Friend,

Welcome to our June newsletter! This month, we have exciting updates on community transformations, innovative solutions, and new opportunities for growth and involvement.

Discover how we're turning challenges into opportunities in the Guinida neighborhood, improving school lunches for our children, empowering residents with digital skills, and gearing up for our upcoming Citizenship Mega Fair. Dive into these stories and see how you can join us in making a difference!

We’re continually inspired by the dedication and passion of our community members. Your voices, ideas, and actions are at the heart of our mission to build a stronger, more inclusive community. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.

In solidarity,

The OCCORD Team

The Guinida community in Anaheim raised concerns about an empty lot becoming a dumping ground for abandoned vehicles and increasing crime. In response, the city fenced off the lot. At OCCORD, we saw potential for a better use of this space and conducted a survey to gather residents' input.

With nearly 100 responses, popular suggestions include a community garden, shaded benches for kids waiting for the school bus, and a small mobile library. The City of Anaheim is also surveying the lot, and we hope to collaborate on making the Guinida community safer and more vibrant.

Our next step is to organize a community debrief to share the survey results with residents. There's growing enthusiasm among community members, as they believe that making good use of this space will greatly benefit their community.

If you want to be part of this transformation, contact our Community Organizing Manager, Asha Starks, at [email protected].

After the pandemic, a group of mothers affiliated with OCCORD, whose children attend schools throughout Anaheim, decided to tackle the growing issue of school lunch waste.

Many mothers reported that their children were dissatisfied with the quality of school lunches, describing them as soggy, cold, or even stale. Additionally, cultural differences made some children dislike the food being served.

To better understand these issues, the mothers conducted a survey among other parents with children in Anaheim schools. The survey results encourage the mother to collaborate with the Anaheim Elementary School District to find solutions to the food waste issue.

They shared their findings with the district and proposed solutions, including short-term goals like having the district conduct its own survey with students to delve deeper into the problem, and long-term goals such as preparing school lunches from scratch or turning waste into compost for community gardens.

While the district has promised to investigate these concerns and ensure students receive high-quality lunches, there is still much work to be done.

If you have children in the Anaheim School district and agree with these concerns, contact our Community Organizing Manager, Asha Starks, at [email protected].

Ready to enhance your digital skills? OCCORD is hosting another series of digital literacy workshops, offering one-on-one training sessions with our community residents. If you want to see what our sessions look like, check out this link to one of our first digital trainings (Zoom Workshop).

June 21: Who is OCCORD & How to Use Zoom

July 12: How to Utilize Canva

July 19: Sending Emails with Attachments

August 2: Writing Professional Letters

If you have a laptop, we encourage you to bring it due to limited availability. For any questions, feel free to reach out to our Digital Organizer Angeles at [email protected] or call (949) 385-2080.

Congratulations to: Albertina Barragán, Ana Isabel Cortez Quiroa, Cirilo Jiménez, Francisco Contreras Revolorio, Graciela Abeyta, Jorge Aranda, Jorge Cibrian Martínez, Jose Sanchez, Leticia Torres, Leyda Olga Rosario Pavia Guzman, Paola Pardo Zamora, Lucrecia Suarez, Luz María Ramos Valladares, Maria E Aranda, Marina Orozco Romero, Miriam Torres, and Raquel Rangel Rodríguez! 🎉🇺🇸

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Citizenship Mega Fair on September 21st, 2024, hosted at the Ponderosa Family Resource Center. Please register to help the process become smooth and timely for you. (bit.ly/2024CitizenshipFair) Explore a wide range of services, including legal assistance, information, and clarification through your Citizenship process. Whether you're just beginning the process or seeking final guidance, our fair is here to equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.

* Upon RSVP, you will receive a call to determine eligibility and a secured appointment. No walk ins will be accepted. *

Date: September 21st, 2024

Location: Ponderosa Family Resource Center

Appointment Times: 9AM, 11AM, or 1PM

For inquiries or to participate as a volunteer/resource provider, please reach out.

Citizenship Team at (714) 621-0919 ext: 6.