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From 1941 to 1944, the Germans subjected Leningrad, the former capital of Russia known today as “Saint Petersburg,” to one of the longest and most destructive chapters of World War II. Historians believe that the Siege of Leningrad — occurring over a nearly 900-day period — resulted in the deaths of up to 1.5 million soldiers and civilians and the evacuation of another 1.4 million people, mostly women and children.

Two little girls — Tamara Haltsonen, who was then 6 years old, and her older sister, Lidia, who was 10 — illustrate the unfathomable human toll of the infamous siege: The girls suffered through the death of their mother, Tatiana, to starvation and/or illness, and the loss of their father, Alexsander, to the “German Labor Camps.” Devastated and suddenly with no one to care for them, the two were placed in separate sections of a local orphanage, before being moved with other evacuees to... To continue reading this story, please click HERE.

2-1-1 Orange County has received many testimonials for our work.

In April 2014, 2-1-1 Orange County conducted a survey of Orange County health and human services providers to which we refer our callers. Here are some things that they said:

"We refer clients to 2-1-1 for extra help in referrals for services"

"Our clients are most commonly referred to us by 2-1-1. Our screening process would be much more difficult wihtout your 'pre-screening' to direct clients that qualify to us."

"There has been consistent outreach by 2-1-1 staff over the last year. It has been very helpful to speak to someone, I feel this has led to better referrals. Keep up the good work."

“I don’t want to live a meaningless life anymore” whispered Linh, a single 68-year old Vietnamese woman. 

About a year ago, Linh was introduced to the Council on Aging's ReConnect Technology class. The ReConnect Early Intervention Services for Older Adults (EISOA) Program provides support groups, educational trainings, skill development workshops, home visitations and physical activities to improve the mental health and enhance the quality of life of older adults. When Linh arrived to ReConnect, she was like many other Vietnamese women that...

To continue reading, visit the Southern California Council on Aging HERE.

She is 18. A superstar voted Girl of the Year in her 2010 Bolsa Grande High graduating class for stellar academics and ceaseless community service.

She wants to become a pediatrician. Only, Jessica Dinh gets pregnant before she finishes that first year. She finds out a month before finals.

To continue reading this story, click HERE.

• January 30, 2017: Why 1,000 volunteers spent their Saturday counting Orange County's homeless - OC Register
• January 27, 2017: Volunteers to survey O.C. in Point-in-Time homeless count - Daily Pilot
• January 6, 2017: 1,000 more volunteers needed to count Orange County's homeless - OC Register
• March 24, 2016: Orange County, CA: SoCalGas Joins 2-1-1 Orange County to Launch Internet Site to Help Veterans and their Families Gain Greater Access to Services Veterans and their families will be able to navigate the rich resources landscape in the county with confidence and anonimity. 
• March 17, 2015: Orange County, CA: Dear Abby: 2-1-1 A Handy resource for those in need Because everyone knows someone that needs help.  
• Jan. 31, 2015: "Arlington's no-silos approach has housed hundreds of chronically homeless adults." Read an article from The Washington Post describing how Arlington County has placed close to 300 chronically homeless individuals in housing since 2011.
• Jan. 23, 2015: Orange County, CA: Volunteers to hit O.C. streets for 'massive undetaking' of counting the homeless Hundreds of volunteers will count and survey the homeless to support efforts to end homelessness    
• Jan. 24, 2015: Orange County, CA: Homeless get counted - and get help Over 700 volunteers walked the streets of Orange County early January 24, 2015
• June 11, 2014: "A Campaign to House the Homeless Reaches a Milestone."  
  NPR's Pam Fessler reports on the campaign to get 100,000 homeless people off the street and into permanent housing in just 4 years! Listen to how the group, Community Solutions, reached its goal a month before the deadline. Or learn more about the 100,000 homes campaign.
• June 29, 2014: "Here's How Vancouver Responded to London's Anti-Homeless Spikes"
  Visit Mic.com to see how "a Vancouver charity, RainCity Housing, is converting city benches into pop-up shelters for homeless people. And by giving homeless people in this rainy city some dry coverage and a place to rest, RainCity is putting London's anti-homeless spikes to shame" (Kagel, 2014).
• "Make Them Visible"
  Visit the MakeThemVisible.com website to learn more about how the New York City Rescue Mission is raising awareness and putting a real face to people in need by posing the question, “Have the Homeless Become Invisible?”

Radio Programs

January 23, 2017: How the homeless count is going high-tech - 89.3 KPCC

Friendship Show
Friendship shelter, a 25 year-old community organization has launched a new radio program in Orange County. Friendship Show, an hour-long round-table discussion that engages leaders in the social issues that impact our communities, airs every Saturday at 9:00 am on KX93.5 FM and streams online at KX935.com. Follow Friendship Show on Facebook and listen to podcasts. If you have a social issue you would like to hear discussed on Friendship Show or if you would like to be a guest please contact Mark Miller at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Videos

• Jan. 28, 2015: Silicon Valley, CA: 'Hotel 22' A bus a homeless shelter?  
• Dec. 5, 2014: Orange County, CA: From Managing to ENDING homelessness "Point-in-Time Orange County, Let's Make Everyone Count!"
• Nov. 17, 2014: Cox Civic Connection - 211OC Point-in-Time Count & Survey Interview
  Watch 211OC's Senior Manager of Special Projects, Kristin Jefferson, discuss what the homeless count entials, how this process benefits our community, and more. Want to be a part of this remarkable event? Help us reach our goal of 1,500 volunteers! Visit our website at www.pointintimeoc.org to learn more. Let's make everyone count!

From the outside, an embrace is always seen, but the true emotion can be difficult to feel. Inside the American Red Cross shelter at the First Christian Church in Clark County, Indiana, one could not only see the embrace, they could see an authentic sense of overwhelming gratitude.

Mio and Aeris came to the Red Cross shelter while hope was running on empty. They were unable to stay in their home. Aeris was pregnant. The floodwaters quickly overwhelmed their hope and their sense of security. They were able to make it to the Red Cross shelter where they were able to have some of that hope and security restored...

To continue reading this story, please visit the American Red Cross website HERE.  

The Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA) would like to invite you to the Drawing Out Stigma - Multi-Ethnic Arts & Family Festival on Sunday, May 5 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm at Bowers Museum located at 2002 N. Main Street in Santa Ana.

This festival is a culmination of a community process using the arts as a vehicle to increase mental health awareness. Artwork created by community members of different cultural backgrounds whom have experienced mental health conditions will be highlighted and the event will feature the premiere of Drawing Out Stigma: My Story, My Journey, a community participatory film on mental health stigma. The event will also include live international performances and a variety of ethnic food. All festival activities are provided at no cost. This event is made possible with funding by the OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Prevention & Intervention, Mental Health Services Act/Prop. 63.

Download the flyer HERE. Register for tickets HERE.

MECCAis a collective impact collaborative working to eliminate ethnic and racial disparities and improve the quality of life for multi-ethnic communities in Orange County. Collaborative member agencies include Abrazar, Inc., Korean Community Services, Southland Integrated Services, OMID Multicultural Institute for Development, ACCESS California Services, Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center and The Cambodian Family.

For more information, please contact, MECCA at 714-202-4752.

Saturday, January 19, 2019, Downtown Santa Ana • 9 AM

Over the past two years, diverse groups from Orange County marched together to support the fact that women’s rights are human rights and to make Orange County more safe, fair, healthy, supportive and accepting of all women. This year, again thousands of people will take to the streets to demonstrate unity and solidarity. Click here to join the march and for FAQs.

The OC Women's March issued a statement in direct response to the issues and hateful speech coming from the leadership of the national Women's March., Inc. Below is Orange County's statement:

OC Women’s March is Independent from Women’s March, Inc.
The Orange County Women’s March is a local, volunteer-driven, grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting inclusivity and equity in our collective efforts to advance the status of women and women’s issues. Our coalition is distinctly independent of Women’s March, Inc., a national organization. The Orange County Women’s March does not share any leadership, decision-making input, or financial connection to Women’s March, Inc., and we independently raise our own funds to present our local Orange County Women’s March.
​
The Orange County Women’s March stands against hate in all forms. We denounce any statements against the Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities and will continue to take action to promote intersectionality and equity as we work toward our vision of restoring dignity, sharing humanity, and promoting inclusivity and justice for all.

We firmly believe that women must stand in solidarity with all marginalized communities and ask those communities to stand together with us against hate and oppression in all forms and at all levels. We look forward to marching with you in downtown Santa Ana on Saturday January 19, 2019.

Have you thought of starting a business as the answer to the grueling job hunt? Want the freedom, independence, flexibility and unlimited income that business ownership provides? Already have a business and want to see it grow? Then Operation Vetrepreneur is the answer!

Operation Vetrepreneur is an innovative, FREE 13-week program designed to help you jump-start your business. Deploying local subject matter experts and successful vetrepreneurs as mentors, Operation Vetrepreneur harnesses community resources to support veterans to become independent, successful entrepreneurial job creators.

Our experience has shown that veterans thrive in the company of other vets. Operation Vetrepreneur brings entrepreneurial minded veterans together who are underserved and otherwise could not afford to have access to essential services during the critical, early stages of building or growing a new business. Through think tank brainstorming groups, and one-on-one mentoring participants learn essential skills, discuss challenges, bounce around ideas, learn from subject matter experts, set goals and action steps. Meeting in the early evenings weekly over 13 weeks, participants account for their actions to the rest of the group.

Operation Vetrepreneur In a Nutshell
FREE Business Growth Support
Topics Covered: Management | Marketing | Money Management
Commitment to Attend Evening Brainstorming Group Meetings Once Per Week
FREE One-on-One Mentoring Available
Interviews Start March 11th
Spring 2019 Group Launches March 25th
Operation Vetrepreneur is open for any veterans who currently run a business or have taken concrete steps toward starting up a small business. We welcome military, spouses, homeless, and disabled veterans as well.

 Don’t Wait! Apply Now Space is Limited!

www.OperationVetrepreneur.vet

 About Operation Vetrepreneur

Operation Vetrepreneur is a veteran workforce development program of the National Veterans Transition Services, Inc.aka REBOOT, funded by the City of San Diego, in partnership with Veteran Launch, Mind Masters, Marketing Impressions, Northstar Online Solutions, Go Legal Yourself, Homeland Magazine, and KNC Strategic Services. If you would like to join our team, please contact Vicki Garcia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

This event is a fun family event with a 5K Run/Walk, Health & Safety Expo, Food & Entertainment, and fund-raising opportunity to help support programs and direct services at the Crime Survivors Resource Center. Awareness. Prevention. Advocacy. Healing.

Event Fee: $30.00 Pre Registration | $40.00 Day of Registration -- Includes Shirt, Medal, Goody Bag to First 500 Pre Registered, Food ,Drinks, and Entertainment!

Location: 18712 University Drive, Irvine, CA US 92612

Race Schedule
7 am - 11 am : Health & Safety Expo
7:00 am - Registration Opens
8:15 am - Warm Up
8:30 am - Special Guest Presentations
8:45 am - Survivors Dove Release
9:00 am - 5k Run/Walk Starts ( You can run, walk or jog).

REGISTER AT: http://surviveandthriverunwalk.org/oc/

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (844) 853-HOPE | (949) 872-7895 | www.superherorunwalk.org

Photos from last years event: https://bit.ly/2Cvb5FE

Additional race information can be found at http://www.superherorunwalk.org/.

As part of Santiago Canyon Community College's Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention week of activities during the month of April, will be the fourth annual Clothesline Community Fair. Join the nationwide initiative to bring awareness to the issue of violence against women. Every year, the college participates in the Clothesline Project; a nationwide initiative to bring awareness to the issue of violence. Across the country, thousands will decorate a T-shirt to show their support or share a story to encourage survivors and educate the community.  

April 22nd & 23rd each day from 11AM-2PM.

Date: Monday April 22nd & Tuesday April 23rd
Location: Santiago Canyon College, 8045 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92869.
Time of event: 11AM-2PM

Download the flyer HERE, and download a map of Santiago Canyon College HERE.

Reentry into society after a traumatic experience, rehab, or prison can be a challenging time for the individual and for their families. Usually, there a number of obstacles that can get in the way of these individuals remaining mentally healthy, clean, and lawful citizens.

As a result, many social workers are qualified to help those struggling to reenter society, as well as their family and friends. Continue reading to learn about the different struggles of reentering society and how social workers can help.

To continue reading this article and delve deeper into the different types of traumatic experiences that a social worker can help with, as well as download the infographic, please click HERE!

Every day we are surrounded by stories of personal transformation and triumph.  Most times we don’t even know it is taking place. It could be a person sitting or standing right next to us, or a neighbor on the street who we overlook.  Powerful transformations start with the overwhelming process of looking at your life, taking a systematic approach to meeting your needs, healing your emotional wounds, and bringing balance back into your life.

Our ReConnect Program does just that. It offers a systematic approach to providing vital resources to older and disabled adults who want to take control of their life and reconnect with the community – helping treat depression, isolation, and anxiety. One story of personal triumph and transformation is about Monica, a 69-year old Hispanic woman who needed our help.  At the time of enrollment, she was struggling with severe depression, mainly due to on-going health issues. Yet, Monica* wanted to participate in activities to increase her physical activity, become more occupied, and improve her health management skills.  Continue reading here...

Click HERE to learn more about the Council on Aging Southern California.

It’s time for the 4th Annual South County Pet Expo, coming to the Lake Forest Sports Park! Fun for the whole family!

Featuring Very Special Guest W. Bruce Cameron, Author of the Bestselling Book and Major Motion Picture “A DOG’S WAY HOME”. Cameron will also present BELLA, canine starof “A Dog’s Way Home,” as well as conduct a book signing of his many bestselling books!

The Pet Expo will also feature:

• FREE Admission, Parking & Shuttle Service!
• Rescue Groups with Lovable Pets to Adopt!
• Enjoy Entertaining Canine Demonstrations!
• A Wide Array of Pet Products and Services!
• FREE Giveaways and Great Pet Information!
• Food Trucks, Music, Fun for Families & Pets

There will be plenty of pets to adopt, plus demos, vendors, and food!

Date: March 9
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE

Lake Forest Sports Park
28000 Rancho Parkway
Lake Forest, CA 92630

949-273-6960

Visit the Lake Forest Parks & Rec website HERE. Download the flyer HERE.

Sponsored by Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, The City of Lake Forest, The Pet Adoption Center of Orange County, and Saddleback Church. 

Overflow Parking & Shuttle Service Available at Saddleback Church! (Enter at Portola Parkway & Purpose Drive)

We appreciate our partnership with 2-1-1 and the good work you do for our community!

With the economy like it is, some of our constituents have fallen on hard times and need help. 2-1-1 is one of the best and most comprehensive resources we’ve found.

Since 2-1-1 launched in 2005 it has been a valuable asset to all of Orange County including being an important resource during my time in the state legislature. The quality of services 2-1-1 provides is a testament to the great people working tirelessly for the organization.

2-1-1 is a great resource. I have referred many families to it and it has been very helpful.

It is truly a blessing, to have such an efficient partner working with us!