Welcome to the Sunrise Spirit –
the Weekly Newsletter of The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise
We hope that you will attend one of our lively Friday meetings,
whether or not you are interested in joining Rotary.
We meet (almost) every Friday at 7 am in the Plaza View Room
of Arcata’s historic Jacoby Storehouse.
For more information, please visit the RCAS Website.
Rotary Vision
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create
lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
The RCAS Calendar
RISE: “Rotary Involvement Strengthens Everyone“
- June 17 – Juneteenth Celebration
- August 26/27 – The Inaugural Rotary Kickball Tournament in Blue Lake – Save the days
For Openers
After our guests and Visiting Rotarians were introduced, Ashliegh Diehl provided a report from the recent Rotary International Convention, which took place in Melbourne, Australia … We also heard from Pat Knittel and Bob Johnson, who recently celebrated birthdays, and also from Bryn Coriell, who also had a birthday and he and his wife Jennifer (also a Sunriser) were still celebrating their anniversary … Shoshanna reported on the recent Fairy Festival, which took place right here in Arcata.
Exchange Student Cairo will soon be leaving for Sweden, and she shared some of the things she has learned about her new home-to-be and her new host family … And Tom Tellez won $70 in the ping-pong ball raffle!
Following the presentation from Max Hawk of equity arcata (see below), Romi Hitchcock Tinseth discussed the latest meeting of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and she talked about the importance of moving to the front of the room when one is speaking to the Club. That way, the folks attending online and others who have hearing issues have a better chance to hear what you have to say.
Update from equity arcata
Max Hawk was our Featured Speaker, and he is the Interim Network Coordinator for equity arcata. equity arcata is a partnership among the City of Arcata, Cal Poly Humboldt, and local businesses and organizations who are working to foster a welcoming feeling for BIPOC students.
Max noted that his organization is evolving. It consisted of volunteer-led working groups, which supported the Home Away From Home program, ongoing learning efforts, encouraging businesses to be welcoming to People of Color, and more. Its Backbone Support Team and the Advisory Team helped to guide equity arcata in its changes.
The organization’s notable accomplishments include development of the Bias Reporting Tool, collaboration between local tenants and landlords, the “Know Your Rights” campaign, the JustArts program, ongoing educational efforts, and the continuation of the Home Away From Home program, which has provided over 1,500 students with free meals and household supplies.
There were four Home Away From Home events during the 2022-2023 school year, and the average attendance was 140 students. equity arcata is discussing the possibility of returning to the original potluck format that had to be modified as a result of the pandemic. The Student Advisory Group for Equity (SAGE) is collecting student feedback to guide the program.
Max said that the Arcata Chamber of Commerce, the Humboldt Equity Consortium, Festejando Nuestra Comunidad, and the Arcata Chinatown project are prominent partners with equity arcata. Funding for the organization comes primarily from the City of Arcata and Cal Poly Humboldt, with about 10 percent of the budget coming from donations from businesses and individuals.
equity arcata is working with Stepping Stone Consulting to develop a vision for its future. The group anticipates a renewed BIPOC-centeredness and a refreshed structure that will allow a flow of resources to its target student population. They also expect to continue to grow partnerships with BIPOC community members and affinity organizations.
Click below for a video of the entire meeting: