"Sustainable Solutions to Homelessness” with Denise Bissonnette

At Saffron Strand’s Second Annual Conference, May 16-17, 2011 in Richmond, CA, acclaimed author and job development consultant Denise Bissonnette challenged us to stretch our thinking, question our assumptions, and turn our traditional way of looking at ourselves and the world on its head.

Denise gave the opening keynote address in a two-day program which featured more than 20 international, national, and local Bay Area, Contra Costa, and Richmond-based authorities sharing their expertise and experience as plenary speakers, panel discussion members, and workshop leaders.

In her inspiring style, Denise wove poetry, parables, and real-life stories into a rich and memorable keynote experience.

Drawing on her reservoir of work assisting individuals from “marginalized populations” to find their productive place in the work world, Denise presented practical tips for applying “possibility thinking” to our work with those who are homeless, to our understanding of leadership and “initiative-taking,” and to building more inclusive communities that are true to the dream of diversity. In the spirit of practicing what we preach, Denise also challenged us to examine our own passions and purposes as we attempt to bring our best to the world each day.

For more about Denise, click here.

PHC6: Area homeless more work-ready and winter-ready thanks to Saffron Strand

On Thursday, September 16, 2010 our Saffron Strand volunteer professionals offered their salon expertise to Contra Costa’s homeless at the Project Homeless Connect (PHC6) event organized by Contra Costa County in Antioch. Our pros were in great demand, providing haircuts, hair styling (including hair-weaves), and therapeutic massage to more than 70 homeless persons.

Saffron Strand volunteers offering “in kind” donations of professional services at PHC6:

• Dalisha Bernsteine (Thaaanx Hair Salon)
• Elaine Bluitt (Thaaanx Hair Salon)
• Joe Escobedo (The Glam Box)
• Hisako Oba (Living Well)
• Augie Sangimion (Augie Studio Barber Shoppe)

Saffron Strand members and other volunteers working at PHC6:

• Sonjula Lane
• Keneithia Resino-Hopkins
• Tiffany Scott
• Dominique Washington

Our corporate sponsors at PHC6 included Wal-Mart and Trader Joe's. Please keep their community spirit in mind on your next shopping trip.

PHC6 also was an opportunity for Saffron Strand to help Costa Costa’s homeless get ready for winter, thanks to numerous individual donors from Richmond.

They answered the call from Saffron Strand members and funded the purchase of 120 sets of hats, gloves, scarves, socks, and deodorant for the well-being of homeless people in Richmond and other West Contra Costa communities.

Saffron Strand printed vouchers for these items which were collected by PHC6 organizers for later distribution. Contra Costa's homeless can bring the vouchers to our office to collect the warm weather attire in time for winter weather.

Young Volunteer Connects Saffron Strand to Spanish-Speakers

Spanish-speaking residents of Richmond wanted to know more about Saffron Strand during the Healthy Eating Healthy Living Fair, August 15, at the Nevin Center. Eighth-grader Livier Juarez stepped forward to volunteer to provide Spanish-English translation services, becoming Saffron Strand’s youngest volunteer.

The Fair, sponsored by Brookside Community Health Center, offered barbecue, music, games, and educational classes, which focused on controlling diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and asthma. Livier attended with her family and enjoyed the Fair, but also spent hours in the mid-day sun assisting Saffron Strand.

Livier became an expert at explaining Saffron Strand’s mission and philosophy in Spanish. She helped Spanish speakers complete the Saffron Strand Interest Survey, which confirms the need in the Hispanic community for new approaches to job skills building and employment readiness to reduce homelessness.

Saffron Strand’s Debut at Project Homeless Connect 4, June 17th in Richmond, Featured in Contra Costa Times

Project Homeless Connect 4 (PHC4), organized by Contra Costa County health services, took place on June 17th at the Civic Center in Richmond. The mission of PHC4 was to provide vital services for Contra Costa’s homeless population “under one roof.”

For its first offering of personal care and wellness services to West County’s homeless persons, Saffron Strand recruited 12 volunteers who are owners and employees of local small businesses in the personal care and wellness industry (see businesses below).

These volunteers included Saffron Strand Board Members and Advisors who operate businesses such as salons, spas, and barber shops. They offered their services free of charge to the homeless, providing haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and massages continuously for a period of 6 hours (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).

At PHC4, Saffron Strand occupied the stage area of the auditorium, the busiest and most popular area of the event. In all, Saffron Strand served more than 100 persons, donating professional services worth thousands of dollars at no cost to the county or those who were served.

Contra Costa County’s first Project Homeless Connect took place in Richmond in December 2006. Organizers envisioned the event as a “one-day, one-stop shop to offer a variety of services to people experiencing homelessness, connecting them with benefits, medical care, substance abuse and mental health counseling, social services, housing and shelter.”

The Contra Costa Health Services Homeless Program coordinated the 2006 event in conjunction with the City of Richmond, the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program, and other partners. At that time, authorities estimated that “15,000 people experience homelessness in Contra Costa each year, with 900 families and more than 4,800 individuals enduring it each night.” Figures available from authorities in advance of PHC4 offered the same estimate for people who experience homelessness each year and estimated that some 4,000 were homeless “on any given night.”

Please give special thanks—and patronage!—to the volunteer PHC4 personal care and wellness professionals: