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Technology Helps Level the Playing Field for Those with Disabilities
As Tom Wlodkowski walked through San Francisco Airport on his way to a conference, people frequently approached him, asking if he needed help. Blind since birth and using a cane, he continued navigating the complex maze of the airport, a challenge even for someone with sight, while declining offers of assistance. “No, thanks,” he told them. “I’ve got it.” His tool was an iPhone, on which other sighted people were looking at the maze and guiding him step by step. “Technology has been the great equalizer,” he said in an interview. “The iPhone has been a great invention for us.” Wlodkowski is a huge inspiration at Comcast. As the vice…
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A Triumph of Potential: From Overlooked Youth to Rising Stars
As the bright lights illuminated the Santa Cruz TEDx stage, Alex and Martín stood side-by-side with me, their presence commanding the audience’s attention. These two young men from Santa Cruz County are a living embodiment of the life-changing power of believing in hidden talent. For Alex, the journey began years earlier on a court at the YMCA where I was coaching basketball. I love sports and volunteered to coach the team that no one else wanted – a crew of eight boys, including Alex. We didn’t win a single game. People would make fun of our losing streaks. To lift my team’s spirits, I reached out to the Golden State…
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World Arts Festival 2024
Celebrate the diversity and richness of our community at this year’s World Arts Festival! On Sunday June 23rd from 1-5PM, Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center offers free family-friendly performances outdoors at the Tannery Arts Center. The festival includes dance and music performances by new and beloved Santa Cruz and Bay Area artists, including White Hawk Indian Council, Antara Asthaayi Dance, Raizes do Brasil Capoeira, Senderos, and more. Artisans and vendors will be selling traditional crafts and wares, with food and beverages from Areparia831 and My Mom’s Mole.
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Tech Exec Breaks Through
Someone once told Tracye Mingo, “Don’t get mad when you are underestimated. Be glad. Because they will never see you coming.” That person was her father and number one mentor. Tracye carried those words throughout her career in technology, ultimately becoming the Vice President of Technical Operations at Comcast California. For parents eager to see their children pursue a career in STEM, Tracye’s story is especially inspiring because she was able to pursue a high-paying career in technology without obtaining a degree from a four-year (or longer) college. This saved her significant time and expense, and enabled her to seize opportunities to propel her career forward quickly. As a Black…
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Shared Adventures Helps Disabled Enjoy Outdoor Activities
The name says it all! What Foster Andersen, founder and CEO, has cultivated over the past 30 years is many Shared Adventures for the disabled community. The non-profit organizes activities for disabled folks so they can do what they thought they couldn’t. This isn’t just activities like rock-wall climbing, sailing, kayaking, whale watching, gardening and archery. Many disabled people struggle with not feeling capable of doing some of the things that those of us who have not suffered some sort of injury, congenital or birth anomaly take for granted. “When I started Shared Adventures, I was filling a void,” said Foster. “The disabled community was so disconnected from itself. I…
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Birthday Battle Royale at the Children’s Museum
We’ve had a lot of the usual birthday parties for our 8-year-old son—bowling, the Boardwalk, Blue Ball Park— but nothing topped going to a local museum with Nerf guns locked and loaded to shoot your guests. Think Night at the Museum meets Terminator and you’ve made a lot of boys’ dreams come true. It sounds crazy, right? But the Children’s Museum of Discovery in the Capitola Mall has stretched the boundaries of what a museum can be and has come up with a party like none other. For two hours, kids get to run amok with Nerf blasters. They can bring their own guns or the museum supplies them. It…
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It Is Not Just a Housing Project. It Is a CommUNITY!
Growing up in the housing projects in NYC shaped the very essence of my being. While there were physical barriers present, they were not the focal points of my upbringing. Instead, the essence of my community was rooted in the resilience and unity of its people, transcending the limitations imposed by external circumstances. In the narrative often associated with housing projects, the emphasis tends to be on the seeming challenges—tall buildings, economic disparities, and various barriers that seemingly dictate the destiny of those who call these places home. However, my story diverges from this narrative. It is a tale of a thriving community, where the focus was not on how…
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Recycle Right! Boot Camp
The Recycle Right! Boot Camp is back and better than ever! For the first time we are hosting this class in-person, on-site at our Resource Recovery Facility. Saturday March 16th, 2024 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Come join us if you can! Class is limited to 25 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 -18 must be accompanied by an adult. All participants must wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. Come prepared for the weather. Carpooling/biking is encouraged as parking is limited. You will learn about the history of recycling, what happens with your recycling, and how to move beyond the blue bin! Plus…
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Kids Learn Good Nutrition is Cool at Cooking Clubs
“Ewww…it’s so green – I don’t want to eat that!” When kids first join one of Second Harvest Food Bank’s Cooking Clubs, this can be a common reaction to the Vegetarian Pesto Pasta recipe. But rather than being an obstacle, it becomes an ideal learning opportunity. “Our Cooking Clubs are all about exposure,” said Vanessa Arizmendi, Wellness and Nutrition Director for Second Harvest Food Bank. “They are designed to introduce young people to nutrition concepts, ingredients, spices, cultural dishes, and other food-related concepts that support a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. We want to open their minds and their taste buds!” Second Harvest’s overall mission is to address the…
