2020 Friends
| Dear Friend of NCBI, It has been a year where the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare serious inequities, and the violence and brutality of racism has awakened many to realizing our society is in desperate need of change. These are trying times, and the effort to bring people together across a myriad of differences has been met with new and challenging circumstances. NCBI has had to make changes in our plans and programming, but we have adapted. Thanks to your support, NCBI remains steadfast and continues to confront racism and other forms of oppression. Here is what one of our community partners had to say: “The astonishing thing about NCBI is the breadth of support they offer to various communities within our county. They develop leaders and programming in local schools, produce excellent programs such as their CommUNITY Conversations for the community-at-large, work in collaboration with the CSU Monterey Bay NCBI affiliate, and sponsor or support other developing non-profits such as Monterey Peninsula Pride and the anti-racist organization White for Racial Equity. NCBI Monterey County helped organize a public memorial in response to the Pulse Nightclub Massacre in 2016 that targeted LGBTQ+ people of color, and participated in the public mourning of the Charleston Church shooting that targeted African American Christians. When identity-based oppression occurs, NCBI Monterey County is on the scene offering healing, support, programming and leadership towards a better world.”– Steven Goings, CSUMB Personal Growth & Counseling Center Your dedication to NCBI and ongoing financial support help keep the spirit of racial and social justice alive. Your donations are important in order for our programs to remain accessible to all members of our community. The following are events and activities planned for the coming year: Training and coaching for community organizations, schools and public entities that strive to understand the roots and impact of racial and social inequity, and the skills to make positive changeCommUNITY Conversations on key social justice issues such as racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and othersCollaborations such as the recent Hiroshima-Nagasaki commemoration with the Monterey Peace & Justice Center, WILPF, WRE and othersSupporting young people in local schools as they take leadership to address racism and inequityA regional conference on White privilege and supremacy, rescheduled due to COVID-19. We thank you in advance for renewing your membership as a Friend of NCBI, and your contribution to keeping racial and social justice at the forefront within our community. In the spirit of community, NCBI Monterey County Board of Directors Ben Bruce, Brian Corpening, Truitt Grant, Elena Loomis, Jesse Tamayo, Pamela Weston, Dirrick Williams Sue Parris, Chapter Director Michael Frederiksen, Chapter AdministratorTwo ways to renew your Friends membership: 1. Pay with PayPal or Credit Card – Click on the contribution level of your choice.Ally $35Change Champion $50Coalition Builder $100Peacemaker $500Visionary $1000Other gift 2. Donate by check, payable to “NCBI Monterey County”, and mail to PO Box 388, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Please write “Friends of NCBI” on the memo line.  Cecilio Aviles-Mejia, one of our long time NCBI leaders and board members, passed away in July. He started his involvement with NCBI as a freshman at Seaside High School and led workshops throughout his four years. He was especially outstanding leading workshops in Spanish.In addition to attending school, helping with NCBI and volunteering everyday in the library, he also had full time jobs at various hotels. He left the area for college and when he returned he reconnected with NCBI and joined the board over ten years ago. He also led community workshops and helped with our fundraisers. Most of all he was a kind and loving young man who had a smile for everyone and would drop everything to help a family member or friend. He will be missed by all of us, and those who knew and loved him. Our hearts go out to his family. We love you Cecilio and thank you for the time we shared with you. |