for disability services every other year. Californians with disabilities, their families, and the workforce supporting them deserve stability!
ACT NOW: bit.ly/AB2423

These clients got the chance to tour the Palm Desert City Hall when they dropped off a thank you card to Joe Barron, who has been a big help with our recent capital improvement projects. Thank you, Joe and the City of Palm Desert for supporting Desert Arc!

Shred Fact: NASA has used shredders in space missions. The International Space Station (ISS) uses shredders to manage and recycle paper waste, demonstrating the importance of shredding even in a space environment.

Stay tuned for our next popup shred event!

Through the Old Town Artisan Studios Outreach Program, Desert Arc participants explore a diverse array of artistic mediums—including ceramics, fused glass, watercolor, acrylics, and fiber arts. This opportunity offers not only sensory stimulation but also a crucial outlet for creative self-expression in an enjoyable and positive way.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

♻️ Shred Fact: Shredding and recycling paper can reduce the amount of paper that ends up in landfills, which can emit harmful greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.

Stay tuned for our next popup shred event!

We thanked Temple Sinai Palm Desert the best way we know how for their generous in-kind donation of art supplies — with a giant, handmade card! Special thank you to Nancy Singer, Desert Arc Board Member and President of Temple Sinai Palm Desert, and Ann Miller, Social Action Chair, who coordinated the donation.

New arts & crafts donations are always appreciated. For information on needed supplies, please call: 760.346.1611 x411.

As Disability Pride Month comes to an end as we close out July, our commitment to inclusion and advocacy remains throughout the months to come. On July 26, we reflected on National Disability Independence Day, which marked the 34th anniversary of the ADA. We continue to strive for progress in the disability community and thank all who help us make a difference!

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Angelique Ontiveros, our Vice President of Business Development, has been at Desert Arc for 25 years. Her favorite job perk? The hugs!

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

We held an Employee Appreciation Reception yesterday thanking 34 of our loyal and hardworking employees who have been with Desert Arc for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 35 years! And a breakfast was held on Tuesday at Desert Arc honoring all of our employees who have been with us for 1-3 years!
“Your care for our clients and loyalty to our organization make all the difference.” - Richard Balocco, President/CEO

Our Shredding & Recycling Supervisor, Arturo Ponce, is hard at work training our new staff, Brett Partlow and Eduardo Herrada, to become certified forklift operators! Just another Tuesday!

Our Green Team Recycle and Janitorial crews met the lovely Abi Carter at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage today. Abi, Indio native and recent American Idol winner, stopped to say hello, take photos, and gift them with free tickets to her upcoming concert at Acrisure Arena. Thank you, Abi!

Shred Fact: In addition to security, paper shredding also has a positive environmental impact. It encourages sustainability by making recycling easier!

Bring your documents for us to shred at our Shred It and Forget It Friday popup on July 19th! We will be at the Desert Arc Palm Desert Campus at 73255 Country Club Drive from 9 a.m. to noon. $5 per standard bankers box of documents, $10 for computer hard drives.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Last week, we wished our dear friend Mario del Guidice a happy (belated) birthday with a special handmade birthday greeting! See a close-up of the pizza-themed card our clients created, in the comments.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Shred Fact: Shredding personal information, such as mail that includes your name and address, helps greatly reduce the risk of identity theft.

Come shred your old documents at our next Shred It and Forget It popup event on Monday, July 8! We will be at 56445 29 Palms Highway in Yucca Valley from 9 a.m. to noon. $5 per standard bankers box of documents, $10 for computer hard drives.

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Desert Arc provides various landscaping services - from desert scape and turf conversion, to irrigation systems/installation, and cleanups. Our trained staff can meet your landscaping needs with competitive and cost-effective pricing!
Here's a little "project" our clients did on our beautiful campus.
https://www.desertarc.org/landscape

Support Desert Arc this July when you shop for groceries! Donate $5 to Desert Arc and receive a $5 coupon for the Grocery Outlet in La Quinta. Donate in-store today or any day this month to make a difference.

Offer good only at the Grocery Outlet La Quinta location at 50929 Washington St, La Quinta, CA 92253.

Angelique Ontiveros, our Vice President, Business Development, is the new President of the Palm Desert Rotary Club. She is grateful for Desert Arc’s support of her volunteer role with the largest Rotary Club in Coachella Valley which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Congratulations, Angelique!

Happy birthday to Desert Arc's President/CEO, Richard Balocco, from our Board of Directors, staff, and most importantly, the 700 people with disabilities served by our mission!

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

At yesterday's Desert Arc Board of Directors meeting, we honored Richard F DeRose, CEO of HeartVantages, with a crystal heart to express our heartfelt gratitude for his role as the Panel Moderator and partner in our recent Press Conference regarding the acquisition of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for our entire transportation fleet. Rich engaged Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD, and leadership from Cal Fire and others from the Riverside County ER community to participate in the panel discussion about the critical importance of AEDs. He also arranged for Doctor Ruiz’s arrival via air ambulance compliments of REACH Air Medical Services. We are immensely thankful to Rich for his guidance in implementing our AED program and for his generous donation of an AED for Desert Arc's nurse station. Thank you, Rich, for your invaluable support!

This is Reyes, our Client of the Year for 2024. He works in our Recycling Facility and helps train and mentor new hires and clients who are seeing if this line of work is the right fit for them.
https://www.desertarc.org/recycling

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

We provide our clients two meals and a snack at our Desert Arc campus. They are served by fellow clients, who work diligently in the kitchen preparing and cooking food!
desertarc.org

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Desert Arc's Adult Day Program provides a supportive environment with pre-vocational training, volunteer opportunities, arts and leisure exploration, and self-advocacy skill building.
desertarc.org

DesertArc For JOB OPENINGS see our Employment Opportunities Tab on our website: http://www.desertarc.org

Can't wait to see everyone for Wine Down Wednesday at the Westin Rancho Mirage, Fireside Lounge. Kool 95.9 will be there and the proceeds from the event will go to Desert Arc. See you at 5 p.m.!
Note: there is complimentary valet parking