Silicon Valley Moms Blog

San Jose colleges have banned discriminatory blood drives

Three San Jose colleges have suspended on-campus blood drives as a stand against the federal ban on allowing gay males to donate blood. According to the SJSU President, the federal ban is in direct conflict with the university’s policy prohibiting discrimination. 

The ban on donation from gay men has been around since 1983, when AIDS first emerged in the United States.  Many campuses have protested the ban on donations from gay men, but this is the first time an administration has taken such a drastic action against it. Of course, students could go elsewhere to donate blood, but campus blood drives can be essential to a community's blood supply. According to some statistics I’ve heard, 16 to 20 percent of blood comes from college-aged donors.

It's important to consider, though, that all donated blood is screened for HIV anyway.  And that the new cases of HIV are on the rise in other groups as well.

Because what gets measured gets done!

There are times when my work world and home life intersect; today was one of those days. 200 elected officials, community leaders, schools, non profits and government agencies gathered to discuss the Santa Clara County Children’s Agenda, hosted by Kids in Common.   The Children’s Agenda is a focused, integrated initiative that seeks to engage all segments of our community to improve the lives of children.  By outlining 10 indicators of child well-being, the agenda provides a common vision for all of our children. It forces us as a community to move from data to action and to be accountable for how our children are faring - after all because often times what gets measured gets done. Check them out here.

These goals are obvious.  Imagine if we as a county were able to insure that:
Goal 1:  Children are physically, socially and emotionally healthy.
Goal 2:  Children are prepared for and successful in school.
Goal 3:  Children are supported in safe and stable families and communities.

As I looked around the room, I couldn’t help but think about how regular parents, like the SV Mom Bloggers, my friends and neighbors would feel about this. In a world that often spins out of control and we never know if what we are doing for our kids is actually right, it is often hard to pinpoint what we can REALLY do to make a difference.  I think this agenda could prove to be the lightning rod we need to focus our efforts.  BTW - a national organization that has a similar platform for children and mothers is Moms Rising.

I am NO expert, but I am a mama, with mama bear tendencies to take care of ALL the kids I know - mine, the ones in my children's classrooms, my neighbors and the ones I see at the soccer field - all of them.  I imagine many of you feel that way, but don't know how. 

PSA for my fellow bargain hunters: 50% off LED holiday lights if you live in Palo Alto

Hi. My name is Clark Griswold. Okay, it's Stefania but someone needs to stop this holiday decorating train 'cuz it's out of control.

This is the first Christmas in years that we will actually be home, and I admit, I've gone a little overboard with the lights and ornaments. (48 pretty, sparkly ornaments for five bucks at IKEA? That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.) I'm all about the holiday bargains and not breaking the bank at Christmas time.  If you are, too, and you live in Palo Alto, you need to know about this program.

Palo Alto residents: If you haven't gotten your holiday lights yet (either because you don't have any, can't find them, or can't be bothered to untangle the ones you already have) read on.

'Tis The Season To Reflect

RECAP!

Around the time of the holidays, I can't help but think of all those who won't have a table full of food for Thanksgiving or their religious holiday of choice.  This is also the time of year when many of us distribute our contributions to charity for the year.  Others may collect food for local food banks, ring the bell for the Salvation Army, or volunteer through our churches and synagogues. But what happens the rest of the year?

If you are anything like me, charitable giving and serving the community became even more important to you after you had children.  Once I'd held that small helpless baby in my arms, I knew that I had to do what I could to ensure that every baby in my community had the same opportunities and love that my own children have. Whether you grew up volunteering and fund raising, or came to it later in life, I know that many of you, many of us, also had the same reaction to motherhood. As a result, the Silicon Valley Moms, Chicago Moms, DC Metro Moms, and New York City Moms are all writing about community outreach today.  Please join us, enjoy the discussion, and enjoy the holiday season.

Here is a recap of all the posts that went up on our "Community Outreach ..." day across the Silicon Valley Moms, Chicago Moms, DC Metro Moms, and New York City Moms Blogs.....

Bread of Life

While food is needed all year round for many, this seems to be the time of year that people step up to donate.  I was originally going to talk about my company and it's generosity to the Second Harvest Foodbank along with food and money, hosting of the Turkey Trot in San Jose (which started as a company run), and generous matching by the company itself as well as executives who step with their own personal matching.  I often gripe about my company, even now when it seems to turn into one big "beg-fest," but they do try to help the neighboring communities.  But then I decided I wanted to find something even more personal, closer to home. I immediately thought of the Bread of Life in East Palo Alto.

I learned about this charity after being the beneficiary of some leftover bounty at my father's house.  He's the "Thursday bread guy" which means picking up breads and pies and all sorts of goodies from Costco to bringing to the People's Plaza (future home of the Lord's Gym). I can also thank them for turning my son on to croissants, but much more important than any of that is what they do at the Bread of Life.

A fun way for the whole family to give back and have fun

Much like many of you, I struggle to find ways to teach my kids about the values of generosity, compassion and conscience.   In the minds of my 7 year old and 4 year old - well, Christmas is about presents right?  They of course can tell you about baby Jesus, but let's face it, presents are always in the back of their minds. Many other moms today have come up with some great strategies. I submit another very easy idea that the whole family can take part in - downtown San Jose's Children's Lantern parade.  It's free and all participants get hot chocolate/churros and free carnival rides for the rest of the evening.

The event was inspired by the German tradition of the St. Martin’s Day parade, where children honored a good samaritan, who gave his money and literally the clothes off his back to help others in need.

Karma, Luck, or Simple Human Goodness?

My dad is living his dreams, retired from the "evil corporate world" and self-appointed computer repairman of East Palo Alto.  His real passion is saving small businesses and revitalizing the spunky little town, and in the meantime he's been a crazy-busy volunteer, joined several boards, recently appointed to the City Planning commission and teacher at OICW (recently renamed JobTrain). 

I have to admit my family has made fun of my dad's idiosyncrasy's, much as we admire him, and one of those is his really trusting and giving nature. As bad a rep the residents of EPA might have (although the ones I've met are a truly great bunch), when my dad accidentally left his laptop at Starbucks, he really did think he could just waltz right back in there and get it back.  Alas it was gone, and he was understandably bothered, but nothing too critical was on there. 

A few days later he gets a call.  It seems someone had brought the computer back.  The story was an older women had accidentally walked off with it and

Local Moms Who Make A Difference

First of all, let me be clear that as moms, we ALL make a huge difference everyday. Without us, who would do laundry, clean the house, pick up kids or make sure homework is done correctly.  Many of us have help from partners, house keepers, friends and nannies, but we all know that mommies are the ones that make sure that it all happens.  We should be proud, we are the ones who run the PTAs, make cookies for the bake sale and buy the gifts for donating.  Our typical "mom" work makes an impact on many besides our children.

I have a great job helping local non-profits raise the resources (money/volunteers) they need so they can do the important work to make our community a better place.  Thus I have loads to say on today’s topic.  But rather than highlighting agencies and groups, I wanted to pay homage to a few working mommies that lead local agencies, not only do they make sure homeless people have shelter, seniors have meals and youth learn positive life skills, they also come home and make sure their little ones are loved and cared for and have clean clothes.  Thank you for being mommies to our entire community!  This list is no way exhaustive, but these were a few of my favorite local organizations and mommies. 

Keeping it Local Part Deux: Local Immigrant Gardeners Provide "Seeds" for Scholarships

Recently, the San Francisco Chronicle profiled a local community organization called Bay Area Gardeners Foundation founded by a Silicon Valley gardener who is giving back to his community in order to help send kids to college.

From the article:

Catalino Tapia came to the United States at age 20 with $6 in his pocket. He worked hard, as a baker and a machine operator, and eventually started his own gardening business. He and his wife bought a home in Redwood City and raised their two sons, putting the eldest through college.

Though he never studied beyond sixth grade, Tapia was so inspired to see his son, Noel, graduate from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley that he decided to help other young Peninsula people make it to college. Now 63, the Mexican immigrant is giving back to the country he says has given him so much.

With legal help from his son, Tapia established a nonprofit corporation, the Bay Area Gardeners Foundation, and recruited a dozen other immigrant gardeners to join the board. This year, the foundation gave out nine scholarships of $1,500, almost double what it distributed in 2006, its first year.

Start'em young

My husband was raised in a working-class environment, literally waiting at the door every Friday evening so his mother could take his father's paycheck and buy some bread.  Until I came to the US thirteen years ago, I lived in a third-world country where apples and McDonalds were a treat for us, and where we saw children begging at every corner.  Our children, however, are growing up in the affluent suburbs of Palo Alto, USA, and they have never really been exposed to the stark realities of poverty.  We are happy that we can provide a good lifestyle for our children, but we also want them to grow up to be caring human beings who want to help others.   And the area we live in makes it challenging to develop a genuine sense of empathy and compassion for the less fortunate.

The highway that separates Palo Alto from East Palo Alto is enough to shield my children from dilapidated storefronts and secondhand cars and people with shopping carts.  With every Halloween and Easter and Valentine's Day, with every party and gathering, they are showered with candies and small toys until none of it feels truly special. 

My six-year-old daughter recently made the observation that our house is smaller than any of her friends' houses.   There was no resentment, but she is starting to notice differences. Soon she is going to ask us