News & Events
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BI Annual Talent Show 2011
December 15, 2011 - Talent comes by the dozen at BI! We are so lucky to have so many talented staff and participants in our midst. Among our amazing performances were magic acts, dances, dramatic readings, singing acts, music acts, and much more; we have it all!
2 Cool 2 Fail
It's official! The 2 Cool 2 Fail Campaign has been launched and we are determined to meet our goals. Even Assemblymember Wes Chesbro is on board! To learn more about the campaign and how you can help check out the 2 Cool 2 Fail information page!
Teen Zone
June 10, 2011- Becoming Independent's Family Resource and Advocacy Center is proud to introduce this fun video about the Teen Zone program in Healdsburg. The Teen Zone is an after-school program for teens with disabilities.
For Love...
May 5, 2011- Becoming Independent is a place for work, art, exercise, music, education and friendship...A place for happiness for 1,300 people with disabilities in the North San Francisco Bay Area. We think this new video expresses this perfectly! We hope you enjoy it.
Rebuilding Together
May 4, 2011- On April 30th at 8 am, 39 enthusiastic volunteers from Winzler & Kelly and Exchange Bank, through the Rebuilding Together Workday, showed up at Becoming Independent. Volunteers updated walls with new fresh calming paint color, jack hammered sidewalks and built a new wheel chair accessible ramp to the main entrance, freshened up the community garden by weeding, spreading bark and planting succulents, and replaced old stained and worn out carpeting with new tile flooring.
Everyone is excited and delighted with the new improvements. Thank you to Rebuilding Together and all of the wonderful volunteers that gave up their Saturday to lend a helping hand at Becoming Independent.
Alert: DDS Announces Public Forums (mark your calendar!)
April 22, 2011- Department of Developmental Services - Public Forums on General Fund Savings Proposals
In response to the State of California’s significant budget crisis, the Department of Developmental Services will be hosting three public forums to receive input from consumers, family members, service providers and other stakeholders on draft proposals to achieve $174 million in General Fund savings. In developing the proposals, the Department conducted an on-line survey and met with stakeholder workgroups in eight service areas: Behavioral Services; Day, Supported Employment and Work Activity Programs; Early Start Services; Health Care and Therapeutic Services; Independent and Supported Living Services; Residential Services; Respite and Other Family Support Services; and Transportation Services. From these discussions, the Department is drafting proposals that will be made available on the Department’s website prior to the public forums (Department website: http://www.dds.ca.gov/PublicForums/).
The Department is hosting three public forums to receive additional input from consumers, family members, service providers and other stakeholders before the proposals are submitted to the Legislature on May 15, 2011. The proposals, also referred to in statute as best practices, will not become effective until adopted by the Legislature.
These public forums will be held as follows:
Date: May 5, 2011
Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Los Angeles
Ronald Reagan Building Auditorium
300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles 90013
Date: May 6, 2011
Time: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Location: Sacramento
East End Complex Auditorium
1501 Capitol Avenue, Sacramento 95814
Date: May 9, 2011
Time: 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: Oakland
Federal Building Auditorium
1301 Clay Street, Oakland 94612
IT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ATTEND THESE MEETINGS – DDS WILL NEED TO SEE THE VERY REAL CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS THAT WOULD FURTHER JEOPARDIZE VITAL SERVICES AND THE VIABILITY OF THE LANTERMAN ACT AND THE ENTITLEMENT.
Autism Now
April 18, 2011- PBS NewsHour is featuring a 6 part series on Autism. Watch the series here.
New Library Opens to Public
April 1, 2011: Becoming Independent's new Celebrate Community Library was officially opened April 1, 2011. Some partners from The Press Democrat's Celebrate Community Program were present to help Becoming Independent cut the ribbon and welcome the first guests to this new community space.
Hours are: Monday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Wednesday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Friday 12:00 to 4:00 pm, or by appointment.
Phone: 707-524-6754 (during non-library hours, call 524-6677 or 524-6725).
Budget Cuts
March 16, 2011- Help Becoming Independent fight proposed budget cuts to services for individuals with disabilities. Read the call to action here.
Spread the Love
February 1, 2011- Sales of Dolce Mia’s Spread the Love products benefit Becoming Independent (BI). Since 2009, Becoming Independent workers have been coming to the Dolce Mia factory in Sebastopol to work in the production of Dolce Mia’s bath and beauty line. BI workers fill bottles, apply stickers, and perform other assembly and packaging tasks. BI workers also provide a welcome perspective and upbeat attitude and have become an important part of the Dolce Mia’s company culture.
“We are committed to the BI vision that people with disabilities can attain an improved quality of life through meaningful work, friends and community support,” says Jenny Mountjoy, Dolce Mia’s creative director and vice president. “We personally and professionally benefit greatly from our partnership with BI and its workers. We want an opportunity to give back to Becoming Independent and to our community.”
Dolce Mia donates 10% of profits from Spread the Love products to Becoming Independent’s Family Resource and Advocacy Center. The Center provides information and assistance to families and their children with all types of disabilities through education, support, and a variety of direct services. Spread the Love is available in several bath and body travel size products and also as a gift box set.
San Quentin Protest
February 8, 2011- Facing millions of dollars in funding cuts by the Brown administration, hundreds of people rallied on Tuesday morning at San Quentin Prison to protest a state budget proposal to spend $64.7 million to launch an expansion of Death Row. The total expansion at San Quentin would cost taxpayers $1.6 billion over the next decade, according to Legislative estimates.
Participants in the rally were people with disabilities, their families and advocates from Becoming Independent, CHD/disABILITY Services, North Bay Industries, Old Adobe Developmental Services, and Marin Ventures.
Check out Becoming Independent's press release for all the details.
Rally at San Quentin
February 7, 2011- Rally at the East Gate of San Quentin to fight funding cutbacks to services for people with disabilities. 10:30 am on Tuesday, February 8th. Stand up & be counted! $750 million in cuts is being proposed to California's health & human services, yet a $1.6 billion increase to San Quentin's death row is proposed over the next 11 years.
What this is not: This is not a protest to oppose the death penalty.
What this is: A bold demonstration of the importance of examining every state dollar closely at this time. It is a opportunity to join up with other citizens who are questioning budget/spending for CA.
Check out Becoming Independent's announcement for more details.
Stop Everything You're Doing!
February 1, 2011- $750 million in cuts is being proposed by the Brown Administration to Health & Human Services. If you care about the rights of people with disabilities, please call or write your local legislators. The most effective way to get attention is through calls or letter-writing, as opposed to emails.
Address letters to:
The Honorable __(name goes here)__
California State __(Assembly or Senate)__
State Capitol
10th and L Streets
Sacramento, CA 95814
ASSEMBLY BUDGET SUBCOMMITEE #1 MEMBERS
Name, District, Phone #
Assembly Member Holly J. Mitchell (Chair), D‐47, (916) 319‐2047
Assembly Member Wesley Chesbro, D‐1, (916) 319‐2001
Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries, R‐66, (916) 319‐2066
Assembly Member Allan R. Mansoor, R‐68, (916) 319‐2068
Assembly Member William W. Monning, D‐27, (916) 319‐2027
Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield, Dem. Alternate D‐40, (916) 319‐2040
Assembly Member Jim Nielsen, Rep. Alternate R‐2, (916) 319‐2002
SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 MEMBERS
Name, District, Phone #
Senator Mark DeSaulnier, D‐07, (916) 651‐4007
Senator Elaine Alquist, D‐13, (916) 651‐4013
Senator Bill Emmerson, R‐37, (916) 651‐4037
Check out Becoming Independent's facebook page and website in the days ahead for breaking news and details.
BI featured in North Bay Biz
January 2011- Becoming Independent was featured in this month's North Bay Biz Magazine. The article, "Business is the Bottom Line," explains how "nonprofits face many of the same operational challenges as their for-profit business counterparts. NorthBay biz profiles Becoming Independent’s successful strategies."
Artist Anna Johnson
November 22, 2010 - Anna Johnson, an artist at Becoming Independent, shares her talent and techniques with photographer Jeff Lee from the Press Democrat in this beautiful video:
Service Provider of the Year
October 27, 2010 - Becoming Independent was named Service Provider of the Year by the Mayors' Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities. Assembly member Jared Huffman was proud to present this award to several BI staff. This award is a great tribute to the skills and support our employees provide to thousands of individuals with disabilities. Visit our Awards & Recognition page for more information.
Hit-and-Run Accident
September 20, 2010 - Cindy White, a Becoming Independent Board Member and participant, was run over by a hit-and-run driver in downtown Petaluma on Monday morning. The truck that struck Cindy was described as an older model Ford pickup, white with a two-tone burgundy stripe and a chrome bumper. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Bert Walker at 707-778-4455.
Best Place to Work
August 9, 2010 - 2 years and counting! Becoming Independent was named one of the best places to work by the North Bay Business Journal. This award is a great tribute to the skills and support our employees provide to thousands of individuals with disabilities. This is not the only award Becoming Independent has won in 2010 so far. To see the full list, visit our Awards & Recognition page.
