SAVE THE DATE! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Cheryl’s corner

Hey all, kin fam community members,

It’s Santa Cruz Black’s 1st edition of the September newsletter.  And wow it’s been a few weeks of chaos in the nation.  It hasn’t been quiet on the home front either.  There’s so much happening that centers Santa Cruz Black.   I mean the past three years we all have been witnessing the deterioration of democracy and some major gains (to be clear not substantial gains, more like major potentiality) towards racial justice and equity.  Of course along with progress comes loss.  As I mentioned in my last column, we’re at a crossroads in this county from where I’m standing.  And with transformation there’s always chaos, sometimes loss.

And oh, another death, another Black man has lost his life in Fulton County Jail.  That jail really needs to be shuttered for good.  No new jail, nothing.  Cancel plans.  It was originally built in 1989 to hold 1,125 detainees, but instead is barely containing upwards of 3,000 inmates in the most inhumane conditions conceivable. Ten deaths have occurred in that jail since January of this year.  That is 10 deaths too many!  No one should be dying in custody.  Fulton County jail (CNN article)is primarily a facility to detain those who can not post bail once arrested.  Yeah, uh-huh what does that tell you? 

A little more than a year ago, the ACLU released a report detailing solutions to reduce the overcrowding conditions of Fulton County Jail without leasing additional space.

Inmates detained at Santa Cruz County Jail are not without peril, either. For a short period of time, Santa Cruz County Main Jail had 5 deaths in an 11-month span. Pretty awful if you ask me.  A June 2021 grand jury report showed that 6.4 deaths out of 100.000 bookings occurred  in the Santa Cruz County Jail since 2004 - 2019, which happens to rank Santa Cruz as one of the seventh lowest among California counties regarding in custody deaths. 

Fast forward to 2019, just four years ago, according to the sheriff's spokesperson there have been 5 more in-custody deaths since 2019 to present. It appears as if conditions have improved. The good news is that Santa Cruz County Main Jail is not the Fulton County Jail or Rikers. Yet the sad fact remains that most jail deaths are either from suicide and/or in combination with someone overdosing or detoxing from illicit substance use.  

We know that some people who get detained are in poor physical health, may be unhoused, lack consistent medical care and have lost contact with a loving support system, which puts them at a higher risk of death, or a medical emergency while being detained. Those factors should not create a stigma that deprives people of competent and decent treatment.

What is problematic to me is that our society relies on putting people in cages who are facing serious life issues and have made some poor choices to remedy the lack of resources. Our society calls this a viable solution for safety and contentment for those citizens who are able to thrive and survive regardless of the troubles they may have challenged. It seems to me that some of the solutions lie at the intersection of freedom, justice and safety.

I’m on a slow simmer now. So, I’m going to shift to lighter, more hopeful announcements, for a minute anyway.

Elsewhere in the news, concerning the criminal injustice system, the Ella Baker Center has been operating an Inside/Outside Policy Fellowship and they have announced and are inviting those who are passionate about economic + racial  the Ella Baker Center has been operating an Inside/Outside Policy Fellowship Justice and have been impacted by incarceration to apply for the 2024 Inside Fellowship position.  Applications are due by October 23rd. You can find the application here. The Ella Baker Center is located in Oakland, CA.

Back to the dark side, hate has decided to visit our county, south county to be exact.  A few weekends ago, Moms for Liberty, a far right seemingly fringe hate group attempted to organize in Corralitos. Some 44 organizations including Santa Cruz Black quickly collaborated and created this statement. We say no not here, not now, not ever.

Yet in Vancouver they are blatant. Check it out. (below left)

But some people are fascinated with symbols of hate and continue to etch them or re-create them in public spaces. Just yesterday, another horrifying symbol of hate, of anti-semitism was seen on the sidewalk in front of the post office in Watsonville. (above right) We are not done my friends. No time to be complacent. 

This just galvanizes my spirit and I’m reminded of Ella Baker’s words: “We who believe in freedom, can not rest until it comes.”

Yes, Santa Cruz Black's social justice work is political. The way I see it, there are many ways to create change and they all are connected to each other. They have a purpose in furthering or moving the needle towards a better future for all. 

In closing for this week, I do want to invite you all to our first annual fundraiser.  A Fall Celebration: Uniting for Equity and Empowerment. It’s going to be mixer style, located at the beautiful Highlands County Park in Ben Lomond, CA on October 22, 2023 from 3 to 6 pm. I also want to acknowledge the generous support from our two most recent sponsors: County Park Friends and Dr. Christine Hong of UCSC Center for Racial Justice. Please save the date.

If you’re able, please consider joining our leadership circle. See below for details.

Peace, Power + Love

Cheryl M. Williams

she/ her/ they

Co Founder + Director

Chris speaks

Hello hello hello,

Fall is here.

We are full steam ahead planning our Fall Celebration. We are grateful for the generous support of our two major sponsors: County Park Friends and Dr. Christine Hong of the Center for Racial Justice at UCSC. Check out our major sponsorship levels here mentioned later in the newsletter.

Otherwise, please support us by coming (or sponsoring a ticket for another), amplifying it via your social networks, or support Santa Cruz Black in general here if you’re unable to attend.

I’m going to share the words of my public comment from the Cabrillo name change meeting before the board decided to kick the can down the road 5 years. My photograph was used in the Aptos Times after that meeting without any context or mention of what I had to say and placed next to a picture of someone in opposition to the name change. Just my name and face.

I don't want to hear crocodile tears about changing Cabrillo's name until you tell me that you know who Nathan Bedford Forrest was. Then tell me why anything should be named in his honor. Then tell me why Juan Cabrillo should be afforded the same honor. I am disappointed with the board's discussion.

So here is what I said:

————————————————————————

Santa Cruz County, progressive? Yes. Often unfortunately performatively so. We have indigenous communities asking us (you) to do better. A Cabrillo student said in a Lookout article when you know better you do better. The backlash [against the name change] says otherwise to me.

The direct analogue to this issue is the renaming of military bases named for those Confederate generals who chose supporting the perpetuation of chattel slavery instead of expressing the promise this nation was allegedly founded upon. The federal government can do it, but somehow we can’t? I imagine most here in this so thought beacon of acceptance and liberalism support not honoring Confederate generals. I see no difference here.

One member of this board said, “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.” The underserved person, the unhoused person, the marginalized person, the disadvantaged person would be so lucky to say the same.

————————————————————————

Lastly, I can’t deny the schadenfreude I feel at the news that a judge in New York state has dissolved the Trump Organization. Why are owners of at 5 least agricultural companies supporting/sponsoring a visit to the Central Coast by Ron DeSantis? To me, it shows they have no interest in those who actually do the work for them. Moms for Liberty showing up here trying to indoctrinate folks… A lot of people say these things would never happen here (or put on blinders and say that), yet here we are.

I’m adding another closing message used by one of my favorite podcasters—Danielle Moodie. Power to the people, and to ALL THE PEOPLE, POWER.

In community,

Chris

Upcoming Community Events/Opportunities !

Uplifting and amplifying opportunities to build and strengthen community!

Morehouse at Dominican!

Source: Dominican Hospital Family Residency Program

The Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Santa Cruz, California, was established in 2022 to address health equity in our local and global communities. We will be interviewing medical students in the Fall 2023 and welcome our first residents to start our 3-year program dedicated to training full spectrum, culturally competent family physicians in July 2024. While ‘new’, our program is well-grounded as part of graduate medical education that was started at Morehouse School of Medicine in 1981 and CommonSpirit/Dignity Health, who sponsors GME programs which have served communities for more than half a century, currently training more than 2,000 residents nationally.   

Take the Black Census!

Click here to sign up!

SANTA CRUZ BLACK NEEDS YOU!
HERE’S HOW CAN YOU HELP US GROW.

Santa Cruz Black started as a group holding community meetings during the height of what mainstream media has called the racial reckoning, right after the murder of George Floyd.

Our Vision: To bring Black people, residents of Santa Cruz County, together in the spirit of resilient joy, creating visible community as we organize for equitable access to housing in this county which now has one of the most unaffordable rental markets.

Executing the Vision/ Answer: In addition, many Black residents experience high levels of isolation and economic marginalization. We have developed three core programs, that focus on youth development, housing access, equity, and intergenerational community building. All of which are crucial to improving the quality of life for Santa Cruz County’s Black residents.

Santa Cruz Black is the public name of the independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Santa Cruz Black Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity.

Tax ID: 88-1413455 Donations may be tax exempt. We are working to establish more equitable living conditions; we host events that ultimately celebrate Black Joy.

Any monetary support you give is not only welcome but will assist us in scaling up our efforts. We are grateful for all the love that our community has shown us. If you’re as passionate about achieving racial justice and equity as we are, please consider donating. Your support is greatly appreciated, and of course, any amount of support is welcome.

A one-time gift of support allows us to grow our burgeoning grassroots efforts to amplify the Black community in Santa Cruz County and build community programming and community assets. A one-time or monthly donation of ANY size sows the seeds needed for our emerging organization to thrive.

For example:
$100 will allow us to print and distribute our organizational informational collateral
$250 supports building and maintaining our IT infrastructure and needs
$500 enables us to provide transportation for our cohorts in the Melanated Makerspace program to events county-wide.

If you’re able to support more, consider joining our leadership level circles:

Grace Lee Boggs/Yuri Kochiyama at $1000
Your name will appear on the prominent banner displayed on event day and be mentioned in online advertising and event releases. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program and will appear on SCB’s website and e-newsletters thanking donors in 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked in 1 social media post.

Ida B. Wells at $2500
Your name – and if a business, your logo – will appear on a prominent banner displayed on the event day and will be mentioned in online advertising and event press releases. Your name will also appear on our website as well as on printed collateral thanking sponsors for the 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked in 3 social media posts. This level of sponsorship will also receive an SCB t-shirt. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program.

London Nelson at $3750
Your name – and if a business, your logo – will appear on a prominent banner displayed on the event day and be mentioned in online advertising and event press releases. You will receive an SCB t-shirt. You will be thanked in 4 social media posts. Your name will also appear on our website as well as on printed collateral thanking sponsors for the 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program.

Carter G. Woodson at $5000
Your logo and name will be featured on a prominent banner displayed on event day, on all promotional materials including print and online advertising. flyers, in event press releases and announcements, in a minimum of 5 social media posts, will be mentioned during the emcee portion of the ceremony, and will appear on SCB’s website and in all e-newsletter acknowledging donors throughout FY 2023-24. You will also receive a Santa Cruz Black t-shirt. This level of support is the only sponsor tier whose logo and name will be the most prominently featured on all event collateral and to be offered tabling space at the event.

We welcome you to support us by donating what you can. We are passionate about the work that we do and we believe that with your support, we can and will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of Black residents in Santa Cruz County. We invite community feedback around our priorities and programming and your support in our endeavors.

Follow @santacruz.black on Instagram and visit our website, Santacruz.black for more information about Santa Cruz Black as we as other local events and community news.