In honor of Black History Month, please join Heart & Soul for “Lunch and Listen”, an Intimate Conversation About Mental Health with Officer Leon Jackson. Officer Jackson, a Black police officer with lived experience, will share his experiences of being both Black and Blue during this unique time in history, and his daily struggle to safeguard his mental wellness.
No registration required. Join via Zoom here or learn more about the event at their website here.
Please join Heart & Soul for in-personand online wellness activities!
Our groups and activities are free of chargeand are open to all residents of San Mateo County.
New in February:
Every Thursday starting February 8th, Mindful Movement will be led by a yoga instructor in-person at the Drop-In Center. We will offer a hybrid live/virtual class via zoom for remote attendance.
Friday Night Movies are returning live on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, in-person at Friends of Hope at North County, Daly City.
Heart & Soul will host our February Open House on Wednesday, February 15, 3:00 – 6:00 pm at our Burlingame Drop-In Center, with a special program honoring Black History Month.
This annual $2,000 award recognizes two young change makers in San Mateo County, whose community service work models Dr. Clemons’ commitment to service. The award committee welcomes nominees who take initiative to make an impact in their community, and exemplify the value and power of compassion and empathy. Nominees can directly apply or be nominated by a community member. The award committee welcomes and values all projects and work that honor Dr. Clemons’ legacy of fighting poverty and lifting lives.
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Organizing and implementing community service programs/projects that serve others
Leading/promoting civic activism
Developing academic outreach programs to local individuals/groups
Advocating for environmental sustainability Award Eligibility
Recipient should meet all the following requirements:
16-22 years old on January 1, 2023
Lives in and serves community members in San Mateo County
Represents the commitment to community service that was modeled by Dr. Clemons Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday, February 12,
You may submit the application online OR download a copy and send the completed form to drclemonsaward@samaritanhousesanmateo.org. For questions, please contact the Samaritan House Award Committee: drclemonsaward@samaritanhousesanmateo.org.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco, Coastside Interfaith Community, City of Half Moon Bay, County of San Mateo, Chamber of Commerce, and other community-based organizations, have organized a few victim remembrance events that we’d like to announce to you now.
• This Friday, January 27, at 5:00 p.m., please join us at Mac Dutra Plaza, 504 Main Street, for a candlelight vigil ceremony to honor, remember, and pay tribute to the victims of the mass shooting incident. The event’s program will include song and prayer. Spanish, Mandarin, and ASL interpretation will be provided.
• On Tuesday, January 31, at 4:00 p.m., Our Lady of the Pillar Church and the Coastside Interfaith Community will host a memorial service at the Boys & Girl Club Event Center at 530 Kelly Avenue. This service will include prayers and healing words from the interfaith leaders in remembrance of the victims and hope for the future. Spanish, Mandarin, and ASL interpretation will be provided.
• Immediately following the memorial service, a candlelight processional walk will occur down Kelly Avenue, past the Mac Dutra Plaza memorial, and down Main Street to the I.D.E.S. Hall.
• At 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, at the I.D.E.S. Hall, 735 Main Street, the City, County, and Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to a Community Gathering for dinner and fellowship as we begin to move forward as a community. If you’d like to join us for the gathering, please register here (https://www.eventbrite.com/…/victim-remembrance…) so we can ensure we are able to host everyone appropriately.
The memorial at Mac Dutra Plaza continues to be available for anyone who wishes to grieve separately or on their own. This event has affected all of us differently. Mental Health continues to be a struggle for many, and we want to remind everyone, especially during this time, that there are resources available. The City’s CARES Team is available 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. by calling 988 or 650-713-5467 and the County of San Mateo Crisis Response Team is also available to provide mental health resources by calling 800-686-0101.
Special thanks to Julio Escobar from the Archdiocese of San Francisco – Restorative Justice Ministry for planning and organizing these events for the victims and families. In addition to the events listed above, the Archdiocese will be holding a site blessing ceremony with Archbishop Cordileone on Friday afternoon.
If you or a loved one are in need of mental health support visit here.
Join Heart & Soul in celebrating the Lunar New Year! Learn about their programs, meet their team member, and gather in community. Their Lunar New Year open house is Wednesday, January 18th from 3pm to 6pm at 1633 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 258, Burlingame.
Come hear from featured guest speaker, Erica Horn, Executive Director of California Clubhouse. The open house will also include a door prize raffle. Will the Year of the Rabbit bring you look? You may be a winner!
Please join San Mateo County’s African American Community Initiative (AACI) for their 2023 Black History Month Celebration. The event is on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 from 10am to 2pm. In-person location is at Cooley Landing Center (2100 Bay Rd, East Palo Alto, CA 94303).
This event will be hybrid with an in-person limited capacity of 75 people. Registration is first come first serve, and you don’t want to miss out!
Scheduled presentations and activities include Black Mental Health, COVID-19 and Health Care in the Black Community, raffle prizes, live musical performances and poetry.
If you are interested to volunteer for set up, clean up, ushering, door monitoring, etc, please email dpennix@smcgov.org.
The mission of the African American Community Initiative is to become a known resource for African American Community members facing challenges with finding and utilizing mental health services, while addressing inequalities faced by African Americans in our county. Our vision is to build a community driven support system for reducing mental health and substance use treatment disparities, and the stigma of mental illness. Learn more about AACI here.
HealthRIGHT 360’s Pioneer Court is celebrating its grand reopening by holding an open house event.
Pioneer Court has served San Mateo since 2015 and has become a staple in the behavioral health community. Despite the unprecedented pandemic, their doors stayed open for anyone who needed their services. Today, they are proud to be a beacon of hope and continue serving the community youth and adults virtually and in person. The team at Pioneer Court looks forward to welcoming attendees to the grand reopening of its facility.
The event will be on Friday, 1/27/23 from 2pm to 5pm. Look forward to guest speakers, raffle prizes, and learning more about their youth and adult programs. More details are located on the flyer pdf below. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Pictured left to right: Yolanda Ramirez, Claudia Saggese, Melissa Ibarra, Sylvia Tang, Gloria Gonzalez, Maria Lorente-Foresti, Kristie Lui, Yahaira Ortega, Twila Dependahl, Regina Moreno
Each year our San Mateo County Women in County Government recognizes exceptional women working in our government departments. This year numerous nominations were received to honor the outstanding dedication and service women have made to serve our communities.
We would like to congratulate Gloria Cahuich Gonzalez, Co-Chair of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services’ Latino Collaborative and Community Program Specialist II with SMC Public Health, Policy and Planning. Gloria has shown her passion, commitment and compassion to our Latinx community in her work to lead two Sana Sana Colita de Rana Events and provide resources and supports to our marginalized communities. The work she and other nominees below have done emphasizes the importance of creating a positive impact in San Mateo communities by implementing a racial equity lens in the work we do.
Congratulations to all other BHRS nominees: Rookie of the Year: Dori Bailey, MD., BHRS Adult Psychiatrist
Development Champion: Chummy Sevilla, BHRS Clinical Services Manager II
Public Service/Extra Mile: Barbara Weissman, MD, BHRS Adult Psychiatrist Linda Hildreth, BHRS Supervising Mental Health Clinician Maria Lorente-Foresti, Ph.D., BHRS Director Office of Diversity and Equity Tennille Tucker, BHRS Supervising Mental Health Clinician Yolanda Ramirez, BHRS Senior Community Program Specialist
Please join us in congratulating these amazing women that make a difference everyday for our workforce and those we serve.
Written by Kristie Lui and Maria Lorente-Foresti, Ph.D., BHRS Office of Diversity and Equity
2016 Recipient of the George Culores Hall of Fame Award, Yolanda Ramirez, receiving the award from MHSARC member, Rocio Cornejo
Every year the Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) honors individuals who have found their way to a path of wellness and recovery from mental illness and have been active in the consumer movement to better the lives of others in San Mateo County.
The George Culores Hall of Fame Award recognizes consumer/clients who have made contributions to better the lives of other consumer/clients; shown leadership in the consumer movement or have a personal journey of recovery that inspires and gives hope to others.
Deadline to submit nomination is on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.
Learn more about the George Culores Hall of Fame Award here.
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